1 00:00:03,420 --> 00:00:04,504 NARRATOR: A retired judge finds Florida 2 00:00:06,089 --> 00:00:08,299 the perfect place to spend his golden years. 3 00:00:08,341 --> 00:00:10,176 SHARON: When he wasn't playing golf, 4 00:00:10,218 --> 00:00:11,344 tennis, or racquetball, 5 00:00:11,386 --> 00:00:12,429 he was out there 6 00:00:12,470 --> 00:00:14,431 by the pool relaxing. 7 00:00:16,474 --> 00:00:18,810 NARRATOR: But then, he vanishes. 8 00:00:26,568 --> 00:00:28,653 ELLIE: Uncle Skip was very reliable. 9 00:00:28,695 --> 00:00:30,530 He didn't show up. 10 00:00:30,572 --> 00:00:32,532 There's something wrong. 11 00:00:32,574 --> 00:00:35,076 NARRATOR: And one disturbing discovery. 12 00:00:35,118 --> 00:00:36,453 DET.KURDYS: There was a large amount of blood 13 00:00:36,494 --> 00:00:37,829 that we discovered in the garage. 14 00:00:37,871 --> 00:00:39,831 NARRATOR: After another. 15 00:00:39,873 --> 00:00:43,543 RALPH: We were surprised to discover just a torso. 16 00:00:45,712 --> 00:00:48,631 Amputated just above the waistline. 17 00:00:48,673 --> 00:00:52,260 NARRATOR: Plunge police into a macabre mystery. 18 00:00:52,302 --> 00:00:54,137 EMILY: At some point, the person 19 00:00:54,179 --> 00:00:55,555 did not want to look at the face 20 00:00:55,597 --> 00:00:57,098 of the person that they were dismembering. 21 00:00:58,266 --> 00:01:00,643 RALPH: The question is, 22 00:01:00,685 --> 00:01:02,604 who buried this body in the sand? 23 00:01:06,441 --> 00:01:09,235 [***] 24 00:01:15,408 --> 00:01:17,160 ELIOT: Boca Raton was started, 25 00:01:17,202 --> 00:01:19,245 uh, in the '20s 26 00:01:19,287 --> 00:01:21,373 as an alternative to Palm Beach 27 00:01:21,414 --> 00:01:24,334 for wealthy winter residents to live. 28 00:01:26,670 --> 00:01:28,421 NARRATOR: Boca Raton is a jewel 29 00:01:28,463 --> 00:01:30,632 on the Atlantic Coast of Florida 30 00:01:30,674 --> 00:01:32,509 and has remained a winter haven 31 00:01:32,550 --> 00:01:36,388 for the wealthy for more than a century. 32 00:01:36,429 --> 00:01:39,432 ELIOT: When people ask what makes Boca Raton, Boca Raton. 33 00:01:39,474 --> 00:01:42,560 The answer of course is the perfect climate. 34 00:01:45,814 --> 00:01:48,942 There are very ritzy fancy golf courses 35 00:01:48,983 --> 00:01:52,821 that were built as part of communities. 36 00:01:55,699 --> 00:01:57,325 NARRATOR: But when the economy went south 37 00:01:57,367 --> 00:01:58,827 in the mid-2000s, 38 00:01:58,868 --> 00:02:00,745 Boca wasn't immune. 39 00:02:02,831 --> 00:02:05,625 ELIOT: Boca Raton, it took a beating in 2008. 40 00:02:05,667 --> 00:02:07,961 Some people lost as much as half 41 00:02:08,003 --> 00:02:10,463 of their total property value, 42 00:02:10,505 --> 00:02:13,842 and it wasn't unusual to see many homes 43 00:02:13,883 --> 00:02:16,678 and golf courses go into foreclosure. 44 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:22,517 NARRATOR: Among the hardest hit 45 00:02:22,559 --> 00:02:25,895 is the Ocean Breeze Golf Course. 46 00:02:25,937 --> 00:02:28,189 ELIOT: The Ocean Breeze ran on hard times 47 00:02:28,231 --> 00:02:29,816 and eventually shut down 48 00:02:31,526 --> 00:02:32,819 and was abandoned. 49 00:02:34,404 --> 00:02:36,239 [***] 50 00:02:38,992 --> 00:02:41,286 NARRATOR: By 2018, it has lain dormant 51 00:02:41,327 --> 00:02:44,706 for more than a decade. 52 00:02:44,748 --> 00:02:47,292 But as dawn breaks on an April morning, 53 00:02:47,334 --> 00:02:51,671 Ocean Breeze is again a center of activity. 54 00:02:51,713 --> 00:02:55,675 Law enforcement has descended on the 18-hole wasteland 55 00:02:55,717 --> 00:02:57,802 following leads in the search for a man 56 00:02:57,844 --> 00:02:59,679 who has been missing for more than a week. 57 00:03:02,640 --> 00:03:04,517 RALPH: Boca Raton Police Department were 58 00:03:04,559 --> 00:03:06,019 investigating a missing person. 59 00:03:06,061 --> 00:03:10,357 Um, they were doing surveillance at this location 60 00:03:10,398 --> 00:03:12,650 and reported possible human remains 61 00:03:12,692 --> 00:03:14,235 buried on the golf course. 62 00:03:15,862 --> 00:03:17,947 [***] 63 00:03:20,950 --> 00:03:23,870 DET.KURDYS: A cadaver dog showed a positive response, 64 00:03:23,912 --> 00:03:26,873 um, in a small area 65 00:03:26,915 --> 00:03:31,002 that looked like it had some freshly disturbed sand. 66 00:03:31,044 --> 00:03:33,838 NARRATOR: Crime tags carefully cordoned off the sand trap 67 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:35,674 and begin digging. 68 00:03:37,092 --> 00:03:39,552 RALPH: As we were removing the sand 69 00:03:39,594 --> 00:03:43,723 two to two and a half feet below the surface, 70 00:03:43,765 --> 00:03:46,935 I came across something buried in the sand. 71 00:03:49,354 --> 00:03:53,525 EMILY: There were two different large garbage bags 72 00:03:53,566 --> 00:03:55,026 slightly exposed, 73 00:03:56,486 --> 00:03:57,612 and when they opened them, 74 00:03:59,572 --> 00:04:03,910 in one bag was a human, uh, upper torso. 75 00:04:06,996 --> 00:04:10,583 The head had been cut off. 76 00:04:10,625 --> 00:04:13,962 Both of the arms had also been, uh, removed from the body. 77 00:04:16,965 --> 00:04:21,970 The other garbage bag was the lower half of the torso. 78 00:04:22,012 --> 00:04:25,557 And both of the legs had been cut off from the body. 79 00:04:28,643 --> 00:04:31,938 Law enforcement continued to search that golf course 80 00:04:31,980 --> 00:04:33,857 for a significant amount of time, 81 00:04:33,898 --> 00:04:35,650 but they were unsuccessful to locate 82 00:04:35,692 --> 00:04:36,901 the limbs and the head. 83 00:04:39,112 --> 00:04:41,948 Without the head, it would be very difficult 84 00:04:41,990 --> 00:04:45,452 to identify the human remains. 85 00:04:45,493 --> 00:04:48,621 NARRATOR: Investigators believe whoever committed this crime 86 00:04:48,663 --> 00:04:51,833 worked very hard to conceal the identity of the victim. 87 00:04:55,086 --> 00:04:56,838 RALPH: So we transported the body back 88 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:58,798 to the medical examiner's office 89 00:04:58,840 --> 00:05:02,052 to find out who this was buried in the sand. 90 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:11,061 [***] 91 00:05:14,147 --> 00:05:16,941 EMILY: Over the last 30 years or so, 92 00:05:16,983 --> 00:05:21,654 Boca Raton became known for the individuals 93 00:05:21,696 --> 00:05:24,741 who come and live and enjoy their golden years together 94 00:05:24,783 --> 00:05:26,910 down in beautiful sunny South Florida. 95 00:05:28,828 --> 00:05:30,789 ELIOT: When people retire to Boca Raton, 96 00:05:30,830 --> 00:05:34,459 the big draws are golf and tennis. 97 00:05:34,501 --> 00:05:35,669 NARRATOR: That's definitely the case 98 00:05:35,710 --> 00:05:37,379 for recently retired couple 99 00:05:37,420 --> 00:05:40,173 Terri Scandirito and her husband James, 100 00:05:40,215 --> 00:05:42,425 known to his friends as "Skip." 101 00:05:45,553 --> 00:05:48,139 ELLIE: My Uncle Skip and my Aunt Terri 102 00:05:48,181 --> 00:05:50,558 were life partners and best friends. 