>> Narrator: She had the world at her fingertips. >> She was very outgoing,
very fearless. >> She was just such a smart young lady.
>> The sky was the limit. >> Narrator: And it looked like she found the love of her life,
too. >> She introduced him to the family.
>> She was taken with this guy. She loved him. >> Narrator: Until tragedy stole
her too soon. >> Oh, my God! >> Blood was coming out her
mouth. [ Ringing ]
>> She's on the ground! [ Indistinct ] >> Just a roller coaster of
emotions surged through my body. >> Narrator: Detectives move quickly to identify a suspect.
>> The name came from another resident that did not want to be identified.
>> He wanted something more than friendship. >> Narrator: And the killer's
explanation would be full of excuses. >> He said he woke up in a haze,
>> The drugs made him go crazy. >> Narrator: But were they also enough for him to get away with
murder? >> It was a slap in the face. >> It'll never be okay.
>> He knew exactly what he was doing. >> We're just friends.
[ Gunshot fires ]
♪
>> Narrator: October 2, 2015.
It's Friday night in Charlotte,
North Carolina, a thriving
metropolis of more than two
million.
>> Charlotte, North Carolina,
is a really big city,
and it's growing every day.
>> It's a great town.
It has a growing financial
sector which is really driving
a lot of people to the area.
>> Narrator: Although, like any
city, parts of Charlotte
still struggle.
>> Some of the city's challenges
are definitely crime,
and education is another one
of those real serious issues.
>> The city's growth had also
made safe, affordable
housing very hard to find.
>> Narrator: It's 9:30 that
night, when Brittany Mayfield
returns to the apartment where
she lives with her daughter and
sister.
>> The apartment was in a new
complex built by the local
housing authority.
>> The neighborhood,
for the most part, was a quiet,
family-oriented neighborhood.
>> Narrator: Lexi is Brittany's
little sister,
23-year-old Alexia Mayfield.
>> Alexia had recently moved
into the apartment with her
sister.
While the sister went to work, she would watch the child. >> I called maybe an hour
before I got off. She didn't answer the phone, so I thought maybe of course
she was probably sleeping. >> Narrator: Inside, Brittany finds her daughter
in the living room. >> Brittany's baby was peacefully asleep.
>> Lexi? >> Narrator: Then careful not to wake the baby, Brittany heads
back to her sister's bedroom. >> Lexi? [ Gasps, screams ]
♪ What happened? >> She found her sister
on the floor.
>> She's seeing blood coming
from Lexi's mouth.
>> Lexi! >> She tapped her. She wasn't moving,
but her body wasn't cold. It was warm. >> Wake up! Lexi!
>> Narrator: In a panic, Brittany calls 9-1-1 in hopes they can save her sister.
But will it be too late? >> She's on the floor. She's not dead though.
>> Narrator: Outgoing 23-year-old Alexia Mayfield was always the center of attention.
>> People gravitated toward her. >> I was the quiet one. Lexi was the outgoing one,
always loud, laughing, goofy. >> Alexia was the life of the party.
You never had a dull moment being around her. She's very bright, smart, funny.
>> She was very fearless. She spoke her mind. Even though I'm the oldest,
Lexi was more like the backbone really. >> Narrator: After graduating
high school in 2010, Alexia enrolled in an online college with the goal of becoming
a pharmacy technician. >> That's what she wanted to hone in on.
And so we would go to the different places like CVS and see what
their availabilities were, and she talked about it all the time.
She was real excited. >> Alexia was very ambitious and driven.
>> She wanted to make something of herself. That was her main goal.
School was her number-one priority. >> She was just a smart young
lady. She loved learning. >> With Lexi, the sky was the
limit. >> Narrator: But no matter how high she soared, Lexi stayed
close to her sister, Brittany. In 2014, the sisters moved in together, renting an apartment
near the Charlotte airport. >> Brittany was about to have a baby,
and Alexia was looking forward to being a new aunt. >> Lexi loved her niece very
much, and her niece loved her. >> Narrator: However, a budding career and a new address
weren't the only changes on the horizon for Lexi. >> Hey, beautiful!
>> You talking to me? >> What's up? >> She told me that she was
just walking down the street close to where she and her sister lived at the time.
