>> WHO?
>> MY NAME IS JANE DOROTIK.
I SPENT 20 YEARS IN PRISON FOR A
CRIME I DID NOT COMMIT.
I THOUGHT TRUTH AND JUSTICE WAS
AT THE FRONT OF EVERYTHING.
AND IT CERTAINLY HAS NOT BEEN,
IN MY CASE.
I WISH I JUST KNEW WHAT REALLY
HAPPENED.
I WISH THERE WAS SOME WAY TO
PIECE IT TOGETHER.
SOME PERSON TO COME FORWARD.
>> JANE AND BOB DOROTIK ARE
LIVING TOGETHER IN NORTH SAN
DIEGO.
>> HE SAID HE WAS GOING OUT FOR
A JOG.
THAT WAS IT.
THAT WAS THE LAST I TALKED TO
HIM.
>> SHE REPORTS HER HUSBAND
MISSING.
THERE WAS A SEARCH FOR HIM AS A
MISSING PERSON.
THE NEXT DAY, HE WAS FOUND IN A
LOCATION TWO OR THREE MILE AWAY
FROM THEIR HOME.
>> I STOP ABOUT RIGHT HERE.
I COULD SEE THE BODY AND I AM,
THIS IS MR. DOROTIK.
>> HE WAS FOUND TO HAVE BLUNT
FORCE TRAUMA TO HIS HEAD.
HE WAS FOUND TO HAVE INJURIES
CONSISTENT WITH STRANGULATION.
>> IT WAS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT IT
WAS A HOMICIDE.
>> THEY FOUND BOB'S BLOOD IN HIS
BEDROOM.
THE DETECTIVES DECIDED BECAUSE
THEY SAW SOME BLOOD, THAT THEY
WERE IN THE CRIME SCENE AND THAT
JANE WAS THE ONLY ONE WITH
ACCESS TO THAT BEDROOM AND TO
BOB.
>> THERE WAS ONLY ONE PERSON WHO
COULD HAVE DONE THIS TO MR.
DOROTIK AND THAT WAS HIS WIFE,
JANE DOROTIK.
>> HE SAID YOU'RE UNDER ARREST.
I WAS LIKE, WHAT?
I WOULD NEVER HURT MY HUSBAND.
>> POLICE SAY CIRCUMSTANTIAL AND
BLOOD EVIDENCE LINKS JANE
DOROTIK TO HER HUSBAND'S MURDER.
>> THE BEDROOM WAS NOT A CRIME
SCENE.
>> I DON'T DOUBT THAT THIS
OCCURRED AT THE HOME AND I DON'T
DOUBT THAT SHE'S INVOLVED.
>> THERE WAS BLOOD ON THE
COMFORTER.
BLOOD ON THE PILL OVER SHAM.
BLOOD ON THE HEAD BOARD.
>> WHEN YOU HAVE A HOME THAT'S A
WORKING RANCH, YOU'LL FIND BLOOD
AROUND.
>> IT IS PROBLEM ON TOP OF
PROBLEM ON TOP OF PROBLEM.
>> I WOULD DECLARE THIS CRIME
SCENE VERY CONTAMINATED.
>> THEY FOCUSED ON ONE PERSON
AND TURNED A BLIND EYE TO ANYONE
ELSE.
>> JANE DOROTIK CHOSE MURDER
OVER DIVORCE.
>> IT FELT LIKE A FLIGHT PLAYERNIGHTMARE.
WHEN I AM A GOING TO WAKE UP?
>> DO YOU BELIEVE SHE GOT A FAIR
TRIAL?
>> NO.
>> I'M IN NO POSITION TO SAY WHO
DID WHAT?
I'M IN NO POSITION TO TELL YOU
WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT MAN.
>> WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE HAPPENED
TO BOB?
>> I BELIEVE BOB SOMEHOW FELL
INTO SOME KIND OF SITUATION.
I DON'T KNOW.
I LOST MY HUSBAND AND THEN I
LOST MY FREEDOM.
♪
>>> JANE, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE
WHAT THE LAST 22 YEARS HAVE BEEN
LIKE FOR YOU?
>> IT'S BEEN TORTUROUS IN MANY
WAYS.
I SUPPOSE MANY MOMENTS WHEN I
THOUGHT, HOW DO I KEEP GOING?
I ALWAYS USED TO SAY THIS WAS
THE MOST PEACEFUL PLACE ON THE
FACE OF THE EARTH.
NOTHING FEELS PEACEFUL ANYMORE.
>> WHEN WE FIRST MET JANE
DOROTIK IN 2000 --
>> THE STRESS ON EVERYONE HAS
BEEN INCREDIBLE.
>> THE LIFE SHE HAD ONCE FOUND
SO SERENE IN THE FOOT HILLS
OUTSIDE OF SAN DIEGO, A LAYOFF
SHE HAD SHARED WITH HER HUSBAND
BOB, HAD TAKEN AN UNIMAGINABLE
TURN.
>> HOW CAN THIS BE?
HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN?
SURELY I'LL WAKE UP AND IT'S A
DREAM.
>> JANE HAD BECOME THE PRIME
SUSPECT IN BOB'S MURDER.
AUTHORITIES BELIEVE THAT SHE
VICIOUSLY ATTACKED HIM IN THEIR
HOME.
>> I CERTAINLY DIDN'T DO THIS.
I LOVED MAY HUSBAND.
>> JANE, 53 YEARS OLD AT THE
TIME, AND BOB, 55, SHARED MORE
THAN HALF THEIR LIVES TOGETHER.
>> I WAS 23 WHEN WE WERE
MARRIED.
BOB WAS A WONDERFUL, LOVING,
CREATIVE PERSON.
>> EVERYONE HERE, FOR THOSE WHO
HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE --
>> BOB SPENT MOST OF HIS CAREER
AS AN ENGINEER.
JANE WORKED AS A NURSE AND LATER
AS AN EXECUTIVE IN THE HEALTH
CARE INDUSTRY.
THE COUPLE RAISED THREE
CHILDREN, ALEX, CLAIRE, AND
NICK.
>> THE FAMILY HAS ALWAYS BEEN
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO BOTH OF
US.
>> ALSO IMPORTANT TO JANE WERE
THEIR HORSES.
WHILE JANE'S PASSION WAS
BREEDING AND RIDING --
>> I'M HAVING A GOOD OLD TIME
HERE --
>> BOB WAS AN AVID JOGGER, AND
THAT SAYS JANE IS THE LAST IMAGE
SHE HAS OF HER HUSBAND.
>> BOB WAS SITTING ACTUALLY IN
THIS CHAIR FACING THE THE TV.
>> ALTHOUGH JANE WAS UNDER
SUSPICION, SHE ALLOWED US INTO
HER HOME.
>> HE SAID HE WAS GOING OUT FOR
A JOG AND HE HAD HIS JOGGING
SUIT ON.
HE WAS TYING HIS SHOES.
THAT WAS THE LAST I TALKED TO
HIM.
