Did you see the body or anything? >> Yeah, he did. >> You said your friend. >> No, he's the one that busted me out. >> Adam was getting really angry from Harmony in the car. I couldn't stop her. Stop him from her. >> Where's your daughter? So you can check on her and make sure that she's right now. I have nothing. [clears throat] >> Some criminals think they've outrun justice for good and vanished into ordinary [music] life. But what happens when officers catch them so offguard that they don't even have time to react? >> My truck. It's okay. >> Okay. No, just one second. I'm still reading something. Hey, hey, hey. >> Don't touch me. Don't touch me. >> Don't touch me. These were the moments when cops surprised the [music] out of theers on the run. We begin with a case in which a hit and run driver leaves a cyclist injured on the road and flees, but officers are already closing in on a truth that's about to fall apart fast. >> Were you aware that you were involved in a collision? >> Collision. >> A crash with a bike. >> Look like you're [clears throat] limping pretty bad. >> I don't think you're going to be able to walk out of the way. >> On January 23rd, 2026, officers responded to a hit and run where a cyclist was knocked off his bike and dragged several feet. And the driver who hit him is already long gone. >> Sir, can we stand you up? >> See how you're doing? >> It's just a cut. >> A little tender. >> Yeah, my knee's a little nasty. >> Can you describe the pain to me that you're having when you walk? >> Is it like a sharp pain? >> Yeah, it's right in there. >> You feel like you need to go and get an X-rays. >> Or do you have anybody that could pick you up? >> No, I'm just around the corner. >> Where was she coming from? Which direction? >> She was sitting right here. >> She was sitting here. And where were you? >> I was riding down here. So you were coming across and then she pulled in and you from the side and >> she broadside. >> Okay. >> I was cutting across. She just she took off too. >> Look like you're limping pretty bad. >> I don't think you're going to be able to walk far. >> Yeah, that's the problem. >> My concern is it's going to get worse. So at the very least, you got to go get it x-rayed. >> I probably go get it x-rayed. >> So you just want to come with us? >> No, I just I want to get home is what I want to do. >> Are you planning to ride this bike home or? >> No, there's no change. Yeah, it's going to be a refusal for now. >> I would have ridden it. If the chain was on, I would have ridden it. >> We'll get a refusal from you. If it if it gets worse, just call us back. I mean, we're literally right over there. >> Yeah. So, >> the cyclist refused medical transport, just wanting to get home, but officers were already building a case that would lead them [music] straight to the driver's door. >> Hello. >> Hello. What happened? >> I'm Debbie Lane with the Flagler County Sheriff's Office. Are you Lydia? >> Yes. >> Okay. Is that your daughter's vehicle there? >> Yes. Yes. Do you know who would have been driving at this point? >> I drive. >> You only drive it? Yeah. >> Were you driving this morning? >> Yeah. What happened? Something. >> Okay. Were you aware you were involved in a collision? >> Collision. >> A crash with a bike. You know anything about that? Like I said, I'm Deputy Lane with the sheriff's office. I'm investigating run. Uh, you have the right to remain silent. Anything? >> Okay. I call my daughter because she speak English very well and you can speak because I don't understand everything, you know. I want a guy. I understand that. Good. >> Okay. Do you mind if I come in with you? >> No, I the the phone. >> Yeah. Do you mind if I come in with you? >> Yeah. Yeah. You Oh, I'll give you the dog. >> Oh, the dog. >> Yes. >> All right. I'll just hang out right here. All right. >> Officers arrived at the residence tied to the SUV and were met by Lydia, an elderly woman who claimed that she was the one driving. But something about her story didn't add up. And within minutes, that story started to fall apart. >> How many people are in the house right now? Is it just you? Is it your >> Yeah, it's me, my son, my what happened is something you tell me because I wor you know what what happened is something or >> Yeah, I'll get to that in a second. I just got to read you something before I ask any more questions >> to my daughter. She's speaking. >> Uh what was your mom just talking to you now when you when you were talking Spanish? >> Yeah, something about my car. >> Okay. What What did she say about your car? >> Yep. That you're asking her if someone touched the car. >> Yeah. >> And I said and I said, "Where's my car?" Cuz I'm in dark right now. I'm actually driving right now to the airport. >> I got you. Yeah. So, we're investigating an incident that happened uh earlier this morning. I got to read her her Miranda rightites. Um are you >> No, my mom My mom hasn't driven the car. >> Okay. She hasn't driven it today. >> No, she has a car. >> Okay. Who would have been driving the Mazda today then? >> Well, I left it there. Somebody parked at the house. >> Okay. Somebody Somebody was driving it today. It was involved in a hit. >> Someone got Someone got into a car accident. >> Yes. Did she mention anything about that to you? >> No. No. No. >> Did she mention anybody driving it other than her? She told me just before she called you, Ma'am. Ma'am, give [music] me a second. She told me, "Ma'am, just before she called you, she told me that she drives it." >> No, not today. Not today. >> I mean, she could drive the car. >> I drive this car, but not today. >> Okay. >> But she car >> I'm going to read her her Miranda rightites. Okay. If she >> No, no. Ask her ask her again if someone's off the car. >> Okay. I have to read her her Miranda writes so she understands that, you know, she doesn't have to answer specific questions. It's it's a part of my question. >> Well, I'm investigating something right now. Ma'am, can you come over here? No. No. Can you Can you come over here? I'm sorry. I have to I'm going to Okay, I'm going to I'm going to read it out loud and if she has any questions, she can she can ask you and then she can ask me. Okay. I'm asking if she understood anything I said. >> No, she doesn't. Okay. All right. All right. Tell her what I just told you then. >> Okay. No, because it's it's this is really difficult because I'm always there to take care of stuff like this or doctors or you understand she I need I need a verbal yes or no from her and I >> No, because she wouldn't be answering you correctly unless I'm there. >> Well, you can translate. Are you still >> Are you still willing to speak to me though [music] and answer my questions is what I'm asking. >> No, no, no. Because I can say I don't understand. Good. A language barrier complicated the conversation and Lydia called her daughter for help translating. But what came out next pointed the investigation somewhere else entirely. >> So, who else resides here with your mother? >> My sister and my brother. >> Are your son or your kids here right now? >> No, my I think my sister, but she doesn't drive. She just has an ID. >> Okay. Who Who is here right now with your mother? >> My my sister and my brother. >> Okay. Your sister and brother are in the house currently right now. >> Yeah. dead. >> So, here's what happened. Your car was involved in a hit and run. We're trying to figure out who was driving it. Okay? Somebody was obviously driving it because um I mean there there's proof of it throughout the county and there's also crush damage to it and camera footage. I'm just trying to figure out who was doing this. >> So, now that >> now that we have your vehicle, it's going to get entered in as into a a long form and your insurance is going to find out that it was involved in any run. >> Okay. And we're going to end up towing it cuz it's evidence in a crime. >> I I understand. Yeah. But can I handle it with the insurance? >> No. Your insurance is going to find out that I was involved in run. Please stay out of the vehicle. >> Oh, okay. >> Okay. Your insurance is going to find out that I was involved in a in a hit and run and they're not going to be too happy. So that's that's why I'm just trying to figure out what it >> would it maybe have been your sister or your brother that was driving it. So, my brother, he has mental illness, but he does have a license to drive, >> okay? >> But, you know, mentally lately, he's not all that well. >> With Lydia's story falling apart and a Miranda warning getting lost in translation, officers realized two other people inside that house could have been driving. When officers knocked again, it was the son who answered, but his calm didn't last long. >> Hello. >> Hey, Andrea. Is your sister home? >> No, she's away. >> Your sister isn't here. Carmela, she's not here. It's just you. Okay. >> No, there was no accident. >> Okay. Were you driving today? >> No, I wasn't driving. I was driving. >> Can you stop, please? >> Oh, okay. >> Okay. >> All right. So, you weren't driving today whatsoever. >> No. >> You weren't involved in a collision? >> No. >> Okay. >> It's not my truck. It's okay. >> Okay. No, just one second. I'm just I'm still reading something. Hey, hey, hey. Hold on. Hold on. >> Don't touch me. >> Hey, hold on. >> It's my property. DON'T TOUCH ME. >> DON'T TOUCH ME. ANDREA, >> IT'S NOT MY CAR. IF someone's on the side, it's not my fault. [laughter] >> Okay, that's okay. That's okay. >> Close the door. >> Just come outside. >> I'm going to fight you the problem myself. No. >> No. Leave my property RIGHT NOW. >> LEAVE MY PROPERTY right now. >> Leave my property right now. I wasn't driving today. You set up. >> I wasn't driving today. You set up my property. No. Leave my property, >> sir. Calm down. Leave my property. Sir, come on. >> Don't touch me. Step out of the way. >> You said don't do it. No, please. Let's calm down. You're leaving. [laughter] I wasn't drunk tonight. Why you talking about other things? >> You need to calm down. >> You were trying TO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OTHER THINGS. I WAS NOT DRIVING. >> Because sir, calm down. Okay. You need to step out of the way. Step out of the way. STOP. CALM DOWN. >> TASER. TASER. >> TASER. >> With the confrontation now over, Andrea was placed in custody and sent to the hospital as a standard precaution. But what happened next was anything but standard. >> Everything's going to be okay. Everything's all taken care. All the only thing that's left is for you to get in the door in the bus. >> Once you get in there, we can get you back home and get you a cigarette. I can I sit in the front with you? You can't >> I can't breathe in there. I have no heart. >> I've got too much stuff in my front. >> There's too much stuff up there. >> I can't sit there without going. There's a ton of room. >> There's no There's no window. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. To hold it. >> This ain't the playground, buddy. We're going in there. >> So, let's stand up, please. >> You can if you want to. I mean, we can try to put you in the larger area in the back. >> Yeah. >> But there's no windows there either. I >> I think this is bigger. This is >> You can hold on a little bit more secure. >> No. Can you keep me >> sit in the corner over there? >> Can you keep me in the hospital? >> No, >> we can't keep So we got to have you go back there. >> This is actually the better seat. >> But it's going to be a short ride and then you get a cigarette. >> Speak with my mom. >> When once you get home? >> Yeah. >> No. Can I speak with her now? >> Not right now. >> Not right now. No. No. Once you get home. But the faster you get in there, the faster you can talk to your mom. >> I don't want to go in there cuz I can't read. Stand up. >> You got to You got to go. Come on. >> You stand up. You stand. I watch you stand up. Be okay. Stand up. >> All right. Stand up. It'll be all right. >> Step up. >> Come on. >> There you go. >> You got it. >> You got it. You got to keep going. >> I'm going to get in there first. All right. >> Someone should get in there. >> Are coming down? >> Yeah. Sounds about right. >> Sitting in here with me. >> Yeah. Yeah. Once you sit down, we'll get in there. >> I'll get in there with you. You got that whole corner. You can see your best. >> Look at all that room you got. >> Can you sit in there with me? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Want to show them? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Come on. Come on. >> There you go. >> Up and in. There we go. >> Bingo. >> Yeah. We're coming. We're coming. Don't worry. You don't need to strap them in. >> I don't think the strap will fit around them. >> I mean, it's it's on you, so >> I don't know what your policies say or I'll meet you down there. >> All right. You're good, man. You'll be all right. >> In the end, 38-year-old Andrea Matanga was arrested for leaving the scene of a crash with injury, battery on a law enforcement officer, [music] and resisting arrest. A misdemeanor charge for refusing to sign a citation was added later, and Matanga was released the same day after posting a $15,000 bond. Next, [music] a man is pulled over while aimlessly driving around with a body in his trunk. And what he tells officers in the moments that follow will leave everyone stunned. >> Both intoxicated, both drinking, and I'll grab my 9 mm and put a bullet there. My temper got the best of me going with the 9 mm. That's my favorite gun, though. [laughter] >> On September 1st, 2025, officers from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department were sent to check on Amy Finny, but she was gone, and so was her husband. What started as a routine welfare check quickly turned into a manhunt as officers tracked his phone through the dark, inching closer to a truth no one was prepared for. >> I'm Captain Way. >> Nice to meet you. My name's Anthony. >> What uh where were we at? >> We were in our town patrolling. >> You guys weren't chasing this ping down. >> We were trying to chase the ping down. We went to where last ping which was on Emerson City Road. I went out there. We didn't have anything out there and then [music] next one we had was Ren City Road and then it was stopped here. >> Okay. >> You know, we're hunting it down. We just didn't get to it yet. >> So, you stopped him or initiated the stop and come talk to him for a second. >> Joe, I'm going to start trying to contact the Perry County Corner. Check with Joe. Make sure he's busy. >> Okay. >> And if so, we'll have the officer should know who he is. >> So, he's requested crime scene in our >> Yeah. Okay. Crime scene's good. We just need to make sure the Perry County coroner has been good. >> Hey, what's up, bud? >> You okay? >> Yeah. >> You want to come up here real quick? A >> little tight right here. Well, we'll get them off here in just a second. I'm a Detective Titer. How are you doing tonight? >> I'm I'm West Fanny. >> Okay, cool. We're just going to walk down this way, Bubba. >> Dude, you guys were on the ball tonight. I'm telling you. [laughter] >> I ain't going to lie. >> Hey, all is good. Um, so here's the deal. Relax, Bubba. Everything's fine. I'm >> I am relaxed, actually. >> You seem like real nice guy, man. Where you from? >> Mount Vernon. >> From Mount Vernon. All right. Let's go back to my car and uh and we'll talk for a little bit and we'll see we'll see what we can do about getting you uh getting you out of here. Dude, what do you do for a living? >> I drive a semi. >> Oh, my dad drives a semi. I've been doing it for 30 years. Can we switch out Can I get your cuffs? Can we switch out cuffs real quick? These are a little bit tight and I want to get state boys their cuffs back. >> Please guys, these are tight. >> Hey, hey, just relax. Take them off. Relax. I'm going Hey, I'm going to handcuff you up front. We're just going to hand You ain't going to give me no trouble, are you? >> Uh, no. >> You seem like a real good dude. I am I am a good dude. I just I just have a temper sometimes. >> That's all right. >> We all do. >> Look at that. >> How was he on the stop? >> He applied most things. It It was seemed like he was confused on most orders or he just didn't answer. At one point he put his arms down and was like reaching but other than that. >> Okay. >> He followed all orders. It was just delayed. >> Didn't have a gun on his person. >> Um so I'm Justin. Uh you are >> West Finny. >> I'm a detective with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department. >> So you know Justin Osborne then? >> I do. So, here's the deal. I I investigate these things and >> babe. >> Well, tell me tell me what happened. What? Tell me what happened. >> I'm assuming the dude that busted me out today, he come over to my house yesterday at 7:30 a.m. and Amy got pissed. She's like, and then she rode my all day long. And then she was talking to somebody on the phone last night at like 9:00. She said, "This mother, I hate my husband. He's a piece of and that set me off, man. I just my We were both drinking and everything. >> Yeah. >> Come on now. >> I feel you. >> I understand. I've been mad before, too. >> And and I and I grabbed my 9 mm [music] and put it put a bulletproof. >> From the moment Wes Finny was pulled over, something about him felt off. His responses were delayed. His demeanor uncertain, and it was clear he was carrying something far heavier. >> Okay. So, let me So, you did with 9 mm? >> Yeah. >> Where's the 9 mm at now? >> It's at my house. >> Oh, it's at your house. Okay. No big deal. >> And two nines and and >> Okay, no problem, dude. How uh So, how long you been with her, man? >> Almost three years. We just got married April in Las Vegas. >> So, all the things you're talking about, all the things you're telling me, I understand. >> I'm not going to lie to you, dude. >> No, dude. And and here's the deal. >> My my temper is like real short and it has been for a little bit because >> Yeah. >> Uh I mean, she don't work no more cuz she has liver problems. >> Yeah, man. And I work my I bless my you know and she always asked for like give me this money. I can just give her $400 couple like two days ago, dude. >> And she's like well you that $400 ain't enough. I'm like I still pay my goddamn ex-wife. >> Okay. >> $986 a month for alimony. >> I I get it. I get it, dude. Um >> I'm like you are robbing me. >> Yeah, I understand that man. >> When interrogated without much pushing at all, Finny began laying out everything. the argument, the phone call that set him off, and exactly what he did next. But it wasn't just what he confessed to that was disturbing. It was how casually he said it. >> So, uh, you just, you guys have been fighting to run. >> No, we wasn't even fighting until, um, Colin showed up at 7:30 yesterday, Sunday morning, Saturday, we everything was great. >> Yeah. >> Come Sunday, he called me and he said, "Hey, hey." He said, "I'm almost on my way to your house." I'm like, "Uh, no, she's asleep. Don't do that." He's like, "Well, I'll take the heat." I'm like, uh, well, I'm going to have to heat the rest of the day on this, [clears throat] you know. >> So, when did So, Sunday you >> Sunday night 9:00 >> about 9:00. >> Where where where were you guys at? >> At home. >> In your house. They're on 148. >> Yeah. >> What room were y'all in? >> Living room. >> Living room bush. >> I'm not going to lie to you, dude. >> No, dude. I I know exactly. I'll tell you the truth. >> So, what kind of 9mm do you have? >> Smith and Wesson. >> Uh, M&MP. >> Yep. >> Okay, dude. Listen. I I I get it. I understand. No, my my temper I got the best of me, dude. I'm serious. I'm not a bad person, >> bro. You think my temper ain't got the best of me before? Come on, man. >> You look like a good dude. >> But I am a good dude. [laughter] I am. That's the reason why I'm sitting here talking to you. I'm not blaming you. I'm not getting I'm not lecturing you. I ain't your daddy. Uh I'm just talking to you, brother. >> I'm just You're me, I'm sure. >> I'm just trying to understand exactly what happened. >> No, no. And uh >> my my I let my temper get the best of me. It happens. >> She Here's the deal. She uh called somebody like 8:45, I'm guessing. >> Yeah. >> And I said I said, "Who you talking to?" She said, "Yeah, your business." I'm like, "All right, whatever." I'm like, "Why don't you just leave? Go do something." You know, >> have you talked to any of the other officers on scene? Have they talked to you? Okay. >> Um, can I ask you, brother, what what happened after you what happened after you shot her there on Sunday night at 9:00 p.m.? >> What happened? >> Yeah. Yeah. Just walk me through it. >> And then I went to sleep. Vinnie described shooting his wife and then simply going to sleep as if nothing had happened. But as he kept talking, a fuller picture of the relationship began to emerge. And the events that led to that Sunday night were darker than they first appeared. >> When did you when did you put her body in the trunk of the car? >> About 4:00 a.m. this morning. >> So Sunday night about 9 9:00 p.m. You shot her. You guys, you'd had enough, right? >> Yeah. >> You shot her through the back with a 9 mm. >> Uh can you can you point where where on the in the back you might have shot her? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> I can't not tell you that. >> Okay. No problem. Obviously, it was an immediate death. >> Were you were you intoxicated when you when you >> We're both intoxicated. >> And then um you both drinking. >> Did you pass out or did you just go to sleep and try to think on what you should do? >> Um a little bit of both. >> Okay. So, you woke up at 4:00 a.m. >> Around 4. >> Around 4:00. And you put her in the put her in the trunk of your car. >> Yeah. >> And where were you going tonight? >> No, I was just cruising around. >> You just cruising around? You're obviously >> I didn't know what to do. >> I was confused. I was confused. >> Who would know what to do? You know what I'm saying? I was confused, dude. >> Yeah, that's all right, dude. That's That's fine. I would be confused, too, at putting myself in your shoes. If I was in your shoes, I wouldn't know what the hell to do. You know what I'm saying? You know, I read your rights earlier and you clearly wanted to talk to me cuz I think you're a good person and I think that you [music] want to you want to tell me what happened. Dude, >> I I just told you everything, man. >> I believe >> I'm not going to lie to you. >> So, had you guys had you guys ever had any uh any prior uh domestics or anything like that? >> Yes. About 2 years ago, >> you guys had a pretty tumultuous relationship. Five arguing. >> She was drinking a lot of fireball and I kept telling her I'm like, "Hey, you're going to get yourself doing that shit." You know, >> 100%. >> And we we went to a salute hospital. >> Yeah. >> 3 weeks ago because her liver is like >> she was drinking herself to death. >> Yeah. >> After the shooting, what Finny didn't know was that someone he trusted had already made a call that would end everything. So, what happened tonight? A >> buddy of mine came over, knocked on my door. >> And who's your buddy? >> West Finny. >> West Finny. >> Yeah. Um, he said, "Man, can I come in?" He was drunker in hell. >> Uhhuh. >> "Can I come in and talk?" I was like, "Sure, you came in." He's like, "I shot my wife last night." I was like, "What?" He's like, "I her through the heart. She dropped in the kitchen." And I was like, "No, you didn't." And he showed me the body in the back of her. >> It was in the back of his vehicle tonight. in the back of that vehicle. >> Do you know his wife? >> Amy saying yes. >> Did it look like her? >> Yes. >> Okay. What happened after that? >> He's like, "Don't turn me in, man. Don't turn me in. What [snorts] do I do? What do I do?" I was like, "I don't know. I have no idea what to do. I I I've never done this." >> So, you did Did you go You did go and talk to your friend. You said your friend that you Thank someone. >> Oh, he's the one that busted me out. I'm sure. >> Did he see anything? Did he see the body or anything? >> Yeah, he did. >> Oh, you showed him the body. >> No, I I