Original subtitles

SHE'S ATTACKED IN HER GARAGE?

SHE'S SHOT.

AND THAT'S WHAT KILLS HER.

SHE'S ALSO STABBED,

WHICH MAYBE DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.

SO NO SEXUAL ASSAULT, NO ROBBERY.

WHAT WERE YOU THINKING THIS WAS ABOUT?

MURDER FOR MURDER'S SAKE.

A SOCIOPATH.

THIS GRANDMOTHER AND HER DAUGHTER -- WHY?

THAT WAS THE BIG QUESTION.

THERE WASN'T ANY NEGOTIATING.

THERE WASN'T ANY TALKING.

WE NOTICED MRS. MARQUARDT LAYING HERE

WITH A POOL OF BLOOD UNDERNEATH OF HER HEAD.

IT'S NOT JUST A BRUTAL DOUBLE MURDER HERE,

BUT HE ALREADY GOT AWAY WITH ONE OTHER KILLING.

SO, WERE YOU SEARCHING FOR MURDERS

THAT HAPPENED ANYWHERE BETWEEN WISCONSIN AND FLORIDA?

IF THIS ISN'T IT, IT'S NEVER GONNA BE IT.

MY NAME IS ANNA-SIGGA NICOLAZZI.

IN MY TWO DECADES

AS A NEW YORK CITY HOMICIDE PROSECUTOR,

I SAW HOW MURDER AFFECTS LIVES FAR BEYOND THE CRIME SCENE.

LET ME TAKE YOU INSIDE THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE

FOR VICTIMS AND THEIR LOVED ONES.

THIS IS "TRUE CONVICTION."

IN CENTRAL FLORIDA LIES SUMTER COUNTY --

A PEACEFUL ENCLAVE OF FARMS AND RANCHES.

BUT IN MARCH 2000,

THE GRUESOME DOUBLE MURDER OF MARGARITA RUIZ

AND HER DAUGHTER, HOPE WELLS,

SENT SHOCKWAVES THROUGH THIS QUIET COMMUNITY.

I'VE COME HERE TO SEE HOW POLICE

AND PROSECUTORS GOT JUSTICE FOR THE RUIZ FAMILY.

PAM, DESCRIBE MARGARITA FOR ME.

SHE WAS THE MOTHER TO ALL OF US.

SHE WAS A GREAT WOMAN.

SHE WAS A GREAT WIFE,

GRANDMOTHER,

SISTER, AUNT.

SHE WAS THE BACKBONE OF OUR FAMILY.

PAM RUIZ IS MARRIED TO REUBEN,

ONE OF MARGARITA'S FIVE CHILDREN.

WHY DO YOU SAY SHE WAS THE BACKBONE OF THE FAMILY?

BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE HAD ALL OF OUR FAMILY GATHERINGS.

WE DID OUR HOLIDAYS DOWN THERE.

SHE GOT EVERYONE TOGETHER.

SHE MADE THE BEST TAMALES.

THE BEST TAMALES?

YES.

SO SHE WAS REALLY ALMOST THE LIFEBLOOD OF THIS FAMILY.

YES. AND EVERYTHING TOOK PLACE

WITH THAT HOUSE AS THE CENTER.

YES. MM-HMM.

NOW, YOU HAD TWO CHILDREN AT THE TIME?

MM-HMM. THEIR NAMES?

PAIGE AND TREVOR.

HOW MANY YEARS APART ARE PAIGE AND TREVOR?

ALMOST EXACTLY TWO YEARS APART.

HAVE YOU EVER WATCHED THESE OLD SITCOMS

WHERE THE MOM, SHE WAS, LIKE, THE FOUNDATION?

SURE. THAT'S WHAT SHE WAS.

ROBERT WELLS BECAME PART OF THE RUIZ FAMILY

WHEN HE MARRIED THEIR OLDEST DAUGHTER, ESPERANZA.

ALSO KNOWN BY HER LOVED ONES AS HOPE.

WHEN DID YOU AND HOPE MEET?

WE MET IN 1980.

AND I WAS WORKING ON A RANCH AT THE TIME,

AND THEY CAME OUT TO WORK WITH US.

AND WHAT HAPPENED FROM THERE?

IT JUST -- POOF.

YOU KNOW, IT'S AN OLD CLICHé,

BUT IT JUST KIND OF KNOCKED YOU ON THE SHOULDER

AND SAID, "HEY" -- THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS.

AND THE TWO OF YOU MARRIED?

YES. YEAH, WE MARRIED IN '82.

IN 1999,

WHEN MARGARITA'S HUSBAND, BENNY, DIED OF BONE CANCER,

HOPE AND ROBERT MOVED IN TO HELP SUPPORT HER.

WHILE ROBERT WORKED IN TOWN,

HOPE AND HER MOM STAYED HOME WITH PAM'S TWO YOUNG CHILDREN,

3-YEAR-OLD PAIGE AND TREVOR, WHO WAS ONE.

THEY WOULD PLAY DRESS-UP ONE DAY.

THEY WOULD COOK ONE DAY.

THEY EVEN GARDENED ONE DAY.

EVERY DAY WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

WHERE DID YOUR CHILDREN, TREVOR AND PAIGE,

FIT INTO THE AGE SPECTRUM OF MARGARITA'S GRANDCHILDREN?

THEY WERE THE YOUNGEST.

LIFE WAS SWEET FOR THE 72-YEAR-OLD MATRIARCH

AND HER 41-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.

BUT ON MARCH 15, 2000,

THEIR PEACEFUL LIFE CAME TO AN UNTHINKABLE END.

SUMTER COUNTY PROSECUTOR PETE MAGRINO

REMEMBERS THE DETAILS OF THE HORRIFIC ATTACK VIVIDLY.

THE MURDERER APPROACHES THE BACK SIDE OF THE HOME

AND FIRES A ROUND THAT GOES THROUGH THE SCREEN DOOR.

STRIKES MARGARITA.

MARGARITA IS RUNNING FROM THE KITCHEN TO THE LIVING ROOM,

WHERE SHE IS SHOT AGAIN, AND FALLS DOWN IN THE BEDROOM.

ESPERANZA WELLS WAS UP IN THE SAME BEDROOM.

SHE IS STRUCK WITH PROJECTILES FIRED FROM THE GUN.

AND THEN THE MURDERER PROCEEDS TO STAB MARGARITA RUIZ

IN THE NECK AREA,

AND THEN DOES THE SAME TO ESPERANZA.

