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MOLLYE:
This was a triple homicide.
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The victims were a retired mom
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and her two sons.
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POLICE: All three victims
were killed
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by blunt force trauma.
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Their throats were slit.
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BRENDA: Who would wanna murder
a family
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that's never done anything
to anybody?
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WAYNE: The way the bodies
were found
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gave a reasonable speculation
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that this may have something
to do with the occult.
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MOLLYE: But is this
a ritualistic killing
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or did something else happen?
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MATT: Richard was an employee
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with the Department
of Homeland Security.
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MOLLYE: Was he involved in
something that perhaps led him
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and his family to be murdered
in such a violent fashion?
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FAYE: One of the hardest
things to find out
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was that my aunt
was tortured.
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BRENDA: And that part
really shocked me.
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[ominous music playing]
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[phone ringing]
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911 OPERATOR:
911, what's your emergency?
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MAN [on phone]:
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MAN [on phone]:
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[sirens wailing]
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MATT: On July 31st, 2015,
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Richard Smith's boss
called the sheriff's office
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for us to come by
and do a welfare check.
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[ominous music playing]
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MATT: When the deputy arrived
at Richard's address,
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he walked around the house,
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doesn't see anything
out of the ordinary,
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there was no answer
to the door.
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WAYNE: At that point,
they conducted a search
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of computer databases
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and found that a relative
of Richard Smith,
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Donald Hartung,
lived in town.
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They contacted him
and Donald came to the scene.
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He did give permission
for the sheriff's office
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to go into the home.
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[ominous music playing]
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And that's when
the deputy discovered
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three deceased individuals.
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WAYNE: He secured the scene
and called for investigations.
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[sirens wailing]
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WAYNE: When I arrived
on the scene,
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we did a walkthrough.
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We entered through a backdoor.
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MATT: And we walked
into like a den
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and there was two large mounds
of clothing,
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one of them
on the couch itself
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and then another on the floor.
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WAYNE: The pile on the floor,
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I could see just a small portion
of a human body
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sticking off
from underneath this mound
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of clothing and blankets.
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And with the other body,
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you could not see
that somebody
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was actually seated
on that sofa
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because of all the clothing
and blankets
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which was definitely odd.
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MATT: And then there's a hallway
that went down
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to the bedrooms
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and there was another large
pile of clothing,
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and there was a body
underneath it as well.
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It's very unusual.
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I've never seen anything
like that.
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WAYNE: Once the Medical
Examiner Investigators
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arrived on scene,
we pulled the blankets off
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and you could tell
that they had been there
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for at least a couple of days.
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The victim in the bedroom,
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she had numerous injuries
to the top of her head.
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She also had a fairly deep cut
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on the side of her neck.
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And there was some defensive
wounds on her hands,
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most notably the end
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of one of her little fingers
was missing.
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In the den, the victim
that we found seated
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on the sofa
also had a cut to his neck
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and multiple strike marks
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to the top of his head.
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The last victim who was found
on the floor in the den
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had injuries to the top
of his head
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and a cut on his neck.
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There also appeared
to be a, uh, gunshot wound
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to the back of his head
just behind his right ear.
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The very back of his belt
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had been pulled out
from the belt loops.
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It kind of had
a little arch to it.
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And it would certainly
seem logical
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that if someone was going
to move an individual,
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he would have needed something
to grab onto.
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They appear to have been hit
with some type of heavy object.
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And in the kitchen,
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one of the crime scene
technicians
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did locate a hammer
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that appeared
to have blood on it.
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We also found
the, uh, trashcan.
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And inside the trashcan
was discarded food,
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but also there were paper towels
with blood on it,
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a purse, and cigarette butts.
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The victim in the bedroom
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was identified
by Donald Hartung
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as his mother,
Ms. Voncile Smith,
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the matriarch of the family.
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In the den,
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the victim was John Smith.
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Richard Smith was on the floor
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in that same den
where John was found.
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Richard and John
were Donald's half-brothers.
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In any investigation,
of course
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some of the first people
you wanna talk to
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are family members.
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So arrangements were made
for Donald Hartung
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to be transported down
to the sheriff's office
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where investigator Infinger
conducted an interview.
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MATT: Donald told me
he was close with his family
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and he wanted us to find
whoever killed his family
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and that he would help us
in any way he could.
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He told me that
the last time he saw 'em
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was three days earlier
when he cooked dinner
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for his mom and John.
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And that he made
Richard a plate
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and put it in the oven
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so Richard would have some food
when he got home.
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Donald stated
that he left around 6:00,
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went home, and just sat around
and kind of watched TV.
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WAYNE:
That was on Tuesday night.
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Richard and John
did not show up for work
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or their scheduled appointments
on Wednesday or Thursday,
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and then we found them
on Friday.
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So at that point,
to our knowledge,
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the last person
that would have seen them alive
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would have been Donald Hartung.
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MATT: Donald agreed to give us
a DNA sample.
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He had no criminal record
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and he has been cooperative.
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So--and I really had no reason
not to believe him.
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He was not a suspect.
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WAYNE: We knew we had
to start building in
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and really getting
some background on this family
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and finding out more
about who they were
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and how they live their lives.
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FAYE: My aunt, Voncile,
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was my favorite aunt.
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She was outgoing,
fun to be around.
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She had a beautiful
southern draw to her voice.
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She never met a stranger
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and she treated
everyone equally.
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She met uncle Richard.
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And then a year or so after
they were married,
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they had Richard and John.
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Richard was very shy,
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but he was very intellectual,
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he loved learning.
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John was special needs,
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but he did not let
his disability stop him.
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BRENDA: John and I start
working back
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in 1990 at Walmart.
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He worked so hard.
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He was a gentle giant.
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Everybody loved John.
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He's just a good, good man.
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FAYE: Donald was
my aunt's first son,
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her oldest son
from a previous marriage.
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He was Richard
and John's half-brother.
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Voncile, she was a great mom.
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She's very protective
of her sons.
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When she got older,
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she was physically unable
to walk.
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So after my uncle passed,
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Richard was the caregiver
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for my aunt and for John.
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He never complained
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about having to take care
of his family.
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It was just something he did.
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The way I found out
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that they had been murdered,
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I was watching the news.
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Voncile and Richard
and John were dead.
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It was their house.
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BRENDA: I found out John
and his family were murdered.
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I said, no, no.
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Not my John.
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I'm like why would somebody
do that?
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Who would wanna murder
a family
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that's never done anything
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to anybody a day in their life?
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[ominous music playing]
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MATT:
When I was at the crime scene
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and we discovered the bodies,
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we discovered them
under large mounds of clothes,
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which was very unusual.
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I've never seen that before
on any homicide scene.
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The following day,
one of the investigators
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00:10:15,824 --> 00:10:17,409
that was assisting me
on the case
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00:10:17,450 --> 00:10:21,204
searched on the internet
and found that sometimes,
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during a cult
or ritualistic killings,
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clothing is placed
on top of the bodies
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to keep the bodies'
temperature warm.
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Searching on the internet,
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the investigators
also found
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that there was a blue moon
that occurred
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around the time
of these killings.
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WAYNE: A blue moon
is the second full moon
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within a calendar month,
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and apparently,
this only happens
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once every two to three years.
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And we learned that there are
certain followers of Wiccan
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or a Pagan religion
that would use a blue moon
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to conduct rituals.
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As it so happened,
the family was murdered
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just days before a blue moon.
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There was some speculation
that maybe the bodies
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were to be kept warm
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until the actual
blue moon occurred
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which would have been
in a few days.
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So we really don't know
what we got at this point
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but if there's a crazed
occult murderer
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running around Florida,
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we got a problem on our hands.
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Of the three victims,
the only one
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that had a gunshot wound
was Richard.
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He definitely appeared
to be targeted.
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MATT: We got a search warrant
based on the Wicca
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00:11:38,073 --> 00:11:39,991
and witchcraft information.
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00:11:40,033 --> 00:11:43,286
WOMAN: There were some books
about witchcraft,
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00:11:43,328 --> 00:11:44,996
figurines, and candles.
