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[Female Narrator]
A double murder
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leaves a family shattered.
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The oldest child told me that
he woke up to screaming,
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and two big men came in
to rob Daddy.
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There was blood all over
the place.
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I would describe it as overkill.
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[Narrator] As investigators dig,
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they learn that
this family's bond
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is hard to break.
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This is a family that isn't
gonna take crap from you.
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[Narrator] And each family
member covers for the next.
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[George] The statements were
inconsistent.
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Someone was lying to the police.
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She was trying to push the blame
outside the family.
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[Narrator] At the center
of it all,
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investigators find a woman
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willing to leverage loyalty
for her own twisted desire.
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Ultimately, she wanted to run
around and have fun.
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I never would've thought that
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she was capable of
allowing that to happen
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to the magnitude that it did.
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[music]
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[Narrator] Almost an hour
from popular Myrtle Beach
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sits the much quieter community
of Green Sea, South Carolina.
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Green Sea is in Horry County,
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which is not, maybe 20, 30
minutes from North Myrtle Beach.
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[George] It's always been kinda
rural, agricultural.
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You see corn fields and
tobacco fields,
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and, and people out there
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farming and working hard
for a living.
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[music]
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[Narrator] It's just before
11:00 PM on June 21, 2000,
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when a cryptic 911 call
comes into
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the Horry County
Police Department.
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[Narrator] Officers race to
the scene,
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unsure of what they'll find.
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As they approach the address,
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they are met by 55-year-old
Johnny Nealy
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and his daughter, Connie Brown.
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[Jamie] Johnny Nealy advised
the responding officers that
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two men had just broken into
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his daughter's residence
on Olive Drive
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and attacked and
assaulted her husband,
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Billy Ray Brown.
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Johnny's trailer is next door to
their trailer.
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[Narrator] Connie tells officers
that Billy Ray's friend,
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Ronnie McDowell,
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had been crashing on
their couch for the night.
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Concerned that the attackers
may still be inside,
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officers cautiously approach
Connie's trailer.
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What they saw when they went in
was a very bloody crime scene.
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There was blood all over
the place.
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There were trails of blood
throughout the house.
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So they knew something was
terribly wrong.
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[Narrator] As they make their
way toward the master bedroom,
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officers spot a male body
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who they believe to be
Connie's husband,
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46-year-old Billy Ray Brown.
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He was on the floor
next to the bed.
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You could visibly see a lot of
blood and trauma to his body.
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[Narrator] The officers
continue their sweep
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when they stumble upon
a second body
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in the hallway bathroom.
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[music]
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[Jamie] Once
the responding officers
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have the crime scene secured,
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that's when they made contact
with dispatch to go ahead
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and have crime scene and
violent crimes respond.
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[Narrator] While officers wait
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for homicide detectives
to arrive,
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they head over to Johnny's home
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to break the news to
Connie and her young children.
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[George] Connie and Billy Ray
had three children.
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Two young men, and then
a baby in arms.
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Billy Ray, he didn't have much
of a record, if any.
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He was just a hard-working guy.
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Certainly we'd had
no reason to believe
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that someone out there
wanted to kill him.
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[music]
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[Narrator] Billy Ray Brown was
born on May 25, 1954,
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and raised in Green Sea,
South Carolina.
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Billy was a hard worker,
and he was a really good friend.
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[Narrator] Billy could
often be found
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helping out at a local bar
owned by his aunt and uncle.
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It was just this little ole
country store kinda place
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that they had made a bar.
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I wanna say he was like
the flower of the family,
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'cause he took care of
all of 'em.
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I know he helped,
helped 'em out a lot,
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especially around the bar,
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'cause that was the family
business for them.
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He drove cement mixers as well
with my dad.
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They worked for
the same company.
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[Narrator]
In the spring of 1991,
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Billy Ray was already
once divorced
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when Johnny Nealy introduced him
to his daughter, Connie.
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There was about 22 or 23 years
age difference
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between Connie and Billy.
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I remember sayin' to
myself, God, he's old.
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He was, he was about 38,
I think, when they met.
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And her being 16 made me think,
wow, what are you doin' here?
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But they got along good,
and I liked that.
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He respected Connie a lot.
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It wasn't very long after
they met, they got together.
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[Narrator]
Born on April 9, 1975,
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Connie was the second of
Melba and Johnny Nealy's
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five children.
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[Jamie] Growing up with
four younger siblings,
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it was a challenge,
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but it wasn't anything that
we didn't do together.
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We had some really good times,
but we had rough times, too.
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There was a bad alcohol problem
my mom and dad developed,
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over the years.
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[Narrator] Connie was often left
to mother her younger siblings.
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Connie took it personally
to a degree
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because she kind of felt like,
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why am I not good enough for
Mom and Dad to not drink?
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I am the one who called
social services,
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Connie and myself.
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We couldn't do anymore.
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We ended up in
a children's home,
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in foster care,
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for two years,
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and that's where
they split us all up.
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[Narrator] Losing the kids
eventually inspired
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Johnny and Melba to get
their act together.
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Two years later,
the family reunited.
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The reuniting of us
coming back home to Mom and Dad,
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all being a family again
was great.
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But truth is, it didn't last
long enough,
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because I had to leave and go
to the military
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and Connie ultimately met Billy
and moved out from home.
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[Narrator] At first,
Connie's family balked at
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the 22-year-age difference.
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As far as the family bein'
protective of one another,
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it was solid as steel.
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You couldn't get through.
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It was obvious that Connie was
over the mom life
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that she led early in her teens,
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helpin' me with the other kids.
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'Cause when she met Billy,
she changed completely.
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Billy was a great provider.
She fell in love.
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No one else mattered.
It was all about him.
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Billy Ray was takin' care of
not only Connie,
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but Johnny and her brother,
Andy, as well.
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Billy Ray and Andy were close.
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They would go fishing together
and just hang out,
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you know, as boys do.
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[Narrator] Billy Ray's family
embraced Connie,
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even offering the teenager
shifts at the family business.
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[Jamie] She was bartending
for them.
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At such a young age, too.
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It was allowed because it was
just this little
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ole country store.
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And it's not like the
authorities were there watching.
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When they spoke of marriage,
her at 16,
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my dad kinda stepped out of it.
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Because he thought it was
just Mom's decision.
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But that's ultimately what it
ended up bein',
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was Mama's decision.
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[Narrator] In the end,
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Connie's mother signed off
on the marriage.
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They lived in an old trailer
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that, that Billy Ray
had bought and fixed up.
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[Narrator] Over the next
nine years,
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the couple had three kids:
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Billy Ray Jr., Tanner,
and Matthew.
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[Rhonda] She was
a wonderful mother.
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She didn't go
anywhere without her boys.
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Billy Ray was a very
hard worker.
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He provided for his family.
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[Narrator] In 1999,
Connie's parents,
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Melba and Johnny split up.
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He had started partying again,
and she had had it.
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When they separated,
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Dad went and lived in
a mobile home that was on
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the same property as Connie
and Billy's property,
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so they were living
really close.
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When I'd go to visit,
it was a happy life.
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Kids were happy, playin' with
their toys on the floor.
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It was just a normal life,
it seemed.
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[music]
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[Narrator] Until the night of
June 21, 2000,
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when a violent attack inside
the family's trailer
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leaves Billy Ray and
his good friend,
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Ronnie McDowell, dead.
