1 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:11,177 - I'm kate snow, and this is dateline: Secrets uncovered. 2 00:00:12,846 --> 00:00:15,213 - How could this happen? 3 00:00:15,282 --> 00:00:18,051 A very healthy 31-year-old, just winds up dead. 4 00:00:21,588 --> 00:00:26,057 - A young father's death, so sudden, so strange. 5 00:00:26,127 --> 00:00:28,227 - We wanted answers. 6 00:00:28,295 --> 00:00:30,796 - The word "poison" just kept coming up. 7 00:00:30,864 --> 00:00:32,398 - It was anti-freeze poisoning. 8 00:00:33,701 --> 00:00:35,134 - You can't smell it. 9 00:00:35,202 --> 00:00:36,735 You can't see it. 10 00:00:36,804 --> 00:00:38,736 - Someone wanted him dead. 11 00:00:38,806 --> 00:00:41,406 Someone who was hiding something. 12 00:00:41,475 --> 00:00:44,543 - The details of the case are very salacious. 13 00:00:44,611 --> 00:00:46,278 There's sex, 14 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:49,282 There's the allegation of poisoning. 15 00:00:49,349 --> 00:00:51,350 - Cleaned out the bank account. 16 00:00:51,352 --> 00:00:53,519 - Are you trying to accuse me of doing something to him? 17 00:00:55,723 --> 00:00:58,490 - A brother determined to find a killer. 18 00:00:58,559 --> 00:01:01,827 - How dare anybody do that to my little brother. 19 00:01:01,895 --> 00:01:04,362 - It wasn't supposed to happen like this. 20 00:01:04,431 --> 00:01:08,166 - A toxic mystery, an emotional trial. 21 00:01:08,235 --> 00:01:11,570 - Is the jury being out long, a bad thing or a good thing? 22 00:01:11,639 --> 00:01:19,578 ♪♪ 23 00:01:19,647 --> 00:01:22,648 - Hello, and welcome to dateline: Secrets uncovered. 24 00:01:22,716 --> 00:01:24,449 Navy vet, matt podolak 25 00:01:24,518 --> 00:01:26,786 And his fiancee, holly mcfeeture, 26 00:01:26,854 --> 00:01:29,788 Were a loving couple raising a family together. 27 00:01:29,857 --> 00:01:33,391 Then, quite suddenly, matt's life was cut short 28 00:01:33,460 --> 00:01:35,393 When the healthy 31-year-old died 29 00:01:35,462 --> 00:01:37,929 Under very strange circumstances. 30 00:01:37,998 --> 00:01:41,133 His premature passing was met with disbelief, 31 00:01:41,201 --> 00:01:44,069 Then sorrow, then suspicion 32 00:01:44,137 --> 00:01:47,939 That maybe someone was keeping a deadly secret. 33 00:01:47,941 --> 00:01:50,309 Here's keith morrison with manner of death. 34 00:01:55,916 --> 00:01:58,517 - It was a mystery from day one. 35 00:01:58,586 --> 00:02:01,487 From that time right around the end of the hockey season. 36 00:02:01,555 --> 00:02:04,423 Didn't make sense what was happening to matt podolak. 37 00:02:04,492 --> 00:02:06,858 Matt, the happy hockey amateur. 38 00:02:06,927 --> 00:02:08,093 Matt, the outdoorsman. 39 00:02:08,162 --> 00:02:11,196 The hunter, the fisherman, athlete. 40 00:02:11,265 --> 00:02:13,065 Didn't make sense from the very first day 41 00:02:13,134 --> 00:02:14,866 Matt podolak woke up in the morning 42 00:02:14,935 --> 00:02:17,169 With that pain in his back. 43 00:02:17,171 --> 00:02:18,670 And after what happened in the hospital 44 00:02:18,739 --> 00:02:20,839 A couple of months later, 45 00:02:20,908 --> 00:02:23,241 Nothing made sense after that. 46 00:02:23,310 --> 00:02:25,477 [flat line droning] 47 00:02:27,881 --> 00:02:30,248 Though god knows, there were accusations. 48 00:02:30,317 --> 00:02:32,117 Oh, yes, plenty of those. 49 00:02:32,185 --> 00:02:35,120 Then a brother, mark, for whom the story, 50 00:02:35,189 --> 00:02:38,524 The mystery became a kind of obsession. 51 00:02:38,592 --> 00:02:41,660 It's had quite an effect on me over the past seven years. 52 00:02:41,729 --> 00:02:43,529 - But the story of what happened to matt podolak 53 00:02:43,597 --> 00:02:47,800 Is one of those that-- well, you be the judge. 54 00:02:49,904 --> 00:02:53,472 ♪♪ 55 00:02:53,474 --> 00:02:55,808 Let's begin in the spring of 2006. 56 00:02:55,876 --> 00:02:59,210 Matt was 31-years-old, maybe more than ever, 57 00:02:59,279 --> 00:03:01,347 He was loving the intense male roughness 58 00:03:01,415 --> 00:03:03,682 Of amateur hockey. 59 00:03:03,684 --> 00:03:06,085 He was number ten, and he was good at it. 60 00:03:06,153 --> 00:03:08,887 Even managed to keep all his teeth. 61 00:03:08,889 --> 00:03:11,122 - He started to take it up when he was in high school. 62 00:03:11,191 --> 00:03:13,158 And that was really one of his loves. 63 00:03:13,227 --> 00:03:16,027 - Mark podolak was just a little older. 64 00:03:16,096 --> 00:03:17,830 A little more academically accomplished 65 00:03:17,898 --> 00:03:19,297 Than his kid brother maybe. 66 00:03:19,366 --> 00:03:22,701 But mark loved him. Loved him for what he was. 67 00:03:22,703 --> 00:03:23,703 - He was a good kid. 68 00:03:23,770 --> 00:03:25,504 I mean, he didn't get in any trouble. 69 00:03:25,506 --> 00:03:27,173 And to be honest with ya, my dad is a cop, 70 00:03:27,241 --> 00:03:28,241 So... - Yeah. 71 00:03:28,308 --> 00:03:29,976 - ...He sorta put the fear of god into me 72 00:03:30,043 --> 00:03:32,111 And my brother when we were growin' up. 73 00:03:32,179 --> 00:03:33,511 - Matt told his mom patricia 74 00:03:33,580 --> 00:03:34,914 He was going to join the police force 75 00:03:34,982 --> 00:03:36,514 When he came home to brooklyn, 76 00:03:36,583 --> 00:03:38,583 After a stint in the navy. 77 00:03:38,585 --> 00:03:40,185 Brooklyn, ohio, by the way. 78 00:03:40,187 --> 00:03:43,255 It's one of the towns around the edge of cleveland. 79 00:03:43,257 --> 00:03:46,925 - Matthew always wanted to, uh, be a police officer 80 00:03:46,994 --> 00:03:48,526 Ever since he was little. 81 00:03:48,595 --> 00:03:50,929 - His dad, len, was a 39-year veteran 82 00:03:50,998 --> 00:03:52,532 Of the brooklyn pd. 83 00:03:52,599 --> 00:03:55,133 - There was a point in time where it looked like 84 00:03:55,202 --> 00:03:57,335 We may even work together. 85 00:03:57,404 --> 00:03:59,938 - But life is full of disappointments. 86 00:04:00,007 --> 00:04:01,873 Matt didn't get the call. 87 00:04:01,942 --> 00:04:04,343 And so instead he went to work for his uncle, 88 00:04:04,345 --> 00:04:08,013 Whose phoenix industrial powder coated engine parts 89 00:04:08,081 --> 00:04:09,882 For ford and other companies. 90 00:04:09,950 --> 00:04:11,617 - What did he think of that job of his, 91 00:04:11,685 --> 00:04:13,218 Over at the factory? 92 00:04:13,287 --> 00:04:14,420 - The thing that excited him about it 93 00:04:14,488 --> 00:04:16,354 Was that he was gonna take over. 94 00:04:16,423 --> 00:04:18,424 My uncle was kinda grooming him 95 00:04:18,492 --> 00:04:20,091 To become the boss. 96 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:22,694 - But what matt wanted perhaps most of all 97 00:04:22,763 --> 00:04:24,430 Was a family. 98 00:04:24,498 --> 00:04:27,266 And so, when he met holly, holly mcfeeture. 99 00:04:28,769 --> 00:04:32,637 - When matthew fell in love, he fell 110 percent. 100 00:04:32,706 --> 00:04:35,040 And, um, he really loved holly. 101 00:04:35,108 --> 00:04:37,109 - There are some people who plan out their lives 102 00:04:37,177 --> 00:04:38,710 Very carefully. 103 00:04:38,779 --> 00:04:42,247 Those people may have taken issue with matt and holly, 104 00:04:42,249 --> 00:04:45,117 Whose daughter samantha was born give or take, 105 00:04:45,185 --> 00:04:47,252 Nine months after they met. 106 00:04:47,321 --> 00:04:49,655 The marriage part would come later they decided. 107 00:04:49,723 --> 00:04:52,325 - He loved being a dad. He loved that little girl. 108 00:04:52,392 --> 00:04:54,325 - And loved holly. 109 00:04:54,395 --> 00:04:56,329 Holly loved him. 110 00:04:56,396 --> 00:04:58,730 Holly told her sister chrissy, the story 111 00:04:58,799 --> 00:05:00,900 Of how they eventually got engaged. 112 00:05:00,967 --> 00:05:03,869 It was during a romantic weekend in niagara falls 113 00:05:03,937 --> 00:05:06,004 Just before samantha was born. 114 00:05:06,073 --> 00:05:09,208 Holly was preparing a bubble bath. 115 00:05:09,276 --> 00:05:11,943 - And she couldn't hear because the faucet's running, 116 00:05:12,012 --> 00:05:14,145 And here's matt down on his knee, 117 00:05:14,214 --> 00:05:15,948 Like, hello. 118 00:05:16,016 --> 00:05:20,218 And then she realized, "oh, my gosh! You're proposing!" 119 00:05:20,287 --> 00:05:21,887 - That is a kind of romantic little story. 120 00:05:21,889 --> 00:05:24,222 - I thought so. The bubbles and-- 121 00:05:24,291 --> 00:05:26,391 I thought that was pretty romantic. 122 00:05:26,461 --> 00:05:30,361 - After samantha came along, matt and holly now engaged, 123 00:05:30,431 --> 00:05:34,833 Went to vegas to witness a friend's wedding, lynn. 124 00:05:34,835 --> 00:05:37,369 Did you almost make it a foursome wedding. 125 00:05:37,371 --> 00:05:39,104 - Oh, yeah. Actually, yes. 126 00:05:39,172 --> 00:05:43,241 Holly and matt said we should do a double wedding. 127 00:05:43,243 --> 00:05:45,577 - But holly knew that her family 128 00:05:45,646 --> 00:05:48,046 Would not be happy with that. 129 00:05:48,115 --> 00:05:52,984 So, I think that's what made them not get married. 130 00:05:52,986 --> 00:05:54,786 - Didn't get married, 131 00:05:54,855 --> 00:05:57,255 But something happened in vegas. 132 00:05:57,324 --> 00:06:00,391 Nine months after that, josh was born. 133 00:06:00,461 --> 00:06:07,666 - From what holly has told me, josh was planned in vegas. 134 00:06:07,668 --> 00:06:09,935 - Ready or not, matt was now the father 135 00:06:09,937 --> 00:06:14,006 Of samantha and a baby boy he nicknamed "little man". 136 00:06:14,074 --> 00:06:17,342 And holly's daughter from a previous relationship. 137 00:06:17,411 --> 00:06:20,012 Big changes, in a very short time. 138 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:21,946 And by the end of the hockey season, 139 00:06:22,015 --> 00:06:24,616 A lot of things started going wrong. 140 00:06:24,684 --> 00:06:27,485 Josh was still very new then and colicky. 141 00:06:27,554 --> 00:06:29,154 Matt was stressed. 142 00:06:29,222 --> 00:06:31,090 And with that young family to support, 143 00:06:31,158 --> 00:06:34,626 He'd gone and lost money gambling on the internet. 144 00:06:34,628 --> 00:06:36,495 He complained of feeling depressed. 145 00:06:36,497 --> 00:06:40,231 So depressed, his doctor prescribed anti-depressants. 146 00:06:40,233 --> 00:06:41,833 Now that's about when it started. 147 00:06:41,835 --> 00:06:42,968 The pain, that is. 148 00:06:43,036 --> 00:06:44,636 Spasms of back pain. 149 00:06:44,704 --> 00:06:45,637 He ignored it. 150 00:06:45,706 --> 00:06:48,106 Figured it would go away on its own. 151 00:06:48,175 --> 00:06:49,975 But it just got worse. 152 00:06:49,977 --> 00:06:51,042 After weeks of this, 153 00:06:51,111 --> 00:06:53,712 Holly insisted he go see a doctor. 154 00:06:53,714 --> 00:06:56,247 - He had been complaining of pain, 155 00:06:56,316 --> 00:06:59,117 And she finally said, you need to go. 156 00:06:59,186 --> 00:07:01,653 Obviously, something is not right. 157 00:07:01,722 --> 00:07:05,658 So... She basically, you know, had to drag him there. 158 00:07:05,725 --> 00:07:08,059 - Kidney stones was the diagnosis. 159 00:07:08,128 --> 00:07:10,996 The doctor gave matt pills to help dissolve them. 160 00:07:11,064 --> 00:07:14,265 Four days later, he took a turn for the worse. 161 00:07:14,267 --> 00:07:15,734 Way worse. 162 00:07:15,736 --> 00:07:19,871 Holly called her father, matt's father and 9-1-1. 163 00:07:19,873 --> 00:07:21,140 - I got a call from holly 164 00:07:21,208 --> 00:07:22,874 Saying something's wrong with matt. 165 00:07:22,943 --> 00:07:24,275 So, I talk to matt, and he says, 166 00:07:24,344 --> 00:07:25,343 "dad, I don't feel good. 167 00:07:25,412 --> 00:07:28,346 "I fell off the couch. I'm really dizzy." 168 00:07:28,415 --> 00:07:30,216 I said, "well, get in the ambulance." 169 00:07:30,283 --> 00:07:32,218 - Holly's father, mike arrived, 170 00:07:32,285 --> 00:07:35,019 And followed the ambulance with holly to the hospital, 171 00:07:35,088 --> 00:07:38,022 Where things went bad fast. 172 00:07:38,091 --> 00:07:40,692 - I was nerve wracking because all we kept hearing about 173 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:44,562 Was, okay, they're trying to dial in on his kidney issue. 174 00:07:44,631 --> 00:07:48,033 Well, then that medication was making his heart go. 175 00:07:48,035 --> 00:07:49,701 So then they tried to address the heart, 176 00:07:49,770 --> 00:07:52,237 And it kept seesawing back and forth. 177 00:07:52,306 --> 00:07:54,839 - And nobody seemed to know really what it was causing it? 178 00:07:54,908 --> 00:07:56,841 - No. 179 00:07:56,910 --> 00:07:59,177 - Matt faded in and out of consciousness. 180 00:07:59,246 --> 00:08:01,312 Doctors told holly and family members, 181 00:08:01,381 --> 00:08:03,448 Go home, get some rest. 182 00:08:03,517 --> 00:08:05,250 And then a few hours later, they called everybody 183 00:08:05,252 --> 00:08:08,387 Back to the hospital. Right away, they said. 184 00:08:08,455 --> 00:08:10,321 One look at the icu, 185 00:08:10,323 --> 00:08:13,726 And big brother mark, felt his world come apart. 186 00:08:13,793 --> 00:08:14,726 - When I saw him in the hospital, 187 00:08:14,728 --> 00:08:15,861 It's something I won't forget. 188 00:08:15,929 --> 00:08:17,462 It seemed like he was in a coma. 189 00:08:17,531 --> 00:08:18,798 I knew if he made it through, 190 00:08:18,865 --> 00:08:20,599 It wouldn't-- it wouldn't be the same. 191 00:08:20,601 --> 00:08:22,368 - And everyone felt a particular kind 192 00:08:22,435 --> 00:08:26,471 Of helplessness, knowing something was killing him, 193 00:08:26,539 --> 00:08:30,642 But not knowing, how could they, what it was. 194 00:08:32,813 --> 00:08:34,245 - How could this happen? 195 00:08:34,247 --> 00:08:36,015 All of the sudden, a very healthy, 196 00:08:36,082 --> 00:08:40,885 31-year-old young man, just winds up dead. 197 00:08:40,954 --> 00:08:43,689 Family and friends ask a simple question, 198 00:08:43,757 --> 00:08:46,392 Which will take seven years to answer. 199 00:08:46,459 --> 00:08:48,893 - How can you go into the hospital for kidney stones, 200 00:08:48,895 --> 00:08:50,529 And then die eight hours later? 201 00:08:50,597 --> 00:08:53,532 - When dateline: Secrets uncovered continues. 202 00:08:57,504 --> 00:09:02,707 ♪♪ 203 00:09:02,776 --> 00:09:06,444 - The end came on Monday morning, July 31, 2006. 204 00:09:06,513 --> 00:09:08,846 There in the icu, the mysterious ailment 205 00:09:08,915 --> 00:09:10,848 That attacked matt podolak 206 00:09:10,917 --> 00:09:13,252 Overwhelmed his defenses completely. 207 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:15,053 - I got a call that said you better get here 208 00:09:15,121 --> 00:09:17,789 Because he's gone into full arrest, 209 00:09:17,858 --> 00:09:22,994 And we've revived him already once. 210 00:09:23,063 --> 00:09:27,866 So, when I got there, it was just downhill. 211 00:09:27,868 --> 00:09:29,734 - Matt's fiancee, holly mcfeeture 212 00:09:29,803 --> 00:09:32,471 Begged the doctors, keep trying. 213 00:09:32,539 --> 00:09:35,406 - And holly said, "don't stop. Don't stop!" 214 00:09:35,475 --> 00:09:37,809 And saying, "matt, don't leave me." 215 00:09:37,878 --> 00:09:39,778 - It was no use. 216 00:09:41,348 --> 00:09:44,516 - And once the doctor, or nurse stepped away, 217 00:09:44,585 --> 00:09:49,621 Holly just lunged on matt and just wouldn't let go. 218 00:09:49,689 --> 00:09:54,392 They actually had to pull her off of his body. 219 00:09:54,461 --> 00:09:56,427 - He was just 31-years-old. 220 00:09:56,496 --> 00:09:58,896 And now his children were fatherless, 221 00:09:58,965 --> 00:10:01,499 And holly, a single mother of three. 222 00:10:01,501 --> 00:10:03,234 At the funeral, said her sister, 223 00:10:03,303 --> 00:10:05,169 She did not take it well. 224 00:10:05,238 --> 00:10:06,437 - Holly was sitting in her car 225 00:10:06,439 --> 00:10:09,173 For about 20 minutes bawling her eyes out 226 00:10:09,242 --> 00:10:11,175 Before she even went in. 227 00:10:11,244 --> 00:10:14,780 I don't know how I would be able to do that myself. 228 00:10:14,848 --> 00:10:19,851 Go in and see him, lying there in the casket. 229 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:22,787 - Matt and holly's son, josh, was just six months old. 230 00:10:22,856 --> 00:10:24,989 And he cried, a lot. 231 00:10:25,058 --> 00:10:27,392 So, said, chrissy, holly repeatedly 232 00:10:27,460 --> 00:10:29,394 Had to leave the reception line 233 00:10:29,462 --> 00:10:31,396 To care for her colicky baby. 234 00:10:31,398 --> 00:10:34,265 She was in the basement with josh 235 00:10:34,334 --> 00:10:35,933 Because she was nursing. 236 00:10:36,002 --> 00:10:37,802 She had to still take care of her kids 237 00:10:37,804 --> 00:10:41,339 And show them that she had to be strong. 