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narrator:
A newly elected sheriff
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is brutally assassinated
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in cold blood.
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[gunfire]
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- When she opened
the front door,
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this body was there.
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He had been shot
multiple times.
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[siren wailing]
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- What?
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What do you mean
he didn't make it?
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[voice breaking]
Unbelievable.
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narrator: Was this murder
an act of revenge?
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- Every shell casing
had been fired
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by a 9 millimeter
modified to shoot
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multiple rounds of ammunition.
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It was an intended hit.
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narrator:
Or is this a conspiracy
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that runs much deeper?
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- The audacity of having
a list of people
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that you are now
targeting to be killed
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was incredible to me.
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- We had suspicions,
but he did not wanna talk.
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We were at a dead end.
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- People were concerned that
this might not be a case
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that would ever be solved.
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narrator: When the truth
is finally revealed,
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it sends shockwaves throughout
Atlanta law enforcement.
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- This was something
that was out of a movie.
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This can't be for real, right?
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[dramatic music]
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* *
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[sirens wailing]
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[dramatic upbeat music]
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narrator: At the turn
of the 21st century,
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Atlanta's growth
from the previous decades
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has begun spilling into its
surrounding neighborhoods.
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- Atlanta had really
hit its stride by 2000.
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The Olympics were in '96.
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Many people had fallen
in love with our city.
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DeKalb County is the
neighboring county.
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And so a lot of people
who didn't want
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to move to the big city
of Atlanta,
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they loved moving
to DeKalb County
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because it was so close
and incredibly progressive.
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narrator: And much like
the area itself,
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the greater Atlanta
law enforcement community
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has a long history
of progressive milestones.
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- Atlanta was definitely
more accepting of minorities
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as leaders in law enforcement.
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You began to see more
African American males,
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for example, as sheriffs in
some of the smaller counties.
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narrator: One of them was
46-year-old Derwin Brown,
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who in 2000 became the second
African American sheriff
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elected in DeKalb County.
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- Derwin Brown had a long,
distinguished career
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in law enforcement, 23 years
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with the
DeKalb Police Department.
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Very active in his community.
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Everyone knew that Mr. Brown
was all about
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being upright, honest.
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- My father,
he wasn't the police officer
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that just wanted to come in
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because a crime
had taken place.
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He wanted to prevent a crime
from taking place.
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He was truly
a community police officer.
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- In 2000,
Derwin was running against
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the incumbent sheriff,
Sidney Dorsey.
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He eventually won in a runoff.
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- Citizens of DeKalb County
said, "This is who we want."
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narrator: But before he can
take the oath of office,
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Derwin Brown's term as sheriff
is tragically cut short.
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On a rainy December night
in 2000,
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Phyllis Brown is inside
her Decatur home,
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waiting for her husband,
Derwin, to arrive.
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- She heard shots fired.
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[gunfire]
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She thought it was coming
from next door.
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And she picked up the
phone to call 911.
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That's when she realized that
her husband was coming home.
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[dramatic music]
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And she ran out the door,
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and when she opened
the front door,
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his body was there.
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He'd been shot multiple times.
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[sirens wailing]
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narrator: First responders
arrive on the scene
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and rush a severely injured
Derwin to the hospital
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as officials from all over
the Atlanta area
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are alerted of the shooting.
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- This lady had called
to tell me
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that Derwin had gotten shot.
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My thought was, let it be him
be shot in the arm or leg.
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At least he can survive.
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- When we got to the hospital,
it was just so many people.
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I kept saying,
"Can I go back and see him?
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Can I go back and see him?"
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Nobody would really
give me an answer.
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And his best friend comes out.
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He was like,
"He didn't make it."
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And I'm like, "What?"
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You know, what do you mean
he didn't make it?
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And he was like,
"He didn't make it."
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And it was just...
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[voice breaking]
Unbelievable.
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* *
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- There were 11 shots that
had been fired into the body.
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Three of those were fatal.
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* *
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- It just sounded
like a dream,
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something that
you just couldn't imagine.
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- He was truly my Superman.
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I just--
he was invincible to me.
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So this was truly unbelievable
to me.
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narrator:
While Derwin's loved ones
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process the news of his death,
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technicians at the crime scene
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recover any evidence
they can find.
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- We went to the crime scene.
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It was pouring down
Georgia rain.
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It was a hard rain.
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So finding evidence,
it would be very difficult.
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- Rain, inclement weather,
any of that
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will affect a crime scene.
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If you have a body or blood,
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rain will wash
a lot of that away.
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- I remember distinctly seeing
Derwin's leather coat
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and a dozen roses
on the ground.
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There was no gun.
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I noticed that there were
multiple red flags,
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and I asked one of the crime
scene forensic investigators
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what the red flag meant,
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and she said,
"That's a shell casing."
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And I was shocked at the number
of shell casings
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they had already found.
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- In a situation where you
only have a limited amount
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of evidence on the scene,
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we do what we call
a neighborhood canvass.
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You ask people, you know,
did you see anything?
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Did you hear anything?
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- We heard the shots, and we
thought it was firecrackers,
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maybe some of the children
playing in the neighborhood
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with the firecrackers.
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We had no idea, actually,
what had taken place.
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- From my understanding,
it was not that much.
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- We quickly eliminated
crime of passion.
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Did not fit at all.
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Then you look at,
was it a potential robbery?
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Well, robbers really don't
show up at 11:00 at night
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at someone's home and shoot
16 rounds of ammunition.
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What they usually want is just
to steal the goods and leave.
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Nothing was taken.
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- This wasn't
someone just happened
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to want to rob someone.
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With the number of shell
casings that were found--
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a lot of times when someone's
trying to cover their tracks,
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they take those,
but they left those behind.
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- It was an intended hit.
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And then the question is why
and who would have
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the motivation to do that?
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narrator: The murder
of an elected sheriff
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isn't being taken lightly
by the tight-knit Atlanta
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law enforcement community.
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And their response is rapid.
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- When there is a homicide
of note,
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the law enforcement community
comes together
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very quickly to solve it.
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When there is a homicide
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of another
law enforcement officer,
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it is stepped up
exponentially.
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- Sheriff-elect Brown was
gunned down in his driveway.
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Sheriff-elect Brown
was assassinated.
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- Almost instantly,
we formed a group
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with the Georgia Bureau
of Investigation,
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the Federal Bureau
of Investigation,
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Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms,
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DeKalb County Police
Department,
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and my office.
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narrator: The task force
is the largest formed
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in the area since the Atlanta
child murders 20 years prior.
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And they get right to work,
starting with what events
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led up to Derwin's death.
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- December 15th
was not only the day
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that my father
was assassinated.
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It was also
my mother's birthday.
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The morning of December 15,
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my father graduated
from the Sheriff's Academy,
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so he was actually complete
with what he needed to do
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to take office.
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Dinner was a celebration,
so there were a lot of people
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that were at the graduation
and some that weren't.
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But they all came together
to celebrate, you know,
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that it was like
we were there.
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We had finally made it
to the ending point
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of where we wanted to be.
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- Later, Phyllis went home.
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Derwin went
in another direction
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to quickly get a dozen roses
to get for his wife
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for her birthday
and then went home.
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Phyllis never saw those roses.
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- They had laid for him
waiting for him to come home
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so they can assassinate him.
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There's nothing else
you can call that.
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- This is someone who really
wanted this individual
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to no longer exist.
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And we started to wonder
who would want Mr. Brown dead?
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narrator: Officials have
to consider that the target
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may not have just been Derwin
but rather
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the Atlanta law enforcement
community at large.
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- We didn't know
what to make of it.
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Was there open season now
on sheriffs?
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- The day after the murder,
Chief Moody told me that
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they had put a special detail
for Phyllis and the family.
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- Even the outgoing sheriff,
Sidney Dorsey, got protection.
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It was a very scary time
when you think about the fact
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00:10:04,204 --> 00:10:07,474
that law enforcement
needed law enforcement
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in order to keep them safe.
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- You wonder about
the brazenness of someone
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who would dare
to murder someone
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that high in law enforcement.
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The line had been crossed.
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And if it had
been crossed once,
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might it be crossed again?
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narrator: The task force
must also ask themselves,
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could this be
a case of revenge?
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- You figured this must
have been someone that
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he locked up during his career.
