1 00:00:03,004 --> 00:00:05,587 (gentle music) 2 00:00:07,733 --> 00:00:10,175 - I used to drink coffee with brenda every morning. 3 00:00:11,737 --> 00:00:14,179 Brenda had something good, every day, cooked. 4 00:00:14,406 --> 00:00:15,305 Yes, indeed. 5 00:00:17,409 --> 00:00:18,925 They had so many questions. 6 00:00:19,078 --> 00:00:21,836 They were asking, "who you think did it?" 7 00:00:21,856 --> 00:00:25,249 They asked me, "did you have anything to do with it?" 8 00:00:25,342 --> 00:00:27,109 How, why would I kill my little sister? 9 00:00:28,845 --> 00:00:30,937 She had been stabbed in the head 10 or more times. 10 00:00:31,032 --> 00:00:32,656 It was a horrible death. 11 00:00:34,109 --> 00:00:36,702 I went to her casket, I told brenda, 12 00:00:36,929 --> 00:00:39,613 Before I die, I'm gonna solve this murder. 13 00:00:39,707 --> 00:00:42,190 And I planned to do just that. 14 00:00:42,209 --> 00:00:45,044 (dramatic music) 15 00:01:13,723 --> 00:01:16,633 - Opelousas used to be a very good place to live in. 16 00:01:16,726 --> 00:01:20,079 When I first started here, it was 1977. 17 00:01:20,306 --> 00:01:23,082 I enjoyed the people that I met in the street, 18 00:01:23,233 --> 00:01:25,567 As an officer in the city, 19 00:01:25,586 --> 00:01:27,711 And the people that I worked with. 20 00:01:29,331 --> 00:01:31,507 You didn't have many homicides. 21 00:01:32,835 --> 00:01:35,819 Things started to change in the town. 22 00:01:35,912 --> 00:01:38,722 As the years went on, it got worse. 23 00:01:40,008 --> 00:01:44,085 (police sirens blaring) 24 00:01:44,105 --> 00:01:46,688 (gentle music) 25 00:01:48,609 --> 00:01:49,900 - On the morning of may 20th, 26 00:01:51,112 --> 00:01:52,686 Brenda came to my house. 27 00:01:52,838 --> 00:01:55,021 I was graduating, getting my ged. 28 00:01:55,116 --> 00:01:58,433 And brenda came and started helping me make finger foods, 29 00:01:58,452 --> 00:02:01,027 Cookies, sandwiches and stuff 30 00:02:01,180 --> 00:02:03,680 For the little party after my graduation. 31 00:02:03,773 --> 00:02:06,792 And brenda stayed at my house until, 32 00:02:07,019 --> 00:02:10,796 I'm sure about 8:30 or nine o'clock that night. 33 00:02:10,947 --> 00:02:13,799 And then it started raining real hard, lightning. 34 00:02:14,026 --> 00:02:15,375 I mean, the lightning was so bright, 35 00:02:15,527 --> 00:02:17,711 You would think it was sunshine outside. 36 00:02:17,863 --> 00:02:19,287 It was raining really hard. 37 00:02:19,306 --> 00:02:20,955 Brenda went back to her apartment. 38 00:02:20,975 --> 00:02:23,308 She said she was gonna go in for the night. 39 00:02:23,460 --> 00:02:24,384 (gentle music) 40 00:02:24,478 --> 00:02:27,037 - [narrator] 29-year-old brenda dupont 41 00:02:27,055 --> 00:02:30,482 Rents a small apartment behind her sister linda's home. 42 00:02:30,709 --> 00:02:33,986 - I used to drink coffee with brenda every morning. 43 00:02:35,823 --> 00:02:39,065 And the next morning I sent lee herbert, my son, 44 00:02:39,218 --> 00:02:41,160 To go get brenda to come eat breakfast. 45 00:02:41,311 --> 00:02:43,311 But brenda didn't answer the door. 46 00:02:43,405 --> 00:02:46,556 And then finally after about the third or fourth time, 47 00:02:46,650 --> 00:02:48,000 I went to my landlord's house 48 00:02:48,227 --> 00:02:51,061 And asked her if I could use her phone to call the police, 49 00:02:51,154 --> 00:02:52,245 'cause I knew something was wrong, 50 00:02:52,398 --> 00:02:54,840 Brenda would've let us in by now. 51 00:02:55,067 --> 00:02:58,068 - [narrator] police arrived to find a locked front door. 52 00:02:58,086 --> 00:03:01,013 The officer knocks but brenda doesn't answer. 53 00:03:01,164 --> 00:03:02,830 (gentle music) 54 00:03:02,850 --> 00:03:06,018 - The first officer that arrived on the scene 55 00:03:06,245 --> 00:03:10,263 Observed a window in the back that was open. 56 00:03:10,416 --> 00:03:12,766 And when she looked through the window, 57 00:03:12,860 --> 00:03:17,437 From her vantage point, she observed brenda's body. 58 00:03:17,589 --> 00:03:18,755 - [narrator] the officer now has to 59 00:03:18,774 --> 00:03:23,017 Get inside brenda's house, any way she can. 60 00:03:23,037 --> 00:03:25,946 - When the policewoman kicked the door in, 61 00:03:26,098 --> 00:03:31,618 I saw the mattress was kind of slanted against the bed frame 62 00:03:32,362 --> 00:03:35,172 And I saw brenda's body in the fetal position. 63 00:03:38,126 --> 00:03:39,459 Her eyes were open, 64 00:03:39,611 --> 00:03:41,178 But I knew she wasn't alive. 65 00:03:43,540 --> 00:03:46,350 When I saw brenda's body on the floor, 66 00:03:48,395 --> 00:03:51,638 And I saw all the blood, I started screaming. 67 00:03:51,790 --> 00:03:54,566 And it was hard because I had to call my family 68 00:03:54,718 --> 00:03:58,070 And tell 'em that brenda was gone. 69 00:03:58,297 --> 00:03:59,238 It was really hard. 70 00:04:01,558 --> 00:04:03,967 (gentle music) 71 00:04:03,986 --> 00:04:07,579 - Brenda was the youngest girl in 12 children. 72 00:04:09,658 --> 00:04:12,976 We were six girls and six boys, 73 00:04:13,069 --> 00:04:15,312 And brenda was the baby girl. 74 00:04:15,330 --> 00:04:16,980 Brenda was my godchild. 75 00:04:17,073 --> 00:04:19,341 My mother chose me to be her godmother. 76 00:04:20,910 --> 00:04:23,011 My dad was a sharecropper. 77 00:04:24,265 --> 00:04:27,248 We had to miss the first six weeks of school 78 00:04:27,342 --> 00:04:29,935 To help my daddy harvest crops. 79 00:04:31,513 --> 00:04:33,755 - They were raised in a little country town 80 00:04:33,774 --> 00:04:35,607 On the bayou. 81 00:04:35,759 --> 00:04:38,502 Very poor people, like many, many families are 82 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:39,836 From this area. 83 00:04:39,855 --> 00:04:42,930 Her dad fed his family catfish from bayou teche 84 00:04:43,025 --> 00:04:47,744 And they lived a very, very loving life in that family. 85 00:04:49,515 --> 00:04:52,349 - I would've done anything for my little sister, brenda, 86 00:04:52,442 --> 00:04:55,685 We all had a share in spoiling brenda. 87 00:04:55,779 --> 00:04:58,705 We called it in french, gateau chaud. 88 00:04:58,857 --> 00:05:00,090 She was my little hot cake. 89 00:05:01,193 --> 00:05:03,693 I spoiled her a lot. 90 00:05:03,712 --> 00:05:07,531 But mom and dad made sure we went to church, 91 00:05:07,624 --> 00:05:09,808 We had catechism once a week, 92 00:05:09,959 --> 00:05:11,935 Like on Saturday mornings. 93 00:05:13,630 --> 00:05:16,056 - Brenda didn't wanna be dressy, dressy all the time. 94 00:05:16,208 --> 00:05:17,891 She wanted to be in her jeans sometimes, 95 00:05:17,985 --> 00:05:19,543 Her little tank tops. 96 00:05:19,561 --> 00:05:21,394 But mom and dad always told brenda, 97 00:05:21,547 --> 00:05:24,714 "you can't wear just anything at church." 98 00:05:24,733 --> 00:05:26,992 - [narrator] when brenda is 18-years-old, 99 00:05:27,219 --> 00:05:30,812 She gives birth to a daughter of her own, monica. 100 00:05:30,831 --> 00:05:33,573 - I do believe she was a little bit nervous 101 00:05:33,725 --> 00:05:35,742 When she found out she was pregnant 102 00:05:35,836 --> 00:05:37,318 'cause she was young. 103 00:05:37,338 --> 00:05:40,080 But brenda was a very good mother. 104 00:05:40,232 --> 00:05:44,176 - She started dating when her mother and father let her go. 105 00:05:44,403 --> 00:05:47,328 And she married a young man she was in love with. 106 00:05:47,422 --> 00:05:49,831 And that didn't last very long. 107 00:05:49,850 --> 00:05:50,998 (gentle music) 108 00:05:51,018 --> 00:05:52,976 - [narrator] the breakup is hard on brenda. 