1 00:00:12,412 --> 00:00:12,879 - I'm Craig Melvin, 2 00:00:13,747 --> 00:00:17,500 and this is 3 00:00:13,747 --> 00:00:17,500 "Dateline: Secrets Uncovered". 4 00:00:17,500 --> 00:00:20,553 - It's been extremely hard. 5 00:00:20,553 --> 00:00:23,189 - The hardest part was 6 00:00:20,553 --> 00:00:23,189 the-the crime scene picture 7 00:00:23,189 --> 00:00:24,290 of our mom. 8 00:00:24,290 --> 00:00:25,892 - I always told myself 9 00:00:24,290 --> 00:00:25,892 she didn't see it coming. 10 00:00:25,892 --> 00:00:29,696 - A mother at work 11 00:00:25,892 --> 00:00:29,696 in her office, murdered. 12 00:00:29,696 --> 00:00:32,198 - Someone shot her 13 00:00:29,696 --> 00:00:32,198 and just let her die. 14 00:00:32,198 --> 00:00:35,435 - Four bullets. 15 00:00:32,198 --> 00:00:35,435 Making sure she was dead. 16 00:00:35,435 --> 00:00:40,540 - Who wanted this very nice, 17 00:00:35,435 --> 00:00:40,540 professional woman dead? 18 00:00:40,540 --> 00:00:44,110 - Police start to dig. 19 00:00:40,540 --> 00:00:44,110 Her new fiancé... 20 00:00:44,110 --> 00:00:45,779 - He was like, 21 00:00:44,110 --> 00:00:45,779 "I have to move on". 22 00:00:45,779 --> 00:00:49,382 - It was just very suspicious. 23 00:00:45,779 --> 00:00:49,382 - Her final client... 24 00:00:49,382 --> 00:00:52,252 - He owned 25 00:00:49,382 --> 00:00:52,252 a nine millimeter gun. 26 00:00:52,252 --> 00:00:53,920 - And she was shot with 27 00:00:52,252 --> 00:00:53,920 one of those. 28 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:55,422 - Her ex-husband... 29 00:00:55,422 --> 00:00:57,791 - He was under deep suspicion 30 00:00:55,422 --> 00:00:57,791 by the whole town? 31 00:00:57,791 --> 00:00:59,959 - He was. 32 00:01:00,660 --> 00:01:02,495 - I know anyone's capable 33 00:01:00,660 --> 00:01:02,495 of doing anything, 34 00:01:02,495 --> 00:01:05,650 but we would know. 35 00:01:02,495 --> 00:01:05,650 We're his kids. 36 00:01:05,650 --> 00:01:09,369 - A chilling case... 37 00:01:05,650 --> 00:01:09,369 - Greed. Hate. Murder. 38 00:01:09,369 --> 00:01:11,438 - ...with a riveting end. 39 00:01:11,438 --> 00:01:14,740 - Our mom's killer 40 00:01:11,438 --> 00:01:14,740 is still out there. 41 00:01:14,740 --> 00:01:21,314 ** 42 00:01:21,314 --> 00:01:24,818 - Hello and welcome to 43 00:01:21,314 --> 00:01:24,818 "Dateline: Secrets Uncovered". 44 00:01:24,818 --> 00:01:27,120 Pam Zimmerman 45 00:01:24,818 --> 00:01:27,120 was a doting mom 46 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:30,423 and a trusted 47 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:30,423 financial adviser. 48 00:01:30,423 --> 00:01:33,193 She was also a killer's target, 49 00:01:33,193 --> 00:01:36,628 shot execution style 50 00:01:33,193 --> 00:01:36,628 in her office. 51 00:01:36,628 --> 00:01:40,000 Detectives discovered 52 00:01:36,628 --> 00:01:40,000 some of the men in Pam's life 53 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:41,501 were keeping secrets, 54 00:01:41,501 --> 00:01:45,305 but only one would face trial 55 00:01:41,501 --> 00:01:45,305 for her murder. 56 00:01:45,305 --> 00:01:50,176 The stunning outcome 57 00:01:45,305 --> 00:01:50,176 would tear Pam's family apart. 58 00:01:50,176 --> 00:01:53,279 Here's Keith Morrison 59 00:01:50,176 --> 00:01:53,279 with "Before Midnight". 60 00:01:58,351 --> 00:02:00,530 - A few minutes after sunrise 61 00:02:00,530 --> 00:02:02,922 on the morning of 62 00:02:00,530 --> 00:02:02,922 November 4, 2014, 63 00:02:02,922 --> 00:02:04,758 David Zimmerman 64 00:02:02,922 --> 00:02:04,758 rose from his bed 65 00:02:04,758 --> 00:02:07,494 in the quiet suburb of 66 00:02:04,758 --> 00:02:07,494 Bloomington, Illinois, 67 00:02:07,494 --> 00:02:10,130 eager to dispose of 68 00:02:07,494 --> 00:02:10,130 a small worry 69 00:02:10,130 --> 00:02:12,532 that had been 70 00:02:10,130 --> 00:02:12,532 nagging at him all night. 71 00:02:12,532 --> 00:02:15,502 He padded across the room 72 00:02:12,532 --> 00:02:15,502 to his bedroom door. 73 00:02:15,502 --> 00:02:18,805 - I woke up and walk out into 74 00:02:15,502 --> 00:02:18,805 the kind of main hallway 75 00:02:18,805 --> 00:02:21,541 that we have and 76 00:02:18,805 --> 00:02:21,541 the lights were still on. 77 00:02:21,541 --> 00:02:23,910 - The lights he left on 78 00:02:21,541 --> 00:02:23,910 when he went to bed. 79 00:02:23,910 --> 00:02:26,813 Which meant what? 80 00:02:26,813 --> 00:02:28,481 David was seventeen years old, 81 00:02:28,481 --> 00:02:31,718 the eldest of Pam Zimmerman's 82 00:02:28,481 --> 00:02:31,718 three children. 83 00:02:31,718 --> 00:02:34,353 They, not uncommonly, 84 00:02:31,718 --> 00:02:34,353 left the lights on for their mom 85 00:02:34,353 --> 00:02:37,557 when she worked late at 86 00:02:34,353 --> 00:02:37,557 her financial planning business 87 00:02:37,557 --> 00:02:40,727 or when she stepped out 88 00:02:37,557 --> 00:02:40,727 with her new man. 89 00:02:40,727 --> 00:02:44,698 Typically, when she got home, 90 00:02:40,727 --> 00:02:44,698 she'd turn the lights off, 91 00:02:44,698 --> 00:02:46,766 but this Tuesday morning... 92 00:02:46,766 --> 00:02:48,101 - Her bedroom is dark 93 00:02:48,101 --> 00:02:49,668 and it looked like no one 94 00:02:48,101 --> 00:02:49,668 had been there. 95 00:02:49,668 --> 00:02:52,572 - Tell me what was going on 96 00:02:49,668 --> 00:02:52,572 in your mind when you saw that? 97 00:02:52,572 --> 00:02:55,141 - My mom is probably 98 00:02:52,572 --> 00:02:55,141 a million different places. 99 00:02:55,141 --> 00:02:57,543 I thought it was 100 00:02:55,141 --> 00:02:57,543 the weirdest thing. 101 00:02:57,543 --> 00:03:00,180 I was like, "All right, 102 00:02:57,543 --> 00:03:00,180 she didn't come home. 103 00:03:00,180 --> 00:03:02,449 So where is she?" 104 00:03:02,449 --> 00:03:04,718 - Had to be 105 00:03:02,449 --> 00:03:04,718 a reasonable explanation. 106 00:03:04,718 --> 00:03:08,521 Pam Zimmerman was so reliable. 107 00:03:08,521 --> 00:03:11,591 Two years divorced, 108 00:03:08,521 --> 00:03:11,591 a successful businesswoman 109 00:03:11,591 --> 00:03:15,161 and fully engaged mother, 110 00:03:11,591 --> 00:03:15,161 a pillar of the neighborhood. 111 00:03:15,161 --> 00:03:17,230 David and his fifteen-year-old 112 00:03:15,161 --> 00:03:17,230 twin sisters, 113 00:03:17,230 --> 00:03:18,398 Heidi and Rachel, 114 00:03:18,398 --> 00:03:21,334 tried to push 115 00:03:18,398 --> 00:03:21,334 their worries aside. 116 00:03:21,334 --> 00:03:23,336 - We made up, like, 117 00:03:21,334 --> 00:03:23,336 every possible excuse 118 00:03:23,336 --> 00:03:25,238 there could have been for 119 00:03:23,336 --> 00:03:25,238 why she wasn't coming home. 120 00:03:25,238 --> 00:03:26,573 - You don't wanna 121 00:03:25,238 --> 00:03:26,573 focus on that-- 122 00:03:26,573 --> 00:03:27,774 - Yeah. 123 00:03:27,774 --> 00:03:30,610 - But some signs 124 00:03:27,774 --> 00:03:30,610 were hard to ignore. 125 00:03:30,610 --> 00:03:32,780 For one thing, 126 00:03:30,610 --> 00:03:32,780 the night before 127 00:03:32,780 --> 00:03:34,314 when Pam didn't respond to 128 00:03:32,780 --> 00:03:34,314 her kids' text messages, 129 00:03:34,314 --> 00:03:37,829 Heidi tried tracing her. 130 00:03:37,829 --> 00:03:40,860 And what she found 131 00:03:37,829 --> 00:03:40,860 didn't make sense. 132 00:03:40,860 --> 00:03:42,822 - My mom and I shared a, like, 133 00:03:40,860 --> 00:03:42,822 find my iPhone account, 134 00:03:42,822 --> 00:03:44,190 so I looked it up 135 00:03:42,822 --> 00:03:44,190 on her computer 136 00:03:44,190 --> 00:03:45,325 where her iPhone was. 137 00:03:45,325 --> 00:03:47,327 And I saw it was in this-- 138 00:03:45,325 --> 00:03:47,327 it wasn't at her office, 139 00:03:47,327 --> 00:03:49,129 it was in a weird location. 140 00:03:49,129 --> 00:03:51,531 I convinced myself that 141 00:03:49,129 --> 00:03:51,531 she was at a client's house 142 00:03:51,531 --> 00:03:54,567 'cause that was my excuse 143 00:03:51,531 --> 00:03:54,567 at the time 144 00:03:54,567 --> 00:03:55,969 for why she wasn't home. 145 00:03:55,969 --> 00:04:00,140 - Still, their mom was a rock, 146 00:03:55,969 --> 00:04:00,140 center of their universe. 147 00:04:00,140 --> 00:04:01,207 They told themselves 148 00:04:01,207 --> 00:04:03,643 they'd be laughing 149 00:04:01,207 --> 00:04:03,643 about this later. 150 00:04:03,643 --> 00:04:06,346 Or they'd be relieved, anyway. 151 00:04:06,346 --> 00:04:08,214 - We said, "Let's just 152 00:04:06,346 --> 00:04:08,214 get ready for school. 153 00:04:08,214 --> 00:04:09,649 Let's keep on with our day." 154 00:04:09,649 --> 00:04:10,817 - She'll be home 155 00:04:09,649 --> 00:04:10,817 when we get home? 156 00:04:10,817 --> 00:04:15,550 - Yeah. 157 00:04:10,817 --> 00:04:15,550 - Same time, same morning, 158 00:04:15,550 --> 00:04:16,589 and just two doors 159 00:04:15,550 --> 00:04:16,589 down the street, 160 00:04:16,589 --> 00:04:19,893 one of Pam's closest friends, 161 00:04:16,589 --> 00:04:19,893 Julie Koh, 162 00:04:19,893 --> 00:04:21,795 was still in her pajamas. 163 00:04:21,795 --> 00:04:24,531 - My home phone rang, 164 00:04:21,795 --> 00:04:24,531 which was odd because 165 00:04:24,531 --> 00:04:26,666 your home phone 166 00:04:24,531 --> 00:04:26,666 never rings that early. 167 00:04:26,666 --> 00:04:28,134 - It hardly ever 168 00:04:26,666 --> 00:04:28,134 rings ever anyway. 169 00:04:28,134 --> 00:04:29,836 - Right. Right. 170 00:04:28,134 --> 00:04:29,836 I mean, we're, I know, 171 00:04:29,836 --> 00:04:31,838 one of the rare people 172 00:04:29,836 --> 00:04:31,838 that still have a home phone. 173 00:04:31,838 --> 00:04:35,808 And so I picked it up 174 00:04:31,838 --> 00:04:35,808 and it was Scott. 175 00:04:35,808 --> 00:04:38,144 - Scott Baldwin was 176 00:04:35,808 --> 00:04:38,144 Pam Zimmerman's fiancé. 177 00:04:38,144 --> 00:04:40,714 He lived a few hours away, 178 00:04:38,144 --> 00:04:40,714 near Chicago. 179 00:04:40,714 --> 00:04:42,949 - He said, 180 00:04:40,714 --> 00:04:42,949 "I haven't heard from Pam. 181 00:04:42,949 --> 00:04:45,118 I'm really worried. 182 00:04:42,949 --> 00:04:45,118 I don't know what's going on. 183 00:04:45,118 --> 00:04:47,354 I've been trying to reach 184 00:04:45,118 --> 00:04:47,354 her since last night. 185 00:04:47,354 --> 00:04:48,822 She's not answering." 186 00:04:48,822 --> 00:04:50,924 - So she lived just a couple 187 00:04:48,822 --> 00:04:50,924 houses down here, right? 188 00:04:50,924 --> 00:04:53,360 - Right, she's two houses 189 00:04:50,924 --> 00:04:53,360 down that way. 190 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:58,298 So I walked down here and 191 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:58,298 knocked on the front door 192 00:04:58,298 --> 00:04:59,532 and David answered. 193 00:04:59,532 --> 00:05:01,501 And I said, 194 00:04:59,532 --> 00:05:01,501 "Where's your mom?" 195 00:05:01,501 --> 00:05:03,503 And he said, 196 00:05:01,501 --> 00:05:03,503 "I don't know. 197 00:05:03,503 --> 00:05:05,238 She didn't come 198 00:05:03,503 --> 00:05:05,238 home last night". 199 00:05:05,238 --> 00:05:06,406 And I said, 200 00:05:06,406 --> 00:05:07,474 "What do you mean she didn't 201 00:05:06,406 --> 00:05:07,474 come home last night?" 202 00:05:07,474 --> 00:05:11,440 And he said, 203 00:05:07,474 --> 00:05:11,440 "Well, where is she?" 204 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:12,679 I believe they had been 205 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:12,679 trying to reach her 206 00:05:12,679 --> 00:05:14,881 since 5:30 the night before. 207 00:05:14,881 --> 00:05:18,451 - And nothing? 