>> narrator: True love was this couple's greatest blessing. >> this man loved this woman
and would've done anything in
the world for her.
And would've done anything in the world for her. >> even after years of marriage,
the couple acted like two
teenagers in love.
The couple acted like two teenagers in love. >> he was a beloved pastor.
Teenagers in love. >> he was a beloved pastor. She was a good-hearted person.
And they was successful in what
she was a good-hearted person. And they was successful in what they was doing.
>> narrator: Until a mysterious
assailant puts an end to this
minister's days in the pulpit.
Assailant puts an end to this minister's days in the pulpit. [ gunshots ]
>> people in the congregation
were appalled.
>> he had no enemies.
Were appalled. >> he had no enemies. This is a man of god.
>> who would want to kill him?
For what motive?
>> narrator: In a case where
for what motive? >> narrator: In a case where nothing is what it seems,
detectives must uncover a hidden
trail of money, lust, and lies,
leading to two decades of
secrets, drenched in blood.
Leading to two decades of secrets, drenched in blood. >> there was deceit and
backstabbing and families
turning on each other.
Backstabbing and families turning on each other. There's affairs and sex.
Turning on each other. There's affairs and sex. This could easily be the
there's affairs and sex. This could easily be the "who shot j.R.?"
this could easily be the "who shot j.R.?" new orleans version.
>> I was baffled.
New orleans version. >> I was baffled. I was in awe.
I was like [gasps]
"oh, my goodness."
-- captions by vitac -- www.Vitac.Com
♪
>> narrator: April 12, 2006,
11:30 p.M.
It's a muggy spring night in new orleans, and all around the crescent city, people are
struggling to rebuild their
lives eight months after
hurricane katrina.
Lives eight months after hurricane katrina. >> after katrina, new orleans
was in a real bad place.
>> you don't have services to
meet your basic needs.
Most of your population has been
damaged and traumatized
and everyone's angry.
>> narrator: But in a city already awash in pain, tragedy is about to strike again.
Already awash in pain, tragedy is about to strike again. [ gunshots ]
>> ernest!
[ screams ]
no.
Oh, god!
No. Oh, god! Ernest, get up!
[ cellphone ringing ]
ernest, get up! [ cellphone ringing ] no! Get up!
>> 911. What's your emergency?
No! Get up! >> 911. What's your emergency? >> oh, god! Please, send help!
My husband's been shot!
Please help!
>> narrator: The woman on the
please help! >> narrator: The woman on the line is 41-year-old emma smith.
>> she was upstairs when she
hears her husband calling that
he's been shot, and she comes
downstairs to find him.
>> he was lying in the doorway.
His shirt was saturated in
blood.
>> I can't stop the bleeding!
Please!
>> ma'am, stay on the line.
We're sending police and emts
right away.
>> narrator: But by the time
first responders arrive, it's
already too late.
Emma's 38-year-old husband,
ernest smith, is pronounced dead
on arrival.
>> by the time they got there,
he had bled out.
>> narrator: Born and raised in
new orleans, ernest smith made a
living as a truck driver for
most of his life.
But it was behind the pulpit,
not behind the wheel, where
ernest felt most at home.
>> his passion was preaching and
spreading the word of god.
>> ministry is a way of reaching
out to the hurting, and I know
he had some hurts.
So maybe this was a way he was
reaching out to those that was
hurting as well.
>> narrator: By the early '90s,
ernest's commitment to god led
him to a church in bethel,
louisiana, where he worked
part-time as a pastor and helped
grow the congregation.
>> ernest was the type of
preacher that, if you ever heard
him, you will want to hear him
again.
>> narrator: As ernest's reputation grew, so did his flock.
Reputation grew, so did his flock. One Sunday, ernest met a pretty
parishioner named emma evans.
>> how you doing, pastor?
Parishioner named emma evans. >> how you doing, pastor? >> hey, how you doing?
>> that was a lovely sermon.
>> you know, she caught his eye.
>> so, what do you think of our
little church here?
>> it's wonderful.
Little church here? >> it's wonderful. It's just the thing I need to
get a fresh start.
>> who's these two you have with
you?
>> this is kacy.
You? >> this is kacy. This is carlton.
>> emma was recently widowed.
She was a single mother of two
children.
>> her husband had been hit by a car and, subsequent to that, became a paraplegic and died.
Car and, subsequent to that, became a paraplegic and died. >> she was suffering and in
church, looking for some comfort
from the lord.
Church, looking for some comfort from the lord. >> all right.
From the lord. >> all right. You gonna come back next week?
>> yes, I will.
>> all right, then.
>> all right.
>> all right. Thank you.
>> narrator: In the coming
months, ernest became emma's
spiritual sounding board,
offering her a sympathetic ear
and a shoulder to cry on.
Offering her a sympathetic ear and a shoulder to cry on. But try as he might, ernest
couldn't deny the feelings he
but try as he might, ernest couldn't deny the feelings he was developing for his newest
parishioner.
Was developing for his newest parishioner. >> she was just somebody that he
became interested in, and just
wanted to spend his life with.
Became interested in, and just wanted to spend his life with. >> narrator: Turns out, the
feeling was mutual.
>> she needed him for spiritual
growth and he needed her
for natural growth.
Growth and he needed her for natural growth. >> narrator: After years of
dating, the couple married in
the mid-'90s.
Dating, the couple married in the mid-'90s. >> they was meant for each
other.
This man loved this woman
and would've done anything in
this man loved this woman and would've done anything in the world for her.
And would've done anything in the world for her. >> narrator: Over the next 10
years, ernest, emma, and her two
children moved wherever
the holy spirit called them.
