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[narrator] a horrific accident
rips a family of four apart...
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[barbara] I couldn't believe it.
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He was my big brother.
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And he was gone.
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[narrator] one
family member dead,
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And three years later,
another vanishes.
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No one had seen her.
No one had talked to her.
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No one knew where she was.
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[narrator] what detectives
uncover is beyond the pale.
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[arland] I began to realize that
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I had dealt with these people
in the past.
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It went from a missing persons
to something more serious.
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Anybody who would do that
must have been a sociopath.
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[narrator] and
a sickening ultimatum
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Is revealed.
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[amber] he was told he didn't
have a choice.
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"you have to do something
about this.
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It has to happen now."
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I said, "well, where's she at?
Where's the body?"
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She says, "there is no body."
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My worst nightmares
were coming true.
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[music]
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[narrator] in the quaint
resort community of
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Beverly shores, indiana,
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The pace is easy and crime
almost nonexistent.
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But on the evening of
September 1st, 1981,
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The local police department
receives a panicked 911 call.
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It was marie witte
that made the call,
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And it went to beverly shores
police department.
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[amber] marie witte,
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A 33-year-old mother of two
in beverly shores,
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Says she just got home and found
her husband dead on the couch.
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That her husband has been shot,
and she needs help immediately.
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[music]
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[narrator] first responders
race to the residence
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To find marie, her mother,
marcie o'donnell,
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And marie's two teenage sons,
eric and butch,
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Seemingly in shock.
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[clifford] when the police
came in,
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Marie told them there was
a terrible accident.
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That her husband, paul witte,
had been shot.
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Paul had been apparently asleep
on the couch
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When he was shot in the head.
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[narrator] paul is pronounced
dead at the scene.
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[music]
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[amber] it was a shocking
revelation
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For the people who arrived,
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Because a lot of people in
the community knew paul witte
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And knew the family.
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They were friendly
and loving to outsiders.
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[music]
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[music]
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[narrator] paul witte was born
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In michigan city, indiana
in 1937.
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[amber] paul's family was pretty
rooted in the community.
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They had been in that county
for a really long time.
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His dad worked for the railroad
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At some point,
his parents split,
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And his dad remarried
a woman named elaine.
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[music]
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[narrator] when paul was
17 years old,
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He enlisted in the navy.
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[barbara] when he was in
the navy, I was little.
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Saw him occasionally,
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And at christmastime,
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He would always come visit.
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I remember him as being
a go-getter,
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And, you know, always wanting
to do something.
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[narrator] after his discharge,
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Paul returned to indiana
and settled in beverly shores,
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A popular beach community
just an hour south of chicago.
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[barbara] he was working with
the steel company in gary.
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He was also the volunteer
fireman in beverly shores,
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And...
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Whenever he did anything,
he went gung-ho for it.
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200%
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[clifford] he was a,
very much an outdoor man.
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A real macho guy.
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Had the full beard and mustache.
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He was a hunter...
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And a fisherman.
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[narrator] while in
his late 20's,
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Paul took an eye-opening trip
to sunny south florida.
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[barbara] for whatever bee
he got in his bonnet,
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He went to florida.
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And my brother paul tells me,
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"oh, you get to tell mom
where I spent my vacation.
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I was at a nudist camp."
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And my aunt just about
had a cow.
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My mom about had two cows.
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That's where he met...
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Infamous marie.
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[music]
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[narrator] born in 1948,
hilma marie crist
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Had a free spirit that matched
her unorthodox upbringing.
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My birth father ran
a nudist camp...
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In del ray beach, florida.
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We had lots of acreage.
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There was a pond or a lake,
and a big pool.
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You walked around nude
all the time,
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But as a child,
I never felt uncomfortable.
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I mean, people can't fathom
that type of a lifestyle.
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[music]
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[narrator] paul and marie
hit it off.
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So much so, that he soon
returned to the resort
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A second time.
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[barbara] there was some secrecy
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About where paul had
spent his vacation.
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And here I was...
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I was maybe 14 years old,
and that would make marie 16.
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I think he was
infatuated with her.
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[amber] they probably
didn't look like
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A logical match to outsiders.
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But it wasn't very long after
that...
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Marie got married to paul witte.
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[barbara] when I first
met marie,
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It was just before
they got married.
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She's not what I imagined that
my brother would marry.
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She was loud, and nobody,
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At least from our family,
was impressed with her at all.
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[narrator] 27-year-old paul
and 16-year-old marie
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Married in 1964, and settled in
a home in beverly shores,
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Not far from paul's father
and stepmother,
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Len and elaine witte.
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Paul was happy to be married,
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And he wanted a family.
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[music]
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[narrator] in 1966,
18-year-old marie
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Gave birth to
their first son, eric.
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His brother john,
also known as "butch",
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Came along three years later.
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Paul was very much
the boss in the house.
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And marie, she was a homemaker.
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Of the children,
eric was more of a sportsman.
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He had dad's favor.
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He was sort of the golden child.
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Butch comes along,
and he is mama's boy.
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[narrator] everyone knew
paul ran a tight ship.
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Butch and eric described
their father as,
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As being a,
a very strict authoritarian.
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[amber] paul seemed to have
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A pretty traditional view
of marriage.
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So, paul worked for a living.
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Marie stayed home,
took care of the house.
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[narrator] however,
the young mother
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Struggled to fill her role.
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[barbara] she did not know
how to keep house.
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You had to walk across
the clothes on the floor
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In the kitchen,
and it was a disaster.
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[music]
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[narrator] in December of 1980,
marie's mother,
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Marcie o'donnell,
moved in with them.
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[clifford] marie's mother
was widowed,
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So she spent a lot of time
with marie,
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And butch would be
with them often.
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[amber] she loved being
a grandma.
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She liked being close
to her daughter,
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And she would
help out as needed.
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[barbara] they seemed to share
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A happy-go-lucky type of
coexistence.
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[music]
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[narrator] but this outwardly
happy household crumbles
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On September 1st, 1981,
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When officers find paul witte
dead on his living room couch.
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[amber] strangely, it was
a little serene
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For what they were walking into
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The people in the house
were pretty calm,
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But what police found was
a man dead on his couch
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With a bullet hole in his head.
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[narrator] even more shocking
to police
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Is who fired the gun.
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Essentially, marie had told
our investigator
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That her son eric had a gun,
had a .357 magnum,
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And had tripped.
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And it had went off and
shot her husband in the head.
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[music]
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[narrator] according to marie,
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She wasn't home when
her husband died.
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But her 15-year-old son, eric,
insists it was an accident.
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[amber] marie was basically in
the driveway,
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Pulling into the house,
when the gun went off.
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So, the only person believed to
have been in the room
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When the gun fired was eric.
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Eric witte, the son, said,
"I'd found this gun.
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"I'd never seen it before.
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"I was interested in learning
a little bit about it.
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"so I brought it in to my dad,
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Tripped, and it discharged."
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[gunshot]
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[music]
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[barbara] when paul was shot,
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It was on the television
in south bend.
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My mother called me,
and I was at work.
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I couldn't believe it.
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He was my big brother,
and he was gone.
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We were told or heard that
it was an accident.
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I didn't know what to think,
and even to this day...
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I don't know what I did think.
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[music]
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[narrator] coming up.
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15-year-old eric witte tells
his side of the story.
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There was skepticism
that it didn't make
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A whole heck of a lot of sense.
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[narrator] and later, heartache
hits the witte home again.
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A neighbor across the street
from where elaine lived
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Indicated that she hadn't seen
her for months.
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00:11:01,833 --> 00:11:04,969
That's when I just knew
somethin' was wrong.
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My worst nightmares
were coming true.
