>>> TONIGHT ON "DATELINE" --
>> THE VICTIM WAS ON THE FLOOR OF THE BATHROOM WITH MULTIPLE
STAB WOUNDS. THE SON IS THE ONE WHO CALLED
911. >> OH, MY GOD, MY MOMMY.
>> I REMEMBER SEEING MY DAD JUST BREAKING DOWN AND CRYING
>> Reporter: THERE HAD BEEN A PARTY IN THE HOUSE
>> CORRECT UPWARDS OF, LIKE, 20 KIDS.
>> MAYBE ONE OF MY FRIENDS MIGHT HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH
>> Reporter: THAT FOLDING KNIFE YOU FOUND --
>> BELONGED TO THE SON >> THERE WERE FACTS THAT ARE
WEIRD. >> I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING THOUGH
>> YES, YOU DID. YOU KILLED YOUR MOTHER AND
YOU -- >> NO, I DIDN'T.
NO, I DIDN'T NO I DIDN'T.
>> Reporter: THE LAB RESULTS COME BACK, AND THE DNA GIVES YOU
A NAME >> YES
>> HE HAD QUITE AN EXTENSIVE HISTORY.
ALL OF HIS BURGLARY M.O.s FIT THIS CASE.
>> ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HEAR THAT SOMEBODY ESCAPED FROM THE
COURTHOUSE >> Reporter: HE'S GOT A CREW
HELPING HIM. THIS IS "OCEAN'S ELEVEN" STUFF
>> YEAH. >> I THINK MY WORDS WERE, "ARE
YOU KIDDING ME?" >> Reporter: AS YOU'RE GOING
BACK TO ANNOUNCE YOUR VERDICT -- >> I'M LIKE, "WHAT AM I DOING?
THIS IS NOT RIGHT. >> IS THAT YOUR VERDICT?
>> NO. >> 35 YEARS I'VE NEVER HAD THAT
HAPPEN THIS FAMILY DESPERATELY NEEDED
CLOSURE. >> I JUST REMEMBER SHAKING
UNCONTROLLABLY >> YOU'RE ABOUT TO BE THRUST
INTO A HEARTBREAKING MYSTERY A MOTHER MURDERED, HER SON
ACCUSED. IT WOULD TAKE TWO TRIALS TO FIND
THE TRUTH. I'M LESTER HOLT, AND THIS IS
"DATELINE. *
>> HERE'S DENNIS MURPHY WITH
"THE FIGURE IN THE HOUSE." >> Reporter: DRIVE HALF AN HOUR
WEST FROM FROM THE BEACHES OF FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, AND
YOU'RE IN COWBOY COUNTRY BOOTS, HATS, AND LINE DANCING.
AT LEAST DAVIE, FLORIDA, LIKES TO THINK OF ITSELF AS THE OLD
WEST BUT REALLY, YOU'D HAVE TO SQUINT
TO REMEMBER THAT ERA THE DAIRY FARMS THAT ONCE RAN
ALL THE WAY TO THE EVERGLADES ARE MOSTLY GONE.
COWS AND HORSES MADE WAY FOR GATED COMMUNITIES PLOTTED WITH
MULTIMILLION DOLLAR HOMES. IN ONE OF THOSE NICE GATED HOMES
LIVED 20-YEAR-OLD JUSTIN SU, HIS MOM JILL, AND HIS DAD, NAN-YAO,
A PROFESSOR. A HOME THAT WOULD TURN INTO A
SCENE OUT OF A BAD SLASHER MOVIE, ALL THAT BLOOD, ALL THOSE
WOUNDS IT HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 8,
2014 THE NIGHT BEFORE, JUSTIN'S
PARENTS HAD RETURNED FROM A TRIP TO MALAYSIA.
THE NEXT MORNING HIS DAD SHOOK OFF THE JET LAG AND HEADED TO
HIS OFFICE AT THE LOCAL CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
HE'S AN ENTOMOLOGIST, A BUG GUY. JUSTIN'S MOM SLEPT IN, BUT WAS
UP WHEN WHEN JUSTIN LEFT THE HOUSE AROUND 9:30 THAT MORNING
>> MY MOTHER WAS IN THE LIVING ROOM IN HER PINK ROBE.
SHE WAS READING A BOOK AND I SAID, "SEE YOU WHEN I GET HOME
FROM WORK. >> Reporter: JUSTIN ALSO WORKED
PART TIME AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AS A PROFESSOR'S
ASSISTANT. SHORTLY AFTER NOON, HE GOT A
CALL FROM HIS FATHER >> AND THE FIRST THING HE ASKED
ME WAS, "ARE -- ARE YOU HOME RIGHT NOW?
LIKE, ARE YOU HOME?" I'M LIKE, "NO, I'M AT WORK."
>> Reporter: THE REASON FOR THE CALL FROM HIS OFFICE -- JUSTIN'S
DAD HAD SEEN SOMETHING UNUSUAL ON A REMOTE SECURITY CAMERA.
>> "I JUST SAW SOMETHING WEIRD CAN YOU GO HOME AND CHECK, LIKE,
WHAT'S UP? THE CAMERA'S JUST WENT OUT AT
THE HOUSE. AND I'M LIKE, "YEAH, OKAY, NO
PROBLEM. >> Reporter: JUSTIN'S DAD,
NAN-YAO -- >> AROUND 12:15 I THOUGHT, MAYBE
I SHOULD CHECK THE CAMERA TO SEE IF IT'S STILL WORKING OR NOT
>> SO THE CAMERA'S KIND OF BEEN FLICKERING IN RELIABILITY, AND
YOU WANTED TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: THE CAMERA WAS IN
HIS HOUSE NEAR THE KITCHEN WHAT HE SAW, AND IT WASN'T MUCH
MORE THAN A GLIMPSE, WAS A LIVE FEED IMAGE OF A FIGURE IN THE
HOUSE. >> HE WALK IN FROM THE KITCHEN,
TOWARD THE BREAKFAST AREA, AND DISAPPEAR FROM THE VIEW OF THE
CAMERA AND NEXT THING I KNOW IS THE --
I LOST MY IMAGE. >> Reporter: HE THOUGHT THE
FIGURE MIGHT BE HIS SON. BUT, IF IT WASN'T JUSTIN, WHO
WAS IT WHEN HE CALLED HIS WIFE JILL AND
SHE DIDN'T PICK UP, HE BECAME ALARMED.
>> I REMEMBER I SPED HOME FROM MY DAD TELLING ME TO GO -- GO
CHECK ON WHAT'S GOING ON 'CAUSE THE CAMERAS ARE OUT.
>> Reporter: WITHIN 15 MINUTES HE'D ARRIVED
THE SON WENT IN THROUGH THE GARAGE AND PASSED THE DOG
SNOOZING IN THE HALLWAY. JUST OUTSIDE THE KITCHEN, HE
CHECKED OUT THE FIRST SECURITY CAMERA
>> AND I SEE A CAMERA RIPPED OUT.
I DON'T SEE THE CAMERA, BUT I SEE THE WIRE THAT'S CONNECTED TO
IT >> IT HAS BEEN MESSED WITH, HUH?
>> IT'S JUST DANGLING FROM THE THING.
AND I'M THINKING WHY IS MY MOM GOING CRAZY?
WHAT'S -- IS -- WHY IS SHE, LIKE, RIPPING OUT THE THE
CAMERAS? IS SHE OKAY?
>> YOU THOUGHT YOUR MOM ACCOUNTED FOR THE CAMERA -
>> YEAH. >> DANGLING.
>> I MEAN, THAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE.
BECAUSE ONLY OTHER PERSON INSIDE THE HOUSE?
IT'S MY MOTHER >> Reporter: THE LIVING ROOM
CAM? THE SAME -- GONE TOO, JUST
DANGLING WIRES HE MADE HIS WAY TO HIS BEDROOM
WHERE HE SAYS HE SAW RIGHT AWAY SOMETHING WAS OFF.
SOMEONE HAD BEEN IN HIS STUFF. JUSTIN, AN AVID HUNTER AND
DIVER, WAS A KNIFE COLLECTOR BLADES WERE MISSING.
NOW HE SAYS HE COULD HEAR WATER RUNNING IN HIS PARENTS'
BATHROOM AND THERE IT WAS, THE BATHTUB
RED TO THE RIM WITH BLOOD, HIS MOTHER'S BODY FLOATING
>> HER HEAD IS DOWN. SO HER FACE IS JUST INSIDE THIS
BATHTUB THAT IS COMPLETELY TO THE TOP FULL OF HOT, BLOODY
WATER. WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING SO
HORRIFIC, THERE AREN'T WORDS TO COMPREHEND
>> Reporter: HE THOUGHT IMMEDIATELY OF HIS FATHER AND
CALLED HIM >> I'M, LIKE, "I THINK MOM
KILLED HERSELF." THAT'S JUST THE MOST -- AT THE
TIME, THE MOST RATIONAL THING TO THINK.
HE SAYS, "HANG UP. CALL 911."
I REMEMBER HIM SAYING, LIKE, "OH, MY GOD, NO.
LIKE, SOMETHING -- JUST ABSOLUTE PURE PANIC IN HIS VOICE.
I CALL 911 >> MOM
>> WHAT IS YOUR EMERGENCY? >> MOM
MY MOM KILLED HERSELF. >> OKAY, HOLD ON
>> Reporter: A SUICIDE THAT'S WHAT HE REPORTED TO BOTH
HIS FATHER AND 911 >> I THOUGHT MY MOTHER KILLED
HERSELF AT THAT POINT. >> MY NAME
>> YES >> JUSTIN SU
OH, MY GOD, MY MOMMY OH, MY GOD
>> OKAY, STAY ON THE PHONE WITH ME, JUSTIN
>> YOU LIFTED HER OUT OF THE TUB?
>> YEAH, LIFTED HER OUT OF THE TUB.
I HAVE BLOOD ALL OVER MY BODY. I START DOING COMPRESSIONS ON
HER -- CPR, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. >> YOU WEREN'T GETTING FLUTTERS
OF ANYTHING -- >> YEAH.
SHE WAS SO VERY FAR GONE I REMEMBER AFTER DOING THAT,
JUST PURE SHOCK. JUST ABSOLUTE TERROR
>> Reporter: AND THAT'S WHEN HE REALIZED HE'D GOTTEN IT ALL VERY
WRONG. STILL ON THE LINE WITH THE
DISPATCHER BUT NOW CHANGING HIS STORY.
HE SAW THAT HIS MOTHER WAS BOUND AND NOW TOLD THE 911 PEOPLE THAT
THIS WASN'T A SUICIDE AT ALL IT HAD TO BE A MURDER.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT, I THINK THIS -- I DON'T KNOW
THIS IS A MURDER, I THINK. 'CAUSE SHE -- HER HANDS ARE
TIED >> HER HANDS ARE TIED?
WHEN DID YOU FIND HER LIKE THIS? >> OH, MY GOD, I'M SO SCARED
RIGHT NOW. >> OKAY.
>> I'M LOOKING AT HER HANDS NOW AND, LIKE, HER LEGS.
I REALIZE THEY'RE BOUND. THEY'RE TIED
THEN IT STARTS TO CLICK. I THINK SOMEBODY KILLED MY
MOTHER >> Reporter: SOMEBODY WHO'D
BOUND HER HANDS WITH A CLOTH BELT, HER FEET WITH AN
ELECTRICAL CORD, THEN SLASHED AWAY IN A FRENZY, STABBING HER
MORE THAN 20 TIMES DAVIE POLICE WERE ON THEIR WAY
TO SECURE THE SCENE. DETECTIVES FOLLOWED AND WOULD
SOON BE ROLLING THEIR EYES IN DISBELIEF.
HOW COULD THE SON HAVE THOUGHT THIS WAS A SUICIDE
WEREN'T THE MULTIPLE STAB WOUNDS APPARENT
INVESTIGATORS WOULD LEARN SOMETHING ELSE TOO
THE VICTIM'S MAIDEN NAME WAS HALLIBURTON, AND SHE WENT BY
JILL HALLIBURTON SU. SHE WAS THE DESCENDANT OF A RICH
AND PROMINENT FAMILY IN THE AMERICAN OIL BUSINESS.
SO THERE WAS AN EARLY THEORY TO RUN DOWN
MAYBE JILL HALLIBURTON SU HAD BEEN SO BRUTALLY MURDERED FOR
HER MONEY. IT WAS WAY TOO SOON TO KNOW.
>>> A CRIME SCENE THAT WOULD HORRIFY EVEN HARDENED HOMICIDE
DETECTIVES AND LEAVE A SON SHATTERED.
WHEN WE COME BACK >> I REMEMBER SITTING DOWN IN
THE GRASS, AND THERE'S SOME MULCH RIGHT NEXT TO ME
I JUST STARTED PUNCHING IT AND, LIKE, SCREAMING.
>> THOSE SAME DETECTIVES WOULD SOON HAVE SOME TOUGH QUESTIONS
FOR YOUNG JUSTIN >> THAT FOLDING KNIFYO
* *
>>> ARE YOU GONNA BE ABLE TO FORGET THAT SCENE?
>> NEVER >> THAT WOMAN IN THE BATHROOM?
>> NEVER THAT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE
MOST HORRIFIC SCENES THAT I HAVE EVER WORKED IN MY 28 YEARS
>> Reporter: WHEN VETERAN DAVIE HOMICIDE DETECTIVE PAUL WILLIAMS
ARRIVED AT THE SU HOME, HE WASN'T SURE WHETHER HE HAD A
HOMICIDE OR A SUICIDE. IT HAD BEEN CALLED IN BOTH WAYS.
OFFICERS POINTED OUT THE YOUNG MAN SITTING IN THE GRASS AS THE
SON. HE HAD FOUND THE VICTIM.
>> I REMEMBER SITTING DOWN IN THE GRASS, AND THERE'S SOME
MULCH RIGHT NEXT TO ME I JUST REMEMBER LOOKING AT IT
AND JUST STARTED PUNCHING IT, JUST BANGING AND STUFF LIKE
THAT, SCREAMING. >> Reporter: EMTs TRIED TO CALM
HIM DOWN A FEW MINUTES LATER, HIS DAD
DROVE UP >> AND I SAW JUSTIN SITTING
THERE. I TRY TO GIVE HIM A HUG.
HE'S TOTALLY IN A STATE OF SHOCK.
BUT IMMEDIATELY THE POLICE COME TO ME AND SAY, "YOU CAN'T -- YOU
CAN'T GET NEAR HIM YOU TWO HAVE TO SEPARATE."
>> YOU CAN'T GET NEAR YOUR OWN SON?
>> NO. I REALLY WANTED TO GIVE HIM A
HUG. THEY WOULD NOT LET ME DO THAT.
>> Reporter: NAN-YAO MAY NOT HAVE REALIZED IT, BUT THIS WAS
THE FIRST SIGNAL THAT POLICE WERE LOOKING AT JUSTIN AS A
POSSIBLE SUSPECT MEANWHILE, DETECTIVE WILLIAMS
GOT A FILL IN ON WHAT HAD ALREADY BEEN FOUND THAT WAS OF
INTEREST AT THE FRONT ENTRY TO THE HOUSE,
A FOLDING KNIFE HAD BEEN RECOVERED WITH WHAT LOOKED LIKE
A TRACE OF BLOOD >> THAT FOLDING KNIFE YOU FOUND
I UNDERSTAND WAS -- BELONGED TO THE SON, IS THAT RIGHT
>> BELONGED TO THE SON, YES, SIR.
>> INTERESTING FACT TO TUCK AWAY AS YOU TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S
HAPPENED HERE, HUH >> YEAH, IT'S -- IT WAS JUST
DEFINITELY -- IT WENT SIDEWAYS >> Reporter: HAD THE KILLER
DROPPED THE KNIFE WHILE PURSUING HIS VICTIM THROUGH THE HOUSE
IT LOOKED THAT WAY OUT BACK, OFFICERS NOTED A
BREACH IN THE GLASS DOOR ON THE PORCH, SMALLISH, LIKE THE SIZE
OF A PET DOOR. IF THIS HAD BEEN A CRIME
COMMITTED BY AN INTRUDER, IS THAT HOW THEY GOT IN
THE HORROR SHOW WAS IN THE MAIN BATHROOM
IT WAS GROTESQUELY NOT A SUICIDE.
