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NARRATOR:
A retired judge finds Florida
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the perfect place
to spend his golden years.
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SHARON:
When he wasn't playing golf,
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tennis,
or racquetball,
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he was out there
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by the pool relaxing.
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NARRATOR:
But then, he vanishes.
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ELLIE: Uncle Skip
was very reliable.
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He didn't show up.
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There's something wrong.
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NARRATOR:
And one disturbing discovery.
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DET.KURDYS: There was
a large amount of blood
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that we discovered
in the garage.
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NARRATOR: After another.
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RALPH: We were surprised
to discover just a torso.
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Amputated just above
the waistline.
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NARRATOR: Plunge police
into a macabre mystery.
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EMILY: At some point,
the person
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did not want
to look at the face
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of the person
that they were dismembering.
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RALPH: The question is,
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who buried this body
in the sand?
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[***]
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ELIOT:
Boca Raton was started,
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uh, in the '20s
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as an alternative
to Palm Beach
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for wealthy winter residents
to live.
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NARRATOR: Boca Raton is a jewel
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on the Atlantic Coast of Florida
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and has remained a winter haven
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for the wealthy
for more than a century.
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ELIOT: When people ask what
makes Boca Raton, Boca Raton.
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The answer of course
is the perfect climate.
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There are very ritzy
fancy golf courses
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that were built
as part of communities.
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NARRATOR:
But when the economy went south
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in the mid-2000s,
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Boca wasn't immune.
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ELIOT: Boca Raton,
it took a beating in 2008.
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Some people lost as much as half
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of their total property value,
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and it wasn't unusual
to see many homes
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and golf courses
go into foreclosure.
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NARRATOR: Among the hardest hit
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is the Ocean Breeze Golf Course.
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ELIOT: The Ocean Breeze
ran on hard times
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and eventually shut down
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and was abandoned.
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[***]
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NARRATOR:
By 2018, it has lain dormant
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for more than a decade.
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But as dawn breaks
on an April morning,
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Ocean Breeze is again
a center of activity.
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Law enforcement has descended
on the 18-hole wasteland
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following leads
in the search for a man
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who has been missing
for more than a week.
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RALPH: Boca Raton
Police Department were
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investigating
a missing person.
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Um, they were doing surveillance
at this location
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and reported possible
human remains
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buried on the golf course.
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[***]
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DET.KURDYS: A cadaver dog
showed a positive response,
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um, in a small area
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that looked like it had
some freshly disturbed sand.
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NARRATOR: Crime tags carefully
cordoned off the sand trap
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and begin digging.
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RALPH:
As we were removing the sand
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two to two and a half feet
below the surface,
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I came across something buried
in the sand.
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EMILY: There were two different
large garbage bags
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slightly exposed,
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and when they opened them,
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in one bag was a human,
uh, upper torso.
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The head had been cut off.
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Both of the arms had also been,
uh, removed from the body.
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The other garbage bag
was the lower half of the torso.
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And both of the legs had been
cut off from the body.
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Law enforcement continued
to search that golf course
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for a significant
amount of time,
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but they were unsuccessful
to locate
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the limbs and the head.
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Without the head,
it would be very difficult
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to identify the human remains.
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NARRATOR: Investigators believe
whoever committed this crime
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worked very hard to conceal
the identity of the victim.
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RALPH: So we transported
the body back
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to the medical examiner's office
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to find out who this was
buried in the sand.
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[***]
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EMILY:
Over the last 30 years or so,
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Boca Raton became known
for the individuals
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who come and live and enjoy
their golden years together
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down in beautiful sunny
South Florida.
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ELIOT: When people retire
to Boca Raton,
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the big draws
are golf and tennis.
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NARRATOR:
That's definitely the case
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for recently retired couple
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Terri Scandirito
and her husband James,
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known to his friends as "Skip."
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ELLIE: My Uncle Skip
and my Aunt Terri
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were life partners
and best friends.
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SHARON:
They've always wanted to go
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to Florida
because they'd visit.
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Of course, Florida
had nice weather in the winter.
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NARRATOR: At age 52,
Skip leaves his career
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as a judge behind
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when he and Terri
set their sights
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on the ultimate retirement
in Boca Raton.
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[***]
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SHARON: When he wasn't playing
golf, tennis, or racquetball,
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he was out there with the lawn
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and pruning trees
and watering the plants,
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by the pool, relaxing.
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And Skip was very,
very happy here.
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NARRATOR:
Skip spends part of his time
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as a volunteer marshal
at the Ocean Breeze Golf Course.
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He and Terri have
found their own little paradise
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in South Florida.
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Before long,
their son Jimmy follows them
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to the Sunshine State.
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SHARON: Terri and Jimmy
were very close.
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Jimmy was everything to her
because he was the only child.
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Jimmy, Skip, and Terri
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were in Boca Raton, Florida
for 20 years.
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Before a tragedy happened.
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[***]
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ELLIE: My Uncle Skip texted me
and let me know
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that my Aunt Terri was diagnosed
with lung cancer.
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SHARON: Terri got sick
and she died
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the following year
in the spring.
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Terri was gone
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and Skip and Jimmy
were all each other had,
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so they--
'cause they were grieving,
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they were
doing things together.
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NARRATOR:
A few days after marking
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the somber anniversary
of Terri's death,
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Skip and his son Jimmy
prepare for a visit
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from Skip's best friend
Gary Goodin
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to watch their home state
of Michigan
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play in the final four
basketball championships.
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ELIOT: Skip had texted Gary
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and said that he was going to go
kayaking that weekend,
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but that he would get back
to watch the game
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with Gary and Jimmy.
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But when Gary
came over Saturday,
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uh, he couldn't find Skip.
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NARRATOR: When Jimmy arrives,
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he hasn't heard
from his dad either.
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But they're not
immediately worried.
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Maybe Skip's
just picking up beer.
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But when the game ends
with still no word from Skip
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early on Easter Sunday,
Gary and Jimmy
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decide to call the police.
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NARRATOR:
Missing persons detectives
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arrive at the Scandirito home
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and begin trying
to piece together
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Skip's last movements.
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EMILY: Jimmy told
law enforcement that Friday
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the two of them
had exchanged vehicles
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so that Jimmy could
get a pressure cleaner
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from his father.
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And that was the last that Jimmy
had heard from his father.
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DET.KURDYS:
And when he returned to Skip
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Scandirito's residence
later that evening
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to return the pressure washer,
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Skip was not there.
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NARRATOR:
Jimmy describes the days
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leading up
to his dad's disappearance,
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hoping something
will provide a clue
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to Skip's whereabouts.
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EMILY:
Jimmy told detectives that
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on Wednesday morning,
his father and him played golf
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at Southwinds Golf Course
in Delray Beach, Florida.
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DET.KURDYS: Jimmy stated that
when they were playing golf,
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that Skip had met a 62-year-old
white female
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on the golf course.
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And they made plans to go
kayaking on Saturday morning.
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Jimmy didn't have
the person's name
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or any other information
about her.
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ELIOT: There were
a lot of things that police
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in Boca Raton didn't know.
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One thing they did know
was that a 74-year-old man
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and also possibly this woman
Skip's gonna go kayaking with
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were missing and might be
in danger on the water
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and they needed to try
to find them.
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[***]
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DET.KURDYS:
Did Skip Scandirito meet
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a female approximately
62 years of age?
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ELIOT: Detectives went
to the house
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but nobody was there.
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DET.KURDYS: There was
a large amount of blood
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that we discovered
in the garage.
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NARRATOR: 74-year-old
retiree Skip Scandirito
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has been missing for two days.
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Investigators have turned their
search to the open water
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where they've learned
he may have gone kayaking
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with a female friend.
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We knew they didn't return
from a kayaking trip.