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[music]
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[narrator] September 1st, 1981.
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00:11:25,090 --> 00:11:27,991
Officers in beverly shores,
indiana,
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00:11:27,993 --> 00:11:32,830
Respond to a 911 call to find
44-year-old paul witte
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00:11:32,897 --> 00:11:36,633
Dead in his home from
a gunshot wound to the head.
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00:11:38,336 --> 00:11:42,038
Indiana state investigators
soon arrive at the scene
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00:11:42,107 --> 00:11:44,140
To assist the police force.
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00:11:45,076 --> 00:11:47,977
[amber] marie says that she
hadn't been home at the time.
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She was running some errands,
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And when she walked
into the house, eric was there.
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Her husband was dead,
and eric said that, you know,
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"I tripped, the gun went off."
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It was not a well-kept house
at all
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By any stretch of
the imagination.
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It wasn't impossible for what
they said to have happened,
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00:12:08,766 --> 00:12:09,966
Someone tripping.
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So, you keep an open mind.
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[narrator] investigators collect
the .357 handgun as evidence.
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[music]
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[narrator] although
marie witte's mother,
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Marcie o'donnell,
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And marie's youngest son, butch
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00:12:25,517 --> 00:12:28,051
Were in the house at the time
of the shooting,
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00:12:28,053 --> 00:12:30,220
Neither saw it happen.
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[amber] marcie, the grandmother,
said she was in the dining room
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She's in the back of the house,
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And eric had been at
the front of the house,
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Walking into this living room
where his dad paul was asleep.
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Butch tells police that
he was in a bedroom
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When the gunshot fired.
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[narrator] the family's
whereabouts isn't all
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That strikes detectives as odd.
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It appeared that he'd been
shot in the top of the head
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And at sort of a downward angle
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00:13:02,087 --> 00:13:03,987
And if he'd tripped, the bullet
would've come in
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00:13:04,055 --> 00:13:06,889
More of a direct angle
as opposed to a downward angle.
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I didn't think it was
an accident.
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00:13:08,926 --> 00:13:10,493
I didn't know what it was yet.
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00:13:10,562 --> 00:13:14,263
[music]
248
00:13:14,265 --> 00:13:17,700
[narrator] detectives want to
question 15-year-old eric,
249
00:13:17,702 --> 00:13:20,304
But marie quickly intervenes.
250
00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:23,840
[arland] marie didn't want me to
talking to eric.
251
00:13:24,108 --> 00:13:26,243
She said,
"I think we need an attorney."
252
00:13:26,845 --> 00:13:28,177
And I said,
253
00:13:28,246 --> 00:13:29,512
"that's your prerogative.
That's fine."
254
00:13:29,782 --> 00:13:31,180
People do that,
255
00:13:31,182 --> 00:13:32,648
But it's a little flag
waving there that says
256
00:13:32,717 --> 00:13:34,852
This is not normal.
257
00:13:38,056 --> 00:13:39,455
[narrator] six days later,
258
00:13:39,457 --> 00:13:42,658
Investigators sit down
with eric and marie
259
00:13:42,727 --> 00:13:44,494
At their attorney's office.
260
00:13:45,864 --> 00:13:47,864
Eric says the night of
the accident,
261
00:13:47,932 --> 00:13:49,665
His dad wasn't feeling well
262
00:13:49,734 --> 00:13:52,402
And had laid down on the sofa
for a nap.
263
00:13:54,272 --> 00:13:56,539
[clifford] eric found
a gun upstairs.
264
00:13:57,275 --> 00:14:00,611
He brought the gun down from
upstairs to show it to his dad,
265
00:14:00,678 --> 00:14:02,312
He wanted to talk about it.
266
00:14:03,348 --> 00:14:05,214
[barbara] paul was familiar
with guns.
267
00:14:05,216 --> 00:14:08,417
Guns were something
that we all grew up with.
268
00:14:08,753 --> 00:14:10,621
Paul had guns in the house,
269
00:14:10,688 --> 00:14:14,690
And it didn't seem odd
to me at all.
270
00:14:15,627 --> 00:14:18,694
[narrator] eric tells detectives
that this was the first time
271
00:14:18,763 --> 00:14:22,632
He saw this particular
.357 revolver.
272
00:14:23,302 --> 00:14:25,169
[arland] his dad was asleep on
the couch.
273
00:14:25,503 --> 00:14:27,036
He came in the room
274
00:14:27,105 --> 00:14:29,505
To talk to his dad
about the gun, how it worked.
275
00:14:29,774 --> 00:14:31,774
He said he had
tripped on the rug,
276
00:14:32,243 --> 00:14:34,577
And that he had fallen forward,
and this has happened.
277
00:14:34,946 --> 00:14:36,446
[gunshot]
278
00:14:36,514 --> 00:14:37,980
And the gun actually
accidentally went off,
279
00:14:37,982 --> 00:14:39,448
And shot him in the head.
280
00:14:39,517 --> 00:14:43,319
[music]
281
00:14:43,388 --> 00:14:45,321
[scott] there was skepticism
that it didn't make
282
00:14:45,390 --> 00:14:47,323
A whole heck of a lot of sense
that he just happened
283
00:14:47,392 --> 00:14:50,260
To hit his dad right in
the head with a shot.
284
00:14:51,262 --> 00:14:52,461
[arland] my question to him was,
285
00:14:52,530 --> 00:14:55,332
"why are you taking a, a gun,
a loaded gun, to your dad?"
286
00:14:56,001 --> 00:14:58,334
And, and he said that
he wanted to see about
287
00:14:58,336 --> 00:15:00,103
The safety mechanism
or something.
288
00:15:01,006 --> 00:15:02,605
I said, "did you have
the gun cocked?"
289
00:15:03,008 --> 00:15:04,607
And he said he didn't think so.
290
00:15:05,143 --> 00:15:07,211
And that was a,
a big red flag to me.
291
00:15:07,278 --> 00:15:10,613
Because it takes quite a bit
of pull to be able to shoot
292
00:15:10,615 --> 00:15:12,348
A double action .357.
293
00:15:12,350 --> 00:15:14,418
There is a trigger pull to it.
294
00:15:15,219 --> 00:15:16,952
But at that point in time,
295
00:15:17,022 --> 00:15:19,089
The attorney stopped me
from questioning him.
296
00:15:21,326 --> 00:15:23,826
[narrator] unable to question
eric further,
297
00:15:23,828 --> 00:15:25,895
Investigators turn to marie.
298
00:15:26,165 --> 00:15:28,264
She corroborates
her son's story,
299
00:15:28,266 --> 00:15:31,567
But refuses to give
a formal statement.
300
00:15:32,236 --> 00:15:35,104
She would answer a question
if I asked her something,
301
00:15:35,173 --> 00:15:37,573
But other than that,
she didn't volunteer anything.
302
00:15:38,043 --> 00:15:40,510
She tried to be very quiet
around me.
303
00:15:40,845 --> 00:15:43,846
I told marie
and told the attorney,
304
00:15:43,848 --> 00:15:45,382
"you'll see me again someday.
305
00:15:45,450 --> 00:15:46,984
"because he's getting
by with this,
306
00:15:47,051 --> 00:15:48,318
"and he'll do it again.
307
00:15:49,053 --> 00:15:51,454
So, trust me, you're gonna
see me again."
308
00:15:51,657 --> 00:15:53,189
[amber] had marie been home,
309
00:15:53,257 --> 00:15:55,725
Maybe there would have
been more suspicion.
310
00:15:56,061 --> 00:15:57,393
But she wasn't,
311
00:15:57,462 --> 00:16:00,530
And that was backed up
by her alibi.
