>>> TONIGHT ON "DATELINE" --
>> HENDERSON 9-1-1 >> MY WIFE IS UNCONSCIOUS.
>> GOT A CALL, SUSAN HAD DIED. >> HE JUST SAID SHE WAS ACTING
CRAZY. SHE SAID, "I'M GONNA KILL
MYSELF." >> BRENT TAKES THE DETECTIVE TO
THE GARAGE AND SHOWS HIM TWO BOTTLES OF ANTIFREEZE.
>> IT MADE SENSE TO POLICE THAT SUSAN LIKELY KILLED HERSELF.
>> Reporter: DID YOU, FOR A MINUTE, BELIEVE THAT SUSAN COULD
TAKE HER OWN LIFE? >> NEVER
>> WE NEVER LOCATED ANYTHING THAT POINTED TO SUICIDE.
>> HE WAS UP THE ELEVATOR. I THINK IT WAS SIX MINUTES
WHAT'S HE DOING IN SIX MINUTES >> YOU HAVE AN OPINION THAT IT'S
A SUICIDE, RIGHT >> IT'S NOT AN OPINION
IT'S A FACT. BUT OKAY
>> I DON'T HAVE A MURDER WEAPON, I DON'T HAVE A CONFESSION.
>> WE WANTED JUSTICE FOR SUSAN >> Reporter: AND YOU DID NOT LET
IT GO. >> NO.
WE DIDN'T. >> A PUZZLE FOR INVESTIGATORS
AND YOU TO SOLVE WAS A MYSTERIOUS DEATH A SUICIDE
OR SOMETHING MORE SINISTER I'M LESTER HOLT, AND THIS IS
"DATELINE. HERE'S JOSH MANKIEWICZ WITH A
COOL DESERT MORNING. >> ON FATHER'S DAY, I DON'T GET
THAT PHONE CALL FROM MY DAUGHTER LIKE I USED TO
I LOVED THE WAY SHE SAID, "DADDY."
>> Reporter: IT WAS A TRAGIC LOSS, ONE THAT MIGHT HAVE UNITED
A FAMILY IN GRIEF, INSTEAD IT TORE THEM APART IN ANGER
>> IT WAS JUST VERY COLD AND HOSTILE.
>> THE LINES WERE DRAWN, AND HE WASN'T BACKING OFF
>> Reporter: AN OPEN AND SHUT CASE BECAME A PUZZLE WITH A LOT
OF MISSING PIECES. >> THERE'S A LOT OF TRYING TO
PUT A SQUARE PEG IN A ROUND HOLE
>> THERE'S A LOT OF CLUES IN THIS STORY, BUT NO EASY ANSWERS.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT JUST DOESN'T ADD UP
>> Reporter: A FAMILY PUSHED BACK AGAINST THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM >> YOU KNEW THAT WAS GONNA BE
THE MOST UPHILL OF UPHILL BATTLES?
>> YES >> ALL WE WANT TO KNOW IS THE
TRUTH. >> Reporter: AND THEY REFUSED TO
GIVE UP. YOU'RE BOTH GRIEVING PARENTS
AND "YOU NEED TO LET IT GO." HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU HEAR
THAT, AND FROM HOW MANY PEOPLE >> WE HEARD IT FROM EVERYBODY
THAT WE TALKED TO. >> BUT WE'RE STUBBORN PEOPLE
>> Reporter: JUST A SHORT DRIVE FROM THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF THE
LAS VEGAS STRIP IS THE SUBURBAN SPRAWL OF HENDERSON, NEVADA, THE
STATE'S SECOND BIGGEST CITY. HENDERSON WAS HOME TO
PSYCHOLOGIST, BRENT DENNIS, ATTORNEY, SUSAN WINTERS, AND
THEIR TWO DAUGHTERS. UNDER THIS ROOF THEY LED A
PRIVILEGED, COMFORTABLE LIFE, ONE THAT EXPLODED ON A COOL
DESERT MORNING IN JANUARY 2015 >> HENDERSON 9-1-1, WHAT'S THE
LOCATION OF YOUR EMERGENCY >> MY WIFE IS UNCONSCIOUS.
>> ON JANUARY 3rd, AROUND 6:45 A.M., BRENT DENNIS WAKES
UP, AND HE CALLS 9-1-1 >> Reporter: REPORTER
KATE BRIQUELET COVERED THE STORY FOR THE DAILY BEAST.
>> HE SOUNDS PANICKED. HE'S SPEAKING VERY QUICKLY, AND
HE REPORTS THAT HIS WIFE IS UNCONSCIOUS AND NOT BREATHING.
>> SIR, TAKE A DEEP BREATH I NEED YOU TO TAKE A DEEP
BREATH THEY'RE ALREADY ON THEIR WAY
I NEED YOU TO TELL ME YOUR PHONE NUMBER
>> THIS IS MY NUMBER, IT'S 702 -- UH --
>> THAT'S OKAY ARE YOU WITH YOUR WIFE NOW
>> YEAH, BUT SHE'S UNCONSCIOUS >> HE SAYS HE HAS TO DO
SOMETHING. HE HAS TO GIVE HIS WIFE MOUTH TO
MOUTH. AND HE HANDS THE PHONE TO HIS
OLDEST DAUGHTER, WHO THEN TAKES OVER
AND SHE SOUNDS PRETTY COMPOSED, GIVEN THESE TERRIFYING
CIRCUMSTANCES. >> Reporter: BRENT'S 15-YEAR-OLD
DAUGHTER, ALLE, TOOK OVER THE CALL
>> HOW LONG UNTIL THE AMBULANCE IS GONNA BE HERE
>> THEY'RE ALREADY ON THEIR WAY. OKAY, I NEED YOU TO GET HER ON
THE FLOOR SWEETHEART, OKAY >> WE'RE TRYING.
WE'RE TRYING SHE'S ON THE FLOOR
>> OKAY, IS SHE BREATHING?
LOOK AT HER RIGHT NOW SWEETHEART
>> NO, NO, SHE'S NOT BREATHING >> OKAY, LISTEN CAREFULLY, AND
I'LL TELL YOU HOW TO DO CHEST COMPRESSIONS
>> MY DAD'S ALREADY DOING THEM >> TELL HIM HE NEEDS TO DO IT
600 TIMES AND COUNT OUT LOUD SO I CAN COUNT WITH HIM
>> DAD, YOU NEED TO DO IT 600 TIMES.
>> Reporter: WITH BRENT STILL DOING CHEST COMPRESSIONS,
PARAMEDICS ARRIVED AND TOOK OVER
>> IT'S A CHAOTIC SCENE. AND AS THEY'RE WORKING TO SAVE
HER LIFE, BRENT DENNIS BEGINS TO SHARE DETAILS WITH THEM, SAYING
THAT HE FOUND HER IN THIS STATE JUST TEN MINUTES BEFORE.
HE SAYS THAT HIS WIFE HAD SEEMED DEPRESSED LATELY AND HAD
THREATENED TO KILL HERSELF >> Reporter: PARAMEDICS WORKED
ON SUSAN AND WERE ABLE TO GET A PULSE.
SHE STARTED BREATHING AGAIN. AND BRENT CALLED SUSAN'S
PARENTS, DANNY AND AVIS, IN OKLAHOMA
HE TOLD HER FATHER SUSAN HAD ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
>> AND THEN, HE TOOK THE PHONE AND HE HANDED IT TO HIS DAUGHTER
AND SAID, "HERE, TALK TO HER." >> AND I SAID, "ALLE, IS YOUR
MOTHER AWAKE?" AND SHE SAID, "NO.
AND THEN SHE SAID, "WAIT A MINUTE."
SHE SAID ONE OF HER FINGERS IS -- WAS MOVING
WE GOTTA GO. >> I DIDN'T WANT TO BELIEVE ANY
OF IT. I JUST KNEW IT WAS BAD
BUT I WAS LIKE HIM, THINKING, "OKAY, THEY WILL GET HER TO THE
HOSPITAL. AND WE CAN GET OUT THERE AND SEE
HER. AND IT'LL BE OKAY.
AND WE WAITED AND WAITED FOR ANOTHER CALL
>> Reporter: WAITING WAS TORTURE.
SO DANNY AND AVIS BOOKED A PRIVATE PLANE SO THEY COULD BE
WITH THEIR DAUGHTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
SUSAN HAD BEEN RUSHED TO AN ER WITH A STEADY PULSE.
THE BAD NEWS, A CAT SCAN SHOWED SWELLING AROUND HER BRAIN.
THE PROGNOSIS WAS BLEAK. BRENT CALLED SUSAN'S PARENTS
AGAIN. >> WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO THE
AIRPORT. WE WERE AT THE GATE TO TURN IN,
AND HE CALLED. >> HE SAID, "DON'T COME OUT.
I'LL CALL -- I'LL CALL BACK. >> SO I WANTED TO GO
AND DANNY WANTED TO GO WE FELT LIKE WE SHOULD
BUT IT WAS A NIGHTMARE >> Reporter: BRENT ASKED THEM
NOT TO COME TO NEVADA RIGHT AWAY, TO WAIT FOR A MEDICAL
UPDATE IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION, BUT
DANNY AND AVIS AGREED. WAITING WOULD ALSO GIVE THEIR
SON A CHANCE TO JOIN THEM ON A LATER FLIGHT
SO THEY RETURNED HOME, HOPING FOR GOOD NEWS, BUT ALSO
TERRIFIED OF WHAT THEY'D HEAR NEXT, THAT, EVEN IF SHE
SURVIVED, SUSAN'S LIFE, AND THEIRS, WOULD NEVER BE THE SAME.
>> THIS WAS A MARRIAGE THAT STARTED WITH SO MUCH LOVE.
>>> WHEN WE COME BACK -- >> SHE WAS HEAD-OVER-HEELS IN
LOVE WITH HIM. HE WAS HEAD-OVER-HEELS IN LOVE
WITH HER TOO >> BUT SADLY, IF THIS WAS A
SUICIDE ATTEMPT, IT WASN'T SUSAN'S FIRST.
>> Reporter: SUSAN WINTERS HAD BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR MOST OF
THE MORNING, HUSBAND BRENT BY HER SIDE
BRENT HAD GIVEN SUSAN'S PARENTS IN OKLAHOMA A DISTURBING REPORT.
SUSAN HARDLY LOOKED LIKE HERSELF.
SHE WAS BLOATED -- AND ON LIFE SUPPORT.
>> HE SAID YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE HER LIKE THIS
HE WAS PAINTING A PICTURE FOR ME
AND THAT WAS NOT MY SUSAN. >> Reporter: THEIR SUSAN WAS A
BUNDLE OF ENERGY WHO EMBRACED LIFE WITH EVERYTHING SHE HAD
SHE'D BEEN THE APPLE OF HER PARENTS' EYES FROM THE DAY SHE
WAS BORN >> SHE TRIED TO PLEASE
EVERYBODY. SHE WANTED TO DO WELL IN SCHOOL.
A WONDERFUL DAUGHTER >> IF SHE COULDN'T DO HER BEST,
SHE -- SHE WASN'T EVER SATISFIED.
>> Reporter: BIG BROTHER CHRIS, A GIFTED ATHLETE, SAYS SUSAN'S
BEST WAS REALLY GOOD >> SHE WANTED TO GO AND DO
ANYTHING ANY OF THE OLDER KIDS WERE DOING
SHE WAS GONNA BE RIGHT THERE DOIN' IT
SHE HAD NO FEAR. >> Reporter: SHE WAS THE TOMBOY
KID SISTER WHO WAS TAGGIN' ALONG?
>> PRETTY MUCH SHE WAS A LOT OF FUN TO HAVE
AROUND >> Reporter: FIERCELY
COMPETITIVE, SUSAN WAS AN HONOR STUDENT, HOMECOMING QUEEN, AND
STAR OF HER SCHOOL'S TRACK, BASKETBALL, AND SOFTBALL TEAMS
KELLY SNEED WAS BOTH TEAMMATE AND BEST FRIEND.
>> SHE WOULD COME INTO A ROOM AND JUST BRIGHTEN IT UP.
AND SHE WAS LOUD AND -- AND BOISTEROUS
AND SHE WAS SMART AND SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL.
>> Reporter: IN 8th GRADE, SUSAN HAD HER EYE ON ANOTHER BRIGHT
STAR, BRENT DENNIS, QUARTERBACK OF HER SCHOOL'S STATE CHAMPION
FOOTBALL TEAM. >> HE WAS MORE THAN A JOCK
HE WAS HANDSOME. HE WAS SMART, AND ALMOST
INVINCIBLE, YOU KNOW I MEAN, EVERYBODY JUST SWOONED
OVER HIM HE WAS -- HE WAS AMAZING
>> Reporter: BRENT, THE BIG MAN ON CAMPUS, WAS 18.
SUSAN WAS JUST 14. IT WASN'T GONNA HAPPEN
STILL -- A GIRL CAN DREAM. >> SHE HAD A VERY BIG CRUSH ON
HIM. AND SHE TOLD ME ONE TIME, "I'M
GONNA MARRY THAT GUY SOME DAY. >> Reporter: AFTER GRADUATION,
SUSAN AND BRENT WENT THEIR SEPARATE WAYS.
SHE BECAME A LAWYER AND SETTLED IN LAS VEGAS
HE WAS A PSYCHOLOGIST IN SAN DIEGO.
BY THE EARLY '90'S, THEY WERE BOTH DIVORCED AND AVAILABLE.
SUSAN'S SISTER-IN-LAW JULIE TOOK IT FROM THERE.
>> I CALLED HIS DAD AND SAID I WAS PART OF THE REUNION
COMMITTEE AND I NEEDED BRENT'S NUMBER
SO I -- GAVE HIM SUSAN'S NUMBER AND THEY TALKED FOR A COUPLE OF
WEEKS. AND THEN SHE FLEW INTO SAN DIEGO
TO MEET HIM. >> ONCE THEY RECONNECTED, SHE
WAS HEAD-OVER-HEELS IN LOVE WITH HIM.
I THINK HE WAS HEAD-OVER-HEELS IN LOVE WITH HER TOO
HE WAS VERY COMPASSIONATE AND LOVING
>> Reporter: THEY GOT MARRIED IN 1995, SETTLED IN HENDERSON, AND
HAD TWO DAUGHTERS, ALLIE AND DANI
MONEY WASN'T REALLY AN ISSUE FOR THEM
SUSAN AND BRENT WERE PROFESSIONALS AND DOING WELL
>>> Reporter: AFTER >> HI, HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY
>> Reporter: THEY OWN MORE THAN A HUNDRED RESTAURANT FRANCHISES,
INCLUDING DOZENS OF SONIC DRIVE-INS.
