1 00:00:15,015 --> 00:00:17,984 * MUSICA * 2 00:00:17,984 --> 00:00:19,219 >> HE SAID, "MICKI'S MISSING." I SAID, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE'S 3 00:00:19,219 --> 00:00:22,355 MISSING? >> IT'S DEVASTATING. 4 00:00:22,355 --> 00:00:26,459 HER LAST MOMENTS IN LIFE STILL HAUNT ME 5 00:00:26,459 --> 00:00:29,863 >> I JUST THOUGHT, "WHAT A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE. 6 00:00:29,863 --> 00:00:31,431 >> WE FOUND A LOT OF THINGS SUSPICIOUS 7 00:00:31,431 --> 00:00:33,566 >> THERE'S NO VIDEO OF IT HAPPENING. 8 00:00:33,566 --> 00:00:36,269 THERE'S NO EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY. >> THERE'S NO FINGERPRINTS 9 00:00:36,269 --> 00:00:42,542 SHE WAS DEAD BEFORE SHE LANDED IN THE WATER 10 00:00:42,542 --> 00:00:45,211 >> I WAS APPROACHED BY THE FBI TO RECORD MY CONVERSATIONS 11 00:00:45,211 --> 00:00:47,313 >> MY NAME IS JULIE SARANITA >> YOU'RE INTERROGATING SOMEONE 12 00:00:47,313 --> 00:00:48,381 WHO'S A MURDER SUSPECT >> NOTHING I WOULD OF EVER 13 00:00:48,381 --> 00:00:51,317 IMAGINED COULD HAVE PREPARED ME FOR THIS 14 00:00:51,317 --> 00:00:57,590 >> A CRUISE SHIP MYSTERY A PASSENGER OVERBOARD AND AN 15 00:00:57,590 --> 00:01:04,798 OCEAN OF QUESTIONS >> THIS IS JUST PHENOMENALLY 16 00:01:04,798 --> 00:01:05,865 DEVIOUS WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING >> YES 17 00:01:05,865 --> 00:01:07,300 I SAID, "IT'S TIME THE TRUTH COMES OUT. 18 00:01:07,300 --> 00:01:19,279 >> I'M LESTER HOLT AND THIS IS "DATELINE. 19 00:01:19,279 --> 00:01:25,485 >> HERE'S JOSH MANKIEWICZ WITH "OPEN WATER. 20 00:01:25,485 --> 00:01:31,558 >> Reporter: THE CALL CAME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. 21 00:01:31,558 --> 00:01:33,159 IT WAS THEIR FRIEND, IN A PANIC. >> LONNIE WAS IN NAPOLI, AND 22 00:01:33,159 --> 00:01:35,829 MICKI HAD GONE MISSING OFF THE BOAT 23 00:01:35,829 --> 00:01:37,130 AND THAT'S WHERE IT STARTED. >> Reporter: AND WHAT DID YOU 24 00:01:37,130 --> 00:01:41,234 THINK? >> THAT WAS A TAKE A -- TO THE 25 00:01:41,234 --> 00:01:42,302 COUNT OF THREE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, REPEAT ALL OF THAT 26 00:01:42,302 --> 00:01:45,839 LET ME HEAR IT ONE MORE TIME TYPE OF THING. 27 00:01:45,839 --> 00:01:50,110 >> Reporter: NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES SHE HEARD IT, IT JUST 28 00:01:50,110 --> 00:01:51,011 DIDN'T MAKE SENSE. >> YOU THINK OF ALL OF THESE 29 00:01:51,011 --> 00:01:53,013 THINGS EVERYTHING STARTS RUSHING 30 00:01:53,013 --> 00:01:57,917 THROUGH YOUR HEAD. >> Reporter: EXCEPT THIS WAS 31 00:01:57,917 --> 00:02:01,054 CLEARLY TRUE >> I JUST SAW DISASTER HAPPENING 32 00:02:01,054 --> 00:02:04,157 IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY >> YOU SAY, "THIS CAN'T BE 33 00:02:04,157 --> 00:02:06,960 THIS CAN'T BE. >> I KNEW IT IN MY HEART 34 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:08,428 THERE'S GOT TO BE ANOTHER EXPLANATION. 35 00:02:08,428 --> 00:02:11,064 >> Reporter: THERE WAS AN EXPLANATION, ALL RIGHT 36 00:02:11,064 --> 00:02:13,700 IT JUST WASN'T THE ONE ANYONE WAS EXPECTING. 37 00:02:13,700 --> 00:02:16,369 >> MY INSTINCTS SAID, "THIS IS GOING TO GO SIDEWAYS FAST. 38 00:02:16,369 --> 00:02:30,150 I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHICH WAY OR HOW -- AND HOW WE WERE GOING TO 39 00:02:30,150 --> 00:02:33,086 GET THERE. >> NAPLES IS A MARVELOUS CITY. 40 00:02:33,086 --> 00:02:35,955 IT'S BEAUTIFUL IT'S CHAOTIC 41 00:02:35,955 --> 00:02:41,861 >> Reporter: MARCO GRASSO IS AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER FOR THE 42 00:02:41,861 --> 00:02:44,631 ITALIAN NEWSPAPER "IL SECOLO XIX. 43 00:02:44,631 --> 00:02:49,202 >> IT'S FULL OF LIFE, IT'S FULL OF COLORS, AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL 44 00:02:49,202 --> 00:02:54,107 PLACE TO VISIT AS A TOURIST. >> Reporter: ONE OF THOSE 45 00:02:54,107 --> 00:02:59,813 TOURISTS WAS LONNIE KOCONTES, AN AMERICAN WHO ARRIVED IN NAPLES 46 00:02:59,813 --> 00:03:04,551 IN MAY 2006 ONBOARD A CRUISE SHIP, THE "ISLAND ESCAPE." 47 00:03:04,551 --> 00:03:08,254 >> THE "ISLAND ESCAPE" STARTED FROM PALMA DE MALLORCA IN SPAIN, 48 00:03:08,254 --> 00:03:12,525 THEN STOPPED IN MESSINA IN SICILY 49 00:03:12,525 --> 00:03:16,763 >> Reporter: LONNIE HAD BOOKED THE CRUISE AS A WAY TO REKINDLE 50 00:03:16,763 --> 00:03:19,933 THE FLAME WITH HIS LONGTIME LOVE, MICKI KANESAKI 51 00:03:19,933 --> 00:03:23,136 THE COUPLE HAD BEEN MARRIED FOR YEARS, AND THEN DIVORCED 52 00:03:23,136 --> 00:03:29,342 THIS WAS A NEW BEGINNING A CHANCE TO REDISCOVER SOME 53 00:03:29,342 --> 00:03:34,247 AMORE. THEY SPENT THE DAY EXPLORING 54 00:03:34,247 --> 00:03:40,086 MESSINA ON THE ISLAND OF SICILY. THEY TOOK A BUS TO SEE THE 55 00:03:40,086 --> 00:03:47,427 SIGHTS HERE'S MICKI BY ORION'S 56 00:03:47,427 --> 00:03:49,295 FOUNTAIN AFTER THE EXCURSION, THEY 57 00:03:49,295 --> 00:03:51,765 RETURNED TO THE "ISLAND ESCAPE," AND THE CRUISE SHIP BEGAN ITS 58 00:03:51,765 --> 00:03:59,706 JOURNEY TO THE NEXT STOP - NAPLES 59 00:03:59,706 --> 00:04:01,808 LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER, AND STILL IN OPEN WATER, THE TRIP 60 00:04:01,808 --> 00:04:04,477 TOOK AN AWFUL TURN LONNIE'S FRIEND BILL PRICE WAS 61 00:04:04,477 --> 00:04:07,814 SOUND ASLEEP BACK IN FLORIDA WHEN THE PHONE RANG. 62 00:04:07,814 --> 00:04:09,816 >> 3:10 IN THE MORNING, I WAS IN THE BED WITH MY DOG. 63 00:04:09,816 --> 00:04:11,651 I PICKED UP THE PHONE, AND IT WAS HIM. 64 00:04:11,651 --> 00:04:12,686 >> Reporter: LONNIE. >> LONNIE. 65 00:04:12,686 --> 00:04:14,054 >> Reporter: HOW'S HE SOUND? >> CONCERNED 66 00:04:14,054 --> 00:04:18,258 HE SAID, "I -- I HAVE -- I HAVE A PROBLEM. 67 00:04:18,258 --> 00:04:20,960 I SAID, "WHERE ARE YOU?" HE SAYS, "I'M IN ITALY." 68 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:23,096 AND I SAID, "OKAY. AND HE SAYS, "MICKI'S MISSING. 69 00:04:23,096 --> 00:04:27,300 I SAID, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE'S MISSING? 70 00:04:27,300 --> 00:04:29,936 HE SAID, "WE CAN'T FIND HER. >> Reporter: WHEN DID HE TELL 71 00:04:29,936 --> 00:04:33,740 YOU HE HAD LAST SEEN MICKI >> HE SAID THAT HE HAD GONE TO 72 00:04:33,740 --> 00:04:36,276 BED THAT NIGHT THEY HAD SOME DRINKS IN A CLUB 73 00:04:36,276 --> 00:04:40,547 HE COULDN'T SLEEP, SO HE TOOK SOME AMBIEN, AND HE WOKE UP THE 74 00:04:40,547 --> 00:04:46,486 NEXT MORNING, AND SHE WASN'T THERE. 75 00:04:46,486 --> 00:04:49,589 >> Reporter: AND THAT'S WHEN LONNIE SOUNDED THE ALARM 76 00:04:49,589 --> 00:04:51,191 >> YES APPARENTLY, UH, HE REPORTED 77 00:04:51,191 --> 00:04:54,327 HER -- COULDN'T FIND HER -- UH, THAT HE ASKED FOR THEM TO LOOK 78 00:04:54,327 --> 00:04:58,498 >> Reporter: THE CREW OF THE "ISLAND ESCAPE" STARTED 79 00:04:58,498 --> 00:05:00,800 SEARCHING THE SHIP, AND THE CAPTAIN MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO 80 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:02,769 PASSENGERS TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR MICKI. 81 00:05:02,769 --> 00:05:08,842 THEN HE CHECKED LONNIE AND MICKI'S CABIN AND FOUND NOTHING 82 00:05:08,842 --> 00:05:15,048 AMISS. >> HE RECALLED A BOTTLE OF WINE 83 00:05:15,048 --> 00:05:18,451 IN THE TRASH AND THIS CHAIR ON THE BALCONY IN UPRIGHT POSITION. 84 00:05:18,451 --> 00:05:24,491 >> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE CAPTAIN, THE MEDITERRANEAN HAD 85 00:05:24,491 --> 00:05:26,426 BEEN CALM. >> THERE WAS GOOD WEATHER, AND 86 00:05:26,426 --> 00:05:28,528 IT WAS A VERY QUIET NIGHT. UH, THE SEA WAS WAS VERY QUIET 87 00:05:28,528 --> 00:05:30,864 >> Reporter: THE CREW SHOWED MICKI'S PHOTO TO THE OTHER 88 00:05:30,864 --> 00:05:34,534 PASSENGERS THEN, AS SCHEDULED - 89 00:05:34,534 --> 00:05:35,602 >> THE "ISLAND ESCAPE" DOCKED IN NAPLES 90 00:05:35,602 --> 00:05:38,271 >> Reporter: BILL SPOKE WITH LONNIE AGAIN 91 00:05:38,271 --> 00:05:40,940 >> I KEPT SAYING, "SHE'S GOTTA BE AROUND THERE SOMEWHERE. 92 00:05:40,940 --> 00:05:43,076 SOMETHING'S HAPPENED BATHROOM, SOMEWHERE. 93 00:05:43,076 --> 00:05:47,981 YOU -- YOU, CAN'T JUST DISAPPEAR. 94 00:05:47,981 --> 00:05:49,382 HE SAID, "THEY'VE SENT PEOPLE OVER AND OVER, AND THEY CAN'T 95 00:05:49,382 --> 00:05:51,551 FIND HER." >> Reporter: ALMOST 12 HOURS 96 00:05:51,551 --> 00:05:56,289 LATER, THE "ISLAND ESCAPE" PREPARED TO LEAVE PORT AND 97 00:05:56,289 --> 00:05:58,425 CONTINUE ON WITH THE CRUISE. THERE WAS STILL NO SIGN OF 98 00:05:58,425 --> 00:06:03,697 MICKI. LONNIE QUICKLY PACKED UP HIS 99 00:06:03,697 --> 00:06:06,866 THINGS AND MICKI'S AND GOT OFF THE "ISLAND ESCAPE." 100 00:06:06,866 --> 00:06:11,137 REALITY WAS SETTING IN THE WOMAN HE LOVED MAY HAVE GONE 101 00:06:11,137 --> 00:06:16,409 OVERBOARD. >> ITALIAN COAST GUARD STARTED 102 00:06:16,409 --> 00:06:19,179 SEARCHING FOR MICKI. >> Reporter: LONNIE CHECKED INTO 103 00:06:19,179 --> 00:06:21,748 THE HOTEL MERCURE. FROM HIS ROOM, HE SPOKE AGAIN 104 00:06:21,748 --> 00:06:25,318 WITH BILL. >> HE SAID, "EVERYTHING IN HERE 105 00:06:25,318 --> 00:06:26,853 IS IN ITALIAN. HE SAID, "I DON'T SPEAK THE 106 00:06:26,853 --> 00:06:33,059 LANGUAGE." HE SAID, "I'M SCARED." 107 00:06:33,059 --> 00:06:36,062 >> Reporter: LONNIE ALSO SPOKE WITH HIS FRIEND SUSAN McQUEEN, 108 00:06:36,062 --> 00:06:38,865 WHO SAYS SHE COULD HEAR FEAR IN LONNIE'S VOICE 109 00:06:38,865 --> 00:06:42,469 >> HE WAS CLAIMING THAT HE WAS BEING TREATED UNJUSTLY, THAT NO 110 00:06:42,469 --> 00:06:46,106 ONE SPOKE ENGLISH AND THAT EVERYONE WAS JUST BEING MEAN TO 111 00:06:46,106 --> 00:06:50,477 HIM, TREATING HIM AS IF HE HAD DONE SOMETHING WRONG AND THAT HE 112 00:06:50,477 --> 00:06:53,079 WAS OUT OF HIS ELEMENT AND HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO 113 00:06:53,079 --> 00:06:59,352 >> Reporter: THAT'S WHEN LONNIE KOCONTES MADE A DECISION THAT 114 00:06:59,352 --> 00:07:02,522 WOULD COME BACK TO HAUNT HIM >>> WHEN WE COME BACK -- 115 00:07:02,522 --> 00:07:06,760 >> HE WAS A DISHEVELED MESS, AND HE WAS ACTING FEARFUL. 116 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:08,361 >> MICKI IS MISSING, AND LONNIE IS DESPERATE 117 00:07:08,361 --> 00:07:10,497 >> IT JUST -- JUST SEEMED LIKE HE SHOULD JUST GO. 118 00:07:10,497 --> 00:07:12,065 >> Reporter: TO PROTECT HIMSELF. >> YES 119 00:07:12,065 --> 00:07:13,400 >> HE SAYS, "CAN YOU GET ME OUTTA HERE?" 120 00:07:31,651 --> 00:07:34,354 >>> Reporter: WHEN THE CRUISE SHIP "ISLAND ESCAPE" DOCKED IN 121 00:07:34,354 --> 00:07:39,159 NAPLES, ITALY, DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF MAY 26th, 2006, 122 00:07:39,159 --> 00:07:42,862 AMERICAN TOURIST MICKI KANESAKI WAS NO LONGER AMONG ITS 123 00:07:42,862 --> 00:07:48,168 PASSENGERS SOON HER BROTHER TOSHI GOT A 124 00:07:48,168 --> 00:07:51,871 CALL FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT >> YOU'RE THE BROTHER OF MICKI 125 00:07:51,871 --> 00:07:53,106 KANESAKI >> YEAH, YES 126 00:07:53,106 --> 00:07:54,074 >> WELL, SHE'S MISSING OFF OF THIS CRUISE. 127 00:07:54,074 --> 00:07:55,108 >> MISSING SO I SAID, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN, 128 00:07:55,108 --> 00:07:59,879 MISSING? WELL, GO, GO FIND HER. 129 00:07:59,879 --> 00:08:04,584 >> Reporter: MICKI'S EX-HUSBAND/BOYFRIEND, LONNIE 130 00:08:04,584 --> 00:08:07,220 KOCONTES WAS IN A NAPLES HOTEL HE WAS WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE 131 00:08:07,220 --> 00:08:10,423 ITALIAN COAST GUARD WHICH WAS SEARCHING THE MEDITERRANEAN FOR 132 00:08:10,423 --> 00:08:14,160 MICKI. ACCORDING TO HIS FRIEND SUSAN 133 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:20,100 McQUEEN, LONNIE SOUNDED FRANTIC. >> HE WAS A DISHEVELED MESS AND 134 00:08:20,100 --> 00:08:22,669 HE WAS -- HE WAS ACTING FEARFUL. HE WAS ACTING VERY FEARFUL AND 135 00:08:22,669 --> 00:08:24,204 VERY IRRATIONAL. THE LONNIE SUSAN KNEW WAS NEVER 136 00:08:24,204 --> 00:08:27,640 IRRATIONAL >> HE WAS A PRETTY SPECTACULAR 137 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:30,543 FIREBALL OF AN ATTORNEY. >> Reporter: LONNIE GRADUATED 138 00:08:30,543 --> 00:08:34,781 FROM LAW SCHOOL WITH HONORS IN 1992 139 00:08:34,781 --> 00:08:37,317 BY THE TIME SUSAN MET HIM, HE WAS AN ATTORNEY AT A TOP LAW 140 00:08:37,317 --> 00:08:42,188 FIRM IN LOS ANGELES. SUSAN WAS A PRIVATE 141 00:08:42,188 --> 00:08:45,925 INVESTIGATOR >> HE PUT IN 25 OUT OF 24 HOURS 142 00:08:45,925 --> 00:08:47,494 A DAY. I MEAN, HE WAS A VERY TRULY 143 00:08:47,494 --> 00:08:52,432 DEDICATED, FAST THINKING, ATTORNEY 144 00:08:52,432 --> 00:08:55,969 HE HAD THE RESPECT OF US >> Reporter: "US" MEANT SUSAN 145 00:08:55,969 --> 00:08:58,638 AND BILL PRICE, A RETIRED WASHINGTON DC COP TURNED 146 00:08:58,638 --> 00:09:02,842 INVESTIGATOR NOW PARTNERS WITH SUSAN IN 147 00:09:02,842 --> 00:09:06,079 BUSINESS AND LIFE. THEY BOTH CAME TO RESPECT 148 00:09:06,079 --> 00:09:07,514 LONNIE >> THE GUY IS PHENOMENAL 149 00:09:07,514 --> 00:09:09,783 >> Reporter: NOT JUST HARDWORKING BUT SMART? 150 00:09:09,783 --> 00:09:10,884 >> EXTREMELY >> Reporter: AND OUT OF THAT A 151 00:09:10,884 --> 00:09:15,555 FRIENDSHIP GREW? >> YES 152 00:09:15,555 --> 00:09:16,623 HE WAS LIKE A BROTHER THAT I NEVER HAD. 153 00:09:16,623 --> 00:09:21,227 I COULD COUNT ON HIM >> Reporter: ESPECIALLY WHEN 154 00:09:21,227 --> 00:09:24,030 BILL NEEDED MAJOR HEART SURGERY AND FELT HE WASN'T RECEIVING THE 155 00:09:24,030 --> 00:09:26,766 CARE HE NEEDED FROM HOSPITAL STAFF. 156 00:09:26,766 --> 00:09:31,237 >> SO I MADE A CALL TO HIM HE WAS THERE 157 00:09:31,237 --> 00:09:35,442 AND THAT HOSPITAL CHANGED THEIR WHOLE TUNE 158 00:09:35,442 --> 00:09:37,043 I MEAN HE, LEGALLY, WAS READY TO TAKE ALL OF 'EM ON 159 00:09:37,043 --> 00:09:40,647 >> Reporter: THAT'S A GOOD FRIEND 160 00:09:40,647 --> 00:09:44,317 >> IT WAS A VERY GOOD FRIEND >> Reporter: BILL RECOVERED. 161 00:09:44,317 --> 00:09:47,854 HE AND SUSAN SPENT TIME WITH LONNIE, ALONG WITH A SECRETARY 162 00:09:47,854 --> 00:09:55,295 AT LONNIE'S LAW FIRM NAMED MICKI KANESAKI 163 00:09:55,295 --> 00:09:56,896 >> HE SAW MICKI GETTING OFF THE ELEVATOR ONE DAY AND SAID SHE 164 00:09:56,896 --> 00:09:59,499 WAS BEAUTIFUL AND SHE HAD THIS BEAUTIFUL BLACK SHINY HAIR, AND, 165 00:09:59,499 --> 00:10:01,601 UM, HE KNEW RIGHT AWAY WHEN HE SAW HER HE WAS GONNA ASK HER OUT 166 00:10:01,601 --> 00:10:03,203 AND SO FORTH >> Reporter: HE REALLY PURSUED 167 00:10:03,203 --> 00:10:07,440 HER, DIDN'T HE >> YES, HE DID 168 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:11,678 >> MICKI WAS -- SMART -- BEAUTIFUL -- HAD A GREAT SENSE 169 00:10:11,678 --> 00:10:14,547 OF HUMOR >> Reporter: SUE WHITE WAS ALSO 170 00:10:14,547 --> 00:10:17,817 A SECRETARY WHO WORKED SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH MICKI FOR 171 00:10:17,817 --> 00:10:22,288 SEVERAL YEARS. >> SHE WORKED FOR A HIGH-POWERED 172 00:10:22,288 --> 00:10:23,957 PARTNER IN THE FIRM. SHE HAD TO KNOW WHAT SHE WAS 173 00:10:23,957 --> 00:10:28,628 DOING. >> SHE JUST DIDN'T RUFFLE 174 00:10:28,628 --> 00:10:30,797 FEATHERS >> Reporter: WANDA CARTER ALSO 175 00:10:30,797 --> 00:10:33,400 WORKED WITH MICKI AT THE LAW FIRM 176 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:34,601 >> WHEN THERE WAS A DEADLINE AND SOMETIMES I WAS PRESSED FOR 177 00:10:34,601 --> 00:10:36,603 TIME, SHE WOULD OFFER. SHE'D JUST COME UP AND SAY, 178 00:10:36,603 --> 00:10:39,239 "WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP YOU?" >> Reporter: SHE WOULD STEP UP 179 00:10:39,239 --> 00:10:43,476 >> RIGHT, SHE WOULD STEP UP. >> Reporter: THEN MICKI STARTED 180 00:10:43,476 --> 00:10:46,680 WORKING WITH LONNIE KOCONTES >> SHE STARTED WORKING OVERTIME, 181 00:10:46,680 --> 00:10:50,417 AND APPARENTLY THAT'S WHEN SHE STARTED DOING WORK FOR LONNIE. 