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[flowing piano music]
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* *
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- Orange County,
it's a big, sprawling county,
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but the jewel of it
is Newport Beach.
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- Balboa Coves
is a little community
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within Newport Beach
on the peninsula.
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- That's where everyone
looks into the sun
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and counts their money.
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- There are boats
and beautiful houses.
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It's just opulence everywhere.
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- Bill McLaughlin was
a very successful entrepreneur
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in Newport Beach.
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He was a millionaire
several times over.
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- Bill worked hard
for his success
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and leaned in to everything
Orange County had to offer.
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- Bill was the
king of the pack.
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He had all the money.
He owned the homes.
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He owned the cars.
He owned the airplanes.
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narrator: Little did he know
that living his best life
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would lead to his
merciless demise.
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- A large amount of blood.
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There appeared
to be no footprints
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leading to or from the blood,
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and that showed that there
was some planning involved.
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- You have a guy
that's gregarious
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and seems to enjoy life,
but he can be callous.
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He could be overbearing.
That might lead to a grudge.
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- When you have that many
gunshots at point-blank,
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there's a lot of emotion
behind that.
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- He said, "I hate that guy.
I want to blow up his plane."
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- This person would have
to pay $9 million
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to Bill McLaughlin.
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That decision came
days before the murder.
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- You have a sexy seductress.
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They thought maybe
it's a love triangle
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with Bill McLaughlin, a
multimillionaire and inventor.
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- It doesn't
seem very logical.
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If you have the golden goose,
you don't cook it for dinner.
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[tense music]
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* *
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[tense music]
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* *
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- My name is David Byington.
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In 1994, I was with
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the Newport Beach
Police Department.
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December 15, I was
looking forward to going home.
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About 9:00, I was
called by the sergeant
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to respond to a shots fired
call in Balboa Coves.
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- The police dispatch
relayed that
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they were having difficulty
understanding the caller.
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His speech was impaired
to the point
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that he almost sounded drunk.
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They were able to pick out
some unique words,
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including gun, father.
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- My name is Geoff Boucher.
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In the mid-'90s,
I was covering crime
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for the "Los Angeles Times"
in Orange County.
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Balboa Coves is
a coastal enclave
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of beautiful oceanfront homes.
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Murders are rare
in Orange County,
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especially
in gated communities.
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This is a place
where people buy homes
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specifically to stay safe.
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narrator: The serenity
of this peaceful enclave
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is quickly shattered
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as Newport Beach police
rush to the scene.
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[siren wailing]
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- Police met
with Kevin McLaughlin,
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who was our caller,
outside the residence.
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He did not appear to be drunk,
but he was crying outwardly.
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He seemed very, very scared
to me.
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Once I arrived,
officers verified that
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no other threats were there
at this point.
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We entered the residence
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and located
an apparent homicide victim
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who had been shot
multiple times
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laying on the kitchen floor.
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* *
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He was a gentleman in his 50s,
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and he was wearing only
a bathrobe.
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The victim was ultimately
identified by his son, Kevin,
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as William McLaughlin.
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* *
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Despite the large amount
of blood that was present
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from this poor man
being shot several times,
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there appeared
to be no footprints
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leading to or from the blood.
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That showed that there
was some planning involved
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or a purpose--he or she
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purposely was avoiding any
type of stepping in the blood
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or tracking it away.
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We were able to locate
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six 9-millimeter
bullet casings on the floor
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spread throughout the kitchen.
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* *
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It didn't appear that there
was some type of ransacking
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of the house had taken place,
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that obviously there was
valuables that were present.
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So it did not occur
that a robbery
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was the motive
behind this crime.
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When you have that many
gunshots at point-blank
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that were pumped into
Mr. McLaughlin,
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there's a lot of emotion
behind that.
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So that's going to draw
investigators to believe
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that this is a personal thing.
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narrator: Who could have
committed such a grisly act
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in this exclusive
and sheltered community?
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Lab techs hunt for clues
by collecting trace evidence
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while detectives speak
to the victim's son, Kevin.
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- It was obvious
that he was in shock.
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This young man
had possibly witnessed
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the murder of his father.
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But we had to take
a look at Kevin,
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if nothing else to find
something to eliminate him.
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Kevin was obviously
having an issue communicating,
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but ultimately he told us
that he had been involved
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in a traffic accident
five years earlier,
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which resulted in some
pretty severe brain trauma.
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It was obvious that he had
some type of a brain injury
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that was causing
his speech impediment.
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As a result of
Kevin's accident,
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for the last five years,
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he had been going through
rehab,
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and, in fact, he had moved
back in with his dad full-time.
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* *
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- Even with the
communication difficulties,
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Kevin is able
to communicate to police
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a brief outline of the evening.
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- He indicated that he and his
father had dinner together,
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and that after dinner,
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Kevin retired upstairs
to listen to music on his bed.
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He indicated that
he heard some loud bangs
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and proceeded downstairs.
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Upon reaching
the kitchen area,
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he found his father
bleeding profusely
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from numerous bullet wounds.
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He tried to cover his father
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and immediately grabbed a phone
and dialed 911.
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* *
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narrator:
As officers take Kevin aside
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for further questioning,
detectives canvas neighbors
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to see if anyone saw
or heard anything unusual.
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- Police start
talking to neighbors,
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but nobody saw anyone,
didn't hear anything.
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So the first thing that Newport
Beach Police Department
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needs to determine
is who is this victim?
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If you want to figure out
who killed this person,
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you need to know who they are.
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- I'm Caitlin Rother,
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"New York Times"
best-selling author
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of "I'll Take Care of You"
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about the Bill McLaughlin
murder case.
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Detectives were told that
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Bill McLaughlin was a poor guy
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when he was growing up
on the South Side of Chicago,
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but he had ambitions
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and he wanted
to be a millionaire
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by the time he was 30.
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* *
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- My name's Ken Baumgardner.
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I was a friend
of Bill McLaughlin.
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We met in college.
He was a good guy.
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He had a sense of humor.
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But he was very serious about
getting his pre-med done.
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He liked to go out and party
once in a while,
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but not all the time.
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He was really
a hard-working guy.
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His priorities were, you know,
professional and family.
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narrator: After spending
several years in the military,
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getting a degree in biology,
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and completing the MBA program
at Pepperdine,
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Bill's hard work paid off
in 1982.
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- Bill McLaughlin invented
an innovative device
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that separated blood
from plasma.
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That's where
his money came from.
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And by 1994,
he had a $55 million income.
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And of course,
by today's buying power,
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that be substantially more
than that.
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- Bill McLaughlin
had been divorced
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for several years in 1994.
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He'd been married to
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a woman who had been
a flight attendant.
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Her name was Sue.
They had three children.
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- Jenny, down in San Diego,
and Kim,
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who's a teacher in Tokyo,
and Kevin.
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- Bill was extremely proud
of his children.
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They were the hallmarks
of his married life
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and he really admired them
and appreciated them.
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He took good care of them.
He would do anything for them.
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- He would take
his own children flying.
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I mean, it was quite
a luxurious life
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he had at Newport Beach.
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The family
was actually very close.
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He also taught them, you know,
"We have a lot of money,
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but we also need
to share it with other people,"
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so they were taught
to be philanthropists as well.
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narrator:
Detectives also learn more
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about Bill's relationship
with his son, Kevin,
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by all accounts the
last person to see Bill alive.
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- With Kevin being
the only person present,
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we really wanted to find out
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what his relationship was
with his father.
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narrator: As a result
of Kevin's accident
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three years prior,
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he'd begun to lean on alcohol
to ease the pain.
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- Kevin told police
that his father
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was concerned about
Kevin's drug and alcohol use.
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Bill asked his son
to go to Alcoholics Anonymous.
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Recently, Bill had him
sign an agreement
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that he would quit drinking
or be thrown out of the house.
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It's been a real source
of contention.
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- It just so happened that
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Kevin was supposed to be
at that meeting that evening
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but had decided not to go.
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* *
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The fact that Kevin had
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arbitrarily skipped
an AA meeting
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when he'd been
routinely attending them
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did raise a red flag.
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* *
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So Kevin was asked
by investigators at the scene
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if he was aware
of any other handguns
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or weapons at the house.
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Kevin acknowledged his father,
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in fact, had a gun safe
in his closet.
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Once investigators forced open
the gun box,
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they discovered a 9-millimeter
semiautomatic handgun.
