>> DRIVING INTO THAT PROPERTY, IT JUST HIT ME LIKE A TON OF
BRICKS HOW THAT WAS JUST THE
PERFECT PLACE.
PERFECT PLACE FOR A MURDER
>> HOW DO YOU LIVE WITH --
WITHOUT HER?
I MEAN, YOUR PARENTS ARE YOUR
WORLD.
>> NOBODY EXPECTED A MOTHER OF
THREE TO BE MURDERED SLEEPING IN
HER HOME
>> WE CALLED THE USUAL SUSPECTS,
HER HUSBAND.
THEY WERE GOING THROUGH A
CONTENTIOUS DIVORCE.
>> Reporter: YOU'VE GOT A MAN
WHO'S THERE ON THE PROPERTY WHEN
SHE'S BEING MURDERED
>> WE LOOKED INTENSELY AT HIM.
>> WE KNEW FROM THE GET-GO WE
WANTED TO BRING IN HER SISTER.
WAS SHE INVOLVED
>> THERE WAS JEALOUSY AND
COMPETITION BETWEEN THE SISTERS.
>> WE JUST THOUGHT SOMEBODY'S
GONNA TALK
>> Reporter: WHO KILLED THIS
MOTHER OF THREE?
THE MYSTERY THAT TOOK ALMOST 14
YEARS TO SOLVE -
>> THAT IS ONE POWERFUL SECRET
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> THAT KINDA HITS YOU OUT OF
NOWHERE.
I WAS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED
I MEAN HEARTBROKEN
>> I'M LESTER HOLT, AND THIS IS
"DATELINE.
HERE'S ANDREA CANNING WITH
"WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY."
>> Reporter: ROCKFORD, MICHIGAN,
PERCHED ON THE ROGUE RIVER, JUST
NORTH OF GRAND RAPIDS, IS AN
OUTDOORSMAN'S PARADISE
BUT THIS PEACE IS FRAGILE,
EASILY PIERCED BY ONE TROUBLING
PHONE CALL
THE KIND OF CALL THAT OFTEN
BEGINS A STORY LIKE THIS
>> RENEE DIDN'T MEET UP WITH A
FRIEND THAT SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO
GO TO A CRAFT FAIR WITH.
>> Reporter: IT WAS A SATURDAY
AFTERNOON IN THE SUMMER OF 2006.
>> SO THIS FRIEND CALLED RENEE'S
DAD AND SAID, "RENEE NEVER
DOESN'T SHOW UP.
SOMETHING -- SOMETHING'S WRONG."
>> Reporter: RENEE PAGEL'S
FATHER JUMPED IN HIS CAR AND
DROVE OVER TO HIS DAUGHTER'S
HOUSE.
WHAT HE FOUND INSIDE HER BEDROOM
WAS SOMETHING NO PARENT SHOULD
EVER HAVE TO SEE
>> EMERGENCY, CAN I HELP YOU
>> UH, MY DAUGHTER -- WE JUST
FOUND HER IN BED, AND SHE'S GOT
A LASH ON HER ARM AND, UH, SHE'S
ALL BLOODY
>> SHE'S NOT CONSCIOUS
>> SHE'S COLD -- SHE'S COLD.
>> IS SHE BREATHING?
>> NO, I DON'T THINK SO.
>> Reporter: 41-YEAR-OLD
RENEE PAGEL WAS DEAD
HER FATHER TRIED TO MAKE SENSE
OF WHAT HE WAS SEEING.
>> SHE'S COLD TO THE TOUCH
>> YEAH, I THINK SHE'S -- I
THINK SHE'S GONE
>> OKAY, SIR, WE'LL BE ON THE
WAY.
>> Reporter: ON HIS WAY WAS
DETECTIVE E.J. JOHNSON OF THE
KENT COUNTY SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT
>> I THINK HE WAS JUST SHOCKED,
OBVIOUSLY, TO FIND HIS DAUGHTER
LAYING IN THIS BED
>> Reporter: AT FIRST, HER
FATHER WONDERED IF IT WAS A
MEDICAL COMPLICATION
HE TOLD AUTHORITIES RENEE WAS
RECOVERING FROM MAJOR SURGERY.
THE STORY BEHIND THAT OPERATION
WILL TELL YOU A LOT ABOUT HER.
RENEE WAS A NURSE AND LOVED
NURSING SO MUCH, SHE DECIDED TO
TEACH IT
SHE NOTICED ONE OF HER STUDENTS,
CAITLIN SALLIOTTE, HAD TAKEN A
PARTICULAR INTEREST IN KIDNEY
DISEASE.
>> MY DAD HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED AND
HAD KIDNEY FAILURE
AND I JUST WANTED TO KNOW AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE ON IT
>> Reporter: RENEE LEARNED THAT
CAITLIN'S DAD WAS A ON A WAITING
LIST FOR A NEW KIDNEY AND, OUT
OF THE BLUE, ASKED FOR HIS
NUMBER
>> ARE YOU THINKING, "WHY?
>> WHY
WHY DOES SHE WANT TO KNOW THIS
AND SHE SAID SHE WANTED TO SEE
IF SHE COULD BE A POSSIBLE
MATCH.
>> Reporter: WHAT IN THE WORLD
WERE YOU THINKING WHEN SHE SAID
THAT TO YOU?
>> TOTAL SHOCK
REALLY SHOCKED
I THINK I RAN AND CALLED MY DAD
ON HIS -- ON THE BUS, SCHOOL BUS
HEADING BACK TO MY SCHOOL,
CALLING HIM AND LETTING HIM
KNOW
>> Reporter: YOU PROBABLY HAVE
TO PINCH YOURSELF -- THAT
SOMEBODY WOULD DO THAT
>> YEAH, A COMPLETE STRANGER TO
MY DAD
A COMPLETE STRANGER WOULD OFFER
UP PART OF HERSELF FOR HIM
>> Reporter: TO SAVE HIM
>> TO SAVE HIM
>> Reporter: RENEE WAS A MATCH
AND THE WEEKEND BEFORE THE
SURGERY WAS HER 41st BIRTHDAY.
HER GOOD FRIEND CHRIS CRANDLE
DECIDED TO THROW RENEE A
SURPRISE PARTY
>> WE WERE GONNA MEET AT THE
CARNIVAL AT 1:00
AND THE PLAN WAS THEN TO WALK UP
THE STREET TO MY HOUSE AND COOL
OFF.
SHE CAME, AND EVERYBODY ELSE HAD
TAKEN OFF AND GONE UP TO MY
HOUSE AND GOTTEN EVERYTHING
READY.
AND RENEE AND I DID A CHERRY PIT
SPITTING CONTEST TOGETHER, AND I
KICKED HER BUTT.
>> Reporter: THIS MUST BE A
MICHIGAN THING
RIGHT?
A CHERRY SPITTING --
>> YES
SHE WALKED IN MY FRONT DOOR.
AND EVERYONE'S WAITING IN THE
OTHER ROOM
AND SHE CAME OUT
WE TOTALLY SURPRISED HER
WE TOTALLY GOT HER
AND IT WAS SO FUN.
IT WAS SO FUN.
IT WAS THE DAY BEFORE SHE WENT
INTO THE HOSPITAL.
>> Reporter: RENEE'S DAUGHTER,
SARAH, WAS 7 YEARS OLD AT THE
TIME
YOU MIGHT NOT REMEMBER THIS, BUT
DID YOU REALIZE WHAT A SELFLESS
THING YOUR MOM WAS DOING BY
DONATING THE KIDNEY?
>> I DON'T THINK I UNDERSTOOD
UNTIL I WAS A LOT OLDER.
BUT AFTER I DID, YOU KNOW,
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY
IMPACTFUL, TOO, TO REALIZE THAT
WAS THE TYPE OF PERSON SHE WAS
>> Reporter: RENEE'S FRIENDS
REMEMBER BACK THEN SARAH WAS
AWARE SOMETHING SCARY WAS
HAPPENING.
>> SARAH HAD SUCH A SENSITIVE
HEART, AND RENEE WAS SO
CONCERNED ABOUT SARAH.
SHE WAS NERVOUS ABOUT HER MOM
GOING INTO THE HOSPITAL, AND SHE
JUST SAT ON THE COUCH AND WAS
JUST QUIET
>> Reporter: LAURA BEACH IS A
CHILDHOOD FRIEND WHO WAS
PARTICULARLY CLOSE WITH RENEE'S
DAUGHTER
AT THE PARTY, RENEE ASKED "AUNT
LAURA" TO REASSURE SARAH
>> SHE CALLED ME INTO THE
BEDROOM, AND SHE SAID, "AUNT
LAURA, TELL SARAH THAT YOU WILL
WATCH OVER ME WHEN I HAVE MY
SURGERY.
AND I SAID, "SARAH, I PROMISE
YOU I WILL TAKE CARE OF YOUR
MOMMY.
AND I COULDN'T KEEP THAT
PROMISE.
>> I DO REMEMBER THAT VERY WELL,
YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE I WAS REALLY
SCARED
I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON.
AND SHE JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, "NO
MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, LIKE, YOU
HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT LOVE
YOU.
>> Reporter: SO SHE JUST WAS
PREPARING FOR ANYTHING THAT
COULD HAPPEN, BUT WANTED YOU TO
KNOW THAT YOU WERE LOVED AND
TAKEN CARE OF.
I'M SORRY.
I KNOW HOW HARD THIS IS.
RENEE AND HER HUSBAND MICHAEL
WERE SEPARATED, SO SARAH AND HER
YOUNGER SIBLINGS WENT TO STAY
WITH THEIR DAD WHILE RENEE WENT
IN FOR SURGERY
FOUR DAYS LATER, RENEE WENT HOME
TO RECUPERATE.
IT WAS JUST TWO DAYS AFTER THAT
WHEN DETECTIVE E.J. JOHNSON WAS
PULLING UP TO HER HOUSE.
WHAT HAPPENS AS YOU ARRIVE ON
THE SCENE?
>> I JUST SAW A LOT OF POLICE
CARS
EVERYBODY WAS OUT HERE TOWARDS
THE ROAD
AND THEY HAD TAPED IT OFF JUST
TO SECURE THE SCENE SO, THAT
WAY, NO ONE'S IN AND OUT
THEY'RE GONNA WAIT FOR US
DETECTIVES TO GET HERE
>> Reporter: OFFICERS ON THE
SCENE TOLD HIM THE DECEASED
WOMAN'S NAME
DID YOU KNOW RENEE
>> I KNEW OF RENEE
WE WERE ACTUALLY THE PAST FEW
WEEKS PRAYING FOR A MEMBER AT
THE CHURCH, MY CHURCH, THAT WAS
GETTIN' A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT, AND
SHE WAS THE ONE THAT WAS
DONATING
>> Reporter: OH, WOW
SO HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU
REALIZED THAT THERE WAS THAT
CONNECTION THERE
>> WELL, I WAS PRETTY SHOCKED BY
IT BECAUSE THE DAUGHTER OF THE
GENTLEMAN THAT RECEIVED THE
KIDNEY WAS AT MY HOUSE AT A
YOUTH ACTIVITY
THEY WERE DOIN' A SWIM PARTY AT
MY PLACE
>> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT.
IN THIS SMALL TOWN WHERE THERE
WERE LOTS OF CONNECTIONS,
CAITLIN, THE NURSING STUDENT,
WAS AT DETECTIVE JOHNSON'S HOUSE
AS HE WAS RESPONDING TO THE
CALL
WHAT HE SAW TOLD HIM RIGHT AWAY
THIS WAS NO COMPLICATION FROM
SURGERY.
NO MEDICAL CALAMITY.
THIS WAS MURDER.
>>> WHEN WE COME BACK --
A SELFLESS ACT FOLLOWED BY AN
EVIL ONE
WHO COULD HAVE KILLED RENEE?
>> WHEN I WALK INTO THE BEDROOM,
I SEE RENEE LAYING SIDEWAYS ON
THE BED.
AND I WAS SEEING BLOOD ALL OVER.
>> IT'S JUST ETCHED IN MY MIND
FOREVER.
>> COMPLETE SHOCK.
♪ (MÚSICA) ♪ ♪ (MÚSICA) ♪
FOOT AT THE CRIME SCENE,
DETECTIVE E.J. JOHNSON HAD BEEN
PRAYING FOR RENEE PAGEL.
SHE'D JUST DONATED A KIDNEY TO A
MEMBER OF HIS CHURCH
DID YOU FEEL RIGHT AWAY, JUST
WITH THAT CHURCH CONNECTION,
THAT, "I NEED ANSWERS FOR THIS
FAMILY"?
>> ABSOLUTELY, YEAH.
>> Reporter: IN HIS CALL TO 911,
RENEE'S FATHER HAD MENTIONED THE
SURGERY AS A POSSIBLE
EXPLANATION FOR HER DEATH.
BUT HE ALSO REPORTED SEEING CUTS
ON HER ARM
>> SHE HAS A LACERATION ON HER
WRIST, YOU SAID?
>> UH, NOT ON HER WRIST, ON THE
UPPER PART OF HER ARM.
>> WHEN I GOT UP HERE, I WAS
JUST TOLD THAT THE FATHER
THOUGHT IT WAS A POTENTIAL
SUICIDE.
BUT SHE DID HAVE A MAJOR
SURGERY.
BUT WHAT HAPPENED WAS -- IS ONE
OF THE DEPUTIES TOOK A
PHOTOGRAPH OF HER.
SO I LOOKED AT THAT PHOTOGRAPH
AND SAW NUMEROUS WOUNDS ON
RENEE.
SO I KNEW IT WAS MORE THAN A
SUICIDE, MORE THAN A
COMPLICATION
IT WAS GONNA BE -- A -- A
MURDER
>> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE WENT
IN TO SEE IT WITH HIS OWN EYES
RENEE HAD BEEN STABBED MORE THAN
ONCE
>> WHEN I WALK INTO THE BEDROOM,
I SEE RENEE LAYING SIDEWAYS ON
THE BED.
AND I WAS SEEIN' BLOOD ALL OVER
THE BEDDING.
THEN I STARTED LOOKING AT HER
ARMS AND AROUND HER HEAD AND
FACE, AND JUST A LOT OF
LACERATIONS AND CUTS
>> Reporter: AS WORD SPREAD
AMONG RENEE'S FRIENDS, THEY WERE
IN DISBELIEF
RENEE PAGEL WAS A RESPECTED
NURSE, A PASSIONATE TEACHER, A
GENEROUS FRIEND.
JUST A WEEK EARLIER, CHRIS HAD
THROWN HER THAT SURPRISE PARTY
>> IT'S JUST ETCHED IN MY MIND
FOREVER.
LAURA CALLED ME.
AND SHE SAID -- HER WORDS TO ME
WERE, "CHRIS, RENEE'S DEAD."
AND MY MOM CAN TELL YOU, I RAN
OUT OF THE HOUSE, FELL ON HER
FRONT LAWN IN A FETAL POSITION,
JUST SCREAMED.
>> COMPLETE SHOCK.
LIKE, TO SEE IT ON THE NEWS AND
SEE HER PICTURE --
LIKE, I HAD SEEN HER JUST BEFORE
SHE LEFT THE HOSPITAL.
AND THREE DAYS LATER, WE FIND
OUT.
SHOCKING
>> Reporter: HER STUDENT CAITLIN
COULD ONLY THINK OF RENEE'S
GENEROSITY
IT'S WHAT EVERYONE REMEMBERS
IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE SHE JUST
LOVED EVERYONE
>> I KNOW PEOPLE SAY THIS WHEN
SOMEONE DIES THAT, "OH, THEY
WERE A SAINT."
