Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:02,170 --> 00:00:03,670
[reporter] There have
been further shocking developments
2
00:00:03,671 --> 00:00:06,111
in the Mineola Swingers
Club Case today.
3
00:00:06,107 --> 00:00:10,807
With defendants Jimmy Sones
and Shelia Sones now free
after taking plea deals,
4
00:00:10,811 --> 00:00:13,281
the convictions of three of
the other defendants
5
00:00:13,281 --> 00:00:15,951
look increasingly likely
to be overturned.
6
00:00:16,617 --> 00:00:18,517
[thuds]
7
00:00:18,519 --> 00:00:20,919
[Mike] After the lawyers for
the Jamie Pittman,
8
00:00:20,921 --> 00:00:24,761
and Shauntel Mayo and
Patrick Kelly cases
filed appeals,
9
00:00:24,758 --> 00:00:28,428
the 14th Court of Appeals
threw out those verdicts,
10
00:00:28,429 --> 00:00:31,599
based on numerous
evidentiary errors
11
00:00:31,599 --> 00:00:34,439
that the court said that
Judge Jack Skeen had made.
12
00:00:34,435 --> 00:00:36,135
And this was something that
the defense attorneys
13
00:00:36,137 --> 00:00:38,607
had complained about
the whole time,
14
00:00:38,606 --> 00:00:40,606
Skeen seemed to
be siding with the state
15
00:00:40,608 --> 00:00:45,408
and he did it to such
an extent that the court threw
out those verdicts.
16
00:00:47,148 --> 00:00:51,688
He went to all the other
defendants and offered
them plea bargains.
17
00:00:51,685 --> 00:00:54,255
To plead guilty
to injury to a child
18
00:00:55,156 --> 00:00:57,056
and time served
so they could get out.
19
00:00:57,057 --> 00:00:58,327
[camera shutter clicks]
20
00:00:58,326 --> 00:01:02,426
[Melinda] But Dennis Pittman
still had an appeal pending
21
00:01:02,430 --> 00:01:05,900
and so Dennis wasn't
offered the plea bargain.
22
00:01:05,899 --> 00:01:10,399
It was assumed he would
get out shortly afterwards,
like the others.
23
00:01:10,404 --> 00:01:12,644
- [Melinda] But by then,
Patrick Kelly,
- [camera shutter clicks]
24
00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:17,680
Jamie Pittman and Shauntel
had been in jail for
almost four years.
25
00:01:19,247 --> 00:01:23,447
[Mike] Matt Bingham, one
of the most law-and-order
prosecutors,
26
00:01:24,185 --> 00:01:26,815
makes a deal to let out
27
00:01:26,820 --> 00:01:31,460
a bunch of the most
perverted, maniacal,
28
00:01:31,459 --> 00:01:36,159
criminal monsters
that had ever struck Texas?
29
00:01:36,164 --> 00:01:40,334
If Matt Bingham really
believed that they
had done what
30
00:01:40,334 --> 00:01:43,904
he had prosecuted them
doing for four years,
31
00:01:43,904 --> 00:01:45,974
do you really think
he would have let them go?
32
00:01:45,973 --> 00:01:50,443
Absolutely not. They would be
rotting in prison for the
rest of their lives.
33
00:01:52,446 --> 00:01:53,446
[theme music playing]
34
00:01:56,217 --> 00:01:59,187
[woman speaking]
35
00:02:02,790 --> 00:02:05,030
[child speaking]
36
00:02:05,025 --> 00:02:06,355
[man speaking]
37
00:02:07,895 --> 00:02:10,225
[boy speaking]
38
00:02:11,565 --> 00:02:15,335
[man speaking]
39
00:02:15,336 --> 00:02:16,596
[girl speaking]
40
00:02:25,746 --> 00:02:28,446
[Reporter] Patrick Kelly,
nicknamed Booger Red,
41
00:02:28,449 --> 00:02:32,319
was sentenced to life
in prison for his role in the
alleged child sex ring.
42
00:02:35,989 --> 00:02:38,089
I was locked up for
almost four years.
43
00:02:39,059 --> 00:02:40,459
[Patrick]
When I was in prison,
44
00:02:40,461 --> 00:02:43,631
they overturned my case and
offered that plea
and I accepted it.
45
00:02:46,734 --> 00:02:48,344
I was tired, I wanted
to get out.
46
00:02:49,670 --> 00:02:51,370
I wanted to see my family.
47
00:02:51,372 --> 00:02:55,282
I wanted to see my mother.
I wanted to see my brother,
my wife, my son.
48
00:02:55,276 --> 00:02:58,076
[Patrick] What's up bud?
49
00:02:58,078 --> 00:03:03,248
This is my world right here.
I will fight a grizzly
bear for him.
50
00:03:03,251 --> 00:03:06,291
I'm not that good anymore,
but I'll still try.
51
00:03:06,287 --> 00:03:09,017
I'll give him my best shot
that's for damn sure. [laughs]
52
00:03:11,725 --> 00:03:14,255
[Steven] When he actually went
to jail and they told me
53
00:03:14,262 --> 00:03:19,502
that's what they're accusing
him of and the DA tried to
get me to turn against him.
54
00:03:19,500 --> 00:03:21,640
I told them they're crazy
55
00:03:21,635 --> 00:03:23,735
because my dad ain't
never done anything like that.
56
00:03:24,872 --> 00:03:26,672
'Cause it...
57
00:03:26,674 --> 00:03:29,084
That was just all made
up stuff in their head.
58
00:03:31,111 --> 00:03:33,451
To me, that's the worst thing
in the world for you to do,
59
00:03:34,081 --> 00:03:35,681
is to molest a child,
60
00:03:35,683 --> 00:03:38,393
But yet I got convicted
on hearsay.
61
00:03:38,386 --> 00:03:42,916
It's what was said,
no proof of anything,
it's just what was said.
62
00:03:42,923 --> 00:03:46,033
[Patrick] I mean, these people
don't even know me,
know nothing about me,
63
00:03:46,026 --> 00:03:48,296
just because of my nickname,
I was the devil.
64
00:03:49,630 --> 00:03:53,030
For Margie Cantrell to
do the things she's done,
65
00:03:53,033 --> 00:03:56,043
to brainwash them kids
to say the things they said,
66
00:03:56,036 --> 00:03:58,906
because these kids are going
to be traumatized
for the rest of their lives.
67
00:03:58,906 --> 00:04:00,636
Margie Cantrell is a monster.
68
00:04:01,141 --> 00:04:03,041
[rooster crowing]
69
00:04:03,644 --> 00:04:07,354
[dog barking]
70
00:04:11,619 --> 00:04:13,919
[rooster crowing]
71
00:04:13,921 --> 00:04:17,431
[Shuantel] This is Margie
and John Cantrell
72
00:04:17,425 --> 00:04:20,825
and all of their
foster children.
And my three children.
73
00:04:21,995 --> 00:04:24,395
That woman and
that man stole my life.
74
00:04:25,633 --> 00:04:27,203
[camera shutter clicking]
75
00:04:27,701 --> 00:04:29,141
Prison was hard.
76
00:04:30,671 --> 00:04:32,141
I learned how to fight.
77
00:04:33,006 --> 00:04:34,636
I was sexually abused
in prison,
78
00:04:36,510 --> 00:04:38,350
by a group of women.
79
00:04:39,980 --> 00:04:41,720
I was very targeted.
80
00:04:43,250 --> 00:04:45,020
There was no
reason to live anymore.
81
00:04:47,087 --> 00:04:50,357
But I knew that God wasn't
going to leave me there
82
00:04:50,358 --> 00:04:52,688
I didn't know how long
it was going to take
to get me home.
83
00:04:55,529 --> 00:04:59,569
I filled my time with
Bible studies and law books.