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There were two blood trails.
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One that led from the door to
the back bedroom,
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where we found Billy Ray Brown.
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There's a second trail that
started at the door
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and went to the bathroom,
that's where we found Ronnie.
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This was a stabbing,
and stabbings are bloody.
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And there were bruises
consistent with
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being hit by a stick.
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[Narrator] The two men
were beaten, stabbed,
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and their throats were cut.
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A little before 1:00 AM,
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detectives head to
Johnny Nealy's home,
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where officers are waiting
with the family.
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Before talking to Connie,
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investigators check on
her three young sons.
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7-year-old Billy Ray Jr.
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tells them he was asleep
in the living room
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when the attack began.
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He told me that he
woke up to screaming.
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Billy said his mama told him
that two men had come in.
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Billy said that he didn't see
the men.
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[Narrator] 5-year-old Tanner
adds to the story.
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He stated that his mama told him
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that two big men
came in to rob Daddy.
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He also said that Mama told
him they had knives.
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[Narrator] Both boys are
physically unharmed,
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but investigators aren't sold
on their stories just yet.
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[Jamie] It was a little odd that
both children were telling me
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information that their mother
had told them.
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[Narrator]
Detectives have to wonder,
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did Connie coach her kids about
what to tell police?
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[Jamie] The oldest had blood
on his foot.
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And the middle child, Tanner,
had blood on his hands and feet.
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Which tells me they were in
close proximity
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when this occurred,
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if not right there
when it occurred.
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[Narrator] Coming up.
An entire town on edge.
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When somebody comes out of
the blue from nowhere
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and kills someone,
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that causes
fear in the community.
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[Narrator] And investigators
look for answers close to home.
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She did say that
he had his face covered,
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but she knew who he was.
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[music]
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[Narrator] June 22, 2000.
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00:12:46,366 --> 00:12:50,837
At 12:50 AM, Horry County
homicide detectives
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00:12:50,870 --> 00:12:54,541
are questioning the family of
Connie and Billy Ray Brown
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00:12:54,874 --> 00:13:00,213
after Billy Ray and his friend,
Ronnie McDowell, are found dead.
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[Jamie] Connie advised that
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00:13:04,551 --> 00:13:07,454
she had went to bed around
10:15 PM that night.
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About 10:30, she heard a knock
at the back door.
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And a commotion.
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00:13:15,895 --> 00:13:19,666
And that's when she came out to
see what was going on.
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She said two people came in and
assaulted her husband,
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00:13:23,336 --> 00:13:25,572
and that she didn't realize
who was coming in.
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One was striking Billy
with a stick.
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He was wearing all dark colors
and a face covering.
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She said with the commotion
going on,
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Ronnie McDowell, at that point
in time, tries to intervene.
246
00:13:43,790 --> 00:13:46,760
And that's when she gathered up
her three children
247
00:13:47,093 --> 00:13:50,997
and went to her dad, Johnny's
house next door.
248
00:13:51,097 --> 00:13:54,701
Johnny Nealy didn't have
a residential phone,
249
00:13:54,734 --> 00:13:58,571
so he went down the road
to call 911.
250
00:13:58,605 --> 00:14:02,575
[music]
251
00:14:02,609 --> 00:14:05,712
[Narrator] When investigators
ask if Connie knows the men
252
00:14:05,745 --> 00:14:08,114
who attacked Billy Ray
and Ronnie,
253
00:14:08,448 --> 00:14:11,117
they are stunned by
her response.
254
00:14:11,785 --> 00:14:16,589
Connie had said that Andy Nealy
was striking
255
00:14:16,623 --> 00:14:19,225
Billy with a stick.
256
00:14:20,326 --> 00:14:23,329
Andy Nealy was
Connie Brown's brother.
257
00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:31,438
Connie also said that there was
a black male with Andy,
258
00:14:31,471 --> 00:14:34,074
that she believed was
a friend of Andy's.
259
00:14:35,575 --> 00:14:38,611
[George] When Andy was in
the trailer attacking Billy Ray,
260
00:14:38,645 --> 00:14:39,779
she asked him what he was doing,
261
00:14:39,813 --> 00:14:41,681
and he said that
was none of her concern.
262
00:14:41,715 --> 00:14:46,619
[music]
263
00:14:46,653 --> 00:14:48,822
[Narrator] Connie's revelation
is shocking,
264
00:14:48,855 --> 00:14:53,460
but for detectives,
her story isn't quite adding up.
265
00:14:54,794 --> 00:14:56,563
She told the first officer
the same version
266
00:14:56,596 --> 00:14:57,864
she told her father.
267
00:14:57,897 --> 00:15:00,066
she said nothing about Andy
being involved.
268
00:15:00,100 --> 00:15:01,568
But then told
a different version
269
00:15:01,601 --> 00:15:03,503
when she was
interviewed by the detectives.
270
00:15:04,371 --> 00:15:06,473
Sometimes, you never
know with people.
271
00:15:06,506 --> 00:15:09,042
That they don't want
their kids to know
272
00:15:09,042 --> 00:15:13,046
that their uncle is
involved in something like that.
273
00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:16,349
A crime against their dad.
274
00:15:18,184 --> 00:15:20,854
[George] They also question why
he had his face covered.
275
00:15:20,887 --> 00:15:22,288
She knew who he was.
276
00:15:22,322 --> 00:15:25,191
Certainly, Connie would have
recognized her brother
277
00:15:25,225 --> 00:15:26,793
even with a mask on.
278
00:15:27,227 --> 00:15:28,428
The only reason I can think of
279
00:15:28,461 --> 00:15:29,763
that they would have hidden
their faces
280
00:15:29,796 --> 00:15:31,398
was just in case one
of the children woke up
281
00:15:31,431 --> 00:15:33,333
or somebody saw them from
the outside.
282
00:15:33,967 --> 00:15:35,468
[Narrator] While Connie's
interview
283
00:15:35,502 --> 00:15:37,337
raises a lot of questions,
284
00:15:37,637 --> 00:15:41,141
it does give detectives
their first lead.
285
00:15:42,075 --> 00:15:43,943
When somebody comes out of
the blue from nowhere
286
00:15:43,977 --> 00:15:45,111
and kills someone,
287
00:15:45,145 --> 00:15:47,080
that causes
fear in the community.
288
00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:50,350
But it wasn't a random event.
This was a family affair.
289
00:15:50,684 --> 00:15:52,385
[Jamie] It did strike me as odd,
290
00:15:52,419 --> 00:15:56,456
because Connie had indicated
that Andy and Billy Ray
291
00:15:56,489 --> 00:15:58,558
were the best of friends.
292
00:16:02,729 --> 00:16:07,167
[Narrator] Finding Andy becomes
investigators' top priority.
293
00:16:09,669 --> 00:16:11,538
[Jamie] I spoke to Johnny Nealy,
294
00:16:11,571 --> 00:16:14,741
he advised that he hadn't
seen Andy Nealy,
295
00:16:14,774 --> 00:16:17,444
his son, since 8:30 PM.
296
00:16:18,044 --> 00:16:20,080
In speaking with Johnny,
297
00:16:20,113 --> 00:16:23,183
it did not appear that he had
any knowledge
298
00:16:23,216 --> 00:16:27,320
of what had occurred at his
daughter's trailer next door.
