1 00:00:09,620 --> 00:00:15,620 ♪ 2 00:00:15,620 --> 00:00:16,241 >>> 911, WHAT IS THE ADDRESS OF 3 00:00:16,241 --> 00:00:21,172 YOUR EMERGENCY? 4 00:00:21,172 --> 00:00:21,827 >> IT'S A DAY I DON'T THINK I'LL 5 00:00:21,827 --> 00:00:22,310 EVER THINK I'LL FORGET. 6 00:00:22,310 --> 00:00:22,724 >> IS SHE ALIVE? 7 00:00:22,724 --> 00:00:24,965 IS SHE BREATHING? 8 00:00:24,965 --> 00:00:30,103 >> NO, NO! 9 00:00:30,103 --> 00:00:30,482 NO! 10 00:00:30,482 --> 00:00:32,000 >> A SHERIFF'S VEHICLE PULLED 11 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:35,827 UP, AND SHE INFORMED US THAT 12 00:00:35,827 --> 00:00:36,344 ALEX WAS DEAD. 13 00:00:36,344 --> 00:00:38,275 >> I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT I DID 14 00:00:38,275 --> 00:00:40,379 OTHER THAN FALL TO MY KNEES. 15 00:00:40,379 --> 00:00:43,103 >> WHAT'S HER NAME? 16 00:00:43,103 --> 00:00:51,000 >> ALEXAN ALEXANRA. 17 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:52,206 >> ALEX LOVED PEOPLE. 18 00:00:52,206 --> 00:00:53,241 SHE SAY VERY CARING. 19 00:00:53,241 --> 00:00:54,793 >> SHE LOVED ANIMALS. 20 00:00:54,793 --> 00:00:57,310 >> SHE'D BRING HOME A STRAY. 21 00:00:57,310 --> 00:01:00,310 SHE LIKED ALL THINGS. 22 00:01:00,310 --> 00:01:01,965 >> SHE TRULY WANTED TO BECOME A 23 00:01:01,965 --> 00:01:02,137 NURSE. 24 00:01:02,137 --> 00:01:03,965 >> THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY FOR 25 00:01:03,965 --> 00:01:06,000 NEVER ONCE GIVING UP ON ME WHEN 26 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:07,758 MANY TIMES I'M SURE YOU WANTED 27 00:01:07,758 --> 00:01:07,931 TO. 28 00:01:07,931 --> 00:01:10,655 >> I TALKED TO HER AT 6:00 THAT 29 00:01:10,655 --> 00:01:12,000 EVENING VIA TEXT. 30 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:13,931 SHE WAS DOING GREAT. 31 00:01:13,931 --> 00:01:17,000 AND THAT WAS KIND OF THE LAST 32 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:17,172 THING. 33 00:01:17,172 --> 00:01:19,344 >> IS THIS YOUR APARTMENT OR 34 00:01:19,344 --> 00:01:19,620 HERS? 35 00:01:19,620 --> 00:01:21,862 >> IS IT MATTHEW? 36 00:01:21,862 --> 00:01:25,655 AND WHAT'S YOUR LAST NAME? 37 00:01:25,655 --> 00:01:26,551 >> ECKER. 38 00:01:26,551 --> 00:01:30,000 >> MATTHEW ECKER WAS A 39 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:30,413 NURSE-PRACTITIONER. 40 00:01:30,413 --> 00:01:32,137 HE WAS WELL-EDUCATED, 41 00:01:32,137 --> 00:01:32,551 GOOD-LOOKING GUY. 42 00:01:32,551 --> 00:01:34,689 >> WE HAVE A LOT OF NURSES IN MY 43 00:01:34,689 --> 00:01:37,103 FAMILY, AND HE IS ONE OF THE 44 00:01:37,103 --> 00:01:37,586 BEST NURSES I KNOW. 45 00:01:37,586 --> 00:01:39,723 >> HE WAS A FRIEND THAT SHE HAD 46 00:01:39,723 --> 00:01:43,310 MET THROUGH THIS PART-TIME JOB 47 00:01:43,310 --> 00:01:43,551 SHE HAD. 48 00:01:43,551 --> 00:01:44,586 SHE HAD CALLED HIM, THAT SHE 49 00:01:44,586 --> 00:01:46,517 NEEDED HIS HELP, THAT SHE WAS IN 50 00:01:46,517 --> 00:01:46,758 TROUBLE. 51 00:01:46,758 --> 00:01:49,827 >> SHE HAD BEEN IN A DOMESTIC 52 00:01:49,827 --> 00:01:51,586 DISPUTE WITH HER THEN-BOYFRIEND, 53 00:01:51,586 --> 00:01:54,723 AND MATTHEW ECKER THOUGHT SHE 54 00:01:54,723 --> 00:01:55,378 WAS BEING ASSAULTED SO HE CAME 55 00:01:55,378 --> 00:01:55,586 DOWN. 56 00:01:55,586 --> 00:01:58,310 >> HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO WORK AND 57 00:01:58,310 --> 00:01:58,965 DETOURED AND CAME RIGHT TO HER 58 00:01:58,965 --> 00:01:59,206 APARTMENT. 59 00:01:59,206 --> 00:02:00,034 HE HAD BROUGHT A GUN. 60 00:02:00,034 --> 00:02:02,000 >> HE BROUGHT IT WITH HIM 61 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:04,517 EVERYWHERE HE WENT. 62 00:02:04,517 --> 00:02:05,034 HE HAD A PERMIT TO CARRY. 63 00:02:05,034 --> 00:02:06,689 >> WE WERE BRIEFED BY THE 64 00:02:06,689 --> 00:02:09,240 RESPONDING OFFICERS AS WE WERE 65 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:10,655 ENTERING THE APARTMENT, AND THEY 66 00:02:10,655 --> 00:02:12,862 WERE TELLING US THEIR 67 00:02:12,862 --> 00:02:14,379 OBSERVATIONS AND WHAT MATTHEW 68 00:02:14,379 --> 00:02:15,172 ECKER HAD TOLD THEM. 69 00:02:15,172 --> 00:02:17,862 >> WERE YOU GUYS ARGUING OR 70 00:02:17,862 --> 00:02:19,172 SOMETHING? 71 00:02:19,172 --> 00:02:20,137 >> NO. 72 00:02:20,137 --> 00:02:27,137 NO, SHE JUST POINTED THE GUN TO 73 00:02:27,137 --> 00:02:27,413 HER HEAD. 74 00:02:27,413 --> 00:02:29,517 >> ALEX IS LAYING ON HER BACK. 75 00:02:29,517 --> 00:02:31,793 SHE HAD A GUNSHOT WOUND TO HER 76 00:02:31,793 --> 00:02:32,000 HEAD. 77 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:33,482 >> THE HANDGUN WAS FACING THIS 78 00:02:33,482 --> 00:02:33,655 WAY. 79 00:02:33,655 --> 00:02:36,448 IT WAS ON HER LEFT SHOULDER LIKE 80 00:02:36,448 --> 00:02:36,655 THIS. 81 00:02:36,655 --> 00:02:37,896 >> IT JUST DIDN'T LOOK RIGHT. 82 00:02:37,896 --> 00:02:39,137 THE SCENE DIDN'T LOOK RIGHT. 83 00:02:39,137 --> 00:02:41,448 HOW DID SHE GET IN THAT 84 00:02:41,448 --> 00:02:42,241 POSITION? 85 00:02:42,241 --> 00:02:43,689 IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE. 86 00:02:43,689 --> 00:02:44,862 >> THEY'RE THINKING THEY'RE NOT 87 00:02:44,862 --> 00:02:46,793 GETTING THE WHOLE STORY FROM MR. 88 00:02:46,793 --> 00:02:47,000 ECKER. 89 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:48,620 >> HE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN 90 00:02:48,620 --> 00:02:49,275 TELL US WHAT HAPPENED. 91 00:02:49,275 --> 00:02:51,275 HE WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS 92 00:02:51,275 --> 00:02:51,482 THERE. 93 00:02:51,482 --> 00:02:52,724 >> THE ONLY EVIDENCE IS THAT SHE 94 00:02:52,724 --> 00:02:54,000 TOUCHED THE GUN. 95 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:55,206 THERE WAS GUNSHOT RESIDUE ON HER 96 00:02:55,206 --> 00:02:55,862 LEFT HAND. 97 00:02:55,862 --> 00:02:58,379 >> JUST AS A MOM AND KNOWING 98 00:02:58,379 --> 00:03:00,310 YOUR KID, I DIDN'T -- IT DIDN'T 99 00:03:00,310 --> 00:03:00,482 FIT. 100 00:03:00,482 --> 00:03:01,758 >> HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MOSIVE TO 101 00:03:01,758 --> 00:03:02,379 KILL HER. 102 00:03:02,379 --> 00:03:04,586 I MEAN, HE WAS COMING DOWN TO 103 00:03:04,586 --> 00:03:04,931 PROTECT HER. 104 00:03:04,931 --> 00:03:08,413 >> THERE'S NO WAY HE DID THIS. 105 00:03:08,413 --> 00:03:10,758 I WOULD BET MY ENTIRE LIFE ON 106 00:03:10,758 --> 00:03:12,137 THE FACT THAT HE IS INNOCENT. 107 00:03:12,137 --> 00:03:13,965 >> THE FIRST THING HE SAID TO ME 108 00:03:13,965 --> 00:03:19,275 IS, MOM, I DID NOT DO THIS. 109 00:03:19,275 --> 00:03:25,137 IS, MOM, I DID NOT DO THIS. >> WHAT HAPPENED? 110 00:03:25,137 --> 00:03:28,310 >> WHAT HAPPENED? 111 00:03:28,310 --> 00:03:44,379 >> WHAT HAPPENED? ♪ 112 00:03:44,379 --> 00:04:05,068 ♪ 113 00:04:05,068 --> 00:04:11,206 ♪ 114 00:04:11,206 --> 00:04:14,241 >>> THE OVERNIGHT HOURS, IT'S 115 00:04:14,241 --> 00:04:16,274 DECEMBER 16, 2022. 116 00:04:16,274 --> 00:04:18,586 WHAT TIME DO YOU GET THAT CALL? 117 00:04:18,586 --> 00:04:20,896 >> ON THAT NIGHT THE CALL CAME 118 00:04:20,896 --> 00:04:23,310 IN AROUND 2:50. 119 00:04:23,310 --> 00:04:25,000 >> IT WAS A WEEK BEFORE 120 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:30,137 CHRISTMAS IN 2022 WHEN ST. PAUL 121 00:04:30,137 --> 00:04:31,344 POLICE OFFICER CHING BENG AND 122 00:04:31,344 --> 00:04:35,620 HIS PARTNER, OFFICER JUSTINA 123 00:04:35,620 --> 00:04:37,275 HSER SETOFF ON THEIR REGULAR 124 00:04:37,275 --> 00:04:38,655 PATROL OF THE CITY. 125 00:04:38,655 --> 00:04:41,000 >> DISPATCHER STATED THAT A 126 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:43,655 FEMALE WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD. 127 00:04:43,655 --> 00:04:45,827 MY PARTNER AND I, WE WENT LIGHTS 128 00:04:45,827 --> 00:04:47,896 AND SIRENS HEADED TOWARDS THAT 129 00:04:47,896 --> 00:04:48,068 CALL. 130 00:04:48,068 --> 00:04:49,379 >> AND IS IT ALL UNITS IN THE 131 00:04:49,379 --> 00:04:52,068 VICINITY CALLED IN AT THAT TIME? 132 00:04:52,068 --> 00:04:52,620 >> YES. 133 00:04:52,620 --> 00:04:54,551 PRETTY MUCH EVERY UNIT HOPPED ON 134 00:04:54,551 --> 00:04:59,379 THAT CALL TO COME AND ASSIST. 135 00:04:59,379 --> 00:05:03,827 >> WITHIN MINUTES BENG, HSER, 136 00:05:03,827 --> 00:05:05,103 AND SEVERAL OTHER OFFICERS BODY 137 00:05:05,103 --> 00:05:07,517 CAMERAS ROLLING ARRIVED AT THE 138 00:05:07,517 --> 00:05:08,241 LOCATION, A RESIDENTIAL 139 00:05:08,241 --> 00:05:09,068 APARTMENT BUILDING. 140 00:05:09,068 --> 00:05:10,758 ATHUE ECKER, THE MAN WHO HAD 141 00:05:10,758 --> 00:05:14,034 PLACED THE 911 CALL, LET THEM 142 00:05:14,034 --> 00:05:16,482 IN, AND DIRECTED THEM TO AN 143 00:05:16,482 --> 00:05:19,620 APARTMENT ON THE SECOND FLOOR. 144 00:05:19,620 --> 00:05:22,000 OFFICER BENG WAS THE FIRST TO 145 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:22,931 ENTER THE APARTMENT. 146 00:05:22,931 --> 00:05:27,482 >> I REMEMBER WALKING IN. 147 00:05:27,482 --> 00:05:29,000 THE BATHROOM WAS TO THE RIGHT, 148 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:30,034 THE VERY FIRST DOOR. 149 00:05:30,034 --> 00:05:33,137 >> 32-YEAR-OLD ALEX PENNIG WAS 150 00:05:33,137 --> 00:05:34,931 LYING FACE-UP WITH A SINGLE 151 00:05:34,931 --> 00:05:36,482 GUNSHOT WOUND TO HER LEFT 152 00:05:36,482 --> 00:05:36,724 TEMPLE. 153 00:05:36,724 --> 00:05:38,275 >> I NOTICED A LOT OF BLOOD 154 00:05:38,275 --> 00:05:41,000 AROUND HER HEAD. 155 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:42,379 >> THE OFFICER HAD IMMEDIATELY 156 00:05:42,379 --> 00:05:45,034 SPOTTED THE GUN LAYING ON ALEX'S 157 00:05:45,034 --> 00:05:46,931 LEFT SHOULDER, HER HAND RESTING 158 00:05:46,931 --> 00:05:47,758 ON TOP. 159 00:05:47,758 --> 00:05:50,965 A TEAM OF OFFICERS LOOKED AROUND 160 00:05:50,965 --> 00:05:53,551 THE SMALL STUDIO APARTMENT AND 161 00:05:53,551 --> 00:05:54,655 QUESTIONED NEIGHBORS. 