>> IT WAS AROUND 1:00 P.M. ON
FEBRUARY 13th, 2000, WHEN JANE
SAYS BOB LEFT TO GO FOR THAT
RUN.
AS HOURS PASSED WITHOUT ANY WORD
FROM HIM, JANE SAYS SHE GREW
CONCERNED.
>> IT WAS BEGINNING TO GET DARK.
I DECIDED TO GO OUT AND LOOK.
>> THIS IS THE ROUTE JANE SAID
SHE TOOK TO SEARCH FOR BOB,
DRIVING UP AND DOWN THE HILL
WHERE HE SOMETIMES RAN.
BY 7:45 P.M., JANE'S CONCERN
TURNED TO FEAR.
>> I SAID ENOUGH.
THIS IS ENOUGH.
SOMETHING IS WRONG.
AND THAT'S WHEN I MADE THE CALL
TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
>> MY FIRST THOUGHT THAT NIGHT
WAS MAYBE THIS MAN HAD A HEART
ATTACK AND FELL DOWN THE
EMBANKMENT ALONG THE ROAD.
>> AS DEPUTY JAMES BLACKMAN AND
OTHERS FROM THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SEARCHED
FOR BOB, CONCERN FRIENDS AND
FAMILY GATHERED AT THE DOROTIK
HOUSE.
>> I SAW MY MOM'S FACE AND I
KNEW RIGHT AWAY SOMETHING
TERRIBLE HAD HAPPENED.
>> THE DOROTIKS' DAUGHTER,
CLAIRE, 24 AT THE TIME, HAD
SPENT THE WEEKEND VISITING HER
AUNT AND RETURNED HOME TO A
DISTRAUGHT JANE.
>> SHE WAS FREAKED OUT.
SHE WAS SCARED, SHE WAS NERVOUS,
SHE WAS CRYING.
>> IT WAS A ORHORRIFYING FEELING
THAT GOT MORE AND MORE
HORRIFYING WHEN HE WASN'T FOUND.
>> THEN IN THE PREDAWN HOURS OF
FEBRUARY 14, DEPUTY BLACKMAN
TURNED INTO THIS DRIVEWAY
SEVERAL MILES FROM THE DOROTIK
HOME AND NOTICED THE BODY OFF
THE ROAD.
>> AT THIS POINT, I COULD SEE
THE SHIRT, THE PANTS, AND HE WAS
LAYING ON HIS BACK.
>> FROM JANE'S DESCRIPTION, HE
IMMEDIATELY KNEW IT WAS BOB
DOROTIK.
>> I GOT THERE A LITTLE AFTER
7:00 IN THE MORNING.
>> SAN DIEGO COUNTY SHERIFF'S
DETECTIVE RICK EMPSON WAS CALLED
TO THE SCENE.
>> THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY
TYPE OF VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
>> THE EVIDENCE EMPSON DID FIND
SUGGESTED SOMETHING ELSE.
>> I COULD SEE THAT HE HAD BLOOD
ON HIS FACE.
THERE WAS BLOOD NEAR THE BACK OF
HIS HEAD, AND I COULD SEE THERE
WAS A ROPE AROUND HIS NECK.
>> BOB DOROTIK HAD BEEN
BLUDGEONED AND STRANGLED.
THE ONE TIME MISSING PERSON CASE
HAD TURNED INTO A HOMICIDE
INVESTIGATION.
>> IS THERE ANYBODY YOU CAN
THINK WHO WOULD WANT TO SEE YOUR
HUSBAND DEAD?
>> NOBODY, NOBODY.
>> AS LAW ENFORCEMENT ASKED JANE
QUESTIONS ABOUT BOB, SHE LET
THEM INTO HER HOME.
>> COME IN.
SEARCH.
LOOK FOR ANYTHING.
>> DETECTIVE EMPSON NOTICED A
PIECE OF ROPE HANGING FROM THE
PORCH THAT CAUGHT HIS ATTENTION,
THINKING HE HAD JUST SEEN
SOMETHING SIMILAR ON BOB
DOROTIK.
>> IT APPEARED TO BE THE EXACT
SAME KIND OF ROPE THAT WAS FOUND
AROUND HIS NECK.
>> THE SLIDING GLASS DOOR --
>> WHEN INVESTIGATORS GOT TO BOB
IN JANE'S BEDROOM, THEY FOUND
SOMETHING MORE TROUBLING.
THEY BELIEVE THEY WERE LOOKING
AT BLOOD SPATTER.
>> THERE WAS NO QUESTION IN
THEIR MIND THAT THIS ASSAULT
OCCURRED IN THE MASTER BEDROOM.
>> THEY DOCUMENTED THEIR
FINDINGS IN THIS DIAGRAM, TAKING
PHOTOS ALONG THE WAY OF WHAT
THEY BELIEVE TO BE BLOOD ON
VARIOUS ITEMS IN THE BEDROOM,
AND OF WHAT APPEARED TO BE A
LARGE BLOOD STAIN ON THE
UNDERSIDE OF THE MATTRESS.
>> I DO KNOW WHEN BOB HAD A
NOSEBLEED, HE MADE A COMMENT
ABOUT GETTING SOME BLOOD ON THE
MATTRESS.
>> JANE SAYS THERE WAS A LOGICAL
EXPLANATION FOR SOME OF THE
OTHER BLOOD, TOO.
THEY HAD DOGS WHO WERE INJURED
AND HAD BLED.
>> THIS LITTLE DOG HAD AN ABCESS
ON HER CHEEK THAT WAS OPENLY
DRAINING AT THE TIME.
LITTLE DROPS OF BLOOD WE WOULD
FIND AS SHE SAT ON THE COUCH.
THE CARPET PIECES ARE WHAT THE
DETECTIVES REMOVED, FEELING THAT
THERE WAS BLOOD ON THE CARPET.
>> THE SPOTS OF BLOOD
INVESTIGATORS SAID THEY FOUND
ALL OVER THE BEDROOM SURPRISED
JANE.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER
EXPLANATION OF HOW THAT BLOOD
SPATTER COULD HAVE GOTTEN THERE?
>> NOT REALLY.
>> ON THE CEILING, ON THE
WINDOW, ON THE WALLS?
>> NO.
>> ADDING TO AUTHORITIES'
SUSPICIONS WAS THIS BLOODY
SYRINGE FOUND IN THE BATHROOM
GARBAGE.
JANE TOLD US SHE USED IT TO
MEDICATE HER HORSES.
>> I KNOW THAT I GIVE THE HORSES
SHOTS ALL THE TIME.
IF YOU GO LOOK IN MY FRIG RIGHT
NOW, YOU'LL FIND HORSE SYRINGES.
>> INVESTIGATORS THEORIZE THAT
JANE HIT HER HUSBAND WITH AN
OBJECT IN THE BEDROOM AND
STRANGLED HIM.