238 00:10:41,408 --> 00:10:44,075 - Holly's friend rebecca vega did what she could to help, 239 00:10:44,144 --> 00:10:45,677 Especially with that little boy. 240 00:10:45,745 --> 00:10:47,145 So young. 241 00:10:47,147 --> 00:10:48,279 - This poor baby, 242 00:10:48,348 --> 00:10:50,481 He would have never known his father. 243 00:10:50,550 --> 00:10:51,750 How could this happen? 244 00:10:51,818 --> 00:10:55,153 All of the sudden, a very healthy, 31-year-old 245 00:10:55,155 --> 00:10:59,091 Young man, just winds up dead. 246 00:10:59,159 --> 00:11:01,225 It's kinda strange. 247 00:11:01,294 --> 00:11:04,697 - Kinda strange? It certainly was. 248 00:11:04,764 --> 00:11:06,565 Matt's brother mark, couldn't stop thinking 249 00:11:06,633 --> 00:11:07,633 About how strange it was. 250 00:11:07,701 --> 00:11:08,300 Matt's brother, mark, couldn't stop thinking 251 00:11:08,368 --> 00:11:09,068 About how strange it was. 252 00:11:09,135 --> 00:11:10,335 - He had kidney stones. 253 00:11:10,337 --> 00:11:12,503 How can you go into the hospital for kidney stones 254 00:11:12,505 --> 00:11:14,439 And then die eight hours later? 255 00:11:14,507 --> 00:11:16,442 - Exactly what the coroner was wondering, 256 00:11:16,509 --> 00:11:17,842 When he had a look at some of the damage 257 00:11:17,911 --> 00:11:19,912 To matt's organs as if he'd been exposed 258 00:11:19,979 --> 00:11:24,717 To some toxic chemicals in his environment. 259 00:11:24,784 --> 00:11:25,917 Matt had worked for four years 260 00:11:25,986 --> 00:11:28,119 For his uncle's phoenix industrial, 261 00:11:28,121 --> 00:11:30,588 Supervised an assembly line, 262 00:11:30,657 --> 00:11:33,591 Involved in painting and powder coating. 263 00:11:33,593 --> 00:11:36,394 Any toxic chemicals there? 264 00:11:36,463 --> 00:11:38,864 The coroner called holly to ask 265 00:11:38,932 --> 00:11:41,332 Her friend lynn [indistinct]. 266 00:11:41,334 --> 00:11:43,334 - The coroner told her a lot of the chemical compounds 267 00:11:43,336 --> 00:11:46,404 Were very similar to what the chemical compound was 268 00:11:46,473 --> 00:11:48,072 That they found in him. 269 00:11:48,141 --> 00:11:50,476 - Right after that, holly called matt's uncle, 270 00:11:50,543 --> 00:11:52,077 The man who owned the factory. 271 00:11:52,145 --> 00:11:55,480 - Saying that my brother needed to call the coroner 272 00:11:55,548 --> 00:12:00,551 So that he can explain what matthew was exposed to. 273 00:12:00,553 --> 00:12:03,020 - But soon after the coroner talked to matt's uncle, 274 00:12:03,089 --> 00:12:06,023 After he got a proper list of the chemicals they used, 275 00:12:06,025 --> 00:12:09,761 He pretty much ruled out any industrial cause. 276 00:12:09,829 --> 00:12:11,629 - All those chemicals were safe to work with, 277 00:12:11,631 --> 00:12:13,765 They were osha approved, 278 00:12:13,833 --> 00:12:17,301 And, um, they had masks to wear. 279 00:12:17,370 --> 00:12:20,238 - So if not that, what? 280 00:12:20,307 --> 00:12:23,040 Perhaps a cause unhappily all too common 281 00:12:23,109 --> 00:12:25,309 When death occurs in one so young. 282 00:12:25,378 --> 00:12:26,779 That a depressed young man, 283 00:12:26,846 --> 00:12:29,180 Overwhelmed by his sudden responsibilities 284 00:12:29,249 --> 00:12:31,316 And the pain of his kidney stones 285 00:12:31,384 --> 00:12:33,452 Decided to end it all. 286 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:36,187 It was a coroner's investigator who brought up the subject 287 00:12:36,189 --> 00:12:37,589 To matt's mother. 288 00:12:37,657 --> 00:12:39,657 - And she was questioning me, 289 00:12:39,659 --> 00:12:42,627 Would matthew have committed suicide? 290 00:12:42,696 --> 00:12:45,329 - Never, said his mother. Never! 291 00:12:45,398 --> 00:12:47,331 But it was, his family had to admit, 292 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:49,934 A not unreasonable question, 293 00:12:49,936 --> 00:12:51,936 Given matt's depression and all, 294 00:12:51,938 --> 00:12:53,604 Even though mark believed 295 00:12:53,673 --> 00:12:55,740 His brother had that under control. 296 00:12:55,809 --> 00:12:58,043 - He went to a doctor to-to get some help with that. 297 00:12:58,111 --> 00:13:00,345 The doctor gave him some antidepressants. 298 00:13:00,347 --> 00:13:01,846 - Did that help? 299 00:13:01,915 --> 00:13:03,047 - I thought it did. 300 00:13:03,116 --> 00:13:06,050 He, um, he seemed to be better. 301 00:13:06,119 --> 00:13:09,120 - But then, matt had a new family now. 302 00:13:09,122 --> 00:13:11,123 You know how it is, matt was spending 303 00:13:11,191 --> 00:13:13,591 Most of his time with holly and the kids 304 00:13:13,660 --> 00:13:15,727 And her parents, they said, 305 00:13:15,729 --> 00:13:18,663 So maybe mark didn't know. 306 00:13:18,731 --> 00:13:21,233 Did he go to his own parents' house very often? 307 00:13:21,301 --> 00:13:25,636 - I don't recall him talking about them much. 308 00:13:25,706 --> 00:13:28,106 - His connection didn't seem to be that close, then. 309 00:13:28,108 --> 00:13:30,042 - It didn't seem to be. 310 00:13:30,109 --> 00:13:32,444 - And mark didn't know, not then anyway, 311 00:13:32,512 --> 00:13:34,645 That matt actually asked a friend to remove 312 00:13:34,647 --> 00:13:36,181 His hunting guns from his house 313 00:13:36,249 --> 00:13:39,717 As if he was afraid, perhaps, he might harm himself. 314 00:13:39,786 --> 00:13:42,253 Was he really thinking about killing himself? 315 00:13:42,255 --> 00:13:44,056 - From what I heard, yes. 316 00:13:44,123 --> 00:13:48,259 I heard that he was having thoughts. 317 00:13:48,328 --> 00:13:51,863 He had told holly. I think he actually told my dad. 318 00:13:53,366 --> 00:13:56,468 - Just as she insisted he see the doctor for kidney stones, 319 00:13:56,536 --> 00:13:58,470 It was holly, said her sister, 320 00:13:58,538 --> 00:14:01,273 Who insisted she get help for his depression. 321 00:14:01,341 --> 00:14:03,741 - She had sent him to the doctor 322 00:14:03,810 --> 00:14:07,144 And got him on medication for that as well. 323 00:14:07,213 --> 00:14:09,548 - What happened to matt podolak? 324 00:14:09,616 --> 00:14:12,083 Who knew? Apparently not the coroner, 325 00:14:12,152 --> 00:14:15,219 Who had still not issued any official report. 326 00:14:15,288 --> 00:14:18,357 And then, finally, three months after matt's death, 327 00:14:18,424 --> 00:14:21,626 Mark got a call from his mother. 328 00:14:21,628 --> 00:14:24,362 Come to a family meeting, she told him. 329 00:14:24,431 --> 00:14:27,632 She refused to tell him what would be said there. 330 00:14:27,634 --> 00:14:30,835 - Because I knew he would be very, very upset. 331 00:14:30,903 --> 00:14:34,172 - The news was too bizarre, too shocking 332 00:14:34,174 --> 00:14:35,974 To share over the phone. 333 00:14:38,178 --> 00:14:40,311 - Why keep the topic of this family meeting 334 00:14:40,380 --> 00:14:42,113 A secret from mark? 335 00:14:42,182 --> 00:14:43,915 Must be something big. 336 00:14:43,983 --> 00:14:46,517 Well, turns out, it is. 337 00:14:46,586 --> 00:14:48,020 Coming up... 338 00:14:48,087 --> 00:14:50,288 The coroner's report makes it clear, 339 00:14:50,290 --> 00:14:52,556 Matt's death wasn't just strange, 340 00:14:52,625 --> 00:14:54,993 It was also highly suspicious. 341 00:14:54,995 --> 00:14:57,729 - We were all thinking it was kidney failure. 342 00:14:57,797 --> 00:14:59,664 We were not expecting that. 343 00:14:59,666 --> 00:15:02,066 - It was my mission to find an answer for this. 344 00:15:02,135 --> 00:15:04,937 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 345 00:15:14,846 --> 00:15:16,747 - There were just the two of them, 346 00:15:16,816 --> 00:15:19,483 Big brother mark and the kid he looked out for, 347 00:15:19,552 --> 00:15:22,453 His little brother matt. 348 00:15:22,455 --> 00:15:24,555 And now, matt was dead, 349 00:15:24,624 --> 00:15:27,825 And nothing made sense to mark podolak. 350 00:15:27,827 --> 00:15:29,694 - There's no way that a guy's gonna go 351 00:15:29,762 --> 00:15:32,763 Into the hospital with kidney stones 352 00:15:32,832 --> 00:15:36,034 And you're gonna die because of kidney stones. 353 00:15:36,102 --> 00:15:37,768 - Three months after his death, 354 00:15:37,837 --> 00:15:40,271 Matt podolak's family gathered for a meeting. 355 00:15:40,340 --> 00:15:41,973 Matt's mother arranged it. 356 00:15:41,975 --> 00:15:44,275 Beforehand, she told mark they'd be discussing 357 00:15:44,277 --> 00:15:46,244 A possible wrongful death suit 358 00:15:46,246 --> 00:15:48,713 Against the hospital where matt died. 359 00:15:48,782 --> 00:15:51,716 - My mom called me over and she said, 360 00:15:51,718 --> 00:15:52,985 We're gonna talk with the lawyer tonight. 361 00:15:53,052 --> 00:15:54,318 We're gonna find out our next steps, 362 00:15:54,387 --> 00:15:55,520 What's gonna happen. 363 00:15:55,588 --> 00:15:58,789 - But mark's mother wasn't exactly straight with her son. 364 00:15:58,791 --> 00:16:01,192 That was not what was going to happen. 365 00:16:01,194 --> 00:16:03,327 - So when I got to her house, 366 00:16:03,396 --> 00:16:04,729 The whole family was there. 367 00:16:04,731 --> 00:16:07,198 And I-I was like, where's the lawyer? 368 00:16:07,266 --> 00:16:09,000 And she's like, "he's not here." 369 00:16:09,002 --> 00:16:12,771 - No lawyer. Something far more disturbing. 370 00:16:12,839 --> 00:16:14,973 The autopsy report. 371 00:16:15,042 --> 00:16:17,341 Matt's mother did not want her surviving son 372 00:16:17,410 --> 00:16:19,744 Hearing about this over the phone, 373 00:16:19,746 --> 00:16:21,879 Afraid of how he'd react. 374 00:16:21,881 --> 00:16:23,682 - The whole family was there as a support thing, 375 00:16:23,750 --> 00:16:25,616 And they said, "we got the coroner's report back, 376 00:16:25,618 --> 00:16:28,352 "and it was anti-freeze poisoning." 377 00:16:28,421 --> 00:16:29,554 And I kinda lost it. 378 00:16:29,622 --> 00:16:31,222 - Anti-freeze poisoning? 379 00:16:31,290 --> 00:16:33,124 That's just-- - yeah. 380 00:16:33,193 --> 00:16:35,026 - The correct phrase for this, said the coroner's report, 381 00:16:35,094 --> 00:16:39,129 Was "chronic intoxication by ethylene glycol." 382 00:16:39,131 --> 00:16:42,366 Ethylene glycol being the active and toxic ingredient 383 00:16:42,435 --> 00:16:44,769 In anti-freeze. 384 00:16:44,838 --> 00:16:46,371 - So I was like, what is-what is that? 385 00:16:46,439 --> 00:16:48,306 I mean, ethylene glycol is anti-freeze, 386 00:16:48,308 --> 00:16:49,507 But-but chronic? 387 00:16:49,509 --> 00:16:51,976 And so, you know, it happened over a period of time. 388 00:16:52,045 --> 00:16:53,711 So once that kind of set in, 389 00:16:53,713 --> 00:16:56,847 I-I-I was shocked. I was speechless. 390 00:16:56,849 --> 00:16:58,516 - And that's when something profound 391 00:16:58,585 --> 00:17:01,720 Happened to mark podolak, maybe right that moment. 392 00:17:01,788 --> 00:17:03,988 A decision snapped into place. 393 00:17:04,058 --> 00:17:06,390 - From that moment on, when we found out, 394 00:17:07,328 --> 00:17:11,463 It was my mission to find, uh, to find an answer for this. 395 00:17:11,531 --> 00:17:13,330 - A mission complicated by the fact there was 396 00:17:13,399 --> 00:17:16,401 One very big question the coroner couldn't answer, 397 00:17:16,469 --> 00:17:20,071 Was matt's death the result of some terrible mistake? 398 00:17:20,139 --> 00:17:23,207 Or a suicide? Or was it murder? 399 00:17:23,276 --> 00:17:25,076 Nobody knew. 400 00:17:25,078 --> 00:17:26,745 And so the coroner labeled the manner of death, 401 00:17:26,813 --> 00:17:28,680 "undetermined." 402 00:17:28,748 --> 00:17:32,283 Across town, matt's fiance holly was getting the news, too. 403 00:17:32,351 --> 00:17:34,085 Holly's sister, chrissy. 404 00:17:34,153 --> 00:17:36,087 - What did she say? - What can you say? 405 00:17:36,089 --> 00:17:39,089 What do you mean there's anti-freeze in his system? 406 00:17:39,159 --> 00:17:41,826 We were all thinking it was kidney failure. 407 00:17:41,894 --> 00:17:44,362 We were not expecting that. 408 00:17:44,364 --> 00:17:46,230 - Was it really possible that matt somehow 409 00:17:46,232 --> 00:17:48,232 Ingested small amounts of anti-freeze 410 00:17:48,234 --> 00:17:51,370 For a period of weeks if not longer? 411 00:17:51,437 --> 00:17:53,105 That was the implication of the phrase, 412 00:17:53,172 --> 00:17:55,907 "chronic ethylene glycol poisoning". 413 00:17:55,975 --> 00:17:57,642 Mark had already made up his mind 414 00:17:57,710 --> 00:17:59,644 That his brother did not commit suicide, 415 00:17:59,712 --> 00:18:02,780 And certainly not gradual suicide. 416 00:18:02,849 --> 00:18:04,849 What did he have to go on? 417 00:18:04,918 --> 00:18:07,485 So far, only a growing suspicion, 418 00:18:07,553 --> 00:18:11,256 And rage, which he made perfectly clear to the police. 419 00:18:11,324 --> 00:18:14,993 - I finally got a hold of the-the detective on the case, 420 00:18:15,061 --> 00:18:17,728 And he-he did some initial stuff, 421 00:18:17,730 --> 00:18:21,665 But it wasn't the follow through that I had hoped. 422 00:18:21,734 --> 00:18:24,469 Maybe that was just because that I was just screaming 423 00:18:24,537 --> 00:18:26,070 And I was so upset. 424 00:18:26,138 --> 00:18:27,805 - But when something like that happens, 425 00:18:27,874 --> 00:18:29,607 You want the whole world to stand up 426 00:18:29,675 --> 00:18:31,342 And pay attention and do something. 427 00:18:31,410 --> 00:18:32,510 - When something like that happens, 428 00:18:32,578 --> 00:18:34,746 I want every member of cleveland police department 429 00:18:34,814 --> 00:18:37,481 To be on-on it. 430 00:18:37,483 --> 00:18:38,682 - And it seemed like nobody was running it. 431 00:18:38,751 --> 00:18:40,085 - And it-it didn't seem that way, no. 432 00:18:40,153 --> 00:18:43,354 It just, um-- and just time started to go on. 433 00:18:43,356 --> 00:18:46,758 And I-I... I became extremely frustrated. 434 00:18:46,826 --> 00:18:49,093 - Matt's father, len, a former cop himself, 435 00:18:49,161 --> 00:18:50,494 Could see the problem. 436 00:18:50,563 --> 00:18:52,029 The case file was stuck. 437 00:18:52,031 --> 00:18:54,900 - It kinda became a catch-22 situation. 438 00:18:54,967 --> 00:18:57,101 - The coroner said he couldn't label it a homicide 439 00:18:57,169 --> 00:18:59,903 Without more evidence from the police. 440 00:18:59,973 --> 00:19:02,173 Well, at the very same time... 441 00:19:02,175 --> 00:19:04,442 - Cleveland homicide was saying that 442 00:19:04,444 --> 00:19:06,844 They can't investigate it as a homicide 443 00:19:06,846 --> 00:19:09,113 Until the coroner rules it a homicide. 444 00:19:09,181 --> 00:19:12,316 - And so it remained, month after month, 445 00:19:12,385 --> 00:19:14,385 Year into years. 446 00:19:14,454 --> 00:19:18,790 And still, the manner of death was listed as undetermined. 447 00:19:18,858 --> 00:19:21,259 Just like mark, matt's father, len, 448 00:19:21,261 --> 00:19:23,195 Made something of a pest of himself. 449 00:19:23,262 --> 00:19:25,863 - I would call a detective that was assigned to the case 450 00:19:25,932 --> 00:19:27,531 And say, "what have you got?" 451 00:19:27,533 --> 00:19:29,468 Uh, and his standard answer to me was, 452 00:19:29,535 --> 00:19:31,869 "I don't have anything. What have you got?" 453 00:19:31,938 --> 00:19:34,538 I said, "well, this is your job not my job." 454 00:19:34,607 --> 00:19:36,207 [chuckling] you know? 455 00:19:36,209 --> 00:19:39,177 - Not unlike the way matt's fiance, holly, was thinking. 456 00:19:39,245 --> 00:19:42,012 - She was upset, you know, that there was 457 00:19:42,081 --> 00:19:43,881 No cause of death, yes. - Nobody doing anything. 458 00:19:43,950 --> 00:19:45,149 Yeah. 459 00:19:45,218 --> 00:19:47,151 - None of our family was interviewed. 460 00:19:47,219 --> 00:19:48,285 - It's like they were letting it go. 461 00:19:48,354 --> 00:19:49,987 - Exactly. 462 00:19:50,056 --> 00:19:53,424 - But holly had three children to raise, alone. 463 00:19:53,492 --> 00:19:55,960 Police versus coroner politics was not exactly 464 00:19:56,028 --> 00:19:58,162 Uppermost in her mind. 465 00:19:58,231 --> 00:19:59,898 To make ends meet, she took on two 466 00:19:59,966 --> 00:20:03,635 And sometimes three jobs at the same time. 467 00:20:03,703 --> 00:20:05,703 And threw herself into coaching 468 00:20:05,705 --> 00:20:09,040 The children's little league baseball teams. 469 00:20:09,108 --> 00:20:12,509 Meanwhile, mark kept hounding investigators, 470 00:20:12,578 --> 00:20:13,978 But getting nowhere. 