He pulled up beside her. >> Narrator: He was 25-year-old Immanuel Felton.
>> There was definitely a spark there. They had a great conversation
and you could see that it was going to lead to something else. >> She came back saying,
"I met this dude." >> So the relationship started from that point.
>> He seemed to really love her and she loved him, and she made that so clear.
She made it so clear how she felt about Immanuel. >> She said, "I have somebody
that loves me just as much as I love him." >> Narrator: Before long,
the couple was starting to think about taking the next step. >> Immanuel called me one
afternoon, and he laid out this plan of how he was going to ask Alexia to marry him.
Talked about the ring, the whole nine yards. >> Narrator: But the big
proposal never happened. >> She just kept saying, "Things just not fitting right."
She felt like this wasn't the right relationship. >> Alexia decided to break
things off with the intentions that they could remain friends. Immanuel agreed.
>> Narrator: After the breakup, Alexia threw herself back into her studies with no intention
of dating again so soon. But fate had other plans. >> Alexia, I had a friend
named Jayden that she'd known years before she even met Immanuel.
>> Around the time things that fizzled with Immanuel, Alexia and Jayden Young
had reconnected. >> He was smart. He was funny. He was the kind of guy that
everybody enjoyed being around. >> He was like Alexia in that he never met a stranger,
and they seemed to have a lot of fun making that. >> Narrator: And with Alexia
almost finished with school, some hoped there might still be a big engagement in her future.
>> He left a great impression on everyone. >> I was really taken by him.
I loved him as though he were the son that I never had. >> Narrator: But now, Alexia's
future hangs in the balance. >> [ Sobbing ] >> Her sister has just found
her unconscious and unresponsive inside of her apartment. ♪
[ Dialing, ringing ]
>> She was covered in blood. >> I remember Brittany telling me that she thought
maybe she had fell and hit her head. >> Narrator: But when EMTs
arrive on the scene, there's nothing they can do for Alexia.
>> Alexia was pronounced deceased at that time. >> Narrator: And it's quickly
clear that her death is no accident. >> First responders make
a shocking discovery. Alexia has been shot. >> She had sustained at least
two gunshot wounds. >> She had been murdered. >> No.
♪ [ Gunshot fires ] ♪
>> Narrator: 23-year-old
Alexia Mayfield was on the verge
of great things.
>> Alexia was looking forward
to graduating with her pharmacy
technician certification.
>> She also had a promising
new relationship with a guy
named Jayden Young.
>> The future appeared bright for Alexia. >> Narrator: But now, after
Alexia's sister found her collapsed on the floor inside their apartment, EMTs have just
pronounced her dead from at least two gunshot wounds. >> Her body was found face down,
so her sister could not tell that there were bullet wounds initially.
>> Never did she assume when she
first came in the house, like,
"Oh, my sister's dead."
>> Narrator: When detectives
arrive on the scene, they
immediately begin to process the
evidence.
>> We located to .380 caliber
shell casings in the bedroom
beside the victim.
>> There was no weapon at the scene, so that led the police to rule out suicide.
>> Narrator: But why had this young woman ended up dead? Given the area, detectives first
consider the possibility that this was a random crime. >> While the city is growing,
and that's great for the economy, an increase in population can also lead to an
increase in the crime rate. >> Crime was definitely on the rise.
Violent crime was on the rise. >> Narrator: And Alexia's neighborhood was no exception.
>> This could have been a robbery gone wrong. >> Narrator: However, a look
around the scene quickly rules out that theory. >> There were no signs of forced
entry and nothing was missing.
>> They found a tablet
and a set of keys
and Alexia's bedroom,
so it didn't look like
the killer had tried
to take anything.
>> Narrator: Instead, evidence at the crime scene suggests that whoever killed Alexia
wasn't an intruder. >> Detectives found a pizza box on the kitchen table, along with
two half-empty glasses. >> There was a empty bottle of bourbon.
>> Which let the police officers know that there was someone else who had been in the apartment
that evening, someone who Alexia knew. >> Narrator: Hoping that she
might know who that someone was, detectives turned to Alexia's sister, Brittany.
>> Brittany was waiting outside while the EMTs checked out her daughter.