SHE REALLY WAS
LIKE, SHE GAVE AND GAVE.
AND THE STORIES THAT HAVE COME
OUT ABOUT HOW SHE WENT ABOVE AND
BEYOND TO SHOW KINDNESS AND
GRACE -- I JUST OFTEN SAY SHE
WAS JESUS IN SKIN.
WAS SHE PERFECT?
NO
BUT SHE WAS SO GENEROUS.
>> Reporter: CHILDHOOD FRIEND
LAURA BEACH REMEMBERS RENEE'S
FIRM COMMITMENT TO HER CHRISTIAN
FAITH.
>> RELIGION WAS A VERY IMPORTANT
PART OF HER LIFE, HER
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
>> IT WAS IN HER DNA FOR SURE.
SHE WAS LEAVING FOR AFRICA ON A
MISSION TRIP
AND WHEN RENEE LEFT, HER MOM
STARTED SOBBING AND SHE SAID, "I
JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE GETS
THIS FROM.
I JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE GETS
THIS FROM.
>> Reporter: JOYCE SCHANER MET
RENEE IN COLLEGE
>> DAY ONE WE BECAME THICK AS
THIEVES.
WE CLICKED
WE TALKED EVERY DAY.
I DROVE HER BACK AND FORTH TO
SCHOOL
WE STUDIED
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER.
>> Reporter: DETECTIVE JOHNSON
ALREADY KNEW RENEE WAS A
WELL-LIKED PERSON.
NOW HE NEEDED TO PUT HIS
INVESTIGATIVHAT ON TO FIGURE
OUT WHO WOULD WANT HER DEAD.
HE TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AT THE
CRIME SCENE.
WHAT ARE YOU NOTICING RIGHT
AWAY AS FAR AS THINGS THAT ARE
OBVIOUS?
>> IT WAS A BRUTAL MURDER SCENE.
THERE WAS BLOOD ON THE WALLS,
BLOOD ON THE LAMPS, BLOOD ON THE
CEILING.
BUT OTHER THINGS I NOTICED WAS A
JEWELRY BOX WITH JEWELRY STILL
IN IT.
I NOTICED SOME MONEY ON A
COUNTER, OR ONE OF HER DRESSERS,
THAT WASN'T MISSING.
SO RIGHT AWAY, I'M THINKING IT
DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE A ROBBERY.
>> Reporter: DID IT LOOK TO YOU
LIKE RENEE HAD FOUGHT BACK AT
ALL?
COULD YOU TELL
>> LOOKING AT RENEE, I COULD SEE
DEFENSIVE WOUNDS ON HER HAND,
SPECIFICALLY ONE DEFENSIVE WOUND
THAT WENT THROUGH HER HAND
THEN WHEN YOU DOVE MORE INTO
IT, YOU COULD SEE ON HER --
WELL, ON HER HEEL OF HER FOOT
WAS A LARGE LACERATION, LIKE SHE
WAS KICKING AND SHE WAS PUSHING
AWAY FROM THE SUSPECT.
>> Reporter: THE CORONER'S
REPORT SAID SHE HAD BEEN STABBED
MORE THAN 50 TIMES
SOMEONE WANTED TO MAKE SURE
RENEE WAS DEAD
THIS LOOKS PERSONAL, THE FACT
THAT THERE'S THAT MANY STAB
WOUNDS
>> I FELT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY IT
WAS SOMEBODY THAT HAD AN
ABSOLUTE HATE FOR RENEE, A RAGE
THAT WAS BUILT UP.
THESE STAB WOUNDS WERE FROM
SOMEBODY, IN MY OPINION, THAT
REALLY HAD A DEEP HATE FOR HER
>> Reporter: BUT WHO
THE QUESTION WOULD OCCUPY THE
INVESTIGATORS AND HER FRIENDS
FOR A LOT LONGER THAN ANYONE
COULD HAVE IMAGINED.
>>> COMING UP --
INVESTIGATORS START WITH RENEE'S
SOON-TO-BE EX-HUSBAND.
WHERE WAS HE THE NIGHT OF THE
CRIME?
>>> Reporter: THE INVESTIGATION
INTO RENEE PAGEL'S MURDER WAS
ONLY HOURS OLD WHEN THE NEWS HAD
TO BE BROKEN TO HER THEN
7-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER SARAH AND
SARAH'S TWO SIBLINGS,
JOEL AND HANNAH.
HOW DID YOU LEARN WHAT HAD
HAPPENED
AND DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU
WERE TOLD?
>> YEAH.
I REMEMBER I WAS AT MY AUNT
NANCY'S HOUSE.
SO MY -- MY DAD'S SISTER'S
HOUSE.
AND WE WERE JUST TOLD, LIKE,
RIGHT THERE IN, LIKE, THE LIVING
ROOM THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE PASSED
AWAY
>> Reporter: WOW
DID LIFE KINDA STOP IN THAT
MOMENT
>> I MEAN, IT'S DEFINITELY
SOMETHING YOU DON'T FORGET
YOU -- YOU KNOW, THAT MOMENT,
LIKE, I DON'T THINK I'LL EVER
FORGET
>> Reporter: SARAH SAYS SHE
ISN'T EVEN SURE WHEN SHE LEARNED
HOW HER MOTHER DIED.
THE ADULTS AROUND HER SHIELDED
HER FROM THE DETAILS
>> WE DIDN'T REALIZE KIND OF THE
SITUATION UNTIL WE WERE -- UNTIL
I WAS AT LEAST AROUND 13, 14
AND SO IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT
WE WERE DEALING WITH THAT.
AT LEAST, IN MY EYES, THAT
WASN'T SOMETHING I COMPREHENDED.
>> Reporter: YOUNG SARAH DIDN'T
UNDERSTAND THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF
HER MOTHERS DEATH, JUST LIKE
SHE'D KNOWN LITTLE ABOUT HER
PARENTS' PENDING DIVORCE
RENEE AND MICHAEL PAGEL HAD BEEN
SEPARATED FOR A YEAR BEFORE SHE
DIED
>> WE WERE VERY SHELTERED FROM
THAT
I DON'T HAVE ANY BAD MEMORIES OF
THEM WHEN SHE WAS TOGETHER
YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND
WHAT WAS GOING ON AT THAT POINT
IN TIME EITHER, SO I NEVER FELT
LIKE THEY DIDN'T STILL LOVE US
AND THEY DIDN'T STILL CARE ABOUT
EACH OTHER EITHER.
>> Reporter: SO THEY WE --
THEY WERE DOING GOOD
CO-PARENTING
>> YEAH.
EVERYTHING ALWAYS FELT VERY
CIVIL.
>> Reporter: HER MOM WORKED LONG
HOURS NURSING AND TEACHING, SO
SARAH SAYS HER DAD WAS MORE THE
AT-HOME PARENT
>> WE ALL LIVED ON A FARM
TOGETHER
AND I WOULD WAKE UP AT 6:00 IN
THE MORNING WITH MY DAD, AND
WE'D GO RIDE THE HORSES AND TAKE
CARE OF EVERYTHING ON THE FARM
>> Reporter: YOU WOULD SOMETIMES
CALL HIM A DISNEY DAD.
IS THAT RIGHT?
>> YEAH.
WE LIKED -- I MEAN, WE LIKED TO
GO ON TRIPS ALL THE TIME
WE'D GO TO, LIKE, GREAT WOLF
LODGE AND, I MEAN, YEAH, HE
WAS -- HE WAS A GOOD DAD
>> HE LOVED THOSE KIDS
I CAN STILL HEAR HIM CALLING
SARAH AND HANNAH HIS LITTLE
PRINCESS
HE WOULD ALWAYS REFER TO THEM
AS, "PRINCESS, PRINCESS.
NO, HE LOVED THOSE CHILDREN.
HE TOTALLY LOVED THOSE KIDS.
>> Reporter: MICHAEL'S LOVE FOR
HIS KIDS WAS OBVIOUS
AND AT THE BEGINNING, AT LEAST,
SO WAS THE LOVE BETWEEN MICHAEL
AND RENEE.
WHAT MADE THEM A GOOD COUPLE
>> THEY BOTH HAD A VERY STRONG
FAITH.
HE, TOO, WANTED TO START A
FAMILY
THEY JUST SEEMED LIKE THEY WERE
MEANT TO BE.
>> Reporter: THE PERFECT MATCH
>> THE PERFECT MATCH
>> Reporter: BUT LIKE MANY
MARRIAGES, IT WASN'T PERFECT FOR
LONG, AND FRIENDS SAY THEY SAW
CRACKS OF RESENTMENT APPEAR.
>> SHE WAS THE WORKER.
SHE WAS THE BREADWINNER, AND HE
HAD BACKED OFF A LITTLE BIT ON
HIS FULL-TIME WORK
AND HE STAYED HOME AND WAS ABLE
TO PLAY WITH THE KIDS.
AND I KNOW THERE WAS A LITTLE
BIT OF TENSION THERE
>> I ASSUMED THE PRESSURE OF
THREE SMALL CHILDREN
AND RENEE WAS NOT ONLY WORKING
FULL TIME, SHE WAS WORKING TWO
EXTRA PART-TIME JOBS
SO I ASSUMED, YOU KNOW, PRESSURE
OF LIFE, NO BIG DEAL
YOU KNOW, "THEY'LL GET PAST IT."
>> Reporter: BUT THEY DIDN'T
AND A FEW MONTHS SHY OF THEIR
TENTH ANNIVERSARY, MICHAEL HAD
MOVED OUT.
AS THE DIVORCE DETAILS WERE
WORKED OUT, THE CHILDREN SPLIT
THEIR TIME BETWEEN TWO PARENTS
WERE YOU, AT THAT POINT, SORTA
GOING BACK AND FORTH, I GUESS,
BETWEEN HOUSES
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: AND DID YOU ASK,
LIKE, "WHY -- WHY ARE WE NOT ALL
UNDER ONE ROOF?"
>> I GUESS IT WAS SOMETHING I
NEVER REALLY ASKED SPECIFICALLY.
IT WAS JUST HAVING TWO HOUSES.
>> Reporter: THE NIGHT RENEE
DIED, MICHAEL HAD ALL THREE KIDS
WITH HIM AT HIS HOUSE NOT TOO
FAR AWAY
HIS MOM WAS STAYING WITH THEM TO
HELP OUT
DETECTIVES HEADED OVER TO TALK
TO MICHAEL RIGHT AWAY.
>> WE KNOCK ON THE DOOR, AND
MICHAEL'S MOTHER,
PATRICIA PAGEL, ANSWERS THE
DOOR
WE ASK, "HEY, IS MICHAEL
AROUND?"
AND SHE SAYS, "NO, HE'S AT A
MEETING.
AND SHE GAVE US ABOUT A HALF
HOUR OR 45 MINUTES THAT HE'LL BE
BACK AT HOME
>> Reporter: DETECTIVES DIDN'T
SAY ANYTHING TO HER ABOUT RENEE.
INSTEAD, THEY WANTED PATRICIA TO
TELL THEM ABOUT THE NIGHT
BEFORE
>> SHE STATED THAT THEY HAD THE
KIDS THAT NIGHT, ALL THREE
OF 'EM
THEY WERE JUST HAVIN' A BONFIRE,
JUST HANGING OUT, JUST -- YOU
KNOW, JUST DOING THE NORMAL
FAMILY STUFF
DURING THE EVENING, THE KIDS
WERE SLEEPING IN THE FRONT ROOM,
HAVING A FORT NIGHT OR A PILLOW
NIGHT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT,
WHERE THEY WERE ALL SLEEPING IN
THE FRONT ROOM WHERE SHE SAID
MICHAEL SLEPT WITH THEM.
>> Reporter: PATRICIA TOLD THE
DETECTIVES SHE RECALLED WAKING
UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
>> SHE REMEMBERS GETTING UP ONE
TIME DURING THE NIGHT AND SEEIN'
MICHAEL SLEEPING IN THE LIVING
ROOM
I SAID, "WELL, THERE -- WAS
THERE ANY OTHER ACTIVITY THAT
YOU REMEMBER?
ANY OTHER SOUNDS OR ANYTHING
GOING ON?"
AND SHE SAID, "YEAH.
SHE REMEMBERED THE DOOR SOMETIME
DURING THE NIGHT OPENING AND
CLOSING.
SHE SAID, "MAYBE IT WAS FOR THE
DOG.
>> Reporter: HIS ALIBI WASN'T
EXACTLY ROCK SOLID
>> NO.
I MEAN, YOU'RE SLEEPIN' IN THE
FRONT ROOM WITH YOUR KIDS AND
YOUR MOM'S IN THE BACK BEDROOM
THAT'S NOT AN ALIBI.
SHE'S SLEEPING
SHE'S ELDERLY.
THE KIDS ARE VERY YOUNG AND
SLEEPING
>> Reporter: WHILE THEY WERE
TALKING TO HIS MOTHER, MICHAEL
RETURNED HOME.
DETECTIVE JOHNSON BROKE THE NEWS
TO HIM THAT RENEE WAS DEAD
BUT BECAUSE IT WAS A MURDER
INVESTIGATION, HE DIDN'T REVEAL
ANY DETAILS.
>> "WE'RE NOT SURE IF IT WAS
FROM, YOU KNOW, THE SURGERY OR
WHAT WAS GOIN' ON.
I NEED TO TALK TO YOU.
>> Reporter: DID YOU TELL HIM
THAT BEING JUST PURPOSELY A
LITTLE CAGEY
>> YES
>> Reporter: 'CAUSE YOU KNEW IT
WASN'T FROM THE SURGERY.
>> I KNEW.
I KNEW THAT, YEAH.
>> Reporter: AFTER A BRIEF
CONVERSATION, POLICE HURRIED
BACK TO THE CRIME SCENE.
FOR NOW, THERE WAS WORK TO DO
THERE AND ANOTHER MAN TO TALK
TO
SOMEONE CLOSE TO THE VICTIM, AND
SOMEONE WHO WAS AT RENEE'S HOUSE
THAT NIGHT
>>> COMING UP --
>> Reporter: YOU FOUND YOURSELF
IN THE CENTER OF A MURDER
INVESTIGATION.
>> YEAH.
>> QUESTIONS FOR RENEE'S TENAN
RENEE PAGEL'S SOON-TO-BE
EX-HUSBAND, DETECTIVE E.J.
JOHNSON HEADED BACK TO THE HOME
WHERE SHE'D BEEN BRUTALLY
STABBED.
THE PROPERTY WAS STILL BEING
SEARCHED FOR CLUES AND EVIDENCE.
THERE WAS A CURIOUS OBJECT
DISCOVERED BY DEPUTIES
OUTSIDE -- AN ORANGE FLASHLIGHT
FOUND IN THE GRASS BEHIND THE
HOUSE.
DETECTIVE BILL MARKS SAYS
INVESTIGATORS HAD A HUNCH IT HAD
BEEN LEFT THERE BY WHOEVER
KILLED RENEE
WHY WERE YOU CONVINCED THAT THE
KILLER HAD DROPPED THE
FLASHLIGHT
>> THE FLASHLIGHT, IT WAS CLEAN.
IT WASN'T DIRTY.
THERE WAS NO SIGNS IT HAD BEEN
OUTSIDE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF
TIME
SO WE WERE PRETTY CONVINCED THAT
WHOEVER HAD IT HAD RECENTLY LEFT
IT THERE
>> Reporter: THE INSTINCT WOULD
LATER PROVE RIGHT.