299
00:16:27,921 --> 00:16:30,657
[Narrator] Johnny tells them
that his son doesn't have
300
00:16:30,690 --> 00:16:32,692
a permanent address.
301
00:16:33,593 --> 00:16:35,729
[Jamie] Johnny said
Andy bounced around.
302
00:16:35,762 --> 00:16:39,799
He would stay with Billy and
Connie at times.
303
00:16:39,833 --> 00:16:45,538
Johnny said he'd also stay over
in Green Acres at times,
304
00:16:45,572 --> 00:16:47,073
at Jodis' home.
305
00:16:47,073 --> 00:16:51,778
Jodis Washington
was Melba Nealy's boyfriend.
306
00:16:52,879 --> 00:16:54,714
Johnny said Andy was driving
307
00:16:54,748 --> 00:16:59,152
an '86 burgundy Honda Civic,
308
00:16:59,419 --> 00:17:02,022
four-door with Tennessee tags.
309
00:17:02,022 --> 00:17:06,626
[music]
310
00:17:06,659 --> 00:17:10,397
[Narrator] Police immediately
put out a BOLO on the vehicle.
311
00:17:11,364 --> 00:17:13,333
And only a few hours later,
312
00:17:13,366 --> 00:17:16,336
they get a call that Andy's car
has been spotted
313
00:17:16,369 --> 00:17:20,140
just over the border in
Green Acres, North Carolina.
314
00:17:22,809 --> 00:17:25,045
[Jamie] Columbus County
Sheriff's Office
315
00:17:25,078 --> 00:17:27,781
located the vehicle
at Jodis' home.
316
00:17:28,415 --> 00:17:31,885
[Jamie] My mom started dating
Jodis Washington,
317
00:17:31,918 --> 00:17:34,354
a friend of mine from school.
318
00:17:35,088 --> 00:17:36,556
They dated off and on.
319
00:17:36,823 --> 00:17:41,361
They were on for a good month,
heavy dating, living together.
320
00:17:45,398 --> 00:17:48,768
[Narrator] Eager to catch Andy
before he takes off again,
321
00:17:48,802 --> 00:17:51,571
investigators rush to the home.
322
00:17:52,172 --> 00:17:55,442
Inside, they find Andy and Jodis
323
00:17:55,475 --> 00:17:57,944
as well as Connie's mother,
Melba,
324
00:17:57,977 --> 00:18:00,513
and Connie's sister, Renee.
325
00:18:02,349 --> 00:18:06,019
Andy and Melba voluntarily went
with detectives
326
00:18:06,019 --> 00:18:10,156
back to the Loris Magistrate's
Office to be interviewed.
327
00:18:10,190 --> 00:18:14,294
I stayed and interviewed
Jodis and Renee.
328
00:18:16,896 --> 00:18:19,265
[Narrator]
Investigators inform Renee of
329
00:18:19,299 --> 00:18:21,267
Connie's account of the murder.
330
00:18:22,802 --> 00:18:25,872
[Jamie] We told her that Connie
had indicated that
331
00:18:25,905 --> 00:18:29,042
Andy was the attacker
the previous evening.
332
00:18:30,176 --> 00:18:33,046
but Renee advised that she had
been with Andy
333
00:18:33,046 --> 00:18:35,315
since 8:00 the previous evening.
334
00:18:35,682 --> 00:18:39,686
And that she begged Andy
also to stay with her,
335
00:18:40,053 --> 00:18:42,789
because she hadn't
seen him much lately.
336
00:18:43,590 --> 00:18:48,061
It appears that
Renee is trying to
337
00:18:48,061 --> 00:18:50,163
give Andy an alibi.
338
00:18:53,233 --> 00:18:57,504
[Narrator] Next, authorities
turn to Melba Nealy's boyfriend,
339
00:18:57,537 --> 00:19:00,874
29-year-old Jodis Washington.
340
00:19:02,542 --> 00:19:04,878
[Jamie] When I interviewed
Jodis Washington,
341
00:19:05,111 --> 00:19:09,382
he said that he was asleep at
9:00 PM the previous evening
342
00:19:09,683 --> 00:19:11,251
until this morning.
343
00:19:12,318 --> 00:19:15,221
And that Andy's car is parked
near his window.
344
00:19:15,255 --> 00:19:17,791
So he would have
heard it if it moved.
345
00:19:18,558 --> 00:19:21,327
The statements were inconsistent
with the statements
346
00:19:21,361 --> 00:19:23,863
that Connie herself made
to the police.
347
00:19:24,197 --> 00:19:26,633
Someone was lying to the police.
348
00:19:26,666 --> 00:19:30,704
[music]
349
00:19:30,737 --> 00:19:33,340
[Narrator] Detective DeBari
heads back to the station
350
00:19:33,373 --> 00:19:37,644
where Andy and his mother Melba
are being questioned.
351
00:19:39,679 --> 00:19:43,049
[Jamie] Melba advised that she
was over at her husband's,
352
00:19:43,049 --> 00:19:44,417
Johnny's trailer,
353
00:19:44,451 --> 00:19:47,053
which is next door to Connie's,
354
00:19:47,053 --> 00:19:50,056
from about 1:30 to 3:30 PM,
355
00:19:50,457 --> 00:19:52,759
with Connie and
the kids over there.
356
00:19:53,193 --> 00:19:54,894
[Narrator]
Melba tells detectives that
357
00:19:54,928 --> 00:19:57,664
Renee and Andy
were also there.
358
00:19:58,198 --> 00:20:01,501
And that Connie was very upset.
359
00:20:02,435 --> 00:20:05,405
[Jamie] Renee was with them over
at Johnny's trailer,
360
00:20:05,438 --> 00:20:08,908
and Connie was telling her how
Billy Ray had been
361
00:20:09,442 --> 00:20:13,313
beating her and throwing
the kids around.
362
00:20:15,949 --> 00:20:17,584
[Narrator] Coming up.
363
00:20:17,617 --> 00:20:22,722
Did a loyal brother decide to
take the law into his own hands?
364
00:20:22,756 --> 00:20:25,225
There were allegations of
domestic violence
365
00:20:25,258 --> 00:20:26,626
and violence against the kids.
366
00:20:26,659 --> 00:20:29,662
[Narrator] Or is there something
bigger at play?
367
00:20:29,696 --> 00:20:34,100
This is a family that isn't
gonna take crap from you.
368
00:20:34,668 --> 00:20:36,302
They're gonna fight back.
369
00:20:50,150 --> 00:20:52,952
[Narrator] Less than 24 hours
have passed since
370
00:20:52,986 --> 00:20:56,456
the brutal murders of
Connie Brown's husband,
371
00:20:56,489 --> 00:20:59,826
Billy Ray, and his friend,
Ronnie McDowell...
372
00:21:00,427 --> 00:21:02,195
When investigators uncover
373
00:21:02,228 --> 00:21:05,265
a potential motive
for the killings.
374
00:21:06,399 --> 00:21:08,735
There had been prior
instances of abuse
375
00:21:08,768 --> 00:21:12,072
that Melba was aware of between
Billy Ray and Connie.
376
00:21:14,774 --> 00:21:16,109
But when Melba found out that
377
00:21:16,142 --> 00:21:18,078
one of the children
was being abused...
378
00:21:19,112 --> 00:21:20,780
She was very upset.
