1 00:00:03,128 --> 00:00:03,586 [dramatic music] 2 00:00:06,715 --> 00:00:08,299 - The El Modena wrestling team, 3 00:00:08,341 --> 00:00:10,719 we were one of the best teams in the state. 4 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:13,972 Diego was definitely in line to be captain. 5 00:00:14,014 --> 00:00:15,432 - He was popular in school. 6 00:00:15,473 --> 00:00:18,977 He was starting to work. He was a responsible kid. 7 00:00:19,019 --> 00:00:22,605 And he said he was gonna meet up with a friend, 8 00:00:22,647 --> 00:00:25,442 and that was basically the last time we saw him. 9 00:00:25,483 --> 00:00:28,194 - It wasn't like Diego not to show up to school 10 00:00:28,236 --> 00:00:30,864 or to wrestling practice. 11 00:00:30,905 --> 00:00:34,492 - But let's face it-- a 17-year-old with hormones 12 00:00:34,534 --> 00:00:36,703 kind of wants to walk on the wild side. 13 00:00:36,745 --> 00:00:40,457 - We started thinking, "Oh, hopefully he didn't get mugged. 14 00:00:40,498 --> 00:00:42,709 Hopefully nothing happened." 15 00:00:42,751 --> 00:00:45,378 - A resident heard what he believed to be 16 00:00:45,420 --> 00:00:49,257 two popping sounds going off... 17 00:00:49,299 --> 00:00:52,635 from an area near where the body was located. 18 00:00:52,677 --> 00:00:55,388 - Extremely tragic to find out your missing loved one 19 00:00:55,430 --> 00:00:59,225 is now our murder victim. 20 00:00:59,267 --> 00:01:00,602 Diego had been seeing-- 21 00:01:00,643 --> 00:01:02,562 had an on-again-off-again relationship. 22 00:01:02,604 --> 00:01:04,606 - It was an odd relationship 23 00:01:04,647 --> 00:01:08,735 between a 21-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy. 24 00:01:08,777 --> 00:01:11,112 - She explains to us that for some time, 25 00:01:11,154 --> 00:01:13,823 he had become extremely jealous. 26 00:01:13,865 --> 00:01:16,034 - For the police, it raised flags for them. 27 00:01:16,076 --> 00:01:19,829 There was bad blood, but could that lead to murder? 28 00:01:19,871 --> 00:01:26,628 * * 29 00:01:44,354 --> 00:01:46,564 - The city of Orange stands out to me 30 00:01:46,606 --> 00:01:49,275 from the rest of Orange County because it is so diverse. 31 00:01:49,317 --> 00:01:53,154 You have, within five miles, a lot of different people, 32 00:01:53,196 --> 00:01:55,657 a lot of different languages, different cultures. 33 00:01:55,699 --> 00:01:59,786 - The city of Orange, California, is quite unique. 34 00:01:59,828 --> 00:02:02,872 The city has embraced its historic roots. 35 00:02:02,914 --> 00:02:06,793 It's kept a lot of its historic buildings and homes. 36 00:02:06,835 --> 00:02:09,045 - Orange is primarily known for the weather, 37 00:02:09,087 --> 00:02:11,715 the parks, the trails, sporting activities. 38 00:02:11,756 --> 00:02:14,009 - Baseball, basketball, football-- 39 00:02:14,050 --> 00:02:15,427 sports are huge there, 40 00:02:15,468 --> 00:02:17,929 and especially your high-school sports. 41 00:02:17,971 --> 00:02:19,389 - But even in a land 42 00:02:19,431 --> 00:02:22,183 where elite athletics are par for the course, 43 00:02:22,225 --> 00:02:24,310 not everyone's high-school tale 44 00:02:24,352 --> 00:02:26,563 ends with homecoming cheers. 45 00:02:28,898 --> 00:02:32,193 - The city of Orange is more of a residential area-- 46 00:02:32,235 --> 00:02:33,653 not a lot of high crime, 47 00:02:33,695 --> 00:02:37,073 not a lot of big sensational murder cases. 48 00:02:37,115 --> 00:02:39,701 But on November 10, 2003, 49 00:02:39,743 --> 00:02:42,120 a couple of high-school kids who were playing hooky-- 50 00:02:42,162 --> 00:02:45,498 they decide to head up to this secluded part of Orange 51 00:02:45,540 --> 00:02:48,460 up on Hi Top Lane in Orange Park Acres, 52 00:02:48,501 --> 00:02:52,297 and what they noticed there is kind of this dark blob 53 00:02:52,339 --> 00:02:55,008 in the driveway. 54 00:02:55,050 --> 00:02:59,346 When they get closer, they are horrified at what they find. 55 00:02:59,387 --> 00:03:03,558 * * 56 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:04,976 - My name is Dan Salcedo. 57 00:03:05,018 --> 00:03:07,645 I was a full-time homicide investigator 58 00:03:07,687 --> 00:03:09,522 with the Orange County Sheriff's Department. 59 00:03:09,564 --> 00:03:12,359 During the after new hours of November 10th, 60 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:13,985 a call comes into the Sheriff's Department 61 00:03:14,027 --> 00:03:18,698 that there's a deceased male in Orange Park Acres. 62 00:03:18,740 --> 00:03:20,867 The area itself is multimillion-dollar 63 00:03:20,909 --> 00:03:23,119 equestrian homes, 64 00:03:23,161 --> 00:03:25,914 so it's very remote, desolate. 65 00:03:25,955 --> 00:03:27,374 - My name is Susan Kang, 66 00:03:27,415 --> 00:03:28,917 and I was the former chief of staff 67 00:03:28,958 --> 00:03:31,711 for the Orange County District Attorney's office. 68 00:03:31,753 --> 00:03:35,215 When law enforcement arrive, they see the victim, 69 00:03:35,256 --> 00:03:39,886 at this point a John Doe, laying in the pool of blood. 70 00:03:39,928 --> 00:03:44,015 They believe that the body was a young male, 71 00:03:44,057 --> 00:03:47,268 either in his teens or early 20s. 72 00:03:47,310 --> 00:03:49,479 - We had two spent cartridges 73 00:03:49,521 --> 00:03:51,898 from what appeared to be an automatic weapon. 74 00:03:51,940 --> 00:03:53,900 We had broken lighter. 75 00:03:53,942 --> 00:03:56,653 There was coagulated blood in the area, 76 00:03:56,695 --> 00:03:59,364 which means that he had expired many hours 77 00:03:59,406 --> 00:04:00,824 previous to our arrival. 78 00:04:00,865 --> 00:04:03,284 Part of the shock in this case 79 00:04:03,326 --> 00:04:07,789 was our decedent was shot and then burned. 80 00:04:07,831 --> 00:04:09,874 The indication is possibly somebody's 81 00:04:09,916 --> 00:04:11,876 trying to cover up the crime scene, 82 00:04:11,918 --> 00:04:15,672 hoping that he was gonna be burned beyond recognition. 83 00:04:18,133 --> 00:04:21,636 - Investigators were not able to find any identification 84 00:04:21,678 --> 00:04:25,890 on this body, therefore, he is labeled a John Doe. 85 00:04:25,932 --> 00:04:28,935 - At the time, we did a neighborhood canvass, 86 00:04:28,977 --> 00:04:31,271 which really didn't produce anything. 87 00:04:31,312 --> 00:04:32,939 The coroner's office shows up. 88 00:04:32,981 --> 00:04:35,442 They do a in-place body examination, 89 00:04:35,483 --> 00:04:37,444 and the decedent is transferred 90 00:04:37,485 --> 00:04:38,945 back to the coroner's office. 91 00:04:38,987 --> 00:04:42,866 A postmortem examination is conducted, an autopsy. 92 00:04:42,907 --> 00:04:46,119 And it indicated that he had been shot in the forehead, 93 00:04:46,161 --> 00:04:49,789 and there was also a projectile in his mouth. 94 00:04:49,831 --> 00:04:52,959 So somebody literally put a gun in his mouth 95 00:04:53,001 --> 00:04:54,878 and fired a single round. 96 00:04:57,297 --> 00:05:00,133 - With no solid leads from eyewitnesses 97 00:05:00,175 --> 00:05:03,053 and little to be gained from the coroner's report, 98 00:05:03,094 --> 00:05:06,139 police focus their efforts on identifying the victim. 99 00:05:06,181 --> 00:05:08,433 - The approach was, via the media, 100 00:05:08,475 --> 00:05:10,685 asking for the public's assistance. 101 00:05:10,727 --> 00:05:12,395 And I also met with an officer 102 00:05:12,437 --> 00:05:13,646 from the Orange Police Department 103 00:05:13,688 --> 00:05:15,648 who did composite sketches. 104 00:05:15,690 --> 00:05:19,069 So we are gonna render a sketch of our decedent 105 00:05:19,110 --> 00:05:20,904 and offer it to the public, 106 00:05:20,945 --> 00:05:23,698 and hopefully somebody would be able to identify him. 107 00:05:23,740 --> 00:05:26,409 - Sheriff Mike Carona pleads with the public 108 00:05:26,451 --> 00:05:28,536 for any information they could provide, 109 00:05:28,578 --> 00:05:30,997 to help them solve this gruesome crime. 110 00:05:31,039 --> 00:05:33,249 - A resident heard what he believed 111 00:05:33,291 --> 00:05:34,793 to be two popping sounds 112 00:05:34,834 --> 00:05:38,338 or firecrackers going off from an area 113 00:05:38,380 --> 00:05:41,257 near where the body was located. 