>>> TONIGHT ON "DATELINE" --
>> TO BE BETRAYED LIKE THAT? FEELS LIKE SOMEBODY STABBING YOU
THROUGH THE HEART AND STABBING YOU IN THE BACK AT THE SAME
TIME >> MY BROTHER'S KILLERS WILL PAY
FOR THIS >> OH, MY GOD, HELP ME, PLEASE
>> WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET AHOLD OF HER BOYFRIEND
AND WE WALKED UPSTAIRS AND HE'S LYING ON THE GROUND.
AND HE'S ALL BLEEDING. >> SHE WAS SUCH A MESS
SHE FALLS AGAINST THE DOOR, SCREAMING.
>> YOU SEE IT AND YOU FEEL SORRY FOR THESE GIRLS.
THEY'RE ALL TRAUMATIZED. >> I RAN DOWN THE STREET
YELLING, "RICKY. I WAS JUST LIKE, "OH, MY GOD."
>> DID YOU SHOOT YOURSELF? >> NO.
>> WHO DID IT? >> WE DIDN'T KNOW WHO DID THIS,
YOU KNOW >> IS THIS A ROBBERY
DID HE OWE ANYBODY MONEY I THINK THEY WERE AT A LOSS.
>> FINGERS WERE POINTED EVERYWHERE AT EVERYBODY.
>> I STARTED PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER, LIKE, "OH, MY GOSH,
THE BOY THAT WAS IN THE HOUSE. >> THEY STARTED INVESTIGATING
THE GIRLS. >> Reporter: WHAT WERE THEY
DOING, THOSE GIRLS DO YOU KNOW?
>> THE ONLY THING I KNEW THEY WERE DOING THAT NIGHT WAS TRYING
TO HIDE OUT. >> WE ALL MADE OUR CHOICES
WE ALL DID WHAT WE DID >> IF IT'S SOMEBODY IN OUR
CIRCLE, SOMETHING'S WRONG. >> RUTHLESS.
IT WAS OBVIOUSLY A GOOD PERFORMANCE.
>> TEENAGERS TANGLED UP IN A MURDER MYSTERY
WHO WAS BEHIND IT? I'M LESTER HOLT, AND THIS IS
"DATELINE. HERE'S KEITH MORRISON WITH
"KILLING TIME. >> Reporter: WHERE IS THE LINE
BEYOND WHICH REDEMPTION IS NOT POSSIBLE
DOES IT EVEN EXIST OR DOES IT MOVE?
DOES IT SHIFT AS TIME GOES BY? >> SHE IS THE MASTER MANIPULATOR
OF THIS WHOLE CASE SHE WANTED MY BROTHER TO SPOIL
HER. >> Reporter: THIS IS A STORY
ABOUT A MURDER AND IT'S ALSO ABOUT UGLY
STUPIDITY, CALCULATING EVIL, AND MAYBE OFFICIAL ABSOLUTION.
>> IT'S NOT FAIR >> Reporter: HOW OFTEN DO YOU
THINK ABOUT IT >> EVERY DAY, PRETTY MUCH.
>> Reporter: OF COURSE SHE DOES. SHEALYNN COWLES HAS STRUGGLED
WITH IT MORE THAN HALF HER LIFE, HAS SUFFERED UNDER THE WEIGHT OF
LOSS AND THE QUESTION THAT HAS TORMENTED HER.
WAS THERE SOMETHING SHE COULD HAVE, SHOULD HAVE DONE
IT WAS A SCORCHING DAY IN THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST
THE YEAR WAS 1997. SHEALYNN'S BIG BROTHER
RICKY COWLES HAD GONE TO WORK EARLY AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE
UP IN THE HIGH DESERT, NORTHEAST OF L.A., WHERE THEIR FAMILY'S
ELECTRIC COMPANY HELPED MAINTAIN THE POWER GRID
RICKY HOPED TO KNOCK OFF EARLY TOO, FINALLY SPEND SOME MUCH
NEEDED TIME ALONE WITH HIS LIVE-IN GIRLFRIEND,
AMY PREASMYER. BUT PLANS DON'T ALWAYS GO JUST
THE WAY YOU'D EXPECT HERE ARE SHEALYNN AND RICKY'S
PARENTS, DEBBIE AND RICK SR. DIDN'T YOU GUYS DO TWO -- TWO
JOBS THAT DAY, ONE AT EDWARDS AND THEN ONE OVER AT THE
FAIRGROUND >> WE VOLUNTEERED A LOT OF OUR
TIME WITH FAIRGROUNDS, DOING THEIR HOOKING UP, THEIR
INSTALLATIONS AND STUFF. >> WE HAD TO WAIT TILL DARK TO
MAKE SURE THE LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON AUTOMATICALLY
>> Reporter: WHICH WOULDN'T HAPPEN UNTIL A LITTLE BEFORE
8:00 THAT NIGHT. RICKY WOULD BE LATE.
ACROSS TOWN, HIS GIRLFRIEND AMY PREASMYER WAS WAITING
IMPATIENTLY. RICKY HAD PROMISED THEY COULD
SPEND THE EVENING TOGETHER ALONE.
AND AMY HAD PREPARED, EVEN DROPPED BY THE McDONALD'S WHERE
SHEALYNN WORKED TO TELL HER. >> AMY SAID, "DON'T COME BY
TONIGHT BECAUSE ME AND YOUR BROTHER ARE GOING TO TRY TO TALK
THINGS OUT AND STUFF." >> Reporter: BUT NOW RICKY WAS
LATE AND AMY WANTED SOMEONE TO HANG OUT WITH.
SO SHE CALLED UP HER PAL SARA CHAPIN AND THEY DROVE
AROUND, KILLING TIME >> TWO DIFFERENT CARS, AMY'S
VEHICLE AND MY VEHICLE THERE WAS JUST A BUNCH OF
CHASING AROUND WE FINALLY ENDED UP IN THE SAME
COMPLEX THAT AMY AND RICKY HAD LIVED ON, AT SOMEBODY'S HOUSE
RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. >> Reporter: AMY USED THE PHONE
THERE TO SEE IF RICKY WAS HOME YET.
HE WASN'T. >> AFTER THAT, SHE SAID, "WELL,
I'M HUNGRY." SO WE WENT TO BURGER KING.
>> Reporter: BACK AT THE FAIRGROUNDS, THE SUN FINALLY SET
AND THE COWLES, FATHER AND SON, FINISHED THEIR WORK.
AND THEN RICKY BOLTED AND QUICKLY STOPPED BACK AT HIS
PARENTS' HOUSE TO PICK UP HIS CAR.
>> AND I SAID, "STAY AND LET'S HAVE DINNER.
AND HE GOES, "NO, I GOT TO GO. I'M SUPPOSED TO BE HOME RIGHT
NOW, YOU KNOW, AND I GOT TO LEAVE.
BYE, MOM I LOVE YOU
SEE YOU LATER. >> Reporter: JUST BEFORE 10:00,
AMY, WITH SARA IN TOW, HEADED HOME TO SEE IF RICKY WAS FINALLY
THERE. BUT WHEN THEY ARRIVED, WAS HE
HOME OR NOT? RICKY ALWAYS LOCKED THE DOOR
BEHIND HIM WHEN HE GOT IN. ALWAYS
BUT WHEN THE GIRLS TRIED THE DOOR, IT WAS OPEN.
>> WE BOTH HAD TO GO TO THE BATHROOM
I LET HER GO FIRST AND SHE SAID, "WELL, WHY DON'T
YOU GO UPSTAIRS AND SEE IF RICKY'S UP THERE?"
>> Reporter: SARA HEADED UPSTAIRS
>> SO I TOOK ABOUT TWO STEPS UP, AND I SMELLED SOMETHIN'
HORRIBLE >> Reporter: SMELLED WHAT?
WHAT WAS IT? >> IT WAS JUST A ROTTEN SMELL.
"I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, BUT I'M NOT GOIN' UP THERE."
SHE SAID, "OH, DON'T BE A BABY." AND SHE SHOVED ME ASIDE, AND SHE
GOES POUNDING UP THE STAIRS. SHE TURNS ON THE LIGHT IN THE
BEDROOM. SHE STANDS THERE FOR A SECOND.
AND THEN SHE LOOKS DOWN AND FALLS AGAINST THE DOOR
SCREAMING, AND I GO RUNNING UP THE STAIRS
>> Reporter: SOMEONE WAS LYING ON THE FLOOR, A TWISTED, BLOODY
MESS, BADLY INJURED, BUT STILL ALIVE.
IT WAS RICKY >> 911, WHAT'S YOUR EMERGENCY?
>> OH, MY GOD, HELP ME, PLEASE >> SHE DIALED 911.
AND SHE WAS SUCH A MESS. >> WE CAME HOME, AND HE'S, LIKE,
BLEEDING EVERYWHERE. >> MA'AM, MA'AM, I CAN'T -- I
CAN'T HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. >> AND I GRABBED THE PHONE FROM
HER. AND I'M LIKE, "HELLO?"
>> WHAT'S GOING ON [ CRYING ]
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT'S HAPPENING?
>> WE JUST GOT BACK INTO THE APARTMENT, AND WE'VE BEEN
CALLING ALL NIGHT LONG, AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET AHOLD
OF HER BOYFRIEND AND WE WALKED UPSTAIRS, AND HE'S
LYING ON THE GROUND. AND HE'S ALL BLEEDING.
>> HE'S BLEEDING >> HE'S NOT MOVING OR ANYTHING
WE JUST TURNED ON THE LIGHT. AND WE SAW HIM AND WE CAME
DOWNSTAIRS >> OKAY.
>> AND CALLED YOU. >> OKAY, HOLD ON
I'M SENDING -- I'M TRANSFERRING YOU TO PARAMEDICS.
OKAY >> Reporter: BY THEN, ANOTHER
CLOSE FRIEND HAD ARRIVED -- JENNIFER KELLOGG
>> AND JENNIFER KEPT SAYING, "I WANT TO SEE RICKY.
AND I'M LIKE, "WHY YOU DON'T NEED TO SEE THIS."
>> Reporter: SARA TRIED TO KEEP EVERYBODY CALM AND AS FAR AWAY
FROM THE BLOODY SCENE UPSTAIRS AS POSSIBLE.
>> NO, GET DOWNSTAIRS NOW. AMY, YOU DON'T NEED TO SEE THIS,
HONEY. I CAN'T EVEN STAND TO LOOK AT
IT GET DOWNSTAIRS
>> OKAY, HOW'S HE DOIN' NOW? >> HE'S TWITCHING AND CONVULSING
A LITTLE, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING WENT THROUGH HIS HEAD.
>> Reporter: PARAMEDICS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOWED UP QUICKLY.
>> AND THEY CARRIED HIM DOWNSTAIRS ON HIS BED SHEET AND
WORKED ON HIM IN THE LIVING ROOM
>> Reporter: A SHERIFF'S CAMERA WAS ROLLING AS THEY TRIED TO
FIND OUT WHAT EXACTLY HAD HAPPENED TO 21-YEAR-OLD
RICKY COWLES >> RIGHT BEHIND HIS LEFT EAR
>> THEY CAME IN THE HOUSE. THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, THEY'RE
SHOVING ALL OF US INTO THE KITCHEN.
>> Reporter: AMAZINGLY RICKY COULD TALK
>> DID YOU SHOOT YOURSELF? >> NO.
>> WHO DID IT? >> MY NECK HURTS A LOT
>> WHO DID IT? >> MY NECK
>> Reporter: IT WAS A SCENE OUT OF HELL, PARAMEDICS TRYING TO
KEEP RICKY ALIVE, THE BEST FRIENDS STRUGGLING WITH HYSTERIA
AS THEY TALKED TO THE POLICE >> DOES IT LOOK RANSACKED OR
ANYTHING >> NO.
>> Reporter: A DEPUTY ASKED THE GIRLS TO CALL RICKY'S PARENTS.
>> THEY SAID, "WELL, ONE OF YOU IS GONNA HAVE TO CALL THEM."
AMY COULDN'T TALK. SO THEY HANDED THE PHONE TO ME
>> AND I SAID, "SOMETHING'S HAPPENED TO RICKY.
YOU NEED TO COME DOWN HERE." >> Reporter: SEVEN MILES AWAY,
IT NEVER TOOK SO LONG. >> THE POLICE WERE THERE,
AMBULANCES, ALL THIS STUFF AND I RAN DOWN THE STREET
YELLING, "RICKY. I JUST WAS LIKE, "OH, MY GOD."
WHEN I GOT THERE, THEY HAD ALREADY BROUGHT HIM DOWNSTAIRS,
AND HE WAS LAYING THERE. AND I JUST LOOKED AT HIM, AND
I'M JUST -- OH, GOD. >> Reporter: THE PARAMEDICS SAID
THEY'D TAKE HIM TO LOCAL HOSPITAL IN AN AMBULANCE
RICKY'S PARENTS BEGGED THEM TO FLY THEIR SON TO AN L.A. TRAUMA
CENTER, AND FAST >> MY DAD WAS SAYING, UM, YOU
KNOW -- HE WAS SAYING, "WE CAN'T -- HE'S NOT GOING TO MAKE
IT IF WE HAVE TO TRANSMIT HIM TO THE HOSPITAL
SO WE NEED TO GET A HELICOPTER HERE RIGHT NOW."
>> Reporter: THEY GOT ONE AND RICK SR. RODE WITH HIS SON RICK
>> HE COULDN'T REALLY SPEAK. HE COULDN'T SAY WHAT HAPPENED OR
ANYTHING >> Reporter: BUT HE SQUEEZED HIS
DAD'S HAND, AND SO HIS DAD KEPT TALKING.
AT THE HOSPITAL, THEY STAYED BY HIS BED AS THE DOCTORS WORKED,
AND THEY PRAYED HE'D SURVIVE AND THEY WAITED, AND WAITED, AND
WAITED >> I DON'T EVEN THINK OUR FAMILY
EVEN ATE ANYTHING FOR THOSE DAYS WE WERE IN THE HOSPITAL.
YOU ARE JUST IN SHOCK AND YOU'RE JUST TRYING -- TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT IF THE DOCTORS, YOU KNOW, CAN -- CAN HELP HIM.
>> Reporter: HELP HIM AND FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM IN THAT
>> Reporter: FROM THE HELICOPTER, RICKY COWLES --
BARELY CLINGING TO LIFE -- WAS RUSHED INTO THE O.R.
>> BY THE TIME I GOT THERE, HE WAS ALREADY IN SURGERY
>> Reporter: THE FIRST OF TWO SURGERIES.
THE COWLES HELD A VIGIL AT THE HOSPITAL
RICKY'S GIRLFRIEND AMY WAS THERE TOO.
GEORGIA AND LARRY ARE AMY'S PARENTS.