109 00:05:54,355 --> 00:05:56,262 - For she had no income. 110 00:05:56,415 --> 00:05:58,264 Brenda was really depressed then. 111 00:05:58,417 --> 00:06:01,526 That's when the cps got involved. 112 00:06:01,753 --> 00:06:05,346 And then that's how she lost custody of monica. 113 00:06:05,366 --> 00:06:07,440 (gentle music) 114 00:06:07,593 --> 00:06:11,286 - Brenda was depressed after they took monica away from her. 115 00:06:12,856 --> 00:06:14,447 - And they told her, you know, 116 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:16,783 "the only way you get monica back 117 00:06:16,935 --> 00:06:19,936 "is for you to do what the doctors tell you to do, brenda." 118 00:06:20,029 --> 00:06:21,380 She started taking her medications 119 00:06:21,531 --> 00:06:23,364 And she was abiding by it. 120 00:06:23,458 --> 00:06:25,458 Brenda moved next door to me 121 00:06:25,552 --> 00:06:27,869 And she was getting on her feet. 122 00:06:27,888 --> 00:06:29,295 (gentle music) 123 00:06:29,390 --> 00:06:32,540 Brenda would do what she had to do to get her daughter. 124 00:06:32,634 --> 00:06:33,725 Brenda was doing very well. 125 00:06:35,062 --> 00:06:37,687 (gentle music) 126 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:46,980 - I received a call to proceed to the intersection 127 00:06:47,132 --> 00:06:49,557 Of church and railroad. 128 00:06:49,576 --> 00:06:50,817 Did know brenda. 129 00:06:50,969 --> 00:06:55,897 Brenda's sister, linda, lived adjacent to her. 130 00:06:55,991 --> 00:06:57,732 And I knew that she had a daughter. 131 00:06:57,826 --> 00:07:01,068 Brenda was very easy going. 132 00:07:01,163 --> 00:07:02,879 Brenda was funny. 133 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:06,174 She didn't bother anybody. 134 00:07:07,911 --> 00:07:10,654 - I was working as a patrolman on that particular day. 135 00:07:10,747 --> 00:07:12,656 I knew brenda lived at that residence. 136 00:07:12,674 --> 00:07:14,599 I knew linda, her sister. 137 00:07:14,826 --> 00:07:17,010 I knew all of the people that lived in the house. 138 00:07:17,162 --> 00:07:20,330 This wasn't a big city at the time. 139 00:07:20,348 --> 00:07:24,091 I remember, I passed by the crime scene, 140 00:07:24,111 --> 00:07:26,278 There was a lot of people out there. 141 00:07:26,505 --> 00:07:28,763 - [narrator] opelousas police videotape 142 00:07:28,857 --> 00:07:30,073 The gruesome crime scene. 143 00:07:31,526 --> 00:07:33,176 - Going into the crime scene 144 00:07:33,269 --> 00:07:37,013 And observing brenda's body lying there, 145 00:07:37,032 --> 00:07:40,533 It was an overkill, you know, it was blood everywhere. 146 00:07:40,627 --> 00:07:44,521 It was an efficiency home that brenda lived in. 147 00:07:44,614 --> 00:07:47,257 It was a one bedroom, kitchen. 148 00:07:48,469 --> 00:07:51,044 (gentle music) 149 00:07:51,196 --> 00:07:55,790 The thing that stood out to me was the multiple stab wounds. 150 00:07:55,884 --> 00:07:59,293 And the bite marks, that in particular stood out to me. 151 00:07:59,313 --> 00:08:02,388 She had no clothes on, that stuck out to me 152 00:08:02,541 --> 00:08:05,058 That we would have to request, you know, 153 00:08:05,152 --> 00:08:09,879 A sexual assault kit be administered during the autopsy. 154 00:08:09,898 --> 00:08:14,067 I was perplexed and angry at the same time. 155 00:08:14,161 --> 00:08:20,499 Angry because, who in the world would do this to brenda? 156 00:08:22,911 --> 00:08:24,485 When we were going through the crime scene, 157 00:08:24,505 --> 00:08:28,248 We were looking for any possible weapons, 158 00:08:28,342 --> 00:08:31,343 Anything that the suspect could have left behind 159 00:08:31,570 --> 00:08:33,236 At that crime scene. 160 00:08:33,329 --> 00:08:35,472 We found no weapons in brenda's house, 161 00:08:37,759 --> 00:08:40,334 That could have caused this or that was even linked to this. 162 00:08:40,354 --> 00:08:42,762 (gentle music) 163 00:08:42,914 --> 00:08:45,098 - [narrator] detective victorian zeros in 164 00:08:45,250 --> 00:08:48,026 On the locked door and open window. 165 00:08:48,177 --> 00:08:49,419 - You don't enter a person's house 166 00:08:49,512 --> 00:08:51,512 And then leave out the window. 167 00:08:51,532 --> 00:08:54,591 You know, you come out the same door that they let you in. 168 00:08:54,684 --> 00:08:57,427 The theory at the beginning of brenda's murder 169 00:08:57,445 --> 00:09:01,540 Was that whoever killed her, she let him in. 170 00:09:01,691 --> 00:09:02,207 She knew him. 171 00:09:03,602 --> 00:09:05,359 Because the door was locked. 172 00:09:05,379 --> 00:09:06,545 (gentle music) 173 00:09:06,772 --> 00:09:08,271 - [narrator] detectives focus on the people 174 00:09:08,290 --> 00:09:10,607 Living closest to brenda. 175 00:09:10,625 --> 00:09:15,036 Her sister, linda and linda's boyfriend dicker chavis. 176 00:09:15,055 --> 00:09:17,113 (gentle music) 177 00:09:17,206 --> 00:09:19,206 - They started questioning me. 178 00:09:19,301 --> 00:09:20,875 They had so many questions. 179 00:09:20,894 --> 00:09:23,878 They were asking, "who do you think did it, 180 00:09:23,972 --> 00:09:25,789 "did you have anything to do with it? 181 00:09:25,882 --> 00:09:27,807 How, why would I kill my little sister? 182 00:09:27,959 --> 00:09:28,975 I was angry with the police 183 00:09:29,127 --> 00:09:32,145 Because they were looking directly at us. 184 00:09:32,297 --> 00:09:34,297 Nobody in my house did this. 185 00:09:34,316 --> 00:09:36,299 So if y'all want to find the true murderer, 186 00:09:36,392 --> 00:09:37,892 Go out and find the true murderer. 187 00:09:37,911 --> 00:09:38,968 (gentle music) 188 00:09:39,062 --> 00:09:41,137 - The chief of police at the time, 189 00:09:41,156 --> 00:09:45,066 Summoned all, the entire investigative division 190 00:09:45,085 --> 00:09:49,737 Into going in to canvasing the area. 191 00:09:49,831 --> 00:09:52,816 Sometimes people don't want to come forward right away. 192 00:09:52,909 --> 00:09:54,909 People see things that they don't think 193 00:09:55,003 --> 00:09:56,986 Are important to investigators. 194 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:00,081 A canvas is done to hopefully seek out someone 195 00:10:00,100 --> 00:10:02,434 Who has information relative to the crime. 196 00:10:03,845 --> 00:10:06,771 But the initial canvas on that day, 197 00:10:06,998 --> 00:10:11,835 Revealed no new information relative to brenda's death. 198 00:10:11,853 --> 00:10:15,947 It was extremely rare for this kind of murder, 199 00:10:16,099 --> 00:10:17,857 Something like we had never seen before 200 00:10:17,951 --> 00:10:19,843 And we were at a loss. 201 00:10:19,861 --> 00:10:21,911 We just, this was brutal. 202 00:10:24,850 --> 00:10:27,016 - [narrator] adding to police pressure, 203 00:10:27,035 --> 00:10:29,110 People in the small community are scared 204 00:10:29,204 --> 00:10:32,188 That the killer isn't finished. 205 00:10:32,207 --> 00:10:35,525 - I was very paranoid after my sister was murdered. 206 00:10:35,543 --> 00:10:37,618 I wonder if that's the one killed my sister. 207 00:10:37,638 --> 00:10:39,620 I wonder if he's gonna come after me. 208 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:41,197 - A lot of people were concerned 209 00:10:41,290 --> 00:10:43,958 Because that person who did commit that crime 210 00:10:44,052 --> 00:10:45,385 Is still out there. 211 00:10:45,537 --> 00:10:48,813 And he's probably gonna kill again. 212 00:10:48,965 --> 00:10:51,608 (dramatic music) 213 00:10:59,217 --> 00:11:00,975 - The first thing I was afraid of is that 214 00:11:00,994 --> 00:11:04,070 Whoever killed brenda would come back 215 00:11:04,222 --> 00:11:05,455 And I was afraid of that. 216 00:11:08,317 --> 00:11:10,669 (gentle music) 217 00:11:13,173 --> 00:11:14,731 (birds chirping) 218 00:11:14,749 --> 00:11:16,675 - [narrator] police process the crime scene 219 00:11:16,902 --> 00:11:19,160 And the medical examiner takes brenda's body 220 00:11:19,179 --> 00:11:21,087 To a funeral home. 221 00:11:21,239 --> 00:11:23,907 - It wasn't until I could get to the funeral home 222 00:11:23,925 --> 00:11:26,910 Where we could do a thorough examination 223 00:11:26,928 --> 00:11:28,019 In the presence of the coroner. 224 00:11:30,023 --> 00:11:32,357 - I first became familiar with the brenda dupont case 225 00:11:32,508 --> 00:11:33,750 When I was working 226 00:11:33,768 --> 00:11:36,677 At the louisiana state police crime lab in 1988. 227 00:11:36,697 --> 00:11:39,180 There were over 75 items of evidence 228 00:11:39,199 --> 00:11:42,183 That were submitted to the louisiana state police lab. 229 00:11:42,277 --> 00:11:45,445 I was able to look at the items from the sexual assault kit, 230 00:11:45,539 --> 00:11:48,039 Such as the vaginal washings and the vaginal swabs. 231 00:11:48,191 --> 00:11:50,767 We were able to identify seminal fluid 232 00:11:50,785 --> 00:11:53,712 And actually visually identified spermatozoa. 233 00:11:53,939 --> 00:11:56,381 So we knew that there was a sexual element 234 00:11:56,532 --> 00:11:58,532 Involved to the case. 235 00:11:58,552 --> 00:12:01,386 - [narrator] investigators might have the killer's dna, 236 00:12:01,613 --> 00:12:04,447 But there isn't much they can do with it. 237 00:12:04,466 --> 00:12:07,392 - Well, back in 1988, forensic dna analysis 238 00:12:07,543 --> 00:12:08,542 Was in its infancy. 239 00:12:08,562 --> 00:12:11,730 It just wasn't as precise and accurate 240 00:12:11,881 --> 00:12:13,732 And as widely available as we needed. 241 00:12:13,883 --> 00:12:16,735 There weren't really any workable databases back then 242 00:12:16,886 --> 00:12:18,886 To compare things to. 243 00:12:18,905 --> 00:12:20,146 - [narrator] during the autopsy, 244 00:12:20,298 --> 00:12:24,242 The coroner finds bite marks and 31 stab wounds. 245 00:12:25,728 --> 00:12:26,560 - First thing that popped on me is 246 00:12:26,580 --> 00:12:27,579 If this was, you know, 247 00:12:27,806 --> 00:12:30,415 Certainly this was a crime of passion. 248 00:12:30,566 --> 00:12:32,658 - You want to talk to the people who live close. 249 00:12:32,753 --> 00:12:36,312 You want to talk to people who had knowledge of who she was 250 00:12:36,331 --> 00:12:37,213 And what she did. 251 00:12:38,574 --> 00:12:40,666 The investigators, they talked to several people 252 00:12:40,819 --> 00:12:42,093 Who lived in the neighborhood, 253 00:12:43,430 --> 00:12:45,488 In reference to the murder of brenda dupont. 254 00:12:45,507 --> 00:12:47,766 And you do want to talk to the family members. 255 00:12:47,993 --> 00:12:50,769 The sister lived right in front of brenda dupont. 256 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:51,995 (gentle music) 257 00:12:52,013 --> 00:12:53,846 - They wanted to take me to baton rouge 258 00:12:53,999 --> 00:12:55,756 To take a lie detector test. 259 00:12:55,776 --> 00:12:58,592 And I was willing. 260 00:12:58,612 --> 00:13:01,187 They did the test, said I passed it. 261 00:13:01,339 --> 00:13:03,356 They didn't have to worry about me. 262 00:13:03,450 --> 00:13:06,692 So they continued and continued testing other people 263 00:13:06,845 --> 00:13:09,120 That they thought would've done it. 264 00:13:09,272 --> 00:13:12,624 - [jude] her friend dicker chavis was present. 265 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:16,536 - Dicker was my boyfriend at the time. 266 00:13:16,688 --> 00:13:18,704 Yeah, he lived in the home with me. 267 00:13:18,857 --> 00:13:19,964 He was a working man 268 00:13:21,450 --> 00:13:23,784 And he tried to do everything he could 269 00:13:23,878 --> 00:13:24,928 For me and my children. 270 00:13:26,214 --> 00:13:27,472 And would help brenda too, 271 00:13:27,623 --> 00:13:29,382 Brenda and monica, if they needed. 272 00:13:29,476 --> 00:13:30,642 (gentle music) 273 00:13:30,793 --> 00:13:32,811 - [narrator] the attack on brenda was brutal 274 00:13:33,038 --> 00:13:35,462 And investigators believe brenda's sister 275 00:13:35,482 --> 00:13:39,375 Or her sister's boyfriend would've heard her screaming. 276 00:13:39,394 --> 00:13:42,987 - I believe they questioned dicker a good bit 277 00:13:44,549 --> 00:13:48,901 Because here was dicker, I mean, right next door. 278 00:13:49,054 --> 00:13:53,147 - Initially, we thought that linda and dicker's proximity 279 00:13:53,166 --> 00:13:55,391 And such a horrible and violent crime, 280 00:13:55,410 --> 00:13:57,001 That they didn't hear anything. 281 00:13:57,153 --> 00:14:00,988 You know, we all, investigators talked about that. 282 00:14:01,007 --> 00:14:02,323 (thunder rumbling) 283 00:14:02,342 --> 00:14:03,399 - [narrator] both linda and dicker 284 00:14:03,492 --> 00:14:06,177 Claimed the thunderstorm that night 285 00:14:06,329 --> 00:14:08,012 Must have drowned out brenda's screams. 286 00:14:09,498 --> 00:14:10,423 - [jude] they just didn't hear it. 287 00:14:10,517 --> 00:14:12,241 They just didn't, they heard nothing. 288 00:14:12,335 --> 00:14:17,146 - I know if linda would've heard anything, 289 00:14:18,174 --> 00:14:20,750 Linda would have gone out. 290 00:14:20,768 --> 00:14:22,752 I know linda, linda would've gone out 291 00:14:22,770 --> 00:14:24,988 And faced the killer, no doubt. 292 00:14:26,366 --> 00:14:28,349 - [narrator] while questioning family, 293 00:14:28,368 --> 00:14:30,368 Detectives also discovered that brenda 294 00:14:30,519 --> 00:14:33,779 Had been dating two men named david. 295 00:14:33,932 --> 00:14:36,207 - We learned that brenda was dating both of 'em 296 00:14:36,359 --> 00:14:37,542 During the same time 297 00:14:37,769 --> 00:14:41,437 And we needed to find out if one found one another, 298 00:14:41,530 --> 00:14:43,864 They both got mad at one another, 299 00:14:43,884 --> 00:14:46,033 If this was a revenge killing. 300 00:14:46,052 --> 00:14:49,220 So certainly we had to pick up those two and interview 'em. 301 00:14:49,447 --> 00:14:51,038 - When you get this kind of information, 302 00:14:51,057 --> 00:14:53,299 You try to find that person and talk to 'em 303 00:14:53,451 --> 00:14:55,709 And you know, see, where were they at the time? 304 00:14:55,729 --> 00:14:56,543 What were they doing? 305 00:14:56,563 --> 00:14:58,379 What was going on with them? 306 00:14:58,473 --> 00:15:00,565 And like all other people, 307 00:15:00,716 --> 00:15:03,643 The investigators talked to them about this crime. 308 00:15:03,737 --> 00:15:07,554 - It was later ruled out that they had nothing to do 309 00:15:07,649 --> 00:15:11,576 And were not affiliated with the death of brenda dupont. 310 00:15:13,062 --> 00:15:15,580 (gentle music) 311 00:15:17,475 --> 00:15:19,400 - [narrator] as detectives continue their search 312 00:15:19,419 --> 00:15:22,921 For brenda's killer, her family gathers for her funeral. 313 00:15:24,591 --> 00:15:27,592 11-year-old monica will face life without a mother. 314 00:15:28,929 --> 00:15:33,598 - The whole family was devastated. 315 00:15:34,342 --> 00:15:36,935 I had donated my plot in the cemetery. 316 00:15:38,104 --> 00:15:40,939 My little brother made her headstone, 317 00:15:41,090 --> 00:15:42,682 A beautiful headstone. 318 00:15:42,776 --> 00:15:43,349 (birds chirping) 319 00:15:43,443 --> 00:15:44,442 (gentle music) 320 00:15:44,669 --> 00:15:46,018 - [narrator] the family buries brenda, 321 00:15:46,171 --> 00:15:48,613 With her maiden name, bergeron. 322 00:15:49,265 --> 00:15:51,115 (gentle music) 323 00:15:51,267 --> 00:15:53,785 - It was only the immediate family could view her body 324 00:15:55,271 --> 00:15:57,288 Because it was so badly messed up. 325 00:15:57,440 --> 00:15:59,440 (gentle music) 326 00:15:59,459 --> 00:16:04,036 And when I went to her casket, 327 00:16:04,189 --> 00:16:09,133 I told brenda, before I die, I'm gonna solve this murder. 328 00:16:10,303 --> 00:16:11,260 And I meant that. 329 00:16:12,621 --> 00:16:14,472 - [narrator] one person missing from the funeral 330 00:16:14,623 --> 00:16:16,808 Is brenda's estranged husband, jerry. 331 00:16:19,037 --> 00:16:20,461 - After he found out brenda was murdered, 332 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:21,646 He never came around. 333 00:16:21,797 --> 00:16:24,315 My mom even offered him to be a pallbearer. 334 00:16:24,467 --> 00:16:27,134 He said, yes, and he didn't show up. 335 00:16:27,153 --> 00:16:30,655 But you don't come to your own wife's funeral, come on now. 336 00:16:32,141 --> 00:16:35,067 We thought jerry could be involved in it 337 00:16:35,220 --> 00:16:38,070 Because you know, he didn't want her anymore. 338 00:16:38,223 --> 00:16:40,556 He put her and her little girl out. 339 00:16:40,575 --> 00:16:43,726 And he left brenda for another woman. 340 00:16:43,745 --> 00:16:46,653 - Just a few weeks before she got killed, 341 00:16:46,673 --> 00:16:49,323 She had gone and met up with that woman 342 00:16:49,342 --> 00:16:52,993 That her husband jerry was messing with. 343 00:16:53,087 --> 00:16:55,847 They got into an argument. 344 00:16:57,075 --> 00:16:58,908 And the lady was bigger than her, 345 00:16:59,001 --> 00:17:00,910 But brenda did not back down. 346 00:17:00,928 --> 00:17:04,096 We mentioned everything to the cops. 347 00:17:04,249 --> 00:17:06,249 We told 'em about that. 348 00:17:06,267 --> 00:17:08,601 - Well, we always gonna pick up 349 00:17:08,753 --> 00:17:11,587 And talk to the estranged person. 350 00:17:11,606 --> 00:17:13,865 We have to rule him out as a suspect. 351 00:17:14,016 --> 00:17:16,759 Detectives contact the estrange spouse 352 00:17:16,852 --> 00:17:19,929 To see if it was a revenge killing 353 00:17:19,947 --> 00:17:24,709 And to see if you know there was any culpability. 354 00:17:25,378 --> 00:17:26,377 (gentle music) 355 00:17:26,529 --> 00:17:29,029 - They did question jerry thoroughly 356 00:17:29,049 --> 00:17:31,716 About what happened that night 357 00:17:33,444 --> 00:17:36,888 When brenda and that woman got into an argument. 358 00:17:37,039 --> 00:17:39,057 (gentle music) 359 00:17:39,208 --> 00:17:40,466 - [narrator] police checked jerry 360 00:17:40,618 --> 00:17:43,877 And his girlfriend's alibis and they both hold up. 361 00:17:43,897 --> 00:17:46,397 They're checked off the suspect list. 362 00:17:46,549 --> 00:17:49,308 (gentle music) 363 00:17:49,402 --> 00:17:52,812 - We interviewed, had to be, hundreds of people. 364 00:17:52,906 --> 00:17:56,390 It was an exhaustive list of people that were interviewed. 365 00:17:56,409 --> 00:17:57,800 - [narrator] police have no witnesses, 366 00:17:57,893 --> 00:18:01,537 No solid suspects and no new leads. 367 00:18:02,898 --> 00:18:04,082 - We got to that point where we just 368 00:18:04,233 --> 00:18:07,568 Couldn't do anymore with it until the case evolved. 369 00:18:07,587 --> 00:18:11,238 And I always say about this case is, 370 00:18:11,257 --> 00:18:13,091 This is a case that the evidence 371 00:18:13,242 --> 00:18:15,501 Had to wait for the technology to catch up with it. 372 00:18:15,653 --> 00:18:17,428 - It was very, very frustrating 373 00:18:17,655 --> 00:18:19,931 Because we kept running into dead ends. 374 00:18:21,601 --> 00:18:23,175 - [narrator] police in opelousas were still trying 375 00:18:23,328 --> 00:18:25,269 To catch brenda's killer, 376 00:18:25,496 --> 00:18:27,772 When the town is rocked by another murder. 377 00:18:29,609 --> 00:18:32,276 (dramatic music) 378 00:18:37,784 --> 00:18:40,451 - We had a report of a shooting, 379 00:18:40,678 --> 00:18:44,104 Approximately three or four city blocks 380 00:18:44,198 --> 00:18:46,682 From brenda's homicide. 381 00:18:46,775 --> 00:18:48,126 - A lot of people were concerned 382 00:18:48,277 --> 00:18:51,278 Because it was a pretty shocking thing for 'em 383 00:18:51,297 --> 00:18:54,615 To know that something like this had happened in the city. 384 00:18:54,634 --> 00:18:57,451 - Because of the proximity of the crimes, 385 00:18:57,470 --> 00:18:59,637 We thought that it could be our guy. 386 00:19:06,646 --> 00:19:08,704 (gentle music) 387 00:19:09,649 --> 00:19:11,891 - There was an individual, clint thompson, 388 00:19:12,043 --> 00:19:15,227 Who was a person of interest. 389 00:19:15,321 --> 00:19:17,655 (gentle music) 390 00:19:21,828 --> 00:19:24,311 - [narrator] opelousas police looked for connections 391 00:19:24,330 --> 00:19:27,314 Between clint thompson and brenda's murder. 392 00:19:27,408 --> 00:19:32,128 - He was chasing female into a home, apparently to hurt her. 393 00:19:33,581 --> 00:19:35,989 There was individual, a man, who was at the home 394 00:19:36,009 --> 00:19:37,917 And shot and killed him. 395 00:19:38,011 --> 00:19:39,752 (dramatic music) 396 00:19:39,846 --> 00:19:43,664 - His case had some similarities to brenda's crime 397 00:19:43,683 --> 00:19:46,425 Because he was trying to get into a house, 398 00:19:46,577 --> 00:19:48,502 You know, there was a lady there. 399 00:19:48,521 --> 00:19:51,247 You know, we thought that, hey, that was the big break, 400 00:19:51,265 --> 00:19:52,581 This was it. 401 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:54,859 It was very, very urgent. 402 00:19:55,086 --> 00:19:59,030 Either we have our man who committed this 403 00:19:59,181 --> 00:20:01,424 Horrible crime at brenda's house, 404 00:20:01,442 --> 00:20:03,826 Or we still have a killer out on the loose. 405 00:20:05,763 --> 00:20:07,112 - [narrator] the dead man may just be the killer, 406 00:20:07,207 --> 00:20:08,206 They've been hunting. 407 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:12,435 Aiming to link thompson to brenda's murder, 408 00:20:12,453 --> 00:20:16,380 Detective victorian turns to a new forensic technique. 409 00:20:16,532 --> 00:20:19,550 - Forensic odontology, what's called pattern matching 410 00:20:19,702 --> 00:20:22,202 Was touted as being almost as good as fingerprints 411 00:20:22,296 --> 00:20:24,037 By a lot of their experts. 412 00:20:24,057 --> 00:20:26,131 - They knew that there was bite marks 413 00:20:26,284 --> 00:20:27,967 On one of brenda's breasts. 414 00:20:28,061 --> 00:20:29,710 (gentle music) 415 00:20:29,729 --> 00:20:33,231 - The marks was so identifiable on her 416 00:20:33,458 --> 00:20:35,140 That, you know, we had good pictures, 417 00:20:35,293 --> 00:20:37,217 Good pictures to scale. 418 00:20:37,237 --> 00:20:40,312 And we were gonna solve this case. 419 00:20:40,406 --> 00:20:41,888 (gentle music) 420 00:20:41,908 --> 00:20:44,149 My partner and I, at the time, 421 00:20:44,302 --> 00:20:47,319 Went to hattiesburg, mississippi, 422 00:20:47,472 --> 00:20:51,156 Where we met with a forensic odontologist there 423 00:20:51,251 --> 00:20:55,478 Who was sort of world renowned, he had a reputation. 424 00:20:55,496 --> 00:20:57,571 I remember my partner and I sitting down 425 00:20:57,590 --> 00:21:00,499 With this pathologist. 426 00:21:00,651 --> 00:21:02,909 After talking to him, we was just, I mean, 427 00:21:02,929 --> 00:21:04,987 I was just confident that the bite mark 428 00:21:05,006 --> 00:21:07,932 Was gonna bring us to where we needed to be. 429 00:21:08,083 --> 00:21:10,768 (dramatic music) 430 00:21:12,346 --> 00:21:14,772 We needed exemplars of thompson's teeth. 431 00:21:16,167 --> 00:21:18,258 And the coroner did the impressions 432 00:21:18,278 --> 00:21:21,946 And obtained the exemplars we needed. 433 00:21:22,173 --> 00:21:24,264 At that time, we had been in consultation 434 00:21:24,284 --> 00:21:26,842 With a second forensic odontologist, 435 00:21:26,861 --> 00:21:31,455 He was in washington, d.C. At the fbi headquarters. 436 00:21:31,682 --> 00:21:34,867 He advised me if I could get over there, 437 00:21:35,019 --> 00:21:38,370 He would be more than happy to make some determinations. 438 00:21:38,523 --> 00:21:40,781 And you know, at that point I got on the next fight out 439 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:43,375 To washington, d.C. With the exemplars 440 00:21:43,469 --> 00:21:47,696 And met the forensic pathologists at the fbi academy. 441 00:21:47,715 --> 00:21:51,976 So, it was urgent that we get somebody 442 00:21:52,127 --> 00:21:54,870 To examine those exemplars 443 00:21:54,889 --> 00:21:58,040 So that we can move on with our investigation. 444 00:21:58,059 --> 00:22:01,319 - [narrator] detective victorian still has his suspicions 445 00:22:01,546 --> 00:22:04,322 About linda's boyfriend, dicker chavis. 446 00:22:04,473 --> 00:22:07,950 He tests bite samples from both chavis and thompson. 447 00:22:09,495 --> 00:22:13,331 - The exemplars, the forensic odontologist examined 448 00:22:13,482 --> 00:22:17,835 Definitely ruled out dicker ray chavis as a suspect. 449 00:22:17,986 --> 00:22:20,821 However, clint thompson's exemplars 450 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:24,825 Bared some similarities. 451 00:22:24,919 --> 00:22:26,902 I was confident on my way back, 452 00:22:26,995 --> 00:22:29,572 After obtaining that information, 453 00:22:29,665 --> 00:22:34,668 I was hopeful that we had our suspect. 454 00:22:35,262 --> 00:22:36,854 - [narrator] since their prime suspect 455 00:22:37,005 --> 00:22:39,765 Is already dead, investigators can't use 456 00:22:39,917 --> 00:22:42,175 Their usual tactics. 457 00:22:42,195 --> 00:22:44,269 - If this man would've been alive, 458 00:22:44,422 --> 00:22:47,439 We'd make an arrest on him and you put him in jail. 459 00:22:47,592 --> 00:22:50,609 - Certainly you can't talk to him, you can't interview him. 460 00:22:50,761 --> 00:22:53,612 There were things we would like to have known, 461 00:22:53,764 --> 00:22:56,040 A lot of unanswered questions. 462 00:22:56,191 --> 00:22:57,208 (dramatic music) 463 00:22:57,435 --> 00:23:00,786 - The chief of police typed up a statement 464 00:23:00,938 --> 00:23:03,789 That there was a similarity to the bite marks 465 00:23:03,883 --> 00:23:07,218 And sent it to the louisiana state police crime lab. 466 00:23:07,445 --> 00:23:10,704 - Once we had learned that back in 1989, 467 00:23:10,723 --> 00:23:13,682 That a bite mark had been identified, 468 00:23:15,286 --> 00:23:17,043 We'd considered the case solved 469 00:23:17,063 --> 00:23:19,304 Based on the information we had at the time. 470 00:23:19,399 --> 00:23:23,292 - So, most of the people are not even looking at it again. 471 00:23:23,310 --> 00:23:25,461 - When the police came home and mentioned 472 00:23:25,479 --> 00:23:28,555 Clint thompson may have done this to brenda. 473 00:23:28,649 --> 00:23:31,391 I didn't go for it. 474 00:23:31,411 --> 00:23:33,302 I didn't know clint thompson, 475 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:36,080 But I don't think clint thompson did this to brenda. 476 00:23:36,231 --> 00:23:37,489 (dramatic music) 477 00:23:37,583 --> 00:23:40,643 - [narrator] when the pathologist takes a closer look, 478 00:23:40,736 --> 00:23:42,828 He determines that clint thompson 479 00:23:42,980 --> 00:23:45,423 Couldn't have left those bite marks on brenda. 480 00:23:47,151 --> 00:23:49,593 Investigators are right back to square one. 481 00:23:51,656 --> 00:23:55,766 - I felt frustrated, you know, it was sad 482 00:23:55,993 --> 00:23:59,678 Because we couldn't put our hands on the suspect. 483 00:23:59,772 --> 00:24:01,997 - I asked him, what's going on with brenda's murder, 484 00:24:02,016 --> 00:24:03,849 Are y'all still working it? 485 00:24:04,001 --> 00:24:07,186 City court gave me custody of brenda's daughter. 486 00:24:07,280 --> 00:24:08,762 And it was hard, 487 00:24:08,781 --> 00:24:12,174 Because monica's only thing was, "who killed my momma." 488 00:24:12,193 --> 00:24:14,285 And we couldn't answer that. 489 00:24:14,436 --> 00:24:15,453 We couldn't answer it. 490 00:24:16,438 --> 00:24:17,621 What do you tell her? 491 00:24:17,773 --> 00:24:19,957 - [narrator] determined to keep the case alive, 492 00:24:20,108 --> 00:24:23,127 Linda remembers the vow she made on brenda's casket. 493 00:24:24,522 --> 00:24:26,355 - And I said, no, in my book, 494 00:24:26,373 --> 00:24:29,800 It'll never be a cold case file. Never will be, 495 00:24:29,952 --> 00:24:31,635 That's my baby sister, 496 00:24:31,862 --> 00:24:33,545 And I promised her I was gonna solve it, 497 00:24:33,698 --> 00:24:35,764 And I planned to do just that. 498 00:24:37,143 --> 00:24:39,768 (dramatic music) 499 00:24:47,394 --> 00:24:49,895 (traffic noise) 500 00:24:49,989 --> 00:24:52,615 (gentle music) 501 00:24:54,476 --> 00:24:58,554 I keep brenda's pictures in my den on the piano. 502 00:24:58,572 --> 00:25:00,664 And I have some on a bookshelf. 503 00:25:00,816 --> 00:25:05,410 And just remember things that she and I did together. 504 00:25:05,505 --> 00:25:08,321 (gentle music) 505 00:25:08,341 --> 00:25:11,842 I said, brenda, I promised you I was gonna solve this case. 506 00:25:11,994 --> 00:25:14,512 (gentle music) 507 00:25:22,021 --> 00:25:24,021 - [narrator] one year after the murder, 508 00:25:24,172 --> 00:25:28,526 Detectives still have no idea who killed brenda dupont. 509 00:25:31,364 --> 00:25:34,273 - You certainly get tips that you had to follow up on. 510 00:25:34,367 --> 00:25:38,369 It's just that all of it just wasn't turning up anything. 511 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:41,446 We just didn't have anything solid to go with. 512 00:25:41,599 --> 00:25:42,765 - They didn't wanna tell me, 513 00:25:42,858 --> 00:25:45,042 They had made it a cold case file. 514 00:25:45,193 --> 00:25:46,860 (thunder rumbling) 515 00:25:46,879 --> 00:25:48,879 - [narrator] with the passage of time, 516 00:25:49,031 --> 00:25:51,865 Leads in the case vanish like a flash of lightning 517 00:25:51,959 --> 00:25:53,366 In the louisiana night. 518 00:25:53,386 --> 00:25:54,367 (thunder rumbling) 519 00:25:54,461 --> 00:25:56,053 And the case goes cold. 520 00:25:56,204 --> 00:25:59,039 (dramatic music) 521 00:25:59,058 --> 00:26:01,892 (thunder rumbling) 522 00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:08,566 In 1995, 7 years after the murder, 523 00:26:08,793 --> 00:26:11,569 Detective victorian leaves the department. 524 00:26:13,573 --> 00:26:16,056 - Leaving the department and the suspect 525 00:26:16,075 --> 00:26:17,408 Is still running around, 526 00:26:18,744 --> 00:26:21,820 You know, it certainly frustrates you. 527 00:26:21,972 --> 00:26:25,991 And you think about, did we miss out on anything? 528 00:26:26,143 --> 00:26:28,327 Did we leave something behind? 529 00:26:28,421 --> 00:26:30,254 (gentle music) 530 00:26:30,405 --> 00:26:33,090 You know, having to pass in front of that house, 531 00:26:33,317 --> 00:26:35,075 Passing that area at different times, 532 00:26:35,094 --> 00:26:37,928 Certainly triggered certain emotions. 533 00:26:38,080 --> 00:26:40,598 (gentle music) 534 00:26:45,496 --> 00:26:47,253 - [narrator] the now 18-year-old daughter, 535 00:26:47,273 --> 00:26:51,850 Brenda left behind, is haunted by her mother's murder. 536 00:26:52,002 --> 00:26:54,503 - It was hard to see that child 537 00:26:54,521 --> 00:26:57,339 Not being raised by her mother. 538 00:26:57,358 --> 00:27:00,192 Linda loved her dearly and did everything she could 539 00:27:00,286 --> 00:27:01,677 For the child. 540 00:27:01,695 --> 00:27:05,956 But we could tell the child longed for her mother. 541 00:27:07,034 --> 00:27:09,293 - Monica wouldn't stay home. 542 00:27:09,444 --> 00:27:11,111 She got to drinking. 543 00:27:11,130 --> 00:27:13,279 She started drugging. 544 00:27:13,299 --> 00:27:15,949 She wasn't taking good care of herself. 545 00:27:15,968 --> 00:27:20,638 She had friends that didn't care about her. 546 00:27:22,533 --> 00:27:24,933 - [narrator] monica moves to georgia to start over. 547 00:27:26,461 --> 00:27:28,795 Linda, meanwhile, never gives up 548 00:27:28,814 --> 00:27:30,606 On getting justice for brenda. 549 00:27:32,467 --> 00:27:35,878 - Linda's persistence, her bravery, 550 00:27:35,896 --> 00:27:39,731 Her love for her sister kept this hope alive. 551 00:27:39,884 --> 00:27:42,326 But she stayed on them. 552 00:27:42,553 --> 00:27:44,736 And she called the police officer and said, 553 00:27:44,889 --> 00:27:47,498 Please help us find the killer. 554 00:27:47,649 --> 00:27:49,892 After spending 28 years as state police, 555 00:27:49,910 --> 00:27:54,563 I was elected sheriff of st. Landry parish in 2006. 556 00:27:54,656 --> 00:27:56,173 I've been sheriff ever since. 557 00:27:56,324 --> 00:27:58,175 When I first got elected sheriff, in fact, 558 00:27:58,326 --> 00:28:02,346 Linda said, "okay, big boy, we wanna close this case." 559 00:28:02,497 --> 00:28:07,017 She was not a pain, but she would call me routinely. 560 00:28:08,762 --> 00:28:10,503 And she'd called the chief of police at that time 561 00:28:10,523 --> 00:28:13,857 And say, "please help us find the killer." 562 00:28:14,009 --> 00:28:18,178 And when another chief came along, mr. Gallow, 563 00:28:18,197 --> 00:28:21,532 He was hounded, rightfully so, by linda. 564 00:28:22,702 --> 00:28:25,369 (dramatic music) 565 00:28:30,617 --> 00:28:35,379 - I decided to run a campaign for the elected position 566 00:28:35,530 --> 00:28:37,530 Of chief of police. 567 00:28:37,550 --> 00:28:39,274 And during the course of that campaigning, 568 00:28:39,293 --> 00:28:41,534 I came across family members 569 00:28:41,554 --> 00:28:44,963 Who expressed an interest in solving cases 570 00:28:45,115 --> 00:28:48,283 That had gone dormant or cold. 571 00:28:48,376 --> 00:28:51,954 And one family in particular was linda, 572 00:28:51,972 --> 00:28:56,400 Who asked me to please have someone look into this, 573 00:28:56,551 --> 00:28:57,809 Her sister's case. 574 00:28:57,962 --> 00:28:59,570 And I assured her that I would. 575 00:29:00,981 --> 00:29:03,056 - [narrator] when gallow becomes police chief, 576 00:29:03,075 --> 00:29:04,908 He makes good on that promise. 577 00:29:06,394 --> 00:29:09,304 In 2012, the opelousas police department 578 00:29:09,323 --> 00:29:11,540 Starts a new cold case unit. 579 00:29:14,086 --> 00:29:18,313 - I knew the perfect person to look at these cases. 580 00:29:18,332 --> 00:29:20,999 And that individual of course, was dwain grimmet. 581 00:29:21,093 --> 00:29:24,077 It's safe to say that there are certain investigators 582 00:29:24,096 --> 00:29:28,265 Who have a better working relationships with crime labs. 583 00:29:28,416 --> 00:29:30,601 And dwain grimmet is one of those guys. 584 00:29:30,752 --> 00:29:32,344 - When you start working a case like this, 585 00:29:32,496 --> 00:29:35,330 You have to make sure that you have everything 586 00:29:35,349 --> 00:29:38,517 That either the crime lab has or that your office has, 587 00:29:38,669 --> 00:29:40,002 Or had they kept it. 588 00:29:40,020 --> 00:29:43,505 There was a lot of paperwork that I had to regenerate, 589 00:29:43,524 --> 00:29:46,266 Far as getting it from the crime lab, 590 00:29:46,360 --> 00:29:49,845 Or witnesses, you had to find the witnesses and talk to them 591 00:29:49,938 --> 00:29:51,789 And get statements from them again. 592 00:29:51,940 --> 00:29:55,775 - It was obviously, to us, through experience, 593 00:29:55,795 --> 00:29:58,128 That the person that did this knew brenda, 594 00:29:58,280 --> 00:30:02,374 Because of the violence that took place inside the home. 595 00:30:02,468 --> 00:30:04,359 (dramatic music) 596 00:30:04,378 --> 00:30:06,545 - [narrator] when speaking to previous witnesses, 597 00:30:06,697 --> 00:30:08,955 They even bring in dicker chavis, 598 00:30:08,974 --> 00:30:12,142 Who was once a person of interest. 599 00:30:17,483 --> 00:30:18,206 - [narrator] during the interview, 600 00:30:18,225 --> 00:30:20,058 Chavis mentions a name 601 00:30:20,210 --> 00:30:22,486 That had come up early in the investigation, 602 00:30:22,637 --> 00:30:24,154 A boyfriend of brenda's. 603 00:30:29,662 --> 00:30:33,572 - This is someone that knew this victim. 604 00:30:33,724 --> 00:30:37,392 - I was determined to find out what took place 605 00:30:37,411 --> 00:30:40,003 In that house with brenda dupont in 1988. 606 00:30:40,155 --> 00:30:41,839 (dramatic music) 607 00:30:48,922 --> 00:30:51,515 Brenda dupont lived in a home by herself 608 00:30:51,742 --> 00:30:54,759 And someone went inside that home raped 609 00:30:54,912 --> 00:30:58,171 And stabbed her numerous times. 610 00:30:58,190 --> 00:31:00,248 I was trying to find out who it was 611 00:31:00,342 --> 00:31:02,601 That had committed this crime. 612 00:31:02,695 --> 00:31:05,195 (gentle music) 613 00:31:10,352 --> 00:31:13,278 - [narrator] as soon as he hears brenda's boyfriend's name, 614 00:31:13,430 --> 00:31:16,022 Lieutenant grimmet follows up. 615 00:31:16,041 --> 00:31:19,284 - He was dating brenda dupont at the time, 616 00:31:19,436 --> 00:31:22,028 This incident happened with her. 617 00:31:22,047 --> 00:31:24,106 Dicker chavis told me that they thought 618 00:31:24,199 --> 00:31:26,958 That david was involved in this crime. 619 00:31:27,111 --> 00:31:29,945 - [narrator] but the tip from chavis leads nowhere. 620 00:31:29,963 --> 00:31:32,038 - I found out that they were no longer living. 621 00:31:32,057 --> 00:31:33,949 Of course you can't talk to a dead person. 622 00:31:33,967 --> 00:31:37,302 And it's hard to find statements that they had left. 623 00:31:37,454 --> 00:31:40,063 - [narrator] not all hope is lost, however. 624 00:31:40,215 --> 00:31:44,643 Police still have the dna samples taken in 1988. 625 00:31:44,737 --> 00:31:46,886 - Dwain grimmet was saying, "look, we really need 626 00:31:46,906 --> 00:31:49,147 "to look at this evidence again. 627 00:31:49,299 --> 00:31:53,226 "and whatever technologies that be have improved, 628 00:31:53,245 --> 00:31:56,138 "let's do our best to close this out. 629 00:31:56,231 --> 00:31:58,582 "help me to get to the bottom of this." 630 00:32:00,144 --> 00:32:03,311 - So I asked george if he could run swabs, 631 00:32:03,405 --> 00:32:05,738 The breast swabs and the vaginal swabs, 632 00:32:05,758 --> 00:32:07,740 You know, just, 'cause they were 633 00:32:07,834 --> 00:32:11,503 Running a bunch of 'em at the time, they had old cold cases. 634 00:32:11,597 --> 00:32:12,988 (dramatic music) 635 00:32:13,081 --> 00:32:15,748 - It wasn't until 2012 that we actually 636 00:32:15,768 --> 00:32:18,326 Were able to take those vaginal swabs 637 00:32:18,345 --> 00:32:21,087 And test them and get a result. 638 00:32:21,181 --> 00:32:25,517 Normally, we look at 16 genetic markers on the dna molecule. 639 00:32:25,669 --> 00:32:28,019 We got 12 of the 16. 640 00:32:28,172 --> 00:32:29,171 But it was still good enough 641 00:32:29,189 --> 00:32:31,949 That we could get it into a database. 642 00:32:32,100 --> 00:32:35,619 - [perry] so he ran it and he got a hit on it. 643 00:32:35,770 --> 00:32:38,180 - Well, when I called dwain grimmet 644 00:32:38,273 --> 00:32:40,457 And I gave him the name joenell rubin, 645 00:32:41,443 --> 00:32:42,775 His jaw dropped. 646 00:32:42,795 --> 00:32:44,127 It didn't have significance to me, 647 00:32:44,354 --> 00:32:47,355 But to him it definitely had some sort of significance. 648 00:32:47,374 --> 00:32:50,300 - I immediately went to the evidence room 649 00:32:50,527 --> 00:32:54,196 And started searching for brenda's case. 650 00:32:54,214 --> 00:32:56,198 And when I pulled the case out, 651 00:32:56,216 --> 00:32:59,034 There's a bag of eight millimeter tapes 652 00:32:59,052 --> 00:33:02,295 And I grabbed the bag and I start going through it. 653 00:33:02,314 --> 00:33:06,132 And the first person that I come across is joenell rubin. 654 00:33:06,226 --> 00:33:09,635 - [narrator] joenell rubin was 18 when brenda was killed. 655 00:33:09,655 --> 00:33:11,730 Police had questioned him at the time 656 00:33:11,882 --> 00:33:14,658 Because he had a connection to linda's children. 657 00:33:16,328 --> 00:33:19,571 - Joenell was a, don't give a damm about nothing, person. 658 00:33:19,723 --> 00:33:21,164 He was getting arrested a lot. 659 00:33:23,318 --> 00:33:26,503 God, he didn't have a good record. 660 00:33:26,730 --> 00:33:28,580 - Lieutenant grimmet was already familiar 661 00:33:28,732 --> 00:33:30,007 With joenell rubin. 662 00:33:30,158 --> 00:33:31,416 (dramatic music) 663 00:33:31,510 --> 00:33:36,179 - I had known him through my job as a police officer, 664 00:33:36,331 --> 00:33:40,925 Joenell and I had had a couple of encounters, 665 00:33:41,020 --> 00:33:43,836 As me as a police officer in the neighborhood. 666 00:33:43,856 --> 00:33:45,647 He'd get in trouble from time to time. 667 00:33:47,026 --> 00:33:50,602 And I go to the evidence room 668 00:33:50,754 --> 00:33:52,529 And I listen to the tapes 669 00:33:52,680 --> 00:33:55,365 And that's when I find out, pretty much, 670 00:33:55,517 --> 00:33:58,093 That he had scratches on his neck. 671 00:33:58,111 --> 00:34:01,204 Brenda dupont had cuts all over her body, 672 00:34:01,431 --> 00:34:04,949 So the person that was responsible for this 673 00:34:05,102 --> 00:34:09,004 May have had some type of wound on him also. 674 00:34:16,780 --> 00:34:18,871 - Joenell explained he had another girlfriend 675 00:34:18,891 --> 00:34:20,615 And he had gotten to an argument 676 00:34:20,708 --> 00:34:23,543 And she scratched him on his neck. 677 00:34:23,562 --> 00:34:27,472 And that was the reason why he had these marks on his neck. 678 00:34:27,624 --> 00:34:32,235 And so I'm looking for a tape with her and I can't find it. 679 00:34:33,814 --> 00:34:37,132 - [narrator] in 1988, joenell gave police an alibi, 680 00:34:37,150 --> 00:34:38,224 But they never verified it. 681 00:34:38,318 --> 00:34:41,303 Grimmet immediately brings in the woman, 682 00:34:41,321 --> 00:34:44,915 Joenell said could vouch for him, stephanie keys. 683 00:34:58,430 --> 00:35:00,839 - [narrator] linda remembers it differently. 684 00:35:00,991 --> 00:35:03,416 She says rubin was at her home 685 00:35:03,510 --> 00:35:06,103 Right before brenda was killed. 686 00:35:06,254 --> 00:35:10,065 She also recalls another important detail. 687 00:35:13,094 --> 00:35:15,170 She gave us a statement about joenell, 688 00:35:15,188 --> 00:35:16,613 About how joenell was there 689 00:35:16,840 --> 00:35:19,432 The night before this incident happened, 690 00:35:19,451 --> 00:35:20,784 And he was playing with a knife. 691 00:35:33,298 --> 00:35:34,372 (dramatic music) 692 00:35:34,524 --> 00:35:38,026 - And then I learned that joenell rubin 693 00:35:38,044 --> 00:35:41,529 Had been arrested on a domestic abuse charge. 694 00:35:41,548 --> 00:35:45,700 So went to opelousas police department 695 00:35:45,719 --> 00:35:49,146 And I got him outta jail, brought him to my office, 696 00:35:50,724 --> 00:35:53,150 Sat down and started talking to him, to joenell, 697 00:35:53,377 --> 00:35:56,227 In reference to the murder of brenda dupont. 698 00:35:56,380 --> 00:36:00,473 I mean, you still have a lot, you gotta finish the case. 699 00:36:00,492 --> 00:36:02,141 You wanna make sure that the person 700 00:36:02,161 --> 00:36:04,068 That you fixing to put in jail 701 00:36:04,221 --> 00:36:06,905 Is the right person that committed this crime. 702 00:36:06,999 --> 00:36:08,665 (dramatic music) 703 00:36:16,917 --> 00:36:18,675 Once he was placed in the jail, 704 00:36:18,826 --> 00:36:20,510 He was right there in my fingertips. 705 00:36:20,737 --> 00:36:22,679 All I had to go over there and get him 706 00:36:22,906 --> 00:36:25,015 And bring him back to the office and talk to him. 707 00:36:26,167 --> 00:36:28,810 (dramatic music) 708 00:36:34,434 --> 00:36:39,011 I remember walking into this interview room in 2012, 709 00:36:39,031 --> 00:36:43,608 Talking to joenell rubin, knowing that I had dna evidence, 710 00:36:43,702 --> 00:36:45,109 Dna hit on him. 711 00:36:45,262 --> 00:36:48,521 I wasn't sure that he was gonna give me the information 712 00:36:48,615 --> 00:36:50,540 That I was looking for, 713 00:36:50,767 --> 00:36:52,876 But it felt good to have him in that room. 714 00:36:53,103 --> 00:36:55,695 And if you can see that he's crossing his arms. 715 00:36:55,714 --> 00:36:57,288 He wants to listen to what I have to say, 716 00:36:57,441 --> 00:36:59,549 But he doesn't want to give me any information. 717 00:37:06,950 --> 00:37:09,117 - I knew I had dna evidence, a vaginal swab, 718 00:37:09,210 --> 00:37:10,802 So I knew he knew her a lot better 719 00:37:10,954 --> 00:37:11,970 Than what he was telling me. 720 00:37:12,122 --> 00:37:14,564 And he was trying to avoid that question. 721 00:37:14,716 --> 00:37:17,292 - [narrator] to strengthen his case against rubin, 722 00:37:17,310 --> 00:37:21,296 Lieutenant grimmet will need to run a second dna test. 723 00:37:21,314 --> 00:37:24,223 - The thing about getting a hit in the database, 724 00:37:24,243 --> 00:37:25,909 We have to then get a reference sample 725 00:37:26,136 --> 00:37:28,486 Directly from that individual and test it 726 00:37:28,638 --> 00:37:29,895 To confirm the results, 727 00:37:29,990 --> 00:37:32,140 Make sure there wasn't a sample switch in the database 728 00:37:32,158 --> 00:37:33,583 Or something along those lines. 