1 00:00:17,817 --> 00:00:19,786 >> SHE HAS A WAY OF MAKING YOU 2 00:00:19,786 --> 00:00:21,955 FEEL REALLY IMPORTANT. WHEN SHE'S THE GIRL THAT YOU 3 00:00:21,955 --> 00:00:27,027 FALL IN LOVE WITH, SHE'S AN AMAZING PERSON 4 00:00:27,027 --> 00:00:30,296 >> Reporter: YOU COULD WALK RIGHT INTO THAT LITTLE SPIDERS 5 00:00:30,296 --> 00:00:32,399 WEB. >> YES 6 00:00:32,399 --> 00:00:34,567 I THINK I REALLY TRULY DID DODGE A BULLET 7 00:00:34,567 --> 00:00:36,736 >> MY MOM SAID THAT HE HAD HAD A STROKE 8 00:00:36,736 --> 00:00:38,438 >> SHE HAD POSTED THAT HE HAD COLLAPSED AND HE WAS IN A COMA 9 00:00:38,438 --> 00:00:40,540 >> SOMEBODY CALLED THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE 10 00:00:40,540 --> 00:00:43,243 >> Reporter: IT APPEARED THAT HE MAY HAVE BEEN POISONED 11 00:00:43,243 --> 00:00:45,445 >> YES THIS WAS HER FIFTH MARRIAGE. 12 00:00:45,445 --> 00:00:48,648 >> Reporter: SHE'D BEEN MARRIED FIVE TIMES 13 00:00:48,648 --> 00:00:52,452 >> FIVE TIMES. >> I STARTED GOOGLING AND IT WAS 14 00:00:52,452 --> 00:00:54,621 JUST SNOWBALL AFTER SNOWBALL >> SHE HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A 15 00:00:54,621 --> 00:00:56,790 SHOOTING I BELIEVE HE WAS A FIANCE. 16 00:00:56,790 --> 00:00:59,459 >> I'M GETTING A PHONE CALL SAYING, "YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE." 17 00:00:59,459 --> 00:01:02,195 >> I STARTED FEARING FOR MY LIFE 18 00:01:02,195 --> 00:01:06,533 >> DID SHE ACTUALLY DO THESE HORRIBLE THINGS? 19 00:01:06,533 --> 00:01:08,668 >> THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THOUSAND-PIECE PUZZLES 20 00:01:08,668 --> 00:01:10,870 >> IT'S TWO VERY DIFFERENT PEOPLE 21 00:01:10,870 --> 00:01:13,606 I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE IS THE REAL ONE 22 00:01:13,606 --> 00:01:17,410 >> FIVE HUSBANDS, TWO DEAD BODIES 23 00:01:17,410 --> 00:01:29,356 IS THIS WIDOW A KILLER I'M LESTER HOLT, AND THIS IS 24 00:01:29,356 --> 00:01:39,632 "DATELINE. HERE'S KEITH MORRISON WITH 25 00:01:39,632 --> 00:01:43,970 "ALONG CAME SARAH. >> Reporter: WHO WERE THEY 26 00:01:43,970 --> 00:01:47,273 SEEING WHEN THEY SAW HER ANGEL? 27 00:01:47,273 --> 00:01:51,111 PROTECTOR? BEST FRIEND? 28 00:01:51,111 --> 00:02:09,062 WHAT WAS TRUE? OR WAS THERE A TRUTH AT ALL 29 00:02:09,062 --> 00:02:15,068 BEHIND THE SMILE THAT MIGHT ALSO BE DEADLY? 30 00:02:15,068 --> 00:02:22,575 THIS IS A STORY ABOUT CHARM AND CHARISMA AND WHAT LIVED IN THE 31 00:02:22,575 --> 00:02:26,379 DARK PLACE BEHIND. THE DISTRAUGHT WOMAN IN THE RED 32 00:02:26,379 --> 00:02:31,284 SWEATSHIRT IS SARAH JEAN HARTSFIELD. 33 00:02:31,284 --> 00:02:35,622 THE MAN ON THE GURNEY, HER HUSBAND JOE, A DIABETIC. 34 00:02:35,622 --> 00:02:41,094 WHEN JOE WAS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL IN BAYTOWN, TEXAS, 35 00:02:41,094 --> 00:02:45,665 UNCONSCIOUS, HIS BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS WERE DANGEROUSLY LOW. 36 00:02:45,665 --> 00:02:50,837 SO THE MEDICAL STAFF WENT TO WORK, PUT JOE ON A GLUCOSE DRIP, 37 00:02:50,837 --> 00:02:54,107 AND WAITED FOR HIM TO BOUNCE BACK 38 00:02:54,107 --> 00:02:55,975 BUT HE DIDN'T. HIS BROTHER TONY AND MOTHER 39 00:02:55,975 --> 00:02:57,911 HELEN GOT THE NEWS IN A PHONE CALL 40 00:02:57,911 --> 00:03:01,581 >> AIN'T NOTHIN' YOU WANT TO HEAR 41 00:03:01,581 --> 00:03:04,617 "HURRY UP AND GET DOWN THERE AS QUICK AS YOU CAN." 42 00:03:04,617 --> 00:03:06,586 'CAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENIN'. 43 00:03:06,586 --> 00:03:08,755 >> Reporter: WHAT WAS THE SITUATION WHEN YOU ARRIVED 44 00:03:08,755 --> 00:03:12,058 >> HE WAS UNRESPONSIVE IN ICU. >> Reporter: THE MEDICAL STAFF 45 00:03:12,058 --> 00:03:16,396 WAS BAFFLED. FOR HOURS THEY WORKED ON HIM 46 00:03:16,396 --> 00:03:22,369 NOTHING HELPED ALL THE WHILE A WORRIED 47 00:03:22,369 --> 00:03:26,106 SARAH JEAN POSTED MEDICAL UPDATES ON FACEBOOK. 48 00:03:26,106 --> 00:03:28,341 >> SHE HAD POSTED THAT HE HAD COLLAPSED AND HE WAS IN A COMA 49 00:03:28,341 --> 00:03:32,679 SO I MESSAGED LIKE, "ARE YOU -- LIKE, HOW'S IT GOING 50 00:03:32,679 --> 00:03:38,084 WHAT ARE THE DOCTORS SAYING? >> Reporter: SARAH'S FRIEND 51 00:03:38,084 --> 00:03:42,422 EVANGELINE KELSALL WASN'T JUST BEING NOSEY. 52 00:03:42,422 --> 00:03:47,093 SHE'S A NURSE WHO HAD RECENTLY BEEN INSTRUCTING SARAH AS TO HOW 53 00:03:47,093 --> 00:03:49,496 BETTER MANAGE JOE'S DIABETES WITH A DIGITAL GLUCOSE MONITOR 54 00:03:49,496 --> 00:03:53,299 >> THAT ATTACHED TO HIM THAT WOULD ALARM ON HIS PHONE 55 00:03:53,299 --> 00:03:56,002 AND TO MAKE SURE YOUR ALARMS ARE LOUD ENOUGH THAT IT'LL WAKE YOU 56 00:03:56,002 --> 00:03:59,406 UP, SO THAT IF HE GOES TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW, YOU CAN CATCH IT 57 00:03:59,406 --> 00:04:07,747 QUICKLY. >> Reporter: SOMEHOW, SARAH 58 00:04:07,747 --> 00:04:09,115 SAID, SHE AND JOE SLEPT THROUGH THE ALARMS DURING THE NIGHT. 59 00:04:09,115 --> 00:04:15,588 JOE WENT INTO A DIABETIC COMA. >> THAT HIS SUGAR HAD DROPPED 60 00:04:15,588 --> 00:04:18,291 WAY TOO LOW. >> Reporter: AND THEN, A FEW 61 00:04:18,291 --> 00:04:21,061 DAYS LATER, SARAH POSTED A CHANGE IN JOE'S DIAGNOSIS. 62 00:04:21,061 --> 00:04:26,433 >> SHE SAID THAT HE'D HAD AN ISCHEMIC STROKE. 63 00:04:26,433 --> 00:04:34,074 >> SHE TOLD ME THAT HE HAD A COMPLETELY CLOGGED ARTERY. 64 00:04:34,074 --> 00:04:40,547 >> Reporter: SARAH'S OLDEST CHILD, ASHLEY. 65 00:04:40,547 --> 00:04:42,749 >> SHE SAID THAT HE HAD HAD A STROKE AND THAT HE MIGHT NOT BE 66 00:04:42,749 --> 00:04:46,553 ABLE TO COME BACK FROM IT. AND THEN SHE WAS LIKE, "THEY 67 00:04:46,553 --> 00:04:49,255 PRONOUNCED HIM BRAIN DEAD. AND THEN, YEAH, SHE WAS VERY 68 00:04:49,255 --> 00:04:52,525 UPSET ABOUT THAT >> Reporter: THEN, AFTER EIGHT 69 00:04:52,525 --> 00:04:54,694 DAYS IN ICU, SARAH FINALLY MADE THE DECISION TO DISCONNECT JOE'S 70 00:04:54,694 --> 00:04:57,430 VENTILATOR AND LET HIM DIE PEACEFULLY 71 00:04:57,430 --> 00:05:01,201 SHE ARRANGED THE DONATION OF HIS ORGANS AND LATER HAD HIM 72 00:05:01,201 --> 00:05:07,173 CREMATED BUT FROM THE NIGHT 73 00:05:07,173 --> 00:05:12,078 JOE HARTSFIELD WAS WHEELED INTO THE E.R., THE DOCTORS AND NURSES 74 00:05:12,078 --> 00:05:15,882 HAD BEEN UNEASY. WHY HADN'T HIS BODY RESPONDED TO 75 00:05:15,882 --> 00:05:18,885 STANDARD TREATMENTS? WHY WAS HE GETTING WORSE WHEN HE 76 00:05:18,885 --> 00:05:23,723 SHOULD BE GETTING BETTER AMID QUIET BUT GROWING ALARM, A 77 00:05:23,723 --> 00:05:26,192 NURSE SLIPPED AWAY, MADE A PHONE CALL 78 00:05:26,192 --> 00:05:28,395 >> AN E.R. NURSE CALLED OUR DISPATCH FACILITY. 79 00:05:28,395 --> 00:05:37,070 >> Reporter: THIS IS BRIAN HAWTHORNE, THE SHERIFF OF 80 00:05:37,070 --> 00:05:42,509 CHAMBERS COUNTY. >> I THINK EVERYBODY AT THE 81 00:05:42,509 --> 00:05:45,779 HOSPITAL WAS POTENTIALLY SEEING IT AS FOUL PLAY. 82 00:05:45,779 --> 00:05:47,947 >> Reporter: SO THE SHERIFF SENT OVER A NEWLY MINTED DETECTIVE 83 00:05:47,947 --> 00:05:50,684 NAMED SKYLER ROCZ WHO, CONSCIENTIOUS AND BY THE BOOK, 84 00:05:50,684 --> 00:05:52,852 HAD DECLINED OUR REQUEST FOR AN INTERVIEW. 85 00:05:52,852 --> 00:05:55,088 BUT BACK THEN SHE CERTAINLY TALKED TO CHAMBERS COUNTY 86 00:05:55,088 --> 00:05:58,825 DISTRICT ATTORNEY CHERYL LIECK >> THE STORY THAT WAS BEING 87 00:05:58,825 --> 00:06:01,027 GIVEN TO MEDICAL STAFF ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WAS NOT REALLY 88 00:06:01,027 --> 00:06:04,264 LINING UP WITH WHAT THE MEDICAL STAFF SAW. 89 00:06:04,264 --> 00:06:07,033 >> Reporter: WHAT WAS SARAH JEAN'S STORY ABOUT WHAT 90 00:06:07,033 --> 00:06:15,675 HAPPENED >> THAT SHE WOKE UP AND FOUND 91 00:06:15,675 --> 00:06:19,479 HIM THAT WAY AND TRIED TO REVIVE HIM TO NO AVAIL AND EVENTUALLY 92 00:06:19,479 --> 00:06:21,681 CALLED 911 AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS WHEN 93 00:06:21,681 --> 00:06:24,517 THEY BROUGHT HIM IN VIA AMBULANCE, THEY -- 94 00:06:24,517 --> 00:06:29,255 THEY KNEW WHEN THEY TOOK ONE LOOK AT HIM THAT HE WASN'T GOING 95 00:06:29,255 --> 00:06:32,559 TO MAKE IT >> Reporter: IN HER REPORT, 96 00:06:32,559 --> 00:06:36,296 DETECTIVE ROCZ WROTE THAT JOE'S BODY WAS REACTING TO TREATMENT 97 00:06:36,296 --> 00:06:37,964 LIKE THERE WAS TOO MUCH INSULIN IN HIS SYSTEM. 98 00:06:37,964 --> 00:06:40,133 CLASSIC SIGNS OF AN OVERDOSE IT APPEARED TO THE NURSES OR TO 99 00:06:40,133 --> 00:06:43,069 THE ATTENDING PEOPLE AT THE EMERGENCY THAT HE MAYBE BEEN 100 00:06:43,069 --> 00:06:49,342 POISONED >> YES 101 00:06:49,342 --> 00:06:52,579 >> Reporter: NOW WITH JOE DEAD, D.A. LIECK WONDERED IF SHE HAD A 102 00:06:52,579 --> 00:07:04,524 MURDER CASE ON HER HANDS WHEN DID YOU START LOOKING INTO 103 00:07:04,524 --> 00:07:08,862 SARAH JEAN AS A POSSIBLE SUSPECT? 104 00:07:08,862 --> 00:07:11,097 >> IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THEY WERE THE ONLY TWO 105 00:07:11,097 --> 00:07:15,402 LIVING IN THE HOUSE TOGETHER >> Reporter: AND YET, THIS SARAH 106 00:07:15,402 --> 00:07:21,341 JEAN HAD BEEN SO APPARENTLY LOVING, WORRIED, ATTENTIVE 107 00:07:21,341 --> 00:07:26,780 WAS THIS GRIEVING WIDOW REALLY CAPABLE OF KILLING HER HUSBAND 108 00:07:26,780 --> 00:07:28,948 >> SHE DOES NOT HAVE A CRIMINAL HISTORY. 109 00:07:28,948 --> 00:07:31,117 >> Reporter: THERE WAS NO BIG LIFE INSURANCE PAYOFF FOR SARAH. 110 00:07:31,117 --> 00:07:33,319 NO OBVIOUS MOTIVE. WHAT THEN? 111 00:07:33,319 --> 00:07:35,488 CHERYL LIECK TAKES SOME PRIDE IN HER OWN PERSONAL B.S. DETECTOR 112 00:07:35,488 --> 00:07:37,090 AND THIS CHARMING WOMAN, THIS SARAH JEAN HARTSFIELD, D.A. 113 00:07:37,090 --> 00:07:39,292 LIECK WAS SURE THERE WAS SOMETHING DISTURBING ABOUT THAT 114 00:07:39,292 --> 00:07:42,762 WOMAN, SOMETHING SHE WAS HIDING. AND LIECK WAS DETERMINED TO FIND 115 00:07:42,762 --> 00:07:46,332 OUT WHAT IT WAS. >> I MEAN, EVERY DAY IS NEW. 116 00:07:46,332 --> 00:07:49,069 EVERY DAY I'M FINDING OUT SOMETHING NEW, EVERY SINGLE DAY. 117 00:07:49,069 --> 00:07:52,339 THIS WAS HER FIFTH MARRIAGE. >> Reporter: WAIT. 118 00:07:52,339 --> 00:07:54,507 HOW OLD WAS SHE? >> 48, I BELIEVE 119 00:07:54,507 --> 00:07:56,142 >> Reporter: 48 AND SHE'D BEEN MARRIED 5 TIMES? 120 00:07:56,142 --> 00:08:00,013 >> FIVE TIMES. >> Reporter: WOW 121 00:08:00,013 --> 00:08:04,517 >> AND SHE HAD LIVED IN ABOUT 39 DIFFERENT PLACES. 122 00:08:04,517 --> 00:08:07,554 AND SHE'S VERY SMART >> Reporter: THE PROBLEM FOR 123 00:08:07,554 --> 00:08:11,391 LIECK WAS, WHILE SHE SUSPECTED JOE HARTSFIELD WAS MURDERED BY 124 00:08:11,391 --> 00:08:15,161 HIS WIFE SARAH, HOW COULD SHE PROVE IT 125 00:08:15,161 --> 00:08:17,864 HOW COULD SHE PROVE JOE, A DIABETIC WHO DIED FROM 126 00:08:17,864 --> 00:08:20,600 COMPLICATIONS OF HIS OWN DISEASE, WAS EVER MURDERED IN 127 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:23,837 THE FIRST PLACE? GOOD QUESTION. 128 00:08:23,837 --> 00:08:32,545 BUT AS FOR US, WE DECIDED TO CONDUCT OUR OWN INVESTIGATION 129 00:08:32,545 --> 00:08:36,349 INTO SARAH JEAN, AN INVESTIGATION THAT TOOK US ON A 130 00:08:36,349 --> 00:08:38,051 ZIG-ZAG COURSE ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM RURAL MISSOURI. 131 00:08:38,051 --> 00:08:40,153 >> THE DRAPES WERE ON FIRE AND EVERYTHING ELSE. 132 00:08:40,153 --> 00:08:41,788 IT JUST ROARED RIGHT THROUGH THE HOUSE. 133 00:08:41,788 --> 00:08:45,058 >> Reporter: TO FORT HOOD, TEXAS. 134 00:08:45,058 --> 00:08:48,862 >> I REALLY FEARED FOR MY LIFE >> Reporter: WE WENT TO 135 00:08:48,862 --> 00:09:04,044 VIRGINIA, FLORIDA. >> IT TORE ME UP 136 00:09:04,044 --> 00:09:07,547 >> Reporter: AND UP INTO NORTHERN MINNESOTA 137 00:09:07,547 --> 00:09:09,482 >> IT WAS LIKE A SCENE OUT OF A BAD ACTION MOVIE 138 00:09:09,482 --> 00:09:11,217 >> Reporter: WE HEARD SO MANY STRANGE AND CONFLICTING STORIES, 139 00:09:11,217 --> 00:09:14,387 FOR A WHILE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE 140 00:09:14,387 --> 00:09:16,356 >> I FIRMLY BELIEVE SHE COULD KILL SOMEBODY RIGHT IN FRONT OF 141 00:09:16,356 --> 00:09:18,024 A POLICE OFFICER AND MAKE HIM BELIEVE THAT SHE DID NOT DO IT 142 00:09:18,024 --> 00:09:20,894 I THINK SHE HAS THAT ABILITY >> Reporter: WE HEARD ABOUT THIS 143 00:09:20,894 --> 00:09:24,698 SARAH. >> FOUR GREAT KIDS 144 00:09:24,698 --> 00:09:28,501 NICE HOUSE I MEAN, THEY WERE LIVING THE 145 00:09:28,501 --> 00:09:31,871 AMERICAN DREAM >> Reporter: AND THIS SARAH TOO. 146 00:09:31,871 --> 00:09:33,940 >> AND SHE CONTINUED BEATING ME FOR WHAT FELT LIKE HOURS 147 00:09:33,940 --> 00:09:37,744 >> Reporter: WE LEARNED SARAH WAS A MOTHER OF FOUR, A FOSTER 148 00:09:37,744 --> 00:09:39,946 KID WHO BOOTSTRAPPED HER WAY INTO AN ARMY INTELLIGENCE 149 00:09:39,946 --> 00:09:44,818 CAREER, ONCE HAD A TOP SECRET SECURITY CLEARANCE, AND HAD ONCE 150 00:09:44,818 --> 00:09:50,323 SHOT A FIANCE TO DEATH WE WERE TOLD SHE WAS VIOLENT, 151 00:09:50,323 --> 00:09:54,627 CONTROLLING, CHARISMATIC, INTELLIGENT. 152 00:09:54,627 --> 00:09:57,864 >> SHE'S SMART AS A WHIP AND CAN MANIPULATE A SITUATION TO HER 153 00:09:57,864 --> 00:10:00,600 ADVANTAGE IN A HEARTBEAT >> Reporter: WHICH OF THE MANY 154 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:22,655 FACES OF SARAH JEAN WAS REAL FINDING OUT WOULD BE A LONG, 155 00:10:22,655 --> 00:10:25,425 >> Reporter: IT WAS TOLSTOY WHO WROTE THE FAMOUS LINE ABOUT 156 00:10:25,425 --> 00:10:31,431 FAMILIES "ALL HAPPY FAMILIES ARE ALIKE. 157 00:10:31,431 --> 00:10:35,201 BUT AN UNHAPPY FAMILY IS UNHAPPY IN ITS OWN WAY." 158 00:10:35,201 --> 00:10:39,005 IN THE CASE OF YOUNG SARAH JEAN'S BENIGHTED FAMILY, 159 00:10:39,005 --> 00:10:42,275 MAKE THAT MANY WAYS. RELATIVES, NEIGHBORS, AND 160 00:10:42,275 --> 00:10:46,079 FRIENDS HERE IN THE ROLLING FARMLAND OF MISSOURI WHERE WE 161 00:10:46,079 --> 00:10:49,883 STARTED OUR JOURNEY TELL STORIES STILL ABOUT A MULTIGENERATIONAL 162 00:10:49,883 --> 00:10:55,088 DYNASTY OF DYSFUNCTION WITH A LEGACY OF VIOLENCE, SUSPICIOUS 163 00:10:55,088 --> 00:11:00,760 DEATHS, AND ABUSE. >> MY FATHER, THOMAS SMITH, WAS 164 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:05,632 INCARCERATED FOR A WHILE >> Reporter: THIS IS CODY LEE 165 00:11:05,632 --> 00:11:08,134 SMITH, OLDEST OF SARAH'S THREE BROTHERS, DESCRIBING THEIR DAD 166 00:11:08,134 --> 00:11:10,070 >> I JUST LEARNED TO STAY OUT OF HIS WAY. 167 00:11:10,070 --> 00:11:12,706 AND I LEARNED NOT TO SAY ANYTHING UNLESS HE SAID 168 00:11:12,706 --> 00:11:15,408 SOMETHIN' TO ME BECAUSE IF YOU DID, YOU GONNA GET KNOCKED ON 169 00:11:15,408 --> 00:11:18,712 THE FLOOR. >> Reporter: CODY SAID HIS DAD 170 00:11:18,712 --> 00:11:23,583 NEVER STRUCK SARAH, THOUGH NO, HE BELIEVES SHE WAS ABUSED 171 00:11:23,583 --> 00:11:29,089 IN AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT WAY >> HE HAD MOLESTED HER AT A VERY 172 00:11:29,089 --> 00:11:32,826 YOUNG AGE LIKE THAT, AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES. 173 00:11:32,826 --> 00:11:36,629 >> Reporter: SARAH'S MOM, JANIE, KICKED THE DAD OUT OF THE HOUSE 174 00:11:36,629 --> 00:11:40,967 AND FILED FOR DIVORCE AND THEN MARRIED A NEW GUY NAMED RICHARD 175 00:11:40,967 --> 00:11:44,904 WHO JUST HAPPENED TO BE FRESH OUT OF MISSOURI STATE PRISON 176 00:11:44,904 --> 00:11:48,575 AFTER SERVING HIS SENTENCE FOR MURDER 177 00:11:48,575 --> 00:11:51,845 AND A FEW YEARS LATER, SARAH CAME FORWARD WITH NEW 178 00:11:51,845 --> 00:11:55,582 ACCUSATIONS OF ASSAULT SAYING -- >> MY STEPDAD, RICHARD, HAD 179 00:11:55,582 --> 00:11:58,351 TOUCHED MY SISTER, SARAH, IN THE WRONG WAY. 180 00:11:58,351 --> 00:12:01,054 >> Reporter: DIDN'T BELIEVE HER THAT TIME, SAID CODY 181 00:12:01,054 --> 00:12:03,256 >> I SAID, "SO I'M NOT BUYIN' YOUR STORY 182 00:12:03,256 --> 00:12:07,060 BECAUSE I WAS THERE AND, YOU KNOW, HE DIDN'T -- HE DIDN'T DO 183 00:12:07,060 --> 00:12:10,263 ANYTHING TO YOU. >> Reporter: THERE WAS A TRIAL 184 00:12:10,263 --> 00:12:13,066 RICHARD WAS ACQUITTED. AND SARAH, CLAIMING SHE DIDN'T 185 00:12:13,066 --> 00:12:15,769 FEEL SAFE AT HOME, DEMANDED TO BE PLACED IN FOSTER CARE 186 00:12:15,769 --> 00:12:18,471 >> SHE WANTED TO BE AWAY FROM THE FAMILY, HAD NO DESIRE TO 187 00:12:18,471 --> 00:12:22,809 COME BACK, AND DID NOT WANT ANY CARE GIVEN AS FAR AS FROM MY 188 00:12:22,809 --> 00:12:27,180 STEPDAD OR MY MOTHER OR ANYBODY THAT WOULD HAVE HER FACILITATED 189 00:12:27,180 --> 00:12:29,883 BACK INTO THE HOME WITH US >> HER MOTHER BROUGHT INTO CHILD 190 00:12:29,883 --> 00:12:33,620 SERVICES AND BASICALLY DUMPED OFF AND SAID, "I CAN'T HANDLE 191 00:12:33,620 --> 00:12:35,889 HER. >> Reporter: FOSTER PARENTS 192 00:12:35,889 --> 00:12:38,591 BARBARA STUART AND HER HUSBAND STEVE WELCOMED 12-YEAR-OLD SARAH 193 00:12:38,591 --> 00:12:41,327 INTO THEIR HOME. >> WE WERE VERY CLOSE. 