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[narrator] a body is discovered
in an unusual location...
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You're at a cemetery.
It's full of dead bodies.
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00:00:15,015 --> 00:00:17,316
But this one is not in a grave.
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00:00:18,385 --> 00:00:20,352
He has no id on him at all.
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He was sorta just dumped there.
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[narrator] the investigation
reveals a love triangle
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That might have turned violent.
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I went to him and asked him,
"have you lost your mind?"
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[narrator] detectives uncover
a killer
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With a single-minded need for
more...
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She wanted to see if she could
get his last paycheck
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And insurance policy.
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It was all part of her cold,
callous personality.
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She is a master manipulator,
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Manipulating people
to do her dirty work.
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[theme music]
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[narrator] on Sunday,
January 17, 2010,
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Detectives in san antonio, texa
receive an unusual phone call
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From a patrolman making rounds
in the city.
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[lisa] about a quarter to five,
the phone rang,
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And a patrolman said,
"I'm out at the cemetery,
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And there's a dead body."
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And I'm like, "right.
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You're at a cemetery.
It's full of dead bodies."
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And she says, "yes, ma'am,
but this one is not in a grave."
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So, I said, "okay."
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So, I drove
over to the cemetery.
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[narrator] when detective miller
arrives at the cemetery,
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She is briefed on the discover.
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[lisa] a tourist went out for
a walk,
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And he said when he
walked past the cemetery,
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He noticed someone
he thought was sleeping.
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When he turned around to
go back to his hotel,
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He looked again,
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And noticed
that the body had not moved.
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[narrator] at first glance,
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Detective miller doesn't see
an obvious cause of death.
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You could actually see that
there was blood
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In the chest area
and in the head area.
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[lisa] so, we called
the medical examiner,
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And as soon as they rolled
him over,
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It was obvious that he had been
shot multiple times.
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At that time, I'm not gonna
try to count bullet holes,
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Because you don't know
what's entrance,
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You don't know what's exit.
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It's always better to just wait
for the autopsy.
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[narrator] given the condition
of the body
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And lack of blood at the scene,
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Investigators surmise that
the victim was shot
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Several days earlier.
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I would say the body was in
lividity.
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He was very rigid.
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It was very clear that he was
just sorta just dumped there.
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[narrator] where the victim was
killed isn't the only mystery.
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[lisa] he has no id on him
at all.
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It's gonna be a john doe.
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So, we had to find
out who he was.
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We started working to see if
anybody had made a,
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A recent report of...
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You know, of a missing, young,
apparently healthy black male.
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Missing persons found
a recent report
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That matched
his general description,
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And his name was samuel johnson.
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[narrator] 26-year-old
samuel johnson, jr.
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Had been reported missing
by his parents
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After failing to come home
from work
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On January 13th.
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He was supposed to go to work,
and then he would be back.
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His mom was unable to
get in touch with him,
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He's not answering his phone.
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[jennifer] samuel was not
the kinda person
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That just fell off the map.
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You know, he wouldn't just
walk away and,
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And not tell you or
tell somebody.
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Nobody's been able to
contact him.
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He was missing.
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[samuel] that was a sign that
somethin' was up.
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He is too responsible
a young man for that.
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The desk sergeant asked for
the description.
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We filed
a missin' person report.
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[narrator] it's been five days
since samuel went missing,
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And his family is still holding
out hope they will find him.
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Meanwhile, 40 miles away,
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A medical examiner is attemptin
to id the john doe.
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[samuel] we went lookin' for
him.
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At this point, my mind is
all over the place.
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You know, I just wanted to know
where, where my son is.
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[narrator] samuel johnson, jr.
Was born in san antonio
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00:05:06,339 --> 00:05:08,707
On December 8th, 1983
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00:05:08,775 --> 00:05:12,010
To his mother, stephanie,
and his father, sam, sr.
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The oldest of three siblings,
sam was smart and determined.
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00:05:18,052 --> 00:05:20,485
When he was in
junior high school,
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I think they took a field trip
to the courthouse.
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00:05:25,525 --> 00:05:28,993
And he came home and he told,
he says, "mom, mom,
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I wanna be a lawyer."
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I said, "okay, you, you know,
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That's gonna take some time in
school."
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00:05:33,634 --> 00:05:35,334
And he says, "yeah, I know,
I know,
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But that's what I wanna do."
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[narrator] after sam graduated
high school,
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A chance encounter at
his day job
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Led him to erica bridgeforth.
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I met sam January 1st of 2004.
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He was 19, I was 20.
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He was a, a check casher,
and that's where I met him.
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I remember specifically,
because I cashed my check.
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I said, "well you know,
you can go ahead
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And write your phone number down
on the receipt."
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Which I, I still have that
receipt to this day.
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[stephanie] I absolutely loved
erica.
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She would come over,
we would sit, we would talk.
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It was, it was so much fun
bein' with erica.
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[samuel] samuel, he knew how to
treat a lady
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When he was with her.
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Erica was like another daughter
to me.
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[narrator] sadly,
after four years together,
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23-year-old sam worried
he wasn't ready
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For something so serious.
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00:06:35,929 --> 00:06:38,997
I went to him and asked him,
"what's goin' on with you?
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Have you lost your mind?"
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And he's like, "mom, mom,
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I just need to know if she's
the right one."
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So, he was trying to make sure.
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[narrator] sam took the time to
focus on his dreams.
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He was doing law school for
a little while.
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And then he left to pick up
a job to start making more money
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To pay for college.
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[narrator] in 2007,
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Sam's day job once again brough
love into his life
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When he met 26-year-old
vanessa cameron.
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[adrienne] vanessa met sam at
her gym.
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00:07:18,872 --> 00:07:20,505
He was the guy
behind the counter.
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00:07:20,573 --> 00:07:22,374
She was outgoing, she was fun.
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God, lots of guys liked her.
She was beautiful.
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00:07:30,083 --> 00:07:34,085
[narrator] born in December 1980
and raised in san antonio,
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00:07:34,154 --> 00:07:37,088
Vanessa grew up with
her older sister, susan.
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[adrienne] her mother was
a police officer,
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00:07:39,926 --> 00:07:43,161
And she was a serious woman
who maintained a beautiful home.
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00:07:43,229 --> 00:07:46,598
And her father, he enjoyed
having a good time.
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00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:49,601
[narrator] friends say vanessa
took after her mom
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00:07:49,669 --> 00:07:52,204
While susan was more like
her dad.
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Sue was more a free spirit.
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00:07:56,242 --> 00:07:58,009
Vanessa always made a's and b's.
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She went to school.
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She ended up working for
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00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:02,614
The san antonio
housing authority.
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00:08:02,682 --> 00:08:04,182
She was helping children.
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00:08:04,251 --> 00:08:05,583
She worked in an,
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00:08:05,652 --> 00:08:07,919
In a like, an impoverished
apartment complex.
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00:08:10,824 --> 00:08:13,691
[narrator] when vanessa met
23-year-old sam
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00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:15,594
In February 2007,
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00:08:16,062 --> 00:08:19,163
He was everything she was
looking for in a partner.
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00:08:19,766 --> 00:08:21,766
[adrienne] he carried his self
in a way that she liked.
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He became an instant boyfriend.
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00:08:23,570 --> 00:08:25,804
She purchased a home
and he lived with her.
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00:08:25,872 --> 00:08:30,108
And they were, you know,
basically playing house.
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[narrator] in 2008,
they welcomed a son.