84
00:05:01,168 --> 00:05:05,908
In 2011, I could have probably
took my bar exam and passed.
85
00:05:06,474 --> 00:05:07,744
That's how hard I worked.
86
00:05:11,445 --> 00:05:12,805
After I got out of prison,
87
00:05:13,414 --> 00:05:14,784
I knew by law,
88
00:05:14,782 --> 00:05:18,222
I would never get to have
contact with my kids
89
00:05:18,218 --> 00:05:19,948
until they were
18 and they found me.
90
00:05:21,254 --> 00:05:22,424
It was... it was horrible.
91
00:05:34,835 --> 00:05:37,265
[Hunter]
Margie was an attention hog.
92
00:05:37,270 --> 00:05:40,610
Her appearance to the
public was important to her.
93
00:05:40,608 --> 00:05:44,678
So when we went on outings
like this, I remember
this is at the zoo.
94
00:05:44,678 --> 00:05:46,478
- [camera shutter clicks]
- [Hunter] I remember
this picture.
95
00:05:47,948 --> 00:05:50,448
[Hunter] This was more
of just like a show of like,
96
00:05:50,451 --> 00:05:52,591
like "Oh, hey, I got
this big happy family."
97
00:05:52,586 --> 00:05:54,816
But it was pretend.
98
00:05:54,822 --> 00:05:58,792
Behind closed doors,
this was not true.
99
00:05:58,792 --> 00:06:01,562
The entire time with
the Cantrells was
100
00:06:01,562 --> 00:06:03,932
the worst time of my life.
101
00:06:03,931 --> 00:06:06,201
[birds screeching]
102
00:06:13,073 --> 00:06:15,883
[Hunter] Being back here
brings back a lot of memories.
103
00:06:15,876 --> 00:06:17,446
[camera shutter clicks]
104
00:06:17,445 --> 00:06:19,705
[Hunter] I was always worried.
Always scared.
105
00:06:21,715 --> 00:06:23,715
Margie was just,
she was an animal.
106
00:06:25,653 --> 00:06:29,563
[Carly] The back scratcher was
the main punishment
for everything.
107
00:06:32,059 --> 00:06:33,629
They would pull
your pants down,
108
00:06:34,795 --> 00:06:36,595
whoop you with that,
we'd have welts
109
00:06:36,597 --> 00:06:39,227
on our backs and everything.
110
00:06:41,134 --> 00:06:42,944
And you weren't
allowed to cry.
111
00:06:42,936 --> 00:06:45,306
If you cried, you got
whupped again.
112
00:06:52,012 --> 00:06:55,322
[Hunter] Making Margie angry
was as simple as
113
00:06:55,849 --> 00:06:57,279
taking a cookie,
114
00:06:57,284 --> 00:06:59,554
just 'cause you didn't ask
permission for it.
115
00:06:59,553 --> 00:07:02,163
[Carly]
Or going outside
without permission.
116
00:07:02,155 --> 00:07:04,215
[Hunter] Or talking to the
neighbors without permission.
117
00:07:04,224 --> 00:07:08,034
It was everything, you know,
we... we couldn't be kids.
118
00:07:08,028 --> 00:07:08,928
We weren't allowed to.
119
00:07:12,866 --> 00:07:16,196
I remember the time
whenever I'd used all the
blankets in the closet
120
00:07:16,203 --> 00:07:19,743
she had repeatedly bashed
my head into the doorframe,
121
00:07:19,740 --> 00:07:22,210
she used to drag us across
the floor downstairs.
122
00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:28,380
[Carly] I think the worst
thing that happened to me
123
00:07:28,381 --> 00:07:30,851
was when my head
got slammed into
the tile floor.
124
00:07:33,286 --> 00:07:35,056
It was right around here.
125
00:07:38,892 --> 00:07:43,132
I ran away and she was yelling
and stuff about me leaving.
126
00:07:44,565 --> 00:07:46,665
She ended up slamming my head.
127
00:07:46,667 --> 00:07:49,267
I was on my knees and she
ended up slamming my head.
128
00:07:51,905 --> 00:07:59,445
[Hunter] I was downstairs and
I heard the crash on
the tile and I ran upstairs,
129
00:07:59,547 --> 00:08:02,117
and I saw Carly on the ground,
130
00:08:04,151 --> 00:08:05,551
it really set me off.
131
00:08:06,820 --> 00:08:08,120
It was just something
you didn't do.
132
00:08:08,121 --> 00:08:10,061
You didn't put your hands
on my sisters, no matter
what you did.
133
00:08:13,561 --> 00:08:15,261
[Margie]
Carly's never been struck.
134
00:08:15,262 --> 00:08:18,672
Carly has never had a spank
and a swat, nothing, ever.
135
00:08:19,166 --> 00:08:20,296
Hunter was.
136
00:08:20,300 --> 00:08:22,040
Not by the back scratcher.
137
00:08:22,035 --> 00:08:25,235
I can sit here and say,
"Oh, no, no, no, never."
No, no I did.
138
00:08:29,577 --> 00:08:33,247
I slapped him a few times.
I popped him in the
mouth a few times.
139
00:08:52,499 --> 00:08:57,039
Not long after that, a hearing
was held in family
court in Tyler.
140
00:08:57,037 --> 00:09:00,067
Finally, the world's gonna see
who these people really are.
141
00:09:01,842 --> 00:09:04,612
[Female reporter] Our top
is about the hearing
that took place today
142
00:09:04,612 --> 00:09:06,752
regarding the welfare
of the foster children
143
00:09:06,747 --> 00:09:09,877
currently in the care
of John and Margie Cantrell.
144
00:09:09,883 --> 00:09:13,823
Those children were the
victims of the Mineola
Sex ring trials.
145
00:09:13,821 --> 00:09:16,791
Representatives from
Child Protective Services
and attorneys
146
00:09:16,790 --> 00:09:20,230
were in court to hear
the judges remarks about what
to do with the children
147
00:09:20,227 --> 00:09:22,727
currently in the
Cantrell's home.
148
00:09:22,730 --> 00:09:25,630
[male reporter]
The allegations of abuse
came from multiple children.
149
00:09:25,633 --> 00:09:29,673
One child alleged being beaten
with a wooden back scratcher
until it snapped
150
00:09:29,670 --> 00:09:33,640
And another alleged that
Margie Cantrell popped her
in the mouth and slapped her.
151
00:09:37,878 --> 00:09:41,308
[Judge speaking]
152
00:09:49,289 --> 00:09:55,299
The children were ultimately
removed from Margie and John,
um because of physical abuse
153
00:09:55,295 --> 00:09:57,395
[judge speaking]
154
00:10:06,473 --> 00:10:09,213
They didn't make that choice.
I made that choice.
155
00:10:09,209 --> 00:10:14,109
Like they said, um,
"These are her kids.
She can relinquish them."
156
00:10:14,114 --> 00:10:18,424
And I chose to relinquish
the conservatorship.
157
00:10:20,220 --> 00:10:22,360
[male reporter] Also in the
courtroom was Shauntel Mayo,
158
00:10:22,355 --> 00:10:24,985
herself a defendant in the
Mineola Swingers Club case
159
00:10:24,992 --> 00:10:28,362
and the mother of three
children removed today
from the Cantrell household.
160
00:10:30,230 --> 00:10:32,800
My heart's relieved,
161
00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:36,870
because they've known
before my kids
were put in there.
162
00:10:36,870 --> 00:10:39,070
They took them out
of a good loving home,
163
00:10:39,072 --> 00:10:43,282
granted there was issues in
our home, but it wasn't
issues that was accused of.
164
00:10:45,078 --> 00:10:48,878
And put them into a worse
situation for nine years,
they've been abused.