SHE THEN DRESSED HIM IN HIS
JOGGING SUIT, PUT HIM IN THEIR
TRUCK AND DUMPED HIM ALONG THE
SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE HIS BODY
WAS FOUND.
>> WHY DO THEY BELIEVE YOU
KILLED YOUR HUSBAND?
>> YOU KNOW, I GUESS I'VE BEEN
THROUGH THAT ONE A BILLION
TIMES.
I DON'T KNOW.
>> BUT INVESTIGATORS THOUGHT
THEY KNEW.
BELIEVING THE MOTIVE WAS MONEY
AND ESCAPING A TROUBLED
MARRIAGE.
JANE WAS THE MAIN BREAD WINNER
AND THEY LEARNED THE COUPLE HAD
SPLIT UP FOR A YEAR IN 1997.
>> I DON'T MAKE ANY APOLOGIES
FOR THE FACT THAT WE HAD ROUGH
TIMES, BUT THAT DOESN'T CHANGE
THE FACT THAT WE LOVED EACH
OTHER.
>> AND THAT LOVE, SAYS JANE, IS
WHY THEY RECONCILED.
THEY HAD BEEN BACK LIVING WITH
EACH OTHER FOR A YEAR AND A HALF
BEFORE BOB WAS KILLED.
>> I REALLY THINK THE SEPARATION
CAUSED US TO REALLY REGROUP AND
THINK ABOUT WHAT WAS IMPORTANT.
>> THEY WERE GETTING ALONG
BETTER THAN THEY EVER HAD IN THE
PAST.
I WAS LIVING THERE.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT.
>> BUT LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS
UNMOVED, AND THREE DAYS AFTER
BOB DOROTIK'S BODY WAS FOUND,
JANE WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED
WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.
>> I KNOW I DIDN'T DO THIS.
I KNOW THERE'S A KILLER OUT
THERE.
BUT HOW AM I GOING TO CLEAR
MYSELF?
>> SHE'S BAFFLED BECAUSE I DON'T
KNOW SHE KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED.
>> RELEASED ON JAIL, JANE
STARTED PREPARING HER DEFENSE,
HIRING AN ATTORNEY.
>> SHE KNOWS SHE'S PLACED AS THE
KILLER AND SHE'S NOT THE KILLER.
>> AND THE TRIAL JANE'S ATTORNEY
WOULD PRESENT A SURPRISE SUSPECT
WHO HE FELT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR
BOB DOROTIK'S MURDER.
I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE FAITH IN
THE LEGAL SYSTEM.
I BELIEVE I COULD BE CONVICTED
FOR SOMETHING I DIDN'T DO AND
THAT'S VERY SCARY.
>> WHILE JANE WORRIED ABOUT HER
OUTCOME AT TRIAL, CLAIRE DOROTIK
WAS MUCH MORE CONFIDENT ABOUT
HER MOTHER'S CHANCES.
>> MY MOM COULD NOT HAVE DONE
THIS CRIME.
SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE MOTIVE AND
SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> WHEN THE CASE WENT TO TRIAL
IN 2001, A YEAR AFTER THE
MURDER, PROSECUTOR BONNIE
HOWARD-REGAN DESCRIBED THE
DOROTIKS' MARRIAGE AS SERIOUSLY
TROUBLED AND TOLD JURORS THAT
JANE DIDN'T WANT TO PAY BOB
ALIMONY IN A DIVORCE.
>> BOB DOROTIK NEVER WENT
JOGGING AND HE NEVER LEFT THAT
RESIDENCE ALIVE.
>> ACCORDING TO THE STATE, BOB
HAD ACTUALLY BEEN KILLED
SATURDAY NIGHT, NEARLY A DAY
BEFORE JANE REPORTED HIM
MISSING.
THE AUTOPSY PERFORMED BY DR.
CHRISTOPHER SWALWELL SHOWED
UNDIGESTED FOOD CONSISTENT WITH
WHAT JANE SAID THEY HAD FOR
DINNER THAT NIGHT.
>> ARE YOU ABLE TO GIVE US AN
ESTIMATE OF HOW LONG AFTER MR.
DOROTIK ATE, HOW LONG AFTER
THAT, HE WAS KILLED?
>> YES, IT WAS VERY SHORTLY
AFTER HE ATE.
I WOULD SAY IT WAS PROBABLY
WITHIN A COUPLE OF HOURS.
>> AND HE WASN'T KILLED ON THE
SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE PROSECUTOR
SAID.
THERE WASN'T ENOUGH BLOOD THERE.
INSTEAD, SHE SAID BOB'S BLOOD
WAS ALL OVER THE BEDROOM.
LEAD DETECTIVE RICK EMPSON
TESTIFIED HE HAD ASKED JANE TO
EXPLAIN THAT.
>> SHE INDICATED INITIALLY THAT
SHE HAD A DOG THAT HAD BEEN
BLEEDING, AND THEN INDICATED
THAT APPROXIMATELY A WEEK
PRAYER, BOB HAD A BLOODY NOSE
OVER IN THE CORNER BY THE STOVE.
THAT BOB HAD CLEANED IT UP.
>> THERE WAS EVIDENCE SOMEONE
CLEANED THE BEDROOM.
THE CARPET NEXT TO THE POT BELLY
STOVE AND TIME FLOOR WAS WET AND
HAD BLOOD STAINS UNDERNEATH.
>> DID ANY OF THE BLOOD FROM HIS
NOSEBLEED GO ON THE CARPET?
>> UH-HUH.
>> DO YOU KNOW WHERE?
>> UH-HUH.
RIGHT NEXT TO THE TIME.
I'M THE ONE WHO HELPED HIM CLEAN
IT.
>> AUTHORITIES DISMISSED JANE'S
EXPLANATIONS.
THEIR THEORY WAS THAT JANE HIT
BOB IN THE HEAD IN THEIR BEDROOM
WITH AN OBJECT WHILE HE WAS
LYING IN BED, ALTHOUGH THEY
NEVER IDENTIFIED OR FOUND ANY
WEAPON.
CHARLES MERRITT, A CRIMINALIST
AND BLOOD STAIN PATTERN ANALYST
FOR THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY
SHERIFF'S CRIME LAB RECOUNTED 20
LOCATIONS WHERE HE SAW BLOOD
STAINS.
>> ON ONE OF THE PILLOWS, ON A
LAMP, THIS PARTICULAR NIGHT
STAND, ON THE POT BELLY STOVE.
IT WAS ON THE CEILING ITSELF.
THEN ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE
MATTRESS.
>> THE JURY WAS ALSO SHOWN THIS
EVIDENCE OF TIRE TRACKS FOUND
NEAR BOB'S BODY.
THE STATE'S EXPERT, ANTHONY
DEMARIA SAID HE MAXED THE THREE
DIFFERENT TYPES OF TIRES ON
DOROTIK'S TRUCK.
>> ARE YOU SAYING THE
MEASUREMENTS TAKEN AT THE SCENE
WERE EQUAL TO THE MEASUREMENTS
TAKEN OFF THE ACTUAL VEHICLE?
