1 00:00:05,567 --> 00:00:07,967 [David Sr. speaking] 2 00:00:09,967 --> 00:00:14,533 David Sr. always made a fuss over little David. 3 00:00:17,900 --> 00:00:20,266 Margaret loved him. 4 00:00:20,266 --> 00:00:22,467 She loved him a whole lot. 5 00:00:22,533 --> 00:00:24,634 -Whee! -Yay! 6 00:00:25,467 --> 00:00:27,266 [David Sr. speaking] 7 00:00:27,333 --> 00:00:28,967 I never really thought about it, 8 00:00:28,967 --> 00:00:31,867 but maybe everything he did was a big deal. 9 00:00:31,934 --> 00:00:33,867 [Margaret speaking] 10 00:00:33,867 --> 00:00:37,266 To look at his little face, this cute, 11 00:00:37,266 --> 00:00:40,266 innocent-looking face, 12 00:00:40,266 --> 00:00:43,734 we had no idea what's to come. 13 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:47,767 SAWYER: This is one of the worst cases, 14 00:00:47,767 --> 00:00:50,233 if not the worst case, I've had in my career. 15 00:00:52,767 --> 00:00:55,000 ELLEN: I just start screaming. 16 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:57,767 I didn't know the monster he really is. 17 00:00:57,767 --> 00:00:59,233 I had no idea. 18 00:01:02,100 --> 00:01:06,567 [theme music playing] 19 00:01:16,900 --> 00:01:20,767 NARRATOR: It's 1986 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 20 00:01:20,767 --> 00:01:24,734 [announcer speaking] 21 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:36,567 NARRATOR: The Shade family are putting on 22 00:01:36,634 --> 00:01:38,066 their annual dance recital. 23 00:01:40,100 --> 00:01:42,166 ANN: We all had a dance studio, 24 00:01:42,166 --> 00:01:44,767 and we had a big show every year. 25 00:01:44,767 --> 00:01:49,467 The four girls danced together, and then the one year, 26 00:01:49,467 --> 00:01:53,100 the four girls and my brother, Jeff, danced. 27 00:01:53,100 --> 00:01:55,667 So that one was really special. 28 00:01:55,667 --> 00:01:57,367 NARRATOR: Dancing on the far right is 29 00:01:57,367 --> 00:02:01,100 the youngest sister in the Shade family, Margaret. 30 00:02:01,100 --> 00:02:03,867 ANN: Margaret was a good tap dancer, 31 00:02:03,867 --> 00:02:06,667 ballet, and she was a wonderful teacher. 32 00:02:06,667 --> 00:02:09,967 She had taught lots and lots of little children, 33 00:02:10,033 --> 00:02:11,166 and they just loved her. 34 00:02:11,166 --> 00:02:14,367 She had a great personality for that. 35 00:02:14,433 --> 00:02:17,367 NARRATOR: 34-year-old Margaret isn't just a teacher. 36 00:02:17,367 --> 00:02:20,166 She's also a mother to 9-year-old Peggy 37 00:02:20,166 --> 00:02:21,767 and 12-year-old Ellen. 38 00:02:22,767 --> 00:02:27,066 My mom was, what I would consider, the perfect mom. 39 00:02:27,066 --> 00:02:31,166 She was caring and loving 40 00:02:31,166 --> 00:02:34,166 and -- just unconditional love. 41 00:02:34,166 --> 00:02:36,166 NARRATOR: Eight years earlier, Margaret split 42 00:02:36,233 --> 00:02:38,867 from the girls' father and remarried. 43 00:02:38,867 --> 00:02:43,266 David Sumney Sr. came into my life as a stepfather. 44 00:02:43,266 --> 00:02:45,266 He was a Harvard graduate. 45 00:02:45,266 --> 00:02:47,367 He was a periodontist. 46 00:02:47,367 --> 00:02:49,266 He had a very good practice. 47 00:02:49,266 --> 00:02:51,166 He was hard-working. 48 00:02:51,166 --> 00:02:52,567 He was a nice man. 49 00:02:52,567 --> 00:02:54,767 He always had 50 00:02:54,767 --> 00:03:00,467 the best suit, the best ring, watch. 51 00:03:00,467 --> 00:03:04,066 You knew it was really good quality. 52 00:03:04,133 --> 00:03:06,867 NARRATOR: On April 26th, 1989, 53 00:03:06,867 --> 00:03:09,266 Margaret gives birth to a baby boy. 54 00:03:09,333 --> 00:03:11,934 They call him David after his father. 55 00:03:12,900 --> 00:03:15,100 ANN: When he had 56 00:03:15,100 --> 00:03:18,667 baby David, he was like... 57 00:03:18,667 --> 00:03:21,367 crazy happy. 58 00:03:21,367 --> 00:03:25,166 I mean, really happy, and the girls took 59 00:03:25,166 --> 00:03:27,667 care of David like he was their own, 60 00:03:27,734 --> 00:03:30,567 carried him around, fussed over him. 61 00:03:30,634 --> 00:03:34,533 Everybody really made a fuss over little David. 62 00:03:37,467 --> 00:03:39,467 NARRATOR: It's June 1990, 63 00:03:39,467 --> 00:03:41,367 and Margaret is turning 38. 64 00:03:41,367 --> 00:03:43,867 The family celebrate with a pool party. 65 00:03:43,867 --> 00:03:47,066 Proud husband David Sr. is behind the camera. 66 00:03:49,100 --> 00:03:51,867 They had a nice-sized pool 67 00:03:51,867 --> 00:03:53,767 and a sliding board, 68 00:03:53,767 --> 00:03:55,467 and they had a little jacuzzi. 69 00:03:55,533 --> 00:03:57,467 Margaret would invite all of us. 70 00:03:57,467 --> 00:04:00,166 She'd say, "Just bring everybody out here. 71 00:04:00,166 --> 00:04:02,166 I'll get them whatever you need." 72 00:04:02,233 --> 00:04:03,967 Margaret was very giving. 73 00:04:03,967 --> 00:04:06,867 She was always dressed perfectly. 74 00:04:06,867 --> 00:04:08,266 Her hair was done. 75 00:04:08,266 --> 00:04:10,066 The makeup was done. 76 00:04:10,133 --> 00:04:15,033 She had the gorgeous clothes, and she was gorgeous also. 77 00:04:16,266 --> 00:04:18,767 NARRATOR: But it's not long until baby David 78 00:04:18,767 --> 00:04:19,934 steals the limelight. 79 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:24,166 [Margaret speaking] 80 00:04:25,467 --> 00:04:26,967 [David Sr. speaking] 81 00:04:27,033 --> 00:04:28,567 [Margaret speaking] 82 00:04:28,634 --> 00:04:30,367 That is David Sr. filming. 83 00:04:30,367 --> 00:04:32,066 My mom's telling David 84 00:04:32,066 --> 00:04:35,066 to dance, and David seems to be following 85 00:04:35,133 --> 00:04:37,834 the instructions -- Mom's... 86 00:04:39,066 --> 00:04:41,066 playing with David. 87 00:04:41,133 --> 00:04:43,967 But as much as that's a happy video, 88 00:04:44,033 --> 00:04:46,433 it's a sad video, because... 89 00:04:47,867 --> 00:04:49,333 to look at that little boy... 90 00:04:51,700 --> 00:04:54,066 and what he'd turn into, it -- it's sad. 91 00:04:59,266 --> 00:05:02,166 NARRATOR: A few weeks later, the Sumney family are back 92 00:05:02,233 --> 00:05:04,867 at the pool for the Fourth of July weekend. 93 00:05:04,867 --> 00:05:06,767 [David Sr. speaking] 94 00:05:06,767 --> 00:05:10,166 ANN: David Sr. always wanted 95 00:05:10,233 --> 00:05:12,867 younger David to be treated like a prince, 96 00:05:12,867 --> 00:05:17,066 to have everything he wanted, and he was spoiled. 