312
00:16:00,532 --> 00:16:03,265
There were people
who had seen her car around.
313
00:16:03,735 --> 00:16:07,470
She pulled into the driveway as
the gun was going off.
314
00:16:07,472 --> 00:16:11,707
[music]
315
00:16:11,709 --> 00:16:15,077
[narrator] the autopsy findings
provide no further insight
316
00:16:15,146 --> 00:16:16,679
To the officers.
317
00:16:17,416 --> 00:16:20,150
With no evidence or
eyewitness testimony
318
00:16:20,218 --> 00:16:21,884
To refute eric's claims,
319
00:16:21,886 --> 00:16:26,990
Indiana authorities officially
rule paul's death an accident.
320
00:16:28,693 --> 00:16:30,026
That's what we had,
321
00:16:30,094 --> 00:16:31,961
Was that it was an accident,
and that was really all.
322
00:16:32,697 --> 00:16:35,431
I was pulled away for
different investigations.
323
00:16:35,500 --> 00:16:39,835
[music]
324
00:16:39,904 --> 00:16:41,103
[narrator] in the coming months,
325
00:16:41,172 --> 00:16:45,309
Marie turns her attention to
rebuilding her family's lives.
326
00:16:46,244 --> 00:16:48,310
There was
a small life insurance policy.
327
00:16:48,379 --> 00:16:49,245
I say small,
328
00:16:49,247 --> 00:16:51,113
Like 25 thousand dollars
or something.
329
00:16:51,182 --> 00:16:53,917
But nothing of any
real major importance.
330
00:16:55,086 --> 00:16:56,853
[narrator] but shortly after
paul's death,
331
00:16:57,322 --> 00:17:00,790
The land the witte's house
sits on is earmarked to become
332
00:17:00,858 --> 00:17:02,392
Part of a national park,
333
00:17:02,460 --> 00:17:06,095
And the family is forced
to move out.
334
00:17:07,265 --> 00:17:08,932
[william] marie's mother,
marcie o'donnell,
335
00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:10,866
Goes to live with a friend.
336
00:17:10,868 --> 00:17:12,802
Marie and her kids get an offer
337
00:17:12,870 --> 00:17:15,871
To move in with
paul's stepmother, elaine witte
338
00:17:15,940 --> 00:17:18,474
On johnson road in trail creek.
339
00:17:19,277 --> 00:17:21,811
[narrator] having been widowed
14 years earlier,
340
00:17:21,879 --> 00:17:25,815
Elaine is delighted to welcome
family into her home.
341
00:17:26,818 --> 00:17:30,453
I don't think she probably ever
had any question whatsoever
342
00:17:30,455 --> 00:17:34,423
About letting them go there
or inviting them.
343
00:17:34,492 --> 00:17:37,960
[music]
344
00:17:37,962 --> 00:17:39,629
[narrator] over the next
three years,
345
00:17:39,697 --> 00:17:43,299
The fresh start lifts
everyone's spirits.
346
00:17:44,435 --> 00:17:47,504
Elaine and marie seemed to
get along really well.
347
00:17:47,572 --> 00:17:50,106
They would sit
on the porch together,
348
00:17:50,174 --> 00:17:51,907
They would share stories.
349
00:17:52,376 --> 00:17:55,445
They really seemed kinda like
two peas in a pod.
350
00:17:56,514 --> 00:17:58,448
[narrator] after graduating
high school,
351
00:17:58,516 --> 00:18:02,385
Eric follows in his father's
footsteps and joins the navy,
352
00:18:02,387 --> 00:18:05,455
Ultimately relocating
to san diego.
353
00:18:06,657 --> 00:18:09,325
I thought it was great he was
going into the navy.
354
00:18:09,393 --> 00:18:10,994
Paul had been in the navy,
355
00:18:11,462 --> 00:18:14,264
So it seemed like a,
a good thing for him.
356
00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:16,600
[narrator] 15-year-old butch
357
00:18:16,667 --> 00:18:19,669
Stays home with marie
and elaine to finish school.
358
00:18:21,172 --> 00:18:22,938
Three years after paul's death,
359
00:18:23,007 --> 00:18:27,376
The witte family seems to have
settled into a new normal...
360
00:18:30,681 --> 00:18:33,549
Until may of 1984,
361
00:18:33,618 --> 00:18:35,951
When a concerned citizen
contacts
362
00:18:36,020 --> 00:18:38,355
The trail creek
police department.
363
00:18:39,757 --> 00:18:42,892
[william] max trout was
a neighbor across the street
364
00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:44,960
From where elaine lived.
365
00:18:45,496 --> 00:18:49,833
Max indicated that he had seen
elaine out in the yard,
366
00:18:49,901 --> 00:18:51,700
Usually tending to her flowers,
367
00:18:51,769 --> 00:18:54,504
But that he hadn't seen
her for months.
368
00:18:56,207 --> 00:18:58,274
[narrator] sergeant skip pierce
is dispatched to
369
00:18:58,342 --> 00:19:01,644
Elaine's residence to conduct
a welfare check.
370
00:19:02,847 --> 00:19:04,647
[arland] marie said as far as
they were concerned,
371
00:19:04,715 --> 00:19:06,982
Elaine witte had went on
an extended vacation.
372
00:19:07,652 --> 00:19:11,188
She was traveling alone
and was going to the west coast
373
00:19:11,255 --> 00:19:13,322
And making various stops
in between.
374
00:19:13,391 --> 00:19:15,725
She had no schedule
or anything like that.
375
00:19:16,328 --> 00:19:18,894
Nobody could
pinpoint where she was.
376
00:19:18,963 --> 00:19:21,997
[music]
377
00:19:22,066 --> 00:19:23,399
[narrator] coming up.
378
00:19:23,467 --> 00:19:27,303
A disappearance raises
an alarming red flag...
379
00:19:28,539 --> 00:19:31,006
[barbara] my son didn't get
a valentine's day card
380
00:19:31,008 --> 00:19:32,007
From grandma elaine,
381
00:19:32,076 --> 00:19:34,343
And he didn't get
a birthday card from her either.
382
00:19:34,345 --> 00:19:37,113
I just knew something had
happened to her.
383
00:19:37,949 --> 00:19:40,883
[narrator] and marie confronts
a ghost from her past.
384
00:19:41,152 --> 00:19:42,285
I said,
"hello, marie.
385
00:19:42,353 --> 00:19:43,920
Remember me?
I'm back."
386
00:19:44,555 --> 00:19:46,256
And she almost fainted.
387
00:19:48,092 --> 00:19:51,460
[music]
388
00:20:00,638 --> 00:20:03,106
[narrator] three years after
officials declared
389
00:20:03,174 --> 00:20:05,975
Paul witte's shooting death
an accident,
390
00:20:06,043 --> 00:20:09,513
Law enforcement are speaking
with marie witte again,
391
00:20:09,580 --> 00:20:12,983
Trying to locate
paul's stepmother, elaine.
392
00:20:13,584 --> 00:20:15,584
She said elaine was traveling.
393
00:20:16,120 --> 00:20:18,989
That she also was
visiting marie's son
394
00:20:19,056 --> 00:20:20,656
Who was in the navy,
395
00:20:20,658 --> 00:20:23,960
And that she didn't know when
she would be coming back.
396
00:20:24,630 --> 00:20:26,996
[narrator] marie assures
sergeant pierce
397
00:20:27,064 --> 00:20:28,598
That elaine is fine.
398
00:20:31,602 --> 00:20:34,738
But as weeks go by,
with no sign of her,
399
00:20:34,805 --> 00:20:37,673
Friends and family grow
concerned.
