Yeah, those are her legs. I saw some toes and an ankle. Got a homicide. Found a body in a cooler. >> I wanted to put her all in one so she could be whole. Thought I couldn't really groom her. I had to get a second cooler. I had to put her leg in that one. >> Every cop has seen things they wish they could forget. But what happens when a discovery is so horrifying that even veterans with decades on the force can barely hold it together? >> He cut his head off, >> dude. Over here by the rock cuz there's there's a big hole in the grass. These were horrifying discoveries that [music] left cops pale in the face. We begin with a case where a routine welfare check on a missing 69-year-old woman led officers into a home where what they found in the kitchen [music] would change the entire investigation. >> Okay, I'm going to tell you like my mom had some dude trying to get at me or something and uh but I've never came at her the same way. >> Go put your hands behind your back. Right. She's in the freezer. She's in the freezer. She's wrapped up in a trash bag in the bottom of her head. >> On October 28th, 2022, 3 days before Halloween in Albuquerque, New Mexico, officers arrived at a residence to check on Ernestina Lucero, reported missing by a family member. Before they could even get to the door, neighbors stopped them, and what they had to say raised immediate red flags. Any y'all know the lady that lives here? >> Um, I know that >> the older lady. >> There's a dude living there lives there. >> Is that Leroy? >> I don't know. >> I don't know his name. Um, but he lived with an old lady. >> Yeah. >> Um, >> bless him. So, >> well, I know about like 2 3 weeks ago. Um, >> hold up baby. 2 3 weeks ago, uh, after a visit that she took me to, uh, I haven't seen her since. >> She took you? >> Yeah, she used to, uh, me and her, we would go to the food bank together. Um, so she ended up taking us back and forth after like a few times. I didn't see her again. >> Yeah. You haven't seen you haven't seen her charger here at all? >> No, she sold it. >> He sold it. He asked us if we wanted to buy it. We had asked him like, "Where did she go?" in his life. She went to Mexico. Uh he he was saying a bunch of things about her leaving to Mexico with her boyfriend. Um and that they were on a speaking basis right now. And then like a couple days later, he came and knocked and he's like, "Hey, by any chance, do you want to buy my car? I'm trying to make money for rent." That's what he said. >> How long ago was that? >> Like a week ago. >> I know. My brother asked him like, "Where's your mom at?" Cuz we haven't seen her in a while. And he like stuttered and he just went silent. You came away, >> please. >> When when they >> they were fighting before she left, >> that was my next >> They were fighting before uh she left. Uh I know there was a couple nights where they were going at it. I have a 2-year-old and stuff >> and I've asked them to, you know, just take it down a little bit. Uh he said he's still going. >> Yeah. Yeah. Before she >> But this was like she's been gone for a while. Yeah, she's been gone for at least like at least a month and a half now. >> If not more, I don't know. >> Nobody had seen Ernestina in over a month. Her son had sold her car, offered shifting explanations, and gone silent the moment her name came up directly. The neighbors had noticed. And the more they [music] talked, the more it became clear that something had gone very wrong inside that house. >> She had asked me the first day I met her, she asked me about the mailbox because she uh needed to get her check to for her social security check. She said uh she said that she needed to get her check before he got it or something that he was trying to take it. >> He was going to say she went to Mexico, but dude, she could barely walk. >> She could barely walk. >> After nearly 15 minutes of knocking, the door finally opened. The man inside identified himself as 49-year-old Leroy Vallejo, Ernestina's son. He was calm, cooperative, and full of explanations. And not a single thing about him suggested what was already inside that house. Come on, man. Yeah. Come on. >> He's coming to open up. >> Sorry, man. I thought you someone else, dude. >> Mind if I step in and talk to you real quick? >> Yeah. Yeah. No problem. Can I step in and talk to you? >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Come in. >> Dogs friendly? >> Yeah. They bark. I mean, they bark. They don't bite. Officers identify the man seen here as 49year-old Leroy Vallejo, the missing woman's son. >> Man. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Can I shut the door so I don't run out? >> Uh, my partner's coming in, too. >> Okay. >> Yeah. But >> yeah, man. I thought you were this lady banging on the door. My bad. I was sleepy, dude. >> Okay. [snorts] >> It's been a rough two weeks, man. Sorry about that. I've been >> What's been going on? >> Mom's missing, man, with college work. I've been overstressed, tired, you know what I mean? >> Right through 36 dead. >> Just trying to get some rest, man. >> Okay. >> Exhausted from woring. You know what I mean? >> Yeah. The reason why we're here is cuz uh family is concerned and saying that they've been trying to reach out to you like you just kind of been >> calls, man. I'll show you the text messages, everything. I've never ignored none of them. >> You sure? Okay. All right. Then >> I don't know why they Okay. I'm going to tell you like my mom had some dudes trying to get at me or something and uh but I've never came at her the same way. >> What do you mean? She's been trying to get dudes that harass me and stuff, but uh I've never went at her like that. You know what I mean? >> So, uh they know what she's capable of, so they're afraid of me doing it, I guess, is why they're thinking it. You know what I mean? >> But I've been Dude, this has been going on for years, you know what I mean? And I've never once raised a hand to her. You know, this last time I just told her, you know, I'm just tired of your lies. I don't believe you, man. I don't even think we should be around each other. It disgusts me cuz we used to be close. >> Mhm. >> You know, we weren't always like that. And I'm sorry it is the way it is. But if I would have known, I would have paid more attention, asked more questions. You know what I mean? >> Mhm. >> But it's just where we were, man, at that time. >> Okay. And I haven't been in trouble with the law since I got out of prison. I'm in college, man. 4.0 student president's list 15 times straight, dude. >> Mhm. >> Into the Lord now, you know. >> Mhm. Okay. >> The last time I had seen her when she came in, I I asked her, "What are you doing?" She been kicking with she I've been seeing is what she said. And I just went to my room. I thought she was going to crash here in her room. >> I woke up in the morning. There was a load clothes in the washer cuz we have a front lo. So she tends to leave the clothes in there and it stinks the front loader. >> So I thought she was in a room. So I went in [snorts] the room and she was gone. So I put her clothes to dry. That was the last time I seen her, man. >> Mhm. Okay. All right. And before that, she didn't mention anything about going anywhere, seeing anybody. >> You're still there, man. >> While one officer kept Leroy talking, another moved deeper into the house. What was inside that kitchen was about to change everything about this investigation. >> Oh yeah, I got you. She was When officers found partially dismembered human remains wrapped in a trash bag at the bottom of that freezer, they moved immediately to place Leroy in handcuffs. And what came out of his mouth in that moment was something that stopped every officer on that scene dead in their tracks. He already knew. And that was the most chilling part of the entire arrest. >> What do you mean like the first week? Like uh week after 15 to 17. [snorts] >> What's up, Boston? Let's >> step outside. Go and put your hands behind your back. Right. She's in the freezer. >> I know. Hey, I know. Man, >> be quiet. [snorts] >> Hey, uh >> Okay. >> Thank you, man. >> Hey, uh let me >> So, what did you see, >> dude? She's in the freezer. She's wrapped up in a track, >> but it's clearly the body of her head. >> In the interview room, Leroy spoke calmly about witches, about darkness, [music] and about things that had been done to him. Detectives kept listening, and somewhere inside everything he was saying. Something far more concrete was beginning to surface. >> No one believes me. It's all good. E, because, you know, I it happened to me. I still don't believe it, bro. I still can't make sense of it. Most of it's lies anyways. You never get them to admit the truth. You know what I mean? Who's Who's lying? I don't know, man. There's a I don't know who they are, what they are, what the I don't know what the they are, man. Witches. Uh I don't know what you call them. People who are giving their life to darkness. You know, my family, I come from a family of witches. My grandma, my aunts, my mom. It's not something you talk about really. It's a secret. You can't talk about it. And I don't know if I was promised or >> I've heard so many lies. Dude, >> when you say you were promised, what does what does that mean? >> I know. Promised to Satan. >> Like by >> promised >> my my my mom. Yeah. How did how did you find out about that? It's >> just [ __ ] you got to learn from other witches, you know, that ain't into it and [ __ ] You got to talk to them, ask them questions, you know, and then you're still just guessing really cuz >> I despise evil, bro. I mean, what I did was a bad thing and I can't ever take that back. Only God's a judge. Leroy shares an unusual story with detectives, [music] saying his family is quote full of witches who he says are out to get him. Next, detectives look for more details on Ernest Tina's death. >> What What happened on that day? >> I snap, man. I had enough of [music] [ __ ] secrets behind my back. You know, they tell you one thing, but behind your back is this and that. All I do is cook, clean, do laundry, cook three meals a day. [snorts] You know, there's a used to uh make you look bad, you know, cuz I'm doing it at the house. I can't even get a job cuz of the people, dude. I had to quit my job. I know. Trust me, if they didn't have me, I wouldn't believe it, bro. But I don't know how they get so much influence or what they do, but this would be nightmare, bro. So, I think it's a nightmare, man. But he has a quarter. It's on fire. You know, it looks like a quarter. It's on fire. He's ha. And he drops this quarter. And when he drops it, it rolls down my head, down the middle of my nose, down my arm, and down this middle finger. And I jump up and I'm like, I have the nightmare. I go back to sleep. Morning comes around. I told my grandpa's wife, I'm going to use the bathroom and wash up when my face when I look up in the mirror, there's a burn mark everywhere that coin me all down my middle finger. I don't know what that meant. Maybe that I don't know. Somebody said that that might have meant that my soul's his already paid for it. You know what I mean? You think the evil got inside of you and that's what >> the evil >> when I when that happened? >> They're evil, bro. Not me. I did a bad thing but >> and I own up to it. >> Yeah. >> As a matter of fact, I want to ask this. See, special case. I want to pay life for life. >> Before the interview ended, Leroy made an unexpected admission. A prior murder years earlier. A body dismembered and discarded. The confession when it came was delivered without remorse. And it didn't stop where detectives expected it to. >> What happened to your mom? My last 17 years she's been trying to get these schools to kill me. These gangsters run again. Mhm. >> All right. So, let me tell you how that happened. Come on, she fix me up. I'm loving I want to come home. I've never had problems with her, dude. She's always been my best friend. My come to, you know, always be around. This is when it's 17 years ago. And uh >> what did what did you do? Help me to understand. >> [snorts] >> You looked at it, man. You saw it. Detectives repeatedly pry for details behind the gruesome crime before Leroy stuns detectives with an unexpected confession. The way we did our old man, Angel, I chopped him up in that freezer. Hey, and she's in the dump somewhere. I couldn't do that to her. Like, she was trapped after all that [ __ ] she's done to me. Now, there's another bottle. Her old man's in this dump somewhere. Apartment. Put him in bags, chopped him up, and threw him away like trash. E. >> You couldn't do that to mom. cuz he holds not cuz they were, you know, trying to set me up. I walked in the room like and pop and I put the gun down. I told her to call the police saying, >> "Were they living together?" >> I'm driving that Camaro. That was his. >> They used to be his car. Pop the gun. I said, "Turn me in." I was going to kill her, too. I couldn't. She tells me, "No, I need you out here." Next thing I know, we're looking around for [music] a something to chop him up with. Hey, get rid of the body. I never got rid of a body. [snorts] But that's my mom. I'll do it. You know what I mean? Whatever she