208 00:05:14,881 --> 00:05:18,451 - And she didn't answer. 209 00:05:18,451 --> 00:05:21,287 - For the kids, 210 00:05:18,451 --> 00:05:21,287 she tried to hide the worry 211 00:05:21,287 --> 00:05:22,922 flooding into her brain. 212 00:05:22,922 --> 00:05:25,525 - She was like, 213 00:05:22,922 --> 00:05:25,525 "Okay, just go to school 214 00:05:25,525 --> 00:05:27,894 like you normally would, 215 00:05:25,525 --> 00:05:27,894 and I'll text you later 216 00:05:27,894 --> 00:05:29,496 when I know something". 217 00:05:29,496 --> 00:05:31,164 - "Maybe", thought Julie, 218 00:05:31,164 --> 00:05:34,134 "maybe there was 219 00:05:31,164 --> 00:05:34,134 some simple explanation." 220 00:05:34,134 --> 00:05:36,903 She rushed home, got dressed, 221 00:05:34,134 --> 00:05:36,903 jumped in her car, 222 00:05:36,903 --> 00:05:38,905 and headed 223 00:05:36,903 --> 00:05:38,905 straight to Pam's office. 224 00:05:38,905 --> 00:05:41,841 Maybe Pam fell asleep 225 00:05:38,905 --> 00:05:41,841 while working late. 226 00:05:41,841 --> 00:05:42,876 - I don't really know. 227 00:05:42,876 --> 00:05:44,944 I don't really know 228 00:05:42,876 --> 00:05:44,944 what my thinking was. 229 00:05:44,944 --> 00:05:48,214 - Pam's kids tried to 230 00:05:44,944 --> 00:05:48,214 concentrate on their schoolwork. 231 00:05:48,214 --> 00:05:49,315 Couldn't. 232 00:05:49,315 --> 00:05:51,484 - I just remember 233 00:05:49,315 --> 00:05:51,484 going to school. 234 00:05:51,484 --> 00:05:53,820 And Rachel and I sat 235 00:05:51,484 --> 00:05:53,820 across from 236 00:05:53,820 --> 00:05:55,722 two of our friends at school 237 00:05:55,722 --> 00:05:58,358 and I just lost it 238 00:05:55,722 --> 00:05:58,358 and started bawling. 239 00:05:58,358 --> 00:06:02,195 And the whole morning 240 00:05:58,358 --> 00:06:02,195 was really hard. 241 00:06:02,195 --> 00:06:05,865 - By now, there was a tribe 242 00:06:02,195 --> 00:06:05,865 of frightened people. 243 00:06:05,865 --> 00:06:07,834 This is Pam's cousin, Vicki. 244 00:06:07,834 --> 00:06:08,735 - I have a brother 245 00:06:08,735 --> 00:06:10,103 who's eighteen years 246 00:06:08,735 --> 00:06:10,103 younger than me. 247 00:06:10,103 --> 00:06:14,474 He called and he said, 248 00:06:10,103 --> 00:06:14,474 "They can't find Pam". 249 00:06:14,474 --> 00:06:16,843 And I go, "What?" 250 00:06:16,843 --> 00:06:19,790 He goes, 251 00:06:16,843 --> 00:06:19,790 "They can't find Pam". 252 00:06:19,790 --> 00:06:21,147 And I said, 253 00:06:19,790 --> 00:06:21,147 "That's not good". 254 00:06:21,147 --> 00:06:26,520 And he goes, 255 00:06:21,147 --> 00:06:26,520 "No, it's not". 256 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:28,254 - The drive to Pam's office 257 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:28,254 didn't take long. 258 00:06:28,254 --> 00:06:31,224 Julie Koh pulled into 259 00:06:28,254 --> 00:06:31,224 the parking lot 260 00:06:31,224 --> 00:06:33,659 and right away 261 00:06:31,224 --> 00:06:33,659 she saw something 262 00:06:33,659 --> 00:06:37,797 that would lead her 263 00:06:33,659 --> 00:06:37,797 to call 911. 264 00:06:38,431 --> 00:06:40,633 - Where is Pam Zimmerman? 265 00:06:40,633 --> 00:06:42,902 A search of her office 266 00:06:40,633 --> 00:06:42,902 reveals the answer, 267 00:06:42,902 --> 00:06:46,873 but the questions 268 00:06:42,902 --> 00:06:46,873 are just starting. 269 00:06:46,873 --> 00:06:48,108 - Coming up... 270 00:06:48,108 --> 00:06:50,909 - The lights were all off, 271 00:06:48,108 --> 00:06:50,909 the blinds were all pulled. 272 00:06:50,909 --> 00:06:52,379 - All of a sudden 273 00:06:50,909 --> 00:06:52,379 I hear her say, 274 00:06:52,379 --> 00:06:54,314 "Oh my god, oh my god, 275 00:06:52,379 --> 00:06:54,314 oh my God!" 276 00:06:54,314 --> 00:06:55,548 I remember thinking, 277 00:06:55,548 --> 00:06:58,284 "Everything has changed 278 00:06:55,548 --> 00:06:58,284 in my life right now. 279 00:06:58,284 --> 00:07:01,187 Everything has changed 280 00:06:58,284 --> 00:07:01,187 for those kids." 281 00:07:01,187 --> 00:07:04,570 - There's David and his cheeks 282 00:07:01,187 --> 00:07:04,570 are stained with tears. 283 00:07:04,157 --> 00:07:14,334 ** 284 00:07:15,168 --> 00:07:19,239 - 7:00 a.m.. November 4, 2014, 285 00:07:15,168 --> 00:07:19,239 Julie Koh, 286 00:07:19,239 --> 00:07:20,907 full of trepidation, 287 00:07:20,907 --> 00:07:22,709 arrived outside 288 00:07:20,907 --> 00:07:22,709 the business office 289 00:07:22,709 --> 00:07:26,680 of her missing friend and 290 00:07:22,709 --> 00:07:26,680 neighbor, Pam Zimmermann. 291 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:28,114 Nobody around. 292 00:07:28,114 --> 00:07:31,885 Except, wasn't that 293 00:07:28,114 --> 00:07:31,885 Pam's car in the lot? 294 00:07:31,885 --> 00:07:35,689 Julie called her husband. 295 00:07:31,885 --> 00:07:35,689 - And he said, "Call 911". 296 00:07:35,689 --> 00:07:39,459 So I called 911 297 00:07:35,689 --> 00:07:39,459 and she said, 298 00:07:39,459 --> 00:07:41,294 "Do you want to file 299 00:07:39,459 --> 00:07:41,294 a missing persons report?" 300 00:07:41,294 --> 00:07:44,640 And I said, "I don't even know 301 00:07:41,294 --> 00:07:44,640 if she's missing". 302 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:46,966 And then she saw 303 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:46,966 someone who could help. 304 00:07:46,966 --> 00:07:50,337 Right as I pulled in, 305 00:07:46,966 --> 00:07:50,337 Ina was parked right over there 306 00:07:50,337 --> 00:07:51,604 and she was 307 00:07:50,337 --> 00:07:51,604 getting out of her car 308 00:07:51,604 --> 00:07:52,972 and walking towards me. 309 00:07:52,972 --> 00:07:54,774 - And you knew Ina well? 310 00:07:52,972 --> 00:07:54,774 - And I knew Ina. 311 00:07:54,774 --> 00:07:55,709 - Yeah. 312 00:07:54,774 --> 00:07:55,709 - Right. 313 00:07:55,709 --> 00:07:57,877 So I jumped out of my car 314 00:07:55,709 --> 00:07:57,877 and I said, 315 00:07:57,877 --> 00:08:00,246 "Pam didn't come home 316 00:07:57,877 --> 00:08:00,246 last night". 317 00:08:00,246 --> 00:08:04,250 - Ina Hess was Pam's friend 318 00:08:00,246 --> 00:08:04,250 and longtime office manager. 319 00:08:04,250 --> 00:08:08,154 Ina said Pam seemed fine 320 00:08:04,250 --> 00:08:08,154 the day before. 321 00:08:08,154 --> 00:08:11,240 Said when she left 322 00:08:08,154 --> 00:08:11,240 around 4:30 p.m., 323 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:13,159 Pam was meeting with 324 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:13,159 her last client of the day 325 00:08:13,159 --> 00:08:15,195 behind closed doors. 326 00:08:15,195 --> 00:08:17,897 But Ina had a key to 327 00:08:15,195 --> 00:08:17,897 the building and office, 328 00:08:17,897 --> 00:08:20,332 so the two women headed in. 329 00:08:20,332 --> 00:08:24,604 - I opened the door there and 330 00:08:20,332 --> 00:08:24,604 the lights were all off 331 00:08:24,604 --> 00:08:27,807 and the blinds were all pulled. 332 00:08:27,807 --> 00:08:30,643 - Was that unusual? 333 00:08:27,807 --> 00:08:30,643 - Very. 334 00:08:30,643 --> 00:08:33,645 Uh, the blinds in my area, 335 00:08:30,643 --> 00:08:33,645 the reception area, 336 00:08:33,645 --> 00:08:35,115 were never closed. 337 00:08:35,115 --> 00:08:37,717 - But they were this time? 338 00:08:35,115 --> 00:08:37,717 - They were closed. 339 00:08:37,717 --> 00:08:39,953 And I reached over and 340 00:08:37,717 --> 00:08:39,953 turned the light switch on. 341 00:08:39,953 --> 00:08:41,554 - And all of a sudden 342 00:08:39,953 --> 00:08:41,554 I hear her say, 343 00:08:41,554 --> 00:08:44,557 "Oh my god, oh my god, 344 00:08:41,554 --> 00:08:44,557 oh my God!" 345 00:08:44,557 --> 00:08:46,860 And I walked over 346 00:08:44,557 --> 00:08:46,860 to where she was, 347 00:08:46,860 --> 00:08:49,396 and we could see Pam's body 348 00:08:49,396 --> 00:08:53,133 kind of laying 349 00:08:49,396 --> 00:08:53,133 in a fetal position. 350 00:08:53,133 --> 00:08:57,337 - Julie is a nurse. 351 00:08:53,133 --> 00:08:57,337 She checked for signs of life. 352 00:08:57,337 --> 00:09:00,473 - I remember leaning down 353 00:08:57,337 --> 00:09:00,473 and, you know, 354 00:09:00,473 --> 00:09:02,750 checking for a carotid pulse. 355 00:09:02,750 --> 00:09:03,877 And I remember thinking, 356 00:09:03,877 --> 00:09:06,613 "Everything has changed 357 00:09:03,877 --> 00:09:06,613 in my life right now. 358 00:09:06,613 --> 00:09:10,160 Everything has changed 359 00:09:06,613 --> 00:09:10,160 for those kids 360 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:11,751 and their life 361 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:11,751 will never be the same." 362 00:09:11,751 --> 00:09:13,453 - So there are two things 363 00:09:11,751 --> 00:09:13,453 going on at once there? 364 00:09:13,453 --> 00:09:14,587 - Right. Right. 365 00:09:13,453 --> 00:09:14,587 You just-- 366 00:09:14,587 --> 00:09:16,589 That's how you're trained. 367 00:09:14,587 --> 00:09:16,589 You immediately focus. 368 00:09:16,589 --> 00:09:21,270 Emotions are put aside. 369 00:09:16,589 --> 00:09:21,270 I knew something was bad. 370 00:09:21,270 --> 00:09:25,310 I knew something wasn't right. 371 00:09:21,270 --> 00:09:25,310 I knew not to move her. 372 00:09:25,310 --> 00:09:28,935 - Ina has stared, 373 00:09:25,310 --> 00:09:28,935 rooted to the spot. 374 00:09:28,935 --> 00:09:31,237 - I guess I kind of went 375 00:09:28,935 --> 00:09:31,237 into shock because I just-- 376 00:09:31,237 --> 00:09:32,906 I saw her lying there. 377 00:09:32,906 --> 00:09:35,408 - But you had no idea 378 00:09:32,906 --> 00:09:35,408 what had happened? 379 00:09:35,408 --> 00:09:36,643 - No. 380 00:09:36,643 --> 00:09:38,440 - Like, she could have had 381 00:09:36,643 --> 00:09:38,440 a heart attack or something? 382 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:39,879 - Could have. 383 00:09:39,879 --> 00:09:41,548 - Or maybe she tripped 384 00:09:39,879 --> 00:09:41,548 over a foot rest 385 00:09:41,548 --> 00:09:43,850 behind the reception desk. 386 00:09:43,850 --> 00:09:45,850 - Kind of 387 00:09:43,850 --> 00:09:45,850 in the back of my mind, 388 00:09:45,850 --> 00:09:47,587 I'm like, 389 00:09:45,850 --> 00:09:47,587 "Well, did she hit her head?" 390 00:09:47,587 --> 00:09:52,359 - Police arrived in minutes. 391 00:09:47,587 --> 00:09:52,359 Julie's phone, still pinging. 392 00:09:52,359 --> 00:09:53,760 - The kids are still texting. 393 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:55,862 I keep saying, 394 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:55,862 "Someone needs to go to them 395 00:09:55,862 --> 00:09:57,897 and tell them what's going on." 396 00:09:57,897 --> 00:10:01,101 - Eventually, officers went to 397 00:09:57,897 --> 00:10:01,101 the high school 398 00:10:01,101 --> 00:10:03,303 and one by one, 399 00:10:01,101 --> 00:10:03,303 Pam's children were called 400 00:10:03,303 --> 00:10:05,171 to a conference room 401 00:10:05,171 --> 00:10:09,109 where the police told them 402 00:10:05,171 --> 00:10:09,109 their mother was dead. 403 00:10:09,109 --> 00:10:10,343 - That was the worst part, 404 00:10:10,343 --> 00:10:11,911 that they didn't tell us 405 00:10:10,343 --> 00:10:11,911 all together. 406 00:10:11,911 --> 00:10:12,979 And they brought me 407 00:10:11,911 --> 00:10:12,979 to this room, 408 00:10:12,979 --> 00:10:13,947 and there's David 409 00:10:13,947 --> 00:10:16,820 and his cheeks 410 00:10:13,947 --> 00:10:16,820 are stained with tears, 411 00:10:16,820 --> 00:10:17,817 and I just had to see that. 412 00:10:17,817 --> 00:10:20,687 And then they told me, 413 00:10:17,817 --> 00:10:20,687 and then I was just bawling. 