97 00:05:17,133 --> 00:05:19,133 [David Sr. speaking] 98 00:05:25,266 --> 00:05:29,567 She always took him in the water, played with him, 99 00:05:29,567 --> 00:05:31,867 gave him a ride on the raft, 100 00:05:31,867 --> 00:05:34,066 had him jump off the side. 101 00:05:39,667 --> 00:05:41,166 [David Sr. speaking] 102 00:05:41,166 --> 00:05:43,066 She loved him. 103 00:05:43,133 --> 00:05:46,066 She loved him a whole lot. 104 00:05:46,066 --> 00:05:48,867 NARRATOR: Four days later, little David tries to slide 105 00:05:48,867 --> 00:05:51,066 for the first time with his big sisters, 106 00:05:51,066 --> 00:05:52,767 Peggy and Ellen, there to catch him. 107 00:05:52,834 --> 00:05:54,567 -Whee! -Yay! 108 00:05:54,567 --> 00:05:56,467 [David Sr. speaking] 109 00:05:56,533 --> 00:05:59,667 He was fussed over, because there was such 110 00:05:59,667 --> 00:06:03,266 an age gap that he was a big deal, 111 00:06:03,266 --> 00:06:08,000 just because there just wasn't a baby in so long. 112 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:08,867 DAVID SR.: Big boy. 113 00:06:08,867 --> 00:06:10,333 [all singing] 114 00:06:27,100 --> 00:06:30,000 It's my 17th birthday. 115 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:31,767 I guess they wanted David to sing 116 00:06:31,767 --> 00:06:33,867 happy birthday to me. 117 00:06:33,934 --> 00:06:35,967 [Margaret speaking] 118 00:06:36,033 --> 00:06:36,867 ELLEN: He doesn't. 119 00:06:36,867 --> 00:06:39,266 ANN: They always try to have him, uh, 120 00:06:39,266 --> 00:06:43,166 sing a little bit, do a little dance. 121 00:06:43,233 --> 00:06:44,467 ELLEN: When he was a toddler, 122 00:06:44,467 --> 00:06:46,166 he had the blonde hair, 123 00:06:46,166 --> 00:06:49,367 he had these blue eyes, 124 00:06:49,367 --> 00:06:52,467 he had a very sweet look on his face. 125 00:06:52,467 --> 00:06:54,767 [Margaret speaking] 126 00:06:58,100 --> 00:07:02,367 ELLEN: For some reason, eating an ice cream sandwich 127 00:07:02,367 --> 00:07:04,467 is a big deal. 128 00:07:04,467 --> 00:07:06,266 I never really thought about it, 129 00:07:06,333 --> 00:07:09,333 but maybe everything he did was a big deal. 130 00:07:14,266 --> 00:07:16,634 NARRATOR: Fast forward to 1995. 131 00:07:18,467 --> 00:07:21,000 Six-year-old David is sitting on Santa's knee, 132 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:23,967 and he knows exactly what he wants for Christmas. 133 00:07:31,667 --> 00:07:36,066 David listed probably everything that he wants 134 00:07:36,066 --> 00:07:38,467 or saw in a book 135 00:07:38,467 --> 00:07:42,166 and just figures if he says it all, he will get it all. 136 00:07:47,266 --> 00:07:49,100 ELLEN: I think David had already had 137 00:07:49,100 --> 00:07:53,166 a taste of the finer things in life 138 00:07:53,166 --> 00:07:56,767 and was demanding of what he wanted. 139 00:07:56,767 --> 00:07:58,000 NARRATOR: Later that evening, 140 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:01,734 David's dad films him giving Santa a tour of his bedroom. 141 00:08:04,166 --> 00:08:06,066 -[Santa speaking] -[David Sr. speaking] 142 00:08:06,066 --> 00:08:06,967 [Santa speaking] 143 00:08:07,066 --> 00:08:10,166 -[David Jr. speaking] -[David Sr. speaking] 144 00:08:10,166 --> 00:08:11,667 [Santa speaking] 145 00:08:11,734 --> 00:08:13,166 [David Sr. speaking] 146 00:08:13,233 --> 00:08:17,367 David Sr. is absolutely proud of 147 00:08:17,367 --> 00:08:21,166 his son and wants it told to 148 00:08:21,166 --> 00:08:24,000 the whole world that he's good at everything. 149 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:27,133 He just loves to brag about his little boy. 150 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:31,133 [Santa speaking] 151 00:08:34,100 --> 00:08:37,100 -[David Sr. speaking] -[Santa speaking] 152 00:08:37,100 --> 00:08:40,166 I don't believe that, 153 00:08:40,166 --> 00:08:41,967 that he was a purple belt. 154 00:08:41,967 --> 00:08:44,867 Must have bought it for him. 155 00:08:44,934 --> 00:08:47,367 NARRATOR: By the time David approaches second grade, 156 00:08:47,433 --> 00:08:50,066 he has worked out how to get anything he wants 157 00:08:50,133 --> 00:08:51,266 from his parents. 158 00:08:51,333 --> 00:08:54,166 ANN: He wanted money at a very young age. 159 00:08:54,166 --> 00:08:58,967 He expected it, expected money to do 160 00:08:58,967 --> 00:09:02,767 different things, to get into the car, to behave. 161 00:09:02,834 --> 00:09:05,266 You know, if you sit at the table nicely, 162 00:09:05,333 --> 00:09:08,266 then we'll give you some bucks or whatever. 163 00:09:08,266 --> 00:09:10,166 NARRATOR: But it's not long until little 164 00:09:10,233 --> 00:09:13,166 David's behavior takes a worrying turn. 165 00:09:13,166 --> 00:09:15,567 [children singing distantly] 166 00:09:15,634 --> 00:09:17,767 ELLEN: I was home from college. 167 00:09:17,834 --> 00:09:24,000 I heard my mom coming downstairs, screaming. 168 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:27,467 I ran down the stairs to see what was going on. 169 00:09:27,467 --> 00:09:29,767 My mom was beside herself. 170 00:09:29,767 --> 00:09:35,166 She was crying, and all I could hear was David killed a bird. 171 00:09:35,233 --> 00:09:37,767 He had killed a bird with his hands. 172 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:40,567 He didn't show any emotion. 173 00:09:41,667 --> 00:09:46,867 I remember looking at his face, and there wasn't any remorse. 174 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:01,066 NARRATOR: It's Valentine's Day, 1998, 175 00:10:01,133 --> 00:10:03,867 a very special day for the Sumney family. 176 00:10:03,867 --> 00:10:07,934 24-year-old Ellen is marrying her fiance, Jack. 177 00:10:09,867 --> 00:10:12,100 This is my wedding. 178 00:10:12,100 --> 00:10:14,567 My mom's carrying in my wedding dress. 179 00:10:14,634 --> 00:10:16,266 She looks very happy. 180 00:10:17,467 --> 00:10:18,767 NARRATOR: David Sr. 181 00:10:18,767 --> 00:10:21,967 and his eight-year-old son, David, make their way inside. 182 00:10:22,033 --> 00:10:24,166 Little David's one of the ushers, 183 00:10:24,166 --> 00:10:27,667 escorting Margaret down the aisle. 184 00:10:27,667 --> 00:10:30,166 She must have felt like the queen 185 00:10:30,233 --> 00:10:33,266 being escorted down the aisle by her son. 186 00:10:34,367 --> 00:10:36,767 We were all so excited, 187 00:10:36,767 --> 00:10:40,533 and my entire family was there. 188 00:10:51,867 --> 00:10:54,066 NARRATOR: But behind the happy veneer, 189 00:10:54,066 --> 00:10:57,166 the Sumneys' marriage is suffering. 