>> after kind of bouncing around
from church to church, the
family decided to settle in
new orleans.
Along the way, ernest continued
working as a truck driver and
also preached in several small
churches.
But his dream always was to become a full-time pastor. >> narrator: As for emma, she
had big dreams of her own.
>> she was an entrepreneur.
Had big dreams of her own. >> she was an entrepreneur. The girl just had it going on.
I mean, she was very smart,
the girl just had it going on. I mean, she was very smart, and she always was able to make
a dollar.
And she always was able to make a dollar. >> she had a hair shop at one
time.
Then she was in real estate.
Time. Then she was in real estate. >> narrator: But in 2005,
then she was in real estate. >> narrator: But in 2005, ernest and emma lost everything.
>> hurricane katrina was
August 29, 2005.
>> their home was one of the
worst-hit areas in new orleans.
>> katrina displaced a whole lot
of people.
They both left together.
Of people. They both left together. They went to mississippi.
>> they were living in
they went to mississippi. >> they were living in poplarville, mississippi.
Emma's family was in poplarville
as well.
>> they were struggling in
poplarville, and both wanted to
move back to new orleans.
Poplarville, and both wanted to move back to new orleans. But emma was particularly
desperate to move back.
>> narrator: Although
new orleans was still reeling
from the effects of katrina,
emma was fortunate enough to
find a job opportunity there.
Emma was fortunate enough to find a job opportunity there. >> she'd found a job with a
real-estate agent in
new orleans east.
Real-estate agent in new orleans east. >> narrator: With ernest's
blessing, emma returned to
new orleans and rented a
townhouse on the east side of
town.
Townhouse on the east side of town. While emma got things settled in
new orleans, ernest and the kids
while emma got things settled in new orleans, ernest and the kids stayed behind in poplarville.
New orleans, ernest and the kids stayed behind in poplarville. But it wasn't long before
ernest received an opportunity
but it wasn't long before ernest received an opportunity of his own -- for what seemed
like his dream job.
Of his own -- for what seemed like his dream job. >> mr. Smith had just received
word that he was going to be a
pastor over what they call a
mega church in atlanta, georgia.
Pastor over what they call a mega church in atlanta, georgia. >> he can be a preacher
full-time now.
He would no longer have to drive
trucks to provide for his
he would no longer have to drive trucks to provide for his family.
Trucks to provide for his family. He could follow his passion.
Family. He could follow his passion. >> he was excited about that.
And all he needed now was emma.
>> narrator: With this offer in
and all he needed now was emma. >> narrator: With this offer in tow, ernest headed to atlanta
with the hopes of convincing
emma to follow him as he pursued
his calling.
Emma to follow him as he pursued his calling. >> he was gonna open up a new
chapter in his life.
He wanted her to be a part of
that.
You know, you get the church in
atlanta, she was gonna go with
you know, you get the church in atlanta, she was gonna go with him.
Atlanta, she was gonna go with him. >> I feel like this move will be
such a blessing for us.
>> mm-hmm.
Such a blessing for us. >> mm-hmm. >> she was all excited.
She was saying, "well, he was so
happy."
she was saying, "well, he was so happy." he was happy for them.
Happy." he was happy for them. >> narrator: But then, just when
it seemed the couple was on the
brink of having their dreams
come true...
Brink of having their dreams come true... Tragedy struck.
Come true... Tragedy struck. >> [ screams ]
tragedy struck. >> [ screams ] >> everyone was shocked to find
out that ernest was dead.
He was only 38, and his life
dream was at his fingertips.
>> how could someone do this
to a man of god?
>> narrator: Finding the answer
won't be easy, especially in
crime-addled, post-katrina
new orleans.
Crime-addled, post-katrina new orleans. >> I could've been the neighbor
down the street.
It could've been someone
actually lying in wait.
This really could have been
anyone.
♪
>> narrator: After weathering the nightmare of
hurricane katrina, ernest smith
and his wife, emma, seemed on
the cusp of living their dream
life.
>> ernest had accepted a job as
a pastor at a mega church in
atlanta.
And the real-estate market was
pretty solid there, which would
provide a good career
opportunity for emma.
>> this was ernest's dream.
>> narrator: Then, on the night
of April 12, 2006, just weeks
before the family's anticipated
move, the unthinkable happens.
>> police officers found ernest
in the hallway, dead of their
new orleans townhome.
He was shot.
>> there was blood in the area
where mr. Smith lay.
It's just gruesome.
>> for emma, this is the second
husband that she had lost in a
tragic accident.
It was clear that this was
almost more than she could bear.
>> we were home and got a phone
call, and she was screaming and
hollering and was saying ernest
was gone.
>> she wanted to know -- who
killed my husband?
>> narrator: Detectives on the scene promise emma they'll find ernest's killer.
Scene promise emma they'll find ernest's killer. But to do so, they'll need her
help.
>> hi, emma.
Help. >> hi, emma. Listen, I know this is tough,
but we need to ask you a couple
listen, I know this is tough, but we need to ask you a couple questions.
But we need to ask you a couple questions. >> narrator: Though still in
shock, emma manages to pace
police through the events
leading up to the shooting.
Police through the events leading up to the shooting. >> she tells police that ernest
left their home about 8:30 that
evening to attend a local bike
night with his friend,
donald williams.
Night with his friend, donald williams. >> hey, babe. About to go.
Donald williams. >> hey, babe. About to go. Donald's here.
>> ernest smith had recently
donald's here. >> ernest smith had recently purchased his first motorcycle.
Bike night was a night where
people who are motorcycle
enthusiasts would showcase their
bikes.