114 00:05:41,299 --> 00:05:43,677 That same resident, after hearing the popping sounds, 115 00:05:43,718 --> 00:05:46,638 then heard a vehicle leaving the area. 116 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:49,140 - When you get a murder and you have a victim 117 00:05:49,182 --> 00:05:50,809 who's not yet identified, 118 00:05:50,850 --> 00:05:53,353 it makes it kind of tough to go forward with the investigation. 119 00:05:53,395 --> 00:05:57,440 You're hoping on the public to maybe call in some information, 120 00:05:57,482 --> 00:05:59,401 teletypes about missing persons, 121 00:05:59,442 --> 00:06:02,696 other law enforcement agencies. 122 00:06:02,737 --> 00:06:05,573 - As the composite sketch of John Doe's image 123 00:06:05,615 --> 00:06:08,034 flickers on screens across the county, 124 00:06:08,076 --> 00:06:10,704 one family in the stunned city of Orange 125 00:06:10,745 --> 00:06:12,622 has spent the last 48 hours 126 00:06:12,664 --> 00:06:14,708 dealing with a mystery of its own. 127 00:06:14,749 --> 00:06:16,418 - I get a phone call advising me 128 00:06:16,459 --> 00:06:18,753 there's some family members at the coroner's office 129 00:06:18,795 --> 00:06:23,216 believing that our decedent, yet to be identified male, 130 00:06:23,258 --> 00:06:27,512 was possibly their nephew, Diego Gonzalez. 131 00:06:28,596 --> 00:06:29,889 - My name is Vanessa Gonzalez, 132 00:06:29,931 --> 00:06:32,183 I'm Diego Gonzalez's sister-in-law. 133 00:06:33,852 --> 00:06:38,314 On November 9, 2003, Diego had left to go run, 134 00:06:38,356 --> 00:06:39,899 and he had told his mom 135 00:06:39,941 --> 00:06:43,069 that he was gonna meet up with a friend after running, 136 00:06:43,111 --> 00:06:45,947 so he was probably gonna be home late that day. 137 00:06:45,989 --> 00:06:49,242 He didn't show up the morning. 138 00:06:49,284 --> 00:06:52,704 So it was just trying to figure it out- 139 00:06:52,746 --> 00:06:55,623 where he was at first. 140 00:06:55,665 --> 00:06:57,709 - Diego's parents, Maria and Felix, 141 00:06:57,751 --> 00:07:01,087 got worried because their son did not come home 142 00:07:01,129 --> 00:07:03,965 on November 9th on a Sunday evening. 143 00:07:04,007 --> 00:07:07,427 This is unusual for Diego, a responsible kid, 144 00:07:07,469 --> 00:07:11,806 so they alerted the authorities. 145 00:07:11,848 --> 00:07:15,185 - We started thinking, "Hopefully nothing happened." 146 00:07:15,226 --> 00:07:19,272 So we started driving ditches, driving hills, 147 00:07:19,314 --> 00:07:23,068 driving everywhere, just to see if he had fallen, 148 00:07:23,109 --> 00:07:25,820 or anything had happened to him. 149 00:07:25,862 --> 00:07:27,822 - Diego's family was very proactive. 150 00:07:27,864 --> 00:07:29,157 They took pictures. 151 00:07:29,199 --> 00:07:30,909 They canvassed the neighborhood. 152 00:07:30,950 --> 00:07:32,327 They knocked on doors, 153 00:07:32,369 --> 00:07:35,997 and they tried to ask as many people as possible 154 00:07:36,039 --> 00:07:38,541 what happened to Diego so that they can bring him home. 155 00:07:38,583 --> 00:07:41,002 * * 156 00:07:41,044 --> 00:07:44,005 - After searching desperately for the missing 17-year-old, 157 00:07:44,047 --> 00:07:47,467 Diego's family starts to see the same reports 158 00:07:47,509 --> 00:07:49,135 as the rest of Orange County. 159 00:07:49,177 --> 00:07:51,596 - The Gonzalez family is watching TV, 160 00:07:51,638 --> 00:07:53,640 and they see Sheriff Mike Carona 161 00:07:53,682 --> 00:07:55,767 talk about this grisly crime 162 00:07:55,809 --> 00:07:58,520 that has occurred up in Orange Park Acres, 163 00:07:58,561 --> 00:08:00,146 and the family was wondering, 164 00:08:00,188 --> 00:08:03,942 "Could this have any connection to Diego?" 165 00:08:03,983 --> 00:08:06,027 - Diego's uncle called 166 00:08:06,069 --> 00:08:08,279 and said, "I don't want to scare you, 167 00:08:08,321 --> 00:08:12,742 but I saw on the news--they can't identify this person." 168 00:08:12,784 --> 00:08:16,621 * * 169 00:08:16,663 --> 00:08:18,581 I just remember sitting in the morgue, 170 00:08:18,623 --> 00:08:20,959 them putting the pictures of him. 171 00:08:21,001 --> 00:08:22,794 [sighs] 172 00:08:22,836 --> 00:08:25,964 [somber music] 173 00:08:26,006 --> 00:08:27,590 I'm sorry. 174 00:08:27,632 --> 00:08:30,510 [sniffles] 175 00:08:30,552 --> 00:08:32,595 [voice breaking] It was Diego. 176 00:08:32,637 --> 00:08:39,769 * * 177 00:08:42,063 --> 00:08:43,690 - My name is Daniel Coates. 178 00:08:43,732 --> 00:08:47,819 In 2003, I was wrestling coach 179 00:08:47,861 --> 00:08:50,030 and a counselor at El Modena High School. 180 00:08:50,071 --> 00:08:51,448 The El Modena wrestling team, 181 00:08:51,489 --> 00:08:53,950 we were one of the best teams in the state. 182 00:08:53,992 --> 00:08:56,661 Diego was definitely in line to be captain. 183 00:08:56,703 --> 00:08:59,873 He was just--he was such a special young man, 184 00:08:59,914 --> 00:09:02,042 and he was a funny young man. 185 00:09:02,083 --> 00:09:04,794 And then his heart, he had a heart of gold. 186 00:09:06,421 --> 00:09:07,839 - He was a good kid. 187 00:09:07,881 --> 00:09:09,257 He had a part-time job 188 00:09:09,299 --> 00:09:12,218 to help out his family at a grocery store. 189 00:09:12,260 --> 00:09:14,846 - He loved being an uncle to my daughter. 190 00:09:14,888 --> 00:09:16,556 And he would always play around with her. 191 00:09:16,598 --> 00:09:19,893 She loved him, too. 192 00:09:19,934 --> 00:09:21,603 - Diego was known to his friends 193 00:09:21,644 --> 00:09:25,899 and to his family as sort of a gregarious guy. 194 00:09:25,940 --> 00:09:29,277 He seemed to be friends with everyone. 195 00:09:29,319 --> 00:09:32,447 - The mystery surrounding Diego Gonzalez's murder 196 00:09:32,489 --> 00:09:34,491 leaves detectives bewildered. 197 00:09:34,532 --> 00:09:38,078 Who would want to harm the athlete with a heart of gold? 198 00:09:38,119 --> 00:09:41,831 - Most murders occur between people that know each other 199 00:09:41,873 --> 00:09:43,833 and people who have feelings for each other. 200 00:09:43,875 --> 00:09:46,294 It was a natural bridge or natural next step 201 00:09:46,336 --> 00:09:48,713 for police officers to interview people 202 00:09:48,755 --> 00:09:50,840 that were close to Diego. 203 00:09:50,882 --> 00:09:53,968 And that would've been Darlene Dominguez. 204 00:09:54,010 --> 00:09:57,097 - We follow up on his last-known activities, 205 00:09:57,138 --> 00:09:58,765 which led us to his high school, 206 00:09:58,807 --> 00:10:00,392 El Modena High School. 207 00:10:00,433 --> 00:10:02,102 - Diego had a girlfriend. Her name was Darlene. 208 00:10:02,143 --> 00:10:03,770 Darlene was a beautiful young lady. 209 00:10:03,812 --> 00:10:08,233 - She tells investigators that the fling that Diego had 210 00:10:08,274 --> 00:10:10,735 was something that was clearly in the past. 211 00:10:10,777 --> 00:10:13,738 [dramatic music] 212 00:10:23,164 --> 00:10:27,043 [dramatic music] 213 00:10:29,421 --> 00:10:33,508 - The loss of 17-year-old star athlete Diego Gonzalez 214 00:10:33,550 --> 00:10:36,928 rocks the city of Orange, California. 215 00:10:36,970 --> 00:10:39,180 Investigators work overtime to figure out 216 00:10:39,222 --> 00:10:42,183 who shot the popular student to death. 217 00:10:42,225 --> 00:10:45,186 - We follow up on his last-known activities-- 218 00:10:45,228 --> 00:10:48,440 who had information, where he had gone, 219 00:10:48,481 --> 00:10:49,691 who his associates were, 220 00:10:49,733 --> 00:10:51,359 which led us to his high school, 221 00:10:51,401 --> 00:10:53,528 El Modena High School, where we interviewed 222 00:10:53,570 --> 00:10:56,197 classmates, teachers, counselors. 223 00:10:56,239 --> 00:10:58,700 - Diego had a girlfriend. Her name was Darlene. 224 00:10:58,742 --> 00:11:02,120 Darlene was a beautiful young lady--dark, curly hair. 225 00:11:02,162 --> 00:11:04,956 She helped Diego an awful lot in the classroom, 226 00:11:04,998 --> 00:11:06,750 and Diego worked hard. 227 00:11:06,791 --> 00:11:09,502 She tutored him and studied with him. 228 00:11:09,544 --> 00:11:13,006 And that's what everyone admired about... 229 00:11:13,048 --> 00:11:17,886 - We interviewed Diego's girlfriend, Darlene Dominguez, 230 00:11:17,927 --> 00:11:21,181 who indicated to us that she and Diego 231 00:11:21,222 --> 00:11:23,433 had just ended their relationship 232 00:11:23,475 --> 00:11:26,061 about a week prior. 