said, "Dude, I said I >> Yeah. He said, he said, "Are you serious?" I'm like, "Yeah, I'll up, man." I My temper got the best of me. And And he he's like, "No, you're kidding, right?" I'm like, "No." I'm like, "Here you go." >> Okay. >> Throughout the conversation, Finny remained cooperative and genuinely remorseful, providing every detail officers needed without resistance. Detectives moved carefully, locking everything down, obtaining consent for the house, and obtaining a search warrant for the [music] vehicle, making sure nothing would slip through the cracks when it mattered most. But I had her covered up, you know. >> What'd you cover up with, if you don't mind me asking? I didn't even I didn't see I didn't even look. So, just covered up in blankets. >> Yeah, >> I I get it. I understand where you're at. You're in a bit of a pickle and I think you're trying to figure out what >> No, I >> Did you just fly hot? You just got pissed, right? >> I got pissed. >> Have you always had temper problems? >> Well, my last name is Finn, so we all got temper problems. >> Well, you're Irish. Exactly. >> All right, man. I get you. [clears throat] Exactly. >> Hell yeah. I mean, if you don't notice by the uh pale skin and the red hair, I I got a little bit of that, too, man. >> See, you look just like my son-in-law. >> Yeah. Well, >> he's got red hair and pale skin, too. >> Well, so I know a little bit about that, too. >> I used to have red hair, but I turned great at at 51 years old. >> How old are you now, man? >> I'm 51. >> Uh, what's your full name, bud? >> John Wesley. >> John Wesley. >> John Wesley Finny. >> John Wesley Finny. Brother, >> and she wouldn't listen to me. >> Can I ask you something? Go ahead. Would you mind if Would you would you give us consent to go get the gun out of your house? >> If you want the 9 mm, that's my favorite gun, though. [laughter] >> But >> that's a $500 gun, >> brother. I know. [laughter] Hey, man. You're helping me out a whole hell of a lot. Um, >> I'm not going to [ __ ] [music] with you. I mean, >> why am I bull? >> No, no. I got a 40 caliber and two nines and a gun. >> Okay. And you wouldn't care. You wouldn't care. >> I don't want all of them to take them because >> when we go back, >> they were expensive. With Finn's confession laid out, officers move to the residence where it all happened, the place he says everything went down. What they find inside would either confirm every word of his story or unravel it completely. >> So, what happened in the kitchen? Supposed to make sure there's nobody else inside and then secure the the residence. With it happening in the kitchen, I'm sure they'll want me to tape it off, but >> she's been in there. But he cleaned up really well is what he said. We got we got blood on the front porch. In the end, John Wesley Finny was charged with first-degree in the case involving his wife, Amy Joe Finny, [music] along with domestic related offenses. Next, we have a case where a so-called father had been quietly outrunning the truth of his [music] daughter for nearly 2 years. He never realized just how close cops already were to cornering him. >> For what reason? I'll get that to you in a second. >> Your daughter's alive? >> Yeah, you're sure. I'm positive. >> Harmony peing in the car and he repetitively kept punching her. In December 2021, officers from Manchester, New Hampshireers, responded to a welfare check requested by a mother who hadn't been able to reach her young daughter in months. A daughter who was living with her father under a custody arrangement. After weeks of searching, officers finally found the father asleep in a parked car in a Manchester parking lot with no idea that this routine check was about to unravel something far darker. >> Got two occupants both asleep. Can we make contact right now? >> Nothing. >> Show me your hands. Adam, >> do you have anything on you? >> No. All right, come right over here. >> What's wrong? >> I'm just going to pat you down. Make sure you don't have any weapons on top of your head. Okay. >> On top of your head. >> What's going on, though? >> Okay. What's going on? >> We got a couple detectives that are coming down to talk to you. >> Okay. >> For what? >> What's that? >> For what? >> Just people are wondering where harmony is. >> With Adam face to face with officers and the one question that mattered already on the table, his answer offered nothing solid to hold on to. What came next would reveal a man far more rattled than he was letting on. someone who seemed to know deep down that the secret he'd been burying for 2 years was finally catching up to him. >> I don't I'm not talking to the police about nothing. Am I under arrest >> right now? You're being detained? >> Yes. >> Not under arrest, but you're being detained. >> Okay. >> Any particular reason you don't want to talk to them? >> Hey, man. What's going on? >> Am I indoor? >> No, you're not. You're not. You don't have any warrant. >> All right. I got nothing to say. Uh Adam. Adam. Right. I don't Do you remember me from the Elliot Hospital from a while back, man? >> Yeah. I got I got nothing to say. Right. So, hey, man. The only thing we're trying to figure out is where Okay. >> Okay. >> So, concern is that you guys are the same, right? You're not in trouble. Nobody said you're losing your daughter. Okay. So, I want to make that clear. >> Where's your daughter? So, we can check on her and make sure that she's right now. I have nothing to say. >> But that's not what I'm I'm just asking where she is. I I have nothing to say. >> See, you don't care how if your daughter's okay or not. >> I do. I I listen. I have nothing to say. >> Is your daughter >> If I'm under arrest, you guys can arrest me. >> I'm not saying you're under arrest. >> Okay. I have nothing to say. >> You just don't care how your daughter >> I do. Obviously, I do. My kids all like this. Yeah. But other than that, I have nothing. >> I remember you talking to me about it at the Elliot because when you were up there, >> you don't remember me, John? Yeah, I do. >> You do? >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, I was there to help you out then. >> I know. >> I want to make sure you're doing okay. >> I know you. I know you are. >> And I have a job to do, man. Like I said, you're not in trouble. We're telling these kids right now. You're not in trouble. >> Okay. >> I care about how your kids are. Okay. My job is to check on kids. All right. >> John, I appreciate that. I told you. I remember you from up there. I >> I don't have nothing else to say. >> Why are you Why are you so hesitant to tell me where she is? Are you worried about her mom and like what she's trying to do? Yeah. That's Yeah. And I and I'm just not going to say anything now. Last time I accidentally the police came back. >> But you but here's the thing. You have custody of her, right? >> Right. So what what would you be doing wrong if you have custody of her and she's in the safe place? You know what I mean? So you you didn't do anything wrong. If you're telling me that she's in your custody, there's paperwork that says she's supposed to be in your custody, right? She's not supposed to be in mom's custody, right? >> Can't be in mom's custody. She's not on custody and she's not accusing you of doing anything wrong, but she's worried about her daughter. So, how you guys work that out in court is up to you guys. But like I said, you have custody of her. You didn't do anything wrong cuz you have custody of her. So, I just need to know that she's okay. She's okay. I can say, "Hey, DCF, she's fine. Like, we know where she is. You check on her. Cool." Like, that's the end of it. And I don't have to bother anymore. you and your girl can go on your way as long as I know where she is and she's safe. That's all I really care about. >> I I have nothing to say on that's it. >> Adam's refusal to give a straight answer was frustrating to watch, especially with his own daughter's safety on the line. And it only deepened the officer's suspicion that something wasn't right. And what he said next, swearing on his own life, only made officers trust him less. >> Can you assure me that your daughter's okay? >> Yeah. >> Do you know where she is? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Is she with family? >> Can you Can you just answer me? answering the question. If you want to arrest me, arrest, Adam, John, come on, Adam. I got nothing else to say. >> I'm not trying to arrest you, though. Did I tell you I was trying to arrest you? >> No, you didn't. But if you're trying to All right, but I have nothing else to say. So, if you're going to arrest me after that and arrest me, >> I'm not, man, cuz you're just trying to check your kids. That's all I'm trying to do. >> All right. If you tell me she's with family or she's with like my mom, my dad, she's down in Florida. Like, I all I need to know is that and I'll You're on your way, man. I just need to know she's okay. I'm not saying I'm going to take her and bring her to your ex. I'm not saying that. >> I just want to make sure she's okay. I promise you that. I know. All right. Well, like I will shake your hand and tell you that man to man that that is what I'm trying to do is make sure your daughter's okay. I know your other kids are okay cuz I I was over talking to Kayla. >> Yeah, I know. >> And your kids are okay, man. >> I know they are. >> They're running around like wild animals, but >> they're okay. But like Harmony, I I don't know where she is. Mom's concerned. DCYF is concerned. If you can get DCY off your back, why wouldn't you want to do that? Like, do you want DCF trying to track you down? >> I mean, I'll I'll deal with DCF, man. Like, I don't >> But they're going to ask you the same thing. Do you want to keep dealing with them? >> Whatever. >> I know you want to go, but I I just want to figure out where your daughter is. Why is that such a hard thing for you? So, can we What if we're going? We're going. Like, if not, I have nothing else to say to them. >> Can you say you're an arrest, man? >> All right. So, I have nothing else to say. >> So, you don't want to tell us where your daughter's at? I have nothing else to say, John. >> That's it. >> Yes or no thing? You don't want to tell us who your daughter is? >> I have nothing else to say, John. I'm under arrest. I'm under arrest. But God, I'd like to know. >> But just just from our perspective, my man, it just seems a little strange that you don't like you don't want to tell us where she is. >> All right. I just I got nothing else to say to you guys. She hurts. >> No. >> Okay. So, she's alive. >> What? >> Your daughter's alive? >> Yeah. You're sure? >> I'm positive. >> You You're like, swear on your life. >> I swear on my life. >> When's the last time you saw her alive? >> You know that she's fine. Like, you can assure me that she's alive. >> I know she's fine. >> I All right. Look, I have nothing else to say, guys. I really don't. I have nothing else to say to you guys, >> but you can tell me like that. You can look me right in the eye and tell me that she's alive. >> He's alive. You know for a fact I have nothing else to say. >> And when's the last time you saw her live? >> All right. I have nothing else to say. >> But Adam, without question, you see where our concern is. You get what I'm saying? >> Nobody. Dude, if nobody has seen her in like 2 years, they're saying like live. Like I talked to your family. Nobody's even seen her either. Your family. I know they're all down in Florida. They're concerned too, man. Like I'm I talked to like your brother. I talked to your uncle, grandma. We talked to a lot of people, man. I'm not around with this. Like, >> all right. >> So, [music] like you understand like people stopped you like they had us come out from the office like >> All right. Like I need to know that you saw your daughter alive recently. Did you see her? Have you seen When's the last time recently? >> Why not? You her dad a lot of kids, right? >> Yeah. So, why did you see your kid? >> I haven't been around yet, man. I've been in Maine. >> Adams swearing that Harmony was alive did little to ease the tension in the room. If anything, it only made officers push harder for real answers. What he offered next was a quick deflection, a handoff, pointing officers toward Crystal, the mom, instead of himself. >> So, she's supposed to be with Crystal. >> Yeah. >> So, she's supposed to be with Crystal. Where? >> Help me out. If Crystal screwed up, >> I need to know that. >> I don't I don't I see I I don't know. I can't say nothing else. I have no idea. And you got the way you guys rolled up here on me. No, I'm Look, John, I got I got something else to say, man. >> But if she's supposed to be a crystal, I need some ideas of like what crystal. You're telling me that you didn't You're telling me she's fine, right? That's what you told me. >> Yep. >> Okay. [music] >> You said that you seen her somewhat recently. >> I I guess you know that she's not. >> I just I got nothing else to say, man. Are we going? Am I under? Dude, how many times you going to ask that? >> Well, come on, John. Cuz I like I want to go. Go talk to Crystal. >> I did talk to her. Go talk to her again. >> You know what I mean? Like, dude, if somebody's if somebody said, "I haven't seen a kid in two years," would you would you understand why I would be concerned? >> Of course I would. Absolutely I would. >> But but after [laughter] that, I don't I don't know what to say after that, though. I But if you if you know she's alive and you've seen her recently or like sometime recently, like maybe not like in the last month or two week, right? Like, dude, I just want to know that she's okay, man. Cuz like I'm >> I didn't sleep at all last night knowing that like I could have a kid that's like But go talk to Crystal. >> Why would Crystal knows that she and not tell me that? Why would she blame you or not blame you, but like say you're Why would she say that? >> To me, it just doesn't mean I don't I I don't know. I know. I know. >> Suddenly, Adam offered up a backstory. He'd lost his house two years ago, sent Harmony to live with Crystal, and hadn't heard from either of them since. But detectives immediately caught the hole in it. That story didn't square with the certainty he'd [music] just sworn to moments earlier. >> But you said since then, see? No. Which one? Crystal army. Either one of them. But you just told me earlier that you know she's alive and then you've seen her and Okay. Well, I'm just >> Well, I'm filming, man. Like, I'm I'm filming. Like, it's It was two years ago, man, that I seen her. >> Why didn't you just tell me that? If you have nothing to do with this, why the tell me that? >> Because the way you guys are asking me questions, man, >> I'm not being right now. >> You're not. >> I'm just trying to help out your family. >> I know >> cuz I have your family. I have her family work. >> I know. >> So, like [music] if you know where the kid is, that's all I need to know. I just want to keep put eyes on her. You Crystal, nobody's in trouble. All I care about is putting eyes on your daughter to make sure she's okay. And I'll even call you afterwards and let you know that she's fine. >> All right. Well, I have nothing I have nothing else to say to her. >> So, you haven't seen your daughter in 2 years? No. >> That's not concerning to you. >> It is, but I mean, at the time, I I had no way to get a hold of I had no way to get a hold of Crystal. She changed her phone number. She blocked me on Facebook. >> That's why we're upset. And I I feel like you should be upset about that, too, if you haven't seen it. >> Listen, are you not? >> I am. >> But what am I supposed to do? >> Careful. >> I I care. I care care about my kids. But what am I supposed to do? >> I don't know. Like, help us think of where she might be. Don't you want to know where she is just as much as I want to know where she's been? >> I think you should know. You should care more than I should. >> I do. >> It's your kid. It It's my kid. I know. >> So that's why I'm like, "Dude, you're not really showing that you care too much or you just know something. You just don't want to tell them." >> No, it's not that. It's just I >> Dude, if my kid was missing two years, like I'd be the first one to start kicking doors. >> And I think if you knew somebody hurt your kid, you'd be ripping their head off, >> right? That's why I'm saying like up until right now, I had no idea she was missing. So that's what I'm saying. Like I >> Yeah, it just doesn't make sense to anybody. Like my mind is exploding. >> With neither parent able to account for Harmony's whereabouts, the case officially became a missing child investigation. Running out of leads, detectives turned to the one person who had lived alongside Adam during those two years, his wife Kayla. And what she revealed would change everything. >> I asked to go to Burger King. >> You asked to go to Burger King? >> Yes. And so at some point did he begin driving the vehicle? >> Yes. >> Was that before or after he repeatedly struck Harmony? >> After. >> What was Harmony doing at that point when [music] he started driving the vehicle? >> She was crying a lot. >> She was crying a lot. >> Yeah. And she was making a weird noise. >> Was she saying anything? >> No. Adam Adam was getting really angry from har from Harmony [snorts] um peeing in the car and he repetitively kept punching her um on the way to Burger King and there were a couple red lights and when we were at red lights he would like go over the driver's seat like in between the passenger seat and he was just punching her repetitively in the head. Told her to shut the shut up. Stop crying. It was like uh I can't even describe it. It was like a like a moaning kind of noise, but crying. It was just weird. I I can't explain it. I put my arm up and said to stop, but he looked at me and he gave me this look that was like evil. I don't is his crazy eyes. I didn't like it and I didn't I couldn't stop her stop him from her cuz he the look that he gave me was scary. I was scared like he was either going to hit me or just I don't know. It was weird. And that was like one of the first times that I've seen him look at me like that. >> Did you look back at Harmony at any point? >> No. >> Why not? >> I was scared. >> What were you scared of? [snorts] if Adam was going to say something or if he hurt her really bad, it was going to look really bad. >> According to Kayla's statement, Harmony became unresponsive during the drive. Adam continued before returning home, and investigators later identified that period as a critical part of the investigation. >> Was Harmony still under the blanket when he arrived at Colonial Village? >> Yes. >> And that moaning that you mentioned, that weird noise that she was making, was she still making it? Why didn't you check on her? cuz I was scared. >> When you arrived at the Colonial Village parking lot, when you arrived back there, what what did you and the defendant do? >> We got and got high. >> When did you realize that Harmony had passed away? when Adam was trying to wake her up and she didn't she didn't she didn't reply or anything. Um he took the duffel bag that was in the trunk and [gasps] and put her in the duffel bag. >> Since the investigation was taking place 2 years after Harmony's disappearance, Kayla revealed the different ways Adam had tried to hide his crime. What she told detectives was the kind of detail that would send chills down anyone's spine. >> Put the bag in the snow bank so that he wouldn't see it. >> Where was the snow bank that you put? >> And sorry, let me clarify. Who put her in a snowbank? >> Adam. >> Where was that snow bank that he put her in? >> In the in the basement from the parking lot. There was a cooler in the hall walkway um that the [music] residents used to get in and out of the building and it was on my mom's floor level um in the hallway. And he put the cooler in I mean he put the duffel bag in the cooler. >> And what was in the duffel bag at that point? >> Harmony. So he removed her from the trash and he put her in this cooler. >> Yes. >> From that point on, Adam rented a truck one night, drove off with Harmony's body [music] still in the bag, and returned 4 hours later without it. Her remains buried somewhere he never revealed. It took two full years for the truth to finally surface. In the end, Adam was found guilty on five counts. Seconddegree, witness tampering, [music] falsifying physical evidence, and two other felony related offenses, and was sentenced to a minimum of 56 [music] years in prison. Next, we have a case where a man's disappearance set off alarm bells that eventually led cops to a [music] suspect calmly sitting in her own home while the truth sat buried just beneath her feet. >> Where's your dad at? >> I'm not sure. He only comes by every couple of weeks. He lost his cell phone and I found it, but it's here. So, it's not with him. I don't know other than that. How do you know that? >> Well, because we've talked to everyone. He doesn't know anyone in Arizona. So, we really need to know where he went and we really think you know where he went. >> So, I'm going to ask you a question. Why does your house smell like a person? >> It does. Yes, it does. >> On December 10th, 2018, officers received a 911 call after a son became worried about his father, who had not responded to any messages or calls for 2 weeks. Without any information, he decided to contact his sister who lived with their father. But her answer left him intrigued as she claimed that their father had gone on a trip with an unknown girlfriend and had left his phone at home. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> Where's your dad at? >> Um, I'm not sure. He only comes by every couple of weeks. He's been spending a lot of time up in the mountains with a girlfriend or sure that is. I just had foot broke my foot and everything. So, I'm sorry. I'm kind of lippy on my pavements right now. Um, >> does he live here? >> See him? He has all of his technically he lives here. >> How do I get a hold of him? >> He lost his cell phone and I found it, but it's here. So, it's not with him. I don't know other than that. My cousin called and said she that my dad had told her where that property was in the mountains. He had never told me where it was that he's been staying at. So, she said she was going to try to narrow that down and >> Okay. >> Um see if he was up there. >> You don't have an address or >> I don't I don't even know the girl's last name. Um we're not as like close as [laughter] you'd think we were living together, but um he just kind of comes by in between. Well, why would why would your brother and his brother be worried about him? >> Cuz he hasn't called them cuz his phone's been here. >> So, they said that he normally texts and stuff like that. And I told them that this is like the fourth time he's lost his phone. Um, [clears throat] so I don't know. >> To me, it's not that big of a deal to not hear from him for a couple weeks. But >> for them, I guess they talk to him more than I do. So, um, >> um, >> is there I don't even know if there's anything I can do to help the process since I don't know >> where that property. >> Do you mind if I come in and check and make sure he's not here? >> He's Yeah, it's a mess. [laughter] >> I don't care. >> That's fine. >> The suspect, identified as Dana Jennings, appeared nervous and explained that there had been a sewage leak in the basement. The officer then decided to check inside the home after smelling a strong odor coming from inside the residence. >> Does he have a room here? >> Not really. >> No. No. [snorts] >> Okay. >> He'll sleep on my massage table when he's here. Sorry again. It's a mess. Like I said, I haven't been able to even barely go up and downstairs. >> Okay. >> But um my room's up there and >> Okay. >> But he usually doesn't even spend the night. We just come by and pick stuff up and he takes off. >> Do you mind if I go down and look? >> You can. Sorry. Like I said, toilet overflow. I did my best to take care of it. I'm here by myself. So, >> it happens. How does he usually get to where he's going? Um, he has cars, but he asked me to take have my friend that's mechanic come by and pick up two of them to work on. >> I've been here a lot cuz of my foot, but other than that, I'm not normally here. A lot. I'm usually working and >> doing stuff. So, um, I don't have a ton of answers for all of these questions. And >> since I've seen him, it has it's been like 2 weeks since I've seen him. So, it's not that big of a >> when was >> time gap for me. But >> the last time you saw him was >> two weeks ago. It was like the 11th or 12th. >> Did he get picked up or did he >> did he drive? >> He got picked up, but my brother said he's not going to believe anything unless he hears my dad's voice. And I said, I don't have any control over that. And my brother said he was going to keep calling the police until he heard my dad's voice. And I don't know. [laughter] >> Okay. >> And I've been dealing with the poop water and my foot. So, I've been a little distracted, but >> Okay. >> All right. All right. Well, I guess if he shows up, have him call. >> Do you have a Should I call somebody specific? >> Have him call his brother? >> Okay. >> And call the police department. >> Yeah. The last pile of mail he picked up, I left him a note saying to call my brother, but I don't know if he [snorts] did it or not cuz he still didn't have his phone. But, >> okay, >> I'll leave him a note to call his brother. >> At this point, there was not enough evidence for the officers to conduct a thorough search of the house. Inside, they initially did not find anything unusual, and a missing person report was filed. However, days later, Dana's brother presented evidence suggesting that their father believed he was possibly being poisoned by his own daughter. Despite this, it took another month for the police to obtain a search warrant for Bill's home. >> Going to go upstairs. I mean, it could be decoo. It's a lot stronger up here. >> Yeah. So, this was over and more piled in clothing when I was in here. >> So, basically, the reason we're here is um there are certain members of your family that are really upset that they haven't heard from from your dad. >> Mhm. >> Which is got my lieutenant on my butt about this. >> Okay. >> And so, we're trying to figure out where Bill's at. and we've got some information and we obviously you have some information and we need your help to kind of get to the bottom of this. >> Okay. >> So, why don't you tell us what you know and we'll we'll tell you what we know and we'll try to figure out where he's at and get to the bottom of this. >> He [gasps] got really mad and quit his job a while back and long line of work alcoholics. So he was home and miserable and so he started taking on a bunch of projects. My dad's dependent on me to make the mortgage payment and he just kind of got where he didn't know how to say no to anybody and he started hanging out with a couple women that were a lot younger than him and enjoying himself again and kind of leaving me notes saying I'll [snorts] be gone for a few weeks. not sure when I'll be back and taking off and I know both locations don't really get good cell phone service and so he's just I think he's been enjoying himself instead of feeling obligated to things and he hasn't cared about the house as much he's been telling me to just take care of stuff >> Dana Jennings was taken in for questioning as there were reports filed against her investigators closely observed her behavior when asked why she had not informed her family about her father's disappearance appearance. She claimed there was nothing to worry about. However, investigators noticed that she smiled during nearly every question. Something unusual for someone who had been living with a person missing for days. >> I'm trying not to put a lot of pressure on him. I guess if I do and [laughter] so I mean there's been some communication and like I just I leave money out for the rent. He's asked for that to be in cash so he can go and take care of those things and [snorts] you know seen evidence that he's been by the house. So I I'm not worried because I go to bed and next day, you know, the stuff outside's been moved and the projects have been changed and the money that I left's gone or whatever. So I just and that's and it just kind of seems normal behavior to me. It doesn't seem terribly different. Um he did we did kind of have a conversation about me wanting more of the house and me paying more of the house payments so that he could cuz he hasn't been home at all. So, we talked about him just, you know, staying at his friend's house more and me paying the [snorts] whole rent mortgage. And >> what, if you don't mind asking, what did you do? How'd you hurt your foot? >> Uh, slipped on some mud and smacked it against. >> Yeah, I kind of went sideways and that part of my foot has bothered me before. Most of the muscles were already weakened, so they didn't like hold like they should when I was trying to regain my standing. >> Does Does your dad have a cell phone with him? >> No. >> No. Do you know where it's at? >> It was at the house. I been trying to keep it charged so if he comes back, he can take it. But um I don't remember right now. We've been moving everything around so much with the basement. like some of the stuff that's normally in the basement is upstairs in my room and [laughter] stuff like that. So, um I'm not sure right off where that is. >> As the investigation progressed, the police were not convinced by Dana's explanations. When questioned once again about what had happened in the days before her father disappeared, Dana claimed that he had been behaving strangely, something that the other son had not reported. >> Is that normal for him not to have a cell phone with him? I mean, we were all kind of attached to ours. You know, >> he's been losing it more lately. um and just telling me like I don't have it with me, so [snorts] if you need me, you know, I'll be back tomorrow or whatever. And he hasn't seemed quite as attached to it as I just assumed it was that he was enjoying the person he's been staying with. Um, but to leave it this long is a little peculiar. But, um, >> is this like normal behavior for him to do this or >> a little bit more than what he normally does, but it's >> it hasn't abnormal enough for me yet. [laughter] And plus, I've been >> distracted with my foot and stuff, but it's it's a little bit more than normal, but he's it's been growing this, I guess. It's like he's been getting more and more distant and gone longer and longer and that kind of stuff and complaining [clears throat] more and more about just wanting to do his own thing and not to be dependent on by everybody for money and for labor and stuff, but he just kind of wants to enjoy [clears throat] himself and [snorts] it doesn't seem extremely abnormal or crazy to me or anything like that. So my brother called me, but um that was you know and he just was asking if I'd heard of him and he said that my dad hadn't responded to a couple of texts and that he was worried but it didn't seem like it was going to turn into this. [laughter] >> We want >> Does he have to be found if he doesn't want to be? I mean, if he doesn't want to call his family, does he have to or am I going to continually be talked to by the police until he does or? >> In the middle of the investigation, investigators received a message from one of the officers reporting that a body had been found inside the house. It was Bill. Without a doubt, the investigators now needed to intensify their questioning. Dana showed constant nervousness when they began pointing out that the information she had provided did not match other witnesses statements. Well, like I said, we're trying to figure out where he's at, you know, and that's and that's the end result that we're trying to find out here. >> So, so the more information you can give us and the more you can help us out about, you know, his behavior and and that the the more insight you can give us into his life, the the easier it's going to make our task to finding him. >> Okay. >> We've done some checking. >> Okay. [clears throat] >> And we know he didn't go to Arizona. >> Okay. >> Okay. And we really >> How do you know that? >> Well, because we've talked to everyone. He doesn't know anyone in Arizona. >> Okay. So, we really need to know where he went. And we really think you know where he went. >> I All I know is Martha in Arizona and high school friend in California. >> Okay. Well, we've talked to we've talked to everybody and he doesn't know anybody in California. His friend in California doesn't live there anymore. And Martha, I mean, >> we we've talked we've talked to Martha. >> Yeah, >> Martha hasn't seen him since the 2nd of December. >> That's right around when he came and got the rent. So, he's only been Oh, no. We're in January. Sorry. [laughter] I was like, it's only been 2 weeks since you saw him then. We're in January. Okay. Um, >> yeah, those are the only >> I know. And there's, you know, there's been some inconsistencies with your statements to some of the family members and some of his friends about his cell phone and that. >> Well, he didn't really want them to know everything. So, I didn't tell them the same stories because he kind of wanted them to leave him alone. So, >> but why would everybody be saying that's not like that's not like Bill? I mean, his his friends he works with tells us tell, you know, tells me that's not like Bill. Bill's the type of guy that if you text him, he textes me textes me back within a couple days or if not a couple hours. >> Dana realized that the police might have had an idea of what had actually happened. As questioning intensified, in an apparent attempt to appear less suspicious, she claimed that she had provided incorrect information because she was respecting her father's request. We just, you know, there's just a lot of, you know, >> I have been giving inconsistent comments to people that ask because it's none of their business. So, I just kind of tell them something so that they'll And I didn't think it'd turn into this. I thought it would just be tell them I lost my phone even though his phone's sitting right there on the table, you know. Um, I just thought I was kind of giving him his privacy by putting them off a little bit. Well, you also gave inconsistent statements to my officers, too. >> Did I? >> Yeah. >> I know I was pretty jerked up a few times they were there, but I don't remember exactly. >> You told you told the officers that he didn't live there. >> He doesn't live there anymore. He's comes by and gets his mail. >> And then you said that when >> we talked about him moving out completely. So that's why I said no, not really. He doesn't live here. He gets his mail here. We had just talked about that the month before around Thanksgiving. So, >> okay. >> He doesn't live there anymore. That's what I told them. >> The detectives realized that it was unlikely for her father to have died from natural causes and the situation became even more suspicious given the way he had been found beneath a layer of concrete that appeared to have been recently poured. >> You said he's telling you a lot of stuff. I mean, I I'm getting confused because he has his phone or he doesn't have a phone. Does he have a phone or not? >> I haven't seen it lately. >> No. How is he telling you all this stuff? He's told you a bunch of stuff. You said >> that was before. >> Okay. You need some water. Your tongue's really dry. >> Oh, is it? >> Yeah. >> I've been dry lately. >> Are you nervous? >> I don't think nervous. Nervous. Like, but I also This is just weird. And >> Right. [snorts] Well, >> everything I do or say is being examined. So, it's a little You're >> right. I will tell you this. I'm examining everything you do or say. Okay. I'm not going to tell you I'm not >> and I'm so >> okay. >> The evidence became stronger when police examined Bill's accounts and noticed that Dana had been cashing his personal checks and withdrawing money from his account. When questioned about why the signature on the checks appeared to be forged, Dana did not respond. >> And I'm kind of worried now. >> You know why? >> Why? >> Cuz that signature on that check doesn't match his signature. We've already checked that. >> Okay. So now someone's coming and leaving that Bill didn't write that check. What you're saying is true. Well, I know he didn't write that check. I don't whether it's on the kitchen table or not. He didn't write that check. >> Okay. >> And so now someone's coming in your house. Do you leave the house open? >> No. >> Someone's got to have a key. >> Changed the locks recently. So >> you changed locks. So how does Bill get in? >> He has a key. >> Okay. So he's the only one that has a key >> and my kid and >> Okay. Well, your kids are going to write a check. So now Bills didn't write that check because we already checked the handwriting. >> I wrote the money part in. He just left it signed. >> I'm talking about the signature, not the money part. You did tell me, did you sign that check yourself? >> Uh, not that one. I've signed other checks cuz he's told me to. >> Not Not the $500 check. No. Are you sure about that? >> I don't I I remember there being a check on the table >> because I can take the ink from the what you wrote and match it to the ink on the signature. I mean, it was on the kitchen table and uh >> Okay. Dana, are you listening to me? Yeah. >> I can take the ink from the top and the ink from the signature and if they match, you just told me that you're the one who wrote the check. >> I don't. >> Then you wrote you a check for $500. >> I wrote in the $500. >> You wrote the $500? >> Yeah. To get some stuff for the basement. >> Let's talk about the basement. How's What's What's up with the basement? What's What's wrong with the basement? >> I want the short story. Okay. >> The toilet overflowed. I didn't know that the toilet backs up down there. And since he was gone, I was a week before I noticed it. So there was >> a significant amount of sewage water down there. So >> So you did a job clean up cuz when I went in the house, I smell any sewage. >> Yeah. I've been removing the carpet and trying to get rid of the the magazines that have there's still carpet down there with sewage on it. And I called sewage at all. At this point, the detectives believed that Bill was buried in the basement, but for the moment, they wanted Dana to reveal her guilt without realizing it. When questioned about the odor the officers had initially noticed, she denied ever having smelled anything like that. >> So, I'm going to ask you a question. Why does your house smell like a person? >> It does. >> It does. >> I don't know. I just assumed the smells were >> Mhm. >> the sewage. >> I've been doing this for I'm a homicide detective for years. I know what his body smells like. >> I don't I have no idea. Oh, well, I'm telling you. >> Okay. >> Can you take my word for it? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Your house smells like there's a person. >> I haven't seen any. >> Okay. >> No, I mean, I haven't seen any evidence of >> I I've been through the whole basement and the whole upstairs and stuff and I haven't >> So, let me give you a scenario. Okay. >> Okay. >> I've seen more people under more stress in this town than you than 30 years now working. It's just people are under stress trying to make ends meet. >> Mhm. >> So you understand that if someone dies in the house and they're died of natural causes and no one tells anybody about it and they actually try to conceal it, that's not that big of a deal. Because once you tell someone about a body, the person that's alive on one day and on the next, >> once you tell the the government that hey, they've deceased, all that funding stops. >> But funding >> like social security and money that they get, they have social security coming in or whatever. If if those type of entities know that people's alive, the money keeps flowing in, right? And I've had people I've had experience with people who didn't commit a crime regarding the death of a person, but they tried to cover it up because they couldn't afford that person to be >> if that's what happened here. >> Let us let us know and we can understand that. >> I want to ask you, is Bill in that house and you covered it up? >> Not that you're aware of. But what do you mean you not that you're aware of? Did he crawl underneath the house? [laughter] I have no knowledge of him dying in that house. >> There's nothing in that [clears throat] house that I can smell. >> Dana's reaction did not go unnoticed by the investigators. Convinced that she was lying, they pressed her further, stating that they knew what she was hiding. >> I'm not going to put him in the dumpster. [laughter] >> I just watched too many crime shows. I was out. >> Okay. [laughter] >> No, I don't know. Um >> Um It's not going to look good for you. >> Yeah. >> Right. And I can tell you right now, you are not a criminal. You know why I can tell? You're a horrible liar. [laughter] >> All right. Okay. So, I know that you haven't been totally truthful with detective pain here because I know by body language and by statement analysis that you don't want to give us the entire truth. And I'm trying to tell you >> that you can [snorts] you probably need to trust me cuz I know more about this than you do. I know more about the process. >> We both [clears throat] do. Okay. >> So, you need to trust us when we tell you if we find the body of Bill later, which we will, and you stick to the story that you got right now. Well, I I kind of lied of other people. He had his phone. He doesn't have his phone. I don't really remember. Then we go to the district attorney's office where I talked to him. I'm like, well, Dana said uh she didn't she wasn't aware if Bill was in the house. Well, gez, he's been gone for it since December 8th or 9th. you would know that Bill was in that house. It's telling to me that you said, "I'm not aware if he's in the house." Because that's an equivocal statement usually made by people trying to conceal something. And that's that's science right there. Okay. >> So, what are you trying to conceal, David? >> I'm not trying to conceal anything. I just feel like I can get trapped in if I say he's not and you say he is. And >> say what? I didn't say he was there. >> I know. I'm I I >> I'm telling >> I've been psychologically my whole life. So I >> between my religion and my dad and everything else. So I've learned not to get myself trapped in something. >> Watch how this works. Okay. >> Investigators needed to piece together every part of the case in an effort to confront her and expose the inconsistencies in her statements. They demonstrated how easily she was lying. However, she continued to claim that she did not know how her father had ended up lifeless beneath the concrete. Something that further frustrated the officers given her seemingly cynical attitude. Is Bill in your house? >> No, he's not. >> That's the answer I was waiting for. >> But Bill never been to his house. >> Dana, you know what I'm talking about. Yeah, you're much smarter than you're letting on. You know that I'm talking about. You know, and I know [clears throat] something happened on the 9th. And I'm not saying it's homicide, but I'm saying it starts to look that way when you try to cover stuff up. And you're covering stuff up like you wouldn't believe. Why does it smell like decomposition in your house? I thought the smell was the sewage. >> So you Oh, you thought the smell was the sewage >> and I've been trying to remove anything that smells. >> You have access. You looked up something on your phone or the computer. You got some medication. Say, "Here, Dad. Here's some food. You need to go to sleep for a while. I need a break." Cuz that's what happened on the [clears throat] 7th when he slept for 15 hours after you gave him some food. And he freaked out about it. And I think on the 9th again on the day that you broke your foot, on the day that your ex-husband got married, he's yapping at you and everything else and you're like, I just want a break. >> We had a good day. >> Yeah, I'll give it to you. It's not going to be annoying. But we talked about him moving out. >> No, you didn't. You didn't. That's another lie. >> Why you're Because you're It's not the truth. That's what the definition of a lie is. It's not the truth. because I'm an expert at this. You You're not even good at it. I'm an expert. That's a lie. >> You didn't talk about it. The only reason you would lie about talking about it because you know what I'm saying is true. What did you give him on the 9th? >> Nothing. Don't know if he's And I don't know how he died. If he is >> I think he's alive. There's been signs that he's been to the house. >> No, they're asking. At this point, investigators needed to clarify what had truly happened. In a cruel manner, Dana had planned the after years of extorting money from her father in order to finally gain control of everything he owned, which would explain the suspicion of poisoning that Bill had previously reported to his son days earlier. >> You lied to cops and you're milking him out of his money. You're draining his bank account while he's in the dump or in your house. Does that look good? >> No. >> No, it looks bad. Huh? >> Yeah. >> Not if you natural causes. Well, it doesn't look good, but it doesn't look like it came from money. >> Yeah. >> Looks like maybe the dude just in his recliner >> and that's why you got rid of it. >> I haven't moved it body. I haven't interacted with it body. I haven't I have no reason to believe that there's been a body there other than you telling me there's glowing things. >> Why'd you put cement in the question? >> My dad's been putting cement down there and I >> has not here. No, before and I've been adding to it trying to get it out of the car. >> So, with a broken foot, that's the time that you want to pour concrete. See how this thing is just keep in the concrete and >> we're going to dig out the concrete >> and we're going to find your dad underneath there. >> Really? >> Yeah. [clears throat and snorts] I'm almost positive. Obviously, I'm not God, right? Can't say for sure. I don't I can't say for sure, oh, that dad's in there. But based on my experience, I think your dad's in that basement and he's underneath that concrete. And when we dig it up, looks like you for everything that I've already told you about. >> My dad. >> Okay, good. I'm glad to hear that. But he nevertheless he wouldn't be in the dirt underneath the concrete. He's moved. We know something in the basement. It got moved from where the recliner was to where the new cement is. And now they're in the process of digging that cement up from what they just >> I'm guessing this is where I need to ask for an attorney. Then >> we found the body in your house. At this time you're under arrest for concealing body. >> You need to stand up. >> You need to stand up. >> In the end, Da Jennings was charged with firstdegree and sentenced to life in prison. Next, a 57year-old man is pulled over on his way home from work, completely unaware that what begins as a routine traffic stop is [music] actually the end of a 35-year manhunt for a killer. New Year's Eve 1984 going 1985. January 1st early morning 1985 was found dead on the side of a road. I have irrefutable evidence that you're there. It's because you're afraid that somehow we'll find out that you're responsible for her death. We already know that you are. This has been 35 years ago, right? This has been 35 years that you haven't had to face this. How did you eventually >> I think it's strangulation. foot. [music] >> On March 18th, 2020, officers from Pensacola, Florida, investigated a case that had occurred more than 35 years earlier. Over the years, the investigation led to a suspect who was believed to have participated in the murder of a woman on New Year's in 1985. Using advanced technology, officers were able to track down the man's location and went after him until the moment of his capture. >> Hey, how you doing? >> Good. How are you doing? I'm Officer Hart with the Pensacola Police Department. Do you have your license on you by any chance? Thank you. >> That's okay. Right now, um because of the virus and everything, do you mind talking to me outside? OKAY. >> WE'LL JUST step right back here to Mark that way. You know, the contagion and all that kind of stuff. >> How you doing? >> How you doing, M? You're going to have to come with us. We're going to be bringing you down to the police station, have a conversation. These two officers will be taking you down, >> sir. We'll discuss it when we get down there, but you're going to have to get in the car with them. Let me get your keys for you. >> The victim was identified as 23 years old Tanya Ethridge McKinley. One New Year's in 1985, Ethridge had left a bar, but a few hours ago, she was later found on a highway. During the initial investigation, only one DNA sample was recovered from her body. However, due to the lack of forensic tools at the time, the police were unable to identify a potential suspect. But in 2020, when the case reopened, the investigation pointed to a first suspect identified as Daniel Wells >> in the mid 80s. >> Did you know a girl named Tanya McKinley? >> Tanya McKinley. No high school. I knew Tanya. Um Tanya. >> No. >> No. Do you remember her? If you knew her I mean like if it was somebody you dated in high school. >> No. >> You'd remember that, right? >> No. >> Only Tanya. I knew it was Tanya Lynn. I went to school with >> She probably would have been like a year ahead of you school. >> I don't know. The name doesn't ring a bell. >> I mean, that's kind of who we are talking about. It's going to be kind of strange if you don't know her at all. No, I don't I I don't know her at all. [snorts] >> Will it surprise [music] you if in 1985 were you in Collier County and got arrested for driving a suspended driver's license down there by Naples? >> I was working. >> You're working down there >> and made Yeah. Yeah, I remember that. That's the only time I That's the only time I got >> a ticket or anything. >> The only time you got in trouble. Investigators initially had to gather information in a different way. Since it was decades old, they couldn't directly pressure Daniel. Instead, officers focused on learning about the suspect's current routine. There were strong suspicions that Daniel had been near the location where McKinley's body was found. >> Well, New Year's Eve, going from 1984 to 1985, remember what you're doing that night? >> What would you normally have done on the New Year's Eve during that [clears throat] time frame? Um maybe go out to Kevin's little fire or something like that on the beach or >> like to go out to the beach. >> So where do you normally hang out at? What bars? I mean you work for Chans, >> right? >> But you you did culinary. Would you ever go to the bars? >> Not very often. >> Gregory or on Davis? >> Not downtown. No. [snorts] >> If you went out, you would go to >> Yo's Beach. That's where I'd be. >> There was the was there was the hotel and Daryl's there was one >> but they were all kind of on the back side of university back there. There's three there. You remember a third one back there? >> You remember Daryl's and Chan? >> I don't remember Daryl's. >> You don't remember Daryl? They're in the very back. >> Remember Benigan? >> Benigans is the other place that's back there that >> At this point, Daniel claimed he couldn't remember which bar he had been at on New Year's Eve. Yet he admitted he was in the city that year, a detail that aligned with witness statements placing him at the very same bar McKinley had visited that night. >> What would you picture yourself back then doing as a >> thing? >> Hanging out friends, going to someone's house, going out >> group of people. Yeah. Was never alive. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> So that's talking about, you know, old times and stuff. That jog your memory about Elenrest a house on Elen Press. No. >> I rented a place with I'm just trying to think. I don't know. >> I don't know where Elm Press is. >> When you would go out >> New Year's Eve cuz you're a young guy. >> Would you be out like looking for for anybody like company or woman or anything like that? >> No. When you with a group of friends >> or whatever. >> Ever get lucky? >> Yeah. I get lucky. Oh man. Yeah. Back to those days. Yeah. >> Yeah. But I was usually out like ch, you know, out of um vers like one night stands >> occasionally. Yeah. >> Normally you'd meet somebody and you know get most guys said if you know you're in a bar and you have a conversation with a girl and she's willing, you're not going to turn it down. Yeah. >> Girl might but guys usually don't. And so >> yeah, she won nice stance. Halloween. I can remember that was out at that was out at um Kevin's little [music] fire cuz we used to you could rent hotel rooms for winter rates or whatever. I was working I guess I was working out at Woodcraft there too. All right. So close to that, >> but we do know with a couple friends we've place whatever >> still memor the address doesn't sound familiar. I mean the name I uh she gone out. >> Yeah, I don't [music] know her. >> Don't know her at all. >> No, I've never seen any contact with >> Never. >> At this stage, investigators knew they had to change tactics. Daniel remained calm, showing no visible signs of nervousness under questioning. That's when detectives decided to try something different. A psychological strategy to get under his skin. The tension on Daniel's face was suddenly impossible to ignore. >> Any idea what we're talking about yet? >> No, >> I don't I don't know what what I don't have any idea what show. >> All right, let's cut the chase. So that young lady I showed you a picture of, right? >> New Year's Eve 1984 going 1985. January 1st early morning 1985. Okay. Was found dead on the side of a road. And I have the evidence that you're the one that's there. >> I have irrefutable evidence that you're there. >> I am not doing all this on a guess. >> I don't know. >> On a hunch. Then >> telling you were there >> I wasn't there >> any kind of crime shows or just new stories about crime or stuff like that cool case files anything like that >> no DNA >> DNA is actually just as positive but more not more positive fingerprints >> right >> so I can prove to literally one in 700 100 billion chances you were there. That's where we're at. I'm not asking you, >> right? >> Okay. We We're not asking you if you're there. Honestly, >> I don't I mean I It doesn't >> It's been 35 years. This is the first time you've probably talked to the police about this. I'm sure of that. >> Yeah. >> Right. Have you noticed anything unusual for the last couple weeks? No. >> Nobody around you. Looked unusual. Seen a bunch of police cars for no reason. Nothing like that. >> Felt like somebody was following you. >> No. >> No. Only happened. >> The thing is is that your DNA is at this site [music] right on this person. It is it is nobody else's except yours. There there's there's no other explanation, right? It can't be a possibility. Somebody else's DNA. Your DNA is at this scene. Dan, I get this is this is your life. This is probably freaking you out a little bit. I just Right. But but listen to me. There's there's a story here, right? And either you can choose to give that story about what happened, the chain of events that led to what ultimately happened as to why we're here. [music] and you have a part to play in that. If you don't, it starts to look pretty bad as to why you're not explaining it. >> As investigation continued, the initial strategy failed to produce the desired results. Daniel kept insisted on the version of events investigators did not want to hear. The tension inside the interrogation room began to rise. With every word, the suspect remained uncooperative, and detectives no longer held back in applying pressure. >> I've never hurt anybody in my life. That's what's I mean it I I've had one night stands and stuff before, but it's it's like >> Have you had a one night stand with her before? >> No, I don't know her. I'm telling you, I do not and I recognize her. I don't know the name. >> Damn. >> It's like you went back to to school days. >> The only reason you're not telling us that you know who she is [music] is because you're afraid that somehow we'll find out that you're responsible for her death. We already know that you are. No way. Why do you think I [laughter] just listen? Right. >> This has been 35 years ago, right? This has been 35 years that you haven't had to face this, right? And and all of a sudden, one day you're at work and you run your workday, everything's fine, you're on your way home, all of a sudden you get pulled over an hour later in this room and we're telling you this. That's a shock. and totally normal human behavior to be defensive about. Nobody wants to admit much like you sat there for a while and didn't want to admit that you had exposed yourself and masturbated women. We had to go through this whole process where you're like, "No, no. Oh, well, yeah. Well, I did a little bit while I was peeing and she said something and I said something that was, "Oh, wait. No, there was another time." We went through that whole process with you. Right. >> Right. We're starting it over again, but we're going to end up in the same place because we're not here by accident. I I'm I'm being honest with you. I don't really like playing games. >> According to information, the investigation had started 2 weeks prior to his arrest. And from that moment on, officers had been watching Daniel's every step. Across the table, detectives spoke with calculated calm, making it clear they were aware of his presence at the crime scene. Yet, Daniel refused to break, stubbornly denying that he had ever been with McKinler that night. This was not gentle. This is not an accident. And and if you're going to let the evidence tell a story, it paints a very ugly picture. Your opportunity is to soften that because we understand there are other dynamics that go on. We're open to the fact because we've heard it time and time again. We don't go into anything with a closed mind because there's been too many times we go in thinking one thing and we walk out thinking something totally different because then we hear the other side of the story. That's how we operate from experience. But I'm going be honest with you, right? That's all I can do with you. We're following you because we need DNA, right? So, we have DNA from the scene. Week and a half, two weeks ago now, on your way into work, you threw a cigarette butt out the window. There's a way actually you're on your way up to a shop, I believe, on Halifox and you're driving from the shop to help out pace and there may have been a police car behind you and then all a sudden that police car stops and blocks all traffic right behind you. Remember seeing that? >> Mhm. You know what you did just before that? You threw your cigarette butt out the window and I was in that police car and >> there's two agents right behind you and >> we picked up that cig. We submitted and came back as a match. So we know that you were at the scene. That's that's not a debatable fact. >> I'm just >> Yeah, you're blown away. >> It's just I don't I know someone I had sex with or or what, but I just I I don't I never hurt anybody. That's is what I'm saying. This is blowing me away. >> There's there's a couple different ways to look at it. >> At this point, the mounting pressure was enough to trigger the first signs of confession. Tehe suspect admitted that he may have spent the night with the victim. However, Daniel carefully framed it a lapse in memory, claiming he wasn't sure it had really been her. A calculated ambiguity that only intensified investigators frustration. I mean, this was a pretty big deal back then. It's on the news. I don't remember it. >> So, how >> I mean I just I'm I'm just >> How can your DNA end up with her >> unless we had sex? That's the only reason that's I don't know. >> I'm not asking unless I'm not asking you to theorize. I'm asking you to tell me cuz you were there. How did your DNA >> with her? I was with her, I guess. >> I was with her, >> I guess. And I don't I'm not trying to >> I don't remember her. I don't remember the name. The face means I don't remember her. >> Yeah. >> But if you're in and out partying or something like that, I mean it happened pretty regularly. >> So would you think like we talked about earlier >> that there's after 35 years there's lots of things that are kind of vague in memories except for the specific life events like in 1986, >> right? 