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[dramatic music]
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- The El Modena
wrestling team,
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we were one of the best teams
in the state.
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Diego was definitely in line
to be captain.
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- He was popular in school.
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He was starting to work.
He was a responsible kid.
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And he said he was gonna
meet up with a friend,
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and that was basically
the last time we saw him.
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- It wasn't like Diego
not to show up to school
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or to wrestling practice.
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- But let's face it--
a 17-year-old with hormones
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kind of wants
to walk on the wild side.
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- We started thinking, "Oh,
hopefully he didn't get mugged.
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Hopefully nothing happened."
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- A resident heard
what he believed to be
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two popping sounds
going off...
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from an area near where
the body was located.
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- Extremely tragic to find out
your missing loved one
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is now our murder victim.
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Diego had been seeing--
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had an on-again-off-again
relationship.
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- It was an odd relationship
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between a 21-year-old woman
and a 17-year-old boy.
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- She explains to us that
for some time,
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he had become
extremely jealous.
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- For the police,
it raised flags for them.
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There was bad blood,
but could that lead to murder?
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* *
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- The city of Orange
stands out to me
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from the rest of Orange County
because it is so diverse.
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You have, within five miles,
a lot of different people,
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a lot of different languages,
different cultures.
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- The city of Orange,
California, is quite unique.
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The city has embraced
its historic roots.
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It's kept a lot of its
historic buildings and homes.
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- Orange is primarily known
for the weather,
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the parks, the trails,
sporting activities.
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- Baseball, basketball,
football--
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sports are huge there,
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and especially
your high-school sports.
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- But even in a land
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where elite athletics
are par for the course,
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not everyone's
high-school tale
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ends with homecoming cheers.
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- The city of Orange is more
of a residential area--
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not a lot of high crime,
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not a lot of big
sensational murder cases.
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But on November 10, 2003,
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a couple of high-school kids
who were playing hooky--
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they decide to head up to this
secluded part of Orange
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up on Hi Top Lane
in Orange Park Acres,
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and what they noticed there
is kind of this dark blob
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in the driveway.
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When they get closer, they are
horrified at what they find.
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* *
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- My name is Dan Salcedo.
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I was a full-time
homicide investigator
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with the Orange County
Sheriff's Department.
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During the after new hours
of November 10th,
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a call comes into
the Sheriff's Department
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that there's a deceased male
in Orange Park Acres.
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The area itself
is multimillion-dollar
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equestrian homes,
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so it's very remote, desolate.
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- My name is Susan Kang,
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and I was the former
chief of staff
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for the Orange County
District Attorney's office.
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When law enforcement arrive,
they see the victim,
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at this point a John Doe,
laying in the pool of blood.
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They believe that the body
was a young male,
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either in his teens
or early 20s.
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- We had two spent cartridges
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from what appeared to be
an automatic weapon.
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We had broken lighter.
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There was coagulated blood
in the area,
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which means that he had
expired many hours
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previous to our arrival.
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Part of the shock in this case
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was our decedent was shot
and then burned.
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The indication
is possibly somebody's
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trying to cover up
the crime scene,
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hoping that he was gonna be
burned beyond recognition.
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- Investigators were not able
to find any identification
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on this body, therefore,
he is labeled a John Doe.
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- At the time, we did
a neighborhood canvass,
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which really didn't produce
anything.
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The coroner's office shows up.
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They do a in-place
body examination,
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and the decedent
is transferred
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back to the coroner's office.
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A postmortem examination
is conducted, an autopsy.
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And it indicated that he
had been shot in the forehead,
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and there was also
a projectile in his mouth.
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So somebody literally
put a gun in his mouth
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and fired a single round.
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- With no solid leads
from eyewitnesses
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and little to be gained
from the coroner's report,
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police focus their efforts
on identifying the victim.
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- The approach was,
via the media,
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asking for
the public's assistance.
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And I also met with an officer
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from the Orange
Police Department
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who did composite sketches.
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So we are gonna render
a sketch of our decedent
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and offer it to the public,
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and hopefully somebody
would be able to identify him.
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- Sheriff Mike Carona
pleads with the public
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for any information
they could provide,
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to help them solve
this gruesome crime.
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- A resident heard
what he believed
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to be two popping sounds
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or firecrackers going off
from an area
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near where
the body was located.
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That same resident, after
hearing the popping sounds,
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then heard a vehicle
leaving the area.
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- When you get a murder
and you have a victim
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who's not yet identified,
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it makes it kind of tough to go
forward with the investigation.
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You're hoping on the public to
maybe call in some information,
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teletypes
about missing persons,
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other law enforcement
agencies.
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- As the composite sketch
of John Doe's image
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flickers on screens
across the county,
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one family in the stunned
city of Orange
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has spent the last 48 hours
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dealing with a mystery
of its own.
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- I get a phone call
advising me
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there's some family members
at the coroner's office
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believing that our decedent,
yet to be identified male,
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was possibly their nephew,
Diego Gonzalez.
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- My name is Vanessa Gonzalez,
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I'm Diego Gonzalez's
sister-in-law.
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On November 9, 2003,
Diego had left to go run,
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and he had told his mom
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that he was gonna meet up
with a friend after running,
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so he was probably
gonna be home late that day.
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He didn't show up
the morning.
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So it was just trying
to figure it out-
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where he was at first.
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- Diego's parents,
Maria and Felix,
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got worried because their son
did not come home
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on November 9th
on a Sunday evening.
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This is unusual for Diego,
a responsible kid,
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so they alerted
the authorities.
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- We started thinking,
"Hopefully nothing happened."
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So we started driving ditches,
driving hills,
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driving everywhere,
just to see if he had fallen,
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or anything had
happened to him.
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- Diego's family
was very proactive.
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They took pictures.
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They canvassed
the neighborhood.
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They knocked on doors,
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and they tried to ask
as many people as possible
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what happened to Diego so that
they can bring him home.
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* *
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- After searching desperately
for the missing 17-year-old,
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Diego's family starts to see
the same reports
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as the rest of Orange County.
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- The Gonzalez family
is watching TV,
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and they see
Sheriff Mike Carona
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talk about this grisly crime
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that has occurred up
in Orange Park Acres,
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and the family was wondering,
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"Could this have
any connection to Diego?"
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- Diego's uncle called
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and said,
"I don't want to scare you,
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but I saw on the news--they
can't identify this person."
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* *
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I just remember
sitting in the morgue,
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them putting
the pictures of him.
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[sighs]
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[somber music]
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I'm sorry.
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[sniffles]
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[voice breaking]
It was Diego.
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* *
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- My name is Daniel Coates.
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In 2003, I was wrestling coach
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and a counselor
at El Modena High School.
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The El Modena wrestling team,
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we were one of the best teams
in the state.
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Diego was definitely in line
to be captain.
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He was just--he was
such a special young man,
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and he was a funny young man.
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And then his heart,
he had a heart of gold.
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- He was a good kid.
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He had a part-time job
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to help out his family
at a grocery store.
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- He loved being an uncle
to my daughter.
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And he would always
play around with her.
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She loved him, too.
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- Diego was known
to his friends
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and to his family
as sort of a gregarious guy.
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He seemed to be friends
with everyone.
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- The mystery surrounding
Diego Gonzalez's murder
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leaves detectives bewildered.
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Who would want to harm the
athlete with a heart of gold?
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- Most murders occur between
people that know each other
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and people who have
feelings for each other.
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It was a natural bridge
or natural next step
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for police officers
to interview people
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that were close to Diego.
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And that would've been
Darlene Dominguez.
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- We follow up
on his last-known activities,
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which led us
to his high school,
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El Modena High School.
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- Diego had a girlfriend.
Her name was Darlene.
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Darlene was
a beautiful young lady.
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- She tells investigators
that the fling that Diego had
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was something
that was clearly in the past.
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[dramatic music]
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[dramatic music]
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- The loss of 17-year-old
star athlete Diego Gonzalez
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rocks the city
of Orange, California.
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Investigators work overtime
to figure out
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who shot the popular
student to death.
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- We follow up
on his last-known activities--
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who had information,
where he had gone,
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who his associates were,
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which led us
to his high school,
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El Modena High School,
where we interviewed
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classmates,
teachers, counselors.
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- Diego had a girlfriend.
Her name was Darlene.
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Darlene was a beautiful
young lady--dark, curly hair.
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She helped Diego an awful lot
in the classroom,
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00:11:04,998 --> 00:11:06,750
and Diego worked hard.
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She tutored him
and studied with him.
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And that's what everyone
admired about...
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- We interviewed Diego's
girlfriend, Darlene Dominguez,
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who indicated to us
that she and Diego
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had just ended
their relationship
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about a week prior.
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- Diego met Darlene
in high school,
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I think
when he was a sophomore?
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Diego and Darlene
were always together.
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They would go out together
to the movies
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and the malls all the time.
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He had fun with her,
and so he was always with her.
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- Darlene, she mentions
that, yeah,
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they had their ups and downs,
but she really thought
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that they were
going to move to a next level.
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- Investigators ask Darlene
about her whereabouts
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on that Sunday night.
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And she tells investigators
she was with her family
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the entire night.
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The investigators confirm
that with family members,
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and so they believe
she has a solid alibi.
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00:12:08,061 --> 00:12:10,522
- With Diego's
ex-girlfriend off the hook,
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00:12:10,563 --> 00:12:13,775
friends and loved ones turn
to one another for comfort,
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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
* *