How many times you think you stabbed me? Call a lot. A lot. >> This is 27year-old Steven Kosins, a man who just one day ago went from being a quiet individual to a cold killer. He allegedly stabbed a woman multiple times, wrapped her body in a sheet, hid it, and fled the scene, leaving no clues behind. Is >> that a camera? >> Yeah, it's disconnected. And there's a camera down there. It's disconnected. >> Remember what you do at night? Let's explore this interesting case. How detectives tracked down the suspect with no evidence at the crime scene and secured his confession despite his strong statements. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me that she got out of the bed, went to retrieve your knife, and came back and tried to attack you. >> What hand are you? You right. Okay, you're right-handed. >> Why' you wrap her in a shoe? It all began on the 28th of August, 2022, when the Manatee County Sheriff's Office received a chilling call. A housekeeping staff member at America's Best Value Inn, Bradenton, had made a disturbing discovery. Someone was found dead and concealed in one of the rooms. Multiple officers rushed to the scene to investigate what had happened. Oh yeah, buddy. >> You think >> under the bed? >> Oh, sweet Jesus. >> All right, might as well get out of there. All >> right, guys. Watch your step. Don't touch anything. Somebody trying to clean up this bleach in there. >> 104. >> The victim was identified as 26-year-old Jennifer was found unresponsive. Concealed beneath a mattress wrapped in a sheet as if she were never meant to be discovered. The circumstances surrounding her condition strongly led officers to suspect that something intentional had occurred. >> All that stuff. Somebody tried to do some serious fighting. >> Yeah. I mean, nobody wrapped someone up like that underneath the bed and they just died naturally. >> No, this [ __ ] treats the hell out of Got the bars over it and everything, too. >> Yeah, they slid her under and then >> Well, maybe not. >> From that moment on, officers knew they were dealing with something far from natural. Clearly, someone had done this to her. The next step for the officers was clear. Piecing together exactly what had happened in the room, who was involved, and what the motive was. These questions were still unanswered. Determined to uncover the truth, officers began collecting every piece of evidence they could find. >> No one else was in there, right? >> Uh, we didn't look under the other bed. >> All right. >> You want to take a look? >> No. No. I'll go in. I'll wait till I get some people. >> Well, we don't have gone either. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I don't blame you on that. >> I can borrow yours and look under that bed, but other than that, I'm good. >> Back to the bathroom. There was only nobody. >> Okay. >> I'm going to try to preserve it as best as I can. I just want to check over here. >> I just want to make sure there isn't another >> N. It's clear. Okay, we're clear. >> You know what I would suggest we do just in case there's some evidence in the trash can? Just go ahead and just off this whole area. >> Their search yielded almost nothing. No usable evidence, no clear leads. All they found was a pair of stained sandals and camouflage pants tossed in a trash bin. To make matters worse, the motel security cameras had been out of order. It was as if the killer had disappeared without a trace. Is that >> a camera? >> Yeah, it's disconnected. And there's a camera down there. It's disconnected. Wow. >> Just as officers were unsure of where to turn next, officers received help when two witnesses arrived at the scene. They didn't know much, but their vague description of a man who had been around the scene was the first spark in a dark case. >> Did you hear anything last night or last couple days over here? >> Oh, when they're drugged out of their head, you can tell they're doing no big drugs cuz they're like fall down the steps. >> I really don't have anything to say that your camera's going. Mhm. >> Can you give us a description of the other person she was with? >> Oh, I didn't even know. You have a she is the problem. >> Well, you said there was two people, right? I'm assuming >> they stayed in the room. >> Yeah, >> there was a whole lot of people. >> A whole lot of people, though. It's been pretty much in and out. >> She's cranky description. You got a druggy party girl that did too much trashy stuff and somebody did something for them. >> And she's always up here making a fool of herself. That's all I know. >> Did you pushing with anybody? >> Always sits outside of her door. >> Okay. So, >> did did you guys see her with anybody else yesterday or >> I didn't see her with anybody? >> Nobody. >> And you hear just with that one young boy. >> One young boy. Do you know his name? You know what he looks like? >> I don't know. >> Blonde hair, black hair, >> brown. >> Brown. white male. >> I want to show love other people, but I just like I don't want it to be my problem. So, I don't care. >> Um, >> all I know is it's some young dude. >> Is it a white male, black male, Hispanic, white guy? >> But then you see white guys, you see black guys, you see >> undeniably there's guys coming all the time. >> Undeniably, there's guys like on a consistent basis. Do you remember how tall he is? Roughly >> 5'8 5'9. Probably >> 5'8. 