Right here. Right here. >> I think he's in shock. His mother passed away. He's the soul caregiver. And I just think he's in shock >> that his mom stayed at the other house and no one has gone. >> What the? >> And then she's still there. And she's still at the house and no one has gone. >> Oh. >> Officers respond to welfare check calls every day. But what happens when one of those routine calls turns out to be a horrifying ordeal they won't forget anytime soon? >> Sir, she's ch. He took her face and smashed it and she kept smashing into the tiles. >> These were the moments when cops went pale after horrifying welfare check. Next up, when officers uncovered a crime in which a woman's greed for money drove her to do the unthinkable, even turning against her own husband. >> And then come January, there was just no contact. >> No contact at all. Come January. Has she mentioned anything about like, you know, their separation or anything like that to you? >> She did mention that she was probably going to file a month or two ago. I'm sure she destroyed it if there was any. >> She said that Curry gave her enough that money to buy the house with where he sold his roofing company to this kids in town. >> On May 12th, 2025, officers in New Mexico received a call from a man reporting that his friend had been missing since January. With no updates or information about what might have happened, the man eventually contacted the police. What began as a welfare check quickly raised concerns >> at 97. Heather, >> no sir, I had I I've been really worried about him. >> Okay. Since January. >> Since January. >> Yeah. >> So, is it like do they h do they live here like part-time or is it like uh full-time kind of thing? Do do you know? >> Well, he moved up here full they moved up here full time. >> Okay. >> Oh, this was back about 2 years ago. And we were real good friends and everything. >> Okay. >> And we were both on the James County Fire Department. >> Mhm. >> And then come January, it was just no contact. >> No contact at all. from January. >> Okay. Have you seen any vehicles or anything? Anybody in there? >> There was a black car that was up here and they parked up here up there in the in the in the shop right there in the shed. >> Yeah. >> And but they were kind of discreet. >> Okay. >> And they had it had Texas plates on it and uh I seen them drive by a few times. But >> did you recognize the the vehicle? Was it like something that they usually drive or >> No. about like how often would you say you guys usually talk or >> Oh, he talked all the time. >> Like was it like phone calls, messages, or just like in person? >> Oh, he just want to help me do all this driveway? >> Oh, okay. >> He want to help me do this roof. >> Okay. Okay. So, you guys would hang out? >> Yeah. Yeah, we were real good friends. >> Gotcha. Gotcha. And you said since January you haven't seen anybody, heard from him or anything like that? >> Yeah. January I got sick, he got sick, then a couple of other people on the fire department got sick. >> Okay. And then it was after that it was just he just disappeared. >> Okay. >> I didn't know if he got sick and passed away or I didn't know what happened. >> Okay. >> Cuz I ain't been able to talk to him or nothing. >> Gotcha. All right, Mr. >> I know his mom his mom was in real bad health over into Breen Ridge. >> Okay. >> And that's where they moved back to for the time being. >> Breen Ridge. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah, definitely. >> Really good friends with him. Yeah, we that's what we're here pretty much. Just just checking up on him, make sure that he's okay, that you know there's nothing going on. But all righty, sir. Um if I have any other questions or anything like that, I'll give you a call. >> I appreciate it. >> Have a good one. >> Yes, sir. >> Take care. >> At this point, officers were trying to piece together what had happened to the man identified as 60-year-old Craig Thatford. According to the information gathered, his family had not heard from him since January and could think of no reason that would explain such a sudden disappearance. >> Hi, can I help you? >> Yes, ma'am. How are you? I'm Deputy Pensor with the Turk County Sheriff's Office. Yeah, >> we were looking for Craig Setford. >> Yeah, we haven't heard from Craig. >> Okay. >> Um, we're buying the house from him. >> Okay. >> Um, he was in Breen Ridge taking care of his mom >> in Breen Ridge. >> Yeah. And um, yeah, we've been trying to get a hold of him because we're paying money every month and he was doing a spreadsheet for us and >> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> So, you guys are buying the property over here next door? We're buying this one. >> This one. Okay. Gotcha. Okay. >> Yes. >> Um, how long has it been since you have spoken to him or seen him? >> It has been since January. >> Since about January. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> His wife Dena is my friend. Um, she's in and out from the house down there. >> Okay. >> She hasn't really talked to him either, which is weird. >> Have you talked to Dena lately? >> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And have you asked her anything about like Craig, how he's doing or anything like that? >> She doesn't. And she from what she's telling me, she's not talking to him either. She's Oh, okay. So, are they like not together right now? >> I think they're splitting up. >> Gotcha. Okay. So, that's what's happening. >> And when was the last time you saw Dena here in the in the area? >> Um, it's probably been about 3 weeks now. >> About 3 weeks. >> Yeah. >> Gotcha. >> Supposed to be coming to town this week, though. >> Okay. Has she mentioned anything about like, you know, their their um separation or anything like that to you? She did mention that she was probably going to file a month or two ago. Two months ago. >> Month or two ago. >> Yeah. She made that decision. >> Gotcha. >> Last year. Is everything okay? >> Yeah. So, pretty much what the reason we're here is we're here cuz some of um Craig's friends were uh worried about him because they haven't heard him from him in a while. >> So, that's why we came out here try to see if if he was here, just make sure that he's okay. Obviously, um, as you already know that there hasn't been anybody staying in the house for a while, >> so we're just kind of trying to piece everything together. Just want to make sure that he's okay. >> As the investigation progressed, information from new witnesses revealed that Craig was married. This detail caught investigators attention because, according to the information gathered, the couple had been going through a separation. Meanwhile, negotiations for the sale of a piece of land that belonged to Craig were still ongoing with his wife, identified as Dena. Doesn't look like anyone's been here. >> I'm not seeing anything that's changed or moved. >> Same motion lights turning on like nobody's flipped any switches or changed anything. >> You just >> Yeah, I did. Well, I couldn't open it cuz it's latched closed, but >> Okay. >> I don't smell anything. What's this? Fire pit. garage opening >> downstairs entry >> through the garage. Clear up this way. Sheriff's Office first starter OFFIC Looks like you have an upstairs. Small room. Got a door. >> Small room coming out. >> Okay. Small room. Light it up. Small room. They're coming out. I'm going to go right. >> Clear. >> Clear. >> So, I'm looking to see if there's any cameras, but I haven't seen >> There's cameras on the back side of this house. >> Yeah, which is good. If we find anything, >> I'm sure she destroyed it if there was any. Is that dirt or is that blood? >> About a month after the initial investigation, officers returned to search the house again. At first glance, everything appeared normal and well organized, and nothing immediately drew attention. However, a stain found on the carpet confirmed investigators suspicions that something might have happened to Craig. It became a crucial clue, leading officers to believe that Craig had never actually left the house and that his body had likely been hidden. >> Dana took all of his gear and put it inside the brush truck. >> I drove the brush truck back to 16 springs and that's where we unloaded his gear at. Okay. >> It's not been touched. So, since she's loaded it, it has um it has been sat in the corner and not a lock. >> It's been sat in the corner and it hasn't been tampered with, touched since it's been put there. >> So, what y'all have seen, I haven't noticed any like blood or anything like that on >> You didn't even open it. >> I didn't open it. So, part of my job is as soon as he turned it in, which I knew was not right there. There's reasons I knew that I was like, "Bull crap. He wouldn't have done this." >> Yeah. Um, and then I just kept hoping, well, he's gonna come back. This is stupid. He's gonna come back. He's just gonna come back. So, I was like, I'm not touching it because he's going to come back. Not gonna jinx it. He's going to come back. And then when I realized he's not coming back, I'm told Roger that. >> It's not been touched. I have not tampered with it. It has sat in the same spot since we picked it up. Nobody's unzipped it. Nobody's messed with it. >> Okay. You need the barbecue grill. >> Jo can do is unzip it. If you notice blood, don't just stop and then call Roger and then we >> I didn't even want to do that without y'all present. >> If you want us there, we can be there. >> I would prefer >> Is it at the 16 station? >> Yes, just a moment. >> I would just prefer y'all to >> the Wi-Fi >> just in case. There's probably nothing. There's probably nothing, but I would prefer >> Sorry. >> Yes, y'all to just >> when we pull stuff out, just in case there's something >> in there. Looks like that she used it to cover something up. >> Yes. Yes. And so we check the gear regularly. So there if there's blood that's No. >> Is there anything else you can think of to add that you haven't told Roger? >> Oh my god, there's so much. But I don't know even where to start. Just that phone call. >> As the investigation began focusing on Craig's wife, friends of the couple shared concerning details. They explained that while Craig had been sick, Dena had contacted them. But whenever they offered help, she refused. This unusual behavior immediately raised investigators suspicions that Dena might have known more about Craig's disappearance than she was willing to admit. >> Got a copy of that. Jenkins was there with me when she called me cuz I was like, why is Dana calling me? Um >> 1946. >> And um when she called, she was hysterical and said that he was sick. He was really sick. Craig's really sick. And I'm like, "Okay, let us come look at him." I'm like, "Cuz Bill can start an IV on him, get him some hydration, and need be, we can take him down to the emergency room." And she just, "No, he's sick. He's sick. And you can't get sick." Because the next day I was leaving for the Mayo. And I was like, "Don't worry about me. No, he's just really sick." And she's like, "And he's going to be he's sick and the next thing and I'm going to be sick. So, you're not going to see either one of us because I'm he's sick and I'm going to be sick. I'm just letting you know." Well, let me come look at him. Let Bill come look at him and see if he needs fluids because that was that what that virus that was going on. >> Not not a virus cuz I got sick, Craig got sick, and Dan got sick all at the same time. >> Well, that we know Craig got sick >> and she >> We don't know. She refused. >> She referred. She wouldn't. And I I kept telling I I'm kicking myself cuz we should have come up here and they're like they she probably wouldn't have opened the door if I would have come. But what is odd is we had that kind of relationship for her to call out of the blue and just tell me that he's sick. Well, then let us do something for him. No, I'm just letting you know that he's sick. He's really sick and I'm going to be sick. So, you're not going to see us. And it didn't even didn't click. It didn't even click. But what annoyed me was like, then why are you calling panicked >> if you don't want us to do anything about it? And that's January 4th. >> As investigators continued reviewing new discoveries in the case. A crucial lead came from an unexpected source, a call to the missing person's line. The caller had not previously been involved, but instead of vague concerns, they offered specific details about behavior inside the home, unusual financial activity, and decisions made during the months when Craig had vanished without contacting anyone. >> Come here, this is Jody. >> Hi, Jody. This is Detective Curtis from the Otto County Sheriff's Office. >> Oh, hi. Yes. Um, I spoke to the my c. So anyway, my cousin has some information regarding a missing person's out there and I believe they've talked to you about it already, so I don't have any additional information, but I just had wanted to make sure that y'all had gotten the information. >> Okay. Who is your cousin? >> Um, my cousin is, but it was his wife, her name's Les, and it was regarding her mother, Deanna Fetford, about Craig Fetford. >> Okay. Um, >> yeah. I mean, I I just overheard a convers. We were just having a get together with family, so she's like sort of related to me, married my cousin. Um, and she was talking about how her >> mom came to town in like March. It looks like he's been missing since January. I didn't know he was missing until this weekend. Um, but I didn't really know him or her very well. I'd only met the other GNF effort once. Um, >> but uh, her mom kind of moved back and had money, which she had never had before, and bought a house in Seymour, Texas. And, um, she'd seen her a couple of times. And then the last time she saw her, she wanted her daughter to meet her at a hotel. And that's when she told her that she had shot her husband and buried him under the carport or in the carport area. >> Within this new development, bank records revealed a troubling detail. A house had been purchased only days after Craig's last contact with friends. Even more surprising to investigators, the buyer was the main suspect. >> Hi, is this Miss >> It is. >> Hi, this is Detective Curtis with the Otto County Sheriff's Office in New Mexico. How are you? >> I'm good. How are you? >> Good. You work for Lonear Realy, correct? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. I was wondering if maybe you could help me out with answering some questions on a property that you had sold in February, if you have a second. >> Yes. Um, which which house is it? >> Um, in Sean. >> Yes. Yes. >> All right. Hold on one second. I'm sorry. Now that property was um could you had sold it to um a single buyer? >> Yes. >> Okay. And um the can you verify the name for me? >> Do you >> Dina? >> Yes. Okay. And did um she she didn't have another person in the transaction with her? >> No, ma'am. >> Okay. Do you remember when it was that she was inquiring to purchase a property? Um, let me let me see if I have all that on file. One second. I know her mother lives in town and I kind of talked with her some. It's a very it's a very small town. I don't know if you looked at Seymour, but everybody kind of knows everyone here. >> Okay. >> So, she had her mom with her and I showed them a few houses. Um, but it was just her name on a contract. And let me see if I have dates. Um, okay. I know she closed the first week of February. I want to say she closed like the 4th and I think it all happened within like a week. >> Okay. So she had found the property and closed within a week about >> um yes I would say within I mean we saw some houses and then within 2 weeks everything was kind of closed and done with >> at this stage testimony from the seller of a property in Texas provided a key piece of the puzzle. A cash purchase completed during the same period when no one had been able to reach Craig. >> Talk about why it was so quick. >> Um she was moving down here to be closer to her mom is all I knew. >> Okay. Her mom's older. Quite older. >> Okay. So, she was going to go be closer to his her mom who's elderly. >> Yes. >> Okay. Did um was there a mortgage or was that a cash sale? >> Um it was it was all I think it was just cash sale. I don't She didn't have a loan. She paid the asking price. It was 150,000. It hadn't been listed for very long. So, and they they wanted a little extra. There's like a little house next to it that they wanted more for, so we just got it for the 150 and they threw in the little building next to it. >> Okay. Um, now, all right. I really appreciate all your help. >> These details were further confirmed by another witness who described the regular activity and movements inside the house. >> This is Detective Curtis with the Oro County Sheriff's Office. I had a message that you had called. >> Yes, ma'am. >> All right. What can I help you with, sir? that I recently got in touch with an old friend of mine. She was married to that dude and apparently she said she said she shot him. >> Okay. >> I don't I don't I have a conscience and I can't I couldn't just not say nothing. I mean, I'd rather not be involved, but I guess I am. But and that's all I know. Like I I live here in Texas. Um, I hadn't seen her in years or talked to her in years until just like Friday or end of last week, whatever. And she come out with that. So, I kind of think that she put more on my plate than I was ready to chew. So, I made the phone call. >> Can you tell me uh her name? >> His wife. >> Okay. I I I'm I'm not real all hightech and all and I believe what people tell me. So that I don't know if she's really married to him or not, but >> um