194 00:12:41,327 --> 00:12:44,564 SHE FIT INTO THE ENTIRE FAMILY AND EVERYBODY IN OUR FAMILY 195 00:12:44,564 --> 00:12:47,300 ACCEPTED HER >> I FELT LIKE, "MAN, SHE IS ONE 196 00:12:47,300 --> 00:12:51,638 LUCKY GIRL." >> Reporter: SARAH'S FRIEND 197 00:12:51,638 --> 00:12:54,874 CHARISSA FARRIS ENVIED HER >> SHE HIT THE GOLD MINE OF -- 198 00:12:54,874 --> 00:12:59,779 OF GETTING REALLY GOOD PARENTS WHO REALLY ADVOCATED FOR HER 199 00:12:59,779 --> 00:13:03,583 >> Reporter: BUT CHARISSA, THOUGH SHE LIKED SARAH, WAS 200 00:13:03,583 --> 00:13:10,123 NEVER QUITE SURE IF THE THINGS SARAH SAID WERE ACTUALLY TRUE. 201 00:13:10,123 --> 00:13:19,899 >> I KNEW SHE HAD BEEN MOLESTED OR SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY A 202 00:13:19,899 --> 00:13:22,902 STEPDAD OR HER REAL DAD OR BOTH. SOMETIMES THE STORY WOULD 203 00:13:22,902 --> 00:13:25,338 CHANGE I JUST KNOW THAT SHE'S SMART AS 204 00:13:25,338 --> 00:13:31,311 A WHIP AND CAN MANIPULATE A SITUATION TO HER ADVANTAGE IN A 205 00:13:31,311 --> 00:13:35,482 HEARTBEAT. >> Reporter: BARBARA SAW THAT 206 00:13:35,482 --> 00:13:38,952 SIDE OF SARAH A LOT. LIKE THE TIME WHEN SARAH WAS 207 00:13:38,952 --> 00:13:41,654 ANGRY ABOUT A PUNISHMENT AND BARBARA SAID SARAH RESPONDED BY 208 00:13:41,654 --> 00:13:45,458 ACCUSING HER HUSBAND STEVE >> SHE GOES, "WELL, YOU DON'T 209 00:13:45,458 --> 00:13:48,194 KNOW HOW HE TOUCHES ME WHEN YOU'RE NOT HERE. 210 00:13:48,194 --> 00:13:51,431 AND I'M LIKE, "YOU KNOW, YOU'VE DONE THIS BEFORE TO OTHER 211 00:13:51,431 --> 00:13:54,134 FAMILIES AND NOT EVERY FAMILY IN THE 212 00:13:54,134 --> 00:13:57,404 WORLD DOES THAT. AND I KNOW BETTER. 213 00:13:57,404 --> 00:14:01,207 AND SHE GOT MAD, WENT TO HER ROOM, SLAMMED THE DOOR 214 00:14:01,207 --> 00:14:03,376 NEVER SAID IT AGAIN. >> Reporter: STILL, BARBARA AND 215 00:14:03,376 --> 00:14:06,112 STEVE STOOD BY SARAH AND SHE THRIVED UNDER THEIR CARE 216 00:14:06,112 --> 00:14:08,815 IN HIGH SCHOOL SARAH WORKED ON THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER, WAS IN 217 00:14:08,815 --> 00:14:12,318 THE BAND AND WAS VERY POPULAR. >> SHE WAS A VERY PRETTY GIRL. 218 00:14:12,318 --> 00:14:14,254 >> Reporter: BILL MAY AND SARAH WERE GOOD FRIENDS IN HIGH 219 00:14:14,254 --> 00:14:17,057 SCHOOL THEY EVEN DATED FOR A BIT, 220 00:14:17,057 --> 00:14:20,326 THOUGH BILL CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD HE WAS JUST ONE GUY IN A LONG 221 00:14:20,326 --> 00:14:24,597 LINE >> SARAH WAS JUST WILD 222 00:14:24,597 --> 00:14:27,834 YOU KNOW, SHE'D SNEAK OUT OF THE HOUSE AND, YOU KNOW, MESS 223 00:14:27,834 --> 00:14:31,104 AROUND THERE WAS NOT A MALE THAT SHE 224 00:14:31,104 --> 00:14:34,908 DID NOT LIKE SHE JUST WAS A FLIRT 225 00:14:34,908 --> 00:14:37,644 I MEAN, JUST A FLIRT I WOULD SAY. 226 00:14:37,644 --> 00:14:40,880 >> Reporter: BUT WHEN IT CAME TO FLIRTING WITH SHY JOCK 227 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:44,150 TITUS KNOERNSCHILD, SARAH PUT HER WILD CHILD SELF ON THE SHELF 228 00:14:44,150 --> 00:14:47,420 AND NESTLED UP TO HIM LIKE A GIRL NEXT DOOR 229 00:14:47,420 --> 00:14:50,690 >> WE'D GO TO THE MOVIES WE WENT ON A COUPLE OF PICNICS 230 00:14:50,690 --> 00:14:52,826 UH, WE'D DRIVE AROUND. I PLAYED A LOT OF SPORTS IN HIGH 231 00:14:52,826 --> 00:14:55,562 SCHOOL >> Reporter: YEAH. 232 00:14:55,562 --> 00:14:59,399 >> SO SHE SHOWED UP TO THE SPORTS GAMES, AND THEN WE TALKED 233 00:14:59,399 --> 00:15:04,304 AFTER OR WHATEVER. >> Reporter: AND YOU FIND 234 00:15:04,304 --> 00:15:07,040 YOURSELF FALLING IN LOVE WITH HER GRADUALLY? 235 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:09,676 >> YES, SIR. SHE WAS THIS REAL SWEET, NICE 236 00:15:09,676 --> 00:15:12,379 PERSON, CARING, YOU KNOW, EASY TO BE WITH 237 00:15:12,379 --> 00:15:15,415 >> Reporter: FOSTER DAD STEVE WALKED SARAH DOWN THE AISLE WHEN 238 00:15:15,415 --> 00:15:18,351 SHE MARRIED TITUS RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, CLASS OF '93 AND 239 00:15:18,351 --> 00:15:21,588 JUST 18 YEARS OLD. A MONTH AFTER THE WEDDING, AS 240 00:15:21,588 --> 00:15:24,290 THEY HAD PLANNED, TITUS JOINED THE ARMY 241 00:15:24,290 --> 00:15:29,696 AND NO SOONER WAS HE OFF TRAINING THEN SARAH WAS OFF WITH 242 00:15:29,696 --> 00:15:34,067 ANOTHER GUY. >> AND WHEN I CAME BACK, SHE WAS 243 00:15:34,067 --> 00:15:36,770 PREGNANT I ACTUALLY HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE 244 00:15:36,770 --> 00:15:38,938 COME UP TO ME AND TOLD ME THEY WERE HAVING AFFAIRS WITH HER 245 00:15:38,938 --> 00:15:43,276 BUT ONE GENTLEMAN THAT SAID, "YES, I WAS WITH HER DURING THIS 246 00:15:43,276 --> 00:15:47,614 TIMEFRAME AND SHE TOLD ME IT WAS PROBABLY MY BABY." 247 00:15:47,614 --> 00:15:51,418 >> Reporter: THE PREGNANCY ENDED IN A MISCARRIAGE, SAID TITUS 248 00:15:51,418 --> 00:15:55,722 AND IN 1995, AFTER JUST 2 YEARS OF MARRIAGE, THEY GOT A DIVORCE. 249 00:15:55,722 --> 00:15:57,891 GOOD RIDDANCE, THOUGHT TITUS >> I FIGURED I WAS OUT OF IT 250 00:15:57,891 --> 00:16:01,294 I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HER ANYMORE. 251 00:16:01,294 --> 00:16:04,397 WE ARE DIVORCED. GAME OVER. 252 00:16:04,397 --> 00:16:08,201 >> Reporter: BUT THAT'S ONLY TRUE IF YOUR OPPONENT LEAVES THE 253 00:16:08,201 --> 00:16:14,040 FIELD. TITUS'S NEW GIRLFRIEND ANGELA, 254 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:17,410 WHOM HE LATER MARRIED, SAID SARAH STARTED STALKING HER AS 255 00:16:17,410 --> 00:16:20,680 SOON AS SHE AND TITUS STARTED DATING 256 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:23,450 STRANGE THINGS BEGAN TO HAPPEN ANGELA'S CAR WAS VANDALIZED 257 00:16:23,450 --> 00:16:26,119 REPEATEDLY >> ALL FOUR OF MY TIRES WERE 258 00:16:26,119 --> 00:16:29,923 FLAT LAUNDRY DETERGENT IN THE GAS 259 00:16:29,923 --> 00:16:32,625 TANK OF MY CAR SOME CHOICE WORDS IN THE BACK OF 260 00:16:32,625 --> 00:16:35,328 MY CAR WITH EXPLETIVES EVERYWHERE 261 00:16:35,328 --> 00:16:37,731 >> Reporter: AND EVERY TIME SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENED, 262 00:16:37,731 --> 00:16:41,167 THEY SAID THEY'D CALL POLICE AND TELL THEM THEY WERE SURE IT WAS 263 00:16:41,167 --> 00:16:45,638 SARAH. >> A FEW PEOPLE, THEY HAD SEEN 264 00:16:45,638 --> 00:16:48,341 HER OUT THERE DOING IT >> Reporter: WE TALKED TO TWO OF 265 00:16:48,341 --> 00:16:51,077 TITUS AND ANGELA'S FRIENDS FROM THAT TIME WHO SAID THEY SAW THE 266 00:16:51,077 --> 00:16:53,780 VANDALIZED CAR AND ONE OF THEM SAID THEY 267 00:16:53,780 --> 00:16:57,083 WITNESSED SARAH VERBALLY ABUSE ANGELA 268 00:16:57,083 --> 00:17:00,820 BUT IN A TEXT MESSAGE, SARAH TOLD US THAT WAS NONSENSE, THAT 269 00:17:00,820 --> 00:17:03,023 SHE "NEVER VANDALIZED ANYONE'S CAR. 270 00:17:03,023 --> 00:17:08,428 IF ANYTHING, THEY HARASSED ME. SHE ALSO SAID POLICE NEVER 271 00:17:08,428 --> 00:17:12,766 TALKED TO HER ABOUT VANDALIZING THE CAR. 272 00:17:12,766 --> 00:17:17,103 TITUS AND ANGELA, THOUGH, SAID POLICE DID TALK TO HER BUT 273 00:17:17,103 --> 00:17:19,939 SEEMED TO TAKE HER SIDE. >> SHE WOULD ALWAYS GET IT 274 00:17:19,939 --> 00:17:23,910 TURNED BACK WHERE IT WAS OUR FAULT. 275 00:17:23,910 --> 00:17:28,481 >> Reporter: SOMEHOW PERSUADE THE POLICE 276 00:17:28,481 --> 00:17:31,751 >> YES >> YES 277 00:17:31,751 --> 00:17:35,255 >> Reporter: YOU WERE AT FAULT, NOT HER? 278 00:17:35,255 --> 00:17:37,724 >> RIGHT >> YES 279 00:17:37,724 --> 00:17:39,359 >> Reporter: AND THEY'D BUY THAT 280 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:41,061 >> YES >> EVEN TO THE POINT, UH, WE 281 00:17:41,061 --> 00:17:44,264 WERE TOLD IF ANYONE INITIATED CONVERSATION, WE'D BE ARRESTED 282 00:17:44,264 --> 00:17:45,965 FOR HARASSMENT >> Reporter: OH, WHAT DID YOU 283 00:17:45,965 --> 00:17:48,068 THINK WHEN YOU HEARD THAT? >> THERE WAS NOTHING THE POLICE 284 00:17:48,068 --> 00:17:50,603 WILL EVER DO TO HELP US. >> Reporter: THEY SAID THE 285 00:17:50,603 --> 00:17:52,439 HARASSMENT, WHICH WENT ON FOR CLOSE TO A YEAR, ESCALATED OVER 286 00:17:52,439 --> 00:17:54,607 TIME >> I WAS BABYSITTING MY FRIEND'S 287 00:17:54,607 --> 00:17:58,311 SON WHILE SHE WAS WORKING AN OVERNIGHT SHIFT, AND TITUS AND I 288 00:17:58,311 --> 00:18:03,817 WERE ON THE COUCH WITH THEIR CHILD IN THEIR HOME. 289 00:18:03,817 --> 00:18:09,255 AND I SMELLED GASOLINE, AND I THOUGHT, "WHERE'S THAT COMING 290 00:18:09,255 --> 00:18:14,694 FROM?" AND I COULD SMELL IT WAS COMING 291 00:18:14,694 --> 00:18:19,032 FROM, LIKE, THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE. 292 00:18:19,032 --> 00:18:21,768 AND SO I THOUGHT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH ONE OF THE CARS 293 00:18:21,768 --> 00:18:26,639 SO I GOT TITUS AND WE WENT OUT THERE, AND THERE WAS A GAS CAN 294 00:18:26,639 --> 00:18:30,343 THERE WAS GASOLINE SPLASHED ALL OVER THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE, AND 295 00:18:30,343 --> 00:18:31,644 I SEE HER LEAVING THE VICINITY >> Reporter: WOW 296 00:18:31,644 --> 00:18:33,713 >> AND AT THAT POINT, I WAS LIKE, "SHE WAS GONNA SET THAT 297 00:18:33,713 --> 00:18:35,348 HOUSE ON FIRE. >> Reporter: THIS TIME, THEY 298 00:18:35,348 --> 00:18:37,050 THOUGHT, SARAH HAD GONE TOO FAR. SURELY THERE'D BE A RECKONING 299 00:18:37,050 --> 00:18:54,934 FOR SARAH JEAN >> Reporter: FINALLY 300 00:18:54,934 --> 00:18:58,905 THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD HER DEAD TO RIGHTS. 301 00:18:58,905 --> 00:19:02,175 FOR SO LONG, SARAH JEAN HAD MADE TITUS AND ANGELA KNOERSCHILD 302 00:19:02,175 --> 00:19:06,012 MISERABLE BUT NOW, THEY FELT SURE THEY'D CAUGHT HER RED 303 00:19:06,012 --> 00:19:09,783 HANDED POURING GASOLINE ON A HOUSE WITH THEM IN IT. 304 00:19:09,783 --> 00:19:12,519 NO DOUBT IN THEIR MINDS, SARAH WAS INTENDING TO BURN THE PLACE 305 00:19:12,519 --> 00:19:14,688 DOWN SO - 306 00:19:14,688 --> 00:19:16,656 >> WE WENT TO THE POLICE, TOLD THEM THE STORY, AND THEY SAID, 307 00:19:16,656 --> 00:19:22,295 WELL, IT'S EITHER ARSON OR IT'S NOT. 308 00:19:22,295 --> 00:19:24,464 >> APPARENTLY, THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS - 309 00:19:24,464 --> 00:19:26,633 >> ATTEMPTED ARSON >> ATTEMPTED ARSON 310 00:19:26,633 --> 00:19:29,336 >> Reporter: SARAH WAS NEVER ARRESTED, NEVER CHARGED WITH 311 00:19:29,336 --> 00:19:34,774 ANYTHING AND IN A TEXT MESSAGE TO US SAID SHE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE 312 00:19:34,774 --> 00:19:39,112 OF ANYTHING THAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED AT THE HOUSE. 313 00:19:39,112 --> 00:19:42,749 WE ASKED THE POLICE FOR REPORTS OF THESE INCIDENTS, BUT WERE 314 00:19:42,749 --> 00:19:45,618 TOLD RECORDS FROM THAT TIME PERIOD ARE LONG GONE 315 00:19:45,618 --> 00:19:48,321 ANYWAY, BACK THEN, MUCH TO TITUS AND ANGELA'S RELIEF, THEY SAID, 316 00:19:48,321 --> 00:19:50,490 SARAH TOOK HER ANGER ELSEWHERE SHE MOVED ON AND MARRIED ONE OF 317 00:19:50,490 --> 00:19:53,226 TITUS'S FRIENDS BUT HE SOON DUMPED HER AFTER HE CAUGHT HER 318 00:19:53,226 --> 00:19:56,496 CHEATING WITH A FELLOW SOLDIER AND THEN AFTER TWO FAILED 319 00:19:56,496 --> 00:19:59,199 MARRIAGES SARAH DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO SHAKE UP HER LIFE AND AT 320 00:19:59,199 --> 00:20:01,901 THE AGE OF TWENTY-TWO, SHE JOINED THE ARMY AS A TRUCK 321 00:20:01,901 --> 00:20:05,338 DRIVER >> SHE CALLED ME AND SAID, "I 322 00:20:05,338 --> 00:20:11,678 JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW I'VE JOINED THE SERVICE." 323 00:20:11,678 --> 00:20:16,583 I'M LIKE, "WELL, GOOD. THAT'LL BE GOOD FOR YOU. 324 00:20:16,583 --> 00:20:19,886 AND AFTER I GOT OFF THE PHONE, I THOUGHT, HM, YOU'RE GONNA KNOW 325 00:20:19,886 --> 00:20:23,123 WHAT THE RULES ARE NOW >> Reporter: SARAH FOUND HERSELF 326 00:20:23,123 --> 00:20:26,393 STATIONED WAY UP NORTH AT ALASKA'S FORT WAINWRIGHT 327 00:20:26,393 --> 00:20:34,567 WHERE SHE MET A FELLOW SOLDIER NAMED CHRIS DONONUE. 328 00:20:34,567 --> 00:20:38,438 >> HE WAS A COUPLE YEARS YOUNGER THAN HER AND I THINK HE WAS ONE 329 00:20:38,438 --> 00:20:42,142 OF THOSE GUYS THAT WAS JUST VERY INNOCENT AND TRUSTING AND THEN 330 00:20:42,142 --> 00:20:44,678 THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, SHE'S PREGNANT AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A 331 00:20:44,678 --> 00:20:50,850 BABY >> Reporter: WOULD THEY HAVE 332 00:20:50,850 --> 00:20:53,586 MARRIED WERE IT NOT FOR THAT WHO KNOWS, CHRIS ALSO POLITELY 333 00:20:53,586 --> 00:20:58,425 DECLINED THE CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT SARAH ON CAMERA. 334 00:20:58,425 --> 00:21:02,228 BUT THAT'S WHEN ASHLEY WAS BORN AND, EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER, SON 335 00:21:02,228 --> 00:21:06,066 RYAN, FOLLOWED IN DUE COURSE BY TWO MORE DAUGHTERS 336 00:21:06,066 --> 00:21:10,904 HER YEARS WITH CHRIS PERHAPS SARAH'S MOST STABLE. 337 00:21:10,904 --> 00:21:15,809 IN FACT, IN 2005 WHILE CHRIS WAS AWAY AND WITH FOUR YOUNG 338 00:21:15,809 --> 00:21:20,180 CHILDREN TO LOOK AFTER, SARAH TOOK IN HER SICKLY DAD 339 00:21:20,180 --> 00:21:22,349 YES, THE SAME MAN SHE CLAIMED HAD MOLESTED HER 340 00:21:22,349 --> 00:21:26,152 >> Reporter: AND SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE WAS GONNA GO GET HIM 341 00:21:26,152 --> 00:21:29,422 AND BRING HIM HOME I SAID, "THIS IS THE GUY THAT 342 00:21:29,422 --> 00:21:31,591 YOU'VE HATED ALL YOUR LIFE AND YOU TALKED ABOUT SO TERRIBLY, 343 00:21:31,591 --> 00:21:35,929 AND YOU'RE" -- "WELL, SOMEBODY HAS TO." 344 00:21:35,929 --> 00:21:38,665 AND IT DID NOT MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME 345 00:21:38,665 --> 00:21:42,469 ASHLEY'S MEMORY OF HER GRANDFATHER'S BRIEF TIME WITH 346 00:21:42,469 --> 00:21:45,705 THEM IS VERY VIVID. HOW COULD IT BE OTHERWISE? 