729 00:37:34,920 --> 00:37:37,587 - Joenell had given his dna in texas, 730 00:37:37,814 --> 00:37:39,664 In a case that he was involved in there. 731 00:37:39,816 --> 00:37:41,407 That's how they got the hit. 732 00:37:41,426 --> 00:37:43,334 So we had to do another swab on him 733 00:37:43,487 --> 00:37:44,986 Where we could run it again. 734 00:37:45,005 --> 00:37:49,266 And we were able to get another dna hit on him. 735 00:37:51,419 --> 00:37:54,420 (gentle music) 736 00:37:54,439 --> 00:37:56,180 - Dwain grimmet went to a judge, 737 00:37:56,333 --> 00:37:58,608 Informed him of what he had. 738 00:37:58,835 --> 00:38:02,928 And of course the judge saw probable cause 739 00:38:03,023 --> 00:38:04,856 To sign an arrest warrant. 740 00:38:04,950 --> 00:38:07,450 (gentle music) 741 00:38:12,457 --> 00:38:17,702 - So I brought joenell rubin back to the police department 742 00:38:18,538 --> 00:38:20,780 And I started talking to him again, 743 00:38:20,799 --> 00:38:23,115 As it relates to the murder of brenda dupont. 744 00:38:23,135 --> 00:38:25,760 And he kept kind of pushing my button. 745 00:38:30,534 --> 00:38:32,200 - I, you know, tried to get him to tell me 746 00:38:32,218 --> 00:38:35,887 What had taken place there and he wouldn't budge. 747 00:38:35,981 --> 00:38:38,106 So I told him I had a warrant for his arrest. 748 00:38:43,488 --> 00:38:46,214 I said, I have a vaginal swab 749 00:38:46,232 --> 00:38:50,327 That was taken from brenda dupont that matches you. 750 00:38:57,485 --> 00:38:58,576 - [narrator] joenell rubin is charged 751 00:38:58,728 --> 00:39:02,655 With first degree murder and aggravated rape. 752 00:39:02,674 --> 00:39:05,733 - I was outside sweeping my car ports 753 00:39:05,752 --> 00:39:09,328 And perry gallow called my house and he said, 754 00:39:09,348 --> 00:39:11,406 "I wanna meet you at my office at 12 755 00:39:11,424 --> 00:39:13,499 "'cause we made an arrest." 756 00:39:13,518 --> 00:39:16,077 He said, "we arrested joenell rubin." 757 00:39:16,096 --> 00:39:19,189 I said after 24 years, y'all finally got him. 758 00:39:19,340 --> 00:39:21,858 (gentle music) 759 00:39:24,178 --> 00:39:27,605 - But the uncertainty of a jury trial 760 00:39:27,757 --> 00:39:29,757 And regardless of what evidence 761 00:39:29,776 --> 00:39:32,093 And how much evidence you have, 762 00:39:32,186 --> 00:39:34,704 There's potential for an acquittal. 763 00:39:36,691 --> 00:39:39,376 (dramatic music) 764 00:39:45,942 --> 00:39:47,609 - [linda] when I walked into the courtroom 765 00:39:47,627 --> 00:39:51,221 And I saw joenell rubin, he was full of smiles. 766 00:39:52,891 --> 00:39:54,966 - [narrator] the defense argues that the prosecution 767 00:39:55,118 --> 00:39:57,042 Can't place rubin in the house 768 00:39:57,062 --> 00:39:58,636 Based on the evidence. 769 00:39:58,788 --> 00:40:01,231 Grimmet tells a difference story. 770 00:40:01,382 --> 00:40:03,808 (thunder rumbling) 771 00:40:03,902 --> 00:40:06,628 - Joenell rubin came through the back window 772 00:40:06,646 --> 00:40:08,813 On the south side of the house, 773 00:40:08,907 --> 00:40:12,483 Possibly using that ladder to get into that window 774 00:40:12,636 --> 00:40:14,244 And surprise brenda. 775 00:40:16,139 --> 00:40:19,307 He sexually assaulted her, he stabbed her a number of times, 776 00:40:19,325 --> 00:40:21,325 Probably with the knife that he was carrying. 777 00:40:21,478 --> 00:40:23,828 And he got out of the window. 778 00:40:23,980 --> 00:40:26,071 - I believe it's because brenda 779 00:40:26,091 --> 00:40:29,426 Was sort of defenseless, you know. 780 00:40:29,577 --> 00:40:34,079 He figured, "well she's small, she won't defend herself." 781 00:40:34,174 --> 00:40:36,266 I believe that's what happened. 782 00:40:36,417 --> 00:40:37,600 (dramatic music) 783 00:40:37,752 --> 00:40:40,085 - During the trial, you know, I'm sitting there 784 00:40:40,105 --> 00:40:41,846 And listening to all this evidence 785 00:40:41,998 --> 00:40:43,331 And I'm know what I have. 786 00:40:43,424 --> 00:40:45,424 My heart is pounding, just, you know, 787 00:40:45,444 --> 00:40:46,943 Waiting to hear this verdict. 788 00:40:47,094 --> 00:40:48,519 (dramatic music) 789 00:40:48,672 --> 00:40:52,507 - [narrator] the jury gets the case on January 27th, 2016. 790 00:40:52,600 --> 00:40:55,935 After deliberating for two hours, 791 00:40:55,954 --> 00:40:59,697 They find joenell rubin guilty of first degree murder. 792 00:40:59,791 --> 00:41:01,699 (dramatic music) 793 00:41:01,793 --> 00:41:03,960 - When that verdict come in, that he was guilty. 794 00:41:04,111 --> 00:41:08,631 And then at that time, you saw where it really got to him 795 00:41:09,617 --> 00:41:12,469 And he was taken away. 796 00:41:12,696 --> 00:41:14,378 - And the newspaper man took a picture of, 797 00:41:14,531 --> 00:41:16,639 You could see tears in his face. 798 00:41:16,791 --> 00:41:20,793 Oh god, he just thought he was gonna be found not guilty, 799 00:41:20,812 --> 00:41:22,145 After all these years. 800 00:41:23,707 --> 00:41:25,648 - [narrator] 22 days after he's convicted, 801 00:41:25,800 --> 00:41:29,986 A judge sentences joenell rubin to life in prison. 802 00:41:30,137 --> 00:41:33,231 - It's so much relief, I'm sure not only for me, 803 00:41:33,383 --> 00:41:35,566 The department that was working this case 804 00:41:35,719 --> 00:41:37,068 And also the family, you know, 805 00:41:37,162 --> 00:41:42,056 I know that they were relieved that brenda dupont's killer 806 00:41:42,075 --> 00:41:46,169 Was now going to jail for the rest of his life. 807 00:41:46,320 --> 00:41:47,653 (gentle music) 808 00:41:47,672 --> 00:41:51,174 - [narrator] just two months after rubin is sentenced, 809 00:41:51,325 --> 00:41:55,345 Brenda's daughter, monica passes away at the age of 39. 810 00:41:57,182 --> 00:41:59,423 - Now I know her little girl would still be alive, 811 00:41:59,576 --> 00:42:01,592 If my sister would be alive. 812 00:42:01,686 --> 00:42:04,412 You cannot come to terms 813 00:42:04,430 --> 00:42:06,189 With something like that, that happens. 814 00:42:07,692 --> 00:42:09,675 (gentle music) 815 00:42:09,769 --> 00:42:14,489 Every October we have a day, it's called all saints day. 816 00:42:15,942 --> 00:42:19,202 Once a year, we clean our loved one's graves 817 00:42:20,855 --> 00:42:23,948 And we put them fresh new flowers. 818 00:42:24,042 --> 00:42:27,377 (gentle music) 819 00:42:27,528 --> 00:42:29,879 I like to tell her everything's gonna be okay now. 820 00:42:30,882 --> 00:42:33,383 (gentle music) 821 00:42:33,610 --> 00:42:35,718 You will always be my little gateau chaud. 822 00:42:38,056 --> 00:42:39,347 I love you dearly. 823 00:42:40,559 --> 00:42:43,059 (gentle music) 824 00:42:45,230 --> 00:42:48,139 - I did visit brenda's grave after he was found guilty. 825 00:42:48,291 --> 00:42:50,733 And I told brenda, I was gonna solve this. 826 00:42:50,960 --> 00:42:52,569 And it was, 827 00:42:54,964 --> 00:42:56,814 Like I had did my work. 828 00:42:56,908 --> 00:42:58,241 And there it is. 829 00:42:58,392 --> 00:43:00,059 (gentle music) 830 00:43:00,078 --> 00:43:02,470 And it's like I could feel her, you know, 831 00:43:02,488 --> 00:43:04,322 I could feel her around me. 832 00:43:04,416 --> 00:43:05,748 (gentle music) 833 00:43:05,975 --> 00:43:07,491 Yes, indeed. 834 00:43:07,586 --> 00:43:09,085 (gentle music)