1 00:00:08,742 --> 00:00:12,011 [zeena] coming to the u.S. Was a big change. 2 00:00:12,079 --> 00:00:15,347 Achieving the american dream was the ultimate goal. 3 00:00:17,350 --> 00:00:21,053 August 18th, 2009, my dad was supposed to take me 4 00:00:21,121 --> 00:00:24,689 To baltimore, to my u.S. Citizenship interview. 5 00:00:24,691 --> 00:00:27,893 He's not answering my phone call. What happens now? 6 00:00:27,961 --> 00:00:30,729 Time goes by, and I find a ride. 7 00:00:30,731 --> 00:00:34,366 I'm still calling and texting, but then I'm just like, 8 00:00:34,435 --> 00:00:37,236 "okay, I'm going to do my interview." 9 00:00:38,605 --> 00:00:41,673 I get home. The family is home. 10 00:00:41,742 --> 00:00:46,178 And then somehow now the police is involved. 11 00:00:46,246 --> 00:00:49,048 Something happened overnight. 12 00:00:49,750 --> 00:00:52,451 And from that second, everything is just a blur. 13 00:00:53,521 --> 00:00:59,324 [music] 14 00:01:02,196 --> 00:01:07,266 [theme music] 15 00:01:07,334 --> 00:01:09,535 [muffled scream, gasp] 16 00:01:13,406 --> 00:01:15,774 [narrator] the nation's capital is an exciting city full of 17 00:01:15,843 --> 00:01:20,278 Neighborhoods that each boast their own unique identity. 18 00:01:20,814 --> 00:01:23,382 Edgewood, it's the northeast part of washington d.C., 19 00:01:23,450 --> 00:01:28,920 So it's probably about 10 to 15 miles from downtown washington. 20 00:01:28,922 --> 00:01:31,957 [nicki] edgewood was a very working-class community 21 00:01:32,025 --> 00:01:33,358 In the early 2000s. 22 00:01:33,426 --> 00:01:35,727 It hadn't quite met gentrification yet, 23 00:01:35,729 --> 00:01:39,431 So you do have families that had been there for a while 24 00:01:39,500 --> 00:01:41,800 And they're still trying to hold down their blocks. 25 00:01:41,869 --> 00:01:46,004 Beautiful homes, homes that have been in families for generations 26 00:01:46,073 --> 00:01:48,440 That people actually inherited. 27 00:01:50,510 --> 00:01:54,246 [narrator] at 12:20 pm on August 18, 2009, 28 00:01:54,314 --> 00:01:57,682 A metropolitan police officer is on patrol 29 00:01:57,751 --> 00:02:00,853 When 32-year-old allaudin rana approaches him 30 00:02:00,921 --> 00:02:04,589 About a possible break-in at his family's business, 31 00:02:04,658 --> 00:02:06,725 The pizza mart. 32 00:02:06,727 --> 00:02:10,261 [kevin] the pizza mart was a neighborhood staple. 33 00:02:10,331 --> 00:02:15,334 It was the only 24-hour marketplace in the area. 34 00:02:15,402 --> 00:02:18,637 [narrator] allaudin tells the officer his 44-year-old brother 35 00:02:18,705 --> 00:02:24,009 Shahabuddin rana, runs the stor and usually lets him in. 36 00:02:24,077 --> 00:02:25,744 But earlier that morning, 37 00:02:25,812 --> 00:02:30,582 His brother never answered the door, causing allaudin concern. 38 00:02:32,085 --> 00:02:34,653 [deborah] the door had been locked, and he couldn't get in. 39 00:02:34,721 --> 00:02:39,057 He tried calling his brother and ended up coming to the store 40 00:02:39,059 --> 00:02:42,227 And breaking in with a police officer. 41 00:02:42,996 --> 00:02:45,797 The officer used a pair of pliers to force entry 42 00:02:45,866 --> 00:02:48,400 Inside the place. 43 00:02:51,572 --> 00:02:54,606 Immediately when they go inside, they see it's ransacked. 44 00:02:54,675 --> 00:02:57,142 It was chaotic. You can see blood. 45 00:02:57,210 --> 00:02:59,644 There clearly had been a horrific event 46 00:02:59,713 --> 00:03:01,680 That had occurred inside the pizza mart. 47 00:03:01,748 --> 00:03:03,482 [narrator] the trail of blood leads them 48 00:03:03,550 --> 00:03:06,484 To the back storage room, where allaudin and the officer 49 00:03:06,553 --> 00:03:09,688 Make a devastating discovery. 50 00:03:10,424 --> 00:03:14,759 Mr. Rana was in plain sight on the floor, face down. 51 00:03:14,828 --> 00:03:18,763 This scene had more blood than normal because the decedent 52 00:03:18,765 --> 00:03:23,601 Had been stabbed many times. He had been beaten. 53 00:03:23,671 --> 00:03:27,739 He'd been kicked. There was blood everywhere. 54 00:03:27,808 --> 00:03:31,409 So it's--it's awful for anyone to walk in on that, 55 00:03:31,411 --> 00:03:35,414 But somebody you love, that's pretty horrific. 56 00:03:36,717 --> 00:03:39,151 The patrolman immediately calls for medical assistance, 57 00:03:39,219 --> 00:03:40,518 Immediately calls for backup. 58 00:03:40,587 --> 00:03:43,388 He needed to get people there in order to start the process o 59 00:03:43,456 --> 00:03:45,057 What's going on. 60 00:03:45,125 --> 00:03:50,062 I got the phone call telling me that there was a homicide 61 00:03:50,130 --> 00:03:53,398 And asking me to approve a search warrant. 62 00:03:53,466 --> 00:03:56,134 And I went to go to the scene. 63 00:03:56,203 --> 00:03:58,903 [narrator] when detectives begin processing the scene, 64 00:03:58,905 --> 00:04:02,040 They determine a struggle likely ensued in the front 65 00:04:02,108 --> 00:04:06,210 Of the business and ended in the back storage room. 66 00:04:06,212 --> 00:04:10,082 It's obvious that he's fighting back. There's a struggle. 67 00:04:10,150 --> 00:04:12,550 There was blood all over. 68 00:04:12,619 --> 00:04:14,586 [mitch] a hundred and four latent prints were recovered. 69 00:04:14,654 --> 00:04:16,387 Blood samples were recovered. 70 00:04:16,457 --> 00:04:18,657 The hair was recovered that was on the scene. 71 00:04:18,725 --> 00:04:20,825 There's objects that was recovered. 72 00:04:20,894 --> 00:04:22,927 In a crime scene like this, you want to take 73 00:04:22,996 --> 00:04:25,264 As many items as you can. 74 00:04:25,932 --> 00:04:28,600 [narrator] as detectives search the storage room, 75 00:04:28,669 --> 00:04:32,070 They notice singed debris around the victim 76 00:04:32,072 --> 00:04:34,639 And burn marks on the body. 77 00:04:34,708 --> 00:04:39,744 You could tell they tried to set fire to his body. 78 00:04:39,813 --> 00:04:42,013 [mitch] it's obvious there's burnt marks. 79 00:04:42,082 --> 00:04:44,149 You could see the burnt matches. 80 00:04:44,217 --> 00:04:48,220 Things were clearly taken and scattered, um, 81 00:04:48,288 --> 00:04:49,687 Throughout the pizza mart. 82 00:04:49,689 --> 00:04:52,491 Money was missing out of the register. 83 00:04:52,559 --> 00:04:54,759 [mitch] approximately $2,000 was taken. 84 00:04:54,828 --> 00:04:58,863 And also cigarettes were taken from the establishment as well. 85 00:04:58,932 --> 00:05:01,433 [deborah] anybody who went on that scene, including me, 86 00:05:01,501 --> 00:05:06,705 All of us thought it was a botched robbery. 87 00:05:06,773 --> 00:05:07,972 [narrator] when detectives conclude 88 00:05:08,041 --> 00:05:10,074 Their crime scene investigation 89 00:05:10,143 --> 00:05:12,911 They step outside and speak wit allaudin rana 90 00:05:12,979 --> 00:05:16,748 To learn more about his brother shahabuddin. 91 00:05:18,519 --> 00:05:22,587 My dad was born in pakistan, in a place called mianwali. 92 00:05:22,589 --> 00:05:26,191 The roads are not the most decent, almost non-existent. 93 00:05:26,259 --> 00:05:28,760 Educational facilities aren't there. 94 00:05:28,828 --> 00:05:33,165 You can't easily find jobs. It was not an easy life. 95 00:05:33,233 --> 00:05:39,437 He moved to the u.S. Around 199 for opportunities to pursue 96 00:05:39,439 --> 00:05:41,773 All the dreams that he had. 97 00:05:41,842 --> 00:05:43,608 [narrator] a natural entrepreneur, 98 00:05:43,676 --> 00:05:47,179 Shahabuddin started off in the service industry. 