347 00:21:45,705 --> 00:21:47,874 >> HE WAS AT OUR HOUSE FOR, LIKE, TWO OR THREE DAYS, AND 348 00:21:47,874 --> 00:21:50,610 I -- HE DIED RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME 349 00:21:50,610 --> 00:21:53,346 >> Reporter: HE DIED RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU 350 00:21:53,346 --> 00:21:55,515 >> YEAH. I WAS SITTING RIGHT THERE WHEN 351 00:21:55,515 --> 00:21:57,684 IT HAPPENED, UM -- AND SHE HAD GIVEN HIM HIS MEDICINE, LIKE, HE 352 00:21:57,684 --> 00:22:00,954 HAD A -- A LIQUID MEDICINE TO TAKE, AND LIKE, HE GRABBED HIS 353 00:22:00,954 --> 00:22:06,926 CHEST LIKE THIS, AND HE JUST -- HE STARTED TO COUGH A LITTLE 354 00:22:06,926 --> 00:22:09,095 BIT, AND LIKE, HE'S HAVING A HARD TIME BREATHING, AND THEN 355 00:22:09,095 --> 00:22:13,433 AFTER THAT >> Reporter: JUST DIED 356 00:22:13,433 --> 00:22:18,872 >> LIKE, YEAH. >> Reporter: SARAH TEXTED US 357 00:22:18,872 --> 00:22:21,574 THAT HER, "FATHER DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES, HE WAS GIVEN 358 00:22:21,574 --> 00:22:25,378 MEDICATION PRESCRIBED TO HIM NOTHING ELSE." 359 00:22:25,378 --> 00:22:29,716 IN 2007, AFTER EIGHT YEARS IN THE RESERVES, SARAH RETURNED TO 360 00:22:29,716 --> 00:22:36,790 ACTIVE DUTY, BECAME SOMETHING OF A SOLDIER SOCCER MOM 361 00:22:36,790 --> 00:22:40,093 >> THE NEIGHBORS WOULD COMPLIMENT HER AND MY DAD AS 362 00:22:40,093 --> 00:22:44,898 PARENTS BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS SAW ALL OF US OUTSIDE WORKING 363 00:22:44,898 --> 00:22:48,168 TOGETHER IN THE YARD SO I THINK THEY THOUGHT THAT WE 364 00:22:48,168 --> 00:22:52,472 WERE NICE KIDS WITH A -- A GREAT FAMILY 365 00:22:52,472 --> 00:22:56,810 >> WHENEVER WE HAD PEOPLE OVER, SHE'D GO CRAZY IN THE KITCHEN. 366 00:22:56,810 --> 00:22:59,512 >> Reporter: SARAH'S SON, RYAN - 367 00:22:59,512 --> 00:23:02,816 >> HONESTLY, THERE -- THOSE ARE MY FAVORITE MEMORIES OF MY MOM, 368 00:23:02,816 --> 00:23:06,353 JUST MAKIN' FOOD YOU KNOW, SHE WAS REALLY GOOD AT 369 00:23:06,353 --> 00:23:08,221 IT, LIKE, THANKSGIVING, SHE'D GO NUTS, CHRISTMAS SHE WOULD GO 370 00:23:08,221 --> 00:23:10,390 NUTS, LIKE, THERE'S DECORATIONS EVERYWHERE 371 00:23:10,390 --> 00:23:13,059 >> SHE WAS VERY FAMILY ORIENTED. SHE ADORED HER CHILDREN. 372 00:23:13,059 --> 00:23:16,329 >> Reporter: EVANGELINE KELSALL AND HER FAMILY WERE FORT HOOD 373 00:23:16,329 --> 00:23:19,566 NEIGHBORS. >> SHE WOULD BRAG UP ONE SIDE 374 00:23:19,566 --> 00:23:23,903 AND DOWN THE OTHER ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL HER KIDS WERE. 375 00:23:23,903 --> 00:23:28,775 >> Reporter: MEANWHILE, SARAH'S MILITARY CAREER TOOK OFF 376 00:23:28,775 --> 00:23:33,646 SHE WAS ASSIGNED TO INTELLIGENCE, ROSE TO THE RANK 377 00:23:33,646 --> 00:23:36,916 OF SERGEANT FIRST- CLASS SHE HAD A TOP SECRET SECURITY 378 00:23:36,916 --> 00:23:39,285 CLEARANCE. AND LATER, WHEN THE WAR IN IRAQ 379 00:23:39,285 --> 00:23:41,221 GOT HOT, RESULTING IN A MASSIVE SURGE OF U.S. TROOPS TO THE 380 00:23:41,221 --> 00:23:44,491 REGION, BOTH SARAH AND CHRIS, WERE DEPLOYED. 381 00:23:44,491 --> 00:23:47,193 >> I KNOW THEY HAD SOME HEAVY, SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES, AND 382 00:23:47,193 --> 00:23:51,097 THEY WERE EXECUTING THEM WELL. >> Reporter: FORMER ARMY OFFICER 383 00:23:51,097 --> 00:23:54,834 KEVIN ROBINSON, WHO SERVED WITH THE DONOHUES IN IRAQ, SAID SARAH 384 00:23:54,834 --> 00:24:01,841 WAS A RESPECTED SOLDIER. >> SHE HAD A VERY GOOD 385 00:24:01,841 --> 00:24:05,679 PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH EVERYONE THERE IN THE DIVISION 386 00:24:05,679 --> 00:24:08,148 HEADQUARTERS, BECAUSE SHE WAS SELECTED, ESSENTIALLY, TO BE THE 387 00:24:08,148 --> 00:24:10,050 PERSON THAT WAS THE GO-BETWEEN BETWEEN THE INTELLIGENCE SECTION 388 00:24:10,050 --> 00:24:12,519 OF THE HEADQUARTERS TO EVERYONE ELSE IN THE STAFF. 389 00:24:12,519 --> 00:24:14,387 >> Reporter: WITH BOTH PARENTS GONE THE KIDS WERE FARMED OUT TO 390 00:24:14,387 --> 00:24:16,056 RELATIVES. >> HOW WAS THAT? 391 00:24:16,056 --> 00:24:18,191 >> IT WAS ALL RIGHT. LIKE, THEY WERE GONE FOR I -- I 392 00:24:18,191 --> 00:24:20,894 THINK A YEAR BUT YEAH, IT -- IT WAS 393 00:24:20,894 --> 00:24:23,063 DEFINITELY A BIG CHANGE WHEN WE WENT BACK. 394 00:24:23,063 --> 00:24:26,332 >> Reporter: WHICH IS ONE WAY TO PUT IT 395 00:24:26,332 --> 00:24:29,069 SARAH'S RETURN FROM IRAQ WOULD BE NO HAPPY HOMECOMING FOR THE 396 00:24:29,069 --> 00:24:31,237 KIDS MORE LIKE A HORROR MOVIE 397 00:24:31,237 --> 00:24:53,226 >> I FELT LIKE SHE WAS A TICKING >> Reporter: WHAT WAS TRUE, AND 398 00:24:53,226 --> 00:25:00,800 WHAT WAS NOT TO THE PUBLIC, SARAH SEEMED LIKE 399 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:07,340 SOME SORT OF SUPER SOLDIER MOM WITH A FINE CAREER, HANDLING TOP 400 00:25:07,340 --> 00:25:11,211 SECRET INTELLIGENCE, A CHARMING HUSBAND, A SPOTLESS HOUSE, AND 401 00:25:11,211 --> 00:25:14,381 OBEDIENT CHILDREN. >> WE WERE REALLY BIG ON 402 00:25:14,381 --> 00:25:16,583 PRESENTATION SO HOW YOU DRESS IS IMPORTANT, 403 00:25:16,583 --> 00:25:19,285 HOW YOU ACT IS IMPORTANT, LIKE, WHAT - 404 00:25:19,285 --> 00:25:24,758 WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SEE FROM THE OUTSIDE IS VERY IMPORTANT. 405 00:25:24,758 --> 00:25:30,196 >> Reporter: BUT INSIDE? WELL, THAT WAS VERY DIFFERENT. 406 00:25:30,196 --> 00:25:32,832 ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT >> THE BIGGEST RULE WE HAD WAS, 407 00:25:32,832 --> 00:25:38,805 YOU KNOW, "WHAT-- WHAT HAPPENS IN THE HOUSE STAYS IN THE 408 00:25:38,805 --> 00:25:41,541 HOUSE. >> THE NEIGHBORS, THEY DIDN'T 409 00:25:41,541 --> 00:25:44,244 KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS 410 00:25:44,244 --> 00:25:48,081 >> Reporter: INSIDE, SAID HER CHILDREN, SARAH WAS A DIFFERENT 411 00:25:48,081 --> 00:25:52,385 PERSON >> I FELT LIKE SHE WAS A TICKING 412 00:25:52,385 --> 00:25:56,756 TIME BOMB. >> IF WE DID SOMETHIN' THAT HAD 413 00:25:56,756 --> 00:25:59,459 UPSET HER, LIKE IT WAS KIND OF ZERO TO A HUNDRED. 414 00:25:59,459 --> 00:26:02,195 >> Reporter: BIG TEMPER? >> YEAH. 415 00:26:02,195 --> 00:26:05,432 >> Reporter: THEY LEARNED TO BE WARY, TO WATCH HER MOOD, 416 00:26:05,432 --> 00:26:09,636 ESPECIALLY WHEN THEIR SOLDIER-MOM PUT ON HER UNIFORM 417 00:26:09,636 --> 00:26:12,539 >> I FELT LIKE SHE WAS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSON WHEN 418 00:26:12,539 --> 00:26:15,241 SHE HAD HER HAIR UP IN A BUN AND HAD A UNIFORM ON 419 00:26:15,241 --> 00:26:17,444 I HATED THAT >> Reporter: HOW WAS SHE 420 00:26:17,444 --> 00:26:19,245 DIFFERENT? W -- IN WHAT WAY 421 00:26:19,245 --> 00:26:21,214 >> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE IT 422 00:26:21,214 --> 00:26:24,084 I THINK IT WAS JUST THE LOOK THAT SHE HAD ON HER FACE, AND 423 00:26:24,084 --> 00:26:26,119 THE WAY HER HAIR WOULD BE PULLED BACK SO TIGHT. 424 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:27,754 I'M LIKE, "PLEASE TAKE IT DOWN." >> WELL, WHENEVER -- WHENEVER 425 00:26:27,754 --> 00:26:29,923 YOU GOT IN TROUBLE, SHE'D LET YOU KNOW 426 00:26:29,923 --> 00:26:32,659 AND IT WAS -- IT WAS SOMETHIN' THAT THE WHOLE HOUSE KNEW. 427 00:26:32,659 --> 00:26:35,929 LIKE, EVEN -- EVEN AS KIDS, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE OTHER PERSON'S 428 00:26:35,929 --> 00:26:38,665 GETTIN' HIT IN THE OTHER ROOM, YOU COULD HEAR EVERY HIT THROUGH 429 00:26:38,665 --> 00:26:40,800 THE HOUSE, 'CAUSE IT WOULD ECHO. >> Reporter: RYAN SAID THE WORST 430 00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:43,069 BEATING HE TOOK WAS AFTER HE BROKE A WALL HOOK IN A HOUSE 431 00:26:43,069 --> 00:26:46,806 THEY WERE RENTING. >> SHE HAD THE BELT IN HER HAND, 432 00:26:46,806 --> 00:26:50,076 SHE WAS JUST SWINGIN', DOIN' HER THING. 433 00:26:50,076 --> 00:26:52,779 AND AFTER A WHILE, SHE THROWS THE BELT TO THE SIDE, AND SHE 434 00:26:52,779 --> 00:26:59,285 JUST STARTS PUNCHING ME IN THE FACE 435 00:26:59,285 --> 00:27:04,190 AND IT WAS SO BAD THAT I HAD BRUISES FROM MY WHOLE FACE DOWN, 436 00:27:04,190 --> 00:27:06,359 AND FROM MY SHOULDERS TO MY ANKLES 437 00:27:06,359 --> 00:27:09,829 AND I MISSED SCHOOL FOR A WHOLE WEEK 438 00:27:09,829 --> 00:27:14,167 >> Reporter: HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN THAT HAPPENED 439 00:27:14,167 --> 00:27:18,872 >> I'D SAY LIKE, I'D SAY 10. AND THAT WAS WHEN I REALIZED I 440 00:27:18,872 --> 00:27:22,809 WAS SCARED OF MY MOM BECAUSE, RIGHT AFTER EVERYTHING 441 00:27:22,809 --> 00:27:26,479 HAPPENED, THE WHOLE BEATING THING, WE WENT DOWNSTAIRS AND, 442 00:27:26,479 --> 00:27:30,050 YOU KNOW, SHE WAS BEING ALL NICE, SHE -- LIKE, SHE WAS 443 00:27:30,050 --> 00:27:33,053 CUTTIN' ME UP ORANGES AND STUFF, YOU KNOW, TALKIN' ALL SWEET, AND 444 00:27:33,053 --> 00:27:38,458 WHAT NOT >> SHE'S HIT ME IN THE FACE 445 00:27:38,458 --> 00:27:41,661 MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE AS A CHILD, ALSO AS A TEENAGER. 446 00:27:41,661 --> 00:27:45,465 THERE WAS A TIME THAT IT WAS SO BAD I TOLD HER I WAS GONNA CALL 447 00:27:45,465 --> 00:27:48,735 CPS. >> Reporter: THAT WOULD BE CHILD 448 00:27:48,735 --> 00:27:50,337 PROTECTIVE SERVICES. >> AND SHE SAID IF I WAS GONNA 449 00:27:50,337 --> 00:27:52,539 CALL CPS, SHE WAS GONNA GIVE ME A REASON TO CALL CPS 450 00:27:52,539 --> 00:27:55,241 AND SHE CONTINUED BEATING ME FOR WHAT FELT LIKE HOURS 451 00:27:55,241 --> 00:27:57,977 'CAUSE SHE WOULD STOP, SHE'D BE TALKING, AND SHE'D BE YELLING. 452 00:27:57,977 --> 00:28:00,680 AND THEN, ALL OF SUDDEN, SHE'D PICK UP A BELT, AND SHE'D START 453 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:03,416 WAILING ON ME AGAIN. AND I'M JUST, "IS THIS EVER 454 00:28:03,416 --> 00:28:07,754 GONNA BE DONE? AND I WAS COVERED IN BRUISES 455 00:28:07,754 --> 00:28:10,857 I HAD BRUISES ALL OVER MY LEGS I HAD A BRUISE ON MY FACE. 456 00:28:10,857 --> 00:28:13,193 I HAD 'EM ALL OVER MY ARMS AND MY BACK. 457 00:28:13,193 --> 00:28:17,530 >> Reporter: DID YOU COMPLAIN TO CPS? 458 00:28:17,530 --> 00:28:20,233 >> NO, BECAUSE I WAS TOO SCARED OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN 459 00:28:20,233 --> 00:28:22,435 I DIDN'T TELL ANYBODY TO CALL CPS. 460 00:28:22,435 --> 00:28:26,773 I DIDN'T ASK ANY OF MY FRIENDS, BUT CPS DID GET CALLED, AND 461 00:28:26,773 --> 00:28:29,476 POLICE SHOWED UP AT THE DOOR ONE DAY AFTER SCHOOL 462 00:28:29,476 --> 00:28:33,279 >> Reporter: AND HERE IS THE REPORT ABOUT THAT VISIT FROM THE 463 00:28:33,279 --> 00:28:36,049 BELL COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IT SAYS A FATHER OF ONE OF 464 00:28:36,049 --> 00:28:39,252 ASHLEY'S FRIENDS CALLED THEM SAYING ASHLEY "WAS BEATEN PRETTY 465 00:28:39,252 --> 00:28:42,555 BAD, HAD A BLACK EYE, LOOKED LIKE HER FINGERS WERE POSSIBLY 466 00:28:42,555 --> 00:28:47,961 BROKEN AND HAD WHIP/LACERATIONS ALL OVER HER BACK. 467 00:28:47,961 --> 00:28:51,197 >> AND I WAS LIKE, "OH MY GOSH," BECAUSE THEN THAT WOULD MEAN IT 468 00:28:51,197 --> 00:28:55,235 WOULD GO TO CPS, AND MY MOM COULD GET IN TROUBLE, AND THEN 469 00:28:55,235 --> 00:28:59,339 SHE WOULD USE IT AGAINST ME. >> Reporter: YOU DIDN'T SEE THE 470 00:28:59,339 --> 00:29:03,176 POLICE AS A SAVIOR YOU SAW THEM AS GETTING YOU IN 471 00:29:03,176 --> 00:29:06,413 TROUBLE EVEN MORE? >> YES 472 00:29:06,413 --> 00:29:10,784 I WAS VERY UPSET THAT THEY CAME TO THE HOUSE 473 00:29:10,784 --> 00:29:13,486 >> Reporter: SO MUCH SO, ASHLEY SAID SHE LIED. 474 00:29:13,486 --> 00:29:15,655 AND SURE ENOUGH, THE REPORT QUOTED ASHLEY TELLING THE 475 00:29:15,655 --> 00:29:17,824 DEPUTIES HER BLACK EYE, "WAS AN ACCIDENT." 476 00:29:17,824 --> 00:29:23,296 THE REPORT CONCLUDED WITH, "THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF ONGOING 477 00:29:23,296 --> 00:29:24,898 ABUSE. WHEN WE ASKED SARAH ABOUT THIS, 478 00:29:24,898 --> 00:29:27,867 SHE WROTE, "I'M SURE MY KIDS WOULD CALL IT A BEATING, BUT NO, 479 00:29:27,867 --> 00:29:30,337 NO ONE WAS BEATEN. >> Reporter: BUT BARBARA STUART 480 00:29:30,337 --> 00:29:33,073 SAID SHE HEARD ABOUT THIS INCIDENT, AND OTHERS 481 00:29:33,073 --> 00:29:36,343 >> THE KIDS WERE THREATENED. THEY BETTER NOT SAY ANYTHING 482 00:29:36,343 --> 00:29:39,045 THEY'D BETTER NOT ADMIT ANY OF THIS HAPPENED. 483 00:29:39,045 --> 00:29:43,683 AND FAMILY SERVICES WOULD ALWAYS BELIEVE HER. 484 00:29:43,683 --> 00:29:47,721 SHE WOULD ALWAYS TALK HER WAY OUT OF IT. 485 00:29:47,721 --> 00:29:50,423 >> Reporter: ASHLEY SAID HER DAD, CHRIS DONOHUE, SEEMED 486 00:29:50,423 --> 00:29:52,625 POWERLESS WITH SARAH >> THERE WAS ONLY SO MUCH HE 487 00:29:52,625 --> 00:29:55,328 COULD DO, BECAUSE IF HE STOOD UP FOR US, SHE WOULD GET VERY, VERY 488 00:29:55,328 --> 00:29:58,064 ANGRY AT HIM I THINK HE WANTED TO DO ANYTHING 489 00:29:58,064 --> 00:30:00,200 TO MAKE IT WORK AND KEEP HIS FAMILY TOGETHER. 490 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:05,105 AND HE REALLY DID -- HE REALLY DID TRY. 491 00:30:05,105 --> 00:30:13,847 AND SHE JUST MADE IT DIFFICULT >> Reporter: IN 2014, SARAH AND 492 00:30:13,847 --> 00:30:16,683 CHRIS BOUGHT AN IMPRESSIVE, BIG CUSTOM-BUILT PLACE ON A LAKE, 493 00:30:16,683 --> 00:30:18,718 NOT FAR FROM FORT HOOD AND THERE THEY RECONNECTED WITH 494 00:30:18,718 --> 00:30:21,855 KEVIN ROBINSON AND HIS WIFE, MELISSA. 495 00:30:21,855 --> 00:30:23,256 >> EVERYBODY JUST LOVED 'EM, 'CAUSE THEY WERE JUST LIKE A 496 00:30:23,256 --> 00:30:25,225 GREAT COUPLE THEY SEEMED, LIKE, HAPPY, HAD IT 497 00:30:25,225 --> 00:30:28,461 TOGETHER FOUR GREAT KIDS, NICE HOUSE. 498 00:30:28,461 --> 00:30:32,265 I MEAN, THEY WERE LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM 499 00:30:32,265 --> 00:30:34,968 >> Reporter: BUT MONEY WAS TIGHT, AND THEN, JUST THREE 500 00:30:34,968 --> 00:30:39,239 MONTHS AFTER BUYING THEIR HOME, SARAH GOT A CALL FROM HER 501 00:30:39,239 --> 00:30:42,742 BROTHER CODY THEIR GRANDMOTHER, MERLE REPPER, 502 00:30:42,742 --> 00:30:46,012 HAD DIED LEAVING BEHIND A HOUSE AND 503 00:30:46,012 --> 00:30:50,750 325 ACRES OF PRIME FARMLAND. THERE WAS BOUND TO BE A BIG 504 00:30:50,750 --> 00:30:57,257 INHERITANCE, AND SARAH, WITH FAMILY IN TOW, RUSHED OFF TO 505 00:30:57,257 --> 00:30:59,426 MISSOURI WHERE SHE WAS ABOUT TO GET SOME BAD NEWS. 506 00:30:59,426 --> 00:31:02,162 BAD NEWS FOR HER, ANYWAY >> AFTER SHE SCREAMED AND YELLED 507 00:31:02,162 --> 00:31:04,864 AT MY WIFE THAT DAY ON THE PORCH, I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN, 508 00:31:04,864 --> 00:31:07,067 RIGHT THEN, IT WAS N -- IT WAS NOT GONNA BE ANY KINDA PEACEFUL, 509 00:31:07,067 --> 00:31:27,354 AMICABLE, ANYTHING WITH MY >> Reporter: YOU CAN'T WATCH 510 00:31:27,354 --> 00:31:31,691 SARAH'S LONG SUFFERING OLDER BROTHER, CODY, AMBLE ABOUT HIS 511 00:31:31,691 --> 00:31:34,394 LAND IN MISSOURI AND NOT BE REMINDED OF JOB. 512 00:31:34,394 --> 00:31:38,765 LIVING ALONE IN A SINGLE-WIDE, NO CAR, NO INTERNET, THE FAMILY 513 00:31:38,765 --> 00:31:43,103 FARM LONG GONE HIS WIFE AND MOTHER AND YOUNGEST 514 00:31:43,103 --> 00:31:46,906 BROTHER DEAD SAD. 515 00:31:46,906 --> 00:31:50,176 IT WASN'T ALWAYS LIKE THIS CODY HAD DONE SO WELL, DESPITE 516 00:31:50,176 --> 00:31:53,980 HIS MESSED UP FAMILY, HIS TROUBLED UPBRINGING. 517 00:31:53,980 --> 00:31:57,784 LIFE WAS PRETTY GOOD UNTIL THE DAY HIS GRANDMOTHER 518 00:31:57,784 --> 00:32:02,689 MERLE PASSED AWAY. IT WAS AUGUST, 2014. 