DID YOU FOLKS GO TO THE HOSPITAL
>> I DID I WAS THE ONE WHO --
>> SHE DID >> -- WENT INSIDE.
LARRY STAYED OUTSIDE AND I WENT INSIDE BECAUSE THEY HAD SAID
THAT AMY WAS HYSTERICAL. >> Reporter: SHEALYNN WAS VERY
UPSET, TOO DID YOU GET TO SEE HIM
>> THAT WAS HARD >> Reporter: HE WAS SUFFERING.
HE'D BEEN SHOT THROUGH THE FOREHEAD
AND HIS SKULL HAD BEEN SMASHED BY SOME BLUNT OBJECT
THE DOCTORS FOUGHT FOR DAYS TO SAVE HIS LIFE.
>> WHEN SOMEONE HAS SUCH A BAD BRAIN INJURY, THE PRESSURE IN
YOUR BRAIN, YOU GO THROUGH SO MUCH
THE SURGERIES HE WENT THROUGH, JUST TRYING TO GET HIM MAYBE TO
KNOW WE'RE THERE, YOU KNOW >> THEY TOLD US TO GO INTO HIS
ROOM AND TALK TO HIM ABOUT STUFF.
ABOUT THE PAST AND ABOUT HOW MUCH WE LOVED HIM, AND SING THE
SONGS THAT HE LIKED AND ALL THAT TO TRY TO MAYBE JOG HIM A LITTLE
BIT, BUT - >> Reporter: STILL HE HUNG ON,
AS HIS FAMILY TRIED TO UNDERSTAND, WHO COULD HAVE DONE
THIS TO HIM? AND WHY?
RICKY DIDN'T HAVE AN ENEMY IN THE WORLD.
>> HI RICKAROO >> Reporter: RICKY HAD GROWN UP
IN COLORADO UNTIL THE COWLES MOVED TO CALIFORNIA WHEN HE WAS
IN HIGH SCHOOL THE COWLES HAD ALWAYS BEEN SO
CLOSE. BUT THEN AMY CAME ALONG.
AT FIRST, IT ALL SEEMED VERY SWEET.
INNOCENT, IF A LITTLE NAIVE. AT LEAST AS SARA CHAPIN SAW IT
BACK THEN, EARLY 1997. WHEN SHE AND JENNIFER KELLOGG
AND AMY PREASMYER, HER HIGH SCHOOL BUDDIES, WERE UP FOR
ANYTHING HIGH SCHOOL IN LANCASTER,
CALIFORNIA, WHAT'S THAT LIKE >> JUST LIKE ANY HIGH SCHOOL
ANYWHERE IN AMERICA. A BUNCH OF TEENAGERS RUNNING
CRAZY. [ LAUGHTER ]
>> GOOD EVENING MY NAME IS SARA CHAPIN.
>> Reporter: BACK THEN, SARA CHAPIN WAS A LOCAL BEAUTY
PAGEANT QUEEN. YOU WERE A PRETTY POPULAR KID IN
HIGH SCHOOL. >> I WAS -- WASN'T REALLY
POPULAR. BUT I WAS A CHEERLEADER.
>> Reporter: WHICH HELPS >> YES
>> Reporter: HER FRIEND AMY PREASMYER, 16 AT THE TIME,
WAS POPULAR TOO. >> AMY WAS MORE OF THE GOOFY,
FUN ONE. SHE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO OUT
DANCING OR SHE ACTUALLY GOT ME INTO CHURCH AGAIN.
>> Reporter: SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT
THINGS SHE GOT YOU INTO CHURCH BUT SHE
WAS THE FUN ONE? I --
>> SHE WAS FUN I MEAN FUN LIKE INNOCENT FUN, IN
THE BEGINNING. >> Reporter: THEIR FRIEND
JENNIFER KELLOGG WAS 17 THEN WASN'T QUITE AS INNOCENT MAYBE
SHE WAS THE ONE YOUR PARENTS WARNED YOU ABOUT
>> YES [ LAUGHTER ]
>> JENNIFER WAS THE WILD CHILD SHE WAS IN -- ON THE DANCE TEAM
IN HIGH SCHOOL AND SHE ALWAYS -- SHE WAS THE
BOLDER ONE OF ANY OF US. AND SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU
IF YOU NEEDED HER. AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU GOT IN
TROUBLE, SHE HELPED YOU GET IN TROUBLE.
>> Reporter: JUST AFTER NEW YEARS 1997, AMY'S PARENTS WENT
OUT OF TOWN. AND, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT
HAPPENED NEXT. THE BESTIES THREW A HOUSE PARTY.
>> AND SO AMY SAID "LET'S JUST INVITE SOME PEOPLE OVER.
HAVE A GOOD TIME." >> Reporter: HERE THEY WERE THAT
NIGHT. THERE WAS A LITTLE DRINKING,
LITTLE SMOKING, AND SOME GENERAL ROWDINESS.
SHEALYNN COWLES WAS THERE TOO. 16 AT THE TIME
SHE REMEMBERS AMY FROM BACK THEN
WHAT WAS SHE LIKE? >> UM, SHE WAS A PARTY GIRL, YOU
KNOW >> Reporter: ONE OF THE PEOPLE
AT THAT PARTY WAS ALMOST A GROWN UP
THAT WAS RICKY, THEN 20. SHEALYNN'S BIG BROTHER
BY THEN HE WAS DONE WITH SCHOOL AND WORKING FULL TIME AT HIS
FAMILY'S ELECTRICITY BUSINESS. AND THOUGH HE STILL LIVED AT
HOME, HE WAS MATURE FOR HIS YEARS.
BUT...THAT PART OF IT DIDN'T MATTER A BIT TO THE GIRLS AT THE
HOUSE PARTY. TO THEM, HE WAS TALL AND GOOD
LOOKING. WHAT ELSE MATTERED
>> AMY AND ONE OF OUR OTHER FRIENDS WERE KIND OF FIGHTIN'
OVER HIM THEY BOTH HAD A LITTLE THING FOR
HIM. AND I GUESS AMY WON.
>> Reporter: BUT RIGHT AWAY, BOOM, SHE WAS -- SHE WANTED HIM,
HUH? >> WELL, WHEN YOU'RE A TEENAGE
GIRL AND YOU SEE A CUTE GUY, OF COURSE EVERYTHING FALLS INTO
PLACE. >> Reporter: HOW DID IT
PROGRESS >> IT PROGRESSED PRETTY QUICKLY.
THEY GOT TOGETHER AND EVERYTHING JUST STARTED GOING REALLY FAST
>> Reporter: THEY WERE TOGETHER FROM THAT VERY FIRST NIGHT
IT DIDN'T SEEM TO MATTER TO RICKY THAT AMY WAS STILL IN HIGH
SCHOOL, JUST 16 YEARS OLD. >> I REMEMBER HE TOOK HER TO HER
PROM >> Reporter: HE TOOK HER AWAY ON
TRIPS. BOUGHT HER LOTS OF GIFTS
SHEALYNN SAID RICKY EVEN HELPED OUT AMY'S FRIENDS.
>> ANYTHING THOSE GIRLS NEEDED, WHEN MY BROTHER WENT TO THE MALL
WITH HER, THEY WENT TOO. HE GAVE THEM MONEY
HE WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR HER >> Reporter: BUT RICKY'S MOTHER
DEBBIE WASN'T SO ENAMORED WITH YOUNG AMY.
IT WAS JUST A FEELING. BUT IT WAS A STRONG FEELING.
>> I TOLD HIM, "JUNIOR, YOU GOT TO JUST FIND A NEW GIRLFRIEND.
SHE'S TOO YOUNG FOR YOU. SHE'S 16
>> Reporter: YOUNG LOVE. SO INTOXICATING.
SO BLIND RICKY COWLES JUST COULDN'T SEE
WHAT HIS MOTHER SAW. >> Reporter: THE SPARK THAT WAS
LIT WHEN AMY MET RICKY BACK AT THE AT THE START OF 1997 WAS
WHITE HOT BY SPRINGTIME. COLD WATER FROM RICKY'S PARENTS
HAD NO EFFECT WHATSOEVER EVEN THOUGH THEY CERTAINLY
TRIED. SHE WAS ONLY 16, THEY KEPT
SAYING, AS IF TO A BRICK WALL. >> WE WARNED HIM
SHE COULD CHARGE YOU WITH RAPE >> Reporter: YEAH.
>> THINK ABOUT THIS, YOU KNOW. "SHE WOULDN'T DO THAT.
I MEAN, WE HAD MANY, MANY CONVERSATIONS.
>> Reporter: IT DIDN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE
IT WAS TRUE LOVE IN MARCH OF 1997, AFTER THREE
MONTHS OF BLISS, RICKY TURNED 21
HIS PARENTS HAD PLANNED A CELEBRATION IN LAS VEGAS AND AMY
WASN'T ABOUT TO MISS A PARTY >> SHE ALWAYS FOUND A WAY TO DO
WHATEVER SHE WANTED. EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS ONLY 16, SHE
HAD TO GO. SO HE WAS OUT WITH HIS FRIENDS,
21, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE DID.
I NEVER SAW HER THE WHOLE TIME I DON'T THINK -- I DON'T
REMEMBER SEEING HER, DO YOU? >> NO.
>> BUT SHE WAS THERE >> Reporter: DEBBIE AND RICK
SENIOR WERE CONVINCED THIS RELATIONSHIP WASN'T GOING TO END
WELL SO DEBBIE CALLED AMY'S PARENTS
LOOKING FOR ALLIES THEY WERE ANYTHING BUT
>> HER PARENTS DIDN'T CARE THEY LET HER DO WHATEVER SHE
WANTED SHE, YOU KNOW, WAS DOING
WHATEVER SHE WANTED WHENEVER SHE WANTED
THEY HAD NO CONTROL OVER HER >> Reporter: IT'S A WHOLE
DIFFERENT KIND OF PARENTING STYLE AND TWO FAMILIES
>> OH YEAH >> Reporter: AMY'S PARENTS,
GEORGIA AND LARRY PREASMYER, TOLD US THEY HAD A VERY
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON THE RELATIONSHIP -- AND FOR A GOOD
REASON >> I WAS 17 WHEN I MET LARRY
AND -- >> >> Reporter: HOW OLD WERE
YOU, LARRY >> 24.
[ LAUGHTER ] >> 24.
>> SO THERE WAS SIX YEARS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN -
>> Reporter: AND THAT WORKED OUT.
SO THE AGE DIFFERENCE DIDN'T WORRY THEM
AND THEY LIKED RICKY HE WAS GOOD TO THEIR DAUGHTER.
ANYWAY, THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DO MUCH ABOUT IT
SHE HAD MADE UP HER MIND >> SHE ALWAYS PUSHED
>> YEAH. >> SO --
>> Reporter: AMY PUSHED THE ENVELOPE
>> ALWAYS. >> Reporter: THERE WAS NO
STOPPING AMY >> WHAT WE TOLD HIM -- HE LIVED
IN THIS LITTLE HOUSE THAT WE HAD IN OUR PROPERTY AT THAT TIME
AND WE SAID, SHE'S NOT STAYING WE WILL NOT HAVE HER STAY HERE,
GAVE HER ALL THESE RULES AND ALL THAT
IT DIDN'T MATTER SHE STILL CAME AROUND.
>> Reporter: FINALLY RICKY'S PARENTS SAID THAT IS ENOUGH.
>> I SAID WE CAN'T HAVE HER DOING THIS ANYMORE
YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T RIGHT >> Reporter: SO DID RICKY TELL
AMY TO STAY AWAY NO, HE DID NOT
INSTEAD HE MOVED OUT, RENTED HIS OWN PLACE.
LATER DEBBIE WONDERED IF THAT HAD BEEN AMY'S PLAN ALL ALONG.
WITHIN A WEEK AMY WAS LIVING THERE, TOO
HER PARENTS SAY THAT DIDN'T MAKE THEM HAPPY BUT THEY HAD NO
CHOICE >> WE DID NOT WANT HER TO MOVE
OUT. BUT AMY --
>> Reporter: DIDN'T WANT THEM TO MOVE IN TOGETHER
>> NO. BUT AMY SAID, "TOO BAD."
YOU KNOW, "WE'RE -- I'M LEAVING. I'M GOING TO GO AND I'M GOING TO
MOVE IN WITH RICKY." AND RICKY PROMISED, HE SAYS,
"GEORGIA, I KNOW YOU'RE NOT HAPPY WITH THIS.
HE SAYS, "BUT I -- I SWEAR, I'LL TAKE CARE OF HER
I LOVE HER." >> Reporter: SO THE HAPPY COUPLE
SET UP HOUSE BUT THEN AMY'S TWO BEST FRIENDS
MOVED IN, SARA AND JENNIFER. >> HER FRIENDS DON'T WANT TO
LIVE WITH THEIR PARENTS ANYMORE EITHER
SO THEY WERE LIKE -- YOU KNOW, SHE WANTED TO MOVE HER FRIENDS
IN SO THAT'S WHAT SHE DID
>> Reporter: MAKE THAT THE CONSTANT PARTY HOUSE
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: IT WAS SUMMER BY
THEN NO SCHOOL.
AMY'S MOTHER THOUGHT AMY JUST WANTED HER FRIENDS AROUND TO
KEEP HER FROM BEING LONELY >> RICKY WORKED LONG HOURS AND
SHE DIDN'T LIKE TO BE AT HOME ALONE.
AMY WAS THE TYPE OF CHILD THAT ALWAYS HAD TO HAVE SOMEBODY TO
PLAY WITH AND ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, NEEDED PEOPLE TO BE WITH HER
>> Reporter: BUT AMY WAS NOW A TEENAGER
LIVING UNPARENTED WITH TWO BEST FRIENDS.
ONE OF WHOM WAS A NOTORIOUS WILD CHILD.
JENNIFER WAS THE TROUBLE MAKER >> SHE WAS BRINGING HER PARTY
FRIENDS OVER SHE WAS IN AND OUT AT ALL HOURS
OF THE NIGHT >> WITH JENNIFER CAME DRUGS.
>> Reporter: WAS SHE DEALING WAS SHE USING AND SELLING?
>> AT THE TIME, YES. >> Reporter: WHAT WAS IT
DO YOU KNOW? >> I KNOW SHE WAS AT LEAST
HELPING TO DEAL POT. BUT SHE HERSELF WAS ON
METHAMPHETAMINES >> Reporter: THAT'S HOW SARA
REMEMBERED IT. WHICH WAS NOT EXACTLY WHAT RICKY
HAD IN MIND WHEN AMY MOVED IN WITH HIM
BUT THEN, A LOT OF THINGS WERE NOT EXACTLY WHAT EITHER ONE OF
THEM HAD IN MIND >> Reporter: WHAT DID THEY FIGHT
ABOUT? >> THEY FOUGHT LIKE ANY OTHER
COUPLE WOULD FIGHT ABOUT STUPID THINGS.