99 00:05:47,247 --> 00:05:49,948 [zeena] he started working and learning how to clean thing 100 00:05:50,016 --> 00:05:53,552 At the restaurant, how to make food. 101 00:05:53,620 --> 00:05:56,721 How could he potentially run his own business? 102 00:05:56,790 --> 00:05:59,491 So just whatever he did, he wanted to do it 103 00:05:59,559 --> 00:06:02,093 Really, really well. My dad was hard working. 104 00:06:02,162 --> 00:06:05,830 He was like a bulldozer. He just wouldn't stop. 105 00:06:05,899 --> 00:06:09,634 He initially started with renting the pizza mart. 106 00:06:09,636 --> 00:06:12,270 And then at some point, for a lower cost, 107 00:06:12,339 --> 00:06:14,272 He was able to purchase it 108 00:06:14,274 --> 00:06:16,808 From the people he was renting it from. 109 00:06:18,044 --> 00:06:21,579 The pizza mart never closed. It ran 24 hours. 110 00:06:21,648 --> 00:06:23,147 Everybody knew him. 111 00:06:23,216 --> 00:06:25,917 It was a store where if you didn't have, like, 20 cents, 112 00:06:25,919 --> 00:06:27,952 Or a dollar or whatever, my dad would be like, 113 00:06:28,021 --> 00:06:33,091 "okay, make sure, you know, just come back next day." 114 00:06:33,093 --> 00:06:37,095 He put his blood, sweat, and tears into building a landmark 115 00:06:37,163 --> 00:06:39,731 Business in that neighborhood. 116 00:06:42,769 --> 00:06:44,535 [narrator] after establishing his business 117 00:06:44,537 --> 00:06:46,605 And getting married, 118 00:06:46,607 --> 00:06:50,174 In 2002, shahabuddin focused on bringing his daughter 119 00:06:50,244 --> 00:06:51,976 To the united states. 120 00:06:52,045 --> 00:06:56,948 I was the only child. I came here when I was around 10 or 11. 121 00:06:57,017 --> 00:07:01,519 I was able to come because my stepmom sponsored me. 122 00:07:01,588 --> 00:07:04,389 Coming to the u.S. Was a big change. 123 00:07:05,592 --> 00:07:07,858 [narrator] with a wife and daughter to support, 124 00:07:07,860 --> 00:07:10,262 Shahabuddin worked around the clock. 125 00:07:10,330 --> 00:07:12,030 As the business grew, 126 00:07:12,098 --> 00:07:16,167 He and his family purchased a home in the maryland suburbs. 127 00:07:16,236 --> 00:07:18,970 [zeena] my dad did end up buying his house in silver spring. 128 00:07:19,039 --> 00:07:22,707 Achieving the american dream was the ultimate goal. 129 00:07:22,776 --> 00:07:26,278 As time went on, my dad was always working long hours. 130 00:07:26,346 --> 00:07:29,214 So even though he was able to get the house, 131 00:07:29,282 --> 00:07:31,782 Or the store and things like that, 132 00:07:31,784 --> 00:07:34,319 He just can't do everything by himself. 133 00:07:34,387 --> 00:07:36,822 So he brought in his family members. 134 00:07:38,925 --> 00:07:41,626 [narrator] with shahabuddin's help, his brother, allaudin, 135 00:07:41,628 --> 00:07:45,196 Immigrated from pakistan in 2006. 136 00:07:45,265 --> 00:07:46,931 They were very close. 137 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:49,401 [deborah] it was more like a father and a son 138 00:07:49,469 --> 00:07:51,869 Than a brother and a brother. 139 00:07:51,938 --> 00:07:54,338 [mitch] they both worked very hard, 24 hours a day, 140 00:07:54,340 --> 00:07:55,540 7 days a week. 141 00:07:55,609 --> 00:07:57,542 One working 12 hours at night, 142 00:07:57,610 --> 00:07:59,544 One working 12 hours during the day. 143 00:07:59,613 --> 00:08:01,379 It's a two-man operation. 144 00:08:01,448 --> 00:08:06,585 And that--that's tiresome, but chasing that american dream 145 00:08:06,587 --> 00:08:08,820 Requires it at times. 146 00:08:08,888 --> 00:08:11,089 [zeena] he wanted a good life there for everyone. 147 00:08:11,157 --> 00:08:14,525 I think he felt the success is now finally showing, 148 00:08:14,595 --> 00:08:16,695 Or maybe he's finally getting somewhere. 149 00:08:17,998 --> 00:08:20,364 [narrator] but less than three years later 150 00:08:20,434 --> 00:08:23,468 Shahabuddin has been found murdered. 151 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:28,973 With allaudin rana's help, 152 00:08:28,975 --> 00:08:31,576 Detectives begin to build a timeline. 153 00:08:33,713 --> 00:08:35,113 Eight o'clock that morning, 154 00:08:35,181 --> 00:08:38,149 Allaudin rana responded to this pizza mart 155 00:08:38,218 --> 00:08:39,718 In an attempt to get in. 156 00:08:39,786 --> 00:08:42,654 That's the time he normally arrives there to begin work. 157 00:08:42,722 --> 00:08:44,722 But he could not get in. 158 00:08:44,791 --> 00:08:47,191 He said he didn't have a key. It was very peculiar that 159 00:08:47,193 --> 00:08:50,161 His brother was not there to let him in. 160 00:08:50,230 --> 00:08:52,997 [narrator] allaudin tells detectives that he went home, 161 00:08:53,066 --> 00:08:56,367 Thinking shahabuddin had done the same. 162 00:08:56,436 --> 00:09:00,538 But when several hours passed with no word from his brother, 163 00:09:00,607 --> 00:09:04,142 He returned to the store with police. 164 00:09:04,210 --> 00:09:08,880 He was very upset. It was difficult for him to speak. 165 00:09:08,949 --> 00:09:12,651 He's a very proud man. He didn't want to cry. 166 00:09:15,555 --> 00:09:17,688 [narrator] due to the ransacked store, 167 00:09:17,758 --> 00:09:20,191 Law enforcement's initial impression of the crime 168 00:09:20,259 --> 00:09:22,226 Looks like a robbery. 169 00:09:22,228 --> 00:09:25,029 But according to allaudin, late at night, 170 00:09:25,031 --> 00:09:28,132 The front door remained locked, and employees would assist 171 00:09:28,201 --> 00:09:31,836 Customers through a small service window. 172 00:09:32,372 --> 00:09:34,438 [mitch] the pizza mart is not a big establishment. 173 00:09:34,508 --> 00:09:36,608 When you walk in, you have a small area 174 00:09:36,676 --> 00:09:38,242 Where customers would stand. 175 00:09:38,311 --> 00:09:40,912 And then the employees would take the orders. 176 00:09:40,981 --> 00:09:45,249 No one was allowed to enter the back part 177 00:09:45,318 --> 00:09:47,918 Where the employees would be, so there was always a separation 178 00:09:47,988 --> 00:09:50,755 Between customer and employees. 179 00:09:50,824 --> 00:09:53,725 [narrator] as detectives process this new information, 180 00:09:53,793 --> 00:09:56,895 A different theory emerges. 181 00:09:56,963 --> 00:09:58,830 [mitch] well, there's no forced entry. 182 00:09:58,898 --> 00:10:01,465 You're not going to allow a robber to come in. 183 00:10:01,535 --> 00:10:03,535 So therefore, right then it's telling you the perpetrators 184 00:10:03,603 --> 00:10:06,270 Are someone that he knows. 185 00:10:06,272 --> 00:10:07,605 [narrator] coming up... 186 00:10:07,674 --> 00:10:11,308 Detectives investigate someone close to home. 187 00:10:11,378 --> 00:10:14,846 Why did you wait so long to contact the police? 188 00:10:14,914 --> 00:10:19,850 All that kind of stuff makes you think that it was an inside job. 189 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:22,253 [narrator] and a secret romance 190 00:10:22,322 --> 00:10:25,723 Will give authorities a new name to consider. 191 00:10:25,792 --> 00:10:27,992 He would do anything for her. 192 00:10:28,060 --> 00:10:31,129 I don't think that he knew what he was getting his self into. 193 00:10:31,197 --> 00:10:33,231 [kevin] they were an explosive couple. 194 00:10:33,299 --> 00:10:35,133 I don't think the crime would have happened 195 00:10:35,201 --> 00:10:37,268 Without the passion that they had. 196 00:10:39,072 --> 00:10:41,039 [music] 197 00:10:49,716 --> 00:10:51,850 [narrator] hours into the d.C. Investigation of 198 00:10:51,918 --> 00:10:56,320 Shahabuddin rana's murder, his autopsy gets underway, 199 00:10:56,389 --> 00:10:59,257 Leading to more revelations about the brutality 200 00:10:59,325 --> 00:11:01,292 Of the crime. 