>> SHE WAS LEARNING TO PLAY THE
PIANO, AND PLANNING TO RESUME
HER CAREER.
>> I ASKED HER IF SHE HAD GONE
NO SCHOOL, AND SHE SAID YES,
THAT SHE WAS IN THERE FROM
PUERTO RICO AND WAS STUDYING TO
TAKE HER TEST SO SHE COULD WORK
HERE.
>> IT WAS IN PUERTO RICO WHERE
SHE MET HIM.
HE WAS 11 YEARS OLDER AND A
NURSING STUDENT.
A FEW YEARS AFTER THEY MARRIED,
THE COUPLE MOVED TO LAREDO,
TEXAS.
JOEL, HAD LANDED A LUCRATIVE JOB
AS A NURSE ANESTHETIST, KNOWN IN
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION, AS A
C.R.N.A.
>> A NURSE ANESTHETIST, OR A
CRNA, CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE
ANESTHETIST AND A PHYSICIAN
ANESTHESIOLOGIST USE THE SAME
MEDICATION, SAME TECHNIQUES TO
PROVIDE ANESTHESIA FOR PEOPLE OF
ALL AGES.
TINA DORES, ALSO A C.R.N.A.,
WORKED WITH JOEL PELLOT AT
DOCTOR'S HOSPITAL IN LAREDO.
>> DID HE SEEM DEDICATED TO HIS
WORK?
>> YES, VERY MUCH SO.
HE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE BETTER.
WHEN I FIRST MET HIM, HE WAS
VERY FAMILY ORIENTATED, A HARD
WORKER, SMART GUY.
HE WOULD ALWAYS TALK ABOUT MARIA
AND ALEJANDRO AND SHOWING
PICTURES OF HIS SON AND JUST
TALKING ABOUT FAMILY LIFE IN
GENERAL.
>> AND NOW AT THE PELLOT HOME,
PARAMEDICS AND POLICE WERE
STRUGGLING TO SAVE THE LIFE OF
THE YOUNG WIFE AND MOTHER.
>> "“SHE DON'T LOOK TOO GOOD,
MAN"”.
>> WHEN MORE HELP ARRIVED, DE
LA CRUZ SENT JOEL PELLOT
DOWNSTAIRS TO THE KITCHEN.
AND THAT'S WHEN DE LA CRUZ
REALIZED THAT THE PILL CONTAINER
HE HAD TOSSED TO THE SIDE
EARLIER WAS NOW MISSING.
HE HAD A PRESCRIPTION DRUG,
WHERE IS IT?
I WAS, LIKE, HE HAS TO HAVE
THEM.
SO THAT'S WHEN I ASKED, "“HEY,
DOES HE HAVE PILLS?"” HE COMES UP
TO THE LAND FIRST LANDING OF THE
STAIRS AND HE TOSSES THEM TO ME.
SO HE HAD TAKEN THEM, SO NOW I'M
THINKING NOW YOU'RE TRYING TO
HIDE SOMETHING.
>> AT 3:58, LESS THAN THREE
HOURS AFTER JOEL PELLOT HAD
CALLED 911, HIS WIFE,
31-YEAR-OLD MARIA MUNOZ WAS
DECLARED DEAD INSIDE THEIR HOME.
>> POLICE BEGAN ASKING JOEL WHAT
HAD HAPPENED TO HIS WIFE.
>> "“WE HAD SEX, I TOOK A SHOWER.
THEN I THOUGHT SHE WAS LIKE
KNOCKED OUT.
AND THEN I GO BACK UPSTAIRS AND
SHE'S JUST, OH GOD.
>> BY NOW, THINGS JUST DIDN'T
FEEL RIGHT TO THE INVESTIGATORS.
AND THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT
JOEL'S APPEARANCE THAT SEEMED
SUSPICIOUS.
>> HE WAS REALLY SWEATY.
I'M WEARING A VEST.
I'M WEARING A GUN.
I'M WEARING ALMOST 20 POUNDS OF
GEAR, RIGHT, AND I'M NOT
SWEATING AS BAD AS HE WAS.
>> SO WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR
MIND WHEN YOU SAW HOW SWEATY HE
WAS?
>> HE'S USING DRUGS.
HE MAY BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF
DRUGS.
>> "“YOU WANNA SEE A FIRE TRUCK?
COME ON, LET'S GO OUTSIDE.
>> THE COUPLE'S CHILDREN, NOW IN
THE CARE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT,
WERE ESCORTED OUTSIDE.
>> "“WHAT'S YOUR NAME?"”
>> MY NAME IS ALEJANDRO
>>"“ALEJANDRO?"”
>> AUTHORITIES IMMEDIATELY
LAUNCHED A DEATH INVESTIGATION.
>> WHEN I GET THERE, UM, I MEET
WITH OFFICER DE LA CRUZ.
HE RUNS THE INFORMATION BY ME.
>> LEAD INVESTIGATOR SERGEANT
LUIS MATA DIDN'T KNOW IF MARIA
HAD DIED BY SUICIDE, AN
ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE, OR IF HER
HUSBAND WAS SOMEHOW INVOLVED.
MATA KNEW HE NEEDED TO SEARCH
THE HOUSE, BUT TO DO IT HE WOULD
HAVE TO GET JOEL PELLOT'S
PERMISSION.
>> AND HE SAID, "“WELL, I DON'T
WANT YOU GOING THROUGH MY STUFF,
BECAUSE I'M A VERY PRIVATE MAN.
THEN I SAID, LOOK, JOEL, I'M NOT
GOING TO FORCE YOU TO, THIS IS
YOUR RIGHT, BUT I'M GOING TO
HAVE TO GO AND GET WITH MY D.A.