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I was concerned that
there may have been an accident
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somewhere on the water
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where they could be possibly
injured or even deceased.
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NARRATOR: But finding where
Skip and the unidentified woman
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may have put into the water
won't be easy.
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00:11:43,119 --> 00:11:46,206
There are hundreds of waterways
in the Boca Raton area
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00:11:46,247 --> 00:11:48,625
used by boaters and kayakers.
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00:11:50,251 --> 00:11:51,503
DET.KURDYS:
Skip had a white SUV.
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License plates were obtained
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and sent
to neighboring communities
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that had boat ramps
along the intercostal.
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00:12:01,054 --> 00:12:03,473
ELIOT: The Intracoastal
Waterway separates the mainland
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00:12:03,515 --> 00:12:05,517
from the various
barrier islands
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00:12:05,558 --> 00:12:10,522
that line South Florida
from Miami all the way up.
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00:12:10,563 --> 00:12:12,357
NARRATOR:
Law enforcement begins checking
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00:12:12,399 --> 00:12:14,693
the hundreds of docks
and boat ramps
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00:12:14,734 --> 00:12:18,613
hoping to locate
Skip's white Ford Escape.
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00:12:18,655 --> 00:12:22,158
It doesn't take long
for authorities to get a hit.
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00:12:24,035 --> 00:12:25,995
DET.KURDYS:
Delray Beach Police located
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00:12:26,037 --> 00:12:27,288
Skip Scandirito's vehicle
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00:12:27,330 --> 00:12:29,624
in a boat ramp area,
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00:12:29,666 --> 00:12:31,334
just north of the city of Boca
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00:12:31,376 --> 00:12:32,585
in a park called Knowles Park.
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00:12:34,421 --> 00:12:36,631
EMILY: Knowles Park boat ramp
in Delray Beach
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00:12:36,673 --> 00:12:39,634
is 10 to 15 minutes
from the Scandirito residence.
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00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:44,514
It was a very
plausible explanation
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00:12:44,556 --> 00:12:46,433
that these elderly individuals
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00:12:46,474 --> 00:12:49,561
had simply encountered
some type of accident
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00:12:49,602 --> 00:12:52,313
or medical emergency
out on the waterway
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00:12:53,565 --> 00:12:55,525
and had either drowned
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00:12:55,567 --> 00:12:58,278
or had gone missing
and were in distress.
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00:13:01,156 --> 00:13:03,199
The Coast Guard was called.
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00:13:03,241 --> 00:13:05,452
They did a thorough search
on the waterway
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00:13:05,493 --> 00:13:07,328
to look for Skip Scandirito
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00:13:07,370 --> 00:13:09,664
and this woman to see
if there had been
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00:13:09,706 --> 00:13:11,332
any kayaks that had surfaced.
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00:13:14,085 --> 00:13:15,462
NARRATOR:
There's no sign of Skip
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00:13:15,503 --> 00:13:17,380
or his kayaking companion.
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00:13:20,175 --> 00:13:22,093
Investigators must consider
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00:13:22,135 --> 00:13:24,262
that they never made it
into the water
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00:13:24,304 --> 00:13:27,098
and that Skip and his friend
might have encountered trouble
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00:13:27,140 --> 00:13:29,309
in the boat ramp parking lot.
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00:13:29,351 --> 00:13:33,313
EMILY: South Florida
is absolutely a hotbed
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00:13:33,355 --> 00:13:36,316
for drug trafficking
and narcotics activity.
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00:13:38,526 --> 00:13:40,278
ELIOT: In South Florida,
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00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:41,696
drugs move in and out
all the time,
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00:13:41,738 --> 00:13:43,323
sometimes
in the middle of the day.
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00:13:43,365 --> 00:13:46,242
So they at least thought
about the idea that
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00:13:46,284 --> 00:13:49,120
Skip and this woman
had stumbled across people
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00:13:49,162 --> 00:13:52,248
bringing in drugs
in the Intracoastal Waterway.
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00:13:54,250 --> 00:13:56,127
NARRATOR:
Missing persons investigators
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00:13:56,169 --> 00:13:58,088
check with colleagues
in narcotics
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00:13:58,129 --> 00:14:00,757
to get a line on known
drug activity in the area.
253
00:14:02,801 --> 00:14:04,719
EMILY: But it was reported that
254
00:14:04,761 --> 00:14:06,680
in terms of that
specific boat ramp,
255
00:14:06,721 --> 00:14:09,808
it has not necessarily been
pegged as a hotbed
256
00:14:09,849 --> 00:14:11,685
for illegal narcotics
trafficking.
257
00:14:14,145 --> 00:14:16,356
NARRATOR: Having eliminated
the possibility of trouble
258
00:14:16,398 --> 00:14:19,234
on the waterfront,
investigators refocus
259
00:14:19,275 --> 00:14:22,153
the search on land.
260
00:14:22,195 --> 00:14:23,530
Hoping to learn more
about the woman
261
00:14:23,571 --> 00:14:25,365
Skip went kayaking with,
262
00:14:25,407 --> 00:14:28,118
detectives head
to the Southwinds Golf Club.
263
00:14:30,161 --> 00:14:32,205
DET.KURDYS: One of the first
things we wanted to confirm was
264
00:14:32,247 --> 00:14:34,708
if Jimmy and Skip Scandirito
did in fact play golf
265
00:14:34,749 --> 00:14:36,209
on that Wednesday morning,
266
00:14:36,251 --> 00:14:38,378
and did Skip Scandirito meet
267
00:14:38,420 --> 00:14:41,756
a female approximately
62 years of age.
268
00:14:41,798 --> 00:14:44,175
They were able to confirm
that Jimmy and Skip
269
00:14:44,217 --> 00:14:47,178
were there on Wednesday morning.
270
00:14:47,220 --> 00:14:50,390
And I was able to obtain
four names of people
271
00:14:50,432 --> 00:14:52,726
that Skip may have
had contact with
272
00:14:52,767 --> 00:14:55,812
prior Jimmy's arrival
that were females.
273
00:14:55,854 --> 00:14:58,523
NARRATOR: Using phone numbers
provided by the golf course,
274
00:14:58,565 --> 00:15:01,776
investigators quickly
tracked down three of the women.
275
00:15:04,154 --> 00:15:06,281
DET.KURDYS: All three females
stated that they were there.
276
00:15:06,322 --> 00:15:09,117
However, they had no contact
with Skip Scandirito
277
00:15:09,159 --> 00:15:10,618
and don't remember him
even being there.
278
00:15:12,704 --> 00:15:15,457
NARRATOR: But finding Skip's
last potential companion
279
00:15:15,498 --> 00:15:17,417
won't be so easy.
280
00:15:17,459 --> 00:15:18,793
DET.KURDYS: We had
the first name of Lorraine
281
00:15:18,835 --> 00:15:21,171
and a possible last name
282
00:15:21,212 --> 00:15:24,424
that looked like the last name
may have been Stemp or Stemper
283
00:15:24,466 --> 00:15:27,260
with no cell phone number.
284
00:15:27,302 --> 00:15:29,596
We conducted numerous database
records checks.
285
00:15:31,348 --> 00:15:33,892
We contacted
all the local agencies,
286
00:15:33,933 --> 00:15:36,853
but there were no other
missing persons reports
287
00:15:36,895 --> 00:15:39,272
suggesting that
a 62-year-old White female
288
00:15:39,314 --> 00:15:40,398
had been reported missing.
289
00:15:43,818 --> 00:15:45,653
At that point, we felt upset.
290
00:15:45,695 --> 00:15:49,240
We were still working
a missing person investigation
291
00:15:49,282 --> 00:15:51,368
and we weren't really getting
anywhere with it.