AND HE LEAVES.

I KNOW, AS A PROSECUTOR,

I HAVE HEARD SO MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS,

FAMILY MEMBERS GO THROUGH

SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF EMOTIONS AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

YES.

IF YOU COULD JUST TALK ME THROUGH IT A LITTLE BIT.

JUST DESCRIBE THAT

'CAUSE I THINK IT'S HARD FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND.

YEAH. I FELT SO SAD.

THERE WAS A LOT OF CRYING.

ROBERT WELLS WILL NEVER FORGET

HOW HE LEARNED OF HIS WIFE'S MURDER.

I JUMPED OUT THE VEHICLE,

AND I LOOKED OVER AT REUBEN.

AND, UH, HE WAS STANDING THERE WITH THE TWO KIDS.

AND HE LOOKED AT ME, HE SAID...

AND I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

SO I STARTED RUNNING UP TO THE HOUSE,

BUT THE POLICEMAN WOULDN'T LET ME GO IN THE HOUSE.

WAS IT THE POLICE THAT TOLD YOU WHAT HAPPENED?

YEAH, THEY SAID THAT --

THEY DIDN'T SAY HOW,

BUT THEY SAID THEY WERE GONE.

I'M GOING TO THE RUIZ HOUSE

TO SEE THE SCENE OF THE CRIME MYSELF.

FOR PROSECUTORS, A FIRST-HAND LOOK

PROVIDES INSIGHT NO POLICE REPORT CAN.

SUMTER COUNTY CHIEF DEPUTY GARY BRANNEN

WAS THE YOUNG DETECTIVE WHO RESPONDED THAT DAY.

SO THIS IS THE SAME ROUTE THAT YOU TOOK TO THE HOUSE BACK THEN?

YES.

IN A PLACE LIKE THIS,

GETTING A CALL LIKE THAT WAS NOT COMMONPLACE.

NO. TO HAVE A DOUBLE MURDER WAS EXTREMELY RARE.

AND IT WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY RARE TO HAVE ANY MURDER AT ALL.

AS DETECTIVE BRANNEN EXAMINED THE CRIME SCENE,

DEPUTIES VIDEOTAPED EVERY SQUARE INCH.

WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE 17 YEARS AGO,

THERE WAS A SCREEN DOOR THAT'S NOT HERE NOW.

AND I COULD SEE TWO BULLET HOLES IN THE DOOR.

AS A HOMICIDE DETECTIVE, WHAT DID THAT SAY TO YOU?

IT SAID EVERYTHING STARTED OUT HERE.

THERE WAS A SHELL CASING ON THE PORCH,

SO IT TOLD ME HE SHOT FROM OUT HERE IN TO MRS. RUIZ.

AND THERE WASN'T ANY NEGOTIATING.

THERE WASN'T ANY TALKING.

HE CAME HERE TO KILL.

YOU SEE THE BULLET HOLE?

SO IT WENT RIGHT THROUGH THEIR REFRIGERATOR?

RIGHT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE REFRIGERATOR.

AND THIS IS THE BEDROOM WHERE THE BODIES WERE FOUND.

MRS. RUIZ WAS OVER HERE BETWEEN THE WINDOW AND THE BED.

SHE HAD BEEN STABBED THREE TIMES IN THE NECK.

WE LATER LEARNED THAT SHE HAD TWO GUNSHOT WOUNDS.

HOPE WAS LAYING HERE.

SHE HAD AN OBVIOUS GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE CHIN AREA,

AND THEN SHE HAD BEEN STABBED IN THE NECK STEVEN TIMES.

WHAT ELSE DID YOU LOOK FOR?

WELL, JUST LOOKING AT THE BODIES,

THEY WERE CLOTHED,

SO THERE WAS NO SIGN OF ANY SEXUAL ASSAULT.

IT IS DEFINITELY OVERKILL.

THEY WERE STABBED AFTER THEY WERE DEAD.

IT WAS UNNECESSARY.

SO THE ELECTRONICS ARE STILL HERE.

THERE'S CASH IN THE BEDROOM.

NO ROBBERY. NO SEXUAL ASSAULT.

THIS MOTHER -- GRANDMOTHER, AND HER DAUGHTER.

WHY?

WELL, THAT WAS THE BIG QUESTION.

ONCE YOU KNOW THE MOTIVE OF A MURDER,

IT REALLY USUALLY LEADS YOU TO THE SUSPECT.

DETECTIVE BRANNEN AND HIS TEAM

SENT THE SHELL CASINGS AND BLOOD SAMPLES

FOR FORENSIC ANALYSIS,

THEN BEGAN TO INTERVIEW THE RUIZ FAMILY.

CERTAINLY, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE

THAT THIS WAS A DOMESTIC-RELATED RAGE.

BUT THERE WERE LIVING WITNESSES.

AS IT TURNED OUT,

DETECTIVES DID, INDEED, HAVE WITNESSES.

PAM'S TWO SMALL CHILDREN WERE IN THE HOUSE

DURING THE MASSACRE

AND MIRACULOUSLY SURVIVED UNHARMED.

SINCE BABY TREVOR WAS BARELY TALKING,

JUSTICE FOR THE DEVASTATED RUIZ FAMILY

NOW CALLED ON THE MEMORY OF YOUNG PAIGE.

NOW CALLED ON THE MEMORY OF YOUNG PAIGE.

MARCH 15, 2000.

IN SUMTER COUNTY, FLORIDA,

MARGARITA RUIZ AND HER DAUGHTER, HOPE WELLS,

WERE VICIOUSLY MURDERED...

...IN THEIR OWN HOME.

DESPERATE TO GET ANSWERS FOR THE GRIEVING FAMILY,

POLICE TURNED TO THEIR ONLY REAL WITNESS --

MARGARITA'S 3-YEAR-OLD GRANDDAUGHTER, PAIGE,

WHO WAS PLAYING IN THE HOUSE WHEN THE STRANGER PULLED UP.

YOU WERE 3 YEARS OLD.

YES.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME AS FAR AS WHAT YOU REMEMBER THAT DAY?

I REMEMBER THAT I RAN BEHIND A CURTAIN IN THE KITCHEN

'CAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMEBODY I KNEW.

LIKE, YOU KNOW, I WAS GONNA JUMP OUT AND SCARE 'EM.

BUT THAT'S WHEN THE GUNSHOTS WERE FIRED.

