1 00:00:16,116 --> 00:00:17,717 TONIGHT ON "DATELINE:" 2 00:00:17,717 --> 00:00:19,819 >> WE WENT HOME AND HAD COCKTAILS, MORE COCKTAILS. 3 00:00:19,819 --> 00:00:21,421 >> Reporter: AND GOT KINDA CARRIED AWAY 4 00:00:21,421 --> 00:00:24,024 >> YEAH. >>> DRAMATIC NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN 5 00:00:24,024 --> 00:00:29,329 A DEADLY MYSTERY THAT BEGINS WITH COCKTAILS AND ENDS WITH A 6 00:00:29,329 --> 00:00:31,931 TWIST. >> THEY STARTED DRINKING AND -- 7 00:00:31,931 --> 00:00:34,567 AND ONE OF THEM WOUND UP DEAD. >> HE SHOT HIMSELF 8 00:00:34,567 --> 00:00:37,337 I DONT GET IT. HE SHOT HIMSELF! 9 00:00:37,337 --> 00:00:42,042 >> I REMEMBER WALKING OUT, AND JUST SAYING, WHAT? 10 00:00:42,042 --> 00:00:44,177 WHAT ARE YOU DOING >> IT CAME DOWN AS A POSSIBLE 11 00:00:44,177 --> 00:00:46,212 SUICIDE. >> A RED FLAG WENT UP 12 00:00:46,212 --> 00:00:48,248 IMMEDIATELY IN MY MIND >> THINGS DIDN'T MAKE SENSE. 13 00:00:48,248 --> 00:00:50,884 >> I NEVER BELIEVED THAT MY BROTHER, WITH HIS DAUGHTERS 20 14 00:00:50,884 --> 00:00:53,019 STEPS AWAY SLEEPING, WOULD TAKE A GUN AND SHOOT HIMSELF IN THE 15 00:00:53,019 --> 00:00:55,555 EYE. >> I KEYED ON THAT GUN THAT WAS 16 00:00:55,555 --> 00:00:57,691 IN HIS RIGHT HAND. IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS PLACED 17 00:00:57,691 --> 00:00:59,826 THERE. >> IT JUST KINDA MADE THE HAIR 18 00:00:59,826 --> 00:01:02,962 BACK OF MY NECK STAND ON END >> WHY DIDN'T I DO ANYTHING TO 19 00:01:02,962 --> 00:01:05,165 STOP IT? >> IT WAS DISBELIEF, SHOCK, 20 00:01:05,165 --> 00:01:09,336 ANGER. WE JUST ASKED, "WHY? 21 00:01:09,336 --> 00:01:12,072 WHY? >> IT WASN'T ABOUT THE TRUTH. 22 00:01:12,072 --> 00:01:29,222 IT WAS ABOUT THEM WINNING A CASE, AND WE PAID THE PRICE FOR 23 00:01:29,222 --> 00:01:37,097 IT >> Reporter: SOME PEOPLE BLAMED 24 00:01:37,097 --> 00:01:40,166 THE BOOZE. THAT IS, WHEN IT WAS ALL OVER, 25 00:01:40,166 --> 00:01:43,336 IN THE HARD LIGHT OF A WINTER MORNING HERE IN PHOENIX, 26 00:01:43,336 --> 00:01:46,506 ARIZONA. >> HE WAS EXTREMELY INTOXICATED. 27 00:01:46,506 --> 00:01:49,576 >> Reporter: WHEN THE BODY BAG MADE ITS WAY TO THE MORGUE, AND 28 00:01:49,576 --> 00:01:54,114 THE FOLKS FROM CSI CRANED THEIR NECKS AROUND FALLEN FURNITURE 29 00:01:54,114 --> 00:01:56,950 AND TELLTALE POOLS OF BLOOD, AND THE SURVIVORS STRUGGLED TO 30 00:01:56,950 --> 00:01:59,586 EXPLAIN -- >> I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER IT AS 31 00:01:59,586 --> 00:02:02,789 BEST I CAN >> Reporter: -- THAT IT MUST 32 00:02:02,789 --> 00:02:06,059 HAVE BEEN THE BOOZE, OR THE GUN. >> A PISTOL, A SEMI-AUTOMATIC 33 00:02:06,059 --> 00:02:08,128 HANDGUN. >> Reporter: WHERE DID THAT COME 34 00:02:08,128 --> 00:02:12,866 FROM? OR THAT EMAIL, THE ONE THAT 35 00:02:12,866 --> 00:02:14,901 PRECEDED SO MUCH VODKA >> AND I WAS LIKE, "WHY ARE -- 36 00:02:14,901 --> 00:02:17,470 WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO WORRY ABOUT THIS NOW? 37 00:02:17,470 --> 00:02:19,539 LIKE, THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO 38 00:02:19,539 --> 00:02:23,777 >> Reporter: SOMETHING HAD TO BE GOING ON THAT NO ONE UNDERSTOOD. 39 00:02:23,777 --> 00:02:25,879 >> THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. MY BROTHER WOULD NEVER DO THIS 40 00:02:25,879 --> 00:02:27,781 >> WHEN YOU START PUTTING ALL THE PIECES TOGETHER, YOU ONLY 41 00:02:27,781 --> 00:02:32,118 GET ONE EXPLANATION AND THAT'S MURDER 42 00:02:32,118 --> 00:02:35,288 >> Reporter: WELL, TO UNDERSTAND ANY OF IT, THIS IS AS GOOD A 43 00:02:35,288 --> 00:02:39,526 PLACE AS ANY TO BEGIN. SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA 44 00:02:39,526 --> 00:02:45,432 TIME, THE MORNING OF THE PREVIOUS DAY, A WEDNESDAY, 45 00:02:45,432 --> 00:02:49,135 DECEMBER 29TH, 2010, A MAN NAMED ROB FISHER, EX-POLICE OFFICER 46 00:02:49,135 --> 00:02:54,107 TURNED ATTORNEY WITH A THRIVING PRACTICE IN FAMILY LAW, GOT INTO 47 00:02:54,107 --> 00:02:56,409 HIS CAR AND POINTED EAST TO PHOENIX, SIX HOURS INTO THE 48 00:02:56,409 --> 00:03:01,114 DESERT, WHERE HIS GRANDCHILDREN WERE EAGER TO SEE THEIR PAPA 49 00:03:01,114 --> 00:03:04,250 >> IT WAS A SHORT TRIP JUST TO KIND OF EXCHANGE PRESENTS. 50 00:03:04,250 --> 00:03:06,853 >> Reporter: THIS, EVERY CHRISTMAS, WAS ONE OF HIS 51 00:03:06,853 --> 00:03:09,522 FAVORITE ERRANDS OF THE YEAR >> I'M SURE EVERY GRANDFATHER 52 00:03:09,522 --> 00:03:12,058 SAYS THIS, BUT YOU KNOW THEY THROW UP THEIR HANDS AND SCREAM, 53 00:03:12,058 --> 00:03:14,661 "PAPA," AND COME AND RUN AND ALMOST KNOCK YOU OVER. 54 00:03:14,661 --> 00:03:16,262 >> Reporter: THERE'S NOTHING QUITE LIKE THAT, IS THERE? 55 00:03:16,262 --> 00:03:18,898 >> IT'S PRETTY WONDERFUL >> Reporter: IN FACT ROB FISHER 56 00:03:18,898 --> 00:03:23,103 FELT LIKE A LUCKY MAN AGAIN. DIDN'T FOR A LONG TIME. 57 00:03:23,103 --> 00:03:26,940 NOT AFTER AN INJURY PREMATURELY ENDED HIS POLICE CAREER, AND 58 00:03:26,940 --> 00:03:30,143 CERTAINLY NOT WHEN HIS THEN-WIFE SUFFERED SO HORRIBLY THROUGH HER 59 00:03:30,143 --> 00:03:34,881 CANCER, AND THEN DIED HOLDING ONTO HIS HAND. 60 00:03:34,881 --> 00:03:37,417 BUT NOW? HE WAS SURROUNDED BY GOOD 61 00:03:37,417 --> 00:03:40,587 FRIENDS, HIS CAREER WAS FINALLY BACK ON TRACK. 62 00:03:40,587 --> 00:03:44,724 HE WAS HAPPILY REMARRIED, AND STILL CHERISHED THE RELATIONSHIP 63 00:03:44,724 --> 00:03:48,428 WITH HIS FORMER WIFE'S FAMILY. >> HE WAS GONNA COME AND SEE THE 64 00:03:48,428 --> 00:03:53,667 GIRLS AND SPOIL THEM, LIKE HE ALWAYS DID, TAKE 'EM SHOPPING 65 00:03:53,667 --> 00:03:55,902 FOR CHRISTMAS. >> Reporter: THIS IS ROB'S 66 00:03:55,902 --> 00:03:59,372 ONE-AND-ONLY STEP DAUGHTER, BELINDA. 67 00:03:59,372 --> 00:04:02,542 >> THEY WOULD RUN, RUN AND JUMP IN HIS ARMS, "PAPA," SCREAMING, 68 00:04:02,542 --> 00:04:07,814 AND IT WOULD JUST BRIGHTEN HIS DAY. 69 00:04:07,814 --> 00:04:15,288 YOU COULD SEE THAT IT WAS JUST GENUINE, THE LOVE BETWEEN THEM 70 00:04:15,288 --> 00:04:19,459 >> Reporter: THE BRIEF CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY VISIT FROM ROB WOULD BE 71 00:04:19,459 --> 00:04:22,162 FOR BELINDA ANOTHER CHANCE TO WORK THROUGH THE GRIEF, THE 72 00:04:22,162 --> 00:04:26,266 SEARING GRIEF SHE STILL FELT FOR THE MOTHER LOST TO CANCER. 73 00:04:26,266 --> 00:04:28,368 SO THIS IS WELL, SOMETHING THAT YOU STILL HAD WITH ROB 74 00:04:28,368 --> 00:04:30,403 AFTERWARDS, IS THAT YOU HAD -- >> YEAH. 75 00:04:30,403 --> 00:04:32,539 >> Reporter: -- YOUR MOTHER. >> UH-HUH. 76 00:04:32,539 --> 00:04:34,641 >> Reporter: AND YOU HELPED EACH OTHER WORK THROUGH THAT LOSS 77 00:04:34,641 --> 00:04:37,143 >> IT WAS HARD FOR ME. BECAUSE THAT WAS STILL - 78 00:04:37,143 --> 00:04:40,380 >> Reporter: SURE. >> -- A CONNECTION TO MY MOM 79 00:04:40,380 --> 00:04:42,982 >> Reporter: ROB WAS ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING 80 00:04:42,982 --> 00:04:45,618 BELINDA'S HUSBAND -- WHAT WOULD YOU CALL HIM, HIS 81 00:04:45,618 --> 00:04:48,254 STEP SON-IN-LAW? LEE RADDER 82 00:04:48,254 --> 00:04:52,092 HARDLY A CLASSIC SON-IN-LAW RELATIONSHIP 83 00:04:52,092 --> 00:04:55,729 >> THEY WERE ONLY -- THEY'RE ONLY, LIKE, A YEAR AND HALF 84 00:04:55,729 --> 00:04:57,864 APART IN AGE >> Reporter: YEAH, DID THEY -- 85 00:04:57,864 --> 00:04:59,833 DID THEY BEHAVE LIKE FRIENDS, OR LIKE - 86 00:04:59,833 --> 00:05:01,501 >> YEAH, LIKE -- >> Reporter: -- FATHER, SON -- 87 00:05:01,501 --> 00:05:05,038 >> -- BUDDIES. NO, NOT LIKE FATHER AND SON, 88 00:05:05,038 --> 00:05:08,208 MORE LIKE BUDDIES. >> I DON'T HAVE ANY BIOLOGICAL 89 00:05:08,208 --> 00:05:10,844 CHILDREN, SO THAT WAS MY FAMILY. >> Reporter: ROB, LIKE BELINDA, 90 00:05:10,844 --> 00:05:15,482 LOVED LEE'S OUTSIZED PERSONALITY, HIS BURSTING 91 00:05:15,482 --> 00:05:18,651 CONFIDENCE AND CHARISMA. >> LOUD-TALKIN' NEW YORKER, BIG 92 00:05:18,651 --> 00:05:22,889 SALESMAN, ALWAYS FILLED UP THE ROOM, "I'M MACHO KINDA GUY." 93 00:05:22,889 --> 00:05:27,660 >> Reporter: THIS IS LEE'S SISTER, LISA 94 00:05:27,660 --> 00:05:31,331 >> HE WAS A SELF-MADE ENTREPRENEUR, NO COLLEGE DEGREE, 95 00:05:31,331 --> 00:05:34,501 STARTED SEVERAL COMPANIES. >> Reporter: SOMETIMES THEY DID 96 00:05:34,501 --> 00:05:38,705 REASONABLY WELL, SOMETIMES, OFTEN IN FACT, NOT SO MUCH. BUT 97 00:05:38,705 --> 00:05:41,274 GIVE UP? NAH. 98 00:05:41,274 --> 00:05:45,512 IN FACT, EVEN AS ROB DROVE ACROSS THE DESERT TO PHOENIX ON 99 00:05:45,512 --> 00:05:48,114 THAT 29th OF DECEMBER, LEE RADDER WAS WAITING FOR NEWS 100 00:05:48,114 --> 00:05:51,751 ABOUT HIS LATEST VENTURE, A BIG ONE. 101 00:05:51,751 --> 00:05:55,955 THE BIG ONE, WAITING FOR WHAT HE BELIEVED COULD BE THE BEST NEWS 102 00:05:55,955 --> 00:05:58,491 OF HIS WHOLE BUSINESS LIFE >> IT WAS GONNA MAKE US 103 00:05:58,491 --> 00:06:00,593 BOATLOADS OF MONEY >> Reporter: AND THAT WAS WHERE 104 00:06:00,593 --> 00:06:03,763 THINGS WERE WHEN POP-POP CAME TO VISIT. 105 00:06:03,763 --> 00:06:06,599 >> YUP >> Reporter: ROB ARRIVED A 106 00:06:06,599 --> 00:06:08,535 LITTLE AFTER NOON. BELINDA WAS AT WORK WHEN HE 107 00:06:08,535 --> 00:06:11,271 PICKED UP THE GIRLS AND TOOK THEM SHOPPING FOR THEIR BELATED 108 00:06:11,271 --> 00:06:13,373 CHRISTMAS PRESENTS THEN THE WHOLE FAMILY GOT 109 00:06:13,373 --> 00:06:16,543 TOGETHER FOR DINNER AT THIS RESTAURANT 110 00:06:16,543 --> 00:06:20,647 AND AFTERWARDS WENT BACK TO THE HOUSE, WHERE HAPPY LITTLE GIRLS 111 00:06:20,647 --> 00:06:24,317 WERE TUCKED INTO BED. AND LEE POURED THE NIGHTCAPS 112 00:06:24,317 --> 00:06:26,386 >> LEE WAS A GOOD HOST. OKAY? 113 00:06:26,386 --> 00:06:28,054 HE LIKED - >> Reporter: GLASS WAS NEVER 114 00:06:28,054 --> 00:06:30,056 EMPTY -- >> HE LIKED TO MAKE SURE THAT 115 00:06:30,056 --> 00:06:34,194 YOU HAD, YOU KNOW THAT THERE WAS BEVERAGES THERE IF YOU WANTED TO 116 00:06:34,194 --> 00:06:36,296 PARTAKE. >> Reporter: AND THEN, WELL INTO 117 00:06:36,296 --> 00:06:40,567 THEIR EVENING OF LIQUID REFRESHMENT, LEE RECEIVED AN 118 00:06:40,567 --> 00:06:42,068 EMAIL. A MOMENT YOU'LL WANT TO 119 00:06:42,068 --> 00:06:45,338 REMEMBER, AS YOU HEAR THIS STORY. 120 00:06:45,338 --> 00:06:49,075 AND AFTER? HE DRANK, QUITE A LOT. 121 00:06:49,075 --> 00:06:54,848 BELINDA, WINE, THE MEN, VODKA. >> COCKTAILS, MORE COCKTAILS 122 00:06:54,848 --> 00:06:58,418 >> Reporter: AND GOT KINDA CARRIED AWAY WITH THE COCKTAILS. 123 00:06:58,418 --> 00:07:01,121 >> YEAH. >> Reporter: A GREAT DEAL OF 124 00:07:01,121 --> 00:07:04,190 VODKA. >> THEY STARTED DRINKING AND THE 125 00:07:04,190 --> 00:07:08,928 GIRLS WENT TO BED AND ROBERT AND MY BROTHER STAYED UP 126 00:07:08,928 --> 00:07:10,530 >> Reporter: ONE OF THEM WOUND UP DEAD. 127 00:07:10,530 --> 00:07:12,532 >> AND ONE OF THEM WOUND UP DEAD 128 00:07:12,532 --> 00:07:16,736 >> Reporter: WHAT HAPPENED IN THOSE BOOZY, BLEARY HOURS 129 00:07:16,736 --> 00:07:20,807 BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND DAWN? WELL, THAT'S THE MYSTERY, ISN'T 130 00:07:20,807 --> 00:07:23,576 IT?. AND A VERY STRANGE TALE IT WILL 131 00:07:23,576 --> 00:07:26,746 BE >> 9-1-1, WHAT'S YOUR EMERGENCY? 132 00:07:26,746 --> 00:07:30,517 >> YEAH, HE SHOT HIMSELF. I DON'T GET IT. 133 00:07:30,517 --> 00:07:37,190 HE SHOT HIMSELF. >> OKAY, WHO SHOT HIMSELF? 134 00:07:37,190 --> 00:07:44,631 >>> COMING UP -- AN EVENING OF HOLIDAY CHEER, 135 00:07:44,631 --> 00:07:46,766 ENDING IN GUNFIRE. >> IT IS HORRIFIC AND NUMBING TO 136 00:07:46,766 --> 00:07:50,437 SEE SOMEONE YOU LOVE, LYING THERE DEAD 137 00:07:50,437 --> 00:07:55,642 >>> A TRAGIC SCENE AND, FOR BELINDA, A HAUNTING QUESTION 138 00:07:55,642 --> 00:07:59,913 >> I REMEMBER, JUST NOT EVEN BELIEVING THIS, JUST SAYING, 139 00:07:59,913 --> 00:08:19,632 "WHAT? >>> IT WAS AN EARLY WINTER 140 00:08:19,632 --> 00:08:24,037 MORNING, DECEMBER 30, 2010 OUTSIDE IT WAS VERY DARK 141 00:08:24,037 --> 00:08:27,574 INSIDE, ICE MELTED IN GLASSES HALF FULL OF VODKA 142 00:08:27,574 --> 00:08:31,378 AND FINALLY, SILENCE DESCENDED ON THE HOUSE 143 00:08:31,378 --> 00:08:34,047 >> Reporter: DO YOU REMEMBER GOING TO BED THAT NIGHT? 144 00:08:34,047 --> 00:08:36,383 >> I REMEMBER SAYING, "I -- I GOTTA GO TO BED, 'CAUSE I GOTTA 145 00:08:36,383 --> 00:08:38,151 GET UP EARLY." >> Reporter: ANY IDEA HOW MUCH 146 00:08:38,151 --> 00:08:41,321 YOU HAD TO DRINK >> OH, PROBABLY QUITE A BIT OF 147 00:08:41,321 --> 00:08:45,558 WINE >> AND THEN, A SINGLE GUN SHOT 148 00:08:45,558 --> 00:08:50,063 IT WAS ROB WHO DISCOVERED HIS SON-IN-LAW LEE, CLEARLY DEAD, 149 00:08:50,063 --> 00:08:54,067 LYING ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR >> IT IS HORRIFIC AND NUMBING TO 150 00:08:54,067 --> 00:09:01,775 SEE SOMEONE YOU LOVE LYING THERE DEAD 151 00:09:01,775 --> 00:09:07,547 >> I REMEMBER WALKING OUT, AND LOOKING -- AND JUST NOT EVEN 152 00:09:07,547 --> 00:09:13,286 BELIEVING THIS, JUST SAYING, "WHAT? 153 00:09:13,286 --> 00:09:15,889 WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" >> IT DIDN'T LOOK REAL, SAID 154 00:09:15,889 --> 00:09:19,526 BELINDA, CERTAINLY NOT IN HER STILL INEBRIATED DAZE. 155 00:09:19,526 --> 00:09:21,795 >> Reporter: YOU THOUGHT THEY WERE PUTTING ON SOME SORT OF ACT 156 00:09:21,795 --> 00:09:24,431 FOR YOU, OR -- >> I THOUGHT IT WAS LIKE A BAD 157 00:09:24,431 --> 00:09:26,566 JOKE I REALLY DID 158 00:09:26,566 --> 00:09:30,170 >> BUT IT WASN'T, OF COURSE, NOT A JOKE AT ALL. 159 00:09:30,170 --> 00:09:33,840 INSTINCT KICKED IN THEN. ROB, THE COP TURNED ATTORNEY, 160 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:36,042 CALLED 911 AROUND 5:00 A.M >> 911 161 00:09:36,042 --> 00:09:38,545 WHAT'S YOUR EMERGENCY? >> YEAH, HE SHOT HIMSELF 162 00:09:38,545 --> 00:09:42,215 I DON'T GET IT HE SHOT HIMSELF. 163 00:09:42,215 --> 00:09:44,851 >> SERGEANT CHRIS LAFKO OF THE MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF'S 164 00:09:44,851 --> 00:09:47,420 OFFICE, GOT THE CALL, RUSHED OVER THERE 165 00:09:47,420 --> 00:09:50,590 >> IT CAME DOWN AS A SHOOTING CALL -- SHOOTING VICTIM, 166 00:09:50,590 --> 00:09:53,393 POSSIBLE SUICIDE >> ONCE INSIDE THE HOUSE, THE 167 00:09:53,393 --> 00:09:57,063 SERGEANT TOOK A GOOD LOOK AT THE VICTIM, THERE WAS AN ENTRY WOUND 168 00:09:57,063 --> 00:10:01,267 AT LEE'S EYE HIS HAND WAS GRASPING THE GUN. 169 00:10:01,267 --> 00:10:03,903 AND THERE WAS ROB FISCHER, STILL KNEELING BESIDE LEE, STILL 170 00:10:03,903 --> 00:10:07,507 HOLDING THE PHONE HE'D USED TO CALL 911 171 00:10:07,507 --> 00:10:12,245 >> MR. FISCHER STOOD UP AND SAID "I'M A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER. 172 00:10:12,245 --> 00:10:14,581 I'M A POLICE OFFICER." >> AND THERE WAS BELINDA 173 00:10:14,581 --> 00:10:16,516 >> SHE WAS GOING, "WHAT'S GOING ON 174 00:10:16,516 --> 00:10:19,052 WHATS GOING ON?" >> SHE WAS IN SHOCK THEN, OR SO 175 00:10:19,052 --> 00:10:22,188 SHE SAID LATER, STILL PERHAPS UNWILLING TO GET HER BRAIN 176 00:10:22,188 --> 00:10:25,392 AROUND WHAT HAPPENED >> I DON'T THINK IN YOUR WORST 177 00:10:25,392 --> 00:10:33,166 NIGHTMARE YOU WAKE UP AND SEE SOMEONE YOU LOVE ON THE FLOOR 178 00:10:33,166 --> 00:10:36,336 WITH BLOOD AROUND THEM >> AND THEN TO BE TOLD THAT HE'D 179 00:10:36,336 --> 00:10:39,005 SHOT HIMSELF SURE, HE SEEMED A LITTLE UPSET 180 00:10:39,005 --> 00:10:42,242 BY THE NEWS HE GOT IN THAT E-MAIL THE NIGHT BEFORE, BUT 181 00:10:42,242 --> 00:10:45,445 BUSINESS TROUBLES WERE NOTHING NEW TO LEE AND BELINDA RADDER. 