Excuse me. >> Um, >> so after you talked to him on Monday, >> did you talk to him daily after that or was it [snorts] >> just Monday and bias or anything about this right now? I just want you to understand this is just a very early point of investigation and >> if he puts me under arrest for something that I didn't do, it goes on my record and everybody can see it. >> No, it doesn't. This is just the this is just the first step. Okay. Or again, we're not going to jump ahead. >> That's what they said with the arson. [snorts] >> Okay. I need you to stand up and put handcuffs on you. Okay. We're going to have someone come up here and transport you out to jail. Okay. Sir, I didn't do this. >> Is there anything else in your pockets at all? >> Is that better? >> Sorry. It's okay. You have a smaller wrist than me. You don't want to hurt your wrist. >> Nobody [snorts] do this. >> Pensacola, Florida, 2023. Colobby Vincent was unloading groceries from his trunk when a single gunshot ended his life. Beside his body sat his 4-year-old daughter alive, silent, and completely unaware that her world had just changed forever. But investigators quickly realized this wasn't just a random shooting. Just hours earlier, Col's daughter had been handed over to him during a routine custody exchange, and the woman who handed her over was his ex-girlfriend, Rachel. When detectives brought Rachel in for questioning, she insisted she knew nothing. But then investigators found something on her phone. A name, a series of messages, and a phone call that came just minutes before the shooting. The voice on the other end told her, "You don't have to worry about anything anymore." Then the call ended, and shortly after, so did Col's life. Because the gun wasn't the only thing detectives were investigating. They wanted to know what Rachel knew and why she hadn't told them. Suana or Ziada JCS style psychological hook. Chaya, Pensacola, Florida, 2023. A father is shot dead during a routine custody exchange. His four-year-old daughter is left sitting beside his body, and the last person known to have handed him that child was his ex-girlfriend, Rachel. When detectives questioned her, she had an explanation for everything. At least she thought she did because there was one thing she hadn't counted on her phone. Inside, it was a name detectives weren't expecting. Messages that suddenly looked very different and call made just minutes before Col's death. You don't have to worry about anything anymore. Rachel said she didn't know what he meant, but detectives weren't convinced. And as the interrogation continued, the question stopped being whether Rachel pulled the trigger. It became whether she knew who did. >> Right here at the head of the table. >> Hi, >> Detective Marino. >> Hi. Hi. I'm Rachel. I'm Mar. >> Hi. Hi. >> Um, I'm sorry circumstances. >> Yeah. >> Um, can you just spell your first name for me? R A C H I E L. >> Okay. >> And Rachel, what's your middle name? >> Nicole. N I C H O L E. >> All right. What's your birthday? >> 82297. >> And good phone number for you. >> And then do you live with your mom and blackjack? >> Yes. >> Okay. Um I'm just going to talk to you a little bit. I'm sure you've already been asked these questions last night. Um, sorry for if I repeat these questions or anything. >> Ask away. Ask away. >> Um, so how long were you and Kobe together before you separated? >> Um, probably four and a half, 5 years maybe. But my child was about 14 months old when we separated. She's four now and we haven't had much contact since then. Did you guys live in Santa Rosa? >> Yeah. >> The whole time? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Um, if you don't mind me asking why did you guys separate? >> He has a drug obsession. Like no matter what environment I would put him in, he would just he would bring the drugs to it. I could get him out of the environment and he would be the drug dealer. I could take him. We [snorts] moved out because his family said that if you have a baby and you live with your family, it just automatically ruins your your family relationship. Like you don't get to grow as a family. And he took that personally. So we moved out and we were 4 minutes from my mom's house and that was okay. I was like, "Okay, fine." Well, once we moved out, he started selling drugs. He started growing drugs in our house and I had my kid and I was like, "Hey, we you can't do this. like you this [snorts] is a dangerous situation for our daughter like you got to stop. So about 6 months later after I realized that he wasn't going to stop putting her in these situations that this wasn't going to this was what he wanted to do. He was pushing his life towards this situation. He was going to open a wake and bake dispensary where he just sold his own drugs and had his own breakfast in. Like that was what he wanted to do. And I said that's fine. I just can't have Presley a part of that because I don't trust that system. If you sell drugs, somebody else knows that you either have the drugs or you have the money. And it's a dangerous situation for our daughter. So it got to the point where he was growing shrooms in our closet and he was having acid on [snorts] our coffee tables and it was just I was like no. So I got to go home. So I went home and I said you know what if you can leave all of this here you can come home with me. So he came home and then he just did that exact same thing to my mom's house. And at that point, I just showed I grew up in an environment where you don't show any of your drama between your relationships with your family because once you get through it, your family still knows about it. So, I had hidden all of that from my family up until that point. And then my mom had seen it at our house, of course, and she had like, "No, I can't come over there because it's I don't want to be there when the cops show up or I don't want to be there if something goes down. I don't want that." So, I was like, "Okay, well, I'm going to come home." So, I did that and then he came home with >> Rachel begins by explaining the custody situation and why she had been keeping her daughter away from Colby. She describes his drug use, the problem surrounding his lifestyle and her fear that something could eventually happen. As she talks, she presents herself as a mother who was