>>> TONIGHT ON "DATELINE" --
>> I WANT MY HUSBAND >> HE DIDN'T MAKE IT, HONEY.
>> NO, NO. >> THE CALL CAME OUT ABOUT A
POSSIBLE HOME INVASION AND HOMICIDE
>> MY DAD NEVER MADE IT TO THE HOSPITAL
>> THE WIFE WAS ALIVE. SHE DESCRIBED A VERY VIOLENT
ASSAULT. >> HE TIED ME UP AND HIT ME.
>> A MASKED INTRUDER KILLED HER HUSBAND AND ROBBED THEM.
>> I COULD FEEL THE BLOOD DRIPPING DOWN MY FACE.
>> THIS IS A TERRIBLE THING THIS WOMAN HAS BEEN THROUGH
>> YES, SIR. >> SLOWLY THE STORY UNRAVELED.
>> WHAT I DID WAS A HORRIBLE THING.
>> I'M THINKING, "HOW SICK IS THIS?"
>> I REACHED THE PLACE WHERE I ASKED THE DEVIL TO HELP ME
>> Reporter: OBSESSION AND MANIPULATION
>> CORRECT THE DEPTH THAT THEY WENT TO AND
THE PLOT TWISTS. >> THE LAST THING I THOUGHT I
WOULD EVER HEAR. >> I DON'T KNOW OF ANYONE THAT
KNEW THAT IT WAS GOING TO END THIS WAY
>> GET READY FOR THE TWISTED TALE OF AN ANGEL, A DEVIL, AND
EVIL RIGHT OUT OF THE BIBLE. I'M LESTER HOLT, AND THIS IS
"DATELINE. HERE'S DENNIS MURPHY WITH
"RIGHTEOUS OBSESSION." >> Reporter: IT SHOULDN'T HAVE
HAPPENED HERE, NOT IN THIS TIDY, MANICURED SUBDIVISION THAT JUST
SEEMS TO CRY OUT, "IT'S A SAFE PLACE.
>> IT WAS SUCH A SHOCK >> I REMEMBER INSTANTLY
LOSING -- LIKE, JUST CRYING. >> Reporter: NO ONE HERE IN
ELIZABETH CITY, A SLEEPY NORTH CAROLINA WATERFRONT
COMMUNITY, COULD IMAGINE THAT THIS BELOVED LOCAL BUSINESSMAN
AND HIS WIFE COULD FIGURE IN SUCH A TRULY DARK TALE OF LUST,
OBSESSION, AND MANIPULATION. >> OH, THE TOWN WILL REMEMBER IT
FOREVER. >> SHE'S TELLING HIM, "IT'S ALL
IN YOUR HEAD YOU'RE JUST VERY JEALOUS."
>> Reporter: THERE WERE SHIFTING STORIES, LIES PILED UPON LIES,
AND AN ACT OF BIBLICAL BETRAYAL THAT ENDED IN MURDER
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE A LIFETIME MOVIE.
THAT WAS MY EXACT WORDS. >> THE WHOLE STORY WAS CRAZY TO
ME IT WAS SURREAL
>> Reporter: ONLY WHEN SECRETS CRAWLED OUT INTO THE DAYLIGHT
WAS THE FULL SCALE OF THE HORROR KNOWN.
>> I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD ASK, "HOW DID YOU KILL HIM?
>> THE LAST TIME THAT I SAW DAD AND ANGEL, THEY CAME TO RALEIGH
AND HELPED ME MOVE INTO A NEW HOUSE.
>> Reporter: IN THE SUMMER OF 2018, CALEB SAWYER WAS A
20-YEAR-OLD ENGINEERING STUDENT WHEN HIS DAD MILTON AND STEP-MOM
ANGEL DROVE THE 2 1/2 HOURS FROM THE FAMILY HOME IN ELIZABETH
CITY TO HELP WITH HIS MOVE HOW DID THINGS SEEM BETWEEN
THEM >> THINGS SEEMED VERY GOOD VERY,
GIGGLY, HAPPY, LIKE, JUST LIKE A COUPLE THAT JUST GOT TOGETHER
ALMOST >> Reporter: THREE DAYS AFTER
CALEB SAID GOOD-BYE, THAT GIDDY JOY HE REMEMBERS SENSING WAS
EXTINGUISHED MOST PEOPLE WERE SOUND ASLEEP IN
ELIZABETH CITY AT AROUND 2:00 A.M. ON THAT SULTRY AUGUST
NIGHT WHEN ANGEL, BLEEDING FROM A HEAD WOUND, RACED TO GET HELP
FROM HER NEIGHBOR KARL, WHO CALLED 911
>> 911, LOCATE YOUR EMERGENCY. >> MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR JUST
CAME AND KNOCKED ON MY DOOR. WHEN I WENT TO THE DOOR, SHE WAS
CRYING AND SHE SAID SHE THINKS HER HUSBAND IS DEAD.
>> Reporter: HER STORY WAS GHASTLY.
NOT LONG AFTER MIDNIGHT, A MASKED MAN DRESSED ALL IN BLACK
HAD SLIPPED INTO MILTON AND ANGEL'S HOME AND ATTACKED THEM
BOTH ANGEL, HER VOICE AUDIBLE IN THE
BACKGROUND OF THE 911 CALL, DESCRIBED BEING BRUTALLY PISTOL
WHIPPED. >> HE TIED ME UP AND HIT ME, AND
I JUST WOKE UP >> SHE SAYS THE GUY BROKE INTO
THE HOUSE. HE HAS A GUN
SHE'S GOT BLOOD ON HER FACE WHERE HE HIT HER WITH A GUN.
>> Reporter: IN THAT CALL FOR HELP, ANGEL SOBBED AS SHE
RELAYED DETAILS OF THE BARBAROUS ASSAULT.
>> HE ROBBED HER HOUSE, TOOK ALL HER MONEY.
>> Reporter: ANGEL SAID SHE FEARED THE WORST FOR HER
HUSBAND. >> SHE CAN'T GET HIM TO WAKE UP
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. >> NEED YOU TO RESPOND -- DARIAN
DRIVE. POSSIBLE HOMICIDE.
>> ABOUT 2:00 THE MORNING, A CALL CAME OUT ABOUT A POSSIBLE
HOME INVASION AND HOMICIDE >> Reporter: JUST A COUPLE OF
MILES AWAY, SERGEANT JASON WHEELBARGER, THEN A PATROL
DEPUTY, JUMPED INTO HIS VEHICLE AND RACED TO THE SUBDIVISION
SO YOU'RE RUNNING HOT TO THIS LOCATION
>> YES, SIR. >> Reporter: FIRST HE TALKED TO
THE NEIGHBOR WHO'D MADE THE 911 CALL
>> I ASKED HIM IF HE WAS OKAY, WHICH HE REPLIES TO ME, "I'M
FINE, BUT YOU NEED TO TALK TO HER.
I TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND THAT'S WHERE I SAW ANGEL SAWYER
>> Reporter: KNEW HER BY SIGHT >> CORRECT
I KNEW MILTON, AND I KNEW ANGEL WAS HIS WIFE
>> Reporter: IN FACT, THE DEPUTY HAD SEEN ANGEL HAVING DINNER
WITH MILTON AT A LOCAL ITALIAN RESTAURANT JUST A FEW HOURS
BEFORE DID YOU SEE THE BLOOD ON HER
>> YES, SHE HAD BLOOD. I BELIEVE IT WAS ON HER RIGHT
TEMPLE, COMING DOWN. SHE WAS OBVIOUSLY UPSET, HAD
BEEN CRYING, RED FACE, RED EYES. I REMEMBER SHE HAD THE DUCT TAPE
ON HER LEFT WRIST. I SAID, "ANGEL, WHERE'S MILTON?"
AND SHE LOOKS UP TO ME AND SHE SAID, "HE'S ON THE FLOOR OF THE
BATHROOM." >> Reporter: FIRE RESCUE WAS ON
ITS WAY AND WOULD TRANSPORT A VERY SHAKY ANGEL TO THE ER
MEANWHILE, MORE DEPUTIES ARRIVED.
AS FAR THEY WERE CONCERNED, ANGEL'S HOME WAS AN ACTIVE CRIME
SCENE. >> EITHER MILTON WAS IN DISTRESS
AND NEEDED HELP, OR THERE COULD BE A SUSPECT IN THIS HOUSE
>> Reporter: SO YOU'RE GETTING YOUR SIDEARMS AVAILABLE AND
YOU'RE STEPPING CAUTIOUSLY >> CORRECT
>> Reporter: YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING INTO?
>> CORRECT >> Reporter: WITH NO SIGN OF
FORCED ENTRY, THE DEPUTIES ENTERED THROUGH THE UNLOCKED
BACK DOOR, GUNS DRAWN, TO CLEAR THE HOUSE.
>> WE OPENED UP THE DOOR AND WE ANNOUNCED "SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
ANYBODY IN HERE, COME OUT. >> CLEAR THE HOUSE
>> Reporter: THE DEPUTY MADE HIS WAY INTO THE BEDROOM, HYPER
VIGILANT >> THE BEDROOM WAS COMPLETE
DISARRAY >> Reporter: TRASHED
>> JUST TRASHED, DRAWERS OUT, JEWELRY EVERYWHERE
YOU COULD BARELY FIND A SPOT ON THE CARPET TO WALK ON WITHOUT
STEPPING ON SOMETHING. IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS WHERE AN
ASSAULT OR SOMETHING WOULD HAVE HAPPENED
>> Reporter: THEN HE LOOKED TOWARD THE ADJACENT BATHROOM
>> AND I CAN SEE SOMEBODY'S LEGS LAYING ON THE FLOOR.
THAT'S WHERE I FOUND MILTON WAS LAYING FACE DOWN ON THE FLOOR OF
THE BATHROOM >> Reporter: MILTON, ABOUT
6 FOOT TALL AND 220 POUNDS, WAS MOTIONLESS
DO YOU KNOW IF HE'S GONE >> HE WAS LAYING WITH HIS HANDS
BEHIND HIS BACK, DUCT TAPED, WHICH WAS SIMILAR TO THE DUCT
TAPE I HAD JUST SEEN ON ANGEL. SO I GO UP, AND I CHECK MILTON'S
PULSE. HE'S COLD, STIFF
THERE'S -- I CANNOT FIND A PULSE ON HIM
AND INSIDE THE BATHROOM, THERE WAS, LIKE, A STAND NEXT TO THE
TOILET THAT HAD BEEN KNOCKED OVER
THERE WAS A DROP OF BLOOD NEXT TO THE TOILET.
A STRUGGLE HAD HAPPENED. >> Reporter: HERE'S A GUY YOU
KNEW, THIS GUY AROUND TOWN YOU'D SEEN HIM, WHAT, JUST A FEW
HOURS BEFORE >> YUP
>> Reporter: AND NOW HERE HE IS DEAD ON HIS BATHROOM FLOOR
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: AS MORE LAW
ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL DESCENDED ON THE HOUSE, MAJOR AARON WALLIO
TOOK CHARGE OF THE CRIME SCENE I GOT TO SAY IT'S A NICE TIDY
PLACE. PEOPLE HERE MUST HAVE BEEN
FREAKED OUT. >> IT IS NOT A NEIGHBORHOOD WE
RESPOND TO AT ALL. EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY IN
THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. SO WE'RE DEFINITELY WORKING ON
THE HOME INVASION. IT LOOKED LIKE A HOME INVASION
>> Reporter: MILTON SAWYER IS THAT A NAME KNOWN TO YOU?
>> YES, SIR, IT IS HE'S A NICE GUY.
EVERYBODY KNEW HIM >> Reporter: SO WHY MILTON, HE
WONDERED WHY MURDER
>>> WHEN WE COME BACK -- COULD MONEY BE A MOTIVE FOR
MILTON SAWYER'S MURDER >> SHE PROBABLY HAD $50,000 TO
$100,000 WORTH OF JEWELRY. >> INVESTIGATORS DIG IN.
FIRST CLUES AND FIRST QUESTIONS. >> THE FACT THAT MILTON APPEARED
TO HAVE BEEN STRANGLED WAS, IN MY EXPERIENCE, UNUSUAL FOR A
HOME INVASION GONE WRONG
EARLY HOURS OF AUGUST 2nd, 2018 WHEN MILTON'S SON CALEB,
TWO AND A HALF HOURS AWAY FROM HOME, WAS LEARNING SOMETHING BAD
HAD HAPPENED >> I GOT A KNOCK ON THE DOOR,
OPENED THE DOOR TO FIND MY DAD'S FRIEND
AND ALL HE TOLD ME WAS SOMETHING'S HAPPENED WITH YOUR
DAD, AND I NEED TO TAKE YOU HOME
>> Reporter: SO, THAT HAD TO BE A BAD DRIVE?
>> I TRIED TO STAY OPTIMISTIC. >> Reporter: CALEB'S DAD WAS
MORE THAN JUST DAD HE WAS ALSO A CLOSE FRIEND
AND WITH HIS LAID-BACK VIBE, EVERYONE IN ELIZABETH CITY
SEEMED TO KNOW AND LIKE MILTON SAWYER.
>> PEOPLE ALWAYS SAID HE SHOULD RUN FOR MAYOR.
>> Reporter: MILTON GREW UP IN ELIZABETH CITY, ON THE
PASQUOTANK RIVER, THE GATEWAY TO THE NORTH CAROLINA OUTER BANKS,
WHERE THE WRIGHT BROTHERS FIRST TOOK TO THE AIR.
HIS BROTHERS DAVID AND BILL SAW MILTON TAKE OFF HERE, TOO.
>> PERSONALITY, WHO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
>> BORDERLINE HAPPY-GO-LUCKY >> AND A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR
>> HE LOVED TO TELL STORIES, LOVED TO TELL JOKES.
AS HE GOT A LITTLE BIT OLDER, HE SORT OF CAME INTO HIS OWN,
REALIZED WHAT HIS STRENGTHS WERE
>> Reporter: WHICH WERE -- WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?
>> JUST VERY, VERY SMART HE DID WELL IN SCHOOL.
>> Reporter: AND HE WAS A HANDY BROTHER TO HAVE YOUR BACK.
>> I GOT MAYBE PICKED ON SOMEWHAT AND MILTON ALWAYS PUT
AN END TO THAT >> Reporter: WOULD YOU CALL HIM
A LEADER >> ABSOLUTELY, YEAH.
>> Reporter: MILTON WON THE PRESTIGIOUS DRUM MAJOR SPOT ON
THE MARCHING BAND IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND THAT'S WHERE HE ALSO
MET HIS FUTURE WIFE. WITH DEGREES IN MATH AND
COMPUTER SCIENCE HE GOT A JOB MANAGING DATA FOR ABOUT TWO
YEARS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
BUT THE DAILY GRIND WASN'T A GOOD FIT FOR SOMEONE AS
FREE-SPIRITED AS MILTON. NOPE
HE DID NOT WANT TO BE SITTING AT A DESK WITH A BOSS LOOKING OVER
HIS SHOULDER, HUH? >> HE JUST THOUGHT THAT HE COULD
MAKE SOMETHING BIGGER AND BETTER IF HE WENT AND DID HIS OWN
THING. >> Reporter: MILTON SET UP A
BUSINESS DEALING IN SPORTS MEMORABILIA.
HE GOT MARRIED, AND WHEN CALEB WAS BORN, HIS FATHER DOTED ON
HIM. >> GIVE MAMA A SUNSHINE SMILE.
AWE YEAH HERE'S A SUNSHINE BOY >> Reporter: AND THEN ALONG CAME
CALEB'S SISTER >> THIS IS CALLED "TICKLE
SECRETS BABY." SPONGE PAINT
>> SPONGE PAINT! >> Reporter: MILTON'S INFECTIOUS
JOY SPREAD THROUGHOUT HIS FAMILY, TO HIS NIECE DANIELLE.
>> HE WAS THE PERSON WHO WOULD LITERALLY GIVE YOU THE SHIRT OFF
HIS BACK IF IT WAS THE LAST THING HE OWNED
>> Reporter: AN AVID ANTIQUES ROAD SHOW VIEWER, MILTON
EVENTUALLY SET UP HIS OWN DOWNTOWN STORE ABOUT THREE MILES
FROM HIS HOME. A SHOP HE CALLED THE TREASURE
HUNTER, A JUMBLE OF FURNITURE, GOLD, JEWELRY AND KNICK-KNACKS
HE REFINED THE ART OF THE HAGGLE AT COUNTLESS YARD SALES.
AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING OUT WITH HIM ON SATURDAY AFTERNOONS,
LOOKING FOR STUFF, HUH >> PROBABLY FROM -- AS EARLY AS
I COULD WALK, FOLLOWING HIM, RIGHT BEHIND HIM
HE LOVED MAKING DEALS. >> Reporter: BUT MILTON ALWAYS
HAD A ROVING EYE FOR A PRETTY WOMAN AS HIS FAMILY REMEMBERS
IT HE BECAME RESTLESS IN HIS HOME
LIFE AND HAD AN AFFAIR THAT RESULTED IN ANOTHER DAUGHTER,
THREE KIDS NOW HIS MARRIAGE PETERED OUT, BUT HE
REMAINED ON GOOD TERMS WITH HIS EX- WIFE, FOR THE KIDS' SAKE
THEN IN 2011, WHILE MAKING FREQUENT SCHOOL RUNS, A NEW
WOMAN CAME INTO HIS LIFE ANGEL.
>> I REMEMBER DAD WAS VERY QUICK TO PROGRESS WITH ANGEL
>> Reporter: ANGEL, TEN YEARS YOUNGER THAN MILTON, WAS THE
DAUGHTER OF A PASTOR SHE WAS SEPARATED AND RAISING
FOUR CHILDREN OF HER OWN MILTON CONFIDED IN LONG-TIME
FRIEND AND LANDLORD SAM DAVIS ABOUT ANGEL.
>> HE WANTED TO TAKE CARE OF HER.
HE WANTED TO BE THE KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR.
SHE WAS AN ATTRACTIVE LADY >> Reporter: IN LATE 2011, ANGEL
GOT DIVORCED MORE THAN A YEAR LATER, SHE AND
MILTON GOT MARRIED AND LIFE IN THE SAWYER HOUSEHOLD BECAME
CHAOTICALLY BEAUTIFUL. OVER THE NEARLY SIX YEARS THAT
FOLLOWED, ANGEL STEPPED UP TO CHILD REARING DUTIES UNTIL ONE
BY ONE THE KIDS FLEW THE NEST. >> SHE DID DO A LOT FOR US, YOU
KNOW, WITH HAVING SEVEN KIDS SHE PRETTY MUCH RAN US AROUND
EVERYWHERE >> Reporter: AND MILTON, STILL
LIKE A TEENAGER IN LOVE, LAVISHED HER WITH GIFTS.
HE WENT OUT OF HIS WAY TO SEE THAT SHE HAD WHAT SHE WANTED
>> I'D SAY SHE PROBABLY HAD $50,000 TO $100,000 WORTH OF
JEWELRY. >> Reporter: ANGEL HELPED MILTON
ORGANIZE THE TREASURE HUNTER STORE, TOO
SHE WAS IN THE SHOP QUITE A BIT I THINK.
>> EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY. AND SHE WOULD STAY THERE WHEN HE
WENT OUT TO DO BUSINESS. I MEAN, SHE WAS THERE ALL THE
TIME >> Reporter: BUT AS 2018 ROLLED
ON, THE BUSINESS WASN'T DOING WELL
WHEN I LOOK AT THE PHOTOS OF THE OLD STORE, THE TREASURE HUNTER,
I SEE "WE BUY GOLD, ESTATE JEWELRY" WHICH KIND OF SEEMS
IT'S ON ITS WAY TO BEING A PAWN SHOP
>> YEAH, WELL THAT WAS LATER ON. >> HIS CLIENTELE WAS NOT THE
BEST ALL OF THE TIME SO THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE
THAT WERE WALKING IN AND OUT BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN I'D SEE
THOSE WADS OF MONEY, I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN ACCIDENT
WAITING TO HAPPEN. >> Reporter: IN JULY 2018,
DESPITE THEIR BUSINESS CHALLENGES, MILTON AND ANGEL
SEEMED AS HAPPY AS COULD BE. MILTON POSTED A MESSAGE ON
FACEBOOK THAT READ, "EVERY MAN DESERVES A REAL WOMAN THAT MAKES
YOU FORGET EVERY OTHER WOMAN ON THE PLANET
I FOUND MINE AND SHE IS ALL THAT AND MORE
I LOVE YOU MY ANGEL! A LITTLE OVER A WEEK LATER IT
WAS FINISHED 55-YEAR-OLD MILTON HAD BEEN
STRANGLED AND ASPHYXIATED, AS THE MEDICAL EXAMINER WOULD LATER
DETERMINE. THE INTRUDER HAD MADE OFF WITH
SOME OF ANGEL'S MOST VALUABLE JEWELRY, AND LEFT HER IN NEED OF
MEDICAL CARE >> SHE'D ALREADY BEEN
TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY EMS AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
>> Reporter: PASQUOTANK COUNTY INVESTIGATOR MAJOR AARON WALLIO
HAD ALREADY STARTED HIS INVESTIGATION.
AND IT WAS PERSONAL. HE TOO KNEW ANGEL AND MILTON
>> MY FATHER PASSED IN 2017. MILTON TOOK NUMEROUS TIMES TO
CHECK UP ON ME, MAKE SURE I WAS OKAY
THAT'S THE MILTON I KNOW, AND PROBABLY MOST PEOPLE WILL TELL
YOU HE'S A VERY GENUINE, VERY CARING PERSON.
>> Reporter: HE CALLED IN STATE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION SPECIAL
AGENT STEVE NORMAN, AND CRIME SCENE TECHNICIANS.
>> THERE WERE NO SHELL CASINGS, NO BLOOD POOLS
NOTHING THAT WOULD INDICATE THAT THERE WAS SOME SIGNIFICANT
TRAUMA THE FACT THAT MILTON APPEARED TO
HAVE BEEN STRANGLED WAS, IN MY EXPERIENCE, UNUSUAL FOR A HOME
INVASION GONE WRONG. >> Reporter: THE INVESTIGATORS
WERE RELYING ON ANGEL TO RECALL CRITICAL DETAILS, AND THEY WERE
ON THEIR WAY TO THE HOSPITAL TO TRY TO TALK WITH HER, WHILE THE
HORROR STORY WAS STILL FRESH IN HER MIND
>>> COMING UP -- >> I WANT MY HUSBAND
>> HE DIDN'T MAKE IT, HONEY. >> NO!
>> ANGEL RECOUNTS THAT DEADLY NIGHT.
>> I COULD JUST FEEL THE BLOOD DRIPPING DOWN MY FACE.
>> AND REVEALS FRESH CLUES >> SO THE SUN IS BARELY UP AND
YOU GET SOME INTERESTING LEADS, RIGHT?
>> YES, SIR. SO, IT'S GAME ON AT THIS POINT
>> Reporter: PASQUOTANK COUNTY INVESTIGATOR MAJOR AARON WALLIO
HAD ARRIVED AT THE HOSPITAL TO ASK ANGEL ABOUT THE HOME
INVASION, HOPING HER FRESH MEMORY WOULD YIELD VITAL CLUES
ABOUT HER HUSBAND'S MURDER >> SHE HAD A BUMP ON THE TOP
RIGHT SIDE OF HER FOREHEAD THAT HAD KIND OF BEEN CLEANED UP AT
THAT POINT IN TIME >> Reporter: ANGEL'S NECK WAS IN
A BRACE AND SHE NEEDED A CAT SCAN FOLLOWING THE BLOW TO HER
HEAD BUT SHE WAS ABLE TO TALK
IS SHE CALM AND COMPOSED >> INITIALLY, SHE'S CALM
PARTS OF THE INTERVIEW, SHE GETS WORKED UP.
AT THE END, IT GETS A LITTLE DICEY.
>> HE WAS RIGHT THERE AND SCARED THE [ BLEEP ] OUT OF ME.
>> Reporter: ANGEL TOOK THE DETECTIVE INSIDE THE SHEER
HORROR OF THE HOME INVASION. AT ABOUT HALF PAST MIDNIGHT, SHE
AND MILTON HAD THE HOUSE TO THEMSELVES BECAUSE THE TWO
DAUGHTERS STILL LIVING AT HOME WERE ON SLEEP-OVERS.
ANGEL SPECULATED MAYBE ONE OF THEM HAD ACCIDENTALLY LEFT THE
BACK DOOR OPEN SHE AND MILTON WERE IN BED,
BINGE-WATCHING "GAME OF THRONES" WHEN SHE GOT UP TO GET A SNACK,
AND PUSHED OPEN THE BEDROOM DOOR
>> I PUSHED IT AND HE HAD A GUN. HE WAS JUST SCREAMING, "GIVE ME
ALL YOUR EFFIN' MONEY. >> HE'S ASKING FOR THE JEWELRY
"WHERE'S THE GOOD STUFF AT YOU KNOW, WHERE IS IT AT
WHERE'S THE KEYS FOR THE BUSINESS?"
>> HE DID GET THE KEY? >> YEAH.
MILTON, HE GAVE HIM THE KEY WHEN HE ASKED HIM FOR IT.
THE GUY HAD THE GUN IN HIS FACE. >> Reporter: SHE SAID THE MASKED
INTRUDER TIED UP FIRST MILTON, THEN HER, IN THE BATHROOM.
THEN HE CONTINUED HIS FRENZIED ASSAULT AND ROBBERY, DRAGGING
ANGEL BACK INTO THE BEDROOM. >> AND THEN HE GRABBED ME BY THE
HAIR REAL HARD AND THREW ME INTO OUR ROOM
>> Reporter: WHILE ANGEL SAID SHE WAS ON THE BEDROOM FLOOR,
OMINOUSLY, SHE HEARD A SCUFFLE IN THE BATHROOM, WHERE MILTON
WAS. >> AND THEN I COULDN'T HEAR
ANYTHING ANYMORE >> Reporter: SHE SAID SHE TRIED
TO GRAB MILTON'S PHONE ON THE FLOOR.
BUT BIG MISTAKE. THE INTRUDER CAUGHT HER.
>> HE SMASHED THE PHONE. HIT ME REALLY HARD AND I COULD
JUST FEEL THE BLOOD DRIPPING DOWN MY FACE
>> Reporter: WHEN THE MASKED ASSAILANT TOOK OFF, SHE SAID SHE
TENDED TO HER HUSBAND, JUST HELPLESS
>> AND I COULDN'T GET MILTON TO WAKE UP.
I COULDN'T ROLL HIM OVER BECAUSE HE WAS TOO BIG AND HEAVY
>> SHE DOES GET EMOTIONAL, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE STORY
>> Reporter: SHE'D WANTED TO CALL FOR HELP, SHE SAID, BUT HER
OWN PHONE WAS LOCKED IN HER CAR. THE KEY ON THE SAME KEYCHAIN
MILTON HAD GIVEN TO THE INTRUDER
THE ONLY OPTION SHE SAW WAS TO RUN TO NEIGHBORS FOR HELP.
FIRST, SHE TRIED THE SHERIFF, WHO LIVED ONLY A FEW DOORS DOWN.
HE WASN'T HOME THEN SHE TRIED SOME FRIENDS,
ALSO NOT HOME. AND FINALLY, HER NEXT-DOOR
NEIGHBOR KARL WHO DID ANSWER, AND CALLED 911
SHE'S TELLING YOU A STORY ABOUT THIS AWFUL ASSAULT, BEING
GRABBED BY THE HAIR AND THROWN AROUND
THIS VERY SCARY FIGURE DID YOU HAVE ANY EMPATHY FOR
HER? >> WELL, OBVIOUSLY
THESE ARE PEOPLE WE KNOW >> Reporter: ANGEL WAS SAFE NOW,
BUT INVESTIGATORS WANTED TO KNOW WHO MIGHT HAVE DONE SUCH A
THING. >> IS THERE ANYBODY YOU CAN
THINK OF THAT MIGHT'VE WANTED TO -- OR ANYONE THAT LIVES NEAR
-- ANYTHING LATELY THAT STICKS OUT IN YOUR MIND
>> Reporter: SHE COULDN'T SAY FOR SURE
ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE PASSED THROUGH THE TREASURE HUNTER, SHE
SAID ONE HAD RECENTLY GOTTEN IN A
FIGHT WITH MILTON, ACCUSING HIM OF BUYING STOLEN PROPERTY.
YOU THOUGHT HE WAS AN UPRIGHT GUY IN GOOD STANDING IN THE
COMMUNITY? >> I THINK HE KNEW THE BUSINESS
HE WAS IN AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE HE DEALT WITH.
I THINK HE WAS AN UPRIGHT GUY. >> Reporter: ANGEL ALSO RECALLED
THAT MILTON HAD RECENTLY ADVERTISED A YARD SALE AT THEIR
HOME >> I ASKED HIM NOT TO PUT IT ON
FACEBOOK BECAUSE I WAS WORRIED I DIDN'T WANT ANYONE TO KNOW
WHERE WE LIVED BECAUSE OF MY KIDS
>> Reporter: WITH NO SOLID LEADS, THE INVESTIGATORS ASKED
ANGEL TO RETRACE HER STEPS IN THE HOURS BEFORE THE ATTACK.
>> IT WAS JUST AFTER SIX WE WENT TO TONY'S.
>> SHE EXPLAINS TO ME THAT THEY WENT OUT TO DINNER AT A LOCAL
RESTAURANT THAT NIGHT. >> Reporter: THAT WAS THE
ITALIAN RESTAURANT WHERE THE PATROL DEPUTY HAD SEEN HER WITH
MILTON FROM THERE, THEY WENT TO A
BARGAIN OUTLET >> WE WENT TO OLLIE'S TO GET
SOME STUFF FOR THE KIDS FOR SCHOOL
>> Reporter: ALONG THE WAY, MILTON HAD GOTTEN A CALL
FROM A GUY NAMED DILLON WHO WANTED TO SELL HIM A TV.
NEVER ONE TO TURN DOWN A DEAL, MILTON ARRANGED TO MEET DILLON
IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE NEARBY FAST FOOD RESTAURANT
>> THEY MET HIM AND BOUGHT HIS TV
>> Reporter: SO, THAT'S KIND OF INTERESTING.
>> IT IS >> Reporter: ANGEL SAID SHE TOLD
MILTON SHE WAS LEERY BUT DILLON WAS A REGULAR
CUSTOMER OF MILTON'S AND NOW THE TV WAS IN MILTON'S
PICKUP TRUCK- AS HE AND ANGEL DROVE HOME
>> WE GOT IN A FIGHT THE WHOLE WAY BACK, AND I TOLD HIM LIKE "I
DON'T KNOW WHY YOU BUY THIS [ BLEEP ] OFF PEOPLE
HOW DO I KNOW THESE PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO FOLLOW US BACK
TO OUR HOUSE?" >> SHE DIDN'T THINK THAT HE
SHOULD BE DOING THAT STUFF LIKE OUTSIDE OF THE STORE
>> Reporter: DEALING WITH SKETCHY CHARACTERS
>> YEAH. AND THAT THEY ARGUED AND SHE HAD
LEFT HER PURSE AND HER PHONE IN THE TRUCK, AND KIND OF STORMED
INTO THE HOUSE >> Reporter: AS ANGEL WAS TAKEN
FOR HER CT SCAN, HER NECK BRACE WAS PINCHING
SHE MADE A LAST PLEA FOR HER MILTON, AND WAS FORCED TO ACCEPT
HER HUSBAND REALLY WAS GONE. >> I WANT MY HUSBAND
>> HE DIDN'T MAKE IT, HONEY. >> NO!
>> I'M SORRY >> NO, NO, NO, NO!
OH NO! OH NO, NO!
NO >> Reporter: AS EMOTIONAL AS SHE
WAS, ANGEL HAD PROVIDED VALUABLE INFORMATION FOR THE
INVESTIGATION. SO, THE SUN IS BARELY UP AND YOU
GET SOME INTERESTING LEADS, RIGHT?
