Original subtitles

TELL ME ABOUT THE DONNA DECKER MURDER.

A GUNMAN CAME IN TO THE DECKER HOME.

HAD ALL THESE VARIABLES OF JUSTICE/INJUSTICE

AMIDST THE HORROR OF A FAMILY BEING MASSACRED.

HOW'S IT FEEL BEING BACK HERE, IN THIS HOUSE?

THE HAIRS ON THE BACK OF MY NECK STILL STAND UP.

YOUR FIRST-DEGREE MURDER DEFENDANT IS OUT,

WALKING THE STREETS OF FLORIDA.

I SAID, "I KNOW WHO DID THIS."

HOW COULD HE NOT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED?

NOW WE HAD SOMEONE

WHO FIT THE PROFILE

OF A PSYCHOPATHIC KILLER.

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...

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

JUST 10 MILES FROM FLORIDA'S TOURISTY GOLD COAST,

THE TOWN OF DAVIE FEELS LIKE A WORLD AWAY.

IT'S A SLEEPY TOWN WHERE

OLD-TIMERS STILL WEAR COWBOY HATS

AND NEIGHBORS KEEP TO THEMSELVES.

BUT THE SHOCKING MURDER OF 37-YEAR-OLD DONNA DECKER

AND THE BRUTAL ATTACK ON HER FAMILY...

...SHATTERED THIS TOWN'S SENSE OF SECURITY.

I'VE COME TO DAVIE TO REVEAL

HOW THE PROSECUTOR AND INVESTIGATORS

UNTANGLED THE TRUTH,

AND TO RE-TRACE, STEP BY STEP,

THE JOURNEY TO JUSTICE FOR DONNA'S FAMILY.

DONNA DECKER HAD JUST SETTLED IN TO LIFE AS A NEW MOTHER

WHEN SHE WAS TAKEN AWAY

FROM HER 2-YEAR-OLD SON AND LOVING HUSBAND.

BOB, HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU AND DONNA MET?

ABOUT 23.

BOB WAS A NEWCOMER FROM NEW YORK

AND RENTED AN APARTMENT FROM DONNA'S PARENTS.

THEY KEPT SAYING FOR, LIKE, TWO OR THREE MONTHS

THEIR DAUGHTER'S COMING DOWN FROM BOSTON.

AND THEN IT WAS, BASICALLY,

LIKE, I'M SUPPOSED TO TAKE HER OUT.

I'M SUPPOSED TO SHOW HER AROUND, AND ALL THIS AND THAT.

THE TWO WERE PERFECT OPPOSITES.

BOB WAS THE QUIET ONE, AND DONNA WAS THE TALKER.

HOW LONG AFTER YOU MET DONNA BEFORE YOU BEGAN DATING?

A DAY.

IT DIDN'T TAKE VERY LONG.

IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THEIR MARRIAGE,

THEY WERE BOTH WORKAHOLICS.

SHE WAS A HAIRDRESSER, AND I WORKED FOR A CONTRACTOR

IN FORT LAUDERDALE FOR 10 YEARS.

THEN WE MOVED TO DAVIE.

I BUILT A HOUSE OUT THERE, AND THAT'S WHERE, BASICALLY,

THE BIG BUILDING STARTED.

BOB RAN HIS CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS

OUT OF A SMALL OFFICE IN THE HOUSE,

AND HE BUILT DONNA A HAIR SALON

SO SHE COULD WORK, AT LEAST, PART-TIME FROM HOME.

AND IN 1986,

BOB AND DONNA'S PERFECT TWOSOME BECAME A TRIO.

SHE SAID, "WE'RE HAVING A BABY."

THEY NAMED THEIR SON CARL, AFTER DONNA'S FATHER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT LITTLE BOY MEANT TO HER?

IT WAS THE BEST THING IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD FOR HER.

EVERYTHING WAS CARL.

IT MEANT AN AWFUL LOT TO HER.

AND IN THE FALL OF 1988,

BOB'S FATHER, CLYDE, MOVED IN,

PUTTING THREE GENERATIONS OF DECKERS UNDER ONE ROOF.

THE NIGHT OF NOVEMBER 4, 1988,

BEGAN LIKE ANY OTHER.

DONNA WAS WORKING LATE AT A HAIR SALON.

BOB, CLYDE, AND 2-1/2-YEAR-OLD CARL

HAD GONE TO DINNER AT A LOCAL BARBECUE PLACE.

THE THREE OF THEM HURRIED HOME TO CATCH

BOB'S FAVORITE TV SHOW, "DALLAS."

BUT ALMOST AS SOON AS THEY WALKED IN THE DOOR,

THE DECKERS' IDYLLIC LIFE TOOK A HORRIFIC TURN.

PROSECUTOR BRIAN CAVANAGH IS STILL HAUNTED BY THIS CASE.

BRIAN, WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE DONNA DECKER MURDER

THAT OVER TWO DECADES LATER, REMAINS SO VIVID FOR YOU?

IT'S A PARABLE ABOUT RIGHT AND WRONG.

SHE HAD ALL THESE VARIABLES OF JUSTICE/INJUSTICE

ALL INTERWOVEN --

AMIDST THE HORROR OF A FAMILY BEING MASSACRED.

THAT TOUCHES ME TO THE QUICK OF MY BEING.

A GUNMAN CAME IN TO THE DECKER HOME.

HE TIED UP THE MEN WHO WERE THERE.

DONNA DECKER CAME HOME AT SOME POINT.

SHE TRIED TO DEFEND HERSELF AND HER FAMILY

WITH A KITCHEN KNIFE.

THE GUNMAN TOOK THAT KITCHEN KNIFE

AND TURNED IT ON HER.

HE SHOT BOB DECKER TWICE IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.

CLYDE DECKER ONCE IN THE FACE

WITH A PILLOW PLACED OVER HIS HEAD.