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE HOUSE NOT BEING CLEANED OR SPENDING
TOO MUCH TIME WITH HER FRIENDS NOT BEING HOME ENOUGH.
>> Reporter: AND PRETTY SOON HE GREW TIRED OF AMY'S FRIENDS AND
ALL THAT CAME WITH THEM. >> RICKY DECIDED THAT HE WAS
DONE THAT HE NEEDED THEM GONE
>> Reporter: AMY HERSELF WAS TORN
THIS LOVE THING WAS A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED THAN SHE'D
BARGAINED FOR. >> I KNOW THAT AMY HAD SAID HE
WAS UPSET THAT THEY WERE THERE AND THAT SHE DIDN'T WANT TO
BREAK HER FRIENDSHIPS. >> Reporter: EVENTUALLY AMY TOLD
SARA AND JENNIFER THEY HAD TO GO
>> AMY HAD ORIGINALLY COME TO ME
AND SAID THAT RICKY WOULD LIKE FOR US TO LEAVE.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, RICKY APPROACHED ME AND HE SAID, "YOU
DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG I'M FINE WITH YOU.
I JUST WANTED JENNIFER OUT OF THE HOUSE.
>> Reporter: HE DIDN'T WANT JENNIFER AROUND?
>> HE DID NOT WANT JENNIFER AROUND
AND HE HAD ASKED HER NUMEROUS TIMES TO MOVE ALL HER STUFF OUT.
AND SHE -- >> Reporter: SHE HADN'T DONE IT?
>> SHE HAD TAKEN LITTLE BITS HERE AND THERE
BUT THE GUEST BEDROOM STILL HAD HER STUFF IN IT.
>> Reporter: JENNIFER WAS ONE OF THOSE GIFTS THAT KEPT ON GIVING,
HUH? >> YES
>> Reporter: SARA TOOK HER THINGS HOME ANYWAY, BUT STILL
HUNG AROUND WITH AMY AND THE YOUNG COUPLE
THEIR ROMANCE ONCE BURNED SO FAST AND AND SO HOT, NOW SEEMED
TO BE COOLING RAPIDLY. AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT DEBBIE
HOPED. BUT THEN RICKY TOLD HER THERE
WAS SOMETHING ELSE, AND SHE WASN'T GOING TO BE HAPPY ABOUT
IT >> HE WAS SMART.
HE WAS GOOD LOOKING. WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO GET IN A
SITUATION? >> Reporter: QUITE A SITUATION
NOW WHAT WOULD RICKY DO? 1997, RICKY COWLES WAS UP BEFORE
THE SUN EVERY WORK DAY HE AND HIS DAD HAD A BIG PROJECT
AT THE BASE. >> WE HAD ABOUT 60 POLES TO PUT
IN, PLUS THE CABLE TO PUT UP >> Reporter: IT WAS HOT, ALWAYS.
BUT RICKY WAS GOOD WITH ALL THAT
HE LIKED THE JOB IT'S HARD WORK TOO
>> IT'S HARD WORK. >> Reporter: DANGEROUS WORK.
>> YEAH. HE LOVED IT.
HE WORKED WITH HIS DAD SINCE HE WAS 12 YEARS OLD, EVERY SUMMER
>> Reporter: AT THE END OF EVERY DAY, HE'D DROP OFF HIS WORK
TRUCK AT HIS PARENT'S HOUSE. AND BEFORE HEADING HOME, HE'D
SPEND A LITTLE TIME WITH HIS MOTHER
DEBBIE TOLD US WAY BACK, FIRST TIME WE MET, THAT ONE OF THOSE
EVENINGS RICKY CAME TO HER ALL SERIOUS AND SAID HE HAD NEWS
SOMETHING BIG. SOMETHING DIFFICULT.
>> HE WAS REALLY SERIOUS, AND I'M THINKING SOME REALLY BAD
THING, YOU KNOW. AND HE TELLS ME, "WELL, AMY'S
PREGNANT." AND I SAID, "NO, NO.
>> Reporter: IT WAS JUST WHAT DEBBIE HAD FEARED.
EVEN AMY'S MORE PERMISSIVE PARENTS WERE THROWN BY IT.
>> I WAS DISAPPOINTED, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
BECAUSE MY KIDS KNEW ABOUT CONTRACEPTIVES
THEY KNEW THAT IF THEY WANTED -- IF THEY THOUGHT AT ALL THAT THEY
WERE GOING TO BE SEXUALLY ACTIVE, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE
RAISED NOT TO, TO BE ABSTINENT UNTIL THEY WERE MARRIED.
>> Reporter: AMY'S FRIEND SARA WAS CONCERNED TOO, BUT FOR QUITE
DIFFERENT REASONS. >> IT SHOCKED ME THE MOST THAT,
NUMBER ONE, SHE WAS 16 AND SHE WAS ALWAYS VERY OUTGOING
AND LIKED HAVING HER INDEPENDENCE AS NOT -- YOU KNOW,
NOT BEING A MOM. A PARTY GIRL BECOMING PREGNANT,
IT'S KIND OF HARD 'CAUSE EVERYTHING STOPS
>> Reporter: YEAH. >> ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE 16
YOU'RE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL. YOU'RE NOT GROWN UP YET.
>> Reporter: BUT RICKY SAID HE WAS READY.
HE'D WELCOME THE BABY AND ALL THAT CAME WITH THAT.
RICKY WAS HAPPY? >> RICKY REALLY WAS LOOKING
FORWARD TO BEING A DADDY >> Reporter: 'CAUSE YOU KNOW A
LOT OF GUYS, 20 OR 21 YEARS OLD, WHO JUST MET A GIRL AND GOT HER
PREGNANT RIGHT AWAY WOULD NOT BE REACTING THAT WAY.
>> NO. BUT RICKY WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT
FROM EVERYBODY HE SEEMED MORE GROWN UP IN THAT
ASPECT HE HAD HAD A LOT OF FUN IN HIS
YOUNGER YEARS. >> Reporter: HE'D ALREADY DONE
HIS -- >> HE'D ALREADY GOT IT DONE AND
OVER WITH. >> Reporter: BUT HE WAS WORRIED,
IF NOT ABOUT THE BABY. IT WAS AMY, HE TOLD HIS PARENTS.
HE COULD SEE NOW SHE MIGHT NOT BE QUITE RIGHT FOR HIM
>> HE GOES, "I JUST NEED A WAY TO TELL AMY THAT I WANT TO BE --
TAKE CARE OF THE BABY. BUT WE CAN'T BE WHAT SHE WANTS
US TO BE I NEED A WAY TO TELL HER."
AND I SAID, "WELL, YOU HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
>> Reporter: "WE CAN'T BE WHAT SHE WANTS US TO BE"?
>> SHE WANTED TO BE WITH HIM AND --
>> Reporter: SHE WANTED TO BE MARRIED.
HE DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT. BUT NOW YOU HAVE THIS BIG
PROBLEM. JUST THE PROBLEM YOU'RE WORRIED
ABOUT ALL ALONG. >> UH-HUH.
>> Reporter: AND THEN IT TURNED OUT RICKY WASN'T THE ONLY ONE
WHOSE PASSIONS WERE COOLING. AMY TOLD SARA ALL ABOUT IT
WHAT ONCE SEEMED PERFECT JUST WASN'T ANYMORE
>> THERE WAS A POINT WHERE SHE HAD TOLD ME THAT SHE WAS NOT
VERY HAPPY AND THAT THEY'D BEEN FIGHTING A LOT
SHE JUST BROKE DOWN AND CRIED AND SAID, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO
DO." >> Reporter: THE SECOND WEEKEND
OF AUGUST 1997, RICKY AND HIS PARENTS HEADED TO LAKE HAVASU,
WHERE THEY HAD A BOAT. RICKY INVITED AMY TO COME TOO,
BUT SHE SAID NO. >> AMY COULDN'T BE ON THE BOAT
'CAUSE SHE WAS SO FAR PREGNANT THAT -
>> Reporter: SHE WAS SHOWING BY THIS STAGE
>> SHE -- YEAH SHE WAS SHOWING.
>> AND SHE COULDN'T GO ON THE BOAT
IT JUST WASN'T GOOD TO BE JOSTLED AROUND LIKE THAT
SO SHE SAID SHE WOULD STAY HOME. >> Reporter: MEANING NO AMY,
WHICH DIDN'T KEEP RICKY FROM HAVING FUN
>> WE WENT GAMBLING. HE WON $1,000, HAD A GREAT
WEEKEND. WE WENT ON THE BOAT.
>> Reporter: DID AMY SIT HOME ALONE?
NO WHAT HAPPENED THAT WEEKEND WHILE
HE WAS AWAY? >> SHE HAD CALLED ONE OF HER
EX-BOYFRIENDS TO COME DOWN FROM COVINA
>> Reporter: I MEAN, WAS SHE STILL PLAYING THE FIELD OR WHAT?
>> I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY SHE WANTED HIM TO COME DOWN.
AND WE ALL JUST JOKED AROUND IT WAS JUST LIKE OLD TIMES, BUT
AMY'S NOW PREGNANT AND LIVES WITH HER FIANCE.
>> Reporter: WOULD HE HAVE BEEN HAPPY ABOUT THAT SITUATION
>> NO. >> Reporter: DID SHE TELL HIM
ABOUT IT >> NOPE.
>> Reporter: NO. >> NOBODY WOULD BE HAPPY WITH
THAT - >> Reporter: CAN'T IMAGINE
>> -- IN ANY RELATIONSHIP. >> Reporter: WOULD RICKY HAVE
BEEN HAPPY WITH ANY OF IT? JENNIFER SHOWED UP, ALONG WITH A
FRIEND, A PARTY BOY. SHE WAS HANDING OUT ACID TO
ANYONE WHO WANTED IT SHEALYNN HAD SKIPPED THE LAKE
HAVASU TRIP, SO SHE POPPED IN TOO.
BUT DESPITE ALL THAT, WHEN RICKY RETURNED FROM HIS WEEKEND AWAY,
IT LOOKED LIKE EVERYTHING WAS GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT.
SO MAYBE TIME APART WAS JUST WHAT THEY NEEDED
>> THE DAY RICKY CAME BACK, I WENT OVER THERE.
AND I SAT ON THE PORCH WITH HIM. AND WE HAD A BEER AND CIGARETTE.
AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, "I REALLY NEEDED THIS TRIP
I'M SO EXCITED FOR OUR LIFE NOW. AND I'VE JUST THOUGHT ABOUT
EVERYTHING, AND EVERYTHING'S JUST GONNA BE FINE
WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT WORK." >> Reporter: AMY HAD A CHANGE OF
HEART TOO. >> SHE SAID, "I'M GONNA MAKE
THIS WORK. IT'S WORTH MAKING WORK
I WANT MY DAUGHTER TO GROW UP WITH HER DADDY HERE.
>> Reporter: AMY AND RICKY DECIDED THEY NEEDED TO SPEND
TIME TOGETHER, ALONE, IF THEY WANTED THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO
WORK AND THAT WAS THE PLAN THE NIGHT
RICKY HAD TO WORK LATE HOOKING UP LIGHTS AT THE FAIRGROUNDS
THE NIGHT AMY CAME HOME TO FIND HIM WRITHING ON THE FLOOR IN A
POOL OF BLOOD, A GUNSHOT TO HIS HEAD, AND ONE SMALL PIECE OF
EVIDENCE >> WE FOUND A SHELL CASING
>> Reporter: WHO WOULD SHOOT >> Reporter: RICKY COWLES WAS IN
AND OUT OF SURGERIES DO YOU THINK HE KNEW THAT YOU
WERE THERE >> YEAH, I THINK HE KNEW WE WERE
THERE WITH HIM YEAH, I DO
>> Reporter: UNTIL FINALLY IT WAS CLEAR -- THERE WAS NO SAVING
HIM. HE WAS COMATOSE NOW.
ONLY THE MACHINES KEPT HIM ALIVE.
HIS FAMILY WENT TO HIS BEDSIDE TO SAY THEIR GOOD-BYES
>> RICK AND I WOULD NOT LET ANYBODY IN TO SEE RICKY BUT OUR
FAMILY THAT'S IT.
BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY TO DISTURB HIM IN ANY WAY OR SAY
ANYTHING THAT WOULD MAKE HIM NOT WAKE UP AT ALL
BUT FINALLY, WHEN THEY TOLD US THAT HE WAS NOT WITH US ANYMORE,
AMY SAID, "CAN I GO IN AND TALK TO HIM?"
>> Reporter: SHE WAS BESIDE HERSELF, AMY WAS
JUST HAD TO TALK TO HIM. >> SHE GOES IN AND TELLS HIM,
"WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DIE?" YOU KNOW, "YOU PROMISE YOU'D BUY
ME A CAR FOR MY BIRTHDAY," AND ALL THIS
AND I JUST - >> Reporter: "PROMISE YOU'D BUY
ME A CAR FOR MY BIRTHDAY." >> I LOST IT
I JUST STARTED CRYING. I JUST COULD NOT BELIEVE SHE
SAID THAT. >> Reporter: ESPECIALLY WHEN
RICKY'S LOVED ONES, MOM, DAD, SISTER, WERE SAYING THEIR LAST
GOOD-BYES. AT 11:35 ON THE MORNING OF
AUGUST 14th, THEY LET RICKY GO HIS HEART, KIDNEYS, LIVER WERE
DONATED TO PEOPLE IN NEED. >> FIVE PEOPLE LIVED BECAUSE OF
HIM. >> Reporter: FOR RICKY'S FAMILY,
TIME HAD BEEN STANDING STILL AT THE HOSPITAL
BUT OUTSIDE, LAW ENFORCEMENT HAD BEEN BUSY TRYING TO FIGURE WHO
ATTACKED RICKY IT WAS A MURDER CASE NOW
>> WE FOUND A SHELL CASING >> 25 AUTO I BELIEVE
>> OKAY. >> Reporter: THERE WASN'T MUCH
EVIDENCE IN RICKY'S CONDO. JUST THAT SHELL CASING, NO
FINGERPRINTS, NO USEFUL DNA. NOTHING MISSING FROM THE PLACE
AND POLICE WEREN'T FINDING OUT ANYTHING ABOUT RICKY COWLES THAT
WOULD MAKE HIM AN OBVIOUS MURDER TARGET
RICKY DIDN'T SEEM TO LEAD THE KIND OF LIFE WHICH WOULD LEAD TO
HIS BEING, YOU KNOW, KILLED BY A GANG OR SOMETHING.
DID HE >> NO.
HE WAS A HARD-WORKING KID WITH HIS FATHER
>> Reporter: RETIRED LOS ANGELES SHERIFF'S DETECTIVE
LARRY BRANDENBURG. >> RICKY WASN'T INVOLVED IN
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. HE DRANK A LITTLE BEER AND MAYBE
SMOKED A LITTLE POT, BUT I THINK THAT WAS THE EXTENT OF IT.