>> hey, what's up, e? >> what's up, boy? >> ready for a night out?
>> you know it.
>> let's go.
>> narrator: Emma explains that
she had been suffering from a
toothache, so shortly after
ernest left to go to the rally,
she turned in for the night.
Ernest left to go to the rally, she turned in for the night. >> let's get out of here, baby.
She turned in for the night. >> let's get out of here, baby. >> let's go.
>> she took some
over-the-counter medication and
she was asleep.
Over-the-counter medication and she was asleep. >> I was awakened by a loud
bang.
And then I heard ernest yell out
he'd been shot.
>> she thought it was a car
that backfired.
[ gunshot ]
>> but emma quickly realizes
that something terrible is going
on.
That something terrible is going on. >> ernest?
On. >> ernest? Oh, god!
>> narrator: According to emma,
oh, god! >> narrator: According to emma, at that point she raced
downstairs, where she discovered
ernest in a blood-soaked heap.
Downstairs, where she discovered ernest in a blood-soaked heap. >> hello?!
Ernest in a blood-soaked heap. >> hello?! >> miss emma immediately dialed
911 to report the incident.
>> now, when you found ernest,
did you see anybody else inside
the house or outside?
Did you see anybody else inside the house or outside? >> no, sir.
The house or outside? >> no, sir. >> okay.
>> when she gets down there,
that there's nobody there,
there's no car there or anything
of that nature.
There's no car there or anything of that nature. >> do you know anyone that
would want to hurt your husband?
>> ernest?
Would want to hurt your husband? >> ernest? No. Everyone loved him.
>> all right, well, if you can
no. Everyone loved him. >> all right, well, if you can think about anyone, please let
us know.
Think about anyone, please let us know. >> narrator: As detectives
finish up with emma, csi's
collect physical evidence that
seems to corroborate her version
of events.
Seems to corroborate her version of events. >> two 9-millimeter spent shell
casings were found outside of
the doorway.
Casings were found outside of the doorway. >> looks to me like he first got
hit here.
>> we see the blood spatter
begin in the grassy area outside
of the door.
Begin in the grassy area outside of the door. >> and then he must've just
stumbled inside.
>> and there was blood spatter
leading up to the stairway
where he collapses.
>> there did not appear to be
any foot marks, any track marks,
all around the body.
>> detectives speculate that the triggerman shot ernest from a distance that was close enough
to leave a high amount of blood
spatter but not so close as to
leave any bloody footprints
behind.
Leave any bloody footprints behind. >> narrator: But who would've
targeted ernest?
To detectives, the obvious
motive is theft.
>> after katrina, there was a
lot of stealing going on and
robberies.
>> certainly, if you have a
flashy new motorcycle, that's an
opportunity for crime.
>> he could've been followed
from bike night, or his attacker
was in fact casing the area and
laid in wait.
>> that could easily have gotten
out of hand.
>> narrator: Except there's one problem with this theory... >> his bike was still there,
so it seemed pretty clear that
was not any motive.
So it seemed pretty clear that was not any motive. >> narrator: As police ponder
their next move, a car pulls up
outside the couple's townhouse.
Their next move, a car pulls up outside the couple's townhouse. The driver identifies himself
as ernest's friend,
the driver identifies himself as ernest's friend, donald williams.
As ernest's friend, donald williams. >> officer, I got this.
Donald williams. >> officer, I got this. >> he said he was called, on
the telephone, by emma smith,
who advised him that ernest had
been shot.
Who advised him that ernest had been shot. >> I couldn't believe it.
Been shot. >> I couldn't believe it. I was just with him.
>> is that so?
>> he said he had brought
ernest smith back from bike
night some time around 10:30,
and they're standing outside of
the apartment complex just sort
of talking.
The apartment complex just sort of talking. >> so how long exactly would you
say you were out here for?
>> about an hour.
Say you were out here for? >> about an hour. >> so about 11:30?
>> yeah, I guess. Yeah.
>> that's literally just moments
before ernest was shot and emma
called 911.
Before ernest was shot and emma called 911. >> in our eyes, the last person
to have seen mr. Smith alive
is a suspect.
To have seen mr. Smith alive is a suspect. >> mr. Williams, have you and
ernest gotten in any argument
recently?
Ernest gotten in any argument recently? >> wait. You don't think I had
something to do with this,
do you?
Something to do with this, do you? >> donald is confused as to why
the police would think that he
is a suspect, and he is
genuinely distraught.
Is a suspect, and he is genuinely distraught. But maybe that's an act.
Genuinely distraught. But maybe that's an act. Maybe he left the scene to get
but maybe that's an act. Maybe he left the scene to get rid of the gun and clean up.
Maybe coming back was a cover.
Rid of the gun and clean up. Maybe coming back was a cover. >> narrator: As investigators
maybe coming back was a cover. >> narrator: As investigators continue to question donald,
patrol officers search the area
for other possible leads.
Patrol officers search the area for other possible leads. But in a neighborhood still
feeling the effects of katrina,
but in a neighborhood still feeling the effects of katrina, eyewitnesses are few and far
between.
Eyewitnesses are few and far between. >> normally, you would have
people canvassing the area,
asking if anybody had seen
someone who didn't belong in the
neighborhood or heard about
anyone having beef with ernest.
Neighborhood or heard about anyone having beef with ernest. But there was no one to canvas.
Anyone having beef with ernest. But there was no one to canvas. >> this area that they were
but there was no one to canvas. >> this area that they were living in was almost totally
vacant.
Living in was almost totally vacant. >> there are no surveillance
cameras or whatnot in that
neighborhood.