162 00:05:54,655 --> 00:06:00,241 NO ONE HAD HEARD ANYTHING. 163 00:06:00,241 --> 00:06:03,517 IN THE HALLWAY OFFICER HSER WAS 164 00:06:03,517 --> 00:06:05,103 TALKING TO MATTHEW ECKER. 165 00:06:05,103 --> 00:06:07,724 >> HE WAS ON THE FLOOR BY 166 00:06:07,724 --> 00:06:09,517 HIMSELF, SO I WENT AND 167 00:06:09,517 --> 00:06:10,413 APPROACHED HIM AND JUST START 168 00:06:10,413 --> 00:06:10,965 TALKING TO HIM. 169 00:06:10,965 --> 00:06:13,000 >> ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT HIM? 170 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:13,758 >> I WAS. 171 00:06:13,758 --> 00:06:15,068 BECAUSE THAT AT THE TIME WE 172 00:06:15,068 --> 00:06:19,620 DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. 173 00:06:19,620 --> 00:06:21,620 I JUST TOLD HIM TO JUST SLOW 174 00:06:21,620 --> 00:06:22,448 DOWN, TAKE YOUR TIME. 175 00:06:22,448 --> 00:06:23,620 WE'RE NOT IN A RUSH. 176 00:06:23,620 --> 00:06:24,827 WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, I'M READY 177 00:06:24,827 --> 00:06:26,103 TO LISTEN. 178 00:06:26,103 --> 00:06:28,103 >> MATTHEW DID EVENTUALLY CALM 179 00:06:28,103 --> 00:06:30,000 DOWN, AND HE STARTED TALKING. 180 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:31,655 >> WERE YOU GUYS ARGUING OR 181 00:06:31,655 --> 00:06:31,931 SOMETHING? 182 00:06:31,931 --> 00:06:33,206 >> TELLING OFFICERS HE LIVED 183 00:06:33,206 --> 00:06:35,448 ALMOST 3 HOURS AWAY BUT DROVE TO 184 00:06:35,448 --> 00:06:37,068 ALEX AFTER SHE PLACED A FRANTIC 185 00:06:37,068 --> 00:06:41,551 CALL TO HIM EARLIER. 186 00:06:41,551 --> 00:06:43,896 >> SO I CAME HERE TO HELP HER 187 00:06:43,896 --> 00:06:44,931 FEEL SAFE. 188 00:06:44,931 --> 00:06:46,758 >> ATHUE TOLD POLICE ALEX HAD 189 00:06:46,758 --> 00:06:48,068 GOTTEN INTO A FIGHT WITH HER 190 00:06:48,068 --> 00:06:48,758 CURRENT BOYFRIEND. 191 00:06:48,758 --> 00:06:50,310 HIS NAME WAS SHANE ANDERSON, AND 192 00:06:50,310 --> 00:06:52,241 THAT THINGS HAD GOTTEN PHYSICAL 193 00:06:52,241 --> 00:06:54,172 AND THAT SHE WAS SCARED WHAT HE 194 00:06:54,172 --> 00:06:54,448 MIGHT DO. 195 00:06:54,448 --> 00:06:55,827 SO MATTHEW TOOK HIS GUN AND 196 00:06:55,827 --> 00:06:58,827 BROUGHT IT WITH HIM TO ALEX'S 197 00:06:58,827 --> 00:06:59,068 APARTMENT. 198 00:06:59,068 --> 00:07:00,551 >> BECAUSE I WAS WORRIED THAT 199 00:07:00,551 --> 00:07:01,827 HER BOYFRIEND WOULDCOME. 200 00:07:01,827 --> 00:07:04,000 >> SO HE WAS GOING THERE, HE 201 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:04,931 SAID, TO PROTECT HER? 202 00:07:04,931 --> 00:07:05,793 >> YES. 203 00:07:05,793 --> 00:07:11,206 >> MATTHEW ARRIVED AT ALEX'S 204 00:07:11,206 --> 00:07:11,586 AROUND 2:00 P.M. 205 00:07:11,586 --> 00:07:12,689 SHANE WASN'T THERE. 206 00:07:12,689 --> 00:07:13,896 THAT EVENING, HE SAID, THEY WENT 207 00:07:13,896 --> 00:07:15,000 OUT TO LOCAL BARS. 208 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:16,689 WHEN THEY WALKED INTO A PLACE 209 00:07:16,689 --> 00:07:18,965 CALLED CAMP BAR, SHANE WAS 210 00:07:18,965 --> 00:07:19,172 INSIDE. 211 00:07:19,172 --> 00:07:20,551 >> HE CAME TO HER. 212 00:07:20,551 --> 00:07:26,344 THEY WERE ARGUING, AND I CAME 213 00:07:26,344 --> 00:07:27,000 ACROSS AND STOOD BETWEEN THEM, 214 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:27,586 AND THEN HE PUNCHED ME. 215 00:07:27,586 --> 00:07:29,000 >> SHANE HIT THEM, HE SAYS, AND 216 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:30,724 THEN WAS KICKED OUT OF THE BAR. 217 00:07:30,724 --> 00:07:33,586 >> AND I SAT THERE AND TALKED TO 218 00:07:33,586 --> 00:07:35,517 WITH OTHER PEOPLE FOR ANOTHER 45 219 00:07:35,517 --> 00:07:35,758 MINUTES. 220 00:07:35,758 --> 00:07:38,034 WE CAME BACK HERE AND I THOUGHT 221 00:07:38,034 --> 00:07:40,586 EVERYTHING WAS FINE. 222 00:07:40,586 --> 00:07:44,862 AND THEN SHE JUST GRABBED THE 223 00:07:44,862 --> 00:07:45,000 GUN. 224 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:49,379 >> DID SHE MAKE ANY THREAT 225 00:07:49,379 --> 00:07:50,827 BEFORE THAT, THAT SHE WAS GOING 226 00:07:50,827 --> 00:07:51,413 TO KILL HER SNFL. 227 00:07:51,413 --> 00:07:52,068 >> NO. 228 00:07:52,068 --> 00:07:53,758 SHE JUST GRABBED IT AND PUT IT 229 00:07:53,758 --> 00:07:54,689 TO HER HEAD. 230 00:07:54,689 --> 00:07:56,586 >> AND WITH A GUN IN HER HAND, 231 00:07:56,586 --> 00:07:59,137 SHE BACKED INTO THE BATHROOM, HE 232 00:07:59,137 --> 00:08:01,103 SAID, AND LOCKED THE DOOR. 233 00:08:01,103 --> 00:08:08,206 MOMENTS LATER, A SINGLE SHOT 234 00:08:08,206 --> 00:08:09,000 RANG OUT. 235 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:10,620 MATTHEW SAYS HE QUICKLY BROKE 236 00:08:10,620 --> 00:08:12,310 THE DOOR OPEN AND SAW ALEX ON 237 00:08:12,310 --> 00:08:12,793 THE FLOOR. 238 00:08:12,793 --> 00:08:15,896 HE TOLD THE OFFICERS HE TRIED 239 00:08:15,896 --> 00:08:16,517 USING HIS NURSING SKILLS TO STOP 240 00:08:16,517 --> 00:08:17,896 THE BLEEDING BY PUTTING PRESSURE 241 00:08:17,896 --> 00:08:19,241 ON THE WOUND. 242 00:08:19,241 --> 00:08:22,620 >> I TRIED TO DO WHAT I COULD. 243 00:08:22,620 --> 00:08:22,862 >> OKAY. 244 00:08:22,862 --> 00:08:24,379 >> AND THEN I WASHED MY HANDS. 245 00:08:24,379 --> 00:08:28,551 >> AND THEN YOU WASHED YOUR 246 00:08:28,551 --> 00:08:28,758 HANDS? 247 00:08:28,758 --> 00:08:29,034 >> CORRECT. 248 00:08:29,034 --> 00:08:29,724 THAT'S WHY I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING 249 00:08:29,724 --> 00:08:30,137 ON MY HANDS. 250 00:08:30,137 --> 00:08:31,793 >> AND THEN YOU -- THEN YOU 251 00:08:31,793 --> 00:08:34,517 CALLED THE POLICE? 252 00:08:34,517 --> 00:08:35,034 >> YES. 253 00:08:35,034 --> 00:08:38,413 >> THE NEWS THAT ALEX HAD FIRED 254 00:08:38,413 --> 00:08:41,931 A GUN, TAKING HER OWN LIFE, WAS 255 00:08:41,931 --> 00:08:45,206 UNFATHOMABLE TO ALEX'S PARENTS, 256 00:08:45,206 --> 00:08:46,103 MARY JO AND JIM. 257 00:08:46,103 --> 00:08:47,482 >> THAT JUST WAS COMPLETELY OUT 258 00:08:47,482 --> 00:08:48,965 OF CHARACTER FOR ALEX. 259 00:08:48,965 --> 00:08:51,034 >> SHE'D NEVER SHOT A GUN, 260 00:08:51,034 --> 00:08:52,517 DIDN'T LIKE GUNS, SO IT DIDN'T 261 00:08:52,517 --> 00:08:53,413 MAKE ANY SENSE. 262 00:08:53,413 --> 00:08:56,620 >> AND ALEX'S MOM, MARY JO, HAD 263 00:08:56,620 --> 00:08:58,344 JUKS TEXTED WITH HER DAUGHTER A 264 00:08:58,344 --> 00:09:00,068 FEW HOURS EARLIER, AND SHE 265 00:09:00,068 --> 00:09:01,793 DIDN'T SEEM DEPRESSED AT ALL. 266 00:09:01,793 --> 00:09:03,827 >> SHE WAS DOING WELL, YOU KNOW, 267 00:09:03,827 --> 00:09:05,310 AND THAT'S WHAT'S SO HARD. 268 00:09:05,310 --> 00:09:06,413 >> DID YOU SEE THIS? 269 00:09:06,413 --> 00:09:07,310 SEE THAT PART? 270 00:09:07,310 --> 00:09:11,000 >> DETECTIVES ABBY DeSANTO AND 271 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:12,620 JENNIFER O'DONNELL WERE CALLED 272 00:09:12,620 --> 00:09:13,482 TO THE SCENE. 273 00:09:13,482 --> 00:09:14,724 >> YOU GET A CALL IN THE MIDDLE 274 00:09:14,724 --> 00:09:16,275 OF THE NIGHT SO YOU KNOW IT'S 275 00:09:16,275 --> 00:09:16,896 NOT GOOD. 276 00:09:16,896 --> 00:09:18,241 >> INSIDE THE APARTMENT THERE 277 00:09:18,241 --> 00:09:20,000 WAS ALCOHOL AND SIX BOTTLES OF 278 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:21,275 PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS 279 00:09:21,275 --> 00:09:24,379 INCLUDING ANTI-DEPRESSANTS AND 280 00:09:24,379 --> 00:09:25,551 AMPHETAMINES, ALL PRESCRIBED TO 281 00:09:25,551 --> 00:09:25,896 ALEX. 282 00:09:25,896 --> 00:09:27,758 BUT IF THAT SUGGESTED MAYBE ALEX 283 00:09:27,758 --> 00:09:29,103 HAD BEEN DEPRESS ASKED TOOK HER 284 00:09:29,103 --> 00:09:30,482 OWN LIFE, THERE WERE OTHER 285 00:09:30,482 --> 00:09:32,000 THINGS THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO ADD 286 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:33,724 UP IN MATTHEW'S ACCOUNT. 287 00:09:33,724 --> 00:09:35,862 THE FIRST WAS THE POSITION OF 288 00:09:35,862 --> 00:09:39,413 ALEX'S BODY, SAYS THE 289 00:09:39,413 --> 00:09:39,758 INVESTIGATORS. 290 00:09:39,758 --> 00:09:41,827 SHOWN HERE IN THIS CBS NEWS 291 00:09:41,827 --> 00:09:42,068 ANIMATION. 292 00:09:42,068 --> 00:09:44,689 >> THE DOOR TO THE BATHROOM WAS 293 00:09:44,689 --> 00:09:47,344 AJAR, AND YOU IMMEDIATELY SEE 294 00:09:47,344 --> 00:09:48,344 ALEX'S FEET ON EITHER SIDE OF 295 00:09:48,344 --> 00:09:49,137 THE DOOR. 296 00:09:49,137 --> 00:09:51,724 >> IF MATTHEW HAD BROKEN DOWN 297 00:09:51,724 --> 00:09:53,517 THE BATHROOM DOOR AFTER HEARING 298 00:09:53,517 --> 00:09:55,620 THE GUNSHOT, AS HE TOLD OFFICERS 299 00:09:55,620 --> 00:09:55,931 HE HAD -- 300 00:09:55,931 --> 00:09:59,206 >> WE THINK THAT IF THAT HAD 301 00:09:59,206 --> 00:10:01,482 BEEN THE CASE, HER LEGS WOULD 302 00:10:01,482 --> 00:10:02,965 HAVE BEEN SWEPT BEHIND THE DOOR. 303 00:10:02,965 --> 00:10:05,344 >> AND EVEN THOUGH MATTHEW HAD 304 00:10:05,344 --> 00:10:07,758 SAID HE WASHED HIS HANDS BEFORE 305 00:10:07,758 --> 00:10:09,000 CALLING 911 -- 306 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:10,655 >> WHEN RESPONDING OFFICERS 307 00:10:10,655 --> 00:10:12,034 ARRIVED, THE SINK WAS DRY. 308 00:10:12,034 --> 00:10:14,000 AND IF HE'D SAID HE CALLED THE 309 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:15,689 POLICE RIGHT AWAY, THAT SINK 310 00:10:15,689 --> 00:10:18,000 PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN STILL 311 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:18,172 WET. 312 00:10:18,172 --> 00:10:19,517 >> THE DETECTIVES DECIDED TO 313 00:10:19,517 --> 00:10:23,931 TAKE A DEEPER LOOK AT MATTHEW'S 314 00:10:23,931 --> 00:10:24,103 STORY. 