SUSAN RECEIVED MONTHLY PROFITS FROM FOUR OF THEM.
IT WAS A CHARMED LIFE. EXCEPT IT DIDN'T LAST.
IN 2012, AFTER MORE THAN FIFTEEN YEARS OF MARRIAGE, BRENT AND
SUSAN SEPARATED. NO ONE SEEMED TO KNOW WHY.
>> Reporter: WHAT WAS NOT WORKING IN THAT MARRIAGE, OR
WHAT DID SHE TELL YOU? >> SHE DIDN'T TELL US ANYTHING
ABOUT THE MARRIAGE SHE JUST SAID, "IT'S NOT
WORKING. BUT SHE STILL LOVED HIM AND SHE
WANTED THE -- THE MARRIAGE TO WORK
>> Reporter: THEY AGREED TO SHARE CUSTODY OF THEIR
DAUGHTERS, 13 AND 10 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME.
ONE WEEK WHEN THE GIRLS WERE WITH STAYING WITH THEIR DAD,
JULIE WENT TO VISIT SUSAN, WHO WAS ALONE IN THE HOUSE AND IN
VERY BAD SHAPE >> AND I STILL HAVE GOOSEBUMPS
I REMEMBER WALKING IN. SHE WAS NOT VERY RECEPTIVE
AND THE GIRLS WERE WITH HIM. AND IT JUST TOTALLY FLATTENED
HER WORLD. >> Reporter: SUSAN TUMBLED INTO
A DEEP DEPRESSION. AND THEN, ONE DAY, ALONE AT
HOME, SHE WENT TO THE GARAGE AND CLOSED THE DOOR.
>> AND SHE GOES OUT AND STARTS THE CAR IN THE GARAGE, RIGHT
AND SHE'S SITTIN' THERE AND SHE DECIDES IT'S TOO COLD.
SO, SHE KILLS THE CAR AND WALKS INSIDE
>> Reporter: SHE THOUGHT ABOUT IT ENOUGH TO GO IN THE CAR,
CLOSE THE GARAGE DOOR, AND TURN ON THE ENGINE.
AND THEN SHE DIDN'T GO THROUGH WITH IT?
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: SUSAN WENT INTO
THERAPY AND WAS PRESCRIBED MEDICATION FOR DEPRESSION AND
ANXIETY. AVIS BELIEVED A FRESH START
WOULD BE THE BEST THING FOR HER DAUGHTER
AND THAT MEANT ENDING HER MARRIAGE
>> I PERSUADED HER TO SEE AN ATTORNEY AND GET DIVORCE PAPERS
DRAFTED. SHE PRESENTED THEM TO BRENT.
SHE TOLD ME THAT HE SAID, "SUSAN, WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU
FILE FOR DIVORCE I LOVE YOU."
SHE CRIED, SAYING, "I WANT MY LIFE BACK.
I WANT MY HUSBAND BACK I WANT MY KIDS."
>> Reporter: AND SHE DID GET THEM BACK.
SUSAN RECONCILED WITH BRENT AND THE FAMILY MOVED BACK UNDER ONE
ROOF >> I HOPED THEY WOULD WORK IT
OUT AND BE OKAY. >> Reporter: SUSAN SEEMED TO BE
GETTING HER LIFE BACK, UNTIL THAT JANUARY MORNING IN 2015
AFTER JUST A FEW HOURS IN THE HOSPITAL, SUSAN WAS IN GRAVE
CONDITION, AND TAKEN OFF LIFE SUPPORT.
NOT LONG AFTER THAT, BRENT MADE ONE MORE CALL TO OKLAHOMA.
>> AND HE SAID, "SHE'S PASSED. AND -- I'M NOT SURE WE SAID
ANYTHING ELSE TO ONE ANOTHER >> NO, WE DIDN'T TALK ANYMORE.
THERE WAS NOTHING TO SAY >> Reporter: SUSAN WINTERS WAS
JUST 48 YEARS-OLD. HER OLD TEAMMATE AND LIFE-LONG
BEST FRIEND KELLY WAS AT WORK WHEN SHE HEARD THE TERRIBLE
NEWS >> I GOT A CALL FROM OUR
SOFTBALL COACH AND HE SAID THAT SUSAN HAD DIED.
I -- IT STILL GETS TO ME TODAY, YOU KNOW, ABOUT HOW MUCH I MISS
HER. AND I WAS LUCKY TO GET TO KNOW
HER AND -- AND BE HER FRIEND >> Reporter: A WOMAN'S SUDDEN
DEATH DEMANDED A RESPONSE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THIS DIDN'T LOOK LIKE A COMPLICATED CASE
BUT THAT DEPENDS ON WHO'S DOING THE LOOKING.
>>> COMING UP -- >> BRENT TAKES THE DETECTIVE TO
THE GARAGE AND SHOWS HIM TWO BOTTLES OF ANTIFREEZE.
SUSAN'S DEATH IS RULED A SUICIDE.
BUT HER FAMILY DOESN'T AGREE >> NOBODY WOULD DRINK THAT, THEN
GO THROUGH THAT TWO DAYS PHYSICAL PAIN THAT IT TAKES TO
DIE FROM ANTIFREEZE. >>> Reporter: AFTER
SUSAN WINTERS DIED, THE HENDERSON POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS
NOTIFIED THE CALL WENT TO DETECTIVE
CHAD MITCHELL. HE HEADED OUT TO THE FAMILY HOME
TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS. BRENT, A PSYCHOLOGIST WHO
SPECIALIZED IN TREATING PEOPLE IN CRISIS, GAVE THE DETECTIVE A
PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE OF HIS LATE WIFE.
HE TELLS THE POLICE OFFICER THAT SHE HAD BEEN TREATED FOR ANXIETY
AND DEPRESSION, THAT SHE TAKES MEDICATION, AND THAT SHE HAD
THREATENED TO KILL HERSELF BRENT DESCRIBED THE SCENE IN THE
HOUSE ON SUSAN'S LAST DAY. >> HE SAID THAT DURING THE DAY
THEY HAD BEEN DRINKING TOGETHER AND THAT HE BELIEVED THAT SUSAN
WAS MIXING HER DRINKS WITH HER ANTI-ANXIETY MEDICATION.
THEY HAD BEEN ARGUING ABOUT THE STATE OF THEIR MARRIAGE.
>> Reporter: THINGS ESCALATED. BRENT SAID SUSAN FLEW INTO A
RAGE, AND WAS OUT OF CONTROL HE SAID IT GOT SO BAD, THEIR
DAUGHTERS LEFT THE HOUSE TO ESCAPE THE CHAOS
THEY WALKED TO A NEARBY SHOPPING CENTER
BRENT SAID HE PICKED THEM UP THAT EVENING AND WHEN THEY GOT
HOME, SUSAN WAS ASLEEP AND THEN, BRENT TOLD THE
DETECTIVE, HE MADE AN ALARMING DISCOVERY ON THE FAMILY
COMPUTER -- INTERNET SEARCHES ON HOW TO COMMIT SUICIDE BY
DRINKING ANTI-FREEZE >> BRENT CONFRONTS SUSAN ABOUT
THESE INTERNET SEARCHES AND SHE DOESN'T WANNA TALK ABOUT IT.
SHE GOES BACK TO SLEEP SHE'S SNORING.
HE LETS IT GO. >> Reporter: AN OFFICER TOOK A
PICTURE OF THE COMPUTER SCREEN, AND THAT WASN'T ALL.
>> BRENT TAKES THE DETECTIVE TO THE GARAGE AND SHOWS HIM TWO
BOTTLES OF ANTI-FREEZE BRENT SAYS THAT HE FOUND THEM ON
THE FLOOR OF THE GARAGE WHEN HE GOT HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL THAT
DAY. >> Reporter: A HISTORY OF
DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE THREATS, TWO OPENED BOTTLES OF
ANTI-FREEZE IN THE GARAGE, AND A COMPUTER SEARCH ABOUT HOW TO
KILL YOURSELF USING ANTI-FREEZE. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO POINT IN
THE SAME DIRECTION >> IT MADE SENSE TO POLICE THAT
SUSAN LIKELY KILLED HERSELF ON JANUARY 3rd.
THERE WAS A HISTORY OF SUICIDAL THREATS.
AND THIS WASN'T COMING OUT OF NOWHERE.
I MEAN, SHE HAD A HISTORY OF SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND
DEPRESSION >> Reporter: AN AUTOPSY WAS DONE
THE NEXT DAY AND WHEN THE TOXICOLOGY CAME
BACK, IT SHOWED SUSAN DID, IN FACT, HAVE A LETHAL AMOUNT OF
ANTI-FREEZE IN HER BODY. THERE WAS ALSO A LETHAL LEVEL OF
THE PRESCRIPTION PAIN KILLER OXYCODONE.
THE MEDICAL EXAMINER RULED HER DEATH A SUICIDE, AND HENDERSON
PD CLOSED THE CASE EXCEPT IT WASN'T CLOSED FOR THE
WINTERS FAMILY NOT EVEN CLOSE
DID YOU, FOR A MINUTE, BELIEVE THAT SUSAN COULD TAKE HER OWN
LIFE >> NO.
>> NEVER >> Reporter: AND SUSAN DRINKING
ANTI-FREEZE? TO SUSAN'S FATHER, THAT SEEMED
LUDICROUS. >> NOBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND
WOULD DRINK THAT, THEN GO THROUGH THAT TWO DAYS PHYSICAL
PAIN THAT IT TAKES TO DIE FROM ANTI-FREEZE.
YOU DON'T JUST DIE IMMEDIATELY >> Reporter: ALSO, THE WINTERS'
HAD JUST SPENT THE HOLIDAY SEASON WITH SUSAN AND THEY SAY
SHE SEEMED MORE LIKE HER OLD SELF
TAKING CARE OF HERSELF RUNNING AGAIN.
AND JUST DAYS BEFORE SHE DIED, SUSAN SEEMED TO BE IN A GOOD
PLACE, AND EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE
>> SHE WAS HAPPY SHE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING
THINGS >> Reporter: SUSAN'S FRIEND
LEWIS GAZDA ALSO SAYS SHE WAS UPBEAT THAT HOLIDAY SEASON
HE'D GIVEN SUSAN A CHRISTMAS PRESENT SHE LOVED.
>> I HAD BEEN OUT AT AN ESTATE SALE AND FOUND THESE RECORDS
FROM ELVIS, IT WAS A TWO ALBUM SET.
>> Reporter: AND SHE LOVED IT? >> SHE LOVED IT VERY MUCH.
SHE WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE. BIG ELVIS PRESLEY FAN.
HER LICENSE PLATE SAID EXACTLY, "3KGRACELAND." SO, "3,000 MILES
TO GRACELAND," IS WHAT IT WAS. >> THAT'S A FAN.
>> SHE WAS A FAN >> Reporter: LEWIS SAYS THERE
WAS NO HINT OF ANYTHING BEING WRONG THAT DAY
AND THEY AGREED TO A LUNCH DATE AFTER THE HOLIDAYS
IN FACT, SUSAN WAS PLANNING A LOT OF THINGS FOR THE COMING
YEAR, INCLUDING JOINING THE FAMILY BUSINESS BACK IN
OKLAHOMA >> SHE WAS GONNA COME BACK AND
BE OUR ATTORNEY, OUR LEGAL COUNSEL.
I HAD SET IT UP WHERE SHE WAS GONNA FLY IN
SPEND A WEEK, YOU KNOW, EACH MONTH.
>> Reporter: IT WAS GOING TO BE AN EXCITING YEAR FOR SUSAN'S
DAUGHTERS TOO. SHE'D ALREADY BOOKED FLIGHTS TO
HAWAII FOR DANI'S CHEERLEADING COMPETITION.
AVIS SAID SHE'D GO TOO AND WOULD MAKE HOTEL ARRANGEMENTS.
>> I SAID, WE'RE GONNA STAY IN A HAWAIIAN PINK HOTEL.
SHE SAID, THAT IS GREAT, AND I'M PLANNING TO TAKE ALLE TO LOOK AT
COLLEGES SHE AND I WERE JUST TALKING,
TALKING THE THINGS THAT SHE HAD PLANNED THAT WE WERE GOING TO
DO >> Reporter: THIS WAS NOT
SOMEBODY WHO WAS THINKING ABOUT THE END OF HER LIFE.
>> NO, CERTAINLY NOT >> Reporter: THE WINTERS WERE
LOCKED IN. SUSAN DID NOT, WOULD NOT, TAKE
HER OWN LIFE SO THEN HOW DID SHE DIE?
THEY DECIDED TO DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER, AND THEIR
POCKETBOOK, TO FIND OUT. >> COMING UP -
>> SUSAN'S FAMILY RUNS INTO A BRICK WALL
>> WE HEARD IT FROM THE POLICE CHIEF.
WE HEARD IT FROM THE CORONER I TRIED TO MAKE A CALL TO THE
DA'S OFFICE. NO, YOU CANNOT TALK TO THE DA.
EVERY AGENCY THAT WE TALKED WITH >> Reporter: THE WINTERS FAMILY
WAS IN CRISIS, COPING WITH SUSAN'S DEATH, AND REFUSING TO
ACCEPT THAT SHE HAD TAKEN HER OWN LIFE
FILLED WITH EQUAL PARTS OF GRIEF AND SUSPICION, HER PARENTS, HER
BROTHER CHRIS, AND SISTER-IN-LAW JULIE FLEW TO NEVADA THE DAY
AFTER SUSAN DIED AND MET WITH BRENT AND HIS DAUGHTERS IN A
HOTEL. THE SCENE THAT I'M IMAGINING,
WHICH IS ONE IN WHICH BRENT SAYS, "SHE LOVED THE TWO OF YOU
SO MUCH. I -- I'M SO SORRY THIS
HAPPENED." AND -- AND HE THROWS HIS ARMS
AROUND BOTH OF YOU THAT'S JUST ME MAKING IT UP.
THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN >> THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
NOTHING. >> NO.