190 00:10:57,166 --> 00:11:00,166 David Sr. and Margaret, 191 00:11:00,166 --> 00:11:03,567 they weren't communicating very well. 192 00:11:03,567 --> 00:11:09,367 He went to work, she did her dance studio, and, um... 193 00:11:09,433 --> 00:11:10,667 that's how it was. 194 00:11:10,734 --> 00:11:13,567 If you notice at the wedding, 195 00:11:13,567 --> 00:11:16,266 you see my mom come up, they're kind of separate. 196 00:11:16,266 --> 00:11:18,867 It just -- there was like this separate 197 00:11:18,867 --> 00:11:21,233 feeling going on in a lot of places. 198 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:25,767 Margaret and David Sr., 199 00:11:25,834 --> 00:11:30,066 they decided to split in 2001. 200 00:11:31,667 --> 00:11:35,000 Little David, in this divorce, 201 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:38,567 was pulled between the two of them, 202 00:11:38,567 --> 00:11:40,467 trying to keep his dad happy, 203 00:11:40,467 --> 00:11:42,834 trying to keep his mom happy. 204 00:11:43,667 --> 00:11:46,467 NARRATOR: The split devastates Margaret financially. 205 00:11:46,467 --> 00:11:49,333 She's forced to close her beloved dance studio. 206 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:54,166 Once the divorce happened, she took a full-time job 207 00:11:54,233 --> 00:11:57,567 at Sachs, because she needed the income. 208 00:11:58,700 --> 00:12:00,867 ANN: Young David would then really 209 00:12:00,934 --> 00:12:04,066 play them against each other, because... 210 00:12:04,133 --> 00:12:07,634 his dad could get him what he wanted. 211 00:12:10,667 --> 00:12:14,266 NARRATOR: In 2008, David focuses on his studies. 212 00:12:14,266 --> 00:12:16,867 He leaves Pennsylvania behind to study 213 00:12:16,867 --> 00:12:21,367 math at George Washington University in DC. 214 00:12:21,367 --> 00:12:24,567 ANN: Margaret had high hopes for David. 215 00:12:24,634 --> 00:12:29,467 She really wanted him to go far, be accomplished. 216 00:12:29,533 --> 00:12:33,767 David Sr. would pay for the college, and David 217 00:12:33,767 --> 00:12:38,133 and Margaret got him an apartment and paid for it. 218 00:12:44,367 --> 00:12:48,100 NARRATOR: In 2010, Margaret visits David in Washington. 219 00:12:48,100 --> 00:12:52,166 I get a phone call from my mom, and she said, 220 00:12:52,166 --> 00:12:55,266 "We were both in the hospital," and I said, 221 00:12:55,266 --> 00:12:57,000 "Oh my God, what happened?" 222 00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:58,767 She was crying. 223 00:12:58,767 --> 00:13:03,867 She said she looked up, they were in the hotel room, 224 00:13:03,867 --> 00:13:07,867 and David had a knife from the kitchenette, 225 00:13:07,867 --> 00:13:11,767 and he was slashing his arm with the knife. 226 00:13:13,867 --> 00:13:15,367 But then she goes on that 227 00:13:15,433 --> 00:13:19,000 she fell down and hit her head, that the hospital had to keep 228 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:21,433 them both far apart. 229 00:13:24,266 --> 00:13:27,767 And this isn't making any sense to me. 230 00:13:27,767 --> 00:13:30,367 I felt like she was covering something up. 231 00:13:31,967 --> 00:13:35,367 I think cutting himself was to 232 00:13:35,367 --> 00:13:38,367 make her feel sorry for him, because 233 00:13:38,367 --> 00:13:42,133 she somehow alluded to that he might be suicidal. 234 00:13:43,567 --> 00:13:45,667 I don't think he's ever been suicidal. 235 00:13:45,667 --> 00:13:48,233 I think that's a manipulation tool. 236 00:13:53,100 --> 00:13:54,867 NARRATOR: Despite David's erratic behavior, 237 00:13:54,867 --> 00:13:58,166 his parents continue to fund his college education 238 00:13:58,233 --> 00:14:01,533 until they find out he isn't attending classes. 239 00:14:02,900 --> 00:14:05,967 ELLEN: They weren't proud of him. 240 00:14:05,967 --> 00:14:09,100 They were starting to catch on 241 00:14:09,100 --> 00:14:11,333 that things just weren't going right. 242 00:14:13,166 --> 00:14:16,767 David eventually was kicked out of college, 243 00:14:16,834 --> 00:14:18,967 so he didn't have another choice but 244 00:14:18,967 --> 00:14:22,467 to move back with his parents in Pittsburgh. 245 00:14:22,467 --> 00:14:26,667 So he split his time between his mom and his dad. 246 00:14:26,667 --> 00:14:31,567 They were both financially drained, and David did not care. 247 00:14:31,567 --> 00:14:34,767 [speaks indistinctly] 248 00:14:34,834 --> 00:14:37,166 NARRATOR: Margaret hopes that 24-year-old David 249 00:14:37,166 --> 00:14:38,767 has finally found his way 250 00:14:38,767 --> 00:14:41,934 when he tells her that he's joined the Navy Seals. 251 00:14:43,300 --> 00:14:46,266 ANN: She was so proud of him, 252 00:14:46,266 --> 00:14:49,867 that he joined the Navy Seals, 253 00:14:49,934 --> 00:14:51,467 and he was, 254 00:14:51,467 --> 00:14:55,767 you know, top notch and all of this stuff. 255 00:14:55,767 --> 00:14:59,667 And of course, Margaret told me, and I was so happy for her. 256 00:15:01,100 --> 00:15:03,367 David did a lot of weights. 257 00:15:03,433 --> 00:15:06,367 I think it was -- look good, 258 00:15:06,367 --> 00:15:09,867 but needed to be strong, 259 00:15:09,867 --> 00:15:13,166 be in charge, power, 260 00:15:13,233 --> 00:15:16,166 you know, bigger than everybody. 261 00:15:16,233 --> 00:15:19,266 If he had the extra muscle and so on, 262 00:15:19,266 --> 00:15:23,100 he could take care of himself very well... 263 00:15:23,100 --> 00:15:24,467 and anybody else. 264 00:15:24,533 --> 00:15:28,000 [weights squeaking] 265 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:29,033 [David grunts] 266 00:15:32,467 --> 00:15:36,967 In 2015, my mom called me, 267 00:15:36,967 --> 00:15:40,567 and she was beside herself. 268 00:15:40,567 --> 00:15:42,567 She was so upset. 269 00:15:42,567 --> 00:15:44,867 She was crying. 270 00:15:44,934 --> 00:15:48,367 ANN: David was at his dad's house 271 00:15:48,367 --> 00:15:52,166 and beat his father so badly. 272 00:15:52,166 --> 00:15:57,166 There was so much yelling and fighting 273 00:15:57,166 --> 00:15:59,967 that the neighbor called the police. 274 00:16:00,100 --> 00:16:01,767 ELLEN: When the police came, 275 00:16:01,834 --> 00:16:05,266 I guess they forced the door open, and David was standing on 276 00:16:05,333 --> 00:16:08,567 top of his dad, all bloody. 277 00:16:08,634 --> 00:16:13,667 Um, and supposedly the argument, I think, was David 278 00:16:13,667 --> 00:16:17,066 wanted a vacation, and his dad wouldn't pay for it. 279 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:21,000 NARRATOR: David is arrested for assaulting his father. 