182 00:10:50,417 --> 00:10:52,485 IN THE EVENINGS, NOBODY'S AROUND, OR FEW PEOPLE ARE 183 00:10:52,485 --> 00:10:55,088 AROUND >> Reporter: AND THAT'S WHEN 184 00:10:55,088 --> 00:10:56,756 SOMETHING BLOSSOMED? >> YES 185 00:10:56,756 --> 00:11:01,494 >> Reporter: THEY KEPT THAT DEFINITELY QUIET AT WORK 186 00:11:01,494 --> 00:11:04,130 >> THEY DEFINITELY DID >> HE WAS CHARMING 187 00:11:04,130 --> 00:11:07,867 SHE DEFINITELY THOUGHT THAT. >> Reporter: MICKI'S NIECE, 188 00:11:07,867 --> 00:11:09,936 JULIE SARANITA, WAS IN COLLEGE THEN 189 00:11:09,936 --> 00:11:12,072 WHAT DID SHE LIKE ABOUT HIM? >> I THINK SHE LIKED THAT HE HAD 190 00:11:12,072 --> 00:11:15,775 SIMILAR INTERESTS. THAT HE WAS A HARD WORKER AND 191 00:11:15,775 --> 00:11:18,945 SHE APPRECIATED THAT >> Reporter: MICKI AND LONNIE 192 00:11:18,945 --> 00:11:21,614 BOUGHT THIS HOME IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA 193 00:11:21,614 --> 00:11:30,590 THEY MARRIED IN 1995 THAT BLISS DID NOT LAST. 194 00:11:30,590 --> 00:11:34,861 >> THAT ALLURE THAT HE INITIALLY HAD, THAT INITIAL ATTRACTION, 195 00:11:34,861 --> 00:11:37,597 DISAPPEARED WITH TIME. >> IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR IT TO 196 00:11:37,597 --> 00:11:40,700 CRUMBLE -- LIKE A JENGA GAME WHERE THE PIECES STARTED TO 197 00:11:40,700 --> 00:11:42,802 FALL, COME OUT AND IT ALL TOPPLED OVER 198 00:11:42,802 --> 00:11:45,405 >> Reporter: WHAT WAS SHE TELLING YOU? 199 00:11:45,405 --> 00:11:50,443 >> A LOT OF IT HAD TO DO WITH CONTROL, CONTROL OF MONEY. 200 00:11:50,443 --> 00:11:54,481 GUYS LIKE TO BE IN CONTROL >> Reporter: I'VE NOTICED THAT 201 00:11:54,481 --> 00:11:56,549 >> IT'S KIND OF A SHAME. >> Reporter: YEAH. 202 00:11:56,549 --> 00:11:59,686 >> SO, THE WALL CAME TUMBLING DOWN 203 00:11:59,686 --> 00:12:04,057 >> Reporter: LIKE MANY RELATIONSHIPS, THIS ONE WAS 204 00:12:04,057 --> 00:12:05,525 COMPLICATED. AFTER SIX YEARS OF MARRIAGE THE 205 00:12:05,525 --> 00:12:08,161 COUPLE DIVORCED, AND LONNIE GOT AN APARTMENT IN DOWNTOWN L.A 206 00:12:08,161 --> 00:12:12,399 NEAR HIS OFFICE. HE STILL SPENT TIME AT THE HOME 207 00:12:12,399 --> 00:12:14,067 HE AND MICKI OWNED TOGETHER IN ORANGE COUNTY. 208 00:12:14,067 --> 00:12:16,670 AND SOMEHOW THAT SEEMED TO WORK BETTER 209 00:12:16,670 --> 00:12:21,408 THEY WERE STILL CLOSE. AND MAYBE THEY'D WORK THINGS OUT 210 00:12:21,408 --> 00:12:25,645 AFTER ALL. IN EARLY 2006, LONNIE BOOKED 211 00:12:25,645 --> 00:12:30,950 THEM BOTH ON A ROMANTIC CRUISE >> IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING HE 212 00:12:30,950 --> 00:12:32,552 WAS TRYING TO REPAIR THEIR MARRIAGE, REPAIR THEIR 213 00:12:32,552 --> 00:12:33,586 RELATIONSHIP AND GO ON A CRUISE TOGETHER 214 00:12:33,586 --> 00:12:36,790 >> Reporter: MAYBE THEY'VE TURNED A CORNER. 215 00:12:36,790 --> 00:12:39,959 >> SOUNDED LIKE A REALLY BIG STEP FOR HIM 216 00:12:39,959 --> 00:12:42,262 >> Reporter: IN FACT, LONNIE HAD BOOKED TWO CABINS ON BOARD THE 217 00:12:42,262 --> 00:12:46,866 "ISLAND ESCAPE." >> HE SAYS, "WE'RE GONNA TAKE A 218 00:12:46,866 --> 00:12:49,469 CRUISE, MICKI AND I. AND WE WANT YOU AND SUSAN TO 219 00:12:49,469 --> 00:12:52,105 JOIN US. >> Reporter: THEN, SUSAN'S 220 00:12:52,105 --> 00:12:55,809 MOTHER NEEDED AN OPERATION, AND SHE AND BILL HAD TO CANCEL AT 221 00:12:55,809 --> 00:13:02,182 THE LAST MINUTE. AND NOW, JUST TWO DAYS INTO THAT 222 00:13:02,182 --> 00:13:03,249 CRUISE, MICKI WAS MISSING. IF SHE HAD IN FACT FALLEN 223 00:13:03,249 --> 00:13:06,419 OVERBOARD, WHAT WERE THE ODDS OF FINDING HER? 224 00:13:06,419 --> 00:13:09,589 ACCORDING TO ITALIAN JOURNALIST MARCO GRASSO, NOT GOOD 225 00:13:09,589 --> 00:13:15,061 >> USUALLY BODIES ARE NEVER FOUND WHEN THEY DISAPPEAR IN 226 00:13:15,061 --> 00:13:18,064 OPEN WATERS. >> Reporter: LONNIE SPOKE WITH 227 00:13:18,064 --> 00:13:22,302 BOTH BILL AND SUSAN SEVERAL TIMES WHILE HE WAS IN NAPLES 228 00:13:22,302 --> 00:13:26,072 THEY WORRIED WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO LONNIE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY 229 00:13:26,072 --> 00:13:29,175 WITH AN UNFAMILIAR LEGAL SYSTEM. >> WE'VE SEEN OR HEARD OF 230 00:13:29,175 --> 00:13:34,848 PEOPLE, UH, IN OTHER COUNTRIES BEING ARRESTED AND, UNJUSTLY OR 231 00:13:34,848 --> 00:13:38,184 MAYBE UNFAIRLY, ACCUSED OF SOMETHING AT A TIME, AND BEING 232 00:13:38,184 --> 00:13:40,453 RESTRAINED I JUST SAID, "SEEMED LIKE YOU 233 00:13:40,453 --> 00:13:42,522 NEED TO JUST COME BACK." >> Reporter: BEFORE THIS SPIRALS 234 00:13:42,522 --> 00:13:45,558 OUT OF CONTROL IN SOME LEGAL WAY THAT YOU CAN'T GET YOUR HANDS 235 00:13:45,558 --> 00:13:48,528 AROUND >> I DON'T EVEN THINK I WAS 236 00:13:48,528 --> 00:13:50,363 THINKING THAT FAR AHEAD. YOU'RE JUST SAYING, "GET 237 00:13:50,363 --> 00:13:52,465 YOURSELF OUT WHERE YOU CAN COMMUNICATE AND GET QUESTIONS 238 00:13:52,465 --> 00:13:54,300 ANSWERED." >> IT JUST SEEMED LIKE HE SHOULD 239 00:13:54,300 --> 00:13:59,339 JUST GO. >> Reporter: TO PROTECT HIMSELF. 240 00:13:59,339 --> 00:14:02,042 >> YES >> HE SAYS, "CAN YOU GET ME 241 00:14:02,042 --> 00:14:05,712 OUTTA HERE?" AND I SAID, "YEAH, I CAN DO 242 00:14:05,712 --> 00:14:08,848 THAT." >> Reporter: THERE'S AN ITALIAN 243 00:14:08,848 --> 00:14:12,686 SAYING THAT GOES, "SEE NAPLES -- AND DIE. 244 00:14:12,686 --> 00:14:15,221 THE IDEA IS THAT EVERYONE SHOULD VISIT THIS MEMORABLE PLACE WHILE 245 00:14:15,221 --> 00:14:19,459 THEY'RE ALIVE. AND THAT ONCE YOU SEE IT, YOU 246 00:14:19,459 --> 00:14:23,663 MAY NOT WANT TO LEAVE. WELL, MICKI KANESAKI DIDN'T MAKE 247 00:14:23,663 --> 00:14:27,334 IT TO NAPLES AND NOW LONNIE KOCONTES 248 00:14:27,334 --> 00:14:29,469 DEFINITELY WANTED TO LEAVE LONNIE TOOK A CAB TO THE NAPLES 249 00:14:29,469 --> 00:14:32,138 AIRPORT. BILL HAD BOOKED HIM A FLIGHT TO 250 00:14:32,138 --> 00:14:34,774 TAMPA, FLORIDA, WHERE BILL LIVED. 251 00:14:34,774 --> 00:14:41,181 ALL THIS WHILE MICKI WAS STILL MISSING. 252 00:14:41,181 --> 00:14:43,249 THAT WOULD NOT LAST. >>> COMING UP -- 253 00:14:43,249 --> 00:14:46,419 >> IT'S LIKE, HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN 254 00:14:46,419 --> 00:14:49,089 >> A SUDDEN DISCOVERY AT SEA >> I WAS IN SHOCK AND DISBELIEF. 255 00:14:49,089 --> 00:14:50,690 >> NOTHING I WOULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED COULD HAVE PREPARED ME 256 00:14:50,690 --> 00:15:07,574 FOR THIS >> WHEN "DATELINE" C 257 00:15:07,574 --> 00:15:11,344 >>> Reporter: ALONG THE ITALIAN PENINSULA LIE THE VAST WATERS OF 258 00:15:11,344 --> 00:15:15,148 THE MEDITERRANEAN. IT'S HERE THE "ASTREA" CALLS 259 00:15:15,148 --> 00:15:19,285 HOME THE "ASTREA" TRAVELS THE ITALIAN 260 00:15:19,285 --> 00:15:26,159 COAST, DOING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH 261 00:15:26,159 --> 00:15:27,394 AT ABOUT 4:00 P.M. ON MAY 27th, 2006, CAPTAIN MASSIMO COLORITO 262 00:15:27,394 --> 00:15:34,668 MADE A DIFFERENT KIND OF DISCOVERY. 263 00:15:34,668 --> 00:15:36,269 [ SPEAKING ITALIAN ] >> Translator: I SAW SOMETHING 264 00:15:36,269 --> 00:15:37,937 IN THE DISTANCE, THAT WAS DIRECTLY, RIGHT STRAIGHT BY THE 265 00:15:37,937 --> 00:15:42,075 BOW, STRAIGHT AHEAD. I GOT CLOSER TO IT 266 00:15:42,075 --> 00:15:47,380 I REALIZED IT WAS A BODY IN THE WATER. 267 00:15:47,380 --> 00:15:49,549 >> Reporter: HE IMMEDIATELY GOT ON HIS RADIO 268 00:15:49,549 --> 00:15:52,686 EARLIER THAT MORNING, HE'D SEEN AN ALERT 269 00:15:52,686 --> 00:15:54,254 THE COAST GUARD WAS SEARCHING FOR AN AMERICAN PASSENGER 270 00:15:54,254 --> 00:16:01,161 MISSING FROM A CRUISE SHIP THE DAY BEFORE 271 00:16:01,161 --> 00:16:02,295 [ SPEAKING ITALIAN ] >> Translator: THE ADVISORY THEY 272 00:16:02,295 --> 00:16:05,398 SENT OUT WAS ABOUT A PERSON LOST AT SEA WHO WAS WEARING A BLACK 273 00:16:05,398 --> 00:16:07,033 SHIRT AND GREEN PANTS. SO I LET THEM KNOW RIGHT AWAY 274 00:16:07,033 --> 00:16:10,136 THAT WE HAD FOUND THE PERSON THEY WERE LOOKING FOR. 275 00:16:10,136 --> 00:16:17,077 >> Reporter: THERE SEEMED NO DOUBT. 276 00:16:17,077 --> 00:16:24,451 THIS WAS MICKI KANESAKI. [ SPEAKING ITALIAN ] 277 00:16:24,451 --> 00:16:28,321 >> Translator: WE WERE NOT A PART OF THE SEARCH PARTY 278 00:16:28,321 --> 00:16:29,856 FINDING HER WAS TRULY RANDOM >> Reporter: AS THEY APPROACHED 279 00:16:29,856 --> 00:16:32,392 MICKI'S BODY, THE CAPTAIN SAID HIS CREW WAS CAREFUL NOT TO 280 00:16:32,392 --> 00:16:38,231 TOUCH HER. [ SPEAKING ITALIAN ] 281 00:16:38,231 --> 00:16:41,935 >> Translator: WE USED A STRAP AND PASSED IT AROUND HER CHEST 282 00:16:41,935 --> 00:16:44,704 THEN WE LIFTED THE BODY WITH THE CRANE IN THE BEST WAY TO NOT 283 00:16:44,704 --> 00:16:47,807 TOUCH THE BODY >> Reporter: THEY BROUGHT 284 00:16:47,807 --> 00:16:54,647 MICKI'S BODY ONTO THE "ASTREA" AND COVERED HER WITH A SHEET 285 00:16:54,647 --> 00:16:57,917 THEN THEY MET UP WITH THE COAST GUARD, AND MICKI'S BODY WAS 286 00:16:57,917 --> 00:17:03,123 MOVED TO THEIR BOAT. [ SPEAKING ITALIAN ] 287 00:17:03,123 --> 00:17:06,326 >> Translator: FINDING A BODY IN THE SEA ISN'T SOMETHING THAT 288 00:17:06,326 --> 00:17:07,927 HAPPENS EVERY DAY. AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, TO 289 00:17:07,927 --> 00:17:09,529 BRING IT ON BOARD. >> Reporter: JOURNALIST MARCO 290 00:17:09,529 --> 00:17:11,631 GRASSO HEARD ABOUT THE GRIM DISCOVERY. 291 00:17:11,631 --> 00:17:15,635 >> I WAS VERY SURPRISED AND THAT WAS THE MOMENT IN WHICH WE 292 00:17:15,635 --> 00:17:23,810 STARTED FOLLOWING AND COVERING THIS CASE WITH A BODY, AND THE 293 00:17:23,810 --> 00:17:28,748 BODY WAS TAKEN TO VIBO VALENTIA. >> Reporter: VIBO VALENTIA IS A 294 00:17:28,748 --> 00:17:30,684 SMALL TOWN NEAR THE COAST IN SOUTHERN ITALY 295 00:17:30,684 --> 00:17:34,387 THAT'S WHERE ITALIAN AUTHORITIES OPENED THEIR INVESTIGATION AND 296 00:17:34,387 --> 00:17:40,226 THE STATE DEPARTMENT CALLED MICKI'S NIECE, JULIE SARANITA. 297 00:17:40,226 --> 00:17:45,065 >> I WAS IN SHOCK AND DISBELIEF. I -- I HAD JUST TALKED TO HER A 298 00:17:45,065 --> 00:17:46,132 FEW DAYS BEFORE. I WAS, AT FIRST, ASKING, "ARE 299 00:17:46,132 --> 00:17:48,702 YOU SURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT PERSON?" 300 00:17:48,702 --> 00:17:52,939 I HAD NO CLUE HOW IN THE HECK SHE WOULD END UP OVERBOARD 301 00:17:52,939 --> 00:18:01,448 >> Reporter: THE NEWS HIT MICKI'S FRIENDS HARD 302 00:18:01,448 --> 00:18:02,816 >> I WAS VERY SAD. UH, I -- I -- I COULDN'T BELIEVE 303 00:18:02,816 --> 00:18:05,819 IT I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT AT ALL 304 00:18:05,819 --> 00:18:10,223 IT'S LIKE, HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN. >> I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EARS, 305 00:18:10,223 --> 00:18:13,093 DEVASTATING. >> Reporter: LONNIE BROKE THE 306 00:18:13,093 --> 00:18:18,431 NEWS TO HIS FRIEND BILL PRICE. >> HE SAID HE WAS GLAD THEY 307 00:18:18,431 --> 00:18:21,601 FOUND THE BODY AND THAT HE CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT HAPPENED. 308 00:18:21,601 --> 00:18:24,804 >> Reporter: LONNIE WAS CALLING LONG DISTANCE. 309 00:18:24,804 --> 00:18:26,906 ALTHOUGH BILL HAD BOOKED THE FLIGHT FROM ITALY TO TAMPA, 310 00:18:26,906 --> 00:18:30,343 LONNIE DIDN'T GO THERE HE CHANGED HIS TICKET AND FLEW 311 00:18:30,343 --> 00:18:32,812 TO CALIFORNIA. >> HE SAID, "I JUST WANTED TO GO 312 00:18:32,812 --> 00:18:35,949 HOME." AND I SAID, "OKAY. 313 00:18:35,949 --> 00:18:40,220 I SAID, "IF YOU'RE OKAY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S FINE WITH ME. 314 00:18:40,220 --> 00:18:44,457 >> Reporter: AT THE SAME TIME, IN VIBO VALENTIA, AN ITALIAN 315 00:18:44,457 --> 00:18:45,592 PROSECUTOR NAMED ALFREDO LAUDONIO WAS ASSIGNED TO MICKI'S 316 00:18:45,592 --> 00:18:49,162 CASE HE KNEW WHAT HIS INVESTIGATION 317 00:18:49,162 --> 00:18:53,900 NEEDED TO ADDRESS. [ SPEAKING ITALIAN ] 318 00:18:53,900 --> 00:18:56,136 >> Translator: THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH, THE CAUSE OF THE 319 00:18:56,136 --> 00:18:59,239 DEATH, THE DATE, AND THE LOCATION 320 00:18:59,239 --> 00:19:03,009 >> Reporter: HE SOON DISCOVERED THERE WERE NO OBVIOUS ANSWERS TO 321 00:19:03,009 --> 00:19:07,180 THOSE QUESTIONS. A SEARCH OF THE "ISLAND ESCAPE" 322 00:19:07,180 --> 00:19:09,816 HADN'T TURNED UP ANY CLUES [ SPEAKING ITALIAN ] 323 00:19:09,816 --> 00:19:11,384 >> Translator: SHE COULD HAVE FALLEN IN THE WATER, PLUMMETING 324 00:19:11,384 --> 00:19:15,689 FROM THE SHIP. SO, ANYTHING COULD HAVE 325 00:19:15,689 --> 00:19:18,425 HAPPENED. >> Reporter: MICKI'S DEATH COULD 326 00:19:18,425 --> 00:19:22,562 HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. OR SUICIDE 327 00:19:22,562 --> 00:19:25,198 OR MURDER. EVERYONE HAD QUESTIONS FOR 328 00:19:25,198 --> 00:19:27,033 LONNIE, ESPECIALLY JULIE >> NOTHING I WOULD HAVE EVER 329 00:19:27,033 --> 00:19:32,205 IMAGINED COULD HAVE PREPARED ME FOR THIS 330 00:19:32,205 --> 00:19:36,276 >>> COMING UP -- ANOTHER WOMAN ENTERS THE 331 00:19:36,276 --> 00:19:38,478 PICTURE! >> HIS WIFE IS MISSING OFF A 332 00:19:38,478 --> 00:19:42,482 CRUISE SHIP. HE FLIES TO THE HOME OF THE 333 00:19:42,482 --> 00:19:45,118 OTHER WOMAN. I MEAN, IT'S LIKE PUTTING A 334 00:19:45,118 --> 00:19:47,954 TARGET ON YOU AND SAYING, "PLEASE INVESTIGATE ME." 335 00:19:47,954 --> 00:19:48,254 "PLEASE INVESTIGATE ME." >> ABSOLUTELY! 336 00:20:05,538 --> 00:20:10,243 CITIZEN DIES MYSTERIOUSLY OVERSEAS, THE CASE FALLS UNDER 337 00:20:10,243 --> 00:20:13,446 THE JURISDICTION OF THE FBI. AN AGENT ARRIVED AT LONNIE'S 338 00:20:13,446 --> 00:20:16,616 HOME IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, WITHIN HOURS OF THE 339 00:20:16,616 --> 00:20:19,252 DISCOVERY OF MICKI'S BODY. LONNIE CALLED HIS FRIEND BILL 340 00:20:19,252 --> 00:20:22,389 PRICE TO TELL HIM THE BUREAU WAS ON THE CASE. 341 00:20:22,389 --> 00:20:23,990 >> HE SAID, "WELL, WHAT DO I DO NOW? 342 00:20:23,990 --> 00:20:26,259 I SAID, "WHAT YOU MEAN, WHAT DO YOU DO?" 343 00:20:26,259 --> 00:20:30,030 I SAID, "THE FBI'S THERE." I SAID, "TALK TO 'EM." 344 00:20:30,030 --> 00:20:35,235 I SAID, "THEY'RE ON IT." THIS IS GOOD 345 00:20:35,235 --> 00:20:39,372 I'M ALL HAPPY ABOUT THIS >> Reporter: HERE'S SOMETHING 346 00:20:39,372 --> 00:20:42,676 BILL WASN'T HAPPY ABOUT, LEARNING RIGHT THEN THAT WHEN 347 00:20:42,676 --> 00:20:46,112 LONNIE FLEW FROM ITALY TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, IT WASN'T 348 00:20:46,112 --> 00:20:48,915 TO SLEEP IN HIS OWN BED. IT WAS TO VISIT A WOMAN LONNIE 349 00:20:48,915 --> 00:20:53,119 HAD BEEN DATING UNTIL HE DECIDED TO PATCH THINGS UP WITH MICKI. 350 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:59,693 HIS WIFE'S MISSING OFF A CRUISE SHIP 351 00:20:59,693 --> 00:21:03,496 HE FLIES HOME NOT TO VISIT HIS FRIEND, BUT TO THE HOME OF THE 352 00:21:03,496 --> 00:21:06,900 OTHER WOMAN. I MEAN, IF YOU'RE LONNIE, IT'S 353 00:21:06,900 --> 00:21:12,706 LIKE PUTTING A TARGET ON YOU AND SAYING "PLEASE INVESTIGATE ME. 354 00:21:12,706 --> 00:21:14,708 >> ABSOLUTELY. THE FIRST THING OUT OF MY MOUTH 355 00:21:14,708 --> 00:21:16,943 WAS, "DO YOU KNOW HOW THIS LOOKS? 