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[female narrator] a powerful
family rocked by tragedy.
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Her father is a prominent judge.
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She found her husband
unresponsive on the couch.
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There was a great deal of blood
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[narrator] investigators pry
into a guarded reputation.
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The family name was synonymous
with law and order.
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It made the front page
of the papers.
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[narrator]
in a tightly knit community,
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Secrets rarely stay hidden.
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She was staying out late
into the night partying.
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He did everything he could
to pursue a relationship.
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She continued to turn him down.
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[narrator] the truth reveals
a money hungry killer
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Consumed by greed.
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She was one of those gimme,
gimme, gimme people.
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She wanted the money,
she wanted that house.
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She could get a man to do
just about anything for her.
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He was a puppy dog after her.
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She promised him money
and marriage.
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[joel] desperate people
do desperate things.
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She was a desperate person.
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[music]
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[narrator]
the town of st. Charles
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Sits on the banks
of the missouri river,
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Just 20 miles from st. Louis.
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[kirk] back in the '90s,
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The young professionals
kind of flocked to this area.
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Everything was new.
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St. Charles at that time
was a, uh...
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Small community that was
up and coming.
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A lot of everybody knew
everybody type of thing.
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[narrator] October 12th, 1991.
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A 911 call interrupts
a leisurely Saturday
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In the middle-class community.
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[nicholas] sometime around noon,
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The police received
a 911 call by lisa suter,
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Who had gone home and
she found her husband,
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Alfred, also known as fredy,
unresponsive on the couch.
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It was rather calm
and collected.
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There was no hysterics.
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Uh, there was no screaming
into the phone.
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[nicholas]
she could've been in shock.
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That happens quite a bit.
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You could have all kinds
of reactions from people
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That walk in
on something like this.
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[nicholas]
the police showed up along with
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St. Charles fire protection
district ems.
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They kept her outside.
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[john] first responders arrived.
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They went over to alfred
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And they, they found
that he was in fact deceased.
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There was nothing they could do.
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It was obvious
that he had been shot.
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[nicholas]
there was a great deal of blood
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What looked like a wound
to the back of the head,
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And an exit wound
in the front of the face.
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He was shot down from an angle,
from behind him and downwards.
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They find a shell casing from
a 9-millimeter on the couch.
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There doesn't seem to be
a sign of a struggle.
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The house is not ransacked.
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There aren't, necessarily,
valuables missing.
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Fredy was an awesome,
friendly,
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Sparkling person.
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It didn't make sense
who would do that.
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[narrator]
born on June 1st, 1955,
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In grindelwald, switzerland,
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Alfred "fredy" suter
spent his childhood surrounded
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By the breathtaking alps.
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It's very pretty,
high mountains and, uh, chalets.
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Lots of snow in the winter,
nice in the summer.
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[narrator] by his mid-twenties,
alfred was a gifted engineer
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At the international machinery
manufacturer, hydromat.
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[eric]
alfred was really talented
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At the career that he chose.
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He was really well respected.
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[narrator] when alfred was 26,
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He was offered a life-changing
opportunity.
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In 1981, alfred
and his mentor and friend,
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Bruno schmitter, relocate
to the united states
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To start a branch of hydromat.
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They were really building things
from the ground up
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When they began working here
in the st. Louis area.
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[nicholas] he came over
for the american dream.
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He wanted to get ahead.
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He was sort of a little bit
of an adventurer
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And he wanted to get out
and enjoy life.
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[narrator] fredy bought a home
in st. Charles
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And found a group of friends
among his fellow ex-pats.
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He would go up to the bar
and he had his friends
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That would show up, too,
and play pool.
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[narrator]
after 6 years in missouri,
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Fredy was out one evening
with friends
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When the unexpected happened.
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We were sitting at the bar
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And the bartender
brought fredy a beer.
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And the bartender said
the gal across the bar
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Ordered the, the beer for him.
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He went over there
and thanked her,
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And that's the way he met lisa.
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[narrator]
12 years fredy's junior,
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Lisa was the youngest
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Of donald and carleen dalton's
six children.
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Lisa dalton grew up
in a pretty prominent family
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In the st. Charles area
with a life of privilege,
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With a silver spoon
in her mouth.
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[john]
her father is judge dalton.
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He's a prominent judge
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In the st. Charles county
court systems.
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[eric]
for more than 40 years,
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He had never lost an election
for public office.
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The dalton name was synonymous
with law and order.
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For lisa, that meant a little
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Bit of pressure to live up
to the family name.
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She needed to meet
certain expectations.
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Lisa graduated from high school
in 1985.
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And after that,
she attended college, where
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She seemed to be an average
to above-average student.
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[narrator]
while out with her friends,
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Lisa spotted fredy
across the bar.
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When they met, lisa was twenty
and alfred was thirty-two.
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There was a significant
difference there.
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She was pretty charming.
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Fredy saw something in her.
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[narrator] a whirlwind romance
started on the spot.
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[eric] in 1987,
less than a year after meeting,
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Alfred and lisa were married,
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And lisa moved in with alfred
at their home in st. Charles.
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[inge] he was just overjoyed.
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And they were in love
with each other.
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She was just a lovely,
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Young lady that
he was just all excited about.
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[narrator]
the dalton family welcomed
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The brainy swiss engineer
with open arms.
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Lisa's family thought that lisa
had finally hit the jackpot.
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He was a lead engineer
at his company,
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So he was able
to provide for her.
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[narrator] lisa eventually left
college to join the workforce.
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Lisa was gonna become
a police officer,
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And she applied for
the st. Charles county,
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Missouri, police academy.
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[narrator] lisa's career
in law enforcement
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Would prove to be short lived.
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Lisa was hired by
the hazelwood police department.
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There, she went through
her field training phase.
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I don't believe she made it off
field training.
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She had hurt her ankle.
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That was the end of her
law enforcement career.
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[narrator] in 1991, lisa
embarked on a new venture.
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[eric] lisa began l.A. Designs,
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Which was a wholesale
fragrance business.
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She had investors, and then she
eventually brought in employees.
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[becky]
the perfumes were well known.
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They were knock-offs,
but they were well known.
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I applied for a job
and I was pretty much
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Hired on the spot
to sell perfume.
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When everybody would start,
you know,
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Gathered their box
full of perfume
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And get ready to go out,
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And it was like,
we're going to do this.
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We're going to sell a ton of it
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We were told that there's
a few top sellers that,
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They'd go out
and they'd come back
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And their boxes would be empty.
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And everybody's like, "oh, well,
if they can do it, I can do it."
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[narrator]
as lisa and alfred embark
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On their new business venture,
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They seem to have
a bright future ahead.
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But after only
four years together,
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All of that comes
crashing down
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When lisa finds
her husband murdered.
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As lisa waits outside
the couple's home,
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St. Charles homicide
investigators
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Get their first look
at alfred's body.
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[john]
as we were examining blood,
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There were three droplets
that led from the couch
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Towards the basement door.
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[narrator]
investigators consider
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Whether an intruder broke in an
snuck up on alfred from behind.
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[john] we went down the stairs
into the basement
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And we found a basement window
that had been broken.
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The glass was laying
outside the house
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Rather than inside the house.
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00:10:04,470 --> 00:10:08,272
Whoever broke the window did so
from the inside.
