-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
[ OMINOUS CHORD STRIKES ]
A STUNNING DEVELOPMENT
IN THE 15-YEAR-OLD MURDER CASE OF CHANDRA LEVY.
Narrator: IT'S ONE OF THE MOST BAFFLING MYSTERIES IN RECENT HISTORY.
WE ARE STILL ASKING, "WHO KILLED CHANDRA LEVY?"
TONIGHT, OUR THREE-PART INVESTIGATION REACHES
A REMARKABLE CONCLUSION,
WITH BOMBSHELL COURTROOM REVELATIONS.
SHE LOOKED HIM IN THE EYE, AND SHE SAID,
"YOU ARE LOWER THAN A COCKROACH.
YOU SHOULD ROT IN HELL."
A STAR WITNESS' EXPLOSIVE SECRET THROWS JUSTICE INTO QUESTION.
HE STARTS SAYING HE COULD KILL SOMEBODY
BY STICKING A SHANK
THROUGH THEIR EYEBALL, INTO THEIR BRAIN.
WE SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE PRIME SUSPECT.
[ Speaking Spanish ]
Narrator: AND, IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW,
THE LEVY FAMILY'S INVESTIGATOR
TELLS US WHAT HE THINKS HAPPENED TO CHANDRA.
I'M SATISFIED THAT I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
[ SUSPENSEFUL OUTRO PLAYS ]
Alexander: THIS TRULY WAS THE CRAZIEST CASE EVER TO HIT WASHINGTON, DC.
Dimond: WHO KILLED CHANDRA LEVY?
Doyle: THE STORY GOES FROM ZERO TO 60 VERY QUICKLY.
Dimond: WHY IS A 53-YEAR-OLD CONGRESSMAN CALLING A YOUNG INTERN?
Chung: DID YOU KILL CHANDRA LEVY?
I DID NOT.
Grimm: THEY SIMPLY FOUND BONES IN A PARK ALMOST A YEAR AFTER.
Alexander: THERE WERE NO EYEWITNESSES.
THERE WAS NO MURDER WEAPON.
Dimond: THEY'D FINALLY PUT IT ALL TOGETHER,
AND IT POINTED TO ONE MAN:
INGMAR GUANDIQUE.
Grimm: MR. MORALES WAS A JAILHOUSE SNITCH, A RAT.
Velez-Mitchell: THIS CASE THAT TOOK SO MANY YEARS TO BUILD
HAS COLLAPSED OVERNIGHT.
[ DISTORTED TUNE PLAYS ]
Susan: IT'S THE WORST THING A MOTHER COULD EVER FACE.
**
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
FOR MONTHS, PROSECUTORS IN THE CHANDRA LEVY INVESTIGATION
HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BUILD A CASE AGAINST INGMAR GUANDIQUE.
MR. GUANDIQUE PLED GUILTY
TO ASSAULTING TWO WOMEN IN ROCK CREEK PARK,
WITHIN A QUARTER MILE OF WHERE MISS LEVY DISAPPEARED,
AND HE WAS SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON.
THAT'S WHY THE GOVERNMENT FOCUSED ON HIM AS A SUSPECT.
THE POLICE WERE CONFIDENT THAT THAT WAS THEIR GUY.
Narrator: HOWEVER, THE STATE'S CASE IS ENTIRELY CIRCUMSTANTIAL.
THERE'S NO FORENSIC EVIDENCE THAT CONNECTS HIM
TO CHANDRA LEVY'S DEATH,
AND HE INSISTS HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
IT'S HANGIN' BY A THREAD, THIS CASE.
Narrator: THEN, IN 2009,
A MAN STEPS FORWARD AND TRANSFORMS THE INVESTIGATION.
IT WAS A JAILHOUSE INFORMANT WHO CAUGHT EVERYBODY BY SURPRISE.
ARMANDO MORALES IS A FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, NATIVE,
A LIFETIME CRIMINAL WITH A LONG RECORD OF VIOLENT CRIMES.
MORALES SAID THAT INGMAR GUANDIQUE TOLD HIM
HE KILLED CHANDRA LEVY
IN ROCK CREEK PARK. [ EERIE MUSIC CLIMBS ]
Velez-Mitchell: THIS IS A BIG BREAKTHROUGH FOR COPS.
IT'S ALL COMING TOGETHER.
TODAY WE MAKE A VERY SIGNIFICANT ANNOUNCEMENT.
WE ANNOUNCE THAT THE
METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE SECURED
AN ARREST WARRANT IN THE HOMICIDE,
IN 2001, OF CHANDRA LEVY.
THE ARRESTEE IS
INGMAR GUANDIQUE.
PROSECUTORS THINK THEY'VE SOLVED THE CASE.
THEY'VE GOT THEIR GUY.
THIS CASE HAS BEEN AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER.
WHEN GUANDIQUE WAS ARRESTED, I JUST THOUGHT,
"FINALLY, FINALLY, THIS CASE CLOSES."
Narrator: ON OCTOBER 18,
NEARLY 10 YEARS AFTER CHANDRA DISAPPEARED,
THE TRIAL IS SET TO BEGIN.
THERE'S CONSIDERABLE ANTICIPATION ABOUT THIS TRIAL.
IT'S A JAMMED COURTROOM.
THERE ARE PROBABLY A DOZEN OR MORE REPORTERS.
Narrator: HELMING THE PROSECUTION IS VETERAN LITIGATOR AMANDA HAINES.
SHE'S AN ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
SHE'S HIGHLY EXPERIENCED, HIGHLY THOUGHT OF, VERY AGGRESSIVE.
Alexander: AMANDA HAINES' BIGGEST OBSTACLE IN THIS CASE?
THE FACT THAT IT'S NINE YEARS OLD,
THERE'S NO DNA,
THERE IS NO FORENSIC EVIDENCE LINKING GUANDIQUE TO THE CRIME,
THERE'S NO MURDER WEAPON, AND THEY REALLY DON'T EVEN KNOW
HOW CHANDRA LEVY DIED.
Narrator: FINALLY, THE PROSECUTION AND DEFENSE
BEGIN TO MAKE THEIR RESPECTIVE ARGUMENTS.
BOTH SIDES GIVE THEIR OPENING STATEMENT.
PROSECUTION SAYS, "GUANDIQUE MURDERED THIS WOMAN,
CHOKED HER, ROBBED HER."
THE PROSECUTION WAS SAYING HE TOOK THIS POOR WOMAN APART.
Narrator: THEN, HAINES BEGINS TO BUILD HER CASE AGAINST GUANDIQUE
AND MAKES A CURIOUS DECISION.
PROSECUTORS, MUCH TO EVERYONE'S SURPRISE,
CALLED A WITNESS WHO NO ONE EXPECTED:
GARY CONDIT.
GARY CONDIT WAS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
THAT HAD TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE PROSECUTORS.
THEY KNEW HE WOULD BE COMING UP AS A POTENTIAL
ALTERNATIVE SUSPECT IN THE EYES OF THE DEFENSE.