379
00:21:20,814 --> 00:21:24,517
She said it was bad enough that
Connie was being abused,
380
00:21:24,984 --> 00:21:28,688
but now you've put
an innocent child into it.
381
00:21:29,356 --> 00:21:32,625
[Narrator] But the revelations
don't stop there.
382
00:21:32,659 --> 00:21:34,994
Melba says Andy wasn't
the only one
383
00:21:35,095 --> 00:21:38,365
who wanted to teach Billy Ray
a lesson.
384
00:21:38,932 --> 00:21:42,869
[Jamie] Melba advised that upon
learning this information
385
00:21:42,902 --> 00:21:45,105
that Andy and Renee said that,
386
00:21:45,105 --> 00:21:47,807
that Billy Ray
needed an ass whipping.
387
00:21:48,108 --> 00:21:52,846
This is a family that isn't
gonna take crap from you.
388
00:21:53,346 --> 00:21:54,814
They're gonna fight back.
389
00:21:55,215 --> 00:21:57,450
[Narrator] Melba says
the alleged abuse
390
00:21:57,484 --> 00:22:00,253
against his child was
the last straw...
391
00:22:00,687 --> 00:22:04,157
And the family decided to pay
Billy Ray a visit
392
00:22:04,190 --> 00:22:05,925
that same night.
393
00:22:06,226 --> 00:22:10,063
[music]
394
00:22:10,063 --> 00:22:12,432
[Jamie] Melba advised that when
they drove over there,
395
00:22:12,465 --> 00:22:14,434
they parked on
the side of the road.
396
00:22:15,402 --> 00:22:21,374
She went and knocked on the door
and Connie answered the door.
397
00:22:22,709 --> 00:22:27,080
Billy Ray came out and started
cussing her,
398
00:22:28,081 --> 00:22:33,086
and that's when Andy struck
Billy Ray with the stick.
399
00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:38,758
[music]
400
00:22:38,792 --> 00:22:42,595
She also told us she saw
Jodis cut Billy's throat
401
00:22:42,629 --> 00:22:44,330
when he was on the porch.
402
00:22:45,832 --> 00:22:48,168
Melba helps Connie get
the children over
403
00:22:48,201 --> 00:22:50,170
to Johnny's house,
404
00:22:50,670 --> 00:22:55,508
and then she leaves with Jodis,
Renee, and Andy in the vehicle
405
00:22:55,542 --> 00:22:57,510
and goes back to Green Acres.
406
00:22:58,011 --> 00:23:01,681
She said that she went to bed
around 11:30 PM,
407
00:23:01,715 --> 00:23:04,384
she didn't get up til 9:00 AM.
408
00:23:05,185 --> 00:23:09,055
Renee and Andy had went back to
Connie's that morning,
409
00:23:09,055 --> 00:23:10,557
and when they came back
410
00:23:10,824 --> 00:23:13,493
they told her that
Billy Ray was dead.
411
00:23:17,364 --> 00:23:18,865
[Narrator] With Melba's
statement,
412
00:23:18,898 --> 00:23:22,369
investigators now have
three different versions of
413
00:23:22,402 --> 00:23:25,338
what took place
the night of the murders.
414
00:23:26,873 --> 00:23:28,808
[Jamie] Renee stated
she had been with
415
00:23:28,842 --> 00:23:30,543
Andy the previous evening,
416
00:23:30,577 --> 00:23:32,912
and hand't seen Billy Ray
all day.
417
00:23:33,546 --> 00:23:37,083
Connie told us she was in
the bedroom asleep,
418
00:23:37,117 --> 00:23:39,786
and that Billy Ray
had answered the door.
419
00:23:39,819 --> 00:23:43,423
When, in fact, her mother Melba
now states
420
00:23:43,456 --> 00:23:46,793
that Connie answered the door
at 10:30 at night.
421
00:23:46,826 --> 00:23:50,930
Detective Merritt and I both
believed that Connie had
422
00:23:50,964 --> 00:23:54,601
some type of involvement
in this incident.
423
00:23:55,969 --> 00:23:58,104
[Narrator] While Melba is
being questioned,
424
00:23:58,138 --> 00:24:01,941
Andy's interview is taking place
in another room.
425
00:24:03,043 --> 00:24:06,746
Andy waives his rights and
wishes to speak to us.
426
00:24:08,348 --> 00:24:11,251
[George] Andy Nealy was a very
kinda laid-back kid.
427
00:24:11,284 --> 00:24:13,420
He didn't have a record of
assaulting people
428
00:24:13,453 --> 00:24:14,554
or anything like that.
429
00:24:15,822 --> 00:24:17,290
[Narrator] Andy tells them
that after listening to
430
00:24:17,323 --> 00:24:20,326
Connie's tales of abuse
earlier in the day,
431
00:24:20,360 --> 00:24:23,930
he went to her trailer
with his mom, Jodis, and Renee
432
00:24:23,963 --> 00:24:29,269
around 10:30 that night to
deliver a beatdown on Billy Ray.
433
00:24:32,339 --> 00:24:34,941
Andy brought
a special weapon along...
434
00:24:34,974 --> 00:24:37,477
One he had made himself.
435
00:24:38,345 --> 00:24:40,180
[George] Andy said that there
were two weapons.
436
00:24:40,213 --> 00:24:45,652
There was a large kitchen knife
and a stick that was,
437
00:24:45,685 --> 00:24:47,153
I would say, four feet long.
438
00:24:47,187 --> 00:24:49,889
It was carved with
Nealy Power.
439
00:24:49,923 --> 00:24:52,692
It's somethin' that Andy had
made when he was younger.
440
00:24:55,095 --> 00:24:57,564
[Jamie] Andy advised that
when they got there,
441
00:24:57,597 --> 00:25:00,900
that Melba and Renee
knocked on the door
442
00:25:01,434 --> 00:25:05,372
while him and Jodis
kinda hid in the shadows.
443
00:25:07,674 --> 00:25:08,842
[George] Connie answered.
444
00:25:09,175 --> 00:25:11,945
When Connie called
Billy Ray to the door,
445
00:25:13,046 --> 00:25:16,282
the two men jumped out
and went after him.
446
00:25:17,083 --> 00:25:18,952
And all that was part
of the plan.
447
00:25:19,586 --> 00:25:24,491
Andy advised that he struck
Billy Ray in the head
448
00:25:25,125 --> 00:25:27,627
with the large stick
that he had.
449
00:25:30,296 --> 00:25:32,532
After Billy Ray
dropped to the porch,
450
00:25:32,565 --> 00:25:35,235
Andy advised that Jodis
jumped up
451
00:25:35,869 --> 00:25:38,538
and cut Billy Ray's throat.
452
00:25:39,873 --> 00:25:42,709
[Narrator] Andy claims the plan
had only been
453
00:25:42,742 --> 00:25:44,344
to beat up Billy Ray,
454
00:25:44,377 --> 00:25:48,715
and Jodis' escalation came as
a surprise to everyone,
455
00:25:49,282 --> 00:25:52,385
but investigators
aren't buying it.
456
00:25:52,719 --> 00:25:55,789
[George] We don't know when it
switched over from
457
00:25:55,822 --> 00:25:57,424
beating him up to killing him.
458
00:25:57,457 --> 00:26:01,027
But the knife, which was a
large kitchen knife, very long,
459
00:26:01,061 --> 00:26:02,295
they brought with them.
