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[narrator] a troubled teen
who worked hard
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To rebuild his life...
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[tiffany] he was a good person.
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Maybe he, you know,
had his own issues goin' on,
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And just got involved
with the wrong people.
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[narrator] ...Vanishes
without a word.
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[justin] she tried calling.
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It would ring a couple,
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And then it would go
straight to voicemail.
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[narrator] when authorities
discover an abandoned car
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In a beachside community,
everything changes.
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What happened in the car,
it's a mystery.
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[lauren] it had dirt
all over it.
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The electronics had been
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Ripped out
of the center console.
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[james] my reaction when we
actually opened the door was,
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"we have a problem."
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Could see blood all over
inside the vehicle.
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Somebody had been killed
inside that vehicle.
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Who does all this blood
belong to?
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[brian] anytime you have
a homicide,
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You're never 100% sure of
really what happened.
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[narrator] when a surprise
suspect emerges,
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The case takes
a frightening turn.
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They are just friends.
It was a lot of minimization.
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[kristine] I don't see
her as being
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A mastermind of
planning a vacation,
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Let alone a heinous crime.
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[lauren] the strangest aspects
of this case
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Was what they did afterward.
It was all just really bizarre.
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[music]
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[music]
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[narrator] on the evening of
October 13th, 2017,
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911 dispatchers in
lee county, florida,
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Receive a concerning call
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From 32-year-old resident
francesca sakulich.
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She called and stated
that her boyfriend
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Had not returned home.
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I was dispatched to the house
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To take the initial missing
person report.
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[narrator] when deputy mcmenamin
arrives at the residence,
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He learns francesca's boyfriend
31-year-old matthew collins,
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Had borrowed her car
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Around three o'clock
the previous afternoon.
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She said that matthew was going
to be going to a haircut
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In fort myers,
on south palm beach boulevard.
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From her house to where he went
for the haircut,
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It's probably 30,
40 minute max drive.
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He had texted that he got stuck
in fort myers,
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Which really didn't make sense.
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How did you get stuck?
Did you get stuck...
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Did your car get stuck?
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Did you run outta gas?
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And come eight o'clock,
he didn't return home.
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[narrator] according to
francesca,
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By the following morning,
matt still hadn't returned.
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[justin] she tried calling him.
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It would ring a couple,
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And then it would go
straight to voicemail.
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It was definitely
alarming to her.
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[narrator] authorities
immediately release a bolo
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On the vehicle matthew collins
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Was driving at the time,
a maroon chrysler 200.
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[james] the first step of
a missing persons investigation
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Is, of course, to verify
the person's actually missing.
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See where they were, see where
they were last seen.
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Kind of just do a lot of
background information on 'em.
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[narrator] authorities spend
the next few days
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Speaking with matthew's friends
and family,
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Who confirm that no one has
heard from matthew
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Since he was reported missing.
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Then, on October 18th,
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Lee county dispatch receives
a seemingly routine phone call.
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A car was found abandoned in
a area of lehigh acres.
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It's not very populous.
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It's a, a dead end,
not any really houses around it
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[nolan] the lady that called in.
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She said, basically, she walks
this same path every day.
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After several days of seeing
the vehicle there,
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She thought maybe it was stolen
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Deputies were sent
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To kinda figure out
what was going on with it.
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[narrator] deputies run
the vehicle's vin number,
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And discover the car
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Is registered to
francesca sakulich.
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When matthew collins was
originally reported missing,
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Francesca had reported
her vehicle missing with him.
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[music]
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[narrator] as detectives arrive
and begin to examine
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The vehicle more closely,
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They make
a disturbing discovery.
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There's this hole in
the windshield
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With some tape over it.
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After looking at it,
they realized that
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There's a bullet hole
in the windshield.
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[james] my reaction when
I first saw the car was,
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"we have a problem".
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We have a missing person,
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And we have what appeared to be
a bullet hole in the windshield,
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In a vehicle that he was
last known to be driving.
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[music]
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[narrator] for matthew collins,
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Life began twelve hundred
miles north,
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In williamstown, new jersey.
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I met matt just from living in
williamstown.
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Matt was a little bit
older than me.
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He was always a good kid.
He loved his family.
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He did have a lot of friends.
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He was always trying to
make people laugh.
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[music]
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[narrator] a few years
after high school,
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Matt traded the cold new jersey
winters for the year-round sun
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And sandy beaches of
south florida.
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There was a relative or somebody
that he knew out there.
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So that's why he went to
florida.
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[narrator] matt worked
a variety of jobs,
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Including construction
and landscaping.
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And when the 20-something
wasn't working,
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Matthew liked to have
a good time.
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Eventually,
being the life of the party
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Took its toll.
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[lauren] in his early 20s,
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He got into the drugs
and got addicted.
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[tiffany] when I knew him,
I could say we all partied
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A little bit here and there.
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But I don't really know what
kind of drugs he was usin'.
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[narrator] in 2014,
matt was arrested for burglary
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And trafficking in
stolen property.
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[james] matt was known for
committing home invasions.
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He would commonly brag about
the amount of money
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He would get from
these home invasions.
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They would kinda sustain
his lifestyle.
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He had his own issues goin' on,
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And just got involved with
the wrong people.
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[narrator] after spending
a year and a half in prison,
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Matt was released in 2016.
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[lauren] when he got
out of prison,
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He really tried to turn
his life around
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And live a clean lifestyle.
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Being in prison,
it's a good wakeup call.
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[james] after he was in prison,
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He was a really,
really hard worker.
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His family and even his friends
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Said he was trying to do
the right thing.
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[music]
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[narrator] a few months later,
in early summer of 2017,
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He met 32-year-old
francesca sakulich
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Through an online dating site.
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[lauren] when he was with
francesca,
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They were good together.
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Matthew wanted to do better,
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And he was in a relationship
that seemed to be good for him.
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[james] francesca herself is
a very successful person.
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She works in
the medical profession.
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[narrator] after four weeks
of dating,
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Matt and francesca
moved in together.
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Matt and francesca were living
in lehigh acres.
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He had introduced her
to his family.
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Francesca was wanting
the same things
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He was wanting, settling down.
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They were kind of working
toward that goal together.
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[music]
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[narrator] but all that progress
comes to a grinding halt
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In October 2017,
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When matthew collins
never returns home,
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And the couple's car
is found abandoned
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With a bullet hole
through the windshield.
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When we first saw the car
and it was all sealed up,
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And looking through
the windows...
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You couldn't really discern
how much blood was actually
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In the vehicle.
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Once we opened the car up,
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You could definitely tell
something had happened.
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[lauren] it had dirt
all over it.
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The electronics
had been ripped out
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Of the center console,
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And the license plate
had been removed.
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[nolan] I could see blood
all over inside the vehicle.
