1 00:00:07,645 --> 00:00:12,149 [narrator] a horrific accident rips a family of four apart... 2 00:00:13,118 --> 00:00:14,584 [barbara] I couldn't believe it. 3 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:16,653 He was my big brother. 4 00:00:16,655 --> 00:00:18,088 And he was gone. 5 00:00:19,891 --> 00:00:21,793 [narrator] one family member dead, 6 00:00:22,528 --> 00:00:25,930 And three years later, another vanishes. 7 00:00:27,132 --> 00:00:29,666 No one had seen her. No one had talked to her. 8 00:00:29,735 --> 00:00:31,002 No one knew where she was. 9 00:00:32,404 --> 00:00:35,339 [narrator] what detectives uncover is beyond the pale. 10 00:00:35,341 --> 00:00:37,341 [arland] I began to realize that 11 00:00:37,343 --> 00:00:39,342 I had dealt with these people in the past. 12 00:00:40,345 --> 00:00:43,480 It went from a missing persons to something more serious. 13 00:00:43,482 --> 00:00:47,985 Anybody who would do that must have been a sociopath. 14 00:00:49,955 --> 00:00:52,190 [narrator] and a sickening ultimatum 15 00:00:52,257 --> 00:00:53,190 Is revealed. 16 00:00:54,359 --> 00:00:56,693 [amber] he was told he didn't have a choice. 17 00:00:56,962 --> 00:00:59,029 "you have to do something about this. 18 00:00:59,364 --> 00:01:01,499 It has to happen now." 19 00:01:03,402 --> 00:01:05,936 I said, "well, where's she at? Where's the body?" 20 00:01:06,005 --> 00:01:07,638 She says, "there is no body." 21 00:01:08,273 --> 00:01:11,309 My worst nightmares were coming true. 22 00:01:14,580 --> 00:01:23,620 [music] 23 00:01:26,458 --> 00:01:28,259 [narrator] in the quaint resort community of 24 00:01:28,327 --> 00:01:29,860 Beverly shores, indiana, 25 00:01:29,928 --> 00:01:33,930 The pace is easy and crime almost nonexistent. 26 00:01:34,734 --> 00:01:37,867 But on the evening of September 1st, 1981, 27 00:01:37,936 --> 00:01:42,407 The local police department receives a panicked 911 call. 28 00:01:44,242 --> 00:01:47,244 It was marie witte that made the call, 29 00:01:47,312 --> 00:01:50,347 And it went to beverly shores police department. 30 00:01:50,749 --> 00:01:52,216 [amber] marie witte, 31 00:01:52,218 --> 00:01:54,419 A 33-year-old mother of two in beverly shores, 32 00:01:54,486 --> 00:01:58,755 Says she just got home and found her husband dead on the couch. 33 00:01:59,491 --> 00:02:03,660 That her husband has been shot, and she needs help immediately. 34 00:02:03,729 --> 00:02:06,830 [music] 35 00:02:06,898 --> 00:02:08,865 [narrator] first responders race to the residence 36 00:02:08,933 --> 00:02:12,302 To find marie, her mother, marcie o'donnell, 37 00:02:12,371 --> 00:02:15,305 And marie's two teenage sons, eric and butch, 38 00:02:15,374 --> 00:02:17,441 Seemingly in shock. 39 00:02:18,011 --> 00:02:19,376 [clifford] when the police came in, 40 00:02:19,445 --> 00:02:21,912 Marie told them there was a terrible accident. 41 00:02:22,381 --> 00:02:25,516 That her husband, paul witte, had been shot. 42 00:02:27,820 --> 00:02:30,453 Paul had been apparently asleep on the couch 43 00:02:30,455 --> 00:02:31,922 When he was shot in the head. 44 00:02:32,592 --> 00:02:35,725 [narrator] paul is pronounced dead at the scene. 45 00:02:35,794 --> 00:02:41,331 [music] 46 00:02:41,333 --> 00:02:42,933 [amber] it was a shocking revelation 47 00:02:42,935 --> 00:02:44,134 For the people who arrived, 48 00:02:44,136 --> 00:02:46,837 Because a lot of people in the community knew paul witte 49 00:02:47,273 --> 00:02:48,939 And knew the family. 