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00:11:45,038 --> 00:11:49,042
MATT: But we still had nothing
to connect them to the murders.
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00:11:49,084 --> 00:11:50,710
WAYNE: We received a letter
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00:11:50,752 --> 00:11:54,839
from an inmate
and what that inmate told us
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00:11:55,173 --> 00:11:57,384
WAYNE: On July 31st, 2015,
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00:12:07,811 --> 00:12:09,062
we found three bodies.
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00:12:09,104 --> 00:12:11,439
An entire family killed
in their home.
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MATT: The house
wasn't broken into,
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nothing's missing.
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00:12:17,487 --> 00:12:19,906
Why would somebody want
to kill an entire family
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00:12:19,948 --> 00:12:22,701
in an upper middleclass
neighborhood like this?
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00:12:27,914 --> 00:12:31,251
Good afternoon, everyone.
Is everyone ready?
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00:12:31,292 --> 00:12:33,420
Three deceased victims
of homicide were discovered
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00:12:33,461 --> 00:12:35,463
and it was determined
that the three victims
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00:12:35,505 --> 00:12:36,715
were all family members.
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00:12:36,756 --> 00:12:40,719
Voncile Smith,
son victim Richard Smith,
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00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:42,929
and son victim John Smith.
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00:12:42,971 --> 00:12:46,599
All three victims were killed
by blunt force trauma.
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Their throats were slit.
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00:12:48,143 --> 00:12:52,105
Richard Smith also suffered
a gunshot wound.
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00:12:52,147 --> 00:12:54,274
The method, uh, of the murder,
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00:12:54,315 --> 00:12:56,985
positions of bodies
led us to believe
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00:12:57,027 --> 00:13:00,530
that there's a potential
that was a ritualistic killing.
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00:13:00,572 --> 00:13:04,200
In the midst of this press
conference, he drops a bomb.
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00:13:04,242 --> 00:13:06,619
Essentially this family murder
was witchcraft
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00:13:06,661 --> 00:13:09,581
and that there may have been
a ritualistic element
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00:13:09,622 --> 00:13:10,915
to this killing,
so it went from,
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00:13:10,957 --> 00:13:12,709
"Oh, my gosh,
this is a triple homicide,"
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00:13:12,751 --> 00:13:17,005
to, "What? We have a witchcraft
murderer on our hands?"
259
00:13:17,047 --> 00:13:18,465
What did these people do
to be the target
260
00:13:18,506 --> 00:13:20,633
of witchcraft killings?
261
00:13:24,220 --> 00:13:25,930
MATT:
After the press conference,
262
00:13:25,972 --> 00:13:31,144
the murders were dubbed
the Blue Moon Killings.
263
00:13:32,479 --> 00:13:33,813
Suddenly, this was
making headlines
264
00:13:33,855 --> 00:13:35,148
not just in Pensacola
in Florida
265
00:13:35,190 --> 00:13:38,026
but throughout the world.
266
00:13:38,068 --> 00:13:39,694
People were talking
about it everywhere
267
00:13:39,736 --> 00:13:41,613
from the water cooler
to the gas stations,
268
00:13:41,654 --> 00:13:43,948
to the tire store.
Every single day,
269
00:13:43,990 --> 00:13:46,576
everybody was trying to find
that next bit of information
270
00:13:46,618 --> 00:13:49,704
to figure out who killed
this mother and her two sons,
271
00:13:49,746 --> 00:13:52,582
and was there really
an occult angle.
272
00:13:52,624 --> 00:13:55,168
WAYNE: The vast majority
of people
273
00:13:55,210 --> 00:13:57,879
practicing Wiccan religion
274
00:13:57,921 --> 00:14:00,423
do not subscribe
to any violence
275
00:14:00,465 --> 00:14:03,093
or any rituals
or anything like that.
276
00:14:04,135 --> 00:14:06,846
But as is the case
with any following,
277
00:14:06,888 --> 00:14:09,307
you can have
radicalized members.
278
00:14:11,059 --> 00:14:12,936
MATT: We were hoping
that someone
279
00:14:12,977 --> 00:14:14,854
who was involved in Wiccan
280
00:14:14,896 --> 00:14:17,482
might shed any light
on this situation,
281
00:14:17,524 --> 00:14:21,444
but there's really not
a Wicca community here
282
00:14:21,486 --> 00:14:24,239
in Pensacola that we could
locate to talk to anyone.
283
00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:27,617
[suspenseful music playing]
284
00:14:27,659 --> 00:14:30,286
BRIDGETTE: The burning question
is who would have had
285
00:14:30,328 --> 00:14:33,498
the motive to murder
these three family members?
286
00:14:33,540 --> 00:14:35,750
From what we gathered
from neighbors
287
00:14:35,792 --> 00:14:37,002
and other family members,
288
00:14:37,043 --> 00:14:39,212
this family stayed
to themselves.
289
00:14:39,254 --> 00:14:42,882
They didn't have friends
over very often.
290
00:14:42,924 --> 00:14:45,927
FAYE: When people say
they were reclusive,
291
00:14:45,969 --> 00:14:47,679
I don't believe
they were reclusive
292
00:14:47,721 --> 00:14:51,141
because, you know, they were
anti-social or anything.
293
00:14:51,182 --> 00:14:55,020
But I think it was because
of the medical reasons.
294
00:14:55,061 --> 00:14:57,939
My aunt,
she was physically unable
295
00:14:57,981 --> 00:14:59,399
to get out and do things,
296
00:14:59,441 --> 00:15:04,320
and because John
and Richard had jobs,
297
00:15:04,362 --> 00:15:06,239
they worked all day.
298
00:15:08,283 --> 00:15:10,785
FAYE: Richard's job
was in the tech part
299
00:15:10,827 --> 00:15:12,829
of Homeland Security.
300
00:15:13,955 --> 00:15:16,291
His job meant a lot to him.
301
00:15:16,332 --> 00:15:19,085
I don't know a lot
about what he did,
302
00:15:19,127 --> 00:15:21,046
I just knew
that he worked there
303
00:15:21,087 --> 00:15:24,924
and it was a secret, you know.
304
00:15:24,966 --> 00:15:27,844
It was Homeland Security.
305
00:15:30,472 --> 00:15:33,183
MATT: We discovered
the Richard was an employee
306
00:15:33,224 --> 00:15:36,770
with the Department
of Homeland Security.
307
00:15:36,811 --> 00:15:38,104
The thought crossed my mind,
308
00:15:38,146 --> 00:15:40,815
was there anything
that he was working on
309
00:15:40,857 --> 00:15:45,862
that might've endangered him
or his family?
310
00:15:45,904 --> 00:15:48,615
MOLLYE: He had high-rated
security clearance.
311
00:15:48,656 --> 00:15:51,326
Was he involved in something
that perhaps led him
312
00:15:51,368 --> 00:15:54,537
and his family to be murdered
in such a violent fashion?
313
00:15:55,330 --> 00:15:56,790
MATT: So, investigators
314
00:15:56,831 --> 00:15:58,958
from the Department
of Homeland Security
315
00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:03,505
actually came down
to investigate.
316
00:16:03,546 --> 00:16:05,632
WAYNE: His work computers were
property of Federal Government
317
00:16:05,674 --> 00:16:07,884
so it would only be
proper to have
318
00:16:07,926 --> 00:16:10,762
the Department of Homeland
Security employees
319
00:16:10,804 --> 00:16:12,305
examine their computers
320
00:16:12,347 --> 00:16:15,850
and, uh, do that portion
of the investigation
321
00:16:15,892 --> 00:16:17,227
on our behalf.
322
00:16:17,268 --> 00:16:19,312
MATT: We sent his phone
to be examined
323
00:16:19,354 --> 00:16:21,314
to see if there was
any text messages
324
00:16:21,356 --> 00:16:24,651
between people, emails,
that sort of thing
325
00:16:24,693 --> 00:16:27,737
that might shed any light
on the situation.
326
00:16:27,779 --> 00:16:29,989
And Department
of Homeland Security told me
327
00:16:30,031 --> 00:16:34,786
that if they found anyone using
his logins or codes at work,
328
00:16:34,828 --> 00:16:36,454
they would let me know.
