1 00:00:01,787 --> 00:00:03,670 (ominous music) 2 00:00:06,441 --> 00:00:07,274 - [news caster] a willoughby mother 3 00:00:07,292 --> 00:00:09,384 Murdered in her own home. 4 00:00:09,611 --> 00:00:13,446 Tonight, police say the woman's foster child is to blame. 5 00:00:13,540 --> 00:00:15,448 - [narrator] an unthinkable crime. 6 00:00:15,467 --> 00:00:18,451 - I can see blood on the blade, I can see blood on her. 7 00:00:18,545 --> 00:00:22,064 - Sabrina had stabbed lisa 178 times. 8 00:00:22,291 --> 00:00:24,124 - [narrator] a family forever changed. 9 00:00:24,217 --> 00:00:25,809 - [neighbor] everything seemed so normal 10 00:00:25,903 --> 00:00:28,311 And then this happens. 11 00:00:28,463 --> 00:00:29,571 - Do you recall coming out of the bedroom 12 00:00:29,722 --> 00:00:30,405 With a knife in your hand? 13 00:00:31,967 --> 00:00:32,908 - No. 14 00:00:33,059 --> 00:00:34,984 - [narrator] a twist no one saw coming. 15 00:00:35,137 --> 00:00:36,152 - Were you and lisa 16 00:00:36,246 --> 00:00:37,662 In the process of going through a divorce? 17 00:00:43,145 --> 00:00:45,587 - [narrator] investigators searching for answers 18 00:00:45,738 --> 00:00:47,089 In the interrogation room. 19 00:00:47,316 --> 00:00:49,149 - Why is he not cooperating with us? 20 00:00:49,242 --> 00:00:50,258 What is he hiding from us? 21 00:00:51,595 --> 00:00:53,929 (eerie music) 22 00:01:00,329 --> 00:01:02,253 - [narrator] every suspect accused of a crime 23 00:01:02,347 --> 00:01:04,164 Has the right to remain silent. 24 00:01:04,257 --> 00:01:06,942 Many agree to be interrogated anyway 25 00:01:07,169 --> 00:01:10,003 But they can stop the interview at any moment, 26 00:01:10,096 --> 00:01:11,696 Making it a race against time. 27 00:01:13,951 --> 00:01:16,576 Justice hangs in the balance. 28 00:01:20,124 --> 00:01:22,749 (phone ringing) 29 00:01:38,533 --> 00:01:41,309 (atmospheric music) 30 00:02:00,222 --> 00:02:01,571 - [randy] I was on patrol 31 00:02:01,723 --> 00:02:04,499 And I heard the call come over dispatch. 32 00:02:04,651 --> 00:02:06,393 - [dispatcher] I have a female with stab wounds. 33 00:02:06,411 --> 00:02:09,320 Attention, ambulance, the ambulance is needed. 34 00:02:09,339 --> 00:02:10,747 - You could tell by the tone of her voice, 35 00:02:10,841 --> 00:02:11,822 That it wasn't normal. 36 00:02:11,842 --> 00:02:14,134 (tense music) 37 00:02:16,571 --> 00:02:18,738 - When the police arrived, they found megan knoefel 38 00:02:18,757 --> 00:02:20,407 Who'd made the 911 call 39 00:02:20,500 --> 00:02:22,851 Come outta the house and say, "you better come in, 40 00:02:23,002 --> 00:02:23,935 Hurry, hurry." 41 00:02:25,580 --> 00:02:28,598 - She was frantically waving her hands for me to hurry up 42 00:02:28,692 --> 00:02:31,193 And get in the house, 43 00:02:31,420 --> 00:02:33,511 Screaming that "she's gonna kill my mother." 44 00:02:33,530 --> 00:02:36,489 She was very, very panicked, very frantic. 45 00:02:38,276 --> 00:02:40,535 So we approached the bedroom door 46 00:02:40,687 --> 00:02:43,622 And I was expecting to hear something. 47 00:02:45,024 --> 00:02:47,375 You're being told somebody's being stabbed 48 00:02:47,602 --> 00:02:49,786 Or, you know, some kind of fight going on, 49 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:51,004 But you hear nothing. 50 00:02:53,050 --> 00:02:54,216 It was eerie. 51 00:02:56,445 --> 00:02:59,179 (atmospheric music) 52 00:03:04,803 --> 00:03:07,454 - Sabrina has a 12-inch bread knife 53 00:03:07,547 --> 00:03:09,789 That she is holding in her right hand. 54 00:03:09,808 --> 00:03:10,732 She's covered in blood. 55 00:03:12,736 --> 00:03:16,721 - I can see blood on the blade, I can see blood on her. 56 00:03:16,740 --> 00:03:20,075 Immediately we started screaming to drop the knife. 57 00:03:20,226 --> 00:03:23,303 It almost like snapped her out of whatever she was in, 58 00:03:23,396 --> 00:03:25,822 Back to some type of reality. 59 00:03:25,974 --> 00:03:29,066 I kicked it away from her and we put her down on the floor. 60 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:31,753 It was a very tense couple seconds. 61 00:03:37,243 --> 00:03:39,486 - When I first walked into the house, 62 00:03:39,504 --> 00:03:42,005 The scene was horrifying. 