400
00:20:38,476 --> 00:20:41,744
[barbara] elaine would either
call me or I'd call her,
401
00:20:41,812 --> 00:20:45,614
I would say on average of about
once a month.
402
00:20:46,417 --> 00:20:49,152
My son didn't get
a valentine's day card
403
00:20:49,220 --> 00:20:50,286
From grandma elaine,
404
00:20:50,288 --> 00:20:52,889
And he didn't get
a birthday card from her either.
405
00:20:54,158 --> 00:20:56,826
And then in August, I called,
406
00:20:56,828 --> 00:21:01,497
And marie answered the phone,
and she said that...
407
00:21:02,567 --> 00:21:04,634
Elaine had gone on a trip.
408
00:21:04,702 --> 00:21:07,903
And she'd be back,
and she'd have her call me.
409
00:21:08,239 --> 00:21:09,439
That didn't happen.
410
00:21:09,975 --> 00:21:13,042
And that's when I called
the police in aurora.
411
00:21:13,110 --> 00:21:18,047
[music]
412
00:21:18,115 --> 00:21:19,381
[william] sergeant pierce,
413
00:21:19,450 --> 00:21:21,451
He had been back again to
marie's house
414
00:21:21,519 --> 00:21:23,252
To get more information.
415
00:21:23,654 --> 00:21:25,654
Again, was given the same story
416
00:21:25,656 --> 00:21:27,724
About her being on vacation.
417
00:21:29,260 --> 00:21:31,328
You have to understand,
trail creek is
418
00:21:31,395 --> 00:21:32,929
A four-person department.
419
00:21:32,997 --> 00:21:36,666
So at that point, we got ahold
of the indiana state police.
420
00:21:37,469 --> 00:21:39,869
[arland] skip pierce came to me
and said,
421
00:21:39,937 --> 00:21:41,270
"we got this lady...
422
00:21:41,272 --> 00:21:43,740
Her name's elaine witte.
She's missing."
423
00:21:43,808 --> 00:21:46,108
No one had seen her.
No one had talked to her.
424
00:21:46,177 --> 00:21:47,977
No one knew where she was.
425
00:21:50,815 --> 00:21:53,883
[narrator] it doesn't take
detective sergeant boyd long
426
00:21:53,951 --> 00:21:55,951
To recognize the name.
427
00:21:56,620 --> 00:21:58,955
I began to realize that
I had dealt with
428
00:21:59,023 --> 00:22:00,489
These people in the past,
429
00:22:00,558 --> 00:22:03,292
And that these are
the same people her son had
430
00:22:03,360 --> 00:22:06,028
Tripped and shot her husband
in the head.
431
00:22:06,298 --> 00:22:08,731
You know, I think we
got a problem.
432
00:22:10,101 --> 00:22:12,701
[narrator] sergeant boyd has
long harbored reservations
433
00:22:12,770 --> 00:22:15,904
About paul witte's
untimely death.
434
00:22:16,907 --> 00:22:19,441
It could've well been just that,
an accidental shooting.
435
00:22:19,510 --> 00:22:21,310
But again,
when the gun went off,
436
00:22:21,379 --> 00:22:23,445
It shot downward into the head,
437
00:22:23,514 --> 00:22:25,647
Which made it really
much more suspicious.
438
00:22:26,117 --> 00:22:27,917
And if he'd tripped,
the bullet would've come in
439
00:22:27,985 --> 00:22:29,552
More of a direct angle.
440
00:22:31,589 --> 00:22:34,256
[narrator]
on August 14th, 1984,
441
00:22:34,792 --> 00:22:37,793
Three months after
elaine's reported disappearance
442
00:22:37,862 --> 00:22:41,764
State investigators pay marie
an unannounced visit.
443
00:22:42,667 --> 00:22:43,932
I said,
"hello, marie.
444
00:22:44,001 --> 00:22:45,402
Remember me?
I'm back."
445
00:22:46,337 --> 00:22:48,271
And she almost fainted.
446
00:22:49,206 --> 00:22:51,340
I said,
"marie, I'm here about
447
00:22:51,408 --> 00:22:53,609
Elaine witte.
We're trying to find her."
448
00:22:53,611 --> 00:22:55,145
And, she goes, "well she's,
she's on a...
449
00:22:55,212 --> 00:22:56,145
On a, on a trip."
450
00:22:56,213 --> 00:22:57,479
And she stammered and stuttered.
451
00:22:57,548 --> 00:22:59,882
And I said, "can we come in
and sit down?"
452
00:22:59,884 --> 00:23:02,951
[music]
453
00:23:03,020 --> 00:23:05,287
[narrator] marie sticks to
her story.
454
00:23:05,756 --> 00:23:08,958
Her explanation was,
is that elaine took off
455
00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:11,294
On a, for parts out west.
456
00:23:12,097 --> 00:23:16,633
Marie's statement is that elaine
took a bus on her travels.
457
00:23:17,034 --> 00:23:18,233
Didn't take her car.
458
00:23:18,637 --> 00:23:20,035
[arland] she just simply said,
459
00:23:20,037 --> 00:23:21,770
"if I hear from her,
I'll let you know."
460
00:23:21,839 --> 00:23:24,640
But my concern is marie
didn't have a clue
461
00:23:24,709 --> 00:23:25,975
Where she was gone to.
462
00:23:26,577 --> 00:23:28,710
She's been gone
two or three months here,
463
00:23:28,779 --> 00:23:30,546
And that's not normal.
464
00:23:32,850 --> 00:23:35,784
[narrator] when investigators
run elaine's vin number,
465
00:23:35,853 --> 00:23:38,454
They find something else
disturbing.
466
00:23:39,524 --> 00:23:42,659
Marie had recently sold
elaine's car.
467
00:23:44,061 --> 00:23:46,728
Obviously, that didn't make
a whole heck of a lot of sense,
468
00:23:46,797 --> 00:23:50,065
That she would sell her car if
she was planning on coming back.
469
00:23:50,134 --> 00:23:54,203
[music]
470
00:23:54,271 --> 00:23:57,640
[narrator] investigators try
to locate elaine themselves,
471
00:23:57,708 --> 00:23:59,408
But make little headway.
472
00:24:00,011 --> 00:24:01,743
[william] the other thing
they looked at
473
00:24:01,812 --> 00:24:03,213
At the time were phone records,
474
00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:05,180
People who called in,
phone numbers,
475
00:24:05,182 --> 00:24:06,549
Those kind of things.
476
00:24:06,617 --> 00:24:09,952
There was no long-distance calls
coming in from elaine
477
00:24:09,954 --> 00:24:13,056
That would've substantiated
that she was traveling anywhere.
478
00:24:13,625 --> 00:24:15,824
[william] we tried to track her
through the bus system,
479
00:24:15,826 --> 00:24:17,560
But there was no way to do it
480
00:24:17,562 --> 00:24:19,161
'cause you purchase a ticket,
481
00:24:19,230 --> 00:24:22,832
You don't have to register or
sign for it or anything else.
482
00:24:23,634 --> 00:24:24,701
We were concerned,
483
00:24:24,768 --> 00:24:26,769
But you have
to have probable cause
484
00:24:26,771 --> 00:24:28,904
To believe a crime's
been committed.
485
00:24:28,973 --> 00:24:30,239
We didn't have that yet.
486
00:24:30,307 --> 00:24:33,208
[music]
487
00:24:33,210 --> 00:24:36,311
[narrator] authorities return to
the home to speak with marie,
488
00:24:36,380 --> 00:24:38,313
Only she's not there.
489
00:24:39,316 --> 00:24:43,253
So, authorities contact
her mother, marcie o'donnell.
490
00:24:43,854 --> 00:24:45,854
I asked her where,
where marie was,
491
00:24:45,923 --> 00:24:47,590
And, "where's marie
staying now?"
