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Emale narrator]
a tragic car
accident sends ripples
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Through the great smoky
mountains national park.
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There was a jeep, a black jeep
over an embankment
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Wedged on a tree.
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[john] they learned he had
driven off in a rage.
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Was this a drunken driver
who simply went over
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The side of a mountain?
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[narrator]
as the investigation deepens,
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Questions of foul play
quickly materialize.
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The injuries were more severe
than what you would've normally
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Seen in that type of
a vehicular accident.
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He was in the backseat, which
defied all laws of physics.
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We felt something
was very wrong.
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[narrator] secrets of infidelity
and greed come to light,
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As an unfathomable plot
takes shape.
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What he told us was this story
of having an affair.
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They would strip naked and have
sex in the open air
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Not knowing that
they were being recorded.
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He is willing to fall
on the sword for her.
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I just don't know how to wrap
my head around
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The thoughts of somebody
that could do that.
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That is cold beyond cold.
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[theme music]
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[narrator] sevier county,
tennessee is the gateway
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To the great smoky mountains
national park.
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[jamie] the thing about
sevier county is
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I can walk out my back door,
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And I'm looking at
the mountains.
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It's a very small town
kind of place.
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People do tend, uh,
to know each other.
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Tourism is another biggie.
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We bring in a lot of revenue
for the state of tennessee.
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[narrator] on November 6, 1994,
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Two visitors are
making their way
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Along the scenic
gatlinburg bypass
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When they stop
to admire the view.
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[john] on Sunday morning,
two tourists from missouri went
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To this lookout site, which is
quite well known in the area.
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Gives a lovely view of the town
of gatlinburg beneath them.
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It's surrounded by thick forest.
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It's part of the
smoky mountains.
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They walk to the edge,
and one looked down and said,
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"oh my goodness,
someone has had an accident."
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And there was a jeep,
a black jeep over an embankment
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Wedged on a tree.
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They called 911.
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[music]
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A ranger showed up to
investigate the accident
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And immediately recognized the
seriousness of the situation.
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The terrain there, it's trees
and shrubbery, and brush,
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And things of that nature.
It's rough.
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Bears and rattlesnakes,
and all kinds of stuff.
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[robbie] it was ranger mcnutt
who responded.
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When she went down there, she
saw a white male with injuries.
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It had all the markings
of an accident.
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[john] she immediately noticed
the smell of alcohol
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When she opened the door.
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The apparent driver was not in
the front behind the wheel.
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He was in the backseat.
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Was this a drunken driver
who simply went over
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The side of a mountain?
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[robbie] he was bleeding.
He had lacerations, bruising.
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She found that he was not alive,
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Removed his wallet,
tried to find out who he was.
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[music]
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It identified him as
kelly lovera, a lecturer
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In mathematics at nearby
pellissippi state college
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And a resident of sevierville.
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[robbie] ranger mcnutt
secured the scene.
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Because of our interactions with
the park and our relationship,
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They had contacted us.
We figured out where he lived.
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His wife, shayne lovera
had reported him missing
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Earlier in the morning.
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I said, "I know her.
I watched her grow up."
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She had moved back to the area
with her husband,
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Kelly lovera four years ago.
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[narrator] originally
from madison, wisconsin,
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Kelly lovera was the
quintessential all-american man
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Kelly loved swimming.
He loved to play music.
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He loved to have fun
and play cards and games,
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And go riding on his motorcycle.
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He just made the most of every
second of his life.
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[narrator] after graduating
high school in 1979,
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Kelly was accepted to
the university of missouri
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Where he worked towards
a degree in mathematics.
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[barbara] kelly was a
wonderful mathematician.
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He just was a wiz at it.
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I mean, I think he was born
with that talent.
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[narrator] it was during
his senior year
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That kelly met the woman who
would change his life forever.
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Here name was shayne mills.
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[barbara] he was at school
in columbia
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And shayne went
to stephens college.
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Kelly was an extremely
good swimmer,
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And he was a swimming coach
as a side job
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To get some extra money.
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And shayne went to the pool.
And that's how they met.
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[narrator] vivacious
and outgoing like kelly,
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Shayne grew up in
gatlinburg, tennessee.
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[jamie] shayne had no
relationship
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With her birth father.
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Shayne and her mother were
what I would call
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Kind of working poor.
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You're living paycheck
to paycheck, kind of thing.
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[john] however, things took
an interesting turn.
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Shayne's mother, sandra,
had good looks on her side
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And she was soon dating,
not just one of
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The most prominent citizens
in gatlinburg,
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But the president of the bank,
brent mills.
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[jamie] she was about seven
when he and her mother married.
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Brent mills adopted her
right away.
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He was one of those people that
you saw everywhere.
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Everybody knew him,
very gregarious.
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[john] they soon produced
another daughter,
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A younger sister for shayne,
kimmie.
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So out of this poverty stricken,
if you will background,
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Shayne is suddenly elevated
not just economically,
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That is in an upper middle
class family, but socially.
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[jamie] I went to gatlinburg
pittman high school with shayne.
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And we worked together
on the yearbook.
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She was always smiling,
laughing, cutting up.
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When she walked in a room,
she dominated it.
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[john] she was president
of the ski club.
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She was the
junior miss candidate.
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She was miss everything
in that high school.
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[jamie] she was always
talking about her daddy,
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Or around her daddy.
They were very close.
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She had the run of gatlinburg.
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Gatlinburg was her town,
and she enjoyed that.
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[narrator] but shayne's
cinderella story
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Came to an abrupt end in 1984
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When her stepfather's bank
came under federal scrutiny
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For alleged fraud
and money laundering.
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The bank went broke. A criminal
investigation took place.
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[jamie] brent killed himself.
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I just remember how
shocking that was.
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And it was just a few weeks
before shayne's graduation.
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[music]
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Brent mills' suicide changed
everything for shayne.
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And I think that there
was some measure of shame
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Because of gossip and so,
it was to no one's surprise
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That she pretty quickly
left gatlinburg.
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[narrator] looking for
a fresh start,
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Shayne enrolled in the
journalism program
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At stephens college
in columbia, missouri
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Where she met kelly.
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[john] when she spotted
this handsome young man,
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He had everything going for him.
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Looks, personality, physique,
talent, intelligence.
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To kelly, shayne represented
a very attractive, charming,
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Young woman.
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[narrator]
the couple married in 1985.
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Within five years,
they were proud parents
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To their son, cooper
and daughter, casey.
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She was a very devoted mother.
A pretty devoted wife.
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My dad loved his kids very,
very much, me and my brother.
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He was a good dad.
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He was a really,
really good guy.
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[barbara] kelly was a teacher
at first in missouri.
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And then they moved
to sevierville because
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He loved the mountains and
shayne was from sevierville.
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And he furthered his career and
got his master's at knoxville.
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Upon graduation,
after getting his degree,
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Kelly obtained a position
with pellissippi state college
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Near knoxville, tennessee.
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[casey] I remember walking
the halls with him,
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Holding his hand.
He loved his job.
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He loved his students.
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His students talked about what a
wonderful teacher he was
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And he made learning fun.
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[john] he was only a beginning
professor, but it was a start.
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They had two young children
and a rather limited salary
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To get by on, so they settled in
a small apartment
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In an area of sevierville
known as frog alley.
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[music]
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[casey] I remember the
tiny little apartment
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Me, my mom, my dad,
and my older brother lived in.
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My parents liked to
have get-togethers.
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They used to have parties.
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The complex is like a horseshoe.
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And they would literally put
their tables out in the middle
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Of the horseshoe and,
and eat and drink
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And party and play cards,
and just have a good time.
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[narrator] in September of 1994,
the lovera family was elated
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When shayne convinced her siste
to join them in frog alley.
