1 00:00:17,250 --> 00:00:17,851 >>> TONIGHT ON "DATELINE" -- 2 00:00:17,851 --> 00:00:22,555 >> HENDERSON 9-1-1 >> MY WIFE IS UNCONSCIOUS. 3 00:00:22,555 --> 00:00:24,691 >> GOT A CALL, SUSAN HAD DIED. >> HE JUST SAID SHE WAS ACTING 4 00:00:24,691 --> 00:00:26,259 CRAZY. SHE SAID, "I'M GONNA KILL 5 00:00:26,259 --> 00:00:35,135 MYSELF." >> BRENT TAKES THE DETECTIVE TO 6 00:00:35,135 --> 00:00:41,174 THE GARAGE AND SHOWS HIM TWO BOTTLES OF ANTIFREEZE. 7 00:00:41,174 --> 00:00:44,244 >> IT MADE SENSE TO POLICE THAT SUSAN LIKELY KILLED HERSELF. 8 00:00:44,244 --> 00:00:45,445 >> Reporter: DID YOU, FOR A MINUTE, BELIEVE THAT SUSAN COULD 9 00:00:45,445 --> 00:00:52,152 TAKE HER OWN LIFE? >> NEVER 10 00:00:52,152 --> 00:00:54,154 >> WE NEVER LOCATED ANYTHING THAT POINTED TO SUICIDE. 11 00:00:54,154 --> 00:00:57,957 >> HE WAS UP THE ELEVATOR. I THINK IT WAS SIX MINUTES 12 00:00:57,957 --> 00:01:01,761 WHAT'S HE DOING IN SIX MINUTES >> YOU HAVE AN OPINION THAT IT'S 13 00:01:01,761 --> 00:01:02,595 A SUICIDE, RIGHT >> IT'S NOT AN OPINION 14 00:01:02,595 --> 00:01:04,297 IT'S A FACT. BUT OKAY 15 00:01:04,297 --> 00:01:06,933 >> I DON'T HAVE A MURDER WEAPON, I DON'T HAVE A CONFESSION. 16 00:01:06,933 --> 00:01:11,137 >> WE WANTED JUSTICE FOR SUSAN >> Reporter: AND YOU DID NOT LET 17 00:01:11,137 --> 00:01:15,909 IT GO. >> NO. 18 00:01:15,909 --> 00:01:18,078 WE DIDN'T. >> A PUZZLE FOR INVESTIGATORS 19 00:01:18,078 --> 00:01:27,520 AND YOU TO SOLVE WAS A MYSTERIOUS DEATH A SUICIDE 20 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:38,598 OR SOMETHING MORE SINISTER I'M LESTER HOLT, AND THIS IS 21 00:01:38,598 --> 00:01:43,336 "DATELINE. HERE'S JOSH MANKIEWICZ WITH A 22 00:01:43,336 --> 00:01:44,504 COOL DESERT MORNING. >> ON FATHER'S DAY, I DON'T GET 23 00:01:44,504 --> 00:01:57,117 THAT PHONE CALL FROM MY DAUGHTER LIKE I USED TO 24 00:01:57,117 --> 00:02:00,253 I LOVED THE WAY SHE SAID, "DADDY." 25 00:02:00,253 --> 00:02:03,390 >> Reporter: IT WAS A TRAGIC LOSS, ONE THAT MIGHT HAVE UNITED 26 00:02:03,390 --> 00:02:14,467 A FAMILY IN GRIEF, INSTEAD IT TORE THEM APART IN ANGER 27 00:02:14,467 --> 00:02:16,069 >> IT WAS JUST VERY COLD AND HOSTILE. 28 00:02:16,069 --> 00:02:17,103 >> THE LINES WERE DRAWN, AND HE WASN'T BACKING OFF 29 00:02:17,103 --> 00:02:19,239 >> Reporter: AN OPEN AND SHUT CASE BECAME A PUZZLE WITH A LOT 30 00:02:19,239 --> 00:02:24,611 OF MISSING PIECES. >> THERE'S A LOT OF TRYING TO 31 00:02:24,611 --> 00:02:25,578 PUT A SQUARE PEG IN A ROUND HOLE 32 00:02:25,578 --> 00:02:26,780 >> THERE'S A LOT OF CLUES IN THIS STORY, BUT NO EASY ANSWERS. 33 00:02:26,780 --> 00:02:29,816 IT SEEMS LIKE IT JUST DOESN'T ADD UP 34 00:02:29,816 --> 00:02:35,088 >> Reporter: A FAMILY PUSHED BACK AGAINST THE CRIMINAL 35 00:02:35,088 --> 00:02:36,189 JUSTICE SYSTEM >> YOU KNEW THAT WAS GONNA BE 36 00:02:36,189 --> 00:02:44,097 THE MOST UPHILL OF UPHILL BATTLES? 37 00:02:44,097 --> 00:02:45,699 >> YES >> ALL WE WANT TO KNOW IS THE 38 00:02:45,699 --> 00:02:46,766 TRUTH. >> Reporter: AND THEY REFUSED TO 39 00:02:46,766 --> 00:02:47,767 GIVE UP. YOU'RE BOTH GRIEVING PARENTS 40 00:02:47,767 --> 00:02:48,902 AND "YOU NEED TO LET IT GO." HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU HEAR 41 00:02:48,902 --> 00:02:50,904 THAT, AND FROM HOW MANY PEOPLE >> WE HEARD IT FROM EVERYBODY 42 00:02:50,904 --> 00:02:59,879 THAT WE TALKED TO. >> BUT WE'RE STUBBORN PEOPLE 43 00:02:59,879 --> 00:03:08,355 >> Reporter: JUST A SHORT DRIVE FROM THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF THE 44 00:03:08,355 --> 00:03:09,622 LAS VEGAS STRIP IS THE SUBURBAN SPRAWL OF HENDERSON, NEVADA, THE 45 00:03:09,622 --> 00:03:10,657 STATE'S SECOND BIGGEST CITY. HENDERSON WAS HOME TO 46 00:03:10,657 --> 00:03:22,602 PSYCHOLOGIST, BRENT DENNIS, ATTORNEY, SUSAN WINTERS, AND 47 00:03:22,602 --> 00:03:23,570 THEIR TWO DAUGHTERS. UNDER THIS ROOF THEY LED A 48 00:03:23,570 --> 00:03:26,706 PRIVILEGED, COMFORTABLE LIFE, ONE THAT EXPLODED ON A COOL 49 00:03:26,706 --> 00:03:27,974 DESERT MORNING IN JANUARY 2015 >> HENDERSON 9-1-1, WHAT'S THE 50 00:03:27,974 --> 00:03:32,645 LOCATION OF YOUR EMERGENCY >> MY WIFE IS UNCONSCIOUS. 51 00:03:32,645 --> 00:03:35,281 >> ON JANUARY 3rd, AROUND 6:45 A.M., BRENT DENNIS WAKES 52 00:03:35,281 --> 00:03:36,816 UP, AND HE CALLS 9-1-1 >> Reporter: REPORTER 53 00:03:36,816 --> 00:03:43,757 KATE BRIQUELET COVERED THE STORY FOR THE DAILY BEAST. 54 00:03:43,757 --> 00:03:44,858 >> HE SOUNDS PANICKED. HE'S SPEAKING VERY QUICKLY, AND 55 00:03:44,858 --> 00:03:54,334 HE REPORTS THAT HIS WIFE IS UNCONSCIOUS AND NOT BREATHING. 56 00:03:54,334 --> 00:03:55,402 >> SIR, TAKE A DEEP BREATH I NEED YOU TO TAKE A DEEP 57 00:03:55,402 --> 00:03:56,903 BREATH THEY'RE ALREADY ON THEIR WAY 58 00:03:56,903 --> 00:03:57,737 I NEED YOU TO TELL ME YOUR PHONE NUMBER 59 00:03:57,737 --> 00:03:58,571 >> THIS IS MY NUMBER, IT'S 702 -- UH -- 60 00:03:58,571 --> 00:03:59,606 >> THAT'S OKAY ARE YOU WITH YOUR WIFE NOW 61 00:03:59,606 --> 00:04:00,707 >> YEAH, BUT SHE'S UNCONSCIOUS >> HE SAYS HE HAS TO DO 62 00:04:00,707 --> 00:04:06,579 SOMETHING. HE HAS TO GIVE HIS WIFE MOUTH TO 63 00:04:06,579 --> 00:04:08,048 MOUTH. AND HE HANDS THE PHONE TO HIS 64 00:04:08,048 --> 00:04:10,183 OLDEST DAUGHTER, WHO THEN TAKES OVER 65 00:04:10,183 --> 00:04:12,352 AND SHE SOUNDS PRETTY COMPOSED, GIVEN THESE TERRIFYING 66 00:04:12,352 --> 00:04:13,453 CIRCUMSTANCES. >> Reporter: BRENT'S 15-YEAR-OLD 67 00:04:13,453 --> 00:04:16,056 DAUGHTER, ALLE, TOOK OVER THE CALL 68 00:04:16,056 --> 00:04:19,159 >> HOW LONG UNTIL THE AMBULANCE IS GONNA BE HERE 69 00:04:19,159 --> 00:04:20,393 >> THEY'RE ALREADY ON THEIR WAY. OKAY, I NEED YOU TO GET HER ON 70 00:04:20,393 --> 00:04:21,294 THE FLOOR SWEETHEART, OKAY >> WE'RE TRYING. 71 00:04:21,294 --> 00:04:23,396 WE'RE TRYING SHE'S ON THE FLOOR 72 00:04:23,396 --> 00:04:24,464 SHE'S ON THE FLOOR >> OKAY, IS SHE BREATHING? 73 00:04:24,464 --> 00:04:27,634 LOOK AT HER RIGHT NOW SWEETHEART 74 00:04:27,634 --> 00:04:28,835 >> NO, NO, SHE'S NOT BREATHING >> OKAY, LISTEN CAREFULLY, AND 75 00:04:28,835 --> 00:04:30,804 I'LL TELL YOU HOW TO DO CHEST COMPRESSIONS 76 00:04:30,804 --> 00:04:34,574 >> MY DAD'S ALREADY DOING THEM >> TELL HIM HE NEEDS TO DO IT 77 00:04:34,574 --> 00:04:35,642 600 TIMES AND COUNT OUT LOUD SO I CAN COUNT WITH HIM 78 00:04:35,642 --> 00:04:39,279 >> DAD, YOU NEED TO DO IT 600 TIMES. 79 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:40,413 >> Reporter: WITH BRENT STILL DOING CHEST COMPRESSIONS, 80 00:04:40,413 --> 00:04:41,915 PARAMEDICS ARRIVED AND TOOK OVER 81 00:04:41,915 --> 00:04:47,821 >> IT'S A CHAOTIC SCENE. AND AS THEY'RE WORKING TO SAVE 82 00:04:47,821 --> 00:04:51,091 HER LIFE, BRENT DENNIS BEGINS TO SHARE DETAILS WITH THEM, SAYING 83 00:04:51,091 --> 00:04:55,695 THAT HE FOUND HER IN THIS STATE JUST TEN MINUTES BEFORE. 84 00:04:55,695 --> 00:05:01,434 HE SAYS THAT HIS WIFE HAD SEEMED DEPRESSED LATELY AND HAD 85 00:05:01,434 --> 00:05:02,569 THREATENED TO KILL HERSELF >> Reporter: PARAMEDICS WORKED 86 00:05:02,569 --> 00:05:03,636 ON SUSAN AND WERE ABLE TO GET A PULSE. 87 00:05:03,636 --> 00:05:14,180 SHE STARTED BREATHING AGAIN. AND BRENT CALLED SUSAN'S 88 00:05:14,180 --> 00:05:15,281 PARENTS, DANNY AND AVIS, IN OKLAHOMA 89 00:05:15,281 --> 00:05:17,050 HE TOLD HER FATHER SUSAN HAD ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. 90 00:05:17,050 --> 00:05:18,284 >> AND THEN, HE TOOK THE PHONE AND HE HANDED IT TO HIS DAUGHTER 91 00:05:18,284 --> 00:05:19,486 AND SAID, "HERE, TALK TO HER." >> AND I SAID, "ALLE, IS YOUR 92 00:05:19,486 --> 00:05:20,954 MOTHER AWAKE?" AND SHE SAID, "NO. 93 00:05:20,954 --> 00:05:25,859 AND THEN SHE SAID, "WAIT A MINUTE." 94 00:05:25,859 --> 00:05:27,327 SHE SAID ONE OF HER FINGERS IS -- WAS MOVING 95 00:05:27,327 --> 00:05:28,261 WE GOTTA GO. >> I DIDN'T WANT TO BELIEVE ANY 96 00:05:28,261 --> 00:05:30,063 OF IT. I JUST KNEW IT WAS BAD 97 00:05:30,063 --> 00:05:33,900 BUT I WAS LIKE HIM, THINKING, "OKAY, THEY WILL GET HER TO THE 98 00:05:33,900 --> 00:05:35,368 HOSPITAL. AND WE CAN GET OUT THERE AND SEE 99 00:05:35,368 --> 00:05:39,606 HER. AND IT'LL BE OKAY. 100 00:05:39,606 --> 00:05:43,810 AND WE WAITED AND WAITED FOR ANOTHER CALL 101 00:05:43,810 --> 00:05:45,111 >> Reporter: WAITING WAS TORTURE. 102 00:05:45,111 --> 00:05:48,114 SO DANNY AND AVIS BOOKED A PRIVATE PLANE SO THEY COULD BE 103 00:05:48,114 --> 00:05:52,285 WITH THEIR DAUGHTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE 104 00:05:52,285 --> 00:05:56,423 SUSAN HAD BEEN RUSHED TO AN ER WITH A STEADY PULSE. 105 00:05:56,423 --> 00:06:01,261 THE BAD NEWS, A CAT SCAN SHOWED SWELLING AROUND HER BRAIN. 106 00:06:01,261 --> 00:06:09,736 THE PROGNOSIS WAS BLEAK. BRENT CALLED SUSAN'S PARENTS 107 00:06:09,736 --> 00:06:14,474 AGAIN. >> WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO THE 108 00:06:14,474 --> 00:06:17,143 AIRPORT. WE WERE AT THE GATE TO TURN IN, 109 00:06:17,143 --> 00:06:18,712 AND HE CALLED. >> HE SAID, "DON'T COME OUT. 110 00:06:18,712 --> 00:06:19,713 I'LL CALL -- I'LL CALL BACK. >> SO I WANTED TO GO 111 00:06:19,713 --> 00:06:24,551 AND DANNY WANTED TO GO WE FELT LIKE WE SHOULD 112 00:06:24,551 --> 00:06:27,187 BUT IT WAS A NIGHTMARE >> Reporter: BRENT ASKED THEM 113 00:06:27,187 --> 00:06:31,925 NOT TO COME TO NEVADA RIGHT AWAY, TO WAIT FOR A MEDICAL 114 00:06:31,925 --> 00:06:33,193 UPDATE IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION, BUT 115 00:06:33,193 --> 00:06:34,260 DANNY AND AVIS AGREED. WAITING WOULD ALSO GIVE THEIR 116 00:06:34,260 --> 00:06:42,502 SON A CHANCE TO JOIN THEM ON A LATER FLIGHT 117 00:06:42,502 --> 00:06:44,604 SO THEY RETURNED HOME, HOPING FOR GOOD NEWS, BUT ALSO 118 00:06:44,604 --> 00:06:56,783 TERRIFIED OF WHAT THEY'D HEAR NEXT, THAT, EVEN IF SHE 119 00:06:56,783 --> 00:07:02,689 SURVIVED, SUSAN'S LIFE, AND THEIRS, WOULD NEVER BE THE SAME. 120 00:07:02,689 --> 00:07:03,790 >> THIS WAS A MARRIAGE THAT STARTED WITH SO MUCH LOVE. 121 00:07:03,790 --> 00:07:05,492 >>> WHEN WE COME BACK -- >> SHE WAS HEAD-OVER-HEELS IN 122 00:07:05,492 --> 00:07:06,426 LOVE WITH HIM. HE WAS HEAD-OVER-HEELS IN LOVE 123 00:07:06,426 --> 00:07:07,360 WITH HER TOO >> BUT SADLY, IF THIS WAS A 124 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:39,059 SUICIDE ATTEMPT, IT WASN'T SUSAN'S FIRST. 125 00:07:39,059 --> 00:07:41,194 >> Reporter: SUSAN WINTERS HAD BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR MOST OF 126 00:07:41,194 --> 00:07:42,062 THE MORNING, HUSBAND BRENT BY HER SIDE 127 00:07:42,062 --> 00:07:50,270 BRENT HAD GIVEN SUSAN'S PARENTS IN OKLAHOMA A DISTURBING REPORT. 128 00:07:50,270 --> 00:07:51,237 SUSAN HARDLY LOOKED LIKE HERSELF. 129 00:07:51,237 --> 00:07:53,340 SHE WAS BLOATED -- AND ON LIFE SUPPORT. 130 00:07:53,340 --> 00:07:55,475 >> HE SAID YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE HER LIKE THIS 131 00:07:55,475 --> 00:08:05,018 HE WAS PAINTING A PICTURE FOR ME 132 00:08:05,018 --> 00:08:06,119 AND THAT WAS NOT MY SUSAN. >> Reporter: THEIR SUSAN WAS A 133 00:08:06,119 --> 00:08:09,255 BUNDLE OF ENERGY WHO EMBRACED LIFE WITH EVERYTHING SHE HAD 134 00:08:09,255 --> 00:08:14,027 SHE'D BEEN THE APPLE OF HER PARENTS' EYES FROM THE DAY SHE 135 00:08:14,027 --> 00:08:18,198 WAS BORN >> SHE TRIED TO PLEASE 136 00:08:18,198 --> 00:08:24,070 EVERYBODY. SHE WANTED TO DO WELL IN SCHOOL. 137 00:08:24,070 --> 00:08:25,138 A WONDERFUL DAUGHTER >> IF SHE COULDN'T DO HER BEST, 138 00:08:25,138 --> 00:08:33,046 SHE -- SHE WASN'T EVER SATISFIED. 139 00:08:33,046 --> 00:08:34,681 >> Reporter: BIG BROTHER CHRIS, A GIFTED ATHLETE, SAYS SUSAN'S 140 00:08:34,681 --> 00:08:35,648 BEST WAS REALLY GOOD >> SHE WANTED TO GO AND DO 141 00:08:35,648 --> 00:08:36,516 ANYTHING ANY OF THE OLDER KIDS WERE DOING 142 00:08:36,516 --> 00:08:37,317 SHE WAS GONNA BE RIGHT THERE DOIN' IT 143 00:08:37,317 --> 00:08:43,056 SHE HAD NO FEAR. >> Reporter: SHE WAS THE TOMBOY 144 00:08:43,056 --> 00:08:44,124 KID SISTER WHO WAS TAGGIN' ALONG? 145 00:08:44,124 --> 00:08:46,726 >> PRETTY MUCH SHE WAS A LOT OF FUN TO HAVE 146 00:08:46,726 --> 00:08:49,329 AROUND >> Reporter: FIERCELY 147 00:08:49,329 --> 00:08:55,435 COMPETITIVE, SUSAN WAS AN HONOR STUDENT, HOMECOMING QUEEN, AND 148 00:08:55,435 --> 00:09:00,473 STAR OF HER SCHOOL'S TRACK, BASKETBALL, AND SOFTBALL TEAMS 149 00:09:00,473 --> 00:09:02,075 KELLY SNEED WAS BOTH TEAMMATE AND BEST FRIEND. 150 00:09:02,075 --> 00:09:08,415 >> SHE WOULD COME INTO A ROOM AND JUST BRIGHTEN IT UP. 151 00:09:08,415 --> 00:09:11,017 AND SHE WAS LOUD AND -- AND BOISTEROUS 152 00:09:11,017 --> 00:09:13,119 AND SHE WAS SMART AND SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL. 153 00:09:13,119 --> 00:09:15,822 >> Reporter: IN 8th GRADE, SUSAN HAD HER EYE ON ANOTHER BRIGHT 154 00:09:15,822 --> 00:09:18,458 STAR, BRENT DENNIS, QUARTERBACK OF HER SCHOOL'S STATE CHAMPION 155 00:09:18,458 --> 00:09:21,094 FOOTBALL TEAM. >> HE WAS MORE THAN A JOCK 156 00:09:21,094 --> 00:09:25,331 HE WAS HANDSOME. HE WAS SMART, AND ALMOST 157 00:09:25,331 --> 00:09:27,434 INVINCIBLE, YOU KNOW I MEAN, EVERYBODY JUST SWOONED 158 00:09:27,434 --> 00:09:33,239 OVER HIM HE WAS -- HE WAS AMAZING 159 00:09:33,239 --> 00:09:35,375 >> Reporter: BRENT, THE BIG MAN ON CAMPUS, WAS 18. 160 00:09:35,375 --> 00:09:40,647 SUSAN WAS JUST 14. IT WASN'T GONNA HAPPEN 161 00:09:40,647 --> 00:09:42,382 STILL -- A GIRL CAN DREAM. >> SHE HAD A VERY BIG CRUSH ON 162 00:09:42,382 --> 00:09:53,860 HIM. AND SHE TOLD ME ONE TIME, "I'M 163 00:09:53,860 --> 00:09:55,061 GONNA MARRY THAT GUY SOME DAY. >> Reporter: AFTER GRADUATION, 164 00:09:55,061 --> 00:09:55,929 SUSAN AND BRENT WENT THEIR SEPARATE WAYS. 165 00:09:55,929 --> 00:09:57,063 SHE BECAME A LAWYER AND SETTLED IN LAS VEGAS 166 00:09:57,063 --> 00:10:03,903 HE WAS A PSYCHOLOGIST IN SAN DIEGO. 167 00:10:03,903 --> 00:10:05,538 BY THE EARLY '90'S, THEY WERE BOTH DIVORCED AND AVAILABLE. 168 00:10:05,538 --> 00:10:08,108 SUSAN'S SISTER-IN-LAW JULIE TOOK IT FROM THERE. 