356 00:21:16,943 --> 00:21:23,583 HE SAID, "I NEEDED CONSOLING." I SAID, "IT'S LIKE I'M TALKING 357 00:21:23,583 --> 00:21:25,952 TO A MORON." >> Reporter: AS SHARP AN 358 00:21:25,952 --> 00:21:29,122 ATTORNEY AS HE WAS, LONNIE SEEMED TONE-DEAF TO HOW HIS 359 00:21:29,122 --> 00:21:31,791 ACTIONS WOULD PLAY >> THE INITIAL IMPRESSION WAS, 360 00:21:31,791 --> 00:21:34,427 "YOU KNOW, THE GUY'S NOT QUITE RIGHT. 361 00:21:34,427 --> 00:21:38,131 >> Reporter: THE FBI'S RICK SIMPSON SAID LONNIE SEEMED 362 00:21:38,131 --> 00:21:42,369 ALMOST TOO EAGER TO SHOW AGENTS HE HAD NO MARKS ON HIS BODY. 363 00:21:42,369 --> 00:21:45,538 >> HE VOLUNTEERED TO DISROBE FOR THEM 364 00:21:45,538 --> 00:21:47,140 TO TRY AND CONVINCE THE AGENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, HE WASN'T 365 00:21:47,140 --> 00:21:50,410 INVOLVED IN ANY PHYSICAL STRUGGLE 366 00:21:50,410 --> 00:21:51,578 >> Reporter: HE'S ANSWERING QUESTIONS THAT HE HASN'T BEEN 367 00:21:51,578 --> 00:21:54,547 ASKED. >> EXACTLY, YES. 368 00:21:54,547 --> 00:21:58,618 >> Reporter: LONNIE REPEATED THE STORY HE'D TOLD HIS PAL BILL 369 00:21:58,618 --> 00:22:02,055 THEY WERE IN THE ROOM. THEY HAD WINE. 370 00:22:02,055 --> 00:22:05,325 MICKI, HE SAID, LEFT TO GET SOME HERBAL TEA 371 00:22:05,325 --> 00:22:08,361 LONNIE TOOK AMBIEN AND FELL ASLEEP 372 00:22:08,361 --> 00:22:10,330 >> HE WOKE UP AT 4:30 IN THE MORNING. 373 00:22:10,330 --> 00:22:13,099 AND HER LIGHT WAS ON, BUT SHE WASN'T THERE 374 00:22:13,099 --> 00:22:14,701 AND HE WAS ALARMED, SO HE WENT LOOKING FOR HER. 375 00:22:14,701 --> 00:22:17,170 >> Reporter: WHAT'S LONNIE'S DEMEANOR DURING THIS INTERVIEW 376 00:22:17,170 --> 00:22:19,472 I MEAN, IS THIS A GUY FRANTIC AT LOSING THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE? 377 00:22:19,472 --> 00:22:22,809 >> NO. NO 378 00:22:22,809 --> 00:22:25,078 THEY -- THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT IMPRESSION 379 00:22:25,078 --> 00:22:28,081 >> Reporter: DID THE FBI FIND IT SUSPICIOUS THAT LONNIE LEFT 380 00:22:28,081 --> 00:22:30,617 ITALY BEFORE MICKI'S BODY WAS FOUND? 381 00:22:30,617 --> 00:22:33,319 >> YES, WE FOUND A LOT OF THINGS SUSPICIOUS 382 00:22:33,319 --> 00:22:36,956 HE WAS IN A HURRY TO GET OUT OF THERE OBVIOUSLY. 383 00:22:36,956 --> 00:22:39,092 >> Reporter: MICKI'S NIECE, JULIE SARANITA, SPOKE WITH THE 384 00:22:39,092 --> 00:22:43,229 FBI, TOO SHE TALKED ABOUT HER AUNT'S 385 00:22:43,229 --> 00:22:45,965 RELATIONSHIP WITH LONNIE IN THE MONTHS BEFORE THE CRUISE 386 00:22:45,965 --> 00:22:50,737 >> HE SAID HE WAS GONNA CHANGE HE WAS GONNA WORK LESS, AND 387 00:22:50,737 --> 00:22:53,907 THINGS WERE GOING TO BE BETTER SHE WAS JUST SO HAPPY. 388 00:22:53,907 --> 00:22:57,911 >> Reporter: HAPPY AND EXCITED ABOUT HER LUXURY ITALIAN CRUISE. 389 00:22:57,911 --> 00:22:59,746 >> SHE HAD SAID THAT -- THAT HE'S PLANNING EVERYTHING AND 390 00:22:59,746 --> 00:23:03,817 THIS WAS SUCH A SURPRISE AND THEY'RE RECONCILING. 391 00:23:03,817 --> 00:23:07,220 SHE COULDN'T WAIT TO GO. >> Reporter: NOW, JUST DAYS 392 00:23:07,220 --> 00:23:09,789 AFTER THAT CONVERSATION, HER AUNT MICKI WAS DEAD. 393 00:23:09,789 --> 00:23:13,893 AND JULIE BELIEVED LONNIE KNEW MORE THAN HE WAS SAYING. 394 00:23:13,893 --> 00:23:19,866 SHE SOON FOUND OUT THE FEDS BELIEVED THE SAME THING. 395 00:23:19,866 --> 00:23:29,409 >> I WAS APPROACHED BY THE FBI -- WOULD I BE WILLING TO 396 00:23:29,409 --> 00:23:32,645 RECORD MY CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM AND TO GET DETAILS 397 00:23:32,645 --> 00:23:34,247 >> Reporter: THEY GAVE HER A CRASH COURSE IN RECORDING 398 00:23:34,247 --> 00:23:35,248 PROTOCOL >> MY NAME IS JULIE SARANITA 399 00:23:35,248 --> 00:23:38,385 THE DATE IS -- >> Reporter: AND TOLD HER TO LET 400 00:23:38,385 --> 00:23:40,086 LONNIE DO THE TALKING. >> MAYBE SHE WAS NAUSEOUS AND 401 00:23:40,086 --> 00:23:44,090 SLIGHTLY INTOXICATED, YOU KNOW - 402 00:23:44,090 --> 00:23:45,492 >> HOW MANY DRINKS >> -- AND FELL 403 00:23:45,492 --> 00:23:50,597 >> DO YOU THINK SHE HAD THAT NIGHT ON THE -- ON THE SHIP? 404 00:23:50,597 --> 00:23:52,198 >> WELL, WE JUST DRANK THE WINE, AND SHE HAD, UH, YOU KNOW, 405 00:23:52,198 --> 00:23:53,767 PROBABLY A COUPLE OF GOOD-SIZE GLASSES. 406 00:23:53,767 --> 00:23:58,605 >> Reporter: LONNIE'S THEORY OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED WAS WHAT 407 00:23:58,605 --> 00:24:03,276 >> HE THOUGHT THAT EITHER SHE COMMITTED SUICIDE AND JUMPED OR 408 00:24:03,276 --> 00:24:06,046 THERE WAS FOUL PLAY AND PERHAPS MAYBE ONE OF THE CREW CABINS OR 409 00:24:06,046 --> 00:24:09,149 ALL THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, 410 00:24:09,149 --> 00:24:11,251 SOMEONE HAD MURDERED HER >> I MEAN, THERE'S ONLY THREE 411 00:24:11,251 --> 00:24:12,452 POSSIBILITIES. SHE WAS MURDERED 412 00:24:12,452 --> 00:24:14,954 SHE -- SHE -- SHE JUMPED OR IT'S AN ACCIDENT. 413 00:24:14,954 --> 00:24:18,658 RIGHT NOW, I HAVE NO INFORMATION TO TELL ME WHAT. 414 00:24:18,658 --> 00:24:20,794 ALL I KNOW IS THAT THEY FOUND A BODY, AND THERE'S GONNA BE AN 415 00:24:20,794 --> 00:24:22,896 AUTOPSY. >> HE WAS FIXATED ON THE 416 00:24:22,896 --> 00:24:25,632 CONDITION OF THE BODY. HE SAID MULTIPLE TIMES 417 00:24:25,632 --> 00:24:26,766 "I NEED TO SEE THE BODY. I NEED THE CONDITION OF THE 418 00:24:26,766 --> 00:24:28,168 BODY I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON 419 00:24:28,168 --> 00:24:30,370 WITH THE BODY. >> Reporter: JULIE WOULD 420 00:24:30,370 --> 00:24:31,871 CONTINUE TO LEARN MORE FROM THE FBI. 421 00:24:31,871 --> 00:24:37,744 AND SHE CONTINUED SPEAKING WITH LONNIE 422 00:24:37,744 --> 00:24:39,346 >> I CALLED HIM FREQUENTLY >> Reporter: AND HE DIDN'T SEEM 423 00:24:39,346 --> 00:24:40,347 SUSPICIOUS ABOUT THAT? >> NO, I DON'T 424 00:24:40,347 --> 00:24:41,915 NOT AT ALL I MEAN, I CHECKED ON HIS 425 00:24:41,915 --> 00:24:44,684 WELL-BEING HE WAS MORE INTERESTED ALSO 426 00:24:44,684 --> 00:24:48,855 TALKING TO ME. I THINK HE JUST FOUND IT A 427 00:24:48,855 --> 00:24:52,625 WELCOME REPRIEVE, SOMEONE WAS TALKING TO HIM FROM THE FAMILY 428 00:24:52,625 --> 00:24:56,329 >> Reporter: JULIE DID THINK LONNIE WAS ACTING STRANGELY. 429 00:24:56,329 --> 00:24:58,531 EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE HE'D DONE ANYTHING TO 430 00:24:58,531 --> 00:25:01,034 MICKI, OR, FOR THAT MATTER, ANY EVIDENCE THAT MICKI'S DEATH WAS 431 00:25:01,034 --> 00:25:06,840 ANYTHING BUT ACCIDENTAL. HOWEVER, THAT WAS ABOUT TO 432 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:13,046 CHANGE >>> COMING UP -- 433 00:25:13,046 --> 00:25:15,849 >> I JUST THOUGHT, "WHAT A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE. 434 00:25:15,849 --> 00:25:20,320 >> STUNNING NEW DETAILS FROM THE AUTOPSY. 435 00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:22,222 SOMEONE ON BOARD WAS A KILLER. >> THERE'S GOT TO BE AN 436 00:25:22,222 --> 00:25:24,691 EXPLANATION HERE >> THIS ISN'T LONNIE 437 00:25:24,691 --> 00:25:26,960 >> RIGHT, THIS WOULDN'T BE HIS NATURE 438 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:28,061 >> IF NOT LONNIE, THEN WHO WHEN "DATELINE" CONTINUES. 439 00:25:28,061 --> 00:25:48,948 hoices? NEVER LIVED TO SEE HER 53rd 440 00:25:48,948 --> 00:25:53,186 BIRTHDAY SHE WAS FOUND FLOATING IN THE 441 00:25:53,186 --> 00:25:55,822 WATERS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN. WANDA CARTER WAS HAUNTED 442 00:25:55,822 --> 00:25:58,525 THINKING ABOUT HER FRIEND'S FINAL MOMENTS. 443 00:25:58,525 --> 00:26:01,494 >> I THOUGHT, "OH, MY GOD, I HOPE SHE WASN'T ALIVE WHEN SHE 444 00:26:01,494 --> 00:26:06,399 WAS IN THAT WATER TRYING TO SAVE HERSELF. 445 00:26:06,399 --> 00:26:11,171 AND I JUST THOUGHT, "WHAT A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE. 446 00:26:11,171 --> 00:26:13,807 >> Reporter: MICKI'S BODY WAS BROUGHT TO THIS HOSPITAL IN VIBO 447 00:26:13,807 --> 00:26:19,212 VALENTIA, ITALY. DR. PIETRANTONIO RICCI PERFORMED 448 00:26:19,212 --> 00:26:28,054 THE AUTOPSY. >> Reporter: WHAT HE FOUND TOLD 449 00:26:28,054 --> 00:26:31,291 A SINISTER STORY DR. RICCI SAW MICKI'S BODY WAS 450 00:26:31,291 --> 00:26:37,063 BADLY BRUISED, ESPECIALLY AT THE BASE OF HER NECK 451 00:26:37,063 --> 00:26:40,333 A SIGN OF STRANGULATION. HE ALSO NOTED BRUISING ON HER 452 00:26:40,333 --> 00:26:44,404 INNER THIGHS, POSSIBLY EVIDENCE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. 453 00:26:44,404 --> 00:26:49,342 PERHAPS MOST SIGNIFICANT WAS WHAT THE AUTOPSY DID NOT SHOW. 454 00:26:49,342 --> 00:26:50,944 [ SPEAKING ITALIAN ] >> Translator: WE DID NOT FIND 455 00:26:50,944 --> 00:26:54,647 WATER IN HER LUNGS, NOR DID WE FIND WATER IN HER STOMACH. 456 00:26:54,647 --> 00:26:57,817 >> Reporter: MEANING MICKI KANESAKI WAS ALREADY DEAD WHEN 457 00:26:57,817 --> 00:27:01,921 SHE HIT THE WATER. THAT TOLD ITALIAN PROSECUTOR 458 00:27:01,921 --> 00:27:12,132 ALFREDO LAUDONIO THIS WAS A DELIBERATE ACT OF MURDER 459 00:27:12,132 --> 00:27:13,233 [ SPEAKING ITALIAN ] >> Translator: THIS WAS 460 00:27:13,233 --> 00:27:14,868 FUNDAMENTAL. THE DEATH CAME NOT FROM 461 00:27:14,868 --> 00:27:15,835 ACCIDENTAL CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WAS PROVOKED 462 00:27:15,835 --> 00:27:17,404 >> Reporter: LONNIE KOCONTES, THE TENACIOUS ATTORNEY, SEEMED 463 00:27:17,404 --> 00:27:21,608 TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF MICKI'S DEATH WAS A HOMICIDE, HE WOULD 464 00:27:21,608 --> 00:27:25,945 BE A SUSPECT AND SO HE TURNED TO TWO TRUSTED 465 00:27:25,945 --> 00:27:30,316 FRIENDS, INVESTIGATORS SUSAN McQUEEN AND BILL PRICE 466 00:27:30,316 --> 00:27:34,688 BILL, THE FORMER COP, GAVE LONNIE SOME BLUNT ADVICE ABOUT 467 00:27:34,688 --> 00:27:38,058 DEALING WITH THE FBI >> I SAID, "YOU NEED TO FIND OUT 468 00:27:38,058 --> 00:27:41,428 WHAT HAPPENED. IF YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, YOU 469 00:27:41,428 --> 00:27:46,099 NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED AND GIVE IT TO THEM. 470 00:27:46,099 --> 00:27:48,702 >> Reporter: SUSAN WAS CONFIDENT SHE AND BILL COULD HELP LONNIE 471 00:27:48,702 --> 00:27:50,804 DO JUST THAT >> THERE'S GOT TO BE AN 472 00:27:50,804 --> 00:27:53,807 EXPLANATION HERE >> Reporter: THIS ISN'T LONNIE 473 00:27:53,807 --> 00:27:55,575 >> RIGHT THIS WOULDN'T BE HIS NATURE. 474 00:27:55,575 --> 00:27:57,677 WE'VE GOT TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED 475 00:27:57,677 --> 00:28:00,613 WE NEED TO DO THIS RESEARCH, AND FIRST GOAL WAS TO GET BACK ON 476 00:28:00,613 --> 00:28:04,651 THAT BOAT AND TRY AND INTERVIEW PEOPLE AND ASCERTAIN WHAT 477 00:28:04,651 --> 00:28:08,421 HAPPENED INTO THE MOMENTS LEADING UP TO HER DEATH. 478 00:28:08,421 --> 00:28:10,924 >> Reporter: SO A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER MICKI'S DEATH, THEY 479 00:28:10,924 --> 00:28:16,229 TRAVELED TO ITALY AND BOOKED A CABIN ABOARD THE "ISLAND 480 00:28:16,229 --> 00:28:20,667 ESCAPE." >> WE WANNA TAKE MEASUREMENTS OF 481 00:28:20,667 --> 00:28:24,704 DIFFERENT PLACES ON THE SHIP, WHERE THEY HAD LOW RAILINGS, 482 00:28:24,704 --> 00:28:27,374 WHERE THEY HAD HIGHER RAILINGS WE WANTED TO MEET WITH THE 483 00:28:27,374 --> 00:28:29,075 CAPTAIN SO WE COULD GET PERMISSION TO GO INTO THE EXACT 484 00:28:29,075 --> 00:28:31,077 ROOM THAT HE WENT INTO >> Reporter: THE ROOM MICKI AND 485 00:28:31,077 --> 00:28:33,380 LONNIE WERE STAYING. >> YES 486 00:28:33,380 --> 00:28:35,315 >> Reporter: THEY MET WITH THE CAPTAIN AND DIDN'T LEARN MUCH 487 00:28:35,315 --> 00:28:40,086 FROM HIM EXCEPT THIS -- 488 00:28:40,086 --> 00:28:43,256 THERE WERE ALMOST 1,500 PASSENGERS AND CREW ON 489 00:28:43,256 --> 00:28:45,925 BOARD THE "ISLAND ESCAPE" AT THE TIME MICKI WENT OVERBOARD. 490 00:28:45,925 --> 00:28:49,095 MEANING POTENTIALLY HUNDREDS OF POSSIBLE SUSPECTS FROM A WIDE 491 00:28:49,095 --> 00:28:55,468 RANGE OF COUNTRIES THOSE PEOPLE, THOSE POTENTIAL 492 00:28:55,468 --> 00:28:58,104 SUSPECTS OR PERSONS OF INTEREST, THEY'RE GONNA BE HARD TO TRACK 493 00:28:58,104 --> 00:29:00,206 DOWN >> WE WANTED A MANIFEST. 494 00:29:00,206 --> 00:29:04,377 CRUISE LINE WAS FIGHTING TO GIVE IT TO US 495 00:29:04,377 --> 00:29:06,046 >> Reporter: AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA RUN IT AGAINST LISTS OF 496 00:29:06,046 --> 00:29:09,249 SEX OFFENDERS AND ANYBODY WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD. 497 00:29:09,249 --> 00:29:12,419 >> CORRECT YES. 498 00:29:12,419 --> 00:29:15,088 >> Reporter: EXCEPT THEY COULDN'T GET THE MANIFEST. 499 00:29:15,088 --> 00:29:18,224 SO THAT WAS A DEAD END THEY HAD MORE LUCK WITH THE 500 00:29:18,224 --> 00:29:22,529 AUTOPSY REPORT LONNIE HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET A 501 00:29:22,529 --> 00:29:26,199 COPY, BUT SUSAN'S TALENTS AS AN INVESTIGATOR AND HER ITALIAN 502 00:29:26,199 --> 00:29:30,036 LANGUAGE SKILLS PAID OFF YOU'RE GOOD AT THIS, AREN'T YOU? 503 00:29:30,036 --> 00:29:32,605 >> I WAS ABLE TO GET THE COPY. >> Reporter: SUSAN THOUGHT THE 504 00:29:32,605 --> 00:29:35,208 AUTOPSY REPORT WASN'T DEFINITIVE 505 00:29:35,208 --> 00:29:40,180 AND WHAT WAS THERE POINTED AWAY FROM LONNIE. 506 00:29:40,180 --> 00:29:45,652 >> IT INDICATED THAT SHE HAD BEEN RAPED, STRANGLED AND 507 00:29:45,652 --> 00:29:48,955 OBVIOUSLY THROWN OVERBOARD >> Reporter: THAT SOUNDS TO ME 508 00:29:48,955 --> 00:29:51,624 MORE LIKE AN ASSAILANT THAT DIDN'T KNOW HER THAN SOME FIGHT 509 00:29:51,624 --> 00:29:55,328 WITH LONNIE. >> POSSIBLY. 510 00:29:55,328 --> 00:29:57,964 >> Reporter: SUSAN AND BILL FOUND OUT THERE WERE NO SECURITY 511 00:29:57,964 --> 00:30:00,133 CAMERAS ANYWHERE ON THE SHIP AND ACCORDING TO THE CREW, NO 512 00:30:00,133 --> 00:30:02,736 ONE ON BOARD AT THE TIME REPORTED HEARING ANYTHING 513 00:30:02,736 --> 00:30:05,372 SUSPICIOUS NOBODY SAW OR HEARD LONNIE AND 514 00:30:05,372 --> 00:30:07,507 MICKI FIGHTING >> NO. 515 00:30:07,507 --> 00:30:09,642 >> Reporter: NOBODY SAW MICKI IN ANY KIND OF STRUGGLE WITH 516 00:30:09,642 --> 00:30:11,711 ANYBODY? >> NOT THAT I COULD FIND 517 00:30:11,711 --> 00:30:14,214 >> Reporter: AND NO ONE SAW ANYBODY MENACING EITHER ONE OF 518 00:30:14,214 --> 00:30:16,783 THEM >> NOT THAT I COULD FIND 519 00:30:16,783 --> 00:30:18,151 >> Reporter: AND WHERE WAS SHE ON THE SHIP WHEN SHE WENT INTO 520 00:30:18,151 --> 00:30:21,321 THE WATER? NO REAL WAY TO KNOW. 521 00:30:21,321 --> 00:30:23,923 >> NO WAY TO KNOW. >> Reporter: LOTS OF OPEN 522 00:30:23,923 --> 00:30:26,693 QUESTIONS. SUSAN AND BILL FELT THE ITALIANS 523 00:30:26,693 --> 00:30:30,296 HAD STOPPED INVESTIGATING ONCE LONNIE LEFT AND NEVER REALLY 524 00:30:30,296 --> 00:30:36,636 LOOKED AT OTHER SUSPECTS THE FBI, ON THE OTHER HAND, WAS 525 00:30:36,636 --> 00:30:41,975 JUST GETTING STARTED >>> COMING UP -- 526 00:30:41,975 --> 00:30:44,077 >> HE HAD BUILT A GOOD STORY TO BOLSTER HIS DEFENSE FROM THE 527 00:30:44,077 --> 00:30:48,314 BEGINNING. >> THE FBI DIGS DEEP 528 00:30:48,314 --> 00:30:50,417 BUT WHAT WOULD THEY FIND >> HE JUST SAID, "SEE, I TOLD 529 00:30:50,417 --> 00:30:52,018 YOU. I TOLD YOU I DIDN'T DO 530 00:30:52,018 --> 00:30:52,252 I TOLD YOU I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING." 531 00:31:10,203 --> 00:31:15,075 EARLY CHILDHOOD WAS SPENT IN JAPAN. 