BUT FOR NOW, THERE WAS SOMEBODY
THEY NEEDED TO TALK TO
RENEE HAD A TENANT --
MIKE DEKKER.
HE RENTED AN APARTMENT ABOVE
RENEE'S HORSE BARN
WHERE WAS HE WHEN THIS MURDER
HAPPENED
>> HE WAS AT HOME.
>> Reporter: 30 OR SO YARDS AWAY
FROM RENEE'S BEDROOM
>> AN APARTMENT UNATTACHED FROM
THE HOUSE.
HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY WINDOWS OR
ANYTHING AT HIS APARTMENT.
IT'S JUST A DOOR WITH THE
WINDOW FACING TOWARDS THE REAR
HE SAID HE WAS HOME ALL NIGHT,
JUST HANGING OUT AND DIDN'T HEAR
ANYTHING OR DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING.
>> Reporter: MIKE DEKKER SAID HE
HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED.
BUT AT THIS STAGE OF THE
INVESTIGATION, EVERYONE WAS A
POTENTIAL SUSPECT.
>> "YOU WERE ON THE PROPERTY
WHEN THIS HAPPENED
SO WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT
YOU.
WE ARE GONNA BE TALKIN' TO YOU."
AND HE WAS GETTIN' A LITTLE
TESTY AND PROBABLY FRUSTRATED.
>> Reporter: DID YOU THINK
ANYTHING SEEMED OFF WITH MIKE AT
ALL?
BECAUSE SOME OF RENEE'S FRIENDS
KINDA DESCRIBE HIM AS ODD.
>> WELL, HE WAS ODD.
I MEAN, HE WAS LIVING ABOVE
TECHNICALLY HORSE STALLS
I MEAN, IT'S AN APARTMENT.
BUT HE WAS LIVING IN THIS.
HE'S -- HE'S A GROWN MAN
HE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A JOB.
NO RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE WERE
AWARE OF
SO THAT IS A LITTLE ODD.
>> Reporter: IT SEEMS THAT IF
YOU LOOK AT MIKE DEKKER'S ALIBI,
IT'S PRETTY WEAK
>> HIS ALIBI IS PRETTY WEAK.
THERE'S NOBODY ACCOUNTING FOR
HIM.
THERE'S NOTHING THAT SAYS HE
DIDN'T GO NEXT DOOR AND DO THIS
TO RENEE
>> Reporter: DEKKER AGREED TO
GIVE HIS DNA AND FINGERPRINTS
AND CONSENTED TO A SEARCH OF THE
APARTMENT.
THE DEPUTIES TOOK HIS COMPUTER
AND THREE KNIVES FOR TESTING
THEN, AS THEY SPOKE TO FAMILY
AND FRIENDS IN RENEE'S CIRCLE, A
STORY EMERGED.
RENEE'S SISTER, MICHELLE,
THOUGHT MIKE DEKKER WAS
INTERESTED IN RENEE.
>> THERE WAS TALK FROM MICHELLE.
SHE DID INSINUATE THAT THEY
MIGHT'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH
ONE -- WITH ONE ANOTHER.
>> Reporter: FRIENDS ALSO
MENTIONED HE WAS HAVING
FINANCIAL TROUBLES
>> THERE WAS TALK FROM JOYCE
THAT MIKE DEKKER WASN'T PAYIN'
HIS RENT ON TIME OR THAT HE
WAS -- HE WAS LATE
>> Reporter: WHEN THEY HEARD ALL
THAT, INVESTIGATORS ASKED HIM TO
COME DOWN TO THE STATION FOR A
MORE DETAILED INTERVIEW.
>> IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT
THE BOOK IS WIDE OPEN WITH HIM,
AND THAT YOU'VE GOTTA START
FLIPPIN' THE PAGES OF -- ALL
RIGHT, NO, THIS IS NOT THE
REASON WHY HE WOULD DO IT OR
WOULDN'T DO IT
WE WANT TO LOOK AT IT ALL.
>> Reporter: YOU FOUND YOURSELF
IN THE CENTER OF A MURDER
INVESTIGATION.
>> YEAH.
NOT FUN.
ESPECIALLY WHEN THINGS WEREN'T
GOING VERY WELL IN YOUR LIFE TO
BEGIN WITH
>> Reporter: WAS THIS A TIME IN
YOUR LIFE WHERE YOU WERE A
LITTLE DOWN ON YOUR LUCK
>> IT WAS ONE OF THE LOWER
POINTS IN MY LIFE.
I WAS DOWNSIZED OUT OF A JOB
AND THEN THIS HAPPENED A FEW
MONTHS LATER
SO IT ADDED A WHOLE LOT OF CHAOS
TO -- TO -- TO MY PERSONAL LIFE.
>> Reporter: A PERSONAL LIFE
THAT WAS BEING EXAMINED IN A
FOUR-HOUR INTERROGATION.
WHAT DO YOU ALL TALK ABOUT FOR
FOUR HOURS
>> REMINDS ME OF TV, THE GOO
COP/BAD COP SCENARIO AT TIMES.
BUT THEY'RE JUST, YOU KNOW,
VERIFYING MY STORY
WANTED TO -- SOME OF THOSE
ACCUSATIONS THAT WERE FALSE
ABOUT ME THAT THEY WANTED TO
REALLY THOROUGHLY QUESTION ME
ABOUT THAT
>> Reporter: YOU MEAN, LIKE, THE
ROMANTIC CONNECTION?
>> AND THOSE KINDA THINGS THERE
THAT WERE SO UNTRUE.
>> Reporter: ONE OF THE RUMORS
WAS THAT RENEE HAD TURNED HIM
DOWN
ONE OF THE FRIENDS HAD SAID
SOMETHING ABOUT THAT YOU HAD
ASKED RENEE OUT FOR PIZZA AND
THAT SHE DIDN'T WANNA GO
AND THAT PERHAPS THERE WAS
SOMETHING MORE
>> YEAH, NOTHING
NOTHING LIKE THAT.
>> Reporter: SO IT NEVER
HAPPENED
>> THERE WAS A TIME, MAYBE A
MONTH BEFORE SHE WAS MURDERED,
THAT SHE WAS HAVING A STRESSFUL
TIME
AND I SAID, "HEY, LET'S JUST
GRAB A PIECE OF PIZZA.
YOU KNOW, "LET'S GO OUT THERE,
TAKE THE KIDS" TYPE THING, AS A
FRIEND WOULD DO FOR SOMEONE
GOING THROUGH A HARD TIME.
>> Reporter: AN OFFER, HE SAYS,
RENEE NEVER TOOK HIM UP ON
INVESTIGATORS ALSO WANTED TO
KNOW ABOUT HIS FINANCIAL WOES
AND IF THEY CAUSED ANY ISSUES
WITH HIS LANDLORD RENEE.
>> I WAS STRUGGLING, BEING
UNEMPLOYED
IT -- IT WAS TOUGH
SO WORKING ODD JOBS THERE.
SO I WASN'T ALWAYS PAYING FULL
RENT AT TIMES.
BUT I WAS UP TO DATE WITH HER AT
THAT MOMENT.
>> Reporter: WAS RENEE -- DID
SHE EVER GET FRUSTRATED WITH
YOU?
>> THAT, I -- I DON'T KNOW
I'M SURE SHE DID
BUT SHE ALSO KNEW THE
CIRCUMSTANCE THAT I WAS IN, TOO.
AND -- AND WE COMMUNICATED
>> Reporter: AT THE CRIME SCENE,
THE DETECTIVES NOTED THERE WAS
NO FORCED ENTRY.
THEY HEARD HE'D BEEN IN THE
HOUSE MORE THAN ONCE
ANOTHER REASON TO LOOK AT
MIKE DEKKER.
>> MIKE DEKKER WAS FAMILIAR WITH
THE HOME, FAMILIAR WITH THE
KIDS, THE LAYOUT, YOU KNOW
HE, I BELIEVE, EVEN HAD A KEY TO
THE HOME
>> Reporter: DEKKER SAID IT WAS
TRUE BUT INSISTED THAT WAS ALL
ABOVE BOARD, TOO
>> THERE WERE TIMES, IF THEY
NEEDED SOMEONE TO WATCH THE
KIDS, ESPECIALLY AFTER MIKE
MOVED OUT, THEN I WOULD BABYSIT
THE KIDS AND -- AND WATCH THEM
FOR HER.
>> Reporter: APPARENTLY RENEE
HAD TOLD A FRIEND THAT SOMETIMES
YOU WOULD WALK INTO THE HOUSE
WITHOUT PERMISSION, WHICH GOT
HER A LITTLE UPSET
>> THAT NEVER HAPPENED
>> Reporter: KENT COUNTY
ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR
KELLEE KONCKI, WHO GOT INVOLVED
IN THE INVESTIGATION EARLY ON,
THOUGHT DEKKER AND HIS DENIALS
NEEDED TO BE THOROUGHLY
INVESTIGATED
WHY DID YOU FEEL THAT WAY?
>> BECAUSE HE'S THE ONLY ONE ON
THE PROPERTY AT THE TIME OF THE
INCIDENT
WE HAD HEARD FROM ONE OR MORE
WITNESSES THAT HE HAD ASKED
RENEE OUT TO DINNER, MAY HAVE
GONE TO PIZZA HUT WITH HER ONE
TIME
AND THAT WAS -- THERE WAS SOME
INCONSISTENCIES ON THAT.
YOU CAN'T IGNORE IT.
SO WE WENT AT HIM.
WE WENT AT HIM PRETTY HARD
>>> COMING UP --
>> SHE SAID, "JUST MAKE SURE YOU
STAY CLEAR OF HIM.
>> BAD BLOOD BETWEEN RENEE AND
HER BROTHER-IN-LAW
>> HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BEST
MAN AT THEIR WEDDING, BUT HE
BACKED OUT
>>> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS WERE
SUSPICIOUS OF RENEE'S TENANT,
MIKE DEKKER.
HOW ARE YOU HANDLING THIS?
>> I WAS LABELED AS A PERSON OF
INTEREST, SURE
BUT I HAD NOTHING TO HIDE, SO,
YOU KNOW, I'LL COOPERATE AS BEST
I CAN WITH THEM.
>> Reporter: MIKE ANSWERED THEIR
QUESTIONS FOR HOURS, AND THEN
WENT OVER IT ALL AGAIN HOOKED UP
TO A POLYGRAPH MACHINE TWO DAYS
LATER.
DID THEY PUT YOU THROUGH THE
WRINGER?
>> THEY DID THEIR JOB.
I MEAN, POLYGRAPH TEST WASN'T
FUN.
>> Reporter: DID THE POLICE
STRAIGHT-UP ASK YOU, "DID YOU
KILL RENEE?"
>> ON THE POLYGRAPH.
>> Reporter: AND WHAT DID YOU
TELL THEM?
>> NO, I DIDN'T.
>> Reporter: HE PASSED THE LIE
DETECTOR TEST, AND THE MORE THEY
LOOKED, THE LESS THEY FOUND.
THE RUMORS ABOUT THEIR ROMANTIC
CONNECTION WEREN'T TRUE.
>> WE FOUND ZERO TO CONNECT HIM
TO THAT MURDER
WE FOUND NO MOTIVE
WE FOUND NO REASON WHY HE WOULD
BE INVOLVED IN THIS.
>> Reporter: IT APPEARED THAT HE
AND RENEE GOT ALONG FINE
>> SHE LIKED MIKE A LOT.
MIKE PRETTY MUCH KEPT TO
HIMSELF.
HE WAS AN EXCELLENT TENANT, A
NICE GUY
>> Reporter: IN FACT, RENEE
SEEMED TO GET ALONG WITH
EVERYBODY.
SO IT WAS UNUSUAL, ALARMING
EVEN, WHEN DETECTIVES HEARD
ABOUT ANOTHER MAN WHO FRIENDS
SAID RENEE DID NOT GET ALONG
WITH
>> SHE JUST BASICALLY TOLD ME
THAT SHE DIDN'T LIKE HIM
AND IT WASN'T LIKE HER TO SAY
SHE DIDN'T LIKE A HUMAN BEING.
THAT WAS VERY OUT OF CHARACTER
FOR RENEE.
>> Reporter: THE MAN WAS HER
BROTHER-IN-LAW, BO PAGEL
HAD BO EVER SAID OR DONE
ANYTHING TO RENEE THAT WAS OF
CONCERN?
>> SHE JUST WOULD SAY, "I JUST
DON'T GET GOOD VIBES FROM HIM.
>> I REMEMBER AT HER WEDDING
RECEPTION, SHE TOLD ME BO WAS
GONNA BE THERE
AND SHE SAID, "JUST MAKE SURE
YOU STAY CLEAR OF HIM.
>> Reporter: RENEE HAD TOLD
PEOPLE THAT SHE FELT VERY
UNCOMFORTABLE AROUND BO.
>> YEAH, WE HEARD A LOT OF THAT,
"HE DIDN'T LIKE HER," WHICH WAS
ANOTHER REASON TO BE SUSPICIOUS
OF HIM
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE BEST
MAN IN THEIR WEDDING, AND HE
BACKED OUT, ACCORDING TO THE
PEOPLE THAT WE TALKED TO AND
FAMILY MEMBERS
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS SOME BAD
BLOOD THERE.
>> WHEN THEY WERE MARRIED, BO
WAS UPSET BY IT, DID NOT APPROVE
OF RENEE, AND CUT OFF THE
RELATIONSHIP -- ANY RELATIONSHIP
WITH MICHAEL
>> Reporter: JOYCE SAYS RENEE
DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO
WITH BO.
>> SHE WAS AFRAID OF HER
DAUGHTERS EVER BEING ALONE WITH
BO
SHE NEVER WANTED HER DAUGHTERS
TO EVER BE ALONE WITH HIM.
>> Reporter: FRIENDS SAY THE
ANIMOSITY BETWEEN THE TWO GOT SO
BAD THAT WHEN BO'S WIFE
UNEXPECTEDLY DIED, RENEE JUMPED
TO A DARK CONCLUSION
>> AFTER SHE PASSED AWAY, RENEE
SAID, "I THINK BO KILLED HER."
>> Reporter: REALLY?
>> "I THINK BO POISONED HER.
>> Reporter: SHE SAID THAT TO
YOU?
>> SHE SAID THAT TO ME
>> Reporter: THAT SURE GOT THE
ATTENTION OF THE DETECTIVES.
THEY DROVE OUT TO TALK TO HIM A
WEEK AFTER THE MURDER.
WHAT'S HIS DEMEANOR LIKE
>> YOU KNOW, HE'S SURPRISED THAT
WE'RE THERE.
BUT HE WANTS TO TALK TO US AND
KIND OF GIVES US THE SAME
STATEMENT OF, "YEAH, I DIDN'T
LIKE RENEE
I DIDN'T THINK SHE WAS RIGHT FOR
MIKE."
AND AT THAT POINT, WE WANTED TO
GET HIS ALIBI.
"WHERE WERE YOU AT
WHAT WERE YOU DOING DURING THIS
TIME OF RENEE'S DEATH?
>> Reporter: WHAT IS HIS ALIBI
>> HE WAS A TRUCKER.
HE WAS ON THE ROAD
AND THEN HE GOES HOME.
AND THEN IN THE MORNIN', HE
WAKES UP AND GOES CANOEING OR
KAYAKING WITH HIS DAUGHTER
>> Reporter: BO SAID HE WAS HOME
IN SAGINAW, ONLY TWO HOURS AWAY
FROM THE CRIME SCENE, NEAR
GRAND RAPIDS
DETECTIVES THOUGHT THAT WAS
PLENTY OF TIME TO MAKE A
ROUND-TRIP DURING THE NIGHT.