201 00:11:01,361 --> 00:11:03,595 [mitch] the cause of death was determined to be 202 00:11:03,663 --> 00:11:05,697 Multiple lacerations to the body, 203 00:11:05,765 --> 00:11:07,398 At least 12 stab wounds. 204 00:11:07,467 --> 00:11:08,999 We have the burn marks. 205 00:11:09,001 --> 00:11:10,735 And we have blunt force trauma to the head, 206 00:11:10,804 --> 00:11:13,171 Which was obviously made by a hard object. 207 00:11:16,176 --> 00:11:17,875 With robberies of establishments, 208 00:11:17,944 --> 00:11:21,545 The goal of the suspects, to get in and to get out. 209 00:11:21,547 --> 00:11:25,349 This particular crime scene, it's obvious a lot was going on 210 00:11:25,351 --> 00:11:29,888 For a period of time. It's not we go in, we rob, we get out. 211 00:11:29,956 --> 00:11:32,290 [narrator] despite the fact that a robbery has occurred 212 00:11:32,358 --> 00:11:36,027 Inside the store, detectives believe that shahabuddin was 213 00:11:36,096 --> 00:11:40,364 Specifically targeted while he worked the late-night shift. 214 00:11:40,366 --> 00:11:41,866 Looking at the victim, it was a crime of passion. 215 00:11:41,934 --> 00:11:43,101 I mean, it's personal. 216 00:11:43,169 --> 00:11:46,404 [deborah] we thought it was someone who knew the store. 217 00:11:46,473 --> 00:11:50,741 The hours that they picked to hit it, all that kind of stuff, 218 00:11:50,811 --> 00:11:55,246 Makes you think that it was an inside job. 219 00:11:55,248 --> 00:11:57,816 [narrator] to learn more about shahabuddin's inner circle 220 00:11:57,884 --> 00:12:00,518 And who in his life might have the means and motive 221 00:12:00,587 --> 00:12:03,020 To commit such a brazen crime, 222 00:12:03,089 --> 00:12:07,158 Police turn their attention to his family. 223 00:12:07,227 --> 00:12:09,794 The police came to the house, and now there's, like, 224 00:12:09,863 --> 00:12:12,930 A victim's rights advocate that I'm talking to. 225 00:12:12,999 --> 00:12:16,601 And I'm informed that he's dead. 226 00:12:17,637 --> 00:12:20,638 So yeah, you don't expect that. 227 00:12:22,408 --> 00:12:24,108 We were in disbelief. 228 00:12:24,176 --> 00:12:26,177 They asked us, can we think of anybody that would've wanted 229 00:12:26,246 --> 00:12:28,012 To harm my dad? 230 00:12:28,081 --> 00:12:30,948 We just couldn't come up with anybody. 231 00:12:31,017 --> 00:12:32,450 I don't know what happened. 232 00:12:32,519 --> 00:12:36,454 We just could not understand why or how 233 00:12:36,522 --> 00:12:40,725 He opened the door for somebody. That was the biggest question. 234 00:12:40,793 --> 00:12:44,662 That was never even supposed to be my dad's shift to cover. 235 00:12:45,599 --> 00:12:46,864 [narrator] according to the family, 236 00:12:46,866 --> 00:12:50,768 Shahabuddin's brother, allaudin is the only other employee 237 00:12:50,837 --> 00:12:53,371 Who would cover the late-night shift. 238 00:12:53,439 --> 00:12:58,643 But the family is adamant allaudin would never hurt him. 239 00:13:00,813 --> 00:13:02,847 Allaudin was very helpful to the detectives, 240 00:13:02,915 --> 00:13:06,317 But there was still a looming question about the amount of 241 00:13:06,386 --> 00:13:09,520 Time that had passed between finding out that he couldn't 242 00:13:09,589 --> 00:13:14,558 Get inside the pizza mart and finally contacting police. 243 00:13:14,627 --> 00:13:16,928 [mitch] in this situation, the brother arrives there 244 00:13:16,996 --> 00:13:18,462 At 8 o'clock in the morning, 245 00:13:18,464 --> 00:13:21,999 Does not flag down the police until four or five hours later. 246 00:13:22,068 --> 00:13:26,237 Why did you wait so long to contact the police? 247 00:13:26,506 --> 00:13:28,172 [keith] it was unusual that he did not have a key. 248 00:13:28,241 --> 00:13:31,142 He worked there. He was the brother of the owner. 249 00:13:31,211 --> 00:13:36,080 Why would you not have a key? That was a little suspicious. 250 00:13:36,148 --> 00:13:40,284 Detectives have to look at everyone who could be associate 251 00:13:40,286 --> 00:13:44,956 With a crime scene or a victim, so looking at mr. Allaudin rana 252 00:13:45,024 --> 00:13:48,693 As a possible suspect is not unusual. 253 00:13:51,230 --> 00:13:54,131 [narrator] forty-eight hours into the investigation, 254 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:58,502 Detectives ask allaudin to come in for a formal interview. 255 00:13:58,571 --> 00:14:00,904 When pressed about the fact that the perpetrator 256 00:14:00,906 --> 00:14:03,407 Was clearly known to shahabuddin, 257 00:14:03,476 --> 00:14:07,946 Allaudin swears that he would never hurt his older brother. 258 00:14:08,014 --> 00:14:10,714 He reiterates that shahabuddin held the only key 259 00:14:10,716 --> 00:14:12,049 To the business. 260 00:14:12,118 --> 00:14:15,619 [mitch] the normal course of activity for him is to show up. 261 00:14:15,689 --> 00:14:17,455 He gets in. His brother leaves. 262 00:14:17,523 --> 00:14:19,791 He's there all day. At night, his brother comes. 263 00:14:19,859 --> 00:14:21,492 It's like a routine-type thing. 264 00:14:21,561 --> 00:14:23,194 If you think about it, there's really no need 265 00:14:23,263 --> 00:14:26,630 For him to even have a key 'cause his brother's there. 266 00:14:26,632 --> 00:14:30,501 He claimed that he was home on the night of the murder. 267 00:14:30,570 --> 00:14:33,337 [narrator] without any evidence connecting him to the crime, 268 00:14:33,339 --> 00:14:36,074 Detectives release allaudin. 269 00:14:37,443 --> 00:14:39,878 However, as police continue digging into 270 00:14:39,946 --> 00:14:43,147 Allaudin's background, they discover the recent 271 00:14:43,149 --> 00:14:48,018 Immigrant and his wife, 26-year-old shanika robinson 272 00:14:48,020 --> 00:14:51,755 Are under investigation for marriage fraud. 273 00:14:51,757 --> 00:14:54,558 [kevin] shanika robinson was a washington, d.C. Native. 274 00:14:54,627 --> 00:14:59,097 Her family, the robinson family, was from the edgewood area. 275 00:14:59,099 --> 00:15:02,433 And they had a home near where the pizza mart was. 276 00:15:02,435 --> 00:15:04,935 That's when she and allaudin rana 277 00:15:05,005 --> 00:15:08,973 Got to know each other, because she was a customer. 278 00:15:10,977 --> 00:15:16,780 Shanika is amazing. Honestly, she's--she's amazing. 279 00:15:16,782 --> 00:15:20,518 She's smart, funny. 280 00:15:20,586 --> 00:15:24,055 She will try to do whatever she can just to get you to smile. 281 00:15:24,123 --> 00:15:28,692 Shanika, she was determined. She had two jobs. 282 00:15:28,762 --> 00:15:31,095 She worked at the post office, but she was no stranger to 283 00:15:31,164 --> 00:15:32,997 Making money on the side. 284 00:15:33,065 --> 00:15:36,233 In fact, she was very talented with doing hair. 285 00:15:36,302 --> 00:15:40,772 [keith] shanika wanted to be more than a cosmetologist 286 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:42,773 Or a post office worker. 287 00:15:42,775 --> 00:15:47,378 She really had this sort of charisma of that I want to 288 00:15:47,447 --> 00:15:51,482 Live a life larger than what I'm living now. 289 00:15:51,551 --> 00:15:56,954 The family was poor. No one went to college. 290 00:15:57,023 --> 00:16:01,826 No one had a good-paying job. They struggled. 291 00:16:06,766 --> 00:16:08,532 [narrator] shanika was also caring 292 00:16:08,601 --> 00:16:12,336 For a terminally ill sister, so she invited her, 293 00:16:12,405 --> 00:16:16,975 Her cousin shawn, and her brother leon to live with her. 294 00:16:17,043 --> 00:16:20,178 [shawn] shanika was loving and super caring. 