414 00:10:20,687 --> 00:10:22,422 And then David 415 00:10:20,687 --> 00:10:22,422 starts bawling again. 416 00:10:22,422 --> 00:10:23,923 - And then, like, 417 00:10:22,422 --> 00:10:23,923 half an hour later, 418 00:10:23,923 --> 00:10:26,260 the same thing happens 419 00:10:23,923 --> 00:10:26,260 with Rachel. 420 00:10:26,260 --> 00:10:29,996 - Oh, Lord! 421 00:10:29,996 --> 00:10:32,665 Can't imagine a day like that. 422 00:10:32,665 --> 00:10:33,933 Did you know where 423 00:10:32,665 --> 00:10:33,933 your dad was? 424 00:10:33,933 --> 00:10:38,571 Did you know where any sort 425 00:10:33,933 --> 00:10:38,571 of center of your lives was? 426 00:10:38,571 --> 00:10:40,140 - No. 427 00:10:40,140 --> 00:10:41,307 - We didn't know 428 00:10:40,140 --> 00:10:41,307 anything after that. 429 00:10:41,307 --> 00:10:44,244 They just took us 430 00:10:41,307 --> 00:10:44,244 into questioning. 431 00:10:44,244 --> 00:10:48,148 - But then, it was hard 432 00:10:44,244 --> 00:10:48,148 for anyone to focus on anything 433 00:10:48,148 --> 00:10:52,185 other than loss, 434 00:10:48,148 --> 00:10:52,185 all-consuming grief. 435 00:10:52,185 --> 00:10:56,656 - She was the neatest friend, 436 00:10:52,185 --> 00:10:56,656 cousin you could ever ask for. 437 00:10:56,656 --> 00:10:58,892 If you needed something, 438 00:10:56,656 --> 00:10:58,892 she'd be there in a heartbeat. 439 00:10:58,892 --> 00:11:00,393 - Outgoing, gregarious type? 440 00:11:00,393 --> 00:11:02,762 - Oh, she would 441 00:11:00,393 --> 00:11:02,762 talk to anybody. 442 00:11:02,762 --> 00:11:04,464 Everybody knew her. 443 00:11:04,464 --> 00:11:07,167 - And she made everybody 444 00:11:04,464 --> 00:11:07,167 feel like they were, you know, 445 00:11:07,167 --> 00:11:08,468 one of her closest friends. 446 00:11:08,468 --> 00:11:11,571 That's how she was. 447 00:11:08,468 --> 00:11:11,571 And she was sincere. 448 00:11:11,571 --> 00:11:12,906 - A caregiver. 449 00:11:12,906 --> 00:11:15,108 Yes, that was Pam Zimmerman. 450 00:11:15,108 --> 00:11:16,976 But to her sister, 451 00:11:15,108 --> 00:11:16,976 Diane Gifford 452 00:11:16,976 --> 00:11:19,346 and brother Larry Alexander, 453 00:11:19,346 --> 00:11:23,583 Pam was also the family's 454 00:11:19,346 --> 00:11:23,583 smart, ambitious star. 455 00:11:23,583 --> 00:11:25,719 - She was valedictorian 456 00:11:23,583 --> 00:11:25,719 of her class. 457 00:11:25,719 --> 00:11:27,721 - Yeah. 458 00:11:25,719 --> 00:11:27,721 - Graduating class. 459 00:11:27,721 --> 00:11:28,855 - She was 460 00:11:27,721 --> 00:11:28,855 a straight-A student 461 00:11:28,855 --> 00:11:31,925 her entire grade school 462 00:11:28,855 --> 00:11:31,925 and high school. 463 00:11:31,925 --> 00:11:36,429 Except, I think, one B, 464 00:11:31,925 --> 00:11:36,429 which she got in Home Ec. 465 00:11:37,964 --> 00:11:40,834 - I mean, I've always known 466 00:11:37,964 --> 00:11:40,834 we had the most amazing mom. 467 00:11:40,834 --> 00:11:43,136 Such a bright, happy person, 468 00:11:43,136 --> 00:11:46,439 full of wisdom, 469 00:11:43,136 --> 00:11:46,439 smart, funny. 470 00:11:46,439 --> 00:11:48,308 I could go on and on. 471 00:11:48,308 --> 00:11:50,477 - She always made sure 472 00:11:48,308 --> 00:11:50,477 that we came first. 473 00:11:50,477 --> 00:11:54,140 She'd come home from work, 474 00:11:50,477 --> 00:11:54,140 she'd make us dinner, 475 00:11:54,140 --> 00:11:55,949 she'd stay up all night 476 00:11:54,140 --> 00:11:55,949 helping us with homework 477 00:11:55,949 --> 00:11:57,283 or doing our laundry. 478 00:11:57,283 --> 00:11:58,718 - We called her, like, 479 00:11:57,283 --> 00:11:58,718 Super Mom 480 00:11:58,718 --> 00:12:01,654 because she, like, 481 00:11:58,718 --> 00:12:01,654 literally did everything. 482 00:12:01,654 --> 00:12:04,224 - And yet, for all 483 00:12:01,654 --> 00:12:04,224 the love she inspired, 484 00:12:04,224 --> 00:12:07,227 Pam Zimmerman must have 485 00:12:04,224 --> 00:12:07,227 stirred something dark 486 00:12:07,227 --> 00:12:10,830 in someone or got 487 00:12:07,227 --> 00:12:10,830 in someone's way. 488 00:12:10,830 --> 00:12:12,599 Wasn't long before 489 00:12:10,830 --> 00:12:12,599 the police figured out 490 00:12:12,599 --> 00:12:15,835 that her death 491 00:12:12,599 --> 00:12:15,835 was no accident. 492 00:12:15,835 --> 00:12:18,710 - What did the police 493 00:12:15,835 --> 00:12:18,710 tell you? 494 00:12:18,710 --> 00:12:20,730 - Nothing. 495 00:12:20,730 --> 00:12:22,909 They kept the evidence 496 00:12:20,730 --> 00:12:22,909 very, very, very quiet. 497 00:12:22,909 --> 00:12:25,679 - When did you find out 498 00:12:22,909 --> 00:12:25,679 how she was killed? 499 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:28,348 - A few days later, 500 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:28,348 um, police called me 501 00:12:28,348 --> 00:12:30,830 and said that 502 00:12:28,348 --> 00:12:30,830 the newspaper 503 00:12:30,830 --> 00:12:32,118 is going to release 504 00:12:30,830 --> 00:12:32,118 some information. 505 00:12:32,118 --> 00:12:34,454 You should tell the kids. 506 00:12:34,454 --> 00:12:36,156 And the only thing 507 00:12:34,454 --> 00:12:36,156 they would tell me is 508 00:12:36,156 --> 00:12:39,359 the cause of death 509 00:12:36,156 --> 00:12:39,359 was multiple gunshots. 510 00:12:39,359 --> 00:12:41,895 - Pam Zimmerman 511 00:12:39,359 --> 00:12:41,895 had been murdered. 512 00:12:41,895 --> 00:12:45,980 But, by whom? 513 00:12:45,980 --> 00:12:48,168 - Is the answer 514 00:12:45,980 --> 00:12:48,168 someone Pam knew? 515 00:12:48,168 --> 00:12:50,370 As the case gets underway, 516 00:12:48,168 --> 00:12:50,370 detectives discover 517 00:12:50,370 --> 00:12:54,841 they have no shortage 518 00:12:50,370 --> 00:12:54,841 of potential suspects. 519 00:12:54,841 --> 00:12:56,409 - Coming up... 520 00:12:56,409 --> 00:12:59,512 Police start with 521 00:12:56,409 --> 00:12:59,512 the men around her. 522 00:12:59,512 --> 00:13:00,880 Her new fiancé... 523 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:02,649 - He had at least 524 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:02,649 two other women 525 00:13:02,649 --> 00:13:04,284 that he had been 526 00:13:02,649 --> 00:13:04,284 involved with. 527 00:13:04,284 --> 00:13:06,520 - Her final client... 528 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:09,550 - He owned 529 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:09,550 a nine millimeter gun. 530 00:13:09,550 --> 00:13:10,557 - And she was shot 531 00:13:09,550 --> 00:13:10,557 with one of those. 532 00:13:10,557 --> 00:13:13,590 - And what about her ex? 533 00:13:13,930 --> 00:13:27,907 - There was no doubt, 534 00:13:13,930 --> 00:13:27,907 Pamela Zimmerman was 535 00:13:28,641 --> 00:13:31,378 the victim of 536 00:13:28,641 --> 00:13:31,378 cold-blooded murder. 537 00:13:31,378 --> 00:13:33,780 Happened sometime 538 00:13:31,378 --> 00:13:33,780 before midnight 539 00:13:33,780 --> 00:13:36,616 was the coroner's 540 00:13:33,780 --> 00:13:36,616 best guess. 541 00:13:36,616 --> 00:13:40,286 The murder weapon? 542 00:13:36,616 --> 00:13:40,286 A nine millimeter handgun. 543 00:13:40,286 --> 00:13:43,123 - There were two bullet wounds 544 00:13:40,286 --> 00:13:43,123 in her chest 545 00:13:43,123 --> 00:13:44,491 in the front of her body. 546 00:13:44,491 --> 00:13:47,360 - Edith Brady-Lunny was 547 00:13:44,491 --> 00:13:47,360 a long-time pantagraph 548 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:48,728 crime reporter. 549 00:13:48,728 --> 00:13:51,965 - There was one bullet wound 550 00:13:48,728 --> 00:13:51,965 in her temple 551 00:13:51,965 --> 00:13:55,201 and then there was 552 00:13:51,965 --> 00:13:55,201 one bullet wound in her back. 553 00:13:55,201 --> 00:13:58,405 - So somebody making 554 00:13:55,201 --> 00:13:58,405 absolutely sure 555 00:13:58,405 --> 00:13:59,639 she was good and dead? 556 00:13:59,639 --> 00:14:01,541 - Exactly. 557 00:14:04,778 --> 00:14:06,513 - What was that like 558 00:14:04,778 --> 00:14:06,513 to hear that? 559 00:14:06,513 --> 00:14:09,349 That news? 560 00:14:06,513 --> 00:14:09,349 - It was... 561 00:14:10,450 --> 00:14:12,852 the worst phone call 562 00:14:10,450 --> 00:14:12,852 of my life. 563 00:14:14,854 --> 00:14:19,559 To think that someone shot her 564 00:14:14,854 --> 00:14:19,559 and just let her die. 565 00:14:22,696 --> 00:14:24,397 - And Pam's kids? 566 00:14:24,397 --> 00:14:25,832 When they heard that... 567 00:14:25,832 --> 00:14:27,867 - I always told myself 568 00:14:25,832 --> 00:14:27,867 she didn't see it coming. 569 00:14:27,867 --> 00:14:29,690 Just 'cause that was 570 00:14:27,867 --> 00:14:29,690 the easiest way for me 571 00:14:29,690 --> 00:14:30,804 to cope with it. 572 00:14:30,804 --> 00:14:33,473 - An execution is 573 00:14:30,804 --> 00:14:33,473 what it looked like. 574 00:14:33,473 --> 00:14:36,309 Or maybe an office 575 00:14:33,473 --> 00:14:36,309 invasion robbery? 576 00:14:36,309 --> 00:14:38,211 Didn't seem likely, 577 00:14:36,309 --> 00:14:38,211 but... 578 00:14:38,211 --> 00:14:41,810 - They wanted to do 579 00:14:38,211 --> 00:14:41,810 a walk through to see 580 00:14:41,810 --> 00:14:43,950 what was missing 581 00:14:41,810 --> 00:14:43,950 or what was out of place. 582 00:14:43,950 --> 00:14:45,618 - Did you notice 583 00:14:43,950 --> 00:14:45,618 anything wrong? 584 00:14:45,618 --> 00:14:46,653 Anything missing? 585 00:14:46,653 --> 00:14:49,890 - The phone cords 586 00:14:46,653 --> 00:14:49,890 had been cut 587 00:14:49,890 --> 00:14:50,290 and the phones were gone. 588 00:14:50,290 --> 00:14:54,940 And my calendar that I kept 589 00:14:50,290 --> 00:14:54,940 all of her appointments on, 590 00:14:54,940 --> 00:14:55,462 that was gone. 591 00:14:55,462 --> 00:14:59,990 - Pam's purse was sitting 592 00:14:55,462 --> 00:14:59,990 on her desk, gaping open. 593 00:14:59,990 --> 00:15:01,935 Her wallet was gone. 594 00:14:59,990 --> 00:15:01,935 Cell phone too. 595 00:15:01,935 --> 00:15:04,404 Its case was lying 596 00:15:01,935 --> 00:15:04,404 on the floor. 597 00:15:04,404 --> 00:15:08,808 - Did you get the sense 598 00:15:04,404 --> 00:15:08,808 that maybe the police thought 599 00:15:08,808 --> 00:15:10,443 somebody wanted 600 00:15:08,808 --> 00:15:10,443 to steal something 601 00:15:10,443 --> 00:15:12,145 and they were 602 00:15:10,443 --> 00:15:12,145 in the process of it 603 00:15:12,145 --> 00:15:14,470 and got interrupted? 604 00:15:12,145 --> 00:15:14,470 Or something? 605 00:15:14,470 --> 00:15:15,648 - They could have 606 00:15:14,470 --> 00:15:15,648 thought that. 607 00:15:15,648 --> 00:15:18,510 - But there was no sign 608 00:15:15,648 --> 00:15:18,510 of forced entry. 609 00:15:18,510 --> 00:15:20,320 None. 610 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:22,122 And cops found 611 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:22,122 Pam's cell phone 612 00:15:22,122 --> 00:15:24,624 right where her daughter's 613 00:15:22,122 --> 00:15:24,624 Find My iPhone account 614 00:15:24,624 --> 00:15:25,925 said it would be. 615 00:15:25,925 --> 00:15:30,630 Her wallet close by 616 00:15:25,925 --> 00:15:30,630 with her credit cards all there. 617 00:15:30,630 --> 00:15:31,798 - So the police 618 00:15:30,630 --> 00:15:31,798 believed early on 619 00:15:31,798 --> 00:15:35,168 that this was 620 00:15:31,798 --> 00:15:35,168 a staged effort 621 00:15:35,168 --> 00:15:38,104 to make it look like 622 00:15:35,168 --> 00:15:38,104 it was a robbery. 