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It told us that,
possibly, it was staged.
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[john] if a stranger's
gonna knock on the door
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And force their way in,
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They're probably gonna do the
shooting right then and there.
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They're not going to let you
sit down on the couch
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To watch tv and then shoot you
from behind.
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Someone was there
who fredy trusted and knew.
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00:10:35,301 --> 00:10:38,603
Alfred knew the person
who killed him.
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We just had to figure out
who that was.
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[narrator] coming up...
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Could an innocent crush have
turned deadly?
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He, apparently, was totally
infatuated with lisa.
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[narrator] and the investigation
takes a high-profile turn.
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Her dad, judge donald dalton,
showed up at the crime scene.
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00:11:02,662 --> 00:11:05,863
[music]
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[narrator] st. Charles county
sheriff's deputies
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00:11:17,444 --> 00:11:21,846
Are at the home of lisa
and alfred suter.
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00:11:21,848 --> 00:11:23,881
Alfred lies dead on the couch
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00:11:23,883 --> 00:11:27,218
From a gunshot wound
to the head.
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00:11:27,287 --> 00:11:30,588
When investigators step outside
to speak with lisa,
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They find she is
no longer alone.
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00:11:34,560 --> 00:11:37,195
Her dad, judge donald dalton,
showed up at the crime scene
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00:11:37,263 --> 00:11:40,965
And asked to be let
into the crime scene.
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00:11:41,034 --> 00:11:43,901
Most of the officers
on the scene
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00:11:43,970 --> 00:11:47,939
Would have known
who judge dalton was.
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00:11:48,007 --> 00:11:49,507
They still told him
that he could not enter,
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At which point
he respected that decision.
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00:11:55,315 --> 00:11:57,315
[narrator] with the powerful
judge's presence
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00:11:57,383 --> 00:12:02,153
Looming over the case,
investigators make a decision.
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00:12:02,222 --> 00:12:05,122
[john] the st. Charles county
sheriff's department
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00:12:05,191 --> 00:12:07,158
Called for an activation
of the major case squad
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00:12:07,227 --> 00:12:09,060
To keep politics out of it.
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00:12:10,363 --> 00:12:12,029
[eric]
that meant that police officers
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00:12:12,098 --> 00:12:14,164
From many local
police departments,
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00:12:14,166 --> 00:12:16,434
Some miles away from the crime,
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00:12:16,502 --> 00:12:20,104
Were called and converged
to investigate.
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00:12:20,173 --> 00:12:24,175
The first thing we heard
was that a judge's daughter
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00:12:24,244 --> 00:12:26,310
Found her husband murdered,
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00:12:26,379 --> 00:12:30,448
So everything had to be done
absolutely perfect in this case.
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00:12:34,854 --> 00:12:37,155
[narrator] the same day alfred's
body is found,
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00:12:37,223 --> 00:12:40,291
The major case squad takes over
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00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:42,293
As their first order
of business,
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They do a thorough sweep
of the suter home.
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00:12:46,232 --> 00:12:50,968
[john] alfred was on the couch
facing the television,
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00:12:51,037 --> 00:12:52,637
Kind of slumped over.
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00:12:52,705 --> 00:12:56,374
The kitchen area
was directly behind him.
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00:12:56,442 --> 00:12:58,709
They find some weapons
on the kitchen counter,
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00:12:58,711 --> 00:13:00,311
Along with a cleaning kit.
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00:13:00,380 --> 00:13:01,613
The assumption here
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00:13:01,681 --> 00:13:05,884
Is that fredy had his guns out
and was cleaning them.
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00:13:05,952 --> 00:13:08,319
The possibility that
there had been a gun there
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00:13:08,388 --> 00:13:13,424
That the murderer could have
grabbed and used was an option.
236
00:13:13,493 --> 00:13:16,093
[narrator] however,
investigators discover
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00:13:16,162 --> 00:13:19,997
A significant problem
with their first theory.
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00:13:20,066 --> 00:13:23,101
Police found a 9-millimeter
shell casing.
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00:13:23,169 --> 00:13:24,935
The firearms that were out
on the table
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00:13:25,005 --> 00:13:28,272
Didn't match the bullet casings.
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00:13:28,341 --> 00:13:32,009
[john] none of them had been
used as the murder weapon.
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00:13:32,078 --> 00:13:35,012
We had to identify
if there were any guns owned
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00:13:35,081 --> 00:13:38,549
By either lisa or alfred
that were missing.
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00:13:43,156 --> 00:13:46,357
[narrator] when investigators
step outside to ask lisa,
245
00:13:46,426 --> 00:13:51,562
They find she has been joined b
another powerful family member.
246
00:13:51,631 --> 00:13:55,066
Her brother, who was a prominent
attorney, had showed up.
247
00:13:55,134 --> 00:13:56,968
[narrator]
attorney gene dalton announces
248
00:13:57,036 --> 00:14:00,972
He is acting
as his sister's counsel.
249
00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:06,143
He allows lisa to answer
questions about the guns.
250
00:14:06,212 --> 00:14:10,548
Lisa told the police about
all the weapons that she owned.
251
00:14:10,616 --> 00:14:14,185
She had a beretta 9-millimeter
252
00:14:14,253 --> 00:14:16,688
That was not found
in the kitchen.
253
00:14:16,756 --> 00:14:19,123
They escorted her upstairs
254
00:14:19,125 --> 00:14:21,325
And looked for that
9-millimeter beretta.
255
00:14:21,394 --> 00:14:23,828
It was nowhere to be found.
256
00:14:23,896 --> 00:14:26,197
The 9-millimeter beretta is
missing.
257
00:14:30,636 --> 00:14:32,804
[narrator] lisa and her brother
head to the station
258
00:14:32,872 --> 00:14:35,906
To answer more questions.
259
00:14:35,908 --> 00:14:38,242
There, lisa tells investigators
260
00:14:38,311 --> 00:14:41,979
She didn't spend
the previous night at home.
261
00:14:53,559 --> 00:14:57,695
Lisa said she was with a friend
who actually works for lisa
262
00:14:57,763 --> 00:15:00,464
At lisa's perfume company.
263
00:15:00,533 --> 00:15:03,367
They apparently went
to a celebration.
264
00:15:03,369 --> 00:15:06,604
And when they returned
the next day,
265
00:15:06,672 --> 00:15:11,242
She came home and discovered he
husband on the couch like that.
266
00:15:24,290 --> 00:15:26,057
She tells the police
that her and alfred
267
00:15:26,125 --> 00:15:27,324
Have a happy marriage.
268
00:15:27,393 --> 00:15:28,860
They have a normal home life.
269
00:15:28,928 --> 00:15:31,495
She had nothing to do
with what happened to alfred.
270
00:15:40,740 --> 00:15:44,008
She wasn't allowed to say much
because her brother,
271
00:15:44,077 --> 00:15:46,243
Who is a skilled attorney,
was with her.
272
00:15:50,116 --> 00:15:51,515
[narrator] after the interview,
273
00:15:51,584 --> 00:15:55,086
Investigators follow up
on her alibi.
274
00:15:55,154 --> 00:15:57,455
[nicholas] her friend confirmed
that lisa was with her
275
00:15:57,523 --> 00:16:00,458
And spent the night with her
over at her home.