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There's a crime
that's obviously occurred.
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Is it matthew?
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Is he the victim?
Or is he the suspect here?
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And who does all this blood
belong to?
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It was time to go and
look a little deeper at this,
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In the aspect of it possibly
being a homicide.
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[music]
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[james] this vehicle,
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It was immediately towed to
our forensics facility,
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Where everything was
kind of done in
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A controlled environment.
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[nolan] so, at this point
they're doing fingerprints,
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Photographing all over
the vehicle,
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Inside and outside of it.
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We had noticed blood on
the back bumper of the vehicle,
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And drag marks on
the back bumper.
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I'm like,
"okay, somebody's in there."
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00:10:01,501 --> 00:10:05,304
[music]
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00:10:05,372 --> 00:10:06,238
[narrator] coming up.
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Detectives uncover
more troubling evidence.
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00:10:10,977 --> 00:10:14,045
We find out that
that he was involved in
200
00:10:14,047 --> 00:10:17,048
Narcotics use
and narcotics abuse.
201
00:10:17,350 --> 00:10:20,986
[narrator] and matthew's
love life raises suspicions.
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[music]
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[narrator] October 19th, 2017.
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While processing the vehicle
31-year-old matthew collins
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00:10:50,350 --> 00:10:53,685
Was reportedly driving on
the night he went missing,
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00:10:53,753 --> 00:10:57,822
Detectives make
several disturbing discoveries.
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00:10:58,091 --> 00:11:00,024
There's blood in the front seat.
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00:11:00,093 --> 00:11:01,960
There's a bullet hole
in the windshield.
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00:11:02,429 --> 00:11:04,495
So it was definitely concerning
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00:11:04,966 --> 00:11:06,699
[nolan] what I could see
on the bumper
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00:11:06,766 --> 00:11:09,100
Definitely shows
that somebody had been placed
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00:11:09,170 --> 00:11:13,171
In the vehicle or
drug out of the vehicle.
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00:11:13,239 --> 00:11:17,109
[music]
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00:11:17,177 --> 00:11:18,978
[narrator] investigators
brace themselves
215
00:11:19,045 --> 00:11:21,713
For what might be inside...
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00:11:23,049 --> 00:11:25,249
[nolan] we opened it just to
make sure.
217
00:11:25,919 --> 00:11:29,053
However, matthew was not
located in the vehicle.
218
00:11:29,789 --> 00:11:31,789
[james] there's nobody
in the trunk,
219
00:11:31,858 --> 00:11:34,793
But the trunk did have
220
00:11:34,795 --> 00:11:37,395
An extreme amount of
blood in it.
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00:11:38,131 --> 00:11:41,666
The blood that was located both
inside the trunk area,
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00:11:41,735 --> 00:11:43,334
Inside the passenger
compartment,
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00:11:43,403 --> 00:11:46,605
And what I could see on
the bumper definitely shows that
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00:11:46,673 --> 00:11:48,807
Somebody had been killed inside
that vehicle.
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00:11:52,145 --> 00:11:55,346
[justin] there was dirt in
the trunk of the vehicle.
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00:11:55,815 --> 00:11:57,949
It didn't look like
your typical, you know,
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00:11:58,018 --> 00:12:00,518
Dirt that you would get if you
put some pots from home depot
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00:12:00,587 --> 00:12:02,253
In the back of your car,
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00:12:02,322 --> 00:12:05,024
But that's about all that was
found in the vehicle.
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00:12:06,025 --> 00:12:08,093
[james] we had very little
to go on.
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00:12:08,161 --> 00:12:12,563
We had a car with blood
in the front seat and the trunk
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00:12:12,632 --> 00:12:14,098
And a missing person.
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00:12:14,434 --> 00:12:17,702
And we didn't know,
did matthew take the car
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00:12:17,771 --> 00:12:20,271
And was he involved in
some kind of crime?
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00:12:20,607 --> 00:12:22,540
Was he the victim of a crime?
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[music]
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00:12:26,313 --> 00:12:29,048
[narrator] now that a bloody car
has been located,
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00:12:29,115 --> 00:12:33,050
And seven days have gone by
with no sign of matthew,
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00:12:33,052 --> 00:12:36,121
Investigators reach out again
to matthew's father,
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00:12:36,189 --> 00:12:39,323
Mike collins,
hoping to learn more.
241
00:12:39,392 --> 00:12:42,994
He admits his son has
a troubled past.
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00:12:49,402 --> 00:12:50,768
He's got a checkered past
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00:12:50,837 --> 00:12:53,004
That would be concerning
to some people,
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00:12:53,072 --> 00:12:55,074
And that's when we find out that
245
00:12:55,141 --> 00:12:57,809
Matthew has been
to prison before.
246
00:13:05,552 --> 00:13:07,786
We find out that
he was involved in
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00:13:07,854 --> 00:13:10,855
Narcotics use
and narcotics abuse.
248
00:13:21,434 --> 00:13:24,769
It was out there that
matt kinda had a temper,
249
00:13:24,837 --> 00:13:28,373
And he would not be afraid to
fight anybody.
250
00:13:28,375 --> 00:13:31,042
There were a lot of theories
at that point.
251
00:13:31,044 --> 00:13:34,045
You know, maybe he committed
a home invasion.
252
00:13:34,114 --> 00:13:37,849
Maybe he got mixed up with
the wrong person.
253
00:13:51,331 --> 00:13:55,333
His dad had seen some behaviors
in matthew that were concerning.
254
00:13:55,736 --> 00:13:58,936
The concern for matthew being
back on narcotics was...
255
00:13:59,005 --> 00:14:00,004
It was out there.
256
00:14:01,007 --> 00:14:04,275
His family was reporting that in
the days leading up,
257
00:14:04,344 --> 00:14:05,610
He was not feeling well.
258
00:14:05,678 --> 00:14:09,314
They were worried that it
may have been drug withdrawals.
259
00:14:11,918 --> 00:14:14,085
[narrator] when investigators
ask matt's father
260
00:14:14,154 --> 00:14:17,321
About his son's relationship
with francesca,
261
00:14:17,390 --> 00:14:19,190
He voices some concern.
262
00:14:42,115 --> 00:14:44,983
Francesca, she had kind of...
263
00:14:44,985 --> 00:14:47,118
Made her mind up
that something bad happened,
264
00:14:47,186 --> 00:14:50,588
And she did talk about
him in the past tense
265
00:14:50,657 --> 00:14:51,857
A couple of times.
266
00:14:51,925 --> 00:14:53,658
That was a red flag.
267
00:14:53,726 --> 00:14:57,596
[music]
268
00:14:57,664 --> 00:14:59,263
[narrator] on October 19th,
269
00:14:59,265 --> 00:15:02,600
Investigators conduct
a formal interview
270
00:15:02,669 --> 00:15:04,136
With francesca.
