1 00:00:02,567 --> 00:00:05,005 ♪ 2 00:00:11,837 --> 00:00:13,316 - When the unthinkable happens 3 00:00:13,317 --> 00:00:15,710 between a 10-year-old boy and his father... 4 00:00:15,711 --> 00:00:18,321 - He didn't realize his finger was on the trigger. 5 00:00:18,322 --> 00:00:19,931 It went off. 6 00:00:19,932 --> 00:00:24,023 - The impact on a child, it was very traumatic. 7 00:00:24,024 --> 00:00:25,546 - It had to be an accident. 8 00:00:25,547 --> 00:00:28,070 But there were things that didn't make sense. 9 00:00:28,071 --> 00:00:31,160 - My dad was my world. He was my superhero. 10 00:00:31,161 --> 00:00:33,815 Not a day goes by that I don't miss my dad. 11 00:00:33,816 --> 00:00:35,817 - ...the case haunts the community 12 00:00:35,818 --> 00:00:37,340 until nine years later, 13 00:00:37,341 --> 00:00:40,039 new information changes everything. 14 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:43,739 - She told me that he told her that it wasn't an accident. 15 00:00:44,827 --> 00:00:46,523 - The way my dad died, 16 00:00:46,524 --> 00:00:49,700 it wasn't the way everyone thought it was. 17 00:00:49,701 --> 00:00:52,834 - A heartbreaking allegation makes police question 18 00:00:52,835 --> 00:00:55,359 who the real killer is. 19 00:00:58,449 --> 00:01:01,277 - I'm sitting there thinking, this is crazy. 20 00:01:01,278 --> 00:01:03,236 - You're talking to a teenager about stuff 21 00:01:03,237 --> 00:01:05,107 that happened when they were little. 22 00:01:05,108 --> 00:01:06,892 - Do you believe this? Do you not? 23 00:01:07,067 --> 00:01:17,686 ♪ 24 00:01:17,903 --> 00:01:28,609 ♪ 25 00:01:28,610 --> 00:01:30,220 [ Phone ringing ] 26 00:01:47,411 --> 00:01:49,195 - Moments after the harrowing call, 27 00:01:49,196 --> 00:01:52,198 Defiance County emergency services raced to the scene, 28 00:01:52,199 --> 00:01:54,025 knowing there's a good chance the victim is 29 00:01:54,026 --> 00:01:57,203 a friend or neighbor in this small community. 30 00:01:57,204 --> 00:02:00,031 - They just told me that it was the Breininger residence. 31 00:02:00,032 --> 00:02:01,729 And as soon as they said Breininger, 32 00:02:01,730 --> 00:02:04,253 I knew right away where I was going. 33 00:02:04,254 --> 00:02:08,083 Living in Defiance County all my life, you get to know everybody. 34 00:02:08,084 --> 00:02:11,739 I knew Robert Breininger, owner of the property, 35 00:02:11,740 --> 00:02:13,828 knew him growing up through school. 36 00:02:13,829 --> 00:02:17,310 He lived out there with his wife, Judith, and Corey, 37 00:02:17,311 --> 00:02:20,792 his 10-year-old boy who made the 911 call. 38 00:02:21,967 --> 00:02:23,577 Every case is personal. 39 00:02:23,578 --> 00:02:26,015 But this was even more. 40 00:02:26,581 --> 00:02:29,322 I arrived at the Breininger residence, 41 00:02:29,323 --> 00:02:31,237 and that's when Corey opens the door 42 00:02:31,238 --> 00:02:33,327 and he's just devastated. 43 00:02:34,458 --> 00:02:37,678 He grabs my hand and he started to take me to the back 44 00:02:37,679 --> 00:02:41,509 where his dad was, and I stopped him. 45 00:02:43,163 --> 00:02:44,554 And I walked back there, 46 00:02:44,555 --> 00:02:46,339 and as soon as I seen Robert, 47 00:02:46,340 --> 00:02:49,125 I knew there was nothing could be done. 48 00:02:50,561 --> 00:02:54,304 It was clear that there had been a bullet through his head. 49 00:02:55,523 --> 00:02:57,698 I knew the devastation that I'd seen. 50 00:02:57,699 --> 00:02:59,222 He was gone. 51 00:03:00,180 --> 00:03:02,703 My mind was shifted to many things. 52 00:03:02,704 --> 00:03:04,313 Was this suicide? 53 00:03:04,314 --> 00:03:06,750 Had Corey shot his dad intentionally, 54 00:03:06,751 --> 00:03:08,796 or is this an accident? 55 00:03:08,797 --> 00:03:12,495 - Shocked by his friend's death and unsure of the circumstances, 56 00:03:12,496 --> 00:03:16,064 Detective Vandemark heads back out to his only known witness, 57 00:03:16,065 --> 00:03:17,370 the victim's son. 58 00:03:17,371 --> 00:03:21,069 - I take Corey outside. He was crying. 59 00:03:21,070 --> 00:03:24,987 I started talking quietly to him to tell me what had happened. 60 00:03:25,988 --> 00:03:29,077 - Corey's story was that he and his dad 61 00:03:29,078 --> 00:03:30,600 were going to go hunting, 62 00:03:30,601 --> 00:03:34,125 and his dad was teaching him about gun safety. 63 00:03:34,126 --> 00:03:36,563 - Corey said he was holding the gun. 64 00:03:36,564 --> 00:03:39,000 He didn't realize his finger was on the trigger. 65 00:03:39,001 --> 00:03:45,094 It went off and the result was his dad being shot in the head. 66 00:03:45,834 --> 00:03:48,357 - The impact on a child to an accident like that. 67 00:03:48,358 --> 00:03:51,012 It was very traumatic. 68 00:03:51,013 --> 00:03:53,667 - While Corey is handed over to EMTs, 69 00:03:53,668 --> 00:03:57,237 Detective Vandemark goes back inside to assess the scene. 70 00:03:58,063 --> 00:04:01,805 - Robert laid facing up in the bed. 71 00:04:01,806 --> 00:04:04,982 He was covered with sheets. 72 00:04:04,983 --> 00:04:08,290 There was a large pooling of blood around his head 73 00:04:08,291 --> 00:04:10,249 and onto the floor. 74 00:04:10,250 --> 00:04:13,991 The wound was just above the ear on his right side. 75 00:04:13,992 --> 00:04:16,559 - There's hunting pamphlets that are tucked under 76 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:19,911 the deceased's arm on the bed. 77 00:04:21,391 --> 00:04:24,175 - The gun was a shotgun, a 410. 78 00:04:24,176 --> 00:04:26,134 A lot of children use the 410 shotgun 79 00:04:26,135 --> 00:04:28,919 versus the 12 gauges and the 20. 80 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:31,400 There are more small and light. 81 00:04:31,401 --> 00:04:33,315 It was laying on the left side of the bed, 82 00:04:33,316 --> 00:04:35,143 where you would have expected it to be, 83 00:04:35,144 --> 00:04:37,101 based on where the wound entered. 84 00:04:37,102 --> 00:04:39,365 - At first glance, the crime scene matches 85 00:04:39,366 --> 00:04:41,715 Corey's brief description of what happened, 86 00:04:41,716 --> 00:04:45,414 but Detective Vandemark notices some elements don't make sense. 87 00:04:45,415 --> 00:04:48,156 - Corey told me that his father was teaching him 88 00:04:48,157 --> 00:04:50,201 how to shoot guns, 89 00:04:50,202 --> 00:04:53,379 but why was he in bed covered with sheets? 90 00:04:53,380 --> 00:04:58,340 And the other thing I noticed was he had earplugs in his ears. 91 00:04:58,341 --> 00:05:00,430 That just didn't make sense. 