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♪
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NARRATOR:
Log in,
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scroll,
4
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chat,
5
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hook up.
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It's a familiar plan.
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♪
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It was John Ray's plan,
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until May 16, 2004.
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[siren wailing]
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[indistinct radio chatter]
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♪
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DETECTIVE NICOLE ESQUILIN:
it was a very gruesome,
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bloody crime scene.
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He still had a broken off knife
in his body.
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[camera shutter clicking]
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NARRATOR:
Who could have done this?
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MARKEYSHI:
Why take his life?
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Why take his life?
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NARRATOR:
Seven years go by.
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It becomes a cold case.
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- We just felt like
he was just another statistic.
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NARRATOR:
But little did his loved ones know
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that hidden in the trunk of his own car
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was a clue.
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♪
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A clue he left that changed everything.
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- He was speaking to us from the grave.
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♪
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♪
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♪ theme music playing ♪
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MAN 1:
She solved her own murder
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from beyond the grave.
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MAN 2:
The fitness app on the phone,
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it was overwhelming evidence.
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♪ I've been haunted by the visions ♪
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♪ That I've seen with my own eyes ♪
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♪ And the only way to find you ♪
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♪ Is to go beneath the lies ♪
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♪
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MAN:
She did help catch this killer.
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♪
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♪ On a raft I'm sun-kissed crawled out ♪
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♪ Not on my back ♪
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NARRATOR:
After serving in the Air Force,
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29-year-old John Ray returns home
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to small town South Carolina
with a big dream,
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to become a successful attorney.
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♪ So put me up like the midday sun ♪
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He moves to Atlanta
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and spends three years
thriving as a paralegal,
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studying for law school,
and laying down roots in the community.
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♪
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That's why on May 17, 2004,
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when John makes plans
to meet up with his best friend,
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and he never shows,
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everyone knows something is wrong.
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♪
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MAN:
Markeyshi interview, take one.
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MARKEYSHI:
My name is Markeyshi
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and John was my best friend.
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♪
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That day,
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he said, "I'll be there
no later than about ten o'clock."
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♪
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One o'clock, two o'clock, I'm calling him,
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calling him...
[line ringing]
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...and calling him...
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[phone keypad beeping]
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I don't hear from him.
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[line ringing]
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Nothing!
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[car approaches]
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♪
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NARRATOR:
His sister also gets concerned.
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- I called John and he didn't answer.
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[keypad beeping]
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MARKEYSHI:
By the time we got to Tuesday,
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I'm calling his job.
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WOMAN [over phone]:
The last time I saw him was--
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MARKEYSHI:
They said, "We haven't seen John
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since last Friday."
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♪
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- This is not like him
not to come to work.
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♪
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MARKEYSHI:
Wednesday comes, still nothing.
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Now I'm like, "This is not him.
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Something is wrong."
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♪
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NARRATOR:
Markeyshi is heading over
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to John's house...
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[phone ringing]
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...when she gets a disturbing call
from his office.
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MARKEYSHI:
She said, "I understand
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that you have a key."
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And I said, "Yeah, I'm on my way now."
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"No, no, no, no, no. Don't go.
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♪
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"We believe something is wrong.
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♪
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We're gonna have a uniformed
police officer meet you there."
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And my stomach has that ball in it.
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[indistinct radio chatter]
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♪
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NARRATOR:
Markeyshi hands over the key.
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A police officer and one of
John's co-workers walk into his house.
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MARKEYSHI
And all of a sudden the co-worker
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runs back out of the house, she's crying,
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and I just dropped.
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I just burst into tears.
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NARRATOR:
It's 5:00 p.m., Wednesday May 19th, 2004.
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[sirens wailing]
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The officer calls it in.
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[sirens wailing]
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[indistinct radio chatter]
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MARKEYSHI: I just found out
that he was dead in the house.
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[inhales sharply]
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It broke my heart.
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That's a king in that house.
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[siren wailing]
[indistinct radio chatter]
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NARRATOR:
Homicide detectives arrive
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and take over the investigation.
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MAN:
Detective Nicole. A, B common marker.
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DETECTIVE NICOLE ESQUILIN:
My name is Detective Nicole Esquilin.
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In the year 2004
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I was the homicide detective
in the City of Atlanta.
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It was a very gruesome,
bloody crime scene.
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it looked like there was a huge struggle.
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[camera shutter clicks]
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There was absolutely no doubt
this was a homicide.
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♪
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it was obvious with the defensive wounds
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and the way that the crime scene looked
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that John Ray did not wanna die that day.
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♪
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While processing the scene,
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we did observe
that there were some electronics
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missing in the residence
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and his car was missing.
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♪
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But the odd part of the scene was
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that there was no forced entry.
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♪
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So it looked like whatever had occurred,
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occurred with a person
that the victim had to have known.
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♪
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There were glasses as if he was
having a cocktail with somebody else.
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It appeared that the victim
was very vulnerable
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and his guard was actually down.
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[laughter]
[glasses clink]
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♪
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At some point
whoever did this to the victim...
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[glass shatters]
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hit John Ray,
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and the struggle
that ensued was very vicious.
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[glass shatters]
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The suspect grabbed a knife...
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[screams]
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♪
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[groans]
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...and stabbed John Ray
numerous times
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with force.
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So much force that he broke the knife off
in John Ray's body.
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In order to stab and break a knife off
in a person's body,
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maybe it's a crime of passion,
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there's a lot of anger
behind those homicides.
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♪
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And then while processing the scene
another thing did stand out.
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♪
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NARRATOR:
The air is thick with the smell of bleach.
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♪
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- Whoever did this
cleaned up the crime scene
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and tied up John Ray with the phone cord.
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And then spent some time
at the crime scene.
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♪
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- It looked like possibly a shower
had been taken recently.
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♪
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We found in the washing machine
a wet jersey
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that had been washed.
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♪
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And so it looked like
some laundry was being done.
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♪
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NARRATOR:
A small detail, but important.
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John was an impeccable dresser.
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♪
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And he did it well, GQ Magazine.
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Even when he was dressed down,
he was dressed up.
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♪
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That could not be his shirt
because that's not the way he dressed.
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No, John would not wear that.
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DETECTIVE ESQUILIN:
We knew it had significance
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but we just didn't know
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how much significance
it would have at the time.
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NARRATOR:
Detectives believe this jersey
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must be the killer's,
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but there's no DNA,
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and no fingerprints
to point to who did this.
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♪
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♪
200
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Leaving his family back home
in South Carolina yearning for answers.
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♪
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00:08:54,660 --> 00:08:56,370
WILLIE EVERETT RAY:
John was my oldest son.
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♪
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When we found out
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we had to go up there...
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♪ Break down the heavy borders ♪
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...and view his body,
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I-I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it.
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♪
210
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To be honest with you,
he really kept our family together.
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00:09:12,761 --> 00:09:14,429
MARKEYSHI:
Look at the hair!
212
00:09:16,598 --> 00:09:18,058
- Yep. Look at this.
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00:09:18,058 --> 00:09:19,184
JONIQUE BROWN:
Okay, yeah.
214
00:09:19,184 --> 00:09:20,602
MARKEYSHI:
That's a hi-top fade.
215
00:09:20,602 --> 00:09:21,228
JONIQUE:
Yeah.
216
00:09:21,228 --> 00:09:23,730
MARKEYSHI:
Oh, that is so 1990.
217
00:09:23,730 --> 00:09:25,190
Like, "I'm a politician."
218
00:09:25,190 --> 00:09:27,359
He looks like it. Doesn't he?
219
00:09:27,359 --> 00:09:28,902
That was him.
220
00:09:30,696 --> 00:09:32,614
JONIQUE:
I am John Ray's younger sister.
221
00:09:34,491 --> 00:09:36,493
John was like was like my role model.
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00:09:36,493 --> 00:09:37,411
♪
223
00:09:37,411 --> 00:09:41,415
John was determined to leave Williston
224
00:09:41,415 --> 00:09:44,001
because he wanted something other than
225
00:09:44,001 --> 00:09:45,669
working in a factory all his life.