532 00:31:15,075 --> 00:31:22,382 THE ONLY BOY WITH THREE SISTERS. MICKI WAS THE YOUNGEST 533 00:31:22,382 --> 00:31:24,651 THEIR FATHER LEFT HIS JOB AT A JAPANESE COAL MINE TO WORK ON A 534 00:31:24,651 --> 00:31:26,619 FARM IN CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL VALLEY 535 00:31:26,619 --> 00:31:28,221 EVENTUALLY, HE BROUGHT YOU ALL OVER HERE. 536 00:31:28,221 --> 00:31:33,560 >> 1960. BROUGHT THE WIFE AND THE FOUR 537 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:37,097 KIDS >> Reporter: THEY TRAVELED BY 538 00:31:37,097 --> 00:31:39,599 SHIP TO THEIR NEW HOME >> MICKI WAS MAYBE 5 OR 6, AND I 539 00:31:39,599 --> 00:31:43,103 WAS 8. I THINK WHEN YOU'RE THAT YOUNG, 540 00:31:43,103 --> 00:31:45,805 WE'RE HERE IN THIS STRANGE COUNTRY, BUT IT'S KIND OF 541 00:31:45,805 --> 00:31:47,807 SLIGHTLY EXCITING 'CAUSE WE'RE SO YOUNG 542 00:31:47,807 --> 00:31:51,111 WE DON'T COMPREHEND WHAT REALLY HAPPENED 543 00:31:51,111 --> 00:31:54,180 >> Reporter: DECADES LATER, TOSHI AND HIS WIFE CAROLYN WERE 544 00:31:54,180 --> 00:31:58,518 TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW MICKI HAD LOST HER LIFE IN ANOTHER 545 00:31:58,518 --> 00:32:02,155 COUNTRY, SO FAR FROM HOME. >> WE WERE DEVASTATED. 546 00:32:02,155 --> 00:32:07,961 HOW COULD THIS BE? ONE MINUTE SHE'S EXCITED, GOING 547 00:32:07,961 --> 00:32:10,096 ON THIS CRUISE AND THE NEXT, SHE'S NOT ALIVE 548 00:32:10,096 --> 00:32:13,800 ANYMORE. HOW CAN THIS BE? 549 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:16,970 WE WERE JUST COMPLETELY SHOCKED. >> Reporter: THE FBI WAS 550 00:32:16,970 --> 00:32:20,674 INVESTIGATING MICKI'S DEATH AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT HER 551 00:32:20,674 --> 00:32:26,780 RELATIONSHIP WITH LONNIE, INCLUDING THE CRISIS THEIR 552 00:32:26,780 --> 00:32:31,117 MARRIAGE FACED IN 1999 A CLIENT OF THE FIRM SAID LONNIE 553 00:32:31,117 --> 00:32:34,454 HAD DONE SOMETHING TERRIBLE. MICKI'S NIECE, JULIE SARANITA, 554 00:32:34,454 --> 00:32:37,123 HEARD ABOUT IT >> AN ACCUSATION CAME UP THAT HE 555 00:32:37,123 --> 00:32:41,995 HAD SEX WITH THE CLIENT'S DAUGHTER, AND THE CLIENT 556 00:32:41,995 --> 00:32:44,564 OBVIOUSLY WAS UPSET. AND WHAT MADE IT WORSE WAS SHE 557 00:32:44,564 --> 00:32:47,967 WAS A MINOR. AND HE DENIED IT AND SWORE UP 558 00:32:47,967 --> 00:32:50,370 AND DOWN THAT NOTHING HAPPENED >> Reporter: LONNIE WAS 559 00:32:50,370 --> 00:32:54,874 ARRESTED HE INSISTED HE WAS INNOCENT. 560 00:32:54,874 --> 00:32:58,478 AND MICKI STOOD BY HIM >> SHE WANTED TO BELIEVE HIM 561 00:32:58,478 --> 00:33:01,514 OF COURSE, SHE LOVED HIM >> Reporter: THE LAW FIRM FIRED 562 00:33:01,514 --> 00:33:04,751 LONNIE, AND HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBLE LEGAL PROBLEMS. 563 00:33:04,751 --> 00:33:11,524 >> HIS IDEA WAS TO DIVORCE TO PROTECT HIS ASSETS IN THE EVENT 564 00:33:11,524 --> 00:33:13,960 THAT HE GOT SUED SO EVERYTHING WENT IN HER NAME 565 00:33:13,960 --> 00:33:19,065 TEMPORARILY. >> Reporter: AND SO THE IDEA WAS 566 00:33:19,065 --> 00:33:21,634 THEY'D BE LEGALLY DIVORCED, BUT NOT ACTUALLY DIVORCED, AND MAYBE 567 00:33:21,634 --> 00:33:22,802 THEY'D GET TOGETHER AGAIN? >> THEY STAYED AS MAN AND WIFE, 568 00:33:22,802 --> 00:33:24,804 BUT ON PAPER THEY WERE LEGALLY DIVORCED 569 00:33:24,804 --> 00:33:28,074 >> Reporter: TO FIGHT THE SEX CHARGES, LONNIE TURNED TO HIS 570 00:33:28,074 --> 00:33:31,378 FRIENDS SUSAN McQUEEN AND BILL PRICE FOR HELP 571 00:33:31,378 --> 00:33:35,949 >> WE WERE TRACKING WHERE HE'D BEEN AT WHAT TIME, BY KEY CARDS 572 00:33:35,949 --> 00:33:38,918 AND LICENSE PLATES AND SO FORTH. AND APPARENTLY WE HAD HIM AT 573 00:33:38,918 --> 00:33:41,221 WORK WHEN HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WHERE THEY CLAIMED HE WAS. 574 00:33:41,221 --> 00:33:46,393 >> Reporter: LONNIE WAS NEVER PROSECUTED AND THE CHARGES WERE 575 00:33:46,393 --> 00:33:48,161 LATER DROPPED. IS YOUR WORK RELATED TO WHY HE 576 00:33:48,161 --> 00:33:50,797 WAS NEVER PROSECUTED FOR THAT? >> I LIKE TO THINK SO. 577 00:33:50,797 --> 00:33:54,968 >> Reporter: EVEN SO, THINGS WERE TENSE BETWEEN LONNIE AND 578 00:33:54,968 --> 00:33:57,103 MICKI. BILL SAYS LONNIE WOULD SOMETIMES 579 00:33:57,103 --> 00:34:00,473 CALL HIM IN MID-ARGUMENT >> HE'D SAY, "LISTEN, SHE'S OUT 580 00:34:00,473 --> 00:34:02,842 OF CONTROL." AND THEN HE'D SAY, "DON'T YOU 581 00:34:02,842 --> 00:34:05,211 DARE HIT ME" AND STUFF LIKE THAT 582 00:34:05,211 --> 00:34:08,682 AND -- AND YOU WOULD HEAR CRASH. YOU'D HEAR THINGS BREAKING IN 583 00:34:08,682 --> 00:34:13,219 THE BACKGROUND AND WHEN HE TOLD ME THAT SHE'S 584 00:34:13,219 --> 00:34:17,090 DRINKING AND SHE WENT THROUGH A BOTTLE OF WINE, AND SHE'S NASTY, 585 00:34:17,090 --> 00:34:19,325 I'M THINKING, "WHY ARE YOU PUTTING UP WITH THIS?" 586 00:34:19,325 --> 00:34:23,063 >> Reporter: MICKI'S FRIEND SUE NEVER HEARD ABOUT ANY OF THAT. 587 00:34:23,063 --> 00:34:26,800 IN FACT, SUE HAD NO IDEA MICKI WAS EVEN DIVORCED. 588 00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:28,902 SO SHE WAS REALLY SORT OF HIDING A LOT OF THINGS THAT WENT ON IN 589 00:34:28,902 --> 00:34:33,139 HER LIFE FROM -- >> HIDING BIG THINGS 590 00:34:33,139 --> 00:34:35,241 >> Reporter: ONE MORE THING FBI SPECIAL AGENT RICK SIMPSON 591 00:34:35,241 --> 00:34:40,080 LEARNED. AT THE TIME OF MICKI'S DEATH, 592 00:34:40,080 --> 00:34:42,148 THE COUPLE'S ASSETS WERE WORTH ALMOST $2 MILLION, INCLUDING 593 00:34:42,148 --> 00:34:44,951 THAT BEAUTIFUL HOME IN ORANGE COUNTY 594 00:34:44,951 --> 00:34:47,454 WHEN MICKI DIED, ALL OF IT WENT TO LONNIE. 595 00:34:47,454 --> 00:34:51,691 THAT SOUNDS LIKE A MOTIVE. >> IT DOES 596 00:34:51,691 --> 00:34:55,762 >> Reporter: EXCEPT NO ONE HAD SEEN OR HEARD LONNIE FIGHTING 597 00:34:55,762 --> 00:35:00,500 WITH MICKI ON THE CRUISE SHIP. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE HE'D BEEN 598 00:35:00,500 --> 00:35:02,268 THE ONE TO HARM HER IN ANY WAY, LET ALONE KILL HER AND THROW HER 599 00:35:02,268 --> 00:35:04,938 OVERBOARD. AND LONNIE'S ACCOUNT NEVER 600 00:35:04,938 --> 00:35:07,574 CHANGED. HE TOOK TWO AMBIEN, WENT TO 601 00:35:07,574 --> 00:35:13,279 SLEEP, AND SHE LEFT TO GO GET HERBAL TEA 602 00:35:13,279 --> 00:35:16,583 >> HE HAD BUILT A GOOD STORY, IF YOU WILL, TO BOLSTER HIS DEFENSE 603 00:35:16,583 --> 00:35:19,686 FROM THE BEGINNING >> Reporter: OF COURSE, IT WAS 604 00:35:19,686 --> 00:35:21,354 POSSIBLE LONNIE WAS SIMPLY TELLING THE TRUTH. 605 00:35:21,354 --> 00:35:25,592 WHILE THE FBI SUSPECTED HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MICKI'S DEATH, 606 00:35:25,592 --> 00:35:29,829 THE BUREAU DIDN'T HAVE MUCH EVIDENCE TO BACK UP THAT 607 00:35:29,829 --> 00:35:32,532 SUSPICION. IN DECEMBER 2006, THE U.S. 608 00:35:32,532 --> 00:35:36,169 ATTORNEY BROUGHT THE CASE TO A FEDERAL GRAND JURY 609 00:35:36,169 --> 00:35:41,474 EXCEPT THE GRAND JURY'S ROLE WAS ONLY TO INVESTIGATE, NOT TO 610 00:35:41,474 --> 00:35:45,779 ISSUE AN INDICTMENT. IF YOU HAD PROOF THAT LONNIE HAD 611 00:35:45,779 --> 00:35:50,917 KILLED HIS EX-WIFE, YOU WOULD HAVE TAKEN THAT TO A GRAND JURY 612 00:35:50,917 --> 00:35:53,119 AND GOTTEN AN INDICTMENT AND I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT YOU 613 00:35:53,119 --> 00:35:58,958 DIDN'T DO THAT BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING 614 00:35:58,958 --> 00:36:02,696 REALLY TO PROVE THAT BEYOND YOUR SUSPICIONS 615 00:36:02,696 --> 00:36:06,866 >> WE IN THE FBI ARE INVESTIGATORS, AND OUR ROLE IS 616 00:36:06,866 --> 00:36:08,601 TO FIND FACTS. WHETHER A CASE IS PRESENTED TO A 617 00:36:08,601 --> 00:36:09,502 GRAND JURY, THAT'S A PROSECUTORIAL DECISION 618 00:36:09,502 --> 00:36:11,104 >> Reporter: AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT APPARENTLY DECIDED 619 00:36:11,104 --> 00:36:13,640 THERE WASN'T ENOUGH TO GO FORWARD AT THAT POINT? 620 00:36:13,640 --> 00:36:18,044 >> AT SOME POINT, THEY MADE THAT DETERMINATION. 621 00:36:18,044 --> 00:36:21,281 >> Reporter: SO THE GRAND JURY MET, AND NO CHARGES WERE FILED 622 00:36:21,281 --> 00:36:23,917 AGAINST LONNIE >> HE JUST SAID, "SEE, I TOLD 623 00:36:23,917 --> 00:36:26,720 YA." HE SAID, "I TOLD YOU I DIDN'T DO 624 00:36:26,720 --> 00:36:30,390 ANYTHING." >> Reporter: TO LONNIE, IT MUST 625 00:36:30,390 --> 00:36:32,826 HAVE FELT LIKE VINDICATION TO HIS FRIEND BILL PRICE, IT WAS 626 00:36:32,826 --> 00:36:37,864 STARTING TO FEEL LIKE SOMETHING ELSE 627 00:36:37,864 --> 00:36:40,633 >>> COMING UP -- A PLAN TO HELP PROVE LONNIE'S 628 00:36:40,633 --> 00:36:44,070 INNOCENCE. >> I SAID, "LET'S SHOW THE FBI 629 00:36:44,070 --> 00:36:48,274 THAT YOU HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE. >> AND A SECRET ABOUT THE OTHER 630 00:36:48,274 --> 00:36:50,844 WOMAN IN LONNIE'S LIFE >> Reporter: EXPLAIN TO ME HOW 631 00:36:50,844 --> 00:36:54,514 LONNIE KEPT THIS HIDDEN FROM EVERYBODY. 632 00:36:54,514 --> 00:37:19,139 >> CRAFTY. BILL PRICE ARE PROOF YOU CAN 633 00:37:19,139 --> 00:37:22,342 SPEND YEARS AS A DOGGED AND DETERMINED INVESTIGATOR, ONLY TO 634 00:37:22,342 --> 00:37:26,813 HAVE THAT TOUGH EXTERIOR MELT AWAY AS EASILY AS YOUR PRIZE 635 00:37:26,813 --> 00:37:32,919 MASTIFFS CAN DROOL >> DOGS BRING YOU LOVE 636 00:37:32,919 --> 00:37:34,587 YOU CAN LEAVE FOR FIVE MINUTES, COME BACK AND THEIR TAILS ARE 637 00:37:34,587 --> 00:37:36,623 WAGGING. THEY ACT LIKE THEY HAVEN'T SEEN 638 00:37:36,623 --> 00:37:39,292 YOU IN YEARS >> Reporter: BILL ORGANIZES AND 639 00:37:39,292 --> 00:37:46,700 RUNS DOG SHOWS FOR THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB. 640 00:37:46,700 --> 00:37:50,437 SUSAN IS A PROFESSIONAL HANDLER. TRAINING A CHAMPION REQUIRES 641 00:37:50,437 --> 00:37:55,175 SOME SIGNIFICANT INSTINCT DOESN'T IT 642 00:37:55,175 --> 00:37:58,244 >> YES, IT DOES. >> Reporter: AND FROM THE 643 00:37:58,244 --> 00:38:00,413 BEGINNING, SUSAN'S INVESTIGATIVE INSTINCTS HAD TOLD HER, HER 644 00:38:00,413 --> 00:38:05,185 FRIEND LONNIE KOCONTES WAS NO KILLER 645 00:38:05,185 --> 00:38:06,786 BILL THOUGHT THE SAME. >> I'M THINKING I KNOW THIS GUY 646 00:38:06,786 --> 00:38:10,023 FOR THOSE YEARS. I KNOW HOW HE RESPONDS TO DOGS 647 00:38:10,023 --> 00:38:15,261 AND ANIMALS. HE'S NO MURDERER 648 00:38:15,261 --> 00:38:17,764 >> Reporter: AND TO PROVE IT, BILL CAME UP WITH A PLAN 649 00:38:17,764 --> 00:38:23,837 >> I SAID, "I'LL GET HIM TO TAKE A POLYGRAPH. 650 00:38:23,837 --> 00:38:25,872 I SAID, "LETS SHOW THE FBI THAT YOU HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE AND 651 00:38:25,872 --> 00:38:28,742 YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS TEST." >> Reporter: LONNIE AGREED 652 00:38:28,742 --> 00:38:32,212 HE WAS NOW LIVING IN FLORIDA, SO BILL SET UP THE TEST WITH A 653 00:38:32,212 --> 00:38:34,848 FRIEND NAMED MIKE BRENTNELL, WHO WAS ALSO AN EXPERT POLYGRAPH 654 00:38:34,848 --> 00:38:39,119 EXAMINER LONNIE ANSWERED 11 QUESTIONS, 655 00:38:39,119 --> 00:38:43,857 INCLUDING -- DID YOU KILL MICKI 656 00:38:43,857 --> 00:38:47,060 DID YOU CAUSE THE DEATH OF MICKI KANESAKI 657 00:38:47,060 --> 00:38:49,696 WERE YOU PRESENT WHEN MICKI WAS KILLED 658 00:38:49,696 --> 00:38:53,400 THE EXAMINER ASKED THOSE QUESTIONS THREE TIMES. 659 00:38:53,400 --> 00:38:57,637 THE RESULTS WERE NOT WHAT BILL PRICE HAD HOPED FOR. 660 00:38:57,637 --> 00:39:02,409 >> THEY CAME OUT LONNIE SAID, "I HAVE TO USE THE 661 00:39:02,409 --> 00:39:06,279 BATHROOM." AND AS HE WALKED AWAY, MIKE 662 00:39:06,279 --> 00:39:08,748 SAID, "YOU IN ON THIS? I SAID, "YOU WANT TO REPEAT THAT 663 00:39:08,748 --> 00:39:11,918 AGAIN? AM I IN ON IT? 664 00:39:11,918 --> 00:39:15,622 IN ON WHAT?" HE SAYS, "YOU KNOW HE'S GUILTY." 665 00:39:15,622 --> 00:39:18,024 AND I SAYS, "IS THIS A JOKE? HE SAID, "NO," AND I SAID, "HE'S 666 00:39:18,024 --> 00:39:20,427 GUILTY?" I SAID, "MIKE, THIS ISN'T 667 00:39:20,427 --> 00:39:23,063 FUNNY. HE SAID, "I'M NOT TRYING TO BE 668 00:39:23,063 --> 00:39:25,165 FUNNY. SO I TOOK A DEEP BREATH, AND 669 00:39:25,165 --> 00:39:29,936 THAT'S WHEN IT FLASHES BEFORE YOU. 670 00:39:29,936 --> 00:39:32,672 THE LITTLE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO OVERLOOK. 671 00:39:32,672 --> 00:39:35,241 >> Reporter: LITTLE THINGS LIKE THE HEIGHT OF THE RAILING ON THE 672 00:39:35,241 --> 00:39:38,044 "ISLAND ESCAPE." AND THE REALIZATION OF HOW 673 00:39:38,044 --> 00:39:44,284 DIFFICULT IT WOULD BE FOR THE 5'3" MICKI TO GO OFF THAT 674 00:39:44,284 --> 00:39:47,053 BALCONY BY ACCIDENT. NOW BILL'S INVESTIGATOR'S BRAIN 675 00:39:47,053 --> 00:39:50,156 WAS TELLING HIM, ALONG WITH THE POLYGRAPH, THAT LONNIE KNEW MORE 676 00:39:50,156 --> 00:39:55,695 THAN HE WAS SAYING AS MUCH AS HE WANTED TO BELIEVE 677 00:39:55,695 --> 00:39:59,065 LONNIE WAS INNOCENT, THE EVIDENCE WAS POINTING ELSEWHERE. 678 00:39:59,065 --> 00:40:00,133 >> Reporter: NOW YOU'RE THINKING, "AM I BEING PLAYED FOR 679 00:40:00,133 --> 00:40:03,870 A FOOL HERE? >> YES 680 00:40:03,870 --> 00:40:06,473 I WASN'T WILLING TO ACCEPT IT BUT I'M THINKING ABOUT IT. 681 00:40:06,473 --> 00:40:10,944 YES. >> Reporter: WHAT TO DO ABOUT 682 00:40:10,944 --> 00:40:13,079 THAT NAGGING FEELING WELL, DURING THE TIME HE'D BEEN 683 00:40:13,079 --> 00:40:17,117 HELPING LONNIE, BILL HAD ALSO BEEN TALKING WITH FBI SPECIAL 684 00:40:17,117 --> 00:40:20,320 AGENT RICK SIMPSON >> I THINK HE WAS WORKING HARD 685 00:40:20,320 --> 00:40:23,757 TO KIND OF NAVIGATE HIS OWN INTERNAL CONTRADICTIONS, RIGHT 686 00:40:23,757 --> 00:40:27,427 HE WAS TRYING TO NAVIGATE HIS OWN MORAL COMPASS IN THAT 687 00:40:27,427 --> 00:40:28,795 SITUATION. IT'S A DIFFICULT SITUATION 688 00:40:28,795 --> 00:40:31,631 >> Reporter: IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAD SOME SYMPATHY FOR WHAT BILL 689 00:40:31,631 --> 00:40:35,101 WAS GOING THROUGH. >> YES -- I DO 690 00:40:35,101 --> 00:40:38,438 >> Reporter: YOU WERE CONVINCED BILL WAS A STRAIGHT SHOOTER? 691 00:40:38,438 --> 00:40:41,474 HE WASN'T SLANTING THINGS TOWARDS LONNIE'S INTERESTS WHEN 692 00:40:41,474 --> 00:40:44,110 HE WOULD TALK WITH YOU >> I DIDN'T HAVE -- ANY -- ANY 693 00:40:44,110 --> 00:40:48,882 DOUBT THAT BILL WAS BEING HONEST WITH US. 694 00:40:48,882 --> 00:40:51,618 >> Reporter: HE COULDN'T SAY THE SAME ABOUT LONNIE KOCONTES 695 00:40:51,618 --> 00:40:54,721 SPECIAL AGENT SIMPSON HAD BEEN KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON LONNIE'S 696 00:40:54,721 --> 00:41:00,560 FINANCES WHEN MICKI DIED, LONNIE 697 00:41:00,560 --> 00:41:03,329 INHERITED ALL HER MONEY AND MOVED IT TO AN OVERSEAS BANK 698 00:41:03,329 --> 00:41:05,865 >> I THINK HE MOVED IT OFFSHORE BECAUSE HE KNEW HE HAD MURDERED 699 00:41:05,865 --> 00:41:08,501 MICKI, AND THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY CAME FROM AND HE KNEW WHAT 700 00:41:08,501 --> 00:41:12,205 THAT MEANT THAT'S MY CONCLUSION 701 00:41:12,205 --> 00:41:16,976 >> Reporter: OFFSHORE. THAT MONEY WAS UNTOUCHABLE 702 00:41:16,976 --> 00:41:20,146 THEN WHEN LONNIE TRIED TO REPATRIATE MORE THAN $1,000,000 703 00:41:20,146 --> 00:41:22,282 TO A BANK IN FLORIDA, AGENT SIMPSON POUNCED. 704 00:41:22,282 --> 00:41:25,452 THE FEDS SEIZED THE MONEY AND BEGAN A CIVIL CASE AGAINST 705 00:41:25,452 --> 00:41:29,122 LONNIE, WHO HIRED ATTORNEY DAVID MICHAEL. 706 00:41:29,122 --> 00:41:30,724 >> Reporter: WHY WAS LONNIE MOVING HIS MONEY AROUND THE 707 00:41:30,724 --> 00:41:35,495 WORLD? >> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT HE 708 00:41:35,495 --> 00:41:40,900 WAS TRYING TO DO SOME OVERSEAS FINANCIAL INVESTMENT WHERE SOME 709 00:41:40,900 --> 00:41:42,736 COUNTRY WAS PAYING HIGH INTEREST RATES FOR U.S. CURRENCY. 