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Shayne's sister, kim, had moved
into the apartment complex
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Just two doors down from the
unit shared by kelly and shayne.
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[jamie] they had lots
of friends and fun.
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It looked like a
pretty good life.
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[music]
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[narrator] but only four years
after their move to sevierville
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Kelly's life has been cut short
in what appears to be
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A tragic drink driving accident
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As park rangers begin
processing the wreckage,
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They notice something strange.
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[robbie] when the jeep was
found, it was found with
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The nose or the front end
pointed downward.
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Kelly had lacerations, bruising
and different cuts on his body.
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Obviously, he was bleeding.
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The back of the jeep
was simply metal.
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But the blood trail was flowing
in the wrong direction.
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[john] its front end up against
a large tree
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And leaking out the back
of the jeep is blood.
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Now, how does that happen?
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How does blood leak out
the back end, the high end
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Of a vehicle that's
halfway down a mountain?
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[david] the park rangers
in gatlinburg call me
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And the tennessee bureau
of investigation said,
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"we have a death. It is made
to look like an accident.
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But we don't think it's an
accident. Would you please come
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00:11:02,862 --> 00:11:06,864
Over here and look at it
and see what you think?"
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00:11:06,933 --> 00:11:10,835
We felt that this man
has been killed and put here.
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00:11:11,337 --> 00:11:13,037
[narrator] coming up.
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00:11:13,106 --> 00:11:17,141
New evidence throws the acciden
theory further into question.
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00:11:17,210 --> 00:11:19,177
[john] kelly lovera's blood
alcohol level
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00:11:19,245 --> 00:11:22,781
Was below the legal limit
of 0.08.
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[robbie] you're looking
at every possibility
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And you're trying to
eliminate 'em one by one.
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[narrator] and rumors emerge as
the investigation heats up.
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It was kind of common knowledge
that he was sneaking around.
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[jamie] that was shocking.
Here she is once again in
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00:11:39,399 --> 00:11:43,702
A position where there's
a scandal following her.
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[music]
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[music]
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[narrator] investigators
in sevier county, tennesse
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Are examining the death
of 33-year-old kelly lovera
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00:12:00,353 --> 00:12:05,723
After his jeep was discovered
crashed down a steep embankment
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00:12:05,792 --> 00:12:10,061
The blood was running backward
from the front to the rear,
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Which would indicate that
whatever happened,
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Happened prior to going off,
over the embankment.
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We felt something uh,
was very wrong.
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[david] we all came to the
scene,
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But the driver
was in the backseat.
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So that was my first clue, maybe
he wasn't driving the vehicle.
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This defied all laws of physics.
A vehicle striking a tree
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At speed does not thrust the
driver from the front seat
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00:12:35,255 --> 00:12:38,089
Into the backseat.
It's just the opposite.
238
00:12:38,158 --> 00:12:39,823
[david] we had to figure out
what had happened to that
239
00:12:39,825 --> 00:12:44,696
Young man, so after we got
the jeep out, we impounded it
240
00:12:44,764 --> 00:12:48,332
And, of course,
removed the body for an autopsy.
241
00:12:48,401 --> 00:12:50,534
[narrator] as kelly's body
is transported to the
242
00:12:50,604 --> 00:12:55,406
Medical examiner's office, csi
search the jeep for evidence.
243
00:12:55,475 --> 00:12:58,476
We called the lab
to process the jeep
244
00:12:58,544 --> 00:13:02,613
And we got enough samples of
blood for forensic testing.
245
00:13:02,615 --> 00:13:04,615
[music]
246
00:13:04,617 --> 00:13:06,984
[narrator] after the samples
are sent to the lab,
247
00:13:07,053 --> 00:13:10,221
Investigators must next
make the difficult visit
248
00:13:10,290 --> 00:13:14,992
To kelly's home to notify
his family about his death.
249
00:13:15,061 --> 00:13:16,928
[robbie] I said, "let me
go talk to shayne lovera,
250
00:13:16,996 --> 00:13:18,262
Because I know her."
251
00:13:18,264 --> 00:13:22,633
And so, I went up there to tell
her that we had found kelly.
252
00:13:22,702 --> 00:13:25,469
[music]
253
00:13:25,538 --> 00:13:29,240
[david] we informed her that
we had found her husband
254
00:13:29,309 --> 00:13:32,510
Deceased in the smoky mountains
in what appeared to be
255
00:13:32,579 --> 00:13:37,181
An automobile accident.
That's all we told her.
256
00:13:37,183 --> 00:13:39,951
[john] at this stage the
investigators had a good idea
257
00:13:40,019 --> 00:13:42,553
That kelly had died as
a result of foul play.
258
00:13:42,622 --> 00:13:45,356
They didn't reveal this
to shayne at the time
259
00:13:45,425 --> 00:13:48,125
Because there was no
hard evidence of it.
260
00:13:48,194 --> 00:13:51,162
Shayne, when we notified her
of the death of kelly,
261
00:13:51,231 --> 00:13:54,565
She was, you know,
just very much in shock.
262
00:13:54,634 --> 00:13:56,367
[john] a young woman from just
down from the next apartment
263
00:13:56,436 --> 00:13:59,871
Came running up and asked,
"what happened?"
264
00:13:59,939 --> 00:14:02,874
And shayne turned to this woman
who was her younger sister
265
00:14:02,942 --> 00:14:07,111
And said, "kimmie,
they found kelly dead."
266
00:14:07,180 --> 00:14:10,114
[robbie] her sister came to
console her.
267
00:14:10,116 --> 00:14:14,885
And at that point,
she--shayne became distraught.
268
00:14:14,887 --> 00:14:18,789
[david] I don't believe
the children really understood
269
00:14:18,858 --> 00:14:21,125
What was happening.
270
00:14:21,194 --> 00:14:25,429
And you know, all they knew
was daddy hadn't come home.
271
00:14:25,498 --> 00:14:28,499
[casey] it was four days
after I turned six.
272
00:14:28,568 --> 00:14:31,936
I have no recollection
of the day, of a moment
273
00:14:32,004 --> 00:14:35,539
That I was told my dad was dead.
I have no memory of that.
274
00:14:35,608 --> 00:14:37,541
[narrator] when investigators
ask shayne
275
00:14:37,543 --> 00:14:40,077
When she last saw her husband,
276
00:14:40,146 --> 00:14:43,080
Shayne explains that she and
kelly had hosted a party
277
00:14:43,149 --> 00:14:47,018
In their apartment complex
the night before.
278
00:14:47,086 --> 00:14:48,953
[robbie] we're trying to
establish the timeline
279
00:14:49,022 --> 00:14:53,291
Of events. She said that they
had been partying that night
280
00:14:53,359 --> 00:14:57,461
And, obviously drinking.
And shayne made a statement
281
00:14:57,530 --> 00:14:59,530
That he had been
drinking heavily
282
00:14:59,599 --> 00:15:03,401
And had gone to sleep
on the couch.
283
00:15:03,469 --> 00:15:06,404
At some point during the night,
she and a couple of others
284
00:15:06,472 --> 00:15:10,374
Went to pick up some food.
And came back.
285
00:15:10,443 --> 00:15:14,678
According to her, she kind of
closed down the event.
286
00:15:14,747 --> 00:15:18,348
[narrator] shayne says an hour
later, kelly woke up and
287
00:15:18,350 --> 00:15:22,820
Began accusing her of flirting
with a man at the party.
288
00:15:22,889 --> 00:15:24,555
Shayne said they had,
had an argument
289
00:15:24,624 --> 00:15:27,558
In the middle of the night,
and he had driven off in a rage.
290
00:15:27,627 --> 00:15:30,661
[robbie] shayne said
he had been inebriated.
291
00:15:30,663 --> 00:15:32,964
And this was at
4:30 in the morning.