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- Many people thought that
perhaps it was somebody
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coming to settle a score.
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- Derwin had sent out
a letter about a week earlier
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to 33 employees of the DeKalb
County Sheriff's Department
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telling them that
the day he took office,
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they would be terminated.
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- He was handing out
pink slips,
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and these were people
who had a bone to pick.
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- I think it was
a very dangerous move to make.
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[dramatic music]
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narrator: Atlanta's
law enforcement community
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is on high alert as they race
to find the killer
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00:11:14,507 --> 00:11:16,609
who brutally assassinated
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00:11:16,643 --> 00:11:19,979
DeKalb County
Sheriff-elect Derwin Brown.
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- The news that Derwin Brown
had been killed--
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it is something that really
takes your breath away.
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There was a, you know,
bright star
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on the horizon
in DeKalb County,
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and now all of a sudden,
he's gone.
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- If we had known that Derwin
had enemies to the point
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where they wanted to kill him,
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he wouldn't have been caught
by himself.
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narrator:
Detectives dig deeper
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into Derwin's prolific career
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of putting criminals
behind bars.
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Is it possible one of them
sought revenge?
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- Many people thought that
perhaps it was someone
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00:11:57,784 --> 00:11:59,152
that he had interfaced with.
255
00:11:59,185 --> 00:12:01,054
And honestly,
it really could have been
256
00:12:01,054 --> 00:12:03,890
any one of those people
that he had locked up
257
00:12:03,923 --> 00:12:06,760
over the course
of his 23-year career.
258
00:12:06,793 --> 00:12:08,795
narrator: And the alleged
murder weapon appears
259
00:12:08,828 --> 00:12:10,930
to support this theory.
260
00:12:10,964 --> 00:12:12,432
- The Georgia Bureau
of Investigation
261
00:12:12,465 --> 00:12:15,535
told us that every
shell casing examined
262
00:12:15,568 --> 00:12:19,072
had been fired by the same
weapon, a 9-millimeter,
263
00:12:19,072 --> 00:12:21,374
modified so that
they could shoot
264
00:12:21,408 --> 00:12:24,644
multiple rounds of ammunition
beyond the typical six rounds.
265
00:12:26,913 --> 00:12:28,782
When a gun like this
is modified,
266
00:12:28,815 --> 00:12:32,786
typically it's modified by
gang members or drug dealers.
267
00:12:32,819 --> 00:12:35,088
- Derwin Brown, he came
in contact with murderers,
268
00:12:35,121 --> 00:12:37,957
rapists, drug dealers,
gang members
269
00:12:37,991 --> 00:12:39,125
probably on a daily basis.
270
00:12:39,159 --> 00:12:42,562
Was it someone that, you know,
he had put in jail
271
00:12:42,595 --> 00:12:44,097
or another family member
272
00:12:44,097 --> 00:12:46,366
or whatever
could have done this?
273
00:12:46,399 --> 00:12:49,002
narrator: But looking
into Derwin's past cases,
274
00:12:49,102 --> 00:12:52,706
no one stands out as a
criminal looking for revenge.
275
00:12:52,739 --> 00:12:57,944
- We looked back at people
that Derwin had investigated,
276
00:12:57,977 --> 00:13:00,313
but that was a dead end.
277
00:13:00,347 --> 00:13:01,915
narrator:
The task force is now
278
00:13:01,948 --> 00:13:03,783
one week
into the investigation.
279
00:13:03,817 --> 00:13:06,953
And as they continue
to scour for leads,
280
00:13:07,053 --> 00:13:10,056
the city of Atlanta
mourns Derwin Brown
281
00:13:10,056 --> 00:13:12,425
as he is laid to rest.
282
00:13:12,459 --> 00:13:16,930
- The church was packed
with dignitaries.
283
00:13:16,963 --> 00:13:18,365
It was on CNN.
284
00:13:18,398 --> 00:13:20,066
It was on every station.
285
00:13:20,066 --> 00:13:22,335
- My father was a soldier.
286
00:13:22,369 --> 00:13:26,239
He was not afraid
to let the truth be known.
287
00:13:26,272 --> 00:13:29,209
And the truth is known.
Believe me, it is.
288
00:13:29,242 --> 00:13:33,346
- It was amazing to see
the support, see that love,
289
00:13:33,380 --> 00:13:36,783
and to see how many officers
from all across--
290
00:13:36,816 --> 00:13:38,351
it wasn't just DeKalb County.
291
00:13:38,385 --> 00:13:42,188
You had officers
from everywhere that came.
292
00:13:42,222 --> 00:13:44,858
It was just so powerful to me.
293
00:13:44,891 --> 00:13:48,194
- We wanted our show
of solidarity to be there
294
00:13:48,228 --> 00:13:51,131
so that we could say to the
citizens of DeKalb County
295
00:13:51,164 --> 00:13:53,967
that this state's sheriffs
are here.
296
00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:56,236
narrator:
Derwin's burial clothing
297
00:13:56,269 --> 00:13:58,238
is a devastating reminder
298
00:13:58,271 --> 00:14:01,941
of the hero
DeKalb County has lost.
299
00:14:02,042 --> 00:14:04,110
- The night my father
was assassinated,
300
00:14:04,144 --> 00:14:06,312
my mom left dinner
a little bit earlier.
301
00:14:06,346 --> 00:14:08,181
You know, she just kind of
played off like she was tired
302
00:14:08,214 --> 00:14:09,883
and she wanted to go home.
303
00:14:09,916 --> 00:14:13,153
But reality, she wanted
to surprise my dad.
304
00:14:13,186 --> 00:14:17,057
His uniform that
he had made had come in,
305
00:14:17,057 --> 00:14:19,893
and so she wanted
to get home before him
306
00:14:19,926 --> 00:14:21,194
so that when he
walked through the door,
307
00:14:21,227 --> 00:14:24,064
it would be the first thing
that he saw.
308
00:14:24,097 --> 00:14:26,433
- The uniform, specially made
for Sheriff Brown,
309
00:14:26,466 --> 00:14:28,134
was put to use.
310
00:14:28,168 --> 00:14:30,303
Unfortunately, it had to be
put into the ground
311
00:14:30,337 --> 00:14:32,472
instead of put into service.
312
00:14:34,474 --> 00:14:36,076
narrator:
It is a fitting tribute
313
00:14:36,076 --> 00:14:38,678
for such a respected
public servant.
314
00:14:38,712 --> 00:14:42,082
But with Derwin's killer
still on the loose,
315
00:14:42,082 --> 00:14:45,251
a cloud hangs
over the service.
316
00:14:45,285 --> 00:14:47,120
- I wished that Derwin
could have been there
317
00:14:47,153 --> 00:14:49,422
to see the people
who cared about him.
318
00:14:49,456 --> 00:14:53,093
At the same time, I was also
there as a professional,
319
00:14:53,126 --> 00:14:56,262
knowing that this man's death,
ultimately,
320
00:14:56,296 --> 00:14:58,298
I could be responsible
for the prosecution
321
00:14:58,331 --> 00:15:00,834
of whoever did this.
322
00:15:00,867 --> 00:15:05,338
- I had the opportunity
to be one of the ones
323
00:15:05,372 --> 00:15:08,074
to speak at his funeral.
324
00:15:08,108 --> 00:15:12,412
And I said the killer is right
here attending the funeral.
325
00:15:12,445 --> 00:15:14,514
Most of the time, they are.
326
00:15:14,547 --> 00:15:17,050
narrator: Is it possible
that Derwin's killer
327
00:15:17,083 --> 00:15:20,553
lies within his closest
inner circle?
328
00:15:20,587 --> 00:15:23,957
Detectives dive deeper
into Derwin's life and career,
329
00:15:24,057 --> 00:15:27,293
zeroing in on his
recent electoral victory
330
00:15:27,327 --> 00:15:30,630
against incumbent sheriff
Sidney Dorsey.
331
00:15:30,663 --> 00:15:32,165
- Sidney Dorsey,
a lot of people
332
00:15:32,198 --> 00:15:33,867
knew as a homicide detective.
333
00:15:33,900 --> 00:15:36,403
And a lot of people knew him
in the city of Atlanta
334
00:15:36,436 --> 00:15:38,171
and DeKalb County knew him.
335
00:15:38,204 --> 00:15:40,540
He was a part
of that investigative team
336
00:15:40,573 --> 00:15:44,110
for the child murders
in the city of Atlanta.