623 00:15:38,104 --> 00:15:40,840 - But who'd want to 624 00:15:38,104 --> 00:15:40,840 kill Pam and then stage 625 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:43,176 some strange, 626 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:43,176 half-hearted cover up? 627 00:15:44,944 --> 00:15:48,810 Start close, 628 00:15:44,944 --> 00:15:48,810 is the old adage. 629 00:15:48,810 --> 00:15:50,116 Which meant in 630 00:15:48,810 --> 00:15:50,116 Pam's world on that day 631 00:15:50,116 --> 00:15:51,718 three men, 632 00:15:51,718 --> 00:15:55,121 her last client 633 00:15:51,718 --> 00:15:55,121 that last day of her life, 634 00:15:55,121 --> 00:15:59,325 her ex-husband, 635 00:15:55,121 --> 00:15:59,325 and her brand new fiancé, 636 00:15:59,325 --> 00:16:02,529 Scott Baldwin, the object 637 00:15:59,325 --> 00:16:02,529 of a whirlwind romance 638 00:16:02,529 --> 00:16:06,166 and perhaps, 639 00:16:02,529 --> 00:16:06,166 too-rapid engagement. 640 00:16:06,166 --> 00:16:09,569 After all, no one in the family 641 00:16:06,166 --> 00:16:09,569 really knew him, 642 00:16:09,569 --> 00:16:11,304 not even her kids. 643 00:16:11,304 --> 00:16:13,873 - I had only met 644 00:16:11,304 --> 00:16:13,873 Scott three times. 645 00:16:13,873 --> 00:16:15,410 - Uh-huh. 646 00:16:15,410 --> 00:16:16,943 - And the third time was 647 00:16:15,410 --> 00:16:16,943 the party that they had 648 00:16:16,943 --> 00:16:19,713 to celebrate 649 00:16:16,943 --> 00:16:19,713 their engagement. 650 00:16:19,713 --> 00:16:21,881 - That celebration 651 00:16:19,713 --> 00:16:21,881 was just days before. 652 00:16:21,881 --> 00:16:24,617 Yet, when Scott heard 653 00:16:21,881 --> 00:16:24,617 about the murder, 654 00:16:24,617 --> 00:16:27,287 he did not rush to 655 00:16:24,617 --> 00:16:27,287 Bloomington from his home 656 00:16:27,287 --> 00:16:29,856 just two or three hours away 657 00:16:27,287 --> 00:16:29,856 near Chicago. 658 00:16:29,856 --> 00:16:32,492 - It just made me realize 659 00:16:29,856 --> 00:16:32,492 and think what my mom 660 00:16:32,492 --> 00:16:33,560 really meant to him 661 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:34,661 and what we really 662 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:34,661 meant to him. 663 00:16:34,661 --> 00:16:38,498 He sounded fake 664 00:16:34,661 --> 00:16:38,498 at that point. 665 00:16:38,498 --> 00:16:40,900 - Pam's kids had 666 00:16:38,498 --> 00:16:40,900 questions about Scott, 667 00:16:40,900 --> 00:16:43,570 and so did detectives. 668 00:16:43,570 --> 00:16:45,638 - He was asked to come 669 00:16:43,570 --> 00:16:45,638 down to Bloomington 670 00:16:45,638 --> 00:16:46,806 to meet with police, 671 00:16:46,806 --> 00:16:48,408 which he did 672 00:16:46,806 --> 00:16:48,408 the following day 673 00:16:48,408 --> 00:16:52,379 after Pam's body 674 00:16:48,408 --> 00:16:52,379 was discovered. 675 00:16:52,379 --> 00:16:55,348 - Scott told the detectives 676 00:16:52,379 --> 00:16:55,348 he'd been home alone 677 00:16:55,348 --> 00:16:57,617 when Pam was killed. 678 00:16:57,617 --> 00:17:00,353 Police would look into that, 679 00:16:57,617 --> 00:17:00,353 but in the meantime, 680 00:17:00,353 --> 00:17:03,189 they discovered 681 00:17:00,353 --> 00:17:03,189 something very interesting 682 00:17:03,189 --> 00:17:05,825 about Pam's new fiancé. 683 00:17:05,825 --> 00:17:07,426 - They spent 684 00:17:05,825 --> 00:17:07,426 a fair amount of time 685 00:17:07,426 --> 00:17:10,296 checking into who he had been 686 00:17:07,426 --> 00:17:10,296 communicating with. 687 00:17:10,296 --> 00:17:11,431 - Sure. 688 00:17:11,431 --> 00:17:14,339 - And he had 689 00:17:11,431 --> 00:17:14,339 at least two other women 690 00:17:14,339 --> 00:17:15,568 that he had been 691 00:17:14,339 --> 00:17:15,568 involved with, 692 00:17:15,568 --> 00:17:16,903 that he was still having 693 00:17:16,903 --> 00:17:20,106 some pretty heavy amount 694 00:17:16,903 --> 00:17:20,106 of contact with. 695 00:17:21,540 --> 00:17:24,770 - Pam's kids didn't know 696 00:17:21,540 --> 00:17:24,770 anything about that, 697 00:17:24,770 --> 00:17:26,880 but they did get 698 00:17:24,770 --> 00:17:26,880 a weird vibe from the fiancé 699 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:28,915 after their mother's death. 700 00:17:28,915 --> 00:17:30,850 - He was like, 701 00:17:28,915 --> 00:17:30,850 "I had nothing to do with this 702 00:17:30,850 --> 00:17:33,530 and I need you guys 703 00:17:30,850 --> 00:17:33,530 to understand that, 704 00:17:33,530 --> 00:17:34,320 like, I have to move on." 705 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:35,822 - I'm sorry, 706 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:35,822 repeat that for me? 707 00:17:35,822 --> 00:17:37,424 - We had dinner with him-- 708 00:17:35,822 --> 00:17:37,424 - Uh-huh. 709 00:17:37,424 --> 00:17:40,360 - ...like, a week after she died 710 00:17:37,424 --> 00:17:40,360 and he sat us down. 711 00:17:40,360 --> 00:17:42,162 - Did you ask him if he had 712 00:17:40,360 --> 00:17:42,162 something to do with it? 713 00:17:42,162 --> 00:17:43,630 - No. 714 00:17:43,630 --> 00:17:45,650 - No, he just 715 00:17:43,630 --> 00:17:45,650 volunteered that. 716 00:17:45,650 --> 00:17:48,635 - And two months later, 717 00:17:45,650 --> 00:17:48,635 he was dating someone new. 718 00:17:48,635 --> 00:17:50,937 - It was just 719 00:17:48,635 --> 00:17:50,937 very suspicious. 720 00:17:50,937 --> 00:17:52,472 - But Pam's daughter, 721 00:17:50,937 --> 00:17:52,472 Rachel, thought 722 00:17:52,472 --> 00:17:54,441 it was much more likely 723 00:17:52,472 --> 00:17:54,441 her mom's murder 724 00:17:54,441 --> 00:17:57,177 was somehow tied 725 00:17:54,441 --> 00:17:57,177 to her business. 726 00:17:57,177 --> 00:17:59,813 She was an accountant 727 00:17:57,177 --> 00:17:59,813 and financial advisor. 728 00:17:59,813 --> 00:18:02,549 Maybe she found out something 729 00:17:59,813 --> 00:18:02,549 that one of her clients 730 00:18:02,549 --> 00:18:03,717 shouldn't have been doing, 731 00:18:03,717 --> 00:18:06,686 and this client would have 732 00:18:03,717 --> 00:18:06,686 lost a lot of money. 733 00:18:06,686 --> 00:18:08,521 - Ina Hess told the 734 00:18:06,686 --> 00:18:08,521 investigators that 735 00:18:08,521 --> 00:18:10,523 Pam's last client 736 00:18:08,521 --> 00:18:10,523 the day she was murdered 737 00:18:10,523 --> 00:18:13,693 was a man named 738 00:18:10,523 --> 00:18:13,693 Eldon Whitlow. 739 00:18:13,693 --> 00:18:15,462 - Did he have any beefs 740 00:18:13,693 --> 00:18:15,462 with Pam? 741 00:18:15,462 --> 00:18:18,398 - There was no evidence 742 00:18:15,462 --> 00:18:18,398 that Eldon had any beefs. 743 00:18:18,398 --> 00:18:22,350 They had a long-term 744 00:18:18,398 --> 00:18:22,350 professional relationship 745 00:18:22,350 --> 00:18:24,938 where she was helping him 746 00:18:22,350 --> 00:18:24,938 with his investments. 747 00:18:26,239 --> 00:18:28,608 - Whitlow told detectives 748 00:18:26,239 --> 00:18:28,608 his meeting with Pam 749 00:18:28,608 --> 00:18:30,810 was uneventful. 750 00:18:30,810 --> 00:18:32,846 He left around 751 00:18:30,810 --> 00:18:32,846 5:40 p.m., he said, 752 00:18:32,846 --> 00:18:35,482 then had dinner 753 00:18:32,846 --> 00:18:35,482 with his girlfriend. 754 00:18:35,482 --> 00:18:38,918 He was cooperative, 755 00:18:35,482 --> 00:18:38,918 but... 756 00:18:38,918 --> 00:18:42,255 - He owned 757 00:18:38,918 --> 00:18:42,255 a nine millimeter gun-- 758 00:18:42,255 --> 00:18:43,490 - And she was shot 759 00:18:42,255 --> 00:18:43,490 with one of those. 760 00:18:43,490 --> 00:18:45,458 - ...that that matched 761 00:18:43,490 --> 00:18:45,458 the type of gun 762 00:18:45,458 --> 00:18:48,695 that she was killed with. 763 00:18:48,695 --> 00:18:51,640 - Now that was a development. 764 00:18:51,640 --> 00:18:54,234 - Eldon Whitlow was considered 765 00:18:51,640 --> 00:18:54,234 a person of interest. 766 00:18:54,234 --> 00:18:56,269 - Detectives got 767 00:18:54,234 --> 00:18:56,269 a search warrant 768 00:18:56,269 --> 00:18:59,205 and Eldon turned over 769 00:18:56,269 --> 00:18:59,205 a nine millimeter. 770 00:18:59,205 --> 00:19:01,408 The nine millimeter? 771 00:19:01,408 --> 00:19:03,510 They sent it off 772 00:19:01,408 --> 00:19:03,510 for testing. 773 00:19:03,510 --> 00:19:04,911 And as they waited 774 00:19:03,510 --> 00:19:04,911 for the results, 775 00:19:04,911 --> 00:19:05,879 they drilled down on 776 00:19:05,879 --> 00:19:08,815 that one more possible 777 00:19:05,879 --> 00:19:08,815 person of interest. 778 00:19:08,815 --> 00:19:10,550 The third man, 779 00:19:10,550 --> 00:19:13,753 the man who just might 780 00:19:10,550 --> 00:19:13,753 have had a motive. 781 00:19:13,753 --> 00:19:17,757 Pam's ex-husband, 782 00:19:13,753 --> 00:19:17,757 Kirk Zimmerman. 783 00:19:17,757 --> 00:19:20,493 "Look at him", 784 00:19:17,757 --> 00:19:20,493 said Pam's family. 785 00:19:20,493 --> 00:19:22,896 There was something 786 00:19:20,493 --> 00:19:22,896 going on there. 787 00:19:22,896 --> 00:19:24,330 - Um... 788 00:19:22,896 --> 00:19:24,330 - Problems. 789 00:19:24,330 --> 00:19:25,899 - ...it definitely 790 00:19:24,330 --> 00:19:25,899 turned into hatred. 791 00:19:25,899 --> 00:19:27,767 - A lot of problems. 792 00:19:27,767 --> 00:19:30,470 - Problems? Hatred? 793 00:19:30,470 --> 00:19:34,140 Exactly what was the problem 794 00:19:30,470 --> 00:19:34,140 between Pam Zimmerman 795 00:19:34,140 --> 00:19:36,276 and her ex-husband, Kirk? 796 00:19:37,944 --> 00:19:39,446 - Coming up... 797 00:19:39,446 --> 00:19:43,490 the ex, the client, 798 00:19:39,446 --> 00:19:43,490 the fiancé, 799 00:19:43,490 --> 00:19:45,618 revelations about them all. 800 00:19:45,618 --> 00:19:46,720 Who was it who said, 801 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:48,455 "no secrets 802 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:48,455 in a murder investigation?" 803 00:19:48,455 --> 00:19:49,856 - Exactly. 804 00:19:49,956 --> 00:20:03,303 - Welcome back to 805 00:19:49,956 --> 00:20:03,303 "Dateline: Secrets Uncovered". 806 00:20:03,670 --> 00:20:05,138 I'm Craig Melvin. 807 00:20:05,138 --> 00:20:09,109 Investigators will tell you 808 00:20:05,138 --> 00:20:09,109 motive can suggest a killer 809 00:20:09,109 --> 00:20:10,944 before the evidence does. 810 00:20:10,944 --> 00:20:13,480 But to detectives, 811 00:20:10,944 --> 00:20:13,480 why Pam Zimmerman 812 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:16,483 was gunned down 813 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:16,483 remained a mystery. 814 00:20:16,483 --> 00:20:21,287 So, they focused on 815 00:20:16,483 --> 00:20:21,287 an impulse as old as time, 816 00:20:21,287 --> 00:20:22,956 greed. 817 00:20:22,956 --> 00:20:25,358 And sure enough, 818 00:20:22,956 --> 00:20:25,358 following the money trail 819 00:20:25,358 --> 00:20:28,395 led them to one man 820 00:20:25,358 --> 00:20:28,395 in particular. 821 00:20:28,395 --> 00:20:31,798 Here again is Keith Morrison 822 00:20:28,395 --> 00:20:31,798 with "Before Midnight". 823 00:20:34,670 --> 00:20:36,503 - Police investigating 824 00:20:34,670 --> 00:20:36,503 the murder of Pam Zimmerman 825 00:20:36,503 --> 00:20:38,371 now had a short list. 826 00:20:38,371 --> 00:20:41,641 Her fiancé Scott, 827 00:20:38,371 --> 00:20:41,641 her client Eldon 828 00:20:41,641 --> 00:20:45,110 and a third man, 829 00:20:41,641 --> 00:20:45,110 her ex-husband, Kirk. 830 00:20:45,110 --> 00:20:47,130 Some of Pam's relatives 831 00:20:45,110 --> 00:20:47,130 were convinced, though, 832 00:20:47,130 --> 00:20:49,482 that Kirk should 833 00:20:47,130 --> 00:20:49,482 have been the first, 834 00:20:49,482 --> 00:20:52,519 maybe only name 835 00:20:49,482 --> 00:20:52,519 on that list. 836 00:20:52,519 --> 00:20:55,121 - She would always say that if 837 00:20:52,519 --> 00:20:55,121 anything ever happened to her, 838 00:20:55,121 --> 00:20:57,357 he should be the person 839 00:20:55,121 --> 00:20:57,357 we should look at. 840 00:20:57,357 --> 00:20:59,793 - Well, you kind of wonder 841 00:20:57,357 --> 00:20:59,793 when she said a thing like that. 842 00:20:59,793 --> 00:21:01,828 - Well, and you wonder 843 00:20:59,793 --> 00:21:01,828 and you think, 844 00:21:01,828 --> 00:21:04,130 oh, come on, 845 00:21:01,828 --> 00:21:04,130 you don't really mean that. 846 00:21:04,130 --> 00:21:05,198 I mean-- 847 00:21:04,130 --> 00:21:05,198 - Did you say that to her? 848 00:21:05,198 --> 00:21:06,990 - You know-- Yeah. 849 00:21:06,990 --> 00:21:08,168 And she was, 850 00:21:06,990 --> 00:21:08,168 "Oh no, Vicki, I mean it." 851 00:21:08,168 --> 00:21:09,202 - Hey, how are you doing? 852 00:21:09,202 --> 00:21:11,638 - So in the hours after 853 00:21:09,202 --> 00:21:11,638 his ex-wife's murder, 854 00:21:11,638 --> 00:21:14,774 Kirk Zimmerman spent a lot 855 00:21:11,638 --> 00:21:14,774 of time with detectives. 856 00:21:17,143 --> 00:21:19,746 And he answered 857 00:21:17,143 --> 00:21:19,746 their questions calmly. 858 00:21:23,283 --> 00:21:25,618 - Not once did he 859 00:21:23,283 --> 00:21:25,618 ask for an attorney. 860 00:21:29,289 --> 00:21:31,191 - When they asked 861 00:21:29,289 --> 00:21:31,191 about the divorce, 862 00:21:31,191 --> 00:21:33,827 Kirk said his only real concern 863 00:21:31,191 --> 00:21:33,827 was for the kids. 864 00:21:43,169 --> 00:21:45,271 - The detectives 865 00:21:43,169 --> 00:21:45,271 ask Kirk what he did 866 00:21:45,271 --> 00:21:47,173 the evening Pam was killed. 867 00:21:47,173 --> 00:21:48,908 He said he was at home. 868 00:21:48,908 --> 00:21:50,210 Started to read. 869 00:21:50,210 --> 00:21:52,112 Must have dozed off. 870 00:21:57,450 --> 00:22:00,820 - Nothing, not even this, 871 00:21:57,450 --> 00:22:00,820 seemed to rattle Kirk. 872 00:22:04,190 --> 00:22:07,600 - They got his fingerprints 873 00:22:04,190 --> 00:22:07,600 and a DNA sample, 874 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:10,430 and they did 875 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:10,430 a gunshot residue test. 876 00:22:13,333 --> 00:22:15,635 - He wasn't. 877 00:22:13,333 --> 00:22:15,635 But he did it anyway. 878 00:22:15,635 --> 00:22:17,937 And he didn't resist 879 00:22:15,635 --> 00:22:17,937 handing over his phone, 880 00:22:17,937 --> 00:22:21,341 or his laptop, 881 00:22:17,937 --> 00:22:21,341 or passwords, either. 882 00:22:21,341 --> 00:22:23,743 His car and house were 883 00:22:21,341 --> 00:22:23,743 another matter, though. 884 00:22:23,743 --> 00:22:25,845 Police had search warrants 885 00:22:23,743 --> 00:22:25,845 for those. 886 00:22:25,845 --> 00:22:28,810 - He was dropped off 887 00:22:25,845 --> 00:22:28,810 at a hotel-- 888 00:22:28,810 --> 00:22:29,820 - Because he didn't 889 00:22:28,810 --> 00:22:29,820 have his house anymore. 890 00:22:29,820 --> 00:22:30,817 - ...because he did 891 00:22:29,820 --> 00:22:30,817 not have a house. 892 00:22:30,817 --> 00:22:34,187 The police were there 893 00:22:30,817 --> 00:22:34,187 and stayed there for six days. 894 00:22:34,187 --> 00:22:36,556 - Wow. 895 00:22:34,187 --> 00:22:36,556 - Yeah. 896 00:22:36,556 --> 00:22:38,391 - No discoveries, really. 897 00:22:38,391 --> 00:22:41,695 Except, Kirk had 898 00:22:38,391 --> 00:22:41,695 a girlfriend named Kate, 899 00:22:41,695 --> 00:22:44,364 and she revealed 900 00:22:41,695 --> 00:22:44,364 something very curious. 901 00:22:44,364 --> 00:22:48,468 She and Kirk had a date 902 00:22:44,364 --> 00:22:48,468 scheduled the night Pam died. 903 00:22:48,468 --> 00:22:50,970 Kate arrived early 904 00:22:48,468 --> 00:22:50,970 to Kirk's house, 905 00:22:50,970 --> 00:22:53,807 around 6:30, 906 00:22:50,970 --> 00:22:53,807 rang the doorbell. 907 00:22:53,807 --> 00:22:55,842 No answer. 908 00:22:55,842 --> 00:22:57,110 Well, well, well. 909 00:22:57,110 --> 00:22:58,945 Kirk hadn't told them 910 00:22:57,110 --> 00:22:58,945 about any date 911 00:22:58,945 --> 00:23:02,480 and certainly hadn't revealed 912 00:22:58,945 --> 00:23:02,480 he didn't answer the door 913 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:04,500 when she rang. 914 00:23:05,485 --> 00:23:09,122 So, second interview. 915 00:23:09,122 --> 00:23:11,570 They pressed him again. 916 00:23:22,268 --> 00:23:25,772 - Still, the girlfriend's story 917 00:23:22,268 --> 00:23:25,772 put a hole in his alibi. 918 00:23:25,772 --> 00:23:27,807 Was he home the night 919 00:23:25,772 --> 00:23:27,807 Pam was killed, 920 00:23:27,807 --> 00:23:30,443 or was he 921 00:23:27,807 --> 00:23:30,443 somewhere else? 922 00:23:30,443 --> 00:23:32,846 - Well, it was one that 923 00:23:30,443 --> 00:23:32,846 the police really 924 00:23:32,846 --> 00:23:35,181 had to sort through-- 925 00:23:32,846 --> 00:23:35,181 - Sure. 926 00:23:35,181 --> 00:23:38,318 - ...to see if it was 927 00:23:35,181 --> 00:23:38,318 a credible story or not. 928 00:23:38,318 --> 00:23:41,254 - They let him go again. 929 00:23:41,254 --> 00:23:44,891 Kirk's kids couldn't see 930 00:23:41,254 --> 00:23:44,891 their dad as a suspect. 931 00:23:44,891 --> 00:23:49,950 They said their parents' divorce 932 00:23:44,891 --> 00:23:49,950 had been drama free. 933 00:23:49,950 --> 00:23:51,965 - I think they both realized 934 00:23:49,950 --> 00:23:51,965 that they came to want 935 00:23:51,965 --> 00:23:53,600 different things. 936 00:23:53,600 --> 00:23:56,102 - Kirk's brother, 937 00:23:53,600 --> 00:23:56,102 Zim, agreed. 938 00:23:56,102 --> 00:23:59,572 He was Pam's best friend 939 00:23:56,102 --> 00:23:59,572 and he loved her like a sister, 940 00:23:59,572 --> 00:24:04,544 saw her marriage up close, 941 00:23:59,572 --> 00:24:04,544 and the way it ended. 942 00:24:04,544 --> 00:24:08,181 - There was never 943 00:24:04,544 --> 00:24:08,181 any hostility, 944 00:24:08,181 --> 00:24:10,550 open air arguments. 945 00:24:10,550 --> 00:24:14,220 The kids and I, 946 00:24:10,550 --> 00:24:14,220 we-we never saw anything. 947 00:24:14,220 --> 00:24:17,357 - If anything, they said, 948 00:24:14,220 --> 00:24:17,357 the two seemed much happier. 949 00:24:17,357 --> 00:24:19,559 Kirk got a house 950 00:24:17,357 --> 00:24:19,559 just down the street 951 00:24:19,559 --> 00:24:22,629 and around the corner 952 00:24:19,559 --> 00:24:22,629 just to be close to them. 953 00:24:22,629 --> 00:24:24,264 - I'm really glad he did. 954 00:24:24,264 --> 00:24:27,367 It made it 955 00:24:24,264 --> 00:24:27,367 really easy on us. 956 00:24:27,367 --> 00:24:30,370 - And he did stay very involved 957 00:24:27,367 --> 00:24:30,370 in their lives. 958 00:24:30,370 --> 00:24:32,772 - Dad videotaped all 959 00:24:30,370 --> 00:24:32,772 of our sporting events. 960 00:24:32,772 --> 00:24:34,641 A lot of soccer games, 961 00:24:32,772 --> 00:24:34,641 a lot of basketball games, 962 00:24:34,641 --> 00:24:36,843 softball games. 963 00:24:36,843 --> 00:24:39,245 - Besides, their dad 964 00:24:36,843 --> 00:24:39,245 now had Kate. 965 00:24:39,245 --> 00:24:41,214 They'd been dating 966 00:24:39,245 --> 00:24:41,214 for more than a year. 967 00:24:41,214 --> 00:24:42,382 - I really liked her. 968 00:24:42,382 --> 00:24:45,251 - Yeah, Kate's awesome. 969 00:24:42,382 --> 00:24:45,251 - Yeah. 970 00:24:45,251 --> 00:24:48,621 - So dad, a murderer? 971 00:24:48,621 --> 00:24:50,557 Seemed absurd 972 00:24:48,621 --> 00:24:50,557 to the kids. 973 00:24:50,557 --> 00:24:53,126 - I think he was happy 974 00:24:50,557 --> 00:24:53,126 with where he was at. 975 00:24:53,126 --> 00:24:57,130 - Now, days, months slid by. 976 00:24:57,130 --> 00:25:01,301 The detectives were busy, 977 00:24:57,130 --> 00:25:01,301 but very quiet about it. 978 00:25:01,301 --> 00:25:03,903 Well, everyone waited. 979 00:25:03,903 --> 00:25:06,840 They tested that nine millimeter 980 00:25:03,903 --> 00:25:06,840 turned in by Pam's client, 981 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:08,341 Eldon Whitlow. 982 00:25:08,341 --> 00:25:11,277 - It was not the gun 983 00:25:08,341 --> 00:25:11,277 that had fired the bullets 984 00:25:11,277 --> 00:25:13,179 that killed Pam Zimmerman. 985 00:25:13,179 --> 00:25:15,915 - They checked his alibi, 986 00:25:13,179 --> 00:25:15,915 discovered he did have dinner 987 00:25:15,915 --> 00:25:19,386 with his girlfriend, 988 00:25:15,915 --> 00:25:19,386 and then later that evening, 989 00:25:19,386 --> 00:25:22,689 he met another woman. 990 00:25:22,689 --> 00:25:27,600 - He had been checked out 991 00:25:22,689 --> 00:25:27,600 and then he had been cleared. 992 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:28,828 - As for the fiancé, 993 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:28,828 Scott Baldwin, 994 00:25:28,828 --> 00:25:31,364 his secret dalliances 995 00:25:28,828 --> 00:25:31,364 raised eyebrows 996 00:25:31,364 --> 00:25:33,266 but wound up 997 00:25:31,364 --> 00:25:33,266 working for him. 998 00:25:33,266 --> 00:25:37,871 Police confirmed he had been 999 00:25:33,266 --> 00:25:37,871 miles away when his fiancé died, 1000 00:25:37,871 --> 00:25:42,175 phoning and texting 1001 00:25:37,871 --> 00:25:42,175 two other women. 1002 00:25:42,175 --> 00:25:44,110 - What is it about the men 1003 00:25:42,175 --> 00:25:44,110 in this story? 1004 00:25:44,110 --> 00:25:46,790 - Both of the men 1005 00:25:44,110 --> 00:25:46,790 had to make 1006 00:25:46,790 --> 00:25:48,648 some pretty 1007 00:25:46,790 --> 00:25:48,648 embarrassing admissions. 1008 00:25:48,648 --> 00:25:51,785 - Who was it who said-- 1009 00:25:48,648 --> 00:25:51,785 maybe it was Agatha Christie, 1010 00:25:51,785 --> 00:25:53,687 "No secrets in 1011 00:25:51,785 --> 00:25:53,687 a murder investigation"? 1012 00:25:53,687 --> 00:25:54,754 - Exactly. 1013 00:25:54,754 --> 00:25:57,857 They both had to admit 1014 00:25:54,754 --> 00:25:57,857 that they had been... 1015 00:25:57,857 --> 00:26:00,600 messing around. 1016 00:25:57,857 --> 00:26:00,600 - Wow. 1017 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:03,596 But Kirk, not so easy 1018 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:03,596 to clear him. 1019 00:26:03,596 --> 00:26:07,801 So police followed the money 1020 00:26:03,596 --> 00:26:07,801 and they heard things, 1021 00:26:07,801 --> 00:26:09,736 different things from what 1022 00:26:07,801 --> 00:26:09,736 his kids and brother 1023 00:26:09,736 --> 00:26:11,304 said about the divorce. 1024 00:26:11,304 --> 00:26:14,441 Like a simmering resentment 1025 00:26:11,304 --> 00:26:14,441 that Pam got the house 1026 00:26:14,441 --> 00:26:16,760 after the divorce. 1027 00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:20,680 And most important, 1028 00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:20,680 more money from him. 1029 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:22,415 - He had a goal 1030 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:22,415 of retiring at fifty-five 1031 00:26:22,415 --> 00:26:24,384 from very early on 1032 00:26:22,415 --> 00:26:24,384 in his twenties. 1033 00:26:24,384 --> 00:26:26,886 - And it got all messed up. 1034 00:26:26,886 --> 00:26:28,855 - The dispute at the moment? 1035 00:26:28,855 --> 00:26:32,592 Days before she was killed, 1036 00:26:28,855 --> 00:26:32,592 Pam Fed-Exed Kirk a demand: 1037 00:26:32,592 --> 00:26:35,762 pay close to $4,000 1038 00:26:32,592 --> 00:26:35,762 in expenses for the kids. 1039 00:26:35,762 --> 00:26:37,931 Or else... 1040 00:26:37,931 --> 00:26:40,200 - She was giving him 1041 00:26:37,931 --> 00:26:40,200 five days to pay it, 1042 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:42,602 or she was gonna 1043 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:42,602 take him back to court. 1044 00:26:42,602 --> 00:26:44,571 - Office manager Ina 1045 00:26:42,602 --> 00:26:44,571 said Pam told her 1046 00:26:44,571 --> 00:26:47,841 she was truly 1047 00:26:44,571 --> 00:26:47,841 afraid of Kirk. 1048 00:26:47,841 --> 00:26:50,176 - I just warned her that 1049 00:26:47,841 --> 00:26:50,176 when worked late at night, 1050 00:26:50,176 --> 00:26:52,679 make sure she went 1051 00:26:50,176 --> 00:26:52,679 out the front door 1052 00:26:52,679 --> 00:26:54,280 where all 1053 00:26:52,679 --> 00:26:54,280 the lights were on. 1054 00:26:54,280 --> 00:26:55,548 - Yeah. 1055 00:26:55,548 --> 00:26:58,118 - And made sure that she was, 1056 00:26:55,548 --> 00:26:58,118 you know, always cautious. 1057 00:26:58,118 --> 00:27:01,354 - Money, the root 1058 00:26:58,118 --> 00:27:01,354 of all evil. 1059 00:27:01,354 --> 00:27:03,656 And something else 1060 00:27:01,354 --> 00:27:03,656 they found, 1061 00:27:03,656 --> 00:27:08,280 what was that telltale 1062 00:27:03,656 --> 00:27:08,280 residue in Kirk's car? 1063 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:09,863 It was enough. 1064 00:27:09,863 --> 00:27:10,864 On a summer morning, 1065 00:27:10,864 --> 00:27:12,632 eight months after 1066 00:27:10,864 --> 00:27:12,632 Pam Zimmerman's death, 1067 00:27:12,632 --> 00:27:15,350 a cop turned on 1068 00:27:12,632 --> 00:27:15,350 his squad car lights and sirens, 1069 00:27:15,350 --> 00:27:18,438 pulled over a motorist, 1070 00:27:15,350 --> 00:27:18,438 read him his rights. 1071 00:27:18,438 --> 00:27:22,242 Kirk Zimmerman was under 1072 00:27:18,438 --> 00:27:22,242 arrest for murder. 1073 00:27:24,411 --> 00:27:25,645 - Coming up... 1074 00:27:25,645 --> 00:27:27,213 - Greed. 1075 00:27:27,213 --> 00:27:28,848 Hate. 1076 00:27:28,848 --> 00:27:30,150 Murder. 1077 00:27:30,150 --> 00:27:35,288 - Prosecutors lay out their case 1078 00:27:30,150 --> 00:27:35,288 with a dramatic eyewitness. 1079 00:27:35,288 --> 00:27:37,490 - That man sitting 1080 00:27:35,288 --> 00:27:37,490 over there. 1081 00:27:37,490 --> 00:27:40,694 - She saw a guy coming out 1082 00:27:37,490 --> 00:27:40,694 that back door of Pam's office. 1083 00:27:40,794 --> 00:27:53,473 ** 1084 00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:57,310 - What is so warm, 1085 00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:57,310 so pure, so bright 1086 00:27:57,310 --> 00:28:00,613 as a midsummer morning 1087 00:27:57,310 --> 00:28:00,613 in Bloomington, Illinois? 1088 00:28:00,613 --> 00:28:04,170 Green grass, 1089 00:28:00,613 --> 00:28:04,170 songbirds, fresh air. 1090 00:28:04,170 --> 00:28:08,210 It was July 21, 2015. 1091 00:28:08,210 --> 00:28:11,424 The kids were now living 1092 00:28:08,210 --> 00:28:11,424 in their dad's house. 1093 00:28:11,424 --> 00:28:13,793 - We woke up to 1094 00:28:11,424 --> 00:28:13,793 the doorbell ringing. 1095 00:28:13,793 --> 00:28:16,463 And so I go down, 1096 00:28:13,793 --> 00:28:16,463 I open the door, 1097 00:28:16,463 --> 00:28:20,133 and he's like-- introduces 1098 00:28:16,463 --> 00:28:20,133 himself as a detective 1099 00:28:20,133 --> 00:28:23,360 and he's like, 1100 00:28:20,133 --> 00:28:23,360 "We just arrested your dad". 1101 00:28:23,360 --> 00:28:27,540 - And just like that, 1102 00:28:23,360 --> 00:28:27,540 a second parent was gone. 1103 00:28:27,540 --> 00:28:30,910 The twins, still minors, 1104 00:28:27,540 --> 00:28:30,910 were told they'd be living 1105 00:28:30,910 --> 00:28:33,246 with Pam's siblings now. 1106 00:28:33,246 --> 00:28:35,582 - Then Rachel and I were 1107 00:28:33,246 --> 00:28:35,582 taken into DCFS custody, 1108 00:28:35,582 --> 00:28:38,418 but we were forced to live 1109 00:28:35,582 --> 00:28:38,418 with them for three months 1110 00:28:38,418 --> 00:28:40,253 in our mom's house. 1111 00:28:40,253 --> 00:28:43,289 So that was just 1112 00:28:40,253 --> 00:28:43,289 one huge nightmare. 1113 00:28:43,289 --> 00:28:46,426 - It got to be hateful, 1114 00:28:43,289 --> 00:28:46,426 angry all the time, 1115 00:28:46,426 --> 00:28:49,429 no matter what we did. 1116 00:28:49,429 --> 00:28:52,650 - But of course, 1117 00:28:49,429 --> 00:28:52,650 Pam's kids knew perfectly well 1118 00:28:52,650 --> 00:28:54,334 that their aunts 1119 00:28:52,650 --> 00:28:54,334 and uncles believed 1120 00:28:54,334 --> 00:28:57,370 their dad killed 1121 00:28:54,334 --> 00:28:57,370 their mom. 1122 00:28:57,370 --> 00:28:58,538 - I was sixteen, 1123 00:28:58,538 --> 00:29:00,874 and our Aunt Diane 1124 00:28:58,538 --> 00:29:00,874 sat me down alone 1125 00:29:00,874 --> 00:29:03,543 in my mom's family room, 1126 00:29:00,874 --> 00:29:03,543 and she just plainly said, 1127 00:29:03,543 --> 00:29:05,211 "Your dad killed your mom". 1128 00:29:05,211 --> 00:29:06,446 - What do you think 1129 00:29:05,211 --> 00:29:06,446 about the possibility 1130 00:29:06,446 --> 00:29:09,449 that your dad could 1131 00:29:06,446 --> 00:29:09,449 be violent like that? 1132 00:29:09,449 --> 00:29:10,850 - Mm-mm. 1133 00:29:09,449 --> 00:29:10,850 - No. 1134 00:29:10,850 --> 00:29:12,619 I know anyone's capable 1135 00:29:10,850 --> 00:29:12,619 of doing anything, 1136 00:29:12,619 --> 00:29:15,880 but we would know. 1137 00:29:15,880 --> 00:29:17,624 We're his kids, 1138 00:29:15,880 --> 00:29:17,624 we lived with him. 1139 00:29:17,624 --> 00:29:22,929 - I honestly believe if she ever 1140 00:29:17,624 --> 00:29:22,929 really felt threatened, 1141 00:29:22,929 --> 00:29:26,399 she really felt at risk, 1142 00:29:22,929 --> 00:29:26,399 the first person 1143 00:29:26,399 --> 00:29:28,601 she would have reached 1144 00:29:26,399 --> 00:29:28,601 out to was me, 1145 00:29:28,601 --> 00:29:30,770 and she never did. 1146 00:29:30,770 --> 00:29:34,841 - Kirk spent four months 1147 00:29:30,770 --> 00:29:34,841 in jail before bonding out. 1148 00:29:34,841 --> 00:29:37,770 And for the next three 1149 00:29:34,841 --> 00:29:37,770 and a half years, 1150 00:29:37,770 --> 00:29:39,612 remained under house arrest. 1151 00:29:39,612 --> 00:29:40,647 - He couldn't leave 1152 00:29:39,612 --> 00:29:40,647 the house. 1153 00:29:40,647 --> 00:29:43,216 Uh, Rachel and Heidi 1154 00:29:40,647 --> 00:29:43,216 couldn't stay in the house 1155 00:29:43,216 --> 00:29:45,618 with him alone, there had 1156 00:29:43,216 --> 00:29:45,618 to be another person 1157 00:29:45,618 --> 00:29:48,421 who's eighteen or older 1158 00:29:45,618 --> 00:29:48,421 the entire time. 1159 00:29:48,421 --> 00:29:50,560 - The whole time 1160 00:29:48,421 --> 00:29:50,560 waiting for trial? 1161 00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:52,920 - Mm-hmm. 1162 00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:52,920 - Up until we turned eighteen. 1163 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:53,827 - Until you turned eighteen? 1164 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:53,827 - Yeah. 1165 00:29:53,827 --> 00:29:57,597 - Pam's neighbor and friend, 1166 00:29:53,827 --> 00:29:57,597 Julie Koh, tried to help. 1167 00:29:57,597 --> 00:30:00,660 - You know, I took 1168 00:29:57,597 --> 00:30:00,660 his daughter driving, 1169 00:30:00,660 --> 00:30:01,735 'cause they were 1170 00:30:00,660 --> 00:30:01,735 learning to drive. 1171 00:30:01,735 --> 00:30:05,605 I remember driving one 1172 00:30:01,735 --> 00:30:05,605 daughter to college. 1173 00:30:05,605 --> 00:30:09,409 She went to Mizzou, 1174 00:30:05,605 --> 00:30:09,409 so I took her. 1175 00:30:09,409 --> 00:30:11,811 - But while friends 1176 00:30:09,409 --> 00:30:11,811 tried to help Pam's kids, 1177 00:30:11,811 --> 00:30:13,947 they could not protect them 1178 00:30:11,811 --> 00:30:13,947 from a widespread 1179 00:30:13,947 --> 00:30:16,449 and very public suspicion 1180 00:30:13,947 --> 00:30:16,449 that their father 1181 00:30:16,449 --> 00:30:18,151 killed their mother. 1182 00:30:18,151 --> 00:30:21,210 And the case always 1183 00:30:18,151 --> 00:30:21,210 seemed to be in the news. 1184 00:30:21,210 --> 00:30:25,392 - Potential evidence that 1185 00:30:21,210 --> 00:30:25,392 came out was pretty damaging 1186 00:30:25,392 --> 00:30:28,261 to Kirk Zimmerman 1187 00:30:25,392 --> 00:30:28,261 because a lot of it dealt 1188 00:30:28,261 --> 00:30:32,632 with the exchanges he had 1189 00:30:28,261 --> 00:30:32,632 with Pam during the divorce. 1190 00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:36,836 - Those exchanges 1191 00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:36,836 were front and center 1192 00:30:36,836 --> 00:30:40,106 when the State finally 1193 00:30:36,836 --> 00:30:40,106 presented its case at trial. 1194 00:30:40,106 --> 00:30:43,430 - Greed. 1195 00:30:43,430 --> 00:30:45,245 Hate. 1196 00:30:45,245 --> 00:30:46,680 Murder. 1197 00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:49,315 Assistant State's Attorney 1198 00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:49,315 Brad Rigdon told the jury 1199 00:30:49,315 --> 00:30:50,950 the motive was clear: 1200 00:30:50,950 --> 00:30:54,921 Kirk Zimmerman killed 1201 00:30:50,950 --> 00:30:54,921 his wife over money. 1202 00:30:54,921 --> 00:30:59,659 - He knew that as long 1203 00:30:54,921 --> 00:30:59,659 as she was still alive, 1204 00:30:59,659 --> 00:31:04,640 he was going 1205 00:30:59,659 --> 00:31:04,640 to go broke. 1206 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:07,567 - The motive and the means, 1207 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:07,567 said at the State. 1208 00:31:07,567 --> 00:31:10,670 Kirk's cell phone put him 1209 00:31:07,567 --> 00:31:10,670 at home the night his ex died, 1210 00:31:10,670 --> 00:31:13,406 but the prosecutor told 1211 00:31:10,670 --> 00:31:13,406 the jury that Kirk's car, 1212 00:31:13,406 --> 00:31:16,643 a Hyundai, 1213 00:31:13,406 --> 00:31:16,643 told a different story. 1214 00:31:16,643 --> 00:31:19,245 The car, like most cars now, 1215 00:31:16,643 --> 00:31:19,245 had an onboard computer, 1216 00:31:19,245 --> 00:31:23,830 a kind of GPS device, 1217 00:31:19,245 --> 00:31:23,830 and an FBI analyst 1218 00:31:23,830 --> 00:31:25,752 said that device 1219 00:31:23,830 --> 00:31:25,752 revealed that the car 1220 00:31:25,752 --> 00:31:29,356 was in the vicinity 1221 00:31:25,752 --> 00:31:29,356 of Pam's office. So... 1222 00:31:29,356 --> 00:31:32,625 - The police got 1223 00:31:29,356 --> 00:31:32,625 some surveillance video 1224 00:31:32,625 --> 00:31:36,996 pretty early on from a building 1225 00:31:32,625 --> 00:31:36,996 nearby Pam's office, 1226 00:31:36,996 --> 00:31:41,634 and they believe there was a car 1227 00:31:36,996 --> 00:31:41,634 that matched Kirk Zimmerman's. 1228 00:31:44,938 --> 00:31:48,308 - And, said the prosecutor, 1229 00:31:44,938 --> 00:31:48,308 there was an eyewitness. 1230 00:31:48,308 --> 00:31:52,145 This woman, so nervous 1231 00:31:48,308 --> 00:31:52,145 as she took the stand, 1232 00:31:52,145 --> 00:31:54,848 she could barely 1233 00:31:52,145 --> 00:31:54,848 get her name out. 1234 00:31:54,848 --> 00:31:56,750 - Spell your first name. 1235 00:32:04,524 --> 00:32:05,925 - M... 1236 00:32:05,925 --> 00:32:08,395 - But what she had 1237 00:32:05,925 --> 00:32:08,395 to say was important, 1238 00:32:08,395 --> 00:32:09,696 said Pam's Brother. 