TONIGHT ON "DATELINE: A MYSTERY
IN PARADISE. A YOUNG WOMAN, MURDERED, NEAR
THE WHITE SANDS OF JACKSONVILLE BEACH.
>> I WOULD PLAY OUT POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT HAPPENED
THAT NIGHT I JUST THOUGHT ABOUT HOW SCARED
SHE MUST HAVE BEEN >> YOU COULD TELL THAT SHE HAD
FOUGHT FOR HER LIFE. YOU COULD SEE WHAT ALMOST LOOKED
LIKE HAND PRINTS COMING OUT OF THE WINDOW
AND THOSE WERE IN BLOOD. >> PEOPLE WERE SCARED.
WOMEN WHO LIVED ALONE WERE SCARED
NEIGHBORS WERE SCARED. >> Reporter: WAS YOUR GUT
TELLING YOU THAT THIS WAS SOMEONE SHE KNEW
>> YES >> EVERYBODY BECAME A SUSPECT.
>> DO YOU THINK THAT YOU WERE OBSESSED WITH HER?
>> I WAS I WAS OBSESSED
>> HE POINTED DOWN TO COREY'S WINDOW AND SAID, "I WATCH THAT
GIRL DOWN THERE. >> Reporter: ARE YOU STARTING TO
THINK SHE COULD BE COREY'S KILLER
>> SHE WAS A PERSON OF INTEREST, DEFINITELY
>> Reporter: HOW ARE YOU FEELING.
I MEAN, THIS IS A MURDER INVESTIGATION!
>> BULLIED HELPLESS
>> WE HAD A PROFILE. WE KNEW THIS WAS OUR KILLER.
>> Reporter: DID EVERYONE'S JAWS DROP
>> MY EYES FILLED UP WITH TEARS, I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
>>> HERE'S ANDREA CANNING WITH "REAR WINDOW."
>> Reporter: MAYBE IT WAS THE HYPNOTIC HUM OF NIGHT COMING TO
LIFE THEN AGAIN, MAYBE IT WAS JUST
THE BOOZE OR THE TALK OF SOME EASY MONEY
>> WE'RE ALL JUST SITTING THERE HAVING A COUPLE BEERS FISHING,
RELAXING AND ENJOYING. >> Reporter: SOMEHOW THREE
FRIENDS KICKING BACK ON A LAKESIDE DOCK FOUND THEIR
EVENING SLIDING INTO THE PAST, A BRUTAL UNSOLVED MURDER, AN
INVESTIGATION STALLED, AN OLD NAME RESURRECTED
AS THEY REMEMBERED, THEIR EYES GREW WIDE.
WHAT IS YOUR GUT TELLING YOU AS YOU'RE SITTING ON THAT DOCK?
>> WE'RE PROBABLY ON TO SOMETHING.
>> Reporter: AND SOMEONE WHO WOULD PREFER TO STAY HIDDEN.
STRANGE HOW THE NIGHT CAN SHINE A LIGHT INTO THE DARKEST PLACES.
LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, COREY PARKER CAME TO FLORIDA FOR THE
WAVES AND WEATHER, BUT SHE STAYED FOR THE PEOPLE.
LIKE AMY LAVIN DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME
YOU MET COREY PARKER >> I DO.
>> Reporter: COREY, A YOUNG 20-SOMETHING WHEN SHE AND AMY
BECAME FAST FRIENDS. >> WE WERE AT PETE'S BAR ON THE
BEACH. AND WE WERE ACTUALLY IN THE
BATHROOM WAITING IN LINE >> Reporter: AND WHAT DID YOU
SAY TO HER >> I THINK SHE STARTED THE
CONVERSATION AND JUST SAID, HEY, I SEE YOU AROUND ALL THE TIME.
YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD HANG OUT I SAID ALL RIGHT
>> Reporter: DID YOU TWO GET INTO A LOT OF TROUBLE?
>> WE DIDN'T GET CAUGHT DOING THINGS OR WE PROBABLY WOULD
HAVE >> Reporter: COREY WAS A
TRANSPLANT FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK, TOWERING AND SWEET LIKE A
SUGAR MAPLE. >> COREY WAS 5'11", AND SHE
WOULD WEAR HEELS SO SHE WAS SO TALL, AND I'M VERY
SHORT. I THINK EVERY TIME SHE WALKED
INTO A ROOM, PEOPLE LOOKED AT HER AND SHE WAS SO BEAUTIFUL
>> Reporter: DID SHE KIND OF LOOK LIKE A MODEL BEING 5'11"?
>> SHE COULD DEFINITELY MODEL. >> Reporter: INSTEAD SHE CHOSE A
HUMBLER ROUTE, TAKING CLASSES AT A LOCAL COLLEGE AND WAITING
TABLES AT RAGTIME TAVERN AT JACKSONVILLE BEACH
AMY SAYS THAT WAS PURE COREY DID SHE LIKE BEING A WAITRESS?
>> SHE LOVED IT. SHE COULD TALK TO PEOPLE AND
SHE WAS SUPER FRIENDLY >> Reporter: SHE WAS A PEOPLE
PERSON >> YES
>> Reporter: ANOTHER REASON SHE LOVED COREY, BOTH WERE FIERCELY
INDEPENDENT. COREY, IN PARTICULAR, HAD JUST
MOVED INTO HER OWN APARTMENT >> THIS IS ABSOLUTELY AN
EXCITING MOMENT FOR HER, MOVING INTO THIS PLACE BECAUSE SHE WAS
FINALLY BEING ABLE TO DO IT ON HER OWN.
>> Reporter: THIS WAS A BIG KIND OF INDEPENDENCE DAY FOR HER
THEN >> IT WAS A REALLY BIG DEAL,
YEAH >> I WAS EXCITED THAT SOMEBODY
ELSE WAS GOING TO BE MOVING IN THAT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO TALK
WITH >> Reporter: ASHLEY BURG
REMEMBERS COREY'S MOVE-IN DAY THAT SEPTEMBER OF 1998
ASHLEY, THEN 18, LIVED NEXT DOOR WITH HER MOM AND OLDER BROTHER
JOE. COREY, AT 25, SEEMED LIKE A BIG
SISTER >> WE WOULD SIT OUTSIDE.
SHE WOULD DO HER LAUNDRY, WE'D HAVE A LITTLE GLASS AND WINE AND
JUST TALK. >> Reporter: ABOUT WORK, SCHOOL
AND COREY'S NEW BOYFRIEND, A YOUNG MAN SHE'D ONLY MET THREE
WEEKS EARLIER AT ONE OF HER FAVORITE LATE NIGHT HAUNTS, THE
RITZ ASHLEY SENSED HER NEIGHBOR WAS
FALLING IN LOVE. >> IT STARTED GETTING PRETTY
CLOSE FOR THEM I REALLY FEEL LIKE THAT.
>> Reporter: BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING TROUBLING, TOO
COREY WAS FEELING UNEASY ABOUT HER GROUND FLOOR APARTMENT
HER BEDROOM AND FRONT DOOR WERE ACROSS FROM ANOTHER BUILDING
>> IT WAS SOMEONE ELSE IN OUR BUILDING THAT SAW A PEEPING TOM,
AND SAW THAT SOMEONE WAS LOOKING INTO HER WINDOWS
>> Reporter: ASHLEY SAYS FOR THAT REASON COREY PREFERRED
HANGING OUT IN THE BACK OF THE APARTMENT IN THE KITCHEN
THAT'S WHERE THEY WERE THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING.
