* MUSICA *
>> HE SAID, "MICKI'S MISSING." I SAID, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE'S
MISSING? >> IT'S DEVASTATING.
HER LAST MOMENTS IN LIFE STILL HAUNT ME
>> I JUST THOUGHT, "WHAT A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE.
>> WE FOUND A LOT OF THINGS SUSPICIOUS
>> THERE'S NO VIDEO OF IT HAPPENING.
THERE'S NO EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY. >> THERE'S NO FINGERPRINTS
SHE WAS DEAD BEFORE SHE LANDED IN THE WATER
>> I WAS APPROACHED BY THE FBI TO RECORD MY CONVERSATIONS
>> MY NAME IS JULIE SARANITA >> YOU'RE INTERROGATING SOMEONE
WHO'S A MURDER SUSPECT >> NOTHING I WOULD OF EVER
IMAGINED COULD HAVE PREPARED ME FOR THIS
>> A CRUISE SHIP MYSTERY A PASSENGER OVERBOARD AND AN
OCEAN OF QUESTIONS >> THIS IS JUST PHENOMENALLY
DEVIOUS WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING >> YES
I SAID, "IT'S TIME THE TRUTH COMES OUT.
>> I'M LESTER HOLT AND THIS IS "DATELINE.
>> HERE'S JOSH MANKIEWICZ WITH "OPEN WATER.
>> Reporter: THE CALL CAME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
IT WAS THEIR FRIEND, IN A PANIC. >> LONNIE WAS IN NAPOLI, AND
MICKI HAD GONE MISSING OFF THE BOAT
AND THAT'S WHERE IT STARTED. >> Reporter: AND WHAT DID YOU
THINK? >> THAT WAS A TAKE A -- TO THE
COUNT OF THREE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, REPEAT ALL OF THAT
LET ME HEAR IT ONE MORE TIME TYPE OF THING.
>> Reporter: NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES SHE HEARD IT, IT JUST
DIDN'T MAKE SENSE. >> YOU THINK OF ALL OF THESE
THINGS EVERYTHING STARTS RUSHING
THROUGH YOUR HEAD. >> Reporter: EXCEPT THIS WAS
CLEARLY TRUE >> I JUST SAW DISASTER HAPPENING
IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY >> YOU SAY, "THIS CAN'T BE
THIS CAN'T BE. >> I KNEW IT IN MY HEART
THERE'S GOT TO BE ANOTHER EXPLANATION.
>> Reporter: THERE WAS AN EXPLANATION, ALL RIGHT
IT JUST WASN'T THE ONE ANYONE WAS EXPECTING.
>> MY INSTINCTS SAID, "THIS IS GOING TO GO SIDEWAYS FAST.
I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHICH WAY OR HOW -- AND HOW WE WERE GOING TO
GET THERE. >> NAPLES IS A MARVELOUS CITY.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL IT'S CHAOTIC
>> Reporter: MARCO GRASSO IS AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER FOR THE
ITALIAN NEWSPAPER "IL SECOLO XIX.
>> IT'S FULL OF LIFE, IT'S FULL OF COLORS, AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL
PLACE TO VISIT AS A TOURIST. >> Reporter: ONE OF THOSE
TOURISTS WAS LONNIE KOCONTES, AN AMERICAN WHO ARRIVED IN NAPLES
IN MAY 2006 ONBOARD A CRUISE SHIP, THE "ISLAND ESCAPE."
>> THE "ISLAND ESCAPE" STARTED FROM PALMA DE MALLORCA IN SPAIN,
THEN STOPPED IN MESSINA IN SICILY
>> Reporter: LONNIE HAD BOOKED THE CRUISE AS A WAY TO REKINDLE
THE FLAME WITH HIS LONGTIME LOVE, MICKI KANESAKI
THE COUPLE HAD BEEN MARRIED FOR YEARS, AND THEN DIVORCED
THIS WAS A NEW BEGINNING A CHANCE TO REDISCOVER SOME
AMORE. THEY SPENT THE DAY EXPLORING
MESSINA ON THE ISLAND OF SICILY. THEY TOOK A BUS TO SEE THE
SIGHTS HERE'S MICKI BY ORION'S
FOUNTAIN AFTER THE EXCURSION, THEY
RETURNED TO THE "ISLAND ESCAPE," AND THE CRUISE SHIP BEGAN ITS
JOURNEY TO THE NEXT STOP - NAPLES
LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER, AND STILL IN OPEN WATER, THE TRIP
TOOK AN AWFUL TURN LONNIE'S FRIEND BILL PRICE WAS
SOUND ASLEEP BACK IN FLORIDA WHEN THE PHONE RANG.
>> 3:10 IN THE MORNING, I WAS IN THE BED WITH MY DOG.
I PICKED UP THE PHONE, AND IT WAS HIM.
>> Reporter: LONNIE. >> LONNIE.
>> Reporter: HOW'S HE SOUND? >> CONCERNED
HE SAID, "I -- I HAVE -- I HAVE A PROBLEM.
I SAID, "WHERE ARE YOU?" HE SAYS, "I'M IN ITALY."
AND I SAID, "OKAY. AND HE SAYS, "MICKI'S MISSING.
I SAID, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE'S MISSING?
HE SAID, "WE CAN'T FIND HER. >> Reporter: WHEN DID HE TELL
YOU HE HAD LAST SEEN MICKI >> HE SAID THAT HE HAD GONE TO
BED THAT NIGHT THEY HAD SOME DRINKS IN A CLUB
HE COULDN'T SLEEP, SO HE TOOK SOME AMBIEN, AND HE WOKE UP THE
NEXT MORNING, AND SHE WASN'T THERE.
>> Reporter: AND THAT'S WHEN LONNIE SOUNDED THE ALARM
>> YES APPARENTLY, UH, HE REPORTED
HER -- COULDN'T FIND HER -- UH, THAT HE ASKED FOR THEM TO LOOK
>> Reporter: THE CREW OF THE "ISLAND ESCAPE" STARTED
SEARCHING THE SHIP, AND THE CAPTAIN MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO
PASSENGERS TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR MICKI.
THEN HE CHECKED LONNIE AND MICKI'S CABIN AND FOUND NOTHING
AMISS. >> HE RECALLED A BOTTLE OF WINE
IN THE TRASH AND THIS CHAIR ON THE BALCONY IN UPRIGHT POSITION.
>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE CAPTAIN, THE MEDITERRANEAN HAD
BEEN CALM. >> THERE WAS GOOD WEATHER, AND
IT WAS A VERY QUIET NIGHT. UH, THE SEA WAS WAS VERY QUIET
>> Reporter: THE CREW SHOWED MICKI'S PHOTO TO THE OTHER
PASSENGERS THEN, AS SCHEDULED -
>> THE "ISLAND ESCAPE" DOCKED IN NAPLES
>> Reporter: BILL SPOKE WITH LONNIE AGAIN
>> I KEPT SAYING, "SHE'S GOTTA BE AROUND THERE SOMEWHERE.
SOMETHING'S HAPPENED BATHROOM, SOMEWHERE.
YOU -- YOU, CAN'T JUST DISAPPEAR.
HE SAID, "THEY'VE SENT PEOPLE OVER AND OVER, AND THEY CAN'T
FIND HER." >> Reporter: ALMOST 12 HOURS
LATER, THE "ISLAND ESCAPE" PREPARED TO LEAVE PORT AND
CONTINUE ON WITH THE CRUISE. THERE WAS STILL NO SIGN OF
MICKI. LONNIE QUICKLY PACKED UP HIS
THINGS AND MICKI'S AND GOT OFF THE "ISLAND ESCAPE."
REALITY WAS SETTING IN THE WOMAN HE LOVED MAY HAVE GONE
OVERBOARD. >> ITALIAN COAST GUARD STARTED
SEARCHING FOR MICKI. >> Reporter: LONNIE CHECKED INTO
THE HOTEL MERCURE. FROM HIS ROOM, HE SPOKE AGAIN
WITH BILL. >> HE SAID, "EVERYTHING IN HERE
IS IN ITALIAN. HE SAID, "I DON'T SPEAK THE
LANGUAGE." HE SAID, "I'M SCARED."
>> Reporter: LONNIE ALSO SPOKE WITH HIS FRIEND SUSAN McQUEEN,
WHO SAYS SHE COULD HEAR FEAR IN LONNIE'S VOICE
>> HE WAS CLAIMING THAT HE WAS BEING TREATED UNJUSTLY, THAT NO
ONE SPOKE ENGLISH AND THAT EVERYONE WAS JUST BEING MEAN TO
HIM, TREATING HIM AS IF HE HAD DONE SOMETHING WRONG AND THAT HE
WAS OUT OF HIS ELEMENT AND HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO
>> Reporter: THAT'S WHEN LONNIE KOCONTES MADE A DECISION THAT
WOULD COME BACK TO HAUNT HIM >>> WHEN WE COME BACK --
>> HE WAS A DISHEVELED MESS, AND HE WAS ACTING FEARFUL.
>> MICKI IS MISSING, AND LONNIE IS DESPERATE
>> IT JUST -- JUST SEEMED LIKE HE SHOULD JUST GO.
>> Reporter: TO PROTECT HIMSELF. >> YES
>> HE SAYS, "CAN YOU GET ME OUTTA HERE?"
>>> Reporter: WHEN THE CRUISE SHIP "ISLAND ESCAPE" DOCKED IN
NAPLES, ITALY, DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF MAY 26th, 2006,
AMERICAN TOURIST MICKI KANESAKI WAS NO LONGER AMONG ITS
PASSENGERS SOON HER BROTHER TOSHI GOT A
CALL FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT >> YOU'RE THE BROTHER OF MICKI
KANESAKI >> YEAH, YES
>> WELL, SHE'S MISSING OFF OF THIS CRUISE.
>> MISSING SO I SAID, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
MISSING? WELL, GO, GO FIND HER.
>> Reporter: MICKI'S EX-HUSBAND/BOYFRIEND, LONNIE
KOCONTES WAS IN A NAPLES HOTEL HE WAS WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE
ITALIAN COAST GUARD WHICH WAS SEARCHING THE MEDITERRANEAN FOR
MICKI. ACCORDING TO HIS FRIEND SUSAN
McQUEEN, LONNIE SOUNDED FRANTIC. >> HE WAS A DISHEVELED MESS AND
HE WAS -- HE WAS ACTING FEARFUL. HE WAS ACTING VERY FEARFUL AND
VERY IRRATIONAL. THE LONNIE SUSAN KNEW WAS NEVER
IRRATIONAL >> HE WAS A PRETTY SPECTACULAR
FIREBALL OF AN ATTORNEY. >> Reporter: LONNIE GRADUATED
FROM LAW SCHOOL WITH HONORS IN 1992
BY THE TIME SUSAN MET HIM, HE WAS AN ATTORNEY AT A TOP LAW
FIRM IN LOS ANGELES. SUSAN WAS A PRIVATE
INVESTIGATOR >> HE PUT IN 25 OUT OF 24 HOURS
A DAY. I MEAN, HE WAS A VERY TRULY
DEDICATED, FAST THINKING, ATTORNEY
HE HAD THE RESPECT OF US >> Reporter: "US" MEANT SUSAN
AND BILL PRICE, A RETIRED WASHINGTON DC COP TURNED
INVESTIGATOR NOW PARTNERS WITH SUSAN IN
BUSINESS AND LIFE. THEY BOTH CAME TO RESPECT
LONNIE >> THE GUY IS PHENOMENAL
>> Reporter: NOT JUST HARDWORKING BUT SMART?
>> EXTREMELY >> Reporter: AND OUT OF THAT A
FRIENDSHIP GREW? >> YES
HE WAS LIKE A BROTHER THAT I NEVER HAD.
I COULD COUNT ON HIM >> Reporter: ESPECIALLY WHEN
BILL NEEDED MAJOR HEART SURGERY AND FELT HE WASN'T RECEIVING THE
CARE HE NEEDED FROM HOSPITAL STAFF.
>> SO I MADE A CALL TO HIM HE WAS THERE
AND THAT HOSPITAL CHANGED THEIR WHOLE TUNE
I MEAN HE, LEGALLY, WAS READY TO TAKE ALL OF 'EM ON
>> Reporter: THAT'S A GOOD FRIEND
>> IT WAS A VERY GOOD FRIEND >> Reporter: BILL RECOVERED.
HE AND SUSAN SPENT TIME WITH LONNIE, ALONG WITH A SECRETARY
AT LONNIE'S LAW FIRM NAMED MICKI KANESAKI
>> HE SAW MICKI GETTING OFF THE ELEVATOR ONE DAY AND SAID SHE
WAS BEAUTIFUL AND SHE HAD THIS BEAUTIFUL BLACK SHINY HAIR, AND,
UM, HE KNEW RIGHT AWAY WHEN HE SAW HER HE WAS GONNA ASK HER OUT
AND SO FORTH >> Reporter: HE REALLY PURSUED
HER, DIDN'T HE >> YES, HE DID
>> MICKI WAS -- SMART -- BEAUTIFUL -- HAD A GREAT SENSE
OF HUMOR >> Reporter: SUE WHITE WAS ALSO
A SECRETARY WHO WORKED SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH MICKI FOR
SEVERAL YEARS. >> SHE WORKED FOR A HIGH-POWERED
PARTNER IN THE FIRM. SHE HAD TO KNOW WHAT SHE WAS
DOING. >> SHE JUST DIDN'T RUFFLE
FEATHERS >> Reporter: WANDA CARTER ALSO
WORKED WITH MICKI AT THE LAW FIRM
>> WHEN THERE WAS A DEADLINE AND SOMETIMES I WAS PRESSED FOR
TIME, SHE WOULD OFFER. SHE'D JUST COME UP AND SAY,
"WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP YOU?" >> Reporter: SHE WOULD STEP UP
>> RIGHT, SHE WOULD STEP UP. >> Reporter: THEN MICKI STARTED
WORKING WITH LONNIE KOCONTES >> SHE STARTED WORKING OVERTIME,
AND APPARENTLY THAT'S WHEN SHE STARTED DOING WORK FOR LONNIE.