WHAT IS YOUR GUT TELLING YOU AS
YOU'RE TALKING TO BO
>> I MEAN, I THOUGHT HE WAS A
LITTLE ODD
BUT AGAIN, HE WAS COOPERATIVE
AND WILLING TO TALK TO US.
AND WE DID ASK HIM WHEN THE LAST
TIME HE WAS IN GRAND RAPIDS
BECAUSE WHEN I WAS WALKING
AROUND HIS CAR, I SAW A "GRAND
RAPIDS PRESS" NEWSPAPER IN
THERE.
SO I SAW THE DATE ON THERE, AND
I'M LIKE, "HEY, WHEN WAS THE
LAST TIME YOU WERE THERE?"
>> Reporter: HE TOLD THEM HE HAD
BEEN IN GRAND RAPIDS RECENTLY,
BUT NOT ON THE NIGHT OF THE
MURDER
THEY PULLED UP HIS PHONE RECORDS
TO TRACK HIS MOVEMENTS, BUT --
>> THERE WAS NO ACTIVITY
>> Reporter: HE COULD'VE LEFT
HIS PHONE AT HOME.
>> YUP
>> Reporter: THIS IS ANOTHER
ALIBI THAT'S ALSO NOT ROCK
SOLID.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Reporter: BEFORE LEAVING BO,
DETECTIVE JNS JOHNSON TOOK NOTE
OF SOMETHING ELSE, SOMETHING
SUSPICIOUS
>> THERE WAS A SCRATCH ON HIS
ARM THAT WE DOCUMENTED
IT JUMPED OUT, BUT IT WAS JUST
SOMETHIN' THAT WE DOCUMENTED AND
ASKED FOR AN EXPLANATION FOR
>> Reporter: BO SAID HIS DOG HAD
SCRATCHED HIM.
BUT WHAT ABOUT RENEE'S SUSPICION
THAT BO HAD POISONED HIS WIFE?
INVESTIGATORS GOT IN TOUCH WITH
SACK WILL SAB ARE
SAGINAW'S COUNTY SHERIFF
DEPARTMENT
THE SAGINAW DETECTIVES CONFIRMED
HER DEATH HAD BEEN FROM NATURAL
CAUSES
SO RENEE'S SPECULATION WAS OFF
BASE
THERE WAS NEVER ANY PROOF OF,
BUT --
>> THERE WAS NEVER ANY PROOF OF
THAT, NOPE
>> Reporter: BUT STILL, WHAT ARE
YOU THINKING OF BO AT THIS TIME?
>> WAS VERY SUSPICIOUS OF HIM.
>> Reporter: WERE YOU THINKING
THAT IT'S A POSSIBILITY THAT BO
KILLED RENEE
>> I FELT STRONGLY THAT WE HAD
TO INVESTIGATE HIM SO THAT WE
COULD EITHER IMPLICATE HIM OR
ELIMINATE HIM.
>> Reporter: ONE OF THE PEOPLE
IN RENEE'S ORBIT SHARING STORIES
ABOUT BO WAS RENEE'S SISTER,
MICHELLE
BUT AS THEY SPOKE TO THE SISTER
MORE AND MORE, HER STORY WOULD
TAKE THE INVESTIGATION IN A
DIFFERENT DIRECTION ALTOGETHER
>>> COMING UP --
>> SHE WAS SO DEEPLY WOUNDED AND
SO HURT.
>> RENEE'S SISTER AND RENEE'S
HUSBAND, HOW CLOSE WERE THEY
>> Reporter: DID ANYONE THINK
THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY
>> OF HER HAVING AN AFFAIR
ABSOLUTELY
>> Reporter: MICHELLE AND
MICHAEL?
>>> Reporter: SEVEN-YEAR-OLD
SARAH PAGEL KNEW NOTHING ABOUT
THE MURDER INVESTIGATION
SWIRLING AROUND HER MOTHER'S
DEATH.
BUT SHE ALWAYS KNEW THIS
>> I GUESS THAT I NEVER DOUBTED
THAT SHE LOVED ME.
AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING
REALLY IMPORTANT, THAT I NEVER
DOUBTED THAT EITHER OF MY
PARENTS LOVED ME
>> Reporter: AND AS A YOUNG
CHILD, SHE FELT CHERISHED AND
PROTECTED BY THE ONLY PARENT SHE
HAD LEFT -- HER DAD.
SHE SAYS SHE ALSO FELT LOVED BY
HER MOTHER'S FAMILY.
WHEN IT CAME TO YOUR MOM'S SIDE
OF THE FAMILY, WHO DID YOU
MOSTLY SPEND TIME WITH
>> WITH HER SISTER AND HER DAD
>> Reporter: MICHELLE?
>> YEAH, MICHELLE, HER DAD,
FORREST.
I'M VERY CLOSE WITH MY
AUNT MICHELLE.
YEAH, WE HAVE A GREAT
RELATIONSHIP
I THINK I -- I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT
I'D DO WITHOUT HER, HONESTLY
>> Reporter: AUNT MICHELLE WAS
RENEE'S OLDER SISTER
FRIENDS SAID THE SIBLING DYNAMIC
BETWEEN THE TWO HAD ALWAYS BEEN
COMPLICATED.
>> MICHELLE LOVED THE KIDS
SHE WAS ALWAYS A PART OF, LIKE,
CHRISTMASES, AND I KNOW SHE WENT
OVER TO RENEE'S A LOT BECAUSE
SHE DID HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE KIDS.
BUT THEY NEVER DID ANYTHING JUST
AS SISTERS
THEY WOULD NEVER GO OUT TO EAT
OR GO SHOPPING OR THINGS THAT
MAYBE SISTERS WOULD DO
>> Reporter: LAURA KNEW THE TWO
SISTERS SINCE CHILDHOOD.
>> THEY WERE SO CLOSE IN AGE
THAT MICHELLE WOULD HAVE SOME
FRIENDS, AND MAYBE THEY WOULD
COME OVER, AND THEN RENEE WOULD
JOIN IN.
AND THOSE FRIENDS WOULD BECOME
RENEE'S FRIENDS, AND THEN
MICHELLE WOULD BE LEFT OUT
SO I THINK THERE WAS JEALOUSY.
AND I THINK THERE WAS ALWAYS
THAT COMPETITION BETWEEN THE
SISTERS.
>> Reporter: BUT AS
INVESTIGATORS LOOKED INTO
RENEE'S MURDER, A MORE RECENT
STORY GOT THEIR ATTENTION.
THEY FOUND OUT THAT IN RENEE'S
DIVORCE, MICHELLE HAD SIDED WITH
MICHAEL.
THEY ASKED HER ABOUT IT.
>> SHE WAS BLUNT ABOUT THE
RELATIONSHIP
IT'S NOT LIKE SHE WAS TRYIN' TO
SUGARCOAT ANYTHING 'CAUSE HER
SISTER HAD DIED.
SHE WAS SAYIN' THERE WAS ISSUES
AND SHE BELIEVED THE MAJORITY OF
THE PROBLEMS WERE FROM RENEE
YOU KNOW, WHETHER SHE WAS NOT
BEING PATIENT WITH MIKE, SHE WAS
EXPECTING TOO MUCH OF MIKE, SHE
WAS POINTING AT RENEE.
>> Reporter: HER SISTER'S JUST
BEEN MURDERED, AND NOW SHE'S
GOING INTO DETAILS LIKE THAT
>> IT JUST SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS
NOT A SISTERLY CONNECTION
BETWEEN THE TWO.
>> Reporter: BUT THERE WAS MORE.
IT CAME TO LIGHT THAT DURING THE
DIVORCE, RENEE'S HUSBAND MICHAEL
AND MICHELLE TALKED TO EACH
OTHER ON THE PHONE
A LOT.
SOMETIMES EIGHT HOURS A DAY.
>> IT WAS PRETTY SHOCKING HOW
MUCH SHE TALKED TO HIM
>> Reporter: THESE TWO WERE IN
CONSTANT COMMUNICATION
>> YEAH.
I WAS SUSPICIOUS OF THAT
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF
COMMUNICATION -- YOU KNOW, THEY
SEEMED PRETTY CLOSE.
>> Reporter: RENEE WAS NOT AT
ALL HAPPY ABOUT HER SISTER'S
CLOSE CONTACT WITH HER EX-TO-BE.
>> SHE WAS SO DEEPLY WOUNDED AND
SO HURT, SO BETRAYED BY HER
SISTER
>> Reporter: DID ANYONE THINK
THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY
THAT -
>> OF HER HAVING AN AFFAIR
ABSOLUTELY
>> Reporter: MICHELLE AND
MICHAEL?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
YEAH
SHE THOUGHT THAT THEY HAD BEEN
HAVING AN AFFAIR
>> THAT WAS HER PERCEPTION, YES.
AND IT TOOK A LOT OF CONVINCING
FOR ME TO TELL HER, "NO, I -- I
TRULY DO NOT BELIEVE THEY'RE
HAVIN' AN AFFAIR."
>> WE ASKED MICHELLE
WE JUST SAID, "HEY, ARE YOU
HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH MICHAEL?
AND SHE SAID, "ABSOLUTELY NOT.
>> Reporter: BUT THE RIFT
BETWEEN THE TWO SISTERS WAS
DEEP, AND IT BOTHERED THEIR
MOTHER
SHE URGED HER DAUGHTERS TO MAKE
PEACE.
SO ON THE DAY OF HER KIDNEY
SURGERY, RENEE EXTENDED AN OLIVE
BRANCH TO MICHELLE
>> THE DAY I DROVE RENEE TO THE
HOSPITAL, SHE ACTUALLY HAD WROTE
THIS BEAUTIFUL, POIGNANT LETTER
TO HER SISTER.
IT WAS BASICALLY SAYING, YOU
KNOW, "I WANNA BURY THE HATCHET.
YOU'RE MY SISTER
LET BYGONES BE BYGONES
I REALLY WANT A RELATIONSHIP
WITH YOU."
>> Reporter: LAURA REMEMBERS THE
FIRST QUESTION RENEE ASKED HER
IN THE RECOVERY ROOM
>> I WAS THERE WHEN SHE WOKE UP
FROM HER KIDNEY SURGERY, AND THE
FIRST THING SHE SAID TO ME WAS,
"DID MICHELLE COME?"
>> Reporter: OH.
>> AND I SAID, "NO."
AND JUST TEARS RAN DOWN HER
CHEEKS
>> Reporter: THAT'S
HEARTBREAKING.
>> HEARTBREAKING FOR SURE.
BUT TO HOMICIDE INVESTIGATORS,
IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE.
>> AND I ALSO ASKED MICHELLE,
"DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
WITH RENEE'S DEATH
DID YOU DO IT?
AGAIN, SHE DENIED HAVING ANY
PART OF THAT
SO WE JUST CAME OUT AND BLUNTLY
ASKED HER.
>> Reporter: YOU INTERVIEWED
MICHELLE MULTIPLE TIMES?
>> YES
>> Reporter: OF COURSE, THEY
WOULD HAVE TO PUT THOSE SAME
QUESTIONS TO MICHAEL PAGEL
>>> COMING UP --
MICHAEL AND RENEE'S DIVORCE.
BITTER DOESN'T BEGIN TO DESCRIBE
IT
>> HE HAD BEEN TOLD THAT HE WAS
GONNA HAVE TO PAY RENEE ALIMONY
AND CHILD SUPPORT, WORK HARDER
>> HE WAS INCENSED
>>> Reporter: AS CHILDREN, SARAH
AND HER SIBLINGS HAD A DIFFICULT
TIME PROCESSING THE MAGNITUDE OF
THEIR LOSS
>> HOW DO YOU LIVE WITHOUT HER
AND SO THAT WAS JUST KIND OF
SOMETHING THAT, I THINK, I WAS
SO YOUNG I DIDN'T REALLY
UNDERSTAND
AND I DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND
THE -- THE DEPTH OF IT
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT WAS
SOMETHING THAT I -- I HAD A LOT
OF FAMILY THERE TOO.
>> Reporter: DO YOU REMEMBER
WHAT YOU MISSED ABOUT HER THE
MOST WHEN SHE WAS GONE
>> I MEAN, EVERYTHING REALLY
I MEAN, YOUR PARENTS ARE YOUR
WORLD.
SO LOSING ONE WAS -- I MEAN,
YEAH
IT WAS -- IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT,
BUT I GUESS JUST HER BEING THERE
WAS -- WAS WHAT I MISSED THE
MOST
>> Reporter: JUST TUCKING YOU IN
OR MAKING YOUR BREAKFAST
LIKE, THE LITTLE THINGS?
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: JUST AS SARAH HAD
BEEN IN THE DARK ABOUT HER
PARENTS' DIVORCE, SHE HAD NO
IDEA ABOUT THE RUMORS OF AN
AFFAIR BETWEEN HER DAD AND HER
AUNT MICHELLE.
BUT INVESTIGATORS TRYING TO
SOLVE A MURDER WERE VERY
INTERESTED IN THOSE DETAILS.
AFTER CHECKING IT OUT, THEY
QUICKLY CONCLUDED THE RUMORS
WERE BASELESS.
THERE WAS NO ROMANTIC
RELATIONSHIP
>> THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE
COMMUNICATIONS THAT WE HAD TO
INDICATE THAT IT WAS A ROMANTIC
RELATIONSHIP, MORE OF A FRIEND
RELATIONSHIP
IN THE END, IT -- IT LOOKED LIKE
WHAT MICHELLE REALLY WANTED WAS
TO STAY CLOSE TO HIM, SO SHE
COULD BE CLOSE TO THE CHILDREN
>> Reporter: STILL, THEY HAD
BEEN HEARING TROUBLING STORIES
ABOUT MICHAEL AND THE PENDING
DIVORCE.
FRIENDS SAID IT STARTED WITH
RENEE BEING BLINDSIDED
>> SHE WAS SERVED WITH DIVORCE
PAPERS IN THE MIDDLE OF
TEACHING, YEAH
>> Reporter: IN HER CLASSROOM?
>> IN HER CLASSROOM.
>> SHE SAID, "YOU KNOW, HE HAD
AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE IT SERVED
TO ME AFTER SCHOOL OR AT A
DIFFERENT TIME."
BUT SHE SAID, "NO, HE DID IT
RIGHT WHEN I WAS TEACHING WITH
MY CLASS
AND HE KNEW HOW IMPORTANT THEY
WERE TO ME AND HOW HE COULD JUST
EMBARRASS ME."
>> Reporter: AND IT WENT
DOWNHILL FROM THERE.
CHRIS CRANDLE SAYS MICHAEL
CHANGED AS THEY HAMMERED OUT THE
DIVORCE.
>> HE WOULD JUST PLAY MIND GAMES
WITH HER ALL THE TIME.
TELL HER THEY WERE MEETING AT
McDONALD'S AND NOT SHOW UP
AND TELL HER THAT, "WELL, THAT'S
YOUR FAULT
YOU DIDN'T HEAR WHAT WE WERE
GOING TO DO.
>> Reporter: FOR WHAT REASON
>> I BELIEVE IT'S CALLED
GASLIGHTING.
HE WAS THE MASTER AT IT.
HE WOULD MAKE HER FEEL LIKE SHE
WAS THE CRAZY ONE.