271
00:15:31,564 --> 00:15:34,565
[music]
272
00:15:34,634 --> 00:15:37,702
[narrator] francesca again
shares details about
273
00:15:37,770 --> 00:15:39,504
The night matt went missing...
274
00:15:40,441 --> 00:15:45,309
So, the last time francesca saw
matt was at her house,
275
00:15:45,378 --> 00:15:48,713
And he had made the comment that
he was gonna go get his hair cut
276
00:15:48,782 --> 00:15:50,481
At a local barbershop.
277
00:16:40,433 --> 00:16:42,800
[narrator] francesca says
she went to work that night
278
00:16:42,869 --> 00:16:45,302
And continued trying
to call matt,
279
00:16:45,371 --> 00:16:49,174
But it seemed his phone
had been turned off.
280
00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:30,214
[narrator] francesca claims
she doesn't know anyone
281
00:17:30,216 --> 00:17:31,549
Named tiffany,
282
00:17:31,617 --> 00:17:35,220
But this new revelation
gives detectives pause.
283
00:17:35,288 --> 00:17:38,422
There was a reason for her at
that point to have
284
00:17:38,491 --> 00:17:39,358
A broken heart,
285
00:17:39,425 --> 00:17:41,826
Maybe have some animosity
towards matthew.
286
00:17:42,296 --> 00:17:43,627
[narrator] not only that,
287
00:17:43,696 --> 00:17:46,597
When detectives try to
check her story,
288
00:17:46,599 --> 00:17:48,132
There's a problem.
289
00:17:56,509 --> 00:17:59,176
And I'm thinking, "okay,
now you're deleting messages
290
00:17:59,245 --> 00:18:02,047
"so how do we know
what's goin' on?
291
00:18:02,115 --> 00:18:03,414
Are you involved now?"
292
00:18:05,985 --> 00:18:07,017
[narrator] coming up.
293
00:18:07,254 --> 00:18:09,453
New details emerge about
294
00:18:09,522 --> 00:18:12,189
Matt's last known
conversations...
295
00:18:12,925 --> 00:18:15,593
We get the cell phone and
notice that he had made
296
00:18:15,595 --> 00:18:17,729
Several phone calls to
this one number.
297
00:18:17,797 --> 00:18:21,732
[narrator] and can technology
bring investigators any closer
298
00:18:21,801 --> 00:18:23,135
To the truth?
299
00:18:23,202 --> 00:18:25,936
[james] the data retrieved told
us a lot.
300
00:18:26,005 --> 00:18:27,404
It told us his call history.
301
00:18:27,473 --> 00:18:29,807
It, it showed us his location.
302
00:18:30,276 --> 00:18:32,878
None of the gps coordinates put
him anywhere near
303
00:18:32,945 --> 00:18:34,312
Where she lived.
304
00:18:35,882 --> 00:18:39,617
[music]
305
00:18:48,628 --> 00:18:51,829
[narrator] on October 19th,
2017,
306
00:18:51,898 --> 00:18:54,833
Francesca sakulich tells
florida investigators
307
00:18:54,901 --> 00:18:58,070
That the day after
matthew collins disappeared,
308
00:18:58,137 --> 00:19:00,505
He sent her
a heartbreaking text,
309
00:19:00,573 --> 00:19:04,709
Stating he had left her
for a woman named tiffany.
310
00:19:06,312 --> 00:19:08,979
[justin] francesca did not know
who tiffany was,
311
00:19:08,981 --> 00:19:12,250
But it came from obviously
matthew's phone.
312
00:19:12,885 --> 00:19:15,987
We also learned that some of her
text messages had been deleted,
313
00:19:16,055 --> 00:19:17,989
Was a little
suspicious at first.
314
00:19:18,057 --> 00:19:21,592
[music]
315
00:19:21,661 --> 00:19:24,261
[narrator] after francesca's
interview concludes,
316
00:19:24,330 --> 00:19:26,464
Investigators file
a search warrant
317
00:19:26,466 --> 00:19:29,466
To obtain matthew's
cell phone records.
318
00:19:30,403 --> 00:19:33,537
The phone records triangulates,
pings the phone, you know,
319
00:19:33,539 --> 00:19:35,207
Where it hits off the towers,
320
00:19:35,274 --> 00:19:38,809
And it confirmed
that report from francesca.
321
00:19:39,746 --> 00:19:42,680
The timeline of text messages
that she was getting from him
322
00:19:42,749 --> 00:19:45,082
Matched exactly with
what she had told us.
323
00:19:45,685 --> 00:19:49,120
[narrator] with her story and
cell phone records lining up,
324
00:19:49,188 --> 00:19:52,958
Investigators eliminate
francesca as a suspect.
325
00:19:53,559 --> 00:19:55,961
[james] there was nothing
on her end
326
00:19:56,028 --> 00:20:00,298
That would make us look at her
as being involved in this.
327
00:20:03,502 --> 00:20:05,970
[narrator] the phone also
unlocks a lead
328
00:20:05,972 --> 00:20:08,440
On matthew's last known contact
329
00:20:09,108 --> 00:20:11,308
[nolan] we know one of the last
messages that were sent
330
00:20:11,377 --> 00:20:13,111
Says he's with tiffany.
331
00:20:13,512 --> 00:20:15,780
When we get the cell phone
information
332
00:20:15,848 --> 00:20:17,249
From his cell phone carrier,
333
00:20:17,316 --> 00:20:19,450
We had noticed that he had made
several phone calls
334
00:20:19,452 --> 00:20:20,784
To this one number,
335
00:20:20,853 --> 00:20:23,522
And that phone number came back
to a tiffany.
336
00:20:23,589 --> 00:20:26,992
[music]
337
00:20:27,059 --> 00:20:28,659
[nolan] we had made contact
with her
338
00:20:28,661 --> 00:20:30,261
And learned her side of
the story.
339
00:20:30,997 --> 00:20:34,799
Tiffany told the police that
she had met matthew
340
00:20:34,801 --> 00:20:38,002
On a dating site approximately
a year earlier,
341
00:20:38,070 --> 00:20:40,204
And they had been in touch.
342
00:20:40,273 --> 00:20:42,540
But they had never actually met
in person.
343
00:20:43,676 --> 00:20:45,277
[narrator] according to tiffany,
344
00:20:45,344 --> 00:20:48,213
The two were supposed to
meet for the first time
345
00:20:48,281 --> 00:20:50,214
On the night of the 12th...
346
00:20:50,283 --> 00:20:53,484
The same evening matthew
went missing.
347
00:20:54,554 --> 00:20:56,020
[lauren] she's like,
"never showed up."