295 00:16:20,246 --> 00:16:24,315 She was trying to be a caretaker 296 00:16:24,383 --> 00:16:27,151 Slash protector for her family. 297 00:16:28,688 --> 00:16:31,889 One of the people in the house is her younger brother, leon. 298 00:16:31,957 --> 00:16:34,558 And he's fresh out of prison. 299 00:16:34,627 --> 00:16:37,395 [kevin] leon had gone to prison right after high school , 300 00:16:37,463 --> 00:16:43,001 After his mother's boyfriend had attacked his mother with a pipe. 301 00:16:43,069 --> 00:16:46,504 And leon defended her and attacked the boyfriend 302 00:16:46,572 --> 00:16:49,340 And spent nearly nine years in prison. 303 00:16:49,409 --> 00:16:52,576 So her little brother has a place to stay in her house. 304 00:16:52,645 --> 00:16:55,446 And you can imagine that he's very grateful. 305 00:16:55,515 --> 00:16:59,384 They were always together. You would think they were twins. 306 00:17:02,088 --> 00:17:03,954 [narrator] despite her best efforts, 307 00:17:04,023 --> 00:17:08,492 Shanika had recently fallen on hard times. 308 00:17:08,561 --> 00:17:13,330 2008 was pretty rough for most of us, so she was laid off. 309 00:17:13,399 --> 00:17:16,300 In her search for some other income, 310 00:17:16,369 --> 00:17:19,637 She went into the pizza mart looking for work. 311 00:17:19,705 --> 00:17:23,240 [narrator] in early 2008, shanika's determination and lov 312 00:17:23,309 --> 00:17:28,445 For her family quickly caught the attention of allaudin rana. 313 00:17:28,514 --> 00:17:30,881 That relationship led to them getting married 314 00:17:30,883 --> 00:17:34,117 In October of 2008. 315 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:38,289 [kevin] the marriage would pave the way for allaudin to become 316 00:17:38,357 --> 00:17:41,192 A naturalized american citizen. 317 00:17:43,696 --> 00:17:47,698 [narrator] but on July 22nd, nine months into their marriage 318 00:17:47,767 --> 00:17:51,502 Allaudin's citizenship case had been flagged. 319 00:17:51,571 --> 00:17:53,737 [mitch] we learned that a month before the murder, 320 00:17:53,739 --> 00:17:58,308 Allaudin and shanika went to immigration for the interview. 321 00:17:58,378 --> 00:17:59,911 [nicki] they put them in separate rooms 322 00:17:59,979 --> 00:18:02,279 And they asked them similar questions. 323 00:18:02,348 --> 00:18:05,349 Things like, where did they go their wedding night? 324 00:18:05,418 --> 00:18:07,351 Where did they spend their honeymoon? 325 00:18:07,420 --> 00:18:10,588 Where do they currently live? Do they even live together? 326 00:18:10,590 --> 00:18:13,424 And a lot of the information was conflicting. 327 00:18:13,493 --> 00:18:15,959 He didn't know what she ate for breakfast. 328 00:18:15,961 --> 00:18:19,597 She didn't know what he ate for breakfast. 329 00:18:19,665 --> 00:18:23,201 Officials from the immigration and naturalization department 330 00:18:23,203 --> 00:18:25,569 Became suspicious. 331 00:18:25,638 --> 00:18:28,205 [keith] they weren't convinced that this couple was actually 332 00:18:28,274 --> 00:18:31,542 A real husband and wife. 333 00:18:31,611 --> 00:18:35,079 Remember, we're in washington, d.C. This is not unusual. 334 00:18:35,147 --> 00:18:37,314 They are familiar with these types of tactics. 335 00:18:37,383 --> 00:18:40,250 And these type of games, if you will, that people play 336 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:43,121 To become u.S. Citizens. 337 00:18:44,891 --> 00:18:47,458 [kevin] following the interview, there was a letter that was sen 338 00:18:47,526 --> 00:18:51,662 Out from immigration to shanika and to allaudin 339 00:18:51,664 --> 00:18:54,165 Saying that further investigation 340 00:18:54,233 --> 00:18:56,567 Would be necessary. 341 00:18:56,569 --> 00:18:59,570 [narrator] if the investigation yielded sufficient evidence, 342 00:18:59,639 --> 00:19:02,706 Shanika could face up to five years in prison 343 00:19:02,775 --> 00:19:06,244 And a $250,000 fine, 344 00:19:06,312 --> 00:19:09,913 While allaudin could face deportation. 345 00:19:09,983 --> 00:19:12,816 Given how much shahabuddin wanted his brother to remain 346 00:19:12,885 --> 00:19:16,920 In america, detectives wonder if this information 347 00:19:16,922 --> 00:19:19,991 Could be relevant to their case 348 00:19:20,059 --> 00:19:23,227 [mitch] in investigations where suspects are not known, 349 00:19:23,296 --> 00:19:27,365 You look into any and everything that raises a red flag. 350 00:19:27,367 --> 00:19:29,567 And in this situation, where there is issues with 351 00:19:29,635 --> 00:19:33,837 His marriage to a local girl-- is it a sham? 352 00:19:33,839 --> 00:19:35,673 Is it real? 353 00:19:35,741 --> 00:19:38,175 At this point, detectives knew they had 354 00:19:38,244 --> 00:19:40,711 To go talk to shanika robinson. 355 00:19:41,781 --> 00:19:44,315 [music] 356 00:19:47,819 --> 00:19:49,587 [music] 357 00:19:51,190 --> 00:19:52,556 [narrator] while investigating the murder 358 00:19:52,625 --> 00:19:55,859 Of local business owner shahabuddin rana, 359 00:19:55,928 --> 00:19:58,796 Detectives in washington, d.C. Have discovered that 360 00:19:58,864 --> 00:20:02,466 His brother, allaudin, is already under investigation 361 00:20:02,535 --> 00:20:04,868 For possible marriage fraud. 362 00:20:04,937 --> 00:20:07,338 At this particular point, you really can't say this is 363 00:20:07,406 --> 00:20:11,275 Something that may be connected to the homicide, 364 00:20:11,344 --> 00:20:14,745 But it's something you most definitely cannot ignore. 365 00:20:14,814 --> 00:20:17,548 [narrator] unable to immediately track down allaudin's wife, 366 00:20:17,617 --> 00:20:20,484 Shanika robinson, for questioning, 367 00:20:20,553 --> 00:20:22,286 The metropolitan police department 368 00:20:22,355 --> 00:20:26,557 Issues a press release and a $25,000 reward 369 00:20:26,626 --> 00:20:30,728 For information leading to shahabuddin's killer. 370 00:20:32,098 --> 00:20:35,766 Not long after the $25,000 reward is offered, 371 00:20:35,835 --> 00:20:38,836 A woman comes forward. 372 00:20:38,904 --> 00:20:42,639 She's identifying herself as the cousin of shanika robinson. 373 00:20:42,708 --> 00:20:45,676 And boy, does she have a story to tell. 374 00:20:46,679 --> 00:20:49,380 [narrator] shanika's cousin shawn confirms authorities' 375 00:20:49,448 --> 00:20:53,184 Suspicions that shanika's relationship to allaudin rana 376 00:20:53,252 --> 00:20:56,654 Is in fact a marriage of immigration convenience, 377 00:20:56,722 --> 00:20:59,590 But she claims that shahabuddin was the one 378 00:20:59,658 --> 00:21:02,459 Who put the plan together. 379 00:21:02,528 --> 00:21:05,328 [shawn] shanika, she called her husband rana. 380 00:21:05,330 --> 00:21:09,132 Rana's brother is the one who approached shanika 381 00:21:09,202 --> 00:21:11,602 At the pizza mart. 382 00:21:11,670 --> 00:21:15,739 She claimed shahabuddin rana had approached her with a plan 383 00:21:15,808 --> 00:21:18,409 To help his brother remain in this country 384 00:21:18,477 --> 00:21:21,812 And offered her $500 per week 385 00:21:21,881 --> 00:21:25,116 To simply conduct a sham marriage, 386 00:21:25,184 --> 00:21:28,018 Initially with no intimacy, 387 00:21:28,087 --> 00:21:31,288 But simply to go to immigration meetings 388 00:21:31,357 --> 00:21:33,957 With his younger brother and to help his younger brother 389 00:21:33,959 --> 00:21:36,160 Remain in the united states. 