1
00:00:08,308 --> 00:00:10,577
[Female Narrator]: A brilliant
2
00:00:08,308 --> 00:00:10,577
mathematician goes missing.
3
00:00:11,711 --> 00:00:14,814
If he had gone somewhere, he
4
00:00:11,711 --> 00:00:14,814
went without his medication.
5
00:00:14,848 --> 00:00:17,317
He was known among
6
00:00:14,848 --> 00:00:17,317
his colleagues
7
00:00:17,350 --> 00:00:21,421
as the person that you went to
8
00:00:17,350 --> 00:00:21,421
for the toughest questions.
9
00:00:21,454 --> 00:00:24,624
[Narrator]: But his genius
10
00:00:21,454 --> 00:00:24,624
came at a price.
11
00:00:24,657 --> 00:00:26,726
He was a paranoid person.
12
00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:30,663
He was so worried that he had
13
00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:30,663
all the locks changed.
14
00:00:30,697 --> 00:00:34,934
No one knew that he essentially
15
00:00:30,697 --> 00:00:34,934
was a millionaire.
16
00:00:35,669 --> 00:00:38,605
[Narrator]: How did a recluse
17
00:00:35,669 --> 00:00:38,605
who trusts no one
18
00:00:38,638 --> 00:00:41,574
let the devil inside?
19
00:00:41,608 --> 00:00:44,110
[Linda]: His was the only
20
00:00:41,608 --> 00:00:44,110
sidewalk and driveway
21
00:00:44,144 --> 00:00:47,213
on the entire street
22
00:00:44,144 --> 00:00:47,213
that was cleared of snow.
23
00:00:47,247 --> 00:00:52,452
He articulated that I am very
24
00:00:47,247 --> 00:00:52,452
suspicious of this person.
25
00:00:52,485 --> 00:00:54,788
She said,
26
00:00:52,485 --> 00:00:54,788
I have power of attorney,
27
00:00:54,821 --> 00:00:56,423
but I've never used it.
28
00:00:56,456 --> 00:00:58,625
Which we knew was a lie.
29
00:00:58,658 --> 00:01:00,627
[Jon]: There was a older
30
00:00:58,658 --> 00:01:00,627
gentleman in the back seat.
31
00:01:00,660 --> 00:01:03,630
She said, tell him to stay
32
00:01:00,660 --> 00:01:03,630
in the ----ing car
33
00:01:03,630 --> 00:01:05,131
or he'll pay for it later.
34
00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:11,271
The police officer told me she
35
00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:11,271
had the trashcan in the back
36
00:01:11,304 --> 00:01:12,772
with the firewood in it.
37
00:01:12,806 --> 00:01:15,642
I'm like, did you look
38
00:01:12,806 --> 00:01:15,642
in the garbage can?
39
00:01:17,377 --> 00:01:23,830
[music]
40
00:01:27,320 --> 00:01:28,888
[music]
41
00:01:28,922 --> 00:01:32,959
[Narrator]: On March 2, 2009,
42
00:01:28,922 --> 00:01:32,959
Ann Cartee contacts the
43
00:01:32,991 --> 00:01:37,970
Boone County Sheriff's
44
00:01:32,991 --> 00:01:37,970
Department in Hebron, Kentucky.
45
00:01:37,970 --> 00:01:40,700
Ann says she and her husband are
46
00:01:37,970 --> 00:01:40,700
concerned about the whereabouts
47
00:01:40,734 --> 00:01:46,106
of their 73-year-old friend,
48
00:01:40,734 --> 00:01:46,106
Walter Sartory.
49
00:01:46,706 --> 00:01:48,808
She calls in
50
00:01:46,706 --> 00:01:48,808
and simply requests,
51
00:01:48,842 --> 00:01:51,311
hey, would someone go by
52
00:01:48,842 --> 00:01:51,311
and check on Walter?
53
00:01:51,344 --> 00:01:54,646
We usually speak to him at,
54
00:01:51,344 --> 00:01:54,646
you know, pretty much every day.
55
00:01:54,681 --> 00:01:56,816
And, uh, we've been unable
56
00:01:54,681 --> 00:01:56,816
to get ahold of him
57
00:01:56,850 --> 00:02:00,530
since the middle part
58
00:01:56,850 --> 00:02:00,530
of February.
59
00:02:01,921 --> 00:02:04,524
[Narrator]: A sheriff's deputy
60
00:02:01,921 --> 00:02:04,524
stops by Walt's home,
61
00:02:04,557 --> 00:02:07,930
but there's no sign of him.
62
00:02:07,127 --> 00:02:09,562
One of the things he would do
63
00:02:07,127 --> 00:02:09,562
would be to open the mailbox
64
00:02:09,596 --> 00:02:11,698
to see if there was mail.
65
00:02:11,731 --> 00:02:13,700
[Coy]: We don't see any
66
00:02:11,731 --> 00:02:13,700
movement in the house.
67
00:02:13,733 --> 00:02:17,700
The mail is stacking up
68
00:02:13,733 --> 00:02:17,700
in the mailbox.
69
00:02:17,103 --> 00:02:19,372
He actually went to the
70
00:02:17,103 --> 00:02:19,372
residence multiple times
71
00:02:19,406 --> 00:02:23,109
trying to catch Mr. Sartory at
72
00:02:19,406 --> 00:02:23,109
different times of the day,
73
00:02:23,143 --> 00:02:27,800
and would leave a card each time
74
00:02:23,143 --> 00:02:27,800
with a note asking Mr. Sartory
75
00:02:27,113 --> 00:02:29,215
to get in contact with him.
76
00:02:32,285 --> 00:02:34,921
[Narrator]: It has now been
77
00:02:32,285 --> 00:02:34,921
two days since Ann Cartee's
78
00:02:34,954 --> 00:02:40,930
initial phone call, and the
79
00:02:34,954 --> 00:02:40,930
deputy's concern is mounting.
80
00:02:40,930 --> 00:02:41,861
[Linda]: He didn't need to
81
00:02:40,930 --> 00:02:41,861
get a warrant at that time
82
00:02:41,895 --> 00:02:44,964
because he had developed
83
00:02:41,895 --> 00:02:44,964
probable cause that there was
84
00:02:44,998 --> 00:02:47,767
actually the potential
85
00:02:44,998 --> 00:02:47,767
that Walter Sartory was in the
86
00:02:47,801 --> 00:02:51,938
residence and was injured
87
00:02:47,801 --> 00:02:51,938
or incapacitated in some way.
88
00:02:53,106 --> 00:02:57,510
So he finds the garage door
89
00:02:53,106 --> 00:02:57,510
just a little ajar.
90
00:02:57,543 --> 00:03:00,800
So he does make entry.
91
00:03:00,513 --> 00:03:04,317
[Linda]: Mr. Sartory owned
92
00:03:00,513 --> 00:03:04,317
and had registered to his name
93
00:03:04,351 --> 00:03:06,119
a Toyota Prius.
94
00:03:06,152 --> 00:03:09,589
And he checked the garage
95
00:03:06,152 --> 00:03:09,589
to see if a vehicle was there.
96
00:03:09,622 --> 00:03:11,524
There was no vehicle
97
00:03:09,622 --> 00:03:11,524
in the garage.
98
00:03:15,295 --> 00:03:16,963
[Narrator]:
99
00:03:15,295 --> 00:03:16,963
When the deputy enters the home,
100
00:03:17,630 --> 00:03:20,734
what he finds
101
00:03:17,630 --> 00:03:20,734
strikes him as a bit odd.
102
00:03:20,767 --> 00:03:25,572
It was not like what a normal
103
00:03:20,767 --> 00:03:25,572
residence would look like.
104
00:03:25,605 --> 00:03:30,577
The furniture was actually
105
00:03:25,605 --> 00:03:30,577
piles of books.
106
00:03:30,610 --> 00:03:33,446
In the living room
107
00:03:30,610 --> 00:03:33,446
on a folding table
108
00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:38,451
were five or six
109
00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:38,451
desktop computers.
110
00:03:38,485 --> 00:03:42,255
And there was just this field
111
00:03:38,485 --> 00:03:42,255
of Post-It notes
112
00:03:42,288 --> 00:03:45,625
all over everything.
113
00:03:45,658 --> 00:03:49,129
It was his own address
114
00:03:45,658 --> 00:03:49,129
and his own name, you know,
115
00:03:49,162 --> 00:03:51,131
on a Post-It note on one
116
00:03:49,162 --> 00:03:51,131
of the computers,
117
00:03:51,164 --> 00:03:53,266
but then there was
118
00:03:51,164 --> 00:03:53,266
also things that say,
119
00:03:53,299 --> 00:03:56,200
brush your teeth
120
00:03:53,299 --> 00:03:56,200
and get dressed.
121
00:03:58,271 --> 00:04:00,940
[Narrator]: While there's no
122
00:03:58,271 --> 00:04:00,940
indication of foul play,
123
00:04:01,410 --> 00:04:05,450
there is something
124
00:04:01,410 --> 00:04:05,450
that could be cause for concern.
125
00:04:05,780 --> 00:04:07,147
[Brian]: We found some
126
00:04:05,780 --> 00:04:07,147
medications that would be
127
00:04:07,180 --> 00:04:11,584
consistent with a
128
00:04:07,180 --> 00:04:11,584
mental illness, schizophrenia.
129
00:04:12,218 --> 00:04:15,455
At that point we have a
130
00:04:12,218 --> 00:04:15,455
deeper concern
131
00:04:15,488 --> 00:04:17,524
for their personal safety.
132
00:04:17,557 --> 00:04:19,292
When you suffer
133
00:04:17,557 --> 00:04:19,292
from schizophrenia,
134
00:04:19,325 --> 00:04:22,629
it's very important that
135
00:04:19,325 --> 00:04:22,629
you have your medication.
136
00:04:22,662 --> 00:04:26,332
What became clear very quickly
137
00:04:22,662 --> 00:04:26,332
was that Walter Sartory
138
00:04:26,366 --> 00:04:29,536
was without his antipsychotic
139
00:04:26,366 --> 00:04:29,536
medication,
140
00:04:29,569 --> 00:04:34,407
which would have led to
141
00:04:29,569 --> 00:04:34,407
severe psychotic episodes.
142
00:04:35,808 --> 00:04:38,780
[Brian]: When we see all
143
00:04:35,808 --> 00:04:38,780
of those Post-It notes,
144
00:04:38,780 --> 00:04:41,548
to be that structured when
145
00:04:38,780 --> 00:04:41,548
you get ready for your day,
146
00:04:41,581 --> 00:04:43,950
when to take your medication,
147
00:04:41,581 --> 00:04:43,950
and then for the medication
148
00:04:43,983 --> 00:04:46,353
to still be there,
149
00:04:43,983 --> 00:04:46,353
was a problem.
150
00:04:47,870 --> 00:04:49,422
[Narrator]: The scene inside
151
00:04:47,870 --> 00:04:49,422
the home doesn't just have the
152
00:04:49,456 --> 00:04:52,359
deputy concerned
153
00:04:49,456 --> 00:04:52,359
about Walt's whereabouts.
154
00:04:52,392 --> 00:04:57,130
It also has him asking,
155
00:04:52,392 --> 00:04:57,130
who is Walter Sartory?
156
00:05:02,202 --> 00:05:06,806
Walter Sartory was born in
157
00:05:02,202 --> 00:05:06,806
Pittsburgh in 1935.