165
00:10:48,882 --> 00:10:50,222
- So that's not true.
- [indistinct chatter]
166
00:10:50,217 --> 00:10:54,687
and this is the lies they
were spreading in the
news about us.
167
00:10:54,688 --> 00:10:56,758
[male reporter] Throughout the
Swingers Club Sex Ring Trial,
168
00:10:56,757 --> 00:10:59,227
foster mother
Margaret Cantrell
was instrumental
169
00:10:59,226 --> 00:11:02,596
instrumental in exposing
the alleged abuse
in Mineola and Tyler.
170
00:11:02,595 --> 00:11:05,625
However with these fresh
accusations about
her own conduct,
171
00:11:05,733 --> 00:11:09,073
the credibility of some
of her statements has
come into question.
172
00:11:09,069 --> 00:11:13,109
I believe, uh,
from looking at that,
173
00:11:13,106 --> 00:11:16,976
that, uh, we were
played in the media.
174
00:11:16,977 --> 00:11:21,917
To take innocent people
and start slamming
them is disgusting.
175
00:11:21,915 --> 00:11:23,575
I think, over a
course of time,
176
00:11:23,583 --> 00:11:27,323
we might be seeing very
interesting statements
from these kids
177
00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:29,460
about what actually
happened to them.
178
00:11:29,456 --> 00:11:33,786
It's Thad Davidson, just
pushing it and pushing
it and pushing it.
179
00:11:33,794 --> 00:11:38,874
"If we can ever get the
children away from
Margie Cantrell's custody,
180
00:11:38,866 --> 00:11:42,436
we can get them
to tell the truth."
181
00:11:42,435 --> 00:11:45,035
- Would you guys like
to say anything?
- No.
182
00:11:45,038 --> 00:11:47,338
- No, I don't think
it's proper.
- Nah.
183
00:11:47,340 --> 00:11:51,310
What do you think about these
allegations that are
being made against you?
184
00:11:51,311 --> 00:11:54,151
We don't even know
most of them yet. [laughs]
185
00:11:55,883 --> 00:11:58,553
- [lawyer] Margaret!
Don't talk to him. Go.
- Yes, Ma'am.
186
00:11:58,551 --> 00:11:59,691
Yes, Ma'am.
187
00:11:59,787 --> 00:12:01,957
- No.
- Go, hurry up.
188
00:12:02,555 --> 00:12:03,815
[lawyer] Go.
189
00:12:04,792 --> 00:12:06,492
[reporter] Would you like to
say anything...
190
00:12:07,627 --> 00:12:11,427
We decided that the
best thing, is to go
back home.
191
00:12:12,632 --> 00:12:14,942
Home was always Vacaville,
192
00:12:16,636 --> 00:12:19,666
where we were loved,
where people knew us,
knew what we were like
193
00:12:21,842 --> 00:12:23,812
And it would be better.
194
00:12:24,812 --> 00:12:26,582
Yes, it was a dream home.
195
00:12:28,481 --> 00:12:33,451
But we loaded what we could
load in a U-Haul and
a trailer behind it.
196
00:12:33,453 --> 00:12:35,463
And everything else that
we ever owned,
197
00:12:36,857 --> 00:12:38,827
was left behind.
We locked the door,
198
00:12:40,493 --> 00:12:41,463
and we drove away.
199
00:12:53,473 --> 00:12:54,843
[camera shutter clicks]
200
00:12:54,842 --> 00:12:58,752
[Hunter] When they came
to get us, I felt like
it's about time.
201
00:12:58,846 --> 00:13:02,016
It had been so many years
dealing with her
202
00:13:02,015 --> 00:13:05,445
it was just a major,
major feeling of relief
to get out of here.
203
00:13:20,233 --> 00:13:22,873
I was having a lot
of issues with
204
00:13:23,570 --> 00:13:25,110
my adopted parents.
205
00:13:25,738 --> 00:13:27,338
We were not seeing eye to eye.
206
00:13:27,340 --> 00:13:30,180
And so I was you know
like, "What can I do?"
207
00:13:30,177 --> 00:13:32,307
And then I thought
about it, and I was like,
208
00:13:32,312 --> 00:13:34,952
"Well, I... I can look
up my dad."
209
00:13:36,116 --> 00:13:40,086
And I got the idea to
look him up on Facebook.
210
00:13:40,087 --> 00:13:44,057
We wasn't allowed to have
any type of contact
with Gabby.
211
00:13:44,057 --> 00:13:46,557
Uh, she would had to been
eighteen years old before
212
00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:48,999
we were supposed to have
contact with her.
213
00:13:48,996 --> 00:13:52,726
I got a Facebook page and all
that stuff and I posted
a lot of stuff in there,
214
00:13:52,732 --> 00:13:58,012
pictures and stuff of Gabby.
And I left it open
to the public.
215
00:13:58,005 --> 00:14:01,005
[Gabby] And that's how I found
him and then I contacted him.
216
00:14:01,774 --> 00:14:03,944
She gave me her phone number.
217
00:14:03,944 --> 00:14:07,454
I called her and the next day
her and her boyfriend
come out to visit.
218
00:14:08,381 --> 00:14:09,981
As soon as I got
out of the car,
219
00:14:09,983 --> 00:14:11,623
tears were running
down my eyes
220
00:14:12,953 --> 00:14:14,523
and I just embraced her.
221
00:14:15,655 --> 00:14:18,025
I don't even know how long
we stood there hugging.
222
00:14:18,025 --> 00:14:21,995
It was a happy,
very happy emotional day.
223
00:14:21,995 --> 00:14:23,925
[Gabby] He hugged me
for a really long time.
224
00:14:23,931 --> 00:14:26,101
- [camera shutter clicks]
- [Gabby] It had been
eight years
225
00:14:26,099 --> 00:14:27,829
since the last time
I'd seen him.
226
00:14:37,810 --> 00:14:41,650
[Gabby] At that time,
I was having a lot of problems
with my foster parents
227
00:14:41,648 --> 00:14:44,518
- and so I... I just
had enough.
- [camera shutter clicks]
228
00:14:44,517 --> 00:14:47,547
[Gabby] I ran away and
I never looked back.
229
00:14:49,522 --> 00:14:51,362
[Jimmy] When she ran away,
230
00:14:51,358 --> 00:14:53,558
she called me wanting me to
come pick her up.
231
00:14:54,694 --> 00:14:56,234
So, I did.
232
00:14:57,264 --> 00:14:59,134
I damn sure wasn't
gonna turn her down.
233
00:14:59,132 --> 00:15:00,402
[camera shutter clicks]
234
00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:02,400
[Gabby] There was no way I was
going to be able to come home,
235
00:15:02,402 --> 00:15:05,412
not actually having
formally recanted.
236
00:15:09,576 --> 00:15:11,376
[Mike]
Jimmy read some of my stories
237
00:15:11,378 --> 00:15:13,348
and in 2014 called me up.
238
00:15:14,481 --> 00:15:17,051
And he said, Gabby really
wants to talk to you.
239
00:15:17,050 --> 00:15:19,020
And so, we met at
this truck stop,
240
00:15:22,655 --> 00:15:26,255
and all of a sudden,
this big rig comes pulling
into the parking lot and
241
00:15:26,259 --> 00:15:29,559
Jimmy gets out
and he's... he's he's got this
Duck Dynasty shirt on.
242
00:15:29,562 --> 00:15:34,302
And... and there's Gabby,
who just looked like
a goth teenager.
243
00:15:34,301 --> 00:15:37,001
They came in, and they
sat down, and, and
she was real nervous.
244
00:15:37,004 --> 00:15:38,644
I remember her,
245
00:15:38,638 --> 00:15:40,508
her leg going up and down and
246
00:15:42,009 --> 00:15:43,479
she just started spilling.