182 00:10:45,445 --> 00:10:49,149 THEY'D BEEN ON A FINANCIAL ROLLER COASTER FOR YEARS 183 00:10:49,149 --> 00:10:51,685 LEE WAS ALWAYS CHASING THE NEXT BIG THING, AND EVEN WHEN THEY 184 00:10:51,685 --> 00:10:54,854 SUFFERED, WHEN THE CAR WAS REPOSSESSED OR WHEN HE COULDN'T 185 00:10:54,854 --> 00:10:57,924 PAY THE ELECTRICITY AND THE POWER WAS OFF FOR FIVE DAYS THEY 186 00:10:57,924 --> 00:10:59,492 GOT ALONG. >> Reporter: BUT DURING THE 187 00:10:59,492 --> 00:11:02,929 YEARS YOU WERE TOGETHER, THE BIG THING WASN'T HAPPENING 188 00:11:02,929 --> 00:11:04,230 >> NO. >> Reporter: PRETTY FRUSTRATING, 189 00:11:04,230 --> 00:11:06,232 I WOULD THINK. >> IT WAS FRUSTRATING. 190 00:11:06,232 --> 00:11:08,868 IT WAS FRUSTRATING >> AND ON OCCASION, LEE TURNED 191 00:11:08,868 --> 00:11:11,538 FOR FINANCIAL HELP TO HIS STEP FATHER IN LAW, ROB FISCHER 192 00:11:11,538 --> 00:11:14,774 >> IN THE YEARS I KNEW HIM, HE WENT FROM OWNING A VERY 193 00:11:14,774 --> 00:11:19,512 SUCCESSFUL COMPANY TO BEING BANKRUPT AND NEEDING OUR HELP. 194 00:11:19,512 --> 00:11:22,182 >> THAT'S WHY BELINDA WENT BACK TO SCHOOL AND GOT HER NURSING 195 00:11:22,182 --> 00:11:26,820 DEGREE HER PAYCHECK MAINTAINED SOME 196 00:11:26,820 --> 00:11:28,922 STABILITY WHILE LEE KEPT TRYING. >> Reporter: DID YOU EVER HAVE 197 00:11:28,922 --> 00:11:34,160 ANY REGRETS ABOUT BEING WITH LEE? 198 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:37,330 >> NO, HUH-UH. WE DID THE ROLLER COASTER. 199 00:11:37,330 --> 00:11:39,366 DID I WANT HIM TO GET A STABLE JOB? 200 00:11:39,366 --> 00:11:42,002 HELL YES >> EVERYONE WHO KNEW LEE WAS 201 00:11:42,002 --> 00:11:47,474 USED TO THE ROLLER COASTER, BUT NEVER SAW IT GET LEE DOWN. 202 00:11:47,474 --> 00:11:49,809 >> Reporter: WHAT DID YOU ADMIRE ABOUT HIM? 203 00:11:49,809 --> 00:11:54,014 >> I THINK HIS ABILITY TO ALWAYS SEE THE GLASS HALF-FULL. 204 00:11:54,014 --> 00:11:56,649 HE WAS NOT A NEGATIVE PERSON >> THIS IS LEE'S FRIEND AND 205 00:11:56,649 --> 00:12:00,487 SOMETIMES BUSINESS ASSOCIATE ERIC LAMPEL. 206 00:12:00,487 --> 00:12:02,589 >> I'VE SEEN LEE BE RICH, RICH, RICH WITH A NEW JAGUAR, AND I'VE 207 00:12:02,589 --> 00:12:07,327 SEEN HIM IN BANKRUPTCY AND LOSING HIS HOUSE 208 00:12:07,327 --> 00:12:11,431 >> AND BESIDES THAT LATEST THING LOOKED SO PROMISING. 209 00:12:11,431 --> 00:12:15,101 >> WELL, WE STARTED THIS COMPANY CALLED SENACON 210 00:12:15,101 --> 00:12:18,805 HE CAME UP WITH THIS TECHNOLOGY THAT USES COMPUTERS TO TRACK 211 00:12:18,805 --> 00:12:22,409 GAMING TRENDS. >> THIS TIME LEE WAS ON THE 212 00:12:22,409 --> 00:12:25,979 VERGE OF SCORING BIG, CLOSING A BIG DEAL THAT WOULD MAKE THEM 213 00:12:25,979 --> 00:12:30,316 BOTH RICH. >> LEE WAS CERTAIN IT WAS GOING 214 00:12:30,316 --> 00:12:32,819 TO HAPPEN IN THE NEW YEAR. >> SO THAT EVENING, SAID ROB, 215 00:12:32,819 --> 00:12:36,489 LEE WAS IN A VERY GOOD MOOD INDEED 216 00:12:36,489 --> 00:12:38,892 >> HE WAS ENTHUSIASTIC >> AND THEN, IT WAS LATE, THEY 217 00:12:38,892 --> 00:12:42,395 WERE ALREADY WELL INTO THEIR CUPS 218 00:12:42,395 --> 00:12:45,565 LEE GOT THAT EMAIL AND LEFT THE ROOM TO MAKE A PHONE CALL. 219 00:12:45,565 --> 00:12:47,667 >> Reporter: SO THIS WASN'T JUST A LITTLE QUICKIE HE WAS CALLED 220 00:12:47,667 --> 00:12:49,703 AWAY FOR, IT WAS A LONGER -- >> NO, IT WAS -- 221 00:12:49,703 --> 00:12:51,805 >> Reporter: PERIOD OF TIME? >> A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME 222 00:12:51,805 --> 00:12:53,406 AND I REMEMBER HIM COMING BACK AND SHOWING ME SOMETHING ON HIS 223 00:12:53,406 --> 00:12:58,678 PHONE, LIKE THE E-MAIL OR SOMETHING AND BEING UPSET ABOUT 224 00:12:58,678 --> 00:13:02,048 IT AND I WAS LIKE THERE'S NOTHING 225 00:13:02,048 --> 00:13:03,883 YOU CAN DO IT'S 11:00 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT, OR 226 00:13:03,883 --> 00:13:07,754 WHATEVER IT WAS, AND LIKE, SAVE IT FOR TOMORROW. 227 00:13:07,754 --> 00:13:09,589 >> AND THAT WAS IT, SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T GIVE IT A LOT OF 228 00:13:09,589 --> 00:13:13,259 THOUGHT, BECAUSE SHE AND ROB WERE IN DEEP CONVERSATION ABOUT 229 00:13:13,259 --> 00:13:17,063 HER LATE MOTHER. THOUGH ROB DID NOTICE LEE SEEMED 230 00:13:17,063 --> 00:13:19,199 SEEM A LITTLE THROWN >> HE DID MAKE COMMENTS THAT 231 00:13:19,199 --> 00:13:23,470 NIGHT THAT, AGAIN, I TOOK AS SARCASM. 232 00:13:23,470 --> 00:13:26,606 IN RETROSPECT I WISHED I WOULD'VE PAID MORE ATTENTION 233 00:13:26,606 --> 00:13:28,074 >> Reporter: ABOUT HIS SITUATION. 234 00:13:28,074 --> 00:13:31,211 >> YEAH. >> BUT REALLY, WHAT COULD HAVE 235 00:13:31,211 --> 00:13:34,381 BEEN IN THAT E-MAIL THAT WAS SO BAD HE'D DECIDE TO KILL HIMSELF? 236 00:13:34,381 --> 00:13:36,916 >> THERE WAS PROBABLY A LOT MORE PRESSURE ON HIM THAN HE WOULD 237 00:13:36,916 --> 00:13:39,552 LET ON >> BUT THAT CONCLUSION, 238 00:13:39,552 --> 00:13:43,223 REASONABLE OR NOT CAME LATER, WITH SOBRIETY. 239 00:13:43,223 --> 00:13:46,826 WHEN THE COPS ARRIVED THAT EARLY BLOODY MORNING, THE ROB THEY 240 00:13:46,826 --> 00:13:50,930 ENCOUNTERED WAS CLEARLY PLASTERED, BARELY COHERENT 241 00:13:50,930 --> 00:13:53,166 BUT HOW'S THIS FOR A RED FLAG? HE ACTED, SAID THE SERGEANT, 242 00:13:53,166 --> 00:13:57,537 LIKE HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO WAS DEAD 243 00:13:57,537 --> 00:14:00,173 >> HE ASKED ME IS THAT LEE IN THERE, MEANING HIS SON-IN-LAW. 244 00:14:00,173 --> 00:14:03,843 AND IT'S JUST IN THE BACK OF MY MIND, "WELL, WHY WOULDN'T YOU 245 00:14:03,843 --> 00:14:07,447 KNOW WHO THIS PERSON IS? >> SO WHAT WAS REALLY GOING ON 246 00:14:07,447 --> 00:14:10,950 HERE A DETECTIVE NAMED MICHAEL BROOKS 247 00:14:10,950 --> 00:14:13,787 ARRIVED, TOOK ONE LOOK AT TWO INTOXICATED ADULTS AND SUGGESTED 248 00:14:13,787 --> 00:14:18,324 A RIDE TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR A FEW QUESTIONS 249 00:14:18,324 --> 00:14:23,663 SOMETHING ABOUT THIS DID NOT LOOK RIGHT 250 00:14:23,663 --> 00:14:26,833 >>> COMING UP -- AND SOMEBODY WASN'T ACTING 251 00:14:26,833 --> 00:14:30,070 RIGHT, EITHER, ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATORS. 252 00:14:30,070 --> 00:14:33,073 >> IF MY SPOUSE IS LYING ON THE GROUND SUFFERING A FATAL WOUND, 253 00:14:33,073 --> 00:14:37,277 I'D MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO AT LEAST LOOK AT MY SPOUSE. 254 00:14:37,277 --> 00:14:53,193 SHE DIDN'T DO THAT >> Reporter: IT WAS STILL EARLY 255 00:14:53,193 --> 00:14:55,795 MORNING, WHEN POLICE DESCENDED ON THE HOUSE WHERE LEE RADDER 256 00:14:55,795 --> 00:14:58,865 WAS SHOT DEAD ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR. 257 00:14:58,865 --> 00:15:01,034 AND A DETECTIVE TOLD BELINDA HE WANTED TO MEET HER -- PRIVATELY 258 00:15:01,034 --> 00:15:04,104 -- DIDN'T GIVE HER A CHOICE, 259 00:15:04,104 --> 00:15:06,673 ACTUALLY >> We're taking you to downtown 260 00:15:06,673 --> 00:15:10,777 Phoenix, and we need you to drop off your daughters somewhere 261 00:15:10,777 --> 00:15:12,879 >> Reporter: DETECTIVE MICHAEL BROOKS 262 00:15:12,879 --> 00:15:17,150 IF APPARENTLY, HE HAS SHOT HIMSELF, WHY DID YOU TAKE 263 00:15:17,150 --> 00:15:21,287 BELINDA DOWN TO THE STATION? >> IN SUICIDES IN -- IN ANY, ANY 264 00:15:21,287 --> 00:15:23,957 DEATH INVESTIGATION, THAT COULD BE A GRANDMA THAT DIES IN HER 265 00:15:23,957 --> 00:15:29,763 BED, YOU'RE GONNA TALK TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE TO FIND 266 00:15:29,763 --> 00:15:32,465 OUT WHAT HAPPENED. >> Reporter: THERE WAS A REASON 267 00:15:32,465 --> 00:15:37,170 -- THE ARRIVING OFFICER THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS OFF ABOUT THE WAY 268 00:15:37,170 --> 00:15:39,806 BELINDA WAS REACTING >> I MEAN TO ME IF MY SPOUSE IS 269 00:15:39,806 --> 00:15:45,545 LYING ON THE GROUND SUFFERING AN INJURY, A FATAL WOUND, I'D MAKE 270 00:15:45,545 --> 00:15:48,715 EVERY EFFORT TO FIND OUT, LOOK AT -- AT LEAST LOOK AT THE-- MY 271 00:15:48,715 --> 00:15:51,885 SPOUSE SHE DIDN'T DO THAT 272 00:15:51,885 --> 00:15:55,555 >> Reporter: SO THERE WAS BELINDA BEING INTERVIEWED BY THE 273 00:15:55,555 --> 00:15:57,857 DETECTIVE. >> I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT 274 00:15:57,857 --> 00:16:03,329 HAPPENED >> YOU AND ME BOTH 275 00:16:03,329 --> 00:16:06,032 I DON'T KNOW >> Reporter: SO, ASKED DETECTIVE 276 00:16:06,032 --> 00:16:09,569 MICHAEL BROOKS, WHY WOULD LEE HAVE KILLED HIMSELF? 277 00:16:09,569 --> 00:16:12,739 >> WE'VE HAD FINANCIAL TROUBLE WE ALWAYS SEEM TO MAKE IT 278 00:16:12,739 --> 00:16:20,280 THROUGH. YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE-- I 279 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:24,417 JUST--I-- I JUST DON'T GET IT. I DON'T GET IT 280 00:16:24,417 --> 00:16:28,121 WE DON'T OWN A GUN >> Reporter: WHICH WAS ANOTHER 281 00:16:28,121 --> 00:16:32,225 QUESTION...NOT ONLY WHY, BUT HOW -- WHEN HE DIDN'T HAVE A GUN 282 00:16:32,225 --> 00:16:34,861 SO, TO THE BEGINNING ASKED DETECTIVE BROOKS 283 00:16:34,861 --> 00:16:38,531 DON'T LEAVE ANYTHING OUT >> WE WENT TO DINNER AT ABOUT 284 00:16:38,531 --> 00:16:41,201 7:00 >> YOU CAME BACK TO THE HOUSE 285 00:16:41,201 --> 00:16:43,737 AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT YOU TALKED A LITTLE BIT AND THE 286 00:16:43,737 --> 00:16:45,338 GIRLS WENT TO SLEEP? >> MM-HMN. 287 00:16:45,338 --> 00:16:48,475 >> WHAT TIME -- ABOUT WHAT TIME DID THE GIRLS GO TO SLEEP? 288 00:16:48,475 --> 00:16:51,578 >> 10:30 >> Reporter: AND THAT WAS ABOUT 289 00:16:51,578 --> 00:16:55,281 THE TIME LEE GOT THAT EMAIL ABOUT THE BIG BUSINESS DEAL HE 290 00:16:55,281 --> 00:16:58,451 WAS BANKING ON, SAID BELINDA -- AND THEN THE PHONE CALL WITH HIS 291 00:16:58,451 --> 00:17:00,653 BUSINESS PARTNER >> AND HE WENT IN THE OTHER ROOM 292 00:17:00,653 --> 00:17:02,756 AND TALKED TO HIM. AND ROB AND I JUST SAT AT THE 293 00:17:02,756 --> 00:17:09,629 TABLE AND, YOU KNOW, JUST KEPT TALKING. 294 00:17:09,629 --> 00:17:21,641 AND, UM, HE CAME BACK. I GOT UP TO GO TO THE BATHROOM 295 00:17:21,641 --> 00:17:24,244 AND CAME BACK AND THERE HE WAS >> ABOUT WHAT TIME DID THIS 296 00:17:24,244 --> 00:17:28,481 HAPPEN >> THE GIRLS WENT TO BED AROUND 297 00:17:28,481 --> 00:17:32,152 10:30. UM -- SO IT WAS AFTER THAT 298 00:17:32,152 --> 00:17:35,755 I DON'T -- I DON'T KNOW. >> Reporter: WAIT -- SOMETIME 299 00:17:35,755 --> 00:17:39,926 AFTER 10:30? DETECTIVE BROOKS WAS BAFFLED 300 00:17:39,926 --> 00:17:43,129 AFTER ALL THAT 911 CALL REPORTING LEE'S DEATH CAME IN AT 301 00:17:43,129 --> 00:17:46,766 5:00 AM. WAS BELINDA SAYING SHE COULDNT 302 00:17:46,766 --> 00:17:49,903 ACCOUNT FOR WHAT HAPPENED FROM 10:30PM UNTIL FIVE THE NEXT 303 00:17:49,903 --> 00:17:52,105 MORNING? DIDNT MAKE SENSE 304 00:17:52,105 --> 00:17:55,775 >> OK. WERE YOU, UM, INTOXICATED? 305 00:17:55,775 --> 00:18:01,047 >> PROBABLY. OH, YEAH, I'M SURE 306 00:18:01,047 --> 00:18:06,219 >> WE GOT OUR FIRST CALL ON THIS AT 5:00 IN THE MORNING 307 00:18:06,219 --> 00:18:14,627 >> OK. I DON'T -- 308 00:18:14,627 --> 00:18:17,831 >> THAT'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT FROM 10:30, RIGHT -- FROM THE 309 00:18:17,831 --> 00:18:21,034 KIDS GOING TO BED 10:00, 10:30 >> RIGHT 310 00:18:21,034 --> 00:18:24,037 >> TO 5:00 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. 311 00:18:24,037 --> 00:18:28,742 >> Reporter: BUT WAS SHE JUST CONFUSED, THE DETECTIVE WONDERED 312 00:18:28,742 --> 00:18:31,344 -- OR WAS SHE HIDING SOMETHING >> IS THERE SOMETHING MORE TO 313 00:18:31,344 --> 00:18:32,879 THIS >> NO. 314 00:18:32,879 --> 00:18:35,048 DO I NEED TO HAVE A LAWYER OR SOMETHING? 315 00:18:35,048 --> 00:18:37,384 >> Reporter: BELINDA CAME OUT OF HER FOG. 316 00:18:37,384 --> 00:18:39,319 SHE COULD SENSE WHERE THIS WAS GOING. 317 00:18:39,319 --> 00:18:41,421 >> I'M JUST TRYING TO PUT THE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE TOGETHER. 318 00:18:41,421 --> 00:18:44,591 >> RIGHT >> OK, UM. 319 00:18:44,591 --> 00:18:50,830 >> I DIDN'T KILL MY HUSBAND. I DIDN'T WANT HIM DEAD 320 00:18:50,830 --> 00:18:53,500 I'D NEVER DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT. >> WAS THERE AN ACCIDENT THAT 321 00:18:53,500 --> 00:19:00,840 HAPPENED >> NO! NO. NOTHING 322 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:04,010 I MEAN, NOTHING. >> WOULDN'T YOU AGREE THAT 323 00:19:04,010 --> 00:19:06,012 THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 10:30 AT NIGHT AND 5:00 IN THE 324 00:19:06,012 --> 00:19:09,182 MORNING? >> WELL, ABSOLUTELY. 325 00:19:09,182 --> 00:19:11,851 >> I MEAN, YOU WOULD KNOW IF - >> BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT I DIDN'T 326 00:19:11,851 --> 00:19:14,387 KILL MY HUSBAND, IF THAT'S WHERE THIS IS GOING-- IF THIS -- 327 00:19:14,387 --> 00:19:16,089 THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT THEN >> Reporter: BEFORE SENDING HER 328 00:19:16,089 --> 00:19:18,725 HOME DETECTIVE BROOKS KEPT BELINDA IN 329 00:19:18,725 --> 00:19:24,230 THIS LITTLE ROOM AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR HOURS 330 00:19:24,230 --> 00:19:27,934 THAT BUSINESS OF THE TIME SHIFT, BOTHERED HIM IMMENSELY 331 00:19:27,934 --> 00:19:29,703 YOU DIDN'T FEEL LIKE SHE WAS NECESSARILY BEING STRAIGHT WITH 332 00:19:29,703 --> 00:19:32,405 YOU? >> I DIDN'T WANT TO JUMP TO ANY 333 00:19:32,405 --> 00:19:36,076 CONCLUSIONS AT THAT POINT. >> Reporter: IF THE DETECTIVE 334 00:19:36,076 --> 00:19:39,245 WAS SUSPICIOUS, SO WAS LEE'S FAMILY BACK IN BUFFALO 335 00:19:39,245 --> 00:19:42,549 OR AT LEAST, THEY WERE WHEN BELINDA FINALLY CALLED TO BREAK 336 00:19:42,549 --> 00:19:47,053 THE NEWS TO THEM TWO WHOLE DAYS AFTER LEE DIED 337 00:19:47,053 --> 00:19:51,257 LEE'S MOM, LIZ RADDER, DESCRIBED HER MEMORY OF THAT PHONE CALL. 338 00:19:51,257 --> 00:19:57,464 IT WAS NEW YEARS DAY >> "LIZ? YES? THIS IS BELINDA, 339 00:19:57,464 --> 00:20:01,267 YES?"LEE SHOT HIMSELF. >> THEN IN THE COURSE OF TALK -- 340 00:20:01,267 --> 00:20:03,803 TALKING TO THEM FOUND OUT THAT IT HAPPENED THURSDAY MORNING 341 00:20:03,803 --> 00:20:06,006 >> Reporter: AND THIS WAS A SATURDAY AFTERNOON 342 00:20:06,006 --> 00:20:08,141 >> THIS WAS SATURDAY NIGHT I SAID, "WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG 343 00:20:08,141 --> 00:20:11,277 WHY DIDN'T YOU-- YOU KNOW, I COULD HAVE GONE THERE 344 00:20:11,277 --> 00:20:13,313 IMMEDIATELY. "OH, WELL, THE POLICE 345 00:20:13,313 --> 00:20:15,949 CONFISCATED OUR PHONES SO I DIDN'T KNOW YOUR PHONE NUMBER. 346 00:20:15,949 --> 00:20:20,353 >> Reporter: THE CALL WAS BRIEF, SAID LIZ RADDER. 347 00:20:20,353 --> 00:20:22,822 >> AND THAT'S THE LAST THING-- PROBABLY THE LAST WORD I HEARD 348 00:20:22,822 --> 00:20:25,892 FROM HER >> Reporter: BUT THAT SHOCKING 349 00:20:25,892 --> 00:20:30,630 WORD -- SUICIDE. IT WAS A WORD LEE'S FAMILY DID 350 00:20:30,630 --> 00:20:32,766 NOT BUY -- NOT FOR A MINUTE. >> THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE 351 00:20:32,766 --> 00:20:34,768 MY BROTHER WOULD NEVER DO THIS I DON'T BELIEVE THAT HE KILLED 352 00:20:34,768 --> 00:20:37,937 HIMSELF. THERE'S JUST NO WAY. 353 00:20:37,937 --> 00:20:40,140 >> Reporter: NO, THOUGHT THE FAMILY 354 00:20:40,140 --> 00:20:42,709 SOMETHING ELSE MUST HAVE HAPPENED IN THE HOUSE THAT 355 00:20:42,709 --> 00:20:48,948 NIGHT. BUT WHAT 356 00:20:48,948 --> 00:20:52,185 >> COMING UP - WHY POLICE THOUGHT THIS MIGHT 357 00:20:52,185 --> 00:20:54,821 JUST BE A MAJOR CLUE >> I KEYED ON THAT GUN THAT WAS 358 00:20:54,821 --> 00:20:57,290 IN HIS RIGHT HAND. AND IT JUST DIDN'T LOOK RIGHT. 