63 00:03:42,157 --> 00:03:44,057 It was very bloody. 64 00:03:45,494 --> 00:03:46,751 The smell of death. 65 00:03:46,770 --> 00:03:49,229 (tense music) 66 00:03:53,944 --> 00:03:58,280 - Lisa was laying in between the bed and the wall. 67 00:03:58,431 --> 00:04:02,342 There was a lot of blood on the walls, on the bed, 68 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:04,369 And on the ceiling as well. 69 00:04:06,105 --> 00:04:09,198 - The coroners documented that sabrina had stabbed lisa 70 00:04:09,293 --> 00:04:10,959 178 times. 71 00:04:13,446 --> 00:04:15,355 - It was a longer bread knife 72 00:04:15,448 --> 00:04:19,116 And the blade was actually curved, it was bent. 73 00:04:19,136 --> 00:04:23,138 It's just, you try to picture in your mind 74 00:04:24,883 --> 00:04:28,226 What had to have happened to make that knife bend like that. 75 00:04:34,709 --> 00:04:37,468 I could hear a child crying from my left. 76 00:04:37,487 --> 00:04:39,546 We opened up the door to clear the closet 77 00:04:39,564 --> 00:04:44,567 And that's when I found a very, very small child screaming. 78 00:04:44,719 --> 00:04:46,995 (atmospheric music) 79 00:04:51,393 --> 00:04:54,151 - [ron] the suspect, sabrina zunich, 80 00:04:54,171 --> 00:04:58,731 She was a 18 year-old foster child of lisa knoefel. 81 00:04:58,750 --> 00:05:03,011 Also inside the house was megan zanella and hailey knoefel, 82 00:05:03,162 --> 00:05:07,423 Megan being 13 and hailey being three years old. 83 00:05:07,576 --> 00:05:12,095 - The father, kevin, was away on a trip. 84 00:05:12,189 --> 00:05:14,981 He was a truck driver and he was in michigan at that point. 85 00:05:17,752 --> 00:05:19,944 (soft music) 86 00:05:21,272 --> 00:05:23,531 - Lisa was married before she met kevin. 87 00:05:23,683 --> 00:05:27,427 Her first child, megan, was actually born in 1999. 88 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:30,038 Her first marriage ended in 2003 89 00:05:31,708 --> 00:05:35,952 And she met kevin soon after and they got married in 2006. 90 00:05:36,046 --> 00:05:39,339 And the very next year, their daughter hailey was born. 91 00:05:40,959 --> 00:05:42,700 - [ron] lisa worked for the 92 00:05:42,719 --> 00:05:45,294 Cuyahoga county child and family services 93 00:05:45,447 --> 00:05:46,346 In the sex division. 94 00:05:48,207 --> 00:05:50,875 - She worked on some of the most difficult cases 95 00:05:50,894 --> 00:05:52,376 In the county. 96 00:05:52,396 --> 00:05:55,788 Caring for children wasn't just a job, she lived it. 97 00:05:55,807 --> 00:05:57,524 She brought troubled kids into her home. 98 00:06:03,465 --> 00:06:06,983 - Sabrina was in foster care for many years 99 00:06:07,077 --> 00:06:08,910 Before she came to the knoefels. 100 00:06:09,137 --> 00:06:10,829 (soft music) 101 00:06:14,643 --> 00:06:16,976 - Sabrina landing with the knoefels 102 00:06:16,995 --> 00:06:19,145 Really represented a fresh start for her. 103 00:06:19,238 --> 00:06:21,648 She went from a troubled home 104 00:06:21,666 --> 00:06:23,499 With her biological father and grandma, 105 00:06:23,593 --> 00:06:27,820 To a youth shelter where she did not want to be. 106 00:06:27,914 --> 00:06:29,672 She's getting along with the family, 107 00:06:29,824 --> 00:06:31,916 She's doing great at school. 108 00:06:31,935 --> 00:06:33,660 She's not getting in trouble. 109 00:06:33,678 --> 00:06:35,520 Things seemed to be looking up for her. 110 00:06:36,606 --> 00:06:38,331 I couldn't find anything 111 00:06:38,349 --> 00:06:40,233 Indicating something like this could happen. 112 00:06:43,855 --> 00:06:46,739 (atmospheric music) 113 00:07:11,533 --> 00:07:14,383 - Our main goal when we first interviewed sabrina 114 00:07:14,478 --> 00:07:17,720 Was to get sabrina to tell us exactly what happened. 115 00:07:17,872 --> 00:07:21,224 We caught her coming out of the room, so we knew she did it. 116 00:07:21,318 --> 00:07:22,400 We wanted to know why. 117 00:07:29,159 --> 00:07:30,116 - [detective] mm hmm. 118 00:07:35,999 --> 00:07:36,831 - [detective] mm hmm. 119 00:08:08,865 --> 00:08:09,030 - [detective] mm hmm. 120 00:08:23,380 --> 00:08:25,338 - We were trying to lock her into a story. 