169 00:10:08,108 --> 00:10:09,709 >> I CALLED HIS DAD AND SAID I WAS PART OF THE REUNION 170 00:10:09,709 --> 00:10:12,379 COMMITTEE AND I NEEDED BRENT'S NUMBER 171 00:10:12,379 --> 00:10:15,515 SO I -- GAVE HIM SUSAN'S NUMBER AND THEY TALKED FOR A COUPLE OF 172 00:10:15,515 --> 00:10:20,286 WEEKS. AND THEN SHE FLEW INTO SAN DIEGO 173 00:10:20,286 --> 00:10:21,421 TO MEET HIM. >> ONCE THEY RECONNECTED, SHE 174 00:10:21,421 --> 00:10:23,990 WAS HEAD-OVER-HEELS IN LOVE WITH HIM. 175 00:10:23,990 --> 00:10:27,060 I THINK HE WAS HEAD-OVER-HEELS IN LOVE WITH HER TOO 176 00:10:27,060 --> 00:10:37,170 HE WAS VERY COMPASSIONATE AND LOVING 177 00:10:37,170 --> 00:10:38,538 >> Reporter: THEY GOT MARRIED IN 1995, SETTLED IN HENDERSON, AND 178 00:10:38,538 --> 00:10:39,339 HAD TWO DAUGHTERS, ALLIE AND DANI 179 00:10:39,339 --> 00:10:40,874 MONEY WASN'T REALLY AN ISSUE FOR THEM 180 00:10:40,874 --> 00:10:59,359 SUSAN AND BRENT WERE PROFESSIONALS AND DOING WELL 181 00:10:59,359 --> 00:11:00,493 >>> Reporter: AFTER >> HI, HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY 182 00:11:00,493 --> 00:11:02,062 >> Reporter: THEY OWN MORE THAN A HUNDRED RESTAURANT FRANCHISES, 183 00:11:02,062 --> 00:11:03,663 INCLUDING DOZENS OF SONIC DRIVE-INS. 184 00:11:03,663 --> 00:11:04,664 SUSAN RECEIVED MONTHLY PROFITS FROM FOUR OF THEM. 185 00:11:04,664 --> 00:11:10,403 IT WAS A CHARMED LIFE. EXCEPT IT DIDN'T LAST. 186 00:11:10,403 --> 00:11:11,604 IN 2012, AFTER MORE THAN FIFTEEN YEARS OF MARRIAGE, BRENT AND 187 00:11:11,604 --> 00:11:16,409 SUSAN SEPARATED. NO ONE SEEMED TO KNOW WHY. 188 00:11:16,409 --> 00:11:18,745 >> Reporter: WHAT WAS NOT WORKING IN THAT MARRIAGE, OR 189 00:11:18,745 --> 00:11:20,947 WHAT DID SHE TELL YOU? >> SHE DIDN'T TELL US ANYTHING 190 00:11:20,947 --> 00:11:23,083 ABOUT THE MARRIAGE SHE JUST SAID, "IT'S NOT 191 00:11:23,083 --> 00:11:26,353 WORKING. BUT SHE STILL LOVED HIM AND SHE 192 00:11:26,353 --> 00:11:32,092 WANTED THE -- THE MARRIAGE TO WORK 193 00:11:32,092 --> 00:11:33,093 >> Reporter: THEY AGREED TO SHARE CUSTODY OF THEIR 194 00:11:33,093 --> 00:11:35,729 DAUGHTERS, 13 AND 10 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME. 195 00:11:35,729 --> 00:11:39,499 ONE WEEK WHEN THE GIRLS WERE WITH STAYING WITH THEIR DAD, 196 00:11:39,499 --> 00:11:43,103 JULIE WENT TO VISIT SUSAN, WHO WAS ALONE IN THE HOUSE AND IN 197 00:11:43,103 --> 00:11:49,409 VERY BAD SHAPE >> AND I STILL HAVE GOOSEBUMPS 198 00:11:49,409 --> 00:11:52,579 I REMEMBER WALKING IN. SHE WAS NOT VERY RECEPTIVE 199 00:11:52,579 --> 00:11:55,515 AND THE GIRLS WERE WITH HIM. AND IT JUST TOTALLY FLATTENED 200 00:11:55,515 --> 00:11:57,450 HER WORLD. >> Reporter: SUSAN TUMBLED INTO 201 00:11:57,450 --> 00:12:01,087 A DEEP DEPRESSION. AND THEN, ONE DAY, ALONE AT 202 00:12:01,087 --> 00:12:05,058 HOME, SHE WENT TO THE GARAGE AND CLOSED THE DOOR. 203 00:12:05,058 --> 00:12:07,427 >> AND SHE GOES OUT AND STARTS THE CAR IN THE GARAGE, RIGHT 204 00:12:07,427 --> 00:12:09,963 AND SHE'S SITTIN' THERE AND SHE DECIDES IT'S TOO COLD. 205 00:12:09,963 --> 00:12:13,700 SO, SHE KILLS THE CAR AND WALKS INSIDE 206 00:12:13,700 --> 00:12:15,301 >> Reporter: SHE THOUGHT ABOUT IT ENOUGH TO GO IN THE CAR, 207 00:12:15,301 --> 00:12:17,937 CLOSE THE GARAGE DOOR, AND TURN ON THE ENGINE. 208 00:12:17,937 --> 00:12:24,277 AND THEN SHE DIDN'T GO THROUGH WITH IT? 209 00:12:24,277 --> 00:12:25,378 >> YEAH. >> Reporter: SUSAN WENT INTO 210 00:12:25,378 --> 00:12:28,515 THERAPY AND WAS PRESCRIBED MEDICATION FOR DEPRESSION AND 211 00:12:28,515 --> 00:12:29,582 ANXIETY. AVIS BELIEVED A FRESH START 212 00:12:29,582 --> 00:12:33,787 WOULD BE THE BEST THING FOR HER DAUGHTER 213 00:12:33,787 --> 00:12:38,825 AND THAT MEANT ENDING HER MARRIAGE 214 00:12:38,825 --> 00:12:40,126 >> I PERSUADED HER TO SEE AN ATTORNEY AND GET DIVORCE PAPERS 215 00:12:40,126 --> 00:12:43,797 DRAFTED. SHE PRESENTED THEM TO BRENT. 216 00:12:43,797 --> 00:12:48,101 SHE TOLD ME THAT HE SAID, "SUSAN, WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU 217 00:12:48,101 --> 00:12:51,738 FILE FOR DIVORCE I LOVE YOU." 218 00:12:51,738 --> 00:12:55,709 SHE CRIED, SAYING, "I WANT MY LIFE BACK. 219 00:12:55,709 --> 00:12:58,578 I WANT MY HUSBAND BACK I WANT MY KIDS." 220 00:12:58,578 --> 00:13:04,918 >> Reporter: AND SHE DID GET THEM BACK. 221 00:13:04,918 --> 00:13:06,186 SUSAN RECONCILED WITH BRENT AND THE FAMILY MOVED BACK UNDER ONE 222 00:13:06,186 --> 00:13:11,224 ROOF >> I HOPED THEY WOULD WORK IT 223 00:13:11,224 --> 00:13:12,392 OUT AND BE OKAY. >> Reporter: SUSAN SEEMED TO BE 224 00:13:12,392 --> 00:13:21,301 GETTING HER LIFE BACK, UNTIL THAT JANUARY MORNING IN 2015 225 00:13:21,301 --> 00:13:22,469 AFTER JUST A FEW HOURS IN THE HOSPITAL, SUSAN WAS IN GRAVE 226 00:13:22,469 --> 00:13:27,640 CONDITION, AND TAKEN OFF LIFE SUPPORT. 227 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:37,150 NOT LONG AFTER THAT, BRENT MADE ONE MORE CALL TO OKLAHOMA. 228 00:13:37,150 --> 00:13:39,786 >> AND HE SAID, "SHE'S PASSED. AND -- I'M NOT SURE WE SAID 229 00:13:39,786 --> 00:13:47,227 ANYTHING ELSE TO ONE ANOTHER >> NO, WE DIDN'T TALK ANYMORE. 230 00:13:47,227 --> 00:13:48,328 THERE WAS NOTHING TO SAY >> Reporter: SUSAN WINTERS WAS 231 00:13:48,328 --> 00:13:50,930 JUST 48 YEARS-OLD. HER OLD TEAMMATE AND LIFE-LONG 232 00:13:50,930 --> 00:13:52,098 BEST FRIEND KELLY WAS AT WORK WHEN SHE HEARD THE TERRIBLE 233 00:13:52,098 --> 00:13:55,602 NEWS >> I GOT A CALL FROM OUR 234 00:13:55,602 --> 00:14:01,941 SOFTBALL COACH AND HE SAID THAT SUSAN HAD DIED. 235 00:14:01,941 --> 00:14:06,146 I -- IT STILL GETS TO ME TODAY, YOU KNOW, ABOUT HOW MUCH I MISS 236 00:14:06,146 --> 00:14:10,917 HER. AND I WAS LUCKY TO GET TO KNOW 237 00:14:10,917 --> 00:14:16,222 HER AND -- AND BE HER FRIEND >> Reporter: A WOMAN'S SUDDEN 238 00:14:16,222 --> 00:14:22,629 DEATH DEMANDED A RESPONSE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT. 239 00:14:22,629 --> 00:14:23,596 THIS DIDN'T LOOK LIKE A COMPLICATED CASE 240 00:14:23,596 --> 00:14:25,532 BUT THAT DEPENDS ON WHO'S DOING THE LOOKING. 241 00:14:25,532 --> 00:14:29,436 >>> COMING UP -- >> BRENT TAKES THE DETECTIVE TO 242 00:14:29,436 --> 00:14:30,470 THE GARAGE AND SHOWS HIM TWO BOTTLES OF ANTIFREEZE. 243 00:14:30,470 --> 00:14:36,810 SUSAN'S DEATH IS RULED A SUICIDE. 244 00:14:36,810 --> 00:14:38,912 BUT HER FAMILY DOESN'T AGREE >> NOBODY WOULD DRINK THAT, THEN 245 00:14:38,912 --> 00:14:41,581 GO THROUGH THAT TWO DAYS PHYSICAL PAIN THAT IT TAKES TO 246 00:14:41,581 --> 00:15:01,935 DIE FROM ANTIFREEZE. >>> Reporter: AFTER 247 00:15:01,935 --> 00:15:03,370 SUSAN WINTERS DIED, THE HENDERSON POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS 248 00:15:03,370 --> 00:15:05,105 NOTIFIED THE CALL WENT TO DETECTIVE 249 00:15:05,105 --> 00:15:13,546 CHAD MITCHELL. HE HEADED OUT TO THE FAMILY HOME 250 00:15:13,546 --> 00:15:15,348 TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS. BRENT, A PSYCHOLOGIST WHO 251 00:15:15,348 --> 00:15:16,583 SPECIALIZED IN TREATING PEOPLE IN CRISIS, GAVE THE DETECTIVE A 252 00:15:16,583 --> 00:15:20,387 PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE OF HIS LATE WIFE. 253 00:15:20,387 --> 00:15:25,291 HE TELLS THE POLICE OFFICER THAT SHE HAD BEEN TREATED FOR ANXIETY 254 00:15:25,291 --> 00:15:28,294 AND DEPRESSION, THAT SHE TAKES MEDICATION, AND THAT SHE HAD 255 00:15:28,294 --> 00:15:31,464 THREATENED TO KILL HERSELF BRENT DESCRIBED THE SCENE IN THE 256 00:15:31,464 --> 00:15:40,440 HOUSE ON SUSAN'S LAST DAY. >> HE SAID THAT DURING THE DAY 257 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:41,708 THEY HAD BEEN DRINKING TOGETHER AND THAT HE BELIEVED THAT SUSAN 258 00:15:41,708 --> 00:15:42,809 WAS MIXING HER DRINKS WITH HER ANTI-ANXIETY MEDICATION. 259 00:15:42,809 --> 00:15:47,213 THEY HAD BEEN ARGUING ABOUT THE STATE OF THEIR MARRIAGE. 260 00:15:47,213 --> 00:15:53,653 >> Reporter: THINGS ESCALATED. BRENT SAID SUSAN FLEW INTO A 261 00:15:53,653 --> 00:15:54,788 RAGE, AND WAS OUT OF CONTROL HE SAID IT GOT SO BAD, THEIR 262 00:15:54,788 --> 00:15:58,958 DAUGHTERS LEFT THE HOUSE TO ESCAPE THE CHAOS 263 00:15:58,958 --> 00:16:00,527 THEY WALKED TO A NEARBY SHOPPING CENTER 264 00:16:00,527 --> 00:16:03,697 BRENT SAID HE PICKED THEM UP THAT EVENING AND WHEN THEY GOT 265 00:16:03,697 --> 00:16:06,833 HOME, SUSAN WAS ASLEEP AND THEN, BRENT TOLD THE 266 00:16:06,833 --> 00:16:15,775 DETECTIVE, HE MADE AN ALARMING DISCOVERY ON THE FAMILY 267 00:16:15,775 --> 00:16:17,043 COMPUTER -- INTERNET SEARCHES ON HOW TO COMMIT SUICIDE BY 268 00:16:17,043 --> 00:16:18,044 DRINKING ANTI-FREEZE >> BRENT CONFRONTS SUSAN ABOUT 269 00:16:18,044 --> 00:16:22,682 THESE INTERNET SEARCHES AND SHE DOESN'T WANNA TALK ABOUT IT. 270 00:16:22,682 --> 00:16:30,056 SHE GOES BACK TO SLEEP SHE'S SNORING. 271 00:16:30,056 --> 00:16:31,157 HE LETS IT GO. >> Reporter: AN OFFICER TOOK A 272 00:16:31,157 --> 00:16:33,727 PICTURE OF THE COMPUTER SCREEN, AND THAT WASN'T ALL. 273 00:16:33,727 --> 00:16:35,829 >> BRENT TAKES THE DETECTIVE TO THE GARAGE AND SHOWS HIM TWO 274 00:16:35,829 --> 00:16:38,465 BOTTLES OF ANTI-FREEZE BRENT SAYS THAT HE FOUND THEM ON 275 00:16:38,465 --> 00:16:45,271 THE FLOOR OF THE GARAGE WHEN HE GOT HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL THAT 276 00:16:45,271 --> 00:16:46,339 DAY. >> Reporter: A HISTORY OF 277 00:16:46,339 --> 00:16:56,282 DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE THREATS, TWO OPENED BOTTLES OF 278 00:16:56,282 --> 00:16:58,251 ANTI-FREEZE IN THE GARAGE, AND A COMPUTER SEARCH ABOUT HOW TO 279 00:16:58,251 --> 00:16:59,486 KILL YOURSELF USING ANTI-FREEZE. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO POINT IN 280 00:16:59,486 --> 00:17:00,520 THE SAME DIRECTION >> IT MADE SENSE TO POLICE THAT 281 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:01,621 SUSAN LIKELY KILLED HERSELF ON JANUARY 3rd. 282 00:17:01,621 --> 00:17:08,161 THERE WAS A HISTORY OF SUICIDAL THREATS. 283 00:17:08,161 --> 00:17:09,029 AND THIS WASN'T COMING OUT OF NOWHERE. 284 00:17:09,029 --> 00:17:10,296 I MEAN, SHE HAD A HISTORY OF SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND 285 00:17:10,296 --> 00:17:14,868 DEPRESSION >> Reporter: AN AUTOPSY WAS DONE 286 00:17:14,868 --> 00:17:17,404 THE NEXT DAY AND WHEN THE TOXICOLOGY CAME 287 00:17:17,404 --> 00:17:27,914 BACK, IT SHOWED SUSAN DID, IN FACT, HAVE A LETHAL AMOUNT OF 288 00:17:27,914 --> 00:17:35,288 ANTI-FREEZE IN HER BODY. THERE WAS ALSO A LETHAL LEVEL OF 289 00:17:35,288 --> 00:17:37,924 THE PRESCRIPTION PAIN KILLER OXYCODONE. 290 00:17:37,924 --> 00:17:39,125 THE MEDICAL EXAMINER RULED HER DEATH A SUICIDE, AND HENDERSON 291 00:17:39,125 --> 00:17:46,066 PD CLOSED THE CASE EXCEPT IT WASN'T CLOSED FOR THE 292 00:17:46,066 --> 00:17:46,866 WINTERS FAMILY NOT EVEN CLOSE 293 00:17:46,866 --> 00:17:48,068 DID YOU, FOR A MINUTE, BELIEVE THAT SUSAN COULD TAKE HER OWN 294 00:17:48,068 --> 00:17:49,069 LIFE >> NO. 295 00:17:49,069 --> 00:17:50,170 >> NEVER >> Reporter: AND SUSAN DRINKING 296 00:17:50,170 --> 00:17:52,105 ANTI-FREEZE? TO SUSAN'S FATHER, THAT SEEMED 297 00:17:52,105 --> 00:17:52,972 LUDICROUS. >> NOBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND 298 00:17:52,972 --> 00:18:03,216 WOULD DRINK THAT, THEN GO THROUGH THAT TWO DAYS PHYSICAL 299 00:18:03,216 --> 00:18:04,217 PAIN THAT IT TAKES TO DIE FROM ANTI-FREEZE. 300 00:18:04,217 --> 00:18:06,453 YOU DON'T JUST DIE IMMEDIATELY >> Reporter: ALSO, THE WINTERS' 301 00:18:06,453 --> 00:18:07,587 HAD JUST SPENT THE HOLIDAY SEASON WITH SUSAN AND THEY SAY 302 00:18:07,587 --> 00:18:15,328 SHE SEEMED MORE LIKE HER OLD SELF 303 00:18:15,328 --> 00:18:17,430 TAKING CARE OF HERSELF RUNNING AGAIN. 304 00:18:17,430 --> 00:18:25,038 AND JUST DAYS BEFORE SHE DIED, SUSAN SEEMED TO BE IN A GOOD 305 00:18:25,038 --> 00:18:25,872 PLACE, AND EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE 306 00:18:25,872 --> 00:18:29,042 >> SHE WAS HAPPY SHE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING 307 00:18:29,042 --> 00:18:30,110 THINGS >> Reporter: SUSAN'S FRIEND 308 00:18:30,110 --> 00:18:31,644 LEWIS GAZDA ALSO SAYS SHE WAS UPBEAT THAT HOLIDAY SEASON 309 00:18:31,644 --> 00:18:33,246 HE'D GIVEN SUSAN A CHRISTMAS PRESENT SHE LOVED. 310 00:18:33,246 --> 00:18:36,916 >> I HAD BEEN OUT AT AN ESTATE SALE AND FOUND THESE RECORDS 311 00:18:36,916 --> 00:18:38,118 FROM ELVIS, IT WAS A TWO ALBUM SET. 312 00:18:38,118 --> 00:18:46,426 >> Reporter: AND SHE LOVED IT? >> SHE LOVED IT VERY MUCH. 313 00:18:46,426 --> 00:18:49,062 SHE WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE. BIG ELVIS PRESLEY FAN. 314 00:18:49,062 --> 00:18:50,730 HER LICENSE PLATE SAID EXACTLY, "3KGRACELAND." SO, "3,000 MILES 315 00:18:50,730 --> 00:18:53,266 TO GRACELAND," IS WHAT IT WAS. >> THAT'S A FAN. 316 00:18:53,266 --> 00:18:57,070 >> SHE WAS A FAN >> Reporter: LEWIS SAYS THERE 317 00:18:57,070 --> 00:18:59,072 WAS NO HINT OF ANYTHING BEING WRONG THAT DAY 318 00:18:59,072 --> 00:19:03,376 AND THEY AGREED TO A LUNCH DATE AFTER THE HOLIDAYS 319 00:19:03,376 --> 00:19:07,013 IN FACT, SUSAN WAS PLANNING A LOT OF THINGS FOR THE COMING 320 00:19:07,013 --> 00:19:10,650 YEAR, INCLUDING JOINING THE FAMILY BUSINESS BACK IN 321 00:19:10,650 --> 00:19:12,819 OKLAHOMA >> SHE WAS GONNA COME BACK AND 322 00:19:12,819 --> 00:19:13,820 BE OUR ATTORNEY, OUR LEGAL COUNSEL. 323 00:19:13,820 --> 00:19:16,456 I HAD SET IT UP WHERE SHE WAS GONNA FLY IN 324 00:19:16,456 --> 00:19:21,027 SPEND A WEEK, YOU KNOW, EACH MONTH. 325 00:19:21,027 --> 00:19:23,329 >> Reporter: IT WAS GOING TO BE AN EXCITING YEAR FOR SUSAN'S 326 00:19:23,329 --> 00:19:26,032 DAUGHTERS TOO. SHE'D ALREADY BOOKED FLIGHTS TO 327 00:19:26,032 --> 00:19:29,069 HAWAII FOR DANI'S CHEERLEADING COMPETITION. 328 00:19:29,069 --> 00:19:34,841 AVIS SAID SHE'D GO TOO AND WOULD MAKE HOTEL ARRANGEMENTS. 329 00:19:34,841 --> 00:19:38,545 >> I SAID, WE'RE GONNA STAY IN A HAWAIIAN PINK HOTEL. 330 00:19:38,545 --> 00:19:41,681 SHE SAID, THAT IS GREAT, AND I'M PLANNING TO TAKE ALLE TO LOOK AT 331 00:19:41,681 --> 00:19:42,782 COLLEGES SHE AND I WERE JUST TALKING, 332 00:19:42,782 --> 00:19:49,222 TALKING THE THINGS THAT SHE HAD PLANNED THAT WE WERE GOING TO 333 00:19:49,222 --> 00:19:49,889 DO >> Reporter: THIS WAS NOT 334 00:19:49,889 --> 00:19:56,463 SOMEBODY WHO WAS THINKING ABOUT THE END OF HER LIFE. 335 00:19:56,463 --> 00:20:01,267 >> NO, CERTAINLY NOT >> Reporter: THE WINTERS WERE 336 00:20:01,267 --> 00:20:02,335 LOCKED IN. SUSAN DID NOT, WOULD NOT, TAKE 337 00:20:02,335 --> 00:20:07,474 HER OWN LIFE SO THEN HOW DID SHE DIE? 338 00:20:07,474 --> 00:20:12,779 THEY DECIDED TO DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER, AND THEIR 339 00:20:12,779 --> 00:20:13,847 POCKETBOOK, TO FIND OUT. >> COMING UP - 340 00:20:13,847 --> 00:20:16,483 >> SUSAN'S FAMILY RUNS INTO A BRICK WALL 341 00:20:16,483 --> 00:20:22,288 >> WE HEARD IT FROM THE POLICE CHIEF. 342 00:20:22,288 --> 00:20:23,857 WE HEARD IT FROM THE CORONER I TRIED TO MAKE A CALL TO THE 343 00:20:23,857 --> 00:20:25,592 DA'S OFFICE. NO, YOU CANNOT TALK TO THE DA. 344 00:20:25,592 --> 00:20:50,116 EVERY AGENCY THAT WE TALKED WITH >> Reporter: THE WINTERS FAMILY 345 00:20:50,116 --> 00:20:52,218 WAS IN CRISIS, COPING WITH SUSAN'S DEATH, AND REFUSING TO 346 00:20:52,218 --> 00:20:59,025 ACCEPT THAT SHE HAD TAKEN HER OWN LIFE 347 00:20:59,025 --> 00:21:01,661 FILLED WITH EQUAL PARTS OF GRIEF AND SUSPICION, HER PARENTS, HER 348 00:21:01,661 --> 00:21:09,269 BROTHER CHRIS, AND SISTER-IN-LAW JULIE FLEW TO NEVADA THE DAY 349 00:21:09,269 --> 00:21:10,437 AFTER SUSAN DIED AND MET WITH BRENT AND HIS DAUGHTERS IN A 350 00:21:10,437 --> 00:21:12,205 HOTEL. THE SCENE THAT I'M IMAGINING, 351 00:21:12,205 --> 00:21:14,407 WHICH IS ONE IN WHICH BRENT SAYS, "SHE LOVED THE TWO OF YOU 352 00:21:14,407 --> 00:21:16,943 SO MUCH. I -- I'M SO SORRY THIS 353 00:21:16,943 --> 00:21:21,715 HAPPENED." AND -- AND HE THROWS HIS ARMS 354 00:21:21,715 --> 00:21:23,550 AROUND BOTH OF YOU THAT'S JUST ME MAKING IT UP. 355 00:21:23,550 --> 00:21:24,417 THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN >> THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. 