>> YES, SIR. SO, IT'S GAME ON AT THIS POINT
>> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS WERE DETERMINED TO FIND OUT WHO HAD
TORN THIS FAMILY APART THEY WANTED TO QUESTION THAT GUY
NAMED DILLON WHAT DID HE KNOW
>>> COMING UP -- >> OKAY, SO TELL ME ABOUT
MILTON >> I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
MILTON >> WE KNEW HE HAD A CRIMINAL
HISTORY. WE KNEW HE HAD COMMITTED A
COUPLE OF ROBBERIES IN THE PAST. >> NOW YOU KNOW, YOU'VE DONE
* (MÚSICA) *ES TIME AS ANGEL WAS GETTING
TREATED AT THE HOSPITAL, MILTON'S FAMILY WAS LEARNING THE
IMPOSSIBLE NEWS OF HIS DEATH CALEB WAS ON HIS WAY BACK TO
ELIZABETH CITY WHEN HE GOT A CALL FROM HIS SISTER
>> MY SISTER ENDED UP HAVING TO TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED,
WHICH WAS REALLY TOUGH ON BOTH OF US.
>> Reporter: CALEB, YOU'RE GRIEVING
THIS UNIMAGINABLE THING HAS HAPPENED
TELL ME ABOUT THAT >> WE NEVER REALLY THOUGHT
SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU SEE ON TV
>> Reporter: MILTON'S NIECE, DANIELLE, HAD BEEN FAST ASLEEP
>> AND WOKE UP TO MY PARENTS BANGING ON MY DOOR
AND ALL I SEE IS MY DAD. AND HE'S CRYING.
AND MY DAD DOESN'T CRY AND THEN I SEE MY MOM.
AND MY MOM IS HYSTERICAL AND MY DAD IS LIKE, "SIT DOWN, I
NEED TO TELL YOU SOMETHING YOUR UNCLE MILTON'S BEEN
KILLED." I REMEMBER -- I REMEMBER
INSTANTLY LOSING -- LIKE JUST CRYING
>> Reporter: WERE YOU AWARE AT THAT POINT, THAT ANGEL HAD ALSO
GONE TO THE HOSPITAL WITH THE HEAD INJURIES?
>> NOT AT THAT POINT >> Reporter: MILTON'S BROTHER,
DAVID, WOKE UP TO MISSED CALLS AND PHONED HIS SISTER.
>> AND WHEN SHE SAID MILTON HAS BEEN MURDERED, I HAD TO ASK HER
TO REPEAT IT THREE OR FOUR TIMES BEFORE IT REGISTERED WITH ME
I COULD NOT EVEN BEGIN TO GRASP THE CONCEPT THAT MY BROTHER WAS
GONE >> Reporter: BILL, HOW ABOUT
YOU? HOW DO YOU LEARN
>> KIND OF THE SAME DEAL AND YOU HEAR IT, BUT YOUR BRAIN
JUST DOES NOT PROCESS IT IT WAS SUCH A SHOCK.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHEN EMOTIONS HIT ME, AND I STARTED
GRIEVING >> YOU GET YOUR GRIEF YOU GET TO
DEAL WITH, BUT IT'S ALSO AN INVESTIGATION.
>> RIGHT >> YEAH.
MY THINKING WAS THAT MAYBE ONE
OF THESE SKETCHY PEOPLE THAT USED TO COME IN HIS STORE
FOLLOWED HIM HOME, THOUGHT THEY HAD CASH IN THE HOUSE.
>> IT MADE SENSE >> Reporter: RIGHT THERE ON THE
WINDOWS DOWNTOWN, GOLD, MONEY, JEWELRY.
>> RIGHT EXACTLY.
>> Reporter: THAT WAS THE SAME THEORY PUT FORWARD BY ANGEL.
AND AS THE SUN CAME UP, INVESTIGATORS WERE IN SYNC WITH
MILTON'S FAMILY. THEY WERE ON IT.
SO, BY THE TIME YOU HAD YOUR FIRST COFFEE, WHAT DID YOU HAVE
AT THAT POINT? >> WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT THIS
FIRST INDIVIDUAL WHO SOLD THE TV
>> Reporter: THE GUY WHO'D SOLD MILTON A TV A FEW HOURS EARLIER
WAS NAMED DILLON HOSTUTLER >> WE KNEW HE HAD A CRIMINAL
HISTORY. WE KNEW HE HAD COMMITTED A
COUPLE OF ROBBERIES IN THE PAST. >> Reporter: SO HE'S LOOKING
GOOD FIND THIS INDIVIDUAL, BRACE HIM,
AND GET THE STORY. >> AND THAT'S KIND OF THE
MINDSET, EXACTLY HE JUST SOLD HIM A TV LIKE MAYBE
A MILE FROM MILTON'S HOUSE SO IT WAS VERY EASY THAT THIS
GUY COULD HAVE FOLLOWED HIM HOME, YOU KNOW, FIGURED OUT
WHERE THEY LIVED AT, AND THEN THIS ROBBERY ENSUED.
>> Reporter: IT'S RIGHT ON THE TIMELINE
>> YES, SIR. WE'RE LIKE ALL OVER THIS LEAD.
>> Reporter: SO, WHEN DO YOU ACTUALLY ENCOUNTER THE
INDIVIDUAL >> IT TAKES AWHILE
HE WAS NOT FRIENDLY TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
HE WASN'T COMING IN VOLUNTARILY. ULTIMATELY, HE WAS ARRESTED FOR
POSSESSION OF DRUGS. WE GOT HIM IN OUR CUSTODY THAT
WAY. >> Reporter: THE INVESTIGATORS
WHO INTERVIEWED DILLON GOT RIGHT TO THE POINT
>> OKAY, SO TELL ME ABOUT MILTON
>> I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MILTON
>> Reporter: DILLON'S STORY WAS THAT HE AND HIS GIRLFRIEND SOLD
A TV TO MILTON AT AROUND 8:30 P.M. THE PREVIOUS EVENING
AND THEN WENT TO THEIR SEPARATE HOMES.
THE OFFICERS WERE HAVING NONE OF IT
>> NOW YOU KNOW YOU'VE DONE SOME ROBBERIES.
DID YOU DO THIS? >> NO.
>> Reporter: BUT UNDER QUESTIONING, DILLON CHANGED HIS
STORY. TURNED OUT HE DIDN'T GO STRAIGHT
HOME AFTER HE SOLD MILTON THE TV, HE
CONFESSED HE AND HIS GIRLFRIEND WENT TO BUY DRUGS FROM A DEALER,
THEN WENT TO HIS HOME. >> SO YOU USED DOPE LAST NIGHT
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: THEN, HE SAID, HIS
GIRLFRIEND WENT BACK TO HER PLACE, AND HE CALLED HER AT
AROUND 4:00 A.M. >> MY EYE WAS KILLING ME, THAT'S
WHY I WOKE UP. >> WHAT HAPPENED TO IT
IT WAS A STYE. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S BLACK DOWN
HERE >> IT LOOKS LIKE A G -- BLACK
EYE, DON'T IT? I DON'T KNOW
THAT'S WHAT IT WAS IT'S JUST A STYE
>> SO YOU DON'T HAVE A BLACK EYE?
>> NO. >> NOBODY PUNCHED YOU?
>> NO. >> Reporter: DILLON SAID HE AND
MILTON WERE FRIENDS, THAT MILTON WAS GOOD TO HIM, AND THAT HE HAD
NO REASON TO HURT HIM. BUT HIS STORY SEEMED TO BE IN
PIECES IT WASN'T JUST THE BLACK EYE
THERE WAS A BLACK HOLE IN HIS ALIBI COINCIDING WITH THE TIME
OF THE MURDER. >> YOU'RE LEAVING THE PART OUT
FROM 12:00 TILL 4:00 IN THE MORNING.
>> DUDE, I WAS AT HOME ALL NIGHT LAST NIGHT
>> HOW MANY TIMES DID WE SAY THAT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TELL
THE TRUTH. THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU DID A
ROBBERY, DIDN'T WE KIND OF GO THROUGH THE SAME THING
>> YEAH. >> WHERE YOU LEAVE THE PART OUT
WHERE DILLON MESSES UP, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING RIGHT
NOW. >> NO, I'M NOT
>> Reporter: THEY LEFT DILLON TO STEW IN THE INTERVIEW ROOM, THEN
CAME BACK AT HIM HARDER. >> MY PROBLEM IS WITH YOU, THAT
WHEN YOU SIT HERE, YOU ALWAYS TRY TO OUTSMART US, AND YOU
TRY -- YOU TRY TO PRETEND LIKE YOU'RE COOPERATING, AND YOU'RE
REALLY NOT SO ARE YOU DOING THAT NOW?
>> NO, I'M NOT >> Reporter: DILLON UNDERSTANDS
HE WAS ABOUT TO BE CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF DRUGS AND TRIED TO
WRIGGLE HIS WAY OUT OF BEING ARRESTED
>> I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF A MURDER INVESTIGATION.
SO HELPING YOU GET OUT OF A LITTLE COCAINE CHARGE IS THE
LEAST OF MY WORRIES. IF YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT
MILTON, I NEED TO SPEND MY TIME ON TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO
KILLED HIM >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Reporter: ALL THE WHILE, INVESTIGATORS WALLIO AND NORMAN
HAD BEEN WATCHING THE INTERVIEW. SAFE TO SAY, YOU THOUGHT DILLON
WAS A PRETTY GOOD LEAD >> YES, SIR.
>> Reporter: LET'S FIND OUT EVERYTHING YOU CAN ABOUT THIS
GUY, HUH >> YES, SIR.
>> Reporter: DILLON'S SLIPPERY STORY WAS HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS,
AND, SO, THEY COLLECTED HIS DNA. BUT THEY ALSO WANTED TO TAKE A
CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT MILTON'S FAMILY WAS DOING THAT NIGHT.
>>> COMING UP -- >> WE WOULD LITERALLY MAKE LOVE
EVERY MORNING AND EVERY NIGHT. >> ANGEL GETS VERY PERSONAL.
A PASSIONATE HUSBAND, AND A PROTECTIVE ONE
>> HE WAS ALWAYS VERY JEALOUS. >> THERE WAS A COUPLE
CONFRONTATIONS WHERE YOU KNOW, "STAY AWAY FROM MY WIFE.
>> Reporter: THAT'S SOMETHING TO >> Reporter: THE DAY AFTER
MILTON SAWYER WAS MURDERED, INVESTIGATORS WERE CHASING DOWN
DILLON HOSTUTLER'S SUSPICIOUS "I DIDN'T MURDER MILTON 'CAUSE I
WAS HOME GETTING" HIGH STORY AS THE TEAM CHECKED OUT HIS
ALIBI, CRIME SCENE TECHS WERE RUNNING THE FORENSICS THEY'D
GATHERED AT THE SCENE. DID THEY GET LUCKY
YOU KNOW, THE BLOODY HANDPRINT, THE FOOTPRINT IN THE MUD
>> NOT IN THIS CASE, NO. THERE WERE SEVERAL ITEMS
COLLECTED, BUT NONE WERE OF ANY VALUE.
>> Reporter: THE PERPETRATOR CLEANED UP AFTER HIMSELF AND DID
PRETTY GOOD JOB, HUH >> YES, AND THERE WAS A
PILLOWCASE THAT HAD BEEN USED TO WIPE UP SOME THINGS.
>> Reporter: BY NOW THE INVESTIGATORS HAD BEEN JOINED BY
ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY KIM PELLINI.
>> THE INVESTIGATORS MET ME IN MY OFFICE TO JUST GIVE ME A REAL
QUICK BRIEFING ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.
>> Reporter: SHE LIKED TO BE OUT IN FRONT ON THE BIG CASES.
>> THEY RELAYED THAT THE WIFE WAS ALIVE, THAT A MASKED
INTRUDER CAME IN AND KILLED HER HUSBAND AND ROBBED THEM.
>> Reporter: THE INVESTIGATORS TOLD MILTON'S FAMILY THEY WERE
FOLLOWING EVERY LEAD DID THEY GIVE YOU THE SENSE THAT
WE KNOW STUFF, BUT WE CAN'T SHARE IT YET
>> THEY DEFINITELY DID THEY KIND OF SAID IT IN A WAY
THAT THERE -- THERE'S HOPE "DON'T WORRY, WE WILL GET THIS
FIGURED OUT FOR YOU. >> Reporter: ANGEL HERSELF WAS
HELPING DETECTIVES TOO AFTER HER HEAD WAS PATCHED UP,
SHE GOT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL, THEN TOOK THE INVESTIGATORS ON A
WALK-THOUGH OF THE TREASURE HUNTER STORE WHERE NOTHING
SEEMED TO BE MISSING BUT REMEMBER THE JEWELRY THE
KILLER HAD TAKEN DURING THE HOME INVASION
ANGEL SAID IT WAS POPPING UP ONLINE, EVIDENCE THAT WOULD HELP
SOLVE THE CRIME. >> SHE'D SEEN SOME OF HER
MISSING JEWELRY ON A FACEBOOK YARD SALE SITE OR ONE OF THESE
SALE SITES SO SHE SHOWED THE PICTURES
THEY HAD TO CONTACT THOSE FOLKS, FIND OUT WHERE THEY GOT THE
JEWELRY. >> Reporter: FOUR DAYS AFTER
MILTON'S MURDER, ANGEL WAS LIVING WITH FRIENDS AND
INVESTIGATORS INVITED HER IN TO SEE IF SHE COULD RECALL MORE
DETAILS. SHE ARRIVED SEEMING FRAGILE,
CLUTCHING A TEDDY BEAR AND A PHOTO OF HER LATE HUSBAND, ALL
THE WHILE SOBBING. >> HOW HAVE YOU BEEN COPING?
>> CAN'T EAT CAN'T DRINK.
CAN'T SLEEP. >> WE'RE BOTH SORRY FOR YOUR
LOSS >> I FEEL GUILTY ABOUT BEING
ALIVE. >> Reporter: THE INVESTIGATORS
WERE TRYING TO PAINT A MORE PRECISE PICTURE EVENTS LEADING
UP TO THE MURDER ANGEL HAD SAID SHE WAS UPSET
WITH MILTON AFTER THE TV DEAL WITH DILLON.
SO WHAT HAPPENED THEN? >> SO WHEN YOU GOT HOME YOU WERE
UPSET. UH, DID YOU GUYS HAVE ANY, LIKE,
CONVERSATION TO RECTIFY? >> OH, YEAH, EVERYTHING WAS
FINE YOU KNOW, WE WERE, YOU KNOW --
WE MADE LOVE WE WERE FINE
WE WERE VERY AFFECTIONATE WITH ONE ANOTHER.
WE WOULD LITERALLY MAKE LOVE EVERY MORNING AND NIGHT, EVERY
DAY FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS, AND HE'D ALWAYS MAKE THE JOKE YOU
MUST BE GETTING TIRED OF ME. LIKE, NO, I'M NOT.
OUR RELATIONSHIP WAS GOOD. >> Reporter: BUT SHE SAID THERE
WERE TIMES YEARS EARLIER WHEN IT WASN'T SO GOOD
>> I FOUND OUT LATER, AFTER WE WERE ALREADY ENGAGED, THAT HE
HAD BEEN WITH TWO OTHER WOMEN. BUT WE GOT THROUGH IT.
IT WAS HARD. >> Reporter: BUT WHILE ANGEL
SAID SHE COULD GET PAST IT, IT WASN'T THE SAME FOR MILTON
WHEN MEN TOOK AN INTEREST IN HER, HE WOULD HAVE SMOKE COMING
OUT HIS EARS >> HE WAS ALWAYS VERY JEALOUS.
I MEAN, IT WAS HARD FOR HIM BECAUSE, UH, HE ALWAYS SAID,
"YOU'RE SO ATTRACTIVE. YOU COULD HAVE ANYONE YOU WANT."
AND I WOULD ALWAYS REASSURE HIM THAT I JUST WANTED HIM
BUT WE DEALT WITH THAT A LOT >> Reporter: SOMETIMES IT WAS
EMBARRASSING, SHE SAID, BECAUSE WITH THEIR TEN-YEAR AGE
DIFFERENCE, MILTON LOOKED A LOT OLDER.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD SAY THINGS, CUSTOMERS, YOU KNOW,
DIFFERENT THINGS MOST PEOPLE THOUGHT I WAS HIS
DAUGHTER THAT WAS HARD.