280 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:26,000 ELLEN: His injuries were so horrific. 281 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:28,467 His brain bled. 282 00:16:28,467 --> 00:16:32,967 He had very bad groin injuries. 283 00:16:33,033 --> 00:16:36,166 He had spinal injuries. 284 00:16:36,233 --> 00:16:39,166 He could no longer live on his own. 285 00:16:40,700 --> 00:16:44,734 He was then transported to a nursing home. 286 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:48,266 NARRATOR: David is taken to Washington County jail 287 00:16:48,266 --> 00:16:50,266 but doesn't stay there for long. 288 00:16:50,333 --> 00:16:53,000 He calls a female friend in South Carolina 289 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:55,467 and asks her to post his bail. 290 00:16:55,467 --> 00:16:59,667 My mom was very scared after David assaulted his dad. 291 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:03,967 We had no idea what was to come. 292 00:17:05,700 --> 00:17:10,266 [phone ringing] 293 00:17:10,266 --> 00:17:12,767 Margaret had called 911 requesting the police to 294 00:17:12,767 --> 00:17:16,233 respond to her residence on Olde Orchard Drive. 295 00:17:17,100 --> 00:17:18,066 She had been assaulted, and there 296 00:17:18,066 --> 00:17:20,967 was a domestic taking place with David. 297 00:17:20,967 --> 00:17:24,000 NARRATOR: Officers respond to the scene and find Margaret 298 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:25,166 badly injured. 299 00:17:25,166 --> 00:17:29,867 She had bruised ribs and possibly broken ribs 300 00:17:29,934 --> 00:17:31,767 from the assault. 301 00:17:31,767 --> 00:17:35,100 David actually picked Margaret up out of bed, 302 00:17:35,100 --> 00:17:37,166 squeezed her, and said, 303 00:17:37,166 --> 00:17:39,667 "This is how the Navy Seals do it." 304 00:17:39,734 --> 00:17:41,867 NARRATOR: The house is searched, and David 305 00:17:41,934 --> 00:17:45,266 is found intoxicated in his bedroom. 306 00:17:45,266 --> 00:17:48,133 He was subsequently arrested for that assault. 307 00:17:50,166 --> 00:17:52,567 NARRATOR: David is initially charged with assault. 308 00:17:52,634 --> 00:17:56,967 But at Margaret's request, it is reduced to harassment. 309 00:17:56,967 --> 00:18:01,066 She had asked for some leniency for David, because 310 00:18:01,066 --> 00:18:06,367 she didn't want the full punishment for her son. 311 00:18:06,367 --> 00:18:09,066 I know she was being abused, 312 00:18:09,133 --> 00:18:10,767 but she didn't want to say it. 313 00:18:12,166 --> 00:18:14,567 And the only reason I know 314 00:18:14,567 --> 00:18:18,667 she didn't want to say it is because he was her son. 315 00:18:18,734 --> 00:18:21,166 She loved him unconditionally. 316 00:18:21,166 --> 00:18:24,166 And we found out at the hearing for this assault 317 00:18:24,166 --> 00:18:25,967 that David was not, 318 00:18:26,033 --> 00:18:31,266 in fact, a Navy Seal, that he was not ever in the military. 319 00:18:33,567 --> 00:18:36,266 It makes me wonder what other lies were there? 320 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:40,166 NARRATOR: After assaulting his mother, 321 00:18:40,166 --> 00:18:43,000 David is resentenced for his father's assault 322 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:46,867 and is sent to Washington County jail for 8 to 16 months. 323 00:18:46,867 --> 00:18:47,967 [door clangs shut] 324 00:18:47,967 --> 00:18:51,567 Margaret would be down there every visitor's day. 325 00:18:51,567 --> 00:18:54,266 ELLEN: I think she wanted him to change. 326 00:18:54,266 --> 00:18:56,767 I think she had faith in him. 327 00:18:56,834 --> 00:19:01,266 He went to the social worker, and he said that he was 328 00:19:01,266 --> 00:19:03,066 struggling with alcoholism, 329 00:19:03,066 --> 00:19:07,266 and the reason he assaulted his father and his mother was 330 00:19:07,333 --> 00:19:12,467 due to alcoholism, and the jail wasn't helping him. 331 00:19:12,467 --> 00:19:15,767 And she found a pilot program and sent him 332 00:19:15,834 --> 00:19:19,967 to Cove Forge Rehabilitation Center in Pennsylvania. 333 00:19:20,033 --> 00:19:21,100 NARRATOR: After rehab, 334 00:19:21,100 --> 00:19:24,567 David is released early and moves to a halfway house. 335 00:19:24,634 --> 00:19:27,166 The halfway house helped him get a job. 336 00:19:27,166 --> 00:19:30,967 I think it was a glass manufacturing company. 337 00:19:30,967 --> 00:19:34,533 My mom was very hopeful -- even I was hopeful. 338 00:19:36,700 --> 00:19:39,367 NARRATOR: But on August 2nd, 2018, 339 00:19:39,367 --> 00:19:42,333 David Sr. dies at the age of 74. 340 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:48,767 When David Sr. passed away in the nursing home, 341 00:19:48,834 --> 00:19:51,767 I thought he's now safe. 342 00:19:51,834 --> 00:19:53,367 He can go to heaven. 343 00:19:53,367 --> 00:19:57,367 David won't be able to beat him up any longer. 344 00:19:57,367 --> 00:19:58,667 ELLEN: His dad suffered. 345 00:19:58,667 --> 00:20:01,767 David just got away with it. 346 00:20:01,834 --> 00:20:05,533 In my opinion, David should be charged with his death. 347 00:20:17,100 --> 00:20:19,166 NARRATOR: Not long after the death of his father, 348 00:20:19,166 --> 00:20:22,166 David meets a woman on a dating app. 349 00:20:22,166 --> 00:20:24,433 She wishes to remain anonymous. 350 00:20:25,467 --> 00:20:28,667 [voice distorted] We started texting, uh, hit it off. 351 00:20:28,667 --> 00:20:34,166 Um, had our first quote unquote date or meet up, and he, 352 00:20:34,166 --> 00:20:37,567 despite being very cautious of his privacy, 353 00:20:37,567 --> 00:20:42,166 was a very standup gentleman, opened doors, 354 00:20:42,166 --> 00:20:43,266 said please, thank you, 355 00:20:43,266 --> 00:20:47,133 had nice manners, was attractive, well spoken. 356 00:20:59,367 --> 00:21:00,967 He seemed to... 357 00:21:02,066 --> 00:21:04,767 very much always have the right words. 358 00:21:04,767 --> 00:21:06,567 He seemed like he was in touch with 359 00:21:06,567 --> 00:21:10,734 his emotions, as well as having that masculine energy. 360 00:21:21,266 --> 00:21:23,166 EX-GIRLFRIEND: We were planning on going dancing that night 361 00:21:23,166 --> 00:21:26,367 at a local nightclub, and he was joking about 362 00:21:26,367 --> 00:21:27,867 how that there was someone next to him 363 00:21:27,867 --> 00:21:29,867 in the car before he said, 364 00:21:29,867 --> 00:21:31,533 "I really wish you were next to me." 365 00:21:34,500 --> 00:21:36,867 This video is a hard one for me to watch. 