1
00:00:05,367 --> 00:00:07,266
[girl speaking indistinctly]
2
00:00:07,266 --> 00:00:09,000
[Paul] Sherri was a person
3
00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:10,600
who just wanted
to see the world.
4
00:00:12,100 --> 00:00:14,367
And Eric had
those same ambitions.
5
00:00:14,367 --> 00:00:15,834
[people cheering]
6
00:00:15,900 --> 00:00:18,233
[Rick] He was
very charismatic and likable.
7
00:00:18,300 --> 00:00:20,100
He was
about to graduate law school.
8
00:00:20,100 --> 00:00:22,000
[Eric speaking]
9
00:00:22,467 --> 00:00:23,300
[Paul] I really believed
10
00:00:23,300 --> 00:00:24,634
that they were going
to be happy.
11
00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:26,800
[Sherri speaking]
12
00:00:28,767 --> 00:00:30,400
[Paul] I was wrong about that.
13
00:00:31,066 --> 00:00:32,634
[Eric sobbing]
14
00:00:32,700 --> 00:00:35,000
-[female
911 operator speaking]
-[Eric speaking]
15
00:00:36,266 --> 00:00:37,934
She saw
that dark side of him
16
00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:38,834
that nobody else did.
17
00:00:38,834 --> 00:00:40,033
[interrogator speaking
indistinctly]
18
00:00:40,100 --> 00:00:41,300
[Eric sobbing]
19
00:00:42,967 --> 00:00:44,000
[bleep]
20
00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,734
He believes the lies
that he told everybody else.
21
00:00:47,900 --> 00:00:50,734
Eric had everybody fooled,
including me.
22
00:00:53,367 --> 00:00:54,700
[opening theme music playing]
23
00:01:07,367 --> 00:01:09,000
[upbeat music playing]
24
00:01:10,367 --> 00:01:12,066
[narrator] June 2012,
25
00:01:12,066 --> 00:01:13,834
Watertown, Wisconsin.
26
00:01:14,867 --> 00:01:16,700
[guests clapping and cheering]
27
00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:27,567
[narrator] Eric
and Sherri Ponsati are
28
00:01:27,567 --> 00:01:29,133
having the wedding day
29
00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:30,634
they always dreamed of.
30
00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:34,333
[Paul] It was a beautiful day.
31
00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:35,734
I was happy for them both.
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00:01:36,066 --> 00:01:37,500
[indistinct chatter]
33
00:01:37,767 --> 00:01:39,433
[man laughs]
34
00:01:39,500 --> 00:01:40,634
[Paul] There's myself,
35
00:01:40,700 --> 00:01:42,433
I'm walking Sherri
down the aisle.
36
00:01:42,500 --> 00:01:45,033
-[guests speaking
indistinctly on TV]
-[man laughs on TV]
37
00:01:45,767 --> 00:01:46,767
[Paul] Every dad should
be able
38
00:01:46,767 --> 00:01:49,300
to walk his daughter
down the aisle.
39
00:01:50,567 --> 00:01:52,133
She was a gorgeous bride.
40
00:01:54,700 --> 00:01:56,266
I was a fan of Eric.
41
00:01:56,266 --> 00:01:59,166
I was actually proud to say
he was my son-in-law.
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00:01:59,166 --> 00:02:00,667
We welcomed him
into the family
43
00:02:00,667 --> 00:02:01,667
with open arms.
44
00:02:01,667 --> 00:02:03,533
[guests cheering]
45
00:02:05,467 --> 00:02:07,667
He seemed to really
be enjoying himself.
46
00:02:07,667 --> 00:02:09,667
Everybody thought
he was great.
47
00:02:09,667 --> 00:02:11,500
[guests clapping]
48
00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:13,734
[acoustic
guitar music playing]
49
00:02:14,500 --> 00:02:15,834
[narrator] Growing up,
50
00:02:15,900 --> 00:02:17,133
Sherri's family vacationed
51
00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:19,133
at Lake Camelot, Wisconsin.
52
00:02:19,667 --> 00:02:21,600
[Paul speaking]
53
00:02:23,367 --> 00:02:24,800
[Sherri speaking]
54
00:02:27,100 --> 00:02:28,834
[Paul speaking]
55
00:02:29,767 --> 00:02:30,734
Aww.
56
00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:32,367
Sherri was Sweets.
57
00:02:32,367 --> 00:02:34,467
I always called her Sweets.
58
00:02:34,467 --> 00:02:37,734
She was just a Midwestern
country-type girl.
59
00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:40,300
[Paul speaking]
60
00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:43,367
[Paul speaking]
61
00:02:43,367 --> 00:02:45,634
We're definitely
small-town kids.
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00:02:45,700 --> 00:02:47,333
Growing up
and going to school
63
00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:48,834
in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin,
64
00:02:49,467 --> 00:02:50,600
we had a lot of fun.
65
00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:53,333
[Paul speaking]
66
00:02:56,567 --> 00:02:59,667
Sherri, she wasn't
big into having to go
67
00:02:59,667 --> 00:03:00,667
get her hair done
68
00:03:00,667 --> 00:03:02,767
and nails done all the time.
69
00:03:02,767 --> 00:03:05,800
She liked camping a lot
up at Lake Camelot.
70
00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:16,800
[Sherri speaking]
71
00:03:17,100 --> 00:03:18,233
[Paul speaking]
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00:03:18,867 --> 00:03:20,367
The kids were always together,
73
00:03:20,367 --> 00:03:22,233
and I think
they enjoyed that a lot.
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00:03:22,567 --> 00:03:23,667
Um, they were close.
75
00:03:23,667 --> 00:03:24,900
[Paul chuckles]
76
00:03:25,567 --> 00:03:28,900
She definitely was
always the big sister.
77
00:03:32,467 --> 00:03:35,100
She would try to mentor me
78
00:03:35,100 --> 00:03:36,133
on how to deal with, you know,
79
00:03:36,133 --> 00:03:38,734
relationships at school
or relationships at home.
80
00:03:40,467 --> 00:03:42,834
She'd be able to help me.
81
00:03:44,166 --> 00:03:46,500
-[Sherri speaking] Boom.
-[Paul speaking]
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00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:54,367
[Rick] Sherri was definitely
very caring and empathetic.
83
00:03:54,367 --> 00:03:56,533
Example that stands out
the most is
84
00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:59,367
the impact that she had
at her job.
85
00:03:59,367 --> 00:04:01,100
[Paul] She got a little older.
86
00:04:01,100 --> 00:04:03,967
She became a cardiac tech
87
00:04:03,967 --> 00:04:06,400
at a heart hospital
in Milwaukee.
88
00:04:08,967 --> 00:04:11,867
I remember one time
receiving a phone call
89
00:04:11,867 --> 00:04:13,600
on a very early morning.
90
00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:16,400
Sherri was calling me.
91
00:04:16,867 --> 00:04:19,333
"Dad, just wanted to tell you,
92
00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:22,066
walked into
this patient's room,
93
00:04:22,066 --> 00:04:23,634
-and all of a sudden"
- [beeping]
94
00:04:23,700 --> 00:04:25,767
[Paul] " the heart monitor
flatlined."
95
00:04:25,767 --> 00:04:27,600
[continuous beeping]
96
00:04:29,100 --> 00:04:32,300
[Paul] Sherri began
doing, like, CPR.
97
00:04:33,767 --> 00:04:35,000
[machine beeps]
98
00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:37,934
[Paul] Right then and there,
this heart monitor took off,
99
00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:40,500
and it started beating again.
100
00:04:41,367 --> 00:04:42,367
And she says, "Dad,
101
00:04:42,367 --> 00:04:45,033
I saved
my first life tonight."