IN THE EVENINGS, NOBODY'S AROUND, OR FEW PEOPLE ARE
AROUND >> Reporter: AND THAT'S WHEN
SOMETHING BLOSSOMED? >> YES
>> Reporter: THEY KEPT THAT DEFINITELY QUIET AT WORK
>> THEY DEFINITELY DID >> HE WAS CHARMING
SHE DEFINITELY THOUGHT THAT. >> Reporter: MICKI'S NIECE,
JULIE SARANITA, WAS IN COLLEGE THEN
WHAT DID SHE LIKE ABOUT HIM? >> I THINK SHE LIKED THAT HE HAD
SIMILAR INTERESTS. THAT HE WAS A HARD WORKER AND
SHE APPRECIATED THAT >> Reporter: MICKI AND LONNIE
BOUGHT THIS HOME IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
THEY MARRIED IN 1995 THAT BLISS DID NOT LAST.
>> THAT ALLURE THAT HE INITIALLY HAD, THAT INITIAL ATTRACTION,
DISAPPEARED WITH TIME. >> IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR IT TO
CRUMBLE -- LIKE A JENGA GAME WHERE THE PIECES STARTED TO
FALL, COME OUT AND IT ALL TOPPLED OVER
>> Reporter: WHAT WAS SHE TELLING YOU?
>> A LOT OF IT HAD TO DO WITH CONTROL, CONTROL OF MONEY.
GUYS LIKE TO BE IN CONTROL >> Reporter: I'VE NOTICED THAT
>> IT'S KIND OF A SHAME. >> Reporter: YEAH.
>> SO, THE WALL CAME TUMBLING DOWN
>> Reporter: LIKE MANY RELATIONSHIPS, THIS ONE WAS
COMPLICATED. AFTER SIX YEARS OF MARRIAGE THE
COUPLE DIVORCED, AND LONNIE GOT AN APARTMENT IN DOWNTOWN L.A
NEAR HIS OFFICE. HE STILL SPENT TIME AT THE HOME
HE AND MICKI OWNED TOGETHER IN ORANGE COUNTY.
AND SOMEHOW THAT SEEMED TO WORK BETTER
THEY WERE STILL CLOSE. AND MAYBE THEY'D WORK THINGS OUT
AFTER ALL. IN EARLY 2006, LONNIE BOOKED
THEM BOTH ON A ROMANTIC CRUISE >> IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING HE
WAS TRYING TO REPAIR THEIR MARRIAGE, REPAIR THEIR
RELATIONSHIP AND GO ON A CRUISE TOGETHER
>> Reporter: MAYBE THEY'VE TURNED A CORNER.
>> SOUNDED LIKE A REALLY BIG STEP FOR HIM
>> Reporter: IN FACT, LONNIE HAD BOOKED TWO CABINS ON BOARD THE
"ISLAND ESCAPE." >> HE SAYS, "WE'RE GONNA TAKE A
CRUISE, MICKI AND I. AND WE WANT YOU AND SUSAN TO
JOIN US. >> Reporter: THEN, SUSAN'S
MOTHER NEEDED AN OPERATION, AND SHE AND BILL HAD TO CANCEL AT
THE LAST MINUTE. AND NOW, JUST TWO DAYS INTO THAT
CRUISE, MICKI WAS MISSING. IF SHE HAD IN FACT FALLEN
OVERBOARD, WHAT WERE THE ODDS OF FINDING HER?
ACCORDING TO ITALIAN JOURNALIST MARCO GRASSO, NOT GOOD
>> USUALLY BODIES ARE NEVER FOUND WHEN THEY DISAPPEAR IN
OPEN WATERS. >> Reporter: LONNIE SPOKE WITH
BOTH BILL AND SUSAN SEVERAL TIMES WHILE HE WAS IN NAPLES
THEY WORRIED WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO LONNIE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY
WITH AN UNFAMILIAR LEGAL SYSTEM. >> WE'VE SEEN OR HEARD OF
PEOPLE, UH, IN OTHER COUNTRIES BEING ARRESTED AND, UNJUSTLY OR
MAYBE UNFAIRLY, ACCUSED OF SOMETHING AT A TIME, AND BEING
RESTRAINED I JUST SAID, "SEEMED LIKE YOU
NEED TO JUST COME BACK." >> Reporter: BEFORE THIS SPIRALS
OUT OF CONTROL IN SOME LEGAL WAY THAT YOU CAN'T GET YOUR HANDS
AROUND >> I DON'T EVEN THINK I WAS
THINKING THAT FAR AHEAD. YOU'RE JUST SAYING, "GET
YOURSELF OUT WHERE YOU CAN COMMUNICATE AND GET QUESTIONS
ANSWERED." >> IT JUST SEEMED LIKE HE SHOULD
JUST GO. >> Reporter: TO PROTECT HIMSELF.
>> YES >> HE SAYS, "CAN YOU GET ME
OUTTA HERE?" AND I SAID, "YEAH, I CAN DO
THAT." >> Reporter: THERE'S AN ITALIAN
SAYING THAT GOES, "SEE NAPLES -- AND DIE.
THE IDEA IS THAT EVERYONE SHOULD VISIT THIS MEMORABLE PLACE WHILE
THEY'RE ALIVE. AND THAT ONCE YOU SEE IT, YOU
MAY NOT WANT TO LEAVE. WELL, MICKI KANESAKI DIDN'T MAKE
IT TO NAPLES AND NOW LONNIE KOCONTES
DEFINITELY WANTED TO LEAVE LONNIE TOOK A CAB TO THE NAPLES
AIRPORT. BILL HAD BOOKED HIM A FLIGHT TO
TAMPA, FLORIDA, WHERE BILL LIVED.
ALL THIS WHILE MICKI WAS STILL MISSING.
THAT WOULD NOT LAST. >>> COMING UP --
>> IT'S LIKE, HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN
>> A SUDDEN DISCOVERY AT SEA >> I WAS IN SHOCK AND DISBELIEF.
>> NOTHING I WOULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED COULD HAVE PREPARED ME
FOR THIS >> WHEN "DATELINE" C
>>> Reporter: ALONG THE ITALIAN PENINSULA LIE THE VAST WATERS OF
THE MEDITERRANEAN. IT'S HERE THE "ASTREA" CALLS
HOME THE "ASTREA" TRAVELS THE ITALIAN
COAST, DOING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
AT ABOUT 4:00 P.M. ON MAY 27th, 2006, CAPTAIN MASSIMO COLORITO
MADE A DIFFERENT KIND OF DISCOVERY.
[ SPEAKING ITALIAN ] >> Translator: I SAW SOMETHING
IN THE DISTANCE, THAT WAS DIRECTLY, RIGHT STRAIGHT BY THE
BOW, STRAIGHT AHEAD. I GOT CLOSER TO IT
I REALIZED IT WAS A BODY IN THE WATER.
>> Reporter: HE IMMEDIATELY GOT ON HIS RADIO
EARLIER THAT MORNING, HE'D SEEN AN ALERT
THE COAST GUARD WAS SEARCHING FOR AN AMERICAN PASSENGER
MISSING FROM A CRUISE SHIP THE DAY BEFORE
[ SPEAKING ITALIAN ] >> Translator: THE ADVISORY THEY
SENT OUT WAS ABOUT A PERSON LOST AT SEA WHO WAS WEARING A BLACK
SHIRT AND GREEN PANTS. SO I LET THEM KNOW RIGHT AWAY
THAT WE HAD FOUND THE PERSON THEY WERE LOOKING FOR.
>> Reporter: THERE SEEMED NO DOUBT.
THIS WAS MICKI KANESAKI. [ SPEAKING ITALIAN ]
>> Translator: WE WERE NOT A PART OF THE SEARCH PARTY
FINDING HER WAS TRULY RANDOM >> Reporter: AS THEY APPROACHED
MICKI'S BODY, THE CAPTAIN SAID HIS CREW WAS CAREFUL NOT TO
TOUCH HER. [ SPEAKING ITALIAN ]
>> Translator: WE USED A STRAP AND PASSED IT AROUND HER CHEST
THEN WE LIFTED THE BODY WITH THE CRANE IN THE BEST WAY TO NOT
TOUCH THE BODY >> Reporter: THEY BROUGHT
MICKI'S BODY ONTO THE "ASTREA" AND COVERED HER WITH A SHEET
THEN THEY MET UP WITH THE COAST GUARD, AND MICKI'S BODY WAS
MOVED TO THEIR BOAT. [ SPEAKING ITALIAN ]
>> Translator: FINDING A BODY IN THE SEA ISN'T SOMETHING THAT
HAPPENS EVERY DAY. AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, TO
BRING IT ON BOARD. >> Reporter: JOURNALIST MARCO
GRASSO HEARD ABOUT THE GRIM DISCOVERY.
>> I WAS VERY SURPRISED AND THAT WAS THE MOMENT IN WHICH WE
STARTED FOLLOWING AND COVERING THIS CASE WITH A BODY, AND THE
BODY WAS TAKEN TO VIBO VALENTIA. >> Reporter: VIBO VALENTIA IS A
SMALL TOWN NEAR THE COAST IN SOUTHERN ITALY
THAT'S WHERE ITALIAN AUTHORITIES OPENED THEIR INVESTIGATION AND
THE STATE DEPARTMENT CALLED MICKI'S NIECE, JULIE SARANITA.
>> I WAS IN SHOCK AND DISBELIEF. I -- I HAD JUST TALKED TO HER A
FEW DAYS BEFORE. I WAS, AT FIRST, ASKING, "ARE
YOU SURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT PERSON?"
I HAD NO CLUE HOW IN THE HECK SHE WOULD END UP OVERBOARD
>> Reporter: THE NEWS HIT MICKI'S FRIENDS HARD
>> I WAS VERY SAD. UH, I -- I -- I COULDN'T BELIEVE
IT I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT AT ALL
IT'S LIKE, HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN. >> I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EARS,
DEVASTATING. >> Reporter: LONNIE BROKE THE
NEWS TO HIS FRIEND BILL PRICE. >> HE SAID HE WAS GLAD THEY
FOUND THE BODY AND THAT HE CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT HAPPENED.
>> Reporter: LONNIE WAS CALLING LONG DISTANCE.
ALTHOUGH BILL HAD BOOKED THE FLIGHT FROM ITALY TO TAMPA,
LONNIE DIDN'T GO THERE HE CHANGED HIS TICKET AND FLEW
TO CALIFORNIA. >> HE SAID, "I JUST WANTED TO GO
HOME." AND I SAID, "OKAY.
I SAID, "IF YOU'RE OKAY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S FINE WITH ME.
>> Reporter: AT THE SAME TIME, IN VIBO VALENTIA, AN ITALIAN
PROSECUTOR NAMED ALFREDO LAUDONIO WAS ASSIGNED TO MICKI'S
CASE HE KNEW WHAT HIS INVESTIGATION
NEEDED TO ADDRESS. [ SPEAKING ITALIAN ]
>> Translator: THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH, THE CAUSE OF THE
DEATH, THE DATE, AND THE LOCATION
>> Reporter: HE SOON DISCOVERED THERE WERE NO OBVIOUS ANSWERS TO
THOSE QUESTIONS. A SEARCH OF THE "ISLAND ESCAPE"
HADN'T TURNED UP ANY CLUES [ SPEAKING ITALIAN ]
>> Translator: SHE COULD HAVE FALLEN IN THE WATER, PLUMMETING
FROM THE SHIP. SO, ANYTHING COULD HAVE
HAPPENED. >> Reporter: MICKI'S DEATH COULD
HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. OR SUICIDE
OR MURDER. EVERYONE HAD QUESTIONS FOR
LONNIE, ESPECIALLY JULIE >> NOTHING I WOULD HAVE EVER
IMAGINED COULD HAVE PREPARED ME FOR THIS
>>> COMING UP -- ANOTHER WOMAN ENTERS THE
PICTURE! >> HIS WIFE IS MISSING OFF A
CRUISE SHIP. HE FLIES TO THE HOME OF THE
OTHER WOMAN. I MEAN, IT'S LIKE PUTTING A
TARGET ON YOU AND SAYING, "PLEASE INVESTIGATE ME."
>> ABSOLUTELY!
CITIZEN DIES MYSTERIOUSLY OVERSEAS, THE CASE FALLS UNDER
THE JURISDICTION OF THE FBI. AN AGENT ARRIVED AT LONNIE'S
HOME IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, WITHIN HOURS OF THE
DISCOVERY OF MICKI'S BODY. LONNIE CALLED HIS FRIEND BILL
PRICE TO TELL HIM THE BUREAU WAS ON THE CASE.
>> HE SAID, "WELL, WHAT DO I DO NOW?
I SAID, "WHAT YOU MEAN, WHAT DO YOU DO?"
I SAID, "THE FBI'S THERE." I SAID, "TALK TO 'EM."
I SAID, "THEY'RE ON IT." THIS IS GOOD
I'M ALL HAPPY ABOUT THIS >> Reporter: HERE'S SOMETHING
BILL WASN'T HAPPY ABOUT, LEARNING RIGHT THEN THAT WHEN
LONNIE FLEW FROM ITALY TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, IT WASN'T
TO SLEEP IN HIS OWN BED. IT WAS TO VISIT A WOMAN LONNIE
HAD BEEN DATING UNTIL HE DECIDED TO PATCH THINGS UP WITH MICKI.
HIS WIFE'S MISSING OFF A CRUISE SHIP
HE FLIES HOME NOT TO VISIT HIS FRIEND, BUT TO THE HOME OF THE
OTHER WOMAN. I MEAN, IF YOU'RE LONNIE, IT'S
LIKE PUTTING A TARGET ON YOU AND SAYING "PLEASE INVESTIGATE ME.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THE FIRST THING OUT OF MY MOUTH
WAS, "DO YOU KNOW HOW THIS LOOKS?
