♪
Narrator: THIS IS THE STORY OF A SUCCESSFUL
AND GENEROUS BUSINESSMAN...
HELLO, HELLO, HELLO.
...WHO MEETS A NURSE WITH A HEART AS BIG AS HIS OWN...
[ LAUGHTER ]
SHE STRUCK ME AS BEING VERY QUIET,
BUT VERY SWEET AND VERY NICE.
Narrator: ...AND FALLS HEAD OVER HEELS.
HE COULDN'T HIDE THE FEELINGS HE HAD FOR HER.
HE WAS VERY MUCH IN LOVE WITH HER.
Narrator: BUT WHEN A SICKNESS CONSUMES THEIR MARRIAGE...
WE JUST KNEW THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING --
SOMETHING WAS VERY WRONG.
Narrator: ...MONEY IS NO PROTECTION.
THIS IS NOT A NATURAL DEATH.
♪
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪
Narrator: IT'S MARCH 10th, 2007 IN MIAMI --
A BIG DAY FOR BRIDE ROSEMARY CLAYTON AND HER FAMILY.
SHE'S FINALLY MARRYING HER LOVE, WILLIAM LESLIE.
THAT'S ROSIE'S OLDEST BROTHER, 52-YEAR-OLD STEVE CLAYTON,
PROUDLY WALKING HER DOWN THE AISLE.
11 MONTHS PRIOR TO MY WEDDING,
WE LOST OUR DAD.
I ASKED MY BROTHER IF HE WOULD STEP IN.
OF COURSE THERE WAS A LOT OF TEARS.
I COULDN'T IMAGINE ANYBODY ELSE STANDING IN PLACE FOR MY DAD.
♪
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
IT WAS SENTIMENTAL TO BE GATHERED AT SOMETHING SO SPECIAL
WHERE MY DAD WASN'T PRESENT.
Narrator: WITH THEIR FATHER'S PASSING, ROSIE'S BROTHER STEVE
IS NOW THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY.
AND THOUGH HE'S NEVER HAD CHILDREN OF HIS OWN,
HE'S ALWAYS BEEN A FATHER FIGURE TO HIS SIBLINGS.
Clayton-Leslie: WHEN MY FATHER AND MOTHER WERE MARRIED,
STEVE WAS JUST ABOUT TWO OR THREE YEARS OLD.
HE HAD THE FOUR SISTERS, AND I'M THE YOUNGEST.
HE WAS 10 YEARS OLDER THAN ME, SO THERE REALLY WASN'T A MOMENT
WHEN STEVE WASN'T IN MY LIFE.
STEVE WAS MY BIG BROTHER AND HE WAS MY HERO.
HE WAS EVERYTHING A LITTLE GIRL WOULD WANT IN A BIG BROTHER.
HE PLAYED FOOTBALL, HE WRESTLED IN HIGH SCHOOL,
AND SO THAT REALLY MADE HIM BIGGER THAN LIFE FOR ME.
Narrator: AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, STEVE GRADUATES COLLEGE
WITH A DEGREE IN FINANCE.
AND QUICKLY MATURES INTO A SHREW BUSINESSMAN.
Clayton-Leslie: STEVE, WITH A PARTNER, STARTED A COMPANY
CALLED PHYSICAL THERAPY RESOURCES
THAT EVENTUALLY BECAME A NATIONAL COMPANY
WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY CENTERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
Schillinger: STEVE AND I MET AT WORK, HE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL,
AND I WAS IN THE SAME HOSPITAL,
AND THAT'S HOW WE MET AND BECAME FRIENDS.
French: HE WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL AND EVENTUALLY SOLD HIS INTEREST
IN HIS BUSINESS AND BASICALLY FROM THAT POINT ON,
HE WAS RETIRED.
Clayton-Leslie: HIS GOAL WAS TO RETIRE AT THE AGE OF 40.
HE MISSED IT BY ONE YEAR. HE RETIRED WHEN HE WAS 41.
Narrator: SELLING HIS BUSINESS FREES UP STEVE
TO DO WHATEVER HE WANTS.
AND WHAT HE WANTS TO DO IS GIVE BACK.
French: HE WOULD MENTOR SUCH A LARGE GROUP OF YOUNG MEN,
HELPING THEM START UP A BUSINESS OR HELPING THEM
FIND OUT WHAT DIRECTION THEY WANT THEIR LIFE TO GO.
STEVE WAS EXTREMELY GENEROUS WITH NOT ONLY HIS RESOURCES
BUT WITH HIS TIME.
Narrator: AND STEVE ALWAYS HAS TIME FOR HIS FAMILY.
ROSIE FILMS AS STEVE TEASES THEIR UNCLE MAX.
[ CONVERSING IN SPANISH ]
OH, GOD.
AND WHEN HIS SISTER ROSIE GETS MARRIED,
IT'S STEVE'S GOOD HUMOR THAT MAKES HIM THE LIFE AND SOUL
OF THE OCCASION.
STEVE WAS ALWAYS THE FIRST GUY
TO GET UP TO GIVE A TOAST ANYWHERE.
HELLO, HELLO, HELLO.
IT WAS ALWAYS AD-LIB FOR HIM FROM THE HEART.
THIS IS MY WAY OF LIKE GETTING AWAY FROM THE EMOTIONAL STUFF.
UM, WILLIAM, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NOT GONNA LOOK AT YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING MY SISTER SO HAPPY,
AND MY DAD.
Narrator: STEVE IS NEVER ONE TO HIDE HIS EMOTIONS.