HE DIDN'T APPROACH US AT ALL >> AND ALLE WAS TALKING AND
SAYING SHE COMMITTED SUICIDE AND I SAID, ALLE, PLEASE DON'T
SAY THAT AND SHE SAID, "WHY NOT
IT'S THE TRUTH." AND SHE'S HOLLERED IT OUT.
AND HER DAD COME RUNNING OVER AND SAID, "SHE CAN SAY WHATEVER
SHE WANTS TO SAY." >> Reporter: BRENT THEN PULLED
CHRIS TO A CORNER OF THE ROOM AND GAVE HIM SOME AWFUL DETAILS
ABOUT SUSAN'S FINAL HOURS. >> HE -- HE JUST SAID, "SHE WAS
DRUNK AND ACTING CRAZY SHE SAID, "I'M GONNA KILL
MYSELF." AND, IF YOU TRY TO DO ANYTHING
ABOUT IT -- BRENT SAID, WELL, I'LL CALL THE COPS
AND SHE SAID, "IF YOU DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, I'LL HIT
MYSELF IN THE HEAD WITH A HAMMER AND I'LL TELL THE COPS YOU DID
IT." >> Reporter: DID YOU BELIEVE ANY
PART OF THAT STORY >> NO.
NONE OF IT >> Reporter: AND SO, THERE WERE
NO HUGS. NO MEMORIES SHARED ABOUT THE
WIFE, MOTHER, SISTER, AND DAUGHTER WHO LOVED THEM ALL.
THIS FAMILY WAS DIVIDED IN TWO THE WITTERS ON ONE SIDE.
BRENT AND HIS DAUGHTERS ON THE OTHER.
>> Reporter: THE LINES WERE DRAWN AND HE WASN'T BACKING OFF.
THE WITTERS WEREN'T BACKING OFF EITHER
WHEN AVIS WENT TO THE HOUSE JUST FIVE DAYS AFTER SUSAN DIED,
BRENT HAD ALREADY LAID OUT HER BELONGINGS AND TOLD HER FRIENDS
THEY COULD TAKE WHATEVER THEY LIKED.
>> Reporter: SOMETHING ABOUT HIM GIVING AWAY HER THINGS WAS TOO
MUCH FOR YOU >> YES, IT WAS
IT WAS LIKE SHE WAS A PIECE OF TRASH THAT HE COULD DISCARD AT
WILL >> Reporter: AVIS TOLD HIM WHAT
SHE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT >> I SAID, "OH, BRENT, WHAT
HAPPENED YOU'VE JUST KILLED SUSAN'S
SPIRIT." AND HE BURST OUT OF THE BEDROOM
INTO THE KITCHEN YELLING, "SHE'S ACCUSING ME OF MURDER.
SHE'S ACCUSING ME OF MURDER. AND I SAID, "BRENT, I WAS JUST
LASHING OUT. AND HE SAID, "HEALTHY PEOPLE
DON'T LASH OUT." SO, I DIDN'T ACCUSE HIM OF
MURDER >> Reporter: BUT YOU THOUGHT IT.
>> I THOUGHT IT. BUT I DIDN'T SAY IT.
>> Reporter: SHE DIDN'T SAY IT TO HIM, BUT THE FAMILY WAS MORE
THAN WILLING TO SAY IT TO ANYONE IN A POSITION OF AUTHORITY WHO
WOULD LISTEN SO, THE WINTERS WENT TO THE
HENDERSON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SPOKE WITH THE DETECTIVE WHO WAS
AT THE HOUSE THE DAY SUSAN DIED. >> WE ASK HIM IF HE HAD EVER
HEARD THAT IF ONE SPOUSE DIES, IMMEDIATELY SUSPECT THE OTHER
SPOUSE AND HE SAID, "NO
I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT. AND I SAID, "YOU KNOW IT'S ON
ALL THE SHOWS. ANY CRIMINAL SHOW YOU WATCH,
THAT'S THE FIRST THING THEY SAY.
"OH, NO, NO, NO. THAT'S NOT WHAT --
SO - >> Reporter: HE MUST BE THE ONLY
POLICE OFFICER IN THE COUNTRY TO NEVER SEE ANY DATELINE
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE SAID
HE UNDERSTOOD. THEY WERE A GRIEVING FAMILY
LOOKING FOR ANSWERS. EXCEPT, HE SAID, THERE WAS NO
SMOKING GUN. NO EVIDENCE OF FOUL PLAY
AND THIS CASE WAS CLOSED NOT SATISFIED, THE WINTERS
FAMILY REACHED OUT TO ANYONE THEY COULD THINK OF.
AND HEARD PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING.
>> WE HEARD IT FROM THE POLICE CHIEF IN LAS VEGAS
WE HEARD IT FROM THE CORONER WE HEARD IT FROM THE
INVESTIGATOR I TRIED TO MAKE A CALL TO THE
DA'S OFFICE THERE IN VEGAS NO, YOU CANNOT TALK TO THE DA.
EVERY AGENCY THAT WE TALKED WITH RESPONDED IN THAT WAY.
YOU'RE GRIEVING PARENTS. >> Reporter: THEY HIT A BRICK
WALL NOT SURE WHERE ELSE TO TURN,
THEY HELD A FAMILY MEETING LAW ENFORCEMENT WASN'T
RESPONDING THE WINTERS FAMILY WAS GOING TO
HAVE TO FIND ANSWERS ON THEIR OWN.
>> WE NEEDED JUSTICE FOR SUSAN THAT'S IT.
WE SAID, "ALL WE WANT TO KNOW IS THE TRUTH.
>> AND CHRIS SAID, "WE START THIS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
CONTINUE AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
FINISH IT. WE CANNOT STOP IN MIDSTREAM.
>> Reporter: SO, THEY REACHED OUT TO JIM PERRY, A FORMER FBI
SUPERVISOR WHO NOW RUNS A PRIVATE INVESTIGATION FIRM IN
LAS VEGAS. >> I HAD BIG RESERVATIONS
BECAUSE IT'S A DIFFICULT CASE WHEN YOU HAVE TO OVERTURN
BASICALLY WHAT CLARK COUNTY CORONER AND WHAT THE HENDERSON
POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD RULED. >> Reporter: AFTER MEETING THE
WINTERS FAMILY, PERRY AGREED TO TRY AND GET SOME ANSWERS
>> MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT HE, BRENT DENNIS, PROBABLY HAD A
GIRLFRIEND >> Reporter: THE FAMILY HAD THAT
SAME THOUGHT AND SO, DAYS AFTER SUSAN'S
FUNERAL, JIM PERRY BEGAN SURVEILLANCE ON BRENT.
HE DISCOVERED THAT, YES, BRENT DENNIS WAS LIVING A SECRET
LIFE BUT IT WASN'T ABOUT ANOTHER
WOMAN. >>> COMING UP --
>> SO, WHAT WAS BRENT'S SECRET >> HE WAS UP THE ELEVATOR.
I THINK IT WAS SIX MINUTES BEFORE HE WAS RUSHING BACK DOWN.
WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, "OKAY.
WHAT'S HE DOING IN SIX MINUTES?" >> WHEN DATELINE CONTINUES
>>> Reporter: SUSAN WINTERS'S PARENTS WERE HEARTBROKEN AND
OUTRAGED THEY BELIEVED HER HUSBAND
BRENT DENNIS WAS LITERALLY GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER
>> IT WAS TERRIBLE THAT HE KILLED MY DAUGHTER
IT WAS WORSE, THE SON OF A BITCH WAS WANTIN' TO SMEAR HER NAME
ALSO >> Reporter: DANNY WAS OUTRAGED
AT BRENT'S CLAIM THAT SUSAN'S DEPRESSION COST HER HER LIFE
BUT IT WASN'T THE FIRST TIME THERE WAS TENSION BETWEEN BRENT
AND SUSAN'S FAMILY IN THEIR EYES, HE WAS ARROGANT
AND LOVED TO PUSH THEIR BUTTONS. >> BRENT ALWAYS NEEDLED.
IF YOU SAID IT WAS LIGHT OUTSIDE, HE'D TELL YOU IT WAS
DARK JUST IT DANG SURE PUT A WEDGE
BETWEEN MOM, DAD, JULIE, AND I AND BRENT.
>> Reporter: BRENT HAD MADE THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUSAN'S FUNERAL
IN NEVADA, BUT IT WASN'T WHAT THE WINTERS FAMILY WANTED.
THEY DECIDED TO DO THEIR OWN MEMORIAL BACK HOME NINE DAYS
LATER. >> WE HAD A SEPARATE CELEBRATION
OF LIFE HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY FOR SUSAN.
>> Reporter: MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE CAME.
THERE WERE SPEECHES AND A VIDEO TRIBUTE.
SUSAN'S LIFE IN PICTURES, WITH A SOUNDTRACK FROM, OF COURSE,
ELVIS, AND HIS SONG, "SUSPICIOUS MINDS" --IRONICALLY, ABOUT A
COUPLE THAT FEELS TRAPPED. * WE'RE CAUGHT IN A TRA
I CAN'T WALK OUT * >> Reporter: GIVEN THE AWFUL
TENSION IN NEVADA, NO ONE EXPECTED TO SEE BRENT AT THE
SERVICE, BUT THEN HE SHOWED UP WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE CELEBRATING
THE LIFE OF YOUR SISTER WHILE THE MAN YOU SUSPECT OF MURDERING
HER IS RIGHT THERE IN THE ROOM >> IT WAS PRETTY TOUGH
>> IT WAS VERY TOUGH >> WE WERE JUST HAVIN' TO EAT
IT >> Reporter: BRENT HAD NO IDEA
THAT BACK IN LAS VEGAS HIS IN-LAWS HAD HIRED PRIVATE
INVESTIGATOR, JIM PERRY, WHO'D PUT KENT STOUT AND
LINDSAY PIPKINS ON THE CASE. >> WE WERE FOLLOWING EVERY DAY
FOR 10 TO 12 HOURS A DAY >> THE WINTERS FAMILY THOUGHT HE
MIGHT -- PROBABLY HAD A GIRLFRIEND
>> RIGHT >> AND SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE
THINGS WE WERE FOCUSED ON, "WHO'S HE MEETING?
>> Reporter: THIS WAS LINDSAY'S FIRST CASE
KENT, WHO CAME WITH AN FBI PEDIGREE, IS A VETERAN
CAR-TO-CAR SURVEILLANCE SOUNDS EXCITING BUT, FREQUENTLY, IT'S
NOT THAT EXCITING, RIGHT >> UM, NO, BUT YOU GOTTA BE
ALERT ALL THE TIME >> Reporter: WHAT'S THE HARDEST
PART ABOUT DOING SURVEILLANCE ON SOMEONE WHEN YOU'RE A P.I.
>> BOREDOM, PROBABLY >> Reporter: KENT HAD TWO
MISSIONS -- DON'T GET CAUGHT, AND IF BRENT WAS HAVING AN
AFFAIR, BE SURE TO CATCH HIM ON CAMERA
>> YOU'RE ALWAYS TRYIN' TO FIGHT TO GET IN A POSITION TO GET A
PICTURE TOO. EVERYBODY WANTS A PICTURE.
>> Reporter: IT WAS A BALANCING ACT, AND CONSTANTLY ON KENT'S
MIND AS HE TAILED BRENT EVERYWHERE HE WENT
>> HERE HE COMES RIGHT THERE THAT'S HIS CAR
IT'S THE LINCOLN MKX >> Reporter: THIS IS VIDEO OF
THE SURVEILLANCE AS IT HAPPENED. SHOT BY A PRODUCTION COMPANY AND
USED IN A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE CASE
>> I GOT HIM I'LL STAY WITH THE CAR
>> Reporter: BRENT DENNIS'S ROUTINE WAS MOSTLY ORDINARY,
EVEN SO, KENT TOOK NOTE OF EVERY DETAIL
>> THERE HE IS GETTING OUT >> HE'S OUT OF HIS CAR HEADING
TO THE OFF -- WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING.
>> Reporter: SOME MOMENTS LOOKED A BIT SUSPICIOUS
>> I DON'T KNOW IF HE SAW ME BUT HE'S STAYING OUT OF SIGHT RIGHT
NOW. HE MIGHT BE HIDING SOMETHING
>> Reporter: AND THEN TURNED OUT TO BE NOTHING.
>> OH, HE PULLED THE TRASH CAN IN
IT WAS -- APPARENTLY, IT'S GARBAGE DAY.
>> Reporter: THE TRUTH WAS THAT BRENT SEEMED LIKE A TYPICAL
WORKING DAD. >> IT WAS TAKEOUT FOOD EVERY
EVENING. SOMETIMES HE WAS TAKING HIS KIDS
TO EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. >> Reporter: AND THERE WAS
NOTHING TO SUGGEST HE WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR.
>> THERE'S NO UNIDENTIFIED WOMEN THAT POP UP IN THAT
SURVEILLANCE >> NO.
>> Reporter: THERE WAS ONE THING BRENT WAS DOING THAT MOST
WORKING DADS DON'T HE WOULD REGULARLY GO TO THE
ORLEANS HOTEL AND CASINO IN LAS VEGAS, ABOUT A 20 MINUTE
DRIVE FROM HIS HOME. >> IT'S AN OLDER HOTEL THAT'S
NOT ON THE STRIP >> AND THERE'S A CORRIDOR THERE
ALONG TROPICANA THAT IS CONSIDERED A SEX WORKER
CORRIDOR >> Reporter: OH.
>> SO, IT WASN'T UNCOMMON TO SEE WOMEN ASKING MEN IF THEY WANTED
COMPANY. >> Reporter: IS THAT WHAT BRENT
WAS DOING THERE? SEVERAL TIMES, LINDSEY FOLLOWED
HIM INSIDE TO FIND OUT >> HE WAS UP THE ELEVATOR.
I THINK IT WAS SIX MINUTES BEFORE HE WAS RUSHING BACK DOWN
TO HIS CAR AND TAKING OFF. AND SO, THEN WE'RE TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT, "OKAY, WHAT'S HE DOING IN SIX MINUTES?"
>> Reporter: SO WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING ON AT THE
ORLEANS? >> IT'S NOT ENOUGH TIME TO MEET
A GIRLFRIEND IT DOESN'T REALLY SEEM LIKE
ENOUGH TIME TO BE VISITING WITH A FRIEND
>> OR GAMBLING >> AND IT'S HAPPENING ON
MULTIPLE OCCASIONS >> Reporter: HOW MANY TIMES A
WEEK >> DAILY, ALMOST -
>> AT THE BARE MINIMUM, IT WAS EVERY OTHER DAY.