471 00:20:14,046 --> 00:20:15,412 - It made me feel like there was nothing being done. 472 00:20:15,481 --> 00:20:16,714 It made me feel like there was a-- 473 00:20:16,783 --> 00:20:18,984 My brother's case was on a-on a desk of somebody 474 00:20:19,051 --> 00:20:21,520 Who could care less, 475 00:20:21,587 --> 00:20:25,789 And was counting down the days to his retirement. 476 00:20:25,858 --> 00:20:28,659 - But though mark was getting nowhere, 477 00:20:28,728 --> 00:20:33,164 Holly was hearing things not from the police. 478 00:20:33,166 --> 00:20:36,868 Remember the plant where matt supervised other workers? 479 00:20:36,936 --> 00:20:40,571 What was really going on around the powder coating machine? 480 00:20:41,941 --> 00:20:43,607 - Coming up... 481 00:20:43,609 --> 00:20:46,176 Holly and her sister had their own theory 482 00:20:46,245 --> 00:20:47,745 About how matt died. 483 00:20:47,814 --> 00:20:50,281 - There were some people at his job that 484 00:20:50,283 --> 00:20:52,283 May have not liked him. 485 00:20:52,285 --> 00:20:54,285 He was supposed to get a promotion. 486 00:20:54,353 --> 00:20:56,621 And I think there were some people that 487 00:20:56,689 --> 00:20:59,223 Didn't think he deserved it. - Didn't think he deserved it. 488 00:20:59,225 --> 00:21:00,924 - Were they right? 489 00:21:00,993 --> 00:21:03,461 When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 490 00:21:11,971 --> 00:21:14,506 - Welcome back to "dateline: Secrets uncovered". 491 00:21:14,573 --> 00:21:15,839 I'm kate snow. 492 00:21:15,908 --> 00:21:19,243 Matt podolak went in to the hospital for kidney stones 493 00:21:19,245 --> 00:21:20,978 But never came out. 494 00:21:21,047 --> 00:21:23,247 When the coroner's report revealed he died 495 00:21:23,315 --> 00:21:25,383 From anti-freeze poisoning, 496 00:21:25,385 --> 00:21:27,251 Matt's family was stunned, 497 00:21:27,319 --> 00:21:30,387 With his brother now hell bent on getting answers. 498 00:21:30,456 --> 00:21:34,058 How did this toxic chemical get into matt's system? 499 00:21:34,126 --> 00:21:38,062 More importantly, who put it there, and why? 500 00:21:38,064 --> 00:21:40,732 Back to keith morrison with "manner of death". 501 00:21:43,269 --> 00:21:46,537 - Holly mcfeeture was up against it, big time, 502 00:21:46,606 --> 00:21:48,807 Three kids, two still in diapers. 503 00:21:48,874 --> 00:21:51,075 She'd lost the father of her children. 504 00:21:51,143 --> 00:21:53,343 The police couldn't seem to figure out what happened to him, 505 00:21:53,413 --> 00:21:55,679 Didn't seem even to be trying. 506 00:21:55,748 --> 00:21:58,215 The little bit of cash left over in matt's checking account 507 00:21:58,284 --> 00:22:00,150 Was soon gone. 508 00:22:00,219 --> 00:22:02,453 Eventually, matt's work-based life insurance 509 00:22:02,521 --> 00:22:05,089 Paid out $10,000, but that was way off yet, 510 00:22:05,158 --> 00:22:07,358 And it wouldn't be very much. 511 00:22:07,427 --> 00:22:10,895 So in the meantime, she did what she had to do. 512 00:22:10,897 --> 00:22:13,297 She took on several jobs at a time, 513 00:22:13,299 --> 00:22:15,299 Even babysat for neighbors 514 00:22:15,368 --> 00:22:17,534 When she had a spare hour or two. 515 00:22:17,603 --> 00:22:18,736 - The children needed food. 516 00:22:18,804 --> 00:22:20,638 They still needed a roof over their heads 517 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:23,107 And that's exactly what she was doing. 518 00:22:23,175 --> 00:22:25,976 She was paying their bills and making sure 519 00:22:26,045 --> 00:22:28,245 The kids were taken care of. 520 00:22:28,314 --> 00:22:31,582 - And the thing is, holly mcfeeture loved kids, 521 00:22:31,650 --> 00:22:33,952 Not just her own. 522 00:22:34,019 --> 00:22:36,820 While matt's passion was playing hockey, 523 00:22:36,822 --> 00:22:39,656 Holly's was coaching little league baseball. 524 00:22:39,725 --> 00:22:42,659 She threw herself into it after matt's death. 525 00:22:42,728 --> 00:22:46,197 Baseball is how rebecca vega met holly. 526 00:22:46,265 --> 00:22:48,132 - Our kids were in little league together 527 00:22:48,134 --> 00:22:49,534 At that time. 528 00:22:49,602 --> 00:22:53,537 - That was the spring of 2006 before matt died. 529 00:22:53,606 --> 00:22:56,074 Their oldest girls were school classmates 530 00:22:56,141 --> 00:22:58,843 And sports teammates. And holly-- 531 00:22:58,911 --> 00:23:01,745 - She was, um, friendly in a way 532 00:23:01,747 --> 00:23:03,881 That was intoxicating, I guess. 533 00:23:03,949 --> 00:23:06,217 So, it was like an intoxicating friendliness. 534 00:23:06,285 --> 00:23:07,484 - You just wanted to be around her. 535 00:23:07,553 --> 00:23:11,088 - You did. You did. You wanted to be around her. 536 00:23:11,157 --> 00:23:16,026 - Being around holly was how rebecca met matt actually. 537 00:23:16,028 --> 00:23:19,497 And then one day matt tagged along with holly 538 00:23:19,499 --> 00:23:21,698 To one of the kid's tee-ball games. 539 00:23:21,767 --> 00:23:23,501 He was already sick by that time, 540 00:23:23,503 --> 00:23:26,236 Though nobody knew yet how sick. 541 00:23:26,305 --> 00:23:28,839 He was sitting under this tree all alone, 542 00:23:28,841 --> 00:23:30,908 Said rebecca, watching the game. 543 00:23:30,977 --> 00:23:32,243 - You could tell he didn't feel well. 544 00:23:32,311 --> 00:23:34,578 You could tell that he was in pain. 545 00:23:34,647 --> 00:23:36,447 He shifted in the chair quite often. 546 00:23:36,515 --> 00:23:39,783 - And four days later, matt was dead. 547 00:23:39,852 --> 00:23:42,186 After the funeral, rebecca tried 548 00:23:42,188 --> 00:23:44,788 To comfort holly and help with the kids. 549 00:23:44,857 --> 00:23:46,657 - If she needed help with the children-- 550 00:23:46,726 --> 00:23:50,060 If the children needed something, um, yeah. 551 00:23:50,062 --> 00:23:52,663 It was just to-to kind of help her. 552 00:23:52,732 --> 00:23:56,100 - When the coroner's report came out and shocked everybody, 553 00:23:56,102 --> 00:23:59,436 Holly told rebecca of course right away. 554 00:23:59,505 --> 00:24:00,604 What did you think when you heard that 555 00:24:00,673 --> 00:24:03,073 He died of antifreeze poisoning? 556 00:24:03,142 --> 00:24:05,142 - It kind of put the mystery of, 557 00:24:05,211 --> 00:24:08,479 "how does a healthy 31 year old actually pass suddenly?" 558 00:24:08,547 --> 00:24:11,382 You know, he was poisoned. 559 00:24:11,384 --> 00:24:14,552 - But who would want to poison matt podolak? 560 00:24:14,620 --> 00:24:16,820 Just a regular guy. No enemies. 561 00:24:16,889 --> 00:24:19,089 No known enemies, anyway. 562 00:24:19,158 --> 00:24:21,325 Holly told rebecca that police didn't seem 563 00:24:21,393 --> 00:24:23,194 To be doing anything to find out, 564 00:24:23,262 --> 00:24:26,030 But that she had some leads of her own. 565 00:24:26,098 --> 00:24:28,299 - And she suspected somebody at work. 566 00:24:28,367 --> 00:24:31,568 - She had suspected some-- somebody at work. 567 00:24:31,637 --> 00:24:35,706 - And eventually she told rebecca the police did too. 568 00:24:35,708 --> 00:24:38,642 - They thought that somebody poisoned him at-at work. 569 00:24:38,644 --> 00:24:40,711 The word poison just kept coming up. 570 00:24:40,780 --> 00:24:43,714 - Sister chrissy heard the rumors too. 571 00:24:43,716 --> 00:24:45,515 - Why would they do such a thing? 572 00:24:45,585 --> 00:24:47,786 - There were some people at his job 573 00:24:47,853 --> 00:24:50,722 That may have not liked him. 574 00:24:50,789 --> 00:24:52,789 It was his uncle's company 575 00:24:52,858 --> 00:24:55,993 And, um, people I think were a little jealous. 576 00:24:56,061 --> 00:24:58,595 He was supposed to get a promotion 577 00:24:58,664 --> 00:25:01,331 And I think there were some people that-- 578 00:25:01,333 --> 00:25:03,668 - Didn't think he deserved it. - Didn't think he deserved it. 579 00:25:03,736 --> 00:25:06,471 - Increasingly, holly and members of her family 580 00:25:06,539 --> 00:25:09,873 Became all but convinced that somebody at work 581 00:25:09,875 --> 00:25:12,477 Found a way to put antifreeze 582 00:25:12,545 --> 00:25:15,879 Into, uh, matt's drink or something. 583 00:25:15,881 --> 00:25:19,483 And if that phrase in the coroner's report was true, 584 00:25:19,485 --> 00:25:21,953 Chronic ethylene glycol intoxication, 585 00:25:22,021 --> 00:25:25,489 That somebody would've done it several times. 586 00:25:25,558 --> 00:25:28,492 But one person who wasn't buying that theory 587 00:25:28,561 --> 00:25:30,528 Was matt's brother mark. 588 00:25:30,596 --> 00:25:31,795 - He didn't have any enemies. 589 00:25:31,864 --> 00:25:34,298 - Matt had worked his way up from the production line 590 00:25:34,300 --> 00:25:36,567 To supervisor at the plant, said mark, 591 00:25:36,569 --> 00:25:38,435 And he was well liked by the people 592 00:25:38,437 --> 00:25:40,037 At phoenix industrial. 593 00:25:40,105 --> 00:25:42,606 - He wasn't this guy that was going around 594 00:25:42,675 --> 00:25:43,708 Picking fights with people. 595 00:25:43,776 --> 00:25:45,842 He was loved by his coworkers. 596 00:25:45,911 --> 00:25:48,645 - By then, solving the case of his brother's murder 597 00:25:48,714 --> 00:25:50,647 Had become mark's obsession. 598 00:25:50,716 --> 00:25:53,517 He collected stories from matt's factory coworkers, 599 00:25:53,586 --> 00:25:55,386 From the streets, from friends. 600 00:25:55,454 --> 00:25:57,854 He fumed when the official investigation 601 00:25:57,924 --> 00:25:59,856 Seemed to go nowhere. 602 00:25:59,858 --> 00:26:02,559 And then after three frustrating years, 603 00:26:02,628 --> 00:26:05,862 One small change that made a huge difference. 604 00:26:05,931 --> 00:26:09,067 A new supervisor in the cleveland homicide division 605 00:26:09,134 --> 00:26:10,802 Took over matt's case. 606 00:26:10,869 --> 00:26:15,073 His name: Detective sergeant mike quinn. 607 00:26:15,140 --> 00:26:16,541 So at the time, you took it over. 608 00:26:16,609 --> 00:26:17,941 - I took it over. - It was pushing three years. 609 00:26:17,943 --> 00:26:22,145 - Pushing three years and, uh, I reviewed the file. 610 00:26:22,214 --> 00:26:24,949 - With fresh eyes, quinn went over the case, 611 00:26:25,017 --> 00:26:27,884 Re-interviewed people who knew both matt and holly, 612 00:26:27,953 --> 00:26:29,419 And suddenly... 613 00:26:29,488 --> 00:26:31,188 - I felt a completely different sense 614 00:26:31,256 --> 00:26:32,489 Of what was happening. 615 00:26:32,558 --> 00:26:34,158 - Now, said mark, 616 00:26:34,226 --> 00:26:36,426 When he called with questions or suggestions, 617 00:26:36,496 --> 00:26:38,296 He felt like somebody was listening, 618 00:26:38,364 --> 00:26:39,696 Especially when he told him 619 00:26:39,765 --> 00:26:41,366 What he was hearing on the street. 620 00:26:41,433 --> 00:26:42,566 - I was trying-- 621 00:26:42,635 --> 00:26:44,168 Hey, maybe this is something that could help you. 622 00:26:44,236 --> 00:26:46,370 Maybe you should look into this. 623 00:26:46,372 --> 00:26:47,504 - You heard about things. 624 00:26:47,573 --> 00:26:51,041 - Absolutely, it was a really, um, close knit town, 625 00:26:51,043 --> 00:26:53,577 So people talked. There's chatter out there. 626 00:26:53,645 --> 00:26:57,447 - Strange how that chatter seemed to focus 627 00:26:57,449 --> 00:26:59,883 On one particular person. 628 00:27:02,722 --> 00:27:04,988 - A possible motive for murder. 629 00:27:05,057 --> 00:27:07,525 - She wrote checks, writing his name on the checks. 630 00:27:07,593 --> 00:27:08,792 Cleaned out the bank account. 631 00:27:08,861 --> 00:27:10,060 - What did that say to you? 632 00:27:10,129 --> 00:27:11,995 - Obviously a huge red flag. 633 00:27:12,064 --> 00:27:13,997 - In my mind, there was nobody else. 634 00:27:13,999 --> 00:27:17,001 There was no other way that it could have happened. 635 00:27:17,069 --> 00:27:19,336 How dare anybody do that to my little brother? 636 00:27:19,405 --> 00:27:22,573 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 637 00:27:31,482 --> 00:27:33,283 - Three years after matt podolak died 638 00:27:33,352 --> 00:27:34,818 Of antifreeze poisoning, 639 00:27:34,887 --> 00:27:36,821 Two families had sharply different theories 640 00:27:36,889 --> 00:27:38,088 About the cause. 641 00:27:38,157 --> 00:27:41,992 Matt's fiance holly, her whole family in fact, 642 00:27:41,994 --> 00:27:44,695 Suspected somebody at work had it out for him. 643 00:27:44,697 --> 00:27:48,565 But mark and his family were looking closer to home. 644 00:27:48,567 --> 00:27:49,701 How close? 645 00:27:49,768 --> 00:27:51,436 Let's put it this way. 646 00:27:51,503 --> 00:27:55,172 The two sides of the family weren't talking anymore. 647 00:27:55,241 --> 00:27:57,709 An already existing mistrust 648 00:27:57,776 --> 00:28:00,477 Ramped up that night in the hospital years before 649 00:28:00,546 --> 00:28:02,647 When matt was in the icu. 650 00:28:02,715 --> 00:28:05,883 That's when matt's brother mark began to wonder 651 00:28:05,951 --> 00:28:08,685 If holly was in some way responsible 652 00:28:08,754 --> 00:28:10,921 For matt's mystery illness. 653 00:28:10,990 --> 00:28:13,723 - My mom and I had a specific conversation. 654 00:28:13,793 --> 00:28:15,793 I remember it. She said, "you don't think 655 00:28:15,795 --> 00:28:17,461 She could've did this to him, do you?" 656 00:28:17,529 --> 00:28:21,198 And we kinda were like, I don't know, maybe. 657 00:28:21,267 --> 00:28:24,067 But at the time, we didn't know why he passed. 658 00:28:24,069 --> 00:28:26,137 - And then there was the funeral. 659 00:28:26,205 --> 00:28:28,672 Holly's family said she was very upset, 660 00:28:28,741 --> 00:28:30,741 Cried in the car before going in, 661 00:28:30,809 --> 00:28:34,211 But when sergeant quinn read the old case file, 662 00:28:34,213 --> 00:28:36,079 He found a curious statement 663 00:28:36,081 --> 00:28:38,482 From holly's friend rebecca vega. 664 00:28:38,484 --> 00:28:40,952 What sort of grief was this? 665 00:28:41,019 --> 00:28:43,220 - She was back and forth 666 00:28:43,289 --> 00:28:45,890 Talking to different individuals, 667 00:28:45,958 --> 00:28:48,358 Um, almost like a flirtatious-- 668 00:28:48,427 --> 00:28:50,761 That intoxicating friendliness that she had 669 00:28:50,763 --> 00:28:53,364 As if her fiance wasn't even laying there 670 00:28:53,432 --> 00:28:54,631 In front of everyone. 671 00:28:54,700 --> 00:28:55,699 - Talking to just everybody or-- 672 00:28:55,767 --> 00:28:59,236 Or was she concentrating on men or women or... 673 00:28:59,305 --> 00:29:00,838 - Mostly men. 674 00:29:00,906 --> 00:29:04,041 - Flirtatiously? - Flirtatious, mm-hm. 675 00:29:04,043 --> 00:29:06,243 - That's how she was, said matt's family. 676 00:29:06,311 --> 00:29:07,644 How she always was. 677 00:29:07,713 --> 00:29:10,447 At first friendly, magnetic even, 678 00:29:10,516 --> 00:29:12,850 But didn't stay that way for long. 679 00:29:12,852 --> 00:29:15,552 Later matt told him holly became controlling 680 00:29:15,621 --> 00:29:17,088 And demanding. 681 00:29:17,156 --> 00:29:19,589 Did he ever complain about his relationship? 682 00:29:19,658 --> 00:29:20,725 - Of course he did, yeah. 683 00:29:20,793 --> 00:29:22,326 He-he did. 684 00:29:22,394 --> 00:29:23,394 - What did he say? 685 00:29:23,462 --> 00:29:25,095 - "oh, she's nagging me," type thing. 686 00:29:25,097 --> 00:29:26,731 Um, "she's yelling at me. 687 00:29:26,799 --> 00:29:29,666 She's calling me all the time. She's doing all this stuff." 688 00:29:29,735 --> 00:29:31,668 There were some incidents that happened. 689 00:29:31,737 --> 00:29:35,205 Sometimes where they had to, um, have police show up. 690 00:29:35,274 --> 00:29:37,942 - Matt's protective big brother called it downright nasty 691 00:29:38,010 --> 00:29:39,342 The way she treated him. 692 00:29:39,411 --> 00:29:40,744 Said so, too. 693 00:29:40,812 --> 00:29:44,214 - It's not worth the heartache to keep going through this. 694 00:29:44,283 --> 00:29:45,883 He was afraid that he wouldn't see his kids 695 00:29:45,885 --> 00:29:46,884 If they were apart. 696 00:29:46,952 --> 00:29:48,885 - And now he was dead 697 00:29:48,954 --> 00:29:52,522 And his family was raw with suspicion. 698 00:29:52,524 --> 00:29:54,958 When they went to collect some of matt's personal effects, 699 00:29:55,027 --> 00:29:57,761 Like his computer, they told sergeant quinn, 700 00:29:57,829 --> 00:30:00,030 Holly told them she no longer had it, 701 00:30:00,098 --> 00:30:02,233 That the hard drive was being fixed, 702 00:30:02,301 --> 00:30:04,835 Which sounded fishy to the detective. 703 00:30:04,903 --> 00:30:07,304 - Was this any effort to destroy evidence? 704 00:30:07,373 --> 00:30:10,440 - That's what most people do when they get rid of a computer 705 00:30:10,509 --> 00:30:13,777 And, uh, that may have been connected with the crime. 