226
00:09:45,669 --> 00:09:48,005
♪ Little drops of doubt ♪
227
00:09:48,005 --> 00:09:52,217
♪ Drippin' down
from my brain and my heart ♪
228
00:09:53,468 --> 00:09:54,970
JOYCE RAY:
My name is Joyce Ray.
229
00:09:55,596 --> 00:09:57,973
I'm John Ray's mother.
230
00:09:58,849 --> 00:09:59,892
He said, "Mom,
231
00:10:00,809 --> 00:10:03,520
"I think I need to leave South Carolina.
232
00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:05,647
I need to make a fresh start."
233
00:10:06,273 --> 00:10:08,150
So, you know, you have to let 'em fly.
234
00:10:08,775 --> 00:10:10,485
Can't hold 'em back.
235
00:10:10,485 --> 00:10:11,403
And he went.
236
00:10:11,403 --> 00:10:12,988
♪
237
00:10:12,988 --> 00:10:14,448
It just didn't turn out good.
238
00:10:15,365 --> 00:10:17,367
♪
239
00:10:17,367 --> 00:10:19,203
NARRATOR:
Even though John is
240
00:10:19,203 --> 00:10:21,538
loved and admired by his family,
241
00:10:21,538 --> 00:10:26,001
he still finds it difficult to share
all the details of his life with them.
242
00:10:26,585 --> 00:10:30,506
- John told me that he was homosexual
243
00:10:30,506 --> 00:10:32,674
one weekend when he came to visit.
244
00:10:33,217 --> 00:10:36,011
I didn't have a issue with his sexuality.
245
00:10:37,846 --> 00:10:42,935
But my parents are much older
and they were more conservative.
246
00:10:42,935 --> 00:10:45,103
♪
247
00:10:45,103 --> 00:10:47,814
I think John moved to Atlanta
248
00:10:47,814 --> 00:10:49,691
with many different goals,
249
00:10:49,691 --> 00:10:54,446
and I believe he felt like
he could be hisself in Atlanta,
250
00:10:54,905 --> 00:10:56,615
without being judged.
251
00:10:56,615 --> 00:10:59,493
♪
252
00:10:59,493 --> 00:11:01,662
NARRATOR:
So John moves to Atlanta
253
00:11:01,662 --> 00:11:03,830
and in addition to establishing
254
00:11:03,830 --> 00:11:06,041
a beautiful career and life,
255
00:11:06,041 --> 00:11:09,378
tries finding true love and companionship.
256
00:11:09,378 --> 00:11:12,214
♪
257
00:11:12,214 --> 00:11:16,510
But just when investigators
thought that his search for the one
258
00:11:16,510 --> 00:11:19,221
ultimately lead to his tragic murder,
259
00:11:19,221 --> 00:11:23,058
they discover
another chilling possibility.
260
00:11:23,058 --> 00:11:26,061
♪
261
00:11:28,772 --> 00:11:31,817
♪
262
00:11:31,817 --> 00:11:35,529
♪
263
00:11:35,529 --> 00:11:37,656
NARRATOR:
The brutal murder of John Ray
264
00:11:37,656 --> 00:11:39,408
shocks veteran detectives.
265
00:11:40,450 --> 00:11:44,121
But the autopsy reveals
the extent of the horror.
266
00:11:44,121 --> 00:11:46,498
♪
267
00:11:46,498 --> 00:11:47,875
DETECTIVE ESQUILIN:
We believe the victim
268
00:11:47,875 --> 00:11:51,795
in this case was killed somewhere
around 10.30 p.m. on the 16th.
269
00:11:53,088 --> 00:11:55,841
Cause of death was the stab wounds.
270
00:11:55,841 --> 00:11:58,302
♪
271
00:11:58,302 --> 00:12:00,512
He was also beaten and strangled.
272
00:12:00,512 --> 00:12:01,889
♪
273
00:12:01,889 --> 00:12:03,599
When the autopsy was performed,
274
00:12:04,975 --> 00:12:08,520
the medical examiner was able
to tell us six inches of the knife
275
00:12:09,438 --> 00:12:12,357
was still lodged in Mr. Ray's lung.
276
00:12:12,357 --> 00:12:17,029
♪
277
00:12:17,029 --> 00:12:18,739
[siren wails]
[indistinct radio chatter]
278
00:12:18,739 --> 00:12:23,035
♪
279
00:12:23,035 --> 00:12:26,580
♪
280
00:12:26,580 --> 00:12:28,457
NARRATOR:
Investigators have to consider
281
00:12:28,457 --> 00:12:31,627
every possibility
while they search for suspects.
282
00:12:33,003 --> 00:12:34,421
In the meantime,
283
00:12:35,255 --> 00:12:37,716
they find something intriguing.
284
00:12:39,176 --> 00:12:40,802
DETECTIVE ESQUILIN:
Through the investigation we learned
285
00:12:40,802 --> 00:12:43,388
that John Ray had been
burglarized and robbed
286
00:12:43,388 --> 00:12:45,182
two times prior to this incident.
287
00:12:45,974 --> 00:12:48,060
NARRATOR:
The second break-in took place
288
00:12:48,060 --> 00:12:51,230
just four days before John's murder.
289
00:12:51,230 --> 00:12:52,397
♪
290
00:12:52,397 --> 00:12:53,815
DETECTIVE ESQUILIN:
But the biggest difference is,
291
00:12:53,815 --> 00:12:57,194
in those two incidents
there was definite forced entry.
292
00:12:57,194 --> 00:12:59,071
♪
293
00:12:59,071 --> 00:13:00,489
NARRATOR:
That's not the case
294
00:13:00,489 --> 00:13:01,990
on the night John is killed.
295
00:13:01,990 --> 00:13:02,908
♪
296
00:13:02,908 --> 00:13:04,159
DETECTIVE ESQUILIN:
There was no forced entry,
297
00:13:04,159 --> 00:13:05,744
there were no windows broken.
298
00:13:05,744 --> 00:13:07,412
The alarm had never been set off.
299
00:13:07,412 --> 00:13:09,623
The front door wasn't kicked in.
300
00:13:09,623 --> 00:13:10,832
♪
301
00:13:10,832 --> 00:13:15,420
The victim at whatever level had to have
known this particular suspect.
302
00:13:15,420 --> 00:13:17,256
[indistinct radio chatter]
303
00:13:17,256 --> 00:13:19,132
♪
304
00:13:19,132 --> 00:13:22,886
Processing the scene,
there was no car at the scene.
305
00:13:24,263 --> 00:13:26,390
Did the bad guy also take his car?
306
00:13:26,390 --> 00:13:28,225
[camera shutter clicks]
307
00:13:28,225 --> 00:13:30,936
NARRATOR:
It seems unlikely this is simply
308
00:13:30,936 --> 00:13:33,021
a robbery gone wrong.
309
00:13:33,021 --> 00:13:34,273
[rings]
310
00:13:34,273 --> 00:13:37,401
Detectives reach out
to John's friends and family
311
00:13:37,401 --> 00:13:40,195
to see if they have any ideas
about who took his life.
312
00:13:40,195 --> 00:13:44,449
♪
313
00:13:44,449 --> 00:13:49,955
And police discover John had
a serious run-in with his landlord.
314
00:13:49,955 --> 00:13:51,748
DETECTIVE ESQUILIN:
Apparently this house
315
00:13:51,748 --> 00:13:54,626
that he was living in,
he was sort of renting to own.
316
00:13:55,043 --> 00:13:57,504
And he kept paying the landlord the money
317
00:13:58,046 --> 00:14:00,215
but then the house was still foreclosing.
318
00:14:00,215 --> 00:14:01,466
[dial tone]
[phone keypad beeping]
319
00:14:01,466 --> 00:14:02,676
[line ringing]
320
00:14:02,676 --> 00:14:03,427
[ringing]
321
00:14:03,427 --> 00:14:04,428
MARKEYSHI:
John calls out of the blue.
322
00:14:06,096 --> 00:14:08,265
He's angry because of
all this money he had put in.
323
00:14:10,434 --> 00:14:13,312
He knows the landlord
has not been telling him the truth.
324
00:14:13,312 --> 00:14:14,521
So he confronts him.
325
00:14:19,234 --> 00:14:20,527
"You owe me money."