92 00:05:01,431 --> 00:05:03,519 - After finishing his examination of the body, 93 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,609 Detective Vandemark notices Robert's wife, Judith, 94 00:05:06,610 --> 00:05:10,483 who has been Corey's stepmother for five years, arrive on scene. 95 00:05:10,484 --> 00:05:14,269 - When Corey had seen Judith, he became real quiet. 96 00:05:14,270 --> 00:05:16,010 I don't know if it was because he was going to 97 00:05:16,011 --> 00:05:19,143 have to tell his mom there was this horrible accident, 98 00:05:19,144 --> 00:05:23,496 and that's when I whisper in her ear that he's gone. 99 00:05:23,497 --> 00:05:25,585 He's gone. 100 00:05:25,586 --> 00:05:28,197 And a tear came into her eye. 101 00:05:30,242 --> 00:05:32,026 - Judith, appearing to be in shock, 102 00:05:32,027 --> 00:05:35,203 is able to tell Detective Vandemark some of the events 103 00:05:35,204 --> 00:05:37,814 that led up to Robert's death. 104 00:05:37,815 --> 00:05:41,557 - Judith told us Robert worked third shift from 10:00 at night 105 00:05:41,558 --> 00:05:44,604 until 5:00, 6:00 in the morning. 106 00:05:44,605 --> 00:05:46,345 He would normally sleep during the day, 107 00:05:46,346 --> 00:05:49,652 but Judith and Robert had been running errands 108 00:05:49,653 --> 00:05:51,350 until about noon that day. 109 00:05:51,351 --> 00:05:53,569 And then when Corey got home from school, 110 00:05:53,570 --> 00:05:56,964 she went over to her mother's house, closing up a garage sale. 111 00:05:56,965 --> 00:05:58,313 Corey didn't go. 112 00:05:58,314 --> 00:06:01,272 He was going to stay there with Dad. 113 00:06:01,273 --> 00:06:05,886 So Robert hadn't had much sleep that day at all. 114 00:06:05,887 --> 00:06:08,323 Judith said that the reason he wore earplugs 115 00:06:08,324 --> 00:06:10,369 is to help him sleep during the day. 116 00:06:10,370 --> 00:06:14,503 And she also told us she didn't know why the gun was out. 117 00:06:14,504 --> 00:06:15,983 She makes the comment, 118 00:06:15,984 --> 00:06:20,030 it was normally way up high in their closet. 119 00:06:20,031 --> 00:06:22,424 And then she reaches out to Corey 120 00:06:22,425 --> 00:06:25,297 and says "Daddy's going to be okay." 121 00:06:27,691 --> 00:06:30,258 - 34-year-old Robert Breininger was born 122 00:06:30,259 --> 00:06:33,522 and raised in Defiance County. 123 00:06:33,523 --> 00:06:38,005 - When I first met Robert, we were teenagers playing baseball. 124 00:06:38,006 --> 00:06:42,749 Robert was a down-to-earth homebody type guy. 125 00:06:42,750 --> 00:06:45,316 Pleasant, easy to talk to. 126 00:06:45,317 --> 00:06:47,580 Just a great person all around to be around. 127 00:06:47,581 --> 00:06:50,452 - Robert was an avid hunter-fisherman. 128 00:06:50,453 --> 00:06:51,758 That was his pastime, 129 00:06:51,759 --> 00:06:53,194 was to go hunting with his buddies 130 00:06:53,195 --> 00:06:54,804 or to take Corey fishing. 131 00:06:54,805 --> 00:06:57,111 - His son was his priority. 132 00:06:57,112 --> 00:07:00,419 He was a loving and nurturing father. 133 00:07:00,420 --> 00:07:02,464 - Robert had been previously married. 134 00:07:02,465 --> 00:07:06,425 The only child that they shared was Corey... 135 00:07:06,426 --> 00:07:08,209 and she left. 136 00:07:08,210 --> 00:07:11,342 So Robert was raising that child alone 137 00:07:11,343 --> 00:07:14,346 until Judith came into his life. 138 00:07:15,304 --> 00:07:18,088 - In 1998, when Corey is 4 years old, 139 00:07:18,089 --> 00:07:21,309 Robert meets and falls in love with Judith Foudy, 140 00:07:21,310 --> 00:07:23,398 who lives in their small community. 141 00:07:23,399 --> 00:07:24,878 - They hit it off pretty good. 142 00:07:24,879 --> 00:07:28,969 She could be personable, pleasant to be around. 143 00:07:28,970 --> 00:07:30,666 - I didn't know Judith well, 144 00:07:30,667 --> 00:07:34,191 but they married quite quickly and she was bound 145 00:07:34,192 --> 00:07:35,845 and determined to be Corey's mom, 146 00:07:35,846 --> 00:07:38,674 and she adopted Corey right away. 147 00:07:38,675 --> 00:07:43,984 Their married life seemed to be the typical married life. 148 00:07:43,985 --> 00:07:45,594 There wasn't flags going off 149 00:07:45,595 --> 00:07:48,772 that it was a bad marriage or anything like that. 150 00:07:50,948 --> 00:07:52,949 Robert was a very good writer. 151 00:07:52,950 --> 00:07:54,473 He worked at a steel mill. 152 00:07:54,474 --> 00:07:56,387 He was an ironworker. 153 00:07:56,388 --> 00:07:58,912 - In the late '80s, I worked with Robert. 154 00:07:58,913 --> 00:08:02,655 He was a hard worker, very knowledgeable person. 155 00:08:02,656 --> 00:08:05,396 Robert was so smart. 156 00:08:05,397 --> 00:08:08,791 I couldn't imagine him having a firearm of any sort 157 00:08:08,792 --> 00:08:11,054 in the house being loaded, 158 00:08:11,055 --> 00:08:14,624 let alone being something that Corey could get. 159 00:08:16,017 --> 00:08:18,235 - This 10-year-old boy is devastated. 160 00:08:18,236 --> 00:08:20,499 It had to be an accident. 161 00:08:20,500 --> 00:08:25,068 However, there were things I seen that didn't make sense. 162 00:08:25,069 --> 00:08:26,766 - Just hours after the shooting, 163 00:08:26,767 --> 00:08:29,029 as law enforcement finishes up at the scene, 164 00:08:29,030 --> 00:08:32,032 Detective Vandemark goes to get a more detailed statement 165 00:08:32,033 --> 00:08:34,643 from Corey about what happened. 166 00:08:34,644 --> 00:08:36,471 - During our second interview with Corey, 167 00:08:36,472 --> 00:08:39,518 Judith would not let me talk to him alone, 168 00:08:39,519 --> 00:08:41,563 and I wasn't going to argue that fact that 169 00:08:41,564 --> 00:08:43,086 she's the mom. 170 00:08:43,087 --> 00:08:45,393 He was devastated. He was crying. 171 00:08:45,394 --> 00:08:47,438 I asked questions about the gun. 172 00:08:47,439 --> 00:08:49,136 "Did he load the gun?" 173 00:08:49,137 --> 00:08:50,877 "No, he didn't load the gun. 174 00:08:50,878 --> 00:08:53,663 I didn't realize there was a bullet in there." 175 00:08:55,012 --> 00:08:58,928 - Corey said this was supposed to be a hunting lesson. 