247
00:15:43,476 --> 00:15:45,046
Can... can I read what
she said?
248
00:15:48,048 --> 00:15:50,218
She told me that everything
they'd said was a lie.
249
00:15:51,051 --> 00:15:53,751
"Sex kindergarten,
the swingers' club.
250
00:15:53,753 --> 00:15:56,863
Their parents and all the
other adults were innocent.
251
00:15:56,856 --> 00:16:00,186
She said, "They literally blew
up my mind and
planted stuff in it.
252
00:16:00,827 --> 00:16:02,497
I'm furious about it.
253
00:16:02,495 --> 00:16:05,465
They lied to me, they used me,
they screwed up my life.
254
00:16:07,067 --> 00:16:09,697
And she said, my ultimate goal
is for this to be overturned.
255
00:16:09,702 --> 00:16:11,942
My goal for myself
is just to tell the truth."
256
00:16:14,441 --> 00:16:16,711
And not only Gabby, but Hunter
recanted as well.
257
00:16:16,709 --> 00:16:18,349
[camera shutter clicks]
258
00:16:18,345 --> 00:16:21,175
When I got a bit older,
I actually pulled
my older sister
259
00:16:21,181 --> 00:16:23,181
aside and asked her, you know,
260
00:16:23,183 --> 00:16:25,223
do you actually remember
261
00:16:25,218 --> 00:16:27,848
any of this swingers club
stuff happening?
262
00:16:27,854 --> 00:16:31,164
'Cause I started realizing
I don't remember any of this.
263
00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:36,060
And that's when it really
clicked that Margie
264
00:16:36,063 --> 00:16:37,063
brainwashed us.
265
00:16:40,067 --> 00:16:44,797
In the beginning, she asked me
if anybody had touched us and
things like that.
266
00:16:44,804 --> 00:16:46,474
At first I said no.
267
00:16:46,473 --> 00:16:48,243
[Margie speaking]
268
00:16:50,743 --> 00:16:52,353
[Hunter speaking]
269
00:16:52,345 --> 00:16:56,545
But eventually, I just
basically started repeating
what Margie had been asking.
270
00:16:56,549 --> 00:16:58,089
[Margie speaking]
271
00:17:00,187 --> 00:17:01,517
[Hunter speaking]
272
00:17:06,393 --> 00:17:07,893
[Margie speaking]
273
00:17:08,761 --> 00:17:10,001
[Margie speaking]
274
00:17:10,097 --> 00:17:11,897
[indistinct chatter]
275
00:17:11,898 --> 00:17:14,228
[Dr. Wood]
My name is Dr. James Wood.
276
00:17:14,234 --> 00:17:19,244
I'm a retired professor of
psychology at the
University of Texas at El Paso
277
00:17:19,239 --> 00:17:23,209
A lot of my research has been
on child interviewing,
child suggestibility.
278
00:17:23,743 --> 00:17:28,523
[Margie speaking]
279
00:17:31,351 --> 00:17:34,321
One of the more amazing things
was just seeing those
280
00:17:34,321 --> 00:17:36,691
interviews and then
how they were conducted.
281
00:17:36,689 --> 00:17:38,129
[Margie speaking]
282
00:17:38,558 --> 00:17:39,928
[Hunter speaking]
283
00:17:40,427 --> 00:17:43,757
[Margie speaking]
284
00:17:43,763 --> 00:17:44,933
[Hunter speaking]
285
00:17:44,931 --> 00:17:46,401
[Margie speaking]
286
00:17:46,866 --> 00:17:48,536
Okay.
287
00:17:48,535 --> 00:17:53,835
Introducing information.
So we've had, uh kindergarten
and did anything nasty happen?
288
00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:57,140
And you put them together.
So you've actually
linked the two ideas, so that
289
00:17:57,144 --> 00:18:02,424
suggests to... to Hunter, we
want a statement about nasty
things in kindergarten, right.
290
00:18:02,415 --> 00:18:04,445
That's coming from
the adults, not from him.
291
00:18:04,451 --> 00:18:05,621
[Margie]
Where did that happen?
292
00:18:07,019 --> 00:18:08,619
[Ranger Kemp speaking]
293
00:18:12,024 --> 00:18:14,494
[Dr. Wood] Margie is the last
person you want
touching that
294
00:18:14,494 --> 00:18:16,364
child as you try to get
a statement from him.
295
00:18:16,996 --> 00:18:19,466
She's pressuring him.
296
00:18:19,466 --> 00:18:23,466
She's demonstrating her
control, she pulls his
hands down like that.
297
00:18:23,470 --> 00:18:25,340
She's giving him
a lot of signals about,
298
00:18:26,306 --> 00:18:28,276
you're gonna do
what I want right now.
299
00:18:28,275 --> 00:18:29,735
[Ranger Kemp speaking]
300
00:18:30,410 --> 00:18:31,480
[Carly speaking]
301
00:18:31,478 --> 00:18:32,878
[Ranger Kemp speaking]
302
00:18:32,879 --> 00:18:35,849
[Dr. Wood] Another suggestive
interviewing technique is
303
00:18:35,848 --> 00:18:37,818
giving positive feedback,
304
00:18:37,817 --> 00:18:41,487
which is praising a child
for making an accusation.
305
00:18:41,488 --> 00:18:43,358
Saying, "You're doing
a great job."
306
00:18:43,356 --> 00:18:45,986
[Ranger Kemp speaking]
307
00:18:57,370 --> 00:19:01,640
When Margie is with Shelby
or Margie is with Hunter,
308
00:19:01,641 --> 00:19:05,111
one thing is you could say,
well, that's
their caretaker, right?
309
00:19:05,212 --> 00:19:09,222
But in the case of Gabby,
they had no relationship.
310
00:19:09,216 --> 00:19:11,116
She wasn't her foster child.
311
00:19:11,218 --> 00:19:14,648
And yet Kemp brings
Margie in to question Gabby.
312
00:19:15,288 --> 00:19:17,088
[Margie clears throat]
313
00:19:17,089 --> 00:19:20,329
[Gabby] They would pull us
into this room.
It was a small white room.
314
00:19:20,327 --> 00:19:24,327
It was just the same question,
just in different words, over,
and over again.
315
00:19:24,331 --> 00:19:28,341
Just hours of the
same question, wanting me to
change my answer.
316
00:19:28,968 --> 00:19:30,238
[Margie speaking]
317
00:19:35,242 --> 00:19:36,442
[Gabby speaking]
318
00:19:36,443 --> 00:19:38,683
[Margie speaking]
319
00:19:38,678 --> 00:19:40,008
[Gabby speaking]
320
00:19:40,012 --> 00:19:42,012
[Margie speaking]
321
00:19:42,014 --> 00:19:43,784
So they can't get her to
change her story.
322
00:19:43,783 --> 00:19:47,253
So they put her in a room
with Shelby and let
Shelby interview her.
323
00:19:47,254 --> 00:19:48,824
[Gabby speaking]
324
00:19:48,821 --> 00:19:50,491
[Shelby speaking]
325
00:19:50,490 --> 00:19:51,720
[Gabby speaking]
326
00:19:54,394 --> 00:19:55,804
[Shelby speaking]
327
00:19:56,529 --> 00:20:01,199
[Gabby speaking]
328
00:20:05,472 --> 00:20:06,872
[Shelby speaking]
329
00:20:09,409 --> 00:20:10,839
[Dr. Wood]
Totally in violation.
330
00:20:10,843 --> 00:20:13,513
You're not supposed
to have children question
other children,
331
00:20:13,513 --> 00:20:16,383
and you're not supposed
to have children pressure
other children.
332
00:20:16,383 --> 00:20:19,223
[Gabby speaking]
333
00:20:19,819 --> 00:20:22,719
[Shelby speaking]
334
00:20:22,722 --> 00:20:23,692
[Gabby speaking]
335
00:20:28,895 --> 00:20:30,095
Margie Cantrell
336
00:20:30,096 --> 00:20:32,566
and Ranger Philip Kemp
337
00:20:32,565 --> 00:20:36,095
violated just about
every rule in the book
338
00:20:36,102 --> 00:20:38,202
for good interviewing
of children.
339
00:20:38,871 --> 00:20:40,571
[Margie speaking]
340
00:20:48,615 --> 00:20:49,845
[Ranger Kemp speaking]
341
00:20:49,849 --> 00:20:50,879
[Margie speaking]
342
00:20:50,883 --> 00:20:51,883
[Ranger Kemp speaking]
343
00:20:51,884 --> 00:20:53,754
[Margie speaking]
344
00:20:57,657 --> 00:20:59,357
[Dr. Wood]
It was crystal clear
345
00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:03,829
that the children were
subjected to very intense
pressure and
346
00:21:03,830 --> 00:21:07,670
suggestive questioning by
Ranger Kemp and
Margie Cantrell.
347
00:21:07,667 --> 00:21:11,397
[Gabby speaking]
348
00:21:11,904 --> 00:21:15,384
[Margie speaking]
349
00:21:15,375 --> 00:21:19,475
[Melinda] It was Margie
Cantrell telling them
350
00:21:19,479 --> 00:21:20,849
that these things happened.
351
00:21:20,847 --> 00:21:23,817
So it's like, if you tell the
kid there's a Santa Claus and
352
00:21:23,816 --> 00:21:26,446
and if you're not good,
Santa Claus won't bring
you anything
353
00:21:26,453 --> 00:21:30,193
and you're putting that belief
in that child's head.
354
00:21:30,189 --> 00:21:32,989
Then you could put the
bad beliefs in there too.
355
00:21:32,992 --> 00:21:35,532
[Hunter] None of this stuff
actually ever happened.
356
00:21:35,528 --> 00:21:38,198
We were manipulated
in to believing it.
357
00:21:41,434 --> 00:21:44,644
When I finally realized
the sex scandal never happened
358
00:21:44,637 --> 00:21:48,407
and she knew it never happened
I didn't understand why
359
00:21:48,408 --> 00:21:54,078
she forced a child
into telling you something
that didn't happen.
360
00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:56,220
[Margie speaking]
361
00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:02,790
We learned much later
362
00:22:02,789 --> 00:22:04,889
the reason she's doing this
363
00:22:04,891 --> 00:22:07,991
is because
the worse the child is
364
00:22:07,994 --> 00:22:10,534
then the more
the foster parents pay.
365
00:22:12,399 --> 00:22:16,499
And so, Margie started saying
that the children had told her
366
00:22:16,503 --> 00:22:18,003
that they
were sexually abused.
367
00:22:19,539 --> 00:22:22,409
[Gabby] Margie Cantrell
got a lot of money
368
00:22:22,409 --> 00:22:24,109
for Shelby, Hunter and Carly.
369
00:22:24,110 --> 00:22:25,950
The more messed up they were
370
00:22:25,945 --> 00:22:28,515
the more money she got
for taking care of them.
371
00:22:29,215 --> 00:22:30,715
I think it's horrific.
372
00:22:32,151 --> 00:22:35,421
[Hunter] She was creating
this horrible backstory for us
373
00:22:35,422 --> 00:22:38,162
so that she could get paid.
374
00:22:38,157 --> 00:22:41,087
Margie just needed the money.
She wanted the money.
375
00:22:41,093 --> 00:22:44,463
[Jenna] She would brag,
"Oh yeah.
376
00:22:44,464 --> 00:22:47,974
John, John, now if we say
this about this kid,
377
00:22:47,967 --> 00:22:50,667
then, you know we can get
$1,500 for that kid."
378
00:22:51,203 --> 00:22:52,943
So everybody,
379
00:22:52,939 --> 00:22:55,069
even if they
didn't have issues,
380
00:22:55,842 --> 00:22:57,782
they were
going to "have issues"
381
00:22:57,777 --> 00:22:59,877
when they
got to the Cantrell's house.
382
00:23:01,548 --> 00:23:04,248
[Dr. Wood] From an
economic point of view,
383
00:23:04,250 --> 00:23:07,950
if she has these three foster
children staying with her,
384
00:23:07,954 --> 00:23:10,464
they typically will be
returned to their parents.
385
00:23:10,457 --> 00:23:12,627
But if the parents
are convicted
386
00:23:12,625 --> 00:23:14,525
and they're put into jail,
387
00:23:14,527 --> 00:23:16,457
then the children are
not going to be returned
to those parents
388
00:23:16,463 --> 00:23:22,203
and they become a steady,
reliable source of income.
389
00:23:22,201 --> 00:23:26,241
[Melinda] That's how we
learned that each one
of these children they got,
390
00:23:26,238 --> 00:23:28,208
every single child,
391
00:23:28,207 --> 00:23:31,977
their level escalated,
so that they made more money.
392
00:23:35,114 --> 00:23:36,584
[woman speaking]
393
00:23:42,288 --> 00:23:43,488
Yes, I was.
394
00:23:43,490 --> 00:23:45,090
I heard
395
00:23:45,091 --> 00:23:49,501
through one of the articles
that it was 3000,
396
00:23:49,496 --> 00:23:52,096
maybe like 700 per child.
397
00:23:52,699 --> 00:23:54,399
I wish.
398
00:23:54,501 --> 00:23:57,801
But no, never, ever,
ever was that true.
399
00:23:58,805 --> 00:24:01,305
You're never paid
400
00:24:01,307 --> 00:24:03,307
to take care
of these children.
401
00:24:03,309 --> 00:24:07,079
You have to put
the money out first,
support them.
402
00:24:07,079 --> 00:24:11,179
It's a reimbursement plan
that the state has.
403
00:24:11,183 --> 00:24:14,723
And as one would come in
404
00:24:14,721 --> 00:24:19,031
that might have been
a fire starter,
405
00:24:19,025 --> 00:24:24,755
um poke the eyes out of cats,
rip their limbs off,
406
00:24:24,764 --> 00:24:30,544
they would definitely require
about $1,400 a month
407
00:24:30,537 --> 00:24:32,097
or something like that.
408
00:24:32,104 --> 00:24:37,544
That would be much more but
that's a 24-hour type child.
409
00:24:40,246 --> 00:24:42,406
[Thad] Margie is
a master actor.
410
00:24:42,414 --> 00:24:46,424
She's totally alive when she
gets to play hero to the jury.
411
00:24:46,418 --> 00:24:49,388
She's totally alive
running around the countryside
412
00:24:49,388 --> 00:24:52,688
talking to whatever law
enforcement agent is foolish
enough to listen to her
413
00:24:52,692 --> 00:24:55,562
about how these poor kids
have been traumatized
414
00:24:55,562 --> 00:24:57,102
and damaged
by all these evil people,
415
00:24:57,096 --> 00:24:58,396
but I'm here to save them.
416
00:24:59,231 --> 00:25:01,101
But it's actually just a con.
417
00:25:01,100 --> 00:25:02,370
It's just a money scam.
418
00:25:03,903 --> 00:25:06,473
[Margie] I did my job.
I did what I was
supposed to do.
419
00:25:06,573 --> 00:25:08,373
And that's where
my part ended.