326
00:14:20,527 --> 00:14:21,653
♪
327
00:14:21,653 --> 00:14:23,822
- When John found that information out...
328
00:14:23,822 --> 00:14:25,741
♪
329
00:14:25,741 --> 00:14:28,285
...he became confrontational
with the landlord
330
00:14:28,285 --> 00:14:31,371
and that went very south.
331
00:14:31,371 --> 00:14:35,167
♪
332
00:14:35,167 --> 00:14:35,959
[phone ringing]
333
00:14:35,959 --> 00:14:37,252
NARRATOR:
Detectives believe
334
00:14:37,252 --> 00:14:39,338
this could be a significant break.
335
00:14:39,338 --> 00:14:40,255
♪
336
00:14:40,255 --> 00:14:44,134
- The landlord, obviously at that point,
became a suspect in the case
337
00:14:44,134 --> 00:14:46,053
because that gave us some motive.
338
00:14:46,053 --> 00:14:47,429
♪
339
00:14:47,429 --> 00:14:49,848
Because John was killed
in such a violent manner,
340
00:14:49,848 --> 00:14:52,017
there had to have been
some anger behind that.
341
00:14:52,684 --> 00:14:54,478
We were wondering if possibly
342
00:14:54,478 --> 00:14:56,730
the landlord was angry about the argument.
343
00:14:56,730 --> 00:14:58,524
♪
344
00:14:58,524 --> 00:15:01,026
NARRATOR:
The landlord is a solid lead,
345
00:15:01,026 --> 00:15:06,323
but investigators wanna know
if John had trouble with anyone else.
346
00:15:06,990 --> 00:15:09,576
- We got a search warrant
for John Ray's work computer,
347
00:15:09,952 --> 00:15:13,622
and they were able to determine
things that John Ray was searching.
348
00:15:13,622 --> 00:15:15,707
♪
349
00:15:15,707 --> 00:15:17,042
♪
350
00:15:17,042 --> 00:15:19,586
NARRATOR:
Detectives find that John was active
351
00:15:19,586 --> 00:15:21,088
on several dating sites.
352
00:15:22,005 --> 00:15:24,925
Could he have met his killer online?
353
00:15:24,925 --> 00:15:26,844
[phone rings]
354
00:15:26,844 --> 00:15:29,304
While forensics examine John's computer,
355
00:15:29,304 --> 00:15:33,725
Investigators ask John's family
about his love life.
356
00:15:33,725 --> 00:15:36,228
- I was the only one that was able
to give 'em some answers.
357
00:15:37,187 --> 00:15:41,859
I know John figured out
one of his romantic partners
358
00:15:41,859 --> 00:15:43,819
wanted to use him for money.
359
00:15:45,529 --> 00:15:47,364
NARRATOR:
John's friend Markeyshi
360
00:15:47,364 --> 00:15:48,907
didn't know he was gay.
361
00:15:49,366 --> 00:15:53,453
But she does remember
John talking about his friend.
362
00:15:54,079 --> 00:15:57,499
MARKEYSHI:
The guy asked him for... $300.
363
00:15:57,499 --> 00:15:58,834
♪
364
00:15:58,834 --> 00:16:01,753
And when John tried to explain to him,
"I'm on a budget,"
365
00:16:02,838 --> 00:16:04,923
and the guy says
something to the effect that,
366
00:16:04,923 --> 00:16:08,260
"Hey, I know you have it,
why don't you just give it to me?
367
00:16:08,260 --> 00:16:09,344
I know you have it."
368
00:16:09,887 --> 00:16:11,221
And John lit into him.
369
00:16:11,221 --> 00:16:13,140
♪
370
00:16:13,140 --> 00:16:14,349
It could have been anybody.
371
00:16:15,392 --> 00:16:18,562
But we just knew it was that gentleman
who had asked for money,
372
00:16:19,062 --> 00:16:21,106
and was angry
that he wouldn't give it, we just knew.
373
00:16:21,106 --> 00:16:25,944
♪
374
00:16:25,944 --> 00:16:29,948
- We thought that you have a person
that John had a relationship with,
375
00:16:29,948 --> 00:16:33,952
so you know there's probably
gonna be some sort of animosity
376
00:16:33,952 --> 00:16:36,538
or bad blood between 'em
because they're not together anymore.
377
00:16:37,289 --> 00:16:41,376
So you had greed and money,
you had passion and relationship.
378
00:16:42,169 --> 00:16:44,129
You sort of had a perfect suspect.
379
00:16:44,129 --> 00:16:45,506
♪
380
00:16:45,506 --> 00:16:47,216
NARRATOR:
Two viable suspects.
381
00:16:47,216 --> 00:16:50,719
Two suspects who have
major issues with John.
382
00:16:51,386 --> 00:16:54,348
Before long, though,
police are able to eliminate
383
00:16:54,348 --> 00:16:55,807
one of the options,
384
00:16:56,975 --> 00:16:58,143
the landlord.
385
00:16:58,852 --> 00:17:00,687
- He provided a clear-cut alibi,
386
00:17:00,687 --> 00:17:03,815
so we had to rule out the landlord
as being a suspect.
387
00:17:04,900 --> 00:17:07,319
NARRATOR:
But what about John's ex-boyfriend?
388
00:17:07,319 --> 00:17:10,155
Detectives can't seem to locate him,
389
00:17:10,155 --> 00:17:15,077
and Forensics can find no indication
that he met John online.
390
00:17:16,453 --> 00:17:21,041
In fact the dating sites are a bust
in terms of additional suspects.
391
00:17:21,041 --> 00:17:24,378
♪
392
00:17:24,378 --> 00:17:25,879
DETECTIVE ESQUILIN:
It was very frustrating...
393
00:17:25,879 --> 00:17:27,631
♪
394
00:17:27,631 --> 00:17:30,217
because we worked
all the angles, all the leads.
395
00:17:30,217 --> 00:17:32,636
♪
396
00:17:32,636 --> 00:17:35,848
We checked absolutely everything we could.
397
00:17:35,848 --> 00:17:36,890
♪
398
00:17:36,890 --> 00:17:39,643
NARRATOR:
Then investigators realize
399
00:17:39,643 --> 00:17:44,189
they're missing some information
that may turn out to be critical.
400
00:17:44,189 --> 00:17:46,608
♪
401
00:17:48,610 --> 00:17:51,071
♪
402
00:17:51,071 --> 00:17:54,741
♪
403
00:17:54,741 --> 00:18:00,122
♪
404
00:18:00,122 --> 00:18:02,624
On the night John Ray
is brutally murdered,
405
00:18:04,001 --> 00:18:06,795
investigators notice his car is missing.
406
00:18:07,421 --> 00:18:08,589
[camera shutter clicks]
407
00:18:08,589 --> 00:18:12,885
what they don't realize
is that John's white Pontiac Grand Am
408
00:18:14,428 --> 00:18:17,389
ended up in a crash
three miles from his house.
409
00:18:17,389 --> 00:18:19,099
♪
410
00:18:19,099 --> 00:18:20,809
[siren wailing]
411
00:18:20,809 --> 00:18:22,186
[indistinct radio chatter]
412
00:18:22,186 --> 00:18:25,230
♪
413
00:18:25,230 --> 00:18:27,316
♪ My eyes closed ♪
414
00:18:27,316 --> 00:18:28,942
♪
415
00:18:28,942 --> 00:18:32,779
♪ And I go back to the night ♪
416
00:18:32,779 --> 00:18:36,617
- We discovered that the victim's vehicle
417
00:18:37,242 --> 00:18:39,369
that had been taken
the night of the murder,
418
00:18:39,369 --> 00:18:42,414
actually was involved
in a high-speed chase
419
00:18:42,414 --> 00:18:44,333
with the City of Atlanta officers.
420
00:18:44,333 --> 00:18:46,418
[siren wailing]
421
00:18:46,418 --> 00:18:49,338
♪
422
00:18:49,338 --> 00:18:50,631
NARRATOR:
At 3:30 a.m.,
423
00:18:51,131 --> 00:18:53,634
the car plows into a telephone pole...
424
00:18:53,634 --> 00:18:54,384
[tires screech]
[thuds]
425
00:18:54,384 --> 00:18:57,888
...causing a small explosion
and power outage.