315 00:10:24,103 --> 00:10:24,724 HE HAD TOLD POLICE HIS ONLY 316 00:10:24,724 --> 00:10:26,896 MISSION THAT DAY WAS TO PROTECT 317 00:10:26,896 --> 00:10:28,068 ALEX FROM SHANE ANDERSON, THE 318 00:10:28,068 --> 00:10:29,620 BOYFRIEND HE CLAIMED WAS 319 00:10:29,620 --> 00:10:31,137 VIOLENT. 320 00:10:31,137 --> 00:10:31,965 AND, IN FACT, THERE WERE THESE 321 00:10:31,965 --> 00:10:34,931 HOLES IN THE CLOSET DOOR. 322 00:10:34,931 --> 00:10:37,172 >> ACROSS FROM THE BATHROOM KIND 323 00:10:37,172 --> 00:10:39,620 OF LIKE PUNCH MARKS. 324 00:10:39,620 --> 00:10:43,620 >> HOLES, MATTHEW SAID SHANE WAS 325 00:10:43,620 --> 00:10:44,965 RESPONSIBLE FOR. 326 00:10:44,965 --> 00:10:46,448 THE DETECTIVES WERE NOW EAGER TO 327 00:10:46,448 --> 00:10:57,517 THE DETECTIVES WERE NOW EAGER TO SPEAK WITH SHANE. 328 00:10:57,517 --> 00:11:05,896 SPEAK WITH SHANE. 329 00:11:05,896 --> 00:11:06,517 >>> IT'S THE MOST DEVASTATING 330 00:11:06,517 --> 00:11:07,379 KNOCK ON MY DOOR I'VE EVER HAD 331 00:11:07,379 --> 00:11:08,517 IN MY LIFE. 332 00:11:08,517 --> 00:11:10,931 >> HEY, THE ST. PAUL POLICE. 333 00:11:10,931 --> 00:11:15,172 >> HOURS AFTER ALEX PENNIG WAS 334 00:11:15,172 --> 00:11:17,172 FOUND DEAD, POLICE WERE AT HER 335 00:11:17,172 --> 00:11:18,241 BOYFRIEND, SHAYNE ANDERSON'S 336 00:11:18,241 --> 00:11:20,241 FRONT DOOR. 337 00:11:20,241 --> 00:11:20,862 >> DID YOU HEAR WHAT HAPPENED? 338 00:11:20,862 --> 00:11:21,931 >> TWO POLICE OFFICERS, THEY 339 00:11:21,931 --> 00:11:23,655 ASKED ME WHO ALEX WAS, AND I 340 00:11:23,655 --> 00:11:25,655 SAID THAT'S MY GIRLFRIEND. 341 00:11:25,655 --> 00:11:31,000 >> IS SHE OKAY? 342 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:33,931 >> SHE JUST PASSED AWAY. 343 00:11:33,931 --> 00:11:35,827 >> NO? 344 00:11:35,827 --> 00:11:36,103 ALEX PENNIG? 345 00:11:36,103 --> 00:11:40,793 YOU'RE KIDDING ME. 346 00:11:40,793 --> 00:11:46,344 AND I -- I DON'T KNOW, BLACKED 347 00:11:46,344 --> 00:11:47,931 OUT PRETTY MUCH AFTER THAT. 348 00:11:47,931 --> 00:11:50,931 >> SHANE SAID HE WAS DESPERATE 349 00:11:50,931 --> 00:11:53,103 FOR ANSWERS AND WILLINGLY WENT 350 00:11:53,103 --> 00:11:54,931 TO THE POLICE STATION TO SPEAK 351 00:11:54,931 --> 00:11:55,758 WITH DETECTIVES. 352 00:11:55,758 --> 00:11:58,068 >> I WONDER WHAT HAPPENED TO 353 00:11:58,068 --> 00:11:58,241 HER. 354 00:11:58,241 --> 00:12:00,241 >> THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO 355 00:12:00,241 --> 00:12:00,551 FIGURE OUT. 356 00:12:00,551 --> 00:12:01,931 >> SHANE TOLD DETECTIVES HE'D 357 00:12:01,931 --> 00:12:04,000 BEEN DATING ALEX AROUND FOUR 358 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:05,241 MONTHS AND PAINTED A ROSY 359 00:12:05,241 --> 00:12:05,482 PICTURE. 360 00:12:05,482 --> 00:12:06,206 >> SHE WAS SWEET. 361 00:12:06,206 --> 00:12:07,310 LIKE, SHE WAS FUN. 362 00:12:07,310 --> 00:12:11,000 EVERYTHING THAT YOU'D WANT IN A 363 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:11,172 WOMAN. 364 00:12:11,172 --> 00:12:12,724 >> ACCORDING TO SHANE, THEY 365 00:12:12,724 --> 00:12:15,241 SPENT NEARLY EVERY DAY TOGETHER 366 00:12:15,241 --> 00:12:16,862 AND LOVED TO LOUNGE AROUND WITH 367 00:12:16,862 --> 00:12:17,793 HER TWO CATS. 368 00:12:17,793 --> 00:12:19,620 >> I'M NOT A CAT PERSON. 369 00:12:19,620 --> 00:12:22,344 I'M MORE OF A DOG PERSON TO BE 370 00:12:22,344 --> 00:12:23,793 HONEST, BUT SHE KIND OF MADE ME 371 00:12:23,793 --> 00:12:24,517 A CAT PERSON. 372 00:12:24,517 --> 00:12:26,344 >> HE TOLD THE DETECTIVES THAT 373 00:12:26,344 --> 00:12:28,310 ALTHOUGH IT WAS EARLY IN THEIR 374 00:12:28,310 --> 00:12:29,517 RELATIONSHIP, THEY WERE PLANNING 375 00:12:29,517 --> 00:12:32,517 A FUTURE TOGETHER. 376 00:12:32,517 --> 00:12:33,172 >> LITERALLY YESTERDAY WE WERE 377 00:12:33,172 --> 00:12:35,689 TALKING ABOUT, LIKE, ME BREAKING 378 00:12:35,689 --> 00:12:39,724 MY LEASE AND MOVING INTO HER 379 00:12:39,724 --> 00:12:39,931 PLACE. 380 00:12:39,931 --> 00:12:41,862 >> WE BOTH WANTED FAMILIES. 381 00:12:41,862 --> 00:12:43,344 >> YOU IMAGINED YOURSELF WITH 382 00:12:43,344 --> 00:12:43,517 HER? 383 00:12:43,517 --> 00:12:47,103 >> 100%. 384 00:12:47,103 --> 00:12:48,793 >> SHANE'S DESCRIPTION WAS IN 385 00:12:48,793 --> 00:12:51,206 STARK CONTRAST TO WHAT MATTHEW 386 00:12:51,206 --> 00:12:52,655 ECKER HAD TOLD POLICE. 387 00:12:52,655 --> 00:12:53,931 MATTHEW SAID ALEX TOLD HIM SHE 388 00:12:53,931 --> 00:12:55,793 WAS FIGHTING WITH SHANE AND 389 00:12:55,793 --> 00:12:56,586 SCARED OF HIM. 390 00:12:56,586 --> 00:12:58,241 BUT WHEN THE DETECTIVES ASKED, 391 00:12:58,241 --> 00:12:59,965 SHANE DENIED IT. 392 00:12:59,965 --> 00:13:02,241 >> SO DID THE ARGUMENT THAT YOU 393 00:13:02,241 --> 00:13:04,275 GUYS HAD ON THAT MORNING, DID IT 394 00:13:04,275 --> 00:13:05,206 GET PHYSICAL AT ALL? 395 00:13:05,206 --> 00:13:09,689 >> NO, NOT AT ALL. 396 00:13:09,689 --> 00:13:11,896 GOD NO. 397 00:13:11,896 --> 00:13:13,793 >> IT WAS BASICALLY ABOUT WHY I 398 00:13:13,793 --> 00:13:14,965 HADN'T MOVED IN YET AND WHY IT 399 00:13:14,965 --> 00:13:16,586 WAS TAKING SO LONG. 400 00:13:16,586 --> 00:13:17,551 >> BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE PUNCH 401 00:13:17,551 --> 00:13:19,827 MARKS IN ALEX'S APARTMENT? 402 00:13:19,827 --> 00:13:21,896 >> THAT WAS A FEW WEEKS BACK. 403 00:13:21,896 --> 00:13:23,000 IT WAS ME. 404 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:23,724 I WAS DRUNK. 405 00:13:23,724 --> 00:13:25,620 I DIDN'T PUT MY HANDS ON HER, 406 00:13:25,620 --> 00:13:25,862 THOUGH. 407 00:13:25,862 --> 00:13:27,965 >> WE ARGUED LIKE A MARRIED 408 00:13:27,965 --> 00:13:28,379 COUPLE. 409 00:13:28,379 --> 00:13:30,379 IT WASN'T ANYTHING CRAZY OR LIKE 410 00:13:30,379 --> 00:13:31,862 VIOLENT OR WEIRD. 411 00:13:31,862 --> 00:13:33,793 >> BUT REMEMBER MATTHEW TOLD 412 00:13:33,793 --> 00:13:34,517 DETECTIVES SHANE WAS ARGUING 413 00:13:34,517 --> 00:13:37,206 WITH ALEX JUST HOURS BEFORE HER 414 00:13:37,206 --> 00:13:39,344 DEATH AT CAMP BAR, AND SHANE 415 00:13:39,344 --> 00:13:40,103 EVEN PUNCHED MATTHEW. 416 00:13:40,103 --> 00:13:43,344 >> I CAME ACROSS AND I STOOD 417 00:13:43,344 --> 00:13:45,000 BETWEEN THEM AND HE PUNCHED ME. 418 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:47,482 >> SHANE DIDN'T DENY HITTING 419 00:13:47,482 --> 00:13:47,827 MATTHEW. 420 00:13:47,827 --> 00:13:49,379 HE SAID SEEING ALEX WITH ANOTHER 421 00:13:49,379 --> 00:13:50,379 MAN UPSET HIM. 422 00:13:50,379 --> 00:13:52,793 >> ALEX SHOWED UP WITH A LIKE A 423 00:13:52,793 --> 00:13:52,965 GUY. 424 00:13:52,965 --> 00:13:54,551 HE DOESN'T LOOK FAMILIAR. 425 00:13:54,551 --> 00:13:56,103 I HAVE NO IDEA WHO THE [ BLEEP ] 426 00:13:56,103 --> 00:13:57,000 THIS GUY WAS. 427 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:59,034 >> I WAS WONDER WHY THIS GUY IS 428 00:13:59,034 --> 00:14:02,068 HANGING OUT WITH MY GIRLFRIEND, 429 00:14:02,068 --> 00:14:04,862 AND I DECIDED TO THROW A PUNCH, 430 00:14:04,862 --> 00:14:08,137 WHICH IS NOT IN MY CHARACTER. 431 00:14:08,137 --> 00:14:09,103 BUT IT JUST FELT LIKE THE THING 432 00:14:09,103 --> 00:14:11,482 TO DO AT THE TIME. 433 00:14:11,482 --> 00:14:13,827 >> SO CAMP BAR IS THE LAST BAR 434 00:14:13,827 --> 00:14:16,793 THAT ALEX AND MATTHEW WENT TO. 435 00:14:16,793 --> 00:14:19,931 >> DETECTIVES DeSANTO AND 436 00:14:19,931 --> 00:14:21,724 O'DONNELL REVIEWED SECURITY 437 00:14:21,724 --> 00:14:22,931 FOOTAGE FROM INSIDE CAMP BAR. 438 00:14:22,931 --> 00:14:25,137 >> SO AS ALEX AND MATT WALKED 439 00:14:25,137 --> 00:14:26,689 IN, SHANE WAS SITTING RIGHT 440 00:14:26,689 --> 00:14:28,965 ACROSS FROM THE BAR. 441 00:14:28,965 --> 00:14:29,896 >> THEY TOOK US THROUGH THE 442 00:14:29,896 --> 00:14:30,724 ALTERCATION, AND WE ZOOMED IN 443 00:14:30,724 --> 00:14:32,068 FOR A CLOSER LOOK. 444 00:14:32,068 --> 00:14:33,137 >> MATT WAS SITTING HERE WHEN 445 00:14:33,137 --> 00:14:37,000 THEY WALKED IN, AND REALLY ODDLY 446 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:38,034 ALEX WALKED AROUND THE BAR AND 447 00:14:38,034 --> 00:14:41,448 SAT ACROSS THE BAR OVER THERE. 448 00:14:41,448 --> 00:14:43,241 >> SHANE WALKED OVER TO HER 449 00:14:43,241 --> 00:14:44,896 FIRST AND THEN SHE IS TALKING TO 450 00:14:44,896 --> 00:14:46,310 SHANE AND MATT COMES OVER, AND 451 00:14:46,310 --> 00:14:48,241 IF IT APPEARS HE IS INTRODUCING 452 00:14:48,241 --> 00:14:50,689 HIMSELF BECAUSE HE HOLDS OUT HIS 453 00:14:50,689 --> 00:14:52,344 HANDS TO SHAKE HANDS WITH SHANE. 454 00:14:52,344 --> 00:14:53,827 THEN THERE'S A CONFRONTATION, 455 00:14:53,827 --> 00:15:02,379 SHANE ENDED UP ASSAULTING MATT. 456 00:15:02,379 --> 00:15:04,724 >> NO, NO. 457 00:15:04,724 --> 00:15:05,206 NO. 458 00:15:05,206 --> 00:15:06,000 WE'RE NOT DOING THAT. 459 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:07,137 WE ARE NOT DOING THAT. 460 00:15:07,137 --> 00:15:10,000 >> SHANE THEN IS ASKED TO LEAVE. 461 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:10,724 >> YES. 462 00:15:10,724 --> 00:15:12,172 >> I HAD NO IDEA THAT THAT WAS 463 00:15:12,172 --> 00:15:13,758 GOING TO BE THE LAST TIME THAT I 464 00:15:13,758 --> 00:15:19,517 EVER SAW HER. 465 00:15:19,517 --> 00:15:21,965 >> AFTER SHANE LEFT, THE FOOTAGE 466 00:15:21,965 --> 00:15:23,310 SHOWED ALEX HANGING AT THE BAR 467 00:15:23,310 --> 00:15:25,655 WITH MATTHEW FOR ABOUT ANOTHER 468 00:15:25,655 --> 00:15:31,241 HOUR, DRINKING AND CHATTING. 469 00:15:31,241 --> 00:15:32,344 DETECTIVES WERE NO CLOSER TO 470 00:15:32,344 --> 00:15:34,965 UNDERSTANDING WHY JUST A LITTLE 471 00:15:34,965 --> 00:15:36,206 WHILE LATER SHE WOULD, AS 472 00:15:36,206 --> 00:15:38,103 MATTHEW TOLD THEM, TAKE HER OWN 473 00:15:38,103 --> 00:15:41,241 LIFE. 474 00:15:41,241 --> 00:15:44,344 AND THE MEDICAL EXAMINER RULED 475 00:15:44,344 --> 00:15:45,896 THAT ALEX'S MANNER OF DEATH 476 00:15:45,896 --> 00:15:47,344 COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. 