366 00:21:36,867 --> 00:21:40,367 This was the person that I really thought had some sort 367 00:21:40,367 --> 00:21:45,367 of goodness in him and was a family person 368 00:21:45,433 --> 00:21:50,166 and was potential future husband. 369 00:21:50,166 --> 00:21:53,367 I can't fathom that this person had 370 00:21:53,367 --> 00:21:55,066 the ability to do what he did. 371 00:22:17,467 --> 00:22:19,467 NARRATOR: A few months into their relationship, 372 00:22:19,467 --> 00:22:21,967 David struggles with a basketball injury 373 00:22:22,033 --> 00:22:23,634 that prevents him from training. 374 00:22:25,367 --> 00:22:28,367 [ex-girlfriend speaking] 375 00:22:28,367 --> 00:22:30,634 [laughing] 376 00:22:36,266 --> 00:22:39,567 EX-GIRLFRIEND: This was after his actual severe injury, 377 00:22:39,634 --> 00:22:43,667 his tendon tear playing basketball, and he was trying to 378 00:22:43,667 --> 00:22:48,967 get up the steps of a house, and I thought it was really cute 379 00:22:49,033 --> 00:22:54,867 because this huge, 6-foot-3 giant was really struggling 380 00:22:54,934 --> 00:22:59,667 with crutches -- in hindsight, at the end of this video, 381 00:22:59,667 --> 00:23:03,967 the way that he looks at me, and he goes, "Delete," 382 00:23:04,033 --> 00:23:05,667 that was a look that I that 383 00:23:05,734 --> 00:23:08,433 I would become familiar with in the future. 384 00:23:10,300 --> 00:23:12,467 NARRATOR: As David recuperates, he attempts to 385 00:23:12,467 --> 00:23:15,767 take charge of his mother's financial affairs. 386 00:23:15,834 --> 00:23:18,967 EX-GIRLFRIEND: He would speak about her like 387 00:23:19,033 --> 00:23:22,266 she was progressing quickly 388 00:23:22,333 --> 00:23:26,367 with either dementia or forgetfulness 389 00:23:26,367 --> 00:23:29,166 or just general aging, 390 00:23:29,233 --> 00:23:33,266 and I saw that he was trying to help, or he made 391 00:23:33,266 --> 00:23:35,467 the appearance of trying to help her. 392 00:23:35,467 --> 00:23:39,100 I distinctly remember him sitting at my table, 393 00:23:39,100 --> 00:23:43,066 signing a check with his mother's signature, 394 00:23:43,133 --> 00:23:45,667 and he got very upset with himself. 395 00:23:45,734 --> 00:23:47,467 And I said, "Why are you so upset?" 396 00:23:47,467 --> 00:23:50,000 And he said, "Well, I messed up this check," and I said, "Well, 397 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:52,266 can't you just rewrite it?" 398 00:23:52,266 --> 00:23:54,934 And he just made this huge deal out of it. 399 00:23:55,767 --> 00:23:59,467 If he was having issues with the fact that he needed to 400 00:23:59,467 --> 00:24:02,567 have access to her money, 401 00:24:02,634 --> 00:24:04,767 because she was forgetting things or she was not doing 402 00:24:04,767 --> 00:24:07,233 things right, I said, "You need to not do it illegally." 403 00:24:09,367 --> 00:24:11,266 NARRATOR: By February 2019, 404 00:24:11,266 --> 00:24:14,767 David's girlfriend experiences his extremely controlling 405 00:24:14,767 --> 00:24:16,967 behavior firsthand. 406 00:24:17,033 --> 00:24:20,467 EX-GIRLFRIEND: He became more demanding and aggressive. 407 00:24:20,533 --> 00:24:22,767 He, you know, he would call me and say, "I need this, 408 00:24:22,767 --> 00:24:25,367 "and I need it now, and you need to get it for me now. 409 00:24:25,433 --> 00:24:26,767 You need to do this." 410 00:24:26,834 --> 00:24:30,767 There was a time when he flew home from Florida, 411 00:24:30,767 --> 00:24:33,166 and I don't know if he didn't buy his return ticket 412 00:24:33,166 --> 00:24:37,367 or if he didn't -- missed his flight or something 413 00:24:37,367 --> 00:24:38,867 happened to his ticket, and he kept saying to me, 414 00:24:38,867 --> 00:24:40,367 "You need to get me home. 415 00:24:40,433 --> 00:24:43,567 You need to buy my ticket," and then the commands 416 00:24:43,567 --> 00:24:47,066 and the demands did become a little bit more aggressive. 417 00:24:47,133 --> 00:24:51,266 He wanted all of my attention and was 418 00:24:51,266 --> 00:24:54,367 very commanding in the way that he got it. 419 00:24:54,433 --> 00:24:57,266 NARRATOR: David's girlfriend decides to end things, 420 00:24:57,333 --> 00:24:59,767 but he continues to contact her. 421 00:24:59,767 --> 00:25:02,367 It was early to mid-May, 422 00:25:02,433 --> 00:25:06,000 and, um, David reached out to me, 423 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:08,166 and I thought to myself, okay, well, 424 00:25:08,233 --> 00:25:10,467 if we start a relationship, it will be 425 00:25:10,467 --> 00:25:12,667 purely a platonic friendship again. 426 00:25:12,667 --> 00:25:13,767 And that's kind of what happened. 427 00:25:13,834 --> 00:25:15,166 He seemed calmer. 428 00:25:15,233 --> 00:25:17,867 He had told me he had been doing yoga. 429 00:25:17,934 --> 00:25:20,767 He seemed to be in a better mental health space. 430 00:25:20,767 --> 00:25:24,567 And that is what allowed me to open back up 431 00:25:24,567 --> 00:25:26,166 as a friend to him. 432 00:25:26,166 --> 00:25:27,767 It was like a complete overhaul. 433 00:25:27,767 --> 00:25:29,367 It was similar to the David that 434 00:25:29,367 --> 00:25:31,767 I had met when I first met David. 435 00:25:39,166 --> 00:25:41,767 NARRATOR: On Sunday, September 1st, 436 00:25:41,767 --> 00:25:44,333 the family receives some tragic news. 437 00:25:45,667 --> 00:25:50,166 My brother, John, had passed away, and we were trying to 438 00:25:50,166 --> 00:25:55,567 get a hold of Margaret to tell her that Johnny had died. 439 00:25:55,567 --> 00:25:57,433 There is no answer. 440 00:25:59,066 --> 00:26:01,967 I called again and again, then I called 441 00:26:01,967 --> 00:26:05,166 Margaret's daughter, and I said, 442 00:26:05,233 --> 00:26:06,166 "I don't know what to do. 443 00:26:06,166 --> 00:26:09,567 I can't get Margaret on the phone." 444 00:26:09,634 --> 00:26:11,667 I tried calling. She didn't answer. 445 00:26:11,667 --> 00:26:14,767 I happened to call David, and it's early. 446 00:26:14,767 --> 00:26:16,533 It was, like, 8:30 in the morning. 447 00:26:17,567 --> 00:26:19,767 He said he's in her house. 448 00:26:19,834 --> 00:26:21,467 And I thought, well, that's odd at 8:30 in 449 00:26:21,467 --> 00:26:23,867 the morning -- why is he there? 450 00:26:23,934 --> 00:26:27,266 So I asked him, I said, "Why are you in her house?" 451 00:26:27,266 --> 00:26:29,867 And he said something like he stopped by, 452 00:26:29,934 --> 00:26:32,867 and I said, "Oh, okay, well put her on the phone." 