426
00:18:57,888 --> 00:19:00,057
♪
427
00:19:00,057 --> 00:19:02,267
DETECTIVE ESQUILIN:
When the officer approached the vehicle,
428
00:19:02,267 --> 00:19:05,354
he was able to observe
that there was blood all over the airbag.
429
00:19:06,146 --> 00:19:09,525
So the person involved
in the crash obviously
430
00:19:09,525 --> 00:19:10,609
was injured in the crash.
431
00:19:10,609 --> 00:19:13,362
♪
432
00:19:13,362 --> 00:19:16,365
NARRATOR:
Still, the driver manages to get away
433
00:19:16,365 --> 00:19:18,283
before officers arrive.
434
00:19:18,992 --> 00:19:20,827
[indistinct chatter]
435
00:19:20,827 --> 00:19:22,996
♪
436
00:19:22,996 --> 00:19:25,541
DETECTIVE ESQUILIN:
Everything was collected inside the car
437
00:19:25,541 --> 00:19:29,336
and there were stereos
and electronics and things like that
438
00:19:29,336 --> 00:19:32,923
but at the time on the scene
the officer didn't know
439
00:19:32,923 --> 00:19:35,759
that this car was connected to the murder.
440
00:19:35,759 --> 00:19:38,804
So he still did a good job
on preserving the evidence,
441
00:19:38,804 --> 00:19:42,432
but he just didn't link the two together
at that particular time.
442
00:19:42,432 --> 00:19:43,141
[camera shutter clicks]
443
00:19:43,725 --> 00:19:45,561
NARRATOR:
Eventually, police are able
444
00:19:45,561 --> 00:19:48,397
to link the stolen car to John Ray.
445
00:19:48,939 --> 00:19:52,860
But since the driver escaped,
they don't have an ID.
446
00:19:53,652 --> 00:19:56,530
No ID, no suspect.
447
00:19:56,530 --> 00:19:58,907
♪
448
00:19:58,907 --> 00:20:01,285
- That's when the stress
really starts mounting
449
00:20:01,285 --> 00:20:04,621
because you feel like
you've hit every lead
450
00:20:04,621 --> 00:20:06,206
and you just hit another brick wall.
451
00:20:06,206 --> 00:20:08,500
[siren wailing]
452
00:20:08,500 --> 00:20:11,628
NARRATOR:
In 2004, Atlanta detectives
453
00:20:11,628 --> 00:20:13,839
are overwhelmed with homicides.
454
00:20:13,839 --> 00:20:18,218
So after investigating for eight months
they're forced to move on.
455
00:20:20,637 --> 00:20:23,265
DETECTIVE ESQUILIN:
When a case starts going cold
456
00:20:23,265 --> 00:20:25,934
it's hard not to take that personal
457
00:20:25,934 --> 00:20:28,729
because you know you're not
doing the family justice.
458
00:20:30,022 --> 00:20:33,483
There's just no excuse
you could ever give a family
459
00:20:33,483 --> 00:20:35,569
for not bringing them the justice,
460
00:20:36,111 --> 00:20:37,362
so it's very frustrating.
461
00:20:38,614 --> 00:20:40,407
NARRATOR:
John's family members mourn
462
00:20:40,407 --> 00:20:41,992
with no closure,
463
00:20:43,118 --> 00:20:45,120
- They never said anything to us,
464
00:20:45,120 --> 00:20:46,705
that it was being put on ice.
465
00:20:47,372 --> 00:20:50,000
We just felt like he was just
466
00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:51,835
another statistic.
467
00:20:51,835 --> 00:20:56,590
♪
468
00:20:56,590 --> 00:20:58,425
♪
469
00:20:58,425 --> 00:20:59,676
NARRATOR:
Time passes,
470
00:21:01,178 --> 00:21:02,596
nothing happens.
471
00:21:03,055 --> 00:21:04,348
♪
472
00:21:04,348 --> 00:21:06,266
- I prayed that the rage would go away.
473
00:21:07,267 --> 00:21:10,437
I didn't know I was walking around
like a ticking time bomb.
474
00:21:10,437 --> 00:21:12,898
♪
475
00:21:12,898 --> 00:21:17,361
Every single person in my mind
I would analyze, "Could it be him?
476
00:21:17,361 --> 00:21:18,362
"Nah, why would he?
477
00:21:18,362 --> 00:21:19,988
Could it-- Nah, wouldn't."
478
00:21:19,988 --> 00:21:21,573
Just could not figure it out.
479
00:21:21,573 --> 00:21:23,450
♪
480
00:21:23,450 --> 00:21:27,204
NARRATOR:
John Ray's case goes cold for seven years.
481
00:21:27,204 --> 00:21:28,372
♪
482
00:21:28,372 --> 00:21:30,457
Then in 2011,
483
00:21:31,583 --> 00:21:35,921
Atlanta PD establishes
a homicide cold case unit.
484
00:21:35,921 --> 00:21:38,882
♪
485
00:21:38,882 --> 00:21:43,387
And the investigation
of John Ray's murder reopens.
486
00:21:43,929 --> 00:21:45,556
♪
487
00:21:45,556 --> 00:21:47,015
MARSHALL ENGLISH:
My name is Marshall English.
488
00:21:47,015 --> 00:21:49,685
♪
489
00:21:49,685 --> 00:21:51,645
I'm a retired
police criminal investigator.
490
00:21:52,104 --> 00:21:55,274
I have over 28 years' experience
in cold case investigations.
491
00:21:55,274 --> 00:21:56,567
♪
492
00:21:56,567 --> 00:21:58,235
John Ray was an employee
493
00:21:58,235 --> 00:22:00,654
with the
Fulton County Public Defender's Office.
494
00:22:01,363 --> 00:22:03,532
And he was also an Air Force veteran.
495
00:22:04,116 --> 00:22:05,534
An Army veteran.
496
00:22:06,034 --> 00:22:07,578
So I kinda took it more personal,
497
00:22:07,578 --> 00:22:10,664
and I just wanted to try to bring justice,
498
00:22:10,664 --> 00:22:11,498
you know, to the family.
499
00:22:11,498 --> 00:22:13,500
♪
500
00:22:13,500 --> 00:22:14,543
JONIQUE:
At first I was like,
501
00:22:15,502 --> 00:22:17,171
"Lord, is this a test?
502
00:22:17,171 --> 00:22:18,380
This can't be real."
503
00:22:18,380 --> 00:22:21,049
♪
504
00:22:21,049 --> 00:22:23,385
Detective English was like,
505
00:22:23,385 --> 00:22:25,804
"You're gonna be getting
many calls from me.
506
00:22:25,804 --> 00:22:27,097
We are about to break this case."
507
00:22:27,097 --> 00:22:29,558
♪
508
00:22:29,558 --> 00:22:32,311
- I thought that I would just pass out.
I was so happy.
509
00:22:32,311 --> 00:22:33,896
Because leading up to that
I had been praying,
510
00:22:33,896 --> 00:22:35,439
"God, please don't let me leave this Earth
511
00:22:35,439 --> 00:22:37,566
not knowing who did this
to my best friend."
512
00:22:37,566 --> 00:22:40,068
♪
513
00:22:40,068 --> 00:22:42,196
NARRATOR:
The investigator starts from scratch.
514
00:22:42,196 --> 00:22:44,072
♪
515
00:22:44,072 --> 00:22:46,241
ENGLISH:
First thing I do is review
516
00:22:46,241 --> 00:22:47,534
everything in the case file.
517
00:22:47,534 --> 00:22:50,913
Our goal was to determine if there was
any suspects first to interview.
518
00:22:50,913 --> 00:22:52,164
♪
519
00:22:52,164 --> 00:22:54,082
NARRATOR:
English comes across the reference
520
00:22:54,625 --> 00:22:57,002
to John's ex-boyfriend.
521
00:22:58,086 --> 00:23:01,590
- John Ray had mentioned
to his friend Markeesha that
522
00:23:02,382 --> 00:23:04,676
there was some kinda
argument over money.
523
00:23:07,262 --> 00:23:11,767
The lead detective was unable to locate
the individual during that time in 2004.