>> DID THE SCENE SPEAK TO YOU YET?
DID YOU KNOW WHAT -- WHAT HAD HAPPENED HERE?
>> IT SEEMED TO BE A PRETTY VIOLENT ATTACK
IT ALSO SEEMED TO ME, VERY EARLY ON, THAT SHE PUT UP A FIGHT
BECAUSE OF THE DISARRAY THE FRONT DOORWAY WAS IN, AND ALSO
FOR HER DEFENSIVE WOUNDS THAT WERE ON HER HANDS FROM THE
STABBING >> Reporter: DETECTIVE WILLIAMS
COULDN'T EXAMINE THE TUB YET BECAUSE IT WAS STILL FULL OF
BLOOD. BUT WHEN IT WAS DRAINED, THEY
FOUND TWO THINGS OF MAJOR INTEREST
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TUB, BENEATH THE VICTIM'S BODY, WAS A
LARGE HUNTING KNIFE. THEY LEARNED IT HAD BEEN A GIFT
FROM MOTHER TO SON THEY ALSO FOUND DESTROYED
SECURITY ELECTRONICS, THE ALARM BOX FROM THE HOUSE
>> THE KNIFE, THE ALARM PANEL BOX, AND SOME OTHER ITEMS THAT
WERE IN THERE -- >> GOT THROWN INTO THE BATHTUB
>> THROWN IN THERE, YES, SIR >> Reporter: THERE WAS NO TRACE
OF THE TWO MISSING SECURITY CAMERAS.
IT WAS CLEAR TO THE DETECTIVES THAT THE HOUSE HAD BEEN TOSSED,
RUMMAGED THROUGH, DRAWERS FLUNG OPEN
JILL HAD BEEN A KIND OF NEO HIPPIE AND NOT REALLY BIG ON
EXPENSIVE PIECES OF JEWELRY. TO THE INVESTIGATORS'
EXPERIENCED EYES, THIS DIDN'T LOOK LIKE A HOME INVASION GONE
WRONG. IT LOOKED STAGED, AND
AMATEURISHLY >> IS THERE A DISTINCTION IN
YOUR MIND, DETECTIVE, BETWEEN A PERPETRATOR WHO COMES WITH
MURDER ON THEIR MIND AS OPPOSED TO SOMEBODY WHO'S TRYING TO GET
INTO A HOUSE, STEAL SOME JEWELRY, AND THEN HAS A VIOLENT
EVENT? >> DEFINITELY A BIG DISTINCTION.
SO THE -- AND THAT PLAYS INTO THE VICTIMOLOGY.
SHE WAS A WELL-RESPECTED MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, HAD NO ENEMIES
THAT WE FOUND, A VERY WEALTHY FAMILY, WELL-TO-DO, WORKED FOR A
BUNCH OF CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS.
JUST A REALLY, REALLY GREAT LADY
>> AND TO USE A KNIFE, MULTIPLE STAB WOUNDS, WERE YOU TALKING
ABOUT THIS AS SOMEBODY'S TAKING IT PERSONAL?
>> PERSONAL OR IN A FIT OF RAGE. USUALLY WHEN SOMEBODY BREAKS
INTO A HOME AND YOU'RE A BURGLAR, YOU DON'T RISE TO THAT
LEVEL OF VIOLENT ATTACKS >> Reporter: WHILE THE CRIME
SCENE TECHS TOOK PHOTOS, COLLECTED PRINTS, AND SWABBED
FOR DNA, IT WAS TIME FOR THE DETECTIVES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
THE SU FAMILY. NAN-YAO AND JILL FIRST MET IN
JAPAN WHERE SHE WAS AN EXCHANGE STUDENT AND HE WAS TEACHING.
HE EVENTUALLY LEFT TO DO A PhD IN THE STATES, AND JILL LEFT TO
TRAVEL IN SOUTHEAST ASIA ABOUT TWO YEARS LATER, HE WAS
THRILLED WHEN HE GOT A POSTCARD FROM HER
SHE WAS IN THAILAND. >> THERE SHE WAS VOLUNTEERING,
HELPING THE CAMBODIAN REFUGEE ESCAPING THE KHMER ROUGE
GENOCIDE I WAS REALLY MOVED WHEN I SEE
THAT SHE WAS THERE FOR TWO YEARS.
>> WHAT DOES THAT EXPERIENCE TELL US ABOUT JILL
>> SHE ALWAYS WANT TO DO SOMETHING SHE CAN DO TO HELP
THOSE WHO NEED HELP. >> Reporter: WHEN JILL RETURNED
TO THE STATES, THE TWO EVENTUALLY MARRIED
>> THIS IS AMANDA. SHE WAS JUST HANDED TO ME A
MINUTE AGO >> Reporter: ADOPTING DAUGHTER
MANDY. SHE LIVES IN KENTUCKY.
JUSTIN CAME ALONG ABOUT THREE YEARS LATER.
THE YEARS THAT FOLLOWED WERE GOOD TO THE COUPLE
>> GIVE IT UP TFOR JUSTIN >> Reporter: JILL, A DEDICATED
MOM, STILL FOUND TIME TO CONTINUE HER LIFE'S PASSION FOR
VOLUNTEER WORK WHEN SHE FIRST CAME BACK TO THE
STATES, SHE AGAIN WORKED WITH REFUGEES FROM SOUTHEAST ASIA
YEARS LATER, SHE VOLUNTEERED TO MAKE AUDIO TAPES FOR THE BLIND,
READING BOOKS AND MAGAZINES. >> A MASTER IN FENG SHUI WAS
CONSULTED. >> Reporter: THIS IS HER READING
AN EXCERPT FROM A NATIONAL MAGAZINE ARTICLE
>> IT'S TURN OF THE CENTURY AMERICA WITH A CHINESE OVERLAY
>> THIS IS ALL VERY JILL >> YES, AND THAT'S THE PART I
FELL IN LOVE WITH. >> Reporter: THE SU FAMILY WAS
VERY CLOSE BUT IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS,
THERE HAD BEEN TENSIONS. JUSTIN HAD DROPPED OUT OF
COLLEGE. HIS FATHER WAS UPSET WITH HIM,
AND THERE WERE EVEN ARGUMENTS WITH HIS MOTHER, JILL.
THE COPS WERE, OF COURSE, ALERT TO THE MAYBE IMPORTANT FACT THAT
JILL HAD THAT PROMINENT MAIDEN NAME
SHE WAS A HALLIBURTON. HER GREAT UNCLE ERLE HALLIBURTON
HAD ONCE BEEN AMONG THE RICHEST PEOPLE IN AMERICA.
HIS WEALTH DIDN'T COME FROM OIL WELLS BUT FROM DEVELOPING AND
IMPROVING THE PROCESS TO EXTRACT OIL FROM THE GROUND.
>> THIS IS THE ORIGINS OF THE TEXAS OIL FIELD WORK,
HALLIBURTON INDUSTRIES >> YES
YES. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT AT THE TIME
WHAT HALLIBURTON IS ALL ABOUT, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WHEN I
FIRST MET HER. >> Reporter: TURNS OUT, WHEN
ERLE HALLIBURTON DIED, OIL RIGHTS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO ALL
FAMILY MEMBERS IT WAS PARCELED OUT SO WIDELY,
LITTLE TRICKLED DOWN TO JILL OR TO HER DAUGHTER, MANDY, OR HER
SON JUSTIN >> YOU BEING A HALLIBURTON, LO
THOSE MANY GENERATIONS DOWN THE LINE, DOES THAT MAKE YOU A RICH
KID? >> NOPE.
>> DO THEY SEND YOU A NICE ROYALTY CHECK?
>> YEP, FOR ABOUT $13. >> Reporter: TERMITES, NOT OIL
FIELDS, PAID THE BILLS 30 YEARS AGO, NAN-YAO DEVELOPED
TERMITE TRAPS USED WIDELY TODAY, AND THAT ALLOWED HIS FAMILY TO
LIVE COMFORTABLY THE NIGHT BEFORE THE MURDER, THE
SUS HAD RETURNED FROM THAT TRIP TO MALAYSIA WHERE THE RENOWNED
ENTOMOLOGIST WAS LECTURING AFTER THAT EXHAUSTING TRAVEL,
JILL DECIDED SHE'D SLEEP IN WHILE HER HUSBAND WENT TO WORK
>> YOU GO TO WORK, AND THEN YOUR LIFE IS CHANGED.
>> OH, IT'S A NIGHTMARE. >> MURDERED IN HER OWN HOME.
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: BUT NOW THINGS WERE
GOING TO GET A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE.
IT WAS TIME FOR THE DETECTIVE TO TAKE THE FATHER AND SON DOWN TO
THE STATION HOUSE FOR WHAT WOULD BE AN EXHAUSTIVE INTERROGATION
THERE'D BE LOTS OF QUESTIONS FOR THE SON ABOUT LIFE AT HOME AND
WHERE EXACTLY HE WAS WHEN THE MURDER TOOK PLACE.
>>> COMING UP -- >> WHY, MAN?
OH, WHY'D I LIE TO YOU >> AN EARLY LIE CAUGHT
DETECTIVES DON'T LIKE LIES >> SO YOU WANT TO START COMING
CLEAN? FINDING HIS MOTHER STABBED TO
DEATH IN A BLOODY BATHTUB, 20-YEAR-OLD JUSTIN SU, THE SON,
FOUND HIMSELF IN A DAVIE, FLORIDA, POLICE INTERVIEW ROOM
TRYING TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAD BECOME A TANGLED STORY
>> YOU CAN'T SAY, "LOOK, I AM THE GRIEVING, FREAKED OUT SON
HERE," RIGHT >> THAT'S WHAT I -- I -- I -
>> "WHO JUST FOUND THIS. WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
>> I WAS GOING THROUGH MENTAL HELL
>> Reporter: AND IT WAS ABOUT TO GET HOTTER
DETECTIVES ALWAYS START INVESTIGATING WITH THE INNER
CIRCLE OF FAMILY AND WORK THEIR WAY OUT.
AND IN THIS CASE, JUSTIN WAS THE ONE WHO FOUND HER AND MADE THAT
CONFUSING 911 CALL AT A MOBILE COMMAND POST PARKED
AT THE HOUSE, JUSTIN HAD BEEN DIRECTED TO REMOVE HIS CLOTHES
AND PHOTOS WERE TAKEN OF HIS BODY
HE WAS THEN GIVEN A WHITE JUMP SUIT
NOW AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS, DETECTIVES LOOKED MORE CLOSELY
FOR ANY BRUISING, SIGNS OF A STRUGGLE, OR FIGHT
>> I'M JUST GONNA CHECK YOUR NECK AND EVERYTHING.
>> ONE OF THE WORST THINGS ABOUT THE WHOLE SITUATION THAT STILL
IS A HORRIBLE MEMORY FOR ME IS I STILL HAVE THE BLOOD OF MY
MOTHER ON MY CHEST >> Reporter: JUSTIN COOPERATED,
ANSWERED THE DETECTIVE'S QUESTIONS, AND NEVER ASKED FOR A
LAWYER HE TOLD DETECTIVES THAT AROUND
9:30 THAT MORNING, HE DROVE TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
THEN RETURNED HOME AFTER HIS FATHER'S CALL, AROUND 12:30 IN
THE AFTERNOON. HE WALKED THE DETECTIVES THROUGH
THE SAME STORY YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD -- HIM COMING HOME TO FIND
THE SECURITY CAMERAS RIPPED OUT, THE KNIFE COLLECTION IN HIS
BEDROOM VANDALIZED, THEN, OF COURSE, HEARING THE RUNNING BATH
WATER AND FINDING WHAT HE FOUND IN HIS PARENTS BATHROOM.
>> I -- >> SHUT THE [ BLEEP ] UP, SON.
>> Reporter: BUT THE TONE OF THE INTERVIEW WAS QUICKLY GOING FROM
GOOD COP/BAD COP TO BAD COP/BAD COP.
>> A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER THAT YOU --
THE STUFF YOU TOLD US DOESN'T MAKE SENSE
>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN? >> THE SECOND WE SAT DOWN TO
TALK TO YOU, YOU'VE LIED TO US >> ABOUT WHAT?
>> Reporter: JUSTIN HAD AN EARLY ON PROBLEM WITH HIS STORY, AND
IT HAD TO WITH HIS WHEREABOUTS WHEN HIS FATHER CALLED HIM, HE'D
TOLD HIM A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT STORY THAN HE WAS NOW TELLING
POLICE HE TOLD HIS DAD HE WAS WORKING
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA BUT THAT WASN'T TRUE
>> SO YOU WANT TO START COMING CLEAN?
THIS IS YOUR ONLY [ BLEEP ] OPPORTUNITY.
>> OH, MY GOD. >> INCONSISTENCY TO YOUR DAD
>> YOU UNDERSTAND? >> WHAT?
WHAT'D I SAY TO MY DAD WHAT
I -- I LIE -- I LIED TO MY DAD I TOLD HIM I WAS GOING TO WORK
>> Reporter: HE TOLD DETECTIVES HE WAS IN THE LIBRARY OF THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE WHERE HE WAS TAKING CLASSES
TURNED OUT THAT WASN'T TRUE EITHER
>> WHAT IF YOU'RE NOT IN THE LIBRARY?
THEN WHERE WERE YOU? >> IN MY CAR
>> WHAT WERE YOU DOIN' IN YOUR CAR?
>> SLEEPING. >> BE HONEST WITH ME
DID YOU STAY IN YOUR CAR SLEEPING, OR DID YOU GO IN THE
LIBRARY? >> I STAYED AT -- OKAY
I'M SORRY I SAID THAT TO YOU >> YOU [ BLEEP ] LIED ABOUT THAT
TOO. >> BECAUSE I DON'T WANNA SEEM
LIKE AN [ BLEEP ]. >> Reporter: JUSTIN SAID HE WAS
CONCERNED HOW HIS FATHER WOULD REACT TO THE NEWS OF HIM
SLEEPING IN THE CAR, AND FOR GOOD REASON.
WHEN JUSTIN DROPPED OUT OF COLLEGE, IT WAS A HUGE
DISAPPOINTMENT TO HIS PARENTS. LIVING AT HOME NOW, HIS DAD
INSISTED JUSTIN GET A JOB AND GO TO SCHOOL PART TIME.
EMBARRASSED HE WAS DOING NEITHER THAT DAY, JUSTIN FEARED THE
ANTICIPATED ARGUMENTS BACK HOME LATER.
HE EVEN THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS HIS MOTHER HAD HAD ENOUGH, PROMPTING
HIS FIRST THOUGHTS THAT SHE HAD KILLED HERSELF
>> OUR LIVES HAVE JUST BEEN A LOT WORSE SINCE I MOVED BACK
WE GOT INTO A LOT OF FIGHTS IN BETWEEN THIS AND THAT AND SO
THAT'S WHY WHEN I FIRST SAW HER, I WAS LIKE, "WHY WOULD YOU DO --
WHY COULD YOU DO THIS TO US? LIKE, WHY DO YOU LEAVE US?
THAT'S WHY I THOUGHT SHE COMMITTED SUICIDE.
>> THE WORD "SUICIDE" I DON'T THINK WOULD COME OUT OF MOST
PEOPLE'S MOUTHS IF THEY FOUND A LOVED ONE BOUND --
>> PROBLEM NUMBER ONE FOR JUSTIN -- 911 CALL SAYING, "MY
MOTHER KILLED HERSELF. I'M LOOKING AT A SUICIDE
VICTIM." >> CORRECT
>> Reporter: DETECTIVES ZEROED IN ON THOSE KNIVES FOUND AT THE
CRIME SCENE. ONE WAS FOUND WITH JILL IN THE
BATHTUB AND THE OTHER OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR
BOTH WERE JUSTIN'S >> HE WAS AN AVID KNIFE
COLLECTOR. >> DOES THAT MAKE YOU WONDER
>> YEAH, SURE. THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT WE
LATER FIND OUT, THAT THE KNIVES ACTUALLY CAME FROM HIS ROOM.