329
00:16:37,872 --> 00:16:40,000
WAYNE: Right around
the same timeframe
330
00:16:40,041 --> 00:16:42,919
we're getting
the autopsy reports.
331
00:16:42,961 --> 00:16:46,464
MATT: The medical examiner
wasn't really able to give us
332
00:16:46,506 --> 00:16:50,510
a specific time of death
due to the amount of clothing
333
00:16:50,552 --> 00:16:53,388
on the bodies that slowed down
334
00:16:53,430 --> 00:16:55,640
the decaying process.
335
00:16:55,682 --> 00:16:58,101
So it was very hard
for the medical examiner
336
00:16:58,143 --> 00:17:00,979
to tell us when
the Smith family was murdered.
337
00:17:01,021 --> 00:17:03,314
Also in the medical
examiner's report,
338
00:17:03,356 --> 00:17:06,234
it was noted
that Richard's stomach
339
00:17:06,276 --> 00:17:08,862
did not contain
the wide steak fries
340
00:17:08,903 --> 00:17:13,158
that Donald had cooked
for the family Tuesday night.
341
00:17:13,199 --> 00:17:15,785
Therefore it appeared
he had been killed
342
00:17:15,827 --> 00:17:18,121
before he had a chance
to eat the plate of food
343
00:17:18,163 --> 00:17:21,374
that Donald Hartung said
he had prepared for Richard.
344
00:17:22,250 --> 00:17:24,044
Also, of the three victims,
345
00:17:24,085 --> 00:17:27,505
the only one that had
a gunshot wound was Richard.
346
00:17:28,381 --> 00:17:30,633
There's no signs
of forced entry,
347
00:17:30,675 --> 00:17:33,386
there's no signs
of a struggle inside,
348
00:17:33,428 --> 00:17:35,472
no signs of resistance.
349
00:17:35,513 --> 00:17:37,932
As we looked at it,
I think we could fairly quickly
350
00:17:37,974 --> 00:17:40,226
rule out that it was
a random attack.
351
00:17:40,268 --> 00:17:43,355
I mean, it definitely appeared
to be targeted.
352
00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:47,233
MOLLYE: Richard Smith worked
for the Department
353
00:17:47,275 --> 00:17:49,569
of Homeland Security in IT.
354
00:17:49,611 --> 00:17:51,905
Not many people knew much
about what he did,
355
00:17:51,946 --> 00:17:54,449
but they do a lot of work
investigating a number
356
00:17:54,491 --> 00:17:58,244
of international and national
crimes including terrorism.
357
00:17:58,286 --> 00:18:01,331
And so it naturally
led people to speculate
358
00:18:01,373 --> 00:18:03,667
that perhaps it was his work
which was top secret
359
00:18:03,708 --> 00:18:14,135
that played a role
in the murder of his family.
360
00:18:14,177 --> 00:18:15,929
en it comes to crime
in Pensacola,
361
00:18:15,970 --> 00:18:19,140
it's not unusual
to have violent crime
362
00:18:19,182 --> 00:18:20,934
that's related
to either drugs
363
00:18:20,975 --> 00:18:23,978
or domestic violence
or an argument.
364
00:18:24,020 --> 00:18:27,065
But in this particular case,
this was a triple homicide.
365
00:18:27,107 --> 00:18:29,818
And entire family was murdered.
366
00:18:29,859 --> 00:18:32,404
And the media
was very interested in this
367
00:18:32,445 --> 00:18:34,614
because the victims
were a retired mom
368
00:18:34,656 --> 00:18:37,492
and her two sons,
one of them was disabled
369
00:18:37,534 --> 00:18:40,912
and another one worked
for Homeland Security.
370
00:18:40,954 --> 00:18:44,332
No one could imagine why anyone
would wanna hurt them like this
371
00:18:44,374 --> 00:18:45,792
in such a brutal way.
372
00:18:45,834 --> 00:18:48,545
This was a really scary event
that happened
373
00:18:48,586 --> 00:18:50,630
and people wanted answers.
374
00:18:52,799 --> 00:18:55,635
There were definitely some
anomalies with this scene.
375
00:18:55,677 --> 00:18:58,179
The way the bodies
were positioned,
376
00:18:58,221 --> 00:19:00,724
the inference of an occult
377
00:19:00,765 --> 00:19:04,561
or Wiccan type religion
being involved
378
00:19:04,602 --> 00:19:06,146
that Richard worked
379
00:19:06,187 --> 00:19:08,106
for the Department
of Homeland Security.
380
00:19:08,148 --> 00:19:10,859
So we really don't know
what we've got at this point,
381
00:19:10,900 --> 00:19:14,362
but it's really important
to keep your mind open
382
00:19:14,404 --> 00:19:16,448
to all possibilities.
383
00:19:16,489 --> 00:19:18,533
One of the worst things
an investigator can do
384
00:19:18,575 --> 00:19:19,909
is get tunnel vision.
385
00:19:19,951 --> 00:19:23,204
So, we're going
to consider everything,
386
00:19:23,246 --> 00:19:25,248
leave no stone unturned.
387
00:19:26,875 --> 00:19:29,627
MATT: Working
with the DHS investigators,
388
00:19:29,669 --> 00:19:33,256
uh, they were able to provide me
with video footage
389
00:19:33,298 --> 00:19:36,468
of Richard leaving work
on Tuesday
390
00:19:36,509 --> 00:19:39,429
at 6:36 PM.
391
00:19:39,471 --> 00:19:42,807
The video shows him wearing
the same clothing
392
00:19:42,849 --> 00:19:46,102
that he was found
in when he was murdered.
393
00:19:48,813 --> 00:19:51,733
WAYNE: I eventually drove
the same route
394
00:19:51,775 --> 00:19:53,026
that he would've taken home
395
00:19:53,068 --> 00:19:54,861
at about the same time
of day and found
396
00:19:54,903 --> 00:19:57,739
that it would've taken
approximately 20 minutes,
397
00:19:57,781 --> 00:20:02,285
which would put him at home
at roughly 7:00 PM.
398
00:20:03,787 --> 00:20:07,832
MATT: We got Richard's
phone records back.
399
00:20:07,874 --> 00:20:13,004
His last phone call
was at 6:46 PM
400
00:20:14,130 --> 00:20:17,217
to his mother's home
where he also lived
401
00:20:17,258 --> 00:20:19,594
and there was no answer.
402
00:20:19,636 --> 00:20:21,721
We believed his family
was deceased
403
00:20:21,763 --> 00:20:23,807
in the home at this point.
404
00:20:23,848 --> 00:20:26,017
WAYNE: Certainly be logical
to believe
405
00:20:26,059 --> 00:20:29,979
that Voncile and John
had been killed first
406
00:20:30,021 --> 00:20:32,565
and that the killer
had waited for Richard
407
00:20:32,607 --> 00:20:35,694
to come home
and then attempted to mitigate
408
00:20:35,735 --> 00:20:37,779
the threat
that Richard reposed to him
409
00:20:37,821 --> 00:20:41,157
by shooting him
as soon as he came in the door.
410
00:20:43,660 --> 00:20:45,495
At this point
in the investigation,
411
00:20:45,537 --> 00:20:48,873
there's no external threats
that we can find.
412
00:20:48,915 --> 00:20:52,460
And given the fact that
it appeared that the killer
413
00:20:52,502 --> 00:20:53,753
had waited for Richard,
414
00:20:53,795 --> 00:20:56,089
that would also tend
to indicate
415
00:20:56,131 --> 00:20:59,217
that whoever did this
was known to the family
416
00:20:59,259 --> 00:21:01,136
and knew their routines.
417
00:21:01,177 --> 00:21:05,306
As we did interviews and we've
learned more about the family,
418
00:21:05,348 --> 00:21:07,058
I didn't ever locate anybody
419
00:21:07,100 --> 00:21:08,768
that had actually been
inside the home
420
00:21:08,810 --> 00:21:12,063
to go and visit them
at their residence.