AND APPLY FOR A SEARCH WARRANT.
>> JOEL EVENTUALLY GAVE CONSENT
FOR THE SEARCH.
STILL, MATA HAD A LOT OF
QUESTIONS.
TO GET SOME ANSWERS, HE DIRECTED
AUTHORITIES TO PUT JOEL IN A
POLICE CRUISER TO TAKE HIM TO
THE STATION.
>> COULD YOU SEE HIM BEFORE YOU
WENT IN?
>> I COULD SEE HIM THROUGH MY
CAMERA.
EVERYTHING THERE IS RECORDED.
HE'S HITTING WALLS.
HE'S MOVING FURNITURE.
IT WAS SCARING SOME OF THE
PEOPLE DOWN THE HALL IN THE
DISPATCH ROOM.
SO THAT'S HOW LOUD IT WAS.
>> "“HOLDING UP OKAY MAN?"”
>> AROUND 4 A.M. MATA BEGINS HIS
INTERVIEW WITH JOEL PELLOT WHO
CLAIMS HE HAD GIVEN MARIA THAT
CONTAINER OF CLONAZEPAM
PRESCRIBED TO HIM.
>> IS IT POSSIBLE THAT SHE
SWALLOWED THEM ALL?
>> I DON'T KNOW MAN, I DON'T
KNOW.
>> HOW MANY PILLS WERE THERE
BEFORE?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
>> MAS O MENOS?
>> I REALLY DON'T KNOW.
>> HE COULDN'T REMEMBER THE
MINOREST THINGS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I
ASKED HIM PLAY BACK TO ME THE
MINUTE YOU GOT THERE WHAT DID
YOU DO?
AND HE, WELL, WHAT DID I DO?
WHAT DID I DO? WHAT DID I DO?
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, IF YOU
REMEMBER THE TRUTH, YOU DON'T
HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT.
>> WHAT WAS THE TIME PERIOD
BETWEEN THE TIME YOU GOT OUT OF
THE SHOWER UNTIL WHEN YOU
NOTICED SHE'S NOT REALLY
RESPONDING ANYMORE?
>> UH, 10 MINUTES?
I'M NOT 100 PERCENT SURE.
>> THE SUDDEN DEATH OF A HEALTHY
31-YEAR-OLD WOMAN LIKE MARIA
MUNOZ DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO
SERGEANT LUIS MATA AND NEITHER
DID HER HUSBAND JOEL PELLOT'S
EXPLANATION.
HIS INITIAL STATEMENT WAS THAT
HE WENT IN AND TOOK A SHOWER.
HE THOUGHT SHE WAS ASLEEP, AND
THEN 10 MINUTES LATER HE
REALIZES THAT SHE'S
UNRESPONSIVE.
WHEN A COMMON PERSON SHOWERS,
WHAT'S GOING TO BE IN THE
BATHROOM?
STEAM, CONDENSATION, THE SMELL
OF SOAP OR SHAMPOO.
THAT MASTER BEDROOM SHOWER,
WHICH IS THE ONE HE ALLEGED HE
USED, WAS AS DRY AS A DESERT.
>> INVESTIGATORS HAD ALSO
DISCOVERED A SYRINGE WRAPPER ON
THE FLOOR AND A NEEDLE CATHETER
ON THE STAIRS.
SYRINGES AND I.V. EQUIPMENT IN A
MEDICAL BAG WERE FOUND INSIDE
THE HOME.
>> WHY WOULD THERE BE SYRINGES
IN THE HOME?
>> SO, LIKE, I DON'T KNOW.
>> THEN, JOEL MAKES A HAND
GESTURE AND TAPS HIS BICEP.
>> STEROIDS?
>> YEAH, FOR, THAT'S ME.
>> WITH JOEL PELLOT AT THE
POLICE STATION, MARIA'S CLOSE
FRIEND ANGELA MONTOYA AND HER
HUSBAND LUIS AYALA, RUSHED OVER
TO THE HOUSE TO TAKE CARE OF THE
KIDS.
LUIS, A COWORKER OF JOEL, SAYS
HE HAD BEGUN TO SEE CHANGES IN
JOEL'S PHYSIQUE AND PERSONALITY
TWO YEARS BEFORE MARIA'S DEATH.
>> HE LOSE A LOT OF WEIGHT AND
THEN STARTED GAINING MUSCLE.
>> DID YOU SUSPECT THAT MAYBE HE
WAS TAKING STEROIDS?
>> MAYBE, BUT I MEAN HE WAS
CHANGING, LIKE MORE FRIENDLY
WITH GIRLS.
>> FLIRTING MORE.
>> YEAH.
>> THE FAMILY MAN WHO ONCE HAD
BRAGGED TO FRIENDS AND
COLLEAGUES ABOUT HIS WIFE AND
KIDS BEGAN CHANGING HIS SOCIAL
MEDIA POSTS TOO.
HE DELETED THE PICTURES OF
MARIA, OR HE JUST STARTED
POSTING EVERYTHING BY HIMSELF,
NOT WITH HIS KIDS.
>> JOEL, IN DEMAND AS A NURSE
ANESTHETIST, WAS MAKING A LOT OF
MONEY AND, ACCORDING TO ANGELA,
HE ENJOYED SHOWING OFF HIS
WEALTH.
>> HE HAS THIS NEW SPORTY CAR.
I BOUGHT MARIA THAT ONE, AND I
BOUGHT MYSELF THIS ONE, BRAGGING
ABOUT IT.
>> BUT FRIENDS SAY THE CHANGES
THEY SAW IN JOEL WENT MUCH
DEEPER.