292
00:15:33,032 --> 00:15:35,733
[david] she went to bed,
got up in the morning
293
00:15:35,801 --> 00:15:37,501
And he wasn't there.
294
00:15:37,570 --> 00:15:40,204
[music]
295
00:15:40,272 --> 00:15:42,740
[robbie] we learned that
shayne lovera had contacted
296
00:15:42,808 --> 00:15:45,743
The police department, and said
her husband did not come home.
297
00:15:45,811 --> 00:15:49,346
[music]
298
00:15:49,415 --> 00:15:52,683
We started interviewing
through the apartment complex,
299
00:15:52,685 --> 00:15:56,387
Asking people if they had
seen anything, heard anything.
300
00:15:56,456 --> 00:15:59,357
We were trying to find out
if anybody had seen the jeep
301
00:15:59,425 --> 00:16:02,560
And/or kelly leaving
at that time.
302
00:16:02,628 --> 00:16:04,628
Most of 'em said,
"no, we didn't hear anything,"
303
00:16:04,697 --> 00:16:07,765
You know, or, "we may have
heard 'em partying."
304
00:16:07,833 --> 00:16:11,169
There was a water break very
near the apartment that night.
305
00:16:11,237 --> 00:16:14,405
We went out and found
the guys who were repairing
306
00:16:14,474 --> 00:16:18,609
The water leak and they were out
there digging in the street
307
00:16:18,678 --> 00:16:21,679
And a man who worked for
the city water department
308
00:16:21,747 --> 00:16:25,483
Saw the jeep leave. Now, they
did not see who was in it,
309
00:16:25,551 --> 00:16:27,118
But they did see the jeep leave.
310
00:16:27,186 --> 00:16:30,954
And this was early in the
morning, like 4:00 or 5:00.
311
00:16:31,691 --> 00:16:33,924
[narrator] while investigators
continue searching
312
00:16:33,993 --> 00:16:38,796
For witnesses, they receive
the results of kelly's autopsy.
313
00:16:38,864 --> 00:16:41,765
[john] the medical examiner
noted that kelly lovera's
314
00:16:41,835 --> 00:16:46,203
Blood alcohol level
was measured at 0.06,
315
00:16:46,272 --> 00:16:49,807
Which was high enough
to make it difficult perhaps
316
00:16:49,875 --> 00:16:53,244
For him to drive the car as
effectively as he should,
317
00:16:53,312 --> 00:16:58,282
But was still slightly below
the legal limit of 0.08.
318
00:16:58,350 --> 00:17:00,151
[robbie] per the autopsy report,
319
00:17:00,219 --> 00:17:02,954
The cause of death
was blunt force trauma.
320
00:17:03,022 --> 00:17:05,422
The injuries were more severe
than what you would've normally
321
00:17:05,491 --> 00:17:09,894
Seen in that type of
a vehicular accident.
322
00:17:09,962 --> 00:17:13,664
[david] he had suffered
severe lacerations to the head
323
00:17:13,733 --> 00:17:17,068
And wounds. It was a dozen
or more strikes on his head.
324
00:17:17,136 --> 00:17:20,070
This is definitely
not an accident.
325
00:17:20,773 --> 00:17:23,841
He had been beaten severely
with a blunt object in the head,
326
00:17:23,909 --> 00:17:27,344
Like someone had really
took some type of tire iron,
327
00:17:27,413 --> 00:17:33,217
Or bat, or club to him
and just beat him senseless.
328
00:17:33,219 --> 00:17:35,619
It was overkill.
Somebody really wanted him dead
329
00:17:35,621 --> 00:17:38,722
Because you can just feel
that what happened to him
330
00:17:38,791 --> 00:17:41,825
Was a personal thing.
331
00:17:41,827 --> 00:17:45,029
Because of what we gathered
from the scene
332
00:17:45,097 --> 00:17:49,600
And looking at the body and
getting a professional opinion
333
00:17:49,669 --> 00:17:54,738
From the pathologist,
we felt that ever what happened
334
00:17:54,740 --> 00:17:57,441
To this man happened
someplace else.
335
00:17:57,510 --> 00:17:59,743
His injuries were too severe.
336
00:17:59,812 --> 00:18:02,980
What happened did not
occur in the jeep.
337
00:18:03,048 --> 00:18:05,483
[narrator] now investigators
must determine who
338
00:18:05,551 --> 00:18:08,552
Had the motive to kill kelly.
339
00:18:08,621 --> 00:18:11,055
[robbie] was this a
crime of passion?
340
00:18:11,123 --> 00:18:15,760
Did he forget to pay somebody
that he owed money?
341
00:18:15,828 --> 00:18:20,364
We don't know until we start
eliminating those things.
342
00:18:20,366 --> 00:18:23,568
That's what we had to do.
343
00:18:24,837 --> 00:18:27,271
[narrator] later that evening,
investigators receive a call
344
00:18:27,340 --> 00:18:30,907
From a local resident
named jim burney.
345
00:18:30,909 --> 00:18:34,612
[robbie] jim burney had
called and said
346
00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:38,782
That he had some information
about the actual incident.
347
00:18:38,851 --> 00:18:42,586
We learned that jim burney had
been called early in the morning
348
00:18:42,655 --> 00:18:47,057
By brett rae to come
pick him up in gatlinburg.
349
00:18:47,126 --> 00:18:49,293
[john] brett rae claimed to
his friend that he had been
350
00:18:49,362 --> 00:18:52,129
At a party at a motel
and been left there,
351
00:18:52,197 --> 00:18:54,564
And needed a ride home.
352
00:18:54,566 --> 00:18:56,767
It was very early in the morning
but his friend being a good,
353
00:18:56,836 --> 00:19:00,337
Loyal friend got up, got
dressed, went to pick up brett.
354
00:19:00,406 --> 00:19:02,139
And he recognized
immediately that
355
00:19:02,207 --> 00:19:04,441
Brett was in pretty bad shape.
356
00:19:04,510 --> 00:19:06,677
[robbie] his pants were
dirty from the knees down,
357
00:19:06,746 --> 00:19:10,380
Looked like he'd been running
or walking through the woods.
358
00:19:10,450 --> 00:19:13,450
And it looked like
he had blood on his clothing.
359
00:19:13,519 --> 00:19:16,654
Allegedly, brett rae told him
that, quote,
360
00:19:16,722 --> 00:19:19,757
"I did it, I did it.
I got rid of kelly."
361
00:19:21,827 --> 00:19:24,562
[music]
362
00:19:27,733 --> 00:19:30,668
[music]
363
00:19:30,736 --> 00:19:33,437
[narrator] 24 hours into
the murder investigation
364
00:19:33,506 --> 00:19:37,141
Of kelly lovera, a local man
comes forward
365
00:19:37,209 --> 00:19:41,679
And implicates 25-year-old
brett rae in the crime.
366
00:19:42,848 --> 00:19:46,717
[david] we started developing
information quick that brett rae
367
00:19:46,786 --> 00:19:52,423
Was picked up by jim burney just
a short time before the jeep
368
00:19:52,491 --> 00:19:55,859
Was found over the embankment.
369
00:19:55,861 --> 00:20:00,898
And he took him to the
apartment complex in frog alley.
370
00:20:00,966 --> 00:20:03,067
[john] brett lived in
frog alley, renting a spare room
371
00:20:03,135 --> 00:20:08,005
From kim, the younger sister
of kelly's wife, shayne.
372
00:20:08,073 --> 00:20:11,875
[narrator] investigators begin
delving into brett rae's past.
373
00:20:11,944 --> 00:20:15,946
And learn he has deep ties
to the community.
374
00:20:16,015 --> 00:20:18,782
[john] brett rae was the
youngest son of rick rae,
375
00:20:18,851 --> 00:20:20,984
Who was the publisher of
the mountain press,
376
00:20:21,054 --> 00:20:24,755
The only newspaper published
in the gatlinburg area.