390 00:21:42,267 --> 00:21:43,634 [narrator] despite allaudin knowing 391 00:21:43,702 --> 00:21:46,503 This was a business arrangement 392 00:21:46,572 --> 00:21:49,773 Shawn believes allaudin agreed to it with the hopes 393 00:21:49,775 --> 00:21:53,710 That an authentic relationship could blossom. 394 00:21:53,779 --> 00:21:56,046 [shawn] when he came over, he was so soft spoken. 395 00:21:56,115 --> 00:21:59,783 He liked her. You could tell he was trying to get to know her. 396 00:21:59,785 --> 00:22:02,053 Like how people are thrown in arranged marriages, 397 00:22:02,121 --> 00:22:04,855 And they basically are forced to get to know one another, 398 00:22:04,924 --> 00:22:06,357 That wasn't the case. 399 00:22:06,425 --> 00:22:11,462 It was him more so trying than her. 400 00:22:11,530 --> 00:22:13,931 You could tell she didn't like him. 401 00:22:14,533 --> 00:22:15,933 [narrator] according to shawn, 402 00:22:16,001 --> 00:22:19,470 Allaudin and shanika would meet up once a week. 403 00:22:19,538 --> 00:22:22,005 [shawn] he comes over on sundays for, like, I think, 404 00:22:22,007 --> 00:22:25,542 Four hours. And she gets this benefit. 405 00:22:25,611 --> 00:22:29,313 Her rent is taken care of, and she got her pocket money. 406 00:22:30,816 --> 00:22:34,618 [narrator] shawn claims shanika was willing to marry allaudin, 407 00:22:34,687 --> 00:22:37,621 But she wasn't willing to give up her boyfriend, 408 00:22:37,690 --> 00:22:42,425 25-year-old isiah "ike" genus. 409 00:22:42,427 --> 00:22:44,628 [shawn] she loves money. She loves guys, 410 00:22:44,630 --> 00:22:47,898 A lot of guys, a lot of different guys. 411 00:22:47,967 --> 00:22:49,633 [nicki] she let shahabuddin know, 412 00:22:49,635 --> 00:22:52,402 "hey, I actually have a boyfriend." 413 00:22:52,472 --> 00:22:53,571 He's like, "oh, don't worry about that, 414 00:22:53,573 --> 00:22:55,005 Don't worry about that, I got you." 415 00:22:55,074 --> 00:22:57,574 So it didn't seem like there was an issue that, you know, 416 00:22:57,643 --> 00:23:01,178 She had this boyfriend already in her life. 417 00:23:01,914 --> 00:23:03,714 [narrator] shawn tells detectives that shortly 418 00:23:03,782 --> 00:23:06,884 Before her arranged marriage to allaudin rana, 419 00:23:06,952 --> 00:23:11,722 Shanika and isiah began dating in 2008. 420 00:23:11,790 --> 00:23:13,457 [kevin] they had gone to school together. 421 00:23:13,526 --> 00:23:16,327 Started off a platonic relationship, 422 00:23:16,395 --> 00:23:18,829 Which developed into an intimate relationship. 423 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:24,201 They had a very passionate relationship 424 00:23:24,269 --> 00:23:26,236 That was very volatile. 425 00:23:26,305 --> 00:23:29,473 Ike was extremely protective of shanika. 426 00:23:29,542 --> 00:23:31,875 While shanika and ike were a couple, 427 00:23:31,944 --> 00:23:34,945 It wasn't a mutually exclusive relationship. 428 00:23:35,014 --> 00:23:37,047 It was one of those where shanika was dating whoever 429 00:23:37,116 --> 00:23:39,783 She wanted to outside of him. 430 00:23:39,852 --> 00:23:43,420 And he wasn't always too in love with that idea. 431 00:23:43,489 --> 00:23:45,489 [kevin] shanika found it easy to attract men. 432 00:23:45,558 --> 00:23:48,258 She had kept her appearance up very well. 433 00:23:48,260 --> 00:23:52,329 And she had a personality where she could deal with 434 00:23:52,397 --> 00:23:54,565 Almost anybody. 435 00:23:54,633 --> 00:23:58,035 There was fights, jealousy between shanika and ike, 436 00:23:58,103 --> 00:24:01,571 But it was obvious they-- they did love each other. 437 00:24:01,573 --> 00:24:03,774 [shawn] he would do anything for shanika. 438 00:24:03,842 --> 00:24:06,477 Like, she say, "jump". "how high?" 439 00:24:06,545 --> 00:24:08,845 You know what I mean? Like, for the most part, 440 00:24:08,914 --> 00:24:12,183 Whatever she says was law as far as with him. 441 00:24:12,785 --> 00:24:14,718 [narrator] in August 2009, 442 00:24:14,787 --> 00:24:19,789 Isiah was spending most of his time at shanika's home. 443 00:24:19,859 --> 00:24:21,525 He's staying at the house, you know what I mean? 444 00:24:21,594 --> 00:24:24,962 Getting loved on. He was her boy toy. 445 00:24:26,899 --> 00:24:29,867 [narrator] but shawn claims that isiah and shanika's relationshi 446 00:24:29,935 --> 00:24:34,204 Had escalated to new heights, and reveals that she was privy 447 00:24:34,273 --> 00:24:38,509 To their planning of shahabuddin rana's murder. 448 00:24:38,577 --> 00:24:41,311 She was like, "you're gonna be our alibi." 449 00:24:41,380 --> 00:24:43,047 I'm like, "alibi?" 450 00:24:43,049 --> 00:24:47,017 Leon found out that I knew about what they were gonna do. 451 00:24:47,086 --> 00:24:48,986 And him telling her that they were gonna eventually 452 00:24:49,054 --> 00:24:52,355 Have to get rid of me. I was terrified. 453 00:24:52,425 --> 00:24:55,626 I came forward to save my life. 454 00:24:56,095 --> 00:25:00,697 She said that shanika and two other men were at the pizza mart 455 00:25:00,766 --> 00:25:02,633 The night of this murder. 456 00:25:02,701 --> 00:25:07,470 And the two men was leon, which is shanika's brother, 457 00:25:07,472 --> 00:25:11,108 And her boyfriend, ike. 458 00:25:11,176 --> 00:25:13,544 They, in fact, had something to do 459 00:25:13,612 --> 00:25:16,880 With the death of shahabuddin rana. 460 00:25:16,949 --> 00:25:19,983 This was the break that detectives needed. 461 00:25:20,052 --> 00:25:24,187 It was the first time that they were able to put someone 462 00:25:24,256 --> 00:25:28,726 Or someones in the pizza mart the night the victim was killed. 463 00:25:30,295 --> 00:25:32,463 [music] 464 00:25:39,571 --> 00:25:41,738 [narrator] ten days after shahabuddin rana 465 00:25:41,807 --> 00:25:45,843 Was brutally murdered inside his d.C. Pizzeria, 466 00:25:45,911 --> 00:25:49,980 A witness has come forward implicating shanika robinson, 467 00:25:50,049 --> 00:25:52,816 Shanika's boyfriend, isiah genus, 468 00:25:52,818 --> 00:25:56,654 And shanika's brother, leon robinson, in the crime. 469 00:25:58,257 --> 00:26:01,391 Detectives asked the cousin, why does she believe 470 00:26:01,460 --> 00:26:03,460 That they were involved? 471 00:26:03,528 --> 00:26:07,197 She told them how she saw them take some items out to the 472 00:26:07,199 --> 00:26:10,768 Fire pit in the rear of the house and began burning items. 473 00:26:14,239 --> 00:26:16,039 [narrator] detectives learn that in the days since 474 00:26:16,041 --> 00:26:19,710 Shahabuddin's murder, shanika has resurfaced 475 00:26:19,778 --> 00:26:23,046 And begun picking up shifts at the request of her husband 476 00:26:23,115 --> 00:26:27,117 And shahabuddin's brother, allaudin rana. 477 00:26:27,186 --> 00:26:31,088 Shanika was currently working at the pizza mart. 478 00:26:31,156 --> 00:26:33,924 So they went to her and asked her to come in for questioning. 479 00:26:33,992 --> 00:26:37,561 She had no problem going down to talk to the detectives. 480 00:26:39,698 --> 00:26:42,566 Shanika was confronted with what they knew. 481 00:26:42,634 --> 00:26:46,136 She admitted that she was involved in a sham marriage, 482 00:26:46,205 --> 00:26:48,972 Receiving the payments. 483 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:51,642 She tearfully talks about how she got into this 484 00:26:51,710 --> 00:26:56,079 Because she had lost her job, um, at the post office. 485 00:26:56,148 --> 00:26:58,816 She said this was a way of survival for her 486 00:26:58,884 --> 00:27:00,684 Until she was able to get back on her feet. 487 00:27:00,753 --> 00:27:03,654 It was only supposed to last for a certain amount of months 488 00:27:03,722 --> 00:27:06,724 Until mr. Rana was able to get his green card. 489 00:27:09,228 --> 00:27:11,762 [narrator] shanika outlines that she and allaudin married 490 00:27:11,830 --> 00:27:15,165 On October 31, 2008. 