AND AT THE MOST, I WOULD SEE HIM TWICE A DAY.
>> Reporter: KENT AND LINDSEY CONTINUED THEIR SURVEILLANCE FOR
MONTHS, AND WHILE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING INSIDE
THAT UPSTAIRS HOTEL ROOM, THEY DID NOTICE SOMETHING BRENT DID
ON EVERY VISIT BRENT MET UP WITH THE SAME GUY
SOMETIMES INSIDE SOMETIMES OUTSIDE.
THAT'S BRENT'S CAR AT THE SIDE ENTRANCE TO THE ORLEANS.
ONE DAY KENT WAS WATCHING FROM HIS CAR UP THE BLOCK
>> WE GOT A GUY WITH DARK GLASSES, DARK BASEBALL CAP,
WEARING ALL DARK, HEADING TO HIS AREA
HE -- HE'S GETTING IN RIGHT NOW. >> WHO IS THIS GUY
>> Reporter: THAT BECAME THE BIG QUESTION
WHO WAS HE AND WHAT WAS BRENT DOING WITH HIM
THE ANSWER WOULD BLOW THIS FAMILY'S INVESTIGATION WIDE
OPEN >> COMING UP -
>> JIM PERRY TELLS ME, IF WE CAN GET THE ROOM NUMBER THAT HE'S
VISITING, THEN I HAVE A SOURCE THAT MAY BE ABLE TO TELL ME
WHOSE NAMES ARE ON THE ROOM. >> TRACKING THE MYSTERY MAN.
>> THE DOORS CLOSED. AND WE WENT UP TO THE
21st FLOOR AND THEY GOT OFF
>> Reporter: WHILE PRIVATE EYES WERE SURVEILLING BRENT DENNIS IN
NEVADA, BACK IN OKLAHOMA, THE FAMILY THAT HAD HIRED THEM WAS
DOING SOME INVESTIGATING OF THEIR OWN.
>> JULIE AND I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL TO GET ALL OF THOSE
RECORDS. WE WERE OUT THERE ON A MISSION
>> Reporter: IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM AT THEIR FAMILY BUSINESS,
THEY SPENT HOURS PORING OVER POLICE REPORTS, SUSAN'S
FINANCIAL RECORDS. LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF
DOCUMENTS. THERE WAS A FAIR AMOUNT OF
DETECTIVE WORK THAT THE TWO OF YOU DID.
AND THIS IS AT A TIME WHEN YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, RECOVERING
FROM LOSING YOUR DAUGHTER. HOW'D YOU DO IT?
>> WE WANTED JUSTICE FOR SUSAN THAT WAS THE ONLY THING THAT
KEPT US GOING. >> Reporter: BUT AFTER SIX
MONTHS, THEY STILL HADN'T MADE MUCH PROGRESS.
>> WE KEPT FINDING OUT THAT WE COULDN'T GET ANYTHING THAT WE
WANTED WITHOUT SUBPOENAS AND THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO GET THE
SUBPOENAS WAS ATTORNEYS. >> Reporter: THAT MEANT FINDING
A PRO. A HIRED GUN.
SOMEONE LIKE TONY SGRO >> WHEN AN ENTIRE FAMILY SHOWS
UP IN YOUR OFFICE, THAT'S PRETTY COMPELLING
AND WHEN THE ENTIRE FAMILY IS UNANIMOUS IN THEIR POSITION
THAT, "THERE'S NO WAY THIS WAS A SUICIDE," THAT'S COMPELLING.
>> Reporter: TONY IS KIND OF A RENAISSSANCE MAN
HE'S A GUITARIST, A RESTAURANT OWNER, AND HIS BAND SINGS ROCK
SONGS IN ITALIAN THOSE WERE NOT THE SKILLS THE
WINTERS FAMILY WAS LOOKING FOR HOWEVER, AS A CRIMINAL DEFENSE
ATTORNEY HERE IN LAS VEGAS, TONY KNOWS HOW TO WALTZ THROUGH THE
LOCAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WITHOUT MISSING A BEAT
>> WE DEFEND SO MANY MURDER CASES, WE KNOW WHAT THE
PROSECUTION DOES TO PUT THEM TOGETHER
>> Reporter: TONY TYPICALLY REPRESENTS PEOPLE ACCUSED OF
SERIOUS CRIMES THIS CASE WAS THE OPPOSITE
THE WINTERS FAMILY WANTED HIM TO BUILD A CASE AGAINST SOMEONE WHO
WASN'T EVEN CHARGED WITH A CRIME.
>> I AT LEAST WANTED TO PROVIDE THEM THAT CLOSURE THAT I FELT
THEY DESPERATELY WERE SEEKING. >> Reporter: HOW MANY PEOPLE END
UP WORKING ON THIS THIS WAS NOT JUST A COUPLE OF
PEOPLE >> NO.
THE TEAM WAS PROBABLY TEN PEOPLE DEEP
>> Reporter: AND THE WINTERS' FAMILY PAID THE BILLS?
>> THE WINTERS' FAMILY PAID THE BILLS.
THEY WERE GOING TO SEE IT THROUGH TO THE END
>> Reporter: THEY ASKED KENT AND LINDSEY TO STEP UP THE
SURVEILLANCE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE MYSTERY MAN BRENT HAD
BEEN MEETING AT THE CASINO THE PI'S BOSS, JIM PERRY, CAME
UP WITH A PLAN >> IF WE CAN GET THE ROOM NUMBER
THAT HE'S GOING UP AND VISITING, THEN I HAVE A SOURCE THAT MAY BE
ABLE TO TELL ME WHOSE NAMES ARE ON THE ROOM.
>> Reporter: SO, LINDSAY WENT TO THE ORLEANS AND WAITED FOR
BRENT. IT WASN'T A LONG WAIT.
BRENT ARRIVED AND ENTERED THE CASINO
AND THEN, THE MYSTERY MAN APPEARED
HE MET UP WITH BRENT, AND THEY HEADED TO THE ELEVATORS.
>> AND I GOT ONTO THE SAME ELEVATOR WITH THEM AND THEY
ASKED ME, "WELL, WHAT FLOOR? AND I JUST GLANCED AND SAID,
"OH. SAME ONE."
AND THE DOORS CLOSED AND WE WENT UP TO THE 21st
FLOOR. AND THEY GOT OFF
AND I JUST FOLLOWED BEHIND GOT THE ROOM NUMBER.
>> Reporter: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
A LITTLE MORE P.I. WORK REVEALED THE NAME OF THE MAN REGISTERED
IN THAT ROOM, JEFF CROSBY. >> DOING SOME MORE INVESTIGATION
ON OUR PART, WE SAW THAT JEFF CROSBY HAD ALREADY BEEN
ARRESTED FOR COCAINE-RELATED CHARGES.
AND WE FOUND A MUG SHOT. >> Reporter: THAT MUG SHOT
CONFIRMED CROSBY, A CONVICTED DRUG DEALER, WAS THE MAN THEY'D
SEEN WITH BRENT ALL THOSE TIMES. IT LOOKED LIKE BRENT'S MYSTERY
MAN WAS HIS DEALER AND BRENT WAS SEEING A LOT OF
HIM. >> WE SAW HIM ON NUMEROUS
OCCASIONS COMING OUT OF THE HOTEL WITH JEFF CROSBY GETTING
IN BRENT'S CAR AND THEN HE WOULD GO DOWN BELOW
THE DOOR JAM AND THEN WHEN HE'D COME UP, HE'D
BE RUBBING HIS NOSE AND SOMETIMES HIS HAIR
>> Reporter: IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR INVESTIGATORS DID A PRETTY GOOD
JOB OF PROVING THAT BRENT DENNIS HAD EITHER A COCAINE PROBLEM OR
SOMETHING THAT LOOKED A LOT LIKE IT
BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY PROVING THAT HE'S A MURDERER
>> CORRECT AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT A LOT
WE OFTEN SAID, "JUST BECAUSE HE DOES DRUGS DOES NOT MEAN HE
KILLED ANYBODY." >> Reporter: A LOT OF PEOPLE
WITH DRUG PROBLEMS ALSO HAVE MONEY PROBLEMS
SO, WHILE THEY WERE FOLLOWING BRENT, THEY DECIDED TO FOLLOW
HIS MONEY TOO. THE FAMILY WAS ALSO DOING THAT
AND ONE DAY FOUND EVIDENCE THAT SEEMED LIKE A MAJOR BREAK.
IT WAS A CHECK WRITTEN ON AN ACCOUNT ONLY SUSAN HAD ACCESS
TO IT WAS MADE OUT FOR $180,000
AND IT LOOKED DIFFERENT FROM ALL THE OTHERS
>> I GAVE IT TO DANNY, AND DANNY BROUGHT IT OUT HERE.
AND THEY SPENT A WHOLE DAY GOING OVER THOSE CHECKS.
>> Reporter: THEY DIDN'T THINK THE WRITING WAS SUSAN'S.
ADDING TO THEIR SUSPICIONS, THE CHECK WAS DEPOSITED JUST DAYS
AFTER SUSAN DIED THE $180,000 IS MONEY THAT WAS
IN AN ACCOUNT THAT SUSAN ALONE CONTROLLED
>> RIGHT >> Reporter: BRENT PUT IT IN THE
JOINT ACCOUNT HE'D SHARED WITH HER.
THAT HE ALONE NOW CONTROLLED SUSAN ALSO HAD A ONE MILLION
DOLLAR LIFE INSURANCE POLICY BRENT WAS THE BENEFICIARY.
AND HE CALLED IN HIS CLAIM ON THE FIRST DAY, IN THE FIRST HOUR
THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS OPEN AFTER SUSAN'S DEATH
>> GOD FORBID ANYONE LOSES THEIR SPOUSE UNEXPECTEDLY LIKE THAT.
IT -- IT PROBABLY IS NOT GONNA BE ON THEIR MIND TO IMMEDIATELY
CALL AND SECURE LIFE INSURANCE PROCEEDS
WE ALL SAW THAT AS A RED FLAG. >> Reporter: THERE WAS MORE.
SUSAN'S WILL ALSO NAMED BRENT AS THE BENEFICIARY OF HER SHARES IN
THE FAMILY'S SONIC RESTAURANTS FOR THE WINTERS, NO WAY WERE
THEY GOING TO KEEP BRENT IN THEIR LIVES AS A BUSINESS
PARTNER. SO FOUR MONTHS AFTER SUSAN'S
DEATH, THE FAMILY BOUGHT THE SHARES BACK.
>> THE FAMILY BUYS OUT SUSAN'S INTEREST FROM BRENT FOR
APPROXIMATELY $700,000 >> Reporter: THEY COULDN'T JUST
EXPEL HIM. THEY HAD TO PAY HIM OFF.
>> THEY HAD TO PAY HIM OFF >> WE WANTED HIM GONE AT THAT
POINT. WE DIDN'T WANNA SEND ANYMORE
DIVIDENDS OUT THERE FOR HIM TO PUT UP HIS NOSE.
>> Reporter: ADD UP THAT $180,000 CHECK, THE LIFE
INSURANCE, AND THE SONIC RESTAURANT BUYOUT, AND
BRENT DENNIS BANKED AROUND TWO MILLION DOLLARS.
SO, THIS IS A CASE IN WHICH SUSAN WINTERS LITERALLY WAS
WORTH MORE TO HER HUSBAND DEAD THAN ALIVE
>> THERE'S -- THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT
>> Reporter: SO THERE IT WAS A PLAUSIBLE MOTIVE
OF COURSE, MOTIVE ISN'T ENOUGH THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WAS STILL
TO COME. COULD THEY PROVE THAT
AUTHORITIES WERE WRONG ABOUT SUSAN TAKING HER OWN LIFE?
AND THAT HER MURDERER WAS STILL WALKING AROUND, A RICH MAN
>>> COMING UP -- >> EVERY CASE IS BUILT
STEP-BY-STEP THOSE STEPS WERE GETTING CLOSER
TO BRENT DENNIS. >> WE HAD CONCRETE EVIDENCE THAT
HE HAD LIED. >> THE NEXT STEP
>> WE BELIEVED WE COULD SHOW IN A CIVIL COURTROOM THAT BRENT WAS
RESPONSIBLE FOR SUSAN'S DEATH. >> Reporter: WHEN HE AGREED TO
TAKE THE SUSAN WINTERS CASE, ATTORNEY TONY SGRO FELT LIKE A
FIRST-TIME VEGAS GAMBLER BETTING AGAINST THE HOUSE.
>> WE BELIEVED IT WAS GOING TO BE SOMETHING SHORT AND SWEET
>> Reporter: HE EXPECTED HIS WRONGFUL-DEATH INVESTIGATION TO
END IN DISAPPOINTMENT FOR SUSAN WINTERS' FAMILY.
AND HE ANTICIPATED TELLING THEM THE MEDICAL EXAMINER AND THE
POLICE HAD BEEN RIGHT ALL ALONG. SO YOU START OFF AS FINDERS OF
FACT, NOT TRYING TO PROVE THE FAMILY'S THEORY.
>> EXACTLY >> Reporter: BUT PRETTY QUICKLY,
YOU'RE FINDING STUFF THAT ACTUALLY BACKS UP WHAT THE
FAMILY BELIEVED. >> IT WAS REMARKABLE TO US THAT
EVERYTHING THAT WE GATHERED TENDED TO POINT TO BRENT DENNIS'
GUILT. >> Reporter: IT WAS TIME TO
START PLAYING HARDBALL TONY FILED A WRONGFUL DEATH
LAWSUIT AGAINST BRENT DENNIS, ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY
THE WINTERS WEREN'T LOOKING FOR MONEY.
THEY WANTED EVIDENCE TO HELP PROVE THEIR CASE
>> WE BELIEVED WE COULD SHOW IN A CIVIL COURTROOM THAT BRENT WAS
RESPONSIBLE FOR SUSAN'S DEATH. THE OTHER THING IT AFFORDED US
AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO, WAS TO COLLECT EVIDENCE THAT WE
SO NOW WE CAN SEND SUBPOENAS WE CAN SCHEDULE DEPOSITIONS.