that's what I know. >> Can you um tell me how the conversation went? You said that you guys had just recently connected, hadn't talked to her in years, >> and and how did this all come about? Uh well, we I mean we we've done that before like you know being out of touch for a couple years and touched back up whatever and she just kind of basically just put it on my plate like that like she had done something that she wasn't proud of and she wanted something she was even less proud of and I kind of read between the lines and then she mouth off say she shot him and I told her to shut up. I don't want to hear no more and here we are. >> Okay. Did she tell you when? >> No. No, ma'am. I I don't have I don't know none of the pictures. >> At this point, officers went to the home of Diana's mother. Strategically, Diana already seemed to have a story prepared. According to her mother, Dena claimed that Craig had given her the money to purchase the house. However, this statement was inconsistent with the information provided by other witnesses. >> Did Did Dina tell you why she wanted to take her life? >> No. No. Did she have a method she was planning on using? I don't know. She didn't say that. I knew she was real depressed. But didn't expect this. About how long has she been back here? She she started coming back off and on and I don't remember what it was. Maybe it was we were there Thanksgiving. It was the first time I'd seen their place. And so it was after Thanksgiving. >> Did she tell Do you know how she bought the house? She said that Craig gave her that money to buy the house with. >> She said that Craig gave her the money to buy a house here. >> Yeah. I I I think they had an argument and he told her to get out. >> Okay. >> And she told him, "No, you didn't." That's all I remember. And he so he gave her some money and she got take he said you can whatever you want to and so she could pack up some of the stuff that she wanted and and come to Texas >> and she she packed up some you said she packed up some furniture and stuff to move into the other property. >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> Yeah. and she had gone back and forth between here in New Mexico. Did she say um any interactions that she had with Craig or I don't think Craig was ever around after that. He he uh was a bully and uh but he could be very kind. Um when you say he was a bully, is there something that you saw or that Dina told you? Craig has thrown her out of the house many times. I've had to go and pick her up many times. >> Is that while they lived in Breen and Ridge? >> Yes. >> Okay. And I I I had talked to her before and I suggested her to leave and she didn't leave and she should have cuz neither one of them would be where they're at right now. >> As the investigation progressed, new clues continued to emerge. At this stage, Diana's family was questioned and revealed that months earlier Craig had sold his company. This discovery alarmed investigators, suggesting that the large sum of money involved could have been a possible motive for the murder. >> I do understand that that Dena was here. Um, you had mentioned that his cell phone was gone. I know that you had had some text message communication with I think and you had mentioned that Dena had had Craig's phone because she wanted to hold on to it for >> Mhm. >> he said he want she said he wanted to keep it because the roofing where he sold his his roofing company to this kids in town >> was on his phone. And >> she said he hadn't been able to talk to us because the phone wasn't >> working right. >> He couldn't hear through it or something, but he wanted to keep the phone because of the information about the roof. And she said that's why he wanted to keep it. Well, she kept it all. >> I saw you. >> Did you see it at all? >> Huh? >> Did you see it? Did you see her with it? >> No. >> No. >> Okay. No. >> No. And she didn't take it until she kept saying it was there. >> There's a >> I bet they already know. >> What do y'all know? >> We've seen Facebook. >> Man, my phone has been blowing up. I mean, I we ain't got to worry about telling nobody. >> Yeah. >> I'm like, what the heck? >> Wish Falls. >> See, they know more than I do. >> That's good. firstdegree murder and then hitting him with that tempering. >> She shot him with a gun. I >> And he was on the property when they found him. >> Was she? >> See, I'm just so private. >> This is the grandsons. Grandson's. >> It's nobody's business. >> My older brother. Okay. Okay. I talked to a while back. and they got his body or the left of it after five months >> because they seen him on New Year's Eve at a party. Tommy and his wife and Craig and Dana and then you know he was moving down here. I got the text. >> Yeah, that's what she said down here. Take care of me. Got she's been taking care of me and they've been taking care of me. >> Well, I got notified from Tommy. What they got was that he had to move back to Breen Ridge and quit the fire department because his sorry ass sister who lives in town, same town as his mother, wouldn't take her to the doctor visits and she was about to lose her leg and so he had to come home and take care of his mother. >> Yeah, >> she'd marry her every day. >> So she buried him or just >> No. >> No, just >> I don't think she got a chance to. >> Okay. um >> the back ho she couldn't work so she couldn't be able to to determine for sure she said anywhere from weeks to months she said she >> who told weeks it could be not >> huh so she >> we saw we got a Facebook post >> she didn't >> numerous >> that's how we figured it out and then we came straight >> hatred >> with Denaford under arrest and a growing body of physical financial and testimonial evidence. Investigators reached a point where there was no longer any doubt about her involvement. >> All right, Dina. So, I'm sure you understand why we're all here. >> Yes. >> Did you get a copy of your arrest warrant? >> No, I haven't gotten a copy. >> Okay. >> Anything by anybody anywhere? >> Okay. >> And I'm just going to tell you right now, I'm going to need a lawyer. >> Okay. >> And that's as far as I want to go. >> Okay, that's fine. Do you already have a lawyer that's set up with you or anything like that? >> No, I haven't been. I've been here in Texas. >> Yeah. All right. I didn't know if you had um already reached out to one or or had talked to one before. >> I have not known what to do. I just really haven't known what to do. >> Yes. So, um I can meet you out there with your attorney if you'd like and then we can we can sit down and and chat. >> Okay. >> All right, Dina. So, I'm sure you understand why we're all here. >> Yes. >> Did you get a copy of your arrest warrant? >> Yes, I haven't gotten a copy yet. >> Okay. >> Anything by anybody anywhere? >> Okay. >> And I'm just going to tell you right now, I'm going to need a lawyer. >> Okay. >> And that's as far as I want to go. >> Okay, that's fine. Do you already have a lawyer that's set up with you or anything like that? >> No, I haven't been. I've been here in Texas. >> Yeah. All right. I didn't know if you had um already reached out to one or or had talked to one before. >> I have not known what to do. >> I just really haven't known what to do. >> Yes. So, um I can meet you out there with your attorney if you'd like and then we can we can sit down and and chat. >> Okay. >> In the end, Deanna Thatford was charged with firstdegree tampering with evidence and forgery. According to the laws of New Mexico, she could face life in prison without the possibility of bail while in custody. Next up, what seemed to be a simple welfare check after a woman went missing quickly turned into something far more disturbing with suspicion pointing to her own son. >> I said apparently she's been lying to her son. Cory, but Dylan, I don't know. >> Oh, it's her. >> Your mom's deceased? >> Yeah. What do you mean your mom's deceased? >> I thought I was doing the bad for her. I failed her. On November 21st, 2022, officers in New Mexico received a 911 call after neighbors reported that one of the local residents had mysteriously disappeared. The situation quickly escalated when friends of the woman also contacted police, expressing concerns that something might have happened to her. What initially appeared to be a simple welfare check soon turned into a search as officers hoped it was nothing more than a misunderstanding. >> So, we're in her house in Los Cruises because they didn't find her. They don't she wasn't there. just the dogs in the in the vehicle and we were not even aware she was out of town. So, we are here at the house. We don't have a key to get in, but I am worried because she's been a stroke victim in the past. Number one, and number two, she's diabetic. >> You're trying to do? Are you trying to go into the home or what is it they're trying? >> Well, we're trying to make sure she's okay because nobody has heard from her since Sunday. And like I said, they found her vehicle in San Diego. Central dispatch operator 488. How may I help you? >> Hello. Uh, I need to have a welfare check. I've got someone to actually have the key to the residence so the officer can get in. >> All right. And what do you you need the welfare check done for? >> Well, she's been reported missing and you guys have done several welfare checks but but aren't able to force entry. So, we found someone with the key so the officers can go inside and see if there's anything to report. However, despite the reports, officers were only able to move forward with the investigation after one of the woman's sons, whose mother was identified as Cynthia Baren, informed them that he had the key to her house. The situation escalated even further when a call from the bank shifted the direction of the investigation. Well, as we got to looking and um her account has been drained >> and it has her it one of the the the girls in the branch recognized and her son has taken out all of her money and I've got it all on camera. Well, and and I don't have the exact dollar amount yet, but they've taken out thousands of dollars through the ATM. But there are I don't even know how many because I haven't dug into it yet. But it looks like they're going to Walmart and buying gift cards because there's just a crap ton of charges at Walmart for like $11.14. So I think they're buying $100 gift cards would be my guess. >> Okay. >> At this point, officers realized this was no longer just a simple disappearance. Cynthia's car had been found on the side of a road and inside were her dogs. Given the circumstances, officers knew they needed to act as quickly as possible. This was no longer a routine missing person case. >> Yeah, she'd given me keys like almost a year ago. >> Since you've been here, have you seen anybody outside? >> I've not even been here. Today's the first day that her friend text me. So, this is the first time I heard about this. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, my first thing knowing her son and being in her house with the dogs was Dylan. >> Okay. >> And that's what I told Cy. Is it apparently she's been lying to her son Cory? But Dylan, I don't know. >> As the investigation took a new direction, a statement from Cynthia's friend became crucial for officers to proceed with searching the victim's home. According to the witness, Cynthia had two sons. However, her relationship with one of them was marked by constant conflicts and arguments. He was later identified as Dylan. >> So, this is the first time I heard about this. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, my first thing knowing her son and being in her house with the dogs was Dylan. >> Okay. >> And that's what I told Corey. I said apparently she's been lying to her son Corey. But Dylan, >> I don't know. >> So, nobody Well, I guess Cory, the son that lives out of state in Texas. >> Yeah. >> Last had contact with her Monday. The weird thing is too, I heard from the bank, her bank right near they they called too and they said, "Well, you know what? Her account's drained." And yeah, her account everything's gone. And the only thing I can tell you is that it was being pulled out ATM at Walmarts and everything that was pulled out at the ATM. Uh, it looked like it was pulled it out. police department. Oh no. Well, that's weird. No cars. Police department. Okay. >> Why is this so creepy? >> Charlie, the door's locked. >> At this point, officers were searching for any evidence that the house might have been broken into. However, they found no signs of forced entry, only two locked doors. The presence of those locked doors only increased suspicions that something inside the house was being hidden. >> Huh? Got it open. >> Oh [ __ ] >> That's all. Oh, [ __ ] It's her. >> She's ching. >> The shocking way Cynthia was found under the shower immediately alarmed officers. Investigators began to question whether Dylan might have discovered his mother in that condition and fled or if he could have been responsible for what had happened. >> Right. >> No. So, it's it's weird because like her bedroom door, >> you know how like doorork knobs have that little circle in it and where you can put a key in and twist it, but it's not like an actual key hole. It's just like the little hole. >> Um, it looks like it's like drilled out. I mean, it's like weird. Um, so then we started talking about the other son. Um, and that's when he told me that his um or the the victim here, her car was found in San Diego abandoned with her two dogs in there. Yeah. >> Um, we're unable to reach the the son. Um, one of the sons. We're unable to reach him. The one that supposedly lived here and had the arro against her. >> Um, >> no. Don't don't try to reach no more. >> Well, we we were trying to do it before the before making entry to see if we can get him to come to the door or even make you five with him. So, there's another door that's locked inside of the home. One of the other bedrooms. reason to kick it in to clear the rest of the the house. >> I could try to open it like I did. >> I would say so because I mean if it's code 24, if you guys think that maybe somebody code one her, you got to make sure that the suspect's not behind that locked door. >> Yeah. Okay. I just want to make sure I was on the right. Please park. >> This one's locked. >> As news of the incident spread through the neighborhood, officers began hearing accounts from neighbors about the troubled relationship between mother and son. Details that increasingly pointed to the man's possible involvement, >> which I think they found her car in San Diego. >> Yeah. And I guess uh I don't know who was saying the neighbors or somebody told TA that they both saw or they saw both of them using her her vehicle to go. >> Do they know anything about health issues though? >> Uh they said something about her being like kind of bipolar. Um apparently there's >> it's going to kill her though. >> No. Um I guess there's a history of domestic >> contact or >> No, we won't contact him. We'll uh wait on C to contact anybody else because it's going to be their investigation now. >> I just had a few questions for you real quick. Are you familiar with these people across the street? >> Not really. >> No. >> Hey, did you happen to see her son moving trash cans or anything like that this week for trash day? >> They did last Monday. >> Last Monday? >> Yeah. >> Okay. You saw the the son? >> I didn't see him, but I saw the trash out there and then I seen it. Uh, you know, he took the cottage kel back in once they picked it up. >> Okay. >> But I didn't see him. >> You live across the street, sir? >> Right here. Do you have cameras by chance? >> No. >> I talked to the people, man. I They came on th on Wednesday. Thursday. >> Thursday. >> Thursday. And I told him >> to the officers. You mean >> to the officers? Yeah. I told you I saw him. >> You saw him Monday? >> Monday. Yeah. >> For sure. Monday. >> Okay. So like but like you recognize him. >> Oh yeah. >> What was he in? >> He was in the black. >> Black. >> That was so was a week ago, right? >> Okay. >> Questions for you. In reference to these people across the street. Have you have you seen anything or heard anything what's been going on over there or? >> Yeah. >> Are you familiar with the history of them? >> Uh yeah, kind of. >> Okay. Can you tell me a little bit about him? >> Well, I was around when he beat the hell out of it the first time. >> When was that? Oh, it was about uh four years ago, something like that. What What did he do? Said he took her face and smashed it into kept smashing it into the tile floor. >> Okay. >> Well, you guys probably know a court case about it. >> I'm not familiar with that with that address. Um but from what I understand, from what I've been hearing is it's been going on for some time. >> Okay. I saw him last Monday take the garbage out. >> Okay. You saw him take the trash out? Yep. >> As the investigation progressed, officers returned to the statement of the victim's friend, the main witness. Emily revealed crucial details about Dylan's health condition, which had led Cynthia to allow him to return home, even though there had previously been a protective order against him due to past aggression. However, investigators began to consider that the claim about his health problems might have been an excuse by the suspect to draw his mother back in. >> Is very troubled. She would always make the excuse that he had cancer. Um, I said, "Cindy, get him into the home." So, >> and I felt for him. He'd reach out to me, but it was always those trapped phones, throw away phone. So, I knew he was either a I mean, I work with that population. He's either dealing I knew at one time he's probably