491 00:27:15,234 --> 00:27:19,636 [mitch] and the whole idea of this was just to show 492 00:27:19,704 --> 00:27:22,139 The appearance of that there was a marriage, 493 00:27:22,207 --> 00:27:25,008 Even though they were living in separate locations. 494 00:27:25,076 --> 00:27:29,312 Shahabuddin began to have concern that the marriage 495 00:27:29,314 --> 00:27:31,047 Didn't appear to be real. 496 00:27:31,116 --> 00:27:34,051 The scrutiny from the immigration department 497 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:36,753 Increased. 498 00:27:36,822 --> 00:27:38,054 [nicki] she told the detectives 499 00:27:38,123 --> 00:27:39,823 That by the time January rolled around, 500 00:27:39,892 --> 00:27:42,493 A lot of things seemed to have shifted with shahabuddin 501 00:27:42,561 --> 00:27:44,127 And this deal that they had brokered, 502 00:27:44,129 --> 00:27:46,529 Because now he's looking at her and saying, 503 00:27:46,531 --> 00:27:50,033 I need you to consummate this marriage. 504 00:27:50,102 --> 00:27:51,735 [shawn] she literally didn't want to do it. 505 00:27:51,803 --> 00:27:54,337 And she was trying to come up with every excuse in the world 506 00:27:54,339 --> 00:27:56,773 Not to do it. 507 00:27:56,842 --> 00:27:59,943 [mitch] she felt as though that was her 508 00:28:00,012 --> 00:28:02,079 Being treated like a prostitute 509 00:28:02,147 --> 00:28:03,781 She began doing that. 510 00:28:03,783 --> 00:28:05,716 And it was something that she really didn't want to do. 511 00:28:05,784 --> 00:28:08,885 But in order for her to continue to receive the money, 512 00:28:08,954 --> 00:28:10,954 She had to go along with the plan. 513 00:28:11,023 --> 00:28:15,826 She gets paid, like, $2,000 a month just to basically 514 00:28:15,894 --> 00:28:18,996 Have sex with her husband every Sunday, 515 00:28:19,064 --> 00:28:22,299 And she gets this benefit. 516 00:28:22,367 --> 00:28:25,235 [narrator] according to shanika, allaudin began to develop 517 00:28:25,304 --> 00:28:27,804 Real feelings for her. 518 00:28:27,806 --> 00:28:30,207 I think he actually loved her. 519 00:28:30,275 --> 00:28:33,243 It was more so her, "I gotta do this so I can get this money." 520 00:28:33,312 --> 00:28:37,247 And him being oblivious to all of that, I--I'm seriously 521 00:28:37,316 --> 00:28:40,250 Thinking that he was, he was thinking that she was 522 00:28:40,319 --> 00:28:42,886 On, like, the same page. 523 00:28:42,954 --> 00:28:45,823 I think it was a coming to america gone wrong. 524 00:28:46,559 --> 00:28:49,326 [narrator] shanika claims that allaudin soon began to resent 525 00:28:49,394 --> 00:28:55,165 Their arrangement and her relationship with isiah genus. 526 00:28:55,234 --> 00:28:59,536 He had complained to his older brother that he was always there 527 00:28:59,604 --> 00:29:02,138 When he went to see shanika. 528 00:29:02,341 --> 00:29:05,275 [narrator] shanika tells detectives that in may of 2009, 529 00:29:05,344 --> 00:29:08,811 She received surprising news. 530 00:29:08,813 --> 00:29:11,915 What changed everything was when 531 00:29:11,984 --> 00:29:15,118 Shanika became pregnant. 532 00:29:15,186 --> 00:29:18,088 Shanika told allaudin that she was pregnant, 533 00:29:18,156 --> 00:29:21,224 But she eventually had had a miscarriage. 534 00:29:21,293 --> 00:29:24,127 [shawn] at the same time, she still had other male 535 00:29:24,196 --> 00:29:27,898 Sexual partners and males that she was spending time with. 536 00:29:27,966 --> 00:29:31,234 Her husband was extremely upset about that. 537 00:29:31,236 --> 00:29:33,636 [mitch] I mean, he's acting like he's really her husband. 538 00:29:33,706 --> 00:29:36,373 She's out here screwing around with other guys. 539 00:29:36,441 --> 00:29:38,341 [kevin] he was complaining to his brother that there were 540 00:29:38,410 --> 00:29:42,445 Times that he wanted to spend quality time with shanika 541 00:29:42,447 --> 00:29:43,846 And he couldn't do it 542 00:29:43,848 --> 00:29:47,151 Because shanika had another boyfriend around her. 543 00:29:47,987 --> 00:29:50,721 Shahabuddin exploded. 544 00:29:51,857 --> 00:29:55,125 He was upset, and he, um, told shanika that he would stop 545 00:29:55,194 --> 00:29:59,863 The payments immediately unless shanika cleaned up her act. 546 00:29:59,932 --> 00:30:05,802 Rana's brother called shanika, leaning on her about her 547 00:30:05,871 --> 00:30:08,138 Having sex with these multiple men. 548 00:30:08,207 --> 00:30:11,508 And that's not what he was paying her for. 549 00:30:11,577 --> 00:30:13,610 [narrator] shanika explains that the breaking point came 550 00:30:13,679 --> 00:30:18,515 Two months later, after the couple's disastrous interview 551 00:30:18,583 --> 00:30:22,119 With immigration officials in July. 552 00:30:23,421 --> 00:30:26,122 The way that she was dressed the day of the meeting was a problem 553 00:30:26,191 --> 00:30:29,560 Because it wasn't, I guess, what they agreed on. 554 00:30:29,628 --> 00:30:34,364 That started the fuel, so the explosion that happened. 555 00:30:34,433 --> 00:30:37,734 He would call shanika and basically screamed on her 556 00:30:37,803 --> 00:30:40,771 Or whatever and told her that he wasn't paying her no more. 557 00:30:40,839 --> 00:30:44,074 He's stopping her money train. 558 00:30:44,142 --> 00:30:47,010 Shanika was trying to work something out, um, you know, 559 00:30:47,078 --> 00:30:49,079 What can we do? How can we make this better? 560 00:30:49,147 --> 00:30:51,114 But he was done. 561 00:30:51,183 --> 00:30:55,251 [kevin] she needed that $2,000 a month to pay her rent. 562 00:30:55,320 --> 00:30:58,254 Otherwise, her family would be homeless 563 00:30:58,323 --> 00:31:03,126 From the capitol heights home that she was renting. 564 00:31:03,194 --> 00:31:07,430 Shanika's frustrations grew, so therefore, ike convinced her 565 00:31:07,499 --> 00:31:10,867 That maybe I should go talk to him man to man, 566 00:31:10,936 --> 00:31:14,037 But she did not want him to go because he was a hothead. 567 00:31:17,709 --> 00:31:20,944 [narrator] but shanika says she eventually relented, 568 00:31:21,013 --> 00:31:25,148 Agreeing to let isiah take charge of the situation. 569 00:31:25,150 --> 00:31:27,918 Shanika's initial story is that her and ike 570 00:31:27,986 --> 00:31:31,021 Went to the pizza mart. Mr. Rana lets them in. 571 00:31:31,089 --> 00:31:34,324 They go inside the pizza mart. There's an argument. 572 00:31:34,393 --> 00:31:36,226 During the argument, she leaves out. 573 00:31:36,295 --> 00:31:38,361 She goes to the car. 574 00:31:38,430 --> 00:31:40,096 And then ike comes out. 575 00:31:40,165 --> 00:31:43,366 The next day, ike gives her $500. 576 00:31:43,368 --> 00:31:46,436 And then later, she hears about the murder. 577 00:31:46,505 --> 00:31:50,240 [narrator] shanika claims she considered contacting police, 578 00:31:50,308 --> 00:31:54,110 But she worried what would happen to isiah. 579 00:31:54,179 --> 00:31:55,846 [mitch] now, detectives know, 580 00:31:55,914 --> 00:31:58,749 Just based on the condition of the body, 581 00:31:58,817 --> 00:32:01,351 More than one person is involved. 582 00:32:01,420 --> 00:32:05,354 You're talking stab wounds, severe damage to the head. 583 00:32:05,356 --> 00:32:07,557 So now they're leaning on her. They're confronting her 584 00:32:07,559 --> 00:32:12,562 With more about there has to be another person involved. 