276
00:16:04,497 --> 00:16:06,264
[narrator]
with lisa in the clear,
277
00:16:06,332 --> 00:16:11,069
Investigators look to alfred's
closest and oldest friend.
278
00:16:11,071 --> 00:16:13,104
[eric]
they contacted bruno schmitter,
279
00:16:13,172 --> 00:16:16,173
Who was alfred's friend
and mentor.
280
00:16:16,242 --> 00:16:18,976
They interviewed him and he was,
of course,
281
00:16:18,978 --> 00:16:23,180
Shocked and sad
by alfred's death.
282
00:16:23,249 --> 00:16:26,517
[narrator] like lisa,
he says alfred had no enemies,
283
00:16:26,519 --> 00:16:30,321
But he points out that the sute
marriage wasn't perfect.
284
00:16:32,758 --> 00:16:35,993
[nicholas] fredy was truly
in love with lisa.
285
00:16:36,061 --> 00:16:38,396
And, at first, he was happy.
286
00:16:38,464 --> 00:16:41,065
But the longer
the relationship went,
287
00:16:41,134 --> 00:16:43,901
She became a different person,
basically.
288
00:16:43,969 --> 00:16:48,940
She also liked her freedom,
so she started going out.
289
00:16:49,008 --> 00:16:51,575
It got much worse
when lisa decided
290
00:16:51,577 --> 00:16:54,145
She wanted to become
a police officer.
291
00:16:54,213 --> 00:16:55,679
Lisa brought her work home
292
00:16:55,748 --> 00:16:59,083
With her by bringing
fellow classmates home
293
00:16:59,152 --> 00:17:02,720
With her to party, drink,
hang out,
294
00:17:02,788 --> 00:17:05,823
Do things up until
very late hours of the night,
295
00:17:05,891 --> 00:17:09,627
When fredy had to get up the
next morning and go to work.
296
00:17:09,695 --> 00:17:12,896
[kirk] I talked to him a little
bit about his relationship.
297
00:17:12,966 --> 00:17:15,199
You could tell
there was problems.
298
00:17:18,571 --> 00:17:20,971
[narrator] certain that
lisa's attorney brother
299
00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:23,441
Will deflect that line
of questioning,
300
00:17:23,509 --> 00:17:28,646
Investigators instead contact
her instructors at the academy.
301
00:17:28,714 --> 00:17:31,081
She went to the academy.
302
00:17:31,083 --> 00:17:34,918
Mediocre grades,
but she did graduate.
303
00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:38,355
She was a probationary officer
for three months.
304
00:17:38,424 --> 00:17:39,790
[john]
the field training officer
305
00:17:39,859 --> 00:17:41,325
Was quite open and honest
306
00:17:41,327 --> 00:17:45,929
And said that her evaluation
process was poor,
307
00:17:45,931 --> 00:17:47,698
Barely acceptable.
308
00:17:47,700 --> 00:17:52,136
She had a personality
that exemplified
309
00:17:52,205 --> 00:17:56,207
She expected others to do
the work for her.
310
00:17:56,275 --> 00:17:58,576
They were gonna continue
her probation
311
00:17:58,644 --> 00:18:01,679
Because she simply was
not cutting the mustard.
312
00:18:01,747 --> 00:18:05,549
So, three days after
she was notified about
313
00:18:05,618 --> 00:18:07,685
Being put on further probation,
314
00:18:07,753 --> 00:18:12,490
Lisa had an ankle injury
and she simply resigned.
315
00:18:16,095 --> 00:18:18,196
[narrator]
he points them to debbie young,
316
00:18:18,264 --> 00:18:20,932
Lisa's closest friend
at the academy.
317
00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:24,802
Debbie told police that she
hadn't seen lisa in a while,
318
00:18:24,870 --> 00:18:28,072
But that they were close while
they were at the police academy
319
00:18:28,140 --> 00:18:32,376
[john] I asked her
what her opinion of lisa was.
320
00:18:32,378 --> 00:18:35,913
Debbie's answer was lisa
was the kind of person
321
00:18:35,981 --> 00:18:40,818
Who could get a man to do
just about anything for her.
322
00:18:40,886 --> 00:18:43,521
Debbie had told me
about a gentleman
323
00:18:43,589 --> 00:18:46,624
By the name of richard
and he, apparently,
324
00:18:46,692 --> 00:18:50,794
Was totally infatuated
with lisa.
325
00:18:50,863 --> 00:18:53,431
He would bring her roses,
presents,
326
00:18:53,499 --> 00:18:56,500
Offered to do homework for her.
327
00:18:56,502 --> 00:18:59,002
He did everything he could
to pursue a relationship
328
00:18:59,072 --> 00:19:00,638
With lisa suter.
329
00:19:04,810 --> 00:19:07,611
[narrator] at first,
lisa enjoyed the attention.
330
00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:12,416
But eventually, she told richar
to knock it off.
331
00:19:12,418 --> 00:19:14,051
[eric] richard didn't really
take that news very well
332
00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:15,619
And continued to pursue lisa,
333
00:19:15,688 --> 00:19:18,889
Sending her notes
and small gifts.
334
00:19:18,958 --> 00:19:20,891
[john] he was trying to get her
to date him,
335
00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:23,961
Even though she continued
to turn him down.
336
00:19:24,030 --> 00:19:25,296
Debbie described richard
337
00:19:25,364 --> 00:19:28,165
As somebody who was maybe
a little unstable
338
00:19:28,233 --> 00:19:30,301
And would do strange things
339
00:19:30,369 --> 00:19:33,203
Like boast about getting
into fights over women.
340
00:19:33,205 --> 00:19:35,573
[omar] he was wanting
to get with lisa.
341
00:19:35,641 --> 00:19:38,075
If he would get rid
of the husband,
342
00:19:38,143 --> 00:19:41,445
He has free reign to,
to be with her.
343
00:19:42,548 --> 00:19:45,383
[nicholas] richard had raised
some red flags,
344
00:19:45,385 --> 00:19:48,419
And we had to get
those red flags answered.
345
00:19:52,391 --> 00:19:53,925
Police bring richard in
for questioning
346
00:19:53,993 --> 00:19:57,795
And he denies any involvement
in alfred's murder.
347
00:19:57,863 --> 00:20:01,231
He said he had never had
any sort of issue with alfred
348
00:20:01,233 --> 00:20:03,534
And that he didn't know him
that well.
349
00:20:03,603 --> 00:20:06,570
He seemed totally open
and honest,
350
00:20:06,639 --> 00:20:09,340
Willing to help us
in any manner, shape, or form.
351
00:20:12,778 --> 00:20:14,845
[narrator] richard says
the romance between
352
00:20:14,914 --> 00:20:19,417
Himself and lisa
wasn't a one-way street.
353
00:20:19,419 --> 00:20:21,018
[john] lisa went out with him.
354
00:20:21,086 --> 00:20:22,720
He said that they had dated.
355
00:20:22,788 --> 00:20:25,122
[nicholas]
lisa wanted to cut it off.
356
00:20:25,190 --> 00:20:29,560
He wanted her back
and she said no.
357
00:20:29,629 --> 00:20:31,528
[john] they had a relationship
358
00:20:31,597 --> 00:20:34,231
That he tried to get to go
further ,
359
00:20:34,299 --> 00:20:35,232
But then after the academy,
360
00:20:35,300 --> 00:20:38,235
There had been no further
contact.