421
00:21:12,105 --> 00:21:14,649
The only one
was Donald Hartung.
422
00:21:14,691 --> 00:21:17,652
He was the last person to see
them alive on Tuesday night
423
00:21:17,694 --> 00:21:20,947
and he was the only known
family member in the area.
424
00:21:22,282 --> 00:21:27,996
MATT: So we conducted another
interview with Donald Hartung
425
00:21:28,038 --> 00:21:31,583
and during the interviews
with Donald,
426
00:21:31,624 --> 00:21:34,961
I had learned
that he practiced Wicca
427
00:21:36,129 --> 00:21:39,257
and this came up
in our conversation.
428
00:21:39,299 --> 00:21:41,968
So this was a red flag
because we believed
429
00:21:42,010 --> 00:21:46,222
that the murders
might be related to witchcraft.
430
00:21:47,223 --> 00:21:48,266
So, we didn't know
431
00:21:48,308 --> 00:21:50,602
if Donald
had anything to do
432
00:21:50,643 --> 00:21:53,646
with the murders or not.
433
00:21:53,688 --> 00:21:55,357
MOLLYE:
Did this really play a role?
434
00:21:55,398 --> 00:21:58,026
Was this guy such a believer
in his occultic beliefs
435
00:21:58,068 --> 00:21:59,819
that he would kill
his own family
436
00:21:59,861 --> 00:22:02,447
on a ritualistic night
like a blue moon?
437
00:22:02,489 --> 00:22:04,824
It was all very strange,
it was very odd,
438
00:22:04,866 --> 00:22:08,578
and it took what was already
a crazy and salacious homicide
439
00:22:08,620 --> 00:22:10,955
of three deaths
and just sky rocketed it
440
00:22:10,997 --> 00:22:14,209
into a whole
another stratosphere.
441
00:22:14,250 --> 00:22:16,795
WAYNE: At this point,
when we look
at Donald's motive,
442
00:22:16,836 --> 00:22:18,505
I just didn't know
what to think.
443
00:22:18,546 --> 00:22:20,048
I was trying to figure out
444
00:22:20,090 --> 00:22:22,801
why would somebody want
to kill their own mother
445
00:22:22,842 --> 00:22:25,470
and two half-brothers?
446
00:22:25,512 --> 00:22:27,430
[siren wailing]
447
00:22:27,472 --> 00:22:30,517
MATT: We got a search warrant
based on the Wicca
448
00:22:30,558 --> 00:22:32,519
and witchcraft information
449
00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:34,854
to see if there was anything
450
00:22:34,896 --> 00:22:38,108
used in this crime
in his home.
451
00:22:39,401 --> 00:22:41,903
They came across a prayer room.
452
00:22:41,945 --> 00:22:44,614
There were some books
about witchcraft.
453
00:22:44,656 --> 00:22:46,366
There were some figurines
454
00:22:46,408 --> 00:22:49,744
and candles on tables
and dressers.
455
00:22:49,786 --> 00:22:52,247
[ominous music playing]
456
00:22:52,288 --> 00:22:55,792
Just because somebody has
an alternative belief system
457
00:22:55,834 --> 00:22:57,043
doesn't necessarily mean
458
00:22:57,085 --> 00:22:59,254
that they're doing
anything wrong.
459
00:22:59,295 --> 00:23:00,380
Just the fact that
460
00:23:00,422 --> 00:23:02,173
he's got a Ouija board
in his house
461
00:23:02,215 --> 00:23:03,925
doesn't necessarily
tell us that
462
00:23:03,967 --> 00:23:06,845
Donald Hartung
murdered his family.
463
00:23:06,886 --> 00:23:09,681
But most noticeably
was what wasn't there.
464
00:23:09,723 --> 00:23:12,934
They didn't find a gun,
they didn't find any weapon
465
00:23:12,976 --> 00:23:15,937
that may have been used
in this crime.
466
00:23:15,979 --> 00:23:17,939
At this point,
yeah, we thought
467
00:23:17,981 --> 00:23:20,400
Donald was a good suspect
468
00:23:20,442 --> 00:23:25,155
but there's still no evidence
linking him to it.
469
00:23:26,990 --> 00:23:28,992
The Department
of Homeland Security,
470
00:23:29,034 --> 00:23:32,787
they were there to assist us
in our investigation
471
00:23:32,829 --> 00:23:36,958
in, uh, Richard's work.
472
00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:41,338
We gave them several pieces
of electronics.
473
00:23:41,379 --> 00:23:44,299
They checked
his computer at work
474
00:23:44,341 --> 00:23:48,428
to see if anybody had used
his logins
475
00:23:48,470 --> 00:23:51,014
but no one had.
476
00:23:51,056 --> 00:23:54,976
They were able to tell us that
nothing with Richard's job
477
00:23:55,018 --> 00:23:57,270
had anything to do
with his murder
478
00:23:57,312 --> 00:23:59,856
where this would be
a terrorist act
479
00:23:59,898 --> 00:24:02,609
or something of that nature.
480
00:24:03,902 --> 00:24:06,404
At this point,
there were no other leads.
481
00:24:06,446 --> 00:24:08,698
We've exhausted everything else.
482
00:24:08,740 --> 00:24:11,743
And it all keeps
pointing back
483
00:24:11,785 --> 00:24:14,162
to Donald Hartung.
484
00:24:14,204 --> 00:24:16,873
Investigator Infinger and I
wanted to find out
485
00:24:16,915 --> 00:24:19,167
more about Donald Hartung.
486
00:24:19,209 --> 00:24:23,922
We spoke with a co-worker
of Donald Hartung
487
00:24:23,963 --> 00:24:26,508
and he indicated
to law enforcement
488
00:24:26,549 --> 00:24:31,012
that Donald had often bragged
about much money his family had.
489
00:24:31,054 --> 00:24:35,850
He would be rich
and that he was going to retire.
490
00:24:35,892 --> 00:24:37,143
Within three weeks
491
00:24:37,185 --> 00:24:39,354
of the murders
of the Smith family,
492
00:24:39,396 --> 00:24:43,149
Donald Hartung submitted
his letter of resignation.
493
00:24:44,234 --> 00:24:46,069
WAYNE: This was
somewhat surprising,
494
00:24:46,111 --> 00:24:49,155
you know, for someone
to be talking about retiring,
495
00:24:49,197 --> 00:24:52,450
uh, and not just taking a break
or taking vacation
496
00:24:52,492 --> 00:24:53,576
but actually retiring from work,
497
00:24:53,618 --> 00:24:55,078
seemed pretty drastic
498
00:24:55,120 --> 00:24:57,497
and just after
someone murdered his family.
499
00:24:57,539 --> 00:25:01,334
Now we think we may have
a motive involved in this.
500
00:25:01,376 --> 00:25:04,212
But we still had nothing
to connect them
501
00:25:16,141 --> 00:25:17,851
MOLLYE: People were clamoring
for information
502
00:25:17,892 --> 00:25:21,271
once that Wiccan genie
was out of the bottle.
503
00:25:21,312 --> 00:25:24,274
Not only were the crimes
incredibly brutal and violent
504
00:25:24,315 --> 00:25:25,692
when the bodies had
been covered
505
00:25:25,734 --> 00:25:28,570
with layers of blankets
and clothes,
506
00:25:28,611 --> 00:25:31,865
there were different weapons
used in the attack
507
00:25:31,906 --> 00:25:35,410
and the mom was even missing
a part of her little finger.
508
00:25:35,452 --> 00:25:37,454
But is this evidence
really pointing
509
00:25:37,495 --> 00:25:38,955
towards a ritualistic killing
510
00:25:38,997 --> 00:25:41,499
or did something else happen?
511
00:25:44,336 --> 00:25:46,588
WAYNE: We end up talking
to Faye Haas
512
00:25:46,629 --> 00:25:51,259
who was a relative
of the murdered family
513
00:25:51,301 --> 00:25:53,845
and she painted a little bit
different picture for us
514
00:25:53,887 --> 00:25:58,433
than what we had initially
been told by Donald Hartung.