SO I REMEMBER RUNNING UNDERNEATH THE TABLE,

AND JUST THE COMMOTION THAT WENT ON AFTER THAT.

LIKE, THE RUNNING AND THE YELLING AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

DID YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW SERIOUS

OR WHAT AT ALL WAS HAPPENING?

I KNEW SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT.

I JUST DIDN'T KNOW THE SEVERITY OF IT AT THAT TIME.

WHERE WAS YOUR LITTLE BROTHER?

HE WAS ACTUALLY IN THE LIVING ROOM.

AS DETECTIVES CONTINUED TO QUESTION PAIGE,

ALL SHE COULD REMEMBER SEEING OF THE ATTACK

WAS A DARK MALE FIGURE DARTING PAST THE TABLE.

DID YOU STAY UNDER THE TABLE THE WHOLE TIME?

I REMEMBER SOMEBODY LEAVING THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR.

AND WHEN THEY LEFT, I JUST REMEMBER GETTING OUT

FROM UNDERNEATH THE TABLE AND GOING TO THE WINDOW.

AND THAT'S WHEN I SEEN THE GREEN CAR

BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY.

WE BASICALLY GOT OUT OF HER THAT IT WAS A BLACK MALE

IN A GREEN CAR THAT HAD COME TO THE HOUSE.

POLICE HAD A PROFILE,

AND BULLETINS WERE SENT OUT NATIONWIDE.

THERE WERE FLYERS, BILLBOARDS, CRIME STOPPERS,

AND PEOPLE WERE CALLING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

PEOPLE WERE CALLING THE TIP LINES.

EARLY ON, THERE WAS ONE TIP THAT LOOKED LIKE

THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOMETHING TO IT.

JAMES HARRINGTON

AND PERNELL WILLIAMS, WHO WAS JAMAICAN.

INFORMATION CAME IN

THAT THEY WENT TO GO DO A DRUG RIPOFF AT A HOUSE,

AND THEY WENT TO THE WRONG HOUSE.

SINCE JAMES HARRINGTON HAD A TIGHT ALIBI,

POLICE WERE EAGER TO TRACK DOWN PERNELL WILLIAMS.

PERNELL WILLIAMS WAS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE

THAT HAD A GREEN CAR,

WHICH IS, AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME,

AS BEST THAT WE KNEW,

THAT'S WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.

SO WE'RE RETRACING THE ROUTE

ON THE WAY TO PERNELL WILLIAMS' HOME

THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TAKEN. YES.

SO, WHAT WAS YOUR PLAN ONCE YOU GOT THERE?

WELL, WE WERE HOPING THAT WE HAD THE RIGHT GUY,

AND THAT, ULTIMATELY, HE WOULD CONFESS.

OR THAT WE WOULD CATCH HIM WITH THE PISTOL THAT WAS USED,

OR WE COULD CONNECT HIM IN SOME OTHER FASHION.

WHEN DETECTIVE BRANNEN PULLED UP TO PERNELL'S HOME,

A GREEN CAR WAS PARKED OUT FRONT.

THIS IS PERNELL WILLIAMS' HOME?

YEAH, THIS IS RIGHT HERE WHERE HE LIVED AT THE TIME.

AS BRANNEN APPROACHED THE FRONT DOOR,

HIS PRIME SUSPECT SUDDENLY FLED OUT THE BACK.

SO, WHAT DID THAT DO TO YOUR THINKING?

HE WAS POSSIBLY INVOLVED IN THE HOMICIDE.

FLIGHT, TO ANY POLICEMAN, EQUALS GUILT.

DEPUTIES CHASED PERNELL ON FOOT AND EVENTUALLY APPREHENDED HIM.

BUT AFTER AN EXTENSIVE INTERROGATION,

HE WAS RELEASED.

HE GAVE AN ALIBI THAT WAS EASILY CONFIRMED.

HIS GIRLFRIEND PROVIDED US WITH AN ALIBI,

SAID THAT'S WHERE THEY WERE.

HE GAVE THE SAME STATEMENT,

AND THEN WE WERE ABLE TO CONFIRM IT.

IT WAS A DISAPPOINTMENT

BECAUSE HE WAS BASICALLY THE ONLY THING WE HAD.

FOUR YEARS PASSED,

AND ALTHOUGH THE POLICE CONTINUE TO RUN DOWN TIPS,

THE KILLER REMAINED AT LARGE.

THE ONLY REAL WITNESS DETECTIVE BRANNEN HAD

WAS LITTLE PAIGE RUIZ.

PROSECUTORS CONSIDER THE WELL-BEING OF ANY WITNESS,

BUT ESPECIALLY A CHILD.

THE GOAL IS TO LEARN WHAT THEY KNOW

WITHOUT CAUSING THEM MORE HARM.

AND IF AT ALL POSSIBLE,

NEVER HAVING TO PUT THEM ON THAT WITNESS STAND.

THAT SOMETIMES MEANS USING A DIFFERENT BOX OF TOOLS.

IN 2004, DETECTIVE BRANNEN READ ABOUT FORENSIC HYPNOSIS

BEING USED TO GLEAN REPRESSED MEMORIES

FROM TRAUMATIZED WITNESSES.

I HOPED THAT WE COULD HYPNOTIZE PAIGE,

SO I WENT TO THE INTERNET AND SEARCHED

AND FOUND MARK HOWE,

A CERTIFIED HYPNOTIST IN TEXAS.

AND HE SAID HE BELIEVED HE COULD HYPNOTIZE AN 8-YEAR-OLD.

THE DETECTIVE APPROACHED PAM RUIZ WITH THE IDEA,

AND SHE RELUCTANTLY AGREED.

SO, YOU'RE DOING YOUR BEST TO HELP THE POLICE INVESTIGATION,

BUT YOU'RE ALLOWING AN HYPNOTIST TO SPEAK TO YOUR 8-YEAR-OLD.

DID IT MAKE YOU NERVOUS?

YES, IT MADE ME NERVOUS.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE THOUGHTS SWIRLING

AS YOU WERE DOING YOUR BEST TO HELP,

BUT ALSO PROTECTING YOUR CHILD?

HOW SHE WOULD FEEL?

WOULD SHE BE COMFORTABLE, OR WHAT WOULD HAPPEN?

I JUST -- I JUST DIDN'T KNOW.

I DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND

WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO TRY TO GET FROM THAT.

DO YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT THAT WAS LIKE

WHEN YOU WERE WITH THE HYPNOTIST?