50 00:02:49,542 --> 00:02:53,009 They were friendly and loving to outsiders. 51 00:02:53,078 --> 00:02:56,580 [music] 52 00:02:57,983 --> 00:03:01,018 [music] 53 00:03:01,087 --> 00:03:02,487 [narrator] paul witte was born 54 00:03:02,554 --> 00:03:06,323 In michigan city, indiana in 1937. 55 00:03:08,026 --> 00:03:11,761 [amber] paul's family was pretty rooted in the community. 56 00:03:12,564 --> 00:03:15,298 They had been in that county for a really long time. 57 00:03:15,501 --> 00:03:18,468 His dad worked for the railroad 58 00:03:18,704 --> 00:03:20,904 At some point, his parents split, 59 00:03:20,973 --> 00:03:24,642 And his dad remarried a woman named elaine. 60 00:03:24,710 --> 00:03:28,646 [music] 61 00:03:28,714 --> 00:03:30,915 [narrator] when paul was 17 years old, 62 00:03:30,983 --> 00:03:32,783 He enlisted in the navy. 63 00:03:33,652 --> 00:03:36,252 [barbara] when he was in the navy, I was little. 64 00:03:36,322 --> 00:03:38,121 Saw him occasionally, 65 00:03:38,190 --> 00:03:40,057 And at christmastime, 66 00:03:40,125 --> 00:03:42,158 He would always come visit. 67 00:03:42,728 --> 00:03:46,596 I remember him as being a go-getter, 68 00:03:46,598 --> 00:03:49,366 And, you know, always wanting to do something. 69 00:03:51,603 --> 00:03:53,136 [narrator] after his discharge, 70 00:03:53,138 --> 00:03:56,541 Paul returned to indiana and settled in beverly shores, 71 00:03:56,608 --> 00:04:00,744 A popular beach community just an hour south of chicago. 72 00:04:01,748 --> 00:04:05,949 [barbara] he was working with the steel company in gary. 73 00:04:06,551 --> 00:04:10,887 He was also the volunteer fireman in beverly shores, 74 00:04:10,956 --> 00:04:12,689 And... 75 00:04:12,758 --> 00:04:17,027 Whenever he did anything, he went gung-ho for it. 76 00:04:17,029 --> 00:04:17,994 200% 77 00:04:19,197 --> 00:04:21,365 [clifford] he was a, very much an outdoor man. 78 00:04:21,433 --> 00:04:23,099 A real macho guy. 79 00:04:23,168 --> 00:04:26,102 Had the full beard and mustache. 80 00:04:26,104 --> 00:04:27,371 He was a hunter... 81 00:04:27,439 --> 00:04:28,772 And a fisherman. 82 00:04:30,642 --> 00:04:32,509 [narrator] while in his late 20's, 83 00:04:32,511 --> 00:04:36,346 Paul took an eye-opening trip to sunny south florida. 84 00:04:38,417 --> 00:04:40,917 [barbara] for whatever bee he got in his bonnet, 85 00:04:41,452 --> 00:04:42,786 He went to florida. 86 00:04:42,989 --> 00:04:45,922 And my brother paul tells me, 87 00:04:45,991 --> 00:04:50,193 "oh, you get to tell mom where I spent my vacation. 88 00:04:50,262 --> 00:04:52,562 I was at a nudist camp." 89 00:04:53,465 --> 00:04:56,734 And my aunt just about had a cow. 90 00:04:57,069 --> 00:04:59,470 My mom about had two cows. 91 00:05:00,239 --> 00:05:02,340 That's where he met... 92 00:05:02,407 --> 00:05:04,541 Infamous marie. 93 00:05:04,609 --> 00:05:08,746 [music] 94 00:05:08,814 --> 00:05:12,215 [narrator] born in 1948, hilma marie crist 95 00:05:12,284 --> 00:05:16,686 Had a free spirit that matched her unorthodox upbringing. 96 00:05:17,089 --> 00:05:20,957 My birth father ran a nudist camp... 97 00:05:21,026 --> 00:05:23,827 In del ray beach, florida. 98 00:05:24,063 --> 00:05:25,929 We had lots of acreage. 99 00:05:26,364 --> 00:05:29,300 There was a pond or a lake, and a big pool. 100 00:05:30,168 --> 00:05:31,835 You walked around nude all the time, 101 00:05:31,903 --> 00:05:36,706 But as a child, I never felt uncomfortable. 