515
00:25:59,309 --> 00:26:01,144
Donald Hartung may sound like
516
00:26:01,186 --> 00:26:03,897
the family was all
happy together.
517
00:26:03,938 --> 00:26:05,690
Faye said that,
518
00:26:05,732 --> 00:26:08,735
uh, Donald was kind of
the black sheep of the family.
519
00:26:08,777 --> 00:26:11,112
[dramatic music playing]
520
00:26:11,154 --> 00:26:14,324
FAYE: I think, Donald
rubbed people the wrong way
521
00:26:14,366 --> 00:26:16,993
because of the way he treated
other people.
522
00:26:17,035 --> 00:26:20,497
He was mean.
523
00:26:20,538 --> 00:26:23,500
If he saw a weakness in you
as a child or something,
524
00:26:23,541 --> 00:26:25,210
he would pick
on that weakness.
525
00:26:25,251 --> 00:26:26,753
He was a bully.
526
00:26:26,795 --> 00:26:30,840
And the problem with Donald
and his family dynamics
527
00:26:30,882 --> 00:26:33,176
is I know
that when we were little,
528
00:26:33,218 --> 00:26:34,678
he didn't like it
529
00:26:34,719 --> 00:26:37,347
when he wasn't the center
of the attention.
530
00:26:37,389 --> 00:26:41,351
If you're a jealous person
like he was,
531
00:26:41,393 --> 00:26:44,854
you don't change overnight.
532
00:26:44,896 --> 00:26:48,024
I know what Donald did to us
533
00:26:48,066 --> 00:26:50,652
when the adults' backs
were turned.
534
00:26:50,694 --> 00:26:55,365
I don't imagine that stopped
with Richard or John.
535
00:26:55,407 --> 00:26:58,034
He was jealous of Richard.
536
00:26:58,076 --> 00:27:01,121
He was jealous of his success
537
00:27:01,162 --> 00:27:05,375
and his job
of what Richard had.
538
00:27:05,417 --> 00:27:07,544
Donald was getting
in a lot of trouble
539
00:27:07,585 --> 00:27:10,797
all his teenage years,
his marriage years,
540
00:27:10,839 --> 00:27:14,551
when he got a divorce
and each and every time
541
00:27:14,592 --> 00:27:18,722
my aunt and uncle
helped him financially.
542
00:27:18,763 --> 00:27:21,307
I think, my Aunt Bonnie
and Uncle Richard
543
00:27:21,349 --> 00:27:23,727
bailed him out too many times
544
00:27:23,768 --> 00:27:25,145
and it was never enough.
545
00:27:25,186 --> 00:27:28,189
It was never-ending.
546
00:27:28,231 --> 00:27:31,234
WAYNE: The Smiths
were very well off.
547
00:27:31,276 --> 00:27:33,737
Just their bank accounts
and their investments
548
00:27:33,778 --> 00:27:36,406
totaled more
than a million dollars.
549
00:27:36,448 --> 00:27:39,617
When we looked at the will,
it was very apparent
550
00:27:39,659 --> 00:27:42,787
that Donald had been excluded
from the will.
551
00:27:42,829 --> 00:27:47,751
The entire estate was to be left
to Richard and John.
552
00:27:47,792 --> 00:27:50,211
When we see that the estate
is being left
553
00:27:50,253 --> 00:27:51,504
to the two brothers
554
00:27:51,546 --> 00:27:54,257
and that Donald
had been excluded
555
00:27:54,299 --> 00:27:55,800
if Donald knew about that,
556
00:27:55,842 --> 00:27:59,262
that'd be huge motivation
for him to commit this crime
557
00:27:59,304 --> 00:28:02,349
because simply killing
his mother wouldn't be enough
558
00:28:02,390 --> 00:28:03,850
to get him any money,
559
00:28:03,892 --> 00:28:07,437
he would have to take out
both brothers as well.
560
00:28:07,479 --> 00:28:10,231
FAYE: He knew
they were well off.
561
00:28:10,273 --> 00:28:14,778
My aunt told him about the will
that he was out
562
00:28:14,819 --> 00:28:19,991
and he never shed a tear
in the funeral home.
563
00:28:20,033 --> 00:28:22,285
At the gravesite,
he never cried.
564
00:28:22,327 --> 00:28:24,996
Never a tear.
565
00:28:26,039 --> 00:28:27,374
So I wasn't surprised
566
00:28:27,415 --> 00:28:30,001
he was their suspect.
567
00:28:31,002 --> 00:28:32,337
MATT: Throughout the case,
568
00:28:32,379 --> 00:28:34,089
the more and more
interviews we did,
569
00:28:34,130 --> 00:28:37,342
I felt like Donald was
probably gonna be our guy.
570
00:28:37,384 --> 00:28:40,053
But other than,
yeah, he's got a good motive,
571
00:28:40,095 --> 00:28:42,138
there's still no evidence
linking him
572
00:28:42,180 --> 00:28:45,058
to the murders of this family.
573
00:28:50,355 --> 00:28:53,525
We went back and did
some follow up interviews
574
00:28:53,566 --> 00:28:54,984
with some of the neighbors.
575
00:28:55,026 --> 00:28:57,654
WAYNE: We located one neighbor
in particular
576
00:28:57,696 --> 00:29:00,782
that lived directly next door
to the Smith family.
577
00:29:00,824 --> 00:29:02,200
He was very in tune
578
00:29:02,242 --> 00:29:05,078
with who was coming and going
from his neighborhood.
579
00:29:05,120 --> 00:29:08,707
He told us that he remembered
on the night in question,
580
00:29:08,748 --> 00:29:14,379
this neighbor recalled seeing,
uh, Mr. Hartung's car leave
581
00:29:14,421 --> 00:29:17,340
and he remembered it being
right around sunset,
582
00:29:17,382 --> 00:29:19,009
twilight hours.
583
00:29:19,050 --> 00:29:23,304
Uh, Mr. Hartung had told us
he left between 5:30 and 6:00.
584
00:29:23,346 --> 00:29:24,848
And that was notable
585
00:29:24,889 --> 00:29:28,560
because sunset
was a little bit later now.
586
00:29:28,601 --> 00:29:32,313
MATT: The neighbor said
he distinctively remembered
587
00:29:32,355 --> 00:29:36,026
Donald leaving
after Richard got home.
588
00:29:36,067 --> 00:29:40,071
And that when Donald left,
his headlights were off,
589
00:29:40,113 --> 00:29:42,532
kind of like
he didn't wanna anybody to see,
590
00:29:42,574 --> 00:29:45,618
you know,
him leaving the home.
591
00:29:45,660 --> 00:29:47,871
The significance
of those timestamps,
592
00:29:47,912 --> 00:29:52,250
it helped us with our timeline
of when Donald actually left
593
00:29:52,292 --> 00:29:55,420
versus when he told me he left.
594
00:29:55,462 --> 00:29:58,131
Why was Donald
lying about all that?
595
00:29:59,424 --> 00:30:01,426
WAYNE: The investigation
is becoming
596
00:30:01,468 --> 00:30:02,886
quite focused, you know.
597
00:30:02,927 --> 00:30:05,847
We've got a motive
and we are ruling out,
598
00:30:05,889 --> 00:30:08,683
uh, a lot of other
possible theories.
599
00:30:08,725 --> 00:30:10,185
But the one thing
we don't have
600
00:30:10,226 --> 00:30:12,562
is any direct physical evidence
601
00:30:12,604 --> 00:30:15,148
tying Donald Hartung
to the murder of his family.
602
00:30:15,190 --> 00:30:18,651
So we've still got a problem
on our hands.
603
00:30:18,693 --> 00:30:23,490
[suspenseful music playing]
604
00:30:23,531 --> 00:30:25,867
The only thing
we had at this point
605
00:30:25,909 --> 00:30:27,577
was DNA evidence.
606
00:30:27,619 --> 00:30:29,746
I was really anxious
waiting to see
607
00:30:29,788 --> 00:30:31,581
what these results
were gonna be
608
00:30:31,623 --> 00:30:32,916
from the crime lab.