710 00:41:42,736 --> 00:41:44,504 >> Reporter: IN OTHER WORDS, LONNIE WASN'T TRYING TO HIDE 711 00:41:44,504 --> 00:41:48,241 THAT MONEY HE WAS MERELY INVESTING IT 712 00:41:48,241 --> 00:41:51,411 LONNIE'S ATTORNEY ARGUED IN THE CIVIL ASSET CASE THAT THE 713 00:41:51,411 --> 00:41:53,513 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULDN'T PROVE LONNIE WAS GUILTY OF 714 00:41:53,513 --> 00:41:56,716 KILLING MICKI TO GET HIS HANDS ON HER MONEY 715 00:41:56,716 --> 00:42:03,623 SO THEY HAD NO RIGHT TO SEIZE IT 716 00:42:03,623 --> 00:42:04,657 AND -- HE WON. >> THAT'S WHEN THE FEDERAL 717 00:42:04,657 --> 00:42:06,292 GOVERNMENT WENT TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY 718 00:42:06,292 --> 00:42:08,361 >> Reporter: THE GOVERNMENT HAD LOST, BUT IT WASN'T OVER 719 00:42:08,361 --> 00:42:12,065 THE U.S. ATTORNEY HANDLING THAT CIVIL CASE SENT SEVERAL BOXES OF 720 00:42:12,065 --> 00:42:15,769 EVIDENCE HERE -- TO THE ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, DISTRICT 721 00:42:15,769 --> 00:42:20,573 ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. >> AND HE SAID, "I JUST THINK 722 00:42:20,573 --> 00:42:24,077 THERE'S MORE TO THIS CASE. CAN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT IT FOR 723 00:42:24,077 --> 00:42:25,378 CRIMINAL LIABILITY?" >> Reporter: SUSAN PRICE, NO 724 00:42:25,378 --> 00:42:29,582 RELATION TO BILL, IS AN ASSISTANT D.A. 725 00:42:29,582 --> 00:42:35,922 SHE AND DEPUTY D.A. SETON HUNT LEARNED THAT IN FLORIDA, LONNIE 726 00:42:35,922 --> 00:42:37,090 HAD MARRIED AGAIN. THEN SOMETHING ELSE IN THE CASE 727 00:42:37,090 --> 00:42:40,860 FILE REALLY CAUGHT THEIR ATTENTION. 728 00:42:40,860 --> 00:42:45,999 IT WAS ANOTHER WOMAN, ANOTHER EX-WIFE. 729 00:42:45,999 --> 00:42:50,370 >> Reporter: WHO'S AMY NGUYEN? >> AMY NGUYEN IS A TEACHER 730 00:42:50,370 --> 00:42:54,474 SHE'S ORIGINALLY FROM VIETNAM. >> Reporter: AMY IS THE WOMAN 731 00:42:54,474 --> 00:42:57,644 LONNIE WENT TO SEE IN CALIFORNIA AFTER HE CAME BACK FROM ITALY. 732 00:42:57,644 --> 00:43:01,915 HERE SHE IS IN A PHOTO FROM THE SCHOOL WHERE SHE'S A FIFTH GRADE 733 00:43:01,915 --> 00:43:05,618 TEACHER. AMY AND LONNIE HAD MET ONLINE. 734 00:43:05,618 --> 00:43:09,322 >> AMY LOVED LONNIE. I DON'T THINK SHE EXPECTED AS 735 00:43:09,322 --> 00:43:13,626 MUCH FROM HIM AS I THINK HE PROBABLY THOUGHT MICKI EXPECTED 736 00:43:13,626 --> 00:43:16,129 OF HIM >> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS 737 00:43:16,129 --> 00:43:19,966 DISCOVERED AMY WASN'T JUST LONNIE'S GIRLFRIEND. 738 00:43:19,966 --> 00:43:23,603 SHE'D BEEN HIS WIFE. THEY MARRIED IN JULY 2005, BUT 739 00:43:23,603 --> 00:43:27,140 IT ONLY LASTED A FEW MONTHS BEFORE LONNIE DIVORCED AMY AND 740 00:43:27,140 --> 00:43:31,611 RETURNED TO MICKI. JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER THAT, 741 00:43:31,611 --> 00:43:36,349 LONNIE BOOKED THE CRUISE AND THEN, AFTER MICKI WENT 742 00:43:36,349 --> 00:43:40,086 OVERBOARD, LONNIE'S FIRST STOP IN THE U.S. WAS AT AMY'S HOUSE, 743 00:43:40,086 --> 00:43:52,766 TO CONTINUE A RELATIONSHIP LONNIE HAD LARGELY KEPT SECRET 744 00:43:52,766 --> 00:43:53,967 EXPLAIN TO ME HOW LONNIE KEPT THIS ENTIRE RELATIONSHIP, THIS 745 00:43:53,967 --> 00:43:55,168 MARRIAGE WITH AMY NGUYEN, SORT OF HIDDEN FROM EVERYBODY, 746 00:43:55,168 --> 00:43:56,236 INCLUDING YOU, I GUESS >> I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR 747 00:43:56,236 --> 00:43:57,937 YOU. CRAFTY 748 00:43:57,937 --> 00:44:03,877 I MEAN, HE'S A SMART MAN >> Reporter: BILL SAID HE TOO 749 00:44:03,877 --> 00:44:06,513 WAS COMPLETELY IN THE DARK >> LONNIE HAD BOUGHT A HUGE 750 00:44:06,513 --> 00:44:10,750 HOUSE AND A VERY NICE LEXUS FOR AMY NGUYEN 751 00:44:10,750 --> 00:44:12,352 >> Reporter: UNBEKNOWNST TO MICKI? 752 00:44:12,352 --> 00:44:15,055 >> UNBEKNOWNST TO ME TOO THIS IS MY FRIEND. 753 00:44:15,055 --> 00:44:19,859 >> Reporter: WELL, IF LONNIE PLANNED A FUTURE WITH AMY, IT 754 00:44:19,859 --> 00:44:23,563 DIDN'T PAN OUT IN EARLY 2007, WHEN HE SOLD HIS 755 00:44:23,563 --> 00:44:27,734 HOME AND LEFT CALIFORNIA FOR FLORIDA, HE LEFT AMY TOO 756 00:44:27,734 --> 00:44:28,802 HOWEVER, THE FBI KNEW ALL ABOUT AMY. 757 00:44:28,802 --> 00:44:32,439 IN FACT, SHE HAD TESTIFIED BEFORE THAT FEDERAL GRAND JURY 758 00:44:32,439 --> 00:44:33,506 >> Reporter: WHAT ESSENTIALLY WAS HER STORY? 759 00:44:33,506 --> 00:44:35,608 >> THAT SHE KNEW NOTHING, THAT TO HER KNOWLEDGE HE HAD NO 760 00:44:35,608 --> 00:44:38,812 INTENT >> Reporter: BASICALLY IN FRONT 761 00:44:38,812 --> 00:44:41,448 OF THE GRAND JURY HER TESTIMONY WAS, "I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING 762 00:44:41,448 --> 00:44:43,550 ABOUT ANY PLAN TO DO AWAY WITH MICKI, AND HE DIDN'T SAY 763 00:44:43,550 --> 00:44:45,885 ANYTHING ABOUT IT, AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING TO ANY 764 00:44:45,885 --> 00:44:50,423 OF IT. >> CORRECT 765 00:44:50,423 --> 00:44:54,127 >> Reporter: AFTER HIS ASSETS WERE SEIZED BY THE FBI IN LATE 766 00:44:54,127 --> 00:44:55,628 2008, LONNIE WANTED TO KNOW IF AMY WAS STILL STICKING WITH THAT 767 00:44:55,628 --> 00:45:01,568 STORY. APPARENTLY HE THOUGHT AMY MIGHT 768 00:45:01,568 --> 00:45:05,872 BE UPSET WITH HIM AFTER THINGS BETWEEN THEM HADN'T WORKED OUT 769 00:45:05,872 --> 00:45:09,542 SO, IN JANUARY 2009, LONNIE ASKED SUSAN AND BILL TO VISIT 770 00:45:09,542 --> 00:45:12,145 AMY. DESPITE BILL'S MISGIVINGS ABOUT 771 00:45:12,145 --> 00:45:17,517 LONNIE, THEY AGREED. AND THAT CONVERSATION CHANGED 772 00:45:17,517 --> 00:45:19,853 EVERYTHING >>> COMING UP -- 773 00:45:19,853 --> 00:45:22,756 >> THIS JUST WENT INTO A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DIRECTION 774 00:45:22,756 --> 00:45:27,527 THAN I HAD ANY EXPECTATION OF HEARING. 775 00:45:27,527 --> 00:45:30,263 >> A BOMBSHELL OF A STORY! CAPTURED ON TAPE 776 00:45:30,263 --> 00:45:33,500 >> YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE BEING RECORDED 777 00:45:33,500 --> 00:45:34,467 >> YES >> HER FEAR TOLD ME SHE WAS 778 00:45:34,467 --> 00:45:35,468 TELLING THE TRUTH. WITH US. 779 00:45:35,468 --> 00:45:36,169 YOU CAN'T CREATE THAT KINDA FEAR 780 00:45:57,323 --> 00:45:59,092 SINCE MICKI KANESAKI PLUNGED FROM THE DECK OF A CRUISE SHIP, 781 00:45:59,092 --> 00:46:01,428 DEAD BEFORE SHE HIT THE WATERS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN 782 00:46:01,428 --> 00:46:04,064 PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS SUSAN McQUEEN AND BILL PRICE SAILED 783 00:46:04,064 --> 00:46:09,336 THOSE SAME WATERS, RETRACED THOSE STEPS ON THE "ISLAND 784 00:46:09,336 --> 00:46:15,175 ESCAPE." ALL TO PROVE THEIR FRIEND LONNIE 785 00:46:15,175 --> 00:46:20,046 KOCONTES DID NOT KILL MICKI. >> IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM POSSIBLE. 786 00:46:20,046 --> 00:46:21,548 IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM POSSIBLE >> Reporter: BILL AGREED AT 787 00:46:21,548 --> 00:46:25,352 FIRST. AND THEN, OVER TIME, HE CAME TO 788 00:46:25,352 --> 00:46:27,887 BELIEVE IT DID SEEM POSSIBLE >> MY GUT WAS TELLING ME HE WAS 789 00:46:27,887 --> 00:46:33,560 GUILTY AS HELL BY THIS TIME. I HAD TO FIGHT WITH THAT PART, 790 00:46:33,560 --> 00:46:38,465 WRESTLE WITH IT. AND SLOWLY, I WAS MOVING AWAY 791 00:46:38,465 --> 00:46:42,702 FROM THE FRIENDSHIP BECAUSE I WASN'T COMFORTABLE WITH IT 792 00:46:42,702 --> 00:46:46,406 >> Reporter: EVEN SO, AT LONNIE'S REQUEST, THEY AGREED TO 793 00:46:46,406 --> 00:46:50,744 MEET WITH HIS EX-WIFE, AMY NGUYEN, A WOMAN LONNIE HAD 794 00:46:50,744 --> 00:46:52,912 MARRIED AND THEN DIVORCED. ALL OF IT UNBEKNOWNST TO BOTH OF 795 00:46:52,912 --> 00:46:59,753 THEM >> I THINK SHE WAS GENUINELY 796 00:46:59,753 --> 00:47:00,553 HURT SHE REALLY THOUGHT THAT SHE HAD 797 00:47:00,553 --> 00:47:03,723 A RELATIONSHIP THAT SHE WAS MOVING FORWARD WITH THERE. 798 00:47:03,723 --> 00:47:04,758 >> Reporter: SHE LOVED LONNIE? >> I BELIEVE SHE DID 799 00:47:04,758 --> 00:47:05,625 >> Reporter: YOU THINK LONNIE LOVED HER? 800 00:47:05,625 --> 00:47:07,627 >> I BELIEVE HE DID. >> Reporter: LONNIE ASKED HIS 801 00:47:07,627 --> 00:47:11,798 FRIENDS AND INVESTIGATORS TO CONFIRM WHAT AMY HAD ALREADY 802 00:47:11,798 --> 00:47:16,169 TOLD THE FBI, THAT SHE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT MICKI'S DEATH. 803 00:47:16,169 --> 00:47:21,574 THE MEETING HAPPENED IN JANUARY 2009, 3 YEARS AFTER THAT FATAL 804 00:47:21,574 --> 00:47:24,044 CRUISE BILL STAYED IN THE CAR 805 00:47:24,044 --> 00:47:27,580 SUSAN'S INSTINCTS TOLD HER SHE MIGHT DO BETTER WITH AMY ONE ON 806 00:47:27,580 --> 00:47:31,451 ONE. >> I MEET WITH HER, AND I TALK 807 00:47:31,451 --> 00:47:33,787 TO HER ABOUT WHAT KIND OF CONTACT HAS SHE HAD, WHO'S BEEN 808 00:47:33,787 --> 00:47:35,689 CALLING HER FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHAT ARE THEIR 809 00:47:35,689 --> 00:47:39,759 QUESTIONS, HOW IS SHE FEELING, HOW DOES SHE FEEL ABOUT LONNIE 810 00:47:39,759 --> 00:47:42,062 WE GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE THINGS, AND THEN SHE STARTS TO 811 00:47:42,062 --> 00:47:45,231 BECOME VERY EMOTIONAL. AND THIS JUST WENT INTO A 812 00:47:45,231 --> 00:47:47,867 COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DIRECTION THAN I HAD ANY EXPECTATION OF 813 00:47:47,867 --> 00:47:53,206 HEARING. >> Reporter: AMY NGUYEN BEGAN TO 814 00:47:53,206 --> 00:47:54,741 TELL A STORY THAT WAS THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE OF WHAT SHE'D 815 00:47:54,741 --> 00:47:59,379 SAID UNDER OATH TO A FEDERAL GRAND JURY 816 00:47:59,379 --> 00:48:02,682 NOW SHE TOLD SUSAN THAT LONNIE HAD PLANNED TO KILL MICKI ON THE 817 00:48:02,682 --> 00:48:06,286 CRUISE AND BOOKED THE "ISLAND ESCAPE" SPECIFICALLY TO GET AWAY 818 00:48:06,286 --> 00:48:13,259 WITH IT. THERE WAS MORE, AMY SAID 819 00:48:13,259 --> 00:48:15,362 LONNIE DIDN'T DO IT ALONE. HE TOLD AMY HIS WELL CONNECTED 820 00:48:15,362 --> 00:48:20,033 FRIEND HELPED HIM ARRANGE MICKI'S MURDER 821 00:48:20,033 --> 00:48:24,904 THAT FRIEND'S NAME - BILL PRICE 822 00:48:24,904 --> 00:48:28,641 IN THAT CONVERSATION, AMY DESCRIBES BILL AS BEING SORT 823 00:48:28,641 --> 00:48:31,277 OF - >> THIS MAFIA HIT MAN. 824 00:48:31,277 --> 00:48:33,380 >> Reporter: YEAH, THIS GUY WHO SORT OF HAS THESE -- THIS ARMY 825 00:48:33,380 --> 00:48:36,750 OF ASSASSINS THAT HE CAN SEND OUT AFTER WHOMEVER 826 00:48:36,750 --> 00:48:39,219 >> EXACTLY >> Reporter: WHICH, AS YOU CAN 827 00:48:39,219 --> 00:48:41,321 IMAGINE, WAS NEWS TO BILL'S PARTNER, SUSAN 828 00:48:41,321 --> 00:48:46,359 NOT THAT SHE BELIEVED IT JUST THE OPPOSITE. 829 00:48:46,359 --> 00:48:48,762 BUT SHE ALSO REALIZED IF AMY BELIEVED IT, THAT HAD TO BE 830 00:48:48,762 --> 00:48:51,931 BECAUSE OF LONNIE. >> SO AT SOME POINT IN THIS 831 00:48:51,931 --> 00:48:54,601 INTERVIEW, I WAVED TO BILL TO COME OUT OF THE CAR. 832 00:48:54,601 --> 00:48:56,803 >> Reporter: DOES AMY KNOW THAT BILL'S OUTSIDE AT THAT EXACT 833 00:48:56,803 --> 00:48:58,905 MOMENT >> SHE HAD NO IDEA HE WAS WITH 834 00:48:58,905 --> 00:49:01,474 ME >> Reporter: BILL WALKED OVER, 835 00:49:01,474 --> 00:49:03,677 AND THEY TURNED ON A RECORDER. >> YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE BEING 836 00:49:03,677 --> 00:49:06,880 RECORDED >> YES 837 00:49:06,880 --> 00:49:12,052 >> OKAY. CAN YOU PLEASE SAY THE THINGS 838 00:49:12,052 --> 00:49:14,187 THAT LONNIE TOLD YOU ABOUT BILL? >> UH, WHICH ONE DO YOU WANT 839 00:49:14,187 --> 00:49:16,823 WHERE DO YOU WANT ME TO START? >> UH, HOW ABOUT WITH HIS 840 00:49:16,823 --> 00:49:22,629 CONNECTION REGARDING THE CRUISE SHIP 841 00:49:22,629 --> 00:49:27,400 >> LONNIE TOLD ME THAT, UH, BILL HAD A CONNECTION -- A BIG 842 00:49:27,400 --> 00:49:30,570 CONNECTION -- THAT UH, HE WOULD HAVE -- HE'D JUST HAVE HIS 843 00:49:30,570 --> 00:49:36,943 PEOPLE COME AND DO THAT. >> DO WHAT 844 00:49:36,943 --> 00:49:38,044 >> THROW MICKI >> THROW MICKI 845 00:49:38,044 --> 00:49:41,715 >> OUT OF THE BOAT >> OUT OF THE BOAT 846 00:49:41,715 --> 00:49:44,884 OKAY UM - 847 00:49:44,884 --> 00:49:47,520 >> THAT'S WHAT HE SAID >> Reporter: BILL HAD QUESTIONS 848 00:49:47,520 --> 00:49:48,655 TOO. >> DID HE SAY HOW MUCH HE PAID 849 00:49:48,655 --> 00:49:55,128 ME >> HE DIDN'T TELL ME HOW MUCH. 850 00:49:55,128 --> 00:49:56,529 >> INTERESTING >> NOW, WAS THIS - 851 00:49:56,529 --> 00:49:57,697 >> HE MAKES UP STORIES, AND I -- DON'T KNOW WHY HE -- 852 00:49:57,697 --> 00:50:02,902 >> DID HE -- DID HE SAY ALL THIS BEFORE THE INCIDENT, OR AFTER 853 00:50:02,902 --> 00:50:05,005 THE INCIDENT >> IT WAS BEFORE THE INCIDENT. 854 00:50:05,005 --> 00:50:12,445 >> Reporter: HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHETHER AMY IS TELLING 855 00:50:12,445 --> 00:50:14,547 THE TRUTH TO YOU AND THEREFORE LYING AT THE GRAND JURY, OR 856 00:50:14,547 --> 00:50:20,453 WHETHER SHE WAS TELLING THE TRUTH AT THE GRAND JURY AND 857 00:50:20,453 --> 00:50:21,721 SHE'S LYING TO YOU BECAUSE SHE'S ANGRY BECAUSE AFTER ALL IS SAID 858 00:50:21,721 --> 00:50:24,090 AND DONE, HE DIDN'T COME BACK TO HER? 859 00:50:24,090 --> 00:50:26,826 >> HER FEAR TOLD ME SHE WAS TELLING THE TRUTH WITH US. 860 00:50:26,826 --> 00:50:30,964 YOU CAN'T CREATE THAT KIND OF FEAR 861 00:50:30,964 --> 00:50:32,032 >> Reporter: SHE WAS AFRAID OF LONNIE 862 00:50:32,032 --> 00:50:34,167 >> SHE WAS AFRAID OF LONNIE. SHE WAS AFRAID OF BILL 863 00:50:34,167 --> 00:50:35,735 >> Reporter: IT WAS A DOUBLE WHAMMY 864 00:50:35,735 --> 00:50:39,439 AMY SAID THAT LONNIE HAD PLANNED THE MURDER 865 00:50:39,439 --> 00:50:44,210 THAT WAS BAD ENOUGH. THEN SHE SAID LONNIE IMPLICATED 866 00:50:44,210 --> 00:50:47,914 BILL BEFORE THE CRUISE REMEMBER, LONNIE HAD INVITED 867 00:50:47,914 --> 00:50:51,084 BILL AND SUSAN TO COME ALONG THEY HAD TO CANCEL AT THE LAST 868 00:50:51,084 --> 00:50:53,219 MINUTE NOW IT BEGAN TO LOOK AS IF 869 00:50:53,219 --> 00:50:57,991 LONNIE'S INVITATION WAS PART OF THE PLAN TOO 870 00:50:57,991 --> 00:51:00,226 MAYBE HE'D ASKED BILL TO GO WITH HIM SO BILL COULD TAKE THE FALL 871 00:51:00,226 --> 00:51:03,830 FOR MICKI'S MURDER THAT'S YOUR FRIEND DOING THAT. 872 00:51:03,830 --> 00:51:06,466 >> MY FRIEND YES. 873 00:51:06,466 --> 00:51:09,436 >> Reporter: THE GUY THAT WAS NEARLY A BROTHER TO YOU. 874 00:51:09,436 --> 00:51:10,704 >> YES >> Reporter: THE GUY YOU HAD 875 00:51:10,704 --> 00:51:11,771 BEEN AN INVESTIGATOR FOR THE GUY YOU'D BEEN TO DINNER 876 00:51:11,771 --> 00:51:14,507 WITH THE GUY YOU'D DEFENDED 877 00:51:14,507 --> 00:51:15,542 >> YES >> Reporter: THE GUY YOU WERE 878 00:51:15,542 --> 00:51:19,279 TRYING TO EXONERATE. >> YES 879 00:51:19,279 --> 00:51:21,514 >> Reporter: I THINK YOU'RE LUCKY LONNIE WASN'T IN FRONT OF 880 00:51:21,514 --> 00:51:24,984 YOU AT THAT MOMENT >> I THINK THAT'S AN ACCURATE 881 00:51:24,984 --> 00:51:27,687 STATEMENT, YES >> THE ANGER AND FURY THAT I 882 00:51:27,687 --> 00:51:31,891 FELT AT THAT MOMENT WAS INCOMPREHENSIBLE 883 00:51:31,891 --> 00:51:33,993 >> Reporter: LONNIE WAS COUNTING ON THE TWO OF THEM TO PROVE HE 884 00:51:33,993 --> 00:51:36,663 WASN'T INVOLVED IN MICKI'S MURDER 885 00:51:36,663 --> 00:51:40,934 NOW THEY HAD EVIDENCE, ON TAPE, THAT HE WAS. 886 00:51:40,934 --> 00:51:44,437 >> LET ME MAKE SURE THAT CAME OUT -- 887 00:51:44,437 --> 00:51:48,308 >> OKAY. >> WHEN I FLEW BACK INTO TAMPA, 888 00:51:48,308 --> 00:51:49,843 I IMMEDIATELY CALLED HIM AT HIS HOUSE AND SAID, "I WANNA SEE 889 00:51:49,843 --> 00:51:52,545 YOU, AND I WANNA SEE YOU IN PERSON." 