233 00:11:26,102 --> 00:11:28,229 - Diego met Darlene in high school, 234 00:11:28,271 --> 00:11:31,274 I think when he was a sophomore? 235 00:11:31,316 --> 00:11:33,818 Diego and Darlene were always together. 236 00:11:33,860 --> 00:11:36,071 They would go out together to the movies 237 00:11:36,112 --> 00:11:39,449 and the malls all the time. 238 00:11:39,491 --> 00:11:42,911 He had fun with her, and so he was always with her. 239 00:11:42,952 --> 00:11:44,746 - Darlene, she mentions that, yeah, 240 00:11:44,788 --> 00:11:48,249 they had their ups and downs, but she really thought 241 00:11:48,291 --> 00:11:52,671 that they were going to move to a next level. 242 00:11:52,712 --> 00:11:55,757 - Investigators ask Darlene about her whereabouts 243 00:11:55,799 --> 00:11:57,217 on that Sunday night. 244 00:11:57,258 --> 00:11:59,594 And she tells investigators she was with her family 245 00:11:59,636 --> 00:12:01,096 the entire night. 246 00:12:01,137 --> 00:12:04,224 The investigators confirm that with family members, 247 00:12:04,265 --> 00:12:07,143 and so they believe she has a solid alibi. 248 00:12:08,061 --> 00:12:10,522 - With Diego's ex-girlfriend off the hook, 249 00:12:10,563 --> 00:12:13,775 friends and loved ones turn to one another for comfort, 250 00:12:13,817 --> 00:12:18,113 as they gather to remember the beloved sports star. 251 00:12:18,154 --> 00:12:20,156 - To describe the candlelight vigil-- 252 00:12:20,198 --> 00:12:22,033 at the front of the school, there's a sign that says 253 00:12:22,075 --> 00:12:25,412 "El Modena High School," and right in front of that, 254 00:12:25,453 --> 00:12:29,874 I would say at least 30, 40 candles were lit. 255 00:12:29,916 --> 00:12:32,460 People sitting there talking, and then as the night 256 00:12:32,502 --> 00:12:36,923 kind of went on, you know, people were coming up, 257 00:12:36,965 --> 00:12:39,050 crying. 258 00:12:39,092 --> 00:12:41,886 Just--it was a beautiful experience, 259 00:12:41,928 --> 00:12:46,099 but it was a very painful experience also. 260 00:12:46,141 --> 00:12:49,185 - My daughter knew that everybody was crying, 261 00:12:49,227 --> 00:12:50,562 everybody was sad. 262 00:12:50,603 --> 00:12:53,189 Her question was, "Well, what happened? 263 00:12:53,231 --> 00:12:54,941 Why are you guys crying?" 264 00:12:54,983 --> 00:12:57,944 It was hard to explain to a three-year-old. 265 00:12:57,986 --> 00:12:59,779 And, of course... 266 00:12:59,821 --> 00:13:02,824 [somber music] 267 00:13:02,866 --> 00:13:05,952 Her crying, you know, just-- 268 00:13:05,994 --> 00:13:08,830 just broke my heart, too. 269 00:13:08,872 --> 00:13:11,041 And explaining that she was not gonna see him anymore. 270 00:13:11,082 --> 00:13:13,501 So it was hard. 271 00:13:13,543 --> 00:13:14,669 - There was anger, 272 00:13:14,711 --> 00:13:16,671 but then there was just this feeling of, 273 00:13:16,713 --> 00:13:20,258 "Okay, what are we gonna do to keep this community together?" 274 00:13:20,300 --> 00:13:23,470 Because there were a lot of people who wanted revenge. 275 00:13:23,511 --> 00:13:26,222 There were a lot of people who wanted to find out who did this 276 00:13:26,264 --> 00:13:28,183 and take care of it themselves, 277 00:13:28,224 --> 00:13:31,186 which was not the right thing to do. 278 00:13:31,227 --> 00:13:32,937 - It's obvious to investigators 279 00:13:32,979 --> 00:13:35,106 that Diego was popular and loved 280 00:13:35,148 --> 00:13:37,233 within the high-school community, 281 00:13:37,275 --> 00:13:40,695 making who would want him dead even more of a mystery. 282 00:13:40,737 --> 00:13:43,031 Detectives turn to the Gonzalez family 283 00:13:43,073 --> 00:13:44,741 for any other leads. 284 00:13:44,783 --> 00:13:48,870 They reveal that there was another woman in Diego's life. 285 00:13:48,912 --> 00:13:50,538 - Diego had been seeing-- 286 00:13:50,580 --> 00:13:52,874 had a on-again-off-again relationship 287 00:13:52,916 --> 00:13:56,211 with a female who was a student, 288 00:13:56,252 --> 00:13:58,672 had since graduated from El Modena, 289 00:13:58,713 --> 00:14:00,715 by the name of Veronica Paz. 290 00:14:00,757 --> 00:14:02,676 [dramatic music] 291 00:14:02,717 --> 00:14:05,553 - When Diego started working at the grocery store, 292 00:14:05,595 --> 00:14:08,973 he met Veronica there, and she was a little older 293 00:14:09,015 --> 00:14:12,560 and flirted with him a little bit. 294 00:14:12,602 --> 00:14:15,146 Diego never saw Veronica as a serious thing. 295 00:14:15,188 --> 00:14:18,191 He still was with Darlene at that time. 296 00:14:18,233 --> 00:14:21,361 - The relationship between Diego and Veronica Paz 297 00:14:21,403 --> 00:14:25,323 was a casual off-and-on sexual relationship. 298 00:14:25,365 --> 00:14:29,244 But it was an odd relationship between a 21-year-old woman 299 00:14:29,285 --> 00:14:31,037 and a 17-year-old boy. 300 00:14:31,079 --> 00:14:32,414 That's a lifetime. 301 00:14:32,455 --> 00:14:35,458 Four years is a lifetime in that age bracket. 302 00:14:35,500 --> 00:14:38,294 - I believe Diego started spending time with Veronica 303 00:14:38,336 --> 00:14:40,422 was because she was-- 304 00:14:40,463 --> 00:14:43,466 [sighs] She basically seduced him. 305 00:14:43,508 --> 00:14:45,760 And Diego had an age-appropriate relationship 306 00:14:45,802 --> 00:14:47,429 with his girlfriend, Darlene. 307 00:14:47,470 --> 00:14:51,182 Yeah, but let's face it-- a 17-year-old with hormones 308 00:14:51,224 --> 00:14:53,393 kind of wants to walk on the wild side. 309 00:14:53,435 --> 00:14:56,229 And I believe Veronica kind of gave that to him. 310 00:14:56,271 --> 00:14:58,481 - According to a couple of friends of Diego's, 311 00:14:58,523 --> 00:15:01,443 they were seeing each other in a dating relationship, 312 00:15:01,484 --> 00:15:03,778 but they didn't appear to be very serious, 313 00:15:03,820 --> 00:15:06,072 nor was it something ongoing. 314 00:15:06,114 --> 00:15:08,324 * * 315 00:15:08,366 --> 00:15:09,868 - She flirted with him, 316 00:15:09,909 --> 00:15:12,120 and, of course, he wanted that female attention 317 00:15:12,162 --> 00:15:14,789 in a way that he hadn't had it before. 318 00:15:14,831 --> 00:15:16,124 Diego was going to college. 319 00:15:16,166 --> 00:15:17,876 We had great things planned for his future, 320 00:15:17,917 --> 00:15:20,128 so being in a relationship with an older woman 321 00:15:20,170 --> 00:15:22,505 at that time was a no-no. 322 00:15:22,547 --> 00:15:25,133 - Diego's brother Omar tells Detective Salcedo 323 00:15:25,175 --> 00:15:27,844 that on the evening of Sunday, November 9th, 324 00:15:27,886 --> 00:15:30,930 he was talking with Diego on the phone, when Diego says, 325 00:15:30,972 --> 00:15:34,893 "Hey, I'm getting a call, and it's from Veronica Paz." 326 00:15:34,934 --> 00:15:36,353 And he tells his brother Omar, 327 00:15:36,394 --> 00:15:38,855 "I'm gonna go jog to the end of the block, 328 00:15:38,897 --> 00:15:40,065 and she's gonna pick me up." 329 00:15:40,106 --> 00:15:42,567 * * 330 00:15:42,609 --> 00:15:44,235 - Investigators are eager to speak 331 00:15:44,277 --> 00:15:45,820 with the older woman 332 00:15:45,862 --> 00:15:47,906 who might have been among the last people 333 00:15:47,947 --> 00:15:49,657 to see Diego alive. 334 00:15:49,699 --> 00:15:53,286 - Detectives go to the grocery store to talk to Veronica, 335 00:15:53,328 --> 00:15:55,163 and all they tell her is that they're looking 336 00:15:55,205 --> 00:15:58,625 into a possible incident involving Diego. 337 00:15:58,667 --> 00:16:01,503 - I make contact, identify myself to her, 338 00:16:01,544 --> 00:16:05,298 advising her that we are conducting a investigation 339 00:16:05,340 --> 00:16:08,259 into the current whereabouts of Diego Gonzalez, 340 00:16:08,301 --> 00:16:10,387 who she indicated she was familiar with, 341 00:16:10,428 --> 00:16:13,848 but also told us she had no idea where he was 342 00:16:13,890 --> 00:16:15,725 or who he was last with. 343 00:16:15,767 --> 00:16:17,811 - Veronica Paz tries to be helpful, 344 00:16:17,852 --> 00:16:22,565 and she says that she wants to find out who did this to Diego. 