361
00:20:38,303 --> 00:20:40,037
[nicholas]
richard was a police officer.
362
00:20:40,105 --> 00:20:44,875
He really didn't have
a motive to kill anybody,
363
00:20:44,944 --> 00:20:48,546
Especially fredy suter.
364
00:20:48,614 --> 00:20:50,881
He also had an airtight alibi
365
00:20:50,950 --> 00:20:53,550
That he was nowhere
near the crime scene.
366
00:20:55,554 --> 00:21:00,091
We were able to verify
that alibi and rule him out.
367
00:21:00,159 --> 00:21:01,725
He was no longer a suspect.
368
00:21:05,698 --> 00:21:07,865
[narrator]
richard may be a dead end,
369
00:21:07,933 --> 00:21:10,834
But investigators see
that the suter marriage
370
00:21:10,836 --> 00:21:15,005
Was not as picture perfect
as lisa let on.
371
00:21:15,074 --> 00:21:16,774
There's obvious evidence
372
00:21:16,842 --> 00:21:19,477
That that relationship
is not healthy.
373
00:21:19,479 --> 00:21:21,578
Those conflicting statements
374
00:21:21,647 --> 00:21:24,548
Just throw a bunch
of red flags up.
375
00:21:24,617 --> 00:21:26,516
Lisa is not being
totally honest.
376
00:21:26,586 --> 00:21:28,151
There's something
not quite right here,
377
00:21:28,221 --> 00:21:30,021
We need to investigate further.
378
00:21:32,058 --> 00:21:33,623
[narrator] coming up...
379
00:21:33,693 --> 00:21:37,661
Alfred's co-workers disclose
chilling allegations...
380
00:21:37,730 --> 00:21:40,564
All of us pretty much
pointed the finger at her
381
00:21:40,633 --> 00:21:42,533
Right off the bat.
382
00:21:42,601 --> 00:21:44,334
Alfred had woken up one night
383
00:21:44,336 --> 00:21:46,737
And she was pointing a gun
at his head.
384
00:21:49,075 --> 00:21:52,176
[music]
385
00:22:01,654 --> 00:22:04,287
[narrator] the night after
engineer alfred suter
386
00:22:04,357 --> 00:22:06,724
Is gunned down on his couch,
387
00:22:06,792 --> 00:22:11,262
Authorities begin paying visits
to his co-workers.
388
00:22:11,330 --> 00:22:13,597
Police decided to ask
389
00:22:13,599 --> 00:22:16,300
As many people as they could
about alfred,
390
00:22:16,368 --> 00:22:18,369
His relationship with lisa.
391
00:22:18,437 --> 00:22:20,171
We were all just flabbergasted.
392
00:22:20,239 --> 00:22:24,575
I mean, we were just like,
nobody could believe it.
393
00:22:24,643 --> 00:22:26,677
[narrator]
after the shock wears off,
394
00:22:26,745 --> 00:22:30,013
The employees are eager
to assist.
395
00:22:30,082 --> 00:22:33,617
All of us pretty much
pointed the finger at lisa
396
00:22:33,686 --> 00:22:35,686
Right off the bat, you know?
397
00:22:35,755 --> 00:22:37,722
No hesitation.
398
00:22:39,158 --> 00:22:43,928
But, we just felt who else would
do something like that to fredy?
399
00:22:45,965 --> 00:22:47,631
[narrator]
they report that the marriage
400
00:22:47,633 --> 00:22:50,700
Had been troubled
from the start.
401
00:22:50,770 --> 00:22:54,671
[kirk] fredy got married
to lisa pretty quick.
402
00:22:54,740 --> 00:22:57,340
It went well for first
couple of years,
403
00:22:57,342 --> 00:22:59,943
And then they separated.
404
00:22:59,945 --> 00:23:01,511
[joel]
she went home to her parents,
405
00:23:01,513 --> 00:23:02,913
And they said,
406
00:23:02,982 --> 00:23:06,116
"you can't come home.
You're supposed to be married.
407
00:23:06,185 --> 00:23:07,784
You go back to fredy."
408
00:23:07,786 --> 00:23:10,053
So, here she comes with her tai
between her legs.
409
00:23:10,122 --> 00:23:14,525
Then a year later, uh,
fredy's back with her.
410
00:23:17,763 --> 00:23:20,364
[narrator] soon after,
lisa started her business:
411
00:23:20,432 --> 00:23:22,966
L.A. Design perfume.
412
00:23:22,968 --> 00:23:28,539
It became another sore spot in
the already tense relationship.
413
00:23:28,607 --> 00:23:31,808
Fredy was the financial backing
for l.A. Design.
414
00:23:31,877 --> 00:23:33,243
I don't know the exact amount,
415
00:23:33,312 --> 00:23:36,547
But quite a bit of money to lis
for this company,
416
00:23:36,615 --> 00:23:39,950
And he was seeing
nothing in return.
417
00:23:40,019 --> 00:23:44,287
Fredy was continually feeding
her money to keep it afloat.
418
00:23:44,289 --> 00:23:49,059
She would keep going back
to him, begging for help.
419
00:23:49,128 --> 00:23:54,932
[narrator] his co-workers report
that alfred was finally done.
420
00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:58,702
It was obvious
that lisa and alfred
421
00:23:58,704 --> 00:24:01,338
Were not sleeping
in the same bedroom.
422
00:24:01,407 --> 00:24:04,641
He had been complaining about
how the marriage was over.
423
00:24:04,710 --> 00:24:08,245
He was trying to get her
to leave him and divorce him.
424
00:24:08,314 --> 00:24:11,715
She was refusing to move out
of the house because,
425
00:24:11,717 --> 00:24:14,718
If she had moved out,
she wouldn't get the house.
426
00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:16,053
[nicholas]
she was gonna stay there.
427
00:24:16,121 --> 00:24:20,290
She wanted fredy's money
and she wanted fredy's house.
428
00:24:20,292 --> 00:24:24,395
She was one of those gimme,
gimme, gimme people.
429
00:24:24,463 --> 00:24:29,400
[narrator] lisa dug in her heels
and turned to intimidation.
430
00:24:29,468 --> 00:24:31,835
One co-worker said
that alfred told him
431
00:24:31,904 --> 00:24:33,870
That he had woken up one night
432
00:24:33,939 --> 00:24:36,907
And lisa was pointing a gun
at his head.
433
00:24:36,976 --> 00:24:41,111
Lisa had said, "see what I could
do to you any time I want?"
434
00:24:43,583 --> 00:24:47,350
It wasn't a healthy relationship
in any way,
435
00:24:47,420 --> 00:24:50,654
And you could tell fredy
was afraid.
436
00:24:54,760 --> 00:24:57,094
[narrator] investigators look
into the rumored
437
00:24:57,162 --> 00:24:59,062
Financial troubles.
438
00:24:59,131 --> 00:25:01,899
[john] I did a little background
on l.A. Design
439
00:25:01,967 --> 00:25:04,768
And found it to be kind
of along the lines
440
00:25:04,770 --> 00:25:08,672
Of a pyramid-style scheme
or business.