COREY WAS MAKING DESSERT TO BRING TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE FOR
THE NEXT DAY'S FEAST >> SO WE DRANK A BEER, STARTED
MAKING SOME PIES, AND SHE WAS TELLING ME ABOUT THANKSGIVING.
SHE WAS TELLING ME WHERE SHE WAS GOING.
AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW SHE COULD BAKE
>> Reporter: WHEN SHE FINISHED, COREY WENT OUT FOR THE EVENING
AMY, WHO HAD LEFT TOWN FOR THANKSGIVING, REMEMBERS BEING
TEMPTED TO STICK AROUND JACKSONVILLE BEACH SO SHE COULD
PARTY WITH HER BEST FRIEND >> LOOKING BACK, I WISH I HAD,
BUT I OPTED TO GO TO MY MOM'S THE NIGHT BEFORE AND SPEND THE
NIGHT. >> Reporter: PHOTOS FROM THAT
NIGHT SHOW COREY INSIDE HER HANGOUT, THE RITZ.
SHE'S SEEN LOOKING BACK AT THE CAMERA, ONE OF THE WOMEN THERE
WAS A NEW FRIEND HER NAME WAS TIFFANY ZIENTA.
>> WE WERE YOUNG AND ALL IN COLLEGE AND FELT THAT, YOU KNOW,
WE JUST WOULD ALL GO HANG OUT. >> Reporter: YOU AND COREY WENT
OUT A LOT? >> WE DID.
>> Reporter: YOUR RELATIONSHIP KEPT GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER
>> YES ON MY PART, I GUESS.
I CAN'T ANSWER FOR COREY BUT YEAH
FROM MY VANTAGE POINT. >> Reporter: THAT NIGHT, TIFFANY
SAYS, COREY, USUALLY THE BUBBLIEST IN THE ROOM HAD
FIZZLED OUT EARLY, 1:30 A.M. >> WE LEFT AT THE SAME TIME.
>> Reporter: HOW DO YOU PART WAYS
>> SHE GOT IN HER CAR AND I GOT A RIDE FROM A CO-WORKER.
>> Reporter: SHE SAYS COREY PROMISED TO STOP BY HER PLACE
THE NEXT DAY, BUT THANKSGIVING CAME AND COREY WAS A NO-SHOW
>> I DIDN'T THINK MUCH ABOUT IT. BUT I DID TELL MY MOM THAT I WAS
A LITTLE BUMMED OUT THAT SHE DIDN'T CALL AND DIDN'T COME BY
>> Reporter: WAS THAT LIKE COREY TO NOT CALL --
>> NOT AT ALL. >> Reporter: IS SHE THE TYPE
THAT WOULD SAY, HEY, I'M GOING TO BOW OUT FOR TONIGHT
>> CORRECT >> Reporter: IT WASN'T UNTIL THE
DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING, BLACK FRIDAY, THAT SOMEONE FINALLY
NOTICED COREY MISSING. SHE DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR HER
MORNING SHIFT AT THE RESTAURANT. NO ONE HAD HEARD FROM HER IN
MORE THAN A DAY. >> SO ONE OF THE COOKS, WHO WAS
A FRIEND OF OURS, SAID I'LL GO CHECK ON HER, BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T
LIVE FAR FROM WHERE SHE WORKED >> Reporter: THE MAN RETURNED TO
THE RESTAURANT TO REPORT THAT COREY HADN'T ANSWERED HER DOOR
ALARMED, THE MANAGER SENT HIM BACK
>> HE WALKED AROUND THE BACK OF HER APARTMENT, AND HER BLINDS
WERE CLOSED IN THE BACK, HER BEDROOM, BUT THERE WAS A LITTLE
OPENING. AND HE COULD SEE HER FOOT AND
THERE WAS BLOOD ON HER FOOT. >> Reporter: THE CO-WORKER
IMMEDIATELY RACED BACK TO WORK IN A PANIC
POLICE WERE CALLED COREY PARKER HAD JUST BEEN
FOUND. >> WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO COREY?
WHEN WE COME BACK, THE FIRST CHILLING CLUES
>> YOU COULD TELL THAT SHE HAD FOUGHT FOR HER LIFE.
>> AND WHY DETECTIVES ARE SURE HER ATTACKER WAS NO STRANGER
>> THAT SPEAKS TO SOME SORT OF A >>> IT WAS JUST BEFORE NOON ON
BLACK FRIDAY ASHLEY BURG WOKE UP TO BANGING
AT HER FRONT DOOR. IT WAS THE POLICE.
>> THEY'RE LIKE, ARE YOU COREY PARKER
I SAID, NO, I'M NOT. I SAID, I POINT AT THE KIND OF
LIKE THE WINDOW NEXT TO ME, WHICH WAS HER HOUSE.
AND I SAID, SHE LIVES RIGHT THERE.
>> MOMENTS LATER, OFFICERS WERE IN COREY'S APARTMENT
>> AND I HEARD WHAT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD SAID THERE SHE IS
AND I JUST FELL TO MY KNEES. >> Reporter: 25-YEAR-OLD COREY
PARKER WAS DEAD. IT WAS CLEAR SHE'D BEEN
MURDERED INVESTIGATORS CALLED ANGELA
COREY, THEN AN ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR
>> THE POLICE WERE ALL THERE WHEN I ARRIVED, AND SO THEY
WALKED ME THROUGH THE SCENE. >> Reporter: HOW HARD WAS IT
SEEING COREY PARKER IN THAT WAY? >> IT WAS BRUTAL BECAUSE YOU
COULD TELL THAT SHE HAD FOUGHT FOR HER LIFE
YOU COULD TELL THAT SHE WAS AT HER MOST VULNERABLE.
ALONE AND IN BED AND THAT SHE HAD BEEN, YOU KNOW, BRUTALLY AND
VICIOUSLY STABBED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
>> Reporter: STABBED MORE THAN A HUNDRED TIMES.
THIS WAS A SICK INDIVIDUAL WHO DID THIS
>> VERY, VERY. >> Reporter: IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG
FOR WORD OF COREY'S DEATH TO SPREAD FROM THE TINY APARTMENT
AMY LAVIN, STILL VISITING HER MOTHER OUT OF TOWN, GOT A CALL
FROM COREY'S BOYFRIEND >> HE WAS CRYING
AND HE SAID, DID YOU HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON
I'M SO CONFUSED. I SAID NO.
WHAT'S WRONG EVERYTHING'S FINE.
AND HE SAID, COREY, THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH COREY
SOMEBODY FOUND HER IN BLOOD. AND I SAID, NO
NO, SHE'S FINE I TALKED TO HER YESTERDAY.
EVERYTHING'S FINE. >> Reporter: STILL, SHE DROVE
BACK TO JACKSONVILLE BEACH, STRAIGHT TO THE POLICE STATION,
JUST TO MAKE SURE. DID IT FINALLY REGISTER AT THE
POLICE STATION EVENTUALLY? >> I WENT INTO A ROOM WITH A
DETECTIVE. THEY DID CONFIRM THAT SHE WAS
FOUND IN HER HOME DEAD I KEPT THINKING, SOMETHING
HAPPENED TO HER HEART. I DON'T KNOW WHY I KEPT GOING
BACK TO THAT IN MY MIND. I DON'T KNOW WHY
>> Reporter: TIFFANY ZIENTA WHO HAD BEEN OUT WITH COREY TWO
NIGHTS EARLIER, WAS FINISHING HER BARTENDER SHIFT WHEN A
CUSTOMER BROKE THE NEWS TO HER >> I HAD THIS FEELING KIND OF
WASH OVER ME AND CALLED AMY
AND ASKED HER IF IT WAS TRUE AND SHE SAID IT WAS.
>> Reporter: DETECTIVES ON THE SCENE, MEANWHILE, WERE BUSY
TALKING TO COREY'S NEIGHBORS AND SIZING UP THE LAYOUT AND
LOCATION OF HER APARTMENT. THAT IN ITSELF WAS A RED FLAG.
MY FIRST TIME HERE AT FIRST GLANCE DOESN'T NECESSARILY FEEL
LIKE THE SAFEST SITUATION FOR A YOUNG WOMAN LIVING IN THIS
GROUND FLOOR APARTMENT >> RIGHT
THERE'S A LOT OF TRANSIENT TRAFFIC THAT COMES THROUGH HERE.
THE BEACH IS THREE BLOCKS FROM HERE
>> Reporter: DETECTIVES BILLY CARLYLE AND KATIE KINGSTON, BOTH
NOW RETIRED, WORKED THE CASE >> SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN
AND WHENEVER SHE WOULD WALK TO AND FROM HER APARTMENT, I'M SURE
THERE WERE A LOT OF GUYS THAT WERE LOOKING AT HER.
>> Reporter: THERE'S A LOT OF APARTMENTS AROUND HERE
YOU MUST HAVE HAD TO DO A LOT OF CANVASSING
>> WE DID. WE HAD TO TALK TO EVERY ONE OF
THOSE PEOPLE, DOCUMENT IT ALL. >> THERE'S A LOT OF PARTYING
GOING ON AT THE BEACH. YOU HAVE PEOPLE WANDERING UP AND
DOWN THE STREETS HERE AT 2:00, 3:00 IN THE MORNING SOMETIMES.
SO YOU KNOW, YEAH, THAT'S A CONCERN.
>> Reporter: NEIGHBORS TOLD POLICE THERE HAD LATELY BEEN A
PEEPING TOM CREEPING AROUND THE AREA
SO IT WAS POSSIBLE SHE WAS KILLED BY A COMPLETE STRANGER
WHO HAD BROKEN INTO HER APARTMENT.
>> IT LOOKED LIKE THE SUSPECT HAD PUT HIS HAND ON THE KITCHEN
COUNTER RIGHT THERE AT THE LIP OF THE SINK IN ORDER TO LIFT
HIMSELF UP ON THE CABINET TO BE ABLE TO EXTRICATE HIMSELF FROM
THE WINDOW >> YOU COULD SEE WHAT ALMOST
LOOKED LIKE HAND PRINTS COMING LIKE THEY LOWERED THEMSELF OUT
THE WINDOW AND THOSE WERE IN BLOOD.
>> Reporter: IT WAS COREY'S BLOOD.
TRACES OF HER MURDER LEFT BY THE KILLER
BUT THE IDEA THAT THIS WAS A RANDOM KILLING DIDN'T SIT WELL
WITH DETECTIVES. WAS YOUR GUT TELLING YOU THAT
THIS WAS SOMEONE SHE KNEW? >> YES
YES. >> Reporter: WHAT WAS IT
WHY WERE YOU THINKING THAT >> WELL, BECAUSE OF THE
EXTENSIVE STAB WOUNDS. SHE WAS STABBED 101 TIMES.
AND THAT SPEAKS TO SOME SORT OF A RELATIONSHIP
>> Reporter: THEY HOPED TO FIND TRACES OF HER KILLER IN THE MESS
LEFT BEHIND. THERE WAS PLENTY OF EVIDENCE TO
TEST FINGERPRINTS ON WINEGLASSES AND
CIGARETTE LIGHTERS, HAIR AND BLOOD EVERYWHERE
>> YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT'S VALUABLE
SO YOU TRY AND PHOTOGRAPH EVERYTHING, THEN YOU TRY AND
EXAMINE EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN, THAT YOU THINK IS POTENTIALLY
INVOLVED IN IT >> Reporter: AND EVERY ONE
THE FIRST PERSON THEY NEEDED TO TALK TO WAS THE NEW MAN IN
COREY'S LIFE YOU ALL WANTED TO TALK TO THE
BOYFRIEND, A LOGICAL PLACE TO START.
ANY RED FLAGS THERE WITH HIM >> NO.
WE DETERMINED THROUGH PLANE FLIGHT TICKETS THAT HE WAS OUT
OF TOWN AT THE TIME. HE WASN'T EVEN HERE IN
JACKSONVILLE BEACH >> Reporter: WAS IT A SOLID
ALIBI? >> SOLID CONFIRMATION.
>> Reporter: BUT THESE WERE EARLY DAYS IN THE INVESTIGATION,
AND THERE WERE MANY PEOPLE IN COREY'S WORLD FOR POLICE TO RULE
IN OR OUT INCLUDING A MAN WHO LIVED RIGHT NEXT DOOR.
ASHLEY BURG'S BROTHER. POLICE HAD A REASON TO TALK TO
HIM. >> COMING UP -
>> DID HE HAVE A SOLID ALIBI >> NO.
>> QUESTIONS ABOUT A NEIGHBOR'S WHEREABOUTS, AND THEN SUSPICIONS
ABOUT A CO-WORKER'S FEELINGS FOR COREY.
>> DID SHE KNOW YOU WERE OBSESSED WITH HER?
>> I WAS >>> THIS WAS LOW-KEY
JACKSONVILLE BEACH, FLORIDA, WHERE THE MAIN CONCERN OF THE
DAY WAS HOW HIGH THE WAVES WERE RIDING
A YOUNG, SINGLE WOMAN ATTACKED IN THE NIGHT IN HER BED JUST
DIDN'T HAPPEN HERE >> I THINK THIS CASE ILLUSTRATES
EVERY WOMAN'S NIGHTMARE THAT AS HARD AS COREY PARKER TRIED TO BE
SAFE AND SHE HAD ALL HER DOORS LOCKED, SHE STILL WAS THE MOST
VULNERABLE IN THE SANCTITY OF HER OWN HOME
>> WOMEN WHO LIVED ALONE WERE SCARED
>> Reporter: MELISSA NELSON, THEN AN ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR WHO
JOINED THE CASE, RECALLS THE FEAR
>> NEIGHBORS WERE SCARED, PEOPLE SHE WORKED WITH WERE ALARMED
IT WAS A VERY SCARY TIME FOR THAT COMMUNITY
>> Reporter: TIFFANY ZIENTA RAISED IN JACKSONVILLE BEACH
COULDN'T BELIEVE THIS HAD HAPPENED TO SOMEONE SHE KNEW
>> I MEAN, THEY KEPT CALLING IT THE BLOODIEST CRIME SCENE IN
JACKSONVILLE BEACH IN 25 YEARS THAT'S NOT REALLY COMFORTING TO
FEEL OR TO HEAR. >> Reporter: ASHLEY BURG WAS
ALSO FRIGHTENED, FOR ANOTHER REASON
DETECTIVES THOUGHT HER BROTHER JOE HAD BEEN TOO VAGUE ABOUT
WHERE HE'D BEEN IN THE HOURS SURROUNDING COREY'S DEATH.
DID HE HAVE A SOLID ALIBI? >> NOT REALLY, NO.
>> Reporter: WHAT WAS HE DOING >> WELL, YOU KNOW, HE WAS AT THE
APARTMENT JUST HANGING AROUND. AND HE COMES AND GOES.
SO WE COULDN'T REALLY ESTABLISH A SOLID ALIBI AT THE TIME OF THE
CRIME. >> Reporter: THEIR INTEREST GREW
WHEN THEY FOUND A HAIR ON A SOCK IN COREY'S BEDROOM
THE HAIR LOOKED LIKE IT COULD HAVE COME FROM JOE
>> I KNOW WE DID A MICROSCOPIC COMPARISON
AND THAT THE MICROSCOPIC COMPARISON DEVELOPED THAT
LIKENESS >> Reporter: THE TEST THEY USED
BACK THEN WASN'T DEFINITIVE, BUT IT WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE POLICE
SUSPICIOUS AND FOR JOE TO WORRY. >> SO THEY WOULD ASK, WELL, WHY
IS YOUR HAIR ON HER SOCK HE COULDN'T ANSWER THAT.
HE WAS PETRIFIED PETRIFIED.
HE DIDN'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO NEXT
>> Reporter: WHAT POLICE DID WAS TAKE A SAMPLE OF JOE'S DNA FOR
TESTING AND PRESS ON MEANWHILE, THERE WAS ANOTHER
YOUNG MAN THEY WERE INTERESTED IN
A DISHWASHER NAMED ERIC EALY >> HE WAS A CO-WORKER THAT
WORKED WITH COREY AT RAGTIME TAVERN
>> Reporter: AND EVERYONE KNEW HE REALLY LIKED COREY.
>> HAD COME ON TO HER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND HAD ALSO
DONE THAT TO SEVERAL OF THE OTHER WAITRESSES UP THERE.
THEY JUST THOUGHT HE WAS A CREEPY GUY
>> Reporter: WHO HAD GROWN STRANGER BY THE DAY.
POLICE FOUND OUT HE'D BEEN PESTERING COREY TO HAVE
THANKSGIVING DINNER WITH HIM ALONE.
EACH TIME SHE TURNED HIM DOWN. DETECTIVES BROUGHT THE YOUNG MAN
IN FOR QUESTIONING >> DID YOU ASK COREY OUT FOR
THANKSGIVING DINNER PRIOR TO CALLING ON -
>> I MAY HAVE MENTIONED IT, BUT I DON'T I DIDN'T ASK HER A
DIRECT QUESTION. >> Reporter: BUT TO THE
DETECTIVES, WHAT THE DISHWASHER DID NEXT WAS A MOVE STRAIGHT OUT
OF A NORMAN BATES' PLAYBOOK. >> HE MADE THIS REALLY NICE
THANKSGIVING DINNER IN HOPES THAT HE COULD CALL HER AND SAY,
I'VE MADE THANKSGIVING DINNER. I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO COME OVER
AND ENJOY THANKSGIVING DINNER WITH ME.
>> Reporter: SO HE MADE THE DINNER FIRST
>> YES >> Reporter: AND THEN CALLED
>> RIGHT >> Reporter: THAT'S A TINY BIT
ON THE CREEPY SIDE >> YEAH.
IT WAS A LITTLE STRANGE. >> Reporter: IT WAS CLEAR HE WAS
INFATUATED >> DO YOU THINK THAT YOU WERE
OBSESSED WITH HER? >> I WAS SLIGHTLY OBSESSED
>> YOU WERE GREATLY OBSESSED, ERIC
JESUS. ADMIT IT
MY GOD >> I WAS
I WAS OBSESSED >> Reporter: FROM THERE, THE
INTERVIEW TOOK AN EVEN DARKER TURN
THE YOUNG MAN ADMITTED TO VIOLENT FANTASIES.
>> TELL ME THE THINKS THAT YOU THINK ABOUT DOING WITH WOMEN
THAT YOU WOULDN'T DO BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT'S NOT THE RIGHT THING TO
DO >> YOU LIKE TAKE THEM INTO A
BEDROOM AND JUST RAPE THEM >> YEAH.
>> Reporter: HE'S TALKING ABOUT RAPE
THAT'S SCARY STUFF RIGHT THERE >> EXACTLY
>> Reporter: THAT PALED IN COMPARISON TO WHAT HE SAID NEXT.
HE DESCRIBED HOW HE THOUGHT COREY HAD BEEN KILLED.
>> HOW WOULD YOU CONTAIN HER >> TAKING HER DOWN UNTIL SHE WAS
TIRED. AND JUST POKED HER, YOU KNOW,
WHATEVER, STABBED HER. >> Reporter: IN FACT, THAT'S HOW
COREY WAS KILLED DID YOU THINK ABOUT THE SCENARIO
THAT HE MIGHT HAVE FELT REALLY REJECTED BY COREY AND HE
SNAPPED? >> ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, YES
THAT COMES INTO YOUR MIND THAT HE ASKED HER MULTIPLE TIMES TO
GO OUT WITH HIM. ALTHOUGH SHE WAS CORDIAL TO HIM,
SHE JUST NEVER WENT THERE. >> YOU SOUND LIKE YOU KNOW A
LITTLE BIT MORE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO COREY
HOW WOULD YOU -- >> HOW WOULD I KNOW?
BECAUSE MAYBE -- MAYBE I WOULD SHARE THE SAME THOUGHTS AS THIS
PERSON THAT DID IT >> Reporter: HE SOUNDED LIKE AN
OBVIOUS SUSPECT. >> I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE
FANTASIZED MYSELF DOING IT INSTEAD OF HIM DOING IT.
BUT I DIDN'T DO IT >> Reporter: DESPITE ALL HIS
INCRIMINATING DESCRIPTIONS, THE DISHWASHER WAS ADAMANT HE HADN'T
KILLED COREY AND POLICE DIDN'T HAVE ANY HARD
EVIDENCE THAT PUT HIM INSIDE HER BEDROOM.
>> HE'S GOT A DENIAL AND YOU GOT NOTHING TO PUT HIM
THERE. >> Reporter: FOR THE TIME BEING,
POLICE HAD TO LET THE MAN GO JUST WHEN IT SEEMED THEIR CASE
COULDN'T GET MORE COMPLICATED, IT DID
COREY'S FRIEND HAD BEEN TALKING AROUND TOWN ABOUT THE MURDER,
AND SHE WAS SAYING ALL THE THINGS THAT CATCH A DETECTIVE'S
ATTENTION. >>> COMING UP --
ARE YOU READY FOR ANOTHER POTENTIAL SUSPECT?
THIS CLOSE GIRLFRIEND OF COREY'S.
WAS SHE A LITTLE TOO CLOSE >> TIFFANY WAS INFATUATED WITH
COREY? >> YES
HER STATEMENTS ABOUT HOW MUCH SHE LOVED COREY PIQUED OUR
>>> IN THE MONTHS AFTER COREY PARKER'S MURDER, POLICE HAD
SEVERAL POTENTIAL SUSPECTS INCLUDING A NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR
WITH A VAGUE ALIBI AND AN OBSESSED DISHWASHER.
BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TO MAKE AN ARREST
COREY'S FAMILY EVEN OFFERED A REWARD FOR INFORMATION
MELISSA NELSON, NOW A STATE ATTORNEY, WORKED THE CASE.
>> TO THAT END, EVERYBODY WHO PRESENTED AS A POTENTIAL
SUSPECT, THEY WERE RUNNING THAT TO GROUND.
COULD IT BE THIS PERSON? IS IT THIS PERSON?
>> Reporter: AMY LAVIN FOUND HERSELF LOOKING AROUND AT
COREY'S OTHER FRIENDS AND WONDERING COULD IT BE ONE OF
THEM >> EVERYBODY WAS AN ACTUAL
SUSPECT. SO THAT BECAME A LITTLE BIT
SCARY TO ME. >> Reporter: HER KILLER COULD
HAVE BEEN RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSE? >> YEAH.
>> Reporter: TIFFANY ZIENTA REMEMBERS JUST WANTING TO BE
HELPFUL LIKE MOST OF COREY'S FRIENDS, SHE MET WITH THE
DETECTIVES THEY WANT TO TALK TO YOU,
DETECTIVES >> WE ALL MADE A STATEMENT
>> Reporter: WELL, THEY WANTED TO TALK TO YOU
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> Reporter: TIFFANY TOLD THE
DETECTIVES SHE'D BEEN WITH COREY AT THE RITZ BAR WEDNESDAY NIGHT
INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF THANKSGIVING
SHE SAID THEY LEFT THE BAR AT THE SAME TIME, AROUND 1:30 A.M
TIFFANY HITCHED A RIDE WITH ANOTHER FRIEND TO GO BAR
HOPPING. COREY, SHE NOTED, GOT INTO HER
OWN CAR AND HEADED HOME. LATER, TIFFANY SAID, SHE CALLED
COREY'S HOME PHONE >> IT WAS LIKE 2:15.
IT WAS RIGHT AFTER WE LEFT THE ORIGINAL BAR
>> Reporter: DETECTIVES FOLLOWED UP ON WHAT TIFFANY HAD TOLD
THEM CARLYLE SAYS THEY QUICKLY
NOTICED A WRINKLE IN HER STORY >> HER PHONE CALL WAS NOT ON THE
PHONE RECORDS OF COREY PARKER'S HOME RESIDENCE PHONE
>> Reporter: SO SHE'S STARTING TO MAKE SOME INCONSISTENT
STATEMENTS >> EXACTLY
INCONSISTENT STATEMENTS. >> Reporter: MORE TROUBLING TO
POLICE WAS WHAT THEY WERE HEARING FROM COREY'S FRIENDS
THEY WERE SAYING TIFFANY HAD BEEN DESCRIBING THE MURDER, THE
STAB WOUNDS TO THE BODY, DETAILS THAT HADN'T BEEN MADE PUBLIC
THEY ALSO BELIEVED SHE HARBORED DEEP FEELINGS FOR COREY THAT
WEREN'T MUTUAL TIFFANY WAS INFATUATED WITH
COREY? >> YES
>> Reporter: WHAT WERE YOU TOLD? >> WE WERE BASICALLY TOLD THAT
IT WAS BORDERING ON A LITTLE STRANGE, YOU KNOW, WITH WHAT WE
HEARD ABOUT HER STATEMENTS ABOUT HOW MUCH SHE CARED ABOUT COREY
AND HOW MUCH SHE LOVED COREY, IT PIQUED OUR CURIOSITY AND
INTEREST >> Reporter: NOW DETECTIVES
WANTED TO SIT DOWN AGAIN WITH TIFFANY, BUT BY THEN MORE THAN
FIVE MONTHS HAD PASSED SINCE COREY'S MURDER, AND TIFFANY HAD
LEFT TOWN. FOR NEW ORLEANS.
THE MOVE ONLY MADE HER LOOK WORSE TO POLICE.
SO THEY TRACKED HER DOWN HOPING TO CONFRONT HER, BUT TIFFANY
WASN'T HAVING IT >> SHE AT SOME POINT DECIDED SHE
WASN'T GOING TO COOPERATE FURTHER AND REFERRED US TO HER
LAWYER >> Reporter: SO DETECTIVES
DECIDED TO GET A WARRANT FOR TIFFANY'S DNA.
>> WE HAD TO GET A COURT ORDER TO GET HER STANDARDS, HER HAIR,
AND HER BLOOD. >> Reporter: ARE YOU STARTING TO
THINK SHE COULD BE COREY'S KILLER
>> WELL, YOU JUST HAVE TO FOLLOW THAT LEAD.
WE FELT LIKE, BASED ON WHAT WE KNEW TO THAT POINT, THAT SHE WAS
A PERSON OF INTEREST DEFINITELY. MAYBE A VIABLE SUSPECT
>> I'M NOT THE PERSON THAT'S GOING TO KILL SOMEBODY
>> Reporter: LOOKING BACK, TIFFANY IS CONVINCED DETECTIVES
SET THEIR SIGHTS ON HER FROM THE MOMENT SHE FIRST TALKED TO THEM.
THE FACT THAT SHE WAS THE LAST FRIEND TO SEE COREY ALIVE, SHE
SAYS, SHAPED EVERYTHING THAT FOLLOWED
>> I NEVER KNEW THAT SAYING I WAS THE LAST ONE WITH HER WAS
GOING TO COME BACK TO HAUNT ME YOU KNOW
POLICE WERE LIKE, WELL, THE KILLER WAS THE LAST ONE.
UNTIL YOU THINK ABOUT IT THAT WAY, YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT IT
THAT WAY >> Reporter: FIRST OF ALL, SHE
SAYS, SHE NEVER LIED ABOUT THAT CALL TO COREY.
NO MATTER WHAT THE PHONE RECORDS SAID
HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT? >> ACCORDING TO MY ATTORNEY, HE
HAD HAD OTHER CLIENTS THAT HAD CALLED PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T SHOW
UP ON PHONE RECORDS EITHER I DON'T KNOW
I DON'T KNOW WHY IT DIDN'T SHOW UP
I HAVE NO IDEA >> Reporter: AS FOR BEING IN
LOVE WITH COREY, IS THERE ANY TRUTH TO THAT?
>> NO. BECAUSE I'M NOT GAY.
I THOUGHT SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL. I THOUGHT SHE WAS A GREAT
PERSON HAVE I BEEN INFATUATED WITH
COREY? NO
>> Reporter: EVERYTHING ELSE SHE DID IN THIS CASE, SHE SAYS, WAS
OUT OF INNOCENCE OR PANIC. SHE LEARNED ABOUT THE BLOODY
CRIME SCENE FROM A FRIEND, A PARAMEDIC WHO HAD BEEN THERE
SHE WENT TO NEW ORLEANS TO REST, NOT ESCAPE
SHE FOUND A LAWYER OUT OF FEAR, NOT GUILT.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING AS THIS IS GETTING MORE INTENSE
I MEAN, THIS IS A MURDER INVESTIGATION.
>> HELPLESS. BULLIED.
HELPLESS LIKE THERE WERE GOING TO BE NO
ANSWERS. AND THIS WAS GOING TO HANG OVER
ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE >> Reporter: BUT BEFORE THEY
COULD MAKE AN ARREST, DETECTIVES NEEDED TO LINK HER DNA TO THE
CRIME SCENE. THAT'S WHEN THINGS GOT REALLY
INTERESTING. >>> COMING UP --
YET ANOTHER PERSON OF INTEREST THIS ONE LURKING IN THE SHADOWS.
>> IT WOULDN'T TAKE MUCH IF SHE AND DO YOU THINK HE'D BEEN
WATCHING HER FOR A WHILE >>> JACKSONVILLE BEACH HAD BEEN
HOME TO TIFFANY ZIENTA NOW IT SEEMED HOME HAD TURNED ON
HER. DID YOU THINK THERE'S A CHANCE I
COULD GET ARRESTED >> YES
FOR SOMETHING I DIDN'T DO. >> Reporter: BUT SHE WASN'T
ARRESTED AND NEITHER WAS ANYONE ELSE IN THE MONTHS FOLLOWING
COREY PARKER'S MURDER. A YEAR WENT BY
ANGELA COREY SO THIS WASN'T SOLVED AFTER THE
COMMERCIAL BREAK >> OH, NO.
NO, NO WE WENT INTO THIS KNOWING WE
WERE IN FOR THE LONG HAUL. WITH THAT PHRASE WE KNEW IT WAS
GOING TO BE A MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT
>> Reporter: THEY HAD THEIR LIST OF POSSIBLE SUSPECTS, BUT THEY
DIDN'T HAVE THE EVIDENCE OR THE SCIENCE YET TO DEFINITIVELY LINK
ANYONE TO THE CRIME. >> DNA TESTING WAS ACTUALLY IN
THE MIDDLE OF EVOLVING AT THAT TIME
>> Reporter: EVENTUALLY THE SCIENCE AND THE EVIDENCE CAME
TOGETHER INVESTIGATORS RECOVERED A STRAND
OF FOREIGN HAIR FROM COREY'S UNDERWEAR.
THEY BELIEVED THAT SINGLE STRAND WAS RICH IN DNA.
>> IT HAD BEEN CLEARLY RIPPED OUT OF A HEAD.
>> Reporter: LIKELY, THEY BELIEVED, THE KILLER'S HEAD.
NOW THEY HAD TO TEST IT AGAINST THEIR POSSIBLE SUSPECTS.
YOU ESSENTIALLY HAD YOUR KILLER IN YOUR TEST
>> LOCKED IN A TUBE. >> Reporter: DIDN'T KNOW HIS
NAME >> HAIRS ON SLIDES, THAT'S
RIGHT. >> Reporter: THAT'S WHEN THE
CASE TOOK ITS MOST DRAMATIC TURN YET.
THANKS TO THIS MAN WOULD YOU CALL YOURSELF A BOUNTY
HUNTER >> I'VE BEEN CALLED BOUNTY
HUNTER BEFORE, BUT I'D PREFER FUGITIVE SPECIALIST.
>> Reporter: FUGITIVE SPECIALIST
OKAY WILLIAM RENSLER KNEW ABOUT
COREY'S MURDER AND HE KNEW THERE HAD BEEN A REWARD POSTED FOR
INFORMATION LEADING TO HER KILLER
>> WHEN I CAME ACROSS THE ONE INDIVIDUAL, SOMETHING STRUCK ME
AS ODD >> Reporter: THE INDIVIDUAL WAS
A YOUNG MAN NAMED ROBERT DENNEY. HE WAS 17 YEARS OLD LIVING IN A
NEARBY BUILDING WHEN COREY WAS KILLED
HE'D BEEN QUESTIONED AND DISMISSED BY DETECTIVES EARLY ON
IN PART BECAUSE HE WAS SO YOUNG. WHAT SEEMED ODD TO WILLIAM WAS
THAT THE TEEN DISAPPEARED NOT LONG AFTER THE MURDER.
AS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND ROLLED AROUND, WILLIAM FOUND HIMSELF ON
A DOCK WITH TWO FRIENDS. >> WE WERE FISHING AND THEN
HAVING A COUPLE OF BEERS AND I WAS GOING OVER MY NOTES.
>> Reporter: SUDDENLY, HE REMEMBERED THAT ROBERT DENNEY
HAD WORKED AT THE SAME RESTAURANT AS HIS FRIENDS.
THEY RECOGNIZED THE NAME INSTANTLY.
>> THEY FELT THAT HE WAS AN OFFBEAT INDIVIDUAL
>> Reporter: WILLIAM TALKED WITH THE DETECTIVE.
SHE THEN WENT OVER TO CHECK OUT DENNEY'S OLD APARTMENT FOR
HERSELF. >> YOU CAN SEE HOW CLOSE IT IS
>> Reporter: IT WAS APARTMENT NUMBER 4 AND ITS BACK BALCONY
WAS LESS THAN THREE FEET FROM COREY'S OLD KITCHEN.
WHEN POLICE MET WITH DENNEY'S CO-WORKERS, THEY SAID HE HAD
TALKED ABOUT WATCHING A YOUNG WOMAN FROM HIS BALCONY
DO YOU THINK HE'D BEEN WATCHING HER FOR A WHILE.
>> YEAH. >> ABSOLUTELY.
NO QUESTION ABOUT IT >> Reporter: SOMETHING STRAIGHT
"REAR WINDOW," A VULNERABLE YOUNG WOMAN, A MAN WATCHING,
SEEING BUT UNSEEN. DENNEY DIDN'T MATCH THE
DESCRIPTION THEY'D GOTTEN EARLIER IN THE CASE OF THE
PEEPING TOM, BUT THAT DIDN'T MEAN HE HADN'T BEEN SPYING ON
COREY, SAID DETECTIVES >> IT WOULDN'T TAKE MUCH IF SHE
HAD HER LIGHTS ON TO SIT UP THERE IN THE DARK AND BE ABLE TO
WATCH HER AS MUCH AS HE WANTED TO
>> Reporter: KINGSTON DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THE MAN LIVED NOW,
BUT SHE FOUND OUT HE HAD A SISTER IN THE AREA
>> Reporter: THE SISTER SAID KINGSSTON COULD FIND HER BROTHER
IN EASTON, MARYLAND. HE'D MOVED THERE TO BE WITH A
WOMAN HE MET ONLINE. KINGSTON AND CARLYLE IMMEDIATELY
HEADED NORTH THEY NEEDED TO COMPARE THEIR
SUSPECT TO THAT HAIR SAMPLE FROM THE CRIME SCENE.
YOU NEED HIS DNA >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Reporter: WITH THE HELP OF EASTON POLICE, THEY CALLED UP
THEIR SUSPECT AND FLAT-OUT LIED. THEY MADE UP A STORY ABOUT A
RECENT ASSAULT COULD HE COME IN FOR
QUESTIONING. >> SO HE AGREED TO COME IN AND
HE SAT DOWN WITH US. >> Reporter: WHAT FOLLOWED WAS
VINTAGE CAT AND MOUSE. POLICE TRIED TO GET DENNEY'S DNA
OFF A CIGARETTE. DENNEY WENT FOR THE SMOKE BUT
WHEN HE WAS FINISHED - >> HE TOOK THE CIGARETTE BUTT
AND PUT IT BEHIND HIS EAR. WOULDN'T PUT IT IN THE CIGARETTE
ASHTRAY. >> Reporter: SO THEY MOVED ON TO
PLAN B THEY OFFERED HIM A BOTTLE OF
WATER. >> HE TAKES THE WATER, BUT HE
DOESN'T TAKE THE TOP OFF OF IT HE SAT THERE THE WHOLE TIME
NEVER DRANK FROM THE WATER BOTTLE
SO NOW YOU'RE ON TO PLAN C >> Reporter: WHICH WAS THIS.
THEY ASKED DENNEY TO FILL OUT SOME FORMS
POLICE PROCEDURAL STUFF, THEY SAID
>> AND WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO IS HAVE HIM SIGN THOSE FORMS AND
THEN PUT THEM IN AN ENVELOPE AND THEN SEAL THE ENVELOPE
THERE WAS THREE DIFFERENT ENVELOPES.
>> Reporter: DENNEY FILLED OUT THE FORMS BUT DIDN'T LICK THE
ENVELOPES. >> AND HE LOOKS AT US AND SAYS,
YOU GUYS HAVE TRIED THREE SEPARATE TIMES TO GET MY DNA
SAMPLE HE SAYS, YOU CAN SEAL THEM
YOURSELF IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE
>> Reporter: THE BEST LAID PLANS.
>> THE BEST LAID PLANS OF MICE AND MEN.
HE DIDN'T FALL FOR IT. >> Reporter: DENNEY WAS DONE,
BUT CARLYLE WASN'T >> I WASN'T GOING ANYWHERE
WITHOUT A DNA SAMPLE >> Reporter: SO THEY STAKED HIM
OUT AT THE COMPUTER STORE WHERE HE WORKED.
AND SNAPPED THESE PHOTOS AS THEIR PREY CAME OUTSIDE FOR HIS
CIGARETTE BREAKS ONCE AGAIN, THEIR MOUSE WAS A
STEP AHEAD >> HE WAS SMOKING A CIGARETTE
AND WHEN HE WAS FINISHED WITH IT, HE WOULD TAKE IT AND PUT IT
BEHIND HIS EAR >> Reporter: DO YOU THINK HE
KNEW THAT MAYBE YOU WERE WATCHING HIM
>> I'M SURE. >> Reporter: BUT ON THE SECOND
DAY, DENNEY DID SOMETHING HE HAD PROBABLY DONE A THOUSAND TIMES
BEFORE >> HE STARTS SPITTING ON THE
GROUND OUT OF THE CLEAR BLUE >> Reporter: SPIT HAS DNA IN IT.
>> AND WE WERE LIKE -- WE WERE JUMPING FOR JOY AT THAT POINT.
>> Reporter: SO YOU'VE NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY IN YOUR LIFE TO
SEE SOMEONE -- >> NEVER SO HAPPY TO SEE THAT.
>> Reporter: -- SPIT WHEN DENNEY LEFT, CARLYL
RACED OVER, TOOK A SAMPLE AND WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FBI'S DNA
LAB. ALL THERE WAS LEFT TO DO NOW WAS
WAIT JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER. >>> COMING UP --
NO MATTER HOW THE TESTS COME BACK, DETECTIVES WILL HAVE TO
EXPLAIN A LOT OF OTHER EVIDENCE AT THE SCENE
>> THERE'S UNIDENTIFIED FINGERPRINTS AND THERE'S
UNIDENTIFIED HAIRS IN THE VICTIM'S HANDS
>> HAD SOMEONE ELSE BEEN AT COREY'S?
THEN WE SIT DOWN WITH ROBERT DENNEY
>> DID YOU MURDER COREY PARKER >> THE REASON DENNEY SAYS POLICE
>>> IT HAD BEEN A YEAR AND A HALF SINCE COREY PARKER'S MURDER
WHEN POLICE DISCOVERED OR REDISCOVERED ROBERT DENNEY, HER
OLD NEIGHBOR >> WE WENT FULL BORE ON ROBERT
DENNEY AT THAT POINT >> Reporter: HERE'S WHY.
DENNEY LIVED RIGHT BEHIND THE VICTIM
HE DISAPPEARED SOON AFTER HER MURDER
AND DETECTIVES LEARNED THIS. DENNEY HAD AN OLDER BROTHER IN
PRISON FOR MURDER. YOU'RE STARTING TO THINK THIS
MIGHT RUN IN THE FAMILY? >> YOU CAN'T HELP BUT THINK
THAT >> Reporter: DENNEY'S BROTHER
HAD BEEN CONVICTED YEARS EARLIER IN TEXAS
AND HIS CRIME WAS EERILY SIMILAR TO THIS CASE
>> THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE BROTHER WAS THAT, IN HIS
CASE IN EL PASO, HE STABBED THAT WOMAN 96 TIMES
AND WE'RE DEALING WITH A HOMICIDE WHERE OUR VICTIM'S BEEN
STABBED 101 TIMES. SO THE SIMILARITY WAS JUST TOO
MUCH TO OVERLOOK >> Reporter: THE DETECTIVES HAD
TO WONDER IF DENNEY HAD KILLED COREY IN A TWISTED ATTEMPT TO
OUTDO HIS SIBLING. ONE THING DETECTIVES WERE SURE
OF, HE HAD BECOME FIXATED ON HER.
A CO-WORKER RECALLED BEING IN ROBERT DENNEY'S APARTMENT.
>> ROBERT POINTED DOWN TO COREY'S WINDOW AND SAID, I WATCH
THAT GIRL DOWN THERE >> Reporter: THEY WERE CONVINCED
DENNEY WAS HER KILLER, BUT THEY NEEDED PROOF
SO THEY WAITED FOR TESTS TO COMPARE DENNEY'S SALIVA SAMPLE
TO THAT STRAND OF HAIR FOUND AT THE SCENE.
AND WOULDN'T YOU KNOW, DENNEY'S DNA WAS A MATCH.
NOT JUST TO THAT HAIR BUT ALSO TO A TINY SPECK OF BLOOD
RECOVERED NEAR HER KITCHEN SINK. ALL THE OTHER POSSIBLE SUSPECTS,
THE NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR, DISHWASHER AND TIFFANY, WERE
CLEARED IN THE CASE. >> WE WERE JUMPING UP AND THE
DOWN >> WE WANTED TO GO GET HIM THEN.
>> Reporter: AND PROSECUTOR ANGELA COREY SAID NO
>> HE CAN COME UP WITH A STORY TO EXPLAIN THAT DNA AWAY
I CARRIED HER GROCERIES IN FOR HER, AND I CUT MY FINGER
YOU CAN'T GIVE ANYBODY A CHANCE TO EXPLAIN IT AWAY
>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTOR WANTED HIM ON THE RECORD DENYING
HE'D EVER SET FOOT IN THE VICTIM'S APARTMENT
THEN THEY'D HIT HIM WITH THE DNA PROOF TRAPPING HIM
SO THEY SENT KATIE KINGSTON BACK TO MARYLAND TO ROBERT DENNEY'S
HOUSE. >> WELL, I WAS GOING TO PLAY
LIKE I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING. >> Reporter: YOU WERE ACTING
>> JUST ACTING KIND OF DUMB. >> Reporter: SHE TOLD DENNEY
THEY HAD FOUND THE MAN WHO KILLED HIS OLD NEIGHBOR COREY
PARKER THE DETECTIVE WAS JUST HERE TO
TIE UP LOOSE ENDS. HE SEEMED WILLING TO HELP.
WHAT HE DIDN'T KNOW THE DETECTIVE WAS WEARING A WIRE
>> DNA OF COREY PARKER OR EVER TALK TO HER?
>> NO. >> OKAY.
NO >> Reporter: THEN THE DETECTIVE
ASKED THE CRUCIAL QUESTION HAD HE EVER BEEN IN COREY'S
APARTMENT? YOU ALL DIDN'T GO BACK AND FORTH
TO EACH OTHER'S APARTMENTS >> I KNEW THE GUY NEXT TO THAT.
>> SO YOU ALL DIDN'T GO BACK AND FORTH.
AND ALL THAT STUFF OKAY
>> Reporter: THAT WAS ALL THE DETECTIVE NEEDED
THE CAT IT SEEMED HAD FINALLY GOTTEN ITS MOUSE
>> WHEN I HEARD THE RECORDING, I HAD THE ARREST WARRANT READY TO
GO AND I FINISHED PLUGGING IN WHAT THEY TOLD ME OVER THE
PHONE, AND WE WERE ECSTATIC. WE KNEW WE HAD HIM
>> Reporter: COREY PARKER HAD BEEN DEAD ALMOST TWO YEARS TO
THE DAY WHEN POLICE SLIPPED THE HANDCUFFS ON ROBERT DENNEY
AT THE POLICE STATION RIGHT AFTER HIS ARREST, HE PROTESTED
HIS INNOCENCE. >> YOU CAN'T HAVE ANY EVIDENCE
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE. BECAUSE I DIDN'T DO IT
I CAN'T ADMIT TO SOMETHING I DIDN'T DO.
>> Reporter: AND WHEN CARLYLE MENTIONED DENNEY'S BROTHER HE
AGAIN TOLD DETECTIVES HE HAD IT ALL WRONG.
>> THAT'S MY BROTHER >> I UNDERSTAND THAT.
>> THAT'S MY BROTHER >> I UNDERSTAND THAT
>> THAT'S NOT ME >> Reporter: DETECTIVES WEREN'T
BUYING HIS TEARS THEY WERE CONVINCED THEY HAD
ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO PUT ROBERT DENNEY AWAY FOR LIFE
IT TOOK FINE YEARS TO COME TO TRIAL.
IT WAS A COMPLICATED INVESTIGATION.
DENNEY'S DNA WAS FOUND AT THE CRIME SCENE BUT THERE WAS ALSO
EVIDENCE THEY COULDN'T LINK TO HIM.
>> THERE'S STILL UNIDENTIFIE PIECES OF EVIDENCE AT THIS CRIME
SCENE. >> Reporter: ROBERT DENNEY'S
ATTORNEY, RICK SITKA >> THERE'S UNIDENTIFIED SEMEN
STAINS AND FINGERPRINTS AND HAIRS IN THE VICTIM'S HANDS.
SO IT'S A QUESTION OF WHO DONE IT
>> Reporter: NOT A CASE OF DENNEY DID IT, HE SAID
TO UNDERSCORE THAT, DENNEY EVEN TOOK THE STAND TO SHOW JURORS HE
WAS JUST A BOY NEXT DOOR, NOT A MONSTER AT THE DOOR.
ONLY IT DIDN'T WORK. AFTER A THREE-WEEK TRIAL, THE
JURY NEEDED LESS THAN AN HOUR TO RENDER A VERDICT, GUILTY OF
FIRST DEGREE MURDER. DENNEY WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN
WITHOUT PAROLE WE MET HIM IN PRISON
DID YOU MURDER COREY PARKER? >> NO, I DID NOT
>> Reporter: HE BELIEVES THE SINS OF HIS BROTHER MADE POLICE
QUICK TO ZERO IN ON HIM. THERE HAS BEEN A CONNECTION MADE
AS FAR AS THE THEORIES OF THE POLICE, THE PROSECUTORS THAT
THIS WAS SOME TWISTED BROTHERLY BOND OR RIVALRY.
IS THERE ANY TRUTH TO THAT >> NONE AT ALL
SIMPLY BECAUSE MY BROTHER IS CONVICTED OF MURDER DOES NOT
MAKE ME A MURDERER >> Reporter: HE SAYS THE WAY
POLICE LATER GOT HIS DNA SHOWS THEY WERE DETERMINED TO LINK HIM
TO COREY'S MURDER. >> WHEN I FIRST HEARD THAT MY
SPIT WAS WHAT THEY COLLECTED TO MATCH TO ANY DNA AT THE CRIME
SCENE, IT WAS JUST UNREAL. I'M THINKING TO MYSELF, HOW
COULD THIS BE? >> Reporter: HE'S ALSO CONVINCED
THAT THE LABS, INCLUDING THE ONE AT THE FBI, DIDN'T FOLLOW
PROTOCOL WHEN THEY TESTED HIS DNA AGAINST THE EVIDENCE FROM
THE CRIME SCENE. >> THERE'S DEFINITELY EVIDENCE
THAT SUGGESTS THAT MAY HAVE MIXED UP SAMPLES
>> Reporter: THE HARDEST PART TO MIX YOUR HEAD AROUND IS THERE
CAN BE CONTAMINATION ON BOTH THE BLOOD AND THE HAIR
>> RIGHT I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULD
FEEL THAT WAY AND MAYBE THAT GOES TO EXPLAINING WHAT THE
POLICE MIGHT HAVE DONE WITH THE EVIDENCE
WE DON'T KNOW. IF I KNEW, I WOULDN'T BE HERE.
>> Reporter: IT JUST SEEMS A LITTLE FAR-FETCHED THAT THE
POLICE WOULD RANDOMLY PLUCK YOU OUT OF OBSCURITY YEARS LATER AND
DECIDE TO FRAME YOU. >> I UNDERSTAND.
AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS, AND IT HAPPENED
POLICE DO FRAME PEOPLE WE SEE IT ALL THE TIME NOW IN
AMERICA. >> Reporter: THE POLICE HAVE
FRAMED YOU AND TWO SEPARATE CRIME LABS HAVE CONTAMINATED THE
EVIDENCE >> YES
>> Reporter: YOU CAN SEE HOW THAT -
>> I CAN SEE HOW THAT IS - >> Reporter: VERY FAR-FETCHED.
>> FAR-FETCHED YEAH, I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT.
>> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE IN THIS CASE SAYS HE IS 1,000%
CERTAIN HE HAS THE RIGHT PERSON. >> HE'S WRONG.
HE DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT PERSON
>> Reporter: SO WHO DID IT THEN? >> IF I KNEW, I WOULDN'T BE HERE
NOW. I WISH I KNEW.
>> Reporter: YET THE PEOPLE WHO ARRESTED AND PROSECUTED DENNEY
INSIST TWO INDEPENDENT LABS DID FOLLOW PROTOCOL LINKING HIS DNA
TO EVIDENCE FROM THE CRIME SCENE.
AN APPEALS COURT DENIED DENNEY'S MOTION FOR A NEW TRIAL
BUT IT DID AGREE HIS SENTENCE, LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE, VIOLATED
THE GUIDELINE FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS, WHICH HE WAS AT THE
TIME OF THE MURDER NO DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR HIS
SENTENCING HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH THAT
>> DRINK MORE. TRIED TO LOSE WHO I WAS, TRIED
TO CHANGE WHO I WAS. DIDN'T LIKE MYSELF VERY MUCH
TAKEN ME A WHILE TO GET BACK TO WHO I NEEDED TO BE
>> AMY LAVIN HAS ALSO STRUGGLED WITH THE PAST.
>> I GO TO THAT DAY. WHY DIDN'T I INVITE HER TO
THANKSGIVING WITH ME MAYBE SHE WOULD HAVE GONE.
EVEN TO THIS DAY, THERE'S A LOT OF GUILT WITH THAT
>> Reporter: BUT THERE'S ALSO GRATITUDE TO INVESTIGATORS WHO
NEVER GAVE UP, TO THREE STRANGERS ON A DOCK PLAYING ARM
CHAIR DETECTIVE AND, MOST OF ALL, TO A BEST FRIEND.
>> I DEFINITELY FEEL BLESSED TO HAVE KNOWN HER FOR THE AMOUNT OF
TIME I DID I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT SHE WOULD
HAVE ACCOMPLISHED BY NOW >> Reporter: WHATEVER IT WAS,
AMY FEELS CERTAIN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE THE WOMAN HERSELF, AS
VIBRANT AS A NORTHERN SKY, AS UNFORGETTABLE AS A SOUTHERN
NIGHT. >>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION
OF "DATELINE." WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW AT 10:00,
NEXT FRIDAY AT 10:00, 9:00 CENTRAL AND OF COURSE I'LL SEE
YOU EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR NBC