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[samuel] that child became
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00:08:36,483 --> 00:08:39,451
His reason for getting up
in the morning,
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His reason for breathing.
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00:08:41,254 --> 00:08:43,588
I saw my son grow into a man.
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00:08:46,259 --> 00:08:48,793
And I've never been more proud
of him.
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00:08:55,368 --> 00:08:59,638
[narrator] in April of 2009,
with their son still a toddler,
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00:08:59,706 --> 00:09:02,473
The family suffered
a major trauma.
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00:09:03,143 --> 00:09:06,945
Samuel told us that there had
been a fire.
166
00:09:08,815 --> 00:09:10,748
We lost the house.
We lost the stuff.
167
00:09:10,817 --> 00:09:12,383
But, you know, everybody's fine.
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[narrator] the fire was
ruled as an accident,
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00:09:15,155 --> 00:09:18,990
And fortunately, it wasn't
a total loss for the family.
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00:09:20,761 --> 00:09:22,527
[adrienne] when vanessa
purchased the house,
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00:09:22,529 --> 00:09:24,996
She insured
the house for its value.
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00:09:25,799 --> 00:09:30,635
She got almost $300,000 for
the damage to her house.
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[narrator] as they figured out
next steps,
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00:09:36,977 --> 00:09:39,711
Vanessa, sam, and their son
moved in with
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00:09:39,779 --> 00:09:42,380
Vanessa's sister susan
and her boyfriend,
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Bj brown.
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00:09:44,918 --> 00:09:47,285
Sue and vanessa weren't close
when they were younger.
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00:09:48,020 --> 00:09:50,454
Their closeness came in once
they were adults.
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00:09:50,456 --> 00:09:52,624
And vanessa needed help.
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00:09:55,595 --> 00:09:57,395
[narrator] the stress of losing
their home
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00:09:57,463 --> 00:09:59,798
Took its toll on vanessa and
sam.
182
00:10:00,500 --> 00:10:03,501
I think that vanessa was trying
to work out their relationship
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00:10:03,570 --> 00:10:05,303
And sam was trying to separate.
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00:10:05,772 --> 00:10:07,905
[jennifer] when she got
the payout,
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00:10:07,974 --> 00:10:10,374
She didn't give samuel
any of the money.
186
00:10:10,444 --> 00:10:14,312
His stuff that was there
was burned up and destroyed.
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00:10:14,381 --> 00:10:16,214
And samuel got nothing.
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00:10:17,083 --> 00:10:18,883
[narrator] after two years
together,
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00:10:19,152 --> 00:10:22,120
They made the difficult decisio
to part ways.
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00:10:22,655 --> 00:10:24,456
Vanessa remained with
their child
191
00:10:24,524 --> 00:10:25,857
At her sister's home.
192
00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:30,027
We found out that sam had
left her,
193
00:10:30,463 --> 00:10:32,631
And he was
stayin' with his brother.
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00:10:36,236 --> 00:10:39,303
[narrator] it wasn't long before
sam reconnected with
195
00:10:39,305 --> 00:10:42,207
His high school sweetheart,
erica bridgeforth.
196
00:10:43,509 --> 00:10:46,844
[samuel] I realized erica was
still in the picture.
197
00:10:47,414 --> 00:10:49,781
Which brought me joy and
satisfaction
198
00:10:49,849 --> 00:10:51,082
Like you wouldn't believe.
199
00:10:51,418 --> 00:10:53,184
[erica] I feel like we both
grew up.
200
00:10:53,253 --> 00:10:54,852
He was takin' classes,
201
00:10:54,921 --> 00:10:57,455
Like night classes for
bus driving.
202
00:10:57,523 --> 00:11:00,024
He was just so optimistic
203
00:11:00,026 --> 00:11:04,663
And happy about the life that
we were building movin' forward.
204
00:11:05,498 --> 00:11:07,665
We ended up becoming engaged,
205
00:11:07,734 --> 00:11:10,735
And I found out we were pregnant
206
00:11:10,804 --> 00:11:14,039
At the end of November of 2009.
207
00:11:15,341 --> 00:11:17,575
He was excited about it.
208
00:11:20,881 --> 00:11:22,814
[narrator] but the happiness is
short-lived
209
00:11:22,882 --> 00:11:26,985
When sam goes missing on
Wednesday, January 13.
210
00:11:27,854 --> 00:11:29,020
Five days later,
211
00:11:29,823 --> 00:11:34,025
A medical examiner confirms
the family's worst fears.
212
00:11:34,694 --> 00:11:35,893
[lisa] when we got confirmation
213
00:11:35,962 --> 00:11:38,830
From the medical examiner's
office on their fingerprints,
214
00:11:38,898 --> 00:11:40,965
And it was samuel johnson.
215
00:11:45,605 --> 00:11:48,372
[narrator] with confirmation
it is sam,
216
00:11:48,374 --> 00:11:51,909
The official investigation into
his murder gets underway.
217
00:11:52,712 --> 00:11:57,048
But detectives quickly realize
they are limited on evidence.
218
00:11:58,551 --> 00:12:02,854
There was not a lot of evidence
at that scene.
219
00:12:04,190 --> 00:12:06,057
There was no blood at the scene,
220
00:12:06,125 --> 00:12:08,159
There were no
shell casings at the scene.
221
00:12:12,232 --> 00:12:15,266
[narrator] detectives reach
sam's father by phone
222
00:12:15,335 --> 00:12:16,800
To break the news.
223
00:12:17,137 --> 00:12:18,970
It was the worst day of my life.
224
00:12:20,206 --> 00:12:21,539
[stephanie] I dropped to
my knees.
225
00:12:21,607 --> 00:12:23,474
You don't understand it...
226
00:12:24,277 --> 00:12:29,781
But you are trying to process it
and nothing's making sense.
227
00:12:32,485 --> 00:12:33,885
[narrator] coming up.
228
00:12:33,953 --> 00:12:37,088
Sam's car unlocks
chilling theories...
229
00:12:37,858 --> 00:12:40,592
There was a substance.
It turned out to be human blood.
230
00:12:40,660 --> 00:12:42,493
[narrator] but new questions
arise
231
00:12:42,562 --> 00:12:46,330
As detectives trace back to
his final hours.
232
00:12:46,666 --> 00:12:49,533
He was headed to pick up
some money.
233
00:12:49,602 --> 00:12:53,772
The biggest question was did sam
show up to pick up the money?
234
00:12:56,242 --> 00:12:59,144
[music]
235
00:13:03,615 --> 00:13:06,417
[music]
236
00:13:08,588 --> 00:13:11,322
[narrator] January 18, 2010.
237
00:13:12,692 --> 00:13:14,626
After five days missing,
238
00:13:14,694 --> 00:13:17,461
26-year-old samuel johnson, jr.
239
00:13:17,463 --> 00:13:20,531
Has just been identified as
the body
240
00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:22,934
Found in a downtown cemetery.
241
00:13:23,770 --> 00:13:25,436
[kimberly] sam's father,
sam's mother,
242
00:13:25,505 --> 00:13:29,140
They had been notified that
their son had been murdered.
243
00:13:30,143 --> 00:13:32,676
[narrator] investigators speak
with sam's father,
244
00:13:32,746 --> 00:13:33,945
Who informs them that
245
00:13:34,013 --> 00:13:38,316
Sam's 2006 dodge stratus
is also missing.
246
00:13:39,085 --> 00:13:40,652
We put the bolo out
on the vehicle,
247
00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:43,287
And it was discovered
the next day
248
00:13:43,856 --> 00:13:45,990
On the south side
of san antonio.