477 00:15:47,344 --> 00:15:50,517 SO DETECTIVES DUG INTO HER PAST 478 00:15:50,517 --> 00:15:53,172 LOOKING FOR ANYTHING THAT COULD 479 00:15:53,172 --> 00:15:54,896 EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED. 480 00:15:54,896 --> 00:15:56,896 >> SHE'S BEEN EVERY HAIR COLOR. 481 00:15:56,896 --> 00:15:58,068 BRUNET AND THEN BLONDE AND THEN 482 00:15:58,068 --> 00:15:58,758 BLACK HAIR. 483 00:15:58,758 --> 00:16:00,000 >> PUT SOME RED IN THERE. 484 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:01,655 >> PUT A LITTLE RED IN THERE. 485 00:16:01,655 --> 00:16:03,068 AND IT WAS JUST LIKE SHE'D BE 486 00:16:03,068 --> 00:16:04,448 EVERY COLOR. 487 00:16:04,448 --> 00:16:07,310 >> THEY HAVE KNOWN ALEX SINCE 488 00:16:07,310 --> 00:16:08,241 GRADE SCHOOL. 489 00:16:08,241 --> 00:16:10,275 TELL ME ABOUT ALEX AS YOU KNEW 490 00:16:10,275 --> 00:16:10,896 HER BACK THEN. 491 00:16:10,896 --> 00:16:14,172 >> SPUNKY, A LITTLE CHILD, FULL 492 00:16:14,172 --> 00:16:14,448 OF ENERGY. 493 00:16:14,448 --> 00:16:16,344 ALWAYS UP TO SOMETHING. 494 00:16:16,344 --> 00:16:19,482 >> JILLIAN PLAYED ICE HOCKEY 495 00:16:19,482 --> 00:16:21,068 WITH ALEX, AND TOGETHER THEY WON 496 00:16:21,068 --> 00:16:21,862 A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. 497 00:16:21,862 --> 00:16:23,068 WHAT WAS SHE LIKE? 498 00:16:23,068 --> 00:16:26,000 >> FIRE ON ICE. 499 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:28,931 LUCKILY I WAS ON HER TEAM SO I 500 00:16:28,931 --> 00:16:30,344 NEVER HAD TO PLAY AGAINST HER, 501 00:16:30,344 --> 00:16:32,000 BUT SHE WAS FEISTY. 502 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:32,827 >> SHE WAS SO FUN. 503 00:16:32,827 --> 00:16:34,517 I DON'T REALLY REMEMBER ANYTHING 504 00:16:34,517 --> 00:16:37,965 OTHER THAN HAPPINESS, REALLY, 505 00:16:37,965 --> 00:16:41,931 ESPECIALLY IN THE YOUNGER YEARS. 506 00:16:41,931 --> 00:16:44,275 >> BUT DETECTIVES LEARNED THAT 507 00:16:44,275 --> 00:16:46,724 AS A YOUNG ADULT, ALEX 508 00:16:46,724 --> 00:16:47,000 STRUGGLED. 509 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:48,793 HER PARENTS MARY JO AND JIM SAID 510 00:16:48,793 --> 00:16:51,068 THAT IN COLLEGE ALEX WOULD GET 511 00:16:51,068 --> 00:16:54,586 DEPRESSED, AND SHE GOT HOOKED ON 512 00:16:54,586 --> 00:16:55,000 PRESCRIPTION PILLS. 513 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:55,551 >> IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT. 514 00:16:55,551 --> 00:16:56,862 >> ONE DAY IN 2016 -- 515 00:16:56,862 --> 00:16:59,172 >> SHE WENT UP TO HER ROOM AND 516 00:16:59,172 --> 00:17:03,758 TOOK A HANDFUL OF MEDS, AND THEN 517 00:17:03,758 --> 00:17:05,896 HAD TOLD HER MOM THAT SHE WAS 518 00:17:05,896 --> 00:17:08,862 ATTEMPTING SUICIDE BY MEDS AND 519 00:17:08,862 --> 00:17:12,517 THEN PROMPTLY THREW IT UP. 520 00:17:12,517 --> 00:17:13,137 STUCK HER FINGER IN HER THROAT 521 00:17:13,137 --> 00:17:13,896 AND THREW IT UP. 522 00:17:13,896 --> 00:17:16,068 >> I FELT LIKE IT WAS A CRY FOR 523 00:17:16,068 --> 00:17:16,275 HELP. 524 00:17:16,275 --> 00:17:19,931 >> AND THEY GOT ALEX THAT HELP. 525 00:17:19,931 --> 00:17:21,517 INSPIRED BY THE NURSES WHO 526 00:17:21,517 --> 00:17:24,034 HELPED HER RECOVER, IN 2019 SHE 527 00:17:24,034 --> 00:17:27,241 GOT HER LICENSE PRACTICAL 528 00:17:27,241 --> 00:17:29,448 NURSING DEGREE AND WAS CHOSEN TO 529 00:17:29,448 --> 00:17:31,000 SPEAK AT GRADUATION. 530 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:33,758 >> I HAVE CLIMBED OUT OF THE 531 00:17:33,758 --> 00:17:35,000 DARKNESS WITH PERMANENT SCARS 532 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:37,241 BUT A HEART OF GOLD AND A 533 00:17:37,241 --> 00:17:39,344 PROMISE THAT AS A NURSE, I WILL 534 00:17:39,344 --> 00:17:41,103 TRY MY BEST FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME 535 00:17:41,103 --> 00:17:43,137 TO NOT BE ALONE AND HELP THEM 536 00:17:43,137 --> 00:17:45,000 LIKE THOSE NURSES THAT HELPED 537 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:45,379 ME. 538 00:17:45,379 --> 00:17:48,517 >> ALEX DID MAKE THAT CHOICE TO 539 00:17:48,517 --> 00:17:49,000 GET WELL, AND SHE DID. 540 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:50,793 >> HER LIFE WAS BACK ON TRACK. 541 00:17:50,793 --> 00:17:52,206 >> HER LIFE WAS ON TRACK. 542 00:17:52,206 --> 00:17:53,103 >> RIGHT. 543 00:17:53,103 --> 00:17:57,137 >> AND WE WATCHED THE CAMP BAR 544 00:17:57,137 --> 00:17:57,482 VIDEO, WRIGHT? 545 00:17:57,482 --> 00:17:59,413 >> DETECTIVES ALSO LEARNED ALL 546 00:17:59,413 --> 00:18:01,965 ABOUT ALEX'S HISTORY WITH 547 00:18:01,965 --> 00:18:02,793 MATTHEW ECKER. 548 00:18:02,793 --> 00:18:04,551 SHE MET HIM IN 2020 WHEN SHE GOT 549 00:18:04,551 --> 00:18:07,827 A JOB AT A WALK-IN CLINIC. 550 00:18:07,827 --> 00:18:10,310 HER PARENTS SAY THEIR DAUGHTER 551 00:18:10,310 --> 00:18:12,586 DESCRIBED MATTHEW A GUY SHE 552 00:18:12,586 --> 00:18:15,034 WORKED WITH. 553 00:18:15,034 --> 00:18:16,482 BUT THERE WAS A LOT MORE THAN 554 00:18:16,482 --> 00:18:17,344 JUST FRIENDSHIP. 555 00:18:17,344 --> 00:18:19,034 ALEX AND MATTHEW, THEY SAY, WERE 556 00:18:19,034 --> 00:18:22,172 HAVING AN AFFAIR BACK THEN EVEN 557 00:18:22,172 --> 00:18:22,862 THOUGH MATTHEW WAS MARRIED WITH 558 00:18:22,862 --> 00:18:23,379 FOUR KIDS. 559 00:18:23,379 --> 00:18:25,172 >> SHE KNEW HE WAS MAREDE. 560 00:18:25,172 --> 00:18:26,965 SHE KNEW HE HAD FOUR CHILDREN. 561 00:18:26,965 --> 00:18:29,000 >> TERRY SAYS THE ROMANCE DIDN'T 562 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:29,172 LAST. 563 00:18:29,172 --> 00:18:34,310 IN THE SUMMER OF 2022 -- 564 00:18:34,310 --> 00:18:35,793 >> THEY HAD ENDED THE PHYSICAL 565 00:18:35,793 --> 00:18:37,034 PART OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP AND 566 00:18:37,034 --> 00:18:37,758 WERE JUST FRIENDS. 567 00:18:37,758 --> 00:18:39,448 >> STILL, SHE SAYS, HER SON WAS 568 00:18:39,448 --> 00:18:40,931 A SOURCE OF SUPPORT FOR ALEX. 569 00:18:40,931 --> 00:18:43,068 SHE SAYS MATTHEW TOLD HER ALEX 570 00:18:43,068 --> 00:18:46,448 WAS DRINKING HEAVILY, AND AS A 571 00:18:46,448 --> 00:18:47,689 RESULT, LOST SEVERAL JOBS. 572 00:18:47,689 --> 00:18:50,310 >> SHE WOULDN'T SHOW UP. 573 00:18:50,310 --> 00:18:50,758 SHE'D GO ON A BINGE. 574 00:18:50,758 --> 00:18:52,758 >> WITHOUT A JOB, MATTHEW'S 575 00:18:52,758 --> 00:18:54,000 FAMILY SAYS ALEX STRUGGLED TO 576 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:57,206 PAY HER BILLS. 577 00:18:57,206 --> 00:18:59,344 SO UNBEKNOWNST TO HER PARENTS, 578 00:18:59,344 --> 00:19:00,413 MATTHEW STEPPED IN. 579 00:19:00,413 --> 00:19:02,000 HE GAVE ALEX MONEY AND HELPED 580 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:03,965 HER PAY HER RENT. 581 00:19:03,965 --> 00:19:05,344 MATTHEW'S SISTERS, MOLLY AND 582 00:19:05,344 --> 00:19:06,517 AMY, AREN'T SURPRISED THEIR 583 00:19:06,517 --> 00:19:08,931 BROTHER WANTED TO HELP. 584 00:19:08,931 --> 00:19:09,482 >> HE CARED FOR HER. 585 00:19:09,482 --> 00:19:11,068 HE HAS A BIG HEART, AND HE 586 00:19:11,068 --> 00:19:15,379 DIDN'T WANT TO JUST WALK AWAY. 587 00:19:15,379 --> 00:19:17,344 HE COULDN'T WALK AWAY. 588 00:19:17,344 --> 00:19:19,241 >> AND JUST THREE DAYS BEFORE 589 00:19:19,241 --> 00:19:20,689 ALEX DIED, ALEX SENT MATTHEW 590 00:19:20,689 --> 00:19:23,517 THESE TEXT MESSAGES. 591 00:19:23,517 --> 00:19:26,103 "I SHUT MYSELF OUT TO THE WORLD. 592 00:19:26,103 --> 00:19:29,551 I NEEDED A MENTAL HEALTH BREAK. 593 00:19:29,551 --> 00:19:31,275 AND I'M NOT VERY HOPEFUL AT THE 594 00:19:31,275 --> 00:19:33,758 MOMENT ABOUT LIFE." 595 00:19:33,758 --> 00:19:34,896 EVEN WITH THOSE TEXTS, THOUGH, 596 00:19:34,896 --> 00:19:38,931 AND ALEX'S PAST ATTEMPT YEARS 597 00:19:38,931 --> 00:19:39,482 EARLIER, DETECTIVES STILL 598 00:19:39,482 --> 00:19:42,482 WEREN'T CONVINCED SHE TOOK HER 599 00:19:42,482 --> 00:19:42,758 OWN LIFE. 600 00:19:42,758 --> 00:19:44,655 >> JUST BECAUSE YOU SAY I NEED A 601 00:19:44,655 --> 00:19:46,310 MENTAL HEALTH DAY OR IT'S NOT A 602 00:19:46,310 --> 00:19:52,034 GOOD DAY, DOESN'T MEAN YOUR 603 00:19:52,034 --> 00:19:52,827 SUICIDAL. 604 00:19:52,827 --> 00:19:53,793 >> DETECTIVES SUSPECTED MATTHEW 605 00:19:53,793 --> 00:19:55,896 WAS LYING TO THEM. 606 00:19:55,896 --> 00:19:57,620 AND HERE'S WHY. 607 00:19:57,620 --> 00:19:59,241 REMEMBER THE GUN WAS FOUND ON 608 00:19:59,241 --> 00:20:01,379 ALEX'S CHEST WITH HER LEFT HAND 609 00:20:01,379 --> 00:20:03,586 ON IT. 610 00:20:03,586 --> 00:20:04,827 TURNS OUT, ALEX WAS 611 00:20:04,827 --> 00:20:12,655 TURNS OUT, ALEX WAS RIGHT-HANDED. 612 00:20:12,655 --> 00:20:26,172 RIGHT-HANDED. 613 00:20:26,172 --> 00:20:28,931 >>> WHEN DETECTIVES ABBY DeSANTO 614 00:20:28,931 --> 00:20:31,206 AND JENNIFER O'DONNELL REVIEWED 615 00:20:31,206 --> 00:20:33,000 SECURITY FOOTAGE FROM ALEX'S 616 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:34,206 APARTMENT BUILDING, THEY WERE 617 00:20:34,206 --> 00:20:36,034 ABLE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AFTER 618 00:20:36,034 --> 00:20:40,965 MATHEW AND ALEX LEFT CAMP BAR. 619 00:20:40,965 --> 00:20:44,448 >> SO THAT'S ALEX AND MATT, AND 620 00:20:44,448 --> 00:20:46,344 THERE'S THE VIEW OF ALEX'S 621 00:20:46,344 --> 00:20:48,586 APARTMENT WALKING IN. 622 00:20:48,586 --> 00:20:50,000 >> ABOUT 2:00 IN THE MORNING OR 623 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:51,551 SO TIME FRAME. 