460
00:26:02,328 --> 00:26:04,030
So it seemed all that was part
of the plan.
461
00:26:04,030 --> 00:26:08,068
[music]
462
00:26:08,101 --> 00:26:11,738
[Jamie] What Andy is telling us
is matching up
463
00:26:11,771 --> 00:26:15,675
with what Melba said,
and the physical evidence.
464
00:26:15,709 --> 00:26:19,713
What we saw based on
the blood spatter
465
00:26:19,746 --> 00:26:23,083
and where the blood pooling
and all took place.
466
00:26:23,450 --> 00:26:25,452
[Narrator] As for
Ronnie McDowell,
467
00:26:25,485 --> 00:26:28,888
Andy says he was just in
the wrong place
468
00:26:28,922 --> 00:26:30,924
at the wrong time.
469
00:26:31,591 --> 00:26:33,960
Ronnie McDowell wasn't
supposed to be there.
470
00:26:34,894 --> 00:26:36,930
He had just been forced
from his own home,
471
00:26:36,963 --> 00:26:39,399
because of a domestic violence
investigation.
472
00:26:39,432 --> 00:26:40,700
He couldn't stay there.
473
00:26:41,201 --> 00:26:43,436
So he went to stay with
his friend Billy Ray.
474
00:26:43,870 --> 00:26:45,772
[Jamie] With the commotion
going on,
475
00:26:45,805 --> 00:26:50,076
Ronnie McDowell awakens from
the couch and goes to the door
476
00:26:50,076 --> 00:26:51,678
to see what's going on.
477
00:26:53,413 --> 00:26:57,283
Andy tells him,
this doesn't concern you.
478
00:26:58,151 --> 00:27:00,320
And Ronnie tries to intervene.
479
00:27:00,353 --> 00:27:03,356
They had to deal with a witness
that they hadn't expected.
480
00:27:03,690 --> 00:27:06,292
[Jamie] An altercation
starts to occur.
481
00:27:06,326 --> 00:27:08,828
Ronnie turns around and runs,
482
00:27:08,862 --> 00:27:11,398
and goes to the right down to
the bathroom.
483
00:27:11,765 --> 00:27:17,604
Jodis and Andy give chase, and
proceed to beat and stab Ronnie.
484
00:27:17,637 --> 00:27:23,643
[music]
485
00:27:24,377 --> 00:27:28,415
[Narrator] Meanwhile, Andy tells
them even with his throat cut,
486
00:27:28,448 --> 00:27:30,750
Billy Ray was still alive...
487
00:27:30,784 --> 00:27:34,888
And trying to get a gun
he kept in his bedroom.
488
00:27:35,855 --> 00:27:38,892
[Jamie] Billy Ray is able to
drag himself
489
00:27:38,925 --> 00:27:40,160
into the living room
490
00:27:40,593 --> 00:27:43,129
where he is bleeding profusely.
491
00:27:44,097 --> 00:27:46,299
Somehow gets to the bedroom.
492
00:27:46,332 --> 00:27:48,802
And Andy alleged him and Jodis
493
00:27:48,835 --> 00:27:52,072
beat and stab Billy Ray
in the bedroom.
494
00:27:52,072 --> 00:27:57,977
[music]
495
00:27:58,078 --> 00:28:00,280
[Narrator] Investigators have
enough to place
496
00:28:00,313 --> 00:28:03,917
both Andy and his mother Melba
under arrest.
497
00:28:08,722 --> 00:28:10,557
And based on their statements,
498
00:28:10,590 --> 00:28:13,727
investigators also obtain
arrest warrants for
499
00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:16,463
Renee Young
and Jodis Washington.
500
00:28:16,830 --> 00:28:20,266
But when authorities return
to Jodis' house,
501
00:28:20,300 --> 00:28:22,035
they find it empty.
502
00:28:22,502 --> 00:28:27,507
Jodis and Renee, they were not
at the residence.
503
00:28:27,841 --> 00:28:29,709
They were on the run.
504
00:28:31,344 --> 00:28:33,046
[Narrator] While the search
is underway
505
00:28:33,046 --> 00:28:34,581
for Renee and Jodis,
506
00:28:34,614 --> 00:28:37,884
detectives take
another look at Connie.
507
00:28:38,284 --> 00:28:40,620
[George] First, she tells Johnny
the false story
508
00:28:40,653 --> 00:28:42,055
that was passed onto 911,
509
00:28:42,055 --> 00:28:43,623
and then she told us
it was her brother.
510
00:28:43,656 --> 00:28:45,959
She didn't tell us that she
answered the door.
511
00:28:46,493 --> 00:28:48,328
She was lookin' like a liar.
512
00:28:49,863 --> 00:28:52,432
[Jamie] We just didn't have
enough to charge her.
513
00:28:52,465 --> 00:28:57,170
Because none of them had really
stated that Connie was in on it.
514
00:28:59,839 --> 00:29:03,543
[Narrator] Just hours later,
investigators get a break.
515
00:29:04,044 --> 00:29:07,380
Renee is located at a house
in Tabor city,
516
00:29:07,414 --> 00:29:09,416
and placed under arrest.
517
00:29:10,483 --> 00:29:14,854
Investigators are eager to hear
if Renee has changed her tune
518
00:29:15,155 --> 00:29:18,425
in light of her mother
and brother's arrests.
519
00:29:19,259 --> 00:29:20,727
[Jamie] Renee was
interviewed again
520
00:29:20,760 --> 00:29:23,296
after she was given
her Miranda rights,
521
00:29:23,830 --> 00:29:28,068
where she waived her rights and
decided to speak with us.
522
00:29:28,735 --> 00:29:30,870
[George] At that point, Renee
really wanted to
523
00:29:30,904 --> 00:29:32,539
look at saving herself.
524
00:29:32,572 --> 00:29:34,441
She pretty much
gave up the whole plot.
525
00:29:37,210 --> 00:29:38,445
[Narrator] Coming up.
526
00:29:38,478 --> 00:29:41,247
A stark confession leads
detectives to
527
00:29:41,281 --> 00:29:43,583
a crude murder weapon.
528
00:29:44,184 --> 00:29:47,887
The Nealy Power stick was thrown
out by the side of the road.
529
00:29:47,921 --> 00:29:52,692
[Narrator] And will Connie's
dark secrets finally be exposed?
530
00:29:53,059 --> 00:29:57,530
Billy Ray and Connie did have
a volatile relationship.
531
00:30:14,481 --> 00:30:17,050
[Narrator] On July 23, 2000,
532
00:30:17,083 --> 00:30:19,019
two days after
the vicious attack
533
00:30:19,052 --> 00:30:23,256
that killed Billy Ray Brown and
his friend, Ronnie McDowell,
534
00:30:23,790 --> 00:30:27,594
Melba Nealy, her son Andy,
and daughter Renee
535
00:30:27,627 --> 00:30:29,496
are in police custody.
536
00:30:31,164 --> 00:30:33,967
Melba's boyfriend
Jodis Washington
537
00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:35,869
is still at large.
538
00:30:37,203 --> 00:30:39,372
[George] According to
Melba and Andy,
539
00:30:39,406 --> 00:30:41,675
the plan was just to
beat him up,
540
00:30:41,708 --> 00:30:45,578
but Jodis Washington got in
there and it switched over from
541
00:30:46,012 --> 00:30:47,914
beating him up to killing him.
542
00:30:50,083 --> 00:30:52,852
[Narrator] However,
when investigators sit down
543
00:30:52,886 --> 00:30:55,188
with Renee following her arrest,
544
00:30:55,221 --> 00:30:57,724
she changes her story again.
545
00:30:57,757 --> 00:31:01,261
But this time, investigators
suspect they're getting
546
00:31:01,294 --> 00:31:03,830
a little closer to the truth.
547
00:31:04,497 --> 00:31:06,733
[Jamie] Renee advised that
all four of 'em,
548
00:31:07,133 --> 00:31:10,637
Melba, her, Jodis, and Andy,
549
00:31:10,670 --> 00:31:12,138
all went to the residence
550
00:31:12,172 --> 00:31:14,841
because Billy
needed to be killed.
551
00:31:14,874 --> 00:31:19,179
[music]
552
00:31:19,212 --> 00:31:20,880
She said they had a basic plan,
553
00:31:20,914 --> 00:31:24,250
which was they were to go over
to the house and kill him there.
554
00:31:25,085 --> 00:31:27,687
We found Renee's story to
be the most forthcoming
555
00:31:27,721 --> 00:31:30,590
because you can't help but know
that a murder's gonna happen
556
00:31:30,623 --> 00:31:32,258
when one of the people
has a knife.
557
00:31:32,292 --> 00:31:36,196
[Jamie] That gives us the
premeditation involved for
558
00:31:36,229 --> 00:31:40,700
all four to drive all the way
over there after that statement
559
00:31:40,734 --> 00:31:44,104
knowing exactly what was going
to happen.
560
00:31:45,405 --> 00:31:47,507
[Narrator] The results of
forensic testing
561
00:31:47,540 --> 00:31:49,576
at the crime scene roll in,
562
00:31:49,609 --> 00:31:51,211
and they're damning.
563
00:31:51,644 --> 00:31:57,617
We found fingerprints in
the getaway vehicle,
564
00:31:57,650 --> 00:32:02,622
that was used for Melba,
Renee, Jodis, and Andy
565
00:32:02,655 --> 00:32:04,324
to come to the house.
566
00:32:04,357 --> 00:32:08,561
But the only complete match
was Jodis Washington.
567
00:32:11,798 --> 00:32:14,334
[Narrator] Hours after
Renee's statement,
568
00:32:14,367 --> 00:32:16,503
Jodis Washington walks into
569
00:32:16,536 --> 00:32:18,638
the Columbus County
Sheriff's Station
570
00:32:18,672 --> 00:32:20,907
and turns himself in.
571
00:32:21,808 --> 00:32:25,845
Jodis knew that we had everybody
else in the family in custody
572
00:32:25,879 --> 00:32:28,515
and just went ahead and turned
himself in.
573
00:32:28,848 --> 00:32:31,818
Jodis invoked his right to
remain silent
574
00:32:31,851 --> 00:32:33,820
and never spoke with us.
575
00:32:33,853 --> 00:32:38,658
[music]
576
00:32:38,692 --> 00:32:41,561
[Narrator] The rest of
the Nealy clan reels from
577
00:32:41,594 --> 00:32:43,530
news of the arrests.
578
00:32:45,131 --> 00:32:46,366
I was devastated.
579
00:32:46,399 --> 00:32:47,934
I didn't see how that could've
came about
580
00:32:47,967 --> 00:32:51,404
or how they're sayin' my
brother's responsible for it.
581
00:32:51,638 --> 00:32:53,740
I went and visited
each one of 'em.
582
00:32:54,474 --> 00:32:56,276
They were all full of regret.
583
00:32:57,110 --> 00:32:58,778
No matter if I asked,
584
00:32:59,212 --> 00:33:00,647
tell me what happened,
585
00:33:00,680 --> 00:33:03,316
at that point, their state of
mind was protecting and
586
00:33:03,350 --> 00:33:04,851
defending one another.
587
00:33:05,251 --> 00:33:08,922
They wouldn't give me
any details, or why even.
588
00:33:08,955 --> 00:33:12,659
[music]
589
00:33:12,692 --> 00:33:15,228
[Narrator] Meanwhile,
investigators look into
590
00:33:15,261 --> 00:33:18,298
Connie's allegations of abuse.
591
00:33:20,133 --> 00:33:22,268
[George] What we know about
Connie and Billy's relationship
592
00:33:22,302 --> 00:33:23,470
we mostly got from Connie.
593
00:33:23,503 --> 00:33:24,838
And for what it's worth,
594
00:33:24,871 --> 00:33:26,906
she said that there was abuse
going on there.
595
00:33:27,207 --> 00:33:29,275
The children never complained
of anything.
596
00:33:29,309 --> 00:33:31,611
We didn't have independent,
no, no bruises,
597
00:33:31,644 --> 00:33:33,880
no police reports or
anything like that.
598
00:33:34,914 --> 00:33:38,385
[Narrator] However, friends of
the family tell investigators
599
00:33:38,418 --> 00:33:43,690
that Billy Ray and Connie did
have a volatile relationship.
600
00:33:43,723 --> 00:33:46,192
[Shannan] Connie's relationship
with Billy Ray,
601
00:33:46,226 --> 00:33:48,862
there had been some, like,
heavy drinking.
602
00:33:48,895 --> 00:33:51,998
As far as Billy Ray was
concerned,
603
00:33:52,098 --> 00:33:55,368
Connie knew that she
had children to take care of
604
00:33:55,402 --> 00:33:57,470
and that she had duties,
605
00:33:57,771 --> 00:34:01,241
and that she couldn't completely
let herself go.
606
00:34:03,109 --> 00:34:05,679
[Narrator] But no matter how
hard they look,
607
00:34:05,712 --> 00:34:09,549
they find nothing to link Connie
to the murders.
608
00:34:10,050 --> 00:34:14,387
[Jamie] As far as thinking that
Connie has some involvement,
609
00:34:14,421 --> 00:34:16,056
sure, that's what we thought.
610
00:34:16,556 --> 00:34:21,194
But we didn't have any evidence
that we could actually use
611
00:34:21,227 --> 00:34:24,831
to prove that or to establish
probable cause,
612
00:34:25,065 --> 00:34:27,701
because nobody else had
implicated her.
613
00:34:27,734 --> 00:34:30,837
[music]
614
00:34:30,870 --> 00:34:32,439
[Narrator]
Seemingly in the clear,
615
00:34:32,772 --> 00:34:35,208
Connie goes about her business.
616
00:34:36,409 --> 00:34:39,546
I didn't believe her
participating with it.
617
00:34:39,579 --> 00:34:40,647
Any of it.
618
00:34:41,815 --> 00:34:43,717
The police, they were really
pointin' the finger at her
619
00:34:43,750 --> 00:34:46,319
and so, I wanted to protect her.
620
00:34:46,753 --> 00:34:48,221
She had the kids.
621
00:34:48,254 --> 00:34:49,389
When I got my own place,
622
00:34:49,422 --> 00:34:51,624
she moved in with us,
her and the boys.
623
00:34:53,159 --> 00:34:55,929
[Narrator] As prosecutors and
investigators prepare
624
00:34:55,962 --> 00:34:57,864
for four murder trials,
625
00:34:58,198 --> 00:35:02,535
Renee's attorneys and
prosecutors reach a plea deal.