585 00:32:12,631 --> 00:32:16,733 [kevin] we didn't believe that one person had garnered 586 00:32:16,801 --> 00:32:20,503 This much damage on another human being. 587 00:32:21,573 --> 00:32:24,074 [narrator] while it is clear that isiah played a role 588 00:32:24,142 --> 00:32:27,810 In shahabuddin's murder, detectives question shanika 589 00:32:27,880 --> 00:32:31,147 About her brother leon's involvement. 590 00:32:31,216 --> 00:32:35,251 Shanika was confronted with the story that her cousin 591 00:32:35,320 --> 00:32:39,489 Had told the police that her brother leon was there. 592 00:32:39,558 --> 00:32:43,660 She blames the murder on ike 593 00:32:43,728 --> 00:32:45,796 And an unnamed man. 594 00:32:45,864 --> 00:32:49,065 She won't say it's her brother. 595 00:32:49,134 --> 00:32:53,369 She claimed she waits for them outside the store. 596 00:32:53,371 --> 00:32:59,041 That they went in the store. She never entered. 597 00:32:59,043 --> 00:33:02,512 After shanika's interview with detectives, along with 598 00:33:02,581 --> 00:33:07,650 The information from the cousin, probable cause was obtained. 599 00:33:07,652 --> 00:33:10,153 An arrest was made. 600 00:33:10,222 --> 00:33:13,457 And shanika was charged with felony murder. 601 00:33:15,960 --> 00:33:19,362 [narrator] detectives locate isiah genus and leon robinson 602 00:33:19,364 --> 00:33:22,165 At their home in capitol heights 603 00:33:22,234 --> 00:33:25,335 And take them into custody. 604 00:33:25,404 --> 00:33:29,339 Ike and leon were arrested without incident. 605 00:33:29,408 --> 00:33:32,542 Leon lawyered up and refused to talk. 606 00:33:32,611 --> 00:33:36,412 Isiah said he didn't know nothing about nothing. 607 00:33:36,481 --> 00:33:38,548 He wasn't in it. 608 00:33:38,617 --> 00:33:41,951 [narrator] shanika robinson, isiah genus, and leon robinson' 609 00:33:42,020 --> 00:33:44,554 Fingerprints are compared to those collected 610 00:33:44,623 --> 00:33:46,489 At the crime scene. 611 00:33:46,491 --> 00:33:49,258 [mitch] naturally, shanika's fingerprints are gonna be 612 00:33:49,328 --> 00:33:52,162 Inside of the premises because she worked there. 613 00:33:52,230 --> 00:33:55,231 But ike's also was recovered. 614 00:33:55,300 --> 00:33:57,934 But leon, no prints were recovered. 615 00:33:58,670 --> 00:34:01,538 [narrator] by the evening of August 28, 2009, 616 00:34:01,606 --> 00:34:03,940 Metro police execute a search warrant 617 00:34:04,008 --> 00:34:06,743 On shanika's house in capitol heights. 618 00:34:06,811 --> 00:34:09,245 [nicki] shanika's cousin had told the detectives 619 00:34:09,314 --> 00:34:12,114 That the group had discarded everything from the crime scene 620 00:34:12,116 --> 00:34:14,584 In a fire pit in the back of the house. 621 00:34:14,653 --> 00:34:18,421 During the search warrant of the home, in the fire pit area, 622 00:34:18,423 --> 00:34:22,392 There were traces of clothing. 623 00:34:22,461 --> 00:34:25,195 [narrator] while they fail to recover any murder weapons, 624 00:34:25,263 --> 00:34:28,097 Detectives do find a damning piece of evidence 625 00:34:28,167 --> 00:34:31,902 In shanika's bedroom-- her diary. 626 00:34:33,472 --> 00:34:38,541 In the diary, what they saw was a diagram of the pizza mart. 627 00:34:39,411 --> 00:34:42,312 [keith] shanika wrote everything down in her diary. 628 00:34:42,380 --> 00:34:47,416 Words to the effect that "we can do this one of two ways." 629 00:34:47,418 --> 00:34:51,254 But the goal was to get the money she needed for rent. 630 00:34:51,323 --> 00:34:52,622 [keith] either you're going to give it to us 631 00:34:52,691 --> 00:34:53,923 Or we're going to take it, 632 00:34:53,925 --> 00:34:56,693 Is basically what shanika was saying. 633 00:34:56,761 --> 00:35:00,563 [nicki] very seldom do you find a smoking gun, and in this case 634 00:35:00,565 --> 00:35:03,633 Okay, it's not a murder weapon, but it's a whole map 635 00:35:03,702 --> 00:35:06,736 Of the location in which a murder happened. 636 00:35:06,805 --> 00:35:11,674 Finding this inside her diary no doubt shows premeditation. 637 00:35:11,743 --> 00:35:13,276 This was planned. 638 00:35:13,845 --> 00:35:16,313 [music] 639 00:35:23,755 --> 00:35:26,857 [narrator] d.C. Police have arrested shanika robinson, 640 00:35:26,925 --> 00:35:30,260 Her boyfriend, isiah genus, and shanika's brother, 641 00:35:30,328 --> 00:35:33,830 Leon robinson, for the murder of pizzeria owner 642 00:35:33,898 --> 00:35:36,266 Shahabuddin rana. 643 00:35:36,334 --> 00:35:39,236 We received more details. In those moments, 644 00:35:39,304 --> 00:35:42,139 You are solely thinking of surviving. 645 00:35:42,207 --> 00:35:43,673 You're thinking they've been arrested. 646 00:35:43,742 --> 00:35:46,743 You're thinking about how did this even happen? 647 00:35:46,811 --> 00:35:50,046 You're thinking about this can't be real life. 648 00:35:50,115 --> 00:35:52,348 [narrator] with shanika claiming innocence 649 00:35:52,417 --> 00:35:56,686 Isiah is given another opportunity to come clean. 650 00:35:56,755 --> 00:36:00,256 [keith] shanika's boyfriend immediately realized 651 00:36:00,258 --> 00:36:01,992 They have enough evidence against me, 652 00:36:02,060 --> 00:36:04,161 Let me cut a deal. 653 00:36:04,229 --> 00:36:06,362 [deborah] isiah confessed first. 654 00:36:06,431 --> 00:36:10,867 He said, "yeah, I was there." and he told everything. 655 00:36:10,935 --> 00:36:12,635 Everything. 656 00:36:12,637 --> 00:36:14,704 [narrator] in his confession, isiah confirms 657 00:36:14,773 --> 00:36:18,708 It was shanika's idea to rob shahabuddin. 658 00:36:18,777 --> 00:36:22,211 She had a plan. It wasn't, oh, she went there, 659 00:36:22,213 --> 00:36:24,981 And, um, they had a heated argument, 660 00:36:25,049 --> 00:36:28,752 And everything went to [bleep]. Like, she was on a mission. 661 00:36:30,755 --> 00:36:32,588 The plan was to go inside and to beat him up 662 00:36:32,657 --> 00:36:35,225 And get the money, not to kill him. 663 00:36:36,094 --> 00:36:38,761 Shanika planned it out in her journal 664 00:36:38,830 --> 00:36:42,565 And rehearsed what everyone's role would be. 665 00:36:42,634 --> 00:36:45,001 [nicki] ike told the detectives that they decided to go in 666 00:36:45,069 --> 00:36:47,503 When nobody's around, less traffic, 667 00:36:47,572 --> 00:36:50,740 Which means the middle of the night. 668 00:36:52,677 --> 00:36:56,579 So the group went in August 18t in the wee hours of the morning 669 00:36:56,648 --> 00:37:00,417 And the plan was for shanika to go to the door and 670 00:37:00,419 --> 00:37:03,653 To get shahabuddin to open the door up. 671 00:37:03,722 --> 00:37:07,790 He talked about shanika being the coordinator 672 00:37:07,859 --> 00:37:12,695 And having gloves for everybody upon entry. 673 00:37:12,764 --> 00:37:16,599 He said that leon brought the knife. 674 00:37:16,668 --> 00:37:19,502 And they waited on the side, in the darkness, 675 00:37:19,504 --> 00:37:22,239 While shanika got mr. Rana to open the door. 676 00:37:25,443 --> 00:37:28,578 When shanika got mr. Rana to open the door, 677 00:37:28,646 --> 00:37:31,781 They barged their way in, and as soon as they got inside, 678 00:37:31,850 --> 00:37:34,650 Leon and ike just started stabbing mr. Rana. 679 00:37:35,319 --> 00:37:37,853 [narrator] according to isiah, when leon dropped the knife, 680 00:37:37,923 --> 00:37:40,790 Shahabuddin fled to the back storage room, 681 00:37:40,859 --> 00:37:43,860 Attempting to barricade himself inside, 682 00:37:43,928 --> 00:37:46,662 But leon broke through the door 683 00:37:47,065 --> 00:37:52,135 Leon grabs a hammer and starts pounding on mr. Rana's head. 684 00:37:53,705 --> 00:37:55,938 [kevin] and at that point, there was a discussion 685 00:37:55,940 --> 00:38:00,810 About getting rid of forensics, the dna, and fingerprints, 686 00:38:00,879 --> 00:38:05,215 And the plan to, uh, to burn the body developed. 