1239 00:32:09,696 --> 00:32:11,831 - You know, she saw a guy 1240 00:32:09,696 --> 00:32:11,831 coming out that back door 1241 00:32:11,831 --> 00:32:13,299 of Pam's office. 1242 00:32:13,299 --> 00:32:15,468 She didn't know that was 1243 00:32:13,299 --> 00:32:15,468 Pam's office at the time. 1244 00:32:15,468 --> 00:32:18,905 - And that man, she said, 1245 00:32:15,468 --> 00:32:18,905 was carrying a bag. 1246 00:32:18,905 --> 00:32:21,107 - What'd he do 1247 00:32:18,905 --> 00:32:21,107 with the bag? 1248 00:32:21,107 --> 00:32:22,509 - Put it in his car. 1249 00:32:22,509 --> 00:32:25,645 - That was the stuff 1250 00:32:22,509 --> 00:32:25,645 he took out of the office. 1251 00:32:25,645 --> 00:32:28,148 - And who was that man? 1252 00:32:28,148 --> 00:32:33,486 On this point, the State's 1253 00:32:28,148 --> 00:32:33,486 emotional witness was certain. 1254 00:32:33,486 --> 00:32:35,855 - That man sitting 1255 00:32:33,486 --> 00:32:35,855 over there. 1256 00:32:35,855 --> 00:32:38,725 That man sitting 1257 00:32:35,855 --> 00:32:38,725 over there. 1258 00:32:38,725 --> 00:32:41,561 - Investigators never 1259 00:32:38,725 --> 00:32:41,561 found the murder weapon, 1260 00:32:41,561 --> 00:32:45,265 but on the gearshift 1261 00:32:41,561 --> 00:32:45,265 and Kirk's car, 1262 00:32:45,265 --> 00:32:49,803 gunshot residue, 1263 00:32:45,265 --> 00:32:49,803 said this forensic scientist. 1264 00:32:49,803 --> 00:32:52,639 - That gearshift handle 1265 00:32:49,803 --> 00:32:52,639 either contacted 1266 00:32:52,639 --> 00:32:54,908 a gunshot residue 1267 00:32:52,639 --> 00:32:54,908 related item or, uh, 1268 00:32:54,908 --> 00:32:58,244 was in the environment 1269 00:32:54,908 --> 00:32:58,244 of a discharged firearm. 1270 00:32:58,244 --> 00:33:00,613 - But remember the friends 1271 00:32:58,244 --> 00:33:00,613 and family who said 1272 00:33:00,613 --> 00:33:04,951 Pam told them she was afraid 1273 00:33:00,613 --> 00:33:04,951 Kirk might kill her? 1274 00:33:04,951 --> 00:33:08,188 That was hearsay, 1275 00:33:04,951 --> 00:33:08,188 ruled the judge. 1276 00:33:08,188 --> 00:33:10,590 - They were not allowed to 1277 00:33:08,188 --> 00:33:10,590 present that to the jury. 1278 00:33:10,590 --> 00:33:13,960 - Hmm. You know, 1279 00:33:10,590 --> 00:33:13,960 in a case where, um, 1280 00:33:13,960 --> 00:33:17,130 they're alleging that 1281 00:33:13,960 --> 00:33:17,130 an angry ex-husband 1282 00:33:17,130 --> 00:33:18,640 killed his wife, 1283 00:33:18,640 --> 00:33:20,533 Motive is everything, frankly. 1284 00:33:18,640 --> 00:33:20,533 - Yes. 1285 00:33:20,533 --> 00:33:22,736 - The jury did hear 1286 00:33:20,533 --> 00:33:22,736 all about that letter 1287 00:33:22,736 --> 00:33:25,305 Pam FedExed to Kirk 1288 00:33:22,736 --> 00:33:25,305 days before her murder, 1289 00:33:25,305 --> 00:33:27,574 demanding $4,000. 1290 00:33:27,574 --> 00:33:30,176 Pam's ongoing 1291 00:33:27,574 --> 00:33:30,176 financial disputes, 1292 00:33:30,176 --> 00:33:31,311 said the prosecutor, 1293 00:33:31,311 --> 00:33:33,790 were going to prevent 1294 00:33:31,311 --> 00:33:33,790 Kirk from realizing 1295 00:33:33,790 --> 00:33:35,815 his cherished dream 1296 00:33:33,790 --> 00:33:35,815 of retiring early. 1297 00:33:35,815 --> 00:33:39,753 And he wasn't gonna take it, 1298 00:33:35,815 --> 00:33:39,753 so he killed her. 1299 00:33:39,753 --> 00:33:42,856 - The receipt of that 1300 00:33:39,753 --> 00:33:42,856 October 24th letter 1301 00:33:42,856 --> 00:33:46,920 was the triggering event 1302 00:33:42,856 --> 00:33:46,920 that culminated 1303 00:33:46,920 --> 00:33:47,761 in the murder 1304 00:33:46,920 --> 00:33:47,761 of Pam Zimmerman 1305 00:33:47,761 --> 00:33:48,928 on November 3rd. 1306 00:33:48,928 --> 00:33:51,531 - To which 1307 00:33:48,928 --> 00:33:51,531 Pam's children replied, 1308 00:33:51,531 --> 00:33:53,333 ridiculous. 1309 00:33:53,333 --> 00:33:55,835 - I didn't think it made 1310 00:33:53,333 --> 00:33:55,835 any sense at all. 1311 00:33:55,835 --> 00:33:57,971 - The woman he was married 1312 00:33:55,835 --> 00:33:57,971 to for 20 years... 1313 00:33:57,971 --> 00:34:01,141 - The defense was up next 1314 00:33:57,971 --> 00:34:01,141 with its own case, 1315 00:34:01,141 --> 00:34:03,143 its own take 1316 00:34:01,141 --> 00:34:03,143 on the facts. 1317 00:34:03,143 --> 00:34:06,279 And what a spectacle 1318 00:34:03,143 --> 00:34:06,279 that would be. 1319 00:34:09,489 --> 00:34:14,654 - He had in excess 1320 00:34:09,489 --> 00:34:14,654 of $240,000 in his 401k. 1321 00:34:14,654 --> 00:34:17,956 - The defense tries to blow up 1322 00:34:14,654 --> 00:34:17,956 the money motive. 1323 00:34:17,956 --> 00:34:21,928 And another blow up 1324 00:34:17,956 --> 00:34:21,928 on the witness stand. 1325 00:34:21,928 --> 00:34:23,362 - Yes or no? 1326 00:34:21,928 --> 00:34:23,362 - No! 1327 00:34:23,362 --> 00:34:25,264 - What would the jury do? 1328 00:34:25,364 --> 00:34:36,109 - Welcome back. 1329 00:34:36,710 --> 00:34:38,411 Kirk Zimmerman 1330 00:34:36,710 --> 00:34:38,411 was on trial 1331 00:34:38,411 --> 00:34:40,647 for the murder 1332 00:34:38,411 --> 00:34:40,647 of his ex-wife, Pam. 1333 00:34:40,647 --> 00:34:41,880 Prosecutors argued 1334 00:34:41,880 --> 00:34:44,918 that an ongoing financial 1335 00:34:41,880 --> 00:34:44,918 dispute between the two 1336 00:34:44,918 --> 00:34:48,588 drove Kirk to fire 1337 00:34:44,918 --> 00:34:48,588 those fatal shots. 1338 00:34:48,588 --> 00:34:51,658 The defense was ready 1339 00:34:48,588 --> 00:34:51,658 to counter that claim 1340 00:34:51,658 --> 00:34:54,940 in front of a hotly 1341 00:34:51,658 --> 00:34:54,940 divided courtroom. 1342 00:34:54,940 --> 00:34:55,495 And the verdict? 1343 00:34:55,495 --> 00:34:58,798 It was about to 1344 00:34:55,495 --> 00:34:58,798 fracture a family. 1345 00:34:58,798 --> 00:35:00,333 Back to Keith Morrison 1346 00:35:00,333 --> 00:35:03,360 with the conclusion 1347 00:35:00,333 --> 00:35:03,360 of "Before Midnight". 1348 00:35:05,105 --> 00:35:07,273 - There were 1349 00:35:05,105 --> 00:35:07,273 so many little pieces, 1350 00:35:07,273 --> 00:35:10,744 so many bits of evidence 1351 00:35:07,273 --> 00:35:10,744 to parade before the jury. 1352 00:35:10,744 --> 00:35:12,579 The case against 1353 00:35:10,744 --> 00:35:12,579 Kirk Zimmerman 1354 00:35:12,579 --> 00:35:14,481 went on for more than 1355 00:35:12,579 --> 00:35:14,481 four weeks, 1356 00:35:14,481 --> 00:35:16,216 through 40 witnesses, 1357 00:35:16,216 --> 00:35:17,751 and pretty much 1358 00:35:16,216 --> 00:35:17,751 all of it 1359 00:35:17,751 --> 00:35:21,121 said Pam and Kirk's 1360 00:35:17,751 --> 00:35:21,121 children was wrong. 1361 00:35:21,121 --> 00:35:23,723 - You can put together little 1362 00:35:21,121 --> 00:35:23,723 pieces any way you want, 1363 00:35:23,723 --> 00:35:27,160 but the way they put it together 1364 00:35:23,723 --> 00:35:27,160 wasn't the right way. 1365 00:35:27,160 --> 00:35:30,960 - So now Bloomington 1366 00:35:27,160 --> 00:35:30,960 would hear 1367 00:35:30,960 --> 00:35:32,699 Kirk Zimmerman's 1368 00:35:30,960 --> 00:35:32,699 side of the story. 1369 00:35:32,699 --> 00:35:36,102 - Kirk Zimmerman did not shoot 1370 00:35:32,699 --> 00:35:36,102 and killed Pamela Zimmerman. 1371 00:35:36,102 --> 00:35:37,771 He didn't shoot and kill 1372 00:35:37,771 --> 00:35:39,773 the mother 1373 00:35:37,771 --> 00:35:39,773 of his three children 1374 00:35:39,773 --> 00:35:45,512 over owing $3,900 1375 00:35:39,773 --> 00:35:45,512 in child support. 1376 00:35:45,512 --> 00:35:49,549 That State theory that 1377 00:35:45,512 --> 00:35:49,549 Kirk killed Pam over money, 1378 00:35:49,549 --> 00:35:53,853 nonsense, said his defense 1379 00:35:49,549 --> 00:35:53,853 attorney, John Rogers. 1380 00:35:53,853 --> 00:35:56,623 Kirk made it clear to 1381 00:35:53,853 --> 00:35:56,623 the police, he said. 1382 00:35:56,623 --> 00:35:59,893 That FedEx from Pam 1383 00:35:56,623 --> 00:35:59,893 was no big deal. 1384 00:36:06,299 --> 00:36:09,350 - Kirk had a full pension, 1385 00:36:06,299 --> 00:36:09,350 guaranteed for life, 1386 00:36:09,350 --> 00:36:11,104 which he could have taken 1387 00:36:09,350 --> 00:36:11,104 at any point in time. 1388 00:36:11,104 --> 00:36:14,908 He was making $95,000 1389 00:36:11,104 --> 00:36:14,908 working for State Farm. 1390 00:36:14,908 --> 00:36:20,847 He had in excess of 1391 00:36:14,908 --> 00:36:20,847 $240,000 in his 401k. 1392 00:36:20,847 --> 00:36:22,716 - The defense 1393 00:36:20,847 --> 00:36:22,716 told the court 1394 00:36:22,716 --> 00:36:26,486 the police had tunnel vision 1395 00:36:22,716 --> 00:36:26,486 from the very start. 1396 00:36:26,486 --> 00:36:29,522 - It's the old, "let's go 1397 00:36:26,486 --> 00:36:29,522 look at the ex-husband, 1398 00:36:29,522 --> 00:36:31,570 he must have done it". 1399 00:36:31,570 --> 00:36:34,694 - That grainy video 1400 00:36:31,570 --> 00:36:34,694 the prosecution suggested 1401 00:36:34,694 --> 00:36:37,630 was Kirk's silver 1402 00:36:34,694 --> 00:36:37,630 Hyundai Sonata? 1403 00:36:37,630 --> 00:36:38,965 "Really?" 1404 00:36:37,630 --> 00:36:38,965 said the defense, 1405 00:36:38,965 --> 00:36:40,133 "how could you tell?" 1406 00:36:40,133 --> 00:36:41,434 - Ma'am. 1407 00:36:40,133 --> 00:36:41,434 - I don't remember the-- 1408 00:36:41,434 --> 00:36:43,690 - Ma'am. 1409 00:36:41,434 --> 00:36:43,690 - The month and the year. 1410 00:36:43,690 --> 00:36:45,705 I don't. And I don't want 1411 00:36:43,690 --> 00:36:45,705 to hear no more. 1412 00:36:45,705 --> 00:36:48,241 - And then there was 1413 00:36:45,705 --> 00:36:48,241 Maria Legg, 1414 00:36:48,241 --> 00:36:51,211 the prosecution's 1415 00:36:48,241 --> 00:36:51,211 only eyewitness. 1416 00:36:51,211 --> 00:36:54,414 - I had a very difficult 1417 00:36:51,211 --> 00:36:54,414 cross-examination with her, 1418 00:36:54,414 --> 00:36:57,217 'cause she simply chose 1419 00:36:54,414 --> 00:36:57,217 not to respond to me. 1420 00:36:57,217 --> 00:36:58,918 - No, I do not want 1421 00:36:57,217 --> 00:36:58,918 to answer to you 1422 00:36:58,918 --> 00:37:01,221 because I want to say 1423 00:36:58,918 --> 00:37:01,221 what I saw. 1424 00:37:01,221 --> 00:37:03,556 - And when she did respond, 1425 00:37:03,556 --> 00:37:07,127 her testimony contradicted 1426 00:37:03,556 --> 00:37:07,127 the prosecution's evidence. 1427 00:37:07,127 --> 00:37:10,630 Like, for example, 1428 00:37:07,127 --> 00:37:10,630 the color of Kirk's car. 1429 00:37:10,630 --> 00:37:13,667 - You said, uh, 1430 00:37:10,630 --> 00:37:13,667 during direct examination 1431 00:37:13,667 --> 00:37:16,269 that it was a black car 1432 00:37:13,667 --> 00:37:16,269 that this gentleman went to 1433 00:37:16,269 --> 00:37:18,605 with the-with the big bag, 1434 00:37:16,269 --> 00:37:18,605 correct? 1435 00:37:18,605 --> 00:37:20,400 - Yes, sir. 1436 00:37:18,605 --> 00:37:20,400 - All right. 1437 00:37:20,400 --> 00:37:24,310 That's not a silver car, is it? 1438 00:37:20,400 --> 00:37:24,310 - That-- I saw black. That's it. 1439 00:37:24,310 --> 00:37:27,447 - The defense also challenged 1440 00:37:24,310 --> 00:37:27,447 that data taken from 1441 00:37:27,447 --> 00:37:30,316 the onboard computer system 1442 00:37:27,447 --> 00:37:30,316 in Kirk's silver Hyundai. 1443 00:37:30,316 --> 00:37:34,254 Things the State said 1444 00:37:30,316 --> 00:37:34,254 put the car near Pam's office, 1445 00:37:34,254 --> 00:37:38,124 the defense called it 1446 00:37:34,254 --> 00:37:38,124 "junk science". 