AND LITTLE CARL DECKER, THEIR 2-1/2-YEAR-OLD SON,

HE PUT A BULLET RIGHT BEHIND HIS RIGHT EAR.

THE MALES WERE ALL LEFT FOR DEAD.

DONNA MADE A DYING 911 CALL

AS HER LUNGS FILLED UP WITH BLOOD.

WHEN YOU HEAR... HER LAST WORDS,

WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND?

THANK YOU.

SAVED OUR LIVES.

DAVIE POLICE RACED TO THE SCENE,

ARRIVING IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES.

LEAD HOMICIDE DETECTIVE KELLY WOODROOF

WAS RIGHT BEHIND THEM.

SO WE'RE ACTUALLY, RIGHT NOW,

HEADED RIGHT TOWARDS THE DECKER HOUSE,

ON THE SAME ROUTE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE GONE THAT EVENING.

YEAH, I WOULD GUESS IT PROBABLY TOOK US ABOUT

FIVE TO SEVEN MINUTES WHEN WE GOT THERE.

WE WENT A PRETTY NASTY SPEED.

SET THE SCENE FOR ME.

TELL ME WHAT WAS GOING ON OUT HERE WHEN YOU ARRIVED.

WELL, WHEN WE GOT HERE,

THERE WERE EMERGENCY VEHICLES ALL UP AND DOWN THE STREET.

THE WHOLE AREA WAS KIND OF BATHED

IN FLASHING BLUE AND RED AND YELLOW LIGHTS.

BOB, HIS DAD, AND HIS 2-YEAR-OLD SON

WERE ALIVE, BUT SERIOUSLY INJURED.

BOB WAS CLINGING TO LIFE BY A THREAD.

DONNA HAD SLIPPED AWAY

WHILE STILL ON THE LINE WITH 911.

DETECTIVE WOODROOF HAD TO TRY AND PIECE TOGETHER

WHAT HAD HAPPENED ON HIS OWN.

THIS IS THE LIVING ROOM.

ON THE NIGHT OF THE INCIDENT,

THERE WAS AN EASY CHAIR SEATED OVER THERE.

THE ONLY THING THAT WE COULD SEE IN HERE

FROM A CRIME-SCENE SIGNIFICANCE

WAS THAT THERE WAS SOME ROPE ON THE FLOOR.

WHEN APPROACHING A FRESH CRIME SCENE,

IT'S VITAL TO DOCUMENT EVERYTHING

AS IT APPEARS AT THAT VERY MOMENT.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT MIGHT END UP BEING A CRITICAL CLUE.

WE WENT INTO THE KITCHEN FROM HERE.

THERE WAS A PAPER GROCERY BAG SITTING HERE.

DONNA'S PURSE WAS THERE.

WE LATER REALIZED THAT THERE WAS A KNIFE

MISSING FROM A BUTCHER BLOCK OVER THERE,

AND THAT WAS THE MURDER WEAPON.

AND WE MOVED INTO THE BEDROOM.

ON THE NIGHT OF THE HOMICIDE, THERE WAS A LARGE WATERBED HERE,

AND ON THIS SIDE OF THE BED,

THERE WAS A SHATTERED PARTIAL DENTURE.

WHEN CLYDE DECKER WAS SHOT,

THE ROUND HIT HIS DENTURE, FRACTURED IT, SPLINTERED IT.

WHAT ABOUT...

CLYDE, BOB DECKER, AND THE BABY, CARL?

WERE THEY STILL IN HERE WHEN YOU GOT HERE?

BOB WAS ON A GURNEY AND WAS BEING TRANSPORTED.

CLYDE WAS HOLDING CARL IN HIS ARMS.

AND HOW DOES IT FEEL BEING BACK HERE IN THIS HOUSE,

IN THIS PLACE, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS?

THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW CRIME SCENES

THAT I'VE EVER BEEN ON THAT I COME INTO AFTER THE FACT,

AND THE HAIRS ON THE BACK OF MY NECK STILL STAND UP.

THERE'S JUST A CHILL ABOUT THIS PLACE.

I WILL NEVER FORGET, TILL THE DAY I DIE,

WHAT DONNA DECKER LOOKED LIKE IN THAT CLOSET.

MR. DECKER ACTUALLY USED THIS

AS THE BUSINESS OFFICE FOR HIS CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS.

AND THIS IS WHERE MISS DECKER WAS FOUND.

SHE WAS...

PARTIALLY UP AGAINST THE WALL,

LEANING ON HER SIDE WITH HER HEAD TOWARDS THE DOOR.

THERE WERE ALL SORTS OF PAPERS ON THE FLOOR.

IT HAD BEEN RANSACKED.

AND THERE WAS A TELEPHONE IN HERE.

SHE HAD A TELEPHONE IN HER HAND.

AND WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE IN THIS ROOM?

THERE WAS A COWBOY HAT ON THE FLOOR NEAR HER.

NOW, WE'RE WORKING IN SOMEBODY'S HOUSE.

WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SHOULD BE HERE

AND WHAT SHOULDN'T BE HERE.

WHILE DETECTIVE WOODROOF

AND HIS TEAM COMBED THE CRIME SCENE,

AN ODD DRAMA WAS UNFOLDING AT A NEARBY SHOPPING CENTER.

LOCAL WRITER ART HARRIS

COVERED EVERY TWIST OF THIS STRANGE CASE.

ABOUT 30 MINUTES AFTER THE 911 CALL,

A SECURITY GUARD IN FRONT OF THE XTRA SUPERMARKET

CALLS THE DAVIE POLICE AND SAYS,

"I'VE GOT A MAN WHO SAYS HE WAS IN A ROBBERY,

AND HE'S ALL HYSTERICAL."

AND HE SAYS HE WAS...

IN THE HOUSE.

HE SAYS HE WAS INSIDE?

HE'S A WITNESS.