MY DAD TOLD ME, BEFORE HE PASSED,
TO TAKE CARE OF MY SISTER, TO HONOR YOU,
AND...HE LOVED YOU VERY MUCH.
I HAVE TO GET SERIOUS HERE. HANG ON.
OKAY, COOL. ALRIGHT, I'M COOL. ALRIGHT.
[ LAUGHS ] YOU GUYS ARE GREAT COMPANIONS,
YOU'RE GREAT PARTNERS.
MY SISTER, I'VE NEVER SEEN HER HAPPIER.
Narrator: AFTER THE SPEECHES,
STEVE STEPS UP FOR THE FATHER-DAUGHTER DANCE.
Clayton-Leslie: HE CAME UP AND WE GOT READY TO DANCE
AND BEFORE THE MUSIC STARTED,
WE HAD A VERY, VERY POWERFUL MOMENT.
Narrator: A SURPRISE RECORDING OF THEIR DEARLY DEPARTED FATHER
PLAYS OUT.
HE HAD SO MANY DUTIES THAT DAY, HE WAS MY DAD,
HE WAS THE BEST MAN, HE WAS THE ENTERTAINMENT,
HE WAS THE ONE THAT KEPT EVERYONE CALM,
KEPT EVERYONE LAUGHING.
AND HE WAS A NATURAL AT IT.
Narrator: DESPITE HIS SUCCESS AND CLOSE NETWORK
OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS,
STEVE'S OWN ROMANTIC LIFE HAS BEEN ROCKY.
Garcia: HE LOOKED FOR A PARTNER THAT WAS AS FOCUSED
AND DETERMINED AND LOVING AND CARING AS HE WAS.
AND THAT IS A TALL ORDER TO FILL.
Narrator: NOW 52, HIS FAMILY FIGURES
IT WILL TAKE A VERY SPECIAL PERSON
TO SWEEP HIM OFF HIS FEET.
I THINK STEVE WAS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY ON A LEVEL
HE COULD CONNECT WITH, BOTH EMOTIONALLY, INTELLECTUALLY,
SPIRITUALLY.
Narrator: BUT THREE YEARS LATER, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS.
IN LATE 2009, STEVE DECIDES TO LEAVE HIS HOME STATE OF FLORIDA
FOR A CHANGE OF PACE IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Garcia: HE REALLY LOVED BEING PHYSICAL, HE LOVED WALKING,
HE LOVED ANYTHING TO DO WITH BEING OUTDOORS,
SO WHEN HE MOVED FROM SOUTH FLORIDA TO NORTH CAROLINA,
HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE OUTDOORS A LOT MORE.
Narrator: WITHIN JUST A FEW MONTHS,
STEVE ANNOUNCES THAT HE HAS MET SOMEONE SPECIAL.
HE SEEMED TO HAVE A GLOW THAT HE HAD BEEN MISSING
FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AND HE WAS EXCITED.
Narrator: HER NAME IS LANA WALSH, 12 YEARS HIS JUNIOR.
SHE'S A NURSE WHO GREW UP IN OKLAHOMA.
SHE STRUCK ME AS BEING VERY SWEET, VERY QUIET,
BUT VERY SWEET, AND THIS QUIET KIND OF STOOD OUT
BECAUSE STEVE IS NOT VERY QUIET.
French: STEVE'S PERSONALITY WAS GIGANTIC.
SHE WAS MORE LIKE A WALLFLOWER.
Narrator: DESPITE THEIR DIFFERENCES,
STEVE IS SURE SHE'S THE ONE.
THEY WERE VERY AFFECTIONATE WITH EACH OTHER, ALWAYS ARM IN ARM.
STEVE, ALWAYS HUGGING HER, SQUEEZING HER, KISSING HER.
Clayton-Leslie: I FELT HAPPY FOR MY BROTHER. SO, OF COURSE,
ANYBODY THAT HE LOVED, I WAS GOING TO EMBRACE.
Narrator: IT'S NOT LONG FOR STEVE TO ASK LANA
TO MOVE IN WITH HIM.
Clayton-Leslie: AFTER THEY GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER QUITE A BIT MORE,
STEVE PERSUADED HER TO COME TO CHARLOTTE
AND, YOU KNOW, STEVE CAN BE VERY CONVINCING.
Narrator: AND THEY ADD SOME NEW ADDITIONS TO THE FAMILY.
Clayton-Leslie: THE FIRST DOG THAT STEVE AND LANA GOT
WAS GUINNESS, AN ITALIAN GREYHOUND.
THEY LOVED THE BREED.
AND SO THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WANTED ANOTHER ONE.
AND HER NAME WAS SADIE.
Narrator: WITH LANA, STEVE FINALLY FEELS HE'S FOUND
HIS MISSING PIECE.
STEVE ALWAYS HAD GREAT THINGS TO SAY ABOUT HER.
YOU KNOW, HE REFERRED TO AS HIS LANA SUE.
HE COULDN'T HIDE THE FEELINGS HE HAD FOR HER.
HE WAS VERY MUCH IN LOVE WITH HER.
Garcia: I THINK STEVE FOUND HIMSELF WELL GROUNDED WITH LANA.
I FELT LIKE
STEVE FOUND A CERTAIN SENSE OF PEACE WITH HER,
Narrator: STEVE CLAYTON CAME TO NORTH CAROLINA FOR A CHANGE
FROM HIS OLD LIFE, AND FOUND A WHOLE NEW FUTURE.