>> Reporter: TONY HAD ALSO USED HIS NEW SUBPOENA POWERS TO GET
ACCESS TO BRENT'S BANKING RECORDS AND DISCOVERED BRENT
SEEMED TO BE LIVING ABOVE HIS MEANS.
>> JUST AT THE ORLEANS WITHDRAWALS ON THE ATM MACHINE,
HE WAS TAKING OUT MORE MONEY THAN HE WAS GETTING PAID AS A
SALARY THE EVIDENCE AGAINST BRENT WAS
THIS, HE SEEMED TO BE BUYING AND USING ILLEGAL DRUGS.
HE HAD MONEY PROBLEMS. HE'D RUSHED TO COLLECT A MILLION
DOLLAR INSURANCE CLAIM AND HAD MAYBE FORGED A CHECK TO GET
$180,000 OUT OF SUSAN'S PRIVATE ACCOUNT.
>> Reporter: TONY THOUGHT THE DA SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ALL THAT, SO
WHEN HE FOUND HIMSELF ON A DIFFERENT TRIAL, UP AGAINST HIS
LONGTIME ADVERSARY, PROSECUTOR MARC DiGIACOMO, TONY APPROACHED
HIM DURING A BREAK >> WE'RE IN COURT TOGETHER
OFTEN, AND I JUST MENTIONED TO HIM, "I GOT THIS INTERESTING
CASE." >> HE SAYS TO ME, "HEY, YOU
WOULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT WE FOUND." AND HE STARTS TELLING ME A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT AND THEN I SAID SOMETHING TO THE
EFFECT OF, "DID YOU GET THE CELL RECORDS?
HE'S -- "NOT YET." "GET THE CELL RECORDS.
THAT'S GONNA TELL YOU A LOT. >> Reporter: TONY AGREED. HE GOT
A SUBPOENA FOR BRENT'S PHONE RECORDS.
>> IF I HAD YOUR PHONE FOR AN HOUR, I WOULD KNOW EVERYTHING
THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT YOU AND AGAIN, THIS IS A MOVE THE
STATE DOES ALL THE TIME. >> Reporter: IN EVERY CASE
>> IN EVERY CASE THEY GET THE PHONE, AND THEY GET
THE COMPUTER AND SO, THE FIRST THING WE WERE
ABLE TO PROCURE WAS THE CELL PHONE RECORDS.
>> Reporter: THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY STARTED LOOKING AT THE
EVIDENCE THE WAY A PROSECUTOR WOULD.
>> NOW, WHEN YOU GET YOUR CELL PHONE RECORDS AS A CUSTOMER, YOU
GET, YOU KNOW, WHO YOU CALLED, WHO YOU TEXTED, ET CETERA.
WHAT YOU DON'T GET UNLESS YOU ASK FOR IT, IS THE SECOND HALF
OF THE SPREADSHEET OF THE BILL, WHICH-- IS YOUR CELL TOWER
INFORMATION. >> Reporter: TONY'S FIRM
REQUESTED THAT DATA AND ASSIGNED ONE OF ITS ATTORNEYS,
JAYME RICHARDSON, TO SEE IF IT CONFIRMED BRENT'S VERSION OF
EVENTS SHE BEGAN WITH THE STORY BRENT
HAD GIVEN LAW ENFORCEMENT. >> SO BRENT HAD TOLD THE POLICE
AND ON 9-1-1 THAT HE HAD FALLEN ASLEEP NEXT TO SUSAN AT NIGHT
AND WOKE UP IN THE MORNING TO FIND HER NOT BREATHING
>> Reporter: FOR THAT STORY TO CHECK OUT, THERE SHOULD HAVE
BEEN NO ACTIVITY ON BRENT'S PHONE FROM AROUND 10:30 PM UNTIL
THE 9-1-1 CALL BRENT MADE EARLY THE NEXT MORNING
INSTEAD -- >> WHEN WE GOT THE CELL PHONE
RECORDS, WE FOUND THAT THAT WAS NOT TRUE
>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO BRENT'S CELLPHONE, WHILE SUSAN'S
LIFE WAS SLIPPING AWAY IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS, BRENT WAS NOT
SLEEPING IN BED NEXT TO HER. HE WAS CALLING AND TEXTING DRUG
DEALER, JEFF CROSBY, AND THEN HE WAS DRIVING FROM HIS HOME TO THE
ORLEANS HOTEL. >> NOW WE HAD CONCRETE EVIDENCE
THAT HE HAD LIED TO THE POLICE IT WAS HUGE.
>> Reporter: NEXT, TONY TURNED
TO THE FAMILY COMPUTER WHERE THAT SEARCH FOR ANTI-FREEZE AND
SUICIDE HAD BEEN DONE. >> WE HAD ASKED FOR THE
PRODUCTION OF THAT COMPUTER FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND IT WAS
ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, YOU TAKE "THE DOG ATE MY HOMEWORK" AND YOU
MULTIPLY IT BY 20, AND THAT'S HOW MANY EXCUSES WE GOT.
>> Reporter: FINALLY, AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS, BRENT'S LAWYERS
SAID TONY AND HIS COMPUTER EXPERT COULD COME TO THEIR
OFFICE AND INSPECT THE HARD DRIVE, EXCEPT, THERE WAS A
PROBLEM. >> THEY SAID, "IT HAS A VIRUS.
AND I REMEMBER WALKING INTO THE ROOM THAT THE OTHER LAWYERS HAD
SET ASIDE FOR US, AND THE EXPERT PICKS UP ONE OF THE HARD DRIVES.
AND HE SAYS, "LOOK AT THIS," AND HE SHOWS ME A HARD DRIVE THAT'S
SMASHED LIKE SOMEONE HAD TAKEN A HAMMER TO IT
>> Reporter: DELIBERATELY. >> DELIBERATELY.
OF COURSE, IT RAISES ANOTHER RED FLAG
WHY IS THE COMPUTER DESTROYED? >> Reporter: TONY'S TEAM
BELIEVED BRENT HAD A LOT TO ANSWER FOR, AND THEY WANTED
THOSE ANSWERS ON THE RECORD, SO THEY SUBPOENAED BRENT FOR A
VIDEO DEPOSITION YOU KNEW IN ADVANCE THOSE
DEPOSITIONS WERE GONNA BE MAYBE NOT EVERYTHING, BUT A LOT.
>> WHAT I FULLY EXPECTED, WAS THAT HE WAS GOING TO TELL ME,
"LISTEN, I MESSED UP I DID GO TO THE ORLEANS, BUT IT
WAS ONLY TO, YOU KNOW, PLACATE MY DRUG HABIT.
THAT'S WHAT I EXPECTED WHAT CAME OUT THE DEPOSITION
THOUGH WAS SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT
>> DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR THE TESTIMONY YOU ARE ABOUT TO GIVE
IN THIS CASE IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE
TRUTH? >> YES
>>> COMING UP -- >> DO YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
SUSAN WINTERS IS DEAD. DO YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY
>> SIR >> DO YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
>> NO, I DO NOT. >> A CHALLENGING WITNESS, AND
SUSAN'S DAUGHTER SPEAKS HER MIND
>> IT'S CLEARLY A SUICIDE. >> Reporter: SUSAN WINTERS'
FAMILY HAD SPENT MORE THAN A YEAR GATHERING EVIDENCE TO TRY
TO PROVE HER DEATH WAS A MURDER AND NOT SUICIDE.
NOW SUSAN'S HUSBAND WAS FINALLY GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS, ON VIDEO AND UNDER OATH, ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THE
NIGHT BEFORE SHE DIED. >> JUST TO GO OVER SOME OF THE
GROUND RULES - >> Reporter: THE DEPOSITIONS
WERE HELD OVER SEVERAL MONTHS, THE SETUP ALWAYS THE SAME.
ATTORNEY, TONY SGRO, AND HIS TEAM ON ONE SIDE OF THE
CONFERENCE TABLE. THE PERSON BEING DEPOSED ON THE
OTHER. >> YOU WERE EMPLOYED AT THE
HENDERSON POLICE DEPARTMENT AS A HOMICIDE DETECTIVE, CORRECT?
>> YES >> Reporter: IN ONE SESSION,
FORMER HENDERSON DETECTIVE, CHAD MITCHELL, WAS QUESTIONED
ABOUT HIS WORK ON THE CASE TONY'S TEAM WANTED TO SHOW THAT
POLICE DID NOT INVESTIGATE SUSAN'S DEATH THOROUGHLY
THE DETECTIVE ACKNOWLEDGED SUSAN AND BRENT'S HOUSE WAS NEVER
PROCESSED AS A CRIME SCENE, WITH NO EVIDENCE COLLECTED.
HE SAID HE ACCEPTED BRENT'S STORY THAT SUSAN HAD TAKEN HER
OWN LIFE >> I NEVER HAD HIM RULED IN AS A
SUSPECT. HE WAS NEVER -- THIS WAS NEVER
CONSIDERED A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.
>> Reporter: THEIR OWN RECORDS SHOW HENDERSON POLICE SPENT A
TOTAL OF ONLY 88 MINUTES ON THE CASE THAT DAY.
>> IN 88 MINUTES, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO
OBSERVE AND SEE AND DO AND THAT INCLUDED FROM THE TIME
THAT THEY GOT IN THEIR CARS TO GET OVER TO HIS RESIDENCE.
>> Reporter: SUSAN AND BRENT'S DAUGHTERS, DANI AND ALLE, WERE
WITNESSES THAT NIGHT, BUT IT WASN'T TONY WHO CALLED THEM FOR
THIS DEPOSITION. IT WAS THEIR FATHER.
HE WAS COUNTING ON THEIR SUPPORT IN THE WRONGFUL DEATH SUIT
AGAINST HIM. >> Reporter: WERE YOU SURPRISED
TO SEE YOUR GRANDDAUGHTERS SHOW UP THERE, THAT HE -- BRENT HAD
ADDED THEM TO HIS WITNESS LIST >> YEAH.
YEAH, WE WERE SHOCKED AND
SURPRISED THAT HE WOULD PUT 'EM ON THERE AND PUT 'EM THROUGH
THAT >> Reporter: TONY HAD NO CHOICE.
HE WOULD HAVE TO ASK SUSAN AND BRENT'S DAUGHTERS PAINFUL,
DIFFICULT QUESTIONS. 14-YEAR-OLD DANI WAS SOFT-SPOKEN
AND SEEMED NERVOUS EVEN SO, SHE MADE CLEAR SHE
BLAMED HER GRANDPARENTS FOR THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST HER DAD.
>> DO YOU CRITICIZE YOUR GRANDPARENTS FOR WANTING TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED THE DAY THAT SHE PASSED AWAY
>> YES >> WHY
>> BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T -- MY MOM AND THEIR PARENT -- HER PARENTS
DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP, AND I FEEL LIKE IF THEY DID,
THEY WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT SHE WAS DEPRESSED AND SUICIDAL
>> Reporter: 16-YEAR-OLD ALLE FELT THE SAME AND WAS HER
FATHER'S FIERCEST DEFENDER >> ARE YOU HERE BECAUSE YOU WANT
TO PROTECT YOUR DAD? >> YES, BECAUSE THIS IS ALL
UNNECESSARY. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING ON
IN THIS CASE WHY ARE WE HERE?
WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT ANY LAWSUIT?
>> BECAUSE MY GRANDPARENTS THINK MY DAD'S A MURDERER.
>> Reporter: ALLE SOFTENED WHEN SHE SPOKE OF HER MOTHER.
AT ONE POINT, DESCRIBING HOW GOOD SUSAN LOOKED IN THE MONTHS
BEFORE SHE DIED. >> SHE JUST ALWAYS HAD A NATURAL
GLOW TO HER. SHE JUST KNEW WHAT WAS -- LIKE
WHAT WORKED FOR HER BODY I MEAN, SHE RAN ALL THE TIME
>> Reporter: DESPITE THAT, ALLE WAS FIRM IN HER BELIEF THAT
SUSAN KILLED HERSELF, AND SHE WOULDN'T CONSIDER ANY OTHER
EXPLANATION. >> MY QUESTION IS ABOUT WHETHER
OR NOT YOU WOULD WANT TO KNOW IF ANYTHING INAPPROPRIATE HAPPENED
DURING THE TIME THAT YOUR MOM PASSED AWAY?
>> NO, BECAUSE IT'S CLEARLY A SUICIDE.
>> Reporter: THE MOMENT SUSAN'S FAMILY HAD BEEN WAITING FOR
FINALLY ARRIVED. BRENT DENNIS SAT DOWN TO FACE
TONY'S QUESTIONS AVIS AND DANNY FLEW TO LAS VEGAS
AND SAT IN TONY'S OFFICE TO WATCH A LIVE FEED OF THE
CONFRONTATION. >> DO YOU NEED ANYTHING ELSE
PAD? PAPER?
YOU GOT YOUR DOCUMENTS >> I GOT IT.
>> OKAY. >> Reporter: TONY ASKED BRENT
ABOUT HIS DRUG USE >> DID YOU ENGAGE IN THE USE OF
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES AT OR AROUND THE TIME OF YOUR WIFE'S
DEATH? >> OCCASIONALLY.
>> WHAT IS YOUR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE OF CHOICE?
>> NOT SURE I HAVE ONE >> Reporter: TONY ASKED BRENT
ABOUT PURCHASING DRUGS FROM JEFF CROSBY.
>> COULD YOU HAVE SEEN HIM EVERY DAY?
>> POSSIBLE. >> DID YOU BUY COCAINE FROM HIM?
>> POSSIBLY. >> Reporter: BRENT ACKNOWLEDGED
SUSAN KNEW ABOUT HIS DRUG USE AND EVEN THREATENED TO EXPOSE
IT >> WHEN SHE MADE THREATS, THEY
WERE VERY GENERAL, "I'M GOING TO -- I'M GOING TO TURN YOU IN,
I'M GOING TO -- I'M GOING TO CALL THE POLICE, I'LL TELL YOUR
PARENTS. >> Reporter: TONY PRESSED BRENT
TO ADMIT HE WAS AFRAID SUSAN MIGHT MAKE GOOD ON HER THREAT
AND RUIN HIM BY CAUSING HIS PSYCHOLOGIST'S LICENSE TO BE
REVOKED. BRENT APPEARED UNCONCERNED
>> YOU KNEW THAT IF SUSAN'S THREAT MANIFESTED IN ACTUALLY
HER DOING SOMETHING, YOUR LICENSE WAS GOING TO BE AT RISK,
RIGHT? >> HYPOTHETICALLY.