492
00:24:47,592 --> 00:24:48,924
And she said,
"well, she and butch
493
00:24:48,926 --> 00:24:50,893
Are going out to california
to see eric."
494
00:24:53,464 --> 00:24:54,998
[narrator] with marie and
her family
495
00:24:55,065 --> 00:24:56,466
Two thousand miles away,
496
00:24:56,534 --> 00:24:59,269
Detectives attack from
a different angle.
497
00:24:59,803 --> 00:25:02,872
We had subpoenaed
elaine's bank accounts.
498
00:25:03,674 --> 00:25:05,941
[scott] that was probably
the best way to try to
499
00:25:06,010 --> 00:25:07,476
Find somebody if they're gone,
500
00:25:07,544 --> 00:25:08,745
And seeing where they're at
501
00:25:08,812 --> 00:25:10,412
When they're takin' the money
out of the bank.
502
00:25:10,814 --> 00:25:13,215
Bank accounts showed
large withdraws
503
00:25:13,217 --> 00:25:16,485
In a period of time
from the beginning of January
504
00:25:16,554 --> 00:25:19,155
Up until may or June of 1984.
505
00:25:19,624 --> 00:25:20,822
She had social security checks
506
00:25:20,891 --> 00:25:22,424
That were coming in
on a monthly basis,
507
00:25:22,493 --> 00:25:24,826
And they were still being
cashed locally.
508
00:25:24,895 --> 00:25:27,564
[music]
509
00:25:27,631 --> 00:25:29,699
[narrator] but no one has
seen elaine witte
510
00:25:29,767 --> 00:25:34,770
In her hometown since January,
nearly eight months earlier.
511
00:25:35,706 --> 00:25:37,773
[william] many of
the withdrawal slips
512
00:25:37,841 --> 00:25:40,976
Were signed in the name of
elaine witte.
513
00:25:42,113 --> 00:25:45,647
[barbara] they asked me to look
at a signature on a check,
514
00:25:45,716 --> 00:25:48,717
And whether I thought
it was hers or not.
515
00:25:48,719 --> 00:25:52,555
I did not believe that
the signature was hers.
516
00:25:56,126 --> 00:26:00,262
Any kind of issues involving
social security funds
517
00:26:00,731 --> 00:26:03,298
Are investigated by
the treasury department.
518
00:26:03,367 --> 00:26:04,733
So that's how
519
00:26:04,735 --> 00:26:06,968
The federal law enforcement
gets involved.
520
00:26:08,005 --> 00:26:11,674
It went from a missing persons
to something more serious.
521
00:26:13,744 --> 00:26:15,211
Federal authorities were
notified that
522
00:26:15,279 --> 00:26:18,648
The family left unannounced
in the middle of
523
00:26:18,716 --> 00:26:20,749
An investigation
of a missing person.
524
00:26:20,818 --> 00:26:23,285
And so that kinda put everybody
on high alert.
525
00:26:24,022 --> 00:26:26,823
[narrator] as more time passes
with no sign of elaine,
526
00:26:26,890 --> 00:26:30,425
Her family begins to
suspect the worst.
527
00:26:30,494 --> 00:26:33,829
My worst nightmares
were coming true.
528
00:26:35,032 --> 00:26:37,299
[arland] from my standpoint
as an investigator,
529
00:26:37,368 --> 00:26:38,767
There was no question in my min
530
00:26:38,836 --> 00:26:40,702
That elaine was not
with us anymore,
531
00:26:40,771 --> 00:26:42,037
That she was gone.
532
00:26:42,106 --> 00:26:44,907
[music]
533
00:26:44,909 --> 00:26:48,043
[narrator] investigators
still lack sufficient evidence
534
00:26:48,112 --> 00:26:49,145
For an arrest,
535
00:26:49,213 --> 00:26:52,782
But they keep in contact
with marie's mother, marcie.
536
00:26:53,717 --> 00:26:56,652
Marcie appears to be
a very nice...
537
00:26:56,654 --> 00:26:58,187
Older lady.
538
00:26:58,255 --> 00:27:00,922
What I wanna do is put pressure
on marcie.
539
00:27:01,458 --> 00:27:03,660
You can tell that she knew more
540
00:27:03,727 --> 00:27:06,062
I kept contact with her,
and the more I talked to her,
541
00:27:06,130 --> 00:27:08,463
The more I could get from her,
and...
542
00:27:09,266 --> 00:27:10,867
I finally said,
"what's goin' on?"
543
00:27:11,335 --> 00:27:13,136
And I said, "I'll go after
anyone who was
544
00:27:13,203 --> 00:27:16,071
Involved in this whole thing,
and I'll lock 'em up."
545
00:27:17,074 --> 00:27:20,409
[narrator] the tactic works,
and marcie finally buckles
546
00:27:20,477 --> 00:27:21,878
Under the pressure.
547
00:27:23,247 --> 00:27:26,081
On October 26th, 1984,
548
00:27:26,150 --> 00:27:29,752
She reveals what really
happened to elaine.
549
00:27:30,554 --> 00:27:31,754
[arland] it was on a Friday
550
00:27:31,756 --> 00:27:33,423
I called and, and talked to her
551
00:27:33,490 --> 00:27:36,025
And she said,
"boyd, elaine's dead."
552
00:27:37,094 --> 00:27:39,061
And I said, "okay,
I'll be right over."
553
00:27:42,165 --> 00:27:45,301
Marie's mother said that
she had been told that
554
00:27:45,369 --> 00:27:47,769
Butch had accidentally shot
555
00:27:47,838 --> 00:27:50,439
And killed elaine
with a crossbow.
556
00:27:50,507 --> 00:27:54,309
[music]
557
00:27:54,378 --> 00:27:57,045
I said, "well, where's she at?
Where, where's the body?"
558
00:27:57,047 --> 00:27:58,781
She says, "there is no body."
559
00:28:00,050 --> 00:28:02,384
She said, "we've got rid
of the body."
560
00:28:02,453 --> 00:28:05,520
[music]
561
00:28:05,522 --> 00:28:06,455
[narrator] coming up.
562
00:28:07,658 --> 00:28:10,325
The hunt for marie
and her sons intensifies...
563
00:28:10,929 --> 00:28:13,995
They were very close to going
across the border.
564
00:28:14,432 --> 00:28:16,598
[narrator] and the details of
elaine's murder
565
00:28:16,667 --> 00:28:18,835
Grow more horrifying.
566
00:28:18,902 --> 00:28:21,937
They were told this
was an accident.
567
00:28:22,873 --> 00:28:25,474
[scott] we pulled out
floorboards, wallboards,
568
00:28:25,542 --> 00:28:27,343
To see if
we could find any blood.
569
00:28:30,214 --> 00:28:33,683
[music]
570
00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:45,160
[narrator] for the second time
in three years,
571
00:28:45,229 --> 00:28:49,432
An untimely death has claimed
a member of the witte family.
572
00:28:50,367 --> 00:28:54,169
Marie's mother tells detectives
that elaine witte was killed
573
00:28:54,238 --> 00:28:58,240
Months earlier,
in January of 1984.
574
00:28:59,244 --> 00:29:02,778
[amber] the story that was given
to police was that butch,
575
00:29:02,846 --> 00:29:05,580
Elaine's 15-year-old grandson,
576
00:29:05,649 --> 00:29:06,782
Had a crossbow.
577
00:29:06,850 --> 00:29:08,650
He accidentally fired
the crossbow
578
00:29:08,719 --> 00:29:11,120
And fatally struck elaine.
579
00:29:13,057 --> 00:29:15,324
It had to have struck them
as a little bit odd.