348
00:20:56,088 --> 00:21:00,225
It was suspicious that
there was this girl in his phon
349
00:21:00,293 --> 00:21:02,159
That he had been
communicating with,
350
00:21:02,228 --> 00:21:04,295
And then they tell her,
you know,
351
00:21:04,363 --> 00:21:05,629
Matthew's gone missing.
352
00:21:05,698 --> 00:21:07,498
And she's like, "well,
I've never even met him."
353
00:21:08,801 --> 00:21:10,034
[nolan] we had asked her,
you know,
354
00:21:10,102 --> 00:21:12,036
One of the last messages
that were sent
355
00:21:12,104 --> 00:21:13,537
Says he's with tiffany.
356
00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:16,841
She's like, "yeah, I don't
really know why..."
357
00:21:18,110 --> 00:21:20,577
"it wasn't me that sent
that message".
358
00:21:20,646 --> 00:21:25,717
[music]
359
00:21:25,785 --> 00:21:28,452
[narrator] in an effort to
confirm tiffany's story,
360
00:21:28,521 --> 00:21:32,456
Investigators study matt's
cell phone gps coordinates
361
00:21:32,525 --> 00:21:34,124
For October 12th.
362
00:21:34,528 --> 00:21:36,727
She actually lived down in
naples,
363
00:21:36,796 --> 00:21:37,528
A little far away,
364
00:21:37,530 --> 00:21:39,797
And none of the gps coordinates
365
00:21:39,865 --> 00:21:42,467
Put him anywhere near where
tiffany lived.
366
00:21:44,470 --> 00:21:46,203
There was no connection.
367
00:21:46,272 --> 00:21:47,538
We believed what she was saying,
368
00:21:47,606 --> 00:21:49,940
And we didn't have anything
to say differently
369
00:21:49,942 --> 00:21:50,842
At this point.
370
00:21:52,278 --> 00:21:54,745
[narrator] the coordinates show
matt never visited tiffany,
371
00:21:54,814 --> 00:21:57,882
Nor returned home
on October 12th.
372
00:21:57,950 --> 00:22:01,353
But he did stop at
an area convenience store
373
00:22:01,420 --> 00:22:03,755
Northeast of fort meyers.
374
00:22:04,757 --> 00:22:07,658
[james] so, the homicide unit
went out there,
375
00:22:07,660 --> 00:22:10,427
And we recovered
surveillance video
376
00:22:10,497 --> 00:22:11,896
From the time that
this cell phone
377
00:22:11,964 --> 00:22:13,098
Was at this gas station.
378
00:22:14,166 --> 00:22:17,868
The video wasn't that good,
but it did show matthew
379
00:22:17,870 --> 00:22:19,371
And the passenger of
the vehicle,
380
00:22:19,438 --> 00:22:23,173
Who was a, definitely a male,
and he was taller,
381
00:22:23,175 --> 00:22:27,746
Get out of the car, come in,
and they purchased something.
382
00:22:28,748 --> 00:22:30,648
And then they got back in
the car,
383
00:22:30,650 --> 00:22:32,584
And they acted like friends.
384
00:22:33,185 --> 00:22:36,553
Our main task was to figure out
who this random guy is
385
00:22:36,622 --> 00:22:40,525
That's riding around with matt.
386
00:22:43,729 --> 00:22:45,195
[nolan] following
the breadcrumbs
387
00:22:45,197 --> 00:22:46,263
That they're leaving behind
388
00:22:46,332 --> 00:22:50,068
From the gps locations,
they lead us to this house.
389
00:22:50,604 --> 00:22:52,803
[narrator] when detectives
arrive at the home,
390
00:22:52,872 --> 00:22:54,405
A man greets them.
391
00:22:54,407 --> 00:22:56,273
He claims he is
a friend of matt's,
392
00:22:56,342 --> 00:23:01,011
But not the same friend from
the gas station cctv footage.
393
00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:04,148
[james] had said that he saw
matt that day,
394
00:23:04,216 --> 00:23:06,417
And there was a passenger
in the car.
395
00:23:06,886 --> 00:23:10,088
And the name he brought up was
nasty nate.
396
00:23:10,891 --> 00:23:15,125
There was no arguments, there
was no against anybody's will,
397
00:23:15,127 --> 00:23:17,094
It was a friendly relationship.
398
00:23:17,830 --> 00:23:21,298
The gentleman only knew him as
his alias, nasty nate.
399
00:23:24,036 --> 00:23:26,104
[narrator] investigators
continue following
400
00:23:26,172 --> 00:23:30,641
Matthew's gps trail until
it suddenly drops off.
401
00:23:30,710 --> 00:23:35,714
[james] our homicide analyst
located a subject that lived
402
00:23:35,781 --> 00:23:38,783
Right in the area of where
matt's phone went dead.
403
00:23:38,851 --> 00:23:42,186
Right where one of those
breadcrumbs was,
404
00:23:42,254 --> 00:23:44,522
Was the address of nathan ortiz.
405
00:23:45,525 --> 00:23:48,593
When we did background
on nathan,
406
00:23:49,662 --> 00:23:52,863
He resembled the person that was
with matthew
407
00:23:52,932 --> 00:23:54,332
At the gas station.
408
00:23:55,801 --> 00:24:00,003
Once we find the identity of
nathan ortiz,
409
00:24:00,072 --> 00:24:03,207
We also learn that he had
a girlfriend named aria.
410
00:24:04,010 --> 00:24:07,211
They live at a house right in
the area of where
411
00:24:07,279 --> 00:24:08,879
Matt's phone went dead.
412
00:24:08,948 --> 00:24:12,549
[music]
413
00:24:12,618 --> 00:24:13,752
[narrator] when investigators
414
00:24:13,819 --> 00:24:15,620
Knock on the front door
of the home,
415
00:24:15,688 --> 00:24:18,156
They're greeted by
a middle-aged woman.
416
00:24:19,291 --> 00:24:22,192
[james] we actually make contact
with nathan's parents.
417
00:24:22,728 --> 00:24:26,096
They give us statements, and
they pretty much tell us that...
418
00:24:26,967 --> 00:24:30,634
Nate and aria, his girlfriend,
do live there,
419
00:24:30,703 --> 00:24:33,837
But they hadn't
been home in a couple of days.
420
00:24:33,839 --> 00:24:35,772
[narrator] according to
nate's mother,
421
00:24:35,841 --> 00:24:40,044
19-year-old aria moved in with
their 20-year-old son
422
00:24:40,112 --> 00:24:41,979
Earlier that year.
423
00:24:42,648 --> 00:24:44,781
That's when mom had told us
about the girlfriend
424
00:24:44,850 --> 00:24:46,451
And gave us her information.
425
00:24:46,519 --> 00:24:49,120
Mom's talking, and we're
looking into both of 'em.