624 00:20:51,551 --> 00:20:52,931 >> YES. 625 00:20:52,931 --> 00:20:59,517 >> YOU CAN SEE MATHEW AND ALEX 626 00:20:59,517 --> 00:21:00,793 WALK OUT OF VIEW. 627 00:21:00,793 --> 00:21:02,379 A SHORT TIME LATER THEY WALK OUT 628 00:21:02,379 --> 00:21:04,172 THE DOOR. 629 00:21:04,172 --> 00:21:05,275 MATTHEW WOULD SAY IT WAS TO GET 630 00:21:05,275 --> 00:21:07,379 HIS HEADPHONES OUT HIS CAR. 631 00:21:07,379 --> 00:21:08,827 ALEX RETURNS TO THE LOBBY AND 632 00:21:08,827 --> 00:21:09,000 WAITS. 633 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:10,793 FOR THE DETECTIVES, WHAT HAPPENS 634 00:21:10,793 --> 00:21:11,724 NEXT IS KEY. 635 00:21:11,724 --> 00:21:13,758 >> SHE SEEMS IMPATIENT, JUST 636 00:21:13,758 --> 00:21:17,862 LOOKING AT HER BODY LANGUAGE. 637 00:21:17,862 --> 00:21:20,965 >> THEY NOTE HOW WHEN MATTHEW 638 00:21:20,965 --> 00:21:22,068 RETURNS, ALEX DOESN'T HOLD THE 639 00:21:22,068 --> 00:21:23,965 DOOR FOR HIM. 640 00:21:23,965 --> 00:21:26,206 AND HOW HE SHRUGS HIS SHOULDERS 641 00:21:26,206 --> 00:21:27,965 AS HE AFOLLOWS BEHIND HER. 642 00:21:27,965 --> 00:21:30,379 THE DETECTIVES WONDER IF MATTHEW 643 00:21:30,379 --> 00:21:32,551 AND ALEX HAD GOTTEN INTO A 644 00:21:32,551 --> 00:21:32,931 FIGHT. 645 00:21:32,931 --> 00:21:35,241 >> SOMETHING WAS GOING ON WITH 646 00:21:35,241 --> 00:21:35,517 THEM. 647 00:21:35,517 --> 00:21:38,344 >> THAT'S HUGE BECAUSE THAT'S 648 00:21:38,344 --> 00:21:40,931 THE LAST TIME WE SEE ALEX ALIVE. 649 00:21:40,931 --> 00:21:44,586 >> 20 MINUTES LATER AT 2:50 A.M. 650 00:21:44,586 --> 00:21:46,793 MATTHEW PLACED THAT CALL TO 911. 651 00:21:46,793 --> 00:21:50,482 >> A GIRL WHO SHOT HERSELF IN 652 00:21:50,482 --> 00:21:51,000 THE HEAD. 653 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:52,413 >> THE LOBBY SECURITY FOOTAGE 654 00:21:52,413 --> 00:21:54,103 HAD NO AUDIO, SO THERE WAS NO 655 00:21:54,103 --> 00:21:55,793 WAY TO KNOW FOR SURE IF THE TWO 656 00:21:55,793 --> 00:21:58,068 HAD GOTTEN INTO A FIGHT. 657 00:21:58,068 --> 00:21:59,517 BUT WHEN ALEX'S FAMILY AND 658 00:21:59,517 --> 00:22:01,068 FRIENDS SAW IT -- 659 00:22:01,068 --> 00:22:03,275 >> YOU COULD TELL THAT SHE WAS 660 00:22:03,275 --> 00:22:03,551 MAD. 661 00:22:03,551 --> 00:22:04,551 YOU COULD TELL THE WAY SHE 662 00:22:04,551 --> 00:22:06,482 RIPPED OPEN THAT DOOR, YOU COULD 663 00:22:06,482 --> 00:22:08,137 TELL ALEX STOMPING IN. 664 00:22:08,137 --> 00:22:09,931 >> WHENEVER SHE WAS MAD, SHE'D 665 00:22:09,931 --> 00:22:10,758 LIKE STOMP. 666 00:22:10,758 --> 00:22:13,344 AND IT WAS VISIBLE IN THIS 667 00:22:13,344 --> 00:22:13,551 VIDEO. 668 00:22:13,551 --> 00:22:16,413 >> SO THEY WERE DEFINITELY IN A 669 00:22:16,413 --> 00:22:16,620 FIGHT. 670 00:22:16,620 --> 00:22:17,862 >> BUT WHEN DETECTIVES 671 00:22:17,862 --> 00:22:19,862 QUESTIONED MATTHEW, HE DENIED 672 00:22:19,862 --> 00:22:22,379 ANY PROBLEMS. 673 00:22:22,379 --> 00:22:25,620 >> WE WERE LAUGHING ON THE WAY 674 00:22:25,620 --> 00:22:25,827 HOME. 675 00:22:25,827 --> 00:22:26,413 EVERYTHING WAS FINE. 676 00:22:26,413 --> 00:22:30,206 >> YOU GUYS WEREN'T ARGUING OR 677 00:22:30,206 --> 00:22:30,482 ANYTHING? 678 00:22:30,482 --> 00:22:32,413 THERE NO FIGHT WITH YOU TWO? 679 00:22:32,413 --> 00:22:33,137 >> NOT BETWEEN US. 680 00:22:33,137 --> 00:22:35,034 >> AND MATTHEW'S FAMILY BELIEVES 681 00:22:35,034 --> 00:22:36,068 THERE COULD BE A DIFFERENT 682 00:22:36,068 --> 00:22:38,724 REASON FOR THE CHANGE IN ALEX'S 683 00:22:38,724 --> 00:22:39,000 DEMEANOR. 684 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:40,586 IN THE FOOTAGE ALEX IS ON HER 685 00:22:40,586 --> 00:22:40,793 PHONE. 686 00:22:40,793 --> 00:22:43,413 THEY WONDER IF SHE WAS MESSAGING 687 00:22:43,413 --> 00:22:45,000 SHANE AND ARGUING WITH HIM ABOUT 688 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:48,310 THE ALTERCATION THAT HAD JUST 689 00:22:48,310 --> 00:22:48,793 HAPPENED AT CAMP BAR. 690 00:22:48,793 --> 00:22:50,827 >> I TRULY BELIEVE THERE'S A LOT 691 00:22:50,827 --> 00:22:57,344 OF INFORMATION --, A LOT OF 692 00:22:57,344 --> 00:22:57,586 TEXTING. 693 00:22:57,586 --> 00:23:01,310 AND WE THINK HAVING GOTTEN THOSE 694 00:23:01,310 --> 00:23:02,310 INTERACTIONS WOULD HAVE GIVEN A 695 00:23:02,310 --> 00:23:04,551 LOT MORE INSIGHT INTO HER STATE 696 00:23:04,551 --> 00:23:05,206 OF MIND. 697 00:23:05,206 --> 00:23:08,551 >> BUT DETECTIVES COULDN'T GET 698 00:23:08,551 --> 00:23:10,448 INTO ALEX'S PHONE BECAUSE NO ONE 699 00:23:10,448 --> 00:23:14,103 KNEW HER PAS CODE, AND SHANE 700 00:23:14,103 --> 00:23:16,689 SAID HE'D LOST HIS PHONE THE 701 00:23:16,689 --> 00:23:18,551 NIGHT BEFORE. 702 00:23:18,551 --> 00:23:20,896 >> WAS SHE TALKING TO YOU AT 703 00:23:20,896 --> 00:23:21,034 ALL? 704 00:23:21,034 --> 00:23:22,448 >> I DIDN'T HAVE A PHONE SO -- 705 00:23:22,448 --> 00:23:25,586 >> FACEBOOK MESSAGE OR ANYTHING 706 00:23:25,586 --> 00:23:25,862 LIKE THAT? 707 00:23:25,862 --> 00:23:26,034 >> NO. 708 00:23:26,034 --> 00:23:27,862 >> UNABLE TO KNOW FOR SURE WHAT 709 00:23:27,862 --> 00:23:30,689 WAS REALLY HAPPENING IN THE 710 00:23:30,689 --> 00:23:32,896 LOBBY WHEN DETECTIVE DeSANTO AND 711 00:23:32,896 --> 00:23:39,379 HER COLLEAGUE INTERVIEWED HIM, 712 00:23:39,379 --> 00:23:41,965 THEY ASKED ABOUT THE APARTMENT. 713 00:23:41,965 --> 00:23:43,310 >> SHE HAD DOWN HERE FIRST AND 714 00:23:43,310 --> 00:23:48,724 THEN SHE COCKED IT. 715 00:23:48,724 --> 00:23:52,896 SHE ENDED UP HOLDING IT TO HER 716 00:23:52,896 --> 00:23:54,965 LEFT TEMPLE IS WHAT I REMEMBER. 717 00:23:54,965 --> 00:23:55,586 >> OKAY. 718 00:23:55,586 --> 00:23:57,517 >> IS SHE LEFT-HANDED? 719 00:23:57,517 --> 00:23:59,206 >> SHE'S NOT. 720 00:23:59,206 --> 00:24:02,137 THAT'S WHAT WAS WEIRD. 721 00:24:02,137 --> 00:24:04,241 >> HE SAID SHE DID ALL THIS WITH 722 00:24:04,241 --> 00:24:05,758 HER LEFT HAND BUT THEN TOLD US 723 00:24:05,758 --> 00:24:06,586 SHE WAS RIGHT HANDED. 724 00:24:06,586 --> 00:24:08,896 >> YOU DON'T USE A WEAPON WITH 725 00:24:08,896 --> 00:24:10,103 YOUR NONDOMINANT HAND. 726 00:24:10,103 --> 00:24:11,413 JUST ANOTHER INCONSISTENCY OR 727 00:24:11,413 --> 00:24:12,896 ANOTHER PART OF THE PUZZLE THAT 728 00:24:12,896 --> 00:24:13,724 DOESN'T MATCH. 729 00:24:13,724 --> 00:24:15,793 >> THERE WAS ALSO THE NAGGING 730 00:24:15,793 --> 00:24:19,275 QUESTION ABOUT THE SINK BEING 731 00:24:19,275 --> 00:24:21,034 DRY. 732 00:24:21,034 --> 00:24:21,551 MATTHEW HAD TOLD FIRST 733 00:24:21,551 --> 00:24:22,344 RESPONDERS HE WASHED HIS HANDS 734 00:24:22,344 --> 00:24:24,172 AFTER TRYING TO HELP ALEX, WHICH 735 00:24:24,172 --> 00:24:25,586 IS WHY HIS HANDS WERE CLEAN. 736 00:24:25,586 --> 00:24:28,413 BUT THE SINK WAS DRY WHEN POLICE 737 00:24:28,413 --> 00:24:28,862 ARRIVED. 738 00:24:28,862 --> 00:24:30,827 DeSANTO ASKED IF HE DID, IN 739 00:24:30,827 --> 00:24:35,482 FACT, CALL POLICE RIGHT AWAY. 740 00:24:35,482 --> 00:24:36,448 >> AND THEN YOU CALLED THE 741 00:24:36,448 --> 00:24:37,413 POLICE RIGHT AWAY? 742 00:24:37,413 --> 00:24:38,620 >> I GOT UP AND CALLED THE 743 00:24:38,620 --> 00:24:39,620 POLICE, YEAH. 744 00:24:39,620 --> 00:24:41,103 >> SO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU GET 745 00:24:41,103 --> 00:24:42,482 BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS AND THEN YOU 746 00:24:42,482 --> 00:24:44,172 GO TO THE SINK AND YOU -- 747 00:24:44,172 --> 00:24:46,517 >> YEAH. 748 00:24:46,517 --> 00:24:50,137 >> OR THE HANDLE TO THE SINK. 749 00:24:50,137 --> 00:24:52,344 THERE SHOULD BE BLOOD ON THAT. 750 00:24:52,344 --> 00:24:53,724 THERE'S NOTHING IN THE SINK. 751 00:24:53,724 --> 00:24:55,482 >> I RINSED MY HAND. 752 00:24:55,482 --> 00:24:56,965 >> THE SINK'S DRY. 753 00:24:56,965 --> 00:24:58,206 THERE'S NO WATER OR ANYTHING. 754 00:24:58,206 --> 00:25:01,413 >> NO, I WASHED MY HANDS IN THE 755 00:25:01,413 --> 00:25:01,655 SINK. 756 00:25:01,655 --> 00:25:02,206 I DID. 757 00:25:02,206 --> 00:25:04,000 >> BUT DeSANTO THOUGHT MATTHEW 758 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:05,206 WAS LYING. 759 00:25:05,206 --> 00:25:07,103 EITHER HE HADN'T HELPED ALEX AND 760 00:25:07,103 --> 00:25:08,827 DIDN'T WASH HIS HANDS, OR HE HAD 761 00:25:08,827 --> 00:25:11,517 NOT CALLED 911 RIGHT AWAY. 762 00:25:11,517 --> 00:25:15,068 >> RIGHT NOW ALL THIS EVIDENCE 763 00:25:15,068 --> 00:25:17,275 DOES NOT ADD UP. 764 00:25:17,275 --> 00:25:17,620 >> I CAN'T -- 765 00:25:17,620 --> 00:25:19,103 >> I JUST WANT YOU TO JUST 766 00:25:19,103 --> 00:25:19,310 THINK. 767 00:25:19,310 --> 00:25:20,551 I JUST WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT 768 00:25:20,551 --> 00:25:21,482 THIS AND WHAT YOU'RE -- 769 00:25:21,482 --> 00:25:23,000 >> YOU'RE ASKING ME TO CONFESS 770 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:24,586 TO SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T DO. 771 00:25:24,586 --> 00:25:28,655 >> NO, I'M NOT. 772 00:25:28,655 --> 00:25:29,620 WE'RE JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU 773 00:25:29,620 --> 00:25:31,758 SOME TIME HERE TO THINK. 774 00:25:31,758 --> 00:25:34,241 WE'VE GOT TO GRAB THAT STUFF 775 00:25:34,241 --> 00:25:34,517 ANYWAY. 776 00:25:34,517 --> 00:25:35,517 THINK ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT WE 777 00:25:35,517 --> 00:25:41,862 DISCUSSED WITH YOU. 778 00:25:41,862 --> 00:25:43,896 >> BUT SOON MATTHEW CALLED THEM 779 00:25:43,896 --> 00:25:45,862 BACK IN. 780 00:25:45,862 --> 00:25:46,482 IT WAS MORE THAN TWO HOURS INTO 781 00:25:46,482 --> 00:25:47,620 HIS INTERVIEW, AND HE WANTED TO 782 00:25:47,620 --> 00:25:48,758 CHANGE HIS STORY. 783 00:25:48,758 --> 00:25:51,896 >> SO THE CHANGE THAT I HAVE, I 784 00:25:51,896 --> 00:25:55,206 DID TAKE THE GUN AND I PUT IT IN 785 00:25:55,206 --> 00:25:57,379 MY SUITCASE. 786 00:25:57,379 --> 00:26:00,206 I PUT IT IN THE SUITCASE, WENT 787 00:26:00,206 --> 00:26:08,034 BACK, LOOKED TO HER AND SAID, 788 00:26:08,034 --> 00:26:09,655 YEP, WENT BACK TO THE SUITCASE, 789 00:26:09,655 --> 00:26:12,000 GRABBED THE GUN AND PUT IT BACK 790 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:12,241 THERE. 