706 00:30:13,779 --> 00:30:15,913 They're going to get rid of it. 707 00:30:15,981 --> 00:30:19,249 - Not evidence really, but suggestive. 708 00:30:19,318 --> 00:30:21,152 Like when, according to them, 709 00:30:21,220 --> 00:30:22,919 Holly said right after matt died 710 00:30:22,988 --> 00:30:24,522 He wanted to be cremated, 711 00:30:24,590 --> 00:30:28,124 An idea matt's family quickly shot down. 712 00:30:28,193 --> 00:30:30,394 Still, why would she have said that? 713 00:30:30,462 --> 00:30:32,530 And then they said when they asked her 714 00:30:32,598 --> 00:30:34,397 For his clothes and other effects, 715 00:30:34,466 --> 00:30:36,801 She told them she'd already gotten rid of them. 716 00:30:36,869 --> 00:30:40,271 It was as if she wanted to erase matt from her life. 717 00:30:40,339 --> 00:30:42,138 Was there anything left to this guy at all 718 00:30:42,207 --> 00:30:43,608 In her house? 719 00:30:43,675 --> 00:30:45,475 - Not that I'm aware of. Not too much. 720 00:30:45,544 --> 00:30:48,445 - Then there was the business about the money. 721 00:30:48,447 --> 00:30:51,082 A big deal of that, said detective quinn. 722 00:30:51,149 --> 00:30:52,382 - She went to the atm machine 723 00:30:52,452 --> 00:30:55,085 And used his card the day after his death. 724 00:30:55,154 --> 00:30:57,020 Two days later she wrote checks, 725 00:30:57,089 --> 00:30:59,022 Writing his name on the checks. 726 00:30:59,091 --> 00:31:02,092 Cleaned out the bank account and left one penny in it. 727 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:04,628 - Wow, well, what did that say to you? 728 00:31:04,696 --> 00:31:06,897 - Obviously a huge red flag. 729 00:31:06,965 --> 00:31:08,632 - It was a measure of the suspicion, 730 00:31:08,634 --> 00:31:09,699 The broken trust, 731 00:31:09,701 --> 00:31:12,369 That matt's mother, in charge of his estate, 732 00:31:12,371 --> 00:31:14,504 Reported holly to the police. 733 00:31:14,506 --> 00:31:16,340 Holly was arrested and charged with theft 734 00:31:16,408 --> 00:31:18,009 And two counts of forgery. 735 00:31:18,076 --> 00:31:19,709 She'd agreed to make restitution 736 00:31:19,711 --> 00:31:21,778 And was put on probation for a year. 737 00:31:21,780 --> 00:31:24,581 In return, prosecutors dropped the charges. 738 00:31:24,650 --> 00:31:26,516 What happened to her? What was the sentence? 739 00:31:26,518 --> 00:31:28,518 - She was given a first time offenders program, 740 00:31:28,587 --> 00:31:30,253 So she didn't do any jail time. 741 00:31:30,322 --> 00:31:32,323 - Then there was the life insurance. 742 00:31:32,391 --> 00:31:34,858 It wasn't much, including matt's 401k 743 00:31:34,927 --> 00:31:37,594 It amounted to just $15,000, 744 00:31:37,663 --> 00:31:41,431 But here's what made matt's brother mark suspicious. 745 00:31:41,500 --> 00:31:44,935 - My brother was talking about a couple days before, 746 00:31:45,003 --> 00:31:46,937 "we're moving her from a life insurance policy. 747 00:31:46,939 --> 00:31:49,806 "we're moving her from a-- as a beneficiary 748 00:31:49,875 --> 00:31:52,275 Of-of the policies and the 401k." 749 00:31:52,277 --> 00:31:54,278 Uh, and that's how serious it was getting. 750 00:31:54,346 --> 00:31:58,415 - And so, when holly actually got $10,000 of that insurance, 751 00:31:58,483 --> 00:32:00,884 It seemed to mark to confirm what he had been thinking 752 00:32:00,953 --> 00:32:02,220 Since the beginning. 753 00:32:02,287 --> 00:32:04,021 She must have killed him. 754 00:32:04,023 --> 00:32:05,856 - In my mind, there was nobody else. 755 00:32:05,925 --> 00:32:09,025 There was no other way that it could have happened. 756 00:32:09,094 --> 00:32:10,427 None. 757 00:32:10,429 --> 00:32:12,429 - So, the first reaction is the shock. 758 00:32:12,497 --> 00:32:14,232 What's the second reaction? 759 00:32:14,299 --> 00:32:17,301 - Anger and then sadness. 760 00:32:17,369 --> 00:32:19,636 How dare anybody do that to my little brother? 761 00:32:19,705 --> 00:32:21,171 How dare they? 762 00:32:21,239 --> 00:32:24,441 - But really, $10,000 in life insurance? 763 00:32:24,443 --> 00:32:27,177 A motive for murdering the father of your children? 764 00:32:27,246 --> 00:32:28,646 What did you think when you heard that? 765 00:32:28,714 --> 00:32:31,181 I mean, this was a fairly serious allegation, right? 766 00:32:31,250 --> 00:32:32,650 - I thought it was ridiculous 767 00:32:32,718 --> 00:32:36,186 That somebody would actually think that. 768 00:32:36,254 --> 00:32:37,287 - Ah, yes. 769 00:32:37,356 --> 00:32:39,656 Holly and her family heard all the whispers. 770 00:32:39,725 --> 00:32:42,292 They knew all about the podolak suspicions, 771 00:32:42,294 --> 00:32:45,128 Which were, they said, absolutely baseless. 772 00:32:45,197 --> 00:32:47,163 That business about stealing money 773 00:32:47,232 --> 00:32:48,999 From the bank account for example? 774 00:32:49,067 --> 00:32:51,469 Did she understand that she was breaking the law 775 00:32:51,536 --> 00:32:53,870 When she did this? - No, absolutely not. 776 00:32:53,939 --> 00:32:57,540 She was thinking that she had to take care 777 00:32:57,609 --> 00:32:59,676 Of her children and his. 778 00:32:59,745 --> 00:33:01,945 What else was she supposed to do? 779 00:33:01,947 --> 00:33:03,947 - And as for getting rid of his stuff, 780 00:33:04,016 --> 00:33:07,752 Erasing him from her life-- - that's not true at all. 781 00:33:07,819 --> 00:33:09,552 As a matter of fact, she still has some of-- 782 00:33:09,621 --> 00:33:12,423 A-a lot of matt's shirts, that she actually wears. 783 00:33:12,491 --> 00:33:13,624 ♪♪ 784 00:33:13,692 --> 00:33:17,427 - But quietly, four years after matt's death, 785 00:33:17,496 --> 00:33:20,964 Sergeant quinn collected the stories he heard. 786 00:33:21,033 --> 00:33:23,768 But there was one story he hadn't heard. 787 00:33:23,835 --> 00:33:25,869 Nobody had. 788 00:33:25,938 --> 00:33:27,804 Holly's story. 789 00:33:30,075 --> 00:33:31,841 - Holly is invited downtown 790 00:33:31,910 --> 00:33:34,044 For a little chat with detectives. 791 00:33:45,524 --> 00:33:48,358 When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 792 00:33:52,296 --> 00:33:56,800 ♪♪ 793 00:33:56,802 --> 00:33:57,600 - Welcome back. 794 00:33:57,669 --> 00:33:59,803 Matt podolak and holly mcfeeture 795 00:33:59,871 --> 00:34:03,807 Were in love, engaged, and had two children together. 796 00:34:03,875 --> 00:34:06,676 But when matt's life was mysteriously cut short, 797 00:34:06,745 --> 00:34:09,547 His family became suspicious of holly. 798 00:34:09,614 --> 00:34:13,017 Could it be that she was hiding a dark secret? 799 00:34:13,085 --> 00:34:16,487 Detective sergeant mike quinn, now about to question holly 800 00:34:16,555 --> 00:34:19,556 For the first time, planned to find out. 801 00:34:19,625 --> 00:34:22,592 Back to keith morrison with "manner of death." 802 00:34:25,764 --> 00:34:27,564 - Four years after matt podolak's death 803 00:34:27,633 --> 00:34:30,567 By antifreeze poisoning, the machinery of justice 804 00:34:30,635 --> 00:34:34,105 Was coughing and sputtering to life and pointing... 805 00:34:34,172 --> 00:34:35,772 At her. 806 00:34:35,774 --> 00:34:38,241 Matt's fiance and the mother of his children, 807 00:34:38,310 --> 00:34:40,244 Holly mcfeeture. 808 00:34:40,312 --> 00:34:43,313 - Holly mcfeeture was a suspect from day one. 809 00:34:43,382 --> 00:34:44,848 - Prosecutors were appointed. 810 00:34:44,850 --> 00:34:47,383 Brian mcdonough and allison foy, 811 00:34:47,452 --> 00:34:49,386 Though they were soon frustrated. 812 00:34:49,388 --> 00:34:51,521 - But we were missing-- missing pieces, 813 00:34:51,523 --> 00:34:54,057 Missing critical links on the case. 814 00:34:54,125 --> 00:34:57,595 - Evidence already collected was maddeningly inconclusive. 815 00:34:57,662 --> 00:34:58,662 For example, 816 00:34:58,730 --> 00:35:01,531 Detectives recovered two bottles of antifreeze 817 00:35:01,600 --> 00:35:03,867 In the garage where holly and matt lived. 818 00:35:03,935 --> 00:35:06,936 But it turned out somebody else had been living in the house 819 00:35:07,005 --> 00:35:09,973 For more than a year by the time they found it. 820 00:35:10,041 --> 00:35:12,609 Whose antifreeze was it? Nobody knew. 821 00:35:12,611 --> 00:35:14,744 - But still, was there a way that we could go ahead 822 00:35:14,813 --> 00:35:16,412 And link it up? 823 00:35:16,481 --> 00:35:18,147 - Nope. Just confirmed, 824 00:35:18,217 --> 00:35:21,151 The garage antifreeze didn't match the antifreeze 825 00:35:21,153 --> 00:35:22,886 That killed matt. 826 00:35:22,888 --> 00:35:25,688 But remember holly's friend, rebecca vega? 827 00:35:25,757 --> 00:35:29,292 Detective quinn found her name in the old file, called her up, 828 00:35:29,294 --> 00:35:31,761 And discovered that after matt died, 829 00:35:31,830 --> 00:35:34,998 She spent practically every day with holly. 830 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:36,633 And here's where detective quinn's eyes 831 00:35:36,635 --> 00:35:38,635 Really opened wide. 832 00:35:38,703 --> 00:35:42,505 Rebecca told him that one day, she was at holly's house 833 00:35:42,507 --> 00:35:46,109 When she noticed some odd-looking jugs of chemicals 834 00:35:46,177 --> 00:35:47,710 In holly's kitchen. 835 00:35:47,779 --> 00:35:50,581 - She had said that, uh, it was antifreeze, 836 00:35:50,649 --> 00:35:53,983 And that it was, uh, to winterize matt's boat. 837 00:35:54,052 --> 00:35:56,053 - Did you ask why they were there? 838 00:35:56,121 --> 00:35:57,388 - I mean, besides-- - yeah, I-- 839 00:35:57,455 --> 00:35:58,655 - ...Fixing the boats, but-- 840 00:35:58,723 --> 00:36:00,724 - I thought, "well, it's in the kitchen. 841 00:36:00,792 --> 00:36:02,058 "the boat's outside," you know? 842 00:36:02,127 --> 00:36:05,195 And why would antifreeze be in a kitchen? 843 00:36:05,197 --> 00:36:07,797 - And then there was the time she, rebecca, 844 00:36:07,866 --> 00:36:09,332 Was complaining about her husband, 845 00:36:09,401 --> 00:36:11,201 And holly said... 846 00:36:11,269 --> 00:36:14,270 - "I can get rid of him." [scoffing] 847 00:36:14,339 --> 00:36:16,739 - I can get rid of him? - I can get rid of him. 848 00:36:16,808 --> 00:36:19,410 And I kind of thought, "oh, that was kinda..." 849 00:36:19,477 --> 00:36:21,311 Kinda joked about it and I laughed. 850 00:36:21,313 --> 00:36:25,749 But she actually backed up that, uh, statement with 851 00:36:25,751 --> 00:36:28,151 "well, you could work, and we could just move 852 00:36:28,219 --> 00:36:29,887 "into your house." 853 00:36:31,356 --> 00:36:33,489 - Weird, as she looked back on that. 854 00:36:33,558 --> 00:36:36,092 So once she heard about the coroner's report, 855 00:36:36,161 --> 00:36:38,428 And the podolak family suspicions, 856 00:36:38,430 --> 00:36:40,630 She cut off all contact with holly, 857 00:36:40,699 --> 00:36:43,433 Ended the friendship without saying why. 858 00:36:43,502 --> 00:36:46,836 - I had thought to myself, I had exposed my family 859 00:36:46,838 --> 00:36:48,305 To murder. 860 00:36:48,307 --> 00:36:50,907 - She seemed to me like she believed that, uh, 861 00:36:50,976 --> 00:36:52,576 That holly poisoned matthew. 862 00:36:52,644 --> 00:36:54,444 - Was she a little freaked-out by this? 863 00:36:54,512 --> 00:36:57,947 - She stated that she was afraid of holly. 864 00:36:57,949 --> 00:37:01,651 - So quinn kept an eagle eye on holly mcfeeture. 865 00:37:01,653 --> 00:37:06,656 And one day, he heard about holly and the karaoke bar. 866 00:37:06,725 --> 00:37:09,726 - Holly and her sister were singing a song 867 00:37:09,795 --> 00:37:11,728 By the dixie chicks. 868 00:37:11,797 --> 00:37:15,265 It's a song about a, uh, an abused woman 869 00:37:15,333 --> 00:37:18,735 In a relationship with a man, who, uh, 870 00:37:18,803 --> 00:37:22,171 To get back at the man, ends up poisoning his food, 871 00:37:22,240 --> 00:37:24,141 And, uh, they were up there singin' the song 872 00:37:24,209 --> 00:37:26,609 And laughin' about it. 873 00:37:26,611 --> 00:37:28,279 This was after matthew's death. 874 00:37:28,346 --> 00:37:30,413 I thought it was really cold-blooded 875 00:37:30,482 --> 00:37:32,416 When I heard about it. 876 00:37:32,484 --> 00:37:35,885 - That was 2010, four years after matt's death, 877 00:37:35,954 --> 00:37:40,223 The same year sergeant quinn received a big gift. 878 00:37:40,291 --> 00:37:43,426 Maybe it was the fact prosecutors were appointed. 879 00:37:43,428 --> 00:37:46,062 Maybe it was sergeant quinn's investigation. 880 00:37:46,131 --> 00:37:48,331 Maybe it was the karaoke. 881 00:37:48,333 --> 00:37:51,634 Whatever it was, that's when the coroner changed his ruling 882 00:37:51,703 --> 00:37:56,305 On matt's manner of death from undetermined to homicide. 883 00:37:56,375 --> 00:37:59,375 And with that little bureaucratic stroke of the pen, 884 00:37:59,444 --> 00:38:01,111 Everything changed. 885 00:38:01,179 --> 00:38:02,445 - You can see that, uh-- 886 00:38:02,514 --> 00:38:05,848 - Thing one: For the very first time, holly was invited 887 00:38:05,917 --> 00:38:08,652 To the police station to give a formal statement. 888 00:38:17,529 --> 00:38:21,130 Chewing gum, looking casual, holly came in without a lawyer, 889 00:38:21,199 --> 00:38:23,400 And was read her miranda rights. 890 00:38:36,681 --> 00:38:39,750 So, what would she say about her relationship with matt? 891 00:38:51,763 --> 00:38:54,097 Holly said it happened when she had a male friend 892 00:38:54,165 --> 00:38:56,200 Over at their house. 893 00:39:07,479 --> 00:39:10,313 She told them if they really wanted to solve the mystery, 894 00:39:10,381 --> 00:39:13,651 They should look for answers at matt's factory. 895 00:39:36,475 --> 00:39:39,676 And remember the $10,000 in life insurance bandied about 896 00:39:39,678 --> 00:39:42,145 As a possible motive for murder? 897 00:39:42,213 --> 00:39:45,214 Holly said she didn't know there was life insurance 898 00:39:45,283 --> 00:39:48,485 Until after matt was dead. 899 00:40:04,235 --> 00:40:08,004 But how about that night in the karaoke bar? 900 00:40:32,397 --> 00:40:34,730 Over and over, the detectives challenged holly 901 00:40:34,799 --> 00:40:37,300 With the accusing question. 902 00:41:07,098 --> 00:41:08,698 Holly protested. 903 00:41:08,766 --> 00:41:11,835 None of this made sense, she said. 904 00:41:33,592 --> 00:41:35,525 And with that, detectives thanked her 905 00:41:35,593 --> 00:41:38,194 For coming in, and sent her on her way. 906 00:41:38,263 --> 00:41:40,263 With a warning that most likely, 907 00:41:40,331 --> 00:41:42,699 She'd be indicted. 908 00:41:45,537 --> 00:41:47,471 That was late September, 2010. 909 00:41:47,539 --> 00:41:49,873 But holly wasn't indicted. 910 00:41:49,941 --> 00:41:53,409 Not that year, not the next year either. 911 00:41:53,478 --> 00:41:56,379 But something strange happened in 2011. 912 00:41:56,381 --> 00:41:59,549 Holly answered her phone and found herself talking 913 00:41:59,551 --> 00:42:03,820 To a guy she dated briefly, after matt died. 914 00:42:03,822 --> 00:42:06,824 - Do you remember what you told me about the drinks? 915 00:42:06,891 --> 00:42:09,959 - Do you hear the trap snapping shut? 916 00:42:11,963 --> 00:42:14,764 - Police and prosecutors think they've hit pay dirt 917 00:42:14,832 --> 00:42:16,300 With the new witness. 918 00:42:16,367 --> 00:42:20,970 - He claimed to have heard holly mcfeeture confess 919 00:42:21,039 --> 00:42:26,043 By saying she put something in this drinks. 920 00:42:26,110 --> 00:42:29,178 - But is that enough to take this case to court? 921 00:42:29,180 --> 00:42:31,914 - The details of the case are very salacious. 922 00:42:31,983 --> 00:42:34,985 There's sex, there's the allegation 923 00:42:35,053 --> 00:42:37,120 Of poisoning, it's very interesting, 924 00:42:37,188 --> 00:42:39,455 But that doesn't make it necessarily 925 00:42:39,457 --> 00:42:41,558 A dead-bang winner for trial. 926 00:42:41,626 --> 00:42:44,928 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 927 00:42:48,233 --> 00:42:52,802 ♪♪ 928 00:42:52,870 --> 00:42:55,272 - Welcome back to "dateline: Secrets uncovered." 929 00:42:55,340 --> 00:42:58,341 I'm kate snow. It was all very strange, 930 00:42:58,409 --> 00:42:59,943 If not suspicious. 931 00:43:00,011 --> 00:43:03,145 A healthy 31-year-old man mysteriously dead 932 00:43:03,214 --> 00:43:05,282 From antifreeze poisoning. 933 00:43:05,350 --> 00:43:08,085 The manner of death was initially ruled undetermined 934 00:43:08,152 --> 00:43:10,888 By the coroner, then changed to homicide 935 00:43:10,955 --> 00:43:12,221 Four years later. 936 00:43:12,290 --> 00:43:14,290 More time passed without an arrest, 937 00:43:14,359 --> 00:43:16,559 But police seemed to be zeroing in 938 00:43:16,561 --> 00:43:19,695 On the victim's fiance, holly mcfeeture. 