>> Reporter: BUT JUSTIN SAID A STRANGER MUST HAVE BROKEN INTO
THE HOUSE AND TAKEN HIS KNIVES DETECTIVES QUESTIONED HOW LIKELY
WAS THAT >> SUPPOSEDLY, BY WHAT YOU'RE
SAYING, THEY -- THEY WENT INTO YOUR ROOM, SPECIFICALLY GOT YOUR
KNIVES, AND I GUESS POSSIBLY USED THAT TO KILL YOUR MOM,
RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID
>> RIGHT >> Reporter: AND THEN THERE WAS
A PUZZLING STORY ABOUT A THIRD KNIFE.
JUSTIN SAID HE TOOK IT FROM HIS CAR FOR PROTECTION AS HE FIRST
WENT INTO THE HOME >> WHERE IS IT NOW
>> IN THE CAR. >> WHY IS IT IN THE CAR?
>> I DON'T KNOW. >> Reporter: SO AFTER FINDING
HIS MOM DEAD IN THE BATHTUB, WHY WOULD HE GO BACK OUTSIDE AND PUT
THAT KNIFE IN HIS CAR? THE DETECTIVES' REACTION --
NONSENSE THEY PRESSED HIM
HE FINALLY ADMITTED HE LIED, AGAIN.
HOMICIDE COPS DON'T LIKE TO BE LIED TO.
>> WHY, MAN? OH, WHY'D I LIE TO YOU
WHY'D I SAY THE THING ABOUT THAT POCKETKNIFE?
I JUST WANTED TO LOOK LIKE I WAS BEING SAFE
>> Reporter: BUT JUSTIN STUCK TO HIS THEORY THAT AN UNKNOWN
ASSAILANT BROKE INTO THE HOUSE WITH THE INTENT TO ROB
DETECTIVES SAW IT ANOTHER WAY. PERHAPS HE AND HIS MOM HAD
ARGUED AND FOUGHT AND JUSTIN TRIED TO COVER IT UP BY MAKING
IT LOOK LIKE A ROBBERY >> MY MOM WAS MURDERED, FOR
GOD'S SAKES! I FOUND HER DEAD
I FOUND HER! I HAVE TO LIVE WITH THAT
>> MM-HMM. >> AND YOU GUYS ARE -- YOU GUYS
ARE THINKING I DID IT? >> YEAH.
>> YES >> YOU DIDN'T WAKE UP SAYING,
OH, I'M GONNA KILL MY MOM OH, I'M GONNA KILL MY MOM
TODAY. BUT WHEN IT HAPPENED, [ BLEEP ]
HIT THE FAN. YOU REALLY DIDN'T [ BLEEP ].
YOU WERE RACING TO [ BLEEP ] COVER THIS [ BLEEP ] UP TO MAKE
IT LOOK LIKE A ROBBERY AND IT WAS A BAD ATTEMPT.
>> Reporter: BAD ATTEMPT TOO, THEY SAID, IN POINTING TO THE
OPENING IN THE BACK DOOR WHERE JUSTIN SAID SOMEONE BROKE IN
IT WAS SMALL, TOO SMALL, DETECTIVES SAID, FOR A GROWN MAN
TO SQUEEZE THROUGH >> I GUESS YOU WERE THINKIN'
THAT YOU'RE GONNA TELL TWO -- YOU KNOW, NOBODIES, "HEY, THIS
WAS A ROBBERY -- CHECK IT OUT," AND WE'RE GONNA GO SALIVATING
OVER A DOOR THAT NO ONE COULD EVEN FIT THROUGH
YOU REALLY THINK THAT'S HOW THAT WORKS?
>> YEAH, BECAUSE I'VE NEVER SEEN A [ BLEEP ] ROBBERY BEFORE
>> LISTEN, A KINDERGARTEN KID COULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB
>> YOU'RE A SMART KID, BUT YOU SCREWED UP
>> WHY THE HELL WOULD I MURDER MY MOM IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS
I -- I DON'T SEE WHY I LOVE MY MOMMY.
I WANT HER TO BE ALIVE I WANT HER TO BE ALIVE
>> Reporter: DETECTIVES WEREN'T DONE
THEY HAD MORE QUESTIONS, BOTH FOR JUSTIN AND HIS DAD
>> MY GOD, PLEASE. >> Reporter: HE WAS IN THE ROOM
NEXT DOOR, HEARD THE YELLING, AND NOW HE TOO WAS ABOUT TO BE
CONFRONTED >>> COMING UP --
WAS IT JUSTIN HIS FATHER SAW ON THE SURVEILLANCE CAMERA?
>> I THINK IT'S A MALE, TALL AND SKINNY
THEY SAID, "OH, YOUR SON IS SKINNY AND TALL.
>> AND A STUNNING TURN >> WOULD YOUR DAD FRAME YOU?
>>> JUST WHY DID YOU DO IT THAT'S ALL
AND DO YOU EVEN FEEL BAD THAT IT HAPPENED
THAT'S ALL THAT'S ALL I WANT TO KNOW.
>> Reporter: THE QUESTIONING OF JUSTIN SU STARTED IN THE
AFTERNOON. >> ROBBERIES DON'T HAPPEN LIKE
THIS >> Reporter: AND BY THE EARLY
MORNING HOURS, DETECTIVES WERE STILL AT IT.
>> I SAW WHERE THE BODY WAS, AND I PULLED HER LITERALLY OUT LIKE
THAT >> Reporter: OCCASIONALLY
DETECTIVES LEFT JUSTIN TO TALK TO HIS FATHER NEXT DOOR OR CHECK
WITH OTHER INVESTIGATORS ABOUT LEADS THEY WERE PURSUING
SO FAR THEY WEREN'T BUYING HIS STORY.
>> PLEASE LET ME OUT >> Reporter: AND THERE WERE
SPELLS, SOMETIMES LONG ONES, WHEN JUSTIN WAS LEFT ALONE
>> OH, MY GOD, IM FREAKING OUT IN HERE, MAN
>> WHAT'S HAPPENING? WHAT ARE YOU HEARING
WHAT ARE YOU SEEING? >> WHEN WE LEAVE THE ROOM,
HE'S -- HE'S TALKING TO HIMSELF. HE'S SCREAMING AND YELLING
PROFANITIES INSIDE THE ROOM. HE'S OBVIOUSLY NOT COMFORTABLE
WITH THE FACT OF WHERE WE WERE -- WE WERE PUSHING HIM TO
>> OH, MY GOD. I WANT MY MOMMY.
I'M GONNA GO POSTAL, MAN I KEEP ON THINKING I SEE MY
MOM'S FACE, AND I CANT THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE WHEN I'M IN HERE
I JUST WANT TO BE OUT OF HERE. >> Reporter: FROM THE NEXT ROOM,
JUSTIN'S FATHER, NAN-YAO SU COULD HEAR HIS SON'S PAIN.
>> I'M SCARED, MAN I'M SCARED
>> Reporter: THE YELLING - >> WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME?
>> Reporter: THE CURSING THE BANGING ON WALLS
>> HE WAS BEGGING THEM TO GET HIM OUT.
IT WAS GUT-WRENCHING FOR ME AS A FATHER
>> Reporter: OF COURSE, INVESTIGATORS ALSO HAD QUESTIONS
FOR JUSTIN'S FATHER. REMEMBER, HE FIRST BECAME
WORRIED ABOUT HIS WIFE WHEN HE WAS AT HIS OFFICE AND LOGGED IN
TO VIEW REMOTELY THE HOME SECURITY CAMERAS
HE SAW SOMEONE ON CAMERA >> I SAW THIS FIGURE COMING IN
WITH -- HIS FACE IS COVERED WITH SOME KIND OF FABRIC, MAYBE A
MASK THE ONLY THING I CAN SAW IS THAT
HIS HEAD AND LOWER PART OF THE FACE IS COVERED WITH SOMETHING
WHITE. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF
THAT NEXT THING I KNOW IS THE -- I
LOST MY IMAGE. IT'S JUST VERY BRIEF MOMENT,
PROBABLY TWO, THREE SECOND >> BREAK IT DOWN AS WELL AS YOU
CAN. YOU'RE LOOKING AT EYES,
ESSENTIALLY? >> ALL I SEE IS A BLACK BAND
AROUND THE EYE AREA. >> WHAT'D YOU THINK?
YOU HAVE THIS ALARMING IMAGE, AND THEN IT'S GONE
CAMERA'S OFF >> YEAH.
THEN I THOUGHT, WHAT -- WHAT IS THAT FIGURE I JUST -- I JUST
SAW? >> Reporter: NAN-YAO'S FIRST
THOUGHT -- IT MIGHT BE HIS SON, JUSTIN
>> SO I THOUGHT, WELL, IS JUSTIN PULLING A PRANK ON ME?
>> Reporter: SO AFTER SEEING THAT IMAGE, THAT'S WHEN HE
CALLED JUSTIN. >> AND I SAID, "ARE YOU AT
HOME?" HE SAID, "NO."
>> HE DESCRIBED TO MYSELF AND MY PARTNER THAT HE SAW AN IMAGE
AND -- FOR A BRIEF SECOND AND THEN THE CAMERA WENT BLACK
>> SO HE SEES YOUR SUSPECTED KILLER
>> CORRECT >> I THINK IT'S A MALE, RATHER
SKINNY >> Reporter: NAN-YAO DESCRIBED
THE PERSON TO POLICE >> KIND OF TALL AND SKINNY
AND THEY SAID, "OH, YOUR SON IS SKINNY AND TALL.
AND I SAID, "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
>> Reporter: THE COMMENT THREW NAN-YAO BECAUSE, WHILE AT FIRST
HE THOUGHT IT WAS HIS SON ON THE CAMERA, HE WAS NOW SURE IT WAS
SOMEONE ELSE -- THE KILLER DETECTIVES ASKED THE PERSON'S
RACE >> CAN YOU TELL WHITE MALE,
BLACK MALE OR -- >> LOOKS LIKE WHITE TO ME.
>> OKAY. >> Reporter: WHITE MALE WITH
SOMETHING WHITE COVERING HIS HEAD AND A BODY SHAPE SIMILAR TO
JUSTIN'S THAT KEPT JUSTIN IN THE
CROSS-HAIRS FOR DETECTIVES, AND THEY TOLD HIM SO
>> IT WASN'T ME. I'M NOT GONNA CALM DOWN.
I'M SORRY. >> HE PRETTY MUCH DESCRIBED YOU
ON THAT CAMERA >> WHAT?
>> PRETTY MUCH >> MY DAD?
>> SO MUCH SO THAT HE -- THAT'S WHY HE CALLED YOU AND SAID,
"MAN, ARE YOU PLAYING A JOKE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA?
'CAUSE HE KNEW IT WAS YOU IN FRONT OF THAT CAMERA
>> OH, MY GOD. I'M GONNA GO TO JAIL, AREN'T I
FOR SOMETHING I DIDN'T EVEN DO >> Reporter: DETECTIVES TRIED TO
PLAY FATHER AGAINST SON. >> SO IS HE -- HE'S NOT GONNA
COME HOME WITH ME TONIGHT? >> WITH THE STORIES HE'S TELLING
US NOW, NO MORE THAN LIKELY HE WILL NOT BE
GOING HOME BECAUSE HE'S -- MY PARTNER SAID HE'S NOT MAKING
SENSE. THERE'S TOO MANY INCONSISTENCIES
WITH WHAT HE'S SAYING. >> Reporter: BACK WITH JUSTIN,
DETECTIVES KEPT PRESSING THE IDEA THAT HIS FATHER SUSPECTED
HIM OF BEING THE KILLER. >> HOW CAN MY DAD THINK I KILLED
HER? MY DAD DOESN'T THINK THAT.
>> YOU KNOW YOUR DAD'S PRETTY SURE THAT YOU'RE THE ONE HE SAW
ON THAT CAMERA >> REALLY?
OH, MY GOD >> Reporter: THEN DETECTIVES
REALLY PUSHED JUSTIN'S BUTTONS THEY SWITCHED TACTICS, NOW
IMPLYING HIS DAD MIGHT BE THE KILLER AND THAT HE WAS TRYING TO
FRAME HIS SON. >> SOMEONE'S TRYIN' TO FRAME ME,
MAN. >> IF YOU'RE SAYING SOMEONE
IS TRYING TO FRAME YOU, THE ONLY ONE CAPABLE OF FRAMING YOU IS
YOUR DAD WOULD YOUR DAD FRAME YOU
>> I GUESS HE ALREADY DID. >> SO IF YOU DIDN'T DO IT, WHAT
YOU'RE TELLING ME IS THAT YOUR DAD FRAMED YOU
>> NO. I CAN'T -- I CAN'T -- I CAN'T
BELIEVE THAT >> YOU CAN'T BELIEVE THAT?
>> I WOULDN'T -- MY DAD WOULDN'T FRAME ME
HE'S BLAMING ME FOR THE MURDER OF -
>> IF HE DID IT. DID YOUR DAD DO IT
>> NO, HE COULDN'T HAVE. HE WAS AT WORK AND STUFF
>> Reporter: AND WHILE DETECTIVES MAY HAVE HAD JUSTIN
SECOND GUESSING HIS DAD FOR A MOMENT, HIS FATHER SAW RIGHT
THROUGH THE GAME BEING PLAYED. >> DID YOU KNOW THAT YOUR NAME
WAS BEING PART OF THE SCENARIO IN THE OTHER ROOM?
THEY'RE SAYING MAYBE YOUR FATHER'S GOT SOMETHING TO DO
WITH THIS. THE FATHER FRAMES THE SON FOR
THIS >> YEAH.
IT WAS SO RIDICULOUS I DID NOT TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.
THEY PROBABLY TRIED TO USE MY STATEMENT TO FRAME HIM
>> Reporter: NO MATTER WHAT TACT THEY TOOK, DETECTIVES ALWAYS
RETURNED TO JUST HAMMERING AWAY AT JUSTIN.
>> I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING THOUGH >> YES, YOU DID.
YOU KILLED YOUR MOTHER AND YOU --
>> NO, I DIDN'T. NO, I DIDN'T
>> YOU KILLED YOUR MOTHER AND TRIED TO -
>> NO, I DIDN'T. >> YES, YOU DID.
>> NO, I DIDN'T, SIR >> Reporter: AND THAT'S THE WAY
IT WENT FOR NEARLY 11 HOURS. DESPITE THE PRESSURE, JUSTIN
INSISTED HE WAS INNOCENT AND IF INVESTIGATORS COULD ONLY FIND
THAT SNIPPET OF VIDEO OF THE INTRUDER FROM THE HOME SECURITY
CAMERA, THEN THEY'D FIND OUT WHO REALLY KILLED HIS MOM.
WAS HE RIGHT >>> COMING UP --
A FRUSTRATED AND INCREASINGLY ANGRY JUSTIN
>> WHEN YOU GUYS FIND OUT YOU'RE WRONG, I HOPE YOU COME AND SAY
SORRY TO ME, MAN, OR SOMETHING >> IF I FOUND OUT I WAS WRONG,
I'D SERIOUSLY CONSIDER A CAREER CHANGE
BUT I KNOW I'M NOT WRONG >> WELL, YOU ARE
>>> STOP JUMPING IN MY BRAIN AND TRYING TO MAKE ME SAY I DID IT
EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T DO IT CAN YOU STOP LAUGHING, MAN
IT'S NOT -- IT'S NOT FUNNY >> I'M NOT LAUGHING AT THAT.
I'M LAUGHING THAT YOU THINK I HAVE THESE POWERS.
>> Reporter: AFTER HOURS OF DETECTIVES IN HIS FACE SAYING
HE'D KILLED HIS MOTHER, JUSTIN REFUSED TO BUCKLE.
HE MAINTAINED HIS INNOCENCE AND SAID THEY WOULD END UP
APOLOGIZING TO HIM WHEN THE CASE WAS SOLVED
>> WHEN YOU GUYS FIND OUT YOU'RE WRONG, I HOPE YOU COME AND SAY
SORRY TO ME, MAN, OR SOMETHING THIS IS A HORRIBLE -- NO, NO,
THIS IS A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE. >> IF -- IF I FOUND OUT I WAS
WRONG, I'D SERIOUSLY CONSIDER A CAREER CHANGE.
BUT I KNOW I'M NOT WRONG >> WELL, YOU ARE AND YOU SHOULD
CONSIDER A CAREER CHANGE I'M SERIOUS, DUDE.