791 00:26:12,241 --> 00:26:15,551 >> WHY WOULD YOU MOVE THAT GUN? 792 00:26:15,551 --> 00:26:17,172 >> DID HE EXPLAIN WHY HE MOVED 793 00:26:17,172 --> 00:26:17,931 THE GUN? 794 00:26:17,931 --> 00:26:19,965 >> HE WAS SCARED. 795 00:26:19,965 --> 00:26:21,517 >> WHEN MATTHEW PUT THE GUN 796 00:26:21,517 --> 00:26:24,172 BACK, HE SAID HE PUT IT ON ALEX, 797 00:26:24,172 --> 00:26:25,931 THE WAY FIRST RESPONDERS FOUND 798 00:26:25,931 --> 00:26:28,896 IT, WITH HER HAND ON TOP. 799 00:26:28,896 --> 00:26:29,517 >> WHY WOULD YOU LAY HER HAND 800 00:26:29,517 --> 00:26:31,758 BACK ON THE GUN? 801 00:26:31,758 --> 00:26:33,034 >> I WAS MOVING HER, I WAS 802 00:26:33,034 --> 00:26:35,034 LOOKING AT HER. 803 00:26:35,034 --> 00:26:37,517 >> AT THAT POINT WE'RE LIKE WHAT 804 00:26:37,517 --> 00:26:38,689 INNOCENT PERSON WOULD DO THIS? 805 00:26:38,689 --> 00:26:40,620 >> YET MATTHEW CONTINUED TO 806 00:26:40,620 --> 00:26:43,793 INSIST HE WAS INNOCENT. 807 00:26:43,793 --> 00:26:46,655 >> I DID NOT SHOOT HER. 808 00:26:46,655 --> 00:26:47,965 >> AND HE KEPT SAYING THE DOOR 809 00:26:47,965 --> 00:26:51,931 TO THE BATHROOM WAS SHUT, I 810 00:26:51,931 --> 00:26:52,448 DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. 811 00:26:52,448 --> 00:26:54,724 BUT YOU DIDN'T BUY IT? 812 00:26:54,724 --> 00:26:55,517 >> NO. 813 00:26:55,517 --> 00:27:01,862 >> AND NEITHER DID THE 814 00:27:01,862 --> 00:27:02,103 DETECTIVE? 815 00:27:02,103 --> 00:27:02,482 >> NO. 816 00:27:02,482 --> 00:27:04,482 >> BUT THE DETECTIVE ITS DIDN'T 817 00:27:04,482 --> 00:27:05,793 KNOW HOW THEY COULD PROVE IT. 818 00:27:05,793 --> 00:27:07,000 THEN THEY DISCOVERED A BIG PIECE 819 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:07,827 OF EVIDENCE. 820 00:27:07,827 --> 00:27:09,758 >> THIS IS A BIG PIECE OF THE 821 00:27:09,758 --> 00:27:11,068 PUZZLE FOR YOU? 822 00:27:11,068 --> 00:27:12,034 >> YES. 823 00:27:12,034 --> 00:27:14,000 >> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF ALEX AND 824 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:27,965 >> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF ALEX AND MATTHEW'S BODY LAN 825 00:27:27,965 --> 00:27:31,103 MATTHEW'S BODY LAN 826 00:27:31,103 --> 00:27:33,586 >>> FOR HOURS MATTHEW ECKER 827 00:27:33,586 --> 00:27:38,034 INSISTED HE DID NOT KILL ALEX, 828 00:27:38,034 --> 00:27:39,517 THAT SHE LOCKED HERSELF IN THE 829 00:27:39,517 --> 00:27:41,758 BATHROOM AND FIRED THE SHOT. 830 00:27:41,758 --> 00:27:43,689 HE SAID HE HAD BROKEN OPEN THE 831 00:27:43,689 --> 00:27:45,586 DOOR ONLY AFTER THE GUN WENT 832 00:27:45,586 --> 00:27:45,758 OFF. 833 00:27:45,758 --> 00:27:48,241 >> I HEARD THE GUN GO OFF, AND 834 00:27:48,241 --> 00:27:49,275 THAT'S WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR. 835 00:27:49,275 --> 00:27:50,758 >> BUT THEN DETECTIVE O'DONNELL 836 00:27:50,758 --> 00:27:52,000 GOT A CALL FROM THE FORENSIC 837 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:53,896 UNIT PROCESSING THE SCENE. 838 00:27:53,896 --> 00:27:56,482 >> ONCE ALEX WAS MOVED, THEY 839 00:27:56,482 --> 00:27:58,379 FOUND UNDERNEATH WHERE ALEX HAD 840 00:27:58,379 --> 00:28:02,344 BEEN LAYING WAS A ROUND, METAL 841 00:28:02,344 --> 00:28:02,551 PIECE. 842 00:28:02,551 --> 00:28:04,758 >> WHICH IS THIS PIECE RIGHT 843 00:28:04,758 --> 00:28:04,965 HERE? 844 00:28:04,965 --> 00:28:05,896 >> YES. 845 00:28:05,896 --> 00:28:07,586 >> O'DONNELL SAYS IT'S A PIECE 846 00:28:07,586 --> 00:28:09,172 OF THE BATHROOM DOOR LOCK. 847 00:28:09,172 --> 00:28:11,000 AND BECAUSE IT WAS DISCOVERED ON 848 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:13,482 THE FLOOR UNDER ALEX'S HEAD, AS 849 00:28:13,482 --> 00:28:15,620 SEEN IN THIS CBS NEWS ANIMATION, 850 00:28:15,620 --> 00:28:17,034 IT HAD TO HAVE GOTTEN THERE 851 00:28:17,034 --> 00:28:19,551 WHILE ALEX WAS STILL ALIVE. 852 00:28:19,551 --> 00:28:21,137 >> FOR US IT MEANT THAT THE DOOR 853 00:28:21,137 --> 00:28:23,965 WAS FORCED OPEN BEFORE SHE WAS 854 00:28:23,965 --> 00:28:24,137 SHOT. 855 00:28:24,137 --> 00:28:26,551 >> THE DETECTIVES SUSPECTED ALEX 856 00:28:26,551 --> 00:28:28,689 HAD LOCKED THE DOOR TO GET AWAY 857 00:28:28,689 --> 00:28:29,862 FROM MATTHEW. 858 00:28:29,862 --> 00:28:31,758 >> I BELIEVE THAT ALEX AND 859 00:28:31,758 --> 00:28:33,206 MATTHEW GOT IN AN ARGUMENT. 860 00:28:33,206 --> 00:28:35,517 I BELIEVE THAT SHE WENT INTO THE 861 00:28:35,517 --> 00:28:37,000 BATHROOM TO BE ALONE, NOT 862 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:38,413 WANTING TO BE WITH HIM. 863 00:28:38,413 --> 00:28:39,896 >> BUT WHEN HE BROKE OPEN THE 864 00:28:39,896 --> 00:28:41,310 DOOR, THEY SAY, THAT SMALL PIECE 865 00:28:41,310 --> 00:28:43,344 OF METAL FROM THE LOCK, LANDED 866 00:28:43,344 --> 00:28:45,137 ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR. 867 00:28:45,137 --> 00:28:47,689 >> HE FORCED HIS WAY IN AND SHOT 868 00:28:47,689 --> 00:28:47,965 HER. 869 00:28:47,965 --> 00:28:50,689 >> SHOT, THEY SAY, ALEX FELL ON 870 00:28:50,689 --> 00:28:51,862 TOP OF THE METAL PIECE. 871 00:28:51,862 --> 00:28:54,482 TO THE DETECTIVES, IT WAS THE 872 00:28:54,482 --> 00:28:55,655 ONLY WAY THE PIECE COULD HAVE 873 00:28:55,655 --> 00:28:59,344 ENDED UP UNDER HER. 874 00:28:59,344 --> 00:29:01,551 MATTHEW ECKER WAS CHARGED WITH 875 00:29:01,551 --> 00:29:04,379 SECOND DEGREE MURDER. 876 00:29:04,379 --> 00:29:07,137 HIS FAMILY WAS STUNNED. 877 00:29:07,137 --> 00:29:07,827 >> IT'S LIKE, NO, THERE'S GOT TO 878 00:29:07,827 --> 00:29:09,310 BE A MISTAKE. 879 00:29:09,310 --> 00:29:15,517 >> IT'S JUST NOT HIS CHARACTER. 880 00:29:15,517 --> 00:29:18,379 HE'S NOT GOING TO HARM SOMEBODY 881 00:29:18,379 --> 00:29:19,206 ON PURPOSE. 882 00:29:19,206 --> 00:29:21,103 >> THEY HIRED CRIMINAL DEFENSE 883 00:29:21,103 --> 00:29:23,965 ATTORNEY BRUCE RIVERS. 884 00:29:23,965 --> 00:29:25,068 >> THERE'S REASONABLE DOUBT ALL 885 00:29:25,068 --> 00:29:28,827 OVER THE PLACE THAT THIS WAS A 886 00:29:28,827 --> 00:29:29,068 HOMICIDE. 887 00:29:29,068 --> 00:29:30,586 >> RIVERS SAYS THERE'S ANOTHER 888 00:29:30,586 --> 00:29:33,172 EXPLANATION FOR HOW THAT METAL 889 00:29:33,172 --> 00:29:35,689 PIECE GOT UNDER ALEX. 890 00:29:35,689 --> 00:29:36,448 HE SAID IT COULD HAVE ENDED UP 891 00:29:36,448 --> 00:29:38,275 UNDER HER HEAD WHEN MATTHEW 892 00:29:38,275 --> 00:29:39,586 ECKER ATTEMPTED TO HELP HER. 893 00:29:39,586 --> 00:29:41,862 >> BECAUSE HE DID LIFT HER HEAD 894 00:29:41,862 --> 00:29:42,000 UP. 895 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:43,344 >> BUT DETECTIVES POINT TO THE 896 00:29:43,344 --> 00:29:46,379 WAY ALEX WAS FOUND WITH HER LEGS 897 00:29:46,379 --> 00:29:47,413 STRADDLING THE DOOR. 898 00:29:47,413 --> 00:29:49,689 IF MATTHEW ECKER HAD BROKE OPEN 899 00:29:49,689 --> 00:29:52,724 THE DOOR AFTER HEARING THE 900 00:29:52,724 --> 00:29:53,344 GUNSHOT, DETECTIVES SAY ALEX'S 901 00:29:53,344 --> 00:29:54,827 LEGS WOULD HAVE BEEN PUSHED TO 902 00:29:54,827 --> 00:29:55,344 THE SIDE. 903 00:29:55,344 --> 00:29:57,137 BUT ECKER'S DEFENSE ATTORNEY 904 00:29:57,137 --> 00:29:57,965 SAYS THERE WAS ENOUGH SPACE IN 905 00:29:57,965 --> 00:30:00,103 THE BATHROOM THAT WHEN THE DOOR 906 00:30:00,103 --> 00:30:01,241 WAS BROKEN OPEN -- 907 00:30:01,241 --> 00:30:04,275 >> IT WENT IN BETWEEN HER LEGS. 908 00:30:04,275 --> 00:30:05,896 THAT IS CONSISTENT, IN MY 909 00:30:05,896 --> 00:30:07,172 OPINION, WITH HER LAYING THERE 910 00:30:07,172 --> 00:30:08,862 AND HAVING SHOT HERSELF. 911 00:30:08,862 --> 00:30:11,620 >> AND IMPORTANTLY, CLAIMS 912 00:30:11,620 --> 00:30:15,241 RIVERS, IF HIS CLIENT HAD SHOT 913 00:30:15,241 --> 00:30:15,827 ALEX, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN 914 00:30:15,827 --> 00:30:16,793 BLOOD SPLATTER ON HIM, AND 915 00:30:16,793 --> 00:30:17,965 THAT'S NOT THE CASE. 916 00:30:17,965 --> 00:30:19,793 >> THERE WAS NOT ONE SPECK OF 917 00:30:19,793 --> 00:30:22,724 BLOOD ON HIS SHIRT, ON HIS 918 00:30:22,724 --> 00:30:25,310 PANTS, ON HIS FACE, ANYWHERE 919 00:30:25,310 --> 00:30:25,620 WHATSOEVER. 920 00:30:25,620 --> 00:30:27,000 >> THE DETECTIVES SAY THAT'S 921 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:29,655 BECAUSE ECKER MOST LIKELY HAD 922 00:30:29,655 --> 00:30:31,000 REACHED AROUND THE DOOR WHILE HE 923 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:33,310 WAS TRYING TO FORCE HIS WAY IN 924 00:30:33,310 --> 00:30:36,103 AND FIRED THE SHOT. 925 00:30:36,103 --> 00:30:37,000 >> I BELIEVE THE DOOR SHIELDED 926 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:39,965 HIM FROM THE INITIAL BLOOD 927 00:30:39,965 --> 00:30:40,206 SPLATTER. 928 00:30:40,206 --> 00:30:43,241 >> BUT RIVERS SAYS IT MAKES MUCH 929 00:30:43,241 --> 00:30:44,586 MORE SENSE THAT ALEX TOOK HER 930 00:30:44,586 --> 00:30:45,965 OWN LIFE. 931 00:30:45,965 --> 00:30:48,206 AND HE SAYS FORENSIC TESTING 932 00:30:48,206 --> 00:30:49,896 PROVES ECKER WASN'T THE ONE WHO 933 00:30:49,896 --> 00:30:50,689 FIRED THE GUN. 934 00:30:50,689 --> 00:30:51,551 IT WAS ALEX. 935 00:30:51,551 --> 00:30:53,965 >> THERE WAS GUNSHOT RESIDUE ON 936 00:30:53,965 --> 00:30:55,000 HER LEFT HAND. 937 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:57,586 >> AND WAS HER DNA FOUND ON THE 938 00:30:57,586 --> 00:30:57,827 GUN? 939 00:30:57,827 --> 00:30:58,344 >> IT WAS. 940 00:30:58,344 --> 00:31:00,551 >> THERE WAS ALSO NO GUNSHOT 941 00:31:00,551 --> 00:31:02,034 RESIDUE ON ECKER. 