359 00:20:57,290 --> 00:21:15,775 IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS PLACED >> Reporter: THE MYSTERY 360 00:21:15,775 --> 00:21:17,777 SURROUNDING THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF LEE RADDER SHOULD NOT, BY 361 00:21:17,777 --> 00:21:22,082 RIGHTS, HAVE BEEN SO TERRIBLY DIFFICULT TO SOLVE 362 00:21:22,082 --> 00:21:24,651 IF IT WASN'T SUICIDE, THAT IS, AND WITHIN MINUTES OF HIS 363 00:21:24,651 --> 00:21:27,721 ARRIVAL THE FIRST OFFICER AT THE SCENE STRONGLY DOUBTED THAT IT 364 00:21:27,721 --> 00:21:29,956 WAS. >> I WAS PRETTY CERTAIN IN MY 365 00:21:29,956 --> 00:21:34,194 MIND THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION 366 00:21:34,194 --> 00:21:38,431 >> Reporter: SO, IF HE WAS RIGHT, IT WOULD BE THE FIRST 367 00:21:38,431 --> 00:21:42,102 HOMICIDE HE'D EVER SEEN IN THAT LITTLE PHOENIX SUBURB, BUT WHY 368 00:21:42,102 --> 00:21:46,006 MURDER AND NOT SUICIDE >> I KEYED ON THAT GUN THAT WAS 369 00:21:46,006 --> 00:21:48,341 IN HIS RIGHT HAND. AND IT JUST DIDN'T LOOK RIGHT. 370 00:21:48,341 --> 00:21:50,477 IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS PLACED THERE. 371 00:21:50,477 --> 00:21:52,579 >> Reporter: IN FACT, LOOKED TO HIM LIKE SOMEBODY MOVED A BUNCH 372 00:21:52,579 --> 00:21:55,615 OF THINGS AROUND >> IT JUST KINDA MADE THE HAIR 373 00:21:55,615 --> 00:21:57,784 BACK OF MY NECK STAND ON END >> Reporter: WHICH PERHAPS 374 00:21:57,784 --> 00:22:00,453 EXPLAINS WHAT FELT TO BELINDA LIKE AN INQUISITION DOWN AT THE 375 00:22:00,453 --> 00:22:02,422 SHERIFF'S OFFICE >> THEY WOULDN'T LET ME GO TO 376 00:22:02,422 --> 00:22:05,592 THE BATHROOM, THEY WOULDN'T LET ME HAVE WATER. 377 00:22:05,592 --> 00:22:09,362 I WAS FREEZING, I ASKED FOR A BLANKET, NOTHING 378 00:22:09,362 --> 00:22:13,066 >> Reporter: WAS BELINDA INVOLVED 379 00:22:13,066 --> 00:22:16,236 TOO SOON TO SAY PERHAPS. THEY TURNED THE SAME FOCUSED 380 00:22:16,236 --> 00:22:19,305 ATTENTION THEN ON PAPA -- OR, IF YOU WILL, ROB FISHER 381 00:22:19,305 --> 00:22:23,510 >> I LOVED HIM AS THE FATHER OF MY GRANDCHILDREN, THE HUSBAND OF 382 00:22:23,510 --> 00:22:28,248 MY STEP- DAUGHTER AND -- AND A FRIEND TO ME 383 00:22:28,248 --> 00:22:31,951 >> Reporter: ROB WAS STILL IN HIS PAJAMAS, AND STEWING IN AN 384 00:22:31,951 --> 00:22:34,554 ALCOHOL LEVEL THAT WAS STILL TWICE THE LEGAL LIMIT, WHEN THE 385 00:22:34,554 --> 00:22:37,123 DETECTIVE USHERED HIM INTO THE INTERVIEW ROOM 386 00:22:37,123 --> 00:22:39,225 >> CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED 387 00:22:39,225 --> 00:22:42,395 >> LEE, BELINDA AND I WERE OUT WE WERE HAVING SOME COCKTAILS. 388 00:22:42,395 --> 00:22:44,931 WE WERE TALKING LIKE WE ALWAYS DO 389 00:22:44,931 --> 00:22:49,769 EVERYBODY WENT TO BED AND I HEARD A POPPING SOUND. 390 00:22:49,769 --> 00:22:55,542 CAME OUT AND SAW SOMEBODY LAYING ON THE GROUND. 391 00:22:55,542 --> 00:22:57,677 >> WHAT CONDITION WAS HE IN WHEN YOU TALKED TO HIM? 392 00:22:57,677 --> 00:23:00,714 >> WELL, HE WAS INTOXICATED. HE WASN'T FALL DOWN STUPID 393 00:23:00,714 --> 00:23:06,486 DRUNK, IN THAT I CARRIED ON A CONVERSATION WITH HIM. 394 00:23:06,486 --> 00:23:08,621 HE WAS ANSWERING QUESTIONS >> Reporter: ROB TOLD THE 395 00:23:08,621 --> 00:23:11,791 DETECTIVE HE WAS ASLEEP IN THE GUESTROOM WHEN IT HAPPENED 396 00:23:11,791 --> 00:23:14,961 >> YOU HEARD A POP? YOU COME OUT OF THE ROOM? 397 00:23:14,961 --> 00:23:19,599 >> YEAH. >> AND THEN WHAT DID YOU SEE 398 00:23:19,599 --> 00:23:25,372 >> LEE ON THE FLOOR. YOU KNOW, STILL TO THIS DAY 399 00:23:25,372 --> 00:23:32,746 DIFFICULT TO -- TO THINK OF -- OF LEE, LYING THERE, DEAD. 400 00:23:32,746 --> 00:23:35,815 >> Reporter: BUT REMEMBER, LEE DID NOT HAVE A GUN, NOR DID 401 00:23:35,815 --> 00:23:38,952 BELINDA. SO WHERE DID IT COME FROM? 402 00:23:38,952 --> 00:23:41,721 SERGEANT LAFKO MAY HAVE ANSWERED THAT QUESTION HIMSELF WHEN HE 403 00:23:41,721 --> 00:23:45,425 LOOKED IN ROB'S GYM BAG IN THE GUEST ROOM 404 00:23:45,425 --> 00:23:50,463 >> I FIND THE BLUE NYLON DUFFLE BAG, AND I SEE A GUN HOLSTER 405 00:23:50,463 --> 00:23:54,267 >> Reporter: AN EMPTY HOLSTER. ROB ADMITTED IT WAS HIS GUN THAT 406 00:23:54,267 --> 00:23:57,470 KILLED LEE, ALWAYS TOOK IT WITH HIM ON THE ROAD. 407 00:23:57,470 --> 00:24:00,106 AFTER ALL, HE WAS AN EX-COP, WAS FULLY LICENCED 408 00:24:00,106 --> 00:24:03,243 >> OKAY. AND YOUR BAG WAS IN YOUR ROOM? 409 00:24:03,243 --> 00:24:06,446 >> YEAH. >> Reporter: BUT HOW DID ROB'S 410 00:24:06,446 --> 00:24:11,051 UNLOADED GUN GET FROM A HOLSTER IN THE GUEST ROOM INTO LEE'S 411 00:24:11,051 --> 00:24:14,754 HAND, AND WITH BULLETS IN IT GOOD QUESTION. 412 00:24:14,754 --> 00:24:20,560 ROB COULDN'T SEEM TO ANSWER IT >> MIKE, I WAS REALLY DRINKING 413 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:24,130 AND I DON'T REMEMBER A LOT WE DRANK TWO BOTTLES OF VODKA. 414 00:24:24,130 --> 00:24:27,200 WHO KNOWS? >> Reporter: AFTER A ROUND OF 415 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:30,070 QUESTIONS, THEY PAUSED, AND, STANDARD PROCEDURE, TOOK ROB'S 416 00:24:30,070 --> 00:24:34,274 CLOTHES FOR TESTING, AND THE DETECTIVE BORED IN FOR ANSWERS 417 00:24:34,274 --> 00:24:37,877 >> IT LOOKS LIKE LEE DIDN'T -- DIDN'T COMMIT SUICIDE. 418 00:24:37,877 --> 00:24:40,513 AND THAT IS WHY I'M -- I'M TURNING TO YOU TO HELP FILL IN 419 00:24:40,513 --> 00:24:44,751 SOME OF THE -- SOME OF THE VOIDS. 420 00:24:44,751 --> 00:24:47,921 >> WISH I COULD. >> SOMEBODY MOVED HIM. 421 00:24:47,921 --> 00:24:50,590 >> I DON'T KNOW. >> WHAT DO YOU FEEL HAPPENED 422 00:24:50,590 --> 00:24:54,894 >> I DON'T BELIEVE I SHOT HIM. I WOULD NEVER SHOOT HIM. 423 00:24:54,894 --> 00:24:56,830 I LOVED HIM. WE HAVE NEVER FOUGHT 424 00:24:56,830 --> 00:24:59,466 WE HADN'T FOUGHT I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER IT AS 425 00:24:59,466 --> 00:25:05,705 BEST I CAN UM, YOU KNOW, I WILL SAY I DON'T 426 00:25:05,705 --> 00:25:10,043 REMEMBER EVERYTHING. AND IT IS -- IT'S -- AND THAT'S 427 00:25:10,043 --> 00:25:13,146 MADDENING IN AND OF ITSELF >> Reporter: MADDENING INDEED, 428 00:25:13,146 --> 00:25:16,316 SO MANY "I DON'T KNOWS" FROM BOTH ROB AND BELINDA THAT 429 00:25:16,316 --> 00:25:20,053 MORNING. BY THE END OF THE INTERVIEWS 430 00:25:20,053 --> 00:25:22,055 WITH BOTH BELINDA AND WITH ROB, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING ABOUT 431 00:25:22,055 --> 00:25:25,725 THEIR STORIES TAKEN COLLECTIVELY 432 00:25:25,725 --> 00:25:28,895 >> WERE THERE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD? 433 00:25:28,895 --> 00:25:32,065 ABSOLUTELY I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS DEALING 434 00:25:32,065 --> 00:25:35,101 WITH >> Reporter: BUT FOR ALL THE 435 00:25:35,101 --> 00:25:38,538 IMMEDIATE SUSPICION, THE POLICE INVESTIGATION DIDN'T SEEM TO GO 436 00:25:38,538 --> 00:25:40,940 ANYWHERE ROB WENT HOME TO HIS LAW 437 00:25:40,940 --> 00:25:43,076 PRACTICE IN CALIFORNIA >> Reporter: HOW MUCH DO YOU 438 00:25:43,076 --> 00:25:45,645 BEAT YOURSELF UP THAT YOU ALLOWED YOURSELF TO TAKE THAT 439 00:25:45,645 --> 00:25:49,983 GUN INTO THEIR HOME? >> IT WAS MY NORMAL PRACTICE 440 00:25:49,983 --> 00:25:52,619 DO I WISH ON THAT ONE PARTICULAR TRIP I WOULDN'T HAVE 441 00:25:52,619 --> 00:25:55,789 OF COURSE. >> Reporter: AND BELINDA WENT TO 442 00:25:55,789 --> 00:26:00,427 CALIFORNIA TOO, WITH HER GIRLS, TO BE WITH HER BIOLOGICAL 443 00:26:00,427 --> 00:26:02,529 FATHER, JERRY. AND IT WAS THERE SHE TRIED TO 444 00:26:02,529 --> 00:26:06,232 EXPLAIN THAT THEY LOST THEIR FATHER 445 00:26:06,232 --> 00:26:09,402 >> WE WERE ON MY DAD AND MY STEPMOM'S COUCH. 446 00:26:09,402 --> 00:26:15,041 WE WERE JUST, LIKE, A LITTLE POWWOW CIRCLE. 447 00:26:15,041 --> 00:26:21,948 AND JUST TOLD THEM THAT DADDY WAS IN HEAVEN -- 448 00:26:21,948 --> 00:26:24,284 SORRY. >> Reporter: UP IN BUFFALO, 449 00:26:24,284 --> 00:26:27,253 MEANWHILE, LEE'S MOTHER AND SIBLINGS WERE SUFFERING THEIR 450 00:26:27,253 --> 00:26:29,789 OWN BRAND OF AGONY, OF THE MUSHROOM IN THE DARK VARIETY 451 00:26:29,789 --> 00:26:32,392 THEY KEPT ASKING WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND NOBODY TOLD THEM 452 00:26:32,392 --> 00:26:35,195 ANYTHING >> IT WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION. 453 00:26:35,195 --> 00:26:39,899 AND IT REMAINED AN OPEN INVESTIGATION FOR A VERY LONG 454 00:26:39,899 --> 00:26:42,535 TIME >> Reporter: EVEN THE CORONER 455 00:26:42,535 --> 00:26:45,071 MAINTAINED AN OFFICIAL SILENCE FOR MONTHS THERE WAS NO RULING 456 00:26:45,071 --> 00:26:49,309 ON THE QUESTION OF SUICIDE OR HOMICIDE 457 00:26:49,309 --> 00:26:54,080 AND THEN, HALF A YEAR AFTER LEE'S DEATH, BELINDA ORGANIZED A 458 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:56,149 CELEBRATION OF LIFE. LEE'S BUFFALO RELATIVES GOT THE 459 00:26:56,149 --> 00:27:00,387 INVITATION, AND FLEW OUT TO ATTEND 460 00:27:00,387 --> 00:27:02,922 THE TENSION WAS PALPABLE LEE'S SISTER ANN CONFRONTED 461 00:27:02,922 --> 00:27:06,059 BELINDA. >> I WENT UP AND SAID, "YOU 462 00:27:06,059 --> 00:27:08,194 KNOW, I JUST -- I NEED ANSWERS YOU WERE THERE 463 00:27:08,194 --> 00:27:10,730 YOU MUST BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, JUST TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED." 464 00:27:10,730 --> 00:27:14,034 "YOU'LL NEVER KNOW WHAT HAPPENED." 465 00:27:14,034 --> 00:27:16,102 >> Reporter: NOT I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED MYSELF -- BUT, 466 00:27:16,102 --> 00:27:17,704 "YOU'LL NEVER KNOW." >> NOPE, JUST, "YOU'LL NEVER 467 00:27:17,704 --> 00:27:19,706 KNOW WHAT HAPPENED." >> Reporter: WE ASKED BELINDA, 468 00:27:19,706 --> 00:27:22,342 WHAT DID SHE REMEMBER OF THAT CONVERSATION 469 00:27:22,342 --> 00:27:24,444 >> -- NOT WHAT I SAID. I -- 470 00:27:24,444 --> 00:27:26,046 >> Reporter: REALLY? >> -- WOULD NEVER SAY THAT 471 00:27:26,046 --> 00:27:28,715 WHAT I SAID WAS "THIS IS NOT THE TIME OR THE PLACE TO HAVE THAT 472 00:27:28,715 --> 00:27:31,785 KIND OF DISCUSSION." >> Reporter: AND ROB 473 00:27:31,785 --> 00:27:35,855 HE WAS THERE TOO, BUT -- >> NEVER SAID A WORD TO US 474 00:27:35,855 --> 00:27:38,124 IF MY GUN KILLED YOUR SON I WOULD CERTAINLY APOLOGIZE TO 475 00:27:38,124 --> 00:27:41,194 YOU. >> Reporter: SO, AS WE SAY, 476 00:27:41,194 --> 00:27:42,762 TENSION. >> I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD EVER 477 00:27:42,762 --> 00:27:46,566 SAY ANYTHING THAT WOULD CHANGE HOW THEY FEEL. 478 00:27:46,566 --> 00:27:50,303 >> Reporter: LEE'S FAMILY WAS MORE FRUSTRATED THAN EVER. 479 00:27:50,303 --> 00:27:53,973 SEEMED LIKE A COVER-UP TO THEM DO YOU HAVE ANY FIRM IDEAS ABOUT 480 00:27:53,973 --> 00:27:57,577 WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR SON? >> SOMEBODY KILLED HIM 481 00:27:57,577 --> 00:28:03,883 >> Reporter: BEYOND THAT >> THERE WERE ONLY TWO ADULTS IN 482 00:28:03,883 --> 00:28:06,519 THE HOUSE BESIDES HIM. >> Reporter: AND IF NOBODY ELSE 483 00:28:06,519 --> 00:28:08,655 WOULD TELL HER WHAT HAPPENED, LEE'S SISTER DECIDED SHE WAS 484 00:28:08,655 --> 00:28:12,359 GOING TO FIND THE ANSWER HERSELF. 485 00:28:12,359 --> 00:28:16,463 >>> COMING UP -- LEE'S FAMILY GETS HOLD OF THE 486 00:28:16,463 --> 00:28:19,132 ENTIRE 911 CALL. >> AND WHO IS THIS PERSON THAT 487 00:28:19,132 --> 00:28:24,904 IS SHOT, IT IS A FAMILY FRIEND >> HE IS MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW'S 488 00:28:24,904 --> 00:28:28,041 COUSIN, I THINK. >> -- TRIGGERING NEW SUSPICIONS 489 00:28:28,041 --> 00:28:31,811 ABOUT ROB'S BEHAVIOR >> IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME 490 00:28:31,811 --> 00:28:35,515 I MEAN IF YOU'VE KNOWN A GUY FOR 12 YEARS, YOU CERTAINLY KNEW WHO 491 00:28:35,515 --> 00:28:54,467 IT WAS THAT WAS LAYIN' THERE >> Reporter: IT WAS A DARK TIME 492 00:28:54,467 --> 00:28:57,637 FOR LEE RADDER'S FAMILY IN BUFFALO. 493 00:28:57,637 --> 00:29:01,341 >> WE'RE NOT IN ARIZONA. SO, ALL OF OUR ANGST IS ALMOST 494 00:29:01,341 --> 00:29:05,545 COMPOUNDED BECAUSE WE'RE SO FAR AWAY FROM IT ALL 495 00:29:05,545 --> 00:29:07,647 >> Reporter: A BELOVED SON AND BROTHER GONE 496 00:29:07,647 --> 00:29:12,419 NO ANSWERS TO SATISFY THEIR DEEP SUSPICIONS 497 00:29:12,419 --> 00:29:17,590 IT WAS LISA WHO DECIDED, "IF NOBODY ELSE WILL GIVE US 498 00:29:17,590 --> 00:29:20,794 ANSWERS, I'LL FIND THEM MYSELF." >> IT'S JUST MY DETECTIVENESS 499 00:29:20,794 --> 00:29:22,862 INSIDE OF ME >> Reporter: HOW'D YOU GO ABOUT 500 00:29:22,862 --> 00:29:24,431 DOING THAT >> CALLED THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE 501 00:29:24,431 --> 00:29:28,668 AND SAID I'D LIKE TO REQUEST THE 911 TAPE 502 00:29:28,668 --> 00:29:30,804 GOT -- GOT MY CD IN THE MAIL >> Reporter: THEN THE FAMILY 503 00:29:30,804 --> 00:29:32,806 GATHERED TO LISTEN AND WHAT THEY HEARD ON THAT 911 504 00:29:32,806 --> 00:29:38,078 RECORDING SEEMED VERY ODD INDEED 505 00:29:38,078 --> 00:29:41,247 >> 911, WHAT'S YOUR EMERGENCY? >> HE SHOT HIMSELF 506 00:29:41,247 --> 00:29:45,385 I DON'T GET IT HE SHOT HIMSELF. 507 00:29:45,385 --> 00:29:48,054 >> OKAY, WHO SHOT HIMSELF? >> I DON'T KNOW WHO HE IS. 508 00:29:48,054 --> 00:29:52,325 HE'S LIKE -- LIKE -- WIFE'S COUSIN 509 00:29:52,325 --> 00:29:54,828 >> Reporter: WHAT WAS THAT ROB TOLD THE 911 OPERATOR, AND 510 00:29:54,828 --> 00:29:58,531 LATER THE POLICE, HE WASN'T SURE WHO THE DEAD MAN WAS 511 00:29:58,531 --> 00:30:01,701 MIGHT HAVE BEEN HIS WIFE'S COUSIN 512 00:30:01,701 --> 00:30:04,270 >> AND WHO IS THIS PERSON THAT IS SHOT, IT IS A FAMILY FRIEND 513 00:30:04,270 --> 00:30:10,643 >> HE IS MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW'S COUSIN, I THINK. 514 00:30:10,643 --> 00:30:14,347 >> IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME I MEAN IF YOU'VE KNOWN A GUY FOR 515 00:30:14,347 --> 00:30:19,085 12 YEARS, YOU CERTAINLY KNEW WHO IT WAS THAT WAS LAYIN' THERE 516 00:30:19,085 --> 00:30:22,155 >> DO YOU KNOW HOW OLD HE IS >> HE LOOKS -- NO I DON'T KNOW 517 00:30:22,155 --> 00:30:24,824 HIS AGE BUT I'M LOOKING AT HIM >> Reporter: THE FAMILY THOUGHT 518 00:30:24,824 --> 00:30:29,562 THEY WERE HEARING A COVER UP IN PROGRESS -- SOME KIND OF ACT 519 00:30:29,562 --> 00:30:32,866 THE CALL WAS DISCONNECTED. ROB CALLED 911 AGAIN 520 00:30:32,866 --> 00:30:34,834 >> WHO -- WHO IS THIS PERSON TO YOU? 521 00:30:34,834 --> 00:30:38,538 >> WHAT? >> WHO IS THIS PERSON TO YOU 522 00:30:38,538 --> 00:30:42,609 >> HE -- WHO IS HE >> WHO'S WHO 523 00:30:42,609 --> 00:30:46,312 >> Reporter: AND WHAT WAS ALSO STRANGE -- BELINDA'S VOICE IN 524 00:30:46,312 --> 00:30:49,482 THE BACKGROUND, TO THEM, IT SEEMED FAR TOO CALM. 525 00:30:49,482 --> 00:30:52,652 >> IS IT A FRIEND OR RELATIVE OR -- 526 00:30:52,652 --> 00:30:56,856 >> HE IS MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW'S -- FRIEND 527 00:30:56,856 --> 00:31:00,527 >> HOW OLD IS HE >> HOW OLD IS HE 528 00:31:00,527 --> 00:31:03,596 >> FIFTY >> FIFTY 529 00:31:03,596 --> 00:31:05,231 >> I DON'T HAVE A FRANTIC WIFE IN THE BACKGROUND SCREAMING, 530 00:31:05,231 --> 00:31:09,402 "OH, MY GOD. MY HUSBAND'S DEAD. 531 00:31:09,402 --> 00:31:14,708 IT WAS HEART WRENCHING, HEART WRENCHING. 532 00:31:14,708 --> 00:31:19,979 I THINK IT REALLY, KIND OF, SOLIDIFIED OUR BELIEF THAT MY 533 00:31:19,979 --> 00:31:22,082 BROTHER DID NOT COMMIT SUICIDE >> Reporter: SO THEY WENT BACK 534 00:31:22,082 --> 00:31:27,253 AND FORTH -- WAS BELINDA COVERING UP FOR ROB? 535 00:31:27,253 --> 00:31:29,389 WAS ROB COVERING FOR BELINDA BACK AT HOME, ROB DID THE 536 00:31:29,389 --> 00:31:32,559 PRUDENT THING -- HE HIRED AN ATTORNEY 537 00:31:32,559 --> 00:31:37,197 >> JUST TO LET MARICOPA COUNTY KNOW THAT I WAS WILLING TO 538 00:31:37,197 --> 00:31:39,432 COOPERATE. >> Reporter: IN FACT, SAID ROB, 539 00:31:39,432 --> 00:31:41,568 HIS ATTORNEY CALLED THE POLICE IN ARIZONA TO CHECK ON THE 540 00:31:41,568 --> 00:31:45,205 INVESTIGATION. BUT, AS FAR AS ROB COULD TELL, 541 00:31:45,205 --> 00:31:47,774 NOBODY WAS INTERESTED IN TALKING TO HIM AGAIN 542 00:31:47,774 --> 00:31:50,410 >> WE MADE THOSE TYPES OF -- OF INQUIRIES MULTIPLE TIMES WITH 543 00:31:50,410 --> 00:31:53,580 THEM >> Reporter: OH, BUT THE SAME 544 00:31:53,580 --> 00:31:57,250 WAS NOT TRUE FOR BELINDA >> THEY CAME TO MY HOUSE FIVE, 545 00:31:57,250 --> 00:32:01,187 SIX, SEVEN TIMES I WASN'T RESISTING ANYTHING. 