SO THE PROSECUTION TEAM SUMMONED MR. CONDIT
FOR THE PURPOSE OF DENYING HAVING ANYTHING TO DO
WITH CHANDRA LEVY'S DISAPPEARANCE.
Narrator: CONDIT HAS NEVER PUBLICLY ADMITTED
HE HAD A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHANDRA.
NOW, SOME OBSERVERS WONDER IF THAT WILL FINALLY CHANGE.
SO, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS OF DECLINING TO SPEAK
IN ANY SORT OF VIVID DETAIL ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP,
THERE WAS THIS ANTICIPATION THAT,
UNDER THE PRESSURE OF HIS OATH AND IN THE PRESENCE OF A JUDGE,
HE WOULD FINALLY SPILL THE BEANS.
WHEN GARY CONDIT CAME INTO THE COURTHOUSE IN 2010
FOR THIS TRIAL, HE WAS A REGULAR CITIZEN,
BUT HE WAS STILL TREATED, BY THE COURTS,
BY PROSECUTORS, AND BY POLICE, AS A DIGNITARY.
Grimm: EVERYONE'S ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEATS.
CONGRESSMAN CONDIT RAISES HIS HAND TO TELL THE TRUTH,
[ HEARTBEAT ] THEN HE WAS ASKED
ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH MISS LEVY.
HE TELLS THE COURT THAT, INDEED,
THE PAIR HAD A FRIENDLY RELATIONSHIP,
THAT HE WAS A MENTOR TO HER,
AND THAT THE PAIR NEVER HAD ANY DISAGREEMENTS.
HE WAS VERY STEELY-EYED, VERY CALM,
AND HE DID NOT GET EMOTIONAL.
HE EMPHATICALLY DENIES HAVING ANYTHING TO DO
WITH CHANDRA'S DISAPPEARANCE AND MURDER.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
SO GARY CONDIT WAS ON THE STAND FOR ONE PURPOSE, ALONE,
FOR THE PROSECUTION, BUT, AS PART OF THAT APPEARANCE,
HE HAD TO FACE THE DEFENSE TEAM AS WELL.
THE DEFENSE WANTED TO GET MORE ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN GARY CONDIT AND CHANDRA LEVY.
THEY ASKED THE QUESTIONS REPEATEDLY:
"DID YOU HAVE A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP?"
CONDIT SAID, "MY RELATIONSHIP WITH CHANDRA LEVY
HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS CASE.
I AM NOT ON TRIAL, SO I DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO ANYTHING
ABOUT MY RELATIONSHIP WITH CHANDRA LEVY,"
AND THE JUDGE AGREED WITH THAT.
HE JUST LOOKED AT THE DEFENSE LAWYER AND SAID,
"I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HER DISAPPEARANCE,"
AND ESSENTIALLY CHALLENGED HIM.
"IF YOU GOT MORE, JUST BRING IT, BUT I KNOW YOU DON'T"
AND THAT WAS IT.
AND...THE AIR SORT OF COMES OUT OF THE BALLOON.
Alexander: HE WAS ON THE STAND FOR ALL OF 10 MINUTES.
PEOPLE THOUGHT THIS WAS GOING TO BE AN EMOTIONAL,
A REVEALING, TESTIMONY, BUT IT WASN'T.
THE CONGRESSMAN CAME ACROSS AS DEFENSIVE
AND UNFORTHCOMING AND UNHELPFUL AND ANGRY
AT THE POSITION HE HAD BEEN PUT IN.
TO PUT CONDIT ON THE STAND, BY THAT PROSECUTION,
WAS A VERY CLEVER AND TACTICALLY SMART THING TO DO.
Narrator: THEN, THE STATE ATTEMPTS
TO DIRECTLY LINK GUANDIQUE TO THE CRIME.
THE PROSECUTION'S CASE: THEY DIDN'T HAVE EYEWITNESSES,
THEY DIDN'T HAVE FORENSIC EVIDENCE,
THEY DIDN'T HAVE DNA, FINGERPRINTS,
ALL THE TRADITIONAL STUFF JURORS LOOK FOR.
WHAT THEY HAD WERE OTHER WOMEN THAT HAD RUN IN THE PARK.
Narrator: CHRISTY WIEGAND AND HALLE SHILLING
ARE CALLED TO THE STAND.
THE MOST EMOTIONAL TIME WAS THE TESTIMONY OF THE WOMEN
WHO WERE ASSAULTED BY INGMAR GUANDIQUE.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
Dimond: THEY PUT THAT JURY INSIDE ROCK CREEK PARK,
WHERE THEY WERE RUNNING.
THEIR TESTIMONY WAS CHILLING.
ONE WOMAN BROKE DOWN INTO TEARS.
THEY THOUGHT THAT THIS MAN WAS GOING TO RAPE THEM,
THAT THIS MAN WAS GOING TO STAB THEM AND KILL THEM,
AND IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE JURY HEARD
WHAT WAS POSSIBLY GOING THROUGH CHANDRA LEVY'S MIND
AND THE JURY WAS RIVETED.
THE PROSECUTION WAS SAYING, "DO YOU SEE HIM IN THE COURTROOM?"
AND SHE SAYS, "YES. HE'S SEATED OVER THERE."
IT WAS SO DRAMATIC BECAUSE THE MAN WHO ATTACKED THEM
COULD VERY WELL HAVE BEEN THE MAN WHO ATTACKED CHANDRA LEVY
AND LEFT HER FOR DEAD IN THAT RAVINE.
IT WAS COMPELLING.
I FELT LIKE HE WAS IN A LOT OF TROUBLE
WHEN THAT TESTIMONY CAME IN.
Narrator: TO PAINT A DETAILED PICTURE OF CHANDRA'S FINAL MOMENTS,
THE STATE CALLS ITS STAR WITNESS.
SO THE PROSECUTION HAD ONE WITNESS
THEY BELIEVED WOULD SEAL THIS CASE
AND THEY CALLED THAT ONE WITNESS TO THE STAND.
THAT WAS ARMANDO MORALES.
HE HAD GLASSES, SOFT-SPOKEN, AND HE TOLD A STORY
THAT HE WAS AN OLD-SCHOOL GANGSTER FROM FRESNO,
BUT THAT, OVER THE YEARS IN PRISON,
HIS LIFE HAD TURNED AROUND
AND HE HAD GIVEN UP THAT GANGSTER LIFESTYLE.
AND HE SAYS THAT HE HADN'T HAD
A PRIOR EXPERIENCE WITH INFORMING.
Alexander: HE SAID, "I'M JUST DOING THIS BECAUSE I WANT TO HELP.
I'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.
I'M UNCOMFORTABLE DOING THIS,
BUT I WANT TO HELP THE LEVY FAMILY."
Narrator: MORALES THEN SHARES WITH THE JURY
EXACTLY WHAT GUANDIQUE TOLD HIM ABOUT THE CRIME.