102
00:04:47,667 --> 00:04:49,400
I was so proud of her.
103
00:04:50,100 --> 00:04:51,800
Very emotional, very...
104
00:04:52,100 --> 00:04:53,400
very, very cool.
105
00:05:04,100 --> 00:05:05,734
[Paul] Sherri met Eric.
106
00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:08,333
He was a college student
in Madison.
107
00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:10,600
They met online.
108
00:05:13,867 --> 00:05:14,700
I think she saw him
109
00:05:14,700 --> 00:05:17,367
for probably a month
or six weeks
110
00:05:17,367 --> 00:05:19,600
before she introduced him.
111
00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:23,100
I do remember
the first time I met him,
112
00:05:23,100 --> 00:05:24,734
it was at a restaurant,
113
00:05:25,100 --> 00:05:25,967
uh, with my dad.
114
00:05:25,967 --> 00:05:28,567
He was about
to graduate law school.
115
00:05:28,567 --> 00:05:31,800
He seemed very charismatic
and likable.
116
00:05:33,667 --> 00:05:35,467
[narrator]
Mark-Eric Ponsati was
117
00:05:35,467 --> 00:05:37,266
born in Sacramento, California
118
00:05:37,266 --> 00:05:40,667
on April 26, 1981,
119
00:05:40,667 --> 00:05:44,133
but tells Sherri he spent
his early years in Spain.
120
00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:46,266
His parents divorce
when he is a child,
121
00:05:46,266 --> 00:05:48,734
and he returns with his mother
to the U.S.,
122
00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:51,567
where he goes
by his middle name, Eric.
123
00:05:51,567 --> 00:05:53,233
[Paul] Sherri was attracted
124
00:05:53,300 --> 00:05:55,800
to his travel ambitions.
125
00:05:57,266 --> 00:05:59,033
Sherri was a person
126
00:05:59,100 --> 00:06:01,233
who just wanted
to see the world,
127
00:06:01,300 --> 00:06:03,233
and Eric had
those same ambitions.
128
00:06:09,467 --> 00:06:11,667
[narrator] After graduating,
Eric is recruited
129
00:06:11,667 --> 00:06:15,000
as a Judge Advocate General
or JAG officer,
130
00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,500
providing legal advice
to the military.
131
00:06:19,867 --> 00:06:23,166
His first posting is
4,200 miles away
132
00:06:23,166 --> 00:06:24,300
in Hawaii.
133
00:06:26,567 --> 00:06:30,533
[Paul] Well, the Army doesn't
cater to girlfriends,
134
00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:33,300
he couldn't bring Sherri
with him to Hawaii.
135
00:06:34,166 --> 00:06:36,967
So he asked me for permission
136
00:06:36,967 --> 00:06:38,834
to propose to her.
137
00:06:40,266 --> 00:06:42,033
I was moved by that.
138
00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:46,033
They were going
139
00:06:46,033 --> 00:06:48,567
to the Jefferson County
Courthouse
140
00:06:48,567 --> 00:06:50,400
to go get a marriage license.
141
00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:51,900
They said,
142
00:06:52,166 --> 00:06:52,934
"Well,
143
00:06:52,934 --> 00:06:54,867
we got an opening here
right now.
144
00:06:54,867 --> 00:06:57,333
You guys want to get married
right now on the spot?"
145
00:06:59,166 --> 00:07:00,433
And they did.
146
00:07:03,166 --> 00:07:04,467
I got a phone call.
147
00:07:04,467 --> 00:07:05,767
"Dad, we did it."
148
00:07:05,767 --> 00:07:06,900
I'm like, "You did what?"
149
00:07:07,166 --> 00:07:08,500
"We got married."
150
00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:19,767
[Rick] She was very excited
to go to Hawaii.
151
00:07:19,767 --> 00:07:22,100
That's a place
that she always wanted
to go to.
152
00:07:23,100 --> 00:07:25,634
It's the first
long-distance trip
153
00:07:25,700 --> 00:07:27,533
she ever did.
154
00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:29,800
[narrator] Just four months
after they arrive,
155
00:07:30,767 --> 00:07:33,233
Sherri gives birth
to a daughter.
156
00:07:33,567 --> 00:07:34,734
[Paul] I always knew
157
00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:36,300
that Sherri would make
a great mother.
158
00:07:37,266 --> 00:07:40,033
I could tell her heart was
really into it.
159
00:07:40,900 --> 00:07:42,433
[Eric speaking]
160
00:07:43,266 --> 00:07:45,700
-[girl] Two, one.
-[Eric speaking]
161
00:07:49,300 --> 00:07:50,667
[girl whoops]
162
00:07:50,667 --> 00:07:52,367
[Paul] I never had
any reservations
163
00:07:52,367 --> 00:07:54,333
that Eric would be
a good father.
164
00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:56,400
[Eric] Say "Hi, momma."
165
00:07:57,166 --> 00:07:57,934
[Paul] I really believed
166
00:07:57,934 --> 00:07:59,467
that they were going
to be happy
167
00:07:59,467 --> 00:08:01,767
and this was
the beginning of their family.
168
00:08:01,767 --> 00:08:04,400
[girl speaking indistinctly]
169
00:08:05,567 --> 00:08:08,767
Eric was actually a big reason
why I joined the Air Force.
170
00:08:08,767 --> 00:08:09,934
He really talked me into it,
171
00:08:09,934 --> 00:08:13,133
that it would be good for me
at that point in my life.
172
00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:17,266
I was hoping
that my first duty station
would be
173
00:08:17,266 --> 00:08:19,500
something similar to Hawaii.
174
00:08:21,667 --> 00:08:22,767
[Paul] They had a position
175
00:08:22,767 --> 00:08:25,834
in Hickam Air Force Base
in O'ahu.
176
00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:27,667
Rick saw an opportunity,
177
00:08:27,667 --> 00:08:30,400
"Oh, my goodness,
I can be with Sherri again."
178
00:08:30,667 --> 00:08:31,767
Sherri was ecstatic
179
00:08:31,767 --> 00:08:33,700
when she found out
Rick was coming.
180
00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:41,100
[Sherri speaking]
181
00:08:43,467 --> 00:08:44,400
[Sherri chucking]
182
00:08:47,367 --> 00:08:49,867
[people laughing]
183
00:08:49,867 --> 00:08:51,767
You could always tell
Sherri was laughing,
184
00:08:51,767 --> 00:08:53,500
even in a crowded room.
185
00:08:53,900 --> 00:08:55,734
[girl speaking indistinctly]
186
00:08:57,700 --> 00:08:58,667
[Eric speaking]
187
00:08:58,667 --> 00:09:00,767
[Rick] Between
her daughter and her dog,
188
00:09:00,767 --> 00:09:02,400
we were always entertained.
189
00:09:04,300 --> 00:09:05,467
Pretty much every weekend
190
00:09:05,467 --> 00:09:07,567
for the first
four months there,
191
00:09:07,567 --> 00:09:10,200
we would just explore
the island.
192
00:09:13,667 --> 00:09:16,533
I definitely felt comfortable
with Eric.
193
00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:18,967
He genuinely enjoyed
194
00:09:18,967 --> 00:09:21,000
having me over as company.
195
00:09:21,767 --> 00:09:23,667
I thought very highly of him.
196
00:09:23,667 --> 00:09:25,767
I would tell all my friends,
197
00:09:25,767 --> 00:09:28,100
my brother-in-law is
a captain.
198
00:09:33,166 --> 00:09:35,567
But at the same time,
there was some things
199
00:09:35,567 --> 00:09:37,834
that made me question
his character.
200
00:09:38,867 --> 00:09:42,266
At times, he seemed
to be very arrogant.