337
00:15:44,144 --> 00:15:46,613
narrator: 20 years earlier,
dozens of children
338
00:15:46,646 --> 00:15:48,748
were murdered
in the Atlanta area.
339
00:15:48,782 --> 00:15:51,985
Dorsey played a key role
in bringing Wayne Williams,
340
00:15:52,085 --> 00:15:54,421
their alleged killer,
to justice.
341
00:15:54,454 --> 00:15:59,325
- The detectives and officers
involved in finally arresting
342
00:15:59,359 --> 00:16:02,062
Wayne Williams
and getting him convicted
343
00:16:02,095 --> 00:16:05,532
were held in high regard,
as was Sidney Dorsey.
344
00:16:05,565 --> 00:16:08,535
After serving and retiring from
the Atlanta Police Department,
345
00:16:08,568 --> 00:16:12,772
he ran
for DeKalb County sheriff.
346
00:16:12,806 --> 00:16:15,041
He overwhelmingly won,
347
00:16:15,075 --> 00:16:19,045
and he was the first
Black sheriff of DeKalb County.
348
00:16:19,045 --> 00:16:22,082
- I saw Sidney change
in a number of ways.
349
00:16:22,115 --> 00:16:24,951
I began to hear rumors
about the way
350
00:16:25,051 --> 00:16:27,620
that he was dealing
with things.
351
00:16:27,654 --> 00:16:32,325
When we see that the sheriff
is not living up to the honor,
352
00:16:32,359 --> 00:16:34,394
there might be somebody else
that's willing to come in
353
00:16:34,427 --> 00:16:37,230
and say,
"I'll take on the challenge."
354
00:16:37,263 --> 00:16:39,466
narrator: Disgusted
with the rumors of corruption
355
00:16:39,499 --> 00:16:43,403
during Sidney Dorsey's tenure,
Derwin Brown decided
356
00:16:43,436 --> 00:16:45,638
to run against him in 2000.
357
00:16:45,672 --> 00:16:47,974
- When Derwin Brown
came out saying,
358
00:16:48,074 --> 00:16:50,276
"I'm gonna clean up corruption,
I'm gonna clean up the jail,"
359
00:16:50,310 --> 00:16:52,278
he was talking about all
of the corruption
360
00:16:52,312 --> 00:16:56,082
that was propagated
by Sidney Dorsey.
361
00:16:56,082 --> 00:16:58,518
- The race was very contentious
362
00:16:58,551 --> 00:17:01,321
between Mr. Brown
and Mr. Dorsey.
363
00:17:01,354 --> 00:17:07,060
Mr. Brown just eked
into a runoff.
364
00:17:07,093 --> 00:17:10,063
In the runoff, Mr. Brown
won by thousands of votes.
365
00:17:10,096 --> 00:17:11,831
[cheers and applause]
366
00:17:11,865 --> 00:17:15,335
- Sidney Dorsey was infuriated
that he had lost.
367
00:17:15,368 --> 00:17:17,437
I mean, think about
who he had been
368
00:17:17,470 --> 00:17:19,606
to this community for years,
369
00:17:19,639 --> 00:17:22,442
and to be narrowly defeated,
370
00:17:22,475 --> 00:17:25,578
it was too much
for him to take.
371
00:17:25,612 --> 00:17:28,214
- Would someone
who had been defeated
372
00:17:28,248 --> 00:17:30,216
in a political election
have such hate
373
00:17:30,250 --> 00:17:32,185
and revenge and spite
that they would
374
00:17:32,218 --> 00:17:33,586
want their opponent murdered?
375
00:17:33,620 --> 00:17:35,722
I was having a hard time
grasping that,
376
00:17:35,755 --> 00:17:37,057
but we had to look at it.
377
00:17:37,090 --> 00:17:39,726
[gunfire]
378
00:17:47,467 --> 00:17:48,935
[dramatic music]
379
00:17:49,836 --> 00:17:51,571
narrator:
DeKalb County investigators
380
00:17:51,604 --> 00:17:53,406
are digging
into the professional life
381
00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:57,177
of the assassinated
sheriff-elect, Derwin Brown.
382
00:17:57,210 --> 00:17:58,578
They're exploring
the possibility
383
00:17:58,611 --> 00:18:01,047
that incumbent sheriff
Sidney Dorsey,
384
00:18:01,081 --> 00:18:03,183
who Derwin recently defeated,
385
00:18:03,216 --> 00:18:07,187
may have had reason
to want Derwin dead.
386
00:18:07,220 --> 00:18:10,657
- Dorsey came to mind,
just remembering and knowing
387
00:18:10,690 --> 00:18:12,659
how that election went.
388
00:18:12,692 --> 00:18:14,294
But it was still unbelievable.
389
00:18:14,327 --> 00:18:20,300
* *
390
00:18:20,333 --> 00:18:22,068
narrator:
Detectives questioned Dorsey
391
00:18:22,102 --> 00:18:25,705
regarding his whereabouts
the night of the murder.
392
00:18:25,739 --> 00:18:27,440
- We'd interviewed
Sheriff Dorsey,
393
00:18:27,474 --> 00:18:30,710
and it was clear
he was at home with his wife
394
00:18:30,744 --> 00:18:32,379
when the murder occurred...
395
00:18:32,412 --> 00:18:35,749
- I see him as being an
extended member of my family.
396
00:18:35,782 --> 00:18:38,718
- And that he was nowhere near
Derwin Brown's house.
397
00:18:41,788 --> 00:18:45,091
narrator: With a solid alibi
and no physical evidence
398
00:18:45,125 --> 00:18:48,795
connecting him to the murder,
police clear Sheriff Dorsey.
399
00:18:48,828 --> 00:18:53,066
But investigators learn that
Dorsey wasn't the only one
400
00:18:53,099 --> 00:18:56,069
who was losing his job
because of Derwin's win.
401
00:18:56,102 --> 00:18:58,204
- Derwin won because people
402
00:18:58,238 --> 00:19:00,106
were disgusted
at what was happening
403
00:19:00,140 --> 00:19:01,741
in the DeKalb County
Sheriff's Department.
404
00:19:01,775 --> 00:19:03,743
They were embarrassed
about it.
405
00:19:03,777 --> 00:19:06,846
It reflected bad on the county.
406
00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:09,082
- It is not at all uncommon
for people to say
407
00:19:09,115 --> 00:19:11,184
"I'm going to clean up"
in any election.
408
00:19:11,217 --> 00:19:13,253
And nine times out of ten,
they're gonna want
409
00:19:13,286 --> 00:19:14,521
to bring in their own team.
410
00:19:23,596 --> 00:19:26,232
narrator: The team discovers
that Derwin had begun
411
00:19:26,266 --> 00:19:28,635
the process of cleaning house,
412
00:19:28,668 --> 00:19:32,439
even before his first day
on the job.
413
00:19:32,472 --> 00:19:35,809
- Derwin had sent out
a letter about a week earlier
414
00:19:35,842 --> 00:19:38,912
to 33 employees of the DeKalb
County Sheriff's Department
415
00:19:38,945 --> 00:19:41,281
telling them that
the day he took office,
416
00:19:41,314 --> 00:19:42,515
they would be terminated.
417
00:19:42,549 --> 00:19:44,150
- Calling it
a professional hit,
418
00:19:44,184 --> 00:19:45,785
the DeKalb County
District Attorney
419
00:19:45,819 --> 00:19:49,422
said there's a list of people
who wanted Brown dead.
420
00:19:49,456 --> 00:19:51,591
- It was a little dicey
on his part
421
00:19:51,624 --> 00:19:53,827
to send that out,
to signal that so early,
422
00:19:53,860 --> 00:19:55,929
before he'd actually
taken office.
423
00:19:55,962 --> 00:19:58,665
That's really flexing before
you even get in the door.
424
00:19:58,698 --> 00:20:00,633
narrator:
But those in his inner circle
425
00:20:00,667 --> 00:20:03,803
know Derwin sent the letters
with good intentions.
426
00:20:03,837 --> 00:20:08,641
- He said, "Do you think
that I should wait two weeks
427
00:20:08,675 --> 00:20:11,478
and then just walk up
and tell them, 'You're fired'?