441
00:25:08,740 --> 00:25:14,411
She would buy cases
of imitation cologne
442
00:25:14,479 --> 00:25:16,913
From a company in another state,
443
00:25:16,982 --> 00:25:19,049
And then she was allowed
to sell them
444
00:25:19,118 --> 00:25:22,920
At whatever price she thought
was appropriate.
445
00:25:22,988 --> 00:25:26,623
She got these employees
to sell them
446
00:25:26,692 --> 00:25:29,460
For more than what
they would have to pay lisa for,
447
00:25:29,528 --> 00:25:32,629
Which was more than what lisa
paid the original company for.
448
00:25:36,768 --> 00:25:39,236
[narrator] hoping to gain
additional insight,
449
00:25:39,304 --> 00:25:41,672
Investigators visit l.A. Design
450
00:25:41,740 --> 00:25:45,208
And speak with several
employees.
451
00:25:45,277 --> 00:25:48,411
[john] we interviewed
various co-workers.
452
00:25:48,481 --> 00:25:50,280
I learned that
they were losing money
453
00:25:50,349 --> 00:25:53,583
And probably going to have
to close up shop.
454
00:25:53,653 --> 00:25:55,085
Several of the employees observe
455
00:25:55,154 --> 00:25:57,321
That lisa is
a little flirtatious
456
00:25:57,389 --> 00:25:59,189
With some of the men
in the business.
457
00:25:59,258 --> 00:26:02,526
Some people described her
as promiscuous,
458
00:26:02,594 --> 00:26:05,162
And that lisa could be
manipulative with men
459
00:26:05,230 --> 00:26:06,797
To get what she wanted.
460
00:26:08,934 --> 00:26:11,868
Lisa even bragged about
how she was getting in shape,
461
00:26:11,937 --> 00:26:15,605
And she had a girlfriend
who she became friends with
462
00:26:15,675 --> 00:26:17,774
And would go out with
and pick up guys with.
463
00:26:19,011 --> 00:26:20,343
[narrator]
investigators are informed
464
00:26:20,345 --> 00:26:24,581
That lisa was especially fond
of a certain employee,
465
00:26:24,650 --> 00:26:28,451
23-year-old danny johnson.
466
00:26:28,521 --> 00:26:31,722
[becky] there were rumors
going around that lisa and dann
467
00:26:31,790 --> 00:26:33,656
Were seeing each other.
468
00:26:33,658 --> 00:26:36,427
Did I notice it? Maybe.
469
00:26:36,495 --> 00:26:39,196
They seemed real friendly,
470
00:26:39,198 --> 00:26:41,131
But was it overtly?
471
00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:43,133
No.
472
00:26:43,202 --> 00:26:45,502
[narrator]
while lisa seemed to like danny
473
00:26:45,571 --> 00:26:49,206
He wasn't popular with everyone
474
00:26:49,208 --> 00:26:52,008
[john] most of 'em
just got a bad feeling
475
00:26:52,077 --> 00:26:55,679
About who he was
and how he handled himself.
476
00:26:55,747 --> 00:26:57,014
[becky] he was off.
477
00:26:57,082 --> 00:26:59,316
Danny would have been
more submissive.
478
00:26:59,385 --> 00:27:01,718
He was a puppy dog after lisa.
479
00:27:01,720 --> 00:27:05,355
He just didn't seem
like everybody else.
480
00:27:05,357 --> 00:27:06,790
He wasn't the norm.
481
00:27:11,263 --> 00:27:12,929
[narrator]
neither lisa nor danny
482
00:27:12,998 --> 00:27:16,367
Are present at the time
of questioning.
483
00:27:16,435 --> 00:27:18,435
Armed with this new information
484
00:27:18,504 --> 00:27:24,441
Investigators leave and refocus
on their new potential suspect.
485
00:27:24,509 --> 00:27:27,144
Danny told a lot of people
that he was a police officer
486
00:27:27,212 --> 00:27:29,279
From salt lake city.
487
00:27:29,281 --> 00:27:31,715
Nothing could be further
from the truth.
488
00:27:31,783 --> 00:27:33,617
We found that danny did have
a criminal record
489
00:27:33,685 --> 00:27:35,652
In another state.
490
00:27:35,721 --> 00:27:40,023
I believe it was assault 3rd.
491
00:27:40,092 --> 00:27:43,226
Knowing what we just found out
about danny johnson
492
00:27:43,295 --> 00:27:46,263
Is we need to bring him in and
talk to him a little bit deeper.
493
00:27:46,265 --> 00:27:49,667
We'd had enough information
to bring him in for questioning
494
00:27:54,339 --> 00:27:56,072
[eric]
when police first talk to danny
495
00:27:56,141 --> 00:27:58,575
He says he doesn't know
that much about lisa
496
00:27:58,643 --> 00:27:59,677
And alfred's relationships,
497
00:27:59,745 --> 00:28:03,647
That they didn't really talk
about that very much at work.
498
00:28:03,715 --> 00:28:06,216
But, over time,
his story changes.
499
00:28:07,653 --> 00:28:09,586
[narrator]
danny slowly starts to admit
500
00:28:09,655 --> 00:28:13,190
That he was friends with alfred
501
00:28:13,258 --> 00:28:15,392
[john] she had brought him
to meet alfred,
502
00:28:15,460 --> 00:28:18,228
And the two of them
hit it off over sports,
503
00:28:18,297 --> 00:28:21,531
And that he was often over ther
without lisa being around.
504
00:28:25,571 --> 00:28:26,703
[narrator] police aren't buying
505
00:28:26,772 --> 00:28:29,306
That danny was closest
with alfred.
506
00:28:29,374 --> 00:28:32,342
They continue to press.
507
00:28:32,411 --> 00:28:33,843
He broke down and said,
508
00:28:33,913 --> 00:28:37,781
"yes, her and I have been seeing
each other."
509
00:28:37,849 --> 00:28:38,849
He was under the impression
510
00:28:38,917 --> 00:28:42,786
That lisa was going
to leave alfred and marry him.
511
00:28:47,059 --> 00:28:50,393
[narrator] investigators know
that lisa didn't fire the shot
512
00:28:50,395 --> 00:28:52,128
That killed alfred.
513
00:28:52,197 --> 00:28:56,132
Now, they wonder if danny did.
514
00:28:56,134 --> 00:28:59,502
So, we then treated him
not just as a co-worker
515
00:28:59,571 --> 00:29:01,204
Or a friend of the family,
516
00:29:01,273 --> 00:29:04,474
But as a suspect,
and started doing a deeper dive
517
00:29:04,543 --> 00:29:06,609
Into who he was
and where he may have been
518
00:29:06,679 --> 00:29:08,145
On the night of the homicide.
519
00:29:11,716 --> 00:29:12,982
[narrator] coming up...
520
00:29:13,052 --> 00:29:16,086
A witness connects the dots.
521
00:29:16,155 --> 00:29:21,024
She had seen danny cleaning
a semiautomatic pistol.
522
00:29:21,093 --> 00:29:24,595
[narrator] and a cold-hearted
scheme is exposed.
523
00:29:24,663 --> 00:29:27,364
The plan was to make this look
like a home invasion.
524
00:29:30,235 --> 00:29:33,570
[music]
525
00:29:42,881 --> 00:29:46,316
[narrator] two days into fredy
suter's murder investigation,
526
00:29:46,385 --> 00:29:48,719
The greater st. Louis
major case squad
527
00:29:48,787 --> 00:29:51,621
Has just learned
that fredy's wife, lisa,
528
00:29:51,690 --> 00:29:54,324
Was dating her employee.