201
00:09:42,266 --> 00:09:45,900
He kind of had a tendency
to talk down to Sherri.
202
00:09:47,367 --> 00:09:49,166
He wanted his wife
to stay at home
203
00:09:49,166 --> 00:09:50,767
and man the home front
204
00:09:50,767 --> 00:09:52,300
and take care of the kids.
205
00:09:53,867 --> 00:09:56,400
He'd get crabby very easily.
206
00:09:56,667 --> 00:09:57,634
Like, for example,
207
00:09:57,634 --> 00:09:59,567
if she didn't do the dishes
the night before
208
00:09:59,567 --> 00:10:01,166
and there was dirty dishes
in the sink
209
00:10:01,166 --> 00:10:02,634
and he woke up and saw it,
210
00:10:02,700 --> 00:10:04,533
he'd be throwing a fit.
211
00:10:07,300 --> 00:10:08,667
At those moments,
212
00:10:08,667 --> 00:10:11,133
Eric definitely seemed
to change
213
00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:12,567
from the person
you wanted him to be
214
00:10:12,567 --> 00:10:14,500
to the person he actually was.
215
00:10:27,667 --> 00:10:30,433
[narrator]
Two and a half years
into their relationship,
216
00:10:30,500 --> 00:10:32,266
Sherri and Eric planned
the wedding day
217
00:10:32,266 --> 00:10:34,367
they didn't get
the first time.
218
00:10:34,367 --> 00:10:36,066
[Rick] I knew
they had minor issues,
219
00:10:36,066 --> 00:10:38,100
but we all flew home together
220
00:10:38,100 --> 00:10:40,667
for Sherri and Eric's
wedding reenactment
221
00:10:40,667 --> 00:10:42,200
in Wisconsin.
222
00:10:44,367 --> 00:10:46,033
[guests clapping and cheering]
223
00:10:47,767 --> 00:10:49,400
[people whooping]
224
00:10:50,467 --> 00:10:52,667
[Rick] Sherri looks
very happy.
225
00:10:52,667 --> 00:10:54,333
She's waving to the crowd,
226
00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:56,867
and Eric's all dressed up
in his uniform.
227
00:10:56,867 --> 00:10:58,600
[guests speaking indistinctly]
228
00:11:00,166 --> 00:11:02,400
This was Sherri's big day
to be a bride.
229
00:11:03,567 --> 00:11:05,634
-[woman] Wow.
-[whoops]
230
00:11:06,367 --> 00:11:08,367
[Rick] People that never met
Eric before
231
00:11:08,367 --> 00:11:09,667
told her how lucky she was
to have
232
00:11:09,667 --> 00:11:11,667
such an amazing guy
for a husband
233
00:11:11,667 --> 00:11:13,000
and that they're
jealous of her.
234
00:11:16,467 --> 00:11:17,834
[narrator] But during
the wedding,
235
00:11:17,900 --> 00:11:19,800
a cloud looms on the horizon.
236
00:11:20,967 --> 00:11:22,734
[Paul] He knew
that he was going
237
00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:25,500
to be getting deployed
to Afghanistan.
238
00:11:28,900 --> 00:11:30,533
He would have to leave
right away
239
00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:33,133
and be gone
like six or seven months.
240
00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:36,867
[narrator] As they returned
to Hawaii,
241
00:11:36,867 --> 00:11:40,100
Eric's impending tour
weighs heavy.
242
00:11:45,500 --> 00:11:46,734
[Rick] We were
on the North Shore,
243
00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:49,433
me and Eric and Sherri
and their daughter,
244
00:11:49,500 --> 00:11:51,133
and Eric was driving.
245
00:11:53,467 --> 00:11:56,000
Somebody stole
his parking spot.
246
00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:57,533
Eric got really mad.
247
00:12:00,266 --> 00:12:01,700
[car honks]
248
00:12:03,166 --> 00:12:05,367
[Rick] He wanted
to get out of the car
249
00:12:05,367 --> 00:12:07,300
and start fighting
this person.
250
00:12:08,100 --> 00:12:10,000
Sherri was
kind of freaking out.
251
00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:11,734
She grabbed his shoulder.
252
00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:12,900
I was like, "Really, man?
253
00:12:12,900 --> 00:12:14,834
Your wife and your kid are
in the vehicle with you."
254
00:12:15,767 --> 00:12:17,133
It was shocking.
255
00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:19,000
He's not the person
that I knew.
256
00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:24,834
[narrator] Eric deploys
to the Middle East
257
00:12:24,900 --> 00:12:27,400
and video-calls
his infant daughter.
258
00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:30,834
[Eric speaking]
259
00:12:46,166 --> 00:12:49,433
[Rick] Eric enjoyed
the prestige and respect
260
00:12:49,500 --> 00:12:51,700
that comes along
with being an officer.
261
00:12:53,667 --> 00:12:56,500
He liked being superior
to everybody else.
262
00:12:56,767 --> 00:12:58,233
[Eric speaking]
263
00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:06,967
He did not enjoy
his deployment to Afghanistan.
264
00:13:06,967 --> 00:13:08,133
He hated it.
265
00:13:09,767 --> 00:13:12,133
He didn't really look
like a soldier.
266
00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:14,166
He never saw combat.
267
00:13:14,166 --> 00:13:16,000
Some guys would
kind of tease him.
268
00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:19,567
Eric didn't like the fact
269
00:13:19,567 --> 00:13:21,800
that they were
disrespecting an officer.
270
00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:26,066
He felt pretty alone
over there.
271
00:13:26,066 --> 00:13:28,300
He was ready
to be done with it.
272
00:13:30,567 --> 00:13:32,900
After he got back
from Afghanistan,
273
00:13:33,867 --> 00:13:35,934
when I would come over,
he would mostly lay
on the couch
274
00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:37,834
and he wouldn't talk
a whole lot.
275
00:13:39,867 --> 00:13:41,500
[Eric speaking]
276
00:13:46,867 --> 00:13:48,667
[Rick] He didn't try
to reach out to me
277
00:13:48,667 --> 00:13:50,400
to go diving anymore.
278
00:13:52,266 --> 00:13:54,433
It just seemed like...
279
00:13:54,500 --> 00:13:57,100
the relationship between me
and him wasn't the same.
280
00:14:06,266 --> 00:14:08,033
[narrator]
Sherri, on the other hand, is
281
00:14:08,100 --> 00:14:10,600
excited to start
a brand-new friendship.
282
00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:15,433
Our mutual friend put us
283
00:14:15,500 --> 00:14:16,800
in touch with Sherri.
284
00:14:17,867 --> 00:14:19,066
[Jennifer] We were
kind of messaging
285
00:14:19,066 --> 00:14:20,734
back and forth.
286
00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:24,000
For two months before I got
on the island,
287
00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:26,033
it was my first time away
from my family.
288
00:14:26,100 --> 00:14:27,700
It was very scary.
289
00:14:29,467 --> 00:14:30,934
Out in Hawaii,
290
00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:33,467
their life
on social media looked
291
00:14:33,467 --> 00:14:36,367
like a picture-perfect life.
292
00:14:36,367 --> 00:14:38,233
She was telling me
all the fun things
293
00:14:38,300 --> 00:14:40,700
that she wanted to show us
around the island.
294
00:14:46,066 --> 00:14:47,333
The day that we landed,
295
00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:49,500
she actually came
and visited us.
296
00:14:50,900 --> 00:14:53,900
I felt like I knew her
for years.
297
00:14:54,667 --> 00:14:56,533
And that friendship
just blossomed.
298
00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:02,667
Eric is
a very good-looking man
299
00:15:02,667 --> 00:15:05,667
who is a lawyer in the Army.