428
00:20:11,511 --> 00:20:14,647
Or do you think I should give
them a two weeks' notice?"
429
00:20:14,681 --> 00:20:17,684
I says, "Derwin,
would you want somebody
430
00:20:17,717 --> 00:20:20,687
to walk up to you on the day
they're gonna fire you"?
431
00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:22,722
Derwin said,
"Geraldine, I never thought
432
00:20:22,756 --> 00:20:24,457
about it like that."
433
00:20:24,491 --> 00:20:29,596
So Derwin agreed to give them
a two weeks' notice.
434
00:20:29,629 --> 00:20:33,700
- Derwin Brown had his reasons
for sending those letters,
435
00:20:33,733 --> 00:20:37,537
but I think it was
a very dangerous move to make.
436
00:20:37,570 --> 00:20:40,373
- There's too much time and too
much opportunity for sabotage
437
00:20:40,407 --> 00:20:42,308
between the time that
you send that letter out
438
00:20:42,342 --> 00:20:43,977
and the time
you actually take office.
439
00:20:44,010 --> 00:20:47,247
A lot of devilment
could have been done.
440
00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:50,183
But that was Derwin's choice.
441
00:20:50,216 --> 00:20:53,687
- We thought that was the
first place that we could look
442
00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:56,456
to see who these people were,
if they had
443
00:20:56,489 --> 00:20:59,426
any real motivation
other than revenge and hate.
444
00:20:59,459 --> 00:21:02,696
And where were they
at the time of the murder?
445
00:21:02,729 --> 00:21:04,464
- He was handing out
pink slips,
446
00:21:04,497 --> 00:21:07,267
and these were people
who had a bone to pick.
447
00:21:09,736 --> 00:21:12,205
narrator: Investigators begin
to make their way
448
00:21:12,238 --> 00:21:15,608
down Derwin's
termination list.
449
00:21:15,642 --> 00:21:18,411
- This crime
was too well-planned
450
00:21:18,445 --> 00:21:22,248
to just be a spiteful murder.
451
00:21:22,282 --> 00:21:24,718
It was not something
that was done out of,
452
00:21:24,751 --> 00:21:26,319
you know,
I've had a few drinks,
453
00:21:26,353 --> 00:21:27,454
I'm gonna kill
the son of a bitch
454
00:21:27,487 --> 00:21:30,357
because he's going to fire me.
455
00:21:30,390 --> 00:21:31,524
It was not
that kind of murder.
456
00:21:31,558 --> 00:21:34,994
And every person
was interviewed
457
00:21:35,095 --> 00:21:36,830
who was on that list
to be fired.
458
00:21:36,863 --> 00:21:40,266
We could not find anyone
that we could pinpoint
459
00:21:40,300 --> 00:21:42,669
that was at the crime scene.
460
00:21:42,702 --> 00:21:45,605
- And as they take themselves
off one by one by one,
461
00:21:45,638 --> 00:21:48,641
you begin to narrow in
who exactly you're looking for,
462
00:21:48,675 --> 00:21:50,810
who exactly you're looking at.
463
00:21:50,844 --> 00:21:54,014
narrator: Name after name
is crossed off the list
464
00:21:54,114 --> 00:21:57,650
until they get
to one very particular person.
465
00:21:57,684 --> 00:22:01,287
* *
466
00:22:01,321 --> 00:22:03,456
- Patrick Cuffy was a deputy
that we were looking at
467
00:22:03,490 --> 00:22:05,658
very stringently
as being involved
468
00:22:05,692 --> 00:22:06,960
in the corruption of the jail
469
00:22:07,060 --> 00:22:09,929
and that he possibly
would have a motivation
470
00:22:09,963 --> 00:22:12,465
for killing Derwin Brown.
471
00:22:12,499 --> 00:22:14,401
- In that world
of law enforcement,
472
00:22:14,434 --> 00:22:15,769
he was pretty high-ranking
473
00:22:15,802 --> 00:22:18,571
and made a whole lot of money
doing it.
474
00:22:18,605 --> 00:22:20,940
narrator:
Derwin was set to fire Cuffy
475
00:22:20,974 --> 00:22:23,276
after he discovered that Cuffy
was filing
476
00:22:23,309 --> 00:22:25,979
fraudulent overtime hours
with the county
477
00:22:26,079 --> 00:22:28,481
and collecting extra pay.
478
00:22:28,515 --> 00:22:31,885
- One of the programmers
in the billing department
479
00:22:31,918 --> 00:22:35,922
called me and said Mr. Cuffy
had all these overtime hours,
480
00:22:35,955 --> 00:22:38,825
and it's not humanly possible
for this person
481
00:22:38,858 --> 00:22:42,362
to be working this many hours.
482
00:22:42,395 --> 00:22:44,998
- We are here to serve
citizens of our counties,
483
00:22:45,098 --> 00:22:47,434
and we cannot do that
with any shadows,
484
00:22:47,467 --> 00:22:50,970
any sense that we are
mismanaging or that
485
00:22:51,004 --> 00:22:52,872
we're personally benefiting
from being
486
00:22:52,906 --> 00:22:55,108
in the Office of Sheriff.
487
00:22:55,141 --> 00:22:57,811
- Patrick Cuffy
had done well for himself,
488
00:22:57,844 --> 00:23:02,482
and so not having a job
with the new administration,
489
00:23:02,515 --> 00:23:07,087
he had reason to be concerned
and had something to lose.
490
00:23:07,120 --> 00:23:09,723
narrator: And there is
one glaring detail
491
00:23:09,756 --> 00:23:14,294
about Patrick Cuffy
investigators cannot ignore.
492
00:23:14,327 --> 00:23:18,798
- Mr. Cuffy worked
for the outgoing sheriff,
493
00:23:18,832 --> 00:23:20,500
Sidney Dorsey.
494
00:23:20,533 --> 00:23:24,871
* *
495
00:23:24,904 --> 00:23:26,406
- Everybody's on guard.
496
00:23:26,439 --> 00:23:28,508
Everybody's antenna are up.
497
00:23:28,541 --> 00:23:30,543
- Walked in the door.
498
00:23:30,577 --> 00:23:32,979
He said, "J. Tom,
don't ask me any questions,
499
00:23:33,079 --> 00:23:37,117
"but you need to start
carrying a firearm,
500
00:23:37,150 --> 00:23:39,719
"you need to wear
a bulletproof vest,
501
00:23:39,753 --> 00:23:43,823
and you need security
as much as possible."
502
00:23:51,598 --> 00:23:53,767
[dramatic music]
503
00:23:54,567 --> 00:23:56,503
narrator:
It's been over a month
504
00:23:56,536 --> 00:23:58,938
since DeKalb County
Sheriff-elect Derwin Brown
505
00:23:58,972 --> 00:24:01,741
was viciously gunned down
in front of his home,
506
00:24:01,775 --> 00:24:04,878
and detectives are still
searching for answers.
507
00:24:04,911 --> 00:24:07,047
- Everybody was still
wondering what happened.
508
00:24:07,047 --> 00:24:08,948
How was this able to happen?
509
00:24:09,049 --> 00:24:12,419
I mean, this was something
that was out of a movie.
510
00:24:14,754 --> 00:24:16,089
This can't be for real, right?
511
00:24:18,792 --> 00:24:20,794
narrator: After reviewing
the list of people
512
00:24:20,827 --> 00:24:24,064
that Derwin planned to fire,
the Atlanta task force
513
00:24:24,064 --> 00:24:27,734
has set their sights on
sheriff's deputy Patrick Cuffy
514
00:24:27,767 --> 00:24:32,205
and his connection to outgoing
sheriff Sidney Dorsey.
515
00:24:34,941 --> 00:24:38,912
- He had very, very close ties
to the sheriff,
516
00:24:38,945 --> 00:24:42,749
and I was wanting to know
where Mr. Cuffy was
517
00:24:42,782 --> 00:24:43,683
at the time of the shooting.
518
00:24:46,786 --> 00:24:49,089
narrator: Investigators bring
Patrick Cuffy
519
00:24:49,089 --> 00:24:50,824
in for questioning.
520
00:24:50,857 --> 00:24:52,826
- Patrick Cuffy, at the time
when I interviewed him,
521
00:24:52,859 --> 00:24:54,961
he was very arrogant.
522
00:24:54,994 --> 00:24:56,796
He didn't wanna
answer my questions.
523
00:24:56,830 --> 00:24:59,699
It was very confrontational
with him.
524
00:24:59,733 --> 00:25:02,602
- We interviewed Cuffy
about his whereabouts
525
00:25:02,635 --> 00:25:05,205
at the time of the murder.
526
00:25:05,238 --> 00:25:07,607
Cuffy said that he was
with three other gentlemen
527
00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:09,209
and that they were
talking about
528
00:25:09,242 --> 00:25:12,912
what they were going to do
once Mr. Brown took office
529
00:25:12,946 --> 00:25:15,115
because they were
losing their jobs.
530
00:25:15,148 --> 00:25:18,451
One was Melvin Walker,
who was a deputy
531
00:25:18,485 --> 00:25:20,587
in the sheriff's department
as well,
532
00:25:20,620 --> 00:25:23,556
and then David Ramsey
and Paul Skyers,
533
00:25:23,590 --> 00:25:26,192
who worked in the sheriff's
security firm.
534
00:25:26,226 --> 00:25:28,661
narrator:
They also questioned Cuffy
535
00:25:28,695 --> 00:25:31,965
about the men's connection
to Sheriff Sidney Dorsey.
536
00:25:32,065 --> 00:25:33,900
- He--my terms--bowed up.
537
00:25:33,933 --> 00:25:36,736
He said the sheriff
was a father figure to him.
538
00:25:36,770 --> 00:25:38,805
The sheriff had taken him
under his wings,
539
00:25:38,838 --> 00:25:40,273
that he had done
nothing wrong,
540
00:25:40,306 --> 00:25:42,676
and the sheriff
had done nothing wrong.
541
00:25:42,709 --> 00:25:45,645
We had suspicions
of Cuffy's unusual behavior,
542
00:25:45,679 --> 00:25:47,280
but he did not wanna talk.
543
00:25:47,313 --> 00:25:50,116
narrator: With Cuffy
remaining tight-lipped,
544
00:25:50,150 --> 00:25:53,953
investigators bring the other
three men in for questioning.
545
00:25:53,987 --> 00:25:56,756
- We had corroborating alibis.
546
00:25:56,790 --> 00:26:00,193
These four men were together at
the time the murder occurred.
547
00:26:00,226 --> 00:26:04,097
What we think somebody may have
done is totally irrelevant.
548
00:26:04,130 --> 00:26:06,666
The law requires
probable cause,
549
00:26:06,700 --> 00:26:08,601
and we had no evidence.
550
00:26:08,635 --> 00:26:12,672
- As a result,
they had to be let go.
551
00:26:12,706 --> 00:26:14,708
As much as law enforcement
thought that they had
552
00:26:14,741 --> 00:26:17,177
the people involved,
they didn't
553
00:26:17,210 --> 00:26:19,045
have enough to keep them.
554
00:26:21,548 --> 00:26:25,518
People were concerned that
this might not be a case
555
00:26:25,552 --> 00:26:27,220
that would ever be solved.
556
00:26:29,889 --> 00:26:33,693
narrator: Despite the setback,
the task force is convinced
557
00:26:33,727 --> 00:26:37,664
Patrick Cuffy knows more
than he is letting on.
558
00:26:37,697 --> 00:26:40,533
But before they can
dig deeper into Cuffy,
559
00:26:40,567 --> 00:26:45,071
DA J. Tom Morgan receives
a disturbing warning.
560
00:26:46,773 --> 00:26:49,542
- After we started
focusing on Cuffy,
561
00:26:49,576 --> 00:26:51,578
the private defense attorney,
who had been
562
00:26:51,611 --> 00:26:53,213
one of my top prosecutors,
563
00:26:53,246 --> 00:26:56,082
called me and said
he needed to see me.
564
00:26:56,082 --> 00:26:57,884
And he said it's private.
565
00:26:57,917 --> 00:27:01,287
* *
566
00:27:01,321 --> 00:27:06,026
He walked in the door,
and he said, "J. Tom,
567
00:27:06,026 --> 00:27:12,699
"don't ask me any questions,
but you need
568
00:27:12,732 --> 00:27:16,036
"to start carrying a firearm.
569
00:27:16,036 --> 00:27:18,171
"You need to wear
a bulletproof vest,
570
00:27:18,204 --> 00:27:22,742
and you need security
as much as possible."
571
00:27:22,776 --> 00:27:25,211
I knew, as an attorney,
that the only way
572
00:27:25,245 --> 00:27:29,082
you can break confidentiality
is if you believe
573
00:27:29,115 --> 00:27:32,919
a client is going to harm
another person
574
00:27:32,952 --> 00:27:34,888
or kill another person.
575
00:27:34,921 --> 00:27:37,123
narrator: Because of
attorney-client privilege,
576
00:27:37,157 --> 00:27:41,094
the lawyer can't divulge
details about his source.
577
00:27:41,127 --> 00:27:46,666
But the chilling advice has
the entire task force on edge.
578
00:27:46,700 --> 00:27:47,867
- Everybody's on guard.
579
00:27:47,901 --> 00:27:50,904
Everybody's, you know,
antenna are up.
580
00:27:50,937 --> 00:27:54,741
Is this something that we all
need to be careful about now?
581
00:27:54,774 --> 00:27:56,109
narrator:
As the tension builds,
582
00:27:56,142 --> 00:27:59,312
the suspect list runs dry.
583
00:27:59,346 --> 00:28:02,148
Now ten weeks
into the investigation,
584
00:28:02,182 --> 00:28:04,918
the case is growing cold.
585
00:28:05,018 --> 00:28:09,022
- We were at a dead end
in the investigation.
586
00:28:09,022 --> 00:28:11,391
- It felt like they didn't
have any real leads,
587
00:28:11,424 --> 00:28:14,361
and we felt like it was
no movement going on.
588
00:28:14,394 --> 00:28:16,896
It was insane to me.
589
00:28:16,930 --> 00:28:19,032
narrator:
But in March of 2001,
590
00:28:19,065 --> 00:28:21,401
three months
after Derwin's murder,
591
00:28:21,434 --> 00:28:25,038
a seemingly unrelated
shooting brings investigators
592
00:28:25,071 --> 00:28:30,143
a surprising break in the case
from an all-too-familiar name.
593
00:28:30,176 --> 00:28:34,414
- So ironically,
Patrick Cuffy is involved
594
00:28:34,447 --> 00:28:37,450
in a whole nother case,
a drug case,
595
00:28:37,484 --> 00:28:40,320
that ultimately ended
in a murder.
596
00:28:40,353 --> 00:28:42,155
- There was a shootout.
597
00:28:42,188 --> 00:28:44,257
It was a drug deal gone bad.
598
00:28:44,290 --> 00:28:46,726
There was a drug dealer
who apparently
599
00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:48,762
had been killed
in the shootout.
600
00:28:48,795 --> 00:28:51,765
This crime took place
in Cuffy's yard.
601
00:28:51,798 --> 00:28:53,400
Cuffy was right
in the middle of it,
602
00:28:53,433 --> 00:28:56,803
and now he was charged
with felony murder,
603
00:28:56,836 --> 00:28:58,838
which is life in prison.
604
00:28:58,872 --> 00:29:02,709
- When law enforcement
came for him for that case,
605
00:29:02,742 --> 00:29:05,378
they used that
as an opportunity
606
00:29:05,412 --> 00:29:09,416
to see if he would cooperate
in the Derwin Brown murder.
607
00:29:11,184 --> 00:29:12,886
- There was a murder
that took place,
608
00:29:12,919 --> 00:29:16,156
and so now Cuffy
wanted to start talking
609
00:29:16,189 --> 00:29:17,357
'cause he needed to get off.
610
00:29:17,390 --> 00:29:19,359
And that's really
when the pieces
611
00:29:19,392 --> 00:29:22,362
on our end came together.
612
00:29:22,395 --> 00:29:24,330
narrator:
Facing serious jail time,
613
00:29:24,364 --> 00:29:28,034
Patrick Cuffy makes a deal
with the DA for immunity.
614
00:29:28,068 --> 00:29:32,105
He also asks for a lighter
charge in the drug case.
615
00:29:32,138 --> 00:29:37,711
* *
616
00:29:37,744 --> 00:29:40,146
- We arranged to meet
Patrick Cuffy
617
00:29:40,180 --> 00:29:42,048
at a location
in another county.
618
00:29:42,048 --> 00:29:43,883
I needed a private place
where no one
619
00:29:43,917 --> 00:29:45,785
would know who was there,
620
00:29:45,819 --> 00:29:48,054
and there was a trailer
out in the woods.
621
00:29:48,088 --> 00:29:50,056
I read him
his Miranda warnings,
622
00:29:50,056 --> 00:29:54,060
and we questioned him
for about 2 1/2 hours.
623
00:29:54,060 --> 00:29:56,329
- Once Patrick Cuffy started
talking to law enforcement,
624
00:29:56,363 --> 00:30:00,066
he dropped the bombshell...
625
00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:04,504
that it was Sidney Dorsey
who had planned
626
00:30:04,537 --> 00:30:07,040
this entire assassination plot.
627
00:30:16,449 --> 00:30:18,685
[dramatic music]
628
00:30:19,552 --> 00:30:21,388
narrator:
The task force in Atlanta
629
00:30:21,421 --> 00:30:23,523
has just had
a major breakthrough
630
00:30:23,556 --> 00:30:25,859
in the Derwin Brown
murder investigation
631
00:30:25,892 --> 00:30:28,895
when prime suspect
Patrick Cuffy
632
00:30:28,928 --> 00:30:31,931
fingers incumbent sheriff
Sidney Dorsey
633
00:30:31,965 --> 00:30:36,503
as the mastermind behind
the horrific assassination.
634
00:30:36,536 --> 00:30:39,105
- Patrick Cuffy had
incriminating evidence
635
00:30:39,139 --> 00:30:40,407
against Sidney Dorsey.
636
00:30:42,842 --> 00:30:45,311
- Cuffy said that he'd gotten
a phone call from Dorsey
637
00:30:45,345 --> 00:30:50,216
and that Dorsey asked him
to come over to his house.
638
00:30:50,250 --> 00:30:52,352
Said when he got there,
Dorsey looked very disheveled.
639
00:30:52,385 --> 00:30:55,422
He was still in his bathrobe.
640
00:30:55,455 --> 00:31:00,794
- In a very odd,
almost made-for-TV moment,
641
00:31:00,827 --> 00:31:04,230
Sidney Dorsey writes down
on a piece of paper
642
00:31:04,264 --> 00:31:08,568
to kill Derwin Brown,
shows Cuffy that,
643
00:31:08,601 --> 00:31:10,570
and then eats the paper.
644
00:31:12,505 --> 00:31:14,341
And it was no movie.
645
00:31:14,374 --> 00:31:15,875
That happened.
646
00:31:17,811 --> 00:31:19,446
- Dorsey asked him
who he thought
647
00:31:19,479 --> 00:31:21,915
would help carry out
something like this,
648
00:31:21,948 --> 00:31:24,150
and Cuffy mentioned
three names:
649
00:31:24,184 --> 00:31:28,788
Melvin Walker,
Paul Skyers, and David Ramsey.
650
00:31:28,822 --> 00:31:30,890
Dorsey knew
all three of these,
651
00:31:30,924 --> 00:31:35,261
either because of his security
firm or sheriff's department.
652
00:31:35,295 --> 00:31:37,130
narrator:
They are the same three men
653
00:31:37,163 --> 00:31:38,998
that confirmed Cuffy's alibi
654
00:31:39,099 --> 00:31:42,002
for the night
of Derwin Brown's murder.
655
00:31:42,102 --> 00:31:44,904
- Sidney Dorsey was a man
that had a lot of power.
656
00:31:44,938 --> 00:31:46,006
He told them what
he wanted done,
657
00:31:46,106 --> 00:31:47,440
and they followed through.
658
00:31:49,175 --> 00:31:51,244
- They discussed various ways
659
00:31:51,277 --> 00:31:55,148
in which to carry out
this assassination.
660
00:31:55,181 --> 00:31:57,851
They all agree that Skyers
will be the getaway driver,
661
00:31:57,884 --> 00:32:00,153
Melvin Walker would be
the actual shooter,
662
00:32:00,186 --> 00:32:03,823
that David Ramsey and Patrick
Cuffy would accompany him,
663
00:32:03,857 --> 00:32:07,894
and they would take guns with
them in case they needed it.
664
00:32:07,927 --> 00:32:09,129
narrator:
And according to Cuffy,
665
00:32:09,162 --> 00:32:13,900
Sidney Dorsey gave the
assassins a strict deadline.
666
00:32:13,933 --> 00:32:18,405
- Dorsey firmly believed that
if Brown was assassinated
667
00:32:18,438 --> 00:32:20,473
before he was
sworn into office,
668
00:32:20,507 --> 00:32:23,343
the judges would
appoint Sidney Dorsey
669
00:32:23,376 --> 00:32:26,312
to be the interim sheriff.
670
00:32:26,346 --> 00:32:29,883
- In Sidney's mind,
if Derwin is gone,
671
00:32:29,916 --> 00:32:34,487
then maybe I emerge as the
best person to lead the agency.
672
00:32:34,521 --> 00:32:36,556
I won the election once,
673
00:32:36,589 --> 00:32:39,559
and maybe I get put back
in a position of power.
674
00:32:42,395 --> 00:32:46,099
- Cuffy told us that on
the night of the murder,
675
00:32:46,099 --> 00:32:50,170
everything went
exactly as planned.
676
00:32:50,203 --> 00:32:52,572
They ran up to him,
677
00:32:52,605 --> 00:32:56,309
and Melvin Walker
with the Intratec-9
678
00:32:56,343 --> 00:32:57,544
fired the weapon...
679
00:32:57,577 --> 00:32:59,946
[gunfire]
680
00:33:00,046 --> 00:33:02,315
Many, many, many times.
681
00:33:02,349 --> 00:33:04,517
Said they ran through the
woods, got back in the car,
682
00:33:04,551 --> 00:33:07,320
left, and went straight
to Cuffy's home.
683
00:33:07,354 --> 00:33:10,657
narrator: And Patrick Cuffy
reveals that Sidney Dorsey
684
00:33:10,690 --> 00:33:13,560
had no plans to stop
with Derwin.
685
00:33:13,593 --> 00:33:16,896
- There was a hit list
that Sidney Dorsey had.
686
00:33:16,930 --> 00:33:20,433
The audacity of having
a list of people
687
00:33:20,467 --> 00:33:23,103
that you are now targeting
to be killed,
688
00:33:23,136 --> 00:33:25,972
that was incredible to me.
689
00:33:26,072 --> 00:33:29,242
- That hit list included
the DA, J. Tom Morgan.
690
00:33:29,275 --> 00:33:32,512
It included the public safety
director, Thomas Brown.
691
00:33:32,545 --> 00:33:37,450
It even included
local reporter Dale Cardwell.
692
00:33:37,484 --> 00:33:40,186
- Cuffy said that
I was next on the list
693
00:33:40,220 --> 00:33:44,224
because of my investigation
of the corruption.
694
00:33:44,257 --> 00:33:47,227
narrator: Investigators are
stunned by Cuffy's story.
695
00:33:47,260 --> 00:33:49,662
But with his history
of lying to police,
696
00:33:49,696 --> 00:33:52,198
they need additional witnesses
697
00:33:52,232 --> 00:33:55,468
and physical evidence
to back it up.
698
00:33:55,502 --> 00:33:58,638
- Cuffy told us how David
Ramsey had gotten the gun
699
00:33:58,672 --> 00:34:04,110
and Paul Skyers had thrown
the gun into a sewer.
700
00:34:04,144 --> 00:34:07,447
I asked Cuffy,
would Paul Skyers be willing
701
00:34:07,480 --> 00:34:10,283
to come in and testify
under the same agreement?
702
00:34:12,352 --> 00:34:15,622
He called Skyers,
and Skyers came in.
703
00:34:15,655 --> 00:34:18,625
He corroborated
everything Cuffy said,
704
00:34:18,658 --> 00:34:21,494
and Skyers eventually
led us to the sewer
705
00:34:21,528 --> 00:34:24,330
where we were able
to retrieve the weapon.
706
00:34:24,364 --> 00:34:27,567
It was an Intratec-9
with a large magazine
707
00:34:27,600 --> 00:34:30,103
that could hold 20 rounds
of ammunition.