THEY HEAR HOW INGMAR GUANDIQUE IS HIGH ON DRUGS,
NEEDS MONEY TO HELP WITH HIS DRUG HABITS,
AND HOW HE IS HIDING IN THE BUSHES, LIKE HE DID PREVIOUSLY,
IN THOSE ATTACKS THAT HE PLED GUILTY TO.
[ SINISTER MUSIC PLAYS ]
CHANDRA LEVY COMES THROUGH.
GUANDIQUE JUMPS OUT THE BUSHES
AND ATTACKS CHANDRA AND DRAGS HER INTO THE WOODS.
HE TRIES TO SMOTHER AND TRIES TO STEAL HER MONEY POUCH.
BUT, DURING THAT COURSE OF ACTION,
LEVY BECOMES UNCONSCIOUS.
HE LEAVES HER THERE IN THE WOODS
AND HE GRABS HER MONEY POUCH AND HE RUNS.
HE DID NOT THINK SHE WAS DEAD.
HE DID NOT KNOW SHE WAS DEAD.
Narrator: THE INFORMANT'S TESTIMONY GRIPS THE COURTROOM.
Alexander: MORALES WAS VERY CHARISMATIC.
HE WAS VERY FORTHCOMING. HE SMILED.
HE LOOKED AT THE JURY FROM TIME TO TIME, WHEN HE COMMENTED.
I WAS IMPRESSED WITH HIS CANDOR.
I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE FACT THAT IT LOOKED LIKE
HE WAS HONEST ABOUT EVERYTHING.
IT JUST SEEMED VERY SURREAL.
I JUST LISTENED.
I SAID, "THIS IS DAMN PAINFUL."
Alexander: HE WAS SUCH A POWERFUL STAR WITNESS.
HE WAS SO KEY TO THE PROSECUTION THAT,
AFTER HE TOOK THE STAND, THE PROSECUTION RESTED.
[ SINISTER MUSIC CLIMBS ] HE WAS ALL THEY NEEDED.
OR SO THEY BELIEVED.
Narrator: WHEN GUANDIQUE'S LAWYERS TAKE OVER,
THEY ATTEMPT TO POKE HOLES IN THE PROSECUTION'S CASE.
THE DEFENSE HAS GOING FOR THEM THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO PROOF
THAT THIS WOMAN WAS EVEN MURDERED.
THEY SIMPLY FOUND BONES AND REMAINS IN A PARK
ALMOST A YEAR AFTER.
Narrator: THEN, TO CAST SUSPICION AWAY FROM THEIR CLIENT,
THE DEFENSE INTRODUCES AN ALTERNATE THEORY.
IT CENTERS ON A LITTLE-REPORTED DETAIL
THAT EMERGED AFTER CHANDRA DISAPPEARED.
IN THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING BEFORE SHE VANISHED,
SOMEBODY CALLED 911, SAYING THEY HEARD A SCREAM
COMING FROM THE VICINITY OF CHANDRA LEVY'S APARTMENT.
COULD SHE HAVE EVEN BEEN KILLED IN HER APARTMENT
AND MOVED AND DUMPED IN THE PARK?
Narrator: TO FURTHER SUPPORT THIS THEORY,
THE DEFENSE INTRODUCES ANOTHER, CURIOUS, DETAIL.
WHEN THE LEVYS BECAME WORRIED
BECAUSE THEY HADN'T HEARD FROM CHANDRA,
THEY CALLED THE BUILDING MANAGER IN WASHINGTON, DC
AND SAID, "PLEASE, SLIP A NOTE UNDERNEATH THE DOOR.
TELL HER TO CALL HER PARENTS, CALL HOME."
THEY ASKED THE BUILDING MANAGER TO DO THAT SEVERAL TIMES,
SO THERE WERE SEVERAL NOTES.
AT THE GUANDIQUE TRIAL,
THE DEFENSE BROUGHT UP A FASCINATING LITTLE TIDBIT:
THAT THE NOTES WERE SCATTERED ALL OVER THE APARTMENT,
NOT RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE DOOR.
THIS, THE DEFENSE SAID, WAS AN INDICATION
THAT SOMEBODY HAD BEEN IN THAT APARTMENT
AFTER CHANDRA LEVY WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE DISAPPEARED.
Narrator: THE DEFENSE SUGGESTS IT MAY HAVE BEEN CHANDRA'S KILLER
RETURNING TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME.
Grimm: I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING.
IF I'M A JUROR, I ALREADY HAVE A REASONABLE DOUBT.
Narrator: AFTER 10 DAYS OF TESTIMONY, THE TRIAL CONCLUDES
AND THE JURY BEGINS THE PROCESS OF DELIBERATION.
A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT
THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A HUNG JURY.
MUCH TO OUR SURPRISE, 3.5 DAYS LATER, THEY COME BACK.
THEY ANNOUNCE THEY HAVE A VERDICT.
[ OMINOUS CHORD STRIKES ]
**
Narrator: THE CHANDRA LEVY MURDER TRIAL IS DRAWING TO A CLOSE.
NOW, AFTER 10 DAYS OF TESTIMONY,
THE FATE OF INGMAR GUANDIQUE RESTS IN THE HANDS OF THE JURY.
I'M KEITH ALEXANDER, A PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING REPORTER
WITH THE WASHINGTON POST.
A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT
THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A HUNG JURY.
WE DID NOT THINK ALL 12 JURORS WOULD BE ABLE
TO COME BACK WITH A VERDICT.
MUCH TO OUR SURPRISE, 3.5 DAYS LATER, THEY COME BACK.
THE JURY FOREMAN ANNOUNCED THEY HAD REACHED A VERDICT.
[ EERIE MUSIC PLAYS ]
THE JUDGE SAYS TO THE FOREPERSON,
"HOW DO YOU FIND THE DEFENDANT ON COUNT 1 OF THE INDICTMENT,
MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE OF CHANDRA LEVY?"
AND THE FOREMAN DOES NOT BLINK
AND HE SAYS, "GUILTY."
[ OMINOUS CHORD STRIKES ]
Alexander: WHEN THE VERDICT WAS ANNOUNCED,
GUANDIQUE, HE WAS LISTENING TO A TRANSLATOR.
HE YANKED THE HEADPHONES OFF AND THREW THEM DOWN ON THE TABLE
BEFORE HE WAS LED OUT OF THE COURTROOM.
IT WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL TIME.
[ MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS ] THE JURY, JUST A SHORT TIME AGO,
HANDED DOWN A GUILTY VERDICT IN CHANDRA LEVY'S MURDER TRIAL.
THIS IS CHANDRA LEVY'S MOTHER.
LET'S LISTEN TO HER. -I'M SORRY.
I'M EMOTIONAL HERE.
THE RESULT OF THE VERDICT
MAY BE GUILTY, BUT I HAVE A LIFETIME SENTENCE
OF A LOST LAMB, MISSING FROM OUR FAMILY TREE.
Alexander: THE PROSECUTION, THEY WERE EXCITED.
AMANDA HAINES SAID, "MIRACLES DO HAPPEN."
SHE WAS SO ELATED THAT THERE WAS A GUILTY VERDICT.
PROSECUTION DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB ON THE CASE.
THEY CALLED CONDIT.
THEY KILLED THAT DEFENSE.
THEY SET UP THE STAGE FOR MR. MORALES,
PUT HIM ON THE STAND.
HE WAS GOOD. HE WAS VERY GOOD.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
Narrator: NEARLY 3 MONTHS LATER,
GUANDIQUE'S SENTENCING HEARING COMMENCES.
AS IS CUSTOM, THE VICTIM'S FAMILY IS INVITED TO SPEAK.
CHANDRA LEVY'S MOTHER GOES TO THE PODIUM
AND SHE TALKS ABOUT HER DAUGHTER.
AND THEN SHE DID SOMETHING I'D NEVER HEARD.
VICTIMS AREN'T SUPPOSED TO TALK TO THE PERSON WHO
DID THE DEED.
SHE LOOKED HIM IN THE EYE AND SHE SAID,
"YOU KNOW, YOU ARE A HIDEOUS CREATURE.
YOU ARE LOWER THAN A COCKROACH.
YOU SHOULD ROT IN HELL" AND IT WAS VERY DRAMATIC.
AND THEN SHE LOOKS AT MR. GUANDIQUE AND SAYS,
"FINALLY, MR. GUANDIQUE, [BLEEP] YOU"...
[ OMINOUS CHORD STRIKES ]
AND TURNS AND SITS DOWN.
GUANDIQUE IS SENTENCED TO 60 YEARS BEHIND BARS.
IT'S CONSIDERED A BIG WIN FOR PROSECUTORS.
NOW, GUANDIQUE WOULD BE AT LEAST 80 YEARS OLD
BEFORE HE COULD FIRST BE RELEASED.
THE JUDGE SENTENCING HIM SAID HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE,
IF HE LIVED LONG ENOUGH TO BE RELEASED,
THAT HE WOULD NOT BE A DANGER TO SOCIETY.
Narrator: FOR THE LEVYS, IT SEEMS THAT JUSTICE HAS FINALLY BEEN SERVED.
FOR THE LEVYS, THIS CASE IS CLOSED.
BUT, EMOTIONALLY, THERE IS NO CLOSURE.
THEY STILL DON'T HAVE THEIR LOVED ONE.
THEY WILL NEVER HAVE THEIR LOVED ONE BACK.
BUT IN TERMS OF SOMEONE BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS CASE,
THEY WERE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.
[ SUSPENSEFUL OUTRO PLAYS ]
[ MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS ] Narrator: THE LEVYS
RETURN TO CALIFORNIA AND ATTEMPT TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES.
BUT THEN, ALMOST 5 YEARS LATER,
A MYSTERIOUS FIGURE STEPS FORWARD,
WITH A BIZARRE TALE THAT, SHE SAYS, IS RELATED TO THE CASE.
THIS WOMAN, WHO GOES BY THE NAME OF BABS PROLLER,
SHE COMES TO THE WASHINGTON POST AND SHE HAS SOME INFORMATION.
SHE'S AN OCCASIONAL ACTRESS
WITH THE NETFLIX SERIES "HOUSE OF CARDS."
WE HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS WOULD BE THE WOMAN
WHO WOULD BLOW THE ENTIRE CASE APART.
Narrator: PROLLER EXPLAINS TO THE POST THAT SHE'S RECENTLY DIVORCED
AND HAS BEEN LIVING AT A HOTEL IN ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND.
THERE, SHE HAD AN UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER.
IT WAS ON ONE PARTICULAR DAY
THAT SHE WAS WALKING WITH HER DOG
WHEN THE DOG GOT CAUGHT IN THE DOOR.
AND THIS MAN KIND OF SWOOPED IN OUT OF NOWHERE
AND SAVED HER DOG.
AND, IN AN ACT OF CHIVALRY, THIS GUY PICKS THE DOG UP
AND CARRIES THE DOG INTO THE HOTEL
AND SHE THINKS, "OH, HE'S AN ANIMAL LOVER."
Narrator: THE FELLOW HOTEL GUEST INTRODUCES HIMSELF AS PHOENIX
AND EXPLAINS THAT HE'S VISITING THE AREA.
THE TWO OF THEM BEGAN TALKING AND THEY STRUCK UP A FRIENDSHIP.
THEY TALKED ABOUT BUDDHISM.
THEY TALKED ABOUT LOVE OF DOGS.
THEY TALKED ABOUT LIFE, SO SHE FELT SAFE WITH THIS MAN.
Narrator: THE TWO BEGIN SOCIALIZING
AND, SOON, PHOENIX CONFIDES A DARK, PERSONAL HISTORY.
OVER SEVERAL DATES, HE BEGAN TALKING ABOUT HIS PAST,
HIS CRIMINAL PAST, AND THAT HE SPENT TIME IN PRISON.
HE STARTS TALKING LIKE A CON
AND TALKING ABOUT HIS VIOLENT TENDENCIES
AND SAYING HOW HE COULD KILL SOMEBODY
BY STICKING A SHANK THROUGH THEIR EYEBALL, INTO THEIR BRAIN.
Narrator: ACCORDING TO PROLLER, PHOENIX'S TALK QUICKLY TURNED
FROM BOASTFUL TO MENACING.
AT ONE POINT, THEY'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION
AND HE BEGINS TO THREATEN
AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAD ROBBED HER.
HE OFFERS TO KILL THE MAN
WHO RECENTLY STOLE SOME JEWELRY FROM HER.
HE SAID, "LOOK. HE STOLE FROM YOU
AND SO I WILL TAKE CARE OF HIM."
Velez-Mitchell: SHE SUDDENLY BECOMES AFRAID FOR HER OWN SAFETY.
I MEAN, WHAT IS THIS GUY CAPABLE OF?
COULD HE DO SOMETHING TO HER?
Narrator: PROLLER EXPLAINS THAT SHE THEN TOOK PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES.
SO SHE BEGAN SECRETLY RECORDING THEIR CONVERSATIONS.
SHE WAS RECORDING HIM JUST FOR SAFETY.
AND, DURING THESE HOURS AND HOURS OF CONVERSATION,
HE ALSO TELLS BABS PROLLER SOMETHING ELSE.
ONE OF THE THINGS HE REVEALS IS THAT HE WAS A WITNESS
IN A HIGH-PROFILE MURDER CASE.
[ SUSPENSEFUL CHORD STRIKES ]
ACCORDING TO HER, HE GOES ON TO REVEAL
THAT, NOT ONLY WAS HE A WITNESS,
BUT HE LIED ON THE STAND.
HE TELLS BABS HE ACTUALLY FABRICATED HIS STORY
IN ORDER TO IMPROVE HIS SITUATION IN PRISON.
HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE CHANDRA LEVY CASE.
HER NEW FRIEND, WHO SHE BONDED
AND TALKED TO AND SECRETLY RECORDED?