300
00:15:05,667 --> 00:15:07,166
That was
kind of intimidating at first,
301
00:15:07,166 --> 00:15:10,400
but we developed
a friendship as well.
302
00:15:17,166 --> 00:15:19,467
When we started
hanging out more,
303
00:15:19,467 --> 00:15:22,367
over time he would say
comments to Sherri
304
00:15:22,367 --> 00:15:24,533
that he didn't say at first.
305
00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:27,066
He made the comment,
306
00:15:27,066 --> 00:15:28,567
"Why can't you be
a better wife
307
00:15:28,567 --> 00:15:30,133
and have this house cleaned?"
308
00:15:32,867 --> 00:15:34,400
Of course, I was shocked.
309
00:15:35,066 --> 00:15:36,667
You could just tell
there was tension
310
00:15:36,667 --> 00:15:37,900
between the two of them.
311
00:15:39,900 --> 00:15:41,000
[narrator] Over the months,
312
00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:42,567
Sherri begins to confide
313
00:15:42,567 --> 00:15:45,266
hidden details
of her relationship.
314
00:15:45,266 --> 00:15:47,266
[Jennifer] Sherri said
that he was very critical
315
00:15:47,266 --> 00:15:49,600
about the way that she looked.
316
00:15:50,166 --> 00:15:52,000
She became
very self-conscious.
317
00:15:52,867 --> 00:15:55,667
She did not like
to be photographed
318
00:15:55,667 --> 00:15:57,900
or videotaped.
319
00:15:58,967 --> 00:16:01,567
I noticed
some bruises on her body,
320
00:16:01,567 --> 00:16:02,834
and I asked what happened,
321
00:16:02,900 --> 00:16:05,233
and she made
the normal excuses.
322
00:16:05,567 --> 00:16:06,433
"Oh, I fell",
323
00:16:06,433 --> 00:16:08,767
or "We're moving
some things around."
324
00:16:08,767 --> 00:16:11,367
After she had told me
about this,
325
00:16:11,367 --> 00:16:13,333
I was absolutely shook.
326
00:16:14,567 --> 00:16:17,433
Made me feel
very, very worried.
327
00:16:20,900 --> 00:16:22,467
[narrator] After three years,
328
00:16:22,467 --> 00:16:26,133
Eric's posting
in Hawaii comes to an end.
329
00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:29,266
[Rick] I remember
their last night in Hawaii.
330
00:16:29,266 --> 00:16:31,767
Yeah, it was pretty sad
and emotional.
331
00:16:31,767 --> 00:16:32,867
I wished
that they were staying.
332
00:16:32,867 --> 00:16:34,834
They wished
that they were staying.
333
00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:37,767
[Jennifer] I was
very nervous for her
334
00:16:37,767 --> 00:16:40,934
to lose her support system
in Hawaii
335
00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:43,233
because I didn't want her
to be alone.
336
00:16:46,567 --> 00:16:48,867
[Paul] Leaving Hawaii
wasn't a choice.
337
00:16:48,867 --> 00:16:50,367
They had to move on.
338
00:16:50,367 --> 00:16:54,300
They had to go
to Fort Rucker in Alabama.
339
00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:04,033
[birds chirping]
340
00:17:07,500 --> 00:17:08,634
[Eric speaking]
341
00:17:11,900 --> 00:17:13,333
[Sherri laughs]
342
00:17:15,166 --> 00:17:16,467
[girl speaking]
343
00:17:16,467 --> 00:17:17,700
[Sherri continues laughing]
344
00:17:20,266 --> 00:17:21,900
[Sherri speaking]
345
00:17:23,066 --> 00:17:25,166
[music playing in background]
346
00:17:25,166 --> 00:17:27,367
[narrator] March 2015.
347
00:17:27,367 --> 00:17:28,934
Sherri and Eric celebrate
348
00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:30,834
their daughter's
fourth birthday.
349
00:17:32,166 --> 00:17:34,333
If you were to see this
on social media,
350
00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:36,367
you would think
that it's a sweet moment.
351
00:17:36,367 --> 00:17:39,333
But if you know
what's really going on
352
00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:41,000
behind the camera,
353
00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:42,634
you would think differently.
354
00:17:44,867 --> 00:17:46,100
[Rick] I know it was
a stressful time
355
00:17:46,100 --> 00:17:47,000
for both of them.
356
00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:50,333
Sherri would say
that Eric was very unhappy
357
00:17:50,667 --> 00:17:52,266
with the military
358
00:17:52,266 --> 00:17:55,333
and just being angry
all the time.
359
00:17:58,100 --> 00:17:59,900
I did start to suspect
360
00:18:00,667 --> 00:18:02,300
how Eric was
really treating her.
361
00:18:07,900 --> 00:18:09,567
[Paul] While they were
in Alabama,
362
00:18:09,567 --> 00:18:11,934
I think I was really kept
in the dark.
363
00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:12,767
I didn't know a lot
364
00:18:12,767 --> 00:18:14,900
about what was
going on exactly.
365
00:18:18,467 --> 00:18:21,367
[Jennifer] I could not
get her out of my head.
366
00:18:21,367 --> 00:18:24,567
I could see things start
to go downhill.
367
00:18:24,567 --> 00:18:26,467
It made me scared to see
368
00:18:26,467 --> 00:18:28,133
where that was going to go.
369
00:18:39,567 --> 00:18:41,467
[narrator] In early 2015,
370
00:18:41,467 --> 00:18:43,367
Eric announces
he is stepping back
371
00:18:43,367 --> 00:18:44,667
from full-time duty
372
00:18:44,667 --> 00:18:46,133
to join the reserves
373
00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:48,834
and seek employment
in the private sector.
374
00:18:48,900 --> 00:18:51,867
Sherri said Eric had
a hard time at work.
375
00:18:51,867 --> 00:18:53,867
He painted a picture
to everybody
376
00:18:53,867 --> 00:18:56,433
that being
in the military just wasn't
377
00:18:56,500 --> 00:18:58,233
a good fit anymore.
378
00:18:58,667 --> 00:19:00,834
-[Eric speaking]
-[girl] Ah.
379
00:19:01,266 --> 00:19:03,367
Ah. Ah.
380
00:19:03,367 --> 00:19:04,800
[mimics girl] Ah. Ah.
381
00:19:07,867 --> 00:19:11,233
[Paul] Eric was excited
to begin a new career
382
00:19:11,300 --> 00:19:13,567
working
with Sikorsky Helicopters
383
00:19:13,567 --> 00:19:14,634
out of Connecticut.
384
00:19:14,700 --> 00:19:16,700
[upbeat music playing]
385
00:19:18,667 --> 00:19:21,600
[Paul] Sherri was viewing
that as a fresh start.
386
00:19:23,367 --> 00:19:25,266
And Sherri just seemed like
387
00:19:25,266 --> 00:19:26,867
she just wanted
to make it work.
388
00:19:26,867 --> 00:19:28,700
[Sherri speaking]
389
00:19:34,567 --> 00:19:36,433
[Sherri] Mmm.
390
00:19:36,500 --> 00:19:37,867
[daughter speaking
indistinctly]
391
00:19:37,867 --> 00:19:38,900
[Sherri kisses]
392
00:19:42,967 --> 00:19:44,567
[Jennifer] Sherri called me.
393
00:19:44,567 --> 00:19:47,567
She told me that she was
pregnant again.
394
00:19:47,567 --> 00:19:49,967
And I asked if it was planned.
395
00:19:49,967 --> 00:19:51,667
And she said,
396
00:19:51,667 --> 00:19:53,166
"We talked
about having another one,
397
00:19:53,166 --> 00:19:55,166
but just not right now."
398
00:19:55,166 --> 00:19:57,467
And I said,
"Is Eric happy about it?"