IN 2018, AROUND THE SAME TIME
MARIA GAVE BIRTH TO THE COUPLE'S
SECOND SON, JOEL BEGAN PURSUING
A WOMAN NAMED JANET ARREDONDO, A
SURGICAL NURSE, HE MET AT WORK.
>> JOEL TOOK JANET TO, LIKE, A
VACATION SPREE IN EUROPE.
I DON'T RECALL WHICH COUNTRIES
HE TOLD ME.
>> WELL, THERE WAS ONE TRIP
THERE WAS SPAIN AND THE NEXT
TRIP WAS FRANCE AND GREECE.
>> THERE YOU GO.
THERE YOU GO.
SO MARIA FOUND OUT ABOUT THAT
WHILE HE WAS THERE WITH JANET.
>> ACCORDING TO ANGELA, MARIA
CONFIRMED HER SUSPICION ABOUT
HER HUSBAND'S INFIDELITY WHEN
SHE FOUND A PLANE TICKET FOR ONE
OF HIS EUROPEAN TRIPS.
WHEN HER DISAPPOINTMENT TURNED
INTO A DEEP DEPRESSION, SHE WAS
PRESCRIBED MEDICATION, BUT
PERHAPS THE BEST MEDICINE FOR
MARIA TURNED OUT TO BE HER DAILY
JOURNALS, DISCOVERED IN HER HOME
BY INVESTIGATORS.
>> I DON'T WANT TO BE SAD
ANYMORE.
I DON'T WANT MY HEART TO HURT.
I DON'T WANT MY MIND TO BE IN
TORTURE.
>> YET, AT TIMES SHE SEEMED
HOPEFUL, BELIEVING HER FAITH
COULD MEND THE COUPLE'S TEN-YEAR
MARRIAGE.
>> LORD, THIS IS A LOT FOR ME.
ALL I REALLY WANT TO DO IS SEE
CHANGE IN HIM.
>> AND IT SEEMED TO BE WORKING.
JUST MONTHS AFTER HER HUSBAND
HAD TAKEN HIS MISTRESS ON THOSE
EUROPEAN VACATIONS, JOEL TREATED
MARIA TO A LAVISH GETAWAY IN LAS
VEGAS.
>> AND SHE SHOWED ME A COUPLE OF
LOUIS VUITTON HE PURCHASED FOR
HER.
>> BUT WHAT SEEMED LIKE A SECOND
CHANCE FOR HER MARRIAGE DIDN'T
LAST.
JOEL COULD NEVER QUITE LEAVE
JANET.
>> HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH
JANET?
>> ABOUT TWO YEARS.
>> OUT OF THOSE TWO YEARS, HOW
LONG HAS MARIA KNOWN ABOUT IT?
>> FOR A WHILE.
FOR A LONG WHILE.
>> IN FACT, JOEL TOLD SERGEANT
MATA THAT HE NO LONGER LIVED
WITH HIS FAMILY AND THAT HE HAD
MOVED IN WITH JANET ARREDONDO
FIVE MONTHS BEFORE MARIA'S
DEATH.
MATA WONDERED HOW MUCH THE OTHER
WOMAN KNEW AND ASKED HER TO COME
TO THE POLICE STATION TO TALK.
>> WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH HIM?
I WOULDN'T HAVE CALLED YOU AT
6:30 IN THE MORNING IF IT WAS
JUST FOR, FOR BEING NOSY.
IT'S NOT THAT I'M TRYING TO BE
NOSY, BUT I'LL GET TO WHERE I'M
GOING.
>> UM, HE'S, HE'S MY BOYFRIEND.
>> MATA CONTINUED PRESSING JANET
ABOUT JOEL AND THEN TOLD HER
ABOUT MARIA.
>> THE REASON THAT I'M HERE IS
BECAUSE LAST NIGHT JOEL'S WIFE
PASSED AWAY.
THERE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE ANY,
RIGHT NOW, TYPE OF FOUL PLAY.
WE'RE STILL PENDING AN AUTOPSY.
SO LET'S GET WITH, HOW DID YOU,
AND JOEL EVEN START DATING.
>> UM, I'M SORRY.
>> UM, I UNDERSTAND.
TAKE YOUR TIME.
I KNOW IT'S ALL KIND OF THROWN
AT YOU, SO, YOU KNOW, I, I TOLD
YOU AT THE VERY BEGINNING, I'M
GONNA BE HONEST WITH YOU.
SO I AM, UH, OUR MAIN THING NOW
IS OBVIOUSLY WHAT HAPPENED.
>> UM, I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS YOUR
QUESTION?
>> HOW, WHEN DID, HOW LONG HAVE
YOU AND JOEL BEEN DATING?
>> UH, UM, ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW.
>> OKAY.
DID MARIA, HIS WIFE, DID SHE DO
DRUGS?
>> NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
HE JUST TOLD ME THAT HE, SHE WAS
VERY DEPRESSED.
>> WHEN SERGEANT MATA MENTIONED
MARIA MAY HAVE OVERDOSED, JANET
SEEMED SURPRISED.
>> WAIT A MINUTE, ARE, ARE YOU
SAYING SHE OVERDOSED?
>> WE DON'T KNOW YET.
THE MAIN THING IS THIS, JANET,
IS WHEN WE TELL HER FAMILY,
THEY'RE GONNA THINK THAT EITHER
JOEL KILLED HER OR THAT YOU HAD
SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT, THAT'S
ALL WE HAVE TO RULE YOU OUT.
OKAY.
HAS JOEL EVER CONFIDED IN YOU
THAT HE WAS, THAT HE WANTED TO
DO SOMETHING TO HIS WIFE?
>> NO.