>> YES.
>> THE MOST TELLING EVIDENCE
CONNECTING JANE TO THE MURDER,
ACCORDING TO THE PROSECUTOR, WAS
THAT SYRINGE FOUND IN THE
BATHROOM.
IT HAD TRACES OF A HORSE
TRANQUILLIZER INSIDE.
AND EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO
EVIDENCE THAT BOB HAD BEEN
INJECTED WITH ANYTHING, IT HAD
BOB'S BLOOD AND A BLOODY
FINGERPRINT ON IT.
>> THE EVIDENCE WILL SLOW THE
FINGERPRINT ON THIS SYRINGE WAS
JANE DOROTIK'S.
>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT?
>> I CAN'T REALLY EXPLAIN IT
OTHER THAN I KNOW THAT I HELPED
BOB CLEAN UP A NOSEBLEED.
IF THAT'S THE SAME TIME THAT I
TOOK THE SYRINGES AND THREW THEM
IN THE TRASH AND THERE WAS SOME
BLOOD ON MY HAND, THAT COULD
HAVE MADE THAT HAPPEN.
>> BUT PERHAPS THE MOST POWERFUL
WITNESSES WERE THE DOROTIKS' TWO
SONS, NICK AND ALEX.
THEY BOTH TESTIFIED AGAINST
THEIR MOTHER.
>> DID YOU SAY ANYTHING
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE SYRINGE?
>> I ASKED HER HOW IT GOT THERE
AND WHAT IT WAS DOING THERE.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR MOTHER'S
RESPONSE?
>> SHE SAID THAT HER BIGGEST
FEAR IN ALL OF THIS WAS THAT US
FAMILY MEMBERS WOULD START
QUESTIONING HER.
>> YOUR MOTHER ALWAYS SETTLED
THINGS LOGICALLY?
TRIED TO?
>> NO.
>> YOU WOULDN'T AGREE WITH THAT
STATEMENT?
>> NOME.
IT WOULD BE MY MOM SAYING THIS
IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT AND
THEN MY DAD WOULD EITHER ACCEPT
IT OR THERE WOULD BE THREATS OF
DIVORCE OR SOMETHING.
THAT'S WHAT I REMEMBER FROM
GROWING UP.
>> JANE'S ATTORNEYS ADMITTED IT
WAS A BIG BLOW.
>> WOULD YOU SAY THAT HAS BEEN
THE MOST DAMAGING TESTIMONY?
>> YEAH.
IT'S NOT WHAT THEY SAID.
IT'S THE FACT THAT THEY WERE
THERE TESTIFYING FOR THE
PROSECUTION.
>> WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR THE
DEFENSE TO PRESENT ITS CASE,
STEIGERWALD ACTUALLY AGREED WITH
THE PROSECUTION ON A MAJOR
POINT.
THAT THE MURDER TOOK PLACE IN
THE BEDROOM.
BUT HE HAD A JAW-DRAWING
ALTERNATIVE SUSPECT.
CLAIRE DOROTIK.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, CLAIRE
HATED HER FATHER.
>> HE CLAIMED CLAIRE, AN AVID
HORSE WOMAN, HATED HER FATHER
BECAUSE HE THREATENED TO SELL
THE ANIMALS SHE LOVED AND
SUGGESTED THAT SHE WAS CAPABLE
OF MURDER.
>> THAT'S WHAT CLAIRE IS.
HOT TEMPERED, EXPLOSIVE
INDIVIDUAL.
>> IT WAS A RISKY STRATEGY THAT
JANE RELUCTANTLY AGREED TO.
>> ALL I CAN DO IS TRUST WHAT
KERRY SAYS IS THE BEST WAY TO
GO.
>> ARE YOU AT ALL CONCERNED THAT
THE JURY WILL WONDER ABOUT A
WOMAN WHO WOULD ALLOW HERSELF TO
BE DEFENDED BY POINTING THE
FINGER AT HER DAUGHTER?
COULD THAT WORK AGAINST THE TWO
OF YOU?
>> IT MAY.
I DON'T KNOW.
I THINK IT IS THE MOST VIABLE
DEFENSE AND I THINK IT IS
SUPPORTED BY THE BEST EVIDENCE.
>> STEIGERWALD INSISTED JANE
WASN'T PHYSICALLY ABLE TO COMMIT
THE MURDER, BUT CLAIRE WAS.
>> SHE RUNS MARATHONS AND SHE'S
A PERSONAL TRAINER.
SHE IS AS FIT A WOMAN AS YOU
WILL SEE AT THE AGE OF 24.
>> BUT REMEMBER, CLAIRE AND HER
AUNT SAID THEY WERE TOGETHER TWO
HOURS AWAY.
>> WE CALLED THE AUNT.
THAT'S THE EXTENT OF THE
INVESTIGATION INTO THE ALIBI OF
CLAIRE DOROTIK.
>> WILL YOU PLEASE STEP FORWARD?
>> THAT ALIBI IS NONSENSE.
>> YOU ARE GOING TO ASSERT YOUR
FIFTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS?
>> THE JURORS NEVER HEARD FROM
CLAIRE OR JANE WHO CHOSE NOT TO
TESTIFY.
BUT THEY DID HEAR FROM A WOMAN
WHO SAID SHE THOUGHT SHE SAW BOB
THE DAY HE DISAPPEARED, SITTING
BETWEEN TWO MEN IN A BLACK
PICKUP TRUCK NOT FAR FROM WHERE
HIS BODY WAS FOUND.
>> WHO KILLED ROBERT DOROTIK?
WAS IT CLAIRE DOROTIK?
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WAS IT
SOMEONE ELSE?
>> IN HIS CLOSING ARGUMENTS,
STEIGERWALD ACCUSED
INVESTIGATORS OF DISMISSING
WITNESSES LIKE THAT WOMAN AND
FOCUSING ONLY ON JANE.
>> THE PROSECUTION FOCUSED ON
ONE PERSON AND THAT'S NOT THE
WAY TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION.
IT'S NOT THE WAY TO RUN A CASE.
>> JANE DOROTIK AND BOB DOROTIK
WERE THE ONLY TWO PEOPLE IN THAT
HOME THAT WEEKEND.
>> BONNIE HOWARD-REGAN SAID
THERE'S NO NEED TO INVESTIGATE
FURTHER WHEN YOU HAVE SUFFICIENT
EVIDENCE.
>> THEY SEARCHED THAT BEDROOM
AND THEY SAW ALL THE BLOOD AND
THEY KNEW THAT WAS THE CRIME
SCENE.
WHAT MORE INVESTIGATION DO THEY
NEED TO DO?
>> IT TOOK THE JURY FOUR DAYS TO
RETURN A VERDICT.
>> WE THE JURY IN THE
ABOVE-ENTITLED CAUSE FIND THE
DEFENDANT JANE MARGUERITE
DOROTIK GUILTY OF THE CRIME OF
MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE.