399
00:19:57,467 --> 00:20:00,300
She said, "He's
over-the-moon excited
about it."
400
00:20:02,367 --> 00:20:03,867
[narrator]
Late into her pregnancy,
401
00:20:03,867 --> 00:20:06,900
Sherri decides to pursue
a longtime dream.
402
00:20:07,667 --> 00:20:10,200
Sherri wanted to write
children's books.
403
00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:12,400
That was a passion of hers,
404
00:20:12,667 --> 00:20:14,734
to become an author.
405
00:20:16,367 --> 00:20:18,367
And she wanted
to do this seminar
406
00:20:18,367 --> 00:20:19,600
in New York City.
407
00:20:20,367 --> 00:20:21,867
[Jennifer] She was
very excited
408
00:20:21,867 --> 00:20:24,400
about taking
this writing course.
409
00:20:24,667 --> 00:20:25,867
It was her way
410
00:20:25,867 --> 00:20:28,233
of being able
to start taking back
411
00:20:28,300 --> 00:20:29,800
some of her independence.
412
00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:33,000
[Paul] While she was
at that course,
413
00:20:34,467 --> 00:20:37,133
that's when her water broke.
414
00:20:37,667 --> 00:20:39,634
[siren wailing]
415
00:20:40,367 --> 00:20:41,934
[Jennifer] She was
having him early
416
00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:43,467
without Eric there.
417
00:20:43,467 --> 00:20:45,333
His lungs were underdeveloped.
418
00:20:46,100 --> 00:20:47,800
She was very scared.
419
00:20:50,667 --> 00:20:53,233
And she needed support,
but Eric was annoyed
420
00:20:53,300 --> 00:20:56,400
because nothing went
according to plan.
421
00:20:57,000 --> 00:20:57,934
He said
422
00:20:57,934 --> 00:21:00,200
her going into labor was
all of her fault.
423
00:21:02,967 --> 00:21:06,634
He made this whole experience
even worse by yelling at her.
424
00:21:10,066 --> 00:21:11,634
[Sherri speaking]
425
00:21:13,567 --> 00:21:16,000
[Sherri speaking]
426
00:21:17,266 --> 00:21:19,867
Not long
after Sherri gave birth,
427
00:21:19,867 --> 00:21:21,400
Eric took a work trip.
428
00:21:23,467 --> 00:21:26,000
She got an alert
on his computer.
429
00:21:26,367 --> 00:21:27,700
[bell chimes]
430
00:21:28,900 --> 00:21:31,700
[Jennifer] It showed
a receipt for a prostitute.
431
00:21:33,967 --> 00:21:37,800
That's when her world started
crumbling down around her.
432
00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:46,367
Just understanding that he was
over there doing that,
433
00:21:46,367 --> 00:21:48,734
that soon after
she had a baby,
434
00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:51,233
I think really hit her
the hardest.
435
00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:53,133
[baby cooing]
436
00:21:54,367 --> 00:21:55,700
[baby speaking]
437
00:21:57,300 --> 00:21:58,567
[baby coos]
438
00:21:58,567 --> 00:22:00,200
[Paul] I thought
he was a good man.
439
00:22:01,667 --> 00:22:02,734
Wow.
440
00:22:03,767 --> 00:22:05,200
I was wrong about that.
441
00:22:11,066 --> 00:22:12,367
[Jennifer] I told her,
442
00:22:12,367 --> 00:22:14,300
"Sherri, you need
to leave him.
443
00:22:15,467 --> 00:22:19,133
These are
very justifiable grounds
for divorce."
444
00:22:23,066 --> 00:22:24,767
[Paul] Sherri left him
445
00:22:24,767 --> 00:22:26,333
and came to Wisconsin.
446
00:22:29,567 --> 00:22:31,834
Sherri seemed very stressed
at that point.
447
00:22:33,567 --> 00:22:35,634
And Sherri actually confided
in me
448
00:22:35,700 --> 00:22:39,000
how angry and scary
Eric can get.
449
00:22:46,467 --> 00:22:49,400
She told me if anything
ever happened to her,
450
00:22:50,467 --> 00:22:53,033
I should tell the authorities
to look into Eric.
451
00:22:54,367 --> 00:22:56,734
She never opened up
to me before
452
00:22:56,800 --> 00:23:00,166
about being afraid
of him physically until then.
453
00:23:02,066 --> 00:23:03,266
We thought the safest place
454
00:23:03,266 --> 00:23:06,533
for Sherri was to stay
in Wisconsin,
455
00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:08,033
you know, with my parents.
456
00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:11,100
[Paul] She contacted
a divorce attorney,
457
00:23:11,100 --> 00:23:13,200
so she was starting
to get that ball rolling.
458
00:23:14,900 --> 00:23:16,000
[Rick] We were all concerned
459
00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:18,367
that Eric would try
to get custody of the kids.
460
00:23:18,367 --> 00:23:19,567
He's a lawyer, so I mean,
461
00:23:19,567 --> 00:23:21,867
if anyone knows how
to win a custody battle,
462
00:23:21,867 --> 00:23:25,133
it's someone that is
educated in the law.
463
00:23:25,567 --> 00:23:26,634
[Sherri speaking]
464
00:23:27,166 --> 00:23:29,000
[man chuckles]
465
00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:30,767
[Paul] I think Sherri was
kind of scared
466
00:23:30,767 --> 00:23:32,467
about what the repercussions
would be
467
00:23:32,467 --> 00:23:35,266
if she filed for divorce.
468
00:23:35,266 --> 00:23:37,867
[Jennifer] Him taking control
of the kids was
469
00:23:37,867 --> 00:23:39,533
her ultimate nightmare.
470
00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:45,800
[Rick] For her,
that was unbearable.
471
00:23:47,300 --> 00:23:49,033
So she did what she had to do.
472
00:23:51,367 --> 00:23:54,133
When I found out
she went back to Eric,
473
00:23:55,100 --> 00:23:57,233
that was bad news
for all of us.
474
00:23:59,867 --> 00:24:02,000
I was furious.
475
00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:03,834
He's just going
to keep doing this
476
00:24:03,900 --> 00:24:05,433
over and over again.
477
00:24:05,500 --> 00:24:07,700
Something bad is
going to happen.
478
00:24:15,266 --> 00:24:18,133
[narrator]
Shortly after Sherri returns
to Connecticut,
479
00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:21,033
Eric is fired by his employer.
480
00:24:21,967 --> 00:24:24,233
His civilian job didn't
work out
481
00:24:24,300 --> 00:24:25,300
the way he thought it would.
482
00:24:25,300 --> 00:24:27,900
He had a lot of drama
with his co-workers.
483
00:24:29,467 --> 00:24:30,667
[Paul] When he got fired,
484
00:24:30,667 --> 00:24:32,734
he was scrambling
to find another job
485
00:24:34,567 --> 00:24:37,500
and then found one in Arizona.
486
00:24:38,867 --> 00:24:41,100
[Rick] Initially, I was
somewhat happy,
487
00:24:41,100 --> 00:24:42,967
only because the area
in Arizona
488
00:24:42,967 --> 00:24:44,266
that they were moving to,
489
00:24:44,266 --> 00:24:46,800
my Aunt Eva and Uncle Joe
were close by.
490
00:24:50,166 --> 00:24:52,433
[Paul] Something
that Sherri told me...
491
00:24:52,967 --> 00:24:54,400
was, "Dad,
492
00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:56,233
I promise you,
493
00:24:56,300 --> 00:24:58,233
this is the last time.
494
00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:00,500
If this don't work,
495
00:25:00,967 --> 00:25:02,233
I'm done."
496
00:25:03,567 --> 00:25:05,567
[narrator] With her aunt
and uncle's support,
497
00:25:05,567 --> 00:25:07,734
Sherri starts
to rebuild her life.