345 00:16:22,607 --> 00:16:25,068 - We indicate to her that we had information 346 00:16:25,110 --> 00:16:27,779 that he had left his house to meet with her. 347 00:16:38,248 --> 00:16:38,707 [dramatic music] 348 00:16:41,001 --> 00:16:44,129 * * 349 00:16:44,170 --> 00:16:45,588 - It's been just two days 350 00:16:45,630 --> 00:16:48,174 since Diego Gonzalez's brutal murder 351 00:16:48,216 --> 00:16:50,552 in idyllic Orange, California. 352 00:16:50,593 --> 00:16:52,429 Investigators have their eyes 353 00:16:52,470 --> 00:16:55,306 on the 17-year-old's alleged workplace romance 354 00:16:55,348 --> 00:16:57,392 with the older woman who may know something 355 00:16:57,434 --> 00:17:00,186 about his death. 356 00:17:00,228 --> 00:17:03,356 - Veronica Paz is a young woman that Diego had been having 357 00:17:03,398 --> 00:17:06,943 a very casual sexual relationship with. 358 00:17:06,985 --> 00:17:08,445 - At the police station, 359 00:17:08,486 --> 00:17:11,948 Veronica Paz says the last time she saw Diego 360 00:17:11,990 --> 00:17:14,951 was at the grocery store where they worked together. 361 00:17:14,993 --> 00:17:17,495 - Veronica was very complacent, cooperative, 362 00:17:17,537 --> 00:17:19,622 trying to do whatever it took to help us 363 00:17:19,664 --> 00:17:21,458 find out what happened to Diego. 364 00:17:21,499 --> 00:17:25,462 She said she had no knowledge of where he was, 365 00:17:25,503 --> 00:17:28,965 even denying that she had called him to meet up. 366 00:17:29,007 --> 00:17:30,300 - Eager to help, 367 00:17:30,342 --> 00:17:32,969 Veronica goes on to detail her timeline 368 00:17:33,011 --> 00:17:34,804 on the night Diego was killed. 369 00:17:34,846 --> 00:17:38,391 - She told us who was she with, what she was doing. 370 00:17:38,433 --> 00:17:41,394 She says she's at the residence of her friend Kim Gomez. 371 00:17:41,436 --> 00:17:42,812 She leaves about, I believe, 372 00:17:42,854 --> 00:17:45,273 1:30 in the morning to go back home. 373 00:17:45,315 --> 00:17:47,317 She's not with anybody else. 374 00:17:47,359 --> 00:17:49,235 - Veronica is upset. 375 00:17:49,277 --> 00:17:51,196 She doesn't know what happened to Diego, 376 00:17:51,237 --> 00:17:52,697 and she's concerned. 377 00:17:52,739 --> 00:17:55,158 - As Veronica offers up any information 378 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:56,951 she thinks might help, 379 00:17:56,993 --> 00:17:59,496 she mentions something at the end of her interview 380 00:17:59,537 --> 00:18:01,664 that changes the equation. 381 00:18:01,706 --> 00:18:03,875 - Veronica says she became an acquaintance of his 382 00:18:03,917 --> 00:18:07,671 and somewhat dated him because of their knowing each other 383 00:18:07,712 --> 00:18:10,632 from the supermarket where they both worked. 384 00:18:10,674 --> 00:18:14,094 She indicating that, no, she was not dating Diego. 385 00:18:14,135 --> 00:18:16,930 She, in fact, was dating a gentleman 386 00:18:16,971 --> 00:18:18,390 by the name of Brandan Perry. 387 00:18:18,431 --> 00:18:20,433 * * 388 00:18:20,475 --> 00:18:24,145 - She tells them a little bit more about the relationship 389 00:18:24,187 --> 00:18:26,147 between her and Brandan Perry. 390 00:18:26,189 --> 00:18:27,482 They would have 391 00:18:27,524 --> 00:18:29,359 an off-again-on-again relationship. 392 00:18:29,401 --> 00:18:31,695 And during the off times, 393 00:18:31,736 --> 00:18:34,197 Veronica would go date other people, 394 00:18:34,239 --> 00:18:38,076 and that made Brandan jealous. 395 00:18:38,118 --> 00:18:39,828 - Brandan Perry is a young man 396 00:18:39,869 --> 00:18:42,664 that Veronica knew since middle school. 397 00:18:42,706 --> 00:18:44,874 They had had a relationship since then. 398 00:18:44,916 --> 00:18:47,961 In high school, he was the star football player 399 00:18:48,003 --> 00:18:49,629 at a rival high school. 400 00:18:49,671 --> 00:18:52,632 Brandan Perry is a year younger than Veronica. 401 00:18:52,674 --> 00:18:55,468 So, when she graduates and leaves high school, 402 00:18:55,510 --> 00:18:57,637 he kind of doesn't have the same motivation. 403 00:18:57,679 --> 00:19:01,349 He gets into academic problems, and therefore he's no longer 404 00:19:01,391 --> 00:19:03,768 able to play on the football team, 405 00:19:03,810 --> 00:19:06,980 and Veronica sort of is losing interest because of that. 406 00:19:07,022 --> 00:19:10,984 Also, Brandan doesn't have plans for his future 407 00:19:11,026 --> 00:19:13,069 following high school. 408 00:19:13,111 --> 00:19:15,488 - As police question Veronica Paz, 409 00:19:15,530 --> 00:19:17,782 they find out that Brandan was upset 410 00:19:17,824 --> 00:19:20,118 that Veronica was less interested in him. 411 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:21,870 His ego was bruised. 412 00:19:21,911 --> 00:19:25,040 Brandan Perry's depressed, in that he realizes 413 00:19:25,081 --> 00:19:28,084 that Veronica is looking for something bigger 414 00:19:28,126 --> 00:19:29,753 and better than him. 415 00:19:29,794 --> 00:19:31,504 And she was looking for the next star, 416 00:19:31,546 --> 00:19:33,548 which was really Diego. 417 00:19:33,590 --> 00:19:36,593 - Subsequent to Veronica giving us information 418 00:19:36,634 --> 00:19:39,971 about Brandan Perry and her friend Kim Gomez, 419 00:19:40,013 --> 00:19:42,557 we then follow up on those leads. 420 00:19:43,975 --> 00:19:47,645 - Now detectives must figure out if Brandan Perry, 421 00:19:47,687 --> 00:19:49,939 the former football hero turned has-been, 422 00:19:49,981 --> 00:19:52,025 knew about Veronica's flirtations 423 00:19:52,067 --> 00:19:54,277 with his up-and-coming replacement. 424 00:19:54,319 --> 00:19:56,488 - Once Veronica gives us the information 425 00:19:56,529 --> 00:19:58,156 about who she's currently dating, 426 00:19:58,198 --> 00:20:01,451 we make contact with Brandan, and he voluntarily comes 427 00:20:01,493 --> 00:20:03,578 to the Sheriff's Department for an interview. 428 00:20:03,620 --> 00:20:05,121 Brandan's very cooperative. 429 00:20:05,163 --> 00:20:06,498 In speaking with Brandan, 430 00:20:06,539 --> 00:20:08,792 we confirm that he and Veronica 431 00:20:08,833 --> 00:20:10,794 are in a dating relationship. 432 00:20:10,835 --> 00:20:14,756 He made mention that Diego at that time, 433 00:20:14,798 --> 00:20:18,343 in the summer of 2003, was at a party with Veronica, 434 00:20:18,385 --> 00:20:21,888 and that's the only reason he knew who Diego was. 435 00:20:21,930 --> 00:20:25,433 Said that he had nothing to do with Diego's disappearance, 436 00:20:25,475 --> 00:20:27,519 had no idea what happened to him. 437 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:29,521 He said he was at a friend's house, 438 00:20:29,562 --> 00:20:31,940 then went home, and remained at his house 439 00:20:31,981 --> 00:20:35,110 by himself the remainder of the evening. 440 00:20:35,151 --> 00:20:37,737 So we end our interview with Brandan. 441 00:20:39,739 --> 00:20:40,949 - Veronica and Brandan 442 00:20:40,990 --> 00:20:43,284 both seem helpful and forthcoming. 443 00:20:43,326 --> 00:20:47,080 Still, investigators follow up to confirm the alibis 444 00:20:47,122 --> 00:20:50,291 they gave for the night Diego was murdered. 445 00:20:50,333 --> 00:20:51,626 - We follow up with Kim Gomez, 446 00:20:51,668 --> 00:20:53,753 who confirms that Veronica's at her house. 447 00:20:53,795 --> 00:20:55,338 There's nobody else there. 448 00:20:55,380 --> 00:20:56,673 Brandan starts telling us 449 00:20:56,715 --> 00:20:58,758 where he was and who he's with, 450 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:01,386 which leads off to Tommy Medina, 451 00:21:01,428 --> 00:21:03,805 who we follow up with a interview later on. 452 00:21:03,847 --> 00:21:05,849 - So Kim Gomez and Tommy Medina 453 00:21:05,890 --> 00:21:07,934 are very cooperative with investigators, 454 00:21:07,976 --> 00:21:10,645 and they do corroborate the fact 455 00:21:10,687 --> 00:21:12,439 that Veronica and Brandan 456 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:15,400 came over to their house that night. 457 00:21:15,442 --> 00:21:17,277 - With the alibis checking out, 458 00:21:17,318 --> 00:21:19,696 detectives follow up with Diego's family 459 00:21:19,738 --> 00:21:22,490 to confirm Brandan's claim that he and Diego 460 00:21:22,532 --> 00:21:25,118 were at a party together that summer. 461 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:29,706 - When the investigators go back to Diego's brother Omar 462 00:21:29,748 --> 00:21:31,875 and tell him about this Brandan Perry, 463 00:21:31,916 --> 00:21:35,337 Omar confirmed that Brandan Perry and Diego 464 00:21:35,378 --> 00:21:38,048 had an incident at a party. 465 00:21:38,089 --> 00:21:41,926 - But we get information that it was a little bit hostile... 466 00:21:41,968 --> 00:21:44,721 'cause Diego's at this party with Veronica 467 00:21:44,763 --> 00:21:46,306 in the summer of 2003, 468 00:21:46,348 --> 00:21:48,350 where Brandan is there with his friends. 469 00:21:48,391 --> 00:21:51,686 And I don't know if he knew at the time Veronica and Diego 470 00:21:51,728 --> 00:21:53,772 were dating or seeing each other, 471 00:21:53,813 --> 00:21:56,483 but he certainly couldn't have been happy about it. 472 00:21:56,524 --> 00:21:58,777 * * 473 00:21:58,818 --> 00:22:00,737 If you talk to Brandan's friends, 474 00:22:00,779 --> 00:22:02,655 it was Diego who was the agitator. 475 00:22:02,697 --> 00:22:04,240 If you talk to Diego's friends, 476 00:22:04,282 --> 00:22:06,326 it was Brandan who was the agitator. 477 00:22:06,368 --> 00:22:09,871 - The two of them get into it, face-to-face, about to fight, 478 00:22:09,913 --> 00:22:13,875 and one of Diego's friends brandishes a gun. 479 00:22:13,917 --> 00:22:16,586 Then Brandan backs off with his friends, 480 00:22:16,628 --> 00:22:18,588 but you definitely get the feeling 481 00:22:18,630 --> 00:22:21,091 that there's unfinished business. 482 00:22:21,132 --> 00:22:23,677 - So, for the police, it raised flags for them 483 00:22:23,718 --> 00:22:27,847 that there was bad blood between Diego and Brandan. 484 00:22:27,889 --> 00:22:29,516 Could that lead to murder? 485 00:22:29,557 --> 00:22:33,436 * * 486 00:22:33,478 --> 00:22:35,605 At this point, police have something, 487 00:22:35,647 --> 00:22:37,941 and they start pressing-- they want details. 488 00:22:37,982 --> 00:22:40,235 - I ask Veronica what she wants to talk to me about. 489 00:22:40,276 --> 00:22:43,530 She says, "I want to tell you the truth." 490 00:22:43,571 --> 00:22:45,782 - And what they tell investigators next is 491 00:22:45,824 --> 00:22:48,076 is even more shocking. 492 00:22:57,210 --> 00:22:57,669 [dramatic music] 493 00:23:00,171 --> 00:23:05,301 * * 494 00:23:05,343 --> 00:23:07,887 - Three days after El Modena High School 495 00:23:07,929 --> 00:23:10,682 lost one of its most promising athletes, 496 00:23:10,724 --> 00:23:12,308 police are keeping a close eye 497 00:23:12,350 --> 00:23:17,147 on Diego Gonzalez's romantic rival, Brandan Perry. 498 00:23:17,188 --> 00:23:18,606 There's been bad blood between the two 499 00:23:18,648 --> 00:23:21,192 ever since the teens discovered they were involved 500 00:23:21,234 --> 00:23:24,696 with the same older woman, Veronica Paz. 501 00:23:24,738 --> 00:23:27,490 - We go back to Veronica for a second interview. 502 00:23:27,532 --> 00:23:30,952 We told Veronica that we did interview Brandan. 503 00:23:30,994 --> 00:23:33,955 Did she now have anything to give us any leads on? 504 00:23:33,997 --> 00:23:35,498 She admitted she, in fact, 505 00:23:35,540 --> 00:23:38,209 had a telephone conversation with Diego, 506 00:23:38,251 --> 00:23:41,087 that he had called her wanting to get together with her 507 00:23:41,129 --> 00:23:45,383 the night Diego goes missing, and she said, "No." 508 00:23:45,425 --> 00:23:48,595 In fact, Diego had called her two times, 509 00:23:48,636 --> 00:23:50,347 and each time she said, "No," 510 00:23:50,388 --> 00:23:53,308 that she did not want to get together with him... 511 00:23:53,350 --> 00:23:55,727 and went on to repeat her same story, 512 00:23:55,769 --> 00:23:57,395 that she was with Kim. 513 00:23:57,437 --> 00:23:59,856 During the early morning hours of that Monday, November 10th, 514 00:23:59,898 --> 00:24:03,193 she went home and stayed there by herself. 515 00:24:03,234 --> 00:24:05,070 It's very rare-- at least the experience 516 00:24:05,111 --> 00:24:06,654 I've had as a homicide investigator-- 517 00:24:06,696 --> 00:24:10,200 that somebody offers up information the first time. 518 00:24:10,241 --> 00:24:12,660 It always seems to be they offer information 519 00:24:12,702 --> 00:24:14,996 in bits and pieces. 520 00:24:15,038 --> 00:24:17,624 - Now that Veronica's revealed additional details 521 00:24:17,665 --> 00:24:18,958 about that night, 522 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:21,586 police speculate if something more happened 523 00:24:21,628 --> 00:24:23,088 between her and Diego, 524 00:24:23,129 --> 00:24:25,590 just like Diego's brother said. 525 00:24:25,632 --> 00:24:28,176 - All the interviews we did with Veronica and Brandan 526 00:24:28,218 --> 00:24:30,929 were happening back-to-back on November 12th. 527 00:24:30,970 --> 00:24:32,847 In our second interview with Brandan, 528 00:24:32,889 --> 00:24:34,766 he now tells us that he, in fact, 529 00:24:34,808 --> 00:24:37,936 was with Veronica on November 9th, 530 00:24:37,977 --> 00:24:39,938 the night Diego goes missing. 531 00:24:39,979 --> 00:24:41,398 And just short of midnight, 532 00:24:41,439 --> 00:24:44,818 Veronica tells him that she's going out. 533 00:24:44,859 --> 00:24:48,279 He doesn't really know with whom or where, but she leaves. 534 00:24:48,321 --> 00:24:50,782 He then goes home, where he says 535 00:24:50,824 --> 00:24:52,701 he remains the remainder of the night. 536 00:24:52,742 --> 00:24:55,870 I ask him, had he been using his cell phone at all 537 00:24:55,912 --> 00:24:58,039 during those early-morning hours? 538 00:24:58,081 --> 00:25:00,125 He said he had, several times, 539 00:25:00,166 --> 00:25:01,960 trying to find out where Veronica was, 540 00:25:02,002 --> 00:25:03,545 trying to reach her. 541 00:25:03,586 --> 00:25:06,297 - If Brandan suspected Veronica was out with Diego, 542 00:25:06,339 --> 00:25:09,050 he may have followed her and taken out his jealousy 543 00:25:09,092 --> 00:25:11,469 on an unsuspecting Diego. 544 00:25:11,511 --> 00:25:13,263 - He's still cooperative. 545 00:25:13,304 --> 00:25:15,098 You know, not trying to brush this off 546 00:25:15,140 --> 00:25:18,518 or give us one-word answers. 547 00:25:18,560 --> 00:25:21,479 And I ask Brandan specifically where he was. 548 00:25:21,521 --> 00:25:24,149 I hand him a map 549 00:25:24,190 --> 00:25:25,817 with the streets of Orange Park Acres 550 00:25:25,859 --> 00:25:29,237 indicated on the map and a highlighter pen and ask him, 551 00:25:29,279 --> 00:25:31,614 "Give me the best of your knowledge and recollection 552 00:25:31,656 --> 00:25:34,117 "of where you were when you were making these phone calls 553 00:25:34,159 --> 00:25:35,618 and just driving around by yourself 554 00:25:35,660 --> 00:25:36,995 trying to find Veronica." 555 00:25:37,037 --> 00:25:39,581 And he puts himself in Orange Park Acres, 556 00:25:39,622 --> 00:25:42,042 the area where Diego was found, which is very odd, 557 00:25:42,083 --> 00:25:46,087 because Brandan lives nowhere near Orange Park Acres. 558 00:25:47,422 --> 00:25:49,174 - Brandan has just placed himself 559 00:25:49,215 --> 00:25:50,383 near the scene of the crime 560 00:25:50,425 --> 00:25:52,927 around the time Diego was killed. 561 00:25:52,969 --> 00:25:55,305 But does that make him guilty of murder? 562 00:25:55,347 --> 00:25:59,601 To find out, investigators get crafty. 563 00:25:59,642 --> 00:26:01,102 - Brandan is adamant 564 00:26:01,144 --> 00:26:04,064 that he had nothing to do with Diego's murder, 565 00:26:04,105 --> 00:26:06,566 but police detectives use a technique. 566 00:26:06,608 --> 00:26:10,904 They're holding up paper that they say are phone records, 567 00:26:10,945 --> 00:26:13,365 and they confront Brandan, saying, 568 00:26:13,406 --> 00:26:15,950 "Hey, we could find out if you were in the area 569 00:26:15,992 --> 00:26:19,037 with your phone records." 570 00:26:19,079 --> 00:26:21,873 Brandan hedges a little bit, 571 00:26:21,915 --> 00:26:24,084 and he tells police officers, 572 00:26:24,125 --> 00:26:27,253 "Well, maybe I was in the area working 573 00:26:27,295 --> 00:26:31,132 "and detailing a client's car in the Hi Top area, 574 00:26:31,174 --> 00:26:34,219 and maybe I could have been there." 