121 00:08:28,051 --> 00:08:30,626 We try to go over the same event over and over again, 122 00:08:30,779 --> 00:08:33,129 To see, a, if they're gonna change their story 123 00:08:33,281 --> 00:08:36,465 Or b, if they're just going to kind of give in 124 00:08:36,618 --> 00:08:38,284 And be like, okay, I'm gonna tell these guys now, 125 00:08:38,303 --> 00:08:40,228 'cause I don't have it in me to lie anymore. 126 00:08:58,823 --> 00:09:01,474 - When she's giving us short, one-word answers, 127 00:09:01,567 --> 00:09:02,733 We know she's lying to us. 128 00:09:02,752 --> 00:09:04,660 She doesn't have a good explanation for it. 129 00:09:04,813 --> 00:09:06,646 She doesn't wanna tell us the explanation 130 00:09:06,664 --> 00:09:09,165 Because the explanation's gonna bring long, 131 00:09:09,317 --> 00:09:10,574 Drawn out comments. 132 00:09:10,668 --> 00:09:13,553 (atmospheric music) 133 00:09:24,941 --> 00:09:25,940 - [detective] mm hmm. 134 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:44,584 - [detective] mm. 135 00:10:00,793 --> 00:10:01,809 (dramatic music) 136 00:10:08,818 --> 00:10:10,643 (tense music) 137 00:10:11,821 --> 00:10:14,138 - A willoughby mother murdered in her own home. 138 00:10:14,157 --> 00:10:17,066 - Tonight police say the woman's foster child is to blame. 139 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:21,329 Authorities say lisa knoefel was stabbed to death. 140 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:24,499 Her 18 year-old foster daughter is in custody tonight. 141 00:10:37,514 --> 00:10:39,138 (clock ticking) 142 00:10:46,097 --> 00:10:48,764 - First thing she does is she has a itch on her forehead 143 00:10:48,917 --> 00:10:49,524 For no apparent reason. 144 00:10:51,194 --> 00:10:53,252 When people touch their face or, you know, 145 00:10:53,271 --> 00:10:55,438 Start scratching or start tapping their toes, 146 00:10:55,590 --> 00:10:57,106 It's a good indication to us 147 00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:59,826 That the person's probably lying, they're nervous. 148 00:11:28,973 --> 00:11:33,067 What we're trying to do here is to get her to open up to us. 149 00:11:33,219 --> 00:11:35,886 She looks damaged to us, 150 00:11:35,905 --> 00:11:38,072 So we don't wanna take a hardline approach with her. 151 00:11:38,224 --> 00:11:40,366 We wanna take a nice, easy approach with her. 152 00:12:12,776 --> 00:12:14,091 Her emotions were up and down, 153 00:12:14,110 --> 00:12:16,277 We call that a big pendulum swing. 154 00:12:16,504 --> 00:12:18,521 Sometimes she'd be crying then, you know, 155 00:12:18,673 --> 00:12:20,448 She'd wanna listen. 156 00:12:20,599 --> 00:12:23,284 That is a very big indicator that they're trying to lie 157 00:12:23,435 --> 00:12:24,952 Or they're covering something up. 158 00:12:33,521 --> 00:12:36,422 (atmospheric music) 159 00:12:58,546 --> 00:13:01,471 - Sabrina never denies committing the murder. 160 00:13:01,491 --> 00:13:03,566 She just acts confused 161 00:13:03,660 --> 00:13:06,828 When I tell her that she's the one who killed lisa knoefel. 162 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:10,164 We could have waited here for four days 163 00:13:10,316 --> 00:13:12,816 And we were probably gonna get the same answers from her. 164 00:13:12,910 --> 00:13:14,985 We made the decision that we're just gonna cut this down, 165 00:13:15,004 --> 00:13:16,838 'cause she's not gonna give us anything else that we need. 166 00:13:16,989 --> 00:13:19,841 (atmospheric music) 167 00:13:29,093 --> 00:13:30,259 - I went out to greet him. 168 00:13:30,411 --> 00:13:34,188 He started asking me very strange questions. 169 00:13:35,750 --> 00:13:37,433 He wanted me to tell him graphic details 170 00:13:37,585 --> 00:13:40,528 About what had just happened to his wife. 171 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:43,013 There are a ton of more relevant things 172 00:13:43,032 --> 00:13:46,534 That I would imagine somebody would wanna know, you know, 173 00:13:46,685 --> 00:13:47,517 How are my kids doing? 174 00:13:47,537 --> 00:13:49,370 Can I see my kids? 175 00:13:49,521 --> 00:13:51,038 And I just thought that was bizarre. 