>> Reporter: FRIENDS ALL AGREED
MICHAEL WAS A GREAT DAD WHO
SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH THE
KIDS WHILE RENEE WORKED.
BUT NOW THEY SAW HIS PARENTING
IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT
AN OPPORTUNITY TO CASH IN AND
KEEP THE BIG HOUSE HE'D
CONVINCED RENEE TO BUY
>> I FEEL LIKE HE HAD DIVORCE
ALREADY IN WORKS BEFORE THAT
THEY BOUGHT THAT HOUSE
HE WAS HOPEFUL HE WOULD GET THE
HOUSE.
>> Reporter: FROM EVERYTHING
I'VE HEARD, HE DIDN'T WANT TO
WORK
HE WANTED TO RAISE THE KIDS, AND
HE WANTED RENEE TO SUPPORT HIM
>> RIGHT
RIGHT, YES
HE SPECIFICALLY WENT BACK TO
SCHOOL TO GET ANOTHER DEGREE SO
THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE TO WORK.
>> HE HAD HIMSELF WORKING
PART-TIME AND HAD HER WORKING
TWO TO THREE JOBS.
AND SO HIS PLAN, I BELIEVE, WITH
EVERY FIBER IN MY BEING, HIS
PLAN WAS TO GO TO COURT AND TO
HAVE THE HOUSE, THE KIDS, AND
$2,000 A MONTH
HE HAD WORKED TO SET HIMSELF UP
THAT WAY
>> Reporter: HE WANTED ALIMONY
>> OH, HE WANTED IT.
>> Reporter: AND -- AND CHILD
SUPPORT.
>> THAT WAS -- HE WANTED IT ALL.
AND HE BELIEVED THAT HE HAD
HAD -- HAD WORKED HIMSELF INTO
THAT POSITION.
>> Reporter: WORKED HIMSELF INTO
THAT POSITION, RENEE BELIEVED,
BY NOT WORKING
>> RENEE EVEN SAID, THEY BASE IT
ON YOUR LAST THREE YEARS WELL, YOU LOOK BACK, HE'S GONE
PART-TIME, OR HASN'T EVEN
WORKED HIS LAST THREE YEARS.
AND IT WAS JUST ALL PART OF HIS
PLAN
>> Reporter: IN THE WEEKS
LEADING UP TO RENEE'S MURDER,
THINGS WEREN'T GOING WELL FOR
MICHAEL IN COURT
THIS PLAN DIDN'T GO AS PLANNED
ONCE IT GOT --
>> NO, IT SURE DID NOT -
>> Reporter: -- INTO THE DIVORCE
COURTS
>> NO.
AND THE JUDGE TOLD MIKE UNDER NO
UNCERTAIN TERMS, "YOU'RE --
YOU'RE GONNA GO GET A JOB AND
YOU'RE GONNA WORK FULL TIME.
AND YOU ARE GONNA PAY CHILD
SUPPORT.
AND RENEE IS GOING TO STAY IN
THE HOME
AND HE WAS INCENSED.
I MEAN, HE WAS LIVID
THAT DAY RENEE CAME HOME FROM
HER COURT HEARING, SHE TOLD ME
SHE HAD NEVER SEEN HIM SO ANGRY
IN HER WHOLE LIFE.
>> Reporter: PROSECUTORS
DAN HELMER AND KELLEE KONCKI,
INVESTIGATING THE CASE, BELIEVED
THIS WAS A TURNING POINT
>> HE HAD BEEN TOLD THAT HE WAS
GONNA HAVE TO PAY RENEE ALIMONY
AND CHILD SUPPORT, WORK HARDER,
AND LIKELY WASN'T GONNA GET FULL
CUSTODY OF THE KIDS LIKE HE --
>> THE HOUSE
>> -- LIKE HE THOUGHT OF
HE FILED FOR DIVORCE THINKING,
"MIKE'S SUCH A GREAT GUY
HE'S GONNA GET X, Y, AND Z."
AND NONE OF THAT TURNED OUT TO
BE TRUE.
AND IT INFURIATED HIM.
>> Reporter: JUST WEEKS AFTER
THAT HEARING, RENEE WAS IN THE
HOSPITAL FOR THE KIDNEY SURGERY.
>> I WAS RIGHT THERE WHEN SHE
WOKE UP.
AND LIKE I TOLD YA, SHE ASKED
ABOUT MICHAEL.
AND THE NEXT THING SHE SAID, "IS
THERE A SIGN ON MY DOOR THAT
SAYS YOU CANNOT ENTER WITHOUT
PERMISSION?"
>> Reporter: RENEE DIDN'T WANT
MICHAEL ANYWHERE NEAR HER.
>> AND I SAID, "NO."
SHE SAID, "DO IT, BECAUSE HE'S
GONNA TRY TO KILL ME
HE'S GONNA TRY TO PUT INSULIN IN
MY IV OR SOMETHING."
>> Reporter: AS SOON AS SHE WAS
DISCHARGED, RENEE WENT TO SEE
HER KIDS WHO WERE STAYING WITH
THEIR FATHER
IT DIDN'T GO WELL.
>> SHE CALLED ME THAT NIGHT.
SHE WAS JUST FREAKED OUT
SHE WAS SO AGITATED.
>> Reporter: RENEE SAID MICHAEL
GREETED HER BY TOSSING THEIR
YOUNGEST DAUGHTER AT HER
>> AND HE SAID, "OH, LOOK,
HANNAH
MOMMY'S SO GLAD TO SEE YOU."
AND SHE HELD HER HAND OUT AND
SAID, "MIKE, STOP," AND HE THREW
HANNAH AT HER.
>> Reporter: RENEE SAID SHE
DROPPED TO HER KNEES TO CATCH
HER DAUGHTER
>> SHE WAS CRYING, AND SHE SAID,
"HE KNEW THAT I HAD JUST HAD
SURGERY AND THAT I COULDN'T
CATCH HER.
SHE SAID, "HE JUST WANTS TO HURT
ME."
>> Reporter: DETECTIVES WANTED
TO TALK TO MICHAEL PAGEL AGAIN,
BUT IF HE WOULDN'T ANSWER THEIR
QUESTIONS, THEY WERE ABOUT TO
FIND ANOTHER WAY TO KNOW EXACTLY
WHAT HE'D BEEN THINKING ABOUT
RENEE.
>>> COMING UP --
HIDDEN DEEP INSIDE THE HOUSE,
MICHAEL PAGEL'S SECRET JOURNALS.
WHAT WOULD THEY REVEAL
>> IN THIS JOURNALING, YOU DO
MENTION YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT
RENEE, CORRECT
>>
>>> Reporter: THE WOMEN IN
RENEE'S CIRCLE BELIEVED HER
SOON-TO-BE EX, MICHAEL, WAS
CAPABLE OF KILLING HER
AND APPARENTLY RENEE HAD THOUGHT
THE SAME THING
>> SHE WENT UP TO MY MOM AND SHE
SAID, "MRS. STOUFFY, IF I END UP
DEAD, YOU'LL KNOW MIKE DID IT.
>> Reporter: STORIES LIKE THIS
SHOT MICHAEL PAGEL TO THE TOP OF
THE POTENTIAL SUSPECT LIST
>> WE WEREN'T COMPLETELY FOCUSED
ON MICHAEL AT FIRST, BUT HE
DEFINITELY WAS IN OUR
CROSSHAIRS
>> Reporter: IN FACT, DETECTIVE
JOHNSON HAD BEEN SUSPICIOUS OF
MICHAEL FROM DAY ONE, WHEN HE
AND HIS PARTNER WENT OVER TO
TELL HIM RENEE WAS DEAD.
BEFORE THEY COULD SAY MUCH OF
ANYTHING, HE'D HANDED THEM A
CARD FOR HIS DIVORCE ATTORNEY.
>> WE START TALKIN' TO HIM
ABOUT -- WE WOULD LIKE TO TALK
TO HIM ABOUT RENEE AND SOMETHING
HAD HAPPENED TO HER.
AND HE'S BASICALLY SAYING, YEAH,
MY LAWYER STATED THAT I
SHOULDN'T TALK TO THE POLICE
>> Reporter: MICHAEL EVENTUALLY
HIRED A CRIMINAL DEFENSE
ATTORNEY TO COMMUNICATE WITH
DETECTIVES
POLICE GOT A SEARCH WARRANT FOR
HIS HOUSE, BUT THEY DIDN'T FIND
ANYTHING LINKING HIM TO THE
MURDER
HOWEVER, THEY FOUND SOMETHING
ELSE
DURING THE SEARCH, A DETECTIVE
TAPPED ON A BEAM
IT SOUNDED HOLLOW.
IT WAS
AND HIDDEN INSIDE?
A NUMBER OF HARD DRIVES WITH
SCANNED PAGES OF MICHAEL'S
WRITINGS
>> HE HAD A LOT OF DOCUMENTING
JOURNAL-TYPE THINGS WITH HIS
FEELINGS ABOUT RENEE
WE STARTED GOING THROUGH ALL
THESE JOURNALS
>> Reporter: THE JOURNALS ARE
NOT SO COMPLIMENTARY OF RENEE?
>> NO, NOT A BIT
HE HAD AN ABSOLUTE HATRED FOR
RENEE.
>> Reporter: DETECTIVE MARKS
READ A PASSAGE FROM THE
UNEARTHED JOURNALS
>> "THE BITCH IS SUCH A DRAIN.
I AM NOT APPRECIATED FOR
ANYTHING, NOT RESPECTED FOR
ANYTHING I HAVE DONE OR I AM
DOING OR I WILL DO
I MUST TERMINATE WITH EXTREME
PREJUDICE.
>> Reporter: TERMINATE
THAT SOUNDED OMINOUS
THEY STILL HAD NO PHYSICAL
EVIDENCE TO LINK HIM TO THE
CRIME, BUT THEY DID HAVE AN
ALIBI TO PICK APART.
REMEMBER, IT WAS JUST HIS MOM
SAYING HE'D SLEPT IN THE LIVING
ROOM WITH THE KIDS THE NIGHT OF
RENEE'S MURDER
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT HIS MOM AS
HIS ALIBI?
>> YOU KNOW, I -- AGAIN, AT
FIRST, WE JUST -- I DIDN'T WANNA
PUT EVERYTHING ON MICHAEL, YOU
KNOW
SO I'M LISTENING
I'M TRYIN' TO, YOU KNOW, BELIEVE
HER.
BUT ALSO IN THE BACK OF MY MIND,
I'M LIKE, YEAH, IT IS HIS
MOTHER
SO I -- I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT
SHE'S GOING TO SAY OR DO TO
PROTECT OR NOT PROTECT HER SON
>> Reporter: AND INVESTIGATORS
SAW A HOLE IN THE MOM'S STORY.
>> SHE SAID CANDIDLY, "WELL, I
DID HEAR THE DOOR OPEN, THE
SLIDER, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
NIGHT ABOUT 3:00 A.M."
WHICH WE THINK IS IN, FOR SURE,
IN OUR RANGE WHEN SHE WAS
KILLED
AND SHE THOUGHT IT WAS ODD
AND THERE WERE A COUPLE TIMES
SHE HEARD THE DOOR THAT NIGHT.
AND WE THOUGHT, "WELL, THAT'S
THE WINDOW."
>> Reporter: A WINDOW OF
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMIT THE CRIME.
THEY WANTED TO TALK TO MICHAEL'S
MOM AGAIN, THIS TIME ON THE
RECORD
THE PROSECUTORS TURNED TO A
SPECIAL LEGAL TOOL USED IN
MICHIGAN CALLED AN INVESTIGATIVE
SUBPOENA
>> THIS INVESTIGATIVE SUBPOENA
PROCESS ALLOWS US TO, IN SECRET,
SUBPOENA PEOPLE BY COURT ORDER,
BRING THEM IN.
AND WE USE A COURTROOM
AND THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE STAND,
TAKE AN OATH
>> Reporter: PATRICIA PAGEL WAS
SERVED WITH ONE OF THOSE
SUBPOENAS, AND THE COURT
RECORDED HER QUESTIONING
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MA'AM
MY NAME IS KELLEE KONCKI WITH
THE KENT COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S
OFFICE
>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTOR
WANTED TO KNOW IF PATRICIA WOULD
CONFIRM UNDER OATH THAT SHE
HEARD THE SLIDING DOOR OPEN AND
CLOSE THAT NIGHT
>> DID YOU HEAR THE DOG BEING
LET OUT AT ALL THAT NIGHT?
>> NO, I DIDN'T.
NO
>> NOW YOU HESITATED
ANY REASON
>> PARDON?
>> NOW SHE'S SAYING, "NO, THAT
WASN'T CORRECT
I DON'T REMEMBER SAYING THAT
I KNOW THAT THE DOG WENT OUT,
BUT I SAW MIKE."
YOU KNOW, SHE PUT HIM THERE.
>> DID YOU HEAR ANYONE OPEN OR
CLOSE THE SLIDER OR ANYTHING
THAT SOUNDED LIKE THE SLIDER
ONCE YOU WENT TO BED
>> NO, I GUESS I DID NOT
>> CERTAINLY, YOU COULD HEAR
THAT SLIDER IF IT OPENED OR
CLOSED
WOULDN'T YOU THINK
>> DID I HEAR IT
YOU KNOW, I CANNOT SAY RIGHT
NOW.
I DON'T KNOW
>> SHE GAVE HIM NO OPPORTUNITY
TO NOT BE THERE.
SO NOW SHE'S COVERING.
>> Reporter: FINISHED WITH
PATRICIA, A FEW DAYS LATER,
PROSECUTORS USED ANOTHER
SUBPOENA TO CALL IN MICHAEL FOR
QUESTIONING.
THROUGH HIS LAWYER, MICHAEL SAID
THAT CERTAIN TOPICS WERE OFF
LIMITS -- THE DIVORCE, HIS
RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS WIFE
IF THEY DIDN'T AGREE TO HIS
TERMS, HE WOULD PLEAD THE FIFTH.
>> Reporter: AND THEN YOU GET
NOTHING.
>> I HAVE NOTHING.
AND I AGREED ONLY BECAUSE, WHAT
CHOICE DO I HAVE
>> DO YOU REMEMBER IF YOU GOT UP
ALL THAT NIGHT
>> NO.
>> NO YOU DIDN'T OR NO YOU DON'T
REMEMBER
>> NO, I DIDN'T.
>> DO YOU REMEMBER IF THE
CHILDREN WOKE UP AT ANY TIME
DURING THE NIGHT THAT NIGHT?
>> N -- NO
>> DO YOU REMEMBER IF YOUR MOM
GOT UP FOR ANY REASON THAT NIGHT
THAT YOU WERE AWARE OF
>> NO.
>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTOR KEPT
AT IT, AND KEPT GETTING VERY
LITTLE
>> YOU'VE ALREADY TOLD ME YOU
WERE NOT AT, AT OR IN RENEE'S
HOME EITHER ON THE 4th WHICH IS
A FRIDAY OR THE 5th WHICH IS A
SATURDAY AT ANY TIME
>> Y -- THAT'S CORRECT
>> NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT
>> NO DOUBT.
>> AND DID YOU KILL HER?
>> NO.
>> DID YOU CONSPIRE TO KILL HER
WITH ANYONE ELSE
>> NO.
>> DID YOU HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE
PRIOR TO LEARNING THAT SHE WAS
DEAD, THROUGH THE POLICE, THAT
SHE HAD BEEN KILLED?
>> NO.
>> HAS ANYONE ADMITTED TO YOU
THAT THEY KILLED HER OR KNEW WHO
KILLED HER
>> NO.