>> DID JANE DOROTIK GET A FAIR
TRIAL?
>> NO.
NO.
BECAUSE FAIRNESS MEANS THAT
YOU'RE PRESENTING THINGS
ACCURATELY AND IT APPEARS LIKE
IT WAS NOT DONE ACCURATELY.
>> JUROR NUMBER 8?
JUROR NUMBER 9?
>> YES.
>> JUROR NUMBER 10?
>> YES.
>> GO BEHIND THE
>>> IT ALMOST DIDN'T REGISTER
FOR A MINUTE.
IT'S LIKE, NO, THIS CAN'T BE.
I WAS SO CERTAIN THAT I WAS
WALKING OUT.
I THOUGHT THEY WOULD SEE THE
TRUTH.
>> JANE DOROTIK NEVER IMAGINED
SHE WOULD BE FOUND GUILTY.
>> IT'S HARD TO KEEP GOING.
>> AT THE TIME OF HER CONVICTION
FOR THE MURDER OF HER HUSBAND,
SHE WAS 54 YEARS OLD AND
SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE.
>> I MEAN, I JUST, YOU CAN'T SEE
MY WAY TO A LIFE IN PRISON.
I JUST CAN'T SEE IT.
>> DETERMINED TO PROVE THE JURY
GOT IT WRONG, JANE BECAME HER
OWN ADVOCATE, WORKING ON HER
CASE FOR MANY YEARS.
WE SPOKE WITH JANE AGAIN TWO
DECADES LATER ABOUT HER EFFORTS.
>> ALL THROUGH THE PRISON, MY
PRISON JOURNEY, I CONTINUED TO
WRITE ALL INNOCENCE PROJECTS I
COULD THINK OF ASKING FOR HELP.
AT THE SAME TIME REALIZED I HAD
TO FIGHT FOR MYSELF.
>> JANE FILED MOTIONS FROM
PRISON CITING SUCH ISSUES AS
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE AND
INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF
COUNSEL.
>> I WOULD DESCRIBE MY DEFENSE
AS LIMITED AND INADEQUATE.
>> IN HER FILINGS, JANE
INDICATED SHE WANTED TO TESTIFY
AT HER TRIAL BUT HAD LEFT THAT
DECISION UP TO HER ATTORNEY, AND
THAT HAD SHE TESTIFIED, SHE
COULD HAVE EXPLAINED BOB'S
STOMACH CONTENTS, STATING THAT
HE SOMETIMES ATE LEFTOVERS FROM
THE PREVIOUS NIGHT.
SHE ALSO DESCRIBED HER
ATTORNEY'S ALTERNATE SUSPECT
THEORY, POINTING TO HER DAUGHTER
CLAIRE AS THE KILLER AS ABSURD.
>> DO YOU BELIEVE THAT YOUR
DAUGHTER CLAIRE HAD ANYTHING TO
DO WITH THE DEATH --
>> ABSOLUTELY UNEQUIVOCALLY NOT.
AND MY DEFENSE ATTORNEY,
EVERYBODY KNEW SHE WAS AWAY FOR
THAT WEEKEND.
>> IN REGARD TO THAT DEFENSE
STRATEGY, CLAIRE LATER WROTE IN
A BOOK, HOW COULD I BE ANGRY AT
MY MOTHER WHEN ALL I DID WAS
WORRY ABOUT HER?
JANE'S LAWYER, WHOM WE
INTERVIEWED AT THE TIME OF HER
TRIAL, DID NOT SPEAK WITH US
AGAIN.
>> THAT WAS THE WORST STRATEGY
OF MY LIFE EVER.
I SAID TO MY ATTORNEY, IF
ANYTHING HAPPENS TO CLAIRE, I'M
GOING TO STAND UP AND SAY I DID
IT.
>> IN HER FILINGS, JANE ALSO
QUESTIONED WHY HER DEFENSE
ATTORNEY ACCEPTED THE BAD
FORENSICS POINTING TO THE
BEDROOM AS THE MURDER SCENE
RATHER THAN PRESENTING OTHER
SCENARIOS AS TO WHERE AND HOW
BOB DOROTIK COULD HAVE BEEN
MURDERED.
>> DID THE DEFENSE TOO EASILY
ACCEPT THE BEDROOM AS A CRIME
SCENE?
>> THAT IS A VERY LEGITIMATE
ARGUMENT.
>> CBS NEWS CONSULTANT MATTHEW
TRIANO, A FORMER PROSECUTOR AND
CURRENT DEFENSE ATTORNEY, WASN'T
INVOLVED IN THE DOROTIK CASE BUT
HE REVIEWED SOME OF THE COURT
DOCUMENTS AT HER REQUEST.
>> THE DEFENSE MADE A STRATEGIC
DECISION.
ARE WE GOING TO DISPUTE THAT A
CRIME HAPPENED IN THIS LOCATION
OR ARE WE ESSENTIALLY GOING TO
CONCEDE THAT IT HAPPENED THERE
AND THEN COME ONE A DIFFERENT
NARRATIVE OF HOW IT HAPPENED
THERE, AND THEY CHOSE THE
LATTER.
>> THAT DECISION, HE SAYS,
LIKELY LED THE DEFENSE TO POINT
THE FINGER AT CLAIRE FOR THE
MURDER.
>> THEY HAD TO BLAME SOMEBODY
ELSE FOR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED
IN A SPECIFIC LOCATION.
AND THEY, AT LEAST AS IT RELATES
TO THE DAUGHTER, WENT BACK TO
HER HAVING SOME DISAGREEMENT
WITH HER FATHER ABOUT SOMETHING
AND IT WAS A RISK.
>> HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THAT KIND
OF DEFENSE?
>> YOU DON'T SEE IT.
IT COULD HAPPEN WHEN THERE ARE
CLEAR FACTS AND EVIDENCE TO
SUPPORT IT.
BUT WHEN THERE ARE NONE, YOU
KNOW, THAT IS A SHOW STOPPER.
>> IN FACT, CLAIRE WAS NEVER
CHARGED WITH ANY WRONGDOING IN
CONNECTION TO HER FATHER'S
MURDER.
THE DEFENSE, ACCEPTING THE
BEDROOM AS THE MURDER SCENE, IS
ESPECIALLY PUZZLING TO TRIANO AS
THERE WERE REPORTS FROM SEVERAL
EYEWITNESSES WHO SAID THEY SAW A
MAN JOGGING THAT DAY.
ACCOUNTS CONSISTENT WITH JANE'S
DEPICTION OF EVENTS.
NOT THE PROSECUTION'S.
>> THAT'S CRITICAL, CRITICAL
EVIDENCE.
>> AND ALL OF THAT WAS REALLY
NOT PURSUED AND I DIDN'T KNOW OF
ALL THE WITNESSES, HAD THERE
BEEN A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION
INITIALLY, ALL OF THAT, WOULD
HAVE COME OUT.