524
00:23:12,434 --> 00:23:13,644
NARRATOR:
But this time
525
00:23:13,644 --> 00:23:15,687
the investigator has better luck.
526
00:23:16,438 --> 00:23:18,982
ENGLISH:
I was able to locate the subject
527
00:23:18,982 --> 00:23:20,234
and spoke with him.
528
00:23:20,734 --> 00:23:24,238
NARRATOR:
Unfortunately, it's another dead end.
529
00:23:29,117 --> 00:23:30,869
♪
530
00:23:30,869 --> 00:23:32,454
ENGLISH:
I determined that the individual
531
00:23:32,454 --> 00:23:35,374
was not in the state of Georgia
when this incident occurred
532
00:23:35,374 --> 00:23:38,502
so I was able to
rule him out as a suspect.
533
00:23:42,506 --> 00:23:45,551
NARRATOR:
Next, the cold case team decides
534
00:23:45,551 --> 00:23:48,929
to go through all the evidence that's been
sitting in storage for seven years.
535
00:23:48,929 --> 00:23:49,930
♪
536
00:23:49,930 --> 00:23:53,684
They find John Ray's work computer
and boot it up.
537
00:23:54,351 --> 00:23:56,478
ENGLISH:
So when we opened up John Ray's computer,
538
00:23:56,478 --> 00:23:59,147
we noticed he was on several dating sites.
539
00:23:59,147 --> 00:24:02,776
We were able to rule out the individuals
that he had contact with.
540
00:24:02,776 --> 00:24:05,279
♪
541
00:24:05,279 --> 00:24:06,613
NARRATOR:
But there's something else
542
00:24:06,613 --> 00:24:08,073
on John's computer,
543
00:24:08,699 --> 00:24:10,534
criminal background checks.
544
00:24:11,493 --> 00:24:14,746
- We wanted to determine
whether this was work-related
545
00:24:14,746 --> 00:24:16,707
or whether this was personal.
546
00:24:17,666 --> 00:24:19,918
NARRATOR:
While the team looks into the three men,
547
00:24:20,460 --> 00:24:23,255
they also focus on
a second crate of evidence,
548
00:24:24,089 --> 00:24:25,757
this one is sealed.
549
00:24:25,757 --> 00:24:28,218
♪
550
00:24:28,218 --> 00:24:32,306
It's the contents from John's car
that crashed hours after his death.
551
00:24:32,306 --> 00:24:35,434
♪
552
00:24:35,434 --> 00:24:38,103
Evidence that's never been examined...
553
00:24:38,103 --> 00:24:40,480
♪
554
00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:42,107
...until now.
555
00:24:42,107 --> 00:24:46,737
♪
556
00:24:48,739 --> 00:24:50,115
♪ Respite by Thomas McNeice,
April Mackay & Neil Mulholland playing ♪
557
00:24:50,115 --> 00:24:53,410
♪ Run, run, I don't know where I am ♪
558
00:24:53,410 --> 00:24:56,288
♪ Nail to the ground
and I just can't start ♪
559
00:24:56,830 --> 00:24:59,124
NARRATOR:
The cold case team investigating
560
00:24:59,124 --> 00:25:00,834
the murder of John Ray
561
00:25:00,834 --> 00:25:04,379
is reviewing evidence
that's been in storage for seven years,
562
00:25:05,631 --> 00:25:07,966
when they hit the mother lode.
563
00:25:07,966 --> 00:25:11,887
♪
564
00:25:11,887 --> 00:25:13,805
ENGLISH:
One crate was not opened.
565
00:25:14,598 --> 00:25:16,225
It was still sealed.
566
00:25:17,100 --> 00:25:18,894
There's definitely an adrenaline rush.
567
00:25:18,894 --> 00:25:23,899
♪
568
00:25:23,899 --> 00:25:27,236
I was a little surprised
seeing all that evidence...
569
00:25:27,236 --> 00:25:29,154
♪
570
00:25:29,154 --> 00:25:32,991
...and was hoping to get something
to try to help solve the case.
571
00:25:32,991 --> 00:25:38,205
♪
572
00:25:38,205 --> 00:25:41,625
NARRATOR:
Inside that crate, John's briefcase...
573
00:25:41,625 --> 00:25:44,002
[siren wailing]
574
00:25:44,002 --> 00:25:46,964
...which had been
in the trunk of his stolen car.
575
00:25:46,964 --> 00:25:51,677
♪
576
00:25:51,677 --> 00:25:52,970
ENGLISH:
Inside the work bag
577
00:25:53,470 --> 00:25:56,431
I noticed there was some printouts
of one individual
578
00:25:56,431 --> 00:25:58,392
from the
Department of Corrections website.
579
00:25:58,392 --> 00:26:02,104
♪
580
00:26:02,104 --> 00:26:04,356
NARRATOR: The printout
is the criminal background check
581
00:26:04,356 --> 00:26:06,024
for Torico Jackson.
582
00:26:06,024 --> 00:26:07,985
♪
583
00:26:07,985 --> 00:26:13,156
Torico Jackson is one of the names
found on John Ray's computer.
584
00:26:13,156 --> 00:26:14,491
♪
585
00:26:14,491 --> 00:26:17,619
ENGLISH: Torico Jackson's
extensive criminal history
586
00:26:17,619 --> 00:26:20,247
included several charges
of burglary and armed robbery.
587
00:26:20,247 --> 00:26:21,790
♪
588
00:26:21,790 --> 00:26:24,668
NARRATOR:
John Ray had been robbed several times,
589
00:26:24,668 --> 00:26:26,753
including the night he was killed.
590
00:26:26,753 --> 00:26:30,924
♪
591
00:26:30,924 --> 00:26:32,885
ENGLISH:
What stood out to me was,
592
00:26:32,885 --> 00:26:35,971
John Ray was murdered May 16th, 2004.
593
00:26:35,971 --> 00:26:37,973
The printout was dated May 12th.
594
00:26:38,473 --> 00:26:40,100
There was nothing to show
595
00:26:40,100 --> 00:26:43,437
that there was any kinda connection
work-related with Torico Jackson.
596
00:26:43,437 --> 00:26:45,063
♪
597
00:26:45,063 --> 00:26:47,482
NARRATOR:
So, if it's not work-related...
598
00:26:47,482 --> 00:26:50,277
♪
599
00:26:50,277 --> 00:26:54,823
...is it possible John had
a personal interest in Torico Jackson?
600
00:26:54,823 --> 00:26:59,286
♪
601
00:26:59,286 --> 00:27:00,954
- John Ray had told a friend of his
602
00:27:00,954 --> 00:27:03,248
that he had recently met an individual.
603
00:27:04,499 --> 00:27:06,126
Didn't give any kinda details,
604
00:27:06,710 --> 00:27:11,131
said he kinda felt the person was a little
"shady" is the best word to explain.
605
00:27:11,131 --> 00:27:12,633
♪
606
00:27:12,633 --> 00:27:15,594
DETECTIVE ESQUILIN:
Somehow John Ray knew
607
00:27:15,594 --> 00:27:18,263
who Torico Jackson was
608
00:27:18,263 --> 00:27:20,807
and had him on his radar
and was researching him.
609
00:27:20,807 --> 00:27:21,975
♪
610
00:27:21,975 --> 00:27:22,809
NARRATOR:
There's more.
611
00:27:23,352 --> 00:27:25,812
Another piece of damning evidence.
612
00:27:26,271 --> 00:27:29,107
A copy of Torico's ID.
613
00:27:29,107 --> 00:27:30,943
♪
614
00:27:30,943 --> 00:27:34,530
In the photo, Torico is wearing
the exact same jersey
615
00:27:34,530 --> 00:27:36,156
found in John's washing machine
616
00:27:37,407 --> 00:27:39,618
the night his body was found.
617
00:27:39,618 --> 00:27:43,288
♪
618
00:27:43,288 --> 00:27:46,834
Apparently Torico Jackson
was very fond of this shirt.
619
00:27:48,126 --> 00:27:50,045
It's the belief
of the cold case detectives
620
00:27:50,045 --> 00:27:51,713
that possibly Torico Jackson
621
00:27:51,713 --> 00:27:54,800
was gonna come back
and get his belongings.