176 00:13:54,452 --> 00:13:56,711 - Police say 18 year-old sabrina zunich 177 00:13:56,862 --> 00:13:58,787 Had been with the victim and her family 178 00:13:58,940 --> 00:14:00,197 For about a year and a half. 179 00:14:00,216 --> 00:14:03,050 - [neighbor] everything seemed so normal 180 00:14:03,202 --> 00:14:06,128 And then this happens. 181 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:07,722 Someone finally reaches out 182 00:14:07,873 --> 00:14:11,617 And wants you a part of their family, 183 00:14:11,636 --> 00:14:14,787 They wanna take you in and help you 184 00:14:14,805 --> 00:14:16,689 And guide you through life and you kill, 185 00:14:17,883 --> 00:14:18,733 And you do this. 186 00:14:23,055 --> 00:14:25,406 (tense music) 187 00:14:32,248 --> 00:14:34,248 - There was some trouble 188 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:36,642 That was stirring in their marriage. 189 00:14:36,661 --> 00:14:40,329 Friends of lisa said that they were talking about 190 00:14:40,481 --> 00:14:43,649 Possibly getting a divorce because it got that bad. 191 00:14:43,668 --> 00:14:45,426 The root of the problem was sabrina. 192 00:14:47,913 --> 00:14:49,655 Kevin, lisa, and sabrina 193 00:14:49,748 --> 00:14:51,490 Did have a meeting with a social worker 194 00:14:51,583 --> 00:14:53,842 And there was a conversation 195 00:14:53,995 --> 00:14:57,346 About when sabrina would leave the knoefels' house. 196 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:00,924 - Sabrina turned 18 when she was still in high school, 197 00:15:00,944 --> 00:15:02,759 Senior in high school, 198 00:15:02,853 --> 00:15:06,113 And kevin really wanted to keep being her foster father. 199 00:15:07,599 --> 00:15:09,191 - I believe it was all agreed upon 200 00:15:09,343 --> 00:15:12,453 That sabrina would stay at the knoefel house 201 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:14,863 Until after she graduated from high school, 202 00:15:15,016 --> 00:15:16,791 Which would've been in June the following year. 203 00:15:16,942 --> 00:15:19,794 (atmospheric music) 204 00:15:23,541 --> 00:15:27,635 I was hoping to find some text messages, some emails, 205 00:15:27,786 --> 00:15:32,531 Some search history as to why this crime took place. 206 00:15:32,550 --> 00:15:33,716 Over the past several weeks, 207 00:15:33,810 --> 00:15:37,036 Kevin knoefel and sabrina text messaged each other 208 00:15:37,054 --> 00:15:39,555 Over 1,000 times. 209 00:15:39,707 --> 00:15:43,300 I did not think it was normal for a foster father 210 00:15:43,319 --> 00:15:44,968 And a foster daughter 211 00:15:44,988 --> 00:15:46,636 To have thousands of text messages 212 00:15:46,656 --> 00:15:47,780 Between the two of them. 213 00:15:49,826 --> 00:15:50,807 - On the night of the murder, 214 00:15:50,901 --> 00:15:53,068 Kevin had a perfect alibi. 215 00:15:53,221 --> 00:15:55,145 He was out of town for work, 216 00:15:55,164 --> 00:15:56,555 Driving his truck in another state 217 00:15:56,574 --> 00:16:00,334 And that night there were many texts 218 00:16:00,486 --> 00:16:01,836 Between the two of them. 219 00:16:02,063 --> 00:16:05,464 So they had been in contact all night up until the murder. 220 00:16:10,179 --> 00:16:15,016 (atmospheric music) (dates clicking) 221 00:16:25,194 --> 00:16:27,361 We were confident that kevin left for work 222 00:16:27,588 --> 00:16:29,938 At 8:00 pm the night before the murder 223 00:16:30,033 --> 00:16:33,092 And he didn't get back into town until after lisa's death. 224 00:16:33,110 --> 00:16:35,261 So we wanted to know from his perspective 225 00:16:35,279 --> 00:16:38,113 As to if there was any argument going on at the house 226 00:16:38,207 --> 00:16:39,040 Before he left. 227 00:16:44,605 --> 00:16:46,939 I told his lawyer that we would just talk about the work, 228 00:16:46,957 --> 00:16:49,050 But I was hoping that maybe he would open up 229 00:16:49,201 --> 00:16:52,386 And give us some insight as to what was going on 230 00:16:52,538 --> 00:16:54,889 And why the reason that this happened. 231 00:17:24,736 --> 00:17:25,753 - He was looking down, 232 00:17:25,904 --> 00:17:29,090 There was no tears, there was no anger. 