Cameras or whatnot in that neighborhood. >> it was almost an ideal
setting for someone to plan
a murder.
T's been four hours since 38-year-old pastor ernest smith was gunned down on
the steps of his new orleans
townhouse.
The steps of his new orleans townhouse. But in the barren, post-katrina
neighborhood where the shooting
but in the barren, post-katrina neighborhood where the shooting took place, police are having
trouble digging up leads.
>> there were no witnesses
as to what could've happened.
>> his wife, emma, who found him
said she had seen nothing.
>> there were no signs that it
was a home invasion.
>> they knew it wasn't a
burglary.
Nothing had been taken from the
house.
The perpetrator didn't even go
in the house.
They simply shot ernest
and fled.
This appeared to have been
something personal.
This was an intentional murder
that was targeting ernest smith
for a reason that we didn't know
at the time.
>> law enforcement typically
begins an investigation by
looking into the victim's spouse
and whoever was last seen with
him.
In this case, it was his wife,
emma, and his friend donald.
>> donald williams was with
ernest moments before ernest was
shot, but he returned to the
scene only when emma had told
him what had happened, and he
genuinely seemed distraught.
>> I just don't think they had
any reason to suspect him other
than his presence at the scene.
>> narrator: As day breaks,
with no other witnesses,
investigators reach out to
ernest and emma's friends and
family to learn more about the
couple's relationship.
>> they looked like the perfect
couple.
>> nobody was aware of any
marital strife.
>> by all accounts, they were a
loving couple who put god at the
forefront of their relationship.
>> emma was absolutely
devastated to lose ernest.
>> she was a grieving widow.
She's suffering.
>> everybody, you know, really
sympathized with her loss.
>> narrator: With both emma and donald williams seeming like implausible suspects,
investigators wonder -- is it
possible there was someone else
in ernest's life who might want
to harm him?
In ernest's life who might want to harm him? But that angle proves to be a
dead end as well.
>> I didn't know him to have any
enemies.
>> he was a true man of god.
Enemies. >> he was a true man of god. >> narrator: With no viable
suspects and no apparent motive,
the case goes cold and takes a
back burner to the hundreds of
other cases inundating
new orleans law enforcement.
Other cases inundating new orleans law enforcement. >> after katrina, the police
department was short 200
officers, and the officers that
they did have were being
overworked.
They did have were being overworked. The city was in such a complete
disarray that this was just
the city was in such a complete disarray that this was just another tragedy on top of a
million and one other tragedies.
Another tragedy on top of a million and one other tragedies. >> narrator: With ernest's
murder now a cold case, his
widow, emma, struggles to find
closure.
Widow, emma, struggles to find closure. >> in the aftermath of ernest's
death, emma stayed in
new orleans and continued to
work.
New orleans and continued to work. And during that time, she found
a confidante, someone who gave
and during that time, she found a confidante, someone who gave her emotional support.
A confidante, someone who gave her emotional support. His name was james raine.
Her emotional support. His name was james raine. >> james raine was one of
his name was james raine. >> james raine was one of ernest's oldest friends.
>> it made sense that ernest's
close friend and his wife would
console each other after his
death.
Console each other after his death. >> narrator: By 2008, 2 years
after the death of ernest, james
and emma were not only an item,
they were also ready to take the
next step together.
They were also ready to take the next step together. >> james and emma decided to
get married, and she changed her
name to emma raine.
Get married, and she changed her name to emma raine. >> narrator: Though some
might've viewed emma's marriage
to james as a bit hasty,
ernest's friends and fellow
churchgoers were delighted she
once again found happiness.
Churchgoers were delighted she once again found happiness. >> you can't tell folks how long
to grieve.
So I thought it was all right
they got married.
>> I was happy for her.
They got married. >> I was happy for her. >> narrator: After ernest's
murder, emma's children had
remained in poplarville with
their grandparents, and in 2008,
emma asked james to move back to
poplarville to be closer to her
children.
Poplarville to be closer to her children. James obliged wholeheartedly.
Children. James obliged wholeheartedly. >> they were happy, they were in
james obliged wholeheartedly. >> they were happy, they were in love, and they were very
successful.
>> she had a tax business. James was an excellent mechanic.
>> narrator: With their careers
flourishing, the couple soon
builds the home of their dreams.
Builds the home of their dreams. >> it was close to 4,500- to
5,000-square-foot home.
>> the decor was exquisite. It was elaborate. Had a private pond, a pool.
>> it was just wonderful.
It's a house you could die in,
you know?
>> narrator: And in October of
2011, that's exactly what
happened.
>> [ screams ]
>> someone was murdered in that
house.
>> they were not thinking in
their wildest dreams that
somebody would be capable of
something like this.
Somebody would be capable of something like this. >> this can't be happening
again.
♪
>> narrator: In April of 2006, aspiring pastor ernest smith was gunned down in the doorway of
a new orleans townhouse.
Gunned down in the doorway of a new orleans townhouse. In the wake of the murder, his
grieving widow, emma, found
in the wake of the murder, his grieving widow, emma, found solace in the arms of one of
ernest's closest friends,
james raine.
Ernest's closest friends, james raine. >> james and emma were two
people grieving the loss of a
loved one.
He was consoling her, and she
was consoling him.
They were so attracted to each
other that eventually they got
married.
>> after they were married,
they moved from new orleans.
Her and james built a home from
the ground up in poplarville,
mississippi.
>> it seems like she has moved
on from the ernest smith murder.
>> narrator: But just as her life was back on track, it would be blown apart by yet another
tragedy.
Be blown apart by yet another tragedy. It starts on the afternoon of
October 21, 2011.
>> emma is out of town for
business, and then she calls
james raine's mother and tells
her, "I haven't heard from
james.
Her, "I haven't heard from james. He hasn't returned my calls."
>> "I'm worried some.
I can't get him on the phone.
Could you go up there and tell
him I'm trying to get in touch
with him?"
>> narrator: A few minutes later, james's mother enters the home.
Later, james's mother enters the home. >> james! It's mom!
Home. >> james! It's mom! >> the master bedroom was on the
first floor.
>> james?
First floor. >> james? >> she rushed up partially the
way up in there.
>> [ screams ]
>> she saw james -- a trauma to
his body -- and so she runs back
out.
His body -- and so she runs back out. >> he was shot multiple times.
Out. >> he was shot multiple times. It was the face, the chest, and
his mouth area.
>> it's just something his mom
will never get over as long as
she's still living.
Will never get over as long as she's still living. >> narrator: James's mother
calls her other son, enoch, and
informs him of what's happened.
Calls her other son, enoch, and informs him of what's happened. Enoch in turn notifies the
sheriff's department, and within
enoch in turn notifies the sheriff's department, and within the hour, homicide investigators
have arrived at the scene.
The hour, homicide investigators have arrived at the scene. >> what do we have?
>> from the moment detectives
enter the master bedroom, it's
clear that james raine had been
shot execution-style while he
was sleeping.
[ gunshots ] ♪ >> james had never even gotten
out of bed.
He's shot in the head and the
neck.
It's just very indicative that
somebody was coming in there
it's just very indicative that somebody was coming in there with a mission, and it was to
kill james raine.
With a mission, and it was to kill james raine. >> narrator: The execution-style
nature of the shooting isn't the
only clue that the murder was
premeditated.
>> the killer covered their
tracks very well.
There's very little in the way
of physical evidence left
behind.
>> the house was wired with security cameras all over the place.
Security cameras all over the place. But just so happened that the
system was down during the
but just so happened that the system was down during the murder.
System was down during the murder. >> narrator: But who would want
to murder james raine?
To answer that question,
detectives turn to james's
to answer that question, detectives turn to james's family.
Detectives turn to james's family. >> we're, uh, sorry for your
loss.
We just have a few questions for
you.
>> the family states that
despite this gorgeous new house
and this fresh beginning in
poplarville, james and emma's
relationship was on the rocks
the past couple months.
Relationship was on the rocks the past couple months. >> the passion that they once
had in their marriage kind of
went out.
Had in their marriage kind of went out. >> james raine and her start to
have some trouble.
He gets an idea that he may not
be the king of that castle
he gets an idea that he may not be the king of that castle anymore.
Be the king of that castle anymore. He was suspicious that she might
be seeking men elsewhere.
>> narrator: According to
james's family, james was right
to be suspicious of emma's
fidelity, especially considering
an incident his brother, enoch,
witnessed a few years earlier.
>> emma and james -- I saw them
two in the house kissing and
hugging.
This was a mouth-to-mouth kiss.
It was a passionate kiss.
>> hey! What are y'all doing? >> narrator: There was just one big problem with that scene.
>> she was married to ernest.
Big problem with that scene. >> she was married to ernest. >> he was shocked and kind of
appalled that they were kissing
when he was right in the house.
Appalled that they were kissing when he was right in the house. >> man, ernest would kill you if
he caught you up here.
I'm like, you know, "you
flirtin' with death kissing like
this in his house."
>> bro, this is none of your
business!
Leave, man!
Business! Leave, man! >> narrator: Enoch tells police
leave, man! >> narrator: Enoch tells police that james and emma continued
their affair right under
ernest's nose.
Their affair right under ernest's nose. But eventually, it caught up
with them.
>> james was confronted by
ernest, and they had a heated
argument over him having an
affair with his wife.
Argument over him having an affair with his wife. >> he said stay away from his
wife.
>> he wanted out of the
marriage.
>> narrator: The family says
after ernest received the offer
to be the pastor at the mega
church in atlanta, he decided
that divorcing emma wouldn't be
in his best interest.
That divorcing emma wouldn't be in his best interest. >> it wouldn't look good with
you getting a church and you're
not with your wife.
You getting a church and you're not with your wife. >> because of his faith in god,
he decided to stay and try to
work it out.
He decided to stay and try to work it out. >> narrator: Ernest ultimately
accepted emma back, but not
before he sent his old friend
james a stern warning.
Before he sent his old friend james a stern warning. >> james, quick-tempered --
"you don't be saying this.
You don't be threatening me,
telling me what you gonna do to
you don't be threatening me, telling me what you gonna do to me."
>> narrator: Enoch tells police
that it was just months after
this confrontation between
ernest and james that ernest
ended up dead.
Ernest and james that ernest ended up dead. >> it wasn't long after ernest's
death, maybe a couple weeks, she
moves in with james.
Death, maybe a couple weeks, she moves in with james. People speculating, gossiping --
did james have something to do
people speculating, gossiping -- did james have something to do with that?
Did james have something to do with that? >> I ask him -- did he have
anything to do with ernest's
murder.
Anything to do with ernest's murder. He was emphatic about it.
Murder. He was emphatic about it. They didn't have anything to do
he was emphatic about it. They didn't have anything to do with it.
James was my nephew, and we was
close.
I had no reason to think that he
was lying.
>> narrator: But now that james
has been murdered in a manner
similar to ernest, his family
worries that it's more than just
bad luck.
Worries that it's more than just bad luck. >> after james's murder, we
started having family meetings.
Whatever information people can
give us to where we can start
whatever information people can give us to where we can start putting the pieces of the puzzle
together to try and solve
james's murder.
Together to try and solve james's murder. I said, "something's not right
there."
>> it's not coincidence that you
have two husbands murdered.
>> narrator: Back at the
station, poplarville
investigators are equally
suspicious.
Investigators are equally suspicious. But at this point, there's zero
evidence proving emma killed
but at this point, there's zero evidence proving emma killed either ernest or james.
Evidence proving emma killed either ernest or james. >> yes, is this emma?
>> when james raine was killed,
she had been in arkansas on
business.
>> they spoke with her, confirming that she was indeed in arkansas at the time.
Confirming that she was indeed in arkansas at the time. But now that they had her on the
phone, investigators had to tell
but now that they had her on the phone, investigators had to tell her that james had been
murdered.
Her that james had been murdered. >> no, no!
Murdered. >> no, no! >> when they tell emma that
james is dead, she seems
devastated and immediately drops
what she's doing to return to
poplarville.
What she's doing to return to poplarville. >> narrator: The following
morning, investigators interview
emma at the pearl river county
sheriff's department.
Emma at the pearl river county sheriff's department. >> so, it's just a coincidence
that you've had two husbands and
they've both been shot?
That you've had two husbands and they've both been shot? >> it has to be.
They've both been shot? >> it has to be. >> and you expect us to believe
that?
>> yes!
That? >> yes! >> they played hardball with
emma, but she never waivers from
the claim that she is completely
innocent and that this is all
one horrible coincidence.
Innocent and that this is all one horrible coincidence. >> narrator: Over the next year,
investigators fail to find any
evidence that conclusively ties
emma to the murder of either
ernest smith or james raine.
Emma to the murder of either ernest smith or james raine. >> even though police had
suspicions, there was just not
enough evidence to connect her
to both of the murders.
Enough evidence to connect her to both of the murders. >> narrator: But soon, two
witnesses will come forward and
point the finger at a surprising
new suspect.
Point the finger at a surprising new suspect. >> his family turned on him.
New suspect. >> his family turned on him. >> it was dead silence.
We were shocked.
♪
>> narrator: In the span of five years, real-estate agent emma raine had not one, but two
husbands brutally murdered
inside their own home.
Husbands brutally murdered inside their own home. With both men gunned down in
similar fashions, investigators
with both men gunned down in similar fashions, investigators wonder if the two murders are
more than mere coincidence.
Wonder if the two murders are more than mere coincidence. But there's zero physical
evidence linking emma to either
but there's zero physical evidence linking emma to either crime.
>> just as ernest's case,
james raine's case eventually
froze cold.
>> narrator: But then in
March 2012, a call comes in to
a new orleans cold-case unit.
>> detective chambers.
>> it's james raine's brother,
enoch raine.
>> enoch specifically asked for
the cold-case detective
decynda chambers.
>> narrator: Enoch tells
detective chambers he had
recently seen her on a
television program profiling
cold cases and called her
number.
>> I catch a louisiana local
news program where they're
talking about a cold case.
And miss chambers, she's pretty
good with what she do for cold
cases.
>> turns out, the information that enoch has to share isn't about his brother's case in
mississippi.
About his brother's case in mississippi. >> I said, "we got some
information into ernest smith
murder."
>> narrator: Later that
afternoon, detective chambers
sits down with enoch and his
uncle william at her office.
Sits down with enoch and his uncle william at her office. >> how did you come across
this information?
>> well, we were actually
looking into the murder of my
brother, james raine.
Looking into the murder of my brother, james raine. >> narrator: According to enoch,
not long after james's funeral
in 2011, he and william sought
out his 27-year-old adoptive
brother, alfred everette.
>> alfred was adopted by james's
mother at I think around
13 years old.
>> his mother had passed.
>> james was still around the
house when he came in, so they
just spent a lot of time
together.
>> he looked up to james.
They was real close.
>> if anybody might have some
insight into james's murder, it
would be alfred.
>> narrator: So according to enoch, he and william decided to ask alfred if he had any idea
who might want to harm their
brother.
Who might want to harm their brother. >> what's up, nephew?
Brother. >> what's up, nephew? >> oh, what's up, huh?
>> glad you could come through,
man.
>> yeah, good looking out,
looking out.
Man, what you think about all
this stuff going on with emma?
>> what you mean?
This stuff going on with emma? >> what you mean? >> man, you know what I mean.
First ernest gets shot in
new orleans, now james?
Man, that's not a coincidence.
New orleans, now james? Man, that's not a coincidence. >> and that's when alfred just
man, that's not a coincidence. >> and that's when alfred just breaks down.
>> he started getting nervous
and shaking, and he started
crying.
And shaking, and he started crying. >> what's going on?
Crying. >> what's going on? >> alfred everette informs them
basically that he has something
to tell them.
Basically that he has something to tell them. >> it was me, man.
To tell them. >> it was me, man. I-I killed ernest.
>> you did what?
>> he confessed to murdering
ernest.
He was the shooter.
Ernest. He was the shooter. We was sitting in the car, and
he was the shooter. We was sitting in the car, and it was dead silence.
We were shocked.
It was dead silence. We were shocked. >> narrator: According to enoch,
we were shocked. >> narrator: According to enoch, as he and william sat in rapt
attention, alfred told them how
the murder of ernest smith
went down.
The murder of ernest smith went down. >> he said he stood around this
set of townhouses for two or
three hours, waiting.
Set of townhouses for two or three hours, waiting. >> finally, ernest gets home
and he's talking to his friend,
and they keep talking and
talking.
>> he said it seemed like they
were going to be talking all
night.
>> then he sees the friend leave and he sees ernest smith begin walking toward his door.
And he sees ernest smith begin walking toward his door. He runs up.
Walking toward his door. He runs up. He shoots him twice with a
he runs up. He shoots him twice with a 9-millimeter.
[ gunshots ]
watches him stumbled toward the
door, and then he gets in his
car and flees.
Door, and then he gets in his car and flees. >> he told me and william he
threw the gun in
lake pontchartrain.
Threw the gun in lake pontchartrain. >> narrator: Taken aback by what
they've heard, enoch and william
ask alfred why he would shoot
such a nice hardworking man like
ernest smith.
Such a nice hardworking man like ernest smith. Alfred's answer floored them
completely.
>> he told us james and emma
hired him to murder ernest.
>> james and emma had been
carrying on this illicit affair
and wanted ernest out of the
picture.
And wanted ernest out of the picture. >> emma and james said they was
gonna give me $10,000!
They was gonna give me $10,000
out the insurance.
>> mr. Smith's insurance policy
was the motivator, but emma and
james never gave him the money.
>> all he ended up with was a
couple of clunker cars.
>> it took two, three minutes to grasp what was said. >> him and james, both my two
brothers, they done something
that was just unheard of for our
family.
That was just unheard of for our family. >> enoch and I said, "well,
alfred, you know you got to do
the right thing."
he told us, "I gonna do the
right thing."
that's his exact words --
I'm gonna do the right thing.
That's his exact words -- I'm gonna do the right thing. >> narrator: According to enoch,
that conversation took place in
the fall of 2011, but by 2013,
alfred still hadn't come clean
to authorities about his role in
ernest's murder.
To authorities about his role in ernest's murder. >> so they took it upon
themselves to come to
new orleans and notify myself.
Themselves to come to new orleans and notify myself. >> they're the kind of people
who, once you meet with them,
you know that they are not
lying.
You know that they are not lying. The truth coming out and moving
forward.
And justice was important for
them.
>> narrator: In an effort to
corroborate enoch and william's
story, detective chambers
obtains a warrant for emma's
cellphone records from the
night of April 12, 2006.
Cellphone records from the night of April 12, 2006. >> one of the telephone calls
that she made almost immediately
after the police departed the
scene was to her lover,
mr. James raine.
Scene was to her lover, mr. James raine. >> narrator: After examining
emma's cellphone records,
detective chambers takes a look
at the life-insurance policy
emma had taken out on ernest
prior to his murder.
Emma had taken out on ernest prior to his murder. >> the insurance policy was
started out as $100,000
insurance policy.
Started out as $100,000 insurance policy. >> then literally doubled,
from like $400,000 to $800,000
over the course of a couple
months before his murder.
Over the course of a couple months before his murder. >> she and james built this very
lavish and mansion-like home in
poplarville from ernest smith's
insurance money.
Poplarville from ernest smith's insurance money. >> narrator: But in combing
through emma's financial
records, detective chambers
realizes the payout on ernest
isn't the only hefty insurance
policy emma raine had recently
cashed in.
Policy emma raine had recently cashed in. >> after james's death, she
never missed a beat on james's
life-insurance policy.
Never missed a beat on james's life-insurance policy. >> the one for james was
$400,000.
That was most suspicious, since
mr. Raine now was the victim of
that was most suspicious, since mr. Raine now was the victim of a homicide himself.
Mr. Raine now was the victim of a homicide himself. >> narrator: Examining the
insurance records,
detective chambers also
discovers that shortly after
james's murder, the dream home
he and emma built with the cash
from the policy on ernest's life
mysteriously burned to the
ground.
Mysteriously burned to the ground. >> I think it was valued at
somewhere right around $300,000,
$400,000.
Somewhere right around $300,000, $400,000. But she had an insurance policy
on it that was doubled.
>> narrator: As she peels back
the layers of emma's possible
misdeeds, detective chambers
wonders if it didn't all begin
two decades earlier with emma's
first husband, leroy evans.
Two decades earlier with emma's first husband, leroy evans. >> he was a paraplegic due to
the car accident.
>> one night, his feeding tube
came out and he choked and died.
>> it was ruled an accident.
Came out and he choked and died. >> it was ruled an accident. >> narrator: And when
detective chambers contacts
leroy evans's mother in
vicksburg, mississippi, what she
learns only raises more
eyebrows.
Learns only raises more eyebrows. >> emma was the last person that
was supposedly seen in the room
with him before his feeding tube
come up missing.
With him before his feeding tube come up missing. >> his mother claims that
emma raine must have obtained
some of the proceeds from his
insurance, because they never
got any money from his
life-insurance policy.
Got any money from his life-insurance policy. >> every husband basically that
she'd had...Died.
>> narrator: Which leads
investigators to a terrifying
conclusion.
Investigators to a terrifying conclusion. >> we have a true black
black widow.
>> there is a pattern.
Black widow. >> there is a pattern. She was marrying men and
murdering them to collect
she was marrying men and murdering them to collect the life-insurance policy.
Murdering them to collect the life-insurance policy. We didn't know who would be
next.
♪
>> narrator: May 2013. Nearly one year into their
investigation, cold-case
nearly one year into their investigation, cold-case detectives now have reason to
suspect that 20 years earlier,
emma raine, then emma evans,
murdered her first husband,
a paraplegic named leroy evans,
and collected a life-insurance
policy she had taken out on him.
>> this was the narrative of a
woman who's basically tearing
through men and killing them and
then taking the insurance money
and living high on the hog.
>> they deemed it
"the black widow."
>> at this point in the case,
police have tons of
circumstantial evidence pointing
to emma as being the criminal
mastermind of the murders of
ernest smith and james raine,
if not leroy evans as well.
>> narrator: Adding to the
intrigue is the fact that
james's brother, enoch, has
alleged that emma enlisted their
adoptive brother, alfred, as the
triggerman in ernest's murder
which cleared the way for emma
to collect ernest's
life-insurance policy before
setting her sights on james.
>> in order to get to emma, they
need to track down alfred and
get a confession, and they need
to do it quickly before
emma raine strikes again.
>> narrator: On July 12, 2013,
investigators track down
alfred everette at an oil
pipeline in texas where he'd
been working and bring him into
custody.
>> hello, alfred. I spoke to him personally. He would not admit his
involvement.
However, I have never seen a man
cry like that in my life.
I knew it the moment that I came
in contact with him he was
guilty.
In contact with him he was guilty. >> narrator: A month later,
police catch up with emma in
kansas city, missouri, where
this so-called black widow has
apparently set her sights on a
new target.
>> she moved to missouri with
her new and fourth husband,
gregory miller.
It seemed like she was able to
move on very quickly.
>> narrator: News of emma's
arrest quickly makes its way
back to new orleans.
Friends and loved ones there are
floored.
>> I just couldn't believe this.
This is impossible.
She's a good person. >> narrator: Though perhaps no one is more shocked by emma's
arrest than her new husband,
greg miller.
Arrest than her new husband, greg miller. >> emma had a $400,000
life-insurance policy in place
on her new husband,
gregory miller.
On her new husband, gregory miller. So it seems pretty clear that
the black widow was ready to
so it seems pretty clear that the black widow was ready to strike again.
The black widow was ready to strike again. >> I really believe he was her
next victim.
>> needless to say, when police
informed husband number four of
this fact, he immediately filed
for divorce.
This fact, he immediately filed for divorce. >> narrator: With both emma and
triggerman alfred everette
opting to take their chances at
trial, prosecutors decide to try
alfred first.
Trial, prosecutors decide to try alfred first. >> prosecutors assert that emma,
james raine, and alfred everette
conspired to murder ernest smith
and collect his $800,000
life-insurance policy.
And collect his $800,000 life-insurance policy. Emma and james offered alfred a
hefty cut of the money if he
emma and james offered alfred a hefty cut of the money if he agreed to be the triggerman.
Hefty cut of the money if he agreed to be the triggerman. >> so on the night of
April 12, 2006, alfred waited
outside emma and ernest's condo
for ernest to come home from a
night of being out.
For ernest to come home from a night of being out. Alfred approaches from behind
and shoots ernest twice in cold
alfred approaches from behind and shoots ernest twice in cold blood...
And shoots ernest twice in cold blood... [ gunshots ]
...And leaves him for dead on
his doorstep.
Emma then calls james raine,
moments after calling 911, to
emma then calls james raine, moments after calling 911, to let him know the plan had been
executed.
Let him know the plan had been executed. >> narrator: The state's case
hinges on the testimony of
alfred's relatives, enoch raine
and william fowler.
Alfred's relatives, enoch raine and william fowler. >> their testimony was very
strong.
>> these people weren't going to
come here and make this up
against a family member,
someone they literally raised
from a small child to an adult.
But they felt like they had to
do the right thing.
>> alfred was convicted of
second-degree murder.
In louisiana, there's only
one sentence for
second-degree murder, and that's
mandatory life.
>> my heart still goes out to
him.
But he took a life.
And, you know, you got -- that
has to be taken care of.
>> narrator: On August 10, 2016,
nearly two years after alfred's
conviction, emma raine's trial
gets under way in a new orleans
parish courtroom.
>> this was a case that packed
the courtroom, I can tell you,
just out of the sheer interest.
>> you don't get a lot of
black-widow-style murder.
>> narrator: Though emma is suspected of murdering all three of her husbands, prosecutors are
quick to remind the jury that
she's only standing trial for
the murder of husband number
two, ernest smith.
The murder of husband number two, ernest smith. >> we knew she did not actually
pull the trigger, but he was a
principle to the killing.
Pull the trigger, but he was a principle to the killing. >> narrator: Perhaps the most
gripping piece of evidence
submitted is the surveillance
footage from emma and james's
home, which stopped recording
just hours before james raine's
murder.
Just hours before james raine's murder. >> there were surveillance
cameras all over the house that
were installed by emma raine.
Cameras all over the house that were installed by emma raine. Police see that she is the last
one in the surveillance-camera
police see that she is the last one in the surveillance-camera footage, and she's actually
manipulating the central
location of the surveillance
cameras.
Location of the surveillance cameras. They all shut off together, and
she's the last person seen in
they all shut off together, and she's the last person seen in frame before his murder.
She's the last person seen in frame before his murder. >> narrator: On August 12, 2016,
the jury returns with their
verdict.
The jury returns with their verdict. >> they convict her of murder,
send her away for life.
>> it took me a long time, but
when I look at her now, I see
wickedness and evil.
When I look at her now, I see wickedness and evil. By now, ernest would've been
what you call a national
by now, ernest would've been what you call a national preacher.
What you call a national preacher. There was just so much more that
he had to offer his people, the
there was just so much more that he had to offer his people, the church world, and the community.
He had to offer his people, the church world, and the community. >> narrator: As for
james raine's family, they
understand he played a role in
the death of ernest smith, but
ultimately james was a victim as
well.
>> james was guilty, but she
calculated the whole situation.
My two brothers was just pawns
on her chess board.
>> "evil" is the word that comes
to mind -- an extremely evil
person who cares very, very
little about the value of human
life, who cares very little
about human relationships and
who literally used people for
her personal and selfish gain.