942 00:31:02,034 --> 00:31:07,689 AND HIS DNA WAS NOT FOUND ON THE 943 00:31:07,689 --> 00:31:07,931 GUN. 944 00:31:07,931 --> 00:31:09,482 >> DETECTIVES SUSPECT THAT'S 945 00:31:09,482 --> 00:31:11,137 BECAUSE HE WIPED IT CLEAN BEFORE 946 00:31:11,137 --> 00:31:12,517 PUTTING IT ON ALEX. 947 00:31:12,517 --> 00:31:14,586 >> THERE SHOULD BE HIS DNA. 948 00:31:14,586 --> 00:31:15,448 IT'S YOUR GUN. 949 00:31:15,448 --> 00:31:16,965 YOU TOLD US IN AN INTERVIEW THAT 950 00:31:16,965 --> 00:31:18,931 YOU GRABBED THE GUN. 951 00:31:18,931 --> 00:31:20,724 YOUR HANDS ARE OVER THAT GUN, 952 00:31:20,724 --> 00:31:22,137 BUT IT WAS VERY CLEAN. 953 00:31:22,137 --> 00:31:23,482 >> HE ADMITTED TO HAVING HELD 954 00:31:23,482 --> 00:31:25,724 THE GUN AND MOVING THE GUN AFTER 955 00:31:25,724 --> 00:31:27,655 THE FACT, YET NONE OF HIS DNA 956 00:31:27,655 --> 00:31:28,931 WAS FOUND ON THE GUN. 957 00:31:28,931 --> 00:31:30,206 HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT? 958 00:31:30,206 --> 00:31:31,862 >> THAT'S NOT UNCOMMON. 959 00:31:31,862 --> 00:31:33,034 JUST BECAUSE YOU TOUCH SOMETHING 960 00:31:33,034 --> 00:31:34,206 DOESN'T MEAN THAT DNA IS GOING 961 00:31:34,206 --> 00:31:35,689 TO BE THERE. 962 00:31:35,689 --> 00:31:37,620 >> AT THE TIME OF HER DEATH, 963 00:31:37,620 --> 00:31:39,000 ALEX HAD ALMOST THREE TIMES THE 964 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:44,241 LEGAL LIMIT OF ALCOHOL AND FOUR 965 00:31:44,241 --> 00:31:44,758 DIFFERENT PRESCRIPTION 966 00:31:44,758 --> 00:31:47,034 MEDICATIONS IN HER SYSTEM 967 00:31:47,034 --> 00:31:48,758 INCLUDING PROZAC AND VALIUM. 968 00:31:48,758 --> 00:31:49,827 ALTHOUGH IT WASN'T THE CAUSE OF 969 00:31:49,827 --> 00:31:52,000 HER DEATH, TO RIVERS, IT SHOWED 970 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:54,103 SHE WAS STRUGGLING. 971 00:31:54,103 --> 00:31:56,103 AS DID THOSE TEXTS SHE HAD SENT 972 00:31:56,103 --> 00:31:59,551 ECKER JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE HER 973 00:31:59,551 --> 00:31:59,758 DEATH. 974 00:31:59,758 --> 00:32:02,517 >> SHE WAS DEPRESSED BECAUSE OF 975 00:32:02,517 --> 00:32:04,000 HER FINANCIAL CONDITION, 976 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:05,655 DEPRESSED BECAUSE OF HER JOB 977 00:32:05,655 --> 00:32:05,931 SITUATION. 978 00:32:05,931 --> 00:32:08,206 ALL THESE THINGS COMPOUNDED 979 00:32:08,206 --> 00:32:08,517 THEMSELVES. 980 00:32:08,517 --> 00:32:10,965 >> BUT DETECTIVES WOULD DISCOVER 981 00:32:10,965 --> 00:32:13,068 SOMETHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THOSE 982 00:32:13,068 --> 00:32:13,724 PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS FOUND 983 00:32:13,724 --> 00:32:14,931 IN ALEX'S BODY. 984 00:32:14,931 --> 00:32:17,241 IT TURNS OUT MATTHEW ECKER HAD 985 00:32:17,241 --> 00:32:17,965 PRESCRIBED THEM. 986 00:32:17,965 --> 00:32:20,344 >> HE DIDN'T TELL US THAT HE WAS 987 00:32:20,344 --> 00:32:21,206 PRESCRIBING HER MEDICATION. 988 00:32:21,206 --> 00:32:22,827 >> DURING THE INVESTIGATION YOU 989 00:32:22,827 --> 00:32:23,965 FOUND THAT OUT. 990 00:32:23,965 --> 00:32:24,413 >> YES. 991 00:32:24,413 --> 00:32:25,034 >> YEAH. 992 00:32:25,034 --> 00:32:27,689 >> AS A LICENSED 993 00:32:27,689 --> 00:32:28,448 NURSE-PRACTITIONER, ECKER HAD 994 00:32:28,448 --> 00:32:30,000 THE AUTHORITY TO WRITE 995 00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:31,517 PRESCRIPTIONS, THOUGH NORMALLY 996 00:32:31,517 --> 00:32:33,000 THAT AUTHORITY IS USED FOR A 997 00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:33,241 PATIENT. 998 00:32:33,241 --> 00:32:34,068 ALEX WAS NOT. 999 00:32:34,068 --> 00:32:34,965 >> YOU WOULD THINK YOU WOULD 1000 00:32:34,965 --> 00:32:36,965 SEND HER TO A DOCTOR AND HAVE 1001 00:32:36,965 --> 00:32:37,862 HER SEE SOMEONE ELSE. 1002 00:32:37,862 --> 00:32:40,448 >> WAS HIS PRESCRBING 1003 00:32:40,448 --> 00:32:42,137 MEDICATION CONSIDERED ILLEGAL, 1004 00:32:42,137 --> 00:32:42,379 THOUGH? 1005 00:32:42,379 --> 00:32:42,931 >> NO. 1006 00:32:42,931 --> 00:32:45,862 IT'S UNETHICAL, BUT IT WAS NOT 1007 00:32:45,862 --> 00:32:46,068 ILLEGAL. 1008 00:32:46,068 --> 00:32:47,758 >> ACCORDING TO ECKER'S FAMILY, 1009 00:32:47,758 --> 00:32:48,758 MATTHEW HAD GOOD REASON. 1010 00:32:48,758 --> 00:32:51,620 >> SHE WAS PRESCRIBED THOSE 1011 00:32:51,620 --> 00:32:53,655 MEDICATIONS ORIGINALLY BY A 1012 00:32:53,655 --> 00:32:55,344 MEDICAL DOCTOR, SO SHE HAD ASKED 1013 00:32:55,344 --> 00:32:58,034 MATT IF HE COULD REFILL THEM. 1014 00:32:58,034 --> 00:32:59,000 SHE WOULD BADGER HIM. 1015 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:01,000 >> AND THEY POINT TO MULTIPLE 1016 00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:02,689 TEXTS ALEX SENT HIM DAYS BEFORE 1017 00:33:02,689 --> 00:33:04,344 HER DEATH ASKING HIM TO REFILL 1018 00:33:04,344 --> 00:33:07,172 MEDICATIONS INCLUDING, "I NEED 1019 00:33:07,172 --> 00:33:10,965 YOU TO SEND IN MY IMMEDIATE 1020 00:33:10,965 --> 00:33:15,068 RELEASE ADDERALL SCRIPT." 1021 00:33:15,068 --> 00:33:16,689 I HAVE LIKE THREE BOTTLES OF 1022 00:33:16,689 --> 00:33:18,586 PROZAC, SO I'M GOOD WITH THAT. 1023 00:33:18,586 --> 00:33:20,827 STILL, ALEX'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS 1024 00:33:20,827 --> 00:33:22,482 SAY THERE IS NO EXCUSE. 1025 00:33:22,482 --> 00:33:24,275 >> I CAN'T GET OVER THAT. 1026 00:33:24,275 --> 00:33:27,413 AS A NURSE-PRACTITIONER, HE 1027 00:33:27,413 --> 00:33:28,862 SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER. 1028 00:33:28,862 --> 00:33:30,586 >> SO HIS FEELING SORRY FOR YOUR 1029 00:33:30,586 --> 00:33:32,931 DAUGHTER OR FEELING LIKE HE WAS 1030 00:33:32,931 --> 00:33:34,241 DOING THIS IN THE BEST WAY TO 1031 00:33:34,241 --> 00:33:36,206 TRY TO HELP HER, YOU DON'T 1032 00:33:36,206 --> 00:33:36,931 BELIEVE THAT'S THE CASE? 1033 00:33:36,931 --> 00:33:38,310 >> I DON'T BELIEVE IT AT ALL. 1034 00:33:38,310 --> 00:33:39,172 >> ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEONE THAT 1035 00:33:39,172 --> 00:33:44,034 HAS A HISTORY OF ADDICTION, YOU 1036 00:33:44,034 --> 00:33:44,620 DON'T PRESCRIBE IT. 1037 00:33:44,620 --> 00:33:47,068 >> AS A NURSE-PRACTITIONER, YOU 1038 00:33:47,068 --> 00:33:48,827 SAY NO. 1039 00:33:48,827 --> 00:33:51,931 >> IN FEBRUARY 2024, MATTHEW 1040 00:33:51,931 --> 00:33:52,827 ECKER'S TRIAL BEGAN. 1041 00:33:52,827 --> 00:33:54,655 THE DETECTIVES WERE CONFIDENT 1042 00:33:54,655 --> 00:33:57,241 THEY HAD AN IDEA OF WHY MATTHEW 1043 00:33:57,241 --> 00:34:00,482 ECKER WOULD HAVE WANTED ALEX 1044 00:34:00,482 --> 00:34:00,758 DEAD. 1045 00:34:00,758 --> 00:34:03,034 AND IT CENTERED AROUND THEIR 1046 00:34:03,034 --> 00:34:04,000 PAST ROMANCE. 1047 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:05,689 >> MAYBE SHE SAID THAT SHE WAS 1048 00:34:05,689 --> 00:34:07,310 GOING TO CALL HIS WIFE AND TELL 1049 00:34:07,310 --> 00:34:07,965 HIS WIFE EVERYTHING. 1050 00:34:07,965 --> 00:34:09,103 >> AND AS FAR AS THE MOTIVE, 1051 00:34:09,103 --> 00:34:10,620 WHAT WOULD BE THE MOTIVE? 1052 00:34:10,620 --> 00:34:12,206 >> KEEP HER QUIET SO THE WIFE 1053 00:34:12,206 --> 00:34:13,172 DOESN'T FIND OUT. 1054 00:34:13,172 --> 00:34:14,655 >> SURE WOULD BE NICE IF THERE 1055 00:34:14,655 --> 00:34:15,793 WAS SOME EVIDENCE OF THAT. 1056 00:34:15,793 --> 00:34:18,931 I MEAN, IT WAS JUST SHEER 1057 00:34:18,931 --> 00:34:19,344 SPECULATION. 1058 00:34:19,344 --> 00:34:21,620 THERE'S NOTHING, NOT ONE 1059 00:34:21,620 --> 00:34:22,757 SCINTILLA OF EVIDENCE THAT THEY 1060 00:34:22,757 --> 00:34:24,620 WERE IN ANY KIND OF DISPUTE 1061 00:34:24,620 --> 00:34:24,931 WHATSOEVER. 1062 00:34:24,931 --> 00:34:27,793 >> INSTEAD, RIVERS SAID HE'S 1063 00:34:27,793 --> 00:34:28,516 SURE THAT NIGHT EVERYTHING CAME 1064 00:34:28,516 --> 00:34:32,585 TO A HEAD FOR ALEX AND SHE 1065 00:34:32,585 --> 00:34:33,965 COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE. 1066 00:34:33,965 --> 00:34:35,965 >> SO WHEN IT BOILS DOWN TO IT, 1067 00:34:35,965 --> 00:34:37,379 THIS IS A CASE ABOUT WHAT THE 1068 00:34:37,379 --> 00:34:38,688 JURY'S GOING TO BELIEVE. 1069 00:34:38,688 --> 00:34:39,896 >> WHETHER IT'S SUICIDE OR 1070 00:34:39,896 --> 00:34:40,137 HOMICIDE. 1071 00:34:40,137 --> 00:34:41,344 >> AND BECAUSE THE MEDICAL 1072 00:34:41,344 --> 00:34:43,310 EXAMINER HAD RULED ALEX'S MANNER 1073 00:34:43,310 --> 00:34:44,516 OF DEATH COULD NOT BE 1074 00:34:44,516 --> 00:34:45,724 DETERMINED, RIVERS BROUGHT IN A 1075 00:34:45,724 --> 00:34:48,137 SECOND ONE WHO CAME TO THE SAME 1076 00:34:48,137 --> 00:34:49,241 CONCLUSION. 1077 00:34:49,241 --> 00:34:49,585 UNDETERMINED. 1078 00:34:49,585 --> 00:34:50,931 >> IF THEY CAN'T DETERMINE IT 1079 00:34:50,931 --> 00:34:53,516 WAS A HOMICIDE, NEITHER CAN YOU. 1080 00:34:53,516 --> 00:34:56,757 >> BUT WHAT WOULD THE JURY 1081 00:34:56,757 --> 00:34:57,241 THINK? 1082 00:34:57,241 --> 00:34:58,724 WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR 1083 00:34:58,724 --> 00:35:00,862 DELIBERATIONS, EVERYONE WAS 1084 00:35:00,862 --> 00:35:01,068 NERVOUS. 1085 00:35:01,068 --> 00:35:05,448 >> IT WAS OBVIOUS TO ME MATT WAS 1086 00:35:05,448 --> 00:35:05,724 CONCERNED. 1087 00:35:05,724 --> 00:35:08,206 >> SELFISHLY AS A PARENT OF 1088 00:35:08,206 --> 00:35:10,620 ALEX, WE WANTED TO BELIEVE THAT 1089 00:35:10,620 --> 00:35:11,172 HE WAS GUILTY. 1090 00:35:11,172 --> 00:35:13,137 BUT BELIEVING IT AND PROVING IT 1091 00:35:13,137 --> 00:35:26,517 BUT BELIEVING IT AND PROVING IT ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. 1092 00:35:26,517 --> 00:35:30,137 ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. 1093 00:35:30,137 --> 00:35:32,689 >>> WE GOT A CALL THAT THERE HAD 1094 00:35:32,689 --> 00:35:34,862 BEEN A VERDICT. 1095 00:35:34,862 --> 00:35:38,586 >> YOU JUST TAKE THIS HUGE, DEEP 1096 00:35:38,586 --> 00:35:40,862 BREATH LIKE, OH, GOSH. 1097 00:35:40,862 --> 00:35:44,103 >> IN FEBRUARY 2024 AFTER 9 1098 00:35:44,103 --> 00:35:46,896 HOURS OF DELIBERATION, THE JURY 1099 00:35:46,896 --> 00:35:49,413 CAME TO A DECISION ABOUT MATTHEW 1100 00:35:49,413 --> 00:35:50,000 ECKER. 