233 00:17:35,765 --> 00:17:38,432 - Kevin knoefel was not willing to help the police 234 00:17:38,659 --> 00:17:41,084 In finding out exactly what happened to his wife. 235 00:17:41,104 --> 00:17:42,919 Why is he not cooperating with us? 236 00:17:43,013 --> 00:17:44,271 What is he hiding from us? 237 00:17:50,947 --> 00:17:53,280 (tense music) 238 00:18:03,868 --> 00:18:05,584 (clock ticking) 239 00:18:26,816 --> 00:18:29,224 He was just very muted and just kind of there 240 00:18:29,377 --> 00:18:32,211 Just staring down most of the time. 241 00:18:32,304 --> 00:18:33,970 It could be a sign of him lying, 242 00:18:33,990 --> 00:18:36,215 It could be a sign of nervousness. 243 00:18:36,233 --> 00:18:38,450 It could be that, you know, he didn't wanna be there. 244 00:19:14,422 --> 00:19:15,863 - Kevin refused to answer 245 00:19:16,090 --> 00:19:17,589 And his attorney refused to let him answer. 246 00:19:17,608 --> 00:19:20,701 (clock ticking) 247 00:19:20,852 --> 00:19:24,947 This interview did bring kevin even more as a suspect 248 00:19:25,041 --> 00:19:26,040 At this point, 249 00:19:26,191 --> 00:19:27,266 Just for the pure fact 250 00:19:27,284 --> 00:19:29,268 That he didn't even have a willingness 251 00:19:29,361 --> 00:19:30,936 To want to help the investigators 252 00:19:30,955 --> 00:19:32,213 In his wife's brutal murder. 253 00:19:40,038 --> 00:19:42,890 (atmospheric music) 254 00:19:49,381 --> 00:19:50,806 - Kevin, according to court records, 255 00:19:50,958 --> 00:19:53,141 Faced significant money issues. 256 00:19:53,236 --> 00:19:54,235 He was in debt. 257 00:19:56,239 --> 00:20:00,223 - I would characterize kevin knoefel as money hungry. 258 00:20:00,317 --> 00:20:05,871 Everything that kevin did and thought about was about money. 259 00:20:12,255 --> 00:20:14,146 Kevin knoefel took out 260 00:20:14,164 --> 00:20:17,925 Approximately $750,000 worth of life insurance 261 00:20:18,076 --> 00:20:19,051 On lisa knoefel. 262 00:20:22,006 --> 00:20:24,748 Back in April of that year, 263 00:20:24,767 --> 00:20:26,675 He terminated his own life insurance 264 00:20:26,827 --> 00:20:28,251 And his kids' life insurance, 265 00:20:28,345 --> 00:20:29,770 But kept lisa's life insurance. 266 00:20:31,348 --> 00:20:35,017 - He got more than $750,000 after lisa's death 267 00:20:35,111 --> 00:20:37,019 And he used that 268 00:20:37,171 --> 00:20:40,430 To pay on a previously foreclosed upon house. 269 00:20:40,449 --> 00:20:42,766 He used that to buy a new car, 270 00:20:42,860 --> 00:20:44,526 To take flying lessons. 271 00:20:44,678 --> 00:20:46,194 Records show that he and his mother 272 00:20:46,347 --> 00:20:49,623 Purchased a $225,000 house in summerfield, florida. 273 00:20:51,368 --> 00:20:55,629 Seeing the things that kevin spent his money on, 274 00:20:55,781 --> 00:20:57,298 Talking to friends 275 00:20:57,525 --> 00:20:59,858 Who noticed how cold and indifferent he was 276 00:20:59,877 --> 00:21:01,284 About the murder, 277 00:21:01,304 --> 00:21:03,620 And piecing all these things together, 278 00:21:03,714 --> 00:21:05,931 It really painted a story. 279 00:21:09,127 --> 00:21:12,438 (gentle music) 280 00:21:14,817 --> 00:21:17,484 (dates clicking) 281 00:21:29,498 --> 00:21:32,057 - So a proffer is a good faith first step 282 00:21:32,076 --> 00:21:34,651 When the defense attorney and the prosecution 283 00:21:34,670 --> 00:21:36,078 Meet with the suspect, 284 00:21:36,230 --> 00:21:39,581 It's an opportunity for them to be 100% complete honest 285 00:21:39,733 --> 00:21:41,675 And tell exactly what happened. 286 00:21:41,827 --> 00:21:44,736 It's a first step into a plea agreement. 287 00:21:44,755 --> 00:21:46,513 We cannot use this against her in court. 288 00:23:16,013 --> 00:23:18,755 - As sabrina and kevin's relationship continued, 289 00:23:18,774 --> 00:23:22,776 Sabrina described the increasing tension she felt from lisa, 290 00:23:22,928 --> 00:23:24,670 And that sabrina felt 291 00:23:24,688 --> 00:23:26,738 That she wasn't welcome in the house anymore. 292 00:23:29,193 --> 00:23:31,434 - Lisa being in the field of, you know, 293 00:23:31,454 --> 00:23:33,454 Working for the child and family services 294 00:23:33,605 --> 00:23:35,104 In the sex division, 295 00:23:35,124 --> 00:23:38,459 I think she had a pretty good inkling on what was going on. 296 00:23:59,223 --> 00:24:02,298 - So kevin convinced sabrina 297 00:24:02,318 --> 00:24:05,969 That if she did kill lisa and did get caught, 298 00:24:05,988 --> 00:24:07,804 That she would only do two to five years, 299 00:24:07,898 --> 00:24:09,323 That he would protect her. 300 00:24:09,550 --> 00:24:12,475 And that after she got out that he would be there with her, 301 00:24:12,569 --> 00:24:13,977 They would buy a house, 302 00:24:14,071 --> 00:24:17,164 And basically she can be like a mother figure to hailey. 303 00:24:39,855 --> 00:24:43,023 - Given sabrina's history of feeling abandoned 304 00:24:43,250 --> 00:24:45,600 And essentially struggling her whole life 305 00:24:45,694 --> 00:24:48,028 And feeling like she was no longer struggling, 306 00:24:48,255 --> 00:24:50,179 That brought up great feelings in sabrina, 307 00:24:50,199 --> 00:24:52,366 Feelings that essentially led to the murder. 308 00:24:58,189 --> 00:25:01,041 (atmospheric music) 309 00:25:25,309 --> 00:25:29,528 - That's when we learned that kevin helped plan this murder, 310 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:33,131 It was calculated, 311 00:25:33,150 --> 00:25:36,076 And essentially kevin using sabrina 312 00:25:36,227 --> 00:25:38,561 To get his wife out of the picture 313 00:25:38,581 --> 00:25:40,539 And to collect life insurance money. 314 00:26:12,856 --> 00:26:14,948 - Before the actual murder, 315 00:26:15,175 --> 00:26:17,284 Another plot was supposed to happen. 316 00:26:17,435 --> 00:26:18,952 They were talking about this hitman. 317 00:26:36,697 --> 00:26:40,623 - Autumn pavlik was sabrina zunich's friend. 318 00:26:40,643 --> 00:26:42,309 They had met at south high school. 319 00:26:43,795 --> 00:26:45,704 Autumn got roped into the murder plot 320 00:26:45,797 --> 00:26:48,148 Because sabrina approached autumn 321 00:26:48,375 --> 00:26:50,375 And asked her if she can get a hitman, 322 00:26:50,394 --> 00:26:51,318 I guess autumn used to live 323 00:26:51,469 --> 00:26:54,137 Down in a different section of town, 324 00:26:54,156 --> 00:26:56,490 Where she was around that kind of activity. 325 00:27:51,955 --> 00:27:55,273 - During this proffer she seemed very honest with us, 326 00:27:55,366 --> 00:27:57,551 She gave good eye contact with us, 327 00:27:57,778 --> 00:27:59,720 There was no delay in between her answers. 328 00:27:59,871 --> 00:28:01,012 She was very direct. 329 00:29:02,433 --> 00:29:03,842 - Sabrina's childhood, I believe, 330 00:29:03,860 --> 00:29:06,194 Is probably the most important thing 331 00:29:06,288 --> 00:29:09,456 To understand why something like this could happen. 332 00:29:11,685 --> 00:29:15,629 Sabrina had never experienced a stable family, 333 00:29:16,690 --> 00:29:18,465 A loving household, 334 00:29:18,616 --> 00:29:22,135 The sense of security, the sense of belonging. 335 00:29:24,122 --> 00:29:25,121 Kevin seemed to know 336 00:29:25,140 --> 00:29:26,598 How to prey on sabrina's vulnerabilities. 337 00:29:30,479 --> 00:29:32,938 (tense music) 338 00:29:43,325 --> 00:29:45,992 (dates clicking) 339 00:29:56,988 --> 00:29:59,581 - Myself and chief assistant prosecutor, karen, 340 00:29:59,733 --> 00:30:03,677 Went out to california and knocked on her door. 341 00:30:03,828 --> 00:30:05,086 We introduced ourselves and she says, 342 00:30:05,238 --> 00:30:06,513 "I've been expecting you guys." 343 00:30:13,096 --> 00:30:16,523 In later October of 2012, 344 00:30:16,674 --> 00:30:19,008 Autumn pavlik actually moved out to california 345 00:30:19,027 --> 00:30:21,436 And that's where she received a phone call 346 00:30:21,588 --> 00:30:23,012 From sabrina zunich 347 00:30:23,031 --> 00:30:25,773 Asking, "are we gonna be able to do this hitman thing?" 348 00:30:25,926 --> 00:30:27,183 We confirmed 349 00:30:27,202 --> 00:30:31,446 That while autumn was on the telephone with sabrina, 350 00:30:31,598 --> 00:30:33,331 Kevin was in the background. 351 00:31:14,249 --> 00:31:15,731 - Deep in autumn's mind, 352 00:31:15,751 --> 00:31:19,586 She said she was never going to actually get the hitman. 