292
00:15:54,704 --> 00:15:56,539
ELIOT: Now police are not sure
293
00:15:56,581 --> 00:15:59,918
if there ever was a Lorraine.
294
00:15:59,959 --> 00:16:01,711
NARRATOR:
The detectives conclude
295
00:16:01,753 --> 00:16:04,547
that Skip did not
go kayaking with anyone.
296
00:16:04,589 --> 00:16:06,508
But where is he?
297
00:16:06,549 --> 00:16:09,427
As the search for him
enters its second day,
298
00:16:09,469 --> 00:16:11,513
forensic techs
processing his car
299
00:16:11,554 --> 00:16:13,640
make an interesting discovery.
300
00:16:15,517 --> 00:16:18,353
EMILY: Law enforcement
was able to uncover
301
00:16:18,395 --> 00:16:20,647
a crumpled receipt
from Home Depot
302
00:16:20,689 --> 00:16:23,733
that had a timestamp
of about 6:00 in the morning.
303
00:16:25,402 --> 00:16:28,822
[***]
304
00:16:28,863 --> 00:16:30,490
DET.KURDYS: When I've noticed
the date and time,
305
00:16:30,532 --> 00:16:32,659
Thursday morning,
it's almost like
306
00:16:32,701 --> 00:16:35,203
Skip had to have been waiting
for the store to open.
307
00:16:37,872 --> 00:16:41,334
EMILY: So the detectives went
to that Home Depot
308
00:16:41,376 --> 00:16:43,003
and were able to obtain
surveillance video
309
00:16:43,044 --> 00:16:44,337
from that timeframe.
310
00:16:46,506 --> 00:16:48,675
DET.KURDYS: And lo and behold
once we've had a chance
311
00:16:48,717 --> 00:16:49,968
to review that video.
312
00:16:51,845 --> 00:16:53,638
You don't see Skip at all.
313
00:16:54,806 --> 00:16:57,350
It's somebody else entirely.
314
00:17:09,612 --> 00:17:11,156
NARRATOR: Florida detectives
looking for Skip Scandirito
315
00:17:12,032 --> 00:17:13,700
hoped that a crumpled receipt
316
00:17:13,742 --> 00:17:15,618
discovered on the floor
of his car
317
00:17:15,660 --> 00:17:18,163
can provide a clue
about his last movements.
318
00:17:18,204 --> 00:17:21,082
But as they examined
store surveillance video,
319
00:17:21,124 --> 00:17:22,876
the man they see at the counter
320
00:17:22,917 --> 00:17:25,712
is not the missing 74-year-old.
321
00:17:27,714 --> 00:17:30,216
EMILY: Investigators
found it very surprising
322
00:17:30,258 --> 00:17:32,886
that Skip did not
make that purchase.
323
00:17:32,927 --> 00:17:34,846
The Home Depot had opened
324
00:17:34,888 --> 00:17:38,683
at 6:00 in the morning
and Skip's son,
325
00:17:38,725 --> 00:17:41,019
Jimmy Scandirito was
the first customer in that day.
326
00:17:45,231 --> 00:17:47,984
He entered inside
the Home Depot,
327
00:17:48,026 --> 00:17:50,904
purchased a red hand truck
and a gasoline tank,
328
00:17:50,945 --> 00:17:53,573
placed it inside,
uh, his vehicle and left.
329
00:17:53,615 --> 00:17:55,617
NARRATOR:
The detectives wanna know
330
00:17:55,658 --> 00:17:59,079
how Jimmy's receipt
got into Skip's car.
331
00:17:59,120 --> 00:18:00,955
They head to Skip's house
332
00:18:00,997 --> 00:18:04,084
eager to hear
an explanation from Jimmy.
333
00:18:04,125 --> 00:18:05,919
ELIOT: Jimmy said,
"I was in there"
334
00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:08,505
"buying these items
to do some pressure washing"
335
00:18:08,546 --> 00:18:10,507
"at my home
back in Fort Lauderdale."
336
00:18:12,801 --> 00:18:14,594
NARRATOR: The next day, Friday,
337
00:18:14,636 --> 00:18:16,763
Jimmy says he borrowed
his dad's SUV
338
00:18:16,805 --> 00:18:18,765
to transport the washer,
339
00:18:18,807 --> 00:18:21,726
and that's likely
when he dropped the receipt.
340
00:18:21,768 --> 00:18:24,229
Skip's friend Gary
who's still at the house
341
00:18:24,270 --> 00:18:27,607
appears to support the timeline
in Jimmy's story
342
00:18:27,649 --> 00:18:30,235
and he tells the detectives
that Skip reached out to him
343
00:18:30,276 --> 00:18:32,821
on Friday night.
344
00:18:32,862 --> 00:18:35,240
EMILY: Gary said he received
a text message asking
345
00:18:35,281 --> 00:18:37,784
what time he was going to be
arriving in Boca Raton
346
00:18:37,826 --> 00:18:39,035
the following day.
347
00:18:39,077 --> 00:18:40,912
They had a quick exchange
348
00:18:40,954 --> 00:18:43,790
and, um, that was the last
that he had heard
349
00:18:43,832 --> 00:18:45,500
from Skip Scandirito.
350
00:18:47,669 --> 00:18:49,963
NARRATOR: It appears
there's a plausible explanation
351
00:18:50,005 --> 00:18:51,256
for the receipt.
352
00:18:51,297 --> 00:18:52,716
It won't give detectives
353
00:18:52,757 --> 00:18:54,926
the clue they were hoping for.
354
00:19:00,598 --> 00:19:02,809
While the investigation
grinds on,
355
00:19:02,851 --> 00:19:04,686
Jimmy and Gary are determined
356
00:19:04,728 --> 00:19:06,187
to get answers on their own.
357
00:19:08,273 --> 00:19:10,066
DET.KURDYS: Jimmy
and Gary Goodin were creating
358
00:19:10,108 --> 00:19:11,776
missing person flyers
359
00:19:11,818 --> 00:19:13,611
that they were then
gonna hand out
360
00:19:13,653 --> 00:19:16,531
not far from those park
and in areas of Delray
361
00:19:16,573 --> 00:19:18,533
to see if anybody might
have had information or seen
362
00:19:18,575 --> 00:19:21,828
Skip Scandirito potentially
launching a kayak.
363
00:19:24,622 --> 00:19:27,208
SHARON: I thought
he's gonna turn up.
364
00:19:29,377 --> 00:19:31,755
And so a couple days later,
365
00:19:31,796 --> 00:19:33,840
when they didn't find him,
366
00:19:33,882 --> 00:19:36,926
we couldn't believe it.
367
00:19:36,968 --> 00:19:39,179
ELLIE:
I was worried about Jimmy.
368
00:19:39,220 --> 00:19:43,016
His dad was missing
and I felt so sorry for him.
369
00:19:47,812 --> 00:19:50,231
NARRATOR: Though delayed
by the Easter holiday weekend,
370
00:19:50,273 --> 00:19:53,318
Skip's phone records
are now finally available.
371
00:19:53,360 --> 00:19:55,695
Investigators begin looking
372
00:19:55,737 --> 00:19:58,782
for digital footprints
they can follow.
373
00:19:58,823 --> 00:20:00,116
DET.KURDYS:
I was able to locate
374
00:20:00,158 --> 00:20:01,743
a last known location ping
375
00:20:01,785 --> 00:20:03,328
from Skip's cellphone,
376
00:20:03,370 --> 00:20:05,955
not far from that boat ramp
in Delray Beach
377
00:20:05,997 --> 00:20:07,207
on that Saturday morning.
378
00:20:09,209 --> 00:20:12,921
With no other cell phone calls,
no other cell phone pings,
379
00:20:12,962 --> 00:20:15,590
we became more concerned
this is where Skip's cell phone
380
00:20:15,632 --> 00:20:17,967
probably died.