5'9. >> 5'8. >> That's like 6 foot. That's not >> How much do you think you weigh? >> 180. >> 180. Any scars or marks or tattoos? >> Not to my knowledge, but I think he has like a little beard strap. >> Using this information, officers quickly checked the victim's close contacts to find someone matching the descriptions provided by witness. Police identified her boyfriend, 27-year-old Steven Kosins, as a possible suspect. His information was widely circulated to locate him. And finally, he was tracked down in the woods and brought in for questioning. We're going to be honest with you. All we ask in return is be honest with us. Okay? When you start lying to us, the interview is done. Okay? We'll read your rights. We're going to protect your rights. We're going to do all the things that we need to do, okay? To protect you. And we're not going to we're not going to play games with you, okay? Just don't. We've been doing this job a minute, okay? Just like this. I figure they find you out there in the woods, okay? You probably haven't eaten. First thing I told him, I'll stop and grab him some food on the way in. Okay. Because we we just want to have an honest conversation with you and get to the bottom of what's going on. All right. So, you good? Yeah. All right. You know, you know why you're here. We know why you're here. And we really want to we want to understand and the only way that we're going to understand is is through you. Okay? Some things happen, some bad things. Okay? You look like you're going through it. Okay? And you know, just instead of us just hitting you with question after question after question, what do you what is it you think you're here for? >> Okay. Who who is the person that you murdered? Okay. All right. So, we got the hard part out of the way. Okay. We want to hear your version of what happened. And look at me, Stephen. Okay. There's no right or wrong version. There's only the truth. Okay? You can tell us a lot of things in here. You can confess to killing 50 people in here. But if the evidence that we have doesn't align with what you're telling us, then we know there's something wrong. Either we have to reassess what we've done or you're you're being dishonest. Fair enough. Okay. So, let's we're not going to interrupt you. Okay. Just just tell us what happened. >> Me and her were arguing because she says that I was cheating on her with invisible women. >> Okay. Um Okay. I'm sorry. And she tried to stab me. >> Okay. Let me see what you got there. >> No, don't take them off. Is that That's what that is. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Okay. We'll look at them later. That's fine. >> And where did this happen at? >> Okay. Is that the American >> America's Best Value? >> Best Best Value. And then that's over there by McDonald's and Starbucks and all that. >> Yeah. >> Buffalo House. Okay. So, obviously you and Jennifer, you're at the hotel, right? You're in the room. And what are you doing when this starts? >> She was getting home, right? >> Okay. Okay. Okay. And you were doing what? >> Laying in bed. >> You were laying in bed. Okay. And is she she in the same bed with you? Okay. And there are two beds in the room. Okay. One closest to the door or the one closest to the bathroom? >> Closest to the bathroom. >> Okay. So, you're laying in bed. She's laying in bed. And she starts in with this invisible people. You're having an affair. Okay. And then what happens? >> She tries to attack me cuz she's tired of me being a scumbag. >> Okay. >> And I defended myself. >> Okay. And describe that. What What happened? >> Well, I pushed her off. Okay. Then I got the knife and stab. >> Why did you think she was dead? >> Like so much blood, >> right? Was she Was she talking at any point afterwards? No. Not moving, making any sounds? Nothing. Gurgling. Gurgling. Right. Okay. And I would I appreciate your honesty. I would expect you to say that. >> He claimed it was self-defense, alleging she attacked him first. But detectives needed proof to confirm if this was true or just a madeup story. His words were calm and calculated, as if he'd practiced them in advance. Since he wasn't giving conflicting statements, detectives kept digging to uncover the real truth. When did this happen? This was >> um like early like um evening. >> Okay, so this is Sunday. So early evening yesterday, Saturday. If you had to get sun still up or down, do you remember? Still light outside. Okay. So before say 8:30 p.m. Okay. Do you do you roughly know what time? Sevenish. Okay. >> How many times you think you stabbed her? >> You recall. >> A lot. Okay. Okay. Do you remember where you stabbed her? I know you said a lot. In the neck. >> In the neck. Okay. Okay. So, what's going on in this in this moment? Okay. So, you you've disarmed her. She's tried to stab you. You've disarmed her. She is Uh, you you now have the knife. Okay. And are we on the bed still? You're on the floor. Where at? Between >> In between the beds. >> In between the beds. Okay. And you're on top of her at this point. >> Yeah. >> Okay. What kind of knife? >> Like a fixed blade or one that you flip open? >> Flip open. Do you can you describe it? So it's not a Is that the That's the whole knife or is that the blade? >> The whole knife. >> What color? >> Black. >> Black. All right. So you stab her. You don't know how many times you stabbed her. Okay. But he's just a lot. Okay. So how And I know this is kind of a weird question. I understand that you're probably in a little bit of shock at this point. How long did this confrontation go on? >> Five minutes. >> Five minutes. Okay. And is that from the time that she tried to attack you or is that from the time she started accusing you? >> Attacking. >> Attacking you. Okay. Okay. Then what happened? >> I was