>> Reporter: HOW WAS MICHAEL'S
DEMEANOR IN THE QUESTIONING?
>> I DON'T THINK HE EVER STRUCK
ME AS SOMEBODY THAT, DIVORCE OR
NOT, WAS GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND
TO TRY TO HELP FIND WHO KILLED
HIS -- THE MOTHER OF HIS
CHILDREN, HIS WIFE
NEVER WAS FORTHCOMING.
NEVER WAS -- IT WAS ALMOST LIKE
PULLING TEETH TO TRY TO GET
ANYTHING OUT OF HIM.
>> Reporter: PROSECUTORS BROUGHT
MICHAEL BACK TWO WEEKS LATER TO
ASK ABOUT THE JOURNALS
DISCOVERED BY POLICE
>> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING YOU'RE
NOT GONNA ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT -- YOU'RE GONNA TAKE THE
FIFTH REGARDING THE JOURNALING
THAT'S IN THOSE HARD DRIVES, IS
THAT CORRECT
>> THAT WOULD BE MY INSTRUCTION
TO MR. PAGEL
>> WHEN HE CAME IN, HE ACTED
VERY COOPERATIVE
BUT WHEN YOU WENT TO QUESTIONS
LIKE, "WELL, REALLY," YOU KNOW,
"DIDN'T YOU FOR YEARS WRITE IN
YOUR JOURNALS AND DIARIES THAT
YOU HATED HER, YOU WANTED HER
OUT OF YOUR LIFE, YOU WANTED HER
GONE?"
HE WOULDN'T ANSWER IT.
>> YOU'VE CONFIRMED WHEN I
CALLED IT JOURNALING, THERE'S
JOURNALING ON ONE OR MORE OF
THESE HARD DRIVES.
BY YOURSELF, CORRECT
>> CORRECT
>> IN THIS JOURNALING YOU DO
MENTION YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT
RENEE, CORRECT
>> I AM GOING TO INSTRUCT YOU
NOT TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
>> SO WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE?
>> I ASSERT THE FIFTH IS WHAT
YOU SHOULD SAY
>> I ASSERT THE FIFTH.
>> DID WE THINK WE WERE GONNA
GET A CONFESSION FROM HIM?
NO
BUT I THINK WE HAD TO LOCK HIM
INTO A STORY, SO THEN WE COULD
WORK ON PULLING IT APART IF IT
WASN'T TRUE.
HOW HE ACTED WAS SUSPICIOUS.
LIKE, HE ACTED LIKE HE WAS
COVERING, LIKE HE WASN'T
COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT HE WAS
SAYING, THINGS LIKE THAT
BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T -- YOU
CAN'T CHARGE ON SUSPICION.
>> Reporter: PROSECUTORS DIDN'T
HAVE ENOUGH TO CHARGE MICHAEL
PAGEL.
AND DESPITE ALL THE RED HOT
SUSPICION, THE CASE WAS GROWING
ICE COLD
MONTHS TURNED INTO YEARS
SARAH WAS GROWING UP LARGELY
OBLIVIOUS TO THE POLICE
INVESTIGATION THAT HAD CENTERED
ON HER DAD
DID YOU WORRY ALL THESE YEARS
ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOUR MOM'S
KILLER WAS WALKING FREE?
>> I MEAN YEAH
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK
EVERYONE WOULD -- WOULD WORRY
ABOUT.
AND -- AND WONDERING, YOU KNOW,
WHO IT WAS, WONDERING WHAT
HAPPENED
BUT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT AS I
GOT OLDER, IT REALLY FELT LIKE
THERE WASN'T EVER GONNA BE AN
ANSWER
>> Reporter: BUT RENEE'S FRIENDS
WERE DETERMINED THAT WOULDN'T
HAPPEN
>>> COMING UP --
THAT ORANGE FLASHLIGHT FOUND IN
THE GRASS IS ABOUT TO BECOME A
CRUCIAL NEW CLUE
>> THIS IS THE SMOKING
FLASHLIGHT
>> YEAH, IT KIND OF IS
>> YEAH.
>> AND, WAS SOMEONE FINALLY
READY TO TALK?
>> HE SENT ME A FRIEND REQUE
>>> Reporter: SARAH SAYS,
GROWING UP, HER FAMILY DIDN'T
TALK ABOUT THE MURDER.
BUT HER FATHER, MICHAEL, DID
TALK TO THEM ABOUT RENEE
>> HE TALKED ABOUT THE GOOD
TIMES AND HOW WE WERE SIMILAR
AND, YOU KNOW, HOUR SENSES OF
HUMOR.
AND, LIKE, HOW I LOVED CHRISTMAS
AND THINGS LIKE THAT
AND IT WASN'T -- IT NEVER FELT
LIKE IT WAS HOSTILE.
IT NEVER FELT LIKE THERE WAS ANY
SORT OF REASON, LIKE, YOU
COULDN'T BRING HER UP OR YOU
SHOULDN'T TALK ABOUT HER
THAT WAS NEVER, YOU KNOW, THE
ATMOSPHERE IN OUR HOUSE.
>> Reporter: DID YOU FEEL LIKE
HE DID THE BEST HE COULD RAISING
YOU?
>> YEAH, I -- I DO
>> Reporter: WERE THERE ANY
MILESTONES THAT YOU WOULD
CELEBRATE ABOUT YOUR MOM
>> HER BIRTHDAY.
WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER, WHEN WE
LIVED AROUND HERE, YOU KNOW, WE
TALKED ABOUT IT.
IT WAS, LIKE, A -- FLOWERS
WE DID THAT KIND OF STUFF REALLY
WITH HER SIDE OF THE FAMILY.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH THEM
GROWING UP
>> Reporter: FRIENDS REMEMBERED
RENEE, TOO, AT GET-TOGETHERS AND
VIGILS
>> THE KINDEST, MOST WONDERFUL
PERSON I'VE EVER MET AND
PROBABLY WILL EVER MEET.
>> Reporter: BUT MIXED WITH THE
GOOD MEMORIES WAS A PROFOUND AND
GROWING FEELING OF ANGER
>> MY PRAYER IS FOR HIM TO COME
TO A PLACE OF CONFESSION AND
REPENTANCE
>> THERE WAS ZERO, ZERO DOUBT IN
MY MIND.
LET ME MAKE THAT ABSOLUTELY
CLEAR.
ZERO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT
MIKE PAGEL DID IT.
>> I WAS SO ANGRY BECAUSE HE HAD
TAKEN MY BEST FRIEND, AND YET HE
GOT TO BE FREE
AND IT -- IT WAS -- IT WAS VERY
HARD
>> Reporter: JOYCE CARRIED A
SENSE OF GUILT ABOUT THE NIGHT
RENEE WAS KILLED
>> SHE DESPERATELY WANTED ME TO
SPEND THE NIGHT WITH HER THAT
NIGHT SO THAT I COULD GO TO AN
ART FAIR WITH HER THE NEXT DAY
AND I COULDN'T
AND I FEEL SO TERRIBLE THAT I
DIDN'T PICK UP THOSE SIGNS
WOULD HE HAVE KILLED ME, TOO, OR
WOULD I HAVE DETERRED HIM?
I DON'T KNOW
I MEAN, I -- IT GOES THROUGH MY
HEAD ALL THE TIME.
I DON'T KNOW
>> Reporter: AS TIME WENT BY
WITHOUT AN ARREST, RENEE'S
FRIENDS DID EVERYTHING THEY
COULD TO KEEP THE CASE ALIVE
>> PUTTING UP POSTERS, FLYERS.
WE HAD A "REMEMBER RENEE" NIGHT
ONCE A MONTH
I MET WITH MEDIA
>> Reporter: YOU WANTED JUSTICE
FOR RENEE, AND YOU WEREN'T GONNA
STOP UNTIL YOU ALL GOT IT.
>> I DID WANT JUSTICE FOR RENEE.
I DID WANT THAT.
>> Reporter: SUSAN SAMPLES
REPORTED THE STORY FOR YEARS AT
THE NBC AFFILIATE IN
GRAND RAPIDS
>> THERE WAS OUTRAGE WHEN NO ONE
WAS ARRESTED
AND EVERYBODY KNEW IT WAS THE
HUSBAND, BUT THEY COULDN'T MAKE
THE CASE
FROM A NEWS PERSPECTIVE, IT WAS
A HUGE STORY, OF COURSE.
BUT AS THE YEARS WENT ON, YOU
KNOW, PEOPLE'S INTEREST GOES
ELSEWHERE, TO SOME DEGREE, IN
THE NEWS
BUT HER FRIENDS WOULDN'T LET US
FORGET IT.
>> Reporter: AND THEY WOULDN'T
LET INVESTIGATORS FORGET EITHER.
DETECTIVE JOHNSON REMEMBERS
HEARING WEEKLY FROM CHRIS, LIKE
IT WAS HER JOB
>> CHRIS CRANDLE WOULD CALL YOU
AND SAY, "HEY, WHAT'S GOIN' ON
WITH THE CASE?
>> I JUST FELT THIS PASSION
INSIDE OF ME TO FIGHT.
AND PEOPLE WOULD SAY TO ME,
"CHRIS, YOU JUST NEED TO STOP.
YOU JUST NEED TO LET THE POLICE
HANDLE IT AND -- AND STEP BACK."
>> Reporter: BUT THAT SHE
COULDN'T DO.
INSTEAD, SHE SET UP A FACEBOOK
PAGE ASKING FOR TIPS TO HELP
FIND RENEE'S KILLER.
>> A FACEBOOK PAGE SAYING, "WHO
KILLED RENEE PAGEL?"
I MEAN, SHE HAS BEEN HER OWN
LITTLE PRIVATE DETECTIVE AND
ZEALOT, YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS
TO KEEP THE CASE ALIVE
>> Reporter: IN HER MIND,
MICHAEL WAS THE ONLY SUSPECT,
AND SHE WAS FEARLESS IN CALLING
HIM OUT.
>> YEAH.
"HELLO."
ON THE WEBSITE WE CALLED HIM THE
ONLY SUSPECT
I DID MULTIPLE INTERVIEWS WITH
LOCAL MEDIA, MADE IT VERY CLEAR.
>> Reporter: CHRIS AND OTHER
FRIENDS STARTED MAILING MICHAEL
HANDWRITTEN CARDS WITH VERSES
FROM THE BIBLE
CHRIS SAYS HE DIDN'T APPRECIATE
GETTING SCRIPTURE THROUGH THE
MAIL
I MEAN, HE COULD SAY, "HEY,
YOU'RE HARASSING ME.
>> WELL, HIS FAMILY CAME -- CAME
AGAINST US
I WAS NEVER AFRAID
I -- IT'S LIKE, IF YOU WANT TO
COME AFTER ME FOR HARASSING YOU
BY SENDING YOU SCRIPTURE
CARDS -- BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT,
BUDDY?
I REALLY MIGHT BE THE ONLY
PERSON ON THIS PLANET WHO REALLY
DOES CARE ABOUT YOUR -- WHERE
YOU SPEND ETERNITY, TRULY.
AND I AM SENDING HIM SCRIPTURE
CARDS SO THAT HE WILL SEE THE
TRUTH.
>> Reporter: WHERE IS HIS
ETERNITY
>> RIGHT NOW, UNLESS HE COMES
CLEAN, HE'S GOING TO HELL.
THAT'S WHAT MY BIBLE SAYS, AND I
BELIEVE IT'S TRUE.
>> Reporter: MICHAEL PAGEL AND
THE KIDS LEFT ROCKFORD,
EVENTUALLY SETTLING IN SAGINAW,
AWAY FROM PRYING EYES, SCRIPTURE
CARDS, AND NEWS REPORTS.
>> I MOVED AROUND A LOT AS A
KID, AND IT WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING
I NEVER -- IT MADE IT HARD TO
FIND A HOME WITH THAT KIND OF
THING, YOU KNOW, OUT THERE
SO, YEAH, IT TOOK A WHILE TO
REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WERE
DOING.
>> Reporter: AS A YOUNG
TEENAGER, SARAH BECAME AWARE OF
THE INTERNET CAMPAIGN AGAINST
HER DAD.
WHAT KIND OF TOLL DID IT TAKE ON
YOU?
>> I MEAN, IT WAS DEFINITELY
DIFFICULT.
IT REALLY PREVENTED ME REALLY
FROM TALKING ABOUT MY MOM TO MY
FRIENDS BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT
ANY QUESTIONS.
AND IF ANYONE LOOKED ANYTHING UP
ONLINE OR THEIR PARENTS DID,
THEN IT WOULD BE MY DAD'S FACE
THERE.
AND SO WHEN STUFF LIKE THAT
WOULD COME OUT, IT WAS VERY
HARD
>> Reporter: ASSISTANT
PROSECUTOR KELLEE KONCKI HAD
NEVER FORGOTTEN THIS UNSOLVED
MURDER
>> THIS CASE, IT NEVER WENT
AWAY
I ALWAYS WANTED TO WORK THIS
CASE AGAIN
I KNEW THERE WOULD COME A TIME
MY BOSS WAS READY A COUPLE YEARS
AGO TO OPEN ONE OF THE COLD
CASES.
HE ASKED ME TO LOOK AT AND
DECIDE WHICH ONE
AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST ALWAYS
WANTED TO SOLVE PAGEL.
>> Reporter: 12 YEARS AFTER HER
MURDER, INVESTIGATORS DUSTED OFF
BOXES FULL OF EVIDENCE AND
REPORTS.
IT WAS 2018, AND BILL MARKS WAS
THE NEW LEAD DETECTIVE
>> WE REALLY TRIED TO START
WITH -- FROM A FRESH
PERSPECTIVE.
WE WANTED TO START FROM THE
BEGINNING AND NOT FOCUS ON ANY
CERTAIN PERSON
WE TOOK A STEP BACK.
WE LOOKED AT EVERY SINGLE PERSON
WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE CASE,
EVERYBODY THAT WAS NAMED, AND
REALLY TRIED TO WORK THROUGH
EACH ONE OF THEM INDIVIDUALLY
AND SEE IF THEY COULD POSSIBLY
BE A SUSPECT
>> Reporter: ANYTHING WITH THE
EVIDENCE THAT JUMPED OUT AT YOU,
THAT MAYBE HAD BEEN MISSED
>> NOTHING INITIALLY
>> Reporter: BUT THEN HE SPOTTED
SOMETHING THAT WARRANTED ANOTHER
LOOK
>> AS WE WORKED THROUGH IT, WE
DID FIND THE ORANGE FLASHLIGHT
THAT WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN
TESTED IN THE PAST AND WASN'T.
>> Reporter: THE ORANGE
FLASHLIGHT INVESTIGATORS
DISCOVERED BEHIND THE HOUSE THE
MORNING AFTER THE MURDER
IT WOULD TAKE EAGLE-EYED
ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR DAN HELMER
TO MAKE AN INTERESTING
CONNECTION
GET THIS
IN AN OLD EVIDENCE PHOTO OF
MICHAEL PAGEL TAKEN AT HIS
HOUSE, HELMER NOTICED A VERY
SIMILAR FLASHLIGHT IN THE
BACKGROUND
BUT THIS ONE WAS BLUE.
YOU DID A LITTLE INVESTIGATING,
AND IT TURNS OUT THESE
FLASHLIGHTS HAVE SOMETHING IN
COMMON
>> THEY CAME IN A TWO PACK THAT
YEAR, ONE OF WHICH WAS AN ORANGE
AND BLUE COMBINATION, WHICH IS
THE COLORS WE HAD.