says. >> Mhm. Where where was this? >> It took me 2 hours, e to chop that up, get rid of him. You know what I mean? My mom's been in thating freezer for 3 weeks. E 3 weeks cuz I couldn't chop her up like that. You know what I mean? I tried. You must have [music] saw that. But I got sick and started. What'd you do to her before that? She woke up talking some about this and that this and that. Lies, dude. Straight lies all the time. You like I'm stupid cute. Like I don't know any better, you know? I I took put up with all that [ __ ] cuz I loved her and I prayed and I was wanted it to change. >> What did your mom say? What kind of lies is she telling you that made you strangled? >> What sort of [ __ ] >> You know how I told you she admitted they got these guys after me, >> right? Yeah. Yeah. >> After that, she started saying she'd never do that. that she never would ever got nobody after. She loved me. It's all [ __ ] >> So, she was telling you like I wouldn't send people after you. >> No, she's already working on the neighbors up on number one. I thought maybe she's just a witch, you know, she get some cuz she told a couple dudes that I beat her. I've never ever done nothing what I've done now. Never. That's never crossed my mind. Uh, what' you use to strangle her? >> My arm >> like that. >> Your arm? >> I don't remember. >> Okay. >> Like this one. >> How long did you hold her? >> Wow. It took a long time. It's not like ink. >> Took a long time. How come he held her so long? >> Huh? >> Why did you hold her so long? Why you ask questions like you know why security right >> you want you you make kind of made that decision that I had to stop you stop him I I beg you I ple with her 17 years ago 17 years it was 13 years when her boyfriend >> 13 years ago that happened >> no 13 years into You have been after me. >> The more Leroy talked, the more the detectives had to work with, and the deeper they dug, the clearer it became that every word out of his mouth was leading them straight back to the core of the crime scene. >> Did you Did you put any of your mom out in the dump? >> No. Why couldn't you? >> So, she don't come in a future till you guys found her. [music] >> Okay. >> You know what I mean? I literally caught in that went. >> Yeah. >> I never told him no. I never told him where not to look. >> Yeah. You know what I mean? I just wasn't going to do that. >> Yeah. >> I wasn't going to turn myself in, but I wasn't going to run either. >> I forgot. >> Leroy. Uh, so when your mom was >> What did you use to cut her up? >> What I used to cut her up? >> Yeah. >> Saw under the sink in it. >> Saw under the sink. And did you notice anything else? >> No. my lip. >> Where where did you where did you cut her up? >> I got the freezer. >> What's that? >> In the freezer. >> Oh, she was in the freezer and that's where you cut a couple times. I couldn't do it here and a leg both legs and arm or something about right here. >> She was laying in the freezer as you were cutting. No, >> no, I didn't get rid of her like we did her boyfriend. What the [ __ ] I couldn't do it. Eh, I didn't want to kill her. >> Now, [music] Leroy says he used a saw to dismember his mother after strangling her to [music] death weeks before, but his admissions don't stop there. >> How How long did you wait before trying to cut her up? >> Let me ask you a question. Is this true? If you wait a couple days of thickening, >> um, >> is that true? Uh I don't I don't know. >> I never never actually heard that. But uh you never actually >> Is that what you did? >> I waited a couple days. I had little but I don't know if that was true. It kind of don't matter when you freeze them. You know what I mean? >> Mhm. I mean, I've done it before. >> Next, Leroy gets back to what happened the day he allegedly murdered his mother. >> She wanted me to put that uh phone case I ordered for her on Amazon. You know, that that front protector piece that >> Yeah. Yeah. Like the little black screen protector. >> She's like, "Come on, put this on. I can't do it. Do this. Do that." And this is cool. Like you're like saying you're supposed to do for your mom, but but your mom's supposed to be your mom, man. You know, not all that toothpaste behind your back. >> Did you hit her at all? >> Nah. >> Ever? >> Nah, never. I wish I didn't do that. >> Do you think it was wrong what she did? >> Nah, it was wrong. There's only one judge. That's God. I should let him judge. But no matter what she's done, I I should have let him I shouldn't have done that. E she should have died a long time ago. >> In the end, Leroy Vallejo was booked on an open count of and tampering with evidence. He was later deemed incompetent to stand trial and committed to the New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute for treatment. His case remains open. Next, a case where a man walked out of an ISUsa police station after a DUI arrest. And what officers [music] found 6 days later in one of their own patrol vehicles left the entire department searching for answers. Our breath machine is broken. So kind of the only option right now is >> Oh, no. My blood's going to come out with alcohol. Yeah, I'm alcoholic. I was supposed to be in detox, but I had haven't been able to go because I gave it washed and it smelled really bad and and I said, "Dude, this was like damn." And I looked in the back. I was like, "What's up?" On March 20th, 2026, officers with the ISUsa Police Department spotted a vehicle driving without headlights. What began as a standard traffic stop quickly revealed more concerning signs. Slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and the smell of alcohol with children in the back seat. >> Yeah, it's six and glimp. >> Okay, gotcha. >> Yeah, I just got these guys in. I don't have >> You said you have an ID? >> I do, but it's on the door handle right here. >> Okay. Where is it at? >> Right there where the little cup goes. >> It's right here. Can I reach for it? >> Knock-knock. >> No. Oh, you want me to reach for it? >> Where's that? >> This right here. You open the door. >> It's right here. >> Yeah. Go ahead and get it. >> The driver, 37year-old Eric Valencia, was cooperative throughout. Nervous, candid about his drinking, and worried about his kids the entire time. Every test he was put through told the same story, and none of it pointed to anything good for Eric Valencia. >> They expired or no? >> No, it only expired till uh 2032. >> And And that's a driver license. >> Yeah. >> How long you live here? I've been living here for 25 years, but I just got back home from Texas probably like a year, year and a half already or like nine months or something like that. >> Okay. >> Yeah. They just got they just came from Texas. >> From Texas. >> Yeah. They live their grandfather lives in Texas. >> Mhm. >> Their mom lived in Texas. So that that's where they were at. That's where I was living at, but we separated. I >> Their mom live lives in Texas. >> No, they used to live in Texas. >> Yeah. Yeah. But they live in Palon now. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. Hey, man. Go ahead. Look at me real quick. Go ahead and look at me. You having the drink today? >> Nuh-uh. Earlier. >> What time? >> Part say look at me. Don't Don't move your >> your head. And then uh follow follow my finger. Follow my finger. No. Don't Don't move your head. >> Oh my my eyes are messed up. >> Don't move your head. You have medical conditions? >> Me? Yeah. I I fractured my eye right here. I'm in my cheekbone. your cheekbones. >> Yeah. So my eyes and my sign like all this is always running. >> It's always running. >> Yeah. >> Okay. But you have like that stigmatism or anything like that? >> I don't even know. I haven't been to the doctors in a minute. >> Okay. >> I got this on my forehead too. They got to cut it off. >> Okay. >> But I I haven't got a chance cuz I'm always in the hospital. >> All right. Go ahead and look at my look at my finger and follow my finger with only your eyes. Okay. Do not move your head. Understand? You understand? Do you understand? >> Yes, sir. Keep looking at your feet. Count out loud. Count your steps out loud. >> And keep your hands at your side. Okay. >> Remember when you start the test, do not stop the test until it's all the way done. Okay. >> So, it's nine. Turn around. Nine back. >> Yes. Do you need to see how I turn around? >> No, I didn't see how there's a certain way to turn around. >> I explain to you how to turn around. >> I know you did it three times, but I'm getting nervous with you. >> Okay. So, you mean to repeat the instructions? >> No, it's nine the turnar around part. I >> Okay. So, so when you once you complete nine heel toe steps on your nine steps, you're going to keep your your forward foot planted. >> Okay. You're going to use your other your back foot and take a series of small steps like this. Okay? And then you're going to take nine back. One, two, three. Let's go back. >> Doesn't matter. >> All right. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Do you do you have Do you have any questions? >> No. Your side test. >> Okay. Don't stop until the test is complete. Okay. >> One, two, boom. Boom. Boom. All right. Ready? Make sure you start in in the start position. All right. This. Two. Three. Four. Damn. Five. Six. Seven. >> All right. Ready. Deep breath. On you. Go ahead. Light blowing. If it's not going to get the full one, you just tap that and it'll take it right then. >> Okay. Hey, what if it wasn't going at all? >> That's fine. Okay. All right. Go ahead. Right back. There you go. Palms in. Hey, how about my kids? I I'll turn around. >> We're going to talk to you about that right now for one second. Okay. Yeah. >> We're going to make sure they're safe. Don't worry. You have neighbors. Who is this guy that walked across? >> That's their uncle. Their grandma's up there. >> That's uncle. Okay. >> Got you. Later. Okay. >> In one second. >> Yeah. >> Yes, sir. >> So, you're going to arrest for DUI. Okay. >> For DUI. >> We're driving under alcohol. I was going to do under the influence. >> Okay. >> Are you okay if we uh just either prove or disprove that if we if we conduct a test at the jail and then they'll come and >> Oh, I'm not alcoholic, sir. >> Okay. So, are are you okay if we come and do a little draw and we could, you know, send to lab and they get if you're not drinking then it'll it'll prove that. Okay. >> Is that okay? >> Is that okay? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Perfect. Hey, just just so just so you know, um by law we have you have to give us a sample and it's breath or however our breath machine is broken. So kind of the only option right now is because >> well don't my going to come out with alcohol like yeah I'm alcoholic. I was supposed to be in detox but I had c been able to go because of the hospitals and >> okay well the the the you know the lab will determine all that. Okay. >> Eric was placed under arrest for DUI and endangerment. his BAC coming back at twice the legal limit. Three days later, he was released, but he walked out of that station and never went home. Three days later, a maintenance worker approached a parked patrol vehicle outside the station. Hit by a smell he couldn't place. When he opened the door, his stomach dropped. >> I was going to move to get washed and it smelled really bad, dude. And and I said, "Dude, this smells like damn." And I looked in the back. I'm like, "What the I open the door. Dude, what the [ __ ] I thought he was a homeless." >> Yeah. >> And as soon as I saw his face, he's been a Someone for sure. >> For sure. >> What's his name? >> Eric Valencia. >> The 23rd, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, is that the guy that arrested? >> Yeah. >> Uh, >> [ __ ] >> What's your name? >> Eric. >> Uh, Eric with NCF. >> NCF. >> We're suspicious. >> He's in the back of the truck. Um, yeah. >> He's he's looks like he's decomposing. Where is it? >> Back of the unit right here. >> Back of this one. >> Yes. The back seat should be open. Sorry. >> Are they open? You just like got in there? >> I I have no idea. I just got got out here. Um he actually Where'd he go? >> So he actually discovered him. I just got here. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Presumably was open and climbed in. I don't know. >> The discovery of Eric Valencia's decomposing body immediately ignited a firestorm. The department decided to release the footage, putting it all on the table for the public to see and letting the evidence speak for itself. The investigation remains open with no clear clue as to what actually happened. Next, a case where a family's unanswered calls led officers to a quiet suburban home and what was waiting inside would leave every officer gutted. >> I know you know what's going on and why you were here. >> So, are you guys saying that you're trying to find out if he killed the husband? >> We're trying to find out who was involved. >> On September 17th, 2023, Romeoville police were called to perform a welfare check on Conquered Avenue after a family reported they hadn't heard from their daughter, her husband, or their children all day. When officers arrived and peered through the windows, something was already wrong. >> Hey, hold on. You look on this window. >> Nothing. >> Are you able to see all that here? Wait, keep shining cuz I can kind of see a little bit better now. >> Okay, >> just uh I'll wait. >> Lights are all off. Three cars. >> No, there's uh All right. Nothing in this room. >> Compton. Lights are off. It's 5:00 on a Sunday. >> And uh No, there's lights on. You can see it through that. >> Lway Communications. How can I help you? >> Yes, please. I'm calling for my daughter, Sida Bto. She lives at 512 Concord Avenue, Romeoville, Illinois. And we haven't heard from her or her husband or her children during the whole day. No answer in the phone if somebody can go by the house and check them cuz the husband they call from his work that he didn't show up to work and he never, you know, he's always at work. >> Okay, give me one second. Want to try that door real quick? Run. Let's go see if you can peek in the back. There's a window right? Yeah. Here. I'll cover this window. This window's open. No, it's not. Oh. Oh god. Dogs are >> I need more units here. >> Hold this. >> 350. >> I got two dogs. TV's knocked over and a cocktail knocked over in the front room. >> Through a side window, officers spotted dead dogs, a knocked over television, and a cocktail table on its side. Whatever had happened inside that house, it hadn't been quiet. I'm going over your right shoulder. >> So, just a heads up, right when we get in the door, there's going to be one dog. We got to get over. All right. To the left, there's a second dog. >> You stay in the back. You walk the house. Okay. Go. Cover this door. This window. >> Got it. [ __ ] this light. God damn it. Christianite. >> I got one. I got one. >> Check the door. >> What do you see, Cory? >> I got nothing. Moving up. We got one dog right here. We got a second dog. >> I got on the floor right here. >> When officers finally made entry, the entire family was found dead. One of the vehicles outside led investigators to Nathaniel, a man with a closer connection to this family than anyone had initially let on. He sat across from the detectives. Calm, cooperative, and [music] almost too careful. >> So, when you you guys um were you married? >> Well, like Yeah, but not like I mean like >> I don't know how to explain it, but like yes, but We're not not going to court, you know. >> So, like church married but not paper married. >> Okay. And and and [music] are you >> are you still with her or No. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, I I understand. I mean, we're married. I understand why you'd want to keep it on down low. So, >> we're just Yeah. We're just trying to figure out um >> It's not like she's not going to just All right. What kind of car do you drive? >> Denali like a like a SUV? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Um >> Oh, okay. So, so, um, [music] and you said you've never had contact with her husband, like he's never sent you a message or called you or contacted you? No. Right. Um, do you have any of like information like uh like any save text messages or Snapchats or anything from her? >> Okay. [ __ ] >> well before I I'm running myself ragged here before I I forget everything. All right. So your first name is Nate. What's your last name? >> You spell you. >> Marriage or life. So not like I'm going to I'm you know I'll try to keep this if [music] we can you know from just with us in this room talking. But we're trying to figure out what happened at that house. Um, if she ever told you about any other like romantic relationship she had um out of her marriage or >> her did she say her husband cheating on her or does she say she in the past or anything? >> I know that cheating on him before she didn't bring anybody names up or anything. What? What days do you work? Are you like Monday to Friday kind of first shift? What? What is the shift here? 62:30. >> Okay. So, Monday to Thursday. >> 5 days. >> Yeah, it's 5 days a week. >> What do you do here? Okay. So, like you said, we're all three of us are married. We get it. We understand it. What do you like? What do you guys usually do? Like when you hang out, like what would it be? >> Okay. >> Okay. Does your wife. Did you call her your wife or your girlfriend? Does she have any idea of anything going on? >> No. Okay. Not at all. >> Is there anything you think that we didn't ask you? >> When the phone came up, he hesitated. When the car came up, he declined. By the time the interview ended, Nathaniel had agreed to nothing. And the investigators walking out of that room knew they weren't done with him. >> Well, we we already went through phones. I've already got one half of of of the conversation. Um, and you said you talked around your phone, right? Okay. Um, so what we'd like or what [music] we're asking for is consent to to get the text messages off your [music] phone between you and her or Snapchat or whatever it is between her. So, we have both sides of it. Trying to eliminate you as a suspect, but >> still on the computer. >> H, >> you can get it out of the computer. >> No, we have to take the phone. We plug it in. You take it out and we give your phone back. >> I mean that >> they seem better. >> I tell you. >> No, I I believe you, but Well, yeah. I mean, just let me see. >> But I mean, I believe you. The problem is is that that that >> So, let's just say you have like a 64 gig phone. You use about 58 of it. the rest is a catch. It stays in the catch. And and why I asked is is the boss's call right away. They were like, "Well, they're like, um, we'd like to see if we can get the the stuff, you know, from your end back that way and see if maybe your, you know, your husband got wind of it and pulled it off. So, I'll take a look." I mean it it on our on our side of it we can get a search warrant you know to go through the phone and then take a little longer but on on [snorts] the fastest way would be consent pull it off and give your phone back than it would be to and again I explained to you earlier I'm trying to eliminate you >> I mean we have a a deceased girl and her last flinger boyfriend or whatever is you And [music] and I'm sure that that you know if if you're an outsider looking in, who do you who's your suspect? I mean, and so I'd like to eliminate that. I'd like to say, well, you know, we went we looked through stuff. He didn't have nothing to [music] do with it. We're done with it. >> I agree with you. But but again, there's um it it takes it would take us, you know, a couple hours to pull information off the phone that could eliminate you as a suspect. Like right from the start, it's up to you. >> It feels like you're pretty suspected. >> Well, I mean, I'm not joking with you. We We Anytime somebody dies, you look at the husband, the boyfriend, if it's [music] a girl, if it's a guy, you look at his wife and any kind of lovers he had. And we look, that's what we look at. We start there. And then this person was at work. Eliminate that. This person was, you know, we went through the phone. There's nothing between those two. No threats. No, I mean, you're telling us there's no threats, but but I can't go to to our bosses. I can't go to Space Center and say, "No, I verified it. There there's no threats." I have to if I can verify and say, "No, I went through his phone. There's no threats." [music] There they were seemed to be good together. There was no threats. There was no animosity between the two of them. There was no fighting. There was none of that stuff eliminated. It will show what was deleted. So, uh the computer [music] shows everything. If like just now when you open up the phone and show me that text message, when I plug in the computer, it's going to say at this date, at this time, somebody opened up a text message and a text message read blah blah blah. So, if you just delete some photographs that you don't like, then you're right that that that'll show in there and we don't really care about that. But if it shows you deleted or text messages and this and this, it's going to show you did that and it's going to make you look guilty again. And again, I'm not I'm not threatening you. I'm not babbing you. I'm trying to be like manto man honest with you. >> The next day, a license plate reader placed a vehicle belonging to Herinda, Nathaniel's partner of 8 years, near the victim's home at the time of the killings. Among the firearms registered to her name was a 9mm Glock, the same caliber as every shell casing recovered from the murder scene. Hello. >> Hello. >> Hi, Molinda. My name is Detective Garcia. >> Hello. >> From the Romeo Police Department. This is Detective Wagner. >> Hello. >> I know you know what's going on and why you were here. Okay. Um I know you were talking on the phone with your husband right now. >> Husband or boyfriend? Okay. Does he live here with you? >> How long have you guys been together? >> 2015. >> Okay. We're investigating them. >> Okay. >> So, we have in our possession some phones, okay? And in those phones, we're doing what it's called the phone dump. So what happens is if anybody's talking on a text app that you can download for example text now we can retrieve those messages. >> Okay. >> We have retrieved those messages. All right. We've read them. We're pretty clear that somebody's pretty upset at at um at the victim. Okay. Is there any way that these text messages are going to come back to you or your name or your phone or anything associated with that? >> Okay. Like to speak with you without present. Are you okay with that? >> Sure. >> Wherever you're comfortable. So wherever you're comfortable, right? >> Oh, yeah. But we're out front or in the house in the backyard, right? I'm not saying go out. I'm not saying go in the house, but we can talk with you out over here. You okay with that? We can go over by my car if you'd like. >> Hinda sat across from the detectives and insisted she had only just learned of Nathaniel's affair. Detectives already knew that wasn't true and what was inside Nathaniel's phone was about to unravel everything. >> Why are you scared of him? >> Oh, I'm not scared. Why? >> Okay. Why are you scared right now? >> Because when I called him because I was scared. I didn't know where he was. He said, "Someone's following me." >> Okay. >> So, I called and I called and then I heard him say, "Why are you following me? Do you want to search the car?" And then and then someone said to him, "There are messages from you and it's because her husband found out you were having an affair." And I didn't know that. >> You didn't know what? >> That he was having an affair. >> Okay. >> When did you find that out? Right now. right now. >> Okay. When's the last time that he had an affair? >> So, I know this is not the first time. >> No, it's not. >> Okay. When's the last time you knew he had an affair? >> When we first started dating, >> 2015, >> 2015 to maybe 17. You know what? His son was born and he said, "I'm not having any more affairs. I'm not cheating on you. >> Okay. >> Stupidly. >> Do I know if he stopped? >> No, I don't know. >> Okay. So, the last time you >> Well, hold on. >> So, then I had a party at my house. >> Mhm. >> And I fell asleep and apparently he said someone kissed him and that was all that. So, I don't know, maybe it was 2019. >> Okay. >> And he said, "No, she kissed me and that was it." Come on. We're all drunk. >> You know him better than we do. So >> anyways, he said that he he said that he is no longer going to do that. >> Okay. The women that he's having affairs with. >> No. [music] For what? >> I don't know. Leave your leave your man alone kind of thing. >> No, I'm too old for that. >> I'm 50 years old. There's no reason for me to like No. And quite honestly, it's not female's fault. It's his fault, >> right? >> So, no. No. >> Obviously, you get upset over it. >> Um Well, yeah. I'm trying to hold it back right [music] now. Um but like I said, that's how we went through years. I mean, yeah. I I had said he was doing security and I had said to him, "Are you cheating on me?" And he said, "No, you know what? They they flirt with me, but I don't fall into that. >> What kind of security does he do? >> Um like at at clubs >> like a bouncer? >> Yeah. >> Is it armed security? >> No, I don't think he can carry arms [music] there. >> Okay. Does he own guns? >> No. No. >> Has he ever been known to have guns? >> He has that um Give me a second, please. He goes to Milwaukee, Bristol, and there's it's not paint, it's ears. >> During questioning, Herminda went out of her way to place Nathaniel at home that entire weekend, painting him as a man who had never left her side and had nothing to do with any of it. >> You're trying to find out if he the husband. >> We're trying to find out who was involved. So, we're talking to everyone. We're talking to you. We're talking to him. We're talking to other people because as you may be aware, people lie to the police, right? So, we don't know who's lying. >> Um, what I would like to ask you is on >> either Friday or Saturday night, did he go out with his friends? >> No. >> Did he work? >> Friday night? No, he was with me >> Saturday night. >> No. No. Okay. This is what happened. >> When I get a chance to be with him, I'm with him. >> Okay. So, Friday night we started drinking and we