HE SAID, "I NEEDED CONSOLING." I SAID, "IT'S LIKE I'M TALKING
TO A MORON." >> Reporter: AS SHARP AN
ATTORNEY AS HE WAS, LONNIE SEEMED TONE-DEAF TO HOW HIS
ACTIONS WOULD PLAY >> THE INITIAL IMPRESSION WAS,
"YOU KNOW, THE GUY'S NOT QUITE RIGHT.
>> Reporter: THE FBI'S RICK SIMPSON SAID LONNIE SEEMED
ALMOST TOO EAGER TO SHOW AGENTS HE HAD NO MARKS ON HIS BODY.
>> HE VOLUNTEERED TO DISROBE FOR THEM
TO TRY AND CONVINCE THE AGENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, HE WASN'T
INVOLVED IN ANY PHYSICAL STRUGGLE
>> Reporter: HE'S ANSWERING QUESTIONS THAT HE HASN'T BEEN
ASKED. >> EXACTLY, YES.
>> Reporter: LONNIE REPEATED THE STORY HE'D TOLD HIS PAL BILL
THEY WERE IN THE ROOM. THEY HAD WINE.
MICKI, HE SAID, LEFT TO GET SOME HERBAL TEA
LONNIE TOOK AMBIEN AND FELL ASLEEP
>> HE WOKE UP AT 4:30 IN THE MORNING.
AND HER LIGHT WAS ON, BUT SHE WASN'T THERE
AND HE WAS ALARMED, SO HE WENT LOOKING FOR HER.
>> Reporter: WHAT'S LONNIE'S DEMEANOR DURING THIS INTERVIEW
I MEAN, IS THIS A GUY FRANTIC AT LOSING THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE?
>> NO. NO
THEY -- THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT IMPRESSION
>> Reporter: DID THE FBI FIND IT SUSPICIOUS THAT LONNIE LEFT
ITALY BEFORE MICKI'S BODY WAS FOUND?
>> YES, WE FOUND A LOT OF THINGS SUSPICIOUS
HE WAS IN A HURRY TO GET OUT OF THERE OBVIOUSLY.
>> Reporter: MICKI'S NIECE, JULIE SARANITA, SPOKE WITH THE
FBI, TOO SHE TALKED ABOUT HER AUNT'S
RELATIONSHIP WITH LONNIE IN THE MONTHS BEFORE THE CRUISE
>> HE SAID HE WAS GONNA CHANGE HE WAS GONNA WORK LESS, AND
THINGS WERE GOING TO BE BETTER SHE WAS JUST SO HAPPY.
>> Reporter: HAPPY AND EXCITED ABOUT HER LUXURY ITALIAN CRUISE.
>> SHE HAD SAID THAT -- THAT HE'S PLANNING EVERYTHING AND
THIS WAS SUCH A SURPRISE AND THEY'RE RECONCILING.
SHE COULDN'T WAIT TO GO. >> Reporter: NOW, JUST DAYS
AFTER THAT CONVERSATION, HER AUNT MICKI WAS DEAD.
AND JULIE BELIEVED LONNIE KNEW MORE THAN HE WAS SAYING.
SHE SOON FOUND OUT THE FEDS BELIEVED THE SAME THING.
>> I WAS APPROACHED BY THE FBI -- WOULD I BE WILLING TO
RECORD MY CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM AND TO GET DETAILS
>> Reporter: THEY GAVE HER A CRASH COURSE IN RECORDING
PROTOCOL >> MY NAME IS JULIE SARANITA
THE DATE IS -- >> Reporter: AND TOLD HER TO LET
LONNIE DO THE TALKING. >> MAYBE SHE WAS NAUSEOUS AND
SLIGHTLY INTOXICATED, YOU KNOW -
>> HOW MANY DRINKS >> -- AND FELL
>> DO YOU THINK SHE HAD THAT NIGHT ON THE -- ON THE SHIP?
>> WELL, WE JUST DRANK THE WINE, AND SHE HAD, UH, YOU KNOW,
PROBABLY A COUPLE OF GOOD-SIZE GLASSES.
>> Reporter: LONNIE'S THEORY OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED WAS WHAT
>> HE THOUGHT THAT EITHER SHE COMMITTED SUICIDE AND JUMPED OR
THERE WAS FOUL PLAY AND PERHAPS MAYBE ONE OF THE CREW CABINS OR
ALL THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES,
SOMEONE HAD MURDERED HER >> I MEAN, THERE'S ONLY THREE
POSSIBILITIES. SHE WAS MURDERED
SHE -- SHE -- SHE JUMPED OR IT'S AN ACCIDENT.
RIGHT NOW, I HAVE NO INFORMATION TO TELL ME WHAT.
ALL I KNOW IS THAT THEY FOUND A BODY, AND THERE'S GONNA BE AN
AUTOPSY. >> HE WAS FIXATED ON THE
CONDITION OF THE BODY. HE SAID MULTIPLE TIMES
"I NEED TO SEE THE BODY. I NEED THE CONDITION OF THE
BODY I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON
WITH THE BODY. >> Reporter: JULIE WOULD
CONTINUE TO LEARN MORE FROM THE FBI.
AND SHE CONTINUED SPEAKING WITH LONNIE
>> I CALLED HIM FREQUENTLY >> Reporter: AND HE DIDN'T SEEM
SUSPICIOUS ABOUT THAT? >> NO, I DON'T
NOT AT ALL I MEAN, I CHECKED ON HIS
WELL-BEING HE WAS MORE INTERESTED ALSO
TALKING TO ME. I THINK HE JUST FOUND IT A
WELCOME REPRIEVE, SOMEONE WAS TALKING TO HIM FROM THE FAMILY
>> Reporter: JULIE DID THINK LONNIE WAS ACTING STRANGELY.
EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE HE'D DONE ANYTHING TO
MICKI, OR, FOR THAT MATTER, ANY EVIDENCE THAT MICKI'S DEATH WAS
ANYTHING BUT ACCIDENTAL. HOWEVER, THAT WAS ABOUT TO
CHANGE >>> COMING UP --
>> I JUST THOUGHT, "WHAT A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE.
>> STUNNING NEW DETAILS FROM THE AUTOPSY.
SOMEONE ON BOARD WAS A KILLER. >> THERE'S GOT TO BE AN
EXPLANATION HERE >> THIS ISN'T LONNIE
>> RIGHT, THIS WOULDN'T BE HIS NATURE
>> IF NOT LONNIE, THEN WHO WHEN "DATELINE" CONTINUES.
hoices? NEVER LIVED TO SEE HER 53rd
BIRTHDAY SHE WAS FOUND FLOATING IN THE
WATERS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN. WANDA CARTER WAS HAUNTED
THINKING ABOUT HER FRIEND'S FINAL MOMENTS.
>> I THOUGHT, "OH, MY GOD, I HOPE SHE WASN'T ALIVE WHEN SHE
WAS IN THAT WATER TRYING TO SAVE HERSELF.
AND I JUST THOUGHT, "WHAT A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE.
>> Reporter: MICKI'S BODY WAS BROUGHT TO THIS HOSPITAL IN VIBO
VALENTIA, ITALY. DR. PIETRANTONIO RICCI PERFORMED
THE AUTOPSY. >> Reporter: WHAT HE FOUND TOLD
A SINISTER STORY DR. RICCI SAW MICKI'S BODY WAS
BADLY BRUISED, ESPECIALLY AT THE BASE OF HER NECK
A SIGN OF STRANGULATION. HE ALSO NOTED BRUISING ON HER
INNER THIGHS, POSSIBLY EVIDENCE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.
PERHAPS MOST SIGNIFICANT WAS WHAT THE AUTOPSY DID NOT SHOW.
[ SPEAKING ITALIAN ] >> Translator: WE DID NOT FIND
WATER IN HER LUNGS, NOR DID WE FIND WATER IN HER STOMACH.
>> Reporter: MEANING MICKI KANESAKI WAS ALREADY DEAD WHEN
SHE HIT THE WATER. THAT TOLD ITALIAN PROSECUTOR
ALFREDO LAUDONIO THIS WAS A DELIBERATE ACT OF MURDER
[ SPEAKING ITALIAN ] >> Translator: THIS WAS
FUNDAMENTAL. THE DEATH CAME NOT FROM
ACCIDENTAL CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WAS PROVOKED
>> Reporter: LONNIE KOCONTES, THE TENACIOUS ATTORNEY, SEEMED
TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF MICKI'S DEATH WAS A HOMICIDE, HE WOULD
BE A SUSPECT AND SO HE TURNED TO TWO TRUSTED
FRIENDS, INVESTIGATORS SUSAN McQUEEN AND BILL PRICE
BILL, THE FORMER COP, GAVE LONNIE SOME BLUNT ADVICE ABOUT
DEALING WITH THE FBI >> I SAID, "YOU NEED TO FIND OUT
WHAT HAPPENED. IF YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, YOU
NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED AND GIVE IT TO THEM.
>> Reporter: SUSAN WAS CONFIDENT SHE AND BILL COULD HELP LONNIE
DO JUST THAT >> THERE'S GOT TO BE AN
EXPLANATION HERE >> Reporter: THIS ISN'T LONNIE
>> RIGHT THIS WOULDN'T BE HIS NATURE.
WE'VE GOT TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED
WE NEED TO DO THIS RESEARCH, AND FIRST GOAL WAS TO GET BACK ON
THAT BOAT AND TRY AND INTERVIEW PEOPLE AND ASCERTAIN WHAT
HAPPENED INTO THE MOMENTS LEADING UP TO HER DEATH.
>> Reporter: SO A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER MICKI'S DEATH, THEY
TRAVELED TO ITALY AND BOOKED A CABIN ABOARD THE "ISLAND
ESCAPE." >> WE WANNA TAKE MEASUREMENTS OF
DIFFERENT PLACES ON THE SHIP, WHERE THEY HAD LOW RAILINGS,
WHERE THEY HAD HIGHER RAILINGS WE WANTED TO MEET WITH THE
CAPTAIN SO WE COULD GET PERMISSION TO GO INTO THE EXACT
ROOM THAT HE WENT INTO >> Reporter: THE ROOM MICKI AND
LONNIE WERE STAYING. >> YES
>> Reporter: THEY MET WITH THE CAPTAIN AND DIDN'T LEARN MUCH
FROM HIM EXCEPT THIS --
THERE WERE ALMOST 1,500 PASSENGERS AND CREW ON
BOARD THE "ISLAND ESCAPE" AT THE TIME MICKI WENT OVERBOARD.
MEANING POTENTIALLY HUNDREDS OF POSSIBLE SUSPECTS FROM A WIDE
RANGE OF COUNTRIES THOSE PEOPLE, THOSE POTENTIAL
SUSPECTS OR PERSONS OF INTEREST, THEY'RE GONNA BE HARD TO TRACK
DOWN >> WE WANTED A MANIFEST.
CRUISE LINE WAS FIGHTING TO GIVE IT TO US
>> Reporter: AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA RUN IT AGAINST LISTS OF
SEX OFFENDERS AND ANYBODY WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD.
>> CORRECT YES.
>> Reporter: EXCEPT THEY COULDN'T GET THE MANIFEST.
SO THAT WAS A DEAD END THEY HAD MORE LUCK WITH THE
AUTOPSY REPORT LONNIE HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET A
COPY, BUT SUSAN'S TALENTS AS AN INVESTIGATOR AND HER ITALIAN
LANGUAGE SKILLS PAID OFF YOU'RE GOOD AT THIS, AREN'T YOU?
>> I WAS ABLE TO GET THE COPY. >> Reporter: SUSAN THOUGHT THE
AUTOPSY REPORT WASN'T DEFINITIVE
AND WHAT WAS THERE POINTED AWAY FROM LONNIE.
>> IT INDICATED THAT SHE HAD BEEN RAPED, STRANGLED AND
OBVIOUSLY THROWN OVERBOARD >> Reporter: THAT SOUNDS TO ME
MORE LIKE AN ASSAILANT THAT DIDN'T KNOW HER THAN SOME FIGHT
WITH LONNIE. >> POSSIBLY.
>> Reporter: SUSAN AND BILL FOUND OUT THERE WERE NO SECURITY
CAMERAS ANYWHERE ON THE SHIP AND ACCORDING TO THE CREW, NO
ONE ON BOARD AT THE TIME REPORTED HEARING ANYTHING
SUSPICIOUS NOBODY SAW OR HEARD LONNIE AND
MICKI FIGHTING >> NO.
>> Reporter: NOBODY SAW MICKI IN ANY KIND OF STRUGGLE WITH
ANYBODY? >> NOT THAT I COULD FIND
>> Reporter: AND NO ONE SAW ANYBODY MENACING EITHER ONE OF
THEM >> NOT THAT I COULD FIND
>> Reporter: AND WHERE WAS SHE ON THE SHIP WHEN SHE WENT INTO
THE WATER? NO REAL WAY TO KNOW.
>> NO WAY TO KNOW. >> Reporter: LOTS OF OPEN
QUESTIONS. SUSAN AND BILL FELT THE ITALIANS
HAD STOPPED INVESTIGATING ONCE LONNIE LEFT AND NEVER REALLY
LOOKED AT OTHER SUSPECTS THE FBI, ON THE OTHER HAND, WAS
JUST GETTING STARTED >>> COMING UP --
>> HE HAD BUILT A GOOD STORY TO BOLSTER HIS DEFENSE FROM THE
BEGINNING. >> THE FBI DIGS DEEP
BUT WHAT WOULD THEY FIND >> HE JUST SAID, "SEE, I TOLD
YOU. I TOLD YOU I DIDN'T DO
ANYTHING."
EARLY CHILDHOOD WAS SPENT IN JAPAN.