I REMEMBER BEING TOLD THAT THEY WERE GONNA TRY

TO HYPNOTIZE ME,

AND SOME GUY WAS GOING TO FLY IN FROM TEXAS

TO DO IT.

THE EFFORT PAID OFF.

UNDER HYPNOSIS,

POLICE LEARNED THAT PAIGE HADN'T ACTUALLY SEEN A BLACK MAN.

SHE HAD SEEN A MAN DRESSED IN BLACK.

THE HYPNOSIS REVEALED THAT SHE WAS GOING

BY THE COLOR OF THE PANTS LEGS THAT THE SUSPECT WORE.

'CAUSE SHE'S UNDER THE TABLE WITH THE TABLECLOTH DRAPED OVER.

WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN YOU HEARD THAT RESULT?

WE MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY.

IF THERE HAD BEEN A GUY WASHING BLOOD OFF OF KNIVES

AT A GAS STATION 30 MILES AWAY

THAT WAS A WHITE MALE IN A GREEN CAR,

PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE DISCOUNTED THAT

AND NOT CALLED IT IN.

NOT THROUGH ANYBODY'S FAULT.

PAIGE DID THE BEST SHE COULD THAT DAY.

THE CASE GROUND TO A HALT,

AND INVESTIGATORS FEARED IT MIGHT NEVER BE SOLVED.

IT WAS COLD FOR A LOT OF YEARS.

I MEAN, IT WAS AS COLD AS COLD COULD GET.

THEN THERE COMES A DAY IN 2006.

I'LL REMEMBER THAT DAY FOREVER.

MY SECRETARY, SHE SAID THERE'S A GUY ON THE PHONE

FROM WISCONSIN THAT WANTS TO TALK TO YOU.

SO I SAID OKAY.

SO I GOT ON THE PHONE WITH HIM.

HE SAID, "I'VE LOOKED AT THIS COLD CASE

ON YOUR WEBSITE."

AND HE KEPT GIVING ME DETAILS.

STUFF THAT THEY SHOULDN'T KNOW.

TELL ME WHAT YOU FELT DURING THIS PHONE CALL.

IF THIS ISN'T IT, IT'S NEVER GONNA BE IT.

IF THIS ISN'T IT, IT'S NEVER GONNA BE IT.

TWO DAYS BEFORE THE BRUTAL MURDERS

OF MARGARITA RUIZ AND HER DAUGHTER, HOPE WELLS,

NEARLY 1,500 MILES AWAY,

ANOTHER SENSELESS HOMICIDE TOOK PLACE

HERE IN CHIPPEWA FALLS, WISCONSIN,

THAT WOULD HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT

ON THE RUIZ INVESTIGATION.

I'VE COME HERE TO MEET JUDGE JON THEISEN,

WHO, A DECADE AGO, WAS THE D.A. RESPONSIBLE

FOR PROSECUTING THAT CASE.

THE MURDER OF 54-YEAR-OLD MARY JANE MARQUARDT.

MARY JANE MARQUARDT WAS VERY MUCH A MOTHER.

HER FAMILY WAS OF THE FOREMOST IMPORTANCE TO HER.

HER HOBBIES, BELIEVE IT OR NOT,

WERE MOTORCYCLING AND THRIFT SALES.

TELL ME ABOUT ALFRED, HER HUSBAND.

IT WAS A QUIET RELATIONSHIP.

THEIR KIDS WERE OUT OF THE HOUSE.

THEY WERE FINISHING UP THEIR CAREERS,

LOOKING FORWARD TO RETIREMENT.

AND THEN THERE'S THAT DAY.

MARCH 13, 2000.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT DAY FOR MARY JANE.

SHE'S HOME ALONE.

SOMEBODY COMES IN THE BACK DOOR OF THE GARAGE.

IT APPEARS THAT THERE WAS SOME SORT OF CONFRONTATION

BETWEEN THE PERSON WHO CAME INTO THE HOUSE AND MARY JANE.

SO, SHE'S ATTACKED IN HER GARAGE?

SHE'S SHOT.

AND THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT KILLS HER.

SHE'S ALSO STABBED,

WHICH MAYBE DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.

LATER THAT EVENING,

MARY JANE'S HUSBAND, ALFRED, CAME HOME

AND MADE THE CHILLING DISCOVERY.

DEPUTY SHERIFF KEN OEMIG, THE FIRST OFFICER ON THE SCENE,

REVISITS THE MARQUARDT RESIDENCE.

SO, HOW DOES THE GARAGE LOOK NOW

COMPARED TO WHEN YOU ENTERED IT THAT AFTERNOON?

THERE WAS A BLACK LINCOLN PARKED HERE IN THE STALL.

AS WE GOT IN THE GARAGE,

WE NOTICED MRS. MARQUARDT LAYING HERE

WITH HER HEAD TOWARD THE SERVICE DOOR.

AND THERE WAS A POOL OF BLOOD UNDERNEATH OF HER HEAD.

DID YOU TAKE NOTE OF ANYTHING?

WE FOUND A SHELL CASING

THAT WAS UNDERNEATH THE REAR OF THE CAR

THAT WAS PARKED HERE.

BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING CURIOUS ABOUT THIS MURDER.

THE VICTIM HAD BEEN COVERED WITH HER OWN BEDSPREAD.

TO RETRIEVE THE MAROON COMFORTER,

THE PERPETRATOR WOULD HAVE HAD TO ENTER THE HOUSE,

GO UP A FLIGHT OF STAIRS...

...GO ACROSS THE KITCHEN,

GO DOWN A HALLWAY

WHERE THE PERPETRATOR COULD ENTER THE MASTER BEDROOM,

TAKE THE COMFORTER BACK DOWN THE HALL,

BACK THROUGH THE KITCHEN, BACK DOWN THE STAIRS,

OUT INTO THE GARAGE,

AND PUT IT OVER MARY JANE.

SO, AS PROSECUTORS,

WE'RE ALWAYS PUTTING THE PIECES BACK TOGETHER

FOR OURSELVES BASED ON WHAT YOU LEARN

IN THE INVESTIGATION.

WHAT DID THAT BLANKET,

THAT COMFORTER FROM HER BEDROOM COVERING HER BODY, SAY TO YOU?

NOT ONLY DID THE PERPETRATOR KNOW WHERE HER COMFORTER WAS,

BUT IT WAS AN INTENTIONAL ACT TO PROVIDE COMFORT TO HER,

WHICH PUTS A CONNECTION

BETWEEN THE PERPETRATOR AND THE VICTIM.