>> MAYBE, MAYBE. >> I'M SORRY, DETECTIVE, BUT
YOU'RE THINKING WRONG. AND WRAP ME UP TO A POLYGRAPH
MACHINE RIGHT NOW, MAN >> Reporter: THEY NEVER DID.
BUT IF THERE WAS ONE THING THAT COULD HELP SOLVE THE CRIME, IT
WAS THAT SNIPPET OF VIDEO OF AN INTRUDER HIS DAD SAW ON HIS
COMPUTER >> PLEASE SAY YOU GOT THE --
THE -- DID YOU GET A RECORDING >> Reporter: DETECTIVES WERE
ALREADY WORKING ON IT, ANALYZING IT FRAME BY FRAME.
IT MIGHT JUST CLEAR JUSTIN OR NOT
>> EASY. YOU GO TO THE TAPE
YOU PULL IT, AND YOU ALL LOOK AT IT
>> THAT'D BE GREAT THIS CAMERA SYSTEM THAT HE HAD
WAS A DROP CAMERA SERVICE INSIDE THE HOUSE.
AND YOU ARE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PAY FOR A SERVICE
WHICH KEEPS THE LIVE RECORDINGS. >> Reporter: IN FACT, THE SUS
HAD A TRIAL PERIOD FOR RECORDINGS THAT LASTED TWO
WEEKS. IT EXPIRED TWO DAYS BEFORE THE
MURDER AND WAS NOT RENEWED THAT MEANT THERE WAS NO VIDEO
RECORDING TO RETRIEVE. >> IT WAS JUST A LIVE MONITOR
VIEW SO ONCE THAT IMAGE WAS GONE, IT
WAS GONE FOREVER >> Reporter: BUT THERE WERE
OTHER INVESTIGATORS REVIEWING VIDEOS FROM OUTSIDE THE HOUSE,
INCLUDING AT THE FRONT GATE, TO SEE IF THEY COULD CONFIRM
JUSTIN'S STORY AND TIMELINE. JUSTIN TOLD INVESTIGATORS THAT
AFTER RUNNING ERRANDS THAT MORNING, HE LEFT THE HOUSE AGAIN
AROUND 9:15. THE SECURITY CAMERA AT THE FRONT
GATE SHOWED HIS BLACK CAR LEAVING.
ABOUT THREE HOURS LATER, SOMETIME AROUND 12:30, HIS CAR
CAN BE SEEN AGAIN ON THE SAME SECURITY CAMERA RETURNING TO THE
GATED COMMUNITY. IT WAS JUST AS HE'D SAID,
RESPONDING TO HIS FATHER'S REQUEST TO CHECK ON HIS MOTHER
AND THE HOUSE. >> BASED ON GUARD GATE VIDEO, WE
HAD HIM COMING AND GOING FROM THE HOUSE -- AND FROM THE TIME
THAT HE HAD LEFT -- AND BY THE TIME HE CAME BACK, THAT WAS THE
OPPORTUNITY WINDOW THAT WE -- WE BASICALLY PUT A TIMELINE OF WHEN
THIS MURDER TOOK PLACE >> Reporter: JUSTIN WAS NOT AT
HOME SHORTLY AFTER NOON WHEN THE DETECTIVES THEORIZED THE MURDER
HAD TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE. THE COMINGS AND GOINGS SEEN ON
THE SECURITY GATE VIDEO CONFIRMED JUSTIN HAD NOT KILLED
HIS MOTHER >> WHEN WE WERE DONE, WE WERE
PRETTY CONVINCED THAT HE WASN'T THE ONE WHO DID IT
>> SO ALL THESE SUSPICIONS YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT, YOU BELIEVED,
IN THE END, THAT HE WAS TELLING THE TRUTH?
>> I DID >> Reporter: JUSTIN GOT THE
WELCOME NEWS WITHOUT TRUMPETS OR DRUMROLLS.
HE WAS SIMPLY TOLD HE WAS FREE TO GO.
>> ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S OVER >> YEAH.
IT IS. THEY JUST OPENED THE DOOR.
>> WAS YOUR DAD THERE AT THAT POINT?
>> YEAH. I REMEMBER THE FIRST MEMORY I
HAVE OF MY DAD IS HE SAW ME, HUGGED ME, AND SAID, "OH, DON'T
WORRY. DON'T -- OBVIOUSLY."
HE DIDN'T -- HE DID NOT BELIEVE FOR A SECOND THAT I DID IT
YEAH >> Reporter: THROUGHOUT HIS
ORDEAL, JUSTIN WAS AGONIZINGLY AWARE HE STILL HAD HIS MOTHER'S
BLOOD ON HIM >> I HAD TO ASK THEM, LIKE, "CAN
I JUST GO TO THE BATHROOM? I HAD TO GO IN AND GO TO THE
SINK, TAKE THIS WATER, AND JUST TRY TO WASH OFF MY MOM'S BLOOD
IN THIS POLICE BATHROOM AND I'M BEING BLAMED FOR THIS.
>> Reporter: JUSTIN'S INTERVIEW WAS LONG, HARSH, AND
TRAUMATIZING >> IF YOU KEEP ON DOING THAT TO
SOMEBODY FOR 12, 13, 14 HOURS, THAT'S CLOSE TO TORTURE.
YOU CAN MAKE SOMEONE CONFESS TO SOMETHING JUST TO END IT, JUST
TO GET OUT OF THAT SITUATION, WHICH IS HORRIBLE.
I NEVER BROKE. >> Reporter: EVEN SOME LAW
ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS FELT THAT GRILLING HIM FOR 11 HOURS
WAS EXTREME. >> I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT I
HAVE SELDOM IN MY 35 YEARS OF PRACTICE OF CRIMINAL LAW SEEN AN
INTERROGATION GO THAT LONG >> Reporter: PROSECUTOR
MARIA SCHNEIDER WOULD BE THE ONE TO TRY THE CASE WHEN THE KILLER
WAS FINALLY CAUGHT >> HAD THESE GUYS STEPPED OVER
THE LINE INTO BULLYING, INTIMIDATION
>> YOU KNOW, INVESTIGATING THE FAMILY OR SUSPECTING THE FAMILY,
SADLY, THAT'S KIND OF PAR FOR THE COURSE
WHETHER I PERSONALLY THINK THAT THEY WENT A LITTLE BIT TOO LONG
AND A LITTLE BIT TOO HARD ON JUSTIN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ME
MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKING. >> Reporter: LEAD DETECTIVE
PAUL WILLIAMS SAID IT WAS AS LONG AND HARD AS IT NEEDED TO
BE >> DID YOU ROUGH HIM UP MORE
THAN YOU NEEDED TO TO GET YOUR STORY?
>> NO, I DON'T THINK SO. I NEVER FEEL BAD ABOUT THAT
BECAUSE WE DO THE INVESTIGATION FOR THE VICTIM WHO CAN'T SPEAK
IF I HAD TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN, I -- WE -- WE WOULDN'T
CHANGE A THING >> HE WOULD BE IN THAT ROOM AS
LONG BEING GRILLED >> AS LONG AS IT TOOK, WITHOUT A
DOUBT. AND THE OPTICS OF IT, IT'S
PROBABLY NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE.
MY JOB IS TO FIND THE FACTS. >> Reporter: AND THE FACT IS
THAT DURING HIS INTERROGATION, JUSTIN GAVE DETECTIVES A NEW
LEAD TO PURSUE, OPENING UP A WHOLE NEW AREA OF INVESTIGATION.
THE SON, IT TURNED OUT, HAD THROWN A PARTY AT HIS HOUSE TWO
DAYS BEFORE HIS PARENTS CAME HOME FROM THAT MALAYSIA TRIP
THERE WERE A NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE SMOKING, DRINKING,
WANDERING AROUND THE HOUSE COULD ONE OF THOSE PARTYGOERS
FIT THE PROFILE OF A SUSPECT THE INTERVIEW LIST HAD SUDDENLY
GROWN BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS. >>> COMING UP --
>> I WAS GUESSING MAYBE ONE OF MY FRIENDS MIGHT HAVE HAD
SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT. >> HAD JUSTIN GUESSED RIGHT?
>> THE PEOPLE HE MINGLES WITH, THEY'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT
ROBBING PEOPLE, DOING THIS, >> Reporter: DETECTIVES
INVESTIGATING THE MURDER OF JILL SU WERE BACK TO SQUARE ONE.
HER SON JUSTIN WAS NO LONGER A SUSPECT, BUT HE DID OFFER THEM A
TANTALIZING NEW LEAD >> SO IN RECENT DAYS THERE HAD
BEEN A PARTY IN THE HOUSE? >> CORRECT
>> WITH A LOT OF KIDS? >> A LOT OF KIDS, UPWARDS OF,
LIKE, 20 KIDS, 20, 25 KIDS >> SO THAT'S INTERESTING
>> YES SO THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE
INSIDE THE HOUSE, WHICH ADDED TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE
CONTAMINATION OR CROSS CONTAMINATION OF OTHER PEOPLE'S
DNA AND FINGERPRINTS THEY COULD HAVE LEFT ON THE SCENE, AS WELL
AS WHAT WE WERE DEALING WITH ALREADY.
>> Reporter: JUSTIN GAVE DETECTIVES A LIST OF PEOPLE,
MOSTLY YOUNG PEOPLE IN THEIR 20s.
>> YOU GAVE THEM NAMES >> YEAH.
I GAVE THEM EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY FRIENDS' NAMES
AND THEY WENT AND BACKGROUND CHECKED ALL OF THEM, YEAH.
IT WAS, LIKE, I WAS GUESSING MAYBE ONE OF MY FRIENDS MIGHT
HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT
>> Reporter: DETECTIVES REACHED OUT, CALLED THE PEOPLE FROM THE
PARTY. "COME DOWN TO HEADQUARTERS,"
THEY TOLD THEM "WE NEED TO TALK."
>> JUST NEED YOU TO OPEN UP YOUR MOUTH.
>> Reporter: AND WHEN THEY DID THAT, THEY WERE SWABBED FOR DNA.
>> OKAY, I'M GOING TO TAKE AN ORAL SWAB FROM YOU
>> Reporter: NO ONE OBJECTED BY THEN THEY ALL KNEW WHAT
HAPPENED TO JUSTIN'S MOM THREE DAYS AFTER THE PARTY
MOST WERE HAPPY TO ANSWER DETECTIVES' QUESTIONS.
>> DID YOU KNOW IF HE HAS CAMERAS INSIDE THE HOUSE
>> YEAH, JUSTIN TOLD ME HE DID >> HE TOLD YOU
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: JUSTIN TOLD
DETECTIVES DURING HIS INTERROGATION THAT, WHEN GUESTS
ARRIVED, HE MADE SURE HE TOLD EVERYONE TO BE COOL AROUND THOSE
SECURITY CAMERAS HE WARNED THEM THAT EVEN THOUGH
HIS PARENTS WERE AWAY, THEY SOMETIMES CHECKED THE CAMERAS
REMOTELY >> I TOLD THEM, "THERE'S A
CAMERA DON'T GO IN THAT ROOM BECAUSE
THERE'S A CAMERA AND MY PARENTS WILL SEE YOU
AND IF THEY SEE YOU" -- WHILE THEY WERE IN MALAYSIA -- "WHEN
THEY SEE YOU, THEY WOULD -- LIKE, THEY'LL GET PISSED."
>> Reporter: JUSTIN SAID MOST PARTY GUESTS WERE LONGTIME
FRIENDS. BUT HE SAID THERE WERE A FEW HE
DIDN'T KNOW VERY WELL, AND ONE GUY MADE HIS WAY TO AN
OFF-LIMITS PART OF THE HOUSE >> I REMEMBER I - I YELLED AT
HIM BECAUSE HE ACTUALLY WENT INTO MY PARENTS' ROOM, INTO,
LIKE, THE BATHROOM >> WHAT FOR?
>> HE WAS ON A PHONE CALL. HE WAS, LIKE, TALKIN' TO SOMEONE
AND JUST WALKIN' AROUND MY HOUSE KINDA JUST, LIKE, ON THE PHONE
>> YEAH? AND WHAT DID YOU TELL HIM?
>> I TOLD HIM "GET THE [ BLEEP ] OUT.
I WAS LIKE, "GET THE [ BLEEP ] OUT OF THERE, MAN.
>> Reporter: DETECTIVES TOOK NOTE, THE PARENTS' BATHROOM.
THE VERY PLACE WHERE JILL'S BODY WAS FOUND.
SO THEY ASKED THE GUY ABOUT IT >> I HAD GOTTEN AN IMPORTANT
PHONE CALL SO I'D WALKED AWAY TO GET AWAY
WANDERED AND I ENDED UP IN THE MASTER BEDROOM
AND THAT'S WHEN HE FOUND ME. AND HE WAS LIKE, "YO, CAN YOU GO
IN THE GARAGE OR SOMETHING MY PARENTS HAVE CAMERAS.
I DON'T WANT THEM TO SEE YOU IN THE BEDROOM AND THINK OF
ANYTHING WEIRD." >> Reporter: ACTUALLY THERE WERE
NO CAMERAS IN THE BEDROOM. THE GUY ON THE PHONE IMMEDIATELY
LEFT TO CONTINUE HIS CALL ELSEWHERE.
BUT HE AND SOME OF THE OTHERS TOLD DETECTIVES THEY SHOULD TAKE
A LOOK AT ONE PARTYGOER IN PARTICULAR, SOMEONE WHO HAD A
RECORD AND AN UNSAVORY REPUTATION
>> THE PEOPLE HE MINGLES WITH, THEY ALWAYS TALK ABOUT ROBBING
PEOPLE, DOING THIS, DOING THAT AND MY LOGIC "A," THE PEOPLE HE
MINGLES WITH "B," HE'S IN THE HOUSE
HE KNOWS JUSTIN'S THERE ALONE. HIS PARENTS AREN'T THERE
YOU SEE THIS BIG HOUSE, SOMEBODY WITH A LOT OF MONEY.
IF HE'S UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT HIS PARENTS ARE STILL GONE
AND THEY GO THERE MONDAY, SOMEBODY BREAKS IN
MOM'S THERE. MOM CATCHES HIM.
WHOLE ALTERCATION ENSUES THE WHOLE WHATEVER HAPPENED
HAPPENED THEY FLEE.
>> Reporter: POLICE TRACED THE GUY TO HIS HOME AND ASKED HIM TO
COME DOWN TO HEADQUARTERS TO ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS
HE TOLD THE COPS HE'D ACTUALLY BEEN EXPECTING THEM.
>> I HAD A FEELING I WOULD END UP HERE, JUST KNOWING THE
SITUATION AND [ BLEEP ]. >> Reporter: THEY ASKED HIM TO
TAKE OFF HIS SHIRT TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY SIGNS OF AN
INJURY FROM A STRUGGLE THERE WERE NOT
HE ADMITTED HE HAD AN ARREST RECORD, BUT FOR DRUGS, NOT
BURGLARY NO ROUGH STUFF
>> YEAH, I'M ON PROBATION RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S WHY WHEN YOU CAME TO MY HOUSE, I WAS LIKE [ BLEEP ].
I WAS LIKE, OH, GOD HERE WE GO >> OH, OKAY.
>> Reporter: AND WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR A DNA SWAB --
>> JUST OPEN YOUR MOUTH FOR ME >> Reporter: -- HE SAID HIS DNA
WAS ALREADY IN THE SYSTEM AS A RESULT OF HIS ARREST
>> 'CAUSE I'M ALREADY IN THE SYSTEM
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM PROVIDING IT AGAIN
>> Reporter: THE YOUNG MAN HAD AN ALIBI FOR THE TIME OF THE
MURDER HE WAS AT WORK, HE SAID.
IN ALL, DETECTIVES WENT THROUGH CLOSE TO 30 INTERVIEWS
EXCEPT FOR THAT ONE PERSON, NO ONE ELSE AT THE PARTY HAD A
CRIMINAL RECORD. >> YOU'VE CANVASSED ALL THE
KIDS, AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE A LEAD FOR YOU
>> CORRECT >> Reporter: MEANWHILE, CSI
INVESTIGATORS AT THE CRIME SCENE HAD ALREADY SWABBED A NUMBER OF
ITEMS FOR DNA. MORE THAN A WEEK LATER, NEWS
CAME BACK FROM THE LAB THERE WAS A HIT.