102 00:05:36,708 --> 00:05:40,710 I mean, people can't fathom that type of a lifestyle. 103 00:05:40,712 --> 00:05:44,281 [music] 104 00:05:44,283 --> 00:05:45,983 [narrator] paul and marie hit it off. 105 00:05:46,051 --> 00:05:49,053 So much so, that he soon returned to the resort 106 00:05:49,121 --> 00:05:50,687 A second time. 107 00:05:51,657 --> 00:05:54,724 [barbara] there was some secrecy 108 00:05:54,726 --> 00:05:58,262 About where paul had spent his vacation. 109 00:05:59,398 --> 00:06:01,798 And here I was... 110 00:06:01,867 --> 00:06:07,371 I was maybe 14 years old, and that would make marie 16. 111 00:06:08,474 --> 00:06:10,874 I think he was infatuated with her. 112 00:06:11,476 --> 00:06:13,143 [amber] they probably didn't look like 113 00:06:13,145 --> 00:06:15,212 A logical match to outsiders. 114 00:06:15,681 --> 00:06:18,416 But it wasn't very long after that... 115 00:06:18,483 --> 00:06:21,151 Marie got married to paul witte. 116 00:06:21,820 --> 00:06:23,354 [barbara] when I first met marie, 117 00:06:23,422 --> 00:06:25,423 It was just before they got married. 118 00:06:25,490 --> 00:06:29,093 She's not what I imagined that my brother would marry. 119 00:06:29,161 --> 00:06:32,430 She was loud, and nobody, 120 00:06:32,497 --> 00:06:35,565 At least from our family, was impressed with her at all. 121 00:06:36,234 --> 00:06:39,903 [narrator] 27-year-old paul and 16-year-old marie 122 00:06:39,972 --> 00:06:44,575 Married in 1964, and settled in a home in beverly shores, 123 00:06:44,643 --> 00:06:47,577 Not far from paul's father and stepmother, 124 00:06:47,646 --> 00:06:49,647 Len and elaine witte. 125 00:06:50,248 --> 00:06:53,516 Paul was happy to be married, 126 00:06:53,585 --> 00:06:56,319 And he wanted a family. 127 00:06:56,388 --> 00:06:58,956 [music] 128 00:06:59,024 --> 00:07:02,392 [narrator] in 1966, 18-year-old marie 129 00:07:02,460 --> 00:07:05,262 Gave birth to their first son, eric. 130 00:07:05,330 --> 00:07:08,264 His brother john, also known as "butch", 131 00:07:08,333 --> 00:07:10,634 Came along three years later. 132 00:07:11,737 --> 00:07:15,338 Paul was very much the boss in the house. 133 00:07:15,607 --> 00:07:18,108 And marie, she was a homemaker. 134 00:07:19,611 --> 00:07:22,880 Of the children, eric was more of a sportsman. 135 00:07:23,348 --> 00:07:24,948 He had dad's favor. 136 00:07:25,217 --> 00:07:27,217 He was sort of the golden child. 137 00:07:27,953 --> 00:07:32,689 Butch comes along, and he is mama's boy. 138 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:37,760 [narrator] everyone knew paul ran a tight ship. 139 00:07:38,430 --> 00:07:40,498 Butch and eric described their father as, 140 00:07:40,565 --> 00:07:43,033 As being a, a very strict authoritarian. 141 00:07:43,869 --> 00:07:45,101 [amber] paul seemed to have 142 00:07:45,170 --> 00:07:47,103 A pretty traditional view of marriage. 143 00:07:47,372 --> 00:07:48,972 So, paul worked for a living. 144 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:51,942 Marie stayed home, took care of the house. 145 00:07:52,978 --> 00:07:54,779 [narrator] however, the young mother 146 00:07:54,846 --> 00:07:57,013 Struggled to fill her role. 147 00:07:58,783 --> 00:08:01,719 [barbara] she did not know how to keep house. 148 00:08:02,454 --> 00:08:04,922 You had to walk across the clothes on the floor 149 00:08:04,990 --> 00:08:08,158 In the kitchen, and it was a disaster. 