♪
Narrator: WHEN STEVE CLAYTON DANCED WITH HIS SISTER AT HER WEDDING,
HE DREAMED OF FINDING HIS OWN SPECIAL SOMEONE.
AND NOW, SIX YEARS LATER,
HE'S ABOUT TO MARRY THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE,
A V.A. NURSE NAMED LANA WALSH.
Clayton-Leslie: IT WAS A LOVELY DAY IN NOVEMBER 2013,
MANY OF US HAD TRAVELED TO NORTH CAROLINA
JUST TO BE THERE AND ENJOY THAT DAY WITH HIM,
AND HE MADE IT VERY SPECIAL FOR EVERYONE.
French: LANA AND STEVE'S WEDDING TOOK PLACE
AT THEIR HOUSE IN CHARLOTTE.
IT WAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL EVENT, YOU COULD JUST SEE THE LOVE.
I MEAN, JUST BEAMING. BOTH OF THEM WERE.
Narrator: SOON AFTER, THE COUPLE DECIDE TO RELOCATE
AND MOVE INTO THEIR FOREVER HOME
JUST OVER THE BORDER IN SOUTH CAROLINA
ON THE BANKS OF LAKE WYLIE.
Clayton-Leslie: IT WAS LIKE SOMETHING ON A POSTCARD,
THIS GORGEOUS OCEAN-BLUE HOME
SITTING ON A GORGEOUS PIECE OF LAKEFRONT PROPERTY.
IT WAS VERY LOVELY.
Narrator: THE COUPLE SET ABOUT REFURBISHING THEIR NEW HOME,
DECORATING IT WITH STEVE'S COLLECTION OF ARTWORKS
AND ANTIQUES.
STEVE WAS THE KIND OF PERSON
THAT OBJECTS WERE VERY PERSONAL TO HIM
AND HE WAS VERY PROUD OF HIS POSSESSIONS.
THEY WERE ALL UNIQUE IN SOME WAY.
Narrator: THE MOVE ALLOWS THE COUPLE TO INDULGE
IN THEIR LOVE OF NATURE.
Clayton-Leslie: SO IF THERE WAS SOMETHING FUN
AND OUTDOORSY TO DO,
HE WAS GOING TO BE THE FIRST ONE THERE
AND HE WAS GUNG HO ABOUT IT.
Narrator: THEIR RELOCATION TO SOUTH CAROLINA
ALSO MEANS THE PAIR ARE CLOSER TO STEVE'S EXTENDED FAMILY.
I MARRIED STEVE'S NIECE IN 2010.
SO I OFFICIALLY BECAME HIS NEPHEW.
WE HUNG OUT WITH STEVE AND LANA A LOT
WHEN THEY MOVED UP HERE.
WE WOULD GO OUT TO DINNER WITH THEM,
WE'D GO TO CONCERTS,
WE WOULD GO TO SPECIAL EVENTS EVERY HOLIDAY.
Narrator: THEY'RE ALSO JUST A 30-MINUTE DRIVE
FROM LANA'S SON AND GRANDCHILDREN.
AND THE PAIR NEVER SAY "NO" TO A BIT OF BABYSITTING.
STEVE HAD A WAY WITH CHILDREN BECAUSE STEVE
HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CHILD AT HEART,
SO HE'S THE KIND OF GUY THAT GETS DOWN ON THE FLOOR
AND PLAYS WITH THE KIDS.
Narrator: AND WITH THE KIDS AROUND,
THERE'S NEVER A DULL MOMENT IN THE CLAYTON HOUSEHOLD.
HERE, LANA FILMS STEVE ATTEMPTING TO DESCRIBE THE LIMBO
WHILE HER TWIN GRANDDAUGHTERS WATCH.
Lana: [ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: LANA'S TICKLED,
BUT THE TWINS ARE MORE INTERESTED IN THEIR ICE CREAM.
STEVE ENJOYED PLAYING ALL KINDS OF GAMES,
WHETHER IT WAS SCRABBLE OR EVEN A SILLY CHILD'S GAME.
[ LAUGHTER ]
French: STEVE WAS A HUGE TEDDY BEAR. THEY LOVED TO PLAY WITH HIM.
HE ALWAYS HAD KIDS HANGING ON HIM.
Narrator: AND LANA'S ALWAYS GAME FOR SOME FUN, TOO.
-YEAH! [ LAUGHS ] -OH!
CHEERS.
Narrator: FIVE YEARS INTO THEIR MARRIAGE,
STEVE AND LANA APPEAR TO BE THRIVING,
BUT IN JUNE 2018, STEVE SUDDENLY FALLS ILL.
HE SAYS HE FEELS DIZZY, COMPLAINING OF VERTIGO.
French: HE SAID THAT HIS EAR HURT AND THAT HE FELT NAUSEOUS.
AND HE STARTED GETTING SICK IN THE YARD
AND I FELT REAL BAD FOR HIM.
I KNEW THAT HE HAD HAD ISSUES WITH VERTIGO,
YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO THIS.
Clayton-Leslie: HE SAID HE HAD BEEN VERY ILL
AND DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG.
HE JUST REMEMBERS THAT HE WAS WORKING OUT IN THE GARDEN
AND HE STARTED TO FEEL DIZZY,
A LITTLE NAUSEOUS, A LITTLE DIZZY, HEADACHE,
AND HE THOUGHT THAT MAYBE HE HAD GOTTEN SUNSTROKE.
YOU OKAY?
YEAH.
Narrator: AS A NURSE, LANA THINKS THE BEST THING
FOR STEVE IS BED REST.
HE SAID HE REMEMBERED LAYING DOWN AND HE SAID THE NEXT TIME
HE OPENED HIS EYES, 36 HOURS HAD PASSED.
Narrator: WORRIED, ROSIE CALLS LANA TO SEE
IF SHE CAN EXPLAIN STEVE'S MYSTERY ILLNESS.
Clayton-Leslie: I ASKED HER WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS GOING ON,
BECAUSE THAT'S VERY ODD FOR ANY PERSON OF ANY AGE
TO LOSE 36 HOURS OF TIME.
AND SHE SAID THAT HE WAS FINE AND THAT SHE WAS WATCHING HIM
AND SHE WAS MAKING SURE HE WAS OKAY.
Narrator: THOUGH HE'S NEVER BEEN ILL LIKE THIS BEFORE,
LANA THINKS THAT STEVE IS JUST EXHAUSTED.
I FELT REASSURED THAT LANA WAS THERE TO TAKE CARE OF HIM
IN ANY WAY THAT SHE COULD,
ESPECIALLY WITH HER KNOWLEDGE AS A NURSE.
Narrator: IT SEEMS STEVE'S LARGER-THAN-LIFE ENERGY
IS STARTING TO CATCH UP WITH HIM.
BUT JUST TWO WEEKS LATER,
IT APPEARS LANA'S TREATMENT HAS WORKED.
STEVE'S BACK TO HIS OLD SELF,
THROWING A PARTY FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY.
THAT PARTY WAS JUST AS GREAT AS EVERY OTHER PARTY
WE'D BEEN TO THERE.
STEVE WAS HIS NORMAL, AFFECTIONATE SELF.
EVERYBODY HAD A GREAT TIME.
Narrator: HERE'S STEVE DANCING WITH LANA
AS THEY CELEBRATE IN STYLE.
French: HE GRABBED LANA RIGHT AWAY
AND WE JUST KIND OF FOLLOWED SUIT AND ALL JOINED IN.
I REMEMBER WATCHING THEM HUG AND HIM KISS HER
AND THEY WERE COMPLETELY IN LOVE.
Narrator: THINGS ARE GOOD AT THE CLAYTON HOME AND NO ONE DOUBTS
LANA AND STEVE'S LIVES ARE GOING TO BE HAPPY
AND LONG.
♪
Narrator: ON JULY 21st, 2018, A CALL COMES IN TO YORK COUNTY 911.
POLICE UNITS ARRIVE ON SCENE.
♪
AND BODY CAM FOOTAGE RECORDED BY RESPONDING OFFICER
SERGEANT DAY CAPTURES WHAT THEY FIND.
♪
AS THEY WALK INTO THE FRONT DOOR THERE'S STEVE
RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS GRAND STAIRCASE,
AND UNFORTUNATELY AT THAT POINT HE IS GONE, HE IS DEAD,
YOU HEAR THEM KIND OF WHISPERING AND TALKING IN LOW VOICES,
THAT'S BECAUSE LANA CLAYTON IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER
DISTRAUGHT AND CRYING, SO THEY DON'T WANT
TO SAY ANYTHING THAT'S DISTURBING TO HER.
Narrator: SERGEANT DAY NEEDS TO TALK WITH STEVE'S WIFE, LANA,
TO FIND OUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
LANA TELLS SERGEANT DAY
THAT STEVE HAD BEEN SUFFERING DIZZINESS FOR TWO DAYS.
Thompson: STEVEN HAD BEEN VERY ILL WITH VERTIGO.
SHE HAD FOUND HIM THURSDAY MORNING
THAT HE STOOD UP, GOT VERY DIZZY AND COLLAPSED,
THAT SHE HAD TO HELP HIM UPSTAIRS.
AND SINCE THAT TIME, HE HASN'T BEEN BACK DOWNSTAIRS.
Narrator: DESPITE HER TRAINING,
LANA WAS UNABLE TO RENDER AID TO STEVE.
THAT'S WHEN SHE, I THINK, REALLY PANICS
BECAUSE SHE KNOWS SHE CAN'T DO ANYTHING FURTHER TO HELP HIM.
AND SO SHE IMMEDIATELY RAN OUT WHEN SHE HEARD THE MOTORCYCLE
COMING BY TO WAVE SOMEONE DOWN TO CALL 911.
Narrator: NEPHEW NICK FRENCH IS ON DUTY AS A POLICE OFFICER
WHEN HE GETS THE NEWS.
MY MOM CALLED AND SHE SAID "UNCLE STEVE DIED" AND,
YOU KNOW. JUST KIND OF DISBELIEF.
I MEAN, I KNEW IT WAS FOR REAL,
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT DIDN'T REALLY SINK IN.
SO I GOT DOWN THERE AS QUICK AS I COULD.
I JUST REMEMBER THE WHOLE TIME GOING THROUGH MY HEAD
WAS "HOW? WHY?"
Clayton-Leslie: THE PHONE RANG AND I SAW
THAT IT WAS MY NEPHEW CALLING.
HE SAID "UNCLE STEVE DIED. UNCLE STEVE DIED."
THAT WAS NOT POSSIBLE. IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE.
HOW COULD HE BE GONE? NO, I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
♪
Narrator: WITH ROSIE 700 MILES AWAY,
NICK AND HIS FAMILY RALLY AROUND LANA.
French: I FELT AWFUL BECAUSE I KNEW SHE LOVED UNCLE STEVE
AND I JUST KEPT THINKING, "I'M UPSET RIGHT NOW,
BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT SHE'S GOING THROUGH
TO FIND HER HUSBAND, YOU KNOW, ON THE GROUND LIKE THIS."
Narrator: LANA FEARS STEVE'S VERTIGO COULD HAVE CAUSED
THE FALL DOWN THE STAIRS.
SHE KEPT SAYING THAT, "WELL, I THINK HE FELL DOWN THE STAIRS
AND THAT'S HORRIBLE AND I-I HOPE HE DIDN'T."
Narrator: SERGEANT DAY CHECKS FOR ANY SIGNS
THAT STEVE MAY HAVE BEEN ATTACKED.
Thompson: THIS LOOKED LIKE IT WAS PROBABLY A NATURAL DEATH,
BUT YOU NEVER KNOW.
SO SERGEANT DAY
DOES AT THAT POINT GO UPSTAIRS TO LOOK TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENED.
THAT WOULD BE A LITTLE UNNERVING TO JUST GO THROUGH A LABYRINTH
OF A HOUSE THAT YOU HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE
BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT COULD BE AROUND THE CORNER.
YOU CAN TELL THAT THERE DOES NOT APPEAR
TO BE A SIGN OF STRUGGLE.
NO OTHER SIGNS OF SOMEONE ELSE BEING UP THERE,
HAVING DONE SOMETHING TO HIM, NOTHING SIGNIFICANT AT ALL.
Narrator: IN THE MASTER BEDROOM,
THE BED SHEET IS ALL RUMPLED UP,
BUT NOTHING TO SUGGEST STEVE HAD ANY KIND OF STRUGGLE.
IT LOOKS AS IF THE CAUSE OF DEATH
WILL NOT BE A MYSTERY FOR THE CORONER.
THE CORONER CAN'T SEE ANY CONTUSIONS AND BRUISES.
NOTHING SUGGESTS STEVE FELL DOWN THE STAIRCASE.
IT LOOK AS THOUGH STEVE MADE IT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS
AND THEN COLLAPSED.
French: THE CORONER SAID, "I BELIEVE HE HAD A HEART ATTACK."
AND I KIND OF SAID, "WHAT LEADS YOU TO THAT OPINION?"
AND SHE SAID, "WELL, THE COLORATION OF HIS FACE."
Thompson: THERE WAS BLUENESS THAT WENT ACROSS THE TOP OF THE CHEST,
ALMOST IN A LINE, THAT OFTENTIMES,
ACCORDING TO THE CORONER, IS AN INDICATION
THAT HE MAY HAVE HAD A HEART ATTACK.
Narrator: BACK IN THE LIVING ROOM, SERGEANT DAY TELLS LANA
WHAT THEY THINK HAS HAPPENED.
WHILE LANA DIGESTS THE NEWS,
NICK AND HIS FAMILY HELP WITH CLEANING UP.
French: WE WANTED TO MAKE THE HOUSE
STILL COMFORTABLE ENOUGH FOR HER.
YOU KNOW, WE KNEW SHE WAS GOING TO BE EXHAUSTED
AND SHE HAD TO SPEND THE NIGHT THERE.
Narrator: BUT THEY'RE SHOCKED AT WHAT THEY FIND IN THE BEDROOM.
French: WHEN WE WENT UPSTAIRS, I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE SMELL.
IT WAS A SMELL OF HUMAN FILTH, YOU KNOW, EXCREMENT, URINE.
SO WE LOOKED AROUND,
AND THERE WAS HUGE URINE DISCOLORATION SPOTS
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BED.
Narrator: THE SOILED MATTRESS RAISES SOME QUESTIONS.
SO I'M THINKING THE AMOUNT OF URINE
THAT IT WOULD TAKE TO SOAK THROUGH THIS MATTRESS,
STEVE HAD TO HAVE BEEN GOING TO THE BATHROOM
IN THIS BED FOR DAYS.
SO WE IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT
"WE HAVE TO GET THIS MATTRESS OUT OF THE ROOM."
WE COULD BARELY PICK IT UP. IT WAS EXTREMELY HEAVY.
WE TOOK THE MATTRESS AND WE TOSSED IT OUT OF THE HOUSE.
♪
Narrator: WHEN ROSIE TALKS WITH LANA ON THE PHONE,
SHE ASKS HER, HOW DID STEVE GET SO ILL?
HELLO?
Clayton-Leslie: WHEN I SPOKE WITH LANA MUCH LATER
IN THAT EVENING, I ASKED HER WHAT HAPPENED,
WHAT HAPPENED? AND SHE SAID HE HADN'T BEEN
FEELING WELL FOR A FEW DAYS.
AND I SAID, "WELL, WHY DIDN'T YOU CALL SOMEBODY?
WHY DIDN'T YOU LET SOMEBODY KNOW?"
AND SHE SAID, "WELL, HE WAS STARTING TO FEEL BETTER."
LOOK, ROSIE!
Narrator: SHE SAYS STEVE NEVER CALLED
BECAUSE HE'D BEEN SLEEPING HEAVILY
AND MISPLACED HIS CELLPHONE A WEEK EARLIER.
BYE!
Clayton-Leslie: LANA CLAIMED THAT IT HAD BEEN
MISSING FOR SEVERAL DAYS.
MY BROTHER WAS NEVER, EVER WITHOUT HIS PHONE.
HE JUST WAS ALWAYS ATTACHED TO HIS PHONE,
IT WENT EVERYWHERE WITH HIM.
IT WAS AT THAT POINT WHERE I REALLY FELT
LIKE SOMETHING VERY SINISTER WAS GOING ON
AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
♪
Narrator: STEVE'S SISTER ROSIE ASKS HIS WIDOW, LANA,
ABOUT HIS WILL.
Clayton-Leslie: STEVE AND I HAD TALKED MANY TIMES ABOUT
WHAT IT WAS THAT HE WANTED TO DO WHEN THAT TIME CAME,
AND HE WANTED TO BE BURIED
IN THAT BEAUTIFUL CEMETERY IN FORT LAUDERDALE.
WHEN I ASKED LANA, SHE SAID THERE IS NO WILL.
Narrator: LANA HAS ALREADY MADE THE ARRANGEMENTS.
STEVE IS DUE TO BE CREMATED
AND SHE'S PLANNING HIS MEMORIAL.
ON AUGUST 4th, 2018,
LANA HOLDS THE SERVICE FOR STEVE AT THEIR HOME.
Garcia: IT WAS HIGHLY EMOTIONAL.
EVERYBODY THERE FELT SUCH A DEEP CONNECTION TO STEVE.
IT WAS -- IT WAS JUST HARD TO STAY CALM.
EVEN THOUGH IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A CELEBRATION OF HIS LIFE,
YOU JUST COULDN'T HELP BUT FEEL
JUST THE DEEP, DEEP SORROW THAT EVERYBODY FELT.
Narrator: AT THE MEMORIAL, ROSIE AND THE FAMILY ARE SURPRISED
TO FIND LANA HAS ALREADY STARTED TO CLEAR OUT STEVE'S BELONGINGS.
French: SHE HAD ALREADY BEGAN TAKING ALL OF HIS CLOTHES,
ALL OF HIS PERSONAL ITEMS,
AND SHE DONATED THEM ALL TO THE V.A.
Clayton-Leslie: I WAS ALMOST KNOCKED OFF MY FEET
TO SEE THE NUMBER OF HANGERS, EMPTY HANGERS IN THAT CLOSET
WITH NOT A SINGLE STITCH OF CLOTHES.
A LOT OF WATCHES MISSING, A LOT OF JEWELRY MISSING.
HIS WEDDING RING WAS MISSING.
Narrator: AND LANA'S CLAIMS ABOUT STEVE NOT HAVING A WILL
RAISES FURTHER SUSPICIONS.
Clayton-Leslie: THAT'S SOMETHING THAT STEVE AND I
AND STEVE AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAD DISCUSSED WAS HOW IMPORTANT
IT WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING WAS IN ORDER.
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO LOGIC IN MY BROTHER, AN ACCOUNTANT,
A PERSON WHO WAS METICULOUS WITH HIS FINANCES, NOT HAVING A WILL.
Narrator: THE FAMILY FEEL LIKE SOMETHING ISN'T ADDING UP.
French: WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE HERE.
WE KNOW SOMETHING'S GOING ON, AND THAT WAS WHEN WE CALLED
THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE
AND SAID, "HEY, PLEASE DO AN AUTOPSY.
AND AT THE VERY LEAST, IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT,
DO A TOXICOLOGY." AND THEY AGREED TO IT.
Narrator: DETECTIVE MOTZ OF THE YORK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
IS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAMILY'S SUSPICIONS ABOUT STEVE'S DEATH.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
BUT WHEN THE AUTOPSY REPORT COMES IN,
IT LISTS SIGNS OF HEART DISEASE
AND POINTS TO DEATH BY NATURAL CAUSES.
AH, YES, THANK YOU.
THE INITIAL AUTOPSY STILL SHOWS
THAT IT IS LIKELY A HEART ATTACK,
BUT THEY HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE TOXICOLOGIST REPORT
TO COME BACK TO FINALLY MAKE AN ACTUAL FINDING.
Narrator: IT WILL TAKE A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THOSE RESULTS ARRIVE.
Clayton-Leslie: SO WE WAITED ON PINS AND NEEDLES
FOR THE TRUTH TO COME OUT.
WE JUST KNEW THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING --
SOMETHING WAS VERY WRONG.
THANK YOU.
Narrator: WHEN THE TOXICOLOGY REPORT ON STEVE CLAYTON'S BLOOD
COMES BACK, IT'S SHOCKING.
IT SHOWS TRACES OF SEVERAL SEDATIVES,
INCLUDING MARIJUANA, TEMAZEPAM, AND BENADRYL.
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL THAT.
THE BIGGEST SHOCK IN THE TOXICOLOGY RESULTS
WAS TETRAHYDROZOLINE,
ALSO KNOWN AS THZ, IT IS THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT IN EYEDROPS
LIKE VISINE, MURINE, OR OTHER OVER-THE-COUNTER EYE DROPS.
Narrator: THZ IS NOT EVER MEANT TO BE INGESTED.
GIVEN IN SMALL DOSES, IT MAKES YOU FEEL VERY ILL.
IT MAKES YOU NAUSEOUS, IT MAKES YOU DIZZY.
IT'LL MAKE YOU PASS OUT EVENTUALLY,
BUT IN LARGE QUANTITIES, IT IS DEADLY.
IT SHUTS YOUR CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DOWN
AND IT WILL KILL YOU.
Narrator: THE DETECTIVES LEARN THAT THZ
CAN LIMIT THE BLOOD SUPPLY TO VITAL ORGANS,
LEADING TO A HEART ATTACK.
Thompson: WHEN THE BODY CAM GOES UP THERE, THE VISINE YOU SEE
IS ON THE TALL DRESSER, THAT'S AWAY FROM THE BED,
THAT'S WHERE HE CAN'T GET UP TO GET THE VISINE.