AND THE BATTERIES WERE ACTUALLY
FROM THE SAME LOT NUMBER
>> Reporter: THIS IS THE SMOKING
FLASHLIGHT
>> YEAH.
KIND OF IS
>> YEAH.
WHAT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US -- IT
PUTS MIKE THERE EITHER THAT
NIGHT OR RIGHT AROUND THERE.
AND HE HAD NO REASON TO BE AT
THAT HOME.
NO REASON.
>> Reporter: IT WAS AN
INTERESTING PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.
BUT STILL, NOT ENOUGH FOR AN
ARREST
WITH HER ONLINE POSTS, CHRIS WAS
STILL ASKING, "WHO KILLED
RENEE?
AND ONE DAY, OUT OF THE BLUE,
SOMEONE WANTED TO TALK TO HER ON
FACEBOOK
IT WAS MICHAEL'S BROTHER
>> BO.
HE SENT ME A FRIEND REQUEST.
AND I SAW IT AND I JUST SORT OF
FREAKED OUT.
I DIDN'T RESPOND TO IT
SLEPT ON IT.
THE NEXT DAY, HE'S REACHING OUT
TO ME AGAIN.
>> Reporter: COULD IT BE THAT BO
HAD INFORMATION ABOUT THE MURDER
OF RENEE AFTER ALL
>>> COMING UP --
>> Reporter: SO BO JUST CRACKS
THIS CASE WIDE OPEN.
>> YEAH, I HAD TO HOLD MYSELF
DOWN
>> THERE WAS LIKE A RAG, AND
THERE WAS A KNIFE IN THE RAG
>> Reporter: THA
AFTER RENEE PAGEL'S MURDER,
DETECTIVES WERE TAKING ANOTHER
CRACK AT HER COLD CASE
AT THE SAME TIME, HER CLOSE
FRIEND CHRIS GOT A MESSAGE ON
FACEBOOK FROM MICHAEL'S BROTHER,
BO
CHRIS HADN'T MET THE GUY, BUT
SHE KNEW HE AND RENEE NEVER GOT
ALONG AND THAT BO HAD BEEN
LOOKED AT AS A POTENTIAL
SUSPECT.
NOW, OUT OF THE BLUE, HE WANTED
TO TALK.
>> THIS IS BO.
WHO'S THIS
>> HI, THIS IS CHRIS CRANDLE
>> Reporter: UNBEKNOWNST TO BO,
POLICE ASKED CHRIS TO RECORD THE
CONVERSATION, AND SHE SURE DID
RIGHT FROM THE START, HE MADE IT
CLEAR HE WAS CALLING TO TALK
ABOUT HIS BROTHER.
>> FIRST OFF I WANT TO
APOLOGIZE.
YOU GUYS ARE ABSOLUTELY 100%
RIGHT ABOUT MIKE, AND HOW HE IS.
>> OH.
>> HE FOOLED US ALL.
>> OH.
>> AND HE'S A LIAR
>> Reporter: WHAT DID HE SAY TO
YOU?
>> WELL, HE JUST SAID MIKE WAS
STARTING TO LOSE IT.
>> Reporter: CHRIS QUICKLY CUT
TO THE CHASE
>> I SAID, "SO WHY ARE YOU
CALLING ME?"
"WELL, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE
DONE."
AND I SAID, "WELL, I -- I AGREE.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW WHAT I BELIEVE.
>> DO YOU BELIEVE HE KILLED
RENEE?
>> I -- I DON'T KNOW
I -- I -- I -- I WILL -- I DON'T
KNOW FOR CERTAIN, BUT I WILL
TELL YOU THIS.
I WOULD NOT DEFEND HIM NOW
>> Reporter: BO SAID HIS BROTHER
MICHAEL HAD TURNED ON HIM.
>> FOR WHATEVER REASON IN HIS
DRUNK, WARPED MIND, HE THINKS I
AM OUT TO GET HIM.
AND HE TELLS EVERYBODY THIS, AND
HE CARRIES A LOADED GUN ON HIM
ALL THE TIME
>> Reporter: CHRIS STEERED THE
CONVERSATION BACK TO THE
INFORMATION SHE NEEDED
>> WHO DO YOU THINK KILLED
RENEE?
>> I GOT NO CLUE, TO TELL YOU
THE TRUTH.
I COULDN'T TELL YA
BUT --
>> DO YOU THINK MIKE DID IT?
>> DO I THINK MIKE DID IT?
>> YEAH.
>> I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T -- I -- YOU KNOW, I
DON'T KNOW
I DON'T THINK SO
I DON'T THINK HE WOULD HAVE
THE -- I DON'T -- I DON'T THINK
HE WOULD HAVE THE GUTS TO DO IT.
THAT'S STILL GOOD QUESTION
>> Reporter: BO SOUNDED VERY
MUCH AFRAID OF HIS BROTHER
>> MIKE HAS GOT TO BE STOPPED.
I AM GOING TO BE HIS NEXT
VICTIM
HE -- HE IS GOING TO KILL ME AT
SOME POINT
>> Reporter: NEXT VICTIM
BO WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
DID HE KNOW SOMETHING OR NOT
>> "NEXT VICTIM" IS -- IT'S A
BIG -- IT'S A BIG STATEMENT.
>> Reporter: ONCE INVESTIGATORS
PLAYED THE TAPE, THEY WANTED TO
TALK TO HIM UNDER OATH
PROSECUTORS SENT HIM AN
INVESTIGATIVE SUBPOENA
>> AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE
MURDER, LET'S START WITH THAT,
DID MIKE EVER SAY OR DO ANYTHING
TO INDICATE THAT HE WANTED TO
KILL HER, WANTED TO HURT HER
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
I -- I DON'T -- REM -- I --I
JUST -
>> YOU WOULD REMEMBER THAT
MR. PAGEL.
>> YEAH, I -- I -- I'M TRYING TO
THINK.
I JUST DON'T -- I JUST DON'T
TALK IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS, OR
I DON'T --
>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN
>> I -- I DUN -- I JUST TALK
ABOUT OTHER STUFF --
>> THE BODY LANGUAGE JUST
WASN'T SAYING THE SAME THINGS
THAT HIS MOUTH WAS SAYING.
IT APPEARED AS IF HE HAD MORE TO
TALK ABOUT
>> Reporter: PROSECUTORS SENT
HIM HOME, AND TWO WEEKS LATER
ASKED HIM TO COME BACK
BO COMES IN FOR A SECOND
INTERVIEW AND JUST CRACKS THIS
CASE WIDE OPEN LIKE THE GRAND
CANYON
>> YEAH.
I -- I HAD TO HOLD MYSELF DOWN
LIKE, NOT GET TOO EXCITED.
>> Reporter: PROSECUTORS GRANTED
BO IMMUNITY IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS
TESTIMONY.
AND THIS TIME HE HAD A STORY TO
TELL
WITH AN AUDIO RECORDER ROLLING,
HE REMEMBERED A DAY BACK IN
AUGUST 2011.
IT WAS EXACTLY FIVE YEARS AFTER
RENEE'S MURDER
>> HE HAD COME TO MY MOM'S
AND --
>> IN SAGINAW?
>> IN SAGINAW, YES
AND HE HAD SAID, "LET'S GO LOOK
FOR SOME BIG DEER AND GET A, UH,
SIX-PACK OF SNACKS," WHICH HE
WAS REFERRING TO BEER.
>> Reporter: A COUPLE OF BEERS
IN, MICHAEL STARTED TALKING
ABOUT HIS MARRIAGE TO RENEE, AND
HOW IT HAD GONE BAD.
THEY CAME TO A BRIDGE, AND
MICHAEL TOLD BO TO PULL OVER
>> WHICH IS NOT OUT OF THE
ORDINARY CAUSE WE WOULD
TYPICALLY STOP ON THE BRIDGE
HE HAD A SMALL CASE OR BAG OR
SOMETHING WITH HIM, AND HE
OPENED UP THE CASE
AND THERE WAS LIKE A RAG OR A
T-SHIRT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT
AND HE UNWRAPPED IT, AND THERE
WAS A KNIFE IN THE RAG
>> Reporter: AND RIGHT THEN,
HOLDING THE KNIFE IN HIS HAND,
BO SAID MICHAEL REVEALED WHAT
HE'D DONE.
>> HE SAID TO ME, "THIS IS HOW I
FINALIZED THE DIVORCE.
>> Reporter: THERE WAS NO DOUBT
IN BO'S MIND WHAT HE MEANT
HE SAID IT WAS CLEAR MICHAEL HAD
KILLED RENEE
>> HE STARTED GOING ON ABOUT,
YOU KNOW, SHE HAD IT COMING TO
HER, THAT ALL SHE HAD TO DO WAS
PAY HIM WHAT HE WAS ASKING FOR
AS FAR AS ALIMONY OR CHILD
SUPPORT, AND GIVE HIM THE HOUSE
AND WHATEVER -- WHATEVER ELSE HE
FELT HE WAS ENTITLED TO.
THAT'S ALL SHE HAD TO DO, AND
SHE WOULDN'T DO IT
AND, SO HE SAID HE -- HE
FINALIZED THE DIVORCE.
>> Reporter: THAT IS ONE
POWERFUL SECRET HE WAS KEEPING
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Reporter: STILL THERE WAS
MORE TO BO'S STORY
>> SO THEN WE'RE ARGUING
I MEAN, THIS IS JUST MORE THAN
I'M READY FOR, YOU KNOW.
AND THEN -- THEN HE TAKES THE
KNIFE, AND HE THROWS THE KNIFE
IN THE CRICK
>> Reporter: ONCE THE MURDER
WEAPON DISAPPEARED IN THE CREEK,
BO SAID HIS BROTHER TURNED TO
HIM WITH A THREAT.
>> HIS WORDS WERE, "I -- I --
[ BLEEP ] HER UP
AND IF YOU TELL ANYBODY, I'M
GONNA [ BLEEP ] YOU UP, TOO.
>> Reporter: BO SAID HE WENT TO
SEE THEIR MOTHER, PATRICIA RIGHT
AWAY
>> I TALKED TO MY MOM, AND I
TOLD MY MOM.
>> SAME DAY?
>> IT WAS THE SAME DAY
I TOLD HER WHAT HE HAD TOLD ME
AND I TOLD HER, AND SHE SAYS,
"JUST DON'T DO ANYTHING TILL
AFTER I'M GONE."
>> DID SHE SEEM SURPRISED?
>> NO.
>> BO'S EXPLANATION FOR STAYING
QUIET FOR SO LONG WAS NOT JUST
THAT HE LOVED HIS BROTHER, BUT
THAT HIS MOM HAD ASKED HIM TO
NOT SAY ANYTHING WHILE SHE WAS
ALIVE.
>> Reporter: SHE KNEW ABOUT THE
MURDER
>> FOR SURE, YEAH.
>> Reporter: SO WHY WAS HE
FINALLY TELLING THIS STORY
WELL, THEIR MOTHER HAD JUST
DIED SIX MONTHS EARLIER.
HE HAD KEPT HIS WORD TO HIS HER,
BUT NOW SAID HE WANTED TO GET
THIS BIG SECRET OFF HIS CHEST.
>> THE TRUTH JUST NEEDS TO COME
OUT, AND I NEED TO GET IT OFF.
AND OUR FAMILY NEEDS TO GO ON.
>> Reporter: THE TRUTH
INVESTIGATORS WOULD HAVE TO
CORROBORATE BO'S STORY, LOOKING
FOR EVIDENCE THAT WAS NEVER
MEANT TO BE FOUND.
>>> COMING UP --
>> THERE'S A KNIFE ON HERE
IT WAS EXACTLY AS BO DESCRIBED
>> Reporter: THAT'S
UNBELIEVABLE
>> WAS THIS THE MURDER WEAPON?
AND COULD IT LEAD TO AN ARREST
AT LAST?
>> I WAS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED.
IT REALLY FELT LIKE IT WAS OUT
>>> Reporter: THE INVESTIGATION
SWITCHED INTO HIGH GEAR ONCE
MICHAEL PAGEL'S BROTHER, BO,
SWORE UNDER OATH THAT MICHAEL
CONFESSED TO KILLING RENEE AND
DROPPED THE MURDER WEAPON INTO A
CREEK.
DETECTIVES ASKED BO TO DRAW A
PICTURE OF THE KNIFE AND HELP
THEM LOCATE THE SPOT
>> FEBRUARY 5th, 2020.
>> Reporter: AND SOON BILL MARKS
AND A DIVE TEAM HEADED TO
SAGINAW TO SEARCH.
>> DAY ONE, WE FOUND A LOT OF
METAL, A LOT OF SHARDS
>> Reporter: DAY TWO
>> DAY TWO WE COLLECTED
EVERYTHING FROM CAR PARTS TO
HOME STEREOS
>> Reporter: SO YOU WENT BACK
FOR A THIRD DAY?
>> THIRD DAY, WE WERE JUST ABOUT
DONE, THE LAST FEW PASSES.
>> Reporter: THIS WAS THE END OF
THE SEARCH
>> YES
I STARTED PULLIN' BACK THE
MAGNET TOWARD ME, AND IT GOT
HUNG UP ON SOMETHING, STUCK
REALLY STRONG.
>> Reporter: ONE OF THE DIVERS
FINALLY WRESTLED IT OUT OF
WATER.
>> I STILL COULDN'T SEE IT
'CAUSE IT'S ALL BLACK AND ALL
THE METAL RUSTY.
THERE'S A KNIFE ON HERE.
>> Reporter: WOW
>> THERE WAS NO DOUBT.
IT WAS EXACTLY AS BO DESCRIBED
>> Reporter: THAT'S
UNBELIEVABLE
BILL TEXTED THE PICTURE OF THE
KNIFE TO THE PROSECUTORS
>> I COULDN'T EVEN DESCRIBE WHAT
I WAS SEEING, I WAS SO SHOCKED
ALL I COULD DO WAS SHOW THE BOSS
A PICTURE, AND IT WAS AMAZING.
IT WAS ENTIRELY CONSISTENT WITH
WHAT WE KNEW FROM THE MEDICAL
EXAMINER'S REPORT WAS USED IN
THIS
>> WE WERE CONFIDENT WE HAD THE
RIGHT ONE.
IT MATCHED THE DRAWING THAT BO
HAD GIVEN US
THE DESCRIPTION WAS IDENTICAL.
>> Reporter: NOW THEY HAD ENOUGH
FOR MICHAEL'S ARREST
AND AFTER ALL THESE YEARS,
DETECTIVE JOHNSON, NOW
LIEUTENANT JOHNSON, WANTED TO BE
THE ONE TO DO IT
>> WE PUT A LOT OF TIME AND
EFFORT INTO THIS
AND WHEN THE TIME COMES TO
ARREST HIM, I WANNA BE THERE
I GO TO MIKE
I PLACED MY CUFFS ON HIM AND PUT
HIM IN THE BACK OF THE CAR
BUT I DID TAKE A NICE PICTURE OF
HIM PRIOR TO ME LEAVING AND SENT
IT TO CHRIS CRANDLE.
>> I SEE E.J. JOHNSON'S NUMBER
SHOW UP ON MY PHONE, AND I
ANSWERED IT.
AND HE SAYS, "YOU KNOW HOW THEY
SAY GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
GOD IS GOOD?
I SAID, "WHAT?
TELL ME.
AND HE SAID, "GUESS WHO I HAVE
IN MY BACKSEAT."
AND I SAID, "YOU ARE KIDDING
ME."