150 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:12,395 [music] 151 00:08:12,464 --> 00:08:15,099 [narrator] in December of 1980, marie's mother, 152 00:08:15,166 --> 00:08:17,868 Marcie o'donnell, moved in with them. 153 00:08:18,870 --> 00:08:20,603 [clifford] marie's mother was widowed, 154 00:08:20,672 --> 00:08:22,939 So she spent a lot of time with marie, 155 00:08:23,008 --> 00:08:25,641 And butch would be with them often. 156 00:08:26,478 --> 00:08:28,011 [amber] she loved being a grandma. 157 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:29,480 She liked being close to her daughter, 158 00:08:29,548 --> 00:08:31,848 And she would help out as needed. 159 00:08:32,884 --> 00:08:35,618 [barbara] they seemed to share 160 00:08:35,687 --> 00:08:39,924 A happy-go-lucky type of coexistence. 161 00:08:39,991 --> 00:08:43,326 [music] 162 00:08:43,328 --> 00:08:47,030 [narrator] but this outwardly happy household crumbles 163 00:08:47,098 --> 00:08:49,332 On September 1st, 1981, 164 00:08:49,401 --> 00:08:54,037 When officers find paul witte dead on his living room couch. 165 00:08:54,506 --> 00:08:56,906 [amber] strangely, it was a little serene 166 00:08:56,908 --> 00:08:59,309 For what they were walking into 167 00:08:59,778 --> 00:09:01,644 The people in the house were pretty calm, 168 00:09:01,713 --> 00:09:06,182 But what police found was a man dead on his couch 169 00:09:06,251 --> 00:09:08,618 With a bullet hole in his head. 170 00:09:09,455 --> 00:09:11,788 [narrator] even more shocking to police 171 00:09:11,856 --> 00:09:13,957 Is who fired the gun. 172 00:09:14,926 --> 00:09:18,161 Essentially, marie had told our investigator 173 00:09:18,230 --> 00:09:22,198 That her son eric had a gun, had a .357 magnum, 174 00:09:22,267 --> 00:09:23,733 And had tripped. 175 00:09:23,735 --> 00:09:26,469 And it had went off and shot her husband in the head. 176 00:09:26,538 --> 00:09:29,606 [music] 177 00:09:29,674 --> 00:09:30,940 [narrator] according to marie, 178 00:09:31,009 --> 00:09:33,277 She wasn't home when her husband died. 179 00:09:33,345 --> 00:09:37,981 But her 15-year-old son, eric, insists it was an accident. 180 00:09:39,884 --> 00:09:41,751 [amber] marie was basically in the driveway, 181 00:09:41,820 --> 00:09:44,487 Pulling into the house, when the gun went off. 182 00:09:45,090 --> 00:09:48,157 So, the only person believed to have been in the room 183 00:09:48,226 --> 00:09:50,628 When the gun fired was eric. 184 00:09:51,429 --> 00:09:54,630 Eric witte, the son, said, "I'd found this gun. 185 00:09:54,700 --> 00:09:56,166 "I'd never seen it before. 186 00:09:56,168 --> 00:09:58,635 "I was interested in learning a little bit about it. 187 00:09:58,704 --> 00:10:00,503 "so I brought it in to my dad, 188 00:10:00,572 --> 00:10:03,239 Tripped, and it discharged." 189 00:10:03,308 --> 00:10:05,375 [gunshot] 190 00:10:05,377 --> 00:10:08,444 [music] 191 00:10:08,513 --> 00:10:10,514 [barbara] when paul was shot, 192 00:10:10,982 --> 00:10:13,851 It was on the television in south bend. 193 00:10:14,786 --> 00:10:17,687 My mother called me, and I was at work. 194 00:10:18,590 --> 00:10:20,023 I couldn't believe it. 195 00:10:20,091 --> 00:10:22,859 He was my big brother, and he was gone. 196 00:10:24,462 --> 00:10:28,598 We were told or heard that it was an accident. 197 00:10:29,801 --> 00:10:34,604 I didn't know what to think, and even to this day... 198 00:10:35,807 --> 00:10:37,474 I don't know what I did think. 199 00:10:37,542 --> 00:10:40,810 [music] 200 00:10:40,879 --> 00:10:42,279 [narrator] coming up. 201 00:10:42,347 --> 00:10:46,448 15-year-old eric witte tells his side of the story. 