HIS NAME WAS ARMANDO MORALES.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
ARMANDO MORALES, THE MAN WHO PUT INGMAR GUANDIQUE IN PRISON.
[ SUSPENSEFUL FLOURISH PLAYS ]
Narrator: STUNNED BY THE CONFESSION, PROLLER DECIDES
TO TAKE THE RECORDINGS TO THE WASHINGTON POST.
WHEN WE LISTENED TO ARMANDO MORALES,
HE DIDN'T SOUND LIKE THE SAME MAN
WHO TESTIFIED IN COURT YEARS AGO.
HE STILL SOUNDED LIKE SOMEONE
WHO WAS STILL VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
Narrator: BUT, IN ALL THE HOURS OF RECORDINGS,
ONE PARTICULAR DETAIL IS MISSING.
SHE TOLD US THAT ARMANDO MORALES LIED ABOUT THE FACT THAT
INGMAR GUANDIQUE ADMITTED TO HIM THAT HE KILLED CHANDRA LEVY
AND WE FOUND OUT THAT WASN'T THE TRUTH
WHEN WE LISTENED TO THOSE RECORDINGS OURSELVES.
IT'S SUSPICIOUS THAT THIS WOMAN WOULD TELL THE WASHINGTON POST
THAT ARMANDO MADE THIS CONFESSION,
WHICH CALLS INTO QUESTION HER CREDIBILITY AND LEGITIMACY.
**
Narrator: WEEKS LATER,
PROLLER ALSO REACHES OUT TO THE PROSECUTION AND DEFENSE,
AND HER TIMING IS MOMENTOUS.
SOON AFTER GUANDIQUE'S SENTENCING IN 2011,
HIS DEFENSE TEAM BEGAN INVESTIGATING
THE CREDIBILITY OF THE STATE'S STAR WITNESS.
ON THE STAND, ARMANDO MORALES WAS BELIEVABLE, IN PART,
BECAUSE HE SAID HE'D HAD NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE
AS AN INFORMANT.
WELL, IT TURNED OUT THAT WAS FALSE.
ARMANDO MORALES HAD PROVIDED ASSISTANCE
TO FRESNO COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS,
TO BUREAU OF PRISONS OFFICIALS, AND OTHERS,
ABOUT CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES.
THIS INFORMATION HAD APPARENTLY NOT BEEN KNOWN BY THE TRIAL TEAM
AND WAS DEFINITELY NOT KNOWN BY
INGMAR GUANDIQUE'S DEFENSE ATTORNEYS.
HE HAD MAYBE PERJURED HIMSELF IN THE FIRST TRIAL.
HE WAS A JAILHOUSE SNITCH, A RAT, A CREEP, A LIAR.
I WASN'T EVEN CERTAIN HIS NAME WAS MORALES.
SO YOU HAVE ISSUES WITH CREDIBILITY
THAT HAVE NOW SURFACED, INVOLVING THEIR STAR WITNESS,
AND, AS A RESULT, DEFENSE ATTORNEYS ARE SAYING,
"DATE THE MAN A NEW TRIAL,"
FOR THEIR CLIENT INGMAR GUANDIQUE.
Narrator: AFTER AN INQUIRY INTO MORALES IN 2015,
GUANDIQUE'S CONVICTION IS VACATED
AND A NEW TRIAL IS ORDERED.
BUT THE TAPES BROUGHT FORWARD BY BABS PROLLER
THROW A WRENCH IN THE PROSECUTION'S NEW CASE.
IN 2010, WHEN ARMANDO MORALES TOOK THE WITNESS STAND,
HE WAS THE ONLY PIECE OF EVIDENCE
THAT DIRECTLY LINKED INGMAR GUANDIQUE TO
THE DEATH OF CHANDRA LEVY.
FAST-FORWARD TO 2016.
HE IS STILL THE ONLY PIECE OF EVIDENCE.
AFTER PROSECUTORS LISTENED TO THOSE RECORDINGS THEMSELVES
AND THEY HEARD MORALES, SOUNDING LIKE SOMEONE
WHO WAS STILL IN THE LIFE OF CRIME,
THEY REALIZED THEY COULD NOT PUT HIM ON THE STAND AGAIN.
Narrator: ON JULY 28, 2016,
THE STATE MAKES A REMARKABLE ANNOUNCEMENT.
A STUNNING DEVELOPMENT IN THE 15-YEAR-OLD
MURDER CASE OF WASHINGTON, DC INTERN CHANDRA LEVY.
PROSECUTORS SUDDENLY DROPPED THE CASE AGAINST THE MAN
WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN CONVICTED OF THAT CRIME.
INGMAR GUANDIQUE IS NOW SET FOR DEPORTATION.
THIS TRULY WAS THE CRAZIEST CASE EVER TO HIT WASHINGTON, DC.
THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT HOLLYWOOD WRITERS
COULD NEVER EVEN DREAM OF.
Narrator: STUNNED BY THE TURN OF EVENTS,
THE LEVYS ARE LEFT QUESTIONING THE ACTIONS OF BABS PROLLER.
WELL, I'M PRETTY ANGRY BECAUSE WHY DID SHE DO THAT?
I MEAN, WHAT WAS THE POINT OF THAT?
WAS SHE TRYING TO HELP US?
NO, SHE WAS TRYING TO MAKE A NAME FOR HERSELF.
MAYBE SOMEONE PAID HER.
Susan: HOW COULD THEY LET GUANDIQUE JUST GO?
IT JUST SEEMS SO STRANGE TO ME.
NOW WE ARE LEFT WITH THE SAME QUESTIONS WE BEGAN WITH:
WHAT TOOK CHANDRA TO ROCK CREEK PARK?
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER THERE?
WHO KILLED CHANDRA LEVY?
AND WHY?
[ SUSPENSEFUL CHORDS STRIKING ]
Narrator: INGMAR GUANDIQUE'S
DEFENSE TEAM IS PREPARING FOR A RETRIAL
FOR THE MURDER OF CHANDRA LEVY.
BUT WHEN THE PROSECUTION'S STAR WITNESS IS DISCREDITED,
THE CHARGES ARE DROPPED.
THE PAST 15 YEARS, COVERING THE CHANDRA LEVY CASE,
HAVE BEEN AN EXERCISE
IN THE INABILITY TO PREDICT THE FUTURE.
THERE'S BEEN ONE SURPRISE AFTER ANOTHER,
ONE TRAUMA AFTER ANOTHER.
Narrator: IN THE WAKE OF THE SHOCKING NEWS,
IT BECOMES CLEAR THAT THE STORY IS STILL EVOLVING.
IN PRETRIAL HEARINGS, BEFORE THE CHARGES WERE DROPPED,
GUANDIQUE'S LAWYERS LAID OUT PLANS FOR AN EXPLOSIVE DEFENSE.
AND, THIS TIME AROUND, THE DEFENSE TEAM
WERE LASERING IN ON GARY CONDIT.