622
00:27:55,592 --> 00:27:57,427
ENGLISH:
The shirt was very distinguishable.
623
00:27:57,886 --> 00:27:59,221
It was the same shirt.
624
00:27:59,221 --> 00:28:01,390
- The information
we found in the briefcase
625
00:28:01,390 --> 00:28:03,767
was not what we were expecting
626
00:28:03,767 --> 00:28:07,187
and it was a huge key in the case.
627
00:28:07,187 --> 00:28:08,605
♪
628
00:28:08,605 --> 00:28:11,191
MARKEYSHI:
John was speaking to us from the grave
629
00:28:11,191 --> 00:28:13,694
because he had left so much information
630
00:28:13,694 --> 00:28:15,696
in that briefcase in his trunk,
631
00:28:15,696 --> 00:28:17,447
and I could almost hear him say,
632
00:28:17,447 --> 00:28:18,782
"If you just open the trunk,
633
00:28:20,075 --> 00:28:21,368
you'll find what I left you."
634
00:28:26,331 --> 00:28:30,127
♪
635
00:28:30,127 --> 00:28:32,504
NARRATOR:
Investigators continue to dig.
636
00:28:32,504 --> 00:28:36,049
Detective English
reviews phone records from 2004.
637
00:28:36,508 --> 00:28:38,927
- One of the last calls
on John Ray's phone
638
00:28:38,927 --> 00:28:41,930
on the night of the murder
was made to a Shameeka Williams.
639
00:28:41,930 --> 00:28:43,056
♪
640
00:28:43,056 --> 00:28:45,184
NARRATOR:
This Shameeka Williams
641
00:28:45,184 --> 00:28:47,102
is a friend of Torico Jackson.
642
00:28:47,686 --> 00:28:49,938
Apparently, they're pretty close.
643
00:28:49,938 --> 00:28:50,898
[laughing]
644
00:28:53,066 --> 00:28:54,651
- After further investigation
645
00:28:54,651 --> 00:28:58,655
I learned that Shameeka
had visited Torico in prison.
646
00:29:00,908 --> 00:29:02,868
DETECTIVE ESQUILIN:
So that was a big
647
00:29:02,868 --> 00:29:05,913
key piece of evidence
that gave us a connection...
648
00:29:07,331 --> 00:29:08,749
to putting Torico Jackson
649
00:29:08,749 --> 00:29:10,501
inside the home of John Ray.
650
00:29:10,501 --> 00:29:11,376
[man laughing]
651
00:29:11,376 --> 00:29:14,505
It must have been him
that called her number
652
00:29:14,505 --> 00:29:16,340
from the residence of John Ray,
653
00:29:16,340 --> 00:29:18,133
and interestingly enough,
654
00:29:18,133 --> 00:29:20,135
she didn't know who John Ray was at all.
655
00:29:20,135 --> 00:29:22,804
♪
656
00:29:26,808 --> 00:29:29,102
NARRATOR:
Still, it's all circumstantial.
657
00:29:31,897 --> 00:29:35,400
Then, English stumbles upon
a missing piece of the puzzle.
658
00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:37,903
[indistinct radio chatter]
659
00:29:37,903 --> 00:29:40,322
ENGLISH:
Some of the evidence that was collected...
660
00:29:40,322 --> 00:29:42,366
[siren wailing]
661
00:29:42,366 --> 00:29:44,618
...from the stolen vehicle of John Ray,
662
00:29:46,036 --> 00:29:47,329
was blood from the airbag.
663
00:29:50,666 --> 00:29:54,419
DNA samples were submitted
to the crime lab for analysis
664
00:29:54,837 --> 00:29:58,841
and all the blood work
came back to Torico Jackson.
665
00:29:59,424 --> 00:30:00,050
[glass shatters]
666
00:30:03,053 --> 00:30:07,975
♪
667
00:30:07,975 --> 00:30:09,434
GEORGE TURNER:
My name is George Turner.
668
00:30:10,143 --> 00:30:13,438
I spent seven years as police chief
in the City of Atlanta.
669
00:30:13,814 --> 00:30:15,232
In the John Ray case,
670
00:30:15,858 --> 00:30:18,402
the investigator trying
to reconstruct that accident
671
00:30:20,028 --> 00:30:21,405
was very challenged because
672
00:30:22,155 --> 00:30:26,076
they didn't have the body
when the accident took place,
673
00:30:26,076 --> 00:30:30,289
so ultimately they determined
it was just a stolen vehicle...
674
00:30:32,082 --> 00:30:33,417
...or a crashed vehicle.
675
00:30:33,417 --> 00:30:39,006
♪
676
00:30:39,006 --> 00:30:39,882
♪
677
00:30:39,882 --> 00:30:43,427
The detective, when he received the call
on the homicide,
678
00:30:44,094 --> 00:30:46,722
also had not tied those things together.
679
00:30:46,722 --> 00:30:47,806
♪
680
00:30:47,806 --> 00:30:50,893
It wasn't until much later
that they determined,
681
00:30:50,893 --> 00:30:54,021
that the vehicle
was associated with the victim,
682
00:30:54,021 --> 00:30:56,732
and so ultimately evidence go cold
683
00:30:56,732 --> 00:31:01,069
and so it takes someone
that have dedicated time
684
00:31:01,069 --> 00:31:04,448
looking at those pieces
to bring those things together,
685
00:31:04,448 --> 00:31:06,158
to be able to solve this crime.
686
00:31:08,577 --> 00:31:11,413
NARRATOR:
Now police can place Torico
687
00:31:11,413 --> 00:31:13,749
in John's car the night of the murder.
688
00:31:13,749 --> 00:31:15,083
♪
689
00:31:15,083 --> 00:31:17,503
The evidence seems strong.
690
00:31:17,503 --> 00:31:20,172
♪
691
00:31:20,172 --> 00:31:21,340
DETECTIVE ESQUILIN:
Even though you're excited,
692
00:31:21,340 --> 00:31:24,468
you know that you have
a hurdle to jump over.
693
00:31:24,468 --> 00:31:28,138
You always have to pretend like
a defense attorney's on your shoulder
694
00:31:28,555 --> 00:31:32,100
because whatever you come up with,
they're gonna come up with a defense.
695
00:31:32,100 --> 00:31:33,268
♪
696
00:31:33,268 --> 00:31:35,020
NARRATOR:
After seven years of pain...
697
00:31:35,020 --> 00:31:36,688
♪
698
00:31:36,688 --> 00:31:39,107
...will John Ray's family and friends
699
00:31:39,107 --> 00:31:41,652
finally get the justice they deserve?
700
00:31:41,652 --> 00:31:46,865
♪
701
00:31:46,865 --> 00:31:49,076
♪
702
00:31:51,078 --> 00:31:52,871
♪ You're Under My Skin by Jake Warren
and Brooke Mitchell playing ♪
703
00:31:52,871 --> 00:31:55,791
♪ Paper-thin ♪
704
00:31:55,791 --> 00:31:59,461
♪ The walls are crumbling ♪
705
00:31:59,461 --> 00:32:00,629
♪
706
00:32:00,629 --> 00:32:01,964
NARRATOR:
The murder of John Ray
707
00:32:01,964 --> 00:32:04,967
sits unsolved for seven years.
708
00:32:05,592 --> 00:32:08,262
♪ I can feel ♪
709
00:32:08,929 --> 00:32:11,181
Then, in just two months...
710
00:32:11,723 --> 00:32:12,516
[camera shutter clicks]
711
00:32:12,516 --> 00:32:15,102
...the cold case team
gathers enough evidence
712
00:32:15,978 --> 00:32:17,437
to file charges.
713
00:32:17,437 --> 00:32:21,900
♪
714
00:32:21,900 --> 00:32:24,611
On August 22, 2011,
715
00:32:25,654 --> 00:32:29,616
Torico Jackson
is indicted for felony murder,
716
00:32:30,158 --> 00:32:31,243
aggravated assault,
717
00:32:32,035 --> 00:32:33,036
burglary,
718
00:32:33,453 --> 00:32:35,330
and possession of a knife
719
00:32:35,831 --> 00:32:37,708
during the commission of a felony.