>> JOEL HAD TOLD POLICE MARIA
MAY HAVE OVERDOSED ON THE DRUG
CLONAZEPAM, BUT WHEN THE AUTOPSY
WAS CONDUCTED EIGHT HOURS AFTER
MARIA WAS DECLARED DEAD, THE
MEDICAL EXAMINER FOUND NO PILL
RESIDUE IN HER STOMACH, AND,
THERE WAS SOMETHING ON MARIA'S
BODY AT THE SCENE THAT PUZZLED
BOTH THE MEDICAL EXAMINER AND
INVESTIGATORS: A TINY MARK ON
MARIA'S RIGHT ARM.
>> IT WAS A LITTLE, LITTLE PRICK
KIND OF LIKE WHENEVER YOU, THE
COMMON PERSON HAS THEIR BLOOD
CHECKED WHEN THEY GO TO THE
DOCTOR, ONE LITTLE DOT.
>> THAT'S IT.
>> ON HER RIGHT ELBOW CREASE.
>> NO OTHER SIGNS OF DRUG USE
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
>> NOTHING, NOTHING.
>> NOTHING.
>> THE AUTOPSY REPORT STATES
MARIA DIED FROM A MIXED DRUG
INTOXICATION, WHILE THE MEDICAL
EXAMINER COULDN'T SAY HOW THE
DRUGS GOT IN HER SYSTEM SHE DID
RULE OUT SUICIDE AFTER TALKING
TO MARIA'S FRIENDS, AND READING
HER JOURNAL.
>> ON THE DAY BEFORE SHE DIED,
MARIA WROTE WHAT IS IT THAT I
WANT?
#1 MOVE FORWARD
>> SO, COULD MARIA'S DEATH HAVE
BEEN AN ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE?
OR WAS IT MURDER?
WHEN DR. JOHN HUNTSINGER, AN
ANESTHESIOLOGIST AND JOEL'S
FORMER BOSS, HEARD THE AUTOPSY
RESULTS, HE IMMEDIATELY BECAME
SUSPICIOUS.
>> I CALLED DETECTIVE MATA, AND
I TOLD HIM MY CONCERNS.
>> HE URGED SERGEANT MATA TO
ORDER A DETAILED TOXICOLOGY
SCREENING TO DETERMINE WHICH
DRUGS HAD KILLED MARIA AND HOW
THEY GOT THERE.
>> DID YOU INJECT HER TONIGHT?
>> NO.
>> WITH ANYTHING?
>> NO.
>> AUTHORITIES WOULD HAVE TO
WAIT NEARLY FOUR MONTHS TO GET
THE ANSWERS THEY NEEDED.
>> ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT THE
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN LAREDO.
>> THE VICTORIOUS LIFE IS, IS
ALSO A LIFE OF SERVICE.
ALL OF OUR LIVES WERE IMPACTED
BY THE PRECIOUS LIFE OF MARIA.
>> A LARGE CROWD OF FAMILY AND
FRIENDS AME TO MOURN MARIA
MUNOZ, INCLUDING HER ESTRANGED
HUSBAND, JOEL.
>> HER FUNERAL WAS REALLY SAD.
JOEL WAS THERE, AND HE WAS
CRYING.
HE SEEMED VERY UPSET, VERY SAD.
>> TO MARIA'S FRIEND YAZMIN
MARTINEZ, HE SEEMED A LITTLE TOO
UPSET, TOO SAD.
>> WHAT MADE ME FEEL ANGRY WAS
HIM NEAR THE CASKET, CRYING OVER
HER, GIVING HER KISSES.
LIKE WHY NOW?
YOU HAVE MADE HER SUFFER AND CRY
SO MUCH, AND YOU'RE DOING THIS
NOW?
>> JOEL PELLOT'S DISPLAY OF
GRIEF DID NOTHING TO DETER THE
INVESTIGATION INTO HIS WIFE'S
DEATH.
>> SERGEANT LUIS MATA AND
OFFICER GREGORIO DE LA CRUZ SAY
THAT FOOTAGE CAPTURED BY THE
BODY CAM ON THE MORNING MARIA
DIED SHOWS SOMETHING CURIOUS.
REMEMBER THE PILLS IN A
CONTAINER THAT JOEL SAID HIS
WIFE HAD TAKEN?
DE LA CRUZ TOSSED IT ASIDE WHEN
HE WAS GIVING MARIA CPR.
>> "“HE HAD A PRESCRIPTION DRUG,
WHERE IS IT?"”
>> AT SOME POINT IT DISAPPEARED.
>> I SEE ITS STILL HERE RIGHT
NOW.
>> IT'S STILL THERE EXACTLY.
>> AND HERE'S HOW IT HAPPENED
THEY SAY, JOEL GRABS THE PILL
CONTAINER AND PUTS IT IN HIS
POCKET.
>> HE JUST REACHED OVER AND PUT
IT RIGHT BACK IN THE SHIRT.
>> IF THAT'S REALLY WHAT SHE
TOOK, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO HIDE
THAT?
>> THEY WERE ALSO SUSPICIOUS OF
THAT NEEDLE CATHETER.
>> "“HEY, THERE'S A NEEDLE RIGHT
HERE"” THE KIND USED FOR IVS,
DISCOVERED AT THE SCENE.
REMEMBER, MARIA HAD A TINY MARK
ON HER RIGHT ARM.
SERGEANT MATA SHARED HIS
CONCERNS WITH THE WEBB COUNTY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
>> WE HAVE A 24/7 PHONE, AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT CAN CONTACT US WITH
ANY QUESTIONS.