IN A COURT HEARING, THE DEFENSE ARGUED
THAT CONDIT WAS MORE LIKELY THE PERPETRATOR
BECAUSE HE HAD MOTIVE TO COVER UP
A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHANDRA LEVY,
WHEREAS INGMAR GUANDIQUE WAS A RELATIVE STRANGER.
DEFENSE ATTORNEYS WERE ASKING FOR ALL TYPES OF INFORMATION,
ALL EVIDENCE, RECORDINGS, INTERVIEWS,
INVOLVING GARY CONDIT.
Narrator: IT SEEMS THAT THEY ARE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED
IN ONE ASPECT OF THE CONGRESSMAN'S PAST.
THE DEFENSE TEAM INTENDED TO DEPOSE FORMER GIRLFRIENDS
WHO CLAIMED THE CONGRESSMAN WAS INTO S&M AND BONDAGE
AND THE DEFENSE TEAM ARGUED THAT CHANDRA MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED
IN A SEX ACT GONE HORRIBLY WRONG.
AND WHY THAT'S SO IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE,
WHEN CHANDRA LEVY'S SKELETAL REMAINS WERE FOUND,
HER RUNNING TIGHTS WERE ALSO FOUND,
AND BOTH LEGS OF THE TIGHTS WERE TIED INTO KNOTS
WHICH, SOME SUGGESTED, WAS HOW LEVY'S KILLER
BOUND HER AND RESTRAINED HER BEFORE HE KILLED HER.
Narrator: BUT WHEN BABS PROLLER'S RECORDINGS EMERGED
AND THE CHARGES WERE DROPPED,
GUANDIQUE'S LAWYERS FILED AWAY THE PROVOCATIVE DEFENSE.
WITH SO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
CIRCLING AROUND GARY CONDIT, WE'VE ARRANGED
AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH HIS FORMER ASSOCIATE.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ] MY NAME IS VINCE FLAMMINI.
I WAS GARY CONDIT'S DRIVER,
CLOSE, CLOSE FRIEND, AND BODYGUARD.
THE FIRST TIME I MET GARY, HE WAS A YOUNG MAN
THAT WAS MAYOR OF CERES.
IT WAS ABOUT 1976.
I THOUGHT HE WAS REALLY AN INTERESTING PERSON.
HE WAS FULL OF ENERGY AND HE WAS NICE-LOOKING.
HE WAS REALLY A NEAT PERSON.
GARY LIKED TO WORK OUT AND THAT WAS MY MAIN THING,
SO I TAUGHT HIM HOW TO TRAIN AND WE GOT TO BE PARTNERS,
WORKING OUT TOGETHER AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
Narrator: VINCE CLAIMS THAT, OVER TIME,
THE CONGRESSMAN, KNOWN FOR SECRECY,
BEGAN TO CONFIDE IN HIM.
Flammini: WE HAD LOCKER-ROOM TALK.
HE'D TELL ME ABOUT DIFFERENT GIRLFRIENDS
AND, IN FACT, I HAD TO MEET 'EM BECAUSE YOU GOTTA REMEMBER:
I'M HIS DRIVER.
I MEAN, WHO KNOWS BETTER THAN THE DRIVER?
IN SUMMER 2000, I PICKED HIM UP AT THE AIRPORT.
HE DESCRIBED THAT A GIRL HE WAS SEEING HAD BLACK, CURLY HAIR.
SHE HAD A BEAUTIFUL BODY.
SHE HAD BEAUTIFUL, ROUND BREASTS, LIKE LITTLE MELONS.
HE WAS EXPLAINING IT ALL TO ME 'CAUSE HE WAS BRAGGIN'.
AND SHE WAS JEWISH.
AND THEN HE JUST GIVES ME THE WHOLE PICTURE AND TELLS ME,
"SHE'S GOIN' WITH A COP. HER FATHER'S A DOCTOR."
Narrator: CONDIT NEVER MENTIONED HER BY NAME,
BUT VINCE BELIEVES THE DESCRIPTION WAS UNMISTAKABLE.
IT WAS CHANDRA.
IT WAS HER. I MEAN, HOW MANY GIRLS
CAN YOU MATCH THAT WITH?
Narrator: IN 2001, FLAMMINI WAS ABRUPTLY FIRED.
HE CLAIMS THAT THE TERMINATION WAS IN KEEPING
WITH THE CONGRESSMAN'S DISPOSITION.
I WAS WALKING ON EGGS MOST OF THE TIME, AROUND GARY,
BECAUSE HE HAD A TEMPER THAT JUST WAS UNREAL.
HE'D JUST BLOW UP, TURN BRIGHT RED, BLOW UP,
AND HIS EYES WOULD GET PIERCING LIKE YOU SEE ON TELEVISION.
Narrator: ACCORDING TO VINCE,
THE ALLEGATIONS THAT CONDIT'S REPORTED PRACTICE OF S&M
CAUSED CHANDRA'S DEATH DON'T RING TRUE.
Flammini: THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T LIKE HIM.
THEY SAID, "WELL, MAYBE HE WAS HAVING ONE OF THOSE SEX THINGS
WHERE YOU TIE A NECKTIE AROUND HER NECK AND YOU CHOKE HER."
AND I SAYS, "I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW OF HIM HAVING THOSE SEX THINGS, EITHER."
Narrator: THEN, WHEN CONDIT BEGAN MAKING PUBLIC DENIALS
ABOUT THE MISSING INTERN, VINCE BECAME ALARMED.
BUT NOW THAT HE SAYS SHE WAS NEVER HIS GIRLFRIEND,
HE NEVER HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH HER,
AND HE DIDN'T MURDER HER, ALL IN THE SAME LINE,
IT SCARES ME. I'M GOING,
"I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT HE HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH HER,
'CAUSE HE TOLD ME SO."
Narrator: THE CRIME-SCENE LOCATION ALSO GAVE HIM CONCERN.
I REALLY GOT UPSET BECAUSE
HE WAS ALWAYS IN THAT PARK.
HE TOLD ME ABOUT THE PARK AND THAT'S WHERE SHE'S MURDERED?
HE USED TO GO THERE ALL THE TIME.
HE WENT THERE WITH OTHER GIRLS, BEFORE CHANDRA.
IT'S A PLACE TO WALK AND IT'S A PLACE TO SPEND SOME TIME
AND YOU CAN ALSO BE ALONE BACK IN THE WOODS, I GUESS.
Narrator: ACCORDING TO VINCE, HE COULDN'T KEEP WHAT HE KNEW TO HIMSELF.
I TRIED TO TELL THE FBI.
I TRIED TO TELL DIFFERENT PEOPLE
THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS GARY DID,
AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR IT.
GARY WAS TAKING HIS LESSONS FOR KARATE.
I TOLD THEM THE GUY'S NAME THAT WAS TEACHING 'IM.
I TOLD THEM THAT GARY WAS TAKIN' LESSONS,
HOW TO PUNCH SOMEBODY IN THE THROAT AND TAKE 'EM OUT.