519 00:32:02,689 --> 00:32:08,128 THERE WAS A FUNERAL, OF COURSE AND SARAH CAME, LIKE SOME DARK 520 00:32:08,128 --> 00:32:11,364 PRODIGAL CHILD >> SHE STAYED THE NIGHT AT THE 521 00:32:11,364 --> 00:32:14,100 HOUSE WITH US. AND I GUESS IT WAS -- I DON'T 522 00:32:14,100 --> 00:32:17,337 KNOW, THAT IT -- MAYBE A COUPLE DAYS LATER, SHE -- SHE WANTED TO 523 00:32:17,337 --> 00:32:20,840 KINDA LOOK THROUGH THINGS. AND I SAID, "WELL," I SAID, "THE 524 00:32:20,840 --> 00:32:24,978 WILL DOESN'T HAVE YOU IN IT. >> Reporter: CODY AND HIS WIFE, 525 00:32:24,978 --> 00:32:27,681 MARY NANCY, HAD BEEN TENDING TO GRANDMOTHER MERLE AND HER FARM 526 00:32:27,681 --> 00:32:30,917 FOR YEARS. ONLY ONES IN THE FAMILY TO DO 527 00:32:30,917 --> 00:32:35,288 SO WHICH IS WHY MERLE, IN HER WILL, 528 00:32:35,288 --> 00:32:40,727 LEFT EVERYTHING -- THE FARM, THE HOUSE, THE FURNITURE -- ALL OF 529 00:32:40,727 --> 00:32:43,463 IT TO CODY AND NOTHING TO SARAH. >> IT JUST BECAME MORE OR LESS A 530 00:32:43,463 --> 00:32:45,632 SCREAMING MATCH. SHE SAID SHE WAS GONNA FIGHT ME 531 00:32:45,632 --> 00:32:48,335 FOR THE HOUSE AND THE LAND AND EVERYTHING BECAUSE SHE OWED 532 00:32:48,335 --> 00:32:51,104 $200,000-SOMETHING ON HER PLACE WHEREVER -- 533 00:32:51,104 --> 00:32:53,239 WHEREVER SHE WAS LIVING AT THE TIME 534 00:32:53,239 --> 00:32:55,408 AND THIS, WELL, EVERYTHING SHE SOLD OUT HERE, THAT WOULD -- 535 00:32:55,408 --> 00:32:57,577 THAT WOULD PAY FOR IT. THAT WAS THE STORY I GOT 536 00:32:57,577 --> 00:33:00,313 >> Reporter: SARAH UP AND LEFT AFTER THAT 537 00:33:00,313 --> 00:33:03,049 BUT CODY SAID SHE CAME BACK LATER THAT DAY 538 00:33:03,049 --> 00:33:05,218 >> THE NEXT THING I KNOW, THEY -- THEY'VE GOT TRUCKS AND 539 00:33:05,218 --> 00:33:07,921 TRAILERS AND THEY'RE TRYING TO -- THEY'RE 540 00:33:07,921 --> 00:33:10,090 HAULING EVERYTHING AND THEN LOOKING ON HER LAPTOP 541 00:33:10,090 --> 00:33:12,592 TO SEE HOW MUCH IT WAS WORTH AND I TOLD MY WIFE, I SAID, 542 00:33:12,592 --> 00:33:14,961 "WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT, REALLY 543 00:33:14,961 --> 00:33:17,130 I MEAN, I'M JUST GONNA LET HER HAVE WHAT SHE WANTS TO HAVE. 544 00:33:17,130 --> 00:33:19,299 AND MAYBE THEN SHE'LL LET US ALONE. 545 00:33:19,299 --> 00:33:22,068 >> Reporter: SARAH'S SON RYAN WAS THERE. 546 00:33:22,068 --> 00:33:24,738 HE SAW IT ALL. >> CODY, HE LET HER TAKE 547 00:33:24,738 --> 00:33:26,906 WHATEVER SHE WANTED. MY MOM TOOK A WHOLE U-HAUL FULL 548 00:33:26,906 --> 00:33:30,143 OF STUFF >> Reporter: ASHLEY WAS THERE 549 00:33:30,143 --> 00:33:33,947 TOO. >> MY MOM CLEARED OUT A LOT OF 550 00:33:33,947 --> 00:33:36,649 THINGS LIKE, HAD MYSELF, MY BROTHER, MY 551 00:33:36,649 --> 00:33:39,152 DAD, A BUNCH OF PEOPLE HELPING HER CARRY STUFF UP OUT OF THE 552 00:33:39,152 --> 00:33:41,087 BASEMENT LIKE, WE DON'T REALLY NEED ALL 553 00:33:41,087 --> 00:33:43,189 THIS STUFF BUT TO HER, IT WAS THE MOST 554 00:33:43,189 --> 00:33:45,892 IMPORTANT THING IN THE WORLD BECAUSE SHE SAID HER GRANDMOTHER 555 00:33:45,892 --> 00:33:48,094 WAS THE ONLY PERSON THAT EVER TRULY LOVED HER. 556 00:33:48,094 --> 00:33:50,263 >> Reporter: OR AND SHE FELT ENTITLED TO IT 557 00:33:50,263 --> 00:33:52,966 >> SHE DID SHE FELT ENTITLED TO A LOT OF 558 00:33:52,966 --> 00:33:55,669 THINGS >> Reporter: BY NIGHTFALL SARAH 559 00:33:55,669 --> 00:33:58,972 WAS GONE AND CODY AND HIS WIFE CURLED UP ON THE COUCH WITH 560 00:33:58,972 --> 00:34:02,742 THEIR 8-YEAR-OLD NEPHEW, ZANDER, WHO WAS SPENDING THE NIGHT 561 00:34:02,742 --> 00:34:05,278 >> I WANNA SAY IT WAS ABOUT 2:00 IN THE MORNING. 562 00:34:05,278 --> 00:34:07,614 I'M NOT CERTAIN. BUT I -- I KNOW WHEN I GOT UP, I 563 00:34:07,614 --> 00:34:10,350 SMELLED SMOKE. I KNEW THAT WASN'T GOOD. 564 00:34:10,350 --> 00:34:13,086 >> Reporter: CODY OPENED THE DOOR AND SAW A BROKEN WINDOW, 565 00:34:13,086 --> 00:34:15,255 BURNING DRAPES, AND FLAMES SPREADING RAPIDLY ACROSS THE 566 00:34:15,255 --> 00:34:17,557 PINE FLOORS. >> I MEAN, AS FAST AS YOU SNAP 567 00:34:17,557 --> 00:34:19,592 YOUR HAND, IT JUST ROARED RIGHT THROUGH THE HOUSE, THE SMOKE 568 00:34:19,592 --> 00:34:21,761 JUST BILLOWING YOU KNOW 569 00:34:21,761 --> 00:34:23,930 AND, I MEAN, IT WAS THICK. AND IT WAS BLACK 570 00:34:23,930 --> 00:34:26,099 AND IT -- WHEN IT COME, IT COME. AND I COULDN'T SEE -- I COULDN'T 571 00:34:26,099 --> 00:34:28,802 SEE MY HAND IN FRONT OF MY FACE, HONESTLY 572 00:34:28,802 --> 00:34:30,970 >> Reporter: CODY SAID HE PASSED OUT BUT CAME TO AFTER HITTING 573 00:34:30,970 --> 00:34:33,139 THE FLOOR. >> WHEN I CAME TO, ALL I -- ALL 574 00:34:33,139 --> 00:34:36,409 I COULD DO WAS CRAWL OUT THE DOOR 575 00:34:36,409 --> 00:34:39,112 AND I COULD HEAR ZANDER BEHIND ME 576 00:34:39,112 --> 00:34:41,848 AND I KEPT HOLLERING FOR HIM TO GRAB MY HAND 577 00:34:41,848 --> 00:34:45,118 AND HE WOULDN'T GRAB MY HAND SO ALL I COULD DO -- I GOT OUT 578 00:34:45,118 --> 00:34:47,821 THE DOOR I TOOK IN A DEEP BREATH, AND I 579 00:34:47,821 --> 00:34:50,557 RAN DOWN TO MY BROTHER'S PLACE AND I WOKE HIM UP, GRABBED HIM 580 00:34:50,557 --> 00:34:53,259 UP, AND UP TO THE HOUSE WE CAME. AND MY BROTHER DOVE IN THE 581 00:34:53,259 --> 00:34:55,428 HOUSE. AND, OF COURSE, HE STARTS 582 00:34:55,428 --> 00:34:57,597 CHOKING IMMEDIATELY. AND, "JUST SEE IF YOU CAN GRAB 583 00:34:57,597 --> 00:35:00,633 HIM. IF YOU CAN'T GRAB HIM, THEN GET 584 00:35:00,633 --> 00:35:02,502 BACK OUT HERE. OTHERWISE AIN'T ANY OF US GONNA 585 00:35:02,502 --> 00:35:04,671 MAKE IT. SO HE WENT BACK IN AND 586 00:35:04,671 --> 00:35:07,140 SOMEHOW -- SOMEHOW GRABBED A HOLD OF SOMETHING THAT WAS -- HE 587 00:35:07,140 --> 00:35:09,542 THOUGHT WAS HIM AND GRABBED HIM AND JERKED HIM 588 00:35:09,542 --> 00:35:12,779 AND OUT HE CAME. AND THAT WAS ROUGH 'CAUSE I LOVE 589 00:35:12,779 --> 00:35:15,715 THAT LITTLE BOY. >> Reporter: THEY RUSHED ZANDER 590 00:35:15,715 --> 00:35:18,785 OFF TO THE HOSPITAL, SUFFERING FROM SMOKE INHALATION, WHERE HE 591 00:35:18,785 --> 00:35:22,055 FINALLY DID RECOVER. BUT CODY'S HOUSE WAS A TOTAL 592 00:35:22,055 --> 00:35:24,758 LOSS >> WE GOT TO WATCH EVERYTHING WE 593 00:35:24,758 --> 00:35:27,494 HAD GO IN A MATTER OF JUST HOURS. 594 00:35:27,494 --> 00:35:31,464 THE FIRST THING I DID AFTER THAT FIRE, THE NEXT MORNING WHEN IT 595 00:35:31,464 --> 00:35:33,767 GOT TO BE DAYLIGHT, I CALLED HER. 596 00:35:33,767 --> 00:35:37,804 >> Reporter: "HER" BEING HIS SISTER SARAH 597 00:35:37,804 --> 00:35:40,540 >> BECAUSE I WANTED HER TO KNOW THAT I HAD SURVIVED AND THE BIG 598 00:35:40,540 --> 00:35:43,243 PLAN OF TAKING THE HOUSE OUT AND LEAVING ME WITH NOTHING DIDN'T 599 00:35:43,243 --> 00:35:45,412 WORK SO WELL FOR HER THAT'S WHY I CALLED HER. 600 00:35:45,412 --> 00:35:47,614 AND I SAID, "I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU IT DIDN'T WORK. 601 00:35:47,614 --> 00:35:50,350 I'M STILL HERE." I SAID, "I'M HERE. 602 00:35:50,350 --> 00:35:52,786 THE WIFE'S HERE. ZANDER'S DOING OKAY AS WELL. 603 00:35:52,786 --> 00:35:55,655 AND THE FIRST THING SHE SAID WAS, "WELL, WHAT WAS ZANDER 604 00:35:55,655 --> 00:35:57,390 DOING HERE?" >> Reporter: SARAH DENIED ANY 605 00:35:57,390 --> 00:35:59,559 INVOLVEMENT, OF COURSE >> SHE DENIED IT TO THE FIRE 606 00:35:59,559 --> 00:36:01,761 INVESTIGATOR SHE DENIED IT TO THE POLICE. 607 00:36:01,761 --> 00:36:04,464 SHE DENIED IT TO EVERYBODY, INCLUDING HER LAWYER 608 00:36:04,464 --> 00:36:08,268 SHE DENIED IT IN A TEXT MESSAGE TO US TOO, SAYING, "I DID NOT 609 00:36:08,268 --> 00:36:11,538 SET MY GRANDMA'S HOUSE ON FIRE AND WAS NEVER SUSPECTED OR 610 00:36:11,538 --> 00:36:14,941 QUESTIONED." BUT ACCORDING TO RYAN, NOT 611 00:36:14,941 --> 00:36:19,679 EVERYONE BELIEVED SARAH'S DENIALS. 612 00:36:19,679 --> 00:36:23,483 NOT EVEN HER OWN CHILDREN. >> THE CONSENSUS THROUGHOUT THE 613 00:36:23,483 --> 00:36:26,753 FAMILY WAS SHE WAS PISSED OFF THAT HE GOT THE HOUSE AND SHE 614 00:36:26,753 --> 00:36:28,922 DIDN'T >> Reporter: WAS IT THE FAMILY 615 00:36:28,922 --> 00:36:32,192 CONSENSUS THAT SHE STARTED THE FIRE 616 00:36:32,192 --> 00:36:34,894 >> A LOT OF PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT. >> Reporter: THE SHERIFF'S 617 00:36:34,894 --> 00:36:43,269 DEPARTMENT SAID THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNDETERMINED. 618 00:36:43,269 --> 00:36:44,637 THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THE SAME 619 00:36:44,637 --> 00:36:47,073 BUT ACCORDING TO CODY'S FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR BILLY MAY, THE FIRE 620 00:36:47,073 --> 00:36:49,776 MARSHALL DID FIND SOMETHING NOTEWORTHY 621 00:36:49,776 --> 00:36:53,246 >> WHERE THE FIRE HAD STARTED, THERE WAS POISON IVY IN THE BACK 622 00:36:53,246 --> 00:36:55,215 OF THE HOUSE AND THE FIRE MARSHAL SAID WHEN 623 00:36:55,215 --> 00:36:58,485 THEY WENT AND VISITED SARAH THAT HER FACE WAS COVERED IN POISON 624 00:36:58,485 --> 00:37:01,755 IVY. AND THAT HE COULDN'T PROVE FOR 625 00:37:01,755 --> 00:37:04,491 CERTAIN, BUT HE PRETTY WELL THOUGHT THAT SHE PROBABLY 626 00:37:04,491 --> 00:37:08,261 STARTED THE FIRE >> Reporter: CODY HEARD THE SAME 627 00:37:08,261 --> 00:37:11,031 THING FROM HIS BROTHER WHO SAW SARAH RIGHT BEFORE SHE LEFT 628 00:37:11,031 --> 00:37:15,035 TOWN >> HE SAID SHE HAD POISON IVY 629 00:37:15,035 --> 00:37:18,038 ALL OVER HER FACE. >> Reporter: BUT IT WASN'T QUITE 630 00:37:18,038 --> 00:37:21,307 PROOF, WAS IT, SAID CODY, RATHER SADLY. 631 00:37:21,307 --> 00:37:23,476 >> I SAID, "I -- I'D LOVE TO TELL YOU THAT I KNEW WHAT 632 00:37:23,476 --> 00:37:26,212 HAPPENED, AND I'D LOVE TO SAY WHAT SHE'S GONNA GET HERS FOR 633 00:37:26,212 --> 00:37:28,948 THIS." BUT I CAN'T. 634 00:37:28,948 --> 00:37:31,651 >> Reporter: AND SARAH WAS NEVER CHARGED WITH ANYTHING. 635 00:37:31,651 --> 00:37:35,455 AND DESPITE ALL THE TALK AROUND HERE ABOUT SARAH AND THE FIRE, 636 00:37:35,455 --> 00:37:39,793 IT NEVER STOPPED HER FROM COMING BACK TIME AND AGAIN TO SEE A GUY 637 00:37:39,793 --> 00:37:43,596 WHO IS ABOUT TO EXPLAIN WHY HE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE IT ALL BACK 638 00:37:43,596 --> 00:38:02,849 >> I THINK I REALLY, TRULY DID >> Reporter: WHEN SARAH JEAN 639 00:38:02,849 --> 00:38:07,721 DE-FURNISHED HER BROTHER CODY'S HOUSE, SHE GOT MORE THAN A 640 00:38:07,721 --> 00:38:13,727 TRUCK-LOAD OF OLD FURNITURE AND FAMILY KEEPSAKES 641 00:38:13,727 --> 00:38:18,064 SHE ALSO PICKED UP HER NEXT BOYFRIEND. 642 00:38:18,064 --> 00:38:21,334 NOT TO MENTION A CONVENIENT PLACE TO STORE ALL THAT STUFF. 643 00:38:21,334 --> 00:38:23,036 IT WENT INTO THIS GUY'S GARAGE >> I MEAN, IT GOT TO THE POINT 644 00:38:23,036 --> 00:38:25,138 WHERE I WAS LIKE, "HOW MUCH MORE CRAP DO YOU REALLY WANT? 645 00:38:25,138 --> 00:38:27,874 'CAUSE MY GARAGE WAS GETTING FULL 646 00:38:27,874 --> 00:38:31,411 >> Reporter: BRIAN ALTIS IS AN OLD CHILDHOOD CHUM OF SARAH'S. 647 00:38:31,411 --> 00:38:33,847 THEY RECONNECTED DURING THE GRANDMOTHER'S FUNERAL. 648 00:38:33,847 --> 00:38:37,650 AND THE VERY NIGHT CODY'S HOUSE BURNED DOWN, SARAH CRAWLED INTO 649 00:38:37,650 --> 00:38:40,920 BRIAN'S BED. JUST TO SLEEP, HE TOLD US. 650 00:38:40,920 --> 00:38:45,258 AND IF SHE STARTED THE FIRE HE SAID, HE WASN'T AWARE OF IT. 651 00:38:45,258 --> 00:38:49,062 ANYWAY, THAT'S HOW THE AFFAIR AND BRIAN'S TWO YEAR 652 00:38:49,062 --> 00:38:56,069 ROLLER-COASTER RIDE WITH SARAH BEGAN. 653 00:38:56,069 --> 00:38:59,673 AND THE INCONVENIENT FACT THAT SHE WAS VERY MARRIED TO 654 00:38:59,673 --> 00:39:03,176 CHRIS DONOHUE? >> SHE INFORMED ME THAT SHE AND 655 00:39:03,176 --> 00:39:08,048 CHRIS WERE GONNA GET DIVORCED -- >> Reporter: BRIAN FELL HARD 656 00:39:08,048 --> 00:39:12,919 THERE WAS SOMETHING IRRESISTIBLE ABOUT THAT WOMAN 657 00:39:12,919 --> 00:39:20,026 >> WHEN SHE'S THE GIRL THAT YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH, IF SHE COULD 658 00:39:20,026 --> 00:39:22,729 BE THAT PERSON DAY IN AND DAY OUT, WHAT -- IT'S -- SHE'S AN 659 00:39:22,729 --> 00:39:26,299 AMAZING PERSON >> Reporter: WHAT DID YOU LOVE 660 00:39:26,299 --> 00:39:29,235 ABOUT HER BACK THEN? >> SHE HAS A WAY OF MAKIN' YOU 661 00:39:29,235 --> 00:39:31,938 FEEL REALLY IMPORTANT, LIKE YOU MATTER. 662 00:39:31,938 --> 00:39:34,341 WHEN I BROUGHT HER AROUND SOME OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS AND SOME OF 663 00:39:34,341 --> 00:39:36,576 MY FRIENDS, AND THEY'RE LIKE, "I'M GLAD FOR YOU. 664 00:39:36,576 --> 00:39:37,944 AND -- SHE'S JUST A VERY LIKABLE PERSON AT FIRST IMPRESSION 665 00:39:37,944 --> 00:39:40,113 >> Reporter: WAS SHE ATTRACTIVE? WAS SHE GOOD IN BED? 666 00:39:40,113 --> 00:39:42,282 WAS SHE ENTICING -- WAS SHE -- >> YES 667 00:39:42,282 --> 00:39:44,417 YES TO PRETTY MUCH ABOUT EVERYTHING I THINK YOU JUST 668 00:39:44,417 --> 00:39:46,419 SAID >> Reporter: SO SHE COULD 669 00:39:46,419 --> 00:39:52,058 PERSUADE THAT UP WAS DOWN AND DOWN WAS UP, AND - 670 00:39:52,058 --> 00:39:55,061 >> OH, YEAH. SHE HAS A WAY OF TALKIN' TO 671 00:39:55,061 --> 00:39:57,497 PEOPLE TO MAKE YOU BELIEVE EVERYTHING 672 00:39:57,497 --> 00:40:01,835 AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE SHE COULD KILL SOMEBODY RIGHT IN FRONT OF 673 00:40:01,835 --> 00:40:05,271 A POLICE OFFICER AND MAKE HIM BELIEVE THAT SHE DID NOT DO IT 674 00:40:05,271 --> 00:40:09,109 I THINK SHE HAS THAT ABILITY >> Reporter: YOU MIGHT WANT TO 675 00:40:09,109 --> 00:40:12,178 REMEMBER THAT. BUT FOR TWO YEARS BRIAN WAS AS 676 00:40:12,178 --> 00:40:17,050 HAPPY AS HE'D EVER BEEN AND AS MISERABLE. 677 00:40:17,050 --> 00:40:20,854 >> THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN BE THIS PERSON THAT EVERYBODY LOVES 678 00:40:20,854 --> 00:40:25,191 TO BE AROUND AND GOT TO KNOW, TO BE DOWNRIGHT MEAN AND HATEFUL IN 679 00:40:25,191 --> 00:40:28,428 A MATTER OF SECONDS. BASICALLY THE DEVIL'S DAUGHTER, 680 00:40:28,428 --> 00:40:34,801 IF YOU ASK ME. >> Reporter: THINGS GOT 681 00:40:34,801 --> 00:40:38,805 CONTENTIOUS BETWEEN THEM THEY EVEN FILED FOR RESTRAINING 682 00:40:38,805 --> 00:40:43,677 ORDERS AGAINST EACH OTHER. THEN ONE DAY, WHEN BRIAN WAS IN 683 00:40:43,677 --> 00:40:48,048 COURT, SARAH HAD AN ENVELOPE DELIVERED TO HIM 684 00:40:48,048 --> 00:40:51,851 >> SO I OPEN IT UP AND I LOOK AT IT 685 00:40:51,851 --> 00:40:55,088 AND I REMEMBER THE SMELL OF URINE. 686 00:40:55,088 --> 00:41:01,227 AND IT WAS A PREGNANCY TEST. >> Reporter: OH MY 687 00:41:01,227 --> 00:41:03,229 >> AND IT SAID IT WAS POSITIVE AND I'M LIKE, "NO, THIS AIN'T 688 00:41:03,229 --> 00:41:08,134 LEGIT. >> Reporter: STILL, BRIAN AGREED 689 00:41:08,134 --> 00:41:14,107 TO MEET WITH SARAH AT HIS HOUSE TO HASH THINGS OUT 690 00:41:14,107 --> 00:41:18,978 HE BROUGHT HIS SISTER FOR SUPPORT. 691 00:41:18,978 --> 00:41:23,883 >> AND I SAID, "LET'S GO DO OUR OWN TEST TOGETHER SO THAT I CAN 692 00:41:23,883 --> 00:41:26,086 SEE FOR SURE THAT YOU'RE PREGNANT." 693 00:41:26,086 --> 00:41:28,221 AND SHE WOULDN'T DO IT >> Reporter: THEY STOOD OUTSIDE 694 00:41:28,221 --> 00:41:31,091 THE HOUSE AND ARGUED ABOUT EVERYTHING THEN. 695 00:41:31,091 --> 00:41:32,592 AND FINALLY SARAH AGREED TO LEAVE. 696 00:41:32,592 --> 00:41:34,761 FOR GOOD. BUT SHE MADE ONE LAST REQUEST. 697 00:41:34,761 --> 00:41:36,396 >> "CAN I USE THE BATHROOM BEFORE I LEAVE?" 698 00:41:36,396 --> 00:41:39,099 I'M LIKE, "SURE, NO PROBLEM SHE WAS IN THERE FOR A WHILE." 699 00:41:39,099 --> 00:41:42,402 I REMEMBER THAT 'CAUSE MY SISTER AND I BOTH LOOKED AT EACH OTHER. 