720
00:32:37,708 --> 00:32:43,380
♪
721
00:32:43,380 --> 00:32:47,593
Prosecutors spend the next 16 months
722
00:32:47,593 --> 00:32:49,011
constructing their case.
723
00:32:49,011 --> 00:32:49,970
♪
724
00:32:49,970 --> 00:32:54,558
- So nine years it took us
to get somewhat of a closure.
725
00:32:54,558 --> 00:32:56,810
It's upsetting to know that
726
00:32:57,895 --> 00:33:03,025
they had all this evidence just sitting.
727
00:33:03,025 --> 00:33:04,193
♪
728
00:33:04,193 --> 00:33:08,822
Had they never developed
this cold case department
729
00:33:08,822 --> 00:33:10,449
we wouldn't be here now.
730
00:33:11,074 --> 00:33:15,078
♪
731
00:33:15,078 --> 00:33:16,830
♪
732
00:33:16,830 --> 00:33:20,125
NARRATOR:
The trial begins on September 5th, 2013.
733
00:33:20,125 --> 00:33:21,293
♪
734
00:33:21,293 --> 00:33:25,172
♪
735
00:33:25,172 --> 00:33:27,716
- What made this case difficult,
it was a circumstantial case.
736
00:33:27,716 --> 00:33:30,135
♪
737
00:33:30,135 --> 00:33:33,472
Putting the pieces together
with the photographs...
738
00:33:33,472 --> 00:33:35,557
♪
739
00:33:35,557 --> 00:33:36,391
...the shirt,
740
00:33:37,643 --> 00:33:38,519
the phone calls,
741
00:33:38,519 --> 00:33:40,395
the night of John Ray's murder...
742
00:33:40,395 --> 00:33:41,980
♪
743
00:33:41,980 --> 00:33:45,567
...was all more of a puzzle
of circumstantial evidence
744
00:33:45,943 --> 00:33:47,319
that the jury had to hear.
745
00:33:47,319 --> 00:33:51,365
♪
746
00:33:51,365 --> 00:33:55,702
It was a little concerning
whether they would convict him.
747
00:33:56,328 --> 00:33:58,789
NARRATOR:
And maybe they won't.
748
00:33:58,789 --> 00:33:59,665
♪
749
00:33:59,665 --> 00:34:03,752
Because Torico's defense
is that John attacked him.
750
00:34:05,671 --> 00:34:09,132
And all he needs
is one juror to believe him.
751
00:34:11,385 --> 00:34:14,012
ENGLISH:
Initially he just plead not guilty
752
00:34:14,388 --> 00:34:18,100
and right before the trial
he claimed self-defense.
753
00:34:22,229 --> 00:34:23,856
♪
754
00:34:23,856 --> 00:34:25,357
It was just crazy,
755
00:34:25,357 --> 00:34:26,608
and I just was shocked.
756
00:34:27,609 --> 00:34:29,903
JONIQUE:
Torico act like he was the victim.
757
00:34:29,903 --> 00:34:33,282
I guess he was saying
that John was gonna kill him,
758
00:34:33,282 --> 00:34:35,450
but he wasn't brought up like that.
759
00:34:35,993 --> 00:34:37,452
Why would he wanna hurt you?
760
00:34:38,745 --> 00:34:39,746
He was trying to help you.
761
00:34:40,414 --> 00:34:43,500
♪
762
00:34:44,543 --> 00:34:45,836
MAN:
Marcus Garner. Take one.
763
00:34:48,213 --> 00:34:49,464
MARCUS GARNER:
My name is Marcus Garner.
764
00:34:49,464 --> 00:34:52,634
I was a reporter with the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution at the time.
765
00:34:54,011 --> 00:34:55,262
GARNER:
Yeah, I did cover the trial.
766
00:34:56,972 --> 00:35:00,642
Torico Jackson
seemed a bit indignant, initially.
767
00:35:01,560 --> 00:35:04,980
During the course of the trial
you could literally see
768
00:35:04,980 --> 00:35:07,107
the evidence starting to weigh on him.
769
00:35:07,566 --> 00:35:09,902
NARRATOR:
Prosecutors point to the time line.
770
00:35:10,485 --> 00:35:13,071
John is murdered on May 16th.
771
00:35:13,614 --> 00:35:16,617
His body isn't discovered
until May 19th.
772
00:35:17,159 --> 00:35:20,871
They believe Torico remained
in John's home.
773
00:35:20,871 --> 00:35:25,792
♪
774
00:35:25,792 --> 00:35:29,546
- Apparently, Torico Jackson
was making phone calls from the house.
775
00:35:29,546 --> 00:35:33,759
♪ Hanging by a thread ♪
776
00:35:33,759 --> 00:35:36,887
Conducting business in the house
as if it were his own.
777
00:35:36,887 --> 00:35:39,264
♪ I'm better off dead ♪
778
00:35:39,264 --> 00:35:40,015
♪ Sow me ♪
779
00:35:40,015 --> 00:35:41,975
JONIQUE:
He made dinner, he ate lunch.
780
00:35:43,977 --> 00:35:44,978
He...
781
00:35:44,978 --> 00:35:47,022
♪ Back together ♪
782
00:35:47,022 --> 00:35:48,607
...lived in the house with a dead body.
783
00:35:48,607 --> 00:35:50,567
♪
784
00:35:50,567 --> 00:35:52,027
A heartless person...
785
00:35:52,027 --> 00:35:53,237
♪
786
00:35:53,237 --> 00:35:56,198
...would stay in the house
with a dead body,
787
00:35:56,198 --> 00:35:57,324
walking over it.
788
00:35:57,324 --> 00:35:59,952
♪ Holding on ♪
789
00:35:59,952 --> 00:36:03,205
♪ Till there's nothing left ♪
790
00:36:03,205 --> 00:36:04,414
♪
791
00:36:04,414 --> 00:36:08,043
♪ Maybe I'm better off dead ♪
792
00:36:08,710 --> 00:36:09,878
♪ Dead ♪
793
00:36:09,878 --> 00:36:11,004
♪
794
00:36:11,004 --> 00:36:12,047
[indistinct chatter on TV]
795
00:36:12,047 --> 00:36:14,341
♪
796
00:36:14,341 --> 00:36:16,677
♪
797
00:36:16,677 --> 00:36:18,262
NARRATOR:
The prosecution claims
798
00:36:18,262 --> 00:36:20,264
Torico targeted John Ray,
799
00:36:21,139 --> 00:36:23,225
and John wasn't the first.
800
00:36:23,225 --> 00:36:25,894
♪
801
00:36:25,894 --> 00:36:27,521
DETECTIVE ESQUILIN:
Torico Jackson was
802
00:36:27,521 --> 00:36:30,148
preying on gay males.
803
00:36:30,148 --> 00:36:32,359
♪
804
00:36:32,359 --> 00:36:35,362
- Torico would have a relationship
with the individual...
805
00:36:35,362 --> 00:36:37,239
♪
806
00:36:37,239 --> 00:36:39,950
...and he would burglarize or rob them.
807
00:36:39,950 --> 00:36:40,993
♪
808
00:36:40,993 --> 00:36:42,953
This appeared to be a pattern
809
00:36:42,953 --> 00:36:44,788
with the male individuals
he was involved with.
810
00:36:44,788 --> 00:36:46,665
♪
811
00:36:46,665 --> 00:36:48,375
- I think Torico Jackson thought
812
00:36:48,375 --> 00:36:49,918
that he would probably
just knock him out...
813
00:36:49,918 --> 00:36:51,211
[thuds]
[glass shatters]
814
00:36:51,211 --> 00:36:52,171
♪
815
00:36:52,171 --> 00:36:54,464
...grab all the stuff and flee
816
00:36:54,464 --> 00:36:55,549
and get away with it.
817
00:36:55,966 --> 00:36:57,676
Like he had done so many other times,
818
00:36:58,385 --> 00:37:00,637
and then I think John Ray
fought back for his life.