529
00:29:54,393 --> 00:29:59,329
Lisa was having an affair
with danny johnson.
530
00:29:59,398 --> 00:30:02,132
He and lisa had been
having relations
531
00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:04,234
And he had been a friend
of alfred's.
532
00:30:08,573 --> 00:30:11,108
[narrator] with danny denying
any involvement
533
00:30:11,176 --> 00:30:14,611
And lisa protected
by her high-powered family,
534
00:30:14,679 --> 00:30:18,014
Investigators look for proof
to back up the rumors
535
00:30:18,083 --> 00:30:22,485
That lisa was in dire
financial straits.
536
00:30:22,487 --> 00:30:24,755
One of the things we found
was that lisa
537
00:30:24,823 --> 00:30:27,223
Had major debt problems.
538
00:30:27,292 --> 00:30:29,092
She could barely pay
her own bills.
539
00:30:29,161 --> 00:30:31,228
If it wasn't for alfred's money,
540
00:30:31,296 --> 00:30:34,297
She wouldn't be able to keep
the business up and running.
541
00:30:34,366 --> 00:30:36,266
[nicholas]
the police found out that lisa
542
00:30:36,335 --> 00:30:40,136
Was well over a hundred
thousand dollars in debt.
543
00:30:40,205 --> 00:30:42,572
[narrator] investigators learn
that fredy's death
544
00:30:42,641 --> 00:30:44,942
Could give lisa an out.
545
00:30:45,877 --> 00:30:48,579
Alfred had recently gotten
546
00:30:48,647 --> 00:30:52,649
A life insurance policy
for a hundred thousand dollars,
547
00:30:52,717 --> 00:30:56,152
And lisa had contacted
that life insurance company
548
00:30:56,221 --> 00:30:58,721
Shortly after, trying
to increase it
549
00:30:58,723 --> 00:31:00,523
To two hundred
thousand dollars,
550
00:31:00,592 --> 00:31:05,728
Unsuccessful at the time because
she needed alfred's signature.
551
00:31:05,730 --> 00:31:09,065
[nicholas] lisa saw this money
as a way to escape.
552
00:31:09,134 --> 00:31:13,270
She could move on with her
lifestyle the way she wanted.
553
00:31:16,775 --> 00:31:20,543
[narrator] lisa's alibi proves
she didn't pull the trigger.
554
00:31:20,612 --> 00:31:25,281
But her lover, danny johnson,
isn't in the clear.
555
00:31:25,350 --> 00:31:27,985
Danny's address
led us to a house
556
00:31:28,053 --> 00:31:30,888
That this woman
and her children lived at,
557
00:31:30,956 --> 00:31:33,156
And her name was dorothy.
558
00:31:33,158 --> 00:31:34,992
Dorothy was danny's landlord,
559
00:31:35,060 --> 00:31:37,527
But she would be willing
to talk to us.
560
00:31:37,596 --> 00:31:40,597
Dorothy told me
that danny was a good kid.
561
00:31:40,665 --> 00:31:44,100
She felt that he was
kind of a son.
562
00:31:44,169 --> 00:31:47,137
She had helped
other young adults
563
00:31:47,205 --> 00:31:49,840
By giving them a place to stay,
564
00:31:49,908 --> 00:31:53,076
Providing them with a room,
565
00:31:53,145 --> 00:31:55,412
Until they can get
on their feet again.
566
00:31:55,480 --> 00:32:00,316
And danny johnson was one of the
people that she had helped out.
567
00:32:00,385 --> 00:32:02,719
[nicholas] she knew a little bit
about what was going on.
568
00:32:02,787 --> 00:32:07,057
He told her about how lisa
was his girlfriend.
569
00:32:07,125 --> 00:32:09,426
Lisa had promised him money
and marriage.
570
00:32:14,232 --> 00:32:17,133
[narrator] dorothy discloses
that danny recently made
571
00:32:17,202 --> 00:32:20,604
Troubling comments
about his lover.
572
00:32:20,672 --> 00:32:24,474
Dorothy tells the police
that danny said that lisa
573
00:32:24,543 --> 00:32:29,378
Had been looking for a hitman
on her husband, alfred.
574
00:32:29,380 --> 00:32:30,913
[john] danny had made a comment
575
00:32:30,983 --> 00:32:33,083
Just a few days
before the homicide
576
00:32:33,151 --> 00:32:37,587
That he and lisa had trouble
finding a hitman,
577
00:32:37,656 --> 00:32:40,357
So he would have to do
the murder himself.
578
00:32:42,527 --> 00:32:46,629
A lot of times, when people
hear statements like that made,
579
00:32:46,698 --> 00:32:49,532
They think a person's
just ranting and raving,
580
00:32:49,601 --> 00:32:52,169
And they don't mean to follow
through with those things.
581
00:32:52,171 --> 00:32:54,371
So, a lot of times,
people will not call police.
582
00:32:57,242 --> 00:32:59,709
[narrator] dorothy didn't
take the comments seriously,
583
00:32:59,778 --> 00:33:02,345
Nor did she think much
about what she saw
584
00:33:02,414 --> 00:33:05,381
On the night of October 11th.
585
00:33:05,450 --> 00:33:09,452
[john] she also told me
the night of the homicide,
586
00:33:09,454 --> 00:33:14,958
She had seen danny sitting
in the living room of her house
587
00:33:15,026 --> 00:33:17,561
Cleaning a semiautomatic pistol
588
00:33:21,900 --> 00:33:23,433
[narrator] on October 14th,
589
00:33:23,502 --> 00:33:27,971
Investigators confront danny
with dorothy's statement.
590
00:33:28,039 --> 00:33:29,239
[john]
by the time they had made it
591
00:33:29,307 --> 00:33:31,407
Down to the jennings
police department,
592
00:33:31,476 --> 00:33:35,445
He was in custody as a suspect,
the lead suspect.
593
00:33:38,250 --> 00:33:40,116
[narrator]
faced with dorothy's claims,
594
00:33:40,118 --> 00:33:43,920
Danny still denies involvement.
595
00:33:43,988 --> 00:33:46,589
They ask him to take
a polygraph test.
596
00:33:46,658 --> 00:33:48,725
[john] he passed
most of the questions.
597
00:33:48,793 --> 00:33:51,027
However, when it came
to specifics about
598
00:33:51,096 --> 00:33:53,630
"were you involved
in alfred's homicide?"
599
00:33:53,698 --> 00:33:55,865
And "do you know anything
about the gun used
600
00:33:55,934 --> 00:33:58,835
In alfred's homicide?",
601
00:33:58,904 --> 00:34:01,038
He failed those questions.
602
00:34:04,576 --> 00:34:08,511
[narrator] authorities confront
danny with the results.
603
00:34:08,580 --> 00:34:11,548
[john] look, you know,
you failed the polygraph
604
00:34:11,616 --> 00:34:14,517
And it's kind of
in your best interest
605
00:34:14,586 --> 00:34:17,720
To tell us what you know
because we know
606
00:34:17,789 --> 00:34:19,656
You were involved somehow.
607
00:34:19,724 --> 00:34:21,391
Talk to us.