1101 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:51,551 >> MATTHEW WAS GUILTY. 1102 00:35:51,551 --> 00:35:54,482 >> GUILTY OF SECOND DEGREE 1103 00:35:54,482 --> 00:35:54,724 MURDER. 1104 00:35:54,724 --> 00:35:57,000 >> ONCE WE HEARD THAT, WE 1105 00:35:57,000 --> 00:36:01,689 WERE -- WE WERE VERY HAPPY. 1106 00:36:01,689 --> 00:36:02,000 WE WERE SAD. 1107 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:03,034 >> A HUGE RELIEF. 1108 00:36:03,034 --> 00:36:04,482 >> WE WERE SAD BECAUSE IT DIDN'T 1109 00:36:04,482 --> 00:36:06,379 BRING ALEX BACK, BUT AT LEAST 1110 00:36:06,379 --> 00:36:07,965 THERE WAS SOME JUSTICE SERVED. 1111 00:36:07,965 --> 00:36:09,862 >> BUT FOR MATTHEW ECKER'S 1112 00:36:09,862 --> 00:36:10,103 FAMILY -- 1113 00:36:10,103 --> 00:36:12,620 >> IT WAS LIKE A KNIFE IN THE 1114 00:36:12,620 --> 00:36:12,827 HEART. 1115 00:36:12,827 --> 00:36:13,724 I COULDN'T EVEN FUNCTION. 1116 00:36:13,724 --> 00:36:14,793 >> WHAT DID YOU SEE IN YOUR 1117 00:36:14,793 --> 00:36:17,689 BROTHER IN THAT MOMENT WHEN THE 1118 00:36:17,689 --> 00:36:21,103 JURY READ THE VERDICT? 1119 00:36:21,103 --> 00:36:24,241 >> JUST ABSOLUTE TRAGEDY. 1120 00:36:24,241 --> 00:36:26,275 >> IT WAS AWFUL. 1121 00:36:26,275 --> 00:36:28,000 >> YEP. 1122 00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:30,482 >> TWO MONTHS LATER ON APRIL 3, 1123 00:36:30,482 --> 00:36:32,586 2024, MATTHEW ECKER WAS BACK IN 1124 00:36:32,586 --> 00:36:34,551 COURT FOR SENTENCING. 1125 00:36:34,551 --> 00:36:35,000 >> ALL RISE. 1126 00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:41,448 COURT IS NOW IN SESSION. 1127 00:36:41,448 --> 00:36:42,827 >> I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE PEOPLE 1128 00:36:42,827 --> 00:36:46,344 WHO WISH TO MAKE STATEMENTS 1129 00:36:46,344 --> 00:36:46,551 TODAY. 1130 00:36:46,551 --> 00:36:50,206 >> ALEX'S FRIEND, JILLIAN, 1131 00:36:50,206 --> 00:36:54,758 ADDRESSES THE COURT. 1132 00:36:54,758 --> 00:36:56,413 >> HOW MUCH TIMES I PICKED UP 1133 00:36:56,413 --> 00:36:58,586 THE PHONE TO CALL ALEX ONLY TO 1134 00:36:58,586 --> 00:37:01,000 REALIZE I WON'T EVER HEAR HER 1135 00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:02,413 VOICE AGAIN. 1136 00:37:02,413 --> 00:37:04,379 >> I REMEMBER, SARAH, YOU WERE 1137 00:37:04,379 --> 00:37:06,482 GIVING YOUR STATEMENT AND, 1138 00:37:06,482 --> 00:37:07,310 UNFORTUNATELY, THAT MEANT I WAS 1139 00:37:07,310 --> 00:37:09,517 AT THE LEVEL OF WHERE MATT WAS. 1140 00:37:09,517 --> 00:37:10,724 HE WAS SITTING AND I WAS 1141 00:37:10,724 --> 00:37:13,275 STANDING, AND JUST KEPT LOOKING 1142 00:37:13,275 --> 00:37:15,931 OVER AT HIM JUST TRYING TO FEEL 1143 00:37:15,931 --> 00:37:16,862 SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO 1144 00:37:16,862 --> 00:37:18,655 FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU'RE FEELING. 1145 00:37:18,655 --> 00:37:21,862 AND THERE WAS JUST NOTHING. 1146 00:37:21,862 --> 00:37:22,068 NOTHING. 1147 00:37:22,068 --> 00:37:25,551 >> ALEX'S PARENTS, MARY JO AND 1148 00:37:25,551 --> 00:37:27,482 JIM, IMPLORED THE JUDGE TO 1149 00:37:27,482 --> 00:37:28,620 IMPOSE A STIFF SENTENCE. 1150 00:37:28,620 --> 00:37:31,689 >> OUR HEARTS HAVE BEEN BROKEN 1151 00:37:31,689 --> 00:37:34,482 BEYOND REPAIR AND THE FUTURE 1152 00:37:34,482 --> 00:37:43,068 TRAJECTORY OF OUR LIVES HAS BEEN 1153 00:37:43,068 --> 00:37:43,689 CHANGED FOREVER. 1154 00:37:43,689 --> 00:37:45,275 AND THE WORLD LOST A SPECIAL 1155 00:37:45,275 --> 00:37:47,000 SOUL, AND WE LOST OUR BABY. 1156 00:37:47,000 --> 00:37:49,586 >> BUT MATTHEW ECKER'S FAMILY 1157 00:37:49,586 --> 00:37:51,448 APPEALED FOR LENIENCY. 1158 00:37:51,448 --> 00:37:52,965 >> MATT IS ONE OF THE KINDEST 1159 00:37:52,965 --> 00:37:56,689 AND MOST COMPASSIONATE PEOPLE WE 1160 00:37:56,689 --> 00:37:56,896 KNOW. 1161 00:37:56,896 --> 00:37:59,172 HE HAS SPENT MOST OF HIS ADULT 1162 00:37:59,172 --> 00:38:02,793 LIFE HELPING PEOPLE AND CARING 1163 00:38:02,793 --> 00:38:03,379 FOR PEOPLE. 1164 00:38:03,379 --> 00:38:06,551 I TRULY BELIEVE THAT MATT HAS SO 1165 00:38:06,551 --> 00:38:09,724 MUCH MORE TO OFFER TO THIS 1166 00:38:09,724 --> 00:38:10,586 WORLD. 1167 00:38:10,586 --> 00:38:11,482 >> IN THE END -- 1168 00:38:11,482 --> 00:38:12,827 >> IT IS THE SENTENCE OF THE LAW 1169 00:38:12,827 --> 00:38:14,517 AND THE JUDGMENT OF THE COURT 1170 00:38:14,517 --> 00:38:17,034 THAT YOU SERVE 360 MONTHS WITH 1171 00:38:17,034 --> 00:38:19,000 THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. 1172 00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:20,965 >> THE JUDGE SENTENCED MATTHEW 1173 00:38:20,965 --> 00:38:24,586 ECKER TO 30 YEARS FOR KILLING 1174 00:38:24,586 --> 00:38:24,793 ALEX. 1175 00:38:24,793 --> 00:38:25,689 >> YOU AR REMANDED TO THE 1176 00:38:25,689 --> 00:38:33,137 CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 1177 00:38:33,137 --> 00:38:33,448 CORRECTIONS. 1178 00:38:33,448 --> 00:38:34,931 >> I MEAN, HIM SITTING IN PRISON 1179 00:38:34,931 --> 00:38:36,758 FOR 30 YEARS IS JUST -- IT'S 1180 00:38:36,758 --> 00:38:38,172 JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE. 1181 00:38:38,172 --> 00:38:39,896 >> HE'S NOT A MURDERER. 1182 00:38:39,896 --> 00:38:42,379 HE DIDN'T DO THIS. 1183 00:38:42,379 --> 00:38:46,827 >> WE WILL FIGHT UNTIL IT'S MADE 1184 00:38:46,827 --> 00:38:48,034 RIGHT. 1185 00:38:48,034 --> 00:38:52,310 AND WE WILL NOT GIVE UP ON HIM. 1186 00:38:52,310 --> 00:38:53,758 >> ECKER AND HIS WIFE ARE NOW 1187 00:38:53,758 --> 00:38:55,931 DIVORCED, AND SHE HAS FULL 1188 00:38:55,931 --> 00:38:58,448 CUSTODY OF THEIR FOUR CHILDREN. 1189 00:38:58,448 --> 00:38:59,068 HIS FAMILY SAYS THEY HAVE NOT 1190 00:38:59,068 --> 00:39:01,931 BEEN ALLOWED ANY CONTACT WITH 1191 00:39:01,931 --> 00:39:02,551 THE KIDS. 1192 00:39:02,551 --> 00:39:05,413 >> THAT HAS TO BE VERY HARD, AS 1193 00:39:05,413 --> 00:39:06,965 GRANDPARENTS, NOT HAVING THAT 1194 00:39:06,965 --> 00:39:07,241 CONNECTION. 1195 00:39:07,241 --> 00:39:07,862 >> YEAH. 1196 00:39:07,862 --> 00:39:09,758 >> ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE. 1197 00:39:09,758 --> 00:39:13,068 >> I MISS THEM SO MUCH. 1198 00:39:13,068 --> 00:39:15,551 >> IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WOULD 1199 00:39:15,551 --> 00:39:18,793 WANT THEM TO KNOW ABOUT THEIR 1200 00:39:18,793 --> 00:39:18,965 DAD? 1201 00:39:18,965 --> 00:39:21,172 >> HE LOVES THEM AND CARES FOR 1202 00:39:21,172 --> 00:39:25,000 THEM AND MISSES THEM, AND WE 1203 00:39:25,000 --> 00:39:25,793 LOVE THEM. 1204 00:39:25,793 --> 00:39:28,206 >> AS FOR ALEX'S FAMILY, THERE 1205 00:39:28,206 --> 00:39:29,482 ARE QUESTIONS THEY'D STILL LIKE 1206 00:39:29,482 --> 00:39:31,862 ECKER TO ANSWER. 1207 00:39:31,862 --> 00:39:34,586 >> WHY'D YOU DO IT? 1208 00:39:34,586 --> 00:39:34,758 WHY? 1209 00:39:34,758 --> 00:39:37,931 >> QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS THAT 1210 00:39:37,931 --> 00:39:38,586 MAY NEVER COME. 1211 00:39:38,586 --> 00:39:41,172 WHAT THEY DO KNOW IS HOW THEY 1212 00:39:41,172 --> 00:39:42,620 CHOOSE TO HONOR ALEX. 1213 00:39:42,620 --> 00:39:44,620 ONE WAY IS THROUGH HER LOVE FOR 1214 00:39:44,620 --> 00:39:46,758 ANIMALS INCLUDING A 1215 00:39:46,758 --> 00:39:48,655 SERENDIPITOUS ENCOUNTER. 1216 00:39:48,655 --> 00:39:51,000 >> SOMEBODY HAD DUMPED OFF A 1217 00:39:51,000 --> 00:39:51,896 LITTLE BABY ROOSTER, AND SOMEHOW 1218 00:39:51,896 --> 00:39:54,551 IT JUST MIGRATED TO OUR HOUSE. 1219 00:39:54,551 --> 00:39:56,896 SO WE BUILT A CHICKEN COOP, AND 1220 00:39:56,896 --> 00:40:01,551 WE NOW HAVE 12 CHICKENS AT HOME. 1221 00:40:01,551 --> 00:40:05,275 >> AND IT'S PROPERLY NAMED 1222 00:40:05,275 --> 00:40:06,758 ALEX'S COOP. 1223 00:40:06,758 --> 00:40:08,724 I HAVE A FEELING THAT ALEX HAD A 1224 00:40:08,724 --> 00:40:10,862 HAND IN BRINGING YOU THAT 1225 00:40:10,862 --> 00:40:11,068 ROOSTER. 1226 00:40:11,068 --> 00:40:13,758 >> AND EVERY MONTH THE PENNIGS 1227 00:40:13,758 --> 00:40:17,034 GET TOGETHER WITH SARAH AND 1228 00:40:17,034 --> 00:40:17,275 JILLINA. 1229 00:40:17,275 --> 00:40:19,000 >> AND WE JUST SIT THERE AND 1230 00:40:19,000 --> 00:40:22,379 TALK AND CRY AND TELL STORIES 1231 00:40:22,379 --> 00:40:27,448 AL WOULD NOT WANT US TO BE 1232 00:40:27,448 --> 00:40:28,551 TELLING MARROW JOE, 1233 00:40:28,551 --> 00:40:30,620 TELLING MARY JO, BUT WE TELL 1234 00:40:30,620 --> 00:40:32,068 THEM BECAUSE WE GET TO RELIVE 1235 00:40:32,068 --> 00:40:35,000 THESE STORIES. 1236 00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:43,655 >> ALEX'S'S BOYFRIEND, SHANE, ALSO 1237 00:40:43,655 --> 00:40:43,931 STRUGGLES. 1238 00:40:43,931 --> 00:40:46,034 >> IT'S HEART BREAKING BECAUSE I 1239 00:40:46,034 --> 00:40:47,551 LOVE THAT GIRL, AND SHE DESERVES 1240 00:40:47,551 --> 00:40:48,620 TO BE HERE. 1241 00:40:48,620 --> 00:40:50,137 SHE ABSOLUTELY DESERVES TO BEAL 1242 00:40:50,137 --> 00:40:50,344 HERE. 1243 00:40:50,344 --> 00:40:52,000 >> THE CEMETERY WHERE ALEX WAS 1244 00:40:52,000 --> 00:40:54,965 BURIED IS A SHORT DRIVE FROM 1245 00:40:54,965 --> 00:40:56,965 WHERE HER PARENTS LIVE, AND THEY 1246 00:40:56,965 --> 00:40:59,241 VISIT HER AS OFTEN AS THEY CAN. 1247 00:40:59,241 --> 00:41:01,068 >> HEY, AL. 1248 00:41:01,068 --> 00:41:05,000 >> I MISS YOU, KID. 1249 00:41:05,000 --> 00:41:05,206 YEAH. 1250 00:41:05,206 --> 00:41:06,586 >> IT'S TOUGH. 1251 00:41:06,586 --> 00:41:10,379 LOVE YOU, HONEY. 1252 00:41:10,379 --> 00:41:13,413 >> FINALLY AT PEACE. 1253 00:41:13,413 --> 00:41:23,103 >> FINALLY AT PEACE. WE MISS YOU SWEETHEART. 1254 00:41:23,103 --> 00:41:39,034 WE MISS YOU SWEETHEART.