NOVEMBER 4, 1988 --

WHEN DONNA DECKER ARRIVED HOME FROM WORK,

SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS IN A PLACE OF SAFETY AND SECURITY.

INSTEAD, SHE WALKED INTO A STORM OF VIOLENCE.

AN INTRUDER STABBED HER TO DEATH

JUST STEPS FROM HER OWN BEDROOM.

HE PUT A GUN TO THE HEADS OF HER HUSBAND, FATHER-IN-LAW...

...AND TWO-YEAR-OLD SON

AND SHOT THEM AT POINT-BLANK RANGE.

DONNA'S DYING 911 CALL SUMMONED HELP JUST IN TIME.

HER FAMILY WAS STILL ALIVE,

BUT IN CRITICAL NEED OF CARE.

BABY CARL WAS THE FIRST TO REGAIN CONSCIOUSNESS.

HE WAS ALONE IN A SEPARATE HOSPITAL

FROM HIS DAD AND GRANDPA.

DONNA'S NIECE, CHRISSI ZAZZO,

REMEMBERS VISITING HIM.

TELL ME ABOUT THE AFTERMATH, ABOUT BABY CARL.

WHEN I WENT TO SEE HIM, JUST THIS LITTLE BABY,

2 YEARS OLD AND...

HE WANTS TO KNOW WHERE HIS MAMA IS.

MY MOM HAD TO TELL HIM WITH THE NURSE.

THEY SAID SHE WAS GONE TO HEAVEN.

AND HE JUST STARTED CRYING, PUT HIS HEAD DOWN IN THE CRIB.

AND HE PUTS HIS ARMS OUT, AND I JUST HELD HIM.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

NONE OF THE DECKERS WERE IN ANY CONDITION

TO TELL POLICE WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

BUT JUST HOURS INTO THE INVESTIGATION,

DETECTIVE KELLY WOODROOF GOT HIS FIRST BIG BREAK.

A SECURITY GUARD IN FRONT OF THE XTRA SUPERMARKET

CALLS THE DAVIE POLICE AND SAYS,

"I'VE GOT A MAN WHO SAYS HE WAS IN A ROBBERY."

A FAMILY FRIEND NAMED CHARLES PANOYAN...

...WHO WAS AT THE HOUSE THAT NIGHT.

AND WAS LET GO IMMEDIATELY BEFORE

ALL THIS CARNAGE BEGAN.

IT SEEMED THAT DETECTIVES HAD STUMBLED UPON AN EYEWITNESS

AND WERE ABOUT TO LEARN WHAT HAPPENED

THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER.

DAVIE POLICE ASKED PANOYAN TO RETURN TO THE SCENE

AND WALK THEM THROUGH THE ATTACK MOMENT BY MOMENT.

HIS ACCOUNT WAS THAT HE SHOWS UP AT THE HOUSE

TO BRING SOME VENISON

FROM A RECENT HUNTING TRIP OUT IN UTAH.

AND THEY WERE INSIDE THE HOUSE.

AND CHUCK REMEMBERED THAT HE HAD FORGOTTEN

TO BRING THE VENISON INSIDE,

SO HE WENT OUTSIDE TO HIS TRUCK AND CAME BACK IN.

THEN PANOYAN SEES A MASKED MAN

HOLDING A WEAPON AND POINTING IT AT HIM.

HE'S DESCRIBING THIS MASKED MAN/INTRUDER

WHO HE SAYS HE HAS NO IDEA WHO HE IS.

AND THEN THE MASKED MAN

TAKES THE DECKERS INTO THE BEDROOM.

AND THEY'RE TIED UP.

THE MASKED MAN SEES AND GRABS HER.

CHUCK PANOYAN LEFT THE SCENE

BEFORE THE VIOLENCE ERUPTED.

THE DAVIE DETECTIVES WERE STILL IN THE DARK

ABOUT THE MURDER ITSELF.

THEN A WEEK LATER,

THEY GOT THE CHANCE TO HEAR THE REST OF THE STORY

FROM A SECOND WITNESS.

BOB DECKER HAD REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS.

NOW THEY COULD COMPARE THE TWO ACCOUNTS.

BOB AGREED TO TAKE ME THROUGH THE PAINFUL EVENTS

OF NOVEMBER 4, 1988.

TELL ME WHAT YOU REMEMBER.

I REMEMBER CHUCK WAS GOING OUT IN HIS TRUCK

TO GET THE DEER MEAT FOR MY FATHER,

AND BROUGHT IT IN THE HOUSE.

AND THEN THE GUNMAN FOLLOWED HIM IN...

AND SHOVED THE GUN IN MY FATHER'S FACE.

THEN HE SAID, "THIS IS ONLY A ROBBERY.

NOBODY WILL GET HURT.

DO AS I SAY."

WHAT DID HE LOOK LIKE?

HE HAD A SKI MASK ON, GLOVES ON,

AND HE HAD A COWBOY HAT ON.

THE GUNMAN FORCED BOB, CLYDE,

AND BABY CARL INTO THE BEDROOM

AND HOGTIED THE ADULTS.

AND THEN HE LEFT THE ROOM,

AND YOU COULD HEAR HIM SCUFFLING AROUND OUT THERE,

LOOKING FOR WHATEVER HE COULD STEAL.

I HAD THREE GUNS AT THE TIME.

AND HE COME IN THE ROOM WITH MY GUNS.

AND HE GOES, "CUTE. REAL CUTE."

THE GUNMAN'S VOICE ECHOED IN BOB'S MIND

FOR YEARS TO COME.

NOW, WHAT ABOUT CHUCK? WHERE WAS HE?

HE WAS SITTING IN THE LIVING ROOM.

IN THE CHAIR, WAS CHUCK BOUND OR JUST SITTING?

NO, JUST SITTING THERE.

AND THEN I HEARD DONNA HAD COME HOME.

AND SHE WALKED IN THE LIVING ROOM

AND SAID TO CHUCK, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"

CHUCK SAID NOTHING TO WARN DONNA.

I COULD HEAR THE DOOR OPEN AND SHUT AGAIN

WHEN CHUCK WAS LEAVING.

WHEN SHE CAME IN,

DIRECTLY BEHIND HER, WAS HIM GOING OUT THE DOOR.

SO CHUCK JUST LEFT.

CHUCK LEFT.

HERE IS WHERE CHUCK PANOYAN'S ACCOUNT ENDED,

BUT BOB DECKER BORE WITNESS

TO EVERY MOMENT UP THROUGH THE TERRIBLE END.

DONNA HAD COME RUNNING IN THE BEDROOM.

AND THEN SHE'S SEEING ME ON THE FLOOR, HOGTIED,

AND CARL BESIDE ME.

WHAT WAS HER REACTION WHEN SHE SAW YOU AND CARL?

SHE STARTED CRYING.

THE GUNMAN DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS COMING IN THERE.

HE GRABBED HER QUICK.

HE TOOK HER BACK OUT IN THE KITCHEN.

AND THERE WAS A BUTCHER BLOCK ON THE KITCHEN COUNTER.

AND SHE TOOK A KNIFE OUT OF THAT,

AND SHE WAS FIGHTING HIM.

AND IT WAS EASY FOR HIM TO TAKE THE KNIFE AWAY FROM HER.

STABBED HER 11 TIMES.

AND THEN HE COME BACK IN THE BEDROOM.

HE TOOK THE PILLOW OFF FROM THE WATERBED.

FIRST, HE PUT IT ON MY HEAD.

HE SHOT ME TWICE IN THE HEAD.

IT FELT LIKE I JUMPED ABOUT 5 FEET OFF THE GROUND.

THEN HE TOOK THE PILLOW TO MY SON'S HEAD,

SHOT HIM BEHIND THE EAR.

AND THEN HE SHOT MY FATHER IN THE FACE.

AFTER THAT, I JUST REMEMBER MY FATHER SAYING,

"IS HE GONE?"

AND THEN I BLACKED OUT.

AND THEN I HEARD THE POLICEMAN SAY,

"THEY'RE IN HERE...

AND THEY'RE ALL SHOT."

AND THEN I REMEMBER HIM SAYING, "SHE AIN'T GONNA MAKE IT."

AND I BLACKED OUT AGAIN.

DETECTIVE WOODROOF MADE IT HIS MISSION

TO GET JUSTICE FOR DONNA DECKER.

HIS GUT WAS TELLING HIM THAT CHUCK PANOYAN

HAD SET UP THE WHOLE ATTACK

AND HELD THE KEY TO THE GUNMAN'S IDENTITY.

WE FELT VERY COMFORTABLE THAT PANOYAN WAS

THE LINCHPIN HERE.

AND HIS ACCOUNT DIDN'T AT ALL CORRESPOND

WITH THE DECKERS' ACCOUNT, AND HIS ACCOUNT

DOESN'T LINE UP WITH PHYSICAL EVIDENCE, EITHER.

WE HAD A SUSPECT.

AND THAT SUSPECT WAS CHARLES PANOYAN.

FOR MONTHS FOLLOWING THE MURDER OF DONNA DECKER,

THE IDENTITY OF THE MASKED GUNMAN

WHO KILLED HER IN HER OWN HOME ELUDED POLICE.

BUT LEAD DETECTIVE KELLY WOODROOF

BELIEVED THAT THE INSIDE GUY WHO SET THE WHOLE THING UP

WAS FAMILY FRIEND CHUCK PANOYAN.

WOODROOF WORKED FOR A YEAR

TO COBBLE TOGETHER A CASE AGAINST PANOYAN.

HE WAS ABLE TO PLACE PANOYAN AT THE SCENE OF THE MURDER

AND EXPOSE MAJOR HOLES IN HIS STORY.

WOODROOF FIGURED THAT PANOYAN MUST HAVE KNOWN THE GUNMAN

OR HE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN LET GO

WHEN THE REST OF THE FAMILY WAS LEFT FOR DEAD.

DID YOU THINK THAT HE HAD ENOUGH FOR AN ARREST AT THAT POINT?

WELL, WE HAD A CIRCUMSTANTIAL CASE AGAINST PANOYAN.

ENOUGH THAT I BELIEVE THERE WAS PROBABLY CAUSE

FOR AN INDICTMENT.

THEN AN ANONYMOUS TIP TURNED EVERYTHING ON ITS HEAD.

WHAT DID YOU KNOW ABOUT DANA WILLIAMSON

AT THE TIME THAT THAT CALL CAME IN?

HE'D HAD A TROUBLED CHILDHOOD.

AT 16, DANA WILLIAMSON AND ANOTHER BOY

BROKE LOOSE FROM A REFORM SCHOOL,

AND JUST HOURS LATER,

WILLIAMSON COMMITTED HIS FIRST MURDER.

THEY STUMBLE ON 4-YEAR-OLD PETEY WAGNER.

4 YEARS OLD? 4 YEARS OLD.

AND ACCORDING TO HIS CONFESSION...

FOR LACK OF NOTHING BETTER TO DO,

THEY BEAT HIM TO DEATH --

BEAT AND STOMPED HIM TO DEATH.

WHEN DETECTIVE WOODROOF HEARD THE TIP,

HE TOOK A RIDE OUT TO DANA WILLIAMSON'S HOUSE.

WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN YOU HEARD

THE INFORMATION THAT CAME IN?

THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ANYTHING THAT CONNECTED HIM

EITHER TO BOB DECKER OR TO CHUCK PANOYAN AT THE TIME.

THIS WAS THE WILLIAMSON RESIDENCE.

WE WENT TO THE FRONT DOOR, WE KNOCKED.

WE DIDN'T GET ANY KIND OF RESPONSE.

THE HOUSE LOOKED LIKE IT WAS ABANDONED.