>> THROUGH THE YEARS AND
VIOLENCE, JANE RAISED PROBLEMS
WITH THE ENTIRE CASE AGAINST HER
ARGUING THAT AUTHORITIES FOCUSED
ON HER FROM THE VERY BEGINNING
OF THE INVESTIGATION AND FAILED
TO FOLLOW OTHER INVESTIGATIVE
LEADS.
BUT MOTION AFTER MOTION WAS
DENIED AND REGARDING JANE'S
INEFFECTIVE COUNSEL CLAIM?
THE JUDGE REJECTED THEM ALL,
RULING THAT HER ATTORNEY'S
PERFORMANCE WAS NOT DEFICIENT,
AND THAT HIS ACTIONS HAD NOT
AFFECTED THE OUTCOME OF THE
CASE.
>> THERE WERE MANY MOMENTS WHERE
I DOUBTED WHEN IS THIS EVER
GOING TO TURN AROUND?
MANY, MANY MOMENTS.
>> STILL, JANE DIDN'T GIVE UP.
SHE CONTINUED LOOKING FOR NEW
EVIDENCE TO CLEAR HER.
ESPECIALLY AS DNA TESTING BECAME
MORE ADVANCED.
IN 2012, SHE FILED A PETITION
FOR DNA TESTING OF THAT ROPE
FOUND AROUND BOB'S NECK, AND
OTHER ITEMS, LIKE BOB'S
FINGERNAIL CLIPPINGS WHICH HAD
BEEN SAVED BUT NEVER TESTED.
IN 2015, THE MOTION WAS GRANTED.
>> IS THA UNUSUAL THAT SHE
FINALLY EVEN GOT TESTING BASED
ON HER FILING MOTIONS ON HER
OWN?
>> YES.
IT'S VERY ATYPICAL.
>> IT WAS AT THIS TIME THAT JANE
FINALLY GOT THE ATTENTION OF A
WRONGFUL CONVICTION GROUP.
LOYOLA LAW SCHOOL'S PROJECT FOR
THE INNOCENT.
>> I GET THIS WONDERFUL LETTER
FROM LOYOLA SAYING YOU'VE
CONTACTED US AND WE'RE
INTERESTED IN YOUR CASE, AND
AFTER THAT, LOYOLA TOOK OVER,
GOT THE TESTING DONE.
>> WHAT THAT TESTING REVEALED,
AS WELL AS A FRESH EXAMINATION
OF OTHER EVIDENCE WOULD CHANGE
THE COURSE OF THE CASE.
>> THAT IS REALLY WHAT FLIPS THE
SCRIPT, TO SAY THAT THERE IS
MORE HERE.
THIS IS MORE THAN JUST AN
INADEQUATE INVESTIGATION.
THERE IS A DIFFERNT NARRATIVE
THAT IS RUNNING THROUGH THESE
TEST RESULTS.
THERE IS PHYSICAL EVIDENCE THAT
ANOTHER PERSON COULD BE
INVOLVED.
>>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE
EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE, THE
SUBSEQUENT TESTING REVEAL YOU
MIGHT HAVE A DIFFERENT
EXPLANATION FOR THINGS THAT
REALLY SHED LIGHT ON WHAT MAY
HAVE HAPPENED HERE.
>> JANE DOROTIK SPENT YEARS
BEHIND BARS ASKING FOR A NEW
EXAMINATION OF THE EVIDENCE USED
TO CONVICT HER OF HER HUSBAND
BOB'S MURDER.
NOW WORKING WITH A TEAM FROM
LOYOLA PROJECT FOR THE INNOCENT,
THE COURT ALLOWED THEM TO HAVE
NEW DNA TESTING ON ITEMS SUCH AS
A ROPE FOUND AROUND BOB
DOROTIK'S NECK, HIS FINGERNAIL
AND CLOTHING.
IT FOUND THAT FOREIGN MALE DNA
WAS FOUND ON SEVERAL ITEMS.
>> THE RESULTS OF THAT, NONE OF
MY DNA ANYWHERE.
>> THERE IS PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
FROM FINGERNAIL CLIPPINGS, FROM
A ROPE, FROM HIS CLOTHING, THAT
IS FOREIGN TO JANE.
>> THE TEAM FROM LOYOLA PROJECT
FOR THE INNOCENT DECLINED TO BE
INTERVIEWED.
WE ASKED NATHAN, A PROFESSOR OF
BIOLOGY AT JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF
CRIMINAL JUSTICE WHO WAS NOT
INVOLVED IN THE CASE TO REVIEW
COURT DOCUMENTS ABOUT NEW
EVIDENCE, SUCH AS THE DNA ON THE
ROPE.
>> WHILE THEY DIDN'T GET A
PROFILE THAT WOULD BE GOOD
ENOUGH TO SEARCH A DATABASE OR
EVEN MATCH TO A SUSPECT, THEY
DID GET ENOUGH DNA THAT IS NOT
ATTRIBUTABLE TO BOB OR TO JANE.
>> WHILE JANE AND HER TEAM
BELIEVE THE RESULTS POINTED TO
HER INNOCENCE, THE STATE CAME TO
A DIFFERENT CONCLUSION.
STATING IN FILINGS, THE DNA
OBTAINED WAS TOO LOW LEVEL TO
MAKE ANY RELIABLE
INTERPRETATION.
HE AGREES THE DNA LEVELS WERE
LOW BUT HE BELIEVES IT WAS
ENOUGH TO EXCLUDE JANE AND THAT
THE ABSENCE OF JANE'S DNA ON THE
ROPE AS WELL AS UNDER BOB'S
FINGER NAILS OR ON HIS CLOTHIG
IS SIGNIFICANT.
>> WITH THE THEORY OF CRIME THEY
PRESENTED, WOULD YOU EXPECT A
LOT OF JANE'S DNA ON BOB.
AND IF SHE HAD MOVED HIS BODY,
THERE IS A LOT OF DNA TRANSFER
THAT MAY HAVE TAKEN PLACE THERE.
THAT WASN'T FOUND.
>> THE APPELLATE TEAM ALSO
REVIEWED THE BEDROOM BLOOD
EVIDENCE THE PROSECUTOR TOLD THE
JURY WAS FULLY TESTED AND WAS
BOB'S.
>> NOW, THE EVIDENCE WILL SHOW
THAT ALL THIS BLOOD HAS BEEN
DESCRIBED TO YOU, THE
OBSERVATIONS MADE IN THIS
BEDROOM, THAT IT WAS ALL SENT
OUT FOR DNA ANALYSIS AND IT ALL
CAME BACK DONE DOROTIK'S BLOOD.
>> ACCORDING TO THE APPEAL, NOT
EVERY SINGLE SPOT BELIEVED TO BE
BLOOD WAS TESTED.
INSTEAD
INSTEAD, REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLES
WERE TESTED.
>> THERE WERE CASES WHERE SIMPLY
ONE SWAB WITH THE CONTROL WAS
TAKEN AND IT WAS REPRESENTATIVE
OF A VARIETY OF SPOTS.