trying to protect her child rather than someone involved in a conflict with Colby. But the detectives are listening closely to how much she knew about the situation before the shooting. At several points, her emotions become difficult to hide. She talks about her daughter being present when Colby was killed and the possibility that the child may have witnessed something she could never forget. She even starts imagining what that experience might have been like for her daughter. That gives detectives an important starting point. Rachel isn't simply explaining what happened that night. She's also explaining why she believed Kobe was a danger to her daughter in the first place. And as the interview continues, detectives will have to determine whether that fear was simply the result of a difficult custody battle or whether Rachel knew more about the danger surrounding Kobe than she was admitting. >> I'm Detective Kelly. I'm his partner. So just, you know, I said I'm also kind of play catchup. I talked to your mom last night for just a few minutes. So I kind of just kind of got previewed into everything. Um I want to kind of start with >> same >> um kind of this you know what was what's been going on in those last year with like custody because >> um honestly this last year hasn't been bad. this last year, 10 months ago, he said, "Okay, so to in order to understand, you have to go back. We had our kid and he decided that the drug life was for him." And I decided that's, you know, it's dangerous for our daughter. So, I moved back home. And then at 14 months old, he moved or at 14 months old, when Presley was 14 months old, he moved out. And then for a while he was getting her every Saturday for a couple hours and that was fine. And then it was to where oh I can't get her because my roommates are doing coke or I can't get her because I got this going on. I was like, "Okay, well, I don't if you're if you're going to be around that and on that, I don't I don't feel comfortable letting her go with that." And you're posting pictures of dropping acid and driving around smoking. Like, you're just you're not making a you're not making responsible decisions. You're making me nervous. And the fact that you posting all of this with her included, it's making me nervous. So, um I had her under uh government assisted food and government assisted um health insurance. >> And whenever you do that, they go after the other parent for um child support. Well, whenever that went through, 14 days later, he turned around and said, "Oh, well, all of a sudden, I can get her 50/50. I'm definitely not comfortable with that." No. Um, what are you gonna do during the week when you have to work? I'm gonna leave her with my girlfriend. No, she does the same things. No. So, um, at that point, uh, I've got a lawyer and he said that if, um, she gets hurt on his watch, it's just as much my fault as it would be his fault because there is nothing in writing or anything that says that she was supposed to be there or he was the one with her. So if she accidentally grabs his coke or acid or whatever he leaves laying around and eats it and overdoses and dies, I go to jail because of child neglect and abuse and death and just so I I said, "No, I'm not forced to give you custody of our kid yet. I'll see you in court. When they force me to allow you to have custody of her, I will." Okay. >> Perfectly fine with that. So Monday came up. They said, "We're going to do week to week." I said, "Okay." And I dropped her off Sunday. Yes. Yeah. Whatever. Sunday. Sunday at 6:30 at Publix. And then I went to the Thomp. I say I. It was me, Christopher, my mom, and the baby. And my mom did the exchange for the baby cuz I figured that would be the easiest smooth because I figured after 10 months he was probably going to be rude to me. Um, and I didn't want that for her. Um, >> how are you all communicating and stuff? >> Through I got sent this email through my attorney on Monday saying that this is what was issued. So, this is where I had to be. So, I knew where to be, what time to drop off. >> Okay. So, this is your sub your your court subpoena. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Do they send that to you every week from here on out that you're supposed to do that? >> I have no idea how any of this works. >> I This This was the first exchange. >> What day did you have court? >> Monday. >> It was on Monday. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> It wasn't supposed to be until the 15th. And then out of the blue, I got a call saying, "Hey, you need to be out of work on Friday and Monday. We have court on Monday." And I was like, "Oh, okay. Okay. So, that got sent to me and I was like, "Oh, >> so tell me about Monday. Tell me about >> core." It absolutely sucked. I went in and since it got moved up since it got moved up a couple days, my side of the case and everything got didn't get turned in in time. So, it it really looked like I just said, "No, I don't want you to see our kid anymore. Bye." and then turned around 10 months later and said no again it she didn't turn in she didn't get to see any of my parenting classes any of anything that I did and it was any of the pictures any of the evidence anything so she I she really looked at me and told me that I was a spiteful mother that just didn't want her child around this and I was crying I was like ma'am that's not the case it's just the fact that his drug lifestyle is dangerous. And this is why I I don't do that kind of stuff. We don't go in big crowds. We those kind of things make me nervous. Small children, people take them. Big people, people take them. So, Monday was over. I I got that email. I said, "Okay." And then he texted oh she got both of our numbers sent them or he got that he got my number from her and then he text me on um Monday and Wednesday because I didn't respond on Monday. I was hoping that >> yeah you can see everything that we've been saying >> and it's dated and everything. We don't we have no communication. >> Was the court hearing was that in person? Uh-uh. It was over a screen, >> like through Zoom or something. >> Yeah. Him and his lawyer on a screen, me and my lawyer on a screen, and then the judge on a screen. >> How long was the whole proceeding? >> An hour. It was one of the worst hours of my life. I was