498
00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:09,800
[Sherri speaking]
499
00:25:13,767 --> 00:25:15,834
[Paul] Besides taking care
of two kids
500
00:25:15,900 --> 00:25:17,033
and running the house,
501
00:25:17,100 --> 00:25:19,533
Sherri went back
to online courses
502
00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:21,967
and she got
a associate's degree,
503
00:25:21,967 --> 00:25:24,467
again in the area
of cardiology.
504
00:25:24,467 --> 00:25:27,233
Then she went
and she got a job.
505
00:25:29,767 --> 00:25:33,834
She was over the moon
to go back to work.
506
00:25:33,900 --> 00:25:36,233
Then she started
writing her book.
507
00:25:39,467 --> 00:25:41,467
It was actually published
508
00:25:41,467 --> 00:25:42,300
and I was so proud
509
00:25:42,300 --> 00:25:44,834
that she had something
for her own
510
00:25:44,900 --> 00:25:47,433
and it wasn't anything
to do with Eric.
511
00:25:50,367 --> 00:25:54,066
[narrator]
But Sherri's happiness doesn't
last long.
512
00:25:54,066 --> 00:25:56,133
Eric's job in Arizona
didn't work out
513
00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:57,500
just like
the rest of his jobs.
514
00:25:58,100 --> 00:25:59,166
He was unemployed
515
00:25:59,166 --> 00:26:01,266
for an extended period
of time.
516
00:26:01,266 --> 00:26:03,166
Eric was extremely unhappy
517
00:26:03,166 --> 00:26:06,533
with the parenting
and house duties.
518
00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:08,367
It wasn't
the traditional marriage
519
00:26:08,367 --> 00:26:09,734
that he was used to.
520
00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:10,900
-[Eric speaking]
-[baby coos]
521
00:26:15,166 --> 00:26:16,567
He just didn't handle it well.
522
00:26:16,567 --> 00:26:17,767
He didn't want to handle it.
523
00:26:17,767 --> 00:26:19,333
[Eric humming]
524
00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:21,333
[Jennifer] He just
could not understand
525
00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:23,333
how people liked her so much
526
00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:24,800
and didn't like him.
527
00:26:26,066 --> 00:26:28,266
[Paul] Eric did have an ego.
528
00:26:28,266 --> 00:26:31,000
Yeah, that had to be
a real punch for him.
529
00:26:36,066 --> 00:26:37,367
[Rick] Eventually,
Eric decided
530
00:26:37,367 --> 00:26:38,567
on taking a job offer
531
00:26:38,567 --> 00:26:40,400
that he got, in Kentucky,
532
00:26:41,066 --> 00:26:42,634
you know,
hundreds of miles away.
533
00:26:44,867 --> 00:26:46,767
[Jennifer] You could just hear
the annoyance in her voice
534
00:26:46,767 --> 00:26:48,700
that she didn't want this.
535
00:26:49,467 --> 00:26:51,600
She had family in Arizona.
536
00:26:52,100 --> 00:26:54,033
She was comfortable at work.
537
00:26:54,100 --> 00:26:55,900
She did not want to move.
538
00:26:56,367 --> 00:26:57,500
[Rick] And I questioned her,
539
00:26:57,500 --> 00:27:00,900
"Why are you still with him
if this is how you feel?"
540
00:27:01,767 --> 00:27:05,000
[Jennifer] She called me,
and we were catching up.
541
00:27:05,900 --> 00:27:08,700
She started talking
about leaving him.
542
00:27:09,467 --> 00:27:10,834
When we were on the phone,
543
00:27:10,900 --> 00:27:13,233
Eric was following her around,
544
00:27:13,300 --> 00:27:14,767
and it got to the point
where I said,
545
00:27:14,767 --> 00:27:17,233
"Hey, Eric, do you want
to talk to me, too?"
546
00:27:20,266 --> 00:27:22,867
And she's like,
"Okay, I got to go."
547
00:27:22,867 --> 00:27:25,200
That was the last time
that I spoke to her.
548
00:27:26,767 --> 00:27:28,400
-[phone ringing]
-[phone beeps]
549
00:27:29,667 --> 00:27:31,634
-[female 911 operator] 911.
What's your emergency?
-[Eric speaking]
550
00:27:31,700 --> 00:27:33,133
[Eric sobbing]
551
00:27:34,300 --> 00:27:35,533
[emergency dispatcher
speaking]
552
00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:37,900
[Eric sobbing]
553
00:27:45,900 --> 00:27:48,166
[line ringing]
554
00:27:48,166 --> 00:27:49,634
[Eric speaking]
555
00:27:56,200 --> 00:27:58,834
[male 911 operator speaking]
556
00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:04,400
[Eric speaking]
557
00:28:07,767 --> 00:28:08,800
[911 operator speaking]
558
00:28:09,100 --> 00:28:10,300
[Eric speaking]
559
00:28:10,900 --> 00:28:12,066
[siren wailing]
560
00:28:14,567 --> 00:28:16,367
[Mike] Patrol officers
with the town of Gilbert were
561
00:28:16,367 --> 00:28:19,233
responding to this 911 call.
562
00:28:20,266 --> 00:28:21,300
They arrived at the house
563
00:28:21,300 --> 00:28:23,834
and encountered Eric Ponsati
in the living room.
564
00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:27,467
[officer 1 speaking]
565
00:28:27,467 --> 00:28:29,367
-[Eric sobbing]
-[officer 1] Okay.
566
00:28:29,367 --> 00:28:30,634
[officer 1 speaking]
567
00:28:32,467 --> 00:28:34,834
Eric directed
the first officer upstairs
568
00:28:34,900 --> 00:28:37,433
to where Sherri was
in the bathroom.
569
00:28:44,166 --> 00:28:45,634
[officer 1 speaking]
570
00:28:49,100 --> 00:28:50,600
-[officer 2 speaking]
-[officer 1 speaking]
571
00:28:57,166 --> 00:28:58,667
[Mike] And on the floor
around her was
572
00:28:58,667 --> 00:29:02,233
a blue, slippery substance
that was bath soap.
573
00:29:03,300 --> 00:29:05,266
[officer 3 speaking]
574
00:29:05,266 --> 00:29:06,600
You ready, Sam? On three.
575
00:29:11,166 --> 00:29:13,367
[Mike] They loaded Sherri
quickly onto a backboard
576
00:29:13,367 --> 00:29:15,567
and transported her
to the hospital
577
00:29:15,567 --> 00:29:17,000
as quickly as they could.
578
00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:21,567
[phone ringing]
579
00:29:21,567 --> 00:29:24,567
[Paul] I received a phone call
from my brother, Joe.
580
00:29:24,567 --> 00:29:26,100
[phone ringing]
581
00:29:26,100 --> 00:29:27,266
[Paul] They regretted
to tell me
582
00:29:27,266 --> 00:29:30,834
that Sherri had been
involved in an accident.
583
00:29:30,900 --> 00:29:33,700
She's at the hospital now
and she's unconscious.
584
00:29:34,166 --> 00:29:35,367
I'm like, "Really?"
585
00:29:35,367 --> 00:29:37,900
I can't-- You know,
I was just in shock.
586
00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:41,166
[narrator] Eric is taken
to Gilbert Police Department
587
00:29:41,166 --> 00:29:43,133
for questioning.
588
00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:46,367
[Mike] I asked Eric
to describe to me
589
00:29:46,367 --> 00:29:47,900
how their marriage had been.
590
00:29:48,867 --> 00:29:50,233
[Eric speaking]
591
00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:01,266
Eric told me
they were planning
592
00:30:01,266 --> 00:30:03,467
to have
their third child together.