>> SHE ALSO PROVIDES OTHER INFORMATION THAT SHE'S AN
ATTRACTIVE WOMAN AND THAT GENTLEMEN WILL FREQUENT THE
TREASURE HUNTER BECAUSE SHE WORKED THERE
>> Reporter: SO MEN CHECK HER OUT?
>> ACCORDING TO HER, YES, SIR. SHE GAVE US EXAMPLES OF A
INDIVIDUAL THAT CAME IN MULTIPLE TIMES AND WOULD ACTUALLY COME UP
TO HER AND TELL HER, YOU KNOW, "I'M HERE BECAUSE YOU DREW ME
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE JUST SO BEAUTIFUL.
>> Reporter: AND SHE SAID ABOUT NINE MONTHS BEFORE THE MURDER,
MILTON BECAME ESPECIALLY JEALOUS.
ANGEL HAD GOTTEN INTO A CAR ACCIDENT AND TOWARD THE END OF
2017 STARTED A KIND OF PHYSICAL THERAPY CALLED "DRY NEEDLING,"
AN ACUPUNCTURE-LIKE TREATMENT FOR PAIN
HER THERAPIST'S NAME WAS ISAAC, AND IT SET MILTON OFF WHEN HE
DISCOVERED A MAN WAS LAYING HANDS ON HIS WIFE.
>> HE LOOKED HIM UP ON FACEBOOK, SENT ME A SCREENSHOT OF HIS
PICTURE, SAID, "HE'S ATTRACTIVE."
AND I WAS LIKE, "NO, HE'S NOT. I'M ATTRACTED TO YOU
I LOVE YOU I DON'T CARE ABOUT THIS GUY."
BUT HE WAS STILL HAVING A HARD TIME WITH IT
HE WOULD GET ANGRY EVERY TIME I WENT
>> HE BEGAN EXPRESSING JEALOUSY TO ANGEL AND, OF COURSE, SHE'S
TELLING HIM, "THERE'S NOTHING GOING ON HERE.
IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD. YOU'RE JUST VERY JEALOUS."
>> AND HE KNOWS THAT I LOVE HIM. HE KNOWS THAT I WOULD NEVER
CHEAT ON HIM IT'S JUST NOT WHO I AM
>> Reporter: IN THE END, SHE LAMENTED THAT PHYSICAL THERAPY
JUST WASN'T WORTH THE HASSLE >> SO I FINALLY JUST QUIT.
I SAID, "I'D RATHER BE IN PAIN PHYSICALLY THAN TO MAKE YOU
SUFFER IF IT WAS THAT IMPORTANT TO YOU
THAT I NOT GO TO PHYSICAL THERAPY, I WON'T GO.
>> Reporter: BUT SMALL COMMUNITY, MILTON AND ANGEL
WOULD RUN INTO ISAAC AROUND TOWN, LIKE AT THE LOCAL COFFEE
SHOP AND ABOUT TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE
MURDER, ON THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, MILTON AND ANGEL WERE
ENJOYING A DAY AT THE BEACH ON THE OUTER BANKS WHEN GUESS WHO
SHOWED UP. ISAAC AND HIS FAMILY
MILTON EXPLODED. >> ALL OF A SUDDEN HE BECAME
REALLY ANGRY AND I DIDN'T -- I WAS LIKE,
"WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? WHAT'S WRONG?"
AND HE SAID, "YOUR EFFING THERAPIST IS HERE WITH HIS
FAMILY." AND I WAS LIKE, "SO, IT'S A
BEACH. IT'S FULL OF PEOPLE.
>> SO DAD CALLED ME HE WAS ON THE WAY BACK FROM THE
BEACH. AND HE WAS IN -- IN A HIZZY
BECAUSE WHILE HE WAS AT THE BEACH, THEY HAPPEN TO RUN INTO
ISAAC AND HIS FAMILY >> Reporter: IN FACT, SOMEONE
PHONED IN A TIP TO INVESTIGATORS THAT MILTON WAS SO ANGERED BY
ISAAC'S PRESENCE, HE'D CALLED ISAAC'S BOSS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT
HIM. >> HE ACTUALLY CALLED OUT TO
ISAAC'S EMPLOYER AND MADE A SCENE.
THERE WAS A COUPLE OF CONFRONTATIONS, NOT VIOLENT, BUT
JUST WORDS WHERE HE, YOU KNOW, "STAY AWAY FROM MY WIFE.
>> Reporter: SO THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WRITE DOWN IN YOUR PAD, HUH?
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> Reporter: NOW THE
INVESTIGATORS WERE WONDERING, "WAS ISAAC THE PHYSICAL
THERAPIST SOMEHOW INVOLVED IN MILTON'S MURDER?
>>> COMING UP -- THE THERAPIST SUDDENLY UNDER
SCRUTINY >> NO CRIMINAL RECORD, WIFE AND
KIDS, NICE JOB >> NONE OF THAT WOULD APPEAR TO
BE CONSISTENT WITH SOMEBODY WHO WOULD KILL SOMEONE'S HUSBAND
>> A WELL KEPT FAMILY MAN WITH A WELL KEPT SECRET
>> HE SAID, "THIS IS BETWEEN THE >> Reporter: IN THE DAYS AFTER
MILTON SAWYER WAS MURDERED, INVESTIGATORS HAD CHECKED OUT
DILLON HOSTUTLER, THE GUY WHO'D SOLD MILTON THE TV, AND
CONFIRMED HIS ALIBI. >> HE HAS FAMILY AT THE HOUSE
THAT CAN VERIFY HE WAS HOME. >> Reporter: SO THAT HELPS HIM
>> YES, SIR. >> Reporter: SO, THEY WERE
FORCED TO DROP HIM AS A SUSPECT AND LOOK ELSEWHERE
NOW THEY WERE TAKING A HARD LOOK AT A MAN NAMED ISAAC MELCHER,
THE PHYSICAL THERAPIST WHO HAD TREATED ANGEL.
>> WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW MUCH ABOUT HIM.
HE LIVED IN A PRETTY UPPER MIDDLE-CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> Reporter: YOU RAN THE COMPUTER ON HIM, AND NOTHING
>> YEAH. NO -- NO CRIMINAL RECORD, WIFE
AND KIDS, UM -- NICE JOB, NICE FAMILY
SO, WE SENT TWO INVESTIGATORS OUT TO INTERVIEW HIM
THE INTERVIEW WENT KIND OF MINIMAL.
HE SAID THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE MURDER
>> Reporter: ISAAC SAID HE WAS HOME THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER,
EXCEPT FOR RUNNING OUT LATE AT NIGHT TO BUY A NEW PHONE AT
WALMART BECAUSE HE'D SPILLED WATER ON HIS OWN
WHAT'S MORE, ANY CONTACT HE'D HAD WITH ANGEL WAS PURELY
PROFESSIONAL AS THE INVESTIGATORS LOOKED
DEEPER, THEY WOULD LEARN ISAAC'S LIFE STORY WAS ACTUALLY KIND OF
INSPIRATIONAL. HE GREW UP IN OREGON
>> I MET ISAAC WHILE I WAS VOLUNTEERING AS A YOUTH LEADER
WITH THE CHURCH. >> Reporter: IN THE MID-1990s, A
DAIRY FARMER AND YOUTH PASTOR NAMED LOUIE KAZEMIER, OUT IN
OREGON, PAID SPECIAL ATTENTION TO A GROUP OF TEENAGE BOYS WITH
ISSUES ISAAC WAS ONE OF THEM.
>> OUR GROUP WAS CALLED THE 12 STEP GROUP, FOR LACK OF A
BETTER TERM. THESE BOYS WERE ALL GOING
THROUGH THEIR OWN THING. >> Reporter: WHAT ARE HIS ISSUES
DO YOU THINK >> HIS BIGGEST THING WAS HIS
ANGER TOWARD HIS DAD HE WOULD GET IN SCRAPES EVERY
ONCE IN A WHILE. HE HAD A PRETTY GOOD TEMPER IN
HIGH SCHOOL, AND THAT'S WHAT MADE HIM A GOOD WRESTLER
>> Reporter: ISAAC'S FATHER WAS NOT VERY PRESENT IN HIS LIFE
OVER TIME, LOUIE SEEMED TO FILL SOME OF THAT VOID.
THOUGH NOT A PRIEST OR AN ORDAINED MINISTER, HE TRIED TO
GIVE ISAAC DIRECTION THROUGH STUDY OF THE BIBLE AND BY
GROWING HIS FAITH. SO HE BECAME A REAL PROJECT FOR
YOU. YOU WERE HIS MENTOR.
>> I WAS HIS MENTOR. BUT HE ARRIVED TO US WONDERING
WHERE HE WANTED TO GO. ONCE HE BECAME A BELIEVER, HE
BECAME A SOLD-OUT BELIEVER HE WAS ALL IN.
>> Reporter: DID YOU HAVE A MOMENT, LOUIE, WHERE YOU SAID,
"I THINK I'M FINALLY GETTING THROUGH THIS KID?"
>> YOU KNOW -- >> Reporter: IS THERE A LIGHT
BULB KIND OF EPIPHANY. >> IT WASN'T AN EPIPHANY, BUT
ISAAC WAS ALWAYS MY SUCCESS STORY.
IF I NEEDED A PICTURE OF A LIFE CHANGED, I WOULD CHOOSE ISAAC'S
LIFE >> Reporter: AT 19, ISAAC LEFT
OREGON FOR WORK IN NORTH CAROLINA, WHERE HE MET HIS
FUTURE WIFE, DARLENE LOUIE ROUNDED UP SOME OF THE
YOUTH GROUP, AND THEY TRAVELED TO NORTH CAROLINA TO CELEBRATE
ISAAC'S WEDDING DAY. >> IT WAS A VERY CHRISTIAN
WEDDING. ISAAC WAS GOING TO LEAD HIS
FAMILY IN THE WAY OF THE LORD, AND WAS GOING TO BE THE DAD THAT
HE DIDN'T HAVE AND WAS DETERMINED
>> Reporter: DID YOU HAVE A MOMENT OF A LITTLE BIT OF PRIDE?
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: I PUSHED HIM ALONG
THE WAY, AND LOOK HOW IT'S WORKING OUT.
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: AFTER LOUIE
RETURNED TO OREGON, HE FELL OUT OF TOUCH WITH ISAAC, BUT HE AND
HIS WIFE LORI FOLLOWED ISAAC'S PROGRESS ON FACEBOOK FROM AFAR
IT WAS ALL GOOD NEWS ISAAC HAD THREE KIDS, PUT
HIMSELF THROUGH COLLEGE, AND, IN 2016, BECAME A PHYSICAL
THERAPIST WORKING OUT OF THE YMCA IN ELIZABETH CITY
TO INVESTIGATORS GOING THROUGH HIS BIOGRAPHY, ISAAC MELCHER
HARDLY FIT THE PROFILE OF A MURDERER
>> HE'S A PHYSICAL THERAPIST, HE'S MARRIED, HE WAS VERY
RELIGIOUS, NONE OF THAT WOULD APPEAR TO BE CONSISTENT WITH
SOMEONE'S HUSBAND. >> Reporter: ANGEL AGREED.
SHE TOLD INVESTIGATORS THAT THE MASKED INTRUDER IN THE HOUSE
DIDN'T SEEM TO RESEMBLE HER PHYSICAL THERAPIST AT ALL.
SO, NOTHING IS ADDING UP IN THIS CASE
>> NO, NONE OF IT IS >> Reporter: SO INVESTIGATORS
HAD NO SOLID EVIDENCE ISAAC, THE PHYSICAL THERAPIST, WAS
INVOLVED YOU DON'T HAVE THAT THING TO
GIVE TO YOUR DA, RIGHT >> YES, SIR.
WE'RE KIND OF JUST KICKING THINGS AROUND AND WAITING FOR
THAT MAGIC MOMENT, FOR LACK OF BETTER WORDS
>> Reporter: LITTLE DID THEY KNOW IT, BUT THAT MAGIC MOMENT
WAS ABOUT TO APPEAR -- BECAUSE A FEW DAYS AFTER
MILTON SAWYER'S MURDER, ISAAC RETURNED TO OREGON
HE WAS VISITING HIS SICK MOTHER, BUT HE ALSO DECIDED TO PAY A
VISIT TO HIS ONETIME YOUTH PASTOR, LOUIE.
>> Reporter: DOES THE EXPRESSION "OUT OF THE BLUE" APPLY HERE TO
HIM GETTING IN TOUCH WITH YOU? >> OH, BOY, YES.
>> Reporter: LOUIE HADN'T SEEN ISAAC IN MORE THAN TEN YEARS
>> IT WAS A PHONE CALL AND SAID, "I AM GOING TO BE IN OREGON.
CAN I COME BY AND SEE YOU? >> Reporter: AND YOU KNEW RIGHT
AWAY WHO IT WAS? >> I KNEW WHO IT WAS
I COULDN'T WAIT TO SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH HIM AND FIND OUT HOW
HE WAS DOING WITH HIS FAMILY AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
>> Reporter: BUT WHEN ISAAC SHOWED UP ON THAT BEAUTIFUL
AUGUST DAY IN THE NORTHWEST, LOUIE HAD A BAD FEELING.
>> I COULD TELL SOMETHING WAS WRONG THE MINUTE HE WALKED OUT
OF THE CAR >> Reporter: SO, THERE WAS A
CHILL ON YOUR REUNION RIGHT AWAY
>> YES >> Reporter: HOW DID HE APPEAR
TO YOU >> HIS SHOULDERS WERE SLUMPED.
HE SEEMED BROKEN >> Reporter: LOUIE SAT ISAAC
DOWN IN HIS BACKYARD, BECAUSE ISAAC SAID HE WANTED COMPLETE
PRIVACY FOR WHAT HE WAS ABOUT TO REVEAL
DOES HE SAY TO YOU SOMETHING LIKE, "REMEMBER, I'M TALKING TO
YOU AS THOUGH YOU'RE MY SPIRITUAL --
>> YES, HE DID >> Reporter: -- "MENTOR HERE
AND IT'S STAYING BETWEEN US, IN THE SENSE OF A CATHOLIC PRIEST
IN CONFESSION, AS SOMETHING YOU DON'T ALLOW THE CONFESSION TO
EVER BE REVEALED?" >> IN FACT, THAT'S HOW HE
STARTED THE CONVERSATION "YOU KNOW, I CONSIDER YOU MY
PASTOR THIS IS BETWEEN THE TWO OF US,
BECAUSE YOU'RE MY SPIRITUAL ADVISER.
>> Reporter: HE'S INVOKING THE SANCTITY OF THE CONFESSIONAL
>> YEAH. I TOLD HIM THEN I DIDN'T AGREE
WITH THAT, NOT EVEN KNOWING WHAT HE WAS GOING TO TELL ME.
>> Reporter: THE STORY ISAAC WAS ABOUT TO TELL WAS A TORTURED ONE
THAT WOULD END UP CHANGING THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION INTO
MILTON SAWYER'S MURDER, AND OPEN UP AN INVESTIGATION INTO ANOTHER
SUSPECT ALTOGETHER >>> COMING UP --
>> HE WAS PRETTY SPECIFIC IN WHAT HAPPENED, AND I WAS
STUNNED. >> ISAAC WEAVES A DEADLY,
JAW-DROPPING TALE. >> IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE LAST
THING THAT I THOUGHT I WOULD EVER HEAR.
>> Reporter: MORE THAN A WEEK AFTER MILTON SAWYER'S MURDER,
ISAAC MELCHER HAD RETURNED TO HIS BIRTHPLACE IN OREGON AND WAS
ABOUT TO CONFIDE IN HIS FORMER YOUTH PASTOR LOUIE KAZEMIER.
>> HE JUST SAYS, "WELL, I'VE MADE SOME REALLY STUPID CHOICES,
AND I'M PROBABLY GOING TO LOSE MY FAMILY.
AND SO THAT GOT MY ATTENTION, AND I MOVED FORWARD AND JUST
SAID, "WHAT IS GOING ON? >> Reporter: ISAAC TOLD LOUIE
THAT A PATIENT OF HIS NAMED ANGEL HAD BEEN IN DEEP TROUBLE
HER HUSBAND WAS A JEALOUS MAN, KEPT A TIGHT REIN ON HER, AND
THREATENED HER >> HE WAS CONVINCED THAT THIS
HUSBAND WAS GOING TO HURT THIS LADY
>> Reporter: HE GOT IN HIS MIND THAT THAT HUSBAND WAS ABUSING
HER. >> YEAH.