humiliated and talked to like the worst person on the planet. And from her perspective, I can completely understand that. >> Talking about the judge's perspective. >> Yes. From her perspective, I can completely understand that because she didn't get any of my my side at all. None of the pictures, none of the evidence, nothing. >> Well, tell me tell me about let me back off that for just a second. Tell me about your the whole life. What what goes on? I know that Yeah. where y'all live. It's kind of a It's a real close-knit little community you're in. >> Yeah. >> Tell me about Tell me about where she how >> family she lives. >> Family oriented. We We're very family oriented. We get up, I go to work, she hangs out with my mom and she does whatever they do. Like she'll go to the nursing home with her. Uh my mom is a um the home healthcare nurse. So she goes to do those things where they have a playground and stuff at their yard and stuff. So they play there and when as soon as we get off work we get our kids and sometimes we'll go kaying, sometimes we'll go hiking, sometimes we go to the parks, we go trail hiking. Like we do pretty much anything that we can take our dogs and our family with. So that's >> So where you're living where where where you're living it's so it's not it's not just the three of you then, right? It's there's more people around that are like family, you know. >> Yeah. Where I live is here's me. My uncle lives here. My grandmother lives here. >> Who's your uncle? >> Um last name? >> No. >> First name? >> Steve. Okay. Steve. >> Yeah. [snorts] >> And then my grandma lives on the other side of him. And then Danny lives across the street. We've just kind of adopted him. He's been here for over 10 years. And our other neighbors I she watched me when I was in elementary school. So we kind of grew up together. >> Who's that? >> Uh Wendy and Jean. They've been married for six years. >> Does um Kim live on black chart, too? >> No. Kim is uh she lives on Pirates's Way. She's my mom's best friend, lifelong. She's been around since I was born. She has a son that's two days younger than me and we grew up together. So that's how she fits into the family. >> I'm basically her adopted kid. >> She's always been there for me. >> Did you grow up on blackjack? >> Yeah. So, is it fair to say I mean I can I can clearly see I'm a parent too. I can clearly see like how much this whole scenario is is tearing you up in regards to your daughter. Okay. So, I I really can sympathize with with your feelings about that. Um is it everybody else that kind of lives around you and other people close to you kind of feel the same way like in support of you? >> Yes. Yes. And I I can send you a whole army of people that can tell you that you can ask them individually anything. >> That's what I'm trying to think. It's like any other people I can speak to. >> Yeah. I give you a whole list of >> So I got Steve. That's your grandma. >> They've I've got little cousins. Um they live there, too. They're always there. Steve, he's 18. You can talk to him. Chase. Uh, Danny. Um, my grandma lives on the other side. That's Becky. Uh, Becky Moore. Wendy. >> Okay. >> What about Jean? >> Uh, Jean. >> Okay. >> You could call him too. You can call Melanie. I I think her last she's not my neighbor, but she can be a person to talk to about me and how I am with my kids. I've had to take my kid to work with me a couple times. I work as a veterinarian clinic. I work at the bordery side, so I get to do the dog walks on the beach or the dog baths or so. If my mom gets called into the nursing home side, I get I got to make it work. So, she comes to work with me. But they've seen me work with her. They've seen her hand in hand with me. I've got plenty of co-workers that have seen that. Um, >> yeah. >> Did you ever see Kobe argue with any of those people? >> Not that I can think of. Not really. He didn't He was He didn't do much arguing. He was kind of a pushover, if that makes sense. Like he >> told he was a pushover. >> Yeah. He didn't. When I tell you he was just looking for as high as possible, that's what he was. That didn't leave him because of aggression. It was just because I was scared that he was going to get high and forget my kid somewhere or leave the drugs on the table and let my kid eat them. or simple things like he left a wet wipe in her diaper and literally caused blisters on her vagina. Like water blisters on her back because he doesn't like sunscreen on his hands and it was spray on sunscreen. It was those things. It was never the aggression. It was I'm scared that what you're selling is going to get you hurt or what you're doing is going to get my kid hurt or what you're doing is going to hurt you. Is there anybody that you can think of? >> The conversation moves deeper into Rachel's relationship with Colby and the custody dispute. She continues explaining why she believed keeping her daughter away from him was necessary. She talks about court family members and the people around her who were aware of what had been happening. But detectives aren't only interested in what Rachel says happened. They're trying to understand who knew what and when they knew it. Rachel also makes a point of separating herself from anything violent. She says she's not a violent person, doesn't carry a gun, and doesn't keep aggressive people around her. That distinction matters because the investigation is now moving beyond the shooting itself. Detectives are trying to establish whether Rachel had any connection to someone who could have carried it out. For now, Rachel's explanation remains consistent. She was focused on her daughter. She was dealing with the custody situation and she had no involvement in violence. But the detectives aren't finished testing that version. All right, take that out real quick and we'll talk to Chris. >> He also told me that you guys have to have a warrant for that. >> We do. One of the things I wanted to clarify with what we talked about last night. Um, I just want you to go back over it. Yesterday when you showed up, how did what information did you I'm sorry. What information did you get before you showed up yesterday >> at the apartment? >> At the apartment. >> Correct. >> Dustin had called Kim person and said, "Look, there's a bunch of cops involved. Bunch of cops