593
00:30:03,467 --> 00:30:06,367
When he got to this point
about what happened tonight,
594
00:30:06,367 --> 00:30:08,967
he described
this wonderful bath
595
00:30:08,967 --> 00:30:10,300
that he and his wife took.
596
00:30:30,900 --> 00:30:32,567
[Mike] I felt that was odd.
597
00:30:32,567 --> 00:30:34,567
Why, if you're waiting
for your wife
598
00:30:34,567 --> 00:30:35,867
for an exciting evening,
599
00:30:35,867 --> 00:30:37,800
are you going
to take sleeping pills?
600
00:30:43,767 --> 00:30:46,233
[narrator] Eric claims
he wakes up sometime later
601
00:30:46,300 --> 00:30:47,533
in an empty bed.
602
00:30:47,867 --> 00:30:49,300
[Eric speaking]
603
00:31:17,667 --> 00:31:18,333
[Mike] Okay.
604
00:31:19,300 --> 00:31:20,433
[Mike] It struck me as odd
605
00:31:20,500 --> 00:31:22,367
that this person
who's telling me
606
00:31:22,367 --> 00:31:26,033
how much
he loves Sherri is not
607
00:31:26,100 --> 00:31:28,233
going to attempt CPR.
608
00:31:33,100 --> 00:31:36,000
[Mike speaking]
609
00:31:52,700 --> 00:31:53,967
Eric had a large reaction
610
00:31:53,967 --> 00:31:55,567
to the news
that Sherri was dead.
611
00:31:55,567 --> 00:31:57,033
[sobbing]
612
00:31:58,667 --> 00:32:01,300
But I never saw any tears.
613
00:32:06,266 --> 00:32:08,367
I didn't know exactly why yet.
614
00:32:08,367 --> 00:32:10,800
I didn't have all the details
that I needed.
615
00:32:11,700 --> 00:32:14,767
But I really felt
like there was more going on
616
00:32:14,767 --> 00:32:17,600
than the purported slip
and-fall accident.
617
00:32:23,767 --> 00:32:25,667
[narrator] Without
any incriminating evidence,
618
00:32:25,667 --> 00:32:28,934
Detective Bishop concludes
the interview with Eric.
619
00:32:30,300 --> 00:32:31,467
[Mike] I returned to the house
620
00:32:31,467 --> 00:32:34,133
and began processing
the scene.
621
00:32:35,100 --> 00:32:37,667
Eric reported
Sherri hitting her head
622
00:32:37,667 --> 00:32:39,500
on a tile outcropping
623
00:32:39,967 --> 00:32:41,533
from the bathtub.
624
00:32:42,567 --> 00:32:44,000
I noticed that there was
625
00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:46,900
blood on top
of that tile outcropping...
626
00:32:48,767 --> 00:32:51,700
and not a lot of blood
on the floor.
627
00:32:54,667 --> 00:32:56,433
If you slip
628
00:32:56,500 --> 00:32:58,467
and fall and hit
your head on an object
629
00:32:58,467 --> 00:33:00,367
and then fall to the floor,
630
00:33:00,367 --> 00:33:03,000
you should find a lot
of blood on the floor,
631
00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:07,033
not on the tile outcropping.
632
00:33:09,266 --> 00:33:12,900
The amount of soap
on the floor was ridiculous.
633
00:33:14,767 --> 00:33:16,867
We located the bottle
for that soap
634
00:33:16,867 --> 00:33:19,800
laying between the bathtub
and the vanity.
635
00:33:21,667 --> 00:33:25,767
Physics tells me that
when a bottle is turned over,
636
00:33:25,767 --> 00:33:29,000
soap won't spill
past the lip of the bottle.
637
00:33:30,367 --> 00:33:32,767
This bottle had
an inch-and-a-half lip
638
00:33:32,767 --> 00:33:35,233
and no soap left in it.
639
00:33:36,266 --> 00:33:38,967
So I began thinking
the soap had been poured out
640
00:33:38,967 --> 00:33:40,834
after Sherri was injured.
641
00:33:41,400 --> 00:33:42,900
[phone ringing]
642
00:33:45,500 --> 00:33:47,433
[Mike] I didn't even make it
through the search
643
00:33:47,500 --> 00:33:50,600
before family members started
trying to contact me.
644
00:33:51,700 --> 00:33:54,000
[Rick] First thing
I thought of to tell him was
645
00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:56,400
that if Eric was home
when this happened,
646
00:33:57,166 --> 00:33:59,000
this was
probably not an accident.
647
00:34:01,100 --> 00:34:05,967
I learned that she had a plan
and a timeline to leave Eric.
648
00:34:05,967 --> 00:34:10,533
I am now 100% treating this
as a murder investigation.
649
00:34:22,767 --> 00:34:25,467
[narrator] Sherri's father,
Paul, arrives in Arizona
650
00:34:25,467 --> 00:34:27,767
in the early hours
of the morning.
651
00:34:27,767 --> 00:34:30,233
[Paul] First thing I did is
call my brother.
652
00:34:30,300 --> 00:34:31,467
I go, "Hey, what's going on?
653
00:34:31,467 --> 00:34:32,700
Is she okay?"
654
00:34:33,700 --> 00:34:36,400
And then, um,
there was a pause.
655
00:34:37,166 --> 00:34:38,533
And I go, "Are you there?
656
00:34:38,600 --> 00:34:40,333
Is Sherri all right?
What's going on?"
657
00:34:42,100 --> 00:34:43,467
And... he said,
658
00:34:43,467 --> 00:34:44,800
"Sherri's gone."
659
00:34:50,900 --> 00:34:52,100
And, uh...
660
00:34:54,100 --> 00:34:55,333
I was just in shock.
661
00:34:55,400 --> 00:34:56,367
I was speechless.
662
00:34:56,367 --> 00:34:58,233
I had no words.
663
00:35:07,567 --> 00:35:10,066
[narrator] Five days
after Sherri's death,
664
00:35:10,066 --> 00:35:12,100
the autopsy report comes in.
665
00:35:15,066 --> 00:35:18,266
There were
multiple linear bruises
666
00:35:18,266 --> 00:35:20,233
along Sherri's upper back.
667
00:35:21,467 --> 00:35:24,467
There was also damage
to her neck
668
00:35:24,467 --> 00:35:27,533
that is indicative
of strangulation.
669
00:35:30,200 --> 00:35:33,767
I knew there is a 0% chance
that Sherri slipped and fell
670
00:35:33,767 --> 00:35:36,333
and attained
all these injuries.
671
00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:43,834
I believe
whatever injuries had
672
00:35:43,900 --> 00:35:45,433
occurred to her head
673
00:35:45,500 --> 00:35:47,300
happened in the bathtub.
674
00:35:50,300 --> 00:35:52,567
There had been
some type of event
675
00:35:52,567 --> 00:35:55,433
where Eric lost control
of himself...
676
00:36:01,100 --> 00:36:02,567
injured Sherri.
677
00:36:02,567 --> 00:36:04,634
And once she was injured,
678
00:36:04,700 --> 00:36:06,734
he felt he had no choice
679
00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:08,734
but just to continue
and kill her.
680
00:36:14,200 --> 00:36:17,533
Eric had to make
this look like an accident.
681
00:36:18,567 --> 00:36:21,000
So he struck
her bloody head against
682
00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:22,700
that tile outcropping
683
00:36:25,266 --> 00:36:28,133
and then placed
on the floor, Sherri.
684
00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:34,533
The bottle of soap was
poured out over top of her.
685
00:36:35,400 --> 00:36:37,734
He just had no choice
but to cover it up
686
00:36:37,800 --> 00:36:39,367
and try to justify it
in his own mind
687
00:36:39,367 --> 00:36:40,800
to get through it.