high. He's either fentanyl or me. Um, only because of his manifestation of his dementia, how he would help. We have any diagnosis >> for Cindy? >> Dylan. Um I think she said he had stage two cancer cuz he has a leg. He was taking medication. Yeah, he limps. I think it's less. >> No, I'm not sure. I think it's his left. His left if I Yeah, he's got a distinguished dark hair. There's not a single. >> Huh? There's not a single cleaning supply that I found. No dawn. No [ __ ] bleach. No. Look at this. Some gravy boots. Look at how [ __ ] >> tricky that one is. >> Why are you concerned? >> Because there's also that streak all over the shower. >> At this point, investigators faced a significant challenge despite testimonies describing the strained relationship between mother and son. The evidence found inside the house and the autopsy results did not point to Dylan. There was nothing directly linking him to the crime. >> Hello, Corey. >> Hello. Hi, it's Detective Martinez as Cusus Police Department. >> Yes, >> I'm calling just to uh give you like a little update. Um, so we didn't find any obvious signs of trauma to the body. So, she will be sent out to Albuquerque just to uh do an autopsy, make sure there's something that we're not seeing. Um, and then we'll know a little bit more after that. We should know something. I'm going to say like tomorrow afternoon. >> Um David Castillo brother Mike brother. >> I'm sorry. Um I am the head detective on pace. My partner is still coming back from Albuquerque. He did give me a call let me know that there's nothing suspicious. So um They're saying that she did have a lot of heart issues that they could see and the autopsy. So that's what they're thinking. >> As the investigation progressed, officers continued trying to piece together the puzzle. With no clear evidence, the fact that Cynthia had been found fully clothed raised the possibility that her death might have been caused by a medical condition. In addition, the autopsy's estimated time of death once again did not indicate Dylan's involvement. Um, so either way, we're still looking for um, she was found in the shower. Uh, she was tested, so we don't know if she was cleaning and that happened to her. Uh, yeah, no reports. He could have called us, told us what happened. House is empty. Um, >> the house is empty. >> There's no blankets. uh no cleaning products, no food. So again, very suspicious. You know, that's why we looked at it as a possible murder because we didn't know who we had. Uh we were out there for forever. You know, like I said, she was out in the shower and the shower was water. So that kind of threw us off on the time of death. But we're estimating the 14th. We were not told. We know that at some point she had water. >> She does have it. The issue is that she will let him back in. >> Yeah. Exactly. >> Right. >> So now I know that strange, but we need to know what who's his associates are in case he at home or moving stuff out of the house. to the neighbor. >> We did talk to the neighbor. Um, >> we didn't get we didn't get a name of >> possible friends or anything. >> No. No. But but I was wondering if she had contacted through like >> he didn't say that. Um, there was a person who gave me a number for Dylan, but he changes numbers all the time. knew he knew that he didn't want her. Why is he so natural? >> Natural causes house clean >> and she's dressed in the shower. >> Yeah. Well, so what I'm thinking is she was cleaning or something. I mean, there's a couple theories. She was cleaning. She had a stroke. He found her. He's out. He didn't advise anybody. He just cleaned everything. So there's no trace of him. Another got into a fight which caused the stroke. >> And he took off. >> Is it possible that you would have put her in the in the shower? >> No. Because there's no no bruising, no, you know what I mean? Nothing that indicates she was grabbed. She was forced. At this stage, the only way investigators could move forward was by questioning Dylan. But for weeks, he had vanished without a trace, leaving officers with no idea where he might be. The investigation began to stall until a new witness suddenly brought the case back to life. >> How do you know? Okay. Um, and my daughter went to school together. >> Okay. >> That's how we knew each other or we know each other. Mom, can you help me? So, >> and when did he reach out to you? >> Uh, it was actually 7:00 in the morning. So, am I right on this that you guys are looking for him? >> We need to as far as passing, not so much, but we need to speak with him about staring. It helps us put a story together. that he or his girlfriend is not um I guess I know the vehicles over there on the dogs and stuff over there. So I assume he had to have gone with her. There's no way he would have not gone with those dogs. >> Okay. >> You know that person. I don't know who that person is. >> Which person? I don't know. >> California, >> but it's not >> I don't know the name or anything. >> Wait, do you think it's not? >> It's a crab. >> Do you know ethnicity of this person? >> I think it's Mexican. I I think uh from what I understood that person did live in Mexico and that's why I think they parked the vehicle by the border but you know I don't know I just know what little the family has told me the reason I find the king well but it's really started bothering me now because he's selling some of her possessions online >> despite the witness's information it took five more months before Dylan was detained in another city for driving under the influence. On April 5th, 2023, he was finally located and investigators knew that the answers they needed to close the case would depend on his interrogation. >> So, I'm Detective. This is Detective. >> What's up, guys? >> So, we want to come talk to you um investigating some stuff, but we want to just kind of get some basics from you. >> I know you got picked up the other day here, right? >> I think it was trafficking or something like that. >> Yes. >> You currently stay? >> I'm homeless, actually. I was actually in the process of actually getting an apartment this Monday. >> Oh crap. Where at? >> Uh either off of Fleming, Missouri, or I was looking at the apartments offshore. >> Okay. Nothing specific. No, >> just all up in the air. >> Um before, how long have you been homeless? >> I'd say about five about five months. >> Five months. Prior to that, where were you living? >> Uh I was staying with uh my friend. >> Okay. And who was that? Um, I don't really, >> um, at what point, um, when was the last time you lived with your mom? >> H [ __ ] Let's say I last talked to her probably about like October, Septemberish. >> It was the last time you talked to her. >> Yeah. Okay. >> I I stayed with her for like a week or so. That's about it. >> Okay. >> October, September. How did I go? I know you guys had >> Yeah, we we >> tultuous past and >> yeah, it was kind of always a conundrum with us. We tried this and that. I haven't actually got a talk to her at all. I tried to call her, but I don't know like and then being on the streets, I I don't know. Just like it just got out of hand. I don't know. >> So, the last time and that's on the last time you talked to her was in October, September. >> Yeah, maybe like about maybe September 12th or something. >> September 12th. Why why does such a girl stick out? >> Uh I don't know, just given like a date in general. >> At this point, detectives already knew that Dylan was lying about where he had been living. His claim was contradicted by Cynthia's family and neighbors, all of whom confirmed that he had been living with her. As the interrogation continued, Dylan's version of events began to undermine the very foundation of the case as it stood. >> Um basically just my history of being a drug addict on the streets, this and that. you know, she gave me multiple times to try and this and that and it always failed and you know, so I just had to learn to live with it. >> Okay. What What was it like the last time you talked to her? >> It was all right. You know, we got for a minute and stuff and I don't know. I I could just feel that it wasn't really that time to like move back in and [ __ ] >> Uhhuh. Okay. Um, outside of that, did you guys have any other dealings, phone calls? >> Can't really say >> like supplement stuff. Did she send you money? >> Uh, the only other time she actually really helped me out was when I was last locked up, um, was it 2020? She put a $100 bail on me >> and then I continue with court and then I turned myself into those three months and then we tried to reconcile then. I stayed for like 3 days, but within those three days it just showed like that. But as far as that seep from September on, she didn't funnel you money. Didn't give you anything any help out or anything like that? >> No, sir. >> Okay. So, how would you get stuff? How would you pay for stuff? >> Well, I actually get SSI. >> I'm not cuz I'm disabled from cancer. >> I had what you call e-wing saroma/bone marrow cancer. >> So, I had tumors on my pelvis and my hip. So, I had my right pelvis and half my hip removed. >> Yeah. So even though I've been homeless, I've been able to, you know, pay for like say a hotel here and there. I get the necessities. >> And that's directly to you, right? >> Directly to >> Is that like through card? >> Yeah. I get it on my citizens bank. >> Okay. And it's your account. >> My account. >> Okay. Is she on that account at all? No. We talked about things um uh about basically your last contact with your mom. >> Okay. >> Okay. Your mom's deceased. >> Yeah. >> What do you mean? >> Your mom's deceased? You're bullshitting. >> Officers confronted the suspect with the news of what had happened to his mother, but instead of a genuine reaction, his response seemed rehearsed. For investigators, that small detail was enough to begin applying pressure and push him to reveal the truth. >> So, your mom was found November 21st of last year at her house. This is >> How the hell am I just hearing about this now? >> I don't know if you're just hearing about it now. That's what we're here to talk to you about. You've been gone in for the last >> what the [ __ ] >> eight months. Okay. So, the reason why we're asking you questions and we come here and we ask these specific things is because we're trying to lay out a timeline. Okay. And find out what's going on. And I already know you've told me a couple untruths. I'm going to call them lies yet, but you've already told me some untruths. So, it's important that we sit down and we talk and figure out what's going on. What happened? Did anything happen? Did you walk into something? It's excuse my language, but [ __ ] needs to be put on the table. Okay. Because right now, I've got a couple folds already from what you just told me for the five minutes I've been here. So, >> compose yourself and and let's talk. The investigator's strategy slowly began to work. Dylan claimed that on the day of the murder, he had arrived at the house with another person and found his mother lying on the floor. Panicked, he said he chose not to call the police. But one detail immediately stood out to investigators. In what seemed like a calculated decision, Dylan admitted that he had wiped away his fingerprints from the places he had touched, claiming he feared being blamed. >> I wind up meeting this transgender online and everything, and me and my mom, we went to go get her and stuff, and we get there. I was living with mom for like the last year and stuff and whenever we were out doing our business and everything. We came back and found her deceased and I knew I had warrants at the time. So, I didn't actually call anybody. I didn't know what to do. And I first thought about fleeing the country, but then I just I just didn't know what to do. >> Okay. So >> I cuz I had a key and everything and I open the door, you know, and you know, I'm like knocking on my mom's door like, "Mom, mom, hey, I'm here. I'm here." Finally, I open it and everything and I see her and everything and I'm just like, "Mom, mom." I don't know, maybe it was like maybe like 3 days cuz she was already like puffy and [ __ ] So that's pretty much the reality of it. I found a disease and I didn't know what to do. >> Okay. So tell me what you did do. I understand not knowing what you didn't know what to do, but what did you do? Like there's specifics and details that we know. >> Yeah, like the house is clean and stuff. >> Okay. What else? >> Um, that's pretty much really it. I I was just so scared cuz I didn't want to get arrested >> and this and that. And that's pretty much really it. >> What do you mean by the house was clean? like I like went down the counters in case I had fingerprints and everything cuz I didn't want like to leak to me like like as if I murdered her or something, you know? >> At this point, the suspect began giving investigators information about the victim's car, which had been discovered near the state border. He claimed that health problems had prevented him from going any further, but officers believed he knew his capture was only a matter of time. >> That's honestly, that's as much as I can. >> What else? And so I thought about what I did was I packed my car and everything to go to Tijana and I was staying with the transgender like I had her staying with me. I was like all right we'll just flee the country and all this and once we got to the border uh she said she needed to do something and I was like all right cuz we were going to take care of the dogs and everything like that. So I wind up being in a hotel in Tijana for about a week or so. And then something happened with her and the dogs. Then I had no money. I didn't know what to do. So I came back in the States and then I wind up going to the hospital. I was really like dehydrated from potassium and such. That's really just the real smooth. >> Even though some of Dylan's statements were starting to match the evidence, detectives could tell he was still hiding the full truth. As a result, they increased the pressure during the interrogation. You said the dogs. >> Yes. Yes. The shelies and everything. And so like I said, whenever I got in the house and everything, there was like [ __ ] everywhere and this and that, you know, cuz I like I said, I cleaned up and everything, make everything look nice and this and that. I said I was just so freaked out. I didn't know what to do. >> I just didn't know what to do. >> Okay. So you you end up you this transgender. What was >> she look like? I don't know her actual real real name. >> Um, so you guys end up over there. You load up the car. You end up down with Tijana. Yeah. Actually, you guys cross? >> Yeah. Well, I crossed over. She said she needed to do something to make sure like her uh food stamps and everything was still able. She was supposed to come back the next day. Then she wind up flagging. >> She kept the dogs, right? >> Yeah. started lagging and then all of a sudden I hear that she gets arrested or something and then the dogs I guess were gone and I that's when I started like what the [ __ ] to do. I don't know what to do. So then I just cross back over and yeah, this is just something I've been bound to happen. >> Yeah. So loading up the car, describe what you loaded. Oh, just like, you know, necessities. Uh, shower gel, clothes, pretty much that dog food and this and that cuz like Yeah. Like Tijana like I said, I was like, "Fuck, I got warrants and this and that." I was like, "What do I do?" I was like, "Do I just own it up like a man? Say I found her. Own up like a man. What the [ __ ] do I do?" So yeah, I just freaked out. >> There was no sign that this had been an accident. What struck investigators as strange was how calmly Dylan described his actions inside the house. If he had truly been innocent, it would have been unlikely for him to think through so many details before leaving. A detail that suggested he had spent a significant amount of time inside the home with his mother's body. >> So when you say necessities and stuff like that, we were there so we've seen everything. So describe the kitchen. >> The what? >> Kitchen. >> Uh it was fridge cabinets. >> Yeah. Cleaned out everything. Just emptied out all the food and this and that. >> I don't know. Just I didn't think of it wanted to spoil. I don't know. Just You load it all into the cart. >> Not all of it. Just some of it, you know, to take on the trip. The other stuff that would just been left around, just threw it away >> into the trash can there at the house. >> Oh, no. Like uh like about like like like one of the dumpsters around Pwick and [ __ ] >> Okay. Um what about furniture, blankets, rugs, anything like that? >> Nothing with the living room. >> Oh, like I said like that, you know, shampooed it and everything. That's about it. >> You shampooed it? Yeah, it's like I said, there's some dog [ __ ] on it and everything. >> And then what'd you do with it? Cuz it's gone. >> Uh, threw it away. >> Where' you Where did you throw it? >> Um, pretty much like like the same like dumpsters around Pquid or the Circle K, the one on Soma >> by that car back there behind the car wash. >> Um, and you were you took her car. How did you get to her house? >> Uh, what's it called? Well, he said we were staying together and everything and uh it was actually I we I was on I went and hung out with some friends for a few days and everything and with Bianca and everything and then that's when we came back and everything was just like I said it was awesome. The house smelled like [ __ ] and everything. Came back. Her door was locked when it's never locked and I unlocked and everything and there was like a horrible kind of smell already happening