>>> COMING UP -- >> DOES A HIT MEAN YOU HAVE A
NAME AT THAT POINT >> YES
THEY IDENTIFY A NAME HAD QUITE AN EXTENSIVE HISTORY
>> AND A FAMILIAR WAY OF COMMITTING BURGLARIES.
>> ALL OF THEM WERE WITHIN -- WITHIN GATED COMMUNITIES, AND
THEY WERE ALL BACKED UP AGAINST WATER.
AND MOST OF THE ENTRIES WERE DONE THROUGH A BACK GLASS
DOORWAY. >> Reporter: IT'S AN
ELECTRIFYING MOMENT FOR ANY DETECTIVE WORKING A CASE WHEN A
DNA SAMPLE COMES BACK FROM THE LAB WITH, NOT JUST A HIT, BUT A
NAME ATTACHED. DETECTIVE PAUL WILLIAMS HAD ONE
OF THOSE A-HA MOMENTS NINE DAYS AFTER JILL SU'S MURDER
>> THEY'VE TAKEN THEIR SAMPLE, THIS GENETIC SAMPLE, AND
COMPARED IT TO A KNOWN - >> CORRECT
>> -- DATABASE >> CORRECT
LIKE ONE INTO SOME TRILLION, FOR THIS PERSON.
>> Reporter: AND MORE IMPORTANTLY --
>> DOES A HIT MEAN YOU HAVE A NAME AT THAT POINT
>> YES THEY IDENTIFY A NAME
>> Reporter: IT WASN'T THE GUY FROM THE PARTY
WASN'T ANYONE FROM THE PARTY THEY WERE ALL CLEARED.
RATHER IT WAS A 20-YEAR-OLD NAMED DAYONTE RESILES.
WHO IN THE WORLD WAS HE? THE DETECTIVE DIDN'T HAVE A
CLUE >> DO YOU GO TO YOUR COMPUTERS
AND PULL UP THE NAME >> PULLED UP A PICTURE, LOOKED
AT HIM, SAW HIS HISTORY. HAD QUITE OF EXTENSIVE HISTORY
>> JUVENILE -- >> JUVENILE --
>> -- HISTORY? >> -- STUFF, BURGLARIES.
NOTHING -- NO VIOLENT CRIMES IT WAS ALL BURGLARY AND PROPERTY
CRIMES >> Reporter: THE WAY
DAYONTE RESILES PULLED OFF THOSE BURGLARIES, HIS M.O. SOUNDED
FAMILIAR TO DETECTIVE WILLIAMS >> ALL OF THEM WERE WITHIN GATED
COMMUNITIES, AND ALL THE HOMES WERE HUGE.
THEY WERE ALL BACKED UP AGAINST WATER.
MOST OF THE ENTRIES WERE DONE THROUGH A BACK GLASS DOORWAY
INTO THE HOME. >> RAND DESTROYING SURVEILLANCE
EQUIPMENT IF HE COULD? >> YES, YES.
>> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE WONDERED IF DAYONTE HAD BEEN IN
THE SU HOUSE LEGITIMATELY. MAYBE HE KNEW JUSTIN
IF SO, THAT COULD EXPLAIN THE PRESENCE OF THE DNA.
THE DETECTIVE CALLED JUSTIN AND READ HIM THREE NAMES
>> I HAVE THREE NAMES. I WANT TO ASK YOU IF YOU KNOW
THEM OR RECOGNIZE THEM A LUCAS HAYWARD?
>> LUCAS HAYWARD >> YEP
>> NO. >> DAYONTE RESILES
>> DAVONTE WHO >> DAYONTE RESILES
>> NO, I DO NOT KNOW WHO THAT PERSON IS.
>> RODERICK EDWARDS? >> NO.
>> AT ANY TIME DURING THE, UH, PAST, UH, SEVERAL WEEKS HAVE YOU
GIVEN ANY OF THESE MALES PERMISSION TO ENTER YOUR PLACE
>> NO. >> Reporter: JUSTIN DIDN'T KNOW
THAT TWO OF THE NAMES WERE MADE UP
HE BLANKED ON ALL THREE, INCLUDING DAYONTE RESILES.
>> NEVER HEARD THAT NAME I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT MAN IN MY
LIFE >> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE TOLD
HIM ABOUT THE DNA HIT. JUSTIN WAS RELIEVED, BUT HE SAYS
IT WAS HARD TO FEEL ANYTHING BACK THEN BECAUSE OF WHAT HE'D
BEEN THROUGH HE WAS, HE SAYS, SHELL SHOCKED
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TERM TO SAY, BUT MENTALLY SCARRED
LIKE, I WAS MENTALLY, LIKE, BEAT UP, MAN.
>> Reporter: BUT THE POLICE WERE MOVING FAST.
THEY GOT AN ARREST WARRANT AND NABBED THEIR SUSPECT
IT WENT DOWN LIKE A TEXTBOOK CASE
>> WE WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOME BURGLARIES.
>> WHAT ABOUT A BURGLARY >> WELL, BEFORE WE TALK TO YOU,
I'VE GOT TO READ YOU THESE RIGHTS
NO YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK TO ME
>> I DON'T I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON SO.
>> OKAY, NO PROBLEM. >> Reporter: THEN THEY TOLD HIM
THE CHARGE HE WAS FACING >> YOU'RE GONNA BE CHARGED WITH
FIRST-DEGREE MURDER. >> FIRST
>> FIRST-DEGREE MURDER, OKAY >> WHAT -- WHAT I'M BEING
CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER FOR?
>> WELL, WE CAN'T TALK TO YOU SO -
>> WHAT? WHAT THE [ BLEEP ] IS THIS
>> Reporter: POLICE TOLD DAYONTE TO REMOVE HIS CLOTHING AND PUT
ON A JUMPSUIT. AND DAYONTE ASKED AGAIN ABOUT
THE CHARGE HE WAS FACING >> DO YOU KNOW WHAT MY CHARGES
ARE? >> FIRST-DEGREE MURDER
>> THAT'S IT THEY AIN'T TELLING ME NOTHING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WHERE --
>> WELL, YOU ASKED FOR AN ATTORNEY, SO
>> Reporter: DAYONTE WAS ASSIGNED A COURT-APPOINTED
DEFENSE ATTORNEY AN INVESTIGATOR, WORKING FOR THE
DEFENSE, WENT TO TALK TO HIM IN JAIL
GENTRY CHAMBERS WAS SURPRISED BY THE YOUNG MAN HE MET
>> HE'S A SCARED KID TO ME, THAT SAYS A LOT BECAUSE
THIS CASE, THE PERSON WHO DID IT, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GONNA
BE TOO SCARED. I THINK THIS WAS A CASE WHERE
WHOEVER DID THIS, THEY EITHER DID IT BEFORE OR, YOU KNOW,
DID -- THEY'RE A REAL GRUESOME PERSON
>> YOU THOUGHT THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TOUGHER, THICKER SKIN THAN
YOU'RE SEEING IN YOUR GUY? >> RIGHT BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT I
DO FOR LIVING. I TALK TO PEOPLE THAT'S
INCARCERATED >> Reporter: GENTRY LEARNED
DAYONTE RESILES HAD GROWN UP NOT FAR FROM THE SU FAMILY
HIS SINGLE MOM WORKED MINIMUM WAGE JOBS.
HE WAS NICKNAMED MOOCHIE AS A BOY.
>> I GET UP EVERY MORNING -- >> Reporter: AS A YOUNG MAN, HE
COULD BE CHARMING. DRIVEN TOO, IF THESE SELFIE
VIDEOS RETRIEVED FROM HIS PHONE MEAN ANYTHING.
A KNOWN BURGLAR TALKING LIKE A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
>> IF YOU NOT AMBITIOUS, YOU NOT GONNA GET FAR.
YOU WANNA GET RICH, YOU CAN'T GET RICH SITTING ON YOUR ASS
>> Reporter: WHEN HE WAS LIVING THE GOOD LIFE, HE COULD SHOW
OFF. >> GOT A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF THE
BEACH THERE. SEE OUT THERE.
>> Reporter: THIS VIDEO A TOUR OF HIS ROOM DURING A HOTEL STAY.
>> I WISH EVERYBODY IN BROWARD, HAVE A NICE DAY, YOU KNOW.
ENJOY YOUR SUMMER VACATION AND GET MONEY.
THAT'S ALL >> HE COULD HAVE BEEN ANYTHING
HE WANTED YO BE. >> YOU FEEL -- YOU FEEL THAT
STRONG ABOUT HIM >> I FEEL THAT STRONG ABOUT HIM.
I FEEL THAT IF HE WOULD HAVE GOT THE RIGHT DIRECTION, OR IF ONE
THING THAT WOULD HAVE CHANGED IN HIS LIFE THAT WOULD HAVE LED HIM
TO SEE SOMETHING GOOD, HE COULD HAVE BEEN ANYTHING HE WANTED TO
BE >> Reporter: INSTEAD HE LANDED
IN JAIL, CHARGED WITH MURDER ONE, POSSIBLY FACING THE DEATH
PENALTY. >> YOU'LL BE HELD WITHOUT BOND
UNTIL FURTHER ORDER FROM THE COURT ON THAT.
>> Reporter: BUT GENTRY HAD HIS DOUBTS ABOUT DAYONTE'S GUILT
THE SAVAGE WAY JILL SU WAS KILLED DIDN'T SEEM LIKE
SOMETHING A BREAKING AND ENTERING GUY WOULD DO.
>> TO KILL A WOMAN IN THAT FASHION, THAT WAY?
NO >> Reporter: TELL ME ABOUT,
THAT WAY -- KILLING IN THAT WAY.
>> IN THAT WAY IS TO -- TO BOUND HER AND TO STAB HER MULTIPLE
TIMES. ALMOST LIKE TORTURING, RIGHT
>> POLICE HAVE A WORD THEY USE OVERKILL
>> RIGHT >> Reporter: BUT THE CASE MOVED
FORWARD. IN THE MONTHS THAT FOLLOWED,
DAYONTE RESILES MADE ONE COURT APPEARANCE AFTER ANOTHER
THEN CAME JULY 15, 2016, ALMOST TWO YEARS AFTER JILL SU WAS
MURDERED DAYONTE WAS IN COURT THAT
MORNING FOR ANOTHER HEARING. >> ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HEAR THAT
THE COURTHOUSE IS SHUT DOWN. THE AREA AROUND THE COURTHOUSE
IS SHUT DOWN >> Reporter: DAVID NEAL, A
REPORTER WITH "THE MIAMI HERALD," WAS IN HIS OFFICE
COVERING BREAKING NEWS THAT DAY. >> THERE'S UNUSUAL NUMBERS OF
LARGE POLICE VEHICLES IN THE STREET, AND WE'RE NOT SURE --
EXACTLY SURE WHAT -- WHAT'S HAPPENED
>> Reporter: THEN NEAL AND HIS COLLEAGUES LEARNED
>> SOMEBODY ESCAPED FROM THE COURTHOUSE
>> SITTING IN A COURTROOM. >> RIGHT
AND SO WE'RE CALLING AROUND AND GOING, "WAIT, WAIT, HOLD ON.
>>> COMING UP -- >> HE'S UP AND OUT AND HE'S
GONE YOU SEE A BUNCH OF HEADS TURN,
LIKE, THE UTTER SHOCK. >> A SUSPECTED KILLER ON THE
LOOSE. AND A GRIEVING FAMILY WITH NEW
WORRIES. >> GOT A PHONE CALL FROM THE
VICTIM ADVOCATES, I BELIEVE, SAYING, "YOU MIGHT WANT TO PULL
>> Reporter: IT STARTED OUT AS JUST ANOTHER PRETRIAL HEARING AT
THE BROWARD COUNTY COURTHOUSE. DIDN'T END THAT WAY.
DAVID NEAL OF "THE MIAMI HERALD."
>> SUDDENLY HE'S UP AND OUT AND HE'S GONE.
>> Reporter: HE'S BOLTED WAIT A MINUTE.
A PRISONER, CUFFED AND SHACKLED, HAD SOMEHOW ESCAPED FROM A
PACKED COURTROOM YES, HE HAD.
>> THE GUY GOT UP AND ESCAPED FROM A COURTROOM
>> Reporter: THE GUY, OF COURSE, WAS DAYONTE RESILES.
>> I WAS LIKE, DID THAT GUY JUST REALLY DO THAT
>> Reporter: HE DID. AT 9:06, DAYONTE ENTERED THE
COURTROOM, FIRST IN THE LINE OF INMATES HEADING FOR THE JURY BOX
OUT OF CAMERA RANGE, WAITING FOR HIS CASE TO BE CALLED.
AT 9:36, A NEW GROUP OF INMATES ENTERED THE ROOM
SECONDS LATER, DAYONTE, STILL OFF CAMERA, RACED OUT, A BAILIFF
ON HIS HEELS >> SUDDENLY YOU SEE A BUNCH OF
HEADS TURN, LIKE, THE UTTER SHOCK OF EVERYBODY
THEN YOU SEE HIM HEAD OUT THE DOOR
THE BIGGEST RESISTANCE HE GOT WAS WHEN HE HITS THE DOOR, WHICH
WAS KIND OF A HEAVY DOOR, BUT SOMEONE WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE DOOR AND SO HE HITS THE DOOR, KIND OF
BOUNCES BACK, THEN PUSHES THROUGH AGAIN.
>> Reporter: AND MADE IT OUT >> WHY DIDN'T SOMEBODY TRY AND
TACKLE HIM IN THE HALLWAY? >> BECAUSE NOBODY EXPECTS THAT
IT WAS JUST SO OUT OF -- OUT OF -- OUT OF NORM.
>> Reporter: COURTROOM 4810 IS ON THE FOURTH FLOOR OF THE
COURTHOUSE ONCE DAYONTE WAS ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THAT COURTROOM DOOR, HE WAS OFF.
HE'S OUT OF SHACKLES HE'S OUT OF HANDCUFFS.
>> HE JUST - >> HE'S OUT OF -
>> HE'S OUT OF THE JUMPSUIT. >> HE'S OUT OF -
>> JUMPSUIT, AND HE'S -- >> -- JAILHOUSE GARB
>> AND YEAH, HE'S GONE >> PAST SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES, I
IMAGINE. BAILIFFS
>> BUT YEAH. YEAH
PAST EVERYBODY PAST -
>> Reporter: ALL SORTS OF COURT OFFICERS ARE THERE
>> RIGHT THIS GUY WAS JUST BLAZING
THROUGH. >> Reporter: CHARGING THROUGH
THIS HALLWAY, RACING DOWN THAT STAIRCASE.
CAUGHT ON SECURITY CAMERA AS HE BUSTED OUT A BACK DOOR TO A
WAITING CAR. >> THEY'RE GONE.
THEY BEAT THE PERIMETER. >> BEFORE THEY COULD SET IT UP
>> YEAH. BEFORE THEY COULD EVEN SET IT
UP >> Reporter: A SUSPECTED KILLER
WAS ROAMING FREE LAW ENFORCEMENT SWUNG INTO
ACTION THE COURTHOUSE WAS LOCKED DOWN
A MANHUNT LAUNCHED AND A HUGELY EMBARRASSED BROWARD
COUNTY SHERIFF FACED THE CAMERAS.
>> THERE'LL BE INVESTIGATIONS AND DEBRIEFINGS.
BUT RIGHT NOW, MY MAIN CONCERN IS WHERE HE IS RIGHT NOW
>> Reporter: DAVIE DETECTIVE PAUL WILLIAMS HEARD THE NEWS
FROM A COLLEAGUE AT THE BROWARD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
>> I THINK MY WORDS WERE, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"
AND I SAID, "WHATEVER HELP YOU GUYS NEED.