453 00:26:32,934 --> 00:26:36,467 He said, "She's sleeping," but it's still early. 454 00:26:36,467 --> 00:26:40,967 So I said, "Okay, well, when she's up, 455 00:26:41,033 --> 00:26:43,867 could you have her call me?" So... 456 00:26:43,867 --> 00:26:47,066 This goes on 9:00-- 9, 10, 11. 457 00:26:47,066 --> 00:26:48,867 And then I -- I call back, 458 00:26:48,934 --> 00:26:50,767 and I said, "If she's still sleeping, 459 00:26:50,767 --> 00:26:53,467 "maybe she needs to go to a hospital or something, 460 00:26:53,467 --> 00:26:56,333 because nobody sleeps this long." 461 00:26:58,300 --> 00:27:00,133 And then he hangs up again. 462 00:27:05,367 --> 00:27:08,166 On September 2nd, 2019, 463 00:27:08,233 --> 00:27:09,367 the South Fayette Police Department 464 00:27:09,433 --> 00:27:11,867 responded at 10:57 a.m. 465 00:27:11,867 --> 00:27:14,867 to the residence of Margaret Sumney for 466 00:27:14,867 --> 00:27:18,867 a welfare check that was called in by her daughter. 467 00:27:18,934 --> 00:27:22,066 I was very unsure what we were walking into. 468 00:27:22,066 --> 00:27:24,867 We didn't know if David was there. 469 00:27:24,934 --> 00:27:27,667 Relatives informed the officers that Margaret 470 00:27:27,667 --> 00:27:30,467 did own a .38-caliber revolver. 471 00:27:30,533 --> 00:27:32,000 So not knowing if he was there, 472 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:33,266 knowing that he could be armed, 473 00:27:33,333 --> 00:27:36,266 not knowing if we were going to be ambushed, 474 00:27:36,266 --> 00:27:39,166 that was definitely a -- -[pounding noises] 475 00:27:39,166 --> 00:27:42,433 that was, like, a difficult entry to make. 476 00:27:44,367 --> 00:27:46,967 Sergeant Wessick and Officer Blocker, 477 00:27:47,033 --> 00:27:51,166 they cleared the kitchen and the living room area 478 00:27:51,166 --> 00:27:52,967 of the home -- Margaret wasn't there, 479 00:27:53,033 --> 00:27:54,066 and David wasn't there. 480 00:27:54,066 --> 00:27:56,433 I was the first person to go up the stairs. 481 00:27:59,700 --> 00:28:02,567 The lights were off in the bathroom. 482 00:28:02,567 --> 00:28:04,133 Margaret was in the tub. 483 00:28:06,100 --> 00:28:09,467 It was unlike anything I had ever seen before. 484 00:28:09,467 --> 00:28:12,066 She was obviously deceased. 485 00:28:26,300 --> 00:28:28,367 SAWYER: Margaret Sumney's body was taken to 486 00:28:28,367 --> 00:28:31,000 the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office. 487 00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:34,767 They performed an autopsy, and the cause of death was 488 00:28:34,767 --> 00:28:36,767 determined to be blunt force trauma 489 00:28:36,767 --> 00:28:39,567 to the head and neck and the manner of death 490 00:28:39,634 --> 00:28:40,667 was ruled homicide. 491 00:28:47,166 --> 00:28:50,133 I wake up at six o'clock in the morning, 492 00:28:51,400 --> 00:28:53,667 and there's this text from my sister, 493 00:28:53,667 --> 00:28:57,266 like, "Sorry to tell you this on text, 494 00:28:57,266 --> 00:28:59,033 but mom passed away." 495 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:03,667 I just start screaming. 496 00:29:09,567 --> 00:29:11,967 [voice breaking] It's so awful -- 497 00:29:11,967 --> 00:29:14,066 so awful. 498 00:29:15,266 --> 00:29:18,066 [normally] I get a hold of my sister, and... 499 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:21,467 I said, "Have you told David?" 500 00:29:21,533 --> 00:29:23,367 And she said, "No." 501 00:29:24,266 --> 00:29:27,066 And I said, "Okay, I will get a hold of David." 502 00:29:27,066 --> 00:29:28,767 [phone ringing] 503 00:29:28,767 --> 00:29:30,100 The first thing out of his mouth 504 00:29:30,100 --> 00:29:32,767 he said is, "I can't go through this 505 00:29:32,767 --> 00:29:36,934 a year later, another death." 506 00:29:37,900 --> 00:29:39,834 I said, David, "What are you talking about?" 507 00:29:40,667 --> 00:29:41,967 He said, "Mom." 508 00:29:43,667 --> 00:29:45,033 I said, "What about her?" 509 00:29:46,166 --> 00:29:48,266 He said, "Her death." 510 00:29:49,700 --> 00:29:53,066 I said, "Who told you she died?" 511 00:29:54,567 --> 00:29:57,433 I didn't tell David she died. 512 00:29:58,867 --> 00:30:00,367 From that moment on, 513 00:30:01,467 --> 00:30:04,166 I knew...it was him. 514 00:30:05,367 --> 00:30:07,767 He did it. He killed her. 515 00:30:14,500 --> 00:30:16,867 SAWYER: I accompanied one of the detectives in 516 00:30:16,867 --> 00:30:19,767 going through the residence, looking for evidence. 517 00:30:19,834 --> 00:30:23,100 There was towels with blood on them. 518 00:30:23,100 --> 00:30:25,367 There was blood up and down the stairs. 519 00:30:25,367 --> 00:30:28,166 There was blood in the carpet on the top of the stairs, 520 00:30:28,166 --> 00:30:31,667 like on the landing -- there was more blood in 521 00:30:31,734 --> 00:30:35,166 the house than I personally have seen on a crime scene. 522 00:30:35,166 --> 00:30:38,367 I realized the horrific nature 523 00:30:38,433 --> 00:30:41,066 of what had happened to Margaret. 524 00:30:41,133 --> 00:30:43,467 We located a handsaw 525 00:30:43,467 --> 00:30:45,967 directly outside of the bathroom. 526 00:30:46,033 --> 00:30:49,367 We did believe that there was some intent 527 00:30:49,367 --> 00:30:52,066 on possibly dismembering her 528 00:30:52,066 --> 00:30:55,433 to dispose of Margaret in some way. 529 00:30:56,266 --> 00:30:58,767 There was an empty ammunition box found. 530 00:30:58,767 --> 00:31:02,066 The revolver she had was not found in her house 531 00:31:02,133 --> 00:31:04,166 at the time of the murder. 532 00:31:04,233 --> 00:31:07,166 ELLEN: I had told the police that I had talked to David, 533 00:31:07,166 --> 00:31:10,166 and he told me he was in her house. 534 00:31:10,233 --> 00:31:13,000 So he already had placed himself there. 535 00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:15,667 When we realized that David was a possible suspect 536 00:31:15,667 --> 00:31:18,567 in possession, possibly, of Margaret's gun, 537 00:31:18,634 --> 00:31:21,166 we put out a BOLO for all the local law enforcement 538 00:31:21,233 --> 00:31:23,367 that David was wanted to be questioned 539 00:31:23,433 --> 00:31:24,867 in the death of his mother. 540 00:31:31,100 --> 00:31:33,567 The police didn't know where he was, and that -- 541 00:31:33,567 --> 00:31:36,967 that was scary, because I know what David's 542 00:31:37,033 --> 00:31:39,066 capable of at this point. 