>> Reporter: THE DETECTIVES WERE STUMPED.
BUT AT AMY'S HIGH SCHOOL AND AROUND TOWN, EVERYONE SEEMED TO
BE TALKING ABOUT THOSE GIRLS WHO WERE ALWAYS AT RICKY'S
APARTMENT. >> FROM THE BEGINNING, IT WAS
FINGER POINTING HERE AND HERE AND HERE
"WELL, JENNIFER'S INVOLVED, OR SHEALYNN'S INVOLVED.
SHE WAS PISSED AT HER BROTHER. OR AMY WAS INVOLVED OR SOMEBODY
ELSE WAS INVOLVED. OR IT WAS THIS
OR IT WAS A HOME INVASION. IT JUST -- FINGERS WERE POINTED
EVERYWHERE AT EVERYBODY. >> Reporter: BY --
>> EVERYBODY ELSE. >> Reporter: RUMORS WERE FLYING
WHERE SHEALYNN WENT TO SCHOOL TOO.
>> I WAS STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL, SO EVERYONE WAS SAYING A LOT OF
THINGS, ANYWAY YOU KNOW, WHO THEY THOUGHT DID
IT AND EVERYTHING. >> Reporter: WHO DID PEOPLE
SUSPECT? >> THE MAIN PERSON THAT I ALWAYS
HEARD WAS, UH, JENNIFER KELLOGG'S BROTHER
>> Reporter: THAT WOULD BE BRIAN KELLOGG.
A YOUNG MAN WITH A REPUTATION. NOT A GOOD ONE
HE'D BEEN IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW BEFORE AND WOULD BE AGAIN.
BUT IF INVESTIGATORS DID LOOK AT HIM, THEY GOT NOWHERE.
LOTS OF RUMORS BUT MAYBE THAT'S ALL THEY WERE
AND AS MONTHS PASSED WITH NO ARREST, A KILLER STILL OUT
THERE, THE TRIUMVIRATE OF HAPPY-GO-LUCKY BEST FRIENDS
FRAYED PRETTY SOON AMY WASN'T TALKING
TO JENNIFER, AND JENNIFER WASN'T TALKING TO SARA.
THEY HAD BEEN INSEPARABLE. AND THEN, SUDDENLY, THEY
COULDN'T BE FAR ENOUGH APART FROM EACH OTHER.
>> THEY COULDN'T BE FAR ENOUGH APART FROM EACH OTHER.
>> Reporter: OR SO SHE HEARD RICKY'S PARENTS WEREN'T IN TOUCH
WITH ANY OF THEM UNTIL THERE WAS SOMETHING DEBBIE
WANTED FROM AMY, SO SHE MADE A PHONE CALL AND SHE ASKED TO
MEET >> AMY, SHE HAD HIS PICTURE
TAKEN, PROFESSIONALLY TAKEN, AND SHE HAD THE PICTURE BLOWN UP
INTO, LIKE, A 18 BY 20 AND FRAMED
>> Reporter: DEBBIE MET UP WITH AMY AND HER MOTHER
>> I GAVE 'EM THE MONEY FOR THE PICTURE.
AND I SAID, "WELL, WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS?
WHAT -- WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS? ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE THIS BABY?
ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE AN ABORTION
I MEAN, RICKY'S NOT HERE ANYMORE.
I JUST DIDN'T KNOW." AND HER MOTHER BLEW UP AND SAID,
"OUR FAMILY DOES NOT BELIEVE IN ABORTION."
DIDN'T GIVE ME A CHANCE TO SAY WE DON'T EITHER.
BUT I DIDN'T KNOW HER ENOUGH TO KNOW IF SHE WOULD OR NOT
>> Reporter: THAT WAS THE LAST RICKY'S FAMILY HEARD FROM AMY.
SO SHE JUST DISAPPEARED OUT OF YOUR LIFE?
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: WITH AMY WENT THEIR
GRANDCHILD >> COME JANUARY, A FRIEND WAS AT
THE HOSPITAL, AND SHE CALLED ME. SHE SAID, "I THINK YOUR BABY'S
GOING TO BE BORN TODAY HER NAME'S ON THE BOARD, AND
SHE'S IN THE MATERNITY WARD. I RESOLVED MYSELF TO THIS IS MY
FIRST GRANDCHILD, BUT I'M NEVER GOING TO SEE IT.
>> Reporter: THE BIRTH OF A BABY IS SUPPOSED TO BE A MOMENT OF
UNBRIDLED JOY. BUT DEBBIE AND RICK COWLES JUST
FELT LOSS. AND AMY'S FAMILY
THEY HAD A DIFFERENT EMOTION -- FEAR
THERE WAS STILL A KILLER ON THE LOOSE.
>> I'M AT THE HOSPITAL GUARDING >> Reporter: FIVE MONTHS AFTER
RICKY COWLES BREATHED HIS LAST BREATH, AND THEY PULLED THE PLUG
AND LET HIM SLIP AWAY, HIS DAUGHTER WAS BORN.
AMY'S BEST FRIEND SARA WAS THERE.
WHAT WAS THAT LIKE >> IT WAS JUST AMAZING BECAUSE
ONE LIFE HAD BEEN TAKEN AND ANOTHER LIFE WAS COMING BACK
INTO THE WORLD AND SHE LOOKED JUST LIKE HIM
IT JUST KIND OF MADE MY HEART MELT THAT AT LEAST WE'LL SEE HIM
AGAIN IN HER FACE. >> Reporter: AMY'S PARENTS,
GEORGIA AND LARRY, EMBRACED BEING GRANDPARENTS
>> SHE BECAME OUR LIFE THEN. >> IT WAS THE LITTLE ONE
>> TO JUST LOVE HER AND NURTURE HER AND BE THE BEST THAT --
GRANDPARENTS THAT WE COULD BE FOR HER.
>> Reporter: AND AMY NEEDED THEM
SHE WAS STILL FRIGHTENED, THEY SAID
SCARED AT THE HOSPITAL, SCARED WHEN SHE WENT TO GIVE BIRTH.
NOT REALLY A SURPRISE. SOMEBODY KILLED RICKY, AND THAT
PERSON WAS STILL UNKNOWN AND OUT THERE SOMEWHERE.
>> I'M AT THE HOSPITAL GUARDING THE DOOR
BECAUSE I STILL DON'T KNOW ANYTHING
>> Reporter: SURE. OR WHO HAS DONE THIS THING
>> EXACTLY >> RIGHT
>> AND SHE'S STILL AFRAID OF THAT SOMEBODY IS, YOU KNOW,
GONNA COME AFTER HER AND NOW SHE'S AFRAID THAT
SOMEBODY'S GONNA, YOU KNOW, COME AFTER HER LITTLE GIRL.
>> Reporter: RICKY'S PARENTS WEREN'T INVITED TO MEET THEIR
NEW GRANDDAUGHTER. ANYWAY, RICK SR. AND DEBBIE WERE
FULLY OCCUPIED, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO KILLED THEIR SON
>> I WAS ON A MISSION. WE HAD ONE MISSION
WHEN WE LOST HIM, THAT LAST TIME WE SPOKE WITH HIM, WE SAID WE
WILL NOT HAVE ONE DAY THAT WE DO NOT TRY TO SEEK AND FIND THE
TRUTH. >> Reporter: THEY PAID FOR
BILLBOARDS, ONE OF THEM RIGHT NEAR RICKY'S OLD CONDO ASKING
FOR HELP AND THEY MADE FLYERS ANNOUNCING
A REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO RICKY'S KILLER.
SHEALYNN WENT ALL OVER TOWN, DELIVERING THOSE FLYERS DOOR TO
DOOR >> WE JUST PASSED ALL THE FLYERS
AND WE'RE JUST HOPING FOR THE BEST
>> Reporter: AND THEN ONE DAY, SHEALYNN AND HER FLYERS SHOWED
UP AT AMY'S PARENT'S DOOR. AND LARRY PREASMYER INVITED HER
IN TO MEET HER NIECE FOR THE FIRST TIME
THAT BROKE THE ICE >> I JUST CALLED MY MOM
INSTANTLY AND JUST TOLD HER, YOU KNOW, THAT I'M HOLDING YOUR
LITTLE GRANDBABY SHE WAS JUST PRECIOUS.
>> Reporter: AND SO DEBBIE AND RICK WENT TO THE PREASMYERS'
HOUSE AND THEY SAW THE BABY. AND JUST LIKE THAT, THEY FOUND A
WAY TO CO-EXIST. >> THE FIRST TIME WE BOTH HELD
HER, WE COULDN'T EVEN TALK WE JUST CRIED THE WHOLE TIME
BECAUSE SHE LOOKED LIKE RICKY AND SHE WAS SO SWEET, SO
PRECIOUS SO THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF
HAVING A FAMILY AGAIN. WE STARTED OVER AGAIN.
>> Reporter: FROM THEN ON THE BABY SPENT TIME WITH GRANDMA
DEBBIE AND GRANDPA RICK. FOR RICKY'S FAMILY, THERE WAS
JOY AGAIN. THOUGH THEY COULD HARDLY PUT
ASIDE THEIR LOSS ANYWAY, IT WAS THE BABY'S LOSS,
TOO. >> Reporter: I'M WONDERING IF
YOU CONTEMPLATE SOMETIMES WHAT -- WHAT, UH, HE -- HE MIGHT
HAVE DONE FOR HIS DAUGHTER, FOR THIS FAMILY.
>> HE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE BEST FATHER TO HIS DAUGHTER, TAKEN
BEST CARE OF HER SHE WOULD HAVE WENT WITHOUT
NOTHING. AND HE WOULD HAVE GIVEN HER THE
MOST LOVE EVER AND SHE MISSED OUT ON THAT
>> Reporter: SPRING ARRIVED. IT WAS EIGHT MONTHS SINCE RICKY
DIED BY THEN AMY HAD FINISHED HIGH
SCHOOL AND SHEALYNN AND HER FAMILY WERE
STILL LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDERS.
>> I DIDN'T REALLY GO ANYWHERE FOR THE FIRST YEAR
>> Reporter: YEAH, I UNDERSTAND. >> WE DIDN'T KNOW WHO DID THIS
YOU KNOW >> Reporter: AND THEN COPS
INVESTIGATING A BURGLARY ARRESTED A GUY
SMALL TIME CROOK AND MAYBE THE GUY WAS HOPING FOR
SOME KIND OF BREAK HE TOLD THOSE COPS HE MIGHT KNOW
SOMETHING ABOUT THE MURDER OF RICKY COWLES
AND HE MENTIONED A NAME. SOMEBODY WHO WASN'T EVEN ON THE
COPS RADAR THE DETECTIVE CALLED AND ASKED
YOU TO LOOK IN THE YEARBOOK? >> YES
>> I SAID, "OH, MY GOSH, IT WAS THE BOY THAT WAS IN THE HOUSE.
>> Reporter: IT WAS ONE OF THE PARTY BOYS WHO SHOWED UP AT
RICKY'S CONDO THE WEEKEND RICKY WAS AWAY IN HAVASU
JUST A KID, REALLY WHO LIVED RIGHT DOWN THE STREET.
LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA HAD GIVEN DETECTIVES A NAME.
JUST MAYBE THE GUY WHO KILLED RICKY COWLES
THAT NAME WAS BILLY HOFFMANN HE WAS 19-YEARS-OLD AND LIVED
RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM RICKY'S CONDO.
BUT WAS HE IN HIDING HE WAS NOT
IN FACT, BILLY HOFFMAN COULDN'T KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT ABOUT THE
MURDER HE SAID IT RIGHT OUT
IT WAS HIM HE KILLED RICKY.
>> HE WAS PROUD OF IT. HE ACTUALLY TOLD PEOPLE.
>> Reporter: THOUGH IT WOULD BE MANY MONTHS BEFORE POLICE HEARD
ABOUT IT, RETIRED LOS ANGELES SHERIFF'S DETECTIVE, TOM HARRIS,
SAID BILLY HOFFMANN STARTED BRAGGING RIGHT AWAY.
>> THERE WAS A GIRL THAT HE WOULD CARPOOL WITH, FOR
INSTANCE, TO GO TO WORK AT KMART, AND SHE PICKED HIM UP,
AND HE TOLD HER THAT HE DID THIS LAST NIGHT
AND HE SAID, "YOU SAW THOSE HELICOPTERS THAT WERE OVER
THERE? HE GOES, "THAT WAS ME.
HE SAYS, "I DID THAT." >> Reporter: SHE WAS SKEPTICAL
SO, WHEN THEY CARPOOLED HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY, HE SHOWED
HER PROOF, A HAMMER HE SAID HE USED IN THE MURDER
HE ACTUALLY GAVE HER THE HAMMER AND SAID, "GET RID OF THIS FOR
ME." WHICH SHE DID.
BUT WHEN POLICE TOOK BILLY IN FOR QUESTIONING, HE SAID NO.
HE DIDN'T DO IT. SO HE DENIED IT TO THE
AUTHORITIES, BUT HE HAD -- >> TO THE AUTHORITIES.
>> Reporter: -- ALREADY TOLD WHAT, NUMBER -- SEVERAL PEOPLE
>> SEVERAL PEOPLE. HE WOULD TELL PEOPLE THAT --
THAT HE DID THIS I MEAN, WHICH OBVIOUSLY, WAS HIS
DEMISE >> Reporter: BILLY HOFFMANN
DIDN'T HAVE A RECORD HE DIDN'T KNOW THE VICTIM.
HE DIDN'T STEAL ANYTHING SO WHY WOULD HE DO IT?
WHAT WAS HIS MOTIVE WITH THIS MURDER
>> IT WAS TO GET HIM FAME IN HIS LITTLE DRUG BUSINESS, HIS LITTLE
DRUG WORLD >> Reporter: MURDER, JUST FOR
STREET CRED? IT WAS A PAPER-THIN MOTIVE
BUT WITH ALL THAT BLABBING ABOUT IT, BILLY HAD TALKED HIMSELF
INTO BEING A SUSPECT SO THEY ARRESTED HIM
AFTER THE ARREST, THE DETECTIVE CALLED AND ASKED YOU TO LOOK IN
THE YEARBOOK >> UH-HUH.
>> Reporter: UH, LOOK UP WILLIAM HOFFMANN
DO YOU REMEMBER THIS >> YES
AND WHEN I SAW, I KNEW THAT I HAD MET HIM.
>> Reporter: BILLY >> YES
>> Reporter: IT HIT HER LIKE A SLAP
SHE'D SEEN HIM THAT WEEKEND WHEN RICKY WAS AWAY AT THE LAKE, THE
WEEKEND BEFORE HE WAS KILLED THE WEEKEND JENNIFER AND AMY HAD
FRIENDS COMING AND GOING, BILLY WAS THERE.
>> THAT BROKE MY HEART TO KNOW HE WAS IN THE SAME HOUSE THAT I
WAS AT >> Reporter: AND THOUGH THE
COWLES WERE RELIEVED SOMEONE HAD FINALLY BEEN ARRESTED FOR
KILLING RICKY, THEY FELT THERE HAD TO BE MORE INVOLVED THAN
JUST THIS KID BILLY. >> RICKY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW BILLY,
AND BILLY DIDN'T KNOW RICKY. >> Reporter: BUT THEY HAD
SOMEONE IN COMMON, AND THAT SOMEONE WAS JENNIFER KELLOGG
DETECTIVES FOUND THIS PHOTO OF JENNIFER AND BILLY SMOKING POT
TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE MURDER, CONFIRMING THEY KNEW EACH OTHER.
AND JENNIFER, SHE ALREADY HAD A REPUTATION
>> YEAH, JENNIFER, SHE JUST LIKED BEING A GANGSTER
SHE WOULD SAY TO PEOPLE, "YOU KNOW, IF YOU NEED SOMETHING
DONE, I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT." YOU KNOW, SHE WAS KNOWN AS A
GIRL THAT WOULD BEAT ANYBODY UP OR, YOU KNOW, SHE'S A SCARY
GIRL >> Reporter: SO RICKY'S FAMILY
TRIED TO PIECE TOGETHER WHAT JENNIFER AND AMY GOT UP TO THE
DAY RICKY WAS ATTACKED DID ANY OF THEIR BEHAVIORS SEEM
DIFFERENT WITH HINDSIGHT LIKE WHEN JENNIFER AND AMY
STOPPED BY TO SEE SHEALYNN AT WORK A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE
MURDER, AMY TOLD SHEALYNN SOMETHING THAT SOUNDED FINE AT
THE TIME BUT NOW?
>> "DON'T COME BY TONIGHT, BECAUSE ME AND YOUR BROTHER ARE
GOING TO TRY TO TALK THINGS OUT AND STUFF.
AND I THOUGHT, OH, OKAY, YOU KNOW, THEY REALLY NEED TO TALK
>> Reporter: SO, STAY AWAY AND THEN RICKY'S DAD, RICK
SENIOR, REMEMBERED HOW OFTEN AMY CALLED RICKY AT WORK THAT DAY TO
REMIND HIM BE HOME BY 9:00 >> RICK, THAT DAY SHE KEPT
BUGGING HIM TO MAKE SURE WHAT TIME HE WAS GOING TO GET HOME.
>> Reporter: SO, TRYING TO MAKE HIM HURRY UP AND GO HOME
>> YEP >> Reporter: AND DEBBIE?
REMEMBERED WHEN OUT OF THE BLUE, A FEW DAYS BEFORE HE DIED, RICKY
TOLD HER AMY WANTED HIM TO GET LIFE INSURANCE
>> I -- I AGREED WITH IT I SAID WHEN THE BABY GETS HERE,
I WILL -- I WILL GET THE INSURANCE.
AND HE GOES, "WELL, SHE'S BUGGING ME ABOUT IT.
I SAID, "JUST TELL HER THAT I DID IT
THAT IT'S TAKEN CARE OF. >> Reporter: BUT WHAT DID ALL
THAT MEAN? TO DEBBIE, IT MEANT AMY AND
JENNIFER SEEMED GUILTY OF SOMETHING.
THE WAY THEY ACTED DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE OTHERWISE.
BUT TO THE INVESTIGATORS, THE COWLES' SUSPICIONS, THOUGH
INTERESTING, WEREN'T ENOUGH. ANYWAY, THEY HAD BILLY WHO
QUICKLY WENT ON TRIAL. WITNESSES PUT THE GUN IN HIS
HAND, AND THE HAMMER, AND TALKED ABOUT HIS BRAGGING
EVEN JENNIFER TESTIFIED ABOUT THAT
AND THEN WHEN IT WAS AMY'S TURN? DEBBIE WATCHED IN SHOCK AS AMY
TOLD STORIES THAT DIDN'T LINE UP WITH REALITY
SUCH AS THAT SHE AND JENNIFER HAD NEVER REALLY BEEN CLOSE
FRIENDS, AND THAT IT WAS SHEALYNN WHO BROUGHT JENNIFER
AROUND AMY ALSO SAID BILLY WAS NEVER AT
RICKY'S CONDO, EVEN THOUGH SHEALYNN HAD SEEN HIM THERE.
>> FIRST OF ALL, WHY WOULD AMY LIE?
>> Reporter: BILLY TOOK THE STAND IN HIS OWN DEFENSE, AND
SAID THE BURGLAR FRAMED HIM TO GET A DEAL
HE DIDN'T KILL RICKY THEN THE JURY GOT THE CASE
AND FOUR HOURS LATER, THE COWLES WERE TOLD HURRY BACK TO COURT
FOR THE VERDICT. >> WE HAD CERTAIN DAYS WE HAD
THE BABY IN THE AFTERNOON, AND THE JURY CAME IN, SO WE HAD TO
TAKE HER WITH US >> Reporter: THE COWLES WERE
RELIEVED BILLY HOFFMAN MEAN WAS
CONVICTED. BUT THEN SAID DEBBIE, SHE HEARD
FROM AMY, WHO WAS ANGRY THAT THEY HAD BROUGHT THE BABY TO
COURT. >> SHE SAID, "YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO SEE THE BABY ANYMORE. I'M JUST GOING TO CUT IT OFF
RIGHT NOW. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE HER.
AND I SAID, "WELL, THAT BREAKS MY HEART."
>> Reporter: AND THAT'S WHEN DEBBIE PUT AMY ON NOTICE
IT WAS JUST HER OPINION, MIND YOU, BUT SHE WAS PRETTY SURE SHE
WAS RIGHT. BILLY HOFFMANN WOULD NOT BE THE
ONLY ONE GOING TO PRISON FOR RICKY COWLES' MURDER
>> YOU KNOW, AMY, ALL THAT DOES IS JUST GIVE ME MORE TIME EVERY
DAY TO TRY TO FIND EVERYONE THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THIS MURDER,
BECAUSE BILLY DIDN'T DO IT BY HIMSELF.
>> Reporter: IT WAS AN EMPTY THREAT, REALLY
EVEN DEBBIE KNEW THERE WASN'T ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO PROVE IT.
YET ANYWAY AND THEN ONE DAY, YEARS LATER,
IN 2002, DEBBIE WENT TO THE MAILBOX.
THERE WAS A LETTER THAT WOULD >> Reporter: BILLY HOFFMANN HAD
BEEN CONVICTED FOR RICKY COWLE'S MURDER, AND AMY AND JENNIFER
WERE STILL UNDER SUSPICION, BUT THE CASE DIDN'T SEEM TO GO
ANYWHERE AFTER THAT AND YEARS WENT BY.
RICKY'S PARENTS DID GET TO SEE THE BABY, AMY DIDN'T STICK WITH
HER THREAT TO KEEP HER AWAY. BILLY HOFFMANN, OF COURSE, WAS
IN PRISON. HE WAS FEW YEARS INTO HIS
SENTENCE, WHEN HE DECIDED TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE COWLES
DEBBIE QUITE UNPREPARED SAW IT FIRST.
WHAT WAS THAT LIKE, GETTING THAT LETTER
>> SURREAL I WAS AT HOME BY MYSELF WHEN I
GOT IT, ACTUALLY >> Reporter: SHE OPENED IT,
HEART RACING, AND SAW THAT IT WAS A CONFESSION FOR HIS PART IN
THE MURDER HIS PART
WHEN THEIR SHOCK SUBSIDED, RICK AND DEBBIE KNEW WHAT THEY HAD TO
DO >> AND WE TOOK IT TO THE
DISTRICT ATTORNEY. >> Reporter: MANNA FROM HEAVEN
BILLY HOFFMANN'S LETTER WAS ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDED TO
RE-ENERGIZE A DORMANT INVESTIGATION.
>> WHY DON'T YOU TELL ME THE BEGINNING, HOW THAT THING
HAPPENED - >> Reporter: SO DETECTIVES WENT
TO THE PRISON, TO TALK TO BILLY. >> NOW, THE REASON I AM HERE IS
BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE WAS MORE THAN YOURSELF INVOLVED IN THE
CRIME, IS THAT CORRECT >> YES
>> Reporter: AND NOW HE HAS TALKED TO US, TOO.
BILLY HOFFMANN WAS 21 WHEN THEY SENT HIM AWAY FOR LIFE
LWOP, THEY CALL IT LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE.
>> THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO THOUGHT THAT I'D EVER HAVE A
HOPE OF GOING HOME YOU KNOW, WHAT I DID WAS A H --
UNFORGIVABLE >> Reporter: AND MONTH AFTER
MONTH, HE SAT INSIDE THAT CELL, WITH REALLY NO HOPE OF EVER
CHANGING HIS FATE. UNTIL, FINALLY, IT DAWNED ON
HIM, THERE WAS ONE THING HE COULD CHANGE -- HIMSELF.
>> Reporter: YOU GOT TO KNOW A CHAPLAIN IN THERE?
>> YEAH. SEVERAL OVER THE YEARS
THAT PLAYED A ROLE AND IS HELPING SEE ME, SEE THINGS
DIFFERENTLY, SHOWING MY VALUE AS -- AS A HUMAN, AS A CHILD OF
GOD, SEEING OTHERS AS, YOU KNOW, PRECIOUS
>> Reporter: ONCE HE GRASPED THAT IDEA HE FELT COMPELLED TO
SEND THAT LETTER AND HE DID TRY TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT MADE HIM BEHAVE THE WAY HE DID BACK IN THAT SUMMER OF '97
IT'S A STORY THAT'S HARD TO HEAR, EVEN HARDER TO COMPREHEND.
HE WAS 19 THEN, VERY INSECURE, HE TOLD US AND WAS TRYING TO
LOOK COOL. TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT
THE -- FOR WANT OF A BETTER WORD, LIFESTYLE OF THAT GROUP
WAS THAT SUMMER. >> A PARTY LIFESTYLE IN THAT WE
JUST LIVED IN THE MOMENT OUR WHOLE LIFE REVOLVED AROUND
THAT -- THE -- THE HAVING FUN SUPPOSEDLY, IN QUOTES -- DRUGS
>> Reporter: AND HE GOT THE IDEA THAT IF HE COULD BECOME A TOUGH
GUY, HE'D HAVE IT MADE IN THAT CROWD.
>> I WANTED TO BE THE PERSON I LISTENED TO IN THE MUSIC, THE
RAP MUSIC I WAS LISTENING TO AT THE TIME
KILLING SOMEBODY WAS NOT, LIKE, THIS HORRIBLE THOUGHT, WHICH IT
SHOULDA BEEN THE PEOPLE IN MY CIRCLE I WAS
IN -- IF THERE WAS SOMEBODY THAT'S RUMORED TO HAVE BEEN A
MURDERER, THAT PERSON WAS, LIKE, FEARED AND, LIKE, "OH, THAT'S
THE GUY. >> Reporter: BILLY HAD NEVER
COMMITTED A VIOLENT ACT IN HIS LIFE, BUT TO BE KNOWN AS A
KILLER TO BE FEARED
HE LIKED THAT IDEA AND THEN AN OPPORTUNITY
PRESENTED ITSELF HIS FRIEND JENNIFER CAME TO HIM
WITH A TERRIBLE REQUEST, A TERRIBLE BUT SOMEHOW EXCITING
REQUEST. >> SHE ASKED ME IF I WOULD KILL
SOMEBODY >> Reporter: YOU DIDN'T
HESITATE YOU SAID YES
>> I DID SAY YES >> Reporter: IT WAS THAT EASY.
>> I CAN'T SAY I REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE CONSEQUENCES OF
DOING IT >> Reporter: JENNIFER AND AMY
LATER TOLD HIM THE PERSON THEY WANTED DEAD WAS AMY'S BOYFRIEND,
RICKY. WHAT WERE THOSE WOMEN THINKING,
JENNIFER AND AMY I MEAN, WHAT -- WHAT -- DID THEY
REALLY WANT HIM KILLED THEY REALLY WANTED HIM DEAD?
>> THEY DID. I -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE
THINKING OR WHY THAT WAS A SOLUTION TO WHATEVER THEY FELT
THE PROBLEM WAS. BUT I THINK IT'S HARDER TO
EXPLAIN THAT THAN MY OWN ACTIONS.
>> Reporter: SHE DIDN'T SAY WHY SHE WANTED HIM KILLED?
>> NO. >> Reporter: JUST THAT SHE
WANTED HIM KILLED? >> YES
>> Reporter: DIDN'T YA THINK TO ASK?
>> I DIDN'T. I -- I KNOW.
I KNOW HOW IT SOUNDS I KNOW IT -- IT DIDN'T COME UP
>> Reporter: WHATEVER THE REASON, BILLY DIDN'T CARE.
HE HAD A PURPOSE NOW SO THE GIRLS LAID IT ALL OUT FOR
HIM. AMY BROUGHT HIM A PHOTO SO HE'D
RECOGNIZE RICKY. >> I WAS GIVEN A PICTURE
>> Reporter: THEY BROUGHT HIM TO THE CONDO.
>> I WAS GIVEN, LIKE, A TOUR OF THE HOUSE, SHOWIN' THE LAYOUT,
PLANNED WHERE I WOULD WAIT >> Reporter: THEY TOLD HIM TO
HIDE BEHIND THE BEDROOM DOOR THEY SAID, "BE PREPARED, HE'LL
FIGHT BACK BRING MORE THAN JUST A GUN."
>> IN THE END, I TOOK A HAMMER I HAD A KNIFE WITH ME AS WELL.
>> Reporter: SO ON THE APPOINTED DATE, BILLY DUTIFULLY RETURNED
TO THE CONDO >> I REMEMBER FEELING ANXIOUS
AND JUST WAITING AND KIND OF GOING THROUGH WHAT I
WOULD DO IN MY MIND. >> Reporter: THEN IT WAS TAKING
TOO LONG BILLY GOT RESTLESS
REMEMBER RICKY WAS MUCH LATER THAN USUAL BECAUSE HE'D GONE TO
THE HELP HIS DAD AT THE FAIRGROUNDS.
>> AND SO AT SOME POINT I JUST SAID, "I'M LEAVING."
>> Reporter: IT WASN'T A SENSE --
>> AND - >> Reporter: -- OF, "I DON'T
WANNA DO THIS, I'M HAVING SOME SORT OF" -
>> NO. >> Reporter: "MORAL CRISIS."
NO >> NO.