249
00:13:46,792 --> 00:13:49,327
Samuel's body was found on
the east side.
250
00:13:50,296 --> 00:13:54,698
The car was discovered about
40 miles away from the body.
251
00:13:55,635 --> 00:13:58,469
We and take it over to what
we call 9th street pound,
252
00:13:58,471 --> 00:14:00,804
And there it can be processed
properly.
253
00:14:00,806 --> 00:14:03,374
Csi didn't find any prints
in the car.
254
00:14:04,710 --> 00:14:05,777
Now, there should've been
prints.
255
00:14:05,845 --> 00:14:09,781
Obviously, somebody purposefully
wiped off all the prints.
256
00:14:11,818 --> 00:14:15,386
[narrator] the trunk, however,
is a different story.
257
00:14:16,122 --> 00:14:17,956
There was a substance that
appeared to be blood,
258
00:14:18,024 --> 00:14:19,757
So they went ahead and
swabbed it.
259
00:14:20,226 --> 00:14:22,460
And it turned out to be.
Yes, it was blood.
260
00:14:22,528 --> 00:14:23,795
Yes, it was human blood.
261
00:14:23,863 --> 00:14:26,096
We had a feeling that it was
sam's blood
262
00:14:26,098 --> 00:14:27,831
That was in the trunk
of the car.
263
00:14:28,268 --> 00:14:31,769
[narrator] it appears sam was
transported in his own vehicle
264
00:14:31,837 --> 00:14:33,637
After he was shot.
265
00:14:34,173 --> 00:14:36,273
[lisa] there's no bullet holes
in the car.
266
00:14:36,342 --> 00:14:38,442
So, he wasn't shot
in the vehicle.
267
00:14:38,511 --> 00:14:41,112
We're still
looking for our murder scene.
268
00:14:42,114 --> 00:14:44,415
But we have a theory about
sam's murder.
269
00:14:45,085 --> 00:14:46,484
This looks like a carjacking.
270
00:14:47,987 --> 00:14:49,953
That's just what it looked like
to us.
271
00:14:50,456 --> 00:14:52,790
People carjack
for all different reasons.
272
00:14:53,226 --> 00:14:55,393
They murdered him,
they dumped his body,
273
00:14:55,461 --> 00:14:56,460
They used his car,
274
00:14:56,462 --> 00:14:57,962
And when they were through
usin' the car,
275
00:14:58,031 --> 00:14:59,364
They ditched it on
the south side of town.
276
00:15:00,766 --> 00:15:03,334
[narrator] if sam was the victim
of a random carjacking,
277
00:15:03,403 --> 00:15:06,404
Detectives have their work
cut out for them.
278
00:15:10,209 --> 00:15:11,242
[lisa] so, the next day,
279
00:15:11,311 --> 00:15:13,477
The bexar county medical
examiner's office
280
00:15:13,546 --> 00:15:14,913
Performed the autopsy.
281
00:15:15,448 --> 00:15:18,983
He had had a gunshot wound to
his head,
282
00:15:19,051 --> 00:15:22,720
Two gunshots to forearms
and hands,
283
00:15:22,788 --> 00:15:25,556
And he had three in his torso;
284
00:15:25,625 --> 00:15:28,126
Most likely a .22 caliber.
285
00:15:28,194 --> 00:15:29,127
So, if you have, you know,
286
00:15:29,129 --> 00:15:31,095
A gunshot wound in your hand
and your forearm,
287
00:15:31,164 --> 00:15:32,997
Then his hand is up somehow,
288
00:15:33,066 --> 00:15:35,900
Knowing that, you know,
he is going to be shot.
289
00:15:35,968 --> 00:15:37,735
So, it's a defensive wound.
290
00:15:38,338 --> 00:15:40,271
He had a contusion on his head.
291
00:15:40,340 --> 00:15:42,306
The wound was made while he was
alive,
292
00:15:42,375 --> 00:15:45,543
Because it was swollen
and it was bleeding.
293
00:15:46,779 --> 00:15:48,947
That told us that he was hit
by something,
294
00:15:49,015 --> 00:15:51,349
But we didn't know what.
295
00:15:54,620 --> 00:15:57,288
[narrator] given the
violent nature of the crime,
296
00:15:57,290 --> 00:16:00,357
Investigators abandon
the carjacking theory,
297
00:16:00,426 --> 00:16:02,860
Believing sam had
a personal connection
298
00:16:02,928 --> 00:16:04,495
To his killer.
299
00:16:05,498 --> 00:16:08,800
They reach out to sam's family
for help piecing together
300
00:16:08,868 --> 00:16:10,702
Sam's final days.
301
00:16:11,837 --> 00:16:16,740
Sam, sr., sam's mother,
and sam's fiancée, erica,
302
00:16:16,742 --> 00:16:18,676
Came in for statements.
303
00:16:19,111 --> 00:16:20,844
[lisa] what we were looking
for is
304
00:16:20,914 --> 00:16:24,848
Who is the last person
who saw sam?
305
00:16:25,585 --> 00:16:28,319
[narrator] sam's father explains
that he and his wife
306
00:16:28,387 --> 00:16:30,187
Last heard from their son
307
00:16:30,256 --> 00:16:33,157
As sam was preparing to take
his ex, vanessa,
308
00:16:33,226 --> 00:16:35,259
And their son to the airport.
309
00:16:36,296 --> 00:16:38,696
He's tellin' me she's goin'
out of town
310
00:16:38,698 --> 00:16:40,664
To meridian, mississippi.
311
00:16:40,666 --> 00:16:41,465
Her and the baby.
312
00:16:41,534 --> 00:16:43,634
She's goin' to
visit some, some friends.
313
00:16:47,473 --> 00:16:49,873
[narrator] when they didn't hear
from him for a few days,
314
00:16:49,875 --> 00:16:53,210
They assumed he was busy
training for his new job
315
00:16:53,279 --> 00:16:54,545
As a bus driver.
316
00:16:55,815 --> 00:16:58,182
[samuel] we called him,
couldn't get ahold of him.
317
00:16:58,718 --> 00:17:01,552
So, my wife and I assume,
"well, he's working."
318
00:17:02,354 --> 00:17:05,022
[narrator] samuel, sr. Tells
investigators
319
00:17:05,090 --> 00:17:07,024
His wife reached out to vanessa
320
00:17:07,092 --> 00:17:09,226
Who said she hadn't heard
from sam
321
00:17:09,295 --> 00:17:10,894
Since he dropped them off.
322
00:17:11,631 --> 00:17:14,698
She asked vanessa, "hey,
do you know where sam is?"
323
00:17:14,767 --> 00:17:17,468
And while she was in
mississippi, you know, she said,
324
00:17:17,537 --> 00:17:19,704
"no, I have no idea where
he's at."
325
00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,707
I did go to sam's employment
to verify
326
00:17:23,776 --> 00:17:26,944
That sam did not show up for
work on Wednesday.
327
00:17:27,246 --> 00:17:29,513
He didn't show up for work,
and he didn't call in.
328
00:17:30,449 --> 00:17:32,984
[narrator] it appears that
vanessa may have been
329
00:17:33,052 --> 00:17:36,154
The last person to see sam, jr.
330
00:17:39,759 --> 00:17:42,393
But when investigators speak
to erica,
331
00:17:42,461 --> 00:17:44,829
They learn that might not
be the case.
332
00:17:45,731 --> 00:17:48,232
Erica reveals that she was
with sam
333
00:17:48,301 --> 00:17:51,202
After he dropped off vanessa
and his son.