420
00:25:08,374 --> 00:25:12,144
Even though people can hate me
and try to blame things on me,
421
00:25:12,144 --> 00:25:14,684
I did not know the
inner workings of this case,
422
00:25:14,681 --> 00:25:16,381
nor the people, nor anything,
423
00:25:16,382 --> 00:25:17,622
and then you start hearing
424
00:25:17,617 --> 00:25:19,347
well you
made it all up Margie,
425
00:25:19,351 --> 00:25:20,821
you made this whole thing up.
426
00:25:20,820 --> 00:25:22,790
And now I'm on trial.
427
00:25:22,789 --> 00:25:25,959
But, where's the kids
in the mix?
428
00:25:25,958 --> 00:25:29,358
Listen to them.
Maybe talk to them more.
429
00:25:29,361 --> 00:25:32,971
Maybe another forensic...
I don't know.
430
00:25:32,965 --> 00:25:35,895
But somewhere lies the truth.
431
00:25:37,604 --> 00:25:39,244
[woman speaking]
432
00:25:43,209 --> 00:25:46,209
[Margie] After everything
I've been through and
everything I've seen,
433
00:25:46,212 --> 00:25:48,182
I don't think
they had a choice.
434
00:25:49,048 --> 00:25:51,478
But Shelby says
this is her truth
435
00:25:51,483 --> 00:25:53,623
and she stands by it
to this day,
436
00:25:55,254 --> 00:25:57,724
and that's the end
of her story.
437
00:26:06,032 --> 00:26:07,802
[man speaking]
438
00:26:11,037 --> 00:26:13,407
I probably couldn't say
anything to her.
439
00:26:13,405 --> 00:26:15,535
I would...
I would probably just leave.
440
00:26:18,811 --> 00:26:21,051
[door squeaking]
441
00:26:24,350 --> 00:26:26,720
[Hunter] They basically
took my childhood from me.
442
00:26:28,054 --> 00:26:30,294
They did steal my memories.
443
00:26:33,392 --> 00:26:36,562
With everything that happened,
I never thought I'd ever see
my mom again.
444
00:26:38,064 --> 00:26:41,434
I can imagine it hurt a lot
445
00:26:41,433 --> 00:26:44,803
to have your children
testify against you,
446
00:26:44,804 --> 00:26:47,144
and put you in prison
for something you didn't do.
447
00:26:47,139 --> 00:26:50,079
And knowing that they were
manipulated into doing it.
448
00:26:51,077 --> 00:26:52,207
It must have been hard.
449
00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:59,920
[Hunter quoting prosecutor
and himself]
450
00:27:09,762 --> 00:27:16,142
"The record will reflect
Hunter pointed to
and identified the defendant."
451
00:27:16,135 --> 00:27:19,265
[Shauntel]
Having my son testify
against me broke my heart.
452
00:27:20,406 --> 00:27:21,606
It broke my spirit.
453
00:27:23,175 --> 00:27:25,405
It broke my spirit
for all the kids.
454
00:27:26,178 --> 00:27:28,148
[man speaking]
455
00:27:28,147 --> 00:27:30,177
There was no reason
to forgive him.
456
00:27:31,517 --> 00:27:33,187
I've never blamed my children.
457
00:27:36,122 --> 00:27:37,892
From day one,
I've known that it wasn't...
458
00:27:37,890 --> 00:27:39,630
it had nothing to do
with the kids.
459
00:27:43,595 --> 00:27:46,265
When we were reunited
after all these years
460
00:27:46,265 --> 00:27:48,565
my mom was
just so happy to see me,
461
00:27:48,567 --> 00:27:51,967
she... she couldn't control
her feelings seeing me,
462
00:27:51,971 --> 00:27:54,641
I mean she busted into tears.
463
00:27:54,741 --> 00:27:56,881
She was hugging me.
She wouldn't let me go
or anything.
464
00:27:58,610 --> 00:28:01,080
[Shauntel] I didn't think
that I deserved
465
00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:04,750
the chance to...
to be his mom.
466
00:28:04,751 --> 00:28:07,851
I couldn't believe that he
even wanted to be around me.
467
00:28:07,854 --> 00:28:10,394
Because they wouldn't have
been taken from me
468
00:28:10,389 --> 00:28:13,759
if I hadn't started
doing drugs in 2003.
469
00:28:14,526 --> 00:28:15,926
It was my fault.
470
00:28:17,596 --> 00:28:19,626
It's always been my fault.
471
00:28:20,933 --> 00:28:22,673
After I got out of prison,
472
00:28:22,769 --> 00:28:25,569
I would have
major anxiety attacks.
473
00:28:25,571 --> 00:28:28,111
I couldn't handle it,
I couldn't get a job.
474
00:28:29,308 --> 00:28:31,578
But Jamie held my hand and
475
00:28:32,444 --> 00:28:36,084
taught me how to live again.
476
00:28:36,082 --> 00:28:38,892
My children haven't
forgiven me completely.
477
00:28:38,885 --> 00:28:40,415
But I have.
478
00:28:40,419 --> 00:28:42,089
and I had to forgive myself
479
00:28:42,088 --> 00:28:46,788
because I couldn't be a mom to
them without forgiving myself.
480
00:28:58,704 --> 00:29:00,274
[Gabby] After I had recanted,
481
00:29:00,272 --> 00:29:02,812
the reuniting
with my mom happened.
482
00:29:02,809 --> 00:29:05,709
It was really emotional. Uh,
she didn't know I was coming.
483
00:29:06,378 --> 00:29:07,978
I remember she was...
484
00:29:09,148 --> 00:29:11,518
she was
watering some plants out,
485
00:29:12,684 --> 00:29:15,324
uh, by the porch area
that they had.
486
00:29:18,390 --> 00:29:21,390
[Shelia] This truck pulls up.
It was Jimmy in the...
487
00:29:23,062 --> 00:29:26,602
didn't know who the hell that
was in the passenger seat.
488
00:29:26,598 --> 00:29:29,668
Then they both
got out of the truck.
489
00:29:32,071 --> 00:29:34,071
And I finally realized...
490
00:29:34,740 --> 00:29:36,180
who she was.
491
00:29:40,046 --> 00:29:42,916
I dropped my water hose and
492
00:29:44,083 --> 00:29:46,493
I grabbed
that child up so fast
493
00:29:46,485 --> 00:29:49,085
and so hard
and I hugged her so long.
494
00:29:52,859 --> 00:29:54,959
I didn't want to let her go
495
00:29:54,961 --> 00:29:57,101
and I didn't want her
to go away.
496
00:30:00,099 --> 00:30:02,099
Look how cute you were.
497
00:30:04,403 --> 00:30:06,513
Not that you're not cute now.
You're adorable.
498
00:30:06,505 --> 00:30:09,335
[Gabby] She was like, "I can
either be your best friend,
499
00:30:09,341 --> 00:30:13,381
or I can step back
into the role of your mother,
it's up to you."
500
00:30:13,379 --> 00:30:16,079
And I was, you know,
finally like, "I,
501
00:30:16,082 --> 00:30:18,222
I want you
to be my mom again."
502
00:30:18,217 --> 00:30:20,717
[Shelia] That's the picture
I had.
503
00:30:20,719 --> 00:30:23,119
That's the picture
I kissed every night.
504
00:30:23,589 --> 00:30:25,119
And I talked to.
505
00:30:33,432 --> 00:30:35,272
[Jimmy] I wrote this
when I was in prison.
506
00:30:37,136 --> 00:30:41,666
And I was
definitely depressed,
507
00:30:41,673 --> 00:30:44,243
I mean, I was giving up hope.
508
00:30:44,243 --> 00:30:49,053
I was laying in my bunk
asleep, and I had this dream.
509
00:30:49,048 --> 00:30:52,418
And I got up immediately
after the dream stopped,
and I wrote it.