626
00:35:03,603 --> 00:35:06,206
There were only five living
adults that knew
627
00:35:06,239 --> 00:35:07,574
what happened that day.
628
00:35:07,607 --> 00:35:09,275
There wasn't enough to
prove our case
629
00:35:09,309 --> 00:35:11,411
without statements from at least
some of them.
630
00:35:11,444 --> 00:35:13,046
We had to make a deal with
someone.
631
00:35:13,046 --> 00:35:14,714
Renee was the most forthcoming.
632
00:35:14,748 --> 00:35:17,650
She was obviously the one that
was most cooperative.
633
00:35:18,618 --> 00:35:20,186
[Narrator] Renee also agrees to
634
00:35:20,220 --> 00:35:22,856
help in the hunt for
the murder weapon.
635
00:35:23,523 --> 00:35:27,794
At the scene, we never located
the stick or any knives.
636
00:35:27,827 --> 00:35:32,766
On July 6th, we had signed Renee
out of the detention center.
637
00:35:32,799 --> 00:35:35,902
She advised that she would
assist us in locating
638
00:35:35,935 --> 00:35:41,474
the stick that was used in
the crime and the knife.
639
00:35:43,810 --> 00:35:45,378
[Narrator] Renee tells
investigators
640
00:35:45,412 --> 00:35:47,247
the weapons were disposed of
641
00:35:47,280 --> 00:35:50,083
on the ride home
from the crime scene.
642
00:35:51,351 --> 00:35:55,188
The Nealy Power stick was thrown
out by the side of the road.
643
00:35:55,522 --> 00:35:58,091
[Jamie] We were able to locate
the stick
644
00:35:58,091 --> 00:35:59,626
off the side of the road.
645
00:36:01,227 --> 00:36:06,633
The stick was actually broke in
half and you could see,
646
00:36:06,666 --> 00:36:10,303
with the eye,
blood spatter on the stick.
647
00:36:14,040 --> 00:36:16,509
[Narrator] They are unable to
locate the knife,
648
00:36:16,776 --> 00:36:19,112
but the discovery of
the Nealy Stick
649
00:36:19,145 --> 00:36:21,648
will strengthen
the prosecution's case
650
00:36:21,681 --> 00:36:23,783
against the four accused.
651
00:36:25,385 --> 00:36:27,053
[George] The plea agreement
with Renee was that
652
00:36:27,053 --> 00:36:30,357
she had testify truthfully in
all trials arising from
653
00:36:30,390 --> 00:36:32,459
the facts of, of the murder.
654
00:36:35,061 --> 00:36:37,664
[Narrator] On August 7, 2001,
655
00:36:37,697 --> 00:36:42,268
over a year since Billy Ray
and Ronnie McDowell's murders,
656
00:36:42,302 --> 00:36:45,605
Renee finally confirms what
law enforcement
657
00:36:45,638 --> 00:36:48,274
has suspected all along.
658
00:36:49,075 --> 00:36:51,878
She told us that Connie was
the reason that it happened.
659
00:36:51,911 --> 00:36:53,546
That she's the one
that asked them to do
660
00:36:53,580 --> 00:36:55,148
something about Billy Ray.
661
00:36:58,251 --> 00:36:59,719
[Narrator] According to Renee,
662
00:36:59,753 --> 00:37:03,423
Connie knew the plan
when she opened the door.
663
00:37:05,125 --> 00:37:07,227
The plan was to kill Billy Ray.
664
00:37:07,727 --> 00:37:10,030
The attack was
planned for that night.
665
00:37:10,030 --> 00:37:13,533
Renee and Jodis at one point
did draw out a map
666
00:37:13,800 --> 00:37:15,802
of, of Billy Ray's house,
667
00:37:15,835 --> 00:37:18,538
more so for planning the attack
than for anything else.
668
00:37:18,872 --> 00:37:20,073
Connie knew it was coming.
669
00:37:20,106 --> 00:37:22,042
She was, in fact,
a part of it to,
670
00:37:22,242 --> 00:37:24,377
to lure Billy Ray to the door.
671
00:37:25,178 --> 00:37:27,747
[Narrator] Even though
Jodis wasn't family,
672
00:37:27,781 --> 00:37:31,217
Renee alleges he was eager
to help.
673
00:37:31,818 --> 00:37:33,920
[George] Renee told us that
Jodis had said,
674
00:37:33,953 --> 00:37:35,221
I never knifed someone.
675
00:37:35,255 --> 00:37:36,756
I want to know what it's
like to knife someone,
676
00:37:36,790 --> 00:37:38,091
so I'm gonna use a knife.
677
00:37:38,124 --> 00:37:42,062
[music]
678
00:37:42,062 --> 00:37:45,065
[Narrator] Renee confirms that
killing Ronnie McDowell
679
00:37:45,098 --> 00:37:47,600
was never part of the plan.
680
00:37:50,837 --> 00:37:54,074
Ronnie McDowell was at
the wrong place
681
00:37:54,074 --> 00:37:55,375
at the wrong time.
682
00:37:55,408 --> 00:37:57,243
[George] Connie didn't do
anything to say,
683
00:37:57,277 --> 00:37:58,912
stop, no,
this isn't a good night.
684
00:37:58,945 --> 00:38:00,313
There's somebody else here.
685
00:38:00,347 --> 00:38:02,749
She let it go on, knowing that
Ronnie was there
686
00:38:02,782 --> 00:38:05,285
and would probably have to be
disposed of as well.
687
00:38:06,252 --> 00:38:10,156
[Jamie] I think Renee had
remorse and probably also, well,
688
00:38:10,390 --> 00:38:11,791
why am I paying for this?
689
00:38:11,825 --> 00:38:15,495
He was your husband.
You wanted this done.
690
00:38:17,030 --> 00:38:18,732
[Narrator]
With Renee's statement,
691
00:38:18,765 --> 00:38:21,601
investigators finally have
enough to obtain
692
00:38:21,634 --> 00:38:24,270
a warrant for Connie's arrest.
693
00:38:27,607 --> 00:38:29,843
The next day, on August 8th,
694
00:38:29,876 --> 00:38:34,481
investigators inform Connie
that she must turn herself in.
695
00:38:36,449 --> 00:38:38,918
[Jamie] Her and the boys,
they were all living with me,
696
00:38:38,952 --> 00:38:41,488
and we signed notarized
statements, giving me custody
697
00:38:41,521 --> 00:38:43,723
to take the babies to
the hospital for emergencies,
698
00:38:43,757 --> 00:38:45,625
and everything like that.
699
00:38:45,658 --> 00:38:47,093
And get 'em in school.
700
00:38:47,861 --> 00:38:49,195
Then I drove her there,
701
00:38:49,229 --> 00:38:50,663
and I remember the
arresting officer telling her
702
00:38:50,697 --> 00:38:54,968
that they were chargin' her with
double homicide.
703
00:38:57,303 --> 00:38:58,471
[Narrator] Coming up.
704
00:38:59,873 --> 00:39:03,343
A family's once united front
splinters in the courtroom.
705
00:39:04,010 --> 00:39:07,213
Renee Nealy is the star witness.
706
00:39:07,480 --> 00:39:09,849
[Narrator] And Connie
fights back.