334
00:17:52,071 --> 00:17:54,338
He had dropped her off
at the airport,
335
00:17:54,340 --> 00:17:56,340
And he came over to the house.
336
00:17:56,876 --> 00:17:59,944
[narrator] erica says vanessa
had finally agreed
337
00:18:00,012 --> 00:18:01,278
To leave sam's cut of
338
00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:03,280
The insurance money
from the fire
339
00:18:03,282 --> 00:18:06,416
At the home that she shared
with her sister, susan.
340
00:18:07,220 --> 00:18:09,286
He's like, "she left the money
with sue,
341
00:18:09,355 --> 00:18:11,755
So now I'm gonna go pick up
the money from sue."
342
00:18:11,824 --> 00:18:14,892
He was trying to, like,
rebuild his life.
343
00:18:15,361 --> 00:18:18,162
But they needed that support and
the money,
344
00:18:18,631 --> 00:18:21,699
Because everything he lost in
that house fire.
345
00:18:21,767 --> 00:18:23,500
He literally had nothing.
346
00:18:23,569 --> 00:18:26,570
[kimberly] and then after that
he was headed to work.
347
00:18:26,572 --> 00:18:29,440
She would see him the next day.
348
00:18:30,576 --> 00:18:32,844
[narrator] but erica says
she didn't see sam
349
00:18:32,912 --> 00:18:34,111
The next day...
350
00:18:34,180 --> 00:18:35,680
Or ever again.
351
00:18:37,116 --> 00:18:38,949
[erica] when I woke up
that morning,
352
00:18:39,819 --> 00:18:41,886
I grabbed my phone
and I looked down at it
353
00:18:41,954 --> 00:18:43,554
And I didn't have nothing.
354
00:18:44,690 --> 00:18:45,857
Like, nothin'.
355
00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:50,761
I then asked erica, "who do you
think would've done this?"
356
00:18:50,830 --> 00:18:53,797
She told me, "if anybody
murdered sam,
357
00:18:53,866 --> 00:18:55,333
It would've been vanessa."
358
00:18:59,171 --> 00:19:00,171
[lisa] when you look at
your suspects,
359
00:19:00,239 --> 00:19:04,075
You're looking at motives,
means, and opportunities.
360
00:19:04,444 --> 00:19:06,978
Well, vanessa didn't have
an opportunity.
361
00:19:07,046 --> 00:19:08,946
She had an alibi in mississippi.
362
00:19:10,015 --> 00:19:12,383
[narrator] erica pointing
a finger at sam's ex
363
00:19:12,451 --> 00:19:16,053
Raises another possibility for
investigators.
364
00:19:16,722 --> 00:19:20,023
You try to get into the heads of
these characters
365
00:19:20,093 --> 00:19:22,025
In your homicide investigation.
366
00:19:22,295 --> 00:19:24,561
Would erica be jealous
of vanessa
367
00:19:24,630 --> 00:19:27,298
Because vanessa has
a son with sam?
368
00:19:29,435 --> 00:19:31,969
[narrator] they question erica
on her whereabouts
369
00:19:32,037 --> 00:19:33,971
The night sam went missing.
370
00:19:34,039 --> 00:19:38,409
Erica had an alibi for the night
that he was last seen.
371
00:19:38,944 --> 00:19:43,114
She was at church choir practice
with the entire choir.
372
00:19:43,849 --> 00:19:45,917
[narrator] erica's
choir practice alibi
373
00:19:45,985 --> 00:19:49,620
Only covers a short period of
time that evening.
374
00:19:50,489 --> 00:19:55,259
The last he had been seen was at
6:45 on Wednesday at erica's.
375
00:19:55,728 --> 00:19:58,029
She was the last one to see
him at that point.
376
00:19:58,864 --> 00:20:03,033
So, we have a kind of
a definitive parameter of time
377
00:20:03,102 --> 00:20:05,302
That he could have disappeared.
378
00:20:05,805 --> 00:20:08,639
I'm not saying she wasn't still
in play,
379
00:20:08,708 --> 00:20:09,840
But at that point,
380
00:20:09,909 --> 00:20:13,877
There just wasn't anything there
to give credence that
381
00:20:13,879 --> 00:20:15,279
Erica was involved.
382
00:20:15,615 --> 00:20:18,415
Her emotions were appropriate.
She was crying.
383
00:20:18,884 --> 00:20:22,920
I didn't get any feelings
or vibes
384
00:20:22,989 --> 00:20:25,623
Or the hair standing
up on the back of my neck.
385
00:20:26,993 --> 00:20:29,960
[narrator] as investigators
wrap up erica's interview,
386
00:20:30,029 --> 00:20:32,963
They seize on a detail from
her statement.
387
00:20:33,699 --> 00:20:37,201
Erica claims sam left her house
the night he went missing
388
00:20:37,269 --> 00:20:39,903
To pick up money from
susan sutton
389
00:20:39,905 --> 00:20:42,306
At the home she shared
with vanessa.
390
00:20:42,708 --> 00:20:44,342
The biggest question was
391
00:20:44,410 --> 00:20:46,910
Did sam show up to pick up
the money?
392
00:20:46,912 --> 00:20:49,647
That was the question
that needed to be asked.
393
00:20:52,451 --> 00:20:53,784
[narrator] coming up.
394
00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:56,320
Vanessa shares her theories...
395
00:21:00,993 --> 00:21:03,194
[narrator] but a tip leaves
detectives
396
00:21:03,262 --> 00:21:05,229
With more questions.
397
00:21:05,231 --> 00:21:06,730
[adrienne] she tells me that
398
00:21:06,732 --> 00:21:08,866
They were supposed to meet
at a gas station.
399
00:21:09,302 --> 00:21:12,236
He ended up hitting his head on
a curb.
400
00:21:14,139 --> 00:21:17,441
[music]
401
00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:23,948
[music]
402
00:21:26,752 --> 00:21:29,486
[narrator] three days after
discovering the body
403
00:21:29,555 --> 00:21:32,223
Of shooting victim
sam johnson, jr.,
404
00:21:32,691 --> 00:21:36,227
Detectives are eager to questio
sam's ex vanessa
405
00:21:36,295 --> 00:21:37,928
And her sister, susan.
406
00:21:38,630 --> 00:21:40,097
But before they can,
407
00:21:40,166 --> 00:21:42,099
A tip comes in from a woman
408
00:21:42,168 --> 00:21:45,002
Claiming to have
information they need.
409
00:21:45,971 --> 00:21:48,739
She said, "look, I got a really
weird phone call
410
00:21:48,808 --> 00:21:51,775
From my daughter, adrienne,
who's living in mississippi.
411
00:21:52,245 --> 00:21:55,178
Adrienne said vanessa came for
a visit,
412
00:21:55,514 --> 00:21:58,115
And some pretty odd things
happened
413
00:21:58,183 --> 00:22:00,051
While vanessa was there."
414
00:22:00,820 --> 00:22:02,619
[adrienne] my mom talked to
this detective
415
00:22:02,688 --> 00:22:04,521
In san antonio
police department,
416
00:22:04,590 --> 00:22:06,691
And she said, "they wanna
ask you some questions."
417
00:22:08,327 --> 00:22:09,726
[lisa] that's when
detective bower
418
00:22:09,795 --> 00:22:13,030
Interviewed adrienne
over the phone.
419
00:22:13,866 --> 00:22:15,866
[narrator] adrienne says
she is the friend
420
00:22:15,935 --> 00:22:18,201
Vanessa was visiting in
mississippi
421
00:22:18,203 --> 00:22:19,970
When sam went missing.