THAT'S NOT GOOD PRACTICE.
IT JUST INVITS
MISINTERPRETATIONS.
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BLOOD
SPATTER AND YOU'RE TRYING TO
ANALYZE HOW IT GOT THERE, YOU
NEED TO DO A FAIRLY
COMPREHENSIVE TEST TO BE ABLE TO
DRAW THE CONCLUSION THAT YOU'RE
DRAWING.
>> BUT I THINK THE PROSECUTION
COULD ARGUE, YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO
TEST, CAN YOU?
EVERY SINGLE DROP THAT LOOKS
LIKE BLOOD?
>> RIGHT?
BUT WHEN YOU SAY WE DID
EVERYTHING, AND THAT'S NOT
ACCURATE, THAT'S WHERE THE
PROBLEM LIES.
>> IN FACT, THE APPELLATE TEAM
SAYS THAT SEVERAL BLOOD-LIKE
STAINS ON ITEMS INCLUDING A
PILLOW SHAM, A LAMP STAND, A
LIGHTSHADE, TURNED OUT NOT TO BE
BLOOD.
AND THERE WERE THE STAINS ON THE
BEDSPREAD WHICH CRIMINALIST
CHARGE MERRITT POINTED TO AT
TRIAL AND DESCRIBED AS BOB'S
BLOOD.
>> TWO OF THE ACTUAL STAINS
CIRCLED BY A LITTLE RED DOT --
>> JANE'S LAWYERS LEARNED THOSE
PARTICULAR SPOTS WERE NEVER
TESTED AT ALL.
AND DUE TO IMPROPER STORAGE, THE
BEDSPREAD COULD NOT BE TESTED
AGAIN.
>> SO WE DON'T KNOW THAT IT WAS
BLOOD AT ALL.
>> THE HANDLING OF THE EVIDENCE
OVER THE COURSE OF THE ENTIRE
INVESTIGATION WAS ALSO RAISED ON
APPEAL.
>> THIS ONE IS HARD TO EVEN LOOK
AT.
YOU HAVE AN INVESTIGATOR WHO
DEFINITELY SHOULD KNOW BETTER.
HANDLING MURDER EVIDENCE WITH
HIS BARE HANDS, IN ADDITION TO
OBVIOUSLY DEPOSITING HIS OWN DNA
AROUND THE CRIME SCENE, HE'S
ALSO RISKING TRANSFERRING
EVIDENCE FROM AMONG THE VARIOUS
SPOT THAT HE'S COLLECTING.
>> AND THERE IS THAT SYRINGE
WITH BOB AND JANE'S FINGERPRINT
FOUND IN THE BATHROOM GARBAGE.
SOMETHING THE APPELLATE TEAM
THOUGHT COULD BE EXPLAINED.
>> IF YOU THROW THAT SYRINGE IN
THE GARBAGE CAN, BOB THROWS A
BLOODY KLEENEX IN THAT GARBAGE
CAN, THEY CAN TRANSFER.
TRANSFER OF DNA FROM ONE OBJECT
TO ANOTHER IN A TRASH CAN IS NOT
UNEXPECTED.
>> Reporter: HE FEELS THE FACT
THAT THE SYRINGE WAS EVEN FOUND
IN THE GARBAGE POINTS FINGERS
AWAY FROM JANE.
>> IF YOU'RE CLEANING UP AFTER A
MURDER, YOU WON'T BELIEVE A
BLOODY SYRINGE IN THE WASTE
BASKET.
>> Reporter: BUT THE STATE STOOD
BY ITS ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION
MAINTAINING THE BEDROOM WAS THE
MURDER SCENE, STATING THAT THE
EVIDENCE STILL POINTS TO JANE
DOROTIK AS THE KILLER.
AND THAT THE DEFENSE ARGUMENTS
ARE LARGELY DERIVE FROM
SPECULATION AND MISSTATEMENTS OF
FACT.
JANE'S APPELLATE TEAM, THOUGH,
MAINTAINS THE BEDROOM DID NOT
EVEN LOOK LIKE A CRIME SCENE.
SOMETHING HE ALSO BELIEVES.
>> THERE IS NOT A CONSISTENT
PATTERN TO THE EVIDENCE THAT
INDICATES A VIOLENT BLUDGEONING
THAT TOOK PLACE IN THAT BEDROOM.
IF BOB WERE ALIVE TODAY, AND
INVESTIGATORS HAD WALKED IN HIS
ROOM, NO ONE WOULD SAY THIS
LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE WAS MURDERED
HERE.
>> IF YOU JUST LOOK AT ALL THE
PIECES OF EVIDENCE THAT LOYOLA
WAS ABLE TO ACTUALLY TAKE APART,
AND YET WE KNOW WHAT WAS TOLD TO
THE JURY IN THE ORIGINAL
CONVICTION.
SO HOW CAN THAT HAPPEN?
>> AS THEIR ATTORNEYS REVIEWED
EVIDENCE, JANE DOROTIK AND IN
2020 WAS LET OUT OF PRISON DUE
TO COVID HEALTH CONCERNS.
THE QUESTION NOW BECAME, WAS THE
NEW EVIDENCE HER LAWYERS WERE
FINDING ENOUGH TO MAKE HER
RELEASE PERMANENT?
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE
NEW DNA TEST
>>> IN THE SUMMER OF 2020, JANE
DOROTIK AND HER TEAM HOPED A
COURT WOULD OVERTURN THE JURY'S
VERDICT, TURNING HER TEMPORARY
RELEASE FROM PRISON INTO LASTING
FREEDOM.
WHAT WERE THEIR MAJOR POINTS?
>> THE TESTING THAT WAS DONE
INITIALLY WAS INSUFFICIENT.
THE WAY THAT TESTING WAS
PRESENTED TO THE JURY WAS
INACCURATE.
THERE WERE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
ARGUMENTS THAT THEY MADE.
>> A HEARING WAS SCHEDULED, BUT
THEN SUDDENLY THE STATE
REQUESTED AN UNPLANNED VIRTUAL
HEARING.
>> THE PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO
CONCEDE THE NEW EVIDENCE CLAIM.
>> THE PROSECUTION ADMITTED WHAT
JANE'S LAWYERS HAD ARGUED ALL
ALONG.
>> THE DNA EVIDENCE AS IT EXISTS
NOW IN 2020 IS MUCH DIFFERENT IN
QUALITY AND QUANTITY THAN
PRESENTED AT TRIAL IN 2001.
>> THE NEW DNA TEST RESULTS AS
WELL AS ISSUES WITH HOW THE
SHERIFF'S CRIME LAB HANDLED
EVIDENCE CAST DOUBT ON THE
VERDICT.
WHAT CAME NEXT WAS EVEN MORE
UNEXPECTED.
THE STATE REQUESTED THAT JANE'S
MURDER CONVICTION BE OVERTURNED.