381
00:20:18,009 --> 00:20:19,219
NARRATOR: The detectives
can't track Skip
382
00:20:19,260 --> 00:20:21,096
through his cell phone,
383
00:20:21,137 --> 00:20:22,597
but they're hoping
to find some answers
384
00:20:22,639 --> 00:20:25,892
in his banking records.
385
00:20:25,934 --> 00:20:27,894
DET.KURDYS: Because Jimmy
obviously was very close
386
00:20:27,936 --> 00:20:30,063
to his father,
I asked Jimmy if he had
387
00:20:30,105 --> 00:20:31,898
any access to any
of Skip's bank accounts
388
00:20:31,940 --> 00:20:33,733
to see if anything
had transacted,
389
00:20:33,775 --> 00:20:35,110
um, since Skip's
disappearance.
390
00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:45,328
DET.KURDYS:
And Jimmy said that there was no
391
00:20:45,370 --> 00:20:47,038
suspicious behavior
392
00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:49,124
or any activity
on any of Skip's accounts.
393
00:20:51,292 --> 00:20:53,169
NARRATOR: Jimmy appears
to be cooperating
394
00:20:53,211 --> 00:20:55,755
with the investigation,
but the detectives find
395
00:20:55,797 --> 00:20:59,092
they can't fully dismiss
their suspicions about him.
396
00:20:59,134 --> 00:21:01,219
Not only are there
the oddly timed
397
00:21:01,261 --> 00:21:04,097
early morning purchases
he made at Home Depot,
398
00:21:04,139 --> 00:21:05,765
but both he
and Skip's friend Gary
399
00:21:05,807 --> 00:21:07,726
were at Skip's home on Saturday,
400
00:21:07,767 --> 00:21:09,686
the day he went missing.
401
00:21:09,728 --> 00:21:13,815
Something's just not adding up.
402
00:21:13,857 --> 00:21:17,318
ELIOT: Police decided that
they can't rule out friend Gary,
403
00:21:17,360 --> 00:21:21,990
because Gary and Jimmy
did tell a similar story.
404
00:21:22,032 --> 00:21:25,285
DET.KURDYS: We don't
wanna leave any stone unturned.
405
00:21:25,326 --> 00:21:28,038
NARRATOR: The detectives decide
there's enough uncertainty
406
00:21:28,079 --> 00:21:32,417
that they need to take
a closer look at Skip's home.
407
00:21:32,459 --> 00:21:34,836
DET.KURDYS: Because Skip
had been missing so long,
408
00:21:34,878 --> 00:21:37,339
we thought something actually
may have happened to Skip
409
00:21:37,380 --> 00:21:38,882
at Skip's residence.
410
00:21:38,923 --> 00:21:41,468
We explained to Jimmy and Gary
411
00:21:41,509 --> 00:21:43,345
that they needed
to leave the residence
412
00:21:43,386 --> 00:21:45,096
so that we could secure it
413
00:21:45,138 --> 00:21:46,681
prior to obtaining
the search warrant.
414
00:21:50,352 --> 00:21:52,020
Jimmy kind of flipped
a little bit at that point.
415
00:21:54,022 --> 00:21:55,940
He became angry.
He became agitated.
416
00:22:00,153 --> 00:22:02,447
NARRATOR: The men finally
agreed to leave the property.
417
00:22:04,366 --> 00:22:07,410
But the strange interaction
convinces the detectives
418
00:22:07,452 --> 00:22:10,163
they need to keep an eye
on Gary and Jimmy.
419
00:22:12,332 --> 00:22:14,834
DET.KURDYS:
They checked in a hotel not far
420
00:22:14,876 --> 00:22:16,294
from Skip's residence.
421
00:22:17,379 --> 00:22:18,922
Now unbeknownst to them,
422
00:22:18,963 --> 00:22:22,050
we established surveillance
423
00:22:22,092 --> 00:22:25,428
on Gary Goodin
and Jimmy Scandirito.
424
00:22:25,470 --> 00:22:27,013
NARRATOR:
While the surveillance team
425
00:22:27,055 --> 00:22:29,057
monitors Gary and Jimmy,
426
00:22:29,099 --> 00:22:32,185
back at Skip's residence,
the search warrant arrives,
427
00:22:32,227 --> 00:22:35,355
and police quickly make
a startling discovery.
428
00:22:35,397 --> 00:22:37,982
EMILY: Detectives noticed
that on the ground,
429
00:22:38,024 --> 00:22:40,902
the garage had a square
in the center of it
430
00:22:40,944 --> 00:22:42,946
that was completely clean.
431
00:22:42,987 --> 00:22:46,157
Debris was still along
the outer edges of the square,
432
00:22:46,199 --> 00:22:49,869
which we believe showed
where the tarp had been placed
433
00:22:49,911 --> 00:22:51,955
and later removed.
434
00:22:51,996 --> 00:22:55,750
DET.KURDYS: But when you took
a closer look at the floor,
435
00:22:55,792 --> 00:22:58,003
it appeared that we had
some coagulated blood
436
00:22:58,044 --> 00:22:59,045
inside that garage.
437
00:23:01,339 --> 00:23:03,341
[HELICOPTER WHIRRING]
438
00:23:03,383 --> 00:23:04,384
DET.KURDYS: We knew
that we would be conducting
439
00:23:04,426 --> 00:23:05,468
surveillance on both of them
440
00:23:05,510 --> 00:23:07,095
just to see what they did.
441
00:23:07,137 --> 00:23:08,930
And that's what wound up
breaking the case wide open.
442
00:23:10,473 --> 00:23:11,766
ELLIE: I was astonished,
443
00:23:11,808 --> 00:23:13,560
absolutely flabbergasted
444
00:23:13,601 --> 00:23:17,063
that I physically
couldn't contain the shock.
445
00:23:26,740 --> 00:23:27,157
[***]
446
00:23:30,785 --> 00:23:33,455
NARRATOR: Florida Police
searching for missing retiree
447
00:23:33,496 --> 00:23:37,542
Skip Scandirito have become
suspicious of his son Jimmy.
448
00:23:39,336 --> 00:23:42,213
Their suspicions grow
when they discover blood
449
00:23:42,255 --> 00:23:45,592
in the garage of Skip's home.
450
00:23:45,633 --> 00:23:47,761
DET.KURDYS: The amount
of blood that we found,
451
00:23:47,802 --> 00:23:50,013
it's not like a little nick
on his finger.
452
00:23:50,055 --> 00:23:51,306
There was a large
amount of blood
453
00:23:51,348 --> 00:23:52,307
that we discovered
in the garage.
454
00:23:52,349 --> 00:23:55,477
[***]
455
00:23:58,146 --> 00:24:00,273
NARRATOR: As crime techs
process the garage,
456
00:24:00,315 --> 00:24:03,693
investigators turn up
more troubling evidence.
457
00:24:05,612 --> 00:24:07,364
We located the hand truck
458
00:24:07,405 --> 00:24:09,366
that had been purchased
at the Home Depot
459
00:24:09,407 --> 00:24:11,743
by Jimmy Scandirito.
460
00:24:11,785 --> 00:24:14,496
We found coagulated blood
in the wheel of the hand truck.
461
00:24:16,539 --> 00:24:18,375
There was also duct tape
462
00:24:18,416 --> 00:24:21,628
and cleaning supplies
that were collected.
463
00:24:21,670 --> 00:24:24,756
[***]
464
00:24:24,798 --> 00:24:26,633
DNA swabs were collected
465
00:24:26,675 --> 00:24:29,302
and were sent to our DNA labs
466
00:24:29,344 --> 00:24:31,638
to determine
if it was Skip's blood.