422
00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:22,906
[adrienne] vanessa and I
were best friends.
423
00:22:23,543 --> 00:22:25,976
She showed up at my house to
surprise me.
424
00:22:25,978 --> 00:22:27,678
My birthday was on the 16th of
January,
425
00:22:27,747 --> 00:22:30,848
And she wanted to do something
nice for me.
426
00:22:31,450 --> 00:22:32,749
[narrator] during their visit,
427
00:22:32,818 --> 00:22:36,454
Vanessa took a phone call
that left her visibly shaken.
428
00:22:37,656 --> 00:22:39,623
[adrienne] when she got off
the phone with sam,
429
00:22:40,092 --> 00:22:43,827
She said that they had been
working on their relationship.
430
00:22:43,896 --> 00:22:47,098
But his attitude and the way
that he was acting
431
00:22:47,166 --> 00:22:48,999
Now that she was in mississippi,
432
00:22:49,502 --> 00:22:51,302
She just wasn't thrilled
about it.
433
00:22:51,971 --> 00:22:54,271
She told me that sam was
harassing her for money,
434
00:22:54,339 --> 00:22:56,340
And she was just tired of it.
435
00:23:00,546 --> 00:23:01,979
[narrator] a short time later,
436
00:23:02,047 --> 00:23:05,182
Adrienne says vanessa received
another phone call.
437
00:23:05,250 --> 00:23:09,220
This one from her sister's
boyfriend, bj brown.
438
00:23:09,922 --> 00:23:12,289
She called me back into
the bathroom and she said,
439
00:23:12,357 --> 00:23:16,660
"girl, I think that they,
they accidentally killed sam."
440
00:23:16,662 --> 00:23:18,329
And I said, "they?"
441
00:23:18,397 --> 00:23:20,531
And she said,
"yeah, bj and sue."
442
00:23:21,233 --> 00:23:25,202
[lisa] vanessa told adrienne
susan and her boyfriend,
443
00:23:25,270 --> 00:23:28,271
And her boyfriend's cousin,
lakisha,
444
00:23:28,341 --> 00:23:30,941
Had gotten into it with sam.
445
00:23:32,311 --> 00:23:34,978
[adrienne] she tells me that
they were supposed to meet
446
00:23:35,047 --> 00:23:36,113
At a gas station.
447
00:23:37,182 --> 00:23:40,551
He ended up hitting his head on
a curb.
448
00:23:41,286 --> 00:23:44,455
And they left, so they thought
that he was dead.
449
00:23:46,091 --> 00:23:48,759
I told her that she was being
overly dramatic.
450
00:23:48,828 --> 00:23:50,861
Because if they just beat him up
and left him,
451
00:23:50,930 --> 00:23:53,430
Then there's no way that they
could confirm
452
00:23:53,499 --> 00:23:54,831
That he was dead.
453
00:23:54,900 --> 00:23:56,834
I was just like, "girl, come on.
There's no way."
454
00:24:00,405 --> 00:24:03,173
[narrator] adrienne says
she tried to blow it off,
455
00:24:03,242 --> 00:24:06,410
But vanessa kept returning
to the topic.
456
00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:09,012
[adrienne] the next day,
457
00:24:09,014 --> 00:24:11,582
She kept bringing up
the sam situation.
458
00:24:12,184 --> 00:24:16,220
And I would look at her like,
you know, "girl, stop.
459
00:24:17,122 --> 00:24:19,390
You're being overdramatic
again."
460
00:24:20,492 --> 00:24:24,094
That Friday, vanessa and I
ended up having a falling out,
461
00:24:24,396 --> 00:24:26,196
And she left a few days early.
462
00:24:26,465 --> 00:24:28,566
After speaking with
detective bower,
463
00:24:29,101 --> 00:24:32,470
It very clear that this murder
wasn't an accident.
464
00:24:33,739 --> 00:24:35,606
I just felt betrayed by her.
465
00:24:40,045 --> 00:24:42,413
[kimberly] adrienne's
information is first-hand,
466
00:24:42,481 --> 00:24:44,414
Straight from vanessa,
467
00:24:44,416 --> 00:24:46,049
And we realized that
468
00:24:46,118 --> 00:24:49,487
This is probably the way that
it went down.
469
00:24:51,457 --> 00:24:53,623
[lisa] I called vanessa
the next day.
470
00:24:54,526 --> 00:24:57,761
I said, "hey, I need
background investigation on sam.
471
00:24:57,829 --> 00:24:59,897
Can you come in and talk to us?
472
00:24:59,965 --> 00:25:01,898
And by the way,
will you just go ahead
473
00:25:01,900 --> 00:25:03,467
And bring susan with ya?"
474
00:25:06,872 --> 00:25:08,572
[kimberly] vanessa and susan
475
00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:10,441
Came into the office to talk
to us.
476
00:25:10,709 --> 00:25:12,509
So, we split them up.
477
00:25:12,978 --> 00:25:16,713
I interviewed vanessa in
one interview room,
478
00:25:16,782 --> 00:25:19,683
And lisa took susan in another
interview room.
479
00:25:21,887 --> 00:25:24,655
[narrator] vanessa confirms
she was in mississippi
480
00:25:24,723 --> 00:25:26,323
When sam went missing,
481
00:25:26,391 --> 00:25:29,493
And returned the day
his body was found.
482
00:25:37,336 --> 00:25:40,337
[narrator] when asked about
her relationship with sam,
483
00:25:40,405 --> 00:25:42,005
Vanessa is eager to tell them
484
00:25:42,007 --> 00:25:45,075
That he was not getting back
together with erica.
485
00:26:02,461 --> 00:26:04,061
[narrator] vanessa says she was
486
00:26:04,129 --> 00:26:07,031
The only real love in
sam's life.
487
00:26:16,709 --> 00:26:18,108
[narrator] in a separate room,
488
00:26:18,177 --> 00:26:21,311
Detective miller presses
vanessa's sister susan
489
00:26:21,380 --> 00:26:22,746
For information.
490
00:26:23,716 --> 00:26:26,349
Susan was very calm.
491
00:26:26,419 --> 00:26:27,684
Very talkative.
492
00:26:28,053 --> 00:26:29,987
Seemed to be very, very helpful.
493
00:26:30,956 --> 00:26:33,190
[narrator] when asked about
the night sam disappeared,
494
00:26:33,525 --> 00:26:36,760
Susan admits he came by
the house to pick up money,
495
00:26:36,829 --> 00:26:39,997
But she says she knows nothing
about his death.
496
00:26:41,266 --> 00:26:43,700
[lisa] "sam came,
he knocked on the door.
497
00:26:43,769 --> 00:26:44,635
I gave him his money,
498
00:26:44,703 --> 00:26:46,704
He said he was gonna go to work,
he left.
499
00:26:46,772 --> 00:26:49,139
That's all I know about
that night."
500
00:26:49,808 --> 00:26:52,008
[narrator] investigators turn up
the heat,
501
00:26:52,077 --> 00:26:55,512
Hoping that a bluff will
lead to a confession.
502
00:26:56,349 --> 00:26:59,015
[karl] texas detectives are
allowed to lie.
503
00:26:59,084 --> 00:27:00,317
They can go in and say,
504
00:27:00,385 --> 00:27:02,352
"well, you know, your,
your friend over there
505
00:27:02,421 --> 00:27:03,486
Has already given you up.
506
00:27:03,556 --> 00:27:05,189
They've already told us
everything."
507
00:27:40,259 --> 00:27:42,926
[lisa] she wanted to get the
heck out of that interview room.
508
00:27:43,662 --> 00:27:44,795
And she did.
509
00:27:52,437 --> 00:27:55,305
[narrator] detectives return
to vanessa.
510
00:27:55,974 --> 00:27:57,708
[kimberly] we decide that's when
I'm gonna to tell her,
511
00:27:57,776 --> 00:27:58,809
"I've talked to adrienne.
512
00:27:58,877 --> 00:28:01,111
You don't know what
she's told me,
513
00:28:01,180 --> 00:28:04,481
So, I need you to tell me
what happened."
514
00:28:05,484 --> 00:28:08,752
When they confronted her,
vanessa's face fell.
515
00:28:10,155 --> 00:28:13,957
[narrator] vanessa shifts
the blame from erica to susan.
516
00:28:37,916 --> 00:28:41,385
Vanessa is telling us, "I lied.
It was my sister."
517
00:28:42,254 --> 00:28:45,722
So now, we have her shifting
gears and blaming susan.
518
00:28:46,124 --> 00:28:48,992
Alright, well, we have to
prove or disprove
519
00:28:49,061 --> 00:28:51,028
All of those stories.
520
00:28:54,333 --> 00:28:56,066
[narrator] during vanessa's
interview,
521
00:28:56,134 --> 00:28:58,268
Susan returns to
the police station
522
00:28:58,337 --> 00:29:01,171
With something to get
off her chest.
523
00:29:02,842 --> 00:29:04,207
[lisa] it was about ten minutes
later.
524
00:29:04,943 --> 00:29:07,210
The lady who works
in the lobby called me and said,
525
00:29:07,279 --> 00:29:08,879
"hey, there's a,
there's a woman here.
526
00:29:08,947 --> 00:29:10,380
She says she needs to talk
to you."
527
00:29:10,449 --> 00:29:12,515
I went back out in the lobby,
and it was susan.
528
00:29:12,585 --> 00:29:14,885
She said, "vanessa's trying to
blame this all on me.
529
00:29:14,953 --> 00:29:17,688
I need to tell you what really
happened."
530
00:29:20,125 --> 00:29:23,026
[music]
531
00:29:28,132 --> 00:29:30,400
[music]
532
00:29:32,338 --> 00:29:34,037
[narrator] san antonio
detectives
533
00:29:34,106 --> 00:29:36,306
Sit back down with susan sutton
534
00:29:36,375 --> 00:29:40,077
After she abruptly ended
her own interview.
535
00:29:52,057 --> 00:29:55,292
[narrator] susan reveals that
the fire in vanessa's home
536
00:29:55,360 --> 00:29:57,161
Was no accident.
537
00:30:11,410 --> 00:30:15,145
Vanessa had received almost
$300,000 for that.
538
00:30:16,315 --> 00:30:18,582
[narrator] the fire was ruled
an accident,
539
00:30:18,650 --> 00:30:20,150
And vanessa and sam moved in
540
00:30:20,219 --> 00:30:22,920
With susan
and her boyfriend, bj.
541
00:30:24,289 --> 00:30:28,024
She used that insurance money
from the fire to control them.
542
00:30:28,093 --> 00:30:31,228
She doled that money out based
on getting them to do
543
00:30:31,296 --> 00:30:32,796
What she wanted them to do.
544
00:30:36,035 --> 00:30:37,367
[narrator] within eight months,
545
00:30:37,436 --> 00:30:40,169
Vanessa had blown through
most of the cash.
546
00:30:40,706 --> 00:30:43,440
Susan says that's when
she formed a plan
547
00:30:43,508 --> 00:30:45,375
To replenish her funds.
548
00:30:46,311 --> 00:30:48,845
[lisa] there was a life
insurance policy on sam
549
00:30:49,248 --> 00:30:53,116
In the amount of three quarters
of a million dollars.
550
00:30:53,552 --> 00:30:55,818
[jay] he wanted to do something
to take care of his child.
551
00:30:55,888 --> 00:31:00,457
So, he took out this large
$750,000 life insurance policy
552
00:31:00,525 --> 00:31:02,859
And made the mistake
of telling vanessa,
553
00:31:02,928 --> 00:31:05,295
Because she was
the baby's mother.
554
00:31:16,341 --> 00:31:19,142
Susan had some
mental health issues
555
00:31:19,144 --> 00:31:22,245
That vanessa was willing to
kinda play up.
556
00:31:23,115 --> 00:31:26,182
[kimberly] vanessa had taken
away her medication.
557
00:31:26,251 --> 00:31:32,089
That way if susan went to trial
for sam's murder,
558
00:31:32,091 --> 00:31:34,558
That she could claim that she
wasn't on her meds
559
00:31:34,626 --> 00:31:36,759
And that that led to the murder.
560
00:31:37,562 --> 00:31:39,996
[narrator] susan says
she had doubts about the plan,
561
00:31:39,998 --> 00:31:42,965
But also felt she had no choice
562
00:31:43,602 --> 00:31:46,369
[lisa] susan and her boyfriend
were not working at this point.
563
00:31:46,438 --> 00:31:48,906
They were dependent on vanessa.
564
00:31:53,178 --> 00:31:56,379
Susan says, "I, I couldn't,
I couldn't do it.
565
00:31:56,448 --> 00:31:59,682
My boyfriend agreed to step up
and do it for me."
566
00:32:00,318 --> 00:32:02,585
[narrator] she claims
her boyfriend, bj brown,
567
00:32:02,654 --> 00:32:05,788
Recruited additional help
from his cousin,
568
00:32:05,858 --> 00:32:08,926
27-year-old lakisha brown.
569
00:32:10,128 --> 00:32:13,996
Lakisha agreed to cooperate and
commit this murder.
570
00:32:13,998 --> 00:32:15,899
And she said that she needed
money
571
00:32:15,967 --> 00:32:18,134
Because she was unemployed.
572
00:32:18,203 --> 00:32:19,803
Vanessa offered to buy them
all cars
573
00:32:19,871 --> 00:32:21,505
When she got
the insurance money.
574
00:32:26,344 --> 00:32:28,211
[narrator] susan tells
investigators
575
00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:30,847
Vanessa bought a last-minute
plane ticket
576
00:32:30,916 --> 00:32:32,215
To visit adrienne.
577
00:32:33,485 --> 00:32:35,919
[lisa] vanessa was adamant that
he had to be murdered
578
00:32:35,987 --> 00:32:37,954
While she had an alibi in
mississippi.
579
00:32:38,790 --> 00:32:41,291
[jay] after samuel had taken
vanessa cameron to the airport,
580
00:32:41,360 --> 00:32:45,462
He got a call from susan saying
she had some money for him.
581
00:32:46,198 --> 00:32:50,100
[lisa] susan said, "sam came,
he knocked on the door.
582
00:32:51,103 --> 00:32:54,104
I didn't want any part of it.
So, I ran back upstairs."
583
00:32:58,343 --> 00:33:01,177
[narrator] later, she claims bj
and lakisha
584
00:33:01,179 --> 00:33:03,680
Filled her in on what happened.
585
00:33:04,583 --> 00:33:06,249
[lisa] she said
they beat him up.
586
00:33:08,253 --> 00:33:11,288
They drove him out to a ranch...
587
00:33:12,657 --> 00:33:15,158
And it was there that
they actually killed him.