890 00:51:52,545 --> 00:51:56,282 HE STOOD IN MY DINING ROOM AREA, AND I SAID, "DID YOU TELL HER 891 00:51:56,282 --> 00:52:01,054 THAT I HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH MICKI'S DEATH? 892 00:52:01,054 --> 00:52:05,258 AND/OR THAT I HAD CONNECTIONS TO DO THIS? 893 00:52:05,258 --> 00:52:09,362 DID YOU MAKE HER BELIEVE THAT I HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH HER 894 00:52:09,362 --> 00:52:12,165 DEATH? "YEAH. 895 00:52:12,165 --> 00:52:14,801 I DID. I SAID, "WHY?" 896 00:52:14,801 --> 00:52:17,470 HE SAID, "I WANTED HER TO THINK I HAD POWER AND I WAS A BIG 897 00:52:17,470 --> 00:52:19,105 GUY. I SAID, "AND YOU SHOULD BE - 898 00:52:19,105 --> 00:52:20,807 KNOW THAT I HAVE A TAPE RECORDING, AND IT'S GOING TO THE 899 00:52:20,807 --> 00:52:23,276 FBI. >> Reporter: WHAT DID LONNIE SAY 900 00:52:23,276 --> 00:52:25,145 WHEN YOU SAID THAT >> "PLEASE DON'T 901 00:52:25,145 --> 00:52:29,649 I WAS JUST TRYING TO IMPRESS HER. 902 00:52:29,649 --> 00:52:31,751 I SAID, "OKAY. AND I SAID, "GET OUT OF MY HOUSE 903 00:52:31,751 --> 00:52:34,421 AND DON'T EVER COME NEAR ME. DON'T COME AROUND ME." 904 00:52:34,421 --> 00:52:39,693 I SAID, "I DON'T WANNA HEAR FROM YOU AGAIN. 905 00:52:39,693 --> 00:52:43,930 AND THEN, WHEN HE LEFT, I CALLED AGENT SIMPSON AND SAID, "I HAVE 906 00:52:43,930 --> 00:52:47,100 A RECORDING FOR YOU. >> HE'D CALLED AND SAID THAT HE 907 00:52:47,100 --> 00:52:51,438 AND SUSAN HAD GONE TO SEE AMY. AND THAT WAS, I THINK, A REAL 908 00:52:51,438 --> 00:52:52,739 TURNING POINT FOR BILL >> Reporter: HE WANTED LONNIE TO 909 00:52:52,739 --> 00:52:58,244 BE INNOCENT? >> SURE. 910 00:52:58,244 --> 00:53:00,213 BUT I THINK OVER TIME HE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT HE WASN'T. 911 00:53:00,213 --> 00:53:02,048 BUT I THINK IT TOOK SOME TIME FOR HIM TO COME TO THAT 912 00:53:02,048 --> 00:53:04,751 CONCLUSION >> Reporter: THAT RECORDING OF 913 00:53:04,751 --> 00:53:07,821 AMY'S NEW STORY EVENTUALLY MADE ITS WAY TO ORANGE COUNTY 914 00:53:07,821 --> 00:53:12,058 ASSISTANT D.A. SUSAN PRICE IF BILL AND SUSAN HADN'T 915 00:53:12,058 --> 00:53:16,296 RECORDED HER SAYING THAT, SHE MIGHT TO THIS DAY BE DEFENDING 916 00:53:16,296 --> 00:53:20,066 LONNIE >> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE. 917 00:53:20,066 --> 00:53:24,637 >> Reporter: NOW IT WAS UP TO PROSECUTORS. 918 00:53:24,637 --> 00:53:27,407 AND THAT WOULD TAKE A FEW YEARS. BECAUSE AMY NGUYEN WAS THE KEY 919 00:53:27,407 --> 00:53:33,747 AND IT TURNED OUT, THAT WAS A PROBLEM. 920 00:53:33,747 --> 00:53:35,415 >>> COMING UP -- >> SHE JUST SAID, "I DON'T WANT 921 00:53:35,415 --> 00:53:36,683 TO TALK TO YOU I HAVE NO INTEREST IN TALKING TO 922 00:53:36,683 --> 00:53:40,420 YOU. >> A PROBLEM INDEED. 923 00:53:40,420 --> 00:53:42,756 HOW WERE THEY GOING TO SOLVE THAT 924 00:53:42,756 --> 00:53:47,093 >> I'M TIRED OF IT, AMY. I'M TIRED OF HIM 925 00:53:47,093 --> 00:53:49,162 I NEED YOUR HELP I SAID, "IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO 926 00:53:49,162 --> 00:53:50,163 STEP UP TO THE PLATE." >> WHEN "DATELINE" CONTINUES 927 00:54:07,080 --> 00:54:11,251 >>> Reporter: AS TOSHI AND CAROLYN KANESAKI PATIENTLY 928 00:54:11,251 --> 00:54:14,454 WAITED FOR ANSWERS, THEY WOULD SOMETIMES VISIT MICKI'S 929 00:54:14,454 --> 00:54:18,725 GRAVESITE AND SEE THE NAME LONNIE KOCONTES ON THE HEADSTONE 930 00:54:18,725 --> 00:54:21,861 NEXT TO HERS THAT WAS DIFFICULT 931 00:54:21,861 --> 00:54:25,065 >> THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS, WE THOUGHT THAT WE KNEW THEY WERE 932 00:54:25,065 --> 00:54:28,702 INVESTIGATING HIM, BUT - >> Reporter: DIDN'T SEEM TO BE 933 00:54:28,702 --> 00:54:31,371 GOING ANYWHERE >> NO. 934 00:54:31,371 --> 00:54:33,473 >> NOT REALLY, NO. WE JUST LIVED OUR LIFE, BUT ME, 935 00:54:33,473 --> 00:54:37,711 IT'S ALWAYS IN THE BACK OF MY MIND 936 00:54:37,711 --> 00:54:41,981 IT'S NOT GOING AWAY. >> JUST MICKI'S GONE 937 00:54:41,981 --> 00:54:44,684 >> Reporter: IT TURNED OUT, ASSISTANT D.A. SUSAN PRICE WAS 938 00:54:44,684 --> 00:54:47,253 INVESTIGATING LONNIE ESPECIALLY AFTER SHE LISTENED TO 939 00:54:47,253 --> 00:54:51,491 THAT RECORDING WHERE LONNIE'S EX-WIFE AMY NGUYEN TOLD LONNIE'S 940 00:54:51,491 --> 00:54:55,962 OWN INVESTIGATORS THAT SHE KNEW ABOUT HIS PLAN TO MURDER MICKI 941 00:54:55,962 --> 00:54:59,432 ON THE CRUISE SHIP >> LONNIE TOLD ME THAT BILL HAD 942 00:54:59,432 --> 00:55:05,271 A CONNECTION A BIG CONNECTION, THAT HE'D JUST 943 00:55:05,271 --> 00:55:06,840 HAVE HIS PEOPLE COME AND DO THAT 944 00:55:06,840 --> 00:55:09,042 >> DO WHAT >> THROW MICKI 945 00:55:09,042 --> 00:55:14,414 >> Reporter: THE PROSECUTOR KNEW SHE NEEDED TO MEET AMY 946 00:55:14,414 --> 00:55:16,449 >> WE ACTUALLY DID GO TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND ARRIVED 947 00:55:16,449 --> 00:55:18,518 AT HER DOORSTEP. >> Reporter: UNANNOUNCED 948 00:55:18,518 --> 00:55:20,820 >> UNANNOUNCED >> Reporter: AND WHEN YOU SAID 949 00:55:20,820 --> 00:55:21,888 TO HER, AS I'M PRETTY SURE YOU DID IN THAT INTERVIEW, 950 00:55:21,888 --> 00:55:26,459 "SOMEBODY'S BEEN MURDERED HERE, AND WE THINK YOU HAVE IMPORTANT 951 00:55:26,459 --> 00:55:28,595 INFORMATION," SHE SAID "I DON'T" OR "I'M NOT TALKING" 952 00:55:28,595 --> 00:55:29,662 >> WELL, WE DIDN'T EVEN GET THAT FAR. 953 00:55:29,662 --> 00:55:31,231 SHE JUST SAID, "I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU. 954 00:55:31,231 --> 00:55:34,934 I HAVE NO INTEREST IN TALKING TO YOU. 955 00:55:34,934 --> 00:55:37,070 SO WE CAME BACK HOME >> Reporter: THEY WEREN'T GIVING 956 00:55:37,070 --> 00:55:39,773 UP THE D.A. ASKED SGT. DON VOGHT 957 00:55:39,773 --> 00:55:43,977 FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO ASSIST WITH THE 958 00:55:43,977 --> 00:55:47,080 CASE A TOP PRIORITY, TRY TO TALK WITH 959 00:55:47,080 --> 00:55:50,850 AMY. >> THEN I WENT UP TO TALK TO 960 00:55:50,850 --> 00:55:53,687 HER, AND SHE DID NOT WANT TO COOPERATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT 961 00:55:53,687 --> 00:55:55,088 >> Reporter: THEY COMPELLED HER, WITH A SUBPOENA. 962 00:55:55,088 --> 00:55:57,323 AND WHEN AMY FINALLY CAME DOWN TO ORANGE COUNTY, PROSECUTORS 963 00:55:57,323 --> 00:56:01,428 INVITED SOMEONE ELSE TO THE MEETING. 964 00:56:01,428 --> 00:56:02,495 BILL PRICE >> BILL PRICE, AMY NGUYEN. 965 00:56:02,495 --> 00:56:05,699 I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS KNOW EACH OTHER 966 00:56:05,699 --> 00:56:11,738 >> HI. >> UM, SO GO AHEAD AND, UH, HAVE 967 00:56:11,738 --> 00:56:12,639 A SEAT >> MY OBJECTIVE, UNDER THEIR 968 00:56:12,639 --> 00:56:15,241 DIRECTION, WAS TO GET HER TO TALK 969 00:56:15,241 --> 00:56:16,810 >> Reporter: IN THAT MEETING, AMY WAS EMOTIONAL AND AT TIMES 970 00:56:16,810 --> 00:56:23,750 SAID SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHO BILL WAS, EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS 971 00:56:23,750 --> 00:56:24,784 CLEARLY NOT TRUE >> I DON'T KNOW YOU. 972 00:56:24,784 --> 00:56:27,420 >> YOU HAVE TO -- WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T 973 00:56:27,420 --> 00:56:29,055 >> I DON'T KNOW YOU. >> Reporter: BILL TOLD HER LAW 974 00:56:29,055 --> 00:56:32,258 ENFORCEMENT ALREADY KNEW ALL ABOUT THEIR PREVIOUS 975 00:56:32,258 --> 00:56:34,861 CONVERSATION >> THEY HAVE THE TAPE RECORDING 976 00:56:34,861 --> 00:56:38,064 OF YOU AND I TALKING >> NO. 977 00:56:38,064 --> 00:56:40,667 I DON'T KNOW YOU >> DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THEY 978 00:56:40,667 --> 00:56:42,802 HAVE THAT TAPE RECORDING THAT -- THAT I TURNED IT IN, 979 00:56:42,802 --> 00:56:46,072 BECAUSE I'M PROTECTING MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. 980 00:56:46,072 --> 00:56:48,274 DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT >> I DON'T KNOW YOU. 981 00:56:48,274 --> 00:56:51,077 >> YOU CAN'T SAY YOU DON'T KNOW. YOU'D BE LYING 982 00:56:51,077 --> 00:56:54,447 IF HE'S TELLING YOU TO DO THIS, AMY, THIS IS NOT GOOD. 983 00:56:54,447 --> 00:56:57,617 AMY, WHY ARE YOU PROTECTING HIM? >> I DID NOT PROTECT HIM 984 00:56:57,617 --> 00:57:01,054 I DON'T KNOW YOU >> Reporter: SHE WAS STILL 985 00:57:01,054 --> 00:57:04,324 SCARED, MAYBE OF BILL. REMEMBER, LONNIE HAD MADE HIM 986 00:57:04,324 --> 00:57:09,029 SOUND LIKE A GANGSTER. AND AS HE PRESSED AMY, BILL 987 00:57:09,029 --> 00:57:12,165 SEEMED TO LEAN IN TO THAT ROLE >> I AM NOT HERE TO KILL YOU 988 00:57:12,165 --> 00:57:15,035 I AM HERE TO -- I AM HERE TO PROTECT MY NAME, AND TO PROTECT 989 00:57:15,035 --> 00:57:17,937 YOU, AND BRING YOU UNDERNEATH MY COAT 990 00:57:17,937 --> 00:57:20,106 I'M HERE TO TELL THEM THAT IF THEY MESS WITH YOU, THEY MESS 991 00:57:20,106 --> 00:57:23,610 WITH ME. I'M HERE TO BRING IN THE BEST 992 00:57:23,610 --> 00:57:26,780 ATTORNEYS, IF I HAVE TO. WHAT I'M NOT HERE TO DO IS 993 00:57:26,780 --> 00:57:28,048 PROTECT HIS LIES, AND HIM FROM HURTING ME AND EVERYBODY ELSE 994 00:57:28,048 --> 00:57:32,886 AROUND US. I'M TIRED OF IT, AMY 995 00:57:32,886 --> 00:57:36,556 I'M TIRED OF HIM I NEED YOUR HELP 996 00:57:36,556 --> 00:57:39,559 I NEED YOU TO BE WITH ME >> I SAID, "IT'S TIME THE TRUTH 997 00:57:39,559 --> 00:57:45,065 COME OUT NOW." I SAID, "AND HE'S MADE FOOLS OUT 998 00:57:45,065 --> 00:57:49,202 OF ALL OF US." I SAID, "NOW, IT'S TIME FOR YOU 999 00:57:49,202 --> 00:57:50,303 TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE. >> Reporter: THE D.A. GAVE AMY 1000 00:57:50,303 --> 00:57:54,607 IMMUNITY FOR HER TESTIMONY, AND SHE AGREED TO COOPERATE. 1001 00:57:54,607 --> 00:57:58,278 SHE TOLD SHERIFF'S INVESTIGATORS HER OWN VERSION OF WHAT HAPPENED 1002 00:57:58,278 --> 00:58:01,014 ON THAT CRUISE HOW LONNIE HAD BOOKED IT 1003 00:58:01,014 --> 00:58:04,617 PLANNING TO KILL MICKI AND THEN AMY SAID LONNIE 1004 00:58:04,617 --> 00:58:08,321 THREATENED HER, FORCING HER TO LIE TO THE FEDERAL GRAND JURY. 1005 00:58:08,321 --> 00:58:12,058 >> Reporter: BILL STARTED THIS TRYING TO HELP OUT LONNIE AND 1006 00:58:12,058 --> 00:58:14,661 ENDED IT HELPING YOU GUYS? >> ABSOLUTELY. 1007 00:58:14,661 --> 00:58:18,365 HE DID >> Reporter: FOUR DAYS AFTER 1008 00:58:18,365 --> 00:58:21,401 THAT INTERVIEW, SGT. VOGHT TRAVELED TO SAFETY HARBOR, 1009 00:58:21,401 --> 00:58:26,906 FLORIDA, WHERE LONNIE LIVED. >> LONNIE WASN'T IN THE HOUSE. 1010 00:58:26,906 --> 00:58:30,043 WE FOUND HIM ABOUT ONE HOUR AWAY AT A STRIP MALL OPERATING HIS 1011 00:58:30,043 --> 00:58:33,179 NEW BUSINESS, WHICH WAS THESE BOUNCY HOUSES FOR CHILDREN 1012 00:58:33,179 --> 00:58:35,882 WE TOLD HIM HE WAS UNDER ARREST FOR THE MURDER OF MICKI 1013 00:58:35,882 --> 00:58:38,518 KANESAKI, OF COURSE MIRANDIZED HIM AND, UM, AT THAT POINT HE 1014 00:58:38,518 --> 00:58:40,053 DECLINED TO UH, TO GIVE US A STATEMENT. 1015 00:58:40,053 --> 00:58:41,621 >> Reporter: HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING 1016 00:58:41,621 --> 00:58:43,823 >> HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING. >> Reporter: IT WAS LONNIE'S 1017 00:58:43,823 --> 00:58:46,760 RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT, AS HE WAS UNDER ARREST FOR MURDER. 1018 00:58:46,760 --> 00:58:49,396 HE WAS BOOKED INTO THE PASCO COUNTY JAIL. 1019 00:58:49,396 --> 00:58:53,333 HOW DID THAT FEEL? >> ACTUALLY, IT FELT PRETTY 1020 00:58:53,333 --> 00:58:58,738 GOOD IT FELT PRETTY GOOD. 1021 00:58:58,738 --> 00:59:02,642 >> Reporter: FOR MICKI'S FAMILY, IT WAS WELCOME NEWS. 1022 00:59:02,642 --> 00:59:04,744 WHAT DID YOU THINK >> FINALLY 1023 00:59:04,744 --> 00:59:05,812 >> I GO, "WHAT A RELIEF," AFTER SEVEN YEARS. 1024 00:59:05,812 --> 00:59:09,449 'CAUSE I KNEW HE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH MICKI'S MURDER. 1025 00:59:09,449 --> 00:59:11,651 >> Reporter: ONE THING HAD NOT CHANGED. 1026 00:59:11,651 --> 00:59:16,156 THERE WAS STILL NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE TYING LONNIE TO MICKI'S 1027 00:59:16,156 --> 00:59:19,592 DEATH. WOULD THIS CASE BE ENOUGH FOR A 1028 00:59:19,592 --> 00:59:23,296 JURY >>> COMING UP -- 1029 00:59:23,296 --> 00:59:24,898 >> THERE'S NO BLOOD IN THE ROOM. THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF A 1030 00:59:24,898 --> 00:59:25,932 STRUGGLE THERE'S NOTHING. 1031 00:59:25,932 --> 00:59:27,534 WHERE'S THE EVIDENCE WHERE IS IT? 1032 00:59:27,534 --> 00:59:32,305 >> COULD MICKI HERSELF HELP PROVE THIS CASE? 1033 00:59:32,305 --> 00:59:33,473 >> HE NEVER ANTICIPATED THAT HER BODY WOULD EVER BE RECOVERED 1034 00:59:50,290 --> 00:59:52,492 >>> Reporter: ATTORNEY DAVID MICHAEL HAD ALREADY DEFENDED 1035 00:59:52,492 --> 00:59:56,229 LONNIE KOCONTES IN CIVIL COURT, PROTECTING HIS ASSETS FROM 1036 00:59:56,229 --> 00:59:59,332 SEIZURE BY THE FEDS. NOW THERE WAS MUCH MORE THAN 1037 00:59:59,332 --> 01:00:03,069 MONEY AT STAKE >> I WAS STUNNED THAT HE HAD 1038 01:00:03,069 --> 01:00:04,704 BEEN ARRESTED, ACTUALLY. I WAS ABSOLUTELY STUNNED 1039 01:00:04,704 --> 01:00:08,908 >> Reporter: THIS TIME THE CHARGE WAS MURDER. 1040 01:00:08,908 --> 01:00:12,078 LONNIE FACED LIFE IN PRISON. >> I'VE BEEN DOING CRIMINAL 1041 01:00:12,078 --> 01:00:14,714 DEFENSE FOR 45 YEARS I'VE DONE SOME HEAVY STUFF, AND 1042 01:00:14,714 --> 01:00:19,486 I WILL TELL YOU THAT MY BELIEF 100% IS THAT LONNIE KOCONTES IS 1043 01:00:19,486 --> 01:00:21,521 INNOCENT OF KILLING MICKI KANESAKI 1044 01:00:21,521 --> 01:00:24,958 >> Reporter: LONNIE PLEADED NOT GUILTY 1045 01:00:24,958 --> 01:00:28,595 ATTORNEY MICHAEL KNEW THE CASE RELIED ON AMY NGUYEN, WHOSE 1046 01:00:28,595 --> 01:00:31,765 STORY HE SAYS WAS ONE BIG LIE, INFLUENCED BY NONE OTHER THAN 1047 01:00:31,765 --> 01:00:34,167 BILL PRICE >> HE SCARED THE HELL OUT OF AMY 1048 01:00:34,167 --> 01:00:37,504 NGUYEN I HAVE MONEY 1049 01:00:37,504 --> 01:00:39,639 I CAN PROTECT YOU. I CAN SAVE YOU 1050 01:00:39,639 --> 01:00:42,375 COME ON, HE'S A RAT. HE'S A SCUMBAG 1051 01:00:42,375 --> 01:00:44,377 HE SAID HORRIBLE THINGS ABOUT YOU. 1052 01:00:44,377 --> 01:00:47,847 HORRIBLE STUFF I'VE NEVER HEARD OF IT BEFORE, 1053 01:00:47,847 --> 01:00:49,949 AND THAT'S WHEN AMY NGUYEN, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY, TURNED. 1054 01:00:49,949 --> 01:00:54,988 >> Reporter: WHY IS IT SO HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SHE WAS 1055 01:00:54,988 --> 01:00:59,292 FRIGHTENED OF LONNIE, THAT SHE LIED FOR HIM, AND THAT SHE 1056 01:00:59,292 --> 01:01:01,895 EVENTUALLY STOPPED LYING FOR HIM AND TOLD THE TRUTH 1057 01:01:01,895 --> 01:01:06,366 >> THERE'S NO BASIS AT ALL FOR WHAT SHE'S SAYING TO BE TRUE 1058 01:01:06,366 --> 01:01:08,368 IT'S JUST FANTASY STUFF AND THE FACT THAT WHEN THEY INVESTIGATED 1059 01:01:08,368 --> 01:01:10,870 THE "ISLAND ESCAPE" THERE'S NO BLOOD IN THE ROOM. 1060 01:01:10,870 --> 01:01:13,073 THERE'S NO BLOOD ANYWHERE. THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF A 1061 01:01:13,073 --> 01:01:15,809 STRUGGLE THERE'S NOTHING. 1062 01:01:15,809 --> 01:01:18,945 WHERE'S THE EVIDENCE WHERE IS IT, YOU KNOW? 1063 01:01:18,945 --> 01:01:21,981 YEAH, SHE GOT KILLED THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT LONNIE 1064 01:01:21,981 --> 01:01:23,350 KOCONTES DID IT. >> Reporter: AS SGT. DON VOGHT 1065 01:01:23,350 --> 01:01:26,252 WORKED WITH THE ORANGE COUNTY D.A.'S TO GATHER EVIDENCE 1066 01:01:26,252 --> 01:01:31,091 AGAINST LONNIE, ONE THING BECAME CLEAR. 