707
00:39:10,283 --> 00:39:12,018
She wouldn't have done this
in her own home
708
00:39:12,018 --> 00:39:13,420
with her children there.
709
00:39:28,301 --> 00:39:32,105
[Narrator] Almost a year after
the murders of Billy Ray Brown
710
00:39:32,138 --> 00:39:34,474
and his friend Ronnie McDowell,
711
00:39:34,507 --> 00:39:38,878
Billy Ray's wife, Connie Brown,
is taken into custody.
712
00:39:39,646 --> 00:39:41,748
[George] Because she was present
at the scene and
713
00:39:41,781 --> 00:39:44,050
aiding and abetting her family
in doing it,
714
00:39:44,050 --> 00:39:46,553
she was charged
as a principal in murder.
715
00:39:49,789 --> 00:39:51,725
[Narrator] In October 2001,
716
00:39:52,058 --> 00:39:56,062
Connie's brother, Andy Nealy,
appears before a judge.
717
00:39:56,763 --> 00:39:58,098
[George] When it came
right down to it,
718
00:39:58,131 --> 00:40:00,467
Andy did not want to
testify against his family.
719
00:40:00,500 --> 00:40:01,968
He wasn't willing to cooperate.
720
00:40:02,002 --> 00:40:04,904
He ultimately pled guilty and
received a life sentence.
721
00:40:05,605 --> 00:40:09,709
[Narrator] A month later,
Melba and Jodis go on trial.
722
00:40:10,010 --> 00:40:13,313
[Jamie] Renee Nealy is
the star witness
723
00:40:13,546 --> 00:40:16,516
testifying against
both Jodis and Melba.
724
00:40:17,050 --> 00:40:23,056
The jury found Melba guilty
and sentenced her to 35 years.
725
00:40:24,090 --> 00:40:30,096
Jodis Washington was found not
guilty by the jury and released.
726
00:40:31,264 --> 00:40:33,166
How they came
to that conclusion,
727
00:40:33,199 --> 00:40:35,568
but all their attorney
kept yelling about,
728
00:40:35,602 --> 00:40:38,271
his fingerprint was there
before, it was there before.
729
00:40:38,304 --> 00:40:41,207
He doesn't know anything about
it. He was asleep.
730
00:40:41,908 --> 00:40:44,377
[George] His attorney basically
said that Renee was lying.
731
00:40:44,411 --> 00:40:47,547
Renee was the primary way we had
to prove Jodis' involvement
732
00:40:47,580 --> 00:40:49,382
other than showing that they
were associates.
733
00:40:49,416 --> 00:40:51,885
Because they never recovered
the knife,
734
00:40:51,918 --> 00:40:53,219
he convinced the jury that
735
00:40:53,253 --> 00:40:55,555
Renee had lied
about him being present.
736
00:40:55,588 --> 00:40:58,058
she was tryin' to push
the blame outside the family.
737
00:40:58,091 --> 00:40:59,559
[Narrator]
In the eyes of the law,
738
00:40:59,592 --> 00:41:03,463
Jodis is completely innocent
of these crimes.
739
00:41:05,465 --> 00:41:10,070
Almost a year later,
on June 18, 2002,
740
00:41:10,070 --> 00:41:15,141
27-year-old Connie Brown
finally stands trial for murder.
741
00:41:15,475 --> 00:41:16,910
[George] We wanted the jury to
know that
742
00:41:16,943 --> 00:41:19,079
Connie was in on
this from the beginning,
743
00:41:19,112 --> 00:41:20,413
that she helped plan it.
744
00:41:20,447 --> 00:41:21,881
She was the driving force
behind it.
745
00:41:21,915 --> 00:41:24,651
And that came from, from Renee,
her sister's testimony.
746
00:41:25,251 --> 00:41:29,255
[Narrator] Throughout the trial,
Connie maintains her innocence.
747
00:41:29,956 --> 00:41:31,925
[George] Connie Brown's defense
tried to argue
748
00:41:31,958 --> 00:41:33,560
she wouldn't have done this in
her own home
749
00:41:33,593 --> 00:41:34,794
with her children there.
750
00:41:34,828 --> 00:41:37,797
But our argument was the plan at
the beginning was
751
00:41:37,831 --> 00:41:39,499
that it was gonna happen
on the porch,
752
00:41:39,532 --> 00:41:41,167
and the children were
inside asleep.
753
00:41:41,201 --> 00:41:43,903
I don't think it was ever meant
to come back into the house
754
00:41:43,937 --> 00:41:45,171
like it did.
755
00:41:47,974 --> 00:41:50,810
She opened the door and got
Billy Ray to come to the door
756
00:41:51,111 --> 00:41:52,679
for the attack to take place.
757
00:41:52,712 --> 00:41:56,116
So she was part of the planning
and part of the execution.
758
00:41:56,783 --> 00:41:58,118
Our theory of the case was that
759
00:41:58,118 --> 00:42:00,186
Connie just wanted
to be rid of Billy Ray.
760
00:42:00,920 --> 00:42:03,690
It seems mostly this was
a crime to, to get rid of
761
00:42:03,723 --> 00:42:05,325
an inconvenient husband.
762
00:42:07,861 --> 00:42:11,064
[Narrator]
On September 19, 2002,
763
00:42:11,097 --> 00:42:12,832
the jury convenes.
764
00:42:12,866 --> 00:42:15,902
That same day,
they reach a verdict.
765
00:42:16,403 --> 00:42:20,173
On September 2002, Connie Brown
is found guilty
766
00:42:20,907 --> 00:42:24,611
and sentenced to life in prison
for her involvement
767
00:42:24,644 --> 00:42:27,514
in the deaths of her husband,
Billy Ray Brown,
768
00:42:27,547 --> 00:42:30,250
and his friend Ronnie McDowell.
769
00:42:30,283 --> 00:42:34,487
[music]
770
00:42:34,521 --> 00:42:37,090
I think it's important for
people to know that
771
00:42:37,090 --> 00:42:39,893
this family was not
your typical family.
772
00:42:39,926 --> 00:42:42,228
They are extremely close-knit.
773
00:42:42,529 --> 00:42:46,900
They truly thought that
they could help Connie
774
00:42:46,933 --> 00:42:48,101
in this situation.
775
00:42:48,134 --> 00:42:49,869
They thought
they were doing her a favor.
776
00:42:51,638 --> 00:42:53,139
[Narrator] Instead, they left
777
00:42:53,173 --> 00:42:56,676
a wave of destruction
in their wake.
778
00:42:57,811 --> 00:42:59,346
It destroyed that family.
779
00:43:00,080 --> 00:43:02,849
There was a mother and
a father and three children,
780
00:43:03,149 --> 00:43:04,384
and the father was dead
781
00:43:04,417 --> 00:43:06,419
and the mother went off
to prison.
782
00:43:07,854 --> 00:43:10,223
[Jamie] Ronnie, poor fella, was
in the wrong place
783
00:43:10,256 --> 00:43:11,358
at the wrong time.
784
00:43:11,691 --> 00:43:14,494
I never would've thought that
Connie was capable
785
00:43:14,527 --> 00:43:18,064
of guiding them or even allowing
that to happen
786
00:43:18,064 --> 00:43:20,066
to the magnitude that it did.
787
00:43:20,266 --> 00:43:23,837
It could've been prevented,
just by her leavin' Billy.
788
00:43:25,271 --> 00:43:31,378
[music]