and then found her. >> At this point, Dylan admitted to tampering with evidence and misleading investigators, which raised even more questions since he continued to claim he was innocent. >> What did you do? Tell me what you did. >> You open the door to the house or to her bedroom? >> She Yeah, she went to the house. >> You see her right away? Right. No, because I, you know, her her door to her room was locked. I started like, "Mom, you good for like 30 minutes, you know, I was like, "Oh, she's probably just in the shower or something." And then that's I was like, "Mom, mom, mom." So then I open the door and everything. Then I start smelling something and I walk in the room and she's like just I see her in the shower. She's just there. I'm just like, "What the fuck?" And then I just panic. I didn't know what to do cuz you know, living there, my fingerprints are everywhere. I just didn't know what to do. But what continued to trouble detectives was how convenient his story sounded about walking into his mother's house, especially the bedroom, and simply finding her dead. When officers verified with Dylan about any information, his response immediately changed a simple case of death to a homicide. >> Nothing that I have is going to be indicative of her being put into the shop. >> I'm not a pro. I letting you either help yourself or dig yourself. >> Yeah. >> Does that make sense? >> So, I wouldn't ask questions if I didn't have an idea or an answer of what I'm asking you. That makes sense. And here's the thing. If it was something more than what you're already saying, now's the time to do it. Now is the time to just repent or or confess, whatever it may be. But it's it's it can only get better for you, if that makes any sense. But I need the truth from you, you know, >> and we can always come back and say, "Hey, this is the first time he's been confronted with the information." >> Honestly, you know, a lot of what I said is true. You already know the holes and everything. It's It was getting really bad for him, like healthwise, everything. Okay. My Okay. My stepfather Chuck Cordderero and everything, he had a pinchion or whatever, you know, big amount. I'm like, "All right, my mom's getting screwed around. She got scammed, you know, she got scammed $100,000. She wasn't supposed to touch it. Her her friend who's a lawyer and everything was telling her like why did she touch, you know, that she could actually face prison time and this and that. And like I said, her health was getting so bad and everything like every day was just a battle every day. And I had to put up with so much [ __ ] and just I I thought I was doing what I I thought I was doing the best for her cuz I never thought I could I could never see my mom in prison. I [ __ ] love my mom. >> What came next caught investigators completely off guard. According to Dylan, Cynthia had previously been injured during an altercation with a man she was involved with, which he claimed caused serious health problems. He also alleged that the incident had led to accusations against her, claiming he could no longer watch his mother suffer. Dylan said he killed her to end what he described as her pain. >> I didn't do it to [ __ ] take like to like try and keep the house or anything. I only used them enough money that she had, you know, to be able to go to start a new life and everything. And I just >> I just I I couldn't I couldn't handle her seeing her being in pain anymore. I I just couldn't do it. Mhm. >> And when the whole [ __ ] about her having to possibly face prison, I could never live with myself her that's that's when I was like, I'd rather did what I did and go to prison for however long I do than her have to suffer in the pain. The physical and the emotional side of that. So, let's talk about what happened. It's pretty much um after we we drove actually all the way to San Diego to get Bianca and she was living with us for about a month. And I was just always like I like I always thought in my mind like if she did wind up being able to get sentenced or something that I would do what I did cuz I could have never see her in jail. You know, I've been in jail before and it's not. She's one of those good people. She was always a good person. >> Your mom, >> she was a very good person. So just so just one night I was I was just sitting on the couch cuz she was like screaming in pain. She was just so [ __ ] in pain. She was crying and you know she's yelling at me, not yelling at me. She's just yelling out what am I going to do? How do I get this money back? cuz I mean she got screwed over so hard by this [ __ ] guy and like these scammers and [ __ ] and she was like just freaking out so bad and I'm like what how can I help? There's nothing I could do. So just I don't even know the date. I don't even know the date. I just went in the room. I looked at her. I gave her a big old hug and I strained her to death. >> The way he lured the victim was calculated. He took advantage of a moment of vulnerability to attack his mother. However, the method he used left no visible marks, which explains why the autopsy initially did not detect any injuries. >> How? >> I just hooked around her. I just held her as tight as I could around her neck. Just tell her I love her and I'm so sorry for this, but you'll it'll be better for you. It's going to be a lot worse for me, but it'll be better for you. >> Okay. Show me, not show me, but like detail to me how you walked into the room, how you held her, where she was at. >> She say she was just laying on the bed and everything. Sometimes, you know, I always would have night terrors and stuff. So sometimes I would like, you know, go in the room and lay next to her and stuff. She was just laying on the bed of the warm and I was just just laying right with her and then I don't know all of a sudden it just happened. I don't know what it just happened. It just happened. >> Were you front or behind? like on the side like this. And I started doing it and then she started freaking out. Then I had to really like get in there and squeezing her. And then finally when she finally when she like >> she fell on the ground. >> So were you standing or laying? >> I at that point I was standing up cuz once I got up and everything she kind she just like fell and stuff. When you basically rene to clutch her, you're both laying down on the bed. >> Is she is her back to you or is there >> She was like this. She was kind of like this and I was like on the side and when she started like freaking out, that's when I kind of got more on top of her like that just >> so more compression. Yeah. >> You think versus strength? I mean >> Yeah. It was like the first it was more like like like that cuz I know probably the hand marks are there at first anymore would start like like that. At this point, his statement showed no sign of remorse as he justified his actions by claiming he loved his mother that much. However, the investigation soon escalated when authorities began to consider the possible involvement of Dylan's girlfriend. >> Did you have her more around the neck or around the upper chest area? >> I would say more like that. a sense >> cuz I know I'm pretty sure I show up like like my handrints are kind of like pushed in or something. >> So what what's and this is what's kind of helping will help you along your mind l minds. What's going through your mind at this moment? >> All I'm thinking about that she's just going to be in a better place that I'll suffer. I've suffered so much through my life. >> Mhm. >> What's another [ __ ] prison sentence? >> I cancer. My dad used to beat the [ __ ] out of me. My brothers never liked me because I was life on the streets. I basically did what I did because my life has been over for a long [ __ ] time. A long [ __ ] time. And like I said, I would rather have killed her than ever see her in prison. I would rather go to prison for the rest of my life knowing that in my heart I know what I did was wrong, but I did it for no [ __ ] reason. >> This whole period of time with me >> with me. She was there when it happened. >> Well, she was in the other room and she didn't know what I did until I told her. >> How How after did you tell her after like >> like about an hour? Cuz I was just sitting there next to her just >> So, what was her response? >> She was freaked out >> cuz like I was always telling I was like I was like I swear if she ever has to get sentenced I'm I'm going to make sure she doesn't have to suffer that horrible fate. Um, so this five days that you're at the house, Bianca's aware of what's going on, correct? >> Yeah. >> Okay. And then you guys deise the idea to >> I did. >> You did? >> Everything was me. >> Okay. >> Everything. >> Um, when you load up the car again, you take everything out again. The carpet was because of the dogs. >> Yeah. >> Or was there anything substantial to that? No, I just cleaned it just cuz it was just >> His level of coldness was disturbing. Every detail that officers had initially discovered appeared to have been planned to make the situation look like a domestic accident. >> So, when you decide to finally leave, what do you do with your mom? >> I thought maybe if I if I moved her into the shower, it would just look like as she slipped and fell. >> Okay. And then what else did you do? What additional stuff did you do after placing her in the shower? >> Um, >> door open or door closed? Uh, I think I had the door, the shower door open. I just kind of cranked the water a little bit. I walked out and then I locked the door, said I loved her one more time. >> Did you do anything to her bedroom? >> I just cleaned as much. >> Yeah. Like I said, I did everything. vacuum cleaned, trying to get as much as I could out, but I already knew it would really come back to me cuz everybody cuz they knew I was living with her and all that. Like my brothers don't like me. Her family doesn't like me. She was the only one that was ever [ __ ] on my side about everything. Especially when the whole domestic violence [ __ ] happened and I had that bipolar episode and she still [ __ ] cared about me. In my heart, I really felt like I was doing was right. >> Although Dylan admitted to killing his mother, he maintained that he was the only one involved, claiming the other people he had mentioned earlier were simply a fabrication. At the same time, he tried to portray himself as a savior who had ended his mother's suffering. Something investigators quickly recognized as a calculated attempt to minimize his responsibility. >> I don't know what happened with the car and everything cuz we left it for a second and she we were first going over to get me over and then she was going to get the car do what she had to do then cross it over and then we were supposed to go deeper into Mexico and just start a new life >> but it didn't work out. What connections other than you here and Chris does she have? >> I actually have no This is where it's going to sound crazy. Like this is where it's going to really sound crazy. We only knew each other for a month >> before me and my mom even got her. >> Okay. >> Like I literally don't even know her real name. Like her real she's a transgender. I there's a lot of stuff I don't know about her. >> Okay. So outside of Bianca, what do you know her name to be? Um, I think it's maybe Louis. >> I think I mean I saw her license before. It was like Louis maybe it's like Louis Aranda or something like that. >> Okay. >> Gender X. >> Any California ID? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Any ties to anybody here in town whether it's Cruises or Alonia? >> No. >> You had told me you were staying with Cassie. Was it? >> Those are all lies. Everything in this video game was just all lies. Everything I said these last fight, whatever, man. This is all the truth. >> Okay. Who were you staying with prior to that? >> Her. It's only been my mom and me. >> So this whole time that you were supposed to be out of the house, the restraining order, >> she's been hiding me. >> You haven't been? >> Nowhere else. She's been hiding. >> Jeremy, >> no. >> Thomas Martinez. >> No, those are just friends I would see here and there. At this point, investigators turned their attention to the possible involvement of Dylan's girlfriend. Uncovering her role could be the final piece needed to resolve a case that had remained unanswered for 5 months. >> The ones that it's better to get everything out than to continue with certain lies and and even some of the stuff that you told me. If I I'm not going to take everything 100%. So, if I go back and things don't match up, that's probably not going to look good for you, right? >> Yeah. Because the other thing too is um you'll probably find fingerprints around her arms cuz when I had Bianca finally help me put her into the shower. >> So that's the more of the truth. But honestly I first like when I first did I tried to use a bag and then she fought me. That's when I got my hands around her and that's when I really started pushing and it was all my life. So then it kind of like wrapped around like this and it just really just like there was no like blunt trauma. I didn't bash her head in or anything. It was like I was trying to like say my goodbyes. >> Okay. So, you were trying to use the bag at first. >> Yeah. Cuz I thought maybe if I used the bag it wouldn't it wouldn't show my handprint so it wouldn't lead to me right away. But before she fought and when she freaked out that what I was trying to do, you know, she screamed out Jesus and everything and I was like [ __ ] if I leave now she's definitely going to call him. That's intented murder. So then I was just like I was like, "Fuck it. Just do it." >> And that bag, >> it was just like a black normal bag. I got like a trash bag. >> A big like a big hefty bag. >> Yeah. Yeah. Like a big hefty one. >> But she's always been a tough one. She's always been a tough with that bag. >> Like everything else just threw away. >> Okay. Um >> you said you had to get me up to help you. >> Yeah. >> So when you moved her from the floor to the It was it was like it was just normally like like I had I was like grabbing her wrist and just went like that put in the shower >> uh the the ankles and so put her in the shower. I kind of put the bag on her face cuz I couldn't bear to look at it. I went in the shower. I could already smell her like just whatever. And when I pulled the bag off, my hand was shaking so bad cuz like maggots were already forming. And then I kind of just sprayed her down with some chem. I don't know which one it is. turned on the faucet. And >> in the end, Dylan Alexander Waller was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. On February 10th, 2025, Dylan was sentenced to life in prison, plus more than 3 years for tampering with evidence. Moving to the next case, when a family reported a child missing, they never expected to find her inside the home of the person who was supposed to protect her, her father. >> He's been there for a while. >> Yeah, for sure. >> Looks like someone wrapped him up like that. Put a blanket over him. cuz I have dished my dad to dodge me every time I come over here. >> Can I see my son? He will tell me no. He's too bad. >> Was that from him getting punished for stealing the food? >> On October 10th, 2023, officers from Milwaukee received a call after the son contacted the police, claiming he had found his brother inside the house with no signs of life. Officers immediately went to the scene to investigate, and what initially appeared to be a domestic accident soon turned into a family homicide. >> Milwaukee police, if you're in here, announce yourself. If anyone else is in here, >> I'm taking the basement. >> I'm on your six. I'll sign up. Apparently people are supposed to be living here >> or some sort of family member family. >> No working toilet, no working shower. >> It's crazy. >> At this point, an unimaginable scene was unfolding before the officers. The house did not appear to be in livable condition. In every corner, there were clothes scattered around, food and trash everywhere, and a strong presence of mold. It seemed impossible that anyone could truly live there. However, as the officers continued their investigation, a discovery left them perplexed. >> Bro, >> dude, where you at? Yeah, he's been there for a minute. >> 69. Can you just do a call history search for this location from the past month? >> Is this house occupied? >> Uh, it's apparently used as staying here. >> Where's the DOE? >> Right here. >> Right here. >> Oh, doesn't even look like >> The body found in the living room was identified as 11-year-old Jakari Robinson. The young boy was already in an advanced state of position suggesting that the crime had occurred sometime earlier. But the sight of a severelyed child along with the condition in which his body was discovered revealed disturbing truths on its own. >> He was just by himself. >> He's been there for a while. >> Yeah, for sure. >> Kind of looks like someone wrapped him up like that. Put a blanket over him. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. like that to the t-shirt on his >> Especially if the blanket and the t-shirt is over his head when they come in here. >> And no one else is in here with him. Just him. >> Apparently his brother just checked up on her for a moment. >> That's brother outside. I guess he's supposed to be living with dad. >> So this is probably mom's residence. >> Male or female? I mean, if there's two other, >> you know, bunk beds where the other kids are, >> right? >> Wonder if this is just a nasty case of neglect. >> Probably. >> At this point, officers were questioning where the boy's guardian could be. With few immediate answers inside the home, the only way to gather more information was to speak with residents in the neighborhood. What neighbors described about the family's daily routine was deeply disturbing and raised the alarming possibility that other children might still be living inside the house. >> Officer M police department. >> Just checking if you uh might have seen anything or heard anything like >> I just got off of work. I was just trying to see. >> Do you know do you know who live next door? >> Um a dude and a bunch of little girls. >> What you mean dude? Like a grown man? >> A grown man and some girls. That's all I see over there. >> When's the last time you seen them? >> Maybe last week. >> Last week. >> So, it's the It's the 10th now. >> They don't really be. >> No. You say like it was a grown man and how many girls? >> It was like a whole about five of them. I guess five. >> You never knew their name? >> No. Something happened to these little girls. >> That's what we trying to figure out who stays there. We trying to figure out who lives there cuz we don't got no information on the house on who lives there. >> They came there. >> Nobody's there. That's what we're trying to figure out what's going on and who stays there. So, you talked to someone from who was inside the home on Saturday? >> Yeah, they were sitting on the porch. >> Who was outside on the porch? >> Um, it was a little It was a younger female. Have you seen every pharaoh? >> I speak to the girls all the time cuz they take the garbage out and they play with my granddaughter sometime. >> So, you know any other names in there? >> Okay. But you talked to someone from that house on Saturday and they were they were inside that house. >> Uhuh. They were sitting on the porch. >> Do you know they live there? >> So, I just >> Hello. No one was home. >> Oh, okay. You live here? >> Yeah, that's right. >> Okay. Yeah. So, um, our captain wanted us to talk to the neighbors to see if you guys seen any activity at that residence. Anybody going in and out within the past week? >> No, it's always that one family with the dad and then the girls. That's it. >> Okay. Did you see them outside like in the week? This past week at all? >> They're they're always outside. They come out. >> How about the little brother? >> Actually, I didn't know they even had a little brother in today's session. I always thought it was all four girls. I don't pay them attention. They little My kids all adults. >> Oh, okay. Okay. >> So, I see them, but I you know, I wave at the dad. That's about it. >> As investigation progressed, officers continued questioning residents. One finally spoke to a woman who remembered seeing Jakari, but what she revealed was deeply unsettling. >> Probably. >> So, the kid's supposed to be what, 11, they said. >> Yeah. >> What was Brianna? >> To daddy? >> Probably his sister. >> Hello. >> Hi. So, our captain wanted us to talk to neighbors to see if you guys um seen any activity going on at the house in the past week. >> Any like kids playing outside? Like >> um our main person that we're asking for is a little boy, like an 11-year-old little boy. >> I haven't seen him in a while. >> Okay. >> You remember last time we seen him >> when they was walking to the store? Like >> a month ago. >> A month ago. Okay. Okay. >> Is Is he okay? >> He's deceased. >> Yeah. >> What were you guys when you guys did see him, how would you guys describe him? Like, was he playful? Was he quiet? >> You could tell >> weak. Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. >> Like, did nobody know? Like the other girls didn't know about the >> Yeah, there was no one in the house when we got on scene. So, I don't know if the dad and the girls went somewhere else or what, but there was no one here. >> Yeah. So, >> I can tell you the dad is weird. He's really super quiet. He was quiet. >> I guess the grandma was just the grandma had told us that she talked to dad a couple days ago and he said the child was fine. >> But it doesn't look like the child was alive a couple days ago. He's been there for I would say more than a week. >> Yeah. So, >> so was he hiding or was he just like >> in his room? >> Oh, no. He's just in the living room. >> At this point, many crucial answers rested with the person who had first uncovered the tragedy, older brother Jay Moy, who had called the police. According to Jay, in the weeks leading up to the discovery, his father had been acting strangely whenever he asked about his younger brother. What troubled him the most was the fact that his father would not allow him to see him. That's on your brother, right? >> So, was the door unlocked or was it locked? >> It was unlocked. Okay. >> Is he supposed to have a cell phone with him? >> Yeah. >> He have a cell phone, but I don't need to get his own. >> Okay. I don't need to get his own, bro. >> How How long ago did you start getting concerned for? I think this hurt for like the last month, but it really got serious like within the last week. >> Yeah. >> Cuz I dissed him. My dad been to dodgy. Like every time I come over here, he just he every time I come over here to like drop the kids off or something to him, he say he's not here. But I'm like, how you not here if you just told them? Cuz he would text me today saying he only got a couple days left to live. Like yesterday, last couple days, he tell me like his been messing with him. He said he only got a couple days left to live. This and that. So So I'm like, "Okay." So I'm like, "Dad," he said he don't want us to see him like that. So he been do staying away from us. So I'm like, "Dad, I need to see you." Like, "If you only got a couple days left to live, I need to see you been having me for the last couple of years." I'm like, "If you got if it's that serious, I need to spend time with you before before you leave." >> So he been telling me that I don't have so he been telling me like u like no um I don't have the energy right now. Uh soon as I get the energy, son, I will definitely like you can definitely see me a lot. I'm like I just knew I'm like no something >> you just you just felt something wasn't right. >> I just knew it cuz I'm like you never dodged me like this. You never dodged me like this. So when I finally got over here I um >> I stood at the door. I called his name. I was at the dog just calling my dad and I'm like dad if you in there please come out. I thought he was just lying about not being here. >> Jay went on to explain that a few years earlier he had moved out of his father's home while his younger brother Jackary had remained there. But months later, the routine visits began to raise suspicion when Jay was never able to see him. Whenever he questioned his father about his brother's whereabouts, he was never given a clear answer. >> When you walked in there, was there anything that kind of looked out of place? Anything out of the norm? >> The house. The house itself. >> Just in in what words? >> Order complete. Like >> as if like no one lived there. Cuz I was I was about to mention is the kitchen usually like that. >> I got a call from police at 352. >> I was wor when I went in that house. >> Yeah. >> When I went in there and not seeing the house without >> I mean what was the relationship between him and Jai? Honestly, bro, he's been telling me that the last couple months that the car has been like real bad and that >> he's been keeping Ci away from us. And I've been wondering like not wondering I've been wondering why why he can never come with us. Every time we go somewhere, it's it's always the girls. He always let the two girls come, but he never let Jakari come. And my mom not my mom even noticed that. She even asked me like why why Jakari never can come to nothing? You all he always got to stay here? Why is that? >> So then I never ever ever in my life expected this. >> At this point, the root of the problem appeared to be even deeper. The way officers found Jakari suggested severe malnutrition, something that had already been noticed by his brother, who had observed his weight loss over time. However, the restriction on contact with the boy had not applied only to him. His mother had also been forbidden from seeing him. >> Is he like a skinny kid? >> Dude, that's another thing. He's got super over time. Like the times I didn't see him like for his birthday. I seen him August 19th. He was super skinny. Like I'm and I I try not to really say nothing about it, but I'm like damn. Like >> the [ __ ] is he eating? >> Like did he starve to death? What the [ __ ] happened to him? >> So you saw him August 19th. >> Yes. That was that was like really the last really good time I saw him cuz he asked me can I he asked me can I stay with him? I gave him some toys and I was about to leave and my little brother said, >> he said, "Can you stay with me for a little bit?" >> And as soon as he said that, it hit me. I'm like, "Damn." >> I sat and played with him with his toys for a little bit on the porch about a good 30 minutes and I left. >> So, he never really had a big brother figure, man. That's the thing. And I always tried to I tried to tell my dad like, "Let him come over, Dad. Let him play the game with me. Let him come by my house. He can chill with me. This and that, Dad." It's just it's it's I don't understand it, bro. I'm lost. >> The last contact between the brothers happened after Jay told his father that their mother had reported him. After that day, Jay never expected what his father's anger would ultimately lead to. >> His verbal skills, his communication, where they like up to 11year-old where they like sound mind like he could have a a one-on-one conversation. >> Definitely. Definitely. >> Okay. So, if something was going on, do you think he would have found comfort in you and at least kind of disclosed it or do you think that he was in fear of something else? I'm going be honest with you. Every time I spoke with him, he was never I was never speaking to him alone. And every time I asked him was he okay, he tell me no. Every time I ask my little brother and I see him, I'm like, "Car, are you all right?" Cuz I can see him. He just look super down. For a little kid, a little kid don't look down every time you see them. >> A little kid is supposed to be happy. So when I every time I see him and the fact that he'll tell me every time, "No, I'm not okay." As a kid, you telling me you're not okay. I knew something wasn't wrong, but as a big brother, I tried to I ain't want to think nothing of this of this nature. >> At this point, the boy's mother, identified as Yolan Robinson, began to provide more important details about her relationship with her ex-husband. The suspect identified as Roman J. Moy, who had custody of Jackary. According to Yolan, she had previously reported him for mistreating the other children. However, despite the report, there had been no time to save Jakari's life. >> I haven't seen my son in over 3 years. >> Okay. Every time when I would call Raman and ask him, "Can I see my son?" He would tell me, "No, he's too bad." I said, "Raman, a kid is never that bad when they can't see their mom." That's his book. >> I text Raman early today. I was at work. I texted him over and over. I said, "Raman, when can I come to see with um can Dari come over? I got the girls. Can I get Dari?" He said, "Dari will be with you very soon." He said, "I'm too weak right now to bring him to you, but I will make sure that he get to you today." I said, "Okay, fine." Then I had me to my son. I said, "Well, um, Z can come and get him and bring him over to me." >> Mhm. >> Then I get a call just getting off of work. I got a call. My daughter said, "Mama, I knew it." Sounded >> um, when you texted Roman, did he ever respond to you? >> Yes, he did. >> He responded you today. >> Yes, he did several times. >> Okay. What did he say to you? >> I was trying to >> Okay. This is the number he text me for right here. >> Mhm. Oh, come on. Oh, this is such a jerk. >> What he said? He said, "I don't have He pretty much saying he don't have no energy >> to to bring Jakari to me." >> And I just kept texting, kept testing, kept testing, kept texting. >> And then I said, cuz he had told me he, you know, I know he got and I said, "You going to be okay. You go, you know, prayer works and all this stuff is going." He said, "I'm not feeling good." He said, "But I will, you know, pretty much bring Dakari." >> He said, "Yes, I have Takari." Yes, I have pretty much I got Jakari here, Jakari's side. >> But then this >> As the investigation progressed, the situation became slightly less tense when officers received news that the couple's other daughters were safe. In this situation, investigators tried to understand what could have motivated the crime. A tragic case in which anger and resentment may have been taken out on the boy, ultimately leading to his >> And you have all the other kids, right? >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I think that was one of the clarifi clarification questions we were waiting for. So, At least we know the other kids are safe. >> Mhm. >> Um, so that that's always a good thing. >> When's the last time when's the last time you talked to him on the phone or even talked to your son? >> I haven't talked to First of all, I haven't seen my son in over 3 years. He kept him away from me for 3 years. I don't understand that. >> Um um I talked to Jakari about like maybe about five weeks ago. I had got the girls again. I said I said I said where's Takari? He said he right here. I said Jakari man you got to be good so he can come over and have some fun with us. He said okay mama that was it. That was the last conversation that we had. >> He's he's 11 >> 11 damn years ago. >> When was that conversation when he said okay? Do you remember? >> Um about five weeks ago maybe >> about a little over a month ago. Okay. But otherwise, you haven't talked to him since. >> Where did it go wrong kind of scenarios? >> What could what what he could have poss. >> And did you guys just like Is this a new girlfriend or it's been a couple years that he >> Well, he been with Well, she's passed two now. >> Okay. So, I'm thinking, you know, he couldn't cope with that with her dying because I guess they were supposed to get married like the next day as she passed. So, I don't know if he just couldn't cope off with her death and just took it out on Kari. I I don't know. >> Months after the discovery and despite witnesses pointing to Roman's involvement, it wasn't until February 25th, 2024 that he was finally brought in for interrogation. Obviously, you know, we're here because of Jakari. So, we I mean, the main thing that we're we're wondering here is what happened with Jakari or you know, did it start getting to where he just wanted to still >> still alive? So he had some discipline probably. >> What was he stealing? >> Just like and I couldn't I was he was getting after he got beat. It's like he want to get up in the middle of he want to he want to get back and and he like that. So he he just started working. >> Okay. So you kept on stealing food and stuff where I couldn't even take >> Yeah. October 10th. >> October 10th. What do you remember about October 10th? >> I guess you know. Okay. So, he died all the time. >> Mhm. I I had in hospital a couple weeks about >> probably a week. How did he die? to the point like >> at this point officers were left in shock by Roman's statements. According to him, his son had been misbehaving by taking food, a claim that suggested the marks and severe malnutrition found on the boy were the result of repeated punishment. Investigators also learned that the recent death of his girlfriend had taken a heavy toll on him mentally. But what he revealed next was even more disturbing >> to deal with and you're unable to mourn yourself and then you have three kids that you have to watch and I'm guessing everything just kind of piles up. It's way too way too much too much. When's the last time that Jakari ate before October 3rd? Um, I can't remember actually, but I think for the last two days, I think I was for the last two days. >> Two days. >> Okay. Why specifically Jakari? >> Cuz the girls were well fed. >> I'm just I'm just here. >> Mhm. So, is Jakari able to go into the kitchen and grab food if he wanted to or no? What would happen if Jakari went into the kitchen and grabbed something to eat? >> Actually, I wasn't even paying attention. I was most of the time I as after after I s you know. >> As the interrogation continued, officers were confronted with a horrifying reality. Roman's actions went far beyond simple mistreatment. What emerged instead was a pattern of calculated cruelty beginning with psychological torment that eventually escalated into physical. >> Then why you got the way the way that the way the way he had to >> Okay. So did Jakari get a lot? I'm sorry. It's just a little difficulties. Oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Was that from him getting punished for stealing the food? >> Yeah. >> When did those happen? >> Like when it happened? >> Yeah. When did when did uh he get punished for stealing the food? I think that's that start my life cuz first I wasn't doing anything but I I was I was questioning like um God let me know like something that I like after after after they They became like punching like a hoop and stuff. >> Okay. So it turned physical after that. >> Did you ever take Jakari to the hospital for >> No. Okay. Did he ever complain about? >> No. He never complained. I think that's why I was reading um so this stuff like he never >> at this point he began using his son's fear of him to weaken and control him. The boy was often denied daily meals sometimes going days without food something that may have been one of the main factors leading to his death severe nutrition >> cuz I mean there was believe there was like ramen noodles and stuff like that in the house. So, how would you stop him from eating that though? >> No, I think so. I was just telling him if he can stop that um I would take his food away. >> Okay. So, if you caught him with food, you would take it away from him? >> No. Really? I was telling you that if he didn't stop that I would take it away. >> If he didn't stop what? >> If he didn't stop problems. >> Okay. So he has problems. You start taking the food away. Is it like a rule? Is it like if you catch him in the kitchen something were to happen? Like how would you kind of enforce his punishment? >> Okay. How much do you think he had eaten? You know, when's the last time do you think he was given any sort of food? >> I I mean, I was like I said, I think I think like I said, he fast. I think he went like two days without >> two days without eating. >> Okay. Was he allowed to drink water or anything like that or was it just the food you were taking away? >> It was the food cuz I love I was I was I just I just remember >> I mean would you punch him? Would you like how would you whoop him? I mean, would I ask >> would you hit him with something? >> Was it always something different? >> No, I don't remember. I just I just I remember you. During the interrogation, investigators were also able to piece together a timeline of when things began to spiral for Jakari. Roman's girlfriend had died in August, and by September, Jakari was already beginning to show stronger signs that something was seriously wrong. >> Pretty strong bones in his body that were broken and they were at various stages of healing, which means they happened over a period of time and they were healing. Um, and they're very strong bones. Okay? Like, everyone can break their nose, right? It's fairly easy to break your nose, but like your leg, it's pretty hard to break. >> Do you have any idea why you would have some broken bones? >> I mean, the only thing, like I said, I did I was doing like a shoot and shoot was kind of like I think so. >> Okay. >> So, you think that might have caused it? >> Okay. When Jakari was being whooped, did he like make noises? Did he cry? The what was Jakari's reaction to being whooped? >> Did he have any issues walking after any of the whoopings? >> I've never seen him. >> Never seen him. >> Do you think Jakari would tell you if like his leg was hurting or if he was having problems walking? >> You think he would? I thought he was a big one cuz like I said when I saw when I saw it through ports and I was like he it was like he never like I it was like he never um I never saw him hurt me or say he was hurt. That's why I was shocked. I asked him to be cuz he never he never could hear that. Did he ever ask you for food? >> Yeah. When he asked you for food, would you give it to him or >> Yeah, sometimes. >> Sometimes, >> but not all the time. >> No. That was if he did something. >> Okay. >> However, investigators did not accept the explanation that his girlfriend's death had mentally affected him. To them, it appeared to be little more than an attempt to minimize the severity of his actions. Evidence suggested that the had lasted for more than a year, during which Jakari had been completely isolated from relatives without access to school or proper medical care. >> I mean, your oldest son Jes. >> You tried to? He was pretty [ __ ] up, for lack of a better way to put it, for what happened. I talked with him uh that night. Um he said that uh he saw Jakari for his birthday and Jakari begged him to stay, but he wouldn't cuz he had stuff to do. You know, he's a grown grown man. He has his own life. But he told me that uh back when he saw him on his birthday, he said Jakari looked hungry and he said he got him a little bit of food and things like that. But so what would what would make you think your oldest son to look at Jakari and say he looks hungry? >> Like how long would Jakari have gone without food for that? >> I don't know. I can't remember. >> Can't remember. >> I don't remember. be like like since I've been like that I could remember the only time like I told you I did I did though I did those two days but >> anything ever happened longer than 2 days you think? >> I can remember >> what was the worst whooping that Jakari ever got? Like if you had to think of like the worst beating that he had for acting up, what do you think that would have been? And when you would whoop him with the shoe, where would you hit him with the shoe? Uh was it like on his his rear end, his back? Where would you hit him? >> Yeah. Start with his rear end. But if he moved a lot again, >> what would happen if he moved? Would you just keep hitting him or >> Yeah. At this point, investigators were trying to piece together why so many food restrictions had been imposed, but the suspect's simple answer revealed the chilling truth. He took pleasure in seeing his son suffer. >> Would you be, and I'm just asking, would you say that you were taking your anger out on him for what happened and what you were going through? >> You don't know. I could. >> So, if you went two days without eating, how would you feel? Like, have you ever gone two days without eating? >> Ever. Yep. >> Not that you know of. >> That sounds good. >> Okay. Now, your oldest son told me that you're kind of particular that you don't let people eat past 5:00 p.m. Like if you miss dinner time, you're not eating. Is that fair to say or? He said like when he was in the house and he was younger like there would be like a a set time for dinner and if you didn't make that set time for dinner you weren't eating that night. >> No. Okay. I would have everybody eat. It was like morning afternoon and after. >> It's like your standard three meals, right? >> Yeah. So now if you want to go back in the kitchen and like and like and like if you want to eat snacks and stuff like that. >> Um what was preventing Jakari from getting food the last couple of days? How do I keep you with me? >> Just you. >> As the investigation unfolded, the full extent of the cruelty became apparent. Food had been found hidden in Jakari's pockets, but he was forbidden from eating it, constantly monitored by his controlling father. This revealed the dark, oppressive psychological control he had endured. Okay. I mean, was Jakari like I mean, he was free to walk around the house and everything, right? >> So, were you just I mean, what would have happened if Jakari went and got food? Um um at the time my brother told him but a lot of times I was outside >> cuz there was food in his pockets. >> That was food. Okay. Yeah. I don't know. Like a lot of times I was outside. >> So if Jakari pulled something out of his pocket and started eating it in front of you when he was on a timeout, what would you do? >> I don't know cuz I never saw him do that. Was he fearful? Like he he knew he couldn't do that, right? Like so he knew if he did that there would be a whooping probably, right? from those last. >> After Jakari's death, Raman claimed that he remained in the house for another week, which explained why Jay, Jakari's brother, had been unable to make contact. It was then that a question from the investigators uncovered a deeper layer of revelation, one that even the autopsy had not been able to reveal. >> I didn't realize. >> You didn't even realize? I don't know. >> So, after he passes, what do you do? I just I was in shock and I just stood there. I I didn't know what to do. I I didn't know what to do. So only thing I did was I sat there back in the house. I was I didn't I >> Did you think about calling for help? >> Can I ask why? >> I don't even know why. I just came I probably could I was here because I never like I was right like like I like I never How long did you stay with him? >> I stay for a week like a week. I mean, he it was it was malnutrition, you know. Um, there were quite a lot of uh bottles of like Pete in the um living room. Was he allowed to go and use the toilet at all or did he have to stay just in the living room? >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. I I just um I had him stay in the living room because if he went to the bathroom and stuff so I just I just had >> Okay. So he wasn't free to roam about the house. >> Not at a certain like if he was going to die by himself. >> Okay. How would you prevent him from going in? I mean, would you like was he tied up? Was he like kind of put in an area where he couldn't move? Like >> put hands up. >> Okay. And how would you keep him from getting out of that area? >> Have him sit there. >> Just have him sit there. >> Okay. >> What happened if he didn't listen and he got up and went to the kitchen? No, I never had that problem cuz he just The only time he The only time you get that is when I wasn't there. >> When you weren't there, >> how long would you How long would you go without being in the house with the kids? >> It wasn't that long. Like Like when Sarah was there, it would be like maybe two days or so. two days or so. >> To reinforce the idea that Raman was fully aware of the gravity of his actions, investigators introduced a series of social media posts and online conversations that expose damning details. >> So, there's a couple of messages in there where it says that what happened to Jakari wasn't an accident. >> You say a couple was not an accident. >> That that you had responded then to people saying that what happened wasn't an accident. I can't remember. >> Can't remember. So I have particularly there's one here. His son was intentional, so don't get it twisted. the sent November. It's from you. Anybody else? I even sent out saying I sent out quarter saying 4 years of death. So that part was okay. There was no doubt that Jakari's death was the result of a combination of factors that had been building over the years until the day he could endure no more. >> Do you feel a little bit better that you talk to us? >> No. >> What would you say to Jakari if you could right now? >> I'm sorry. And I reflect that out of my curiosity, you know, where have you been staying? >> On the street. Shelter. >> Which shelter? at the at the guest house. >> In the end, Romo and J Moy was arrested and charged with firstdegree reckless, prolonged mistreatment, and failure to report the of his son. He was sentenced to 47 years in prison, half to be served in custody, and 25 years of extended supervision. Up next, when officers responded to what appeared to be a routine welfare check after a desperate woman called, saying her boyfriend was armed and out of control. What they didn't know was that the suspect had already taken the life of his own mother. >> Wait, where's he at? >> Right here. Right here. >> Hey, J. >> I think he's in shock. His mother passed away. >> She just told me that mom passed away last night. His mom. And then she's still there. >> And she's still at the house and no one has gone. >> This does not look like a natural. I went over here today to see if I could find a gun or something and to blow head off. >> On the night of April 2nd, 2024, officers with the Bernal Leo County Sheriff's Office in New Mexico were dispatched after a barely audible 911 call came in. The dispatcher could hardly make anything out, only that there was clearly an argument on the other side of the line. >> Hello, 911. >> Hello, 911. Press the button if you can hear me. You can't speak. Oh, Roger. >> Do you have an emergency? >> Yes. I need to have somebody come to Palomas Avenue. I don't know the exact address. I'm sorry. >> Okay. I need an address or it's from Cross Street so we know where to find you. >> Um it's on it's the south side of Perce. Please. It's an emergency. >> Okay. I need the address so I can send them. >> Can you get it from my phone? >> What's your call back number? >> Stop. It's Look under John Colbert. Ma'am, answer my question. What is your phone number? >> Ma'am, please. This an emergency. >> Okay, listen to me or tell me what happened. >> The caller was Rhonda King calling on behalf of her close friend, 59year-old James Colbear. His mother had just passed away and Rhonda believed he was in no state to be left alone. >> Their mother has passed away and they need some emergency assistance. No. And I think the person is being a danger to themselves when I'm trying to stop them, but I I can't. >> What is he doing that you keep saying? >> He's trying to get to the room where the guns are in. And I locked the door, but yet she has the key to get to us. And we've been lied to. Thank you. Stop. Listen to her. Stop. Stop. Stop. My teeth. and hit my other baseball and we were struggling. James, stop. Stop here. James, we're here. >> When officers arrived, the scene was already physical. Before anything else, they needed to make sure James wasn't armed and then figure out what had actually happened that night. >> Is anybody Is he armed? >> No, he's not armed. Nobody's armed. Nobody's armed. >> Hey, where's he at? >> Right here. Right here. >> Hey, James. >> I think he's in shock. His mother passed away. and he's the sole caregiver of I just think he's in shock >> and I caught him late today. >> James, it's okay, man. Hey, >> you're going to be okay, dude. Okay. >> All right. >> Do you have weapons on you? Is it okay if I check real quick? >> Sure. >> Turn around for me. >> No, there's not. >> Okay. >> No, please don't. >> No, I'm not putting you in custody through here. >> Yeah. No, we know, ma'am. We We All right. So, James, >> can you step back around? >> I'm just going to check you right here. All right. Please don't hurt me. >> I'm not hurting you, James. I just want to make sure you don't have these are my your keys. >> Okay, these are the keys that I have. >> James was cooperative but deeply unsettled. His attention kept drifting back to one thing, a locked room inside the house. The more he pushed to get inside it, the more Rhonda pushed back. >> So, James, >> what's what's going on today, man? We we got called out here because I I am sorry to hear that there was a death in the family. And that is what I understand happened today. >> Yesterday. >> And yesterday. Okay. And this has obviously been very rough for you. >> Absolutely. >> And so we were called out here because somebody said you were maybe thinking about hurting yourself. >> Surrounded. >> And and is that that's is that something you thinking of? So what's going on today? Why is like what was the argument about today? >> Just that that what's happened with my mom and that kind of stuff. >> Okay. So she's under the impression you're trying to grab a gun and to shoot. >> She thinks I would have in that room. >> Okay. But you are not my intent. >> You're not intending to do that. Why would she think that? >> She just does. I don't know why. >> Can we have medical come check you out, man? Just cuz >> Sure. I mean, you got some scrapes and stuff, >> things like that. >> Where your Is this What is on your shirt? >> That blood? A >> little bit of blood >> from your lip or something? >> Something. Yes. >> What happened to your lip? >> This just just cut. >> Okay. And a little bit on your nose, too. The bridge of your nose. >> Uh-huh. >> Okay. James refused to go anywhere until the house was fully locked down. Officers were beginning to notice just how unusual that fixation was and why it mattered. >> Okay. Can we lock this door though, please? >> There's nobody to say, so we have to turn the alarm system on. >> All right. Are you going to be going somewhere today? >> I'm going to go back to my house. >> Okay. So, this is not your This is my parents house. >> My parents residence. >> That's right. >> Okay. >> Well, let's talk to we'll talk to medical real quick. >> Okay. >> Um just I have my keys which >> we'll grab the keys. Can we grab >> Yeah, I'm going to Before we leave, okay, we're we're not going to leave with the house unsecured. I I Yeah, don't don't worry about that. >> Don't worry about that. >> Yeah, we'll take care of the house that I am worried about that. >> Okay, I will I I promise you we will not leave this residence. >> Yeah, I >> and me and him, we will make sure it's locked up before we leave. All right. >> Okay. I'd like to lock it. >> We're going to secure it. We're going to walk out to medical first. >> I I want to secure the door, please. >> We can secure it right now. Is she Is she leaving? >> She can come out. I want to secure the door right there. Yeah. So, sorry. Just so we're a little antsy just because we were told there was a gun involved. Okay. >> And and our belief was Yes, sir. I know. I I patted you down. >> But our belief was that it was in the house. And that's why when we showed up, we were trying to >> patch you down for weapons, take it outside cuz if there was a firearm, we don't want >> There's no way. >> No, I think this is an overreaction. He's like refusing to go to medical until we um >> Yeah, I think that's why they were fighting over the keys. I don't think he's trying to hurt himself. >> With James stabilized, officers turned to Rhonda. She had been trying to reach him all day with no answer. And when she finally did, something in his voice told her something was wrong. >> Can you come talk to me in here? >> James and I have been friends for 40 years. >> Uhhuh. >> Good friends. His mom has been ill. Has had Parkinson. Mrs. >> We're inside making contact now. So Rhonda, I just need you to relax >> and talk to me. So what what happened today? I know you said that he said his mom has Parkinson. She passed away and he's in shock. >> Yes. >> What is he doing that's making him feel