HE INDICATED THAT HE NEEDED TO PROTECT ANGEL.
>> Reporter: "SHE'S IN TROUBLE AND IT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME TO
BE HER PROTECTOR"? >> HE'S GOING TO BE THE HERO,
YEAH >> Reporter: SO GET HIM OUT OF
THE PICTURE. SHE'LL BE HAPPIER?
SHE'LL BE SAFE >> YUP
>> Reporter: FOR ISAAC, PROTECTING ANGEL BECAME A
RIGHTEOUS OBSESSION. ONE OF THE WORDS THAT JUST
DOESN'T GET AWAY FROM THIS CASE IS THIS CONCEPT OF OBSESSION
>> WELL, IT BECAME CLEAR TO ME THAT HE OBVIOUSLY WAS OBSESSED
WITH HER IN ALL THROUGHOUT THE TIME I
KNEW ISAAC, HE WOULD GO FROM ONE OBSESSION TO ANOTHER
>> Reporter: SO THIS WAS NOT UNUSUAL?
>> THIS WAS NOT UNUSUAL. BUT THIS WAS A -- THIS WAS A
WHOLE NEW LEVEL. >> Reporter: AND THE MORAL
MACHINERY GOT TOGGLED OFF? >> YEAH.
SOMEHOW HIS BRAIN GOT SHORT CIRCUITED IN A BIG WAY
>> Reporter: IS HE TELLING YOU THE STORY IN LAYERS?
>> IT WAS LAYERS I HAD TO PULL A LOT OF THIS OUT
OF HIM >> Reporter: SITTING IN LOUIE'S
BACKYARD, ISAAC CONFESSED TO MURDERING MILTON SAWYER.
HOW DOES HE SAY IT >> "I MURDERED A GUY."
AND OF COURSE I'M ASKING QUESTIONS I NEVER THOUGHT I
WOULD ASK OF A YOUNG MAN YOU KNOW, "HOW DID YOU KILL
HIM? >> Reporter: DOES HE GIVE YOU
ANY DETAILS ABOUT HOW HE DID IT, THE MECHANICS OF THE KILLING
>> YEAH. HE WAS PRETTY SPECIFIC IN WHAT
HAPPENED, AND I WAS STUNNED. >> Reporter: HE'D BROKEN INTO
THIS HOUSE >> YEAH.
AND, UM, HE ESSENTIALLY STRANGLED HIM.
>> Reporter: PUTTING THIS GUY INTO A CHOKEHOLD
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: THAT MUST HAVE BEEN
REALLY HARD TO HEAR. >> IT WAS.
>> Reporter: LOUIE WAS BESIDE HIMSELF WITH DISBELIEF
>> THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK OF WAS HOW FAR AWAY FROM GOD HE
WAS TO BE ABLE TO CHOKE THE LIFE OUT OF A GUY
>> Reporter: HERE'S YOUR SUCCESSFUL PROTEGE -
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: -- FROM THE YOUTH
GROUP, TELLING YOU THE MOST AWFUL STORY.
>> HE JUST COME AND HE JUST DUMPED A LOAD.
>> Reporter: LOUIE, IF HE STARTS OFF BROKEN THE FIRST TIME,
YOU'RE SEEING HIM AND THEN THE STORY GETS WORSE
WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN HIM >> HE'S MORE AND MORE BROKEN
>> Reporter: AND WHAT WAS YOUR ADVICE TO HIM?
>> "ISAAC, YOU NEED TO TURN YOURSELF IN.
YOU MADE A HELL OF A MISTAKE THERE'S GOING TO BE
CONSEQUENCES, BUT YOU GOT TO MAN UP."
>> Reporter: SO YOU'RE NOT SUGARCOATING IT?
>> I DIDN'T TRY TO >> Reporter: BUT ISAAC SAID HE
WASN'T GOING TO TURN HIMSELF IN. HE WAS IN DENIAL
OR WHAT DO YOU THINK >> YEAH, PROBABLY.
>> Reporter: AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR, ISAAC LEFT AND RETURNED TO
NORTH CAROLINA, LEAVING LOUIE TO SHARE THE WHOLE HORRIFIC STORY
WITH HIS WIFE LORI >> I WAS COMPLETELY SHOCKED.
IT WOULD'VE BEEN THE LAST THING THAT I THOUGHT I WOULD EVER
HEAR IT WASN'T WHO WE KNEW HIM TO BE.
>> Reporter: LOUIE CHECKED ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE REALLY
HAD BEEN A MURDER IN ELIZABETH CITY
THE AWFULNESS OF THE REVELATION BOILED AWAY INSIDE HIM
>> HE DIDN'T SLEEP MUCH. HE WAS HAVING NIGHTMARES
SO I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT
I KNEW THE TRAUMA HAD REALLY AFFECTED HIM
WHAT HAD HE PUT ON YOUR SHOULDERS, LOUIE
>> HE PUT ON ME THE BIGGEST DOUBLE BIND I'VE EVER BEEN IN.
>> Reporter: HOW SO? >> WAS DAMNED IF I DO AND DAMNED
IF I DON'T IF I GO TO THE POLICE, I'M GOING
TO HURT THE KID I LIKE AND I'VE GROWN TO LOVE.
IF I KEEP THIS IN ME, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD DO.
>> Reporter: WHAT IT WOULD DO TO YOU, HUH
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD DO TO ME AND MY WIFE AND MY FAMILY.
>> HE HAD SUCH A WEIGHT ON HIS SHOULDERS.
I DIDN'T WANNA TELL HIM WHAT TO DO
IT WAS VERY HARD TO SEE HIM STRUGGLE LIKE HE WAS
>> Reporter: LOUIE HAD A DECISION TO MAKE, MAYBE THE
BIGGEST OF HIS LIFE. >> I KNEW IT HAD TO BE HIS
DECISION BECAUSE HE WAS GONNA HAVE TO LIVE WITH THAT DECISION.
>> Reporter: AND I JUST REMEMBERED TAKING A DEEP BREATH
AND SAYING, "LORD, HELP ME WITH THIS."
>> Reporter: AS LOUIE WRESTLED WITH HIS CONSCIENCE, HE HAD NO
IDEA WHERE HIS ACTIONS MIGHT LEAD BECAUSE SO MUCH OF ISAAC'S
STORY WAS YET TO COME OUT. THERE WAS MORE
OH, YES. >>> COMING UP --
LOUIE WAS IN FOR ANOTHER STUNNING CONVERSATION:
HE WASN'T THE ONLY ONE KEEPING ISAAC'S SECRET
>> ISAAC CALLED ME THE DAY THAT IT HAPPENED TO TELL ME THAT IT
HAD HAPPENED >> Reporter: THIS IS HIS WIFE.
AND SHE IS LISTENING TO HIM TALK ABOUT A MURDER
>> YES, SIR.
CONFESSED TO HIS FORMER YOUTH PASTOR LOUIE KAZEMIER THAT HE
HAD MURDERED MILTON SAWYER AND HOPED LOUIE WOULD KEEP HIS
CONFESSION CONFIDENTIAL. NOW LOUIE HAD TO DECIDE.
SHOULD HE KEEP THAT DARK SECRET, OR SHOULD HE TURN IN THE MAN HE
REGARDED ALMOST AS A SON SO HOW DO YOU WORK YOUR WAY
THROUGH THIS IT'S GOT TO BE A HUGE CRISIS OF
CONSCIENCE FOR YOU >> YEAH.
>> Reporter: AFTER HE SPOKE WITH HIS OWN PASTOR, LOUIE WAS NO
NEARER TO A DECISION SO HE ASKED A CLOSE FRIEND FOR
GUIDANCE >> AND HE DIDN'T PULL ANY
PUNCHES. IT WAS JUST, "THIS IS WHAT YOU
NEED TO DO." >> Reporter: BUT HE CONTINUED TO
STRUGGLE LOUIE, BETRAYAL, IS THAT
SOMETHING YOU WORRIED ABOUT? >> I DID
WE KNOW CHRIST WAS BETRAYED, YOU KNOW, BY JUDAS
BUT I KNEW I HAD TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
>> Reporter: AND IF YOU DON'T DO IT
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN YOUR OWN CATEGORY OF SIN?
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> Reporter: BUT LOUIE ALSO KNEW
NORTH CAROLINA WAS A DEATH PENALTY STATE, AND THE BIBLE
INSTRUCTS, "THOU SHALT NOT KILL."
SO WOULD CALLING TO TURN ISAAC IN BE AN EVEN WORSE SIN?
>> I JUST REMEMBER THINKING THIS COULD KILL ISAAC
>> Reporter: IF I PUNCH IN THIS NUMBER AND HAVE A CONVERSATION,
I MAY BE KILLING ISAAC >> I MAY BE.
>> Reporter: THREE DAYS AFTER ISAAC MADE HIS CONFESSION, LOUIE
MADE HIS DECISION. HE PICKED UP THE PHONE AND
CALLED THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN ELIZABETH CITY
IT WAS A CALL INVESTIGATORS NEVER IMAGINED THEY WOULD GET,
BUT ONE THAT WOULD CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE WHOLE CASE.
>> IT'S A REALLY SHORT PHONE CALL
HE'S VERY HESITANT TO TALK HE KIND OF GIVES US HIS OWN KIND
OF BRIEF RUNDOWN THAT ISAAC CAME TO VISIT HIM AND BASICALLY
CONFESSED TO MURDER TO HIM >> Reporter: "THIS GUY THAT
YOU'RE INTERESTED IN, I KNEW AS A BOY.
HE CONFESSED TO ME." AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO
DO SOMETHING WITH IT, MAYBE A WHOLE LOT.
>> WE ENDED UP BOOKING A FLIGHT AND FLEW OUT TO OREGON TO SEE
LOUIE THE NEXT DAY >> Reporter: THE INVESTIGATORS
MADE UP A STORY ABOUT HAVING TO LEAVE TOWN, NOT WANTING TO TIP
THEIR HAND ABOUT A POSSIBLE BREAK IN THE CASE.
ARE THE POLICE SHARING ANYTHING WITH YOU
>> WE UNDERSTOOD THAT THERE WERE SOME THINGS THEY COULDN'T
DIVULGE TO US. SO THE POLICE DID NOT LET US
KNOW ABOUT LOUIE OR GOING TO OREGON
>> Reporter: BUT HERE, 3,000 MILES AWAY FROM
ELIZABETH CITY, THE INVESTIGATORS WERE ON THEIR WAY
TO LOUIE'S FARM HOPING TO SOLVE THE MURDER OF MILTON SAWYER.
>> SO WE PULL UP TO THE DAIRY. YOU KNOW, IT'S WEIRD
I THINK OUR NERVES ARE KIND OF WORKED UP A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE
WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE COMING TO GET.
WE'VE NEVER SEEN LOUIE IN PERSON YET.
>> Reporter: YOU'RE NOT IN UNIFORM OR ANYTHING?
>> NO, SIR JUST PLAIN CLOTHES
AND, YOU KNOW, HE PROCEEDS TO TELL US THE STORY OF ISAAC
COMING TO VISIT HIM IN HIS HOUSE.
>> Reporter: THE STORY LOUIE TOLD THEM WAS ALL WELL AND GOOD.
BUT TO MAKE A STRONG CASE EVEN STRONGER, THEY NEEDED DIRECT
EVIDENCE OF ISAAC TALKING ABOUT THE MURDER
SO THE INVESTIGATORS WENT ONE STEP FURTHER
THEY ASKED LOUIE IN EFFECT TO WEAR A WIRE, TO MAKE A CALL TO
ISAAC IN ELIZABETH CITY, ONE THEY COULD RECORD AND USE
AGAINST HIM. >> WHEN DETECTIVE AARON ASKED ME
TO MAKE THE PHONE CALL, I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER TO PUNCH HIM OR
TURN AROUND AND WALK AWAY BECAUSE I FELT LIKE I HAD GIVEN
THEM EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO GIVE THEM
>> Reporter: WERE YOU THINKING, "WE'RE DONE HERE, FELLOWS --
THAT'S AS MUCH AS I CAN GIVE YA"?
>> I'M DONE. THEY WANTED ME TO GET ISAAC ON
THE PHONE. THEY WANTED TO RECORD IT
I FELT LIKE THAT HAD PUSHED IT TOO FAR.
>> Reporter: BUT THE INVESTIGATORS WERE ABLE TO
CONVINCE LOUIE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT THEY WERE ASKING HIM TO
DO MILTON'S FAMILY DESERVED
JUSTICE, THEY TOLD HIM AND LOUIE RELENTED
HE'S NOT ONLY SPILLED THE BEANS THAT THIS GUY'S CONFESSED TO ME.
HE'S NOW GOING TO GO - >> YES
>> Reporter: -- TO THE NEXT STEP AND HELP -
>> YES >> Reporter: -- BRING ABOUT HIS
ARREST >> YES
>> Reporter: WHAT'S THE NARROW GOAL OF RECORDING ISAAC ON THE
PHONE? >> OBVIOUSLY WE WANT -- WE WANT
ISAAC TO INCRIMINATE HIMSELF >> Reporter: WITH INVESTIGATORS
SITTING BESIDE HIM, LOUIE DIALED ISAAC.
>> I HAD THIS PHONE NUMBER ON MY PHONE, AND I JUST PUT MY PHONE
ON SPEAKER AND SET IT DOWN >> Reporter: AND THEY SAT THERE?
>> THEY SAT AND LISTENED >> HAVE THE POLICE BEEN BACK
HAVE THEY DONE ANY MORE INVESTIGATING?
>> I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU I'M NOT ENTIRELY COMFORTABLE
SPEAKING ABOUT THAT OVER THE PHONE.
>> ISAAC MELCHER WAS SMARTER THAN MOST AVERAGE PEOPLE
HE DID NOT WANT TO TALK ON THE REGULAR LINE
I THINK HE WAS CONCERNED THAT IT MAY BE TAPPED.
>> Reporter: ISAAC TOLD LOUIE HE WOULD SPEAK ONLY ON A SECURE
PHONE LINE OVER THE ENCRYPTED SMARTPHONE APP CALLED SIGNAL
>> SO HE SENT ME THROUGH TEXT MESSAGE AN APP THAT I PUT ON MY
PHONE. AND THEN HE FELT COMFORTABLE
ENOUGH TO TALK >> IT -- IT IS SECURE.
IT CANNOT BE ACCESSED FROM THE OUTSIDE.
>> Reporter: BUT IF ISAAC THOUGHT HE HAD OUTSMARTED THE
POLICE BY SPEAKING WITH LOUIE VIA AN ENCRYPTED APP, HE WAS
WRONG. THE NORTH CAROLINA INVESTIGATORS
SIMPLY PLACED THEIR VOICE RECORDER NEXT TO LOUIE'S PHONE
THAT WAS ON SPEAKER AND HIT RECORD
IT'S KIND OF LOW TECH. >> YEAH.
THAT'S HOW WE ROLL HERE. WE'RE GOOD AT DOING A LOT WITH A
LITTLE >> Reporter: SO YOU'RE HEARING
THE CONVERSATION REAL TIME >> YES, SIR.
>> Reporter: BUT WOULD ISAAC REPEAT THE SAME STORY HE'D
ALREADY TOLD LOUIE >> HEY, LOUIE, HOW ARE YOU
DOING? >> GOOD, ISAAC
HOW ARE YOU? >> Reporter: LOUIE AND THE
INVESTIGATORS LISTENING IN WERE STUNNED WHEN THEY HEARD ANOTHER
VOICE ON THE LINE. IT WAS ISAAC'S WIFE, DARLENE
>> HI, LOUIE >> HI, DARLENE
HOW ARE YOU DOING? >> I'M WELL.