Even though she appeared to be unharmed, they wanted to be sure before releasing her.
>> We know this is hard, but we really need your help if we're going to be able
to find out who did this. >> I'll try.
>> Brittany lost not only just
her sister, but also her best
friend.
>> Narrator: Detectives began by
asking Brittany when she had
last spoken to her sister.
>> I spoke to Alexia
a couple of times earlier
when I was at work.
>> We talked periodically
throughout the day.
I would call and check up on her and my babies, see what they were doing.
>> Hey, what's up, girl? >> Hey, Lexi. Did she eat yet? >> Yes, she had a good dinner.
She's in the Pack N' Play now getting sleepy. >> Lexi sound normal.
Sound happy. >> Narrator: But Brittany says that around 8:00, Alexia stopped
responding. >> Her phone just keep going straight to voicemail.
She kept saying, "That's not like her because she got my baby.
I don't know what's going on, but I'm kind of worry." And then she was like,
"Maybe I'm just worried for nothing." >> I thought maybe she was just
asleep. >> When she first went in the house, she was like,
"Girl, wake up." >> But Lexi wasn't asleep. >> No.
[ Sobbing ] >> That's when she came to reality.
Like, something else has happened. >> Narrator: Now it's up to
detectives to determine exactly what that was. >> We know this is very hard
for you, ma'am. Is it a possibility that your sister may have gotten mixed up
with some kind of trouble? >> No, she was never in the streets or anything like that.
>> It wasn't like it was... her past life situation caught up with her.
>> Narrator: Brittany also doesn't know for certain who could have come over that night.
>> Alexia didn't tell her she was expecting company. >> Narrator: However, Brittany
does give detectives one possibility. >> Alexia had recently started
dating a gentleman named Jayden. >> Were there any kind of problems between them that
you're aware of? >> No, sir.
>> He was very gentle with
Alexia.
He showed her nothing
but respect.
>> Are there any ex-boyfriends? We may need to talk to them. >> Well, there's Immanuel.
>> Brittany gave us some backstory of that relationship, that the victim had recently
broken up with Immanuel. >> Was there any bad blood between them?
>> I don't think so. I mean, they still hung out from time to time.
>> Immanuel seemed to be okay with the breakup, and they seemed to be on good terms.
>> As far as the relationship being rocky, I didn't feel like that's what it was at all.
>> Thank you very much. We'll be in touch. >> Narrator: Brittany's
statement doesn't give detectives much to go on, and neither does a canvass of
the neighbors in Brittany's building. >> We talked to a couple
of neighbors who earlier in the evening had heard a disturbance of some type
coming from the apartment. They weren't sure what it was, but they did not call police.
>> Narrator: But just when it looks like they're at a dead end, one of the building's
security guards approaches detectives with what appears to be an important tip.
>> That security officer approached and gave us a name. >> Narrator: He says that the
detective should check out a guy named Mark Briggs. >> He said that name came
from another resident that did not want to be identified. >> They wanted
to remain anonymous, so they didn't want to talk to the officers directly.
>> Narrator: And according to the security guard, the neighbor had a good reason
to remain anonymous. >> Apparently, Mark Briggs was a dangerous criminal.
♪
the crime scene has just come
forward and given detectives the
name of a possible suspect
in Alexia Mayfield's murder --
a man named Mark Briggs.
>> The guard said
that he had gotten the name
from a resident of the apartment
complex who had wanted
to remain anonymous.
>> They didn't want to give us
any information,
didn't want to talk to us,
but had provided that name
to the security officer.
>> According to the informant,
Mark Briggs was another resident
of the complex who apparently
had a thing for Alexia.
>> The informant had also suggested that Mark was dangerous.
>> Narrator: When detectives head back to the station and run Mark's name
through their database, it appears that there may be something to the tip.
>> It turned out that he had a fairly extensive criminal record.
>> Narrator: Most are petty theft and drug charges, but others raise red flags
for detectives.
>> Mark has several domestic
battery charges on his record.
>> There's also firearm violations. >> Narrator: When detectives
bring Mark into the station first thing the next morning, he appears distraught
about Alexia's death. >> We assume that you're aware that Alexia Mayfield
was murdered last night. >> Everybody's talking about it. Can't believe that she's really
gone. >> Yeah. We heard you had a thing for
her. >> I guess you could call it that.
>> He admits that they had become friends and that he wanted something a little bit
more than friendship with her. >> She was so pretty. She's also nice.
>> But you guys never...? >> Nah. >> Did you ask her out after
she broke up with Immanuel? >> Yeah. She was seeing some other guy.
>> He realized that Alexia just wasn't into him like that. He backed off,
and they remained friends. >> Narrator: But detectives wonder, how did Mark take
getting turned down a second time? >> So, did that make you feel
some type of way? Seeing her it with someone else? >> No, sir.
>> Mark says he was okay being friends. >> Narrator: Although,
detectives wonder if they were still friends. Maybe it was Mark who'd spent
the evening with Alexia shortly before her murder. >> Maybe he'd tried to make a
move and things got out of hand. >> When's the last time you saw Alexia?
>> Yesterday. >> He said they had met up earlier that afternoon
for coffee just to catch up. >> At any point yesterday when you were in her apartment?
>> No. Do y'all think I have something to do with this?
Listen, if y'all really want to know what happened to Alexia, you need to go question her new
guy, Jayden. >> Why is that? >> He says that Alexia
had been complaining about her relationship, that Jayden had become more
controlling and more jealous. >> Narrator: Jealous than enough that he'd followed her?
>> Maybe he was angry about Alexia hanging out with Mark and had confronted her about it.
>> Narrator: Or was it possible Mark was making the whole thing up?
>> He could just be trying to throw them off of his tracks. >> Narrator: However, when
police asked Mark where he was the previous night, he has an alibi ready.
>> Mark says that he went out to dinner with some friends and later on they went to a club.
>> Narrator: Detectives will need to follow up on Mark's alibi.
But first, they contact Alexia's new boyfriend, Jayden Young. >> They figure it's about time
to bring Jayden in for questioning too. >> Since he was involved
with Alexia at the time, they needed to rule him out. >> So, when did you find out
that Alexia had been killed? >> Last night. Her mother called me,
and I came straight over.
>> When Alexia was shot and
killed, I was over to the
apartment and Jayden walked in.
Jayden walked in... [ Sobbing ] ...and he -- he fell...
He fell to his knees, and he said, "Mama, I'm so sorry." He said, "Mama, I'm so, so, so
sorry." His sentiment...and his sincerity brought me so much
comfort. >> Narrator: But was it guilt or grief that evoked such a strong
response to Alexia is death? >> Do you know a guy named Mark Briggs?
>> Yeah. Yeah, he lives over there near Alexia.
>> You know she met her for coffee yesterday afternoon, right?
>> Yeah. She might have mentioned it. >> He never really sweated it
because her and Mark were just friends. >> He also claimed that things
weren't all that serious between him and Lexi. >> He said they had talked about
stepping it up eventually once Alexia got out of school, but they just weren't
really there yet. >> Alexia was a die-hard student.
She wanted to get her education. >> Y >> No, sir.
>> Where were you atast night? >> I was working. At least until Lexi's mother
called me. >> He said he was driving for a rideshare service.rator: s
follow up with the rideshare service, their records confirm Jayden's alibi.
>> It appears that he was busy downtown and on the opposite side of Charlotte all evening.
>> Narrator: But while Jayden's alibi checks out, when detectives speak to Mark's
friends, what they learn puts him back on the suspect list. >> It seems that he met up
with his friends for dinner around 6:30. They left the restaurant
around 8:30, and they didn't meet back up at the club until about 10:30,
so that gives about an hour and a half window where Mark could have committed the crime.
>> He was definitely a person of interest. ♪
falls apart, detectives consider
Alexia Mayfield's friend and
neighbor, Mark Briggs, a
possible suspect in her murder.
>> Not only did he have
a violent history, he admitted
that he had feelings for Alexia.
>> Maybe Mark had been pressing
for something more,
and maybe he got angry
when Alexia rejected him.
>> Since detectives couldn't
account for his location
for more than an hour around
the time of the murder,
he definitely could have had
the opportunity to kill her.
>> Narrator: But after detectives dig deeper, Mark's window of opportunity appears to
close. >> When detectives subpoena Mark's phone records for that
evening to see whether he was in the vicinity of Alexia's apartment, it shows that he was
pretty much in downtown Charlotte the entire night of the murder.