158
00:05:08,410 --> 00:05:10,210
[Linda]: He grew up,
159
00:05:08,410 --> 00:05:10,210
uh, was a boy scout,
160
00:05:10,243 --> 00:05:12,846
had a love for all
161
00:05:10,243 --> 00:05:12,846
things space related.
162
00:05:12,879 --> 00:05:15,548
And he wound up going
163
00:05:12,879 --> 00:05:15,548
to Carnegie Mellon
164
00:05:15,582 --> 00:05:17,917
for college there in Pittsburgh,
165
00:05:17,951 --> 00:05:22,322
and graduated actually with a
166
00:05:17,951 --> 00:05:22,322
PhD in Chemical Engineering.
167
00:05:23,456 --> 00:05:26,393
[Narrator]: In the early 60s,
168
00:05:23,456 --> 00:05:26,393
Walt took a job working for
169
00:05:26,426 --> 00:05:30,597
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
170
00:05:26,426 --> 00:05:30,597
in Tennessee.
171
00:05:30,630 --> 00:05:34,267
The original goal of
172
00:05:30,630 --> 00:05:34,267
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
173
00:05:34,300 --> 00:05:39,739
was to produce uranium
174
00:05:34,300 --> 00:05:39,739
for nuclear weapons.
175
00:05:39,773 --> 00:05:44,411
It's next to impossible to tell
176
00:05:39,773 --> 00:05:44,411
you exactly what Walter Sartory
177
00:05:44,444 --> 00:05:47,881
did there because the work
178
00:05:44,444 --> 00:05:47,881
that he did was classified.
179
00:05:50,550 --> 00:05:52,850
[Narrator]:
180
00:05:50,550 --> 00:05:52,850
But outside the lab,
181
00:05:52,850 --> 00:05:55,388
Walt struggled
182
00:05:52,850 --> 00:05:55,388
with everyday life.
183
00:05:55,422 --> 00:05:57,557
He was very much
184
00:05:55,422 --> 00:05:57,557
a creature of habit,
185
00:05:57,590 --> 00:05:59,793
and he lived a
186
00:05:57,590 --> 00:05:59,793
very private life.
187
00:05:59,826 --> 00:06:02,562
He never married,
188
00:05:59,826 --> 00:06:02,562
never had children.
189
00:06:02,595 --> 00:06:04,230
[Brent]: He didn't have
190
00:06:02,595 --> 00:06:04,230
family to speak of.
191
00:06:04,264 --> 00:06:07,267
He had a pained relationship
192
00:06:04,264 --> 00:06:07,267
with his mother.
193
00:06:07,300 --> 00:06:10,170
It seemed like his genius
194
00:06:07,300 --> 00:06:10,170
came with a price.
195
00:06:10,203 --> 00:06:14,400
Walter Sartory was, uh,
196
00:06:10,203 --> 00:06:14,400
troubled psychologically.
197
00:06:14,441 --> 00:06:16,476
He was a diagnosed
198
00:06:14,441 --> 00:06:16,476
paranoid schizophrenic.
199
00:06:16,509 --> 00:06:20,280
He had acute social anxiety.
200
00:06:20,313 --> 00:06:23,830
[Coy]: Mr. Sartory was paranoid
201
00:06:20,313 --> 00:06:23,830
about going out in public
202
00:06:23,116 --> 00:06:26,520
and being around people,
203
00:06:23,116 --> 00:06:26,520
and speaking to people.
204
00:06:26,860 --> 00:06:28,254
[Brent]: He was able to manage
205
00:06:26,860 --> 00:06:28,254
these conditions
206
00:06:28,288 --> 00:06:31,457
through the use of medication,
207
00:06:28,288 --> 00:06:31,457
which he was meticulous about.
208
00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:36,596
[Narrator]: After 30 years
209
00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:36,596
in the Oak Ridge lab,
210
00:06:36,629 --> 00:06:38,640
Walt retired,
211
00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:40,332
but he didn't exactly
212
00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:40,332
settle into the life
213
00:06:40,367 --> 00:06:43,103
of a typical retiree.
214
00:06:43,136 --> 00:06:46,720
[Linda]: He is not the kind of
215
00:06:43,136 --> 00:06:46,720
person who could sit still
216
00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:49,376
and not do anything,
217
00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:49,376
and so he began dabbling
218
00:06:49,409 --> 00:06:54,647
with developing algorithms
219
00:06:49,409 --> 00:06:54,647
for investment of stocks.
220
00:06:54,681 --> 00:06:57,484
Also, Walter had
221
00:06:54,681 --> 00:06:57,484
these computers set up,
222
00:06:57,517 --> 00:07:01,221
and he was operating
223
00:06:57,517 --> 00:07:01,221
through a program,
224
00:07:01,254 --> 00:07:05,250
trying to detect any sort
225
00:07:01,254 --> 00:07:05,250
of radio signals
226
00:07:05,250 --> 00:07:08,280
or other signals
227
00:07:05,250 --> 00:07:08,280
from outer space
228
00:07:08,280 --> 00:07:11,464
because he was looking for signs
229
00:07:08,280 --> 00:07:11,464
of extraterrestrial life.
230
00:07:11,498 --> 00:07:16,690
Walter had a lot of questions
231
00:07:11,498 --> 00:07:16,690
about the existence of God
232
00:07:16,102 --> 00:07:19,390
and the universe as a whole.
233
00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:24,844
And I think that his looking at
234
00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:24,844
radio signals from other parts
235
00:07:24,878 --> 00:07:29,149
of the galaxy was part
236
00:07:24,878 --> 00:07:29,149
of his quest for understanding.
237
00:07:32,850 --> 00:07:36,122
[Narrator]: Still, Walt
238
00:07:32,850 --> 00:07:36,122
longed for something more.
239
00:07:36,156 --> 00:07:40,427
[Coy]: Walter had been
240
00:07:36,156 --> 00:07:40,427
counseled by a psychiatrist,
241
00:07:40,460 --> 00:07:43,697
and one of the things that
242
00:07:40,460 --> 00:07:43,697
they encouraged was for him
243
00:07:43,730 --> 00:07:47,534
to try to develop human
244
00:07:43,730 --> 00:07:47,534
relationships with people,
245
00:07:47,567 --> 00:07:48,902
to get out,
246
00:07:47,567 --> 00:07:48,902
to meet people,
247
00:07:48,935 --> 00:07:50,537
to do different things.
248
00:07:51,710 --> 00:07:54,374
[Narrator]: In 2008,
249
00:07:51,710 --> 00:07:54,374
Walt moved to Hebron, Kentucky,
250
00:07:54,407 --> 00:07:56,676
just outside Cincinnati.
251
00:07:56,710 --> 00:08:01,581
He hoped the move would help
252
00:07:56,710 --> 00:08:01,581
him expand his horizons.
253
00:08:01,614 --> 00:08:07,870
He believed that he could
254
00:08:01,614 --> 00:08:07,870
manage his paranoia.
255
00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,723
He chose to be close
256
00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,723
to the airport.
257
00:08:09,756 --> 00:08:13,660
He wanted to actually travel
258
00:08:09,756 --> 00:08:13,660
some places and fly occasionally
259
00:08:13,693 --> 00:08:15,528
rather than driving.
260
00:08:15,562 --> 00:08:17,697
He spent a lot of time
261
00:08:15,562 --> 00:08:17,697
alone in his house.
262
00:08:17,731 --> 00:08:20,166
But when he did travel,
263
00:08:17,731 --> 00:08:20,166
it was often to secular
264
00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:23,136
think tank conventions where he
265
00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:23,136
would stay for days at a time.
266
00:08:23,803 --> 00:08:26,106
[Coy]: He would attend
267
00:08:23,803 --> 00:08:26,106
conferences that would
268
00:08:26,139 --> 00:08:29,420
maybe expand his mind
269
00:08:26,139 --> 00:08:29,420
or challenge his mind
270
00:08:29,420 --> 00:08:31,811
to think about new things
271
00:08:29,420 --> 00:08:31,811
and different things.
272
00:08:35,248 --> 00:08:37,683
[Narrator]: Walt also widened
273
00:08:35,248 --> 00:08:37,683
his social circle
274
00:08:37,717 --> 00:08:42,455
in a way that felt most
275
00:08:37,717 --> 00:08:42,455
comfortable to him, online.
276
00:08:42,489 --> 00:08:44,924
[Linda]: Walter Sartory's main
277
00:08:42,489 --> 00:08:44,924
circle of friends were people
278
00:08:44,958 --> 00:08:46,893
that he met
279
00:08:44,958 --> 00:08:46,893
through the internet,
280
00:08:46,926 --> 00:08:49,729
basically through
281
00:08:46,926 --> 00:08:49,729
online chat rooms.
282
00:08:49,763 --> 00:08:52,632
And that was a perfect medium
283
00:08:49,763 --> 00:08:52,632
for Walter Sartory
284
00:08:52,665 --> 00:08:56,102
because he didn't have to be
285
00:08:52,665 --> 00:08:56,102
in the awkward social settings,
286
00:08:56,136 --> 00:08:58,672
which are what made
287
00:08:56,136 --> 00:08:58,672
him so very nervous.
288
00:09:01,775 --> 00:09:04,477
[Narrator]: Walt developed a
289
00:09:01,775 --> 00:09:04,477
particularly close friendship
290
00:09:04,511 --> 00:09:07,130
with Ann Cartee.
291
00:09:07,130 --> 00:09:10,850
[Brent]: They met in an online
292
00:09:07,130 --> 00:09:10,850
forum about mental health.
293
00:09:10,884 --> 00:09:13,153
Walter became very
294
00:09:10,884 --> 00:09:13,153
good friends with Ann.
295
00:09:13,186 --> 00:09:16,623
He would visit Ann
296
00:09:13,186 --> 00:09:16,623
and her husband in Virginia.
297
00:09:16,656 --> 00:09:20,260
He talked to them on the phone
298
00:09:16,656 --> 00:09:20,260
nearly every day.
299
00:09:24,497 --> 00:09:26,166
[Narrator]: But it's been
300
00:09:24,497 --> 00:09:26,166
nearly a month
301
00:09:26,199 --> 00:09:28,835
since Ann Cartee spoke to Walt.
302
00:09:28,868 --> 00:09:30,437
And with each passing day,
303
00:09:30,470 --> 00:09:34,400
police are growing
304
00:09:30,470 --> 00:09:34,400
more concerned.
305
00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:36,743
After searching Walt's home,
306
00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:36,743
the sheriff's deputy
307
00:09:36,776 --> 00:09:40,780
steps outside to check
308
00:09:36,776 --> 00:09:40,780
the mailbox again.
309
00:09:41,381 --> 00:09:42,816
The first couple of times
310
00:09:41,381 --> 00:09:42,816
that he was there,
311
00:09:42,849 --> 00:09:45,510
there was mail in the mailbox.
312
00:09:45,510 --> 00:09:49,689
But on that day the mail
313
00:09:45,510 --> 00:09:49,689
was no longer in the mailbox.
314
00:09:53,893 --> 00:09:55,628
[Narrator]:
315
00:09:53,893 --> 00:09:55,628
He checks with Walt's neighbors,
316
00:09:55,662 --> 00:09:59,799
but no one knows anything
317
00:09:55,662 --> 00:09:59,799
about Walt's mail or Walt.