WE GOT TO CELEBRATE OUR SON'S BIRTHDAY, SO I'M VERY THANKFUL
>> Reporter: WHAT WAS GOING ON DARLENE SOUNDED PERFECTLY
NORMAL WITH HIS WIFE ON THE LINE,
SURELY ISAAC WASN'T GOING TO CONFESS TO KILLING SOMEONE
AS THE CONVERSATION GOT GOING, LOUIE STEERED ISAAC INTO TALKING
ABOUT THE MURDER HE SAID HE'D CARRIED OUT TO PROTECT ANGEL
WHY, HE ASKED, DIDN'T ANGEL JUST DIVORCE MILTON
>> THE PLAN WAS FOR HER TO LEAVE HIM.
>> OKAY. >> AND SOMETHING CHANGED
SHE DID NOT THINK THAT HE WOULD LET HER GO OR THAT HE WOULD
PROBABLY KILL HER IF SHE TRIED TO LEAVE HIM
>> Reporter: ISAAC SAID AS HE PREPARED TO KILL MILTON, HE
RELIED ON THE DARKEST OF FORCES IN HIS UNDERSTANDING
>> I REACHED THE PLACE WHERE I ASKED THE DEVIL TO HELP ME -
>> YEAH. >> BECAUSE I KNEW THAT I HAD TO
SO FULLY TURN MY BACK ON GOD TO DO THIS.
>> Reporter: WITH ISAAC'S WIFE DARLENE STILL ON THE CALL, LOUIE
POKED ABOUT FOR WHAT SHE KNEW. THIS IS HIS WIFE
AND SHE IS LISTENING TO HIM TALK ABOUT A MURDER HE PULLED OFF
>> YES, SIR. AND SHE IS ODDLY VERY SUPPORTIVE
OF HIM
>> ISAAC CALLED ME THE DAY THAT IT HAPPENED TO TELL ME THAT IT
HAD HAPPENED >> NOW, WHEN YOU SAY WHAT --
WHEN IT HAD HAPPENED - >> I'M TALKING ABOUT THE MURDER.
>> Reporter: "THE MURDER," SHE SAID
AND ISAAC SEEMED TO CONFIRM HIS INVOLVEMENT, ADDING HE DIDN'T
STAND A CHANCE WITH THE AUTHORITIES IF HE TURNED HIMSELF
IN >> BECAUSE THERE IS
PREMEDITATION AND I WILL EITHER BE ALIVE AND IN PRISON OR I WILL
GET THE DEATH PENALTY. WHAT I DID WAS A HORRIBLE THING.
I MEAN, THAT DOESN'T EVEN DO IT JUSTICE.
>> Reporter: THERE IT WAS -- AN ADMISSION OF GUILT
>> HE GIVES HIMSELF UP PRETTY EARLY ON AND GOES THROUGH THE
MOTIVATION BEHIND IT >> Reporter: DID YOU HAVE ENOUGH
TO GET ARREST WARRANT AT THAT POINT?
>> WE DID. WE STILL HAD A COUPLE OF THINGS
WE WANTED TO BUTTON UP >> Reporter: BUTTON UP BECAUSE
DARLENE SAID SOMETHING ELSE ON THE CALL THAT PIQUED THE
INVESTIGATORS' INTEREST. SHE MENTIONED AN AFFAIR.
>>> COMING UP -- >> IT REACHED WAY WAY BEYOND,
YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY I WAS JUST HAVING SEX WITH.
>> ISAAC'S AFFAIR. ANOTHER SECRET HE WAS KEEPING
FROM EVERYONE. WELL, ALMOST EVERYONE.
>> I FORGIVE YOU AND I AM GOING TO BE WITH YOU
>>> IF BY SOME CHANCE I WERE NOT ARRESTED -
>> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS WERE RECORDING A PHONE CALL BETWEEN
ISAAC MELCHER AND HIS WIFE, DARLENE, IN ELIZABETH CITY,
NORTH CAROLINA, AND FORMER YOUTH PASTOR, LOUIE KAZEMIER IN
OREGON ON THE CALL, ISAAC HAD ALREADY
CONFESSED TO MURDERING MILTON SAWYER, EVIDENCE
INVESTIGATORS COULD USE TO CHARGE HIM
BUT AS THE CALL CONTINUED, IT WAS CLEAR THERE WAS MORE TO THE
STORY. ISAAC'S WIFE DARLENE MENTIONED
AN AFFAIR. >> THE AFFAIR, I DID NOT KNOW
ABOUT IT AT ALL UNTIL THE NIGHT HE TOLD ME ABOUT IT.
>> Reporter: SURE, ISAAC WAS OBSESSED WITH ANGEL.
BUT IT WASN'T ONE-SIDED. HE AND ANGEL WERE BOTH INVOLVED
IN A FULL-BLOWN AFFAIR HE TOLD THE STORY.
>> I'VE KNOWN ANGEL NOW FOR NOT QUITE A YEAR
BUT IT REACHED A PLACE WITH ANGEL THAT IT MOVED WAY, WAY,
WAY BEYOND, YOU KNOW, JUST SOMEBODY THAT I WAS HAVING SEX
WITH >> Reporter: SO MILTON HAD BEEN
RIGHT ALL ALONG TO HAVE BEEN SUSPICIOUS OF ANGEL AND ISAAC.
THEN THE STORY TOOK ANOTHER BIZARRE TURN
WITH HIS WIFE, DARLENE, ON THE CALL, ISAAC REVEALED HE AND
ANGEL HAD BIGGER PLANS >> IF SOMEHOW I DON'T GET
ARRESTED, THERE IS STILL A DESIRE IN MY HEART TO BE WITH
ANGEL. AND AMAZINGLY ENOUGH, DARLENE IS
STILL WILLING TO WALK THROUGH THIS WITH ME
>> IT'S VERY CLEAR, FROM THE BEGINNING, HE'S IN LOVE WITH
HER. HE IS TRYING TO RUN AWAY WITH
HER. >> Reporter: THAT'S NOT EVEN THE
STRANGEST PART OF IT, BECAUSE AT THE SAME TIME, HE SEEMS TO BE
SAYING, "I REALLY WANT TO BE WITH ANGEL STILL.
AND DARLENE, MY WIFE, YOU'RE AN INCONVENIENCE FOR THIS PLAN IN
MY LIFE. >> IT'S DEFINITELY VERY BIZARRE
FOR A GENTLEMAN TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE LOVE HE WANTS TO BE
WITH, WHILE SITTING NEXT TO HIS CURRENT WIFE
>> Reporter: BUT DARLENE SEEMED STRANGELY MAGNANIMOUS.
>> I -- I FORGIVE YOU, AND I HAVE COMPASSION ON YOU
AND I AM GOING TO BE WITH YOU AS HARD AS IT IS.
>> Reporter: LOUIE NOTED HIS OWN WIFE WOULD NOT BE SO
UNDERSTANDING. >> YOU'RE A BIGGER LADY THAN
LORI IS, THAT'S FOR SURE >> Reporter: DARLENE IS
PARTICIPATING IN THE CALL. SHE'S HEARING IT
>> AND IT WAS ABSURD >> Reporter: AND IT SEEMED
DARLENE'S LOYALTY TO HER HUSBAND HAD ALREADY BEEN TESTED.
>> THE POLICE CAME TO QUESTION ME WHILE ISAAC WAS OUT OF TOWN,
AND I JUST TOLD THEM THAT I CAN'T BE COMPELLED TO TESTIFY
ABOUT ANYTHING THAT WAS SHARED WITH ME IN CONFIDENCE WITH MY
SPOUSE >> Reporter: AS THE PHONE CALL
CONTINUED, THE EVIDENCE ONLY SEEMED TO GROW
IF ISAAC COULD BE BELIEVED, HIS STORY WAS BIGGER THAN AN AFFAIR
THAT LED TO MURDER ACCORDING TO ISAAC, ANGEL KNEW
MUCH MORE THAN SHE WAS SAYING. >> THE ONLY REASON THAT SHE HAS
TO NOT SAY ANYTHING IS BECAUSE THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT SHE
WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, IMPLICATED AND ARRESTED AND GO TO JAIL ALSO
FOR CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER. >> HE MENTIONS THAT SHE KNEW IT
WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. HE DID NOT GIVE ALL THE DETAILS
AT THAT MOMENT, BUT WE DEFINITELY, AT THIS POINT, KNOW
THAT SHE WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR, THAT SHE KNEW THAT HE WAS THE
KILLER >> Reporter: WHAT'S MORE, ISAAC
SAID HE AND ANGEL WERE STILL IN TOUCH.
>> HAS ANGEL BEEN QUESTIONED AT ALL?
>> OH, I'M SURE SHE HAS, YEAH. UM, WHEN I SPOKE WITH HER, SHE
WAS PRETTY SURE THAT HER PHONE WAS PROBABLY BEING BUGGED.
>> WOW >> Reporter: BUT HE SAID SHE WAS
PLAYING DUMB TO INVESTIGATORS. >> SHE IS STICKING TO HER STORY.
SHE'S DENYING EVERYTHING >> Reporter: AS THE PHONE
CONVERSATION WOUND DOWN -- >> ALL RIGHT, LOUIE, HAVE A GOOD
NIGHT. >> GOOD NIGHT.
>> Reporter: LOUIE WAS SPENT HE'D HELPED INVESTIGATORS NAIL
THE VERY MAN HE CALLED HIS GREAT PASTORAL SUCCESS STORY, ISAAC.
>> I REMEMBER WHEN THE DETECTIVES LEFT, I SAT DOWN AND
CRIED. THOSE WERE TEARS OF, NOT WHAT
DID I DO, TEARS OF REALIZATION THAT SOMEBODY'S LIFE IS ABOUT TO
CHANGE BIG TIME. >> Reporter: A LOT OF WHEELS
STARTED TURNING AND SET IN MOTION BECAUSE YOU MADE THAT
CALL >> RIGHT
THERE WAS SOME GUILT AND SHAME ON MY PART, YEAH
I BEAT MYSELF UP PRETTY GOOD >> Reporter: LOUIE DIDN'T WANT
ANY FURTHER PART IN THE INVESTIGATION.
>> I DIDN'T WANT TO GET SUBPOENAED TO COME TO COURT.
I DID NOT WANT TO FACE ISAAC AND HAVE HIM SAY, "NO, I NEVER SAID
THAT." AND I HAVE TO LOOK HIM IN THE
EYE AND SAY, "BUT ISAAC, YOU DID.
>> Reporter: IF ANY MORE EVIDENCE WERE NEEDED, BY NOW
INVESTIGATORS HAD CHECKED OUT ISAAC'S ALIBI ABOUT BUYING A NEW
CELLPHONE AT WALMART THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER.
SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE AND RECEIPTS SHOWED HE'D BEEN LYING.
THREE WEEKS AFTER MILTON SAWYER WAS MURDERED, THEY ARRESTED
ISAAC. >> YOU'RE GONNA BE CHARGED TODAY
WITH CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER, AND MURDER
>> Reporter: SO, THE CASE WAS ROCK SOLID AGAINST ISAAC
>> YES >> HE DID HIMSELF IN
ANGEL WAS MORE COMPLICATED WHAT WE HAVE IS A WOMAN WHO IS
LYING TO INVESTIGATORS AND HAVING AN AFFAIR, WHICH DOES NOT
EQUAL MURDER >> Reporter: MILTON'S FAMILY HAD
NO IDEA WHAT ISAAC HAD TOLD INVESTIGATORS.
BUT TO THEM, ANGEL HAD ALWAYS BEEN A BIT OFF
SURE, SHE'D BEEN A RELIABLE MOM WHO HELPED RAISE SEVEN CHILDREN.
BUT SHE ALSO SEEMED SO FULL OF HERSELF.
>> SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PERSON IN THE ROOM
>> Reporter: SHE WOULD RADIATE THAT OR SAY IT -
>> OH, SHE WOULD TELL YOU. SHE WOULD SAY SHE IS THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL PERSON >> Reporter: SHE WOULD SAY I'M A
BABE, EVERYBODY LOVES ME >> OH YES.
SHE WAS -- YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO DENY THAT SHE WAS A
BEAUTIFUL WOMAN. >> Reporter: AND THEY REGARDED
ANGEL AS A BLACK BELT IN MENTAL JIU JITSU.
SOMEBODY SAID IF SHE GOT IN HER MIND, SHE COULD PUT ONE PERSON
AGAINST THE OTHER. >> EXACTLY
>> Reporter: DID YOU GET THAT FEELING TOO?
THAT SHE MANIPULATED PEOPLE? >> YES, YES.
>> Reporter: AND WHILE ANGEL AND MILTON APPEARED TO BE A HAPPY
COUPLE, HIS FAMILY KNEW THE MARRIAGE WAS ROCKY
ALMOST FROM THE GET-GO, THEY QUESTIONED ANGEL'S STORY ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER
>> WE ALL HAD OUR OWN SUSPICIONS
>> Reporter: AT MILTON'S FUNERAL, NINE DAYS AFTER HIS
MURDER, HIS FAMILY THOUGHT ANGEL WAS SOMEHOW PLAYING THE PART OF
THE GRIEVING WIDOW >> SHE WAS WAILING AND CRYING
THE WHOLE TIME >> SHE AND I HAD WORDS AT THE
FUNERAL. I HAD SAVED A SEAT FOR MY
HUSBAND, AND SHE DIDN'T LIKE THAT I HAD SAVED A SEAT, AND
INFORMED ME THAT THAT WAS WHERE HER SUPPORT SYSTEM WOULD BE
SITTING, AND THAT I NEEDED TO MOVE
>> Reporter: LOT OF PEOPLE REMEMBER HER WEEPING AND WAILING
IN DRAMATIC FASHION. >> NOT UNTIL THE CURTAIN OPENED.
>> Reporter: IS THAT SHOWTIME? >> SHOWTIME.
ANGEL TIME SHE WANTED TO BE THE CENTER OF
ATTENTION. SHE'S LOST THE LOVE OF HER LIFE.
>> Reporter: NO QUESTION SHE WAS PUTTING ON A SHOW FOR EVERYBODY.
>> MOST DEFINITELY >> Reporter: ANGEL'S OUTPOURING
OF EMOTION TURNED UP TO ELEVEN FUELED THE SUSPICIONS HER FAMILY
HAD ABOUT HER POSSIBLE ROLE IN MILTON'S MURDER.
YOUR FAMILY BELIEVES, TO A PERSON, I THINK, THAT SHE'S
INVOLVED IN THIS IN SOME WAY >> IN SOME WAY, YES.
>> Reporter: NOBODY COULD PUT THE PICTURE TOGETHER EXACTLY
>> NO. >> Reporter: WITH EVERYTHING
THEY WERE HEARING FROM MILTON'S FAMILY, AND FROM ISAAC, THE
INVESTIGATORS WANTED TO SPEAK WITH ANGEL AGAIN
>>> COMING UP -- >> I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT
HAPPENED IT WAS A PLAN, AND HE'S ALREADY
TOLD US IT WAS A PLAN. YOU KNOW HE DID IT
>> ANGEL, BACK IN THE INTERROGATION ROOM WITH A VERY
DIFFERENT VERSION OF EVENTS. >> I SAID, I WILL NEVER BE WITH
YOU. I WILL NEVER BE WITH YOU
YOU'RE TERRIFYING ME I HATE YOU
>> Reporter: THREE WEEKS AFTER MILTON SAWYER WAS FOUND DEAD IN
HIS HOME, ISAAC MELCHER HAD BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH HIS
MURDER ANGEL HAD NO IDEA, AND SEEMED
ONLY TOO HAPPY TO SHOW UP AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WHEN
INVESTIGATORS OFFERED TO UPDATE HER ON HER STOLEN JEWELRY.
SHE NOT REALIZING THAT WAS ALL A PLOY
>> ORIGINALLY, I WANTED SOME JEWELRY STUFF I WANTED TO SHOW
YOU TODAY, AND THEN A TURN OF EVENTS THIS MORNING.
ISAAC HAS BEEN UNDER ARREST, HE'S COMING IN THIS MORNING.
>> GOOD. >> SHE SAYS, "GOOD," AND SHE
JUST KIND OF NODS HER HEAD >> Reporter: GOOD?
>> GOOD. >> Reporter: HOW DO YOU READ
THAT >> THAT SHE KNEW
>> WELL, HE'S SAID A LOT OF STUFF ABOUT YOU.
>> ABOUT ME? WHAT
>> WELL THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT
HE TOLD US STUFF ABOUT THE AFFAIR
>> I THINK THAT IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR THAT IF HE WAS OBSESSED
WITH HER, IT WAS -- IT WAS RECIPROCATED
>> OKAY, BE TRUTHFUL ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP
THERE'S MORE -- Y'ALL DID MORE THAN TALK, IT WAS SEXUAL,
CORRECT? >> THERE WERE TWO TIMES.
>> THERE WERE TWO TIMES, OKAY. >> WHERE DID THAT HAPPEN
>> UM, AT THE CLINIC AND BEHIND COA.
IT WAS ACTUALLY THREE TIMES. THERE WAS A PARKING SPOT ON THE
HIGHWAY ON 17. >> WHEN YOU WATCH IT AS A BIG
PICTURE, YOU'VE GOT HER LITERALLY WITH SINCERITY SAYING,
"I WOULD NEVER CHEAT ON MY HUSBAND.
AND THEN YOU KNOW A SHORT TIME LATER, "WELL, YEAH, I DID.
BUT YOU KNOW, IT WAS ONLY A COUPLE OF TIMES.
>> Reporter: SHE REPEATED THAT ISAAC WAS OBSESSED WITH HER AND
CRAZY, LIKE ON THAT MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND WHEN HE SHOWED UP AT THE
BEACH. >> THAT'S WHY HE KEPT -- TO
QUOTE MILTON -- STALKING US, I WAS JUST AS FREAKED OUT AS
MILTON WAS >> Reporter: SHE INSISTED SHE
WAS ALWAYS GOING TO STAY WITH MILTON
>> I SAID, "BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE THAT WOMAN WHO'S DIVORCED
TWICE. AND THEN HE STARTED MESSAGING
LIKE, "WELL, WHAT IF HE WERE DEAD
I WOULD BE WILLING TO DO THAT FOR YOU.
AND I SAID, "I DON'T WANT YOU TO DO THAT.
>> BUT MY POINT IS, I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED
YOU WERE THERE YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED
IT WAS A PLAN, AND HE'S ALREADY TOLD US IT WAS A PLAN.
YOU KNOW HE DID IT, THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN SAY TO ME THAT'S
GONNA MAKE ME BELIEVE ANYTHING ELSE
>> Reporter: ANGEL PUSHED BACK, CLAIMING SHE HAD NO IDEA THE
MASKED ASSAILANT DRESSED HEAD-TO-TOE IN BLACK WAS ISAAC
>> WHEN HE CAME IN, IT DID NOT CLICK WITH ME, HONESTLY, WHO IT
WAS BECAUSE IT HAPPENED SO FAST, UNTIL HE WAS ON TOP OF MILTON,
AND I WAS BEGGING HIM TO PLEASE STOP
AND I SAID, I WILL NEVER BE WITH YOU.
I WILL NEVER BE WITH YOU YOU'RE TERRIFYING ME, I HATE
YOU. >> WELL THAT'S NOT WHAT HE'S
SAYING HE'S SAYING, I'M TELLING YOU,
THIS WAS ALL PRE-PLANNED BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU
>> AND THEN SHE DOES ACKNOWLEDGE DISCUSSING ISAAC MURDERING HER
HUSBAND, BUT THAT SHE NEVER THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN
>> Reporter: IF IT WAS NOT ALL PRE-PLANNED, THEN WHY DIDN'T
ANGEL CALL THE POLICE TO REPORT ISAAC MELCHER ONCE SHE REALIZED
IT WAS HIM AND WHY, THEY ASKED, DID SHE
MAKE UP A STORY ABOUT A HOME INVASION
>> HE TOLD ME, "IF YOU DON'T STICK TO THE STORY THAT YOU WERE
BROKEN IN, I WILL FIND YOU AND I WILL KILL YOU.
>> WHY DID YOU STEER US AWAY FROM HIM
WHY DID YOU CLAIM THAT YOU HAD SEEN JEWELRY YOU THOUGHT WAS
YOURS? >> BECAUSE HE SAID HE WAS GONNA
KILL ME AND MY KIDS IF I DIDN'T. >> Reporter: THE INVESTIGATORS
SAID ANGEL HAD LIED ABOUT THE AFFAIR, LIED ABOUT PLANNING TO
MURDER MILTON, AND SPRINKLED FALSE LEADS -- SUCH AS POINTING
THE FINGER AT SKETCHY TREASURE HUNTER CUSTOMERS AS SUSPECTS --
LEADS THAT LED AWAY FROM ISAAC MELCHER.
>> SO WE STARTED TO ASK HER ABOUT SOME OF THE INFORMATION
AND FALSE LEADS SHE GIVES US AND SHE DOES COME CLEAN TO SOME
DEGREE >> JUST THE PERCEPTION -
>> I UNDERSTAND -- >> -- IS THAT YOU'VE LIED TO US
FROM THE BEGINNING >> I UNDERSTAND.
>> WHICH YOU HAVE. >> I UNDERSTAND.
I KNOW >> SO WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE YOU,
WHO'S -- WHO'S TOLD US AT LEAST TWO OR THREE SETS OF LIES.
>> I DON'T BLAME YOU FOR NOT BELIEVING ME
>> EVENTUALLY, WE KIND OF CONFRONTED WITH THE -- YOU KNOW,
ARE YOU ACKNOWLEDGING THE FACT THAT YOU'VE DONE THESE THINGS,
CREATING THINGS FOR US TO DO THAT YOU KNOW WEREN'T TRUE WAS
MANIPULATIVE AND SHE SAYS, "YES."
>> AND I'M SORRY FOR NOT COMING FORWARD.
I UNDERSTAND HOW IT LOOKS. >> Reporter: BUT IT WAS TOO LATE
TO BARGAIN >> UNFORTUNATELY, UM, WE HAVE A
WARRANT FOR YOU. >> I UNDERSTAND.
>> SO UM -- WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SERVE THAT AND FROM NOW FORWARD,
YOU'RE UNDER ARREST. >> Reporter: ANGEL AND ISAAC
WERE NOW BOTH UNDER ARREST, BOTH CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE
MURDER >> I REMEMBER GETTING A CALL
THAT THEY WERE ARRESTED, AND IT WAS LIKE A WEIGHT LIFTED OFF MY
SHOULDERS. >> IT'S NOT A HIGH FIVE MOMENT
BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE -- THE KILLING OF YOUR DAD
BUT THERE IS SOMETHING OF THAT >> YEAH, THERE'S SOME SORT OF
SATISFACTION, BUT IN THE END, MY DAD WAS STILL GONE, YES.
>> Reporter: ANGEL AND ISAAC WERE IN JAIL, AWAITING TRIAL,
ISAAC HAVING FULLY IMPLICATED HIMSELF ON THE CALLS WITH LOUIE.
SO ISAAC LEGALLY IS DONE >> HE'S DONE
>> Reporter: BUT IN ANGEL'S CASE, WHAT ISAAC HAD SAID ABOUT
HER IN THOSE RECORDED CALLS WITH LOUIE COULD NOT BE USED AGAINST
HER IN COURT AND ISAAC -- STILL OBSESSED WITH
ANGEL -- WANTED TO SHIELD HER FROM PROSECUTION
>> Reporter: YOU'RE THINKING IS HOW DO WE USE THIS GUY ISAAC TO
GET HER? >> YES
>> Reporter: TO GET ANGEL, THE PROSECUTOR NEEDED ISAAC'S
TESTIMONY IN COURT AND THAT MIGHT MEAN MAKING A
DEAL WITH HIM FOR A LESSER SENTENCE
SO YOU AS A FAMILY HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION
THE PROSECUTOR SAYS, LOOK, IF WE'RE GOING TO GO FOR JUSTICE
HERE, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS GO EASIER ON ISAAC SO WE CAN GET
HER. >> YES
>> Reporter: THAT'S A TERRIBLE CHOICE
>> A VERY VERY HARD CHOICE >> DO WE RISK HER GETTING A SLAP
ON THE WRIST AND HIM GETTING LIFE, OR DO WE REALLY KIND OF
TURN THE TABLES? >> Reporter: BUT HE, ISAAC, IS
THE HANDS-ON KILLER. >> YES
WE SAT DOWN ALL TOGETHER AND TALKED AS A FAMILY
WHAT MATTERS MORE AT THE END OF THE DAY TO US?
AND I MEAN, IT WAS UNANIMOUS EVERYONE KNEW WHAT NEEDED TO BE
DONE >> Reporter: GO FOR ANGEL.
>> MM-HMM. >> Reporter: MILTON'S FAMILY
TOLD THE PROSECUTOR IF SHE HAD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH ISAAC TO GET
ANGEL, SHE SHOULD DO IT. AS IT HAPPENED, ISAAC AND ANGEL
WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE THEIR RELATIONSHIP IN JAIL
BREAKING JAIL RULES, USING A THIRD PARTY TO MERGE THEIR
CALLS, THEY WERE ABLE TO TALK -- CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE
RECORDED ADA KIM PELLINI LISTENED IN.
>> AND HE STARTS APOLOGIZING FOR NOT LOVING HER WELL ENOUGH AND
ANGEL ASKED ISAAC TO GET A PENCIL AND SHE STARTS GIVING HIM
SCRIPTURES TO LOOK UP. >> OKAY, CAN YOU WRITE DOWN
JOHN 15, VERSES 12 AND 13. >> JOHN 15, 12 AND 13?
>> MM-HMM. >> SO, I'M OF COURSE BREAKING
OUT THE BIBLE APP, SO I CAN LOOK UP THESE SCRIPTURES AS SHE
QUOTES THEM. AND ONE OF THEM WAS THERE'S NO
GREATER LOVE THAN TO LAY YOUR LIFE DOWN FOR ANOTHER.
LIKE IF YOU REALLY LOVE ME, YOU'RE GOING TO LAY YOUR LIFE
DOWN FOR ME. >> Reporter: THE RIGHT THING IS
FOR YOU TO TAKE THE FALL HERE. >> RIGHT
THAT MESSAGE JUST FLOORED ME AND ALSO AT THE SAME TIME, SHE'S
STILL AT LEAST PORTRAYING HERSELF AS BEING A VICTIM AND
INNOCENT >> Reporter: AND WHILE ISAAC
SEEMED TO STILL BE A GUY IN LOVE, IT WASN'T THE SAME FOR
ANGEL. >> I'M VERY SORRY FOR EVERYTHING
THAT'S HAPPENED. ANGEL?
ARE YOU THERE? WHAT THE [ BLEEP ]
>> THE CALLER HAS HUNG UP. >> Reporter: WHO KNOWS IF THE
SUDDEN END TO THEIR CALL WAS THE MOMENT THEIR RELATIONSHIP FELL
APART. BUT AS ANGEL'S CASE HEADED TO
TRIAL, ISAAC HAD A CHANGE OF HEART.
HE DECIDED TO TESTIFY AGAINST HER.
>> COMING UP - >> I SLID MY ARM AROUND HIS
NECK >> ISAAC POURS OUT HIS STORY,
DETAIL BY DEADLY DETAIL. >> SHE WANTED ME TO HIT HER TO
MAKE IT LOOK LIKE MORE REALISTIC.
>> SHE WAS THE IMPETUS, SHE WAS THE MOTIVATION AND SHE WAS A
>> Reporter: IN SEPTEMBER 2021, THREE YEARS AFTER MILTON SAWYER
WAS FOUND STRANGLED IN HIS HOME, HIS WIFE ANGEL WENT ON TRIAL,
CHARGED WITH HIS FIRST-DEGREE MURDER
MEANWHILE, ISAAC MELCHER REMAINED IN JAIL AWAITING HIS
OWN TRIAL. AFTER HE APPARENTLY FELL OUT OF
LOVE WITH ANGEL, PROSECUTOR KIM PELLINI PLANNED TO USE HIM
IN COURT TO ARGUE ANGEL WAS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE MURDER.
IN THE RANGE OF POSSIBILITIES, THE JURY MIGHT FIND HER NOT
GUILTY - >> ABSOLUTELY.
THAT WAS ALWAYS A RISK AND I EXPLAINED THAT TO THE
FAMILY YOU ARE GAMBLING WHEN YOU GO TO
TRIAL. >> Reporter: YOUR STAR WITNESS
IS A SELF-ACKNOWLEDGED KILLER. >> YES
HE MAY NOT BE BELIEVABLE SO, THEY STILL WANTED TO GO FOR
IT >> Reporter: THERE WERE NO
CAMERAS IN THE COURT TO SHOW ANGEL AS SHE WAS LED IN.
HOW DID THE SELF-PROCLAIMED MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN OF
ELIZABETH CITY LOOK IN COURT >> AFTER YOU SPENT ABOUT TWO
YEARS IN JAIL, PRETRIAL, YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK ROUGH.
SO, SHE LOOKED PRETTY SEVERE >> Reporter: THE PROSECUTOR
PLANNED TO ARGUE ANGEL HAD MANIPULATED ISAAC INTO MURDERING
HER HUSBAND, THAT SHE HAD PLANNED THE KILLING,
PARTICIPATED IN IT, AND TRIED TO COVER IT UP.
CALEB TESTIFIED. HE TOLD THE COURT HIS DAD HAD
CONFIDED IN HIM HE WAS DEPRESSED BECAUSE HE BELIEVED ANGEL WAS
HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH ISAAC MELCHER.
WHEN YOU WERE ON THE STAND, DID YOU EVER TRY AND LOOK AT HER IN
THE EYE? >> I TRIED TO LOOK AT HER IN THE
EYE AS MUCH AS I COULD >> Reporter: IS SHE RETURNING
YOUR GAZE? >> SHE AVOIDED IT AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE >> Reporter: THEN IT WAS
ISAAC MELCHER'S TURN TO TESTIFY. >> I JUST WANTED TO BE THE GOOD
GUY. YOU WANNA BE THE PERSON THAT
PROTECTS >> Reporter: ALTHOUGH THERE WERE
NO CAMERAS IN THE COURTROOM, THIS IS VIDEO OF ISAAC, WITH HIS
BEARD GROWN OUT, TELLING INVESTIGATORS THE SAME BASIC
STORY HE WOULD TELL THE JURY HE CAME FORWARD BEFORE ANGEL'S
TRIAL, MAYBE TO TRY TO GET LENIENCY IN HIS OWN CASE
THE PROSECUTOR ARGUED ANGEL HAD GASLIGHTED HIM INTO MURDER
>> ONCE THE FACTS STARTED COMING OUT, IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT HE WAS
USED AND THROWN AWAY >> Reporter: DID HE EVER GET IT
THAT SHE WAS USING HIM >> OH YES.
>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTOR SAID ANGEL'S MANIPULATION OF ISAAC
STARTED DURING THE PT SESSIONS, AS SHE PLAYED THE VICTIM OF
SPOUSAL ABUSE. >> SHE WOULD TALK ABOUT HOW WHEN
THEY WOULD ARGUE, IT WOULD -- JUST BE VERY ABUSIVE
>> Reporter: AS THEIR FRIENDSHIP GREW, THEY FLIRTED, HE
TESTIFIED, AND ANGEL MADE SUGGESTIVE SEXUAL COMMENTS
>> SHE WOULD TALK ABOUT VERY PERSONAL THINGS SUCH AS I LAY
NEXT TO HIM NAKED ALL NIGHT LONG AND HE DOESN'T EVEN LOOK AT ME
>> THE PROSECUTOR SAID IT WAS IN DECEMBER 2017 WHEN ANGEL MADE
HER MOVE >> SHE BROUGHT UP, AGAIN, "OH
YOU KNOW, I'M OUT IN THE HOT TUB NAKED.
AND THAT TURNED INTO HER SENDING ME A PICTURE
>> Reporter: IF A NAKED PICTURE WASN'T FAR ENOUGH, ISAAC SAID
ANGEL SHOCKED HIM IN A PT SESSION WHEN HE ASKED HER TO
CHANGE INTO A ROBE AND HE STEPPED OUT OF THE ROOM.