downstairs. We don't know really what's going on." Well, we are nosy. So, knowing that she's there, we drive over just just to make sure and I lost my I found out that it was actually his apartment. Um, and that's she called me the time she called me up. >> I mean, it was super obvious last night that that's where the police were and what was, you know, it was I mean, it was >> right. But, see, I had >> Why did Why did no one Why did you not get that information? That's the part that seems a little strange to me looking back >> because it I didn't know exactly where he lived. [snorts] It was the court thingy that they sent us on Friday that told us his actual address. I knew where Dustin lived, but as far as the I didn't know. >> Did you share that information with anybody is where he was living? >> Um, not other than Dustin and Shelby. I mean, I just told them that that's where, you know, I'll tell you what time that was. Do you even care what time that was? Um >> I'm sorry. Did you say show these Dustin's girlfriend? >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> Um she called me at 11:35 and told me that Dustin had just um called her cops down there. He didn't because he wasn't even real sure on I talked to them earlier in the day. When did you get the information about his address? When was that information? What? >> Friday, I think, is when I got that. Whenever they sent the >> Why do y'all need me to check my money? >> I think it was Friday when they sent out the order. The actual >> Well, I can tell Rachel, we've been going like we haven't stopped working since last night. We just we just kept on and on. So, um >> I'm pretty sure >> obviously we're a little more ahead than we were, >> right? >> Just an hour into it last night. >> Um Friday at 1:30 is when I got that information. >> Okay. >> That's when we actually got the shared parenting plan, the proposed or the proposed shared parenting plan, the version. >> So, you and Rachel and everybody got the same information at the same time. >> Well, Rachel got it and Rachel sent it to me. And then drop off was at 6:30. >> 6:30 on Sunday. And Rachel and Chris were in the car with me not to upset Presley. >> It's easier if I just carried her over to him cuz I can I can be nice. I mean, >> how did that change it? Like how'd that go? >> I I didn't I mean handing her over kind of made me sick, but you know, whatever. It is what it is. It's what had to happen. Did he say anything? >> He he yelled um from across the parking lot cuz when he saw us and >> the tone begins to change when the detective asks Rachel to look at the situation from his perspective. Instead of simply asking her what happened, he starts laying out the circumstances surrounding the shooting. There was a custody exchange. Colby had just received his daughter. Rachel knew where he was. And shortly afterward, Colby was shot. The detective doesn't need to accuse her directly. He lets the circumstances speak for themselves and asks Rachel to explain how they look from the outside. Rachel tries to provide explanations for each point, but the questions keep coming. Why didn't certain family members tell her what was happening? Why didn't she go to the location herself? Who knew about the custody exchange? Eventually, Rachel becomes more defensive and repeatedly insists that she didn't do this. That reaction is Horton, not because it proves anything by itself, but because the conversation has clearly moved away from simply establishing facts. Rachel now understands that detectives are looking at her connection to the events, not just asking her to describe them, and that changes the pressure inside the room. >> What's the passcode for the phone? >> I can't do it. You're going to actually do 975. >> 1 1975. >> Okay. So I I will have it back before I leave here. >> Well, we have we can do it. No, not today because I have to get a court order. That'll probably happen tomorrow. >> But can I text my mom real quick? And she's she's >> I'm sorry. >> Can I text my mom real quick >> and tell her that I'm leaving my phone here? >> No. Right now this is going to be our evidence. >> Can you text Becky ice mom whatever it's under? I need I mean she's got plastic. >> You can call her all. You can call her if you like. >> You can look it up and tell me what the phone number is. I'm telling you I can't do >> What's the phone number you're draw? Who is it? >> Becky Moore. >> What was the >> uh 1975 Becky Mo? >> Yeah, that's it. Um it is Okay. >> So, y'all have to have once take my phone. >> Not to seize it as evidence. >> We have to have our search warrant to actually download the device. >> I can't call. I can't I can't breathe. >> I can't play my games. >> I said this day and age, I know it is. It's a It is a horrible scenario. Do you want to give her a call real quick and let her know? >> Yeah, please. I just have a hard time. >> We can't we can't search through it, but we can seize it just like when you blind to a car. >> Are you kidding me? You crazy crackhead. She didn't answer me. So you don't have to have like a I don't care if I don't care if y'all What am I supposed to do for 24 hours without my phone? >> I work for my phone. >> I said we we're trying to do it as obviously as fast as possible. >> How am I going to call you to tell you that my phone needs I need my phone back? How are you going to call me to tell me I need to come pick up my phone? We'll call Becky and let her know or we will actually get in person touch with you at the house and let you know. >> Oh my god. >> My own people. >> I said I told you it was it was it was like >> I know but you tell me I have to take my phone. >> I would have like told you no let you know about it. So is what you know. >> No, I understand. Especially I get at this day and age, especially very >> I cannot breathe right now. >> Rachel eventually reaches a point where she references her attorney and questions whether she should continue answering everything. The detectives continue working through the timeline, but the investigation is also beginning to expand beyond Rachel. Her mother, Christina, is questioned about what she knew regarding the custody situation and who had been aware HB's location. Christina gives investigators her own account of the events. At one point, she explains that she had asked other people to keep an eye out because of the situation involving Colby. That detail matters because detectives are now trying to establish exactly how information about the custody exchange could have traveled between different people. The focus is no longer limited to Rachel and Colby. There are now multiple family members and acquaintances whose knowledge has to be compared. And as detectives continue asking the same basic question, who knew where Colby would be? The possibility of another connection begins to take shape. >> Okay. >> That probably wouldn't be a bad idea. So now it fits into probably those shots. Um, >> who are you talking to now? >> I called Booger on Monday and told him about the court date with Jason Curtis and I was panicking then and he told me not to worry about it, that it wouldn't be something that you got to worry about. >> Thank you. And I um I messaged him, told him everything that was going on and he had sent me pictures of knives and guns and renaissance, but I didn't think anything of it because he lived far away and he's just >> antique. until I had told him um I had told him thanks for >> thanks for making me feel better just genuinely just needed to know just needed you to know >> what did he send you the pictures of the knives and guns on was it on text message Facebook >> messenger but I thought that was they had to have >> Facebook yeah >> after what I deleted that immediately as soon as everything hit the fan I I was like, "Oh, wow. This is probably bad. This probably looks awful." So, um, yeah. Um, I I called him again on yesterday. Not yesterday. Not yesterday. I don't know. I called him throughout the week >> and I was telling him because he talks to me. He just I grew up with him as my backbone of the dad. Like my dad wasn't around much, but he was. So, >> you think you would actually come down here and shoot him? >> I don't know. I don't know. But he he did tell me not to worry about it. And then he called he called last night and said that I don't have to worry about it and everything's fine. >> And then you left and then they came. So maybe >> who left and then you came. >> She left and then the detectives came. So maybe >> Well, and what time did he call you? >> Uh >> I don't know. My [ __ ] >> 9 9:30ish 10:00ish maybe. >> So about 10:00. That's what you told me earlier was it was about 10:00. >> Okay. Um and did you um >> when he told you you didn't have to worry about it anymore, did you ask him like what are you talking about? And was this a phone call or was this something? >> This is a phone call. >> Right. So he called you and said you don't have to worry about it anymore. What did you say to him? >> What are you talking about? I Huh. He said, "Yeah, you don't have to worry about it. It'll be fine, but I got to go." And he just >> hung up. No, >> I got to go. >> Get my ass in the wind. I got to go. And >> that's what he told you? >> Yeah. I was like, "What the hell?" >> Did you see him while he was down here? >> No. >> No. I >> I'm sorry. What' you say, ma'am? >> I didn't even >> Did he come by your house? >> No. My house. That's why I was like, I didn't think that would actually happen. [gasps] And when he called, I didn't think that was actually a thing. I >> cannot do this. I've had I had so much anxiety about this all week. I have literally been wetting my bed over it. I did not intend this to happen. [snorts] >> Okay. >> Ma'am, are you okay? Do you need some water or something? >> No. >> Ma'am, do you need some water or something? >> I don't know what I need right now. So, I think is it just going to snatch out of my body? Do you mind asking yourself? >> I kind of missed a lot. >> Yeah. >> How did it come to you telling him what happened? Like when did that happen? >> I got to thinking about it. Um >> did anybody call me? >> Yeah, my family called me. Uh did I make any phone calls? Weird. Yeah. Around 10:00 last night, my stepdad called me. >> What's his name? >> Uh, or my ex-stepd Curtis, >> otherwise known as Booger. >> Booger. >> Yeah. But I haven't seen him in forever, but we talk every now and then, but it's usually about how he misses us and why he misses our family >> and um [snorts] how >> he wishes he could go back and redo everything, [sighs and gasps] >> but I was >> How did he find out about >> I heard? He called me one day and told me about how he was pressure washing Dana's house and asked me about how my day was going and I was crying like after the court decision. >> Yeah. >> It was Ted called me just one day and then he >> Do you know what day that was? >> Uhuh. Um messenger uh after court on Monday I messaged him and told him what was happening but it was >> some water. >> Thank you. After that, it was more so of um >> this is this is the update. This >> when you gave him the update, did you say anything else or make any >> anything that would make him believe like I need to do this? >> Other than your daughter crying, puking other than saying I did everything that I could. I don't I don't know. Did >> I >> Did Jason know him while you guys were dating? >> I don't know. >> How did he know where he lived at? >> I don't know. >> Oh, no. >> What? >> Oh, I don't know. >> I don't know. I told him. Um, [sighs] >> did you talk to your sister at all about this or was it just >> No, not Megan. Megan, she's pregnant. I didn't want to be the next cause of her. >> And she's married to Jason, correct? >> No, no, no, no, no. Jason's her dad. >> Okay. Sorry. >> No, that's okay. Um, I don't know who she's married to. >> Did you give that information that had his address on it to anybody? >> The interview moves toward Rachel's communications and the people she had been speaking with. Detectives begin looking more closely at her phone because they know it may contain information that isn't available from memory alone. For Rachel, the phone is extremely personal. She describes it as her lifeline, and she becomes visibly concerned when she learns that investigators intend to keep it. But from the detective's perspective, the phone may answer questions that Rachel cannot or does not answer herself. Who did she contact? Who contacted her? What was discussed? And when did those conversations happen? Rachel's reaction shows how much the phone matters to her in that moment. But the detectives aren't interested in taking it simply because they want another piece of evidence. They need to know whether the communications on that device can connect the people Rachel has been talking about to what happened to Colby. And that is exactly where the interrogation is heading. >> I don't know. >> You don't look know how you heard that called I guess. >> No. Because like I said, now we're peeling back this little onion. One thing we're looking for is, you know, what's best for your daughter at this point, >> right? >> I don't know how he would have got the address. >> I don't know that. I know that I made the joke of me wetting my sheets and I would pay for your gas, but I didn't think that through. I I never I never thought in a million years that would actually happen. But [sighs and gasps] >> can I see the picture? I tell you exactly if it's him or not. >> Would Chris provided that? [sighs and gasps] >> Huh? >> Would Chris have given him their location? >> I don't know. I don't I don't think Chris even [snorts] >> I don't think Chris even is friends with him on Facebook or knows his number or anything. They don't know anything. They This man's been separated from us for 13 years. He's been trying to get back with my mom forever. But it's just been like a casual distance. Hey, I love you, too. I grew up with you. You're my dad. This is what I've got going on. What have you got going on? We can stay distant but still stay in touch. I didn't think he would come here to do this. It was just a >> No, I need my phone. Please, please make me feel better. I just need someone to talk to because my stomach's in knots about this. And when I told him I'd pay for his gas because I wet my sheets if I didn't when I said I would pay for your gas, it mean I didn't have to wet my sheets anymore at 25 years old. Lol. Who would have thought? I'm just [snorts] Oh, [sighs] this is >> Well, >> well, >> on the plus side, you put yourself in a better position, >> buddy. I I didn't think about that. And then I'm sorry. >> I think you were thinking about the whole time that we were talking. What situation does that put me in? This is This looks very, very bad for me. I didn't do >> as we said, as Detective Kelly was saying, we were going to find this out. So, it would have looked a lot worse >> because you didn't tell us. >> Yeah, I didn't do this. I This is I'm sorry, y'all. I should have told you all right. But I'm so What do you do when what do you do when this is laid at your feet? >> You open your mouth and say something. >> And then what? Go to jail because this happened. >> You're much better off on the side of cooperation. After the pressure surrounding her phone, Rachel reveals something she hadn't told investigators earlier. She tells them she called Jason the first time. Detectives have a specific person to focus on. Rachel explains that she had been talking with Jason about the custody situation and that he knew about the problem she was having. Then she reveals something much more serious. Jason had sent her pictures of weapons, knives, swords, guns. Rachel says that at the time she didn't believe those pictures meant he was actually planning to hurt KBY. She says she thought he was simply showing her what he had, but after Kobe was killed, those same messages looked very different. Rachel also admits that she deleted the conversation because she thought it looked suspicious. That creates a major problem for her, even if she didn't intend for anything to happen. Detectives now have to consider why she was communicating with Jason, why weapons were being discussed, and why some of those conversations were deleted. Then comes the phone call. Jason tells her she doesn't have to worry anymore. And suddenly, Rachel realizes that the conversation may have meant something far more serious than she originally believed. >> He makes me feel better. He makes me feel calm. like he was going to take care of you. >> No, just knowing that he went through the same thing and that it was okay for him. He grew growing up, his kids got to come spend the summers with us and lived with their mom during the school year. So, that's what we talked about. Yes, there was violence and guns and stuff too, but that was just when I was venting. We talked about how to move forward with it, like do what your mom says to do, wait for the system, wait for DCF. It was stuff like that. >> But then Monday when obviously all that had not worked. No, even on Monday, all through this week, anytime he had contacted me, that's what he had said. It was not made to me that it was going to be taken care of like that. It was going to be taken care of in the system. God's got us. That's what I was told. So on Sunday when he called you and he said that it was all taken care of and that he had to >> that he had to to get out then. How did you feel? I >> could have puked. >> I was so scared because I didn't know what that meant. I >> What did you believe it meant? Because obviously what he said the person who makes you calm, the person that makes you feel better about things. He says he calls you has a quick conversation. What he says to you makes you so sick to yourself. >> When he said when he said I got to put I got to go. I can't talk right now. I got to put my ass in the wind. >> What did you believe? >> I believed that he was here. I believed that he heard him and that my kid had to witness it and that it was going to come on to me and that he just ruined my life. That's what I believed. And it >> so did he say anything to you about what he had done? >> No. >> But based on what he said to you, his words were good enough for you to believe that he had done something to hurt. Cody, >> something was off. Hey, you don't have to worry about anything anymore considering what we had been talking about all week. Like you sounded like you had been drinking. You sounded like like you knew what you knew what was going on in my life. Like how did you sound so confident and excited and then tell me you got to put your ass in the wind? >> I talked to him since. >> No. No. >> No. Since yesterday called you. He hasn't called you reached out to you at all? >> No. >> I have been sick. >> Has anybody reached out to you from that side from that side of your family? >> I've talked to Megan, but again, it was just about her