103 00:05:51,976 --> 00:05:53,770 SHARON: They've always wanted to go 104 00:05:53,812 --> 00:05:55,522 to Florida because they'd visit. 105 00:05:57,607 --> 00:06:00,568 Of course, Florida had nice weather in the winter. 106 00:06:02,737 --> 00:06:05,031 NARRATOR: At age 52, Skip leaves his career 107 00:06:05,073 --> 00:06:06,700 as a judge behind 108 00:06:06,741 --> 00:06:08,702 when he and Terri set their sights 109 00:06:08,743 --> 00:06:11,621 on the ultimate retirement in Boca Raton. 110 00:06:13,039 --> 00:06:15,417 [***] 111 00:06:17,252 --> 00:06:20,797 SHARON: When he wasn't playing golf, tennis, or racquetball, 112 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:23,508 he was out there with the lawn 113 00:06:23,550 --> 00:06:28,471 and pruning trees and watering the plants, 114 00:06:28,513 --> 00:06:31,057 by the pool, relaxing. 115 00:06:31,099 --> 00:06:33,977 And Skip was very, very happy here. 116 00:06:35,937 --> 00:06:37,814 NARRATOR: Skip spends part of his time 117 00:06:37,856 --> 00:06:41,568 as a volunteer marshal at the Ocean Breeze Golf Course. 118 00:06:41,609 --> 00:06:44,446 He and Terri have found their own little paradise 119 00:06:44,487 --> 00:06:46,740 in South Florida. 120 00:06:46,781 --> 00:06:49,492 Before long, their son Jimmy follows them 121 00:06:49,534 --> 00:06:52,203 to the Sunshine State. 122 00:06:52,245 --> 00:06:54,998 SHARON: Terri and Jimmy were very close. 123 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:58,460 Jimmy was everything to her because he was the only child. 124 00:07:04,591 --> 00:07:06,092 Jimmy, Skip, and Terri 125 00:07:06,134 --> 00:07:08,803 were in Boca Raton, Florida for 20 years. 126 00:07:11,598 --> 00:07:13,141 Before a tragedy happened. 127 00:07:13,183 --> 00:07:15,518 [***] 128 00:07:18,021 --> 00:07:20,273 ELLIE: My Uncle Skip texted me and let me know 129 00:07:20,315 --> 00:07:22,734 that my Aunt Terri was diagnosed with lung cancer. 130 00:07:25,111 --> 00:07:27,906 SHARON: Terri got sick and she died 131 00:07:27,947 --> 00:07:30,033 the following year in the spring. 132 00:07:33,745 --> 00:07:35,497 Terri was gone 133 00:07:35,538 --> 00:07:37,832 and Skip and Jimmy were all each other had, 134 00:07:37,874 --> 00:07:39,125 so they-- 'cause they were grieving, 135 00:07:39,167 --> 00:07:41,670 they were doing things together. 136 00:07:44,881 --> 00:07:46,675 NARRATOR: A few days after marking 137 00:07:46,716 --> 00:07:49,010 the somber anniversary of Terri's death, 138 00:07:49,052 --> 00:07:51,262 Skip and his son Jimmy prepare for a visit 139 00:07:51,304 --> 00:07:53,723 from Skip's best friend Gary Goodin 140 00:07:53,765 --> 00:07:55,809 to watch their home state of Michigan 141 00:07:55,850 --> 00:07:58,186 play in the final four basketball championships. 142 00:08:00,855 --> 00:08:02,899 ELIOT: Skip had texted Gary 143 00:08:02,941 --> 00:08:06,236 and said that he was going to go kayaking that weekend, 144 00:08:06,277 --> 00:08:08,780 but that he would get back to watch the game 145 00:08:08,822 --> 00:08:10,115 with Gary and Jimmy. 146 00:08:13,159 --> 00:08:15,578 But when Gary came over Saturday, 147 00:08:15,620 --> 00:08:17,205 uh, he couldn't find Skip. 148 00:08:20,333 --> 00:08:22,043 NARRATOR: When Jimmy arrives, 149 00:08:22,085 --> 00:08:23,962 he hasn't heard from his dad either. 150 00:08:25,672 --> 00:08:27,674 But they're not immediately worried. 151 00:08:27,716 --> 00:08:29,676 Maybe Skip's just picking up beer. 152 00:08:35,140 --> 00:08:38,351 But when the game ends with still no word from Skip 153 00:08:38,393 --> 00:08:40,979 early on Easter Sunday, Gary and Jimmy 154 00:08:41,021 --> 00:08:43,231 decide to call the police. 155 00:09:09,257 --> 00:09:10,675 NARRATOR: Missing persons detectives 156 00:09:10,717 --> 00:09:12,344 arrive at the Scandirito home 157 00:09:12,385 --> 00:09:14,346 and begin trying to piece together 158 00:09:14,387 --> 00:09:17,891 Skip's last movements. 159 00:09:17,932 --> 00:09:20,727 EMILY: Jimmy told law enforcement that Friday 160 00:09:20,769 --> 00:09:23,313 the two of them had exchanged vehicles 161 00:09:23,355 --> 00:09:26,983 so that Jimmy could get a pressure cleaner 162 00:09:27,025 --> 00:09:29,027 from his father. 163 00:09:29,069 --> 00:09:33,365 And that was the last that Jimmy had heard from his father. 164 00:09:33,406 --> 00:09:35,200 DET.KURDYS: And when he returned to Skip 165 00:09:35,241 --> 00:09:36,951 Scandirito's residence later that evening 166 00:09:36,993 --> 00:09:38,953 to return the pressure washer, 167 00:09:38,995 --> 00:09:41,414 Skip was not there. 168 00:09:41,456 --> 00:09:43,249 NARRATOR: Jimmy describes the days 169 00:09:43,291 --> 00:09:45,335 leading up to his dad's disappearance, 170 00:09:45,377 --> 00:09:47,212 hoping something will provide a clue 171 00:09:47,253 --> 00:09:50,256 to Skip's whereabouts. 172 00:09:50,298 --> 00:09:52,801 EMILY: Jimmy told detectives that 173 00:09:52,842 --> 00:09:56,096 on Wednesday morning, his father and him played golf 174 00:09:56,137 --> 00:09:58,973 at Southwinds Golf Course in Delray Beach, Florida. 175 00:10:02,143 --> 00:10:05,021 DET.KURDYS: Jimmy stated that when they were playing golf, 176 00:10:05,063 --> 00:10:07,649 that Skip had met a 62-year-old white female 177 00:10:07,691 --> 00:10:09,693 on the golf course. 178 00:10:09,734 --> 00:10:12,779 And they made plans to go kayaking on Saturday morning. 179 00:10:12,821 --> 00:10:14,030 Jimmy didn't have the person's name 180 00:10:14,072 --> 00:10:15,281 or any other information about her. 181 00:10:19,285 --> 00:10:20,870 ELIOT: There were a lot of things that police 182 00:10:20,912 --> 00:10:22,664 in Boca Raton didn't know. 183 00:10:22,706 --> 00:10:25,959 One thing they did know was that a 74-year-old man 184 00:10:26,001 --> 00:10:30,005 and also possibly this woman Skip's gonna go kayaking with 185 00:10:30,046 --> 00:10:34,175 were missing and might be in danger on the water 186 00:10:34,217 --> 00:10:35,844 and they needed to try to find them. 187 00:10:40,348 --> 00:10:42,142 [***] 188 00:10:42,183 --> 00:10:43,435 DET.KURDYS: Did Skip Scandirito meet 189 00:10:43,476 --> 00:10:45,854 a female approximately 62 years of age? 190 00:10:48,189 --> 00:10:49,691 ELIOT: Detectives went to the house 191 00:10:49,733 --> 00:10:52,068 but nobody was there. 192 00:10:52,110 --> 00:10:53,403 DET.KURDYS: There was a large amount of blood 193 00:10:53,445 --> 00:10:55,071 that we discovered in the garage. 194 00:11:07,042 --> 00:11:08,335 NARRATOR: 74-year-old retiree Skip Scandirito 195 00:11:09,919 --> 00:11:13,131 has been missing for two days. 196 00:11:13,173 --> 00:11:16,468 Investigators have turned their search to the open water 197 00:11:16,509 --> 00:11:18,970 where they've learned he may have gone kayaking 198 00:11:19,012 --> 00:11:20,347 with a female friend. 199 00:11:25,101 --> 00:11:27,604 We knew they didn't return from a kayaking trip. 200 00:11:27,645 --> 00:11:29,189 I was concerned that there may have been an accident 201 00:11:29,230 --> 00:11:32,025 somewhere on the water 202 00:11:32,067 --> 00:11:36,571 where they could be possibly injured or even deceased. 