NOW IT'S VERY CLEAR, THIS IS NOT A NATURAL DEATH.
Narrator: DETECTIVE MOTZ
NEEDS TO HAVE A TALK WITH LANA CLAYTON.
FIVE WEEKS AFTER THE SUDDEN DEATH OF HER HUSBAND,
LANA CLAYTON IS QUESTIONED BY DETECTIVES.
THE DETECTIVES WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE MEDICATIONS
FOUND IN STEVE'S BLOOD.
IT'S A LONG LIST,
BUT THERE'S NO MENTION OF THZ, THE DRUG THAT KILLED STEVE.
IT'S COLORLESS, IT'S ODORLESS AND IT'S TASTELESS,
WHICH MAKES IT THE PERFECT THING TO GIVE TO SOMEONE
IF YOU WANT TO POISON THEM.
THE LEVEL OF THZ IN STEVE'S BLOOD WAS SO HIGH
THAT IT WAS CLEAR THAT IT WAS THE CAUSE OF DEATH.
IT IS A LETHAL LEVEL NO MATTER WHAT WAY YOU LOOK AT IT.
Narrator: THE DETECTIVES PRESS ON.
Thompson: THERE ARE BASICALLY TWO THINGS
THAT THE POLICE ARE NOW CONSIDERING.
ONE, HE'S POISONED. THERE'S FOUL PLAY.
TWO, HE INGESTED IT ON HIS OWN,
WHETHER IT WAS INTENTIONAL OR UNINTENTIONAL.
Narrator: BUT AS POLICE PROBE STEVE AND LANA'S RELATIONSHIP...
...LANA CLAIMS THAT STEVE HAD A DARK SIDE.
♪
Narrator: AFTER LANA'S INTERVIEW,
DETECTIVES ORDER A SEARCH OF THE HOUSE.
Thompson: THEY'RE LOOKING FOR CUPS OR GLASSES THAT HAVE A RESIDUE
AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR ANYTHING THEY CAN FIND
THAT HELPS THEM DETERMINE WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS,
ANYTHING DOCUMENT-WISE
THAT WOULD SHOW TROUBLE IN THE MARRIAGE.
BUT DURING THAT TIME, LANA TELLS THE OFFICER
THAT SHE WANTS TO SPEAK AGAIN
WITH DETECTIVE MOTZ.
Narrator: DETECTIVE MOTZ RECORDS WHAT LANA HAS TO SAY.
AAH!
LANA, FOR GOD'S SAKE!
UGH. WAIT, WAIT, WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO, HUH?
Narrator: IT'S THEN THAT LANA DROPS A BOMBSHELL.
IT'S A DAMNING CONFESSION,
BUT THE DETECTIVES CAN'T ARREST LANA JUST YET.
Thompson: AFTER LANA CONFESSED, THE POLICE LEFT.
THEY GOT THEIR DUCKS IN A ROW AS FAR AS
WHAT CHARGES WOULD BE MADE AND THEY WERE READY
TO COME BACK THE NEXT DAY TO ARREST LANA CLAYTON.
Narrator: BUT EARLY THAT MORNING,
THEY GET A CALL FROM ONE OF LANA'S NEIGHBORS.
Thompson: THEY FOUND NOTES OF SUICIDE.
THEY'RE AFRAID THAT SHE'S HARMED HERSELF.
SHE KNEW THE POLICE WERE COMING BACK THE NEXT DAY
AND SHE KNEW THEY WOULD HAVE WARRANTS FOR ARREST.
SHE TURNED THE GAS ON AND WENT UPSTAIRS
AND TOOK SOME PILLS TO KILL HERSELF.
Thompson: THEY FIND HER UNCONSCIOUS IN HER BED.
SHE'S TAKEN INTO THE HOSPITAL WHERE SHE'S TREATED
AND ULTIMATELY RELEASED AND THEN IMMEDIATELY ARRESTED
ON THE CHARGE OF MURDER AND TAMPERING WITH FOOD ITEMS.
Narrator: THE FAMILY IS INFORMED OF LANA'S ARREST.
A DETECTIVE FROM YORK COUNTY CALLED ME AND SAID,
"HEY, NICK, YOU KNOW,
I JUST WANT TO BRING YOU UP TO SPEED HERE.
LANA CONFESSED."
AND I PULLED OVER RIGHT AWAY. IT HIT ME LIKE A TON OF BRICKS,
LITERALLY LIKE A BASEBALL BAT TO THE FACE.
I ANSWERED THE PHONE AND ROSIE WAS ON THE OTHER END SCREAMING
THAT SHE KILLED HIM.
Narrator: ON JANUARY 16th, 2020, LANA ACCEPTS A PLEA DEAL
AND ADMITS GUILT ON CHARGES OF VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER
AND TAMPERING WITH A DRUG OR FOOD PRODUCT.
LANA INSISTS SHE NEVER INTENDED FOR STEVE TO DIE
AND JUST WANTED REVENGE FOR HIS ABUSE.
BUT HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY DON'T BUY THAT STEVE WAS EVER ABUSIVE.
Thompson: SHE TRIES TO ASSASSINATE STEVE'S CHARACTER
BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE WHO KNEW HIM
AND HE HAD MENTORED CAME FORWARD TO SAY
HE WAS A WONDERFUL PERSON.
THERE WAS NO ABUSE OF ANY SORT WITH STEVEN.