>> AND I CAME BACK IN AND SHE WAS PRETTY MUCH ALMOST NAKED
ISAAC SAID THAT WAS IT MY ABILITY TO STEP AWAY AT THAT
POINT WAS GONE WHICH STARTED INTO A
RELATIONSHIP >> YOU'RE KIND OF HOOKED AT THAT
POINT? >> YES
>> HE BOUGHT IT HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER
>> Reporter: THERE WAS SEX LOTS OF IT, HE TESTIFIED
NOT THE THREE TIMES ANGEL HAD FESSED UP TO
>> AND THEN IT WAS A MATTER OF FINDING TIME AND PLACES TO DO
IT >> MY GOAL WAS TO BASICALLY BURY
HER IN THE LIES THAT SHE HAD TOLD BECAUSE NONE OF IT WAS
CONSISTENT WITH INNOCENCE. >> ISAAC CLAIMED HE TRIED TO
BREAK OFF THE AFFAIR BUT ANGEL TOLD HIM SHE COULDN'T LIVE
WITHOUT HIM. AND, EVEN THOUGH MILTON WAS
SUSPICIOUS SOMETHING WAS GOING ON, ISAAC AND ANGEL USED
FACEBOOK ENCRYPTED MESSAGING TO KEEP HIM IN THE DARK
AND AS FOR THAT CHANCE MEETING AT THE BEACH ON MEMORIAL DAY
WEEKEND? IT WASN'T A CHANCE MEETING AT
ALL. ANGEL ENGINEERED IT, ISAAC
TESTIFIED. >> SHE TOOK IT UPON HERSELF TO
ALSO GO TO JENNETTE'S PIER WITH HER HUSBAND.
AND HE SAW ME THERE, FREAKED OUT.
>> Reporter: ONCE ANGEL HAD HER HOOKS FIRMLY IN, THE PROSECUTOR
ARGUED, ISAAC SAID THEY TALKED ABOUT BEING TOGETHER
>> ONE DAY, SHE CONTACTED ME AND SAID I CAN'T LEAVE BECAUSE IF I
DO, "HE'LL KILL ME THE ONLY WAY THAT I WILL EVER BE
ABLE TO LEAVE IS IF HE DIES OF NATURAL CAUSES."
>> Reporter: THAT BECAME THE STARTING POINT OF A MURDER PLOT,
HE TESTIFIED SO, THE MURDER TRAIN IS LEAVING
THE STATION HERE >> YES
HE BECAME CONVINCED THAT MILTON WAS NOT GOING TO LET ANGEL
LEAVE. >> Reporter: SHE CLAIMED THAT HE
WOULD TRACK HER DOWN AND EITHER BRING HER BACK OR KILL US BOTH
>> Reporter: HE TOLD THE COURT THE FIRST IDEA, BEFORE THE
HOME-INVASION PLAN, WAS TO KILL MILTON WITH DRUGS.
>> MELCHER'S PREFERENCE WAS TO DRUG MILTON, YOU KNOW, PUT PAIN
MEDICATIONS IN HIS ALCOHOL OR BEER
>> Reporter: AND ANGEL WOULD BE THE BARTENDER.
>> YES >> Reporter: HE TESTIFIED ANGEL
EVEN DID A DRY RUN, PUTTING PILLS INTO MILTON'S DRINK, AND
NOTHING. MILTON SLEPT THROUGH MOST OF THE
FOLLOWING DAY. >> HOWEVER, HE SAID THAT ANGEL
REALLY PREFERRED THE IDEA OF DOING SOME STAGED HOME INVASION.
MELCHER DIDN'T LOVE THAT IDEA BECAUSE HE'S THE ONE WHO'S GOING
TO HAVE TO DO THE HANDS-ON SO, PUTTING HIM AT MORE RISK
>> Reporter: ON THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER, ISAAC DROVE TO A CHURCH
AT THE BACK OF MILTON'S HOME, STOLE THROUGH A WOODED AREA AND
ACROSS THE BACK YARD HE SAID HE PUT ON HIS MASK, USED
THE BACK-DOOR KEY ANGEL HAD TOLD HIM WAS THERE, AND WENT INSIDE
THEN HE DESCRIBED THE MOMENT HE KILLED MILTON.
>> I SLID MY ARM AROUND HIS NECK AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT HIM INTO A
REAR NAKED CHOKEHOLD >> THAT WAS PROBABLY THE
TOUGHEST PART. JUST HEARING PEOPLE TALK ABOUT,
YOU KNOW, DAD BEING ON THE FLOOR AND TIED UP AND NOT BEING ABLE
TO DO ANYTHING AND JUST THINKING ABOUT WHAT DAD
WOULD BE THINKING IN THAT MOMENT
>> HE DIDN'T HAVE A PULSE. SO, I KIND OF SLUMPED OVER TO
THE SIDE PULLED MY MASK OFF
>> Reporter: ANGEL WAS RIGHT THERE IN THE BATHROOM, HE SAID
>> I WAS VERY AFRAID THAT THE JURY WOULD GET CAUGHT UP IN THE
FACT THAT SHE DIDN'T ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY HURT MILTON, LIKE HER
HANDS WERE NOT ON HIM. I ARGUED THE ARM AROUND HIS
THROAT MAY HAVE NOT BEEN HERS, BUT SHE PUT IT THERE, LIKE SHE
WAS THE IMPETUS. SHE WAS THE MOTIVATION
AND SHE WAS A PARTICIPANT. >> Reporter: THE PROSECUTOR
ARGUED ANGEL WAS AN ACCOMPLICE WHO'D PLANNED THE MURDER AND
ALSO HELPED COVER IT UP. THAT HEAD WOUND WAS JUST A PART
OF THE STAGED HOME INVASION. ISAAC TOLD THE STORY
>> SHE WANTED ME TO HIT HER TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE MORE
REALISTIC, I GUESS SO, THE FIRST TIME WAS NOT
ENOUGH THEN SHE KNELT DOWN AND
BASICALLY SMACKED HER FOREHEAD AGAINST THE CORNER OF ONE OF THE
DRAWERS THAT WE'D PULLED OUT >> SHE GETS MAD AT ISAAC AND
SAYS, "YOU DIDN'T HIT ME HARD ENOUGH."
SO, THEN SHE ACTUALLY KIND OF PUSHES ISAAC OUT OF THE WAY AND
SHE HITS HER OWN HEAD TO CREATE HER INJURY
>> Reporter: THAT'S HOW SHE GETS BLOODIED UP?
>> YES SHE WAS MAD AT ISAAC THAT THE
HIT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH, THAT THIS INJURY WOULD NEVER BE
BELIEVABLE FOR THE STORY >> Reporter: ALL THE WHILE,
ANGEL, HER GROWN CHILDREN IN COURT TO SUPPORT HER, WAS
LISTENING TO ISAAC TESTIFY AGAINST HER.
DID SHE DO EYE VOODOO ON HIM OR PULL OUT THE WATERWORKS?
>> SHE DID NOT CRY AND I WAS VERY SURPRISED ABOUT
THAT I REALLY ANTICIPATED A BIT MORE
DRAMA. >> Reporter: ISAAC SEEMED TO
HAVE DELIVERED FOR THE PROSECUTION.
AND HE PUTS HER UNDER THE BUS, BUT GOOD
>> YES FOR SOMEONE THAT I HAVE SUCH A DISDAIN HATE FOR, HE DID
SO WELL IN COURT >> Reporter: THEN IT WAS ANGEL'S
TURN SHE CHOSE NOT TO TESTIFY
BUT HER TRIAL STRATEGY WAS TO DISCREDIT ISAAC MELCHER AS AN
UNRELIABLE WITNESS WHO'D TESTIFIED AGAINST HER ONLY TO
GET A LESSER SENTENCE. HER ATTORNEY SAID ISAAC ADMITTED
BEING OBSESSED WITH HER, THAT ANGEL NEVER WANTED HER HUSBAND
DEAD AND AS FOR THE IDEA OF DRUGGING
MILTON TO DEATH, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE, ARGUED HER ATTORNEY,
THAT SHE'D DONE A DRY RUN. WHAT'S MORE, ISAAC MELCHER HAD
ADMITTED THAT HE HAD STRANGLED MILTON
IT WASN'T ANGEL, SAID THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY, WHO MURDERED
HER HUSBAND. THAT WAS ANGEL'S DEFENSE
NOW IT WAS UP TO THE JURY. >>> COMING UP --
>> ALL OF MY EMOTIONS CAME TO A HEAD
>> WE ARE LITERALLY ALL HOLDING HANDS, IN TEARS.
>> YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> WHAT WOULD THE VERDICT BE >> MAN, THIS WOULD BE A BAD CASE
TO LOSE. >> Y
>> Reporter: AT THE PASQUOTANK COUNTY COURT, THE JURY WAS
DECIDING IF ANGEL SAWYER WAS GUILTY OF HER HUSBAND'S MURDER
WOULD THE JURY BELIEVE THE MAN WHO ADMITTED BEING THE KILLER OR
THE WOMAN ACCUSED OF MANIPULATING HIM INTO MURDER
>> YOU JUST WAIT IT IS PRETTY AWFUL
YOU SIT THERE AND YOU TRY TO ENTERTAIN YOURSELF
IT IS THE WORST TIME BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL AND YOU SECOND GUESS YOURSELF
THE ENTIRE TIME. >> Reporter: BUT MAN, THIS WOULD
BE A BAD CASE TO LOSE. IF SHE WALKED, YOU WERE THE ONE
THAT DIDN'T GET HER. >> YES
I WAS VERY WORRIED YOU KNOW, THE FAMILY WAS SO
NICE >> Reporter: THE MINUTES TICKED
BY SO THE JURY IS NOT VERY LONG
>> NO. THE LONGEST 20 MINUTES OF MY
LIFE >> Reporter: TELL ME ABOUT "ALL
RISE." HERE THEY COME
>> IT'S BEEN 20 MINUTES. IS THAT A GREAT THING OR IS THAT
AN AWFUL THING DO THEY GO IN THERE AND SAY
THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO FIND HER GUILTY OF FIRST
DEGREE I MEAN, WE ARE LITERALLY ALL
HOLDING HANDS IN TEARS >> THAT WAS WHERE ALL OF MY
EMOTION CAME TO THE HEAD I TRIED TO BE THE GUY AND THE
HEAD OF THE FAMILY FOR MY SISTERS.
SO, UM, DISGUISED MY EMOTIONS. BUT AT THAT POINT, I COULDN'T
HOLD IT BACK >> Reporter: HERE IT WAS, THE
VERDICT. >> WHEN THEY SAID "GUILTY," I
WAS THRILLED FOR THE FAMILY. >> Reporter: ANGEL WAS FOUND
GUILTY OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER AND CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER.
>> WE BURST INTO TEARS >> VERY HAPPY.
I THINK THE RESULT WAS THE ABSOLUTE BEST WE COULD HAVE
HOPED FOR. >> YEAH.
>> Reporter: DANIELLE LOOKED AT ANGEL ACROSS THE COURTROOM
HOW DID SHE TAKE THE NEWS? >> SHE NEVER LOOKED UP, NEVER
LOOKED AT US SHE LOOKED AT HER CHILDREN THAT
WERE THERE >> Reporter: SO WHO WAS THIS
WOMAN, DANIELLE? >> SHE DOES -- SURE DOESN'T
FOLLOW HER NAME. SURE WAS NOT AN ANGEL.
>> Reporter: BUT HOW TO MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL?
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CRIMES LIKE THIS, YOU'RE USUALLY
TALKING ABOUT MONEY AND SOME KIND OF GRUBBY CIRCUMSTANCE.
YOU HAVE THE STORY OF HIS OBSESSION, BUT IT JUST DOESN'T
QUITE ADD UP DO YOU FEEL THAT SAME WAY?
>> WELL, I THINK THE MONEY DID HAVE SOME PLAY IN THE STORY.
SHE BELIEVED THAT ISAAC WAS A VERY WELL-TO-DO THERAPIST.
SHE ASKED HIM IF HE COULD BUY A HOUSE AT THE BEACH, IF HE COULD
SUPPORT HER FOUR KIDS. SO I BELIEVE THAT SHE WAS MOVING
FROM DAD - >> MOVING ON DOWN THE LINE
>> -- JUST TO A BIGGER AND BETTER -- SOMEONE WHO COULD MAKE
MORE MONEY AND SHE COULD KEEP LIVING THE SAME LIFESTYLE
WITHOUT BEING A TWICE DIVORCED LADY
>> Reporter: "THANKS, MILTON, BUT IT'S OVER.
NEXT." >> EXACTLY
>> Reporter: FOR MILTON'S BROTHERS, IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE.
WHAT MAKES HER TICK? >> NARCISSISM, CONTROL
>> I'M THE HOTTEST GIRL IN THE ROOM
>> Reporter: ANGEL WAS SENTENCED THE SAME DAY
THE JUDGE GAVE HER LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE.
ANGEL IS APPEALING HER CONVICTION
SHE DID NOT WANT TO TALK WITH US ABOUT HER CASE
AS FOR ISAAC, HE'D ROLLED THE DICE BY COMING FORWARD AND
TESTIFYING IN ANGEL'S TRIAL. HIS GAMBLE PAID OFF.
AFTER ANGEL WAS CONVICTED, HE MADE A DEAL WITH THE PROSECUTOR
FOR A SECOND-DEGREE MURDER PLEA. HE GOT A 20 TO 25-YEAR PRISON
SENTENCE HIS WIFE DARLENE, WHO'D
SUPPORTED HIM ON THAT CALL WITH LOUIE, DIVORCED HIM.
>> AND WE, AS A FAMILY, KNEW DEEP DOWN INSIDE THAT HE WAS
MANIPULATED BY ANGEL >> I THINK THEY SHOULD BOTH
SERVE LIFE BUT THAT'S THE WAY THE JUSTICE
SYSTEM WORKS >> Reporter: AND THERE MIGHT
HAVE BEEN NO JUSTICE AT ALL IF NOT FOR LOUIE.
IF YOU TAKE LOUIE OUT OF THE INVESTIGATIVE EQUATION
ALTOGETHER AND HE NEVER DOES WHAT HE DOES, WOULD YOU BE IN A
DIFFERENT PLACE NOW ALTOGETHER >> VERY DIFFERENT.
>> YEAH. >> YEAH.
>> Reporter: IN AUGUST, LOUIE AND HIS WIFE LORI TRAVELED TO
ELIZABETH CITY AND MET WITH YO
MILTON'S FAMILY. >> MILTON'S KIDS HAD A HUGE
IMPACT ON ME BIG IMPACT
AND I COULD SEE THEIR PAIN IT HURT.
IT REALLY HURT AND MEETING WITH THEM WAS THE
CLOSURE THAT I NEEDED. >> Reporter: WHILE IN
ELIZABETH CITY, LOUIE ALSO VISITED ISAAC IN PRISON.
>> THE GOOD THING IS -- IS ISAAC KNOWS THAT I MADE THE RIGHT
DECISION TOO >> Reporter: HE SAYS ISAAC HAS
FORGIVEN HIM FOR TURNING HIM IN. ISAAC IS IN YOUR LIFE TO STAY?
>> I BELIEVE SO. YEAH
>> Reporter: MILTON'S SON CALEB IS GETTING ON WITH HIS LIFE.
HE'S AN ENGINEER IN THE NORTHEAST REGION OF THE STATE,
BUT HASN'T RULED OUT CREATING HIS OWN BUSINESS LIKE HIS DAD.
WHEN DO YOU MISS YOUR DAD THE MOST, CALEB?
>> I THINK ABOUT HIM EVERY DAY I WISH I COULD GO BACK AND ASK
HIM QUESTIONS AND DO THINGS THAT I NEVER HAD TIME TO DO
>> Reporter: BUT HE TAKES COMFORT FROM THE VIDEO MEMORIES
CAPTURED BY HIS MOM. THE EARLY DAYS OF HAPPINESS.
>> WE LOOK AT THEM PRETTY OFTEN, AND MY SISTERS WILL COME OVER,
AND WE'LL REWATCH, YOU KNOW, FOR THE MOST PART, CHRISTMAS VIDEOS.
>> Reporter: IS IT TOUGH TO SEE IMAGES OF YOUR DAD STILL ALIVE
>> OH, I LOVE -- I LOVE TALKING ABOUT DAD.
I LOVE SEEING PICTURES, VIDEOS THAT IS VERY HELPFUL TO ME
>>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF "DATELINE."
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY AT 10:00, 9:00
AND, OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY
NEWS." I'M LESTER HOLT.