939 00:43:19,764 --> 00:43:23,099 Now, someone from holly's past was about to reveal 940 00:43:23,101 --> 00:43:26,035 What he knew. Once again, here's keith morrison 941 00:43:26,104 --> 00:43:28,004 With "manner of death." 942 00:43:31,909 --> 00:43:35,244 - In the summer of 2011, five years gone, 943 00:43:35,313 --> 00:43:39,115 Matt podolak's death was still an unsolved mystery. 944 00:43:39,117 --> 00:43:43,119 All that time, mark podolak had neglected his own life 945 00:43:43,187 --> 00:43:46,055 In his quest to prove holly was the killer. 946 00:43:46,057 --> 00:43:49,793 - I know that my relationships with my friends suffered. 947 00:43:49,861 --> 00:43:52,662 Ultimately it led to me gettin' divorced. 948 00:43:52,664 --> 00:43:54,463 It was destructive on a lot of levels, 949 00:43:54,465 --> 00:43:58,134 'cause you focus so much on a certain... 950 00:43:58,203 --> 00:44:02,138 Goal, a certain mission. - You're so damn angry, huh? 951 00:44:02,206 --> 00:44:03,606 - And I'm angry. 952 00:44:03,675 --> 00:44:06,742 - Even angrier now, if that was possible. 953 00:44:06,811 --> 00:44:08,477 Because there had been a change. 954 00:44:08,546 --> 00:44:12,548 The case was reclassified as a homicide. 955 00:44:12,617 --> 00:44:13,884 But holly was living her life, 956 00:44:13,951 --> 00:44:16,552 Free, no charges filed. 957 00:44:16,621 --> 00:44:18,154 - I became extremely frustrated. 958 00:44:18,223 --> 00:44:19,722 I'm not gonna lie. 959 00:44:19,724 --> 00:44:21,024 - So frustrated 960 00:44:21,092 --> 00:44:23,694 He sent a message to "dateline" on facebook, 961 00:44:23,761 --> 00:44:26,896 Asking us to look into his brother's death. 962 00:44:26,898 --> 00:44:29,565 Holly and her family, meanwhile, 963 00:44:29,567 --> 00:44:32,102 Were waiting to see if the hammer would fall. 964 00:44:32,170 --> 00:44:35,571 - I can't tell you how many times she's cried, 965 00:44:35,573 --> 00:44:38,307 Knowing that people are saying, you know, 966 00:44:38,376 --> 00:44:39,709 That she's a murderer, 967 00:44:39,711 --> 00:44:43,179 And that this loving mom and softball coach 968 00:44:43,181 --> 00:44:47,450 Can kill a man that she loved. 969 00:44:47,452 --> 00:44:48,651 - But day by day, 970 00:44:48,719 --> 00:44:51,520 Sergeant mike quinn was closing in on holly, 971 00:44:51,589 --> 00:44:52,956 Just one more big thing, 972 00:44:53,024 --> 00:44:54,557 One more solid piece of evidence 973 00:44:54,626 --> 00:44:57,526 All he needed. And maybe, 974 00:44:57,595 --> 00:44:59,396 He and the prosecutors decided, 975 00:44:59,464 --> 00:45:02,631 Maybe a jailbird could provide it. 976 00:45:02,700 --> 00:45:05,601 Holly briefly dated a man named jamison kennedy 977 00:45:05,670 --> 00:45:08,004 A year or so after matt died. 978 00:45:08,006 --> 00:45:09,872 And according to kennedy, 979 00:45:09,941 --> 00:45:12,608 During a wine and sex driven evening, 980 00:45:12,677 --> 00:45:16,079 Holly made some kind of confession. 981 00:45:16,147 --> 00:45:19,882 This, thought the prosecutors, was gold. 982 00:45:19,951 --> 00:45:22,084 What did he claim he heard? 983 00:45:22,153 --> 00:45:23,954 - He claimed to have heard 984 00:45:24,021 --> 00:45:28,225 Holly mcfeeture confess by saying 985 00:45:28,292 --> 00:45:31,428 She put something in his drinks. 986 00:45:31,496 --> 00:45:33,296 - Then-prosecutor brian mcdonough. 987 00:45:33,364 --> 00:45:36,832 - And that she wanted to stop, but that his kidneys had failed. 988 00:45:36,901 --> 00:45:40,836 And that was compelling evidence. 989 00:45:40,905 --> 00:45:42,505 - But always something. 990 00:45:42,573 --> 00:45:45,508 Mr. Kennedy was not exactly the local church pastor. 991 00:45:45,510 --> 00:45:48,077 His rap sheet was longer than a Sunday sermon. 992 00:45:48,146 --> 00:45:49,179 In fact, when he came up 993 00:45:49,247 --> 00:45:51,347 With that little offering about holly, 994 00:45:51,415 --> 00:45:54,116 He was in county jail under arrest 995 00:45:54,185 --> 00:45:56,119 For beating up some cops. 996 00:45:56,187 --> 00:45:59,322 So a snitch. 997 00:45:59,390 --> 00:46:00,456 - As a prosecutor, 998 00:46:00,525 --> 00:46:02,758 We don't like informants. 999 00:46:02,827 --> 00:46:05,595 But what was so compelling about his testimony 1000 00:46:05,663 --> 00:46:09,332 Was that he was the only person to have that knowledge. 1001 00:46:09,400 --> 00:46:11,000 - How would he have that knowledge in the first-- 1002 00:46:11,002 --> 00:46:13,002 Where would he-- how would he hear that? 1003 00:46:13,004 --> 00:46:16,806 - He heard that from her lips to his ears. 1004 00:46:16,808 --> 00:46:20,142 - But how could they possibly prove it? 1005 00:46:20,211 --> 00:46:23,180 One possible way, sneaky, 1006 00:46:23,247 --> 00:46:25,614 But it might work. [phone ringing] 1007 00:46:25,683 --> 00:46:27,283 They set up a phone call. 1008 00:46:27,285 --> 00:46:30,220 Kennedy in prison called holly, 1009 00:46:30,288 --> 00:46:32,521 And they turned on a tape recorder. 1010 00:46:38,296 --> 00:46:40,830 Sometimes these things work, sometimes they don't. 1011 00:46:40,899 --> 00:46:42,131 - So what's going on with you? 1012 00:46:42,200 --> 00:46:44,767 - Just how it is with investigations of this sort. 1013 00:46:44,836 --> 00:46:47,303 Suffice to say the call wasn't everything 1014 00:46:47,371 --> 00:46:48,704 They'd hoped it would be. 1015 00:46:48,773 --> 00:46:51,173 So here they were at a kind of crossroads. 1016 00:46:51,175 --> 00:46:53,909 Should they go forward or finally drop it? 1017 00:46:53,978 --> 00:46:56,712 The evidence? The story of a jailhouse snitch 1018 00:46:56,781 --> 00:46:58,582 With multiple felony convictions, 1019 00:46:58,649 --> 00:47:00,249 Never an easy sell, 1020 00:47:00,318 --> 00:47:02,785 An ex-friend whose talk of antifreeze in the house 1021 00:47:02,787 --> 00:47:05,122 And offers to get rid of her husband 1022 00:47:05,189 --> 00:47:07,723 Might've been real or imagined, 1023 00:47:07,792 --> 00:47:10,327 A financial motive that at most might've amounted 1024 00:47:10,394 --> 00:47:13,130 To a paltry 15 grand, 1025 00:47:13,197 --> 00:47:15,664 And a bit of dixie chicks karaoke, 1026 00:47:15,666 --> 00:47:17,399 The performance of which 1027 00:47:17,468 --> 00:47:18,935 May have been monstrously cruel 1028 00:47:18,937 --> 00:47:20,736 Or perfectly innocent. 1029 00:47:20,805 --> 00:47:23,873 Still, who else could have done it? 1030 00:47:23,875 --> 00:47:26,576 - The details of the case are very salacious. 1031 00:47:26,644 --> 00:47:28,344 - Then-prosecutor alison foy. 1032 00:47:28,413 --> 00:47:30,746 - There's sex, 1033 00:47:30,815 --> 00:47:33,082 There's the allegation of poisoning. 1034 00:47:33,150 --> 00:47:35,017 It's very interesting, and it's certainly enough 1035 00:47:35,086 --> 00:47:37,554 To keep anyone's attention. 1036 00:47:37,622 --> 00:47:40,957 But that doesn't make it necessarily a strong case 1037 00:47:40,959 --> 00:47:44,360 Or a dead-bang winner for trial. 1038 00:47:44,428 --> 00:47:47,363 - And so the prosecutors consulted mark and his family. 1039 00:47:47,431 --> 00:47:51,434 They were all committed now, all emotionally attached, 1040 00:47:51,502 --> 00:47:53,236 That the family should decide. 1041 00:47:53,304 --> 00:47:55,905 - We all agreed that we wanted to go with it. 1042 00:47:55,973 --> 00:47:57,440 We've suffered long enough. 1043 00:47:57,508 --> 00:48:00,911 - Case number 564265, 1044 00:48:00,978 --> 00:48:02,512 Holly mcfeeture. 1045 00:48:02,580 --> 00:48:04,913 - So in 2012, 1046 00:48:04,983 --> 00:48:07,584 Six years after matt podolak's death, 1047 00:48:07,652 --> 00:48:10,786 Holly mcfeeture was indicted for aggravated murder 1048 00:48:10,855 --> 00:48:14,123 And contaminating a substance for human consumption. 1049 00:48:14,192 --> 00:48:15,458 From her mug shot, it didn't look like 1050 00:48:15,526 --> 00:48:17,660 She was too worried about the outcome of the case. 1051 00:48:17,662 --> 00:48:19,462 But this was serious. 1052 00:48:19,530 --> 00:48:23,399 Maximum sentence, life without parole. 1053 00:48:23,401 --> 00:48:25,801 Her attorney, bret jordan, applied for bail. 1054 00:48:25,803 --> 00:48:29,805 - She was scared. She missed her kids. 1055 00:48:29,807 --> 00:48:33,075 I would say probably in some state of shock at that point. 1056 00:48:33,144 --> 00:48:34,209 - The judge took a look 1057 00:48:34,278 --> 00:48:36,078 At the circumstantial case against her 1058 00:48:36,080 --> 00:48:38,281 And granted the bail request, 1059 00:48:38,349 --> 00:48:41,351 Half a million bond with an ankle bracelet. 1060 00:48:41,419 --> 00:48:44,286 But though the case was not the strongest, 1061 00:48:44,355 --> 00:48:46,288 There was publicity. 1062 00:48:46,358 --> 00:48:48,358 Antifreeze poisoning? 1063 00:48:48,426 --> 00:48:50,826 Holly was suddenly famous, 1064 00:48:50,895 --> 00:48:53,863 And not in a good way. 1065 00:48:53,931 --> 00:48:55,498 The old brooklyn little league 1066 00:48:55,566 --> 00:48:57,901 Told the once-beloved coach 1067 00:48:57,969 --> 00:49:00,236 She wasn't welcome anymore. 1068 00:49:00,238 --> 00:49:03,706 And holly mcfeeture prepared to defend her life in court. 1069 00:49:07,578 --> 00:49:10,045 - Iced tea spiked with antifreeze. 1070 00:49:10,114 --> 00:49:13,783 The prosecution's theory of how holly poisoned matt. 1071 00:49:13,851 --> 00:49:15,118 - You can't smell it, 1072 00:49:15,186 --> 00:49:17,053 And you can't see it in the tea. 1073 00:49:17,055 --> 00:49:19,254 He would have no way to know that it's coming. 1074 00:49:19,323 --> 00:49:22,091 It's so secretively done. 1075 00:49:22,160 --> 00:49:24,995 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 1076 00:49:28,231 --> 00:49:34,337 ♪♪ 1077 00:49:34,405 --> 00:49:35,805 - Seven years, 1078 00:49:35,873 --> 00:49:38,140 Seven years of pestering the investigators, 1079 00:49:38,209 --> 00:49:41,077 Seven years of brooding in the cemetery, 1080 00:49:41,079 --> 00:49:43,546 Seven years after the sudden, agonizing death 1081 00:49:43,614 --> 00:49:45,548 Of his kid brother, matt, 1082 00:49:45,616 --> 00:49:48,618 Mark podolak watched with grim satisfaction 1083 00:49:48,686 --> 00:49:51,554 As holly mcfeeture walked into the courtroom. 1084 00:49:51,622 --> 00:49:54,491 - I finally felt that we were gonna make this happen. 1085 00:49:54,558 --> 00:49:55,758 - Please rise. 1086 00:49:55,826 --> 00:49:57,493 - Mind you, the case against holly 1087 00:49:57,561 --> 00:49:59,296 Was possibly a reach. 1088 00:49:59,363 --> 00:50:02,765 No guarantees here, and mark knew it. 1089 00:50:02,833 --> 00:50:04,833 - I was extremely nervous. Oh, my gosh. 1090 00:50:04,835 --> 00:50:05,901 Being in that courtroom... 1091 00:50:05,903 --> 00:50:07,035 - And you don't know how it's gonna turn out. 1092 00:50:07,105 --> 00:50:09,505 - And I have no idea how it's gonna turn out. 1093 00:50:09,507 --> 00:50:12,841 - Truth was, the prosecution didn't have much to work with. 1094 00:50:12,910 --> 00:50:15,045 Without any hard evidence to pin on holly, 1095 00:50:15,112 --> 00:50:18,247 Their case boiled down to a process of elimination. 1096 00:50:18,316 --> 00:50:20,583 Someone did this to matt. 1097 00:50:20,585 --> 00:50:24,153 Who else could it have been other than his fiancee? 1098 00:50:25,556 --> 00:50:29,525 In this case, telling a story could be crucial, 1099 00:50:29,593 --> 00:50:32,262 Because there wasn't a whole lot else to do, right? 1100 00:50:32,329 --> 00:50:33,462 - Absolutely. 1101 00:50:33,531 --> 00:50:36,532 - Prosecutor brian mcdonough began his story 1102 00:50:36,534 --> 00:50:38,935 With the scene inside the hospital room 1103 00:50:39,003 --> 00:50:41,204 The night matt died. 1104 00:50:41,272 --> 00:50:45,407 - His body was shutting down. 1105 00:50:45,476 --> 00:50:49,812 His organs were systematically shut down. 1106 00:50:49,814 --> 00:50:52,214 - And then matt's father, glen podolak, 1107 00:50:52,283 --> 00:50:55,284 Described the horror of watching his son's final agony, 1108 00:50:55,286 --> 00:50:57,286 So much pain he couldn't talk 1109 00:50:57,354 --> 00:50:59,488 Except to ask for his children. 1110 00:50:59,557 --> 00:51:02,624 - He would say, "where little man, 1111 00:51:02,693 --> 00:51:06,161 And where's samantha?" 1112 00:51:06,230 --> 00:51:08,497 - A picture was passed around the courtroom, 1113 00:51:08,566 --> 00:51:12,034 Matt dead, lying on the autopsy table. 1114 00:51:12,103 --> 00:51:14,170 Mark began to cry. 1115 00:51:14,238 --> 00:51:17,306 Across the courtroom, so did holly. 1116 00:51:17,308 --> 00:51:19,842 And then coroner dan galita told that jury 1117 00:51:19,844 --> 00:51:22,077 What he found during his autopsy, 1118 00:51:22,146 --> 00:51:23,846 Discoveries that became the core 1119 00:51:23,848 --> 00:51:25,580 Of the case against holly. 1120 00:51:25,582 --> 00:51:29,318 - The cause of death was chronic intoxication 1121 00:51:29,320 --> 00:51:31,453 By ethylene glycol. 1122 00:51:31,522 --> 00:51:35,324 - Poisoned with antifreeze, very, very slowly. 1123 00:51:35,326 --> 00:51:38,393 He explained he'd found crystals in matt's heart and brain, 1124 00:51:38,462 --> 00:51:41,197 Having inched their deadly way through his body, 1125 00:51:41,199 --> 00:51:43,732 Kidneys to heart to brain. 1126 00:51:43,734 --> 00:51:46,268 - How much time would it take for the crystals 1127 00:51:46,337 --> 00:51:47,937 To deposit themselves 1128 00:51:48,005 --> 00:51:51,206 In the blood vessels of the heart? 1129 00:51:51,275 --> 00:51:54,143 - It takes weeks at least. 1130 00:51:54,211 --> 00:51:55,477 - The fact that his-- 1131 00:51:55,546 --> 00:51:57,412 That crystals were forming in his heart 1132 00:51:57,481 --> 00:51:59,815 And actually had traveled to his brain, 1133 00:51:59,884 --> 00:52:01,951 Indicated long-term exposure, 1134 00:52:02,019 --> 00:52:04,087 And not a one-dose deal. 1135 00:52:04,155 --> 00:52:06,756 - And matt's friends and work colleagues testified. 1136 00:52:06,824 --> 00:52:10,225 They had seen his body disintegrate before their eyes, 1137 00:52:10,294 --> 00:52:13,830 Starting weeks, if not months before his death. 1138 00:52:13,898 --> 00:52:17,432 - He began sweating profusely, 1139 00:52:17,501 --> 00:52:20,904 And he complained of back pain. 1140 00:52:20,971 --> 00:52:22,371 - He was sitting beside me, 1141 00:52:22,440 --> 00:52:24,840 And practically was hunched over 1142 00:52:24,909 --> 00:52:27,444 To where his chest was on his knees. 1143 00:52:27,511 --> 00:52:29,912 - Who could've made that happen and how? 1144 00:52:29,914 --> 00:52:31,914 Investigators, remember, had found antifreeze 1145 00:52:31,916 --> 00:52:33,515 In holly and matt's garage, 1146 00:52:33,584 --> 00:52:36,786 Admittedly a year after holly moved out. 1147 00:52:36,854 --> 00:52:38,655 Prosecutors knew they couldn't link 1148 00:52:38,722 --> 00:52:40,856 These bottles to the crime, 1149 00:52:40,925 --> 00:52:42,858 But even so, detective quinn took them 1150 00:52:42,860 --> 00:52:45,328 Out of the evidence bags for the jury to see, 1151 00:52:45,396 --> 00:52:47,195 Left them on the witness stand, 1152 00:52:47,265 --> 00:52:50,399 A prop, a little courtroom theater. 1153 00:52:50,468 --> 00:52:53,402 - A bottle of saturn antifreeze and coolant. 1154 00:52:53,470 --> 00:52:55,804 - Take a look at those bottles, 1155 00:52:55,873 --> 00:52:57,940 The prosecution seemed to be saying. 1156 00:52:57,942 --> 00:52:59,242 And common sense would tell you 1157 00:52:59,309 --> 00:53:01,077 It wasn't suicide. 1158 00:53:01,145 --> 00:53:03,346 Nobody would down antifreeze on purpose, 1159 00:53:03,414 --> 00:53:06,615 Said the prosecutor, let along bit by bit 1160 00:53:06,617 --> 00:53:09,017 As indicated in the coroner's report. 1161 00:53:09,019 --> 00:53:10,619 - There was no suicide note. 1162 00:53:10,688 --> 00:53:13,622 He didn't go ahead and give away his possessions. 1163 00:53:13,691 --> 00:53:16,358 Suicide did not make sense. 1164 00:53:16,427 --> 00:53:18,927 - No, there was one person, the prosecutor argued, 1165 00:53:18,996 --> 00:53:23,299 And only one who had the means and the motive to poison matt, 1166 00:53:23,301 --> 00:53:26,169 His fiance, holly mcfeeture. 1167 00:53:26,237 --> 00:53:28,103 A parade of witnesses testified 1168 00:53:28,105 --> 00:53:30,773 About matt and holly's rocky relationship, 1169 00:53:30,775 --> 00:53:33,041 The bitter words, fierce arguments 1170 00:53:33,110 --> 00:53:35,043 They couldn't help but overhear. 1171 00:53:35,112 --> 00:53:36,111 - When we would be fishing, 1172 00:53:36,180 --> 00:53:37,980 That phone would be ringing every five minutes. 