318
00:10:00,633 --> 00:10:02,569
[Coy]: We found out very
319
00:10:00,633 --> 00:10:02,569
quickly from talking
320
00:10:02,602 --> 00:10:05,372
to neighbors that he would
321
00:10:02,602 --> 00:10:05,372
wave at you in the driveway,
322
00:10:05,405 --> 00:10:07,407
but he really
323
00:10:05,405 --> 00:10:07,407
wouldn't speak much.
324
00:10:08,308 --> 00:10:10,710
[Narrator]: In fact,
325
00:10:08,308 --> 00:10:10,710
only one neighbor recalls
326
00:10:10,744 --> 00:10:15,480
ever seeing anyone else
327
00:10:10,744 --> 00:10:15,480
at Walt's house.
328
00:10:15,810 --> 00:10:18,385
A neighbor mentioned the fact
329
00:10:15,810 --> 00:10:18,385
that, uh, she had seen a
330
00:10:18,418 --> 00:10:21,888
local cleaning service coming
331
00:10:18,418 --> 00:10:21,888
to Mr. Sartory's house
332
00:10:21,921 --> 00:10:23,757
pretty much every day.
333
00:10:23,790 --> 00:10:26,260
It was really interesting
334
00:10:23,790 --> 00:10:26,260
because he really kind of
335
00:10:26,590 --> 00:10:30,230
keeps to himself.
336
00:10:26,590 --> 00:10:30,230
So that was our first clue.
337
00:10:30,263 --> 00:10:32,599
Well, who is this person
338
00:10:30,263 --> 00:10:32,599
that cleans your house?
339
00:10:35,368 --> 00:10:36,670
[Narrator]: Coming up,
340
00:10:36,703 --> 00:10:40,874
investigators learn
341
00:10:36,703 --> 00:10:40,874
of a bizarre encounter.
342
00:10:40,907 --> 00:10:44,210
She forced her way
343
00:10:40,907 --> 00:10:44,210
into the house.
344
00:10:44,244 --> 00:10:45,912
She was very aggressive.
345
00:10:45,945 --> 00:10:47,113
[Brent]: This woman was
346
00:10:45,945 --> 00:10:47,113
uninvited
347
00:10:47,147 --> 00:10:49,482
and he could not
348
00:10:47,147 --> 00:10:49,482
get her to leave.
349
00:11:03,129 --> 00:11:04,964
[Narrator]: In March 2009,
350
00:11:05,650 --> 00:11:07,434
investigators in
351
00:11:05,650 --> 00:11:07,434
Boone County, Ketucky
352
00:11:07,467 --> 00:11:11,438
are trying to locate
353
00:11:07,467 --> 00:11:11,438
73-year-old Walt Sartory
354
00:11:11,471 --> 00:11:14,474
after a friend
355
00:11:11,471 --> 00:11:14,474
reports him missing.
356
00:11:14,507 --> 00:11:17,277
Walt's neighbors describe
357
00:11:14,507 --> 00:11:17,277
the retired mathematician
358
00:11:17,310 --> 00:11:20,747
as a recluse who
359
00:11:17,310 --> 00:11:20,747
rarely has visitors,
360
00:11:20,780 --> 00:11:23,283
with one exception.
361
00:11:23,316 --> 00:11:25,352
[Coy]: One of the ladies who
362
00:11:23,316 --> 00:11:25,352
lived in the neighborhood
363
00:11:25,385 --> 00:11:29,923
had seen a cleaning service car
364
00:11:25,385 --> 00:11:29,923
pull up in front of the house,
365
00:11:29,956 --> 00:11:33,360
uh, several times
366
00:11:29,956 --> 00:11:33,360
in recent weeks.
367
00:11:36,363 --> 00:11:37,797
[Narrator]:
368
00:11:36,363 --> 00:11:37,797
Before detectives reach out
369
00:11:37,831 --> 00:11:39,466
to the cleaning service,
370
00:11:39,499 --> 00:11:42,535
they place a call to the woman
371
00:11:39,499 --> 00:11:42,535
who reported Walt missing,
372
00:11:42,569 --> 00:11:45,338
Ann Cartee of Virginia.
373
00:11:45,372 --> 00:11:48,975
[Linda]: The impetus behind
374
00:11:45,372 --> 00:11:48,975
Ann Cartee's concern was that
375
00:11:49,900 --> 00:11:53,113
Walter had been in Chicago the
376
00:11:49,900 --> 00:11:53,113
week before for a conference,
377
00:11:53,113 --> 00:11:57,484
and he was due to be back in
378
00:11:53,113 --> 00:11:57,484
town the 17th of February.
379
00:11:57,517 --> 00:12:00,787
And she had not been able to
380
00:11:57,517 --> 00:12:00,787
communicate with him at all
381
00:12:00,820 --> 00:12:02,922
since he had returned
382
00:12:00,820 --> 00:12:02,922
from Chicago.
383
00:12:02,956 --> 00:12:05,658
So we're talking about a
384
00:12:02,956 --> 00:12:05,658
good two-week period of time
385
00:12:05,692 --> 00:12:09,620
before she actually called
386
00:12:05,692 --> 00:12:09,620
the sheriff's department.
387
00:12:10,830 --> 00:12:13,266
[Narrator]: The fact that Ann
388
00:12:10,830 --> 00:12:13,266
waited so long to report their
389
00:12:13,299 --> 00:12:16,369
friend missing
390
00:12:13,299 --> 00:12:16,369
raises some suspicion,
391
00:12:16,403 --> 00:12:20,573
but authorities keep that
392
00:12:16,403 --> 00:12:20,573
to themselves for now.
393
00:12:22,208 --> 00:12:25,311
Ann reveals that the last
394
00:12:22,208 --> 00:12:25,311
time she spoke with Walt,
395
00:12:25,345 --> 00:12:29,582
he was obsessing over a recent
396
00:12:25,345 --> 00:12:29,582
run-in with a stranger.
397
00:12:30,183 --> 00:12:33,453
[Linda]: Ann Cartee explained
398
00:12:30,183 --> 00:12:33,453
Walter had traveled to New York
399
00:12:33,486 --> 00:12:34,888
in January.
400
00:12:34,921 --> 00:12:38,358
When Walter returned from
401
00:12:34,921 --> 00:12:38,358
his trip to New York, we had
402
00:12:38,391 --> 00:12:42,950
one of the largest snowstorms
403
00:12:38,391 --> 00:12:42,950
that we've had in modern times.
404
00:12:42,950 --> 00:12:45,565
And when he made his way home,
405
00:12:42,950 --> 00:12:45,565
he pulled onto a street to find
406
00:12:45,598 --> 00:12:49,102
that his was the only
407
00:12:45,598 --> 00:12:49,102
sidewalk and driveway
408
00:12:49,102 --> 00:12:52,500
on the entire street
409
00:12:49,102 --> 00:12:52,500
that was cleared of snow.
410
00:12:53,773 --> 00:12:56,676
[Coy]:
411
00:12:53,773 --> 00:12:56,676
Shortly after he arrived home,
412
00:12:56,710 --> 00:13:01,810
a lady approached the house,
413
00:12:56,710 --> 00:13:01,810
knocked on the door
414
00:13:01,114 --> 00:13:04,751
and stated that, you know,
415
00:13:01,114 --> 00:13:04,751
hey, we cleaned your driveway,
416
00:13:04,784 --> 00:13:07,754
you know, so it would be good
417
00:13:04,784 --> 00:13:07,754
and clean when you came back.
418
00:13:07,787 --> 00:13:10,323
[Linda]: He thanked her and
419
00:13:07,787 --> 00:13:10,323
actually tried to pay her,
420
00:13:10,357 --> 00:13:11,758
but she would not
421
00:13:10,357 --> 00:13:11,758
take any money.
422
00:13:11,791 --> 00:13:15,962
But she forced her way
423
00:13:11,791 --> 00:13:15,962
into the house.
424
00:13:16,620 --> 00:13:18,598
[Coy]: She was very aggressive
425
00:13:16,620 --> 00:13:18,598
and continued to say,
426
00:13:18,631 --> 00:13:20,367
hey, I'd like to clean
427
00:13:18,631 --> 00:13:20,367
your house. I can help you.
428
00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:22,769
I can do this.
429
00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:22,769
I can do that.
430
00:13:22,802 --> 00:13:27,107
[Brent]: He feared that this
431
00:13:22,802 --> 00:13:27,107
woman wants to case his house.
432
00:13:27,140 --> 00:13:30,543
He was worried that she might
433
00:13:27,140 --> 00:13:30,543
have made a wax copy of a key
434
00:13:30,577 --> 00:13:33,413
that was sitting on one
435
00:13:30,577 --> 00:13:33,413
of his computer tables.
436
00:13:36,415 --> 00:13:37,884
[Narrator]: At the time,
437
00:13:37,917 --> 00:13:39,619
Ann says she chalked
438
00:13:37,917 --> 00:13:39,619
the incident up to Walt's
439
00:13:39,652 --> 00:13:42,455
typical paranoia.
440
00:13:42,489 --> 00:13:45,225
While the mystery woman
441
00:13:42,489 --> 00:13:45,225
sounds intriguing,
442
00:13:45,258 --> 00:13:48,395
investigators wonder if Ann
443
00:13:45,258 --> 00:13:48,395
might just be trying to
444
00:13:48,428 --> 00:13:52,365
deflect suspicion from herself.
445
00:13:52,399 --> 00:13:56,269
[Linda]: Another reason why
446
00:13:52,399 --> 00:13:56,269
alarms went off for Ann
447
00:13:56,302 --> 00:13:57,737
and her husband, Robert,
448
00:13:57,771 --> 00:14:01,410
is that they actually
449
00:13:57,771 --> 00:14:01,410
received monthly checks
450
00:14:01,410 --> 00:14:03,610
from Walter Sartory.
451
00:14:03,643 --> 00:14:06,146
[Narrator]: And Walt wasn't
452
00:14:03,643 --> 00:14:06,146
just lending the Cartees
453
00:14:06,179 --> 00:14:07,714
pocket change.
454
00:14:07,747 --> 00:14:09,783
According to financial records,
455
00:14:09,816 --> 00:14:14,287
Walt sent about
456
00:14:09,816 --> 00:14:14,287
$5,000 each month.
457
00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:17,691
That obviously raised
458
00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:17,691
red flags, because, you know,
459
00:14:17,724 --> 00:14:21,628
why is he paying these people
460
00:14:17,724 --> 00:14:21,628
who are his friends?
461
00:14:25,265 --> 00:14:27,133
[Narrator]:
462
00:14:25,265 --> 00:14:27,133
Detectives are still unsure
463
00:14:27,167 --> 00:14:29,736
if Walt is actually missing.
464
00:14:29,769 --> 00:14:32,272
Going off information
465
00:14:29,769 --> 00:14:32,272
from the Cartees,
466
00:14:32,305 --> 00:14:35,842
they search for Walter's car at
467
00:14:32,305 --> 00:14:35,842
the airport and the local mall
468
00:14:35,875 --> 00:14:41,810
where he often liked to walk,
469
00:14:35,875 --> 00:14:41,810
but come up empty.
470
00:14:41,810 --> 00:14:43,249
They circle back
471
00:14:41,810 --> 00:14:43,249
to the earlier tip about a
472
00:14:43,283 --> 00:14:46,353
cleaning service vehicle
473
00:14:43,283 --> 00:14:46,353
spotted by Walt's neighbors
474
00:14:46,386 --> 00:14:49,122
in his driveway.