580
00:29:17,328 --> 00:29:19,862
[arland] marie witte's mother,
marcie o'donnell,
581
00:29:19,864 --> 00:29:22,898
Was saying marie and butch
had gotten rid of the body.
582
00:29:22,900 --> 00:29:24,800
Had cut it up
and had dismembered it,
583
00:29:24,868 --> 00:29:26,769
And, and, and got rid
of the body.
584
00:29:28,672 --> 00:29:30,138
[william] it was marie's idea.
585
00:29:30,140 --> 00:29:33,942
She didn't want to
supposedly involve butch
586
00:29:34,011 --> 00:29:35,277
In another investigation
587
00:29:35,346 --> 00:29:38,313
Like eric had to go through
with the father.
588
00:29:41,685 --> 00:29:42,884
[narrator] for detectives,
589
00:29:42,953 --> 00:29:45,121
It seems too much of
a coincidence,
590
00:29:45,189 --> 00:29:48,390
Especially when there's
money missing.
591
00:29:50,294 --> 00:29:52,427
Elaine witte's
social security checks
592
00:29:52,496 --> 00:29:55,897
Were being deposited
into her account in trail creek
593
00:29:55,966 --> 00:29:57,432
When marie was there.
594
00:29:57,500 --> 00:30:00,236
Subsequently,
they were transferred to
595
00:30:00,304 --> 00:30:02,304
A california location.
596
00:30:03,240 --> 00:30:06,975
Marcie o'donnell told us that
marie was writing these checks
597
00:30:07,044 --> 00:30:10,312
And authoring the checks,
and copying elaine's signature.
598
00:30:13,250 --> 00:30:15,650
[narrator] federal authorities
begin monitoring
599
00:30:15,719 --> 00:30:17,185
Banks in california,
600
00:30:17,254 --> 00:30:20,388
While indiana authorities
execute a search warrant
601
00:30:20,457 --> 00:30:24,860
At elaine witte's home
on November 3rd, 1984.
602
00:30:25,596 --> 00:30:27,929
[scott] we pulled out
floorboards, wallboards,
603
00:30:27,998 --> 00:30:31,400
To see if we could find
any blood, anything like that.
604
00:30:32,402 --> 00:30:34,536
We didn't find dink.
We got some questionable hairs.
605
00:30:34,605 --> 00:30:37,473
We'll send 'em in to lab and see
what we can find with that.
606
00:30:37,541 --> 00:30:39,208
But really, we got nothing else.
607
00:30:39,276 --> 00:30:42,844
[music]
608
00:30:42,846 --> 00:30:43,980
[narrator] with
the search warrant
609
00:30:44,047 --> 00:30:45,781
Yielding no results,
610
00:30:45,850 --> 00:30:48,283
Indiana detectives fly
to california
611
00:30:48,352 --> 00:30:50,118
To track down marie.
612
00:30:51,421 --> 00:30:54,690
First, they visit eric at
the naval base in san diego.
613
00:30:55,226 --> 00:30:57,894
He agrees to talk to detectives
614
00:30:59,029 --> 00:31:01,563
Sergeant pierce and
sergeant boyd
615
00:31:01,632 --> 00:31:04,300
Went to california
to talk to eric,
616
00:31:04,836 --> 00:31:07,302
And he stuck to the same story
617
00:31:07,371 --> 00:31:10,505
About elaine supposedly
vacationing.
618
00:31:10,574 --> 00:31:14,242
[music]
619
00:31:14,311 --> 00:31:17,312
[narrator] investigators believe
eric knows more than
620
00:31:17,314 --> 00:31:18,314
He's letting on,
621
00:31:18,382 --> 00:31:21,516
And they confront him with
marcie's confession.
622
00:31:22,320 --> 00:31:25,053
[william] I have worked a number
of murder cases
623
00:31:25,122 --> 00:31:26,655
With sergeant boyd,
624
00:31:26,657 --> 00:31:30,193
And I've learned
they wanna confess.
625
00:31:30,260 --> 00:31:33,195
They wanna tell you
what they did,
626
00:31:33,197 --> 00:31:35,264
Because they know it's wrong.
627
00:31:35,999 --> 00:31:39,200
[narrator] feeling the pressure,
eric finally breaks down
628
00:31:39,269 --> 00:31:41,470
And admits several months ago,
629
00:31:41,472 --> 00:31:45,074
His mother called him about
a family emergency.
630
00:31:47,311 --> 00:31:49,478
[william] eric told us
he was informed
631
00:31:49,480 --> 00:31:52,748
That butch had accidentally
killed elaine
632
00:31:52,816 --> 00:31:55,083
With a crossbow back in indiana
633
00:31:55,819 --> 00:31:59,221
Marie told eric it was
an accident and she needed help
634
00:31:59,489 --> 00:32:02,023
Eric said he told her to
freeze the body
635
00:32:02,092 --> 00:32:03,859
Until he could come home.
636
00:32:06,363 --> 00:32:08,697
[narrator] two months later,
eric says,
637
00:32:08,699 --> 00:32:11,167
He returned home to indiana.
638
00:32:12,502 --> 00:32:14,636
[william] eric said he went home
with his navy buddy,
639
00:32:14,705 --> 00:32:15,705
Doug menkel.
640
00:32:16,974 --> 00:32:20,376
Marie said this was an accident.
But he never saw the body.
641
00:32:21,446 --> 00:32:24,579
[narrator] when asked what
happened to elaine's remains
642
00:32:24,648 --> 00:32:26,115
Eric is evasive,
643
00:32:26,183 --> 00:32:28,784
But investigators keep up
the pressure.
644
00:32:29,920 --> 00:32:33,054
[william] eventually, he admits
he and doug menkel in fact
645
00:32:33,123 --> 00:32:35,790
Took the cooler with portions
of the body,
646
00:32:35,859 --> 00:32:37,592
Bags of flesh or bones,
647
00:32:37,661 --> 00:32:40,695
When he went to san diego,
and got rid of it out there.
648
00:32:41,432 --> 00:32:44,433
It was deposited in
the san diego dump.
649
00:32:47,804 --> 00:32:53,408
It is a mammoth landfill for
the entire city of san diego.
650
00:32:53,810 --> 00:32:56,044
And that's where all
the refuse comes in.
651
00:32:56,613 --> 00:32:57,746
[william] it was huge,
652
00:32:57,814 --> 00:33:01,416
And we'd never find it based on
how big that place was.
653
00:33:01,418 --> 00:33:04,586
[music]
654
00:33:04,654 --> 00:33:07,422
[narrator] after investigators
hear eric's story,
655
00:33:07,491 --> 00:33:11,026
They ramp up efforts to
locate marie and butch.
656
00:33:11,094 --> 00:33:15,163
The very next day,
on November 7th, 1984,
657
00:33:15,165 --> 00:33:17,966
Federal authorities
spring into action
658
00:33:18,034 --> 00:33:20,902
When one of elaine witte's
social security checks
659
00:33:20,904 --> 00:33:23,639
Is used in chula vista,
california,
660
00:33:23,707 --> 00:33:26,842
Just north of tijuana, mexico.
661
00:33:27,711 --> 00:33:28,643
[scott] when they found them,
662
00:33:28,712 --> 00:33:31,579
They were very close to
going across the border.
663
00:33:32,717 --> 00:33:36,251
[william] marie and butch
were arrested in chula vista
664
00:33:36,319 --> 00:33:41,257
By the feds for cashing
elaine's social security checks.
665
00:33:42,659 --> 00:33:45,327
[narrator] all three are charged
with forgery.
666
00:33:45,329 --> 00:33:49,664
[music]
667
00:33:49,733 --> 00:33:54,203
But marie has no interest in
cooperating with authorities.