467
00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:34,683
[***]
468
00:24:34,724 --> 00:24:37,227
NARRATOR: But what motive
would Skip's son Jimmy have
469
00:24:37,268 --> 00:24:39,229
to hurt him?
470
00:24:39,270 --> 00:24:42,273
Knowing that money
can cause friction in families,
471
00:24:42,315 --> 00:24:43,650
the detectives take
another look
472
00:24:43,692 --> 00:24:46,069
at Skip's financial
records.
473
00:24:46,111 --> 00:24:48,738
As they do,
they spot something unusual
474
00:24:48,780 --> 00:24:51,741
about the timing of one
transaction at a supermarket.
475
00:24:51,783 --> 00:24:54,703
It appears to have occurred
after Skip was last seen
476
00:24:54,744 --> 00:24:56,663
five days ago.
477
00:24:56,705 --> 00:24:59,332
They head to the store
to check surveillance video.
478
00:24:59,374 --> 00:25:00,792
DET.KURDYS: And again,
479
00:25:00,834 --> 00:25:03,795
we don't see Skip
using the credit cards.
480
00:25:03,837 --> 00:25:05,630
We actually see
Jimmy Scandirito
481
00:25:05,672 --> 00:25:07,799
using those credit cards
to purchase things
482
00:25:07,841 --> 00:25:10,677
that were concerning.
483
00:25:10,719 --> 00:25:14,764
He was purchasing cleaning
supplies and garbage bags.
484
00:25:14,806 --> 00:25:17,851
Things that make you wonder why
he's purchasing these things
485
00:25:17,892 --> 00:25:20,353
using his father's credit cards.
486
00:25:20,395 --> 00:25:22,564
Things used to clean
up a crime scene.
487
00:25:25,358 --> 00:25:27,819
EMILY:
During the early investigation,
488
00:25:27,861 --> 00:25:31,322
Jimmy Scandirito
was specifically asked
489
00:25:31,364 --> 00:25:34,242
whether there was anybody using
any of the accounts in any way.
490
00:25:45,128 --> 00:25:47,756
DET.KURDYS: Now that
we actually observed that video,
491
00:25:47,797 --> 00:25:51,384
we knew that Jimmy
had lied to us.
492
00:25:51,426 --> 00:25:53,553
NARRATOR:
And as investigators dig deeper
493
00:25:53,595 --> 00:25:56,139
into the financial reports,
494
00:25:56,181 --> 00:25:58,266
they discovered
that Skip's credit cards
495
00:25:58,308 --> 00:26:02,228
are not the only things
that have been accessed.
496
00:26:02,270 --> 00:26:04,564
DET.KURDYS:
There was a check for $9,500
497
00:26:04,606 --> 00:26:06,274
made out to Jimmy Scandirito.
498
00:26:07,901 --> 00:26:09,694
He had deposited it
into his account
499
00:26:09,736 --> 00:26:11,863
from his father's account.
500
00:26:11,905 --> 00:26:14,699
We found out through
forensic document examiners
501
00:26:14,741 --> 00:26:16,576
that that check had been forged.
502
00:26:16,618 --> 00:26:19,454
[***]
503
00:26:23,458 --> 00:26:28,171
I was informed by the detective
that Jimmy was indeed
504
00:26:28,213 --> 00:26:30,632
a suspect in this case.
505
00:26:32,467 --> 00:26:35,845
I didn't believe it.
506
00:26:35,887 --> 00:26:37,639
NARRATOR:
But Jimmy isn't the only one
507
00:26:37,681 --> 00:26:39,474
on law enforcement's radar.
508
00:26:41,685 --> 00:26:43,728
Skip's best friend, Gary Goodin,
509
00:26:43,770 --> 00:26:47,315
was also at Skip's home
when he disappeared.
510
00:26:47,357 --> 00:26:50,443
He and Jimmy are still
staying at a nearby hotel
511
00:26:50,485 --> 00:26:53,405
under the watchful eyes
of a surveillance team.
512
00:26:55,490 --> 00:26:57,283
DET.KURDYS:
We were conducting surveillance
513
00:26:57,325 --> 00:26:59,536
on both Jimmy and Gary, um,
just to see what they did.
514
00:27:02,664 --> 00:27:05,250
And that's what wound up
breaking the case wide open.
515
00:27:05,291 --> 00:27:08,211
[***]
516
00:27:08,253 --> 00:27:11,464
NARRATOR: At around 3:00 AM,
517
00:27:11,506 --> 00:27:14,384
the stakeout team
spots Jimmy exiting the hotel
518
00:27:14,426 --> 00:27:16,469
and heading to his car.
519
00:27:16,511 --> 00:27:18,346
He's on the move.
520
00:27:18,388 --> 00:27:20,515
And a sheriff's department
helicopter is called in
521
00:27:20,557 --> 00:27:22,684
to help with the surveillance.
522
00:27:22,726 --> 00:27:24,686
[HELICOPTER WHIRRING]
523
00:27:26,771 --> 00:27:29,566
ELIOT: The police trailed
Jimmy and they followed him
524
00:27:29,607 --> 00:27:32,902
to the Ocean Breeze Golf Course,
525
00:27:32,944 --> 00:27:35,739
which was abandoned.
526
00:27:35,780 --> 00:27:37,449
It was 3:00 in the morning,
527
00:27:37,490 --> 00:27:40,326
so whatever Jimmy might
wanna do,
528
00:27:40,368 --> 00:27:44,414
he could do he thought without
anybody really seeing him.
529
00:27:44,456 --> 00:27:46,332
DET.KURDYS: That's when things
got pretty interesting.
530
00:27:48,793 --> 00:27:50,712
Jimmy parked his Prius.
531
00:27:52,464 --> 00:27:55,592
He walked onto the golf
course by himself
532
00:27:55,633 --> 00:27:56,801
with nothing.
533
00:27:56,843 --> 00:28:00,347
[***]
534
00:28:00,388 --> 00:28:02,724
DET.KURDYS: And when he came
back about 45 minutes later,
535
00:28:02,766 --> 00:28:04,726
he was dragging a, uh,
suitcase with him.
536
00:28:07,437 --> 00:28:09,773
And he placed that suitcase
into the back of his trunk.
537
00:28:12,859 --> 00:28:15,362
NARRATOR: When Jimmy drives
out of the golf course,
538
00:28:15,403 --> 00:28:17,238
the ground team follows.
539
00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:20,492
[***]
540
00:28:20,533 --> 00:28:21,993
As police watched,
541
00:28:22,035 --> 00:28:23,828
Jimmy drove
to another location,
542
00:28:23,870 --> 00:28:27,665
walked over to a dumpster
and put the suitcase in.
543
00:28:30,293 --> 00:28:31,252
DET.KURDYS:
And then, he was observed
544
00:28:31,294 --> 00:28:33,588
getting back into his car.
545
00:28:33,630 --> 00:28:35,840
And the helicopter was able
to follow the Prius
546
00:28:35,882 --> 00:28:39,010
getting back on to 95.
547
00:28:39,052 --> 00:28:41,888
EMILY: Unfortunately,
law enforcement lost track
548
00:28:41,930 --> 00:28:44,641
of Jimmy Scandirito's car
549
00:28:44,683 --> 00:28:46,518
because of the cloud
cover that night.
550
00:28:50,939 --> 00:28:53,316
NARRATOR: Jimmy Scandirito
has disappeared.
551
00:28:53,358 --> 00:28:55,694
But police still have eyes
on the suitcase
552
00:28:55,735 --> 00:28:58,405
he sought to conceal
in the dark of night.
553
00:28:58,446 --> 00:28:59,989
That suitcase was recovered
554
00:29:00,031 --> 00:29:02,283
by our crime scene unit.