I WISH >> Reporter: BILLY HEADED OUT
THE FRONT DOOR BUT DIDN'T GET VERY FAR
THE GIRLS WERE ON HIM RIGHT AWAY
>> AS I CROSSED THAT INTERSECTION, AMY AND JENNIFER
PULLED UP. THEY'RE, LIKE, "WHERE ARE YOU
GOING? HE'S ALMOST HOME
JUST GO BACK." AND I DID.
>> Reporter: SO APPARENTLY WITHOUT ANY MORAL QUALMS AT ALL,
BILLY HOFFMANN WENT RIGHT BACK INSIDE AND UP THE STAIRS TO HIS
HIDING PLACE AND IT WASN'T TOO LONG BEFORE
RICKY CAME HOME AND HEADED UPSTAIRS, TOO.
NO IDEA THERE WAS A MAN WAITING THERE TO KILL HIM.
>> HE CAME IN AND I STRUCK HIM WITH THE HAMMER.
HE TURNED AROUND AND YELLED AT ME
AND I PULLED THE GUN AND FIRED AND I SHOT HIM
I'M SO SORRY TO SAY IT, BUT AT THE -- THE TIME, I WAS WORRIED
THAT I HADN'T KILLED HIM I WAS AFRAID TO SHOOT HIM AGAIN
BECAUSE OF THE SOUND OF THE GUNSHOT.
AND SO I STRUCK HIM AGAIN WITH THE HAMMER
>> Reporter: AND IT WAS OVER >> SO THEN WHAT'D YOU DO
RUN AWAY >> YEAH, I DIDN'T RUN.
I -- I LEFT THE HOUSE AND WALKED HOME
>> Reporter: HE WALKED LIKE NOTHING HAD HAPPENED
WHEN HE GOT HOME, HE SENT A CODE TO JENNIFER KELLOGG'S PAGER,
THAT MEANT IT WAS DONE THEN AMY GRABBED SARA AND SAID,
"LET'S GO SEE IF RICKY'S HOME. SARA WHO DIDN'T KNOW THE HORROR
SHE WAS BEING DRAGGED INTO OF COURSE, BILLY HOFFMANN'S
MISGUIDED ASPIRATIONS TO BE A BIG MAN DIDN'T TURN OUT THE WAY
HE WANTED. ALL HIS BRAGGING BROUGHT ON THE
COPS >> THEY SURROUNDED THE HOUSE, A
BUNCH A COP CARS >> I FEEL LIKE -- LIKE I
REMEMBER BEING EXCITED LIKE, "ALL THIS IS FOR ME?
>> Reporter: HARD TO UNDERSTAND? OF COURSE IT IS.
>> THERE'S NO RATIONALE TO IT. AND ALL I CAN SAY, IT'S HOW I
THOUGHT. IT'S HOW I PERCEIVED THINGS.
AND IT'S -- IT'S CRAZY AND WHAT I WOULD GIVE TO GO BACK
WITH THE MIND I HAVE NOW. >> Reporter: IF IT SEEMS LIKE
THE OBVIOUS NEXT STEPS WOULD HAVE BEEN ARRESTING AMY AND
JENNIFER, YOU'D BE WRONG AFTER DETECTIVES HEARD BILLY'S
STORY THEY CONCLUDED IT WASN'T ENOUGH.
THEY NEEDED MORE THAN THE WORD OF A CONVICTED KILLER.
THEY NEEDED CORROBORATION. THEY NEEDED TO LOOK BACK AT AMY.
WOULD ANYONE REMEMBER SOMETHING, ANYTHING, INVESTIGATORS COULD
USE? YOU DIDN'T THINK IT WAS TOO
>> Reporter: IN THE CASE OF THE MURDER OF RICKY COWLES, JUSTICE
GROUND VERY, VERY SLOW IN SPITE OF BILLY HOFFMANN'S
STORY, THE STORY OF THE YOUNG WOMEN WHO, FOR A MOMENT IN TIME,
HE SAID WERE HIS PUPPET MASTERS. YEARS TICKED BY.
AMY GOT ENGAGED TO A GUY WHO WORKED IN HIS FAMILY'S
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS. JENNIFER WAS BEING JENNIFER.
SHE DID NOT BECOME A CHOIR GIRL. MEANWHILE RICKY'S SISTER
SHEALYNN GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL, BECAME A HAIRDRESSER,
AND SOON REALIZED PEOPLE GETTING THEIR HAIR DONE LIKE TO TALK
>> I ACTUALLY DID AMY'S HAIR FOR A WHILE, JUST TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT, YOU KNOW, LIKE, MAYBE SOMEONE WILL SAY SOMETHING, YOU
KNOW, IN HER -- IN HER FRIENDS' GROUP OR SOMETHING
YOU KNOW, I DID ALL HER FRIEND'S HAIR AND EVERYTHING.
>> Reporter: SO YOU WERE -- YOU'RE A SPY
>> MM-HMM. >> Reporter: YOU WERE BEING VERY
SNEAKY >> YEAH.
WELL, I HAD A NIECE THAT I HAD TO PROTECT
>> Reporter: AND YOU WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THEY WERE SAYING TO
EACH OTHER >> YUP
>> Reporter: BUT FOR ALL HER EAVESDROPPING, SHEALYNN DID NOT
HEAR ANYTHING THAT WOULD HELP MAKE A CASE AGAINST AMY.
AND HER PARENTS FOCUSED ON THEIR GRANDCHILD, TRIED NOT TO THINK
ABOUT AMY, THE WOMAN WHO DROPPED THAT LITTLE GIRL OFF, THE WOMAN
THEY BELIEVED CONSPIRED TO KILL THEIR SON.
>> SHE WOULD BRING US THE BABY WE'D TAKE THE BABY ON VACATIONS.
WE HAD HER EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY
WE'D HAVE HER WEEKENDS, BUT SHE -- IT WAS -- WE NEVER TALKED
ABOUT ANYTHING BUT THE BABY. >> Reporter: THEY HELD THEIR
TONGUES ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE. THE BABY WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING. >> SHE SUPERSEDED ALL THAT
BECAUSE I WANTED HER TO HAVE A HAPPY LIFE
>> Reporter: IN THE BACKGROUND A CASE WAS BEING PUT TOGETHER
AGAINST AMY AND JENNIFER AND JENNIFER SOMEHOW GOT WIND OF
IT >> SHE ACTUALLY CAME TO MY HOUSE
BECAUSE MY SON WAS DATING HER SISTER
>> Reporter: OH, MY. >> HER SISTER ASKED ME IF SHE
COULD COME OVER. SHE WANTED TO TALK TO ME
SHE MIGHT HAVE SOME INFORMATION ON A MURDER CASE
>> Reporter: RICKY COWLES' MURDER CASE.
>> SHE WAS FISHING TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH IT
>> Reporter: I MEAN, I WONDER IF SHE'S JUST TRYING TO PLANT SOME
INFORMATION TO THROW PEOPLE OFF THE SCENT.
>> IT COULD BE SHE'S PRETTY SOPHISTICATED
WHEN IT COMES TO THE POLICE AND HOW THEY WORK AND OPERATE, SHE
WAS PRETTY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT HOW WE DO THINGS
>> Reporter: NEEDLESS TO SAY, BRANDENBURG WAS A SEASONED
HOMICIDE DETECTIVE AND JENNIFER DIDN'T CATCH ANY FISH.
IF ANYTHING, IT ALL SEEMED VERY SUSPICIOUS
BUT THERE WERE ISSUES. WHEN JENNIFER TESTIFIED AT
BILLY'S TRIAL, SHE HAD ASKED FOR IMMUNITY --
AND GOT IT WHICH MEANT --
>> YOU CAN'T USE ANY OF THE STATEMENTS THAT SHE MADE OR ANY
LEADS DERIVED FROM THOSE OR ANYTHING TO BUILD A CASE ON HER
LATER TO PROSECUTE HER WE LOST ALL THOSE.
SO WE HAD TO BUILD A CASE INDEPENDENT OF ANY OF HER
TESTIMONY OR ANYTHING THAT SHE WAS ASKED BACK THEN.
>> Reporter: BUT AMY DIDN'T HAVE ANY SUCH DEAL.
AND THEY KNEW AMY HAD LIED WHEN SHE TESTIFIED AT BILLY'S TRIAL
SHE HAD TOLD THE JURY BILLY HOFFMANN WAS NEVER IN THE
CONDO. BUT SHEALYNN HAD SEEN HIM THERE
WITH HER OWN EYES. AND THEY COULD SEE AMY DID NOT
EXACTLY MOURN FOR HER MURDERED BOYFRIEND, THE FATHER OF HER
BABY >> AMY'S ACTIONS AFTER RICKY'S
DEATH REALLY WENT TO SHOW HER LACK OF CONCERN.
>> Reporter: FOR INSTANCE, TEN DAYS AFTER THE MURDER, THE
ANTELOPE VALLEY FAIR OPENED. AND AMY WAS THERE, FLIRTING.
>> SHE DID COME TO THE FAIR AND WAS HANGING OUT WITH A GROUP OF
COWBOYS AND WAS LAUGHING AND HAVING A GOOD TIME
>> Reporter: YOU DIDN'T THINK IT WAS TOO STRANGE?
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS STRANGE, BUT I WASN'T GONNA HARASS HER ABOUT
IT BECAUSE I FIGURED SHE WAS
ALREADY GOING THROUGH ENOUGH >> Reporter: AND THERE WAS AMY'S
BEHAVIOR THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER, PESTERING RICKY TO COME
HOME FOR THEIR ALONE TIME AND THEN MAKING SURE SHE WASN'T
HOME AND WHEN SHE FINALLY DID GO BACK
THERE, BRINGING A WITNESS WHO COULD SAY SHE WAS WITH AMY ALL
NIGHT. THEY USED YOU.
>> MH-HMM. >> Reporter: YOU WERE THEIR
USEFUL FOOL, THE PERSON WHO WAS TO DISCOVER THE BODY
THE PERSON - >> AND BE THE ALIBI.
AND BE USED AND SCARRED FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
>> Reporter: AS FOR JENNIFER, IN ADDITION TO WHAT BILLY TOLD
THEM, THEY KNEW THAT SHE AND BILLY WERE CONNECTED
THEY KNEW SHE AND AMY WERE CONNECTED, AND THEY KNEW SHE AND
AMY BOTH HAD GONE TOGETHER TO TELL SHEALYNN TO STAY AWAY THAT
NIGHT. FINALLY, THREE YEARS AFTER BILLY
SENT HIS LETTER, DETECTIVES HAD GATHERED ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO
INDICT BOTH AMY AND JENNIFER DEBBIE AND RICK, WHO DESPERATELY
WANTED THEM ARRESTED, KNEW THEY NEEDED TO PROTECT THEIR
GRANDDAUGHTER WHEN THE MOMENT CAME
>> ALL WE EVER TOLD 'EM WAS, "IF IT COMES TO THE POINT WHERE
YOU'RE GONNA ARREST AMY, PLEASE LET US KNOW BECAUSE I DON'T WANT
THAT IN HER LITTLE BRAIN THE REST OF HER LIFE THAT HER
MOTHER'S TAKEN AWAY BY THE POLICE."
>> Reporter: IT WAS MARCH OF 2005
>> AND WE WERE GONNA HAVE HER THE WHOLE WEEK FOR EASTER BREAK.
AND THEY ARRESTED HER DURING THAT WEEK.
>> Reporter: WITH THAT, THE COWLES WENT TO FAMILY COURT.
>> WE HAD HAD AN ATTORNEY. WE CALLED HER AND SAID, "WE NEED
TO GO TOMORROW AND GET CUSTODY OF THIS LITTLE GIRL 'CAUSE HER
MOM'S IN JAIL. >> Reporter: THAT WAS THE FIRST
SALVO IN A WAR BETWEEN TWO SETS OF GRANDPARENTS THAT WOULD LAST
FOR YEARS. >> THERE WAS STILL SO MUCH
TURMOIL BETWEEN OUR FAMILIES THAT WE COULDN'T AGREE ON
ANYTHING AT ALL. THEY BLAMED US FOR EVERYTHING.
>> Reporter: THEY BLAMED YOU >> THEY BLAMED US FOR IT, THAT
IF WE HADN'T BEEN PERSISTENT - >> Reporter: THAT AMY WOULDN'T
HAVE BEEN ARRESTED THE PREASMYERS, WHO STAND BEHIND
THEIR DAUGHTER, TOLD US HER ARREST WAS A SHOCK
WAS THERE SOME EXPECTATION THIS WAS GONNA HAPPEN
>> NO. NONE AT ALL.
>> Reporter: COMPLETE SURPRISE >> OH, YEAH.
>> Reporter: IN FACT, AMY WAS TO BE MARRIED IN TWO WEEKS.
>> WE PLANNED THIS WEDDING AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING WAS
READY TO GO. AND --
>> THEY CAME AND ARRESTED HER. >> Reporter: THEN THEY WERE HIT
WITH THE CUSTODY HEARING >> WE GOT THAT SURPRISE TOO.
SEE, ALL THESE SURPRISES HIT US AT ONE SHOT.
AND WE'RE GOING, "WHAT -- WHAT'S THIS
WHAT'S THAT? WHAT'S THIS?
>> Reporter: THE FAMILY COURT JUDGE GAVE THE COWLES TEMPORARY
CUSTODY AND AMY AND JENNIFER WENT TO JAIL
BUT THEN BILLY HOFFMANN STARTED TO GET COLD FEET, WORRIED HE'D
BE SEEN AS A SNITCH. >> TESTIFYING AGAINST SOMEBODY,
LIKE, THAT'S A DEATH SENTENCE. >> Reporter: BILLY HOFFMANN WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE THE STAR WITNESS, THE CENTERPIECE OF THE TRIAL
EVERYTHING ELSE WAS TO SHORE HIM >> Reporter: AMY PREASMYER AND
JENNIFER KELLOGG WERE BEHIND BARS
HEARINGS IN PREPARATION FOR THEIR TRIAL WERE SCHEDULED
THE MACHINERY OF JUSTICE WAS HUMMING ALONG.
AND THAT'S WHEN IT HAPPENED -- THE PROBLEM.
A BIG ONE. BILLY HOFFMANN, CONTRITE,
COOPERATIVE BILLY, WAS SUDDENLY REFUSING TO TESTIFY.
FOR ONE THING, BILLY FELT IGNORED BY THE DETECTIVES
HANDLING THE CASE. HE WAS ALSO HYPER AWARE THAT
PRISONERS WHO TESTIFY TAKE A RISK, SOMETIMES A BIG ONE.
SO THAT'S WHEN LARRY BRANDENBURG WAS BROUGHT IN
>> BILLY FELT DISRESPECTED BY THE DETECTIVES BECAUSE NO ONE
HAD COME TO THE PRISON TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT HIS TESTIMONY
HE WAS PUTTING A LOT ON THE LINE TO DO THAT, BEING IN PRISON.