HE SENT ME A PICTURE OF HIM IN
HIS BACKSEAT
>> I REMEMBER I WAS TEACHING
CHRIS CALLED ME.
AND SHE SAID, "YOU WILL NEVER
GUESS WHO IS IN THE BACK OF
E.J.'S CAR
AND I REMEMBER I JUST STARTED
CRYING
AND MY TEACHER FRIENDS HAD
REALLY EMBRACED ME OVER THESE
YEARS BECAUSE THEY KNEW WHAT I
HAD GONE THROUGH
>> YOU CAN'T EVEN DESCRIBE HOW
RELIEVED YOU ARE TO FINALLY HAVE
THIS MOMENT THAT YOU'VE BEEN
WAITING FOR FOR 13, 14 YEARS OF
A MAN THAT'S BEEN OUT THERE,
WALKING FREE, THAT KILLED HIS
WIFE, MOTHER OF HIS CHILDREN
>> Reporter: THE NEWS OF
MICHAEL'S ARREST HAD A DIFFERENT
EFFECT ON THOSE CHILDREN
HIS DAUGHTER SARAH WAS NOW
21 YEARS OLD
NOW YOU'RE NOT 7 ANYMORE
YOU'RE ABLE TO REALLY PROCESS IT
THIS TIME.
AND WHAT -- SO WHAT'S GOING
THROUGH YOUR MIND?
>> I MEAN, AT FIRST I WAS -- I
WAS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED
I MEAN, THAT'S THE LAST THING I
THOUGHT I WOULD HEAR, AND IT
REALLY FELT LIKE IT WAS OUT OF
THE BLUE
I MEAN, THAT KIND OF HITS YOU
OUT OF NOWHERE
IT WAS VERY HARD TO PROCESS AT
FIRST.
AND, YOU KNOW, UNTIL I COULD
REALLY TALK TO HIM, IT FELT LIKE
I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON.
BUT I -- I -- YEAH, IT WAS
DEFINITELY -- IT WAS VERY
DIFFICULT.
>> Reporter: DID YOU THINK, "NOT
MY DAD
GO FIND THE REAL KILLER.
YOU KNOW, HE OR SHE IS OUT
THERE.
>> OF COURSE
YOU NEVER WANT YOUR DAD TO BE
THE ONE BEHIND EVERYTHING.
AND OBVIOUSLY I -- I WAS
THINKING, LIKE, "YEAH, THERE HAS
TO BE ANOTHER WAY.
THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING ELSE
LIKE, THERE'S SOMETHING MISSING
HERE."
>> Reporter: SARAH WENT TO TALK
TO HER FATHER IN JAIL.
WHAT DID HE SAY TO YOU
>> HE JUST SAID EVERYTHING'S
GONNA BE OKAY.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT EVERYTHING
THAT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT
>> Reporter: DID YOU ASK HIM,
"DAD, DID YOU DO THIS?
>> NO.
>> Reporter: HAVE YOU EVER ASKED
HIM THAT
>> NO, I -- I'VE NEVER FELT THE
NEED TO.
>> Reporter: WAS THERE A PART OF
YOU THAT THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT,
"HE DID THIS" OR "I THINK HE DID
THIS"?
>> I THINK I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW,
NOW THAT HE'S ARRESTED, YOU
KNOW, THERE - - THERE'S
SOMETHING THERE.
SO MAYBE IF IT GOES TO TRIAL,
HE'S FOUND INNOCENT.
THEN WE CAN JUST FINALLY
ACTUALLY GO ON WITH OUR LIVES.
>> Reporter: BUT IT WOULDN'T
TURN OUT TO BE THAT SIMPLE
JUST WHEN YOU THINK THIS STORY
IS OVER, IT ISN'T.
THE BIGGEST BOMBSHELL OF ALL
DROPS IN YOUR LAP.
>> YEAH, YEAH.
>>> COMING UP --
MICHAEL PAGEL SPEAKS
AND HE'S GOT A WHOPPER OF A
STORY.
>> WE AGREED ON $100,000 FOR HIM
TO MURDER RENEE.
>> MIKE PAGEL SAYS, "I DIDN'T
KILL MY WIFE."
>> Reporter: DO YOU HAVE TO
>>> Reporter: SARAH PAGEL WAS
BRACING FOR A TRIAL.
HER FATHER ACCUSED OF KILLING
HER MOTHER
DID YOU THINK, "MY DAD DOESN'T
HAVE THE TEMPERAMENT TO KILL
SOMEONE"
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
>> Reporter: "OR TO TAKE OUR
MOTHER AWAY FROM US"
>> YEAH, I -- I ABSOLUTELY
THOUGHT THAT
>> Reporter: BUT ONE EMAIL FROM
MICHAEL'S DEFENSE ATTORNEY
CHANGED ALL OF THAT.
MICHAEL WANTED A SHORTCUT.
>> HE REACHED OUT TO US AND SAID
THROUGH HIS ATTORNEYS, EARLY ON
BEFORE OUR PRELIMINARY HEARING,
SAID, "HEY, WOULD YOU BE
INTERESTED IN MAKING HIM AN
OFFER?
AND WE'RE LIKE, "WHAT?
THAT WAS A SURPRISE ALSO
>> Reporter: BEFORE RESPONDING
TO MICHAEL'S ATTORNEY,
PROSECUTORS MET WITH HIS
CHILDREN
THEY WANTED TO KNOW HOW THEY
FELT ABOUT LETTING THEIR FATHER
TAKE A PLEA INSTEAD OF GOING
THROUGH A PAINFUL PUBLIC TRIAL
>> WE DID NOT WANT TO MAKE ANY
KIND OF OFFER OR -- OR EVEN
CONSIDER AN OFFER.
IN FACT, IF IT WASN'T FOR THOSE
KIDS, WE WOULD'VE MADE NO OFFER.
WE WOULD'VE TRIED HIM AND, GOD
WILLING, THE JURY WOULD'VE SEEN
THE TRUTH, AND HE WOULD'VE GONE
AWAY FOR LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE AND
DIED IN PRISON
BUT THE FACT IS HE DOES HAVE
THREE LOVELY CHILDREN WHO ARE
IMPACTED BY THIS MORE THAN
ANYBODY.
>> Reporter: FOR SARAH, IT WAS
THE FIRST TIME SHE HEARD THE
EVIDENCE POINTING AT HER
FATHER'S INVOLVEMENT IN HER
MOTHER'S DEATH
>> THEY EXPLAINED THE EVIDENCE
THEY HAD
THEY EXPLAINED HOW THEY GOT IT
THEY WERE DEFINITELY IN A
DIFFICULT SITUATION, YOU KNOW,
REPRESENTING MY MOM AND JUSTICE
FOR HER.
BUT ALSO KNOWING THAT WE WERE
THE ONES THAT WERE SUFFERING
BECAUSE OF MY DAD'S ACTIONS.
AND SO PUTTING HIM IN JAIL, YOU
KNOW, WAS DOING GOOD BY MY MOM,
BUT ALSO HURT US IMMENSELY
BUT THEY WANTED US TO KNOW THAT
THERE WAS TWO DIFFERENT
MIKE PAGELS AT THAT TIME
>> Reporter: HE COULD BE AN
AMAZING FATHER TO YOU BUT THEN
BE CAPABLE OF SOMETHING EVIL
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: AND HOW DO YOU DEAL
WITH THAT?
THIS IS JUST -- I MEAN -- I HAVE
NO WORDS
>> IT WAS DIFFICULT.
I MEAN, ABSOLUTELY
AND I -- I TALKED TO HIM MAYBE
AN HOUR AFTER THE PLEA DEAL.
I MEAN, YEAH
IT WAS -- IT WAS A DIFFICULT
CONVERSATION
>> Reporter: DID HE APOLOGIZE TO
YOU?
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, ABSOLUTELY
>> Reporter: WHAT WAS THE
BIGGEST QUESTION YOU HAD FOR
HIM?
>> I GUESS, "WHY?"
>> Reporter: WHAT DID HE SAY
>> I -- I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE
ANSWERING THAT
SORRY.
>> Reporter: MICHAEL PLEADED
GUILTY TO SECOND DEGREE MURDER
WITH A PRISON TERM OF
25 TO 50 YEARS
AT HIS PLEA HEARING, HE TOLD HIS
STORY.
>> BACK IN 2006, I WAS GOING
THROUGH A DIVORCE WITH MY WIFE,
AND IT WAS GOING FROM BAD TO
WORSE.
I WAS LOSING MORE AND MORE TIME
WITH THE KIDS.
IT WAS GETTING MORE AND MORE
CONTENTIOUS.
AND I WAS JUST AT A BREAKING
POINT.
SO I -- 2006, IN THE SPRING, I
TALKED WITH MY -- MY BROTHER
OKAY TO CALL HIM BO?
OKAY, I TALKED WITH BO
>> Reporter: AND THEN HIS
CONFESSION TOOK A SHARP TURN
>> I ASKED HIM WHAT DID HE THINK
THE ODDS WERE THAT HE COULD GET
AWAY WITH KILLING HER.
AND HE SAID, "WELL, THEY WERE
BETTER THAN HALF."
AND AT THAT POINT, I MADE A BAD
DECISION
>> MIKE PAGEL PLEADS GUILTY BUT
SAYS, "I DIDN'T KILL MY WIFE
MY BROTHER DID."
>> WE AGREED ON, UH,
$100,000 FOR HIM TO -- TO MURDER
RENEE.
>> Reporter: IT WAS QUITE A
STORY, A BOMBSHELL DROPPED ONTO
WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A CLOSED
CASE
THE ONLY TROUBLE WAS, NO ONE
BELIEVED IT.
>> WHEN WE GOT TO COURT AND
LISTENED TO HIM TELL THIS STORY
ABOUT HOW HE HAD HIRED HIS
BROTHER AND HIS BROTHER'S THE
ONE THAT ACTUALLY KILLED RENEE,
THERE WAS JUST A LEVEL OF
DISBELIEF, A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
KIND OF DISGUST, LIKE, COME ON
REALLY
>> Reporter: DO YOU STILL NOW
HAVE TO INVESTIGATE TO BE SURE
THAT THE REAL KILLER ISN'T
WALKING AROUND
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE SPENT WEEKS AND WEEKS DIGGING
INTO ALL THESE CLAIMS THAT HE
MADE, BUT WE NEVER FOUND
ANYTHING AT ALL THAT POINTED
TOWARD BO BEING INVOLVED
>> Reporter: BO DENIED ANY
INVOLVEMENT IN RENEE'S MURDER,
AND INVESTIGATORS CONCLUDED
MICHAEL HAD ACTED ALONE.
>> IT'S REALLY DESPICABLE THAT
HE COULDN'T TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY,
MAN UP, TELL US WHAT YOU REALLY
DID DO
IT CERTAINLY IS GONNA MAKE LIFE
A LOT EASIER FOR THOSE OF US
TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD, TRYING
TO FIND FORGIVENESS, IF YOU
COULD JUST BLOODY TELL THE
TRUTH.
>> Reporter: DID YOU BELIEVE HIS
STORY THAT HIS BROTHER HAD
HELPED HIM
>> LIKE I SAID, IT WAS SOMETHING
THAT I JUST DECIDED TO REMAIN
NEUTRAL ON
>> Reporter: FOR SARAH, IT WAS A
LOT TO ABSORB.
EVEN WITH HER FATHER CHANGING
HIS STORY, MICHAEL HAD ADMITTED
HE WANTED HER MOTHER DEAD, AND
WAS GOING TO PRISON FOR HER
MURDER
HOW DID YOU LEAVE THAT
CONVERSATION FEELING AFTER YOU
HAD SPOKEN TO YOUR DAD
IT'S A CONVERSATION THAT, LIKE,
ALMOST NO ONE HAS WITH THEIR
PARENT
>> I MEAN, HEARTBROKEN
>> Reporter: YEAH.
AND DID YOU -- DID YOU TELL HIM,
"I WILL STAND BY YOU"?
>> I SAID I'D FORGIVE HIM.
>> Reporter: FORGIVE HIM
'CAUSE YOU STILL HAVE A
RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, RIGHT
>> YEAH, I DO.
>> Reporter: HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO
KEEP THAT INTACT
>> I THINK HE WAS ALWAYS MY DAD.
YOU KNOW, I -- I NEVER SAW THAT
SIDE OF HIM.
AND EVEN IF THAT WAS SOMETHING
HE DID THAT SOME -- I MEAN,
EVERYONE DESERVES TO BE
FORGIVEN
AND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HE
APOLOGIZED
HE SINCERELY FELT LIKE HE KNEW
HE MADE A MISTAKE.
HE KNEW IT WAS THE WORST THING
HE COULD'VE DONE TO US AND FOR
US, AND HE KNEW THAT
AND HE ADMITTED THAT
BUT THAT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY THE
FACT THAT HE'S MY DAD.
I THINK GROWING UP WITH A SINGLE
PARENT, YOU REALLY HANG ON TO
THE ONE THAT YOU HAVE.
AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO LOSE HIM
FOR ANYTHING
>> Reporter: AT HIS SENTENCING
FIVE MONTHS LATER, MICHAEL
ADDRESSED HIS CHILDREN
>> AND I ASK GOD TO FORGIVE ME
AND GIVE ALL -- GIVE US ALL THE
STRENGTH TO ENDURE THE
CONSEQUENCES
SARAH, JOEL, AND HANNAH, YOUR
MOM LOVED YOU VERY MUCH AND
WOULD BE VERY PROUD TO SEE HOW
WELL HER CHILDREN HAVE GROWN
>> Reporter: SARAH WROTE A
LETTER TO THE COURT.
>> I JUST WANTED TO GET ACROSS
THAT HE WASN'T JUST THE PERSON
WHO WAS INVOLVED IN HER DEATH.
HE WAS THE ONE THAT RAISED US.
AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE TODAY
WE ARE BECAUSE OF HIM.
IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION
TO UNDERSTAND BEING THE ONE IN
THE MIDDLE OF BOTH SIDES OF THAT
STORY.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK
ONLY WE CAN REALLY UNDERSTAND.
AND SO NO ONE HAS PASSED
JUDGMENT ON THAT
>> Reporter: THE FRIENDS WHO
FOUGHT SO LONG AND HARD STILL
FEEL THE LOSS OF RENEE
>> A BEAUTIFUL PERSON WAS TAKEN
FROM -- FROM THIS WORLD.
>> WHEN SHE DIED, I GENUINELY
AND TRULY FELT LIKE A PIECE OF
ME DIED AS WELL.
>> Reporter: SARAH SAYS THE
COMMITTED EFFORT BY SO MANY TO
SOLVE THE CASE IS A TESTAMENT TO
HER MOTHER'S CHARACTER
>> SHE HAD A BEAUTIFUL
PERSONALITY THAT CLEARLY SPEAKS.
I MEAN, SO MANY PEOPLE CARE
ABOUT HER TODAY AND, YOU KNOW,
THE EFFORTS THAT HER FRIENDS PUT
IN OVER THE YEARS WHILE, YOU
KNOW, I -- I KINDA FELT LIKE
COLLATERAL DAMAGE OF SOME OF
THAT, IT WAS -- IT WAS FOR HER
AND IT WAS FOR JUSTICE FOR HER
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT AND
APPRECIATE THAT.
AND I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO THE
TYPE OF PERSON SHE WAS
>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION
OF "DATELINE."
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY
AT 9:00, 8:00 CENTRAL.
AND, OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU
EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY
NEWS."
I'M LESTER HOLT.
FOR ALL OF US AT N