THERE WAS NOBODY ON THE STREETS.

WHEN WE LOOKED OVER HERE,

AND THERE'S A WOMAN TRYING TO ROUND UP HER CAT.

THEN SHE TURNED AROUND, AND SHE SAID,

"NOW, THIS IS ABOUT THAT THING IN DAVIE

THAT INVOLVED CHUCK PANOYAN, ISN'T IT?"

AND...FOR A SECOND, I-I-I JUST --

I FROZE.

AND WHO WAS THAT WOMAN?

HER NAME WAS VIRGINIA KOSTIGE.

GINGER KOSTIGE HAD

LIVED ACROSS FROM THE WILLIAMSONS

FOR 10 LONG YEARS.

WHEN DETECTIVE WOODROOF CAME KNOCKING,

SHE WAS MORE THAN HAPPY TO TELL HIM WHAT SHE KNEW.

WAS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT DANA WILLIAMSON

THAT EVER TOLD YOU HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF VIOLENCE?

HE CAME TO MY PICTURE WINDOW,

AND HE HAD A POSSUM WITH A KNIFE IN HIS HAND,

AND HE HAD BLOOD ALL OVER HIS SHIRT.

AND HE WAS SKINNING THE POSSUM ALIVE.

HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO DONNA DECKER?

I HEARD THAT THERE WAS A MURDER IN DAVIE, FLORIDA,

AND THEY ARRESTED CHUCK PANOYAN.

AND RIGHT THEN, I SAID,

"I KNOW WHO DID THIS."

DANA WILLIAMSON.

I KNOW CHUCK WAS HANGING OUT WITH THEM AT THAT TIME.

CHUCK USED TO VISIT

THE WILLIAMSON HOME ALL THE TIME

AND TALK WITH DANA'S FATHER, CHARLIE WILLIAMSON,

WHO HAD A STROKE.

AND CHUCK WOULD COME OVER AND VISIT.

AS PROSECUTORS, MOMENTS LIKE THIS ARE PURE GOLD.

DETECTIVE WOODROOF HAD JUST MADE THE CONNECTION

BETWEEN DANA WILLIAMSON AND THE PRIME SUSPECT CHUCK PANOYAN.

NOW WE HAD SOMEONE

WHO FIT THE PROFILE OF A PSYCHOPATHIC KILLER.

BUT DETECTIVE WOODROOF HAD A PROBLEM ON HIS HANDS.

HE QUICKLY LEARNED THAT DANA WILLIAMSON

HAD HIGHTAILED IT OUT OF THE STATE

JUST TWO WEEKS AFTER THE MURDER.

WOODROOF AND HIS TEAM SPENT FIVE WEARY MONTHS

TRACKING HIM DOWN.

WE FOUND HIM IN A SUBURB OF CINCINNATI CALLED NORWOOD.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STANDS OUT MOST IN MY MIND IS,

I SHOWED HIM A PICTURE OF THE HAT AT THE CRIME SCENE.

AND HE SAID, "OH, YEAH, THAT'S MY HAT.

AND THE LAST TIME I SAW IT, MY BROTHER WAS OVER AT THE HOUSE."

WHAT DID YOU DO WITH HIM AFTER THAT CONVERSATION.

HE WAS UNDER ARREST AT THAT POINT.

FOR THE FIRST-DEGREE MURDER OF DONNA DECKER?

YES.

WHAT ABOUT CHUCK PANOYAN?

I HAD BEEN WAITING SINCE NOVEMBER 5 OF 1988

TO PICK UP PANOYAN.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS AS GOOD A TIME AS ANY.

SO THE ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE, AND HE WAS ARRESTED.

A YEAR AND A HALF AFTER DONNA DECKER'S MURDER,

BOTH MEN WERE FINALLY BEHIND BARS --

TOGETHER AT THE COUNTY JAIL, AWAITING TRIAL.

WE HAD A STRONGER CASE,

AT THE TIME, AGAINST CHARLES PANOYAN

THAN WE DID DANA WILLIAMSON.

I SAID, "KELLY... WE NEED MORE EVIDENCE."

WHILE DETECTIVE WOODROOF WAS TRYING TO DIG UP

MORE EVIDENCE AGAINST WILLIAMSON,

A NEW WITNESS CAME FORWARD WITH INSIDE INFORMATION.

WE GOT A CALL AT THE HOMICIDE TRIAL UNIT

THAT AN INMATE WANTED TO SPEAK WITH US

BY THE NAME OF PATRICK O'BRIEN.

SO WE BROUGHT HIM OVER.

DANA WILLIAMSON HAD BEEN TALKING TO HIM.

USING A JAILHOUSE INFORMANT IS ALWAYS A TOUGH CALL.

SOMETIMES, THEY GIVE YOU USEFUL INFORMATION.

OTHER TIMES, THEY JUST TELL YOU

WHAT THEY THINK YOU WANT TO HEAR.

BUT IF THE PROSECUTOR CAN CORROBORATE

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING,

IT MAY BE WORTH THE RISK.

HIS STORY NOT ONLY RANG TRUE,

HIS ACCOUNT OF WHAT DANA SAID TO HIM WAS SO SMACK-ON,

IT HAD TO BE COMING ONLY FROM THE KILLER HIMSELF.

BUT THE MOST VALUABLE NUGGET OF INFORMATION CAME

WHEN O'BRIEN DESCRIBED THE JAILHOUSE RELATIONSHIP

BETWEEN THE SUPPOSED PARTNERS IN CRIME.

INSTEAD OF BEING THICK AS THIEVES,

PANOYAN WAS PETRIFIED OF WILLIAMSON.

"WHY DID YOU SAY THAT?"

"BECAUSE EVERY TIME THEY'RE IN THE SAME ROOM TOGETHER,

PANOYAN RUNS AWAY FROM HIM.

HE'S TERRIFIED OF DANA."