>> Reporter: TONY ASKED BRENT WHY HE DEPOSITED THAT
$180,000 CHECK DAYS AFTER SUSAN DIED
BRENT CLAIMED THE BULK OF IT WAS FOR A DOWN PAYMENT ON A NEW HOME
FOR THE TWO OF THEM. >> DID YOU HAVE A HOME PICKED
OUT THAT YOU WERE GOING TO BUY >> I DID NOT
>> DID SHE >> I WASN'T AWARE.
>> HAD YOU LOOKED AT A SINGLE HOME
>> I CAN'T RECALL. >> IT WAS A MESS
STUTTERING AND STAMMERING. AND, YOU KNOW, ONCE SOMEBODY IS
DOING THAT, IT BECOMES MUCH EASIER TO SORT OF START PICKING
APART THEIR STORY. >> SHE DID NOT WRITE THAT CHECK,
DID SHE? >> WELL, SHE WROTE IT WITH ME.
>> YOU GUYS -- WHAT -- TRACE OVER EACH OTHER'S WORDS.
WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN >> SHE WROTE PART OF IT, AND I
WROTE PARTS. SHE WROTE OUR NAMES IN, BEST
THAT I CAN RECALL. AND THAT WAS TYPICAL FASHION
WHERE SHE WOULD SIGN THE CHECK AND MAKE IT OUT TO ME AND HER.
>> DO YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC RECOLLECTION OF YOU AND SUSAN
CO-AUTHORING A SINGLE CHECK. >> I CAN'T SAY IT WITH
CERTAINTY. >> Reporter: BRENT'S EXPLANATION
SEEMED TO BE CRUMBLING, AS DID HIS COMPOSURE.
LATER CAME A LUNCH BREAK THAT'S WHEN BRENT, ALONE IN THE
ROOM, AND APPARENTLY UNAWARE CAMERAS WERE STILL RECORDING,
PICKED UP A COPY OF THAT CHECK FOR A CLOSER LOOK.
>> HE'S LOOKING AT THE $180,000 CHECK
>> Reporter: WHEN THE DEPOSITION RESUMED, TONY TURNED UP THE
HEAT >> OVER THE LUNCH BREAK, DID YOU
LOOK AT THE EXHIBIT? >> NO.
>> YOU UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN THOUGH WE SAY "OFF THE RECORD,"
THERE'S STILL A VIDEO FEED THAT IS CONTINUOUSLY RECORDING YOU?
>> OKAY. >> OKAY.
LET ME ASK IT AGAIN. >> OKAY.
>> NOW THAT YOU'RE AWARE THAT THERE'S VIDEO THAT CONTINUES TO
RECORD, IS IT STILL YOUR TESTIMONY THAT YOU DIDN'T LOOK
AT THE EXHIBIT OVER THE BREAK? >> I MAY HAVE.
>> DO YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY? SUSAN WINTERS IS DEAD. DO YOU
THINK THIS IS FUNNY? >> SIR
>> DO YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY? >> NO, I DO NOT.
>> Reporter: BRENT WAS ON THE DEFENSIVE, BUT HE STUCK TO HIS
STORY ABOUT THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO SUSAN'S DEATH.
HE SUGGESTED THE SUICIDE WAS AS MUCH A SHOCK TO HIM AS IT WAS TO
EVERYONE HE SAID THAT IN THE DAYS JUST
BEFORE, HIS MARRIAGE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN BETTER
>> WE HAD, UM A CELEBRATORY BEER THAT WAS, UM, SYMBOLIC, IF YOU
WILL >> SYMBOLIC OF
>> THE YEAR TO COME AND THE CHANGES THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE
IN RELATIONSHIP TO OUR FAMILY AND THE GIRLS AND OUR PARENTING,
UM BUYING A HOME >> Reporter: HE TALKED ABOUT THE
DAY BEFORE SHE DIED. >> WHAT DO YOU GUYS DO THAT DAY?
>> WE HAD SEX. I CAN REMEMBER HER MAKING A
COMMENT OF HAVING A TRIFECTA, IT WAS NICE TO HAVE A TRIFECTA,
BASICALLY THREE -- YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A -
>> THAT'S -- >> -- REFERENCE -- A REFERENCE
TO THREE, YOU KNOW, ORGASMS. >> THAT IS A THING THAT
CONVINCED ALL THE WOMEN IN THE OFFICE THAT HE WAS RESPONSIBLE
FOR HER DEATH. BECAUSE IT WAS PERCEIVED TO BE
INCREDIBLY OFFENSIVE AND COMPLETELY LACKED ANY LEVEL OF
EMPATHY. >> Reporter: TONY SLOWLY STEERED
THE QUESTIONS BACK TO BRENT'S DRUG USE AND CORNERED HIM WITH
EVIDENCE THAT BRENT WAS STILL USING AND STILL BUYING FROM
JEFF CROSBY. BRENT'S ATTORNEY QUICKLY SPOKE
UP >> I WANT TO TAKE ANOTHER BREAK
AND GIVE MY CLIENT SOME OPTIONS. >> Reporter: TONY THOUGHT
BRENT DENNIS WAS CLOSE TO TALKING HIMSELF INTO A MURDER
CHARGE, SO HE TRIED TO KEEP THE DEPOSITION GOING
>> I'LL MOVE ON TO ANOTHER TOPIC JUST SO WE CAN GET THROUGH SOME
OTHER STUFF. I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE -
>> NO, I THINK I SHOULD TALK TO HIM.
>> OKAY. >> Reporter: WOULD BRENT COME
BACK FOR MORE, OR WOULD HE WALK AWAY
>>> COMING UP -- SUSAN SPEAKS FROM BEYOND THE
GRAVE. >> I JUST DON'T WANT TO GO INTO
MY 50s WITH SOMEBODY WHO HATES ME AS MUCH YOU DO.
>> I LOVE YOU. >> REALLY?
IF YOU LOVE ME THEN YOU'VE GOT A REALLY -- PECULIAR WAY OF
SHOWING IT >> WHEN DATELINE CONTINUES
>>> Reporter: TONY SGRO AND HIS TEAM FELT CERTAIN THIS BIT OF
LEGAL DRAMA WAS OVER FOR GOOD. >> I WANT TO TAKE ANOTHER BREAK
AND GIVE MY CLIENT SOME OPTIONS. >> Reporter: BRENT DENNIS DID
RETURN TO ANSWER A FEW MORE QUESTIONS.
>> MR. DENNIS JUST A FEW FOLLOW-UPS
>> Reporter: THEN, HE STEPPED AWAY AGAIN, AND HE NEVER CAME
BACK. I'M NOT SURE IF BRENT DID
HIMSELF ANY FAVORS IN THAT DEPOSITION
>> NO, HE CERTAINLY DIDN'T >> HE STILL THOUGHT HE COULD
CONVINCE PEOPLE. TONY HAS USED THAT PHRASE,
"SMARTEST PERSON IN THE ROOM," AND THAT'S WHAT BRENT WAS
THINKING >> HE WAS MAKING IT UP AS WE
WENT, SO MUCH SO THAT EVEN HIS ATTORNEY EVENTUALLY REALIZED
THAT BRENT DENNIS WAS IN BIG TROUBLE.
>> Reporter: TO TONY, BRENT WAS SO PLAINLY EVASIVE, THAT HE
TURNED HIMSELF INTO A MURDER TURNED HIMSELF INTO A MURDER
SUSPECT. NOW TONY HAD TO CONVINCE SOMEONE
AT THE CLARK COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OF THAT.
SO HE TURNED TO MARC DiGIACOMO, THE PROSECUTOR HE HAD ORIGINALLY
TOLD ABOUT THE CASE. DiGIACOMO AGREED TO A MEETING
WHERE TONY AND HIS TEAM LAID IT ALL OUT.
AND DiGIACOMO WAS -- SKEPTICAL >> NO CASE THAT'S RULED A
SUICIDE AND NOW 18 MONTHS LATER WE'RE GOING TO REVISE AS A
HOMICIDE IS ANYTHING YOU CAN CONSIDER A SLAM DUNK
>> Reporter: DiGIACOMO KNEW HE COULDN'T JUST TAKE TONY'S WORD
FOR IT >> THEY HAVE A -- AN INTEREST
HERE, RIGHT? THEY'RE ON THE SIDE OF THE
FAMILY AND, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT THEY DO POTENTIALLY IS
TAINTED BY A BIAS BY THEM. >> Reporter: STILL, DiGIACOMO
AGREED TO INVESTIGATE BRENT DENNIS FOR SUSAN'S MURDER.
>> MOST OF MY CASES, THE EASIEST PART ABOUT IT IS A CRIME WAS
COMMITTED. AND THE HARD PART IS WHO DID IT.
THIS CASE WAS DIFFERENT IN THE SENSE THAT THERE WASN'T ANY
DOUBT WHO DID IT, IF I COULD ESTABLISH A CRIME WAS COMMITTED.
>> Reporter: WHAT CAN A PROSECUTOR DO THAT TONY
COULDN'T >> WHEN A LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICER WALKS UP AND SAYS, "HEY, I'M INVESTIGATING THIS," PEOPLE
ARE MORE WILLING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION
THEY TRUST 'EM A LITTLE BIT MORE
AND WE ALSO HAD THE POWER OF SEARCH WARRANTS.
WE CAN REQUEST THINGS THAT CAN ONLY BE GOTTEN BY ORDER OF A
COURT. >> Reporter: AND SO IN THE
SUMMER OF 2016, MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER SUSAN'S DEATH, THE WINTERS
FAMILY FINALLY GOT WHAT THEY WANTED
DiGIACOMO AND A DETECTIVE FROM THE HENDERSON P.D. STARTED THE
SUSAN WINTERS CASE AGAIN -- FROM SCRATCH.
>> THE VERY FIRST THING WE WANTED TO DO WAS INTERVIEW
PEOPLE WHO KNEW BRENT, WHO KNEW SUSAN.
>> Reporter: WHAT PICTURE EMERGED OF BRENT AND SUSAN'S
RELATIONSHIP AND THAT MARRIAGE >> IT WAS VERY DYSFUNCTIONAL
>> Reporter: "SUSPICIOUS MINDS" BY ELVIS PRESLEY WAS THE
RINGTONE ON SUSAN'S PHONE WHENEVER THERE WAS A CALL FROM
BRENT'S PHONE. AND WHEN PROSECUTOR DiGIACOMO
OBTAINED A SEARCH WARRANT FOR BRENT'S ACTUAL CELL PHONE, HE
FOUND RECORDINGS OF SUSAN WINTERS TALKING ABOUT HER
MARRIAGE, FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE. >> I JUST DON'T WANT TO GO INTO
MY 50s WITH SOMEBODY WHO HATES ME AS MUCH YOU DO.
>> I LOVE YOU, SO -- >> REALLY?
IF YOU LOVE ME THEN YOU'VE GOT A REALLY [ BLEEP ] PECULIAR WAY OF
SHOWING IT >> Reporter: APPARENTLY BRENT
OFTEN RECORDED FIGHTS HE HAD WITH SUSAN
>> I DON'T WANT ANYTHING ELSE TO DO WITH YOU.
>> SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN THEN >> I WANT A DIVORCE.
>> Reporter: DiGIACOMO ALSO FOUND TEXTS SUSAN HAD SENT TO
SOME FRIENDS IN OCTOBER OF 2014, SAYING BRENT HAD ACKNOWLEDGED HE
HAD A COCAINE HABIT. "I THOUGHT I KNEW THE TELL TALE
SIGNS OF COKE USE BUT MAYBE NOT," SHE WROTE.
JUST AFTER THE COUPLE RANG IN THE NEW YEAR, THEIR UNRAVELLING
ACCELERATED. >> IT IS FAIRLY CLEAR THAT HER
AND BRENT'S RELATIONSHIP IS AT THE BREAKING POINT
>> Reporter: IN FACT, ANOTHER FRIEND TOLD DiGIACOMO THAT JUST
DAYS BEFORE HER DEATH SUSAN SAID SHE WAS THINKING ABOUT DATING
OTHER MEN. AND THERE WAS ONE PIECE OF
EVIDENCE THAT SEALED THE DEAL FOR DiGIACOMO.
REMEMBER THAT $180,000 CHECK THE ONE BRENT DEPOSITED SO SOON
AFTER SUSAN'S DEATH? A FRIEND OF BRENT'S SHARED A
CONVERSATION THEY'D HAD ABOUT IT
>> HEY, THE -- THE REASON I DID THAT, I TOOK THAT MONEY, IS I --
I KNEW THAT HER PARENTS WOULD ACCUSE ME OF MURDER.
>> Reporter: WELL, WHAT HIS FRIEND DIDN'T KNOW IS THAT
AT 9:00 THE NIGHT BEFORE, WHEN SUSAN'S ALLEGEDLY PASSED OUT,
BRENT DENNIS CALLED THE AUTOMATED LINE FOR THAT BANK
ACCOUNT TO CHECK THE BALANCE TO PROSECUTORS, THIS FELT LIKE
PROOF THAT WOULD STAND UP IN COURT.
BRENT WAS TRYING TO GRAB SUSAN'S MONEY BEFORE HE COULD BE ACCUSED
OF MURDER BY HER FAMILY. AND CHECKING THE BANK ACCOUNT
THE NIGHT BEFORE SHE DIED TO MAKE SURE THAT CHECK WOULD
CLEAR, SUGGESTED HE ALREADY KNEW OF SUSAN'S APPROACHING DEATH,
AND THAT HE'D HAVE TO ACT QUICKLY.
>> WHY DOES HE THINK HE NEEDS THE $180,000 OUTTA THAT ACCOUNT
BECAUSE HER PARENTS ARE GONNA FREEZE IT?
IT'S 'CAUSE HE KNOWS SHE'S GONNA BE DEAD.
HOW DOES HE KNOW SHE'S GONNA BE DEAD NINE HOURS LATER?
>> Reporter: 'CAUSE HE'S GONNA DO IT.
>> RIGHT THERE'S NO WAY HE KNOWS SHE'S
ABOUT TO COMMIT SUICIDE. THIS GUY KILLED HIS WIFE
WE'VE SEEN IT BEFORE WHERE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD PAST
SUICIDAL IDEATIONS WIND UP BEING THE VICTIMS OF A HOMICIDE,
RIGHT? IF YOU'RE BRENT DENNIS, IT'S THE
PERFECT COVER TO KILL HER. >> Reporter: AND THE MOTIVE WAS
MONEY. SUSAN'S MONEY.