I SAYS, "DON'T YOU GUYS EVEN WANNA KNOW?
THAT COULD'VE HAPPENED ACCIDENTALLY."
AND THEY GO, "NO, NO. THAT'S NOT IMPORTANT."
Narrator: AFTER CONSIDERING EVERYTHING HE KNOWS,
VINCE HAS DRAWN HIS OWN CONCLUSIONS.
PERSONALLY, I'VE KNOWN HIM SO LONG.
HE'S NOT A MURDERER. I MEAN, JEEZ.
YOU DON'T THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND BEING A MURDERER
AND, TO THIS DAY, I DON'T KNOW!
I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE GARY WOULD MURDER SOMEBODY.
Narrator: IN THE EYES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT,
THE DROPPED CHARGES AGAINST GUANDIQUE
DID NOT CHANGE CONDIT'S STATUS IN THE CASE.
THERE'S STILL NO EVIDENCE THAT CONNECTS HIM TO THE MURDER
AND HE IS NOT A SUSPECT.
TO THIS DAY, THEY SAY THEY STILL DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE
TO LINK HIM TO CHANDRA LEVY'S MURDER.
Narrator: BUT QUESTIONS REMAIN ABOUT THE MAN
WHO WAS ONCE CHARGED WITH THE CRIME.
BECAUSE GUANDIQUE'S CONVICTION WAS VACATED
AND THE SUBSEQUENT CHARGES DROPPED,
DOUBLE JEOPARDY DOES NOT APPLY.
THE GOVERNMENT DISMISSED IT,
BUT THEY DISMISSED IT WITHOUT PREJUDICE,
WHICH MEANS THEY'RE LEAVING OPEN THE CHANCE
THAT THEY COULD CHARGE, INDICT, AND RETRY MR. GUANDIQUE AGAIN
WITH ALL THE TRAPPINGS: NEW JUDGE, NEW JURY, EVERYTHING.
Narrator: AND SOME BELIEVE HE SHOULD, INDEED, BE PUT ON TRIAL AGAIN.
HE WAS A LEGITIMATE SUSPECT, AND HE IS, TO THIS DAY.
Narrator: WITH THE HELP OF JOURNALIST SYLVIA MORENO,
WE'VE ARRANGED TO SPEAK WITH GUANDIQUE HIMSELF.
[ Speaking Spanish ]
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
[ SINISTER MUSIC PLAYS, CHORD STRIKES ]
Narrator: WHEN IT'S DISCOVERED THE STAR WITNESS
IN THE CHANDRA LEVY MURDER TRIAL LIED ON THE STAND,
THE PROSECUTION DROPS CHARGES AGAINST INGMAR GUANDIQUE.
THERE ARE SOME WHO BELIEVE, EVEN AS THE CASE FELL APART,
THAT HE'S STILL THE MOST LIKELY MAN
TO HAVE COMMITTED THIS CRIME.
HE WAS A LEGITIMATE SUSPECT, AND HE IS, TO THIS DAY.
NOW, JOURNALIST SYLVIA MORENO IS INTERVIEWING GUANDIQUE
OVER THE PHONE,
FROM AN IMMIGRATION DETENTION FACILITY IN VIRGINIA.
INGMAR? -[ Speaking Spanish ]
AH, OKAY.
Narrator: MORENO BEGINS BY ASKING GUANDIQUE ABOUT THE ATTACKS
ON THE TWO JOGGERS THAT LANDED HIM IN JAIL IN 2001.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
Narrator: GUANDIQUE CLAIMS THAT ANOTHER FORCE MOTIVATING HIS ACTIONS
WAS DRUGS.
MM-HMM.
[ MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS ]
[ OUTRO PLAYS ]
Narrator: WHEN INVESTIGATORS QUESTIONED GUANDIQUE IN PRISON IN 2008,
ONE OF HIS TATTOOS CAUGHT THEIR ATTENTION.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
[in Spanish] No.
Sí.
MM-HMM.
**
[ SINISTER MUSIC CLIMBS ] [in Spanish] No.
Narrator: GUANDIQUE EXPLAINS THAT ONE MOMENT FROM THE TRIAL,
AN ENCOUNTER WITH SUSAN LEVY, HAS STAYED WITH HIM.
[ MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS ]
**
Narrator: WHEN REFLECTING ON HIS FATE, GUANDIQUE DRAWS A COMPARISON
TO ANOTHER PERSON OF INTEREST IN THE CASE:
GARY CONDIT.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ] Moreno: I WOULD SAY
THAT GUANDIQUE'S POSITION IS VERY CONSISTENT.
HE HAS ALWAYS REITERATED,
EVEN GOING BACK TO MY FIRST COMMUNICATION WITH HIM,
VIA LETTER IN 2002,
THAT HE NEVER HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE CHANDRA LEVY MURDER.
Narrator: NONETHELESS, IT'S LIKELY THAT HE'LL SOON BE EXPATRIATED
TO EL SALVADOR.
AS A CRIMINAL ALIEN, UNDER U.S. LAW, HE SHOULD BE DEPORTED,
BUT HE'S FIGHTING A CASE TO STAY IN THE UNITED STATES
AND NOT BE DEPORTED BACK TO EL SALVADOR.
Narrator: NOW, WITH NO NEW EVIDENCE, THE CASE HAS GONE COLD.
THE TRAGIC IRONY OF THIS CASE IS THAT, AFTER ALL THIS WORK,
WE'VE COME FULL CIRCLE, BACK TO
WE DON'T KNOW WHO KILLED CHANDRA LEVY.
Narrator: BUT ONE MAN BELIEVES HE HAS THE ANSWER:
THE LEVY FAMILY'S PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR.
I HAVE MY THEORY AND I'M CONVINCED OF MY THEORY
AND EVERYTHING THAT WENT AROUND IT.
I'M SATISFIED THAT I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
[ OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYS ]
Narrator: THE CHANDRA LEVY CASE
HAS ENDURED COUNTLESS TWISTS AND TURNS
OVER THE LAST 16 YEARS.
THE TRAGIC IRONY OF THIS CASE IS THAT, AFTER ALL THIS WORK,
WE'VE COME FULL CIRCLE, BACK TO
WE DON'T KNOW WHO KILLED CHANDRA LEVY.
OR WHY.
Narrator: MANY BELIEVE ONE UNANSWERED QUESTION
COULD BE THE KEY TO SOLVING THIS MURDER.
WHAT WAS SHE DOING IN ROCK CREEK PARK?
THERE ARE A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE BELIEVES
THAT SHE WAS JOGGING ALONG A TRAIL THERE.
SHE WAS SOMEONE WHO TOOK CARE OF HER BODY,
LIKED TO EXERCISE EVERY DAY.
THE PARK OFFERED A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY,
THE PERFECT PLACE TO DO THAT.
Narrator: BUT SOME POINT TO THE PARK'S LANDSCAPE
AND REACH A DIFFERENT CONCLUSION.
THE LEADING PROPONENT OF THIS IDEA IS
LEVY FAMILY INVESTIGATOR JOE McCANN.