510
00:30:57,823 --> 00:31:01,393
"As I sit and think
about my beautiful Gabby,
511
00:31:01,393 --> 00:31:05,663
how all it was is now
nothing more than memories,
512
00:31:05,664 --> 00:31:09,244
I look outside and watch
an angel fall from the sky.
513
00:31:12,238 --> 00:31:16,938
I look at her with a smile,
although no words are said,
514
00:31:16,943 --> 00:31:19,713
she grabs my face
and breaks down instead.
515
00:31:22,381 --> 00:31:24,651
I ask, 'What's the matter?'
516
00:31:24,650 --> 00:31:27,220
as I wipe her tears away,
517
00:31:27,219 --> 00:31:30,759
she leans in closer
and she had this to say."
518
00:31:32,724 --> 00:31:34,694
"Love life and keep it simple,
519
00:31:34,693 --> 00:31:37,033
but most of all,
keep your heart open,
520
00:31:37,029 --> 00:31:38,259
[sniffles]
521
00:31:41,100 --> 00:31:44,070
because she loves you
and still needs you.
522
00:31:45,404 --> 00:31:47,274
My angel closed her eyes,
523
00:31:48,174 --> 00:31:49,984
and her body went limp
524
00:31:51,710 --> 00:31:54,480
as her spirit
ascended back to heaven.
525
00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:57,580
I just sat there and cried
because I knew
what she meant...
526
00:31:57,984 --> 00:31:59,024
Gabby."
527
00:32:03,089 --> 00:32:04,359
You okay?
528
00:32:07,126 --> 00:32:09,356
It makes me cry
every time I read it.
529
00:32:13,365 --> 00:32:16,365
I mean, I was to the point
where I was ready
just to off myself.
530
00:32:18,104 --> 00:32:19,544
That's how depressed I was.
531
00:32:23,375 --> 00:32:25,775
This right here kept me alive.
532
00:32:54,040 --> 00:32:57,410
The place where it all
supposedly began.
533
00:33:13,159 --> 00:33:14,889
How could
such an innocent building
534
00:33:14,893 --> 00:33:17,103
be so damn evil for me?
535
00:33:17,096 --> 00:33:18,256
I mean...
536
00:33:19,231 --> 00:33:20,971
this is where it started.
537
00:33:22,101 --> 00:33:24,241
It's where the lies came from.
538
00:33:25,671 --> 00:33:28,711
and I really
don't like being here.
539
00:33:28,707 --> 00:33:30,377
If my
little old arms could do it,
540
00:33:30,376 --> 00:33:32,976
I'd take every damn brick
out of this bitch.
541
00:33:34,980 --> 00:33:37,220
[Shauntel] I didn't know
it existed.
542
00:33:37,216 --> 00:33:39,486
How did my kids know what
the inside of it looked like?
543
00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:42,720
Because I don't.
544
00:33:42,721 --> 00:33:45,291
But ask my two oldest kids
545
00:33:45,291 --> 00:33:47,331
and they can tell you
what it looks like.
546
00:33:47,326 --> 00:33:49,826
That woman walked my kids
through this building.
547
00:33:58,337 --> 00:33:59,607
[door closes]
548
00:34:01,640 --> 00:34:05,280
[Hunter] Margie brought me
to this building
the first time I was here.
549
00:34:09,248 --> 00:34:11,018
We drove up one day,
550
00:34:11,117 --> 00:34:13,217
Margie talking about
wanting to buy the place
551
00:34:13,919 --> 00:34:16,389
and I was like 8 years old.
552
00:34:18,957 --> 00:34:20,127
It was creepy.
553
00:34:20,892 --> 00:34:23,262
And, uh, I remember stopping
554
00:34:23,262 --> 00:34:25,432
and seeing
a basketball in the back.
555
00:34:25,431 --> 00:34:28,201
And, uh, I can't remember
what I said about it,
556
00:34:28,200 --> 00:34:30,270
but I think
I wanted the basketball
557
00:34:30,269 --> 00:34:32,269
so I think
Margie just kind of took that
558
00:34:32,271 --> 00:34:34,341
and kind twisted that,
559
00:34:34,340 --> 00:34:37,540
you know,
trying to make it seem like
we had been here before
560
00:34:37,543 --> 00:34:38,943
and that was my basketball.
561
00:34:42,781 --> 00:34:45,181
As far as
she's talking about memories,
562
00:34:45,184 --> 00:34:47,454
I don't know if
Shelby maybe said something,
563
00:34:47,453 --> 00:34:50,493
but I had no memory
of the place at all.
564
00:34:52,624 --> 00:34:58,704
I've never been in here
with any family member ever,
565
00:34:58,697 --> 00:35:01,667
um, not even in the building
or on the property.
566
00:35:20,419 --> 00:35:22,019
[dog barking]
567
00:35:27,859 --> 00:35:30,029
[Carly] My mother
bought me a house.
568
00:35:30,028 --> 00:35:32,228
It's a mobile home right
across the street from her
569
00:35:32,231 --> 00:35:33,571
with two lots,
570
00:35:35,201 --> 00:35:36,741
so if anything happens,
571
00:35:37,869 --> 00:35:39,039
I'm right there.
572
00:35:40,206 --> 00:35:44,706
In a year or so, I'm hoping
to have me and my mother
573
00:35:44,710 --> 00:35:48,310
and my grandmother
all right there
in the same vicinity,
574
00:35:48,314 --> 00:35:49,784
if not side by side.
575
00:35:52,751 --> 00:35:55,251
[Hunter] I hope to go back
and finish school
576
00:35:55,254 --> 00:35:56,924
and get some stability
577
00:35:57,756 --> 00:35:59,056
is really what I hope.
578
00:35:59,057 --> 00:36:00,587
In 10 years it would be nice
579
00:36:00,592 --> 00:36:03,432
to have a family of my own.
580
00:36:03,429 --> 00:36:06,099
[Shauntel] There you go.
There you go, Carly.
581
00:36:09,368 --> 00:36:11,138
[Hunter] I would like
to see myself
582
00:36:11,237 --> 00:36:13,807
closer to the family
I have right now.
583
00:36:17,876 --> 00:36:20,576
I constantly feel guilt
about what happened.
584
00:36:20,579 --> 00:36:24,619
I do feel like if I'd have
stuck with my answer
"no" in the beginning,
585
00:36:24,616 --> 00:36:26,816
that it had never happened,
586
00:36:26,818 --> 00:36:30,258
um, I feel like none of this
would have ever happened.
587
00:36:33,859 --> 00:36:37,129
[Gabby] The fallout
is devastating and
it still affects us.
588
00:36:39,064 --> 00:36:42,634
This is something
that we have to live with
for the rest of our lives.
589
00:36:44,069 --> 00:36:46,269
Justice for my parents
590
00:36:46,272 --> 00:36:49,542
would be their names cleared,
591
00:36:49,541 --> 00:36:53,381
it taken off of their record,
because that felony
is still on their record.
592
00:36:53,379 --> 00:36:56,649
Justice for Margie would be
seeing her behind bars.
593
00:36:59,751 --> 00:37:01,521
[Shelia] This one woman
594
00:37:03,054 --> 00:37:04,894
hated so much
595
00:37:05,591 --> 00:37:08,561
that she destroyed us.
596
00:37:08,560 --> 00:37:10,400
She was the rich woman.
597
00:37:10,396 --> 00:37:13,126
They're going to believe her
over the poor people.
598
00:37:14,900 --> 00:37:18,300
Especially poor people
that have had
599
00:37:18,970 --> 00:37:21,070
poor people problems.
600
00:37:21,072 --> 00:37:23,882
You could tell by
the newspaper clippings
601
00:37:23,875 --> 00:37:27,305
and everything that
602
00:37:27,313 --> 00:37:31,783
society thought that,
because we were poor,
we were indecent,
603
00:37:32,318 --> 00:37:34,488
immoral, dirty.