THE ONLY BOY WITH THREE SISTERS. MICKI WAS THE YOUNGEST
THEIR FATHER LEFT HIS JOB AT A JAPANESE COAL MINE TO WORK ON A
FARM IN CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL VALLEY
EVENTUALLY, HE BROUGHT YOU ALL OVER HERE.
>> 1960. BROUGHT THE WIFE AND THE FOUR
KIDS >> Reporter: THEY TRAVELED BY
SHIP TO THEIR NEW HOME >> MICKI WAS MAYBE 5 OR 6, AND I
WAS 8. I THINK WHEN YOU'RE THAT YOUNG,
WE'RE HERE IN THIS STRANGE COUNTRY, BUT IT'S KIND OF
SLIGHTLY EXCITING 'CAUSE WE'RE SO YOUNG
WE DON'T COMPREHEND WHAT REALLY HAPPENED
>> Reporter: DECADES LATER, TOSHI AND HIS WIFE CAROLYN WERE
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW MICKI HAD LOST HER LIFE IN ANOTHER
COUNTRY, SO FAR FROM HOME. >> WE WERE DEVASTATED.
HOW COULD THIS BE? ONE MINUTE SHE'S EXCITED, GOING
ON THIS CRUISE AND THE NEXT, SHE'S NOT ALIVE
ANYMORE. HOW CAN THIS BE?
WE WERE JUST COMPLETELY SHOCKED. >> Reporter: THE FBI WAS
INVESTIGATING MICKI'S DEATH AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT HER
RELATIONSHIP WITH LONNIE, INCLUDING THE CRISIS THEIR
MARRIAGE FACED IN 1999 A CLIENT OF THE FIRM SAID LONNIE
HAD DONE SOMETHING TERRIBLE. MICKI'S NIECE, JULIE SARANITA,
HEARD ABOUT IT >> AN ACCUSATION CAME UP THAT HE
HAD SEX WITH THE CLIENT'S DAUGHTER, AND THE CLIENT
OBVIOUSLY WAS UPSET. AND WHAT MADE IT WORSE WAS SHE
WAS A MINOR. AND HE DENIED IT AND SWORE UP
AND DOWN THAT NOTHING HAPPENED >> Reporter: LONNIE WAS
ARRESTED HE INSISTED HE WAS INNOCENT.
AND MICKI STOOD BY HIM >> SHE WANTED TO BELIEVE HIM
OF COURSE, SHE LOVED HIM >> Reporter: THE LAW FIRM FIRED
LONNIE, AND HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBLE LEGAL PROBLEMS.
>> HIS IDEA WAS TO DIVORCE TO PROTECT HIS ASSETS IN THE EVENT
THAT HE GOT SUED SO EVERYTHING WENT IN HER NAME
TEMPORARILY. >> Reporter: AND SO THE IDEA WAS
THEY'D BE LEGALLY DIVORCED, BUT NOT ACTUALLY DIVORCED, AND MAYBE
THEY'D GET TOGETHER AGAIN? >> THEY STAYED AS MAN AND WIFE,
BUT ON PAPER THEY WERE LEGALLY DIVORCED
>> Reporter: TO FIGHT THE SEX CHARGES, LONNIE TURNED TO HIS
FRIENDS SUSAN McQUEEN AND BILL PRICE FOR HELP
>> WE WERE TRACKING WHERE HE'D BEEN AT WHAT TIME, BY KEY CARDS
AND LICENSE PLATES AND SO FORTH. AND APPARENTLY WE HAD HIM AT
WORK WHEN HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WHERE THEY CLAIMED HE WAS.
>> Reporter: LONNIE WAS NEVER PROSECUTED AND THE CHARGES WERE
LATER DROPPED. IS YOUR WORK RELATED TO WHY HE
WAS NEVER PROSECUTED FOR THAT? >> I LIKE TO THINK SO.
>> Reporter: EVEN SO, THINGS WERE TENSE BETWEEN LONNIE AND
MICKI. BILL SAYS LONNIE WOULD SOMETIMES
CALL HIM IN MID-ARGUMENT >> HE'D SAY, "LISTEN, SHE'S OUT
OF CONTROL." AND THEN HE'D SAY, "DON'T YOU
DARE HIT ME" AND STUFF LIKE THAT
AND -- AND YOU WOULD HEAR CRASH. YOU'D HEAR THINGS BREAKING IN
THE BACKGROUND AND WHEN HE TOLD ME THAT SHE'S
DRINKING AND SHE WENT THROUGH A BOTTLE OF WINE, AND SHE'S NASTY,
I'M THINKING, "WHY ARE YOU PUTTING UP WITH THIS?"
>> Reporter: MICKI'S FRIEND SUE NEVER HEARD ABOUT ANY OF THAT.
IN FACT, SUE HAD NO IDEA MICKI WAS EVEN DIVORCED.
SO SHE WAS REALLY SORT OF HIDING A LOT OF THINGS THAT WENT ON IN
HER LIFE FROM -- >> HIDING BIG THINGS
>> Reporter: ONE MORE THING FBI SPECIAL AGENT RICK SIMPSON
LEARNED. AT THE TIME OF MICKI'S DEATH,
THE COUPLE'S ASSETS WERE WORTH ALMOST $2 MILLION, INCLUDING
THAT BEAUTIFUL HOME IN ORANGE COUNTY
WHEN MICKI DIED, ALL OF IT WENT TO LONNIE.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A MOTIVE. >> IT DOES
>> Reporter: EXCEPT NO ONE HAD SEEN OR HEARD LONNIE FIGHTING
WITH MICKI ON THE CRUISE SHIP. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE HE'D BEEN
THE ONE TO HARM HER IN ANY WAY, LET ALONE KILL HER AND THROW HER
OVERBOARD. AND LONNIE'S ACCOUNT NEVER
CHANGED. HE TOOK TWO AMBIEN, WENT TO
SLEEP, AND SHE LEFT TO GO GET HERBAL TEA
>> HE HAD BUILT A GOOD STORY, IF YOU WILL, TO BOLSTER HIS DEFENSE
FROM THE BEGINNING >> Reporter: OF COURSE, IT WAS
POSSIBLE LONNIE WAS SIMPLY TELLING THE TRUTH.
WHILE THE FBI SUSPECTED HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MICKI'S DEATH,
THE BUREAU DIDN'T HAVE MUCH EVIDENCE TO BACK UP THAT
SUSPICION. IN DECEMBER 2006, THE U.S.
ATTORNEY BROUGHT THE CASE TO A FEDERAL GRAND JURY
EXCEPT THE GRAND JURY'S ROLE WAS ONLY TO INVESTIGATE, NOT TO
ISSUE AN INDICTMENT. IF YOU HAD PROOF THAT LONNIE HAD
KILLED HIS EX-WIFE, YOU WOULD HAVE TAKEN THAT TO A GRAND JURY
AND GOTTEN AN INDICTMENT AND I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT YOU
DIDN'T DO THAT BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING
REALLY TO PROVE THAT BEYOND YOUR SUSPICIONS
>> WE IN THE FBI ARE INVESTIGATORS, AND OUR ROLE IS
TO FIND FACTS. WHETHER A CASE IS PRESENTED TO A
GRAND JURY, THAT'S A PROSECUTORIAL DECISION
>> Reporter: AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT APPARENTLY DECIDED
THERE WASN'T ENOUGH TO GO FORWARD AT THAT POINT?
>> AT SOME POINT, THEY MADE THAT DETERMINATION.
>> Reporter: SO THE GRAND JURY MET, AND NO CHARGES WERE FILED
AGAINST LONNIE >> HE JUST SAID, "SEE, I TOLD
YA." HE SAID, "I TOLD YOU I DIDN'T DO
ANYTHING." >> Reporter: TO LONNIE, IT MUST
HAVE FELT LIKE VINDICATION TO HIS FRIEND BILL PRICE, IT WAS
STARTING TO FEEL LIKE SOMETHING ELSE
>>> COMING UP -- A PLAN TO HELP PROVE LONNIE'S
INNOCENCE. >> I SAID, "LET'S SHOW THE FBI
THAT YOU HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE. >> AND A SECRET ABOUT THE OTHER
WOMAN IN LONNIE'S LIFE >> Reporter: EXPLAIN TO ME HOW
LONNIE KEPT THIS HIDDEN FROM EVERYBODY.
>> CRAFTY. BILL PRICE ARE PROOF YOU CAN
SPEND YEARS AS A DOGGED AND DETERMINED INVESTIGATOR, ONLY TO
HAVE THAT TOUGH EXTERIOR MELT AWAY AS EASILY AS YOUR PRIZE
MASTIFFS CAN DROOL >> DOGS BRING YOU LOVE
YOU CAN LEAVE FOR FIVE MINUTES, COME BACK AND THEIR TAILS ARE
WAGGING. THEY ACT LIKE THEY HAVEN'T SEEN
YOU IN YEARS >> Reporter: BILL ORGANIZES AND
RUNS DOG SHOWS FOR THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB.
SUSAN IS A PROFESSIONAL HANDLER. TRAINING A CHAMPION REQUIRES
SOME SIGNIFICANT INSTINCT DOESN'T IT
>> YES, IT DOES. >> Reporter: AND FROM THE
BEGINNING, SUSAN'S INVESTIGATIVE INSTINCTS HAD TOLD HER, HER
FRIEND LONNIE KOCONTES WAS NO KILLER
BILL THOUGHT THE SAME. >> I'M THINKING I KNOW THIS GUY
FOR THOSE YEARS. I KNOW HOW HE RESPONDS TO DOGS
AND ANIMALS. HE'S NO MURDERER
>> Reporter: AND TO PROVE IT, BILL CAME UP WITH A PLAN
>> I SAID, "I'LL GET HIM TO TAKE A POLYGRAPH.
I SAID, "LETS SHOW THE FBI THAT YOU HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE AND
YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS TEST." >> Reporter: LONNIE AGREED
HE WAS NOW LIVING IN FLORIDA, SO BILL SET UP THE TEST WITH A
FRIEND NAMED MIKE BRENTNELL, WHO WAS ALSO AN EXPERT POLYGRAPH
EXAMINER LONNIE ANSWERED 11 QUESTIONS,
INCLUDING -- DID YOU KILL MICKI
DID YOU CAUSE THE DEATH OF MICKI KANESAKI
WERE YOU PRESENT WHEN MICKI WAS KILLED
THE EXAMINER ASKED THOSE QUESTIONS THREE TIMES.
THE RESULTS WERE NOT WHAT BILL PRICE HAD HOPED FOR.
>> THEY CAME OUT LONNIE SAID, "I HAVE TO USE THE
BATHROOM." AND AS HE WALKED AWAY, MIKE
SAID, "YOU IN ON THIS? I SAID, "YOU WANT TO REPEAT THAT
AGAIN? AM I IN ON IT?
IN ON WHAT?" HE SAYS, "YOU KNOW HE'S GUILTY."
AND I SAYS, "IS THIS A JOKE? HE SAID, "NO," AND I SAID, "HE'S
GUILTY?" I SAID, "MIKE, THIS ISN'T
FUNNY. HE SAID, "I'M NOT TRYING TO BE
FUNNY. SO I TOOK A DEEP BREATH, AND
THAT'S WHEN IT FLASHES BEFORE YOU.
THE LITTLE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO OVERLOOK.
>> Reporter: LITTLE THINGS LIKE THE HEIGHT OF THE RAILING ON THE
"ISLAND ESCAPE." AND THE REALIZATION OF HOW
DIFFICULT IT WOULD BE FOR THE 5'3" MICKI TO GO OFF THAT
BALCONY BY ACCIDENT. NOW BILL'S INVESTIGATOR'S BRAIN
WAS TELLING HIM, ALONG WITH THE POLYGRAPH, THAT LONNIE KNEW MORE
THAN HE WAS SAYING AS MUCH AS HE WANTED TO BELIEVE
LONNIE WAS INNOCENT, THE EVIDENCE WAS POINTING ELSEWHERE.
>> Reporter: NOW YOU'RE THINKING, "AM I BEING PLAYED FOR
A FOOL HERE? >> YES
I WASN'T WILLING TO ACCEPT IT BUT I'M THINKING ABOUT IT.
YES. >> Reporter: WHAT TO DO ABOUT
THAT NAGGING FEELING WELL, DURING THE TIME HE'D BEEN
HELPING LONNIE, BILL HAD ALSO BEEN TALKING WITH FBI SPECIAL
AGENT RICK SIMPSON >> I THINK HE WAS WORKING HARD
TO KIND OF NAVIGATE HIS OWN INTERNAL CONTRADICTIONS, RIGHT
HE WAS TRYING TO NAVIGATE HIS OWN MORAL COMPASS IN THAT
SITUATION. IT'S A DIFFICULT SITUATION
>> Reporter: IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAD SOME SYMPATHY FOR WHAT BILL
WAS GOING THROUGH. >> YES -- I DO
>> Reporter: YOU WERE CONVINCED BILL WAS A STRAIGHT SHOOTER?
HE WASN'T SLANTING THINGS TOWARDS LONNIE'S INTERESTS WHEN
HE WOULD TALK WITH YOU >> I DIDN'T HAVE -- ANY -- ANY
DOUBT THAT BILL WAS BEING HONEST WITH US.
>> Reporter: HE COULDN'T SAY THE SAME ABOUT LONNIE KOCONTES
SPECIAL AGENT SIMPSON HAD BEEN KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON LONNIE'S
FINANCES WHEN MICKI DIED, LONNIE
INHERITED ALL HER MONEY AND MOVED IT TO AN OVERSEAS BANK
>> I THINK HE MOVED IT OFFSHORE BECAUSE HE KNEW HE HAD MURDERED
MICKI, AND THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY CAME FROM AND HE KNEW WHAT
THAT MEANT THAT'S MY CONCLUSION
>> Reporter: OFFSHORE. THAT MONEY WAS UNTOUCHABLE
THEN WHEN LONNIE TRIED TO REPATRIATE MORE THAN $1,000,000
TO A BANK IN FLORIDA, AGENT SIMPSON POUNCED.