555
00:29:02,325 --> 00:29:04,869
The suitcase that was dumped
into the dumpster
556
00:29:04,911 --> 00:29:07,622
was a large suitcase that
contained a smaller suitcase.
557
00:29:10,458 --> 00:29:12,377
EMILY: At the time,
they were not quite
558
00:29:12,419 --> 00:29:13,795
sure what they had
559
00:29:14,963 --> 00:29:17,716
until they opened the suitcases.
560
00:29:30,854 --> 00:29:32,272
NARRATOR: Jimmy Scandirito
has emerged as a suspect
561
00:29:33,648 --> 00:29:35,942
in his father's disappearance.
562
00:29:35,984 --> 00:29:38,486
He's hit the road
after police spotted him
563
00:29:38,528 --> 00:29:42,032
retrieving suitcases hidden
at an abandoned golf course
564
00:29:42,073 --> 00:29:44,200
and tossing them
into a dumpster.
565
00:29:46,661 --> 00:29:50,832
Officers retrieved the suitcases
and carefully opened them.
566
00:29:52,584 --> 00:29:56,588
EMILY: Both suitcases had
human decay inside
567
00:29:56,629 --> 00:29:59,299
and a significant amount
of maggots were present
568
00:29:59,341 --> 00:30:00,842
inside of those suitcases.
569
00:30:02,344 --> 00:30:04,763
And that was
the first time that
570
00:30:04,804 --> 00:30:08,600
law enforcement realized
that there was some type
571
00:30:08,641 --> 00:30:10,101
of a dead body inside.
572
00:30:10,143 --> 00:30:12,979
[***]
573
00:30:18,568 --> 00:30:22,155
NARRATOR: As day breaks
on April 4th, 2018,
574
00:30:22,197 --> 00:30:25,700
police begin searching
the abandoned golf course.
575
00:30:25,742 --> 00:30:28,286
A cadaver dog hits
on a disused sand trap
576
00:30:29,829 --> 00:30:31,581
and officers begin digging.
577
00:30:34,751 --> 00:30:37,003
Two and a half feet down,
578
00:30:37,045 --> 00:30:39,255
they discover a trash bag.
579
00:30:41,591 --> 00:30:45,011
RALPH: Once the garbage bag
was opened,
580
00:30:45,053 --> 00:30:50,016
I think we were all surprised
to, uh, discover just a torso.
581
00:30:51,851 --> 00:30:54,020
Amputated just above
the waistline.
582
00:30:54,062 --> 00:30:57,774
[***]
583
00:30:57,816 --> 00:30:59,693
EMILY: In the second
garbage bag
584
00:30:59,734 --> 00:31:01,236
was the lower half of the torso.
585
00:31:03,238 --> 00:31:08,243
Both of the legs had been
cut off from the body.
586
00:31:08,284 --> 00:31:10,995
RALPH: This case started
as a missing person.
587
00:31:11,037 --> 00:31:13,164
Now, it's a homicide
investigation.
588
00:31:13,206 --> 00:31:17,836
[***]
589
00:31:17,877 --> 00:31:20,588
NARRATOR: Divers searched the
waterways around the golf course
590
00:31:20,630 --> 00:31:24,718
hoping to locate the missing
body parts, including the head.
591
00:31:24,759 --> 00:31:27,012
But dark water ponds
on an abandoned golf course
592
00:31:27,053 --> 00:31:29,889
are home to alligators.
593
00:31:29,931 --> 00:31:33,226
Nothing is found
and likely never will be.
594
00:31:34,936 --> 00:31:37,689
RALPH: Tossed away,
uh, the head.
595
00:31:37,731 --> 00:31:40,191
No teeth, no fingerprints.
596
00:31:40,233 --> 00:31:44,988
It makes the job
of identification much harder.
597
00:31:45,030 --> 00:31:47,240
NARRATOR: The remains are
taken to the medical examiner
598
00:31:47,282 --> 00:31:48,658
for an autopsy.
599
00:31:48,700 --> 00:31:50,201
And with close examination,
600
00:31:50,243 --> 00:31:52,120
there's evidence
the victim underwent
601
00:31:52,162 --> 00:31:54,330
some type of heart surgery.
602
00:31:54,372 --> 00:31:57,083
A tiny wire with a serial
number is discovered
603
00:31:57,125 --> 00:31:59,002
in the chest cavity.
604
00:31:59,044 --> 00:32:02,380
RALPH: The pathologist
compared the sternal wiring
605
00:32:02,422 --> 00:32:06,384
to the chest plate
to hospital records.
606
00:32:06,426 --> 00:32:08,762
EMILY:
The medical examiner was able
607
00:32:08,803 --> 00:32:12,140
to determine that
the dismembered torso...
608
00:32:14,434 --> 00:32:15,935
belonged to Skip Scandirito.
609
00:32:20,106 --> 00:32:21,691
SHARON: That was hard to hear.
610
00:32:23,902 --> 00:32:25,987
I thought they'd find my brother
but not in pieces.
611
00:32:28,448 --> 00:32:31,951
ELLIE: It's more than
the mind can comprehend.
612
00:32:31,993 --> 00:32:36,456
I couldn't even imagine
him in pieces
613
00:32:36,498 --> 00:32:39,000
because I knew him
as a whole person.
614
00:32:45,465 --> 00:32:47,425
NARRATOR: When DNA tests
on blood samples
615
00:32:47,467 --> 00:32:49,761
found in Skip's garage come in,
616
00:32:49,803 --> 00:32:52,472
they are a match
for the retired judge
617
00:32:52,514 --> 00:32:55,141
confirming the detective's
hunch that the garage
618
00:32:55,183 --> 00:32:56,184
was a crime scene.
619
00:32:58,186 --> 00:33:00,438
But now,
one of their prime suspects,
620
00:33:00,480 --> 00:33:03,858
Jimmy Scandirito
is nowhere to be found.
621
00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:07,112
DET.KURDYS:
Not only the helicopter
622
00:33:07,153 --> 00:33:08,863
but our surveillance units
on the street
623
00:33:08,905 --> 00:33:10,448
lost contact with his vehicle
624
00:33:10,490 --> 00:33:12,325
and were unable
to locate him again.
625
00:33:13,868 --> 00:33:16,037
ELLIE: I knew he was a suspect.
626
00:33:17,122 --> 00:33:18,498
I tried to call Jimmy,
627
00:33:18,540 --> 00:33:20,208
the phone went right
to voicemail.
628
00:33:24,212 --> 00:33:26,464
NARRATOR: But the other man
police have been watching,
629
00:33:26,506 --> 00:33:29,843
Skip Scandirito's friend,
Gary Goodin is easy to find.
630
00:33:29,884 --> 00:33:32,762
He's still in his hotel room.
631
00:33:32,804 --> 00:33:34,973
When the detectives tell him
what they found,
632
00:33:35,015 --> 00:33:37,392
he seems genuinely horrified.
633
00:33:38,518 --> 00:33:40,311
EMILY: Gary Goodin felt
634
00:33:40,353 --> 00:33:43,940
disgusted by the fact
that the son of his good friend
635
00:33:43,982 --> 00:33:48,486
was linked to be responsible
for his disappearance.
636
00:33:48,528 --> 00:33:50,280
DET.KURDYS:
Gary gave us no indication
637
00:33:50,321 --> 00:33:53,867
that he had anything to do
with Skip's disappearance.
638
00:33:53,908 --> 00:33:56,244
NARRATOR: The detectives
fully eliminate Gary Goodin
639
00:33:56,286 --> 00:33:59,456
as a person of interest
when the autopsy report confirms
640
00:33:59,497 --> 00:34:03,043
that Skip's death occurred
on Wednesday, March 28th,
641
00:34:03,084 --> 00:34:07,505
three days before Gary
arrived in town.