CAVANAGH BEGAN TO WONDER

IF MAYBE PANOYAN WASN'T THE MASTERMIND

THEY'D MADE HIM OUT TO BE.

AND IF HE WASN'T,

WHY WOULD A STONE-COLD KILLER

LET HIM WALK AWAY WITHOUT A SCRATCH?

AND IT WAS LIKE, "OH, WOW. NOW WE'RE GETTING INSIGHT

INTO WHAT MAY BE THE REST OF THE STORY."

OCTOBER 1991 --

CHUCK PANOYAN HAD BEEN BEHIND BARS

FOR A YEAR AND A HALF FOR DONNA DECKER'S MURDER.

A JAILHOUSE INFORMANT TURNED THE INVESTIGATION UPSIDE DOWN

WITH EVIDENCE THAT PANOYAN MIGHT NOT BE GUILTY.

BUT IF HE WAS A VICTIM, TOO, WHY WOULD THE GUNMAN,

WHO HAD BRUTALLY ATTACKED THE DECKERS,

JUST LET HIM GO?

PANOYAN HAD NEVER BEEN ABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

PROSECUTOR BRIAN CAVANAGH WAS DETERMINED TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH.

SO, WHERE ARE WE GOING NOW?

WE'RE HEADING TO, WHAT USED TO BE,

THE OFFICES OF DAVE VINIKOOR.

DAVID VINIKOOR AND PAUL STARK WERE CHUCK PANOYAN'S ATTORNEYS.

AND IT TURNED OUT THEY WERE AS BAFFLED

BY PANOYAN'S HOLLOW ACCOUNT AS CAVANAGH WAS.

HE SAID, "I HAVE A CRAZY IDEA.

YOU HEARD O'BRIEN -- YOU KNOW HOW SCARED

PANOYAN IS OF WILLIAMSON.

IF WE COULD GET HIM OUT OF THE JAIL,

MAYBE HE'LL TELL US WHAT REALLY HAPPENED."

I SAID, "WELL, WHAT KIND OF BOND CAN HE MAKE?"

AS PAUL TOLD ME, "I DON'T THINK HE CAN MAKE A BOND."

SO I SAID, "WELL, WHY DON'T WE R.O.R HIM?"

R.O.R. MEANS RELEASING A SUSPECT

ON HIS OWN RECOGNIZANCE.

IT IS ONE OF THE RISKIEST MOVES A PROSECUTOR CAN MAKE.

THE DEFENDANT COULD FLEE,

OR WORSE YET, HURT SOMEBODY ELSE.

AND I'M THINKING, "BOY, WHEN THIS COMES OUT, HOLY COW.

I'M GONNA BE ASSIGNED TO WORK ON THE PLANET NEPTUNE

OR ASKED TO TURN IN MY BADGE

FOR DOING SOMETHING SO CRAZY."

SO, BRIAN, YOUR FIRST-DEGREE MURDER DEFENDANT IS OUT,

WALKING THE STREETS OF FLORIDA, THANKS TO YOU.

THAT'S RIGHT.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU WERE TAKING A LOT OF RISK THERE.

WHAT WAS YOUR PLAN?

TO LEARN THE TRUTH.

IT WAS EITHER PAUL OR DAVE THAT CALLED ME AND SAID,

"HE FINALLY BROKE

AND TOLD US WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.

YOU'RE GONNA BE ASTONISHED WITH WHAT YOU HEAR."

CAVANAGH MADE THE TRIP

TO THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS' OFFICE

TO MEET DIRECTLY

WITH HIS FIRST-DEGREE MURDER DEFENDANT.

HERE WE ARE...

THIS IS THE PARKING LOT OF DAVE VINIKOOR'S OLD OFFICER,

WHERE I MET CHARLES PANOYAN FOR THE FIRST TIME.

ALMOST 30 YEARS LATER, I'M GETTING THE CHANCE TO HEAR

PANOYAN'S SIDE OF THE STORY FOR MYSELF.

CHUCK, WHAT'S THE TRUE STORY?

UM, WELL...

IT WAS ON A FRIDAY, I GUESS.

AND I TOLD HIM I WAS COMING DOWN,

BRINGING THEM DEER MEAT.

BOB DECKER, A CLOSE FRIEND OF YOURS.

OH, YEAH.

I LOVE HIM LIKE A BROTHER.

I LOVED THE FAMILY.

I WISH NONE OF THIS CRAP WOULD HAVE EVER HAPPENED.

SO, I FORGOT THE DEER MEAT.

I SAID, "I GOTTA GO GET IT."

I WENT OUTSIDE, GOT THE DEER MEAT,

AND THERE WAS DANA WITH IS BROTHER, RODNEY.

AND I LOOKED AT HIM, AND I SAID,

"WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING HERE?"

AND THEY SAID THEY WERE HERE TO RIP OFF BOB.

IT TURNS OUT DANA WILLIAMSON DID

HAVE AN ACCOMPLICE.

BUT INSTEAD OF PANOYAN,

IT WAS HIS BROTHER RODNEY.

THEY BOTH PULLED GUNS ON ME, BOTH OF THEM.

THE WILLIAMSON BROTHERS CONVINCED PANOYAN

THAT FOUR OR FIVE GUYS WERE INVOLVED,

AND SEVERAL OF THEM WERE ALREADY WATCHING HIS HOUSE.

I SAID, "DON'T HURT MY FAMILY."

I SAID, "I'LL DO WHATEVER YOU SAY."

SO I WENT IN THE HOUSE.

HE FOLLOWED.

HE PUT ME IN THE CHAIR.

DONNA DECKER CAME IN.

DANA TOLD ME TO GO WITH HIS BROTHER.

RODNEY AND I WENT OUT, TOOK MY TRUCK.

HE SAYS, "NEXT THING YOU KNOW, I SAW DANA COMING RUNNING.