708
00:34:30,136 --> 00:34:32,672
It had rusted to such a degree
that the GBI
709
00:34:32,706 --> 00:34:36,409
could not do forensics on it,
but it certainly fit
710
00:34:36,443 --> 00:34:39,979
the type of weapon
that killed Derwin Brown.
711
00:34:40,080 --> 00:34:41,247
- And that's when
a murder warrant
712
00:34:41,281 --> 00:34:43,283
was issued for Sidney Dorsey.
713
00:34:46,152 --> 00:34:48,688
narrator: Almost one year
after Derwin Brown
714
00:34:48,722 --> 00:34:52,092
was assassinated in front
of his home,
715
00:34:52,092 --> 00:34:56,096
Sidney Dorsey is arrested
for his murder.
716
00:34:56,096 --> 00:35:01,134
- The sentiment of the public
was just utter disappointment.
717
00:35:01,167 --> 00:35:03,536
This was a man
who had been considered
718
00:35:03,570 --> 00:35:07,040
by many to be a hero.
719
00:35:07,073 --> 00:35:10,510
And the thought that
he could be responsible
720
00:35:10,543 --> 00:35:14,180
for gunning down someone
who had just defeated him
721
00:35:14,214 --> 00:35:17,450
was just really hard to accept.
722
00:35:17,484 --> 00:35:19,519
narrator: Melvin Walker
and David Ramsey
723
00:35:19,552 --> 00:35:22,622
are also arrested for their
parts in the assassination.
724
00:35:22,655 --> 00:35:27,427
Walker, Ramsey, and Dorsey
maintain their innocence.
725
00:35:27,460 --> 00:35:31,498
Patrick Cuffy and Paul Skyers
are both granted immunity
726
00:35:31,531 --> 00:35:34,467
in exchange
for their testimonies.
727
00:35:34,501 --> 00:35:36,569
- I was hoping that everybody
who was involved
728
00:35:36,603 --> 00:35:39,639
in the murder of Derwin Brown
would be prosecuted.
729
00:35:39,673 --> 00:35:42,208
But sometimes you have
to make those deals
730
00:35:42,242 --> 00:35:45,345
to get an indictment.
731
00:35:45,378 --> 00:35:47,380
- As a prosecutor,
there probably
732
00:35:47,414 --> 00:35:51,818
is no higher case
than you trying
733
00:35:51,851 --> 00:35:54,387
to find the killers
of the sheriff
734
00:35:54,421 --> 00:35:57,424
of the very county
where you serve as DA.
735
00:35:57,457 --> 00:36:00,460
The stakes were so high.
736
00:36:00,493 --> 00:36:02,729
narrator: The trials,
unlike any in the history
737
00:36:02,762 --> 00:36:08,335
of Atlanta law enforcement,
begin in March of 2002.
738
00:36:08,368 --> 00:36:11,171
- We tried Walker
and Ramsey first,
739
00:36:11,204 --> 00:36:15,308
with the motivation that they
were going to get better jobs
740
00:36:15,342 --> 00:36:17,377
in the DeKalb County
Sheriff's Department
741
00:36:17,410 --> 00:36:20,347
if they participate
in this murder.
742
00:36:20,380 --> 00:36:22,816
- Patrick Cuffy
was a key witness,
743
00:36:22,849 --> 00:36:26,586
but he had some credibility
issues on the stand.
744
00:36:26,619 --> 00:36:29,222
Because his character
was so flawed,
745
00:36:29,255 --> 00:36:31,591
that jury just couldn't buy it.
746
00:36:31,624 --> 00:36:33,760
- The defense team
for Walker and Ramsey
747
00:36:33,793 --> 00:36:37,297
did a good job of making
Patrick Cuffy look like a liar
748
00:36:37,330 --> 00:36:39,466
and would say anything
to get out
749
00:36:39,499 --> 00:36:41,368
of the felony murder count.
750
00:36:41,401 --> 00:36:44,504
So the immunity agreement
was a big problem.
751
00:36:44,537 --> 00:36:49,442
The jury announced
that they were not guilty.
752
00:36:49,476 --> 00:36:52,612
It was devastating to us.
753
00:36:52,645 --> 00:36:55,215
- When Walker and Ramsey
were acquitted,
754
00:36:55,248 --> 00:36:57,417
I was flabbergasted.
755
00:36:57,450 --> 00:36:59,252
They had faith in the case,
756
00:36:59,285 --> 00:37:01,554
so I'm going along
with their faith.
757
00:37:01,588 --> 00:37:03,556
I don't even understand how
it could go the way it went.
758
00:37:03,590 --> 00:37:05,759
Period.
759
00:37:05,792 --> 00:37:08,695
narrator: With Sidney Dorsey's
hit men exonerated
760
00:37:08,728 --> 00:37:13,400
and two more granted immunity,
the people of Atlanta worry
761
00:37:13,433 --> 00:37:16,369
that nobody will be
held accountable
762
00:37:16,403 --> 00:37:19,673
for Sheriff Derwin Brown's
murder.
763
00:37:19,706 --> 00:37:23,543
- The public was
very disappointed.
764
00:37:23,576 --> 00:37:25,712
- The next morning,
the Atlanta paper
765
00:37:25,745 --> 00:37:27,647
said that I'd made a deal
with the devil,
766
00:37:27,681 --> 00:37:29,816
and the devil was winning.
767
00:37:29,849 --> 00:37:31,951
The dynamics
changed completely.
768
00:37:32,052 --> 00:37:34,921
What appeared to be a slam dunk
was not a slam dunk.
769
00:37:34,954 --> 00:37:37,290
And now the question was,
were we going to be able
770
00:37:37,323 --> 00:37:38,858
to convict Dorsey of anything?
771
00:37:49,502 --> 00:37:50,403
narrator:
After the shocking acquittal
772
00:37:51,137 --> 00:37:53,840
of Melvin Walker
and David Ramsey
773
00:37:53,873 --> 00:37:56,509
in the murder
of Sheriff-elect Derwin Brown,
774
00:37:56,543 --> 00:37:59,746
everyone in DeKalb County
is anxious to see
775
00:37:59,779 --> 00:38:03,216
if the alleged mastermind,
Sheriff Sidney Dorsey,
776
00:38:03,249 --> 00:38:07,420
will be convicted for his part
in the assassination plot.
777
00:38:07,454 --> 00:38:10,457
[dramatic music]
778
00:38:10,490 --> 00:38:12,325
- From the public's
perspective,
779
00:38:12,359 --> 00:38:15,495
if the prosecutors couldn't
get Walker and Ramsey,
780
00:38:15,528 --> 00:38:18,531
they certainly weren't gonna
be able to get Sidney Dorsey.
781
00:38:18,565 --> 00:38:22,268
And so the public's confidence,
it started to wane.
782
00:38:22,302 --> 00:38:24,838
- We were devastated,
number one,
783
00:38:24,871 --> 00:38:27,540
and we were absolutely
concerned that Dorsey
784
00:38:27,574 --> 00:38:28,875
may get off as well.
785
00:38:28,908 --> 00:38:30,610
We had a meeting
with J. Tom Morgan,
786
00:38:30,643 --> 00:38:33,380
and I did voice my opinion.
787
00:38:33,413 --> 00:38:36,416
- The first strategy was
to add a corruption account
788
00:38:36,449 --> 00:38:37,584
to the indictment.
789
00:38:37,617 --> 00:38:40,954
That enabled us to tell
a story about the corruption
790
00:38:41,054 --> 00:38:43,356
at the jail and the motivation
for Dorsey
791
00:38:43,390 --> 00:38:44,858
to kill the sheriff-elect.
792
00:38:44,891 --> 00:38:48,361
Going into it, we knew
we had a good shot
793
00:38:48,395 --> 00:38:50,964
at convicting Mr. Dorsey
of corruption.
794
00:38:51,064 --> 00:38:52,732
We did not know whether or not
we were going to be able
795
00:38:52,766 --> 00:38:55,468
to convict him of murder.
796
00:38:55,502 --> 00:38:57,704
narrator:
As the trial kicks off,
797
00:38:57,737 --> 00:39:00,573
the tension in the courthouse
is palpable.
798
00:39:00,607 --> 00:39:03,009
And the pressure is on
for the prosecutors
799
00:39:03,009 --> 00:39:05,445
to get it right this time.