353 00:31:19,813 --> 00:31:21,663 She was just trying to push it off. 354 00:31:21,815 --> 00:31:24,215 Hopefully, that she would just not want to do this. 355 00:31:41,851 --> 00:31:43,902 (atmospheric music) 356 00:32:08,804 --> 00:32:09,594 - [autumn] mm hmm. 357 00:32:13,033 --> 00:32:14,307 - We just wanna try to get autumn 358 00:32:14,459 --> 00:32:17,435 To have kevin try to talk about the murder of his wife. 359 00:32:19,630 --> 00:32:22,874 Try to get him to talk about their plan of the hitman 360 00:32:22,892 --> 00:32:26,319 Or of the robbery and of the life insurance policy. 361 00:33:06,086 --> 00:33:07,085 - If somebody's accusing you 362 00:33:07,178 --> 00:33:07,935 Of being involved with something 363 00:33:08,088 --> 00:33:09,029 You know you're not involved, 364 00:33:09,180 --> 00:33:11,105 You know, you would say something like 365 00:33:11,258 --> 00:33:12,273 What are you talking about? 366 00:33:12,367 --> 00:33:13,107 I have no idea what you're talking about. 367 00:33:13,201 --> 00:33:14,534 You're crazy. 368 00:33:44,066 --> 00:33:47,067 - It just, I mean, if somebody's talking about a hitman, 369 00:33:47,294 --> 00:33:48,643 Are you involved in something like that 370 00:33:48,795 --> 00:33:50,070 Or are you not involved in something like that? 371 00:33:50,221 --> 00:33:51,404 It's pretty simple. 372 00:34:09,833 --> 00:34:12,383 (ominous music) 373 00:34:20,602 --> 00:34:23,269 (dates clicking) 374 00:34:30,946 --> 00:34:33,613 - I got an arrest warrant for kevin knoefel. 375 00:34:35,784 --> 00:34:37,784 Early in the morning, we went to kevin knoefel's house 376 00:34:37,935 --> 00:34:38,785 And we arrested him. 377 00:34:40,347 --> 00:34:42,789 I don't think he was surprised. 378 00:34:42,940 --> 00:34:43,957 It was kind of weird 379 00:34:44,108 --> 00:34:45,183 Because he was sleeping up in the bedroom 380 00:34:45,201 --> 00:34:46,367 Where it was sabrina's room. 381 00:34:46,461 --> 00:34:48,920 (tense music) 382 00:35:44,427 --> 00:35:47,912 - Kevin, on a superficial public perception layer, 383 00:35:48,005 --> 00:35:50,023 Seemed like an upstanding person. 384 00:35:50,174 --> 00:35:54,861 You know, he's working hard, taking care of a foster child. 385 00:36:38,240 --> 00:36:40,073 (tense music) 386 00:37:42,620 --> 00:37:44,119 - That's his right. 387 00:37:44,139 --> 00:37:45,880 I mean, his right is to stop, 388 00:37:46,032 --> 00:37:48,382 Not answer any question without an attorney. 389 00:37:48,476 --> 00:37:50,810 (tense music) 390 00:37:57,986 --> 00:38:01,062 We've done the right thing and we had the right person. 391 00:38:01,214 --> 00:38:02,989 Kevin knoefel was 100% involved. 392 00:38:10,665 --> 00:38:12,165 (eerie music) 393 00:38:14,394 --> 00:38:16,744 - A lake county grand jury indicted the man 394 00:38:16,838 --> 00:38:20,155 For plotting to kill lisa with help from his foster child. 395 00:38:20,249 --> 00:38:21,566 But that's not all, 396 00:38:21,659 --> 00:38:23,568 He's also accused of sexual battery 397 00:38:23,661 --> 00:38:25,762 For having a relationship with that child. 398 00:38:29,592 --> 00:38:32,018 (ominous music) 399 00:38:32,169 --> 00:38:34,812 (dates clicking) 400 00:38:41,863 --> 00:38:44,755 - The charges were conspiracy to commit aggravated murder, 401 00:38:44,849 --> 00:38:47,274 Complicity to commit aggravated murder, 402 00:38:47,369 --> 00:38:50,703 And there was multiple sexual battery charges. 403 00:38:52,540 --> 00:38:55,357 - Sabrina explained later that she turned against kevin 404 00:38:55,377 --> 00:38:57,543 Because she felt abandoned by kevin, 405 00:38:57,770 --> 00:39:00,046 Who promised to take care of her after the murders. 406 00:39:01,383 --> 00:39:03,198 She believed her life was gonna be better 407 00:39:03,218 --> 00:39:05,610 After lisa was out of the picture, 408 00:39:05,703 --> 00:39:09,614 But ultimately being in jail on these charges 409 00:39:09,632 --> 00:39:13,134 And feeling abandoned by kevin for not protecting her, 410 00:39:13,228 --> 00:39:15,353 She decided to speak up. 411 00:39:17,065 --> 00:39:21,234 - We have a 44 year-old man with no prior criminal record, 412 00:39:21,385 --> 00:39:23,027 No prior criminal history, 413 00:39:24,406 --> 00:39:26,531 But we also have a 41 year-old woman 414 00:39:27,909 --> 00:39:30,410 Who was a mother to two, a sister to one, 415 00:39:31,988 --> 00:39:33,663 And a wife who was brutally murdered. 