609
00:30:32,957 --> 00:30:36,878
Unfortunately,
DNA results don't come back
610
00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:40,632
as fast as investigators
would always like
611
00:30:40,674 --> 00:30:42,467
but when we got the results,
612
00:30:42,509 --> 00:30:45,011
there was some DNA
in some very surprising areas.
613
00:30:45,053 --> 00:30:47,847
[suspenseful music playing]
614
00:30:47,889 --> 00:30:51,601
WAYNE: We received a letter
from an inmate
615
00:30:51,643 --> 00:30:53,770
and he had information
he wished to share with us
616
00:30:53,812 --> 00:30:57,899
about the murder
and what that inmate told us
617
00:30:57,941 --> 00:30:59,818
was very shocking to me.
618
00:30:59,859 --> 00:31:04,781
This case was almost
completely circumstantial.
619
00:31:04,823 --> 00:31:06,783
TREY: One of the largest
issues was that
620
00:31:06,825 --> 00:31:09,327
we didn't have, you know,
the "smoking gun."
621
00:31:09,369 --> 00:31:12,330
BRIDGETTE: There was
some anxiety and anticipation
622
00:31:12,372 --> 00:31:22,465
because we never know
what a jury is gonna do.
623
00:31:22,507 --> 00:31:24,551
BRIDGETTE:
The initial investigation
624
00:31:24,592 --> 00:31:27,220
into the murders
of the Smith family
625
00:31:27,262 --> 00:31:29,681
seemed to stall simply
626
00:31:29,723 --> 00:31:31,766
because there was
no forensic evidence
627
00:31:31,808 --> 00:31:34,519
linking anyone to the homicides.
628
00:31:34,561 --> 00:31:37,063
[suspenseful music playing]
629
00:31:37,105 --> 00:31:39,024
BRIDGETTE:
A DNA report was received
630
00:31:39,065 --> 00:31:41,401
indicated a cigarette butt
631
00:31:41,443 --> 00:31:44,779
had Donald Hartung's DNA on it.
632
00:31:44,821 --> 00:31:46,948
The reason that was important
is because
633
00:31:46,990 --> 00:31:49,868
the cigarette butt
was found in a trashcan
634
00:31:49,909 --> 00:31:53,621
and the way the items
in the trashcan were layered,
635
00:31:53,663 --> 00:31:55,790
it was unusual
for that cigarette butt
636
00:31:55,832 --> 00:31:57,792
to be where it was.
637
00:31:57,834 --> 00:31:59,878
The trashcan
had a few cigarette butts
638
00:31:59,919 --> 00:32:03,882
at the very bottom
that had Donald's DNA.
639
00:32:03,923 --> 00:32:07,886
However, on top of that,
there was Voncile's purse,
640
00:32:07,927 --> 00:32:11,097
some bloody paper towels
that had her blood on it.
641
00:32:11,139 --> 00:32:12,766
And then smack dab
in the middle
642
00:32:12,807 --> 00:32:16,144
was the cigarette butt
with Donald's DNA.
643
00:32:16,186 --> 00:32:18,521
MATT: Very indicative
of a chain smoker
644
00:32:18,563 --> 00:32:20,690
smoking all the time,
which Donald was,
645
00:32:20,732 --> 00:32:22,734
just smoking cleaning
the stuff up
646
00:32:22,776 --> 00:32:26,821
and throwing the cigarette butts
in the trashcan.
647
00:32:26,863 --> 00:32:30,617
WAYNE: When Richard
had been located in the den,
648
00:32:30,658 --> 00:32:33,828
the very back of his belt
had been pulled out
649
00:32:33,870 --> 00:32:35,830
from the belt loops
650
00:32:35,872 --> 00:32:38,583
and Donald's DNA was
on the inside
651
00:32:38,625 --> 00:32:40,126
of his brother's belt.
652
00:32:41,211 --> 00:32:44,589
We've also found
Donald Hartung's DNA
653
00:32:44,631 --> 00:32:46,508
on his brother's computer bag
654
00:32:46,549 --> 00:32:49,594
that we know had been
with Richard's
655
00:32:49,636 --> 00:32:51,262
at his place of employment
that day.
656
00:32:51,304 --> 00:32:53,682
There'd be no reason
for Donald Hartung
657
00:32:53,723 --> 00:32:55,725
to be touching that.
658
00:32:55,767 --> 00:32:57,102
MATT: So one can say,
659
00:32:57,143 --> 00:32:59,020
"Yeah, his DNA
would've been in that house
660
00:32:59,062 --> 00:33:01,481
because it's his mom's
and he was there once a week."
661
00:33:01,523 --> 00:33:02,774
Okay. Fine.
662
00:33:02,816 --> 00:33:05,026
Well, why is it on
Richard's binder
663
00:33:05,068 --> 00:33:07,237
that he kept with him at work?
664
00:33:07,278 --> 00:33:10,615
This finally
was the piece of evidence
665
00:33:10,657 --> 00:33:12,075
that investigators
666
00:33:12,117 --> 00:33:13,618
and the state
attorney's office
667
00:33:13,660 --> 00:33:15,537
had been waiting for.
668
00:33:15,578 --> 00:33:17,706
[sirens wailing]
669
00:33:17,747 --> 00:33:20,625
MATT: On October 27th, 2015,
670
00:33:20,667 --> 00:33:22,335
Donald Hartung was arrested
671
00:33:22,377 --> 00:33:24,587
by the Escambia County
Sheriff's Department
672
00:33:24,629 --> 00:33:28,383
on three counts
of, uh, first degree murder.
673
00:33:28,425 --> 00:33:31,970
[suspenseful music playing]
674
00:33:35,724 --> 00:33:39,477
FAYE: I get the phone call
that they had arrested Donald.
675
00:33:39,519 --> 00:33:42,522
I just broke down
and started crying,
676
00:33:42,564 --> 00:33:44,816
you know, and said,
"Thank you.
677
00:33:44,858 --> 00:33:47,152
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you."
678
00:33:47,193 --> 00:33:49,154
I wish, he would've
been arrested
679
00:33:49,195 --> 00:33:51,239
before their funerals,
you know.
680
00:33:51,281 --> 00:33:54,075
That was the hardest thing.
Having him there
681
00:33:54,117 --> 00:33:57,537
and then to find out later
that he was their suspect.
682
00:34:00,582 --> 00:34:04,461
BRENDA: I was very surprised
that it was John's half-brother
683
00:34:04,502 --> 00:34:07,130
that would do
something like that.
684
00:34:07,172 --> 00:34:10,800
Why do you wanna take
the family away?
685
00:34:10,842 --> 00:34:13,595
What did they really do to you,
you know?
686
00:34:13,636 --> 00:34:14,763
Was it that bad
687
00:34:14,804 --> 00:34:18,600
you had to destroy
every one of them?
688
00:34:21,853 --> 00:34:26,608
[suspenseful music playing]
689
00:34:26,649 --> 00:34:29,277
MOLLYE: When word came out that
Donald Hartung was arrested
690
00:34:29,319 --> 00:34:31,196
for the murder of his mother
and his brothers,
691
00:34:31,237 --> 00:34:34,366
the media immediately focused
their attention on him.
692
00:34:34,407 --> 00:34:35,533
We wanted to know
693
00:34:35,575 --> 00:34:37,702
was witchcraft
playing a role in this
694
00:34:37,744 --> 00:34:40,789
or was there another motive?
695
00:34:40,830 --> 00:34:43,124
BRIDGETTE:
Because this case was
696
00:34:43,166 --> 00:34:45,460
almost completely
circumstantial,
697
00:34:45,502 --> 00:34:48,672
from the time Donald was
arrested to the time of trial,
698
00:34:48,713 --> 00:34:52,050
the investigators were still
following up on information,
699
00:34:52,092 --> 00:34:55,053
still trying to build
the strongest case that we can.
700
00:34:55,095 --> 00:34:57,472
TREY: I have personally
never prosecuted a case
701
00:34:57,514 --> 00:35:01,893
where an entire family
was so brutally murdered.