>> CHIEF ASSISTANT DA MARISELA
JACAMAN AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY
ISIDRO ALANIZ KNEW THE CASE
WOULD BE TOUGH TO PROVE SINCE
EVEN THE MEDICAL EXAMINER WASN'T
SURE EXACTLY HOW MARIA DIED.
>> THE MEDICAL EXAMINER IS
SAYING, I CAN'T SAY FOR A FACT
THIS IS HOMICIDE.
>> AND I REMEMBER HER SAYING
LOOK, I WASN'T THERE AND NEITHER
WERE YOU.
ALL WE KNOW IS THAT SHE HAS THIS
COMBINATION OF DANGEROUS DRUGS
IN HER BLOODSTREAM.
WE DON'T KNOW WHO GAVE THEM TO
HER, IF SHE HAD SOME IN HER
SYSTEM ALREADY, IF SHE TOOK SOME
LATER ON.
>> EITHER ACCIDENT OR MURDER.
>> ACCIDENT OR MURDER.
>> INVESTIGATORS BEGAN TO
QUESTION MARIA'S FRIENDS AND
DISCOVERED THAT THE SATURDAY
BEFORE MARIA DIED HERE WAS A
CONFRONTATION AT JANET'S HOUSE
WHEN MARIA SAW JOEL'S CAR THERE.
>> SO THAT'S WHEN SHE STEPPED
OUT OF THE CAR, AND THEN SHE
RANG THE DOORBELL.
>> ACCORDING TO ANGELA, MARIA,
SEEN ON JANET'S DOORBELL CAMERA,
GAVE JOEL AN ULTIMATUM.
>> DO YOU CHOOSE HER, OR YOU
CHOOSE ME?
AND THEN HE SAYS, I CHOOSE
JANET.
>> JANET CALLED THE POLICE.
AND, WHEN A RESPONDING OFFICER
ARRIVED AT HER HOME, HE CALLED
MARIA WHO HAD BY THEN HAD LEFT
WITH JOEL.
WHEN MARIA ANSWERED HER CELL
PHONE, THE OFFICER'S BODY CAM
RECORDED THE SOUND OF JOEL
BERATING HER IN THE BACKGROUND.
>> HEY, I'M F-ING TALKING TO YOU
RIGHT NOW. HANG UP THE FKING
PHONE.
>> I GUESS THAT'S YOUR
BOYFRIEND.
>> YEAH.
>> ACCORDING TO ANGELA, MARIA
TOLD HER THAT JOEL BECAME
VIOLENT.
>> AND HE GOT SO FRUSTRATED WITH
EVERYTHING THAT HE PUNCHED THE
WINDSHIELD.
>> HE BROKE IT, DIDN'T HE?
>> HE BROKE IT, YES, HE BROKE
IT.
>> ON SUNDAY MORNING, MARIA
TEXTED HER HUSBAND ABOUT HIRING
A DIVORCE LAWYER, AND HE REPLIED
>> WE CAN DO THIS WITH MINIMAL
LAWYER INTERVENTION.
IT'S TOO MUCH MONEY.
>> JOEL THEN SEEMS TO HAVE HAD A
CHANGE OF HEART, AND SENDS MARIA
THIS E-MAIL.
>> I AM SO SAD I AM HURTING
INSIDE.
I WANT TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU TO
TALK WITHOUT ARGUING, A HEART TO
HEART.
>> THEY AGREED TO MEET MONDAY
NIGHT.
BEFORE JOEL ARRIVED, MARIA
MESSAGED HER FRIEND YAZMIN
"“ . I JUST ASK IF YOU CAN PRAY
FOR ME...TONIGHT WE ARE GOING TO
TALK "”
>> AND THEN I ANSWERED HER, AND
I TOLD HER THAT I WOULD PRAY FOR
HER.
>> MARIA'S REQUEST FOR PRAYERS
THAT NIGHT WOULD BE HER FINAL
MESSAGE TO YAZMIN.
SHE DIED EARLY TUESDAY MORNING.
NEARLY FOUR MONTHS AFTER MARIA'S
DEATH SERGEANT MATA AND OFFICER
DE LA CRUZ FINALLY GET THE
TOXICOLOGY TEST RESULTS THEY HAD
BEEN WAITING FOR.
>> ZERO CLONAZEPAM.
>> ZERO CLONAZEPAM, THE DRUG
JOEL CLAIMED MARIA HAD TAKEN.
INSTEAD, THE TOXICOLOGY REPORT
REVEALED SEVEN OTHER DRUGS IN
MARIA'S SYSTEM.
>> SO POSITIVE FOR MORPHINE,
DEMEROL, VERSED, PROPOFOL,
KETAMINE, LIDOCAINE, NARCAN.
>> MOST OF THESE MEDICATIONS ARE
TYPICALLY USED DURING SURGERY,
AND ONE OF THEM CAN ONLY BE
ADMINISTERED WITH AN I.V.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION?
>> HE KILLED HER.
THIS GUY KILLED HIS WIFE.
>> AUTHORITIES GOT A WARRANT,
OFFICER DE LA CRUZ, WHO HAD
TRIED TO SAVE MARIA'S LIFE,
RETURNED TO JOEL'S HOME TO MAKE
THE ARREST.
>> HE KNEW WHY WE WERE THERE.
>> BY THE TIME WE KNOCK ON THE
DOOR, AND WE ANNOUNCE OUR
PRESENCE JUST LIKE THE WAY YOU
DO IN THE MOVIES, HE COMES OUT.
I'M HERE. I'M HERE. PUTS HIS
HANDS BEHIND HIS BACK.
LETS US CUFF HIM.
DOESN'T PUT UP A FIGHT.