426
00:24:49,521 --> 00:24:51,455
I'm sending all this informatio
to our analyst,
427
00:24:51,523 --> 00:24:53,124
"hey, start researching
this person,
428
00:24:53,192 --> 00:24:56,861
Because this is his girlfriend,
and see what we can get on her."
429
00:24:56,929 --> 00:25:01,732
[music]
430
00:25:01,734 --> 00:25:05,937
[narrator] nathan ortiz and
aria armstead met in 2014,
431
00:25:06,005 --> 00:25:11,141
And nathan was easily attracted
to aria's bubbly personality.
432
00:25:11,810 --> 00:25:16,080
[kristine] aria was a ball of
energy at all times.
433
00:25:16,482 --> 00:25:20,818
I met aria at
a local costume shop.
434
00:25:20,820 --> 00:25:22,019
She was working there,
435
00:25:22,087 --> 00:25:24,955
And the store owner
was my friend.
436
00:25:24,957 --> 00:25:28,225
She was giggling and kind of
jumping around,
437
00:25:28,762 --> 00:25:31,895
And wanted to be
friends with everyone she met.
438
00:25:31,964 --> 00:25:34,698
[narrator] aria's effervescent
personality was
439
00:25:34,700 --> 00:25:37,167
A natural fit in
the competitive world
440
00:25:37,236 --> 00:25:39,369
Of teens and tiaras.
441
00:25:40,106 --> 00:25:42,306
[lauren] she's going around,
doing all these pageants.
442
00:25:43,042 --> 00:25:45,309
She was even voted
miss congeniality
443
00:25:45,377 --> 00:25:48,312
In the little miss florida
pageant.
444
00:25:48,380 --> 00:25:50,847
[kristine] aria loved
the experience,
445
00:25:50,916 --> 00:25:56,820
And she really loved getting to
dress up and play a part.
446
00:25:59,592 --> 00:26:02,726
[narrator] but over time,
little miss congeniality
447
00:26:02,795 --> 00:26:06,330
Grew disenchanted with life
in the spotlight.
448
00:26:06,865 --> 00:26:09,133
I believe that she kind of had
449
00:26:09,135 --> 00:26:13,071
A teenager angsty relationship
with her mother,
450
00:26:13,138 --> 00:26:16,139
Where mom kind of wanted her to
do pageants
451
00:26:16,208 --> 00:26:17,941
And go a certain path.
452
00:26:18,344 --> 00:26:21,812
She would talk about how she
didn't like the pressures of
453
00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:27,051
Performing or potentially being
a failure in her mom's eyes.
454
00:26:30,022 --> 00:26:33,224
[narrator] in time,
aria began to rebel.
455
00:26:33,892 --> 00:26:35,793
She's going around,
doing all these pageants,
456
00:26:36,896 --> 00:26:41,298
And then she stops maybe around,
like, the age 16.
457
00:26:41,900 --> 00:26:45,702
And I know that she met
nate ortiz when she was 16.
458
00:26:46,039 --> 00:26:50,907
So kinda have to speculate
if he had something to do
459
00:26:50,976 --> 00:26:52,076
With her change.
460
00:26:53,312 --> 00:26:56,713
[kristine] aria loved
the attention from nathan,
461
00:26:56,782 --> 00:26:58,850
And she was giddy
to be around him.
462
00:26:59,451 --> 00:27:02,252
He would convince her to
sneak out of the house.
463
00:27:02,855 --> 00:27:06,457
He would tell her that
he needed her,
464
00:27:06,525 --> 00:27:08,792
Or something bad would happen.
465
00:27:09,328 --> 00:27:10,661
[narrator] for aria's friends,
466
00:27:10,729 --> 00:27:12,729
The more they learned
about nathan,
467
00:27:12,798 --> 00:27:15,465
The more concerned they became.
468
00:27:15,934 --> 00:27:18,735
[kristine] nathan, also, would
try to tell her
469
00:27:18,804 --> 00:27:19,936
That she didn't need to
talk to her mom,
470
00:27:20,005 --> 00:27:25,143
And that led to her not taking
responsibility for herself
471
00:27:25,210 --> 00:27:29,380
And not wanting to
complete high school,
472
00:27:29,448 --> 00:27:33,551
Or not showing up at her job.
473
00:27:36,288 --> 00:27:41,025
[narrator] in early 2017,
when aria was 18 years old,
474
00:27:41,093 --> 00:27:44,027
She moved in with nate
and his parents.
475
00:27:44,430 --> 00:27:48,231
She was heart-eyed,
head over heels for the guy.
476
00:27:48,634 --> 00:27:51,101
And it kind of was
exciting for her,
477
00:27:51,170 --> 00:27:54,304
And she was just
along for the ride.
478
00:27:54,306 --> 00:27:58,308
[music]
479
00:27:58,377 --> 00:28:01,912
[narrator] that ride has now led
lee county investigators
480
00:28:01,914 --> 00:28:04,916
To aria and nathan's front door
481
00:28:05,717 --> 00:28:08,386
[nolan] as we're talking with
nathan's mom,
482
00:28:08,454 --> 00:28:10,053
I'm really intrigued by
483
00:28:10,055 --> 00:28:12,390
This area by the side of
the house.
484
00:28:12,791 --> 00:28:15,058
It's a freshly dug dirt area.
485
00:28:15,527 --> 00:28:18,996
It just looked very awkward and
very out of place.
486
00:28:18,998 --> 00:28:21,998
Now I'm like, "okay, so now this
is really involved,
487
00:28:22,067 --> 00:28:24,434
Now we've really got
something here."
488
00:28:24,503 --> 00:28:27,237
[music]
489
00:28:27,306 --> 00:28:28,939
[narrator] coming up.
490
00:28:29,008 --> 00:28:33,477
A grim discovery points to
a possible final resting place.
491
00:28:33,979 --> 00:28:35,680
I thought we had found matt.
492
00:28:36,749 --> 00:28:39,182
[narrator] and later,
investigators come
493
00:28:39,251 --> 00:28:42,653
Face-to-face with aria
and nathan.
494
00:28:45,691 --> 00:28:48,092
[music]
495
00:28:49,028 --> 00:28:53,297
[music]
496
00:29:01,473 --> 00:29:04,775
[narrator] October 26th, 2017.
497
00:29:04,777 --> 00:29:08,312
31-year-old matthew collins
has been missing
498
00:29:08,380 --> 00:29:10,247
For almost two weeks.
499
00:29:10,316 --> 00:29:13,850
Investigators have just made
a concerning discovery
500
00:29:13,919 --> 00:29:17,755
At the home of 20-year-old
nathan ortiz.
501
00:29:18,924 --> 00:29:23,528
Nathan ortiz lives close to
the last location...
502
00:29:23,595 --> 00:29:25,261
Of matthew's cell phone.