356 00:21:24,417 --> 00:21:28,088 NOTHING. >> NO. 357 00:21:28,088 --> 00:21:31,791 HE DIDN'T APPROACH US AT ALL >> AND ALLE WAS TALKING AND 358 00:21:31,791 --> 00:21:33,927 SAYING SHE COMMITTED SUICIDE AND I SAID, ALLE, PLEASE DON'T 359 00:21:33,927 --> 00:21:35,962 SAY THAT AND SHE SAID, "WHY NOT 360 00:21:35,962 --> 00:21:40,700 IT'S THE TRUTH." AND SHE'S HOLLERED IT OUT. 361 00:21:40,700 --> 00:21:46,539 AND HER DAD COME RUNNING OVER AND SAID, "SHE CAN SAY WHATEVER 362 00:21:46,539 --> 00:21:47,640 SHE WANTS TO SAY." >> Reporter: BRENT THEN PULLED 363 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:53,113 CHRIS TO A CORNER OF THE ROOM AND GAVE HIM SOME AWFUL DETAILS 364 00:21:53,113 --> 00:21:55,749 ABOUT SUSAN'S FINAL HOURS. >> HE -- HE JUST SAID, "SHE WAS 365 00:21:55,749 --> 00:21:59,819 DRUNK AND ACTING CRAZY SHE SAID, "I'M GONNA KILL 366 00:21:59,819 --> 00:22:00,653 MYSELF." AND, IF YOU TRY TO DO ANYTHING 367 00:22:00,653 --> 00:22:03,423 ABOUT IT -- BRENT SAID, WELL, I'LL CALL THE COPS 368 00:22:03,423 --> 00:22:05,525 AND SHE SAID, "IF YOU DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, I'LL HIT 369 00:22:05,525 --> 00:22:09,229 MYSELF IN THE HEAD WITH A HAMMER AND I'LL TELL THE COPS YOU DID 370 00:22:09,229 --> 00:22:10,697 IT." >> Reporter: DID YOU BELIEVE ANY 371 00:22:10,697 --> 00:22:11,297 PART OF THAT STORY >> NO. 372 00:22:11,297 --> 00:22:15,669 NONE OF IT >> Reporter: AND SO, THERE WERE 373 00:22:15,669 --> 00:22:19,372 NO HUGS. NO MEMORIES SHARED ABOUT THE 374 00:22:19,372 --> 00:22:31,418 WIFE, MOTHER, SISTER, AND DAUGHTER WHO LOVED THEM ALL. 375 00:22:31,418 --> 00:22:32,619 THIS FAMILY WAS DIVIDED IN TWO THE WITTERS ON ONE SIDE. 376 00:22:32,619 --> 00:22:34,087 BRENT AND HIS DAUGHTERS ON THE OTHER. 377 00:22:34,087 --> 00:22:42,128 >> Reporter: THE LINES WERE DRAWN AND HE WASN'T BACKING OFF. 378 00:22:42,128 --> 00:22:43,096 THE WITTERS WEREN'T BACKING OFF EITHER 379 00:22:43,096 --> 00:22:44,531 WHEN AVIS WENT TO THE HOUSE JUST FIVE DAYS AFTER SUSAN DIED, 380 00:22:44,531 --> 00:22:45,765 BRENT HAD ALREADY LAID OUT HER BELONGINGS AND TOLD HER FRIENDS 381 00:22:45,765 --> 00:22:47,233 THEY COULD TAKE WHATEVER THEY LIKED. 382 00:22:47,233 --> 00:22:50,170 >> Reporter: SOMETHING ABOUT HIM GIVING AWAY HER THINGS WAS TOO 383 00:22:50,170 --> 00:22:55,675 MUCH FOR YOU >> YES, IT WAS 384 00:22:55,675 --> 00:23:06,753 IT WAS LIKE SHE WAS A PIECE OF TRASH THAT HE COULD DISCARD AT 385 00:23:06,753 --> 00:23:07,921 WILL >> Reporter: AVIS TOLD HIM WHAT 386 00:23:07,921 --> 00:23:08,955 SHE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT >> I SAID, "OH, BRENT, WHAT 387 00:23:08,955 --> 00:23:09,956 HAPPENED YOU'VE JUST KILLED SUSAN'S 388 00:23:09,956 --> 00:23:15,729 SPIRIT." AND HE BURST OUT OF THE BEDROOM 389 00:23:15,729 --> 00:23:19,432 INTO THE KITCHEN YELLING, "SHE'S ACCUSING ME OF MURDER. 390 00:23:19,432 --> 00:23:23,136 SHE'S ACCUSING ME OF MURDER. AND I SAID, "BRENT, I WAS JUST 391 00:23:23,136 --> 00:23:28,408 LASHING OUT. AND HE SAID, "HEALTHY PEOPLE 392 00:23:28,408 --> 00:23:30,510 DON'T LASH OUT." SO, I DIDN'T ACCUSE HIM OF 393 00:23:30,510 --> 00:23:32,612 MURDER >> Reporter: BUT YOU THOUGHT IT. 394 00:23:32,612 --> 00:23:44,758 >> I THOUGHT IT. BUT I DIDN'T SAY IT. 395 00:23:44,758 --> 00:23:45,992 >> Reporter: SHE DIDN'T SAY IT TO HIM, BUT THE FAMILY WAS MORE 396 00:23:45,992 --> 00:23:47,227 THAN WILLING TO SAY IT TO ANYONE IN A POSITION OF AUTHORITY WHO 397 00:23:47,227 --> 00:23:48,461 WOULD LISTEN SO, THE WINTERS WENT TO THE 398 00:23:48,461 --> 00:23:52,165 HENDERSON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SPOKE WITH THE DETECTIVE WHO WAS 399 00:23:52,165 --> 00:24:07,480 AT THE HOUSE THE DAY SUSAN DIED. >> WE ASK HIM IF HE HAD EVER 400 00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:08,948 HEARD THAT IF ONE SPOUSE DIES, IMMEDIATELY SUSPECT THE OTHER 401 00:24:08,948 --> 00:24:09,616 SPOUSE AND HE SAID, "NO 402 00:24:09,616 --> 00:24:10,684 I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT. AND I SAID, "YOU KNOW IT'S ON 403 00:24:10,684 --> 00:24:11,751 ALL THE SHOWS. ANY CRIMINAL SHOW YOU WATCH, 404 00:24:11,751 --> 00:24:12,886 THAT'S THE FIRST THING THEY SAY. 405 00:24:12,886 --> 00:24:14,854 "OH, NO, NO, NO. THAT'S NOT WHAT -- 406 00:24:14,854 --> 00:24:16,056 SO - >> Reporter: HE MUST BE THE ONLY 407 00:24:16,056 --> 00:24:21,695 POLICE OFFICER IN THE COUNTRY TO NEVER SEE ANY DATELINE 408 00:24:21,695 --> 00:24:22,562 >> YEAH. >> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE SAID 409 00:24:22,562 --> 00:24:25,965 HE UNDERSTOOD. THEY WERE A GRIEVING FAMILY 410 00:24:25,965 --> 00:24:31,771 LOOKING FOR ANSWERS. EXCEPT, HE SAID, THERE WAS NO 411 00:24:31,771 --> 00:24:34,407 SMOKING GUN. NO EVIDENCE OF FOUL PLAY 412 00:24:34,407 --> 00:24:39,145 AND THIS CASE WAS CLOSED NOT SATISFIED, THE WINTERS 413 00:24:39,145 --> 00:24:40,146 FAMILY REACHED OUT TO ANYONE THEY COULD THINK OF. 414 00:24:40,146 --> 00:24:46,086 AND HEARD PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING. 415 00:24:46,086 --> 00:24:47,620 >> WE HEARD IT FROM THE POLICE CHIEF IN LAS VEGAS 416 00:24:47,620 --> 00:24:48,621 WE HEARD IT FROM THE CORONER WE HEARD IT FROM THE 417 00:24:48,621 --> 00:24:52,425 INVESTIGATOR I TRIED TO MAKE A CALL TO THE 418 00:24:52,425 --> 00:24:57,197 DA'S OFFICE THERE IN VEGAS NO, YOU CANNOT TALK TO THE DA. 419 00:24:57,197 --> 00:25:07,674 EVERY AGENCY THAT WE TALKED WITH RESPONDED IN THAT WAY. 420 00:25:07,674 --> 00:25:08,775 YOU'RE GRIEVING PARENTS. >> Reporter: THEY HIT A BRICK 421 00:25:08,775 --> 00:25:09,876 WALL NOT SURE WHERE ELSE TO TURN, 422 00:25:09,876 --> 00:25:18,785 THEY HELD A FAMILY MEETING LAW ENFORCEMENT WASN'T 423 00:25:18,785 --> 00:25:19,953 RESPONDING THE WINTERS FAMILY WAS GOING TO 424 00:25:19,953 --> 00:25:20,887 HAVE TO FIND ANSWERS ON THEIR OWN. 425 00:25:20,887 --> 00:25:23,056 >> WE NEEDED JUSTICE FOR SUSAN THAT'S IT. 426 00:25:23,056 --> 00:25:24,057 WE SAID, "ALL WE WANT TO KNOW IS THE TRUTH. 427 00:25:24,057 --> 00:25:25,658 >> AND CHRIS SAID, "WE START THIS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO 428 00:25:25,658 --> 00:25:27,761 CONTINUE AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO 429 00:25:27,761 --> 00:25:37,237 FINISH IT. WE CANNOT STOP IN MIDSTREAM. 430 00:25:37,237 --> 00:25:43,209 >> Reporter: SO, THEY REACHED OUT TO JIM PERRY, A FORMER FBI 431 00:25:43,209 --> 00:25:49,949 SUPERVISOR WHO NOW RUNS A PRIVATE INVESTIGATION FIRM IN 432 00:25:49,949 --> 00:25:51,551 LAS VEGAS. >> I HAD BIG RESERVATIONS 433 00:25:51,551 --> 00:25:52,886 BECAUSE IT'S A DIFFICULT CASE WHEN YOU HAVE TO OVERTURN 434 00:25:52,886 --> 00:25:54,888 BASICALLY WHAT CLARK COUNTY CORONER AND WHAT THE HENDERSON 435 00:25:54,888 --> 00:25:56,089 POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD RULED. >> Reporter: AFTER MEETING THE 436 00:25:56,089 --> 00:26:03,129 WINTERS FAMILY, PERRY AGREED TO TRY AND GET SOME ANSWERS 437 00:26:03,129 --> 00:26:05,265 >> MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT HE, BRENT DENNIS, PROBABLY HAD A 438 00:26:05,265 --> 00:26:13,173 GIRLFRIEND >> Reporter: THE FAMILY HAD THAT 439 00:26:13,173 --> 00:26:14,708 SAME THOUGHT AND SO, DAYS AFTER SUSAN'S 440 00:26:14,708 --> 00:26:15,675 FUNERAL, JIM PERRY BEGAN SURVEILLANCE ON BRENT. 441 00:26:15,675 --> 00:26:20,547 HE DISCOVERED THAT, YES, BRENT DENNIS WAS LIVING A SECRET 442 00:26:20,547 --> 00:26:24,784 LIFE BUT IT WASN'T ABOUT ANOTHER 443 00:26:24,784 --> 00:26:29,055 WOMAN. >>> COMING UP -- 444 00:26:29,055 --> 00:26:31,157 >> SO, WHAT WAS BRENT'S SECRET >> HE WAS UP THE ELEVATOR. 445 00:26:31,157 --> 00:26:33,259 I THINK IT WAS SIX MINUTES BEFORE HE WAS RUSHING BACK DOWN. 446 00:26:33,259 --> 00:26:35,428 WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, "OKAY. 447 00:26:35,428 --> 00:26:37,464 WHAT'S HE DOING IN SIX MINUTES?" >> WHEN DATELINE CONTINUES 448 00:26:53,613 --> 00:27:02,088 >>> Reporter: SUSAN WINTERS'S PARENTS WERE HEARTBROKEN AND 449 00:27:02,088 --> 00:27:04,491 OUTRAGED THEY BELIEVED HER HUSBAND 450 00:27:04,491 --> 00:27:13,633 BRENT DENNIS WAS LITERALLY GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER 451 00:27:13,633 --> 00:27:14,701 >> IT WAS TERRIBLE THAT HE KILLED MY DAUGHTER 452 00:27:14,701 --> 00:27:15,935 IT WAS WORSE, THE SON OF A BITCH WAS WANTIN' TO SMEAR HER NAME 453 00:27:15,935 --> 00:27:17,504 ALSO >> Reporter: DANNY WAS OUTRAGED 454 00:27:17,504 --> 00:27:18,672 AT BRENT'S CLAIM THAT SUSAN'S DEPRESSION COST HER HER LIFE 455 00:27:18,672 --> 00:27:28,481 BUT IT WASN'T THE FIRST TIME THERE WAS TENSION BETWEEN BRENT 456 00:27:28,481 --> 00:27:29,482 AND SUSAN'S FAMILY IN THEIR EYES, HE WAS ARROGANT 457 00:27:29,482 --> 00:27:30,617 AND LOVED TO PUSH THEIR BUTTONS. >> BRENT ALWAYS NEEDLED. 458 00:27:30,617 --> 00:27:31,718 IF YOU SAID IT WAS LIGHT OUTSIDE, HE'D TELL YOU IT WAS 459 00:27:31,718 --> 00:27:33,219 DARK JUST IT DANG SURE PUT A WEDGE 460 00:27:33,219 --> 00:27:38,425 BETWEEN MOM, DAD, JULIE, AND I AND BRENT. 461 00:27:38,425 --> 00:27:43,663 >> Reporter: BRENT HAD MADE THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUSAN'S FUNERAL 462 00:27:43,663 --> 00:27:45,265 IN NEVADA, BUT IT WASN'T WHAT THE WINTERS FAMILY WANTED. 463 00:27:45,265 --> 00:27:49,969 THEY DECIDED TO DO THEIR OWN MEMORIAL BACK HOME NINE DAYS 464 00:27:49,969 --> 00:27:50,804 LATER. >> WE HAD A SEPARATE CELEBRATION 465 00:27:50,804 --> 00:27:54,240 OF LIFE HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY FOR SUSAN. 466 00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:58,978 >> Reporter: MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE CAME. 467 00:27:58,978 --> 00:28:03,717 THERE WERE SPEECHES AND A VIDEO TRIBUTE. 468 00:28:03,717 --> 00:28:05,318 SUSAN'S LIFE IN PICTURES, WITH A SOUNDTRACK FROM, OF COURSE, 469 00:28:05,318 --> 00:28:19,632 ELVIS, AND HIS SONG, "SUSPICIOUS MINDS" --IRONICALLY, ABOUT A 470 00:28:19,632 --> 00:28:20,667 COUPLE THAT FEELS TRAPPED. * WE'RE CAUGHT IN A TRA 471 00:28:20,667 --> 00:28:22,869 I CAN'T WALK OUT * >> Reporter: GIVEN THE AWFUL 472 00:28:22,869 --> 00:28:24,037 TENSION IN NEVADA, NO ONE EXPECTED TO SEE BRENT AT THE 473 00:28:24,037 --> 00:28:28,708 SERVICE, BUT THEN HE SHOWED UP WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE CELEBRATING 474 00:28:28,708 --> 00:28:29,943 THE LIFE OF YOUR SISTER WHILE THE MAN YOU SUSPECT OF MURDERING 475 00:28:29,943 --> 00:28:43,823 HER IS RIGHT THERE IN THE ROOM >> IT WAS PRETTY TOUGH 476 00:28:43,823 --> 00:28:47,060 >> IT WAS VERY TOUGH >> WE WERE JUST HAVIN' TO EAT 477 00:28:47,060 --> 00:28:49,162 IT >> Reporter: BRENT HAD NO IDEA 478 00:28:49,162 --> 00:28:51,264 THAT BACK IN LAS VEGAS HIS IN-LAWS HAD HIRED PRIVATE 479 00:28:51,264 --> 00:28:53,900 INVESTIGATOR, JIM PERRY, WHO'D PUT KENT STOUT AND 480 00:28:53,900 --> 00:28:55,568 LINDSAY PIPKINS ON THE CASE. >> WE WERE FOLLOWING EVERY DAY 481 00:28:55,568 --> 00:28:57,704 FOR 10 TO 12 HOURS A DAY >> THE WINTERS FAMILY THOUGHT HE 482 00:28:57,704 --> 00:29:07,113 MIGHT -- PROBABLY HAD A GIRLFRIEND 483 00:29:07,113 --> 00:29:08,248 >> RIGHT >> AND SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE 484 00:29:08,248 --> 00:29:09,683 THINGS WE WERE FOCUSED ON, "WHO'S HE MEETING? 485 00:29:09,683 --> 00:29:10,650 >> Reporter: THIS WAS LINDSAY'S FIRST CASE 486 00:29:10,650 --> 00:29:11,651 KENT, WHO CAME WITH AN FBI PEDIGREE, IS A VETERAN 487 00:29:11,651 --> 00:29:16,289 CAR-TO-CAR SURVEILLANCE SOUNDS EXCITING BUT, FREQUENTLY, IT'S 488 00:29:16,289 --> 00:29:17,357 NOT THAT EXCITING, RIGHT >> UM, NO, BUT YOU GOTTA BE 489 00:29:17,357 --> 00:29:19,292 ALERT ALL THE TIME >> Reporter: WHAT'S THE HARDEST 490 00:29:19,292 --> 00:29:23,863 PART ABOUT DOING SURVEILLANCE ON SOMEONE WHEN YOU'RE A P.I. 491 00:29:23,863 --> 00:29:28,768 >> BOREDOM, PROBABLY >> Reporter: KENT HAD TWO 492 00:29:28,768 --> 00:29:29,903 MISSIONS -- DON'T GET CAUGHT, AND IF BRENT WAS HAVING AN 493 00:29:29,903 --> 00:29:37,744 AFFAIR, BE SURE TO CATCH HIM ON CAMERA 494 00:29:37,744 --> 00:29:44,684 >> YOU'RE ALWAYS TRYIN' TO FIGHT TO GET IN A POSITION TO GET A 495 00:29:44,684 --> 00:29:45,518 PICTURE TOO. EVERYBODY WANTS A PICTURE. 496 00:29:45,518 --> 00:29:48,188 >> Reporter: IT WAS A BALANCING ACT, AND CONSTANTLY ON KENT'S 497 00:29:48,188 --> 00:29:49,089 MIND AS HE TAILED BRENT EVERYWHERE HE WENT 498 00:29:49,089 --> 00:29:55,195 >> HERE HE COMES RIGHT THERE THAT'S HIS CAR 499 00:29:55,195 --> 00:29:57,364 IT'S THE LINCOLN MKX >> Reporter: THIS IS VIDEO OF 500 00:29:57,364 --> 00:29:58,631 THE SURVEILLANCE AS IT HAPPENED. SHOT BY A PRODUCTION COMPANY AND 501 00:29:58,631 --> 00:30:04,671 USED IN A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE CASE 502 00:30:04,671 --> 00:30:05,672 >> I GOT HIM I'LL STAY WITH THE CAR 503 00:30:05,672 --> 00:30:10,477 >> Reporter: BRENT DENNIS'S ROUTINE WAS MOSTLY ORDINARY, 504 00:30:10,477 --> 00:30:19,986 EVEN SO, KENT TOOK NOTE OF EVERY DETAIL 505 00:30:19,986 --> 00:30:21,121 >> THERE HE IS GETTING OUT >> HE'S OUT OF HIS CAR HEADING 506 00:30:21,121 --> 00:30:26,326 TO THE OFF -- WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING. 507 00:30:26,326 --> 00:30:30,530 >> Reporter: SOME MOMENTS LOOKED A BIT SUSPICIOUS 508 00:30:30,530 --> 00:30:32,665 >> I DON'T KNOW IF HE SAW ME BUT HE'S STAYING OUT OF SIGHT RIGHT 509 00:30:32,665 --> 00:30:34,768 NOW. HE MIGHT BE HIDING SOMETHING 510 00:30:34,768 --> 00:30:35,735 >> Reporter: AND THEN TURNED OUT TO BE NOTHING. 511 00:30:35,735 --> 00:30:36,469 >> OH, HE PULLED THE TRASH CAN IN 512 00:30:36,469 --> 00:30:37,404 IT WAS -- APPARENTLY, IT'S GARBAGE DAY. 513 00:30:37,404 --> 00:30:42,175 >> Reporter: THE TRUTH WAS THAT BRENT SEEMED LIKE A TYPICAL 514 00:30:42,175 --> 00:30:43,710 WORKING DAD. >> IT WAS TAKEOUT FOOD EVERY 515 00:30:43,710 --> 00:30:48,481 EVENING. SOMETIMES HE WAS TAKING HIS KIDS 516 00:30:48,481 --> 00:30:51,685 TO EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. >> Reporter: AND THERE WAS 517 00:30:51,685 --> 00:30:53,787 NOTHING TO SUGGEST HE WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR. 518 00:30:53,787 --> 00:30:55,889 >> THERE'S NO UNIDENTIFIED WOMEN THAT POP UP IN THAT 519 00:30:55,889 --> 00:31:03,496 SURVEILLANCE >> NO. 520 00:31:03,496 --> 00:31:04,898 >> Reporter: THERE WAS ONE THING BRENT WAS DOING THAT MOST 521 00:31:04,898 --> 00:31:10,136 WORKING DADS DON'T HE WOULD REGULARLY GO TO THE 522 00:31:10,136 --> 00:31:14,908 ORLEANS HOTEL AND CASINO IN LAS VEGAS, ABOUT A 20 MINUTE 523 00:31:14,908 --> 00:31:16,076 DRIVE FROM HIS HOME. >> IT'S AN OLDER HOTEL THAT'S 524 00:31:16,076 --> 00:31:18,178 NOT ON THE STRIP >> AND THERE'S A CORRIDOR THERE 525 00:31:18,178 --> 00:31:23,883 ALONG TROPICANA THAT IS CONSIDERED A SEX WORKER 526 00:31:23,883 --> 00:31:24,918 CORRIDOR >> Reporter: OH. 527 00:31:24,918 --> 00:31:39,733 >> SO, IT WASN'T UNCOMMON TO SEE WOMEN ASKING MEN IF THEY WANTED 528 00:31:39,733 --> 00:31:46,573 COMPANY. >> Reporter: IS THAT WHAT BRENT 529 00:31:46,573 --> 00:31:49,476 WAS DOING THERE? SEVERAL TIMES, LINDSEY FOLLOWED 530 00:31:49,476 --> 00:31:50,477 HIM INSIDE TO FIND OUT >> HE WAS UP THE ELEVATOR. 531 00:31:50,477 --> 00:31:51,644 I THINK IT WAS SIX MINUTES BEFORE HE WAS RUSHING BACK DOWN 532 00:31:51,644 --> 00:31:52,746 TO HIS CAR AND TAKING OFF. AND SO, THEN WE'RE TRYING TO 533 00:31:52,746 --> 00:31:53,980 FIGURE OUT, "OKAY, WHAT'S HE DOING IN SIX MINUTES?" 534 00:31:53,980 --> 00:31:55,115 >> Reporter: SO WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING ON AT THE 535 00:31:55,115 --> 00:31:55,915 ORLEANS? >> IT'S NOT ENOUGH TIME TO MEET 536 00:31:55,915 --> 00:31:56,783 A GIRLFRIEND IT DOESN'T REALLY SEEM LIKE 537 00:31:56,783 --> 00:31:58,718 ENOUGH TIME TO BE VISITING WITH A FRIEND 538 00:31:58,718 --> 00:32:00,320 >> OR GAMBLING >> AND IT'S HAPPENING ON 539 00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:03,323 MULTIPLE OCCASIONS >> Reporter: HOW MANY TIMES A 540 00:32:03,323 --> 00:32:04,524 WEEK >> DAILY, ALMOST - 541 00:32:04,524 --> 00:32:07,694 >> AT THE BARE MINIMUM, IT WAS EVERY OTHER DAY. 542 00:32:07,694 --> 00:32:11,464 AND AT THE MOST, I WOULD SEE HIM TWICE A DAY. 543 00:32:11,464 --> 00:32:15,101 >> Reporter: KENT AND LINDSEY CONTINUED THEIR SURVEILLANCE FOR 544 00:32:15,101 --> 00:32:19,305 MONTHS, AND WHILE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING INSIDE 545 00:32:19,305 --> 00:32:21,941 THAT UPSTAIRS HOTEL ROOM, THEY DID NOTICE SOMETHING BRENT DID 546 00:32:21,941 --> 00:32:25,512 ON EVERY VISIT BRENT MET UP WITH THE SAME GUY 547 00:32:25,512 --> 00:32:29,349 SOMETIMES INSIDE SOMETIMES OUTSIDE. 