377
00:20:24,757 --> 00:20:26,556
[david] they had a nice
home with a swimming pool
378
00:20:26,558 --> 00:20:28,659
Over on the river.
379
00:20:28,728 --> 00:20:34,265
And they were quite known in
the community by all the locals.
380
00:20:34,333 --> 00:20:37,167
[narrator] a former navy
specialist in fire fighting
381
00:20:37,236 --> 00:20:38,669
And vehicle repairs,
382
00:20:38,738 --> 00:20:42,672
Brett had left home
shortly after high school.
383
00:20:42,674 --> 00:20:45,276
[john] he was having a pretty
good career in the navy.
384
00:20:45,344 --> 00:20:47,678
He sailed to the
gulf war and back.
385
00:20:47,747 --> 00:20:50,648
And he was actually
made a junior officer,
386
00:20:50,716 --> 00:20:53,217
But he threw it
all away one day.
387
00:20:53,285 --> 00:20:56,320
[david] he enlisted in the navy,
and he stayed a few months,
388
00:20:56,389 --> 00:21:00,724
And got in, uh, an altercation
with a chief petty officer
389
00:21:00,793 --> 00:21:05,028
And got a dishonorable discharge
and came back home.
390
00:21:05,097 --> 00:21:07,465
[music]
391
00:21:07,467 --> 00:21:10,734
Brett returned because
he simply loved tennessee.
392
00:21:10,803 --> 00:21:15,873
His dad had hired him giving
him a job at the newspaper.
393
00:21:15,941 --> 00:21:17,408
I had worked with him.
394
00:21:17,476 --> 00:21:21,045
And we were always
crossing paths.
395
00:21:21,113 --> 00:21:24,915
I always thought of him as the
black sheep of the rae family
396
00:21:24,984 --> 00:21:27,885
Because he had no
ambition about things.
397
00:21:27,953 --> 00:21:30,421
He liked being--
he liked being wild.
398
00:21:30,489 --> 00:21:34,491
Having sex. Driving cars. Uh,
and drinking.
399
00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:37,261
And, you know, just having fun.
400
00:21:37,329 --> 00:21:38,496
He was very young.
401
00:21:38,564 --> 00:21:41,732
And he was not all that great
about always showing up on time.
402
00:21:41,801 --> 00:21:45,435
So the newspaper thing
was just not working out.
403
00:21:45,505 --> 00:21:47,637
[music]
404
00:21:47,707 --> 00:21:51,041
[john] brett eventually picked
up a job as a motor mechanic
405
00:21:51,110 --> 00:21:53,577
In a nearby garage.
406
00:21:53,646 --> 00:21:56,580
[jamie] brett was working
at sevierville tire.
407
00:21:56,649 --> 00:22:00,117
They did tires and
service work on cars.
408
00:22:00,185 --> 00:22:03,620
[robbie] kim, who was
shayne's younger sister
409
00:22:03,689 --> 00:22:06,724
Had placed an ad in the paper
looking for a roommate.
410
00:22:06,792 --> 00:22:11,995
And apparently brett showed up
as a result of that ad.
411
00:22:12,064 --> 00:22:14,131
[john] brett moved in with kim
and eventually,
412
00:22:14,199 --> 00:22:16,467
Brett became one of
kelly's newest friends.
413
00:22:16,535 --> 00:22:18,836
He helped kelly change
the oil in his jeep.
414
00:22:18,904 --> 00:22:22,005
And he took part in
the parties at frog alley.
415
00:22:22,007 --> 00:22:23,874
[music]
416
00:22:23,943 --> 00:22:26,409
[narrator] according to jim,
that's where brett
417
00:22:26,411 --> 00:22:30,748
Began developing
an illicit romance.
418
00:22:30,816 --> 00:22:35,519
Shayne was having
an affair with brett.
419
00:22:36,222 --> 00:22:40,357
[robbie] shayne would crawl
out the bedroom window,
420
00:22:40,426 --> 00:22:42,893
Go down behind the apartments
421
00:22:42,895 --> 00:22:47,631
And crawl in a window
of brett rae.
422
00:22:47,633 --> 00:22:51,101
Jim burney said brett was
enamored with shayne.
423
00:22:51,170 --> 00:22:54,538
[music]
424
00:22:54,606 --> 00:22:55,773
[narrator] following his
statement,
425
00:22:55,841 --> 00:22:59,076
Jim directs investigators
to a wooded area
426
00:22:59,144 --> 00:23:01,578
Where brett had dumped
his bloody clothes
427
00:23:01,647 --> 00:23:04,714
And other evidence
from the crime.
428
00:23:04,784 --> 00:23:07,518
[david] we went back
and we did the search.
429
00:23:07,586 --> 00:23:11,722
We found plastic bags,
men's trousers, a shirt,
430
00:23:11,791 --> 00:23:16,527
And some other items of clothing
that had blood stains.
431
00:23:16,595 --> 00:23:20,297
[robbie] there was also a
blue blanket with a
432
00:23:20,365 --> 00:23:22,432
Picture of a unicorn on it.
433
00:23:23,102 --> 00:23:26,637
We sent it all off to the
tbi lab to do forensics.
434
00:23:28,674 --> 00:23:30,574
[narrator] armed with
an alleged confession,
435
00:23:30,642 --> 00:23:35,011
Evidence of a potential motive,
and possible physical evidence,
436
00:23:35,081 --> 00:23:38,649
Authorities quickly track
brett rae down at his apartment
437
00:23:38,717 --> 00:23:41,051
And take him into custody.
438
00:23:41,120 --> 00:23:42,820
[robbie] obviously,
we questioned him,
439
00:23:42,888 --> 00:23:46,156
And we asked him what his
relationship was with shayne.
440
00:23:46,225 --> 00:23:49,627
And he denied any
sort of affiliation
441
00:23:49,629 --> 00:23:51,895
Or association with her.
442
00:23:51,964 --> 00:23:54,932
We obviously didn't
believe that.
443
00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:57,200
[david] brett explained
that they were friends,
444
00:23:57,269 --> 00:24:01,705
And they knew each other
from the apartments.
445
00:24:01,774 --> 00:24:04,341
He did not admit to
having anything to do
446
00:24:04,410 --> 00:24:06,209
With the death of kelly lovera.
447
00:24:06,279 --> 00:24:09,046
He admitted being over there
earlier that evening,
448
00:24:09,114 --> 00:24:11,982
That they were at a gathering
over there and were drinking
449
00:24:12,051 --> 00:24:16,219
And partying and he was there
along with some other people.
450
00:24:16,288 --> 00:24:18,722
[narrator] when investigators
press brett about his alleged
451
00:24:18,791 --> 00:24:23,126
Confession to jim burney,
brett asks for an attorney.
452
00:24:23,195 --> 00:24:24,962
He was charged with
first-degree murder
453
00:24:25,030 --> 00:24:26,897
At that point.
454
00:24:26,966 --> 00:24:28,999
[john] because of the affair
with brett rae, the police began
455
00:24:29,068 --> 00:24:32,703
Actively investigating shayne's
involvement in the murder.
456
00:24:33,539 --> 00:24:35,973
[narrator] while investigators
continue to hold brett
457
00:24:35,975 --> 00:24:39,176
In custody, kelly lovera's
family and friends
458
00:24:39,245 --> 00:24:41,745
Gather for his funeral
459
00:24:41,814 --> 00:24:45,883
Where shayne's behavior
catches their attention.
460
00:24:45,951 --> 00:24:48,752
[barbara] she was talking and
laughing like it was a party.
461
00:24:48,754 --> 00:24:51,489
And she didn't
talk to any of us.