ALTHOUGH MARY JANE'S HUSBAND SAID

HE DIDN'T PLACE THE BLANKET ON HIS WIFE

AND HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HER MURDER,

HE BECAME A PERSON OF INTEREST.

ALFRED WAS A SUSPECT.

I MEAN, THERE'S NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT.

SO, WHAT DID THEY DO TO INVESTIGATE ALFRED?

THEY NOT ONLY DID THE SWABBING FOR GUNSHOT RESIDUE,

THEY INTERVIEWED HIM, THEY CHECKED TIMECARDS.

THEY MEASURED THE DISTANCE TO WORK.

ALL THE EVIDENCE POINTED AWAY FROM ALFRED.

POLICE THEN SHIFTED THEIR ATTENTION

TOWARDS MARY JANE'S OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS,

BUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM.

THEY COULDN'T GET AHOLD OF THE YOUNGEST SON, BILL.

HE LIVED MAYBE 25, 30 MILES AWAY

OUT IN THE WOODS IN A CABIN.

SO, GIVE ME A SNAPSHOT OF BILL AT THAT TIME,

GENERALLY IN HIS 20s.

I DON'T RECALL HIM HAVING A FIXED JOB.

HE WAS IN TROUBLE A LITTLE BIT.

I KNOW HE HAS A FELONY CONVICTION.

HE HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN DRUGS.

YES.

WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THEY WENT TO BILL'S CABIN?

THEY DON'T FIND HIM.

THERE'S NO ANSWER AT THE DOOR.

THEY TAKE A LOOK AROUND.

THEY FIND SOME SORT OF OUTBUILDING.

THEY FIND SOME SORT OF PLASTIC TARP

COVERED WITH BLOOD.

THE QUESTION BECOMES,

ARE WE GONNA FIND ANOTHER BODY?

THE QUESTION BECOMES,

MARCH 13, 2000,

JUST TWO DAYS BEFORE THE RUIZ FAMILY DOUBLE MURDER

IN FLORIDA...

MARY JANE MARQUARDT WAS SIMILARLY KILLED

IN CHIPPEWA FALLS, WISCONSIN.

AND HER SON, BILL, WAS MISSING.

THE QUESTION BECOMES, WAS BILL A TARGET?

AND MAYBE THE PERSON WENT TO GET BILL AT HIS OLD HOUSE,

FOUND MARY JANE.

AFTER FINDING A BLOOD-SOAKED TARP

NEAR BILL'S CABIN,

POLICE SECURED A SEARCH WARRANT TO ENTER THE CABIN,

FEARFUL BILL MIGHT BE DEAD INSIDE.

IN HIS HOUSE,

IT WAS IN COMPLETE AND UTTER DISARRAY.

THE POLICE OFFICERS DIDN'T FIND BILL,

BUT THEY FOUND SOMETHING ELSE THAT PIQUED THEIR SUSPICIONS.

THEY FIND ONE LIVE 9-MILLIMETER ROUND.

WHAT IS THAT SAYING TO INVESTIGATORS?

9-MILLIMETER IS A COMMON ROUND,

BUT WE HAVE A 9-MILLIMETER

AT MARY JANE MARQUARDT'S DEATH SCENE.

AND BILL MARQUARDT'S MISSING.

THE FOCUS OF THE INVESTIGATION STARTS TO TURN IN HIS DIRECTION.

SINCE 24-YEAR-OLD BILL MARQUARDT

WAS A CONVICTED FELON,

THE 9-MILLIMETER ROUND FOUND IN HIS CABIN

WAS A VIOLATION OF HIS PAROLE.

THAT, ALONG WITH THE MOUNTING CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE,

WAS ENOUGH FOR AN ARREST WARRANT.

AND WERE THEY ABLE TO FIND BILL?

ABOUT THREE DAYS AFTER THEY HAD SEARCHED

THE BILL MARQUARDT CABIN,

THE NEIGHBOR CALLS

AND SAYS BILL MARQUARDT'S FORD THUNDERBIRD

HAD JUST DRIVEN BY, HEADED TOWARDS THE CABIN.

EXPECTING BILL TO BE ARMED AND DANGEROUS,

POLICE DISPATCHED A S.W.A.T. TEAM TO HIS CABIN.

THEY CAME UP THIS DRIVEWAY OVER HERE.

THEY ANNOUNCED THEIR PRESENCE.

HE CAME WILLINGLY.

ANY EXPLANATION ON WHERE HE'D BEEN?

HE SAID HE'D BEEN ON VACATION.

THEY PLACED HIM UNDER ARREST.

HE WAS WEARING A PAIR OF PANTS

THAT THERE WAS A FOLDING KNIFE IN HIS POCKET.

IT LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BEEN WIPED CLEAN.

DETECTIVES ALSO NOTICED WHAT LOOKED LIKE

BLOOD SPATTER ON BILL'S SHOES,

MEANING HE MAY HAVE BEEN IN CLOSE PROXIMITY

TO A GUNSHOT BLAST.

NOW, WHAT ABOUT HIS CAR THAT HE HAD COME UP IN?

THEY FOUND TWO RECEIPTS.

ONE FROM THE STORAGE UNIT IN BELFAST, GEORGIA,

AND ANOTHER FROM A KOA CAMPGROUND

SOMEWHERE IN THE FLORIDA KEYS.

POLICE SENT BILL'S GREEN FORD THUNDERBIRD

AND ALL THE BLOOD EVIDENCE FOR FORENSIC ANALYSIS

AND SEARCHED HIS CABIN A SECOND TIME.

BUT MARY JANE HAD BEEN SHOT.

DID THEY FIND A GUN?

NOT THAT SECOND SEARCH WARRANT, THEY DIDN'T.

ABOUT 11 DAYS LATER, THEY GOT A THIRD SEARCH WARRANT,

CAME BACK,

AND THEY MOVED THE REFRIGERATOR BACK.

THAT'S WHEN THEY FIND THE 9-MILLIMETER.

DAYS LATER, BALLISTIC TESTS SHOWED

THAT BILL'S MOTHER HAD BEEN SHOT WITH THE GUN FOUND IN HIS CABIN.

THE BLOOD TESTS WERE EVEN MORE REVEALING.

WHILE STAINS ON THE TARP TURNED OUT TO BE ANIMAL BLOOD,

THE OTHER BLOOD EVIDENCE WAS HUMAN.