like he wants to hurt himself? >> Because he told me he did. >> Okay. What did he say exactly? He just said that there was no reason to live anymore and that he just felt it was best just I don't know if he said specifically kill himself. >> But he said there was no more reason for him to live. >> Who's this other woman in in >> That's Rhonda. Rhonda. >> And who is she to you? >> A friend for 40 years. >> A friend for 40 years. Okay. >> And how did how did both of you you come to be at this house tonight? She I came here because I was doing some stuff, checking on the house and whatever, and she came over. >> Okay. >> She's worried I'm going to hurt myself. >> Okay. And that and you're saying that's not your intent at all. >> It's not my intent, but I'm not I'm not in a good spot. >> Okay. >> His he has another house that was broken into off a Rio Grand. And then this one recently was broken into and we've been here before and they stole a bunch of his dad's guns and and very prized possessions, banjos. >> Okay. And so he comes over here to check things periodically. Okay. >> What made Rhonda's concern far more urgent than a grieving friends was one thing she couldn't shake. She knew there were guns in that house. >> And uh I just know this is his parents house and we've been friends long enough >> and we dated many many years ago and then we're just friends now. But I know there's guns in there. >> Okay. >> Because he did a police report because somebody broke into the house and stole some of them. What sparked her concern was just the sound of a zipper on the phone, but she trusted her gut, drove to him, and when he told her his mother had passed the morning before, she called 911 on the spot. >> When I called him on the phone originally and he called me back, I heard a zipper. Like, you know, if you've ever heard a zipper for like a a rifle or something, >> and that's what it sounded like, but I didn't know that necessarily at the Well, that's just what it sounded like. And he just said he was looking at his dad's guns and going through some of the guns that >> he knew was stolen. M >> I I texted him today, didn't hear from him. And then I tried his mom, didn't get her, and then I called him some more, didn't get him. And so then I swung by his house and nobody was there. So then I uh so then about that time, he called me and I said, "How are you doing?" And what are you doing? and and uh I said, you know, uh uh he said he was over here and he was in his dad's uh you know, he was here and he was just looking at some guns. And so I just So I said, "Well, I'm just I did kept him on the phone. Then when I got here, I said, "Just come on out. Let's go to the car and let's just talk." I said, "Come on out." Cuz he's been very emotional about things being stolen from this house and another house he had broken into. Okay. And he said, "Well, she passed away yesterday." >> I was in shock. >> And I said, "And and I just think he's in shock. I just think he's in shock." And then he was he was adamant to come back to here and lock this house up. And I told him, "No, it would be okay. It would be okay." But he wanted to he just wouldn't stay in the car with me. So I said, "Okay, I'll go with you." So I came down here with him. >> And I was very fearful he was going to go in that room and get a gun that was in there. Um, we don't want to delay him getting medical attention. So, if you're good to leave, let's walk up the door so we can take him where he needs to go. >> Okay. Does he have a wallet? >> I don't know. >> Okay, we can ask him. Did he >> Was he here with like Did he have anything with him other than just car keys? And >> just the car keys, I think. >> Do you know what he came here to do? >> He came He said to let's lock the door so we can get him on his way. >> He just said he came to check things up and lock things up and make sure everything was up. And then he told me he was just looking in this room here. >> Is there other doors that need to be locked for just this one? >> Just this one. >> Just this one. Okay. >> Yeah. So then we have to turn I have to turn the alarm on. >> Okay. >> Yeah, that's right. Turn it off. >> You want to go ahead? So I'll wait. I'll come out with you. >> Then came the detail that stopped officer's cold. James' mother had passed away the morning before. She was still at his other house. No one had been called. >> That his mom is deceased at the other house and no one has gone. What the Jesus Christ, dude. And I think I think Nas got in that dress. So >> what? >> Yeah, she just told me that mom passed away last night. This mom. >> And then she's still there. And she's still at the house and no one has gone. >> I understand. Um, so you your mother passed away last night. Is that correct? >> Yesterday morning. >> Yesterday morning. Okay. And were medical out or law enforcement? Okay. So where is she now? >> At my house. >> She's at your house. on the 11 one corona, >> right? >> Okay. Um, so we will have to go down there and and make sure she's transport, you know, taken care of according to how we we handle those kind of calls. >> When James finally gave consent to enter, it didn't take long. What officers found inside raised immediate questions that James was going to have a very hard time answering. >> Oh. Oh, >> what happened? >> Dead body. >> DB obvious blood on the walker on her lacerations to her legs. >> Possibly >> just let's just clear the house. Make sure no one else is here. >> This does not look like a natural death. >> Detectives sat down with James calmly, letting him lead. His explanations were measured and careful, but they didn't line up with what investigators had seen. James, can you help me understand like why you're here today? >> My mom passed away. >> Okay. Sorry to hear that. Can you tell me more about that? >> Um, she's been living with me for the last 5 years or so. >> Okay. >> We we've been having some conflicts as of late. >> Tell me more about that. but just just just you know disagreements or or conflicts and and you know she said she sometimes makes some you know derogatory statements to me >> like what >> like the dog um wasn't fed sufficiently that's why she doesn't have enough weight and it's you know it's going to kill dog kind of thing that's an example not saying really not talking at much to me at all. Like you were getting the silent treatment. >> Mhm. >> Okay. I'm sorry. >> And she was um just just sitting stationary. We had had some big disagreements and and so >> tell me more about those. >> I gave you an example. One dog. >> Even more. >> You said big disagreement. The one about the dog is not a big disagreement. >> Well, it was with the dog not be not quote unquote being fed correctly. >> Okay. That's a That's an example of it. >> Okay. Is there any more? >> Um I I'm I'm 59 years of age and I have no children. >> Well, I mean that's like everyone's personal choice, right? >> That's true, but you know, there's been some comments made about why not kind of thing. >> How does it make you feel? >> Not good. >> No. James had spent an entire day going about his normal routine with his mother's body still inside. When asked why he never called anyone, his answer revealed far more than he intended. >> I worked I I went down to my real grand house and did work down there. Took my business calls and stuff from down there. >> Okay. >> Like it work? >> Mhm. >> Okay. So, you just worked? >> I did I went and did work it work. Yeah. >> Um down on on Rio Grand. Um, I came back in the evening, took care of the dog and and candidly, you know, was doing a lot of thinking about what should I do? >> Yeah. I mean, that's not like something that happens every day to people. So, >> no, meaning what should I do? Myself or whatever. Um, so is the house on Corona? Is that your primary residence out of all the houses you have? >> That and that's the one that's been more convenient for her to stay in. I I stay at my real grand house as well. I have. >> Okay. >> The last last year or so she's needed more help from me. I I've tried to go on with doing other stuff that I have like work and stuff. The last couple of days cuz I I I have other things I I have to do. Um, but obviously, you know, it's a very it's not a it's a bad situation. >> For every injury, James had an explanation. The detective had never heard anything like it and wasn't hiding that fact. >> In in a chair, she she had stumbled off of a chair a couple times. Um, so she she had fallen off of a chair that that chair that she's on now. And so I helped put her back I put her back on the chair. Not helped. I put her back on the chair myself and and you know situated her where you saw her tonight. >> When did she fall off that chair? >> A couple of times that morning. >> Couple of times that morning. Okay. And so when you found her, she was not in the chair. >> No, she was in the chair and a couple times she fell off the chair on onto the tile. >> Okay. But that was earlier in the day. >> Earlier in the day. >> Yeah. When she was alive, you helped her get back on the chair. Okay. But when you found her, she was on the chair >> at 11:00. >> She was on the chair cuz I had placed her on the chair. Yes. >> Okay. >> Mhm. >> She was on the chair cuz you placed her on the chair when she was already passed away. >> No, she was she when I sat her on the chair, she was alive, but but >> then she passed away. How was she in the morning when she like you said was like in a stuper not doing like a silent treatment and stuff? >> Just just how was she? She was sort of non-communicative. >> Okay. After she fell, you didn't want to call the ambulance or anything like that? >> I did not. No. >> Why not? >> So, you've already said to me I can stop this conversation if I want to. So, >> yeah, you can. So, is that are you are you done answering my questions? I'm I'm simply going to say that I did not because I didn't know what to do with the situation. >> Well, I mean, it's a pretty easy thing to do. Like, somebody falls down, you ask them if they're okay, and then you call 911, but they're not, right? >> So, how come you didn't call? >> Cuz I felt accountable for where she's at. You know, I'm I'm responsible for what's happened here, >> right? So calling 911 would have been like the helpful thing to do, right? >> When she fell off the chair, >> it might be. >> Okay. >> So you guys are having an argument in the morning. Is it fair to say you were upset at her when she fell cuz you were already upset about this ongoing argument? Is that why you didn't call 911 after she fell? You were still upset? I I didn't call 911 because I knew that that, you know, I I would be bound to be, you know, doing elder abuse. >> Well, falling off a chair is an accident. Like, anybody can fall off a chair, especially somebody who is Sorry, I can't do math right now. How old is she? >> 83. >> Yeah. Somebody who's 83. I mean, that's like a pretty reasonable thing for somebody, not reasonable, but like plausible thing for somebody 83 years old to do. >> Mhm. So, it's not elder. You should be calling 911 if they have an accident. Like, do you see like how that's doesn't really like make sense to me? Like, if your mom falls off the chair, why would you not want to help her out? >> Her face and stuff like that, you know, was is bruised up >> from when she fell on the floor. >> No, some of the arguments we had. >> Okay. So, they got physical between you and your mom? >> Mhm. >> Okay. Oh, that I'm sorry. That was probably really tough, those arguments and uh the things that she said. >> Tell me more about her face. Like where did she have marks? >> Just marks on her face on both sides. >> Okay. And like how did she get those? >> From some of our arguments. >> Okay. From you. >> Yeah. >> Okay. From what part of your body left the marks on her face? >> My hands. >> Okay. And in what manner did you use your hands to leave the marks on her body >> like that? >> Is that like an open palm slap? >> Mhm. >> Okay. I saw some marks on her shins. >> Mhm. >> Could you tell me more about those? >> On her shins where? >> So there's one on her left shin like right down the middle somewhere. >> Mhm. >> Like basically the middle of the shin. It looks like a cut. >> Mhm. >> Could you tell me more about that? her skin because of the the warin um is is very very very brittle or softer. >> That's the medication for blood right. >> That's right. >> Okay. >> And so her skin is very is very um soft because of that. >> Mhm. >> If if you if you literally just touch her arm or her hand or something like that, it it will it can it can make skin come off. So she also has another what looks like a laceration on her right chin as well from the outside. >> Is that because of a similar >> situation? I I don't know. I I I just can say her skin is very soft and if you um you just you know move her leg or whatever it can it can cause uh that kind of like the skin to to you know tear or peel or whatever. >> Okay. Did you move her legs at any point? >> Yes. >> Tell me about it. >> Well, I moved her legs, you know, to help her walk or pick her up or these kind of things. >> Okay. Left chin looks pretty fresh and it looks pretty deep. >> Okay. >> Do you remember how that happened? I know you said skin splits, but like that looks pretty like deep. >> No, I don't remember how that happened. Was it from a fall? Maybe. I don't remember how that happened, but I know she fell um in the in the living room area. She had a huge bruise on her leg if you look at that leg. >> Mhm. >> And um >> the left or the right? >> The left leg. >> Mhm. >> When did she fall? >> Oh, it's been like the um late January. Oh, okay. So, like a while back. >> Pressed into a corner, James admitted it himself. The arguments had been getting physical. It had been going on for a long time. This time it went too far. >> So when she fell, how did she fall? Like what in what manner? I mean like on the front, in the back, on the side, like anything. >> In one case, she fell over on the side on her head. Another case she fell over on the other side. So over by the furnace. Um so she's, you know, she's fallen multitude of times in the last um several months. >> Okay. Have you ever taken her to the hospital for any of those falls? >> I took her to press now um sometime last year for one of the falls. Yes. >> Oh, by the last few months. >> No, I have not. No. >> So she was found like Why is that? >> She um she had a like a a sheet that was on her that was had had blood on it that I threw away. >> Okay. But she wasn't wearing any that morning. >> Uh no, she had a she was covering herself with a with a sheet. I helped her on um the night before she had defecated on herself. So, I helped try to clean her up. >> Okay. >> And then I I um basically, you know, sat her sat her on the the walker there um and and just cuz it's close to the bathroom or whatever in case we needed to use the bathroom. >> So, some of them look really deep and I mean like not a doctor or anything, but it looks deeper than just skin. >> Okay. the one particular on her left shin. Can you >> tell me more about it? >> I know you said the medication makes the skin split, but that one looks really deep. >> There's no If you're asking me, did I do something like take a knife and cut her or something? The answer is no. I did not >> like that to me looks like it's down to the bone. I see that over my hand. That's okay. Okay. Yes. >> Is that how it was? How you remember seeing it? >> Yes. >> Like it's almost down to the bone. >> And that you think is because of the medication? >> Okay. Your mom passes away. You guys didn't have the best relationship at the end of Is that fair to say because of the ongoing series of arguments? >> Yes. How come it affected you so strongly that you want to take your own life if she passed when she passed away? >> And that's a leading question you're asking, but I think you know what the answer is cuz I feel accountable for what's happened here. >> I'm not meaning anything at all. I'm just asking why it's so upsetting to you. >> I feel accountable for what's happened here. >> Because of the argument is getting physical. >> Correct. Is it possible you maybe hit her a little too hard on Monday morning? >> I didn't hit her on Monday morning. >> Okay. The night before? >> Yes. >> You think it's possible you hit her a little too hard? >> Mhm. >> In what manner? >> I don't know that that I injured her. >> Okay. But where did you hit her that day? The night before? >> On her face. >> Okay. Open palm or closed fist? >> The open palm. >> In the end, James Colbear was charged with an open count of failure to reported and tampering with evidence. The medical examiner ruled his mother's death was caused by blunt force trauma. He pleaded no contest to secondderee and was sentenced to 9 years in prison. Moving to the next case, officers responded to what seemed like a routine welfare check. But once inside, they made a horrifying discovery. A grandson had taken the life of his own grandmother during a mental breakdown. What is it? >> That's what I was wondering. >> We're going to be looking for a head in an arm cuz I did not see it in the bathroom. >> On March 26th, 2021, Marian County Sheriff's deputies in Florida were dispatched to the home of 77year-old Alice Trench after her daughter had been trying to reach her all morning with no answer. Upon arriving, the deputy encountered at the front door would change the entire direction of the call. Hey, uh I came out here to do a wellbeing check on someone and uh when I walk up to the door, it smells like kerosene burning kind of smell and there's no one coming to the door. I don't know how to explain the smell, but