462
00:24:51,557 --> 00:24:54,625
She kind of ignored
the whole lovera family.
463
00:24:54,693 --> 00:24:56,159
I didn't see her crying.
464
00:24:56,228 --> 00:24:58,762
I don't even remember
seeing her to go the casket.
465
00:24:58,831 --> 00:25:02,165
You would think somebody
whose husband was dead,
466
00:25:02,234 --> 00:25:07,204
Would be at the casket grieving.
But there was no sign of it.
467
00:25:07,272 --> 00:25:11,708
I just had this inner
feeling she was involved.
468
00:25:11,777 --> 00:25:13,677
[narrator]
shortly after the funeral,
469
00:25:13,746 --> 00:25:15,946
Investigators are
contacted by a man
470
00:25:16,015 --> 00:25:20,850
Claiming to be another of
shayne's lovers.
471
00:25:20,852 --> 00:25:23,153
[david] wade hill came
and talked to us
472
00:25:23,222 --> 00:25:25,455
And what he told us
was this story
473
00:25:25,524 --> 00:25:29,159
Of having an affair with shayne.
474
00:25:29,228 --> 00:25:32,929
[robbie] wade lived directly
across from kelly and shayne.
475
00:25:32,998 --> 00:25:36,099
According to wade, shayne had
asked him more or less
476
00:25:36,101 --> 00:25:39,736
To help her kill her husband.
477
00:25:39,805 --> 00:25:42,339
She told wade hill
she wanted the children
478
00:25:42,407 --> 00:25:44,341
And didn't want to divorce him.
479
00:25:44,409 --> 00:25:48,946
Wade, being a smart man said no.
But after kelly was killed,
480
00:25:49,014 --> 00:25:52,483
Wade came forward
and told us all this.
481
00:25:52,551 --> 00:25:56,520
He told us she was looking
at books on witchcraft,
482
00:25:56,588 --> 00:26:01,191
Trying to find a poison that was
not detectable in an autopsy.
483
00:26:01,260 --> 00:26:03,260
[david] he was still
in contact with shayne.
484
00:26:03,328 --> 00:26:06,930
And as a matter of fact, the
morning of his disappearance,
485
00:26:06,932 --> 00:26:10,233
She had called him and
asked if he'd seen kelly.
486
00:26:10,302 --> 00:26:13,236
He thought she was probably
trying to cover her tracks
487
00:26:13,305 --> 00:26:15,038
And set up an alibi.
488
00:26:15,107 --> 00:26:17,908
It was good information
that we didn't have.
489
00:26:17,977 --> 00:26:21,278
After this we knew that she was
involved in killing her husband.
490
00:26:21,346 --> 00:26:23,447
[music]
491
00:26:23,515 --> 00:26:25,115
[narrator] coming up.
492
00:26:25,184 --> 00:26:28,986
Investigators pinpoint the true
location of kelly's murder.
493
00:26:29,054 --> 00:26:32,923
Using luminol, it lit up
like a christmas tree.
494
00:26:32,992 --> 00:26:35,593
[narrator] and questions about
the ultimate mastermind
495
00:26:35,661 --> 00:26:39,096
Behind this plot
continue to rise.
496
00:26:44,003 --> 00:26:47,204
[jamie] she's pointing fingers
at him from the get-go.
497
00:26:50,142 --> 00:26:52,710
[music]
498
00:26:55,514 --> 00:26:58,916
[music]
499
00:26:58,984 --> 00:27:01,819
[narrator] on November 8, 1994,
500
00:27:01,887 --> 00:27:05,489
Two days after kelly lovera
was found murdered,
501
00:27:05,557 --> 00:27:08,391
Investigators have learned that
his wife, shayne
502
00:27:08,461 --> 00:27:13,697
Had asked two of her lovers
to kill her husband.
503
00:27:13,699 --> 00:27:19,302
We went back to the apartment
and spoke with shayne.
504
00:27:19,371 --> 00:27:23,340
Police directly questioned
shayne about her involvement
505
00:27:23,408 --> 00:27:24,575
With brett rae.
506
00:27:24,643 --> 00:27:27,377
[david] we confronted her and,
of course, "oh no. Just friends,
507
00:27:27,446 --> 00:27:31,348
We party together, we have,
uh, parties a lot
508
00:27:31,416 --> 00:27:34,117
In different apartments and,
and we all know one another
509
00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:36,153
And we all socialize."
510
00:27:36,221 --> 00:27:38,888
When we were talking to her,
we smelled clorox
511
00:27:38,890 --> 00:27:41,224
And stuff like that.
512
00:27:41,293 --> 00:27:46,329
That place had a real
smell of cleaning utensils.
513
00:27:46,398 --> 00:27:48,665
[robbie] it was a very small
apartment,
514
00:27:48,733 --> 00:27:51,668
Probably 6-800 square feet.
515
00:27:51,737 --> 00:27:55,372
They had the normal things,
the television, what have you.
516
00:27:55,440 --> 00:27:57,574
But there was one thing,
it was when you turned
517
00:27:57,643 --> 00:28:01,211
Around to go out the door, on
the left-hand side of the door
518
00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:05,548
Was kelly's diploma from the
university of tennessee.
519
00:28:05,618 --> 00:28:09,186
[david] and we happened to
glance at a diploma of kelly's
520
00:28:09,254 --> 00:28:11,287
And there was a
blood spatter on it.
521
00:28:11,357 --> 00:28:13,223
[music]
522
00:28:13,292 --> 00:28:15,826
It's almost like kelly
was speaking out to us.
523
00:28:15,894 --> 00:28:18,862
Said, "hey, look up
here at my diploma."
524
00:28:18,931 --> 00:28:22,699
So we figured, uh oh, we found
out where mr. Lovera was killed
525
00:28:22,701 --> 00:28:24,601
Right there in that apartment.
526
00:28:24,670 --> 00:28:27,604
So at that point, we took
everybody out of that house
527
00:28:27,672 --> 00:28:30,808
Because from all the evidence
now pointing to that
528
00:28:30,876 --> 00:28:33,243
Something had happened
in that house,
529
00:28:33,245 --> 00:28:36,379
One of the agents puts his hand
on the couch and it's wet.
530
00:28:36,448 --> 00:28:40,050
He pulls his hand up
and it's red with blood.
531
00:28:40,118 --> 00:28:42,819
You could smell somebody
tried to clean it up.
532
00:28:42,888 --> 00:28:45,989
It was evident that the crime
had actually been committed
533
00:28:46,058 --> 00:28:49,259
On the couch.
534
00:28:49,328 --> 00:28:51,394
[music]
535
00:28:51,463 --> 00:28:54,331
We called in our
lab techs to come up.
536
00:28:54,399 --> 00:28:57,434
They have a system
called a luminol test,
537
00:28:57,502 --> 00:29:02,005
Which reacts with blood, so they
luminoled that apartment.
538
00:29:02,074 --> 00:29:04,775
It lit up like a christmas tree.
539
00:29:04,843 --> 00:29:07,777
[robbie] it was amazing
at what you saw.
540
00:29:07,779 --> 00:29:12,349
We went through all the rooms
and even out back
541
00:29:12,417 --> 00:29:15,518
Where we thought
the path of travel was.
542
00:29:15,588 --> 00:29:18,421
[david] kelly lovera was
dragged out of the apartment.
543
00:29:18,490 --> 00:29:21,524
And you could actually
see the drag pattern
544
00:29:21,594 --> 00:29:25,462
Going from the couch,
through the living area,
545
00:29:25,530 --> 00:29:29,966
Through the children's room,
through a window to an alleyway
546
00:29:30,035 --> 00:29:32,235
Where the jeep was parked.
547
00:29:32,304 --> 00:29:34,338
[music]
548
00:29:34,406 --> 00:29:37,507
We didn't have dna back then.