THE SHOES, THE HIGH-VELOCITY BLOOD SPATTER,

CAME BACK TO MARY JANE.

WHEN THE KNIFE WAS OPENED,

THEY FOUND THE DNA OF MARY JANE MARQUARDT

AND BILL MARQUARDT

AND TWO OTHER WOMEN,

UNKNOWN, FAMILIALLY RELATED.

DESPITE THE MYSTERIOUS FEMALE BLOOD ON BILL'S KNIFE,

THE D.A. NOW HAD THE EVIDENCE

TO FORMALLY CHARGE HIM WITH A FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

OF HIS MOTHER.

SIX LONG YEARS PASSED

WHILE COURTS TRIED TO DETERMINE

IF BILL MARQUARDT WAS FIT TO STAND TRIAL.

FINALLY, IN MAY 2006,

THE HIGH-PROFILE CASE WAS READY TO MOVE FORWARD.

THIS WAS A BIG CASE BY ANY STANDARD,

LET ALONE CHIPPEWA FALLS.

HOW MANY MURDER CASES HAD YOU DONE BEFORE THAT?

THIS WAS MY FIRST MURDER CASE.

BY THEN, MANY IN TOWN ALREADY HAD A STRONG OPINION

ABOUT BILL'S GUILT.

HOW WAS THAT MAYBE GOING TO AFFECT THE TRIAL?

MARQUARDT'S LAWYER SUSPECTED THAT A CHIPPEWA FALLS JURY

WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GIVE BILL A FAIR TRIAL.

THERE WAS A CHANGE OF VENUE BECAUSE OF ALL THE PUBLICITY.

IN THE 21 YEARS AS A PROSECUTOR,

I'VE NEVER HAD A CASE THAT WAS ACTUALLY TAKEN OUT.

I CAN IMAGINE IT MAKING IT THAT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT

OR STRESSFUL TO BE SOMEWHERE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

WELL, LOGISTICS, YOU KNOW,

YOU'RE NOT SLEEPING IN YOUR OWN BED.

YOU'RE IN A HOTEL.

BUT BEYOND THAT,

THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE MOVED

HAD NOT BEEN OFFENDED BY THE HOMICIDE.

IN HINDSIGHT, I THINK WE LOST SOMETHING

BY SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A CHANGE OF VENUE.

ALTHOUGH THE TRIAL WAS MOVED OUT OF THE COUNTY,

THE PROSECUTION REMAINED CONFIDENT.

STATE CONTENDS

THAT MARY JANE MARQUARDT'S MURDERER

WAS, IN FACT, HER YOUNGEST SON, BILL.

I THOUGHT JOHN HAD A SLAM DUNK CASE ON HIS HANDS.

IT'S AN ASSERTION WE CHOOSE TO MAKE.

WE DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY.

JOHN WAS A YOUNG DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

HE'D BEEN IN OFFICE FOR TWO YEARS,

AS CHARISMATIC AS THEY COME.

THAT MORNING IN COURT, ALL THAT SHINED THROUGH.

LAW ENFORCEMENT WENT ABOUT NOTIFYING THE FAMILY.

FACTS WILL SHOW THAT THEY COULD NOT LOCATE ONE FAMILY MEMBER,

BILL PAUL MARQUARDT.

AS SOON AS MARQUARDT'S ATTORNEY, JOHN BRINKMAN,

GAVE HIS OPENING STATEMENTS...

THERE WILL BE EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS

THAT BILL WAS VERY CLOSE TO HIS MOTHER.

WE HAD A BREAK IN THE TRIAL,

AND I REMEMBERED CALLING BACK TO THE OFFICE SAYING,

"WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS ONE."

THE CABIN WAS NOT SEALED OFF AS EVIDENCE.

BRINKMAN WAS INTRODUCING EVIDENCE

THAT YOU COULD JUST TELL IN THE EYES OF THE JURY

THAT HE WAS STRIKING A CHORD

AND CREATING DOUBT.

AND DID THAT FEELING REMAIN WITH YOU

THROUGH EACH DAY OF THE TRIAL?

IT GOT WORSE.

THE DEFENSE TRIED TO POINT TO, SOMEONE ELSE DID THIS,

AND ATTEMPTED TO IMPLICATE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THE MURDER WEAPON WAS NOT THERE

IN THE TIME OF THE SECOND SEARCH.

BECAUSE OF THE MISSED GUN ON THE SECOND SEARCH WARRANT,

THE FOUND GUN ON THE THIRD SEARCH WARRANT,

THEY GAVE A DIRECT IMPLICATION

OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PLANTING EVIDENCE.

ANOTHER ISSUE THEY BROUGHT UP WAS,

WHEN THEY TOOK THE KNIFE APART,

THEY FIND THE DNA FROM TWO RELATED FEMALES.

THE DEFENSE INDICATES THAT PERHAPS

ONE OF THESE TWO UNKNOWN WOMEN IS THE SUSPECT.

HOW CONCERNED WERE YOU ABOUT THOSE ISSUES

AS YOU WENT THROUGH THE TRIAL?

I ADDRESSED THE ISSUES AS BEST I COULD.

WE HAVE LOOKED AT THE FACTS AND ANALYZED

AND COMPARED THEM WITH FORENSIC SCIENCE.

I REASONABLY DISCREDITED THE DISTRACTIONS.

IN ONE SHORT WEEK,

THE YOUNG PROSECUTOR'S FIRST HOMICIDE CASE WAS OVER.

FIND THE DEFENDANT BILL PAUL MARQUARDT...

NOT GUILTY.

TELL ME WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR MIND.

I DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS.

I STILL COULDN'T TELL YOU WHY HE KILLED HIS MOTHER.

IT'S NOT A REQUIRED ELEMENT.

BUT YOU KNOW AS A PROSECUTOR,

BEFORE A JURY CONVICTS SOMEBODY,

THEY NEED TO KNOW WHY HE DID IT,

ESPECIALLY CONVICTING A SON OF KILLING HIS MOTHER.

AND THAT'S IT. I MEAN, ONCE SOMEONE HAS A TRIAL

AND THEY'RE ACQUITTED,

WE CAN'T RETRY THEM AGAIN.

IT'S A PRETTY HARSH REALITY AS A PROSECUTOR.

I HAD LET MY COMMUNITY DOWN.

ALL THESE CASES THAT WE HANDLE AS PROSECUTORS,

THERE IS A SUBJECTIVITY TO IT.