700 00:41:42,402 --> 00:41:45,638 WE'RE LIKE, "WOW." >> Reporter: MM-HMM. 701 00:41:45,638 --> 00:41:50,510 >> "WHAT THE HELL? AND FINALLY, SHE CAME OUT. 702 00:41:50,510 --> 00:41:53,313 SHE WENT HER WAY I WENT DOWN TO THE LOCAL BAR IN 703 00:41:53,313 --> 00:41:55,415 TOWN TO MEET UP WITH SOME CO-WORKERS 704 00:41:55,415 --> 00:41:58,118 20 TO 40 MINUTES LATER, I'M GETTING A PHONE CALL FROM THE 705 00:41:58,118 --> 00:42:01,888 LOCAL POLICE STATION SAYING, "YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE." 706 00:42:01,888 --> 00:42:04,090 >> Reporter: YEAH, WELL. DO YOU THINK SHE STARTED THE 707 00:42:04,090 --> 00:42:05,725 FIRE >> YOU'LL NEVER HEAR ME SAY 708 00:42:05,725 --> 00:42:07,894 THAT >> DO I BELIEVE THERE'S A 709 00:42:07,894 --> 00:42:10,063 POSSIBILITY? YES. 710 00:42:10,063 --> 00:42:11,698 BUT I WILL NEVER, EVER, "YES, SHE DID IT." 711 00:42:11,698 --> 00:42:13,867 I CAN'T PROVE IT NOBODY PROVED IT 712 00:42:13,867 --> 00:42:16,603 >> Reporter: SARAH TOLD US BY TEXT SHE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH 713 00:42:16,603 --> 00:42:19,305 THE FIRE ANYWAY, SHE WAS OUT OF BRIAN'S 714 00:42:19,305 --> 00:42:28,548 LIFE FINALLY AND WHAT DID SHE LEAVE HIM WITH 715 00:42:28,548 --> 00:42:31,818 NO, NOT A CHILD, BUT PERSPECTIVE. 716 00:42:31,818 --> 00:42:35,088 >> YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY JOKED ABOUT THE FIRE, YOU KNOW, HOW I 717 00:42:35,088 --> 00:42:36,790 WAS LUCKY TO SURVIVE THAT. BUT "I THINK I REALLY, TRULY DID 718 00:42:36,790 --> 00:42:40,627 DODGE A BULLET." AND -- AND -- AND I MEANT THAT, 719 00:42:40,627 --> 00:42:43,229 LITERALLY -- >> Reporter: THE NEXT FELLA 720 00:42:43,229 --> 00:42:47,100 SARAH JEAN SET HER EYES ON WOULDN'T BE SO LUCKY 721 00:42:47,100 --> 00:42:51,104 >> Reporter: CAN WE TALK ABOUT DAVID? 722 00:42:51,104 --> 00:42:53,006 >> YES >> Reporter: WHAT HE WAS LIKE? 723 00:42:53,006 --> 00:42:55,742 >> HE WAS A BIG TEDDY BEAR ANYTIME HE WALKED INTO A ROOM, 724 00:42:55,742 --> 00:43:02,782 HE'D HAVE A BIG GRIN AND HE'D GIVE YOU A BIG HUG 725 00:43:02,782 --> 00:43:06,052 >> Reporter: CARL AND LAURA BRAGG TOLD US THEIR SON -- 726 00:43:06,052 --> 00:43:09,122 DAVID BRAGG WAS THIS "TEDDY BEAR." 727 00:43:09,122 --> 00:43:12,559 AN AIR FORCE VETERAN KNOWN FOR TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE, MAYBE 728 00:43:12,559 --> 00:43:14,728 BECAUSE HE WAS THE ELDEST OF EIGHT SIBLINGS, FIVE OF THEM 729 00:43:14,728 --> 00:43:16,930 ADOPTED, INCLUDING DANIEL AND RONALD BRAGG 730 00:43:16,930 --> 00:43:19,099 WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP, HOW DO YOU REMEMBER HIS PRESENCE IN 731 00:43:19,099 --> 00:43:21,835 YOUR LIFE? >> I REMEMBER HIM BEING VERY 732 00:43:21,835 --> 00:43:24,537 TALL, JUST LIKE MY DAD. SO, HE HAD A PRESENCE TO HIM. 733 00:43:24,537 --> 00:43:26,873 >> HONESTLY, SPITTING IMAGE OF OUR DAD. 734 00:43:26,873 --> 00:43:28,375 IT'S KIND OF WEIRD YOU SEE THEM SIDE-BY-SIDE AND 735 00:43:28,375 --> 00:43:30,543 IT'S LIKE WELL WHO'S WHO SOMETIMES -- 736 00:43:30,543 --> 00:43:38,351 >> Reporter: WAS HE WELCOMING TO ALL YOU YOUNGER ONES 737 00:43:38,351 --> 00:43:40,820 >> YEAH. YOU KNOW, MY MOM USED TO TELL ME 738 00:43:40,820 --> 00:43:43,556 STORIES ABOUT HOW HE'D WALK AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH, 739 00:43:43,556 --> 00:43:45,258 YOU KNOW, HIS LITTLE, YOU KNOW, MIXED RACE BROTHER TO TRY TO GET 740 00:43:45,258 --> 00:43:47,894 THE LADIES TO LOOK AT HIM -- >> Reporter: LADIES WOULD LOOK 741 00:43:47,894 --> 00:43:51,164 AT DAVID, AND SOMETIMES DAVID LOOKED BACK. 742 00:43:51,164 --> 00:43:54,434 HE WAS MARRIED WHEN HE MET SARAH, HAD TWO KIDS. 743 00:43:54,434 --> 00:43:58,304 BUT HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THE ROAD, WORKING IN 744 00:43:58,304 --> 00:44:00,373 CONSTRUCTION AND WHILE ABSENCE IS SAID TO 745 00:44:00,373 --> 00:44:03,109 MAKE THE HEART GROW FONDER, DISTANCE FROM HIS WIFE DID NOT 746 00:44:03,109 --> 00:44:05,412 HAVE THAT EFFECT ON DAVID. WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN THEM 747 00:44:05,412 --> 00:44:09,582 >> SARAH HAPPENED BETWEEN THEM >> Reporter: SARAH HAPPENED. 748 00:44:09,582 --> 00:44:12,285 YEAH WELL, BRIAN WAS OUT OF HER LIFE 749 00:44:12,285 --> 00:44:15,555 AND DAVID BRAGG WAS ON A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT RIGHT AT 750 00:44:15,555 --> 00:44:18,291 FORT HOOD WHERE SARAH WAS STATIONED. 751 00:44:18,291 --> 00:44:24,230 THEY HID THEIR RELATIONSHIP FROM HER HUSBAND CHRIS UNTIL HE WAS 752 00:44:24,230 --> 00:44:31,271 STATIONED IN KOREA AND THEN EVERYTHING CHANGED. 753 00:44:31,271 --> 00:44:34,541 >> AND THE DAY HE LEFT DAVID, WAS OVER AT THE HOUSE. 754 00:44:34,541 --> 00:44:37,243 >> Reporter: IN FACT HE WAS AT THE HOUSE A LOT, OVERNIGHT, TOO, 755 00:44:37,243 --> 00:44:40,547 SOMETIMES. >> MY MOM WOULD TELL ME THAT UM 756 00:44:40,547 --> 00:44:43,750 HE WAS SLEEPING IN THE FRONT ROOM 757 00:44:43,750 --> 00:44:46,986 AND I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT. ONE TIME I WALKED TO THE FRONT 758 00:44:46,986 --> 00:44:49,723 OF THE HOUSE AND I PEEKED IN THE BEDROOM THAT DAVID WAS 759 00:44:49,723 --> 00:44:52,425 SUPPOSEDLY STAYING IN. AND IT LOOKED LIKE SOMEBODY WAS 760 00:44:52,425 --> 00:44:54,594 LAYING UNDER THE COVERS. SO I WENT IN THERE, AND I YANKED 761 00:44:54,594 --> 00:44:57,297 THE COVERS BACK, AND THERE WAS PILLOWS. 762 00:44:57,297 --> 00:45:00,033 AND I WAS LIKE, "OH MY GOD." >> Reporter: WHILE CHRIS 763 00:45:00,033 --> 00:45:02,736 SUSPECTED HIS WIFE HAD BEEN RUNNING AROUND ON HIM FOR YEARS, 764 00:45:02,736 --> 00:45:06,039 THIS WAS IT FOR HIM. IT MADE HIM SO MAD, HE FLEW HALF 765 00:45:06,039 --> 00:45:09,242 WAY AROUND THE WORLD TO CONFRONT HER. 766 00:45:09,242 --> 00:45:13,046 >> AND SO MY DAD GOT PERMISSION TO COME BACK TO THE STATES FROM 767 00:45:13,046 --> 00:45:16,282 HIS BOSS. AND I BASICALLY HELPED HIM CATCH 768 00:45:16,282 --> 00:45:20,120 HER CHEATING ON HIM. >> Reporter: SHE HELPED HER DAD 769 00:45:20,120 --> 00:45:24,457 BY ENSURING THE GARAGE DOOR WAS UNLOCKED AND ONCE IN HIS HOUSE, 770 00:45:24,457 --> 00:45:27,694 CHRIS WENT TO HIS BEDROOM, AND MADE A SHOCKING DISCOVERY IN HIS 771 00:45:27,694 --> 00:45:32,065 BED. >> THEY WERE IN BED TOGETHER 772 00:45:32,065 --> 00:45:35,268 AND SHE'S MADE A WHOLE BUNCH OF EXCUSES ABOUT IT, DIDN'T KNOW 773 00:45:35,268 --> 00:45:39,072 WHAT TO SAY. >> Reporter: THE MARRIAGE WAS 774 00:45:39,072 --> 00:45:42,308 EFFECTIVELY OVER, BUT SARAH WAS ALL-IN WITH DAVID BRAGG NOW. 775 00:45:42,308 --> 00:45:45,679 SHE EVEN WENT TO MEET HIS DEEPLY RELIGIOUS PARENTS. 776 00:45:45,679 --> 00:45:48,848 WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF SARAH 777 00:45:48,848 --> 00:45:51,584 >> WE KIND OF LIKED HER. >> YEAH. 778 00:45:51,584 --> 00:45:55,355 >> Reporter: KIND, CHARISMATIC SARAH, INTENT ON BEING A GOOD 779 00:45:55,355 --> 00:45:59,693 WIFE TO THEIR SON. OR SO IT SEEMED TO CARL. 780 00:45:59,693 --> 00:46:03,496 >> WE WERE CONVINCED FOR A LONG TIME THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, SHE HAD 781 00:46:03,496 --> 00:46:06,199 BEEN WRONGED IN HER FIRST MARRIAGE - 782 00:46:06,199 --> 00:46:08,902 >> Reporter: THAT IS, HER MARRIAGE TO CHRIS WHICH OF 783 00:46:08,902 --> 00:46:11,604 COURSE WAS ACTUALLY HER THIRD THOUGH THEY DIDN'T TELL THE 784 00:46:11,604 --> 00:46:14,874 PARENTS THAT >> WE LOVED HER. 785 00:46:14,874 --> 00:46:20,847 WE LOVED HER KIDS, SHE'S GOT BEAUTIFUL KIDS 786 00:46:20,847 --> 00:46:24,084 >> Reporter: SARAH DEFINITELY HAD DAVID HOOKED BUT THEN WORK 787 00:46:24,084 --> 00:46:29,522 HAD DAVID ON THE MOVE AGAIN, THIS TIME SOME TWELVE-HUNDRED 788 00:46:29,522 --> 00:46:33,860 MILES AWAY TO A TINY HAMLET CALLED GARFIELD, MINNESOTA 789 00:46:33,860 --> 00:46:36,563 SO HE AND SARAH MADE A PLAN -- A LIFE PLAN. 790 00:46:36,563 --> 00:46:40,133 >> HE ENDED UP GOING TO MINNESOTA AND I BELIEVE THE IDEA 791 00:46:40,133 --> 00:46:43,603 OR WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN WAS THAT SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO 792 00:46:43,603 --> 00:46:46,840 COME UP THERE AND LIVE, YOU KNOW, HAPPILY EVER AFTER, OF 793 00:46:46,840 --> 00:46:49,576 COURSE >> Reporter: THE ONLY PROBLEM 794 00:46:49,576 --> 00:47:02,622 WITH HAPPILY EVER AFTER IS THAT IT TENDS TO BE THE PROVENANCE OF 795 00:47:02,622 --> 00:47:06,393 FAIRY TALES. AND THE STORY DAVID BRAGG WAS 796 00:47:06,393 --> 00:47:09,129 LIVING IN WAS GOING TO BE MORE BROTHERS GRIMM 797 00:47:09,129 --> 00:47:11,831 >> SHE HAD A TEMPER THAT SHE COULD BE REALLY SWEET ONE MINUTE 798 00:47:11,831 --> 00:47:14,534 AND JUST CRAZY IN THE NEXT MINUTE 799 00:47:14,534 --> 00:47:17,671 >> Reporter: SADLY FOR DAVID, CRAZY WAS JUST AROUND THE 800 00:47:17,671 --> 00:47:17,837 CRAZY WAS JUST AROUND THE CORNER 801 00:47:37,857 --> 00:47:41,695 >> Reporter: IN THE WINTER OF 2017, THE WOMAN, STILL KNOWN AS 802 00:47:41,695 --> 00:47:45,532 SARAH DONOHUE, HAD SETTLED IN WITH DAVID BRAGG IN TINY 803 00:47:45,532 --> 00:47:48,268 GARFIELD, MINNESOTA. HER PLAN WAS TO MAKE HIM HER 804 00:47:48,268 --> 00:47:52,772 FOURTH HUSBAND MIND YOU, DAVID WAS NO STRANGER 805 00:47:52,772 --> 00:47:56,409 TO STARTING OVER HIMSELF >> Reporter: NOW, HE'S GOING TO 806 00:47:56,409 --> 00:48:00,180 BE MARRIED TO WOMAN NUMBER THREE. 807 00:48:00,180 --> 00:48:04,517 >> YEAH, NUMBER THREE. AND THEY WERE TOGETHER FOR ABOUT 808 00:48:04,517 --> 00:48:07,220 SIX -- SIX AND A HALF MONTHS AND ENGAGED. 809 00:48:07,220 --> 00:48:10,490 >> Reporter: IT WASN'T VERY LONG 810 00:48:10,490 --> 00:48:13,727 >> VERY LONG AT ALL. YEAH 811 00:48:13,727 --> 00:48:18,064 >> Reporter: DID YOU SEE THEM TOGETHER AT ALL? 812 00:48:18,064 --> 00:48:22,435 >> NO. SEE, IT WAS SO QUICK, AND THEY'RE THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY. 813 00:48:22,435 --> 00:48:25,171 >> Reporter: YEAH. >> I ACTUALLY MET SARAH, 814 00:48:25,171 --> 00:48:29,843 FACE-TO-FACE, OVER FACETIME ONE TIME, JUST A NORMAL, HAPPY LADY. 815 00:48:29,843 --> 00:48:36,049 AND MY BROTHER LOVED HER, AND WE TRUSTED HIM. 816 00:48:36,049 --> 00:48:39,819 >> Reporter: TO BE CLEAR, SARAH WAS STILL MARRIED TO 817 00:48:39,819 --> 00:48:44,691 CHRIS DONOHUE WHEN DAVID AND SARAH JEAN FOUND AN OLD WHITE 818 00:48:44,691 --> 00:48:52,132 FARMHOUSE IN WHICH TO START THEIR NEW LIFE TOGETHER. 819 00:48:52,132 --> 00:48:56,636 THE IDEA WAS, THEY'D RENT TO BUY AND FIX IT UP AS THEY WENT 820 00:48:56,636 --> 00:48:59,906 ALONG. JEFF WOOD WOULD BE THEIR 821 00:48:59,906 --> 00:49:02,609 LANDLORD >> UH, A REALLY NICE COUPLE. 822 00:49:02,609 --> 00:49:05,879 UH, DAVID WAS VERY GENTLEMANLY, UH, HAD THAT SOUTHERN THING 823 00:49:05,879 --> 00:49:09,149 ABOUT HIM. I THOUGHT THEY'RE A GREAT 824 00:49:09,149 --> 00:49:12,185 COUPLE >> Reporter: AT THE BEGINNING, 825 00:49:12,185 --> 00:49:17,590 THAT IS. EVERYTHING FRESH AND PERFECT, 826 00:49:17,590 --> 00:49:21,661 THE WAY NEW LOVE FEELS >> SEEMED TO BE IN LOVE, UH, 827 00:49:21,661 --> 00:49:25,031 THAT KIND OF CHANGED AS THE TIME MOVED ON WITH THEM WORKING ON 828 00:49:25,031 --> 00:49:28,134 THE HOUSE AND STUFF. UH, SHE STARTED GETTING VERY 829 00:49:28,134 --> 00:49:30,403 AGITATED, REALLY SHORT, BECAUSE DAVID WASN'T GETTING THE HOUSE 830 00:49:30,403 --> 00:49:33,039 DONE FAST ENOUGH >> Reporter: PART OF THE DEAL 831 00:49:33,039 --> 00:49:36,843 WAS THAT DAVID WOULD REMODEL THE KITCHEN OF THE OLD FARMHOUSE, 832 00:49:36,843 --> 00:49:39,546 BUT -- WELL, HE HAD HIS OWN IDEA OF HOW 833 00:49:39,546 --> 00:49:42,782 LONG IT SHOULD TAKE AND WANTED TO SURPRISE HER, PERHAPS 834 00:49:42,782 --> 00:49:46,052 >> SHE HAD GONE DOWN TO TEXAS FOR TWO AND A HALF WEEKS 835 00:49:46,052 --> 00:49:50,390 AND WHEN SHE CAME BACK, DAVID HAD HIRED SOMEBODY TO MAKE A 836 00:49:50,390 --> 00:49:54,728 PATH THROUGH THE WOODS INSTEAD OF WORKING ON THE HOUSE. 837 00:49:54,728 --> 00:49:58,064 AND OH, SHE WAS JUST IRATE, BECAUSE HE HAD WASTED ALL THAT 838 00:49:58,064 --> 00:50:01,434 MONEY ON THIS GUY AND NOT PUT IT INTO THE HOUSE 839 00:50:01,434 --> 00:50:04,504 SO, SHE HAD A TEMPER THAT SHE COULD BE REALLY SWEET ONE MINUTE 840 00:50:04,504 --> 00:50:08,341 AND JUST CRAZY IN THE NEXT MINUTE 841 00:50:08,341 --> 00:50:12,112 >> Reporter: IF SOME ALARM WENT OFF IN DAVID'S MIND, HE SEEMED 842 00:50:12,112 --> 00:50:15,348 TO SHOW NO SIGN OF IT, BUT RATHER, TRIED HARDER TO PLEASE 843 00:50:15,348 --> 00:50:19,152 HER, AT LEAST, THAT'S HOW HIS PARENTS SAW IT 844 00:50:19,152 --> 00:50:22,956 >> Reporter: I WONDERED WHETHER HE WOULD BE SOMEBODY WHO WOULD 845 00:50:22,956 --> 00:50:26,393 ALWAYS TRY TO SEE THE GOOD SIDE IN PEOPLE, EVEN MAYBE IF OTHER 846 00:50:26,393 --> 00:50:30,563 PEOPLE DIDN'T. >> ABSOLUTELY. 847 00:50:30,563 --> 00:50:34,367 >> YES >> Reporter: THAT HE WAS ALWAYS 848 00:50:34,367 --> 00:50:37,637 TRYING TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT IN A RELATIONSHIP 849 00:50:37,637 --> 00:50:40,907 >> HE HAD FAILED RELATIONSHIPS, AND HE KEPT TRYING TO GIVE THIS 850 00:50:40,907 --> 00:50:46,413 WOMAN CHANCES, BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT ANOTHER FAILED 851 00:50:46,413 --> 00:50:50,684 RELATIONSHIP >> Reporter: BUT IT WASN'T LONG 852 00:50:50,684 --> 00:50:53,953 BEFORE, DAVID HAD TO STOP LIVING IN DENIAL. 853 00:50:53,953 --> 00:50:58,291 HE TOLD HIS FAMILY THE REAL SARAH WASN'T AT ALL THE WOMAN HE 854 00:50:58,291 --> 00:51:01,561 THOUGHT HE'D FALLEN IN LOVE WITH 855 00:51:01,561 --> 00:51:04,798 >> YOU KNOW WHEN THE LAST TIME I SAW HIM, HE KIND OF WANTED OUT 856 00:51:04,798 --> 00:51:06,466 YOU KNOW, HE WASN'T AS HAPPY AS - 857 00:51:06,466 --> 00:51:09,703 >> Reporter: DAVID WANTED OUT. OKAY 858 00:51:09,703 --> 00:51:12,972 >> MM-HMM. I REMEMBER VERY VIVIDLY MY DAD 859 00:51:12,972 --> 00:51:15,675 TELLING ME THAT HE REACHED OUT AND WAS LIKE, "I DON'T HAVE A 860 00:51:15,675 --> 00:51:18,912 GOOD FEELING ABOUT THIS. >> Reporter: "MAYBE I MADE A 861 00:51:18,912 --> 00:51:21,648 MISTAKE. >> YEAH, I MADE A MISTAKE, BUT 862 00:51:21,648 --> 00:51:24,351 JUST HEARING THAT, IT GAVE -- IT GAVE ME GOOSEBUMPS 863 00:51:24,351 --> 00:51:27,620 EVEN TALKING ABOUT IT MAKES THE HAIR ON YOUR NECK STAND UP 864 00:51:27,620 --> 00:51:31,424 >> Reporter: AND THEN ONE SPRING DAY IN MAY, 2018 - 865 00:51:31,424 --> 00:51:35,328 >> WE HEARD IT COME ACROSS OUR SCANNER. 866 00:51:35,328 --> 00:51:39,132 >> Reporter: AL EDENLOFF IS EDITOR IN CHIEF OF THE LOCAL 867 00:51:39,132 --> 00:51:42,802 NEWSPAPER. SOMETHING HAPPENING AT THAT OLD 868 00:51:42,802 --> 00:51:46,606 WHITE FARM HOUSE FEW MINUTES LATER, LANDLORD, 869 00:51:46,606 --> 00:51:49,342 JEFF WOOD'S, PHONE RANG TOO. >> ONE OF MY COWORKERS CALLED ME 870 00:51:49,342 --> 00:51:53,146 AT WORK, AND SAID I BETTER GET OVER TO THE HOUSE, BECAUSE 871 00:51:53,146 --> 00:51:55,849 THERE'S SQUAD CARS ALL AROUND THE HOUSE. 872 00:51:55,849 --> 00:52:00,720 >> THE SHERIFF TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A SHOOTING, AND THAT 873 00:52:00,720 --> 00:52:03,423 THERE WAS A BODY FOUND IN, UH, IN THE DOWNSTAIRS PORTION OF THE 874 00:52:03,423 --> 00:52:07,227 HOUSE, THE DOWNSTAIRS LIVING ROOM 875 00:52:07,227 --> 00:52:24,577 >> Reporter: WHAT IN THE WORLD HAD HAPPENED IN THAT OLD 876 00:52:24,577 --> 00:52:28,982 >> Reporter: IT WAS DAVID BRAGG IN THE LIVING ROOM, SHOT DEAD. 877 00:52:28,982 --> 00:52:33,319 AND THE SHOOTER? WELL, THAT WOULD BE SARAH JEAN, 878 00:52:33,319 --> 00:52:41,428 AND SHE EVEN ADMITTED IT, TELLING DETECTIVES THAT THERE 879 00:52:41,428 --> 00:52:44,564 HAD BEEN AN ARGUMENT AND BRAGG PULLED A GUN 880 00:52:44,564 --> 00:52:48,335 IN A STRING OF TEXTS SHE TOLD US, "I WAS LOOKING DOWN THE 881 00:52:48,335 --> 00:52:52,172 BARREL OF A .45 THINKING THIS MAN IS REALLY GOING TO KILL ME 882 00:52:52,172 --> 00:52:54,874 HE'S GOING TO KILL ALL OF US HE FIRED AT ME FIRST 883 00:52:54,874 --> 00:52:58,144 HAD I NOT DOVE INTO THE FLOOR AT THE BASE OF THE STAIRS HE WOULD 884 00:52:58,144 --> 00:53:04,684 HAVE SHOT ME IN THE HEAD." SHE HAD TO SHOOT BACK, SHE SAID. 885 00:53:04,684 --> 00:53:07,387 IT WAS SELF-DEFENSE. >> Reporter: SARAH'S SON, RYAN, 886 00:53:07,387 --> 00:53:10,657 WAS LIVING AT THE FARMHOUSE THEN, BUT WAS OUT WHEN IT 887 00:53:10,657 --> 00:53:13,893 HAPPENED AND WHEN HE GOT HOME, SHE TOLD 888 00:53:13,893 --> 00:53:18,798 HIM MORE OR LESS THE SOME STORY SHE TOLD POLICE, BUT WITH A FEW 889 00:53:18,798 --> 00:53:21,501 EXTRA BITS ADDED DETAILS THAT MADE RYAN WONDER. 