We had to type the blood.
549
00:29:37,509 --> 00:29:42,379
The blood was his blood type,
so we put it all together
550
00:29:42,447 --> 00:29:44,881
And we presented it
to the grand jury.
551
00:29:44,950 --> 00:29:47,884
And they indicted brett rae
and shayne lovera
552
00:29:47,953 --> 00:29:49,620
For first-degree murder.
553
00:29:49,688 --> 00:29:51,154
[music]
554
00:29:51,223 --> 00:29:52,956
[narrator] on December 13th,
555
00:29:53,024 --> 00:29:54,691
The tennessee bureau of
investigation
556
00:29:54,760 --> 00:29:57,928
Arrests shayne lovera for the
murder of her husband,
557
00:29:57,996 --> 00:30:00,163
Kelly lovera.
558
00:30:00,165 --> 00:30:03,967
During questioning,
shayne refuses to cooperate.
559
00:30:04,036 --> 00:30:06,537
[david] she wasn't admitting
to anything.
560
00:30:06,605 --> 00:30:08,338
She lawyered up pretty quick.
561
00:30:08,407 --> 00:30:09,639
[music]
562
00:30:09,641 --> 00:30:13,143
[jamie] I was already hearing
enough to make me think
563
00:30:13,145 --> 00:30:15,078
That she might well
have been involved.
564
00:30:15,147 --> 00:30:18,615
And, I'll tell you
that was shocking.
565
00:30:18,683 --> 00:30:21,518
Here she is once again
in a position
566
00:30:21,586 --> 00:30:25,355
Where there's a scandal
following her.
567
00:30:25,424 --> 00:30:27,357
[barbara] I just don't know
how to wrap my head around
568
00:30:27,426 --> 00:30:31,128
The thoughts of somebody
that could do that.
569
00:30:31,196 --> 00:30:35,465
If you don't love somebody,
just get a divorce.
570
00:30:35,534 --> 00:30:37,367
[narrator]
following their arrests,
571
00:30:37,436 --> 00:30:41,738
Both shayne and brett post bail
and are released on bond.
572
00:30:41,807 --> 00:30:43,607
While investigators continue
573
00:30:43,609 --> 00:30:46,543
Building their case
against them.
574
00:30:46,611 --> 00:30:51,080
You're looking for a motive,
and the proverbial why.
575
00:30:51,082 --> 00:30:55,718
[david] robbie had a detective
assigned to follow her for that
576
00:30:55,720 --> 00:30:59,389
Very reason to see if they were
still having a relationship,
577
00:30:59,458 --> 00:31:01,224
Which they did.
578
00:31:01,226 --> 00:31:02,759
[john] they had to
do this carefully.
579
00:31:02,828 --> 00:31:05,328
One of their favorite tactics
was to drive to the top of a
580
00:31:05,397 --> 00:31:07,564
Local mountain in a public area.
581
00:31:07,633 --> 00:31:11,334
There they would strip naked
and have sex in the open air,
582
00:31:11,403 --> 00:31:14,737
Not knowing that they were
being viewed, recorded, and
583
00:31:14,807 --> 00:31:20,277
Essentially observed by various
law officers in the area.
584
00:31:20,345 --> 00:31:22,579
They would meet,
have intercourse,
585
00:31:22,648 --> 00:31:27,517
And then she would go on her
way, and he would go on his.
586
00:31:27,586 --> 00:31:31,087
We had all that documented
and videoed as evidence.
587
00:31:31,156 --> 00:31:32,422
[music]
588
00:31:32,491 --> 00:31:34,291
[narrator] investigators
also delve
589
00:31:34,359 --> 00:31:37,727
Into the lovera's
financial records.
590
00:31:37,729 --> 00:31:40,163
[david] we always thought one
of the motives was money.
591
00:31:40,232 --> 00:31:42,499
They were having
financial difficulties.
592
00:31:42,567 --> 00:31:47,204
Shayne liked to spend money
and she overextended kelly too.
593
00:31:47,272 --> 00:31:50,507
And it was also a
life insurance policy.
594
00:31:50,575 --> 00:31:52,609
[david] we gathered later
on that shayne had called
595
00:31:52,678 --> 00:31:56,045
Pellissippi state and
asked how much insurance
596
00:31:56,115 --> 00:31:58,548
That kelly had on him.
597
00:31:58,617 --> 00:32:02,185
[john] kelly's life insurance
was basically for only $30,000.
598
00:32:02,254 --> 00:32:04,287
Although it paid double
if his death
599
00:32:04,356 --> 00:32:06,456
Was a result of an accident.
600
00:32:06,525 --> 00:32:09,659
[robbie] in '94 that was
quite a bit of money.
601
00:32:09,661 --> 00:32:12,795
[david] if she inherited some
money from an accidental death,
602
00:32:12,865 --> 00:32:16,933
She probably would've been
able to recover what she owed
603
00:32:17,002 --> 00:32:20,903
And get out of her
current situation.
604
00:32:21,940 --> 00:32:23,740
[narrator] when investigators
receive the results
605
00:32:23,808 --> 00:32:27,577
Of the forensic testing from th
items recovered in the woods,
606
00:32:27,646 --> 00:32:31,080
Their case is
seemingly solidified.
607
00:32:31,150 --> 00:32:33,984
[david] all the blood testing
from the blanket, the clothing,
608
00:32:34,052 --> 00:32:38,288
Et cetera,
went back to the victim.
609
00:32:38,356 --> 00:32:42,058
[robbie] the unicorn blanket
came from shayne and kelly's
610
00:32:42,127 --> 00:32:47,864
Home. That was missing from the
house and found near the scene.
611
00:32:47,933 --> 00:32:51,834
We all always thought that they
might have wrapped him in that
612
00:32:51,836 --> 00:32:53,970
Blanket to get him outside.
613
00:32:54,039 --> 00:32:58,208
Also, they found brett rae's
blood type in the jeep,
614
00:32:58,276 --> 00:33:01,178
Which was another nail
in the coffin.
615
00:33:01,246 --> 00:33:03,179
[narrator]
investigators feel confident
616
00:33:03,248 --> 00:33:06,249
They have a strong case
as they head to trial,
617
00:33:06,318 --> 00:33:09,752
But on January 22, 1996,
618
00:33:09,821 --> 00:33:13,290
13 months after brett
was released on bond,
619
00:33:13,358 --> 00:33:16,059
Authorities receive word
that his bondsman
620
00:33:16,127 --> 00:33:18,795
Is unable to locate him.
621
00:33:18,797 --> 00:33:21,264
[john] he was to report to his
bail bondsman who had put up
622
00:33:21,333 --> 00:33:23,966
The $50,000 bail.
623
00:33:24,036 --> 00:33:27,037
The bondsman realized he had
a runner. Told the police.
624
00:33:27,105 --> 00:33:29,406
And then went looking
for brett rae.
625
00:33:30,843 --> 00:33:33,610
[music]
626
00:33:36,881 --> 00:33:39,849
[music]
627
00:33:39,851 --> 00:33:42,519
[narrator] authorities are on
the hunt for brett rae
628
00:33:42,587 --> 00:33:45,688
After he skips bail
in sevier county, tennessee
629
00:33:45,757 --> 00:33:49,392
Weeks before his trial
is set to begin.
630
00:33:49,461 --> 00:33:52,028
I'm concerned, you know,
because I want to know
631
00:33:52,096 --> 00:33:54,131
That justice is gonna be served.
632
00:33:54,133 --> 00:33:59,502
[narrator] on January 26, 1996,
authorities surveilling shayne
633
00:33:59,571 --> 00:34:03,306
Discover that the fugitive
has made contact with her.
634
00:34:03,375 --> 00:34:07,577
We received word that brett
had skipped town to mexico.