>> There was no indication that he had called or texted Alexia
at any point that evening asking to come over. >> It's not enough to rule
him out completely, but it does suggest that he wasn't Alexia's killer.
>> Narrator: However, a review of Alexia's phone records does reveal that she had been
in contact with someone else prior to her death. >> It seems as though
she received several text messages in the hours leading up to the murder.
>> Narrator: Detectives traced the number back to Alexia's former boyfriend,
Immanuel Felton.
>> He was going to be
bringing some items
over returning them to her.
One of those items being a tablet-style computer. Also some keys.
Those items were found in the apartment. >> Narrator: That's not the only
indication that Immanuel had come by, either. >> There was a text message
that said that he was here, and we took that to mean that he was at the apartment.
>> Narrator: When detectives run a background check on Immanuel, there's no history
of domestic violence. >> They don't find anything other than a couple of minor
possession charges. >> Narrator: However, they do find something that raises
a red flag. >> He had, in 2013, applied for a concealed handgun permit.
>> His application was denied, but the reason it was denied really raised some concerns.
>> He indicated that he had sought or received mental health treatment,
but he would not sign a HIPAA release in order to obtain mental health records.
>> Detectives needed to find out what kind of mental health issues Immanuel had been dealing
with and if they played any role in Alexia's death. >> Detectives are wondering
if he managed to get his hands on a gun despite his denial for a gun permit.
>> Nart question is why would Immanuel have wanted to harm Alexia?
Detectives learn more about the couple's relationship when they speak to her close
friend -- Constance Williams.
>> We was more like sisters.
She would confide in me.
>> Narrator: Constance tells detectives that Alexia had seemed happy with Immanuel...
at first. >> Lexi did love him. She introduced him
to the family. >> Narrator: However, Constance also says that as the
relationship progressed, friends and family saw less and less of Lexi.
>> She wasn't coming around as much. She would start taking a back
seat more like, "Oh, girl, I can't. Oh, maybe next time."
This wasn't the Lexi that I knew. So I kept saying and asking her,
like, "Lexi, are you okay?" >> Narrator: Constance says Lexi had eventually confessed
that things with Immanuel weren't going well. >> Alexia shared that Immanuel
was very controlling and jealous, and he did not want her hanging
out with any of her old friends. >> She would confide in me like, "Girl, I'm just aggravated.
I'm frustrated with this relationship," >> Narrator: But she also had
a hard time walking away. >> Alexia really loved Immanuel. >> Lexi kept saying she wanted
to get out this relationship. The next thing you know, she'll be like,
"Oh, well, we're back on good times, we're back together. Everything is okay."
>> Narrator: However, the relationship continued to spiral out of control.
>> Immanuel's behavior became increasingly irrational. >> He would become agitated.
Kind of irrational. >> I'm not cheating on you. >> Immanuel even accused
her of cheating on him, which Alexia vehemently denied. >> She felt like something
was wrong with him. She just couldn't get her hands on it.
She just kept saying he was kind of crazy. >> Narrator: According to
Constance, Alexia never uncovered anything about Immanuel's apparent struggles
with mental illness, but she did learn something disturbing. >> Alexia found out that
Immanuel had started using drugs. >> She was like,
"When he's not on it, he's so nice. He's so sweet.
But when he is on it, it was more of the bad than the good."
>> The substance abuse
definitely contributed
to his erratic behaviors
and controlling ways.
>> Narrator: Worst of all, Constance says that Immanuel's drug use made him violent.
>> She confided in me that he was being abusive, and I know of three instances
where he has physically abused her. >> Narrator: But after a year of
dating, Alexia finally had enough. >> Alexia really couldn't take
the emotional roller coaster anymore. >> She was like, "I'm finally
leaving him, girl." >> Narrator: Constance says that Immanuel appeared to take the
breakup surprisingly well. >> Basically, Immanuel was on his best behavior,
just like he was any time she had threatened to leave him in the past.
>> She was like, even though they were splitting, they were still going to be
on good terms. And I just think things is looking up for a better.
>> Narrator: Especially once Alexia reconnected with Jayden.
>> Lexi did not stay put,
she didn't just sit there,
and just wait for him
to come back around again.
She would go and do her own thing. >> Narrator: And now detectives
suspect that Lexi moving on was Immanuel's motive for murder. >> He was just basically
jealous. >> He chose to do the unthinkable.
>> It was as if "I can't have you, nobody else can." >> We're not together.
[ Gunshot fires ] ♪
to solve Alexia Mayfield's
murder have reason to suspect
the killer is her ex-boyfriend,
25-year-old Immanuel Felton.
>> It's obvious from the phone
records and text messages
that he had been
in communication with Alexia
that evening and possibly
was at the apartment.
[ Cellphone ringing ]
>> One of Alexia's friends
had also reached out
to detectives with information
about Immanuel's past abuse.
>> I've seen hands-on
physical abuse, emotional abuse.
She kept telling me, "Girl,
he's getting so controlling
too.
It's beyond bearable."
>> During a break up,
he had come to the apartment.
He returned items and something
that happened after that point.
He was the sole suspect. >> Narrator: But now that detectives have a prime suspect,
they have to find him. >> We began collecting information on Immanuel Felton.
Find out where he lives, his background information, where he might be.
>> Narrator: Next, detectives subpoena Immanuel's cellphone records, which reveal his
whereabouts on the night of the murder.
>> We obtained his cellphone
records showing that he was at
the scene when the incident
happened.
>> Narrator: Detectives have
less luck tracking down
Immanuel's current location.
>> It looked like he might have
turned his phone off
after the murder
because they weren't able to
track him anymore.
>> I took them a little while
to find Immanuel.
It took them a while.
>> Narrator: In the end, it's a relative that gives up Immanuel's location.
>> We get a phone call to 9-1-1 from a gentleman who says his cousin
has come to his apartment. He's very upset, and he thinks that he's wanted for a homicide
that had occurred. >> The man said that he was Immanuel Felton's cousin.
>> Narrator: Within minutes, police arrive at the cousin's address.
>> [ Indistinct ] Police! >> Given that Immanuel
was possibly armed and apparently in a fragile mental state, it wouldn't have
been hard for things to go wrong. >> Police are aware
that sometimes suspects set themselves up for a suicide-by-cop situation.
So law enforcement was concerned that that might be what was happening here.
>> Narrator: But when they find Immanuel huddled on the floor, it's obvious he's not looking
for a fight. >> He's sitting on the apartment floor back against the wall,
knees up, kind of head down in his hands. He was very upset.
Kind of spaced out. >> Hey, Immanuel. >> I just sit down, start having
a conversation with him and asked him whether he says he will come
to the Law Enforcement Center and let us conduct an interview. >> Immanuel gave up
without any resistance. He went along peacefully. >> Narrator: Immanuel remains
cooperative once down at the station and inside the interview room.
>> Part of the interview was just kind of getting a rapport with him, getting him talking.
We talked about a lot of things, his history, where he's from, things he wanted to do
with his life, and then began to talk to him more about having issues
with the victim, Alexia. >> Hey, I love that girl. She was never faithful.
>> He was obsessed with the fact that she was cheating on him. There's no evidence to say that,
but in his mind he thought she was cheating on him and he would confront her
about that and she would say, "Oh, you're crazy, I'm not doing anything."
His big thing was he didn't like being called crazy, and that would
essentially set him off. >> Narrator: Despite that, Immanuel claims that on the
night of the murder, he'd gone over to the apartment, hoping to patch things up
with Alexia once more. >> He wanted to bring the personal items that he kept
after they broke up. He said he also brought her several gifts to apologize
for how he had been behaving. >> Hey, I'm sorry I got so angry.
>> I appreciate that. >> They were having a good time, eating some pizza and drinking
a little bourbon. >> Narrator: But at some point, things took a deadly turn.
>> Most likely, Immanuel suggested they get back together, or he might have even
tried to make a move on Alexia. >> No, Immanuel. No. >> The conversation
became heated. He became angry. >> I felt like...he knew
that this time it was over. >> So what happened, Immanuel? >> I don't know!
>> His whole story was that he blacked out. He doesn't remember.
>> Are you serious? We're not together! >> What are you talking about?
>> [ Laughs ] ♪ [ Gunshot fires ]
♪
>> Narrator: Immanuel Felton has
surrendered to detectives
investigating the murder of his
ex, 23-year-old Alexia Mayfield.
>> Officers begin to question
him, and Immanuel admits that he
went over to Alexia's apartment
that night.
>> He was "dropping her clothes
off."
That's how he got access
to the apartment.
>> Narrator: However, Immanuel
claims not to know how Alexia
died.
>> His whole thing was that he
didn't remember what happened.
He had blacked out.
He wasn't sure he had done anything to anyone, that he had hurt anyone.
>> You don't remember shooting Alexia? >> I was messed up!
>> He was saying he didn't remember because we were hazed because of drugs.
>> Immanuel tells police that he had been on a seven-day drug binge prior to the murder.
>> You shot her, Immanuel, twice. >> She's dead because of you.
>> Oh, God! >> He breaks down crying, saying that he never meant to hurt her.
It's just that the drugs made him go crazy. >> He ultimately admitted
that he remembered firing one shot that struck Alexia and then left the apartment.
He said he woke up in a haze driving his car. He had a gun on him
and he threw it out the window. >> Narrator: Immanuel's confession is more than enough
for detectives to file charges, even if they don't believe much of it.
>> I believe he entirely knew what he was doing and what had happened.
At the close of the interview, he was charged with first degree murder.
>> Narrator: When friends and family learned of Immanuel's arrest, they agree with the
detectives' suspicion that Immanuel's blackout story is a lie.
>> There's no doubt in my mind Immanuel Felton came to the house that night
with the intentions on killing her because he normally doesn't carry a gun on him.
He got the gun from somebody. He was like, "If I can't have you,
can't nobody else have you."
>> Many women who try to flee
and leave in volatile
and violent situations
of domestic violence
end up dying.
The statistics are astounding. It's an astronomical amount of people.
>> Narrator: Still family and friends are glad Alexia's killer is in custody.
>> It was relief. We were grateful. We were happy. But we were still sad
at the same time. Just because he's arrested, that doesn't bring Lexi back.
>> I was relieved, but... I really wanted to go and talk to him so that I can understand
how this man who said he loved my daughter so much could do something so dastardly,
something so cowardly. How could he have done such a thing?
>> Only thing that I still want
to know is why.
Why?
>> Narrator: But in the end,
Alexia's family will never get
the answers they deserve.
>> With his trial approaching,
Immanuel's attorneys
approached prosecutors
about a possible plea deal.
>> Immanuel's attorney pushes the drug binge theory to argue for a more lenient sentence.
>> He was on a seven-day binge, from what they say, but I really think he'd said
that to make his story sound more sympathetic. >> Narrator: Before the trial is
set to begin, the defense and prosecutors make a deal. >> He ultimately took
a plea deal and pledged to second degree murder and was sentenced to 16 years
in prison. >> I thought, "16 years. Why?" And the lawyer had explained
because Immanuel was dealing from a diminished capacity because he'd spent so much time
doing drugs. If he had gone to court, if there was a trial,
there would have been a possibility that he could get less time.
And of course, nobody wanted that. >> Narrator: Not that everyone
finds the outcome satisfying. >> 16 years is not long enough. >> 16 years for the
cold-blooded murder of a young lady who had nothing but a bright future ahead of her
to me does not seem fair. I would have argued for a much longer sentence, a much
stricter, harsher sentence. >> Immanuel all but got away with murder.
>> Narrator: And he will eventually get a second chance at life that Alexia never will.
>> Immanuel Felton get to hear his family every day, get to talk to his family,
get to see his family. We don't get that from Lexi. >> I will never see my daughter
on this side. >> We will never get to hear Lexi voice in person.
We will never get their see Lexi face to face. That was robbed from us.
>> Narrator: But Alexia's mother has made it her mission to ensure that her daughter didn't
die in vain.
>> I've helped different
people coordinate
domestic violence conferences,
and I'm in the process
of doing that now.
And if I were to share one thing
concerning domestic violence,
concerning volatile
relationships, it was simply be
to say it's okay to love
somebody, but never love anybody
more than you love yourself.
Never do that.
♪
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com