575 00:26:34,260 --> 00:26:38,139 - Now, when investigators ask Brandan who the client is 576 00:26:38,181 --> 00:26:40,183 or where the client lived, 577 00:26:40,225 --> 00:26:43,228 Brandan could not provide that information. 578 00:26:43,269 --> 00:26:45,146 - Every time we talked to Brandan, 579 00:26:45,188 --> 00:26:47,107 it seemed that we got more and more information 580 00:26:47,148 --> 00:26:50,235 each and every time that we now had to go back, 581 00:26:50,276 --> 00:26:54,030 re-interview them to clarify that information. 582 00:26:54,072 --> 00:26:55,240 - So at this point, 583 00:26:55,281 --> 00:26:56,950 police officers have something. 584 00:26:56,991 --> 00:27:00,370 They start pressing. They want details. 585 00:27:00,412 --> 00:27:02,997 Brandan Perry had an aggressive encounter 586 00:27:03,039 --> 00:27:04,833 with the victim, Diego. 587 00:27:04,874 --> 00:27:09,337 Brandan Perry is the one who placed himself at the scene. 588 00:27:09,379 --> 00:27:11,256 At this point, police detectives feel 589 00:27:11,297 --> 00:27:14,175 that they have probable cause to arrest Brandan Perry 590 00:27:14,217 --> 00:27:16,511 for the murder of Diego Gonzalez. 591 00:27:16,553 --> 00:27:19,556 * * 592 00:27:19,597 --> 00:27:23,393 - Brandan is surprised that he has been placed under arrest, 593 00:27:23,435 --> 00:27:25,395 and he therefore asks for an attorney, 594 00:27:25,437 --> 00:27:28,398 which then cuts all communication off. 595 00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:30,108 And police know that if they don't come up 596 00:27:30,150 --> 00:27:31,568 with more evidence, 597 00:27:31,609 --> 00:27:34,571 they are not gonna be able to hold him much longer. 598 00:27:34,612 --> 00:27:35,947 - When Brandan was arrested 599 00:27:35,989 --> 00:27:40,243 and they said that he murdered Diego, 600 00:27:40,285 --> 00:27:42,245 my first thought was there was no way. 601 00:27:42,287 --> 00:27:45,957 This little skinny guy? No way. No way. 602 00:27:45,999 --> 00:27:47,542 He had a fight with Diego. 603 00:27:47,584 --> 00:27:49,294 There must have been three or four other guys. 604 00:27:49,336 --> 00:27:50,795 They must have shot him first. 605 00:27:50,837 --> 00:27:52,505 There was no way that this guy got 606 00:27:52,547 --> 00:27:55,800 into a one-on-one confrontation with Diego. 607 00:27:55,842 --> 00:27:59,429 - Brandan Perry's own admissions get him arrested,, 608 00:27:59,471 --> 00:28:01,181 but it will take investigative footwork 609 00:28:01,222 --> 00:28:02,515 to keep him behind bars. 610 00:28:02,557 --> 00:28:04,309 [siren wailing] 611 00:28:04,351 --> 00:28:05,643 Before police can conduct 612 00:28:05,685 --> 00:28:08,313 a search of Brandan's car and home, 613 00:28:08,355 --> 00:28:09,773 the woman at the center of the case 614 00:28:09,814 --> 00:28:12,650 shows up at the police station unannounced. 615 00:28:12,692 --> 00:28:15,111 - So, three days after the crime, the murder, 616 00:28:15,153 --> 00:28:16,654 when I'm sitting at my desk 617 00:28:16,696 --> 00:28:19,407 and the security officer calls me and says 618 00:28:19,449 --> 00:28:21,159 there's a female who just walked 619 00:28:21,201 --> 00:28:22,494 into Sheriff's headquarters. 620 00:28:22,535 --> 00:28:25,330 It's about 9:30 in the morning on the 13th-- 621 00:28:25,372 --> 00:28:27,999 says she wants to talk with me. 622 00:28:28,041 --> 00:28:29,459 I ask who it is. He says, "Veronica Paz," 623 00:28:29,501 --> 00:28:31,670 which certainly catches my attention. 624 00:28:31,711 --> 00:28:33,129 I go downstairs. 625 00:28:33,171 --> 00:28:35,340 I ask Veronica what she wants to talk to me about. 626 00:28:35,382 --> 00:28:37,676 - So Veronica is very emotional. 627 00:28:37,717 --> 00:28:39,719 She's crying. 628 00:28:39,761 --> 00:28:41,137 She's telling investigators, 629 00:28:41,179 --> 00:28:44,099 "Do you know how hard this is for me to do this? 630 00:28:44,140 --> 00:28:46,601 Do you know how hard it is for me to say this?" 631 00:28:46,643 --> 00:28:48,353 She's very distraught. 632 00:28:48,395 --> 00:28:51,398 - She says, "I want to tell you the truth." 633 00:29:01,324 --> 00:29:05,161 [dramatic music] 634 00:29:06,913 --> 00:29:09,082 - Authorities have arrested Brandan Perry 635 00:29:09,124 --> 00:29:12,669 for the murder of high-school rival, Diego Gonzalez, 636 00:29:12,711 --> 00:29:15,505 but the case is riddled with holes. 637 00:29:15,547 --> 00:29:19,134 Will Veronica Paz, the woman at the center of their feud, 638 00:29:19,175 --> 00:29:20,593 finally fill in the details 639 00:29:20,635 --> 00:29:23,555 needed to bring justice for Diego's family? 640 00:29:23,596 --> 00:29:25,640 * * 641 00:29:36,693 --> 00:29:39,195 - I ask her to further explain what that truth is, 642 00:29:39,237 --> 00:29:41,948 and she says that Brandan shot Diego. 643 00:29:41,990 --> 00:29:43,783 * * 644 00:29:43,825 --> 00:29:48,204 Sunday November 9th, after she left work and Diego left work, 645 00:29:48,246 --> 00:29:51,541 he calls her and asks her if they can get together. 646 00:29:51,583 --> 00:29:52,834 She says, "No." 647 00:29:52,876 --> 00:29:54,753 With her at the time is Brandan Perry, 648 00:29:54,794 --> 00:29:57,964 who becomes upset of who that phone call was from. 649 00:29:58,006 --> 00:30:00,508 It's Diego trying to hook up with her. 650 00:30:00,550 --> 00:30:03,845 - Brandan insisted at that point she call Diego back 651 00:30:03,887 --> 00:30:05,638 and set up a meeting with him. 652 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:07,057 She knew at that point 653 00:30:07,098 --> 00:30:09,517 that Brandan was going to confront him 654 00:30:09,559 --> 00:30:12,228 and to beat him up for messing with Veronica. 655 00:30:12,270 --> 00:30:14,272 * * 656 00:30:14,314 --> 00:30:15,774 - Veronica tells detectives 657 00:30:15,815 --> 00:30:18,151 that Brandan had reached a breaking point 658 00:30:18,193 --> 00:30:21,529 and wanted to send a message to Diego. 659 00:30:21,571 --> 00:30:24,491 - Veronica drives up to Diego's residence, 660 00:30:24,532 --> 00:30:26,576 picks him up, and goes up to Hi Top Lane 661 00:30:26,618 --> 00:30:29,287 for the purpose of them getting physical together. 662 00:30:29,329 --> 00:30:33,041 There's nobody up there. She knows the area quite well. 663 00:30:33,083 --> 00:30:36,127 She asks him to get in the back seat with her. 664 00:30:36,169 --> 00:30:37,921 - Things got hot and heavy, 665 00:30:37,962 --> 00:30:42,258 and suddenly this loud noise on the car door. 666 00:30:42,300 --> 00:30:45,261 Veronica tells investigators that that loud noise 667 00:30:45,303 --> 00:30:50,016 at the window of the car was actually Brandan. 668 00:30:50,058 --> 00:30:55,063 He rips open the door. He pulls Diego out of the car. 669 00:31:05,407 --> 00:31:07,659 - Veronica tells investigators 670 00:31:07,701 --> 00:31:10,036 she sees him pull this gun out. 671 00:31:10,078 --> 00:31:11,621 She's surprised. 672 00:31:26,928 --> 00:31:29,639 - She indicates there may have been some type of struggle, 673 00:31:29,681 --> 00:31:34,144 she wasn't quite sure, but Diego goes down. 674 00:31:34,185 --> 00:31:36,938 She hears a second gunshot, and that is the time we believe 675 00:31:36,980 --> 00:31:40,483 Brandan went over to Diego... 676 00:31:40,525 --> 00:31:42,402 and shot him in the mouth. 677 00:31:42,444 --> 00:31:45,447 She says they each respectively get in their each car 678 00:31:45,488 --> 00:31:47,282 and go down the hill. 679 00:31:47,323 --> 00:31:49,200 - Veronica goes on to reveal 680 00:31:49,242 --> 00:31:51,327 that the story didn't end there, 681 00:31:51,369 --> 00:31:53,788 and what happened next has weighed heavily 682 00:31:53,830 --> 00:31:55,290 on her conscience. 683 00:31:55,331 --> 00:31:57,417 - Veronica thought that that was the end of it 684 00:31:57,459 --> 00:31:59,586 after they both had left the crime scene. 685 00:31:59,627 --> 00:32:02,047 But then she gets a phone call from Brandan, 686 00:32:02,088 --> 00:32:06,593 ordering her to go back to the crime scene. 687 00:32:06,634 --> 00:32:08,970 - Before they get there, they go to a gas station 688 00:32:09,012 --> 00:32:12,182 and fill up two water bottles full of gasoline. 