642
00:34:07,547 --> 00:34:11,426
DET.KURDYS: So our focus
was on Jimmy Scandirito.
643
00:34:11,468 --> 00:34:14,304
We had no idea where Jimmy
Scandirito had gone.
644
00:34:14,346 --> 00:34:15,930
He wasn't in his apartment
in Fort Lauderdale.
645
00:34:17,223 --> 00:34:18,224
He'd fled.
646
00:34:20,518 --> 00:34:24,856
NARRATOR: A check of Jimmy's
bank records reveals he's broke.
647
00:34:24,898 --> 00:34:26,775
If he's trying to disappear,
648
00:34:26,816 --> 00:34:30,445
investigators reason he'll try
to get some cash first.
649
00:34:30,487 --> 00:34:32,530
Since Jimmy appears
to be unaware
650
00:34:32,572 --> 00:34:34,240
that the police are onto him,
651
00:34:34,282 --> 00:34:36,159
they keep close watch
652
00:34:36,201 --> 00:34:38,495
on all of his accounts
hoping he'll make a move.
653
00:34:38,536 --> 00:34:41,456
EMILY: Law enforcement
was able to see
654
00:34:41,498 --> 00:34:45,085
IP addresses that were
associated with transfers
655
00:34:45,126 --> 00:34:47,587
between Jimmy Scandirito's
bank accounts
656
00:34:47,629 --> 00:34:50,048
and Skip Scandirito's
bank accounts.
657
00:34:52,592 --> 00:34:56,262
NARRATOR: Using location data
from the IP addresses,
658
00:34:56,304 --> 00:34:58,807
police are able
to track Jimmy to a hotel
659
00:34:58,848 --> 00:35:02,560
in Bonita Springs, Florida
two hours away.
660
00:35:02,602 --> 00:35:04,437
DET.KURDYS: There was
surveillance being done
661
00:35:04,479 --> 00:35:05,563
at the hotel.
662
00:35:05,605 --> 00:35:07,148
Then at one point,
663
00:35:07,190 --> 00:35:08,858
Jimmy left the hotel
and started heading north.
664
00:35:15,073 --> 00:35:16,574
So, we obtained
a warrant for the, uh,
665
00:35:16,616 --> 00:35:19,994
for the murder charge
and he was arrested.
666
00:35:22,497 --> 00:35:25,041
He was a little shocked
to see us there.
667
00:35:26,918 --> 00:35:28,586
NARRATOR: News that Jimmy
has been arrested
668
00:35:28,628 --> 00:35:32,549
for his father's murder
comes as another emotional blow
669
00:35:32,590 --> 00:35:34,426
to an already grieving family.
670
00:35:36,469 --> 00:35:38,138
ELLIE: I was astonished,
671
00:35:38,179 --> 00:35:42,142
absolutely flabbergasted that...
672
00:35:42,183 --> 00:35:45,520
I physically couldn't
contain the shock.
673
00:35:49,983 --> 00:35:53,028
EMILY: Jimmy Scandirito
was indicted on...
674
00:35:53,069 --> 00:35:55,196
one count of first degree murder
675
00:35:55,238 --> 00:35:59,200
and one count of abuse
of a dead human body.
676
00:35:59,242 --> 00:36:01,995
NARRATOR: But prosecutors worry
that the evidence they have
677
00:36:02,037 --> 00:36:04,456
might not be enough
to secure a conviction.
678
00:36:07,208 --> 00:36:09,377
EMILY: The victim
may have been strangled,
679
00:36:09,419 --> 00:36:11,629
may have been shot,
680
00:36:11,671 --> 00:36:14,090
may have been
suffocated, beaten,
681
00:36:14,132 --> 00:36:18,011
but the head
had been decapitated.
682
00:36:18,053 --> 00:36:20,347
The arms and the legs
had also been, uh,
683
00:36:20,388 --> 00:36:22,974
removed from the body.
684
00:36:23,016 --> 00:36:26,019
The concern we had at that point
was because we only had
685
00:36:26,061 --> 00:36:27,062
the upper and lower torso,
686
00:36:28,688 --> 00:36:32,275
we had no definitive
cause of death.
687
00:36:47,165 --> 00:36:47,582
[***]
688
00:36:48,875 --> 00:36:50,627
NARRATOR: In March 2019,
689
00:36:50,669 --> 00:36:53,213
Jimmy Scandirito
goes on trial for the murder
690
00:36:53,254 --> 00:36:58,218
and dismemberment of his father,
Skip Scandirito.
691
00:36:58,259 --> 00:37:02,681
Prosecutors tell the jury
it's a crime motivated by greed.
692
00:37:02,722 --> 00:37:04,891
DET.KURDYS:
Jimmy Scandirito was flat broke
693
00:37:04,933 --> 00:37:09,312
and his father, Skip Scandirito
had about $800,000 net worth
694
00:37:09,354 --> 00:37:11,648
that Jimmy Scandirito
would have inherited
695
00:37:11,690 --> 00:37:13,274
in the event that Skip died.
696
00:37:15,402 --> 00:37:17,487
NARRATOR: Prosecutors argue
that Jimmy was used
697
00:37:17,529 --> 00:37:20,240
to receiving financial help
from his mother Terri,
698
00:37:20,281 --> 00:37:24,703
but things changed after she
died and that made him angry.
699
00:37:24,744 --> 00:37:27,580
His father was relatively
fed up with his son
700
00:37:27,622 --> 00:37:30,625
coming to him for money.
701
00:37:30,667 --> 00:37:33,795
NARRATOR: Prosecutors tell
the jury that Skip intended
702
00:37:33,837 --> 00:37:37,757
to cut Jimmy off on the night
of Wednesday, March 28th,
703
00:37:37,799 --> 00:37:39,592
three days before Skip's friend,
704
00:37:39,634 --> 00:37:41,594
Gary Goodin is scheduled
to visit,
705
00:37:41,636 --> 00:37:44,597
Jimmy's resentment
reaches a tipping point.
706
00:37:44,639 --> 00:37:47,600
DET.KURDYS: My gut instinct
is that Jimmy asked his dad
707
00:37:47,642 --> 00:37:50,854
for some money and Skip
wasn't gonna give him anything.
708
00:37:52,647 --> 00:37:54,149
They were drinking.
709
00:37:54,190 --> 00:37:55,608
They both have fiery tempers,
710
00:37:55,650 --> 00:37:57,610
and I think one thing
led to another.
711
00:37:57,652 --> 00:38:00,697
And he did something that
caused the death of his father.
712
00:38:03,450 --> 00:38:05,785
NARRATOR: The jury hears
that Jimmy used the hand truck
713
00:38:05,827 --> 00:38:10,165
he purchased at Home Depot to
move skips body into the garage.
714
00:38:12,417 --> 00:38:14,627
The medical examiner determined
715
00:38:14,669 --> 00:38:18,882
as Jimmy Scandirito was cutting
through the front of the neck,
716
00:38:18,923 --> 00:38:20,633
he had some point stopped,
717
00:38:20,675 --> 00:38:23,845
and the body was flipped over.
718
00:38:23,887 --> 00:38:26,806
What that indicated to us
was that the person
719
00:38:26,848 --> 00:38:28,641
did not wanna look
at the face of the person
720
00:38:28,683 --> 00:38:29,809
that they were dismembering.
721
00:38:33,396 --> 00:38:36,316
NARRATOR: The prosecutors
lay out how Jimmy's phone data
722
00:38:36,358 --> 00:38:38,693
indicates a scramble
to cover up the crime.
723
00:38:38,735 --> 00:38:41,946
EMILY: The path
of travel was frantic
724
00:38:41,988 --> 00:38:45,867
back and forth to pick up
some cleaning supplies.