202 00:10:47,285 --> 00:10:49,419 There was skepticism that it didn't make 203 00:10:49,421 --> 00:10:50,754 A whole heck of a lot of sense. 204 00:10:50,756 --> 00:10:55,024 [narrator] and later, heartache hits the witte home again. 205 00:10:55,093 --> 00:10:58,961 A neighbor across the street from where elaine lived 206 00:10:59,030 --> 00:11:01,764 Indicated that she hadn't seen her for months. 207 00:11:01,833 --> 00:11:04,969 That's when I just knew somethin' was wrong. 208 00:11:05,036 --> 00:11:07,971 My worst nightmares were coming true. 209 00:11:10,275 --> 00:11:13,710 [music] 210 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:24,720 [narrator] September 1st, 1981. 211 00:11:25,090 --> 00:11:27,991 Officers in beverly shores, indiana, 212 00:11:27,993 --> 00:11:32,830 Respond to a 911 call to find 44-year-old paul witte 213 00:11:32,897 --> 00:11:36,633 Dead in his home from a gunshot wound to the head. 214 00:11:38,336 --> 00:11:42,038 Indiana state investigators soon arrive at the scene 215 00:11:42,107 --> 00:11:44,140 To assist the police force. 216 00:11:45,076 --> 00:11:47,977 [amber] marie says that she hadn't been home at the time. 217 00:11:48,481 --> 00:11:49,612 She was running some errands, 218 00:11:49,681 --> 00:11:53,417 And when she walked into the house, eric was there. 219 00:11:53,885 --> 00:11:57,620 Her husband was dead, and eric said that, you know, 220 00:11:57,622 --> 00:11:59,823 "I tripped, the gun went off." 221 00:12:01,025 --> 00:12:03,626 It was not a well-kept house at all 222 00:12:03,628 --> 00:12:04,961 By any stretch of the imagination. 223 00:12:06,431 --> 00:12:08,698 It wasn't impossible for what they said to have happened, 224 00:12:08,766 --> 00:12:09,966 Someone tripping. 225 00:12:10,035 --> 00:12:11,435 So, you keep an open mind. 226 00:12:12,770 --> 00:12:17,039 [narrator] investigators collect the .357 handgun as evidence. 227 00:12:17,108 --> 00:12:20,776 [music] 228 00:12:20,846 --> 00:12:22,578 [narrator] although marie witte's mother, 229 00:12:22,580 --> 00:12:23,646 Marcie o'donnell, 230 00:12:23,648 --> 00:12:25,448 And marie's youngest son, butch 231 00:12:25,517 --> 00:12:28,051 Were in the house at the time of the shooting, 232 00:12:28,053 --> 00:12:30,220 Neither saw it happen. 233 00:12:31,690 --> 00:12:35,124 [amber] marcie, the grandmother, said she was in the dining room 234 00:12:35,527 --> 00:12:37,061 She's in the back of the house, 235 00:12:37,128 --> 00:12:40,264 And eric had been at the front of the house, 236 00:12:41,065 --> 00:12:45,101 Walking into this living room where his dad paul was asleep. 237 00:12:45,470 --> 00:12:48,070 Butch tells police that he was in a bedroom 238 00:12:48,139 --> 00:12:49,672 When the gunshot fired. 239 00:12:50,341 --> 00:12:52,608 [narrator] the family's whereabouts isn't all 240 00:12:52,677 --> 00:12:55,411 That strikes detectives as odd. 241 00:12:56,014 --> 00:12:59,682 It appeared that he'd been shot in the top of the head 242 00:12:59,684 --> 00:13:02,085 And at sort of a downward angle 243 00:13:02,087 --> 00:13:03,987 And if he'd tripped, the bullet would've come in 244 00:13:04,055 --> 00:13:06,889 More of a direct angle as opposed to a downward angle. 245 00:13:07,359 --> 00:13:08,859 I didn't think it was an accident. 246 00:13:08,926 --> 00:13:10,493 I didn't know what it was yet. 247 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]