>> Reporter: YEAH, SURE. BUT DETECTIVE LARRY BRANDENBURG
WAS WELL AWARE THAT WITHOUT BILLY, THE CASE AGAINST AMY AND
JENNIFER COULD FALL APART. WHICH IS WHY THE DETECTIVE WENT
ABOUT BECOMING BILLY'S BEST FRIEND
>> AND THEN OVER THE NEXT PERIOD OF A YEAR OR TWO, WHATEVER IT
WAS BEFORE WE WENT TO TRIAL, KIND OF DEVELOPED A RELATIONSHIP
WITH BILLY, KEEPING IN CONTACT, VISITING HIM
JUST TRY TO KEEP HIM ON BOARD THAT TESTIFYING WAS THE RIGHT
THING FOR HIM TO DO. >> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS ALSO
KEPT A CLOSE EYE ON THE GIRLS AS THEY AWAITED TRIAL AT THE LOCAL
JAIL YOU PUT AMY AND JENNIFER
TOGETHER IN A -- IN A CELL FOR A TIME
>> THEY WERE IN OUR COUNTY JAIL, I THINK, FOR GOING ON A YEAR OR
SO WE HAD THEM COMPLETELY SEPARATED
LET'S MAKE A RUSE. WELL, THEY GOT TO BRING THEM
DOWN TO IRC FOR ADDITIONAL FINGERPRINTING OR WHATEVER
AND WE PUT THEM IN A CELL THAT WAS WIRED UP, AND JENNIFER
DIDN'T SAY HARDLY A WORD SHE WAS PRETTY STREET SMART.
BUT AMY COULDN'T HELP HERSELF. SHE JUST COULDN'T HELP HERSELF
>> Reporter: IT'S HARD TO HEAR, BUT THAT'S AMY TALKING ABOUT
PUTTING A HIT ON BILLY >> ALL I GOTTA SAY IS IF BILLY
DOESN'T TESTIFY, THEY DON'T HAVE A -- CASE AGAINST ME
PRETTY MUCH KNOW THAT IF HOFFMANN TESTIFIES, HE'S GONNA
CROSS ALL MY - PEOPLE'S PATHS ONE DAY OR
ANOTHER BECAUSE YOU CAN'T BE PC'D UP FOREVER, BITCH
>> SHE CALLED HIM A BUNCH OF THINGS I CAN'T REPEAT HERE
>> THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY TO YOU --
AND YOU'RE ALREADY SITTING IN THERE FOR -- LIFE BECAUSE YOU
TESTIFIED AGAINST YOURSELF SO IF YOU DON'T TESTIFY, THEY
DON'T HAVE - NOTHING.
NOT A -- THING >> "HE CAN'T STAY IN PROTECTIVE
CUSTODY FOREVER. MY PEOPLE WILL GET TO HIM.
>> Reporter: BUT IF AMY ACTUALLY HAD PEOPLE, THEY NEVER DID GET
TO BILLY AND IN JUNE OF 2007, NEARLY
10 YEARS AFTER RICKY WAS KILLED, AMY WENT ON TRIAL FOR MURDER
BY THEN, BILLY HAD COME AROUND AND WAS READY TO TESTIFY
>> MY RESPONSIBILITY DIDN'T END WITH CONFESSING WHAT I'D DONE.
>> Reporter: BILLY WAS THE STATE'S MAIN WITNESS AGAINST
AMY. >> I DO BELIEVE PEOPLE NEED TO
BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY DO.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, BEING IN PRISON AND UNDERSTANDING, LIKE,
YEAH, THAT WASN'T EASY BUT WE ALL MADE OUR CHOICES.
WE ALL DID WHAT WE DID >> Reporter: WERE THE COWLES
THERE WHEN YOU TESTIFIED >> YEAH.
ONE OF THE HARD THINGS ABOUT TESTIFYING, AND ANYTIME I SHARE
THESE, LIKE, HAVE TO RECOUNT WHAT I DID, I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT
THEM BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY'RE
GONNA BE HEARING IT AS WELL I WAS -- FELT LIKE I WAS
VICTIMIZING THEM AGAIN, MAKING THEM HEAR IT AGAIN
AND THAT'S ALWAYS HARD >> Reporter: THE PROSECUTION PUT
ON WITNESSES WHO COULD CORROBORATE HIS STORY, LIKE THE
WOMAN HE CARPOOLED WITH TO WORK. BILLY BRAGGED TO HER ON THE
MORNING AFTER THE MURDER ABOUT KILLING SOMEONE.
WHEN SHE ASKED HIM WHY, HE SAID HE DID IT FOR THE GIRLFRIEND OF
THE VICTIM AN OLD FRIEND OF BILLY'S
TESTIFIED HE SAW AMY AND JENNIFER AT BILLY'S APARTMENT
BEFORE THE MURDER, AND SAW THAT PICTURE OF RICKY THE GIRLS GAVE
BILLY, SO HE COULD RECOGNIZE HIM.
SHEALYNN TOLD THE JURY ABOUT MEETING BILLY AT RICKY'S CONDO
WHEN RICKY WAS CONVENIENTLY AWAY AT LAKE HAVASU WITH HIS PARENTS.
AND SARA TESTIFIED ABOUT THAT NIGHT, HOW AMY USED HER AS AN
ALIBI BY DRIVING AROUND WITH HER AS THE MURDER WAS HAPPENING AND
THEN SENT HER UPSTAIRS TO FIND RICKY IN THE BEDROOM, DYING.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO TESTIFY AGAINST, PARTICULARLY, AMY
>> IT WAS SCARY. BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT SOMEBODY
WHO USED TO BE THIS -- THIS HAPPY-GO-LUCKY, OUTGOING PERSON.
SO, YOU KNOW, SWEET AND -- AND INNOCENT
AND NOW I'M LOOKING AT SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN IN JAIL, WHO'S
HARDENED UP, AND NO REMORSE ON THE FACE
>> Reporter: AS FOR AMY'S DEFENSE?
>> THE IDEA THAT THE MURDER WAS COMMITTED BECAUSE AMY ASK BILLY
TO KILL RICKY REALLY MAKES NO SENSE.E BILL
TO KILL RICKY REALLY MAKES NO SED
BILLY TO KILL RICKY REALLY MAKES NO
SENSE.TO KILL RICKY REALLY MAKES NO
SESENSE. >> Reporter: HER ATTORNEY,
ANGELYN GATES, ARGUED THE CHARGES AGAINST AMY WERE
COMPLETELY WITHOUT MERIT >> AMY WAS A 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL AT
THE TIME, AND PREGNANT I MEAN, THERE WAS NO MONEY
INVOLVED >> Reporter: REMEMBER DEBBIE'S
STORY ABOUT AMY PESTERING RICKY FOR LIFE INSURANCE
>> I THOUGHT, "DID I KILL MY OWN SON?
BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT THAT POLICY WAS IN FORCE
>> Reporter: RICKY NEVER DID BUY THE INSURANCE.
THE JUDGE RULED THE STORY WAS HEARSAY ANYWAY
SO THE JURY NEVER HEARD IT >> THERE WAS NO ACTUAL REASON
FOR IT SO IT JUST REALLY -- IT JUST
SEEMED WITHOUT MOTIVE. >> Reporter: AND ACCORDING TO
GATES, THE STAR WITNESS IN THIS CASE, RICKY'S KILLER,
BILLY HOFFMANN, WAS INCONSISTENT, NOT TO BE
BELIEVED >> THE PROBLEM WITH
BILLY HOFFMANN'S CREDIBILITY IS THAT, IN THE VERY BEGINNING, HE
DENIED BEING THE PERSON WHO MURDERED RICKY COWLES, AND HE
MAINTAINED HIS INNOCENCE THE ENTIRE WAY THROUGH HIS TRIAL,
ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIS APPELLATE RIGHTS
>> Reporter: GATES ALSO HAD AN EXPLANATION FOR AMY'S SO-CALLED
THREATS ABOUT TAKING BILLY'S LIFE IF HE TESTIFIED
>> ALL I'VE GOTTA SAY IS THAT IF BILLY DOESN'T TESTIFY --
>> SHE KNOWS SHE'S FACING LIFE WITHOUT A POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE
CASE SHE HAS A DAUGHTER NOW WHO'S
GONNA BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HER AND THE FACT THAT THEY WOULD SAY
ALL KINDS OF THINGS, HATEFUL, THREATENING, BITTER, NASTY,
ANGRY THINGS FOR BEING PUT IN THAT POSITION, SHOULD NOT BE
SURPRISING TO ANYBODY. >> Reporter: A MENTAL HEALTH
PROFESSIONAL ALSO TESTIFIED THAT AMY HAD AN ANXIETY DISORDER THAT
CAME FROM FINDING HER BOYFRIEND DYING ON THE FLOOR
>> SO THE JURY GOT TO HEAR THAT AMY AT THE TIME WAS SHOWING
SYMPTOMS OF TRAUMA, WHICH LOGICALLY, YOU WOULD THINK THAT
A PERSON WHO WAS MATURE ENOUGH, CUNNING ENOUGH, SMART ENOUGH TO
ACTUALLY ASK SOMEONE TO GO KILL THEIR FIANCE WOULDN'T THEN HAVE
HAD THAT REACTION. >> Reporter: DESPITE THE
DEFENSE'S ARGUMENTS, WHEN THE JURY GOT THE CASE, THE
PROSECUTORS AND THE INVESTIGATORS WERE PRETTY
CONFIDENT. AT FIRST, THAT IS.
>> WE FELT GOOD UNTIL I THINK THEY WERE OUT 11 OR 13 DAYS.
AND NOW WE'RE IN A PANIC >>> COMING UP THIS SUNDAY ON
"DATELINE" - >> THEY FOUND SARAH'S CAR ON THE
BRIDGE >> NOBODY COULD FIND HER AND HER
PHONE WAS OFF. >> YOU HAVE TO START WORKING
WORST CASE SCENARIOS >> THIS IS THINGS YOU SEE ON TV,
NOT THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO YOU. >> I LOOKED AT HER RIGHT IN THE
FACE, JUST LIKE I'M LOOKIN' AT YOU RIGHT NOW.
THAT GIRL'S ALIVE. >> SARAH'S WHOLE DEAL WAS MY
THING. >> WE COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT WE
WERE HEARING >> HE EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD
STUDIED HER MOVEMENTS. >> EVIL.
PURE EVIL. >> Reporter: DAY AFTER DAY,
AMY PREASMYER, ON TRIAL FOR MURDER, WAITED FOR THE JURY.
>> THE LONGER THE JURY DELIBERATES, THE BETTER IT
USUALLY IS FOR THE DEFENDANT AND EVERY DAY, RICKY'S PARENTS
LEFT FOR THE COURTHOUSE, KNOWING IT COULD BE THE LAST DAY THEY'D
SPEND WITH THEIR BELOVED GRANDDAUGHTER.
>> Reporter: THAT WOULD CERTAINLY ADD TO THE TENSION OF
THOSE DAYS. BECAUSE YOU KNEW YOU WERE FACING
MORE THAN JUST THE VERDICT - >> AND THE DAY THE VERDICT CAME
IN, SHE WAS AT OUR HOUSE HERE WITH OUR DAUGHTERS BEING
BABYSAT. >> Reporter: THE STAKES?
IF THE JURY VOTED NOT GUILTY DEBBIE BELIEVED AMY WOULD TAKE
THEIR GRANDCHILD AWAY AND THEY MIGHT NEVER SEE HER AGAIN.
NOW THEY ASSEMBLED IN THE COURTROOM AND THE CLERK READ THE
VERDICT. GUILTY
WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO HEAR THAT? >> JUST --
>> FINALLY - >> -- QUIET CRYING, JUST EVERY
EMOTION. YOU WANT TO SCREAM BUT YOU
CAN'T, SO WE JUST QUIETLY CRIED TO OURSELVES
>> Reporter: LIKE BILLY, AMY GOT LIFE WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF
PAROLE. JENNIFER NEVER TO WENT TO TRIAL.
>> WE JUST THOUGHT THAT DEBBIE COWLES COULDN'T TAKE ANOTHER ONE
PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY SO.
WE CONFERRED WITH RICK, AND I THINK DEBBIE DIDN'T AGREE WITH
IT, BUT I THINK IT WAS THE BEST THING FOR HER THAT JENNIFER WAS
ALLOWED TO PLEAD >> Reporter: PLEADED GUILTY TO
VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER AND SOLICITATION TO COMMIT MURDER IN
EXCHANGE FOR A SENTENCE OF 17 YEARS
THE COWLES HOPED THERE WOULD BE SOME SORT OF PEACE ONCE THE
GIRLS WERE LOCKED UP BUT MURDER DOESN'T WORK LIKE
THAT >> BEING A VICTIM RUINS
EVERYTHING EVERYONE AROUND YOU.
MY POOR SON DIED AND EVERYONE AROUND HIM WAS AFFECTED BY IT.
>> Reporter: THEY WATCHED THEIR DAUGHTER SHEALYNN SUFFER
>> SHE WAS 16 YEARS OLD WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
HER AND RICKY WERE BEST FRIENDS. >> Reporter: SHEALYNN THOUGHT
ABOUT THE DAY OF THE MURDER WHEN AMY STOPPED BY THE MCDONALD'S
TOLD HER SHE WANTED TO TALK TO RICKY ALONE THAT NIGHT
SHE THOUGHT ABOUT ALL THOSE PARTIES WHEN SHE'D COZIED UP TO
THE GIRLS. THOUGHT ABOUT HOW SHE FAILED TO
PROTECT HER BROTHER FROM GIRLS SHE THOUGHT WERE HER FRIENDS
>> IT'S A HORRIBLE FEELING TO KNOW THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, I
COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING OR KNOWN IN MY MIND, YOU KNOW,
THEY'RE GOING TO HURT RICKY. >> THE GUILT, I -- I DON'T EVEN
KNOW I CAN'T EVEN FATHOM THAT KIND OF
GUILT THAT SHE'S HAD >> Reporter: YEAH.
>> SHE DOESN'T HAVE IT BECAUSE WE THINK SHE DID ANYTHING WRONG.
>> Reporter: YEAH, OF COURSE NOT.
BUT EMOTIONS ARE TRICKY. SO IN 2018 WHEN THEY GOT THE
CHANCE TO TALK TO BILLY HOFFMANN IN PRISON AND ASK HIM ANYTHING
THEY WANTED, THEY TOOK IT, HOPING IT WOULD HELP SHEALYNN
FEEL BETTER. >> I NEEDED TO HEAR OUT OF HIS
MOUTH ABOUT THE GIRLS, AMY, WHAT SHE DID, AND JENNIFER.
AND I WANTED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
SO THEY'LL ALWAYS BE LIES WITH THOSE GIRLS.