1447 00:37:38,124 --> 00:37:42,228 - This type of expert testimony 1448 00:37:38,124 --> 00:37:42,228 has never been allowed 1449 00:37:42,228 --> 00:37:44,970 in the state 1450 00:37:42,228 --> 00:37:44,970 of Illinois before. 1451 00:37:44,970 --> 00:37:46,966 It should not have been 1452 00:37:44,970 --> 00:37:46,966 allowed in this case. 1453 00:37:46,966 --> 00:37:51,604 - But how could the defense 1454 00:37:46,966 --> 00:37:51,604 answer for that gunshot residue 1455 00:37:51,604 --> 00:37:53,773 found on Kirk's 1456 00:37:51,604 --> 00:37:53,773 gearshift? 1457 00:37:53,773 --> 00:37:58,278 A defense expert agreed there 1458 00:37:53,773 --> 00:37:58,278 was plenty of it on that spot. 1459 00:37:58,278 --> 00:37:59,346 But... 1460 00:37:59,346 --> 00:38:03,483 - Finding that number of, um, 1461 00:37:59,346 --> 00:38:03,483 characteristic 1462 00:38:03,483 --> 00:38:06,252 of gunshot residue particles 1463 00:38:03,483 --> 00:38:06,252 is surprising. 1464 00:38:06,252 --> 00:38:08,288 - Maybe too surprising? 1465 00:38:08,288 --> 00:38:12,692 Especially because there was 1466 00:38:08,288 --> 00:38:12,692 none anywhere else in the car, 1467 00:38:12,692 --> 00:38:15,929 so it looked like 1468 00:38:12,692 --> 00:38:15,929 some kind of mistake. 1469 00:38:15,929 --> 00:38:17,464 Or worse... 1470 00:38:17,464 --> 00:38:19,766 - Your suggestion is what? 1471 00:38:17,464 --> 00:38:19,766 That-- 1472 00:38:19,766 --> 00:38:22,102 - Either gunshot residue 1473 00:38:22,102 --> 00:38:24,871 was purposely placed 1474 00:38:22,102 --> 00:38:24,871 on the lever, 1475 00:38:24,871 --> 00:38:27,807 or it came into contact 1476 00:38:24,871 --> 00:38:27,807 with either clothing, 1477 00:38:27,807 --> 00:38:32,245 a firearm, or the hands 1478 00:38:27,807 --> 00:38:32,245 of the two police officers 1479 00:38:32,245 --> 00:38:34,180 that had been 1480 00:38:32,245 --> 00:38:34,180 in a crime scene. 1481 00:38:34,180 --> 00:38:37,784 - Either way, Rogers suggested 1482 00:38:34,180 --> 00:38:37,784 sloppy police work 1483 00:38:37,784 --> 00:38:40,860 was the hallmark 1484 00:38:37,784 --> 00:38:40,860 of the investigation. 1485 00:38:40,860 --> 00:38:41,588 He said police 1486 00:38:40,860 --> 00:38:41,588 should have dug deeper 1487 00:38:41,588 --> 00:38:44,357 when they heard what 1488 00:38:41,588 --> 00:38:44,357 this woman had to say. 1489 00:38:44,357 --> 00:38:48,610 - I heard what I believe 1490 00:38:44,357 --> 00:38:48,610 should be gunshots... 1491 00:38:48,610 --> 00:38:51,331 - The defense had 1492 00:38:48,610 --> 00:38:51,331 an earwitness of sorts, 1493 00:38:51,331 --> 00:38:53,933 who testified that 1494 00:38:51,331 --> 00:38:53,933 though more than a block away, 1495 00:38:53,933 --> 00:38:56,970 she heard gunshots at the office 1496 00:38:53,933 --> 00:38:56,970 at 5:10p.m., 1497 00:38:56,970 --> 00:39:00,600 which fit the coroner's 1498 00:38:56,970 --> 00:39:00,600 time-of-death window 1499 00:39:00,600 --> 00:39:02,750 of sometime 1500 00:39:00,600 --> 00:39:02,750 before midnight. 1501 00:39:02,750 --> 00:39:04,277 And why was that 1502 00:39:02,750 --> 00:39:04,277 important? 1503 00:39:04,277 --> 00:39:05,545 - That's the exact time 1504 00:39:05,545 --> 00:39:09,582 that Mr. Whitlow has himself 1505 00:39:05,545 --> 00:39:09,582 in Pam's office. 1506 00:39:09,582 --> 00:39:13,753 - Eldon Whitlow, 1507 00:39:09,582 --> 00:39:13,753 Pam's last client of the day. 1508 00:39:13,753 --> 00:39:16,222 - I'm not contending 1509 00:39:13,753 --> 00:39:16,222 that I had enough evidence 1510 00:39:16,222 --> 00:39:18,625 to prove Mr. Whitlow shot 1511 00:39:16,222 --> 00:39:18,625 Pam Zimmerman. 1512 00:39:18,625 --> 00:39:20,293 But certainly when 1513 00:39:18,625 --> 00:39:20,293 they claimed that 1514 00:39:20,293 --> 00:39:24,364 they investigated Mr. Whitlow 1515 00:39:20,293 --> 00:39:24,364 with the same intensity 1516 00:39:24,364 --> 00:39:26,833 that they investigated 1517 00:39:24,364 --> 00:39:26,833 Mr. Zimmerman, 1518 00:39:26,833 --> 00:39:29,102 that was not true. 1519 00:39:29,102 --> 00:39:31,738 - But police said 1520 00:39:29,102 --> 00:39:31,738 they investigated Whitlow 1521 00:39:31,738 --> 00:39:34,441 thoroughly 1522 00:39:31,738 --> 00:39:34,441 and cleared him. 1523 00:39:34,441 --> 00:39:37,477 The lawyers made their 1524 00:39:34,441 --> 00:39:37,477 final appeal to the jury. 1525 00:39:37,477 --> 00:39:39,346 - ...this is not what proof 1526 00:39:39,346 --> 00:39:41,448 beyond a reasonable doubt 1527 00:39:39,346 --> 00:39:41,448 looks like. 1528 00:39:41,448 --> 00:39:46,186 We do not speculate people 1529 00:39:41,448 --> 00:39:46,186 into murder convictions. 1530 00:39:46,186 --> 00:39:49,756 - The evidence has shown you 1531 00:39:46,186 --> 00:39:49,756 that on November 3, 2014, 1532 00:39:49,756 --> 00:39:51,257 he murdered Pam Zimmerman. 1533 00:39:51,257 --> 00:39:53,393 And he made sure 1534 00:39:51,257 --> 00:39:53,393 his hate got carried out 1535 00:39:53,393 --> 00:39:55,261 in that fourth shot. 1536 00:39:55,261 --> 00:39:58,732 That one was for him. 1537 00:39:58,732 --> 00:40:01,534 Find the defendant guilty. 1538 00:40:01,534 --> 00:40:04,571 - The family, 1539 00:40:01,534 --> 00:40:04,571 as polarized 1540 00:40:04,571 --> 00:40:07,874 as the most poisonous politics, 1541 00:40:04,571 --> 00:40:07,874 waited. 1542 00:40:07,874 --> 00:40:09,843 - I was just pacing 1543 00:40:07,874 --> 00:40:09,843 back and forth, 1544 00:40:09,843 --> 00:40:12,979 kind of freaking out 1545 00:40:09,843 --> 00:40:12,979 a little bit. 1546 00:40:12,979 --> 00:40:15,615 - And then, 1547 00:40:12,979 --> 00:40:15,615 after a day and a half 1548 00:40:15,615 --> 00:40:17,717 of deliberations, 1549 00:40:15,615 --> 00:40:17,717 the signal. 1550 00:40:17,717 --> 00:40:19,786 - All right. 1551 00:40:17,717 --> 00:40:19,786 - Verdict. 1552 00:40:19,786 --> 00:40:21,654 - All right, welcome back, 1553 00:40:19,786 --> 00:40:21,654 ladies and gentlemen. 1554 00:40:21,654 --> 00:40:23,823 Everyone may be seated. 1555 00:40:23,823 --> 00:40:27,600 - I was shaking. 1556 00:40:23,823 --> 00:40:27,600 It just felt very long. 1557 00:40:27,600 --> 00:40:30,196 - The courtroom 1558 00:40:27,600 --> 00:40:30,196 was utterly silent. 1559 00:40:30,196 --> 00:40:32,432 A collective 1560 00:40:30,196 --> 00:40:32,432 holding of breath. 1561 00:40:32,432 --> 00:40:34,670 - We, the jury, 1562 00:40:32,432 --> 00:40:34,670 find the defendant, 1563 00:40:34,670 --> 00:40:38,538 Kirk Zimmerman, not guilty 1564 00:40:34,670 --> 00:40:38,538 of first degree murder. 1565 00:40:38,538 --> 00:40:40,473 - Not guilty. 1566 00:40:40,473 --> 00:40:42,876 The children exhaled. 1567 00:40:42,876 --> 00:40:46,846 - It was just this huge relief 1568 00:40:42,876 --> 00:40:46,846 just to know that our dad 1569 00:40:46,846 --> 00:40:49,490 wouldn't be going away 1570 00:40:46,846 --> 00:40:49,490 for something he didn't do. 1571 00:40:49,490 --> 00:40:52,852 - And we just cried and smiled. 1572 00:40:49,490 --> 00:40:52,852 It was the best feeling ever. 1573 00:40:52,852 --> 00:40:56,923 - Across the aisle, 1574 00:40:52,852 --> 00:40:56,923 was a different world. 1575 00:40:56,923 --> 00:40:59,793 - I remember saying, "no". 1576 00:40:56,923 --> 00:40:59,793 - Yeah. 1577 00:40:59,793 --> 00:41:03,960 Then they took us upstairs 1578 00:40:59,793 --> 00:41:03,960 to the State Attorney's Office. 1579 00:41:03,960 --> 00:41:05,398 The State was just 1580 00:41:03,960 --> 00:41:05,398 as devastated as we were. 1581 00:41:05,398 --> 00:41:07,801 - Are you used to this yet? 1582 00:41:05,398 --> 00:41:07,801 - No. 1583 00:41:07,801 --> 00:41:10,170 - Not been very long. 1584 00:41:07,801 --> 00:41:10,170 - No. 1585 00:41:13,730 --> 00:41:15,675 There's still a lot of anger. 1586 00:41:15,675 --> 00:41:17,844 - 'Cause there's nothing 1587 00:41:15,675 --> 00:41:17,844 you can do now, right? 1588 00:41:17,844 --> 00:41:20,313 - Mnh-mnh. 1589 00:41:17,844 --> 00:41:20,313 - No, there's not. 1590 00:41:20,313 --> 00:41:22,982 - A family truly divided. 1591 00:41:22,982 --> 00:41:26,186 Diane and Larry 1592 00:41:22,982 --> 00:41:26,186 angry, disappointed. 1593 00:41:26,186 --> 00:41:29,689 Their nieces and nephew, 1594 00:41:26,186 --> 00:41:29,689 elated and hopeful. 1595 00:41:29,689 --> 00:41:32,920 - My dad can actually 1596 00:41:29,689 --> 00:41:32,920 go out to eat now, 1597 00:41:32,920 --> 00:41:33,993 so we've been going out 1598 00:41:32,920 --> 00:41:33,993 to restaurants. 1599 00:41:33,993 --> 00:41:35,695 He came with me 1600 00:41:33,993 --> 00:41:35,695 to my dentist appointment 1601 00:41:35,695 --> 00:41:37,970 because he hasn't been 1602 00:41:35,695 --> 00:41:37,970 able to do that 1603 00:41:37,970 --> 00:41:38,164 in a really long time. 1604 00:41:38,164 --> 00:41:40,734 It's kind of awkward, 1605 00:41:38,164 --> 00:41:40,734 'cause I'm 20, but- 1606 00:41:40,734 --> 00:41:42,235 - He's just trying 1607 00:41:40,734 --> 00:41:42,235 to make up for- 1608 00:41:42,235 --> 00:41:45,638 - Yeah. 1609 00:41:42,235 --> 00:41:45,638 - The lost 4 1/2 years. 1610 00:41:45,638 --> 00:41:48,675 - Now, said David, 1611 00:41:45,638 --> 00:41:48,675 Rachel and Heidi, 1612 00:41:48,675 --> 00:41:52,379 they're hoping the state will 1613 00:41:48,675 --> 00:41:52,379 solve their mom's murder. 1614 00:41:52,379 --> 00:41:54,914 - I obviously hope that 1615 00:41:52,379 --> 00:41:54,914 they do catch whoever did it, 1616 00:41:54,914 --> 00:41:58,385 but I wouldn't be surprised 1617 00:41:54,914 --> 00:41:58,385 if they don't. 1618 00:41:58,385 --> 00:42:01,388 - What's gonna happen 1619 00:41:58,385 --> 00:42:01,388 to the family? 1620 00:42:01,388 --> 00:42:03,656 - I think all of us wanna 1621 00:42:01,388 --> 00:42:03,656 move out of Bloomington. 1622 00:42:03,656 --> 00:42:05,910 - Yeah. 1623 00:42:03,656 --> 00:42:05,910 - So-- 1624 00:42:05,910 --> 00:42:07,160 - That's for sure. 1625 00:42:07,160 --> 00:42:09,129 - Something else. 1626 00:42:09,129 --> 00:42:11,931 After all the trauma, 1627 00:42:09,129 --> 00:42:11,931 these three are, 1628 00:42:11,931 --> 00:42:13,967 by the look of it, fine. 1629 00:42:13,967 --> 00:42:15,702 It's because, 1630 00:42:13,967 --> 00:42:15,702 they said, 1631 00:42:15,702 --> 00:42:19,139 they had a wonderful mother, 1632 00:42:15,702 --> 00:42:19,139 Pam Zimmerman. 1633 00:42:19,139 --> 00:42:21,474 - You three have all done 1634 00:42:19,139 --> 00:42:21,474 pretty well so far. 1635 00:42:21,474 --> 00:42:25,245 What would she think about 1636 00:42:21,474 --> 00:42:25,245 where you are in life 1637 00:42:25,245 --> 00:42:26,579 and what you've 1638 00:42:25,245 --> 00:42:26,579 accomplished? 1639 00:42:26,579 --> 00:42:29,215 - I think she'd be 1640 00:42:26,579 --> 00:42:29,215 incredibly proud 1641 00:42:29,215 --> 00:42:30,984 of how well we've 1642 00:42:29,215 --> 00:42:30,984 handled everything. 1643 00:42:30,984 --> 00:42:35,789 And how it hasn't, 1644 00:42:30,984 --> 00:42:35,789 like, derailed us. 1645 00:42:35,789 --> 00:42:39,225 - You think about what-- 1646 00:42:35,789 --> 00:42:39,225 how she would want you to live 1647 00:42:39,225 --> 00:42:40,660 and how she would want you 1648 00:42:39,225 --> 00:42:40,660 to keep going. 1649 00:42:40,660 --> 00:42:44,764 So that's what I've 1650 00:42:40,660 --> 00:42:44,764 just been trying to do. 1651 00:42:44,764 --> 00:42:46,166 - That's all 1652 00:42:44,764 --> 00:42:46,166 for this edition 1653 00:42:46,166 --> 00:42:48,234 of "Dateline: 1654 00:42:46,166 --> 00:42:48,234 Secrets Uncovered". 1655 00:42:48,234 --> 00:42:49,703 I'm Craig Melvin. 1656 00:42:49,703 --> 00:42:51,538 Thank you for watching.