1067 01:01:31,091 --> 01:01:34,094 THE "ISLAND ESCAPE" WAS NOT THE LUXURY CRUISE SHIP MICKI HAD 1068 01:01:34,094 --> 01:01:37,197 LOOKED FORWARD TO. I KINDA GET THE FEELING THAT IF 1069 01:01:37,197 --> 01:01:40,100 YOU GROW UP WATCHING "THE LOVE BOAT," YOU PROBABLY WOULD NOT 1070 01:01:40,100 --> 01:01:45,905 RECOGNIZE THE "ISLAND ESCAPE." >> YOU DEFINITELY WOULD NOT. 1071 01:01:45,905 --> 01:01:50,944 >> Reporter: THE "ISLAND ESCAPE" WAS A FORMER FERRY BOAT, ONCE 1072 01:01:50,944 --> 01:01:54,114 USED TO TRANSPORT CARS, THEN LATER TOURISTS WHO WERE LOOKING 1073 01:01:54,114 --> 01:01:59,853 TO SAVE A BUCK >> THIS WAS NOT THE TYPE OF SHIP 1074 01:01:59,853 --> 01:02:01,755 THAT AN AMERICAN ATTORNEY WOULD VIEW AS A VACATION TYPE OF A 1075 01:02:01,755 --> 01:02:04,424 VESSEL IT'S DESIGNED TO BE CHEAP AND 1076 01:02:04,424 --> 01:02:07,594 CHEERFUL >> IT HAS ONE PECULIAR FEATURE, 1077 01:02:07,594 --> 01:02:11,331 THOUGH, THAT WAS APPEALING TO LONNIE KOCONTES. 1078 01:02:11,331 --> 01:02:15,101 IT'S A STRAIGHT DROP INTO THE SEA FROM THE BALCONIES THAT WERE 1079 01:02:15,101 --> 01:02:19,239 WELDED ONTO THE SIDE OF THIS CONVERTED FERRY. 1080 01:02:19,239 --> 01:02:22,976 >> Reporter: ON MOST MODERN CRUISE SHIPS, IF YOU FALL OFF 1081 01:02:22,976 --> 01:02:25,612 THE ALOHA DECK, YOU'VE GOT A GOOD CHANCE OF LANDING ON THE 1082 01:02:25,612 --> 01:02:30,984 LIDO DECK. NOT SO ON THE "ISLAND ESCAPE." 1083 01:02:30,984 --> 01:02:36,222 THOSE BALCONIES GUARANTEED THAT IN A FALL, THE ONLY THING YOU'D 1084 01:02:36,222 --> 01:02:38,892 HIT WAS THE MEDITERRANEAN, ALMOST SEVEN STORIES STRAIGHT 1085 01:02:38,892 --> 01:02:40,493 DOWN >> THAT'S A LONG FALL. 1086 01:02:40,493 --> 01:02:41,695 AND AS YOU'RE STANDING THERE LOOKING OVER THE BALCONY, IT'S A 1087 01:02:41,695 --> 01:02:46,266 LONG FALL INTO THE OCEAN DEFINITELY 1088 01:02:46,266 --> 01:02:49,769 >> Reporter: A JURY WOULD DECIDE IF THIS UNUSUAL DEFENDANT WAS 1089 01:02:49,769 --> 01:02:53,873 GUILTY OF MICKI'S MURDER AN ATTORNEY HIMSELF, LONNIE 1090 01:02:53,873 --> 01:02:57,911 FILED MOTION AFTER MOTION AND DELAYED THE TRIAL FOR YEARS. 1091 01:02:57,911 --> 01:03:01,614 >> LONNIE IS A BRIGHT MAN. LONNIE WORKED VERY HARD AS AN 1092 01:03:01,614 --> 01:03:03,750 ATTORNEY THROUGHOUT THESE PROCEEDINGS HE 1093 01:03:03,750 --> 01:03:08,054 WROTE A LOT OF THE BRIEFS THAT WERE PRESENTED TO THE COURT. 1094 01:03:08,054 --> 01:03:12,225 >> Reporter: AND HOW DID HE DO >> HE'S A GOOD ATTORNEY. 1095 01:03:12,225 --> 01:03:15,395 HOWEVER, HE WAS BLINDED BY HIS OWN NARCISSISM, AND HE'S NOT AS 1096 01:03:15,395 --> 01:03:16,496 SMART AS HE THINKS HE IS >> Reporter: DAVID MICHAEL DID 1097 01:03:16,496 --> 01:03:19,099 NOT REPRESENT LONNIE FOR THE CRIMINAL TRIAL 1098 01:03:19,099 --> 01:03:24,404 INSTEAD, LONNIE HAD A PUBLIC DEFENDER 1099 01:03:24,404 --> 01:03:28,641 OPENING STATEMENTS BEGAN IN FEBRUARY 2020. 1100 01:03:28,641 --> 01:03:34,114 >> THE DEFENDANT BELIEVED THAT THE LAST CHAPTER OF MICKI'S LIFE 1101 01:03:34,114 --> 01:03:39,619 WAS OVERSEAS BUT IT IS NOT. 1102 01:03:39,619 --> 01:03:41,321 THE LAST CHAPTER IS HERE >> Reporter: THEIR FIRST 1103 01:03:41,321 --> 01:03:43,957 WITNESS -- THE CAPTAIN OF THE "ISLAND ESCAPE." 1104 01:03:43,957 --> 01:03:46,092 HE TESTIFIED ABOUT GOING TO MICKI AND LONNIE'S CABIN JUST 1105 01:03:46,092 --> 01:03:51,131 HOURS AFTER HER DISAPPEARANCE AND SPEAKING WITH LONNIE 1106 01:03:51,131 --> 01:03:56,136 >> HE WAS NOT UPSET AT ALL HE WAS VERY COLD 1107 01:03:56,136 --> 01:03:58,905 THE CONVERSATION, WHEN I ASKED HIM VARIOUS QUESTIONS, HE WASN'T 1108 01:03:58,905 --> 01:04:00,607 TALKING QUICKLY OR NERVOUSLY IT WAS VERY MEASURED 1109 01:04:00,607 --> 01:04:04,611 >> THE PEOPLE CALL JULIE SARANITA 1110 01:04:04,611 --> 01:04:06,713 >> Reporter: THE JURY ALSO HEARD THE RECORDED CALLS BETWEEN 1111 01:04:06,713 --> 01:04:13,086 MICKI'S NIECE, JULIE AND LONNIE. HE'D BEEN EAGER TO TALK, UNTIL 1112 01:04:13,086 --> 01:04:15,822 JULIE ASKED HIM THIS QUESTION. >> IS THERE ANY WAY THAT YOU HAD 1113 01:04:15,822 --> 01:04:18,925 ANYTHING TO DO WITH MICKI'S DEATH? 1114 01:04:18,925 --> 01:04:21,728 >> WHAT DO YOU THINK >> I JUST HAD TO ASK 1115 01:04:21,728 --> 01:04:24,230 >> I THINK YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT ALREADY. 1116 01:04:24,230 --> 01:04:26,866 >> HE GOT REALLY ANGRY AT ME AND THE FIRST THING HE SAID -- HE 1117 01:04:26,866 --> 01:04:30,570 WAS LIKE, "WHAT DO YOU THINK?" >> THE ONLY REASON WHY I ASKED 1118 01:04:30,570 --> 01:04:33,740 YOU IS BECAUSE THE FBI TOLD ME SHE HAD DIED BEFORE SHE HIT THE 1119 01:04:33,740 --> 01:04:35,308 WATER. >> I -- I DON'T KNOW 1120 01:04:35,308 --> 01:04:36,976 SHE MIGHT HAVE BEEN ROBBED, IF THAT'S TRUE. 1121 01:04:36,976 --> 01:04:38,078 >> WELL, I DON'T - THAT'S ALL THEY TOLD ME. 1122 01:04:38,078 --> 01:04:39,179 THAT'S ALL I KNOW. >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO 1123 01:04:39,179 --> 01:04:42,482 HER. I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO 1124 01:04:42,482 --> 01:04:43,283 WITH IT. OKAY 1125 01:04:43,283 --> 01:04:46,920 AND I DON'T APPRECIATE THE IMPLICATION. 1126 01:04:46,920 --> 01:04:51,257 >> Reporter: JULIE HAD DONE WHAT SHE COULD TO HELP INVESTIGATORS. 1127 01:04:51,257 --> 01:04:55,395 NOW SHE REALIZED MICKI HERSELF WAS KEY TO PROVING THE CASE. 1128 01:04:55,395 --> 01:04:59,199 >> HE NEVER ANTICIPATED THAT HER BODY WOULD EVER BE RECOVERED 1129 01:04:59,199 --> 01:05:03,436 >> Reporter: REMEMBER HOW LONNIE HAD MENTIONED MICKI'S DRINKING 1130 01:05:03,436 --> 01:05:07,640 SUGGESTING SHE'D GOTTEN DRUNK, MAYBE FALLEN OVERBOARD BY 1131 01:05:07,640 --> 01:05:12,712 ACCIDENT, AND DROWNED. HER BODY TOLD A DIFFERENT STORY. 1132 01:05:12,712 --> 01:05:13,913 ACCORDING TO THE TOXICOLOGY REPORT, MICKI WAS NOT UNDER THE 1133 01:05:13,913 --> 01:05:19,319 INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL WHEN SHE DIED 1134 01:05:19,319 --> 01:05:24,657 AND THE AUTOPSY FOUND NO WATER IN HER LUNGS 1135 01:05:24,657 --> 01:05:30,463 HOWEVER, THERE WERE BRUISES, SOME AROUND HER NECK 1136 01:05:30,463 --> 01:05:33,099 ITALIAN PATHOLOGIST DR. RICCI TESTIFIED THROUGH AN INTERPRETER 1137 01:05:33,099 --> 01:05:36,870 THAT IT WAS CLEAR EVIDENCE MICKI HAD BEEN STRANGLED 1138 01:05:36,870 --> 01:05:46,312 >> Translator: MECHANICAL ASPHYXIA THROUGH STRANGULATION 1139 01:05:46,312 --> 01:05:49,482 OR BY MEANS OF STRANGULATION >> Reporter: UNDER CROSS 1140 01:05:49,482 --> 01:05:54,287 EXAMINATION, DR. RICCI TESTIFIED THAT DESPITE THOSE BRUISES ON 1141 01:05:54,287 --> 01:05:57,357 MICKI'S THIGHS, HE DID NOT BELIEVE MICKI HAD BEEN RAPED 1142 01:05:57,357 --> 01:06:01,194 HE DID SEE TRAUMA TO THE BACK OF MICKI'S HEAD, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY 1143 01:06:01,194 --> 01:06:05,899 A BLUNT OBJECT >> COULD IT HAVE BEEN A WINE 1144 01:06:05,899 --> 01:06:11,771 BOTTLE THAT DIDN'T BREAK >> IT COULD BE ANY OBJECT THAT 1145 01:06:11,771 --> 01:06:14,040 HAD A CONVEX SURFACE IT COULD BE EVEN A BOTTLE. 1146 01:06:14,040 --> 01:06:17,043 YES. >> Reporter: THE QUESTION WAS 1147 01:06:17,043 --> 01:06:21,348 ACCORDING TO PROSECUTORS, THE MOTIVE WAS MONEY 1148 01:06:21,348 --> 01:06:26,886 LONNIE HAD BEEN THE BENEFICIARY OF MICKI'S WILL. 1149 01:06:26,886 --> 01:06:28,788 MEANING ALL THAT MONEY HE'D PARKED WITH HER DURING HIS LEGAL 1150 01:06:28,788 --> 01:06:35,328 TROUBLES BELONGED TO LONNIE AFTER SHE DIED 1151 01:06:35,328 --> 01:06:38,064 WHEN BILL PRICE TOOK THE WITNESS STAND, IT WAS TO TESTIFY AGAINST 1152 01:06:38,064 --> 01:06:40,433 HIS FORMER CLOSE FRIEND. >> HE LOOKED DOWN, LOOKED 1153 01:06:40,433 --> 01:06:43,570 AROUND HE COULDN'T LOOK ME IN THE EYE, 1154 01:06:43,570 --> 01:06:47,474 BUT I LOOKED AT HIM. I'M NOT ASHAMED OF ANYTHING I 1155 01:06:47,474 --> 01:06:51,177 SAID OR DID. >> Reporter: REMEMBER, BILL HAD 1156 01:06:51,177 --> 01:06:52,846 CONFRONTED LONNIE ABOUT WHAT AMY TOLD HIM, WHICH WAS THAT BILL 1157 01:06:52,846 --> 01:06:57,584 HELPED TO ARRANGE THE MURDER LONNIE'S RESPONSE? 1158 01:06:57,584 --> 01:07:04,024 >> HE TOLD ME DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT 1159 01:07:04,024 --> 01:07:04,924 THAT SHE HAD ALREADY TESTIFIED IN A GRAND JURY. 1160 01:07:04,924 --> 01:07:07,193 AND THEREFORE, THE FBI WOULDN'T BELIEVE HER. 1161 01:07:07,193 --> 01:07:08,428 >> AND SO HE TOLD YOU THAT SHE WOULDN'T BE BELIEVED ANYWAY, IS 1162 01:07:08,428 --> 01:07:09,629 THAT RIGHT >> THAT'S CORRECT. 1163 01:07:09,629 --> 01:07:11,898 >> Reporter: SO HERE WAS THE MOMENT 1164 01:07:11,898 --> 01:07:13,199 AMY NGUYEN WAS CALLED TO TESTIFY. 1165 01:07:13,199 --> 01:07:18,038 >> THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR >> Reporter: IN COURT, THE JUDGE 1166 01:07:18,038 --> 01:07:22,042 WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO TAKE PICTURES OF HER FACE 1167 01:07:22,042 --> 01:07:23,877 AMY TESTIFIED THAT LONNIE TOLD HER HE BOOKED THE CRUISE FOR 1168 01:07:23,877 --> 01:07:29,082 HIMSELF AND MICKI, AND HIS SUPPOSEDLY WELL CONNECTED FRIEND 1169 01:07:29,082 --> 01:07:30,784 BILL PRICE >> AND DID HE TELL YOU WHAT HIS 1170 01:07:30,784 --> 01:07:35,221 PLAN WAS >> HE SAID THAT BILL'S PEOPLE 1171 01:07:35,221 --> 01:07:39,893 WILL THROW MICKI IN THE WATER AND BILL AND HIS GIRLFRIEND 1172 01:07:39,893 --> 01:07:42,862 WOULD BE HIS WITNESS >> Reporter: IN OTHER WORDS, HIS 1173 01:07:42,862 --> 01:07:45,532 ALIBI. BUT WHEN BILL CANCELED AT THE 1174 01:07:45,532 --> 01:07:50,270 LAST MINUTE, AMY SAYS LONNIE TOLD HER THIS. 1175 01:07:50,270 --> 01:07:55,542 >> HE WILL HAVE TO TAKE MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS 1176 01:07:55,542 --> 01:07:59,813 >> Reporter: REMEMBER, IF AMY WAS TELLING THE TRUTH ON THE 1177 01:07:59,813 --> 01:08:03,516 STAND, IT MEANT SHE HAD PREVIOUSLY LIED TO A FEDERAL 1178 01:08:03,516 --> 01:08:07,754 GRAND JURY >> WE HAD ASSESSED THE REALITY 1179 01:08:07,754 --> 01:08:10,023 THAT SHE HAD GIVEN A PRIOR STATEMENT, UNDER OATH, BUT WE 1180 01:08:10,023 --> 01:08:12,559 ALSO TOOK EVERYTHING WE KNOW TO BE TRUE ABOUT OUR JOBS AND HUMAN 1181 01:08:12,559 --> 01:08:15,729 BEINGS AND EVALUATED HER IN PERSON, TO SEE WHETHER WE 1182 01:08:15,729 --> 01:08:18,365 BELIEVED HER SO A LITTLE BIT OF A GUT CHECK 1183 01:08:18,365 --> 01:08:20,033 THERE, FOR ME AT LEAST >> Reporter: AND YOU BELIEVED 1184 01:08:20,033 --> 01:08:21,368 HER? >> ABSOLUTELY. 1185 01:08:21,368 --> 01:08:23,670 >> Reporter: AND YOU THOUGHT A JURY WOULD 1186 01:08:23,670 --> 01:08:27,374 >> ABSOLUTELY. >> Reporter: BEFORE THE JURY HAD 1187 01:08:27,374 --> 01:08:31,177 A CHANCE TO DELIBERATE, THIS COURTROOM, AND THE WORLD, WOULD 1188 01:08:31,177 --> 01:08:36,683 HAVE TO FACE A NEW REALITY A GLOBAL PANDEMIC. 1189 01:08:36,683 --> 01:08:38,485 >>> COMING UP -- >> WE'RE SEEING THAT THERE'S A 1190 01:08:38,485 --> 01:08:41,154 TRAVEL BAN IN ITALY. AND I'M THINKING, "WHAT IS 1191 01:08:41,154 --> 01:08:44,357 HAPPENING? >> THE TRIAL SUDDENLY AT A STOP! 1192 01:08:44,357 --> 01:08:47,060 BUT THE CASE NOT OVER YET 1193 01:08:47,060 --> 01:08:51,431 AN UNDERCOVER PLAN IS ABOUT TO BE REVEALED. 1194 01:08:51,431 --> 01:08:54,467 >> I ACTUALLY POSED AS A HIT MAN. 1195 01:08:54,467 --> 01:08:55,435 >> AND IT'S A STUNNER! WHEN "DATELINE" CONTINUES. 1196 01:09:13,019 --> 01:09:16,656 THE TRIAL OF LONNIE KOCONTES FOR THE MURDER OF MICKI KANESAKI WAS 1197 01:09:16,656 --> 01:09:19,426 WELL UNDER WAY IN FACT, THE COURTROOM WAS 1198 01:09:19,426 --> 01:09:24,230 PROBABLY ONE OF THE LAST PLACES LEFT WITH ORDER. 1199 01:09:24,230 --> 01:09:26,633 OUTSIDE, IT WAS CHAOS. >> THE IMPACT OF THE CORONAVIRUS 1200 01:09:26,633 --> 01:09:29,035 AROUND THE WORLD IS BECOMING MORE DIRE. 1201 01:09:29,035 --> 01:09:32,172 IT'S A GLOBAL BATTLE AGAINST A VIRUS SPREADING FAST 1202 01:09:32,172 --> 01:09:36,576 >> IN ITALY TONIGHT, INFECTIONS ARE SPIKING. 1203 01:09:36,576 --> 01:09:41,581 >> ALL OF THESE WITNESSES HAD COME FROM ITALY, AND LITERALLY 1204 01:09:41,581 --> 01:09:42,782 WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THE LAST ONE GOING BACK TO ITALY, THERE'S 1205 01:09:42,782 --> 01:09:45,952 NEWS ABOUT CORONAVIRUS HITTING ITALY. 1206 01:09:45,952 --> 01:09:49,122 AND WITHIN A DAY WE'RE SEEING THAT THERE'S A TRAVEL BAN IN 1207 01:09:49,122 --> 01:09:53,193 ITALY. AND I'M THINKING, "WHAT IS 1208 01:09:53,193 --> 01:09:55,495 HAPPENING? >> Reporter: NEXT, THE ORANGE 1209 01:09:55,495 --> 01:09:57,964 COUNTY COURT CALENDAR WAS WIPED CLEAN. 1210 01:09:57,964 --> 01:10:01,301 >> WERE YOU WORRIED WHEN THE TRIAL HAD TO PAUSE BECAUSE OF 1211 01:10:01,301 --> 01:10:03,536 THE PANDEMIC >> YES, I WAS. 1212 01:10:03,536 --> 01:10:08,174 >> Reporter: THAT DELAY LASTED MORE THAN TWO MONTHS 1213 01:10:08,174 --> 01:10:14,280 THEN ON MAY 26th, 2020, WITH COVID-19 CASES STILL SPREADING 1214 01:10:14,280 --> 01:10:15,949 IN ORANGE COUNTY, THE JUDGE CALLED A HEARING TO DETERMINE 1215 01:10:15,949 --> 01:10:19,819 WHETHER LONNIE'S CASE COULD MOVE FORWARD. 1216 01:10:19,819 --> 01:10:24,057 TOSHI WENT TO COURT WITH A HEAVY HEART. 1217 01:10:24,057 --> 01:10:27,761 IT WAS THE 14th ANNIVERSARY OF MICKI'S DEATH. 1218 01:10:27,761 --> 01:10:31,664 THE HEARING WAS LIVE STREAMED TO THE PUBLIC AND, NO SURPRISE, THE 1219 01:10:31,664 --> 01:10:35,168 DEFENSE ARGUED FOR A MISTRIAL. AMONG THE REASONS -- AFTER THE 1220 01:10:35,168 --> 01:10:39,406 LONG DELAY, JURORS COULDN'T POSSIBLY REMEMBER EVERYTHING, 1221 01:10:39,406 --> 01:10:45,712 PUTTING LONNIE AT A DISADVANTAGE 1222 01:10:45,712 --> 01:10:47,580 TO WHICH THE JUDGE SAID -- >> WE HAVE TO CONTINUE 1223 01:10:47,580 --> 01:10:50,517 IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE RULE OF LAW, EVEN DURING A 1224 01:10:50,517 --> 01:10:55,822 PANDEMIC >> Reporter: THE JUDGE DENIED 1225 01:10:55,822 --> 01:10:59,526 THE MOTION FOR A MISTRIAL. AND TWO DAYS LATER, ALL 1226 01:10:59,526 --> 01:11:10,136 16 JURORS RETURNED FOLLOWING SOCIAL DISTANCING 1227 01:11:10,136 --> 01:11:13,640 GUIDELINES, JURORS WOULD SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COURTROOM AND 1228 01:11:13,640 --> 01:11:14,607 EVERYONE WOULD WEAR MASKS EXCEPT THE WITNESSES. 1229 01:11:14,607 --> 01:11:15,942 >> GOOD MORNING. >> Reporter: AND THE FIRST 1230 01:11:15,942 --> 01:11:16,910 WITNESS TO TAKE THE STAND WAS LONNIE KOCONTES. 1231 01:11:16,910 --> 01:11:17,777 >> I DON'T KNOW IF MY EX-WIFE WAS KILLED 1232 01:11:17,777 --> 01:11:21,414 I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO MY EX-WIFE MICKI. 1233 01:11:21,414 --> 01:11:23,883 >> Reporter: LONNIE HAD AN EXPLANATION FOR EVERYTHING 1234 01:11:23,883 --> 01:11:26,553 >> WHY DID YOU BOOK A CABIN WITH A BALCONY? 1235 01:11:26,553 --> 01:11:28,154 >> WELL, I DIDN'T WANT TO CHEAP OUT. 1236 01:11:28,154 --> 01:11:30,824 I WAS TRYING TO IMPRESS MICKI WITH THE FACT THAT I WAS TRYING 1237 01:11:30,824 --> 01:11:35,095 TO CHANGE, GO ON MORE VACATIONS, SPEND MORE MONEY 1238 01:11:35,095 --> 01:11:38,798 >> Reporter: ALL OF IT WAS TO SALVAGE A RELATIONSHIP THAT, 1239 01:11:38,798 --> 01:11:43,503 ACCORDING TO LONNIE, MICKI'S HOT TEMPER HAD DESTROYED 1240 01:11:43,503 --> 01:11:49,876 >> WELL, SHE BROKE TELEPHONES. SHE THREW THINGS 1241 01:11:49,876 --> 01:11:54,414 ONE PARTICULAR INCIDENT IN 2001, SHE BROKE A FAX MACHINE, THREW 1242 01:11:54,414 --> 01:11:55,515 IT FROM THE SECOND LEVEL DOWN TO THE LIVING ROOM FLOOR. 1243 01:11:55,515 --> 01:11:59,953 >> Reporter: THAT TIME, COPS WERE CALLED. 