pregnancy and what she was doing. And dad or her dad asked me if um I could ask her if she could loan him some money. And I was like, "Well, why don't you ask her?" And I was like, "Hey, can you give dad what he needs? I can cash app you or give it back to you." Or what >> was that? >> Huh? >> What was that today? >> No, that was um a while ago. Monday, maybe. Maybe maybe I don't know, sometime this week. But it was like I don't know. I wouldn't think anything of it because it's Megan and them. They live right next to each other. I didn't I don't get between them. They live too close to each other. They have too much drama. I try to focus on hey, how you doing? Do you have how's your kids? Like how's your pregnancy going? when it comes to Megan. Yes. [snorts] >> Okay. It's an important question. >> I know >> it really is. It sounds silly, but it's important question. Did you on purpose decide not to tell us this information early on? And why didn't you tell it? What What was your going through your head that why you decided not to give that information? I purposely didn't give you that information because I was scared that it would look like I set this up and you would immediately take my daughter and I did not do this and I don't know how else to go about doing any of this. I am I've never been more scared in my life sitting right here with all of my cards laid on the table. I have You'll have my life in your hands. Literally, I did not do this. I did not know he would do this. I did know. I did have an idea of who it would have been early on, and I'm sorry I withheld that. But it scared me right out the get-go because of the fact that look how it looks for me. I thought that I could vent to somebody that used to be my dad. I thought he lived far enough away it wouldn't be a problem. I I didn't I did not think in a million years that this would this would be something that actually happened and that my child would go through this and that we would be sitting here. >> Now, detectives begin going through Rachel's communication with Jason in much greater detail. They ask about specific calls messages and the timing of their conversations. Rachel repeatedly struggles to remember exactly when certain things happened. Then detectives bring up a message involving gas money. Rachel immediately understands how that message could look from someone else's perspective. She doesn't deny that the conversation existed. Instead, she tries to explain what she meant and why she had been talking to Jason in the first place. But the detectives aren't only asking what she meant. They're comparing her current explanation with what they expect to find on the phone. Rachel realizes that those messages may make her look far more involved than she believes she was. Eventually, she admits that there were things she should have told investigators earlier, and the detectives make it clear that this is exactly the problem. Every time another piece of information comes out raises the question of why Rachel didn't mention it from the beginning. By the end of this section, the issue is no longer simply what Rachel says she intended. It's whether investigators will believe that explanation when they can compare it against the actual messages. >> If I have to be here to drop her off, they have to be here to drop her off. >> Who could he have reached out to to get that information? >> I Anybody. Anybody that used to know me, anybody that he knows? I don't know. Maybe go to his friends list. I I don't know. I I wouldn't that doesn't seem if he was to ask me where does he live that would be like oh he's actually >> well does that ever come up even conversation as far as >> well yeah it says um it it says well maybe I need to go hunting I said well I have an address it's not even much of a hunting party >> that's in text messages that's going to look very bad Okay. >> Um, >> so did you just give him an >> address? >> No. >> When he asked when he asked for it? >> No. >> Did Christopher know you were talking to him? >> Yeah. But I mean, who doesn't talk? He's just as stressed about this as I am. >> Did he know, you know, that he was saying these things? >> Yeah, >> buddy. This looks bad. I know. I >> Is it possible through the conversations that you had with him that you gave him the address? >> No. >> No. >> I I don't Just like I told you before, I don't want to catch you off guard and suddenly find out that, >> right, that I gave him the address. >> It's all right there. >> Right. No. >> And you sat here and told us 20 times that you didn't you didn't give it and then it's going to be right there. No one's going to believe that. Obviously, if that in that regard, they're not going to believe your story. >> Yeah. >> They're going to say, "Oh, you're just trying to withhold little bits of information." >> Yeah. >> Okay. That's the only And that's why I'm just going to keep opening that door to to make you >> understand. >> I want you to be 100% positive that you did not give him an address. [snorts] >> You think you could have found Chris through Facebook and talked to him? I don't I don't think Chris would have talked to him to be honest. Chris would have been like, "Hey, um, your dad's texting me." He would have told me. We're very open. I say that, but I didn't I didn't tell my mom I called him because it's her ex-husband. I just I feel kind of awkward holding or having a some kind of distant relationship with her ex-husband. >> When's the last time your mom talked to him? >> I don't know. Probably at their divorce. I don't know. She's Oh, maybe at his his dad's funeral. Maybe. I don't know. We went up there for that. [snorts] But like I said, I didn't honestly I'm his stepdaughter. I didn't I He's someone I can just vent to. It's like talking to somebody in China. It was And yeah, if they say what makes you feel better at the time, okay, why why take any why take any thought to it, you know? But this is probably why [sighs] >> well the outside looking at it it kind of looks like it was clearly it was kind of going it was kind of clear that it was kind of going that direction. Okay. And that's why I want you to be clear about everything you said even if it sounds crappy. You said it keep saying it's going to look really bad. >> Yeah. >> Um >> it's going to look really bad. I didn't >> 