548 00:32:29,349 --> 00:32:33,086 THAT'S BRENT'S CAR AT THE SIDE ENTRANCE TO THE ORLEANS. 549 00:32:33,086 --> 00:32:35,755 ONE DAY KENT WAS WATCHING FROM HIS CAR UP THE BLOCK 550 00:32:35,755 --> 00:32:36,856 >> WE GOT A GUY WITH DARK GLASSES, DARK BASEBALL CAP, 551 00:32:36,856 --> 00:32:45,699 WEARING ALL DARK, HEADING TO HIS AREA 552 00:32:45,699 --> 00:32:47,801 HE -- HE'S GETTING IN RIGHT NOW. >> WHO IS THIS GUY 553 00:32:47,801 --> 00:32:50,970 >> Reporter: THAT BECAME THE BIG QUESTION 554 00:32:50,970 --> 00:32:54,674 WHO WAS HE AND WHAT WAS BRENT DOING WITH HIM 555 00:32:54,674 --> 00:33:00,780 THE ANSWER WOULD BLOW THIS FAMILY'S INVESTIGATION WIDE 556 00:33:00,780 --> 00:33:02,582 OPEN >> COMING UP - 557 00:33:02,582 --> 00:33:05,752 >> JIM PERRY TELLS ME, IF WE CAN GET THE ROOM NUMBER THAT HE'S 558 00:33:05,752 --> 00:33:08,922 VISITING, THEN I HAVE A SOURCE THAT MAY BE ABLE TO TELL ME 559 00:33:08,922 --> 00:33:11,758 WHOSE NAMES ARE ON THE ROOM. >> TRACKING THE MYSTERY MAN. 560 00:33:11,758 --> 00:33:13,693 >> THE DOORS CLOSED. AND WE WENT UP TO THE 561 00:33:13,693 --> 00:33:18,965 21st FLOOR AND THEY GOT OFF 562 00:33:18,965 --> 00:33:37,917 >> Reporter: WHILE PRIVATE EYES WERE SURVEILLING BRENT DENNIS IN 563 00:33:37,917 --> 00:33:39,119 NEVADA, BACK IN OKLAHOMA, THE FAMILY THAT HAD HIRED THEM WAS 564 00:33:39,119 --> 00:33:46,092 DOING SOME INVESTIGATING OF THEIR OWN. 565 00:33:46,092 --> 00:33:47,694 >> JULIE AND I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL TO GET ALL OF THOSE 566 00:33:47,694 --> 00:33:48,728 RECORDS. WE WERE OUT THERE ON A MISSION 567 00:33:48,728 --> 00:33:50,330 >> Reporter: IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM AT THEIR FAMILY BUSINESS, 568 00:33:50,330 --> 00:33:54,100 THEY SPENT HOURS PORING OVER POLICE REPORTS, SUSAN'S 569 00:33:54,100 --> 00:33:55,001 FINANCIAL RECORDS. LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF 570 00:33:55,001 --> 00:34:00,874 DOCUMENTS. THERE WAS A FAIR AMOUNT OF 571 00:34:00,874 --> 00:34:05,078 DETECTIVE WORK THAT THE TWO OF YOU DID. 572 00:34:05,078 --> 00:34:06,680 AND THIS IS AT A TIME WHEN YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, RECOVERING 573 00:34:06,680 --> 00:34:11,885 FROM LOSING YOUR DAUGHTER. HOW'D YOU DO IT? 574 00:34:11,885 --> 00:34:16,122 >> WE WANTED JUSTICE FOR SUSAN THAT WAS THE ONLY THING THAT 575 00:34:16,122 --> 00:34:18,124 KEPT US GOING. >> Reporter: BUT AFTER SIX 576 00:34:18,124 --> 00:34:21,461 MONTHS, THEY STILL HADN'T MADE MUCH PROGRESS. 577 00:34:21,461 --> 00:34:25,165 >> WE KEPT FINDING OUT THAT WE COULDN'T GET ANYTHING THAT WE 578 00:34:25,165 --> 00:34:27,200 WANTED WITHOUT SUBPOENAS AND THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO GET THE 579 00:34:27,200 --> 00:34:29,836 SUBPOENAS WAS ATTORNEYS. >> Reporter: THAT MEANT FINDING 580 00:34:29,836 --> 00:34:37,210 A PRO. A HIRED GUN. 581 00:34:37,210 --> 00:34:38,278 SOMEONE LIKE TONY SGRO >> WHEN AN ENTIRE FAMILY SHOWS 582 00:34:38,278 --> 00:34:41,414 UP IN YOUR OFFICE, THAT'S PRETTY COMPELLING 583 00:34:41,414 --> 00:34:47,220 AND WHEN THE ENTIRE FAMILY IS UNANIMOUS IN THEIR POSITION 584 00:34:47,220 --> 00:34:49,889 THAT, "THERE'S NO WAY THIS WAS A SUICIDE," THAT'S COMPELLING. 585 00:34:49,889 --> 00:34:58,264 >> Reporter: TONY IS KIND OF A RENAISSSANCE MAN 586 00:34:58,264 --> 00:35:00,900 HE'S A GUITARIST, A RESTAURANT OWNER, AND HIS BAND SINGS ROCK 587 00:35:00,900 --> 00:35:05,638 SONGS IN ITALIAN THOSE WERE NOT THE SKILLS THE 588 00:35:05,638 --> 00:35:07,807 WINTERS FAMILY WAS LOOKING FOR HOWEVER, AS A CRIMINAL DEFENSE 589 00:35:07,807 --> 00:35:14,681 ATTORNEY HERE IN LAS VEGAS, TONY KNOWS HOW TO WALTZ THROUGH THE 590 00:35:14,681 --> 00:35:18,818 LOCAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WITHOUT MISSING A BEAT 591 00:35:18,818 --> 00:35:21,955 >> WE DEFEND SO MANY MURDER CASES, WE KNOW WHAT THE 592 00:35:21,955 --> 00:35:24,691 PROSECUTION DOES TO PUT THEM TOGETHER 593 00:35:24,691 --> 00:35:31,331 >> Reporter: TONY TYPICALLY REPRESENTS PEOPLE ACCUSED OF 594 00:35:31,331 --> 00:35:32,198 SERIOUS CRIMES THIS CASE WAS THE OPPOSITE 595 00:35:32,198 --> 00:35:33,667 THE WINTERS FAMILY WANTED HIM TO BUILD A CASE AGAINST SOMEONE WHO 596 00:35:33,667 --> 00:35:40,974 WASN'T EVEN CHARGED WITH A CRIME. 597 00:35:40,974 --> 00:35:43,843 >> I AT LEAST WANTED TO PROVIDE THEM THAT CLOSURE THAT I FELT 598 00:35:43,843 --> 00:35:46,246 THEY DESPERATELY WERE SEEKING. >> Reporter: HOW MANY PEOPLE END 599 00:35:46,246 --> 00:35:47,347 UP WORKING ON THIS THIS WAS NOT JUST A COUPLE OF 600 00:35:47,347 --> 00:35:49,916 PEOPLE >> NO. 601 00:35:49,916 --> 00:35:52,552 THE TEAM WAS PROBABLY TEN PEOPLE DEEP 602 00:35:52,552 --> 00:35:53,987 >> Reporter: AND THE WINTERS' FAMILY PAID THE BILLS? 603 00:35:53,987 --> 00:35:57,824 >> THE WINTERS' FAMILY PAID THE BILLS. 604 00:35:57,824 --> 00:36:04,698 THEY WERE GOING TO SEE IT THROUGH TO THE END 605 00:36:04,698 --> 00:36:05,799 >> Reporter: THEY ASKED KENT AND LINDSEY TO STEP UP THE 606 00:36:05,799 --> 00:36:15,241 SURVEILLANCE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE MYSTERY MAN BRENT HAD 607 00:36:15,241 --> 00:36:16,376 BEEN MEETING AT THE CASINO THE PI'S BOSS, JIM PERRY, CAME 608 00:36:16,376 --> 00:36:28,521 UP WITH A PLAN >> IF WE CAN GET THE ROOM NUMBER 609 00:36:28,521 --> 00:36:29,789 THAT HE'S GOING UP AND VISITING, THEN I HAVE A SOURCE THAT MAY BE 610 00:36:29,789 --> 00:36:32,625 ABLE TO TELL ME WHOSE NAMES ARE ON THE ROOM. 611 00:36:32,625 --> 00:36:34,227 >> Reporter: SO, LINDSAY WENT TO THE ORLEANS AND WAITED FOR 612 00:36:34,227 --> 00:36:34,894 BRENT. IT WASN'T A LONG WAIT. 613 00:36:34,894 --> 00:36:35,795 BRENT ARRIVED AND ENTERED THE CASINO 614 00:36:35,795 --> 00:36:37,897 AND THEN, THE MYSTERY MAN APPEARED 615 00:36:37,897 --> 00:36:39,065 HE MET UP WITH BRENT, AND THEY HEADED TO THE ELEVATORS. 616 00:36:39,065 --> 00:36:41,568 >> AND I GOT ONTO THE SAME ELEVATOR WITH THEM AND THEY 617 00:36:41,568 --> 00:36:43,703 ASKED ME, "WELL, WHAT FLOOR? AND I JUST GLANCED AND SAID, 618 00:36:43,703 --> 00:36:45,805 "OH. SAME ONE." 619 00:36:45,805 --> 00:36:50,143 AND THE DOORS CLOSED AND WE WENT UP TO THE 21st 620 00:36:50,143 --> 00:36:53,546 FLOOR. AND THEY GOT OFF 621 00:36:53,546 --> 00:36:55,582 AND I JUST FOLLOWED BEHIND GOT THE ROOM NUMBER. 622 00:36:55,582 --> 00:37:01,087 >> Reporter: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED 623 00:37:01,087 --> 00:37:05,058 A LITTLE MORE P.I. WORK REVEALED THE NAME OF THE MAN REGISTERED 624 00:37:05,058 --> 00:37:06,359 IN THAT ROOM, JEFF CROSBY. >> DOING SOME MORE INVESTIGATION 625 00:37:06,359 --> 00:37:08,461 ON OUR PART, WE SAW THAT JEFF CROSBY HAD ALREADY BEEN 626 00:37:08,461 --> 00:37:14,801 ARRESTED FOR COCAINE-RELATED CHARGES. 627 00:37:14,801 --> 00:37:26,913 AND WE FOUND A MUG SHOT. >> Reporter: THAT MUG SHOT 628 00:37:26,913 --> 00:37:28,148 CONFIRMED CROSBY, A CONVICTED DRUG DEALER, WAS THE MAN THEY'D 629 00:37:28,148 --> 00:37:30,150 SEEN WITH BRENT ALL THOSE TIMES. IT LOOKED LIKE BRENT'S MYSTERY 630 00:37:30,150 --> 00:37:33,219 MAN WAS HIS DEALER AND BRENT WAS SEEING A LOT OF 631 00:37:33,219 --> 00:37:35,889 HIM. >> WE SAW HIM ON NUMEROUS 632 00:37:35,889 --> 00:37:37,157 OCCASIONS COMING OUT OF THE HOTEL WITH JEFF CROSBY GETTING 633 00:37:37,157 --> 00:37:41,127 IN BRENT'S CAR AND THEN HE WOULD GO DOWN BELOW 634 00:37:41,127 --> 00:37:43,263 THE DOOR JAM AND THEN WHEN HE'D COME UP, HE'D 635 00:37:43,263 --> 00:37:45,365 BE RUBBING HIS NOSE AND SOMETIMES HIS HAIR 636 00:37:45,365 --> 00:37:49,569 >> Reporter: IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR INVESTIGATORS DID A PRETTY GOOD 637 00:37:49,569 --> 00:37:50,837 JOB OF PROVING THAT BRENT DENNIS HAD EITHER A COCAINE PROBLEM OR 638 00:37:50,837 --> 00:37:56,209 SOMETHING THAT LOOKED A LOT LIKE IT 639 00:37:56,209 --> 00:37:58,578 BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY PROVING THAT HE'S A MURDERER 640 00:37:58,578 --> 00:38:01,781 >> CORRECT AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT A LOT 641 00:38:01,781 --> 00:38:04,918 WE OFTEN SAID, "JUST BECAUSE HE DOES DRUGS DOES NOT MEAN HE 642 00:38:04,918 --> 00:38:08,588 KILLED ANYBODY." >> Reporter: A LOT OF PEOPLE 643 00:38:08,588 --> 00:38:11,191 WITH DRUG PROBLEMS ALSO HAVE MONEY PROBLEMS 644 00:38:11,191 --> 00:38:22,802 SO, WHILE THEY WERE FOLLOWING BRENT, THEY DECIDED TO FOLLOW 645 00:38:22,802 --> 00:38:32,112 HIS MONEY TOO. THE FAMILY WAS ALSO DOING THAT 646 00:38:32,112 --> 00:38:33,279 AND ONE DAY FOUND EVIDENCE THAT SEEMED LIKE A MAJOR BREAK. 647 00:38:33,279 --> 00:38:38,685 IT WAS A CHECK WRITTEN ON AN ACCOUNT ONLY SUSAN HAD ACCESS 648 00:38:38,685 --> 00:38:39,753 TO IT WAS MADE OUT FOR $180,000 649 00:38:39,753 --> 00:38:47,060 AND IT LOOKED DIFFERENT FROM ALL THE OTHERS 650 00:38:47,060 --> 00:38:51,798 >> I GAVE IT TO DANNY, AND DANNY BROUGHT IT OUT HERE. 651 00:38:51,798 --> 00:38:53,366 AND THEY SPENT A WHOLE DAY GOING OVER THOSE CHECKS. 652 00:38:53,366 --> 00:39:02,342 >> Reporter: THEY DIDN'T THINK THE WRITING WAS SUSAN'S. 653 00:39:02,342 --> 00:39:07,614 ADDING TO THEIR SUSPICIONS, THE CHECK WAS DEPOSITED JUST DAYS 654 00:39:07,614 --> 00:39:08,915 AFTER SUSAN DIED THE $180,000 IS MONEY THAT WAS 655 00:39:08,915 --> 00:39:10,750 IN AN ACCOUNT THAT SUSAN ALONE CONTROLLED 656 00:39:10,750 --> 00:39:11,918 >> RIGHT >> Reporter: BRENT PUT IT IN THE 657 00:39:11,918 --> 00:39:12,886 JOINT ACCOUNT HE'D SHARED WITH HER. 658 00:39:12,886 --> 00:39:14,020 THAT HE ALONE NOW CONTROLLED SUSAN ALSO HAD A ONE MILLION 659 00:39:14,020 --> 00:39:15,755 DOLLAR LIFE INSURANCE POLICY BRENT WAS THE BENEFICIARY. 660 00:39:15,755 --> 00:39:17,023 AND HE CALLED IN HIS CLAIM ON THE FIRST DAY, IN THE FIRST HOUR 661 00:39:17,023 --> 00:39:18,091 THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS OPEN AFTER SUSAN'S DEATH 662 00:39:18,091 --> 00:39:19,325 >> GOD FORBID ANYONE LOSES THEIR SPOUSE UNEXPECTEDLY LIKE THAT. 663 00:39:19,325 --> 00:39:24,464 IT -- IT PROBABLY IS NOT GONNA BE ON THEIR MIND TO IMMEDIATELY 664 00:39:24,464 --> 00:39:30,270 CALL AND SECURE LIFE INSURANCE PROCEEDS 665 00:39:30,270 --> 00:39:32,372 WE ALL SAW THAT AS A RED FLAG. >> Reporter: THERE WAS MORE. 666 00:39:32,372 --> 00:39:38,712 SUSAN'S WILL ALSO NAMED BRENT AS THE BENEFICIARY OF HER SHARES IN 667 00:39:38,712 --> 00:39:47,253 THE FAMILY'S SONIC RESTAURANTS FOR THE WINTERS, NO WAY WERE 668 00:39:47,253 --> 00:39:50,824 THEY GOING TO KEEP BRENT IN THEIR LIVES AS A BUSINESS 669 00:39:50,824 --> 00:39:51,925 PARTNER. SO FOUR MONTHS AFTER SUSAN'S 670 00:39:51,925 --> 00:39:52,926 DEATH, THE FAMILY BOUGHT THE SHARES BACK. 671 00:39:52,926 --> 00:40:00,333 >> THE FAMILY BUYS OUT SUSAN'S INTEREST FROM BRENT FOR 672 00:40:00,333 --> 00:40:01,534 APPROXIMATELY $700,000 >> Reporter: THEY COULDN'T JUST 673 00:40:01,534 --> 00:40:02,402 EXPEL HIM. THEY HAD TO PAY HIM OFF. 674 00:40:02,402 --> 00:40:03,536 >> THEY HAD TO PAY HIM OFF >> WE WANTED HIM GONE AT THAT 675 00:40:03,536 --> 00:40:04,604 POINT. WE DIDN'T WANNA SEND ANYMORE 676 00:40:04,604 --> 00:40:09,843 DIVIDENDS OUT THERE FOR HIM TO PUT UP HIS NOSE. 677 00:40:09,843 --> 00:40:13,546 >> Reporter: ADD UP THAT $180,000 CHECK, THE LIFE 678 00:40:13,546 --> 00:40:18,852 INSURANCE, AND THE SONIC RESTAURANT BUYOUT, AND 679 00:40:18,852 --> 00:40:19,819 BRENT DENNIS BANKED AROUND TWO MILLION DOLLARS. 680 00:40:19,819 --> 00:40:20,954 SO, THIS IS A CASE IN WHICH SUSAN WINTERS LITERALLY WAS 681 00:40:20,954 --> 00:40:23,623 WORTH MORE TO HER HUSBAND DEAD THAN ALIVE 682 00:40:23,623 --> 00:40:25,358 >> THERE'S -- THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT 683 00:40:25,358 --> 00:40:32,599 >> Reporter: SO THERE IT WAS A PLAUSIBLE MOTIVE 684 00:40:32,599 --> 00:40:33,933 OF COURSE, MOTIVE ISN'T ENOUGH THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WAS STILL 685 00:40:33,933 --> 00:40:35,902 TO COME. COULD THEY PROVE THAT 686 00:40:35,902 --> 00:40:42,275 AUTHORITIES WERE WRONG ABOUT SUSAN TAKING HER OWN LIFE? 687 00:40:42,275 --> 00:40:47,914 AND THAT HER MURDERER WAS STILL WALKING AROUND, A RICH MAN 688 00:40:47,914 --> 00:40:48,915 >>> COMING UP -- >> EVERY CASE IS BUILT 689 00:40:48,915 --> 00:40:54,254 STEP-BY-STEP THOSE STEPS WERE GETTING CLOSER 690 00:40:54,254 --> 00:41:00,593 TO BRENT DENNIS. >> WE HAD CONCRETE EVIDENCE THAT 691 00:41:00,593 --> 00:41:01,628 HE HAD LIED. >> THE NEXT STEP 692 00:41:01,628 --> 00:41:03,329 >> WE BELIEVED WE COULD SHOW IN A CIVIL COURTROOM THAT BRENT WAS 693 00:41:03,329 --> 00:41:27,887 RESPONSIBLE FOR SUSAN'S DEATH. >> Reporter: WHEN HE AGREED TO 694 00:41:27,887 --> 00:41:29,923 TAKE THE SUSAN WINTERS CASE, ATTORNEY TONY SGRO FELT LIKE A 695 00:41:29,923 --> 00:41:32,559 FIRST-TIME VEGAS GAMBLER BETTING AGAINST THE HOUSE. 696 00:41:32,559 --> 00:41:35,195 >> WE BELIEVED IT WAS GOING TO BE SOMETHING SHORT AND SWEET 697 00:41:35,195 --> 00:41:37,330 >> Reporter: HE EXPECTED HIS WRONGFUL-DEATH INVESTIGATION TO 698 00:41:37,330 --> 00:41:43,136 END IN DISAPPOINTMENT FOR SUSAN WINTERS' FAMILY. 699 00:41:43,136 --> 00:41:48,441 AND HE ANTICIPATED TELLING THEM THE MEDICAL EXAMINER AND THE 700 00:41:48,441 --> 00:41:50,010 POLICE HAD BEEN RIGHT ALL ALONG. SO YOU START OFF AS FINDERS OF 701 00:41:50,010 --> 00:41:52,112 FACT, NOT TRYING TO PROVE THE FAMILY'S THEORY. 702 00:41:52,112 --> 00:41:53,713 >> EXACTLY >> Reporter: BUT PRETTY QUICKLY, 703 00:41:53,713 --> 00:41:58,451 YOU'RE FINDING STUFF THAT ACTUALLY BACKS UP WHAT THE 704 00:41:58,451 --> 00:42:02,689 FAMILY BELIEVED. >> IT WAS REMARKABLE TO US THAT 705 00:42:02,689 --> 00:42:08,728 EVERYTHING THAT WE GATHERED TENDED TO POINT TO BRENT DENNIS' 706 00:42:08,728 --> 00:42:25,912 GUILT. >> Reporter: IT WAS TIME TO 707 00:42:25,912 --> 00:42:27,981 START PLAYING HARDBALL TONY FILED A WRONGFUL DEATH 708 00:42:27,981 --> 00:42:29,082 LAWSUIT AGAINST BRENT DENNIS, ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY 709 00:42:29,082 --> 00:42:29,883 THE WINTERS WEREN'T LOOKING FOR MONEY. 710 00:42:29,883 --> 00:42:30,817 THEY WANTED EVIDENCE TO HELP PROVE THEIR CASE 711 00:42:30,817 --> 00:42:34,387 >> WE BELIEVED WE COULD SHOW IN A CIVIL COURTROOM THAT BRENT WAS 712 00:42:34,387 --> 00:42:35,588 RESPONSIBLE FOR SUSAN'S DEATH. THE OTHER THING IT AFFORDED US 713 00:42:35,588 --> 00:42:42,262 AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO, WAS TO COLLECT EVIDENCE THAT WE 714 00:42:42,262 --> 00:42:43,897 SO NOW WE CAN SEND SUBPOENAS WE CAN SCHEDULE DEPOSITIONS. 715 00:42:43,897 --> 00:42:45,532 >> Reporter: TONY HAD ALSO USED HIS NEW SUBPOENA POWERS TO GET 716 00:42:45,532 --> 00:42:48,635 ACCESS TO BRENT'S BANKING RECORDS AND DISCOVERED BRENT 717 00:42:48,635 --> 00:42:53,640 SEEMED TO BE LIVING ABOVE HIS MEANS. 718 00:42:53,640 --> 00:42:55,508 >> JUST AT THE ORLEANS WITHDRAWALS ON THE ATM MACHINE, 719 00:42:55,508 --> 00:43:02,882 HE WAS TAKING OUT MORE MONEY THAN HE WAS GETTING PAID AS A 720 00:43:02,882 --> 00:43:06,586 SALARY THE EVIDENCE AGAINST BRENT WAS 721 00:43:06,586 --> 00:43:07,654 THIS, HE SEEMED TO BE BUYING AND USING ILLEGAL DRUGS. 722 00:43:07,654 --> 00:43:10,824 HE HAD MONEY PROBLEMS. HE'D RUSHED TO COLLECT A MILLION 723 00:43:10,824 --> 00:43:14,060 DOLLAR INSURANCE CLAIM AND HAD MAYBE FORGED A CHECK TO GET 724 00:43:14,060 --> 00:43:17,630 $180,000 OUT OF SUSAN'S PRIVATE ACCOUNT. 725 00:43:17,630 --> 00:43:25,705 >> Reporter: TONY THOUGHT THE DA SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ALL THAT, SO 726 00:43:25,705 --> 00:43:28,808 WHEN HE FOUND HIMSELF ON A DIFFERENT TRIAL, UP AGAINST HIS 727 00:43:28,808 --> 00:43:31,311 LONGTIME ADVERSARY, PROSECUTOR MARC DiGIACOMO, TONY APPROACHED 728 00:43:31,311 --> 00:43:36,716 HIM DURING A BREAK >> WE'RE IN COURT TOGETHER 729 00:43:36,716 --> 00:43:38,518 OFTEN, AND I JUST MENTIONED TO HIM, "I GOT THIS INTERESTING 730 00:43:38,518 --> 00:43:39,419 CASE." >> HE SAYS TO ME, "HEY, YOU 731 00:43:39,419 --> 00:43:40,987 WOULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT WE FOUND." AND HE STARTS TELLING ME A 732 00:43:40,987 --> 00:43:42,822 LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT AND THEN I SAID SOMETHING TO THE 733 00:43:42,822 --> 00:43:46,226 EFFECT OF, "DID YOU GET THE CELL RECORDS? 734 00:43:46,226 --> 00:43:48,361 HE'S -- "NOT YET." "GET THE CELL RECORDS. 735 00:43:48,361 --> 00:43:53,333 THAT'S GONNA TELL YOU A LOT. >> Reporter: TONY AGREED. HE GOT 736 00:43:53,333 --> 00:43:54,134 A SUBPOENA FOR BRENT'S PHONE RECORDS. 737 00:43:54,134 --> 00:43:57,937 >> IF I HAD YOUR PHONE FOR AN HOUR, I WOULD KNOW EVERYTHING 738 00:43:57,937 --> 00:44:01,174 THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT YOU AND AGAIN, THIS IS A MOVE THE 739 00:44:01,174 --> 00:44:03,143 STATE DOES ALL THE TIME. >> Reporter: IN EVERY CASE 740 00:44:03,143 --> 00:44:07,914 >> IN EVERY CASE THEY GET THE PHONE, AND THEY GET 741 00:44:07,914 --> 00:44:10,050 THE COMPUTER AND SO, THE FIRST THING WE WERE 742 00:44:10,050 --> 00:44:11,618 ABLE TO PROCURE WAS THE CELL PHONE RECORDS. 743 00:44:11,618 --> 00:44:14,554 >> Reporter: THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY STARTED LOOKING AT THE 744 00:44:14,554 --> 00:44:17,424 EVIDENCE THE WAY A PROSECUTOR WOULD. 745 00:44:17,424 --> 00:44:20,193 >> NOW, WHEN YOU GET YOUR CELL PHONE RECORDS AS A CUSTOMER, YOU 746 00:44:20,193 --> 00:44:24,297 GET, YOU KNOW, WHO YOU CALLED, WHO YOU TEXTED, ET CETERA. 747 00:44:24,297 --> 00:44:27,467 WHAT YOU DON'T GET UNLESS YOU ASK FOR IT, IS THE SECOND HALF 748 00:44:27,467 --> 00:44:30,637 OF THE SPREADSHEET OF THE BILL, WHICH-- IS YOUR CELL TOWER 749 00:44:30,637 --> 00:44:33,807 INFORMATION. >> Reporter: TONY'S FIRM 750 00:44:33,807 --> 00:44:37,444 REQUESTED THAT DATA AND ASSIGNED ONE OF ITS ATTORNEYS, 751 00:44:37,444 --> 00:44:40,680 JAYME RICHARDSON, TO SEE IF IT CONFIRMED BRENT'S VERSION OF 752 00:44:40,680 --> 00:44:44,351 EVENTS SHE BEGAN WITH THE STORY BRENT 753 00:44:44,351 --> 00:44:50,190 HAD GIVEN LAW ENFORCEMENT. >> SO BRENT HAD TOLD THE POLICE 754 00:44:50,190 --> 00:44:51,825 AND ON 9-1-1 THAT HE HAD FALLEN ASLEEP NEXT TO SUSAN AT NIGHT 755 00:44:51,825 --> 00:44:55,929 AND WOKE UP IN THE MORNING TO FIND HER NOT BREATHING 756 00:44:55,929 --> 00:45:01,801 >> Reporter: FOR THAT STORY TO CHECK OUT, THERE SHOULD HAVE 757 00:45:01,801 --> 00:45:04,571 BEEN NO ACTIVITY ON BRENT'S PHONE FROM AROUND 10:30 PM UNTIL 758 00:45:04,571 --> 00:45:10,777 THE 9-1-1 CALL BRENT MADE EARLY THE NEXT MORNING 759 00:45:10,777 --> 00:45:12,345 INSTEAD -- >> WHEN WE GOT THE CELL PHONE 760 00:45:12,345 --> 00:45:15,515 RECORDS, WE FOUND THAT THAT WAS NOT TRUE 761 00:45:15,515 --> 00:45:20,387 >> Reporter: ACCORDING TO BRENT'S CELLPHONE, WHILE SUSAN'S 762 00:45:20,387 --> 00:45:25,558 LIFE WAS SLIPPING AWAY IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS, BRENT WAS NOT 763 00:45:25,558 --> 00:45:27,160 SLEEPING IN BED NEXT TO HER. HE WAS CALLING AND TEXTING DRUG 764 00:45:27,160 --> 00:45:32,966 DEALER, JEFF CROSBY, AND THEN HE WAS DRIVING FROM HIS HOME TO THE 765 00:45:32,966 --> 00:45:38,772 ORLEANS HOTEL. >> NOW WE HAD CONCRETE EVIDENCE 766 00:45:38,772 --> 00:45:43,843 THAT HE HAD LIED TO THE POLICE IT WAS HUGE. 767 00:45:43,843 --> 00:45:46,713 IT WAS HUGE. >> Reporter: NEXT, TONY TURNED 768 00:45:46,713 --> 00:45:48,314 TO THE FAMILY COMPUTER WHERE THAT SEARCH FOR ANTI-FREEZE AND 769 00:45:48,314 --> 00:45:50,383 SUICIDE HAD BEEN DONE. >> WE HAD ASKED FOR THE 770 00:45:50,383 --> 00:45:54,654 PRODUCTION OF THAT COMPUTER FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND IT WAS 771 00:45:54,654 --> 00:45:56,756 ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, YOU TAKE "THE DOG ATE MY HOMEWORK" AND YOU 772 00:45:56,756 --> 00:46:01,728 MULTIPLY IT BY 20, AND THAT'S HOW MANY EXCUSES WE GOT. 773 00:46:01,728 --> 00:46:05,732 >> Reporter: FINALLY, AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS, BRENT'S LAWYERS 774 00:46:05,732 --> 00:46:07,300 SAID TONY AND HIS COMPUTER EXPERT COULD COME TO THEIR 775 00:46:07,300 --> 00:46:11,538 OFFICE AND INSPECT THE HARD DRIVE, EXCEPT, THERE WAS A 776 00:46:11,538 --> 00:46:16,843 PROBLEM. >> THEY SAID, "IT HAS A VIRUS. 777 00:46:16,843 --> 00:46:23,183 AND I REMEMBER WALKING INTO THE ROOM THAT THE OTHER LAWYERS HAD 778 00:46:23,183 --> 00:46:24,851 SET ASIDE FOR US, AND THE EXPERT PICKS UP ONE OF THE HARD DRIVES. 779 00:46:24,851 --> 00:46:27,387 AND HE SAYS, "LOOK AT THIS," AND HE SHOWS ME A HARD DRIVE THAT'S 780 00:46:27,387 --> 00:46:29,522 SMASHED LIKE SOMEONE HAD TAKEN A HAMMER TO IT 781 00:46:29,522 --> 00:46:31,391 >> Reporter: DELIBERATELY. >> DELIBERATELY. 782 00:46:31,391 --> 00:46:34,794 OF COURSE, IT RAISES ANOTHER RED FLAG 783 00:46:34,794 --> 00:46:38,565 WHY IS THE COMPUTER DESTROYED? >> Reporter: TONY'S TEAM 784 00:46:38,565 --> 00:46:42,769 BELIEVED BRENT HAD A LOT TO ANSWER FOR, AND THEY WANTED 785 00:46:42,769 --> 00:46:47,507 THOSE ANSWERS ON THE RECORD, SO THEY SUBPOENAED BRENT FOR A 786 00:46:47,507 --> 00:46:50,643 VIDEO DEPOSITION YOU KNEW IN ADVANCE THOSE 787 00:46:50,643 --> 00:46:53,279 DEPOSITIONS WERE GONNA BE MAYBE NOT EVERYTHING, BUT A LOT. 788 00:46:53,279 --> 00:46:58,551 >> WHAT I FULLY EXPECTED, WAS THAT HE WAS GOING TO TELL ME, 789 00:46:58,551 --> 00:47:01,721 "LISTEN, I MESSED UP I DID GO TO THE ORLEANS, BUT IT 790 00:47:01,721 --> 00:47:04,924 WAS ONLY TO, YOU KNOW, PLACATE MY DRUG HABIT. 791 00:47:04,924 --> 00:47:11,297 THAT'S WHAT I EXPECTED WHAT CAME OUT THE DEPOSITION 792 00:47:11,297 --> 00:47:12,832 THOUGH WAS SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT 793 00:47:12,832 --> 00:47:14,100 >> DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR THE TESTIMONY YOU ARE ABOUT TO GIVE 794 00:47:14,100 --> 00:47:16,536 IN THIS CASE IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE 795 00:47:16,536 --> 00:47:18,638 TRUTH? >> YES 796 00:47:18,638 --> 00:47:21,374 >>> COMING UP -- >> DO YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY? 797 00:47:21,374 --> 00:47:23,410 SUSAN WINTERS IS DEAD. DO YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY 798 00:47:23,410 --> 00:47:26,046 >> SIR >> DO YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY? 799 00:47:26,046 --> 00:47:27,313 >> NO, I DO NOT. >> A CHALLENGING WITNESS, AND 800 00:47:27,313 --> 00:47:32,385 SUSAN'S DAUGHTER SPEAKS HER MIND 801 00:47:32,385 --> 00:47:50,337 >> IT'S CLEARLY A SUICIDE. >> Reporter: SUSAN WINTERS' 802 00:47:50,337 --> 00:47:55,075 FAMILY HAD SPENT MORE THAN A YEAR GATHERING EVIDENCE TO TRY 803 00:47:55,075 --> 00:47:57,177 TO PROVE HER DEATH WAS A MURDER AND NOT SUICIDE. 804 00:47:57,177 --> 00:47:58,712 NOW SUSAN'S HUSBAND WAS FINALLY GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER 805 00:47:58,712 --> 00:48:03,016 QUESTIONS, ON VIDEO AND UNDER OATH, ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THE 806 00:48:03,016 --> 00:48:06,686 NIGHT BEFORE SHE DIED. >> JUST TO GO OVER SOME OF THE 807 00:48:06,686 --> 00:48:11,391 GROUND RULES - >> Reporter: THE DEPOSITIONS 808 00:48:11,391 --> 00:48:13,026 WERE HELD OVER SEVERAL MONTHS, THE SETUP ALWAYS THE SAME. 809 00:48:13,026 --> 00:48:19,032 ATTORNEY, TONY SGRO, AND HIS TEAM ON ONE SIDE OF THE 810 00:48:19,032 --> 00:48:21,034 CONFERENCE TABLE. THE PERSON BEING DEPOSED ON THE 811 00:48:21,034 --> 00:48:22,569 OTHER. >> YOU WERE EMPLOYED AT THE 812 00:48:22,569 --> 00:48:24,104 HENDERSON POLICE DEPARTMENT AS A HOMICIDE DETECTIVE, CORRECT? 813 00:48:24,104 --> 00:48:25,705 >> YES >> Reporter: IN ONE SESSION, 814 00:48:25,705 --> 00:48:28,842 FORMER HENDERSON DETECTIVE, CHAD MITCHELL, WAS QUESTIONED 815 00:48:28,842 --> 00:48:32,545 ABOUT HIS WORK ON THE CASE TONY'S TEAM WANTED TO SHOW THAT 816 00:48:32,545 --> 00:48:33,580 POLICE DID NOT INVESTIGATE SUSAN'S DEATH THOROUGHLY 817 00:48:33,580 --> 00:48:39,452 THE DETECTIVE ACKNOWLEDGED SUSAN AND BRENT'S HOUSE WAS NEVER 818 00:48:39,452 --> 00:48:48,862 PROCESSED AS A CRIME SCENE, WITH NO EVIDENCE COLLECTED. 819 00:48:48,862 --> 00:48:51,865 HE SAID HE ACCEPTED BRENT'S STORY THAT SUSAN HAD TAKEN HER 820 00:48:51,865 --> 00:48:52,732 OWN LIFE >> I NEVER HAD HIM RULED IN AS A 821 00:48:52,732 --> 00:49:03,009 SUSPECT. HE WAS NEVER -- THIS WAS NEVER 822 00:49:03,009 --> 00:49:03,743 CONSIDERED A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. 823 00:49:03,743 --> 00:49:05,011 >> Reporter: THEIR OWN RECORDS SHOW HENDERSON POLICE SPENT A 824 00:49:05,011 --> 00:49:05,912 TOTAL OF ONLY 88 MINUTES ON THE CASE THAT DAY. 825 00:49:05,912 --> 00:49:07,147 >> IN 88 MINUTES, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO 826 00:49:07,147 --> 00:49:10,550 OBSERVE AND SEE AND DO AND THAT INCLUDED FROM THE TIME 827 00:49:10,550 --> 00:49:14,854 THAT THEY GOT IN THEIR CARS TO GET OVER TO HIS RESIDENCE. 828 00:49:14,854 --> 00:49:18,024 >> Reporter: SUSAN AND BRENT'S DAUGHTERS, DANI AND ALLE, WERE 829 00:49:18,024 --> 00:49:19,559 WITNESSES THAT NIGHT, BUT IT WASN'T TONY WHO CALLED THEM FOR 830 00:49:19,559 --> 00:49:22,195 THIS DEPOSITION. IT WAS THEIR FATHER. 831 00:49:22,195 --> 00:49:29,069 HE WAS COUNTING ON THEIR SUPPORT IN THE WRONGFUL DEATH SUIT 832 00:49:29,069 --> 00:49:30,637 AGAINST HIM. >> Reporter: WERE YOU SURPRISED 833 00:49:30,637 --> 00:49:32,639 TO SEE YOUR GRANDDAUGHTERS SHOW UP THERE, THAT HE -- BRENT HAD 834 00:49:32,639 --> 00:49:36,443 ADDED THEM TO HIS WITNESS LIST >> YEAH. 835 00:49:36,443 --> 00:49:38,044 >> YEAH. YEAH, WE WERE SHOCKED AND 836 00:49:38,044 --> 00:49:40,146 SURPRISED THAT HE WOULD PUT 'EM ON THERE AND PUT 'EM THROUGH 837 00:49:40,146 --> 00:49:44,451 THAT >> Reporter: TONY HAD NO CHOICE. 838 00:49:44,451 --> 00:49:49,289 HE WOULD HAVE TO ASK SUSAN AND BRENT'S DAUGHTERS PAINFUL, 839 00:49:49,289 --> 00:49:53,360 DIFFICULT QUESTIONS. 14-YEAR-OLD DANI WAS SOFT-SPOKEN 840 00:49:53,360 --> 00:49:56,062 AND SEEMED NERVOUS EVEN SO, SHE MADE CLEAR SHE 841 00:49:56,062 --> 00:50:01,534 BLAMED HER GRANDPARENTS FOR THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST HER DAD. 842 00:50:01,534 --> 00:50:03,903 >> DO YOU CRITICIZE YOUR GRANDPARENTS FOR WANTING TO 843 00:50:03,903 --> 00:50:05,505 UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED THE DAY THAT SHE PASSED AWAY 844 00:50:05,505 --> 00:50:10,243 >> YES >> WHY 845 00:50:10,243 --> 00:50:12,879 >> BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T -- MY MOM AND THEIR PARENT -- HER PARENTS 846 00:50:12,879 --> 00:50:17,617 DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP, AND I FEEL LIKE IF THEY DID, 847 00:50:17,617 --> 00:50:22,322 THEY WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT SHE WAS DEPRESSED AND SUICIDAL 848 00:50:22,322 --> 00:50:25,091 >> Reporter: 16-YEAR-OLD ALLE FELT THE SAME AND WAS HER 849 00:50:25,091 --> 00:50:29,796 FATHER'S FIERCEST DEFENDER >> ARE YOU HERE BECAUSE YOU WANT 850 00:50:29,796 --> 00:50:32,465 TO PROTECT YOUR DAD? >> YES, BECAUSE THIS IS ALL 851 00:50:32,465 --> 00:50:37,704 UNNECESSARY. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING ON 852 00:50:37,704 --> 00:50:39,072 IN THIS CASE WHY ARE WE HERE? 853 00:50:39,072 --> 00:50:39,873 WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT ANY LAWSUIT? 854 00:50:39,873 --> 00:50:43,543 >> BECAUSE MY GRANDPARENTS THINK MY DAD'S A MURDERER. 855 00:50:43,543 --> 00:50:46,146 >> Reporter: ALLE SOFTENED WHEN SHE SPOKE OF HER MOTHER. 856 00:50:46,146 --> 00:50:49,349 AT ONE POINT, DESCRIBING HOW GOOD SUSAN LOOKED IN THE MONTHS 857 00:50:49,349 --> 00:50:54,120 BEFORE SHE DIED. >> SHE JUST ALWAYS HAD A NATURAL 858 00:50:54,120 --> 00:50:55,221 GLOW TO HER. SHE JUST KNEW WHAT WAS -- LIKE 859 00:50:55,221 --> 00:50:59,959 WHAT WORKED FOR HER BODY I MEAN, SHE RAN ALL THE TIME 860 00:50:59,959 --> 00:51:04,664 >> Reporter: DESPITE THAT, ALLE WAS FIRM IN HER BELIEF THAT 861 00:51:04,664 --> 00:51:06,766 SUSAN KILLED HERSELF, AND SHE WOULDN'T CONSIDER ANY OTHER 862 00:51:06,766 --> 00:51:11,338 EXPLANATION. >> MY QUESTION IS ABOUT WHETHER 863 00:51:11,338 --> 00:51:14,274 OR NOT YOU WOULD WANT TO KNOW IF ANYTHING INAPPROPRIATE HAPPENED 864 00:51:14,274 --> 00:51:18,912 DURING THE TIME THAT YOUR MOM PASSED AWAY? 865 00:51:18,912 --> 00:51:20,246 >> NO, BECAUSE IT'S CLEARLY A SUICIDE. 866 00:51:20,246 --> 00:51:24,184 >> Reporter: THE MOMENT SUSAN'S FAMILY HAD BEEN WAITING FOR 867 00:51:24,184 --> 00:51:27,887 FINALLY ARRIVED. BRENT DENNIS SAT DOWN TO FACE 868 00:51:27,887 --> 00:51:30,123 TONY'S QUESTIONS AVIS AND DANNY FLEW TO LAS VEGAS 869 00:51:30,123 --> 00:51:35,895 AND SAT IN TONY'S OFFICE TO WATCH A LIVE FEED OF THE 870 00:51:35,895 --> 00:51:36,796 CONFRONTATION. >> DO YOU NEED ANYTHING ELSE 871 00:51:36,796 --> 00:51:37,397 PAD? PAPER? 872 00:51:37,397 --> 00:51:40,567 YOU GOT YOUR DOCUMENTS >> I GOT IT. 873 00:51:40,567 --> 00:51:43,737 >> OKAY. >> Reporter: TONY ASKED BRENT 874 00:51:43,737 --> 00:51:44,904 ABOUT HIS DRUG USE >> DID YOU ENGAGE IN THE USE OF 875 00:51:44,904 --> 00:51:49,009 CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES AT OR AROUND THE TIME OF YOUR WIFE'S 876 00:51:49,009 --> 00:51:50,110 DEATH? >> OCCASIONALLY. 877 00:51:50,110 --> 00:51:55,882 >> WHAT IS YOUR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE OF CHOICE? 878 00:51:55,882 --> 00:51:56,950 >> NOT SURE I HAVE ONE >> Reporter: TONY ASKED BRENT 879 00:51:56,950 --> 00:52:00,653 ABOUT PURCHASING DRUGS FROM JEFF CROSBY. 880 00:52:00,653 --> 00:52:03,289 >> COULD YOU HAVE SEEN HIM EVERY DAY? 881 00:52:03,289 --> 00:52:07,060 >> POSSIBLE. >> DID YOU BUY COCAINE FROM HIM? 882 00:52:07,060 --> 00:52:09,095 >> POSSIBLY. >> Reporter: BRENT ACKNOWLEDGED 883 00:52:09,095 --> 00:52:13,867 SUSAN KNEW ABOUT HIS DRUG USE AND EVEN THREATENED TO EXPOSE 884 00:52:13,867 --> 00:52:17,070 IT >> WHEN SHE MADE THREATS, THEY 885 00:52:17,070 --> 00:52:19,239 WERE VERY GENERAL, "I'M GOING TO -- I'M GOING TO TURN YOU IN, 886 00:52:19,239 --> 00:52:22,308 I'M GOING TO -- I'M GOING TO CALL THE POLICE, I'LL TELL YOUR 887 00:52:22,308 --> 00:52:25,445 PARENTS. >> Reporter: TONY PRESSED BRENT 888 00:52:25,445 --> 00:52:29,683 TO ADMIT HE WAS AFRAID SUSAN MIGHT MAKE GOOD ON HER THREAT 889 00:52:29,683 --> 00:52:34,954 AND RUIN HIM BY CAUSING HIS PSYCHOLOGIST'S LICENSE TO BE 890 00:52:34,954 --> 00:52:38,124 REVOKED. BRENT APPEARED UNCONCERNED 891 00:52:38,124 --> 00:52:40,794 >> YOU KNEW THAT IF SUSAN'S THREAT MANIFESTED IN ACTUALLY 892 00:52:40,794 --> 00:52:42,362 HER DOING SOMETHING, YOUR LICENSE WAS GOING TO BE AT RISK, 893 00:52:42,362 --> 00:52:48,134 RIGHT? >> HYPOTHETICALLY. 894 00:52:48,134 --> 00:52:52,339 >> Reporter: TONY ASKED BRENT WHY HE DEPOSITED THAT 895 00:52:52,339 --> 00:52:56,109 $180,000 CHECK DAYS AFTER SUSAN DIED 896 00:52:56,109 --> 00:52:59,279 BRENT CLAIMED THE BULK OF IT WAS FOR A DOWN PAYMENT ON A NEW HOME 897 00:52:59,279 --> 00:53:01,448 FOR THE TWO OF THEM. >> DID YOU HAVE A HOME PICKED 898 00:53:01,448 --> 00:53:05,418 OUT THAT YOU WERE GOING TO BUY >> I DID NOT 899 00:53:05,418 --> 00:53:10,323 >> DID SHE >> I WASN'T AWARE. 900 00:53:10,323 --> 00:53:13,493 >> HAD YOU LOOKED AT A SINGLE HOME 901 00:53:13,493 --> 00:53:18,798 >> I CAN'T RECALL. >> IT WAS A MESS 902 00:53:18,798 --> 00:53:20,400 STUTTERING AND STAMMERING. AND, YOU KNOW, ONCE SOMEBODY IS 903 00:53:20,400 --> 00:53:24,604 DOING THAT, IT BECOMES MUCH EASIER TO SORT OF START PICKING 904 00:53:24,604 --> 00:53:28,308 APART THEIR STORY. >> SHE DID NOT WRITE THAT CHECK, 905 00:53:28,308 --> 00:53:31,544 DID SHE? >> WELL, SHE WROTE IT WITH ME. 906 00:53:31,544 --> 00:53:35,181 >> YOU GUYS -- WHAT -- TRACE OVER EACH OTHER'S WORDS. 907 00:53:35,181 --> 00:53:37,817 WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN >> SHE WROTE PART OF IT, AND I 908 00:53:37,817 --> 00:53:43,089 WROTE PARTS. SHE WROTE OUR NAMES IN, BEST 909 00:53:43,089 --> 00:53:50,997 THAT I CAN RECALL. AND THAT WAS TYPICAL FASHION 910 00:53:50,997 --> 00:53:53,633 WHERE SHE WOULD SIGN THE CHECK AND MAKE IT OUT TO ME AND HER. 911 00:53:53,633 --> 00:53:58,938 >> DO YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC RECOLLECTION OF YOU AND SUSAN 912 00:53:58,938 --> 00:54:01,041 CO-AUTHORING A SINGLE CHECK. >> I CAN'T SAY IT WITH 913 00:54:01,041 --> 00:54:03,777 CERTAINTY. >> Reporter: BRENT'S EXPLANATION 914 00:54:03,777 --> 00:54:07,380 SEEMED TO BE CRUMBLING, AS DID HIS COMPOSURE. 915 00:54:07,380 --> 00:54:14,320 LATER CAME A LUNCH BREAK THAT'S WHEN BRENT, ALONE IN THE 916 00:54:14,320 --> 00:54:15,488 ROOM, AND APPARENTLY UNAWARE CAMERAS WERE STILL RECORDING, 917 00:54:15,488 --> 00:54:19,125 PICKED UP A COPY OF THAT CHECK FOR A CLOSER LOOK. 918 00:54:19,125 --> 00:54:21,628 >> HE'S LOOKING AT THE $180,000 CHECK 919 00:54:21,628 --> 00:54:24,798 >> Reporter: WHEN THE DEPOSITION RESUMED, TONY TURNED UP THE 920 00:54:24,798 --> 00:54:27,434 HEAT >> OVER THE LUNCH BREAK, DID YOU 921 00:54:27,434 --> 00:54:30,603 LOOK AT THE EXHIBIT? >> NO. 922 00:54:30,603 --> 00:54:33,340 >> YOU UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN THOUGH WE SAY "OFF THE RECORD," 923 00:54:33,340 --> 00:54:35,408 THERE'S STILL A VIDEO FEED THAT IS CONTINUOUSLY RECORDING YOU? 924 00:54:35,408 --> 00:54:37,977 >> OKAY. >> OKAY. 925 00:54:37,977 --> 00:54:40,080 LET ME ASK IT AGAIN. >> OKAY. 926 00:54:40,080 --> 00:54:42,716 >> NOW THAT YOU'RE AWARE THAT THERE'S VIDEO THAT CONTINUES TO 927 00:54:42,716 --> 00:54:44,818 RECORD, IS IT STILL YOUR TESTIMONY THAT YOU DIDN'T LOOK 928 00:54:44,818 --> 00:54:48,521 AT THE EXHIBIT OVER THE BREAK? >> I MAY HAVE. 929 00:54:48,521 --> 00:54:50,757 >> DO YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY? SUSAN WINTERS IS DEAD. DO YOU 930 00:54:50,757 --> 00:54:51,691 THINK THIS IS FUNNY? >> SIR 931 00:54:51,691 --> 00:54:54,327 >> DO YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY? >> NO, I DO NOT. 932 00:54:54,327 --> 00:54:56,563 >> Reporter: BRENT WAS ON THE DEFENSIVE, BUT HE STUCK TO HIS 933 00:54:56,563 --> 00:55:01,301 STORY ABOUT THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO SUSAN'S DEATH. 934 00:55:01,301 --> 00:55:06,072 HE SUGGESTED THE SUICIDE WAS AS MUCH A SHOCK TO HIM AS IT WAS TO 935 00:55:06,072 --> 00:55:07,073 EVERYONE HE SAID THAT IN THE DAYS JUST 936 00:55:07,073 --> 00:55:17,050 BEFORE, HIS MARRIAGE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN BETTER 937 00:55:17,050 --> 00:55:19,686 >> WE HAD, UM A CELEBRATORY BEER THAT WAS, UM, SYMBOLIC, IF YOU 938 00:55:19,686 --> 00:55:26,059 WILL >> SYMBOLIC OF 939 00:55:26,059 --> 00:55:32,832 >> THE YEAR TO COME AND THE CHANGES THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE 940 00:55:32,832 --> 00:55:39,739 IN RELATIONSHIP TO OUR FAMILY AND THE GIRLS AND OUR PARENTING, 941 00:55:39,739 --> 00:55:41,441 UM BUYING A HOME >> Reporter: HE TALKED ABOUT THE 942 00:55:41,441 --> 00:55:45,078 DAY BEFORE SHE DIED. >> WHAT DO YOU GUYS DO THAT DAY? 943 00:55:45,078 --> 00:55:49,249 >> WE HAD SEX. I CAN REMEMBER HER MAKING A 944 00:55:49,249 --> 00:55:51,918 COMMENT OF HAVING A TRIFECTA, IT WAS NICE TO HAVE A TRIFECTA, 945 00:55:51,918 --> 00:55:54,521 BASICALLY THREE -- YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A - 946 00:55:54,521 --> 00:55:58,725 >> THAT'S -- >> -- REFERENCE -- A REFERENCE 947 00:55:58,725 --> 00:56:02,429 TO THREE, YOU KNOW, ORGASMS. >> THAT IS A THING THAT 948 00:56:02,429 --> 00:56:06,166 CONVINCED ALL THE WOMEN IN THE OFFICE THAT HE WAS RESPONSIBLE 949 00:56:06,166 --> 00:56:14,541 FOR HER DEATH. BECAUSE IT WAS PERCEIVED TO BE 950 00:56:14,541 --> 00:56:19,813 INCREDIBLY OFFENSIVE AND COMPLETELY LACKED ANY LEVEL OF 951 00:56:19,813 --> 00:56:22,315 EMPATHY. >> Reporter: TONY SLOWLY STEERED 952 00:56:22,315 --> 00:56:24,117 THE QUESTIONS BACK TO BRENT'S DRUG USE AND CORNERED HIM WITH 953 00:56:24,117 --> 00:56:27,754 EVIDENCE THAT BRENT WAS STILL USING AND STILL BUYING FROM 954 00:56:27,754 --> 00:56:31,458 JEFF CROSBY. BRENT'S ATTORNEY QUICKLY SPOKE 955 00:56:31,458 --> 00:56:33,560 UP >> I WANT TO TAKE ANOTHER BREAK 956 00:56:33,560 --> 00:56:37,263 AND GIVE MY CLIENT SOME OPTIONS. >> Reporter: TONY THOUGHT 957 00:56:37,263 --> 00:56:39,966 BRENT DENNIS WAS CLOSE TO TALKING HIMSELF INTO A MURDER 958 00:56:39,966 --> 00:56:42,535 CHARGE, SO HE TRIED TO KEEP THE DEPOSITION GOING 959 00:56:42,535 --> 00:56:46,773 >> I'LL MOVE ON TO ANOTHER TOPIC JUST SO WE CAN GET THROUGH SOME 960 00:56:46,773 --> 00:56:48,341 OTHER STUFF. I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE - 961 00:56:48,341 --> 00:56:50,443 >> NO, I THINK I SHOULD TALK TO HIM. 962 00:56:50,443 --> 00:56:52,579 >> OKAY. >> Reporter: WOULD BRENT COME 963 00:56:52,579 --> 00:56:58,918 BACK FOR MORE, OR WOULD HE WALK AWAY 964 00:56:58,918 --> 00:57:02,088 >>> COMING UP -- SUSAN SPEAKS FROM BEYOND THE 965 00:57:02,088 --> 00:57:05,258 GRAVE. >> I JUST DON'T WANT TO GO INTO 966 00:57:05,258 --> 00:57:08,928 MY 50s WITH SOMEBODY WHO HATES ME AS MUCH YOU DO. 967 00:57:08,928 --> 00:57:12,098 >> I LOVE YOU. >> REALLY? 968 00:57:12,098 --> 00:57:13,700 IF YOU LOVE ME THEN YOU'VE GOT A REALLY -- PECULIAR WAY OF 969 00:57:13,700 --> 00:57:15,235 SHOWING IT >> WHEN DATELINE CONTINUES 970 00:57:32,419 --> 00:57:35,588 >>> Reporter: TONY SGRO AND HIS TEAM FELT CERTAIN THIS BIT OF 971 00:57:35,588 --> 00:57:44,064 LEGAL DRAMA WAS OVER FOR GOOD. >> I WANT TO TAKE ANOTHER BREAK 972 00:57:44,064 --> 00:57:45,432 AND GIVE MY CLIENT SOME OPTIONS. >> Reporter: BRENT DENNIS DID 973 00:57:45,432 --> 00:57:46,266 RETURN TO ANSWER A FEW MORE QUESTIONS. 974 00:57:46,266 --> 00:57:47,701 >> MR. DENNIS JUST A FEW FOLLOW-UPS 975 00:57:47,701 --> 00:57:52,072 >> Reporter: THEN, HE STEPPED AWAY AGAIN, AND HE NEVER CAME 976 00:57:52,072 --> 00:57:53,506 BACK. I'M NOT SURE IF BRENT DID 977 00:57:53,506 --> 00:57:55,642 HIMSELF ANY FAVORS IN THAT DEPOSITION 978 00:57:55,642 --> 00:57:57,744 >> NO, HE CERTAINLY DIDN'T >> HE STILL THOUGHT HE COULD 979 00:57:57,744 --> 00:58:01,414 CONVINCE PEOPLE. TONY HAS USED THAT PHRASE, 980 00:58:01,414 --> 00:58:11,024 "SMARTEST PERSON IN THE ROOM," AND THAT'S WHAT BRENT WAS 981 00:58:11,024 --> 00:58:12,058 THINKING >> HE WAS MAKING IT UP AS WE 982 00:58:12,058 --> 00:58:13,893 WENT, SO MUCH SO THAT EVEN HIS ATTORNEY EVENTUALLY REALIZED 983 00:58:13,893 --> 00:58:17,297 THAT BRENT DENNIS WAS IN BIG TROUBLE. 984 00:58:17,297 --> 00:58:24,804 >> Reporter: TO TONY, BRENT WAS SO PLAINLY EVASIVE, THAT HE 985 00:58:24,804 --> 00:58:33,179 TURNED HIMSELF INTO A MURDER TURNED HIMSELF INTO A MURDER 986 00:58:33,179 --> 00:58:34,280 SUSPECT. NOW TONY HAD TO CONVINCE SOMEONE 987 00:58:34,280 --> 00:58:36,049 AT THE CLARK COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OF THAT. 988 00:58:36,049 --> 00:58:37,250 SO HE TURNED TO MARC DiGIACOMO, THE PROSECUTOR HE HAD ORIGINALLY 989 00:58:37,250 --> 00:58:38,284 TOLD ABOUT THE CASE. DiGIACOMO AGREED TO A MEETING 990 00:58:38,284 --> 00:58:41,054 WHERE TONY AND HIS TEAM LAID IT ALL OUT. 991 00:58:41,054 --> 00:58:47,360 AND DiGIACOMO WAS -- SKEPTICAL >> NO CASE THAT'S RULED A 992 00:58:47,360 --> 00:58:48,528 SUICIDE AND NOW 18 MONTHS LATER WE'RE GOING TO REVISE AS A 993 00:58:48,528 --> 00:58:53,166 HOMICIDE IS ANYTHING YOU CAN CONSIDER A SLAM DUNK 994 00:58:53,166 --> 00:58:55,335 >> Reporter: DiGIACOMO KNEW HE COULDN'T JUST TAKE TONY'S WORD 995 00:58:55,335 --> 00:58:56,136 FOR IT >> THEY HAVE A -- AN INTEREST 996 00:58:56,136 --> 00:59:02,108 HERE, RIGHT? THEY'RE ON THE SIDE OF THE 997 00:59:02,108 --> 00:59:03,677 FAMILY AND, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT THEY DO POTENTIALLY IS 998 00:59:03,677 --> 00:59:08,415 TAINTED BY A BIAS BY THEM. >> Reporter: STILL, DiGIACOMO 999 00:59:08,415 --> 00:59:10,617 AGREED TO INVESTIGATE BRENT DENNIS FOR SUSAN'S MURDER. 1000 00:59:10,617 --> 00:59:14,754 >> MOST OF MY CASES, THE EASIEST PART ABOUT IT IS A CRIME WAS 1001 00:59:14,754 --> 00:59:20,026 COMMITTED. AND THE HARD PART IS WHO DID IT. 1002 00:59:20,026 --> 00:59:22,128 THIS CASE WAS DIFFERENT IN THE SENSE THAT THERE WASN'T ANY 1003 00:59:22,128 --> 00:59:26,833 DOUBT WHO DID IT, IF I COULD ESTABLISH A CRIME WAS COMMITTED. 1004 00:59:26,833 --> 00:59:27,834 >> Reporter: WHAT CAN A PROSECUTOR DO THAT TONY 1005 00:59:27,834 --> 00:59:30,537 COULDN'T >> WHEN A LAW ENFORCEMENT 1006 00:59:30,537 --> 00:59:31,805 OFFICER WALKS UP AND SAYS, "HEY, I'M INVESTIGATING THIS," PEOPLE 1007 00:59:31,805 --> 00:59:35,241 ARE MORE WILLING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION 1008 00:59:35,241 --> 00:59:37,877 THEY TRUST 'EM A LITTLE BIT MORE 1009 00:59:37,877 --> 00:59:41,581 AND WE ALSO HAD THE POWER OF SEARCH WARRANTS. 1010 00:59:41,581 --> 00:59:46,319 WE CAN REQUEST THINGS THAT CAN ONLY BE GOTTEN BY ORDER OF A 1011 00:59:46,319 --> 00:59:50,523 COURT. >> Reporter: AND SO IN THE 1012 00:59:50,523 --> 00:59:51,791 SUMMER OF 2016, MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER SUSAN'S DEATH, THE WINTERS 1013 00:59:51,791 --> 00:59:57,564 FAMILY FINALLY GOT WHAT THEY WANTED 1014 00:59:57,564 --> 00:59:59,666 DiGIACOMO AND A DETECTIVE FROM THE HENDERSON P.D. STARTED THE 1015 00:59:59,666 --> 01:00:03,203 SUSAN WINTERS CASE AGAIN -- FROM SCRATCH. 1016 01:00:03,203 --> 01:00:06,873 >> THE VERY FIRST THING WE WANTED TO DO WAS INTERVIEW 1017 01:00:06,873 --> 01:00:09,776 PEOPLE WHO KNEW BRENT, WHO KNEW SUSAN. 1018 01:00:09,776 --> 01:00:14,247 >> Reporter: WHAT PICTURE EMERGED OF BRENT AND SUSAN'S 1019 01:00:14,247 --> 01:00:17,450 RELATIONSHIP AND THAT MARRIAGE >> IT WAS VERY DYSFUNCTIONAL 1020 01:00:17,450 --> 01:00:22,122 >> Reporter: "SUSPICIOUS MINDS" BY ELVIS PRESLEY WAS THE 1021 01:00:22,122 --> 01:00:25,825 RINGTONE ON SUSAN'S PHONE WHENEVER THERE WAS A CALL FROM 1022 01:00:25,825 --> 01:00:29,062 BRENT'S PHONE. AND WHEN PROSECUTOR DiGIACOMO 1023 01:00:29,062 --> 01:00:32,098 OBTAINED A SEARCH WARRANT FOR BRENT'S ACTUAL CELL PHONE, HE 1024 01:00:32,098 --> 01:00:39,005 FOUND RECORDINGS OF SUSAN WINTERS TALKING ABOUT HER 1025 01:00:39,005 --> 01:00:40,707 MARRIAGE, FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE. >> I JUST DON'T WANT TO GO INTO 1026 01:00:40,707 --> 01:00:45,879 MY 50s WITH SOMEBODY WHO HATES ME AS MUCH YOU DO. 1027 01:00:45,879 --> 01:00:48,548 >> I LOVE YOU, SO -- >> REALLY? 1028 01:00:48,548 --> 01:00:55,388 IF YOU LOVE ME THEN YOU'VE GOT A REALLY [ BLEEP ] PECULIAR WAY OF 1029 01:00:55,388 --> 01:00:57,057 SHOWING IT >> Reporter: APPARENTLY BRENT 1030 01:00:57,057 --> 01:00:58,058 OFTEN RECORDED FIGHTS HE HAD WITH SUSAN 1031 01:00:58,058 --> 01:00:59,092 >> I DON'T WANT ANYTHING ELSE TO DO WITH YOU. 1032 01:00:59,092 --> 01:01:03,229 >> SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN THEN >> I WANT A DIVORCE. 1033 01:01:03,229 --> 01:01:08,601 >> Reporter: DiGIACOMO ALSO FOUND TEXTS SUSAN HAD SENT TO 1034 01:01:08,601 --> 01:01:11,237 SOME FRIENDS IN OCTOBER OF 2014, SAYING BRENT HAD ACKNOWLEDGED HE 1035 01:01:11,237 --> 01:01:15,075 HAD A COCAINE HABIT. "I THOUGHT I KNEW THE TELL TALE 1036 01:01:15,075 --> 01:01:17,544 SIGNS OF COKE USE BUT MAYBE NOT," SHE WROTE. 1037 01:01:17,544 --> 01:01:20,747 JUST AFTER THE COUPLE RANG IN THE NEW YEAR, THEIR UNRAVELLING 1038 01:01:20,747 --> 01:01:27,153 ACCELERATED. >> IT IS FAIRLY CLEAR THAT HER 1039 01:01:27,153 --> 01:01:30,757 AND BRENT'S RELATIONSHIP IS AT THE BREAKING POINT 1040 01:01:30,757 --> 01:01:33,526 >> Reporter: IN FACT, ANOTHER FRIEND TOLD DiGIACOMO THAT JUST 1041 01:01:33,526 --> 01:01:39,766 DAYS BEFORE HER DEATH SUSAN SAID SHE WAS THINKING ABOUT DATING 1042 01:01:39,766 --> 01:01:40,834 OTHER MEN. AND THERE WAS ONE PIECE OF 1043 01:01:40,834 --> 01:01:47,741 EVIDENCE THAT SEALED THE DEAL FOR DiGIACOMO. 1044 01:01:47,741 --> 01:01:49,843 REMEMBER THAT $180,000 CHECK THE ONE BRENT DEPOSITED SO SOON 1045 01:01:49,843 --> 01:01:50,944 AFTER SUSAN'S DEATH? A FRIEND OF BRENT'S SHARED A 1046 01:01:50,944 --> 01:01:56,716 CONVERSATION THEY'D HAD ABOUT IT 1047 01:01:56,716 --> 01:01:58,918 >> HEY, THE -- THE REASON I DID THAT, I TOOK THAT MONEY, IS I -- 1048 01:01:58,918 --> 01:02:01,454 I KNEW THAT HER PARENTS WOULD ACCUSE ME OF MURDER. 1049 01:02:01,454 --> 01:02:05,658 >> Reporter: WELL, WHAT HIS FRIEND DIDN'T KNOW IS THAT 1050 01:02:05,658 --> 01:02:08,928 AT 9:00 THE NIGHT BEFORE, WHEN SUSAN'S ALLEGEDLY PASSED OUT, 1051 01:02:08,928 --> 01:02:13,967 BRENT DENNIS CALLED THE AUTOMATED LINE FOR THAT BANK 1052 01:02:13,967 --> 01:02:15,135 ACCOUNT TO CHECK THE BALANCE TO PROSECUTORS, THIS FELT LIKE 1053 01:02:15,135 --> 01:02:19,406 PROOF THAT WOULD STAND UP IN COURT. 1054 01:02:19,406 --> 01:02:24,878 BRENT WAS TRYING TO GRAB SUSAN'S MONEY BEFORE HE COULD BE ACCUSED 1055 01:02:24,878 --> 01:02:25,979 OF MURDER BY HER FAMILY. AND CHECKING THE BANK ACCOUNT 1056 01:02:25,979 --> 01:02:27,847 THE NIGHT BEFORE SHE DIED TO MAKE SURE THAT CHECK WOULD 1057 01:02:27,847 --> 01:02:32,152 CLEAR, SUGGESTED HE ALREADY KNEW OF SUSAN'S APPROACHING DEATH, 1058 01:02:32,152 --> 01:02:35,255 AND THAT HE'D HAVE TO ACT QUICKLY. 1059 01:02:35,255 --> 01:02:38,091 >> WHY DOES HE THINK HE NEEDS THE $180,000 OUTTA THAT ACCOUNT 1060 01:02:38,091 --> 01:02:39,993 BECAUSE HER PARENTS ARE GONNA FREEZE IT? 1061 01:02:39,993 --> 01:02:43,163 IT'S 'CAUSE HE KNOWS SHE'S GONNA BE DEAD. 1062 01:02:43,163 --> 01:02:44,264 HOW DOES HE KNOW SHE'S GONNA BE DEAD NINE HOURS LATER? 1063 01:02:44,264 --> 01:02:46,666 >> Reporter: 'CAUSE HE'S GONNA DO IT. 1064 01:02:46,666 --> 01:02:48,968 >> RIGHT THERE'S NO WAY HE KNOWS SHE'S 1065 01:02:48,968 --> 01:02:53,740 ABOUT TO COMMIT SUICIDE. THIS GUY KILLED HIS WIFE 1066 01:02:53,740 --> 01:02:57,410 WE'VE SEEN IT BEFORE WHERE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD PAST 1067 01:02:57,410 --> 01:02:59,012 SUICIDAL IDEATIONS WIND UP BEING THE VICTIMS OF A HOMICIDE, 1068 01:02:59,012 --> 01:03:02,716 RIGHT? IF YOU'RE BRENT DENNIS, IT'S THE 1069 01:03:02,716 --> 01:03:05,185 PERFECT COVER TO KILL HER. >> Reporter: AND THE MOTIVE WAS 1070 01:03:05,185 --> 01:03:09,556 MONEY. SUSAN'S MONEY. 1071 01:03:09,556 --> 01:03:12,192 HER FAMILY'S MONEY MOST OF WHICH BRENT WOULD LOSE 1072 01:03:12,192 --> 01:03:13,293 IN A DIVORCE >> HE KNEW THAT SHE WAS THE 1073 01:03:13,293 --> 01:03:15,462 GRAVY TRAIN. AND HE HAD KNOWN IT FOR A WHILE. 1074 01:03:15,462 --> 01:03:16,963 >> Reporter: AND HE HAD AN ADDICTION. 1075 01:03:16,963 --> 01:03:19,366 >> YES, HE DID >> Reporter: WHICH REQUIRED 1076 01:03:19,366 --> 01:03:23,303 MONEY. >> AND I'M SORRY FOR HIM 1077 01:03:23,303 --> 01:03:27,507 HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN STRONGER BUT WE ALL COULD BE STRONGER 1078 01:03:27,507 --> 01:03:31,745 >> Reporter: DiGIACOMO WAS READY TO FILE MURDER CHARGES AGAINST 1079 01:03:31,745 --> 01:03:38,952 BRENT DENNIS THERE WAS JUST ONE PROBLEM -- 1080 01:03:38,952 --> 01:03:41,254 ACCORDING TO THE COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER, SUSAN'S DEATH WAS 1081 01:03:41,254 --> 01:03:50,230 STILL OFFICIALLY A SUICIDE AND THAT ALONE COULD BE 1082 01:03:50,230 --> 01:03:51,297 REASONABLE DOUBT FOR A JURY. >>> COMING UP -- 1083 01:03:51,297 --> 01:03:55,735 >> A MEDICAL DETECTIVE TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT THAT SUICIDE 1084 01:03:55,735 --> 01:04:01,841 RULING >> I STARTED REVIEWING THE 1085 01:04:01,841 --> 01:04:22,829 MEDICAL RECORDS AND THE AUTOPSY, AND THAT WAS 1086 01:04:22,829 --> 01:04:24,064 >>> Reporter: FROM THE MOMENT THEY HEARD THE NEWS, THE WINTERS 1087 01:04:24,064 --> 01:04:27,667 FAMILY HAD TRIED TO CONVINCE AUTHORITIES THAT SUSAN WOULD 1088 01:04:27,667 --> 01:04:30,170 NEVER TAKE HER OWN LIFE. THE RESPONSE WAS THE SAME EVERY 1089 01:04:30,170 --> 01:04:31,304 TIME >> YOU'RE GRIEVING PARENTS 1090 01:04:31,304 --> 01:04:32,339 >> Reporter: AND YOU NEED TO LET IT GO. 1091 01:04:32,339 --> 01:04:36,076 >> YEP >> BUT WE'RE STUBBORN PEOPLE 1092 01:04:36,076 --> 01:04:45,218 >> Reporter: AT THE END OF PROSECUTOR MARC DiGIACOMO'S 1093 01:04:45,218 --> 01:04:47,620 INVESTIGATION, HE WAS FINALLY CONVINCED THAT SUSAN WINTERS 1094 01:04:47,620 --> 01:04:49,723 DIED AT THE HANDS OF HER HUSBAND BRENT DENNIS 1095 01:04:49,723 --> 01:04:51,324 NOW, WOULD A JURY BELIEVE IT TO DiGIACOMO, IT WAS A HARD SELL 1096 01:04:51,324 --> 01:04:57,630 SINCE SUSAN'S DEATH WAS STILL ON RECORD AS A SUICIDE. 1097 01:04:57,630 --> 01:05:06,106 DiGIACOMO THOUGHT DR. STACEY HAIL COULD HELP 1098 01:05:06,106 --> 01:05:07,340 SHE'S A TOXICOLOGIST TONY SGRO'S TEAM HAD CONSULTED WITH EARLY 1099 01:05:07,340 --> 01:05:08,541 ON >> SO I STARTED REVIEWING THE 1100 01:05:08,541 --> 01:05:11,811 MEDICAL RECORDS AND THE AUTOPSY, AND THAT WAS WHEN I KNEW STRANGE 1101 01:05:11,811 --> 01:05:15,615 THINGS WERE AFOOT AT THE CIRCLE K. 1102 01:05:15,615 --> 01:05:17,751 >> Reporter: ETHYLENE GLYCOL IS ONE OF THE MAIN COMPONENTS IN 1103 01:05:17,751 --> 01:05:20,353 ANTIFREEZE BUT SUSAN'S BODY HAD NOT 1104 01:05:20,353 --> 01:05:26,192 METABOLIZED IT YET, WHICH STRUCK DR. HAIL 1105 01:05:26,192 --> 01:05:33,066 >> IN ORDER TO DIE FROM ETHYLENE GLYCOL POISONING, YOUR BODY HAS 1106 01:05:33,066 --> 01:05:41,508 TO CHANGE THAT ETHYLENE GLYCOL INTO SUBSTANCES THAT ARE 1107 01:05:41,508 --> 01:05:43,109 ULTIMATELY A LOT MORE TOXIC, AND THEN THOSE SUBSTANCES DEPOSIT 1108 01:05:43,109 --> 01:05:45,712 CRYSTALS IN YOUR BODY, AND THAT'S ULTIMATELY WHAT YOU DIE 1109 01:05:45,712 --> 01:05:48,882 FROM >> Reporter: AND THAT PROCESS 1110 01:05:48,882 --> 01:05:51,551 CAN SOMETIMES TAKE DAYS. DR. HAIL SAID THE IMMEDIATE 1111 01:05:51,551 --> 01:05:55,188 EFFECT OF INGESTING ETHYLENE GLYCOL IS SIMILAR TO DRINKING 1112 01:05:55,188 --> 01:05:59,392 ALCOHOL. >> IF YOU CONSUME IT, YOU'RE 1113 01:05:59,392 --> 01:06:01,294 GOING TO GET DRUNK >> Reporter: THAT SEEMED 1114 01:06:01,294 --> 01:06:03,697 CONSISTENT WITH HOW BRENT DESCRIBED SUSAN THAT EVENING, 1115 01:06:03,697 --> 01:06:10,170 THAT BY MIDNIGHT SUSAN WAS DRUNK AND PASSED OUT 1116 01:06:10,170 --> 01:06:15,041 AND, OF COURSE, THERE WAS THE ANTIFREEZE BRENT SAID HE FOUND 1117 01:06:15,041 --> 01:06:21,114 IN THE GARAGE. THAT ALL MATCHED UP. 1118 01:06:21,114 --> 01:06:22,148 SO, THEN WHAT ABOUT THE OXYCODONE? 1119 01:06:22,148 --> 01:06:23,116 WHERE DID THAT COME FROM >> SHE DOESN'T HAVE A 1120 01:06:23,116 --> 01:06:24,818 PRESCRIPTION FOR IT, THERE'S NOT A BOTTLE AT THE SCENE. 1121 01:06:24,818 --> 01:06:27,454 AND IF THIS IS A SEEMINGLY SUICIDAL PERSON, THEN THERE 1122 01:06:27,454 --> 01:06:31,658 SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN EMPTY BOTTLE OF OXYCODONE, OR AT LEAST PILLS 1123 01:06:31,658 --> 01:06:35,362 MISSING. AND I COULDN'T ACCOUNT FOR IT. 1124 01:06:35,362 --> 01:06:40,600 >> Reporter: MARC DiGIACOMO THOUGHT HE COULD NOW THAT HE HAD 1125 01:06:40,600 --> 01:06:42,202 THE RECORDS THE SEARCH WARRANTS HAD PRODUCED 1126 01:06:42,202 --> 01:06:46,406 DiGIACOMO HAD REACHED OUT TO THE DIFFERENT WEBSITES, THE ONES 1127 01:06:46,406 --> 01:06:47,941 BRENT SAID SUSAN VISITED HOURS BEFORE SHE PASSED OUT. 1128 01:06:47,941 --> 01:06:53,813 >> HERE IS THE IP ADDRESS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS COMPUTER, 1129 01:06:53,813 --> 01:06:55,982 AND HERE IS THE WEB PAGE I WANNA KNOW WHEN DID SOMEBODY 1130 01:06:55,982 --> 01:07:01,321 CONNECT TO YOUR SERVER WITH THIS IP ADDRESS 1131 01:07:01,321 --> 01:07:06,026 >> Reporter: DiGIACOMO LEARNED THOSE ANTIFREEZE SEARCHES WERE 1132 01:07:06,026 --> 01:07:07,360 ACTUALLY DONE AROUND MIDNIGHT. BASED ON WHAT BRENT TOLD POLICE, 1133 01:07:07,360 --> 01:07:16,503 SUSAN COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ON THE COMPUTER THEN. 1134 01:07:16,503 --> 01:07:20,740 HIS STORY WAS THAT, BY MIDNIGHT, SHE WAS ALREADY PASSED OUT 1135 01:07:20,740 --> 01:07:23,376 >> THAT'S HIS STORY. SHE'S ALREADY PASSED OUT 1136 01:07:23,376 --> 01:07:26,546 >> Reporter: THAT'S ALSO WHAT THE GIRLS SAY. 1137 01:07:26,546 --> 01:07:29,516 >> AND, LOOK, WE GOT THEIR DEVICES TOO. 1138 01:07:29,516 --> 01:07:31,818 ONE DAUGHTER IS ON HER COMPUTER TO ABOUT MIDNIGHT, AND THEN HER 1139 01:07:31,818 --> 01:07:36,056 COMPUTER SHUTS OFF AND THEN THE ONLY OTHER PERSON 1140 01:07:36,056 --> 01:07:38,291 AWAKE IS BRENT DENNIS. AND HE GETS ON THE INTERNET AND 1141 01:07:38,291 --> 01:07:39,526 REALIZES, "OOH, IT TAKES TWO OR THREE DAYS FROM ANTI-FREEZE TO 1142 01:07:39,526 --> 01:07:45,131 KILL SOMEBODY. >> Reporter: DiGIACOMO THOUGHT 1143 01:07:45,131 --> 01:07:46,199 THAT UNDERMINED BRENT'S PLAN A >> I THINK HE GETS THE 1144 01:07:46,199 --> 01:07:48,768 ANTI-FREEZE, HE PUTS IT IN A MARGARITA CAUSE SHE LIKED TO 1145 01:07:48,768 --> 01:07:56,676 DRINK. SHE DRANK IT 1146 01:07:56,676 --> 01:07:57,777 SHE PASSES OUT AND HE THINKS SHE'S GONNA BE 1147 01:07:57,777 --> 01:08:07,253 DEAD >> Reporter: DiGIACOMO BELIEVES 1148 01:08:07,253 --> 01:08:08,488 THAT WHEN BRENT DENNIS REALIZED AFTER MIDNIGHT THE ANTI-FREEZE 1149 01:08:08,488 --> 01:08:09,723 WASN'T GOING TO DO THE JOB FAST ENOUGH, HE MOVED ON TO PLAN B. 1150 01:08:09,723 --> 01:08:10,790 CELL PHONE RECORDS SHOW THAT BRENT TEXTED DRUG DEALER 1151 01:08:10,790 --> 01:08:11,891 JEFF CROSBY MORE THAN FIFTEEN TIMES EARLY THAT MORNING 1152 01:08:11,891 --> 01:08:13,059 AT 3:15 A.M. BRENT'S PHONE PINGED AT THE ORLEANS, WHERE HE 1153 01:08:13,059 --> 01:08:14,861 AND CROSBY WOULD OFTEN MEET. >> IT'S THERE FOR A VERY SHORT 1154 01:08:14,861 --> 01:08:21,034 PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN IT DRIVES BACK TO THE 1155 01:08:21,034 --> 01:08:22,135 RESIDENCE. >> Reporter: TO DiGIACOMO, THAT 1156 01:08:22,135 --> 01:08:26,339 EXPLAINED THE OXYCODONE. >> MY BELIEF IS THAT HE GOT IT 1157 01:08:26,339 --> 01:08:30,543 THAT NIGHT FROM JEFF CROSBY. >> Reporter: DiGIACOMO THINKS 1158 01:08:30,543 --> 01:08:32,712 THAT AFTER BRENT BROUGHT THE OXY HOME, HE SOMEHOW GOT SUSAN TO 1159 01:08:32,712 --> 01:08:46,559 INGEST IT. THEN, A FEW HOURS LATER, WHEN 1160 01:08:46,559 --> 01:08:51,798 SUSAN WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY 1161 01:08:51,798 --> 01:08:53,133 IMPAIRED FROM THE ANTI-FREEZE AND NEARING DEATH FROM THE 1162 01:08:53,133 --> 01:08:54,467 OXYCODONE, BRENT PICKED UP THE PHONE. 1163 01:08:54,467 --> 01:08:55,535 >> Henderson 9-1-1 >> Reporter: THE PROSECUTOR 1164 01:08:55,535 --> 01:08:59,072 BELIEVES THAT BRENT MAY HAVE CALLED 9-1-1 TOO SOON, BECAUSE 1165 01:08:59,072 --> 01:09:00,073 SUSAN WASN'T DEAD YET. >> THE MOMENT SHE STOPPED 1166 01:09:00,073 --> 01:09:01,274 BREATHING, HE MADE THE MISTAKE OF CALLING 9-1- 1 BECAUSE THEY 1167 01:09:01,274 --> 01:09:02,342 WERE ABLE TO REVIVE HER. SO HIS, I THINK, FEAR IS -- 1168 01:09:02,342 --> 01:09:04,544 LOOK, SHE'S ABOUT TO WAKE UP AND BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE FOR A 1169 01:09:04,544 --> 01:09:06,446 SHORT PERIOD OF TIME >> Reporter: DURING WHICH TIME 1170 01:09:06,446 --> 01:09:08,214 SHE WILL SAY, "MY HUSBAND DID THIS." 1171 01:09:08,214 --> 01:09:19,826 >> I DIDN'T TAKE IT ON MY OWN, AT THE VERY LEAST. 1172 01:09:19,826 --> 01:09:21,094 >> Reporter: THAT COULD EXPLAIN WHY BRENT ASKED DOCTORS TO TAKE 1173 01:09:21,094 --> 01:09:22,262 SUSAN OFF LIFE SUPPORT, A DECISION HE PERHAPS MADE SO HER 1174 01:09:22,262 --> 01:09:23,363 FAMILY WOULD NOT SEE HER ALIVE >> WHEN YOU PUT THAT ALL 1175 01:09:23,363 --> 01:09:25,632 TOGETHER, YOU LOOK AT IT IN -- IN TOTALITY AND SAY, "THERE IS 1176 01:09:25,632 --> 01:09:34,641 ONLY ONE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION. HE KILLED HIS WIFE." 1177 01:09:34,641 --> 01:09:51,124 >> Reporter: EVEN SO, THAT OFFICIAL RULING OF SUICIDE WAS 1178 01:09:51,124 --> 01:09:52,092 STILL AN OBSTACLE. SO DR. HAIL HAD A CONFERENCE 1179 01:09:52,092 --> 01:09:53,326 CALL WITH THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE TO DISCUSS HER FINDINGS 1180 01:09:53,326 --> 01:09:54,494 >> WE DID A MINI-TOXICOLOGY LESSON OVER THE PHONE BECAUSE 1181 01:09:54,494 --> 01:09:55,929 MEDICAL EXAMINERS AREN'T TRAINED IN MEDICAL TOXICOLOGY. 1182 01:09:55,929 --> 01:09:56,896 AND THAT'S NOT THEIR FAULT I DON'T DO AUTOPSIES 1183 01:09:56,896 --> 01:09:58,431 >> Reporter: DR. HAIL WAS ABLE TO CONVINCE THE M.E.'S OFFICE TO 1184 01:09:58,431 --> 01:10:05,839 CHANGE SUSAN'S MANNER OF DEATH FROM SUICIDE TO UNDETERMINED 1185 01:10:05,839 --> 01:10:10,043 AND WITH THAT, THERE WAS NOTHING HOLDING BACK THE PROSECUTOR. 1186 01:10:10,043 --> 01:10:12,712 SO, IN FEBRUARY 2017 THE SAME HENDERSON POLICE WHO'D BEEN 1187 01:10:12,712 --> 01:10:15,315 ACCUSED BY SUSAN'S FAMILY OF FAILING TO INVESTIGATE THE CASE 1188 01:10:15,315 --> 01:10:25,392 PROPERLY, PULLED BRENT DENNIS OVER 1189 01:10:25,392 --> 01:10:26,559 AND ARRESTED HIM FOR MURDER. >> WE BEGIN AT 5:00 P.M. WITH 1190 01:10:26,559 --> 01:10:31,197 THE ARREST OF A PSYCHOLOGIST FOR THE MURDER OF HIS WIFE 1191 01:10:31,197 --> 01:10:45,979 >> Reporter: FOR THIS FAMILY, IT WAS THE RESULT OF A TWO-YEAR 1192 01:10:45,979 --> 01:10:47,047 FIGHT FOR JUSTICE. AN EXPENSIVE ONE 1193 01:10:47,047 --> 01:10:48,314 YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THIS ALL COST YOU FINANCIALLY TO GO DOWN 1194 01:10:48,314 --> 01:10:50,750 THIS ROAD? >> WELL, I'M NOT GONNA TELL YOU 1195 01:10:50,750 --> 01:10:52,452 WHAT IT COST BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU THIS. 1196 01:10:52,452 --> 01:10:53,219 IT DIDN'T MAKE A DAMN WHAT IT COST 1197 01:10:53,219 --> 01:10:54,387 >> Reporter: WHATEVER THE FINANCIAL COST, IT WAS WORTH IT? 1198 01:10:54,387 --> 01:10:56,056 >> YES >> Reporter: SO WAS JUSTICE 1199 01:10:56,056 --> 01:11:02,896 FINALLY AT HAND? A BETTER QUESTION MIGHT BE WHAT 1200 01:11:02,896 --> 01:11:07,634 IS JUSTICE IN THIS CASE? >>> COMING UP -- 1201 01:11:07,634 --> 01:11:08,835 SUSAN'S OWN DAUGHTER COULD BE BRENT'S MOST POWERFUL DEFENDER 1202 01:11:08,835 --> 01:11:10,804 >> YOU HAVE AN OPINION THAT IT'S A SUICIDE, RIGHT 1203 01:11:10,804 --> 01:11:39,766 >> IT'S NOT AN OPINION >> REPORTER: THE WINTERS FAMILY 1204 01:11:39,766 --> 01:11:40,900 COULD HARDLY BELIEVE IT. BRENT DENNIS WAS FINALLY BEHIND 1205 01:11:40,900 --> 01:11:41,801 BARS, AND AWAITING TRIAL FOR SUSAN'S MURDER 1206 01:11:41,801 --> 01:11:46,139 >> GOOD MORNING. WE'LL CALL STATE VS. 1207 01:11:46,139 --> 01:11:49,843 GREGORY BRENT DENNIS >> Reporter: TELL ME ABOUT 1208 01:11:49,843 --> 01:11:51,111 SEEING BRENT IN GOVERNMENT-ISSUE ORANGE AND GOVERNMENT-ISSUED 1209 01:11:51,111 --> 01:12:02,055 HARDWARE >> IT WAS THE VISUAL AFFIRMATION 1210 01:12:02,055 --> 01:12:03,123 THAT ALL THE WORK WE HAD DONE MANIFESTED INTO SOMETHING 1211 01:12:03,123 --> 01:12:06,292 POSITIVE THE FAMILY WAS GOING TO SEE 1212 01:12:06,292 --> 01:12:10,063 JUSTICE NOW OCCUR ON SUSAN'S BEHALF 1213 01:12:10,063 --> 01:12:13,433 >> Reporter: THEN, LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER BEING CHARGED WITH 1214 01:12:13,433 --> 01:12:18,371 MURDER, BRENT WAS RELEASED ON BAIL 1215 01:12:18,371 --> 01:12:19,472 >> DID YOU KILL YOUR WIFE? >> FRUSTRATING 1216 01:12:19,472 --> 01:12:21,541 >> FROM THE MOMENT HE GOT ARRESTED, THE ELATION THAT WE 1217 01:12:21,541 --> 01:12:22,575 FELT AT THAT POINT - >> YES 1218 01:12:22,575 --> 01:12:25,745 >> -- WAS GREAT. BUT IT WAS GONE WHEN HE GOT 1219 01:12:25,745 --> 01:12:28,381 BAIL >> WE HAD TO FIGHT FOR TWO 1220 01:12:28,381 --> 01:12:31,551 YEARS. AND THEN, THEY FINALLY DECIDED 1221 01:12:31,551 --> 01:12:33,119 THEY COULD DO SOMETHING. AND THEY ARRESTED HIM. 1222 01:12:33,119 --> 01:12:35,255 AND THEY PUT HIM IN JAIL FOR THE WEEKEND. 1223 01:12:35,255 --> 01:12:36,289 AND HE GOT BAIL. AND HE GOT OUT 1224 01:12:36,289 --> 01:12:41,594 AND THEN, THEY - >> $250,000 BAIL 1225 01:12:41,594 --> 01:12:42,729 >> YEP >> Reporter: THERE WAS NOTHING 1226 01:12:42,729 --> 01:12:47,934 DANNY AND AVIS COULD DO -- EXCEPT WAIT. 1227 01:12:47,934 --> 01:12:49,502 IN THE MEANTIME, BRENT'S DEFENSE ATTORNEY RICHARD SCHONFELD 1228 01:12:49,502 --> 01:12:54,774 DIDN'T WASTE ANY TIME IN MAKING THEIR POSITION KNOWN ON CAMERA 1229 01:12:54,774 --> 01:12:58,545 HERE'S AN INDIVIDUAL THAT ON A DAILY BASIS WOULD CONTEMPLATE 1230 01:12:58,545 --> 01:13:01,281 SUICIDE AND A GOOD DAY WAS A DAY WHERE SHE ONLY THOUGHT OF IT 1231 01:13:01,281 --> 01:13:05,352 ONCE SCHONFELD SPOKE TO OUR NBC 1232 01:13:05,352 --> 01:13:09,556 LAS VEGAS AFFILIATE KSNV ABOUT THE REPORT BY A PSYCHOLOGIST WHO 1233 01:13:09,556 --> 01:13:14,327 HAD TREATED SUSAN. >> SHE WAS ON THE 95TH 1234 01:13:14,327 --> 01:13:15,595 PERCENTILE FOR SUICIDE SYMPTOMS. >> Reporter: THE CENTERPIECE OF 1235 01:13:15,595 --> 01:13:20,133 BRENT'S DEFENSE WAS GOING TO BE HIS WIFE'S MENTAL HEALTH 1236 01:13:20,133 --> 01:13:22,268 >> PRIOR SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND A PRIOR ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE ARE 1237 01:13:22,268 --> 01:13:26,539 SUCH A BIG DEAL FOR THE DEFENSE THAT THOSE FACTS ALONE MIGHT 1238 01:13:26,539 --> 01:13:33,213 HAVE BEEN ENOUGH BY THEMSELVES TO CREATE REASONABLE DOUBT AND 1239 01:13:33,213 --> 01:13:34,514 RESULT IN AN ACQUITTAL WE ASKED NBC NEWS LEGAL ANALYST 1240 01:13:34,514 --> 01:13:39,185 DANNY CEVALLOS TO REVIEW THE EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE. 1241 01:13:39,185 --> 01:13:43,923 HE AGREED WITH THE PROSECUTOR. IT WAS FAR FROM OPEN AND SHUT. 1242 01:13:43,923 --> 01:13:49,963 AND HE SAID THE MOST POWERFUL BRENT'S OLDEST DAUGHTER, ALLE. 1243 01:13:49,963 --> 01:13:52,365 ALLE HAS FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE SHE OBSERVED THE HUSBAND/WIFE 1244 01:13:52,365 --> 01:14:00,807 RELATIONSHIP THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ALMOST NO 1245 01:14:00,807 --> 01:14:03,043 OTHER WITNESS CAN TESTIFY TO >> Reporter: AND ALLE STOOD BY 1246 01:14:03,043 --> 01:14:04,044 HER FATHER, AND HIS VERSION OF EVENTS, FROM THE START 1247 01:14:04,044 --> 01:14:06,613 DURING DEPOSITIONS, SHE MADE HER POSITION CLEAR 1248 01:14:06,613 --> 01:14:11,351 >> YOU HAVE AN OPINION THAT IT'S A SUICIDE, RIGHT 1249 01:14:11,351 --> 01:14:12,952 >> IT'S NOT AN OPINION IT'S A FACT BUT OKAY 1250 01:14:12,952 --> 01:14:18,758 >> Reporter: MOREOVER, ALLE SAID HER MOTHER HAD BEEN UNSTABLE FOR 1251 01:14:18,758 --> 01:14:20,393 YEARS. >> IT'S CLEAR THAT SHE WASN'T 1252 01:14:20,393 --> 01:14:24,064 MURDERED >> BECAUSE WHY 1253 01:14:24,064 --> 01:14:25,632 >> BECAUSE SHE WAS EXTREMELY MENTALLY DISABLED. 