890 00:53:21,501 --> 00:53:23,770 >> SHE SAID HE F -- HE FIRED AT HER FIRST. 891 00:53:23,770 --> 00:53:26,406 >> Reporter: THAT HIS GUN WAS FIRED FIRST. 892 00:53:26,406 --> 00:53:31,277 >> AS SHE'S COMIN' DOWN THE STAIRS, SHE DROPPED IN PLACE AND 893 00:53:31,277 --> 00:53:34,547 HAD HER ARM OVER THE RAILING AND FIRED THAT WAY 894 00:53:34,547 --> 00:53:37,817 SO, YOUR -- JUST PICTURE YOURSELF CROUCHED DOWN 895 00:53:37,817 --> 00:53:41,621 ARM OVER THE RAILING AND JUST SHOOTING BLINDLY. 896 00:53:41,621 --> 00:53:44,324 SHE HIT HIM CENTER MASS LIKE, THERE'S -- THERE'S NO WAY. 897 00:53:44,324 --> 00:53:48,661 >> Reporter: THE STORY COULDN'T BE TRUE. 898 00:53:48,661 --> 00:53:53,566 >> NO. LIKE THERE WASN'T A LOTTA BLOOD 899 00:53:53,566 --> 00:53:57,370 THERE. THERE WAS -- IT WAS PROBABLY -- 900 00:53:57,370 --> 00:54:00,106 LIKE, MAYBE, LIKE, THIS BIG, THAT MUCH BLOOD. 901 00:54:00,106 --> 00:54:05,045 >> Reporter: CAUSE SHE HIT HIS HEART RIGHT OFF THE BAT. 902 00:54:05,045 --> 00:54:08,248 >> AND THEN ONE OF MY YOUNGER SISTERS CAME IN. 903 00:54:08,248 --> 00:54:15,855 SHE'S LIKE, "I HEARD BUBBLING. LIKE THIS BUBBLE NOISE 904 00:54:15,855 --> 00:54:20,660 AND HE -- HE JUST DIED THERE." >> Reporter: WHEN JEFF WOOD, THE 905 00:54:20,660 --> 00:54:22,929 LANDLORD, HEARD THAT VERSION OF EVENTS STRAIGHT FROM SARAH JEAN, 906 00:54:22,929 --> 00:54:27,267 HE TOO HAD DOUBTS. >> I DON'T BUY IT BECAUSE THE 907 00:54:27,267 --> 00:54:31,071 WAY SHE EXPLAINED IT IT WAS LIKE OUT OF A BAD ACTION 908 00:54:31,071 --> 00:54:33,807 MOVIE. I MEAN, SHE EXPLAINED HOW SHE 909 00:54:33,807 --> 00:54:36,509 DOVE ON TO THE -- THE LANDING OF THE STEPS. 910 00:54:36,509 --> 00:54:39,813 AND SHE PULLED HER GUN, AND SHOT BETWEEN THE SPINDLES OF THE 911 00:54:39,813 --> 00:54:45,218 STEPS GOING UPSTAIRS AND -- AND SHOT HIM AND RETURNED 912 00:54:45,218 --> 00:54:47,921 FIRE, WHICH I JUST DON'T BUY SO I THINK IF DAVID WANTED TO 913 00:54:47,921 --> 00:54:51,191 SHOOT HER, HE WOULD HAVE SHOT HER. 914 00:54:51,191 --> 00:54:55,528 I DON'T BUY IT AT ALL. >> Reporter: WHATEVER THE ACTUAL 915 00:54:55,528 --> 00:54:59,866 STORY WAS, THE SAD FACT REMAINED THAT SARAH'S FIANCE WAS DEAD 916 00:54:59,866 --> 00:55:05,271 SO AFTER THE CHAOS, AND THE COPS WERE GONE, RYAN GRABBED A BUCKET 917 00:55:05,271 --> 00:55:09,609 AND A RAG. >> I CLEANED UP THE MESS AND 918 00:55:09,609 --> 00:55:15,048 SWITCHED AROUND THE ROOM >> Reporter: YOU CLEANED UP THE 919 00:55:15,048 --> 00:55:19,919 BLOOD AND THE MESS FROM HIS BODY 920 00:55:19,919 --> 00:55:22,655 >> YEAH. >> Reporter: OF COURSE THERE WAS 921 00:55:22,655 --> 00:55:25,358 AN INVESTIGATION IT INVOLVED THE DOUGLAS COUNTY 922 00:55:25,358 --> 00:55:28,628 SHERIFF, THE COUNTY PROSECUTOR, AND EVEN STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT 923 00:55:28,628 --> 00:55:31,931 IT WENT ON FOR MONTHS. AND THEN THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE 924 00:55:31,931 --> 00:55:34,067 RELEASED A STATEMENT THAT THERE WAS SOME BALLISTIC EVIDENCE TO 925 00:55:34,067 --> 00:55:36,236 SUPPORT A CASE OF "SELF DEFENSE. 926 00:55:36,236 --> 00:55:38,972 >> THEY DETERMINED THEY WOULD NOT BE FILING CHARGES. 927 00:55:38,972 --> 00:55:43,843 THAT THERE JUST WASN'T ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO JUSTIFY, OR SAY, 928 00:55:43,843 --> 00:55:49,249 THERE WAS ANYTHING ELSE AND IT WAS A JUSTIFIED, UH, SHOOTING. 929 00:55:49,249 --> 00:55:54,821 >> Reporter: DAVID'S FAMILY CAN NEVER FORGET HEARING ABOUT HOW 930 00:55:54,821 --> 00:55:58,491 THEIR SON HAD BEEN KILLED. WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU, CARL 931 00:55:58,491 --> 00:56:06,633 >> IT TORE - >> JUST BREATHE. 932 00:56:06,633 --> 00:56:11,037 >> IT TORE ME UP >> Reporter: STILL TEARS YOU UP, 933 00:56:11,037 --> 00:56:17,477 THESE YEARS LATER. YEAH, I'M SORRY, CARL. 934 00:56:17,477 --> 00:56:21,648 DAVID'S BROTHER, DANIEL, BELIEVES THOSE INVESTIGATORS GOT 935 00:56:21,648 --> 00:56:24,184 PLAYED BY SARAH. >> THAT'S THE THING THAT GOT US 936 00:56:24,184 --> 00:56:28,388 WAS THE FACT THAT LIKE, ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET'S -- LET'S LET 937 00:56:28,388 --> 00:56:31,658 THE POLICE FIGURE IT OUT YOU KNOW, LET'S LET LAW 938 00:56:31,658 --> 00:56:36,062 ENFORCEMENT FIGURE IT OUT. THEY DIDN'T PROSECUTE IT 939 00:56:36,062 --> 00:56:38,732 >> Reporter: BUT SARAH'S DAUGHTER, ASHLEY, ALSO HAD A 940 00:56:38,732 --> 00:56:41,434 STORY TO TELL. IT STARTED A FEW MONTHS BEFORE 941 00:56:41,434 --> 00:56:45,271 THE SHOOTING SARAH'S HUSBAND, CHRIS, HAD 942 00:56:45,271 --> 00:56:49,075 FILED FOR DIVORCE. IT WOULD BE FINALIZED SOON 943 00:56:49,075 --> 00:56:52,312 WHEN SARAH GOT WORD THAT CHRIS HAD BEGUN DATING AGAIN 944 00:56:52,312 --> 00:56:55,081 >> SHE GOT REALLY SAD, AND UPSET ABOUT MY DAD BECAUSE MY DAD HAD 945 00:56:55,081 --> 00:56:58,818 STARTED TALKING WITH SOMEBODY. AND SHE HATED THAT 946 00:56:58,818 --> 00:57:02,622 >> Reporter: SO WHAT DID SHE DO? ASHLEY SAID HER MOTHER TOLD HER 947 00:57:02,622 --> 00:57:05,325 SHE WAS SENDING A TEXT TO DAVID BRAGG. 948 00:57:05,325 --> 00:57:08,628 >> SAYING THAT HOW IT WAS OVER, AND SHE DIDN'T WANNA BE ENGAGED 949 00:57:08,628 --> 00:57:11,731 TO HIM ANYMORE >> Reporter: SO SHE'S PULLING 950 00:57:11,731 --> 00:57:14,034 AWAY FROM DAVID NOW? >> SUPPOSEDLY. 951 00:57:14,034 --> 00:57:18,038 BUT I THINK THAT SHE WAS PLAYING HOUSE WITH DAVID AT HOME BUT 952 00:57:18,038 --> 00:57:21,641 THEN, LIKE, STILL TRYING TO GET WITH MY DAD BEHIND DAVID'S BACK. 953 00:57:21,641 --> 00:57:26,046 >> Reporter: OOF, COMPLICATED. >> SHE AND COMPLICATED GO ALONG 954 00:57:26,046 --> 00:57:28,148 VERY WELL. >> Reporter: DID SARAH ACTUALLY 955 00:57:28,148 --> 00:57:34,120 SEND THAT "BREAK UP TEXT?" ASHLEY COULDN'T SAY FOR SURE, 956 00:57:34,120 --> 00:57:37,390 BUT SHE DID SEE HER MOTHER PACK UP HER CAR AND HEAD NORTH TO 957 00:57:37,390 --> 00:57:39,559 KEEP "PLAYING HOUSE" WITH DAVID BRAGG. 958 00:57:39,559 --> 00:57:43,363 BUT BEFORE SHE LEFT TEXAS, SHE SAID SOMETHING ASHLEY THOUGHT 959 00:57:43,363 --> 00:57:46,633 WAS VERY STRANGE OR, IN RETROSPECT, DOWNRIGHT 960 00:57:46,633 --> 00:57:49,836 OMINOUS. >> SHE TOLD ME, "IF ANYTHING 961 00:57:49,836 --> 00:57:52,072 HAPPENS WHEN I GO BACK TO MINNESOTA, AND I HAVE TO DEFEND 962 00:57:52,072 --> 00:57:54,808 MYSELF, CALL THIS PERSON AND TELL THEM TO COME PICK UP THE 963 00:57:54,808 --> 00:57:57,510 GIRLS. AND I WAS JUST, LIKE, "WHY?" 964 00:57:57,510 --> 00:58:00,246 AND I TOLD HER, I WAS, LIKE, "MOM, I DON'T THINK ANYTHING'S 965 00:58:00,246 --> 00:58:04,050 GONNA HAPPEN LIKE THAT." AND SHE WAS, LIKE, "WELL, IF -- 966 00:58:04,050 --> 00:58:08,922 IF IT DOES," SHE'S, LIKE, "CALL THEM, AND TELL THEM TO COME PICK 967 00:58:08,922 --> 00:58:11,658 UP THE GIRLS." AND I WAS, LIKE, "OKAY." 968 00:58:11,658 --> 00:58:14,928 AND THEN I GET A CALL A COUPLE DAYS LATER AND I WAS, LIKE, 969 00:58:14,928 --> 00:58:17,630 "WHOA. >> Reporter: THAT'S HOW ASHLEY 970 00:58:17,630 --> 00:58:21,434 LEARNED DAVID BRAGG WAS DEAD IN YOUR HEART OF HEARTS, WHAT DO 971 00:58:21,434 --> 00:58:26,206 YOU THINK HAPPENED IN THERE? >> WITH DAVID? 972 00:58:26,206 --> 00:58:28,508 >> Reporter: YEAH. >> I PERSONALLY THINK THAT SHE 973 00:58:28,508 --> 00:58:31,211 PROVOKED A FIGHT, AND SHE THOUGHT THAT SHE WOULD BE ABLE 974 00:58:31,211 --> 00:58:34,481 TO GET MY DAD BACK AND HE WOULD WANT HER BACK IF 975 00:58:34,481 --> 00:58:38,818 DAVID WAS NO LONGER IN THE PICTURE. 976 00:58:38,818 --> 00:58:43,156 I'M, LIKE, "MY DAD DOESN'T WANT TO BE WITH YOU ANY -- LIKE, HE'S 977 00:58:43,156 --> 00:59:02,075 COMPLETELY DETACHED HIMSELF FROM >> Reporter: SARAH JEAN SETTLED 978 00:59:02,075 --> 00:59:05,345 RIGHT BACK INTO LIFE AT THE OLD WHITE FARMHOUSE IN TINY 979 00:59:05,345 --> 00:59:10,250 GARFIELD, MINNESOTA. THE VERY HOUSE IN WHICH SHE HAD 980 00:59:10,250 --> 00:59:15,121 JUST SHOT HER FIANCE DAVID SELF-DEFENSE, SHE'D SAID 981 00:59:15,121 --> 00:59:20,794 AND THE AUTHORITIES FINALLY AGREED--OFFICIALLY 982 00:59:20,794 --> 00:59:24,330 THEIR MONTHS LONG INVESTIGATION ENDED WITH NO CHARGES AGAINST 983 00:59:24,330 --> 00:59:27,067 SARAH JEAN IN ANY CASE, IF IT SEEMED ODD TO 984 00:59:27,067 --> 00:59:30,337 SOME THAT SHE'D GO ON LIVING IN THE VERY PLACE WHERE SHE'D 985 00:59:30,337 --> 00:59:34,674 KILLED HER MAN, IT CERTAINLY SEEMED TO SUIT SARAH 986 00:59:34,674 --> 00:59:37,377 SHE MADE HERSELF AT HOME -- IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE 987 00:59:37,377 --> 00:59:41,181 >> THE ONE DAY I WAS OVER THERE, I WAS TALKING TO HER AND GETTING 988 00:59:41,181 --> 00:59:45,552 THE RENT AND THE PROPANE GUY DROVE UP AND CAME IN THE HOUSE 989 00:59:45,552 --> 00:59:49,356 AND, WELL, APPARENTLY SHE'S DATING HIM NOW 990 00:59:49,356 --> 00:59:52,058 AND IT WAS PRETTY SHORT TIME AFTER SHE HAD SHOT DAVID 991 00:59:52,058 --> 00:59:55,328 AND SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS KIND OF -- KIND OF ODD. 992 00:59:55,328 --> 00:59:58,698 >> Reporter: THE "PROPANE GUY" WAS ANOTHER DAVID. 993 00:59:58,698 --> 01:00:02,402 DAVID GEORGE NOT JUST A PROPANE GUY, BY THE 994 01:00:02,402 --> 01:00:06,206 WAY, BUT A LOCAL FARMER. AND BEFORE LONG, HE WAS 995 01:00:06,206 --> 01:00:10,543 SARAH JEAN'S FOURTH HUSBAND. >> I THOUGHT THAT WAS A PRETTY 996 01:00:10,543 --> 01:00:14,748 QUICK MARRIAGE AFTER, YOU KNOW, KILLING HER FIANCE 997 01:00:14,748 --> 01:00:17,617 >> Reporter: SARAH'S SON RYAN GOT ON QUITE WELL WITH HIS NEW 998 01:00:17,617 --> 01:00:21,388 STEPDAD. WHAT WAS HE LIKE 999 01:00:21,388 --> 01:00:26,126 >> HE WAS A GREAT GUY. I GOT NOTHIN' BUT GOOD THINGS TO 1000 01:00:26,126 --> 01:00:30,630 SAY ABOUT HIM. >> Reporter: MM-HMM. 1001 01:00:30,630 --> 01:00:33,366 >> HE REALLY CARED ABOUT US. UM, HE -- HE TRIED HELPIN' US 1002 01:00:33,366 --> 01:00:36,102 EVERY WAY HE COULD I THINK HIS ONLY FLAW -- IT 1003 01:00:36,102 --> 01:00:39,806 DOESN'T MAKE HIM A BAD GUY, IS THE FACT THAT YOU KNOW, MY MOM 1004 01:00:39,806 --> 01:00:43,710 WAS HIS WIFE AND, EVEN WHEN SHE'S WRONG -- HE SIDES WITH 1005 01:00:43,710 --> 01:00:46,980 HER. AND I DON'T THINK HE KNEW SHE 1006 01:00:46,980 --> 01:00:49,883 WAS IN THE WRONG BUT HE -- HE TRULY LOVED HER, 1007 01:00:49,883 --> 01:00:52,952 AND, YOU KNOW, HE'D -- STAND BY YOUR WIFE. 1008 01:00:52,952 --> 01:00:55,989 YOU KNOW >> Reporter: WHICH IS SOMETHING 1009 01:00:55,989 --> 01:00:58,925 TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN YOU HEAR WHAT HAPPENED NEXT 1010 01:00:58,925 --> 01:01:03,830 -- OR WHAT DIDN'T QUITE HAPPEN BUT FIRST, TO BRING YOU UP TO 1011 01:01:03,830 --> 01:01:07,634 DATE -- EX-HUSBAND CHRIS HAD MARRIED AGAIN, TOO, TO A WOMAN 1012 01:01:07,634 --> 01:01:10,870 NAMED HEATHER. THEY SEEMED VERY HAPPY 1013 01:01:10,870 --> 01:01:14,140 EXCEPT FOR ONE BIG PROBLEM CHRIS AND SARAH HAD A CUSTODY 1014 01:01:14,140 --> 01:01:20,680 AGREEMENT FOR THEIR TWO YOUNGEST DAUGHTERS, BUT SARAH WASN'T 1015 01:01:20,680 --> 01:01:23,917 HONORING IT, ACCORDING TO CHRIS, SHE REFUSED TO LET HIM GET 1016 01:01:23,917 --> 01:01:27,187 ANYWHERE NEAR THE GIRLS. AND THEN ONE DAY, ONE OF THOSE 1017 01:01:27,187 --> 01:01:31,524 GIRLS, HANNAH, TEXTED ASHLEY AND TOLD HER SHE WANTED TO SEE HER 1018 01:01:31,524 --> 01:01:35,328 >> SO I GOT READY, DROPPED EVERYTHING 1019 01:01:35,328 --> 01:01:40,767 >> Reporter: BUT WHEN ASHLEY MET HER THEN 16-YEAR-OLD SISTER, 1020 01:01:40,767 --> 01:01:44,537 HANNAH WAS SUDDENLY RELUCTANT TO TALK 1021 01:01:44,537 --> 01:01:47,273 SO ASHLEY PRESSED HER. SHE'S, LIKE, "I CAN'T TELL YOU." 1022 01:01:47,273 --> 01:01:49,976 SHE WAS, LIKE, "GEORGE TOLD ME NOT TO SAY ANYTHING. 1023 01:01:49,976 --> 01:01:52,512 AND I WAS, LIKE, "HANNAH, IF IT HAS TO DO WITH DAD OR HEATHER'S 1024 01:01:52,512 --> 01:01:54,314 SAFETY, I KNOW YOU DON'T KNOW HEATHER, BUT SHE'S A NICE 1025 01:01:54,314 --> 01:01:57,017 PERSON, LIKE -- AND SHE MEANS A LOT TO DAD." 1026 01:01:57,017 --> 01:01:59,753 BUT YOU KNOW DAD, AND DAD IS A GOOD PERSON, AND I WAS, LIKE, 1027 01:01:59,753 --> 01:02:01,921 "IF IT HAS TO DO WITH THEIR SAFETY I NEED TO KNOW. 1028 01:02:01,921 --> 01:02:05,191 >> Reporter: HEATHER, REMEMBER, WAS CHRIS DONOHUE'S NEW WIFE 1029 01:02:05,191 --> 01:02:09,062 >> I WAS, LIKE, "I'M NOT GONNA RUN BACK TO MOM OR TELL HER THAT 1030 01:02:09,062 --> 01:02:13,900 YOU SAID ANYTHING. AND SO SHE TELLS ME, AND SHE, 1031 01:02:13,900 --> 01:02:16,069 LIKE, WHISPERED IT TO ME >> Reporter: THE SECRET WAS 1032 01:02:16,069 --> 01:02:19,339 UNBELIEVABLE, AND ASHLEY KNEW SHE COULD NOT LET IT REMAIN 1033 01:02:19,339 --> 01:02:22,075 SECRET >> I TEXTED MY DAD, AND I WAS, 1034 01:02:22,075 --> 01:02:27,981 LIKE, "I NEED YOU AVAILABLE TO TALK AS SOON AS I LEAVE THIS 1035 01:02:27,981 --> 01:02:30,684 PLACE, BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU NEED 1036 01:02:30,684 --> 01:02:33,420 TO KNOW. >> Reporter: WHAT DID HANNAH 1037 01:02:33,420 --> 01:02:37,257 TELL YOU WAS GONNA HAPPEN? >> GEORGE HAD TOLD HER THAT MY 1038 01:02:37,257 --> 01:02:41,094 MOM WOULDN'T LET GEORGE BACK IN THE HOUSE UNTIL HE KILLED 1039 01:02:41,094 --> 01:02:44,597 HEATHER. SHE WANTED HIM TO SHOOT HER, AND 1040 01:02:44,597 --> 01:02:47,534 HANNAH WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE ME WITH DETAILS ABOUT THIS CAR. 1041 01:02:47,534 --> 01:02:49,703 THAT'S THE CAR THAT GEORGE WAS SUPPOSED TO DRIVE DOWN THERE, 1042 01:02:49,703 --> 01:02:52,439 AND HE WAS SUPPOSED TO KNOCK ON THE DOOR, HEATHER WAS SUPPOSED 1043 01:02:52,439 --> 01:02:55,141 TO ANSWER, AND THEN HE WAS SUPPOSED TO SHOOT HER. 1044 01:02:55,141 --> 01:02:57,844 HE DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT, AND MY MOM KEPT PRESSURING HIM TO DO 1045 01:02:57,844 --> 01:03:00,580 IT >> Reporter: WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO 1046 01:03:00,580 --> 01:03:03,283 HEAR THAT? >> UM, IT HONESTLY MADE ME SICK. 1047 01:03:03,283 --> 01:03:06,553 LIKE, I FELT LIKE THERE WAS A PIT IN MY CHEST, I JUST KEPT 1048 01:03:06,553 --> 01:03:10,357 THINKING, SHE ALWAYS USED TO SAY TO ME WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, "IF 1049 01:03:10,357 --> 01:03:14,694 THERE'S A WILL THERE'S A WAY." AND IF SHE REALLY WANTED THAT TO 1050 01:03:14,694 --> 01:03:17,964 BE DONE, SHE WOULD FIND A WAY FOR IT TO GET CARRIED OUT. 1051 01:03:17,964 --> 01:03:20,667 >> Reporter: ASHLEY GOT HER DAD ON THE PHONE 1052 01:03:20,667 --> 01:03:22,836 WOW. HOW DID YOUR DAD REACT TO WHAT 1053 01:03:22,836 --> 01:03:25,572 YOU TOLD HIM >> UM, I THINK IT REALLY, REALLY 1054 01:03:25,572 --> 01:03:29,376 STRESSED HIM OUT I THINK IT WORRIED HIM 1055 01:03:29,376 --> 01:03:32,078 BECAUSE HIS MAIN CONCERN WAS MAKING SURE HIS WIFE WAS SAFE. 1056 01:03:32,078 --> 01:03:36,449 >> Reporter: CHRIS AND HEATHER WERE A NEARLY A THOUSAND MILES 1057 01:03:36,449 --> 01:03:39,419 AWAY IN ARIZONA -- A SEEMINGLY SAFE DISTANCE. 