ONE THING I DID NOTICE, HE DIDN'T HAVE HIS HAT."

DANA SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT I'M CAPABLE OF DOING."

YOU'RE GONNA GO STRAIGHT HOME,

AND IF YOU DON'T,

WE'RE GONNA RAPE YOUR WIFE,

WE'RE GONNA SKIN HER ALIVE.

WE'RE GONNA DO THE SAME THING TO YOUR DAUGHTER.

SO YOU KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT AND YOU CONTINUE

TO VISIT OUR FATHER."

DANA FLAT TOLD ME THE ONLY REASON HE DIDN'T SHOOT ME

WAS ON ACCOUNT OF HIS DAD.

AND THEN HE TOLD ME TO COME TO HIS DAD'S HOUSE EVERY DAY

LIKE I'VE BEEN DOING, LIKE NOTHING EVER HAPPENED.

AND I DID.

THE VERY NEXT DAY...

I WENT TO DANA'S HOUSE,

AND I SAID, "WHY?"

I SAID, "WHY DID YOU SHOOT THE BABY?"

I SAID, "I DIDN'T WANT ANY WITNESSES."

I SAID, "YOU DIDN'T SHOOT ME IN THE HEAD.

I'M A WITNESS."

HE SAID, "IF I WOULD HAVE SHOT YOU.

MY DAD LOVES YOU."

HE SAID, "YOU'RE NOT GONNA SAY NOTHING."

PANOYAN HAD KEPT

DANA WILLIAMSON'S INVOLVEMENT A SECRET,

EVEN WHILE THEY WERE IN JAIL TOGETHER,

BECAUSE RODNEY WILLIAMSON WAS STILL ON THE OUTSIDE,

THREATENING HIS FAMILY.

HE SCARED ME.

I WAS SCARED.

WE KNOW FROM THAT NIGHT, THE POLICE HAD QUESTIONS.

YEAH.

AND WE KNOW PEOPLE WATCHING THIS TODAY

ARE GOING TO HAVE QUESTIONS.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY,

"HOW COULD HE NOT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED?"

IF IT WAS YOUR FAMILY, YOU'D KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT, TOO.

ANYBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD.

I WISHED IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ME THAT GOT KILLED

AND NOT DONNA.

I MEAN, THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO.

AS MUCH AS I LOVE BOB, MY FAMILY COMES FIRST, PERIOD.

WHEN YOU FINISHED THAT CONVERSATION

WITH CHUCK PANOYAN,

DID YOU BELIEVE HIM?

ABSOLUTELY.

BECAUSE IT FIT EVERYTHING I KNEW ABOUT THE CASE.

THIS WAS THE REST OF THE STORY.

THIS WAS THE MISSING LINK.

WHEN IT FINALLY CAME OUT THAT CHUCK PANOYAN WAS

A VICTIM INSTEAD OF A CONSPIRATOR,

THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM WERE DROPPED.

RODNEY WILLIAMSON WAS CHARGED

FOR HIS ROLE IN THE BRUTAL CRIME.

AND DANA WILLIAMSON AND RODNEY WILLIAMSON...

RIGHT. ARE THE TWO YOU TOOK TO TRAIL?

THAT'S RIGHT, BUT NOW WE HAVE AN EYEWITNESS --

CHARLES PANOYAN.

HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT CHUCK BEING LET GO?

I DIDN'T LIKE IT AT ALL.

I PERSONALLY FEEL HE SHOULD HAVE SPENT

MORE TIME IN JAIL,

BECAUSE I FELT HE MIGHT AS WELL HAVE PULLED THE TRIGGER.

CAVANAGH WAS CERTAIN

THAT PANOYAN WAS TELLING THE TRUTH,

BUT HE HAD A LONG WAY TO GO TO CONVINCE EVERYONE ELSE.

I HAD LIVED AND BREATHED THE HORROR AND WORRY

OF NOT BEING ABLE TO PROVE IT.

HOW CAN I CONVINCE THE REST OF THE WORLD

THAT WHAT I CAME TO BELIEVE WAS TRUE?

FIVE YEARS AFTER DONNA DECKER'S MURDER,

DANA WILLIAMSON,

THE MAN ACCUSED OF STABBING HER TO DEATH IN HER OWN HOME

AND ATTACKING HER FAMILY, WAS BROUGHT TO TRAIL.

AND HERE WE ARE -- COURTROOM 960.

WOW.

IT BRINGS BACK MEMORIES.

IT WAS IN THIS VERY COURTROOM

THAT YOU TRIED DANA WILLIAMSON

FOR THE MURDER OF DONNA DECKER.

IT CERTAINLY WAS.

IN FACT, I...

CAN STILL SEE HIM SITTING THERE.

IMMOVABLE.

FLAT AFFECT.

NOT AN EMOTION NOR AN APPARENT CARE.

YEAH.

WILLIAMSON'S LAWYERS DRESSED AND GROOMED HIM

TO PROJECT AN AIR OF INNOCENCE.

HE WAS PRACTICALLY UNRECOGNIZABLE.

REALLY EVERYONE AFFECTED... BY DONNA DECKER'S MURDER

SAT IN HERE AT SOME POINT,

WHETHER IT WAS ON THE WITNESS STAND

OR AT THE DEFENSE TABLE OR OUT IN THE WELL,

WATCHING THE TRIAL.

AND ONE KEY PARTICIPANT...

...LITERALLY TESTIFIED FROM THE GRAVE,

BECAUSE THERE WAS THAT STRAW COWBOY HAT

THAT WAS DANA WILLIAMSON'S HAT.

AND SHE SOMEHOW, SOME WAY,

MADE SURE THAT WAS KNOCKED OFF.

SHE LEFT A MESSAGE

THAT RESONATED IN THIS COURTROOM.

THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE COURTROOM

DURING A MURDER TRIAL IS SO EMOTIONALLY CHARGED.