1254 01:14:25,632 --> 01:14:27,734 SHE HATED HERSELF. SHE STARVED HERSELF. 1255 01:14:27,734 --> 01:14:30,904 SHE HAD AN EATING DISORDER FOR MULTIPLE YEARS 1256 01:14:30,904 --> 01:14:33,073 SHE STILL DID. SHE TALKED TO ME ABOUT IT LIKE 1257 01:14:33,073 --> 01:14:35,642 TWO WEEKS BEFORE SHE EVEN KILLED HERSELF. 1258 01:14:35,642 --> 01:14:37,844 SHE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS THAT HER PARENTS DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT. 1259 01:14:37,844 --> 01:14:40,413 >> AND ALL OF THOSE PROBLEMS LED HER TO KILL HERSELF? 1260 01:14:40,413 --> 01:14:42,515 >> YEAH. >> THERE'S NO REAL DIRECT 1261 01:14:42,515 --> 01:14:44,751 EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE. THERE'S NO TESTIMONY, OF COURSE, 1262 01:14:44,751 --> 01:14:50,457 THAT SOMEBODY SAW DENNIS KILL SUSAN. 1263 01:14:50,457 --> 01:14:51,624 THE THING IS IN THIS CASE, THE PROSECUTION'S CIRCUMSTANTIAL 1264 01:14:51,624 --> 01:14:57,764 EVIDENCE CAN BE EXPLAINED BY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES. 1265 01:14:57,764 --> 01:15:01,101 >> Reporter: DANNY CEVALLOS SAYS BRENT'S DEFENSE ATTORNEYS COULD 1266 01:15:01,101 --> 01:15:06,473 HAVE A PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR HIS ACTIONS, EVEN THE LIES HE 1267 01:15:06,473 --> 01:15:07,340 TOLD POLICE ABOUT THE DAY SUSAN DIED 1268 01:15:07,340 --> 01:15:11,044 >> OF COURSE, HE LIED ABOUT WHERE HE WENT THE NIGHT OF 1269 01:15:11,044 --> 01:15:14,214 SUSAN'S DEATH. HE'S A DRUG ADDICT AND HE'S A 1270 01:15:14,214 --> 01:15:16,049 PSYCHOLOGIST HE'S TRYING TO CONCEAL THIS 1271 01:15:16,049 --> 01:15:21,054 BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO SUFFER THOSE CONSEQUENCES. 1272 01:15:21,054 --> 01:15:25,291 IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT HE KILLED SUSAN. 1273 01:15:25,291 --> 01:15:29,529 >> Reporter: PROSECUTOR MARC DiGIACOMO KNEW HE DIDN'T 1274 01:15:29,529 --> 01:15:32,265 HAVE A PERFECT CASE. >> I HAD SMALL, LITTLE PIECES OF 1275 01:15:32,265 --> 01:15:35,969 CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED ME TO WEAVE A 1276 01:15:35,969 --> 01:15:39,539 VERSION OF EVENTS. BUT, I MEAN, THAT WAS CERTAINLY 1277 01:15:39,539 --> 01:15:41,675 A WEAKNESS IN THE CASE I COULDN'T TELL YOU EVERYTHING 1278 01:15:41,675 --> 01:15:42,776 THAT HAPPENED. >> Reporter: AND YOU CAN'T 1279 01:15:42,776 --> 01:15:48,081 REALLY PUT THE ANTIFREEZE OR THE OXY IN BRENT'S HANDS 1280 01:15:48,081 --> 01:15:53,820 >> I CAN'T PUT THE ANTIFREEZE AND THE OXY IN HIS HANDS 1281 01:15:53,820 --> 01:15:55,088 WHAT I THOUGHT I COULD DO WAS ESTABLISH IT WASN'T IN SUSAN'S 1282 01:15:55,088 --> 01:15:58,625 HANDS. >> Reporter: AND, OF COURSE, 1283 01:15:58,625 --> 01:16:03,196 THERE WERE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED WITH SUSAN, AND SAW HER EVERY 1284 01:16:03,196 --> 01:16:07,701 DAY. EVERYBODY ELSE IN SUSAN WINTERS' 1285 01:16:07,701 --> 01:16:10,203 HOUSE WAS SAYING SUICIDE HER HUSBAND, AND HER TWO 1286 01:16:10,203 --> 01:16:15,041 DAUGHTERS. >> TRUE, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK 1287 01:16:15,041 --> 01:16:17,077 UNDERNEATH THE SURFACE, THE TWO DAUGHTERS DIDN'T HAVE ANY REAL 1288 01:16:17,077 --> 01:16:18,278 KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. >> Reporter: NO, BUT THESE ARE 1289 01:16:18,278 --> 01:16:20,246 ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPOSEDLY KNOW HER BEST. 1290 01:16:20,246 --> 01:16:21,314 AND -- >> THAT'S TRUE 1291 01:16:21,314 --> 01:16:23,416 >> Reporter: -- AND WOULD HAVE KNOWN HER STATE OF MIND. 1292 01:16:23,416 --> 01:16:26,586 >> THAT'S TRUE TOO AND -- LOOK, DON'T GET ME WRONG. 1293 01:16:26,586 --> 01:16:29,222 SOMEBODY WHO'S SUICIDAL COULD STILL BE THE VICTIM OF A 1294 01:16:29,222 --> 01:16:35,962 HOMICIDE YOU KNOW, THAT WAS ALWAYS SORT 1295 01:16:35,962 --> 01:16:37,063 OF OUR THOUGHT, RIGHT? >> Reporter: WAS SUSAN MURDERED 1296 01:16:37,063 --> 01:16:41,968 BY HER HUSBAND OR HAD SHE TAKEN HER OWN LIFE? 1297 01:16:41,968 --> 01:16:45,071 MAYBE POLICE AND THE MEDICAL EXAMINER HAD IT RIGHT THE FIRST 1298 01:16:45,071 --> 01:16:50,343 TIME IT WOULD BE UP TO A JURY TO 1299 01:16:50,343 --> 01:16:55,115 DECIDE >>> COMING UP -- 1300 01:16:55,115 --> 01:16:56,750 AFTER A SEVEN-YEAR FIGHT, AN ANGRY FAMILY WAITS FOR JUSTICE 1301 01:16:56,750 --> 01:16:59,319 >> THERE OUGHT TO BE A SPECIAL PLACE IN HELL FOR HIM. 1302 01:16:59,319 --> 01:17:02,022 AND I HOPE HE GOES THERE SO, IF YOU NEED TO CUT THAT OUT, 1303 01:17:02,022 --> 01:17:03,023 CUT IT OUT >> Reporter: ACTUALLY, I'M 1304 01:17:03,023 --> 01:17:25,812 * (MÚSICA) *WE'RE GONNA USE BRENT DENNIS WAS ARRESTED AND 1305 01:17:25,812 --> 01:17:35,922 CHARGED WITH MURDER, PROSECUTOR MARC DiGIACOMO FELT READY TO GO 1306 01:17:35,922 --> 01:17:37,957 TO TRIAL HE WAS CERTAIN BRENT WOULD NEVER 1307 01:17:37,957 --> 01:17:40,860 ACCEPT A PLEA DEAL >> I'M ACCUSING A MENTAL HEALTH 1308 01:17:40,860 --> 01:17:41,828 PROFESSIONAL OF KILLING HIS WIFE FOR THE MONEY. 1309 01:17:41,828 --> 01:17:53,273 AND HIS STORY IS SHE COMMITTED SUICIDE, AND HIS DAUGHTERS 1310 01:17:53,273 --> 01:17:54,441 BELIEVE HIM. THIS GUY'S NEVER ADMITTING THAT 1311 01:17:54,441 --> 01:17:55,742 HE DID THIS, NOT WHILE HIS TWO DAUGHTERS ARE STILL ALIVE. 1312 01:17:55,742 --> 01:17:56,910 >> Reporter: THIS CASE NEVER WOULD HAVE REACHED DiGIACOMO'S 1313 01:17:56,910 --> 01:17:57,911 DESK IF NOT FOR THE WEALTH OF THE WINTERS FAMILY 1314 01:17:57,911 --> 01:17:59,079 IT'S A REMINDER OF THE ROLE MONEY CAN PLAY IN THE JUSTICE 1315 01:17:59,079 --> 01:18:01,181 SYSTEM >> Reporter: A FAMILY THAT 1316 01:18:01,181 --> 01:18:03,383 DIDN'T HAVE THOSE RESOURCES MIGHT BE STUCK WITH THE RESULT 1317 01:18:03,383 --> 01:18:07,020 THAT THEY HAD ORIGINALLY I THINK ALMOST CERTAINLY WOULD 1318 01:18:07,020 --> 01:18:13,293 BE >> THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT 1319 01:18:13,293 --> 01:18:15,395 STARS HAD TO LINE UP THAT THIS PARTICULAR VICTIM WAS RELATED TO 1320 01:18:15,395 --> 01:18:20,700 INDIVIDUALS THAT HAD THE FINANCIAL WHEREWITHAL TO BE ABLE 1321 01:18:20,700 --> 01:18:24,938 TO DO WHAT THEY DID. >> Reporter: THE FAMILY HAD BEEN 1322 01:18:24,938 --> 01:18:31,044 IMMERSED IN ALL THE DETAILS OF THE WORK DONE BY THE P.I.'S AND 1323 01:18:31,044 --> 01:18:32,078 THE LAWYERS THEY'D HIRED THAT CIVIL CASE STILL HAS NOT 1324 01:18:32,078 --> 01:18:33,046 BEEN SETTLED AND ONCE THE CASE WENT TO THE 1325 01:18:33,046 --> 01:18:36,549 CLARK COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, ALL THEY COULD DO WAS 1326 01:18:36,549 --> 01:18:39,719 WATCH AND WAIT, AND WAIT >> THERE WOULD BE A COURT DATE 1327 01:18:39,719 --> 01:18:43,423 WE WOULD FLY OUT THERE AND NOTHING HAPPENED 1328 01:18:43,423 --> 01:18:47,627 >> YEAH, THERE WERE A LOT OF TIMES WE'D GET ON THE PLANE 1329 01:18:47,627 --> 01:18:50,263 COMIN' BACK HOME OR GET IN THE TRUCK -- 1330 01:18:50,263 --> 01:18:55,535 >> UGH >> -- DRIVIN' FROM THE AIRPORT 1331 01:18:55,535 --> 01:18:58,271 BACK HOME AND JUST BEAT ON THE -- ON THE STEERING WHEEL OR 1332 01:18:58,271 --> 01:19:04,544 WHATEVER JUST TO GET THE FRUSTRATION AND EMOTION OUT. 1333 01:19:04,544 --> 01:19:07,614 >> DANNY, I KNOW AT ONE POINT, YOU CALLED THE PROSECUTOR AND 1334 01:19:07,614 --> 01:19:08,882 TONY, AND SAID, "WE GOTTA SPEED THIS UP, BECAUSE I WANT THIS TO 1335 01:19:08,882 --> 01:19:09,683 HAPPEN WHILE I'M STILL ON THIS EARTH. 1336 01:19:09,683 --> 01:19:10,617 >> THAT'S RIGHT. WHO KNOWS HOW LONG YOU GO TO 1337 01:19:10,617 --> 01:19:13,420 GO -- TO LIVE? AS A FATHER, YOUR JOB IS TO 1338 01:19:13,420 --> 01:19:18,725 PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN. I HAD TO AT LEAST SEE HIM GO TO 1339 01:19:18,725 --> 01:19:23,029 JAIL FOR WHAT HE DID DO. >> Reporter: WHEN COVID HIT, 1340 01:19:23,029 --> 01:19:26,666 COURTS SHUT DOWN, DELAYS AND FRUSTRATIONS MOUNTED 1341 01:19:26,666 --> 01:19:37,277 THEN SEVEN YEARS AFTER SUSAN DIED, AND WITH A TRIAL DATE 1342 01:19:37,277 --> 01:19:38,511 FINALLY ON THE BOOKS, DiGIACOMO GOT A CALL FROM BRENT DENNIS' 1343 01:19:38,511 --> 01:19:39,446 LAWYER >> HE SAID TO ME, "LOOK, IF YOU 1344 01:19:39,446 --> 01:19:40,947 MADE ME AN OFFER, MARC, WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE?" 1345 01:19:40,947 --> 01:19:46,353 AND THAT SORTA OPENED THE DOOR TO A CONVERSATION JUST BETWEEN 1346 01:19:46,353 --> 01:19:48,855 HIS DEFENSE ATTORNEY AND I >> Reporter: THOSE CONVERSATIONS 1347 01:19:48,855 --> 01:19:55,061 LED TO A MEETING THAT INCLUDED ATTORNEYS, THE WINTERS FAMILY, 1348 01:19:55,061 --> 01:19:56,262 AND BRENT DENNIS TO DISCUSS A POSSIBLE PLEA DEAL 1349 01:19:56,262 --> 01:19:58,898 >> IT WAS LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A COMEDY 1350 01:19:58,898 --> 01:20:02,068 WE'D GO IN AND WE'D SIT DOWN AND THEY WOULD THROW SOMETHING 1351 01:20:02,068 --> 01:20:04,704 ON THE TABLE IT WAS LIKE WE WERE, KIND OF, 1352 01:20:04,704 --> 01:20:06,806 AUCTIONING SUSAN'S LIFE OFF. >> YEAH. 1353 01:20:06,806 --> 01:20:08,375 WHAT WE WOULD ACCEPT >> WHAT WOULD WE ACCEPT FOR 1354 01:20:08,375 --> 01:20:13,113 SUSAN'S LIFE >> Reporter: ULTIMATELY, THE 1355 01:20:13,113 --> 01:20:17,317 DEAL WAS THIS, INSTEAD OF FACING A JURY, BRENT DENNIS TOOK AN 1356 01:20:17,317 --> 01:20:24,190 ALFORD PLEA TO MANSLAUGHTER. OFFICIALLY IT'S A GUILTY PLEA, 1357 01:20:24,190 --> 01:20:25,291 BUT IT DOESN'T REQUIRE THE ACCUSED TO ADMIT TO ACTUALLY 1358 01:20:25,291 --> 01:20:26,359 COMMITTING THE CRIME HOW'D YOU FEEL ABOUT THE ALFORD 1359 01:20:26,359 --> 01:20:32,032 PLEA >> I NEVER HEARD OF IT 1360 01:20:32,032 --> 01:20:38,405 IT WAS A SLAP IN THE FACE. >> HE DIDN'T HAVE TO ADMIT 1361 01:20:38,405 --> 01:20:39,506 ANYTHING IT LEFT A VERY BITTER TASTE IN 1362 01:20:39,506 --> 01:20:45,745 MY MOUTH AFTER THE SEVEN YEARS >> THE TWO BIGGEST VICTIMS IN 1363 01:20:45,745 --> 01:20:49,983 THIS CASE, OTHER THAN SUSAN, WERE ALLE AND DANI 1364 01:20:49,983 --> 01:20:50,984 I KNEW THAT A TRIAL WAS GONNA BE VICIOUS FOR THEM 1365 01:20:50,984 --> 01:20:52,185 THE ONLY THING THAT WAS GOING TO HELP, IS IF WE RESOLVED THE 1366 01:20:52,185 --> 01:20:54,421 CASE >> Reporter: SENTENCING CAME IN 1367 01:20:54,421 --> 01:20:57,924 MAY OF THIS YEAR DANNY, AVIS, CHRIS, AND JULIE 1368 01:20:57,924 --> 01:21:01,061 SAT ON ONE SIDE OF THE COURTROOM, ALLE AND DANI ON THE 1369 01:21:01,061 --> 01:21:03,630 OTHER. THEIR DAD'S DEFENSE ATTORNEY 1370 01:21:03,630 --> 01:21:06,866 SPOKE FOR THEM >> WE DECIDED AS A FAMILY TO 1371 01:21:06,866 --> 01:21:09,536 TAKE THIS PATH FOR THE SOLE REASON THAT IT IS TIME FOR US AS 1372 01:21:09,536 --> 01:21:13,773 A FAMILY TO PUT THIS BEHIND US AND NOT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE FOR A 1373 01:21:13,773 --> 01:21:14,808 SECOND THAT HE HAD ANY INVOLVEMENT IN OUR MOTHER'S 1374 01:21:14,808 --> 01:21:30,090 DEATH. >> Reporter: THE JUDGE SENTENCED 1375 01:21:30,090 --> 01:21:31,558 BRENT DENNIS TO A PRISON TERM OF THREE TO TEN YEARS 1376 01:21:31,558 --> 01:21:38,131 OFFICIALLY A WIN FOR THE WINTERS FAMILY, BUT IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE 1377 01:21:38,131 --> 01:21:38,531 ONE. 1378 01:21:38,531 --> 01:21:39,566 FOR DANNY, PRISON IS TOO GOOD FOR BRENT DENNIS 1379 01:21:39,566 --> 01:21:41,735 >> FOR ME TO THINK ABOUT MY DAUGHTER LAYING THERE GOING 1380 01:21:41,735 --> 01:21:44,304 THROUGH THAT WITH THE ANTIFREEZE, THE OXYCODONE, AND 1381 01:21:44,304 --> 01:21:45,505 WHAT EVERYTHING ELSE HE PUT IN HER BODY, THERE OUGHT TO BE A 1382 01:21:45,505 --> 01:21:49,676 SPECIAL PLACE IN HELL FOR HIM. AND I HOPE HE GOES THERE 1383 01:21:49,676 --> 01:21:50,710 AND IF YOU NEED TO CUT THAT OUT, CUT IT OUT, BUT -- 1384 01:21:50,710 --> 01:21:51,811 >> Reporter: ACTUALLY, I'M PRETTY SURE WE'RE GONNA USE 1385 01:21:51,811 --> 01:21:58,551 THAT >> OKAY. 1386 01:21:58,551 --> 01:21:59,786 >> Reporter: THE SENTENCING WAS THE FIRST TIME IN SEVEN YEARS 1387 01:21:59,786 --> 01:22:05,892 THAT DANNY AND AVIS WERE IN THE SAME ROOM WITH THE 1388 01:22:05,892 --> 01:22:07,227 GRANDDAUGHTERS THEY ADORE AND WITH WHOM THEY NOW HAVE NO 1389 01:22:07,227 --> 01:22:10,663 CONTACT AT ALL >> DANNY HAS TOLD ME MANY TIMES 1390 01:22:10,663 --> 01:22:13,933 WHEN I AM DEPRESSED ABOUT NOT GETTING TO SEE THEM ANYMORE, HE 1391 01:22:13,933 --> 01:22:15,101 SAYS, "AVIS, WE HAD THE BEST TIME WITH THEM WHEN THEY WERE 1392 01:22:15,101 --> 01:22:16,503 GROWING UP." >> Reporter: DO THE TWO OF YOU 1393 01:22:16,503 --> 01:22:18,905 THINK THERE'S GONNA BE A DAY WHEN YOU WILL HAVE THAT 1394 01:22:18,905 --> 01:22:23,810 RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR GRANDDAUGHTERS THE WAY YOU USED 1395 01:22:23,810 --> 01:22:30,650 TO >> I PRAY FOR THAT EVERYDAY. 1396 01:22:30,650 --> 01:22:31,818 AND I BELIEVE IT CAN HAPPEN. BUT THE TIME IS DRAWING SHORT 1397 01:22:31,818 --> 01:22:34,888 FOR US >> Reporter: ANYTHING YOU WANNA 1398 01:22:34,888 --> 01:22:40,694 SAY TO THEM? >> ALLE AND DANI, WE LOVE YOU. 1399 01:22:40,694 --> 01:22:42,262 >> Reporter: DATELINE REQUESTED INTERVIEWS WITH BRENT DENNIS, 1400 01:22:42,262 --> 01:22:46,499 WITH HIS DAUGHTERS, AND HIS ATTORNEYS, AS WELL AS THE 1401 01:22:46,499 --> 01:22:53,840 HENDERSON POLICE DEPARTMENT. THEY ALL DECLINED. 1402 01:22:53,840 --> 01:22:55,742 ALL THAT'S LEFT FOR THE WINTERS NOW ARE THE REMINDERS OF A 1403 01:22:55,742 --> 01:23:01,214 BEAUTIFUL LIFE TAKEN TOO SOON, SUSAN'S CHILDHOOD SCRAPBOOK. 1404 01:23:01,214 --> 01:23:10,156 >> SHE WANTED TO SAVE ALL THE THINGS THAT WENT ON. 1405 01:23:10,156 --> 01:23:17,063 EVERY PLACE WE WENT, SHE WOULD FIND A SOUVENIR T-SHIRT AND KEEP 1406 01:23:17,063 --> 01:23:18,164 IT >> Reporter: A QUILT OF SUSAN'S 1407 01:23:18,164 --> 01:23:22,302 SHIRTS MEMORIES OF THE DAUGHTER THEY 1408 01:23:22,302 --> 01:23:25,972 LOVED AND STILL LONG FOR >> Reporter: WHAT DO YOU MISS 1409 01:23:25,972 --> 01:23:31,244 MOST ABOUT HER >> HER LAUGHTER, HER WIT, HER -- 1410 01:23:31,244 --> 01:23:32,479 I STILL WANT MY DAUGHTER BACK. >> THERE'S NOT ONE THING I DON'T 1411 01:23:32,479 --> 01:23:39,652 MISS ABOUT HER >> I JUST MISS HER SPIRIT. 1412 01:23:39,652 --> 01:23:44,724 NOTHING WAS EVER TOO BIG FOR HER. 1413 01:23:44,724 --> 01:23:45,992 >>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF "DATELINE." 1414 01:23:45,992 --> 01:23:51,831 WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY AT 9:00/8:00 CENTRAL, AND, OF 1415 01:23:51,831 --> 01:23:54,167 COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR NBC NIGHTLY NEWS 1416 01:23:54,167 --> 01:23:55,101 I'M LESTER HOLT. FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS, 1417 01:23:55,101 --> 01:23:55,301 FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS, GOODNIGHT.