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Just so happens that appeared
to be the type of weapon
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that was used in the murder,
so we obviously wanted
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to take that weapon to verify
if it had been fired
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and if the casings
on the ground
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could have possibly
come from that weapon.
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- Things had been contentious
between Kevin and his father
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in recent months, and maybe
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his judgment's been impaired
by his injuries,
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maybe things
got out of control.
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Did he shoot his father
and simply put the gun back
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and lock the box
and conveniently lose the key?
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* *
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- Our crime scene
investigators
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conducted a GSR,
a gunshot residue,
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on his hands
to verify whether or not
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he had recently
been in contact
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with any type of weapon
that was fired.
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- Detectives have to wait for
the lab results to come back.
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But in the meantime,
detectives wonder
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if maybe Kevin is more than
just a grieving son.
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Maybe Kevin is the man
that was holding the gun.
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[waves crashing loudly]
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- In essence,
he said he hated him,
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and he said
he wanted to kill him.
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- He was upset that
he had just lost
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a multi-million dollar lawsuit
against Mr. McLaughlin.
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- This person
had forged checks
255
00:11:32,792 --> 00:11:34,694
and was
using his credit cards.
256
00:11:34,728 --> 00:11:36,529
- Obviously, something was up.
257
00:11:36,563 --> 00:11:39,566
- Was this a rift
that was so hurtful
258
00:11:39,599 --> 00:11:42,502
that she might have had a
grudge that could turn deadly?
259
00:11:54,113 --> 00:11:56,382
[tense music]
260
00:11:56,749 --> 00:11:58,550
[waves crashing]
261
00:11:58,584 --> 00:12:01,787
* *
262
00:12:01,820 --> 00:12:03,722
narrator:
Millionaire Bill McLaughlin
263
00:12:03,756 --> 00:12:05,491
has been murdered
just hours ago
264
00:12:05,524 --> 00:12:07,659
in his Balboa Coves mansion,
265
00:12:07,693 --> 00:12:10,829
leaving investigators
to wonder if Kevin McLaughlin
266
00:12:10,863 --> 00:12:14,333
is a loving son
or a cold-blooded killer.
267
00:12:14,366 --> 00:12:16,702
- The lab results from
the gunshot residue tests
268
00:12:16,735 --> 00:12:17,936
will determine whether or not
269
00:12:17,970 --> 00:12:19,838
Kevin was the one
holding the gun.
270
00:12:19,872 --> 00:12:21,874
narrator:
Until the results come back,
271
00:12:21,907 --> 00:12:24,209
detectives vow
to keep an eye on Kevin
272
00:12:24,243 --> 00:12:26,311
while they continue
to process the crime scene.
273
00:12:26,345 --> 00:12:31,417
As they do, a woman suddenly
pulls up to the house.
274
00:12:31,450 --> 00:12:33,152
- The female that
was driving the car
275
00:12:33,185 --> 00:12:34,687
advised that she, in fact,
276
00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:36,121
not only lived
in Balboa Coves,
277
00:12:36,155 --> 00:12:39,925
but lived with Bill McLaughlin
in the house.
278
00:12:39,958 --> 00:12:43,328
- She identifies herself
as Nanette Johnston.
279
00:12:43,362 --> 00:12:47,333
She's the fiancée
of Bill McLaughlin.
280
00:12:47,366 --> 00:12:49,101
Shock turns to horror
for Nanette
281
00:12:49,101 --> 00:12:53,138
when she is told
that Bill is dead.
282
00:12:53,172 --> 00:12:56,875
- She seemed genuinely
frightened and concerned.
283
00:12:56,909 --> 00:12:59,111
Nanette explained
to the investigators
284
00:12:59,111 --> 00:13:01,447
that not only
did she live at the residence
285
00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:04,183
along with Bill McLaughlin
and his son, Kevin,
286
00:13:04,216 --> 00:13:06,051
but that her young children
287
00:13:06,051 --> 00:13:08,821
also lived at the residence
with them.
288
00:13:08,854 --> 00:13:11,056
Investigators asked at that
point where her children were.
289
00:13:11,056 --> 00:13:12,791
She indicated that they were
290
00:13:12,825 --> 00:13:15,361
with her ex-husband
that evening.
291
00:13:15,394 --> 00:13:17,096
narrator:
Nanette says that she and Bill
292
00:13:17,129 --> 00:13:19,631
have been together
for a little over two years,
293
00:13:19,665 --> 00:13:22,534
and he just recently proposed.
294
00:13:22,568 --> 00:13:25,404
- Nanette was questioned
about where she had been
295
00:13:25,437 --> 00:13:28,407
when the murder had taken place
and had indicated that
296
00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:30,576
she had been
at the city of Walnut,
297
00:13:30,609 --> 00:13:34,079
which is about
a 30-minute drive away.
298
00:13:34,079 --> 00:13:36,215
- Nanette told detectives
299
00:13:36,248 --> 00:13:39,084
she had been
at her son's soccer game
300
00:13:39,084 --> 00:13:40,886
and then she went to the mall.
301
00:13:40,919 --> 00:13:43,989
And she had shopping bags
and receipts to prove it.
302
00:13:44,089 --> 00:13:47,226
- She was surrounded by people
that would be able to verify
303
00:13:47,259 --> 00:13:48,794
the fact that she was, in fact,
304
00:13:48,827 --> 00:13:51,096
at her son's soccer game
at a certain time,
305
00:13:51,096 --> 00:13:53,265
including her ex-husband.
306
00:13:53,298 --> 00:13:55,668
Nanette appeared
genuinely concerned
307
00:13:55,701 --> 00:13:57,536
for her welfare, as well
as her children's welfare,
308
00:13:57,569 --> 00:14:00,673
so she requested that
we escort her
309
00:14:00,706 --> 00:14:03,208
to the other residence which
was owned by Bill McLaughlin,
310
00:14:03,242 --> 00:14:04,610
which was a mile or two away.
311
00:14:04,643 --> 00:14:07,346
* *
312
00:14:07,379 --> 00:14:09,915
narrator: Nanette seeks safety
at the beach house,
313
00:14:09,948 --> 00:14:11,316
but to rule out that
314
00:14:11,350 --> 00:14:13,085
she had anything
to do with Bill's murder,
315
00:14:13,118 --> 00:14:14,887
they need
to confirm her alibi.
316
00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:19,091
- Nanette had identified her
ex-husband as Kevin, "K-Ross."
317
00:14:19,124 --> 00:14:22,061
So K-Ross confirmed the fact
that Nanette was,
318
00:14:22,094 --> 00:14:24,596
in fact, at the soccer game
watching the children,
319
00:14:24,630 --> 00:14:28,267
so that jibed with
what Nanette had claimed.
320
00:14:28,300 --> 00:14:31,970
narrator: Later that day with
Nanette's alibi confirmed,
321
00:14:32,071 --> 00:14:33,405
police checked the whereabouts
322
00:14:33,439 --> 00:14:36,208
of Bill McLaughlin's
two adult daughters
323
00:14:36,241 --> 00:14:38,577
and confirm that
both of them were out of town
324
00:14:38,610 --> 00:14:40,079
at the time of the murder.
325
00:14:40,079 --> 00:14:41,447
- When Bill McLaughlin's
daughters
326
00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:43,282
find out
about their father's death,
327
00:14:43,315 --> 00:14:46,251
Jenny down in San Diego
essentially jumps in her car
328
00:14:46,285 --> 00:14:49,588
and heads north as quick
as she can.
329
00:14:49,621 --> 00:14:51,957
Kim, the other daughter,
is in Tokyo,
330
00:14:51,990 --> 00:14:54,860
and she hops on a flight
immediately.
331
00:14:54,893 --> 00:14:57,129
narrator: When they arrive
back in Orange County
332
00:14:57,162 --> 00:15:00,132
the next day,
Bill's devastated daughters
333
00:15:00,165 --> 00:15:03,035
open up to investigators
about their father.
334
00:15:03,068 --> 00:15:06,238
- Bill's daughters
tell the police
335
00:15:06,271 --> 00:15:07,606
Bill was a good, loving father,
336
00:15:07,639 --> 00:15:12,144
and he was affectionate
towards his three kids.
337
00:15:12,177 --> 00:15:14,313
I interviewed Kim McLaughlin,
338
00:15:14,346 --> 00:15:17,216
and she's a lovely,
gentle person.
339
00:15:17,249 --> 00:15:20,753
She just really felt it
was very difficult for her,
340
00:15:20,786 --> 00:15:22,154
I think, to deal with this
341
00:15:22,187 --> 00:15:25,424
because she's
a very sensitive person.