203 00:11:36,613 --> 00:11:39,366 NARRATOR: But finding where Skip and the unidentified woman 204 00:11:39,407 --> 00:11:43,078 may have put into the water won't be easy. 205 00:11:43,119 --> 00:11:46,206 There are hundreds of waterways in the Boca Raton area 206 00:11:46,247 --> 00:11:48,625 used by boaters and kayakers. 207 00:11:50,251 --> 00:11:51,503 DET.KURDYS: Skip had a white SUV. 208 00:11:53,421 --> 00:11:54,714 License plates were obtained 209 00:11:54,756 --> 00:11:56,633 and sent to neighboring communities 210 00:11:56,675 --> 00:12:01,012 that had boat ramps along the intercostal. 211 00:12:01,054 --> 00:12:03,473 ELIOT: The Intracoastal Waterway separates the mainland 212 00:12:03,515 --> 00:12:05,517 from the various barrier islands 213 00:12:05,558 --> 00:12:10,522 that line South Florida from Miami all the way up. 214 00:12:10,563 --> 00:12:12,357 NARRATOR: Law enforcement begins checking 215 00:12:12,399 --> 00:12:14,693 the hundreds of docks and boat ramps 216 00:12:14,734 --> 00:12:18,613 hoping to locate Skip's white Ford Escape. 217 00:12:18,655 --> 00:12:22,158 It doesn't take long for authorities to get a hit. 218 00:12:24,035 --> 00:12:25,995 DET.KURDYS: Delray Beach Police located 219 00:12:26,037 --> 00:12:27,288 Skip Scandirito's vehicle 220 00:12:27,330 --> 00:12:29,624 in a boat ramp area, 221 00:12:29,666 --> 00:12:31,334 just north of the city of Boca 222 00:12:31,376 --> 00:12:32,585 in a park called Knowles Park. 223 00:12:34,421 --> 00:12:36,631 EMILY: Knowles Park boat ramp in Delray Beach 224 00:12:36,673 --> 00:12:39,634 is 10 to 15 minutes from the Scandirito residence. 225 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:44,514 It was a very plausible explanation 226 00:12:44,556 --> 00:12:46,433 that these elderly individuals 227 00:12:46,474 --> 00:12:49,561 had simply encountered some type of accident 228 00:12:49,602 --> 00:12:52,313 or medical emergency out on the waterway 229 00:12:53,565 --> 00:12:55,525 and had either drowned 230 00:12:55,567 --> 00:12:58,278 or had gone missing and were in distress. 231 00:13:01,156 --> 00:13:03,199 The Coast Guard was called. 232 00:13:03,241 --> 00:13:05,452 They did a thorough search on the waterway 233 00:13:05,493 --> 00:13:07,328 to look for Skip Scandirito 234 00:13:07,370 --> 00:13:09,664 and this woman to see if there had been 235 00:13:09,706 --> 00:13:11,332 any kayaks that had surfaced. 236 00:13:14,085 --> 00:13:15,462 NARRATOR: There's no sign of Skip 237 00:13:15,503 --> 00:13:17,380 or his kayaking companion. 238 00:13:20,175 --> 00:13:22,093 Investigators must consider 239 00:13:22,135 --> 00:13:24,262 that they never made it into the water 240 00:13:24,304 --> 00:13:27,098 and that Skip and his friend might have encountered trouble 241 00:13:27,140 --> 00:13:29,309 in the boat ramp parking lot. 242 00:13:29,351 --> 00:13:33,313 EMILY: South Florida is absolutely a hotbed 243 00:13:33,355 --> 00:13:36,316 for drug trafficking and narcotics activity. 244 00:13:38,526 --> 00:13:40,278 ELIOT: In South Florida, 245 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:41,696 drugs move in and out all the time, 246 00:13:41,738 --> 00:13:43,323 sometimes in the middle of the day. 247 00:13:43,365 --> 00:13:46,242 So they at least thought about the idea that 248 00:13:46,284 --> 00:13:49,120 Skip and this woman had stumbled across people 249 00:13:49,162 --> 00:13:52,248 bringing in drugs in the Intracoastal Waterway. 250 00:13:54,250 --> 00:13:56,127 NARRATOR: Missing persons investigators 251 00:13:56,169 --> 00:13:58,088 check with colleagues in narcotics 252 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 [***]