503
00:29:26,132 --> 00:29:29,733
And one of the things we
noticed is right next door
504
00:29:29,802 --> 00:29:31,601
There was earth that was
disturbed.
505
00:29:32,338 --> 00:29:35,739
Like something was either
dug up or buried,
506
00:29:35,807 --> 00:29:37,607
And it was recent.
507
00:29:37,609 --> 00:29:42,279
[music]
508
00:29:42,281 --> 00:29:45,116
[narrator] authorities procure
a warrant for the property,
509
00:29:45,183 --> 00:29:49,152
And a forensic team is called n
to search for evidence.
510
00:29:49,221 --> 00:29:52,088
[music]
511
00:29:52,157 --> 00:29:53,623
I thought we had found matt.
512
00:29:53,625 --> 00:29:57,093
I thought we had found
the people responsible for it,
513
00:29:57,162 --> 00:29:59,363
But it turned out not to
be the case.
514
00:29:59,365 --> 00:30:02,833
[music]
515
00:30:02,901 --> 00:30:05,102
[narrator] the clandestine
gravesite
516
00:30:05,104 --> 00:30:08,005
Is nothing but
a dirt-filled hole.
517
00:30:09,107 --> 00:30:12,175
Next, detectives execute
a search warrant
518
00:30:12,177 --> 00:30:14,978
Inside the home and the garage.
519
00:30:15,514 --> 00:30:17,114
[nolan] the most important
evidence
520
00:30:17,183 --> 00:30:18,448
That we found in the house was
521
00:30:18,450 --> 00:30:22,118
The shovels and wheelbarrow
that had dirt still on them.
522
00:30:22,888 --> 00:30:25,789
[justin] the soil was definitely
consistent with the elements
523
00:30:25,858 --> 00:30:29,526
Out in that area,
the sugar sand, the clay.
524
00:30:30,262 --> 00:30:32,329
[narrator] investigators
send the dirt samples
525
00:30:32,331 --> 00:30:36,466
Off for testing,
and make a stunning connection.
526
00:30:37,069 --> 00:30:39,603
[nolan] the dirt on the shovels
and the wheelbarrow
527
00:30:39,605 --> 00:30:43,207
Matched the dirt that was found
in the dug-up area,
528
00:30:43,275 --> 00:30:45,475
And also, the same dirt
that was found
529
00:30:45,544 --> 00:30:46,877
Inside matthew's vehicle.
530
00:30:46,945 --> 00:30:50,480
[music]
531
00:30:50,482 --> 00:30:53,217
[narrator] after wrapping up
the search at his home,
532
00:30:53,285 --> 00:30:57,120
Detectives know they need
to sit down with nathan.
533
00:30:57,122 --> 00:30:59,489
[nolan] nathan's mom calls him
and says,
534
00:30:59,558 --> 00:31:01,224
"I have two deputies here.
535
00:31:01,293 --> 00:31:03,293
"they want to meet with you and
talk to you.
536
00:31:03,295 --> 00:31:05,028
You're meeting with
them tonight."
537
00:31:05,431 --> 00:31:07,997
Mr. Ortiz met
with law enforcement,
538
00:31:08,067 --> 00:31:10,835
Brought his girlfriend along
with him,
539
00:31:10,903 --> 00:31:13,703
And they both gave
voluntary statements.
540
00:31:14,106 --> 00:31:15,907
Aria was interviewed first.
541
00:31:16,442 --> 00:31:19,543
[narrator] detectives start by
asking who she and nate
542
00:31:19,545 --> 00:31:21,111
Typically hang out with,
543
00:31:21,113 --> 00:31:24,315
And aria casually mentions
matthew's name.
544
00:31:29,321 --> 00:31:31,721
[james] when nathan and aria
came in that night,
545
00:31:31,723 --> 00:31:33,790
It was a lot of minimization.
546
00:31:33,859 --> 00:31:35,459
They are just friends of
matthew.
547
00:31:36,196 --> 00:31:38,395
[narrator] but when
investigators press aria
548
00:31:38,463 --> 00:31:41,064
About the last time
she saw matthew,
549
00:31:41,066 --> 00:31:44,101
She makes
a surprising confession.
550
00:31:54,680 --> 00:31:57,747
[narrator] aria claims matthew
stopped by on
551
00:31:57,749 --> 00:32:00,218
The very night he went missing.
552
00:32:01,587 --> 00:32:03,688
[james] matt just kinda showed
up out of the blue.
553
00:32:04,156 --> 00:32:06,090
They went driving
and listened to music.
554
00:32:07,659 --> 00:32:10,560
[narrator] aria says that
as the night wore on,
555
00:32:10,629 --> 00:32:13,130
Matthew began using drugs.
556
00:32:37,956 --> 00:32:39,289
[narrator] according to aria,
557
00:32:39,291 --> 00:32:43,093
The fight between matthew
and nathan escalated quickly.
558
00:33:08,053 --> 00:33:10,286
[narrator] aria reveals to
detectives that
559
00:33:10,355 --> 00:33:12,823
As things in the car
got out of control,
560
00:33:12,891 --> 00:33:16,093
She was not in
a normal state of mind.
561
00:33:43,622 --> 00:33:46,790
Aria kept saying because of
her fear for herself
562
00:33:46,858 --> 00:33:48,591
And her unborn child,
563
00:33:48,660 --> 00:33:52,229
And for nathan's safety, becaus
this guy pulled the gun out
564
00:33:52,297 --> 00:33:53,463
And said, "I'm gonna kill you,"
565
00:33:53,532 --> 00:33:55,865
She felt like this was
the only safe thing
566
00:33:55,867 --> 00:33:57,034
That she could do.
567
00:33:58,537 --> 00:33:59,502
[lauren] in florida, we have
the stand your ground law,
568
00:33:59,571 --> 00:34:03,273
Where you have the right
to use deadly force,
569
00:34:03,342 --> 00:34:08,679
If you truly believe that you
or another is in grave danger.
570
00:34:15,353 --> 00:34:16,953
[nolan] I'm listening to her
tell this story.
571
00:34:17,022 --> 00:34:21,158
There was no, like, sense of
remorse or guilt whatsoever.
572
00:34:21,226 --> 00:34:24,194
I thought, "there's no way that
this is the true story."
573
00:34:27,099 --> 00:34:28,632
[narrator] detectives leave
aria
574
00:34:28,700 --> 00:34:32,235
And move to another room
to talk to nathan.
575
00:34:32,771 --> 00:34:35,238
[nolan] nathan pretty much gives
us the same story,
576
00:34:35,240 --> 00:34:37,308
To the details of the song
being played.
577
00:34:37,375 --> 00:34:39,576
And then matthew
points the gun at him,
578
00:34:39,645 --> 00:34:41,478
And he punches the gun out
of his hand.