AND THE JUDGE AGREED.
>> I'M GOING TO GRANT THE MOTION
FOR THE WRIT.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.
>> I ALWAYS BELIEVED AT SOME
POINT THE TRUTH WOULD COME OUT.
>> BUT JANE'S ORDEAL WASN'T
OVER.
THREE MONTHS LATER, IN ANOTHER
SHOCKING MOVE, THE D.A.'S OFFICE
DECIDED TO RETRY HER.
>> I DON'T THINK ANY OF US
THOUGHT THAT SAN DIEGO COUNTY
WOULD ATTEMPT TO RETRY ME.
BUT THEY DID.
>> THE STATE BELIEVES THAT SHE
DID THIS AND THEY WANT TO PURSUE
IT.
>> BUT IN ORDER TO RETRY HER,
THE PROSECUTION FIRST HAD TO
DEMONSTRATE TO THE JUDGE THAT
THERE WAS STILL ENOUGH EVIDENCE
TO PROVE JANE KILLED BOB,
DESPITE THE NEW DNA RESULTS AND
THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INITIAL
TESTING.
>> BACK ON THE RECORD.
>> YOU HAVE THIS BATTLE IN COURT
IF YOU'RE CONCEDING THAT THERE
WERE PROBLEMS, HOW ARE YOU GOING
TO DO IT AGAIN, ESSENTIALLY,
WITH THE SAME EVIDENCE?
>> IT WAS ASTOUNDING TO SIT IN
THAT COURTROOM AND SEE WHAT THEY
TRY AND PUT FORWARD AS ACTUAL
EVIDENCE, AND THEN ALSO
THRILLING TO SEE MY TEAM TAKE IT
APART.
>> JANE'S ATTORNEYS QUESTIONED
THE CREDIBILITY OF SEVERAL OF
THE STATE'S EXPERTS, INCLUDING
CHARLES MERRITT OF THE SHERIFF'S
CRIME LAB.
THE JUDGE ULTIMATELY RULED THE
NEW TRIAL COULD GO AHEAD BUT
THAT SOME KEY EVIDENCE PRESENTED
IN HER ORIGINAL TRIAL WOULD NOT
BE ADMISSIBLE, INCLUDING THOSE
TIRE TRACKS NEAR WHERE BOB'S
BODY WAS FOUND THAT WERE LINKED
TO JANE'S TRUCK.
>> YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT TRUCKS THAT COULD BE
CONSISTENT WITH THOSE TIRE
TRACKS.
IT'S IN ESSENCE JUNK SCIENCE.
>> Reporter: IN MAY 2022, AS
JURY SELECTION WAS ABOUT TO
BEGIN, THE PROSECUTION SURPRISED
EVERYONE YET AGAIN.
>> REMAIN SEATED AND COME TO
ORDER.
THE COURTROOM IS NOW IN KEGS.
>> WE GO IN AS THE JURY IS READY
TO COME INTO THE COURTROOM
MONDAY MORNING AND EVERYTHING
HAS CHANGED.
>> WE NO LONGER FEEL THE
EVIDENCE IS SUFFICIENT TO SHOW
PROOF BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT
AND CONVINCE 12 MEMBERS.
JURY.
WE ARE REQUESTING THE COURT
DISMISS THE CHARGES AT THIS
TIME.
THANK YOU.
>> YOU ARE FREE TO GO.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU.
>> IT IS OVERWHELMING TO REALIZE
NOW I CAN DETERMINE MY OWN
FUTURE.
SOMETHING I'VE PRAYED FOR AND
HOPED FOR.
>> AFTER THE HEARING, JANE'S
ATTORNEYS SPOKE ABOUT HER
DECADES-LONG FIGHT.
>> JANE'S DIG IN IT IN STANDING
UP AND STOICALLY FIGHTING FOR
HER INNOCENCE AGAINST EVERY RISK
AND EVERY THREAT.
THAT'S WHY THIS CASE GOT
DISMISSED TODAY AND AS FAR AS
WE'RE CONCERNED, WE'RE MOVING
ON.
>> THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE AND SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
DECLINED TO SPEAK WITH "48
HOURS."
THE CASE AGAINST JANE DOROTIK
WAS DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE,
WHICH MEANS IF NEW EVIDENCE
SURFACES, CHARGES COULD BE
BROUGHT AGAIN SOMEDAY.
BUT THEN DOESN'T THAT LEAVE
STILL A SHADOW OVER JANE
DOROTIK?
>> OH, SURE, IT DOES.
THERE'S TO QUESTION ABOUT IT
FROM A PRACTICAL PERSPECTIVE, DO
I THINK IT'S OVER?
YEAH.
FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, NO.
>> JANE DOROTIK IS WORKING TO
REBUILD HER LIFE AFTER SPENDING
NEARLY TWO DECADES IN PRISON.
>> MY ENTIRE FAMILY HAS BEEN
BLOWN APART BY THIS HURRICANE OF
EVENTS.
IT'S BEEN HEARTBREAKING ON SO
MANY LEVELS.
>> CLAIRE DOROTIK DID NOT
RESPOND TO OUR REQUEST FOR
COMMENT, BUT JANE SAYS THEY ARE
STILL CLOSE.
HER SON NICK DIED IN 2023.
ALEX DOROTIK DID NOT PROVIDE A
COMMENT TO "48 HOURS," BUT
ACCORDING TO FILINGS BY THE
STATE, HE REMAINS CONVINCED HIS
MOTHER KILLED HIS FATHER.
DO YOU HAVE HOPE THAT YOUR
FAMILY WILL COME TOGETHER AT
SOME POINT?
>> OF COURSE I DO.
OF COURSE I HAVE HOPE.
>> JANE ALSO HAS HOPE THAT SHE
CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OTHER
PEOPLE'S LIVES, AS SHE WORKS
WITH ADVOCACY GROUPS THAT HELP
INCARCERATED WOMEN.
>> TO ME, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT MY
STORY.
AND YES, WE CAN ALL SIT HERE AND
SAY, THIS IS SO HORRENDOUS AND
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN TO THIS
WOMAN?
UNLESS WE LOOK SYSTEMICALLY,
HOWL OTHERS WILL WE FIND?
TO ME, THAT'S CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT.
>> MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
ABOUT THIS CASE REMAIN,
INCLUDING PERHAPS THE MOST
IMPORTANT ONE.
>> WHAT HAPPENED HERE?
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO
BOB DOROTIK.
WHERE'S JUSTICE FOR BOB?
WHERE'S JUSTICE FOR ROBERT
DOROTIK?
>>> NEED MORE TIME WITH "48
HOURS," GO DEEP WITH EVERY
EPISODE WITH FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS
FROM "48 HOURS" INVESTIGATIONS.
>> WERE YOU AT ALL PREPARED FOR
WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE?
>> SHOCK IS THE WORD THAT COMES
TO MIND.
>> GET INSIDE THE TWISTS AND
TURNS AND GET IN ON THE