HER FAMILY'S MONEY MOST OF WHICH BRENT WOULD LOSE
IN A DIVORCE >> HE KNEW THAT SHE WAS THE
GRAVY TRAIN. AND HE HAD KNOWN IT FOR A WHILE.
>> Reporter: AND HE HAD AN ADDICTION.
>> YES, HE DID >> Reporter: WHICH REQUIRED
MONEY. >> AND I'M SORRY FOR HIM
HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN STRONGER BUT WE ALL COULD BE STRONGER
>> Reporter: DiGIACOMO WAS READY TO FILE MURDER CHARGES AGAINST
BRENT DENNIS THERE WAS JUST ONE PROBLEM --
ACCORDING TO THE COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER, SUSAN'S DEATH WAS
STILL OFFICIALLY A SUICIDE AND THAT ALONE COULD BE
REASONABLE DOUBT FOR A JURY. >>> COMING UP --
>> A MEDICAL DETECTIVE TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT THAT SUICIDE
RULING >> I STARTED REVIEWING THE
MEDICAL RECORDS AND THE AUTOPSY, AND THAT WAS
>>> Reporter: FROM THE MOMENT THEY HEARD THE NEWS, THE WINTERS
FAMILY HAD TRIED TO CONVINCE AUTHORITIES THAT SUSAN WOULD
NEVER TAKE HER OWN LIFE. THE RESPONSE WAS THE SAME EVERY
TIME >> YOU'RE GRIEVING PARENTS
>> Reporter: AND YOU NEED TO LET IT GO.
>> YEP >> BUT WE'RE STUBBORN PEOPLE
>> Reporter: AT THE END OF PROSECUTOR MARC DiGIACOMO'S
INVESTIGATION, HE WAS FINALLY CONVINCED THAT SUSAN WINTERS
DIED AT THE HANDS OF HER HUSBAND BRENT DENNIS
NOW, WOULD A JURY BELIEVE IT TO DiGIACOMO, IT WAS A HARD SELL
SINCE SUSAN'S DEATH WAS STILL ON RECORD AS A SUICIDE.
DiGIACOMO THOUGHT DR. STACEY HAIL COULD HELP
SHE'S A TOXICOLOGIST TONY SGRO'S TEAM HAD CONSULTED WITH EARLY
ON >> SO I STARTED REVIEWING THE
MEDICAL RECORDS AND THE AUTOPSY, AND THAT WAS WHEN I KNEW STRANGE
THINGS WERE AFOOT AT THE CIRCLE K.
>> Reporter: ETHYLENE GLYCOL IS ONE OF THE MAIN COMPONENTS IN
ANTIFREEZE BUT SUSAN'S BODY HAD NOT
METABOLIZED IT YET, WHICH STRUCK DR. HAIL
>> IN ORDER TO DIE FROM ETHYLENE GLYCOL POISONING, YOUR BODY HAS
TO CHANGE THAT ETHYLENE GLYCOL INTO SUBSTANCES THAT ARE
ULTIMATELY A LOT MORE TOXIC, AND THEN THOSE SUBSTANCES DEPOSIT
CRYSTALS IN YOUR BODY, AND THAT'S ULTIMATELY WHAT YOU DIE
FROM >> Reporter: AND THAT PROCESS
CAN SOMETIMES TAKE DAYS. DR. HAIL SAID THE IMMEDIATE
EFFECT OF INGESTING ETHYLENE GLYCOL IS SIMILAR TO DRINKING
ALCOHOL. >> IF YOU CONSUME IT, YOU'RE
GOING TO GET DRUNK >> Reporter: THAT SEEMED
CONSISTENT WITH HOW BRENT DESCRIBED SUSAN THAT EVENING,
THAT BY MIDNIGHT SUSAN WAS DRUNK AND PASSED OUT
AND, OF COURSE, THERE WAS THE ANTIFREEZE BRENT SAID HE FOUND
IN THE GARAGE. THAT ALL MATCHED UP.
SO, THEN WHAT ABOUT THE OXYCODONE?
WHERE DID THAT COME FROM >> SHE DOESN'T HAVE A
PRESCRIPTION FOR IT, THERE'S NOT A BOTTLE AT THE SCENE.
AND IF THIS IS A SEEMINGLY SUICIDAL PERSON, THEN THERE
SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN EMPTY BOTTLE OF OXYCODONE, OR AT LEAST PILLS
MISSING. AND I COULDN'T ACCOUNT FOR IT.
>> Reporter: MARC DiGIACOMO THOUGHT HE COULD NOW THAT HE HAD
THE RECORDS THE SEARCH WARRANTS HAD PRODUCED
DiGIACOMO HAD REACHED OUT TO THE DIFFERENT WEBSITES, THE ONES
BRENT SAID SUSAN VISITED HOURS BEFORE SHE PASSED OUT.
>> HERE IS THE IP ADDRESS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS COMPUTER,
AND HERE IS THE WEB PAGE I WANNA KNOW WHEN DID SOMEBODY
CONNECT TO YOUR SERVER WITH THIS IP ADDRESS
>> Reporter: DiGIACOMO LEARNED THOSE ANTIFREEZE SEARCHES WERE
ACTUALLY DONE AROUND MIDNIGHT. BASED ON WHAT BRENT TOLD POLICE,
SUSAN COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ON THE COMPUTER THEN.
HIS STORY WAS THAT, BY MIDNIGHT, SHE WAS ALREADY PASSED OUT
>> THAT'S HIS STORY. SHE'S ALREADY PASSED OUT
>> Reporter: THAT'S ALSO WHAT THE GIRLS SAY.
>> AND, LOOK, WE GOT THEIR DEVICES TOO.
ONE DAUGHTER IS ON HER COMPUTER TO ABOUT MIDNIGHT, AND THEN HER
COMPUTER SHUTS OFF AND THEN THE ONLY OTHER PERSON
AWAKE IS BRENT DENNIS. AND HE GETS ON THE INTERNET AND
REALIZES, "OOH, IT TAKES TWO OR THREE DAYS FROM ANTI-FREEZE TO
KILL SOMEBODY. >> Reporter: DiGIACOMO THOUGHT
THAT UNDERMINED BRENT'S PLAN A >> I THINK HE GETS THE
ANTI-FREEZE, HE PUTS IT IN A MARGARITA CAUSE SHE LIKED TO
DRINK. SHE DRANK IT
SHE PASSES OUT AND HE THINKS SHE'S GONNA BE
DEAD >> Reporter: DiGIACOMO BELIEVES
THAT WHEN BRENT DENNIS REALIZED AFTER MIDNIGHT THE ANTI-FREEZE
WASN'T GOING TO DO THE JOB FAST ENOUGH, HE MOVED ON TO PLAN B.
CELL PHONE RECORDS SHOW THAT BRENT TEXTED DRUG DEALER
JEFF CROSBY MORE THAN FIFTEEN TIMES EARLY THAT MORNING
AT 3:15 A.M. BRENT'S PHONE PINGED AT THE ORLEANS, WHERE HE
AND CROSBY WOULD OFTEN MEET. >> IT'S THERE FOR A VERY SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN IT DRIVES BACK TO THE
RESIDENCE. >> Reporter: TO DiGIACOMO, THAT
EXPLAINED THE OXYCODONE. >> MY BELIEF IS THAT HE GOT IT
THAT NIGHT FROM JEFF CROSBY. >> Reporter: DiGIACOMO THINKS
THAT AFTER BRENT BROUGHT THE OXY HOME, HE SOMEHOW GOT SUSAN TO
INGEST IT. THEN, A FEW HOURS LATER, WHEN
SUSAN WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY
IMPAIRED FROM THE ANTI-FREEZE AND NEARING DEATH FROM THE
OXYCODONE, BRENT PICKED UP THE PHONE.
>> Henderson 9-1-1 >> Reporter: THE PROSECUTOR
BELIEVES THAT BRENT MAY HAVE CALLED 9-1-1 TOO SOON, BECAUSE
SUSAN WASN'T DEAD YET. >> THE MOMENT SHE STOPPED
BREATHING, HE MADE THE MISTAKE OF CALLING 9-1- 1 BECAUSE THEY
WERE ABLE TO REVIVE HER. SO HIS, I THINK, FEAR IS --
LOOK, SHE'S ABOUT TO WAKE UP AND BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE FOR A
SHORT PERIOD OF TIME >> Reporter: DURING WHICH TIME
SHE WILL SAY, "MY HUSBAND DID THIS."
>> I DIDN'T TAKE IT ON MY OWN, AT THE VERY LEAST.
>> Reporter: THAT COULD EXPLAIN WHY BRENT ASKED DOCTORS TO TAKE
SUSAN OFF LIFE SUPPORT, A DECISION HE PERHAPS MADE SO HER
FAMILY WOULD NOT SEE HER ALIVE >> WHEN YOU PUT THAT ALL
TOGETHER, YOU LOOK AT IT IN -- IN TOTALITY AND SAY, "THERE IS
ONLY ONE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION. HE KILLED HIS WIFE."
>> Reporter: EVEN SO, THAT OFFICIAL RULING OF SUICIDE WAS
STILL AN OBSTACLE. SO DR. HAIL HAD A CONFERENCE
CALL WITH THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE TO DISCUSS HER FINDINGS
>> WE DID A MINI-TOXICOLOGY LESSON OVER THE PHONE BECAUSE
MEDICAL EXAMINERS AREN'T TRAINED IN MEDICAL TOXICOLOGY.
AND THAT'S NOT THEIR FAULT I DON'T DO AUTOPSIES
>> Reporter: DR. HAIL WAS ABLE TO CONVINCE THE M.E.'S OFFICE TO
CHANGE SUSAN'S MANNER OF DEATH FROM SUICIDE TO UNDETERMINED
AND WITH THAT, THERE WAS NOTHING HOLDING BACK THE PROSECUTOR.
SO, IN FEBRUARY 2017 THE SAME HENDERSON POLICE WHO'D BEEN
ACCUSED BY SUSAN'S FAMILY OF FAILING TO INVESTIGATE THE CASE
PROPERLY, PULLED BRENT DENNIS OVER
AND ARRESTED HIM FOR MURDER. >> WE BEGIN AT 5:00 P.M. WITH
THE ARREST OF A PSYCHOLOGIST FOR THE MURDER OF HIS WIFE
>> Reporter: FOR THIS FAMILY, IT WAS THE RESULT OF A TWO-YEAR
FIGHT FOR JUSTICE. AN EXPENSIVE ONE
YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THIS ALL COST YOU FINANCIALLY TO GO DOWN
THIS ROAD? >> WELL, I'M NOT GONNA TELL YOU
WHAT IT COST BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU THIS.
IT DIDN'T MAKE A DAMN WHAT IT COST
>> Reporter: WHATEVER THE FINANCIAL COST, IT WAS WORTH IT?
>> YES >> Reporter: SO WAS JUSTICE
FINALLY AT HAND? A BETTER QUESTION MIGHT BE WHAT
IS JUSTICE IN THIS CASE? >>> COMING UP --
SUSAN'S OWN DAUGHTER COULD BE BRENT'S MOST POWERFUL DEFENDER
>> YOU HAVE AN OPINION THAT IT'S A SUICIDE, RIGHT
>> IT'S NOT AN OPINION >> REPORTER: THE WINTERS FAMILY
COULD HARDLY BELIEVE IT. BRENT DENNIS WAS FINALLY BEHIND
BARS, AND AWAITING TRIAL FOR SUSAN'S MURDER
>> GOOD MORNING. WE'LL CALL STATE VS.
GREGORY BRENT DENNIS >> Reporter: TELL ME ABOUT
SEEING BRENT IN GOVERNMENT-ISSUE ORANGE AND GOVERNMENT-ISSUED
HARDWARE >> IT WAS THE VISUAL AFFIRMATION
THAT ALL THE WORK WE HAD DONE MANIFESTED INTO SOMETHING
POSITIVE THE FAMILY WAS GOING TO SEE
JUSTICE NOW OCCUR ON SUSAN'S BEHALF
>> Reporter: THEN, LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER BEING CHARGED WITH
MURDER, BRENT WAS RELEASED ON BAIL
>> DID YOU KILL YOUR WIFE? >> FRUSTRATING
>> FROM THE MOMENT HE GOT ARRESTED, THE ELATION THAT WE
FELT AT THAT POINT - >> YES
>> -- WAS GREAT. BUT IT WAS GONE WHEN HE GOT
BAIL >> WE HAD TO FIGHT FOR TWO
YEARS. AND THEN, THEY FINALLY DECIDED
THEY COULD DO SOMETHING. AND THEY ARRESTED HIM.
AND THEY PUT HIM IN JAIL FOR THE WEEKEND.
AND HE GOT BAIL. AND HE GOT OUT
AND THEN, THEY - >> $250,000 BAIL
>> YEP >> Reporter: THERE WAS NOTHING
DANNY AND AVIS COULD DO -- EXCEPT WAIT.
IN THE MEANTIME, BRENT'S DEFENSE ATTORNEY RICHARD SCHONFELD
DIDN'T WASTE ANY TIME IN MAKING THEIR POSITION KNOWN ON CAMERA
HERE'S AN INDIVIDUAL THAT ON A DAILY BASIS WOULD CONTEMPLATE
SUICIDE AND A GOOD DAY WAS A DAY WHERE SHE ONLY THOUGHT OF IT
ONCE SCHONFELD SPOKE TO OUR NBC
LAS VEGAS AFFILIATE KSNV ABOUT THE REPORT BY A PSYCHOLOGIST WHO
HAD TREATED SUSAN. >> SHE WAS ON THE 95TH
PERCENTILE FOR SUICIDE SYMPTOMS. >> Reporter: THE CENTERPIECE OF
BRENT'S DEFENSE WAS GOING TO BE HIS WIFE'S MENTAL HEALTH
>> PRIOR SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND A PRIOR ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE ARE
SUCH A BIG DEAL FOR THE DEFENSE THAT THOSE FACTS ALONE MIGHT
HAVE BEEN ENOUGH BY THEMSELVES TO CREATE REASONABLE DOUBT AND
RESULT IN AN ACQUITTAL WE ASKED NBC NEWS LEGAL ANALYST
DANNY CEVALLOS TO REVIEW THE EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE.