FROM MY OWN 21 YEARS AS A PROSECUTOR,

THERE IS NO CERTAINTY TO ANY OF IT.

SOMETIMES, UNFORTUNATELY, BESIDES OUR WINS,

THERE ARE LOSSES AND NEGATIVE THINGS

THAT WE DON'T EXPECT.

HOPEFULLY THEN WE GO ON FROM THEM.

IN THE DAYS AFTER,

I TOOK OFF, I WENT FOR A RUN ALONE,

AND IT'S A SMALL COMMUNITY,

SO I HAPPEN TO RUN INTO...

MY OLD TRACK COACH.

PUT HIS HAND ON MY SHOULDER

AND JUST SAID, "YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.

WE BELIEVE IN YOU."

AND THAT'S -- THAT'S WHAT D.A.s DO.

AFTER THE DEMORALIZING LOSS,

THE YOUNG PROSECUTOR DID A LOT OF SOUL SEARCHING.

SO WERE YOU ABLE TO PUT THIS CASE OUT OF YOUR MIND

AFTER YOU GOT THAT DISAPPOINTING VERDICT?

NO.

I STILL BELIEVED IN MY HEART

THAT BILL PAUL MARQUARDT WAS NOT ONLY A MURDERER,

HE WAS A DANGEROUS PERSON.

I REMEMBER THE UNEXPLAINED DNA ON THE INSIDE OF THE KNIFE.

WHY COULDN'T WE FIND WHERE THAT DNA CAME FROM?

THE D.A. ALSO RECALLED THAT RECEIPTS

FOUND IN BILL'S GREEN CAR SHOWN HE HAD DRIVEN TO KEY WEST

RIGHT AFTER HIS MOTHER'S MURDER.

IT'S MY CONTENTION

THAT, IF HE KILLED SOMEONE WITH THAT KNIFE,

THAT HE DID IT ON HIS VACATION.

THEISEN BEGAN THE DAUNTING TASK

OF RESEARCHING DOUBLE HOMICIDES

THAT OCCURRED ALONG BILL'S ROUTE

DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.

HE WAS SPECIFICALLY LOOKING FOR TWO FEMALE VICTIMS

WHO WERE BIOLOGICALLY RELATED.

HOW DID YOU DO THAT? I MEAN, THIS IS A HUGE AREA

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, FROM WISCONSIN

ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLORIDA KEYS.

I KNEW THAT IT WASN'T GOING TO BE EASY.

BUT I ALSO HAD THIS BELIEF THAT IT WAS OUT THERE.

RIGHT, HERE YOU GO.

THIS IS THE CASE FILE.

AFTER COUNTLESS LATE NIGHTS

AND HUNDREDS OF DEAD ENDS,

THEISEN CAME UPON A BULLETIN

FROM SUMTER COUNTY, FLORIDA.

THAT'S THE CONNECTION RIGHT THERE.

STARING BACK AT JOHN THEISEN

WERE THE FACES OF MARGARITA RUIZ AND HOPE WELLS.

AND THIS IS THE ACTUAL BULLETIN THAT YOU PULLED

OFF THE COMPUTER? THAT'S IT.

TELL ME WHAT THIS INFORMATION MEANT TO YOU WHEN YOU READ IT.

IT WAS MS. RUIZ.

HER FACE, THERE'S A CONNECTION TO HER EYES.

THERE'S A PLEADING,

"HELP ME OUT,

MAKE THE CALL."

THEISEN DIALED THE SUMTER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

AND WITHIN SECONDS,

DETECTIVE GARY BRANNEN PICKED UP.

I SAID, "CAPTAIN BRANNEN, MY NAME IS JOHN THEISEN.

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF CHIPPEWA COUNTY, WISCONSIN?"

I SAID, "CAPTAIN BRANNEN, MY NAME IS JOHN THEISEN.

...FIND THE DEFENDANT BILL PAUL MARQUARDT

NOT GUILTY.

AFTER HIS STUNNING LOSS

IN BILL MARQUARDT'S CHIPPEWA FALLS MURDER TRIAL,

PROSECUTOR JOHN THEISEN MAY HAVE FOUND A LINK

TO THE RUIZ FAMILY MURDERS IN SUMTER COUNTY, FLORIDA.

HE CALLED DETECTIVE BRANNEN TO COMPARE NOTES.

I SAID, "CAPTAIN BRANNEN,

THE MURDER VICTIMS IN SUMTER COUNTY ARE TWO WOMEN.

BUT THEY HAVE DIFFERENT LAST NAMES."

AND HE WANTED TO KNOW IF OUR TWO FEMALES WERE RELATED.

AND I SAID, "WELL, YES, THEY ARE.

THEY'RE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER."

I CAN FEEL THE HEART REACT.

OKAY.

TAKE A DEEP BREATH.

I SAY, "I SEE IN YOUR ANNOUNCEMENT

THAT THEY WERE SHOT WITH A 9-MILLIMETER PISTOL."

I ASKED HIM IF THEY WERE ALSO STABBED.

AND I SAID, "WELL, THEY BOTH WERE STABBED

IN THE NECK NUMEROUS TIMES."

AT THAT POINT, I PROBABLY COULDN'T BREATHE.

THEY HAD BEEN STABBED IN MUCH THE SAME ODD MANNER

AS MARY JANE MARQUARDT.

AND THEN HE SAID, "HOW CERTAIN ARE YOU

IT WAS A BLACK MALE IN A GREEN CAR?"

HE SAYS, "OH, THAT WAS DISCREDITED LONG AGO."

I MEAN, I CAN FEEL MY OWN HEART BEATING

JUST FROM HEARING YOU TELL THAT STORY.

TELL ME WHAT YOU ARE THINKING AND FEELING

AS THIS PHONE CALL IS TAKING PLACE.

AS EACH QUESTION IS CONFIRMED,

IT JUST GROWS INSIDE OF ME THAT WE MAY HAVE THIS GUY.

WITHIN 24 HOURS,

THE INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITIES FROM FLORIDA AND WISCONSIN

ARE ABLE TO DO A COMPARISON OF THE DNA.

AND THEY HAD CONFIRMED THAT THE DNA EVIDENCE

ON THE KNIFE IN WISCONSIN

WAS THE DNA OF OUR TWO VICTIMS

TO THE EXCLUSION OF ANYBODY ELSE ON EARTH.

HOW DID THAT MAKE YOU FEEL?