1173 00:53:37,982 --> 00:53:38,947 She'd be screaming so loud 1174 00:53:39,016 --> 00:53:40,716 He'd be holding the phone out to this-- 1175 00:53:40,785 --> 00:53:42,284 Way away from his ear. 1176 00:53:42,353 --> 00:53:46,054 - I told him that he needed to protect himself, 1177 00:53:46,123 --> 00:53:50,092 And I told him that 1178 00:53:50,161 --> 00:53:53,996 He should remove his shotgun 1179 00:53:53,998 --> 00:53:56,032 And-- from his house. 1180 00:53:56,100 --> 00:53:58,667 - And far from being shattered by matt's death, 1181 00:53:58,736 --> 00:54:00,402 As her family claimed, 1182 00:54:00,404 --> 00:54:03,071 Prosecution witnesses describe how holly seemed 1183 00:54:03,140 --> 00:54:06,209 Almost giddy after matt died. 1184 00:54:06,277 --> 00:54:10,012 - What did you observe of the defendant at the wake? 1185 00:54:10,014 --> 00:54:13,015 - Almost a party atmosphere 1186 00:54:13,083 --> 00:54:15,550 Like nothing had happened. 1187 00:54:15,619 --> 00:54:18,620 And then the prosecution called holly's old friend, 1188 00:54:18,689 --> 00:54:20,422 Rebecca vega. 1189 00:54:20,424 --> 00:54:22,224 If anybody had a ringside seat 1190 00:54:22,293 --> 00:54:26,228 To holly's life after matt, it was rebecca. 1191 00:54:26,297 --> 00:54:28,830 How was it to actually be in that courtroom, 1192 00:54:28,899 --> 00:54:31,568 See her there, and answer those questions? 1193 00:54:31,635 --> 00:54:33,235 - Couldn't even look at her. 1194 00:54:33,237 --> 00:54:34,703 - Rebecca told the jury 1195 00:54:34,772 --> 00:54:36,839 Holly didn't wait long after matt's death 1196 00:54:36,841 --> 00:54:39,574 To remove any trace of him from their house. 1197 00:54:39,643 --> 00:54:43,645 - It seemed as if everything that-- being of matt 1198 00:54:43,647 --> 00:54:46,249 Had been taken out of the home. 1199 00:54:46,317 --> 00:54:48,717 - But it was what holly hadn't cleaned up 1200 00:54:48,719 --> 00:54:51,187 That made the biggest impression on the rebecca, 1201 00:54:51,255 --> 00:54:53,990 Those bottles of chemicals on the kitchen floor. 1202 00:54:54,058 --> 00:54:55,457 - What was holly's response 1203 00:54:55,526 --> 00:54:57,926 When you asked her about those items? 1204 00:54:57,995 --> 00:54:59,928 - One of the items was brought up as antifreeze 1205 00:54:59,997 --> 00:55:03,331 For matt's boat, to winterize his boat. 1206 00:55:03,401 --> 00:55:06,802 - But who winterizes their boat in the summer? 1207 00:55:06,871 --> 00:55:09,337 Remember, matt died in July, said the prosecutors, 1208 00:55:09,407 --> 00:55:11,740 So rebecca's story was evidence 1209 00:55:11,809 --> 00:55:14,076 That holly had access to antifreeze 1210 00:55:14,078 --> 00:55:15,878 Around the time of matt's death. 1211 00:55:15,946 --> 00:55:18,747 - She was able to put antifreeze 1212 00:55:18,749 --> 00:55:22,618 In the kitchen of holly mcfeeture 1213 00:55:22,620 --> 00:55:26,154 After the death of matthew podolak. 1214 00:55:26,223 --> 00:55:28,624 - Now they needed to convince the jury 1215 00:55:28,692 --> 00:55:32,627 That holly actually fed the antifreeze to matt. 1216 00:55:32,629 --> 00:55:34,563 That would take a little doing. 1217 00:55:34,632 --> 00:55:37,299 First several of matt's coworkers testified that 1218 00:55:37,367 --> 00:55:41,837 Holly sometimes dropped off matt's lunch at the factory. 1219 00:55:41,905 --> 00:55:44,773 - Uh, holly would bring it in every once in a while for him. 1220 00:55:44,775 --> 00:55:47,910 - How many occasions do you recall that happening? 1221 00:55:47,978 --> 00:55:49,912 - Half a dozen? 1222 00:55:49,980 --> 00:55:51,980 - And holly always made sure to include 1223 00:55:51,982 --> 00:55:53,982 Matt's favorite drink, he said, 1224 00:55:54,051 --> 00:55:57,986 Half a gallon or more of raspberry iced tea. 1225 00:55:57,988 --> 00:56:00,723 Antifreeze is sweet but otherwise tasteless. 1226 00:56:00,791 --> 00:56:03,292 Did holly spike the tea? 1227 00:56:03,294 --> 00:56:06,395 - You can't smell it, and you can't see it in the tea. 1228 00:56:06,397 --> 00:56:09,064 He would have no way to know that it's coming. 1229 00:56:09,066 --> 00:56:12,534 - But why in heaven's name would she do such a thing? 1230 00:56:12,536 --> 00:56:14,470 What was her motive? 1231 00:56:14,538 --> 00:56:18,206 Well, as the prosecution saw it at least, 1232 00:56:18,275 --> 00:56:19,942 All those arguments matt and holly were having 1233 00:56:20,010 --> 00:56:22,744 Represented the death throes of their relationship, 1234 00:56:22,813 --> 00:56:24,946 A relationship she wanted to leave 1235 00:56:25,015 --> 00:56:28,683 And he did not, stubbornly, 1236 00:56:28,752 --> 00:56:31,553 Because he didn't want to lose custody 1237 00:56:31,622 --> 00:56:33,155 Of those kids. 1238 00:56:33,223 --> 00:56:35,091 So it's your claim that he was sticking like glue, 1239 00:56:35,159 --> 00:56:37,826 And to get rid of him she had to poison him. 1240 00:56:37,895 --> 00:56:40,362 - That is what she saw as the way out. 1241 00:56:40,431 --> 00:56:43,298 - A way out sweetened, suggested the prosecution, 1242 00:56:43,367 --> 00:56:45,568 By the fact that holly was the beneficiary of matt's 1243 00:56:45,636 --> 00:56:48,604 Life insurance policy and 401k. 1244 00:56:48,672 --> 00:56:51,907 He was worth $15,000 to her if he died. 1245 00:56:51,975 --> 00:56:53,843 So that was clearly not a motive, really. 1246 00:56:53,911 --> 00:56:56,778 I mean, it's chump change basically, right? 1247 00:56:56,847 --> 00:56:59,447 - Well, $15,000 for some person 1248 00:56:59,517 --> 00:57:02,851 Might be worth $150,000 for another. 1249 00:57:02,920 --> 00:57:04,319 - Interesting theory. 1250 00:57:04,321 --> 00:57:06,054 Trick was to persuade the jury 1251 00:57:06,123 --> 00:57:08,323 That a hard-working, committed young mother, 1252 00:57:08,392 --> 00:57:11,060 A woman who was always volunteering to help others, 1253 00:57:11,128 --> 00:57:13,196 Who coached tee ball teams, 1254 00:57:13,263 --> 00:57:15,797 Could at the same time be a devious, 1255 00:57:15,799 --> 00:57:18,200 Cold-blooded murderer. 1256 00:57:18,268 --> 00:57:20,469 Yep, absolutely possible, 1257 00:57:20,471 --> 00:57:23,138 Said the prosecution's star witness, 1258 00:57:23,207 --> 00:57:24,807 Still to come, 1259 00:57:24,875 --> 00:57:28,410 The man who knew all about violence and secrets 1260 00:57:28,479 --> 00:57:31,180 And kissing and telling. 1261 00:57:32,783 --> 00:57:36,018 - Holly melts down in court. 1262 00:57:36,086 --> 00:57:37,686 What happened? 1263 00:57:37,754 --> 00:57:41,056 When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 1264 00:57:49,832 --> 00:57:52,401 - Way up on the 22nd floor of the criminal courts building 1265 00:57:52,403 --> 00:57:54,035 Here in downtown cleveland, 1266 00:57:54,104 --> 00:57:56,438 Holly mcfeeture sat through a hailstorm 1267 00:57:56,507 --> 00:58:00,176 Of allegations and attacks on her character and motivation. 1268 00:58:00,244 --> 00:58:01,710 Practically a monster, 1269 00:58:01,712 --> 00:58:03,712 If you believed some of the witnesses. 1270 00:58:03,714 --> 00:58:06,181 And for the most part, she listened politely, 1271 00:58:06,250 --> 00:58:08,583 Turned occasionally to smile at her sister 1272 00:58:08,652 --> 00:58:10,987 Or share a word of encouragement, 1273 00:58:11,054 --> 00:58:14,656 But then-- then the announcement was made. 1274 00:58:14,658 --> 00:58:17,459 - Your honor, at this time we have jamison kennedy. 1275 00:58:17,527 --> 00:58:20,196 - And with those words, "jamison kennedy," 1276 00:58:20,264 --> 00:58:23,732 Holly went into a kind of shock. 1277 00:58:23,734 --> 00:58:25,200 And then as quickly, 1278 00:58:25,202 --> 00:58:27,736 Even before kennedy walked into the courtroom 1279 00:58:27,738 --> 00:58:29,271 Came the tears, 1280 00:58:29,339 --> 00:58:31,840 And something in her seemed to crumble. 1281 00:58:34,411 --> 00:58:36,411 The tears became wracking sobs, 1282 00:58:36,480 --> 00:58:39,681 As if she in full-blown terror or panic 1283 00:58:39,750 --> 00:58:42,150 Simply could not go on. 1284 00:58:42,152 --> 00:58:43,285 All this happened 1285 00:58:43,353 --> 00:58:44,953 As the attorneys were at the bench 1286 00:58:45,022 --> 00:58:46,421 Conferring with judge brian corrigan 1287 00:58:46,423 --> 00:58:50,125 Before kennedy's testimony began. 1288 00:58:52,162 --> 00:58:54,363 Holly left her seat, rushed to her sister chrissy 1289 00:58:54,431 --> 00:58:56,632 In the gallery, and broke down. 1290 00:58:56,700 --> 00:59:00,035 And it all happened in front of the jury. 1291 00:59:00,103 --> 00:59:02,238 Mark podolak was not moved. 1292 00:59:02,306 --> 00:59:05,374 In fact, he was disgusted. 1293 00:59:05,442 --> 00:59:07,844 - Where was that emotion during the funeral? 1294 00:59:07,911 --> 00:59:09,978 Where was that emotion, uh, 1295 00:59:10,047 --> 00:59:14,784 When your lover was dying in the hospital? 1296 00:59:14,851 --> 00:59:17,986 Yet a guy that you haven't seen in years 1297 00:59:18,055 --> 00:59:19,455 Steps into the courtroom, 1298 00:59:19,523 --> 00:59:22,257 You have an emotional breakdown? 1299 00:59:22,326 --> 00:59:24,760 That's courtroom drama to my opinion. 1300 00:59:24,828 --> 00:59:27,195 - Was she afraid of the man, 1301 00:59:27,264 --> 00:59:29,664 Or was she afraid of what he had to say? 1302 00:59:29,733 --> 00:59:32,268 The whole business was highly unusual. 1303 00:59:32,336 --> 00:59:34,069 Holly, visibly shaking, 1304 00:59:34,137 --> 00:59:36,071 Was allowed to leave the courtroom 1305 00:59:36,073 --> 00:59:37,605 While kennedy testified. 1306 00:59:37,675 --> 00:59:40,810 - How do you know holly mcfeeture? 1307 00:59:40,877 --> 00:59:43,746 - I originally met her at a bar that she worked at, 1308 00:59:43,814 --> 00:59:45,213 The dirty dog. 1309 00:59:45,282 --> 00:59:47,415 - Jamison kennedy was that ex-con 1310 00:59:47,417 --> 00:59:50,218 Holly dated a year or so after matt's death, 1311 00:59:50,220 --> 00:59:53,555 The snitch who peddled his story from the jail cell. 1312 00:59:53,557 --> 00:59:56,491 Was it wise to call him a prosecution witness? 1313 00:59:56,560 --> 00:59:59,896 The man had eight felony convictions under his belt 1314 00:59:59,963 --> 01:00:02,897 And was serving ten years for beating up cops. 1315 01:00:02,966 --> 01:00:06,902 And yet here he was, central witness against holly. 1316 01:00:06,904 --> 01:00:08,704 He's an alcoholic, he's a drug addict, 1317 01:00:08,772 --> 01:00:10,705 And he wants something from you guys, 1318 01:00:10,774 --> 01:00:12,974 So he'll say whatever he has to say, right? 1319 01:00:13,043 --> 01:00:15,110 - The thing about this witness, about jamison kennedy, 1320 01:00:15,179 --> 01:00:17,647 Is that he didn't want anything in exchange 1321 01:00:17,714 --> 01:00:20,382 For what he was going to come into court and say. 1322 01:00:20,450 --> 01:00:23,252 He knew that he was going to be in prison for quite a while 1323 01:00:23,320 --> 01:00:26,788 And that nothing he could say in court would ever change that. 1324 01:00:26,857 --> 01:00:28,123 - And kennedy's story, 1325 01:00:28,191 --> 01:00:30,059 If the jury chose to believe him, 1326 01:00:30,127 --> 01:00:32,394 Was a potential game-changer. 1327 01:00:32,396 --> 01:00:36,332 It was September 26th, 2008, two years after matt died. 1328 01:00:36,400 --> 01:00:38,601 Kennedy was on probation, he told the jury, 1329 01:00:38,669 --> 01:00:40,402 When holly stopped by the law office 1330 01:00:40,404 --> 01:00:42,470 Where a kindly defense attorney had given him 1331 01:00:42,539 --> 01:00:44,874 A job and a place to sleep. 1332 01:00:44,941 --> 01:00:48,276 They shared a bottle of wine, ate some takeout. 1333 01:00:48,345 --> 01:00:50,412 - We both were kind of, you know, 1334 01:00:50,414 --> 01:00:51,679 A little bit tipsy. 1335 01:00:51,749 --> 01:00:55,952 And after-after drinking we ended up having sex. 1336 01:00:56,019 --> 01:00:59,621 And after the sex is when things got really emotional. 1337 01:00:59,623 --> 01:01:01,489 She just started crying. 1338 01:01:01,558 --> 01:01:03,425 - What did she say? 1339 01:01:03,493 --> 01:01:05,226 - She made some remarks 1340 01:01:05,295 --> 01:01:07,629 That she just wanted it to all go away. 1341 01:01:07,631 --> 01:01:10,231 She wanted to move out of cleveland. 1342 01:01:10,300 --> 01:01:15,804 Um, she was regretful for what had taken place. 1343 01:01:17,240 --> 01:01:19,908 - Regret? About what? 1344 01:01:19,910 --> 01:01:21,177 Kennedy told the jury 1345 01:01:21,244 --> 01:01:24,179 That he pushed holly to tell him more. 1346 01:01:24,247 --> 01:01:26,715 - She just told me at that time 1347 01:01:26,717 --> 01:01:30,385 That she was sorry for what she had done. 1348 01:01:30,454 --> 01:01:33,988 - What had she done? - Um, on her words 1349 01:01:34,057 --> 01:01:36,725 Was that she had put something in his drink. 1350 01:01:36,793 --> 01:01:40,462 - What had she put inside of his drink? 1351 01:01:40,464 --> 01:01:42,464 - She didn't tell me. 1352 01:01:42,532 --> 01:01:46,334 - Did she say what happened 1353 01:01:46,336 --> 01:01:49,071 After putting something inside of the drink? 1354 01:01:49,139 --> 01:01:53,741 - Um, that he had gotten sick and passed away. 1355 01:01:53,811 --> 01:01:56,745 - It was, quite simply, stunning. 1356 01:01:56,747 --> 01:02:00,482 But-- big but-- was it true? 1357 01:02:00,550 --> 01:02:02,350 Could the jury really take the word 1358 01:02:02,419 --> 01:02:05,287 Of this eight time convicted felon? 1359 01:02:05,289 --> 01:02:08,556 Yes, said the prosecution, because of this. 1360 01:02:08,625 --> 01:02:14,697 - Did you tell anyone about what holly mcfeeture told you 1361 01:02:14,765 --> 01:02:17,366 About putting something in his drinks? 1362 01:02:17,434 --> 01:02:19,300 - Yes. 1363 01:02:19,369 --> 01:02:21,236 - Who did you tell? 1364 01:02:21,305 --> 01:02:23,104 - Uh, my attorney. 1365 01:02:23,173 --> 01:02:26,641 - Well, not exactly that, said the attorney in question, 1366 01:02:26,710 --> 01:02:29,245 Who testified that kennedy asked him 1367 01:02:29,312 --> 01:02:31,980 In a cryptic sort of way what he should do 1368 01:02:32,048 --> 01:02:34,283 If he knew about a murder. 1369 01:02:34,351 --> 01:02:38,119 Didn't name holly or any particular murder. 1370 01:02:38,121 --> 01:02:39,721 - As an officer of the court, 1371 01:02:39,723 --> 01:02:42,590 Did you provide him with any advice? 1372 01:02:42,592 --> 01:02:45,394 - I told him that if he had any information of that nature, 1373 01:02:45,462 --> 01:02:50,331 That he had to inform whoever 1374 01:02:50,400 --> 01:02:55,036 About this supposed situation. 1375 01:02:55,105 --> 01:02:59,374 - But kennedy didn't tell authorities anything then. 1376 01:02:59,443 --> 01:03:01,543 Not until he was sitting in a jail cell 1377 01:03:01,611 --> 01:03:04,746 Under arrest for assaulting those cops. 1378 01:03:04,815 --> 01:03:06,615 Did he hope police would go easy on him 1379 01:03:06,683 --> 01:03:09,285 If he told them something they wanted to hear? 1380 01:03:09,352 --> 01:03:12,420 Sergeant quinn told the jury he believed kennedy's story 1381 01:03:12,422 --> 01:03:14,489 Because kennedy offered details 1382 01:03:14,558 --> 01:03:17,859 Only someone close to the crime would know. 1383 01:03:17,861 --> 01:03:21,362 - There's no mention in the media anywhere. 1384 01:03:21,431 --> 01:03:22,831 Where did it come from? 1385 01:03:22,833 --> 01:03:24,966 - The fact that this is the one witness 1386 01:03:25,035 --> 01:03:26,835 Who we could bring forward for the jury 1387 01:03:26,903 --> 01:03:30,305 To say that "I heard holly mcfeeture confess 1388 01:03:30,307 --> 01:03:32,508 To putting something in matthew podolak's drinks." 1389 01:03:32,576 --> 01:03:34,976 It's so important that I think in our minds 1390 01:03:35,045 --> 01:03:37,312 It couldn't not go to the jury. 1391 01:03:37,380 --> 01:03:38,980 Thank you so much for your time 1392 01:03:39,049 --> 01:03:40,515 And your consideration. 1393 01:03:40,584 --> 01:03:43,986 - And with that the prosecution concluded its case 1394 01:03:44,054 --> 01:03:45,987 Of circumstantial evidence. 1395 01:03:46,056 --> 01:03:48,857 But there was a giant void in the room, 1396 01:03:48,859 --> 01:03:50,659 A big, empty hole 1397 01:03:50,727 --> 01:03:53,863 Where the hard evidence usually goes. 1398 01:03:53,930 --> 01:03:56,565 What would the defense make of that? 1399 01:03:59,436 --> 01:04:01,669 - The defense strikes back. 1400 01:04:01,671 --> 01:04:04,205 - I asked the question, you have no idea whatsoever 1401 01:04:04,207 --> 01:04:05,674 How that man died, do you? 1402 01:04:05,742 --> 01:04:07,409 - Not to my knowledge. 1403 01:04:07,411 --> 01:04:10,445 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 1404 01:04:17,888 --> 01:04:18,953 - Welcome back. 1405 01:04:19,022 --> 01:04:20,556 The trial against holly mcfeeture 1406 01:04:20,624 --> 01:04:22,024 Was well underway. 