HE AGREED WITH THE PROSECUTOR. IT WAS FAR FROM OPEN AND SHUT.
AND HE SAID THE MOST POWERFUL BRENT'S OLDEST DAUGHTER, ALLE.
ALLE HAS FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE SHE OBSERVED THE HUSBAND/WIFE
RELATIONSHIP THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ALMOST NO
OTHER WITNESS CAN TESTIFY TO >> Reporter: AND ALLE STOOD BY
HER FATHER, AND HIS VERSION OF EVENTS, FROM THE START
DURING DEPOSITIONS, SHE MADE HER POSITION CLEAR
>> YOU HAVE AN OPINION THAT IT'S A SUICIDE, RIGHT
>> IT'S NOT AN OPINION IT'S A FACT BUT OKAY
>> Reporter: MOREOVER, ALLE SAID HER MOTHER HAD BEEN UNSTABLE FOR
YEARS. >> IT'S CLEAR THAT SHE WASN'T
MURDERED >> BECAUSE WHY
>> BECAUSE SHE WAS EXTREMELY MENTALLY DISABLED.
SHE HATED HERSELF. SHE STARVED HERSELF.
SHE HAD AN EATING DISORDER FOR MULTIPLE YEARS
SHE STILL DID. SHE TALKED TO ME ABOUT IT LIKE
TWO WEEKS BEFORE SHE EVEN KILLED HERSELF.
SHE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS THAT HER PARENTS DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT.
>> AND ALL OF THOSE PROBLEMS LED HER TO KILL HERSELF?
>> YEAH. >> THERE'S NO REAL DIRECT
EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE. THERE'S NO TESTIMONY, OF COURSE,
THAT SOMEBODY SAW DENNIS KILL SUSAN.
THE THING IS IN THIS CASE, THE PROSECUTION'S CIRCUMSTANTIAL
EVIDENCE CAN BE EXPLAINED BY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES.
>> Reporter: DANNY CEVALLOS SAYS BRENT'S DEFENSE ATTORNEYS COULD
HAVE A PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR HIS ACTIONS, EVEN THE LIES HE
TOLD POLICE ABOUT THE DAY SUSAN DIED
>> OF COURSE, HE LIED ABOUT WHERE HE WENT THE NIGHT OF
SUSAN'S DEATH. HE'S A DRUG ADDICT AND HE'S A
PSYCHOLOGIST HE'S TRYING TO CONCEAL THIS
BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO SUFFER THOSE CONSEQUENCES.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT HE KILLED SUSAN.
>> Reporter: PROSECUTOR MARC DiGIACOMO KNEW HE DIDN'T
HAVE A PERFECT CASE. >> I HAD SMALL, LITTLE PIECES OF
CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED ME TO WEAVE A
VERSION OF EVENTS. BUT, I MEAN, THAT WAS CERTAINLY
A WEAKNESS IN THE CASE I COULDN'T TELL YOU EVERYTHING
THAT HAPPENED. >> Reporter: AND YOU CAN'T
REALLY PUT THE ANTIFREEZE OR THE OXY IN BRENT'S HANDS
>> I CAN'T PUT THE ANTIFREEZE AND THE OXY IN HIS HANDS
WHAT I THOUGHT I COULD DO WAS ESTABLISH IT WASN'T IN SUSAN'S
HANDS. >> Reporter: AND, OF COURSE,
THERE WERE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED WITH SUSAN, AND SAW HER EVERY
DAY. EVERYBODY ELSE IN SUSAN WINTERS'
HOUSE WAS SAYING SUICIDE HER HUSBAND, AND HER TWO
DAUGHTERS. >> TRUE, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK
UNDERNEATH THE SURFACE, THE TWO DAUGHTERS DIDN'T HAVE ANY REAL
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. >> Reporter: NO, BUT THESE ARE
ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPOSEDLY KNOW HER BEST.
AND -- >> THAT'S TRUE
>> Reporter: -- AND WOULD HAVE KNOWN HER STATE OF MIND.
>> THAT'S TRUE TOO AND -- LOOK, DON'T GET ME WRONG.
SOMEBODY WHO'S SUICIDAL COULD STILL BE THE VICTIM OF A
HOMICIDE YOU KNOW, THAT WAS ALWAYS SORT
OF OUR THOUGHT, RIGHT? >> Reporter: WAS SUSAN MURDERED
BY HER HUSBAND OR HAD SHE TAKEN HER OWN LIFE?
MAYBE POLICE AND THE MEDICAL EXAMINER HAD IT RIGHT THE FIRST
TIME IT WOULD BE UP TO A JURY TO
DECIDE >>> COMING UP --
AFTER A SEVEN-YEAR FIGHT, AN ANGRY FAMILY WAITS FOR JUSTICE
>> THERE OUGHT TO BE A SPECIAL PLACE IN HELL FOR HIM.
AND I HOPE HE GOES THERE SO, IF YOU NEED TO CUT THAT OUT,
CUT IT OUT >> Reporter: ACTUALLY, I'M
* (MÚSICA) *WE'RE GONNA USE BRENT DENNIS WAS ARRESTED AND
CHARGED WITH MURDER, PROSECUTOR MARC DiGIACOMO FELT READY TO GO
TO TRIAL HE WAS CERTAIN BRENT WOULD NEVER
ACCEPT A PLEA DEAL >> I'M ACCUSING A MENTAL HEALTH
PROFESSIONAL OF KILLING HIS WIFE FOR THE MONEY.
AND HIS STORY IS SHE COMMITTED SUICIDE, AND HIS DAUGHTERS
BELIEVE HIM. THIS GUY'S NEVER ADMITTING THAT
HE DID THIS, NOT WHILE HIS TWO DAUGHTERS ARE STILL ALIVE.
>> Reporter: THIS CASE NEVER WOULD HAVE REACHED DiGIACOMO'S
DESK IF NOT FOR THE WEALTH OF THE WINTERS FAMILY
IT'S A REMINDER OF THE ROLE MONEY CAN PLAY IN THE JUSTICE
SYSTEM >> Reporter: A FAMILY THAT
DIDN'T HAVE THOSE RESOURCES MIGHT BE STUCK WITH THE RESULT
THAT THEY HAD ORIGINALLY I THINK ALMOST CERTAINLY WOULD
BE >> THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT
STARS HAD TO LINE UP THAT THIS PARTICULAR VICTIM WAS RELATED TO
INDIVIDUALS THAT HAD THE FINANCIAL WHEREWITHAL TO BE ABLE
TO DO WHAT THEY DID. >> Reporter: THE FAMILY HAD BEEN
IMMERSED IN ALL THE DETAILS OF THE WORK DONE BY THE P.I.'S AND
THE LAWYERS THEY'D HIRED THAT CIVIL CASE STILL HAS NOT
BEEN SETTLED AND ONCE THE CASE WENT TO THE
CLARK COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, ALL THEY COULD DO WAS
WATCH AND WAIT, AND WAIT >> THERE WOULD BE A COURT DATE
WE WOULD FLY OUT THERE AND NOTHING HAPPENED
>> YEAH, THERE WERE A LOT OF TIMES WE'D GET ON THE PLANE
COMIN' BACK HOME OR GET IN THE TRUCK --
>> UGH >> -- DRIVIN' FROM THE AIRPORT
BACK HOME AND JUST BEAT ON THE -- ON THE STEERING WHEEL OR
WHATEVER JUST TO GET THE FRUSTRATION AND EMOTION OUT.
>> DANNY, I KNOW AT ONE POINT, YOU CALLED THE PROSECUTOR AND
TONY, AND SAID, "WE GOTTA SPEED THIS UP, BECAUSE I WANT THIS TO
HAPPEN WHILE I'M STILL ON THIS EARTH.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. WHO KNOWS HOW LONG YOU GO TO
GO -- TO LIVE? AS A FATHER, YOUR JOB IS TO
PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN. I HAD TO AT LEAST SEE HIM GO TO
JAIL FOR WHAT HE DID DO. >> Reporter: WHEN COVID HIT,
COURTS SHUT DOWN, DELAYS AND FRUSTRATIONS MOUNTED
THEN SEVEN YEARS AFTER SUSAN DIED, AND WITH A TRIAL DATE
FINALLY ON THE BOOKS, DiGIACOMO GOT A CALL FROM BRENT DENNIS'
LAWYER >> HE SAID TO ME, "LOOK, IF YOU
MADE ME AN OFFER, MARC, WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE?"
AND THAT SORTA OPENED THE DOOR TO A CONVERSATION JUST BETWEEN
HIS DEFENSE ATTORNEY AND I >> Reporter: THOSE CONVERSATIONS
LED TO A MEETING THAT INCLUDED ATTORNEYS, THE WINTERS FAMILY,
AND BRENT DENNIS TO DISCUSS A POSSIBLE PLEA DEAL
>> IT WAS LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A COMEDY
WE'D GO IN AND WE'D SIT DOWN AND THEY WOULD THROW SOMETHING
ON THE TABLE IT WAS LIKE WE WERE, KIND OF,
AUCTIONING SUSAN'S LIFE OFF. >> YEAH.
WHAT WE WOULD ACCEPT >> WHAT WOULD WE ACCEPT FOR
SUSAN'S LIFE >> Reporter: ULTIMATELY, THE
DEAL WAS THIS, INSTEAD OF FACING A JURY, BRENT DENNIS TOOK AN
ALFORD PLEA TO MANSLAUGHTER. OFFICIALLY IT'S A GUILTY PLEA,
BUT IT DOESN'T REQUIRE THE ACCUSED TO ADMIT TO ACTUALLY
COMMITTING THE CRIME HOW'D YOU FEEL ABOUT THE ALFORD
PLEA >> I NEVER HEARD OF IT
IT WAS A SLAP IN THE FACE. >> HE DIDN'T HAVE TO ADMIT
ANYTHING IT LEFT A VERY BITTER TASTE IN
MY MOUTH AFTER THE SEVEN YEARS >> THE TWO BIGGEST VICTIMS IN
THIS CASE, OTHER THAN SUSAN, WERE ALLE AND DANI
I KNEW THAT A TRIAL WAS GONNA BE VICIOUS FOR THEM
THE ONLY THING THAT WAS GOING TO HELP, IS IF WE RESOLVED THE
CASE >> Reporter: SENTENCING CAME IN
MAY OF THIS YEAR DANNY, AVIS, CHRIS, AND JULIE
SAT ON ONE SIDE OF THE COURTROOM, ALLE AND DANI ON THE
OTHER. THEIR DAD'S DEFENSE ATTORNEY
SPOKE FOR THEM >> WE DECIDED AS A FAMILY TO
TAKE THIS PATH FOR THE SOLE REASON THAT IT IS TIME FOR US AS
A FAMILY TO PUT THIS BEHIND US AND NOT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE FOR A
SECOND THAT HE HAD ANY INVOLVEMENT IN OUR MOTHER'S
DEATH. >> Reporter: THE JUDGE SENTENCED
BRENT DENNIS TO A PRISON TERM OF THREE TO TEN YEARS
OFFICIALLY A WIN FOR THE WINTERS FAMILY, BUT IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE
ONE.
FOR DANNY, PRISON IS TOO GOOD FOR BRENT DENNIS
>> FOR ME TO THINK ABOUT MY DAUGHTER LAYING THERE GOING
THROUGH THAT WITH THE ANTIFREEZE, THE OXYCODONE, AND
WHAT EVERYTHING ELSE HE PUT IN HER BODY, THERE OUGHT TO BE A
SPECIAL PLACE IN HELL FOR HIM. AND I HOPE HE GOES THERE
AND IF YOU NEED TO CUT THAT OUT, CUT IT OUT, BUT --
>> Reporter: ACTUALLY, I'M PRETTY SURE WE'RE GONNA USE
THAT >> OKAY.
>> Reporter: THE SENTENCING WAS THE FIRST TIME IN SEVEN YEARS
THAT DANNY AND AVIS WERE IN THE SAME ROOM WITH THE
GRANDDAUGHTERS THEY ADORE AND WITH WHOM THEY NOW HAVE NO
CONTACT AT ALL >> DANNY HAS TOLD ME MANY TIMES
WHEN I AM DEPRESSED ABOUT NOT GETTING TO SEE THEM ANYMORE, HE
SAYS, "AVIS, WE HAD THE BEST TIME WITH THEM WHEN THEY WERE
GROWING UP." >> Reporter: DO THE TWO OF YOU
THINK THERE'S GONNA BE A DAY WHEN YOU WILL HAVE THAT
RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR GRANDDAUGHTERS THE WAY YOU USED
TO >> I PRAY FOR THAT EVERYDAY.
AND I BELIEVE IT CAN HAPPEN. BUT THE TIME IS DRAWING SHORT
FOR US >> Reporter: ANYTHING YOU WANNA
SAY TO THEM? >> ALLE AND DANI, WE LOVE YOU.
>> Reporter: DATELINE REQUESTED INTERVIEWS WITH BRENT DENNIS,
WITH HIS DAUGHTERS, AND HIS ATTORNEYS, AS WELL AS THE
HENDERSON POLICE DEPARTMENT. THEY ALL DECLINED.
ALL THAT'S LEFT FOR THE WINTERS NOW ARE THE REMINDERS OF A
BEAUTIFUL LIFE TAKEN TOO SOON, SUSAN'S CHILDHOOD SCRAPBOOK.
>> SHE WANTED TO SAVE ALL THE THINGS THAT WENT ON.
EVERY PLACE WE WENT, SHE WOULD FIND A SOUVENIR T-SHIRT AND KEEP
IT >> Reporter: A QUILT OF SUSAN'S
SHIRTS MEMORIES OF THE DAUGHTER THEY
LOVED AND STILL LONG FOR >> Reporter: WHAT DO YOU MISS
MOST ABOUT HER >> HER LAUGHTER, HER WIT, HER --
I STILL WANT MY DAUGHTER BACK. >> THERE'S NOT ONE THING I DON'T
MISS ABOUT HER >> I JUST MISS HER SPIRIT.
NOTHING WAS EVER TOO BIG FOR HER.
>>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF "DATELINE."
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY AT 9:00/8:00 CENTRAL, AND, OF
COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR NBC NIGHTLY NEWS
I'M LESTER HOLT. FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS,
GOODNIGHT.