THE FEDS SEIZED THE MONEY AND BEGAN A CIVIL CASE AGAINST
LONNIE, WHO HIRED ATTORNEY DAVID MICHAEL.
>> Reporter: WHY WAS LONNIE MOVING HIS MONEY AROUND THE
WORLD? >> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT HE
WAS TRYING TO DO SOME OVERSEAS FINANCIAL INVESTMENT WHERE SOME
COUNTRY WAS PAYING HIGH INTEREST RATES FOR U.S. CURRENCY.
>> Reporter: IN OTHER WORDS, LONNIE WASN'T TRYING TO HIDE
THAT MONEY HE WAS MERELY INVESTING IT
LONNIE'S ATTORNEY ARGUED IN THE CIVIL ASSET CASE THAT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULDN'T PROVE LONNIE WAS GUILTY OF
KILLING MICKI TO GET HIS HANDS ON HER MONEY
SO THEY HAD NO RIGHT TO SEIZE IT
AND -- HE WON. >> THAT'S WHEN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT WENT TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
>> Reporter: THE GOVERNMENT HAD LOST, BUT IT WASN'T OVER
THE U.S. ATTORNEY HANDLING THAT CIVIL CASE SENT SEVERAL BOXES OF
EVIDENCE HERE -- TO THE ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, DISTRICT
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. >> AND HE SAID, "I JUST THINK
THERE'S MORE TO THIS CASE. CAN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT IT FOR
CRIMINAL LIABILITY?" >> Reporter: SUSAN PRICE, NO
RELATION TO BILL, IS AN ASSISTANT D.A.
SHE AND DEPUTY D.A. SETON HUNT LEARNED THAT IN FLORIDA, LONNIE
HAD MARRIED AGAIN. THEN SOMETHING ELSE IN THE CASE
FILE REALLY CAUGHT THEIR ATTENTION.
IT WAS ANOTHER WOMAN, ANOTHER EX-WIFE.
>> Reporter: WHO'S AMY NGUYEN? >> AMY NGUYEN IS A TEACHER
SHE'S ORIGINALLY FROM VIETNAM. >> Reporter: AMY IS THE WOMAN
LONNIE WENT TO SEE IN CALIFORNIA AFTER HE CAME BACK FROM ITALY.
HERE SHE IS IN A PHOTO FROM THE SCHOOL WHERE SHE'S A FIFTH GRADE
TEACHER. AMY AND LONNIE HAD MET ONLINE.
>> AMY LOVED LONNIE. I DON'T THINK SHE EXPECTED AS
MUCH FROM HIM AS I THINK HE PROBABLY THOUGHT MICKI EXPECTED
OF HIM >> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS
DISCOVERED AMY WASN'T JUST LONNIE'S GIRLFRIEND.
SHE'D BEEN HIS WIFE. THEY MARRIED IN JULY 2005, BUT
IT ONLY LASTED A FEW MONTHS BEFORE LONNIE DIVORCED AMY AND
RETURNED TO MICKI. JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER THAT,
LONNIE BOOKED THE CRUISE AND THEN, AFTER MICKI WENT
OVERBOARD, LONNIE'S FIRST STOP IN THE U.S. WAS AT AMY'S HOUSE,
TO CONTINUE A RELATIONSHIP LONNIE HAD LARGELY KEPT SECRET
EXPLAIN TO ME HOW LONNIE KEPT THIS ENTIRE RELATIONSHIP, THIS
MARRIAGE WITH AMY NGUYEN, SORT OF HIDDEN FROM EVERYBODY,
INCLUDING YOU, I GUESS >> I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR
YOU. CRAFTY
I MEAN, HE'S A SMART MAN >> Reporter: BILL SAID HE TOO
WAS COMPLETELY IN THE DARK >> LONNIE HAD BOUGHT A HUGE
HOUSE AND A VERY NICE LEXUS FOR AMY NGUYEN
>> Reporter: UNBEKNOWNST TO MICKI?
>> UNBEKNOWNST TO ME TOO THIS IS MY FRIEND.
>> Reporter: WELL, IF LONNIE PLANNED A FUTURE WITH AMY, IT
DIDN'T PAN OUT IN EARLY 2007, WHEN HE SOLD HIS
HOME AND LEFT CALIFORNIA FOR FLORIDA, HE LEFT AMY TOO
HOWEVER, THE FBI KNEW ALL ABOUT AMY.
IN FACT, SHE HAD TESTIFIED BEFORE THAT FEDERAL GRAND JURY
>> Reporter: WHAT ESSENTIALLY WAS HER STORY?
>> THAT SHE KNEW NOTHING, THAT TO HER KNOWLEDGE HE HAD NO
INTENT >> Reporter: BASICALLY IN FRONT
OF THE GRAND JURY HER TESTIMONY WAS, "I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT ANY PLAN TO DO AWAY WITH MICKI, AND HE DIDN'T SAY
ANYTHING ABOUT IT, AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING TO ANY
OF IT. >> CORRECT
>> Reporter: AFTER HIS ASSETS WERE SEIZED BY THE FBI IN LATE
2008, LONNIE WANTED TO KNOW IF AMY WAS STILL STICKING WITH THAT
STORY. APPARENTLY HE THOUGHT AMY MIGHT
BE UPSET WITH HIM AFTER THINGS BETWEEN THEM HADN'T WORKED OUT
SO, IN JANUARY 2009, LONNIE ASKED SUSAN AND BILL TO VISIT
AMY. DESPITE BILL'S MISGIVINGS ABOUT
LONNIE, THEY AGREED. AND THAT CONVERSATION CHANGED
EVERYTHING >>> COMING UP --
>> THIS JUST WENT INTO A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DIRECTION
THAN I HAD ANY EXPECTATION OF HEARING.
>> A BOMBSHELL OF A STORY! CAPTURED ON TAPE
>> YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE BEING RECORDED
>> YES >> HER FEAR TOLD ME SHE WAS
TELLING THE TRUTH. WITH US.
YOU CAN'T CREATE THAT KINDA FEAR
SINCE MICKI KANESAKI PLUNGED FROM THE DECK OF A CRUISE SHIP,
DEAD BEFORE SHE HIT THE WATERS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN
PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS SUSAN McQUEEN AND BILL PRICE SAILED
THOSE SAME WATERS, RETRACED THOSE STEPS ON THE "ISLAND
ESCAPE." ALL TO PROVE THEIR FRIEND LONNIE
KOCONTES DID NOT KILL MICKI. >> IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM POSSIBLE.
IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM POSSIBLE >> Reporter: BILL AGREED AT
FIRST. AND THEN, OVER TIME, HE CAME TO
BELIEVE IT DID SEEM POSSIBLE >> MY GUT WAS TELLING ME HE WAS
GUILTY AS HELL BY THIS TIME. I HAD TO FIGHT WITH THAT PART,
WRESTLE WITH IT. AND SLOWLY, I WAS MOVING AWAY
FROM THE FRIENDSHIP BECAUSE I WASN'T COMFORTABLE WITH IT
>> Reporter: EVEN SO, AT LONNIE'S REQUEST, THEY AGREED TO
MEET WITH HIS EX-WIFE, AMY NGUYEN, A WOMAN LONNIE HAD
MARRIED AND THEN DIVORCED. ALL OF IT UNBEKNOWNST TO BOTH OF
THEM >> I THINK SHE WAS GENUINELY
HURT SHE REALLY THOUGHT THAT SHE HAD
A RELATIONSHIP THAT SHE WAS MOVING FORWARD WITH THERE.
>> Reporter: SHE LOVED LONNIE? >> I BELIEVE SHE DID
>> Reporter: YOU THINK LONNIE LOVED HER?
>> I BELIEVE HE DID. >> Reporter: LONNIE ASKED HIS
FRIENDS AND INVESTIGATORS TO CONFIRM WHAT AMY HAD ALREADY
TOLD THE FBI, THAT SHE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT MICKI'S DEATH.
THE MEETING HAPPENED IN JANUARY 2009, 3 YEARS AFTER THAT FATAL
CRUISE BILL STAYED IN THE CAR
SUSAN'S INSTINCTS TOLD HER SHE MIGHT DO BETTER WITH AMY ONE ON
ONE. >> I MEET WITH HER, AND I TALK
TO HER ABOUT WHAT KIND OF CONTACT HAS SHE HAD, WHO'S BEEN
CALLING HER FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHAT ARE THEIR
QUESTIONS, HOW IS SHE FEELING, HOW DOES SHE FEEL ABOUT LONNIE
WE GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE THINGS, AND THEN SHE STARTS TO
BECOME VERY EMOTIONAL. AND THIS JUST WENT INTO A
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DIRECTION THAN I HAD ANY EXPECTATION OF
HEARING. >> Reporter: AMY NGUYEN BEGAN TO
TELL A STORY THAT WAS THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE OF WHAT SHE'D
SAID UNDER OATH TO A FEDERAL GRAND JURY
NOW SHE TOLD SUSAN THAT LONNIE HAD PLANNED TO KILL MICKI ON THE
CRUISE AND BOOKED THE "ISLAND ESCAPE" SPECIFICALLY TO GET AWAY
WITH IT. THERE WAS MORE, AMY SAID
LONNIE DIDN'T DO IT ALONE. HE TOLD AMY HIS WELL CONNECTED
FRIEND HELPED HIM ARRANGE MICKI'S MURDER
THAT FRIEND'S NAME - BILL PRICE
IN THAT CONVERSATION, AMY DESCRIBES BILL AS BEING SORT
OF - >> THIS MAFIA HIT MAN.
>> Reporter: YEAH, THIS GUY WHO SORT OF HAS THESE -- THIS ARMY
OF ASSASSINS THAT HE CAN SEND OUT AFTER WHOMEVER
>> EXACTLY >> Reporter: WHICH, AS YOU CAN
IMAGINE, WAS NEWS TO BILL'S PARTNER, SUSAN
NOT THAT SHE BELIEVED IT JUST THE OPPOSITE.
BUT SHE ALSO REALIZED IF AMY BELIEVED IT, THAT HAD TO BE
BECAUSE OF LONNIE. >> SO AT SOME POINT IN THIS
INTERVIEW, I WAVED TO BILL TO COME OUT OF THE CAR.
>> Reporter: DOES AMY KNOW THAT BILL'S OUTSIDE AT THAT EXACT
MOMENT >> SHE HAD NO IDEA HE WAS WITH
ME >> Reporter: BILL WALKED OVER,
AND THEY TURNED ON A RECORDER. >> YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE BEING
RECORDED >> YES
>> OKAY. CAN YOU PLEASE SAY THE THINGS
THAT LONNIE TOLD YOU ABOUT BILL? >> UH, WHICH ONE DO YOU WANT
WHERE DO YOU WANT ME TO START? >> UH, HOW ABOUT WITH HIS
CONNECTION REGARDING THE CRUISE SHIP
>> LONNIE TOLD ME THAT, UH, BILL HAD A CONNECTION -- A BIG
CONNECTION -- THAT UH, HE WOULD HAVE -- HE'D JUST HAVE HIS
PEOPLE COME AND DO THAT. >> DO WHAT
>> THROW MICKI >> THROW MICKI
>> OUT OF THE BOAT >> OUT OF THE BOAT
OKAY UM -
>> THAT'S WHAT HE SAID >> Reporter: BILL HAD QUESTIONS
TOO. >> DID HE SAY HOW MUCH HE PAID
ME >> HE DIDN'T TELL ME HOW MUCH.
>> INTERESTING >> NOW, WAS THIS -
>> HE MAKES UP STORIES, AND I -- DON'T KNOW WHY HE --
>> DID HE -- DID HE SAY ALL THIS BEFORE THE INCIDENT, OR AFTER
THE INCIDENT >> IT WAS BEFORE THE INCIDENT.
>> Reporter: HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHETHER AMY IS TELLING
THE TRUTH TO YOU AND THEREFORE LYING AT THE GRAND JURY, OR
WHETHER SHE WAS TELLING THE TRUTH AT THE GRAND JURY AND
SHE'S LYING TO YOU BECAUSE SHE'S ANGRY BECAUSE AFTER ALL IS SAID
AND DONE, HE DIDN'T COME BACK TO HER?
>> HER FEAR TOLD ME SHE WAS TELLING THE TRUTH WITH US.
YOU CAN'T CREATE THAT KIND OF FEAR
>> Reporter: SHE WAS AFRAID OF LONNIE
>> SHE WAS AFRAID OF LONNIE. SHE WAS AFRAID OF BILL
>> Reporter: IT WAS A DOUBLE WHAMMY
AMY SAID THAT LONNIE HAD PLANNED THE MURDER
THAT WAS BAD ENOUGH. THEN SHE SAID LONNIE IMPLICATED
BILL BEFORE THE CRUISE REMEMBER, LONNIE HAD INVITED
BILL AND SUSAN TO COME ALONG THEY HAD TO CANCEL AT THE LAST
MINUTE NOW IT BEGAN TO LOOK AS IF
LONNIE'S INVITATION WAS PART OF THE PLAN TOO
MAYBE HE'D ASKED BILL TO GO WITH HIM SO BILL COULD TAKE THE FALL
FOR MICKI'S MURDER THAT'S YOUR FRIEND DOING THAT.
>> MY FRIEND YES.
>> Reporter: THE GUY THAT WAS NEARLY A BROTHER TO YOU.
>> YES >> Reporter: THE GUY YOU HAD
BEEN AN INVESTIGATOR FOR THE GUY YOU'D BEEN TO DINNER
WITH THE GUY YOU'D DEFENDED
>> YES >> Reporter: THE GUY YOU WERE
TRYING TO EXONERATE. >> YES
>> Reporter: I THINK YOU'RE LUCKY LONNIE WASN'T IN FRONT OF
YOU AT THAT MOMENT >> I THINK THAT'S AN ACCURATE
STATEMENT, YES >> THE ANGER AND FURY THAT I
FELT AT THAT MOMENT WAS INCOMPREHENSIBLE
>> Reporter: LONNIE WAS COUNTING ON THE TWO OF THEM TO PROVE HE
WASN'T INVOLVED IN MICKI'S MURDER
NOW THEY HAD EVIDENCE, ON TAPE, THAT HE WAS.
>> LET ME MAKE SURE THAT CAME OUT --
>> OKAY. >> WHEN I FLEW BACK INTO TAMPA,
I IMMEDIATELY CALLED HIM AT HIS HOUSE AND SAID, "I WANNA SEE
YOU, AND I WANNA SEE YOU IN PERSON."
HE STOOD IN MY DINING ROOM AREA, AND I SAID, "DID YOU TELL HER
THAT I HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH MICKI'S DEATH?
AND/OR THAT I HAD CONNECTIONS TO DO THIS?
DID YOU MAKE HER BELIEVE THAT I HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH HER
DEATH? "YEAH.
I DID. I SAID, "WHY?"
HE SAID, "I WANTED HER TO THINK I HAD POWER AND I WAS A BIG
GUY. I SAID, "AND YOU SHOULD BE -
KNOW THAT I HAVE A TAPE RECORDING, AND IT'S GOING TO THE
FBI. >> Reporter: WHAT DID LONNIE SAY
WHEN YOU SAID THAT >> "PLEASE DON'T
I WAS JUST TRYING TO IMPRESS HER.
I SAID, "OKAY. AND I SAID, "GET OUT OF MY HOUSE
AND DON'T EVER COME NEAR ME. DON'T COME AROUND ME."
I SAID, "I DON'T WANNA HEAR FROM YOU AGAIN.
AND THEN, WHEN HE LEFT, I CALLED AGENT SIMPSON AND SAID, "I HAVE
A RECORDING FOR YOU. >> HE'D CALLED AND SAID THAT HE
AND SUSAN HAD GONE TO SEE AMY. AND THAT WAS, I THINK, A REAL
TURNING POINT FOR BILL >> Reporter: HE WANTED LONNIE TO
BE INNOCENT? >> SURE.
BUT I THINK OVER TIME HE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT HE WASN'T.
BUT I THINK IT TOOK SOME TIME FOR HIM TO COME TO THAT
CONCLUSION >> Reporter: THAT RECORDING OF
AMY'S NEW STORY EVENTUALLY MADE ITS WAY TO ORANGE COUNTY
ASSISTANT D.A. SUSAN PRICE IF BILL AND SUSAN HADN'T
RECORDED HER SAYING THAT, SHE MIGHT TO THIS DAY BE DEFENDING
LONNIE >> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
>> Reporter: NOW IT WAS UP TO PROSECUTORS.
AND THAT WOULD TAKE A FEW YEARS. BECAUSE AMY NGUYEN WAS THE KEY
AND IT TURNED OUT, THAT WAS A PROBLEM.
>>> COMING UP -- >> SHE JUST SAID, "I DON'T WANT
TO TALK TO YOU I HAVE NO INTEREST IN TALKING TO
YOU. >> A PROBLEM INDEED.
HOW WERE THEY GOING TO SOLVE THAT
>> I'M TIRED OF IT, AMY. I'M TIRED OF HIM
I NEED YOUR HELP I SAID, "IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO
STEP UP TO THE PLATE." >> WHEN "DATELINE" CONTINUES
>>> Reporter: AS TOSHI AND CAROLYN KANESAKI PATIENTLY
WAITED FOR ANSWERS, THEY WOULD SOMETIMES VISIT MICKI'S
GRAVESITE AND SEE THE NAME LONNIE KOCONTES ON THE HEADSTONE
NEXT TO HERS THAT WAS DIFFICULT
>> THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS, WE THOUGHT THAT WE KNEW THEY WERE
INVESTIGATING HIM, BUT - >> Reporter: DIDN'T SEEM TO BE
GOING ANYWHERE >> NO.
>> NOT REALLY, NO. WE JUST LIVED OUR LIFE, BUT ME,
IT'S ALWAYS IN THE BACK OF MY MIND
IT'S NOT GOING AWAY. >> JUST MICKI'S GONE
>> Reporter: IT TURNED OUT, ASSISTANT D.A. SUSAN PRICE WAS
INVESTIGATING LONNIE ESPECIALLY AFTER SHE LISTENED TO
THAT RECORDING WHERE LONNIE'S EX-WIFE AMY NGUYEN TOLD LONNIE'S
OWN INVESTIGATORS THAT SHE KNEW ABOUT HIS PLAN TO MURDER MICKI
ON THE CRUISE SHIP >> LONNIE TOLD ME THAT BILL HAD
A CONNECTION A BIG CONNECTION, THAT HE'D JUST
HAVE HIS PEOPLE COME AND DO THAT
>> DO WHAT >> THROW MICKI
>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTOR KNEW SHE NEEDED TO MEET AMY
>> WE ACTUALLY DID GO TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND ARRIVED
AT HER DOORSTEP. >> Reporter: UNANNOUNCED
>> UNANNOUNCED >> Reporter: AND WHEN YOU SAID
TO HER, AS I'M PRETTY SURE YOU DID IN THAT INTERVIEW,
"SOMEBODY'S BEEN MURDERED HERE, AND WE THINK YOU HAVE IMPORTANT
INFORMATION," SHE SAID "I DON'T" OR "I'M NOT TALKING"
>> WELL, WE DIDN'T EVEN GET THAT FAR.
SHE JUST SAID, "I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU.
I HAVE NO INTEREST IN TALKING TO YOU.
SO WE CAME BACK HOME >> Reporter: THEY WEREN'T GIVING
UP THE D.A. ASKED SGT. DON VOGHT
FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO ASSIST WITH THE
CASE A TOP PRIORITY, TRY TO TALK WITH
AMY. >> THEN I WENT UP TO TALK TO
HER, AND SHE DID NOT WANT TO COOPERATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT
>> Reporter: THEY COMPELLED HER, WITH A SUBPOENA.
AND WHEN AMY FINALLY CAME DOWN TO ORANGE COUNTY, PROSECUTORS
INVITED SOMEONE ELSE TO THE MEETING.
BILL PRICE >> BILL PRICE, AMY NGUYEN.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS KNOW EACH OTHER
>> HI. >> UM, SO GO AHEAD AND, UH, HAVE
A SEAT >> MY OBJECTIVE, UNDER THEIR
DIRECTION, WAS TO GET HER TO TALK
>> Reporter: IN THAT MEETING, AMY WAS EMOTIONAL AND AT TIMES
SAID SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHO BILL WAS, EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS
CLEARLY NOT TRUE >> I DON'T KNOW YOU.
>> YOU HAVE TO -- WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T
>> I DON'T KNOW YOU. >> Reporter: BILL TOLD HER LAW
ENFORCEMENT ALREADY KNEW ALL ABOUT THEIR PREVIOUS
CONVERSATION >> THEY HAVE THE TAPE RECORDING
OF YOU AND I TALKING >> NO.
I DON'T KNOW YOU >> DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THEY
HAVE THAT TAPE RECORDING THAT -- THAT I TURNED IT IN,
BECAUSE I'M PROTECTING MYSELF AND MY FAMILY.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT >> I DON'T KNOW YOU.
>> YOU CAN'T SAY YOU DON'T KNOW. YOU'D BE LYING
IF HE'S TELLING YOU TO DO THIS, AMY, THIS IS NOT GOOD.
AMY, WHY ARE YOU PROTECTING HIM? >> I DID NOT PROTECT HIM
I DON'T KNOW YOU >> Reporter: SHE WAS STILL
SCARED, MAYBE OF BILL. REMEMBER, LONNIE HAD MADE HIM
SOUND LIKE A GANGSTER. AND AS HE PRESSED AMY, BILL
SEEMED TO LEAN IN TO THAT ROLE >> I AM NOT HERE TO KILL YOU
I AM HERE TO -- I AM HERE TO PROTECT MY NAME, AND TO PROTECT
YOU, AND BRING YOU UNDERNEATH MY COAT
I'M HERE TO TELL THEM THAT IF THEY MESS WITH YOU, THEY MESS
WITH ME. I'M HERE TO BRING IN THE BEST
ATTORNEYS, IF I HAVE TO. WHAT I'M NOT HERE TO DO IS
PROTECT HIS LIES, AND HIM FROM HURTING ME AND EVERYBODY ELSE
AROUND US. I'M TIRED OF IT, AMY
I'M TIRED OF HIM I NEED YOUR HELP
I NEED YOU TO BE WITH ME >> I SAID, "IT'S TIME THE TRUTH
COME OUT NOW." I SAID, "AND HE'S MADE FOOLS OUT
OF ALL OF US." I SAID, "NOW, IT'S TIME FOR YOU
TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE. >> Reporter: THE D.A. GAVE AMY
IMMUNITY FOR HER TESTIMONY, AND SHE AGREED TO COOPERATE.
SHE TOLD SHERIFF'S INVESTIGATORS HER OWN VERSION OF WHAT HAPPENED
ON THAT CRUISE HOW LONNIE HAD BOOKED IT
PLANNING TO KILL MICKI AND THEN AMY SAID LONNIE
THREATENED HER, FORCING HER TO LIE TO THE FEDERAL GRAND JURY.
>> Reporter: BILL STARTED THIS TRYING TO HELP OUT LONNIE AND
ENDED IT HELPING YOU GUYS? >> ABSOLUTELY.
HE DID >> Reporter: FOUR DAYS AFTER
THAT INTERVIEW, SGT. VOGHT TRAVELED TO SAFETY HARBOR,
FLORIDA, WHERE LONNIE LIVED. >> LONNIE WASN'T IN THE HOUSE.
WE FOUND HIM ABOUT ONE HOUR AWAY AT A STRIP MALL OPERATING HIS
NEW BUSINESS, WHICH WAS THESE BOUNCY HOUSES FOR CHILDREN
WE TOLD HIM HE WAS UNDER ARREST FOR THE MURDER OF MICKI
KANESAKI, OF COURSE MIRANDIZED HIM AND, UM, AT THAT POINT HE
DECLINED TO UH, TO GIVE US A STATEMENT.
>> Reporter: HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING
>> HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING. >> Reporter: IT WAS LONNIE'S
RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT, AS HE WAS UNDER ARREST FOR MURDER.
HE WAS BOOKED INTO THE PASCO COUNTY JAIL.
HOW DID THAT FEEL? >> ACTUALLY, IT FELT PRETTY
GOOD IT FELT PRETTY GOOD.
>> Reporter: FOR MICKI'S FAMILY, IT WAS WELCOME NEWS.
WHAT DID YOU THINK >> FINALLY
>> I GO, "WHAT A RELIEF," AFTER SEVEN YEARS.
'CAUSE I KNEW HE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH MICKI'S MURDER.
>> Reporter: ONE THING HAD NOT CHANGED.
THERE WAS STILL NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE TYING LONNIE TO MICKI'S
DEATH. WOULD THIS CASE BE ENOUGH FOR A
JURY >>> COMING UP --
>> THERE'S NO BLOOD IN THE ROOM. THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF A
STRUGGLE THERE'S NOTHING.
WHERE'S THE EVIDENCE WHERE IS IT?
>> COULD MICKI HERSELF HELP PROVE THIS CASE?
>> HE NEVER ANTICIPATED THAT HER BODY WOULD EVER BE RECOVERED
>>> Reporter: ATTORNEY DAVID MICHAEL HAD ALREADY DEFENDED
LONNIE KOCONTES IN CIVIL COURT, PROTECTING HIS ASSETS FROM
SEIZURE BY THE FEDS. NOW THERE WAS MUCH MORE THAN
MONEY AT STAKE >> I WAS STUNNED THAT HE HAD
BEEN ARRESTED, ACTUALLY. I WAS ABSOLUTELY STUNNED
>> Reporter: THIS TIME THE CHARGE WAS MURDER.
LONNIE FACED LIFE IN PRISON. >> I'VE BEEN DOING CRIMINAL
DEFENSE FOR 45 YEARS I'VE DONE SOME HEAVY STUFF, AND
I WILL TELL YOU THAT MY BELIEF 100% IS THAT LONNIE KOCONTES IS
INNOCENT OF KILLING MICKI KANESAKI
>> Reporter: LONNIE PLEADED NOT GUILTY
ATTORNEY MICHAEL KNEW THE CASE RELIED ON AMY NGUYEN, WHOSE
STORY HE SAYS WAS ONE BIG LIE, INFLUENCED BY NONE OTHER THAN
BILL PRICE >> HE SCARED THE HELL OUT OF AMY
NGUYEN I HAVE MONEY
I CAN PROTECT YOU. I CAN SAVE YOU
COME ON, HE'S A RAT. HE'S A SCUMBAG
HE SAID HORRIBLE THINGS ABOUT YOU.
HORRIBLE STUFF I'VE NEVER HEARD OF IT BEFORE,
AND THAT'S WHEN AMY NGUYEN, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY, TURNED.
>> Reporter: WHY IS IT SO HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SHE WAS
FRIGHTENED OF LONNIE, THAT SHE LIED FOR HIM, AND THAT SHE
EVENTUALLY STOPPED LYING FOR HIM AND TOLD THE TRUTH
>> THERE'S NO BASIS AT ALL FOR WHAT SHE'S SAYING TO BE TRUE
IT'S JUST FANTASY STUFF AND THE FACT THAT WHEN THEY INVESTIGATED
THE "ISLAND ESCAPE" THERE'S NO BLOOD IN THE ROOM.
THERE'S NO BLOOD ANYWHERE. THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF A
STRUGGLE THERE'S NOTHING.
WHERE'S THE EVIDENCE WHERE IS IT, YOU KNOW?
YEAH, SHE GOT KILLED THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT LONNIE
KOCONTES DID IT. >> Reporter: AS SGT. DON VOGHT
WORKED WITH THE ORANGE COUNTY D.A.'S TO GATHER EVIDENCE
AGAINST LONNIE, ONE THING BECAME CLEAR.
THE "ISLAND ESCAPE" WAS NOT THE LUXURY CRUISE SHIP MICKI HAD
LOOKED FORWARD TO. I KINDA GET THE FEELING THAT IF
YOU GROW UP WATCHING "THE LOVE BOAT," YOU PROBABLY WOULD NOT
RECOGNIZE THE "ISLAND ESCAPE." >> YOU DEFINITELY WOULD NOT.
>> Reporter: THE "ISLAND ESCAPE" WAS A FORMER FERRY BOAT, ONCE
USED TO TRANSPORT CARS, THEN LATER TOURISTS WHO WERE LOOKING
TO SAVE A BUCK >> THIS WAS NOT THE TYPE OF SHIP
THAT AN AMERICAN ATTORNEY WOULD VIEW AS A VACATION TYPE OF A
VESSEL IT'S DESIGNED TO BE CHEAP AND
CHEERFUL >> IT HAS ONE PECULIAR FEATURE,
THOUGH, THAT WAS APPEALING TO LONNIE KOCONTES.
IT'S A STRAIGHT DROP INTO THE SEA FROM THE BALCONIES THAT WERE
WELDED ONTO THE SIDE OF THIS CONVERTED FERRY.
>> Reporter: ON MOST MODERN CRUISE SHIPS, IF YOU FALL OFF
THE ALOHA DECK, YOU'VE GOT A GOOD CHANCE OF LANDING ON THE
LIDO DECK. NOT SO ON THE "ISLAND ESCAPE."
THOSE BALCONIES GUARANTEED THAT IN A FALL, THE ONLY THING YOU'D
HIT WAS THE MEDITERRANEAN, ALMOST SEVEN STORIES STRAIGHT
DOWN >> THAT'S A LONG FALL.
AND AS YOU'RE STANDING THERE LOOKING OVER THE BALCONY, IT'S A
LONG FALL INTO THE OCEAN DEFINITELY
>> Reporter: A JURY WOULD DECIDE IF THIS UNUSUAL DEFENDANT WAS
GUILTY OF MICKI'S MURDER AN ATTORNEY HIMSELF, LONNIE
FILED MOTION AFTER MOTION AND DELAYED THE TRIAL FOR YEARS.
>> LONNIE IS A BRIGHT MAN. LONNIE WORKED VERY HARD AS AN
ATTORNEY THROUGHOUT THESE PROCEEDINGS HE
WROTE A LOT OF THE BRIEFS THAT WERE PRESENTED TO THE COURT.
>> Reporter: AND HOW DID HE DO >> HE'S A GOOD ATTORNEY.
HOWEVER, HE WAS BLINDED BY HIS OWN NARCISSISM, AND HE'S NOT AS
SMART AS HE THINKS HE IS >> Reporter: DAVID MICHAEL DID
NOT REPRESENT LONNIE FOR THE CRIMINAL TRIAL
INSTEAD, LONNIE HAD A PUBLIC DEFENDER
OPENING STATEMENTS BEGAN IN FEBRUARY 2020.
>> THE DEFENDANT BELIEVED THAT THE LAST CHAPTER OF MICKI'S LIFE
WAS OVERSEAS BUT IT IS NOT.
THE LAST CHAPTER IS HERE >> Reporter: THEIR FIRST
WITNESS -- THE CAPTAIN OF THE "ISLAND ESCAPE."
HE TESTIFIED ABOUT GOING TO MICKI AND LONNIE'S CABIN JUST
HOURS AFTER HER DISAPPEARANCE AND SPEAKING WITH LONNIE
>> HE WAS NOT UPSET AT ALL HE WAS VERY COLD
THE CONVERSATION, WHEN I ASKED HIM VARIOUS QUESTIONS, HE WASN'T
TALKING QUICKLY OR NERVOUSLY IT WAS VERY MEASURED
>> THE PEOPLE CALL JULIE SARANITA
>> Reporter: THE JURY ALSO HEARD THE RECORDED CALLS BETWEEN
MICKI'S NIECE, JULIE AND LONNIE. HE'D BEEN EAGER TO TALK, UNTIL
JULIE ASKED HIM THIS QUESTION. >> IS THERE ANY WAY THAT YOU HAD
ANYTHING TO DO WITH MICKI'S DEATH?
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK >> I JUST HAD TO ASK
>> I THINK YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT ALREADY.
>> HE GOT REALLY ANGRY AT ME AND THE FIRST THING HE SAID -- HE
WAS LIKE, "WHAT DO YOU THINK?" >> THE ONLY REASON WHY I ASKED
YOU IS BECAUSE THE FBI TOLD ME SHE HAD DIED BEFORE SHE HIT THE
WATER. >> I -- I DON'T KNOW
SHE MIGHT HAVE BEEN ROBBED, IF THAT'S TRUE.
>> WELL, I DON'T - THAT'S ALL THEY TOLD ME.
THAT'S ALL I KNOW. >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO
HER. I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
WITH IT. OKAY
AND I DON'T APPRECIATE THE IMPLICATION.
>> Reporter: JULIE HAD DONE WHAT SHE COULD TO HELP INVESTIGATORS.
NOW SHE REALIZED MICKI HERSELF WAS KEY TO PROVING THE CASE.
>> HE NEVER ANTICIPATED THAT HER BODY WOULD EVER BE RECOVERED
>> Reporter: REMEMBER HOW LONNIE HAD MENTIONED MICKI'S DRINKING
SUGGESTING SHE'D GOTTEN DRUNK, MAYBE FALLEN OVERBOARD BY
ACCIDENT, AND DROWNED. HER BODY TOLD A DIFFERENT STORY.
ACCORDING TO THE TOXICOLOGY REPORT, MICKI WAS NOT UNDER THE
INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL WHEN SHE DIED
AND THE AUTOPSY FOUND NO WATER IN HER LUNGS
HOWEVER, THERE WERE BRUISES, SOME AROUND HER NECK
ITALIAN PATHOLOGIST DR. RICCI TESTIFIED THROUGH AN INTERPRETER
THAT IT WAS CLEAR EVIDENCE MICKI HAD BEEN STRANGLED
>> Translator: MECHANICAL ASPHYXIA THROUGH STRANGULATION
OR BY MEANS OF STRANGULATION >> Reporter: UNDER CROSS
EXAMINATION, DR. RICCI TESTIFIED THAT DESPITE THOSE BRUISES ON
MICKI'S THIGHS, HE DID NOT BELIEVE MICKI HAD BEEN RAPED
HE DID SEE TRAUMA TO THE BACK OF MICKI'S HEAD, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY
A BLUNT OBJECT >> COULD IT HAVE BEEN A WINE
BOTTLE THAT DIDN'T BREAK >> IT COULD BE ANY OBJECT THAT
HAD A CONVEX SURFACE IT COULD BE EVEN A BOTTLE.
YES. >> Reporter: THE QUESTION WAS
ACCORDING TO PROSECUTORS, THE MOTIVE WAS MONEY
LONNIE HAD BEEN THE BENEFICIARY OF MICKI'S WILL.
MEANING ALL THAT MONEY HE'D PARKED WITH HER DURING HIS LEGAL
TROUBLES BELONGED TO LONNIE AFTER SHE DIED
WHEN BILL PRICE TOOK THE WITNESS STAND, IT WAS TO TESTIFY AGAINST
HIS FORMER CLOSE FRIEND. >> HE LOOKED DOWN, LOOKED
AROUND HE COULDN'T LOOK ME IN THE EYE,
BUT I LOOKED AT HIM. I'M NOT ASHAMED OF ANYTHING I
SAID OR DID. >> Reporter: REMEMBER, BILL HAD
CONFRONTED LONNIE ABOUT WHAT AMY TOLD HIM, WHICH WAS THAT BILL
HELPED TO ARRANGE THE MURDER LONNIE'S RESPONSE?
>> HE TOLD ME DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT
THAT SHE HAD ALREADY TESTIFIED IN A GRAND JURY.
AND THEREFORE, THE FBI WOULDN'T BELIEVE HER.
>> AND SO HE TOLD YOU THAT SHE WOULDN'T BE BELIEVED ANYWAY, IS
THAT RIGHT >> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> Reporter: SO HERE WAS THE MOMENT
AMY NGUYEN WAS CALLED TO TESTIFY.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR >> Reporter: IN COURT, THE JUDGE
WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO TAKE PICTURES OF HER FACE
AMY TESTIFIED THAT LONNIE TOLD HER HE BOOKED THE CRUISE FOR
HIMSELF AND MICKI, AND HIS SUPPOSEDLY WELL CONNECTED FRIEND
BILL PRICE >> AND DID HE TELL YOU WHAT HIS
PLAN WAS >> HE SAID THAT BILL'S PEOPLE
WILL THROW MICKI IN THE WATER AND BILL AND HIS GIRLFRIEND
WOULD BE HIS WITNESS >> Reporter: IN OTHER WORDS, HIS
ALIBI. BUT WHEN BILL CANCELED AT THE
LAST MINUTE, AMY SAYS LONNIE TOLD HER THIS.
>> HE WILL HAVE TO TAKE MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS
>> Reporter: REMEMBER, IF AMY WAS TELLING THE TRUTH ON THE
STAND, IT MEANT SHE HAD PREVIOUSLY LIED TO A FEDERAL
GRAND JURY >> WE HAD ASSESSED THE REALITY
THAT SHE HAD GIVEN A PRIOR STATEMENT, UNDER OATH, BUT WE
ALSO TOOK EVERYTHING WE KNOW TO BE TRUE ABOUT OUR JOBS AND HUMAN
BEINGS AND EVALUATED HER IN PERSON, TO SEE WHETHER WE
BELIEVED HER SO A LITTLE BIT OF A GUT CHECK
THERE, FOR ME AT LEAST >> Reporter: AND YOU BELIEVED
HER? >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Reporter: AND YOU THOUGHT A JURY WOULD
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> Reporter: BEFORE THE JURY HAD
A CHANCE TO DELIBERATE, THIS COURTROOM, AND THE WORLD, WOULD
HAVE TO FACE A NEW REALITY A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
>>> COMING UP -- >> WE'RE SEEING THAT THERE'S A
TRAVEL BAN IN ITALY. AND I'M THINKING, "WHAT IS
HAPPENING? >> THE TRIAL SUDDENLY AT A STOP!
BUT THE CASE NOT OVER YET
AN UNDERCOVER PLAN IS ABOUT TO BE REVEALED.
>> I ACTUALLY POSED AS A HIT MAN.
>> AND IT'S A STUNNER! WHEN "DATELINE" CONTINUES.
THE TRIAL OF LONNIE KOCONTES FOR THE MURDER OF MICKI KANESAKI WAS
WELL UNDER WAY IN FACT, THE COURTROOM WAS
PROBABLY ONE OF THE LAST PLACES LEFT WITH ORDER.
OUTSIDE, IT WAS CHAOS. >> THE IMPACT OF THE CORONAVIRUS
AROUND THE WORLD IS BECOMING MORE DIRE.
IT'S A GLOBAL BATTLE AGAINST A VIRUS SPREADING FAST
>> IN ITALY TONIGHT, INFECTIONS ARE SPIKING.
>> ALL OF THESE WITNESSES HAD COME FROM ITALY, AND LITERALLY
WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THE LAST ONE GOING BACK TO ITALY, THERE'S
NEWS ABOUT CORONAVIRUS HITTING ITALY.
AND WITHIN A DAY WE'RE SEEING THAT THERE'S A TRAVEL BAN IN
ITALY. AND I'M THINKING, "WHAT IS
HAPPENING? >> Reporter: NEXT, THE ORANGE
COUNTY COURT CALENDAR WAS WIPED CLEAN.
>> WERE YOU WORRIED WHEN THE TRIAL HAD TO PAUSE BECAUSE OF
THE PANDEMIC >> YES, I WAS.
>> Reporter: THAT DELAY LASTED MORE THAN TWO MONTHS
THEN ON MAY 26th, 2020, WITH COVID-19 CASES STILL SPREADING
IN ORANGE COUNTY, THE JUDGE CALLED A HEARING TO DETERMINE
WHETHER LONNIE'S CASE COULD MOVE FORWARD.
TOSHI WENT TO COURT WITH A HEAVY HEART.
IT WAS THE 14th ANNIVERSARY OF MICKI'S DEATH.
THE HEARING WAS LIVE STREAMED TO THE PUBLIC AND, NO SURPRISE, THE
DEFENSE ARGUED FOR A MISTRIAL. AMONG THE REASONS -- AFTER THE
LONG DELAY, JURORS COULDN'T POSSIBLY REMEMBER EVERYTHING,
PUTTING LONNIE AT A DISADVANTAGE
TO WHICH THE JUDGE SAID -- >> WE HAVE TO CONTINUE
IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE RULE OF LAW, EVEN DURING A
PANDEMIC >> Reporter: THE JUDGE DENIED
THE MOTION FOR A MISTRIAL. AND TWO DAYS LATER, ALL
16 JURORS RETURNED FOLLOWING SOCIAL DISTANCING
GUIDELINES, JURORS WOULD SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COURTROOM AND
EVERYONE WOULD WEAR MASKS EXCEPT THE WITNESSES.
>> GOOD MORNING. >> Reporter: AND THE FIRST
WITNESS TO TAKE THE STAND WAS LONNIE KOCONTES.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF MY EX-WIFE WAS KILLED
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO MY EX-WIFE MICKI.
>> Reporter: LONNIE HAD AN EXPLANATION FOR EVERYTHING
>> WHY DID YOU BOOK A CABIN WITH A BALCONY?
>> WELL, I DIDN'T WANT TO CHEAP OUT.