689 00:32:12,223 --> 00:32:14,267 They go back up to where the body is, 690 00:32:14,309 --> 00:32:16,936 they pour the gasoline on Diego's body, 691 00:32:16,978 --> 00:32:19,564 and they set it off fire. 692 00:32:20,982 --> 00:32:22,817 - So Veronica tells police 693 00:32:22,859 --> 00:32:25,945 that when Brandan tries to light the fire, 694 00:32:25,987 --> 00:32:29,532 it's a failed attempt because they're using diesel fuel, 695 00:32:29,574 --> 00:32:33,036 and diesel doesn't light on fire the way gasoline would. 696 00:32:33,078 --> 00:32:34,579 - Come to find out later, 697 00:32:34,621 --> 00:32:37,457 they all got together after the murder 698 00:32:37,499 --> 00:32:39,334 at Kim Gomez's house and talked about-- 699 00:32:39,376 --> 00:32:41,127 "This is what we tell the police 700 00:32:41,169 --> 00:32:42,629 if they come around asking." 701 00:32:42,671 --> 00:32:46,257 - Veronica tells her friends how scared she is. 702 00:32:46,299 --> 00:32:47,884 And at that point, Brandan says, 703 00:32:47,926 --> 00:32:50,804 "Well, all of us better get our stories straight 704 00:32:50,845 --> 00:32:54,224 because it's likely police are gonna come asking questions." 705 00:32:54,265 --> 00:32:56,142 * * 706 00:32:56,184 --> 00:32:59,437 - So Veronica put all the blame on Brandan. 707 00:32:59,479 --> 00:33:03,900 It was Brandan's plan to have Veronica lure Diego 708 00:33:03,942 --> 00:33:05,652 to Hi Top Lane 709 00:33:05,694 --> 00:33:07,445 for her to have sex with him, 710 00:33:07,487 --> 00:33:09,322 if that needed to take place 711 00:33:09,364 --> 00:33:11,408 in order to get Diego more vulnerable, 712 00:33:11,449 --> 00:33:14,953 and that Brandan was going to beat Diego up, 713 00:33:14,994 --> 00:33:17,997 but that's all she knew. 714 00:33:18,039 --> 00:33:21,668 - While Veronica puts the blame squarely on Brandan, 715 00:33:21,710 --> 00:33:24,337 police start to question if she's as innocent 716 00:33:24,379 --> 00:33:26,089 as she's making herself out to be. 717 00:33:26,131 --> 00:33:27,590 - She didn't believe 718 00:33:27,632 --> 00:33:29,467 that Brandan was gonna come up there with a gun. 719 00:33:29,509 --> 00:33:31,469 She just thought it was gonna be a fist fight. 720 00:33:31,511 --> 00:33:33,680 We told Veronica, "How would that be? 721 00:33:33,722 --> 00:33:36,474 "You knew getting him in the back seat 722 00:33:36,516 --> 00:33:38,977 was gonna incapacitate him." 723 00:33:39,019 --> 00:33:42,147 And she agreed with that. That was their plan. 724 00:33:42,188 --> 00:33:44,899 There was no force or threat that she had to do it. 725 00:33:44,941 --> 00:33:49,195 Certainly, in hindsight, without Veronica's cooperation, 726 00:33:49,237 --> 00:33:51,031 at least Diego probably wouldn't be 727 00:33:51,072 --> 00:33:52,782 a murder victim that night. 728 00:33:52,824 --> 00:33:59,581 * * 729 00:33:59,622 --> 00:34:03,418 - So Veronica has poured her soul out to the police. 730 00:34:03,460 --> 00:34:05,086 The police at that point feel 731 00:34:05,128 --> 00:34:09,716 that they have a lot more information to convict Brandan, 732 00:34:09,758 --> 00:34:13,928 but that now they have enough information to arrest Veronica. 733 00:34:15,513 --> 00:34:19,267 Veronica is shocked and upset and distraught 734 00:34:19,309 --> 00:34:21,728 that she is now put under arrest, 735 00:34:21,770 --> 00:34:24,981 when she was being so helpful to the police. 736 00:34:25,023 --> 00:34:28,526 - After the information Veronica provided 737 00:34:28,568 --> 00:34:31,154 about the murder itself and her knowledge of it 738 00:34:31,196 --> 00:34:33,698 and obviously her participation in it, 739 00:34:33,740 --> 00:34:35,492 she's arrested now for murder. 740 00:34:35,533 --> 00:34:38,078 * * 741 00:34:38,119 --> 00:34:41,748 Veronica initially had no idea why she was being arrested, 742 00:34:41,790 --> 00:34:44,751 truly believing and downplaying her role 743 00:34:44,793 --> 00:34:47,045 that she simply drove Diego up there. 744 00:34:47,087 --> 00:34:48,588 She didn't pull the trigger. 745 00:34:48,630 --> 00:34:50,924 She didn't get him out at gunpoint, 746 00:34:50,965 --> 00:34:53,927 but she certainly was told several times, 747 00:34:53,968 --> 00:34:57,430 numerous times by me and the other investigators, 748 00:34:57,472 --> 00:34:59,557 that she had a major role in what happened 749 00:34:59,599 --> 00:35:01,059 by getting Diego up there, 750 00:35:01,101 --> 00:35:04,270 knowing well what's most probably gonna happen-- 751 00:35:04,312 --> 00:35:07,649 that he was gonna be shot and killed. 752 00:35:07,691 --> 00:35:12,070 - When we heard they had made an arrest on Diego's case, 753 00:35:12,112 --> 00:35:16,741 I felt a relief to know that they were captured 754 00:35:16,783 --> 00:35:19,869 and that they didn't get away with what they did to him. 755 00:35:19,911 --> 00:35:23,623 And now the tough part was, like, facing 756 00:35:23,665 --> 00:35:25,834 the people that did this to him. 757 00:35:25,875 --> 00:35:28,795 * * 758 00:35:28,837 --> 00:35:31,381 - To build up the case against Veronica Paz 759 00:35:31,423 --> 00:35:33,133 and Brandan Perry, 760 00:35:33,174 --> 00:35:36,428 investigators turn once again to the couple's friends 761 00:35:36,469 --> 00:35:39,305 who helped cover their tracks. 762 00:35:39,347 --> 00:35:41,558 - Kim Gomez and Tommy Medina 763 00:35:41,599 --> 00:35:44,144 are arrested for accessory to murder 764 00:35:44,185 --> 00:35:48,023 because of the false statements they had provided 765 00:35:48,064 --> 00:35:49,649 when first interviewed 766 00:35:49,691 --> 00:35:51,818 and having knowledge of the crime. 767 00:35:51,860 --> 00:35:53,570 - So Kim Gomez and Tommy Medina 768 00:35:53,611 --> 00:35:55,655 are very cooperative with investigators, 769 00:35:55,697 --> 00:35:58,491 and they do corroborate the fact 770 00:35:58,533 --> 00:36:00,243 that Veronica and Brandan 771 00:36:00,285 --> 00:36:01,911 came over to their house that night 772 00:36:01,953 --> 00:36:04,414 and asked them to be their alibi. 773 00:36:04,456 --> 00:36:06,875 Detectives inform Kim and Tommy 774 00:36:06,916 --> 00:36:10,462 that Veronica has come forward with this story, 775 00:36:10,503 --> 00:36:12,130 saying that it was Brandan 776 00:36:12,172 --> 00:36:15,592 who planned the murder of Diego Gonzalez. 777 00:36:15,633 --> 00:36:18,178 Investigators ask Tommy and Kim, 778 00:36:18,219 --> 00:36:21,765 "Did Brandan and Veronica plan this murder together?" 779 00:36:21,806 --> 00:36:25,477 And Tommy and Kim say, "No. Not quite." 780 00:36:38,239 --> 00:36:38,698 [dramatic music] 781 00:36:41,201 --> 00:36:42,869 * * 782 00:36:42,911 --> 00:36:44,496 - Investigators are confident 783 00:36:44,537 --> 00:36:46,498 that Brandan Perry and Veronica Paz 784 00:36:46,539 --> 00:36:50,627 were both ultimately involved in Diego Gonzalez's murder. 785 00:36:50,669 --> 00:36:52,921 As police build their case against them, 786 00:36:52,962 --> 00:36:56,174 the couple's accomplices drop a bombshell. 787 00:36:56,216 --> 00:36:58,218 - Tommy Medina tells investigators 788 00:36:58,259 --> 00:37:01,930 that this murder had been hatched months before 789 00:37:01,971 --> 00:37:03,932 by Veronica. 790 00:37:03,973 --> 00:37:06,142 In fact, Veronica and Brandan 791 00:37:06,184 --> 00:37:08,269 had actually gone out to the desert 792 00:37:08,311 --> 00:37:12,982 to test out this gun that they were gonna use to kill Diego. 793 00:37:13,024 --> 00:37:14,943 [gunshot] 794 00:37:14,984 --> 00:37:17,570 - As far as Tommy knew, at least a couple months, 795 00:37:17,612 --> 00:37:19,239 he thinks this all initiated 796 00:37:19,280 --> 00:37:22,534 because of the confrontation at that party during the summer. 797 00:37:22,575 --> 00:37:24,119 Diego's with Brandan's girl, 798 00:37:24,160 --> 00:37:26,996 so there's that little male standoff. 799 00:37:27,038 --> 00:37:28,790 Murder happened in November, 800 00:37:28,832 --> 00:37:33,253 so three, four, five months it was being talked about. 801 00:37:33,294 --> 00:37:35,630 - Veronica Paz's alibi, Kim Gomez, 802 00:37:35,672 --> 00:37:37,590 tells police that Veronica 803 00:37:37,632 --> 00:37:39,801 wasn't upset the night of the murder 804 00:37:39,843 --> 00:37:41,720 and that she made it seem like 805 00:37:41,761 --> 00:37:45,974 she was part of the planning of the murder of Diego. 806 00:37:46,016 --> 00:37:48,601 She felt she was disrespected by Diego 807 00:37:48,643 --> 00:37:52,939 because Diego would only call her for sexual encounters. 808 00:37:52,981 --> 00:37:56,109 Veronica Paz, the popular OC girl, 809 00:37:56,151 --> 00:37:58,820 did not appreciate being used for sex. 810 00:37:58,862 --> 00:38:01,489 So she played to Brandan's jealousy 811 00:38:01,531 --> 00:38:05,160 in order to hurt Diego. 812 00:38:05,201 --> 00:38:07,954 - Thanks to Veronica and Brandan's cohorts, 813 00:38:07,996 --> 00:38:10,832 detectives learn the sordid details of the planning 814 00:38:10,874 --> 00:38:13,251 that went into Diego's murder. 815 00:38:13,293 --> 00:38:16,296 - Tommy Medina provides us the information. 816 00:38:16,338 --> 00:38:17,714 They set up some bottles, 817 00:38:17,756 --> 00:38:19,382 and they proceed to shoot a handgun 818 00:38:19,424 --> 00:38:22,010 that we believe was used in Diego's murder, 819 00:38:22,052 --> 00:38:24,220 and we actually find expended cartridges. 820 00:38:24,262 --> 00:38:26,014 We never found the gun, 821 00:38:26,056 --> 00:38:28,767 but the cartridges matched up to the projectiles 822 00:38:28,808 --> 00:38:32,729 that were removed at the autopsy from Diego. 823 00:38:32,771 --> 00:38:35,357 And we also found through debit card activity 824 00:38:35,398 --> 00:38:37,984 that Veronica had gone to Walmart 825 00:38:38,026 --> 00:38:41,112 and purchased a box of ammunition. 826 00:38:41,154 --> 00:38:43,031 - Detectives also find evidence 827 00:38:43,073 --> 00:38:45,075 proving Veronica's intent 828 00:38:45,116 --> 00:38:47,786 to be intimate with Diego that night. 829 00:38:47,827 --> 00:38:50,413 - When investigators search Veronica's car, 830 00:38:50,455 --> 00:38:53,208 they do indeed find receipts indicating 831 00:38:53,249 --> 00:38:55,377 that she had purchased these condoms, 832 00:38:55,418 --> 00:38:58,129 and they find that there is surveillance footage 833 00:38:58,171 --> 00:39:00,548 that clearly shows it was Veronica 834 00:39:00,590 --> 00:39:03,635 who was making this purchase on her debit card. 835 00:39:03,677 --> 00:39:05,387 * * 836 00:39:05,428 --> 00:39:08,390 - And despite providing critical information, 837 00:39:08,431 --> 00:39:10,350 Kim Gomez and Tommy Medina 838 00:39:10,392 --> 00:39:14,229 don't escape consequences for their role in the murder plot. 839 00:39:14,270 --> 00:39:17,899 - In 2004, Kim Gomez and Tommy Medina 840 00:39:17,941 --> 00:39:20,235 make a deal with the DA's office. 841 00:39:20,276 --> 00:39:22,904 They plead guilty to being accessories 842 00:39:22,946 --> 00:39:24,948 after the fact to a murder. 843 00:39:24,989 --> 00:39:28,368 Tommy is sentenced to six days incarceration 844 00:39:28,410 --> 00:39:30,370 and three years probation. 845 00:39:30,412 --> 00:39:34,332 Kimberly is sentenced to six months incarceration 846 00:39:34,374 --> 00:39:36,292 and three years of probation. 847 00:39:36,334 --> 00:39:39,421 But both of them agreed to testify 848 00:39:39,462 --> 00:39:41,339 against Veronica and Brandan. 849 00:39:41,381 --> 00:39:44,634 * * 850 00:39:44,676 --> 00:39:46,803 - The Orange County District Attorney's Office 851 00:39:46,845 --> 00:39:49,472 charges Veronica Paz with first-degree murder, 852 00:39:49,514 --> 00:39:52,100 with special circumstances of lying in wait, 853 00:39:52,142 --> 00:39:54,102 which could get her the sentence of life 854 00:39:54,144 --> 00:39:57,230 without the possibility of parole. 855 00:39:57,272 --> 00:40:00,567 Brandan Perry is charged with first-degree murder. 856 00:40:00,608 --> 00:40:04,446 * * 857 00:40:04,487 --> 00:40:06,740 - On March 28, 2006, 858 00:40:06,781 --> 00:40:10,243 just before Brandan's trial is set to begin, 859 00:40:10,285 --> 00:40:14,372 Brandan says he will plead out to first-degree murder 860 00:40:14,414 --> 00:40:18,168 as long as the death penalty is taken off the table. 861 00:40:18,209 --> 00:40:20,920 * * 862 00:40:20,962 --> 00:40:24,591 - Brandan Perry is sentenced to 25 years to life 863 00:40:24,632 --> 00:40:27,469 with the possibility of parole. 864 00:40:27,510 --> 00:40:31,139 - He also agrees to testify against Veronica. 865 00:40:31,181 --> 00:40:34,809 - In 2006, more than two years 866 00:40:34,851 --> 00:40:36,561 after that fatal night, 867 00:40:36,603 --> 00:40:40,148 Brandan Perry is the star witness against Veronica Paz 868 00:40:40,190 --> 00:40:42,692 as she stands trial for the devastating murder 869 00:40:42,734 --> 00:40:46,404 of one of Orange, California's, favorite sons. 870 00:40:46,446 --> 00:40:48,406 * * 871 00:40:48,448 --> 00:40:51,534 - We went to Veronica's court date. 872 00:40:51,576 --> 00:40:52,744 She was tough. 873 00:40:52,786 --> 00:40:56,247 She looked at us like she wasn't upset. 874 00:40:58,208 --> 00:41:01,670 Just made us feel angry that she didn't even care 875 00:41:01,711 --> 00:41:04,005 if she took his life away. 876 00:41:04,047 --> 00:41:05,882 You know, we just couldn't believe 877 00:41:05,924 --> 00:41:07,717 that they did this brutal stuff 878 00:41:07,759 --> 00:41:12,514 to a child trying to just finish high school 879 00:41:12,555 --> 00:41:14,599 and have so many dreams. 880 00:41:14,641 --> 00:41:19,396 It was just hard to think that anybody could do that. 881 00:41:19,437 --> 00:41:21,606 - At the trial against Veronica Paz, 882 00:41:21,648 --> 00:41:23,149 Brandan Perry takes the stand. 883 00:41:23,191 --> 00:41:26,444 He tells the jury that it was really Veronica 884 00:41:26,486 --> 00:41:29,447 who came up with the plan, and because he was jealous, 885 00:41:29,489 --> 00:41:32,659 he went along with her evil plan. 886 00:41:32,701 --> 00:41:34,869 * * 887 00:41:34,911 --> 00:41:37,372 - On December 15, 2006, 888 00:41:37,414 --> 00:41:40,125 three years after Diego was killed, 889 00:41:40,166 --> 00:41:43,545 Veronica Paz is found guilty 890 00:41:43,586 --> 00:41:45,338 of first-degree murder. 891 00:41:45,380 --> 00:41:47,298 * * 892 00:41:47,340 --> 00:41:49,217 - Veronica Paz is sentenced 893 00:41:49,259 --> 00:41:52,262 to 25 years to life in prison, 894 00:41:52,303 --> 00:41:56,349 but the Gonzalez family's quest for justice isn't over. 895 00:41:56,391 --> 00:42:00,186 * * 896 00:42:00,228 --> 00:42:03,148 - In 2008, two years after Veronica 897 00:42:03,189 --> 00:42:05,984 was convicted of first-degree murder, 898 00:42:06,026 --> 00:42:09,988 her case gets overturned due to a technicality 899 00:42:10,030 --> 00:42:12,032 having to do with jury instructions. 900 00:42:12,073 --> 00:42:13,366 Veronica makes a request. 901 00:42:13,408 --> 00:42:15,952 She says she wants to make a deal now. 902 00:42:15,994 --> 00:42:18,747 And she is now willing to plead guilty 903 00:42:18,788 --> 00:42:20,832 to second-degree murder. 904 00:42:20,874 --> 00:42:24,169 - Once Veronica pled guilty to second-degree murder, 905 00:42:24,210 --> 00:42:26,838 her murder sentence was reduced of 15 years to life. 906 00:42:26,880 --> 00:42:30,967 * * 907 00:42:31,009 --> 00:42:32,510 - Although the bittersweet outcome 908 00:42:32,552 --> 00:42:34,846 is not the one they were hoping for, 909 00:42:34,888 --> 00:42:37,098 Diego's loved ones take comfort 910 00:42:37,140 --> 00:42:39,309 in keeping his memory alive. 911 00:42:39,351 --> 00:42:42,854 - She could say that she's sorry for what she did, 912 00:42:42,896 --> 00:42:44,022 but... 913 00:42:44,064 --> 00:42:46,900 [soft music] 914 00:42:46,941 --> 00:42:48,318 It's just hard to forgive. 915 00:42:48,360 --> 00:42:50,278 * * 916 00:42:50,320 --> 00:42:52,238 I just, like, always have that baby face 917 00:42:52,280 --> 00:42:55,116 in my mind of how he looked. 918 00:42:55,158 --> 00:42:59,079 You imagine what he would be now, you know, mid 30s, 919 00:42:59,120 --> 00:43:01,623 so he would've probably already been married, 920 00:43:01,664 --> 00:43:03,041 would have kids. 921 00:43:03,083 --> 00:43:05,460 * * 922 00:43:05,502 --> 00:43:09,130 Every birthday of Diego or anniversary of his death, 923 00:43:09,172 --> 00:43:13,301 we go to the cemetery, and we just... 924 00:43:13,343 --> 00:43:16,054 pray for him and for us. [chuckles] 925 00:43:16,096 --> 00:43:19,140 * * 926 00:43:19,182 --> 00:43:23,770 We just try to remember funny episodes of Diego's life 927 00:43:23,812 --> 00:43:25,563 and enjoy those moments. 928 00:43:25,605 --> 00:43:29,025 Try to remember him as he was-- 929 00:43:29,067 --> 00:43:33,780 like, a great son and a great cousin and a great friend. 930 00:43:33,822 --> 00:43:40,912 * *