579
00:34:42,347 --> 00:34:43,713
And he said, like,
580
00:34:43,782 --> 00:34:45,748
"all of a sudden, I just
heard this, like, gunshot."
581
00:34:45,817 --> 00:34:46,883
[gunshot firing]
582
00:34:46,952 --> 00:34:48,751
[music]
583
00:34:48,821 --> 00:34:51,822
When we get to the part where
matthew gets shot,
584
00:34:51,890 --> 00:34:54,657
And aria shoots him,
it's very quick.
585
00:34:55,327 --> 00:34:57,661
There's no detail in it
whatsoever.
586
00:34:58,131 --> 00:35:00,330
Based upon some interviews
with family,
587
00:35:00,332 --> 00:35:04,668
Matthew had some medical issues
with his right hand
588
00:35:04,736 --> 00:35:06,069
That would've caused him
589
00:35:06,071 --> 00:35:08,471
Not to be able to
articulate it in a way.
590
00:35:08,874 --> 00:35:10,740
That at least gave us a clue
591
00:35:10,742 --> 00:35:16,212
That nate and aria weren't very
truthful about the altercation
592
00:35:16,281 --> 00:35:18,048
That took place inside
the vehicle.
593
00:35:19,284 --> 00:35:20,750
[narrator] while skeptical about
594
00:35:20,752 --> 00:35:23,153
Their account of
matthew's murder,
595
00:35:23,155 --> 00:35:26,223
Investigators demand to know
what followed.
596
00:35:37,569 --> 00:35:39,903
[nolan] they said after
they had killed him,
597
00:35:39,905 --> 00:35:43,072
They decided to dig this grave
right next to the house,
598
00:35:43,141 --> 00:35:45,742
Which is the area that I had
noticed earlier.
599
00:36:00,659 --> 00:36:04,161
It was, like, not deep enough,
and it was very, very obvious.
600
00:36:04,729 --> 00:36:07,397
They end up going back out
there that next night,
601
00:36:07,466 --> 00:36:10,167
And then they decided,
"we need to move this."
602
00:36:17,943 --> 00:36:21,211
[narrator] aria and nathan
then drove across the street
603
00:36:21,213 --> 00:36:25,315
To a wooded area to bury matt
a second time.
604
00:36:39,231 --> 00:36:41,432
Once they buried him,
they were, like,
605
00:36:41,499 --> 00:36:44,434
Searching how to get rid of the,
the body,
606
00:36:44,436 --> 00:36:45,735
And so they decide,
607
00:36:45,804 --> 00:36:47,571
"oh, well it says
burn the body."
608
00:36:47,906 --> 00:36:48,972
So, a couple days later,
609
00:36:49,040 --> 00:36:51,107
They go out there
and unbury him again,
610
00:36:51,176 --> 00:36:53,343
And light his body on fire.
611
00:37:00,719 --> 00:37:04,587
They're sitting there realizing
how bad burning flesh smells.
612
00:37:04,656 --> 00:37:06,990
So they ended up, you know,
putting out the fire
613
00:37:07,058 --> 00:37:08,725
And then burying him again.
614
00:37:12,464 --> 00:37:14,231
This point, we didn't know
where matthew was,
615
00:37:14,300 --> 00:37:17,601
So we'd asked aria if she'd be
willing to show us.
616
00:37:17,669 --> 00:37:21,037
[narrator] aria agrees to take
investigators to
617
00:37:21,106 --> 00:37:22,538
The unmarked grave,
618
00:37:22,607 --> 00:37:26,277
Just steps away from
nathan's parents' house.
619
00:37:44,629 --> 00:37:46,763
[justin] we had just locked down
the area,
620
00:37:46,765 --> 00:37:50,233
And the next morning,
they came out with an excavator.
621
00:37:51,036 --> 00:37:54,838
At which point, they were able
to find human remains
622
00:37:54,906 --> 00:37:57,207
With the medical examiner.
623
00:37:58,510 --> 00:38:01,512
[narrator] the medical examiner
confirms matthew died
624
00:38:01,579 --> 00:38:04,614
Of a single gunshot wound
to the head.
625
00:38:05,717 --> 00:38:07,583
[justin] nathan and aria
were arrested
626
00:38:07,652 --> 00:38:10,453
For trying to destroy a corpse
627
00:38:10,522 --> 00:38:12,855
And tampering with actual
physical evidence.
628
00:38:13,591 --> 00:38:17,126
Aria was obviously charged with
the murder.
629
00:38:17,195 --> 00:38:21,264
[music]
630
00:38:21,333 --> 00:38:22,532
[narrator] coming up.
631
00:38:22,600 --> 00:38:24,400
A former beauty pageant
contestant
632
00:38:24,469 --> 00:38:27,337
Faces the fight of
her young life.
633
00:38:27,806 --> 00:38:30,007
When I found out that
aria was arrested,
634
00:38:30,075 --> 00:38:31,542
My stomach sank.
635
00:38:31,609 --> 00:38:35,345
It really didn't feel like
the aria that I knew.
636
00:38:35,413 --> 00:38:37,414
[music]
637
00:38:38,016 --> 00:38:41,651
[music]
638
00:38:50,562 --> 00:38:53,897
[narrator]
on October 28th, 2017,
639
00:38:53,899 --> 00:38:56,499
Former teen beauty pageant
contestant,
640
00:38:56,568 --> 00:38:59,102
19-year-old aria armstead,
641
00:38:59,104 --> 00:39:02,905
Is charged for the murder
of matthew collins.
642
00:39:02,974 --> 00:39:06,242
She and her boyfriend,
20-year-old nathan ortiz,
643
00:39:06,311 --> 00:39:10,079
Also face additional charges
of tampering with evidence
644
00:39:10,148 --> 00:39:12,582
And desecration of a corpse.
645
00:39:13,586 --> 00:39:16,619
[brian] nathan ortiz was not
charged with murder,
646
00:39:16,621 --> 00:39:18,389
Because she pulled the trigger.
647
00:39:18,456 --> 00:39:21,391
He actually had done nothing
wrong at the time,
648
00:39:21,459 --> 00:39:25,262
Until he agreed to help dispose
of the body.
649
00:39:26,531 --> 00:39:28,465
When I found out that
aria was arrested,
650
00:39:28,467 --> 00:39:30,000
My stomach sank.
651
00:39:31,136 --> 00:39:33,603
I felt wholeheartedly
652
00:39:33,672 --> 00:39:36,939
That nathan was at the root of
all of it,
653
00:39:37,008 --> 00:39:41,077
Because it really didn't feel
like the aria that I knew.
654
00:39:41,146 --> 00:39:45,281
[music]
655
00:39:45,350 --> 00:39:47,083
[narrator] as the trial
approaches,
656
00:39:47,152 --> 00:39:50,954
Investigators work to understad
the real motive
657
00:39:51,022 --> 00:39:52,889
Behind matthew's murder.