546 00:32:01,187 --> 00:32:05,158 I DIDN'T HAVE WHAT THEY WANTED I DIDN'T HAVE ANY ANSWERS. 547 00:32:05,158 --> 00:32:07,193 >> Reporter: LEE HAD LIFE INSURANCE, BELINDA WAS THE 548 00:32:07,193 --> 00:32:10,897 BENEFICIARY -- IT WAS BLOCKED FOR MONTHS WHILE THE POLICE 549 00:32:10,897 --> 00:32:14,067 INVESTIGATED AND WHEN THE D.A. SUMMONED 550 00:32:14,067 --> 00:32:17,704 BELINDA'S CHILDREN TO A DEPOSITION, SHE, FOR A WHILE AT 551 00:32:17,704 --> 00:32:20,874 LEAST, RESISTED. >> AND IT WASN'T UNTIL THE 552 00:32:20,874 --> 00:32:25,111 HARASSING GOT TO A POINT THAT THEY -- THAT THE DISTRICT 553 00:32:25,111 --> 00:32:29,215 ATTORNEY THREATENED TO CALL CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ON ME 554 00:32:29,215 --> 00:32:33,553 IF I DIDN'T HAVE MY CHILDREN FORENSICALLY DEPOSED, THAT I 555 00:32:33,553 --> 00:32:36,589 ENDED UP HIRING AN ATTORNEY. AND THAT WAS THE ONLY REASON 556 00:32:36,589 --> 00:32:38,725 >> Reporter: BUT IT WASN'T HARASSMENT AT ALL, SAID THE 557 00:32:38,725 --> 00:32:41,361 SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES ASKING QUESTIONS WAS JUST THEIR 558 00:32:41,361 --> 00:32:45,598 JOB. AND EVENTUALLY, THEY HEARD 559 00:32:45,598 --> 00:32:48,401 BELINDA'S SOBERED UP ANSWERS OF GOING TO BED BY MIDNIGHT, AND 560 00:32:48,401 --> 00:32:52,405 BEING WOKEN UP BY ROB RIGHT BEFORE HIS 911 CALL AROUND 5:00 561 00:32:52,405 --> 00:32:56,609 IN THE MORNING >> I REMEMBER GETTING UP, HIM 562 00:32:56,609 --> 00:33:01,247 SHAKING ME, WAKING ME UP, AND SAYING, "WHERE'S LEE 563 00:33:01,247 --> 00:33:02,949 WHERE'S LEE? AND I'M THINKING, "WHAT DO YOU 564 00:33:02,949 --> 00:33:05,051 MEAN?" >> Reporter: HOW IS IT THAT YOU 565 00:33:05,051 --> 00:33:08,221 DIDN'T HEAR THE SHOT >> I, MYSELF, AM A VERY SOUND 566 00:33:08,221 --> 00:33:10,223 SLEEPER. PRAISE GOD, MY DAUGHTERS ARE 567 00:33:10,223 --> 00:33:13,927 VERY SOUND SLEEPERS, 'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T HEAR IT EITHER. 568 00:33:13,927 --> 00:33:17,664 >> Reporter: SO IF HER DEMEANOR SEEMED OFF ON THE 911 CALL, OR 569 00:33:17,664 --> 00:33:21,067 LATER TO THE ARRIVING OFFICER, SHE SAID, REMEMBER, AT FIRST 570 00:33:21,067 --> 00:33:25,071 THOUGHT THE BLOODY SCENE IN THE KITCHEN WAS A PRANK. 571 00:33:25,071 --> 00:33:30,777 >> I WAS THINKING THAT IT WASN'T REAL, THAT IT WAS FAKE 572 00:33:30,777 --> 00:33:33,313 >> Reporter: AND NOT KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 10:30 P.M. 573 00:33:33,313 --> 00:33:35,949 AND 5 A.M. IN HER FIRST POLICE INTERVIEW -- 574 00:33:35,949 --> 00:33:39,652 WELL, THAT SHE BLAMED ON THE WINE 575 00:33:39,652 --> 00:33:42,789 AND LATER BELINDA TOLD POLICE A TIMELINE THAT MADE SENSE 576 00:33:42,789 --> 00:33:47,560 WHY WAS YOUR STORY DIFFERENT LATER THAN IT WAS EARLY? 577 00:33:47,560 --> 00:33:51,765 >> I -- I DON'T THINK THAT I WAS REMEMBERING EVERYTHING THAT HAD 578 00:33:51,765 --> 00:33:54,834 TRANSPIRED I DON'T THINK THAT I WAS REALLY 579 00:33:54,834 --> 00:34:00,106 THINKING OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF THINGS. 580 00:34:00,106 --> 00:34:02,242 >> Reporter: AND AFTER MANY SESSIONS WITH BELINDA, 581 00:34:02,242 --> 00:34:05,912 INVESTIGATORS WERE FINALLY SATISFIED THAT SHE WAS TELLING 582 00:34:05,912 --> 00:34:09,616 THE TRUTH. AND THEN, ALMOST SIX MONTHS 583 00:34:09,616 --> 00:34:15,422 AFTER LEE'S DEATH, IN MAY 2011, THE MEDICAL EXAMINER FINALLY 584 00:34:15,422 --> 00:34:19,526 ISSUED AN AUTOPSY REPORT IN BUFFALO, BELIEFS CONFIRMED -- 585 00:34:19,526 --> 00:34:23,229 >> IT WAS NOT RULED A SUICIDE, IT'S WAS RULED A HOMICIDE. 586 00:34:23,229 --> 00:34:25,865 >> Reporter: BUT IN PHOENIX -- >> IT WAS COMPLETELY SURPRISING. 587 00:34:25,865 --> 00:34:28,401 >> Reporter: AND AT ROB'S PLACE IN CALIFORNIA -- 588 00:34:28,401 --> 00:34:32,205 >> THERE IS A LEVEL OF DISBELIEF. 589 00:34:32,205 --> 00:34:35,875 IT'S, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU -- HOW DID THAT HAPPEN, KIND OF 590 00:34:35,875 --> 00:34:40,113 THING. >> Reporter: GOOD QUESTION 591 00:34:40,113 --> 00:34:43,183 AND HERE'S ANOTHER ONE -- WHY STILL WASN'T ANYBODY ARRESTED? 592 00:34:43,183 --> 00:34:47,954 IN SPITE OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S RULING THAT IT WAS 593 00:34:47,954 --> 00:34:50,090 HOMICIDE, A WHOLE YEAR WENT BY ROB THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE A CASE 594 00:34:50,090 --> 00:34:52,692 THEY SIMPLY WEREN'T GOING TO PURSUE 595 00:34:52,692 --> 00:34:55,362 >> YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARD IN YOUR LIFE. 596 00:34:55,362 --> 00:34:57,497 YOU'RE NOT LOOKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER 597 00:34:57,497 --> 00:35:00,033 >> Reporter: MAYBE HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN, OR WOULD HAVE BEEN, 598 00:35:00,033 --> 00:35:04,504 HAD HE KNOWN THE QUESTIONS BELINDA WAS BEING ASKED BACK IN 599 00:35:04,504 --> 00:35:05,839 PHOENIX, ARIZONA >> THEY KEPT SAYING, "WELL, DO 600 00:35:05,839 --> 00:35:08,041 YOU THINK THERE WAS A FIGHT BETWEEN THEM THAT NIGHT? 601 00:35:08,041 --> 00:35:10,610 I'M LIKE "NO -- NO WAY." THEY WOULDN'T -- THEY NEVER 602 00:35:10,610 --> 00:35:13,780 FOUGHT >> Reporter: NO, THE CASE WASN'T 603 00:35:13,780 --> 00:35:20,053 DEAD AT ALL. THE MURDER SUSPECT STILL UNDER 604 00:35:20,053 --> 00:35:23,156 THE MICROSCOPE WAS ROB FISCHER >>> COMING UP -- 605 00:35:23,156 --> 00:35:26,359 WHY ROB? THOUGH HE CLAIMED HE WAS NOWHERE 606 00:35:26,359 --> 00:35:30,063 NEAR LEE WHEN THE GUN WENT OFF, EVIDENCE SEEMS TO TELL A 607 00:35:30,063 --> 00:35:32,832 DIFFERENT STORY. >> THERE WERE TWO GLASSES, WITH 608 00:35:32,832 --> 00:35:51,117 ICE IN BOTH OF THOSE GLASSES, TELLS US THAT TWO PEOPLE ARE UP 609 00:35:51,117 --> 00:35:55,221 >> Reporter: ROB FISCHER WAS A BUSY MAN IN THE SPRING OF 2012, 610 00:35:55,221 --> 00:35:58,391 TENDING TO HIS THRIVING LAW PRACTICE AND HIS HORSES IN 611 00:35:58,391 --> 00:36:02,729 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. ALMOST A YEAR-AND-A-HALF AFTER 612 00:36:02,729 --> 00:36:07,867 LEE RADDER'S SUDDEN DEMISE, ROB HAD BEGUN TO PUT THE WHOLE SAD 613 00:36:07,867 --> 00:36:10,036 BUSINESS BEHIND HIM, THOUGH -- >> IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND, 614 00:36:10,036 --> 00:36:13,039 THERE'S ALWAYS A PART OF YOU THAT THERE -- 615 00:36:13,039 --> 00:36:18,311 KNOWS THERE'S NO RESOLUTION TO THIS YET 616 00:36:18,311 --> 00:36:21,481 >> Reporter: BUT OF COURSE, ROB DID NOT KNOW WHAT INVESTIGATORS 617 00:36:21,481 --> 00:36:24,651 HAD BEEN SAYING ABOUT HIM SINCE THOSE VERY FIRST HOURS AFTER THE 618 00:36:24,651 --> 00:36:27,821 SHOOTING >> A RED FLAG WENT UP 619 00:36:27,821 --> 00:36:29,956 IMMEDIATELY IN MY MIND >> Reporter: DIDN'T KNOW WHAT 620 00:36:29,956 --> 00:36:32,592 THE PROSECUTOR WAS HEARING THAT JUST LIKE LEE'S FAMILY, 621 00:36:32,592 --> 00:36:36,696 DETECTIVES BELIEVED ROB MAY HAVE BEEN FAKING THE EXTENT OF HIS 622 00:36:36,696 --> 00:36:38,798 DRUNKEN CONFUSION. >> I DON'T KNOW WHO HE IS. 623 00:36:38,798 --> 00:36:43,069 HE'S LIKE -- LIKE -- WIFE'S COUSIN 624 00:36:43,069 --> 00:36:46,172 >> I WOULD THINK YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY HIM 625 00:36:46,172 --> 00:36:48,308 I MEAN THE WOUND WASN'T THAT DISFIGURING THAT HE SHOULDN'T 626 00:36:48,308 --> 00:36:51,478 HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TELL THAT WAS HIS SON-IN-LAW 627 00:36:51,478 --> 00:36:54,547 >> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS ALSO BELIEVED THAT IT WASN'T THE HAZE 628 00:36:54,547 --> 00:36:57,784 OF INEBRIATION BUT A DELIBERATE LIE WHEN ROB SAID HERE DURING 629 00:36:57,784 --> 00:37:00,887 HIS ONLY INTERVIEW THE ONE CONDUCTED THAT MORNING, 630 00:37:00,887 --> 00:37:05,125 THAT HE WAS NOWHERE NEAR LEE WHEN THE GUN, ROB'S GUN, WENT 631 00:37:05,125 --> 00:37:07,260 OFF IN THE KITCHEN >> YOU WERE IN THE FRONT BEDROOM 632 00:37:07,260 --> 00:37:10,897 IN -- IN THE BED >> YEAH. 633 00:37:10,897 --> 00:37:13,066 >> Reporter: PROBLEM WAS, COPS SNAPPING PICTURES AT THE HOUSE 634 00:37:13,066 --> 00:37:16,636 DIDN'T THINK THE GUEST BED LOOKED SLEPT IN AT ALL 635 00:37:16,636 --> 00:37:19,272 AND WHEN PROSECUTOR JAY RADEMACHER WAS SHOWN PHOTOS OF 636 00:37:19,272 --> 00:37:23,043 THE KITCHEN TABLE, IT LOOKED TO HIM LIKE ROB FISHER WAS CAUGHT 637 00:37:23,043 --> 00:37:26,112 IN HIS LIE >> THERE WERE TWO GLASSES, ONE 638 00:37:26,112 --> 00:37:29,783 ON THE TABLE, ONE ON THE KITCHEN COUNTER, WITH ICE IN BOTH OF 639 00:37:29,783 --> 00:37:36,056 THOSE GLASSES TELLS US THAT TWO PEOPLE ARE UP DRINKING 640 00:37:36,056 --> 00:37:40,060 >> Reporter: AND THEN IT WAS A FINE MAY MORNING, AND ROB WALKED 641 00:37:40,060 --> 00:37:42,896 OUT OF HIS HOUSE TO GO TO WORK >> I WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY, AND I 642 00:37:42,896 --> 00:37:46,066 SAW PEOPLE RUNNING UP AT ME WITH BOTH SIDES WITH GUNS POINTED AT 643 00:37:46,066 --> 00:37:49,202 ME AT FIRST, I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE 644 00:37:49,202 --> 00:37:53,440 THEM AS LAW ENFORCEMENT. I WASN'T THINKING OF LAW 645 00:37:53,440 --> 00:37:55,542 ENFORCEMENT. AND SO YOU -- YOU -- KIND OF, 646 00:37:55,542 --> 00:37:59,179 YOUR -- MY SPLIT SECOND INITIAL REACTION IS, YOU KNOW, "I'M 647 00:37:59,179 --> 00:38:03,350 BEING ATTACKED." >> Reporter: AND, IN A WAY, HE 648 00:38:03,350 --> 00:38:05,485 WAS -- BUT NOT BY THUGS. BY COPS. 649 00:38:05,485 --> 00:38:10,757 >> THEY PUT ME DOWN ON THE GROUND 650 00:38:10,757 --> 00:38:14,094 AND, YOU KNOW, HANDCUFFED ME >> Reporter: AND THEN ROB 651 00:38:14,094 --> 00:38:16,029 FISCHER WAS CARTED OFF TO JAIL, AND EXTRADITED RIGHT AWAY TO 652 00:38:16,029 --> 00:38:20,867 ARIZONA AND CHARGED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER. 653 00:38:20,867 --> 00:38:23,303 >> MY PHONE RANG I ANSWERED THE PHONE 654 00:38:23,303 --> 00:38:26,539 IT WAS DETECTIVE BROOKS. HE SAID, "I JUST WANTED TO TELL 655 00:38:26,539 --> 00:38:29,142 YOU THAT WE'VE ARRESTED ROB FISCHER. 656 00:38:29,142 --> 00:38:33,346 THAT WE HAVE ROB FISH -- FISCHER IN CUSTODY." 657 00:38:33,346 --> 00:38:36,516 AND THAT WAS ALMOST LIKE DISBELIEF, LIKE FINALLY, LIKE WE 658 00:38:36,516 --> 00:38:40,687 WAITED 490 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THE ACCIDENT TO THE -- TO THE 659 00:38:40,687 --> 00:38:43,256 DAY THAT HE WAS CHARGED. >> Reporter: FINALLY 660 00:38:43,256 --> 00:38:46,960 SOME SATISFACTION FOR LEE'S FAMILY IN BUFFALO, BUT WHEN WORD 661 00:38:46,960 --> 00:38:52,332 OF THE ARREST RACED AROUND ROB'S CIRCLE OF FRIENDS, NOT A SINGLE 662 00:38:52,332 --> 00:38:54,334 ONE OF THEM COULD BELIEVE IT LIKE FELLOW ATTORNEY CHRIS 663 00:38:54,334 --> 00:38:57,504 MILLER, WHO WAS APPALLED, SHE SAID 664 00:38:57,504 --> 00:39:00,106 >> ABSOLUTELY THE LAST PERSON IN THE WORLD. 665 00:39:00,106 --> 00:39:02,175 I MEAN, IF YOU TOLD ME THESE 20 OTHER PEOPLE DID IT, YEAH, I -- 666 00:39:02,175 --> 00:39:05,845 OKAY UH-HUH 667 00:39:05,845 --> 00:39:08,515 BUT NOT M -- NOT ROB NOT THE ROB I KNOW 668 00:39:08,515 --> 00:39:12,185 NOT OUR ROB. HE DIDN'T DO IT. 669 00:39:12,185 --> 00:39:15,355 >> Reporter: SOMEBODY MADE A BIG MISTAKE, SAID CHRIS. 670 00:39:15,355 --> 00:39:17,490 AND AS A FORMER SHERIFF, SHE OUGHTA KNOW. 671 00:39:17,490 --> 00:39:20,560 BUT AREN'T THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AND OFFICERS JUST 672 00:39:20,560 --> 00:39:23,196 TRYING TO GET AT THE TRUTH HERE? >> POSSIBLY. 673 00:39:23,196 --> 00:39:25,832 BUT EVEN WANTING TO GET OUT OF THE TRUTH DOESN'T PREVENT YOU 674 00:39:25,832 --> 00:39:30,070 FROM MAKING MISTAKES I MEAN, I SAW IT WHEN I WAS A 675 00:39:30,070 --> 00:39:32,172 SHERIFF. >> Reporter: FROM HIS JAIL CELL, 676 00:39:32,172 --> 00:39:36,376 ROB FOUND A PHOENIX-BASED DEFENSE ATTORNEY 677 00:39:36,376 --> 00:39:38,378 A MAN NAMED DWANE CATES. >> I DON'T THINK ROBERT FISCHER 678 00:39:38,378 --> 00:39:41,047 SHOULD EVER HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH A CRIME 679 00:39:41,047 --> 00:39:43,650 >> Reporter: WHY NOT >> BASED ON THE EVIDENCE 680 00:39:43,650 --> 00:39:48,421 THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE THAT HE KILLED LEE RADDER. 681 00:39:48,421 --> 00:39:51,057 >> Reporter: CATES GOT ROB RELEASED ON HALF A MILLION 682 00:39:51,057 --> 00:39:54,761 DOLLARS BAIL BUT ROB WAS ORDERED TO STAY PUT IN ARIZONA 683 00:39:54,761 --> 00:39:58,965 THAT'S WHERE WE TALKED TO HIM AS HE WAITED FOR HIS TRIAL. 684 00:39:58,965 --> 00:40:02,535 AND BELINDA? SHE HAD NO IDEA WHETHER OR NOT 685 00:40:02,535 --> 00:40:05,171 SHE MIGHT BE CHARGED TOO WERE YOU AFRAID YOU WERE GONNA 686 00:40:05,171 --> 00:40:07,440 BE ARRESTED? >> OH, SURE. 687 00:40:07,440 --> 00:40:09,943 YOU'RE JUST IN KNOTS ALL DAY LONG 688 00:40:09,943 --> 00:40:14,180 AND YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT 689 00:40:14,180 --> 00:40:18,284 AND -- YOU KNOW, YOU THINK, "IF THEY'RE -- IF THEY THINK ROB'S 690 00:40:18,284 --> 00:40:20,954 CAPABLE OF THIS -- ROB, LIKE, THIS SUPER GOOD GUY, 691 00:40:20,954 --> 00:40:25,658 THEN THEY -- FOR SURE THINK I'M CAPABLE OF IT. 692 00:40:25,658 --> 00:40:28,328 >> Reporter: AND BELINDA HAD TO FACE THE FACT THAT EITHER HER 693 00:40:28,328 --> 00:40:32,532 HUSBAND TOOK HIS OWN LIFE OR HE WAS MURDERED BY HER OWN 694 00:40:32,532 --> 00:40:36,736 STEP-FATHER. SHE FOUND BOTH OPTIONS VERY HARD 695 00:40:36,736 --> 00:40:40,974 TO BELIEVE BUT AS TIME WENT ON, SHE BEGAN 696 00:40:40,974 --> 00:40:45,311 TO THINK, MAYBE, THE PROSECUTOR KNEW SOMETHING SHE DIDN'T. 697 00:40:45,311 --> 00:40:47,180 THEY WOULDN'T ARREST HIM IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE SOME EVIDENCE. 698 00:40:47,180 --> 00:40:49,849 >> RIGHT AND WHERE I -- YOU KNOW, I WAS 699 00:40:49,849 --> 00:40:52,452 BROUGHT UP THAT WE BELIEVE THE POLICE OFFICERS, WE BELIEVE THAT 700 00:40:52,452 --> 00:40:55,088 MY GRANDFATHER WAS A POLICE OFFICER. 701 00:40:55,088 --> 00:40:58,425 ROB WAS A POLICE OFFICER LIKE, THEY DON'T JUST CHARGE 702 00:40:58,425 --> 00:41:02,362 PEOPLE IT -- HE HAD -- HE HAD TO HAVE 703 00:41:02,362 --> 00:41:05,532 DONE IT. >>> COMING UP -- 704 00:41:05,532 --> 00:41:08,702 AT TRIAL, THE BLOOD EXPERT'S BOMBSHELL THEORY 705 00:41:08,702 --> 00:41:14,474 WHY HE SAYS THE EVIDENCE POINTS TO ONLY ONE CONCLUSION -- 706 00:41:14,474 --> 00:41:18,712 >> MR. FISCHER MOVED MR. RADDER'S BODY TO MAKE IT LOOK 707 00:41:18,712 --> 00:41:20,880 LIKE MR. RADDER HAD SUSTAINED A SHOT AND -- AND FELL 708 00:41:20,880 --> 00:41:39,566 BACKGROUNDS. >> REPORTER: IT WAS THE MORNING 709 00:41:39,566 --> 00:41:42,202 OF NOVEMBER 6TH, 2013, A WEDNESDAY, WHEN PROSECUTOR JAY 710 00:41:42,202 --> 00:41:47,107 RADEMACHER ROSE IN THE PHOENIX COURTHOUSE TO PRESENT HIS MURDER 711 00:41:47,107 --> 00:41:50,643 CASE AGAINST ROB FISCHER >> THIS CASE IS ABOUT A 712 00:41:50,643 --> 00:41:53,313 COVER-UP >> Reporter: LEE RADDER'S FAMILY 713 00:41:53,313 --> 00:41:57,117 WATCHED FROM THE GALLERY, HOPING, THREE YEARS AFTER LEE'S 714 00:41:57,117 --> 00:41:59,019 DEATH, FOR JUSTICE >> WILL WE EVER FIND OUT WHAT 715 00:41:59,019 --> 00:42:01,121 HAPPENED TRUTHFULLY, I DON'T KNOW 716 00:42:01,121 --> 00:42:04,824 DO I WANT SOMEBODY TO PAY FOR HIS DEATH? 