475
00:14:49,155 --> 00:14:52,125
[Coy]: The man who ran the
476
00:14:49,155 --> 00:14:52,125
business explained that
477
00:14:52,158 --> 00:14:56,296
he had been contacted to have
478
00:14:52,158 --> 00:14:56,296
the cleaning service pick up
479
00:14:56,329 --> 00:14:59,799
all of the mail matter out
480
00:14:56,329 --> 00:14:59,799
of the, uh, mailboxes while
481
00:14:59,833 --> 00:15:03,169
Mr. Sartory was traveling.
482
00:15:03,203 --> 00:15:07,400
[Linda]: The owner told the
483
00:15:03,203 --> 00:15:07,400
deputies that the relationship
484
00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:09,876
that they had with the
485
00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:09,876
property was not initiated
486
00:15:09,909 --> 00:15:13,913
by Walter Sartory,
487
00:15:09,909 --> 00:15:13,913
but by a woman known as Willa.
488
00:15:13,947 --> 00:15:16,516
And they have a
489
00:15:13,947 --> 00:15:16,516
cell phone number for her.
490
00:15:19,285 --> 00:15:20,820
[Narrator]: On March 9th,
491
00:15:20,854 --> 00:15:23,490
detectives track down
492
00:15:20,854 --> 00:15:23,490
Willa Blanc and her husband,
493
00:15:23,523 --> 00:15:27,394
Paul, at their home
494
00:15:23,523 --> 00:15:27,394
in Union, Kentucky,
495
00:15:27,427 --> 00:15:30,797
about 30 minutes away
496
00:15:27,427 --> 00:15:30,797
from Walt's residence.
497
00:15:30,830 --> 00:15:33,466
[Coy]: We initiated a
498
00:15:30,830 --> 00:15:33,466
conversation with them.
499
00:15:33,500 --> 00:15:37,203
They stated in fact that they
500
00:15:33,500 --> 00:15:37,203
were Paul and Willa Blanc
501
00:15:37,237 --> 00:15:39,906
and that they were just getting
502
00:15:37,237 --> 00:15:39,906
ready to go to the doctor,
503
00:15:39,939 --> 00:15:42,509
and they really needed to get
504
00:15:39,939 --> 00:15:42,509
there, kind of in a hurry.
505
00:15:42,542 --> 00:15:45,780
I said, well, actually Willa,
506
00:15:42,542 --> 00:15:45,780
we wanted to talk to you because
507
00:15:45,780 --> 00:15:49,415
we have been told that you had
508
00:15:45,780 --> 00:15:49,415
contacted someone to go
509
00:15:49,449 --> 00:15:52,385
and pick up the mail matter
510
00:15:49,449 --> 00:15:52,385
at Mr. Sartory's residence.
511
00:15:52,419 --> 00:15:54,654
And she said, oh yeah.
512
00:15:52,419 --> 00:15:54,654
Walter's out of town,
513
00:15:54,688 --> 00:15:57,757
and he just wanted me
514
00:15:54,688 --> 00:15:57,757
to pick up the mail.
515
00:16:00,860 --> 00:16:03,396
Willa Blanc says that
516
00:16:00,860 --> 00:16:03,396
she met Walter Sartory
517
00:16:03,430 --> 00:16:06,266
because she cleaned for a family
518
00:16:03,430 --> 00:16:06,266
on the same street where
519
00:16:06,299 --> 00:16:09,350
Walter Sartory lived.
520
00:16:09,690 --> 00:16:10,603
[Coy]: We said,
521
00:16:09,690 --> 00:16:10,603
when did you last see him?
522
00:16:10,637 --> 00:16:15,410
And she said, well, I saw him
523
00:16:10,637 --> 00:16:15,410
at the Hebron Corner Mart.
524
00:16:15,750 --> 00:16:18,445
And he told me that
525
00:16:15,750 --> 00:16:18,445
he was going to Kroger's.
526
00:16:18,478 --> 00:16:21,247
She said that was March the 7th.
527
00:16:22,382 --> 00:16:25,885
[Narrator]: Willa offers
528
00:16:22,382 --> 00:16:25,885
to give Walt a call.
529
00:16:25,919 --> 00:16:28,455
[Coy]: I said, okay, go ahead.
530
00:16:28,488 --> 00:16:30,560
He didn't answer.
531
00:16:28,488 --> 00:16:30,560
And she goes, well,
532
00:16:30,900 --> 00:16:32,726
he's probably doing something.
533
00:16:30,900 --> 00:16:32,726
He'll give me a call back.
534
00:16:32,759 --> 00:16:34,427
And she said,
535
00:16:32,759 --> 00:16:34,427
I'll contact you if he does.
536
00:16:34,461 --> 00:16:36,396
So we said, okay.
537
00:16:36,429 --> 00:16:38,698
[Narrator]: With that,
538
00:16:36,429 --> 00:16:38,698
Willa says she and Paul
539
00:16:38,732 --> 00:16:40,767
must rush to a
540
00:16:38,732 --> 00:16:40,767
doctor's appointment,
541
00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:44,938
leaving investigators
542
00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:44,938
without much to go on.
543
00:16:48,241 --> 00:16:51,211
But Detective Cox is unable
544
00:16:48,241 --> 00:16:51,211
to shake the feeling
545
00:16:51,244 --> 00:16:53,480
that something is amiss.
546
00:16:53,513 --> 00:16:57,650
So he returns to Walt's house.
547
00:16:57,684 --> 00:16:59,819
[Coy]: I took a look
548
00:16:57,684 --> 00:16:59,819
in the mailbox.
549
00:16:59,853 --> 00:17:02,220
And inside the mailbox,
550
00:17:02,220 --> 00:17:07,560
there was a envelope
551
00:17:02,220 --> 00:17:07,560
from Fidelity Investments.
552
00:17:07,594 --> 00:17:10,300
If it's like a lot of us,
553
00:17:07,594 --> 00:17:10,300
you get a statement every month
554
00:17:10,300 --> 00:17:12,832
and it's not something that's
555
00:17:10,300 --> 00:17:12,832
really gonna excite anyone.
556
00:17:12,866 --> 00:17:14,434
[Linda]: So he called me.
557
00:17:14,467 --> 00:17:18,204
We generated the subpoena and he
558
00:17:14,467 --> 00:17:18,204
got it to Fidelity immediately.
559
00:17:22,442 --> 00:17:25,645
[Coy]: What we found out at that
560
00:17:22,442 --> 00:17:25,645
point in time was the fact that
561
00:17:25,679 --> 00:17:29,849
Walter Sartory was very wealthy.
562
00:17:30,650 --> 00:17:32,819
He essentially
563
00:17:30,650 --> 00:17:32,819
was a millionaire.
564
00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:36,156
All of his money basically
565
00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:36,156
was in investments,
566
00:17:36,189 --> 00:17:40,493
and the investments grew because
567
00:17:36,189 --> 00:17:40,493
of his mathematical background
568
00:17:40,527 --> 00:17:43,863
and his ability to actually make
569
00:17:40,527 --> 00:17:43,863
very wise decisions about how
570
00:17:43,897 --> 00:17:46,332
he was moving his money around.
571
00:17:47,801 --> 00:17:50,700
[Narrator]:
572
00:17:47,801 --> 00:17:50,700
Detective Cox believes that if
573
00:17:50,103 --> 00:17:53,139
Walt's disappearance is
574
00:17:50,103 --> 00:17:53,139
the result of foul play,
575
00:17:53,173 --> 00:17:57,444
he may have just uncovered
576
00:17:53,173 --> 00:17:57,444
the motive.
577
00:17:57,477 --> 00:17:59,790
[Coy]: He is now a mark.
578
00:17:59,790 --> 00:18:03,883
He has something that makes it
579
00:17:59,790 --> 00:18:03,883
worth my while to take the risk
580
00:18:03,917 --> 00:18:06,519
of, uh, doing bad things.
581
00:18:09,823 --> 00:18:11,191
[Narrator]:
582
00:18:09,823 --> 00:18:11,191
When investigators subpoena
583
00:18:11,224 --> 00:18:13,159
Walt's investment records,
584
00:18:13,193 --> 00:18:17,497
they find something
585
00:18:13,193 --> 00:18:17,497
extremely troubling.
586
00:18:17,530 --> 00:18:21,340
We had discovered
587
00:18:17,530 --> 00:18:21,340
that Willa Blanc had executed
588
00:18:21,340 --> 00:18:23,236
a power of attorney.
589
00:18:24,371 --> 00:18:28,775
A lot of people don't understand
590
00:18:24,371 --> 00:18:28,775
power of attorneys.
591
00:18:28,808 --> 00:18:32,579
As long as someone is living
592
00:18:28,808 --> 00:18:32,579
and an individual has
593
00:18:32,612 --> 00:18:36,683
power of attorney for them,
594
00:18:32,612 --> 00:18:36,683
that individual, Willa Blanc,
595
00:18:36,716 --> 00:18:39,719
can act just as if
596
00:18:36,716 --> 00:18:39,719
they are that person.
597
00:18:40,787 --> 00:18:44,290
[Linda]: The power of attorney
598
00:18:40,787 --> 00:18:44,290
was executed on February 18th.
599
00:18:45,258 --> 00:18:47,193
No one else had
600
00:18:45,258 --> 00:18:47,193
really seen Walter Sartory
601
00:18:47,227 --> 00:18:49,629
since February the 17th.
602
00:18:50,430 --> 00:18:52,732
[Narrator]: What's more,
603
00:18:50,430 --> 00:18:52,732
the records indicate
604
00:18:52,766 --> 00:18:54,701
that on February 27th,
605
00:18:54,734 --> 00:18:57,404
10 days after Walt
606
00:18:54,734 --> 00:18:57,404
was last seen,
607
00:18:57,437 --> 00:19:01,207
money started leaving
608
00:18:57,437 --> 00:19:01,207
his accounts.
609
00:19:01,241 --> 00:19:04,440
First a $10,000 wire transfer,
610
00:19:04,770 --> 00:19:07,881
and then a $200,000
611
00:19:04,770 --> 00:19:07,881
wire transfer had been
612
00:19:07,914 --> 00:19:12,850
cause to occur between
613
00:19:07,914 --> 00:19:12,850
Walter Sartory's main investment
614
00:19:12,118 --> 00:19:15,789
accounts and Willa Blanc's
615
00:19:12,118 --> 00:19:15,789
checking accounts.
616
00:19:19,159 --> 00:19:20,593
[Narrator]: Coming up,
617
00:19:20,627 --> 00:19:25,265
Detectives take a closer look
618
00:19:20,627 --> 00:19:25,265
at Willa Blanc.
619
00:19:25,298 --> 00:19:28,935
She liked being treated
620
00:19:25,298 --> 00:19:28,935
as if she was a queen.
621
00:19:29,350 --> 00:19:32,205
[Narrator]:
622
00:19:29,350 --> 00:19:32,205
And discover a ruthless plan.
623
00:19:32,238 --> 00:19:34,708
[Linda]: She was trying
624
00:19:32,238 --> 00:19:34,708
to liquidate the remainder
625
00:19:34,741 --> 00:19:37,911
of the $1.4 million dollars.
626
00:19:37,944 --> 00:19:40,246
[Coy]: She said,
627
00:19:37,944 --> 00:19:40,246
I have power of attorney,
628
00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:41,715
but I've never used it.
629
00:20:01,670 --> 00:20:03,636
[Narrator]: March 10, 2009.
630
00:20:03,670 --> 00:20:09,309
73-year-old Walt Sartory has
631
00:20:03,670 --> 00:20:09,309
been missing for several weeks.