688
00:36:42,667 --> 00:36:45,333
She made efforts
throughout her marriage
689
00:36:45,400 --> 00:36:47,533
to get away from him.
690
00:36:47,600 --> 00:36:49,467
I think she saw
that dark side of him
691
00:36:49,467 --> 00:36:50,800
that nobody else did.
692
00:36:56,767 --> 00:36:59,000
I was concerned
that Eric would try
693
00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:00,200
to leave the country.
694
00:37:00,867 --> 00:37:01,834
He was smart enough
695
00:37:01,900 --> 00:37:03,266
and he had the resources
696
00:37:03,266 --> 00:37:06,600
to avoid
the inevitable arrest.
697
00:37:08,767 --> 00:37:11,333
One of the family members
contacted me and said
698
00:37:11,400 --> 00:37:12,166
Eric's leaving.
699
00:37:14,467 --> 00:37:16,100
He was arrested
and brought back
700
00:37:16,100 --> 00:37:17,800
to the Gilbert
Police Department.
701
00:37:26,900 --> 00:37:29,800
It's a horrible feeling
to lose a child.
702
00:37:31,567 --> 00:37:33,634
That very moment
that phone call came in
703
00:37:33,700 --> 00:37:35,100
from Detective Bishop...
704
00:37:37,667 --> 00:37:40,600
it was like
that feeling just got trumped.
705
00:37:40,967 --> 00:37:42,200
[Paul speaking]
706
00:37:44,667 --> 00:37:47,433
The feeling of losing someone
is one thing,
707
00:37:47,500 --> 00:37:50,033
but the feeling
of having her taken from you,
708
00:37:50,567 --> 00:37:52,133
that really, really hurt.
709
00:37:54,867 --> 00:37:58,133
I wanted to do to him
what he did to my Sherri.
710
00:38:01,000 --> 00:38:02,734
[narrator] It takes
five long years
711
00:38:02,800 --> 00:38:03,934
to get to trial,
712
00:38:04,000 --> 00:38:07,066
but on January 23rd, 2023,
713
00:38:07,066 --> 00:38:09,533
the day finally comes.
714
00:38:09,600 --> 00:38:13,000
[Joshua] Just looking at
the medical examiner photos,
715
00:38:13,000 --> 00:38:16,700
a layperson could tell
that this was not an accident.
716
00:38:17,867 --> 00:38:19,367
His statements
and his behavior
717
00:38:19,367 --> 00:38:21,667
and the evidence from her body
718
00:38:21,667 --> 00:38:24,900
just solidified his guilt,
in my opinion.
719
00:38:26,166 --> 00:38:28,266
[narrator] Against
his counsel's advice,
720
00:38:28,266 --> 00:38:30,867
Eric wants his time
on the stand.
721
00:38:30,867 --> 00:38:34,066
[Joshua]
He specifically built stories
722
00:38:34,066 --> 00:38:37,066
that addressed the injuries
that Sherri had.
723
00:38:37,066 --> 00:38:39,634
I believe
that he still thought
724
00:38:39,700 --> 00:38:41,800
he was the smartest person
in the room
725
00:38:42,567 --> 00:38:45,867
and that he was
going to fool everybody.
726
00:38:45,867 --> 00:38:47,367
To me, it was
just an indication
727
00:38:47,367 --> 00:38:49,133
of his narcissism.
728
00:38:51,467 --> 00:38:54,467
He claimed
that he put a wooden plaque
729
00:38:54,467 --> 00:38:57,200
up on its edge
underneath her neck.
730
00:38:59,900 --> 00:39:02,433
And then he said
that he fell on her,
731
00:39:02,500 --> 00:39:03,567
and that would have caused
732
00:39:03,567 --> 00:39:05,367
the injuries that Sherri had
733
00:39:05,367 --> 00:39:07,200
to the back of her head
and neck.
734
00:39:09,467 --> 00:39:10,533
Nothing made sense.
735
00:39:10,600 --> 00:39:12,033
It was so far out there.
736
00:39:13,567 --> 00:39:15,500
He just really dug himself
a hole.
737
00:39:19,266 --> 00:39:21,734
When the jury walks
in the room,
738
00:39:22,800 --> 00:39:27,200
it's hard to describe
that feeling of anticipation.
739
00:39:36,667 --> 00:39:39,533
[narrator]
Mark Eric Ponsati is
found guilty
740
00:39:39,600 --> 00:39:41,100
of second-degree murder.
741
00:39:42,166 --> 00:39:43,467
[Rick] He received
the maximum sentence
742
00:39:43,467 --> 00:39:44,867
of 25 years.
743
00:39:44,867 --> 00:39:46,834
So we were very grateful
744
00:39:46,900 --> 00:39:49,300
that we achieved justice
for Sherri.
745
00:39:52,567 --> 00:39:54,834
[Paul speaking]
746
00:39:57,800 --> 00:39:58,834
[Paul speaking]
747
00:39:58,900 --> 00:39:59,800
[Sherri speaking]
748
00:40:00,300 --> 00:40:01,934
[man chuckles]
749
00:40:02,000 --> 00:40:03,934
[Rick] I think
about Sherri all the time,
750
00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:05,533
what our future would
have been,
751
00:40:06,166 --> 00:40:08,567
what she would think
about my wife.
752
00:40:08,567 --> 00:40:11,133
I've never been down
a rougher road in my life.
753
00:40:12,867 --> 00:40:15,533
And it's all because
of one person's actions
754
00:40:15,600 --> 00:40:16,700
and choices.
755
00:40:17,000 --> 00:40:18,266
[Sherri speaking]
756
00:40:21,867 --> 00:40:23,266
[Rick] Her kids were
the most important thing
757
00:40:23,266 --> 00:40:24,233
in her life.
758
00:40:24,967 --> 00:40:26,600
[Sherri speaking]
759
00:40:27,500 --> 00:40:30,166
[Rick] She would have wanted
to see her kids grow up.
760
00:40:30,166 --> 00:40:32,100
Everything she did
was for them.
761
00:40:35,867 --> 00:40:38,266
Sherri's son was so small
when this happened
762
00:40:38,266 --> 00:40:42,266
that I'm sure he's never gonna
remember his mom.
763
00:40:42,266 --> 00:40:43,700
[Sherri kisses] Little kisses?
764
00:40:44,266 --> 00:40:45,433
[kisses]
765
00:40:46,266 --> 00:40:48,233
-[boy coos excitedly]
-[Sherri] Yeah?
766
00:40:48,767 --> 00:40:49,900
[Sherri kisses]
767
00:40:49,900 --> 00:40:53,166
I'd like to, of course,
tell her how much she's missed
768
00:40:53,166 --> 00:40:54,800
and how much she's loved.
769
00:40:57,767 --> 00:40:59,834
[people laughing]
770
00:40:59,900 --> 00:41:02,634
[Paul] She was just
taken from us way too soon.
771
00:41:03,100 --> 00:41:04,834
[girl laughs excitedly]
772
00:41:12,367 --> 00:41:13,667
[girl] Whoa.
773
00:41:14,000 --> 00:41:16,467
You thought they were
a happily married couple.
774
00:41:16,467 --> 00:41:17,734
[woman speaking]
775
00:41:17,800 --> 00:41:19,233
[man] I said, "Mom, you need to
get out of there
776
00:41:19,300 --> 00:41:20,767
and you need
to stay away."
777
00:41:20,767 --> 00:41:22,467
[woman] It was just horrible,
778
00:41:22,467 --> 00:41:24,333
How could you let her lay there?
779
00:41:24,400 --> 00:41:25,567
It's nothing but evil.
780
00:41:25,567 --> 00:41:27,867
[ominous music playing]