717 00:42:04,824 --> 00:42:07,460 YES. MOST SERIOUSLY 718 00:42:07,460 --> 00:42:12,232 BECAUSE HE DIDN'T DESERVE TO DIE. 719 00:42:12,232 --> 00:42:14,334 >> Reporter: AT THE DEFENSE TABLE, ROB FISCHER WAS CONFIDENT 720 00:42:14,334 --> 00:42:17,504 THERE WAS SIMPLY NO CASE AGAINST HIM. 721 00:42:17,504 --> 00:42:21,641 >> I'VE NEVER HEARD A THEORY I'VE NEVER HEARD A MOTIVE. 722 00:42:21,641 --> 00:42:23,877 I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING. >> Reporter: THAT WAS ABOUT TO 723 00:42:23,877 --> 00:42:27,547 CHANGE POINT NUMBER ONE, SAID THE 724 00:42:27,547 --> 00:42:32,185 PROSECUTOR -- LEE RADDER'S DEATH WAS CLEARLY NOT A SUICIDE. 725 00:42:32,185 --> 00:42:35,121 >> LEE LOVED HIS FAMILY, ESPECIALLY HIS GIRLS 726 00:42:35,121 --> 00:42:40,093 LEE WOULD HAVE NEVER DONE SOMETHING LIKE THIS INSIDE OF 727 00:42:40,093 --> 00:42:42,662 HIS HOME >> Reporter: EVIDENCE OF THAT? 728 00:42:42,662 --> 00:42:45,398 THIS IS LEE'S CHILDHOOD BEST FRIEND 729 00:42:45,398 --> 00:42:49,536 WHO TOLD THE JURY LEE NEVER GOT DEPRESSED ABOUT MONEY. 730 00:42:49,536 --> 00:42:53,740 >> ONE OF HIS FAVORITE SAYINGS TO ME THAT I'VE TRIED TO BE 731 00:42:53,740 --> 00:42:59,012 MOTIVATED BY IS JUST, "ADAM, YOU CAN ALWAYS MAKE MORE MONEY." 732 00:42:59,012 --> 00:43:02,182 >> Reporter: AND THERE WAS THIS -- LEE SPOKE WITH HIS BUSINESS 733 00:43:02,182 --> 00:43:04,718 PARTNER DONOVAN DURBIN THAT NIGHT, AND DURBIN TOLD THE JURY 734 00:43:04,718 --> 00:43:09,089 LEE DID NOT SOUND SUICIDAL AT ALL. 735 00:43:09,089 --> 00:43:11,658 >> HE WAS HAPPY. HE SAID HE HAD FAMILY OVER 736 00:43:11,658 --> 00:43:13,660 HE WAS GOING TO GO HAVE A COUPLE COCKTAILS AND HE WOULD CALL ME 737 00:43:13,660 --> 00:43:15,762 TOMORROW >> Reporter: THE PROSECUTOR 738 00:43:15,762 --> 00:43:18,331 CALLED BELINDA TO THE STAND, TOO. 739 00:43:18,331 --> 00:43:22,068 LATER SHE TOLD US SHE WANTED TO TESTIFY, BUT WAS NOT HAPPY TO BE 740 00:43:22,068 --> 00:43:25,171 A PROSECUTION WITNESS. SHE TOLD THE JURY THAT, THOUGH 741 00:43:25,171 --> 00:43:32,078 LEE DID FRET A LITTLE ABOUT THE EMAIL HE RECEIVED THAT NIGHT, HE 742 00:43:32,078 --> 00:43:36,783 WAS OTHERWISE THE SAME OLD LEE >> JUST LIKE A REGULAR NIGHT 743 00:43:36,783 --> 00:43:41,087 >> NOTHING WAS DIFFERENT >> NOT THAT I RECALL 744 00:43:41,087 --> 00:43:43,656 >> Reporter: SO LEE HAD NO REASON TO TAKE HIS OWN LIFE, 745 00:43:43,656 --> 00:43:46,292 SAID THE PROSECUTOR. NOW, THE ONLY POSSIBLE 746 00:43:46,292 --> 00:43:49,863 EXPLANATION WAS THAT HE WAS MURDERED 747 00:43:49,863 --> 00:43:53,166 >> SEE, THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE, THE BLOOD, THE TRAJECTORY, ALL 748 00:43:53,166 --> 00:44:00,540 OF THAT, THAT DOESN'T LIE. MURDER EXPLAINS ALL OF IT. 749 00:44:00,540 --> 00:44:03,076 >> Reporter: HIS THEORY -- AS LEE RADDER AND ROB FISCHER SAT 750 00:44:03,076 --> 00:44:05,612 AT THE KITCHEN TABLE DRINKING VODKA INTO THE WEE HOURS OF THAT 751 00:44:05,612 --> 00:44:11,151 MORNING, SOMETHING MUST HAVE HAPPENED - 752 00:44:11,151 --> 00:44:13,520 SOMETHING THAT SO AROUSED ROB, HE WENT AND GOT HIS GUN, AND 753 00:44:13,520 --> 00:44:15,622 CAME BACK, AND SHOT LEE THROUGH THE RIGHT EYE, AND THEN 754 00:44:15,622 --> 00:44:20,360 PANICKED, AND WENT ABOUT STAGING THE SCENE. 755 00:44:20,360 --> 00:44:24,064 >> THE SCIENCE DOESN'T LIE, PEOPLE DO. 756 00:44:24,064 --> 00:44:27,233 >> Reporter: SO, FORENSICS THE ARRIVING OFFICER TOLD THE 757 00:44:27,233 --> 00:44:31,438 JURY HOW HE GOT SUSPICIOUS WHEN HE SAW THE GUN STILL WRAPPED IN 758 00:44:31,438 --> 00:44:34,507 LEE'S DEAD HAND. >> TO ME IT APPEARED THAT IT WAS 759 00:44:34,507 --> 00:44:36,710 PLACED IN HIS HAND >> Reporter: A VERY IMPORTANT 760 00:44:36,710 --> 00:44:40,447 FIRST DISCOVERY, THE PROSECUTOR TOLD US. 761 00:44:40,447 --> 00:44:42,982 >> HOW IS GRAVITY NOT TAKING ITS COURSE, FROM EITHER PULLING 762 00:44:42,982 --> 00:44:46,152 LEE'S BODY FORWARD, OR ALLOWING THAT GUN TO DROP OUT OF HIS 763 00:44:46,152 --> 00:44:48,154 HAND >> Reporter: BUT IT DOESN'T 764 00:44:48,154 --> 00:44:50,357 REALLY WORK WITH ROBERT PUTTING THE GUN IN HIS HAND EITHER, DOES 765 00:44:50,357 --> 00:44:52,425 IT I MEAN, WHY WOULD A COP, FOR 766 00:44:52,425 --> 00:44:54,527 EXAMPLE, PUT THE GUN IN HIS HAND THAT WAY, WITH THE THUMB 767 00:44:54,527 --> 00:44:56,796 THROUGH? THIS IS AN EX-COP WE'RE TALKIN' 768 00:44:56,796 --> 00:45:00,867 ABOUT. >> AN EX-COP THAT'S DRUNK. 769 00:45:00,867 --> 00:45:04,304 >> Reporter: BUT, SAID THE PROSECUTOR, NOT SO DRUNK HE 770 00:45:04,304 --> 00:45:09,342 WOULDN'T KNOW WHO HIS SON IN LAW WAS WHEN HE MADE THAT 911 CALL 771 00:45:09,342 --> 00:45:12,946 THAT WAS PURE THEATER. >> THE DEFENDANT KNEW THAT WAS 772 00:45:12,946 --> 00:45:19,352 LEE ON THE GROUND, BUT HE'S TRYING TO COVER UP A MURDER. 773 00:45:19,352 --> 00:45:23,056 >> Reporter: THERE WAS MORE, SAID THE PROSECUTOR. 774 00:45:23,056 --> 00:45:26,626 ROB DID SOMETHING ANY EX-COP SHOULD KNOW YOU DON'T DO -- HE 775 00:45:26,626 --> 00:45:28,661 DISOBEYED A DIRECT ORDER >> HE SAID, "HEY I AM A RETIRED 776 00:45:28,661 --> 00:45:30,463 POLICE OFFICER." I SAID, "OKAY, JUST STEP AWAY. 777 00:45:30,463 --> 00:45:32,332 HE SAID, "I'M GONNA WASH MY HANDS," AND I SAID, "NO, DON'T 778 00:45:32,332 --> 00:45:34,968 WASH YOUR HANDS. >> Reporter: BUT ROB WASHED HIS 779 00:45:34,968 --> 00:45:38,138 HANDS ANYWAY THE PROSECUTOR SHOWED THE JURY 780 00:45:38,138 --> 00:45:42,375 THE PICTURES FROM THE SCENE THAT SEEMED TO PROVE ROB LIED ABOUT 781 00:45:42,375 --> 00:45:45,245 BEING IN THE GUESTROOM BEDROOM ASLEEP WHEN THE GUN WENT OFF 782 00:45:45,245 --> 00:45:47,147 THE NEATLY MADE BED, THOSE TWO GLASSES IN THE KITCHEN WITH ICE 783 00:45:47,147 --> 00:45:51,751 STILL FRESH IN THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING. 784 00:45:51,751 --> 00:45:54,921 >> DID YOU FIND IT ODD THAT THERE WAS ICE IN THE GLASSES AT 785 00:45:54,921 --> 00:45:58,692 5:15 IN THE MORNING? >> YES 786 00:45:58,692 --> 00:46:01,728 >> Reporter: BUT THE KEY PIECE OF EVIDENCE, SAID THE 787 00:46:01,728 --> 00:46:05,432 PROSECUTION, WAS THE STORY TOLD BY THE BLOOD AT THE SCENE. 788 00:46:05,432 --> 00:46:08,034 THERE WAS BLOOD ON THE PANTS ROB WAS WEARING THAT, WHEN EXAMINED, 789 00:46:08,034 --> 00:46:11,705 CERTAINLY LOOKED LIKE ROB HAD BEEN SITTING VERY CLOSE TO LEE 790 00:46:11,705 --> 00:46:14,307 WHEN THE GUN WENT OFF. AND THERE WAS BLOOD ON THE 791 00:46:14,307 --> 00:46:20,613 FLOOR, WHICH, SAID THE STATE, PROVED ROB WAS INVOLVED. 792 00:46:20,613 --> 00:46:26,953 >> MR. FISCHER MOVED MR. RADDER'S BODY AND MANIPULATED 793 00:46:26,953 --> 00:46:30,090 THE -- THE -- THE AREA TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE MR. RADDER HAD 794 00:46:30,090 --> 00:46:33,793 SUSTAINED A SHOT AND -- AND FELL BACKWARDS. 795 00:46:33,793 --> 00:46:36,930 >> Reporter: THE PROSECUTION'S BLOOD SPATTER EXPERT, RUDY 796 00:46:36,930 --> 00:46:39,466 ACOSTA, WAS HIS NAME, DEMONSTRATED HOW, IN HIS 797 00:46:39,466 --> 00:46:43,803 OPINION, LEE'S BODY WOULD HAVE SLUMPED FORWARD IN THE CHAIR 798 00:46:43,803 --> 00:46:46,473 AFTER THE GUN WENT OFF, NOT BACKWARD THE WAY HIS BODY WAS 799 00:46:46,473 --> 00:46:50,577 FOUND. MEANING, ROB MUST HAVE MOVED 800 00:46:50,577 --> 00:46:53,646 LEE'S BODY >> I BELIEVE -- I THINK HE JUST 801 00:46:53,646 --> 00:46:56,282 DRAGGED HIM ONTO THE GROUND. >> Reporter: WHAT'S MORE, SAID 802 00:46:56,282 --> 00:47:00,020 THE EXPERT, AS ROB MOVED AROUND THE BODY, HE LEFT HIS FOOTPRINTS 803 00:47:00,020 --> 00:47:04,157 IN LEE'S BLOOD >> FOOTPRINTS TELL ME THAT HE 804 00:47:04,157 --> 00:47:07,360 OBVIOUSLY STEPPED IN THE BLOOD WHEN THE ORIGIN OF BLOOD 805 00:47:07,360 --> 00:47:09,462 HAPPENED, THE LEFT FOOT WAS IN THE BLOOD, OBVIOUSLY SAID --SAW 806 00:47:09,462 --> 00:47:11,631 THAT WE SHOW THERE'S AN INTERRUPTION 807 00:47:11,631 --> 00:47:13,733 OF BLOOD, AT LEAST, MORE THAN ONE. 808 00:47:13,733 --> 00:47:16,236 >> Reporter: BUT, AS WE HEARD THE STATE'S CASE, WE COULDN'T 809 00:47:16,236 --> 00:47:20,573 HELP BUT WONDER, WAS SOME OF IT GUESSWORK? 810 00:47:20,573 --> 00:47:23,209 DID IT REALLY AMOUNT TO PROOF THAT ROB SHOT LEE, OR WALKED 811 00:47:23,209 --> 00:47:26,680 AROUND IN THE BLOOD IN ORDER TO MOVE LEE'S BODY? 812 00:47:26,680 --> 00:47:28,915 WE CHALLENGED THE PROSECUTOR ON THAT 813 00:47:28,915 --> 00:47:33,053 SO, BUT THOSE FOOTPRINTS DON'T SHOW CULPABILITY THOUGH? 814 00:47:33,053 --> 00:47:34,721 >> THEY SHOW MOVEMENT. >> Reporter: THEY SHOW MOVEMENT, 815 00:47:34,721 --> 00:47:36,723 YEAH, BUT THAT'S ALL THEY SHOW, RIGHT? 816 00:47:36,723 --> 00:47:39,392 I MEAN, HE MAY HAVE BEEN SURPRISED BY -- HE MAY HAVE BEEN 817 00:47:39,392 --> 00:47:43,063 SITTING THERE. HE SHOOTS HIMSELF, HE GETS UP, 818 00:47:43,063 --> 00:47:46,199 WALKS AND -- DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT HE'S MANIPULATING THE 819 00:47:46,199 --> 00:47:49,369 SCENE JUST BECAUSE HIS FOOTPRINTS ARE THERE 820 00:47:49,369 --> 00:47:53,573 >> YOU KEEP COMING UP WITH THESE POSSIBILITIES. 821 00:47:53,573 --> 00:47:56,109 >> Reporter: WELL, SO DO YOU >> I DON'T COME UP WITH 822 00:47:56,109 --> 00:47:58,845 POSSIBILITIES. I HAVE THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE 823 00:47:58,845 --> 00:48:02,015 THAT SUPPORTS THE STATE'S THEORY OF THIS CASE 824 00:48:02,015 --> 00:48:04,017 >> Reporter: SO SAID THE PROSECUTOR 825 00:48:04,017 --> 00:48:09,189 THE FORENSICS SAID MURDER EVEN THOUGH - 826 00:48:09,189 --> 00:48:11,291 THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF A DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO OF 827 00:48:11,291 --> 00:48:14,527 THEM THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THAT. 828 00:48:14,527 --> 00:48:17,097 >> NO. >> Reporter: BUT THAT WASN'T THE 829 00:48:17,097 --> 00:48:21,301 ISSUE, SAID THE PROSECUTOR HARD EVIDENCE WAS. 830 00:48:21,301 --> 00:48:26,573 >> MURDER IS SUPPORTED BY THE BLOOD EVIDENCE, BY WHAT THE M.E. 831 00:48:26,573 --> 00:48:33,947 TESTIFIED, BY THE BLOOD EXPERTS. MURDER IS SUPPORTED BY COMMON 832 00:48:33,947 --> 00:48:37,650 SENSE AND GRAVITY IN THIS CASE >> Reporter: OH, BUT OF COURSE 833 00:48:37,650 --> 00:48:39,819 IT WASN'T QUITE THAT SIMPLE. THERE WAS ANOTHER POSSIBILITY 834 00:48:39,819 --> 00:48:44,924 ALTOGETHER, AS THE JURY WAS ABOUT TO HEAR. 835 00:48:44,924 --> 00:48:48,194 >>> COMING UP -- A DEFENSE WITNESS REVEALS THAT A 836 00:48:48,194 --> 00:48:51,798 BIG BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY WENT UP IN SMOKE BEFORE LEE DIED - 837 00:48:51,798 --> 00:48:54,434 >> YOU TELL HIM NO >> YES 838 00:48:54,434 --> 00:48:57,737 I NEED SOMEBODY WHO HAS DISTRIBUTION CENTERS WORLDWIDE 839 00:48:57,737 --> 00:49:00,674 SO HE WAS TOLD NO, SO THAT THAT WAS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. 840 00:49:00,674 --> 00:49:04,377 >> AND THEN, TESTIMONY THAT THE BLOOD SPATTER EVIDENCE ACTUALLY 841 00:49:04,377 --> 00:49:09,616 MAKES THE CASE FOR SUICIDE - >> THIS IS A SELF-INFLICTED 842 00:49:09,616 --> 00:49:23,863 GUNSHO >> Reporter: ROB FISCHER'S 843 00:49:23,863 --> 00:49:26,032 ATTORNEY, DWANE CATES, HAS STOOD UP FOR A LONG PARADE OF CLIENTS 844 00:49:26,032 --> 00:49:29,669 OVER THE YEARS, MANY OF THEM GUILTY AS SIN. 845 00:49:29,669 --> 00:49:32,305 BUT THIS CASE? THIS WAS DIFFERENT, SAID MR. 846 00:49:32,305 --> 00:49:34,941 CATES. >> INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE THE 847 00:49:34,941 --> 00:49:37,644 HARDEST TO REPRESENT. I DON'T SLEEP AT NIGHT 848 00:49:37,644 --> 00:49:42,315 REPRESENTING INNOCENT PEOPLE, BECAUSE LOSING'S NOT AN OPTION 849 00:49:42,315 --> 00:49:45,285 >> Reporter: ROB'S SUPPORTERS, INCLUDING FELLOW ATTORNEY AND 850 00:49:45,285 --> 00:49:47,387 GOOD FRIEND CHRIS MILLER, TRAVELLED TO PHOENIX FOR THE 851 00:49:47,387 --> 00:49:48,955 TRIAL. >> REPORTER: WHAT'S YOUR 852 00:49:48,955 --> 00:49:51,624 EXPECTATION OF THE EVENTUAL RESULT HERE? 853 00:49:51,624 --> 00:49:54,294 >> I BELIEVE THAT ROB WILL EVENTUALLY BE FOUND NOT GUILTY 854 00:49:54,294 --> 00:49:58,064 >> LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, THIS CASE IS ALL ABOUT WHOSE FINGER 855 00:49:58,064 --> 00:50:08,675 WAS ON THE GUN THE NIGHT THAT LEE RADDER DIED. 856 00:50:08,675 --> 00:50:12,712 ROB DIDN'T HAVE ANY MOTIVE TO SHOOT LEE, AND LEE CERTAINLY HAD 857 00:50:12,712 --> 00:50:15,882 SOME REASONS TO COMMIT SUICIDE >> Reporter: WAIT, HE DID HAVE A 858 00:50:15,882 --> 00:50:18,418 REASONS FOR SUICIDE? YES, SAID ROB'S ATTORNEY. 859 00:50:18,418 --> 00:50:23,256 THIS TIME, LEE'S LIFE WAS SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL. 860 00:50:23,256 --> 00:50:26,960 >> THERE'S NO MONEY COMING IN AND LEE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HE IS 861 00:50:26,960 --> 00:50:28,962 GOING TO DO. >> Reporter: LEE'S FRIENDS HAD 862 00:50:28,962 --> 00:50:31,531 NO IDEA HOW BAD IT WAS, SAID CATES. 863 00:50:31,531 --> 00:50:35,869 TENS OF THOUSANDS IN LOANS AND, UNPAID CREDIT CARDS. 864 00:50:35,869 --> 00:50:40,473 $15,000 OWED TO THE IRS, ANOTHER $25,000 STILL OWED TO A FORMER 865 00:50:40,473 --> 00:50:42,575 EMPLOYER >> NO DOUBT THAT WE, YOU KNOW, 866 00:50:42,575 --> 00:50:48,381 HAD SOME FINANCIAL TROUBLES AHEAD OF US. 867 00:50:48,381 --> 00:50:51,551 >> Reporter: BELINDA WAS A PROSECUTION WITNESS REMEMBER, 868 00:50:51,551 --> 00:50:55,789 BUT, SHE TOLD THE JURY THAT LEE, WITH HIS $100,000 LIFE INSURANCE 869 00:50:55,789 --> 00:51:01,561 POLICY, TOLD HER, JOKING OR NOT, THAT HE WAS WORTH MORE TO HER 870 00:51:01,561 --> 00:51:04,731 DEAD THAN ALIVE. >> HE WOULD SAY THAT NUMEROUS 871 00:51:04,731 --> 00:51:07,367 TIMES OVER HIS LIFE. >> Reporter: THEN, THAT NIGHT, 872 00:51:07,367 --> 00:51:10,070 DECEMBER 29th. HE GOT THAT EMAIL, REMEMBER, AND 873 00:51:10,070 --> 00:51:13,206 EXCUSED HIMSELF FROM THE TABLE TO TAKE A CALL FROM HIS BUSINESS 874 00:51:13,206 --> 00:51:15,642 PARTNER. YOU'LL REMEMBER THAT BUSINESS 875 00:51:15,642 --> 00:51:19,312 PARTNER TOLD THE PROSECUTOR LEE SEEMED TO BE IN GOOD SPIRITS AT 876 00:51:19,312 --> 00:51:21,681 THE END OF THE CALL. BUT, HE ALSO HAD TO ADMIT THAT 877 00:51:21,681 --> 00:51:26,186 WHEN THE CONVERSATION STARTED, LEE WAS NOT HAPPY. 878 00:51:26,186 --> 00:51:28,822 >> HOW WAS HE ACTING >> HE WAS KIND OF UPSET. 879 00:51:28,822 --> 00:51:32,092 >> Reporter: THE JURY NEVER GOT TO READ THE EMAIL -- NO ONE 880 00:51:32,092 --> 00:51:35,195 SEEMS TO HAVE A COPY BUT LEE SHOWED IT TO BELINDA 881 00:51:35,195 --> 00:51:40,433 THAT NIGHT AND SHE RECALLED IT WAS BAD NEWS ABOUT THE DEAL. 882 00:51:40,433 --> 00:51:43,603 >> SOMETHING ABOUT HE HAD INTRODUCED THESE TWO COMPANIES 883 00:51:43,603 --> 00:51:47,173 TOGETHER, AND NOW HE WAS KINDA BEING SQUEEZED OUT OF IT 884 00:51:47,173 --> 00:51:49,943 >> WELL, HE WAS A FRANTIC. HE FELT BETRAYED THAT TWO 885 00:51:49,943 --> 00:51:53,646 COMPANIES WERE TRYING TO CUT HIM OUT OF THE DEAL. 886 00:51:53,646 --> 00:51:56,182 >> Reporter: ALSO, SAID THE DEFENSE, LEE HAD BEEN 887 00:51:56,182 --> 00:52:01,588 EXAGGERATING, FOR EVERYBODY, THE SIZE AND VALUE OF THE DEAL 888 00:52:01,588 --> 00:52:05,592 THIS MAN IS FROM THE COMPANY "IGT" WITH WHICH LEE WAS HOPING 889 00:52:05,592 --> 00:52:08,261 TO MAKE HIS MULTI MILLION DOLLAR DEAL-OF-A-LIFETIME, AND HE 890 00:52:08,261 --> 00:52:11,931 TESTIFIED HE'D TOLD LEE PRIOR TO THAT NIGHT THAT THERE WASN'T 891 00:52:11,931 --> 00:52:14,200 GOING TO BE A DEAL >> DID YOU TELL HIM NO 892 00:52:14,200 --> 00:52:16,703 >> YES I NEED SOMEBODY WHO HAS 893 00:52:16,703 --> 00:52:20,373 DISTRIBUTION CENTERS WORLDWIDE. SO HE WAS -- TOLD HIM NO, THAT 894 00:52:20,373 --> 00:52:24,611 THAT WAS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN >> HE COMMUNICATED THAT CLEARLY 895 00:52:24,611 --> 00:52:28,314 TO LEE, AND LEE WAS TELLIN' EVERYBODY THAT THERE WAS THIS 896 00:52:28,314 --> 00:52:30,950 BIG DEAL PENDING. AND -- AND THAT WAS -- 897 00:52:30,950 --> 00:52:34,120 >> Reporter: LIVING A LIE. >> AND -- AND IT WAS ALL ABOUT 898 00:52:34,120 --> 00:52:36,222 TO COME CRASHING DOWN ON HIM >> Reporter: LEE RADDER WAS 899 00:52:36,222 --> 00:52:39,159 WORTH MORE DEAD THAN ALIVE. HE KNEW IT. 900 00:52:39,159 --> 00:52:42,362 FOR SOME REASON HE COULDN'T BRING HIMSELF TO TELL HIS 901 00:52:42,362 --> 00:52:45,732 PARTNERS AND HIS FRIENDS THAT THIS BIG DEAL WASN'T COMING. 