SO HOPEFULLY HE'S TELLING US THE TRUTH.
>> Reporter: BUT IT WAS HARD - >> SHEA AND I HAD BOTH CRIED
ABOUT THINKING WE -- I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN STAND TO SEE HIM,
CAN WE DO THIS >> Reporter: THEY WERE USHERED
IN TO A ROOM, SURROUNDED BY GUARDS
AND THEN BILLY CAME IN >> HE LOOKED A LOT DIFFERENT
>> Reporter: SO YOU WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE HIM?
>> UM, I WOULD HAVE RECOGNIZED HIM BECAUSE I SEE HIS FACE IN
MY -- MY MIND EVERY DAY. >> HE'S THE ONE THAT KILLED MY
BROTHER. HE'S THE ONE THAT KILLE BROTHER.
>> Reporter: BILLY WAS ANXIOUS ABOUT THE MEETING TOO.
>> IT WAS SCARY. I HAVE TO LOOK AT THESE PEOPLE
I'VE HURT SO HAR -- SO IRREVERSIBLY
>> Reporter: WERE THEY ANGRY AT YOU IN THAT MEETING OR UPSET
WITH YOU >> AT POINTS I THINK
I REMEMBER RICKY'S SISTER, SHEALYNN, ASKING, LIKE, WHY I
DID IT DID SOMEONE MAKE ME DO IT?
DID I DO IT BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID, OR DID I JUST DO IT
BECAUSE I WANTED TO? WHEN SHE WAS ASKING THAT, LIKE,
SHE WAS HURT, SHE WAS ANGRY. YOU KNOW, I MURDERED HER
BROTHER, AND THERE WAS NO REASON WHY I DID IT BESIDES I WANTED
TO >> Reporter: DID IT FEEL LIKE
THE TRUTH, LIKE, IT CAME OUT OF HIS MOUTH?
>> IT DID. YES.
>> Reporter: REASON, LOGIC, SOME SENSE THEY CAN HANG ONTO, PEOPLE
CRAVE THOSE THINGS CERTAINLY THE COWLES DID
BUT IT WASN'T TO BE HAD. BILLY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT
HIMSELF. >> I -- I REALLY KNEW NOTHING
ABOUT HIM. I KNEW HE WAS AMY'S BOYFRIEND,
BUT I NEVER WAS GIVEN A MOTIVE >> Reporter: AT THE END OF THEIR
TIME TOGETHER, DEBBIE HANDED BILLY A HAND-SEWN CROSS.
>> AND HE SAID HE, YOU KNOW, IT'S -- HE CRIED
HE LOVED THE -- LOVED THE GIFT IT WASN'T ACTUALLY A GIFT, BUT
IT WAS MY TELLING HIM, HOPEFULLY, THAT WHEN YOU LOOKED
AT THE CROSS IN YOUR BIBLE THAT YOU READ EVERY DAY, YOU'LL THINK
ABOUT WHAT YOU DID >> Reporter: DID THAT -- DID
THAT CONVERSATION HELP SHEALYNN, WHO I KNOW WAS FEELING A LOT OF
GUILT? >> OH, 100%.
HUNDRED PERCENT. YEAH
>> I FELT A LOT BETTER, KIND OF CLOSURE THEN -
>> Reporter: AND THEY LEFT FEELING A WEIGHT HAD BEEN LIFTED
A LITTLE. THINGS WERE CLEARER NOW.
EVEN IF THERE WAS NO RATIONAL ANSWER
AND BILLY HIMSELF WENT BACK TO HIS CELL TO RESUME THE LIFE HE'D
MADE FOR HIMSELF IN PRISON TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE
AND FAR FAR AWAY FROM THAT PRISON CELL, TIMES WERE
CHANGING TIMES AND ATTITUDES AND SCIENCE
AND SUPREME COURT RULINGS. WHICH IS WHY, ONE DAY, THE
COWLES GOT A PHONE CALL, QUITE OUT OF THE BLUE.
>> WE WERE ACTUALLY IN SHOCK WHEN LARRY BRANDENBURG CALLED US
UP ON OUR 48th ANNIVERSARY >> Reporter: IT WAS ON YOUR
ANNIVERSARY YOU GOT THAT CALL? >> YES
>> Reporter: OH. >> WELL, HE SAYS, YOU BETTER SIT
DOWN I NEED TO TALK TO YOU GUYS
>> Reporter: WHEN BILLY HOFFMANN WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON
WITHOUT PAROLE FOR THE MURDER OF RICKY COWLES BACK IN 1999, HE
UNDERSTOOD THE TERMS VERY WELL >> ANY LIFE SENTENCE WAS A DEATH
SENTENCE >> Reporter: THE '90s WERE A
TOUGH-ON-CRIME, THREE STRIKES YOU'RE OUT ERA IN CALIFORNIA
BUT WHILE BILLY ADJUSTED TO A LIFE BEHIND BARS, THE WORLD
OUTSIDE HIS CELL WAS CHANGING. IN THE U.S. SUPREME COURT AND
COURTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE WAS NEW THINKING ABOUT JUVENILE
JUSTICE, ROOTED IN SCIENCE, EVIDENCE ABOUT THE TEENAGE BRAIN
AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. >> THE FRONTAL LOBE ISN'T FULLY
DEVELOPED UNTIL ABOUT AGE 26 IN -- IN MOST PEOPLE.
>> Reporter: HEIDI RUMMEL IS A PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GOULD SCHOOL OF LAW, WHERE SHE DIRECTS THE
POST-CONVICTION JUSTICE PROJECT. >> CHILDREN FUNDAMENTALLY THINK
AND ACT DIFFERENTLY FROM ADULTS. IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM
KNOWING RIGHT AND WRONG. IT'S HAVING LESS CAPACITY TO
UNDERSTAND RISKS AND CONSEQUENCES, ACTING RECKLESSLY,
ACTING IMPULSIVELY, BEING VERY SUSCEPTIBLE TO PEER PRESSURE
>> Reporter: AND, POLITICALLY, THE PENDULUM SWUNG
PRISONERS IN CALIFORNIA QUICKLY LEARNED THAT, FOR YOUNG
OFFENDERS, LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE, OR LWOP, DIDN'T MEAN LWOP
ANYMORE, IF YOU QUALIFIED. >> IT FELT LIKE A LONG SHOT.
BUT I KNEW I WAS A DIFFERENT PERSON
I KNEW I -- I'M NOT THE SAME PERSON I WAS
SO, YEAH, I APPLIED. >> Reporter: IT WAS 2018 WHEN HE
APPLIED FOR COMMUTATION -- ASKED THE GOVERNOR TO CHANGE HIS
SENTENCE AND ALLOW HIM AT LEAST THE CHANCE TO MAKE HIS CASE
BEFORE A PAROLE BOARD. >> I WOULD HOPE THAT IT WAS JUST
EVIDENT THAT I'M NOT THE PERSON I WAS WHEN I WAS 19, THAT I
EXPERIENCED REMORSE, THAT I LIVE REMORSE.
>> Reporter: FOR MONTHS, HE WAITED FOR AN ANSWER, NO IDEA
WHAT IT MIGHT BE AND THEN THEY TOLD HIM, YES,
HE'D GET A HEARING HE COULD MAKE HIS CASE
BUT AT THAT HEARING, SOMETHING WAS MISSING.
>> Reporter: WERE THE COWLES THERE?
>> THEY WERE NOT >> Reporter: WAS DETECTIVE
BRANDENBURG OR THE OTHER DETECTIVES YOU WORKED WITH, WERE
THEY THERE >> NO.
>> Reporter: WHAT ABOUT THE PROSECUTOR WHO TRIED YOU
WAS HE THERE >> NOT THE ONE THAT TRIED ME
THEY HAD A DISTRICT -- DISTRICT ATTORNEY THERE
>> Reporter: IN OTHER WORDS, NONE OF THE PEOPLE ASSOCIATED
WITH YOUR ACTUAL CASE WERE IN THAT PAROLE HEARING?
>> NO. >> Reporter: DID THAT SEEM
STRANGE TO YOU AT THE TIME >> IT DID.
>> Reporter: SO DID THE COWLES INTENTIONALLY STAY AWAY?
NOT AT ALL THOUGH VICTIM'S FAMILIES HAVE
THE RIGHT TO SPEAK UP AT PAROLE HEARINGS, NO ONE TOLD THE COWLES
ANYTHING ABOUT IT, NOR WERE THEY TOLD THAT THE BOARD DECIDED IN
BILLY'S FAVOR. AND IN JANUARY, 2020, BILLY WAS
RELEASED FROM PRISON ON PAROLE >> THE COWLES WERE IN THE DARK
UNTIL THEY GOT THAT CALL >> Reporter: IT WAS ON YOUR
ANNIVERSARY YOU GOT THAT CALL? >> YES
>> Reporter: WOW IT WAS DETECTIVE BRANDENBURG ON
THE LINE, HE'D JUST HEARD FROM BILLY HIMSELF.
>> WELL, HE SAYS, "YOU BETTER SIT DOWN
I NEED TO TALK TO YOU GUYS GO GET DEB."
AND THEN HE TOLD US TO BILL, HE'D BEEN LET OUT ALMOST A YEAR
BEFORE THAT, AND HE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT 'TIL, I THINK, THAT
DAY. >> WE CRIED AND CRIED IN EVERY
EMOTION IN ONE MINUTE. >> Reporter: THERE WILL BE LOTS
OF PEOPLE WHO WILL LOOK AT THE TELEVISION SCREEN AND WILL SAY,
"THAT GUY KILLED SOMEBODY. HE WAS CONVICTED BY A JURY
HE WAS SENT AWAY FOR LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE
AND THAT'S WHAT THEY MEANT, LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE FOR WHAT HE DID
WHAT THE HELL IS HE DOING OUT HERE FREE, TALKING TO THIS GUY?"
>> I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I -- AND APPRECIATE THAT
>> I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD THAT A TIME OR TWO, ACTUALLY.
>> NO ONE TO MY FACE NO ONE SAID THAT TO ME DIRECTLY.
BUT I'VE SAID IT TO MYSELF, JUST IN TRYING TO EMPATHIZE WITH HOW
OTHERS WOULD FEEL, A THOUSAND TIMES.
>> Reporter: BILLY'S EXEMPLARY BEHAVIOR IN PRISON, HIS WORK TO
IMPROVE HIMSELF, HIS EMBRACE OF RELIGION, DID NOT -- COULD NEVER
ERASE WHAT HE DID TO THEIR SON, SAID THE COWLES.
THE IDEA THAT HE WOULD GET A DO OVER DOESN'T SIT WELL WITH YOU
AT ALL >> NO.
>> SO, YOU'RE GOOD IN PRISON, BUT YOU'RE A COLD-BLOODED
KILLER HE COMMITTED A HEINOUS CRIME,
AND HE EXECUTED OUR SON. >> Reporter: BILLY KNOWS HOW
FORTUNATE HE IS. HE'S GETTING TO DO THE THINGS,
TO LIVE THE LIFE, HE DENIED HIS VICTIM
HE'S MARRIED NOW, TO A WOMAN WHO BEGAN WRITING TO HIM IN PRISON
AND HE'S FOUND WORK IN THE CHILDREN'S RIGHTS DIVISION OF
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE END OF
OUR STORY, BUT FOR THIS -- NO SURPRISE, REALLY.
AMY PREASMYER WANTS OUT, TOO >> IF THE PERSON WHO ACTUALLY
COMMITTED THE MURDER IS NOT IN JAIL ANYMORE, OR PRISON, THEN
WHY SHOULD AMY BE? AMY WAS JUST 16 WHEN SHE
CONSPIRED TO KILL RICKY. NOW, BY LAW IN CALIFORNIA,
CRIMINALS WHO WERE UNDER THE AGE OF 26 AT THE TIME OF THEIR
OFFENSE, MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A PAROLE HEARING
AND THAT INCLUDES AMY. >> SO, WE'RE HAVING TO GO BACK
TO COURT AGAIN AND GO THROUGH THE WHOLE THING AGAIN.
AND IT'S JUST -- I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TWO PEOPLE CAN TAKE
>> Reporter: AS FOR JENNIFER, SHE WAS RELEASED ON PAROLE IN
2019 BUT NOT FOR LONG
SHE WENT BACK TO PRISON, CONVICTED ON A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
CHARGE SHE'S OUT NOW.
BUT THE THOUGHT OF AMY GETTING OUT IS UNTHINKABLE FOR THE
COWLES >> I DO NOT THINK SHE WILL GET
OUT. NOPE
MY WHOLE HEART, SHE IS THE MASTER MANIPULATOR OF THIS WHOLE
CASE >> Reporter: HMM
>> I HOPE THE JUDGE -- I HOPE THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM -- I CAN'T
EVEN REALLY TALK ABOUT, I'M SO UPSET.
I HOPE THEY DO THE RIGHT THING >> Reporter: AMY IS A FAR CRY
FROM MODEL PRISONER. SHE WAS CONVICTED FOR DRUG
POSSESSION IN PRISON IN 2016 STILL, THE COWLES ARE DETERMINED
TO ATTEND ANY AND EVERY HEARING, TO ATTEMPT TO BLOCK AMY'S
RELEASE, NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT.
>> IT'S A LONG WAY TO THE COURT FROM WHERE WE LIVE
IT'S NOT THE DRIVE IT'S THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE TO
RELIVE EVERYTHING. WHO WANTS TO RELIVE THE DEATH OF
THEIR CHILD A HUNDRED TIMES? ONCE IS ENOUGH
>> Reporter: THE COWLES DID ARRANGE, END OF 2022, TO TALK TO
AMY VIA VIDEO CHAT THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHY -- WHY
DID SHE WANT THEIR SON DEAD. HER ANSWER, UTTERLY BANAL, WAS
BECAUSE THEY'D BEEN FIGHTING STILL, MEETING HER, EVEN ON A
SCREEN, HELPED SOMEHOW AS THEY DEAL, EVEN NOW, DAY BY
DAY, WITH THE LOSS OF THAT YOUNG MAN, WHO LOVED SO MUCH AND DIED
TOO SOON HOW DO YOU FEEL, RICK, WHEN YOU
GO PAST THOSE PLACES, AND YOU SEE THE PLACES HE WORKED ON?
>> MAKES ME CRY. >> Reporter: THERE IS A MEMORIAL
FOR RICKY, AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, RIGHT BESIDE THE
SUBSTATION WHERE HE AND HIS DAD WORKED TOGETHER FOR THE LAST
TIME >> WE LOVE YOU
WE LOVED HIM HE WAS A GREAT GUY, DIDN'T
DESERVE THIS >>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION
OF "DATELINE." WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN SUNDAY AT
7:00, 6:00 CENTRAL AND, OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU
EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS."
I'M LESTER HOLT.