I WAS TRYING TO IMPRESS MICKI WITH THE FACT THAT I WAS TRYING
TO CHANGE, GO ON MORE VACATIONS, SPEND MORE MONEY
>> Reporter: ALL OF IT WAS TO SALVAGE A RELATIONSHIP THAT,
ACCORDING TO LONNIE, MICKI'S HOT TEMPER HAD DESTROYED
>> WELL, SHE BROKE TELEPHONES. SHE THREW THINGS
ONE PARTICULAR INCIDENT IN 2001, SHE BROKE A FAX MACHINE, THREW
IT FROM THE SECOND LEVEL DOWN TO THE LIVING ROOM FLOOR.
>> Reporter: THAT TIME, COPS WERE CALLED.
LONNIE SAID HE TALKED THEM DOWN FROM ARRESTING MICKI
SO WHEN LONNIE LEARNED THAT MICKI'S NIECE JULIE WAS TRYING
TO GET HIM ARRESTED FOR MICKI'S MURDER BY SECRETLY TAPING THEIR
CONVERSATIONS, LONNIE SAID HE WAS REALLY HURT.
>> THEN FOR HER TO ACCUSE ME OF SOMETHING I DIDN'T DO AFTER I
THOUGHT WE WERE TRYING TO HELP EACH OTHER UPSET ME GREATLY.
>> Reporter: LONNIE SAID JULIE WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WHO TOOK
ADVANTAGE OF HIS KINDNESS. THERE WAS ALSO BILL PRICE, THE
FRIEND WHO TURNED HIM AND, OF COURSE, AMY NGUYEN
LONNIE CALLED HER A "GOLD DIGGER," SAID SHE WAS LYING.
AND SAID BILL PRICE PUT HER UP TO IT.
>> I DON'T TRUST AMY NGUYEN, DIDN'T TRUST AMY NGUYEN, AND
DON'T TRUST AMY NGUYEN WHEN IT COMES TO AN INTIMATE
RELATIONSHIP I DID NOT EXPECT HER TO START
MAKING UP LIES ABOUT ME AGAIN. >> Reporter: LONNIE SAID AMY
WASN'T THE ONLY PERSON TELLING LIES ABOUT HIM
THERE WAS ALSO SOMEONE HE MET BEHIND BARS.
SOMEONE WHO WAS PREPARED TO TELL THE JURY QUITE A STORY
BACK IN APRIL OF 2014, A YEAR AFTER LONNIE WAS ARRESTED FOR
MICKI'S MURDER, THE ORANGE COUNTY D.A.'S OFFICE GOT A CALL.
AN INMATE NAMED TONY, A FREQUENT FLIER IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM, WAS REQUESTING AN EMERGENCY LANDING.
SGT. DON VOGHT SET UP A MEETING. >> SO TONY HAD TOLD US THAT HE
WAS APPROACHED BY LONNIE KOCONTES WHO ASKED TONY AND
ANOTHER INMATE IF THEY WERE WILLING TO HAVE LONNIE'S THIRD
WIFE RECANT HER STATEMENT AND THEN HAVE HER KILLED
>> THIS IS AMY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?
>> CORRECT >> WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
>> WE CREATED A HIT MAN NAMED GREG, UH, WHO'S GONNA BE A HIT
MAN FOR LONNIE KOCONTES TO TAKE CARE OF LONNIE'S THIRD WIFE.
>> Reporter: GREG WAS PLAYED BY AN UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATOR NAMED
BILL WE'VE DISGUISED HIM SO HE CAN
GET MORE WORK IN THE FUTURE. >> HOW OFTEN WHEN YOU'RE ASKED
TO POSE AS A HIT MAN IS THE PERSON THAT YOU'RE GONNA
SUPPOSEDLY BE WORKING FOR ALREADY BEHIND BARS?
>> IN THE SIX CASES THAT I ACTUALLY POSED AS A HIT MAN,
FOUR OF THE SIX WERE ALREADY BEHIND BARS.
>> HOW MANY OF THOSE SIX CASES WERE MEN WANTING YOU TO KILL
THEIR WIVES? >> SIX OUT OF SIX.
>> THIS HAS TO GIVE YOU A DIM VIEW OF MEN, OR AT LEAST OF
HUSBANDS >> WELL, AT LEAST THE ONES IN
CUSTODY. >> Reporter: TONY THE INFORMANT
THEN INTRODUCED GREG, THE HIT MAN, TO LONNIE, THE INMATE
>> I THINK PEOPLE MAYBE FROM WATCHING TV SHOWS OR MOVIES HAVE
THIS IDEA THAT THIS ALL HAPPENS IN ONE PHONE CALL.
>> NO. HE WAS DEFINITELY FEELING ME OUT
DURING THE FIRST FEW CONVERSATIONS.
BUT AFTER HE GOT SOME BAD NEWS AT COURT, HE OPENED UP MUCH MORE
WITH ME ON THE PHONE >> WHAT KIND OF MONEY ARE WE
TALKING ABOUT HERE >> LONNIE WAS OFFERING A HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR ME TO KILL AMY.
>> Reporter: GREG SAID THE EVER SO CAREFUL LONNIE SPOKE IN CODE.
>> HE TOLD ME IT WAS TIME TO TAKE THE PROPERTY OFF THE
MARKET ANOTHER CALL, I SAID, "WELL, I
JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE GOOD FORECLOSING ON PROPERTY D-16,"
WHICH IS HIS CODE. HE GOES AND HE AGREED, "IT IS
TIME." >> Reporter: WHEN YOU HEAR THAT,
YOU KNOW WE CAN GO TO COURT WITH THAT
>> YES HE KNOWS I'M NOT A REALTOR
>> Reporter: THEN A SURPRISING THING HAPPENED
SOMEONE WANTED TO CALL THE COPS. AND IT WAS LONNIE.
>>> COMING UP -- >> HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU LIED
TO THIS JURY SINCE YESTERDAY MORNING?
>> NONE. >> HE HAD AN ANSWER FOR
EVERYTHING >> Reporter: INNOCENT MAN OR
GUILTY AS CHARGED? >> HE HAD 14 YEARS TO COME UP
WITH A STORY 14 YEARS
>>> 12 JURORS WERE ABOUT TO DECIDE HIS FATE.
>>> Reporter: EVERYONE WHO KNEW HIM SAID LONNIE KOCONTES WAS A
RESOURCEFUL, HARDWORKING ATTORNEY
ACCORDING TO PROSECUTORS, IN THE YEARS LEADING UP TO HIS TRIAL,
LONNIE HAD DONE MORE THAN FILE MOTIONS.
THEY SAID HE ALSO TRIED TO HIRE A HIT MAN TO TAKE OUT THE KEY
WITNESS AGAINST HIM, HIS EX-WIFE, AMY NGUYEN.
LONNIE THOUGHT THE HIT MAN'S NAME WAS GREG.
HE WAS WRONG IT WAS BILL.
AND BILL WASN'T A HIT MAN. HE WAS AN UNDERCOVER COP, WHO
FOLLOWED UP ON THEIR CONVERSATIONS WITH A LETTER TO
LONNIE >> I ASKED HIM TO SPECIFY SOME
OF THE TERMS THAT WE WERE USING DURING THIS INVESTIGATION TO GET
CLARIFICATION FROM HIM >> Reporter: THAT SOUNDS LIKE
IT'S GONNA MAKE SOMEBODY SUSPICIOUS
>> AND IT DID. >> Reporter: LONNIE MAY HAVE
REALIZED HE'D BEEN THE TARGET OF A STING OPERATION.
AND TRUE TO FORM, HE WENT ON THE OFFENSIVE.
ASKING HIS ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO CALL THE POLICE.
>> LONNIE NEVER SAID THAT HE WANTED AMY NGUYEN KILLED
IT'S ONLY THAT INVESTIGATOR THAT CONTRIVED THAT
>> Reporter: HE CUT OFF COMMUNICATION AFTER THAT
>> HE CALLED ME ONE MORE TIME AND HE SAID THAT TONY HAS MISLED
ME ABOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS. HE WAS DOING DAMAGE CONTROL AT
THAT POINT BUT UNFORTUNATELY FOR LONNIE,
THE DAMAGE WAS ALREADY DONE. >> Reporter: PROSECUTORS CHARGED
LONNIE WITH SOLICITATION TO COMMIT MURDER.
HE DENIED IT, AND SAID HE'D BEEN SET UP BY A JAILHOUSE INFORMANT
WHO WAS LOOKING TO CUT A DEAL. ASSISTANT D.A. SUSAN PRICE HAD
WAITED YEARS FOR THE CHANCE TO CROSS EXAMINE LONNIE
>> HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU LIED TO THIS JURY SINCE YESTERDAY
MORNING? >> NONE.
>> YOU'VE BEEN TRUTHFUL? >> YES
>> Reporter: TELL ME ABOUT CROSS EXAMINING LONNIE
YOU'RE SMILING >> WELL, I'VE NEVER CROSS
EXAMINED, UM, A DEFENDANT QUITE LIKE LONNIE KOCONTES
HE HAD AN ANSWER FOR EVERYTHING. A VERY LENGTHY ANSWER FOR
EVERYTHING A VERY SELF-SERVING ANSWER FOR
EVERYTHING >> Reporter: THE WORLD'S OUT TO
GET ME >> HE WAS THE VICTIM OF
EVERYBODY. YOU HAVE TESTIFIED ABOUT HOW
YOU'VE BEEN VICTIMIZED BY DIFFERENT PEOPLE
WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT? >> WELL, I HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED.
I'M PRETTY NAIVE >> Reporter: THAT WAS HOW HE
PLAYED IT, ANYWAY. AND UNDER CROSS-EXAMINATION,
LONNIE DID NOT CRACK >> YOU TESTIFIED YESTERDAY THAT
MICKI, WHEN SHE DRANK, SHE BECAME UNPREDICTABLE
>> SHE WAS UNPREDICTABLE WHEN SHE DRANK.
>> WAS SHE UNPREDICTABLE ON THE NIGHT YOU SAW HER ALIVE LAST
>> SHE WAS OKAY THAT EVENING >> WAS SHE VIOLENT TOWARDS YOU
ON THE NIGHT YOU LAST SAW HER ALIVE?
>> NO. >> Reporter: LONNIE INSISTED
THERE WAS NO ARGUMENT AND NO VIOLENCE
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED HER DEATH, SO I DON'T KNOW IF HER
DRINKING WAS A FACTOR OR NOT >> BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE SHE COULD
HAVE STRANGLED HERSELF >> I DON'T BELIEVE SHE WAS
STRANGLED. AND OF COURSE SHE COULD NOT HAVE
STRANGLED HERSELF. >> Reporter: WHEN YOU FINISHED
CROSS-EXAMINING LONNIE YOU THINK, "WE'VE GOT IT"?
>> NO, I NEVER THINK WE'VE GOT IT
I DID THINK, TO ME, HE DOESN'T SEEM CREDIBLE, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW
IF ANY OF THE JURORS FELT SORRY FOR HIM.
>> Reporter: FIVE MONTHS AFTER TRIAL STARTED, THE CASE WAS
HANDED TO A JURY WOULD THEY SEE AN INNOCENT MAN
TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF TIME AND AGAIN?
OR A HEARTLESS MURDERER? MICKI'S BROTHER TOSHI WONDERED
>> HE HAD 14 YEARS TO COME UP WITH A STORY
14 YEARS OVER AND OVER, TO MAKE
EVERYTHING FIT >> Reporter: AFTER JUST AN HOUR
OF DELIBERATION, IT ALL CAME UNDONE
THE VERDICT, GUILTY OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER FOR FINANCIAL
GAIN >> Reporter: HOW DID LONNIE TAKE
IT >> SHOOK HIS HEAD.
>> HE STILL STOOD THERE AND SHOOK HIS -- 'CAUSE I WATCHED
HIM. I'M WATCHING HIM
HE'S -- HE'S SHAKING HIS HEAD. >> Reporter: HE WOULDN'T LOOK
BACK AT YOU? >> UH-UH
>> Reporter: MICKI'S NIECE JULIE
HAD BEEN WAITING TOO >> AS SOON AS I HEARD THE
VERDICT IT WAS JUST THIS BIG SENSE OF RELIEF.
LIKE, MY AUNT FINALLY GOT JUSTICE.
>> Reporter: LONNIE KOCONTES WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON
WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE
HE IS APPEALING HIS CONVICTION BECAUSE OF THE LIFE SENTENCE,
THE D.A.'S OFFICE DROPPED THE MURDER FOR HIRE CHARGE
FOR BILL PRICE, WHO'D THOUGHT OF LONNIE AS A BROTHER, AND THEN
ENDED UP TURNING HIM IN, IT HAD BEEN A VERY LONG ROAD.
HOW'S YOUR CONSCIENCE? >> RELIEVED.
WHETHER MICKI WAS A GOOD PERSON OR A BAD PERSON, NOBODY DESERVES
TO DIE THAT WAY. NOBODY DOES.
AND I SUPPOSE THE GUILT THAT I WOULD'VE HAD THEN WOULD BE I
BELIEVED HIM THAT HURTS
>> Reporter: YOU'RE A PRO AND HE FOOLED YOU
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: FOR MICKI KANESAKI,
THE OCEAN ALWAYS CARRIED HOPE. A COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER FROM
JAPAN, SHE'D ONCE TRAVELED ACROSS THE SEA FOR A BETTER
LIFE AND THE "ISLAND ESCAPE" WAS
SUPPOSED TO CARRY HER AND LONNIE TO CALMER SHORES
HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW GOOD HE HAD IT
>> YEAH, HE DOES NOT KNOW -- HE DID NOT KNOW, YEAH
TO THE END, SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR HIM.
AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED LOOK WHAT HE DID TO HER.
SHE DIDN'T DESERVE THAT. SHE HAD A LOT TO LIVE FOR.
>> SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL PERSON. AND I'M TALKING ABOUT HER SOUL
SHE JUST HAD SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SOUL
>> Reporter: A SOUL, LOST AT SEA, WHO FOUND HER WAY HOME.
>>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF "DATELINE."
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN FRIDAY AT 9:00 P.M., 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 NBC NEWS, GOOD NIGHT.