902 00:52:45,732 --> 00:52:49,736 SO, THE DEFENSE THEORY OF WHAT HAPPENED 903 00:52:49,736 --> 00:52:51,838 AFTER ALL THOSE DRINKS WITH LEE, ROB PASSED OUT 904 00:52:51,838 --> 00:52:55,542 RIGHT THERE, AT THE KITCHEN TABLE. 905 00:52:55,542 --> 00:52:58,678 >> HIS BLACKOUT STARTS -- STARTS AS A UNBLOCK BLACKOUT MEANING HE 906 00:52:58,678 --> 00:53:01,848 HAS NO MEMORY. IT'S LIKE NOTHING WRITES TO THE 907 00:53:01,848 --> 00:53:06,086 HARD DRIVE >> Reporter: BUT LEE KEPT RIGHT 908 00:53:06,086 --> 00:53:08,655 ON DRINKING AND DRUNK AND DISCOURAGED, HE WENT AND FOUND 909 00:53:08,655 --> 00:53:12,959 THE GUN HE KNEW ROB ALWAYS TRAVELLED WITH, AND TURNED IT ON 910 00:53:12,959 --> 00:53:16,129 HIMSELF, AND PULLED THE TRIGGER. AND THEN, AT THE SOUND OF THE 911 00:53:16,129 --> 00:53:19,165 GUN, ROB WAS STARTLED INTO A CONFUSED CONSCIOUSNESS, AND 912 00:53:19,165 --> 00:53:21,701 MERELY ASSUMED WHEN HE SPOKE WITH POLICE, HE MUST HAVE BEEN 913 00:53:21,701 --> 00:53:25,939 IN BED >> IMAGINE, YOU'RE STILL DRUNK 914 00:53:25,939 --> 00:53:28,575 AND SOMEONE IS LYING ON THE FLOOR IN A PUDDLE OF BLOOD WITH 915 00:53:28,575 --> 00:53:30,710 A GUN IN THEIR HAND. YOU LOOK DOWN, YOU ARE IN YOUR 916 00:53:30,710 --> 00:53:35,081 PAJAMAS, YOU'RE BAREFOOT, AND YOU'RE STANDING IN THE HALL 917 00:53:35,081 --> 00:53:39,152 FACING AWAY FROM YOUR BEDROOM. WOULDN'T YOUR FIRST THOUGHT BE 918 00:53:39,152 --> 00:53:41,287 GEEZ, I MUST HAVE BEEN IN BED? >> Reporter: LATER, WHEN HE 919 00:53:41,287 --> 00:53:44,991 SOBERED UP, SAID ROB, HE REALIZED HE MUST HAVE BEEN AT 920 00:53:44,991 --> 00:53:48,161 THE TABLE WITH LEE WHAT IS IT ABOUT YOU THAT SHOULD 921 00:53:48,161 --> 00:53:50,797 MAKE US THINK THAT YOU AREN'T THE SORT OF PERSON WHO -- YOU 922 00:53:50,797 --> 00:53:53,433 KNOW, MIGHT HAVE BEEN SHOWING LEE THE GUN, AND YOU'RE, YOU 923 00:53:53,433 --> 00:53:57,103 KNOW, BOTH FIVE SHEETS TO THE WIND. 924 00:53:57,103 --> 00:54:00,573 AND -- AND IT WENT OFF ACCIDENTALLY AND KILLED HIM. 925 00:54:00,573 --> 00:54:02,709 >> WHETHER WE'RE DRINKING OR NOT, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT I 926 00:54:02,709 --> 00:54:07,947 WOULD EVER BE SO IRRESPONSIBLE AS TO INTRODUCE A GUN TO THAT 927 00:54:07,947 --> 00:54:09,549 ENVIRONMENT. THAT'S -- GOES AGAINST MY CORE 928 00:54:09,549 --> 00:54:12,752 BEING. >> Reporter: THE DEFENSE CALLED 929 00:54:12,752 --> 00:54:16,956 THIS DOCTOR, AN EXPERT IN ALCOHOL ABUSE, TO EXPLAIN SOME 930 00:54:16,956 --> 00:54:19,592 OF ROB'S STRANGE BEHAVIOR. AROUND THE TIME OF THE 9-1-1 931 00:54:19,592 --> 00:54:22,762 CALL, ROB'S BLOOD WAS THREE TIMES THE LEGAL LIMIT. 932 00:54:22,762 --> 00:54:26,966 >> IN MY OPINION TO A REASONABLE DEGREE OF MEDICAL CERTAINTY HE 933 00:54:26,966 --> 00:54:29,536 WAS IN A BLACKOUT >> Reporter: WHICH CERTAINLY 934 00:54:29,536 --> 00:54:33,873 EXPLAINED NOT RECOGNIZING LEE, SAID THE EXPERT. 935 00:54:33,873 --> 00:54:36,509 AS FOR THE BIG DEAL THE STATE MADE ABOUT ROB WASHING HIS HANDS 936 00:54:36,509 --> 00:54:39,079 WHEN THE OFFICER TOLD HIM NOT TO 937 00:54:39,079 --> 00:54:42,649 >> HAVE YOU EVER TOLD A DRUNK FRIEND TO DO SOMETHING? 938 00:54:42,649 --> 00:54:44,751 IT'S KINDA LIKE HERDING CATS >> REPORTER: I KNOW, BUT HE'S A 939 00:54:44,751 --> 00:54:47,420 LAWYER AND AN EX-COP >> RIGHT. 940 00:54:47,420 --> 00:54:50,590 HE'S AN EXTREMELY DRUNK LAWYER AND EX-COP 941 00:54:50,590 --> 00:54:52,692 >> Reporter: BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FORENSIC EVIDENCE? 942 00:54:52,692 --> 00:54:55,328 THE VERY HEART OF THE STATE'S CASE 943 00:54:55,328 --> 00:54:57,997 THE STATE'S EXPERT REMEMBER TOLD THE JURY THAT THE LAW OF GRAVITY 944 00:54:57,997 --> 00:55:01,134 DICTATED THAT THE GUN SHOULD HAVE DROPPED OUT OF LEE'S HAND 945 00:55:01,134 --> 00:55:04,838 AS SOON AS HE FIRED A BULLET INTO HIS HEAD. 946 00:55:04,838 --> 00:55:08,541 BUT THE DEFENSE MEDICAL EXPERT PRODUCED STATISTICS SHOWING THAT 947 00:55:08,541 --> 00:55:12,812 GUNS ACTUALLY REMAIN IN THE HANDS OF SUICIDE VICTIMS 25% OF 948 00:55:12,812 --> 00:55:14,881 THE TIME >> HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE GUN 949 00:55:14,881 --> 00:55:17,283 STAY IN THE HAND OF SOMEBODY THAT COMMITTED SUICIDE 950 00:55:17,283 --> 00:55:19,452 >> YES, SIR. >> Reporter: IN FACT, SAID 951 00:55:19,452 --> 00:55:22,055 ATTORNEY CATES, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR ROB, 952 00:55:22,055 --> 00:55:25,225 FROM WHERE HE HAD TO BE SITTING IN THE KITCHEN, TO SHOOT LEE AND 953 00:55:25,225 --> 00:55:29,396 PRODUCE THE ACTUAL ROUTE THE BULLET FOLLOWED. 954 00:55:29,396 --> 00:55:34,768 >> ROB WOULD'VE HAD TO HAVE GONE SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN ORDER TO 955 00:55:34,768 --> 00:55:37,303 HAVE DONE IT >> Reporter: THEN ATTORNEY CATES 956 00:55:37,303 --> 00:55:41,074 ATTACKED DIRECTLY THE STATE'S BLOOD SPATTER EXPERT 957 00:55:41,074 --> 00:55:45,245 >> YOU HAVE -- YOU REALLY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 958 00:55:45,245 --> 00:55:47,981 CHAIR -- OTHER THAN IT WAS MOVED? 959 00:55:47,981 --> 00:55:50,517 >> HOW THAT CHAIR GETS FROM POINT 'A' TO POINT 'B' NO, I 960 00:55:50,517 --> 00:55:54,087 DON'T KNOW >> HE WOULD SAY ONE THING AND 961 00:55:54,087 --> 00:55:55,789 THEN ON CROSS-EXAMINATION I WOULD ASK HIM AND HE'D SAY, 962 00:55:55,789 --> 00:55:58,792 "WELL, I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED. 963 00:55:58,792 --> 00:56:01,394 >> YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MR. FISCHER PICKED UP MR. RADDER, 964 00:56:01,394 --> 00:56:05,098 CORRECT? >> YES, IT'S ASSUMPTION. 965 00:56:05,098 --> 00:56:09,336 THERE'S TOO MANY VARIABLES >> AFTER MY CROSS-EXAMINE AND 966 00:56:09,336 --> 00:56:12,472 REDIRECT OF THAT WITNESS, I THOUGHT WE WON THE TRIAL 967 00:56:12,472 --> 00:56:14,607 >> Reporter: STILL, THE CONFIDENT CATES WASN'T DONE 968 00:56:14,607 --> 00:56:17,777 MAKING HIS CASE. HE CALLED HIS OWN BLOOD SPATTER 969 00:56:17,777 --> 00:56:21,448 EXPERT TOO WHO LOOKED AT THE VERY SAME EVIDENCE AND SAID 970 00:56:21,448 --> 00:56:25,151 THERE WAS NO DOUBT IN HIS MIND THE STATE HAD IT WRONG 971 00:56:25,151 --> 00:56:28,288 >> THIS IS A SELF-INFLICTED GUNSHOT WOUND. 972 00:56:28,288 --> 00:56:30,423 >> Reporter: FINALLY, SAID DEFENSE ATTORNEY CATES, THE CASE 973 00:56:30,423 --> 00:56:34,094 CAME DOWN TO ONE CRUCIAL QUESTION 974 00:56:34,094 --> 00:56:37,063 WHOSE FINGER WAS ON THE TRIGGER OF THE GUN 975 00:56:37,063 --> 00:56:40,233 CATES PUT THE QUESTION TO THE STATE'S CRIME ANALYST. 976 00:56:40,233 --> 00:56:42,869 >> YOU AT LEAST SAID YOU COULDN'T EXCLUDE MR. RADDER 977 00:56:42,869 --> 00:56:46,573 CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. 978 00:56:46,573 --> 00:56:48,708 >> THAT'S BECAUSE THERE WERE PORTIONS OF THIS PRINT THAT 979 00:56:48,708 --> 00:56:52,879 MATCHED PORTIONS OF MR. RADDER'S PRINT? 980 00:56:52,879 --> 00:56:55,315 >> THERE WAS, YES. >> Reporter: AND THE PERSON 981 00:56:55,315 --> 00:56:59,519 WHOSE PRINTS DID NOT MATCH, WAS ROB FISCHER. 982 00:56:59,519 --> 00:57:01,321 >> HIS FINGERPRINTS WEREN'T ON THE GUN. 983 00:57:01,321 --> 00:57:03,890 HIS DNA WASN'T ON THE GUN, AND LEE'S WAS. 984 00:57:03,890 --> 00:57:06,659 THEY DIDN'T FIND ANY FINGERPRINTS THAT MATCHED ROB 985 00:57:06,659 --> 00:57:08,762 FISCHER ANYWHERE ON THE GUN. >> Reporter: WELL, WHAT DID THAT 986 00:57:08,762 --> 00:57:11,831 SAY TO YOU >> LEE WAS THE LAST ONE THAT 987 00:57:11,831 --> 00:57:17,871 HANDLED THE GUN. >> Reporter: BECAUSE, SAID DWAYE 988 00:57:17,871 --> 00:57:23,710 CATES, LEE RADDER SHOT HIMSELF UP TO JURORS TO DECIDE THAT. 989 00:57:23,710 --> 00:57:25,945 THEIR TURN NOW >>> COMING UP -- 990 00:57:25,945 --> 00:57:28,081 >> HAVE YOU REACHED A VERDICT? >> YES MA'AM 991 00:57:28,081 --> 00:57:31,251 >> THE NEWS THAT WOULD ROCK THIS TRAUMATIZED FAMILY, ALL OVER 992 00:57:31,251 --> 00:57:34,421 AGAIN. >> JOY CALLED ME -- MY ATTORNEY, 993 00:57:34,421 --> 00:57:53,573 AND SAID "ARE YOU SITTIN' DOWN?" >> Reporter: IT WAS DECEMBER 994 00:57:53,573 --> 00:57:57,243 2013 WHEN THE MURDER CASE AGAINST ROB FISCHER WENT TO THE 995 00:57:57,243 --> 00:58:01,014 JURY ROB SAID HE FELT AT PEACE THEN 996 00:58:01,014 --> 00:58:05,218 OR AT LEAST, AS MUCH AS A PERSON COULD BE, GIVEN -- 997 00:58:05,218 --> 00:58:08,488 ANYWAY, HE KNEW, HE SAID -- HE KNEW THAT HE DIDN'T DESERVE TO 998 00:58:08,488 --> 00:58:10,790 BE HAULED OFF TO THE SLAMMER >> I KNEW I SHOULD BE GOING 999 00:58:10,790 --> 00:58:14,027 HOME AND SO I WAS HOPEFUL THAT THE 1000 00:58:14,027 --> 00:58:17,130 JURY WOULD'VE SEEN IT THE SAME WAY. 1001 00:58:17,130 --> 00:58:20,166 >> Reporter: YOU HAD TO BE DOING SOME STRATEGIC THINKING TOO -- 1002 00:58:20,166 --> 00:58:21,368 IF THIS, IF THAT SO WHAT -- WHAT WAS IN YOUR 1003 00:58:21,368 --> 00:58:24,537 HEAD >> I DID FEEL VERY CONFIDENT 1004 00:58:24,537 --> 00:58:28,241 >> Reporter: NO SURPRISE THE PROSECUTOR READ THE TEA LEAVES 1005 00:58:28,241 --> 00:58:32,445 RATHER DIFFERENTLY >> I KNEW WHEN THE JURY WAS 1006 00:58:32,445 --> 00:58:35,615 GOING BACK WITH THIS CASE, THAT THEY HAD ENOUGH INFORMATION TO 1007 00:58:35,615 --> 00:58:38,351 COME TO THE RIGHT CONCLUSION AND THEY WERE GONNA REALIZE THAT 1008 00:58:38,351 --> 00:58:40,887 MURDER EXPLAINS ALL THE EVIDENCE 1009 00:58:40,887 --> 00:58:43,056 >> Reporter: PRACTICALLY EVERYBODY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE 1010 00:58:43,056 --> 00:58:45,725 OVER SOON, INCLUDING ROB'S ATTORNEY 1011 00:58:45,725 --> 00:58:50,196 >> I THOUGHT THEY'D BE BACK IN A COUPLE HOURS WITH A "NOT GUILTY" 1012 00:58:50,196 --> 00:58:52,298 VERDICT. >> Reporter: DIDNT HAPPEN. 1013 00:58:52,298 --> 00:58:56,503 tHE HOURS TICKED BY AS THE JURORS APPARENTLY WRESTLED WITH 1014 00:58:56,503 --> 00:59:00,206 SOMETHING. ONE DAY BECAME TWO DAYS. 1015 00:59:00,206 --> 00:59:02,308 TWO BECAME THREE >> Reporter: YEAH, YOU HAD TO BE 1016 00:59:02,308 --> 00:59:06,012 THINKIN', "WHAT -- WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT BACK THERE?" 1017 00:59:06,012 --> 00:59:10,250 >> EXACTLY >> Reporter: AS THE DEBATE WENT 1018 00:59:10,250 --> 00:59:12,352 ON IN THE JURY ROOM, OUTSIDE, LEE'S NEW YORK FAMILY WAS 1019 00:59:12,352 --> 00:59:15,021 DESPERATE FOR A GUILTY VERDICT, SO THE WORLD WOULD KNOW THEIR 1020 00:59:15,021 --> 00:59:19,726 LEE DIDN'T TAKE HIS OWN LIFE, DIDN'T DO WHAT THE DEFENSE SAID 1021 00:59:19,726 --> 00:59:22,896 HE DID >> I WANNA PUT MY HEAD DOWN ON 1022 00:59:22,896 --> 00:59:27,100 MY PILLOW AT NIGHT SAYING THAT WAS A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE THING 1023 00:59:27,100 --> 00:59:29,235 THAT HAPPENED, AND NO, MY BROTHER DID NOT COMMIT SUICIDE, 1024 00:59:29,235 --> 00:59:35,842 THAT HIS LIFE WAS TAKEN BY SOMEBODY ELSE. 1025 00:59:35,842 --> 00:59:39,212 AND THAT WILL GIVE ME CLOSURE. >> Reporter: AND THEN? 1026 00:59:39,212 --> 00:59:43,383 IT WAS DECEMBER 19th AND IT JUST HAPPENED TO BE ROB'S 53rd 1027 00:59:43,383 --> 00:59:47,954 BIRTHDAY WORD CAME THERE WAS A VERDICT. 1028 00:59:47,954 --> 00:59:53,226 ROB AND COMPANY HURRIED TO THE COURTHOUSE, HOPING FOR A 1029 00:59:53,226 --> 00:59:55,328 BIRTHDAY PRESENT FROM THE JURY >> PLEASE BE SEATED >> Reporter: 1030 00:59:55,328 --> 00:59:58,064 WHAT DID YOU SEE WHEN THEY WALKED IN? 1031 00:59:58,064 --> 01:00:00,633 >> THEY DIDN'T LOOK AT ME, WHICH AS A LAWYER I KNOW IS NOT A GOOD 1032 01:00:00,633 --> 01:00:03,370 SIGN >> HAVE YOU REACHED A VERDICT? 1033 01:00:03,370 --> 01:00:06,439 >> YES, MA'AM. "WE THE JURY FIND THE DEFENDANT 1034 01:00:06,439 --> 01:00:09,576 AS TO COUNT ONE SECOND DEGREE MURDER, GUILTY." 1035 01:00:09,576 --> 01:00:13,580 >> Reporter: GUILTY. ROB FISCHER STARED STRAIGHT 1036 01:00:13,580 --> 01:00:17,817 IN THE GALLERY, LEE'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS QUIETLY SOBBED 1037 01:00:17,817 --> 01:00:20,453 THEY HAD THEIR JUSTICE THE PROSECUTOR TOOK HIS VICTORY 1038 01:00:20,453 --> 01:00:22,022 IN STRIDE. >> Reporter: WERE YOU SURPRISED 1039 01:00:22,022 --> 01:00:25,158 AT ALL >> NO. 1040 01:00:25,158 --> 01:00:28,361 >> Reporter: A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND -- IN THE COURTROOM WERE. 1041 01:00:28,361 --> 01:00:30,463 >> DEPENDS ON WHAT SIDE OF THE ROOM -- WHAT -- WHAT SIDE OF THE 1042 01:00:30,463 --> 01:00:32,032 AISLE YOU WERE SITTIN' ON. >> Reporter: YEAH. 1043 01:00:32,032 --> 01:00:33,633 BUT YOU WERE NOT SURPRISED AT ALL? 1044 01:00:33,633 --> 01:00:36,369 >> I WASN'T SURPRISED FOR THE FACT THAT I THOUGHT WE DID AN 1045 01:00:36,369 --> 01:00:41,041 EXCELLENT JOB IN EDUCATING THE JURY ON THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE 1046 01:00:41,041 --> 01:00:46,813 IN THIS CASE, AND THAT THEY COULD ONLY COME TO ONE 1047 01:00:46,813 --> 01:00:49,349 CONCLUSION, AND THAT WAS MURDER. >> Reporter: THE CONSEQUENCES, 1048 01:00:49,349 --> 01:00:51,918 IN A SITUATION SUCH AS THIS, ARE IMMEDIATE. 1049 01:00:51,918 --> 01:00:57,157 ROB FISCHER WAS HANDCUFFED, AND LED THROUGH A DOOR THAT LED TO 1050 01:00:57,157 --> 01:00:58,725 THE COUNTY JAIL. >> I WANNA SAY IT'S A LITTLE 1051 01:00:58,725 --> 01:01:01,895 SURREAL. >> Reporter: AND THEN HE WAS 1052 01:01:01,895 --> 01:01:04,064 INSTALLED IN A TEMPORARY CELL WHILE HE AWAITED A SENTENCE OF 1053 01:01:04,064 --> 01:01:08,735 SOMETHING LIKE 25 YEARS IN PRISON 1054 01:01:08,735 --> 01:01:11,938 >> THE THOUGHT OF SPENDING THE NEXT -- IN ESSENCE THE REST OF 1055 01:01:11,938 --> 01:01:17,210 MY LIFE, IN CONFINEMENT, VERY DIFFICULT TO TRY TO PROCESS. 1056 01:01:17,210 --> 01:01:20,347 >> Reporter: BELINDA WASN'T IN COURT TO HEAR THE VERDICT. 1057 01:01:20,347 --> 01:01:25,118 BUT SHE CERTAINLY DID HEAR ABOUT IT, AND WAS SHOCKED. 1058 01:01:25,118 --> 01:01:29,856 >> I WAS AT THE GYM, AND JOY CALLED ME -- MY ATTORNEY -- AND 1059 01:01:29,856 --> 01:01:35,128 SAID "ARE YOU SITTIN' DOWN?" BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY 1060 01:01:35,128 --> 01:01:39,666 THAT KNEW INFORMATION, THEY REALLY THOUGHT THAT HE WAS GONNA 1061 01:01:39,666 --> 01:01:42,335 BE FOUND NOT GUILTY. >> Reporter: BUT SHE HERSELF, AS 1062 01:01:42,335 --> 01:01:46,539 SHE TOLD US IN A SEPARATE INTERVIEW, DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO 1063 01:01:46,539 --> 01:01:49,709 THINK, OR WHO TO BELIEVE >> I -- I DIDN'T -- I DON'T KNOW 1064 01:01:49,709 --> 01:01:53,380 -- I'M 100% HONEST, I -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WANTED 1065 01:01:53,380 --> 01:02:00,787 I REALLY DON'T I DON'T THINK THAT THERE WAS A 1066 01:02:00,787 --> 01:02:05,492 VERDICT EITHER WAY THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN WHAT I WANTED. 1067 01:02:05,492 --> 01:02:10,230 >> Reporter: CERTAINLY WASN'T WHAT DWAYNE CATES WANTED 1068 01:02:10,230 --> 01:02:12,899 HOW HAD HE SO MISREAD THAT JURY? >> I WAS PERPLEXED 1069 01:02:12,899 --> 01:02:15,635 I HAD NO IDEA HOW THEY COULD HAVE COME TO THAT CONCLUSION 1070 01:02:15,635 --> 01:02:19,239 GIVEN WHAT THE EVIDENCE IN THE CASE WAS 1071 01:02:19,239 --> 01:02:22,909 >> Reporter: BUT GIVE UP NO, THAT HE COULD NOT DO, SAID 1072 01:02:22,909 --> 01:02:25,445 ROB'S ATTORNEY STILL, ANY CHANCE THAT A NEW 1073 01:02:25,445 --> 01:02:30,617 CHAPTER WOULD BE ADDED TO THIS STORY WAS VERY REMOTE INDEED 1074 01:02:30,617 --> 01:02:36,923 UNLESS - WELL, WE SHALL SEE 1075 01:02:36,923 --> 01:02:39,759 >>> COMING UP -- DWAYNE CATES GETS A BOLD IDEA. 1076 01:02:39,759 --> 01:02:43,263 >> Reporter: THAT'S GOTTA BE SUCH A LONG SHOT 1077 01:02:43,263 --> 01:02:59,946 >> ABSOLUTE LONG >> Reporter: IT WAS CHRISTMAS 1078 01:02:59,946 --> 01:03:02,582 AGAIN IN LEE RADDER'S FAMILY A DIFFICULT SEASON EVER SINCE 1079 01:03:02,582 --> 01:03:08,355 WHAT HAPPENED DURING THAT CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY IN 2010. 1080 01:03:08,355 --> 01:03:10,457 BUT NOW ROB FISCHER WAS A CONVICTED MAN, AND THE NEW YORK 1081 01:03:10,457 --> 01:03:12,692 BRANCH FELT THE KIND OF CONSOLATION THAT COMES WITH THE 1082 01:03:12,692 --> 01:03:16,262 BELIEF THAT JUSTICE HAS BEEN DONE 1083 01:03:16,262 --> 01:03:19,432 DO YOU THINK ABOUT HIM A LOT >> ABOUT ROB FISHER? 1084 01:03:19,432 --> 01:03:23,069 NO I TRY NOT TO PUT HIM IN MY MIND 1085 01:03:23,069 --> 01:03:27,140 AT ALL BECAUSE I DON'T WANT -- I DON'T WANT HATE IN MY SYSTEM 1086 01:03:27,140 --> 01:03:30,343 >> Reporter: OUT WEST, BELINDA WAS A MESS OF CONTRADICTIONS 1087 01:03:30,343 --> 01:03:33,480 AND, OF COURSE, SHE HAD TO TELL HER DAUGHTERS. 1088 01:03:33,480 --> 01:03:36,149 THE ELDEST THEN 12, TOOK IT HARD 1089 01:03:36,149 --> 01:03:40,887 COULDN'T GRASP THAT HER PAPA HAD KILLED HER FATHER. 1090 01:03:40,887 --> 01:03:46,860 >> MY DAUGHTER FINALLY ASKED ME ABOUT THREE DAYS LATER IF THE 1091 01:03:46,860 --> 01:03:51,398 VERDICT HAD COME BACK, AND I SAID, "YES." 1092 01:03:51,398 --> 01:03:55,101 AND SHE JUST LOOKS AT ME, AND I JUST STARTED CRYING. 1093 01:03:55,101 --> 01:03:56,770 AND RIGHT THEN, SHE KNEW >> Reporter: THAT THAT WAS HER 1094 01:03:56,770 --> 01:03:58,905 PAPA >> UH-HUH. 1095 01:03:58,905 --> 01:04:03,043 SHE WANTS TO HAVE A CONNECTION WITH HIM, BUT YET SHE DOESN'T 1096 01:04:03,043 --> 01:04:05,045 WANNA TALK TO HIM. SO I THINK SH -- SHE STRUGGLES 1097 01:04:05,045 --> 01:04:11,351 WITH THAT, AND MAYBE FEELING LIKE SHE'S NOT BEING LOYAL TO 1098 01:04:11,351 --> 01:04:13,386 HER DAD IN SOME WAY. >> Reporter: BELINDA HAD BEEN 1099 01:04:13,386 --> 01:04:16,523 LEANING ON HER FATHER AND STEP-MOM FOR SUPPORT SINCE LEE 1100 01:04:16,523 --> 01:04:19,693 DIED HER FATHER, JERRY DUPRE, IS A 1101 01:04:19,693 --> 01:04:22,362 PSYCHOLOGIST HE LOVED HIS SON-IN-LAW, LEE, 1102 01:04:22,362 --> 01:04:26,566 VERY MUCH, HE TOLD US -- BUT HE WAS CONVINCED THE JURY GOT IT 1103 01:04:26,566 --> 01:04:30,270 WRONG. >> MY WIFE AND I ARE BOTH 1104 01:04:30,270 --> 01:04:32,372 30-YEAR CLINICIANS, OKAY WE KNEW THAT LEE COMMITTED 1105 01:04:32,372 --> 01:04:34,474 SUICIDE, AND WE -- FROM THE GET-GO 1106 01:04:34,474 --> 01:04:36,543 >> Reporter: REALLY? >> YES 1107 01:04:36,543 --> 01:04:39,212 >> Reporter: WHAT MADE YOU THINK SO 1108 01:04:39,212 --> 01:04:42,382 >> LEE WAS A SALESMAN, AND THERE'S A LOT OF FALSE BRAVADO 1109 01:04:42,382 --> 01:04:44,984 TO THAT PROCESS. A GOOD MAN, HE CARED ABOUT 1110 01:04:44,984 --> 01:04:47,987 BELINDA, HE CARED ABOUT HIS CHILDREN, BUT A LOT OF FALSE 1111 01:04:47,987 --> 01:04:51,658 PRIDE. WHEN THAT COLLAPSES, THERE'S 1112 01:04:51,658 --> 01:04:53,793 NOWHERE FOR IT TO GO >> Reporter: WHICH IS EXACTLY 1113 01:04:53,793 --> 01:04:57,464 WHAT DEFENSE ATTORNEY DWANE CATES HAD ARGUED ALL ALONG 1114 01:04:57,464 --> 01:05:01,167 AN ARGUMENT THAT CLEARLY FAILED TO PERSUADE THE JURY, BUT DWANE 1115 01:05:01,167 --> 01:05:04,871 CATES WASN'T READY TO SAY UNCLE. NOT HIM. 1116 01:05:04,871 --> 01:05:08,041 SO WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT? IF YOU BELIEVE A JURY HAS 1117 01:05:08,041 --> 01:05:10,176 REACHED REALLY THE INCORRECT CONCLUSION, AND IT'S AN 1118 01:05:10,176 --> 01:05:12,912 INJUSTICE, WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT 1119 01:05:12,912 --> 01:05:18,685 >> WELL, THE FIRST THING I DO IS FILE A MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL. 1120 01:05:18,685 --> 01:05:20,720 >> Reporter: SO AS ROB FISCHER ENDURED CLAUSTROPHIA, AND FOUGHT 1121 01:05:20,720 --> 01:05:22,756 DESPAIR, IN HIS TEMPORARY CELL OVER AT THE MARICOPA COUNTY 1122 01:05:22,756 --> 01:05:25,925 JAIL, CATES WENT TO WORK TO TRY TO GET THE GUILTY VERDICT 1123 01:05:25,925 --> 01:05:29,529 TOSSED HE HAD TO FILE HIS MOTION TEN 1124 01:05:29,529 --> 01:05:32,699 DAYS AFTER THE TRIAL ENDED HE WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK AND 1125 01:05:32,699 --> 01:05:34,267 STRAIGHT THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS. >> YOU KNOW THIS WAS MY 1126 01:05:34,267 --> 01:05:36,936 CHRISTMAS VACATION OKAY 1127 01:05:36,936 --> 01:05:38,505 WAS WRITING THIS MOTION. >> Reporter: CATES BASED THE 1128 01:05:38,505 --> 01:05:42,175 MOTION FOR A NEW TRIAL ON TWO CENTRAL COMPLAINTS 1129 01:05:42,175 --> 01:05:46,913 NUMBER ONE, AN ALLEGATION OF PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT, 1130 01:05:46,913 --> 01:05:49,082 ACCUSING THE OTHER SIDE OF USING UNFAIR LANGUAGE DURING THE 1131 01:05:49,082 --> 01:05:52,852 TRIAL, AND UNFAIR TACTICS EVEN BEFORE IT STARTED. 1132 01:05:52,852 --> 01:05:55,388 >> THEY PLAYED HARD WITH THE DISCOVERY. 1133 01:05:55,388 --> 01:05:58,324 GETTING US DISCOVERY GETTING US NOTES AFTER I DO THE 1134 01:05:58,324 --> 01:06:00,026 INTERVIEW INSTEAD OF BEFORE THE INTERVIEW. 1135 01:06:00,026 --> 01:06:01,561 >> Reporter: THEY COULD HAVE BEEN MORE FORTHCOMING. 1136 01:06:01,561 --> 01:06:03,096 IS THAT WHAT -- >> YEAH, I -- 1137 01:06:03,096 --> 01:06:04,264 >> Reporter: YOU'RE SAYING >> YOU KNOW, THE PRACTICE OF LAW 1138 01:06:04,264 --> 01:06:07,334 DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AS HARD AS IT WAS IN THIS CASE 1139 01:06:07,334 --> 01:06:09,035 >> Reporter: SO THERE WAS THAT A COMMON COMPLAINT THOUGH WHICH, 1140 01:06:09,035 --> 01:06:12,639 FRANKLY, DOESN'T OFTEN GO ANYWHERE 1141 01:06:12,639 --> 01:06:16,309 BUT, SOMETHING ELSE, TOO CATES ARGUED THAT THE JURY'S 1142 01:06:16,309 --> 01:06:18,945 VERDICT WAS CONTRARY TO WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE, WHICH IS A 1143 01:06:18,945 --> 01:06:24,351 PRETTY BIG DEAL, AND ALSO A PRETTY BIG STRETCH 1144 01:06:24,351 --> 01:06:26,453 >> THE JUDGE CAN REWEIGH THE EVIDENCE, BECAUSE THE JUDGE WAS 1145 01:06:26,453 --> 01:06:29,055 THERE. THE JUDGE GOT TO SEE ALL THE 1146 01:06:29,055 --> 01:06:32,058 TESTIMONY. GOT TO HEAR ALL THE WITNESSES. 1147 01:06:32,058 --> 01:06:34,694 GOT TO -- GOT TO SEE EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN THE COURTROOM 1148 01:06:34,694 --> 01:06:37,263 >> Reporter: THAT'S GOTTA BE SUCH A LONG SHOT, THOUGH, 1149 01:06:37,263 --> 01:06:39,766 BECAUSE JUDGES LOOK AT JURY VERDICTS ALL THE TIME AND THEY 1150 01:06:39,766 --> 01:06:41,501 SAY, "WELL, THE JURY -- YOU KNOW, THEY LOOKED AT THE SAME 1151 01:06:41,501 --> 01:06:43,570 EVIDENCE, THEY MADE THEIR DECISION AND THAT'S THE WAY THE 1152 01:06:43,570 --> 01:06:46,806 LAW WORKS. >> ABSOLUTE LONG SHOT. 1153 01:06:46,806 --> 01:06:49,409 >> Reporter: CATES PUT IT INTO HIS MOTION ALMOST AS AN 1154 01:06:49,409 --> 01:06:51,511 AFTERTHOUGHT REALLY HOPING AGAINST HOPE THAT THE JUDGE 1155 01:06:51,511 --> 01:06:53,646 WOULD SEE WHAT THE JURY APPARENTLY DID NOT, THAT THE 1156 01:06:53,646 --> 01:06:57,417 STATE'S BLOOD EXPERT'S TESTIMONY DIDN'T ADD UP. 1157 01:06:57,417 --> 01:07:01,021 DWANE CATES HAD BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE A WHILE, SO HE KNEW HE WAS 1158 01:07:01,021 --> 01:07:03,156 TILTING AT WINDMILLS APPEALS OF THAT SORT ALMOST 1159 01:07:03,156 --> 01:07:06,192 NEVER SUCCEED. ALMOST NEVER 1160 01:07:06,192 --> 01:07:10,296 >> ABSOLUTELY. IT WAS A HAIL MARY PASS. 1161 01:07:10,296 --> 01:07:12,932 BUT I FELT CONFIDENT IN IT >> Reporter: THE PROSECUTOR 1162 01:07:12,932 --> 01:07:15,068 SUBMITTED HIS OWN BRIEF TOO, DENYING ANY MISCONDUCT AND 1163 01:07:15,068 --> 01:07:18,238 STANDING BY THE EVIDENCE AND HIS CASE 1164 01:07:18,238 --> 01:07:19,806 THEN SO THEN WHAT, YOU SIT BACK AND 1165 01:07:19,806 --> 01:07:21,908 WAIT >> ABSOLUTELY. 1166 01:07:21,908 --> 01:07:24,577 >> Reporter: HOW WAS ROB DOING IN THE MEANTIME? 1167 01:07:24,577 --> 01:07:28,281 >> ROB WAS IN JAIL, SO I DON'T THINK ROB WAS DOING VERY WELL. 1168 01:07:28,281 --> 01:07:31,051 >> Reporter: IN HIS CELL, ROB FISCHER, LAWYER THAT HE IS, 1169 01:07:31,051 --> 01:07:34,154 FIGURED OUT THE TIMING OF THE THING. 1170 01:07:34,154 --> 01:07:36,723 FIRST THE JUDGE WOULD HEAR THE ARGUMENTS, THEN SPEND SOME TIME 1171 01:07:36,723 --> 01:07:39,059 WORKING ON HER RULING. SO THAT FIRST WEEK, HE DIDN'T 1172 01:07:39,059 --> 01:07:41,895 EVEN THINK ABOUT IT. SAME THE SECOND WEEK 1173 01:07:41,895 --> 01:07:43,930 IT WAS THEN ROB STARTED TO WORRY. 1174 01:07:43,930 --> 01:07:46,066 CATES WOULD VISIT HIM PERIODICALLY 1175 01:07:46,066 --> 01:07:48,134 DID YOU GET A CHANCE TO TALK TO HIM MUCH 1176 01:07:48,134 --> 01:07:51,838 >> I DID AND -- AND IT WAS HARD 1177 01:07:51,838 --> 01:07:53,973 I HATED TO GO SEE HIM IN JAIL. >> Reporter: WHAT HAD HAPPENED 1178 01:07:53,973 --> 01:07:57,143 TO THIS MAN'S LIFE SAME BUSINESS AS YOU 1179 01:07:57,143 --> 01:07:59,779 SUCCESSFUL ATTORNEY IN A DIFFERENT TYPE OF LAW, BUT JUST 1180 01:07:59,779 --> 01:08:01,881 THE SAME WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO THAT LIFE 1181 01:08:01,881 --> 01:08:04,617 OF HIS >> IT WAS GONE 1182 01:08:04,617 --> 01:08:06,653 IMAGINE, KEITH, SOMEBODY THAT -- SOMEBODY -- THE POLICE WALK IN 1183 01:08:06,653 --> 01:08:09,289 THE DOOR RIGHT NOW THEY PUT YOU IN HANDCUFFS AND 1184 01:08:09,289 --> 01:08:12,359 THEY LOCK YOU UP AND -- AND YOU LOSE EVERYTHING 1185 01:08:12,359 --> 01:08:14,894 YOU LOSE YOUR HOUSE, YOU LOSE YOUR BUSINESS, LOSE YOUR CAREER. 1186 01:08:14,894 --> 01:08:19,933 IT'S ALL GONE. BOOM 1187 01:08:19,933 --> 01:08:22,836 IN AN INSTANT, IT'S ALL GONE >> Reporter: BUT OF COURSE, IN 1188 01:08:22,836 --> 01:08:26,706 JUST ONE INSTANT, LEE RADDER'S LIFE WAS GONE, FOREVER 1189 01:08:26,706 --> 01:08:31,111 WHAT PRISON TERM WOULD ATONE FOR THAT 1190 01:08:31,111 --> 01:08:32,879 THAT WAS ALSO UP TO THE JUDGE. BUT FROM HER, AS THE DATE FOR 1191 01:08:32,879 --> 01:08:39,052 SENTENCING APPROACHED, THERE WAS NOT A WORD 1192 01:08:39,052 --> 01:08:41,821 >>> COMING UP -- STUNNING NEWS JOLTS EVERYONE IN 1193 01:08:41,821 --> 01:08:44,057 THE CASE >> IT WAS LIKE A SHOT TO THE 1194 01:08:44,057 --> 01:08:47,460 HEART. HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE? 1195 01:08:47,460 --> 01:09:03,410 >> DOES THAT HAPPEN? HAD NEVER EVEN HEARD OF THAT 1196 01:09:03,410 --> 01:09:08,181 >> Reporter: AS 2014 BEGAN, ROB FISCHER WAS WAITING -- WAITING 1197 01:09:08,181 --> 01:09:11,751 FOR THE JUDGE'S RULING ON THE MOTION FOR A NEW TRIAL, ALL THE 1198 01:09:11,751 --> 01:09:16,022 WHILE SITTING IN AN ISOLATION CELL IN THE MARICOPA COUNTY 1199 01:09:16,022 --> 01:09:18,191 JAIL YOU'RE AN EX-COP, WHICH ADDS TO 1200 01:09:18,191 --> 01:09:21,294 IT >> RIGHT 1201 01:09:21,294 --> 01:09:23,396 >> Reporter: HOW DID THAT COMPLICATE YOUR LIFE 1202 01:09:23,396 --> 01:09:27,600 >> THEY PUT ME IN PROTECTIVE CUSTODY, LOCKED DOWN FOR 23 1203 01:09:27,600 --> 01:09:30,236 HOURS A DAY. >> Reporter: ONE DAY AT A TIME, 1204 01:09:30,236 --> 01:09:34,541 THROUGH ALL OF JANUARY, THEN FEBRUARY 1205 01:09:34,541 --> 01:09:37,711 AND THEN, IT WAS THE 28th. ROB WAS DUE IN COURT IN A WEEK 1206 01:09:37,711 --> 01:09:40,880 FOR HIS SENTENCING HEARING AND THAT'S WHEN DWAYNE CATES 1207 01:09:40,880 --> 01:09:44,384 CAME TO CALL >> I ASKED HIM, YOU KNOW, "SO 1208 01:09:44,384 --> 01:09:47,053 DID WE HEAR ANYTHING?" HE GOES, "WELL, BEFORE WE TALK 1209 01:09:47,053 --> 01:09:50,256 ABOUT THAT, LET'S TALK ABOUT NEXT FRIDAY'S HEARING. 1210 01:09:50,256 --> 01:09:52,759 >> I TOLD HIM THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT HE'S GOTTA GET READY. 1211 01:09:52,759 --> 01:09:54,861 >> AND THEN HE LOOKS AT ME WITH A BIG GRIN AND SAYS, "IT'S NOT A 1212 01:09:54,861 --> 01:09:56,963 SENTENCING HEARING, IT'S A BOND HEARING -- 1213 01:09:56,963 --> 01:09:59,599 >> "-- BECAUSE YOU'RE GETTIN OUT OF JAIL. 1214 01:09:59,599 --> 01:10:03,269 >> Reporter: IT WAS STUNNING OVERWHELMING 1215 01:10:03,269 --> 01:10:07,507 >> I WAS ECSTATIC, I WAS ELATED, I WAS THRILLED. 1216 01:10:07,507 --> 01:10:10,143 >> Reporter: AND DWAYNE CATES FELT LIKE HE'D JUST WON THE 1217 01:10:10,143 --> 01:10:12,912 LOTTERY. >> IT VERY RARELY HAPPENS THAT A 1218 01:10:12,912 --> 01:10:16,049 JUDGE WILL STEP IN AND ON THE WEIGH -- 1219 01:10:16,049 --> 01:10:18,618 AND REWEIGH THE EVIDENCE AND SAY THE JURY JUST PLAIN GOT IT 1220 01:10:18,618 --> 01:10:20,653 WRONG. >> Reporter: REMEMBER, CATES 1221 01:10:20,653 --> 01:10:22,756 MADE TWO ARGUMENTS FOR A NEW TRIAL. 1222 01:10:22,756 --> 01:10:27,427 THE FIRST, AN ALLEGATION OF PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT, WAS 1223 01:10:27,427 --> 01:10:31,164 REJECTED BY THE JUDGE. HIS SECOND ARGUMENT, THE TOTAL 1224 01:10:31,164 --> 01:10:34,300 LONG SHOT, WAS THAT ROB'S CONVICTION WASN'T SUPPORTED BY 1225 01:10:34,300 --> 01:10:38,004 THE EVIDENCE AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW 1226 01:10:38,004 --> 01:10:40,640 THE LONG SHOT -- THE HAIL MARY -- SUCCEEDED 1227 01:10:40,640 --> 01:10:43,810 AND CAUSED THE JUDGE TO THROW OUT THE VERDICT. 1228 01:10:43,810 --> 01:10:45,912 I'M GONNA READ A LITTLE BIT OF IT HERE. 1229 01:10:45,912 --> 01:10:48,515 "THE DETECTIVES' OPINION THAT THE DEFENDANT STAGED THE SCENE 1230 01:10:48,515 --> 01:10:50,250 BY MANIPULATING LEE'S BODY IS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE PHYSICAL 1231 01:10:50,250 --> 01:10:53,420 EVIDENCE, LACKS CREDIBILITY AND IS SHEER SPECULATION 1232 01:10:53,420 --> 01:10:55,855 THE DNA AND FINGERPRINT EVIDENCE ARE COMPLETELY INCONSISTENT WITH 1233 01:10:55,855 --> 01:10:59,025 THE VERDICT. "SHEER SPECULATION." 1234 01:10:59,025 --> 01:11:00,593 HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THAT FROM A JUDGE BEFORE 1235 01:11:00,593 --> 01:11:02,095 >> YES, BUT -- >> BUT - 1236 01:11:02,095 --> 01:11:03,263 [ LAUGHTER ] >> -- IT'S NICE TO HEAR IT WHEN 1237 01:11:03,263 --> 01:11:05,298 IT'S, YOU KNOW, ON THE OTHER SIDE 1238 01:11:05,298 --> 01:11:08,435 I MEAN -- AND IT WAS SHEER SPECULATION. 1239 01:11:08,435 --> 01:11:11,071 >> Reporter: THE JUDGE WAS PARTICULARLY SCATHING ABOUT THE 1240 01:11:11,071 --> 01:11:13,740 STATE'S BLOOD EXPERT SHE SAID HE WAS GUILTY OF A 1241 01:11:13,740 --> 01:11:16,910 "FATAL FLAW" WHEN HE TRIED TO DECIPHER THOSE BLOODY 1242 01:11:16,910 --> 01:11:22,282 FOOTPRINTS, BECAUSE HE WRONGLY INTERPRETED THE PRINTS AS FACING 1243 01:11:22,282 --> 01:11:24,918 THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND THE JUDGE SAID, ALL BUT 1244 01:11:24,918 --> 01:11:28,088 WAGGING HER FINGER, THAT HE BACKTRACKED AND REPEATEDLY 1245 01:11:28,088 --> 01:11:31,124 PROVIDED INCONSISTENT TESTIMONY ON THE STAND 1246 01:11:31,124 --> 01:11:34,260 >> THAT WAS THEIR KEY WITNESS. I MEAN THAT WAS THE KEY TO THEIR 1247 01:11:34,260 --> 01:11:38,398 CASE AND -- AND HE WAS NOT CREDIBLE 1248 01:11:38,398 --> 01:11:41,568 >> Reporter: AND SO, ONE CHILLY NIGHT IN MARCH 2014, ROB FISCHER 1249 01:11:41,568 --> 01:11:44,738 WALKED OUT OF THE COUNTY JAIL AND INTO THE ARMS OF HIS LAWYER, 1250 01:11:44,738 --> 01:11:50,010 THE GUY WHO TOOK A CHANCE ON THE LONG SHOT. 1251 01:11:50,010 --> 01:11:54,781 >> ITS BEEN A LONG, LONG ROAD. ROB'S OUT, HE'S TIRED. 