176 00:08:58,929 --> 00:09:01,104 Corey and his dad were looking at 177 00:09:01,105 --> 00:09:03,629 hunting magazines and pamphlets 178 00:09:03,630 --> 00:09:06,327 when he and his dad were exchanging the gun 179 00:09:06,328 --> 00:09:08,068 when it went off. 180 00:09:08,069 --> 00:09:12,115 - I asked why his dad was still laying down in bed. 181 00:09:12,116 --> 00:09:14,857 He didn't know, is what he told me at the time, 182 00:09:14,858 --> 00:09:17,860 and I asked him, "Were you mad at your dad? 183 00:09:17,861 --> 00:09:19,993 "Were you getting along with your dad?" 184 00:09:19,994 --> 00:09:22,038 And he indicated through the tears that 185 00:09:22,039 --> 00:09:24,563 "No, I wasn't mad at him." 186 00:09:24,564 --> 00:09:26,303 At some point, Judith just said, 187 00:09:26,304 --> 00:09:28,479 "Enough's enough," and I felt that 188 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:30,960 it had reached that point, too. 189 00:09:30,961 --> 00:09:32,875 - The next morning, the coroner determines 190 00:09:32,876 --> 00:09:35,051 Robert Breininger's manner of death. 191 00:09:35,052 --> 00:09:39,360 - The coroner felt there was no reason for an autopsy, 192 00:09:39,361 --> 00:09:42,364 and he gave the manner of death as being an accidental shooting. 193 00:09:43,757 --> 00:09:46,976 As to the investigation at that point, it got closed. 194 00:09:46,977 --> 00:09:49,109 It was clear Corey was saying 195 00:09:49,110 --> 00:09:52,286 that he shot him accidentally in the head. 196 00:09:52,287 --> 00:09:54,114 - The focus at that time was 197 00:09:54,115 --> 00:09:57,117 a 10 year old had a terrible accident. 198 00:09:57,118 --> 00:09:58,988 He's traumatized. 199 00:09:58,989 --> 00:10:01,078 We don't want to make this any worse. 200 00:10:02,297 --> 00:10:04,559 - The news of Robert Breininger's violent death 201 00:10:04,560 --> 00:10:07,693 deeply affects the tight-knit community. 202 00:10:07,694 --> 00:10:10,217 - Everyone felt bad for their family. 203 00:10:10,218 --> 00:10:13,133 Corey was 10, and he was home by himself. 204 00:10:13,134 --> 00:10:17,007 I can't imagine how scary that was for him. 205 00:10:17,921 --> 00:10:21,968 - To hear that there was a death as a result 206 00:10:21,969 --> 00:10:25,580 of a gun caught people by surprise, 207 00:10:25,581 --> 00:10:28,584 because we know how to handle guns out here. 208 00:10:30,064 --> 00:10:33,849 There were questions, but I think people said, 209 00:10:33,850 --> 00:10:37,941 "Let's move on because this child has suffered enough." 210 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:41,901 - Nine years later, in March of 2012, 211 00:10:41,902 --> 00:10:46,993 the case that haunted the tiny community comes back to life. 212 00:10:46,994 --> 00:10:48,342 - In March 2012, 213 00:10:48,343 --> 00:10:50,083 I received a call from Sheriff Westry 214 00:10:50,084 --> 00:10:52,346 asking me to come to his office. 215 00:10:52,347 --> 00:10:53,869 He just asked me if I knew Lauren Beck. 216 00:10:53,870 --> 00:10:56,567 I said, "Yes. Teacher at Prairie View." 217 00:10:56,568 --> 00:11:00,441 And he says, "She told me that Corey told her 218 00:11:00,442 --> 00:11:03,183 that it wasn't an accident." 219 00:11:03,184 --> 00:11:06,577 And as soon as he said Corey and no accident, 220 00:11:06,578 --> 00:11:09,451 I knew exactly what he was talking about. 221 00:11:13,673 --> 00:11:17,023 - She was the blonde bombshell charmer. 222 00:11:17,024 --> 00:11:20,287 - Most of the people were terrified of her. 223 00:11:20,288 --> 00:11:24,118 - He needed a mom, and she wasn't a mother to him. 224 00:11:35,825 --> 00:11:43,833 ♪ 225 00:11:46,706 --> 00:11:52,928 ♪ 226 00:11:52,929 --> 00:11:55,670 - Nine years after the shooting death of Robert Breininger 227 00:11:55,671 --> 00:11:57,193 was ruled accidental, 228 00:11:57,194 --> 00:12:00,153 his son Corey is about to tell a new story 229 00:12:00,154 --> 00:12:01,937 that may change everything 230 00:12:01,938 --> 00:12:04,201 police thought they knew about the case. 231 00:12:05,594 --> 00:12:08,117 - We went to Paulding High School 232 00:12:08,118 --> 00:12:12,905 to do an interview of Corey to find out what had happened. 233 00:12:12,906 --> 00:12:18,214 ♪ 234 00:12:18,215 --> 00:12:20,216 - As soon as I walk in the principal's office, 235 00:12:20,217 --> 00:12:22,741 I saw Lieutenant Cliff Vandemark. 236 00:12:22,742 --> 00:12:26,701 I'll never forget he just had this look on his face of... 237 00:12:26,702 --> 00:12:29,878 "It's been a long time." 238 00:12:29,879 --> 00:12:31,880 - I said, "Corey, it was my understanding 239 00:12:31,881 --> 00:12:33,882 that you talked to somebody 240 00:12:33,883 --> 00:12:37,016 and shared that you had shot your dad intentionally." 241 00:12:37,017 --> 00:12:40,760 - I said the way my dad died was not an accident. 242 00:12:42,500 --> 00:12:47,026 It wasn't the way everyone thought it was. 243 00:12:47,027 --> 00:12:48,984 - My mind was blown. 244 00:12:48,985 --> 00:12:52,379 I asked him, you know, "Why would you do that?" 245 00:12:52,380 --> 00:12:53,989 Corey tells me, 246 00:12:53,990 --> 00:12:57,167 "I shot my dad because Judith wanted me to." 247 00:12:58,908 --> 00:13:00,997 And he goes through the whole story. 248 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:07,350 - November 3, 2003, I remember getting off the bus and my mom, 249 00:13:07,351 --> 00:13:10,571 Judith, was actually waiting there, and the first thing 250 00:13:10,572 --> 00:13:12,268 she said when she saw me was, 251 00:13:12,269 --> 00:13:13,792 "This is the day." 252 00:13:13,793 --> 00:13:18,579 And, uh, I right away knew and... 253 00:13:18,580 --> 00:13:21,017 Everything changed. 254 00:13:23,324 --> 00:13:26,805 - Corey tells me Judith walked him to the house 255 00:13:26,806 --> 00:13:28,981 and went in the back door. 256 00:13:28,982 --> 00:13:31,026 She had the gun ready for him. 257 00:13:31,027 --> 00:13:33,768 Already loaded, sitting, like, in a corner. 258 00:13:33,769 --> 00:13:35,944 And then she told him, "Okay, I'm going to leave. 259 00:13:35,945 --> 00:13:37,860 You do this now." 260 00:13:39,340 --> 00:13:41,820 - After Judith had left, I opened the room 261 00:13:41,821 --> 00:13:46,172 where my dad was sleeping and I saw him in there. 262 00:13:46,173 --> 00:13:51,307 Judith had mentioned she had put some hunting magazines in there. 263 00:13:51,308 --> 00:13:53,571 I took the gun in there as well. 264 00:13:54,964 --> 00:13:59,446 There was a train going by, and right after it went by, 265 00:13:59,447 --> 00:14:01,927 I had decided this-- 266 00:14:01,928 --> 00:14:04,843 this must be the time it's supposed to happen. 267 00:14:04,844 --> 00:14:07,802 And, uh... 268 00:14:07,803 --> 00:14:10,718 I raised the gun and pulled the trigger, 269 00:14:10,719 --> 00:14:12,852 and all it did was click. 