IT TOOK A WEIGHT OFF OF MY SHOULDERS

THAT WAS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD EQUATE IT TO

OUTSIDE OF THE LAW-ENFORCEMENT WORLD.

IT'S A MATCH.

WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?

IT'S AWFULLY NICE TO KNOW YOU WON.

PROSECUTORS ALWAYS LIKE TO HAVE A MOTIVE

BEFORE GOING TO TRIAL.

POLICE THOUGHT BILL MAY HAVE DRIVEN TO FLORIDA

TRYING TO ESTABLISH AN ALIBI FOR HIS MOTHER'S MURDER.

BUT NOBODY KNOWS WHY HE KILLED TWO WOMEN

ONCE HE GOT THERE.

IN DECEMBER 2006,

MARQUARDT WAS INDICTED

ON TWO COUNTS OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

FIVE YEARS LATER,

HE WAS EXTRADITED TO FLORIDA TO STAND TRIAL.

SO THIS IS THE COURTROOM WHERE YOU TRIED BILL MARQUARDT

FOR THE MURDER OF ESPERANZA WELLS

AND MARGARITA RUIZ?

THIS IS IT.

WHAT TYPE OF A CASE WAS THIS?

IT WAS PROBABLY THE BEST FORENSIC EVIDENCE

MURDER CASE THAT I HAD HAD TO THAT DATE.

THERE WAS DNA EVIDENCE, BALLISTIC EVIDENCE.

THE FIREARM THAT WAS ULTIMATELY LOCATED

UNDERNEATH A REFRIGERATOR IN THE CABIN

MATCHED THE SHELL CASINGS AND THE PROJECTILES HERE.

BUT BILL MARQUARDT, WHO HAD ALREADY BEAT ONE MURDER CHARGE,

THREW A WRENCH INTO THE PROCEEDINGS

BY OPTING TO REPRESENT HIMSELF.

I THINK ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL ALMOST HANDCUFFS, I FEEL.

YOU HAVE THIS CASE TO PRESENT,

AND WE KNOW THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A SURE THING.

I DON'T CARE HOW STRONG YOUR CASE IS,

BUT YOU HAVE TO CONVINCE THIS JURY

HOW STRONG YOUR EVIDENCE IS.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT

OF WHAT IT DOES

WHEN THIS DEFENDANT IS REPRESENTING HIMSELF.

TELL ME WHAT THAT WAS LIKE.

I WAS CONCERNED THAT --

AND IT ONLY TAKES 1 OUT OF 12 TO THINK THAT --

MAGRINO'S PICKING ON HIM.

MAGRINO'S BEATING UP ON THE DEFENDANT,

AND HE SHOULDN'T BE DOING THAT.

AND SO RATHER THE DEFENDANT SITTING THERE DURING THE TRIAL,

YOU HAD HIM HERE,

AND THEN YOU HAD HIM HERE TALKING TO THE JURY.

YOU HAD HIM THERE TALKING TO THE WITNESSES.

SAME PEOPLE HE WAS ACCUSED OF RIPPING THEIR LIVES APART

AND BRINGING THE EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM.

BUT PETE MAGRINO WAS PLAGUED BY A THOUGHT.

WHAT IF THE MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING HER GRANDMOTHER AND AUNT

CALLED THE NOW 15-YEAR-OLD PAIGE RUIZ TO THE STAND?

I DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT, BUT I HAD TO,

IF HE CALLED ME TO THE STAND THAT DAY.

I JUST REMEMBER HAVING TO MISS A WHOLE DAY OF SCHOOL

AND SITTING OUTSIDE THE COURTROOM

WITH EVERYBODY ELSE THAT WAS GETTING CALLED THAT DAY,

WAITING AND WAITING AND WAITING

TO SEE IF HE WOULD CALL ME IN THAT DAY.

LUCKILY, HE DIDN'T.

ON OCTOBER 12, 2011,

NINE DAYS AFTER THE TRIAL BEGAN,

THE JURY DELIVERED THEIR VERDICT.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THAT ONE LITTLE BIT

OF THOUGHT IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND.

I'M SURE YOU AS A PROSECUTOR HAD IT EVERY TIME.

WHAT ARE THEY GONNA DO?

BUT I WAS VERY CONFIDENT

THAT HE WAS GONNA BE FOUND GUILTY.

THE VERDICT WAS GUILTY AS CHARGED

ON ALL THREE COUNTS OF THE INDICTMENT.

IT WAS PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY REWARDING

BECAUSE THOSE POOR FOLKS WHO WERE GOOD,

DOWN-TO-EARTH, HARD-WORKING PEOPLE,

WENT THROUGH SO MUCH DURING THE SPAN OF THIS CASE.

IT TOOK OVER 11 YEARS,

BUT THE RUIZ FAMILY FINALLY HAD JUSTICE

FOR THE MURDERS OF MARGARITA AND HOPE.

WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT WHEN THE VERDICT WAS READ?

OH, I WAS ECSTATIC.

THE ENDING OF IT WAS THERE.

AND I LOOKED UP TO GOD,

AND I SAID, "THANK YOU."

THE GUILTY VERDICT WAS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL

FOR PAIGE RUIZ, WHO WAS BOTH A WITNESS

AND A SURVIVOR OF THE ATTACK.

I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR THAT.

BECAUSE I KNEW THAT HE WAS DOING TIME

FOR SOMETHING THAT HE TOOK AWAY FROM ME AND MY FAMILY.

ALTHOUGH HE NEVER ADMITTED GUILT,

BILL MARQUARDT ASKED FOR AND RECEIVED THE DEATH PENALTY.

HIS MOTIVE FOR THESE VICIOUS MURDERS

WILL LIKELY NEVER BE KNOWN.

HE CURRENTLY SITS ON DEATH ROW.

17 YEARS AFTER THE MURDERS OF MARY JANE MARQUARDT,

MARGARITA RUIZ, AND HOPE WELLS

HAD SUCH A PROFOUND IMPACT ON HIS LIFE,

WISCONSIN PROSECUTOR JOHN THEISEN

TRAVELED TO SUMTER COUNTY, FLORIDA, FOR THE FIRST TIME.

I KNOW YOU'VE NEVER BEEN HERE BEFORE.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR THOUGHTS?

WHEN WE DID FINALLY GET TO VICTORY ON THIS ONE,

I REALLY WISH I COULD HAVE SHARED IT

WITH THESE TWO BEAUTIFUL WOMEN.

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS