TONIGHT ON DATELINE: A MYSTERY
IN PARADISE THAT STARTED AS A HONEYMOON.
AND, ENDED IN A MURDER >> YOU MAY KISS THE BRIDE.
>> CONGRATULATIONS >> I GET A PHONE CALL,
SCREAMING, CRYING. WENDY'S DEAD
THEY HAD BEEN ON THEIR HONEYMOON.
WHY IS THIS YOUNG GIRL IN THIS INDUSTRIAL PARKING LOT
WHERE'S HER HUSBAND? >> THIS GUY DEFINITELY DID NOT
PASS THE SNIFF TEST. >> NO.
>> A MILLION DOLLAR INSURANCE POLICY ON YOUR LIFE.
THAT'S A BIG RED FLAG. >> SHE LOVED HIM
THE TRUTH WAS BEING REVEALED >> IT SHOWED THE MONSTER BEHIND
THE MASK >> YOU'VE GOT TO PROVE IT.
YOU'VE GOT TO PROVE IT >> THE YEARS OF WAITING, THE
YEARS OF MOURNING HER. WE NEEDED JUSTICE.
>> HERE'S DENNIS MURPHY WITH "MYSTERY IN SOUTH BEACH.
>> IF YOU SPENT ANY TIME DOWN HERE, YOU PROBABLY SENSE THERE
ARE REALLY TWO MIAMI BEACHES YOU KNOW THIS ONE BY REPUTATION
ANYWAY SOUTH BEACH.
A PULSATING PLAYGROUND WITH ENERGY THAT SURGES OUT OF THE
OCEAN AND EXHAUSTS ITSELF IN THE ALL-NIGHT CLUBS.
AND THEN THERE'S THE OLD MIAMI BEACH.
HERE ARE THE SUNBURNED BACK STREETS OF APARTMENT BLOCKS,
WHERE DECADES PAST THE OLD PEOPLE USED TO SIT OUT IN
ALUMINUM CHAIRS. AND THAT'S WHERE A YOUNG COUPLE,
WENDY AND MICHEL, WERE TRYING TO MAKE A GO OF IT.
THE RENT WAS CHEAP THE WINDOW AIR-CONDITIONING GOOD
ENOUGH BUT IF YOU EVER THOUGH
BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE CATCH ALL THE BREAKS, THEN LISTEN TO THIS
STORY OF 21-YEAR-OLD WENDY TRAPAGA, BECAUSE SHE MAY BE THE
MOST GORGEOUS DOOMED YOUNG WOMAN TO EVER WALK THESE STREETS
>> SHE WAS MODEL PRETTY. >> I DON'T THINK THAT SHE
THOUGHT OF HERSELF AS ANYTHING SPECTACULAR.
>> DIDN'T BECOME THE CENTRAL PART OF HER PERSONALITY.
I AM PRETTY? >> IT WASN'T WHAT SHE WAS ABOUT.
>> HER MUCH OLDER SISTERS AND BROTHER RALPH NEVER USED TO
QUALIFY HER AS A STEPSISTER. THEY'LL TELL YOU SHE WAS A
LITTLE BIT OF A DADDY'S GIRL, INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE PILOT WHO
DIED, SADLY, IN A CRASH WHEN WENDY WAS JUST 6
HER MOTHER, MIRIAM, RAISED HER AND BIG SISTER RITA ALWAYS
PITCHING IN. >> I GUESS I WAS A MOTHER FOR
HER BECAUSE I WAS PRETTY MUCH THERE BY MIRIAM'S SIDE RAISING
HER. >> THE LOVE OF ANIMALS WAS
ALWAYS A PART OF WENDY >> SHE WAS ALWAYS RESCUING SOME
ANIMAL, DOG, PUPPY, KITTEN, ANYTHING
>> SHE WANTED TO BE A VET FOR A WHILE?
>> YES >> BUT ALLERGIES WOULD END HER
AMBITIONS TO BECOME A VET. >> I KEPT TELLING HER, DON'T
GIVE UP YOUR PASSION DON'T GIVE IT UP
>> BUT WENDY DID HAVE ANOTHER PASSION.
IT WAS FOR FASHION AND MAKEOVERS.
>> OH, MY GOODNESS >> PRETTY GIRL
>> AT EASTER, SHE MEMORABLY DOLLED UP HER NIECES FOR A
LIVING ROOM FASHION SHOW >> HERE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE
ENTIRE OPERATION >> HOW NICE A KID WAS THIS
CHURCH-GOING, SLIGHTLY SHELTERED GIRL
WELL, THERE'S THIS STORY OF THE CLASSMATE WITHOUT A DRESS.
>> ONE GIRL COULDN'T AFFORD TO GO TO THE PROM AND WENDY GOT
THIS GIRL PRETTIED UP, GOT HER A DRESS, EVERYTHING.
THAT WAS THE HEART SHE HAD >> AFTER GRADUATION, TWO COUSINS
WHO OWNED THEIR OWN SALONS URGED WENDY TO FOLLOW IN THEIR
FOOTSTEPS. >> SHE HAD A FLARE FOR IT AND
YOU CAN DO VERY WELL IN THAT FIELD?
>> YES, SHE DID. >> SO AT 21 AFTER A BRIEF
MARRIAGE, SHE ENROLLED IN BEAUTY SCHOOL
AND IN 2002 THAT'S WHEN SH FIRST SAW MICHEL ESCOTO REV UP
ON A RED MOTORCYCLE. SELF-TAUGHT WEB DESIGNER AND
SOMETIMES TEACHER OF COMPUTING BY HIS EARLY 30s HE WAS LOOKING
FOR A CAREER CHANGE. HE THOUGHT HE WOULD TRY
HAIRSTYLING. SO HE ENROLLED, AS FATE WOULD
HAVE IT, IN THE SAME COSMETOLOGY SCHOOL AS WENDY.
MICHEL, WHO FANCIED HIMSELF A SENSITIVE GUY POET HAD A STRING
OF ADMIRING GIRLFRIENDS. BUT WENDY, YOUNGER BY TEN YEARS
AND PRETTIER THAN MOST ANY OTHER WOMAN IN HIS ORBIT, WAS CLEARLY
A PRIZE CATCH. M
MICHEL'S FRIEND, RAMAN SANTA CRUZ
>> WHEN I MET WENDY, HE WAS ON A MOTORCYCLE WITH HER.
I TOLD MYSELF, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL GIRL
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE DID TO GET THIS GIRL.
>> WHATEVER HE DID, IT WORKED. THE PAIR, FALLING QUICKLY AND
DEEPLY >> THEY WERE LIKE HIGH SCHOOL
SWEETHEARTS. SHE WAS TOTALLY IN LOVE, SPARKLE
IN THE EYE HE SAID I'M GOING TO BUY HER A
MOTORCYCLE IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT
>> WITHIN SIX MONTHS, THEY WERE LIVING TOGETHER ON SOUTH BEACH
WENDY GAVE MICHEL A MAKEOVER, DYEING HIS HAIR BLOND, PERFECT
FOR THE CLUB SCENE THEY LIVED FOR THE DAY AND THEN
CAME UNEXPECTED NEWS FOR THESE TWO BUTTERFLIES.
WENDY WAS PREGNANT HER MOTHER, MIRIAM, HAD MIXED
FEELINGS HOW DID MIRIAM FEEL ABOUT THE
FACT THAT HER BABY WAS HAVING A BABY
>> DELIGHTED WITH THE FACT OF BEING A GRANDMOTHER, BUT NOT
DELIGHTED WITH THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
>> WENDY HAD HAD THE BIG CHURCH WEDDING FOR HER FIRST MARRIAGE
THIS TIME AROUND, SHE AND MICHEL GOT HITCHED AT MIAMI BEACH CITY
HALL >> YOU MAY KISS THE BRIDE.
CONGRATULATIONS. >> THE NEXT DAY, WENDY AND
MICHEL SET OUT FOR A BRIEF WEEKEND HONEYMOON, A DRIVE DOWN
THE FLORIDA KEYS TO KEY WEST WHERE THE ROAD RAN OUT
SUNSET DRINKS, DINNER AND A HOTEL.
THREE DAYS AFTER THE WEDDING, THEY WERE BACK IN MIAMI BEACH,
SUNDAY EVENING WENDY CALLED HER MOTHER TO SAY
THEY WERE GOING TO A MOVIE AND THEN DANCING LATER AT A CLUB
HER MOTHER URGED HER PREGNANT DAUGHTER NOT TO DRINK.
THEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, THE WEE HOURS OF MONDAY MORNING,
WENDY'S MOTHER GOT AN UNEXPECTED CALL FROM HER NEW SON-IN-LAW,
MICHEL, SAYING THEY'VE HAD AN ARGUMENT
WENDY STORMED OFF, SAYING SHE WAS GOING TO HER MOTHER'S HOUSE.
SINCE THEN, THE BRIDEGROOM SAYS HE REPEATEDLY CALLED WENDY
WITHOUT SUCCESS. RIGHT AROUND THEN, IN A BLEAK
WAREHOUSE DISTRICT, MILES AND MILES FROM THE AFTER-HOURS BARS
OF MIAMI, A SANITATION WORKER WAS STARTLED TO SEE THE BODY OF
A YOUNG WOMAN IN A BLUE DRESS SLUMPED BETWEEN TWO VEHICLES
IT WAS THE NEWLYWED, WENDY NEWS TRAVELS FAST.
>> I GET A CALL FROM MY STEPMOTHER, SCREAMING, CRYING.
WENDY'S DEAD THEY TOOK HER FROM ME.
SHE TOLD ME IT'S ON THE NEWS AND I WENT LOOKING, AND THERE'S
MY SWEET LITTLE SISTER BEING PUT ON A GURNEY.
AND IT'S JUST SO SURREAL >> DESOLATE WAREHOUSE PLACE.
>> ALL I KEPT THINKING ABOUT WAS HER BEING ALONE THERE, BY
HERSELF, PRAYING TO GOD THAT SHE DIDN'T SUFFER.
>> THE KILLER, WHO BLUDGEONED HER TO DEATH, ALSO ERASED THE
BEAUTY OF HER YOUNG FACE A HONEYMOON WEEKEND FOR THE NEW
BRIDE HAD ENDED BEHIND YELLOW POLICE TAPE.
>>> WHO KILLED WENDY AND WHY DID IT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH
MIAMI'S WILD NIGHTLIFE >> WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON WITH
MICHEL IN THE CLUB SCENE >> HE DID ADMIT TO HAVING
ENCOUNTERS WITH OTHER COUPLES >>> MIAMI-DADE POLICE DETECTIVES
MARIA MEDAROS AND GUS TOBIAS HAD BARELY CLOCKED IN FOR THEIR
MONDAY MORNING SHIFT WHEN WORD CAME DOWN OF A HOMICIDE IN A
BLEAK WAREHOUSE DISTRICT IT'S WHERE THEY FOUND IN A
PARKING LOT THE BODY OF WENDY TRAPAGA.
LYING BETWEEN A CAR AND A VAN. >> WE COULD SEE THE SPATTER OF
THE BLOOD ON THE VAN MEANING THAT WHOEVER DID IT TO
HER DID IT TO HER RIGHT THERE. >> SO THIS BODY HADN'T BEEN
DISPOSED OF THERE. THIS WAS THE PLACE WHERE SHE WAS
KILLED >> CORRECT
>> HER HEAD HAD BEEN BASHED IN BUT THERE WAS NO WEAPON TO BE
FOUND. >> WHAT TYPE OF ROBBCRIME IS THIS?
IS IT A ROBBERY? >> SHE DOESN'T HAVE HER SHOES ON
WHICH WAS UNUSUAL. WHY IS THIS YOUNG GIRL IN AN
INDUSTRIAL PARKING LOT --? >> NO REASON TO BE IN THIS PART
OF THE COUNTY? >> NO.
UNLESS SHE MET UP WITH SOMEONE >> SO THE DETECTIVES HEADED OUT
TO DO THE PART OF THE JOB THAT NEVER GETS EASIER.
>> SO YOU'RE DELIVERING TERRIBLE NEWS
>> HORRIBLE NEWS >> AMID THE SHOCK AND TEARS,
THEY PIECE TOGETHER FROM THEIR MOTHER A SENSE OF WHO THE VICTIM
WAS AND WHAT HER FINAL HOURS AND DAYS HAD BEEN ABOUT.
SUNDAY EVENING, THE PHONE CALL, WENDY SOUNDED OKAY, THE
DETECTIVES WERE TOLD, BUT THAT NEXT CALL AT 5:48 AM, THE ONE
FROM MICHEL, ASKING IF SHE WAS AT HER MOM'S, WAS WORRISOME.
A FEW HOURS LATER, HE WAS WAITING FOR HER AT HER WORK.
>> HE MET HER AT HER JOB HE TELLS ME SHE SAY VERY
TROUBLED AND WORRIED ABOUT WHERE SHE COULD BE
>> HE WAS ABOUT TO GET AN OFFICIAL ANSWER AS TO WHERE SHE
WAS QUESTION >> AS WE'RE TALKING, THE PHONE
RINGS AND IT'S MICHEL ESCOTO CALLING.
>> AGAIN ASKING HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW IF SHE HAD HEARD
FROM WENDY DETECTIVES GRABBED THE PHONE AND
ASKED WHERE HE WAS THEY HEADED OVER TO MICHEL'S
APARTMENT TO DELIVER THE NEWS ABOUT HIS GIRLFRIEND OF EIGHT
MONTHS, HIS PRIDE OF FOUR DAYS >> WE WALKED INTO HIS APARTMENT
AND WHEN HE BLUNTED OUT IS SHE DEAD AND WE EXPLAIN WE'RE
INVESTIGATING THE DEATH OF WENDY, ET CETERA, HE STARTED
THROWING UP, DOUBLING OVER >> DOUBLED OVER, CRYING.
POLICE GAVE HIM A FEW MINUTES TO COMPOSE HIMSELF BEFORE ASKING
HIM TO COME DOWN TO HEADQUARTERS TO ANSWER SOME MORE QUESTIONS.
MICHAEL TOLD THE DETECTIVES THAT WENDY HAD THE IDEA OF ADDING A
LITTLE MORE SPICE BEFORE REJOINING THEIR WORKWEEK LIVES
>> WELL, WE HAVEN'T HAD MUCH OF A HONEYMOON THIS WEEKEND
LET'S EXTEND OUR HONEYMOON >> SO AS MICHEL ESCOTO TOLD IT,
AROUND MIDNIGHT THEY CHECKED INTO A MIAMI HOTEL THAT FEATURES
FANTASY SUITES WITH A PRIVATE POOL AND JACUZZI
HE SAYS THEY HAD SEX, SLEPT A LITTLE AND WENDY DOZED OFF IN
THE JACUZZI. AROUND 4:00 AM, MICHEL SAYS,
THEY CHECKED OUT AND HEADED HOME
THAT'S WHEN, HE SAID, THE NEWLYWEDS HAD THEIR FIRST
ARGUMENT MICHEL SAYS HE WALKED INTO THE
APARTMENT, LEAVING WENDY IN THE CAR.
>> THREE MINUTES LATER, HE COMES OUT.
HE SAYS WHEN HE COMES OUT, THE CAR IS GONE.
WENDY IS GONE. >> HE SPOKE WITH DETECTIVES FOR
14 HOURS THEY ASKED HIM REPEATEDLY IF HE
COULD IDENTIFY ANYONE WITH A MOTIVE
HE SAID HE COULDN'T. AFTER LEAVING POLICE
HEADQUARTERS, HE SAW HIS FRIEND RAMON SANTA CRUZ
>> HE WAS LOOKING DEPRESSED. HE LOOKED DOWN, MAYBE TIRED.
>> FIVE DAYS AFTER HER MURDER, WENDY WAS LAID TO REST
AND THEN FRIENDS AND FAMILY GATHERED AT HER PARENTS' HOME.
DETECTIVE BIAS WAS THERE AS WELL AND HE LEARNED SOMETHING ABOUT
THE COUPLE THAT WOULD SEND THE INVESTIGATION DOWN ANOTHER PATH.
A THREAD OF THIS INVESTIGATION TAKES YOU INTO THE SWINGER
LIFESTYLE. WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON WITH MICHEL
AND WENDY AND THE CLUB SCENE >> AFTER I'M INFORMED OF THIS,
THAT WENDY WAS PART OF A SWINGERS CLUB, A PLACE CALLED
THE MIAMI VELVET DOWN HERE IN SOUTH MIAMI, THE FIRST THING I
DID WAS I CALLED MICHEL. HE DID ADMIT TO HAVING
ENCOUNTERS WITH OTHER COUPLES THERE.
>> NOW YOU GOT TO WONDER DID SOMEBODY HAVE A THING THEY
DEVELOPED ABOUT WENDY AND IS THAT THE KILLER?
>> IT TURNED OUT THE CLUB IS WITHIN A MILE AND A HALF OF THE
SCENE, SO I WANTED TO EXPLORE THAT
>> THE SWINGERS CLUB WAS COOPERATIVE AND DETECTIVES TOOK
DNA SAMPLES FROM A FEW EMPLOYEES AND MEMBERS.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR RESULTS.
IN THE MEANTIME THE INVESTIGATION WAS TURNING UP A
NEW LEAD, A FORMER GIRLFRIEND OF MICHEL'S, HER NAME
YOLANDA SIRRIO >> SHE HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH
HIM BEFORE HE MET THE VICTIM ACCORDING TO HER, MICHEL LEFT
HER FOR WENDY. SHE LOVED HIM AND WAS VERY MUCH
IN LOVE WITH HIM >> A SINGLE MOTHER, WAS SHE ALSO
A WOMAN SCORNED. MICHEL LEFT HER JUST SIX MONTHS
EARLIER. AND TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY,
ASKED HER TO TAKE CARE OF HIS DOG WHILE HE WAS ON A HONEYMOON.
>> TO GO TO THE EXTENT OF TAKING CARE OF SOMEONE'S DOG DURING
THEIR HONEYMOON, AS A WOMAN THAT'S VERY STRANGE TO ME.
>> DOES YOLANDA BECOME A SUSPECT?
A WOMAN WHO FEELS SHE WAS FIRED BECAUSE OF A YOUNGER WOMAN AND
NOBODY GETS AWAY WITH THAT AND I'M GOING TO KILL YOU.
>> THERE'S A LOT TO YOLANDA. >> A LOT OF BAD IF YOU ASK RAMON
SANTA CRUZ >> I DIDN'T LIKE HER FROM THE
BEGINNING. SHE WAS VERY EVASIVE
THE APARTMENT WAS ALWAYS DIRTY SHE WAS NEVER A GOOD PERSON TO
BEGIN WITH >> DETECTIVES MET WITH YOLANDA
WHO FREELY ADMITTED THAT SHE WAS DEVASTATED WHEN MICHEL DUMPED
HER. BUT SHE HAD NO IDEA WHO BEAT HIS
WIFE TO DEATH. >> SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT IT. >> BUT THE DETECTIVES NOTED
SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT YOLANDA SHE LIVED JUST A FEW MINUTES
FROM THE PARKING LOT WHERE THEY FOUND WENDY.
>> WHEN YOU STARTED ADDING UP THINGS, HER PROXIMITY TO THE
CRIME SCENE, I'M VERY INTERESTED
>> NO ONE KNEW WHAT YOLANDA WAS HIDING AND SO WOULD THE
REVELATION OF A MOTIVE THAT WOULD SEEM TO EXPLAIN EVERY
VIOLENT LITTLE THING >>> COMING UP, A MILLION REASONS
WHY SOMEONE WANTED WENDY DEAD. >> I ASKED HIM, HOW MUCH IS THE
LIFE INSURANCE POLICY AND HE SAID $1 L
PRETTY WENDY TRAPAGA DID HER KILLER MEET HER AT THE
SEXUAL SWAPPING CLUB THAT HER BOYFRIEND MICHEL TOOK HER TO
THE COPS RAN DOWN THOSE LEADS. SWINGERS CLUB THEORY WENT
NOWHERE. WHAT ABOUT YOLANDA, THE
HUSBAND'S EX-GIRLFRIEND, ENRAGED PERHAPS FOR BEING TRADED IN FOR
WENDY, THE YOUNGER MODEL THE DETECTIVES' GUTS TOLD THEM
TH THAT YOLANDA KNEW WAY MORE THAN
SHE WAS SAYING BUT HOW TO CRACK HER
THEN THERE WAS THE HUSBAND HIMSELF.
THEY KEPT GOING BACK OVER THEIR NOTES FROM THE 14-HOUR INTERVIEW
WITH HIM AT TIMES IT HAD BEEN PULLING
TEETH. >> WE ASKED HIM OVER AND OVER
AGAIN, IS THERE ANYBODY WITH A MOTIVE, ANYTHING AT ALL,
ANYTHING YOU CAN TELL US I BRING UP A POINT, DON'T YOU
HAVE A LIFE INSURANCE POLICY HE SAYS, YEAH, WE DO
>> A HEFTY ONE, IT WOULD SEEM, FOR A HEALTHY 21-YEAR-OLD WOMAN
HE WASN'T EVEN MARRIED TO AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE
>> I ASKED HIM, HOW MUCH IS THE LIFE INSURANCE POLICY?
AND HE SAID A MILLION DOLLARS AND I SAID A MILLION DOLLARS
AND YOU DON'T THINK THAT'S A MOTIVE
YOU DON'T THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO TELL US
AND HE SAID NO, I DON'T, BECAUSE I HAVE A MILLION DOLLAR LIFE
INSURANCE POLICY ON MYSELF, TOO. I SAID THAT'S NOT IN QUESTION
BECAUSE YOU'RE HERE. YOU'RE ALIVE
>> ONE THING ESCOTO DID REVEAL, WENDY WAS NOT PREGNANT
HE SAID THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THEIR ARGUMENT THAT NIGHT.
HE SAID WENDY HAD LIED TO HIM ABOUT THE WHOLE THING.
AS THE DETECTIVE'S QUESTIONS GOT SHARPER THAT DAY, MICHEL SHUT
DOWN HE DIDN'T TALK HIMSELF OFF YOUR
LIST >> HE DID NOT.
HE DID NOT >> THE WORKING THEORY OF THE
CRIME WAS AS SIMPLE AS IT WAS BRUTAL
HE BASHED IN HER SKULL WITH A MILLION DOLLAR INSURANCE PAYOUT,
A TIRE IRON WAS MISSING FROM HER CAR, A LIKELY WEAPON, BUT
NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. >> SO YOU TWO GO TO THE
PROSECUTOR, STATE ATTORNEY SAY WE'VE GOT IT
LET'S GO GRAND JURY
>> NO. >> WE'RE DONE?
>> NO. >> WHY NOT
>> YOU HAVE TO PROVE IT. YOU'VE GOT TO PROVE IT
>> SO THE POLICE LET THEIR PERSON OF INTEREST GO.
IN THE MEANTIME, WENDY'S FAMILY HAD HUGE SUSPICIONS ABOUT
MICHEL THE REVELATION HE'D BOUGHT A
MILLION DOLLAR LIFE INSURANCE POLICY ON WENDY ONLY CONFIRMED
THEIR BELIEF HE KILLED HER THEN MICHEL DID SOMETHING BOLD
HE ACTUALLY SUED THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO PAY HIM THE MILLION
DOLLARS. WOULD A GUILTY MAN BE SO BRAZEN
TO TRY THAT? ABSOLUTELY, THE FAMILY SAID.
AND BY THEN THEY'D HAD ENOUGH. THE FAMILY GOT A LAWYER.
>> TWO YEARS AFTER THE MURDER THE FAMILY FILED A WRONGFUL
DEATH SUIT AGAINST MICHEL. >> WE BELIEVED HE WAS THE
KILLER >> TWO YEARS AFTER THE MURDER,
THE FAMILY FILED A WRONGFUL DEATH SUIT AGAINST MICHEL.
MET LIFE PUT THE INSURANCE MONEY IN ESCROW AND WAITED ON THE
SIDELINES AS MICHEL AND WENDY'S FAMILY FOUGHT IT OUT IN CIVIL
COURT. IF HE WANTED TO SEE AS MUCH AS
ONE CENT OF THAT MONEY, HE WOULD HAVE TO DO SOMETHING HE NEVER
DID BEFORE >> HE WOULD HAVE TO TESTIFY, HE
COULD NOT PLEAD THE FIFTH. ESPECIALLY SINCE HE'S PURSUING
THE CLAIM. HE HAS TO TESTIFY.
>> WE TOOK HIS DEPOSITION AND HIS STORY KEPT CHANGING.
>> SO THE STORY ABOUT A FIGHT AND SHE TAKES A HIKE -
>> IT DOESN'T ADD UP HE TESTIFIED THAT WENDY WAS --
IT WAS HER IDEA ALL OF A SUDDEN THAT NIGHT TO GO TO THE MIAMI
EXECUTIVE HOTEL. >> HOWEVER, BACK IN 2002,
YOLANDA, THE EX-GIRLFRIEND, TOLD POLICE MICHEL ASKED HER TO MAKE
THE HOTEL RESERVATION. IT WASN'T WENDY'S IDEA AT ALL.
A FACTUAL DISCREPANCY ALSO KNOWN AS A LIE
WHEN THE CIVIL CASE FINALLY WENT TO TRIAL, ESCOTO GOT SO ROUGHED
UP THAT ON THE SECOND DAY HE WAS A NO-SHOW IN COURT
WENDY'S MOTHER GOT THE INSURANCE MONEY, AND PROSECUTORS GOT TO
HEAR FIRST-HAND ABOUT HIS CONSTANTLY SHIFTING STORIES.
>> THE STATE ATTORNEY WAS IN THE COURTROOM AND WAS TAKING NOTES
>> SO DID YOU HAVE A LITTLE CHITCHAT OUTSIDE
>> WE DID. >> WHAT DID YOU SAY?
>> THIS IS YOUR CASE AND WE HAVE THE EVIDENCE
AND WE GAVE HIM THE DEPOSITION TESTIMONY AND EVERYTHING WE HAD
OUTLINED >> MICHEL ESCOTO WAS ARRESTED
THREE DAYS AFTER HIS COURT NO-SHOW, AND WAS CHARGED WITH
THE MURDER OF HIS BRIDE. THEY FIXED THEIR EYES ON HIS
GIRLFRIEND >> I KNEW EVENTUALLY AS TIME
GOES BY THAT THAT RELATIONSHIP WOULD DETERIORATE.
>> WHY DID YOU THINK THAT? >> IF THEY HAVE THAT SECRET
AMONGST EACH OTHER, THAT WAS GOING TO BE A FRICTION POINT IN
THEIR RELATIONSHIP >> TO CORRUPT IT
>> YES >> HOW DO YOU REEL HER IN?
>> TIME. TIME
TIME CHANGES RELATIONSHIPS >> AND IT DID.
IN 2006, ONE YEAR AFTER MICHEL WAS ARRESTED, YOLANDA AND HER
ATTORNEY WENT TO PROSECUTORS AND SAID, LET'S MAKE A DEAL.
SHE GOT FULL IMMUNITY IN EXCHANGE FOR TELLING HOW SHE
HELPED MICHEL THAT NIGHT >> SHE CAME INTO THE STATE
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND EXPLAINED THAT SHE DID TAKE HIM AWAY FROM
THE CRIME SCENE. >> SO THAT'S A GREAT STORY TO
TELL A JURY. >> YES
THAT'S IT. >> POLICE MAY NOT HAVE HAD A
MURDER WEAPON OR HELPFUL FORENSIC CLUES BUT NOW THEY HAD
YOLANDA, WHO WAS ABOUT TO GIVE HER VERSION OF THAT NIGHT.
IT WAS COLD HEARTED AND CALCULATING.
>>> COMING UP, AN ARREST, AND A WITNESS WHO WAS THERE.
IT'S NOT THE END OF THE STORY BUT THE BEGINNING OF A WHOLE NEW
DRAMA THAT WOULD PLAY OUT IN COURT.
EVERY STORY HAS TWO SIDES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S A LOVER'S
TRIANGLE >> I DON'T PUT IT PAST HER AS
BEING A PERSON WHO WOULD HAVE COMMITTED THIS CRIME
>> AND SHOULD A SPURNED LOVER BE BELIEVED ANYWAY?
>> HE SAID CALM DOWN IT WAS ALL A PLAN, THAT HE
DIDN'T LOVE HER. HE LOVED ME.
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>>> NEARLY 12 YEARS AFTER THE MURDER OF WENDY TRAPAGA, MICHEL
ESCOTO WAS FINALLY ON TRIAL FOR HER MURDER
HE PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO FIRST DEGREE CHARGES
>> MONEY IS THE ROOT OF THIS DEFENDANT'S EVIL
>> PROSECUTORS OFFERED THE MOST CHILLING DETAIL OF THE CASE, HE
ACTUALLY PICKED WENDY TO BE HIS BRIDE JUST SO HE COULD INSURE
HER LIFE AND KILL HER. >> HE WOULD PREY ON THIS
UNSUSPECTING 21-YEAR-OLD GIRL AND MARRY HER.
FOUR DAYS, FOUR DAYS AFTER THAT MARRIAGE, THIS DEFENDANT
BLUDGEONED AND STRANGLED WENDY TRAPAGA TO DEATH
>> AMONG THE FIRST WITNESSES, WENDY'S HEARTBROKEN MOTHER,
MIRIAM BONITAS SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER,
THE MOTHER SAID SHE WAS SHOCKED WHEN SHE LEARNED THE COUPLE HAD
TAKEN LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES OUT ON ONE ANOTHER JUST BEFORE
THEIR MARRIAGE >> Translator: I DID NOT FEEL
GOOD I EXPRESSED TO HER, WHY
INSURANCE, THEY'RE NOT EVEN MARRIED, THEY DIDN'T HAVE
CHILDREN WHY INSURANCE?
>> ON THE STAND, DETECTIVE MARIA MEDERO SAID SHE ZEROED IN ON
THAT INSURANCE POLICY WHEN SHE QUESTIONED ESCOTO A DAY AFTER
THE MURDER >> I TOLD HIM IF HE COULDN'T
MUSTER UP A TEAR FOR HIS WIFE OF FOUR DAYS TO MUSTER UP A TEAR
FOR THE MILLION DOLLARS HE WAS NEVER GOING TO SEE
>> WHAT WAS HIS REACTION >> THAT LACK OF EMOTION WAS AN
INDIFFERENCE TO WENDY OR A DISREGARD FOR WOMEN IN GENERAL
DETECTIVES SAY ESCOTO WAS A MAN WITH A HISTORY OF MOOCHING OFF
GIRLFRIENDS. THIS FORMER LOVER TESTIFIED SHE
SUPPORTED ESCOTO FOR YEARS >> HOW MUCH MONEY DID YOU GIVE
HIM A MONTH? >> APPROXIMATELY $1,500.
>> GO FIGURE, THE STATE SAID FOR WHATEVER REASON, WOMEN THREW
GIFTS AT ESCOTO. ONE BOUGHT HIM THE MOTORCYCLE,
ANOTHER A CAR. BUT STILL ANOTHER FORMER LOVER
WHO ALSO SUPPORTED HIM FOR YEARS WOULD BE THE PROSECUTION'S STAR
WITNESS. >> YOLANDA SERRIO.
>> THE PROSECUTION ARGUED SHE WAS THE GIRLFRIEND WITH INTIMATE
KNOWLEDGE OF HOW ESCOTO CARRIED OUT THIS BRUTAL CRIME.
SHE HAD BEEN GIVEN IMMUNITY IN EXCHANGE FOR HER TESTIMONY HERE.
WIPING AWAY TEARS SHE RECOUNTED HOW IT ALL STARTED, HOW SHE FELL
HARD FOR THE DEFENDANT SHE THOUGHT TO BE A CHARMER.
>> HAVE YOU EVER HAD A MAN YOU COULD SHARE YOUR LIFE WITH
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS MICHEL >> ONLY TO REALIZE HE WAS
DUMPING HER FOR THE YOUNGER, MORE ATTRACTIVE WENDY.
YOLANDA THEN SAID SHE CONFRONTED ESCOTO IN THIS RESTAURANT
PARKING LOT AND HEARD FOR THE FIRST TIME, SHE SAID, THAT HIS
IMPENDING MARRIAGE TO WENDY WAS ALL A SHAM
THAT IN THE END HE WOULD COME BACK TO YOLANDA WITH POCKETS
FULL OF CASH >> HE SAID TO CALM DOWN.
IT WAS ALL A PLAN. THAT HE DIDN'T LOVE HER.
HE LOVED ME. HE WAS GOING TO MARRY HER.
THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE AN INSURANCE POLICY AND SHE WAS
GOING TO DIE >> ALL RIGHT
SO HE TOLD YOU HE HAD A PLAN >> YES
>> THE PLAN WAS MURDER IT WAS DURING THAT CONVERSATION,
YOLANDA TOLD JURORS, THAT SHE BECAME A CO-CONSPIRATOR, NOT
ONLY HELPING ESCOTO COVER UP HIS CRIME BUT ALSO HELPING HIM CARRY
IT OUT THIS WAS THE PLAN.
ON HIS WEDDING NIGHT, YOLANDA SAID ESCOTO WOULD DRUG AND DROWN
WENDY. TO MAKE SURE HE GOT IT RIGHT,
YOLANDA ADMITTED SHE TOOK PART IN A GRIM DRESS REHEARSAL OF
WHAT WAS MEANT TO LOOK LIKE AN ACCIDENTAL DEATH
>> WE FILLED UP MY TUB AND I GOT IN THE WATER
AND HE PUSHED ME DOWN WITH HIS HAND
>> YOU LET HIM PUSH YOU UNDER THE WATER?
>> YES >> WHAT DID YOU SAY ONCE HE LET
YOU UP >> I TOLD HIM THAT WOULDN'T
WORK >> WHY
>> BECAUSE THE FORCE OF HIM HOLDING HER DOWN IN THE WATER
WOULD LEAVE BRUISES. >> WHAT DID YOU SUGGEST?
>> I SUGGESTED HE USED A TOWEL TO HOLD HER DOWN
>> YOLANDA SAID SHE EVEN HELPED HIM WHIP UP A DRUG LACED
CONCOCTION TO KNOCK WENDY OUT. >> HE CAME OVER AND HE BROUGHT
SOME PERCOCET PILLS. AND HE AND I STARTED SQUISHING
THEM, I THINK IT'S LIKE A MORTAR AND PESTLE THING
>> WHAT WAS HE GOING TO DO WITH THE PERCOCET PILLS THAT IS YOU
GROUND >> HE WAS GOING TO GIVE IT TO
HER SO SHE WOULD BE DRUGGED. >> AND THEN DROWNED, SAID
YOLANDA. THE PLAN TO KILL WENDY HIT AN
UNEXPECTED SNAG. AT THE HONEYMOON HOTEL IN KEY
WEST, WENDY BALKED AT THE TASTE OF THE DRUGGED COCKTAIL.
THIS TIME SHE DRANK THE COCKTAIL BUT FOR SOME REASON HE COULDN'T
MANAGE TO DROWNED HER. THAT'S WHEN YOLANDA RECALLED
THAT ESCOTO SHOWED UP AT HER PLACE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
WITH A DAZED WENDY IN THE FRONT SEAT OF THE CAR.
>> DID YOU SEE ANYTHING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT
>> I SAW A MOVEMENT. SOMEBODY INSIDE THE CAR.
>> WENDY WAS STILL ALIVE YOLANDA SAID ESCOTO ORDERED HER
TO FOLLOW HIM IN HER CAR >> THEN WHAT HAPPENED?
>> HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR, WALKED OVER TO MY CAR AND HE TOLD ME,
DRIVE AROUND GIVE ME 20, 25 MINUTES
>> EVENTUALLY, YOLANDA SAID SHE SPOTTED ESCOTO AGAIN, WALKING
DOWN THE STREET, SPLASHED NOW IN BLOOD AND CARRYING A TIRE IRON
SHE SAID SHE DROVE HIM TO THE BAY IN DOWNTOWN MIAMI WHERE HE
GOT OUT OF THE CAR WITH THE WEAPON
>> AND HE'S WALKING, HE THREW THE THING IN THE WATER
>> AFTER DROPPING HIM OFF AT HIS APARTMENT, SHE SAID, SHE TOOK
HIS BLOODY CLOTHES AND THREW THEM IN THE DUMPSTER
>> HAPPY WITH YOURSELF >> NO.
WORSE. THAT'S HOW I FEEL RIGHT NOW.
>> IS THIS ABOUT YOU >> NO, IT'S NOT.
IT'S ABOUT A MOTHER WHO LOST HER DAUGHTER AND I HAVE SOMETHING TO
DO WITH IT >> YOLANDA'S TIME ON THE WITNESS
STAND WOULD GET TOUGHER STILL. TWO OLD LOVERS WERE ABOUT TO
FACE OFF IN COURT. ONE DEFENDING HIMSELF AND THE
OTHER TESTIFYING AGAINST HIM A ROILING, BOILING DRAMA IN REAL
TIME >>> COMING UP, MICHEL ESCOTO
ACTS AS HIS OWN LAWYER >> THIS IS HARDER THAN I THOUGHT
IT WOULD BE. >> AND ON THE STAND, HIS
EX-LOVER, NOW THE STAR WITNESS AGAINST HIM IN WENDY'S MURDER.
>> DID YOU WISH SHE WAS DEAD >> I WISH IT WOULD GO AWAY
>> WHEN "DATELINE" CONTINUES
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SUCCEEDED IN PAINTING MICHEL
ESCOTO AS A MAN WHO USED WOMEN FOR MONEY, INORD WORDS, A CAD.
THEN AGAIN A CAD IS A FAR CRY FROM A KILLER.
>> I DON'T THINK HE'S A KILLER I THINK THERE'S PROBLEMS WITH
THIS EVIDENCE. >> YOU'RE NOT JUST SAYING THAT
>> I'M NOT JUST SAYING THAT. >> THERE'S PROBLEMS WITH THIS
EVIDENCE >> ATTORNEY TERRY LENAMON SERVED
AS ESCOTO'S STANDBY COUNSEL. HE SAID DESPITE THE EVIDENCE,
THE STATE'S CASE WAS WEAK FROM START TO FINISH.
THERE WAS HE POINTED OUT NO MURDER WEAPON, NO BLOOD, NO DNA
LINKING THE DEFENDANT TO THE CRIME.
WHICH IS MAYBE WHY MICHE ESCOTO, WHO ALREADY PLED NOT
GUILTY TO THE CHARGES DID WHAT MANY MEN FACING A LIFE IN PRISON
SENTENCE WOULD NEVER DREAM OF DOING.
HE DEFENDED HIMSELF IN COURT >> I BELIEVE THE EVIDENCE WILL
SHOW THAT ONLY AN IMBECILE AND AN IMBECILE WHO'S IN LOVE WITH
MONEY WOULD KILL SOMEBODY FOUR DAYS AFTER THEY WERE MARRIED TO
THAT PERSON. >> WHAT WAS LINCOLN'S ADVICE
ABOUT A FOOL AS A CLIENT >> THOSE WHO REPRESENT
THEMSELVES WE'LL SEE.
>> WEARING GLASSES, KHAKIS, A SWEATER, AND SPEAKING IN A SOFT
VOICE, HE SEEMED LESS LIKE A KILLER AND MORE LIKE A GEEK.
A HOPELESS NOVICE, GETTING PUMMELLED BY THE PROSECUTION
>> JUDGE, I'M TELLING HIM HE WAS BEING SANDBAGGED -
>> ONE TIME THE NEWBIE SEEMED NEAR TEARS, ANOTHER OVERWHELMED.
>> WOW, THIS IS HARDER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.
>> WAS THIS KLUTZY MOMENT ALL ABOUT WINNING SYMPATHY FOR THE
JURY, THE TIME HE STUMBLED >> SORRY, TWISTED MY ANKLE,
JUDGE. >> ONE PARTICULARLY WINCE-WORTHY
MOMENT CAME WHEN JORGE BARONE, HIS NEMESIS FROM THE FAILED
INSURANCE TRIAL, TOOK THE STAND. UNDER CROSS-EXAMINATION BY
ESCOTO, HE EXPLAINED JUST WHY IT WAS HE SUSPECTED ESCOTO OF
KILLING HIS WIFE, WENDY. >> YOU HAD BEEN MARRIED TO HER
FOR THREE DAYS BEFORE YOU KILLED HER TO GET THE LIFE INSURANCE.
SO TO ME THAT WAS VERY CLEAR >> JUDGE, GIVE ME A SECOND
BECAUSE I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING THAT I SHOULDN'T
>> ESCOTO LOST IT. >> IF YOU SAY THAT AGAIN -
>> OBJECTION >> SEE ALL THOSE GUYS.
>> HAD MR. NERD INADVERTENTLY SHOWN THE JURY THE LAVA BOILING
WITHIN THAT THREAT WON A CONTEMPT OF
COURT CITATION FROM THE JUDGE. >> BE QUIET!
>> WHAT APPEARED TO BE NEAR DISASTER FOR THE DEFENDANT COULD
BE SPUN AS A PLAY TO HIS ADVANTAGE.
>> I THINK ONE OF THE IMPORTANT ADVANTAGES THAT HE HAS HERE IS
THAT HUMAN CONNECTION THAT HE'S GETTING, STANDING UP THERE
WITH EVERY WITNESS WHO SAYS YOU'RE A MURDERER, YOU'RE THIS,
YOU'RE THAT, HIM NOT BACKING DOWN
HE HAS NEVER BACKED DOWN >> BUT ESCOTO, THE HAPLESS
UNDERDOG, STILL NEEDED TO CONVINCE JURORS HE WAS NOT
VIOLENT. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CAME TO
WOMEN, WENDY IN PARTICULAR >> I'M GOING TO BE AS GENTLE AS
I CAN, JUDGE >> HE CAREFULLY QUESTIONED HIS
FORMER MOTHER-IN-LAW HE MAY HAVE WON POINTS WHEN HE
GOT HER TO ADMIT THAT WENDY HAD ONCE CONFIDED THIS TO A FRIEND
>> SHE TOLD HER FRIEND THAT SHE WAS CONTENT, THAT SHE LOVED YOU,
MR. ESCOTO >> SO DID I.
>> LIKEWISE, THIS FORMER GIRLFRIEND AND SELF-CONFESSED
SUGAR MAMA HAD TO ADMIT THAT ESCOTO WAS NEVER A VIOLENT
BULLY. >> DID I EVER THROW ANYTHING AT
YOU? >> NO.
>> DID I EVER PUNCH YOU? >> NO, NO.
>> DID I EVER SLAP YOU >> NO.
>> DID I EVER PUSH YOU ON THE GROUND
>> NO. >> MORE IMPORTANT, HE WANTED TO
SHOW THAT THE STATE'S THEORY OF THE CRIME WAS A FAIRYTALE,
STARTING WITH THE IDEA THAT HE DRUGGED WENDY.
A PHARMACOLOGIST TESTIFIED THAT WENDY HAD ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS OF
PRESCRIPTION NARCOTICS IN HER BLOOD WHEN THE AUTOPSY WAS
PERFORMED. >> THE TOXICOLOGY REPORTS ARE
CONSISTENT WITH NORMAL DOSES THAT YOU WOULD TAKE OF ANY OF
THESE MEDICATIONS. >> SHE WASN'T HEAVILY DRUGGED AS
THE STATE ARGUED >> SHE WASN'T AS INCAPACITATED
AS YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE?
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> THIS WAS NOT A KNOCK OUT.
>> HIGHLY DISPUTED >> THERE WAS ANOTHER PROBLEM
WITH THE STATE'S THEORY. IT HAD TO DO WITH HOW WENDY
DIED >> IF THE ASSAILANT WAS
LEFT-HANDED BEGAN TO STRIKE HER --
>> A MEDICAL EXAMINER FOR THE DEFENSE BELIEVED WENDY'S
EXTENSIVE INJURIES INDICATED TWO KILLERS, BOTH RIGHT-HANDED
>> THERE ARE SEVERAL IMPACTS ON THE RIGHT SIDE, WHICH IN AN
ALTERCATION SUGGESTS TO ME THAT THE ASSAILANT IS RIGHT-HANDED.
>> AND SINCE MICHEL ESCOTO IS LEFT-HANDED, THE IMPLICATION FOR
THE JURY IS CLEAR. HE COULDN'T BE THE KILLER.
WHAT'S MORE, A DNA EXPERT SAID SHE EXPECTED TO FIND ESCOTO'S
DNA ON THE VICTIM'S CLOTHES. AFTER ALL, THEY WERE HUSBAND AND
WIFE BUT SHE FOUND SOMETHING MORE
>> THERE WERE SEVERAL MARKERS WHERE HIS DNA IS NOT
REPRESENTED. >> DNA TRACES FOR TWO DIFFERENT
MALES, AND GET THIS, TRACES FOR A FEMALE
TO STANDBY LAWYER TERRY, THAT COULD MEAN ONLY ONE PERSON
YOLANDA, ESCOTO'S OLD GIRLFRIEND, WHO SAID SHE WAS
WITH HIM BEFORE AND AFTER THE MURDER
>> WHO GOT IMMUNITY. >> FIRST THING TO KNOW ABOUT
YOLANDA IS THAT SHE'S A LIAR FIRST, SHE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT
THE CRIME. THEN SHE SAID SHE DID BUT ONLY
AFTER THE FACT >> THE FINAL STORY, HE SAID, PUT
YOLANDA FRONT AND CENTER IN PLANNING THE MURDER.
>> LO AND BEHOLD WE HAVE A STORY THAT COMES ABOUT, ABOUT THE
DROWNING AND THE DRUGGING AND ALL THIS DRAMA THAT I BELIEVE IS
RUBBISH. >> SO WHAT DID MAKE SENSE?
A KILLER, HE SAID, WHO HATED WENDY ENOUGH TO PUMMEL HER SO
BADLY SHE WAS UNRECOGNIZABLE AND WHO FIT THAT BILL?
>> I FELT DESTROYED BECAUSE SHE TOOK YOU FROM ME, YES.
>> IN A BEYOND WEIRD COURTROOM EXCHANGE, ESCOTO IN
CROSS-EXAMINATION TOOK ON HIS FORMER LOVER, YOLANDA.
WHO ADMITTED HER POISONOUS RESENTMENTS OF WENDY
>> I HATED WHAT SHE STOOD FOR. I DIDN'T KNOW WHO SHE WAS.
I DIDN'T -- I HATED THE WHOLE SITUATION.
I HATED THAT YOU LEFT. >> AND DID YOU WISH SHE WAS
DEAD >> I WISHED SHE WOULD GO AWAY.
>> SO, YOU SEE YOLANDA'S HAND IN THIS DIRECTLY?
>> SHE'S LYING BECAUSE SHE FEELS THAT'S IN HER BEST INTEREST.
I DON'T PUT IT PAST HER AS BEING A PERSON WHO WOULD HAVE
COMMITTED THIS CRIME >> BUT WOULD JURORS SEE IT THAT
WAY? HERE WAS THE CRITICAL MOMENT OF
THE TRIAL, A CHANCE FOR EACH SIDE TO SUM UP ITS CASE.
AND THIS POTENTIAL TIPPING POINT, EVEN MICHEL ESCOTO SEEMED
TO AGREE, WAS NO TIME FOR AMATEURS
>>> COMING UP, THE VERDICT >> THE YEARS OF WAITING.
THE YEARS OF MOURNING HER. WE NEEDED JUSTICE.
>> IF THERE'S A HUNG JURY, WE MAY HAVE TO START OVER AGAIN
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>>> AFTER A SEVEN-WEEK TRIAL AND TESTIMONY FROM ALMOST 40
WITNESSES, THE PROSECUTOR AND THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY, IN THIS
CASE, MICHEL ESCOTO HIMSELF WOULD GET ONE LAST CHANCE TO
TALK TO THE JURORS IN CLOSING ARGUMENTS.
PROSECUTOR GAIL LEVENE ACKNOWLEDGED THEY HAD TO HOLD
THEIR NOSE IN ORDER TO GET HER TO TESTIFY AGAINST HIM
>> I CAN'T CHARGE HER. I WOULD LOVE TO.
BUT I CAN'T. AND SHE CAME IN HERE AND SHE
FILLED IN THE DETAILS. SHE GAVE YOU THE ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. >> WHEN IT WAS THE DEFENSE'S
TURN, ESCOTO AND HIS BACK-UP ATTORNEY SURPRISED THE
COURTROOM. >> YOU WANT HIM TO TAKE OVER AS
YOUR COUNSEL AT THIS TIME? >> I WOULD LIKE TO LET HIM TAKE
OVER, JUDGE. >> THANK YOU
I'M READY TO PROCEED, JUDGE. >> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THIS
TRIAL, SEASONED DEFENSE ATTORNEY TERRY LENAMON WOULD TAKE OVER
AND URGE THE JURORS TO FIND REASONABLE DOUBT IN THE STATE'S
CASE HE JUMPED, ATTACKING WHAT HE
CALLED THE PROSECUTOR'S OVERSELLING OF A MOSTLY
CIRCUMSTANTIAL CASE. >> THIS IS A COURT OF LAW.
AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH I SCREAM AS AN ADVOCATE, NO MATTER HOW
MUCH I WAVE MY HANDS OR SAY VILLAIN, VILLAIN, VILLAIN, BAD,
VILLAIN, VILLAIN, IT DOESN'T MAKE IT SO
>> LENAMON'S STRATEGY WAS TO PLANT A SEED OF DOUBT IN JUST
ONE JUROR'S MIND >> IF THERE'S A HUNG JURY, WE
MAY HAVE TO START OVER AGAIN >> THEN THE CASE WENT TO THE
JURY WENDY'S FAMILY, AS THEY HAD DONE
THROUGHOUT THE TRIAL, GATHERED TOGETHER ONCE AGAIN AND PRAYED
HER MOTHER HUGGED PROSECUTOR GAIL LEVINE, WHO PURSUED ESCOTO
SO FEROCIOUSLY >> SHE'S MY HERO
SHE IS WITHOUT A DOUBT MY HERO >> TWO AND A HALF HOURS AFTER
THE JURY WENT OUT, CELL PHONES STARTED BUZZING IN THE
COURTHOUSE SO MANY YEARS SINCE WENDY'S
MURDER AND NOW IN MOMENTS HER FAMILY WOULD KNOW.
>> THE YEARS OF WAITING. THE YEARS OF MOURNING HER, ALL
OF A SUDDEN WE'RE TOLD THE VERDICT IS IN.
BEFORE I GOT TO THE COURTROOM I WAS ALREADY CRYING
I WAS SHAKING. >> WENDY'S FAMILY MEMBERS HELD
THEIR BREATH ESCOTO APPEARED TO DO THE SAME
AS THE JUDGE INSTRUCTED THE CLERK TO READ THE VERDICT.
>> WE THE JURY IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, THIS 22nd DAY
OF APRIL, 2014, FIND THE DEFENDANT, MICHEL ESCOTO, FIND
THE DEFENDANT GUILTY OF FIRST DEGREE PREMEDITATED MURDER
>> MICHEL SAT STONE-FACED IN HIS CHAIR, HIS LIPS TURNED DOWN IN A
GRIMACE. FOR THE FAMILY THERE WERE MORE
TEARS BUT OF A DIFFERENT KIND. NOW SORROW, MIXED WITH RELIEF
AND SATISFACTION WENDY'S MOTHER DROPPED TO HER
KNEES AND GAVE THANKS. FOR DETECTIVE MARIA MADEREOS A
12-YEAR-OLD CASE WAS OFFICIALLY STAMPED CLOSED
>> HE'LL NEVER DO THIS TO ANOTHER WOMAN AGAIN.
HIS LIES AND HIS CHARMING AND PLANNING AND EVIL PLAN WILL NOT
AFFECT ANOTHER PERSON. >> BUT THERE WAS SOMEONE THE
FAMILY FELT HAD GOTTEN AWAY WITH MURDER, HIS GIRLFRIEND YOLANDA
HER IMMUNITY DEAL MEANT SHE WOULD NEVER SPEND A DAY IN JAIL.
>> THEY'RE BOTH MONSTERS AND PSYCHOPATHS.
>> I DON'T CARE AT ALL HOW DESPERATE, HOW INSECURE, HOW
LACKING IN SELF RESPECT YOU HAVE
YOU'RE A MOTHER. AND YOU WENT AHEAD AND PLANNED
OUT THE DEATH OF ANOTHER MOTHER'S DAUGHTER.
>> BUT INVESTIGATORS SAID WITHOUT YOLANDA, THINGS MIGHT
HAVE TURNED OUT DIFFERENTLY. >> PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE
THROWING THEIR SHOES AT THE TV SCREEN AT THIS POINT, DETECTIVE.
>> SHE GAVE US THE ADDITIONAL THING THAT WE NEEDED TO CHARGE
AND KEEP AND BRING MICHEL ESCOTO TO JUSTICE IN THIS CASE.
>> SO HE GETS A LIFE SENTENCE AND SHE GETS HAVE A NICE DAY
>> THAT'S HOW IT APPEARS BUT IN LIEU OF NOT HAVING
ANYBODY HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS, I'LL TAKE THAT
>> BUT YOLANDA WASN'T LET OFF THE HOOK THAT EASILY
THEY SUED HER FOR THE WRONGFUL DEATH OF WENDY AND WERE AWARDED
A $44 MILLION JUDGMENT THOUGH THEY HAD NO EXPECTATIONS
OF EVER SEEING THAT KIND OF MONEY.
>> IF SHE HAS TO PAY ONE CENT A WEEK, IT'S WELL WORTH IT
AS A REMINDER FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE, HOW SHE ASSISTED THAT
MONSTER. >> TWO WEEKS AFTER HIS
CONVICTION MICHEL ESCOTO WAS SENTENCED FOR THE MURDER OF HIS
NEW BRIDE. AT THE HEARING HE PROCLAIMED HIS
INNOCENCE TO WENDY'S FAMILY. >> NO MATTER HOW SATISFACTION
THIS VERDICT HAS GIVEN ANY OF YOU, AN INNOCENT PERSON WAS
CONVICTED IN THIS CASE >> FINALLY THE FAMILY HAD A
OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE MAN TO KILLED WENDY.
>> JUSTICE IS SERVED OFF TO HELL WITH YOU AND GOOD
RIDDANCE >> WHEN WENDY'S MOTHER, MIRIAM,
SPOKE THROUGH A TRANSLATOR, THERE WASN'T A DRY EYE IN THE
COURTROOM. >> Translator: MANY OF YOU HAVE
DAUGHTERS OR SONS. AND YOU WILL RECEIVE A KISS FROM
THEM I HAVE TO GO TO THE CEMETERY TO
PUT FLOWERS ON MY DAUGHTER'S TOMB
>> JUDGE MARISA MENDEZ GAVE ESCOTO THE MANDATORY SENTENCE.
>> LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE.
>> THE ONLY WAY HE LEAVES PRISON IS IN A PINE BOX
ON THE DAY ESCOTO WAS FOUND GUILTY, THE FAMILY WENT TO THE
CEMETERY TO VISIT WENDY. THEY SAT ON HER GRAVE AND TALKED
TO HER >> I KIND OF JUST SAT BACK AND
FELT THAT I COULD BREATHE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SO LONG AND
FELT SHE WAS FINALLY AT PEACE. SHE CAN REST NOW
>> REST FOR WENDY, THE KIND, YOUNG WOMAN WHO LOVED ANIMALS
AND ENJOYED PLAYING DRESS-UP AND WHO FATALLY MARRIED A STRANGER,
TILL DEATH HE DID PART >>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION
OF "DATELINE." WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY
AT 10:00, 9:00 CENTRAL AND OF COURSE I'LL SEE YOU EACH
WEEKNIGHT FOR NBC "NIGHTLY NEWS."
I'M LESTER HOLT. >>> NEARLY 12 YEARS AFTER THE
MURDER OF WENDY TRAPAGA, MICHEL ESCOTO WAS FINALLY ON TRIAL FOR
HER MURDER HE PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO FIRST
DEGREE CHARGES >> MONEY IS THE ROOT OF THIS
DEFENDANT'S EVIL >> PROSECUTORS OFFERED THE MOST
CHILLING DETAIL OF THE CASE, HE ACTUALLY PICKED WENDY TO BE HIS
BRIDE JUST SO HE COULD INSURE HER LIFE AND KILL HER.
>> HE WOULD PREY ON THIS UNSUSPECTING 21-YEAR-OLD GIRL
AND MARRY HER. FOUR DAYS, FOUR DAYS AFTER THAT
MARRIAGE, THIS DEFENDANT BLUDGEONED AND STRANGLED WENDY
TRAPAGA TO DEATH >> AMONG THE FIRST WITNESSES,
WENDY'S HEARTBROKEN MOTHER, MIRIAM BONITAS
SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, THE MOTHER SAID SHE WAS SHOCKED
WHEN SHE LEARNED THE COUPLE HAD TAKEN LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES
OUT ON ONE ANOTHER JUST BEFORE THEIR MARRIAGE
>> Translator: I DID NOT FEEL GOOD
I EXPRESSED TO HER, WHY INSURANCE, THEY'RE NOT EVEN
MARRIED, THEY DIDN'T HAVE CHILDREN
WHY INSURANCE? >> ON THE STAND, DETECTIVE MARIA
MEDERO SAID SHE ZEROED IN ON THAT INSURANCE POLICY WHEN SHE
QUESTIONED ESCOTO A DAY AFTER THE MURDER
>> I TOLD HIM IF HE COULDN'T MUSTER UP A TEAR FOR HIS WIFE OF
FOUR DAYS TO MUSTER UP A TEAR FOR THE MILLION DOLLARS HE WAS
NEVER GOING TO SEE >> WHAT WAS HIS REACTION
>> THAT LACK OF EMOTION WAS AN INDIFFERENCE TO WENDY OR A
DISREGARD FOR WOMEN IN GENERAL DETECTIVES SAY ESCOTO WAS A MAN
WITH A HISTORY OF MOOCHING OFF GIRLFRIENDS.
THIS FORMER LOVER TESTIFIED SHE SUPPORTED ESCOTO FOR YEARS
>> HOW MUCH MONEY DID YOU GIVE HIM A MONTH?
>> APPROXIMATELY $1,500. >> GO FIGURE, THE STATE SAID
FOR WHATEVER REASON, WOMEN THREW GIFTS AT ESCOTO.
ONE BOUGHT HIM THE MOTORCYCLE, ANOTHER A CAR.
BUT STILL ANOTHER FORMER LOVER WHO ALSO SUPPORTED HIM FOR YEARS
WOULD BE THE PROSECUTION'S STAR WITNESS.
>> YOLANDA SERRIO. >> THE PROSECUTION ARGUED SHE
WAS THE GIRLFRIEND WITH INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF HOW ESCOTO CARRIED
OUT THIS BRUTAL CRIME. SHE HAD BEEN GIVEN IMMUNITY IN
EXCHANGE FOR HER TESTIMONY HERE. WIPING AWAY TEARS SHE RECOUNTED
HOW IT ALL STARTED, HOW SHE FELL HARD FOR THE DEFENDANT SHE
THOUGHT TO BE A CHARMER. >> HAVE YOU EVER HAD A MAN YOU
COULD SHARE YOUR LIFE WITH >> I THOUGHT IT WAS MICHEL
>> ONLY TO REALIZE HE WAS DUMPING HER FOR THE YOUNGER,
MORE ATTRACTIVE WENDY. YOLANDA THEN SAID SHE CONFRONTED
ESCOTO IN THIS RESTAURANT PARKING LOT AND HEARD FOR THE
FIRST TIME, SHE SAID, THAT HIS IMPENDING MARRIAGE TO WENDY WAS
ALL A SHAM THAT IN THE END HE WOULD COME
BACK TO YOLANDA WITH POCKETS FULL OF CASH
>> HE SAID TO CALM DOWN. IT WAS ALL A PLAN.
THAT HE DIDN'T LOVE HER. HE LOVED ME.
HE WAS GOING TO MARRY HER. THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE AN
INSURANCE POLICY AND SHE WAS GOING TO DIE
>> ALL RIGHT SO HE TOLD YOU HE HAD A PLAN
>> YES >> THE PLAN WAS MURDER
IT WAS DURING THAT CONVERSATION, YOLANDA TOLD JURORS, THAT SHE
BECAME A CO-CONSPIRATOR, NOT ONLY HELPING ESCOTO COVER UP HIS
CRIME BUT ALSO HELPING HIM CARRY IT OUT
THIS WAS THE PLAN. ON HIS WEDDING NIGHT, YOLANDA
SAID ESCOTO WOULD DRUG AND DROWN WENDY.
TO MAKE SURE HE GOT IT RIGHT, YOLANDA ADMITTED SHE TOOK PART
IN A GRIM DRESS REHEARSAL OF WHAT WAS MEANT TO LOOK LIKE AN
ACCIDENTAL DEATH >> WE FILLED UP MY TUB AND I GOT
IN THE WATER AND HE PUSHED ME DOWN WITH HIS
HAND >> YOU LET HIM PUSH YOU UNDER
THE WATER? >> YES
>> WHAT DID YOU SAY ONCE HE LET YOU UP
>> I TOLD HIM THAT WOULDN'T WORK
>> WHY >> BECAUSE THE FORCE OF HIM
HOLDING HER DOWN IN THE WATER WOULD LEAVE BRUISES.
>> WHAT DID YOU SUGGEST? >> I SUGGESTED HE USED A TOWEL
TO HOLD HER DOWN >> YOLANDA SAID SHE EVEN HELPED
HIM WHIP UP A DRUG LACED CONCOCTION TO KNOCK WENDY OUT.
>> HE CAME OVER AND HE BROUGHT SOME PERCOCET PILLS.
AND HE AND I STARTED SQUISHING THEM, I THINK IT'S LIKE A MORTAR
AND PESTLE THING >> WHAT WAS HE GOING TO DO WITH
THE PERCOCET PILLS THAT IS YOU GROUND
>> HE WAS GOING TO GIVE IT TO HER SO SHE WOULD BE DRUGGED.
>> AND THEN DROWNED, SAID YOLANDA.
THE PLAN TO KILL WENDY HIT AN UNEXPECTED SNAG.
AT THE HONEYMOON HOTEL IN KEY WEST, WENDY BALKED AT THE TASTE
OF THE DRUGGED COCKTAIL. THIS TIME SHE DRANK THE COCKTAIL
BUT FOR SOME REASON HE COULDN'T MANAGE TO DROWNED HER.
THAT'S WHEN YOLANDA RECALLED THAT ESCOTO SHOWED UP AT HER
PLACE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WITH A DAZED WENDY IN THE FRONT
SEAT OF THE CAR. >> DID YOU SEE ANYTHING IN THE
PASSENGER SEAT >> I SAW A MOVEMENT.
SOMEBODY INSIDE THE CAR. >> WENDY WAS STILL ALIVE
YOLANDA SAID ESCOTO ORDERED HER TO FOLLOW HIM IN HER CAR
>> THEN WHAT HAPPENED? >> HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR, WALKED
OVER TO MY CAR AND HE TOLD ME, DRIVE AROUND
GIVE ME 20, 25 MINUTES >> EVENTUALLY, YOLANDA SAID SHE
SPOTTED ESCOTO AGAIN, WALKING DOWN THE STREET, SPLASHED NOW IN
BLOOD AND CARRYING A TIRE IRON SHE SAID SHE DROVE HIM TO THE
BAY IN DOWNTOWN MIAMI WHERE HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR WITH THE
WEAPON >> AND HE'S WALKING, HE THREW
THE THING IN THE WATER >> AFTER DROPPING HIM OFF AT HIS
APARTMENT, SHE SAID, SHE TOOK HIS BLOODY CLOTHES AND THREW
THEM IN THE DUMPSTER >> HAPPY WITH YOURSELF
>> NO. WORSE.
THAT'S HOW I FEEL RIGHT NOW. >> IS THIS ABOUT YOU
>> NO, IT'S NOT. IT'S ABOUT A MOTHER WHO LOST HER
DAUGHTER AND I HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT
>> YOLANDA'S TIME ON THE WITNESS STAND WOULD GET TOUGHER STILL.
TWO OLD LOVERS WERE ABOUT TO FACE OFF IN COURT.
ONE DEFENDING HIMSELF AND THE OTHER TESTIFYING AGAINST HIM
A ROILING, BOILING DRAMA IN REAL TIME
>>> COMING UP, MICHEL ESCOTO ACTS AS HIS OWN LAWYER
>> THIS IS HARDER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.
>> AND ON THE STAND, HIS EX-LOVER, NOW THE STAR WITNESS
AGAINST HIM IN WENDY'S MURDER. SUCCEEDED IN PAINTING MICHEL
ESCOTO AS A MAN WHO USED WOMEN FOR MONEY, INORD WORDS, A CAD.
THEN AGAIN A CAD IS A FAR CRY FROM A KILLER.
>> I DON'T THINK HE'S A KILLER I THINK THERE'S PROBLEMS WITH
THIS EVIDENCE. >> YOU'RE NOT JUST SAYING THAT
>> I'M NOT JUST SAYING THAT. >> THERE'S PROBLEMS WITH THIS
EVIDENCE >> ATTORNEY TERRY LENAMON SERVED
AS ESCOTO'S STANDBY COUNSEL. HE SAID DESPITE THE EVIDENCE,
THE STATE'S CASE WAS WEAK FROM START TO FINISH.
THERE WAS HE POINTED OUT NO MURDER WEAPON, NO BLOOD, NO DNA
LINKING THE DEFENDANT TO THE CRIME.
WHICH IS MAYBE WHY MICHE ESCOTO, WHO ALREADY PLED NOT
GUILTY TO THE CHARGES DID WHAT MANY MEN FACING A LIFE IN PRISON
SENTENCE WOULD NEVER DREAM OF DOING.
HE DEFENDED HIMSELF IN COURT >> I BELIEVE THE EVIDENCE WILL
SHOW THAT ONLY AN IMBECILE AND AN IMBECILE WHO'S IN LOVE WITH
MONEY WOULD KILL SOMEBODY FOUR DAYS AFTER THEY WERE MARRIED TO
THAT PERSON. >> WHAT WAS LINCOLN'S ADVICE
ABOUT A FOOL AS A CLIENT >> THOSE WHO REPRESENT
THEMSELVES WE'LL SEE.
>> WEARING GLASSES, KHAKIS, A SWEATER, AND SPEAKING IN A SOFT
VOICE, HE SEEMED LESS LIKE A KILLER AND MORE LIKE A GEEK.
A HOPELESS NOVICE, GETTING PUMMELLED BY THE PROSECUTION
>> JUDGE, I'M TELLING HIM HE WAS BEING SANDBAGGED -
>> ONE TIME THE NEWBIE SEEMED NEAR TEARS, ANOTHER OVERWHELMED.
>> WOW, THIS IS HARDER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.
>> WAS THIS KLUTZY MOMENT ALL ABOUT WINNING SYMPATHY FOR THE
JURY, THE TIME HE STUMBLED >> SORRY, TWISTED MY ANKLE,
JUDGE. >> ONE PARTICULARLY WINCE-WORTHY
MOMENT CAME WHEN JORGE BARONE, HIS NEMESIS FROM THE FAILED
INSURANCE TRIAL, TOOK THE STAND. UNDER CROSS-EXAMINATION BY
ESCOTO, HE EXPLAINED JUST WHY IT WAS HE SUSPECTED ESCOTO OF
KILLING HIS WIFE, WENDY. >> YOU HAD BEEN MARRIED TO HER
FOR THREE DAYS BEFORE YOU KILLED HER TO GET THE LIFE INSURANCE.
SO TO ME THAT WAS VERY CLEAR >> JUDGE, GIVE ME A SECOND
BECAUSE I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING THAT I SHOULDN'T
>> ESCOTO LOST IT. >> IF YOU SAY THAT AGAIN -
>> OBJECTION >> SEE ALL THOSE GUYS.
>> HAD MR. NERD INADVERTENTLY SHOWN THE JURY THE LAVA BOILING
WITHIN THAT THREAT WON A CONTEMPT OF
COURT CITATION FROM THE JUDGE. >> BE QUIET!
>> WHAT APPEARED TO BE NEAR DISASTER FOR THE DEFENDANT COULD
BE SPUN AS A PLAY TO HIS ADVANTAGE.
>> I THINK ONE OF THE IMPORTANT ADVANTAGES THAT HE HAS HERE IS
THAT HUMAN CONNECTION THAT HE'S GETTING, STANDING UP THERE
WITH EVERY WITNESS WHO SAYS YOU'RE A MURDERER, YOU'RE THIS,
YOU'RE THAT, HIM NOT BACKING DOWN
HE HAS NEVER BACKED DOWN >> BUT ESCOTO, THE HAPLESS
UNDERDOG, STILL NEEDED TO CONVINCE JURORS HE WAS NOT
VIOLENT. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CAME TO
WOMEN, WENDY IN PARTICULAR >> I'M GOING TO BE AS GENTLE AS
I CAN, JUDGE >> HE CAREFULLY QUESTIONED HIS
FORMER MOTHER-IN-LAW HE MAY HAVE WON POINTS WHEN HE
GOT HER TO ADMIT THAT WENDY HAD ONCE CONFIDED THIS TO A FRIEND
>> SHE TOLD HER FRIEND THAT SHE WAS CONTENT, THAT SHE LOVED YOU,
MR. ESCOTO >> SO DID I.
>> LIKEWISE, THIS FORMER GIRLFRIEND AND SELF-CONFESSED
SUGAR MAMA HAD TO ADMIT THAT ESCOTO WAS NEVER A VIOLENT
BULLY. >> DID I EVER THROW ANYTHING AT
YOU? >> NO.
>> DID I EVER PUNCH YOU? >> NO, NO.
>> DID I EVER SLAP YOU >> NO.
>> DID I EVER PUSH YOU ON THE GROUND
>> NO. >> MORE IMPORTANT, HE WANTED TO
SHOW THAT THE STATE'S THEORY OF THE CRIME WAS A FAIRYTALE,
STARTING WITH THE IDEA THAT HE DRUGGED WENDY.
A PHARMACOLOGIST TESTIFIED THAT WENDY HAD ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS OF
PRESCRIPTION NARCOTICS IN HER BLOOD WHEN THE AUTOPSY WAS
PERFORMED. >> THE TOXICOLOGY REPORTS ARE
CONSISTENT WITH NORMAL DOSES THAT YOU WOULD TAKE OF ANY OF
THESE MEDICATIONS. >> SHE WASN'T HEAVILY DRUGGED AS
THE STATE ARGUED >> SHE WASN'T AS INCAPACITATED
AS YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE?
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> THIS WAS NOT A KNOCK OUT.
>> HIGHLY DISPUTED >> THERE WAS ANOTHER PROBLEM
WITH THE STATE'S THEORY. IT HAD TO DO WITH HOW WENDY
DIED >> IF THE ASSAILANT WAS
LEFT-HANDED BEGAN TO STRIKE HER --
>> A MEDICAL EXAMINER FOR THE DEFENSE BELIEVED WENDY'S
EXTENSIVE INJURIES INDICATED TWO KILLERS, BOTH RIGHT-HANDED
>> THERE ARE SEVERAL IMPACTS ON THE RIGHT SIDE, WHICH IN AN
ALTERCATION SUGGESTS TO ME THAT THE ASSAILANT IS RIGHT-HANDED.
>> AND SINCE MICHEL ESCOTO IS LEFT-HANDED, THE IMPLICATION FOR
THE JURY IS CLEAR. HE COULDN'T BE THE KILLER.
WHAT'S MORE, A DNA EXPERT SAID SHE EXPECTED TO FIND ESCOTO'S
DNA ON THE VICTIM'S CLOTHES. AFTER ALL, THEY WERE HUSBAND AND
WIFE BUT SHE FOUND SOMETHING MORE
>> THERE WERE SEVERAL MARKERS WHERE HIS DNA IS NOT
REPRESENTED. >> DNA TRACES FOR TWO DIFFERENT
MALES, AND GET THIS, TRACES FOR A FEMALE
TO STANDBY LAWYER TERRY, THAT COULD MEAN ONLY ONE PERSON
YOLANDA, ESCOTO'S OLD GIRLFRIEND, WHO SAID SHE WAS
WITH HIM BEFORE AND AFTER THE MURDER
>> WHO GOT IMMUNITY. >> FIRST THING TO KNOW ABOUT
YOLANDA IS THAT SHE'S A LIAR FIRST, SHE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT
THE CRIME. THEN SHE SAID SHE DID BUT ONLY
AFTER THE FACT >> THE FINAL STORY, HE SAID, PUT
YOLANDA FRONT AND CENTER IN PLANNING THE MURDER.