588
00:33:19,564 --> 00:33:22,532
[narrator] susan points
the finger at bj and lakisha,
589
00:33:22,601 --> 00:33:25,902
But detectives aren't taking
her word for it.
590
00:33:26,605 --> 00:33:28,271
[lisa] I said, "well, I'm gonna
need to talk to them.
591
00:33:28,340 --> 00:33:30,673
Well, call 'em and tell 'em
we need 'em to come in."
592
00:33:30,875 --> 00:33:32,309
And they did.
593
00:33:34,979 --> 00:33:36,613
[narrator] investigators need to
confirm
594
00:33:36,681 --> 00:33:39,149
If susan's allegations
have any merit.
595
00:33:39,884 --> 00:33:42,953
And when they sit down
with susan's boyfriend, bj,
596
00:33:43,021 --> 00:33:45,689
He has a different story
to tell.
597
00:34:03,041 --> 00:34:05,441
The boyfriend sat in
an interrogation room,
598
00:34:05,510 --> 00:34:07,377
Crying like a little baby.
599
00:34:13,552 --> 00:34:15,785
[narrator] lakisha is
another story.
600
00:34:16,521 --> 00:34:18,255
[kimberly] we confronted her
and said, you know,
601
00:34:18,257 --> 00:34:20,190
"susan's already told us
everything."
602
00:34:20,258 --> 00:34:23,593
At that point, lakisha was
willing to give the story.
603
00:34:24,729 --> 00:34:27,897
[narrator] the 27-year-old says
she met sam at the door
604
00:34:27,966 --> 00:34:31,168
When he arrived at susan's
to pick up his money.
605
00:34:42,547 --> 00:34:45,882
She said that susan's boyfriend
handcuffed sam,
606
00:34:46,485 --> 00:34:49,219
Tied rope around his feet.
607
00:34:50,021 --> 00:34:51,688
He was duct-taped over
the mouth.
608
00:34:52,791 --> 00:34:56,826
[narrator] given the variation
in lakisha and bj's statements,
609
00:34:56,895 --> 00:34:59,362
Investigators don't know
what to believe,
610
00:34:59,364 --> 00:35:02,232
And continue pressing for
details.
611
00:35:11,342 --> 00:35:13,476
She said they drove him out to
the country.
612
00:35:13,478 --> 00:35:15,078
They got him out of the car.
613
00:35:24,623 --> 00:35:25,922
[karl] sam, he had begged for
his life.
614
00:35:25,991 --> 00:35:27,858
And actually, he asked, "why?"
615
00:35:27,926 --> 00:35:29,726
The response was,
616
00:35:29,794 --> 00:35:31,394
"because this is what vanessa
wanted."
617
00:35:45,576 --> 00:35:48,578
[lisa] then they put his body
back in the trunk of the car.
618
00:35:48,646 --> 00:35:52,815
And parked that vehicle with
the key still in it,
619
00:35:52,884 --> 00:35:55,685
Abandoned on the east side of
san antonio.
620
00:35:57,355 --> 00:36:00,923
Lakisha said that on the way
back to san antonio,
621
00:36:01,392 --> 00:36:03,393
That she had dismantled the gun
622
00:36:03,461 --> 00:36:05,995
And thrown pieces out
on the way back.
623
00:36:06,765 --> 00:36:09,799
I said, "lakisha, take us out to
that ranch that
624
00:36:09,867 --> 00:36:11,902
You said sam was killed at."
625
00:36:12,637 --> 00:36:14,237
And she did.
626
00:36:17,809 --> 00:36:20,576
[kimberly] lakisha led us to
the shell casings.
627
00:36:21,079 --> 00:36:22,979
There was
nine shell casings there.
628
00:36:23,047 --> 00:36:26,683
There was a barbeque grill that
had some burnt clothing in it.
629
00:36:26,751 --> 00:36:31,188
There were a pair of
handcuffs and some rope.
630
00:36:32,290 --> 00:36:34,290
[narrator] with the puzzle
coming together,
631
00:36:34,292 --> 00:36:37,260
There is still one
lingering question.
632
00:36:37,729 --> 00:36:39,296
[kimberly] we asked lakisha,
633
00:36:39,364 --> 00:36:40,530
"why is the vehicle on
the south side?"
634
00:36:40,598 --> 00:36:43,934
She goes, "well, we don't know.
We didn't do that."
635
00:36:44,603 --> 00:36:47,069
[lisa] we have a theory
somebody came by,
636
00:36:47,071 --> 00:36:48,238
Saw the keys in the car,
637
00:36:48,306 --> 00:36:50,507
Started it up, and they took it
for a ride.
638
00:36:50,575 --> 00:36:52,675
When they found sam
in the trunk,
639
00:36:52,744 --> 00:36:55,011
It was they who took him to
the cemetery
640
00:36:55,079 --> 00:36:56,546
And dropped him off there.
641
00:36:57,182 --> 00:36:59,549
And then abandoned the car
later.
642
00:37:03,588 --> 00:37:05,588
[narrator] on January 21st,
643
00:37:05,657 --> 00:37:09,326
Investigators confront vanessa
with the evidence.
644
00:37:10,762 --> 00:37:16,499
She changed her story and said,
yes, she did have him killed,
645
00:37:16,501 --> 00:37:19,435
But she did it because he wanted
to be killed.
646
00:37:20,038 --> 00:37:22,639
He had taken out a large life
insurance policy
647
00:37:22,707 --> 00:37:25,441
And he wanted her and the baby
to have that.
648
00:37:25,844 --> 00:37:28,378
And he didn't have the nerve to
kill himself.
649
00:37:28,446 --> 00:37:31,280
[karl] she said it was really
sam's idea.
650
00:37:31,616 --> 00:37:36,720
That this was essentially a very
complicated assisted suicide.
651
00:37:37,989 --> 00:37:40,390
[narrator] investigators
aren't buying it.
652
00:37:40,792 --> 00:37:44,594
All four are arrested and
charged with murder.
653
00:37:46,465 --> 00:37:48,198
[kimberly] vanessa didn't
really seem
654
00:37:48,266 --> 00:37:50,400
That upset about being arrested.
655
00:37:50,468 --> 00:37:51,534
There were no tears.
656
00:37:51,536 --> 00:37:54,570
She didn't really show a lot of
emotion about it.
657
00:37:54,572 --> 00:37:55,839
She really didn't.
658
00:37:58,676 --> 00:37:59,942
[narrator] coming up.
659
00:38:00,212 --> 00:38:03,113
Vanessa throws
one last curveball.
660
00:38:03,648 --> 00:38:05,081
[jay] after the murder,
661
00:38:05,149 --> 00:38:07,316
She wanted to see if she could
get his last paycheck.
662
00:38:07,986 --> 00:38:10,787
[narrator] and the verdict
hangs in the balance.
663
00:38:11,890 --> 00:38:14,056
[jay] the jury was not out long
at all.
664
00:38:14,126 --> 00:38:18,962
That was worrisome for those of
us on the prosecution team.
665
00:38:23,167 --> 00:38:25,902
[music]
666
00:38:30,875 --> 00:38:32,809
[music]
667
00:38:35,547 --> 00:38:37,046
[narrator] san antonio
authorities
668
00:38:37,115 --> 00:38:40,250
Have four people in custody
for the shooting death
669
00:38:40,318 --> 00:38:42,018
Of sam johnson, jr.,
670
00:38:42,087 --> 00:38:45,989
Including his child's mother,
vanessa cameron.
671
00:38:48,593 --> 00:38:52,461
Investigators work with
prosecutors to build the case.