1252 01:11:54,781 --> 01:11:59,552 >> Reporter: BUT IF ROB WAS RELIEVED AND HAPPY, LEE'S FAMILY 1253 01:11:59,552 --> 01:12:01,588 WAS NOT. THEY'D BEEN MAKING PLANS TO FLY 1254 01:12:01,588 --> 01:12:05,892 TO ARIZONA FOR THE SENTENCING WHEN THEY GOT THE CALL 1255 01:12:05,892 --> 01:12:10,096 >> AND THE PROSECUTOR SAID, "DON'T GET ON THE PLANE. 1256 01:12:10,096 --> 01:12:14,300 DON'T COME." AND IT WAS LIKE A SHOT TO THE 1257 01:12:14,300 --> 01:12:17,904 HEART, BECAUSE HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE THAT A JUDGE CAN STEP 1258 01:12:17,904 --> 01:12:22,108 IN AS A 13th JUROR AND OVERTURN A VERDICT TRACK? 1259 01:12:22,108 --> 01:12:24,411 >> Reporter: BELINDA COULDN'T WRAP HER HEAD AROUND THE JUDGE'S 1260 01:12:24,411 --> 01:12:26,680 RULING EITHER. >> I -- I'M LIKE, "REALLY? 1261 01:12:26,680 --> 01:12:30,350 THIS -- I MEAN -- DOES THAT HAPPEN?" 1262 01:12:30,350 --> 01:12:32,919 I HAD NEVER EVEN HEARD OF THAT >> Reporter: SO NOW BELINDA HAD 1263 01:12:32,919 --> 01:12:35,622 TO ACCEPT THE SECOND OF THOSE TWO BAD OPTIONS. 1264 01:12:35,622 --> 01:12:38,792 THAT HER HUSBAND TOOK HIS OWN LIFE 1265 01:12:38,792 --> 01:12:41,461 >> I GOT A TEXT FROM MY DAD AFTER HE READ IT 1266 01:12:41,461 --> 01:12:49,903 AND HE JUST SAID, "THERE'S NO DOUBT. 1267 01:12:49,903 --> 01:12:53,707 ROB DIDN'T DO THIS." THAT LEE COMMITTED SUICIDE 1268 01:12:53,707 --> 01:13:05,285 I GUESS THERE'S JUST, UGH, NO DENYING IT NOW 1269 01:13:05,285 --> 01:13:08,355 >> Reporter: WELL, I GET IT NOW. IT'S LIKE YOU'VE -- YOU'VE BEEN 1270 01:13:08,355 --> 01:13:11,424 THROUGH -- A ROLLER COASTER OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF GRIEF, RIGHT? 1271 01:13:11,424 --> 01:13:16,563 >> YEAH. >> Reporter: AND WITH THAT KIND 1272 01:13:16,563 --> 01:13:19,766 OF GRIEF CAME GUILT. >> WHY DIDN'T I DO ANYTHING TO 1273 01:13:19,766 --> 01:13:23,470 STOP IT? WHAT IF I HAD ONLY SAID THIS, OR 1274 01:13:23,470 --> 01:13:29,242 IF I HAD ONLY DONE SOMETHING TO MAKE THAT DIFFERENT, FOR HIM TO 1275 01:13:29,242 --> 01:13:35,081 STILL BE HERE, FOR HIM TO KNOW HOW IMPORTANT AND THAT THE MONEY 1276 01:13:35,081 --> 01:13:40,086 DIDN'T MATTER? SO OF COURSE THE -- THE GOOD OLD 1277 01:13:40,086 --> 01:13:46,092 "WHAT IF" GAME IF ONLY I'D -- 1278 01:13:46,092 --> 01:13:49,262 >> Reporter: YEAH, SURE. >> -- TOOK IT MORE SERIOUSLY, 1279 01:13:49,262 --> 01:13:52,665 YOU KNOW, REALLY LISTENED TO WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO SAY TO ME, 1280 01:13:52,665 --> 01:14:03,543 TO MAYBE HAVE BEEN A BETTER WIFE 1281 01:14:03,543 --> 01:14:08,815 >> Reporter: ROB WENT BACK TO CALIFORNIA TRYING, FROM SCRATCH, 1282 01:14:08,815 --> 01:14:11,084 TO PUT HIS LIFE BACK TOGETHER. >> THE STATE OF ARIZONA'S TAKEN 1283 01:14:11,084 --> 01:14:13,953 TWO YEARS OUT OF MY LIFE AND I REFUSE TO LET THEM TAKE ANY MORE 1284 01:14:13,953 --> 01:14:19,592 TIME SO WE ARE GOING FORWARD IN OUR 1285 01:14:19,592 --> 01:14:22,295 LIFE, AS ALL THIS IS BEHIND US >> Reporter: BUT PROSECUTOR JAY 1286 01:14:22,295 --> 01:14:28,101 RADEMACHER, WELL, HE HAD DIFFERENT PLANS FOR ROB FISCHER. 1287 01:14:28,101 --> 01:14:33,373 SO, END OF THE STORY OH NO. 1288 01:14:33,373 --> 01:14:37,077 NOT AT ALL >>> COMING UP -- 1289 01:14:37,077 --> 01:14:39,746 FOR ROB, A DEVASTATING TURN OF EVENTS 1290 01:14:39,746 --> 01:14:43,083 >> JAY CALLED ME DIRECTLY AND SAID THAT "WE GOT ANOTHER GRAND 1291 01:14:43,083 --> 01:14:46,086 JURY AND WE'RE GOING TO ARREST HIM AGAIN. 1292 01:14:46,086 --> 01:14:53,093 >> I JUST BROKE DOWN, AND STARTED CRYING, JUST IN 1293 01:14:53,093 --> 01:14:53,259 STARTED CRYING, JUST IN DISBELIEF. 1294 01:15:11,444 --> 01:15:13,847 CONVICTION WAS THROWN OUT, ROB FISCHER TRIED TO GET HIS OLD 1295 01:15:13,847 --> 01:15:17,550 LIFE BACK. WHICH MEANT STARTING, FROM 1296 01:15:17,550 --> 01:15:21,221 SCRATCH, THE FAMILY LAW PRACTICE THAT IMPLODED AND DIED WHEN HE 1297 01:15:21,221 --> 01:15:23,790 WAS CHARGED. >> WE'VE LOST OUR HOME. 1298 01:15:23,790 --> 01:15:29,062 WE ARE LIVING, YOU KNOW, AT THE GOOD GRACES OF CLOSE FRIENDS 1299 01:15:29,062 --> 01:15:33,800 I JOKE WITH MY WIFE THAT IT'S LIKE WE'RE 17 AGAIN AND WE'RE 1300 01:15:33,800 --> 01:15:36,936 STARTIN' OVER. >> Reporter: LEE'S NEW YORK 1301 01:15:36,936 --> 01:15:40,640 FAMILY WAS STUCK IN PLACE, FELT LIKE JUSTICE HAD BEEN STRIPPED 1302 01:15:40,640 --> 01:15:43,810 AWAY >> IT WAS HORRIBLE. 1303 01:15:43,810 --> 01:15:47,580 IT WAS HORRIBLE. >> Reporter: THE PROSECUTOR TOLD 1304 01:15:47,580 --> 01:15:49,716 THEM BE PATIENT -- AND HE FILED AN APPEAL TO GET THE CONVICTION 1305 01:15:49,716 --> 01:15:53,920 REINSTATED, CLAIMING THE JUDGE HAD ABUSED HER DISCRETION. 1306 01:15:53,920 --> 01:15:56,990 >> IT'S LIKE KICK -- KICKING THE HOPEFUL CAN DOWN THE ROAD. 1307 01:15:56,990 --> 01:16:02,662 YOU KNOW, JUST PRAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE GET A RESOLUTION. 1308 01:16:02,662 --> 01:16:06,166 >> Reporter: AND BELINDA TOLD US RECENTLY, SHE JUST INCHED ALONG, 1309 01:16:06,166 --> 01:16:09,536 NO CHOICE REALLY AS A SINGLE MOM. 1310 01:16:09,536 --> 01:16:12,605 >> PRETTY HORRIBLE MOST OF THE TIME. 1311 01:16:12,605 --> 01:16:17,844 TRYING TO NAVIGATE THINGS FOR THE GIRLS. 1312 01:16:17,844 --> 01:16:20,480 >> Reporter: FULL OF UNCERTAINTIES. 1313 01:16:20,480 --> 01:16:24,184 >> FULL OF UNCERTAINTIES, AND FULL OF QUESTIONS. 1314 01:16:24,184 --> 01:16:28,388 >> Reporter: BUT SHE DID NOT ASK ROB THOSE QUESTIONS. 1315 01:16:28,388 --> 01:16:30,490 NEVER TALKED ABOUT, WHAT HAPPENED 1316 01:16:30,490 --> 01:16:34,894 >> Reporter: WERE YOU AFRAID TO DO THAT? 1317 01:16:34,894 --> 01:16:40,633 >> I THINK I WAS ANXIOUS, NERVOUS, EMOTIONAL 1318 01:16:40,633 --> 01:16:43,269 >> Reporter: AND HERE'S THE SAD TRUTH REALLY 1319 01:16:43,269 --> 01:16:47,340 BELINDA AND ROB HAD BONDED OVER THE SHARED GRIEF OF LOSING HER 1320 01:16:47,340 --> 01:16:52,078 MOTHER, HIS LATE WIFE, TO CANCER, BUT LEE'S DEATH DID THE 1321 01:16:52,078 --> 01:16:54,180 OPPOSITE what happened TO THE 1322 01:16:54,180 --> 01:16:58,318 RELATIONSHIP WITH ROB, YOUR RELATIONSHIP 1323 01:16:58,318 --> 01:17:02,022 >> IT WAS DIFFICULT THE LOSSES ON SO MANY LEVELS, IT 1324 01:17:02,022 --> 01:17:09,863 DRASTICALLY CHANGED OUR RELATIONSHIP IN A LOTTA WAYS 1325 01:17:09,863 --> 01:17:13,066 >> Reporter: WAS WHEN THE PROSECUTION'S APPEAL FINALLY 1326 01:17:13,066 --> 01:17:16,736 MADE ITS WAY TO THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT, WHICH AGREED WITH 1327 01:17:16,736 --> 01:17:19,906 THE TRIAL COURT JUDGE THE JUSTICES WROTE "THERE WAS, 1328 01:17:19,906 --> 01:17:24,210 QUITE SIMPLY, NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE THAT THE DEFENDANT 1329 01:17:24,210 --> 01:17:27,947 FIRED THE GUN THAT KILLED LEE. A LOSS FOR THE PROSECUTOR JAY 1330 01:17:27,947 --> 01:17:33,653 RADEMACHER AND LEE'S FAMILY. SO CASE FINALLY CLOSED? 1331 01:17:33,653 --> 01:17:36,923 NO >> I THINK JAY CALLED ME 1332 01:17:36,923 --> 01:17:40,860 DIRECTLY AND SAID THAT, "WE GOT ANOTHER GRAND JURY AND WE'RE 1333 01:17:40,860 --> 01:17:42,962 GOING TO ARREST HIM AGAIN. >> Reporter: WAIT. 1334 01:17:42,962 --> 01:17:45,065 RE ARREST ROB? THAT'S RIGHT. 1335 01:17:45,065 --> 01:17:47,634 DESPITE A JUDGE AND THE HIGHEST COURT SAYING THEY DIDN'T HAVE 1336 01:17:47,634 --> 01:17:50,770 THE EVIDENCE, THE STATE WAS FREE TO TRY HIM AGAIN 1337 01:17:50,770 --> 01:17:54,474 AND THAT'S JUST WHAT THE PROSECUTOR PLANNED TO DO 1338 01:17:54,474 --> 01:17:58,311 >> SO BASICALLY, WE'RE BACK AT SQUARE ONE 1339 01:17:58,311 --> 01:18:00,280 >> Reporter: IN FEBRUARY OF 2019, ROB FISCHER WAS AGAIN 1340 01:18:00,280 --> 01:18:05,018 CHARGED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER. 1341 01:18:05,018 --> 01:18:08,388 HE WAS RELEASED ON BAIL AND RETURNED TO CALIFORNIA AS HE 1342 01:18:08,388 --> 01:18:09,456 AWAITED TRIAL. >> WELL, WE WERE EXCITED, I 1343 01:18:09,456 --> 01:18:12,025 THINK, WHEN WE GOT THE FIRST TRIAL DATE 1344 01:18:12,025 --> 01:18:15,762 THEY LED US TO BELIEVE THAT THEY HAD A STRONG CASE GOING FORWARD, 1345 01:18:15,762 --> 01:18:21,301 STRONGER THAN THE FIRST TIME >> Reporter: BUT DID THEY? 1346 01:18:21,301 --> 01:18:25,038 A YEAR PASSED. AND THEN IT WAS 2020 1347 01:18:25,038 --> 01:18:28,575 AND COVID CLOSED DOWN COURTHOUSES, THAT YEAR, AND THE 1348 01:18:28,575 --> 01:18:31,745 NEXT YEAR. LEE'S MOM HAD SUFFERED A 1349 01:18:31,745 --> 01:18:36,049 DEBILITATING STROKE, BUT, SAID HER FAMILY, HOPE OF SEEING A 1350 01:18:36,049 --> 01:18:40,186 CONVICTION KEPT HER ALIVE. BY THE FALL OF 2021, IT HAD BEEN 1351 01:18:40,186 --> 01:18:42,822 MORE THAN A DECADE SINCE LEE WAS KILLED, AND THAT'S WHEN LEE'S 1352 01:18:42,822 --> 01:18:48,094 SISTER GOT THIS UPDATE FROM THE FAMILY'S VICTIM ADVOCATE 1353 01:18:48,094 --> 01:18:51,398 >> AND SHE'S LIKE, "I HAVE SOME BAD NEWS." 1354 01:18:51,398 --> 01:18:54,534 AND, YOU KNOW, THE WORST NEWS THAT YOU COULD EVER POSSIBLY 1355 01:18:54,534 --> 01:18:59,305 IMAGINE HER TO SAY WOULD BE, "THEY'RE DROPPING THE CASE," AND 1356 01:18:59,305 --> 01:19:02,142 THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID >> Reporter: THE STATE OF 1357 01:19:02,142 --> 01:19:04,878 ARIZONA HAD DISMISSED THE CASE AGAINST ROBERT FISCHER 1358 01:19:04,878 --> 01:19:09,616 THE COURT PAPERS SIMPLY SAID IT WAS "IN THE INTEREST OF 1359 01:19:09,616 --> 01:19:13,319 JUSTICE. >> IT'S DISBELIEF, THEN IT'S 1360 01:19:13,319 --> 01:19:14,788 SHOCK THEN ITS ANGER AND LIKE, I'M SHAKING JUST 1361 01:19:14,788 --> 01:19:21,094 THINKING ABOUT -- JUST THINKING ABOUT IT. 1362 01:19:21,094 --> 01:19:26,900 WHAT SHE TOLD US WAS THAT IT WASN'T JAY'S DECISION THAT THE 1363 01:19:26,900 --> 01:19:33,773 DECISION CAME FROM ABOVE HIM, FROM HIS SUPERIORS, FROM A 1364 01:19:33,773 --> 01:19:36,943 COMMITTEE OF HIGHER UPS LISA HAD ONE PHONE CALL WITH THE 1365 01:19:36,943 --> 01:19:40,613 PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IN WHICH, SHE SAID, THEY MENTIONED CONCERN 1366 01:19:40,613 --> 01:19:44,384 ABOUT THE BLOOD EVIDENCE >> SO THEY DID SAY THAT THERE 1367 01:19:44,384 --> 01:19:47,587 WAS A STAIN THAT WAS LOOKED AT, AND IT WAS INCONCLUSIVE FOR 1368 01:19:47,587 --> 01:19:50,757 HOMICIDE OR INCONCLUSIVE FOR SUICIDE. 1369 01:19:50,757 --> 01:19:54,761 I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S WHAT MADE THEM DECIDE, "LET'S NOT GO TO 1370 01:19:54,761 --> 01:19:57,397 TRIAL THEN." >> Reporter: WE WANTED TO ASK 1371 01:19:57,397 --> 01:20:00,300 PROSECUTOR JAY RADAMACHER WHAT HAPPENED TO THE EVIDENCE HE SO 1372 01:20:00,300 --> 01:20:03,603 CONFIDENTLY SAID POINTED TO MURDER 1373 01:20:03,603 --> 01:20:05,739 HE DECLINED TO BE INTERVIEWED, REFERRED US TO A SPOKESPERSON 1374 01:20:05,739 --> 01:20:08,908 FOR THE MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. 1375 01:20:08,908 --> 01:20:11,011 WHO TOLD US "IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT 1376 01:20:11,011 --> 01:20:15,782 EVIDENCE TO PROCEED WITH A CRIMINAL PROSECUTION." 1377 01:20:15,782 --> 01:20:22,789 >> JUST IN DISBELIEF THAT 11 YEARS, WAS OVER JUST LIKE THAT 1378 01:20:22,789 --> 01:20:25,859 -- THAT WAS THE CLOSURE. >> Reporter: BELINDA SAYS THAT 1379 01:20:25,859 --> 01:20:30,597 WHILE SHE'S FINALLY GOT THAT ELUSIVE THING CALLED CLOSURE. 1380 01:20:30,597 --> 01:20:33,767 SHE'S ANGRY IT TOOK SO LONG. >> WHEN THERE WASN'T ENOUGH 1381 01:20:33,767 --> 01:20:38,938 EVIDENCE, THEY SHOULD'VE STOPPED, AND YET, THEY KEPT 1382 01:20:38,938 --> 01:20:41,975 GOING IRREGARDLESS. BECAUSE IT WASN'T ABOUT THE 1383 01:20:41,975 --> 01:20:44,611 TRUTH. IT WAS ABOUT THEM WINNING A 1384 01:20:44,611 --> 01:20:51,985 CASE, AND WE PAID THE PRICE FOR IT 1385 01:20:51,985 --> 01:20:55,055 >> Reporter: MIND YOU, ROB'S CASE WAS DISMISSED, WITHOUT 1386 01:20:55,055 --> 01:20:59,793 PREJUDICE, WHICH MEANS THE STATE COULD THEORETICALLY COME AFTER 1387 01:20:59,793 --> 01:21:04,064 ROB YET AGAIN. BUT THIS TIME IT SEEMS EVERYONE 1388 01:21:04,064 --> 01:21:06,666 WANTS TO MOVE ON >> NOW HAS TO BE THE TIME, 1389 01:21:06,666 --> 01:21:10,870 BECAUSE IT'S -- IT'S LIKE QUICKSAND, YOU'RE STUCK AND YOU 1390 01:21:10,870 --> 01:21:13,540 CAN'T MOVE. AND, YOU KNOW, IT -- IT'S 1391 01:21:13,540 --> 01:21:16,810 PARALYZING AND IT TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY AND YOU CAN'T SLEEP. 1392 01:21:16,810 --> 01:21:21,081 AND -- BUT YOU CAN'T LIVE YOUR ENTIRE LIFE LIKE THAT. 1393 01:21:21,081 --> 01:21:24,184 >> Reporter: AND NOW, FINALLY, BELINDA COULD FIND THE COURAGE 1394 01:21:24,184 --> 01:21:29,289 TO ASK ROB THE HARD QUESTIONS SHE'D BEEN HOLDING IN HER HEART 1395 01:21:29,289 --> 01:21:32,459 FOR 11 YEARS WHAT WERE THE CENTRAL QUESTIONS? 1396 01:21:32,459 --> 01:21:34,561 >> HOW THE GUN GOT INTRODUCED THAT NIGHT 1397 01:21:34,561 --> 01:21:37,630 >> Reporter: WHAT DID HE TELL YOU? 1398 01:21:37,630 --> 01:21:43,403 >> BEFORE I GOT HOME THAT EVENING, LEE HAD WATCHED ROB 1399 01:21:43,403 --> 01:21:48,174 TAKE THE GUN APART, AND PLACE IT IN HIS BAG, WHICH ANSWERED ONE 1400 01:21:48,174 --> 01:21:50,276 OF THE QUESTIONS. HOW DID HE EVEN KNOW THE GUN WAS 1401 01:21:50,276 --> 01:21:56,116 THERE? THAT WAS A KEY FOR ME. 1402 01:21:56,116 --> 01:22:00,286 WHILE, SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WON'T BE ANSWERED UNTIL I 1403 01:22:00,286 --> 01:22:08,261 HOPEFULLY SEE HIM AGAIN, LEE IN HEAVEN, AT LEAST I'VE GOT A 1404 01:22:08,261 --> 01:22:11,431 LITTLE BIT OF CLARITY. >> Reporter: WHICH IS THAT LEE 1405 01:22:11,431 --> 01:22:14,601 KNEW WHERE TO FIND THE GUN HE MUST HAVE USED TO TAKE HIS OWN 1406 01:22:14,601 --> 01:22:17,103 LIFE ITS BEEN MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS 1407 01:22:17,103 --> 01:22:20,173 WHEN WE LAST INTERVIEWED. ROB FISCHER, AND RECENTLY HE 1408 01:22:20,173 --> 01:22:24,911 TOLD US OFF CAMERA HE IS STILL TRYING TO PIECE HIS LIFE BACK 1409 01:22:24,911 --> 01:22:28,081 TOGETHER . ROB HAS DECIDED NOT TO TALK TO 1410 01:22:28,081 --> 01:22:31,151 US FOR THIS REPORT. BUT WHAT HAS THIS DONE TO HIM? 1411 01:22:31,151 --> 01:22:34,921 >> HE'S READY TO MOVE ON WITH HIS LIFE 1412 01:22:34,921 --> 01:22:38,491 AND HE WANTS A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GIRLS AND I AND I THINK HE'S 1413 01:22:38,491 --> 01:22:46,366 READY TO -- TO CLOSE THIS CHAPTER. 1414 01:22:46,366 --> 01:22:50,103 >> Reporter: AND NOW >> AND NOW WE MOVE FORWARD. 1415 01:22:50,103 --> 01:22:54,274 YOU KNOW? MY GIRLS HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE 1416 01:22:54,274 --> 01:22:57,977 AHEAD OF THEM. AND HE WOULD BE SO PROUD 1417 01:22:57,977 --> 01:23:05,885 AND WE MARCH ON WITH MEMORIES OF A GREAT MAN. 1418 01:23:05,885 --> 01:23:09,055 >>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF "DATELINE." 1419 01:23:09,055 --> 01:23:12,058 WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY AT 9:00/8:00 CENTRAL AND OF 1420 01:23:12,058 --> 01:23:15,261 COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR NBC NIGHTLY NEWS 1421 01:23:15,261 --> 01:23:22,068 I'M LESTER HOLT. FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS, 1422 01:23:22,068 --> 01:23:22,235 FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS, GOODNIGHT.