>> SO YOU'RE WORKING WITH, WHAT, KNOWN ASSOCIATES AND FAMILY
MEMBERS AND -- >> CORRECT
I RAN THROUGH ALL MY CRIMINAL HISTORIES, ALL THE CONTACTS THAT
I HAD WITH THEM. >> Reporter: LIKE EVERYONE ELSE,
JUSTIN SU COULDN'T BELIEVE HIS EARS WHEN HE LEARNED ABOUT THE
ESCAPE >> GOT A PHONE CALL FROM THE
VICTIM ADVOCATES, I BELIEVE, SAYING, "YOU MIGHT WANT TO PULL
OVER." AND I REMEMBER STOPPING THE GAS
STATION AND SAYING, "HE ESCAPED FROM PRISON AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE
HAVING ALL THE"-- ASSURED ME THERE'S ALL THESE RESOURCES OUT
TO TRY LOOKING FOR HIM >> Reporter: DETECTIVE WILLIAMS
CALLED THE SUS AS WELL >> OBVIOUSLY THEIR CONCERN WAS
THEIR SAFETY AND WHETHER HE WAS GOING TO COME BACK TO THEIR
HOME >> LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER,
RIGHT? >> CORRECT
I ARRANGED IT WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR COMMAND STAFF
TO HAVE DAVIE POLICE OFFICERS MAINTAIN SECURITY AT THE HOME
FOR THE SU FAMILY. >> AND WE HAVE THE LATEST ON THE
SEARCH TONIGHT >> Reporter: THE STORY WAS ALL
OVER THE LOCAL NEWS. THE SHERIFF AT THE TIME APPEALED
TO THE COMMUNITY TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT.
>> IF YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHERE HE IS, YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHERE
HE MIGHT BE OR KNOW WHERE HE MIGHT BE GOING OR YOU THINK YOU
SEE HIM, CALL US UP. >> Reporter: TWO DAYS, THREE
DAYS, FOUR DAYS PASSED A CRIME STOPPERS REWARD GREW TO
$50,000, BUT THE FUGITIVE CONTINUED TO ELUDE THE LAW
AND THE RUMOR MILL EXPLODED. DAYONTE WAS HERE
DAYONTE WAS THERE. LAW ENFORCEMENT RUNNING DOWN THE
TIPS, CHASING DOWN THE RUMORS. >> WE'D ACTUALLY HEARD AT ONE
POINT HE PULLED INTO A HOSPITAL IN WEST BROWARD AND HE DIED IN
THE EMERGENCY ROOM THERE I HAPPENED TO HAVE A
EX-GIRLFRIEND WHO WORKED IN THAT EMERGENCY ROOM
I QUICKLY TEXTED HER, "DO YOU HAVE A DEAD GUY THERE, MAYBE IN
HIS EARLY 20s, BLACK?" SHE'S LIKE, "NO.
>> SO THIS STUFF IS ALL FLOATING AROUND
>> YEAH, THE RUMORS WERE FLYING. >> Reporter: AND WHEN
INVESTIGATORS TURNED UP AT DAYONTE'S OLD HANGOUTS TO TALK
TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS, THEY DIDN'T ALWAYS GET A WARM
WELCOME. IN FACT, JUST THE OPPOSITE
>> THEY'RE INCREDIBLY NOT RECEPTIVE AND THEY'RE NOT HAVING
IT >> Reporter: THE CASE REINFORCED
A SENTIMENT IN PARTS OF BROWARD COUNTY'S BLACK COMMUNITY THAT
THEY COULDN'T GET A FAIR SHAKE DAYONTE'S SUPPORTERS ASKING, AS
OTHERS HAD, WHY A BURGLAR WAS FACING A CHARGE OF MURDER?
>> HE'S GOT A PAST OF, YOU KNOW, ROBBERY, BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE A
VIOLENT PAST THE FEELING IS THEY NEEDED A
BLACK GUY TO PIN IT ON AND THEY PICKED HIM
SO THAT WAS THE FEELING OUT OF A LOT OF HIS FRIENDS AND
ASSOCIATES AND A FAIR AMOUNT OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN BROWARD
THAT KNEW HIM. * RUN MOOCHIE, RUN *
>> Reporter: DAYONTE'S AUDACIOUS ESCAPE GENERATED SYMPATHY FOR
HIM ON SOCIAL MEDIA. HE BECAME SOMETHING OF A FOLK
HERO TO HIS SUPPORTERS, KNOWN BY THAT CHILDHOOD NICKNAME MOOCHIE.
>> AND THERE'S A RAP SONG? >> THERE WAS RAP SONG.
THERE WAS A -- >> "RUN, MOOCHIE, RUN," IS THAT
RIGHT? >> YEAH, THERE WAS
#RUNMOOCHIERUN THERE WAS THIS OUTCRY ON SOCIAL
MEDIA FROM HIS -- FROM HIS FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES SAYING
THEY SHOULD TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK BACK INTO
THAT CASE, WHICH IS NOT QUITE THE WAY THINGS WORK, FOLKS
>> Reporter: BUT THEN, SUDDENLY, MOOCHIE STOPPED RUNNING.
>>> COMING UP -- THE GREAT ESCAPE AND HOW IT WAS
DONE >> Reporter: AFTER
DAYONTE RESILES PULLED OFF THAT CRAZY CAPER AT THE BROWARD
COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND WENT ON THE LAM, A PROMISING NEW LEAD
CAME IN. A TIPSTER CLAIMED DAYONTE WAS
HUNKERED DOWN AT A DAYS INN ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY
LAW ENFORCEMENT HIGHTAILED IT NORTH AND SHOWED UP IN FORCE
>> THE INFORMATION THAT WE WERE RECEIVING IS THAT HE WAS GONNA
GO DOWN WITH A FIGHT SO OBVIOUSLY, THE S.W.A.T. TEAMS
WERE CALLED. >> Reporter: IT WAS SIX DAYS
SINCE DAYONTE HAD BUSTED OUT OF THE COURTHOUSE
>> ANY DRAMATICS IN THE TAKEDOWN
>> NO, HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT, BROUGHT
BACK TO THE BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE
>> Reporter: A GREATLY RELIEVED BROWARD COUNTY SHERIFF WIPED
GIANT OMELET AMOUNTS OF EGG OFF HIS FACE AND ANNOUNCED THE
ARREST >> BROWARD COUNTY AND SOUTH
FLORIDA IS A SAFER PLACE >> Reporter: SO HOW DID HE DO
IT HOW DID A 21-YEAR-OLD JAILHOUSE
PRISONER PULL THIS THING OFF WELL, BY ENLISTING THE HELP OF
DEVOTED FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS.
THAT'S HOW >> THIS IS "OCEAN'S ELEVEN"
STUFF. >> YEAH.
>> WE'RE GONNA BREAK THIS GUY OUT OF THE COURTROOM
>> VERY COORDINATED. >> Reporter: DAYONTE'S RECORDED
PHONE CALLS FROM JAIL EXPOSED THE PLOT
ONCE INVESTIGATORS LISTENED TO THEM, THEY LEARNED THEY'D BEEN
OUTWITTED BY A CONFEDERACY OF MOSTLY TEENAGE PLOTTERS.
>> HE ROUNDED UP THE IMPOSSIBLE MISSIONS FORCE AND, YOU KNOW,
LIT THE MATCH AND PULLED IT OFF. >> Reporter: THIS IS VIDEO OF
DAYONTE IN JAIL ON THE MORNING OF THE ESCAPE, PREPARING TO PUT
A PLAN INTO PLAY THAT INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE HE'D BEEN
HATCHING FOR MONTHS. BEGINNING WITH A KEY THAT WOULD
UNLOCK HIS CUFFS AND SHACKLES. HOW DID HE GET HIS HANDS ON SUCH
A KEY? PROSECUTOR MARIA SCHNEIDER
>> THERE WAS A DEPUTY AT THE JAIL WHO, A COUPLE MONTHS BEFORE
THIS, REPORTED HAVING LOST A HANDCUFF KEY
LOSING A HANDCUFF KEY IN THE JAIL IS A VERY BIG DEAL.
SO IF YOU LOSE ONE, YOU HAVE TO FILE A REPORT INDICATING WHERE
YOU HAD IT, WHERE YOU LOST IT. >> Reporter: SO WE DON'T KNOW
THAT THAT KEY, IN FACT - >> WE DON'T KNOW THAT IT WAS
THAT - >> -- THAT UNLOCKED HIS
HANDCUFFS, BUT YOU WONDER. >> YES
>> Reporter: THE INVESTIGATORS LISTENED TO A PHONE CALL
RECORDED JUST DAYS BEFORE THE ESCAPE
DAYONTE WAS TALKING TO A FRIEND IN THE COURTHOUSE WHO WAS
DESCRIBING THE ROUTE DAYONTE SHOULD TAKE TO GET OUT OF THE
BUILDING >> WE KNOW THAT HIS FRIEND
WALKED FROM THE COURTROOM, DOWN THE STAIRWELL THAT LEADS TO THE
THIRD FLOOR, TO THE SECONDARY STAIRWELL THAT LEADS OUTSIDE
>> AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE SETUP, YOU COULD WALK INTO SOME
DEAD ENDS. >> CORRECT, CORRECT.
YOU NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO GO >> Reporter: ESPECIALLY IF
YOU'RE IN A HURRY. ON THE MORNING OF THE ESCAPE,
SECURITY VIDEO SHOWS DAYONTE GETTING PATTED DOWN.
YOU CAN SEE HE'S ALREADY RIPPED APART THE LEGS OF HIS JUMPSUIT
TO MAKE IT EASIER TO KICK OFF. AND UNDERNEATH THE JUMPSUIT,
HE'S WEARING STREET CLOTHES. LATER THE INMATES APPROACH THE
COURTROOM, FULLY SHACKLED. ONE PRISONER THEN BLOCKS
DAYONTE'S TORSO FROM VIEW AND UNLATCHES HIS WAIST CHAIN,
GIVING DAYONTE'S HANDS ROOM TO MANEUVER
>> IT SPEAKS TO MR. RESILES' KIND OF INTELLIGENCE THAT HE WAS
ABLE TO ORGANIZE THIS WHOLE THING.
>> HE'S GOT A WHOLE CREW HELPIN' HIM.
>> YOU KNOW, HELPING HIM GET OUT OF THE SHACKLES.
>> Reporter: WHEN DAYONTE ENTERS THE COURTROOM WITH THE OTHER
INMATES, HE HEADS FOR A SEAT IN THE JURY BOX
INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE THAT'S WHEN HE UNLOCKS HIS CUFFS AND
SHACKLES NOW HE'S READY TO MAKE A RUN FOR
IT AS SOON AS ALL HIS CONFEDERATES ARE IN POSITION
>> SO THERE'S TWO TWINS WHO ARE EYES AND EARS IN THE COURT
>> YEAH. >> WHO WERE THEY TALKING TO?
>> THEY'RE TALKING TO THE PEOPLE IN THE CAR
>> THE GETAWAY >> RIGHT
AND SO WHEN THE CAR'S IN POSITION, ONE TWIN SIGNALS THE
OTHER TWIN TWIN SIGNALS RESILES
AND HE'S LIKE, OKAY, NOW EVERYTHING'S IN PLACE FOR YOU TO
ROLL >> Reporter: AND ROLL HE DID
THE SHERIFF PICKED UP THE STORY. >> ONE OF THE TWINS COUGHED INTO
A CELLPHONE. THAT COUGH WAS A MESSAGE TO
ALERT THEM TO KNOW THAT RESILES WAS ON HIS WAY DOWN TO THE
VEHICLE. >> Reporter: THE REST IS
HISTORY. DEFENSE INVESTIGATOR GENTRY
CHAMBERS >> WAS THERE A PART OF YOU,
GENTRY, YOU SAID, "MAN, THAT WAS INCREDIBLE"?
>> OF COURSE I MEAN, I'M SAYING TO MYSELF,
"HOW MANY GUYS ACTUALLY EVADE THE POLICE AND GET AWAY -- AND
AWAY FOR A WEEK? >> Reporter: EXCEPT FOR ONE
POSTSCRIPT THAT PUNCTURES THE IDEA THE YOUNG PLOTTERS HAD
THOUGHT OF EVERYTHING, RATHER THAN JUST BEING VERY LUCKY
>> THIS IS A POOR KID FROM THE HOOD WHO PROBABLY DIDN'T EVEN
THINK THIS WAS GOING TO GO DOWN THE WAY IT WENT DOWN
THE CAR THAT PICKED HIM UP DIDN'T EVEN HAVE GAS IN IT
THEY HAD TO STOP TO THE GAS STATION.
>> Reporter: IN THE MONTHS AHEAD, ALL EIGHT OF THOSE WHO
HELPED DAYONTE WERE CHARGED AND CONVICTED.
>> HE'S VERY SMART HE'S VERY CHARMING BECAUSE HE
GOT ALL THESE PEOPLE TO PUT THEIR OWN FREEDOM ON THE LINE
FOR HIM. >> Reporter: AS FOR
DAYONTE RESILES, HE MAY HAVE BEEN BACK BEHIND BARS ON 23-HOUR
LOCKDOWN AND FACING NEW CHARGES, BUT HE WASN'T DONE
>> THE ESCAPE IS NOT THE END OF IT FOR THIS YOUNG MAN.
OH, NO, NO, NO HE CONTINUES
>> Reporter: NOT LONG AFTER HE WAS CAPTURED, DAYONTE WROTE THIS
LETTER TO THE JUDGE WHOSE COURT HE FLED.
HE APOLOGIZED FOR BOLTING, SAID, IN HIS DEFENSE, THAT HE DIDN'T
STRAY FAR. THEN HE OFFERED AN EXPLANATION
>> "I WAS CLEARLY TRYING TO JUST GATHER EVIDENCE FOR MY DEFENSE."
>> WHAT -- I HAD TO BUST MYSELF OUT SO I COULD BE MY OWN
DETECTIVE? >> DETECTIVE, RIGHT.
>> TO FIND EXCULPATORY INFORMATION.
>> "TO CLEAR MYSELF. AND, YOU KNOW, "YOU'RE A VERY
FAIR JUDGE." LIKE I SAID, HE BUTTERED HIM UP.
>> Reporter: FAR FROM TRYING TO GATHER EVIDENCE TO HELP HIS
CASE, DAYONTE WAS ACTUALLY BUSY DOING OTHER THINGS WHILE HE WAS
HUNKERED DOWN IN THAT MOTEL ROOM
>> HE WAS JUST HANGING OUT AND TALKING TO FRIENDS AND GOING ON
PORN WEBSITES. >> Reporter: BUT DAYONTE NOW HAD
OTHER BUSINESS TO PURSUE TOP OF THAT LIST -- FEEDING THE
SOCIAL MEDIA MACHINE TO KEEP THE JUSTICE FOR DAYONTE CAMPAIGN
ALIVE. RECORDING THIS MESSAGE, WHICH
WAS POSTED ON FACEBOOK >> IF YOU HAVE BEEN PLACED IN
JAIL FOR A CRIME YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT OR NEVER
COMMITTED, WOULD YOU SIT IN JAIL
LET ME ANSWER IT FOR YOU LOGICALLY.
NO >> Reporter: BUT DAYONTE DID SIT
IN JAIL FOR YEARS. THE TRIAL FINALLY TOOK PLACE IN
2021 LIKE EVERYTHING IN THIS STORY,
IT WOULD END WITH A CAN-YOU-BELIEVE-IT TWIST
>>> COMING UP -- DISORDER IN THE COURT.
>> AS YOU'RE GOING BACK INTO THE COURTROOM TO ANNOUNCE YOUR
VERDICT -- >> I'M LIKE WHAT AM I DOING?
THIS IS NOT RIGHT. >> IN AN EXTRAORDINARY MOMENT, A
IN 2019, FIVE YEARS AFTER
JILLAROOS MURDER AND THREE
YEARS AFTER DEONTAE ROSELLAS
NOTORIOUS COURTROOM DASH FOR
FREEDOM, A BILLBOARD WENT UP >>
IN DOWNTOWN FORT LAUDERDALE. IT
WAS PROVOCATIVE IN BOTH ITS
WORDING AND PLACEMENT. THIS
BILLBOARD WHICH REPORTEDLY THE
SHERIFF COULD SEE FROM HIS
WINDOW SHOWING THE VICTIM AND
THE PERSON ACCUSED OF KILLING
HER SAYING >> TWO >> VICTIMS
ONE TRUTH AND WITH A HASHTAG
JUSTICE FOR RUCHI AND IT SAYS
WHO KILLED JILL HALLIBURTON?