SHE WAS TRYING TO DO WHATEVER SHE COULD TO SAVE HERSELF
FROM A VERY, VERY, VERY LONG SENTENCE
AND POSSIBLY THE DEATH PENALTY.
BUT HE WAS A GENTLE SOUL, NOT CAPABLE OF HARMING SOMEONE.
Narrator: BASED ON THE TOXICOLOGY REPORT,
THE PROSECUTORS BELIEVE
STEVE SUFFERED FOR THREE DAYS BEFORE DYING.
Thompson: LANA TELLS US THAT THE FATAL DOSE WAS ON THURSDAY MORNING.
BUT WE KNOW AS A MATTER OF SCIENTIFIC FACT
FROM THE TOXICOLOGIST, THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE.
HE WOULD HAVE DIED THURSDAY MORNING
IF HE HAD INGESTED THAT THURSDAY MORNING.
FOR HIM TO HAVE BEEN SICK ALL OF THAT TIME,
IT INDICATES THAT SHE CONTINUALLY GAVE HIM MEDICATION
THROUGHOUT THAT TIME,
POISONED HIM WITH VISINE LITTLE BY LITTLE.
Narrator: AND LANA, A NURSE,
NEVER SOUGHT TO HELP HIM AFTER THE INITIAL POISONING.
STEVEN WOULD NOT HAVE STAYED IN A URINE-SOAKED MATTRESS.
HE WAS A CLEAN FREAK.
HE WOULD NOT HAVE STOOD FOR SUCH A THING.
HE'S TOO WEAK TO GET UP AND MOVE.
THERE'S NO PHONE IN THE HOUSE, THERE'S NO LANDLINE,
SO HE CAN'T CALL SOMEBODY.
SO THIS PUTS HIM IN THE SITUATION OF BEING TORTURED
WITH NO WAY TO GET HELP.
AND SO FINALLY, SHE KNEW SATURDAY, THAT'S IT.
AND SHE SQUEEZED THAT WHOLE BOTTLE OF VISINE INTO HIS WATER,
HAD HIM DRINK IT,
AND THEN GOES OUT TO MOW THE GRASS
SO SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO WATCH THE HORROR OF HIS DEATH.
♪
INSTEAD OF A NURSE THAT HELPS, SHE IS THE NURSE FROM HELL.
♪
Narrator: 53-YEAR-OLD LANA CLAYTON IS SENTENCED
TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON.
SHE NEVER, NEVER ADMITTED THAT SHE INTENDED TO KILL STEVE,
BUT THE FACTS SHOW OTHERWISE.
Schillinger: I FEEL LIKE THERE'S NO PENALTY THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
GREAT ENOUGH FOR LANA.
THIS IS THREE DAYS OF METHODICALLY POISONING
MY BEST FRIEND AND THEN KILLING HIM.
French: THE THOUGHT PROCESS THAT HAD TO GO INTO
HER PUTTING ON THIS CHARADE.
AND SHE CARRIED THAT RIGHT ON THROUGH TILL THE END.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE DEFINITION OF A MONSTER.
Narrator: BUT LANA ALMOST GOT AWAY WITH IT.
Thompson: THERE ALMOST WASN'T AN AUTOPSY.
IF THERE HADN'T BEEN AN AUTOPSY,
THE RULING OF THE CORONER WOULD HAVE BEEN THIS
WAS LIKELY A HEART EPISODE AND IT WAS NATURAL CAUSES.
Clayton-Leslie: THE TRUTH IS, SHE DID THIS TO HERSELF,
YOU KNOW, HAD SHE BEEN JUST THE SAME QUIET,
GENTLE LANA GRIEVING THE LOSS OF STEVE,
NO ONE WOULD HAVE HAD ANY SUSPICION WHATSOEVER.
Narrator: ALTHOUGH LANA INSISTS STEVE'S DEATH WAS UNINTENTIONAL,
HIS FAMILY AND THE PROSECUTION BELIEVE
IT WAS A DELIBERATE ACT MOTIVATED BY FINANCIAL GAIN.
Thompson: ONE OBVIOUS AND GLARING MOTIVE IS STEVE'S WEALTH.
WITHOUT A WILL IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
EVERYTHING GOES TO THE SPOUSE.
SO LANA WOULD KNOW, "IF STEVE IS GONE, I GET EVERYTHING."
Clayton-Leslie: IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING
MALICIOUS LIKE THIS,
ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS GET RID OF THE WILL
AND EVERYTHING BELONGED TO THEM.
Narrator: THE FAMILY TRY TO MOVE ON WITHOUT STEVE IN THEIR LIVES.
HELLO, HELLO, HELLO.
Schillinger: I MEAN, I MISS A LOT ABOUT STEVE,
BUT I MISS HIS VOICE. I MISS HEARING HIS VOICE.
THIS IS MY WAY OF LIKE GETTING AWAY FROM THE EMOTIONAL STUFF.
Garcia: I THINK WHAT I MISS ABOUT STEVE IS HIS
OVER-THE-TOP PERSONALITY,
THIS BIG, BOISTEROUS, GREGARIOUS CHARACTER
THAT ENTERS THE ROOM AND JUST TAKES OVER EVERYTHING.
YOU SET ME UP.
STEVE WAS AN AMAZING PERSON.
IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT NOT HAVING HIM AROUND.
Clayton-Leslie: THE THING I MISS THE MOST ABOUT STEVE
IS HIS LAUGHTER
AND HIS ABILITY TO LIGHT UP A ROOM.
STEVEN WAS STOLEN FROM EVERYONE WHO LOVED HIM.
♪