632
00:20:09,342 --> 00:20:11,811
And investigators
633
00:20:09,342 --> 00:20:11,811
have just discovered
634
00:20:11,845 --> 00:20:15,915
that not only did Willa Blanc
635
00:20:11,845 --> 00:20:15,915
obtain power of attorney,
636
00:20:15,949 --> 00:20:19,190
she transferred large sums
637
00:20:15,949 --> 00:20:19,190
of money from Walt's
638
00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:20,854
checking account to her own.
639
00:20:20,887 --> 00:20:23,790
$10,000 on February 27th,
640
00:20:23,823 --> 00:20:27,260
and $200,000 on March 3rd,
641
00:20:27,293 --> 00:20:30,663
and she didn't stop there.
642
00:20:30,697 --> 00:20:35,702
She was trying to liquidate the
643
00:20:30,697 --> 00:20:35,702
remainder of the $1.4 million
644
00:20:35,735 --> 00:20:38,438
that were held
645
00:20:35,735 --> 00:20:38,438
in one investment account.
646
00:20:38,471 --> 00:20:41,675
She had ordered those funds
647
00:20:38,471 --> 00:20:41,675
through her power of attorney
648
00:20:41,708 --> 00:20:44,944
to be liquidated
649
00:20:41,708 --> 00:20:44,944
with Fidelity Investments.
650
00:20:48,314 --> 00:20:50,684
[Narrator]: Investigators
651
00:20:48,314 --> 00:20:50,684
return to the Blanc home
652
00:20:50,717 --> 00:20:53,219
for an explanation.
653
00:20:53,253 --> 00:20:55,522
Willa Blanc was not
654
00:20:53,253 --> 00:20:55,522
at the residence.
655
00:20:55,555 --> 00:20:58,892
Paul Blanc was.
656
00:20:55,555 --> 00:20:58,892
And we spoke with him.
657
00:20:58,925 --> 00:21:00,727
[Narrator]:
658
00:20:58,925 --> 00:21:00,727
Investigators press Paul
659
00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:03,263
for information about his wife.
660
00:21:03,296 --> 00:21:05,899
Paul explains that
661
00:21:03,296 --> 00:21:05,899
before he met her,
662
00:21:05,932 --> 00:21:09,903
Willa's life had been one
663
00:21:05,932 --> 00:21:09,903
hardship after another.
664
00:21:13,740 --> 00:21:18,645
[Brent]: Willa Blanc was born
665
00:21:13,740 --> 00:21:18,645
in Cincinnati in 1961.
666
00:21:18,678 --> 00:21:22,682
During her childhood, she had
667
00:21:18,678 --> 00:21:22,682
some tragedy in her life.
668
00:21:22,716 --> 00:21:25,585
Her older brother died
669
00:21:22,716 --> 00:21:25,585
when he was very young,
670
00:21:25,618 --> 00:21:28,788
and that was followed closely
671
00:21:25,618 --> 00:21:28,788
after by the death of her mother
672
00:21:28,822 --> 00:21:31,391
when Willa was 13 years old.
673
00:21:31,424 --> 00:21:34,461
At that point,
674
00:21:31,424 --> 00:21:34,461
Willa raised herself, largely.
675
00:21:35,862 --> 00:21:40,500
[Narrator]: At 19,
676
00:21:35,862 --> 00:21:40,500
she gave birth to a son, Louis.
677
00:21:40,533 --> 00:21:43,169
Apparently, he was
678
00:21:40,533 --> 00:21:43,169
abandoned by his father
679
00:21:43,203 --> 00:21:46,206
and she was his sole caregiver.
680
00:21:49,709 --> 00:21:52,178
[Narrator]:
681
00:21:49,709 --> 00:21:52,178
When Paul met Willa in 2001,
682
00:21:52,212 --> 00:21:55,682
she was working
683
00:21:52,212 --> 00:21:55,682
for a cleaning company.
684
00:21:55,715 --> 00:21:59,352
[Brent]: Paul was a networking
685
00:21:55,715 --> 00:21:59,352
engineer with Cincinnati Bell.
686
00:21:59,386 --> 00:22:02,288
He had a very nice house
687
00:21:59,386 --> 00:22:02,288
in Union, Kentucky.
688
00:22:02,322 --> 00:22:06,793
It's my understanding that Willa
689
00:22:02,322 --> 00:22:06,793
was employed as his housekeeper.
690
00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:11,631
[Narrator]: Paul was drawn to
691
00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:11,631
Willa's poise and personality.
692
00:22:11,664 --> 00:22:14,834
Willa Blanc had
693
00:22:11,664 --> 00:22:14,834
a very flashy style.
694
00:22:14,868 --> 00:22:20,140
She often wore, um,
695
00:22:14,868 --> 00:22:20,140
rhinestone-encrusted fake nails.
696
00:22:20,173 --> 00:22:23,376
She drove a late-model
697
00:22:20,173 --> 00:22:23,376
ZR1 Corvette.
698
00:22:26,790 --> 00:22:27,681
[Narrator]:
699
00:22:26,790 --> 00:22:27,681
Just months after meeting,
700
00:22:27,714 --> 00:22:29,349
the two married.
701
00:22:29,382 --> 00:22:33,119
And Willa and her son,
702
00:22:29,382 --> 00:22:33,119
Louis moved into Paul's home.
703
00:22:33,153 --> 00:22:35,388
Paul says he enjoyed
704
00:22:33,153 --> 00:22:35,388
indulging Willa
705
00:22:35,422 --> 00:22:39,859
in her favorite extravagance,
706
00:22:35,422 --> 00:22:39,859
new cars.
707
00:22:40,260 --> 00:22:42,328
[Jon]: She bought multiple,
708
00:22:40,260 --> 00:22:42,328
multiple high-end vehicles
709
00:22:42,362 --> 00:22:45,965
from us,
710
00:22:42,362 --> 00:22:45,965
50, 60 $70,000 vehicles.
711
00:22:45,999 --> 00:22:48,335
And we took care of her like she
712
00:22:45,999 --> 00:22:48,335
was literally the only person
713
00:22:48,368 --> 00:22:49,836
in the dealership,
714
00:22:48,368 --> 00:22:49,836
and she loved that.
715
00:22:49,869 --> 00:22:53,600
She actually thrived on it.
716
00:22:54,908 --> 00:22:57,644
[Narrator]: Paul confesses
717
00:22:54,908 --> 00:22:57,644
that while Willa once brought
718
00:22:57,677 --> 00:23:02,916
excitement to his life,
719
00:22:57,677 --> 00:23:02,916
lately she mostly brought debt.
720
00:23:03,583 --> 00:23:07,721
[Coy]: He told us that he had
721
00:23:03,583 --> 00:23:07,721
just received paperwork that
722
00:23:07,754 --> 00:23:13,159
his house was going
723
00:23:07,754 --> 00:23:13,159
to be, uh, repossessed.
724
00:23:13,193 --> 00:23:16,262
So we asked him how
725
00:23:13,193 --> 00:23:16,262
that would be possible.
726
00:23:16,296 --> 00:23:19,165
He seemed to have a great job.
727
00:23:19,199 --> 00:23:22,168
And he said that Willa actually
728
00:23:19,199 --> 00:23:22,168
handled all of the bills
729
00:23:22,202 --> 00:23:23,370
and paid all the bills.
730
00:23:23,403 --> 00:23:25,472
And he was, he was shocked
731
00:23:23,403 --> 00:23:25,472
to find this out.
732
00:23:41,588 --> 00:23:46,920
She had a pretty
733
00:23:41,588 --> 00:23:46,920
serious gambling problem.
734
00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:48,962
Within a few years she had
735
00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:48,962
drained all of the money
736
00:23:48,995 --> 00:23:50,797
from their account.
737
00:23:52,799 --> 00:23:56,903
[Narrator]: Making matters
738
00:23:52,799 --> 00:23:56,903
worse, he says on February 22nd,
739
00:23:56,936 --> 00:24:00,473
Willa wrecked his SUV.
740
00:24:00,507 --> 00:24:05,278
Willa had actually had a
741
00:24:00,507 --> 00:24:05,278
car accident on the interstate
742
00:24:05,311 --> 00:24:09,449
in Indiana and had totaled
743
00:24:05,311 --> 00:24:09,449
his Trailblazer.
744
00:24:27,100 --> 00:24:29,169
Detective Cox made calls
745
00:24:29,202 --> 00:24:31,471
to the Ripley County
746
00:24:29,202 --> 00:24:31,471
Sheriff's Department
747
00:24:31,504 --> 00:24:35,909
in Indiana to inquire about any
748
00:24:31,504 --> 00:24:35,909
accidents.
749
00:24:35,942 --> 00:24:38,812
Through records,
750
00:24:35,942 --> 00:24:38,812
we're able to ascertain
751
00:24:38,845 --> 00:24:43,483
that on February the 21st,
752
00:24:38,845 --> 00:24:43,483
Willa Blanc shows up
753
00:24:43,516 --> 00:24:45,452
at the Argosy Casino,
754
00:24:43,516 --> 00:24:45,452
which is located on
755
00:24:45,485 --> 00:24:49,456
the Ohio River
756
00:24:45,485 --> 00:24:49,456
on the Indiana side
757
00:24:49,489 --> 00:24:51,910
and starts gambling.
758
00:24:51,910 --> 00:24:56,596
And gambles until 3:00 in the
759
00:24:51,910 --> 00:24:56,596
morning on February the 22nd.
760
00:24:56,629 --> 00:25:01,340
She is then in the wreck
761
00:24:56,629 --> 00:25:01,340
that morning at 4:15 AM.
762
00:25:01,670 --> 00:25:04,871
The deputies that responded
763
00:25:01,670 --> 00:25:04,871
encountered Willa Blanc.
764
00:25:08,675 --> 00:25:11,711
[Narrator]: Deputies questioned
765
00:25:08,675 --> 00:25:11,711
her at the scene.
766
00:25:11,745 --> 00:25:16,490
She states her car was hit.
767
00:25:11,745 --> 00:25:16,490
The other people took off.
768
00:25:16,490 --> 00:25:18,485
And that she was on her way
769
00:25:16,490 --> 00:25:18,485
to Indianapolis
770
00:25:18,518 --> 00:25:22,550
to take some firewood
771
00:25:18,518 --> 00:25:22,550
to a friend.
772
00:25:22,550 --> 00:25:24,557
His name was Duane Lively.
773
00:25:24,591 --> 00:25:27,930
And that she had the trashcan
774
00:25:24,591 --> 00:25:27,930
in the back
775
00:25:27,127 --> 00:25:29,129
with the firewood in it.
776
00:25:29,162 --> 00:25:33,199
[Narrator]: A wave of dread
777
00:25:29,162 --> 00:25:33,199
moves over Detective Cox.
778
00:25:33,233 --> 00:25:35,735
[Coy]: When the police officer
779
00:25:33,233 --> 00:25:35,735
told me, I'm like,
780
00:25:35,769 --> 00:25:38,710
did you look
781
00:25:35,769 --> 00:25:38,710
in the garbage can?
782
00:25:38,710 --> 00:25:40,730
And he said, no.
783
00:25:40,730 --> 00:25:42,242
In my mind,
784
00:25:40,730 --> 00:25:42,242
at that moment,
785
00:25:42,275 --> 00:25:45,578
it's like Walter Sartory
786
00:25:42,275 --> 00:25:45,578
was in that trashcan.