were at home and we were drinking and drinking and drinking. We drink a lot. >> Okay. >> Okay. We probably fell asleep. He sleeps in the garage. I sleep in my room. >> Why does he sleep in the garage? >> Because he says that he's more comfortable in the garage. But >> is there a bed in there? >> No, it's a couch. >> He sleeps on a couch in the garage. Garage isn't finished. >> Okay. >> I know, but that's not why we're here. Um, and I don't mean to be rude. >> No, you're not rude at all. >> I'm just saying I'm not going to get in. >> And now I know. >> Um, so we were drinking and then, um, we woke up and we were hung over >> on Saturday. >> Uh-huh. So, um, he said, "We got to move." I said, "Okay, um, I really want to go to Ross. Oh, I want to buy some jeans. Um, and and then he said, "Let's get something to eat." I said, "Okay, let I said, "You decide." He said, "Okay, let's go to Jersey Mike's." This was It was still day. Um, and I got home, [music] I fell asleep. Apparently, I woke up and yelled at everybody. >> Are you guys saying that n this lady's husband? >> No, we're not saying anything yet. We're trying to figure out >> I'm trying to figure out who did it >> and we have to talk to everyone. >> Know something and he's not telling us. >> You know what I I [music] can tell you that he he was home on Friday night and just said he was home. [music] My daughters told me he was home. I don't know when. If you guys are saying Friday, [music] I can tell you. I mean, I was with him all Friday night in the garage. >> This is something that happened on Friday. He was home, I promise. I had gotten out of work on Friday at 2:30. [music] At 2:40, I went to the eye doctor. He was home and he didn't go to work because he was feeling well. So, he was home. He said, "Do you want to go have dinner?" I said, "Okay." What about the Ring doorbell on your house? Does that record? >> No. >> Doesn't record at all? >> Doesn't say it. >> No, it [music] it's broken. >> Is it going to be a physical fight? >> No. I >> Has he ever been physical? [music] >> Not with me. >> With who? >> Well, I don't know. >> Okay. >> I didn't mean it like, oh, he's a physical person. Not with me. I say that because people say they'll be like, "Oh, he he seems really mean." Well, he's never hit me. >> Okay. >> What do you mean? How does he mean? >> Oh, he's a big black guy. So, he's to maybe not to you. >> To me, he it's just intimidating. Like, he he he's a big black guy to me. I'm sure you guys do. You know what I mean? Different >> Oh, I understand what you're saying. Like, if he's out in the street and something's happening, people see him, are they scared? No, not I'm sorry. I guess I'm >> But you know him, right? [music] I mean for what you said about eight years now 2015. >> No, he hasn't been into like a fight or anything. >> Not not even with you. >> Well, arguing. >> He's never pushed you. Just yelling. >> Yeah. No, he has never touched me. Absolutely not. >> In the end, Nathaniel's phone revealed everything. Anonymous messages from Herminda instructing him to kill the family [music] and stage the scene. When investigators closed in, both fled together. Officers caught up to the car in Oklahoma, which crashed and caught fire. Her minda was found un alive at the scene. Nathaniel died in the hospital days later. Neither faced trial. Moving on to a case where a tip from a friend led officers to an apartment [music] and what was inside a cooler in that apartment would confirm exactly what the caller had warned them about. We begin with a case where a disturbing man thought he could skirt the law after hiding his girlfriend in a cooler. >> We're looking for Kimberly >> Kelly. >> Do you know her? >> I I haven't heard from her in a while. The last time I've seen her is couple months and last I heard she's in Kazoo. Although he believed his crime was perfect and would never be discovered, his gruesome plan was about to unravel when officers sensed something wasn't right and began looking deeper. >> You might have to stand here looking. >> You can I mean I don't have her here. >> What's in the cooler? >> Oh, that's where when summer comes around, I'm going to have parties and stuff. >> Can you open that for me and then we'll get out of here. What's in there? >> Just stuff. >> Okay. [music] Okay. On May 22nd, 2019, officers in Michigan received a serious call from a man named Steven. He told police that his friend Wade Allen had contacted him asking for help to hide his girlfriend's body. And instead of helping, Steven called authorities. He provided the exact address of the residence and said the woman's body was inside. After receiving the chilling call, officers went to the location, but were unable to locate the residence. The officers then called Steven again, and he only confirmed what happened. >> All right, Steven. >> Yes, >> this is officer Police Department. We we checked that address and there's no nobody to it's not an apartment. It's just a house. Did you see this firsthand or he tell you this or how? >> Uh he told me about it and asked me if I wanted to see him or see the body and I said no. >> Okay. >> So he just asked you if you wanted to see the dead body. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> He was trying to get me to help him to where he can go bury the body and we told him that we wasn't going to do that. >> And do you know who the person is that? >> Yeah. Her name is Kelly Jean Warner. >> After speaking with Steven, the officers headed to the house. And the moment they stepped inside, they felt that something was deeply, deeply wrong. Hi, Wade. >> Hey, Wade. How you doing, man? >> Hey, how you doing? >> Feeling good. >> I remember you from the speedway. >> 35 375. >> What are you up to now? >> Not much. >> We're looking for Kimberly. >> Kelly >> or Kelly? She >> You know Kelly? Kimberly or Kelly? >> From the shelter, maybe. >> KJ. >> KJ. >> Yeah, >> it's Kelly. >> Kelly. Nicknamed KJ. >> Sorry. >> Oh, I don't know. I haven't heard from that person in some months. >> [snorts] >> She hasn't been around a while. She doesn't play with you. >> Um, do do you know her? >> I I haven't heard from her in a while. The last time I've seen her is couple months. The last I heard she's in Kazoo and after that I haven't heard from her. >> In the hallway, even before anyone opened the door, officers noticed a horrible odor, one that was impossible to mistake. After knocking, they were met by Wade Allen, Kelly's boyfriend, the man Steven said had called him. >> Do you mind if we come and look see make sure she's not here? >> I can tell you she's not. I mean, you know, uh, I haven't got any mail. If you got that, I can give you that. But she's not here right now. I can tell you that. >> You don't mind if we just verify real quick she's not in there and then we'll get out of here. I just tell Kazoo that she's not down here and we can get get that wiped off plate. >> I think the best way for me to help you get a hold of her is through the shelter. I got uh her shelter manager person and I can give you that information. But as far as here, I I don't like just my my place is a mess and I don't like just people coming and going all the time. >> We don't care. We see all sorts of apartments and homes and >> well um all we got to do is verify she's not here and then we can get out of here and be done with it. They've been trying to locate her for a few days. >> I've been waiting to hear from her on Facebook and I haven't heard from her. So that's all I could tell you is try Kazoo. Like she hasn't been here in forever and I don't know what to tell you. Okay. Well, I'd really appreciate if you let us come in, look real quick, and we could care less about whatever your apartment looks like. >> Um, signal time. >> I don't know. I I feel iffy. Um, if you guys want to come by another time, just not right now. Let me at least have a day where I can clean up and do things. >> Okay. Well, here here's the deal, Wade. Um, if we got to get a search warrant, we will. All right. We don't want to go that route. >> I know. >> Um, that's a lot of work for all of us, including you. So, um, if we got to do that, we're going to have to detain you and put you in the car for a little while. >> I can open up and I'll say, "Hey, KJ. Kelly, and there's no Kelly or KJ." >> You know, if I just stand here and look in? >> You can. I mean, I don't have her here. >> Okay. Honestly, she hasn't been here in months. >> Can you just throw some shoes on real quick? >> Uh, I could. Why? Why do I need my shoes on? >> Cuz like I said, you're going to be detained and we're going to get a search warrant. Okay. >> Well, you just want to walk in. That's it. >> Yeah, that's basically all we want to do is just verify. >> Our bosses want to make sure she's not here. So, we don't want we want to do what we got to do for our job and then we're out. >> And if she's here, we don't care. We can just say, "Hey, okay, she's not here." >> Want us to do one of you there. I just >> One of us is fine. One of us is fine. >> You want to come in? >> I'll go in, Wade. Thank you. >> I know you know me enough. Like, >> yeah, I just >> Wade's behavior was wildly strange. He acted as if he were distant from Kelly, even though witnesses had said otherwise. When officers asked him to step inside, he grew increasingly uncomfortable, trying to avoid the situation, but he couldn't. >> It's not much, but I don't have I mean, I got my pen sunglasses here, but >> what's in the cooler? >> Well, that's for when the summer comes around. Even I have parties and stuff. So, >> all right. No problem. Can you open that for me and then we'll get out of here. >> Well, not right now. I can't like I mean I want to save that for later. >> But I showed you she hasn't been here in forever. >> Okay. Well, you don't Why don't you just open that cooler and we'll get out of here. I just want to make sure anywhere that she's she could be hiding. >> She's not going to be hiding. >> Well, I Okay. I just need to know that. Okay. No, I mean I I can help you out there, but I've shown you everything. [music] >> Okay. All right. You won't >> I haven't seen her, like I said, forever. >> You don't want no closets or >> No. Um I mean, this is that's it. >> Okay. >> But she's not here and hasn't been. >> I wish she was. >> All right, man. I can you can walk me to the front then. So, >> all right. >> You want you want to open that cooler for me? >> Well, >> can you open the fridge for me? Make sure she's not hiding in there. >> There's no point in the fridge either. Like, I mean, it's just food and stuff. >> I understand. You have shoes you can throw on real quick. >> A little bit. Uh, but here, I'll help you out, you know. >> Okay, I'll help you out. Go on out. >> Well, I got You're You're detained right now. Okay. Go on out. >> I'm detained. >> You're detained. Walk out there. >> You said I said shoes on. You're not going to get him on now. I'm giving you the opportunity to walk out there. >> WDE's resistance to opening the cooler immediately raised serious red flags for the officers. Whether Wade agreed or not, they were determined to get what they needed, even if it meant taking a longer route to do so. >> Do it now. You got anything illegal on you? >> No, I don't. >> Okay, put your hands behind your back. >> Get a knife or anything like that? >> No. >> Okay. Why don't you turn around against the wall real slowly? >> Being detained, I'm just want the opportunity to look the rest of the way through the apartment. Okay. Well, I I showed you everything. Here, let me >> Do you want to show me? >> I I I will. I showed you everything. >> Why don't you Why don't you walk back in there and show me then? >> But I did. >> You see? >> Can I look in that fridge? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I did. There's something. >> Okay. I see she's not in there. >> What do you want to be in a [laughter] fridge? >> I understand that, but we got to look. We found people in some crazy places in in little cupboards like that. People can crawl in there and fit in there. I just want to make sure 100% that she's not here and then we'll get out of here. >> I She wouldn't have to hide. >> Well, I I don't know her. I don't know anything about her. I don't know if she's hiding from the law or hiding from her family or or what she's doing. So, >> I don't think she would. >> I just want to verify. Okay. Can I look in that cooler over there? Um, that that's kind of like I said later on and summer stuff, but I'm trying to keep my stuff kind of private, you know. >> Well, that's fine. All I want to do is open it, say, "KJ, you in there?" And then close it right back up and I'll get out of here. You'll be out of handcuffs and we'll be gone. >> Well, let's have a warrant for the rest of this and I'll just get detained. As Wade was taken to the patrol car, he continued to question why officers needed to open the cooler. But once he realized they would obtain a search warrant and uncover his dark secret, whether he wanted it or not, he finally permitted them to open it. And what they found inside was one of the most gruesome scenes they had ever encountered. >> Okay. You want me to open the door for you? >> Yeah. >> No one has come or gone. >> Then we'll get you out of handcuffs and I we'll leave. >> Yeah. >> I'm good to check things out. All I'm concerned about is any closets or any coolers. >> Like I said, just in here, you can watch. >> Okay. You can Can I pop it open? Just take a peek. >> Well, yeah, if you want. >> Okay. Why don't you step back for a second? >> Okay. >> What's in there? >> Just stuff. >> Okay. All right. Let's head out here. But, uh, my wallet's right there. >> Okay, I'll grab it. >> Head out. Head out here. >> Everything's good now. >> Yep. Yep. Everything's good. >> I showed you everything. >> Yep. You're under arrest. Okay. >> Under arrest? >> Yes, you are. All right. Got to get the crime task force out here. Come check this out. >> What? >> Uh, got a homicide. Found a body in a cooler. uh looked like she's probably I don't know doubled over in there. The cooler is probably 4T long or something. I looked in there and I seen an arm and it had like black mold dots on it. >> Hey Sam, this is Damon. Um and I need you here at 209 North Maple like ASAP. >> Inside the cooler, officers found the body of Kelly Gene Warner, Wade's girlfriend. Their suspicions had now turned into something concrete. The call from Steven, the horrific odor, and Wade's bizarre behavior finally made sense. After discovering the body, officers arrested Wade and brought him to the interrogation room, ready to uncover what had happened between the couple. Instead, what followed was a carefully constructed chain of lies designed by Wade in an attempt to escape the situation. >> All right, Wade. So, what I would like to know from you is in your own words, what happened to Kelly Jean? I know she's been through a lot. I'll start with saying that she's hypoglycemic. Okay. >> All right. So, her eating levels are important. She has to have a certain amount of sugars or whatever. >> Mhm. I only bring that to attention because I know at one point while she was making the cereal, she fainted and really hurt her head and it really concerned me cuz a little after that I started seeing impairment issues whether speech, memory, things like that. I was concerned That incident had to happen in March. >> Okay. So, it's been a little bit. >> I want to say what >> when you say she fainted and hurt her head, how how did she hurt her head? I watched her when she fell. When she fell back, it was [snorts] back her head on the floor. I said her motor skills and membrane were start to not be at her best. >> Okay. When she fell, you described it as she kind of fell backwards and hit the back of her head on the floor. >> Yeah. >> Where in was this at your apartment at? >> Yeah. >> At 209. >> Okay. Where inside of the apartment did she fall and where did that happen at? >> Kitchen. >> In the kitchen. Okay. When she fell, would did she become unconscious? Did she knock herself out? Did she just kind of stung herself? Did she >> She was unconscious for a little bit. >> Okay. About how long [music] would you say a little bit would be? >> Well, I would say 5 to 10 minutes. Even though that might seem like a little >> The investigation began in the most unsettling way possible. Instead of even pretending to be sad about what had happened to Kelly, Wade showed no emotion at all. He didn't cry. He didn't show any signs of remorse. He simply stood there telling a fabricated story, convinced he could fool the police. And the more Wade talked, the more cracks began to appear in his story. So, let's let's go start from March of 2019 when you witnessed her pain and hit her head and move until I'll hunt in today. >> All right. And I believe she left for a while, got into a really bad relationship and then she came back to me. But yeah, there was that. And then I was trying to take care of her. >> It was I saw like a yellow thing forming in her eye at one point. Then that turned into a blood sack and that became both eyes. When did you observe this or when did you notice this issue with her eyes? >> This this was within a week or all of this ending only two weeks time period because it was about 2 weeks after that when I found her in the shower. >> All right. So she passed out, had her head on the floor. He said within a week she had something in her eye. in that first week. >> So when she fell, hit her head, lost consciousness. Did she then come back around? >> Yeah. Just lost some memory of like she didn't know how or why she fell. >> Okay. >> So then after that, you said that you noticed something in her eyes that looked like some yellow bus. >> It turned into blood. When I say motor skills, like she was at a point where she wasn't able to feed herself and that really concerned me. I did my best to try to help feed her cuz one time I I I came in, I saw her sitting on the tub and I tried to feed her this meal, one of these freezer dinners. I have a bunch of those. And um it was chilly and she was just kind of like holding it like this and she just moving so slow and there was just chili all over her. I said I tried to feed her as much as I could. I said you need help there. And then like when it came to like drinking water, I eventually started to give her a straw cuz like when I try to pour water into her mouth, there's a few times she would choke on it. So I'm like, "This is not working." >> Kelly was diabetic, which could have caused her to faint. But the fact that Wade never called for medical help was deeply suspicious. He also claimed that Kelly had been in a troubled relationship before returning to him. And while it was true that Kelly had met another man, the injuries to her eyes were not caused by this secret lover. But Wade managed to make the situation even worse when he revealed a disturbing detail about what had happened to Kelly. >> I thought she'd be okay if she was laying down, not standing up. going to have to watch over. So I seeing she wasn't breathing and I just really shocked me. I saw her feet and that means that she started with hot water and I don't know the strength to turn a knob. I don't I can't understand why she didn't turn it or adjust it or And I don't know if that would cause death is is hot water >> when you left the bathroom. How was she? >> She was laying. >> Okay. And you said you started the water so the water was running. >> Yeah. And >> and was the tub the stopper in there so that the tub >> accumulate water so she could take her back? >> Yeah. >> And did you go back in there? >> I went to sleep. >> You went to sleep? >> I thought she would be okay. >> What Wade described was in fact the disturbing sequence of events he had forced Kelly to endure. According to him, Kelly's death could be linked to being left in extremely hot water. But just minutes earlier, he had claimed she couldn't move on her own, which meant that if she died in the bathtub, Wade knew she was there agonizing in the water. Well, that is fine. I >> treaty of the situation. I figured you know what best I'll do is I want to give her a she doesn't have any she doesn't have any anything at least wherever I'll put her I would visit her I wouldn't want her to like know where I visit her >> WDE's reason for keeping Kelly's body with him was deeply concerning and as absurd as it may sound the situation became even more serious after a neighbor came forward with her account. According to her, Wade claimed that Kelly had hit her head in the bathtub, causing fractures to her skull. Not only that, but Steven's account further exposed how twisted Wade's story really was. When questioned, Steven revealed that Wade had made several disturbing comments about dissecting a body, especially someone he knew well, and told officers that Wade often talked about taking Kelly's life to the point where Steven eventually stopped spending time with him. On the night Wade called Steven for help, he claimed he had hit Kelly against the fireplace, but believed she was still alive. He then said he used a torch on parts of her body to see if she would react before placing her in the bathtub, later cutting her body and storing the remains in coolers. It was only after that that Wade contacted Steven, asking for help disposing of the body. By this point, Wade had provided at least three different versions of events, something he could no longer keep straight. While Wade was being questioned, another group of officers went to his house to search for any signs of what had happened that night. And what they found there would haunt them forever. >> Morning, boss. >> Hi. Where am I going? >> What's that? >> Where are we going? >> I back in the corner in the living room. There's a green cooler right there. I just cracked it. He finally gave me permission to come in here and look in there. >> That cooler. >> That cooler. >> It the lid opens from the back side. I peeked over the left hand. >> No. And I I didn't I just took him straight out. And this >> blood. >> I have no idea. >> [music] >> and cut them. >> There's another cooler in here. >> There's another cooler in the bedroom. Okay. >> I saw some toes and an ankle. Open that up. >> Yeah. >> [music] >> While searching the house, officers discovered that Kelly's body was not entirely inside the cooler. Some parts had been cut away, suggesting they were located elsewhere in the home. And disturbingly, they were. Officers soon found a second cooler hidden inside the residence containing additional parts of Kelly's body. The scene was so gruesome that even the most experienced officers struggled to process what they were seeing. Investigators also located a reciprocating saw, plastic sheets covering the windows, protective eyewear, gloves, garbage bag liners, ropes, ties, and a single white ribbon. All of these items painted a clear picture of the story Wade was trying to hide. One that would later be fully revealed as the investigation continued. Back in the interrogation room, investigators pressed Wade further, this time questioning him about the unsettling discovery of the cooler. >> I Yeah, I didn't move her at all for a long time. >> How long do you think a long time would be? wanted to put her all at one so she could be whole and like that really known her in any kind of way to keep her whole. Nothing I could do to keep her [music] remain. That's where it really gets. >> So you say you cut her legs. How? Where did you cut her like that? Hopefully you never have to see something like this in your life. So here and then here. I started here, but then I realized her knees were still over the edge. >> Mhm. >> So, I had to go here, too. >> Okay. And how did you cut her legs? >> I used a saw. >> A saw? Like a [music] handsaw? Like a >> reciprocating saw? reciprocating something that that you called Steven >> around the time of like [music] within a week after she passed. >> Okay. What did you tell him happened to Kelly? >> I don't know what happened. >> Did you tell him that you backhanded her? Something happened and she passed away. Backhanded her. No. If he said that, then I'm a little bit upset cuz that's not sure. >> How angry were you with her or leaving and then coming back? >> I know. >> No, I I love I know you do. >> I know. to the point where she's going to be with you and no one else. >> At this point, the investigator began confronting Wade with the evidence, questioning him about what he had told Steven, fully aware that their versions of events didn't match. It was then that he asked a critical question, one that would later reveal itself as the driving force behind WDE's actions. After the investigation, Wade was formally charged and taken to jail. But if officers believed things would settle there, they were deeply mistaken. While in jail, Wade began boasting to his cellmates about the story he had never told investigators. The first person to hear it was Kelly's sister, who by a cruel coincidence was sharing a cell with her sister's attacker and later told investigators that Wade claimed he had dug a hole behind a Kroger store to bury Kelly. However, the most unsettling accounts came from other cellmates who, although accustomed to hearing disturbing stories, were genuinely terrified by WDE's claims. One in particular that caught investigators attention, Daniel Kes. >> This guy is, well, let me just put it to you like this. He's a serial killer. >> Okay. >> Okay. Um he told us that he physically had this girl down on the bed with a white ribbon around her neck watching the clock for 5 minutes until she she would and he brought her back to life. And when he did the torture that he put her through before he had choked her out with this white ribbon, he gave us detail on this ribbon and this paracord that he used and Oh, it's just it's gross. It's disgusting. >> And you said he brought her back. What do you mean by that? What did he >> He gave her CPR. He was gave was giving her CPR and brought her back at that time. He said that she she went blue and he said he got on his phone because the next day when she was already brain dead >> when he started strangling her >> after after >> she become brain dead. >> Okay. >> Because she couldn't talk, she couldn't walk anything. He said that he bought a torch lighter from Dollar General. >> Mhm. >> In Sturgis out to buy. He said the pediatric center. And he said he burnt her tongue, the