687 00:38:05,283 --> 00:38:08,518 There were multiple attempts to ignite mr. Rana's body 688 00:38:08,586 --> 00:38:11,354 In the storage room, and apparently, 689 00:38:11,423 --> 00:38:15,358 They simply couldn't get a fire going on the body. 690 00:38:16,995 --> 00:38:20,496 Prior to the two gentlemen and shanika leaving, 691 00:38:20,565 --> 00:38:23,900 Shanika did start gathering valuables from the store. 692 00:38:23,968 --> 00:38:28,871 She took money from the cash register, cigars, cigarettes. 693 00:38:29,808 --> 00:38:32,508 Ike does confirm that they did go back to the house 694 00:38:32,577 --> 00:38:34,411 In capitol heights. They took the clothes 695 00:38:34,413 --> 00:38:35,878 And burned them all in the fire pit, 696 00:38:35,947 --> 00:38:38,481 That they took bleach and tried to wipe off 697 00:38:38,550 --> 00:38:40,216 All of the murder weapons, 698 00:38:40,285 --> 00:38:43,353 And then discarded those in a nearby dumpster. 699 00:38:44,789 --> 00:38:46,622 [narrator] following his confession, 700 00:38:46,691 --> 00:38:50,927 Isiah agrees to a plea deal in exchange for his testimony. 701 00:38:52,430 --> 00:38:56,666 [kevin] leon was charged with first-degree felony murder. 702 00:38:56,735 --> 00:39:01,404 Shanika's charges were elevated to first-degree murder. 703 00:39:03,241 --> 00:39:05,541 [narrator] when the victim's family learns of shanika's 704 00:39:05,610 --> 00:39:08,211 Involvement in shahabuddin's murder, 705 00:39:08,279 --> 00:39:10,313 They are devastated. 706 00:39:10,381 --> 00:39:14,617 Allaudin, he didn't think his wife had anything to do with it. 707 00:39:14,619 --> 00:39:18,287 When he was told, he was stunned. 708 00:39:18,289 --> 00:39:19,689 [zeena] they're saying, "she did this." 709 00:39:19,757 --> 00:39:21,891 And we're just thinking, there's no way. 710 00:39:21,960 --> 00:39:25,495 She's come to our house. She's helping at the store. 711 00:39:25,563 --> 00:39:27,497 She's part of the family. 712 00:39:27,565 --> 00:39:29,698 There's no way she would do anything like that. 713 00:39:29,700 --> 00:39:32,902 I think what truly happened started to sink in 714 00:39:32,971 --> 00:39:35,538 When the court trial started. 715 00:39:35,607 --> 00:39:38,240 [narrator] at trial in July 2011, 716 00:39:38,310 --> 00:39:43,079 Shanika and leon robinson are tried as co-defendants. 717 00:39:43,147 --> 00:39:45,948 The two siblings, leon and shanika, 718 00:39:46,017 --> 00:39:49,119 They were being tried together. And it is rare that you have 719 00:39:49,187 --> 00:39:52,655 A brother and a sister on trial for murder together. 720 00:39:52,724 --> 00:39:55,457 Prosecutors described her as the mastermind. 721 00:39:55,459 --> 00:39:57,760 They described her as a black widow. 722 00:39:57,828 --> 00:40:02,499 They described her as a woman who got men to do her bidding. 723 00:40:03,067 --> 00:40:05,634 [narrator] the state's star witness is shanika's now 724 00:40:05,704 --> 00:40:08,938 Ex-boyfriend, isiah genus. 725 00:40:09,007 --> 00:40:12,308 [keith] the prosecutors really relied on the testimony of ike 726 00:40:12,377 --> 00:40:13,443 Because there were no eyewitnesses. 727 00:40:13,511 --> 00:40:15,377 There was no video cameras. 728 00:40:15,379 --> 00:40:17,847 They had no weapons. 729 00:40:17,916 --> 00:40:23,453 And there was no dna connecting leon to the crime scene. 730 00:40:24,823 --> 00:40:28,024 [narrator] shanika and leon both testify in their own defense 731 00:40:28,092 --> 00:40:30,626 And maintain their innocence. 732 00:40:30,695 --> 00:40:34,530 Leon sticks to the story that he was not there. 733 00:40:34,532 --> 00:40:36,833 [narrator] when it's shanika's turn to testify, 734 00:40:36,901 --> 00:40:40,503 She decides to flip on her brother. 735 00:40:40,571 --> 00:40:43,105 [kevin] when shanika got on the witness stand, she talked about 736 00:40:43,107 --> 00:40:45,708 How she had no idea what leon and ike were going to do. 737 00:40:45,777 --> 00:40:48,778 There was no plan of any violence. 738 00:40:48,846 --> 00:40:51,981 I remember watching leon's expression. 739 00:40:52,050 --> 00:40:54,784 And he just sat there shaking his head, 740 00:40:54,852 --> 00:40:59,888 Just exasperated, as if he felt as if shanika, his older sister, 741 00:40:59,890 --> 00:41:03,826 Literally threw him under the bus. 742 00:41:03,894 --> 00:41:05,695 [zeena] even though three different perspectives 743 00:41:05,763 --> 00:41:10,467 Were heard, you could tell all three were present 744 00:41:10,535 --> 00:41:13,802 In that building that night. 745 00:41:13,872 --> 00:41:17,807 And at any given point, they had the opportunity 746 00:41:17,876 --> 00:41:21,644 To open that door again and walk out. 747 00:41:21,646 --> 00:41:24,414 They were never taught the value of human life. 748 00:41:24,482 --> 00:41:26,516 And that's sad. 749 00:41:28,553 --> 00:41:30,953 [narrator] on August 1, 2011, 750 00:41:31,022 --> 00:41:35,724 Jurors retire to deliberate shanika and leon's fate. 751 00:41:35,794 --> 00:41:38,194 [nicki] the jury was out for two days in this case. 752 00:41:38,262 --> 00:41:39,829 And when they came back, 753 00:41:39,897 --> 00:41:43,832 They found leon guilty of murder in the first degree. 754 00:41:43,902 --> 00:41:48,371 Then they found shanika guilty of murder in the second degree. 755 00:41:49,441 --> 00:41:53,108 Leon got 76 years for this. 756 00:41:53,178 --> 00:41:56,312 Shanika got 56 years for this. 757 00:41:56,380 --> 00:41:58,614 And then sometime later, 758 00:41:58,683 --> 00:42:02,184 They finally came out with the sentencing for ike, 759 00:42:02,186 --> 00:42:04,053 Who had cooperated with authorities. 760 00:42:04,122 --> 00:42:06,489 And he got 20 years. 761 00:42:09,193 --> 00:42:12,328 [zeena] when somebody just makes your dad disappear, 762 00:42:12,396 --> 00:42:16,198 You don't necessarily even think the justice system 763 00:42:16,200 --> 00:42:18,501 Can give you justice. 764 00:42:18,569 --> 00:42:21,604 But the court system did the best it could do, 765 00:42:21,673 --> 00:42:24,073 And I'm grateful that they were found. 766 00:42:24,142 --> 00:42:27,977 I do think shanika should've had a harsher sentence 767 00:42:28,046 --> 00:42:31,247 Because lives were ruined because of her. 768 00:42:32,150 --> 00:42:35,184 [nicki] shanika had a man that would do anything for her. 769 00:42:35,253 --> 00:42:38,621 He really was infatuated with her, in love with her, 770 00:42:38,690 --> 00:42:42,524 Mesmerized by her, and willing to kill for her. 771 00:42:42,526 --> 00:42:44,760 They were driven by their devotion 772 00:42:44,829 --> 00:42:47,697 And commitment to each other. 773 00:42:47,765 --> 00:42:50,099 [kevin] they were an explosive couple 774 00:42:50,168 --> 00:42:52,168 That each fed off the other. 775 00:42:52,236 --> 00:42:54,103 And I don't think the crime would have happened 776 00:42:54,172 --> 00:42:56,639 Without the passion that they had. 777 00:43:00,211 --> 00:43:04,980 [zeena] I want my dad to be remembered as somebody that 778 00:43:05,049 --> 00:43:10,153 Was always going to take care of anybody he loved. 779 00:43:11,489 --> 00:43:17,026 His legacy is of an unstoppable hardworking, resilient, 780 00:43:17,095 --> 00:43:21,130 Compassionate, fearless human being that anything is possible. 781 00:43:21,199 --> 00:43:24,601 Anything can be possible. You just don't stop. 782 00:43:30,207 --> 00:43:36,112 [music]