543 00:31:39,066 --> 00:31:41,467 They had no idea where he was, and I was 544 00:31:41,467 --> 00:31:43,734 the only one that had contact with David. 545 00:31:44,667 --> 00:31:48,166 NARRATOR: Ellen helps the police to try to locate her brother. 546 00:31:48,233 --> 00:31:50,000 ELLEN: I would call David, but he would 547 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:53,934 keep his conversations to me very limited... 548 00:31:55,200 --> 00:31:56,467 I think on purpose, 549 00:31:56,533 --> 00:31:59,467 and I told him 550 00:31:59,533 --> 00:32:04,867 that he should really go to our Uncle Johnny's funeral, 551 00:32:04,934 --> 00:32:09,467 that Uncle Johnny loved him, and that he needed to go. 552 00:32:09,467 --> 00:32:12,567 NARRATOR: Investigators stake out the funeral. 553 00:32:12,567 --> 00:32:14,166 He said, "Ellen, is there anything 554 00:32:14,166 --> 00:32:15,367 I should be worried about?" 555 00:32:17,066 --> 00:32:20,000 I felt like I was going to throw up, 556 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:21,367 and I said, "What would you be worried about? 557 00:32:21,367 --> 00:32:23,266 Like, I'm on your side." 558 00:32:23,266 --> 00:32:26,634 And then the police, they got him from there. 559 00:32:28,367 --> 00:32:31,266 SAWYER: The homicide detectives worked in conjunction 560 00:32:31,266 --> 00:32:33,266 with other local law enforcement officers 561 00:32:33,266 --> 00:32:39,166 to detain David as he was leaving the funeral. 562 00:32:40,700 --> 00:32:41,667 NARRATOR: At the station, 563 00:32:41,667 --> 00:32:44,166 David is searched, and detectives find 564 00:32:44,233 --> 00:32:45,166 a gold necklace, 565 00:32:45,166 --> 00:32:48,000 a silver bracelet, and three blank checks 566 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:49,367 belonging to his mom. 567 00:32:51,467 --> 00:32:55,433 At that point, he was detained for theft by unlawful taking. 568 00:32:56,400 --> 00:32:58,467 NARRATOR: Detectives also find a key card 569 00:32:58,533 --> 00:33:01,333 for a local hotel, Hotel Indigo. 570 00:33:02,900 --> 00:33:05,166 They execute a search warrant. 571 00:33:05,233 --> 00:33:08,767 What was taken from David Sumney's hotel room when 572 00:33:08,767 --> 00:33:11,767 the search warrant was executed was several of 573 00:33:11,767 --> 00:33:14,100 Margaret's designer handbags, 574 00:33:14,100 --> 00:33:18,967 Margaret's .38 revolver, several .38 cartridges, 575 00:33:19,033 --> 00:33:21,100 various pieces of jewelry, 576 00:33:21,100 --> 00:33:23,266 bank cards, credit cards, belonging to 577 00:33:23,333 --> 00:33:25,967 Margaret, and also an expired passport 578 00:33:25,967 --> 00:33:27,066 that was Margaret's. 579 00:33:27,133 --> 00:33:31,266 SAWYER: David always wanted more from Margaret. 580 00:33:31,266 --> 00:33:33,166 He took both the jewelry and the checks 581 00:33:33,166 --> 00:33:35,667 and the debit cards because he wanted to 582 00:33:35,734 --> 00:33:37,367 have access to her bank account, 583 00:33:37,433 --> 00:33:38,867 and if she didn't have anything, 584 00:33:38,867 --> 00:33:42,667 he would presumably sell or pawn the items of jewelry 585 00:33:42,734 --> 00:33:44,000 that he had taken. 586 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:46,867 Everything at that point pointed towards David 587 00:33:46,867 --> 00:33:49,734 being the prime suspect. 588 00:34:00,467 --> 00:34:02,100 NARRATOR: Back at the police department, 589 00:34:02,100 --> 00:34:04,066 detectives interrogate David. 590 00:34:05,667 --> 00:34:08,467 SAWYER: When he was questioned about his mother's death, 591 00:34:08,467 --> 00:34:11,767 David did not confess. 592 00:34:11,767 --> 00:34:17,166 The detectives felt that he felt he was smarter than them. 593 00:34:18,100 --> 00:34:22,000 He never made any statements about what happened. 594 00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:24,467 NARRATOR: David refuses to talk to police, 595 00:34:24,467 --> 00:34:27,533 but later that evening, he calls Ellen from jail. 596 00:34:28,467 --> 00:34:30,367 ELLEN: He said, "Ellen, Ellen, 597 00:34:30,367 --> 00:34:33,467 I'm in the homicide department," 598 00:34:33,467 --> 00:34:36,867 and I said, "David, I really hope you didn't 599 00:34:36,867 --> 00:34:38,667 "have anything to do with killing her. 600 00:34:38,734 --> 00:34:40,100 "She loved you. 601 00:34:40,100 --> 00:34:42,667 You were her favorite child." 602 00:34:42,667 --> 00:34:44,767 He was her everything. 603 00:34:44,767 --> 00:34:46,867 He cried, and I said, 604 00:34:46,867 --> 00:34:49,767 "You're crying because you're caught. 605 00:34:50,667 --> 00:34:53,166 You're not crying because you care." 606 00:35:00,600 --> 00:35:02,467 NARRATOR: David remains tight-lipped about 607 00:35:02,533 --> 00:35:04,667 his involvement in his mother's murder, 608 00:35:04,667 --> 00:35:06,967 so detectives conduct a forensic search 609 00:35:07,033 --> 00:35:08,233 of his cellphone. 610 00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:12,767 SAWYER: A skilled technician pulls all data, 611 00:35:12,767 --> 00:35:15,967 even data that has been erased off of the phone. 612 00:35:16,867 --> 00:35:19,000 The photos that were located spanned 613 00:35:19,000 --> 00:35:23,667 from August 30th to September 2nd. 614 00:35:23,667 --> 00:35:27,667 There was 277 pictures that were 615 00:35:27,667 --> 00:35:30,567 then entered as evidence, ranging from 616 00:35:30,634 --> 00:35:35,000 Margaret sitting on her couch holding a bloody rag 617 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:36,100 on her head. 618 00:35:36,100 --> 00:35:38,166 There was a picture of Margaret laying 619 00:35:38,233 --> 00:35:41,133 on the floor in a bloody state. 620 00:35:42,467 --> 00:35:46,567 He had put her in one of the beds, 621 00:35:46,634 --> 00:35:48,166 and he moved her around and posed her 622 00:35:48,166 --> 00:35:49,834 in different ways and took pictures. 623 00:35:51,300 --> 00:35:53,867 There was a selfie-style picture of 624 00:35:53,867 --> 00:35:56,567 David with blood splatter on his face. 625 00:35:57,867 --> 00:36:00,967 I can't even imagine what reason he would have to take 626 00:36:01,033 --> 00:36:03,166 those other than some sort of sick, 627 00:36:03,166 --> 00:36:06,567 twisted fantasy or something in his head. 628 00:36:06,634 --> 00:36:08,867 JOHN: There were Google searches on 629 00:36:08,934 --> 00:36:10,767 how to clean up a crime scene, 630 00:36:10,834 --> 00:36:15,066 how long it takes for a body to begin to smell, 631 00:36:15,066 --> 00:36:17,467 different Google searches along these lines, 632 00:36:17,533 --> 00:36:21,367 which is an indication that he was looking to hide 633 00:36:21,367 --> 00:36:22,867 what he had done to his mother. 