800
00:39:05,478 --> 00:39:07,580
- 2 1/2 years of publicity
801
00:39:07,614 --> 00:39:10,316
has moved Dorsey's trial
to Albany in South Georgia.
802
00:39:10,350 --> 00:39:11,785
And according
to some court observers
803
00:39:11,818 --> 00:39:14,788
familiar with the case,
it might not be enough.
804
00:39:14,821 --> 00:39:16,656
- Well,
the atmosphere of trial--
805
00:39:16,690 --> 00:39:18,825
this is something that
I've never been involved with.
806
00:39:18,858 --> 00:39:21,394
There was media from all over
the country there.
807
00:39:21,428 --> 00:39:25,031
There were a lot of spectators
in the courtroom.
808
00:39:25,031 --> 00:39:27,300
People could not believe
that this had happened.
809
00:39:29,035 --> 00:39:32,038
- Unlike the other trial,
we had witnesses
810
00:39:32,038 --> 00:39:36,343
that corroborated everything
we were saying.
811
00:39:36,376 --> 00:39:38,511
The owner of a bonding
company told us
812
00:39:38,545 --> 00:39:40,714
that she'd had
a conversation with Dorsey,
813
00:39:40,747 --> 00:39:43,483
and she asked what was
Mr. Dorsey going to do
814
00:39:43,516 --> 00:39:45,819
when he was no longer sheriff.
815
00:39:45,852 --> 00:39:49,556
And Mr. Dorsey told her that
Derwin would not be around,
816
00:39:49,589 --> 00:39:52,726
and she said that Dorsey
put his finger to his temple
817
00:39:52,759 --> 00:39:57,063
and pulled the trigger
and didn't say anything else.
818
00:39:57,063 --> 00:39:59,566
- That was a lot.
819
00:39:59,599 --> 00:40:01,868
It's a lot for the community
to withstand.
820
00:40:01,901 --> 00:40:05,372
It was a lot to understand
that a life was taken
821
00:40:05,405 --> 00:40:09,309
because he was so afraid of
losing the power that they had,
822
00:40:09,342 --> 00:40:11,444
that they were willing
to go to those lengths.
823
00:40:13,346 --> 00:40:16,516
narrator: But will it
be enough to get a conviction?
824
00:40:16,549 --> 00:40:18,952
- After three days
of deliberation,
825
00:40:18,985 --> 00:40:21,688
the jury came back
and said they had a verdict.
826
00:40:21,721 --> 00:40:24,924
The judge looked
at the verdict form,
827
00:40:24,958 --> 00:40:27,060
then asked me to stand up
and read it
828
00:40:27,093 --> 00:40:30,296
in front of the courtroom
and millions of people
829
00:40:30,330 --> 00:40:32,065
who are watching it
on live television.
830
00:40:32,098 --> 00:40:33,800
Count one was murder.
831
00:40:33,833 --> 00:40:37,070
We the jury find the defendant,
as to count one, guilty.
832
00:40:39,406 --> 00:40:42,008
Guilty. Count two, corruption.
833
00:40:42,042 --> 00:40:43,677
Guilty.
834
00:40:43,710 --> 00:40:46,513
- The moment we heard
the verdict, it was--
835
00:40:46,546 --> 00:40:49,449
we had a whole, you know,
woosah.
836
00:40:49,482 --> 00:40:55,422
It was a sigh of relief that
finally somebody gets it.
837
00:40:55,455 --> 00:40:57,924
He's gonna go down for this.
838
00:40:57,957 --> 00:41:02,862
- When the verdict came back,
Sidney was just stoic.
839
00:41:02,896 --> 00:41:07,067
People were looking
for some sort of reaction,
840
00:41:07,067 --> 00:41:10,503
whether it be disappointed
or whether it be remorseful.
841
00:41:10,537 --> 00:41:13,707
But the public got nothing,
and that did not help.
842
00:41:13,740 --> 00:41:17,110
- As to count-one murder,
you were found guilty.
843
00:41:17,143 --> 00:41:20,080
I sentence you to life.
844
00:41:20,080 --> 00:41:22,382
narrator: The judge sentences
Sidney Dorsey
845
00:41:22,415 --> 00:41:25,985
to life in prison
plus 20 years.
846
00:41:26,086 --> 00:41:30,090
- At the sentencing for Dorsey,
847
00:41:30,090 --> 00:41:32,492
I told him
I couldn't forgive him.
848
00:41:32,525 --> 00:41:34,494
I just don't understand
how he could do it.
849
00:41:34,527 --> 00:41:38,698
Like, you took
a very good person away,
850
00:41:38,732 --> 00:41:42,902
not just from us
but from the community.
851
00:41:42,936 --> 00:41:44,871
- I was so relieved.
852
00:41:44,904 --> 00:41:49,909
It had a profound effect on me
because I started thinking,
853
00:41:49,943 --> 00:41:54,581
is there any justice for
wanting to do the right thing?
854
00:41:54,614 --> 00:41:56,950
narrator:
While it is a huge victory,
855
00:41:56,983 --> 00:41:59,119
there is still
the lingering feeling
856
00:41:59,152 --> 00:42:02,722
that alleged assassins
Melvin Walker and David Ramsey
857
00:42:02,756 --> 00:42:06,726
should also be in prison
for Derwin's death.
858
00:42:06,760 --> 00:42:09,062
- Several months later,
the Feds indicted
859
00:42:09,062 --> 00:42:12,165
Walker and Ramsey
on depriving Derwin Brown
860
00:42:12,198 --> 00:42:13,967
of his civil rights,
861
00:42:14,067 --> 00:42:17,637
and they are now serving
life in federal prison
862
00:42:17,671 --> 00:42:19,606
for the assassination
of Derwin Brown.
863
00:42:19,639 --> 00:42:21,675
- When they got them
the second time around,
864
00:42:21,708 --> 00:42:23,476
I thought the circle
has now been completed.
865
00:42:23,510 --> 00:42:25,979
We now have the totality
of this case.
866
00:42:28,581 --> 00:42:31,151
It will take a while
for the shadow
867
00:42:31,184 --> 00:42:34,421
of the Sidney Dorsey case
to go away.
868
00:42:34,454 --> 00:42:37,657
It will have an indelible stain
on law enforcement
869
00:42:37,691 --> 00:42:39,092
in the state of Georgia.
870
00:42:39,092 --> 00:42:40,593
narrator:
In the end,
871
00:42:40,627 --> 00:42:42,896
Derwin Brown
fulfilled his promise
872
00:42:42,929 --> 00:42:45,532
to rid DeKalb County
of the corruption
873
00:42:45,565 --> 00:42:47,233
caused by Sidney Dorsey.
874
00:42:47,267 --> 00:42:51,171
And in turn, the community
continues to celebrate
875
00:42:51,204 --> 00:42:53,840
his life and career.
876
00:42:53,873 --> 00:42:57,143
- They had named a police
precinct after Derwin Brown,
877
00:42:57,177 --> 00:43:00,747
and there is a bridge there
on Glenwood Road
878
00:43:00,780 --> 00:43:02,649
that's named in his honor.
879
00:43:02,682 --> 00:43:04,651
- In addition
to South Precinct
880
00:43:04,684 --> 00:43:07,721
being the Derwin Brown
Memorial Bridge,
881
00:43:07,754 --> 00:43:09,756
we started
a non-profit organization,
882
00:43:09,789 --> 00:43:12,225
the Derwin
and Phyllis Brown Foundation,
883
00:43:12,258 --> 00:43:15,462
where people really
knew him, loved him,
884
00:43:15,495 --> 00:43:18,932
and definitely wanna uphold
that standard of who he was.
885
00:43:20,700 --> 00:43:22,168
My father was the rock.
886
00:43:22,202 --> 00:43:25,872
He was the pillar
of the entire family.
887
00:43:25,905 --> 00:43:27,507
My father was a stand-up guy.
888
00:43:27,540 --> 00:43:30,243
That is part of his legacy
of who he was.
889
00:43:30,276 --> 00:43:32,912
So I think he's,
you know, just smiling,
890
00:43:32,946 --> 00:43:35,682
and I think he's saying,
"Okay, keep moving forward.
891
00:43:35,715 --> 00:43:37,183
You're on the right path."
892
00:43:37,217 --> 00:43:41,855
* *