668
00:33:54,738 --> 00:33:57,606
Investigators confront
15-year-old butch
669
00:33:57,608 --> 00:34:00,341
About his older brother's
allegation.
670
00:34:00,811 --> 00:34:03,179
That's when butch confessed
to everything to me.
671
00:34:04,481 --> 00:34:05,947
[william] he was pretty
forthcoming
672
00:34:06,016 --> 00:34:09,551
As far as what had happened,
what he had done.
673
00:34:10,420 --> 00:34:14,289
Marie was telling him that
she had taken money from elaine
674
00:34:14,291 --> 00:34:16,090
And elaine knew about it,
675
00:34:16,160 --> 00:34:18,493
And she was gonna, again,
put them on the street,
676
00:34:18,562 --> 00:34:20,295
And they wouldn't have
anywhere to live.
677
00:34:21,231 --> 00:34:23,765
His mother told them he needed
to kill his grandmother
678
00:34:23,834 --> 00:34:25,534
To keep that from happening.
679
00:34:29,773 --> 00:34:31,040
[narrator] according to butch,
680
00:34:31,108 --> 00:34:33,908
The events leading up to
elaine's death
681
00:34:33,977 --> 00:34:36,845
Had been building for
nearly six months.
682
00:34:37,380 --> 00:34:41,783
[arland] they had tried to kill
her by first givin' her drugs
683
00:34:41,785 --> 00:34:45,920
And keeping her in a room that
was cold with the windows open,
684
00:34:45,989 --> 00:34:48,290
Hoping that she would die
naturally.
685
00:34:50,327 --> 00:34:51,793
[narrator] when that
didn't work,
686
00:34:51,795 --> 00:34:55,997
Butch says his mother
demanded his cooperation.
687
00:34:56,066 --> 00:34:59,201
Marie says,
"it has to happen now."
688
00:34:59,803 --> 00:35:02,804
She drugged elaine with valium,
689
00:35:02,873 --> 00:35:05,940
And elaine was asleep in her
bed,
690
00:35:06,009 --> 00:35:08,209
And the time was now,
691
00:35:08,278 --> 00:35:11,813
And butch was told he didn't
have a choice beyond
692
00:35:11,815 --> 00:35:15,351
Whether he strangled or shot
her with a crossbow.
693
00:35:15,886 --> 00:35:18,753
Butch chose the crossbow method,
694
00:35:19,356 --> 00:35:23,626
Went into elaine's bedroom
and fired.
695
00:35:24,094 --> 00:35:26,061
And he killed his grandmother.
696
00:35:26,496 --> 00:35:30,498
[music]
697
00:35:30,500 --> 00:35:33,034
After butch killed her
with the crossbow,
698
00:35:33,103 --> 00:35:35,504
They put her body in a freezer
in the downstairs,
699
00:35:35,572 --> 00:35:40,042
And then began the process of
using an electric chainsaw
700
00:35:40,110 --> 00:35:41,977
To dismember her.
701
00:35:44,915 --> 00:35:47,649
It took months of her going in
and out of the freezer
702
00:35:47,718 --> 00:35:49,385
And slowly being...
703
00:35:49,452 --> 00:35:53,188
Cut up and disposed of.
It was horrific.
704
00:35:53,723 --> 00:35:56,725
That's where marcie o'donnell
also got involved
705
00:35:56,793 --> 00:35:59,260
In helping dispose of the body.
706
00:35:59,730 --> 00:36:02,730
They were able, basically,
to get rid of most of the body
707
00:36:02,799 --> 00:36:05,801
Except for, I believe,
the skull, the hip bone,
708
00:36:05,869 --> 00:36:07,669
Some of the larger portions.
709
00:36:07,738 --> 00:36:09,604
So that's what they put
in the cooler
710
00:36:09,673 --> 00:36:11,873
And took out with 'em
to california.
711
00:36:12,208 --> 00:36:13,675
That went into the landfill.
712
00:36:15,478 --> 00:36:18,212
[william] butch had a lot of
guilt for what happened.
713
00:36:18,949 --> 00:36:23,552
He obviously, when he confessed,
I think he felt relieved.
714
00:36:25,488 --> 00:36:28,089
[scott] butch was 15
at the time.
715
00:36:28,158 --> 00:36:30,692
He was the one that had to...
716
00:36:30,694 --> 00:36:31,560
Cut her up.
717
00:36:32,896 --> 00:36:34,230
I can't even imagine how badly
718
00:36:34,297 --> 00:36:36,665
That would've screwed
somebody up like that.
719
00:36:37,701 --> 00:36:39,500
[narrator] based on butch's
confession,
720
00:36:39,903 --> 00:36:42,837
He and his mother are charged
with elaine's murder
721
00:36:42,906 --> 00:36:45,540
And conspiracy to commit murder
722
00:36:46,643 --> 00:36:48,710
Eric witte and marcie o'donnell
723
00:36:48,712 --> 00:36:52,381
Are also charged with conspirac
to commit murder.
724
00:36:55,785 --> 00:36:56,585
Coming up.
725
00:36:57,788 --> 00:37:00,989
The witte's youngest son has
one last horror story
726
00:37:00,991 --> 00:37:02,925
To share with investigators...
727
00:37:03,994 --> 00:37:07,262
He wanted to talk about
the murder of his dad.
728
00:37:08,332 --> 00:37:10,332
[narrator] and two
impressionable teens
729
00:37:10,334 --> 00:37:12,200
Finally come to grips with
730
00:37:12,269 --> 00:37:15,270
Their mother's
murderous manipulations.
731
00:37:16,139 --> 00:37:20,742
She did whatever she had to do
to basically satisfy her greed.
732
00:37:23,013 --> 00:37:26,514
[music]
733
00:37:36,426 --> 00:37:38,693
[narrator] in November of 1984,
734
00:37:38,762 --> 00:37:42,431
15-year-old john,
aka butch witte,
735
00:37:42,499 --> 00:37:46,167
Admitted to killing his
74-year-old grandmother,
736
00:37:46,169 --> 00:37:47,669
Elaine witte.
737
00:37:49,306 --> 00:37:52,106
Butch said that he committed
the murder at the behest
738
00:37:52,108 --> 00:37:55,310
Of his mother,
hilma marie witte.
739
00:37:56,780 --> 00:38:00,081
Elaine was on to the fact that
marie was forging her checks.
740
00:38:02,585 --> 00:38:03,385
[narrator] marie and
her children
741
00:38:03,453 --> 00:38:06,854
Are immediately extradited
back to indiana.
742
00:38:07,758 --> 00:38:11,192
But less than a week after
butch's shocking confession,
743
00:38:11,194 --> 00:38:13,796
He reaches out to
investigators again.
744
00:38:15,732 --> 00:38:18,866
[william] he wanted to talk
about the murder of his dad.
745
00:38:19,336 --> 00:38:21,270
He gave us a story about eric,
746
00:38:21,338 --> 00:38:23,639
And that marie had
also manipulated eric
747
00:38:23,707 --> 00:38:27,175
Into killing paul,
and that it wasn't an accident.
748
00:38:29,880 --> 00:38:31,746
[narrator] butch tells
authorities that,
749
00:38:31,815 --> 00:38:34,348
Much like
his grandmother's murder,
750
00:38:34,418 --> 00:38:38,152
Paul's murder was all
marie's idea.
751
00:38:38,221 --> 00:38:41,657
Marie said that he had
to kill his dad
752
00:38:41,725 --> 00:38:44,425
Because she was suffering
abuse by him.
753
00:38:44,494 --> 00:38:46,961
Also, he was threatening
divorce.
754
00:38:47,030 --> 00:38:49,031
And if they went
through a divorce,
755
00:38:49,099 --> 00:38:50,565
They'd be out in the street.
756
00:38:50,567 --> 00:38:52,300
They wouldn't have
anywhere to go.
757
00:38:53,036 --> 00:38:54,836
[arland] first, they started out
giving him rat poison.
758
00:38:54,904 --> 00:38:57,306
He'd get sick, and
he'd go to the hospital.
759
00:38:57,374 --> 00:38:59,240
Of course, he goes
to the hospital, he gets better.
760
00:38:59,309 --> 00:39:01,509
So then they went and got
arsenic and lead.
761
00:39:01,511 --> 00:39:03,578
That just made him have
a awful headache,
762
00:39:03,647 --> 00:39:05,413
And he'd sleep on the couch.
763
00:39:08,685 --> 00:39:12,186
[narrator] finally,
on September 1st, 1981,
764
00:39:12,255 --> 00:39:15,690
Marie said it was now or never.
765
00:39:16,793 --> 00:39:18,293
[arland] she said,
"you gotta do it now."
766
00:39:19,262 --> 00:39:20,394
Eric was given a choice
767
00:39:20,464 --> 00:39:22,831
To either strangle him
or to shoot him.
768
00:39:24,134 --> 00:39:25,701
Marie says, "I'm going to leave.
769
00:39:25,769 --> 00:39:28,202
"and when I come back
to this house,
770
00:39:28,204 --> 00:39:29,470
"he needs to be dead.
771
00:39:29,472 --> 00:39:32,406
"and if he's not,
I'm going to drive away,
772
00:39:32,476 --> 00:39:35,377
"and you will be
here with your brother.
773
00:39:36,012 --> 00:39:37,278
"this will be your life.
774
00:39:37,347 --> 00:39:38,847
You are choosing
your father over me."
775
00:39:42,486 --> 00:39:45,753
He's standing there over
his sleeping father,
776
00:39:45,822 --> 00:39:48,557
Trying to muster up the ability
to pull the trigger,
777
00:39:49,225 --> 00:39:53,295
And then he sees headlights
turning into the driveway.
778
00:39:54,631 --> 00:39:57,232
He had to do it now, because
mom's gonna really be mad now
779
00:39:57,300 --> 00:39:59,066
When she comes home
and he didn't do it.
780
00:39:59,135 --> 00:40:02,637
And that's when he took
the gun and shot his dad.
781
00:40:02,705 --> 00:40:08,442
[music]
782
00:40:08,512 --> 00:40:09,778
[william] when marie
walked inside,
783
00:40:09,846 --> 00:40:12,380
She told everyone to say
it was an accident--
784
00:40:13,283 --> 00:40:14,850
Even marcie, her mother--
785
00:40:14,918 --> 00:40:18,052
And aligned it so that they all
were telling,
786
00:40:18,121 --> 00:40:20,388
And looked like
they were telling, the truth.
787
00:40:22,125 --> 00:40:23,291
They interviewed eric,
788
00:40:24,661 --> 00:40:26,828
And he was able to corroborate
that statement by butch.
789
00:40:28,532 --> 00:40:31,466
[narrator] eric's corroboration
of butch's confession
790
00:40:31,534 --> 00:40:34,802
Gives investigators what
they need to charge eric
791
00:40:34,871 --> 00:40:37,738
And marie witte with
paul's murder.
792
00:40:38,942 --> 00:40:43,211
In time, butch and eric agree
to testify against their mother
793
00:40:43,279 --> 00:40:45,814
In exchange for a plea deal.
794
00:40:46,550 --> 00:40:49,484
Eric and butch received
a sentence of 20 years
795
00:40:49,486 --> 00:40:51,286
For voluntary manslaughter.
796
00:40:52,223 --> 00:40:55,490
Nobody likes plea agreements,
but it's part of the process.
797
00:40:55,892 --> 00:40:58,492
We didn't have a body,
so we had to put every...
798
00:40:58,562 --> 00:41:00,862
Everybody's story together
and align it.
799
00:41:03,767 --> 00:41:09,036
[narrator] at marie witte's
murder trials in 1985 and 1986,
800
00:41:09,105 --> 00:41:13,307
Prosecutors argue money
drove marie's actions.
801
00:41:13,776 --> 00:41:17,011
She complained incessantly
about paul.
802
00:41:17,914 --> 00:41:19,581
Nothing made him happy.
803
00:41:20,117 --> 00:41:22,583
And he had a horrible temper.
804
00:41:23,720 --> 00:41:27,889
[barbara] the conversation had
gravitated to divorce.
805
00:41:28,425 --> 00:41:30,858
And 27th of August,
806
00:41:30,927 --> 00:41:33,528
Paul said he was gonna
file for divorce.
807
00:41:34,230 --> 00:41:36,665
And September, he was dead.
808
00:41:36,733 --> 00:41:39,600
[music]
809
00:41:39,669 --> 00:41:42,069
[william] she got not only
his social security,
810
00:41:42,138 --> 00:41:43,104
But she got his pension.
811
00:41:44,340 --> 00:41:46,875
The only way she was gonna get
it is not through divorce,
812
00:41:47,677 --> 00:41:50,813
But if he, in fact, was killed.
813
00:41:51,681 --> 00:41:53,147
The same with elaine.
814
00:41:53,149 --> 00:41:57,219
She wanted her social security,
and she wanted all her savings.
815
00:41:58,155 --> 00:42:01,089
[scott] she was able to
manipulate her two children
816
00:42:01,157 --> 00:42:02,958
To do some pretty
horrific things.
817
00:42:03,026 --> 00:42:06,561
[music]
818
00:42:06,563 --> 00:42:07,929
[narrator] but in the end,
819
00:42:07,997 --> 00:42:11,432
Marie's hold over
her children has its limits.
820
00:42:12,169 --> 00:42:14,570
[scott] butch's testimony was
very compelling
821
00:42:14,637 --> 00:42:16,305
And very believable.
822
00:42:16,773 --> 00:42:19,374
And then you had it corroborate
by his brother, eric.
823
00:42:19,442 --> 00:42:22,044
They were both testifying
against their mother.
824
00:42:22,111 --> 00:42:23,912
So I think that established
825
00:42:23,980 --> 00:42:26,948
A pretty high degree
of credibility for the jury.
826
00:42:27,850 --> 00:42:30,251
[narrator] marie is convicted
of murder
827
00:42:30,253 --> 00:42:32,787
And conspiracy to commit murder
828
00:42:32,855 --> 00:42:35,456
Receiving 90 years in prison
829
00:42:35,458 --> 00:42:38,125
For the deaths of paul
and elaine witte.
830
00:42:38,795 --> 00:42:40,863
She receives an additional
ten years
831
00:42:40,930 --> 00:42:45,433
For forging and cashing
elaine's social security check.
832
00:42:47,804 --> 00:42:50,304
[scott] what struck me the most,
it was marie witte.
833
00:42:51,341 --> 00:42:56,010
And just through the process of
having both of her sons testify,
834
00:42:56,079 --> 00:42:58,346
Marcie o'donnell
testified against her.
835
00:42:59,016 --> 00:43:01,549
Not one sign of emotion
at any point in time.
836
00:43:01,618 --> 00:43:03,618
And then, after
the guilty verdict,
837
00:43:03,620 --> 00:43:06,755
Not one shed
of emotion, nothing.
838
00:43:07,824 --> 00:43:11,593
Anybody who would do that must
have been a sociopath.
839
00:43:12,428 --> 00:43:14,796
That's it.
Sociopath.
840
00:43:17,234 --> 00:43:29,110
[music]