270 00:14:13,809 --> 00:14:15,592 in my mind, I was actually excited. 271 00:14:15,593 --> 00:14:18,291 I thought for sure either the gun's broken or something, 272 00:14:18,292 --> 00:14:21,337 and I'm not going to have to go through with this. 273 00:14:21,338 --> 00:14:23,905 And I decided, "All right, just to prove to her 274 00:14:23,906 --> 00:14:25,864 I'm going to do it one more time, 275 00:14:25,865 --> 00:14:28,476 then she'll understand that it wasn't supposed to happen." 276 00:14:29,651 --> 00:14:33,436 So I raised the gun, and I was so certain 277 00:14:33,437 --> 00:14:37,963 that the gun was not going to go off, and it went off. 278 00:14:37,964 --> 00:14:39,834 That was it. 279 00:14:39,835 --> 00:14:42,533 I was 10 years old. 280 00:14:44,884 --> 00:14:48,625 - Corey tells me that Judith abused him over the years. 281 00:14:48,626 --> 00:14:51,193 She would hit him, strike him. 282 00:14:51,194 --> 00:14:55,503 It was going on right up to the day he shoots his dad. 283 00:14:57,374 --> 00:14:59,854 - About a week before it actually happened, 284 00:14:59,855 --> 00:15:05,904 Judith had told me that my dad was dying from a brain tumor. 285 00:15:05,905 --> 00:15:09,081 She had told me that it was actually his idea of me 286 00:15:09,082 --> 00:15:12,693 to shoot him so that we could get the life insurance policy, 287 00:15:12,694 --> 00:15:16,044 and we'd all be taken care of. 288 00:15:16,045 --> 00:15:17,741 But I didn't want to do it. 289 00:15:17,742 --> 00:15:20,353 She would say that I was letting my dad down, 290 00:15:20,354 --> 00:15:23,095 that he was going to be upset if I didn't do it. 291 00:15:23,096 --> 00:15:24,966 And, you know, 292 00:15:24,967 --> 00:15:28,709 eventually it became more threats of if you don't do it, 293 00:15:28,710 --> 00:15:31,755 then I'm going to do it to you. 294 00:15:31,756 --> 00:15:34,584 And I believed her. 295 00:15:34,585 --> 00:15:37,893 I just-- I felt so helpless. 296 00:15:39,764 --> 00:15:44,420 After my dad passed, things got somewhat better. 297 00:15:44,421 --> 00:15:48,250 However, the abuse persisted. 298 00:15:48,251 --> 00:15:51,775 As I got older, I started to realize more and more 299 00:15:51,776 --> 00:15:54,083 how wrong things were. 300 00:15:55,345 --> 00:15:58,391 I was at the point where I wanted to tell someone. 301 00:15:58,392 --> 00:16:02,525 I'd kept all of it so deeply buried. 302 00:16:02,526 --> 00:16:05,441 I had to let it out. 303 00:16:05,442 --> 00:16:09,402 So when I was 18 and going into my senior year of high school, 304 00:16:09,403 --> 00:16:14,581 I actually confided in one of my best friends about my home life 305 00:16:14,582 --> 00:16:16,583 and they said, "You're not going back there ever," 306 00:16:16,584 --> 00:16:19,978 and convinced me to come to his house. 307 00:16:19,979 --> 00:16:22,545 - Corey says he ceased all contact with Judith 308 00:16:22,546 --> 00:16:26,201 at that point, even though she pleaded with him to stay. 309 00:16:26,202 --> 00:16:27,724 - She wanted me to come home, 310 00:16:27,725 --> 00:16:31,467 but I knew I was never coming back home. 311 00:16:31,468 --> 00:16:34,383 - I'm sitting here thinking, this is crazy 312 00:16:34,384 --> 00:16:36,386 that it wasn't an accident. 313 00:16:37,692 --> 00:16:40,563 I said, "Corey, I'll be honest with you. 314 00:16:40,564 --> 00:16:43,002 We've got to dig into it further." 315 00:16:44,220 --> 00:16:47,309 - Wanting to believe Corey but unsure of how to proceed, 316 00:16:47,310 --> 00:16:50,617 Detective Vandemark reaches out to the prosecutor. 317 00:16:50,618 --> 00:16:52,401 - We immediately started to talk about, 318 00:16:52,402 --> 00:16:55,622 how are we going to figure this out? 319 00:16:55,623 --> 00:16:58,016 - Fortunately for us, we were involved in a task force 320 00:16:58,017 --> 00:17:02,412 for abuse against children with the FBI. 321 00:17:05,502 --> 00:17:08,417 This whole case had to have fresh eyes on it. 322 00:17:08,418 --> 00:17:10,071 We brought up the 911, call, 323 00:17:10,072 --> 00:17:12,639 all the photos up, and every interview 324 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:14,597 that had been taken at the time-- 325 00:17:14,598 --> 00:17:17,992 we looked at them with the FBI. 326 00:17:17,993 --> 00:17:19,994 - When I heard that 911 call 327 00:17:19,995 --> 00:17:24,781 you hear a young 10 year old, hysterical. 328 00:17:24,782 --> 00:17:26,957 I shot my dad to. 329 00:17:26,958 --> 00:17:28,785 When you see those crime scene photos, 330 00:17:28,786 --> 00:17:31,571 they seem very calm. 331 00:17:31,572 --> 00:17:33,790 We're talking about hunting, 332 00:17:33,791 --> 00:17:35,488 but you're laying in bed with the sheet 333 00:17:35,489 --> 00:17:36,880 perfectly pulled up with you, 334 00:17:36,881 --> 00:17:38,839 and you still have earplugs in. 335 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:41,624 It looked like Robert was sleeping peacefully 336 00:17:41,625 --> 00:17:43,626 when Corey shot his dad. 337 00:17:43,627 --> 00:17:47,978 There's pamphlets there laid methodically on the bed. 338 00:17:47,979 --> 00:17:49,980 The crime scene seemed staged, 339 00:17:49,981 --> 00:17:54,507 as opposed to something that happened accidentally. 340 00:17:54,508 --> 00:17:56,770 - After reviewing the evidence from 2003, 341 00:17:56,771 --> 00:17:58,598 it's clear to investigators 342 00:17:58,599 --> 00:18:00,861 that this was not an accidental shooting. 343 00:18:00,862 --> 00:18:03,168 The question now is whether Corey's version 344 00:18:03,169 --> 00:18:05,518 of events holds up. 345 00:18:05,519 --> 00:18:09,043 - We have now a 19 year old who stating 346 00:18:09,044 --> 00:18:10,740 that when he was ten years old, 347 00:18:10,741 --> 00:18:13,700 his stepmom had made him shoot his dad. 348 00:18:13,701 --> 00:18:17,095 There's a degree of "Do you believe this? Do you not? 349 00:18:17,096 --> 00:18:20,272 Has he manifested some mental health issues 350 00:18:20,273 --> 00:18:23,579 or did she really make him kill him? 351 00:18:23,580 --> 00:18:26,060 - You're talking to a teenager about stuff 352 00:18:26,061 --> 00:18:28,976 that happened when they were, you know, little. 353 00:18:28,977 --> 00:18:32,720 How do we add credibility to their story? 354 00:18:33,895 --> 00:18:37,027 - We need to establish what that abuse looked like 355 00:18:37,028 --> 00:18:39,334 and walk through everything 356 00:18:39,335 --> 00:18:42,598 that built up to the day of the shooting. 357 00:18:42,599 --> 00:18:44,818 And so we made arrangements 358 00:18:44,819 --> 00:18:48,257 to have Corey come in for a forensic interview. 359 00:18:59,007 --> 00:19:01,443 - Corey had moved out of her home, 360 00:19:01,444 --> 00:19:03,402 had no interaction with Judith. 361 00:19:03,403 --> 00:19:08,059 But Corey was still fearful of Judith, even in that interview. 362 00:19:18,940 --> 00:19:22,595 - As a little kid, I didn't even really know what a mom was. 363 00:19:22,596 --> 00:19:26,468 I was between two and three years old when my dad 364 00:19:26,469 --> 00:19:29,428 and my birth mother decided to split up. 365 00:19:29,429 --> 00:19:34,650 And then it was just my dad, and that's really all I needed. 366 00:19:34,651 --> 00:19:36,478 My dad was kind of my world. 367 00:19:36,479 --> 00:19:38,916 He was kind of my superhero. 368 00:19:40,657 --> 00:19:42,571 When I first met Judith, 369 00:19:42,572 --> 00:19:45,400 she just seemed really nice at the beginning. 370 00:19:45,401 --> 00:19:48,098 They both seemed pretty happy. 371 00:19:48,099 --> 00:19:50,710 But when my dad had married Judith, 372 00:19:50,711 --> 00:19:52,452 a lot of things changed. 373 00:19:52,669 --> 00:19:58,936 ♪ 374 00:20:01,722 --> 00:20:07,292 ♪ 375 00:20:07,293 --> 00:20:09,119 - In the summer of 2012, 376 00:20:09,120 --> 00:20:11,078 the FBI conducts a forensic interview of Corey 377 00:20:11,079 --> 00:20:14,343 to determine if his version of events is credible. 378 00:20:52,903 --> 00:20:56,819 - I don't think my dad ever really fully knew 379 00:20:56,820 --> 00:20:59,735 what Judith was doing. 380 00:20:59,736 --> 00:21:01,824 He didn't want to discipline me, 381 00:21:01,825 --> 00:21:05,698 and she volunteered and he said, "Yeah, go ahead." 382 00:21:05,699 --> 00:21:07,177 I think she convinced him 383 00:21:07,178 --> 00:21:10,355 that I was just a troubled little kid, 384 00:21:10,356 --> 00:21:12,836 and he just went with it. 385 00:21:14,447 --> 00:21:17,013 - It's so horrific that it's difficult to believe, 386 00:21:17,014 --> 00:21:20,453 but Corey's story definitely seems plausible at that time. 387 00:21:29,505 --> 00:21:34,292 - Judith was, I guess, fairly smart in a twisted way, 388 00:21:34,293 --> 00:21:38,034 so I was always sent to school in pants and long shirts 389 00:21:38,035 --> 00:21:41,909 to cover the marks and bruises on my body. 390 00:22:06,020 --> 00:22:08,282 - That's hard to wrap your brain around 391 00:22:08,283 --> 00:22:10,545 that another human being would do that to anyone, 392 00:22:10,546 --> 00:22:12,068 let alone a child. 393 00:22:12,069 --> 00:22:13,940 But it was significant to talk about 394 00:22:13,941 --> 00:22:15,855 because that left a scar 395 00:22:15,856 --> 00:22:19,206 and that can help corroborate Corey's statements 396 00:22:19,207 --> 00:22:20,774 of this abuse. 397 00:22:49,368 --> 00:22:51,020 - As we did the interview, 398 00:22:51,021 --> 00:22:55,373 we realized that this wasn't simply an abuse case, 399 00:22:55,374 --> 00:22:58,985 but there was elements of what we considered torture. 400 00:22:58,986 --> 00:23:01,901 - It was very methodical. 401 00:23:01,902 --> 00:23:04,773 Corey, he was under her thumb 402 00:23:04,774 --> 00:23:07,473 very firmly at that time in his life. 403 00:23:08,691 --> 00:23:12,564 - I had fully convinced myself that this was normal, 404 00:23:12,565 --> 00:23:16,872 and this must just be how every family and little kid is. 405 00:23:16,873 --> 00:23:20,310 And my little mind knew that none of this was right. 406 00:23:20,311 --> 00:23:23,792 Yet I had no way of doing anything about it. 407 00:23:23,793 --> 00:23:26,535 So I just I had to endure it. 408 00:23:28,232 --> 00:23:31,409 - Corey tells investigators that one week before the shooting, 409 00:23:31,410 --> 00:23:33,236 after four years of abuse, 410 00:23:33,237 --> 00:23:37,546 Judith begins to push him to kill his father. 411 00:23:49,819 --> 00:23:53,605 - I really thought that perhaps my dad was dying 412 00:23:53,606 --> 00:23:55,171 from a brain tumor. 413 00:23:55,172 --> 00:23:56,912 And I really think that's 414 00:23:56,913 --> 00:24:01,048 how I convinced myself to make it okay. 415 00:24:15,236 --> 00:24:17,542 - Judith orchestrated that by telling Corey, 416 00:24:17,543 --> 00:24:20,414 "Here's where the guns going to be, 417 00:24:20,415 --> 00:24:24,158 after you shoot your dad... 418 00:24:27,988 --> 00:24:30,468 ...drop the gun, call 911 419 00:24:30,469 --> 00:24:33,123 and say the gun accidentally went off." 420 00:24:34,690 --> 00:24:37,213 - She had already washed his brain enough by then. 421 00:24:37,214 --> 00:24:41,087 The only thought was staying in his role, 422 00:24:41,088 --> 00:24:44,352 that he had been set up and had been programmed for. 423 00:24:45,788 --> 00:24:50,662 - The magnitude of how much he endured prior to 10 years old, 424 00:24:50,663 --> 00:24:53,752 when this happened, and now all the years after, 425 00:24:53,753 --> 00:24:55,537 were just so stunning. 426 00:25:10,117 --> 00:25:13,206 - From what Corey had told me, he felt guilty, 427 00:25:13,207 --> 00:25:15,948 that he didn't realize sooner what he had done, 428 00:25:15,949 --> 00:25:18,211 but he was a child and he didn't realize 429 00:25:18,212 --> 00:25:20,387 how wrong she was and all the stuff 430 00:25:20,388 --> 00:25:24,173 that she did to break him down. 431 00:25:24,174 --> 00:25:27,917 He needed a mom, and she wasn't a mother to him. 432 00:25:36,970 --> 00:25:38,536 - It's difficult for people to understand 433 00:25:38,537 --> 00:25:40,363 how does a 10-year-old shoot their father 434 00:25:40,364 --> 00:25:41,887 at the direction of somebody? 435 00:25:41,888 --> 00:25:44,498 But here we are with all of these elements-- 436 00:25:44,499 --> 00:25:48,763 severe physical abuse, psychological terror. 437 00:25:48,764 --> 00:25:51,636 The interview changed everything for what we thought this was, 438 00:25:51,637 --> 00:25:54,987 from accident to this is a homicide 439 00:25:54,988 --> 00:25:59,208 at the direction of his stepmother. 440 00:25:59,209 --> 00:26:01,863 - Now that investigators have Corey's full version of events, 441 00:26:01,864 --> 00:26:04,779 they know that that is only one side of the story. 442 00:26:04,780 --> 00:26:06,999 - We had to prove that. 443 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:09,958 We got to not only have Corey say it, which he did, 444 00:26:09,959 --> 00:26:12,744 but we got to-- we got to prove it 445 00:26:12,745 --> 00:26:16,531 in every other way we can to charge Judith with murder. 446 00:26:16,705 --> 00:26:24,278 ♪ 447 00:26:26,628 --> 00:26:32,415 ♪ 448 00:26:32,416 --> 00:26:34,983 - Investigators now believe that Corey Breininger 449 00:26:34,984 --> 00:26:36,811 was coerced into killing his father, 450 00:26:36,812 --> 00:26:39,597 Robert Breininger, by his stepmother, Judith, 451 00:26:39,598 --> 00:26:41,599 after years of abuse. 452 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:44,732 - First of all, we needed to change the manner of death. 453 00:26:44,733 --> 00:26:47,430 The coroner spent time reviewing the evidence 454 00:26:47,431 --> 00:26:49,563 that we had collected in 2003. 455 00:26:49,564 --> 00:26:53,567 Along with the confession from Corey, 456 00:26:53,568 --> 00:26:59,617 he changed the manner of death from accidental to homicide. 457 00:26:59,618 --> 00:27:02,576 - The objective then became, let's see what else 458 00:27:02,577 --> 00:27:08,234 is out there to correlate Corey's description of his life. 459 00:27:08,235 --> 00:27:11,454 - Cautiously, so as not to alert Judith to their investigation, 460 00:27:11,455 --> 00:27:13,718 police begin to interview potential witnesses 461 00:27:13,719 --> 00:27:16,198 from the area that may be able to verify pieces 462 00:27:16,199 --> 00:27:18,026 of Corey's story. 463 00:27:18,027 --> 00:27:21,334 - Corey's teachers from '98 to 2003 had seen 464 00:27:21,335 --> 00:27:25,730 that he was always wearing long-sleeve shirts. 465 00:27:25,731 --> 00:27:29,037 He was hiding something, hiding bruises, marks, 466 00:27:29,038 --> 00:27:31,779 grab marks, and one of his teachers 467 00:27:31,780 --> 00:27:35,174 actually seen marks on him, 468 00:27:35,175 --> 00:27:38,568 but nobody reported it at that time. 469 00:27:38,569 --> 00:27:40,745 A lot of the teachers, 470 00:27:40,746 --> 00:27:43,095 they said he was such a sad boy and they felt sorry for Corey, 471 00:27:43,096 --> 00:27:45,315 but they didn't realize why. 472 00:27:47,622 --> 00:27:49,623 We interviewed the neighbors. 473 00:27:49,624 --> 00:27:51,973 They start telling us more. 474 00:27:51,974 --> 00:27:54,933 What they seen was that Judith was taking him 475 00:27:54,934 --> 00:27:58,240 further away from his dad, 476 00:27:58,241 --> 00:28:01,896 and Corey became more quiet, withdrawn 477 00:28:01,897 --> 00:28:03,985 over the years. 478 00:28:03,986 --> 00:28:05,857 - My friends lived across the street 479 00:28:05,858 --> 00:28:07,162 from the Breininger family. 480 00:28:07,163 --> 00:28:09,208 They had had issues with them. 481 00:28:09,209 --> 00:28:11,819 Judith had allegedly slashed their tires, 482 00:28:11,820 --> 00:28:14,996 tried to kill their pets that they had. 483 00:28:14,997 --> 00:28:17,085 - She was always feuding with the neighbors. 484 00:28:17,086 --> 00:28:19,131 Most of the people that witnessed this 485 00:28:19,132 --> 00:28:20,306 were terrified of her. 486 00:28:20,307 --> 00:28:22,483 They said she was very dominant. 487 00:28:24,833 --> 00:28:27,226 - Judith had ex-boyfriends in the nine years 488 00:28:27,227 --> 00:28:29,141 after Robert's death. 489 00:28:29,142 --> 00:28:31,665 They were interviewed and they did corroborate 490 00:28:31,666 --> 00:28:35,364 that there was abuse that they saw happening. 491 00:28:35,365 --> 00:28:37,715 One of the ex-boyfriends characterized it 492 00:28:37,716 --> 00:28:40,935 as a modern-day Cinderella, but that was his perception, 493 00:28:40,936 --> 00:28:42,894 even being in that home with them 494 00:28:42,895 --> 00:28:45,461 for a very short amount of time. 495 00:28:45,462 --> 00:28:48,116 - Investigators also speak to Judith's ex-husband, 496 00:28:48,117 --> 00:28:50,771 who was a friend of Robert Breininger. 497 00:28:50,772 --> 00:28:54,949 - I was married to Judith from 1991 to 1995. 498 00:28:54,950 --> 00:28:57,691 When I first had met Judith, 499 00:28:57,692 --> 00:29:01,608 she was the blonde bombshell charmer. 500 00:29:01,609 --> 00:29:03,175 We hit it off pretty good. 501 00:29:03,176 --> 00:29:05,917 But the day that we got married, 502 00:29:05,918 --> 00:29:08,571 it was like a switch had been flipped. 503 00:29:08,572 --> 00:29:11,749 She said, "Your family's dead. Your friends are dead. 504 00:29:11,750 --> 00:29:14,882 The only thing that matters now is me." 505 00:29:14,883 --> 00:29:18,277 She turned in more to a controlling, 506 00:29:18,278 --> 00:29:22,281 psychotic, unstable person. 507 00:29:22,282 --> 00:29:25,806 I had been hit. I had been kicked. 508 00:29:25,807 --> 00:29:27,112 My nerves were shot. 509 00:29:27,113 --> 00:29:28,504 By the time our marriage was done, 510 00:29:28,505 --> 00:29:33,683 I was an entirely different person. 511 00:29:33,684 --> 00:29:39,602 When I heard that she and Robert got married, it shocked me. 512 00:29:39,603 --> 00:29:44,042 Because knowing her and knowing what I did of Robert, 513 00:29:44,043 --> 00:29:49,264 that he was a very nice person, 514 00:29:49,265 --> 00:29:54,748 I knew it was going to be bad for him. 515 00:29:54,749 --> 00:29:57,142 - As Defiance County police continue to interview people 516 00:29:57,143 --> 00:29:59,361 in the community, 517 00:29:59,362 --> 00:30:02,887 experts are brought in to assess Corey's allegations of abuse. 518 00:30:02,888 --> 00:30:05,063 - We had Corey examined. 519 00:30:05,064 --> 00:30:06,847 One of the psychological things we learned 520 00:30:06,848 --> 00:30:09,807 was that Corey had a resilient gene, 521 00:30:09,808 --> 00:30:13,680 and that's what enabled him to survive. 522 00:30:13,681 --> 00:30:18,337 - We also had Corey physically examined by a medical doctor, 523 00:30:18,338 --> 00:30:21,688 who was also an expert in this area, 524 00:30:21,689 --> 00:30:25,387 because we didn't have actual medical records. 525 00:30:25,388 --> 00:30:31,698 - Corey said Judith actually cut him with a knife on the penis. 526 00:30:31,699 --> 00:30:36,877 - The doctor finds that nine years later, this scar is there. 527 00:30:36,878 --> 00:30:38,574 - That was something 528 00:30:38,575 --> 00:30:41,882 that told them what this woman was capable of. 529 00:30:41,883 --> 00:30:44,972 - As evidence supporting Corey's story grows, 530 00:30:44,973 --> 00:30:47,627 police look into what Judith's possible motive was 531 00:30:47,628 --> 00:30:50,499 to have her husband, Robert Breininger, killed. 532 00:30:50,500 --> 00:30:53,372 - Corey says that Judith told him 533 00:30:53,373 --> 00:30:55,940 that his dad had terminal brain cancer, 534 00:30:55,941 --> 00:31:00,858 and so that it was actually his father's idea to kill him 535 00:31:00,859 --> 00:31:05,123 so that they would be able to get the insurance money. 536 00:31:05,124 --> 00:31:07,865 - We looked into that and found there was no medical history 537 00:31:07,866 --> 00:31:09,736 that Robert had a brain tumor. 538 00:31:09,737 --> 00:31:11,912 If somebody had been diagnosed with something like that, 539 00:31:11,913 --> 00:31:14,872 there's going to be a paper record, right? 540 00:31:14,873 --> 00:31:16,525 - That all was a lie. 541 00:31:16,526 --> 00:31:18,440 - Investigators look into 542 00:31:18,441 --> 00:31:21,269 whether Judith received a payout from Robert's life insurance, 543 00:31:21,270 --> 00:31:23,881 which could be her true motive. 544 00:31:23,882 --> 00:31:26,231 - What we found out was within 12 hours 545 00:31:26,232 --> 00:31:28,276 of the death of Robert, 546 00:31:28,277 --> 00:31:29,974 Judith was already filling out all the insurance papers, 547 00:31:29,975 --> 00:31:31,671 wanting the insurance immediately. 548 00:31:31,672 --> 00:31:36,154 She ended up with $300,000 to $400,000. 549 00:31:36,155 --> 00:31:39,853 The sole beneficiary was Judith. 550 00:31:39,854 --> 00:31:42,639 - This seems like that's what her motive was. 551 00:31:45,164 --> 00:31:47,556 - She made him into a murderer 552 00:31:47,557 --> 00:31:53,084 to collect money on an insurance claim. 553 00:31:53,085 --> 00:31:58,219 - And what kind of a mother, a wife, 554 00:31:58,220 --> 00:32:02,049 a human being... 555 00:32:02,050 --> 00:32:03,922 could be that heartless? 556 00:32:04,139 --> 00:32:08,229 ♪ 557 00:32:08,230 --> 00:32:10,666 - With a strong but circumstantial case, 558 00:32:10,667 --> 00:32:13,191 investigators enlist Corey's help to try 559 00:32:13,192 --> 00:32:15,933 to get Judith to admit her guilt. 560 00:32:15,934 --> 00:32:17,847 - The police set up a recorded phone call 561 00:32:17,848 --> 00:32:20,938 where I was trying to call Judith to see 562 00:32:20,939 --> 00:32:24,506 if she would admit guilt. 563 00:32:24,507 --> 00:32:26,639 - I wanted to get her on the phone 564 00:32:26,640 --> 00:32:28,858 to see what her reaction was when Corey called her. 565 00:32:28,859 --> 00:32:31,339 We all would love to have that confession. 566 00:32:31,340 --> 00:32:32,993 - This is the first time 567 00:32:32,994 --> 00:32:36,040 he's confronting her about what she made him do. 568 00:32:36,041 --> 00:32:39,131 [ Line ringing ] 569 00:32:51,143 --> 00:32:56,235 ♪ 570 00:32:59,020 --> 00:33:04,807 ♪ 571 00:33:04,808 --> 00:33:07,549 - Investigators asked Corey to make a recorded phone call 572 00:33:07,550 --> 00:33:09,203 to Judith in the hopes 573 00:33:09,204 --> 00:33:11,684 that she will inadvertently confess her guilt. 574 00:33:11,685 --> 00:33:16,254 Corey has not seen or spoken to his abuser in over a year. 575 00:33:16,255 --> 00:33:18,952 - I was pretty scared calling her and talking to her. 576 00:33:18,953 --> 00:33:21,215 It was something I did not want to do, 577 00:33:21,216 --> 00:33:23,523 but I knew it needed to be done. 578 00:33:44,979 --> 00:33:47,502 - As his stepmother, if you're not a threat to him, 579 00:33:47,503 --> 00:33:50,636 why are you saying there's cameras there? 580 00:33:50,637 --> 00:33:52,159 - She was trying to let him know, 581 00:33:52,160 --> 00:33:54,901 "You'll be safe if you're with me." 582 00:33:54,902 --> 00:33:56,120 She figured she could control him better 583 00:33:56,121 --> 00:33:58,514 if they were in person. 584 00:34:14,182 --> 00:34:18,011 She acted like she didn't know what he was talking about. 585 00:34:18,012 --> 00:34:19,491 - That is when I knew that 586 00:34:19,492 --> 00:34:22,624 she knew she was probably being recorded. 587 00:34:22,625 --> 00:34:26,890 - So after this call, things kicked up a notch. 588 00:34:28,457 --> 00:34:32,199 - There's strong evidence that Corey was abused for years. 589 00:34:32,200 --> 00:34:35,376 There's strong evidence that Judith was this domineering, 590 00:34:35,377 --> 00:34:37,596 controlling person. 591 00:34:37,597 --> 00:34:39,728 There was a lot of inherent credibility 592 00:34:39,729 --> 00:34:44,429 that helped to corroborate the story from Corey. 593 00:34:44,430 --> 00:34:47,084 We felt confident that Judith was responsible 594 00:34:47,085 --> 00:34:49,869 for the death of Robert Breininger. 595 00:34:49,870 --> 00:34:51,784 - On March 8, 2013, 596 00:34:51,785 --> 00:34:54,134 police arrest Judith Hawkey at her home. 597 00:34:54,135 --> 00:34:55,744 At the same time, 598 00:34:55,745 --> 00:34:57,878 they execute a search warrant of the residence. 599 00:34:59,445 --> 00:35:01,620 - When we hit the house, we find things 600 00:35:01,621 --> 00:35:06,494 that help support Corey's story. 601 00:35:06,495 --> 00:35:08,235 They were, like, vignettes, 602 00:35:08,236 --> 00:35:12,197 videos she took of Corey when he was a child. 603 00:35:20,335 --> 00:35:21,857 "Corey, why are you doing that?" 604 00:35:21,858 --> 00:35:23,642 "I don't know." 605 00:35:23,643 --> 00:35:26,558 Because she had told him. That's why. 606 00:35:26,559 --> 00:35:28,342 She had manipulated him. 607 00:35:28,343 --> 00:35:31,128 It was all about that control. 608 00:35:31,129 --> 00:35:33,913 - Judith would record me tearing up the house 609 00:35:33,914 --> 00:35:35,697 or breaking toys. 610 00:35:35,698 --> 00:35:38,787 She was recording me just to make my dad think 611 00:35:38,788 --> 00:35:41,530 that there was something wrong with me. 612 00:35:44,620 --> 00:35:46,882 - Watching those videotapes broke my heart. 613 00:35:46,883 --> 00:35:49,972 There's abuse that's inflicting pain purposefully, 614 00:35:49,973 --> 00:35:52,453 but there's also the psychological side of it 615 00:35:52,454 --> 00:35:56,414 causing shame, humiliation, embarrassment. 616 00:35:56,415 --> 00:35:59,156 - It was all about working up to the day 617 00:35:59,157 --> 00:36:01,070 that she was gonna have him pull the trigger 618 00:36:01,071 --> 00:36:03,377 and take his dad's life. 619 00:36:03,378 --> 00:36:06,293 All of that brought more credibility 620 00:36:06,294 --> 00:36:09,558 to what Corey told us was going on. 621 00:36:11,299 --> 00:36:13,257 - At the sheriff's office, 622 00:36:13,258 --> 00:36:16,174 police interviewed Judith, hoping she'll confess. 623 00:37:10,924 --> 00:37:12,533 - Judith was being evasive. 