WHO FRAMED OCTAVIO'S ELLIS? >>
TO THIS DAY NO ONE HAS FIGURED
OUT WHO PAID FOR THAT BILLBOARD
WITH ITS MESSAGE THAT DIONTE
ROSELLAS WAS YET ANOTHER
WRONGFULLY ACCUSED BLACK MAN.
HOW PROVOCATIVE WAS >> THAT
DIRECT SHOT AT BROWARD
SHERIFF'S OFFICE? IT WAS REALLY
A MIDDLE FINGER TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT IN BROWARD RIGHT.
AND IT DIDN'T REALLY I DON'T
THINK IT SWAYED OPINION >> TO
JEWELZ WHOSE FAMILY WAS A POKE
IN THE EYE. HOW PAINFUL WAS
THAT? IT WASN'T MORE PAINFUL
THAN JUST MADE ANGRY. DEONTAE
SUPPORTERS WERE ANGRY TO NBC'S
SOUTH FLORIDA COVERED >> SOME
OF THOSE RALLIES DEONTAE ONCE
MORE A SYMBOL OF A SYSTEM HIS
SUPPORTERS BELIEVED WAS STACKED
AGAINST THEM. SO MANY PEOPLE,
SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE THEY'VE
JUST BEEN RAILROADED THROUGH
THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THAT'S JUST
NOT FAIR. DIETZE TRIAL WAS
LOOMING AND THE JUSTICE FOR
MOOCHIE CAMPAIGN PLAYED RIGHT
INTO THE DEFENSE'S STRATEGY A
YARRIE DOMINGO'S ONE OF DIETIES
ATTORNEYS. IT'S >> NOT A UNIQUE
EXPERIENCE OR UNIQUE THING TO
HAPPEN THAT SOMEONE COULD BE
FALSELY ARRESTED ESPECIALLY IF
THEY'RE BLACK >> PROSEQUI MARIA
SCHNEIDER. SO YOU'VE GOT A VERY
NOISY COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION
LOOKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER HERE
WE DO. WE DO. AND THE DEFENSE
YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. IT'S
A FACTOR MR. RAZZLES IS VERY
CHARISMATIC AND HE HAS A GROUP
OF FRIENDS WHO ARE VERY, VERY
DEVOTED TO HIM >> IN LATE
TWENTY TWENTY ONE SEVEN YEARS
AFTER JUSU WAS STABBED TO
DEATH, DIONTE RESULTS WENT ON
TRIAL FOR FIRST DEGREE MURDER.
HE PLEADED NOT GUILTY. THE
TRIAL CAME DOWN TO ONE KEY
ISSUE THE DNA AT THE CRIME
SCENE. THE BEST THING YOU HAVE
GOING IS THE DNA, RIGHT?
ABSOLUTELY. THE DNA IS
INDISPUTABLE. INVESTIGATORS >>
FOUND DIETIES DNA IN THREE
PLACES ON A BELT INSIDE THE
HOUSE OUTSIDE ON ONE OF
JUSTIN'S KNIVES AND AT THE BACK
DOOR POINT OF ENTRY IT SHOULD
HAVE BEEN A SLAM DUNK BUT THE
COUNTY LAB WHERE THE DNA WAS
PROCESSED HAD A HISTORY OF
CONTROVERSY. NOTHING IS EVER
SIMPLE. THE BSO LAB IN 2015 WAS
ACCUSED BY A LOCAL EXPERT OF
MISHANDLING HOW THEY CALCULATED
THE NUMBERS, THE STATISTICS OF
HOW OFTEN IN A POPULATION IT IS
LIKELY THAT YOU WOULD FIND
SIMILAR DNA. IT WAS >> A
DISPUTE OVER NUMBERS. THE
PROSECUTOR SAID NOTHING MORE.
NO ONE EVER HAS ACCUSED THE
BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE OF
GETTING THE DNA PROCESSING
WRONG. NEVERTHELESS, DIAMANTIS,
DEFENSE ATTORNEYS WORKED
MIGHTILY TO KEEP THOSE DOUBTS
ABOUT THE LAB WORK FRONT AND
CENTER. THEY WERE ALSO LASER
FOCUSED >> ON JUSTIN SUE
ARGUING THAT EVEN THE POLICE
INITIALLY THOUGHT JUSTIN WAS
THE KILLER. I DIDN'T DO IT. HE
WAS BACK IN THE HOT >> THAT
YEARS AGO. INTENSE
INTERROGATION RELIVED NOW IN
COURT DEFENSE ATTORNEY MICHAEL
ORLANDO I >> THINK IT WAS
FOCUSING IN ON HIS BEHAVIOR AND
WHERE HE LIED TO THE POLICE.
JUSTIN, WHO IS GOING TO GO ON
TRIAL VIRTUALLY MURDERING HIS
MOTHER BASICALLY THEY PUT HIM
ON TRIAL >> WHEN JURORS WENT
OUT DELIBERATIONS DRAGGED
FINALLY DAY FIVE A VERDICT.
REMEMBER D.A. WAS CHARGED WITH
FIRST DEGREE MURDER. A STUNNER
WAS COMING. >> THE DEFENDANT IS
THE LESSER INCLUDED CRIME OF
MANSLAUGHTER, GUILTY OF
MANSLAUGHTER WITH A
CONSIDERABLY LIGHTER SENTENCE
THAN MURDER ONE A BLOW TO THE
FAMILY. SO WHY AS IS CUSTOMARY,
THE JUDGE POLLED THE JURORS
ASKING EACH IF THIS WAS THEIR
VERDICT. HE STARTED WITH THE
FOREPERSON ANOTHER STUNNER.
THIS >> IS YOUR VERDICT NOW
LET'S PLAY THAT AGAIN NOW THE
CAMERA >> WAS NOT ALLOWED TO
SHOW JURORS FACES BUT THIS WAS
UNHEARD OF. A JUROR CHANGING
HER VERDICT. >> HE ASKED ME DO
YOU AGREE TO MANSLAUGHTER? I
TOOK A PAUSE. I FELT LIKE
FOREVER AND THEN I JUST SAID >>
NO. MEET THE JUROR >> WHO
RECANTED. HER NAME IS JACKIE.
WE CHANGED HER APPEARANCE
BECAUSE SHE'S CONCERNED ABOUT
HER SAFETY. I SAT THERE AND I
TOOK A DEEP BREATH AND THEY'RE
JUST WAITING AND I SEE THEM
LEANING FORWARD LIKE WAITING
FOR ME TO GIVE THE ANSWER. >>
MINUTES EARLIER SHE SAYS SHE'D
BEEN DISTURBED BY THE REACTION
AT THE DEFENSE TABLE WHEN THE
VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER WAS
ANNOUNCED. THEY >> WERE PATTING
EACH OTHER ON THE BACK AND THEY
WERE ALL SMILES AND GIGGLES AND
THAT DIDN'T GO DOWN WELL WITH
YOU? I DID NOT. IT JUST
BOTHERED ME SO MUCH >> IT
STIFFENED HER RESOLVE AND THEN
I JUST SAID NO AND I FELT
RELIEF. JACKIE WAS CONVINCED
DIONTE RASSILON DESERVED THE
MORE SEVERE PENALTY OF MURDER
ONE BUT SHE SAYS SHE PRESIDED
OVER A DEEPLY DIVIDED JURY. THE
DIVIDING ISSUE, SHE SAYS, WAS
RACE. JACKIE >> HERSELF IS AFRO
LATINA. REMEMBER THE COUNTRY
WAS STILL GRIPPED BY AN
ANGUISHED DEBATE ABOUT RACIAL
JUSTICE FOLLOWING GEORGE FLOYDS
MURDER AND SO JACKIE SAYS WAS
DEFIANT ROSELLAS JURY. ONE >>
OF THE MEN STARTED CRYING AND
WAS LIKE I CAN'T SEND ANOTHER
YOUNG BLACK MAN TO JAIL AND I
LOOKED AT HIM AND I SAID EXCUSE
ME. I WAS LIKE IF IT WAS MY
BROTHER THAT COMMITTED THIS
MURDER I WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM
SENDING MY BROTHER TO JAIL FOR
THE REST OF HIS LIFE. THEY'D
BEEN SEQUESTERED FOR FIVE DAYS.
THEY'D ARGUED AND ARGUED AGAIN
EVENTUALLY JACKIE SAYS SHE AND
OTHERS GAVE IN AND WENT >> WITH
THE LESSER CHARGE SO YOU VOTED
>> FOR MANSLAUGHTER? I VOTED
FOR MANSLAUGHTER, CORRECT. BUT
AS YOU'RE GOING BACK INTO THE
COURTROOM TO ANNOUNCE YOUR
VERDICT, WHAT ARE THE WHEELS
MOVING IN YOUR HEAD? THE WHEELS
>> WERE MOVING, SIR. YES, SIR.
AND I'M LIKE WHAT AM I DOING?
THIS IS NOT RIGHT. SO >> SHE
DID WHAT SHE DID SAID THAT ONE
LITTLE WORD THE JUDGE >> DEALT
WITH A DIVINE JURY GOING BACK.
THEY'LL CONTINUE WITH THEIR
DELIBERATIONS BACK >> IN THE
JURY ROOM, JACKIE SAYS THINGS
GOT UGLY. SHE SAYS SHE FELT
THREATENED BY ONE JUROR. HE
SAID HE'S >> PUERTO RICAN. IF I
WAS TO SEE YOU OUT IN THE
STREET, I WOULD SMACK YOU IN
THE FACE. BUT JACKIE WASN'T
BUDGET. I >> KNEW THAT WHAT I
WAS DOING WAS THE RIGHT THING.
SO YOU COME BACK INTO COURT AND
JUDGE WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET
THERE. RIGHT. >> AND HE JUST
SAID THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
SERVED AND THAT WAS IT. >> A
MISTRIAL. WE SPOKE TO FIVE
OTHER JURORS AND SOME NOT ALL
AGREED RACE WAS A DIVISIVE
ISSUE DURING DELIBERATIONS
AFTER SHE WAS DISMISSED, JACKIE
SPOKE WITH JILL'S HUSBAND. DR.
SUSAN >> WAS A LOVELY MAN, VERY
HUMBLE, VERY TIMES WE SPOKE
ABOUT IT AND HE STARTED CRYING.
I STARTED GETTING A LITTLE
TEARY EYED AS WELL AND I TOLD
HIM, YOU KNOW, I HAD TO BE THE
VOICE FOR JILL BECAUSE NO ONE
ELSE WANTED TO BE AND GIVE HER
THE JUSTICE THAT YOU AND YOUR
FAMILY DESERVE TO AT LEAST GET
A LITTLE BIT OF CLOSURE >> IN A
MATTER OF MONTHS. A NEW GROUP
OF TWELVE WOULD GATHER IN THE
SAME COURTROOM AND BEGIN TO
WEIGH THE MATTER OF DIONTE
RESULTS ALL OVER AGAIN. COMING
UP, >> THREE LITTLE LETTERS
THAT NO ONE CAN AGREE ON THAT
MAN'S DNA BEAT AND A HIS DNA
WAS NOWHERE IN HER BEDROOM OR
THE BATHROOM WHERE THIS MURDER
OCCURRED AND JUSTIN BACK IN THE
HOT SEAT HE LIED ABOUT HIS
WHEREABOUTS WHEN DATELINE
CONTINUES.
WELL, THE SECOND >> TRIAL OF A
MAN ACCUSED OF A GRUESOME
MURDER HAS STARTED THREE MONTHS
>> AFTER THE MISTRIAL UPPED THE
ANTE. BRAZILIAN PROSECUTOR
MARIA SCHNEIDER WAS HOPING THIS
TIME THE VERDICT WOULD MATCH
THE CRIME TO HER UNQUESTIONABLY
FIRST DEGREE MURDER. I KNOW >>
THE STRENGTH OF THE EVIDENCE
THAT I HAVE. I DON'T NEED TO
PLAY GAMES. I JUST HAVE TO TELL
THESE PEOPLE WHAT IT IS. >> THE
STATE'S THEORY OF THE CRIME WAS
THIS DAY THAT THEY BROKE INTO
THE HOUSE TO ROB IT
UNEXPECTEDLY CAME ACROSS JILL
AND THE TWO FOUGHT AT SOME
POINT JILL TRIED TO ESCAPE OUT
THE FRONT DOOR. A NEIGHBOR SAID
IT WAS NOON WHEN SHE HEARD AN
UNSETTLING CRY COMING FROM THE
NEW HOUSE. I HEARD >> A HIGH
PITCHED SHRIEKING SOUND AND I
SAW A LIGHT COLORED OBJECT AT
THE FRONT DOOR AND IT WAS GOING
BACK INTO THE HOUSE. THE WOMAN
THOUGHT IT WAS THE SOOS DOLL
BUT THE PROSECUTORS SAID IT WAS
JILL WHO LET OUT THAT SHRIEK AS
DIONTE DRAGGED HER BACK INSIDE
>> SHE PUTS MISSO AT NOON WHEN
JUSTIN AND DAUGHTER WERE NOT AT
THE HOUSE ALIVE. THE PROSECUTOR
HAS A THEORY AS TO HOW DEONTAE
WAS ABLE TO DRAG JILL BACK A.A UP. IT IS >> POSSIBLE THAT
DURING THE STRUGGLE WHEN SHE
TRIED TO ESCAPE THROUGH THE
FRONT DOOR THAT SHE WAS HIT ON
THE BACK OF THE HEAD AND THAT
COULD HAVE KNOCKED HER OUT. THE
KNIFE USED TO STAB JILL HAD A
SHARP EDGE AT THE END OF THE
HANDLE THE MEDICAL EXAMINER
SAID AN INJURY ON JILL'S HEAD
MATCH THAT SHAPE ONCE
UNCONSCIOUS. THE PROSECUTOR
SAID DIONTE DRAGGED HER INTO
THE COUPLE'S BATHROOM WHERE HE
MURDERED >> HER. THERE'S >>
VERY LITTLE BLOOD IN AND ABOUT
THE BATHROOM SO THAT INDICATES
TO US THAT SHE WAS STABBED
WHILE SHE WAS IN THE BATHTUB.
THE >> BEDROCK OF THE STATE'S
CASE WERE THE THREE LETTERS ALL
JURIES LOVE TO HEAR THAT MAN'S
DNA BEAT AND STATE >>
PROSECUTORS AGAIN POINTED OUT
THOSE TWO ITEMS THE BELT AND
THE KNIFE WHERE THEY GOT THE
ORIGINAL HITS FOR DIETIES DNA
BUT WITH ADVANCEMENTS IN DNA >>
SCIENCE FIVE YEARS AFTER THE
MURDER THEY DEVELOPED THAT
THIRD >> IT WAS FOUND ON THAT
BROKEN GLASS DOOR THE POINT OF
ENTRY WHICH I THINK IS VERY
IMPORTANT YOU KNOW THAT GLASS
THAT HE WENT TO SHIMMY >> UNDER
THE GLASS? CORRECT. >> HOW
CERTAIN WAS THE ANALYST WHO
TESTED THE DNA? THIS IS WHAT HE
SAID ABOUT THE BROKEN GLASS
DOOR. >> ANY RESULTS ARE
CERTIFIED PRE THREE THREE
QUADRILLION TIMES MORE LIKELY
IF THEY WERE GOING TO GET
SOMETHING BELIEVE >> THAT IS
ONE NUMBER WITH TWENTY SEVEN
ZEROES BEHIND THAT IS MULTIPLE
TIMES MORE THAN THE POPULATION
OF THE WORLD. >> AND WHEN
PROSECUTOR SCHNEIDER TOLD
JURORS ABOUT THAT INFAMOUS
BREAKOUT, SHE SAID IT WAS
EVIDENCE OF HIS GUILT SAY >>
RESILIENCE ESCAPES FROM A
PARKED >> COURTROOM >> AND
THERE WAS MORE AFTER HIS
CAPTURE DEONTAY TRIED TO ENLIST
FRIENDS TO HELP HIM FABRICATE
>> AN ALIBI FOR THE DAY JILL
WAS MURDERED. SO HE BRIBED A
CORRECTIONS OFFICER TO GET HIM
A PHONE. HE WAS LOOKING TO GET
A CELL PHONE SMUGGLED INTO THE
JAIL. >> SERGEANT JASON
HENDRICK TESTIFIED THAT WITH
THAT DEVICE DIONTE STARTED
ENLISTING PEOPLE IN HIS
CONSPIRACY. EVERYTHING MADE YOU
LIKE I NEED YOU TO DO BASICALLY
JUST TO HELP ME OR WHATEVER
ALIBI WHATEVER >> LITTLE
DEONTAE NO. THE PHONE WAS
TAPPED. HELLO. WHAT'S GOING >>
ON IN ONE OF THOSE CALLS HE HAS
SOMEONE TO LIE FOR HIM SAYING
HE WAS IN GEORGIA, NOT FLORIDA
ON THE DAY JOE WAS MURDERED.