it does not smell great. It smells like something like it smells like kerosene. I don't like the freaking smell of it when I walk up to the door. I only smell it when I walk up and I don't know what it is. It stinks, but it doesn't smell like people. It smells like Yeah, kind of chemically. I'll just hang it out front and uh actually I'll walk around the property to see if I can see anything out back. There's a tall fence, but I'll see if I can stand over it. Just says she's been trying to call her all morning. >> Trusting his instincts, the deputy stepped back and called for fire rescue. A decision that would unknowingly preserve everything investigators needed. >> Hey, this is 6412. Can you have fire rescue respond? Like when I walk up to the door here, it smells really bad. like a kerosenei propany smell. Awesome. They don't have to be 1018, but it just funny smell and I don't want to open the door and the house blow up. >> While waiting for fire rescue to arrive, the deputy began speaking with neighbors and what they shared would add an entirely new dimension to the call. >> Sir, how you doing today? Have you seen them today? >> No, you haven't seen either one of them. >> She's home because the car's there now. Early this morning, about 3:00, I went up to get a newspaper. His bedroom's right there. His light was on. So, he was there then. I'm talking about 3:00 in the morning. Okay. Do you know if they use like kerosene lanterns or anything for heat? I >> have no idea. But he's got so many tools in that shed. He probably could have one. Okay. >> There's like a kind of a gas smell coming from the door. So, I don't want to open it. Really? >> And it could just be he may be working on something in the garage and it's getting out there, but I don't want to open the door and it be whatever it may be and something blow up. >> She's home because the car is there. >> All right. >> That's all I can tell you. >> No, no, that's all right. We appreciate it. We'll hang out until fire is going to get here. Make sure there's nothing nothing worrisome as far as that smell. Hey, how are you doing today? Have you seen that neighbor recently? Not this one. Two houses down. >> Oh, Alice and Nick. >> Yes, Miss Alice. >> I haven't seen her. No, I don't usually go over there at all. >> Gotcha. You haven't seen him driving in and out recently or anything? >> Not today. >> Did you see him yesterday? >> Yeah, she goes up and down the street quite a bit. >> Like walking or? >> No, driving. >> Driving. Okay. What does she drive? Is it the car that's in the driveway? It's like a dark kind of grayish black Cadillac. >> Yes, that one. >> Okay. >> Is her car. >> Gotcha. Her daughter's calling worried about her and I've knocked on the door and it smells kind of gassy like propane. So I don't I don't know. We're waiting on fire rescue. >> You go knock on it. Maybe she >> No. No. Don't knock on the door. >> He gets in so much trouble. Do you know does she know that it's a wellness check? Maybe only because you know the police are called so much because of Nick her grandson. >> Who's her grandson? >> All I know is by Nick. I don't have anything to do with him. >> What's he look like? >> He's a nice looking young man. The pieces were already starting to fall into place as the officers that morning received a call about a naked, disoriented man picked up outside a nearby daycare that same morning covered in scratches and refusing to identify himself who could only be one person. Has he ever been found not with clothes on? See, you kind of >> I don't know. >> I really don't know. >> We found a young guy not too far down the road from here without any clothing on >> today >> and he wouldn't tell us his name. We couldn't figure out who he was. It was probably about an hour or two ago. I know that the police have been there a lot and I feel bad for she's raising him. I mean, he's an adult. He's not a teenager. But I know one time there must have been 15 officers that came down and they were pounding on her door and they were saying, "M, I'm going to bust the door down." She had to be scared to go. I'm going to go I'm going to talk to him real quick. See if he's maybe seen him this morning. Thank you. >> When fire crews opened the front door, smoke rolled out immediately. What they found inside would stop even the most seasoned officers in their tracks. I'm going to hang out behind my car. >> What is it? >> You want me to tell them to send an engine or they already coming? >> It appears there possibly a fire inside. Fire is making entry. >> It's smoking. The second they kicked that door open, smoke rolled out. So, it was either smoldering or >> That's what I was wondering. But I'm not going over there because it smells bad. >> Yes, sir. >> A little work now, huh? >> Yeah. Well, we just got the guy the son earlier. He was running naked like a mile that way and he lives here. I'm about to tape it up for crime scene. >> Do you want me to get a dog to go through the woods to see if we can find any clothing or anything in the woods from here to the other place? >> When you got here, was the door still locked? I didn't try and open it cuz I didn't know if it was propane leaking or whatever. I didn't >> You smelled something and today I'm not going. >> I backed out. >> Okay. And you guys originally called for a wellbeing check here. It's a hell of a day so far, isn't it? >> Yeah. >> This is your first homicide. >> First one of my own. Yeah. >> As the investigation was going on, the suspect was already sitting in a jail cell before investigators even knew a had occurred. Now it was time to sit across from him. >> You hear the naked guy that we had to go out with? >> Probably not. I don't know. >> There was a naked guy. Uh I can't think of his name. Last name is Trent. Nick Nicholas. you know that daycare place on the right if you're heading towards the oaks like in the back of that plaza >> he was over there naked and he destroyed the fence and uh was washing himself off with the hose and shortly after that I guess it's been about an hour and a half or so now later I got a signal 54 here for wellbeing check and I go up to the door and I smelled something that smells like kind of kerosenei but it made me a little lightheaded I went back up and I knocked again I smelled it again I didn't feel right and I was like ah go on fire and I guess she is in there on the bed that it's on fire >> inside the home what investigators found was beyond anything they had encountered before. Alice trench had been decapitated and dismembered. A shower left running over her remains and a kerosene can sitting near the front door. >> You good in there? >> Yeah, I shut the water off in the shower just to preserve any kind of evidence that's in the shower. Other than that, I mean, I looked around immediately. >> Who turned that on? >> It was on. >> I wonder who turned We didn't turn that on. >> I'm sure he did it. Try to >> So, we're going to be looking for a head and an arm cuz I did not see it in the bathroom. >> Oh, great. And he was between here and that daycare. >> Yeah. So, we got a K9 coming. >> I was walking through the woods looking for his clothes earlier. You see ahead? >> No. >> Okay. Well, we can mark that area off. That's good. >> Looks like a gas can or kerosene can by the front door. >> So, there's your there's your there's your smell. >> That was the kerosene. >> Pretty soon we'll become little pawns in this game. >> You and me both. >> That's it, pal. >> Even for the smart people, >> the wisers. I call them wisers cuz they figure out why. They're the ones that figure out why this happened. >> We We mitigate tragedy. That's what we do. >> Okay. There is a suitcase when you walk in that front bedroom. There's a red suitcase on the floor with a bunch of those um blankets. Body parts could be in that suitcase. >> Sitting across from detectives, Nicholas had an answer for everything except the truth. But the scratches covering his arms suggested otherwise. >> Have a seat right there in that seat. We'll get you some water. Thank you. Thank you. >> Yep. Have a seat right there. I'll be right back. You said you wanted a water, correct? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you so much. Have a good day. >> Yep. >> My name is Billy. This is John. We're detectives here at the sheriff's office. What's your first name? >> Brother Nichols. >> And your last name? >> Church. Now you're going to have to go over. I'm sitting a room with two detectives. I woke up in jail 30 40 minutes ago. >> And we're going to talk about a lot of things. You're all cut up. Are you all right? What happened to your hand? >> Well, I do remember one thing before waking up in jail. I I fought something that you guys think or if I even said, you put me in a bin. >> Can you just take us through your day? >> Well, >> you said that you woke up. >> Besides waking up in jail, I was attacked by another man. >> Can you take us through and tell us what happened? What happened? Don't really want to go into the graven details, but >> see you're kind of scratched up there. >> These are quite thin and they're long scratches and they come from something that has a, you know, long nails and a very short nails. >> Where did that happen? Where were you at when you were attacked? Where do you live at? Do you know your address? >> Southwest. >> Is that where you woke up this morning? >> No, I woke up in jail. Where was I arrested at? >> Daycare? >> Yeah, daycare. >> H tell us where did you get attacked? >> I'm guessing it would be in between the uh my house and the daycare. cuz there's a daycare off of the road that you turn on the road to my house. >> Who do you live at the uh 74th terrace house with? >> My grandmother. >> Where's she at right now? >> I don't know. >> What is your grandmother's name? >> Alice Trench. Yeah. I just remember feeling like uh real drunk and then I'm at I'm walking around and I'm trying to get out of the sun and remember walking out of the woods to this parking lot and then I just try to go walk up to where there's shade. I heard a bunch of people yelling and stuff. I didn't know I was naked. I didn't feel I was naked or anything. I don't do Do you use alcohol? >> I used to. I've been on probation for um for a little while now. I almost feel like I was uh you know like hypnotized or something. >> Where did you go to bed last night? >> It's a random question. You ever heard that Led Zeppelin song? >> Which one? >> That smell. >> Is that Led Zeppelin? >> Yeah. >> Ooh, that smell. And she's smelling it. >> I've heard that. I've heard that song. >> That's a good song, is it? >> It is. So, what's going on with the grandma? >> She's an older lady. She, you know, kind of hangs out at the house with the cats. And >> have you guys had any problems? Did you guys get along? Okay. >> I mean, as much as you could with a olderly lady, you know. >> Why are you asking me about my grandmother? >> We're just trying to figure out, you know, obviously you don't remember where you were and just trying to get a little bit of history, man. Who lives with you and your grandma? >> It's just me and my grandmother. My grandfather passed away about years ago. She's not been in the best of health, so I would I choose to work at the house instead of having to be away from the house. My grandmother Okay. >> We're hoping you can tell us. What are you trying to insinuate? >> I'm not trying to insinuate. >> What? Where? >> We're trying to ask you where you were. Most people, unless they experience a significant brain injury or something like that, are going to remember at least some details about what happened with their day. >> I don't remember anything. The last thing I remember was I'm at my house and I'm working on a >> pretty nasty cut you got on your hand. You cut yourself with like a saw or something. >> I got attacked by somebody. The [ __ ] is this? >> Oh my god. >> What happened there? You got some good scratches there, man. >> What's today? >> Friday. >> And this all happened today. You found me at the daycare today on Friday. >> Yeah. Come on. You know what happened? >> I came home from I was around the corner at a friend's house. I usually forget my keys, but she never leaves the door unlocked. The door was unlocked. >> All right. What happened when you got home? Walked in the house and there was somebody else in there. And then I just went That's where I was attacked at. I remember the alarms waking me up. Beep beep beep beep beep. I went running after somebody and then I wake up and I'm on cold bench in jail. >> Where was your grandma when you came home? Would this person attack you? What did you do to defend yourself? >> I remember going to go towards my room, but I looked towards the left and my grandmother wasn't laying on a bed. I said in there. I didn't get a response. And then that's where a fight happened. It happened somewhere in the right by the front door. And I'm I'm out cold and the fire alarms are going off. I wake up. I chased after somebody through the woods and now I wake up from a day. >> The suspect had an answer for everything. A former friend named Robert Dalton, someone he described as manipulative and threatening, was responsible for all of it. >> There was this old man that I used to help out. Everything I did for this man, he just he always found some type of wrong in it. He would play a lot of these like mind games and my grandma would tell me, "Stay away from this guy. Stay away from this guy." And I would never listen to about people. His name was Robert. And I remember being very worried about Robert. >> What does he have to do with this? >> He was just a very close friend of mine. After me and him had a falling out, I wouldn't be at home sometimes and I would get like a feeling he's going to do something to me or my house or my grandmother. I would always worry about my grandmother and a good friend of mine, my friend that lives around the corner says, "I don't want him in my house." He would say these weird things and he was into food related. >> Okay. and and he would say spiritual stuff. He would talk about the spiritual >> be would make you feel terrified sometimes. >> We deal with a lot of dangerous people. >> Weird guy, man. He's a weird guy. >> Yeah. >> I would always wonder as we had that falling out. I I would just I felt this dude's going to seek some type of revenge some some sort of way. >> Well, what happened in the house, man? What happened? There something you're not telling us. >> I fought a man in the house. Next thing I know, I'm waking up in a with the fire alarms going off. >> But you don't know who this person is. >> I want to say it was wrong. >> You want to save it? Why don't we take a break for a second? I want you to think really hard cuz the important part is what happened when you got that you don't remember. Okay. Oh my god. No. No. No. No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. My god. I'm going to that [ __ ] sick mother man if I get my hands on that mother. No. No. All right. Okay. So, we got some detectives looking at him some stuff. Okay. Listen. Um, >> did I see a picture of my house? >> What do you mean? Like a picture or killed my grandma? >> No, I I don't think she I don't think he did. >> My grandmother? >> No, I I don't think he did, man. >> Every time Nicholas opened his mouth, he seemed to dig himself deeper. When detectives pointed out that he smelled of gasoline, he deflected by bringing up smoke and smoke detectors, seemingly unaware of just how much he was giving away. >> We know that you guys didn't get along and you had a lot of problems. How'd you get gasoline on you? >> And gasoline. >> You smell like gasoline. >> You were smelling things cuz I was trying to remember by the kitchen. I went to go see Alice. She was laying on the bed. The shower was running and then I wake up and there's black smoke. Nobody to the woods but a bear friend. Why? My [ __ ] bear friend. >> Did you get into an argument with your grandma? I talked to a detective that said that you guys like arguing a lot. Like she would >> talked to a what? A detective that used to work for taste involving you and she told me that >> dude there was never a detective involved in a a case. >> Didn't she get arrested or something? >> What are you talking about? Did you get arrested? I take care of my grandmother. What are you trying to insinuate? I told you Robert Dalton was in my house. >> Is it possible you mistook Robert for somebody else? Like your grandma? You know what? This conversation's over. This conversation's over. Cuz I see I see what you're doing. I see what you're trying to do. >> We're just trying to figure out what happened. >> I told you Robert Dalton was in my house and I was attacked by Robert Dalton in my house. I see what you guys are trying to do. You're aing scumbag. You know that piece of [ __ ] >> We're just trying to figure out what happened to your grandma. This conversation's over. This conversation's over. I would never do anything that harm my grandmother. >> Okay. >> I would never ever ever do anything that harm my grandmother. >> Watch your step going down right here. >> Oh, good job. >> Dead in paradise. >> Yeah, pretty much. Not a big fan of Florida, though. >> Watch your head when you get in. >> And then I'll get the uh like I said, it's going to be warm. >> Why'd you call me never harm a soul? Never harm anybody. >> All right. Appreciate it. >> Call me if you need. Later, investigators looked into Robert Dalton and the theory went nowhere. In the end, Nicholas Trench was charged with secondderee arson and of a body. He was sentenced to life in prison in August 2022 without the possibility of parole.