702
00:35:01,935 --> 00:35:04,145
In this case,
one of the largest issues
703
00:35:04,187 --> 00:35:08,066
was that we didn't have,
you know, the "smoking gun."
704
00:35:08,108 --> 00:35:09,442
Well, we did have
705
00:35:09,484 --> 00:35:11,569
circumstantial
pieces of evidence.
706
00:35:11,611 --> 00:35:12,904
In each pieces,
707
00:35:12,946 --> 00:35:14,864
it's like putting
a puzzle piece together
708
00:35:14,906 --> 00:35:16,866
and each piece is significant
709
00:35:16,908 --> 00:35:18,368
and you may not know
it at the time
710
00:35:18,410 --> 00:35:20,620
how significant it is
until the picture
711
00:35:20,662 --> 00:35:23,498
is actually put together
at the end.
712
00:35:23,540 --> 00:35:27,085
[suspenseful music playing]
713
00:35:29,295 --> 00:35:32,882
WAYNE: As the trial approached,
we received a letter
714
00:35:32,924 --> 00:35:34,926
from an inmate
that had been housed
715
00:35:34,968 --> 00:35:37,053
with Donald Hartung
in the local jail
716
00:35:37,095 --> 00:35:39,097
and that inmate,
uh, claimed
717
00:35:39,139 --> 00:35:41,641
that he had been speaking
with Mr. Hartung
718
00:35:41,683 --> 00:35:44,310
and he had information
he wished to share with us
719
00:35:44,352 --> 00:35:45,687
about the murder.
720
00:35:47,063 --> 00:35:49,024
That inmate tells us
721
00:35:49,065 --> 00:35:52,110
he's managed to get
Donald Hartung to talk to him
722
00:35:52,152 --> 00:35:53,945
because he expressed
723
00:35:53,987 --> 00:35:57,240
an interest
in, uh, the Wiccan religion
724
00:35:57,282 --> 00:36:01,286
and that brought an open line
of communication.
725
00:36:01,327 --> 00:36:04,164
We're usually
somewhat skeptical
726
00:36:04,205 --> 00:36:06,624
on any jail informant
727
00:36:06,666 --> 00:36:08,126
and we have to be very careful
728
00:36:08,168 --> 00:36:10,211
to make sure that
we're not just regurgitating
729
00:36:10,253 --> 00:36:13,131
something that they've seen
on the news.
730
00:36:14,049 --> 00:36:16,926
So, what that inmate told us
731
00:36:16,968 --> 00:36:19,554
was very shocking to me.
732
00:36:19,596 --> 00:36:21,431
He mentioned two things.
733
00:36:21,473 --> 00:36:23,141
The first thing was
734
00:36:23,183 --> 00:36:25,143
Donald said that
all of the blankets
735
00:36:25,185 --> 00:36:27,645
and clothes
piled on the victims
736
00:36:27,687 --> 00:36:32,817
weren't part of some
type of ritual or ceremony.
737
00:36:32,859 --> 00:36:34,652
He said that was an attempt
738
00:36:34,694 --> 00:36:36,237
to throw off investigators
739
00:36:36,279 --> 00:36:38,239
on determining
the time of death.
740
00:36:38,281 --> 00:36:39,824
In keeping the bodies warm,
741
00:36:39,866 --> 00:36:41,993
he thought it would make it
more difficult
742
00:36:42,035 --> 00:36:43,203
for us to figure out
743
00:36:43,244 --> 00:36:45,288
when the Smith family
was killed.
744
00:36:45,330 --> 00:36:47,040
BRIDGETTE: The reason
that was so important
745
00:36:47,082 --> 00:36:49,459
is time of death
had not even been discussed
746
00:36:49,501 --> 00:36:50,543
in the media,
747
00:36:50,585 --> 00:36:53,004
so there was no reason
for anyone
748
00:36:53,046 --> 00:36:55,131
to know anything was unusual
about the time of death
749
00:36:55,173 --> 00:36:58,385
unless Donald Hartung
had said something.
750
00:36:59,678 --> 00:37:02,222
WAYNE: The second thing
the letter mentioned
751
00:37:02,263 --> 00:37:04,349
was Voncile's little finger,
752
00:37:04,391 --> 00:37:06,351
we had assumed
up to that point on
753
00:37:06,393 --> 00:37:08,395
it'd been a defensive wound.
754
00:37:08,436 --> 00:37:10,689
He said,
it was not a defensive wound.
755
00:37:10,730 --> 00:37:15,026
MATT: Donald told him
he had to torture his mother
756
00:37:15,068 --> 00:37:18,154
to get the combination to
a safe in the home
757
00:37:18,196 --> 00:37:19,864
that we never even found
758
00:37:19,906 --> 00:37:22,701
during the crime scene
investigation.
759
00:37:22,742 --> 00:37:26,246
[suspenseful music playing]
760
00:37:26,287 --> 00:37:29,708
MATT: Investigators
went back into the house.
761
00:37:29,749 --> 00:37:31,001
And in fact,
762
00:37:31,042 --> 00:37:33,003
in the back bedroom,
in the closet,
763
00:37:33,044 --> 00:37:35,964
there was a safe in the floor.
764
00:37:36,006 --> 00:37:37,549
[suspenseful music playing]
765
00:37:37,590 --> 00:37:39,426
WAYNE:
This wasn't public knowledge.
766
00:37:39,467 --> 00:37:43,179
This isn't stuff
that appears, uh, in a report.
767
00:37:43,221 --> 00:37:44,973
It's not something
that's out with the media.
768
00:37:45,015 --> 00:37:47,559
It's not readily available
information.
769
00:37:47,600 --> 00:37:50,186
Uh, so when he starts
saying things like this,
770
00:37:50,228 --> 00:37:52,480
it's ringing true
in my mind.
771
00:37:52,522 --> 00:37:54,190
Although it was
initially believed
772
00:37:54,232 --> 00:37:56,317
that perhaps
Mr. Hartung's religion
773
00:37:56,359 --> 00:37:59,738
had some role
in the murder of his family,
774
00:37:59,779 --> 00:38:02,407
some sort of blue moon killer.
775
00:38:02,449 --> 00:38:06,828
Based on the detailed
information from the inmate,
776
00:38:06,870 --> 00:38:08,455
we believed
that it was really based
777
00:38:08,496 --> 00:38:11,082
on a financial motive
and financial gain.
778
00:38:11,124 --> 00:38:15,879
However, this inmate came
with baggage.
779
00:38:15,920 --> 00:38:17,589
He was in jail.
780
00:38:17,630 --> 00:38:20,842
He had a number
of felony convictions.
781
00:38:20,884 --> 00:38:22,552
Our concern was
782
00:38:22,594 --> 00:38:33,438
whether the jury was going
to believe him or not.
783
00:38:33,480 --> 00:38:34,731
WAYNE:
There was
a lot about this case
784
00:38:34,773 --> 00:38:36,358
that was unique.
785
00:38:36,399 --> 00:38:38,568
But by far,
the most surprising was
786
00:38:38,610 --> 00:38:41,988
the fact that we had
a, uh, jail informant
787
00:38:42,030 --> 00:38:45,742
that really kind of tied
everything together for us.
788
00:38:46,785 --> 00:38:49,371
We believe beyond
all reasonable doubt
789
00:38:49,412 --> 00:38:51,664
that Donald Hartung murdered
his family.
790
00:38:51,706 --> 00:38:54,042
It just solidified
what we already knew.
791
00:38:54,084 --> 00:38:57,629
[suspenseful music playing]
792
00:39:01,883 --> 00:39:04,052
WOMAN: Voncile Smith,
793
00:39:04,094 --> 00:39:05,220
Richard Smith,
794
00:39:05,261 --> 00:39:06,638
and John Smith.
795
00:39:06,680 --> 00:39:09,307
They are the mother
and the two half-brothers
796
00:39:09,349 --> 00:39:11,518
of this defendant,
Donald Hartung.
797
00:39:11,559 --> 00:39:14,187
The evidence will show,
ladies and gentlemen,
798
00:39:14,229 --> 00:39:17,107
that he did it all
for their money.