THE VICTIM'S FAMILY IS LOOKING TO YOU, THE PROSECUTOR,

TO BE THEIR ADVOCATE,

HOPING TO GET JUSTICE FOR THEIR LOVED ONES.

FAMILIES REACT VERY DIFFERENTLY TO THE TRIALS.

SOME WANT TO BE THERE FOR EVERY MOMENT,

SOME PICK AND CHOOSE.

BUT YOU WERE THERE, EVEN ON THE MOST TOUGH DAYS.

I DON'T EVER REMEMBER MISSING A MINUTE.

AND I WANT TO SEE JUSTICE, NO MATTER WHAT,

FOR DONNA.

WHY WAS THAT IMPORTANT TO YOU?

UH...

SHE DIDN'T REALLY DESERVE THAT.

AND I THINK THAT WAS -- THAT'S A BIG THING.

THAT THEY CAUGHT HIM, AT LEAST.

CAVANAGH WAS DEAD-SET

ON LANDING A CONVICTION FOR THE DECKERS.

ONE OF THE MOST CRUCIAL MOMENTS IN THE TRIAL CAME

WHEN CHUCK PANOYAN TOOK THE STAND AS AN EYEWITNESS.

I WAS HOPING AND TRUSTING AND PRAYING

THAT THE JURORS WOULD REALIZE

THE DIFFICULTY HE HAD IN COMING FORWARD

AND TESTIFYING AGAINST A PSYCHOPATH.

AFTER SPENDING A YEAR AND A HALF BEHIND BARS,

CONSTANTLY WORRYING THAT HIS FAMILY

WOULD BE TORTURED AND KILLED,

CHUCK PANOYAN FINALLY MADE HIS STAND

AGAINST DANA WILLIAMSON.

BUT PERHAPS THE MOST PIVOTAL MOMENT OF THE TRAIL

CAME DURING BOB'S TESTIMONY.

I SAID, "I HAVE A MOTION TO MAKE.

STATE REQUESTS, YOUR HONOR,

THAT YOU ORDER THE DEFENDANT, DANA WILLIAMSON,

TO RECITE CERTAIN WORDS, SUCH AS...

'CUTE. REAL CUTE' --

WORDS THAT HE SAID TO BOB DECKER --

FOR THE WITNESS TO DISCERN WHETHER OR NOT

HE RECOGNIZES HIS VOICE."

AND...

DANA WILLIAMSON SAID, "I TAKE THE FIFTH."

AND YOU COULD HEAR A PIN DROP IN THE COURTROOM.

EVERYONE IN THE COURTROOM KNEW HE DID IT.

FOR FIVE YEARS, THIS INVESTIGATION HAD FOLLOWED

A PATH OF BIZARRE TWISTS AND TURNS.

AND NOW IT HAD COME DOWN TO ONE MOMENT --

THE MOMENT THAT THE JURY RETURNED

WITH THEIR VERDICT.

DANA WILLIAMSON...

CONVICTED,

FIRST-DEGREE MURDER,

WAS ULTIMATELY SENTENCED TO DEATH.

HE WAS...

BY A VOTE OF 11-1.

HAD YOU EVER HAD A DEATH SENTENCING BEFORE THAT?

THAT WAS MY FIRST ONE.

IT'S A VERY SOLEMN THING.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU

WHEN YOU HEARD THAT GUILTY VERDICT?

I WAS VERY HAPPY.

THEY FINALLY GOT HIM.

A YEAR LATER, BRIAN CAVANAGH WON A CONVICTION

AGAINST DANA'S BROTHER RODNEY.

HE WAS GIVEN A LIFE SENTENCE.

NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHAT DROVE THE WILLIAMSONS

TO COMMIT SUCH A BRUTAL CRIME,

BUT JUSTICE WAS SERVED FOR ALL.

WHEN YOU DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE RIGHT REASONS,

FOR A GREATER GOOD,

THINGS HAVE A WAY OF WORKING OUT.

TELL ME YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT BRIAN CAVANAGH.

HE WAS HIGHLY DEVOTED FOR IT ALL.

EVERY MINUTE WAS LIKE, I WAS THE ONLY PERSON ALIVE.

KELLY DID THE FOOTWORK.

BRIAN DID THE PACKAGE.

THE END.

KELLY, WHAT STAYS WITH YOU ABOUT THIS CASE?

I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYBODY COULD HAVE BEEN AS PATIENT

AS THEY'D BEEN OVER THE YEARS.

THEY TRUSTED ME, THEY TRUSTED BRIAN.

I GUESS THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT STICK WITH ME.

THANKS TO WOODROOF AND CAVANAGH'S TENACITY,

AN INNOCENT MAN WON HIS FREEDOM,

A GUILTY MAN WAS CONVICTED,

AND THE DECKER FAMILY TRIED TO PICK UP THE PIECES

AND MOVE ON.

HELLO, CARL.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT YOU AS A LITTLE BOY,

AND HERE YOU ARE, A MAN.

HOW HAVE YOU BEEN PHYSICALLY IMPACTED

BY THE ATTACK THAT NIGHT?

IN MY RIGHT EAR, I'M COMPLETELY DEAF.

AND I CAN HEAR PERFECT IN MY LEFT EAR.

ACTUALLY, THEY SAY IT'S BETTER THAN PERFECT

THAN MOST PEOPLE CAN HEAR IN ONE EAR.

AND WHAT ABOUT THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT

OF KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW?

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, IT AFFECTED ME A LOT MORE.

AS I GOT OLDER, YOU KNOW, NOT SO MUCH.

I'VE ALWAYS TRIED NOT TO THINK ABOUT THE PAST,

AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT IF.

SO I ALWAYS TRY TO HAVE A POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON LIFE.

YOU ARE YOUR FATHER'S SON.

DO YOU THINK HIS MOTHER

WOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD OF HIM?

VERY.

VERY.

VERY.