HOW ABOUT OK I KNOW HE WAS IN
GEORGIA OUT THERE FROM THE
THIRD AND THEN I CAME BACK ON A
JILL'S MURDER WAS ON THE EIGHTH
OF SEPTEMBER AND DANTE'S OWN
CELL PHONE RECORDS SHOWED HE
WAS IN FLORIDA THAT DAY HE
POSTED >> PUSSER RECEIVED
MESSAGES AND IN THE GPS PUT IN
THE LOCATION OF POMPANO BEACH
>> AND IN AN ATTEMPT TO COUNTER
THE STATE'S STRONGEST EVIDENCE
HIS DNA AT THE CRIME SCENE,
DIONTE ASKED ONE FRIEND TO LIE
ABOUT THAT TOO TO >> PRETEND
THAT SOMEBODY HAD A FIGHT WITH
THE DEFENDANT IN HIS BLOOD AND
PLANTED AT THE CRIME SCENE.
THAT'S CORRECT. ONLY ONE IS
NEITHER DNA FROM THE CRIME
SCENE IS FROM BLOOD OR DNA. SO
WAS THIS CASE IMPOSSIBLE TO
DEFEND? FAR FROM IT GIANTS
DEFENSE ATTORNEYS MICHAEL
ORLANDO AND A.R.T. DOMINGUEZ
THE STRATEGY WAS SIMILAR TO
THAT IN THE FIRST TRIAL ATTACK
THE DNA EVIDENCE OUR MAIN >>
THEORY IN THE CASE WAS THAT HE
NEVER WAS THE PERSON THAT
KILLED JILL HALLIBURTON SU
BECAUSE HIS DNA WAS NOWHERE IN
HER BEDROOM OR THE BATHROOM
WHERE THIS MURDER OCCURRED. HIS
>> DNA MIGHT HAVE BEEN FOUND IN
OTHER PARTS OF THE HOUSE BUT
NOT WHERE JILL'S BODY WAS
FOUND. WHY >> IS HIS DNA NOT IN
THE PLACE WHERE THERE'S A CLEAR
STRUGGLE? THE PERSON WAS PUT IN
THE BATHTUB. SOMEBODY TURNED ON
THE SINK, THREW THINGS INSIDE
AND DNA SURVIVED IN THE
BATHTUB. BUT DAINTIES DNA IS
NOWHERE THERE. AND THEN THERE
WAS THAT MURDER WEAPON FOUND IN
THE BATHTUB WITH JILL'S BODY
DIETIES DNA SIMPLY WASN'T ON IT
IS EXCLUDED >> FROM BEING ANY
TYPE OF A CONTRIBUTOR TO THE
DNA ON THAT NIGHT. PROSECUTOR
SCHNEIDER DISPUTES THAT. SHE
SAYS IT IS POSSIBLE FOR DNA TO
DISSIPATE IN WATER. STILL, THE
DEFENSE REMAIN CRITICAL OF ALL
THE DNA COLLECTED AT THE SCENE
. ARE YOU SAYING THAT IS HIS
DNA BUT SOMEBODY PLANTED IT >>
OR IT WAS THE LAB GOT IT WRONG.
I WISH WE COULD HAVE A CRYSTAL
BALL AND GO BACK AND FIND OUT
HOW EXACTLY IT GOT THERE. WE
FOCUSED ON A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE WAS TO HIGHLIGHT THE ISSUE
OF POTENTIAL CONTAMINATION. THE
OTHER WAS TO BRING OUT THE SOME
OF THE ISSUES THAT THE LAB HAS
HAD. THE DEFENSE ALSO RAISED
THE POSSIBILITY OF OTHER
POTENTIAL SUSPECTS FOR THE JURY
TO CONSIDER >> DID THE PEOPLE
THAT JUSTIN HAD INVITED OVER TO
THE HOUSE HAVE A ROLE IN THE
MURDER OF JILL HALLIBURTON SU
AND >> IN ITS CROSS EXAMINATION
OF DANIELLE SUE, THE DEFENSE
MADE SURE JURORS HEARD HIS
DESCRIPTION THE PERSON HE SAW
ON THE SECURITY CAMERA YOU >>
SAID THE PERSON THAT SAW THINGS
APPEARED TO BE WHITE. YES. >>
AND IF THE DEFENSE WENT HARD AT
JUSTIN DURING THE FIRST TRIAL,
THEY DRILL DOWN EVEN HARDER
DURING THE SECOND. JUSTIN >>
WAS A SUSPECT IN THIS CASE. BUT
AFTER MR. MERCILUS WAS ARRESTED
THEN THEY NO LONGER PURSUED
THAT ANGLE. BUT POLICE SHOULD
HAVE PURSUED >> HIM, THE
DEFENSE SAID, REMINDING JURORS
OF JUSTIN'S INCONSISTENCIES
EVEN >> AFTER POLICE DETECTIVES
ACCUSED YOU OF MURDER TO LIE TO
THEM ABOUT WHEN I WAS BEING
INTERROGATED I POSSIBLY SAID I
WAS UNDER A LOT OF STRESS. HE
>> LIED ABOUT HIS WHEREABOUTS
SAYING THAT HE WAS AT THE
LIBRARY AND THEN IT WAS LIKE OH
NO, I WAS IN THE PARKING GARAGE
IN THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER IN
SOUTH FLORIDA AND I WAS TAKING
A NAP IN MY CAR. IN CLOSING
ARGUMENTS, THE DEFENSE SAID THE
STATE DIDN'T DO ITS JOB. WHAT
THEY'VE SHOWN YOU HERE TODAY IS
NOT IN ANY WAY PROOF THAT THEY
WANT TO KILL JOSEPH. I DON'T
BUT THE STATE DOUBLED DOWN ON
ITS PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. THE
SCIENCE >> PUTS YOU THERE. THE
SCIENCE PUTS HIS HANDS ON I IT
THE SCIENCE PUTS HIS HANDS ON
AN ITEM THAT TIED WITH THIS >>
JUROR STARTED THEIR
DELIBERATIONS THE LAST TIME IT
TOOK FIVE DAYS >> ONCE THE JURY
WENT INTO A SECOND DAY OF
DELIBERATIONS >> I STARTED
DISBARRING GROUNDHOG DAY. I
THOUGHT OH MY GOD, IT'S EITHER
GOING TO BE ANOTHER HUNG JURY
OR THERE'S SOME JURORS IN THERE
WHO JUST ARE NOT SEEING THE
EVIDENCE FOR WHAT IT IS >>
COMING UP AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF
VERDICT AND YOU HEAR THE WORD
TELL ME WHAT'S GOING THROUGH
YOUR BRAIN AND YOUR STOMACH.
YOUR I KNOW THAT MY BODY WAS
>> Reporter: DAYONTE RESILES' FIRST MURDER TRIAL ENDED IN A
MISTRIAL NOW, AFTER THREE DAYS OF
DELIBERATIONS IN THIS SECOND TRIAL, THERE WAS A VERDICT
EVERYONE BRACED FOR THE READING. >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING YOU HAVE REACHED A VERDICT, IS THAT CORRECT
>> Reporter: THE DEFENDANT'S SUPPORTERS AND FAMILY SAT NEAR
HIM. BUT JILL SU'S FAMILY CHOSE NOT
TO ATTEND COURT FOR THIS VERDICT, NOT AFTER THEIR
EXPERIENCE THE LAST TIME AROUND. >> WE, THE JURY, FIND AS
FOLLOWS -- THE DEFENDANT, DAYONTE RESILES,
IN THIS CASE THE DEFENDANT IS GUILTY OF MURDER IN THE FIRST
DEGREE >> Reporter: GUILTY OF MURDER IN
THE FIRST DEGREE QUIET GRATITUDE AT THE
PROSECUTION TABLE. >> AND YOU HEAR THE WORDS.
TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR BRAIN AND YOUR STOMACH
>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW I KNOW THAT MY BODY WAS CLENCHED
SO TIGHTLY THAT WHEN I HEARD THE WORDS, I JUST FELT MY WHOLE
BODY, LIKE, RELAX AND SAY, THANK YOU, GOD
YOU KNOW, JUSTICE WAS DONE >> Reporter: JILL'S HUSBAND WAS
DRIVING WHEN HE GOT THE NEWS >> OH, MY GOD.
I HAVE TO STOP MY CAR. I SCREAMED
AND I SAID, "FINALLY FINALLY.
ALL THESE YEARS, FINALLY
MAYBE WE START TO HEAL AGAIN MAYBE WE CAN START TO HEAL
REALLY HEAL. >> Reporter: ACROSS THE ROOM AT
THE DEFENSE TABLE, LITTLE REACTION FROM DAYONTE RESILES.
>> HE KNOWS THAT ANY REACTION HE WOULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, AT THAT
POINT WOULDN'T MATTER. IT'S NOT GONNA CHANGE THE
VERDICT, BUT HE KNEW IT WAS A SOMBER EVENT.
>> Reporter: A MANSLAUGHTER VERDICT WOULD HAVE MEANT A
15-YEAR MAX SENTENCE A FIRST-DEGREE MURDER CONVICTION
MEANT THE DEATH PENALTY OR LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE
>> NOW HE'S COMING OUT OF CORRECTIONS PROBABLY IN A PINE
BOX. IT'S THAT SEVERE
>> YEAH. >> AND THE JURY BELIEVED THE
STATE'S VERSION OF EVENTS. >> Reporter: BUT A VERDICT IS A
VERDICT. BOTH SIDES NOW HAD URGENT
BUSINESS SHOULD RESILES GET THE DEATH
PENALTY OR NOT >> WE STRONGLY FELT THAT THIS
SHOULD NOT BE A DEATH PENALTY CASE
>> THERE WAS A LOT OF MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES.
>> Reporter: THE SUS WERE ALSO CONSULTED AND THEY WRESTLED WITH
A DECISION >> I THINK, IN SOME RESPECTS
THAT HE SHOULD DIE JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT HE DID
IN ANOTHER SENSE, TOO, I WANT HIM TO SUFFER IN ANOTHER WAY,
JUST LIVING THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN A -- IN A SMALLER ENCLOSURE
THAT HE DID -- THAT -- THAN THE BATHROOM THAT HE TOOK MY
MOTHER'S LIFE IN >> WHAT DO YOU THINK JILL WOULD
HAVE SAID? >> JILL WOULD SAY NO, SHE
DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE ANOTHER LIFE
>> Reporter: IN THE END, THE STATE TOOK THE DEATH PENALTY OFF
THE TABLE. THAT MEANT THE JUDGE HAD NO
DISCRETION IN SENTENCING DAYONTE RESILES WOULD SERVE
MANDATORY LIFE IN PRISON WITH NO PAROLE
AT SENTENCING, THE SUS GOT THE CHANCE TO CONFRONT THE NOW
CONVICTED KILLER OF THEIR BELOVED JILL
>> DAYONTE, JILL IS THE KIND OF PERSON WHO COULD HAVE HELPED
YOU. INSTEAD YOU KILLED HER
YOU KILLED HER IN COLD BLOOD LIKE A PSYCHOPATH.
>> Reporter: THEN HE DISMISSED HIS WIFE'S KILLER.
>> AFTER THIS, TODAY, DAYONTE RESILES, I'M GONNA ERASE YOU
FROM MY MEMORY IN MY MIND, YOU DO NOT EXIST
>> Reporter: FROM JUSTIN, THE SON WHOM RESILES' SIDE HAD TRIED
TO PORTRAY AS THE REAL KILLER, CAME ANOTHER DISMISSAL AND A
GRIM PROPHECY. >> DAYONTE, HAVE FUN WATCHING
EVERYONE YOU KNOW THAT YOU THINK LOVE YOU AND THAT LOVE YOU,
SLOWLY GO ON WITH THEIR LIVES AND JUST FORGET ABOUT WHO YOU
WERE, AND YOU SLOWLY BECOME NOTHING.
>> Reporter: NORMALLY, WHEN THE SENTENCE IS MANDATORY,
DEFENDANTS HAVE LITTLE TO SAY, BUT RESILES SPOKE FOR
25 MINUTES >> MR. RESILES, YOU CAN HAVE A
SEAT >> Reporter: HE MADE THE
INEVITABLE DECLARATION OF INNOCENCE.
>> I DON'T POSSESS THE HATE, RAGE INSIDE MY HEART TO COMMIT
SUCH A HEINOUS CRIME >> Reporter: AND THEN THE
INSISTENCE THAT HE, DAYONTE RESILES, WAS ANOTHER WRONGFULLY
ACCUSED BLACK MAN. >> THIS COURTROOM THAT I
CURRENTLY SIT IN IS NO PLACE FOR PEOPLE OF MY SKIN COLOR.
>> Reporter: FINALLY IT WAS THE JUDGE'S TURN
>> THE COURT NOW FINDS YOU GUILTY, ADJUDICATES YOU GUILTY,
AND SENTENCES YOU TO LIFE IN PRISON
>> Reporter: AFTERWARDS THE SUS, NAN-YAO, JUSTIN, AND SISTER
MANDY, WENT TO A LOCAL PARK. THE ORDEAL WAS BEHIND THEM, BUT
SCARS LINGERED JUSTIN STILL BATTLES THE EFFECTS
OF TRAUMA, FIRST FROM FINDING HIS MOTHER'S BODY, AND THEN
BEING ACCUSED OF KILLING HER DURING THAT PAINFUL
INTERROGATION, REPRISED AGAIN AND AGAIN IN THE COURTROOM
ONE POSITIVE -- HE DID GET THE APOLOGY HE DEMANDED FROM THE
POLICE >> I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO GO
TALK TO HIM. AND I TOLD HIM, "LISTEN, IF YOUR
FEELINGS ARE HURT, BASICALLY I'M SORRY, BUT I'M HERE TO DO THE
JOB FOR THE VICTIM AND THAT'S MY -- MY
RESPONSIBILITY IS TO THE VICTIM, TO FIND OUT WHO DID THIS TO
HER. >> Reporter: JUSTIN SAYS THE
APOLOGY FELT MATTER-OF-FACT. >> I WENT TO THE POLICE STATIO
AND THEY APOLOGIZED TO ME. AND THEN RIGHT AFTER, THEY JUST
WENT INTO, LIKE, BUSINESS AND STUFF.
I DON'T THINK THEY REALLY KNOW -- EVEN TO THIS DAY REALLY
KNOW WHAT DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO SOMEBODY CAN COST THEM
>> Reporter: IN THE PARK WHERE THE FAMILY GATHERED, THERE IS A
BENCH DEDICATED TO JILL EMBOSSED WITH HER ARTWORK
THEY REMEMBERED THE WOMAN WHO MADE HELPING OTHERS HER LIFE'S
WORK >> IT'S TURN OF THE CENTURY
AMERICA. >> Reporter: THE HUNDREDS OF
HOURS SHE SPENT RECORDING BOOKS FOR THE BLIND.
>> SHE TOUCHED MORE LIVES THAN YOU'LL EVER BE ABLE TO COUNT
>> YEAH, DEFINITELY. SHE TOUCHED A LOT OF PEOPLE'S
LIVES, YOU KNOW? AND IT'S A TRUE FACT THAT IF SHE
WERE STILL ALIVE, SHE WOULD BE HELPING OUT.
>> Reporter: JUSTICE NOW DONE FOR JILL SU, THE GENTLE WOMAN
WITH A HUGE HEART AND GENEROUS SPIRIT AND AN UNFINISHED AGENDA
OF GOOD WORKS REMAINING. >>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION
OF "DATELINE." WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY
AT 9:00, 8:00 CENTRAL. AND, OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU
EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS."
I'M LESTER HOLT.