819
00:37:00,637 --> 00:37:03,765
♪
820
00:37:03,765 --> 00:37:07,686
♪
821
00:37:07,686 --> 00:37:08,437
[groans]
822
00:37:08,437 --> 00:37:12,566
♪
823
00:37:12,566 --> 00:37:15,611
♪
824
00:37:15,611 --> 00:37:17,487
NARRATOR:
After seven days of testimony,
825
00:37:18,322 --> 00:37:21,283
the jury only deliberates for one hour.
826
00:37:21,283 --> 00:37:26,622
♪
827
00:37:26,622 --> 00:37:27,789
♪
828
00:37:27,789 --> 00:37:30,584
- Torico was found guilty
of felony murder,
829
00:37:30,584 --> 00:37:32,628
aggravated assault, burglary,
830
00:37:32,628 --> 00:37:35,923
and received two life sentences
and 25 years in prison.
831
00:37:39,510 --> 00:37:40,844
♪
832
00:37:40,844 --> 00:37:43,055
♪ Feelin' like we made it ♪
833
00:37:43,055 --> 00:37:43,931
♪
834
00:37:43,931 --> 00:37:47,559
♪ And all the time we waited ♪
835
00:37:47,559 --> 00:37:51,313
♪ We paid the price of patience ♪
836
00:37:51,313 --> 00:37:54,149
♪
837
00:37:54,149 --> 00:37:55,817
JONIQUE:
Once he got his sentencing,
838
00:37:55,817 --> 00:37:57,861
he turn around and said,
839
00:37:57,861 --> 00:38:02,491
"It was either gonna be me dead
and your brother on trial,
840
00:38:03,492 --> 00:38:05,869
or we gonna be where we are now."
841
00:38:08,205 --> 00:38:10,123
JOYCE:
He was just a evil person.
842
00:38:11,124 --> 00:38:12,209
Very evil.
843
00:38:14,962 --> 00:38:17,047
To take away my son like that.
844
00:38:19,800 --> 00:38:21,552
You're supposed to forgive,
845
00:38:21,552 --> 00:38:23,929
but there's no forgiveness
in my heart for that.
846
00:38:26,223 --> 00:38:30,227
♪ vocalizing ♪
847
00:38:30,227 --> 00:38:32,855
JONIQUE:
When we were asked
848
00:38:33,897 --> 00:38:36,191
to pursue the death penalty,
849
00:38:36,191 --> 00:38:37,317
we...
850
00:38:38,944 --> 00:38:41,196
did not want that.
851
00:38:42,573 --> 00:38:45,659
We wanted him to be alive,
852
00:38:45,659 --> 00:38:47,995
to suffer the way we have
853
00:38:47,995 --> 00:38:50,247
because John's not here
with us any longer.
854
00:38:50,247 --> 00:38:53,292
♪
855
00:38:53,292 --> 00:38:54,960
- Do I feel justice was served?
856
00:38:54,960 --> 00:38:56,170
Nah, he's still breathing.
857
00:38:57,838 --> 00:38:59,548
NARRATOR:
One question remains unanswered.
858
00:39:00,048 --> 00:39:04,094
Why would John knowingly invite
a convicted criminal to his home?
859
00:39:05,137 --> 00:39:09,516
- John Ray, because he was
involved in this environment,
860
00:39:09,516 --> 00:39:12,519
through his job
might've been comfortable with criminals.
861
00:39:14,438 --> 00:39:17,608
He probably thought
that he could handle himself,
862
00:39:17,608 --> 00:39:19,026
and that it wouldn't happen to him.
863
00:39:19,985 --> 00:39:23,614
- I believe John was trying to help him
get on a better path.
864
00:39:24,698 --> 00:39:26,074
MARKEYSHI:
John had a big heart.
865
00:39:28,243 --> 00:39:31,038
And so it made sense
that he was talking to this Torico guy.
866
00:39:31,038 --> 00:39:35,375
♪
867
00:39:41,632 --> 00:39:43,425
WILLIE:
They got the guy that did it.
868
00:39:44,927 --> 00:39:47,971
That's what's important to me
and that's important to my family.
869
00:39:48,680 --> 00:39:50,599
It don't bring John back,
870
00:39:50,599 --> 00:39:52,684
but it brings a little clarity.
871
00:39:52,684 --> 00:39:54,144
You know, I love him.
872
00:39:54,144 --> 00:39:58,774
♪ Let the light fade ♪
873
00:39:58,774 --> 00:40:00,108
- We lost
874
00:40:01,985 --> 00:40:02,986
greatness.
875
00:40:04,738 --> 00:40:06,740
We lost John Edward Ray
876
00:40:08,116 --> 00:40:09,243
too soon.
877
00:40:10,786 --> 00:40:13,080
Because he was destined for greatness.
878
00:40:13,080 --> 00:40:15,874
♪
879
00:40:15,874 --> 00:40:19,628
♪ All we had was just a moment ♪
880
00:40:22,548 --> 00:40:26,218
♪ All we had was just a moment ♪
881
00:40:28,303 --> 00:40:31,265
- You are just as popular in your death
as you were in your life.
882
00:40:31,265 --> 00:40:33,433
You see all these people
out here because of you?
883
00:40:34,268 --> 00:40:35,936
JONIQUE: Right.
MARKEYSHI: You see this?
884
00:40:37,479 --> 00:40:38,564
God, I miss you.
885
00:40:40,482 --> 00:40:41,733
I know how you are,
886
00:40:41,733 --> 00:40:43,360
and you wouldn't want me to cry and--
887
00:40:44,069 --> 00:40:46,655
You'd probably tell me
to shut my punk behind up
888
00:40:46,655 --> 00:40:48,365
and take it like a woman.
I know you.
889
00:40:48,866 --> 00:40:50,576
Who's gonna put me in my place now?
890
00:40:51,702 --> 00:40:54,997
- I pray and ask God
to help make me strong,
891
00:40:55,539 --> 00:40:56,748
which he has,
892
00:40:58,500 --> 00:40:59,960
and I will survive.
893
00:40:59,960 --> 00:41:01,336
♪
894
00:41:01,336 --> 00:41:04,339
We just remember him
for the good days that he gave us.
895
00:41:04,339 --> 00:41:07,926
♪ All we have is just a moment ♪
896
00:41:07,926 --> 00:41:10,679
But we always think of him as our lawyer.
897
00:41:10,679 --> 00:41:12,931
♪ All we have, all we have ♪
898
00:41:12,931 --> 00:41:13,724
Yeah.
899
00:41:13,724 --> 00:41:15,809
♪
900
00:41:15,809 --> 00:41:18,729
♪ Is a moment ♪
901
00:41:18,729 --> 00:41:22,482
♪
902
00:41:22,482 --> 00:41:24,735
ENGLISH:
The printout being inside the work bag
903
00:41:24,735 --> 00:41:26,570
and all the other evidence that I found,
904
00:41:26,570 --> 00:41:31,992
I just felt that it was
some type of message from John Ray
905
00:41:31,992 --> 00:41:34,286
to help solve this case.
906
00:41:34,912 --> 00:41:37,206
DETECTIVE ESQUILIN:
It was just absolutely amazing
907
00:41:37,206 --> 00:41:40,375
that John Ray basically served up
908
00:41:40,375 --> 00:41:42,503
who his killer was on a silver platter.
909
00:41:42,503 --> 00:41:45,797
♪ All we have, all we have ♪
910
00:41:45,797 --> 00:41:47,257
♪
911
00:41:47,257 --> 00:41:50,010
♪ Is a moment ♪
912
00:41:50,010 --> 00:41:51,345
♪
913
00:41:52,012 --> 00:41:55,349
♪ I don't know where my head is lately ♪
914
00:41:55,349 --> 00:41:57,726
♪ Have I lost my mind? ♪
915
00:41:57,726 --> 00:42:02,439
♪
916
00:42:02,439 --> 00:42:05,567
♪
917
00:42:05,567 --> 00:42:09,029
♪ But I know that I have a secret ♪
918
00:42:09,029 --> 00:42:11,615
♪ And it's only mine ♪
919
00:42:11,615 --> 00:42:15,410
♪
920
00:42:19,206 --> 00:42:22,668
♪ And the only way to find me ♪
921
00:42:22,668 --> 00:42:26,713
♪ Is to go beneath the lies ♪
922
00:42:26,713 --> 00:42:29,716
♪