416 00:39:37,143 --> 00:39:40,478 (atmospheric music) 417 00:39:40,571 --> 00:39:43,714 - In my opinion, the verdict came very quickly. 418 00:39:45,242 --> 00:39:48,152 The jury came up with a guilty verdict. 419 00:39:48,171 --> 00:39:50,763 I believe it took a matter of about two days. 420 00:40:06,781 --> 00:40:08,022 - We're satisfied 421 00:40:08,174 --> 00:40:09,932 That the likelihood that he's ever gonna get out 422 00:40:09,951 --> 00:40:11,676 Is slim to none, 423 00:40:11,769 --> 00:40:12,768 By the terms of his sentence. 424 00:40:12,862 --> 00:40:14,770 - [reporter] if he's looking to appeal, 425 00:40:14,789 --> 00:40:16,104 Do you think that'll be successful? 426 00:40:16,124 --> 00:40:16,789 - No. 427 00:40:19,702 --> 00:40:22,128 - It felt very gratifying to me 428 00:40:22,355 --> 00:40:25,706 For the long work and hard work that myself, 429 00:40:25,858 --> 00:40:28,359 Our police department, and our prosecutor, and team 430 00:40:28,377 --> 00:40:30,377 Had put into this case. 431 00:40:30,530 --> 00:40:32,621 Kevin knoefel is a sexual predator. 432 00:40:32,640 --> 00:40:34,456 He was no better 433 00:40:34,476 --> 00:40:36,367 Than the people that sexually abused the kids 434 00:40:36,460 --> 00:40:37,727 That lisa was trying to help. 435 00:40:41,390 --> 00:40:44,275 (atmospheric music) 436 00:41:10,920 --> 00:41:12,637 That charge being outlined in the indictment? 437 00:41:15,183 --> 00:41:16,257 - [newsreader] sabrina zunich 438 00:41:16,351 --> 00:41:18,259 Has been sentenced to 30 years in prison 439 00:41:18,353 --> 00:41:21,187 For stabbing her foster mother, lisa knoefel, to death 440 00:41:21,338 --> 00:41:22,337 Earlier this year. 441 00:41:22,431 --> 00:41:24,415 Police said zunich was involved 442 00:41:24,508 --> 00:41:26,584 In a love affair with her stepfather. 443 00:41:26,602 --> 00:41:29,344 She pleaded guilty to a count of aggravated murder. 444 00:41:29,364 --> 00:41:32,532 Her sentence does carry the possibility of parole. 445 00:41:34,035 --> 00:41:37,703 - Sabrina zunich was given a 30-year sentence 446 00:41:37,930 --> 00:41:40,039 And that's when she would be eligible for parole. 447 00:41:40,190 --> 00:41:41,857 So she could do more time, 448 00:41:41,951 --> 00:41:43,284 Kind of depends on her behavior 449 00:41:43,436 --> 00:41:44,877 While she is currently in prison. 450 00:41:46,622 --> 00:41:49,440 - Based on sabrina's upbringing 451 00:41:49,533 --> 00:41:52,459 And based on kevin's grooming, 452 00:41:52,554 --> 00:41:53,944 It kind of felt to me 453 00:41:54,038 --> 00:41:57,798 Like she didn't have control over this, 454 00:41:57,892 --> 00:42:01,802 Because I don't think she learned right from wrong 455 00:42:01,954 --> 00:42:03,646 From the people, the adults in her life. 456 00:42:07,068 --> 00:42:08,309 - I feel bad for sabrina 457 00:42:08,461 --> 00:42:10,903 'cause I think she's also a victim in this case, 458 00:42:11,130 --> 00:42:14,298 Even though she's the main suspect in this case. 459 00:42:14,391 --> 00:42:16,576 But I feel bad that she was taken advantage of 460 00:42:16,803 --> 00:42:19,912 By a grown adult that should know better. 461 00:42:28,756 --> 00:42:32,333 - When you think back to the type of person lisa is, 462 00:42:32,427 --> 00:42:35,002 It just makes it that much worse 463 00:42:35,154 --> 00:42:37,655 To have your life taken by somebody 464 00:42:37,748 --> 00:42:39,748 That you reached out to help, 465 00:42:39,842 --> 00:42:42,176 Is unfathomable to think about. 466 00:42:42,328 --> 00:42:45,679 (atmospheric music) 467 00:42:45,773 --> 00:42:49,609 - When a person dies it has a ripple effect on everybody. 468 00:42:50,945 --> 00:42:53,520 It causes so much pain for their children, 469 00:42:53,615 --> 00:42:55,263 For the people who love lisa, 470 00:42:55,283 --> 00:42:57,842 For the kids who will no longer be helped 471 00:42:57,860 --> 00:42:59,452 'cause lisa's not here. 472 00:42:59,603 --> 00:43:03,956 It causes so much pain when somebody like that dies.