608
00:34:21,460 --> 00:34:24,727
[eric] danny knew that
he was boxed into a corner.
609
00:34:24,729 --> 00:34:27,230
Danny said that lisa
had told him that,
610
00:34:27,299 --> 00:34:29,465
If they were truly
to be together
611
00:34:29,534 --> 00:34:31,101
And start a life together,
612
00:34:31,169 --> 00:34:33,436
That alfred would
have to be killed.
613
00:34:36,675 --> 00:34:39,176
The plan that lisa had was
to make this look like
614
00:34:39,244 --> 00:34:41,244
That this was a home invasion,
615
00:34:41,313 --> 00:34:43,479
Like an intruder broke
into the home,
616
00:34:43,548 --> 00:34:46,749
Saw firearms at the table
and grabbed it,
617
00:34:46,818 --> 00:34:49,786
And was able to kill alfred
at the scene.
618
00:34:49,854 --> 00:34:53,256
[john] she told danny
how to stage the house,
619
00:34:53,325 --> 00:34:55,659
Including breaking
a basement window
620
00:34:55,727 --> 00:34:58,795
To look as if it was
a burglary gone bad,
621
00:34:58,863 --> 00:35:00,763
Where the gun would be,
622
00:35:00,765 --> 00:35:03,767
And what to do
with the gun afterwards.
623
00:35:03,835 --> 00:35:06,302
Lisa convinced danny
that he should be the one
624
00:35:06,371 --> 00:35:08,605
To kill alfred.
625
00:35:08,673 --> 00:35:11,441
As soon as this was all settled,
they would get married.
626
00:35:13,878 --> 00:35:15,512
[narrator]
danny tells investigators
627
00:35:15,580 --> 00:35:20,317
He attempted to put the plan
into motion on October 10th.
628
00:35:20,319 --> 00:35:22,819
[nicholas] he said
he also chickened out.
629
00:35:22,887 --> 00:35:24,321
He couldn't go through with it.
630
00:35:24,323 --> 00:35:27,657
Lisa suter was
absolutely furious
631
00:35:27,726 --> 00:35:32,262
And sent him back
to her home the next night.
632
00:35:37,302 --> 00:35:38,968
[eric] danny,
on the night of October 11th,
633
00:35:39,037 --> 00:35:40,603
Went over to the house.
634
00:35:40,672 --> 00:35:41,704
Alfred let him in.
635
00:35:41,773 --> 00:35:46,242
They hung out together and,
under danny's jacket,
636
00:35:46,244 --> 00:35:49,279
He had brought a gun with him.
637
00:35:49,347 --> 00:35:52,182
Lisa had given danny
her 9-millimeter gun
638
00:35:52,250 --> 00:35:54,550
To use as the murder weapon.
639
00:35:54,619 --> 00:35:58,154
They were talking and drinking,
watching television.
640
00:35:58,223 --> 00:36:00,157
Fredy fell asleep.
641
00:36:00,225 --> 00:36:01,991
When fredy was asleep,
642
00:36:02,060 --> 00:36:06,296
He went up behind fredy and blew
the back of his head off.
643
00:36:10,635 --> 00:36:12,501
Once he actually
pulled the trigger,
644
00:36:12,571 --> 00:36:15,638
He kind of panicked,
and he didn't leave the house
645
00:36:15,640 --> 00:36:19,242
In as big a mess as lisa
had originally told him to,
646
00:36:19,310 --> 00:36:22,011
To make it look like
a burglar had been there.
647
00:36:22,080 --> 00:36:26,650
He haphazardly set up what
was supposed to be a break-in.
648
00:36:28,853 --> 00:36:31,854
This was a horrible,
heinous murder,
649
00:36:31,923 --> 00:36:34,991
But it was done
in a very amateurish way.
650
00:36:35,059 --> 00:36:37,460
Nothing was done correctly.
651
00:36:37,529 --> 00:36:40,663
Danny johnson said
that he went over the bridge
652
00:36:40,732 --> 00:36:45,034
Crossing the missouri river and
threw the gun into the river.
653
00:36:45,103 --> 00:36:48,971
At that point in his interview,
danny was placed under arrest.
654
00:36:49,041 --> 00:36:51,273
[john] he even took us out
to that location
655
00:36:51,275 --> 00:36:52,608
Where he tossed it in,
656
00:36:52,677 --> 00:36:55,812
And we sent divers down
to try to locate it,
657
00:36:55,880 --> 00:36:57,347
But that was to no avail.
658
00:37:01,452 --> 00:37:03,552
[narrator] on October 15th,
659
00:37:03,622 --> 00:37:07,590
Authorities prepare to arrest
the prominent missouri woman
660
00:37:07,592 --> 00:37:10,360
They believe is the mastermind.
661
00:37:10,428 --> 00:37:13,496
All roads led back to lisa,
662
00:37:13,498 --> 00:37:18,634
Especially after the statement
given by danny johnson.
663
00:37:18,703 --> 00:37:24,140
So, lisa was arrested
by turning herself in.
664
00:37:24,208 --> 00:37:27,043
All that was said was,
basically,
665
00:37:27,111 --> 00:37:28,778
Her husband was murdered.
666
00:37:28,847 --> 00:37:32,314
She found him
and knew nothing else.
667
00:37:32,316 --> 00:37:33,649
[eric] lisa does post bond.
668
00:37:33,718 --> 00:37:36,486
It's a half
a million dollars' bond.
669
00:37:36,554 --> 00:37:39,088
[nicholas] she did not have
to spend time in jail.
670
00:37:39,090 --> 00:37:44,027
Her parents' house was used as
collateral on a property bond,
671
00:37:44,095 --> 00:37:48,564
Which allowed lisa freedom
to leave after being arrested.
672
00:37:52,070 --> 00:37:56,473
[narrator] lisa's arrest
is big news in st. Charles.
673
00:37:56,541 --> 00:37:58,074
[joel] the presiding circuit
judge's daughter
674
00:37:58,143 --> 00:38:00,410
Is accused of brutally murderin
her husband?
675
00:38:00,478 --> 00:38:04,113
Yes, it made the front page
of the papers.
676
00:38:04,182 --> 00:38:07,817
[narrator] despite the stain
of her alleged crimes,
677
00:38:07,885 --> 00:38:13,122
Prosecutors learn lisa's family
might be their biggest obstacle
678
00:38:13,191 --> 00:38:15,592
[joel] she had a father who was
a presiding circuit judge.
679
00:38:15,660 --> 00:38:18,260
No judge in st. Charles county
or anywhere close by
680
00:38:18,262 --> 00:38:19,529
Was going to touch that case.
681
00:38:23,101 --> 00:38:25,768
[music]
682
00:38:35,146 --> 00:38:38,414
[narrator] missouri authorities
have arrested lisa suter
683
00:38:38,483 --> 00:38:40,450
And her lover, danny johnson,
684
00:38:40,518 --> 00:38:44,520
For the murder of her husband,
alfred.
685
00:38:44,589 --> 00:38:48,791
The high-profile case struggles
to find a home.
686
00:38:48,860 --> 00:38:52,228
There are four circuit judges
in st. Charles county,
687
00:38:52,296 --> 00:38:54,063
And they all excused themselves
688
00:38:54,132 --> 00:38:56,366
Because they knew
lisa suter's father,
689
00:38:56,434 --> 00:38:58,000
Judge dalton.