>> LO AND BEHOLD WE HAVE A STORY THAT COMES ABOUT, ABOUT THE
DROWNING AND THE DRUGGING AND ALL THIS DRAMA THAT I BELIEVE IS
RUBBISH. >> SO WHAT DID MAKE SENSE?
A KILLER, HE SAID, WHO HATED WENDY ENOUGH TO PUMMEL HER SO
BADLY SHE WAS UNRECOGNIZABLE AND WHO FIT THAT BILL?
>> I FELT DESTROYED BECAUSE SHE TOOK YOU FROM ME, YES.
>> IN A BEYOND WEIRD COURTROOM EXCHANGE, ESCOTO IN
CROSS-EXAMINATION TOOK ON HIS FORMER LOVER, YOLANDA.
WHO ADMITTED HER POISONOUS RESENTMENTS OF WENDY
>> I HATED WHAT SHE STOOD FOR. I DIDN'T KNOW WHO SHE WAS.
I DIDN'T -- I HATED THE WHOLE SITUATION.
I HATED THAT YOU LEFT. >> AND DID YOU WISH SHE WAS
DEAD >> I WISHED SHE WOULD GO AWAY.
>> SO, YOU SEE YOLANDA'S HAND IN THIS DIRECTLY?
>> SHE'S LYING BECAUSE SHE FEELS THAT'S IN HER BEST INTEREST.
I DON'T PUT IT PAST HER AS BEING A PERSON WHO WOULD HAVE
COMMITTED THIS CRIME >> BUT WOULD JURORS SEE IT THAT
WAY? HERE WAS THE CRITICAL MOMENT OF
THE TRIAL, A CHANCE FOR EACH SIDE TO SUM UP ITS CASE.
AND THIS POTENTIAL TIPPING POINT, EVEN MICHEL ESCOTO SEEMED
TO AGREE, WAS NO TIME FOR AMATEURS
>>> COMING UP, THE VERDICT >> THE YEARS OF WAITING.
THE YEARS OF MOURNING HER. WE NEEDED JUSTICE.
>> IF THERE'S A HUNG JURY, WE MAY HAVE TST
>>> AFTER A SEVEN-WEEK TRIAL AND TESTIMONY FROM ALMOST 40
WITNESSES, THE PROSECUTOR AND THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY, IN THIS
CASE, MICHEL ESCOTO HIMSELF WOULD GET ONE LAST CHANCE TO
TALK TO THE JURORS IN CLOSING ARGUMENTS.
PROSECUTOR GAIL LEVENE ACKNOWLEDGED THEY HAD TO HOLD
THEIR NOSE IN ORDER TO GET HER TO TESTIFY AGAINST HIM
>> I CAN'T CHARGE HER. I WOULD LOVE TO.
BUT I CAN'T. AND SHE CAME IN HERE AND SHE
FILLED IN THE DETAILS. SHE GAVE YOU THE ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. >> WHEN IT WAS THE DEFENSE'S
TURN, ESCOTO AND HIS BACK-UP ATTORNEY SURPRISED THE
COURTROOM. >> YOU WANT HIM TO TAKE OVER AS
YOUR COUNSEL AT THIS TIME? >> I WOULD LIKE TO LET HIM TAKE
OVER, JUDGE. >> THANK YOU
I'M READY TO PROCEED, JUDGE. >> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THIS
TRIAL, SEASONED DEFENSE ATTORNEY TERRY LENAMON WOULD TAKE OVER
AND URGE THE JURORS TO FIND REASONABLE DOUBT IN THE STATE'S
CASE HE JUMPED, ATTACKING WHAT HE
CALLED THE PROSECUTOR'S OVERSELLING OF A MOSTLY
CIRCUMSTANTIAL CASE. >> THIS IS A COURT OF LAW.
AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH I SCREAM AS AN ADVOCATE, NO MATTER HOW
MUCH I WAVE MY HANDS OR SAY VILLAIN, VILLAIN, VILLAIN, BAD,
VILLAIN, VILLAIN, IT DOESN'T MAKE IT SO
>> LENAMON'S STRATEGY WAS TO PLANT A SEED OF DOUBT IN JUST
ONE JUROR'S MIND >> IF THERE'S A HUNG JURY, WE
MAY HAVE TO START OVER AGAIN >> THEN THE CASE WENT TO THE
JURY WENDY'S FAMILY, AS THEY HAD DONE
THROUGHOUT THE TRIAL, GATHERED TOGETHER ONCE AGAIN AND PRAYED
HER MOTHER HUGGED PROSECUTOR GAIL LEVINE, WHO PURSUED ESCOTO
SO FEROCIOUSLY >> SHE'S MY HERO
SHE IS WITHOUT A DOUBT MY HERO >> TWO AND A HALF HOURS AFTER
THE JURY WENT OUT, CELL PHONES STARTED BUZZING IN THE
COURTHOUSE SO MANY YEARS SINCE WENDY'S
MURDER AND NOW IN MOMENTS HER FAMILY WOULD KNOW.
>> THE YEARS OF WAITING. THE YEARS OF MOURNING HER, ALL
OF A SUDDEN WE'RE TOLD THE VERDICT IS IN.
BEFORE I GOT TO THE COURTROOM I WAS ALREADY CRYING
I WAS SHAKING. >> WENDY'S FAMILY MEMBERS HELD
THEIR BREATH ESCOTO APPEARED TO DO THE SAME
AS THE JUDGE INSTRUCTED THE CLERK TO READ THE VERDICT.
>> WE THE JURY IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, THIS 22nd DAY
OF APRIL, 2014, FIND THE DEFENDANT, MICHEL ESCOTO, FIND
THE DEFENDANT GUILTY OF FIRST DEGREE PREMEDITATED MURDER
>> MICHEL SAT STONE-FACED IN HIS CHAIR, HIS LIPS TURNED DOWN IN A
GRIMACE. FOR THE FAMILY THERE WERE MORE
TEARS BUT OF A DIFFERENT KIND. NOW SORROW, MIXED WITH RELIEF
AND SATISFACTION WENDY'S MOTHER DROPPED TO HER
KNEES AND GAVE THANKS. FOR DETECTIVE MARIA MADEREOS A
12-YEAR-OLD CASE WAS OFFICIALLY STAMPED CLOSED
>> HE'LL NEVER DO THIS TO ANOTHER WOMAN AGAIN.
HIS LIES AND HIS CHARMING AND PLANNING AND EVIL PLAN WILL NOT
AFFECT ANOTHER PERSON. >> BUT THERE WAS SOMEONE THE
FAMILY FELT HAD GOTTEN AWAY WITH MURDER, HIS GIRLFRIEND YOLANDA
HER IMMUNITY DEAL MEANT SHE WOULD NEVER SPEND A DAY IN JAIL.
>> THEY'RE BOTH MONSTERS AND PSYCHOPATHS.
>> I DON'T CARE AT ALL HOW DESPERATE, HOW INSECURE, HOW
LACKING IN SELF RESPECT YOU HAVE
YOU'RE A MOTHER. AND YOU WENT AHEAD AND PLANNED
OUT THE DEATH OF ANOTHER MOTHER'S DAUGHTER.
>> BUT INVESTIGATORS SAID WITHOUT YOLANDA, THINGS MIGHT
HAVE TURNED OUT DIFFERENTLY. >> PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE
THROWING THEIR SHOES AT THE TV SCREEN AT THIS POINT, DETECTIVE.
>> SHE GAVE US THE ADDITIONAL THING THAT WE NEEDED TO CHARGE
AND KEEP AND BRING MICHEL ESCOTO TO JUSTICE IN THIS CASE.
>> SO HE GETS A LIFE SENTENCE AND SHE GETS HAVE A NICE DAY
>> THAT'S HOW IT APPEARS BUT IN LIEU OF NOT HAVING
ANYBODY HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS, I'LL TAKE THAT
>> BUT YOLANDA WASN'T LET OFF THE HOOK THAT EASILY
THEY SUED HER FOR THE WRONGFUL DEATH OF WENDY AND WERE AWARDED
A $44 MILLION JUDGMENT THOUGH THEY HAD NO EXPECTATIONS
OF EVER SEEING THAT KIND OF MONEY.
>> IF SHE HAS TO PAY ONE CENT A WEEK, IT'S WELL WORTH IT
AS A REMINDER FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE, HOW SHE ASSISTED THAT
MONSTER. >> TWO WEEKS AFTER HIS
CONVICTION MICHEL ESCOTO WAS SENTENCED FOR THE MURDER OF HIS
NEW BRIDE. AT THE HEARING HE PROCLAIMED HIS
INNOCENCE TO WENDY'S FAMILY. >> NO MATTER HOW SATISFACTION
THIS VERDICT HAS GIVEN ANY OF YOU, AN INNOCENT PERSON WAS
CONVICTED IN THIS CASE >> FINALLY THE FAMILY HAD A
OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE MAN TO KILLED WENDY.
>> JUSTICE IS SERVED OFF TO HELL WITH YOU AND GOOD
RIDDANCE >> WHEN WENDY'S MOTHER, MIRIAM,
SPOKE THROUGH A TRANSLATOR, THERE WASN'T A DRY EYE IN THE
COURTROOM. >> Translator: MANY OF YOU HAVE
DAUGHTERS OR SONS. AND YOU WILL RECEIVE A KISS FROM
THEM I HAVE TO GO TO THE CEMETERY TO
PUT FLOWERS ON MY DAUGHTER'S TOMB
>> JUDGE MARISA MENDEZ GAVE ESCOTO THE MANDATORY SENTENCE.
>> LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE.
>> THE ONLY WAY HE LEAVES PRISON IS IN A PINE BOX
ON THE DAY ESCOTO WAS FOUND GUILTY, THE FAMILY WENT TO THE
CEMETERY TO VISIT WENDY. THEY SAT ON HER GRAVE AND TALKED
TO HER >> I KIND OF JUST SAT BACK AND
FELT THAT I COULD BREATHE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SO LONG AND
FELT SHE WAS FINALLY AT PEACE. SHE CAN REST NOW
>> REST FOR WENDY, THE KIND, YOUNG WOMAN WHO LOVED ANIMALS
AND ENJOYED PLAYING DRESS-UP AND WHO FATALLY MARRIED A STRANGER,
TILL DEATH HE DID PART >>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION
OF "DATELINE." WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY
AT 10:00, 9:00 CENTRAL AND OF COURSE I'LL SEE YOU EACH
WEEKNIGHT FOR NBC "NIGHTLY NEWS."