1058 01:03:39,419 --> 01:03:41,855 BUT SARAH HAD A WAY OF MAKING MEN DO WHAT SHE WANTED 1059 01:03:41,855 --> 01:03:43,490 AND DAVID GEORGE SEEMED QUITE INTENT ON PLEASING HER 1060 01:03:43,490 --> 01:04:04,678 EVEN IF SHE ASKED HIM TO BE HER "HITMAN. 1061 01:04:04,678 --> 01:04:07,480 >> Reporter: FAR AWAY IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA CHRIS DONOHUE 1062 01:04:07,480 --> 01:04:09,649 HAD JUST LEARNED THAT HIS EX-WIFE SARAH JEAN WAS 1063 01:04:09,649 --> 01:04:12,118 SUPPOSEDLY COOKING UP A PLOT TO KILL HIS NEW WIFE, HEATHER 1064 01:04:12,118 --> 01:04:14,187 HE KNEW HE HAD TO ACT FAST >> FIRST IT WAS MAKING SURE 1065 01:04:14,187 --> 01:04:18,892 HEATHER WAS SAFE, THEN IT WAS TALKING TO THE PERSON THAT TOLD 1066 01:04:18,892 --> 01:04:22,128 HANNAH THIS, AND THEN IT WAS TALKING TO HIS LAWYERS SO THAT 1067 01:04:22,128 --> 01:04:25,899 HE COULD TRY TO GET HIS DAUGHTERS OUT OF THAT HOUSE. 1068 01:04:25,899 --> 01:04:28,902 BECAUSE THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO HOME TO A WOMAN THAT, YOU 1069 01:04:28,902 --> 01:04:31,338 KNOW, ONE OF 'EM KNOWS WANTS TO KILL SOMEBODY ELSE, OR WANTS 1070 01:04:31,338 --> 01:04:34,074 SOMEBODY ELSE KILLED ON THEIR BEHALF 1071 01:04:34,074 --> 01:04:36,776 >> Reporter: JUST THE IDEA >> YEAH HE WAS ALREADY TRYIN' TO 1072 01:04:36,776 --> 01:04:39,479 GET THEM OUT OF THE HOUSE. HE WASN'T EVEN TRYING TO TAKE 1073 01:04:39,479 --> 01:04:41,648 THEM FROM MY MOM, HE JUST WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEM 1074 01:04:41,648 --> 01:04:44,384 HE HADN'T SEEN THEM IN ALMOST FOUR YEARS 1075 01:04:44,384 --> 01:04:47,253 BECAUSE SHE WOULDN'T LET HIM >> Reporter: THE URGENCY 1076 01:04:47,253 --> 01:04:49,422 INTENSIFIED FOR CHRIS AND HEATHER, ONCE CHRIS REALIZED HE 1077 01:04:49,422 --> 01:04:53,093 HAD ALREADY BEEN FACE TO FACE WITH DAVID GEORGE, SARAH'S 1078 01:04:53,093 --> 01:04:57,630 CURRENT HUSBAND AND THE WOULD-BE HITMAN 1079 01:04:57,630 --> 01:05:01,234 AS YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF. THIS "DELIVERY MAN" ON DOOR BELL 1080 01:05:01,234 --> 01:05:05,038 VIDEO AT THE DONOHUE RESIDENCE IS DAVID GEORGE. 1081 01:05:05,038 --> 01:05:08,274 >> YES, HELLO. >> YEAH, I HAVE SOME FLOWERS FOR 1082 01:05:08,274 --> 01:05:11,044 DONOHUES >> Reporter: THE FLOWERS WERE 1083 01:05:11,044 --> 01:05:16,349 ADDRESSED TO CHRIS'S WIFE, HEATHER. 1084 01:05:16,349 --> 01:05:18,818 >> OKAY. PERFECT. 1085 01:05:18,818 --> 01:05:22,055 >> Reporter: BUT THEN, SOMETHING CURIOUS. 1086 01:05:22,055 --> 01:05:23,823 >> NO CARD OR ANYTHING >> Reporter: WAS THERE A HINT OF 1087 01:05:23,823 --> 01:05:25,892 NERVOUSNESS IN THE DELIVERYMAN'S VOICE? 1088 01:05:25,892 --> 01:05:31,464 >> UM LET ME CHECK AND SEE IF I -- IF I GOT IT 1089 01:05:31,464 --> 01:05:34,134 >> OKAY. THANK YOU. 1090 01:05:34,134 --> 01:05:36,336 >> Reporter: CHRIS WAITED, BUT THE MYSTERIOUS DELIVERY MAN 1091 01:05:36,336 --> 01:05:39,072 NEVER RETURNED AND A FEW MINUTES LATER CHRIS 1092 01:05:39,072 --> 01:05:42,075 SAW A BLACK HONDA ACCORD DRIVE OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 1093 01:05:42,075 --> 01:05:44,477 THE MAN BEHIND THE WHEEL WAS DAVID GEORGE 1094 01:05:44,477 --> 01:05:47,180 IT'S ALL DOCUMENTED, EVERY BIT OF IT, IN COURT FILINGS. 1095 01:05:47,180 --> 01:05:49,916 IN A SIGNED AFFIDAVIT, CHRIS DONOHUE DESCRIBED A PHONE 1096 01:05:49,916 --> 01:05:53,153 CALL IN WHICH GEORGE TOLD HIM HE'D BEEN SENT TO DELIVER MORE 1097 01:05:53,153 --> 01:05:55,855 THAN JUST FLOWERS. HE'D BEEN SENT TO KILL HEATHER 1098 01:05:55,855 --> 01:05:59,125 >> HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAD A PISTOL THAT WAS GIVEN TO HIM BY 1099 01:05:59,125 --> 01:06:04,564 SARAH TO CARRY OUT THIS ACT. HE ALSO SAID THAT "HE CAME TO MY 1100 01:06:04,564 --> 01:06:08,902 HOUSE 16 NOVEMBER 2020 AND HAD FLOWERS. 1101 01:06:08,902 --> 01:06:11,104 >> Reporter: CHRIS WENT ON TO SAY THAT, DAVID GEORGE SAID HE 1102 01:06:11,104 --> 01:06:15,442 ULTIMATELY REFUSED TO DO SARAH'S BIDDING. 1103 01:06:15,442 --> 01:06:17,644 >> DAVID TOLD ME THAT HE EVEN TOLD SARAH ONCE OVER THE PHONE 1104 01:06:17,644 --> 01:06:20,914 TO CALL WHAT SHE WANTED DONE WHAT IT WAS, MURDER. 1105 01:06:20,914 --> 01:06:25,185 HE TOLD ME THAT SHE GOT MAD AT HIM AND HUNG UP -- 1106 01:06:25,185 --> 01:06:29,589 >> Reporter: MAD AT HIM IS ONE WAY TO PUT IT. 1107 01:06:29,589 --> 01:06:35,562 AFTER DAVID GEORGE RETURNED FROM ARIZONA SAID LANDLORD JEFF, 1108 01:06:35,562 --> 01:06:40,467 DAVID TOLD HIM, SARAH REFUSED TO LET HIM BACK INTO HER HOUSE OR 1109 01:06:40,467 --> 01:06:43,203 HER LIFE AT ALL. >> HE WAS BASICALLY REALLY MAD, 1110 01:06:43,203 --> 01:06:45,372 BITTER THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE DID THAT 1111 01:06:45,372 --> 01:06:49,876 I MEAN, TO PUT SOMEBODY IN THAT POSITION WHERE IF YOU DON'T KILL 1112 01:06:49,876 --> 01:06:53,480 SOMEBODY, I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU. 1113 01:06:53,480 --> 01:06:55,682 I MEAN, THAT'S KIND OF SOMETHING YOU DON'T REALLY WANT TO HEAR. 1114 01:06:55,682 --> 01:06:58,952 >> Reporter: AS FOR CHRIS, HE FILED FOR SOLE CUSTODY OF HIS 1115 01:06:58,952 --> 01:07:02,222 TWO YOUNGEST DAUGHTERS AND SOUGHT A PROTECTIVE ORDER 1116 01:07:02,222 --> 01:07:05,458 BARRING SARAH FROM GETTING ANYWHERE NEAR HIM OR HIS 1117 01:07:05,458 --> 01:07:08,728 CHILDREN AND, PERHAPS NOT SURPRISING 1118 01:07:08,728 --> 01:07:13,633 AFTER ALL THAT, THE JUDGE GRANTED HIS REQUESTS 1119 01:07:13,633 --> 01:07:16,369 BOTH OF THEM AND THAT, SAID ASHLEY, THAT 1120 01:07:16,369 --> 01:07:18,538 SEEMED TO SEND HER MOTHER RIGHT OVER THE EDGE. 1121 01:07:18,538 --> 01:07:22,909 >> OF COURSE SHE, LIKE, LOST HER MIND ON HIM WHEN SHE LOST 1122 01:07:22,909 --> 01:07:27,781 CUSTODY OF MY SISTERS. >> Reporter: SO WHAT WAS YOUR 1123 01:07:27,781 --> 01:07:31,584 MOM'S MOTIVATION WHAT DID SHE WANT OUT OF THIS? 1124 01:07:31,584 --> 01:07:37,057 >> SHE DOESN'T LIKE HEATHER, SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO LIKE HEATHER, 1125 01:07:37,057 --> 01:07:40,260 BECAUSE HEATHER'S THE OTHER WOMAN THAT SHE HAS TO SHARE HER 1126 01:07:40,260 --> 01:07:44,597 CHILDREN WITH, AND SHE DOESN'T LIKE THAT. 1127 01:07:44,597 --> 01:07:47,334 >> Reporter: BUT EVEN THOUGH SHE'D FINALLY LOST CHRIS DONOHUE 1128 01:07:47,334 --> 01:07:49,502 FOR GOOD AND HAD DUMPED DAVID GEORGE AND FINALLY HAD NO 1129 01:07:49,502 --> 01:07:51,671 MAN IN HER LIFE. WELL, IT WASN'T LIKE SHE WAS A 1130 01:07:51,671 --> 01:07:54,374 NUN, AFTER ALL >> I THINK DURING THAT TIME SHE 1131 01:07:54,374 --> 01:07:57,610 HAD ALSO STARTED SEEING OTHER MEN THAT SHE MET ON, LIKE, 1132 01:07:57,610 --> 01:08:00,880 CHRISTIAN MINGLE OR SOMETHING IS WHAT MY SISTER TOLD ME 1133 01:08:00,880 --> 01:08:04,117 >> Reporter: CHRISTIAN MINGLE? >> YEAH, MY SISTERS HAVE SAID 1134 01:08:04,117 --> 01:08:08,021 THERE WAS A FEW GUYS THAT WOULD COME OVER TO THE HOUSE AFTER 1135 01:08:08,021 --> 01:08:11,758 GEORGE LEFT. >> Reporter: DAVID GEORGE 1136 01:08:11,758 --> 01:08:14,828 DECLINED OUR REQUEST FOR AN ON-CAMERA INTERVIEW. 1137 01:08:14,828 --> 01:08:17,163 BUT HE TOLD US THAT SARAH GAVE HIM A GUN, THOUGH HE SAID HE 1138 01:08:17,163 --> 01:08:19,366 DIDN'T HAVE IT ON HIM AT THE DONOHUES' FRONT DOOR 1139 01:08:19,366 --> 01:08:22,102 HE ALSO SAID HE HAD NO INTENTION OF KILLING HEATHER AND QUOTE 1140 01:08:22,102 --> 01:08:24,371 "HOPED SARAH JEAN WOULD COME TO HER SENSES AND KNOW THAT WAS NOT 1141 01:08:24,371 --> 01:08:27,040 GOING TO HAPPEN. >> SARAH TEXTED US TO SAY, "IT'S 1142 01:08:27,040 --> 01:08:29,709 NOT TRUE" AND THAT SHE, "NEVER GAVE GEORGE ANY KIND OF GUN 1143 01:08:29,709 --> 01:08:31,878 EVER." GEORGE SAID HE'S NOT IN TOUCH 1144 01:08:31,878 --> 01:08:34,247 WITH SARAH ANYMORE, BUT HE STILL TALKS TO RYAN DONOHUE. 1145 01:08:34,247 --> 01:08:36,216 >> Reporter: DOES HE TALK ABOUT THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE OF HAVING 1146 01:08:36,216 --> 01:08:38,385 BEEN WITH YOUR MOM >> YEAH, HE SAYS HE'LL ALWAYS -- 1147 01:08:38,385 --> 01:08:46,426 HE'LL ALWAYS HAVE SOME SORT OF LOVE FOR MY MOM. 1148 01:08:46,426 --> 01:08:50,897 BUT HE'S HAPPY HE'S GOT AWAY FROM IT. 1149 01:08:50,897 --> 01:08:55,268 >> Reporter: HAPPY TO BE RID OF SARAH JEAN 1150 01:08:55,268 --> 01:08:58,271 INDEED HE TOLD US, THAT WHILE HE WAS 1151 01:08:58,271 --> 01:09:00,674 ONCE ENTRANCED BY HER, IN HIS WORDS "I GOT BURNED, I GOT 1152 01:09:00,674 --> 01:09:02,842 BURNED HARD. BUT THERE MAY BE MORE TO THIS 1153 01:09:02,842 --> 01:09:07,213 STORY. 4 MONTHS BEFORE HE MOVED IN WITH 1154 01:09:07,213 --> 01:09:10,483 SARAH, GEORGE'S PARTNER OF 25 YEARS, REBECCA KUNZE, DIED 1155 01:09:10,483 --> 01:09:14,254 SUDDENLY AND A FEW MONTHS LATER THE HOUSE 1156 01:09:14,254 --> 01:09:17,023 THEY HAD SHARED BURNED DOWN. COINCIDENCE? 1157 01:09:17,023 --> 01:09:19,693 HER BROTHER DANA DOESN'T THINK SO 1158 01:09:19,693 --> 01:09:23,496 >> I THINK THAT THERE WAS A POINT IN THEIR LIFE WHERE THEY 1159 01:09:23,496 --> 01:09:26,199 HAD A HAPPY RELATIONSHIP BUT I FEEL AS THOUGH THERE WAS 1160 01:09:26,199 --> 01:09:30,537 ALSO A POINT WHEN -- WHEN THAT ALL STOPPED. 1161 01:09:30,537 --> 01:09:33,239 AND THEN, YOU KNOW, NOT TOO LONG AFTER THAT, SHE'S DEAD 1162 01:09:33,239 --> 01:09:37,610 AND NOT TOO LONG AFTER THAT, NOW THEY'RE MARRIED. 1163 01:09:37,610 --> 01:09:41,414 THE WHOLE PICTURE TOGETHER, THAT ALONE MADE US WONDER AND 1164 01:09:41,414 --> 01:09:46,853 QUESTION THAT WHOLE RELATIONSHIP AT THE END 1165 01:09:46,853 --> 01:09:51,191 AND NOW, OF COURSE, LEARNING WHAT WE'VE LEARNED, YOU KNOW, 1166 01:09:51,191 --> 01:09:55,061 HAS JUST MADE THOSE QUESTIONS EVEN HARDER TO SWALLOW 1167 01:09:55,061 --> 01:09:57,697 >> Reporter: WE HAD QUESTIONS, TOO, AND WE ASKED THE TODD 1168 01:09:57,697 --> 01:10:00,400 COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS CONCERNING 1169 01:10:00,400 --> 01:10:03,670 REBECCA KUNZE'S DEATH AND THAT HOUSE FIRE 1170 01:10:03,670 --> 01:10:06,373 THEIR RESPONSE THEY'RE RE-OPENING BOTH 1171 01:10:06,373 --> 01:10:08,575 INVESTIGATIONS "IN LIGHT OF NEW INFORMATION. 1172 01:10:08,575 --> 01:10:13,446 WHAT THAT MIGHT BE THEY WOULDN'T SAY. 1173 01:10:13,446 --> 01:10:17,784 DAVID GEORGE TOLD US REBECCA DIED OF A HEART VALVE PROBLEM 1174 01:10:17,784 --> 01:10:19,953 AND HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HER DEATH. 1175 01:10:19,953 --> 01:10:23,223 AND HE SAID SARAH AND HE WERE BOTH OUT OF THE STATE AT THE 1176 01:10:23,223 --> 01:10:25,358 TIME OF THE FIRE AS FOR SARAH, SHE PUT IT ALL 1177 01:10:25,358 --> 01:10:28,361 BEHIND HER WHEN SHE DUMPED DAVID GEORGE, AND LEFT 1178 01:10:28,361 --> 01:10:35,769 GARFIELD, MINNESOTA, THEN MOVED BACK TO TEXAS. 1179 01:10:35,769 --> 01:10:37,837 WHERE SHE SET HER SIGHTS ON A BRAND NEW MAN. 1180 01:10:37,837 --> 01:10:39,873 BUT SOON SOMEONE WOULD BE SETTING THEIR SITES ON HER 1181 01:10:39,873 --> 01:10:41,641 >> YA KNOW THANK GOD SOMEBODY WAS PAYING ATTENTION 1182 01:10:41,641 --> 01:10:43,243 YOU KNOW, THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN, THE NURSES THAT WERE 1183 01:10:43,243 --> 01:11:03,963 ON STAFF THAT NIGHT, THEY KNEW >> Reporter: BY JULY 2021, SARAH 1184 01:11:03,963 --> 01:11:07,233 JEAN'S CAREFULLY CRAFTED FAÇADE, HIGH- FUNCTIONING MOM AND 1185 01:11:07,233 --> 01:11:12,072 SOLDIER, WAS IN RUINS. SINCE LEAVING THE ARMY, SARAH 1186 01:11:12,072 --> 01:11:16,976 HAD DUMPED HER HUSBAND, KILLED A FIANCE, WAS IMPLICATED IN AN 1187 01:11:16,976 --> 01:11:22,415 ALLEGED PLOT TO KILL THE NEW WIFE OF HER EX-HUSBAND, LOST 1188 01:11:22,415 --> 01:11:26,086 CUSTODY OF HER CHILDREN, AND HAD BEEN BLOCKED FROM EVEN SEEING 1189 01:11:26,086 --> 01:11:30,757 THEM >> IT ALWAYS SEEMED LIKE SHE WAS 1190 01:11:30,757 --> 01:11:33,827 THE MOST UNLUCKY WOMAN IN THE WORLD. 1191 01:11:33,827 --> 01:11:37,630 >> Reporter: EVANGELINE KELSALL, SARAH'S OLD FRIEND FROM 1192 01:11:37,630 --> 01:11:40,333 FORT HOOD, STAYED IN TOUCH THROUGH ALL THAT EMOTIONAL 1193 01:11:40,333 --> 01:11:44,704 CHAOS. >> IT ALWAYS SEEMED LIKE SHE 1194 01:11:44,704 --> 01:11:47,941 WOULD START GETTING TO A GOOD SPOT, AND THEN A RELATIONSHIP 1195 01:11:47,941 --> 01:11:51,211 WOULD END OR SHE WOULD GET SICK OR SHE WAS TRYING TO FIGHT FOR 1196 01:11:51,211 --> 01:11:54,981 HER KIDS OR WHATEVER >> Reporter: BUT SARAH WAS 1197 01:11:54,981 --> 01:11:58,785 NOTHING IF NOT RELENTLESSLY RESILIENT. 1198 01:11:58,785 --> 01:12:03,690 BY NOVEMBER OF 2021, AFTER 4 FAILED MARRIAGES AND ONE DEAD 1199 01:12:03,690 --> 01:12:06,926 BOYFRIEND, SARAH WAS ON A DATING WEBSITE TROLLING FOR A NEW GUY, 1200 01:12:06,926 --> 01:12:13,767 WHICH IS HOW SHE MET JOE HARTSFIELD 1201 01:12:13,767 --> 01:12:18,338 >> WE TALKED ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME BECAUSE SHE STARTED DATING 1202 01:12:18,338 --> 01:12:22,709 HIM A FEW MONTHS AFTER I STARTED DATING MY NOW BOYFRIEND. 1203 01:12:22,709 --> 01:12:28,715 >> Reporter: EVANGELINE SAID WITHIN WEEKS OF MEETING JOE, 1204 01:12:28,715 --> 01:12:32,686 SARAH MARRIED HIM. >> AND IT WAS LIKE VERY, VERY 1205 01:12:32,686 --> 01:12:35,221 QUICK. LIKE, I THINK FROM PROPOSAL TO 1206 01:12:35,221 --> 01:12:40,093 WALKING DOWN THE AISLE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A MONTH. 1207 01:12:40,093 --> 01:12:43,363 >> Reporter: WHICH NOW BRINGS OUR STORY FULL CIRCLE. 1208 01:12:43,363 --> 01:12:46,599 EH, SORT OF. DURING OUR JOURNEY THROUGH 1209 01:12:46,599 --> 01:12:50,970 SARAH'S LIFE, WE ALSO LEARNED NEW THINGS ABOUT HOW JOE'S 1210 01:12:50,970 --> 01:13:00,747 ENDED. LEARNED, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT BY 1211 01:13:00,747 --> 01:13:06,186 DECEMBER 2022, JUST WEEKS BEFORE SHE RUSHED HIM TO THE HOSPITAL 1212 01:13:06,186 --> 01:13:08,388 SARAH WAS LETTING IT BE KNOWN SHE WAS DONE WITH JOE. 1213 01:13:08,388 --> 01:13:10,523 >> SHE SAID HER HOUSE WAS DESTROYED AND HE LEFT MESS 1214 01:13:10,523 --> 01:13:12,692 EVERYWHERE THERE WAS FOOD OUT, ALL KINDS OF 1215 01:13:12,692 --> 01:13:14,894 STUFF. >> Reporter: EVANGELINE, A NURSE 1216 01:13:14,894 --> 01:13:17,063 WHO'D BEEN GIVING SARAH ADVICE ABOUT TREATING JOE'S DIABETES, 1217 01:13:17,063 --> 01:13:20,300 SAID SARAH'S TEXTS ABOUT HIM QUITE SUDDENLY WENT FROM CARING 1218 01:13:20,300 --> 01:13:25,739 TO COMPLAINING >> AND SHE WAS LIVID 1219 01:13:25,739 --> 01:13:31,211 SHE WAS ABSOLUTELY LIVID AND SHE SAID THAT SHE WAS GOING 1220 01:13:31,211 --> 01:13:34,981 TO SIT HIM DOWN AND HAVE A COME TO JESUS MOMENT ABOUT, "THIS IS 1221 01:13:34,981 --> 01:13:38,818 MY HOUSE THESE ARE MY THINGS. 1222 01:13:38,818 --> 01:13:41,521 HOW DARE YOU THIS ISN'T GOING TO WORK UNLESS 1223 01:13:41,521 --> 01:13:45,825 YOU KIND OF FALL INTO STEP WITH ME." 1224 01:13:45,825 --> 01:13:50,730 >> Reporter: ANOTHER FRIEND, WHO DID NOT WANT TO BE IDENTIFIED, 1225 01:13:50,730 --> 01:13:53,533 SHARED A TEXT FROM SARAH DATED DECEMBER 19th, 2022, SAYING, 1226 01:13:53,533 --> 01:13:57,270 "JOE HAS TURNED INTO A NIGHTMARE. 