342
00:15:25,457 --> 00:15:27,459
- It was horrible
343
00:15:27,493 --> 00:15:30,396
because, you know,
they loved their father.
344
00:15:30,429 --> 00:15:34,767
The daughters, the son,
his whole family was shocked.
345
00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:36,635
* *
346
00:15:36,669 --> 00:15:38,637
- As police talk to
Bill McLaughlin's daughters,
347
00:15:38,671 --> 00:15:41,306
they learn family relations
are very harmonious
348
00:15:41,340 --> 00:15:43,742
as far as the siblings
and their father,
349
00:15:43,776 --> 00:15:48,981
but the divorce from Sue
after 24 years of marriage
350
00:15:49,081 --> 00:15:51,517
was really traumatic.
351
00:15:51,550 --> 00:15:54,353
- Bill's divorce from Susan
was a litigious one,
352
00:15:54,386 --> 00:15:59,792
primarily over property,
possessions, and finances.
353
00:15:59,825 --> 00:16:02,094
- Sue had accused
her estranged husband
354
00:16:02,127 --> 00:16:05,030
of being a bully
and trying to lowball her.
355
00:16:05,030 --> 00:16:08,233
- You're going to look
at spouses, angry spouses,
356
00:16:08,267 --> 00:16:11,036
so I met with Susan
after the homicide.
357
00:16:11,036 --> 00:16:12,571
- Police want to determine,
358
00:16:12,604 --> 00:16:16,408
was this a rift
that was so hurtful
359
00:16:16,442 --> 00:16:20,813
that she might have had a
grudge that could turn deadly?
360
00:16:20,846 --> 00:16:24,049
- Susan McLaughlin
was actually 3,000 miles away
361
00:16:24,049 --> 00:16:26,318
in Hawaii
at the time of the murder.
362
00:16:26,352 --> 00:16:30,756
But I learned she ultimately
received $300,000 annually
363
00:16:30,789 --> 00:16:34,660
for the rest of her life
and a residence in Hawaii,
364
00:16:34,693 --> 00:16:39,064
so she had no clear motive
to want him dead.
365
00:16:39,064 --> 00:16:40,833
narrator: Out of
Bill's immediate family,
366
00:16:40,866 --> 00:16:44,103
that just leaves Kevin
as a possible suspect.
367
00:16:44,136 --> 00:16:46,538
But then
two days after the murder,
368
00:16:46,572 --> 00:16:49,141
the gun residue test
comes back.
369
00:16:49,174 --> 00:16:51,377
- And the GSR test
on his hands
370
00:16:51,410 --> 00:16:54,079
ultimately was determined that
371
00:16:54,079 --> 00:16:57,583
Kevin had no gunshot residue
on his body.
372
00:16:57,616 --> 00:16:59,385
- The interest in
Kevin as a suspect
373
00:16:59,418 --> 00:17:02,187
is more or less a dead end.
374
00:17:02,221 --> 00:17:04,590
As police talk
to a widening circle,
375
00:17:04,623 --> 00:17:06,759
they talk to people that
have done business with Bill
376
00:17:06,792 --> 00:17:07,760
and that know him.
377
00:17:07,793 --> 00:17:10,629
* *
378
00:17:10,662 --> 00:17:13,599
- Family said that he was
loving and doting on them,
379
00:17:13,632 --> 00:17:18,237
but in business,
Bill would take no prisoners.
380
00:17:18,270 --> 00:17:20,039
- He could be callous.
He could be overbearing.
381
00:17:20,039 --> 00:17:21,874
He could be domineering.
382
00:17:21,907 --> 00:17:25,277
Those are the tendencies
that might lead to a grudge,
383
00:17:25,310 --> 00:17:27,713
and a grudge that
might lead to murder.
384
00:17:27,746 --> 00:17:30,049
narrator: It's a theory
that becomes all too real
385
00:17:30,082 --> 00:17:33,052
when detectives speak
to Bill's brother, Patrick.
386
00:17:33,052 --> 00:17:34,319
- Bill's brother
tells him about
387
00:17:34,353 --> 00:17:38,624
a former partner of Bill's
named Hal.
388
00:17:38,657 --> 00:17:41,326
The golden goose for these
two was a revolutionary
389
00:17:41,360 --> 00:17:44,363
plasma machine
that they devised.
390
00:17:44,396 --> 00:17:46,732
The device made
tens of millions of dollars.
391
00:17:46,765 --> 00:17:50,402
- At some point,
Mr. McLaughlin had been able
392
00:17:50,436 --> 00:17:55,841
to put himself as the single
patent owner on that machine.
393
00:17:55,874 --> 00:17:58,177
- Hal sued,
seeking what he called
394
00:17:58,210 --> 00:18:00,479
a fair share of the royalties.
395
00:18:00,512 --> 00:18:02,915
- This was a long,
protracted legal battle
396
00:18:03,015 --> 00:18:05,384
with a series of lawsuits.
397
00:18:05,417 --> 00:18:08,687
- Ultimately, there was
a judgment against Hal.
398
00:18:08,721 --> 00:18:11,657
He would have to pay $9 million
to his former partner.
399
00:18:11,690 --> 00:18:14,793
That decision came days
before the murder.
400
00:18:14,827 --> 00:18:17,830
- Hal had the means,
and he was upset
401
00:18:17,863 --> 00:18:20,199
that he had just lost
a multi-million dollar lawsuit
402
00:18:20,232 --> 00:18:22,935
against Mr. McLaughlin.
403
00:18:23,035 --> 00:18:24,236
- For detectives,
that sounds like
404
00:18:24,269 --> 00:18:26,572
9 million reasons for a motive.
405
00:18:38,951 --> 00:18:41,420
[tense music]
406
00:18:41,787 --> 00:18:44,690
[waves crashing]
407
00:18:46,325 --> 00:18:48,560
narrator: When it comes
to motives for murder,
408
00:18:48,594 --> 00:18:52,631
greed is as good as any
in a place like Orange County,
409
00:18:52,664 --> 00:18:55,234
which is why Newport Beach
investigators are zeroing in
410
00:18:55,267 --> 00:18:57,236
on Bill McLaughlin's
disgruntled
411
00:18:57,269 --> 00:19:00,572
former business partner
as their prime suspect.
412
00:19:00,606 --> 00:19:03,275
- Police find out Bill
and his brother, Patrick,
413
00:19:03,308 --> 00:19:05,244
spoke the night
before the murder.
414
00:19:05,277 --> 00:19:06,779
Bill told his brother
415
00:19:06,812 --> 00:19:10,482
that he felt like
his life was in danger.
416
00:19:10,516 --> 00:19:12,384
His takeaway
from that conversation
417
00:19:12,418 --> 00:19:15,154
was that Hal,
the former partner,
418
00:19:15,187 --> 00:19:17,523
wanted his brother dead.
419
00:19:17,556 --> 00:19:19,692
narrator:
Detectives locate Hal
420
00:19:19,725 --> 00:19:21,627
two hours away
in Santa Barbara
421
00:19:21,660 --> 00:19:24,930
and begin grilling him about
his relationship with Bill.
422
00:19:25,030 --> 00:19:26,899
- I was able to speak to Hal,
423
00:19:26,932 --> 00:19:29,935
and he was up-front, saying,
"There's no love lost
424
00:19:30,035 --> 00:19:32,438
when I heard that Bill
had died."
425
00:19:32,471 --> 00:19:36,241
- But he did say that
he was at the barber
426
00:19:36,275 --> 00:19:38,744
and then he spent the evening
with his wife.
427
00:19:38,777 --> 00:19:43,449
- It was determined
that he had a valid alibi,
428
00:19:43,482 --> 00:19:46,452
they had witnesses that were
able to confirm the fact
429
00:19:46,485 --> 00:19:49,521
that Hal was not physically
located in Newport Beach
430
00:19:49,555 --> 00:19:50,823
on the night of the murder,
431
00:19:50,856 --> 00:19:53,892
but was, in fact,
in Santa Barbara.
432
00:19:53,926 --> 00:19:55,561
narrator: Back at the station,
433
00:19:55,594 --> 00:19:56,662
detectives
sort through evidence
434
00:19:56,695 --> 00:19:59,398
recovered during the search
of Bill's mansion,
435
00:19:59,431 --> 00:20:02,735
and they're struck
by one item in particular.