672
00:38:52,797 --> 00:38:54,797
When they speak to sam's
employer,
673
00:38:54,799 --> 00:38:58,534
They learn that vanessa tried t
cash in on sam's death
674
00:38:58,603 --> 00:39:01,871
Less than 24 hours
after he was found.
675
00:39:03,608 --> 00:39:07,877
[jay] after the murder, she went
to the bus headquarters,
676
00:39:07,946 --> 00:39:10,280
And she wanted to know how
she could collect
677
00:39:10,348 --> 00:39:11,881
The insurance policy.
678
00:39:11,950 --> 00:39:13,883
She wanted to see if she could
get his last paycheck.
679
00:39:13,952 --> 00:39:16,419
She claimed to be
his common law wife.
680
00:39:16,888 --> 00:39:21,458
I just think it was all part of
a cold, callous personality.
681
00:39:25,664 --> 00:39:27,797
[narrator] seven months after
the arrests,
682
00:39:27,866 --> 00:39:31,233
Sam's family celebrates
a bittersweet milestone
683
00:39:31,235 --> 00:39:34,904
When erica gives birth to
a healthy baby boy.
684
00:39:35,640 --> 00:39:38,140
His second son has never met
his dad.
685
00:39:38,142 --> 00:39:41,010
He's been nothing but other
people's memories.
686
00:39:45,016 --> 00:39:47,316
[narrator] prosecutors focus
their efforts on
687
00:39:47,385 --> 00:39:49,318
Holding vanessa accountable.
688
00:39:49,687 --> 00:39:53,890
In 2012, they add two names
to their witness list.
689
00:39:54,792 --> 00:39:57,293
[jay] the two co-defendants,
690
00:39:57,361 --> 00:40:00,196
Her sister susan and
lakisha brown,
691
00:40:00,264 --> 00:40:04,934
Both plead guilty and made deals
with the state.
692
00:40:05,603 --> 00:40:08,471
Which included their testifying
against vanessa.
693
00:40:10,808 --> 00:40:15,111
[narrator] in February 2012,
vanessa's trial begins.
694
00:40:15,814 --> 00:40:19,916
Prosecutors present vanessa
as a greedy mastermind.
695
00:40:21,019 --> 00:40:22,819
[lisa] the three things that
you're looking at:
696
00:40:22,887 --> 00:40:25,421
Motives, means,
and opportunities.
697
00:40:26,157 --> 00:40:28,357
Well, vanessa didn't have
an opportunity.
698
00:40:28,426 --> 00:40:29,592
How convenient.
699
00:40:29,594 --> 00:40:31,428
She was in mississippi that
weekend.
700
00:40:31,830 --> 00:40:33,229
Did she have a motive?
701
00:40:33,297 --> 00:40:35,698
I would say three quarters of
a million dollars
702
00:40:35,767 --> 00:40:37,233
Is a whole lot of motive.
703
00:40:37,769 --> 00:40:39,169
And did she have the means?
704
00:40:39,571 --> 00:40:41,170
She did not,
705
00:40:41,239 --> 00:40:42,705
But her sister
706
00:40:42,707 --> 00:40:46,175
And sister's boyfriend
and cousin certainly did.
707
00:40:47,045 --> 00:40:49,612
[karl] she very much is
a master manipulator.
708
00:40:49,681 --> 00:40:51,848
From manipulating people
around her
709
00:40:51,916 --> 00:40:53,383
To actually manipulating people
710
00:40:53,451 --> 00:40:56,085
To help her carry out
this murder
711
00:40:56,154 --> 00:40:57,754
And do her dirty work for her.
712
00:41:03,661 --> 00:41:04,994
[narrator] for her defense,
713
00:41:05,063 --> 00:41:07,797
Vanessa recants
her previous statements
714
00:41:07,866 --> 00:41:10,800
And tosses blame to
her co-conspirators.
715
00:41:11,870 --> 00:41:14,070
[jay] her defense was this alibi
she had set up
716
00:41:14,138 --> 00:41:16,538
That she was in mississippi
when it happened.
717
00:41:16,540 --> 00:41:18,174
It was all a shock to her.
718
00:41:18,843 --> 00:41:20,677
[narrator] after
a lengthy trial,
719
00:41:20,679 --> 00:41:23,213
It is left for the jury to
decide.
720
00:41:23,948 --> 00:41:26,215
[jay] the jury was not out long
at all.
721
00:41:26,484 --> 00:41:29,085
It was a complicated case,
and...
722
00:41:29,153 --> 00:41:34,457
That was worrisome for those of
us on the prosecution team.
723
00:41:35,359 --> 00:41:36,893
Vanessa's still confident that
724
00:41:36,961 --> 00:41:39,328
We have not tied her
to this murder.
725
00:41:39,998 --> 00:41:42,598
[erica] she's sitting there
lookin' in the mirror,
726
00:41:42,600 --> 00:41:44,100
Puttin' on her makeup.
727
00:41:44,168 --> 00:41:47,704
Because she knew that she was
gonna walk outta there.
728
00:41:48,840 --> 00:41:50,906
But that never happened.
729
00:41:50,975 --> 00:41:52,441
[karl] they convicted her.
730
00:41:53,177 --> 00:41:55,577
The judge who actually
oversaw the case
731
00:41:55,579 --> 00:41:57,213
Gave her 75 years.
732
00:42:01,786 --> 00:42:05,521
[narrator] in October 2013,
bj brown,
733
00:42:05,523 --> 00:42:08,457
The alleged triggerman,
goes to trial.
734
00:42:09,027 --> 00:42:12,161
[jay] there's a rule of law in
texas,
735
00:42:12,630 --> 00:42:15,798
If the primary evidence
against you
736
00:42:15,867 --> 00:42:18,334
Is accomplice witness testimony,
737
00:42:18,936 --> 00:42:22,071
There has to be some evidence
other than that testimony.
738
00:42:23,007 --> 00:42:26,843
There was no evidence.
Nobody ever found the gun again.
739
00:42:28,046 --> 00:42:29,979
[narrator] without
corroborating evidence,
740
00:42:30,048 --> 00:42:32,782
The case against him flounders.
741
00:42:33,417 --> 00:42:34,950
[karl] the individual who
742
00:42:35,019 --> 00:42:37,020
I think actually pulled
the trigger was acquitted.
743
00:42:38,323 --> 00:42:40,289
That is by far somethin' that
744
00:42:40,358 --> 00:42:42,559
I still can't totally wrap
my brain around.
745
00:42:45,763 --> 00:42:48,164
[narrator] but even
complete justice
746
00:42:48,232 --> 00:42:52,302
Wouldn't have filled the hole
sam left behind in his family.
747
00:42:53,171 --> 00:42:56,606
He was there when
you needed him,
748
00:42:56,674 --> 00:42:57,974
He was always there.
749
00:42:58,042 --> 00:42:59,942
It was, "mom, what do you need?"
750
00:43:00,578 --> 00:43:04,213
I miss my baby.
Miss him so much.
751
00:43:06,884 --> 00:43:08,551
[erica] the love is there.
752
00:43:09,387 --> 00:43:13,590
I feel sam, like,
through my son.
753
00:43:14,959 --> 00:43:17,660
Through reminders of who I am
754
00:43:17,728 --> 00:43:21,764
And what I've grown from
because of him.
755
00:43:22,967 --> 00:43:24,601
And I'm, I'm grateful for that.
756
00:43:24,669 --> 00:43:28,671
[music]
757
00:43:29,273 --> 00:43:35,144
[music]