725
00:38:45,909 --> 00:38:48,328
NARRATOR: With Gary Goodin's
arrival imminent,
726
00:38:48,370 --> 00:38:50,914
the clock was ticking.
727
00:38:50,955 --> 00:38:53,500
EMILY:
And then Jimmy Scandirito spent
728
00:38:53,541 --> 00:38:55,835
a significant amount of time
trying to make it seem like
729
00:38:55,877 --> 00:38:59,339
Skip Scandirito was still alive.
730
00:38:59,381 --> 00:39:02,342
NARRATOR: Prosecutors contend
it was Jimmy who sent the text
731
00:39:02,384 --> 00:39:07,222
supposedly from Skip to Gary
saying he was going kayaking.
732
00:39:07,263 --> 00:39:09,683
Then he left his father's car
at the boat ramp
733
00:39:09,724 --> 00:39:11,810
to complete the ruse.
734
00:39:11,851 --> 00:39:14,020
Skip never went kayaking.
735
00:39:14,062 --> 00:39:16,648
There never was a Lorraine.
736
00:39:16,690 --> 00:39:20,860
EMILY: When the vehicle
was dumped at Knowles Park,
737
00:39:20,902 --> 00:39:22,654
the defendant's phone
and the victim's phone
738
00:39:22,696 --> 00:39:24,864
were pinging together.
739
00:39:24,906 --> 00:39:26,741
NARRATOR: Then prosecutors say,
740
00:39:26,783 --> 00:39:28,743
Jimmy turned
to a familiar location
741
00:39:28,785 --> 00:39:32,497
to hide his father's
dismembered body.
742
00:39:32,539 --> 00:39:35,500
The abandoned Ocean Breeze
Golf Course where Skip
743
00:39:35,542 --> 00:39:38,461
once volunteered as a marshal.
744
00:39:38,503 --> 00:39:41,006
DET.KURDYS: Jimmy Scandirito
had gone to the golf course
745
00:39:41,047 --> 00:39:45,593
with his father's body parts
in that large suitcase.
746
00:39:47,971 --> 00:39:52,892
And buried those body parts
in the sand,
747
00:39:52,934 --> 00:39:55,770
but decided to dispose
the suitcase in the dumpster.
748
00:40:01,818 --> 00:40:03,862
NARRATOR:
When the defense gets its turn,
749
00:40:03,903 --> 00:40:06,990
Jimmy's lawyers begin
with a stunning admission.
750
00:40:07,032 --> 00:40:09,367
DET.KURDYS:
The defense admitted that Jimmy
751
00:40:09,409 --> 00:40:11,077
dismembered his father's body,
752
00:40:11,119 --> 00:40:12,787
but that he didn't
kill his father.
753
00:40:15,457 --> 00:40:17,334
Jimmy stated that
they were partying together
754
00:40:17,375 --> 00:40:19,044
on that Wednesday night,
755
00:40:19,085 --> 00:40:21,588
that there was some
cocaine being used.
756
00:40:21,629 --> 00:40:24,424
Jimmy stated that he went
outside to take a phone call
757
00:40:24,466 --> 00:40:26,009
and came back inside
758
00:40:26,051 --> 00:40:28,011
and saw his father deceased.
759
00:40:30,055 --> 00:40:33,058
And he believed that
he had overdosed on cocaine
760
00:40:33,099 --> 00:40:34,976
and panicked at that point.
761
00:40:39,814 --> 00:40:41,941
JIMMY: I did not kill my dad.
762
00:40:41,983 --> 00:40:44,903
Um, my first reaction was,
"Oh, no."
763
00:40:44,944 --> 00:40:46,446
You know, they're gonna--
I'm gonna go, you know,
764
00:40:46,488 --> 00:40:48,406
I'm gonna get in trouble
because he was--
765
00:40:48,448 --> 00:40:51,826
he died snorting my cocaine.
766
00:40:51,868 --> 00:40:53,703
PROSECUTOR:
Have you decided in your mind
767
00:40:53,745 --> 00:40:56,122
what you're gonna have to do?
768
00:40:56,164 --> 00:40:59,042
-I have.
-PROSECUTOR: And what was that?
769
00:40:59,084 --> 00:41:03,672
That I'm gonna have
to dismember my dad
770
00:41:03,713 --> 00:41:06,341
to be able to move him
out of the house.
771
00:41:08,677 --> 00:41:10,136
DET.KURDYS:
Jimmy felt that he would get
772
00:41:10,178 --> 00:41:13,932
in trouble for possible drug use
or drug paraphernalia.
773
00:41:13,973 --> 00:41:17,394
EMILY: Jimmy said he made the
decision to get rid of the body
774
00:41:17,435 --> 00:41:19,688
rather than get rid
of the drugs.
775
00:41:19,729 --> 00:41:21,981
However, the blood toxicology
776
00:41:22,023 --> 00:41:25,485
from Skip Scandirito's
body revealed...
777
00:41:25,527 --> 00:41:27,696
there was no cocaine
in his blood.
778
00:41:31,700 --> 00:41:33,493
NARRATOR:
After a two-week trial,
779
00:41:33,535 --> 00:41:36,538
the jury is left to consider
the conflicting stories.
780
00:41:36,579 --> 00:41:39,874
Within 10 hours,
they reach their verdict.
781
00:41:42,544 --> 00:41:44,671
EMILY: Jimmy Scandirito
was found not guilty
782
00:41:44,713 --> 00:41:45,714
of first degree murder.
783
00:41:49,050 --> 00:41:51,886
[***]
784
00:41:54,889 --> 00:41:56,808
SHARON: I felt like someone
took a sledgehammer to me
785
00:41:56,850 --> 00:41:58,727
that he got away with that.
786
00:42:01,062 --> 00:42:04,024
ELLIE:
When that verdict was read,
787
00:42:04,065 --> 00:42:06,401
I couldn't physically
contain my body.
788
00:42:06,443 --> 00:42:11,072
I actually had to walk
myself out of the courtroom.
789
00:42:11,114 --> 00:42:13,742
I felt this...
790
00:42:13,783 --> 00:42:16,453
really strong sense of rage.
791
00:42:17,579 --> 00:42:19,956
Beyond furious.
792
00:42:19,998 --> 00:42:23,543
EMILY: This was a homicide
by unspecified means
793
00:42:23,585 --> 00:42:28,048
because without the head
and the various body parts,
794
00:42:28,089 --> 00:42:30,216
the medical examiner
was unable to determine
795
00:42:30,258 --> 00:42:32,886
a definitive cause of death.
796
00:42:32,927 --> 00:42:36,222
[***]
797
00:42:36,264 --> 00:42:39,517
NARRATOR: But Jimmy is found
guilty of abuse of a dead body
798
00:42:39,559 --> 00:42:42,437
for dismembering
his father's corpse.
799
00:42:42,479 --> 00:42:46,483
He receives the maximum
15-year sentence.
800
00:42:46,524 --> 00:42:48,818
After the criminal trial,
Skip's family files
801
00:42:48,860 --> 00:42:51,571
a civil suit to prevent
Jimmy from receiving
802
00:42:51,613 --> 00:42:53,073
any of his father's money.
803
00:42:53,114 --> 00:42:56,034
For us as a family,
this is not about money.
804
00:42:56,076 --> 00:42:59,454
There's many different ways
for a person to get justice
805
00:42:59,496 --> 00:43:01,039
and this is one way
806
00:43:01,081 --> 00:43:03,958
and he needs to be held
accountable for my Uncle Skip.
807
00:43:09,547 --> 00:43:12,175
SHARON:
Skip was a wonderful person.
808
00:43:12,217 --> 00:43:15,512
He loved life, he loved people,
loved his family.
809
00:43:17,639 --> 00:43:19,808
And I don't want him
to be forgotten.
810
00:43:19,849 --> 00:43:22,727
[***]