1244 01:11:59,953 --> 01:12:02,055 LONNIE SAID HE TALKED THEM DOWN FROM ARRESTING MICKI 1245 01:12:02,055 --> 01:12:05,892 SO WHEN LONNIE LEARNED THAT MICKI'S NIECE JULIE WAS TRYING 1246 01:12:05,892 --> 01:12:10,063 TO GET HIM ARRESTED FOR MICKI'S MURDER BY SECRETLY TAPING THEIR 1247 01:12:10,063 --> 01:12:19,105 CONVERSATIONS, LONNIE SAID HE WAS REALLY HURT. 1248 01:12:19,105 --> 01:12:24,277 >> THEN FOR HER TO ACCUSE ME OF SOMETHING I DIDN'T DO AFTER I 1249 01:12:24,277 --> 01:12:29,449 THOUGHT WE WERE TRYING TO HELP EACH OTHER UPSET ME GREATLY. 1250 01:12:29,449 --> 01:12:32,252 >> Reporter: LONNIE SAID JULIE WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WHO TOOK 1251 01:12:32,252 --> 01:12:37,090 ADVANTAGE OF HIS KINDNESS. THERE WAS ALSO BILL PRICE, THE 1252 01:12:37,090 --> 01:12:40,727 FRIEND WHO TURNED HIM AND, OF COURSE, AMY NGUYEN 1253 01:12:40,727 --> 01:12:43,863 LONNIE CALLED HER A "GOLD DIGGER," SAID SHE WAS LYING. 1254 01:12:43,863 --> 01:12:49,235 AND SAID BILL PRICE PUT HER UP TO IT. 1255 01:12:49,235 --> 01:12:51,838 >> I DON'T TRUST AMY NGUYEN, DIDN'T TRUST AMY NGUYEN, AND 1256 01:12:51,838 --> 01:12:54,574 DON'T TRUST AMY NGUYEN WHEN IT COMES TO AN INTIMATE 1257 01:12:54,574 --> 01:12:57,344 RELATIONSHIP I DID NOT EXPECT HER TO START 1258 01:12:57,344 --> 01:13:00,847 MAKING UP LIES ABOUT ME AGAIN. >> Reporter: LONNIE SAID AMY 1259 01:13:00,847 --> 01:13:02,949 WASN'T THE ONLY PERSON TELLING LIES ABOUT HIM 1260 01:13:02,949 --> 01:13:06,453 THERE WAS ALSO SOMEONE HE MET BEHIND BARS. 1261 01:13:06,453 --> 01:13:09,856 SOMEONE WHO WAS PREPARED TO TELL THE JURY QUITE A STORY 1262 01:13:09,856 --> 01:13:13,059 BACK IN APRIL OF 2014, A YEAR AFTER LONNIE WAS ARRESTED FOR 1263 01:13:13,059 --> 01:13:19,532 MICKI'S MURDER, THE ORANGE COUNTY D.A.'S OFFICE GOT A CALL. 1264 01:13:19,532 --> 01:13:27,307 AN INMATE NAMED TONY, A FREQUENT FLIER IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE 1265 01:13:27,307 --> 01:13:29,542 SYSTEM, WAS REQUESTING AN EMERGENCY LANDING. 1266 01:13:29,542 --> 01:13:31,544 SGT. DON VOGHT SET UP A MEETING. >> SO TONY HAD TOLD US THAT HE 1267 01:13:31,544 --> 01:13:34,180 WAS APPROACHED BY LONNIE KOCONTES WHO ASKED TONY AND 1268 01:13:34,180 --> 01:13:36,850 ANOTHER INMATE IF THEY WERE WILLING TO HAVE LONNIE'S THIRD 1269 01:13:36,850 --> 01:13:40,086 WIFE RECANT HER STATEMENT AND THEN HAVE HER KILLED 1270 01:13:40,086 --> 01:13:42,122 >> THIS IS AMY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? 1271 01:13:42,122 --> 01:13:46,893 >> CORRECT >> WHAT HAPPENS NEXT 1272 01:13:46,893 --> 01:13:50,230 >> WE CREATED A HIT MAN NAMED GREG, UH, WHO'S GONNA BE A HIT 1273 01:13:50,230 --> 01:13:54,567 MAN FOR LONNIE KOCONTES TO TAKE CARE OF LONNIE'S THIRD WIFE. 1274 01:13:54,567 --> 01:13:56,102 >> Reporter: GREG WAS PLAYED BY AN UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATOR NAMED 1275 01:13:56,102 --> 01:13:59,873 BILL WE'VE DISGUISED HIM SO HE CAN 1276 01:13:59,873 --> 01:14:02,809 GET MORE WORK IN THE FUTURE. >> HOW OFTEN WHEN YOU'RE ASKED 1277 01:14:02,809 --> 01:14:04,911 TO POSE AS A HIT MAN IS THE PERSON THAT YOU'RE GONNA 1278 01:14:04,911 --> 01:14:08,615 SUPPOSEDLY BE WORKING FOR ALREADY BEHIND BARS? 1279 01:14:08,615 --> 01:14:13,920 >> IN THE SIX CASES THAT I ACTUALLY POSED AS A HIT MAN, 1280 01:14:13,920 --> 01:14:16,056 FOUR OF THE SIX WERE ALREADY BEHIND BARS. 1281 01:14:16,056 --> 01:14:17,223 >> HOW MANY OF THOSE SIX CASES WERE MEN WANTING YOU TO KILL 1282 01:14:17,223 --> 01:14:22,929 THEIR WIVES? >> SIX OUT OF SIX. 1283 01:14:22,929 --> 01:14:25,165 >> THIS HAS TO GIVE YOU A DIM VIEW OF MEN, OR AT LEAST OF 1284 01:14:25,165 --> 01:14:27,167 HUSBANDS >> WELL, AT LEAST THE ONES IN 1285 01:14:27,167 --> 01:14:31,504 CUSTODY. >> Reporter: TONY THE INFORMANT 1286 01:14:31,504 --> 01:14:36,176 THEN INTRODUCED GREG, THE HIT MAN, TO LONNIE, THE INMATE 1287 01:14:36,176 --> 01:14:39,979 >> I THINK PEOPLE MAYBE FROM WATCHING TV SHOWS OR MOVIES HAVE 1288 01:14:39,979 --> 01:14:41,081 THIS IDEA THAT THIS ALL HAPPENS IN ONE PHONE CALL. 1289 01:14:41,081 --> 01:14:44,451 >> NO. HE WAS DEFINITELY FEELING ME OUT 1290 01:14:44,451 --> 01:14:47,821 DURING THE FIRST FEW CONVERSATIONS. 1291 01:14:47,821 --> 01:14:49,489 BUT AFTER HE GOT SOME BAD NEWS AT COURT, HE OPENED UP MUCH MORE 1292 01:14:49,489 --> 01:14:54,928 WITH ME ON THE PHONE >> WHAT KIND OF MONEY ARE WE 1293 01:14:54,928 --> 01:14:55,962 TALKING ABOUT HERE >> LONNIE WAS OFFERING A HUNDRED 1294 01:14:55,962 --> 01:15:01,601 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR ME TO KILL AMY. 1295 01:15:01,601 --> 01:15:03,703 >> Reporter: GREG SAID THE EVER SO CAREFUL LONNIE SPOKE IN CODE. 1296 01:15:03,703 --> 01:15:06,373 >> HE TOLD ME IT WAS TIME TO TAKE THE PROPERTY OFF THE 1297 01:15:06,373 --> 01:15:11,144 MARKET ANOTHER CALL, I SAID, "WELL, I 1298 01:15:11,144 --> 01:15:13,346 JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE GOOD FORECLOSING ON PROPERTY D-16," 1299 01:15:13,346 --> 01:15:15,915 WHICH IS HIS CODE. HE GOES AND HE AGREED, "IT IS 1300 01:15:15,915 --> 01:15:18,551 TIME." >> Reporter: WHEN YOU HEAR THAT, 1301 01:15:18,551 --> 01:15:20,153 YOU KNOW WE CAN GO TO COURT WITH THAT 1302 01:15:20,153 --> 01:15:24,391 >> YES HE KNOWS I'M NOT A REALTOR 1303 01:15:24,391 --> 01:15:29,162 >> Reporter: THEN A SURPRISING THING HAPPENED 1304 01:15:29,162 --> 01:15:35,068 SOMEONE WANTED TO CALL THE COPS. AND IT WAS LONNIE. 1305 01:15:35,068 --> 01:15:36,269 >>> COMING UP -- >> HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU LIED 1306 01:15:36,269 --> 01:15:38,338 TO THIS JURY SINCE YESTERDAY MORNING? 1307 01:15:38,338 --> 01:15:41,341 >> NONE. >> HE HAD AN ANSWER FOR 1308 01:15:41,341 --> 01:15:44,511 EVERYTHING >> Reporter: INNOCENT MAN OR 1309 01:15:44,511 --> 01:15:49,282 GUILTY AS CHARGED? >> HE HAD 14 YEARS TO COME UP 1310 01:15:49,282 --> 01:15:50,350 WITH A STORY 14 YEARS 1311 01:15:50,350 --> 01:15:51,918 >>> 12 JURORS WERE ABOUT TO DECIDE HIS FATE. 1312 01:16:10,470 --> 01:16:11,705 >>> Reporter: EVERYONE WHO KNEW HIM SAID LONNIE KOCONTES WAS A 1313 01:16:11,705 --> 01:16:15,608 RESOURCEFUL, HARDWORKING ATTORNEY 1314 01:16:15,608 --> 01:16:17,444 ACCORDING TO PROSECUTORS, IN THE YEARS LEADING UP TO HIS TRIAL, 1315 01:16:17,444 --> 01:16:20,613 LONNIE HAD DONE MORE THAN FILE MOTIONS. 1316 01:16:20,613 --> 01:16:24,217 THEY SAID HE ALSO TRIED TO HIRE A HIT MAN TO TAKE OUT THE KEY 1317 01:16:24,217 --> 01:16:27,153 WITNESS AGAINST HIM, HIS EX-WIFE, AMY NGUYEN. 1318 01:16:27,153 --> 01:16:33,860 LONNIE THOUGHT THE HIT MAN'S NAME WAS GREG. 1319 01:16:33,860 --> 01:16:37,063 HE WAS WRONG IT WAS BILL. 1320 01:16:37,063 --> 01:16:39,299 AND BILL WASN'T A HIT MAN. HE WAS AN UNDERCOVER COP, WHO 1321 01:16:39,299 --> 01:16:41,801 FOLLOWED UP ON THEIR CONVERSATIONS WITH A LETTER TO 1322 01:16:41,801 --> 01:16:52,912 LONNIE >> I ASKED HIM TO SPECIFY SOME 1323 01:16:52,912 --> 01:16:55,181 OF THE TERMS THAT WE WERE USING DURING THIS INVESTIGATION TO GET 1324 01:16:55,181 --> 01:16:56,249 CLARIFICATION FROM HIM >> Reporter: THAT SOUNDS LIKE 1325 01:16:56,249 --> 01:17:00,387 IT'S GONNA MAKE SOMEBODY SUSPICIOUS 1326 01:17:00,387 --> 01:17:03,023 >> AND IT DID. >> Reporter: LONNIE MAY HAVE 1327 01:17:03,023 --> 01:17:04,090 REALIZED HE'D BEEN THE TARGET OF A STING OPERATION. 1328 01:17:04,090 --> 01:17:08,795 AND TRUE TO FORM, HE WENT ON THE OFFENSIVE. 1329 01:17:08,795 --> 01:17:13,566 ASKING HIS ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO CALL THE POLICE. 1330 01:17:13,566 --> 01:17:14,901 >> LONNIE NEVER SAID THAT HE WANTED AMY NGUYEN KILLED 1331 01:17:14,901 --> 01:17:17,837 IT'S ONLY THAT INVESTIGATOR THAT CONTRIVED THAT 1332 01:17:17,837 --> 01:17:23,109 >> Reporter: HE CUT OFF COMMUNICATION AFTER THAT 1333 01:17:23,109 --> 01:17:24,911 >> HE CALLED ME ONE MORE TIME AND HE SAID THAT TONY HAS MISLED 1334 01:17:24,911 --> 01:17:27,647 ME ABOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS. HE WAS DOING DAMAGE CONTROL AT 1335 01:17:27,647 --> 01:17:29,482 THAT POINT BUT UNFORTUNATELY FOR LONNIE, 1336 01:17:29,482 --> 01:17:33,753 THE DAMAGE WAS ALREADY DONE. >> Reporter: PROSECUTORS CHARGED 1337 01:17:33,753 --> 01:17:39,059 LONNIE WITH SOLICITATION TO COMMIT MURDER. 1338 01:17:39,059 --> 01:17:41,161 HE DENIED IT, AND SAID HE'D BEEN SET UP BY A JAILHOUSE INFORMANT 1339 01:17:41,161 --> 01:17:43,830 WHO WAS LOOKING TO CUT A DEAL. ASSISTANT D.A. SUSAN PRICE HAD 1340 01:17:43,830 --> 01:17:49,669 WAITED YEARS FOR THE CHANCE TO CROSS EXAMINE LONNIE 1341 01:17:49,669 --> 01:17:50,870 >> HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU LIED TO THIS JURY SINCE YESTERDAY 1342 01:17:50,870 --> 01:17:52,472 MORNING? >> NONE. 1343 01:17:52,472 --> 01:17:57,077 >> YOU'VE BEEN TRUTHFUL? >> YES 1344 01:17:57,077 --> 01:18:04,517 >> Reporter: TELL ME ABOUT CROSS EXAMINING LONNIE 1345 01:18:04,517 --> 01:18:10,023 YOU'RE SMILING >> WELL, I'VE NEVER CROSS 1346 01:18:10,023 --> 01:18:12,025 EXAMINED, UM, A DEFENDANT QUITE LIKE LONNIE KOCONTES 1347 01:18:12,025 --> 01:18:13,827 HE HAD AN ANSWER FOR EVERYTHING. A VERY LENGTHY ANSWER FOR 1348 01:18:13,827 --> 01:18:14,694 EVERYTHING A VERY SELF-SERVING ANSWER FOR 1349 01:18:14,694 --> 01:18:16,029 EVERYTHING >> Reporter: THE WORLD'S OUT TO 1350 01:18:16,029 --> 01:18:18,765 GET ME >> HE WAS THE VICTIM OF 1351 01:18:18,765 --> 01:18:26,206 EVERYBODY. YOU HAVE TESTIFIED ABOUT HOW 1352 01:18:26,206 --> 01:18:27,340 YOU'VE BEEN VICTIMIZED BY DIFFERENT PEOPLE 1353 01:18:27,340 --> 01:18:28,942 WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT? >> WELL, I HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED. 1354 01:18:28,942 --> 01:18:31,478 I'M PRETTY NAIVE >> Reporter: THAT WAS HOW HE 1355 01:18:31,478 --> 01:18:37,217 PLAYED IT, ANYWAY. AND UNDER CROSS-EXAMINATION, 1356 01:18:37,217 --> 01:18:42,055 LONNIE DID NOT CRACK >> YOU TESTIFIED YESTERDAY THAT 1357 01:18:42,055 --> 01:18:47,360 MICKI, WHEN SHE DRANK, SHE BECAME UNPREDICTABLE 1358 01:18:47,360 --> 01:18:50,063 >> SHE WAS UNPREDICTABLE WHEN SHE DRANK. 1359 01:18:50,063 --> 01:18:52,165 >> WAS SHE UNPREDICTABLE ON THE NIGHT YOU SAW HER ALIVE LAST 1360 01:18:52,165 --> 01:18:57,170 >> SHE WAS OKAY THAT EVENING >> WAS SHE VIOLENT TOWARDS YOU 1361 01:18:57,170 --> 01:18:59,072 ON THE NIGHT YOU LAST SAW HER ALIVE? 1362 01:18:59,072 --> 01:19:04,044 >> NO. >> Reporter: LONNIE INSISTED 1363 01:19:04,044 --> 01:19:04,844 THERE WAS NO ARGUMENT AND NO VIOLENCE 1364 01:19:04,844 --> 01:19:06,513 >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED HER DEATH, SO I DON'T KNOW IF HER 1365 01:19:06,513 --> 01:19:09,082 DRINKING WAS A FACTOR OR NOT >> BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE SHE COULD 1366 01:19:09,082 --> 01:19:11,184 HAVE STRANGLED HERSELF >> I DON'T BELIEVE SHE WAS 1367 01:19:11,184 --> 01:19:13,853 STRANGLED. AND OF COURSE SHE COULD NOT HAVE 1368 01:19:13,853 --> 01:19:15,722 STRANGLED HERSELF. >> Reporter: WHEN YOU FINISHED 1369 01:19:15,722 --> 01:19:18,692 CROSS-EXAMINING LONNIE YOU THINK, "WE'VE GOT IT"? 1370 01:19:18,692 --> 01:19:23,029 >> NO, I NEVER THINK WE'VE GOT IT 1371 01:19:23,029 --> 01:19:26,533 I DID THINK, TO ME, HE DOESN'T SEEM CREDIBLE, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW 1372 01:19:26,533 --> 01:19:28,134 IF ANY OF THE JURORS FELT SORRY FOR HIM. 1373 01:19:28,134 --> 01:19:34,040 >> Reporter: FIVE MONTHS AFTER TRIAL STARTED, THE CASE WAS 1374 01:19:34,040 --> 01:19:35,075 HANDED TO A JURY WOULD THEY SEE AN INNOCENT MAN 1375 01:19:35,075 --> 01:19:36,076 TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF TIME AND AGAIN? 1376 01:19:36,076 --> 01:19:44,551 OR A HEARTLESS MURDERER? MICKI'S BROTHER TOSHI WONDERED 1377 01:19:44,551 --> 01:19:47,187 >> HE HAD 14 YEARS TO COME UP WITH A STORY 1378 01:19:47,187 --> 01:19:55,161 14 YEARS OVER AND OVER, TO MAKE 1379 01:19:55,161 --> 01:19:58,498 EVERYTHING FIT >> Reporter: AFTER JUST AN HOUR 1380 01:19:58,498 --> 01:20:00,433 OF DELIBERATION, IT ALL CAME UNDONE 1381 01:20:00,433 --> 01:20:05,505 THE VERDICT, GUILTY OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER FOR FINANCIAL 1382 01:20:05,505 --> 01:20:07,107 GAIN >> Reporter: HOW DID LONNIE TAKE 1383 01:20:07,107 --> 01:20:09,442 IT >> SHOOK HIS HEAD. 1384 01:20:09,442 --> 01:20:10,610 >> HE STILL STOOD THERE AND SHOOK HIS -- 'CAUSE I WATCHED 1385 01:20:10,610 --> 01:20:12,612 HIM. I'M WATCHING HIM 1386 01:20:12,612 --> 01:20:15,115 HE'S -- HE'S SHAKING HIS HEAD. >> Reporter: HE WOULDN'T LOOK 1387 01:20:15,115 --> 01:20:17,017 BACK AT YOU? >> UH-UH 1388 01:20:17,017 --> 01:20:23,123 >> UH-UH >> Reporter: MICKI'S NIECE JULIE 1389 01:20:23,123 --> 01:20:24,290 HAD BEEN WAITING TOO >> AS SOON AS I HEARD THE 1390 01:20:24,290 --> 01:20:27,527 VERDICT IT WAS JUST THIS BIG SENSE OF RELIEF. 1391 01:20:27,527 --> 01:20:30,163 LIKE, MY AUNT FINALLY GOT JUSTICE. 1392 01:20:30,163 --> 01:20:33,867 >> Reporter: LONNIE KOCONTES WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON 1393 01:20:33,867 --> 01:20:36,970 WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE 1394 01:20:36,970 --> 01:20:39,639 HE IS APPEALING HIS CONVICTION BECAUSE OF THE LIFE SENTENCE, 1395 01:20:39,639 --> 01:20:47,247 THE D.A.'S OFFICE DROPPED THE MURDER FOR HIRE CHARGE 1396 01:20:47,247 --> 01:20:49,249 FOR BILL PRICE, WHO'D THOUGHT OF LONNIE AS A BROTHER, AND THEN 1397 01:20:49,249 --> 01:20:54,220 ENDED UP TURNING HIM IN, IT HAD BEEN A VERY LONG ROAD. 1398 01:20:54,220 --> 01:20:57,190 HOW'S YOUR CONSCIENCE? >> RELIEVED. 1399 01:20:57,190 --> 01:21:00,827 WHETHER MICKI WAS A GOOD PERSON OR A BAD PERSON, NOBODY DESERVES 1400 01:21:00,827 --> 01:21:11,938 TO DIE THAT WAY. NOBODY DOES. 1401 01:21:11,938 --> 01:21:13,106 AND I SUPPOSE THE GUILT THAT I WOULD'VE HAD THEN WOULD BE I 1402 01:21:13,106 --> 01:21:17,243 BELIEVED HIM THAT HURTS 1403 01:21:17,243 --> 01:21:25,218 >> Reporter: YOU'RE A PRO AND HE FOOLED YOU 1404 01:21:25,218 --> 01:21:26,786 >> YEAH. >> Reporter: FOR MICKI KANESAKI, 1405 01:21:26,786 --> 01:21:30,357 THE OCEAN ALWAYS CARRIED HOPE. A COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER FROM 1406 01:21:30,357 --> 01:21:36,863 JAPAN, SHE'D ONCE TRAVELED ACROSS THE SEA FOR A BETTER 1407 01:21:36,863 --> 01:21:39,499 LIFE AND THE "ISLAND ESCAPE" WAS 1408 01:21:39,499 --> 01:21:42,168 SUPPOSED TO CARRY HER AND LONNIE TO CALMER SHORES 1409 01:21:42,168 --> 01:21:46,940 HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW GOOD HE HAD IT 1410 01:21:46,940 --> 01:21:51,344 >> YEAH, HE DOES NOT KNOW -- HE DID NOT KNOW, YEAH 1411 01:21:51,344 --> 01:21:53,279 TO THE END, SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR HIM. 1412 01:21:53,279 --> 01:21:58,885 AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED LOOK WHAT HE DID TO HER. 1413 01:21:58,885 --> 01:22:07,560 SHE DIDN'T DESERVE THAT. SHE HAD A LOT TO LIVE FOR. 1414 01:22:07,560 --> 01:22:09,796 >> SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL PERSON. AND I'M TALKING ABOUT HER SOUL 1415 01:22:09,796 --> 01:22:14,434 SHE JUST HAD SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SOUL 1416 01:22:14,434 --> 01:22:18,672 >> Reporter: A SOUL, LOST AT SEA, WHO FOUND HER WAY HOME. 1417 01:22:18,672 --> 01:22:21,875 >>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF "DATELINE." 1418 01:22:21,875 --> 01:22:23,977 WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN FRIDAY AT 9:00 P.M., 8:00 CENTRAL. 1419 01:22:23,977 --> 01:22:25,178 AND, OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY 1420 01:22:25,178 --> 01:22:27,947 NEWS." I'M LESTER HOLT. 1421 01:22:27,947 --> 01:22:29,449 FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS, GOOD NIGHT.