scared. >> I I think that's fair. I I I think that's fair. Look, >> I took a shower cover. >> Okay. Did you call anybody? >> No. Was anybody else there? Okay. What happened after you took a shower? >> Where'd you go? >> Okay. >> It's a lot to process. Okay. And then what happened? >> I went back. >> So now now you got to deal with it, right? And this is probably stressing you out while you're out walking. Okay. All right. So, you you went back to the room. Were you still alone? Okay. And then what'd you do? I >> tried to cover it up. >> Okay. Describe to me. So, he tried to cover it up. What does that mean? Clean up. >> Tried to Okay. All right. And what what did you do? >> He used the towels to wipe the floors and everything. took the bed sheets and wrapped her. >> Okay. >> And then I stuffed her under the bed. >> Okay. And you did that >> one closest to the door, >> right? And you did that by yourself? Okay. >> So, what how long were you all walking? What time you think you got back to the room? >> Um 7:30. >> Okay. So, you weren't gone long. >> Okay. So, you cleaned up. >> I was scared someone was going to come to the room or something. >> Right. Okay. How long do you think it took you to get everything done or under the bed? Clean up? >> 2 hours. >> Okay. Okay. All right. So, you you went to sleep. So, it took you a couple hours to clean up and then you went to sleep. And what time did you wake up? >> 7:00. >> This morning. Okay. And can you take us through today? just I started packing up and it was like 10:30 I left. >> Okay. And where'd you go? You just kind of hanging out in the area. You go to Walmart. >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Right. You know, funny story. So, we're out there and the whole time I know you're nearby, right? I'm like, it's bugging me. I'm like, this happened. Were you at Chevron? >> No, I was in a pickup truck. >> So, you talking about Chevron station? >> Yeah, about right in front of Walmart. >> Were you there? >> No. >> Okay. >> But because I knew you were in Walmart at 3 something and then I think you were at Chevron around 4:00 and I'm like, >> he's around. >> Yeah. I'm like, he's around here somewhere. You know, I couldn't figure out I just couldn't find any place you had to go, right? you didn't really have any transportation. And I figured he had little to no money. And so that's when I I had everybody regroup and I said, "We got to find the guy. He's around here somewhere." The fact that you didn't run run told me I felt very confident that you were going to own it and you were going to talk to us and cuz you know, even if I thought you were going to be, we'd have still brought you food. Don't get me wrong. I mean, we deal with a lot of terrible people, and I'm not saying you're one because I I think the gravity of this is weighing on you pretty heavy. >> Everything seemed in order with evidences, and the detectives found no flaws in his statement. He might have been recounting the events according to the actual timeline, as there were no contradictions, even when the timeline was repeatedly questioned. Therefore, the detectives changed their strategy. They shifted their focus to the items involved in the incident, hoping to uncover a potential lead. >> And what is she wearing? >> Uh, she had a white shirt on. >> Okay. >> Shorts. >> White shirt and shorts. Okay. And what are you wearing? >> Um, camo gym shorts. And I don't think I had a shirt on. >> Okay. >> What are gym shorts? Are they like the spandex? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. Because the room looks vacant, right? So, did you have clothing in there and Jennifer had clothing in there? >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, obviously you took your stuff with you. And where's your clothing? >> In the woods. >> Okay. >> So, the stuff Let me ask you. So, the stuff that you had on, is it in the woods? >> No, I threw that away. >> You threw it where did you throw it at? >> In the dumpster. >> That's in the dumpster, right? At the hotel. Okay. So, all right. So, the dumpster at the hotel, that's the camouflage pans. >> And so, when you walk when you walk out of the room and down the stairs, like looking towards Waffa House, is that the dumpster? >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. And was it in a bag or was it just loose? >> Bag. >> In a bag. What color? You know, >> clear trash bag. >> Clear trash bag. Okay. Okay. And once you went out, you you got rid of the clothes and the towels that you used to clean up. And what did you do with her stuff? >> Um, most of it I just packed away in a bag. >> Okay. >> Like I put it with my stuff. >> With your stuff. Okay. Did she have shoes? >> Yeah. >> In the room. What' you do with the shoes? >> Packed them with my stuff. >> Packed them up. Okay. So, we found some shoes in a garbage can right outside the door >> that have blood on them. Is that Some of that went in there, but your clothing didn't. >> Okay. All right. That So, that's her stuff. >> Yeah, those are her shoes. Sandals and stuff. >> So, yes, the brown sandals. Yeah. Okay. >> Brown. >> Remember what you do with a knife? >> Threw it in the lake. >> Threw the knife in the lake. Okay. Where's your lake? >> By Sunny's >> behind the hotel. But the one Sunny's the one in the circle. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> And whereabouts in the lake? Do you know >> where were you standing when you tossed it? Do you remember? >> I threw it out back window. >> Oh, no. That lake that close to the >> Yeah. >> Oh, I had no idea. Okay. >> Did you throw a lighter a ring in the garbage at all? >> A lighter ring. >> Okay. So, some stuff we just found. I just ask you because >> we had to go through garbage, right? So, we don't know. I mean, we knew the shoes definitely were going to be, you know what I mean? But >> All right. So, so you can throw the right out. So, I actually, >> you know, now that I think about it, yeah, I think I think you can. It's not a big window, but it's it's big enough to throw something out of >> this much space. And I just like that. >> Did you hear it in the water? I watched it. >> Oh, did you? Okay. >> The situation remained the same. Steven had a response ready for every question, as if he had memorized his story. This made the detectives rethink the details of the incident, something that seemed off. Then, noticing the nature of his injuries, the detectives took a gamble. They hit him with a bold, unexpected question. >> And um there's there's one part of this that doesn't make sense to me. And I'm not saying you're lying. I'm saying that I I need some clarification. Okay. I'm Look, I'm just going to be honest with you because I told you I wouldn't [ __ ] you, okay? So, I I don't want to even beat around the bush about it. I'm not feeling like you got attacked with the knife. I'm feeling like you did get attacked, but I'm not feeling the knife part of it. Okay. I see the injury to your hand, right? But from my experience, okay, it's it's not it's not adding up. Okay. And let me just tell you this. There's you've been I I think probably one of the most honest people we've interviewed in a long time, except the last guy. That guy was unbelievable. But anyway, obviously there was a fight. Okay. There was a disagreement. There was an argument. There was a something. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me that she got out of the bed, went to retrieve your knife, and came back and tried to attack you. And I'm just telling you, I'm not seeing the evidence that that's the way it went down. It feels to me like there was a fight, something did happen, and you snapped. Am I right or wrong? I'm right. Okay. Did she go hand Did she get handsy with you or was she just like a Chihuahua just barking and barking and nipping and you just had enough? And you you got up and grabbed the knife. Okay. because you just you were done. And the injury on your hand your hand slid down the blade, didn't it? Yeah. >> Yeah. See, open your hand for a minute. This these are blade marks yours cuz I seen those two are pretty deep. Which what hand are you? You right. Okay, you're right-handed. >> Stephen, did it ever, Don? Did you ever think to call law enforcement? And this isn't there's no right or wrong answer. >> No. >> No, you couldn't undo it. >> The gamble paid off. His self-defense story collapsed. He eventually admitted that she had not attacked him. Rather, he was the one who injured her. Now, detectives knew who was responsible and what had happened, but they still needed to understand why. >> Let let me ask you a question because we're not trying to we're not trying to paint you as a terrible person. Okay. When you woke up Saturday morning, did you plan on killing Jennifer? Okay. Have you guys fought before? And is Jennifer a physical person? Get go handsy getsy with you. Okay. And what about you with her previously? Have you guys had not that this matters but have you guys had >> confrontation before? >> Okay. Physical >> domestics. >> Domestics. Right. That's >> Yeah. Yeah. So it that's an all in one thing. >> How long you two were you two together? >> Two years. >> Two years. And how long have you been together? Like at the hotel? Not that hotel, but 2 years you've been together together. So no matter where you were, you were together unless somebody went to jail. Okay. All right. Let me ask you, have you ever been that I'm going to call it like in a rage? Is that Have you ever been in that place before where you were that angry? How often? >> A lot. >> A lot. So, what made this time different? Was there more to it? Like to to the fight? No. >> Because I'm I'm looking at some of her past. Like she's so she's she's a working girl, right? Was was there some disagreement over that? No. Oh, you say you've been homeless? For 17. >> So 7 years. And how long you been with her? Two years. >> Two years. Yeah. >> So this whole two years y'all been going from place to place. >> Yeah. So I'm ask this. How did you sustain your habit? Did you just put it away? >> Yeah. I imagine her prostituting isn't an ideal situation. But is that how does that set with you? >> I don't like it. But but you both had a habit and that was the quickest way to defeat it. So it must have been a real like ying and yang kind of thing in your head. I'm guessing you know like you understand this is how things are but you don't have to like how things are. >> Yeah. >> Did that send you over the edge? >> Nope. Okay. >> Okay. So nothing happened in in that regard. This was just she was just she was just on your ass and wouldn't let up >> every day. >> Every day. >> [ __ ] [ __ ] [ __ ] >> Yeah. Like a Chihuahua, you know, like a barking dog nipping at you. You know, I understand. >> Steven and Jennifer had been homeless and together for 2 years. They often argued, but yesterday things took a darker turn. Their usual verbal fights reached a peak when Jennifer accused Steven of cheating. The argument quickly escalated into a serious conflict that ended in a tragic outcome. As a result, he was charged with seconddegree murder and sentenced to 60 years in prison. [Music]