1407 01:04:22,092 --> 01:04:24,025 The prosecution called on a witness 1408 01:04:24,094 --> 01:04:27,362 Who gave damaging testimony that holly told him 1409 01:04:27,431 --> 01:04:30,431 That she put something in her fiance's drink. 1410 01:04:30,500 --> 01:04:32,700 Next up, it was the defense's turn, 1411 01:04:32,769 --> 01:04:35,504 And they were about to make a bold accusation 1412 01:04:35,572 --> 01:04:37,905 As to who was responsible 1413 01:04:37,975 --> 01:04:40,508 For turning the rumor mill against her. 1414 01:04:40,577 --> 01:04:43,379 Back to keith morrison with "manner of death." 1415 01:04:46,383 --> 01:04:47,915 - For almost a week, 1416 01:04:47,985 --> 01:04:50,451 Holly mcfeeture's family sat in a courtroom 1417 01:04:50,520 --> 01:04:52,987 Listening to prosecutors accuse holly 1418 01:04:53,056 --> 01:04:56,524 Of drip by drip, ounce by ounce 1419 01:04:56,593 --> 01:04:58,994 Feeding her fiance the poison 1420 01:04:59,062 --> 01:05:01,262 And watching him die. 1421 01:05:01,331 --> 01:05:03,932 Monstrous, evil, 1422 01:05:04,001 --> 01:05:07,402 And, said her family, completely untrue. 1423 01:05:07,471 --> 01:05:11,606 Just nasty gossip, gussied up as evidence. 1424 01:05:11,675 --> 01:05:16,011 - It was just a bunch of people talking bad about my sister. 1425 01:05:16,013 --> 01:05:19,614 - Such a one-sided, burn her at the stake 1426 01:05:19,616 --> 01:05:21,082 Type of scenario. 1427 01:05:21,084 --> 01:05:24,953 - Defense attorneys bret jordan and billy summers agreed. 1428 01:05:24,955 --> 01:05:26,955 - It was all speculation. 1429 01:05:27,023 --> 01:05:31,626 It was all just finger pointing without any basis. 1430 01:05:31,695 --> 01:05:34,562 - And now they knew they'd have to persuade the jury 1431 01:05:34,564 --> 01:05:38,166 To buy something they personally believed in their gut, 1432 01:05:38,234 --> 01:05:41,302 That holly mcfeeture was wrongly accused. 1433 01:05:41,371 --> 01:05:43,104 - I don't think that I have ever believed 1434 01:05:43,106 --> 01:05:44,106 In the innocence of a client 1435 01:05:44,174 --> 01:05:46,507 More than I believe in holly mcfeeture. 1436 01:05:46,576 --> 01:05:47,977 - The defense began by putting 1437 01:05:48,044 --> 01:05:50,112 Some negative cards on the table 1438 01:05:50,180 --> 01:05:51,646 That is the fighting. 1439 01:05:51,648 --> 01:05:53,315 Holly and matt had been fighting a lot, 1440 01:05:53,383 --> 01:05:56,652 But that was hardly a surprise, said the defense. 1441 01:05:56,720 --> 01:05:58,519 Two babies, one of them colicky, 1442 01:05:58,588 --> 01:06:01,389 And matt was out fishing all the time. 1443 01:06:01,458 --> 01:06:02,391 - You can't say that 1444 01:06:02,459 --> 01:06:05,194 Just because somebody's arguing every day, 1445 01:06:05,261 --> 01:06:07,463 That's a sign of-- of hatred 1446 01:06:07,530 --> 01:06:10,266 And "I'm gonna kill that person." 1447 01:06:10,333 --> 01:06:11,532 - And that story that went around 1448 01:06:11,601 --> 01:06:13,735 About holly's behavior at matt's funeral? 1449 01:06:13,803 --> 01:06:16,604 Uninformed judgments made from afar, 1450 01:06:16,673 --> 01:06:17,872 Said the defense, 1451 01:06:17,874 --> 01:06:20,276 That somehow became this big myth 1452 01:06:20,343 --> 01:06:21,610 That holly didn't care. 1453 01:06:21,678 --> 01:06:24,312 - Oh, I can tell you right now she didn't care. 1454 01:06:24,381 --> 01:06:25,780 - You can? - You betcha. 1455 01:06:25,849 --> 01:06:28,015 - So you can-you can crawl into her mind. 1456 01:06:28,085 --> 01:06:29,217 - No. - You can tell everybody here 1457 01:06:29,286 --> 01:06:31,052 What she was thinking. 1458 01:06:31,121 --> 01:06:33,888 - No, you can read it on her face. 1459 01:06:33,957 --> 01:06:35,290 - Read it on her face. 1460 01:06:35,292 --> 01:06:38,560 - You don't have to be crying your eyes out 1461 01:06:38,562 --> 01:06:41,763 At a funeral to not be grieving. 1462 01:06:41,765 --> 01:06:43,031 - No, the defense argued, 1463 01:06:43,099 --> 01:06:45,566 All the testimony maligning holly's behavior 1464 01:06:45,635 --> 01:06:48,236 Was really a product of the six-plus years 1465 01:06:48,304 --> 01:06:51,039 Of rumor and innuendo, which had, 1466 01:06:51,041 --> 01:06:53,242 Courtesy of the authorities and matt's family, 1467 01:06:53,309 --> 01:06:55,577 Hardened into what sounded like truth 1468 01:06:55,645 --> 01:06:57,712 Even if it wasn't. 1469 01:06:57,781 --> 01:06:59,248 - If you listen to all the witnesses, 1470 01:06:59,315 --> 01:07:01,182 Anybody that was holly's friend, 1471 01:07:01,184 --> 01:07:05,153 They all turned away once they talked to the detective. 1472 01:07:05,222 --> 01:07:07,989 - That was certainly the case, said the defense, 1473 01:07:08,057 --> 01:07:10,124 When holly's friend rebecca vega 1474 01:07:10,193 --> 01:07:13,929 Cut off contact with holly about a year after matt died. 1475 01:07:13,997 --> 01:07:16,397 - Who's the accused murderer in this room? 1476 01:07:16,399 --> 01:07:17,732 - Holly is. - Yeah, and you don't-- 1477 01:07:17,734 --> 01:07:19,134 You can't even look at her anymore. 1478 01:07:19,202 --> 01:07:20,336 - No. - Only then, 1479 01:07:20,403 --> 01:07:22,136 After she heard from the police, 1480 01:07:22,205 --> 01:07:24,071 Said the defense, did she begin saying 1481 01:07:24,141 --> 01:07:26,073 What she said at the trial. 1482 01:07:26,143 --> 01:07:28,810 - But you have no idea how that man died, do you? 1483 01:07:28,878 --> 01:07:30,612 - I didn't have to see physical proof 1484 01:07:30,680 --> 01:07:32,280 In order to make-- - please, I asked a question. 1485 01:07:32,282 --> 01:07:35,550 You have no idea whatsoever how that man died, do you? 1486 01:07:35,619 --> 01:07:37,353 - Not to my knowledge, no. 1487 01:07:37,420 --> 01:07:39,487 - Did the memory of all those happy days 1488 01:07:39,489 --> 01:07:42,557 Rebecca spent with holly suddenly sprout 1489 01:07:42,625 --> 01:07:44,492 With dark suspicion once the police 1490 01:07:44,561 --> 01:07:46,628 Whispered in rebecca's ear? 1491 01:07:46,696 --> 01:07:49,698 Like the bit about the antifreeze in the kitchen. 1492 01:07:49,766 --> 01:07:51,700 - Holly has children, 1493 01:07:51,768 --> 01:07:55,036 And she's very careful, 1494 01:07:55,105 --> 01:07:59,507 And I know she would not leave chemicals like that 1495 01:07:59,576 --> 01:08:02,043 Just lying around the house. 1496 01:08:02,112 --> 01:08:04,579 - No, the assault on holly by her former friends, 1497 01:08:04,581 --> 01:08:07,348 The defense said, was just a smokescreen 1498 01:08:07,417 --> 01:08:11,519 For the hard evidence the prosecution did not have. 1499 01:08:11,521 --> 01:08:14,989 Like anything connecting holly to the murder weapon, 1500 01:08:14,991 --> 01:08:17,925 By which, of course, we mean the antifreeze. 1501 01:08:17,994 --> 01:08:20,061 Remember those two bottles of antifreeze 1502 01:08:20,063 --> 01:08:22,330 Investigators found at holly and matt's house 1503 01:08:22,398 --> 01:08:23,866 After she moved out? 1504 01:08:23,933 --> 01:08:25,200 - Those two bottles of antifreeze 1505 01:08:25,268 --> 01:08:28,069 Are not linked to matthew podolak at all. 1506 01:08:28,137 --> 01:08:29,137 - No. 1507 01:08:29,139 --> 01:08:30,139 - And those two bottles of antifreeze 1508 01:08:30,206 --> 01:08:31,806 Are not linked to holly at all? 1509 01:08:31,875 --> 01:08:34,275 - Other than the fact that they came from that address. 1510 01:08:34,344 --> 01:08:35,410 - What was the point in that? 1511 01:08:35,412 --> 01:08:37,212 - That's what-- - exactly. 1512 01:08:37,280 --> 01:08:38,680 There wasn't any. 1513 01:08:38,748 --> 01:08:41,683 - Another glaring weakness, the defense said, 1514 01:08:41,751 --> 01:08:44,218 Was the prosecution's theory that holly disguised 1515 01:08:44,287 --> 01:08:48,223 The antifreeze in matt's beloved raspberry iced tea. 1516 01:08:48,225 --> 01:08:50,758 Zero forensic support for that, 1517 01:08:50,760 --> 01:08:52,026 Said the defense. 1518 01:08:52,095 --> 01:08:54,362 - Do you know how that iced tea got into that thermos? 1519 01:08:54,364 --> 01:08:55,963 - I have no clue. 1520 01:08:56,032 --> 01:08:58,434 - None of the cups at the homes were ever tested. 1521 01:08:58,501 --> 01:09:01,236 The thermos that he allegedly brought to work every day 1522 01:09:01,304 --> 01:09:03,438 Was never tested. 1523 01:09:03,440 --> 01:09:06,507 There was nothing ever connecting 1524 01:09:06,509 --> 01:09:09,310 That it was even iced tea. 1525 01:09:09,379 --> 01:09:11,379 - And the motive, the prosecution suggested, 1526 01:09:11,381 --> 01:09:13,649 The modest life insurance money? 1527 01:09:13,716 --> 01:09:15,483 Laughable, said the defense. 1528 01:09:15,551 --> 01:09:17,685 Wouldn't even buy a decent car. 1529 01:09:17,754 --> 01:09:22,156 Besides, holly said she had no idea the insurance existed. 1530 01:09:22,225 --> 01:09:25,193 Matt's uncle, who owned the factory where matt worked, 1531 01:09:25,195 --> 01:09:26,928 Couldn't say otherwise. 1532 01:09:26,930 --> 01:09:28,729 - The question is do you have any personal knowledge 1533 01:09:28,798 --> 01:09:32,667 That holly actually knew there was a life insurance rider 1534 01:09:32,669 --> 01:09:36,270 On his health insurance? - Uh, I-I can't say that I did. 1535 01:09:36,339 --> 01:09:39,207 - But holly's defenders did have a problem, 1536 01:09:39,209 --> 01:09:41,475 No getting around it, huge problem. 1537 01:09:41,544 --> 01:09:44,812 That pillow talk with jamison kennedy, 1538 01:09:44,814 --> 01:09:49,150 When, according to him, holly actually confessed. 1539 01:09:49,219 --> 01:09:51,819 If they couldn't knock him down, 1540 01:09:51,888 --> 01:09:53,689 They were done. 1541 01:09:54,958 --> 01:09:59,093 - Was the prosecution's bombshell witness a dud? 1542 01:09:59,095 --> 01:10:00,528 Coming up... 1543 01:10:11,541 --> 01:10:14,376 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 1544 01:10:18,346 --> 01:10:23,852 ♪♪ 1545 01:10:23,920 --> 01:10:25,987 - What in heaven's name would holly mcfeeture's 1546 01:10:26,055 --> 01:10:28,123 Defense attorneys do about this? 1547 01:10:28,191 --> 01:10:31,860 - Her words was that she had put something in his drink. 1548 01:10:31,928 --> 01:10:35,663 - There was no avoiding the impact of those few words 1549 01:10:35,665 --> 01:10:37,398 From jamison kennedy. 1550 01:10:37,467 --> 01:10:39,868 Remember, just the mention of his name 1551 01:10:39,936 --> 01:10:42,671 Sent holly into an epic breakdown, 1552 01:10:42,739 --> 01:10:46,207 Weeping, sobbing, fleeing the courtroom. 1553 01:10:46,275 --> 01:10:48,943 The next day was the defense attorney's turn 1554 01:10:48,945 --> 01:10:50,679 To take him on. 1555 01:10:50,747 --> 01:10:52,613 - Good morning, mr. Kennedy. - How you doin'? 1556 01:10:52,615 --> 01:10:54,615 - Holly had regained her composure, 1557 01:10:54,617 --> 01:10:56,751 And she came back into court. 1558 01:10:56,753 --> 01:10:59,954 The strategy was to pick apart kennedy's story, 1559 01:11:00,023 --> 01:11:01,555 Expose him for what the defense said 1560 01:11:01,624 --> 01:11:04,492 He most certainly was, a liar. 1561 01:11:04,494 --> 01:11:06,827 Like the bit about being tipsy. 1562 01:11:06,896 --> 01:11:11,299 Holly, kennedy said, had a glass of wine or two that night, 1563 01:11:11,367 --> 01:11:14,902 While he knocked off an entire bottle himself. 1564 01:11:14,971 --> 01:11:17,305 - You still are telling the jury here 1565 01:11:17,307 --> 01:11:19,440 That holly was tipsy 1566 01:11:19,442 --> 01:11:21,776 Or drunk that night, right? 1567 01:11:21,845 --> 01:11:22,811 - Yes, sir. 1568 01:11:22,879 --> 01:11:25,914 - When in fact it was you that was drunk that night, 1569 01:11:25,982 --> 01:11:27,115 Not holly. 1570 01:11:27,183 --> 01:11:29,650 - I think we were both, you know, feeling a buzz. 1571 01:11:29,719 --> 01:11:31,386 - Now this is the sort of moment 1572 01:11:31,454 --> 01:11:34,321 A defense attorney probably lives for. 1573 01:11:34,391 --> 01:11:35,389 Listen. 1574 01:11:35,458 --> 01:11:37,858 - Were you aware that holly's allergic to grapes 1575 01:11:37,927 --> 01:11:39,994 And she can't drink wine? 1576 01:11:40,063 --> 01:11:41,263 - No. 1577 01:11:41,331 --> 01:11:43,197 - Was this a man who could be believed, 1578 01:11:43,266 --> 01:11:46,067 When he said he had a real relationship with holly? 1579 01:11:46,135 --> 01:11:48,269 - She had told me that he was stalking her. 1580 01:11:48,337 --> 01:11:51,138 He had got her name tattooed on him. 1581 01:11:51,207 --> 01:11:53,341 He would not leave her alone. - How'd she feel about this? 1582 01:11:53,409 --> 01:11:55,076 - Oh, she was afraid. 1583 01:11:55,078 --> 01:11:57,211 - And kennedy admitted under defense questioning 1584 01:11:57,280 --> 01:12:00,482 That he got very angry with holly when he heard a rumor 1585 01:12:00,550 --> 01:12:03,284 That she was with another guy. 1586 01:12:03,353 --> 01:12:07,022 - So angry that you-- you grabbed her by the neck, 1587 01:12:07,090 --> 01:12:09,090 You threw her against the wall, 1588 01:12:09,092 --> 01:12:11,092 You punched her numerous times, 1589 01:12:11,160 --> 01:12:13,361 That type of angry, right? - No, sir. 1590 01:12:13,429 --> 01:12:16,897 - No, that didn't happen. - I-I do believe I pushed her, 1591 01:12:16,966 --> 01:12:19,367 When she-- only when she approached me 1592 01:12:19,369 --> 01:12:21,436 To try to hit me, I think, with the phone, 1593 01:12:21,504 --> 01:12:22,504 Or to smack me or something, 1594 01:12:22,572 --> 01:12:24,705 I just kind of stiff-armed her away. 1595 01:12:24,774 --> 01:12:26,173 I think she fell down. 1596 01:12:26,175 --> 01:12:27,709 That was the extent of it. 1597 01:12:27,777 --> 01:12:28,976 ♪♪ 1598 01:12:28,978 --> 01:12:30,077 - Really? 1599 01:12:30,146 --> 01:12:31,846 Holly called the cops that night and said 1600 01:12:31,915 --> 01:12:33,915 Kennedy punched her five times. 1601 01:12:33,917 --> 01:12:35,316 He'd already fled, but she said she was 1602 01:12:35,385 --> 01:12:37,184 Gonna get a restraining order against him, 1603 01:12:37,253 --> 01:12:40,522 But before she could, he was at her door again. 1604 01:12:40,590 --> 01:12:43,090 And when holly called the police this time, 1605 01:12:43,159 --> 01:12:45,493 Kennedy tried to escape and fought with two of them 1606 01:12:45,495 --> 01:12:47,561 Before he was finally arrested. 1607 01:12:47,630 --> 01:12:49,698 And it was only then, after she'd turned him in 1608 01:12:49,766 --> 01:12:52,800 And he was in jail facing years in prison, 1609 01:12:52,869 --> 01:12:55,203 Burning up with anger toward holly, 1610 01:12:55,271 --> 01:12:58,272 That he called his attorney, charlie feliciano, 1611 01:12:58,341 --> 01:12:59,875 To try to make a deal. 1612 01:12:59,942 --> 01:13:03,144 - You say, "charlie, get me the police. 1613 01:13:03,212 --> 01:13:06,680 "I gotta help myself get out of this jam. 1614 01:13:06,749 --> 01:13:09,617 "I'm gonna tell on holly." right? 1615 01:13:09,686 --> 01:13:11,887 - Also, he was concerned that she would try to 1616 01:13:11,954 --> 01:13:15,289 Put this on me. - Oh! 1617 01:13:15,291 --> 01:13:18,159 So now we got a conspiracy theory goin' here, 1618 01:13:18,227 --> 01:13:21,629 That holly's now gonna blame you for the death of matt. 1619 01:13:21,698 --> 01:13:22,830 Is that what you're tellin' me? 1620 01:13:22,899 --> 01:13:25,867 - It's just attorney's recommendation. 1621 01:13:25,935 --> 01:13:28,570 - This attorney, who'd bent over backwards 1622 01:13:28,638 --> 01:13:31,238 To provide jamison with a job and a place to stay 1623 01:13:31,307 --> 01:13:34,175 While he was on probation from an earlier conviction. 1624 01:13:34,243 --> 01:13:35,644 And what happened? 1625 01:13:35,711 --> 01:13:37,812 Kennedy stole from him. 1626 01:13:37,880 --> 01:13:39,180 And... 1627 01:13:39,182 --> 01:13:42,217 - Jamison threatened your life? - He threatened me, yes. 1628 01:13:42,285 --> 01:13:44,586 - And he threatened your family, also? 1629 01:13:44,654 --> 01:13:45,786 - Yes. 1630 01:13:45,855 --> 01:13:48,255 - He had mental problems and was not stable, right? 1631 01:13:48,257 --> 01:13:50,992 - Correct. - According to the defense, 1632 01:13:51,060 --> 01:13:53,627 Not even the police believed kennedy. 1633 01:13:53,696 --> 01:13:56,096 For more than two years, they did nothing 1634 01:13:56,165 --> 01:13:58,532 About his allegation. And after those years? 1635 01:13:58,601 --> 01:13:59,600 Well, according to the defense, 1636 01:13:59,669 --> 01:14:01,869 They couldn't find any other evidence. 1637 01:14:01,871 --> 01:14:03,805 They put his story to the test 1638 01:14:03,874 --> 01:14:06,874 By orchestrating that phone call from kennedy 1639 01:14:06,876 --> 01:14:11,880 In prison to holly, trying to get her to incriminate herself. 