787
00:25:47,947 --> 00:25:52,252
I don't know why that I felt
788
00:25:47,947 --> 00:25:52,252
that way, but I did.
789
00:25:54,287 --> 00:25:57,157
[Linda]: If Mr. Sartory was
790
00:25:54,287 --> 00:25:57,157
in that trash can,
791
00:25:57,190 --> 00:25:59,659
this woman was cold enough
792
00:25:59,693 --> 00:26:04,864
to be in a casino for hours
793
00:25:59,693 --> 00:26:04,864
gambling this man's money
794
00:26:04,898 --> 00:26:08,268
while he was folded up
795
00:26:04,898 --> 00:26:08,268
in a trashcan
796
00:26:08,301 --> 00:26:10,804
in the back of her vehicle.
797
00:26:13,373 --> 00:26:15,842
[Narrator]: The officer says
798
00:26:13,373 --> 00:26:15,842
after the accident,
799
00:26:15,875 --> 00:26:18,712
Willa called her son, Louis,
800
00:26:15,875 --> 00:26:18,712
and he rented a minivan
801
00:26:18,745 --> 00:26:20,347
to pick her up,
802
00:26:20,380 --> 00:26:24,651
while the SUV was towed back
803
00:26:20,380 --> 00:26:24,651
to a dealership in Kentucky.
804
00:26:25,251 --> 00:26:30,560
[Coy]: Her son, Louis Wilkinson,
805
00:26:25,251 --> 00:26:30,560
got this garbage can purportedly
806
00:26:30,900 --> 00:26:35,228
filled with firewood and loaded
807
00:26:30,900 --> 00:26:35,228
it into the Dodge minivan.
808
00:26:40,660 --> 00:26:42,635
[Narrator]: When detectives
809
00:26:40,660 --> 00:26:42,635
follow up with the dealership,
810
00:26:42,669 --> 00:26:47,730
they hear the most
811
00:26:42,669 --> 00:26:47,730
chilling tale yet.
812
00:26:47,730 --> 00:26:50,944
[Jon]: Around February 17th,
813
00:26:47,730 --> 00:26:50,944
Willa came to the dealership
814
00:26:50,977 --> 00:26:53,880
and was interested in
815
00:26:50,977 --> 00:26:53,880
purchasing a new
816
00:26:53,913 --> 00:26:57,317
2009 Corvette ZR1.
817
00:26:57,350 --> 00:26:58,918
And she told me,
818
00:26:58,952 --> 00:27:03,230
she said, Jon, I'm coming into
819
00:26:58,952 --> 00:27:03,230
a lot of money real soon.
820
00:27:04,457 --> 00:27:06,593
When Willa and I were speaking,
821
00:27:06,626 --> 00:27:09,562
Louis came in and he whispered
822
00:27:06,626 --> 00:27:09,562
something in her ear,
823
00:27:09,596 --> 00:27:12,232
which I happened
824
00:27:09,596 --> 00:27:12,232
to be able to hear.
825
00:27:12,265 --> 00:27:14,670
He said to her,
826
00:27:14,100 --> 00:27:16,936
Mom, the old man
827
00:27:14,100 --> 00:27:16,936
wants to get out of the car.
828
00:27:20,573 --> 00:27:22,375
So when they said that,
829
00:27:20,573 --> 00:27:22,375
I looked outside,
830
00:27:22,409 --> 00:27:24,477
and their car was parked
831
00:27:22,409 --> 00:27:24,477
straight out there.
832
00:27:24,511 --> 00:27:26,613
And there was an older gentleman
833
00:27:24,511 --> 00:27:26,613
in the back seat
834
00:27:26,646 --> 00:27:29,282
that I could see
835
00:27:26,646 --> 00:27:29,282
with glasses on.
836
00:27:30,350 --> 00:27:32,786
Willa's response to Louis was,
837
00:27:32,819 --> 00:27:36,656
tell him to stay in the ----ing
838
00:27:32,819 --> 00:27:36,656
car or he'll pay for it later.
839
00:27:39,590 --> 00:27:40,326
[Narrator]:
840
00:27:39,590 --> 00:27:40,326
Investigators believe
841
00:27:40,360 --> 00:27:41,861
the disturbing encounter
842
00:27:40,360 --> 00:27:41,861
at the dealership
843
00:27:41,895 --> 00:27:47,834
may have been the last time
844
00:27:41,895 --> 00:27:47,834
anyone saw Walt alive.
845
00:27:50,670 --> 00:27:54,374
The following day,
846
00:27:50,670 --> 00:27:54,374
they return to Willa's home.
847
00:28:04,584 --> 00:28:07,187
[Coy]: In the interview,
848
00:28:04,584 --> 00:28:07,187
the question had came up about
849
00:28:07,220 --> 00:28:11,570
power of attorney.
850
00:28:07,220 --> 00:28:11,570
She denied that at first.
851
00:28:11,910 --> 00:28:13,893
But then she changed
852
00:28:11,910 --> 00:28:13,893
her answer to,
853
00:28:13,927 --> 00:28:17,697
I have power of attorney,
854
00:28:13,927 --> 00:28:17,697
but I've never used it,
855
00:28:17,731 --> 00:28:19,833
which we knew was a lie.
856
00:28:21,801 --> 00:28:23,803
[Narrator]: Investigators
857
00:28:21,801 --> 00:28:23,803
question Willa about the
858
00:28:23,837 --> 00:28:28,174
trash can in her car
859
00:28:23,837 --> 00:28:28,174
at the time of the accident.
860
00:28:28,208 --> 00:28:32,812
Detective Cox asked her
861
00:28:28,208 --> 00:28:32,812
where the trash can was,
862
00:28:32,846 --> 00:28:34,647
and she said she that
863
00:28:32,846 --> 00:28:34,647
couldn't explain what
864
00:28:34,681 --> 00:28:37,550
happened to the trash can.
865
00:28:34,681 --> 00:28:37,550
It must've gotten stolen.
866
00:28:40,253 --> 00:28:44,190
Her story started crumbling
867
00:28:40,253 --> 00:28:44,190
a lot at that point in time.
868
00:28:58,872 --> 00:29:02,275
Detective Cox said,
869
00:28:58,872 --> 00:29:02,275
I know you know where Walter is
870
00:29:02,308 --> 00:29:03,877
and that you're not
871
00:29:02,308 --> 00:29:03,877
telling us something,
872
00:29:03,910 --> 00:29:05,845
and I'm going to find out.
873
00:29:08,314 --> 00:29:09,716
[Narrator]: Coming up,
874
00:29:09,749 --> 00:29:13,653
a son's undying devotion
875
00:29:09,749 --> 00:29:13,653
is put to the test.
876
00:29:21,194 --> 00:29:25,310
[Narrator]: And the dark truth
877
00:29:21,194 --> 00:29:25,310
finally comes to light.
878
00:29:25,650 --> 00:29:28,201
She offers him a thousand
879
00:29:25,650 --> 00:29:28,201
dollars to take the trash bin
880
00:29:28,234 --> 00:29:30,700
out to a field and burn it.
881
00:29:43,883 --> 00:29:46,219
[Narrator]: Detectives in
882
00:29:43,883 --> 00:29:46,219
Boone County, Kentucky
883
00:29:46,252 --> 00:29:50,123
are desperate to find missing
884
00:29:46,252 --> 00:29:50,123
mathematician and millionaire,
885
00:29:50,156 --> 00:29:52,158
Walt Sartory.
886
00:29:52,192 --> 00:29:57,130
However, they face nothing but
887
00:29:52,192 --> 00:29:57,130
lies from their main suspect,
888
00:29:57,163 --> 00:30:00,633
47-year-old, Willa Blanc.
889
00:30:00,667 --> 00:30:05,380
[Coy]: We could show that she
890
00:30:00,667 --> 00:30:05,380
had used that power of attorney.
891
00:30:05,710 --> 00:30:07,874
The investigation
892
00:30:05,710 --> 00:30:07,874
at that point in time was,
893
00:30:07,907 --> 00:30:10,510
now what is our next move
894
00:30:07,907 --> 00:30:10,510
to figure out
895
00:30:10,543 --> 00:30:13,460
where Walter Sartory is?
896
00:30:16,149 --> 00:30:18,685
[Narrator]: On March 13, 2009,
897
00:30:18,718 --> 00:30:22,220
investigators track down
898
00:30:18,718 --> 00:30:22,220
Duane Lively,
899
00:30:22,550 --> 00:30:25,358
the friend who Willa claims
900
00:30:22,550 --> 00:30:25,358
asked her to deliver firewood
901
00:30:25,392 --> 00:30:28,495
on February 22nd.
902
00:30:28,528 --> 00:30:32,866
[Coy]: We asked him how
903
00:30:28,528 --> 00:30:32,866
he came about meeting Willa.
904
00:30:32,899 --> 00:30:36,202
Duane Lively said, she's
905
00:30:32,899 --> 00:30:36,202
someone I met at the casino
906
00:30:36,236 --> 00:30:39,506
back in January of 2009.
907
00:30:39,539 --> 00:30:41,608
And we usually go play bingo.
908
00:30:41,641 --> 00:30:44,210
[Narrator]: Duane confirms
909
00:30:41,641 --> 00:30:44,210
that Willa and her son, Louis
910
00:30:44,244 --> 00:30:49,349
did come to see him, but it
911
00:30:44,244 --> 00:30:49,349
wasn't to bring him firewood.
912
00:30:52,752 --> 00:30:57,791
Willa Blanc and Louis arrive,
913
00:30:52,752 --> 00:30:57,791
and they tell Duane that
914
00:30:57,824 --> 00:31:01,594
in the back of a car is a
915
00:30:57,824 --> 00:31:01,594
large trash bin that contains
916
00:31:01,628 --> 00:31:03,563
the remains of a dog.
917
00:31:04,431 --> 00:31:06,666
[Coy]: She said she had a dog
918
00:31:04,431 --> 00:31:06,666
that her son had hit
919
00:31:06,700 --> 00:31:08,902
that belonged to
920
00:31:06,700 --> 00:31:08,902
an elderly gentleman.
921
00:31:08,935 --> 00:31:11,304
And Duane said, oh, well you
922
00:31:08,935 --> 00:31:11,304
can bury the dog at my house.
923
00:31:11,338 --> 00:31:12,439
She goes, no, no, no.
924
00:31:12,472 --> 00:31:14,574
We need to,
925
00:31:12,472 --> 00:31:14,574
we need to burn the dog.
926
00:31:15,475 --> 00:31:17,711
[Brent]: And she offers Duane
927
00:31:15,475 --> 00:31:17,711
a thousand dollars
928
00:31:17,744 --> 00:31:22,449
to take the trash bin out
929
00:31:17,744 --> 00:31:22,449
to a field and burn it.
930
00:31:22,482 --> 00:31:25,418
[Linda]: That same night
931
00:31:22,482 --> 00:31:25,418
for a four-to-five-hour
932
00:31:25,452 --> 00:31:27,487
period of time,
933
00:31:27,520 --> 00:31:31,658
Louis, Willa and Duane
934
00:31:27,520 --> 00:31:31,658
burned this trashcan.
935
00:31:37,297 --> 00:31:39,632
[Narrator]: Duane takes
936
00:31:37,297 --> 00:31:39,632
investigators to the field
937
00:31:39,666 --> 00:31:43,269
where the burn took place.
938
00:31:43,303 --> 00:31:45,939
[Linda]: As they were kicking
939
00:31:43,303 --> 00:31:45,939
around some of the ashes
940
00:31:45,972 --> 00:31:48,875
one of the Indiana State Police
941
00:31:45,972 --> 00:31:48,875
detectives saw what he believed
942
00:31:48,908 --> 00:31:51,311
to be a human bone.
943
00:31:54,614 --> 00:31:57,183
[Narrator]: Indiana and Ohio
944
00:31:54,614 --> 00:31:57,183
forensic experts
945
00:31:57,217 --> 00:32:01,421
are called to the scene
946
00:31:57,217 --> 00:32:01,421
and sift through the ash.
947
00:32:01,454 --> 00:32:03,757
[Brian]: They recovered an
948
00:32:01,454 --> 00:32:03,757
immense amount of bone.
949
00:32:03,790 --> 00:32:06,459
So we loaded up
950
00:32:03,790 --> 00:32:06,459
large garbage bags,
951
00:32:06,493 --> 00:32:09,929
probably about five
952
00:32:06,493 --> 00:32:09,929
or six of them.
953
00:32:09,963 --> 00:32:12,766
[Narrator]: The forensic team
954
00:32:09,963 --> 00:32:12,766
sends the remains to a lab
955
00:32:12,799 --> 00:32:15,402
for analysis.
956
00:32:15,435 --> 00:32:20,173
At this point,
957
00:32:15,435 --> 00:32:20,173
it moves from hope for Walter
958
00:32:20,206 --> 00:32:23,143
into a homicide investigation.
959
00:32:25,545 --> 00:32:27,947
[Narrator]: The trip to Indiana
960
00:32:25,545 --> 00:32:27,947
gives investigators what they
961
00:32:27,981 --> 00:32:32,452
need to arrest Willa Blanc
962
00:32:27,981 --> 00:32:32,452
and her son, Louis.
963
00:32:33,520 --> 00:32:36,956
In the early morning hours
964
00:32:33,520 --> 00:32:36,956
of Saturday the 14th,
965
00:32:36,990 --> 00:32:40,493
Louis and his mother were both
966
00:32:36,990 --> 00:32:40,493
arrested without incident,
967
00:32:40,527 --> 00:32:44,970
and they were taken back to
968
00:32:40,527 --> 00:32:44,970
the local police department.
969
00:33:05,418 --> 00:33:08,121
[Narrator]: Investigators turn
970
00:33:05,418 --> 00:33:08,121
their attention to Louis,
971
00:33:08,154 --> 00:33:10,560
hoping he'll talk.
972
00:33:27,874 --> 00:33:31,770
[Narrator]: Detectives find
973
00:33:27,874 --> 00:33:31,770
Louis at a breaking point.
974
00:33:58,104 --> 00:34:00,874
[Narrator]: According to Louis,
975
00:33:58,104 --> 00:34:00,874
it all began when his mom
976
00:34:00,907 --> 00:34:05,879
called him to her home one
977
00:34:00,907 --> 00:34:05,879
afternoon in mid-February.
978
00:34:05,912 --> 00:34:09,716
[Linda]: When he arrived home,
979
00:34:05,912 --> 00:34:09,716
he found Walter Sartory
980
00:34:09,748 --> 00:34:11,951
sitting in a chair
981
00:34:09,748 --> 00:34:11,951
in their basement
982
00:34:12,520 --> 00:34:14,621
and his hands were
983
00:34:12,520 --> 00:34:14,621
duct taped to the chair.
984
00:34:14,654 --> 00:34:17,924
His feet were duct taped and
985
00:34:14,654 --> 00:34:17,924
he had duct tape over his mouth.
986
00:34:23,730 --> 00:34:26,800
She told him that she needed him
987
00:34:23,730 --> 00:34:26,800
to stay in the basement
988
00:34:26,833 --> 00:34:29,690
and care for Mr. Sartory.
989
00:34:29,936 --> 00:34:31,971
She then went upstairs,
990
00:34:32,719 --> 00:34:36,760
and deadbolted the door
991
00:34:32,719 --> 00:34:36,760
to the basement.
992
00:34:50,456 --> 00:34:52,625
Keep in mind
993
00:34:50,456 --> 00:34:52,625
that Walter Sartory
994
00:34:52,659 --> 00:34:56,228
is a diagnosed paranoid
995
00:34:52,659 --> 00:34:56,228
schizophrenic who has been
996
00:34:56,262 --> 00:34:59,299
forcibly removed
997
00:34:56,262 --> 00:34:59,299
from his medication.
998
00:35:01,301 --> 00:35:03,837
[Narrator]: Louis says he
999
00:35:01,301 --> 00:35:03,837
followed his mother's orders
1000
00:35:03,870 --> 00:35:07,540
and proceeded to care for Walt.
1001
00:35:07,574 --> 00:35:10,510
He indicated that his mother
1002
00:35:07,574 --> 00:35:10,510
would come downstairs with food
1003
00:35:10,543 --> 00:35:13,446
and drink for Mr. Sartory.
1004
00:35:13,480 --> 00:35:16,490
Louis had indicated
1005
00:35:13,480 --> 00:35:16,490
that Mr. Sartory
1006
00:35:16,490 --> 00:35:19,520
would throw up
1007
00:35:16,490 --> 00:35:19,520
right after being fed.
1008
00:35:20,153 --> 00:35:23,123
It could have potentially been
1009
00:35:20,153 --> 00:35:23,123
because he was being poisoned.
1010
00:35:35,568 --> 00:35:40,373
[Narrator]: In the end,
1011
00:35:35,568 --> 00:35:40,373
Walt was overcome by the ordeal.
1012
00:35:40,407 --> 00:35:42,876
He couldn't do anything other
1013
00:35:40,407 --> 00:35:42,876
than when tape was taken
1014
00:35:42,909 --> 00:35:45,211
from his mouth,
1015
00:35:42,909 --> 00:35:45,211
and he was fed
1016
00:35:45,245 --> 00:35:48,848
what we believe was
1017
00:35:45,245 --> 00:35:48,848
a poisonous substance.
1018
00:35:49,516 --> 00:35:54,320
And he succumbed to what was
1019
00:35:49,516 --> 00:35:54,320
going on to his body and died.
1020
00:36:03,830 --> 00:36:06,366
[Narrator]: Louis insists
1021
00:36:03,830 --> 00:36:06,366
that Willa's husband, Paul,
1022
00:36:06,399 --> 00:36:10,704
had no knowledge of the horrors
1023
00:36:06,399 --> 00:36:10,704
that unfolded in his basement.
1024
00:36:19,446 --> 00:36:21,715
[Coy]: I believe him,
1025
00:36:19,446 --> 00:36:21,715
in that Paul didn't know
1026
00:36:21,748 --> 00:36:23,616
what was actually going on.
1027
00:36:23,650 --> 00:36:26,860
He had just had
1028
00:36:23,650 --> 00:36:26,860
amputation surgery,
1029
00:36:26,119 --> 00:36:30,423
and he really couldn't move.
1030
00:36:26,119 --> 00:36:30,423
He was confined to a couch.
1031
00:36:30,457 --> 00:36:33,426
[Linda]: Given that he was
1032
00:36:30,457 --> 00:36:33,426
much older than Willa
1033
00:36:33,460 --> 00:36:36,329
and that he seemed to be not
1034
00:36:33,460 --> 00:36:36,329
in real good health,
1035
00:36:36,363 --> 00:36:41,101
Detective Cox's concern was
1036
00:36:36,363 --> 00:36:41,101
that, uh, that Paul himself
1037
00:36:41,134 --> 00:36:44,537
was being financially exploited
1038
00:36:41,134 --> 00:36:44,537
by Willa Blanc.
1039
00:36:45,939 --> 00:36:48,541
[Narrator]: Louis's detrimental
1040
00:36:45,939 --> 00:36:48,541
relationship with his mother
1041
00:36:48,575 --> 00:36:52,879
leaves investigators questioning
1042
00:36:48,575 --> 00:36:52,879
his involvement.
1043
00:36:52,912 --> 00:36:55,248
He said,
1044
00:36:52,912 --> 00:36:55,248
she was essentially a puppeteer
1045
00:36:55,281 --> 00:36:58,218
and that she pulled the strings
1046
00:36:55,281 --> 00:36:58,218
and made Louis do whatever
1047
00:36:58,251 --> 00:37:01,121
it was that she needed done.
1048
00:37:01,154 --> 00:37:03,456
[Brent]: Louis was a grown man.
1049
00:37:01,154 --> 00:37:03,456
He never called 911.
1050
00:37:03,490 --> 00:37:05,291
He never called the police.
1051
00:37:05,325 --> 00:37:07,600
Maybe he didn't have access
1052
00:37:05,325 --> 00:37:07,600
to the phone.
1053
00:37:07,930 --> 00:37:08,294
Maybe he was locked
1054
00:37:07,930 --> 00:37:08,294
in the basement.
1055
00:37:08,328 --> 00:37:09,763
I don't know.
1056
00:37:11,731 --> 00:37:13,660
[Narrator]: Coming up,
1057
00:37:13,990 --> 00:37:16,360
prosecutors prepare for trial.
1058
00:37:16,690 --> 00:37:20,540
We filed notice of intent
1059
00:37:16,690 --> 00:37:20,540
to seek the death penalty.
1060
00:37:20,573 --> 00:37:23,430
While we were searching the
1061
00:37:20,573 --> 00:37:23,430
home, we did locate a book,
1062
00:37:23,430 --> 00:37:25,378
How To Choose Your Next Prey.
1063
00:37:25,412 --> 00:37:27,614
When I executed the search
1064
00:37:25,412 --> 00:37:27,614
warrant on the vehicle
1065
00:37:27,647 --> 00:37:31,418
of Mrs. Blanc, we found a
1066
00:37:27,647 --> 00:37:31,418
black semi-automatic handgun.
1067
00:37:46,433 --> 00:37:51,671
[Narrator]: On March 14, 2009,
1068
00:37:46,433 --> 00:37:51,671
27-year-old Louis Wilkinson
1069
00:37:51,705 --> 00:37:54,274
finally confesses
1070
00:37:51,705 --> 00:37:54,274
to investigators
1071
00:37:54,307 --> 00:37:58,611
that his mother, Willa,
1072
00:37:54,307 --> 00:37:58,611
held 73-year-old Walt Sartory
1073
00:37:58,645 --> 00:38:00,613
prisoner in her basement,
1074
00:38:00,647 --> 00:38:03,817
killing him
1075
00:38:00,647 --> 00:38:03,817
and burning his remains.
1076
00:38:07,287 --> 00:38:09,220
As her trial approaches,
1077
00:38:09,550 --> 00:38:11,825
prosecutors execute
1078
00:38:09,550 --> 00:38:11,825
several search warrants
1079
00:38:11,858 --> 00:38:16,730
to gather more details
1080
00:38:11,858 --> 00:38:16,730
of Willa's maniacal plan.
1081
00:38:16,763 --> 00:38:18,164
While we were
1082
00:38:16,763 --> 00:38:18,164
searching the home,
1083
00:38:18,198 --> 00:38:22,350
we did locate a book,
1084
00:38:18,198 --> 00:38:22,350
How to Choose Your Next Prey.
1085
00:38:24,370 --> 00:38:27,400
[Narrator]: Authorities believe
1086
00:38:24,370 --> 00:38:27,400
that Willa was the mystery woman
1087
00:38:27,400 --> 00:38:30,810
Walt had complained about just
1088
00:38:27,400 --> 00:38:30,810
weeks before he went missing.
1089
00:38:32,112 --> 00:38:33,413
[Brent]:
1090
00:38:32,112 --> 00:38:33,413
She was in his neighborhood,
1091
00:38:33,446 --> 00:38:34,814
cleaning his neighbor's house.
1092
00:38:34,848 --> 00:38:37,283
He was advanced in years.
1093
00:38:37,317 --> 00:38:41,254
She was very quickly able to,
1094
00:38:37,317 --> 00:38:41,254
uh, assess that,
1095
00:38:41,287 --> 00:38:43,823
here is someone
1096
00:38:41,287 --> 00:38:43,823
who is vulnerable.
1097
00:38:45,291 --> 00:38:48,762
It was very obvious that Willa
1098
00:38:45,291 --> 00:38:48,762
had been doing her own
1099
00:38:48,795 --> 00:38:52,650
surveillance on Walter Sartory
1100
00:38:48,795 --> 00:38:52,650
and paying attention
1101
00:38:52,650 --> 00:38:54,434
to when he comes,
1102
00:38:52,650 --> 00:38:54,434
when he goes.
1103
00:38:55,168 --> 00:38:57,804
She and her son let Walter
1104
00:38:55,168 --> 00:38:57,804
know that it was them who
1105
00:38:57,837 --> 00:38:59,305
had shoveled the driveway.
1106
00:38:59,339 --> 00:39:03,900
At that time, Willa handed
1107
00:38:59,339 --> 00:39:03,900
Walter a stack of mail
1108
00:39:03,900 --> 00:39:05,111
that she had collected
1109
00:39:03,900 --> 00:39:05,111
without him asking,
1110
00:39:05,145 --> 00:39:07,647
that included some
1111
00:39:05,145 --> 00:39:07,647
financial documents.
1112
00:39:11,718 --> 00:39:14,354
[Narrator]: Under the guise
1113
00:39:11,718 --> 00:39:14,354
of trying to help,
1114
00:39:14,387 --> 00:39:16,890
Willa was scoping Walt out.
1115
00:39:17,891 --> 00:39:20,293
[Brian]: When I executed the
1116
00:39:17,891 --> 00:39:20,293
search warrant on the vehicle
1117
00:39:20,326 --> 00:39:21,861
of Ms. Blanc,
1118
00:39:21,895 --> 00:39:25,465
we found a picture of Walter
1119
00:39:21,895 --> 00:39:25,465
as well as financial statements
1120
00:39:25,498 --> 00:39:29,669
from Fidelity and a black
1121
00:39:25,498 --> 00:39:29,669
semi-automatic handgun.
1122
00:39:30,537 --> 00:39:32,939
She had opened documents,
1123
00:39:30,537 --> 00:39:32,939
which demonstrated that
1124
00:39:33,390 --> 00:39:36,176
he had accounts in
1125
00:39:33,390 --> 00:39:36,176
very large sums of money.
1126
00:39:39,450 --> 00:39:41,815
[Narrator]: Employees at Walt's
1127
00:39:39,450 --> 00:39:41,815
bank tell prosecutors
1128
00:39:41,848 --> 00:39:45,418
how Willa scammed her way into
1129
00:39:41,848 --> 00:39:45,418
getting power of attorney
1130
00:39:45,452 --> 00:39:48,488
using a stand-in
1131
00:39:45,452 --> 00:39:48,488
to pose as Walt.
1132
00:39:49,122 --> 00:39:52,580
An imposter was being used
1133
00:39:49,122 --> 00:39:52,580
for the purpose of signing
1134
00:39:52,580 --> 00:39:54,160
these legal documents.
1135
00:39:54,594 --> 00:39:59,399
All identified a man
1136
00:39:54,594 --> 00:39:59,399
who seemed to be in his 70s,
1137
00:39:59,432 --> 00:40:02,669
who was frail,
1138
00:39:59,432 --> 00:40:02,669
and had an oxygen mask on,
1139
00:40:02,702 --> 00:40:05,472
and was carrying
1140
00:40:02,702 --> 00:40:05,472
an oxygen tank with him.
1141
00:40:05,505 --> 00:40:07,707
During that period of time
1142
00:40:05,505 --> 00:40:07,707
is when Walter Sartory
1143
00:40:07,741 --> 00:40:09,676
was restrained in her basement.
1144
00:40:09,709 --> 00:40:12,178
The imposter was
1145
00:40:09,709 --> 00:40:12,178
never identified.
1146
00:40:15,515 --> 00:40:18,885
[Narrator]: As far as how Willa
1147
00:40:15,515 --> 00:40:18,885
got Walt into her basement,
1148
00:40:18,918 --> 00:40:22,589
investigators can
1149
00:40:18,918 --> 00:40:22,589
only speculate.
1150
00:40:22,622 --> 00:40:25,825
Detectives were not
1151
00:40:22,622 --> 00:40:25,825
willing to say exactly how
1152
00:40:25,859 --> 00:40:29,129
Walter Sartory ended up
1153
00:40:25,859 --> 00:40:29,129
in Willa Blanc's house.
1154
00:40:29,162 --> 00:40:34,670
It was widely insinuated
1155
00:40:29,162 --> 00:40:34,670
that he did not go there, um,
1156
00:40:34,100 --> 00:40:35,769
by his own choosing.
1157
00:40:39,439 --> 00:40:41,374
[Narrator]: On April 13th,
1158
00:40:41,408 --> 00:40:43,843
nearly two months
1159
00:40:41,408 --> 00:40:43,843
after his disappearance,
1160
00:40:43,877 --> 00:40:47,113
forensics finally confirms
1161
00:40:43,877 --> 00:40:47,113
the remains found
1162
00:40:47,147 --> 00:40:51,818
on Duane Lively's property
1163
00:40:47,147 --> 00:40:51,818
in Indiana are Walter's.
1164
00:40:53,119 --> 00:40:54,254
[Linda]: Because of the
1165
00:40:53,119 --> 00:40:54,254
condition
1166
00:40:54,287 --> 00:40:55,522
that Walter Sartory's body
1167
00:40:55,555 --> 00:40:57,691
was found in,
1168
00:40:55,555 --> 00:40:57,691
which was basically
1169
00:40:57,724 --> 00:41:01,294
a handful of bone fragments,
1170
00:40:57,724 --> 00:41:01,294
the medical examiner, obviously
1171
00:41:01,327 --> 00:41:04,130
was never able to determine
1172
00:41:01,327 --> 00:41:04,130
a cause of death.
1173
00:41:07,267 --> 00:41:09,703
[Narrator]: On May 12, 2009,
1174
00:41:09,736 --> 00:41:14,174
a Kentucky grand jury
1175
00:41:09,736 --> 00:41:14,174
indicts the mother and son.
1176
00:41:14,808 --> 00:41:18,178
[Linda]: Willa and Louis were
1177
00:41:14,808 --> 00:41:18,178
indicted on multiple charges,
1178
00:41:18,211 --> 00:41:21,915
including kidnapping, murder,
1179
00:41:18,211 --> 00:41:21,915
theft by deception,
1180
00:41:21,948 --> 00:41:25,118
tampering with evidence,
1181
00:41:21,948 --> 00:41:25,118
and then a whole host of charges
1182
00:41:25,151 --> 00:41:27,387
relating to the finances,
1183
00:41:27,420 --> 00:41:30,256
including exploitation
1184
00:41:27,420 --> 00:41:30,256
of an adult.
1185
00:41:31,191 --> 00:41:34,461
We filed notice of intent
1186
00:41:31,191 --> 00:41:34,461
to seek the death penalty
1187
00:41:34,494 --> 00:41:36,229
against Willa Blanc.
1188
00:41:39,933 --> 00:41:42,102
[Narrator]:
1189
00:41:39,933 --> 00:41:42,102
Facing the threat of death row,
1190
00:41:42,135 --> 00:41:45,839
in December 2011,
1191
00:41:42,135 --> 00:41:45,839
Willa takes a plea deal.
1192
00:41:48,800 --> 00:41:50,143
She pled guilty to all charges
1193
00:41:50,176 --> 00:41:53,947
and received life without
1194
00:41:50,176 --> 00:41:53,947
the possibility of parole.
1195
00:41:56,616 --> 00:41:58,118
[Narrator]:
1196
00:41:56,616 --> 00:41:58,118
The following September,
1197
00:41:58,151 --> 00:42:01,354
Louis also pleads
1198
00:41:58,151 --> 00:42:01,354
guilty to kidnapping,
1199
00:42:01,388 --> 00:42:06,590
abuse of a corpse
1200
00:42:01,388 --> 00:42:06,590
and exploitation of an adult.
1201
00:42:06,590 --> 00:42:09,620
He receives a 30-year sentence.
1202
00:42:12,732 --> 00:42:16,369
Those close to the case
1203
00:42:12,732 --> 00:42:16,369
believe Willa's ability to
1204
00:42:16,403 --> 00:42:22,750
carry out such a callous murder
1205
00:42:16,403 --> 00:42:22,750
was fueled by one thing...
1206
00:42:22,750 --> 00:42:23,877
Greed.
1207
00:42:23,910 --> 00:42:27,480
She would do just about anything
1208
00:42:23,910 --> 00:42:27,480
to get her hands on the funds
1209
00:42:27,514 --> 00:42:32,152
to save the lifestyle that
1210
00:42:27,514 --> 00:42:32,152
she had created for herself.
1211
00:42:32,185 --> 00:42:36,289
[Jon]: Money drove Willa Blanc
1212
00:42:32,185 --> 00:42:36,289
to do the things that she did.
1213
00:42:36,322 --> 00:42:38,491
She was just very good
1214
00:42:36,322 --> 00:42:38,491
at playing
1215
00:42:38,525 --> 00:42:41,394
and acting that
1216
00:42:38,525 --> 00:42:41,394
she was a good person.
1217
00:42:41,428 --> 00:42:44,297
But at the end of the day,
1218
00:42:41,428 --> 00:42:44,297
she was a master manipulator
1219
00:42:44,330 --> 00:42:46,966
who knew how to get
1220
00:42:44,330 --> 00:42:46,966
what she wanted.
1221
00:42:47,000 --> 00:42:51,504
I believe wholeheartedly that
1222
00:42:47,000 --> 00:42:51,504
she did this to Walter for money
1223
00:42:51,538 --> 00:42:53,707
and that's the only reason.
1224
00:42:56,776 --> 00:42:59,312
[Brian]: The saddest part
1225
00:42:56,776 --> 00:42:59,312
of this entire case
1226
00:42:59,346 --> 00:43:03,817
is that Walter had to live
1227
00:42:59,346 --> 00:43:03,817
his worst fear.
1228
00:43:03,850 --> 00:43:06,486
He was afraid that people
1229
00:43:03,850 --> 00:43:06,486
were out to get him,
1230
00:43:06,519 --> 00:43:08,555
and he was right,
1231
00:43:06,519 --> 00:43:08,555
they were.
1232
00:43:10,256 --> 00:43:15,428
I think that Walter's legacy is
1233
00:43:10,256 --> 00:43:15,428
that of his time as a scientist
1234
00:43:15,462 --> 00:43:18,898
and the kindness that he gave
1235
00:43:15,462 --> 00:43:18,898
to other people
1236
00:43:18,932 --> 00:43:21,334
that were not his close family.
1237
00:43:21,368 --> 00:43:23,536
He was a very kind man.
1238
00:43:25,805 --> 00:43:37,817
[music]