30 minutes 30 minutes ago it was and I have you know there you're you're still kind of peeling back that that onion a little bit because suddenly you said well he did say it's time to go hunting and I said there's not much funding in the address >> but I didn't tell him the address >> but you could have told us that portion 25 minutes ago >> you see what I'm saying we're still little bits at a time >> right you asked me what what to look forward to in the messages what are you going to find I'm trying to think about what I may have said that something that popped up. I have a it's not much of a hunting party. I have an address, but I did >> through the text messages we're used to. I mean, are we look are we talking about, you know, just a handful of text messages or are you talking like like a serious hundreds of text messages conversation? >> I know. No. Like I I >> Do you know a text conversation gets out of out of control pretty fast? Also, you don't realize it, but you've sent 75 messages, >> right? It's No, it's not like that. I don't have time to be texting like that. I work at a border. Um, [snorts] y'all can see it and read it and y'all will get to see what I'm talking about when it says it it's going to look bad on me, but I didn't I didn't do this. I would not put her through that. Definitely not on purpose. >> After you dropped her off to Kobe, where did you guys go anywhere? >> We went to the Tom Thumb and then went to the house. >> Okay. And which Tom Thumb was that? >> The one at 399 and 87. >> He wasn't there at all. >> Who? >> Jason. No, >> like I said, I didn't know he was here. I knew Hey, um, you don't have to worry about anything, but I can't talk now. I got to put my ass in the wind. >> When you were venting to him on the phone earlier on, did he ever get I mean, did he ever give say anything that >> you don't have to worry about this >> that said he was mad like angry, mad, upset? >> No, he seemed calm. seemed [snorts] calm like he just >> told God about this. >> Yeah, he he seemed calm like he knew God had this. So I was calm because [sighs] >> when you say he's pretty he's been violent before. >> He he was an alcoholic but I mean he hasn't been here. I mean that most alcoholics get violent, but it wasn't anything like murder. It was a bar fight at the smoke house when it was still a smokehouse on 87. That's all that's all I know him to be violent with. There's a lot of things I assume we're we're still working on. We're still working on and I'm I just hate being caught by surprise once we get all the data back is all >> How long will that take? >> I said it's a it can be a fast process. So, it really just depends on how much data is on the phone. >> A bunch of it can Yeah. Okay. anytime real quick and you can be right back with >> Can it get processed now? >> No, because we don't we have we have our friends of people that do it and they're not here in this office. >> [snorts] >> Rachel, we talked to our state attorney based on all the information. He's advised we're going to place you under arrest right now. Okay. >> I don't want you. This is where Rachel finally explains why she kept Jason's identity from investigators. She admits that she deliberately withheld that information. Her explanation is that she was afraid detectives would think she had arranged the shooting. She says she knew early on who the person might have been, but she was afraid of what revealing that information would do to her and her daughter. That admission changes the meaning of everything that came before it. Rachel isn't saying that she knew Jason would kill Colby. She's saying that she had information that made her suspicious, but she chose not to share it. Detectives then returned to the phone call. Rachel explains that when Jason told her, she didn't have to worry anymore and then said he had to leave, she became frightened. She says she believed he may have been in the area and may have hurt KBY. She also feared that her daughter had witnessed it. For the first time, Rachel gives investigators a clear explanation of what she believed had happened. But there's another problem. She knew enough to be suspicious and she still >> I don't want you to fight us or anything about this right now. I just want you to understand this is just a very early point of the investigation. And >> if he puts me under arrest for something that I didn't do, it goes on my record and everybody can see it. >> No, it doesn't. [clears throat] This is just the This is just the first step. Okay. Again, we're not going to jump ahead. >> That's what they said with the arson. [snorts] >> Okay. I need you to stand up and we'll put handcuffs on you. Okay. We're going to have someone come up here and transport you to jail. Okay. >> Sir, I didn't do this. >> Is there anything else in your pocket at all? >> Sure. Is that better? >> Sorry. >> You have a smaller wrist than me. You don't want to hurt your wrist. Nobody here. [snorts] The final part of the interrogation is about consequences. Detectives continue asking about the messages, the address, and what information Rachel may have shared with Jason. Rachel continues insisting that she never gave him the address and never intended for anyone to be hurt. But investigators explain that the messages may tell a different story. Then at 2:20, the conversation changes completely. Detectives tell Rachel that after speaking with the state attorney, they are going to place her under arrest. Rachel immediately responds that she didn't do this. Her concern then shifts toward what the arrest means for her. She worries about her record. She worries about her daughter. She worries about being publicly connected to a homicide. And she repeatedly explains that she believes she was simply trying to protect her child. The detectives remind her that an arrest is not a conviction and that the investigation is still in its early stages. But Rachel has already realized that the situation has gone far beyond the custody dispute she originally came in to discuss. She is being taken to jail while continuing to insist that she did not kill Colby. And the interrogation ends with the same question that has followed her through the entire interview. Did Rachel simply fail to recognize what Jason was planning? Or did she know more than she was willing to admit?