1985, excuse me, when the space shuttle blew up. I know exactly where I was standing when I heard them because that's a significant event in my life, right? So, you got significant events in your life that you remember exactly where you were, >> right? >> What you were doing when they happened. Don't you think that if you had sex with a girl, you were out partying New Year's Eve, you met a girl, you picked her up, you're in the car, right? You had sex with her, and then the next morning on the news, you find out she's dead. You remember that? >> I would. Yeah. Yeah, I would remember it. >> So that's the most >> but I mean I don't know it. It's like I don't know. >> That's the most innocent scenario I can give you. >> Right. >> So you remember if you had with a girl the next day she was on newspaper day. >> You didn't know who she was. >> You'd remember the next day when they put her picture in the paper 2 days later. Oh my god. I was just I was 13 nights ago in New Jersey. I guess I would remember if I I'd seen it. I >> I'm just I'm just trying to throw some logical stuff there. Dan, I'm trying to help you out here [music] because I'm telling you >> the the picture that this evidence paints is not one that you want to go out there without an explanation. There's room there to mitigate some of that evidence. >> As the investigation progressed, time continued to pass with little advancement and no definitive confession. With the investigation seemingly at a standstill, detectives realized they needed to shift their approach. That's when psychological tactics began to come into play. >> Poor out. Stay in contact with him all the time. [music] >> Very good. That's hard to do sometimes. I got a son that's in the Air Force. Spent two years in Japan. Now he's in Beluxy, which is 2 and 1 half hours down the road. We have a good relationship, but we might not talk for 2 months. Right. There's times he does it where like, "Hey, are you you're just a couple hours down the road? Are you are you going to come by and visit sometime?" Because it's easy to lose that when there's a distance. But you and Morgan still have a good relationship. >> Yes. A great relationship. >> Did you ever come here and visit? When was the last time you came here and visited? >> About a year ago. >> Did you ever go out there? >> I haven't been there since he's been there. He moved there from Kansas City. And u >> Does his [snorts] mom live out there? She moved out there. Yeah. >> Okay. >> She moved from Kansas City. >> So, we're not really talking so much. You haven't had a great relationship with your sisters for the last several years. Your mom and dad have passed, [music] >> right? >> You got an ex-wife. >> Do you have a relationship with her or is it just like >> she calls? >> So, she call you. Is it about Morgan or is it just >> Yeah. Well, I talked to Well, I've got a great relationship with his with his mother. Okay. >> My second wife. She What do you call? >> That's good though. >> Call me. See how I'm doing. >> That's That's good. That's healthy. That's probably helped keep you level the last several years. Right >> at this point, detectives turned the conversation toward Daniel's family, questioning how his loved ones would view the truth if it came out. For the first time, something his expression shifted, as if the mention of family had unsettled him. Um, I haven't known you before this, >> but you don't seem like a coldarted person. >> I'm not. I mean, I don't >> Well, so I would think that it it appears to me that you care what people think about you. Yeah. >> That's why you're embarrassed about me. >> Not really. >> I mean, to certain to a certain extent. I mean, I think we're all like, I'm not going to change who I am to satisfy people. But your image to Morgan, especially what you do, how you look to Morgan is important because you're a good father, >> right? And you want to be a good father to him so that he grows up and is a better person than you are. >> I think that's all our goals as parents. My kids, I want them to grow up be a better person than I am. >> And I'm sure that's what you want. I feel like you're the type of person that want that from Morgan. I'm >> sure. Yeah. I'm telling you very near future, right? When the story comes out and the details of this come out, if it goes out without explanation of what happened, right? Your story of what happened, it is going to be clear to Morgan that you're responsible. And without an explanation on how it got to that point, he is going to be left to fill in those blanks just like we are. Something happened. >> For this time, the tactic was effective. The defensive wall Daniel had built around himself began to break down. Within minutes, the truth started spilling out. >> I was with her [music] and stuff, but I didn't give her a ride home. And there was a group of us. Oh god. because I guess she lived over in uh San County or something. But um Bobby Hicks and uh a guy named Ralph James, they were with me. There was a group of people that I went to school with that were they were there and u we did have in the parking lot other than that. Well, no, actually in the house, I guess, too. That's where that's where um [music] u John and her guest live. >> Is that the house on >> I guess the address? I don't recall, >> but I would stay with him every now and then. >> Was he out with you that night? and hot and she was the guy there they were and he came by the house and u left with her. >> At this moment Daniel no longer tried to hide what happened. At first he attempted to suggest that others might have been involved but soon Daniel admitted that after an argument something terrible had happened to McKinley, describing it as some kind of accident. and she wanted a ride home. And we went by my went by my house and we had a few drinks and stuff and it just it just escalated from from from that. She hit her in the head and and knocked her out. And it it was a traumatic blow. What happened that made it get out of control? I think we just got kind of an argument or something. I can't what it was. Was it about >> No, she was willing to Ralph and those guys they stopped by drove all and they >> they left and u >> were you having sex with her? >> I had before. Yeah. >> And she tried to withdraw it and that's what led to it. Did so like in the middle of it did she want to stop? We had we had to get and stuff and then I just >> What happened make things >> I just [snorts] wasn't something she said? >> I don't I don't know. [snorts] >> I mean, can we be real here? Does she like comment on your sexual performance or something? No, it wasn't. It was just it was Yeah, it was but it was [snorts] >> just you want to leave and you didn't want to leave yet. >> Something like that. I I don't I don't remember. >> Here we go again. We're trying to We're trying to get >> I I can't remember. I just know. >> But you're the one that was there. >> As the full truth emerged, investigators no longer needed to challenge Daniel's words. Instead, they methodically laid out the evidence that confirmed the horrifying reality. The cruelty of the accused was deeply unsettling. No remorse, no justifiable motive. In a moment fueled by emotion, he had ended the life of Ethridge McKinley. >> You said you hit her on the head. >> What' you hit her in the head with? >> It was a cutting board. >> A cutting board? >> Yeah, like a [snorts] wooden block. >> Wooden lock cutting board >> at your house. The onest. >> So [music] you were just staying up there with pedigographs >> cuz that's where this happened at. >> Was anyone else there? They I mean earlier there were some there were some guys there but then >> it was later on in the evening and stuff like that. >> So Bobby and Ralph came over there while you were there with her >> as you already once. >> Once and then Yeah. >> So then they came over they hung out for a little bit with him have some drinks >> and then they left. >> Right. And then >> so we got kind of into a little bit of an argument or whatever and from drinking and stuff and it just kind of got out of hand. >> So I'm thinking cutting board. You're in the kitchen arguing. >> I was standing in the kitchen. >> Oh yeah. >> And you said once. So there was a second time. Was it after you hit her? Uh, yes it was. >> So you hit her. You said it was a fatal blow. She was unconscious at least. >> So then you had sex with her a second time while she >> Well, not really, but I didn't. We had then it was like I just couldn't believe what had happened and I couldn't get her to respond. >> Daniel's actions did not stop there. With the victim unconscious and defenseless, he continued without hesitation, revealing a disturbing lack of humanity toward a woman who was completely vulnerable that night. >> I think I just took her down the road. >> You think? >> I took her down the road. >> In what? >> Yeah, my vehicle. >> Which vehicle? >> I don't know what I was driving. I think it was my fort. I think it was my truck. >> The same one as you got the ticket down. Um, I don't know if I had that truck down there. That was a company truck. >> So, you think you had a pickup truck? >> Yeah. >> Where'd you put it? >> Uh, just on the side of the road. >> I mean, in the truck bed. >> Did she wake up though? >> Checked her bolts and all that stuff. I was just freaked out >> before or after you left your mind. before. >> How did you eventually >> I think just strangulation I don't know. We just were getting into it. We got a big fight. Okay. Where did you or was she at when you str? Was it on the place where you brought her to or was it the house? The house. >> Now, you said that you had sex with her a second time after she was hurt. >> I didn't. >> I'm just trying to piece together the >> reason. We were we were going to have again and we just we did and we kind of got into it a little bit. >> So it was over one >> she me and I just [music] so I just I don't know. I was just pissed. I hit her with it. >> After 35 years, the case was finally approaching a conclusion and the truth about what had happened to Ethridge McKinley was coming to light. Daniel had been unable to accept rejection. When she told him no, he refused to walk away. In a fit of rage, he chose violence, a decision that in that moment he believed was justified. There's indications that that would happen after she's unconscious, too. >> So, did you have sex with her after you hit her? [sighs and gasps] >> You said yes. >> Yeah. Yeah, I guess. Yeah. >> So, she wasn't a willing participant in that, but that's what the argument was about that led to that >> second time, >> but then you realized she really wasn't conscious, right? >> And it's like, >> so you kind of lost interest at that point, >> which was kind of normal. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, I mean, it kind of made me think that maybe the argument was that you wanted us again. She didn't want to. >> That led to the argument that led to her slapping you. That led to you hitting her head and then you with her. Did the strangulation occur after that or before? >> Before. >> Yeah. So, hit her in the head, she goes out, >> you strangle her, >> and then you have her again. At least partially. You you try >> you're trying to ask her again. You realize, oh [ __ ] >> she's really hurt. >> Yeah. >> Take her out. You put her in a truck. You drive around >> and push her out and dump her on the side of the road. >> In the end, Daniel Wells was arrested and charged with firstdegree and sexual battery. As the crime occurred in 1985 in Florida, the sentencing laws at that time would have been applicable. However, days before his scheduled court date in April 2020, Daniel was found dead by suicide in his cell at the Escambia County Jail.