1640 01:14:11,948 --> 01:14:15,416 Curiously, the prosecution didn't mention that call 1641 01:14:15,485 --> 01:14:18,953 In court, so the defense was only too happy 1642 01:14:19,021 --> 01:14:21,755 To push play for the jury. 1643 01:14:21,824 --> 01:14:24,758 This was something they had to hear. 1644 01:14:24,827 --> 01:14:26,627 - Holly. - Yeah? 1645 01:14:26,696 --> 01:14:30,499 - Do you know who this is? - Uh, yeah, hi, jamison! 1646 01:14:30,566 --> 01:14:34,569 - Holly was taken by surprise. Hadn't heard from him for years. 1647 01:14:34,571 --> 01:14:36,671 Police, of course, were listening. 1648 01:14:46,182 --> 01:14:48,517 Didn't work out so well for the police, 1649 01:14:48,584 --> 01:14:50,485 Or for mr. Kennedy. 1650 01:15:17,346 --> 01:15:19,680 No, said the defense, holly didn't confess. 1651 01:15:19,749 --> 01:15:21,215 Not then, not ever. 1652 01:15:21,217 --> 01:15:24,820 And kennedy was a sick puppy who saw an opportunity 1653 01:15:24,887 --> 01:15:28,756 To combine revenge with a little self-help. 1654 01:15:28,824 --> 01:15:32,226 - You are now trying to tell everybody 1655 01:15:32,295 --> 01:15:35,296 That holly confessed to you... 1656 01:15:36,899 --> 01:15:40,768 About this case, because it would benefit you, 1657 01:15:40,836 --> 01:15:42,069 Correct? 1658 01:15:42,138 --> 01:15:44,972 - Uh, I don't think-- I know it's morally right, sir. 1659 01:15:45,041 --> 01:15:46,107 - You know it's morally right. 1660 01:15:46,109 --> 01:15:48,175 If you knew it was morally right, sir, 1661 01:15:48,244 --> 01:15:51,712 You would have gone to the police on September 26. 1662 01:15:51,781 --> 01:15:53,581 Isn't that correct, sir? 1663 01:15:53,583 --> 01:15:56,184 - I should've. - Big morals, right? 1664 01:15:56,252 --> 01:15:57,519 - I should've, but I was very confused. 1665 01:15:57,587 --> 01:16:00,187 - Thank you very much. I have no further questions. 1666 01:16:00,256 --> 01:16:02,923 - The prosecution said kennedy did not get a deal 1667 01:16:02,992 --> 01:16:05,726 In exchange for his story. 1668 01:16:05,728 --> 01:16:07,662 One more question to answer: 1669 01:16:07,730 --> 01:16:11,198 If it wasn't holly, who was it? 1670 01:16:11,267 --> 01:16:14,870 For that the defense offered dr. Robert bux, 1671 01:16:14,937 --> 01:16:17,005 Forensic pathologist. 1672 01:16:17,073 --> 01:16:20,607 Matt wasn't poisoned slowly over time, 1673 01:16:20,677 --> 01:16:24,345 Said dr. Bux. The coroner simply made a mistake. 1674 01:16:24,414 --> 01:16:28,215 All that pain matt suffered in the weeks before his death? 1675 01:16:28,284 --> 01:16:31,352 That was from simple kidney stones, said dr. Bux. 1676 01:16:31,420 --> 01:16:34,622 Nothing at all to do with antifreeze. 1677 01:16:34,690 --> 01:16:39,294 - Is flank pain a symptom of ethylene glycol poisoning? 1678 01:16:39,362 --> 01:16:41,462 - Uh, shouldn't be, no. 1679 01:16:41,464 --> 01:16:45,899 - No. This wasn't a case of chronic antifreeze poisoning. 1680 01:16:45,968 --> 01:16:48,836 This was a textbook case of acute poisoning. 1681 01:16:48,838 --> 01:16:51,973 One large does, said dr. Bux. 1682 01:16:52,042 --> 01:16:54,509 - This is a massive acute ingestion. 1683 01:16:54,577 --> 01:16:57,044 These types of ingestions, he's gonna have to drink 1684 01:16:57,113 --> 01:16:58,579 Almost a pint of it. 1685 01:16:58,581 --> 01:17:00,715 - And the most likely person to have poisoned him 1686 01:17:00,717 --> 01:17:04,518 With a drink of that size was matt himself. 1687 01:17:04,587 --> 01:17:08,122 - As to the manner of death, 1688 01:17:08,191 --> 01:17:09,991 What would your ruling be? 1689 01:17:10,059 --> 01:17:11,926 - Probably be a suicide. 1690 01:17:11,928 --> 01:17:15,195 - Suicide by antifreeze. 1691 01:17:15,264 --> 01:17:18,266 A method more common than most people realize, 1692 01:17:18,334 --> 01:17:19,333 Said the defense. 1693 01:17:19,402 --> 01:17:21,936 Who kills themself with ethylene glycol, 1694 01:17:21,938 --> 01:17:23,071 With antifreeze? 1695 01:17:23,139 --> 01:17:26,006 That stuff would be horrible. What a terrible death. 1696 01:17:26,075 --> 01:17:28,143 - Not true. It happens all the time. 1697 01:17:28,210 --> 01:17:30,010 - And there have been some famous cases 1698 01:17:30,012 --> 01:17:31,146 Covered in the media: 1699 01:17:31,213 --> 01:17:32,880 A retired pro football player, 1700 01:17:32,948 --> 01:17:35,216 A writer for "Saturday night live." 1701 01:17:35,284 --> 01:17:36,750 But why matt? 1702 01:17:36,819 --> 01:17:38,619 - He had gambling debts. 1703 01:17:38,687 --> 01:17:40,421 He was depressed. 1704 01:17:40,489 --> 01:17:43,023 He wasn't happy at work. 1705 01:17:43,092 --> 01:17:47,628 Throw in experience of pain from kidney stones. 1706 01:17:47,697 --> 01:17:49,631 Throw in maybe they weren't having 1707 01:17:49,699 --> 01:17:52,099 The best relationship at that time. 1708 01:17:52,101 --> 01:17:54,935 That all adds up to suicide. 1709 01:17:54,937 --> 01:17:57,838 - And at that, the defense asked the judge 1710 01:17:57,840 --> 01:18:00,442 To throw out the charges against holly. 1711 01:18:00,509 --> 01:18:01,842 - Your honor, there has to be evidence, 1712 01:18:01,911 --> 01:18:02,844 There has to be proof, 1713 01:18:02,912 --> 01:18:04,779 There has to be something that the state did 1714 01:18:04,781 --> 01:18:10,651 To show that holly was the one who did it. 1715 01:18:10,653 --> 01:18:13,921 And it just doesn't exist. 1716 01:18:13,990 --> 01:18:14,723 - For a moment it seemed 1717 01:18:14,790 --> 01:18:17,257 The judge might grant the motion. 1718 01:18:17,326 --> 01:18:20,061 But, no, he ruled holly mcfeeture's fate 1719 01:18:20,129 --> 01:18:23,197 Would be decided by the jury. 1720 01:18:23,199 --> 01:18:26,267 As it turned out, very slowly. 1721 01:18:29,605 --> 01:18:31,004 - Ethylene glycol. 1722 01:18:31,073 --> 01:18:34,875 Odorless, colorless, sweet tasting. 1723 01:18:34,944 --> 01:18:37,478 - But did holly use it to kill matt? 1724 01:18:37,546 --> 01:18:40,715 When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 1725 01:18:49,491 --> 01:18:51,559 - It was seven years almost to the day 1726 01:18:51,627 --> 01:18:55,295 Since matt podolak took his last painful breaths. 1727 01:18:55,297 --> 01:18:57,431 The prosecutor appealed to the jury, 1728 01:18:57,500 --> 01:18:59,767 Convict holly mcfeeture. 1729 01:18:59,769 --> 01:19:03,237 - He fell in love with the wrong woman. 1730 01:19:03,305 --> 01:19:06,039 She was toxic to him. 1731 01:19:06,108 --> 01:19:08,843 This was the closing message, a stark visual. 1732 01:19:08,845 --> 01:19:10,711 Look how easy, said the prosecutor 1733 01:19:10,779 --> 01:19:15,115 For holly to mix antifreeze to matt's beloved iced tea. 1734 01:19:15,184 --> 01:19:18,185 Look how hard for matt to detect the poison. 1735 01:19:18,254 --> 01:19:19,720 - Ethylene glycol. 1736 01:19:19,789 --> 01:19:23,457 Odorless, colorless, sweet tasting. 1737 01:19:23,526 --> 01:19:25,325 The defense appealed to the heart. 1738 01:19:25,394 --> 01:19:28,595 There were two tragedies in this story, they said, 1739 01:19:28,597 --> 01:19:31,532 Matt's death and holly's suffering. 1740 01:19:31,534 --> 01:19:33,333 Nothing could be done about the first, 1741 01:19:33,402 --> 01:19:34,735 Said the defense, 1742 01:19:34,737 --> 01:19:37,504 But the jury could rectify the second. 1743 01:19:37,573 --> 01:19:39,039 - You've gotta end the nightmare. 1744 01:19:39,108 --> 01:19:43,610 You've gotta put to rest this family's tragedy. 1745 01:19:43,679 --> 01:19:45,813 - This could be a close call. 1746 01:19:45,881 --> 01:19:49,984 The jury went out, no verdict at the end of that first day. 1747 01:19:50,052 --> 01:19:51,686 Or the next. 1748 01:19:51,754 --> 01:19:54,421 Matt's brother mark didn't know what to think. 1749 01:19:54,490 --> 01:19:57,090 - You don't know, is the jury being out long 1750 01:19:57,159 --> 01:19:58,559 A bad thing or a good thing? 1751 01:19:58,627 --> 01:20:00,494 - Holly's sister chrissy was nervous, 1752 01:20:00,563 --> 01:20:01,962 Tried to stay confident. 1753 01:20:01,964 --> 01:20:06,633 - I mean, they had hearsay from a man that was in prison 1754 01:20:06,635 --> 01:20:09,703 And some iced tea on a table. 1755 01:20:09,772 --> 01:20:12,240 - Finally, toward the end of day three, 1756 01:20:12,308 --> 01:20:14,041 Cell phones started buzzing. 1757 01:20:14,110 --> 01:20:15,542 Verdict. 1758 01:20:15,611 --> 01:20:17,711 Holly, looking like she'd seen a ghost, 1759 01:20:17,780 --> 01:20:20,415 Headed toward the courtroom surrounded by her family. 1760 01:20:20,482 --> 01:20:22,249 - Please rise. 1761 01:20:22,251 --> 01:20:24,051 - As the jury filed in, 1762 01:20:24,120 --> 01:20:27,855 Holly began mouthing the lord's prayer. 1763 01:20:27,857 --> 01:20:29,590 - I understand you've reached a verdict in this case. 1764 01:20:29,658 --> 01:20:30,458 Is that correct? 1765 01:20:30,526 --> 01:20:33,928 - And then the judge began to read. 1766 01:20:33,996 --> 01:20:38,132 - "we, the jury in this case being duly impaneled and sworn, 1767 01:20:38,134 --> 01:20:40,601 "do find the defendant holly mcfeeture 1768 01:20:40,669 --> 01:20:45,273 Guilty of aggravated murder, violation of section..." 1769 01:20:45,341 --> 01:20:47,942 - I heard those words, "guilty," 1770 01:20:48,010 --> 01:20:51,980 And, uh, it was emotional. 1771 01:20:52,047 --> 01:20:54,215 - Please... 1772 01:20:54,283 --> 01:20:57,285 - Mark turned to hug his mother, 1773 01:20:57,353 --> 01:20:59,620 Her face awash in tears. 1774 01:20:59,622 --> 01:21:01,088 Across the courtroom... 1775 01:21:01,090 --> 01:21:03,024 - Nobody could react, 1776 01:21:03,092 --> 01:21:06,226 Because it was total shock. 1777 01:21:06,295 --> 01:21:08,796 Nobody was expecting that. 1778 01:21:08,798 --> 01:21:10,697 - The guards came then, 1779 01:21:10,699 --> 01:21:13,901 Wrapped handcuffs around holly's wrists. 1780 01:21:13,903 --> 01:21:17,172 She shook her head no, seemed to be reeling, 1781 01:21:17,239 --> 01:21:19,640 The words less than a whisper. 1782 01:21:22,778 --> 01:21:27,381 - She looked at me and she was gone. 1783 01:21:27,383 --> 01:21:29,049 - What did that do to you? 1784 01:21:29,118 --> 01:21:31,184 - It tore me apart. 1785 01:21:31,253 --> 01:21:35,055 I-I really couldn't understand how this happened. 1786 01:21:35,124 --> 01:21:38,192 It wasn't supposed to happen like this. 1787 01:21:38,194 --> 01:21:40,795 - The defense team felt gutted. 1788 01:21:40,863 --> 01:21:44,197 The prosecution's case had been so flimsy, they thought. 1789 01:21:44,266 --> 01:21:46,400 How had it all gone so wrong? 1790 01:21:46,469 --> 01:21:48,001 - I'm still wondering what happened. 1791 01:21:48,070 --> 01:21:50,805 - This was not an easy one for the prosecutors either, 1792 01:21:50,873 --> 01:21:54,142 The sort of case you might have reasonably walked away from, 1793 01:21:54,209 --> 01:21:56,477 If you didn't let yourself get caught up 1794 01:21:56,479 --> 01:21:58,813 And start to care a lot. 1795 01:21:58,881 --> 01:22:00,347 What was it like to get your guilty verdict? 1796 01:22:00,416 --> 01:22:02,817 - It affirms the work that we do. 1797 01:22:02,885 --> 01:22:05,152 - It was a good one. - A very good one. 1798 01:22:05,220 --> 01:22:06,287 - What made it so good? 1799 01:22:06,355 --> 01:22:10,157 - You meet with the family at the beginning, 1800 01:22:10,226 --> 01:22:13,961 And you're on this journey all the way through, 1801 01:22:14,029 --> 01:22:17,698 And to be able to deliver something to them 1802 01:22:17,766 --> 01:22:21,635 That they believed from the beginning, 1803 01:22:21,704 --> 01:22:24,137 Um, made it very satisfying. 1804 01:22:24,206 --> 01:22:25,839 - A month later at the sentencing, 1805 01:22:25,908 --> 01:22:27,909 Holly's sister wanted the judge to know 1806 01:22:27,977 --> 01:22:29,576 What the children thought, 1807 01:22:29,578 --> 01:22:32,447 That their mother was not a murderer 1808 01:22:32,514 --> 01:22:37,050 And that they were begging him, send her home to them. 1809 01:22:37,052 --> 01:22:40,053 - "my mom is the greatest mom in the world, 1810 01:22:40,122 --> 01:22:43,925 "because she is sweet and kind. 1811 01:22:43,993 --> 01:22:46,060 "I really want to see her again. 1812 01:22:46,128 --> 01:22:48,862 "I really miss her. 1813 01:22:48,931 --> 01:22:51,665 I wish I could have my mom back." 1814 01:22:51,667 --> 01:22:53,401 - Then a surprise. 1815 01:22:53,469 --> 01:22:55,669 Matt's father, the retired cop, 1816 01:22:55,738 --> 01:22:57,471 Had become an ordained minister 1817 01:22:57,473 --> 01:22:58,473 Since his son's death, 1818 01:22:58,540 --> 01:23:01,409 And he told the judge he had made a decision. 1819 01:23:01,477 --> 01:23:05,679 - I have come to the point where I can forgive holly. 1820 01:23:05,748 --> 01:23:07,414 And I have forgiven her, 1821 01:23:07,483 --> 01:23:08,682 And I'm asking you, your honor, 1822 01:23:08,751 --> 01:23:11,485 To temper justice with mercy. 1823 01:23:11,487 --> 01:23:12,752 But mark? 1824 01:23:12,822 --> 01:23:16,490 Seven years of suspicion, frustration, anger 1825 01:23:16,558 --> 01:23:20,494 Finally came bursting out and filled the courtroom. 1826 01:23:20,563 --> 01:23:24,499 - I just have one simple question, why? 1827 01:23:24,566 --> 01:23:26,300 Why put someone in unimaginable pain 1828 01:23:26,302 --> 01:23:28,903 When you could've just walked away from the relationship? 1829 01:23:28,971 --> 01:23:31,037 Why continue to slowly poison him 1830 01:23:31,107 --> 01:23:33,106 When you could've stopped? 1831 01:23:33,175 --> 01:23:34,708 And why take him away from those children 1832 01:23:34,710 --> 01:23:36,577 That he so dearly loved? 1833 01:23:36,645 --> 01:23:38,578 - The sentence was swift and stern. 1834 01:23:38,647 --> 01:23:40,914 - The nature of the crime in the case 1835 01:23:40,983 --> 01:23:43,383 Cannot be overlooked in this matter, 1836 01:23:43,385 --> 01:23:45,852 And the court's going to impose a sentence of life 1837 01:23:45,921 --> 01:23:49,790 With parole eligibility after 30 full years. 1838 01:23:49,858 --> 01:23:51,925 - Holly mcfeeture won't be eligible for parole 1839 01:23:51,994 --> 01:23:54,928 Until 2043. 1840 01:23:54,997 --> 01:23:56,196 As for the children, 1841 01:23:56,198 --> 01:23:58,999 Samantha and josh moved in with one of holly's sisters. 1842 01:23:59,001 --> 01:24:01,468 Mark said he and his parents see the kids often 1843 01:24:01,537 --> 01:24:02,737 And that both families have been 1844 01:24:02,805 --> 01:24:05,105 Very friendly toward each other, 1845 01:24:05,107 --> 01:24:07,808 Something that would have made his brother proud. 1846 01:24:07,810 --> 01:24:08,676 - We want them in our lives. 1847 01:24:08,744 --> 01:24:12,979 We want them to know who their dad was. 1848 01:24:13,048 --> 01:24:15,083 - The night before holly was shipped out to state prison 1849 01:24:15,150 --> 01:24:17,085 To start serving her life sentence, 1850 01:24:17,152 --> 01:24:19,553 Chrissy took the children to visit with her. 1851 01:24:19,622 --> 01:24:20,687 They couldn't touch. 1852 01:24:20,689 --> 01:24:22,956 The glass barrier separated them. 1853 01:24:23,025 --> 01:24:24,959 They spoke over a jailhouse phone. 1854 01:24:25,027 --> 01:24:27,762 - That just breaks my heart. - It's hard to watch, huh? 1855 01:24:27,830 --> 01:24:29,230 - Very hard to watch. 1856 01:24:29,298 --> 01:24:31,899 I had to turn away numerous times 1857 01:24:31,967 --> 01:24:34,901 Because like I said it was just heartbreaking 1858 01:24:34,903 --> 01:24:38,105 Knowing that they couldn't just touch, 1859 01:24:38,107 --> 01:24:40,474 She couldn't touch her babies that she loves so much. 1860 01:24:42,344 --> 01:24:45,378 - And mark podolak went where he always goes 1861 01:24:45,447 --> 01:24:47,581 On the anniversary of matt's death, 1862 01:24:47,649 --> 01:24:50,250 To talk to his brother at the cemetery. 1863 01:24:50,319 --> 01:24:53,453 - I hope that you're proud of your big brother, a little bit, 1864 01:24:53,455 --> 01:24:56,857 Because I kinda hopefully helped you rest in peace 1865 01:24:56,925 --> 01:25:00,294 A little bit more than-- than you have been. 1866 01:25:00,362 --> 01:25:02,330 - And there was still a podolak 1867 01:25:02,397 --> 01:25:04,798 Playing amateur hockey here in cleveland. 1868 01:25:04,867 --> 01:25:07,201 [shouting] 1869 01:25:07,203 --> 01:25:09,603 Matt loved the game. 1870 01:25:09,605 --> 01:25:12,106 Mark took it up in his memory. 1871 01:25:12,174 --> 01:25:15,543 And since matt couldn't be here to play, said mark, 1872 01:25:15,611 --> 01:25:17,377 He'd play for him. 1873 01:25:23,151 --> 01:25:24,352 - That's all for this edition 1874 01:25:24,419 --> 01:25:26,621 Of "dateline: Secrets uncovered." 1875 01:25:26,688 --> 01:25:28,855 I'm kate snow. Thank you for watching.