799
00:39:17,148 --> 00:39:19,317
He is the only person that stood
800
00:39:19,359 --> 00:39:22,195
to benefit
from all three of their deaths
801
00:39:22,237 --> 00:39:25,699
because if all three
of his family members died,
802
00:39:25,740 --> 00:39:27,492
he was the sole heir.
803
00:39:27,534 --> 00:39:30,870
So, any of their assets would
automatically go to Donald,
804
00:39:30,912 --> 00:39:33,331
whether his mother
had excluded him
805
00:39:33,373 --> 00:39:36,209
from her will or not.
806
00:39:36,251 --> 00:39:38,753
[suspenseful music playing]
807
00:39:39,754 --> 00:39:41,506
MOLLYE: Day four of the trial,
808
00:39:41,548 --> 00:39:44,801
they bring to the stand
Donald Hartung, Sr.'s cellmate.
809
00:39:44,843 --> 00:39:46,219
And he starts.
810
00:39:46,261 --> 00:39:49,180
He's talking about how
Donald Hartung remitted to him
811
00:39:49,222 --> 00:39:51,016
the terrible violent way
812
00:39:51,057 --> 00:39:53,059
that he killed his mom
and his two brothers,
813
00:39:53,101 --> 00:39:56,187
beating them with the claw
hammer over the head,
814
00:39:56,229 --> 00:39:59,691
torturing his own mother,
slitting their throats,
815
00:39:59,733 --> 00:40:02,777
all well after making dinner
for them.
816
00:40:02,819 --> 00:40:06,156
All these salacious details
that basically matched
817
00:40:06,197 --> 00:40:09,117
what the police knew
about the crime.
818
00:40:09,159 --> 00:40:11,244
FAYE: One of the hardest things
to find out
819
00:40:11,286 --> 00:40:15,623
from his testimony,
was that my aunt was tortured
820
00:40:15,665 --> 00:40:19,169
and that she was beaten
with a hammer.
821
00:40:21,629 --> 00:40:25,091
They didn't deserve
to die like this.
822
00:40:25,133 --> 00:40:27,510
I was angry.
I hated him.
823
00:40:27,552 --> 00:40:31,681
I wanted revenge
just like any normal person.
824
00:40:31,723 --> 00:40:33,099
[suspenseful music playing]
825
00:40:33,141 --> 00:40:34,851
MOLLYE: There's this
little bit of skepticism
826
00:40:34,893 --> 00:40:37,103
that you might have
when you listen to someone
827
00:40:37,145 --> 00:40:39,105
who has been in the jail cell
with the defendant.
828
00:40:39,147 --> 00:40:43,360
"Well, he's only testifying
against Donald Hartung, Sr.
829
00:40:43,401 --> 00:40:45,403
because he wants
to get a more lenient sentence,
830
00:40:45,445 --> 00:40:46,654
he's working
with the prosecutors
831
00:40:46,696 --> 00:40:48,448
to save his own skin,"
832
00:40:48,490 --> 00:40:50,658
and he says,
"No, that's not the case at all.
833
00:40:50,700 --> 00:40:53,036
He gave me all these details
and I believed him
834
00:40:53,078 --> 00:40:55,288
when he said he killed his mom
and his brothers."
835
00:40:55,330 --> 00:40:57,374
MAN: All right.
Our jury is back.
836
00:40:57,415 --> 00:40:58,625
Please be seated.
837
00:40:58,667 --> 00:41:00,877
TREY: The biggest moment
of anticipation
838
00:41:00,919 --> 00:41:03,463
is when the verdict
is about to be read.
839
00:41:03,505 --> 00:41:04,964
In this verdict,
840
00:41:05,006 --> 00:41:07,967
the deliberations could've gone
on for days, hours,
841
00:41:08,009 --> 00:41:10,387
weeks, um, you know,
we never know.
842
00:41:10,428 --> 00:41:11,888
JUDGE: All right.
Members of jury,
843
00:41:11,930 --> 00:41:13,556
it's my understanding,
has reached a verdict.
844
00:41:13,598 --> 00:41:16,309
Have you reached a verdict?
845
00:41:16,351 --> 00:41:18,311
After four and a half hours,
846
00:41:18,353 --> 00:41:20,814
the jury returned the verdict.
847
00:41:20,855 --> 00:41:22,899
There was some anxiety
and anticipation
848
00:41:22,941 --> 00:41:26,194
because you never know
what a jury is gonna do.
849
00:41:27,779 --> 00:41:30,365
MAN: As for the charge
in count one, Voncile Smith,
850
00:41:30,407 --> 00:41:34,035
we the jury found
the defendant Donald Hartung
851
00:41:34,077 --> 00:41:37,288
guilty of first degree murder
as charged in indictment.
852
00:41:38,540 --> 00:41:41,001
As for the charge in count two,
John Smith,
853
00:41:41,042 --> 00:41:44,546
guilty of first degree murder
as charged in indictment.
854
00:41:44,587 --> 00:41:47,799
We have one guilty verdict
after another after another.
855
00:41:47,841 --> 00:41:50,218
MAN: As for the charge
in count three, Richard Smith,
856
00:41:50,260 --> 00:41:53,596
guilty of first degree murder
as charged in indictment.
857
00:41:53,638 --> 00:41:56,433
FAYE:
When I heard the verdict read,
858
00:41:56,474 --> 00:41:59,936
I was so happy.
859
00:42:03,064 --> 00:42:05,650
It was justice.
860
00:42:06,401 --> 00:42:07,861
The jury recommended
861
00:42:07,902 --> 00:42:11,364
that Donald receive
life imprison without parole
862
00:42:11,406 --> 00:42:14,242
instead of the death penalty.
863
00:42:15,660 --> 00:42:19,372
I just prayed, God,
whatever Your will be done.
864
00:42:19,414 --> 00:42:20,832
And His will,
865
00:42:20,874 --> 00:42:23,376
is that he will spend
the rest of his life in prison
866
00:42:23,418 --> 00:42:25,670
and that's fine with me.
867
00:42:28,423 --> 00:42:29,841
MOLLYE: At the end of the day,
868
00:42:29,883 --> 00:42:31,676
it had nothing to do
with witchcraft.
869
00:42:31,718 --> 00:42:33,678
It had nothing to do
with his Wiccan beliefs,
870
00:42:33,720 --> 00:42:35,055
and it had everything to do
with the fact
871
00:42:35,096 --> 00:42:37,515
that he wanted their money
in his pocket
872
00:42:37,557 --> 00:42:39,642
and he took their lives
to get it.
873
00:42:39,684 --> 00:42:42,103
[dramatic music playing]
874
00:42:46,816 --> 00:42:49,110
BRENDA: I'm glad
we finally have closure.
875
00:42:49,152 --> 00:42:51,863
I think we all felt
a little bit better
876
00:42:51,905 --> 00:42:54,908
after he got convicted.
877
00:42:54,949 --> 00:42:57,077
It's like,
we can move on now,
878
00:42:57,118 --> 00:42:58,411
you know.
879
00:42:58,453 --> 00:43:00,330
And I mean,
it's still hard, it is.
880
00:43:00,372 --> 00:43:04,584
But I am glad John is
with his mom
881
00:43:04,626 --> 00:43:06,461
and his brother
882
00:43:06,503 --> 00:43:09,172
because that's where
you should be,
883
00:43:09,214 --> 00:43:10,757
is with them.
884
00:43:10,799 --> 00:43:12,967
[dramatic music playing]
885
00:43:13,009 --> 00:43:16,888
FAYE: It was hard to know
that it was her son
886
00:43:16,930 --> 00:43:19,265
that murdered her
and her sons.
887
00:43:19,307 --> 00:43:22,560
It's hard to handle
when it's a murder.
888
00:43:22,602 --> 00:43:24,354
But it's even harder
889
00:43:24,396 --> 00:43:28,066
when it's a family member
that murders a family member.
890
00:43:28,108 --> 00:43:30,068
It's harder to forget.
891
00:43:30,110 --> 00:43:30,235
[dramatic music playing]