690
00:38:58,069 --> 00:39:00,837
They went to boone county,
and that is columbia, missouri,
691
00:39:00,905 --> 00:39:02,172
Right in the middle
of the state.
692
00:39:02,240 --> 00:39:03,907
That is where the case
was tried.
693
00:39:07,145 --> 00:39:10,412
[narrator]
on February 22nd, 1993,
694
00:39:10,414 --> 00:39:13,549
Lisa's trial begins
in boone county,
695
00:39:13,618 --> 00:39:17,920
Two and a half hours away from
where the crime took place.
696
00:39:17,922 --> 00:39:20,456
Lisa pleads not guilty
and maintains
697
00:39:20,525 --> 00:39:24,394
That she had nothing
to do with alfred's murder.
698
00:39:24,462 --> 00:39:26,562
[narrator]
her lover and co-conspirator
699
00:39:26,631 --> 00:39:29,566
Stands by his confession.
700
00:39:29,634 --> 00:39:32,401
[nicholas] danny johnson
took a plea deal.
701
00:39:32,403 --> 00:39:35,171
He was offered life
without parole
702
00:39:35,239 --> 00:39:38,808
If he would testify against
lisa suter, which he did.
703
00:39:41,246 --> 00:39:44,647
[eric] the prosecution uses
danny as their star witness,
704
00:39:44,716 --> 00:39:46,649
And he turns against lisa,
705
00:39:46,718 --> 00:39:49,018
Telling the jury
that it was her idea
706
00:39:49,087 --> 00:39:52,855
To kill alfred to collect
the life insurance policy.
707
00:39:52,857 --> 00:39:57,126
Danny also described lisa
as manipulative, greedy,
708
00:39:57,195 --> 00:40:00,730
And somebody who would do
anything to get what she wanted
709
00:40:00,798 --> 00:40:03,399
[nicholas] danny johnson
told the whole story
710
00:40:03,468 --> 00:40:05,535
Exactly the way
it really happened.
711
00:40:05,603 --> 00:40:08,805
He was promised many things
and got nothing.
712
00:40:08,873 --> 00:40:13,075
She wanted everything
that a single woman could have,
713
00:40:13,144 --> 00:40:15,478
But without fredy.
714
00:40:15,547 --> 00:40:17,880
She saw the only way
to get all these things
715
00:40:17,882 --> 00:40:22,852
Was by fredy leaving the scene
with a bullet through his head.
716
00:40:27,559 --> 00:40:30,527
[narrator] next,
prosecutors drop a bombshell.
717
00:40:30,529 --> 00:40:34,664
They allege lisa made previous
attempts to have fredy killed.
718
00:40:35,900 --> 00:40:37,600
[joel] the state brought in
two other men
719
00:40:37,668 --> 00:40:41,037
Who she had solicited
to do the murder.
720
00:40:41,105 --> 00:40:44,207
They were very clear on
the stand when they testified.
721
00:40:44,275 --> 00:40:46,709
She asked them
to kill her husband.
722
00:40:46,778 --> 00:40:49,512
[nicholas] she had left
a trail of crumbs here
723
00:40:49,581 --> 00:40:54,184
That show that she was going
to get this done
724
00:40:54,252 --> 00:40:56,085
Any way she could've.
725
00:40:59,257 --> 00:41:02,725
[narrator]
lisa's defense team takes aim.
726
00:41:02,727 --> 00:41:04,026
The tactic,
the only thing you could do
727
00:41:04,095 --> 00:41:06,696
Is try and discredit
the witnesses against her.
728
00:41:06,764 --> 00:41:09,065
We cross-examined the two guys
729
00:41:09,133 --> 00:41:10,666
And make them out
to be fortune hunters.
730
00:41:10,735 --> 00:41:14,203
They just wanted
the 15 minutes of fame.
731
00:41:14,272 --> 00:41:16,372
If we can show that
they are not credible
732
00:41:16,441 --> 00:41:19,409
Or parts of their story
don't make sense,
733
00:41:19,477 --> 00:41:21,143
If there's no credible evidence,
734
00:41:21,145 --> 00:41:22,945
Then you can't find
somebody guilty.
735
00:41:23,982 --> 00:41:26,882
[narrator]
lisa never takes the stand.
736
00:41:26,951 --> 00:41:30,920
Her attorneys present her as
a lost and lonely young woman.
737
00:41:32,323 --> 00:41:33,656
[joel] she wanted out.
738
00:41:33,725 --> 00:41:35,691
She tried to divorce the guy.
739
00:41:35,760 --> 00:41:37,427
Her parents wouldn't let her.
740
00:41:37,495 --> 00:41:41,931
She's stuck in a marriage
that she doesn't want to be in.
741
00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:43,933
She's in her early twenties.
742
00:41:44,002 --> 00:41:46,168
And what's she going to do?
743
00:41:46,170 --> 00:41:48,104
She developed the plan
to free herself.
744
00:41:52,910 --> 00:41:56,045
[narrator] they allege this led
to lisa's affair with danny
745
00:41:56,114 --> 00:42:00,382
And the deadly consequences
that followed.
746
00:42:00,384 --> 00:42:06,055
She denied everything and blamed
danny doing this all on his own.
747
00:42:06,124 --> 00:42:08,157
[joel] desperate people
do desperate things.
748
00:42:08,159 --> 00:42:12,194
She was a desperate person, more
desperate than anybody realized.
749
00:42:15,500 --> 00:42:18,567
[narrator]
on February 25th, 1993,
750
00:42:18,637 --> 00:42:21,770
The jury reaches its verdict.
751
00:42:21,772 --> 00:42:24,974
Lisa was found guilty of murder
in the first degree.
752
00:42:27,445 --> 00:42:29,646
Lisa was sentenced
to life in prison
753
00:42:29,714 --> 00:42:31,648
Without the possibility
of parole.
754
00:42:33,117 --> 00:42:38,154
I was glad that there is justice
because she was the instigator.
755
00:42:38,156 --> 00:42:42,224
Even though she had people
to actually do the murder,
756
00:42:42,226 --> 00:42:43,359
It was her.
757
00:42:43,427 --> 00:42:46,896
She was just evil, evil, evil.
758
00:42:51,769 --> 00:42:54,036
[kirk]
fredy was just that friendly
759
00:42:54,038 --> 00:42:58,006
And he was taken advantage of
to the extreme.
760
00:42:58,008 --> 00:43:00,510
It just broke everybody's heart.
761
00:43:00,578 --> 00:43:03,179
You kind of lost a little faith,
762
00:43:03,247 --> 00:43:07,317
You know,
in-in all humanity over it.
763
00:43:07,385 --> 00:43:13,322
There's certain souls out there
that, uh, they have that spark,
764
00:43:13,391 --> 00:43:17,693
That infectious smile.
765
00:43:17,762 --> 00:43:20,730
I was able to take
some of that with me.
766
00:43:20,798 --> 00:43:23,833
You know, fredy had that magic,
767
00:43:23,901 --> 00:43:27,136
And this is the best
I can do for it,
768
00:43:27,205 --> 00:43:29,105
You know, to carry it on.
769
00:43:33,211 --> 00:43:35,645
[music]