tip of her tongue, both of her and her. And I said, "Wow." I said, "That's gruesome, dude." I said, "What did you do after that?" He says, I had I said, "Are you serious, dude?" He said, "Yeah." He is very turned on to me, like wants to do things with me. That dude needs to be put away for a long time. >> I agree. This what I heard was the most traumatizing thing I've ever heard since I've been in any county jail. But we were taking shifts on staying awake. >> Okay. >> We didn't want to go to sleep with this guy in there. >> Gotcha. >> That's why he did this because he said she cheated on him. >> Okay. >> This was the main reason why he did this to her. Because she cheated on him and broke his heart. >> What Daniel revealed confirmed the investigator's suspicions. According to him, Wade confessed that he took Kelly's life after learning she had found love elsewhere. While still in a relationship with him, Daniel also explained what the items investigators found in the house had been used for. Not just him, but other cellmates shared the same disturbing details. Wade bragged that he tied Kelly while she was still alive and locked her in a closet before leaving for work, and that he gagged her with a screwdriver so she couldn't scream. One cellmate even repeated the same account Steven had given, describing how Wade used a torch on Kelly's body. At that point, the picture painted by the evidence investigators had found became clear and deeply disturbing, and WDE's behavior hadn't started randomly. One of his exes later came forward, describing the traumatic period she endured with him and stating that if she hadn't escaped, she [music] believed she would have been the one inside the cooler. Daniel's account drew even more attention when it was revealed that after learning his cellmates had reported him, Wade planned revenge and assaulted Daniel, who later described the disturbing attempts Wade made toward him. The evidence against Wade was overwhelming, and in the end, he was charged with secondderee murder, attempted dismemberment of a body, and thirdderee criminal sexual conduct. He was sentenced to 37 to 60 years in prison with an additional consecutive sentence for criminal sexual misconduct. Next, a case where officers arrived at a children's park expecting a routine welfare check and found a decapitated body, a bloodied suspect sitting calmly beneath a tree, and a [music] scene so brutal it stopped even the most seasoned officers dead in their tracks. Next, we have a case where officers responded to a bizarre 911 call only to uncover a horrifying scene that left them momentarily struggling to process what they were seeing. >> Come over here. Put your hands up. Put your hands up. Get your knees. Has he said anything? >> He was smiling or laughing when he took him off. >> Did you see the knife? >> The one that was sticking in the ground. >> Yeah, it was this big. >> This mother head hacked off with a pen knife >> and nobody says nothing. >> On June 20th, 2021, officers in Las Cruus, New Mexico responded to a 911 call about a body lying in the middle of a park. And when they arrived, they had no idea that the person responsible was still right there watching them. So, um, so I was just driving, right? And then I pulled into pull off the park >> and I seen a body laying on the floor and then I think his head was on the side again. >> Could you tell if he was breathing? >> And then I like >> um, no. No, his head was completely off his body. >> What do you mean? >> Like he was decapitated. >> When officers got to the scene, they spotted a man sitting under a tree just a short distance from where the victim lay. And the moment they got close enough to see him clearly, they understood exactly why he hadn't bothered to run. >> 91 search 97. We got the east blocked off. We just need the south part of the park blocked off. >> Um, it looks old. >> Okay. >> Uh, go make 25 with them. Just sitting right there. 9125 with the the dash here in the middle of the park. Sir, put your hands up. Stand up. [snorts] Come over here. Put your hands up. Put your hands up. Get on your knees. Put your hands where I can see them. >> Contact. I got cover. You got contact. Shift. Shift. Shift. Back. Slow down. >> I just lost my Just down, bro. Yeah, I'm off. You cool if I take everything out of your pocket? >> Put the gloves on, please. Put gloves on, please. Gloves. >> Yeah, I got gloves. Here you go. >> Hey, >> we need somebody to stay at the intersection to make sure our scene doesn't get contaminated. Smith, get back to the intersection. >> Smith, go in the body. The victim was later identified as 51-year-old James Garcia. As officers began processing what they were looking at, the details of what had been done to him and where his body had ended up made one thing clear. This was not a typical crime scene. >> All right, let's look for any more victims. >> He cut his head off. >> Dude, >> he has a knife. It's a small. >> Just stand by with it. >> Over here by the rock cuz there there's a big pool of in the grass. I don't want to walk close to it cuz I don't want to get double for walk so close to it. But >> they say they have a suspect or a possible suspect. >> I'm I'm I'm like 99.99. That's it. >> Oh, really? You think so? >> Hey, right there next to the knife with the all the >> Oh, there's a knife over there. >> Yeah, it's like stuck to the ground. You get all the Oh, okay. Never mind. I didn't know that. >> I got Ortiz watching where we got the dude. Okay. >> Has he said anything? Hey. >> He was smiling or laughing when he hooked him up. >> Did you see the knife? >> Uh, the one that was sticking in the ground. >> Yeah, it was this big. >> Yeah, it's a small knife. There might be another one cuz that there's that bag that's covered in At least it looks like. >> Maybe there's another head in it. >> Actually thinking about that. >> Cuz there was clocks on it. >> Yeah. >> How the [ __ ] here nobody calls that? >> It took a while. You know how long to get this? >> My thing was is people calling code 24 this code. >> You can't call on the time. Yeah. This mother gets his head hacked off with a pen knife >> and nobody says nothing. >> He was sitting there with his hands next to his bag and then we found out the tree, dude. He cut against the tree, too. There was like an ex. >> You think he's just crazy? >> Uh, but you have to be, bro. >> So, they they did their business. Came over here and let people like, "Hey, let this mother be seen on the street." >> No, it's just one dude. >> That's what I'm saying, >> dude. He had to be gnawing at that thing for a while, though. Us spines dude are [ __ ] tough. Like you had it you you had to be going to town on that thing. >> That's an average nail. Several blows with an axe. >> Yeah. Like a That's a And that's meant for chopping. >> Yeah. >> You guys already cleared by that playground and everything. >> Yeah. Clear all over there. Um Yeah. Too high five. All 49. And >> Yeah. Boy. >> Oh, we got all 49. >> Okay. I think the park's clear now cuz I came up all the way from the west coming east. So go back with Ramirez and one of you all decide who's going to go 108. The man gave his name as Joel Arinega Science. And as that name made its way around the scene, one of the officers realized this wasn't their first time dealing with him. Just a few weeks before this, Joel had been picked up for smashing up local businesses and writing hateful messages in his own blood. A sign of something seriously broken that no one could have guessed would lead here. >> So the scene is right there. [music] Where? >> Right there. You see all the >> Why? How da got over there somehow. So had to pick it up. picked it up and moved it or he kicked it or rolled it or something like that. So, we got a tattoo. >> Yeah, we got some stab wounds. Good stab wounds. >> Got multiple stab wounds. And you're saying it's a 2 in sab right there. >> What's that, Dustin? Glass >> right there. >> See that? That shiny stuff there and there. What is that? >> Could be spit. >> Yeah, could be spit. looks homeless kind of. >> Yeah, there's camp that's up here. See where they're at. [music] >> See, they say there's a camp up there. So, I'm wondering if that's where he's actually been staying. >> And you think drug him? >> They got drug marks. And if you look, if you shine your light up there, right by this tree, there's a puddle of right there. >> And he either was carrying the head or the head fell off from that time. >> It looks like [music] the And there's a roll right there. Dude, that's that roll. >> Yeah, cuz he tossed it. >> There's blood right there or kicked it. >> Yeah, >> bro. What's your name? >> So, this is what he gave me. I don't know if you guys found any death vacation. Laser said he didn't feel like >> you know who the suspect is. >> Science. >> It's Joel. >> Huh? >> It's Joel. >> What's your name? Joel. >> Joel. Science. >> He's the one that code five vex wrote death to in his own and signed his name. When detectives sat Joel down for questioning, he gave them almost nothing to work with. But after they collected his clothes and DNA, the digging into his past turned up a 2017 murder arrest where he walked free because the weapon couldn't be tied directly to him. >> Joel. >> Yes, sir. >> I'm detecting Las Cusus Police Department. This is my partner, Detective Lockage. >> You feeling all right right now? >> Oh, yeah. >> Okay. What were you doing at Apadaka Park this past night? >> I don't know. >> You don't know? Who are you there with? >> Tell me what you do know, Joel. H >> Tell me what you do know. >> What do you know? >> What happened? What'd you get on your hands? >> What's that? >> You don't know what you got on your hands? >> And you don't know what you were doing in Abdoc Park tonight. What >> were you doing? >> I wasn't in Abu Dhock Park until I got called. That's what officer said, I guess. >> So, why do you think you're here, Bill? >> You guys brought me here. He told me. >> I'm asking you why we brought you here. >> Why did I ask you? >> You hurt me. >> With the direct approach going nowhere, detectives changed tactics entirely. Knowing Joel's history of homophobic vandalism, they deliberately suggested the victim had been his boyfriend. Not because they believed it, but because they knew exactly what it would do to him. What came out of Joel in the next few minutes was something nobody in that room had anticipated. >> Joel, I'm just trying to find out more information about James. So, was he your boyfriend? >> Were you guys dating each other? >> Okay. Were you guys in some kind of lovers quarrel? >> Yeah. >> Oh, yeah. >> Like because he's your boyfriend. You guys got in an argument? >> I told you. >> That's just what I'm getting. can't do that. >> You tell me, man. >> Why would you call me gay? >> I'm [snorts] not calling you gay. Yeah, I'm not judging you. >> I'm married. You're not married. >> You're married? >> Yeah. >> Who are you married to? >> Are you married to James? >> Are you trying to insult me? >> Huh? >> Are you insulting? Why? >> No, I'm not insulting you. I'm not calling you gay. >> Information. >> Who are you calling gay? >> We're not calling you gay. We're just >> I didn't call you gay. >> Call me gay. >> I said, are you married to James? >> No. It was all >> okay. Well, I'm trying to find out why James is in a park and you were having all over your hands. >> I'm not gay. I bet you are. >> Why are you gay, Mr. >> I'm not lying about anything. >> You lying about [clears throat] >> You're telling me I don't know everything. >> Detective and you act like a child. >> I'm not acting like a child. >> Yes, you are. >> Okay. >> All [ __ ] up. So then tell me about James. >> Tell me about James. >> Is that why you're pissed because James thought you were gay? >> No. >> Did James hat on you? >> No. >> Did he make some kind of advance toward you that you didn't like? >> Want to fight? >> I don't want to fight you. >> Well, let's do some things. >> I don't want to fight you. >> Don't call me gay. >> Not call me gay. You beat the I'll beat the >> Okay, here's what I think happened. You and James are in a relationship. He said something to you and you him. >> Where did you hear that? >> Does your wife know where you're at right now? >> No, not even. >> Does she know that you're sleeping in the park with another guy? >> No. Yeah, >> you told me earlier you're sleeping in the park. You and James are the only ones in the park. >> I didn't do that. >> That's exactly what you told me. >> It's on the camera. >> That's how I said. >> Look, Joel, you know what you did. I just want to know why you did it. >> When Joel finally gave his reason for what happened to James Garcia, the story he told seemed to explain everything. But when detectives went back to check, they discovered that nothing he said was actually true. So why did you like I >> Cuz you my wife. >> You're your wife. >> When did this happen? >> Four years ago. >> Four years ago. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Was that reported? >> No, we were all homeless. >> What's that? >> We were all homeless. >> You guys are all homies. >> Homeless. >> Homeless. I'm sorry. >> Those are those are our bags that you had you stealing from us. >> Okay. Which bags are yours? >> Back where belong two friends. >> Okay. >> I wanted to get him back. I just tried to take a peep the gun on me. You saw it. So yeah, I have a knife right now. >> And what else did you do? >> I cut his head off. I dragged his body down. Okay. If it's all bro. >> He played soccer with his head. >> Yeah. Keep that passive cars. I told you. >> I appreciate that. I appreciate you being honest with us. >> Can I get a cigarette? >> You want a cigarette? >> I guess what I can do for you, okay? See my cigarette. >> In the end, Joel Aringa Science was charged with first-degree murder. But the case dragged on for years after he was declared mentally unfit to stand trial due to a condition he had been living with since childhood. In March 2025, he was finally ruled competent, found guilty, and sentenced to life in prison. Next, a case where officers responded to a welfare check on a woman locked inside her own home. And what they found on the other side of that door was a house of horror. so disturbing it made even the most seasoned officers [music] physically ill. Next up, we have the case of a woman who was supposed to be cared for by her own sister. But what officers found behind a locked door inside that house was something no one could have prepared for. >> Can I see your ID and can you show me where she's at, please? >> Don't look good. >> That's all right. Let me go in there. >> I don't want to go to jail. >> Okay. Can you walk? >> Can you walk? >> She was sitting in that chair curled up in a ball terrified >> laying on her back in that [clears throat] hospital treatment bed. To me, she looks like a breathing corpse. On November 28th, 2023, Baldwin County deputies responded to a call from a worried aunt who hadn't seen her niece Stacy in two years and feared she was being held captive inside her own home. The woman who showed up at the door was Bobby, Stacy's own sister. Bobby started dodging every question and begged them to wait for her husband. But nothing could have prepared them for what waited in that house. >> I don't think this thing's been used in forever. Air. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, it does. >> How are you? >> You live here, I assume. >> Yeah, I live here. >> Okay. What's your name? >> Bobby. >> Bobby. Okay. Give me Do you remember who we're looking? >> Bow. Who is it that we're supposed to be looking for? We got contact with somebody. >> Stacy Gunther. Stacy Gunther. 33y old female. >> Stacy. Do you know where she's at? And y'all just wait till my husband gets here cuz I'm here by myself. >> Where's Stacy? Does she stay here with you? >> Okay. Where is she at right now? >> In the front. >> She is there. >> Can I talk to her? Can I see her real quick? >> She don't talk to nobody. >> Well, I just >> She wanted to do nothing for me. >> Well, can you show me where she's at? I just want to see her. Put eyes eyes on her and make sure she's okay. >> She want to take no bath. >> Go ahead. She don't even got no clothes on. I can't control her. >> I don't know what to do myself and I didn't want to call y'all or no place like that cuz I have kids. >> I got you. Okay, sweetie. Do you have your ideas? >> My mom and daddy had died and left her behind and I don't know what to do no more. I don't want to. >> That's my sister, but I ain't got no written papers saying that she's my own. >> Okay. Can I >> that I'm guardian or nothing? >> Can I see your ID and can you show me where she's at, please? She don't look good. >> That's all right. Let me go in there. >> I don't I don't I don't want to go to jail. I'm telling you. >> What are you going to go to jail for? >> For the way she look. >> Have you been doing anything to her? >> No. I mean, I put her food in there and all, but >> Well, let's go. Just >> She tries to fight people. >> All right, that's fine. >> She don't have on no clothes. Just a shirt on. And she's real skinny. >> All right. >> All right. Well, what's your stop taking medicine? She won't take it for us. >> Okay. >> And none of my other family will not help. >> I got you. I just don't know what to do myself. >> Okay. And she is your sister. >> We're working on moving out this house cuz this house is really old. >> When Bobby finally led them to the room, she admitted she kept her sister locked inside with a twisted coat hanger through the door because she claimed Stacy tried to fight people. But the way she said it made it sound like she was the one who needed protecting. Can you show me what she got? >> She come home right now. >> I had to do this. >> She tried to beat on me before. So, she's locked in there right now >> and she tried to jump on a kid, but we don't know what to do with and I didn't want her to go to jail or something. >> When's the last time you let her out? >> 94. >> No, she comes out and she just >> she acts crazy. >> What? What's all this? >> Is this around here or No. >> No. >> I told Can you open it for me real quick? >> She won't take a bath. Just open cracking a little bit. >> Yeah, just open the door for me. >> As nasty as I can't handle her. >> She's bad. >> She's in that room in there. >> Okay, that's fine. Hey, sweetheart. How are you? >> Romy EMS, please. >> You okay? >> What? >> Uh, severely malnourished lady. We have contact with her. The sister's here. Has her locked up in the front bedroom. The husband, Jerry, showed up shortly after and started talking just as fast as Bobby, blaming Stacy for everything wrong in that house, while conveniently leaving out the part where they had been cashing her disability checks and living under her roof without providing any real care. >> Can you move the things away from the door so I can open it? >> Ma'am, why is the door like that? Just so she can't get out. >> Yeah, >> we're thorough of Oh, >> when does your husband get home? >> He He can come home now, but it's almost time to go pick our kids up. >> Hey, how are you? >> You good? >> Um, who are you? Are you Do you live here? >> I'm her husband. >> Oh, okay. All right. Um, we just got called here to do a welfare chat. >> Um, >> we don't want her here. I mean, she she can't she don't want to do nothing. She done tried to scratch me. I tried to give her a bath. I'm a guy. She's a girl >> and I know for a fact if you drag somebody to go give them a bath more than what 10 foot is kidnapping charge and I don't want that neither. >> See you guys I guess just kind of ended up being like >> we're stuck because we have no family. All I have is my daddy. He lives down in Dublin. Her family ain't working. They don't have nothing to do with us. It's just me, >> okay, >> and our kids. >> Y'all got left with this other lady. We got left with her >> and >> when her parents died, >> when her parents died and we was trying to get out before her mama and then her mama don't stay here with her daddy and then her daddy died and then we got stuck here and nobody wanted to help with her. >> Yeah. So I guess there's no other family to help take care [music] of her. Does she have any problems or >> she's all I know they keep saying she's toilet. That's all I know. >> So maybe she >> I don't know. I know she has seizures but I know she ain't taking medicine because she won't damn take it. She'll have been tried to scratch you, beat you, cuss at you, >> and she scares the living out of my kids all time. So, we we just don't want >> So, I'll try to just keep her on that side. >> Do you have your sister's ID? >> She don't have one. She would never go get one. >> I got you. >> My daddy couldn't hold a hand on her name. >> What's her name? >> Stacy Johnson. >> You know her social? >> You don't know her social? >> I don't think I got her social. >> Okay. No, but daddy, he was in pretty bad shape and she would beat him >> before he died and he didn't know what to do with her and I was just going to try to take care of her long as I could, but she got she wouldn't do nothing. >> Somebody told us we could take her to the emergency room and drop her off up there. But like, why we going to drop her off up there? Cuz then you won't know what's going to happen to her then. >> Yeah. So, >> I got you. The moment officers finally got that door open and saw Stacy curled up in a fetal position, the officer knew they were past the point of asking questions. The couple was placed under arrest while medics rushed in to help a woman who looked like she hadn't been touched by sunlight or kindness in years. >> How long has she been here with y'all? >> Just, you know, daddy died about a year ago. >> Does she have a bathroom in that room that she's in? >> No, we was trying to give her baths and everybody's bathroom. Our bathroom. >> How many bathrooms are in this house? >> Just one. >> The just one bathroom. Like I said, we was in we in the process of trying to save up money to move out of this house because it ain't no good. >> Gota what I mean I see it's in pretty bad conditions in here. >> Stacy, we're going to take you to see a doctor. Okay. >> What? >> Okay. >> All right, sweetheart. What we do? We're just going to have to hold my hand. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Stacey, you can you walk? >> Come here. >> Can you walk? >> Let me see your hands. >> You okay? We got you. We can do that. >> Okay. >> Oh my. >> Hey, open the door. Open the door. My good. Come here, sweetheart. All right, take a seat right there. >> Have a seat, sweetheart. >> Sit right here. >> Yeah, we're we're going to get the kitty for you. Okay. >> Mhm. >> Let's go with you. Okay. >> Oh, my toy. >> Okay. >> Oh, my toy. sheep that's under. >> Okay. >> One, two, three. >> All right. >> I'm sorry. >> No, it's okay. Nothing to be sorry about. Okay. >> Can you get that out? >> Put your left foot in there. >> Left foot. Slow down there. Right foot. Right foot. Can I please get these in front of me? Right foot, >> please. >> No, right now. Right foot. >> Are you gonna make me put your foot in there? >> No. >> Well, please just put it. >> Can I have some air? >> Please put your foot. >> Okay. Take the hood off of me again. >> You kind of I'm big. >> Try to scoot a little more. Escape. Escape. Scoot. Scoot. >> Detectives began photographing the room and Stacy's body for evidence. The smell alone stopped officers in their tracks. A detail that said everything about how long Stacy had been left in those conditions. >> Before you strap her, give me one second cuz we're going to have to get pictures. Okay. I got to get her blood pressure. >> You want to take pictures of her real quick before they strap her, brother? >> Absolutely. >> Hey, look. I know body. >> Well, there was one that was ti was tied up. >> Yeah, there's another one. As you go in there, the door that's right there. It's >> I Well, I went about to where she was. I could >> I couldn't see the smell. >> It's terrible. >> You have ID on her? >> She She does not have an ID. My understanding >> name and date of birth in your call notes is all we have. >> Yep. I know name. >> Yes, they we have a name and date of birth. I just don't have a positive ID. >> She never had an ID apparently. I don't know. >> Arm out for me. Just bring your arm out. >> Leave your arm right there. Just like that. You want me to close the door? Yeah. There's no bathroom in that. >> Was this key already in this door? >> Was the key in that door? >> Yeah. >> She was sitting in a chair, curled up in a ball, terrified. >> The officers were standing in a house that belonged to Stacy. Yet, she was the one locked away like she didn't matter. while the sister and brother-in-law who were supposed to be looking after her acted like they had been doing her a favor all along. >> Hey darling, >> I'm Detective Burrell. >> How old is she? 33. >> Is that what they said? >> Uh 519 1990 33. >> My blanket. >> Your blanket? >> Yes. >> Where's your blanket at? >> Long time. Uh >> I ran it. I don't know if anybody came back. Be still for me, baby. >> You got that thing? >> I got on multiple times. You can see it and all the stains down her leg. >> I'm sure. >> Another blanket. >> Yeah, we got a blanket. >> We need the children's name, too. >> Yeah, I'm going to get that. Whose >> house is this? It was their father who passed away a year ago. >> So, they stay here and they're supposed to be taking care of her. >> And the sister. >> Um, okay. Hang on. Whatever. >> Yeah. >> From the school bus to worry about now. >> The girls the girl's sister. >> Well, they better help anyway. They probably need to be involved anyway. >> Who who who called this? her aunt. >> Her aunt >> that has not seen her >> that has not seen her in two years >> and knew she was locked in >> and knew she was locked in the room >> or potentially. >> With the couple in custody, officers scrambled to track down their two young children who were still at school, making sure they wouldn't come home to a house that had just been turned inside out by what their parents had allowed to happen. >> So, we need to get the names of the kids. That >> is correct. >> And then we need to go ahead and get the schools involved, pull those kids out of class. We need all the facts. >> What are your kids' name? Hm. Let me come to that side. Okay. >> What are y'all going to do to my