634 00:36:29,600 --> 00:36:31,567 NARRATOR: David is charged with six counts of 635 00:36:31,567 --> 00:36:34,367 theft by unlawful taking, one count of robbery, 636 00:36:34,367 --> 00:36:35,567 one count of abuse of 637 00:36:35,634 --> 00:36:38,333 a corpse, and one count of criminal homicide. 638 00:36:39,266 --> 00:36:41,867 He is taken to a psychiatric hospital, where 639 00:36:41,867 --> 00:36:44,934 doctors declare him legally sane to stand trial. 640 00:36:46,100 --> 00:36:49,166 The photos he took help investigators establish 641 00:36:49,166 --> 00:36:53,033 a theory about what happened in Margaret's home on August 30th. 642 00:36:54,667 --> 00:36:57,967 I believe that David tortured his mother, 643 00:36:57,967 --> 00:37:00,467 and the images show that. 644 00:37:00,533 --> 00:37:03,667 She either rejected his request for more money 645 00:37:03,734 --> 00:37:05,667 or demands for more money, 646 00:37:05,667 --> 00:37:08,266 or she had no more to give, 647 00:37:08,266 --> 00:37:10,767 and that enraged him. 648 00:37:12,100 --> 00:37:15,066 SAWYER: If you've seen pictures of David and Margaret together, 649 00:37:15,133 --> 00:37:16,767 he towers over her. 650 00:37:16,834 --> 00:37:20,867 He was an athletic younger man, 651 00:37:20,934 --> 00:37:24,467 and he used his physical strength 652 00:37:24,533 --> 00:37:27,834 over her to beat her with his bare hands. 653 00:37:30,100 --> 00:37:32,166 It was a very brutal assault 654 00:37:32,166 --> 00:37:33,767 and one of the worst cases, 655 00:37:33,767 --> 00:37:36,634 if not the worst case, I've had so far in my career. 656 00:37:46,567 --> 00:37:51,367 Margaret gave David all that she could, 657 00:37:51,367 --> 00:37:53,867 everything that she could. 658 00:37:53,867 --> 00:37:59,266 And when there was no more, then he beat her to death. 659 00:37:59,333 --> 00:38:03,467 ELLEN: How much did she hurt or how much did she feel? 660 00:38:04,367 --> 00:38:06,567 I don't know how much my mom suffered. 661 00:38:08,300 --> 00:38:10,533 I don't know, and I think about that a lot. 662 00:38:13,367 --> 00:38:15,166 [crying] 663 00:38:22,567 --> 00:38:26,467 NARRATOR: In August 2022, David strikes a plea deal. 664 00:38:26,467 --> 00:38:30,867 SAWYER: David pled guilty to third-degree homicide, 665 00:38:30,867 --> 00:38:34,667 and all of the other charges were dismissed. 666 00:38:34,667 --> 00:38:37,567 So the counts of theft by unlawful taking, 667 00:38:37,567 --> 00:38:42,333 the robbery, and the abuse of a corpse were all dismissed. 668 00:38:43,600 --> 00:38:47,000 His total sentence was a minimum of 20 years with 669 00:38:47,000 --> 00:38:48,867 a maximum of 40 years, 670 00:38:48,934 --> 00:38:51,567 and he had already served three years of time 671 00:38:51,567 --> 00:38:52,867 during the process. 672 00:38:52,867 --> 00:38:57,100 So he could essentially be out in as little as 17 years. 673 00:38:57,100 --> 00:38:59,266 NARRATOR: Family members believe that 674 00:38:59,333 --> 00:39:01,967 the way Margaret was killed, plus David's actions 675 00:39:01,967 --> 00:39:05,367 in the aftermath, merited a first-degree murder charge. 676 00:39:05,433 --> 00:39:08,000 I think he wanted to see her suffer. 677 00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:10,166 He wanted to torture her. 678 00:39:10,233 --> 00:39:13,767 If he wanted her just dead, he would have used that gun. 679 00:39:13,767 --> 00:39:16,767 Why would we ever be giving somebody 680 00:39:16,767 --> 00:39:20,734 that obviously enjoys murdering somebody a deal? 681 00:39:22,567 --> 00:39:24,166 NARRATOR: After repeated requests from 682 00:39:24,233 --> 00:39:26,767 the family to overturn David's plea deal, 683 00:39:26,834 --> 00:39:28,767 the judge upholds his decision. 684 00:39:33,066 --> 00:39:35,667 SAWYER: I personally don't believe that the plea deal 685 00:39:35,667 --> 00:39:38,634 does any justice for Margaret or for the family. 686 00:39:39,567 --> 00:39:42,433 I don't believe that the... 687 00:39:43,567 --> 00:39:46,567 deal matches the crime that was committed. 688 00:39:47,667 --> 00:39:51,567 ANN: I'm just still really angry 689 00:39:51,634 --> 00:39:53,867 that he could get away with it like this. 690 00:39:53,867 --> 00:39:58,467 I don't care if he's in jail, but it's only 17 years. 691 00:39:58,533 --> 00:40:00,567 ELLEN: I don't have words for this. 692 00:40:00,567 --> 00:40:04,033 I don't want him ever, ever to be out. 693 00:40:07,266 --> 00:40:09,166 Come on. [indistinct] 694 00:40:09,166 --> 00:40:11,734 ELLEN: I not only lost my mom, 695 00:40:12,967 --> 00:40:15,734 I lost him. I lost... 696 00:40:17,100 --> 00:40:18,567 I lost the person 697 00:40:18,567 --> 00:40:21,467 I thought he was, because I didn't know 698 00:40:21,467 --> 00:40:23,066 the monster he really is. 699 00:40:24,567 --> 00:40:26,467 I had no idea. 700 00:40:26,467 --> 00:40:29,967 I was so manipulated. 701 00:40:30,033 --> 00:40:33,467 Margaret's, um, always gonna be in our hearts. 702 00:40:33,467 --> 00:40:35,867 She was a good, uh... 703 00:40:35,867 --> 00:40:37,533 good person. 704 00:40:39,367 --> 00:40:43,100 I would like my mom to be remembered as 705 00:40:43,100 --> 00:40:45,166 kind, caring, 706 00:40:45,166 --> 00:40:47,433 loving... 707 00:40:50,066 --> 00:40:51,533 and she was so giving. 708 00:40:57,567 --> 00:40:59,734 [voice breaking] And I just -- I just miss her. 709 00:41:11,100 --> 00:41:12,934 Narrator: This season on American Monster... 710 00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:23,166 ♪ 711 00:41:23,233 --> 00:41:25,100 I felt that Matt was a good match for Michelle. 712 00:41:25,100 --> 00:41:27,634 He seemed like a really fun person. 713 00:41:31,166 --> 00:41:32,767 ♪ 714 00:41:32,767 --> 00:41:35,367 Scott was the center of Ryan and Sherry's world. 715 00:41:35,367 --> 00:41:38,333 He just messed up his mind... 716 00:41:41,166 --> 00:41:42,100 ...and made him a monster. 717 00:41:42,100 --> 00:41:44,667 ♪ 718 00:41:46,000 --> 00:41:49,667 Man: He'd go from hot to cold with the snap of a finger. 719 00:41:49,667 --> 00:41:52,567 Woman: He didn't do this on a whim. 720 00:41:52,567 --> 00:41:54,734 He was prepared for war. 721 00:41:56,200 --> 00:41:57,767 Brittany loved him. 722 00:41:57,767 --> 00:42:02,133 He could go from being so loving to being so horrifying. 723 00:42:06,066 --> 00:42:07,767 He punished her just for loving him.