FOR THE FIRST TIME, EVER,
HE DISCUSSES IT ON-CAMERA.
I LOOK AT THE TRAIL THAT SHE'S SUPPOSED TO BE JOGGING ON,
AND IT IS A HORSE TRAIL.
IT IS COVERED WITH ROCKS, ROOTS.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO JOG ON,
AND IT WOULDN'T BE YOUR FIRST CHOICE.
YOU'D TWIST YOUR ANKLE.
I CAN TELL YOU SHE WASN'T JOGGIN' ON THAT TRAIL.
SHE HAD ALSO EXPRESSED TO FRIENDS THAT SHE WAS CONCERNED
ABOUT GOING TO REMOTE PLACES, AS A WOMAN, ALONE,
SO WHY WOULD SHE DO THAT?
IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
Narrator: McCANN BELIEVES ONE PIECE OF EVIDENCE OFFERS INSIGHT
INTO WHY CHANDRA LEFT HER APARTMENT.
I REMEMBER BACK IN HER APARTMENT,
THERE WAS ONE THING THAT WAS OUT OF PLACE.
THERE WAS A BLANKET THAT WAS THROWN
JUST INSIDE HER FRONT DOOR.
Narrator: ACCORDING TO McCANN,
THIS INDICATES THAT SHE LEFT IN A RUSH.
MAYBE THAT BLANKET WAS IN THE DRYER
AND SHE RUSHED AND PULLED IT OUT OF THE DRYER,
THREW IT ON THE GROUND, AND LEFT.
Narrator: IF SHE WAS, INDEED, IN A HURRY, IT BEGS THE QUESTION: WHY?
ONE THEORY THAT THE POLICE WERE WORKING UNDER
IS THAT CHANDRA LEVY DELIBERATELY WENT
TO ROCK CREEK PARK TO MEET SOMEONE.
Narrator: ACCORDING TO THIS THEORY, SHE WAS KILLED,
NOT BY A STRANGER, LIKE GUANDIQUE;
BUT BY SOMEONE SHE KNEW.
MAYBE SHE GOT A CALL AND MET SOMEBODY OUTSIDE
AND THEY DROVE TO ROCK CREEK PARK.
WHOEVER SHE MET WITH, MAYBE, COULDN'T GO HOME WITH HER,
AND SHE COULDN'T BE SEEN WITH SOMEBODY
AND NOW, TOGETHER, THEY WALK UP THE TRAIL.
AND, AT SOME POINT, ON THAT TRAIL,
SHE WILLINGLY DECIDES TO GO DOWN THE TRAIL
OR DOWN THE HILL WITH THIS PERSON,
AND SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED THERE.
Narrator: McCANN HAS THE NAME OF A SUSPECT IN MIND.
BUT WON'T REVEAL WHO.
I HAVE MY THEORY.
I DON'T NECESSARILY DISCUSS THAT, ESPECIALLY NOT ON-CAMERA.
THAT'S MY OWN THING. AND I CAN'T PROVE IT.
BUT I'M SATISFIED THAT I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
Narrator: DESPITE HIS CERTAINTY, McCANN FEELS THE EVIDENCE
CONNECTING HIS SUSPECT TO THE CRIME IS LACKING
AND THE METRO PD IS NO LONGER WORKING THE CASE.
ONCE AN ARREST IS MADE, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS
TO THE PERSON AFTER THAT ARREST, THE CASE REMAINS CLOSED.
WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S GONNA BE ANY MORE ENERGY DEVOTED
TO TRYING TO SOLVE THIS THING,
I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE THEY CAN GO.
[ MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS ]
**
Narrator: IT SEEMS THE IDENTITY OF THE PERPETRATOR
COULD FOREVER REMAIN A MYSTERY.
THE POOR WOMAN WAS MURDERED
AND THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE MAY NEVER BE FOUND.
MAYBE HE WAS FOUND AND THE GOVERNMENT SCREWED IT UP.
NOW WE'RE 15 YEARS LATER.
WE HAVE NO ADDITIONAL PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.
WE HAVE NO EYEWITNESSES, SO,
IN MY MIND, IT'S EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO SOLVE.
WHEN IT COMES TO COLD CASES, OR CASES LIKE THIS,
YOU LIVE FOR THE LONG SHOT.
IT MAY NEVER HAPPEN,
OR SOMETHING MAY COME UP TOMORROW.
ONE THING THAT HAUNTS ME IS
THAT I MIGHT'VE MISSED THAT LEAD THAT CAME IN.
I MIGHT'VE READ IT AND JUST BLEW IT AWAY
AND THAT WAS THE THING THAT WOULD'VE SOLVED THIS CASE.
TO THIS DAY, I STILL THINK ABOUT THAT.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
[ SUSPENSEFUL CHORD STRIKES ]
[ MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS ] THIS HAS BEEN A VERY EMOTIONAL
AND VERY PHYSICALLY DIFFICULT CASE FOR THE LEVY FAMILY
AND, FOR IT TO CONTINUE,
INDEFINITELY, AT THIS POINT, IS SO UNFAIR TO THE FAMILY.
ANYTIME A YOUNG ADULT LOSES THEIR LIFE,
IT BECOMES A TRAGEDY BECAUSE
THERE IS SO MUCH POTENTIAL THERE THAT'S NEVER REALIZED.
WE DON'T LIKE THE WORD CLOSURE.
NOBODY REALLY LIKES IT, WHO'S LOST ANYBODY.
YOU KNOW, WE HATE THAT WORD.
I THINK YOU LEARN TO SEE WHAT IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE IS
AND WHAT TRIVIAL THINGS THERE ARE.
Narrator: THROUGHOUT THEIR DAYS,
THE LEVYS CELEBRATE THEIR DAUGHTER
IN A UNIQUE AND UNEXPECTED WAY.
WE CELEBRATE LADYBUGS.
-YEAH, LADYBUGS. -MESSAGES.
WE CELEBRATE SIGNS AND MESSAGES.
HER SECRET NAME WAS LITTLE LADYBUG
AND, WHEN WE TRAVEL,
SHE SHOWS UP IN UNIQUE WAYS.
LAST YEAR, WE WERE IN INNER MONGOLIA.
IT'S REMOTE AND WE STOPPED TO EAT.
AND, ON BOB'S PANTS SHOWS UP A LADYBUG
AND IT STAYED QUITE A WHILE.
AND I ASKED EVERYBODY IF THEY'D EVER SEE LADYBUGS?
IT'S THE FIRST TIME.
IN RUSSIA, BOB SAID HE SAW A WOMAN DRIVE BY, ON A BIKE,
THAT LOOKED LIKE CHANDRA.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE'S A LADYBUG ON THE BUS.
THEN IT HAPPENED IN GERMANY.
Robert: IT'S BEEN A WHILE NOW, AND YOU JUST GET USED TO EVERYTHING.
YOU HATE TO GET USED TO IT, BUT THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO BUT GO ON?