1 00:00:12,178 --> 00:00:16,160 - I'm Craig Melvin, and this is 2 00:00:12,178 --> 00:00:16,160 "Dateline: "Secrets Uncovered." 3 00:00:17,117 --> 00:00:19,419 - She didn't 4 00:00:17,117 --> 00:00:19,419 deserve this. 5 00:00:19,419 --> 00:00:23,957 To kill someone over months, 6 00:00:19,419 --> 00:00:23,957 and months, and months, 7 00:00:23,957 --> 00:00:26,593 there's a lot of ways 8 00:00:23,957 --> 00:00:26,593 to kill someone, 9 00:00:26,593 --> 00:00:28,762 but I've never seen 10 00:00:26,593 --> 00:00:28,762 anything like this. 11 00:00:28,762 --> 00:00:31,364 - A devastating 12 00:00:28,762 --> 00:00:31,364 mystery illness. 13 00:00:31,364 --> 00:00:32,766 - She was in 14 00:00:31,364 --> 00:00:32,766 a lot of pain. 15 00:00:32,766 --> 00:00:34,634 She was in 16 00:00:32,766 --> 00:00:34,634 excruciating pain. 17 00:00:34,634 --> 00:00:37,971 - I saw her walking, 18 00:00:34,634 --> 00:00:37,971 and she walked like a-- 19 00:00:37,971 --> 00:00:40,407 - Like a zombie. 20 00:00:37,971 --> 00:00:40,407 - Like a zombie. 21 00:00:40,407 --> 00:00:42,175 - I knew she was gone. 22 00:00:42,175 --> 00:00:44,978 - What was happening 23 00:00:42,175 --> 00:00:44,978 to this young mom? 24 00:00:44,978 --> 00:00:46,579 - So, when you're 25 00:00:44,978 --> 00:00:46,579 seeing this... 26 00:00:46,579 --> 00:00:47,847 - We're like, 27 00:00:46,579 --> 00:00:47,847 oh, my gosh. 28 00:00:47,847 --> 00:00:50,550 Someone said, 29 00:00:47,847 --> 00:00:50,550 "Could this be a poison?" 30 00:00:50,550 --> 00:00:52,919 - This is the kind of stuff 31 00:00:50,550 --> 00:00:52,919 that was used 32 00:00:52,919 --> 00:00:55,355 by Russian KGB agents. 33 00:00:55,355 --> 00:00:59,292 - Who in their right mind 34 00:00:55,355 --> 00:00:59,292 would even think of this? 35 00:00:59,292 --> 00:01:00,593 - You need to search 36 00:00:59,292 --> 00:01:00,593 those computers. 37 00:01:00,593 --> 00:01:01,861 You need to search 38 00:01:00,593 --> 00:01:01,861 those phones. 39 00:01:01,861 --> 00:01:03,530 - This is being done to her 40 00:01:01,861 --> 00:01:03,530 on purpose, 41 00:01:03,530 --> 00:01:06,660 and she is in danger. 42 00:01:06,660 --> 00:01:08,668 - This evil 43 00:01:06,660 --> 00:01:08,668 came into our lives. 44 00:01:08,668 --> 00:01:10,203 How can this be? 45 00:01:10,203 --> 00:01:18,611 ** 46 00:01:18,611 --> 00:01:22,449 - Hello, and welcome to 47 00:01:18,611 --> 00:01:22,449 "Dateline: Secrets Uncovered." 48 00:01:22,449 --> 00:01:25,551 Brigida Uto was 49 00:01:22,449 --> 00:01:25,551 a vibrant young mother 50 00:01:25,551 --> 00:01:27,987 married to 51 00:01:25,551 --> 00:01:27,987 her high school sweetheart 52 00:01:27,987 --> 00:01:30,789 when suddenly 53 00:01:27,987 --> 00:01:30,789 her health collapsed. 54 00:01:30,789 --> 00:01:33,793 Doctors were stumped 55 00:01:30,789 --> 00:01:33,793 as her symptoms multiplied. 56 00:01:33,793 --> 00:01:37,163 Then the case 57 00:01:33,793 --> 00:01:37,163 took a sinister turn. 58 00:01:37,163 --> 00:01:41,568 Someone protecting 59 00:01:37,163 --> 00:01:41,568 a secret wanted Brigida dead. 60 00:01:41,568 --> 00:01:44,871 Could investigators 61 00:01:41,568 --> 00:01:44,871 stop the evil plot in time? 62 00:01:44,871 --> 00:01:50,310 Here's Natalie Morales with 63 00:01:44,871 --> 00:01:50,310 "The Prussian Blue Mystery." 64 00:01:50,310 --> 00:01:52,245 - From the moment 65 00:01:50,310 --> 00:01:52,245 the ambulance arrived 66 00:01:52,245 --> 00:01:57,170 at the San Diego 67 00:01:52,245 --> 00:01:57,170 Emergency Room in March 2018, 68 00:01:57,170 --> 00:02:00,920 the situation was 69 00:01:57,170 --> 00:02:00,920 frightening and desperate. 70 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:03,957 Triage nurse Laura Comstock 71 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:03,957 took one look 72 00:02:03,957 --> 00:02:06,126 at the young woman 73 00:02:03,957 --> 00:02:06,126 on the gurney 74 00:02:06,126 --> 00:02:10,630 and knew something was 75 00:02:06,126 --> 00:02:10,630 terribly, terribly wrong. 76 00:02:10,630 --> 00:02:11,898 - She was losing 77 00:02:10,630 --> 00:02:11,898 her vision. 78 00:02:11,898 --> 00:02:13,333 She couldn't feel 79 00:02:11,898 --> 00:02:13,333 her extremities, 80 00:02:13,333 --> 00:02:15,680 her feet, and her hands. 81 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:19,105 She couldn't even see the water 82 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:19,105 that I was giving her. 83 00:02:19,105 --> 00:02:21,841 - The patient's name 84 00:02:19,105 --> 00:02:21,841 was Brigida Uto. 85 00:02:21,841 --> 00:02:23,943 She had just turned 28. 86 00:02:23,943 --> 00:02:26,379 Yet, she seemed to be 87 00:02:23,943 --> 00:02:26,379 near death. 88 00:02:26,379 --> 00:02:29,349 At that point, I mean, 89 00:02:26,379 --> 00:02:29,349 she was very, very sick. 90 00:02:29,349 --> 00:02:31,685 - Oh, she was probably the 91 00:02:29,349 --> 00:02:31,685 sickest patient in the ER 92 00:02:31,685 --> 00:02:33,860 at that time. 93 00:02:33,860 --> 00:02:34,254 I had told my co-workers 94 00:02:34,254 --> 00:02:37,900 that, you know, 95 00:02:34,254 --> 00:02:37,900 she might code on me. 96 00:02:37,900 --> 00:02:40,192 - Whatever was killing Brigida, 97 00:02:37,900 --> 00:02:40,192 wasn't evident. 98 00:02:40,192 --> 00:02:42,862 There were no bruises, 99 00:02:40,192 --> 00:02:42,862 no wounds, 100 00:02:42,862 --> 00:02:45,432 no obvious signs 101 00:02:42,862 --> 00:02:45,432 of infection. 102 00:02:45,432 --> 00:02:49,235 And yet, when Dr. Jeff LaPoint 103 00:02:45,432 --> 00:02:49,235 examined her... 104 00:02:49,235 --> 00:02:51,938 - She was critically ill. 105 00:02:49,235 --> 00:02:51,938 She was very ill. 106 00:02:51,938 --> 00:02:55,800 - So began an unusual 107 00:02:51,938 --> 00:02:55,800 detective story. 108 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:56,710 First, the doctors 109 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:56,710 had to unravel 110 00:02:56,710 --> 00:02:58,478 a medical mystery. 111 00:02:58,478 --> 00:03:02,949 And soon enough, real detectives 112 00:02:58,478 --> 00:03:02,949 would be on the case, too. 113 00:03:02,949 --> 00:03:04,651 But at that moment... 114 00:03:04,651 --> 00:03:08,221 - We saw someone who was 115 00:03:04,651 --> 00:03:08,221 almost-almost apathetic. 116 00:03:08,221 --> 00:03:09,522 Didn't have a personality. 117 00:03:09,522 --> 00:03:11,558 I mean, she could barely talk 118 00:03:09,522 --> 00:03:11,558 and tell us anything. 119 00:03:11,558 --> 00:03:13,827 It was really hard 120 00:03:11,558 --> 00:03:13,827 to get a history. 121 00:03:13,827 --> 00:03:15,950 - Looking for clues, 122 00:03:15,950 --> 00:03:17,831 Dr. LaPoint dove into 123 00:03:15,950 --> 00:03:17,831 her medical records, 124 00:03:17,831 --> 00:03:19,666 and they were extensive. 125 00:03:19,666 --> 00:03:21,901 Brigida had been 126 00:03:19,666 --> 00:03:21,901 suffering for months-- 127 00:03:21,901 --> 00:03:25,572 nausea, fatigue, 128 00:03:21,901 --> 00:03:25,572 excruciating pain. 129 00:03:25,572 --> 00:03:27,507 She had been in and out 130 00:03:25,572 --> 00:03:27,507 of doctors' offices 131 00:03:27,507 --> 00:03:29,341 and ERs repeatedly. 132 00:03:29,341 --> 00:03:31,511 Her sister, Olga, 133 00:03:29,341 --> 00:03:31,511 says Brigida's illness 134 00:03:31,511 --> 00:03:33,480 would come on suddenly. 135 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:36,549 - She was, all of a sudden, 136 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:36,549 violently sick, 137 00:03:36,549 --> 00:03:41,388 um, had to call out from work, 138 00:03:36,549 --> 00:03:41,388 and just sick for days. 139 00:03:41,388 --> 00:03:44,224 - Various doctors 140 00:03:41,388 --> 00:03:44,224 had come up with theories, 141 00:03:44,224 --> 00:03:47,327 from fibroids to cancer. 142 00:03:47,327 --> 00:03:50,497 - There was one doctor 143 00:03:47,327 --> 00:03:50,497 that actually told her 144 00:03:50,497 --> 00:03:53,667 that, "Oh, you just have 145 00:03:50,497 --> 00:03:53,667 really bad menstrual cramps," 146 00:03:53,667 --> 00:03:55,268 'cause she felt like-- 147 00:03:53,667 --> 00:03:55,268 one of her symptoms was, 148 00:03:55,268 --> 00:03:56,569 she felt that her ovaries 149 00:03:56,569 --> 00:03:58,772 were about to fall out 150 00:03:56,569 --> 00:03:58,772 of her body. 151 00:03:58,772 --> 00:04:00,273 And she called me, 152 00:03:58,772 --> 00:04:00,273 and she told me this, 153 00:04:00,273 --> 00:04:01,708 and she was crying, 154 00:04:00,273 --> 00:04:01,708 and she was upset. 155 00:04:01,708 --> 00:04:04,411 She was like, 156 00:04:01,708 --> 00:04:04,411 "I don't know what to do." 157 00:04:04,411 --> 00:04:07,480 And I'm frustrated 158 00:04:04,411 --> 00:04:07,480 because no one can tell us 159 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:09,716 what is wrong with her. 160 00:04:09,716 --> 00:04:13,319 - Brigida had wondered if stress 161 00:04:09,716 --> 00:04:13,319 could be making her sick. 162 00:04:13,319 --> 00:04:15,355 She had a toddler 163 00:04:13,319 --> 00:04:15,355 to chase around, 164 00:04:15,355 --> 00:04:18,725 a husband in the Navy who was 165 00:04:15,355 --> 00:04:18,725 trying to find a new career, 166 00:04:18,725 --> 00:04:20,927 and a new job 167 00:04:18,725 --> 00:04:20,927 teaching special ed. 168 00:04:20,927 --> 00:04:23,830 It was thrilling 169 00:04:20,927 --> 00:04:23,830 but overwhelming. 170 00:04:23,830 --> 00:04:27,670 So, doctors put her on 171 00:04:23,830 --> 00:04:27,670 medication for depression, 172 00:04:27,670 --> 00:04:29,769 but then 173 00:04:27,670 --> 00:04:29,769 she got sick, again. 174 00:04:29,769 --> 00:04:32,605 - Then she kept going 175 00:04:29,769 --> 00:04:32,605 to the doctor's, 176 00:04:32,605 --> 00:04:34,741 and she kept feeling worse, 177 00:04:32,605 --> 00:04:34,741 and worse, and worse, 178 00:04:34,741 --> 00:04:37,243 and then she started 179 00:04:34,741 --> 00:04:37,243 losing a lot of weight. 180 00:04:37,243 --> 00:04:39,479 - Brigida's mom, 181 00:04:37,243 --> 00:04:39,479 also named Olga, 182 00:04:39,479 --> 00:04:43,116 felt helpless as her 183 00:04:39,479 --> 00:04:43,116 daughter's illness progressed. 184 00:04:43,116 --> 00:04:44,651 Were you getting 185 00:04:43,116 --> 00:04:44,651 more and more worried 186 00:04:44,651 --> 00:04:45,819 seeing your daughter 187 00:04:44,651 --> 00:04:45,819 waste away? 188 00:04:45,819 --> 00:04:47,870 - Yes. Yes, oh, yes. 189 00:04:47,870 --> 00:04:49,155 I guess she was getting tired 190 00:04:47,870 --> 00:04:49,155 of going to the doctors 191 00:04:49,155 --> 00:04:52,125 and-and them 192 00:04:49,155 --> 00:04:52,125 finding nothing. 193 00:04:52,125 --> 00:04:55,729 [sighs] 194 00:04:52,125 --> 00:04:55,729 She says, "Mom, I give up. 195 00:04:55,729 --> 00:04:58,865 I'm not gonna go 196 00:04:55,729 --> 00:04:58,865 to the doctors anymore." 197 00:04:58,865 --> 00:05:00,734 I said, "No, you can't. 198 00:05:00,734 --> 00:05:03,903 "You have to go back. 199 00:05:00,734 --> 00:05:03,903 You can't give up." 200 00:05:03,903 --> 00:05:08,108 She was not even walking 201 00:05:03,903 --> 00:05:08,108 normally anymore. 202 00:05:08,108 --> 00:05:11,440 - Just when it seemed 203 00:05:08,108 --> 00:05:11,440 things couldn't get worse, 204 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:13,646 a disturbing new symptom. 205 00:05:13,646 --> 00:05:16,349 - I went next door 206 00:05:13,646 --> 00:05:16,349 to see her, 207 00:05:16,349 --> 00:05:21,421 and she-- we ended up 208 00:05:16,349 --> 00:05:21,421 on her kitchen floor, 209 00:05:21,421 --> 00:05:23,456 and she was crying to me, 210 00:05:23,456 --> 00:05:26,459 and she said she had pulled out 211 00:05:23,456 --> 00:05:26,459 a chunk of her hair. 212 00:05:26,459 --> 00:05:30,497 Like, just in the shower, 213 00:05:26,459 --> 00:05:30,497 it came out. 214 00:05:30,497 --> 00:05:32,899 - Brigida's beautiful 215 00:05:30,497 --> 00:05:32,899 dark brown locks 216 00:05:32,899 --> 00:05:36,536 started falling out 217 00:05:32,899 --> 00:05:36,536 by the fistful. 218 00:05:36,536 --> 00:05:38,805 When you're seeing her 219 00:05:36,536 --> 00:05:38,805 lose her hair, 220 00:05:38,805 --> 00:05:40,340 she felt that that was 221 00:05:38,805 --> 00:05:40,340 her most beautiful trait. 222 00:05:40,340 --> 00:05:42,808 - Yeah, yeah, uh-huh. 223 00:05:40,340 --> 00:05:42,808 She-- yeah. 224 00:05:42,808 --> 00:05:46,790 - How concerned were you? 225 00:05:42,808 --> 00:05:46,790 - We were very concerned. 226 00:05:46,790 --> 00:05:48,682 I think March 5th is when 227 00:05:46,790 --> 00:05:48,682 she called me in the morning 228 00:05:48,682 --> 00:05:51,918 and said, "Mom, I need to go 229 00:05:48,682 --> 00:05:51,918 to the hospital." 230 00:05:51,918 --> 00:05:54,870 She goes, 231 00:05:51,918 --> 00:05:54,870 "I can hardly breathe." 232 00:05:54,870 --> 00:05:55,522 - Brigida lived 233 00:05:54,870 --> 00:05:55,522 in the country 234 00:05:55,522 --> 00:05:58,224 in a house right next 235 00:05:55,522 --> 00:05:58,224 to her parents. 236 00:05:58,224 --> 00:06:00,827 And yet, that morning, 237 00:05:58,224 --> 00:06:00,827 she couldn't really see 238 00:06:00,827 --> 00:06:04,164 her way to their place, 239 00:06:00,827 --> 00:06:04,164 and the pain in her legs 240 00:06:04,164 --> 00:06:08,635 was so bad she could barely 241 00:06:04,164 --> 00:06:08,635 get into her mother's SUV. 242 00:06:08,635 --> 00:06:12,405 - So, I tried to help her 243 00:06:08,635 --> 00:06:12,405 by raising her leg, 244 00:06:12,405 --> 00:06:14,774 but even the touch 245 00:06:12,405 --> 00:06:14,774 was painful. 246 00:06:14,774 --> 00:06:16,676 She screamed. 247 00:06:16,676 --> 00:06:20,480 - Her mom raced her to the 248 00:06:16,676 --> 00:06:20,480 naval hospital in San Diego. 249 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:23,116 - She said, "Mom, just drop me 250 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:23,116 off as close as you can 251 00:06:23,116 --> 00:06:26,152 to the entrance." 252 00:06:23,116 --> 00:06:26,152 And, uh... 253 00:06:26,152 --> 00:06:30,223 [crying] 254 00:06:30,223 --> 00:06:32,459 I still remember. 255 00:06:32,459 --> 00:06:38,640 I saw her walking, 256 00:06:32,459 --> 00:06:38,640 and she walked like a-- 257 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:41,167 you know, the- 258 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:41,167 the walking dead. 259 00:06:41,167 --> 00:06:43,336 - Like a zombie. 260 00:06:41,167 --> 00:06:43,336 - Like a zombie. 261 00:06:43,336 --> 00:06:45,710 It was horrible. 262 00:06:45,710 --> 00:06:46,840 - But the Navy doctors 263 00:06:45,710 --> 00:06:46,840 couldn't figure out 264 00:06:46,840 --> 00:06:48,274 what was wrong, either. 265 00:06:48,274 --> 00:06:51,478 Brigida's husband took her back 266 00:06:48,274 --> 00:06:51,478 to their family doctor, 267 00:06:51,478 --> 00:06:55,281 who called an ambulance 268 00:06:51,478 --> 00:06:55,281 when he saw how sick she was. 269 00:06:55,281 --> 00:06:56,983 Now, at Kaiser Hospital, 270 00:06:56,983 --> 00:07:00,353 she was Dr. LaPoint's 271 00:06:56,983 --> 00:07:00,353 mystery patient. 272 00:07:00,353 --> 00:07:02,550 - One of the emergency 273 00:07:00,353 --> 00:07:02,550 physicians who was working, 274 00:07:02,550 --> 00:07:04,924 he saw her and said, 275 00:07:02,550 --> 00:07:04,924 "It's just not right." 276 00:07:04,924 --> 00:07:07,160 And from there, 277 00:07:04,924 --> 00:07:07,160 our team was called. 278 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:09,696 - Dr. LaPoint 279 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:09,696 has board certification 280 00:07:09,696 --> 00:07:14,340 in medical toxicology, 281 00:07:09,696 --> 00:07:14,340 a rare thing in an ER. 282 00:07:14,340 --> 00:07:15,168 As it happened, 283 00:07:15,168 --> 00:07:18,710 his expertise 284 00:07:15,168 --> 00:07:18,710 would prove critical. 285 00:07:18,710 --> 00:07:19,739 - As a medical toxicologist, 286 00:07:18,710 --> 00:07:19,739 I'm a little bit more 287 00:07:19,739 --> 00:07:22,442 in the detective, 288 00:07:19,739 --> 00:07:22,442 like, role. 289 00:07:22,442 --> 00:07:25,512 - So, what was causing 290 00:07:22,442 --> 00:07:25,512 Brigida's hair to fall out, 291 00:07:25,512 --> 00:07:27,614 not to mention 292 00:07:25,512 --> 00:07:27,614 the severe pain, 293 00:07:27,614 --> 00:07:29,783 vision loss, 294 00:07:27,614 --> 00:07:29,783 and weakness? 295 00:07:29,783 --> 00:07:32,850 The doctors, when they 296 00:07:29,783 --> 00:07:32,850 first saw her, said, 297 00:07:32,850 --> 00:07:34,621 "Oh, it could be, 298 00:07:32,850 --> 00:07:34,621 you know, lupus or..." 299 00:07:34,621 --> 00:07:36,723 - Right. She had, like, 300 00:07:34,621 --> 00:07:36,723 this chronic, 301 00:07:36,723 --> 00:07:39,859 kind of withering, 302 00:07:36,723 --> 00:07:39,859 slow course, 303 00:07:39,859 --> 00:07:42,195 and so autoimmune stuff 304 00:07:39,859 --> 00:07:42,195 was on the list. 305 00:07:42,195 --> 00:07:43,596 Uh, malignancy 306 00:07:42,195 --> 00:07:43,596 is on the list. 307 00:07:43,596 --> 00:07:46,990 Although, not-- cancer doesn't 308 00:07:43,596 --> 00:07:46,990 make you lose your hair. 309 00:07:46,990 --> 00:07:48,368 It's the chemotherapy 310 00:07:46,990 --> 00:07:48,368 that makes you lose your hair. 311 00:07:48,368 --> 00:07:52,439 - Dr. LaPoint knew he had 312 00:07:48,368 --> 00:07:52,439 to solve this mystery fast. 313 00:07:52,439 --> 00:07:56,276 Brigida was fading. 314 00:07:52,439 --> 00:07:56,276 The clock was ticking. 315 00:07:56,276 --> 00:07:58,578 - When I saw her, 316 00:07:56,276 --> 00:07:58,578 and I knew she was dying, 317 00:07:58,578 --> 00:08:00,130 she was in a lot of pain. 318 00:08:00,130 --> 00:08:02,515 She was in 319 00:08:00,130 --> 00:08:02,515 excruciating pain. 320 00:08:02,515 --> 00:08:05,719 And I remember being 321 00:08:02,515 --> 00:08:05,719 in the hospital room 322 00:08:05,719 --> 00:08:08,855 when she's like, "I want to be 323 00:08:05,719 --> 00:08:08,855 close to my sister." 324 00:08:08,855 --> 00:08:13,260 And she, like, put herself 325 00:08:08,855 --> 00:08:13,260 through insane amount of pain 326 00:08:13,260 --> 00:08:15,495 just to turn her body, 327 00:08:13,260 --> 00:08:15,495 so she could look at me. 328 00:08:15,495 --> 00:08:17,797 - How close was she 329 00:08:15,495 --> 00:08:17,797 to dying? 330 00:08:22,902 --> 00:08:25,105 - I watched my sister 331 00:08:22,902 --> 00:08:25,105 almost die. 332 00:08:25,105 --> 00:08:27,874 I knew she was gone. 333 00:08:27,874 --> 00:08:30,276 - Brigida's loved ones 334 00:08:27,874 --> 00:08:30,276 braced for the worst, 335 00:08:30,276 --> 00:08:32,779 and the race 336 00:08:30,276 --> 00:08:32,779 to unravel this mystery 337 00:08:32,779 --> 00:08:34,313 goes into overdrive. 338 00:08:34,313 --> 00:08:36,383 Coming up... 339 00:08:36,383 --> 00:08:37,851 - Your daughter is getting 340 00:08:36,383 --> 00:08:37,851 weaker and weaker. 341 00:08:37,851 --> 00:08:39,152 - Weaker, and weaker, 342 00:08:37,851 --> 00:08:39,152 and weaker. 343 00:08:39,152 --> 00:08:40,820 - She was losing 344 00:08:39,152 --> 00:08:40,820 her vision. 345 00:08:40,820 --> 00:08:42,355 - She was losing everything. 346 00:08:42,355 --> 00:08:45,892 - Were her husband and 347 00:08:42,355 --> 00:08:45,892 young son in danger, too? 348 00:08:45,892 --> 00:08:48,610 - I have a child 349 00:08:45,892 --> 00:08:48,610 in the equation now. 350 00:08:48,610 --> 00:08:49,195 I have a spouse. 351 00:08:49,195 --> 00:08:50,730 Let's make sure 352 00:08:49,195 --> 00:08:50,730 the child is safe. 353 00:08:50,730 --> 00:08:52,599 Make sure that they 354 00:08:50,730 --> 00:08:52,599 haven't been exposed. 355 00:08:52,699 --> 00:09:04,678 ** 356 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:09,490 - Here at Kaiser Permanente 357 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:09,490 Hospital in San Diego, 358 00:09:09,490 --> 00:09:11,618 Brigida Uto was so weak, 359 00:09:11,618 --> 00:09:13,420 she couldn't even 360 00:09:11,618 --> 00:09:13,420 conjure up the energy 361 00:09:13,420 --> 00:09:16,156 to care about what was 362 00:09:13,420 --> 00:09:16,156 happening to her. 363 00:09:16,156 --> 00:09:19,859 Doctors have a term for patients 364 00:09:16,156 --> 00:09:19,859 in this apathetic state, 365 00:09:19,859 --> 00:09:22,195 la belle 366 00:09:19,859 --> 00:09:22,195 indifference. 367 00:09:22,195 --> 00:09:25,432 - You've lost your hair, 368 00:09:22,195 --> 00:09:25,432 and you can't walk, 369 00:09:25,432 --> 00:09:27,867 and you're wasting away. 370 00:09:25,432 --> 00:09:27,867 You're so sick. 371 00:09:27,867 --> 00:09:29,202 You don't have 372 00:09:27,867 --> 00:09:29,202 the insight to go, 373 00:09:29,202 --> 00:09:30,470 oh, my gosh, 374 00:09:29,202 --> 00:09:30,470 I'm really sick. 375 00:09:30,470 --> 00:09:32,339 It's almost just like, 376 00:09:30,470 --> 00:09:32,339 oh, it's fine. 377 00:09:32,339 --> 00:09:35,750 - And that tells you right 378 00:09:32,339 --> 00:09:35,750 there, like, she was as sick 379 00:09:35,750 --> 00:09:38,111 as she could get and possibly 380 00:09:35,750 --> 00:09:38,111 was near death. 381 00:09:38,111 --> 00:09:40,513 - I-I think so. Yeah. 382 00:09:40,513 --> 00:09:43,490 - Dr. Jeff LaPoint 383 00:09:40,513 --> 00:09:43,490 didn't know for sure 384 00:09:43,490 --> 00:09:47,821 what was making Brigida sick 385 00:09:43,490 --> 00:09:47,821 but to his toxicologist mind, 386 00:09:47,821 --> 00:09:50,457 her symptoms indicated 387 00:09:47,821 --> 00:09:50,457 she might have been exposed 388 00:09:50,457 --> 00:09:52,592 to a toxic chemical, 389 00:09:52,592 --> 00:09:56,629 and he realized she might 390 00:09:52,592 --> 00:09:56,629 not be the only one. 391 00:09:56,629 --> 00:09:57,764 - There's so many 392 00:09:56,629 --> 00:09:57,764 moving pieces. 393 00:09:57,764 --> 00:10:00,367 I have a child 394 00:09:57,764 --> 00:10:00,367 in the equation now. 395 00:10:00,367 --> 00:10:01,534 I have a spouse. 396 00:10:01,534 --> 00:10:03,770 And let's make sure 397 00:10:01,534 --> 00:10:03,770 that we're observing them. 398 00:10:03,770 --> 00:10:05,171 Make sure the child 399 00:10:03,770 --> 00:10:05,171 is safe. 400 00:10:05,171 --> 00:10:07,607 Make sure that they haven't 401 00:10:05,171 --> 00:10:07,607 been exposed. 402 00:10:07,607 --> 00:10:09,342 - He had Brigida's 403 00:10:07,607 --> 00:10:09,342 husband and son 404 00:10:09,342 --> 00:10:12,278 admitted to a separate 405 00:10:09,342 --> 00:10:12,278 hospital for testing. 406 00:10:12,278 --> 00:10:15,248 And for safety's sake, 407 00:10:12,278 --> 00:10:15,248 he banned all visitors 408 00:10:15,248 --> 00:10:19,786 from Brigida's hospital room, 409 00:10:15,248 --> 00:10:19,786 even immediate family. 410 00:10:19,786 --> 00:10:21,388 And there was a time 411 00:10:19,786 --> 00:10:21,388 where you didn't know 412 00:10:21,388 --> 00:10:23,230 what was happening 413 00:10:21,388 --> 00:10:23,230 with your sister. 414 00:10:23,230 --> 00:10:23,990 - Mm-hmm. 415 00:10:23,990 --> 00:10:25,558 - Did you think 416 00:10:23,990 --> 00:10:25,558 this is it? 417 00:10:25,558 --> 00:10:28,940 She might be gone already, 418 00:10:25,558 --> 00:10:28,940 and nobody is telling us. 419 00:10:28,940 --> 00:10:29,329 - Yeah. 420 00:10:28,940 --> 00:10:29,329 Oh, yeah. 421 00:10:29,329 --> 00:10:32,632 I was like a zombie, 422 00:10:29,329 --> 00:10:32,632 a walking zombie, 423 00:10:32,632 --> 00:10:37,103 just going through the motions 424 00:10:32,632 --> 00:10:37,103 and hoping that she's okay, 425 00:10:37,103 --> 00:10:39,506 knowing that 426 00:10:37,103 --> 00:10:39,506 if they hadn't called me 427 00:10:39,506 --> 00:10:42,876 to tell me that she's gone, 428 00:10:39,506 --> 00:10:42,876 it's because she's still here. 429 00:10:42,876 --> 00:10:45,578 - Olga is two years younger 430 00:10:42,876 --> 00:10:45,578 than Brigida. 431 00:10:45,578 --> 00:10:47,881 They've always been close. 432 00:10:47,881 --> 00:10:49,449 - We shared a bedroom 433 00:10:47,881 --> 00:10:49,449 when we were little, 434 00:10:49,449 --> 00:10:51,510 so, of course, 435 00:10:49,449 --> 00:10:51,510 we had-- like, 436 00:10:51,510 --> 00:10:52,686 every night 437 00:10:51,510 --> 00:10:52,686 was like a sleepover. 438 00:10:52,686 --> 00:10:53,853 We did everything 439 00:10:52,686 --> 00:10:53,853 together. 440 00:10:53,853 --> 00:10:55,889 We literally were there 441 00:10:53,853 --> 00:10:55,889 for each other 442 00:10:55,889 --> 00:10:59,159 for everything that happened 443 00:10:55,889 --> 00:10:59,159 through our childhood, 444 00:10:59,159 --> 00:11:01,610 teenage years, 445 00:10:59,159 --> 00:11:01,610 adult life. 446 00:11:01,610 --> 00:11:02,829 You know, she was 447 00:11:01,610 --> 00:11:02,829 my go-to person. 448 00:11:02,829 --> 00:11:04,164 - Their dad, 449 00:11:02,829 --> 00:11:04,164 John McInvale, 450 00:11:04,164 --> 00:11:06,900 had worked for U.S. Customs 451 00:11:04,164 --> 00:11:06,900 at the border. 452 00:11:06,900 --> 00:11:09,936 They'd grown up 453 00:11:06,900 --> 00:11:09,936 in rural San Diego County. 454 00:11:09,936 --> 00:11:11,538 There's no real dangers. 455 00:11:11,538 --> 00:11:13,707 It's a safe, 456 00:11:11,538 --> 00:11:13,707 idyllic upbringing 457 00:11:13,707 --> 00:11:15,442 for your daughters? 458 00:11:13,707 --> 00:11:15,442 - It's safe. 459 00:11:15,442 --> 00:11:16,676 Every place 460 00:11:15,442 --> 00:11:16,676 has its dangers. 461 00:11:16,676 --> 00:11:19,479 I mean, we, over the years, 462 00:11:16,676 --> 00:11:19,479 we've had, you know, 463 00:11:19,479 --> 00:11:21,781 a rattlesnake here 464 00:11:19,479 --> 00:11:21,781 or there, or, uh, 465 00:11:21,781 --> 00:11:24,184 you know, somebody came through 466 00:11:21,781 --> 00:11:24,184 and stole a pickup truck. 467 00:11:24,184 --> 00:11:26,686 There's dangers, 468 00:11:24,184 --> 00:11:26,686 but that goes with anywhere. 469 00:11:26,686 --> 00:11:29,456 You know, you can't 470 00:11:26,686 --> 00:11:29,456 protect 'em from everything. 471 00:11:29,456 --> 00:11:32,192 - From their dad, 472 00:11:29,456 --> 00:11:32,192 the girls learned caution. 473 00:11:32,192 --> 00:11:33,226 From their mom, 474 00:11:33,226 --> 00:11:35,628 they learned 475 00:11:33,226 --> 00:11:35,628 the importance of faith. 476 00:11:35,628 --> 00:11:37,564 - I put 'em in 477 00:11:35,628 --> 00:11:37,564 a Catholic school. 478 00:11:37,564 --> 00:11:39,699 They teach you 479 00:11:37,564 --> 00:11:39,699 a lot of moral values 480 00:11:39,699 --> 00:11:43,236 and things that are 481 00:11:39,699 --> 00:11:43,236 important in life. 482 00:11:43,236 --> 00:11:46,172 - And Brigida would beg to 483 00:11:43,236 --> 00:11:46,172 go to church during the week. 484 00:11:46,172 --> 00:11:48,808 Is that true? 485 00:11:46,172 --> 00:11:48,808 - During the week, yes. 486 00:11:48,808 --> 00:11:51,111 - A little girl who begged 487 00:11:48,808 --> 00:11:51,111 to go to church 488 00:11:51,111 --> 00:11:53,480 grew into an accomplished 489 00:11:51,111 --> 00:11:53,480 young woman 490 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:57,150 who ran cross country 491 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:57,150 and excelled in school. 492 00:11:57,150 --> 00:11:59,552 Did she put a lot of 493 00:11:57,150 --> 00:11:59,552 pressure on herself then? 494 00:11:59,552 --> 00:12:00,720 - Oh, yes. 495 00:11:59,552 --> 00:12:00,720 - To be perfect. 496 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:03,890 - Always. She's always 497 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:03,890 been that way. 498 00:12:03,890 --> 00:12:04,457 Even in kindergarten, 499 00:12:04,457 --> 00:12:06,593 they used to get 500 00:12:04,457 --> 00:12:06,593 a lot of homework, 501 00:12:06,593 --> 00:12:08,395 and she's the type of girl 502 00:12:06,593 --> 00:12:08,395 that if she made 503 00:12:08,395 --> 00:12:10,630 a little mistake, 504 00:12:08,395 --> 00:12:10,630 she didn't want to have 505 00:12:10,630 --> 00:12:13,333 her pages show that 506 00:12:10,630 --> 00:12:13,333 she had erased something. 507 00:12:13,333 --> 00:12:16,169 She would start all over. 508 00:12:16,169 --> 00:12:18,638 - Near the end of her 509 00:12:16,169 --> 00:12:18,638 senior year in high school, 510 00:12:18,638 --> 00:12:21,508 Brigida met a young man 511 00:12:18,638 --> 00:12:21,508 named Race Uto, 512 00:12:21,508 --> 00:12:24,844 a runner like she was, 513 00:12:21,508 --> 00:12:24,844 a grade behind her, 514 00:12:24,844 --> 00:12:26,790 but ambitious, 515 00:12:26,790 --> 00:12:28,114 and determined to go to 516 00:12:26,790 --> 00:12:28,114 the Naval Academy 517 00:12:28,114 --> 00:12:30,830 in Annapolis. 518 00:12:30,830 --> 00:12:31,651 When did you first hear 519 00:12:30,830 --> 00:12:31,651 about Race? 520 00:12:31,651 --> 00:12:33,353 - I was 16 years old. 521 00:12:33,353 --> 00:12:36,423 I remember she met him 522 00:12:33,353 --> 00:12:36,423 at a car show. 523 00:12:36,423 --> 00:12:38,992 She was there doing the event 524 00:12:36,423 --> 00:12:38,992 for her graduating class. 525 00:12:38,992 --> 00:12:40,160 He didn't go to 526 00:12:38,992 --> 00:12:40,160 our high school, 527 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:41,361 but he was there, 528 00:12:41,361 --> 00:12:42,996 and I just remember her 529 00:12:41,361 --> 00:12:42,996 saying something afterwards 530 00:12:42,996 --> 00:12:44,798 like, "I met this guy," 531 00:12:42,996 --> 00:12:44,798 basically. 532 00:12:44,798 --> 00:12:46,399 And I was like, 533 00:12:44,798 --> 00:12:46,399 "Oh, okay." 534 00:12:46,399 --> 00:12:47,701 I didn't think much of it 535 00:12:47,701 --> 00:12:48,835 'cause my sister 536 00:12:47,701 --> 00:12:48,835 didn't really, 537 00:12:48,835 --> 00:12:50,603 like, date that much. 538 00:12:50,603 --> 00:12:52,639 - But as Olga 539 00:12:50,603 --> 00:12:52,639 got to know him better, 540 00:12:52,639 --> 00:12:56,209 she thought Race might just 541 00:12:52,639 --> 00:12:56,209 be the guy Brigida needed. 542 00:12:56,209 --> 00:12:58,111 - She was always very, 543 00:12:56,209 --> 00:12:58,111 like, into her books, 544 00:12:58,111 --> 00:13:00,780 very, like, 545 00:12:58,111 --> 00:13:00,780 she stuck to the rules. 546 00:13:00,780 --> 00:13:03,416 He took to that adventurous 547 00:13:00,780 --> 00:13:03,416 part of her life. 548 00:13:03,416 --> 00:13:05,418 - Kind of got her 549 00:13:03,416 --> 00:13:05,418 out of her shell. 550 00:13:05,418 --> 00:13:07,530 - Oh, definitely got her 551 00:13:05,418 --> 00:13:07,530 out of her shell. 552 00:13:07,530 --> 00:13:11,570 I saw a different side of her 553 00:13:07,530 --> 00:13:11,570 when she was with him. 554 00:13:11,570 --> 00:13:12,859 - Race made it to 555 00:13:11,570 --> 00:13:12,859 the Naval Academy 556 00:13:12,859 --> 00:13:15,495 like he wanted, 557 00:13:12,859 --> 00:13:15,495 but he suffered a hernia 558 00:13:15,495 --> 00:13:17,464 that never healed properly, 559 00:13:17,464 --> 00:13:19,466 and eventually 560 00:13:17,464 --> 00:13:19,466 he had to withdraw, 561 00:13:19,466 --> 00:13:21,501 without graduating. 562 00:13:21,501 --> 00:13:23,536 He did join 563 00:13:21,501 --> 00:13:23,536 the Navy, though. 564 00:13:23,536 --> 00:13:27,540 Then, in 2014, 565 00:13:23,536 --> 00:13:27,540 Brigida and Race married. 566 00:13:27,540 --> 00:13:28,575 And very soon, 567 00:13:28,575 --> 00:13:30,643 she was pregnant 568 00:13:28,575 --> 00:13:30,643 with their son. 569 00:13:30,643 --> 00:13:33,813 Everyone was thrilled 570 00:13:30,643 --> 00:13:33,813 when the baby came. 571 00:13:33,813 --> 00:13:35,615 - We were all excited, 572 00:13:33,813 --> 00:13:35,615 really. 573 00:13:35,615 --> 00:13:37,417 We'd sit there, like-like 574 00:13:35,615 --> 00:13:37,417 when we were little, 575 00:13:37,417 --> 00:13:40,860 and we had a little doll, 576 00:13:37,417 --> 00:13:40,860 and we'd hold my nephew, 577 00:13:40,860 --> 00:13:42,188 and we'd take turns, 578 00:13:40,860 --> 00:13:42,188 and, like, you know, like, 579 00:13:42,188 --> 00:13:44,491 I'd take care of him 580 00:13:42,188 --> 00:13:44,491 while she's sleeping 581 00:13:44,491 --> 00:13:47,327 or trying to rest. 582 00:13:44,491 --> 00:13:47,327 And watching her learn 583 00:13:47,327 --> 00:13:49,896 and, like, experience being 584 00:13:47,327 --> 00:13:49,896 a mom for the first time, 585 00:13:49,896 --> 00:13:53,767 how she wanted to be, 586 00:13:49,896 --> 00:13:53,767 it was beautiful. 587 00:13:53,767 --> 00:13:57,300 - Then just before 588 00:13:53,767 --> 00:13:57,300 her son turned two, 589 00:13:57,300 --> 00:13:58,972 Brigida got sick. 590 00:13:58,972 --> 00:14:02,342 Soon, she could barely 591 00:13:58,972 --> 00:14:02,342 pick up her child. 592 00:14:02,342 --> 00:14:03,743 And your daughter is 593 00:14:02,342 --> 00:14:03,743 getting weaker and weaker. 594 00:14:03,743 --> 00:14:05,545 - Weaker, and weaker, 595 00:14:03,743 --> 00:14:05,545 and weaker. 596 00:14:05,545 --> 00:14:09,549 - And she can barely walk. 597 00:14:05,545 --> 00:14:09,549 She was losing her vision. 598 00:14:09,549 --> 00:14:11,418 - She was losing 599 00:14:09,549 --> 00:14:11,418 everything. 600 00:14:11,418 --> 00:14:12,952 - Now, in the hospital, 601 00:14:12,952 --> 00:14:15,880 toxicologist Jeff LaPoint 602 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:17,290 developed 603 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:17,290 a chilling suspicion 604 00:14:17,290 --> 00:14:20,160 about what was wrong 605 00:14:17,290 --> 00:14:20,160 with Brigida. 606 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:21,361 - We're all just like, 607 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:21,361 do you think? 608 00:14:21,361 --> 00:14:23,630 Oh, my God. 609 00:14:24,431 --> 00:14:25,732 - Coming up... 610 00:14:25,732 --> 00:14:27,701 - It's really good at 611 00:14:25,732 --> 00:14:27,701 killing things, 612 00:14:27,701 --> 00:14:29,402 um, at the end of the day. 613 00:14:29,402 --> 00:14:32,572 - A rare and devastating 614 00:14:29,402 --> 00:14:32,572 diagnosis. 615 00:14:32,572 --> 00:14:34,874 - Highly toxic. 616 00:14:32,572 --> 00:14:34,874 - Highly toxic. 617 00:14:34,874 --> 00:14:36,109 - This was 618 00:14:34,874 --> 00:14:36,109 your very first case. 619 00:14:36,109 --> 00:14:36,943 - Yeah. 620 00:14:36,943 --> 00:14:38,678 - Growing danger 621 00:14:36,943 --> 00:14:38,678 at the hospital 622 00:14:38,678 --> 00:14:42,820 and a sudden alert 623 00:14:38,678 --> 00:14:42,820 at the FBI. 624 00:14:42,820 --> 00:14:43,950 - We were notified 625 00:14:42,820 --> 00:14:43,950 immediately. 626 00:14:43,950 --> 00:14:46,860 That's something that 627 00:14:43,950 --> 00:14:46,860 we're very concerned about. 628 00:14:46,860 --> 00:14:47,954 - You triggered all kinds 629 00:14:46,860 --> 00:14:47,954 of alarm bells. 630 00:14:47,954 --> 00:14:51,224 - I triggered all kinds 631 00:14:47,954 --> 00:14:51,224 of alarm bells. Yes. 632 00:14:51,324 --> 00:15:05,380 ** 633 00:15:05,572 --> 00:15:07,273 - Like any good detective, 634 00:15:07,273 --> 00:15:10,744 Dr. Jeff LaPoint 635 00:15:07,273 --> 00:15:10,744 was keeping his mind open, 636 00:15:10,744 --> 00:15:13,313 letting the clues 637 00:15:10,744 --> 00:15:13,313 lead him to a theory 638 00:15:13,313 --> 00:15:16,149 about what might be 639 00:15:13,313 --> 00:15:16,149 killing Brigida. 640 00:15:16,149 --> 00:15:17,350 - I just gotta figure out 641 00:15:16,149 --> 00:15:17,350 what's wrong 642 00:15:17,350 --> 00:15:19,185 and get the treatment started. 643 00:15:19,185 --> 00:15:21,521 - Most of her symptoms 644 00:15:19,185 --> 00:15:21,521 could have been caused by 645 00:15:21,521 --> 00:15:25,625 a range of toxic chemicals 646 00:15:21,521 --> 00:15:25,625 like arsenic, cadmium, 647 00:15:25,625 --> 00:15:28,628 or cesium, 648 00:15:25,625 --> 00:15:28,628 but to Dr. LaPoint, 649 00:15:28,628 --> 00:15:31,598 one particular symptom 650 00:15:28,628 --> 00:15:31,598 stood out, 651 00:15:31,598 --> 00:15:33,466 sudden hair loss. 652 00:15:33,466 --> 00:15:34,734 - That's the telltale sign. 653 00:15:34,734 --> 00:15:36,670 I mean, I think that 654 00:15:34,734 --> 00:15:36,670 any medical toxicologist, 655 00:15:36,670 --> 00:15:38,872 if you tell them that 656 00:15:36,670 --> 00:15:38,872 you have a young woman 657 00:15:38,872 --> 00:15:41,307 who has lost her hair and 658 00:15:38,872 --> 00:15:41,307 now can't walk 659 00:15:41,307 --> 00:15:42,976 because her feet hurt so bad, 660 00:15:42,976 --> 00:15:45,780 um, thallium is gonna be 661 00:15:42,976 --> 00:15:45,780 on our list. 662 00:15:45,780 --> 00:15:48,114 It's-it's like straight out 663 00:15:45,780 --> 00:15:48,114 of the books. 664 00:15:48,114 --> 00:15:51,451 - Thallium is a heavy metal, 665 00:15:48,114 --> 00:15:51,451 atomic number 81 666 00:15:51,451 --> 00:15:54,354 on the periodic table 667 00:15:51,451 --> 00:15:54,354 of elements. 668 00:15:54,354 --> 00:15:56,890 - It was discovered 669 00:15:54,354 --> 00:15:56,890 late 1800's 670 00:15:56,890 --> 00:16:00,293 and then quickly began 671 00:15:56,890 --> 00:16:00,293 being used medically, um, 672 00:16:00,293 --> 00:16:02,762 early 1900's as, like, 673 00:16:00,293 --> 00:16:02,762 a depilatory agent. 674 00:16:02,762 --> 00:16:03,930 If you had lice or something, 675 00:16:03,930 --> 00:16:05,365 and you wanted a child 676 00:16:03,930 --> 00:16:05,365 to lose their hair, 677 00:16:05,365 --> 00:16:06,866 they would give them thallium. 678 00:16:06,866 --> 00:16:08,134 - Oh, my gosh. 679 00:16:06,866 --> 00:16:08,134 - Right. 680 00:16:08,134 --> 00:16:11,171 - Dr. LaPoint also knew 681 00:16:08,134 --> 00:16:11,171 that for decades, 682 00:16:11,171 --> 00:16:15,608 thallium had another use, 683 00:16:11,171 --> 00:16:15,608 as an ingredient in rat poison. 684 00:16:16,409 --> 00:16:19,245 - And it was really, 685 00:16:16,409 --> 00:16:19,245 really good as a rodenticide, 686 00:16:19,245 --> 00:16:21,681 and so it was-- 687 00:16:19,245 --> 00:16:21,681 that was outlawed in the 1970's. 688 00:16:21,681 --> 00:16:24,351 It's really good 689 00:16:21,681 --> 00:16:24,351 at killing things, um, 690 00:16:24,351 --> 00:16:25,218 at the end of the day. 691 00:16:25,218 --> 00:16:27,354 - Highly toxic. 692 00:16:25,218 --> 00:16:27,354 - Highly toxic. 693 00:16:27,354 --> 00:16:29,550 - You had never treated 694 00:16:27,354 --> 00:16:29,550 anybody else 695 00:16:29,550 --> 00:16:30,790 for thallium poisoning. 696 00:16:29,550 --> 00:16:30,790 - No, no. 697 00:16:30,790 --> 00:16:32,920 - So, this was 698 00:16:30,790 --> 00:16:32,920 your very first case, 699 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:33,360 right there 700 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:33,360 in front of your eyes. 701 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:34,694 - It was. Yeah. 702 00:16:34,694 --> 00:16:38,198 - Yet, there was no quick way 703 00:16:34,694 --> 00:16:38,198 to confirm his suspicion. 704 00:16:38,198 --> 00:16:41,601 Hospitals rarely see patients 705 00:16:38,198 --> 00:16:41,601 with thallium poisoning 706 00:16:41,601 --> 00:16:44,170 and don't have a way 707 00:16:41,601 --> 00:16:44,170 to test for it. 708 00:16:44,170 --> 00:16:46,873 - So, no hospital is just gonna 709 00:16:44,170 --> 00:16:46,873 put a drop of blood 710 00:16:46,873 --> 00:16:49,209 and have it come back 711 00:16:46,873 --> 00:16:49,209 yes, thallium, right? 712 00:16:49,209 --> 00:16:50,844 So, you have to send 713 00:16:49,209 --> 00:16:50,844 these things away. 714 00:16:50,844 --> 00:16:54,347 So, now I'm looking at a two 715 00:16:50,844 --> 00:16:54,347 to three maybe day delay. 716 00:16:54,347 --> 00:16:58,118 - Days that he knew 717 00:16:54,347 --> 00:16:58,118 Brigida might not have. 718 00:16:58,118 --> 00:17:00,487 - We have, like, 719 00:16:58,118 --> 00:17:00,487 a really scary situation 720 00:17:00,487 --> 00:17:03,890 where I have a test 721 00:17:00,487 --> 00:17:03,890 that's infrequently ordered 722 00:17:03,890 --> 00:17:06,826 that I need now, um, 723 00:17:03,890 --> 00:17:06,826 that is a send out, right? 724 00:17:06,826 --> 00:17:08,694 And it's scary, 725 00:17:06,826 --> 00:17:08,694 it's serious, 726 00:17:08,694 --> 00:17:10,696 it's infrequently done, 727 00:17:08,694 --> 00:17:10,696 and it's exotic. 728 00:17:10,696 --> 00:17:12,198 - You're in a race against time 729 00:17:10,696 --> 00:17:12,198 when it comes to 730 00:17:12,198 --> 00:17:14,339 trying to save her life. 731 00:17:12,198 --> 00:17:14,339 - Yeah. 732 00:17:14,339 --> 00:17:15,568 So, I'm-I'm, like, 733 00:17:14,339 --> 00:17:15,568 trying to advocate to 734 00:17:15,568 --> 00:17:18,704 all these different people, um, 735 00:17:15,568 --> 00:17:18,704 lots of hours on the phone 736 00:17:18,704 --> 00:17:20,173 just trying to get someone 737 00:17:18,704 --> 00:17:20,173 on the phone 738 00:17:20,173 --> 00:17:21,540 and be like, 739 00:17:20,173 --> 00:17:21,540 "This woman is gonna die." 740 00:17:21,540 --> 00:17:22,742 So, as soon as we sent the test, 741 00:17:22,742 --> 00:17:24,377 we said, 742 00:17:22,742 --> 00:17:24,377 "How do I get the antidote?" 743 00:17:24,377 --> 00:17:28,181 - He wanted it ready to give her 744 00:17:24,377 --> 00:17:28,181 as soon as results came in. 745 00:17:28,181 --> 00:17:29,315 What is the antidote? 746 00:17:29,315 --> 00:17:31,840 - So, the antidote 747 00:17:29,315 --> 00:17:31,840 is called Prussian blue. 748 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:34,220 - You've probably seen 749 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:34,220 Prussian blue in paint. 750 00:17:34,220 --> 00:17:35,789 Yes, paint. 751 00:17:35,789 --> 00:17:39,325 It's been used as a pigment 752 00:17:35,789 --> 00:17:39,325 since the 1700's. 753 00:17:39,325 --> 00:17:40,593 You can see it here 754 00:17:40,593 --> 00:17:43,763 in Vincent Van Gogh's 755 00:17:40,593 --> 00:17:43,763 "Starry Night Over the Road," 756 00:17:43,763 --> 00:17:47,667 but it wasn't until 1965 757 00:17:43,763 --> 00:17:47,667 that scientists discovered 758 00:17:47,667 --> 00:17:51,204 Prussian blue could be used 759 00:17:47,667 --> 00:17:51,204 as an antidote. 760 00:17:51,204 --> 00:17:54,574 It works by speeding up 761 00:17:51,204 --> 00:17:54,574 elimination of certain poisons 762 00:17:54,574 --> 00:17:56,242 such as thallium. 763 00:17:56,242 --> 00:17:59,679 But while you can buy 764 00:17:56,242 --> 00:17:59,679 blue paint in any art shop, 765 00:17:59,679 --> 00:18:02,150 pharmaceutical grade 766 00:17:59,679 --> 00:18:02,150 Prussian blue 767 00:18:02,150 --> 00:18:04,718 is nearly impossible to find. 768 00:18:04,718 --> 00:18:06,119 - And so, we started 769 00:18:04,718 --> 00:18:06,119 calling pharmacies 770 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:07,620 around town 771 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:07,620 at different places. 772 00:18:07,620 --> 00:18:10,223 We started calling the Navy, 773 00:18:07,620 --> 00:18:10,223 or, you know, 774 00:18:10,223 --> 00:18:12,158 we called our local 775 00:18:10,223 --> 00:18:12,158 public health people. 776 00:18:12,158 --> 00:18:14,270 Uh, we got in touch 777 00:18:12,158 --> 00:18:14,270 with the CDC, 778 00:18:14,270 --> 00:18:16,663 and we finally found a storage, 779 00:18:14,270 --> 00:18:16,663 um, you know, kinda-- 780 00:18:16,663 --> 00:18:18,298 they're all, like, 781 00:18:16,663 --> 00:18:18,298 confidential storage sites, 782 00:18:18,298 --> 00:18:20,467 but we found one 783 00:18:18,298 --> 00:18:20,467 up in Los Angeles. 784 00:18:20,467 --> 00:18:22,669 - Prussian blue 785 00:18:20,467 --> 00:18:22,669 is so hard to get 786 00:18:22,669 --> 00:18:26,840 because it's also an antidote 787 00:18:22,669 --> 00:18:26,840 for radiation poisoning. 788 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:29,542 The U.S. Government 789 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:29,542 keeps it under close guard, 790 00:18:29,542 --> 00:18:32,879 stockpiled in case of 791 00:18:29,542 --> 00:18:32,879 a nuclear attack. 792 00:18:32,879 --> 00:18:34,647 - So, no one really wants to 793 00:18:32,879 --> 00:18:34,647 give me an antidote 794 00:18:34,647 --> 00:18:36,316 before I've proven it, right? 795 00:18:36,316 --> 00:18:38,840 'Cause we don't just 796 00:18:36,316 --> 00:18:38,840 throw around Prussian blue 797 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:40,453 but keep 'em in storage 798 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:40,453 in case there's a dirty bomb. 799 00:18:40,453 --> 00:18:42,355 - We have several trip wires 800 00:18:40,453 --> 00:18:42,355 set up. 801 00:18:42,355 --> 00:18:45,125 In this case, the patient 802 00:18:42,355 --> 00:18:45,125 was here in San Diego, 803 00:18:45,125 --> 00:18:50,630 and we were notified immediately 804 00:18:45,125 --> 00:18:50,630 of the Prussian order. 805 00:18:50,630 --> 00:18:53,800 - John Gill is a Special Agent 806 00:18:50,630 --> 00:18:53,800 with the FBI in San Diego. 807 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:57,203 His focus is weapons 808 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:57,203 of mass destruction. 809 00:18:57,203 --> 00:19:00,473 A request for the antidote 810 00:18:57,203 --> 00:19:00,473 to thallium poisoning 811 00:19:00,473 --> 00:19:02,609 put his office on alert. 812 00:19:02,609 --> 00:19:04,644 - In the past, uh, 813 00:19:02,609 --> 00:19:04,644 several decades, 814 00:19:04,644 --> 00:19:07,130 there's been instances 815 00:19:04,644 --> 00:19:07,130 where thallium has been used 816 00:19:07,130 --> 00:19:10,160 as an assassination weapon 817 00:19:07,130 --> 00:19:10,160 against, um, former spies 818 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:11,217 and former dissidents. 819 00:19:11,217 --> 00:19:12,218 - So, that's what 820 00:19:11,217 --> 00:19:12,218 you're thinking 821 00:19:12,218 --> 00:19:14,220 when you get this call first, 822 00:19:12,218 --> 00:19:14,220 is, uh-oh, 823 00:19:14,220 --> 00:19:16,222 what is happening 824 00:19:14,220 --> 00:19:16,222 here in San Diego, right? 825 00:19:16,222 --> 00:19:17,424 - Right. 826 00:19:17,424 --> 00:19:19,492 That's something that, um, 827 00:19:17,424 --> 00:19:19,492 we're very concerned about 828 00:19:19,492 --> 00:19:22,128 in the United States. 829 00:19:22,128 --> 00:19:25,365 - All this just as 830 00:19:22,128 --> 00:19:25,365 President Trump was days away 831 00:19:25,365 --> 00:19:29,350 from a trip to San Diego 832 00:19:25,365 --> 00:19:29,350 to talk about the border wall. 833 00:19:29,350 --> 00:19:31,371 You triggered 834 00:19:29,350 --> 00:19:31,371 all kinds of alarm bells. 835 00:19:31,371 --> 00:19:34,407 - I triggered all kinds of 836 00:19:31,371 --> 00:19:34,407 alarm bells, yes. 837 00:19:34,407 --> 00:19:35,809 - Coming up... 838 00:19:35,809 --> 00:19:37,410 - So, when you're 839 00:19:35,809 --> 00:19:37,410 seeing this... 840 00:19:37,410 --> 00:19:38,578 - We're like, oh, my gosh. 841 00:19:38,578 --> 00:19:42,515 - A deadly substance 842 00:19:38,578 --> 00:19:42,515 in Brigida's system, but how? 843 00:19:42,515 --> 00:19:44,584 - I said, "I think 844 00:19:42,515 --> 00:19:44,584 I have a poisoning case," 845 00:19:44,584 --> 00:19:46,586 and I'm proceeding like this 846 00:19:44,584 --> 00:19:46,586 is an intentional poisoning 847 00:19:46,586 --> 00:19:47,954 until proven otherwise. 848 00:19:48,540 --> 00:19:58,640 ** 849 00:19:58,932 --> 00:20:01,434 Welcome back to 850 00:19:58,932 --> 00:20:01,434 "Dateline: Secrets Uncovered." 851 00:20:01,434 --> 00:20:02,836 I'm Craig Melvin. 852 00:20:02,836 --> 00:20:05,572 Could doctors 853 00:20:02,836 --> 00:20:05,572 save Brigida Uto? 854 00:20:05,572 --> 00:20:08,808 Her toxicologist believed 855 00:20:05,572 --> 00:20:08,808 she had been poisoned. 856 00:20:08,808 --> 00:20:12,679 The only remedy, 857 00:20:08,808 --> 00:20:12,679 a closely guarded antidote 858 00:20:12,679 --> 00:20:15,582 stockpiled in case of 859 00:20:12,679 --> 00:20:15,582 a nuclear attack. 860 00:20:15,582 --> 00:20:18,818 Now, Brigida's test results 861 00:20:15,582 --> 00:20:18,818 were about to solve 862 00:20:18,818 --> 00:20:22,555 one piece of this mystery 863 00:20:18,818 --> 00:20:22,555 and send the case 864 00:20:22,555 --> 00:20:24,791 in a chilling 865 00:20:22,555 --> 00:20:24,791 new direction. 866 00:20:24,791 --> 00:20:26,626 Once again, 867 00:20:24,791 --> 00:20:26,626 here's Natalie Morales 868 00:20:26,626 --> 00:20:30,296 with "The Prussian Blue 869 00:20:26,626 --> 00:20:30,296 Mystery." 870 00:20:34,334 --> 00:20:36,903 - Brigida's mom 871 00:20:34,334 --> 00:20:36,903 couldn't visit her daughter 872 00:20:36,903 --> 00:20:38,380 in the hospital. 873 00:20:38,380 --> 00:20:41,541 No visitors were allowed, 874 00:20:38,380 --> 00:20:41,541 so she waited, 875 00:20:41,541 --> 00:20:45,545 and she prayed. 876 00:20:41,541 --> 00:20:45,545 That's all she could do. 877 00:20:45,545 --> 00:20:48,615 Thirty miles away 878 00:20:45,545 --> 00:20:48,615 at Kaiser Hospital, 879 00:20:48,615 --> 00:20:51,351 Dr. LaPoint 880 00:20:48,615 --> 00:20:51,351 was waiting, too. 881 00:20:51,351 --> 00:20:53,386 Three days had passed 882 00:20:51,351 --> 00:20:53,386 since he sent out 883 00:20:53,386 --> 00:20:54,888 Brigida's samples. 884 00:20:54,888 --> 00:20:57,791 Brigida in pain 885 00:20:54,888 --> 00:20:57,791 the whole time. 886 00:20:57,791 --> 00:21:00,727 Finally, the lab results 887 00:20:57,791 --> 00:21:00,727 came back. 888 00:21:00,727 --> 00:21:05,498 Just as he suspected, 889 00:21:00,727 --> 00:21:05,498 it was thallium, a lot of it. 890 00:21:05,498 --> 00:21:07,233 Brigida's husband 891 00:21:05,498 --> 00:21:07,233 and young son 892 00:21:07,233 --> 00:21:09,869 seemed to be clear 893 00:21:07,233 --> 00:21:09,869 of the toxic metal, 894 00:21:09,869 --> 00:21:13,206 but she was in serious danger. 895 00:21:13,206 --> 00:21:15,750 Her levels were 896 00:21:13,206 --> 00:21:15,750 off the charts. 897 00:21:15,750 --> 00:21:16,476 - Yeah, they 898 00:21:15,750 --> 00:21:16,476 were really high. 899 00:21:16,476 --> 00:21:19,779 - More than 1,000 times 900 00:21:16,476 --> 00:21:19,779 the acceptable level. 901 00:21:19,779 --> 00:21:22,248 Wow. 902 00:21:19,779 --> 00:21:22,248 That's unbelievable. 903 00:21:22,248 --> 00:21:24,784 A hospital staffer had 904 00:21:22,248 --> 00:21:24,784 driven through the night 905 00:21:24,784 --> 00:21:27,354 to get hold of 906 00:21:24,784 --> 00:21:27,354 Prussian blue pills. 907 00:21:27,354 --> 00:21:30,957 Dr. LaPoint started 908 00:21:27,354 --> 00:21:30,957 Brigida on them immediately. 909 00:21:30,957 --> 00:21:34,527 But with so much thallium 910 00:21:30,957 --> 00:21:34,527 in Brigida's system, 911 00:21:34,527 --> 00:21:36,830 Dr. LaPoint worried 912 00:21:34,527 --> 00:21:36,830 Prussian blue 913 00:21:36,830 --> 00:21:39,990 would not be enough 914 00:21:36,830 --> 00:21:39,990 to save her. 915 00:21:39,990 --> 00:21:42,369 He also put her on dialysis 916 00:21:39,990 --> 00:21:42,369 to filter her blood. 917 00:21:42,369 --> 00:21:44,738 It was a slow process. 918 00:21:44,738 --> 00:21:48,475 When FBI Special Agent John Gill 919 00:21:44,738 --> 00:21:48,475 arrived to question her, 920 00:21:48,475 --> 00:21:51,444 Brigida was 921 00:21:48,475 --> 00:21:51,444 still desperately ill. 922 00:21:51,444 --> 00:21:52,946 How would you describe 923 00:21:51,444 --> 00:21:52,946 her condition 924 00:21:52,946 --> 00:21:54,147 at that point in time? 925 00:21:54,147 --> 00:21:55,749 - It was a very 926 00:21:54,147 --> 00:21:55,749 serious condition. 927 00:21:55,749 --> 00:21:58,218 She struggled with 928 00:21:55,749 --> 00:21:58,218 answering simple questions. 929 00:21:58,218 --> 00:22:02,550 - Sick as she was, 930 00:21:58,218 --> 00:22:02,550 he knew he couldn't wait. 931 00:22:02,550 --> 00:22:05,580 - She looked very bad, 932 00:22:02,550 --> 00:22:05,580 and it is concerning because, 933 00:22:05,580 --> 00:22:06,659 uh, at that point, 934 00:22:05,580 --> 00:22:06,659 we didn't know 935 00:22:06,659 --> 00:22:08,862 if she was gonna make it. 936 00:22:08,862 --> 00:22:10,930 - He needed to 937 00:22:08,862 --> 00:22:10,930 figure out quickly 938 00:22:10,930 --> 00:22:13,667 how she'd been 939 00:22:10,930 --> 00:22:13,667 exposed to thallium. 940 00:22:13,667 --> 00:22:16,690 Brigida did her best to help. 941 00:22:16,690 --> 00:22:17,837 - She brought up several points 942 00:22:16,690 --> 00:22:17,837 where she thought 943 00:22:17,837 --> 00:22:19,372 she could have been 944 00:22:17,837 --> 00:22:19,372 exposed to thallium. 945 00:22:19,372 --> 00:22:23,343 She had received holistic 946 00:22:19,372 --> 00:22:23,343 medical treatments in Mexico. 947 00:22:23,343 --> 00:22:26,790 - Or maybe, she said, 948 00:22:23,343 --> 00:22:26,790 she could have been exposed 949 00:22:26,790 --> 00:22:28,810 at the school 950 00:22:26,790 --> 00:22:28,810 where she worked. 951 00:22:28,810 --> 00:22:29,683 It was an old Army base. 952 00:22:29,683 --> 00:22:33,520 There might be traces of 953 00:22:29,683 --> 00:22:33,520 old rat poison there. 954 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:35,588 - So, some of these 955 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:35,588 older school structures, 956 00:22:35,588 --> 00:22:37,757 they were used 957 00:22:35,588 --> 00:22:37,757 during World War II, 958 00:22:37,757 --> 00:22:39,959 and, um, and that's a time 959 00:22:37,757 --> 00:22:39,959 when they used 960 00:22:39,959 --> 00:22:43,960 thallium based rodenticides. 961 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:45,598 - Investigators 962 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:45,598 followed Brigida's leads. 963 00:22:45,598 --> 00:22:48,601 The holistic treatment, 964 00:22:45,598 --> 00:22:48,601 nothing there. 965 00:22:48,601 --> 00:22:50,737 San Diego Sheriff's 966 00:22:48,601 --> 00:22:50,737 Detective Brad Farr 967 00:22:50,737 --> 00:22:52,605 checked out the school. 968 00:22:52,605 --> 00:22:54,541 - And I talked to 969 00:22:52,605 --> 00:22:54,541 some other teachers 970 00:22:54,541 --> 00:22:56,309 that work in the same area 971 00:22:54,541 --> 00:22:56,309 she worked. 972 00:22:56,309 --> 00:22:58,678 There had been some rumors that, 973 00:22:56,309 --> 00:22:58,678 the previous year, 974 00:22:58,678 --> 00:23:01,114 there were some teachers 975 00:22:58,678 --> 00:23:01,114 that w-went out sick a lot, 976 00:23:01,114 --> 00:23:02,282 so I had to 977 00:23:01,114 --> 00:23:02,282 look into that. 978 00:23:02,282 --> 00:23:05,885 It turned out to be 979 00:23:02,282 --> 00:23:05,885 not in any way, shape, or form 980 00:23:05,885 --> 00:23:07,420 involved with this. 981 00:23:07,420 --> 00:23:10,557 - Meanwhile, a hazmat team 982 00:23:07,420 --> 00:23:10,557 searched the Uto house 983 00:23:10,557 --> 00:23:12,959 but found no thallium, 984 00:23:12,959 --> 00:23:16,162 and they considered 985 00:23:12,959 --> 00:23:16,162 another possibility. 986 00:23:16,162 --> 00:23:17,664 - We also had to 987 00:23:16,162 --> 00:23:17,664 explore the fact 988 00:23:17,664 --> 00:23:19,599 that sometimes in these cases 989 00:23:19,599 --> 00:23:21,468 a person may try to 990 00:23:19,599 --> 00:23:21,468 poison themselves 991 00:23:21,468 --> 00:23:23,403 if they're struggling 992 00:23:21,468 --> 00:23:23,403 with depression 993 00:23:23,403 --> 00:23:26,973 or crying out 994 00:23:23,403 --> 00:23:26,973 for-for attention. 995 00:23:26,973 --> 00:23:29,142 - Brigida had been depressed 996 00:23:26,973 --> 00:23:29,142 around the time 997 00:23:29,142 --> 00:23:32,312 she first started getting sick, 998 00:23:29,142 --> 00:23:32,312 but Brigida 999 00:23:32,312 --> 00:23:34,914 and everyone who knew her 1000 00:23:32,312 --> 00:23:34,914 told him no way 1001 00:23:34,914 --> 00:23:36,716 was she suicidal. 1002 00:23:36,716 --> 00:23:38,451 - I told the detective 1003 00:23:36,716 --> 00:23:38,451 I know my sister 1004 00:23:38,451 --> 00:23:40,987 more than anybody. 1005 00:23:40,987 --> 00:23:43,890 She would never do this 1006 00:23:40,987 --> 00:23:43,890 to herself. 1007 00:23:43,890 --> 00:23:44,891 - And as a mother 1008 00:23:43,890 --> 00:23:44,891 of a young child, 1009 00:23:44,891 --> 00:23:46,659 I would imagine, 1010 00:23:44,891 --> 00:23:46,659 much less. 1011 00:23:46,659 --> 00:23:48,395 - No, no, and she always 1012 00:23:46,659 --> 00:23:48,395 wanted to be a mother. 1013 00:23:48,395 --> 00:23:50,864 She always wanted to 1014 00:23:48,395 --> 00:23:50,864 have a family. 1015 00:23:50,864 --> 00:23:52,966 She wouldn't throw it away 1016 00:23:50,864 --> 00:23:52,966 like that. 1017 00:23:52,966 --> 00:23:55,869 - As they eliminated 1018 00:23:52,966 --> 00:23:55,869 all the other possibilities, 1019 00:23:55,869 --> 00:23:58,571 the detectives, 1020 00:23:55,869 --> 00:23:58,571 along with Dr. LaPoint, 1021 00:23:58,571 --> 00:24:01,441 came to a sinister conclusion. 1022 00:24:01,441 --> 00:24:03,410 - I'm proceeding like 1023 00:24:01,441 --> 00:24:03,410 this is an intentional poisoning 1024 00:24:03,410 --> 00:24:04,711 until proven otherwise. 1025 00:24:04,711 --> 00:24:06,780 - Why would somebody 1026 00:24:04,711 --> 00:24:06,780 choose thallium? 1027 00:24:06,780 --> 00:24:07,881 - Someone would choose thallium 1028 00:24:07,881 --> 00:24:10,500 because it looks like 1029 00:24:07,881 --> 00:24:10,500 a medical mystery. 1030 00:24:10,500 --> 00:24:13,286 It presents as someone 1031 00:24:10,500 --> 00:24:13,286 just having a slow decline, 1032 00:24:13,286 --> 00:24:15,388 and withering away, 1033 00:24:13,286 --> 00:24:15,388 and dying 1034 00:24:15,388 --> 00:24:17,157 that you would associate with 1035 00:24:15,388 --> 00:24:17,157 a chronic illness. 1036 00:24:17,157 --> 00:24:19,492 It's poison 1037 00:24:17,157 --> 00:24:19,492 to get away with it. 1038 00:24:19,492 --> 00:24:21,828 - The next step to 1039 00:24:19,492 --> 00:24:21,828 solving this mystery 1040 00:24:21,828 --> 00:24:25,198 was figuring out 1041 00:24:21,828 --> 00:24:25,198 how Brigida had been poisoned. 1042 00:24:25,198 --> 00:24:28,668 Dr. LaPoint did his own 1043 00:24:25,198 --> 00:24:28,668 kind of detective work. 1044 00:24:28,668 --> 00:24:32,706 - And you see this kind of 1045 00:24:28,668 --> 00:24:32,706 really bright spots everywhere, 1046 00:24:32,706 --> 00:24:34,841 like, all throughout her colon. 1047 00:24:34,841 --> 00:24:35,809 - Those little 1048 00:24:34,841 --> 00:24:35,809 white flecks. 1049 00:24:35,809 --> 00:24:37,143 - Yeah, those 1050 00:24:35,809 --> 00:24:37,143 little white flecks. 1051 00:24:37,143 --> 00:24:39,412 - The little white flecks 1052 00:24:37,143 --> 00:24:39,412 are thallium 1053 00:24:39,412 --> 00:24:41,881 in Brigida's digestive tract. 1054 00:24:41,881 --> 00:24:43,550 So, when you're seeing this, 1055 00:24:41,881 --> 00:24:43,550 was this-- 1056 00:24:43,550 --> 00:24:44,651 - In the context of 1057 00:24:43,550 --> 00:24:44,651 what we're seeing, 1058 00:24:44,651 --> 00:24:45,652 we're like, oh, my gosh. 1059 00:24:44,651 --> 00:24:45,652 Yeah. 1060 00:24:45,652 --> 00:24:46,820 - Telltale sign. 1061 00:24:46,820 --> 00:24:48,855 If it's in her gut, 1062 00:24:46,820 --> 00:24:48,855 what does that tell you about 1063 00:24:48,855 --> 00:24:49,923 how she was getting it? 1064 00:24:49,923 --> 00:24:52,692 - Yeah, I mean, it's, 1065 00:24:49,923 --> 00:24:52,692 I mean, food is-- right? 1066 00:24:52,692 --> 00:24:54,127 - Somebody is 1067 00:24:52,692 --> 00:24:54,127 feeding it to her. 1068 00:24:54,127 --> 00:24:55,195 - Yeah. 1069 00:24:54,127 --> 00:24:55,195 She's eating it. 1070 00:24:55,195 --> 00:24:57,970 Someone is 1071 00:24:55,195 --> 00:24:57,970 giving it to her, yeah. 1072 00:24:57,970 --> 00:24:59,699 - It was what Dr. LaPoint 1073 00:24:57,970 --> 00:24:59,699 had feared 1074 00:24:59,699 --> 00:25:03,360 when he took 1075 00:24:59,699 --> 00:25:03,360 that unusual precaution 1076 00:25:03,360 --> 00:25:04,471 that left Brigida's family 1077 00:25:03,360 --> 00:25:04,471 in the dark. 1078 00:25:04,471 --> 00:25:06,390 - I cleared everyone 1079 00:25:04,471 --> 00:25:06,390 out of the room 1080 00:25:06,390 --> 00:25:08,375 'cause everyone was 1081 00:25:06,390 --> 00:25:08,375 bringing gifts and food. 1082 00:25:08,375 --> 00:25:09,676 Everything out. 1083 00:25:08,375 --> 00:25:09,676 Everyone out. 1084 00:25:09,676 --> 00:25:11,511 A lot of people get poisoned, 1085 00:25:09,676 --> 00:25:11,511 come to the hospital, 1086 00:25:11,511 --> 00:25:13,713 and get worse if they-- 1087 00:25:13,713 --> 00:25:15,615 if someone else 1088 00:25:13,713 --> 00:25:15,615 is bringing them more poison. 1089 00:25:15,615 --> 00:25:19,419 So, I just want 1090 00:25:15,615 --> 00:25:19,419 all the variables off the table. 1091 00:25:19,419 --> 00:25:23,890 - So far, Dr. LaPoint 1092 00:25:19,419 --> 00:25:23,890 had done a lot of things right, 1093 00:25:23,890 --> 00:25:25,525 but he knew, 1094 00:25:23,890 --> 00:25:25,525 against thallium, 1095 00:25:25,525 --> 00:25:27,460 that might not be enough. 1096 00:25:27,460 --> 00:25:29,229 - In a lot of these cases, 1097 00:25:27,460 --> 00:25:29,229 people don't recover. 1098 00:25:29,229 --> 00:25:30,330 A lot of these cases, 1099 00:25:30,330 --> 00:25:31,264 people can't feel 1100 00:25:30,330 --> 00:25:31,264 their legs again, 1101 00:25:31,264 --> 00:25:32,966 or they never 1102 00:25:31,264 --> 00:25:32,966 grow their hair back. 1103 00:25:32,966 --> 00:25:36,636 - Even if Brigida survived, 1104 00:25:32,966 --> 00:25:36,636 there was no telling 1105 00:25:36,636 --> 00:25:40,740 if her life 1106 00:25:36,636 --> 00:25:40,740 would ever be the same. 1107 00:25:40,740 --> 00:25:42,175 - Coming up... 1108 00:25:42,175 --> 00:25:44,411 Who could 1109 00:25:42,175 --> 00:25:44,411 be behind this? 1110 00:25:44,411 --> 00:25:47,814 - Your circle is narrowing. 1111 00:25:44,411 --> 00:25:47,814 You're looking at her family. 1112 00:25:47,814 --> 00:25:49,416 You're looking at her sister. 1113 00:25:49,416 --> 00:25:51,840 And, of course, 1114 00:25:49,416 --> 00:25:51,840 you're looking at her husband. 1115 00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:52,485 - Absolutely. 1116 00:25:52,585 --> 00:26:04,698 ** 1117 00:26:05,398 --> 00:26:07,867 - Dr. Jeff LaPoint 1118 00:26:05,398 --> 00:26:07,867 believed someone 1119 00:26:07,867 --> 00:26:11,137 was determined to commit 1120 00:26:07,867 --> 00:26:11,137 the perfect murder 1121 00:26:11,137 --> 00:26:14,708 by feeding bits of 1122 00:26:11,137 --> 00:26:14,708 the highly toxic metal thallium 1123 00:26:14,708 --> 00:26:17,477 to his patient, 1124 00:26:14,708 --> 00:26:17,477 Brigida Uto. 1125 00:26:17,477 --> 00:26:21,810 For tense hours and days, 1126 00:26:17,477 --> 00:26:21,810 the doctor and his team 1127 00:26:21,810 --> 00:26:23,550 fought to save 1128 00:26:21,810 --> 00:26:23,550 Brigida's life. 1129 00:26:23,550 --> 00:26:26,520 She'd consumed 1130 00:26:23,550 --> 00:26:26,520 more than enough thallium 1131 00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:28,888 to kill her, and yet... 1132 00:26:28,888 --> 00:26:31,291 - I don't know 1133 00:26:28,888 --> 00:26:31,291 why I'm here. 1134 00:26:31,291 --> 00:26:34,527 I don't know 1135 00:26:31,291 --> 00:26:34,527 why I'm still alive, 1136 00:26:34,527 --> 00:26:37,597 and that's scary. 1137 00:26:37,597 --> 00:26:41,534 - Meet Brigida. 1138 00:26:37,597 --> 00:26:41,534 She's still with us. 1139 00:26:41,534 --> 00:26:44,471 Did you feel like 1140 00:26:41,534 --> 00:26:44,471 you were dying? 1141 00:26:44,471 --> 00:26:46,439 - I-I did. 1142 00:26:46,439 --> 00:26:50,276 I did, but I-I was too afraid 1143 00:26:46,439 --> 00:26:50,276 to admit it to myself. 1144 00:26:50,276 --> 00:26:54,280 - What kept you alive 1145 00:26:50,276 --> 00:26:54,280 in that time? 1146 00:26:54,280 --> 00:26:58,451 - Uh, my son, 1147 00:26:54,280 --> 00:26:58,451 wanting to see my son. 1148 00:26:58,451 --> 00:27:00,420 - As the antidote took effect, 1149 00:27:00,420 --> 00:27:03,156 Brigida, 1150 00:27:00,420 --> 00:27:03,156 in essence, woke up. 1151 00:27:03,156 --> 00:27:05,910 She found herself 1152 00:27:03,156 --> 00:27:05,910 in a hospital bed 1153 00:27:05,910 --> 00:27:08,280 with only wisps of hair 1154 00:27:05,910 --> 00:27:08,280 on her head, 1155 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:10,830 but she couldn't walk 1156 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:10,830 or really see, 1157 00:27:10,830 --> 00:27:14,434 and doctors couldn't really 1158 00:27:10,830 --> 00:27:14,434 tell her what to expect. 1159 00:27:14,434 --> 00:27:19,139 - They pretty much 1160 00:27:14,434 --> 00:27:19,139 were-were very open about 1161 00:27:19,139 --> 00:27:21,608 not knowing 1162 00:27:19,139 --> 00:27:21,608 what was going to happen. 1163 00:27:21,608 --> 00:27:26,312 - But then, one day, 1164 00:27:21,608 --> 00:27:26,312 her cell phone came into focus. 1165 00:27:26,312 --> 00:27:29,449 Days later, she caught sight 1166 00:27:26,312 --> 00:27:29,449 of something else. 1167 00:27:29,449 --> 00:27:33,787 - I was really excited 1168 00:27:29,449 --> 00:27:33,787 because I could see the TV, 1169 00:27:33,787 --> 00:27:39,225 like, what brand the TV was, um, 1170 00:27:33,787 --> 00:27:39,225 across the room, so... 1171 00:27:39,225 --> 00:27:40,894 - Small victories. 1172 00:27:39,225 --> 00:27:40,894 - Right. 1173 00:27:40,894 --> 00:27:44,798 At first, my goal was to 1174 00:27:40,894 --> 00:27:44,798 be able to walk with my walker 1175 00:27:44,798 --> 00:27:47,100 to the door of my room. 1176 00:27:47,100 --> 00:27:48,601 And then after that, 1177 00:27:47,100 --> 00:27:48,601 it became, you know, 1178 00:27:48,601 --> 00:27:53,206 walk to the nurses' station 1179 00:27:48,601 --> 00:27:53,206 and then come back, um, 1180 00:27:53,206 --> 00:27:56,443 and sometimes they would 1181 00:27:53,206 --> 00:27:56,443 have to wheel me in. 1182 00:27:56,443 --> 00:28:00,130 - While Brigida continued to 1183 00:27:56,443 --> 00:28:00,130 make a slow physical recovery 1184 00:28:00,130 --> 00:28:02,148 in the hospital, 1185 00:28:00,130 --> 00:28:02,148 she also had to 1186 00:28:02,148 --> 00:28:07,120 face the hard truth that 1187 00:28:02,148 --> 00:28:07,120 someone had plotted against her. 1188 00:28:07,120 --> 00:28:11,224 - We asked her, "Is there anyone 1189 00:28:07,120 --> 00:28:11,224 that has an agenda, um, 1190 00:28:11,224 --> 00:28:12,692 against you or anything?" 1191 00:28:12,692 --> 00:28:15,610 And she vehemently stated that, 1192 00:28:15,610 --> 00:28:17,263 "No, I-I don't think there is 1193 00:28:15,610 --> 00:28:17,263 anyone in my life 1194 00:28:17,263 --> 00:28:20,330 that would attempt to 1195 00:28:17,263 --> 00:28:20,330 poison me." 1196 00:28:20,330 --> 00:28:22,869 - But Agent Gill knew 1197 00:28:20,330 --> 00:28:22,869 that intentional poisoning 1198 00:28:22,869 --> 00:28:25,672 was usually personal. 1199 00:28:25,672 --> 00:28:28,641 - Statistically and 1200 00:28:25,672 --> 00:28:28,641 historically speaking, um, 1201 00:28:28,641 --> 00:28:31,344 when you do have a poisoning, 1202 00:28:28,641 --> 00:28:31,344 it's either a close, uh, 1203 00:28:31,344 --> 00:28:33,713 family member 1204 00:28:31,344 --> 00:28:33,713 or a close friend. 1205 00:28:33,713 --> 00:28:36,449 - Sitting alone 1206 00:28:33,713 --> 00:28:36,449 in her hospital room, 1207 00:28:36,449 --> 00:28:39,352 Brigida found herself terrified 1208 00:28:36,449 --> 00:28:39,352 at the thought of 1209 00:28:39,352 --> 00:28:42,355 doctors lifting their ban 1210 00:28:39,352 --> 00:28:42,355 on visitors. 1211 00:28:42,355 --> 00:28:45,358 Did you start to become 1212 00:28:42,355 --> 00:28:45,358 more fearful 1213 00:28:45,358 --> 00:28:47,961 as you started to then realize 1214 00:28:47,961 --> 00:28:50,130 that this was 1215 00:28:47,961 --> 00:28:50,130 intentional poisoning? 1216 00:28:50,130 --> 00:28:55,680 - Yeah. I started, um, 1217 00:28:50,130 --> 00:28:55,680 getting fearful. 1218 00:28:55,680 --> 00:28:59,439 I started thinking about 1219 00:28:55,680 --> 00:28:59,439 what would happen 1220 00:28:59,439 --> 00:29:01,374 when I got out of the hospital, 1221 00:28:59,439 --> 00:29:01,374 if I-- 1222 00:29:01,374 --> 00:29:03,243 if I got out of the hospital, 1223 00:29:03,243 --> 00:29:06,212 and who would I have to 1224 00:29:03,243 --> 00:29:06,212 protect myself from. 1225 00:29:06,212 --> 00:29:09,849 - I imagine, at this point, 1226 00:29:06,212 --> 00:29:09,849 your circle is narrowing 1227 00:29:09,849 --> 00:29:11,351 as to who could have done this. 1228 00:29:11,351 --> 00:29:14,454 You're looking at her family. 1229 00:29:11,351 --> 00:29:14,454 You're looking at her sister. 1230 00:29:14,454 --> 00:29:16,122 And, of course, 1231 00:29:14,454 --> 00:29:16,122 you're looking at her husband. 1232 00:29:16,122 --> 00:29:17,390 - Absolutely. 1233 00:29:17,390 --> 00:29:21,270 - They talked to everyone, 1234 00:29:17,390 --> 00:29:21,270 including Brigida's husband, 1235 00:29:21,270 --> 00:29:22,395 Race Uto. 1236 00:29:22,395 --> 00:29:25,765 - He was a very friendly, 1237 00:29:22,395 --> 00:29:25,765 very cooperative individual 1238 00:29:25,765 --> 00:29:27,701 throughout 1239 00:29:25,765 --> 00:29:27,701 the entire investigation. 1240 00:29:27,701 --> 00:29:30,270 - Was he at all concerned 1241 00:29:27,701 --> 00:29:30,270 about his wife? 1242 00:29:30,270 --> 00:29:33,730 - When we first talked to him 1243 00:29:30,270 --> 00:29:33,730 in the hospital, 1244 00:29:33,730 --> 00:29:37,430 he did have some tears, um, 1245 00:29:33,730 --> 00:29:37,430 and he kept saying, 1246 00:29:37,430 --> 00:29:39,913 "I just wish I could do 1247 00:29:37,430 --> 00:29:39,913 something to help her." 1248 00:29:39,913 --> 00:29:42,449 - He said the right things 1249 00:29:39,913 --> 00:29:42,449 to detectives, 1250 00:29:42,449 --> 00:29:44,851 but Special Agent Gill 1251 00:29:42,449 --> 00:29:44,851 learned quickly 1252 00:29:44,851 --> 00:29:48,755 that something about 1253 00:29:44,851 --> 00:29:48,755 Race Uto seemed off. 1254 00:29:48,755 --> 00:29:52,425 - Some of the medical staff 1255 00:29:48,755 --> 00:29:52,425 had expressed some concern over, 1256 00:29:52,425 --> 00:29:56,196 um, Mr. Uto's behavior 1257 00:29:52,425 --> 00:29:56,196 at the time. 1258 00:29:56,196 --> 00:29:58,898 Uh, it came out 1259 00:29:56,196 --> 00:29:58,898 that he wasn't acting 1260 00:29:58,898 --> 00:30:02,369 as a concerned husband 1261 00:29:58,898 --> 00:30:02,369 should be acting. 1262 00:30:02,369 --> 00:30:04,671 Um, he was asking 1263 00:30:02,369 --> 00:30:04,671 the wrong kind of questions. 1264 00:30:04,671 --> 00:30:07,707 He didn't seem concerned about 1265 00:30:04,671 --> 00:30:07,707 what is happening to her. 1266 00:30:07,707 --> 00:30:12,812 - Suspicious as detectives were, 1267 00:30:07,707 --> 00:30:12,812 Brigida couldn't go there. 1268 00:30:12,812 --> 00:30:14,514 At this point, 1269 00:30:12,812 --> 00:30:14,514 are you suspecting 1270 00:30:14,514 --> 00:30:16,820 your husband at all? 1271 00:30:16,820 --> 00:30:17,217 - No. 1272 00:30:17,217 --> 00:30:20,253 Anybody who would suggest 1273 00:30:17,217 --> 00:30:20,253 that idea had started-- 1274 00:30:20,253 --> 00:30:22,288 why would you think that, 1275 00:30:22,288 --> 00:30:25,825 that my husband would do 1276 00:30:22,288 --> 00:30:25,825 something like that? 1277 00:30:25,825 --> 00:30:27,494 Like, I-I don't know. 1278 00:30:27,494 --> 00:30:29,362 He-he is the one 1279 00:30:27,494 --> 00:30:29,362 that brought me here. 1280 00:30:29,362 --> 00:30:31,965 How does that 1281 00:30:29,362 --> 00:30:31,965 make any sense? 1282 00:30:31,965 --> 00:30:33,990 - It was true. 1283 00:30:33,990 --> 00:30:35,502 Race was the one who took 1284 00:30:33,990 --> 00:30:35,502 Brigida to the doctor's 1285 00:30:35,502 --> 00:30:38,471 that day she was transferred 1286 00:30:35,502 --> 00:30:38,471 to the hospital. 1287 00:30:38,471 --> 00:30:42,108 To Brigida, that was an act 1288 00:30:38,471 --> 00:30:42,108 of an innocent man. 1289 00:30:42,108 --> 00:30:44,444 She also remembered 1290 00:30:42,108 --> 00:30:44,444 how Race cared for her 1291 00:30:44,444 --> 00:30:46,379 as she fell ill. 1292 00:30:46,379 --> 00:30:49,820 As you were getting 1293 00:30:46,379 --> 00:30:49,820 more and more sick, 1294 00:30:49,820 --> 00:30:51,618 did he show that 1295 00:30:49,820 --> 00:30:51,618 he was concerned 1296 00:30:51,618 --> 00:30:52,819 by bringing you food? 1297 00:30:52,819 --> 00:30:55,355 Was that part of his way 1298 00:30:52,819 --> 00:30:55,355 of taking care of you? 1299 00:30:55,355 --> 00:30:58,658 - That was-that was his way 1300 00:30:55,355 --> 00:30:58,658 of taking care of me. 1301 00:30:58,658 --> 00:30:59,826 When I started 1302 00:30:58,658 --> 00:30:59,826 staying home, 1303 00:30:59,826 --> 00:31:02,796 he would bring me 1304 00:30:59,826 --> 00:31:02,796 breakfast sandwiches, 1305 00:31:02,796 --> 00:31:04,864 uh, in-in bed. 1306 00:31:04,864 --> 00:31:07,934 He would make sure 1307 00:31:04,864 --> 00:31:07,934 that I had food. 1308 00:31:07,934 --> 00:31:11,710 - And you're thinking, 1309 00:31:07,934 --> 00:31:11,710 wow, he's showing a side. 1310 00:31:11,710 --> 00:31:12,539 He's taking care of me. 1311 00:31:12,539 --> 00:31:14,107 - Yeah, he's 1312 00:31:12,539 --> 00:31:14,107 taking care of me. 1313 00:31:14,107 --> 00:31:15,308 He really loves me. 1314 00:31:15,308 --> 00:31:19,412 He really cares about 1315 00:31:15,308 --> 00:31:19,412 what happens at this point. 1316 00:31:19,412 --> 00:31:22,349 - But Brigida also 1317 00:31:19,412 --> 00:31:22,349 told the detectives 1318 00:31:22,349 --> 00:31:25,118 something else 1319 00:31:22,349 --> 00:31:25,118 about her husband. 1320 00:31:25,118 --> 00:31:28,822 It turned out Race had 1321 00:31:25,118 --> 00:31:28,822 a very strange hobby, 1322 00:31:28,822 --> 00:31:30,890 collecting the types 1323 00:31:28,822 --> 00:31:30,890 of plant seeds 1324 00:31:30,890 --> 00:31:33,626 that are used 1325 00:31:30,890 --> 00:31:33,626 to make poisons. 1326 00:31:33,626 --> 00:31:36,396 And when you hear this, 1327 00:31:33,626 --> 00:31:36,396 are alarm bells going off? 1328 00:31:36,396 --> 00:31:38,131 - Absolutely. 1329 00:31:36,396 --> 00:31:38,131 This isn't a n-- 1330 00:31:38,131 --> 00:31:40,300 a normal amateur hobby 1331 00:31:38,131 --> 00:31:40,300 to have. 1332 00:31:40,300 --> 00:31:41,501 - Uh-uh. 1333 00:31:41,501 --> 00:31:44,104 - Um, so, obviously, it was 1334 00:31:41,501 --> 00:31:44,104 very concerning for us. 1335 00:31:44,104 --> 00:31:47,607 - Sixteen days into 1336 00:31:44,104 --> 00:31:47,607 Brigida's stay at the hospital, 1337 00:31:47,607 --> 00:31:49,442 detectives had 1338 00:31:47,607 --> 00:31:49,442 enough evidence 1339 00:31:49,442 --> 00:31:52,312 to get a search warrant 1340 00:31:49,442 --> 00:31:52,312 for the Uto home. 1341 00:31:52,312 --> 00:31:54,547 Race was there 1342 00:31:52,312 --> 00:31:54,547 to greet them. 1343 00:31:54,547 --> 00:31:56,816 - He was wearing 1344 00:31:54,547 --> 00:31:56,816 these dark sunglasses. 1345 00:31:56,816 --> 00:31:58,651 No reason for anyone 1346 00:31:56,816 --> 00:31:58,651 to wear sunglasses, 1347 00:31:58,651 --> 00:32:00,720 especially inside 1348 00:31:58,651 --> 00:32:00,720 your residence. 1349 00:32:00,720 --> 00:32:04,858 - He was fidgety 1350 00:32:00,720 --> 00:32:04,858 but seemingly candid. 1351 00:32:04,858 --> 00:32:07,961 - We asked him, 1352 00:32:04,858 --> 00:32:07,961 "Well, if we image your phone, 1353 00:32:07,961 --> 00:32:10,397 um, is there anything 1354 00:32:07,961 --> 00:32:10,397 in your search history 1355 00:32:10,397 --> 00:32:13,667 that is gonna be con-- 1356 00:32:10,397 --> 00:32:13,667 any concern to us?" 1357 00:32:13,667 --> 00:32:15,635 And he said, 1358 00:32:13,667 --> 00:32:15,635 "No, not at all. 1359 00:32:15,635 --> 00:32:17,971 Uh, by the way, 1360 00:32:15,635 --> 00:32:17,971 I had recently erased 1361 00:32:17,971 --> 00:32:21,708 all the search history of 1362 00:32:17,971 --> 00:32:21,708 all my electronic devices." 1363 00:32:21,708 --> 00:32:25,178 - That made the detectives 1364 00:32:21,708 --> 00:32:25,178 even more suspicious. 1365 00:32:25,178 --> 00:32:27,800 They took his electronics, 1366 00:32:27,800 --> 00:32:30,116 they scoured the house, 1367 00:32:27,800 --> 00:32:30,116 the garage, 1368 00:32:30,116 --> 00:32:32,485 and then they got 1369 00:32:30,116 --> 00:32:32,485 to his car. 1370 00:32:32,485 --> 00:32:35,321 - And then within the hole 1371 00:32:32,485 --> 00:32:35,321 for the spare tire, 1372 00:32:35,321 --> 00:32:38,358 we find, um, an odd 1373 00:32:35,321 --> 00:32:38,358 mix of materials, 1374 00:32:38,358 --> 00:32:41,361 um, a canister 1375 00:32:38,358 --> 00:32:41,361 of acetone, 1376 00:32:41,361 --> 00:32:45,732 uh, packets 1377 00:32:41,361 --> 00:32:45,732 of exotic seeds. 1378 00:32:45,732 --> 00:32:50,300 - Still barred from visiting, 1379 00:32:45,732 --> 00:32:50,300 Brigida's family was at home. 1380 00:32:50,300 --> 00:32:53,106 Sister Olga called 1381 00:32:50,300 --> 00:32:53,106 the detectives over. 1382 00:32:53,106 --> 00:32:55,108 Earlier that day, 1383 00:32:53,106 --> 00:32:55,108 her mother had seen 1384 00:32:55,108 --> 00:32:58,845 Race toss out 1385 00:32:55,108 --> 00:32:58,845 a black trash bag. 1386 00:32:58,845 --> 00:33:00,580 - I was like, okay, 1387 00:32:58,845 --> 00:33:00,580 I'll go get it. 1388 00:33:00,580 --> 00:33:02,148 - She's a great 1389 00:33:00,580 --> 00:33:02,148 junior agent. 1390 00:33:02,148 --> 00:33:04,500 She actually went 1391 00:33:02,148 --> 00:33:04,500 dumpster diving. 1392 00:33:04,500 --> 00:33:05,685 - What'd you find 1393 00:33:04,500 --> 00:33:05,685 in that black bag? 1394 00:33:05,685 --> 00:33:07,120 - Some of the more 1395 00:33:05,685 --> 00:33:07,120 serious things, 1396 00:33:07,120 --> 00:33:10,490 so we found, um, receipts 1397 00:33:07,120 --> 00:33:10,490 for some of the exotic seeds 1398 00:33:10,490 --> 00:33:12,125 that he had ordered. 1399 00:33:12,125 --> 00:33:15,395 We saw some of, 1400 00:33:12,125 --> 00:33:15,395 um, the crude 1401 00:33:15,395 --> 00:33:18,231 filtering mechanisms 1402 00:33:15,395 --> 00:33:18,231 that he had. 1403 00:33:18,231 --> 00:33:21,368 We found, um, solutions 1404 00:33:18,231 --> 00:33:21,368 in which to purify 1405 00:33:21,368 --> 00:33:24,237 and refine 1406 00:33:21,368 --> 00:33:24,237 some of the poisons. 1407 00:33:24,237 --> 00:33:26,139 - Agent Gill says 1408 00:33:24,237 --> 00:33:26,139 they found evidence 1409 00:33:26,139 --> 00:33:28,775 Race had tried to 1410 00:33:26,139 --> 00:33:28,775 grind up castor beans 1411 00:33:28,775 --> 00:33:31,770 to make the poison ricin. 1412 00:33:31,770 --> 00:33:34,280 He says they also found 1413 00:33:31,770 --> 00:33:34,280 rosary peas like these, 1414 00:33:34,280 --> 00:33:37,830 a seed that makes 1415 00:33:34,280 --> 00:33:37,830 another deadly poison, 1416 00:33:37,830 --> 00:33:39,686 and seeds like these 1417 00:33:37,830 --> 00:33:39,686 from something called 1418 00:33:39,686 --> 00:33:42,522 the suicide tree 1419 00:33:39,686 --> 00:33:42,522 of India. 1420 00:33:42,522 --> 00:33:44,991 And on Race's 1421 00:33:42,522 --> 00:33:44,991 electronic devices 1422 00:33:44,991 --> 00:33:47,260 that he thought 1423 00:33:44,991 --> 00:33:47,260 he had wiped clean, 1424 00:33:47,260 --> 00:33:49,950 they found two books, 1425 00:33:49,950 --> 00:33:51,798 "Criminal Poisoning" 1426 00:33:49,950 --> 00:33:51,798 and "The Poisoner's Handbook." 1427 00:33:53,133 --> 00:33:55,100 As bad as it all looked, 1428 00:33:55,100 --> 00:33:57,404 there was one thing 1429 00:33:55,100 --> 00:33:57,404 they didn't find, 1430 00:33:57,404 --> 00:34:00,173 thallium, 1431 00:33:57,404 --> 00:34:00,173 not a trace of it. 1432 00:34:00,173 --> 00:34:02,342 Without that, detectives 1433 00:34:00,173 --> 00:34:02,342 felt there wasn't 1434 00:34:02,342 --> 00:34:04,878 enough evidence 1435 00:34:02,342 --> 00:34:04,878 to make an arrest. 1436 00:34:04,878 --> 00:34:06,279 At the end 1437 00:34:04,878 --> 00:34:06,279 of the search, 1438 00:34:06,279 --> 00:34:09,114 Race Uto remained 1439 00:34:06,279 --> 00:34:09,114 a free man, 1440 00:34:09,114 --> 00:34:12,385 but Detective Farr knew 1441 00:34:09,114 --> 00:34:12,385 he needed to warn Brigida. 1442 00:34:13,553 --> 00:34:17,900 - So, I went to the hospital, 1443 00:34:13,553 --> 00:34:17,900 and we had a very long talk, 1444 00:34:17,900 --> 00:34:18,525 and I showed her 1445 00:34:17,900 --> 00:34:18,525 some of the stuff 1446 00:34:18,525 --> 00:34:21,610 that we found and basically 1447 00:34:18,525 --> 00:34:21,610 laid it all out for her 1448 00:34:21,610 --> 00:34:24,397 that, if you get out, 1449 00:34:21,610 --> 00:34:24,397 you need to not go back 1450 00:34:24,397 --> 00:34:26,766 to your husband. 1451 00:34:26,766 --> 00:34:28,301 - Coming up... 1452 00:34:28,301 --> 00:34:30,637 - I told 1453 00:34:28,301 --> 00:34:30,637 investigators, "Fine." 1454 00:34:30,637 --> 00:34:32,719 You know, "Continue with 1455 00:34:30,637 --> 00:34:32,719 the investigation, 1456 00:34:32,719 --> 00:34:33,373 "but I need proof." 1457 00:34:33,373 --> 00:34:36,342 - Would investigators 1458 00:34:33,373 --> 00:34:36,342 get the proof they need? 1459 00:34:36,342 --> 00:34:37,744 - I think he thought 1460 00:34:36,342 --> 00:34:37,744 he had it beat. 1461 00:34:37,744 --> 00:34:40,914 - And a haunting, 1462 00:34:37,744 --> 00:34:40,914 terrifying moment. 1463 00:34:40,914 --> 00:34:45,518 - He had made 1464 00:34:40,914 --> 00:34:45,518 a breakfast sandwich for me, 1465 00:34:45,518 --> 00:34:49,822 and my son climbed up 1466 00:34:45,518 --> 00:34:49,822 and wanted a piece. 1467 00:34:49,922 --> 00:35:01,267 - Welcome back. 1468 00:35:02,435 --> 00:35:06,720 Investigators believed Race Uto 1469 00:35:02,435 --> 00:35:06,720 poisoned his wife, Brigida, 1470 00:35:06,720 --> 00:35:08,942 but they could not 1471 00:35:06,720 --> 00:35:08,942 tie him to the toxin 1472 00:35:08,942 --> 00:35:10,810 that made her so sick. 1473 00:35:10,810 --> 00:35:13,513 Without hard evidence, 1474 00:35:10,810 --> 00:35:13,513 Brigida held out hope 1475 00:35:13,513 --> 00:35:15,615 the authorities 1476 00:35:13,513 --> 00:35:15,615 were wrong. 1477 00:35:15,615 --> 00:35:17,884 Now, detectives were 1478 00:35:15,615 --> 00:35:17,884 about to uncover 1479 00:35:17,884 --> 00:35:21,540 not one but two 1480 00:35:17,884 --> 00:35:21,540 jaw dropping secrets 1481 00:35:21,540 --> 00:35:24,557 and blow this case 1482 00:35:21,540 --> 00:35:24,557 wide open. 1483 00:35:24,557 --> 00:35:27,193 Here's Natalie Morales 1484 00:35:24,557 --> 00:35:27,193 with the conclusion 1485 00:35:27,193 --> 00:35:30,960 of "The Prussian 1486 00:35:27,193 --> 00:35:30,960 Blue Mystery." 1487 00:35:30,960 --> 00:35:31,965 - By now, the doctors, 1488 00:35:30,960 --> 00:35:31,965 and nurses, 1489 00:35:31,965 --> 00:35:34,901 and law enforcement 1490 00:35:31,965 --> 00:35:34,901 all believed 1491 00:35:34,901 --> 00:35:38,538 they had to protect Brigida 1492 00:35:34,901 --> 00:35:38,538 from her husband, 1493 00:35:38,538 --> 00:35:42,442 even if Brigida still couldn't 1494 00:35:38,538 --> 00:35:42,442 wrap her mind around it. 1495 00:35:42,442 --> 00:35:44,310 - I finally had gotten 1496 00:35:42,442 --> 00:35:44,310 to the point 1497 00:35:44,310 --> 00:35:47,800 where I told 1498 00:35:44,310 --> 00:35:47,800 investigators, "Fine. 1499 00:35:47,800 --> 00:35:48,581 You know, "Continue with 1500 00:35:47,800 --> 00:35:48,581 the investigation, 1501 00:35:48,581 --> 00:35:50,250 "but I need proof." 1502 00:35:50,250 --> 00:35:52,519 - So did law enforcement. 1503 00:35:52,519 --> 00:35:55,880 They kept digging 1504 00:35:52,519 --> 00:35:55,880 and learned Race Uto 1505 00:35:55,880 --> 00:35:57,190 had a secret life. 1506 00:35:57,190 --> 00:36:01,127 There was a girlfriend 1507 00:35:57,190 --> 00:36:01,127 who thought his wife was dead. 1508 00:36:01,127 --> 00:36:02,929 - He had taken 1509 00:36:01,127 --> 00:36:02,929 his son with them 1510 00:36:02,929 --> 00:36:04,130 on so many of their dates 1511 00:36:04,130 --> 00:36:06,733 that, uh, the son 1512 00:36:04,130 --> 00:36:06,733 was actually calling her mom. 1513 00:36:06,733 --> 00:36:08,301 Mr. Uto painted 1514 00:36:06,733 --> 00:36:08,301 this picture 1515 00:36:08,301 --> 00:36:11,504 like he was, um, 1516 00:36:08,301 --> 00:36:11,504 a former Navy Seal, 1517 00:36:11,504 --> 00:36:13,273 and he specifically 1518 00:36:11,504 --> 00:36:13,273 mentioned he wanted 1519 00:36:13,273 --> 00:36:15,642 to work for the FBI 1520 00:36:13,273 --> 00:36:15,642 in the poisons department. 1521 00:36:15,642 --> 00:36:17,110 - Kinda like what you do. 1522 00:36:17,110 --> 00:36:18,411 - That's very ironic. 1523 00:36:18,411 --> 00:36:20,180 Yeah. 1524 00:36:18,411 --> 00:36:20,180 [laughing] 1525 00:36:20,180 --> 00:36:23,850 - Then they found 1526 00:36:20,180 --> 00:36:23,850 another girlfriend. 1527 00:36:23,850 --> 00:36:25,618 - He specifically told 1528 00:36:23,850 --> 00:36:25,618 that girlfriend 1529 00:36:25,618 --> 00:36:29,550 that he wanted his wife 1530 00:36:25,618 --> 00:36:29,550 to get hit by a bus 1531 00:36:29,550 --> 00:36:31,758 and for her to die, 1532 00:36:29,550 --> 00:36:31,758 so he can get sole custody. 1533 00:36:31,758 --> 00:36:33,193 - Go ahead and come in 1534 00:36:31,758 --> 00:36:33,193 the room here. 1535 00:36:33,193 --> 00:36:36,730 - Investigators decided it 1536 00:36:33,193 --> 00:36:36,730 was time to confront Race. 1537 00:36:36,730 --> 00:36:40,233 They asked Race 1538 00:36:36,730 --> 00:36:40,233 to take a polygraph. 1539 00:36:40,233 --> 00:36:42,102 - Uh, and he's a person 1540 00:36:40,233 --> 00:36:42,102 that seems 1541 00:36:42,102 --> 00:36:45,538 to have gone through life 1542 00:36:42,102 --> 00:36:45,538 by talking himself 1543 00:36:45,538 --> 00:36:47,207 out of situations. 1544 00:36:47,207 --> 00:36:51,244 - It started off easy, 1545 00:36:47,207 --> 00:36:51,244 almost a casual chat. 1546 00:36:51,244 --> 00:36:52,379 - And what are 1547 00:36:51,244 --> 00:36:52,379 your hobbies? 1548 00:36:52,379 --> 00:36:53,480 What do you do for fun 1549 00:36:52,379 --> 00:36:53,480 when you're not working? 1550 00:36:53,480 --> 00:36:54,647 I know you spend time 1551 00:36:53,480 --> 00:36:54,647 with your son. 1552 00:36:54,647 --> 00:36:55,615 - I spend time with him. 1553 00:36:55,615 --> 00:36:58,118 I like to, well, 1554 00:36:55,615 --> 00:36:58,118 when I could, surf. 1555 00:36:58,118 --> 00:37:00,200 - Then he got 1556 00:36:58,118 --> 00:37:00,200 more serious. 1557 00:37:00,200 --> 00:37:01,287 - Can you pass this test 1558 00:37:00,200 --> 00:37:01,287 if I ask you 1559 00:37:01,287 --> 00:37:02,288 if you poisoned her? 1560 00:37:02,288 --> 00:37:05,580 - Yeah. 1561 00:37:02,288 --> 00:37:05,580 I wouldn't hurt her. 1562 00:37:05,580 --> 00:37:07,930 - The sensors 1563 00:37:05,580 --> 00:37:07,930 were strapped on. 1564 00:37:07,930 --> 00:37:09,290 - All right, so, I'm gonna 1565 00:37:07,930 --> 00:37:09,290 go ahead and get started. 1566 00:37:09,290 --> 00:37:12,465 - His demeanor during 1567 00:37:09,290 --> 00:37:12,465 the first half was confident. 1568 00:37:12,465 --> 00:37:14,834 I think he thought 1569 00:37:12,465 --> 00:37:14,834 he had it beat. 1570 00:37:14,834 --> 00:37:17,871 - Paul Reizen was 1571 00:37:14,834 --> 00:37:17,871 the prosecutor on the case. 1572 00:37:17,871 --> 00:37:20,907 It almost looked like, 1573 00:37:17,871 --> 00:37:20,907 all right, I got this. 1574 00:37:20,907 --> 00:37:23,430 I'm gettin' through this. 1575 00:37:20,907 --> 00:37:23,430 We're good. 1576 00:37:23,430 --> 00:37:25,412 - Please remain still. 1577 00:37:23,430 --> 00:37:25,412 The test is about to begin. 1578 00:37:25,412 --> 00:37:26,780 Are the lights on 1579 00:37:25,412 --> 00:37:26,780 in this room? 1580 00:37:26,780 --> 00:37:27,914 - Yes. 1581 00:37:27,914 --> 00:37:29,820 - Regarding poisoning 1582 00:37:27,914 --> 00:37:29,820 your wife, 1583 00:37:29,820 --> 00:37:30,316 do you intend to 1584 00:37:29,820 --> 00:37:30,316 answer truthfully? 1585 00:37:30,316 --> 00:37:32,520 - Yes. 1586 00:37:32,520 --> 00:37:34,287 - Were you involved in 1587 00:37:32,520 --> 00:37:34,287 poisoning your wife? 1588 00:37:34,287 --> 00:37:35,388 - No. 1589 00:37:35,388 --> 00:37:37,190 - Did you poison 1590 00:37:35,388 --> 00:37:37,190 your wife? 1591 00:37:37,190 --> 00:37:38,658 - No. 1592 00:37:38,658 --> 00:37:41,561 - Please remain still. 1593 00:37:38,658 --> 00:37:41,561 The test is about to end. 1594 00:37:41,561 --> 00:37:43,229 - Nine times, 1595 00:37:41,561 --> 00:37:43,229 the investigators asked 1596 00:37:43,229 --> 00:37:44,931 the same questions. 1597 00:37:44,931 --> 00:37:47,801 Every time, Race Uto 1598 00:37:44,931 --> 00:37:47,801 assured him 1599 00:37:47,801 --> 00:37:50,337 he did not poison 1600 00:37:47,801 --> 00:37:50,337 his wife, 1601 00:37:50,337 --> 00:37:53,730 and he seemed sure 1602 00:37:50,337 --> 00:37:53,730 he passed. 1603 00:37:53,730 --> 00:37:54,307 - The testing went on. 1604 00:37:54,307 --> 00:37:57,344 The polygrapher 1605 00:37:54,307 --> 00:37:57,344 eventually stopped, 1606 00:37:57,344 --> 00:37:59,746 let him take a break, 1607 00:37:57,344 --> 00:37:59,746 came back in. 1608 00:37:59,746 --> 00:38:01,281 - You can have a seat 1609 00:37:59,746 --> 00:38:01,281 in the regular chair there. 1610 00:38:01,281 --> 00:38:02,549 - Sweet. 1611 00:38:02,549 --> 00:38:04,150 - Confronted him 1612 00:38:02,549 --> 00:38:04,150 and said, 1613 00:38:04,150 --> 00:38:05,685 "I don't believe 1614 00:38:04,150 --> 00:38:05,685 anything you're saying." 1615 00:38:05,685 --> 00:38:07,620 - So, you failed 1616 00:38:05,685 --> 00:38:07,620 your test. 1617 00:38:07,620 --> 00:38:09,890 Not only did you 1618 00:38:07,620 --> 00:38:09,890 fail the test, 1619 00:38:09,890 --> 00:38:10,523 you failed miserably. 1620 00:38:10,523 --> 00:38:12,158 - And that's when 1621 00:38:10,523 --> 00:38:12,158 he confessed. 1622 00:38:12,158 --> 00:38:14,494 - Right then and there. 1623 00:38:12,158 --> 00:38:14,494 - Right after the polygraph. 1624 00:38:14,494 --> 00:38:16,596 - Race broke. 1625 00:38:16,596 --> 00:38:19,299 The details of how 1626 00:38:16,596 --> 00:38:19,299 he tried to kill his wife 1627 00:38:19,299 --> 00:38:21,468 began tumbling out. 1628 00:38:21,468 --> 00:38:23,236 - When did you start 1629 00:38:21,468 --> 00:38:23,236 giving this stuff to her? 1630 00:38:23,236 --> 00:38:25,538 - I can't really remember. 1631 00:38:23,236 --> 00:38:25,538 Most of it's a blur. 1632 00:38:25,538 --> 00:38:28,174 - Race told the investigator 1633 00:38:25,538 --> 00:38:28,174 that the first time 1634 00:38:28,174 --> 00:38:32,345 he fed thallium to Brigida, 1635 00:38:28,174 --> 00:38:32,345 it was in a sandwich. 1636 00:38:32,345 --> 00:38:36,349 - Uh, it was a egg, cheese, 1637 00:38:32,345 --> 00:38:36,349 uh, breakfast bagel. 1638 00:38:36,349 --> 00:38:39,552 - And the second time, 1639 00:38:36,349 --> 00:38:39,552 walk me through what you did. 1640 00:38:39,552 --> 00:38:43,256 - Uh, just threw it in 1641 00:38:39,552 --> 00:38:43,256 with a, uh, soup. 1642 00:38:44,124 --> 00:38:47,327 - Race told law enforcement 1643 00:38:44,124 --> 00:38:47,327 he doled out the poison 1644 00:38:47,327 --> 00:38:49,496 based on Brigida's weight, 1645 00:38:49,496 --> 00:38:51,731 starting with 1646 00:38:49,496 --> 00:38:51,731 one gram of thallium 1647 00:38:51,731 --> 00:38:54,901 in late summer 2017. 1648 00:38:54,901 --> 00:38:57,700 - You thought that based off 1649 00:38:54,901 --> 00:38:57,700 her weight and what you read, 1650 00:38:57,700 --> 00:38:59,720 one gram would kill her 1651 00:38:57,700 --> 00:38:59,720 the first two times. 1652 00:38:59,720 --> 00:39:02,742 - I was basing it, um, like, 1653 00:38:59,720 --> 00:39:02,742 a lethality kind of level. 1654 00:39:02,742 --> 00:39:05,445 - Brigida got sick, 1655 00:39:02,742 --> 00:39:05,445 but she obviously didn't die, 1656 00:39:05,445 --> 00:39:08,140 so he upped it 1657 00:39:05,445 --> 00:39:08,140 the last time. 1658 00:39:08,140 --> 00:39:09,916 He upped it up 1659 00:39:08,140 --> 00:39:09,916 to five grams. 1660 00:39:09,916 --> 00:39:11,718 He thought 1661 00:39:09,916 --> 00:39:11,718 that was gonna do it. 1662 00:39:11,718 --> 00:39:14,387 - It should have 1663 00:39:11,718 --> 00:39:14,387 been a lethal dose, 1664 00:39:14,387 --> 00:39:18,124 but Race didn't factor in 1665 00:39:14,387 --> 00:39:18,124 his wife's will to live. 1666 00:39:19,250 --> 00:39:23,196 All the doctors, the nurses, 1667 00:39:19,250 --> 00:39:23,196 the detectives say 1668 00:39:23,196 --> 00:39:25,932 it's your quiet strength 1669 00:39:25,932 --> 00:39:28,601 that allowed you 1670 00:39:25,932 --> 00:39:28,601 to pull through. 1671 00:39:28,601 --> 00:39:30,603 You believe that, too? 1672 00:39:30,603 --> 00:39:32,372 - Um... 1673 00:39:30,603 --> 00:39:32,372 [laughing] 1674 00:39:32,372 --> 00:39:33,506 Yeah, I struggle 1675 00:39:32,372 --> 00:39:33,506 with that a little bit. 1676 00:39:33,506 --> 00:39:35,775 - Don't be humble. 1677 00:39:33,506 --> 00:39:35,775 Don't be humble. 1678 00:39:35,775 --> 00:39:37,210 [laughing] 1679 00:39:35,775 --> 00:39:37,210 - Uh, thank you. 1680 00:39:37,210 --> 00:39:39,612 [laughing] 1681 00:39:37,210 --> 00:39:39,612 I mean, I-I would hope so. 1682 00:39:39,612 --> 00:39:42,148 I would hope 1683 00:39:39,612 --> 00:39:42,148 that I-I have that 1684 00:39:42,148 --> 00:39:43,717 to give to my son, 1685 00:39:43,717 --> 00:39:46,860 but I think it's 1686 00:39:43,717 --> 00:39:46,860 all the work 1687 00:39:46,860 --> 00:39:49,122 that they did together 1688 00:39:49,122 --> 00:39:53,126 that has helped me 1689 00:39:49,122 --> 00:39:53,126 be here now. 1690 00:39:53,126 --> 00:39:55,610 - You are gonna be 1691 00:39:53,126 --> 00:39:55,610 arrested today. 1692 00:39:55,610 --> 00:39:56,429 - Police arrested Race 1693 00:39:56,429 --> 00:39:59,650 immediately after 1694 00:39:56,429 --> 00:39:59,650 his confession. 1695 00:39:59,650 --> 00:40:00,800 - Do you have anything 1696 00:39:59,650 --> 00:40:00,800 in your pockets now? 1697 00:40:00,800 --> 00:40:03,536 - Eight months later, 1698 00:40:00,800 --> 00:40:03,536 Race Uto pleaded guilty 1699 00:40:03,536 --> 00:40:05,872 to three counts of 1700 00:40:03,536 --> 00:40:05,872 attempted murder. 1701 00:40:05,872 --> 00:40:09,943 He's serving 1702 00:40:05,872 --> 00:40:09,943 21 years to life. 1703 00:40:09,943 --> 00:40:13,780 - My parents saw him 1704 00:40:09,943 --> 00:40:13,780 as their son, at one point. 1705 00:40:13,780 --> 00:40:15,248 I saw him as a brother. 1706 00:40:15,248 --> 00:40:17,500 And he took advantage 1707 00:40:15,248 --> 00:40:17,500 of us wanting to be 1708 00:40:17,500 --> 00:40:19,953 open and caring with him. 1709 00:40:19,953 --> 00:40:21,988 - It was upsetting, 1710 00:40:21,988 --> 00:40:23,456 and I couldn't 1711 00:40:21,988 --> 00:40:23,456 believe it for a while. 1712 00:40:23,456 --> 00:40:25,925 I was like, 1713 00:40:23,456 --> 00:40:25,925 how can this be? 1714 00:40:25,925 --> 00:40:28,361 Right under our nose, 1715 00:40:25,925 --> 00:40:28,361 he was doing all this 1716 00:40:28,361 --> 00:40:29,763 to our daughter, 1717 00:40:29,763 --> 00:40:32,980 and I thank God that 1718 00:40:29,763 --> 00:40:32,980 they're right next door 1719 00:40:32,980 --> 00:40:34,534 because I think, 1720 00:40:32,980 --> 00:40:34,534 if they had been living 1721 00:40:34,534 --> 00:40:37,370 someplace else, 1722 00:40:34,534 --> 00:40:37,370 she would have died. 1723 00:40:37,370 --> 00:40:38,371 I'm sure of it. 1724 00:40:38,371 --> 00:40:39,939 - So, then you start 1725 00:40:38,371 --> 00:40:39,939 going back in your head, 1726 00:40:39,939 --> 00:40:41,307 and you're replaying 1727 00:40:39,939 --> 00:40:41,307 all the times 1728 00:40:41,307 --> 00:40:43,643 he brought you food 1729 00:40:41,307 --> 00:40:43,643 and made you food. 1730 00:40:43,643 --> 00:40:46,746 Was there an instance 1731 00:40:43,643 --> 00:40:46,746 that stands out in your mind? 1732 00:40:46,746 --> 00:40:50,583 - He had made 1733 00:40:46,746 --> 00:40:50,583 a breakfast sandwich 1734 00:40:50,583 --> 00:40:53,953 and taken it to 1735 00:40:50,583 --> 00:40:53,953 the bedroom for me, 1736 00:40:53,953 --> 00:40:58,558 and my son climbed up 1737 00:40:53,953 --> 00:40:58,558 and wanted a piece, 1738 00:40:58,558 --> 00:41:01,728 and immediately 1739 00:40:58,558 --> 00:41:01,728 his reaction is, 1740 00:41:01,728 --> 00:41:04,264 "No, don't give him 1741 00:41:01,728 --> 00:41:04,264 any of it." 1742 00:41:06,660 --> 00:41:08,568 I think about that 1743 00:41:06,660 --> 00:41:08,568 all the time. 1744 00:41:08,568 --> 00:41:12,539 - A moment that could have 1745 00:41:08,568 --> 00:41:12,539 easily gone a different way. 1746 00:41:12,539 --> 00:41:16,142 It haunts her. 1747 00:41:16,142 --> 00:41:18,345 Emotionally, 1748 00:41:16,142 --> 00:41:18,345 how are you doing? 1749 00:41:18,345 --> 00:41:19,512 - It's rough. 1750 00:41:19,512 --> 00:41:22,949 It's still hard to stop 1751 00:41:19,512 --> 00:41:22,949 and think about 1752 00:41:22,949 --> 00:41:25,251 what happened, 1753 00:41:22,949 --> 00:41:25,251 the amount of deception. 1754 00:41:25,251 --> 00:41:27,721 I can't really 1755 00:41:25,251 --> 00:41:27,721 trust people. 1756 00:41:27,721 --> 00:41:29,589 And what I've discovered 1757 00:41:27,721 --> 00:41:29,589 is, you know, 1758 00:41:29,589 --> 00:41:33,393 trusting myself 1759 00:41:29,589 --> 00:41:33,393 is difficult, too. 1760 00:41:33,393 --> 00:41:36,830 - Before they were married, 1761 00:41:33,393 --> 00:41:36,830 Brigida told Race that, 1762 00:41:36,830 --> 00:41:40,266 as a Catholic, she believed 1763 00:41:36,830 --> 00:41:40,266 marriage was forever. 1764 00:41:40,900 --> 00:41:42,936 How do you feel 1765 00:41:40,900 --> 00:41:42,936 about divorce now? 1766 00:41:42,936 --> 00:41:45,739 - Um, yeah. 1767 00:41:42,936 --> 00:41:45,739 [laughing] 1768 00:41:45,739 --> 00:41:47,607 I love the idea. 1769 00:41:45,739 --> 00:41:47,607 [laughing] 1770 00:41:49,109 --> 00:41:52,512 - This strong woman, 1771 00:41:49,109 --> 00:41:52,512 who once couldn't walk, 1772 00:41:52,512 --> 00:41:54,848 is now running, again. 1773 00:41:54,848 --> 00:41:59,285 - It's been hard when, 1774 00:41:54,848 --> 00:41:59,285 at first, I could-- 1775 00:41:59,285 --> 00:42:01,221 I couldn't even walk 1776 00:41:59,285 --> 00:42:01,221 without a walker. 1777 00:42:01,221 --> 00:42:04,570 So, it's been 1778 00:42:01,221 --> 00:42:04,570 a very slow, 1779 00:42:04,570 --> 00:42:07,600 um, slow progress. 1780 00:42:07,600 --> 00:42:08,595 - Is this your therapy now? 1781 00:42:08,595 --> 00:42:10,630 - Yeah. 1782 00:42:08,595 --> 00:42:10,630 - Yeah. 1783 00:42:10,630 --> 00:42:13,333 - Yeah, um, I remember 1784 00:42:10,630 --> 00:42:13,333 being in the hospital 1785 00:42:13,333 --> 00:42:15,201 and finding everything out 1786 00:42:15,201 --> 00:42:18,905 and being so angry 1787 00:42:15,201 --> 00:42:18,905 that I couldn't get up 1788 00:42:18,905 --> 00:42:20,940 to go for a run. 1789 00:42:18,905 --> 00:42:20,940 [laughing] 1790 00:42:20,940 --> 00:42:23,643 - Right now, though, 1791 00:42:20,940 --> 00:42:23,643 Brigida's focus is on 1792 00:42:23,643 --> 00:42:27,313 embracing life 1793 00:42:23,643 --> 00:42:27,313 and all its thrills. 1794 00:42:29,820 --> 00:42:31,685 - I've gone skydiving. 1795 00:42:34,487 --> 00:42:37,157 I mean, I've done 1796 00:42:34,487 --> 00:42:37,157 different things. 1797 00:42:37,157 --> 00:42:39,893 - You're living life 1798 00:42:37,157 --> 00:42:39,893 to the fullest now. 1799 00:42:39,893 --> 00:42:42,950 - Absolutely. 1800 00:42:45,598 --> 00:42:46,800 - That's all for 1801 00:42:45,598 --> 00:42:46,800 this edition 1802 00:42:46,800 --> 00:42:49,235 of "Dateline: 1803 00:42:46,800 --> 00:42:49,235 Secrets Uncovered." 1804 00:42:49,235 --> 00:42:51,671 I'm Craig Melvin. 1805 00:42:49,235 --> 00:42:51,671 Thank you for watching.