635
00:34:07,579 --> 00:34:11,681
He managed to contact shayne.
He talked her into finding
636
00:34:11,750 --> 00:34:14,184
Enough money to pay for
an airline ticket
637
00:34:14,252 --> 00:34:16,152
Back into the u.S.
638
00:34:16,221 --> 00:34:18,388
Shayne wired the money to brett.
639
00:34:18,457 --> 00:34:22,925
And just two days later brett
was on a flight to miami.
640
00:34:23,628 --> 00:34:25,494
As soon as he
stepped off the plane,
641
00:34:25,496 --> 00:34:29,466
He was spotted by officials
who knew he was being sought.
642
00:34:29,534 --> 00:34:33,203
And within 50 steps,
he was arrested, handcuffed,
643
00:34:33,271 --> 00:34:36,473
And flown back to knoxville.
644
00:34:36,541 --> 00:34:38,741
He came back
because he had no money.
645
00:34:38,743 --> 00:34:40,677
He had nothing to
keep him in mexico.
646
00:34:40,745 --> 00:34:42,846
He figured he had
better face the music.
647
00:34:42,914 --> 00:34:44,948
[male reporter] rae jumped bond
and fled to mexico,
648
00:34:45,016 --> 00:34:48,318
Where alicia shayne lovera
admittedly wired him money.
649
00:34:48,320 --> 00:34:50,520
Rae was arrested
re-entering the country.
650
00:34:50,589 --> 00:34:53,190
Both were put back in jail
with a higher bond.
651
00:34:53,258 --> 00:34:55,592
[music]
652
00:34:55,660 --> 00:34:57,727
[narrator] with the evidence
stacked against him,
653
00:34:57,796 --> 00:35:01,498
Brett rae decides to cut a deal
and come clean about his
654
00:35:01,566 --> 00:35:07,003
Involvement in kelly's murder
on November 6, 1994.
655
00:35:07,072 --> 00:35:10,507
[john] brett's story was that
he had come in after the party
656
00:35:10,575 --> 00:35:14,777
To check on shayne who has
been sleeping in her bedroom.
657
00:35:14,846 --> 00:35:17,313
He simply touched her to
see if she was all right.
658
00:35:17,382 --> 00:35:20,416
And as he was leaving,
kelly who had left early
659
00:35:20,485 --> 00:35:23,319
In a fit of rage, returned.
660
00:35:23,388 --> 00:35:26,422
Seeing brett step out
of his wife's bedroom,
661
00:35:26,491 --> 00:35:29,692
He became furious
and began attacking brett.
662
00:35:29,761 --> 00:35:34,764
Brett told the story that
kelly had knocked him down.
663
00:35:34,833 --> 00:35:37,300
[john] at some point,
brett, in his own defense,
664
00:35:37,368 --> 00:35:40,870
Beat kelly with the bat.
665
00:35:40,872 --> 00:35:43,640
He said he got into kelly's car,
drove around to the back
666
00:35:43,708 --> 00:35:46,142
Of the complex,
put his body in the jeep
667
00:35:46,211 --> 00:35:51,248
And drove off to dump the car
and kelly over the mountain.
668
00:35:51,316 --> 00:35:53,650
[narrator] despite pressure
from investigators,
669
00:35:53,652 --> 00:35:57,654
Brett refuses to implicate
shayne in any way.
670
00:35:57,722 --> 00:36:00,156
[robbie] it would've taken
more than one person
671
00:36:00,225 --> 00:36:02,825
Getting kelly out
of the apartment.
672
00:36:02,827 --> 00:36:04,927
He was taking the fall for her.
673
00:36:04,997 --> 00:36:08,365
[music]
674
00:36:08,367 --> 00:36:10,100
[narrator] authorities know
they aren't getting
675
00:36:10,168 --> 00:36:14,837
The full story from brett, so
they refuse to cut him a deal.
676
00:36:14,906 --> 00:36:17,907
He wanted to take the plea
and say, "she didn't have
677
00:36:17,976 --> 00:36:21,311
Nothing to do with it and I'll
take anything you all give me."
678
00:36:21,379 --> 00:36:22,579
And the district attorney said,
679
00:36:22,647 --> 00:36:24,848
"no, we're going
to try you both."
680
00:36:24,916 --> 00:36:29,386
[music]
681
00:36:29,454 --> 00:36:31,321
Through the evidence
that we collected,
682
00:36:31,389 --> 00:36:35,091
I believe kelly lovera
was asleep on the couch.
683
00:36:35,159 --> 00:36:37,827
Brett rae comes in
with a ball bat
684
00:36:37,896 --> 00:36:40,030
And starts beating him
around the head.
685
00:36:40,098 --> 00:36:45,702
[music]
686
00:36:45,770 --> 00:36:50,172
His body had been dragged
from the living room
687
00:36:50,242 --> 00:36:54,277
Into the kids' bedroom.
688
00:36:54,345 --> 00:36:56,813
And then pitched out a window.
689
00:36:56,881 --> 00:36:59,015
I don't care if
the kids are asleep.
690
00:36:59,083 --> 00:37:02,752
That is cold beyond cold.
691
00:37:02,821 --> 00:37:05,421
[robbie] the murder
happened in her home.
692
00:37:05,490 --> 00:37:07,857
And she had to have
known about it.
693
00:37:07,926 --> 00:37:11,428
There was no way for her
to get around that.
694
00:37:11,496 --> 00:37:15,599
Because of the cleaning and
the luminol being sprayed,
695
00:37:15,667 --> 00:37:19,202
The luminol brought the
blood up to the surface.
696
00:37:19,270 --> 00:37:23,773
So we believe that shayne
was cleaning up
697
00:37:23,841 --> 00:37:27,243
While brett took kelly
to the national park.
698
00:37:27,245 --> 00:37:28,745
[music]
699
00:37:28,813 --> 00:37:31,580
[narrator] on March 26, 1996,
700
00:37:31,650 --> 00:37:34,450
The joint trial of
brett rae and shayne lovera
701
00:37:34,519 --> 00:37:37,853
Begins in a
sevier county court room.
702
00:37:37,923 --> 00:37:40,790
[john] the prosecution claimed
that both brett and shayne
703
00:37:40,859 --> 00:37:43,459
Were responsible for
kelly lovera's death.
704
00:37:43,528 --> 00:37:47,163
Shayne's motivation, they claim,
was the insurance money.
705
00:37:47,232 --> 00:37:50,867
But shayne needed someone to
help her murder her husband.
706
00:37:50,935 --> 00:37:52,969
[david] shayne was unhappy
in her marriage,
707
00:37:53,038 --> 00:37:57,707
And they were living not the way
she was used to living.
708
00:37:57,776 --> 00:37:59,476
[john] shayne wanted the money,
709
00:37:59,544 --> 00:38:01,877
And she wanted custody
of the children
710
00:38:01,947 --> 00:38:04,814
And brett was her means
of getting both.
711
00:38:04,816 --> 00:38:06,949
Brett thought she
walked on water.
712
00:38:07,018 --> 00:38:09,852
And anything that shayne wanted
brett would give
713
00:38:09,854 --> 00:38:12,489
Because he was
so focused on her.
714
00:38:12,491 --> 00:38:15,492
Shayne's defense was that
kelly lovera had indeed
715
00:38:15,560 --> 00:38:18,127
Been murdered by brett rae,
716
00:38:18,196 --> 00:38:20,896
But that shayne had nothing
to do with the death.
717
00:38:20,966 --> 00:38:23,566
They claimed brett rae
was caught up in a rather
718
00:38:23,568 --> 00:38:27,904
Childish romanticism
and he wanted to be with her.
719
00:38:28,440 --> 00:38:30,440
[narrator]
when shayne takes the stand,
720
00:38:30,508 --> 00:38:32,975
She continues
to claim innocence,
721
00:38:33,044 --> 00:38:36,379
But admits that brett
had told her he killed kelly
722
00:38:36,448 --> 00:38:38,414
After the murder.
723
00:38:38,483 --> 00:38:43,920
My son's baseball bat
was in the living room.
724
00:38:43,988 --> 00:38:48,825
And, um, he said he just
picked it up and swung at him
725
00:38:48,827 --> 00:38:52,228
To get him away from him.
And he said he didn't back off.
726
00:38:52,297 --> 00:38:55,131
That he had hit him...
727
00:38:55,199 --> 00:38:58,434
I don't know how many times.
728
00:38:58,503 --> 00:39:03,606
And, um, he finally fell back
onto the couch.
729
00:39:03,674 --> 00:39:06,476
[jamie] shayne's defense
was that she was asleep
730
00:39:06,544 --> 00:39:09,746
And had no idea that
crazy brett
731
00:39:09,814 --> 00:39:12,381
Was gonna go
and kill her husband.
732
00:39:12,383 --> 00:39:16,886
It was very apparent that if her
lips were moving, she was lying.
733
00:39:16,955 --> 00:39:19,422
[narrator] shayne admits
that after brett told her
734
00:39:19,490 --> 00:39:20,923
He had killed kelly,
735
00:39:20,992 --> 00:39:24,828
She continued their affair
out of fear.
736
00:39:42,481 --> 00:39:43,713
[john] she was not aware,
of course,
737
00:39:43,781 --> 00:39:48,218
That they had been recorded
having sex while out on bond.
738
00:39:49,888 --> 00:39:51,821
[narrator] when it's their turn,
brett's defense team
739
00:39:51,890 --> 00:39:55,091
Chooses not to call
any witnesses.
740
00:39:55,159 --> 00:39:57,393
[robbie] brett's attorney
had made the statement that
741
00:39:57,395 --> 00:40:01,197
His client did not want to
present any sort of defense
742
00:40:01,265 --> 00:40:03,232
In this particular case.
743
00:40:03,234 --> 00:40:07,537
[jamie] brett is willing
to fall on the sword for her.
744
00:40:07,605 --> 00:40:09,806
He's going to take the blame.
745
00:40:09,874 --> 00:40:14,577
And she's pointing fingers
at him from the get-go.
746
00:40:14,646 --> 00:40:16,745
[narrator] after only
a two-day trial,
747
00:40:16,815 --> 00:40:19,416
The jury retires to deliberate.
748
00:40:19,484 --> 00:40:24,120
It only takes an hour and a hal
before they reach their verdict
749
00:40:24,188 --> 00:40:27,890
The jury came back very quickly.
And they found both of them
750
00:40:27,959 --> 00:40:30,459
Guilty of first-degree murder.
And that meant they
751
00:40:30,461 --> 00:40:33,796
Were staring down the
barrel of life without parole.
752
00:40:33,865 --> 00:40:36,866
After the jury's already ruled,
753
00:40:36,935 --> 00:40:40,503
Shayne and brett change
their plea to guilty.
754
00:40:40,571 --> 00:40:42,572
What they were bartering for was
755
00:40:42,640 --> 00:40:46,776
Life with the
possibility of parole.
756
00:40:46,845 --> 00:40:50,446
The sentence that they both got
was life with the possibility
757
00:40:50,514 --> 00:40:53,315
Of parole at 25 years.
758
00:40:53,317 --> 00:40:55,251
[barbara] I don't know that
there truly is justice.
759
00:40:55,319 --> 00:40:59,589
I mean, if she was truly
remorseful or sorry,
760
00:40:59,657 --> 00:41:04,994
Maybe I could agree to
what she got, but she wasn't.
761
00:41:05,063 --> 00:41:07,664
[casey] I don't feel like she's
ever expressed any remorse.
762
00:41:07,732 --> 00:41:12,335
Am I sure she's remorseful?
I hope so.
763
00:41:12,403 --> 00:41:15,805
[narrator] 14 years into
shayne's incarceration,
764
00:41:15,874 --> 00:41:19,141
Casey lovera attempts to
reconcile the relationship
765
00:41:19,210 --> 00:41:20,910
With her mother.
766
00:41:20,979 --> 00:41:24,146
I was very, very mad at her
for a very, very long time.
767
00:41:24,215 --> 00:41:26,949
Lots of anger.
I had to let go of that.
768
00:41:27,018 --> 00:41:31,553
I was 22. It was christmas day.
We were at my meemaw's,
769
00:41:31,555 --> 00:41:34,290
Which is her mom's house
in tennessee.
770
00:41:34,292 --> 00:41:36,292
She had never called me,
but she was calling her mom,
771
00:41:36,361 --> 00:41:38,527
And she knew I was there.
And I just decided that,
772
00:41:38,529 --> 00:41:41,764
"if I'm gonna talk to you,
it's not gonna be fake.
773
00:41:41,833 --> 00:41:45,067
I need you to admit to your
guilt, or there's no point
774
00:41:45,136 --> 00:41:48,638
In this for me."
so I asked yes or no questions.
775
00:41:48,706 --> 00:41:51,974
"you admit that you are guilty?"
and she said, "yes."
776
00:41:52,043 --> 00:41:56,512
"you admit that you had
a part in my dad's death?"
777
00:41:56,580 --> 00:41:57,913
And she said, "yes."
778
00:41:57,915 --> 00:42:02,018
It just felt like a weight
lifted off my shoulders.
779
00:42:02,086 --> 00:42:07,924
[music]
780
00:42:11,195 --> 00:42:13,595
[narrator]
after serving 25 years,
781
00:42:13,597 --> 00:42:17,166
Shayne lovera is granted parole
and released from prison
782
00:42:17,234 --> 00:42:20,803
In January 2022.
783
00:42:20,872 --> 00:42:23,939
[barbara] she's walking
around free and clear.
784
00:42:23,941 --> 00:42:27,209
But kelly's still dead.
He'll always be gone.
785
00:42:27,211 --> 00:42:31,447
We won't ever have that
joy of having him around.
786
00:42:31,516 --> 00:42:34,283
[casey] I wish I could tell
my dad how much I love him.
787
00:42:34,285 --> 00:42:37,620
I really wish he could
see me be a mom.
788
00:42:37,688 --> 00:42:39,755
And I know he does
see me being a mom.
789
00:42:39,824 --> 00:42:42,157
I wish he could be a grandpa.
790
00:42:42,159 --> 00:42:46,862
I wish my kids could meet him.
791
00:42:46,931 --> 00:42:49,298
I missed out on having
a best friend.
792
00:42:49,367 --> 00:42:51,033
I just imagine him
being there for me
793
00:42:51,102 --> 00:42:54,037
Through all the ups and downs.
Um...
794
00:42:56,975 --> 00:42:59,876
It's hard to think about.
795
00:43:02,080 --> 00:43:03,946
I think, maybe it would be
the opposite of the life I had
796
00:43:04,015 --> 00:43:06,182
Where I was very, very alone.
797
00:43:06,250 --> 00:43:10,052
So it's hard,
798
00:43:10,121 --> 00:43:14,890
But I--I just hope that
I'm making him proud now.
799
00:43:14,959 --> 00:43:17,093
[barbara] kelly's kids
lost something precious.
800
00:43:17,161 --> 00:43:19,228
They're not ever able to
know the man
801
00:43:19,297 --> 00:43:22,098
That they could have
had in their life.
802
00:43:22,166 --> 00:43:25,167
He's in here and
will always be in here.
803
00:43:25,169 --> 00:43:29,105
And that's the main thing.
The memories, the love.
804
00:43:29,173 --> 00:43:31,941
[music]
805
00:43:34,779 --> 00:43:40,917
[music]