>> JOEL PELLOT WAS TAKEN TO THE
POLICE STATION AND BOOKED.
PROSECUTORS BELIEVE HE WAS THE
ONE WHO GAVE HIS WIFE THE DEADLY
MIXTURE, BUT CAN THEY PROVE HE
WANTED HER TO DIE?
>> WHEN JOEL PELLOT'S FORMER
BOSS, ANESTHESIOLOGIST DR. JOHN
HUNTSINGER SAW THE OF LIST DRUGS
FOUND IN MARIA MUNOZ, SEVEN
DIFFERENT MEDICATIONS, HE WAS
SURPRISED BY ONE DRUG IN
PARTICULAR.
>> I WAS VERY SHOCKED TO SEE
PROPOFOL.
>> WHERE WOULD HE GET THAT
PROPOFOL?
YOU CAN'T JUST GO TO THE DRUG
STORE TO GET PROPOFOL?
>> YOU HAVE TO GET IT FROM A
HOSPITAL.
>> WHILE MOST OF THE DRUGS FOUND
IN MARIA'S SYSTEM COULD BE
CONSUMED BY MOUTH, PROPOFOL IS
USUALLY INJECTED BY SOMEONE ELSE
WITH AN I.V.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT
PROPOFOL, IT RELAXES YOU
GREATLY, BUT IT DOESN'T LAST
VERY LONG.
IT MAKES YOU STOP BREATHING IF
YOU HAVE TOO MUCH.
>> I THINK MOST OF US, WHEN WE
HEAR ABOUT PROPOFOL, WE THINK OF
MICHAEL JACKSON.
>> CORRECT.
>> SINGER MICHAEL JACKSON'S
DEATH IN JUNE 2009 WAS BLAMED,
IN PART, ON AN ACCIDENTAL
OVERDOSE OF PROPOFOL.
AND AFTER MARIA MUNOZ'S DEATH, A
HIGHLY ELEVATED LEVEL OF THE
DRUG WAS FOUND IN HER SYSTEM.
>> HERS WAS THE HIGHEST LEVEL
I'VE SEEN.
>> AND WHAT DOES THAT SAY TO
YOU?
>> I BELIEVE THIS WAS DEATH BY
PROPOFOL.
>> WITH JOEL PELLOT NOW UNDER
ARREST, AUTHORITIES WERE
CONVINCED THAT PELLOT'S
GIRLFRIEND JANET ARREDONDO KNEW
MORE THAN WHAT SHE SHARED IN
THAT FIRST INTERVIEW.
>> SO THEY GOT A SEARCH WARRANT
FOR HER HOME.
THEN, THEY OFFERED HER A DEAL.
IN EXCHANGE FOR MORE
INFORMATION, JANET WOULD GET
IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION.
>> JANET AGREED TO A SECOND
POLICE INTERVIEW, AND,
ACCOMPANIED BY ATTORNEYS, SHE
NOW SEEMED READY TO TALK.
>> DID JOEL EVER BRING HOME ANY
MEDICAL DRUGS?
>> YES.
>> JANET TOLD POLICE THAT PELLOT
HAD OFTEN BROUGHT DRUGS TO HER
HOME, SOME FOR HIS OWN
RECREATIONAL USE -- INCLUDING
KETAMINE, MORPHINE, LIDOCAINE,
FENTANYL AND MORE.
>> VERSED.
>> OKAY.
>> PROPOFOL.
>> PROPOFOL?
>> JANET'S INFORMATION ABOUT
PROPOFOL KICKED THE CASE INTO
HIGH GEAR.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY ISIDRO ALANIZ
SELECTED A TEAM OF ATTORNEYS,
LED BY MARISELA JACAMAN.
>> I AM KARINA RIOS.
>> MY NAME IS ANA KAREN GARZA.
>> MY NAME IS CRISTAL CALDERON.
>> WE ARE MARIA'S TEAM.
>> ALL FOUR PROSECUTORS WERE
CONVINCED THAT MARIA'S HUSBAND
HAD METHODICALLY PLANNED HER
MURDER AND THAT THE DEVOTED
MOTHER AND WIFE HAD SUFFERED IN
THE MONTHS BEFORE HER DEATH.
>> I'VE HEARD OF EMOTIONAL
ABUSE, I'VE SEEN IT, I'VE WORKED
AROUND IT.
BUT I NEVER REALIZED HOW
PREVALENT IT IS EVEN IN OUR
LIVES WHERE YOU CAN RELATE TO
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MARIA
WAS EXPERIENCING.
>> ON THE FACE OF IT, THIS IS A
COUPLE HAVING PROBLEMS.
HE'S HAVING AN AFFAIR, BUT TO
YOU, THIS IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
HOW?
>> WELL, I THINK IT GOES SO MUCH
FURTHER THAN JUST BEING A
SPOUSE.
YOU COULD SEE THE POWER STRUGGLE
THAT EXISTED OR THE LACK
THEREOF.
>> MARIA HAD NO POWER IN THIS
RELATIONSHIP.
>> AND THE EVIDENCE OF THAT
PROSECUTORS SAY IS FOUND IN
MARIA'S OWN JOURNALS.
PROSECUTOR JACAMAN READ ONE OF
THOSE ENTRIES.
>> LIFE IS SO UNFAIR. MY HUSBAND
THE MAN I LOVE SO MUCH IS
CAUSING ME SO MUCH PAIN.
I WANT TO KNOW, WHAT IS IT THAT
YOU WANT ME TO DO?
>> MARIA ALSO LEFT EVIDENCE ON
HER CELL PHONE THAT SHE SECRETLY
RECORDED APPROXIMATELY FOUR
MONTHS BEFORE HER DEATH.
>> WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS YOU
HAVE ON THIS, THIS MARRIAGE?
>> SHE GAVE US THIS VERY
POWERFUL VIDEO.
>> YOU WALK OUT THAT DOOR.
WE'RE GETTING A DIVORCE.
>> ALRIGHT FINE, YOU GOT IT.
>> SHE WAS HAVING A DISCUSSION
WITH HIM,AND THAT WAS SO PAINFUL
TO WATCH.
>> BUT PROSECUTORS WOULD NEED
MUCH MORE THAN THAT VIDEO AND
MARIA'S JOURNAL ENTRIES.
HOW DID THEY BELIEVE THAT JOEL
PELLOT DOSED HIS WIFE WITH ALL
THOSE DRUGS?
>> THAT WAS THE MILLION-DOLLAR
QUESTION.
WE KEPT SAYING, HOW DID HE GET
HER TO SUBMIT TO THIS?
>> DURING JANET ARREDONDO'S
SECOND POLICE INTERVIEW, SHE
SAID PELLOT HAD TOLD HER ABOUT
THE NIGHT MARIA DIED.
HE HAD GONE THERE, HE SAID, TO
HAVE THAT HEART-TO-HEART TALK
AND THEN INJECTED HER, NOT TO
KILL HER, PELLOT SAID, BUT TO
CALM HER DOWN.
>> WHY DID HE TELL YOU THAT HE
INJECTED HER, BECAUSE SHE WAS
ERRATIC?
>> RIGHT, HE WANTED TO UH, JUST
CALM HER DOWN, SO HE DID IT WITH
MEDICATION.
>> BUT INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE THE
SEDATIVES WERE PART OF PELLOT'S
PLAN TO KILL MARIA.
THAT BEFORE PELLOT PUT A IV
NEEDLE IN MARIA'S ARM, HE COULD
HAVE SLIPPED SEVERAL SEDATIVE
DRUGS INTO HER FAVORITE DRINK,
COFFEE.
>> KETAMINE, VERSED, MORPHINE
AND DEMEROL.
THOSE FOUR COULD HAVE BEEN PUT
IN HER COFFEE, SHE THEN PASSES
OUT.
>> AFTER THAT, THEY SAY, PELLOT
INJECTED MARIA WITH A DEADLY
DOSE OF PROPOFOL.
THEN CHIEF ASSISTANT DISTRICT
ATTORNEY ANA KAREN GARZA
GUTIERREZ SAYS PELLOT
DELIBERATELY WAITED TO CALL FOR
HELP.
>> I BELIEVE HE WAITED UNTIL SHE
WAS DEAD TO CALL 911 TO MAKE
SURE THAT NO ONE CAN BRING HER
BACK.
>> DID YOU PLAY ANY ROLE IN
MARIA'S DEATH AT ALL? YOU?
>> NO.
>> JANET SAID PELLOT DID ADMIT
TO HER THAT HE GOT RID OF SOME
OF THE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT HE USED
TO INJECT MARIA BEFORE FIRST
RESPONDERS ARRIVED.
>> HE JUST TOLD ME HE GOT RID OF
THEM.
>> PELLOT WAS OUT ON BAIL SO
PROSECUTORS HAD HIM REARRESTED
AND ALONG WITH MURDER, HE WAS
CHARGED WITH TAMPERING WITH
EVIDENCE.
AGAIN, HE MADE BAIL AND WOULD
WEAR AN ANKLE MONITOR.
>> IN MARCH 2023, TWO AND A HALF
YEARS AFTER MARIA MUNOZ'S DEATH,
HER HUSBAND WENT ON TRIAL FOR
HER MURDER.
>> 48 HOURS MADE SEVERAL
INTERVIEW REQUESTS TO JOEL
PELLOT'S DEFENSE TEAM, BUT NEVER
RECEIVED A RESPONSE.
JOEL PELLOT DECLINED OUR REQUEST
FOR AN INTERVIEW.
>> THE EVIDENCE WILL SHOW THAT
JOEL PELLOT HAD THE MOTIVE, HE
HAD THE INTENT, AND HE HAD THE
MEANS TO KILL MARIA.
>> PROSECUTORS PRESENTED 15
WITNESSES TO PROVE TO A JURY
THAT PELLOT HAD CAREFULLY AND
INTENTIONALLY SELECTED THE DRUGS
TO KILL MARIA.
THEIR STAR WITNESS - JANET
ARREDONDO - WHO TOLD THE JURY
WHAT SHE HAD SHARED WITH POLICE.
>> DID MR. PELLOT INDICATE TO
YOU THAT HE DUMPED OR DISCARDED
THE IV CATHETER AND THE VIALS?
>> YES.
>> WHEN THE DEFENSE CASE
BEGINS, JOEL PELLOT'S LAWYERS
ADMIT THEIR CLIENT INJECTED HIS
WIFE, BUT THEY SAY HE WASN'T
TRYING TO KILL HER, HE WAS
TRYING TO SAVE HER.
>> JOEL PELLOT WEARING A BLUE
SUIT AND A DARK GREY TIE,
LISTENED CAREFULLY AS HIS
DEFENSE TEAM PRESENTED HIS CASE.
>> NOW MARIA DIED, AND THERE'S
NO QUESTION THAT JOEL WAS THERE.
>> DEFENSE ATTORNEY ROBERTO
BALLI CLAIMS MARIA WAS TERRIBLY
DEPRESSED AND HAD BEEN DRINKING
AND ABUSING DRUGS FOR MONTHS.
>> WHEN JOEL ARRIVED MARIA WAS
ALREADY ON SOMETHING.
>> ACCORDING TO THE DEFENSE,
JOEL PELLOT DIDN'T INTEND TO
KILL HIS WIFE AND THE PROOF, HIS
ATTORNEY'S SAY, IS IN THAT
TOXICOLOGY REPORT .
THEY ADMIT PELLOT GAVE HIS WIFE
MEDICATION TO CALM HER DOWN, AND
THEN WHEN HE FOUND HER
UNCONSCIOUS THEY SAY, HE GAVE
HER NARCAN, A DRUG USED TO
REVERSE AN OPIOID OVERDOSE.
>> SOMEONE TRIED TO BRING HER
BACK TO LIFE, AND IT WASN'T THE
PARAMEDICS, IT WASN'T THE
POLICE, IT WAS JOEL. SO HE DID
NOT WANT HER DEAD.
THIS WAS A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.
>> A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT, THE
DEFENSE ARGUES, THAT WAS CAUSED
BY A COMBINATION OF WHATEVER
MARIA HAD TAKEN AND THE
MEDICATION PELLOT USED TO INJECT
HER.
>> HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT NARCAN
WASN'T THERE BECAUSE HE TRIED TO
SAVE HER, THAT HE WENT TOO FAR,
REALIZED THAT HE HAD GONE TOO
FAR.
>> NARCAN IS NOT A REVERSAL
AGENT FOR PROPOFOL AND PROPOFOL
WAS WHAT STOPPED HER HEART AT
THE END.
>> THE DEFENSE NEVER EXPLAINED
TO THE JURY HOW THE PROPOFOL GOT
INTO MARIA'S SYSTEM, BUT
PROSECUTORS SAY THAT THE LEVEL
OF DRUGS DISCOVERED IN MARIA'S
BODY COULD NOT HAVE BEEN
ACCIDENTAL.
>> IT WAS ENOUGH MEDICATION TO
SURVIVE TWO MAJOR SURGERIES.
IT WAS SO MUCH.
>> AND WHY DO YOU THINK HE GAVE
HER SO MUCH?
>> TO BE SURE.
>> WHILE PELLOT HIMSELF DIDN'T
TESTIFY, HIS EMOTIONAL MOTHER
DID.
MIRIAM CARRASQUILLO TOLD
PROSECUTORS, DURING CROSS
EXAMINATION, THAT MARIA HAD
TALKED ABOUT HOW SAD SHE WAS
ABOUT HER MARRIAGE.
>> WERE YOU AWARE THAT JOEL
PELLOT WAS SEEING JANET, WEREN'T
YOU?
>> YES, SHE TOLD ME
>> WHO TOLD YOU?
>> MARIA
>> AND DID YOU ENCOURAGE HER TO
STAY IN THE MARRIAGE?
>> I TOLD HER THAT EVERYBODY
HAVE A LIMIT AND SHE HAVE A
LIMIT.
WHEN SHE DECIDE THAT SHE DON'T
WANT TO BE NO MORE WITH HIM I
HAVE A HOUSE OPEN FOR HER.
>> BUT PROSECUTORS INSIST AS SAD
AS MARIA MAY HAVE BEEN ABOUT HER
MARRIAGE, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE
THAT SHE ABUSED EITHER DRUGS OR
ALCOHOL.
>> THEY BELIEVE PELLOT'S MOTIVE
WAS MONEY AND THAT HE MURDERED
MARIA, BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO
PAY FOR A DIVORCE AND SPLIT HIS
ASSETS.
>> AFTER 8 DAYS OF TESTIMONY THE
JURY GOT THE CASE.
IT TOOK THEM LESS THAN AN HOUR
TO DECIDE JOEL PELLOT'S FATE,
GUILTY, OF MURDERING HIS WIFE
MARIA AND TAMPERING WITH THE
EVIDENCE.
MANY MEMBERS OF THE MEDICAL
COMMUNITY ATTENDED THE TRIAL.
PELLOT'S FORMER COLLEAGUE, TINA
DORES.
>> HE'S NOT DUMB, I MEAN HE'S A
SMART GUY.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF HE JUST GOT
CAUGHT UP WITH HIS GOD COMPLEX
THAT HE THOUGHT HE WAS SMARTER
THAN EVERYONE AND THAT HE WAS
GOING TO OUTSMART THEM.
>> JUST HOURS AFTER THE GUILTY
VERDICT, HE WAS CUFFED AND
ESCORTED OUT OF THE COURTROOM.
>> SHE ADORED HIM.
>> ANGELA'S FRIEND.
>> SHE JUST LOVED HIM TOO MUCH.
>> PROSECUTORS GOT JUSTICE FOR
MAE, BUT
MARIA, BUT IT'S A TRAGIC ENDING
FOR THE MOTHER WHO FOUGHT SO
HARD TO KEEP THEM TOGETHER.
>> WE COULD NEVER SEE THOSE ON
MARIA, BUT SHE TOLD US ABOUT
THEM.
SHE CARRIED A LOT OF SCARS WITH
HER FROM THIS RELATIONSHIP.
>> MARIA'S TEAM SAY THE MOST
IMPORTANT WITNESS AT TRIAL ENDED
UP BEING MARIA HERSELF, AND
THAT HER JOURNALS SHOWED THOSE
SCARS WERE HEALING.
>> I WANT A LIFE THAT'S MINE,
DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE. A LIFE
THAT'S BALANCED WITH EVERY
EMOTION, BUT A HAPPY FULFILLING
LIFE.
>> SHE WAS A WONDERFUL SOUL.
>> SHE WAS A GREAT MOTHER, SHE
WAS JUST AN AMAZING PERSON.
AND THAT ENERGY?
WE FELT IT.