436
00:20:02,768 --> 00:20:04,970
- The search of
Mr. McLaughlin's residence
437
00:20:05,004 --> 00:20:09,108
revealed numerous documents,
one of which was a singles ad.
438
00:20:09,141 --> 00:20:10,909
* *
439
00:20:10,943 --> 00:20:15,781
And it showed a very
suggestive picture of a woman.
440
00:20:15,814 --> 00:20:18,817
And underneath this photograph,
in bold letters,
441
00:20:18,851 --> 00:20:20,619
says, "Wealthy men only.
442
00:20:20,652 --> 00:20:22,321
You take care of me,
I'll take care of you."
443
00:20:22,354 --> 00:20:24,323
- The woman in the photograph
444
00:20:24,356 --> 00:20:27,726
is none other than
Bill's fiancée, Nanette.
445
00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:30,195
- So that's how they met.
446
00:20:30,229 --> 00:20:31,630
narrator: It appears to police
447
00:20:31,663 --> 00:20:34,500
that Nanette and Bill's
2 1/2 year relationship
448
00:20:34,533 --> 00:20:37,636
began
as a financial arrangement.
449
00:20:37,670 --> 00:20:39,938
- Bill's daughters
told detectives
450
00:20:39,972 --> 00:20:43,876
that they definitely
saw Nanette as a gold digger.
451
00:20:43,909 --> 00:20:45,811
- I think
both of his daughters
452
00:20:45,844 --> 00:20:49,181
disapproved of Nanette
and the relationship.
453
00:20:49,214 --> 00:20:50,816
I never got close to her.
454
00:20:50,849 --> 00:20:54,586
I didn't have the vibes
that we could be friends.
455
00:20:54,620 --> 00:20:58,190
She's like
a Newport Beach brat, you know?
456
00:20:58,223 --> 00:21:01,293
- Just like a lot of women
in a place like Orange County,
457
00:21:01,326 --> 00:21:04,163
she wanted new breasts,
a new nose,
458
00:21:04,196 --> 00:21:06,065
a new chin, and new cheekbones.
459
00:21:06,065 --> 00:21:08,334
And she got them.
460
00:21:08,367 --> 00:21:11,170
- Nanette had a pretty good
expense account.
461
00:21:11,203 --> 00:21:15,307
She had a lot to gain
by this relationship.
462
00:21:15,341 --> 00:21:17,343
- Her children
are taken care of.
463
00:21:17,376 --> 00:21:19,078
It doesn't seem very logical
464
00:21:19,078 --> 00:21:21,580
that she would
kill her partner.
465
00:21:21,613 --> 00:21:25,851
If you have the golden goose,
you don't cook it for dinner.
466
00:21:25,884 --> 00:21:27,553
* *
467
00:21:27,586 --> 00:21:29,822
narrator: Bill's daughters
agreed to provide police
468
00:21:29,855 --> 00:21:32,991
with information
on the family's finances.
469
00:21:33,092 --> 00:21:35,494
Then five days
after Bill's murder,
470
00:21:35,527 --> 00:21:38,397
detectives make a bold move.
471
00:21:38,430 --> 00:21:41,100
- On December 20th,
it was determined
472
00:21:41,100 --> 00:21:45,404
that a covert surveillance team
would be placed on Nanette.
473
00:21:45,437 --> 00:21:47,706
It's just pretty much
standard protocol
474
00:21:47,740 --> 00:21:49,908
if we have somebody
that's living in the house.
475
00:21:49,942 --> 00:21:52,711
She potentially could have
been a target of that homicide
476
00:21:52,745 --> 00:21:54,413
or she might be
a potential suspect.
477
00:21:54,446 --> 00:21:59,218
* *
478
00:21:59,251 --> 00:22:00,586
- My name is Matt Murphy.
479
00:22:00,619 --> 00:22:01,687
I was a senior deputy
district attorney
480
00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:04,857
in the Orange County
DA's office for 17 years.
481
00:22:04,890 --> 00:22:09,595
In 1994, I had just been hired
as a deputy DA,
482
00:22:09,628 --> 00:22:12,498
and I was living
on the Newport Beach peninsula
483
00:22:12,531 --> 00:22:14,900
when Bill McLaughlin
was murdered.
484
00:22:14,933 --> 00:22:16,502
So detectives from
485
00:22:16,535 --> 00:22:17,703
the Newport Beach
Police Department
486
00:22:17,736 --> 00:22:19,738
were surveilling
Nanette Johnston
487
00:22:19,772 --> 00:22:22,775
outside the beach house
the night before the funeral
488
00:22:22,808 --> 00:22:25,911
and observed Nanette Johnston
decorating a Christmas tree
489
00:22:25,944 --> 00:22:29,081
with her two children
in the living room.
490
00:22:29,081 --> 00:22:31,917
narrator: The woman
who had appeared so shocked
491
00:22:31,950 --> 00:22:35,087
and fearful for her safety
at the scene of the murder
492
00:22:35,087 --> 00:22:37,723
now seems markedly carefree.
493
00:22:37,756 --> 00:22:40,392
- No apparent concern
for any type of intruder
494
00:22:40,426 --> 00:22:42,227
coming and causing her harm.
495
00:22:42,261 --> 00:22:43,829
That really stuck out.
496
00:22:43,862 --> 00:22:48,867
* *
497
00:22:48,901 --> 00:22:52,438
- The next day
on December 21, 1994,
498
00:22:52,471 --> 00:22:55,674
the memorial for Bill is held.
499
00:22:55,708 --> 00:22:57,643
Bill's family is there,
500
00:22:57,676 --> 00:23:01,280
and as are Nanette
and her children.
501
00:23:01,313 --> 00:23:03,115
[somber music]
502
00:23:03,148 --> 00:23:07,519
- His children were grieving
because he was a good father.
503
00:23:07,553 --> 00:23:10,589
That's not something
everybody can be.
504
00:23:10,622 --> 00:23:14,393
I'm sorry that he had to go
in the way he did.
505
00:23:14,426 --> 00:23:16,362
- It was difficult
for the family.
506
00:23:16,395 --> 00:23:18,430
The family just held on
to each other.
507
00:23:18,464 --> 00:23:21,066
They supported each other.
508
00:23:21,066 --> 00:23:24,103
- You know,
I mean, it was tragic.
509
00:23:24,136 --> 00:23:25,971
narrator:
Detectives attend the funeral
510
00:23:26,071 --> 00:23:29,141
and find nothing strange about
Nanette's behavior there.
511
00:23:29,174 --> 00:23:32,111
But they continue
to surveil the beach house,
512
00:23:32,144 --> 00:23:35,514
keeping an eye out
for anything unusual.
513
00:23:35,547 --> 00:23:38,984
- It was a few days
before Christmas...
514
00:23:39,084 --> 00:23:42,354
when I saw a Nissan Pathfinder
park in the garage
515
00:23:42,388 --> 00:23:44,289
directly in front
of that residence.
516
00:23:44,323 --> 00:23:47,760
[tense music]
517
00:23:47,793 --> 00:23:50,763
I saw this driver come out
518
00:23:50,796 --> 00:23:53,599
with several
gift-wrapped packages
519
00:23:53,632 --> 00:23:58,203
and lock the Nissan and
then walk to the front door.
520
00:23:58,237 --> 00:24:00,039
narrator: There's nothing
out of the ordinary
521
00:24:00,039 --> 00:24:01,707
about someone
bringing presents
522
00:24:01,740 --> 00:24:04,209
to a grieving widow
during the holidays.
523
00:24:04,243 --> 00:24:08,847
It's what detectives notice
next that raises alarm bells.
524
00:24:08,881 --> 00:24:11,950
- I saw this man greet
both of Nanette's children,
525
00:24:12,051 --> 00:24:15,954
and then grab
and hug Nanette Johnston
526
00:24:16,055 --> 00:24:19,825
and give her
a very passionate kiss.
527
00:24:19,858 --> 00:24:22,061
I was pretty astonished
by what I'd was seeing.
528
00:24:22,094 --> 00:24:25,531
This woman who had just
tragically lost her fiancée
529
00:24:25,564 --> 00:24:28,133
had something else going on.
530
00:24:28,167 --> 00:24:32,237
So we obviously had to
find out who this guy was.
531
00:24:43,083 --> 00:24:45,652
[tense music]
532
00:24:45,919 --> 00:24:49,723
* *
533
00:24:49,756 --> 00:24:52,092
narrator: One week
after the brutal murder
534
00:24:52,092 --> 00:24:55,562
of Newport Beach millionaire
Bill McLaughlin,
535
00:24:55,595 --> 00:24:58,465
police spy
Bill's grieving fiancée
536
00:24:58,498 --> 00:25:01,167
passionately kissing
a mystery man.
537
00:25:01,201 --> 00:25:03,036
- Here's a woman
who is allegedly heartbroken
538
00:25:03,036 --> 00:25:05,038
over her fiancée
being murdered,
539
00:25:05,038 --> 00:25:08,575
and obviously,
something was up.
540
00:25:08,608 --> 00:25:11,244
narrator: As the man drives
away from the beach house,
541
00:25:11,277 --> 00:25:13,780
investigators run his plates.
542
00:25:13,813 --> 00:25:17,250
The car is registered
to an Eric Naposki.
543
00:25:17,283 --> 00:25:20,487
An outstanding warrant
allows them to pull him over.
544
00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:23,356
* *
545
00:25:23,390 --> 00:25:24,924
- Eric was placed under arrest
546
00:25:24,958 --> 00:25:26,926
for the outstanding
traffic warrant
547
00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:29,662
and was transported to the
Newport Beach Police Department
548
00:25:29,696 --> 00:25:32,232
to be interviewed
by detectives.
549
00:25:32,265 --> 00:25:34,167
* *
550
00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:37,437
narrator: As Eric Naposki
waits in an interview room,
551
00:25:37,470 --> 00:25:40,206
detectives quickly gather
as much information about him
552
00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:41,808
as they can.
553
00:25:41,841 --> 00:25:45,712
- Eric Naposki grew up
in New York.
554
00:25:45,745 --> 00:25:46,846
He was a great athlete,
555
00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:51,584
and he managed to get
to the NFL onto the Patriots.
556
00:25:51,618 --> 00:25:54,988
But he kept getting injured,
so he didn't play that much
557
00:25:55,088 --> 00:25:58,792
and so he went
to Orange County.
558
00:25:58,825 --> 00:26:00,727
narrator:
Newport Beach investigators
559
00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:02,128
press Eric for information
560
00:26:02,162 --> 00:26:04,631
surrounding
the McLaughlin murder.
561
00:26:04,664 --> 00:26:07,200
* *
562
00:26:07,233 --> 00:26:09,502
- Eric seemed
a little bit cocky.
563
00:26:16,276 --> 00:26:17,577
- Investigators ask Eric
564
00:26:17,610 --> 00:26:19,512
what his relationship was
with Nanette.
565
00:26:25,151 --> 00:26:28,154
- Talking to Eric Naposki,
police get a different view
566
00:26:28,188 --> 00:26:31,825
of Nanette
and her relationship to Bill.
567
00:26:31,858 --> 00:26:33,059
- He stated that he knew that
568
00:26:33,059 --> 00:26:34,861
she lived
with Bill McLaughlin,
569
00:26:34,894 --> 00:26:37,063
but it was strictly
a platonic relationship
570
00:26:37,097 --> 00:26:38,298
where they were
business partners
571
00:26:38,331 --> 00:26:41,668
and he allowed her to stay
with her children at the house.
572
00:26:52,679 --> 00:26:57,083
- Eric's view is that Bill
is just an employer to Nanette,
573
00:26:57,083 --> 00:26:59,853
that she's living with him,
but he's more of a mentor
574
00:26:59,886 --> 00:27:02,689
and that they're not
romantically engaged.
575
00:27:02,722 --> 00:27:04,224
Police are wondering,
576
00:27:04,257 --> 00:27:08,194
"Is this guy
trying to play us?"
577
00:27:08,228 --> 00:27:10,530
narrator: When they ask him
to provide an alibi,
578
00:27:10,563 --> 00:27:13,033
Eric continues to be evasive.
579
00:27:22,742 --> 00:27:24,044
- The interview continues,
580
00:27:24,077 --> 00:27:26,046
and then they ask him,
"Do you have a sidearm?"
581
00:27:26,046 --> 00:27:28,048
And he says, "No, I don't."
582
00:27:28,048 --> 00:27:30,750
And then 45 minutes later
in the interview,
583
00:27:30,784 --> 00:27:32,752
comes up with,
"It's like, oh, well,
584
00:27:32,786 --> 00:27:37,057
"there was this Beretta 92F
once that I had,
585
00:27:37,090 --> 00:27:39,059
But I gave that to my friend,
Joe."
586
00:27:39,092 --> 00:27:40,960
- So he admitted
to the fact that
587
00:27:41,061 --> 00:27:43,063
he actually owned
a 9-millimeter handgun,
588
00:27:43,096 --> 00:27:44,397
which just so happened
to be the type of weapon
589
00:27:44,431 --> 00:27:45,799
that was used in the murder.
590
00:27:45,832 --> 00:27:49,402
* *
591
00:27:49,436 --> 00:27:51,237
- But when police talk to Joe,
592
00:27:51,271 --> 00:27:54,174
he tells police
the gun wasn't a 9-millimeter,
593
00:27:54,207 --> 00:27:55,408
it was a .380.
594
00:27:55,442 --> 00:27:56,843
- Big question at that point
595
00:27:56,876 --> 00:27:58,078
to investigators, obviously,
596
00:27:58,111 --> 00:28:01,614
is why Eric Naposki
had been evasive
597
00:28:01,648 --> 00:28:03,750
with investigators
about his ownership
598
00:28:03,783 --> 00:28:08,021
of a 9-millimeter
semiautomatic handgun.
599
00:28:08,021 --> 00:28:09,589
narrator: More importantly,
600
00:28:09,622 --> 00:28:13,159
did Eric Naposki use the gun
to murder Bill McLaughlin?
601
00:28:13,193 --> 00:28:15,028
And if so,
was Nanette involved,
602
00:28:15,061 --> 00:28:17,931
or did Naposki act alone?
603
00:28:18,031 --> 00:28:19,866
As investigators
wait for a warrant
604
00:28:19,899 --> 00:28:22,068
to search the Naposki's house,
605
00:28:22,102 --> 00:28:24,404
they circle back
to Nanette's ex-husband
606
00:28:24,437 --> 00:28:27,607
to do a deeper dive
into Nanette's background.
607
00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:31,311
- They found out
that Nanette came from
608
00:28:31,344 --> 00:28:32,912
a dysfunctional family.
609
00:28:32,946 --> 00:28:35,048
Her mother divorced
610
00:28:35,048 --> 00:28:38,418
and apparently
was with some abusive man.
611
00:28:38,451 --> 00:28:43,857
Nanette was an athletic
young woman, tomboyish.
612
00:28:43,890 --> 00:28:45,692
She worked at a gym,
613
00:28:45,725 --> 00:28:47,894
and that's where
she met K-Ross,
614
00:28:47,927 --> 00:28:50,296
and they had two children.
615
00:28:50,330 --> 00:28:53,833
But Nanette wanted more
than K-Ross could provide,
616
00:28:53,867 --> 00:28:56,936
so she left him
and took the kids.
617
00:28:56,970 --> 00:28:58,471
She was very ambitious.
618
00:28:58,505 --> 00:29:00,840
She set her mind
on being wealthy.
619
00:29:00,874 --> 00:29:04,010
* *
620
00:29:04,010 --> 00:29:05,745
narrator:
K-Ross tells investigators
621
00:29:05,779 --> 00:29:07,781
that two years
after the divorce,
622
00:29:07,814 --> 00:29:11,217
Nanette met Bill McLaughlin
and began living her dream
623
00:29:11,251 --> 00:29:14,054
of a lavish Orange County
lifestyle.
624
00:29:14,087 --> 00:29:18,658
But then, K-Ross drops
a bombshell about her alibi.
625
00:29:18,692 --> 00:29:22,062
- K-Ross tells them Nanette
was at the soccer game,
626
00:29:22,095 --> 00:29:27,200
but she was accompanied by a
person she introduced as Eric.
627
00:29:27,233 --> 00:29:32,038
And Eric is a tall, strapping,
dark-haired, muscular guy.
628
00:29:32,038 --> 00:29:34,474
This really catches the ear
of detectives
629
00:29:34,507 --> 00:29:39,045
because she implied
to detectives she was alone.
630
00:29:39,045 --> 00:29:42,048
- We wanted to know
why she had failed to mention
631
00:29:42,048 --> 00:29:46,152
that she was there at the
soccer game with Eric Naposki.
632
00:29:46,186 --> 00:29:48,521
narrator: The receipts Nanette
already provided to police
633
00:29:48,555 --> 00:29:51,091
solidify that she told the
truth about her whereabouts
634
00:29:51,124 --> 00:29:54,761
after the game,
but Eric has no solid alibi
635
00:29:54,794 --> 00:29:56,529
for the evening
Bill was murdered,
636
00:29:56,563 --> 00:30:00,400
which makes investigators
all the more suspicious.
637
00:30:00,433 --> 00:30:05,138
- So a month after the murder,
it's in January, 1995,
638
00:30:05,171 --> 00:30:06,806
that police
get a search warrant.
639
00:30:06,840 --> 00:30:11,878
They go to the home
of Eric Naposki.
640
00:30:11,911 --> 00:30:14,247
- I knocked on the door.
641
00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:15,849
The door
was immediately answered
642
00:30:15,882 --> 00:30:18,051
by no one other than...
643
00:30:18,084 --> 00:30:20,086
Nanette Johnston.
644
00:30:20,120 --> 00:30:22,389
My impression was that
she was embarrassed
645
00:30:22,422 --> 00:30:26,059
or scared that she had
been found at the apartment.
646
00:30:26,092 --> 00:30:27,827
- The police separate
the two of them,
647
00:30:27,861 --> 00:30:29,729
and they question both.
648
00:30:29,763 --> 00:30:31,097
Police talk to Eric,
649
00:30:31,131 --> 00:30:33,366
and now his story
has changed slightly.
650
00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:36,569
He blurts out that
Bill raped Nanette,
651
00:30:36,603 --> 00:30:38,505
and, "I am protecting her now."
652
00:30:38,538 --> 00:30:42,375
- He automatically became
argumentative with detectives.
653
00:30:42,409 --> 00:30:43,176
He was belligerent.
654
00:30:43,209 --> 00:30:45,278
[suspenseful music]
655
00:30:45,311 --> 00:30:48,048
- While Eric is being
questioned in one room,
656
00:30:48,081 --> 00:30:51,451
Nanette's in another room
and that interview also
657
00:30:51,484 --> 00:30:54,554
provides police
with some new revelations.
658
00:30:54,587 --> 00:30:56,956
- Nanette said
that she and Eric
659
00:30:56,990 --> 00:30:58,591
were friends with benefits
and admitted
660
00:30:58,625 --> 00:30:59,959
that they were physically
661
00:31:00,060 --> 00:31:01,961
and intimately involved
with each other.
662
00:31:02,062 --> 00:31:04,297
- But there's no smoking gun
at this point.
663
00:31:04,330 --> 00:31:09,169
Police are not to the point
where they can make an arrest.
664
00:31:09,202 --> 00:31:11,604
- Both suspects basically
got a slap on the wrist
665
00:31:11,638 --> 00:31:13,073
and were released.
666
00:31:20,947 --> 00:31:23,000
[tense music]
667
00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:29,522
[tense music]
668
00:31:29,789 --> 00:31:33,593
* *
669
00:31:33,626 --> 00:31:36,096
narrator: In January of 1995,
670
00:31:36,129 --> 00:31:38,598
Newport Beach Police
serve a search warrant
671
00:31:38,631 --> 00:31:41,301
on one of their prime
murder suspects.
672
00:31:41,334 --> 00:31:44,237
- The search warrant
was obtained in an attempt
673
00:31:44,270 --> 00:31:47,340
to find evidence that might
link Eric and Nanette
674
00:31:47,374 --> 00:31:50,276
to the murder
of Bill McLaughlin.
675
00:31:50,310 --> 00:31:53,913
We didn't get anything
out of the house.
676
00:31:53,947 --> 00:31:57,317
So we couldn't arrest them,
but both Nanette and Eric
677
00:31:57,350 --> 00:31:59,619
were potential suspects
in this murder.
678
00:31:59,652 --> 00:32:02,422
* *
679
00:32:02,455 --> 00:32:04,624
- Now the case
is at a point where
680
00:32:04,657 --> 00:32:07,160
police share with the press
what's been going on,
681
00:32:07,193 --> 00:32:10,897
and it ignites a bonfire
of coverage.
682
00:32:10,930 --> 00:32:13,333
* *
683
00:32:13,366 --> 00:32:15,368
- You have a sexy seductress
684
00:32:15,402 --> 00:32:19,639
who is having an affair
with an NFL lineback wannabe,
685
00:32:19,673 --> 00:32:22,909
and it's a love triangle
with Bill McLaughlin,
686
00:32:22,942 --> 00:32:25,412
a multimillionaire
and inventor.
687
00:32:25,445 --> 00:32:27,914
* *
688
00:32:27,947 --> 00:32:29,149
narrator:
Police are frustrated
689
00:32:29,182 --> 00:32:30,984
that the case has stalled,
690
00:32:31,084 --> 00:32:34,320
but within days of searching
Eric Naposki's apartment,
691
00:32:34,354 --> 00:32:35,822
they're given renewed hope
692
00:32:35,855 --> 00:32:38,258
when Bill McLaughlin's family
reaches out
693
00:32:38,291 --> 00:32:41,928
with new evidence
they've dug up on their own.
694
00:32:41,961 --> 00:32:43,530
- Both daughters
started going through
695
00:32:43,563 --> 00:32:47,400
all of Bill McLaughlin's
financial paperwork...
696
00:32:47,434 --> 00:32:50,403
and one of the things
that really stuck out
697
00:32:50,437 --> 00:32:55,108
was a handwritten
personal check for $250,000
698
00:32:55,141 --> 00:32:58,478
made out to Nanette
that was dated one day
699
00:32:58,511 --> 00:33:01,681
before Bill McLaughlin's
murder.
700
00:33:01,715 --> 00:33:03,683
There wasn't a question
from the daughters
701
00:33:03,717 --> 00:33:07,320
that the signature on the
$250,000 check was forged.
702
00:33:07,354 --> 00:33:11,591
It was obvious it wasn't
their father's signature.
703
00:33:11,624 --> 00:33:13,393
* *
704
00:33:13,426 --> 00:33:16,429
- Police now launch a forensic
accounting examination.
705
00:33:16,463 --> 00:33:19,399
They want to know
exactly what's going on.
706
00:33:19,432 --> 00:33:21,101
- It was determined
by fraud detectives
707
00:33:21,134 --> 00:33:24,371
that Nanette stole
from Bill McLaughlin.
708
00:33:24,404 --> 00:33:28,475
- She had forged checks
and was using his credit card,
709
00:33:28,508 --> 00:33:32,379
signing as Nanette McLaughlin
when they weren't married.
710
00:33:32,412 --> 00:33:33,546
- Police don't have enough
711
00:33:33,580 --> 00:33:34,914
from these
financial irregularities
712
00:33:34,948 --> 00:33:36,583
to arrest Nanette for murder,
713
00:33:36,616 --> 00:33:38,952
but they have enough
to charge her with a crime.
714
00:33:41,421 --> 00:33:44,891
- In April, 1995,
Nanette was actually charged
715
00:33:44,924 --> 00:33:48,161
with the fraudulent theft
716
00:33:48,194 --> 00:33:51,898
of money from Bill McLaughlin
of a $1/2 million.
717
00:33:51,931 --> 00:33:56,136
She was found guilty and
sentenced to one year in jail.
718
00:33:56,169 --> 00:33:58,138
- With Nanette now
behind bars,
719
00:33:58,171 --> 00:33:59,339
detectives step up
their efforts,
720
00:33:59,372 --> 00:34:01,474
feverishly trying to find a way
721
00:34:01,508 --> 00:34:02,942
to build on the evidence
that they have,
722
00:34:03,043 --> 00:34:04,444
but the prosecutor
723
00:34:04,477 --> 00:34:06,613
listens to everything
that the police have
724
00:34:06,646 --> 00:34:09,349
and says there's just not
enough to charge at this time.
725
00:34:09,382 --> 00:34:12,118
- I was upset because
I knew who was responsible,
726
00:34:12,152 --> 00:34:15,088
but our hands were tied.
727
00:34:15,121 --> 00:34:17,057
* *
728
00:34:17,057 --> 00:34:18,458
narrator: Just over two years
729
00:34:18,491 --> 00:34:20,627
after Bill McLaughlin's
murder,
730
00:34:20,660 --> 00:34:23,663
Nanette gets a chance
to start over.
731
00:34:23,697 --> 00:34:25,765
- On December 23, 1996,
732
00:34:25,799 --> 00:34:28,635
Nanette Johnston
was released from prison.
733
00:34:28,668 --> 00:34:31,504
- There's no way that they can
move forward with the case.
734
00:34:31,538 --> 00:34:33,673
There's not enough evidence
to charge her with murder,
735
00:34:33,707 --> 00:34:36,242
so they just have
to watch her walk away.
736
00:34:36,276 --> 00:34:41,781
* *
737
00:34:41,815 --> 00:34:44,417
Not long after Nanette
walks out of jail,
738
00:34:44,451 --> 00:34:48,488
Nanette and Eric break up.
739
00:34:48,521 --> 00:34:50,990
Eric moves back
to the East Coast.
740
00:34:51,091 --> 00:34:52,492
Neither of them,
Eric or Nanette,
741
00:34:52,525 --> 00:34:54,094
seems to be looking over
their shoulder,
742
00:34:54,094 --> 00:34:55,462
and they don't seem
particularly worried
743
00:34:55,495 --> 00:34:58,131
that the past
is gonna come back.
744
00:34:58,164 --> 00:35:00,100
narrator:
For the next 12 years,
745
00:35:00,133 --> 00:35:04,704
investigators never take their
eyes off Nanette and Eric.
746
00:35:04,738 --> 00:35:07,073
But sadly,
without any hard proof
747
00:35:07,107 --> 00:35:08,575
connecting them to the murder,
748
00:35:08,608 --> 00:35:12,112
they're unable to bring
justice to Bill's family.
749
00:35:12,145 --> 00:35:14,280
* *
750
00:35:14,314 --> 00:35:16,583
- But then in 2008,
751
00:35:16,616 --> 00:35:18,618
the prosecutor in the
district attorney's office
752
00:35:18,651 --> 00:35:20,487
sets his sights
on some cold cases,
753
00:35:20,520 --> 00:35:22,822
and one of them
is the McLaughlin case.
754
00:35:22,856 --> 00:35:25,058
* *
755
00:35:25,091 --> 00:35:28,695
- The McLaughlin case
was on my radar from 1994.
756
00:35:28,728 --> 00:35:32,365
What really helped us on
this was a new set of eyes,
757
00:35:32,399 --> 00:35:34,234
and that was Larry Montgomery,
758
00:35:34,267 --> 00:35:35,802
who is an incredible
investigator.
759
00:35:35,835 --> 00:35:37,837
* *
760
00:35:37,871 --> 00:35:39,806
Larry and I went down
to Newport.
761
00:35:39,839 --> 00:35:42,842
We took out these dusty
old boxes with detectives
762
00:35:42,876 --> 00:35:44,377
from the Newport Beach
Police Department,
763
00:35:44,411 --> 00:35:46,479
and we began
reviewing the case.
764
00:35:46,513 --> 00:35:48,381
- My name is Larry Montgomery.
765
00:35:48,415 --> 00:35:51,084
In 2008,
I was a DA investigator
766
00:35:51,084 --> 00:35:53,353
for the Orange County
district attorney's office.
767
00:35:53,386 --> 00:35:54,654
In this particular case,
768
00:35:54,688 --> 00:35:58,458
there was one box full of tape
recordings, which was huge.
769
00:35:58,491 --> 00:36:01,728
Sometimes we get calls.
They're all recorded.
770
00:36:01,761 --> 00:36:04,364
"Hey, I have some information
about maybe a suspect,"
771
00:36:04,397 --> 00:36:08,268
and it would be really valuable
to find those people.
772
00:36:08,301 --> 00:36:12,172
- Larry, in his obsessive
dedication to this thing,
773
00:36:12,205 --> 00:36:13,606
would listen
from the beginning
774
00:36:13,640 --> 00:36:15,742
to the end
of every single tape.
775
00:36:16,743 --> 00:36:21,047
- I went through every one
of the 63 tape recordings.
776
00:36:21,047 --> 00:36:23,049
narrator: One of those tapes
was a recording
777
00:36:23,049 --> 00:36:25,518
of a phone call from 1998
778
00:36:25,552 --> 00:36:28,788
between a police officer
and an anxious-sounding woman
779
00:36:28,822 --> 00:36:34,094
who said she had information
relating to the case.
780
00:36:34,127 --> 00:36:35,462
* *
781
00:36:35,495 --> 00:36:37,297
- She said she lived
in a same complex
782
00:36:37,330 --> 00:36:41,468
that Eric Naposki lived in
at the time before the murder,
783
00:36:41,501 --> 00:36:44,571
and she was friends with Eric.
784
00:36:44,604 --> 00:36:48,375
And she said he was
talking about his girlfriend,
785
00:36:48,408 --> 00:36:51,878
whose business partner
is sexually assaulting her.
786
00:36:51,911 --> 00:36:54,214
And this guy's name is Bill.
787
00:36:54,247 --> 00:36:58,918
* *
788
00:36:58,952 --> 00:37:01,921
- Eric tells her,
"I hate that guy.
789
00:37:02,022 --> 00:37:04,758
I want to blow up his plane."
790
00:37:04,791 --> 00:37:06,626
And in essence,
he said he hated him,
791
00:37:06,659 --> 00:37:08,928
and he said
he wanted to kill him.
792
00:37:09,029 --> 00:37:12,298
Fast forward now several
months after the murder.
793
00:37:12,332 --> 00:37:14,401
Eric runs into her again,
794
00:37:14,434 --> 00:37:16,469
and he kind of very arrogantly
says to her,
795
00:37:16,503 --> 00:37:18,405
"Hey, you hear about
Bill McLaughlin?"
796
00:37:18,438 --> 00:37:19,839
And she said, "Oh, God.
797
00:37:19,873 --> 00:37:21,775
Eric, please tell me
you didn't do that."
798
00:37:21,808 --> 00:37:23,043
And he kind of,
with a smug smile,
799
00:37:23,043 --> 00:37:26,312
says words to the effect of
"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't."
800
00:37:26,346 --> 00:37:29,215
And it terrified her.
801
00:37:29,249 --> 00:37:32,318
- At the time, she reached out
to the police department,
802
00:37:32,352 --> 00:37:33,953
tried to
share this information.
803
00:37:34,054 --> 00:37:36,956
But at the same time, that
urge to do the right thing
804
00:37:37,057 --> 00:37:40,293
was competing with her
own sense of dread and fear.
805
00:37:40,326 --> 00:37:41,294
- She wouldn't
identify herself.
806
00:37:41,327 --> 00:37:44,330
The police, she
did not want to participate,
807
00:37:44,364 --> 00:37:47,500
and that ended it.
808
00:37:47,534 --> 00:37:50,870
narrator: Without her
cooperation back in 1995,
809
00:37:50,904 --> 00:37:52,972
there was little
police could do.
810
00:37:53,073 --> 00:37:55,375
Larry hopes that
with the passage of time,
811
00:37:55,408 --> 00:38:00,013
she might be willing to go
on the record as a witness.
812
00:38:00,013 --> 00:38:03,016
- So I decided I'm going
to try to find her
813
00:38:03,016 --> 00:38:05,552
and interview her myself to see
814
00:38:05,585 --> 00:38:08,455
if she's willing
to come forward with the truth.
815
00:38:08,488 --> 00:38:10,223
If she's willing
to come forward,
816
00:38:10,256 --> 00:38:11,691
there might be enough
817
00:38:11,725 --> 00:38:13,727
to prove the charges
against the suspects
818
00:38:13,760 --> 00:38:15,895
for the murder
of Bill McLaughlin.
819
00:38:29,041 --> 00:38:31,577
[tense music]
820
00:38:31,844 --> 00:38:34,613
* *
821
00:38:34,646 --> 00:38:36,915
narrator: Cold case detectives
have just unearthed
822
00:38:36,949 --> 00:38:41,053
an explosive new lead
in a 15-year-old murder,
823
00:38:41,053 --> 00:38:45,858
a recorded phone tip from 1998
where an unidentified woman
824
00:38:45,891 --> 00:38:48,060
claims her neighbor,
Eric Naposki,
825
00:38:48,060 --> 00:38:52,398
wanted to kill Orange County
millionaire Bill McLaughlin.
826
00:38:52,431 --> 00:38:53,732
* *
827
00:38:53,766 --> 00:38:55,701
- Now ten-years-plus later,
828
00:38:55,734 --> 00:38:57,569
I was able to track her down.
829
00:38:57,603 --> 00:38:59,138
narrator:
This time, the woman agrees
830
00:38:59,171 --> 00:39:00,839
to help with the investigation
831
00:39:00,873 --> 00:39:04,009
and tells police
her name is Suzanne.
832
00:39:04,043 --> 00:39:06,879
- Suzanne was totally
willing to assist us
833
00:39:06,912 --> 00:39:08,180
on this investigation.
834
00:39:08,213 --> 00:39:10,549
She had gone through life,
she had a kid,
835
00:39:10,582 --> 00:39:12,918
she knew what it was like
for somebody to be murdered,
836
00:39:13,018 --> 00:39:15,688
and she was willing
to participate fully.
837
00:39:15,721 --> 00:39:18,557
And she remembered everything.
838
00:39:18,590 --> 00:39:20,893
- On another one of the tapes,
839
00:39:20,926 --> 00:39:24,129
there was a woman
who called in and said,
840
00:39:24,163 --> 00:39:28,300
"My fiancé has information
about Nanette Johnston,"
841
00:39:28,334 --> 00:39:31,937
and she wanted to invest
in a company of his.
842
00:39:32,037 --> 00:39:34,606
We track him down
in North County, San Diego,
843
00:39:34,640 --> 00:39:36,375
and he said, "Yeah,
844
00:39:36,408 --> 00:39:42,181
it was in December
before the murder."
845
00:39:42,214 --> 00:39:43,549
And Nanette came in and said,
846
00:39:43,582 --> 00:39:45,217
"I'm going to come into
a bunch of money
847
00:39:45,250 --> 00:39:46,685
"after the first of the year,
848
00:39:46,719 --> 00:39:48,754
and I want to invest it
in your startup."
849
00:39:48,787 --> 00:39:51,290
And they were talking
about $200,000.
850
00:39:51,323 --> 00:39:54,760
Well, Nanette has no job.
851
00:39:54,793 --> 00:39:58,731
So where, one wonders,
does Nanette Johnston
852
00:39:58,764 --> 00:40:01,667
think she's coming into money
after the first of the year?
853
00:40:01,700 --> 00:40:03,469
- It was determined
by fraud detectives
854
00:40:03,502 --> 00:40:04,770
through a forensic accounting
855
00:40:04,803 --> 00:40:08,507
that in addition to all the
fraudulent financial activity
856
00:40:08,540 --> 00:40:11,377
that she had obviously gained
857
00:40:11,410 --> 00:40:14,513
when Mr. McLaughlin
was still alive,
858
00:40:14,546 --> 00:40:17,016
Nanette was named
on Bill McLaughlin's will
859
00:40:17,049 --> 00:40:20,419
to receive $1 million
upon his death.
860
00:40:20,452 --> 00:40:22,588
* *
861
00:40:22,621 --> 00:40:24,790
- So now if he finds out
that she's cheating,
862
00:40:24,823 --> 00:40:27,826
she's out of the will
with nothing.
863
00:40:27,860 --> 00:40:31,296
So not only does she have a
financial motive to kill him,
864
00:40:31,330 --> 00:40:35,234
he has to die, or else
she's going to get nothing.
865
00:40:35,267 --> 00:40:36,669
Unless she's got
a crystal ball,
866
00:40:36,702 --> 00:40:38,504
she knows he's going to die
867
00:40:38,537 --> 00:40:40,105
because
she's going to kill him.
868
00:40:40,139 --> 00:40:44,109
I knew we had 'em.
869
00:40:44,143 --> 00:40:46,111
* *
870
00:40:46,145 --> 00:40:50,482
- In May of 2009,
we flew out to Connecticut
871
00:40:50,516 --> 00:40:52,117
and we arrested Eric Naposki
872
00:40:52,151 --> 00:40:54,820
for the murder
of Bill McLaughlin.
873
00:40:54,853 --> 00:40:57,990
- We decided that
we would give Eric Naposki
874
00:40:58,023 --> 00:41:00,626
one last chance
to do the right thing,
875
00:41:00,659 --> 00:41:04,129
so we basically said, "Look,
we know she's the mastermind.
876
00:41:04,163 --> 00:41:07,466
Here's a phone. Call her
and get her on the record."
877
00:41:07,499 --> 00:41:10,069
And his response basically was,
"Eff you."
878
00:41:10,102 --> 00:41:12,404
So we gave the green light
to the team in Orange County
879
00:41:12,438 --> 00:41:13,939
to arrest Nanette Johnston.
880
00:41:13,972 --> 00:41:18,811
* *
881
00:41:18,844 --> 00:41:23,082
narrator: In 2011 and 2012,
prosecutor Matt Murphy
882
00:41:23,115 --> 00:41:26,618
tries Eric Naposki and
Nanette Johnston separately
883
00:41:26,652 --> 00:41:29,121
on first-degree
murder charges.
884
00:41:29,154 --> 00:41:30,856
- Prosecutors play out
what they have.
885
00:41:30,889 --> 00:41:33,559
Nanette has manipulated Eric
886
00:41:33,592 --> 00:41:35,861
by telling him
of the sexual assault story.
887
00:41:35,894 --> 00:41:37,496
She's given him a motivation,
888
00:41:37,529 --> 00:41:39,698
and he then took
the 9-millimeter gun
889
00:41:39,732 --> 00:41:41,667
that he has denied owning
890
00:41:41,700 --> 00:41:45,437
and brought it to the house
and killed Bill.
891
00:41:45,471 --> 00:41:46,972
- Suzanne is a
critical witness,
892
00:41:47,006 --> 00:41:50,776
but it's the collage
of all of these pieces
893
00:41:50,809 --> 00:41:52,378
that come together--
894
00:41:52,411 --> 00:41:54,880
Eric's lies about the gun,
his relationship with Nanette.
895
00:41:54,913 --> 00:41:57,182
The evidence in this case
was overwhelming
896
00:41:57,216 --> 00:42:00,419
as to her guilt
and the guilt of Eric Naposki.
897
00:42:00,452 --> 00:42:02,821
- On July 14, 2011,
898
00:42:02,855 --> 00:42:05,190
Eric Naposki's found guilty
of first-degree murder.
899
00:42:05,224 --> 00:42:08,794
And on January 23, 2012,
900
00:42:08,827 --> 00:42:12,431
Nanette Johnston was found
guilty of conspiracy to murder.
901
00:42:12,464 --> 00:42:15,434
[somber music]
902
00:42:15,467 --> 00:42:17,770
* *
903
00:42:17,803 --> 00:42:20,673
- When this happened to my dad,
904
00:42:20,706 --> 00:42:23,442
I'm sure he was shocked
and horrified.
905
00:42:23,475 --> 00:42:25,844
He was helpless
to defend himself.
906
00:42:25,878 --> 00:42:31,150
- The fact that you, Nanette,
destroyed so many lives,
907
00:42:31,183 --> 00:42:36,121
including my dad's,
along the way, is vile.
908
00:42:36,155 --> 00:42:40,092
Your web of lies has
caught up with you finally.
909
00:42:40,092 --> 00:42:42,728
- They were sentenced to life
without possibility of parole
910
00:42:42,761 --> 00:42:44,496
in a California state prison.
911
00:42:44,530 --> 00:42:45,964
Neither of those two people
912
00:42:45,998 --> 00:42:47,933
should ever
see the light of day again.
913
00:42:47,966 --> 00:42:49,968
- She got what she deserved.
914
00:42:50,002 --> 00:42:53,105
[waves crashing]
915
00:42:53,105 --> 00:42:56,208
- I feel that they both
deserve the maximum punishment
916
00:42:56,241 --> 00:42:58,444
for the harm and stress
917
00:42:58,477 --> 00:43:01,046
they placed
on Bill's immediate family.
918
00:43:01,080 --> 00:43:04,416
Together,
they destroyed a family.
919
00:43:04,450 --> 00:43:06,251
- Their story was so sad.
920
00:43:06,285 --> 00:43:09,054
As weird as it sounds
and as corny as it sounds,
921
00:43:09,054 --> 00:43:12,257
you live to bring justice
to that family.
922
00:43:12,291 --> 00:43:14,259
* *
923
00:43:14,293 --> 00:43:19,264
- To have both juries
come back guilty was a relief
924
00:43:19,298 --> 00:43:22,568
and a bright moment
in my career.
925
00:43:22,601 --> 00:43:27,539
- At the end of the day,
we got the bad guys.
926
00:43:27,573 --> 00:43:34,680
* *
927
00:43:43,222 --> 00:43:45,157
[seagulls calling]