658
00:39:52,957 --> 00:39:54,957
[james] there's a lot of
theories on why
659
00:39:55,026 --> 00:39:56,893
Aria had to pull
the trigger that day.
660
00:39:56,895 --> 00:40:00,163
One of the things that came up
later during the investigation
661
00:40:00,231 --> 00:40:04,702
About the motive was that
this probably was a setup.
662
00:40:05,036 --> 00:40:07,036
Matthew wasn't wealthy,
663
00:40:07,772 --> 00:40:10,373
But he probably had
access to narcotics.
664
00:40:10,441 --> 00:40:13,042
And it's a possibility that
665
00:40:13,111 --> 00:40:16,779
Aria and nathan were trying to
666
00:40:16,848 --> 00:40:20,084
Rob matthew of whatever
narcotics he had on him.
667
00:40:20,151 --> 00:40:23,786
[music]
668
00:40:23,855 --> 00:40:27,457
[narrator] what detectives
eventually prove shoots a hole
669
00:40:27,459 --> 00:40:30,726
In an important detail
in aria's story.
670
00:40:30,795 --> 00:40:31,861
[nolan] once we had
booked her in,
671
00:40:31,863 --> 00:40:34,664
That's when they had
made her do a pregnancy test,
672
00:40:34,666 --> 00:40:36,533
And learned that she
wasn't actually pregnant.
673
00:40:38,370 --> 00:40:39,802
She was never pregnant.
674
00:40:39,871 --> 00:40:41,737
I think it was just part of
her story
675
00:40:41,806 --> 00:40:44,308
That she wanted to
fabricate to make it seem like
676
00:40:44,375 --> 00:40:46,810
She was, you know,
so scared for her life.
677
00:40:48,013 --> 00:40:50,614
What happened in the car,
it's a mystery.
678
00:40:50,682 --> 00:40:52,281
We gotta go on the facts.
679
00:40:52,550 --> 00:40:55,752
Matthew collins died in a way
680
00:40:55,754 --> 00:40:58,221
That somebody else was
responsible for it.
681
00:40:58,756 --> 00:41:01,224
And the person that was
responsible for it was in
682
00:41:01,226 --> 00:41:02,559
The backseat of that car.
683
00:41:02,561 --> 00:41:05,162
The only person in the back sea
of that car was aria armstead.
684
00:41:05,230 --> 00:41:08,764
You'd be able to figure
the trajectory just based on
685
00:41:08,833 --> 00:41:10,901
Where the bullet left
the windshield.
686
00:41:14,038 --> 00:41:18,207
[brian] my personal belief is,
after talking to mr. Ortiz
687
00:41:18,276 --> 00:41:20,644
For hours and hours on end...
688
00:41:20,712 --> 00:41:22,412
Is that it happened,
689
00:41:22,414 --> 00:41:24,448
But it was typical
secondary murder.
690
00:41:24,515 --> 00:41:26,115
You don't have pre-planning.
691
00:41:26,584 --> 00:41:30,987
Mr. Ortiz, we actually, after
9 to 12 months
692
00:41:31,055 --> 00:41:33,724
Of negotiating with the
state attorney's office--
693
00:41:33,791 --> 00:41:37,794
We had come up with a
plea agreement of 36 months,
694
00:41:37,796 --> 00:41:39,595
Three years in prison,
695
00:41:39,664 --> 00:41:41,865
Followed by 10 years of
probation.
696
00:41:43,134 --> 00:41:47,804
But he did have to agree to
testify truthfully against aria
697
00:41:48,940 --> 00:41:50,840
[nolan] the gun was not found
originally.
698
00:41:50,909 --> 00:41:53,276
They ended up
interviewing nate again,
699
00:41:53,278 --> 00:41:56,547
Later on, after he'd already
been sentenced to prison,
700
00:41:56,614 --> 00:41:59,415
And he told 'em they tossed
the gun into the river.
701
00:41:59,484 --> 00:42:00,950
And the dive team went out ther
702
00:42:01,019 --> 00:42:03,019
And ended up finding the gun
out there in the river.
703
00:42:03,087 --> 00:42:05,588
The attorney that we worked with
for the state
704
00:42:05,657 --> 00:42:07,891
You know, basically presented
all this to aria.
705
00:42:07,959 --> 00:42:13,095
[music]
706
00:42:13,164 --> 00:42:14,363
[narrator] in the end,
707
00:42:14,432 --> 00:42:16,967
Aria armstead accepts
a plea deal.
708
00:42:17,569 --> 00:42:20,236
On August 20th, 2018,
709
00:42:20,238 --> 00:42:23,239
She pleads guilty to
first-degree manslaughter,
710
00:42:23,308 --> 00:42:27,076
Tampering with evidence,
and abuse of a corpse.
711
00:42:28,179 --> 00:42:31,648
Aria got 40 years with
possibility of parole.
712
00:42:32,317 --> 00:42:33,850
[brian] she did shoot somebody.
713
00:42:33,852 --> 00:42:36,252
They couldn't tell if it was
premeditated or not.
714
00:42:36,921 --> 00:42:40,856
Had she got to trial and lost,
she coulda looked up to life.
715
00:42:40,925 --> 00:42:45,796
[music]
716
00:42:45,863 --> 00:42:48,731
I still to this day try
to ask myself, like,
717
00:42:48,800 --> 00:42:50,433
What really happened?
718
00:42:50,502 --> 00:42:52,769
I wish we had matthew's side,
but unfortunately, we don't.
719
00:42:53,872 --> 00:42:56,239
[kristine] I know that
aria has attempted
720
00:42:56,307 --> 00:42:58,507
Multiple appeals with the court
721
00:42:58,576 --> 00:43:00,142
And all of them have been
denied.
722
00:43:00,211 --> 00:43:03,679
I do not know if she's
taken any responsibility.
723
00:43:03,748 --> 00:43:08,551
I don't think that it is
clicking for her other than,
724
00:43:08,553 --> 00:43:11,988
"I'm in prison.
And I can't go home."
725
00:43:12,890 --> 00:43:14,290
[tiffany] so, I think maybe...
726
00:43:14,359 --> 00:43:17,560
The grips of addiction
could have came in play
727
00:43:17,629 --> 00:43:18,828
And he could have possibly
728
00:43:18,896 --> 00:43:20,162
Been at the wrong place
at the wrong time,
729
00:43:20,231 --> 00:43:22,366
But that doesn't define him
as a man.
730
00:43:23,035 --> 00:43:24,900
I'm just glad that
he got justice
731
00:43:24,969 --> 00:43:27,103
And the people
that did it is behind bars.
732
00:43:27,171 --> 00:43:30,908
[music]
733
00:43:32,310 --> 00:43:44,187
[music]