kid? >> I just got to You're not here. So, I got to go make sure that they're going to be okay. >> And I want y'all to take my kid. >> What are their names? >> Do you have family members we can turn them over to? >> Yay. >> Okay. >> He's probably on the way. He's from Dublin. >> Who's he? >> No, I go in. >> His daddy. >> His daddy. >> I just don't think this is fair cuz y'all ain't looking at my side of the story. We >> any kind of street. >> All anybody ever cared about was her. Even my mom and daddy. >> Okay, Bobby. I >> goes to that school and then goes to Midway Hills. I mean primary. >> Photograph her as well. >> Okay, give me one second. Let me write this down just to make sure I get it correct. What's her birthday? And she goes to what school? >> Midway Hills Primary. >> Midway Hills Primary. What do Since you said you know everybody's social, what's Emma social? I just know my husband. >> Okay, I got you. >> Okay, sweetie. And >> have two two kids. All right. And what school is she at? >> That one right there. That was me. >> Oh, the one that's right here. Okay. >> After Stacy was taken to the hospital, the officers who remained at the scene couldn't shake what they had just witnessed. And when a supervisor arrived to debrief them, the details they shared painted a picture of suffering so severe it bordered on torture. >> Well, I know smell. I got >> I threw up. I'm not going to lie. Smell soon as I open up the door. >> I I was I was >> No, I threw up. >> I was breathing through my mouth. >> Yeah, I tasted that. I threw up my lunch that I was just eating in the front yard. So from what she told me her dad passed away about a year ago and the sisters stay in their possession. That's the way she put for them to take care of. The parents used to live at this house. The parents died 9 months apart from each other. And uh so they stayed in the house. I asked if the sister is on been diagnosed with anything and she said no she just suffers from uh seizures. I said is she on any medication? but she has refused to take it for about a year. So, she went and got the medication. The medication is in the front seat of my car. It's expired. I believe Melissa made the comment that it's almost full. That's all I know about the girl that got taken to the hospital. Detectives started the interrogation with Bobby and right out of the gate, she painted Stacy as the problem. A woman who couldn't read, write, or bathe herself while carefully leaving out the part where she was the one in charge of making sure Stacy survived. >> Hey, how long have you lived at that house? >> Well, we all used to live on Mount Place Church Road. >> Okay. >> And then we moved over there. It's been I'm trying to remember how long it been. I don't I don't My youngest was like not even one years old yet. So >> Okay. >> And she's eight now. >> So she's eight. So 7 years ago was about the time that you all moved over there >> with my mom and daddy. >> With your mom and dad. Okay. >> Dad was alive. >> Okay. So your mom and dad are deceased now. >> Yeah. See, I ain't I ain't never lived with nobody else except my mom and daddy. >> Okay. >> So I was still living with them. >> How old are you today? >> Have to take care of them. I'm 31. Well, just had a birthday. 32. >> Yeah. 32. >> Okay. >> And I was helping I always help take care of my mom and daddy. I tried to help take care of my sister, but >> Okay. >> Everybody just don't understand that she ain't right. >> Okay. When you say she's not right, what do you mean? >> She she she don't know how to read. She don't know how to write. She don't know. >> And this is Stacy. >> Yes. She don't know how to give herself a bath. >> Okay. [clears throat] >> She can feed herself. >> Okay. Cuz cuz I feed her every day. She could feed herself. >> Okay. [clears throat] Is she able to communicate? She's able to talk to you. Okay. >> She could talk, but but some of her stuff she had imaginary people that she talked to and all. >> When her mama and daddy died, >> right? >> We was already living [clears throat] there. >> Okay. >> So when her mama died, me and my wife had plans to move out before her mama died. Then her mama died, then we could move out. Cuz we staying there with a daddy. Then her dad died. Then what was stuck with her? Stuck with the funeral. Everybody at the funeral said, "Oh, y'all gonna take care of?" >> Bobby admitted she had thought about calling for help before, but claimed she was too afraid of losing her own kids. Yet buried in that excuse was the truth that she had taken control of Stacy's disability check and had no intention of letting that monthly income walk out the door. >> Did you think about calling like uh adult protective services or defects? >> Yes, but like I said, I didn't want our kids to get took away just for that. I gotcha. So, you didn't call the state agency because you were afraid that that they may come in? >> I did try to call, you know, before it got too bad or whatever. Okay. >> I tried to call the um like the nursing home to put it in the place, you know, >> but they said that I would have to um be her legal guardian or something. >> Okay. >> And [snorts] >> so there were there was never any paperwork drawn up. There was no, you didn't go to probate court and become be assigned her guardian or nothing like that. >> The only thing I had over was her check, but I would it was have to pay the rent. >> Okay. >> And buy food. >> So, how were you put over her financial responsibility? How were you put in charge of that? Well, they I called to see if I could get that done because I figured, you know, since I'm trying to take care of her. I mean, they could buy her food and stuff that she needed. >> Okay. So, you so you can admit that that that she's probably not been properly taken care of under under your care. Is that fair to say? >> Well, it makes me sound bad. I I ain't agree with nothing like that. >> Do what now? I try I found her. >> Okay. >> Like I said, if she I tell her to come and get a bath, she won't go get one. What am I supposed to do? I ain't going to sit there and beat nobody. >> When asked about how Stacy ate or used the bathroom while locked in that room, Bobby's answers kept shifting. >> But if she's locked in that room with the coat hanger, with the wire hanger through the lock, how does she get to the refrigerator to eat? >> I take her food to her. >> You take it to her. Okay. >> Yeah, she eats and drinks stuff all night. >> Okay. So, the other door that's got the cord tied to it, tell me >> where the bathroom is. >> Okay. So, where does she use the bathroom? >> She won't go to the bathroom anyway cuz I tried to take her. She won't go. She's not a person that's going to walk to the bathroom by herself. >> Okay. >> She wasn't my mom and daddy. She's never been since she was born. >> Okay. >> So, where does she use the bathroom at? >> Heck, I don't know. >> Just wherever she uses it. I guess, like I said, I didn't go in there that much because she did try to jump on me one time in front of my kid. >> Okay. >> So, that's why I know I should do something sooner than now, but I can't take back what's been done. >> So, you're home all day long? >> Yeah. >> So, if she needs something, she can call out to you or >> And I give her something to drink and eat, >> right? How many times a day do you give her something to eat and drink? >> Maybe twice. >> Maybe twice. When's the last time you actually laid eyes on your sister? >> I've seen her the other day. I see her from time to time. >> Okay. [clears throat] >> But she don't ever try to talk to me. >> So, do you see her like every couple days or do you see her every day or do you see her once a week? >> Probably every couple days. >> Every couple days >> I see her. But she's always want to stay in that room, >> right? >> And she won't come out unless I put her food in there. >> So, if you see her every couple days, how do you put her food in there? >> We got a heater right here in the living room. >> Okay. And I set the food and the drink on it and she'll sneak out that bedroom and get it. >> So you go into one room and set her food down on that the living room. >> Yes. And she'll come out and get it. She >> And then she'll come out of her bedroom >> and then sometimes right here lately it's been kind of scary. But that's why I had was seriously getting ready to call somebody cuz >> she would go banging on them doors and start cussing at me. What was she saying when she was cussing it yet? >> She's telling me to get out of the house. >> The detective showed Bobby the photographs, the state of Stacy's body, the visible signs of prolonged neglect, evidence that was impossible to look away from and impossible to explain. >> When's the last time you actually laid eyes on her to be able to make a light >> somewhat of an assessment that says, "Hey, this room stinks or >> Mhm. >> He's been messed up at work cuz I've been stressed out at work." >> Mhm. stressed out at home, worried about stuff and everything. >> Worried about my daddy, >> worried about money, just worried about everything. >> Look, [music] I get it. Yeah. >> And I don't go answer sometime. >> It's on her chest. I don't know what it is. It's I don't know if it's truly I don't know if it's if it's food. >> Now, here's her hands. Okay. Here's her fingernails. Mhm. >> And all this, you know, it's on her abdomen. You notice anything else about this picture? >> What's this right here? >> That right there. >> Yeah. >> Why is she so skinny? I feed her every day. >> It's my point. Why is she so skinny? If you're feeding her every day. >> I am feeding her every day. >> That's her pelvic girdle. I don't know why she's that skinny. >> There's bruising. >> It hurts my feelings cuz I feed her every day. >> Down here there's a big there's uh brown mass or something. I don't know if it's uh I don't know if it's I don't know if I can just tell you that it's not normal. Whatever it is, these [clears throat] are fingernails. You know, [music] >> that's why I cut in before, too. >> Yeah. >> She's crazy. >> So, she's using the bathroom somewhere. Y'all didn't smell anything? >> Well, I smell a little bit, >> you know. Now, here's the other side of her knee all bruised up. So, her body's breaking down. She's whatever. I mean, somebody wasn't going in that room and checking on her to make sure that >> I was >> that she was You can't tell me. You can't convince me that you were in this room, going in her room and looking in on her. >> Detectives described Stacy's condition as someone who had been left to disappear. And as they walked Bobby through the images of matted hair and skin peeling from her feet, it became impossible to believe that anyone who claimed to love her could have let things reach this point. >> These are all sores on her right hip area. If I had to describe that picture of her laying on her back in that on that hospital treatment bed, to me, she looks like a breathing corpse. I've seen people who have died that are in better physical condition than she is. I'm trying to understand how and why she got in that condition if you all were her caregivers. I didn't sign a favor for caregiver. >> I just said I was trying to help take care of her. I didn't mean for her to look like that. >> Understand? >> I can't sit there and wait on her hand and foot like mom and daddy. >> This is her hair all matted. We had to I say we the nursing staff cut all this out. Um, these are these are legs. One of the things that stands out to me is how big the kneecaps are and how skinny the upper the lower part of the thigh is. I mean, it just, you know, she's got some abrasions on her feet, skin's peeling on her feet. >> Bobby finally broke down and admitted she should have made the call for help. But even in that moment of supposed remorse, she couldn't stop talking about how hard her own life had been and how much she had lost. As if Stacy's suffering was just another burden she had been forced to carry. >> How do we fix this? >> Because I love her. I really do love my sister. It ain't nothing like that against her because daddy loved her more than [clears throat] >> Well, I'll I'll throw this out there to you. >> Well, mama daddy's gone now. >> If if if you love her as you say you do, that's a strange way to show you love her. You know what I mean? Can you agree with that? >> Yes, sir. I said, you know, >> so her money was being used for her care, her food, >> rent, >> obviously for part of the rent, part [clears throat] of the lights and >> stuff like that. >> Yeah. Her medicines. So my point being to you is we all have different challenges, but that's unacceptable. this care and treatment when you all decided that it wasn't you weren't able to take care of her, you needed to make that call then. So then the question is why didn't you? >> Like I said, I was scared and I didn't want my own kids to get took away because the way stuff looked in the house. I've been told this. >> In the end, Bobby and Jerry Barber were indicted on multiple counts, including exploiting a disabled adult, false imprisonment, and failing to provide basic care. Stacy was finally receiving the medical attention she had been denied for so long, while the couple's children were placed with