624 00:37:12,534 --> 00:37:15,884 She thought that she would-- She would beat this. 625 00:37:15,885 --> 00:37:19,497 But that also goes hand in hand with the abuse she did to him. 626 00:37:19,498 --> 00:37:21,456 Is that "I'm never gonna get caught." 627 00:37:40,562 --> 00:37:43,216 - After refusing to speak further with investigators, 628 00:37:43,217 --> 00:37:45,436 Judith is formally charged. 629 00:37:45,437 --> 00:37:47,568 - Judith is charged with aggravated homicide 630 00:37:47,569 --> 00:37:49,614 of Robert Breininger. 631 00:37:49,615 --> 00:37:52,878 And there was several charges of child abuse 632 00:37:52,879 --> 00:37:55,576 and child endangering. 633 00:37:55,577 --> 00:37:58,362 - We felt that she was a dangerous person 634 00:37:58,363 --> 00:38:00,277 because of what she did. 635 00:38:00,278 --> 00:38:02,540 - So she was put on a large bond to retain her. 636 00:38:02,541 --> 00:38:03,542 It was $3 million. 637 00:38:03,759 --> 00:38:08,067 ♪ 638 00:38:08,068 --> 00:38:12,811 - Cliff called me and told me that Judith was arrested. 639 00:38:12,812 --> 00:38:18,338 That was probably one of the happiest moments in my life. 640 00:38:18,339 --> 00:38:20,819 But it was just a brief moment. 641 00:38:20,820 --> 00:38:24,214 I was so unprepared for what was to come. 642 00:38:24,389 --> 00:38:29,524 ♪ 643 00:38:30,743 --> 00:38:31,047 ♪ 644 00:38:32,222 --> 00:38:38,053 ♪ 645 00:38:38,054 --> 00:38:40,099 - On October 28, 2013, 646 00:38:40,100 --> 00:38:45,365 the trial of Judith Hawkey begins in Defiance County. 647 00:38:45,366 --> 00:38:49,848 - We had to get the jury not to see a 20-year-old male, 648 00:38:49,849 --> 00:38:51,371 but to see a 10-year-old child. 649 00:38:51,372 --> 00:38:53,982 - When I testified, 650 00:38:53,983 --> 00:38:59,031 I actually didn't look at Judith a single time. 651 00:38:59,032 --> 00:39:02,992 I was actually still pretty scared of her. 652 00:39:05,125 --> 00:39:07,996 But I just wanted justice for my dad, 653 00:39:07,997 --> 00:39:10,565 and I wanted her to be held accountable. 654 00:39:13,351 --> 00:39:15,874 - Judith, seeing her in that courtroom, 655 00:39:15,875 --> 00:39:18,398 there just was no emotion. 656 00:39:18,399 --> 00:39:21,358 She just seemed very, very cold to me. 657 00:39:21,359 --> 00:39:24,709 I think she probably thought that she would-- 658 00:39:24,710 --> 00:39:26,493 She would beat this. 659 00:39:26,494 --> 00:39:28,800 - After 10 days of trial, 660 00:39:28,801 --> 00:39:32,064 the case is put into the hands of the jury. 661 00:39:32,065 --> 00:39:33,935 - So after hearing all the evidence, 662 00:39:33,936 --> 00:39:36,460 the jury came back... 663 00:39:36,461 --> 00:39:39,377 and found Judith guilty. 664 00:39:41,248 --> 00:39:42,988 - She was convicted 665 00:39:42,989 --> 00:39:46,731 on aggravated homicide and child abuse. 666 00:39:46,732 --> 00:39:48,994 - She was sentenced to life without parole, 667 00:39:48,995 --> 00:39:52,171 and I think that was well deserved. 668 00:39:52,172 --> 00:39:54,869 - The vindication that Corey got that day, 669 00:39:54,870 --> 00:39:58,569 it brought just a little bit of peace, a little bit of closure, 670 00:39:58,570 --> 00:40:01,223 because the truth was finally out. 671 00:40:01,224 --> 00:40:03,661 - For one of the first times in my life, 672 00:40:03,662 --> 00:40:05,924 I felt safe 673 00:40:05,925 --> 00:40:11,320 and I knew she wouldn't ever be able to do anything to me again. 674 00:40:11,321 --> 00:40:15,717 That feeling didn't last very long, but just a few years. 675 00:40:17,327 --> 00:40:20,591 - Nearly six years later, in April of 2019, 676 00:40:20,592 --> 00:40:24,638 Judith Hawkey is awarded a new trial on appeal. 677 00:40:24,639 --> 00:40:26,640 - Retrying a case is difficult. 678 00:40:26,641 --> 00:40:28,729 We looked at the pros and cons 679 00:40:28,730 --> 00:40:33,430 and elected to have her plead out to involuntary manslaughter. 680 00:40:33,431 --> 00:40:38,218 She was sentenced to what ended up being a 10-year term. 681 00:40:40,699 --> 00:40:43,744 - When I was told that, I felt betrayed. 682 00:40:43,745 --> 00:40:45,529 I never had a scenario in my mind 683 00:40:45,530 --> 00:40:49,620 where it would ever be overturned or retried. 684 00:40:49,621 --> 00:40:53,972 - Judith was eventually released from prison in 2023. 685 00:40:53,973 --> 00:40:56,323 She now lives in northwest Ohio. 686 00:40:58,499 --> 00:41:01,066 - In all that, she only served 10 years. 687 00:41:01,067 --> 00:41:03,024 10 years. 688 00:41:03,025 --> 00:41:05,463 And Corey got a sentence of life. 689 00:41:08,291 --> 00:41:09,988 - The day that she was gonna be released, 690 00:41:09,989 --> 00:41:12,904 Corey told me, "I'm gonna be moving away." 691 00:41:12,905 --> 00:41:14,862 And to me, I was like, "How heartbreaking. 692 00:41:14,863 --> 00:41:18,126 He's leaving his life here with his friends and family 693 00:41:18,127 --> 00:41:23,175 because she's out and living as a free person 694 00:41:23,176 --> 00:41:25,133 and she shouldn't be." 695 00:41:25,134 --> 00:41:26,440 It just seems so unfair. 696 00:41:26,614 --> 00:41:31,226 ♪ 697 00:41:31,227 --> 00:41:34,142 - In the beginning, it was very scary. 698 00:41:34,143 --> 00:41:36,841 Just constantly looking over my shoulder, 699 00:41:36,842 --> 00:41:38,364 but I've gotten used to knowing 700 00:41:38,365 --> 00:41:40,845 that I can't ever let my guard down. 701 00:41:40,846 --> 00:41:43,892 But to my knowledge, she has not tried to reach out to me. 702 00:41:44,110 --> 00:41:52,944 ♪ 703 00:41:52,945 --> 00:41:56,469 Not a day goes by that I don't miss my dad. 704 00:41:56,470 --> 00:41:58,471 Every single day before I fall asleep, 705 00:41:58,472 --> 00:42:01,518 I say something to him after my prayer 706 00:42:01,519 --> 00:42:05,784 and that'll-- that'll probably never change. 707 00:42:07,263 --> 00:42:10,352 I have learned to forgive myself. 708 00:42:10,353 --> 00:42:12,311 Ever so much, 709 00:42:12,312 --> 00:42:16,620 I still hold myself somewhat accountable 710 00:42:16,621 --> 00:42:20,232 for not being able to tell her no. 711 00:42:20,233 --> 00:42:23,191 But that's why I continue to share my story, 712 00:42:23,192 --> 00:42:25,193 in the hopes that maybe someone else 713 00:42:25,194 --> 00:42:30,111 who's going through it can find the strength to come forward. 714 00:42:30,112 --> 00:42:33,462 I just wanted to be known that no matter how badly you think 715 00:42:33,463 --> 00:42:37,554 you can't get out of it... 716 00:42:37,555 --> 00:42:38,817 you can.