1227 01:13:57,270 --> 01:14:00,540 I CAN'T TAKE THE LEVEL OF FINANCIAL IRRESPONSIBILITY 1228 01:14:00,540 --> 01:14:03,810 HE WAS JUST LOOKING FOR A MEAL TICKET AND WAY BACK TO A 1229 01:14:03,810 --> 01:14:06,513 LIFESTYLE HE COULD NEVER ATTAIN ON HIS OWN 1230 01:14:06,513 --> 01:14:09,783 I HAVE TO SAVE MYSELF AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO RECOVER 1231 01:14:09,783 --> 01:14:13,086 I HAVE A PLAN. IT'S NOW A MATTER OF 1232 01:14:13,086 --> 01:14:15,755 IMPLEMENTING, EXECUTING, AND FINDING A PLACE TO GO. 1233 01:14:15,755 --> 01:14:19,059 BY CHRISTMAS, ASHLEY SAID HER MOTHER'S HATRED OF JOE HAD 1234 01:14:19,059 --> 01:14:22,262 REACHED SUCH A BOIL IT WAS ALL SHE COULD TALK ABOUT 1235 01:14:22,262 --> 01:14:24,431 >> AND HOW SHE WAS SO OVER HER MARRIAGE, AND SHE JUST -- "HE'S 1236 01:14:24,431 --> 01:14:27,701 THIS, HE'S THAT. AND IT'S LIKE, "IT'S CHRISTMAS 1237 01:14:27,701 --> 01:14:30,236 CAN YOU JUST -- CAN YOU JUST CHILL? 1238 01:14:30,236 --> 01:14:32,072 AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS 1239 01:14:32,072 --> 01:14:34,274 IT WAS LIKE A FLIP OF A SWITCH SHE COMES STORMING IN THE ROOM 1240 01:14:34,274 --> 01:14:36,976 WITH THE GIFTS THAT I WRAPPED AND STARTS UNWRAPPING THEM 1241 01:14:36,976 --> 01:14:39,145 AND SHE GOES, LIKE, "HE'S NOT GETTING THIS." 1242 01:14:39,145 --> 01:14:41,848 SHE'S LIKE, "I'M SENDING IT ALL BACK TOMORROW. 1243 01:14:41,848 --> 01:14:44,084 SHE'S LIKE, "I'M SO DONE WITH HIM. 1244 01:14:44,084 --> 01:14:47,153 >> Reporter: 11 DAYS LATER, JOE TOLD HIS FAMILY HE WAS THE ONE 1245 01:14:47,153 --> 01:14:49,989 WHO WANTED OUT OF THE MARRIAGE THAT ACCORDING TO A REPORT BY 1246 01:14:49,989 --> 01:14:55,462 DETECTIVE SKYLER ROCZ WHO WROTE, "I SPOKE WITH NUMEROUS FAMILY 1247 01:14:55,462 --> 01:14:58,665 MEMBERS OF JOSEPH WHO ADVISE JOSEPH WAS PLANNING ON DIVORCING 1248 01:14:58,665 --> 01:15:04,270 SARAH AND HE WAS CONCERNED FOR HIS SAFETY, THINKING SARAH MIGHT 1249 01:15:04,270 --> 01:15:08,441 TRY TO KILL HIM. AND THEN TWO DAYS AFTER TELLING 1250 01:15:08,441 --> 01:15:11,177 HIS FAMILY THAT, JOE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL AND SARAH WAS ON 1251 01:15:11,177 --> 01:15:13,880 FACEBOOK POSTING THAT JOE'S CONDITION HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH 1252 01:15:13,880 --> 01:15:16,616 HIS INSULIN OR BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS 1253 01:15:16,616 --> 01:15:19,319 OH, NO SHE WAS SAYING JOE HAD A STROKE 1254 01:15:19,319 --> 01:15:22,555 FROM A CLOGGED ARTERY AFTER YEARS OF EATING TOO MUCH JUNK 1255 01:15:22,555 --> 01:15:26,893 FOOD >> IT SEEMED LIKE SHE WAS 1256 01:15:26,893 --> 01:15:32,665 BLAMING HIM FOR HAVING A STROKE. ALMOST PATIENT SHAMING 1257 01:15:32,665 --> 01:15:37,370 >> Reporter: AND WHEN EVANGELINE HEARD JOE DIED, HER MIND WENT TO 1258 01:15:37,370 --> 01:15:41,908 A VERY DARK PLACE. SHE WONDERED IF SARAH JEAN HAD 1259 01:15:41,908 --> 01:15:47,514 BEEN PLAYING HER ALL ALONG >> I WASN'T SURE IF SHE HAD 1260 01:15:47,514 --> 01:15:51,885 TAKEN MY INFORMATION AND USED IT THE WRONG WAY. 1261 01:15:51,885 --> 01:15:56,389 >> Reporter: IT WAS ALMOST LIKE EVANGELINE WAS READING DETECTIVE 1262 01:15:56,389 --> 01:15:56,656 EVANGELINE WAS READING DETECTIVE ROCZ'S MIND. 1263 01:16:13,340 --> 01:16:18,278 DISTRICT ATTORNEY, CHERYL LIECK, HAD A PROBLEM, A BIG ONE 1264 01:16:18,278 --> 01:16:23,583 NO MATTER HOW SUSPICIOUS SARAH'S BEHAVIOR, OR STRANGE THE 1265 01:16:23,583 --> 01:16:27,053 CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH JOE HARTSFIELD DIED, THE CASE 1266 01:16:27,053 --> 01:16:30,757 AGAINST HER SIMPLY WASN'T STRONG ENOUGH TO MAKE AN ARREST 1267 01:16:30,757 --> 01:16:34,060 >> WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ENOUGH. WE HAD TO WAIT FOR MORE 1268 01:16:34,060 --> 01:16:36,730 INFORMATION TO COME IN >> Reporter: STILL, D.A. LIECK 1269 01:16:36,730 --> 01:16:39,432 WENT TO WORK HOW COULD SHE NOT, GIVEN WHAT 1270 01:16:39,432 --> 01:16:42,702 SHE LEARNED ABOUT SARAH'S BACKGROUND, AND THE ALLEGED PLOT 1271 01:16:42,702 --> 01:16:45,438 TO KILL CHRIS DONOHUE'S WIFE, AND ESPECIALLY THE DAVID BRAGG 1272 01:16:45,438 --> 01:16:49,809 SHOOTING LIECK THOUGHT THAT SHOULD HAVE 1273 01:16:49,809 --> 01:16:55,181 BEEN PROSECUTED. >> I CAN SEE IT CLEARLY, THAT IT 1274 01:16:55,181 --> 01:16:57,917 NEEDS FURTHER INVESTIGATION. >> Reporter: FEARING SARAH WAS 1275 01:16:57,917 --> 01:17:01,187 CLOSE TO MOVING AWAY FROM CHAMBERS COUNTY, AND THUS, HER 1276 01:17:01,187 --> 01:17:05,025 JURISDICTION, D.A. LIECK BROKE THE GLASS. 1277 01:17:05,025 --> 01:17:08,261 SHE CONVENED AN EMERGENCY SESSION OF THE COUNTY GRAND JURY 1278 01:17:08,261 --> 01:17:11,031 TO SEE IF SHE COULD GET SARAH INDICTED NOW, BEFORE THE 1279 01:17:11,031 --> 01:17:14,100 INVESTIGATION INTO JOE'S DEATH WAS COMPLETED. 1280 01:17:14,100 --> 01:17:18,038 >> SO, WE PRESENTED EVERYTHING WE HAD AT THAT POINT 1281 01:17:18,038 --> 01:17:21,307 AND THEY INDICTED HER. AND THEN SHE WAS ARRESTED AFTER 1282 01:17:21,307 --> 01:17:24,577 THAT >> Reporter: SHE WILL GO ON 1283 01:17:24,577 --> 01:17:30,684 TRIAL CHARGED WITH WHAT? >> MURDER. 1284 01:17:30,684 --> 01:17:37,257 >> Reporter: SARAH WAS BOOKED INTO THE CHAMBERS COUNTY JAIL ON 1285 01:17:37,257 --> 01:17:38,692 A $4.5 MILLION BOND AND WAS SOON ON THE PHONE TO HER DAUGHTER, 1286 01:17:38,692 --> 01:17:41,961 ASHLEY >> I WAS GETTING MY HAIR DONE, 1287 01:17:41,961 --> 01:17:45,965 AND I SAW THAT I WAS GETTING A CALL 1288 01:17:45,965 --> 01:17:49,069 AND IT SAID, "PRISON/JAIL," AND THEN IT SAID CHAMBERS COUNTY, 1289 01:17:49,069 --> 01:17:50,670 AND I WAS, LIKE, "WHERE IS CHAMBERS C -- WHO IS CALLING 1290 01:17:50,670 --> 01:17:52,839 ME?" LIKE, I D -- I DIDN'T KNOW 1291 01:17:52,839 --> 01:17:55,075 ANYBODY ELSE THAT COULD'VE WENT TO JAIL. 1292 01:17:55,075 --> 01:17:56,643 AND SHE ANSWERED, AND I WAS, LIKE, "WHAT DID YOU DO?" 1293 01:17:56,643 --> 01:17:58,812 >> AND WHAT'D SHE SAY? >> SHE SAID, "THEY ARRESTED ME." 1294 01:17:58,812 --> 01:18:01,014 AND I WAS, LIKE, "FOR WHAT?" AND SHE SAID, "MURDER. 1295 01:18:01,014 --> 01:18:03,650 >> Reporter: WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO HEAR THAT? 1296 01:18:03,650 --> 01:18:06,453 >> I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW HOW TO FEEL ABOUT IT, BECAUSE MY PHONE 1297 01:18:06,453 --> 01:18:12,425 WAS ON SPEAKER, SO MY HAIR LADY HEARD IT 1298 01:18:12,425 --> 01:18:14,127 >> Reporter: OH, BOY >> UM, IT DIDN'T REALLY HIT ME, 1299 01:18:14,127 --> 01:18:16,229 'CAUSE AT FIRST, IT WAS JUST VERY CHAOTIC 1300 01:18:16,229 --> 01:18:18,398 UM, I HAD A LOT OF THINGS RUSHING THROUGH MY MIND, BUT 1301 01:18:18,398 --> 01:18:20,567 THEN LATER THAT NIGHT, LIKE, IT REALLY -- IT REALLY WAS JUST 1302 01:18:20,567 --> 01:18:23,837 HEAVY ON ME. AND I -- I THINK I -- I CAME TO 1303 01:18:23,837 --> 01:18:27,073 THE REALIZATION THAT I HAD TO ACCEPT THAT SOMETHING WAS REALLY 1304 01:18:27,073 --> 01:18:29,776 WRONG, BECAUSE YOU DON'T ARREST SOMEBODY AND CHARGE THEM WITH 1305 01:18:29,776 --> 01:18:32,045 MURDER IF THEY DID NOTHING, UNLESS YOU HAVE, LIKE, 1306 01:18:32,045 --> 01:18:34,147 SOMETHING. >> Reporter: HAVE YOU GONE TO 1307 01:18:34,147 --> 01:18:39,319 SEE HER IN JAIL? >> I HAVE NOT. 1308 01:18:39,319 --> 01:18:42,856 I DON'T THINK I WANT TO. >> Reporter: JUST YESTERDAY, 1309 01:18:42,856 --> 01:18:46,693 ASHLEY WAS ONLY A BLOCK AWAY FROM THE JAIL IN CHAMBERS 1310 01:18:46,693 --> 01:18:51,898 COUNTY, BUT SHE WAS NOT IN TOWN TO VISIT HER MOM 1311 01:18:51,898 --> 01:18:55,468 NO, ASHLEY WAS THERE TO TESTIFY ABOUT HER MOM BEFORE A GRAND 1312 01:18:55,468 --> 01:18:58,071 JURY AND UP IN MINNESOTA, WHERE 1313 01:18:58,071 --> 01:19:00,807 THEY'VE RE-OPENED THE DAVID BRAGG SHOOTING CASE, A 1314 01:19:00,807 --> 01:19:04,077 SPOKESPERSON FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TOLD US THEY 1315 01:19:04,077 --> 01:19:07,313 EXPECT A DECISION ON POSSIBLE CHARGES WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE 1316 01:19:07,313 --> 01:19:12,719 OF WEEKS WE WANTED TO HEAR WHAT SARAH HAD 1317 01:19:12,719 --> 01:19:15,422 TO SAY ABOUT HARTSFIELD, BRAGG, AND THE ALLEGED PLOT TO MURDER 1318 01:19:15,422 --> 01:19:22,062 HEATHER, CODY'S HOUSE FIRE, THE WHOLE LOT OF IT. 1319 01:19:22,062 --> 01:19:26,266 WE VISITED HER IN JAIL, TWICE, WHERE SHE TOLD US SHE WANTED TO 1320 01:19:26,266 --> 01:19:29,502 APPEAR ON OUR PROGRAM TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS I MIGHT HAVE AND 1321 01:19:29,502 --> 01:19:34,407 THAT ONCE SHE HAD DONE THAT, WE'D ALL UNDERSTAND THAT SHE WAS 1322 01:19:34,407 --> 01:19:39,312 INNOCENT BUT THEN, THE DAY BEFORE WE WERE 1323 01:19:39,312 --> 01:19:43,683 TO TALK, SHE CONSULTED HER ATTORNEY AND CHANGED HER MIND. 1324 01:19:43,683 --> 01:19:48,054 BUT SHE DID SEND US A WHOLE SLEW OF TEXT MESSAGES, HUNDREDS OF 1325 01:19:48,054 --> 01:19:50,223 THEM SHE WROTE THAT SHE, "IS A 1326 01:19:50,223 --> 01:19:52,359 20-YEAR COMBAT VETERAN OF THE ARMY WHO HAD A TOP SECRET 1327 01:19:52,359 --> 01:19:58,365 SECURITY CLEARANCE SHE IS COMPLETELY INNOCENT, HAS 1328 01:19:58,365 --> 01:20:00,600 ALWAYS LOVED HER HUSBAND, JOSEPH, AND IS DEVASTATED AT THE 1329 01:20:00,600 --> 01:20:02,736 LOSS OF HIM. SARAH SAID SHE "NEVER KNEW 1330 01:20:02,736 --> 01:20:04,904 ANYTHING ABOUT JOE'S INSULIN, SPECIFICALLY HOW MUCH HE TOOK 1331 01:20:04,904 --> 01:20:08,742 AND WHEN." AND SHE SAID SHE WAS 1332 01:20:08,742 --> 01:20:11,411 DISAPPOINTED AND HEARTBROKEN HER TWO OLDEST CHILDREN AREN'T 1333 01:20:11,411 --> 01:20:18,485 SUPPORTING HER AFTER ALL SHE DID FOR THEM 1334 01:20:18,485 --> 01:20:22,255 AS FOR PEOPLE IN SARAH JEAN'S PAST, THOSE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO 1335 01:20:22,255 --> 01:20:26,092 SPEAK TO, THEY ALL SAID THEY WERE SURPRISED BY HER ARREST, 1336 01:20:26,092 --> 01:20:30,430 BUT FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. >> I HONESTLY THOUGHT SHE WON'T 1337 01:20:30,430 --> 01:20:32,032 GET CAUGHT, AND SHE'LL GET AWAY WITH IT. 1338 01:20:32,032 --> 01:20:33,700 >> I WAS LIKE, "[ BLEEP ] YEAH ABOUT TIME." 1339 01:20:33,700 --> 01:20:35,969 >> I WAS LIKE, "WHAT WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN' ABOUT 1340 01:20:35,969 --> 01:20:38,038 ARRESTED FOR WHAT? "WELL, APPARENTLY IT'S MURDER OR 1341 01:20:38,038 --> 01:20:39,673 SOMETHIN'. I SAID, "MURDER? 1342 01:20:39,673 --> 01:20:46,179 WHO? >> IT DIDN'T MATCH THE PERSON 1343 01:20:46,179 --> 01:20:47,814 THAT WE HAD MET AND WE HAD KNOWN FOR THOSE YEARS. 1344 01:20:47,814 --> 01:20:49,983 >> MY SADNESS IS DIRECTED TOWARDS THE HARTSFIELD'S, 1345 01:20:49,983 --> 01:20:51,618 BECAUSE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. 1346 01:20:51,618 --> 01:20:53,253 >> YEAH. >> OUR BIGGEST FEAR, THE WHOLE 1347 01:20:53,253 --> 01:20:54,888 TIME, HAS BEEN THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE 1348 01:20:54,888 --> 01:20:58,158 >> IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME IF SHE DID DO IT. 1349 01:20:58,158 --> 01:21:01,394 >> SOMEBODY HAD POSTED THE NEWS ARTICLE WITH HER MUG SHOT, AND I 1350 01:21:01,394 --> 01:21:08,868 HONESTLY THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE, BECAUSE THE PERSON I KNEW, I 1351 01:21:08,868 --> 01:21:14,507 DIDN'T THINK COULD -- COULD HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF THAT 1352 01:21:14,507 --> 01:21:17,344 >> Reporter: MEANWHILE, EVIDENCE IS ASSEMBLED 1353 01:21:17,344 --> 01:21:23,650 >> IT'S A PUZZLE THAT IS CONTINUING TO BE PUT TOGETHER, 1354 01:21:23,650 --> 01:21:25,318 THE PIECES, AND THIS IS A BIG PUZZLE 1355 01:21:25,318 --> 01:21:27,487 THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THOUSAND-PIECE PUZZLES 1356 01:21:27,487 --> 01:21:30,223 >> Reporter: SHORTLY BEFORE WE SAT DOWN FOR OUR INTERVIEW WITH 1357 01:21:30,223 --> 01:21:32,392 ASHLEY, THE MEDICAL EXAMINER MADE PUBLIC THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF 1358 01:21:32,392 --> 01:21:35,128 JOSEPH HARTSFIELD'S DEATH. IT WAS "COMPLICATIONS OF TOXIC 1359 01:21:35,128 --> 01:21:38,398 EFFECTS OF INSULIN." IN OTHER WORDS, AN INSULIN 1360 01:21:38,398 --> 01:21:41,901 OVERDOSE, JUST AS THE MEDICAL TEAM SUSPECTED 1361 01:21:41,901 --> 01:21:45,972 BUT NOT AT ALL WHAT SARAH HAD POSTED ON FACEBOOK 1362 01:21:45,972 --> 01:21:49,743 >> SHE SAID IT WAS FROM A STROKE 1363 01:21:49,743 --> 01:21:52,479 >> Reporter: THOSE ARE NOT THE SAME, ARE THEY 1364 01:21:52,479 --> 01:21:55,215 >> NO. >> Reporter: JOE'S MOTHER AND 1365 01:21:55,215 --> 01:21:57,951 BROTHER, POTENTIAL WITNESSES, BOTH OF THEM, ARE AFRAID TO SAY 1366 01:21:57,951 --> 01:22:01,221 ANYTHING ABOUT SARAH BEFORE THE TRIAL. 1367 01:22:01,221 --> 01:22:04,224 >> Reporter: WHAT DID IT FEEL LIKE, WHEN YOU HEARD THAT SARAH 1368 01:22:04,224 --> 01:22:06,126 HAD BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED? >> I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO TALK 1369 01:22:06,126 --> 01:22:08,294 ABOUT THAT >> YEAH. 1370 01:22:08,294 --> 01:22:14,234 I -- I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT 1371 01:22:14,234 --> 01:22:18,605 >> Reporter: WHILE D.A. CHERYL LIECK BUILDS A MURDER 1372 01:22:18,605 --> 01:22:20,240 CASE AGAINST SARAH JEAN. >> Reporter: IT SOUNDS TO ME 1373 01:22:20,240 --> 01:22:22,409 LIKE YOU DON'T THINK YOU KNOW EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW 1374 01:22:22,409 --> 01:22:24,577 ABOUT HER YET. >> I REALLY DO NOT THINK THAT WE 1375 01:22:24,577 --> 01:22:27,280 DO >> Reporter: WHAT HAPPENED WHEN 1376 01:22:27,280 --> 01:22:31,651 THE PRESS RELEASE ABOUT HER ARREST WAS POSTED ON FACEBOOK? 1377 01:22:31,651 --> 01:22:34,354 >> OH, IT WENT CRAZY IT JUST WAS LIKE BUGS HITTING A 1378 01:22:34,354 --> 01:22:37,090 WINDSHIELD IT JUST WENT CRAZY, WENT 1379 01:22:37,090 --> 01:22:40,326 EVERYWHERE WE STARTED GETTING PHONE CALLS 1380 01:22:40,326 --> 01:22:44,664 AND MESSAGES ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND THAT'S WHY I'M TALKING TO 1381 01:22:44,664 --> 01:22:52,839 YOU RIGHT NOW. IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE JUST ASKING 1382 01:22:52,839 --> 01:22:55,008 EVERYBODY THAT KNOWS HER OR THAT KNEW HER, TO COME FORWARD, UM, 1383 01:22:55,008 --> 01:22:58,278 EVEN IF YOU WERE HER BEST FRIEND, I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT 1384 01:22:58,278 --> 01:23:01,548 HER. I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR 1385 01:23:01,548 --> 01:23:06,953 EXPERIENCE WITH HER. >> Reporter: D.A. LIECK MIGHT 1386 01:23:06,953 --> 01:23:10,490 WANT TO GIVE SARAH'S SON, RYAN, A CALL 1387 01:23:10,490 --> 01:23:13,526 >> Reporter: DO YOU SUSPECT THAT THERE ARE OTHER INCIDENTS IN 1388 01:23:13,526 --> 01:23:16,229 YOUR MOTHER'S LIFE WHICH THE POLICE WILL END UP BEING 1389 01:23:16,229 --> 01:23:18,932 INTERESTED IN AS THEY CONTINUE THEIR INVESTIGATION? 1390 01:23:18,932 --> 01:23:21,634 >> 100%, YEAH. THERE'S SOME THAT I HAVE IN MIND 1391 01:23:21,634 --> 01:23:24,337 THAT I'M KINDA WAITIN' FOR THEM TO COME TO LIGHT 1392 01:23:24,337 --> 01:23:30,844 >> Reporter: SO MAYBE THE STORY OF SARAH JEAN ISN'T FULLY 1393 01:23:30,844 --> 01:23:34,647 TOLD -- YET. >>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION 1394 01:23:34,647 --> 01:23:37,917 OF "DATELINE." WE'RE OFF THIS SUNDAY, BUT WE'LL 1395 01:23:37,917 --> 01:23:40,620 SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY AT 9:00, 8:00 CENTRAL 1396 01:23:40,620 --> 01:23:42,822 AND, OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY 1397 01:23:42,822 --> 01:23:46,092 NEWS." I'M LESTER HOLT.