604
00:37:35,153 --> 00:37:37,663
[man speaking]
605
00:37:43,462 --> 00:37:45,132
I don't trust anybody.
606
00:37:48,133 --> 00:37:51,643
My life experiences are really
negative toward the world.
607
00:37:52,638 --> 00:37:55,638
People are liars
and they're mean.
608
00:38:03,682 --> 00:38:05,652
[Jimmy] We were innocent.
609
00:38:05,651 --> 00:38:08,221
Our lives
were turned upside down.
610
00:38:08,219 --> 00:38:10,419
It cost me
four years of my freedom,
611
00:38:12,190 --> 00:38:14,130
the loss of my daughter.
612
00:38:14,125 --> 00:38:16,395
I wasn't there as a father.
613
00:38:19,498 --> 00:38:22,228
You know it makes me sad
the fact that
614
00:38:23,402 --> 00:38:24,702
I wasn't there.
615
00:38:27,706 --> 00:38:30,136
I didn't get to raise
my daughter.
616
00:38:30,141 --> 00:38:32,041
I will never
get those years back.
617
00:38:44,723 --> 00:38:47,033
[Mike] After those guys
got out,
618
00:38:47,025 --> 00:38:49,755
I would still get letters
from Dennis Pittman,
619
00:38:49,761 --> 00:38:53,701
and basically saying,
"Look, all these other people
are out, what about me?"
620
00:38:53,699 --> 00:38:57,439
And he would
always sign his letters,
621
00:38:57,436 --> 00:38:59,806
"Dennis Pittman,
the innocent man."
622
00:39:00,739 --> 00:39:02,509
And...
623
00:39:02,508 --> 00:39:05,508
he just got caught up
in Smith County justice.
624
00:39:05,511 --> 00:39:07,611
We all knew he should be free,
625
00:39:07,613 --> 00:39:10,853
but the wheels
of the criminal justice system
turn really slowly.
626
00:39:12,117 --> 00:39:13,847
So, every year went on,
and it was like,
627
00:39:13,852 --> 00:39:15,952
of course this guy's
gonna get out eventually.
628
00:39:15,954 --> 00:39:17,124
[buzzes]
629
00:39:41,312 --> 00:39:46,052
[Jason] I would check to see
where he was
in the parole review.
630
00:39:46,051 --> 00:39:48,721
Because Dennis was convicted
of an offense
631
00:39:48,720 --> 00:39:51,520
that allowed him
to be parole eligible
632
00:39:51,523 --> 00:39:53,893
with less than
half time served.
633
00:39:53,892 --> 00:39:58,502
So I would periodically check
just to see and I happened to
634
00:39:58,497 --> 00:40:00,297
look it up and see that
635
00:40:00,298 --> 00:40:02,868
it didn't show
he was in TC any longer,
636
00:40:03,502 --> 00:40:06,372
and so I text Melinda
637
00:40:06,371 --> 00:40:10,241
and I said,
"Dennis might've made parole."
638
00:40:10,241 --> 00:40:13,141
And, you know,
she responded back
639
00:40:13,144 --> 00:40:15,014
"Or he died,"
640
00:40:15,013 --> 00:40:16,853
which I'd never
even considered.
641
00:40:16,848 --> 00:40:18,478
And then
we started looking into it and
642
00:40:18,484 --> 00:40:21,354
of course found out that
he had indeed passed away.
643
00:40:26,357 --> 00:40:28,627
[Mike] He died
of COVID complications.
644
00:40:29,294 --> 00:40:31,034
And that was that.
645
00:40:31,730 --> 00:40:33,230
So the last innocent man...
646
00:40:33,965 --> 00:40:35,065
was dead.
647
00:40:41,072 --> 00:40:42,912
[man speaking]
648
00:40:44,375 --> 00:40:46,075
- No.
- [man speaking]
649
00:40:46,978 --> 00:40:48,308
He did?
650
00:40:49,548 --> 00:40:52,048
What? I did not know that.
651
00:40:55,086 --> 00:40:58,086
What? Oh, my gosh. Ugh.
652
00:40:58,089 --> 00:40:59,729
Well, now I feel really bad.
653
00:41:01,426 --> 00:41:02,786
Yeah, I didn't know.
654
00:41:03,729 --> 00:41:06,199
His life now
is defined by this.
655
00:41:06,665 --> 00:41:08,165
You know, he died
656
00:41:08,166 --> 00:41:11,366
without ever having
a chance to tell his story
657
00:41:11,369 --> 00:41:13,269
and for people to believe him.
658
00:41:13,271 --> 00:41:16,711
And so imagine how lonely and
isolating it must have felt.
659
00:41:16,708 --> 00:41:19,978
It's not about pride and
arrogance and winning cases.
660
00:41:19,978 --> 00:41:23,148
It's real lives that were
affected and impacted.
661
00:41:23,148 --> 00:41:25,348
We all had a responsibility.
662
00:41:25,350 --> 00:41:27,020
We have failed him
in many ways.
663
00:41:29,555 --> 00:41:32,685
[Mike] It was the
final tragedy in this story.
664
00:41:32,691 --> 00:41:36,331
And you can trace
every single terrible event
back to two people.
665
00:41:37,028 --> 00:41:39,798
Margie and John Cantrell.
666
00:41:39,798 --> 00:41:42,198
They were
never held accountable.
667
00:41:44,435 --> 00:41:48,705
There were various people
talking about ways
they could go after them
668
00:41:48,707 --> 00:41:50,837
with some kind of
fraud charges.
669
00:41:50,842 --> 00:41:52,282
You know,
I think, ultimately,
670
00:41:52,844 --> 00:41:54,854
the fact that
671
00:41:54,846 --> 00:41:57,976
we were dealing with
a bunch of people
who lived in trailers,
672
00:41:57,983 --> 00:42:00,023
a bunch of people
who didn't have any money.
673
00:42:00,018 --> 00:42:01,718
I mean, ultimately,
I think people
just didn't give a [bleep].
674
00:42:03,154 --> 00:42:05,894
She got away with it.
And what does she do?
675
00:42:05,891 --> 00:42:07,331
She goes back to California
676
00:42:07,325 --> 00:42:09,185
and scuddles
back into her hole.
677
00:42:17,936 --> 00:42:19,466
[Margie] Life is good.
678
00:42:19,470 --> 00:42:22,040
I've been swimming a lot.
679
00:42:22,941 --> 00:42:25,911
And I take care of my husband.
680
00:42:25,911 --> 00:42:29,921
He has PTSD
and some problems.
681
00:42:29,915 --> 00:42:32,675
And we work in the backyard.
682
00:42:33,318 --> 00:42:35,688
Our backyard is gorgeous
683
00:42:35,687 --> 00:42:37,657
and I have,
684
00:42:37,656 --> 00:42:41,286
oh, so many grandkids
surrounding me,
685
00:42:41,292 --> 00:42:43,832
and grandma's very involved
in what they're doing.
686
00:42:43,829 --> 00:42:45,529
And, um...
687
00:42:46,164 --> 00:42:48,504
they make me laugh
688
00:42:48,499 --> 00:42:51,769
and they're coming into
those teenage years
so it really makes me laugh
689
00:42:51,770 --> 00:42:53,640
because I get to
send them home.
690
00:42:53,639 --> 00:42:56,469
But it's good.
Life is... is good.
691
00:42:57,709 --> 00:42:59,309
[man speaking]
692
00:43:01,246 --> 00:43:05,546
I have regrets at
walking away from my home
693
00:43:05,651 --> 00:43:07,551
and our dreams.
694
00:43:09,054 --> 00:43:12,064
But we have new dreams
and they're pretty awesome.
54238
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.