Original subtitles

Dead. Authorities say this is near where becki's body was

near where becki's body was found. They say she was near

found. They say she was near her car, but her injuries were

her car, but her injuries were not consistent with that of a

not consistent with that of a car crash.

Car crash. >> the vehicle was still

>> the vehicle was still running. The young lady was

running. The young lady was laying in the roadway with a

laying in the roadway with a gunshot wound to her head.

Gunshot wound to her head. >> when justin drank, he became

>> when justin drank, he became a totally different person. He

a totally different person. He became angry.

Became angry. >> every day, I've gone over

>> every day, I've gone over what happened, if I could do

what happened, if I could do anything different.

Anything different. >> a lot of cases turn on just

>> a lot of cases turn on just luck. And that's what happened

luck. And that's what happened in this case.

In this case. >> adrenaline was coursing

>> adrenaline was coursing through my veins. How far

through my veins. How far behind was I from the killer?

Behind was I from the killer? >> five unique perspectives.

>> five unique perspectives. Five points of view. One

five points of view. One murder.

Murder. >> I'm becki dillard's husband.

>> I'm becki dillard's husband. >> I am becki's mother.

>> I am becki's mother. >> I was the first responding

>> I was the first responding trooper to the murder.

Trooper to the murder. >> I'm a criminal investigator.

>> I'm a criminal investigator. >> and I was the prosecuting

>> and I was the prosecuting attorney.

Attorney. >> my name's justin dillard.

>> my name's justin dillard. I'm becki dillard's husband.

I'm becki dillard's husband. Becki was like a little

becki was like a little bumblebee. She was adhd,

bumblebee. She was adhd, running around, touching

running around, touching everybody, making everybody's

everybody, making everybody's life happy. Like a little fairy,

life happy. Like a little fairy, just as sweet as she could be.

Just as sweet as she could be. I loved that she could walk in

I loved that she could walk in a room, and it could be a bad

a room, and it could be a bad day in that room, and she'd

day in that room, and she'd just turn it all around. "I'm

just turn it all around. "I'm here. Here I am. Smile now.

Here. Here I am. Smile now. It's okay." we were doing

it's okay." we were doing pretty good at that

pretty good at that happily-ever-after fairy tale,

happily-ever-after fairy tale, kind of what we wanted. Here we

kind of what we wanted. Here we are married, down the road, and

are married, down the road, and kids. This is my best friend,

kids. This is my best friend, my wife, mother of my kids. We

my wife, mother of my kids. We were supposed to be together,

were supposed to be together, arguing, bickering over her

arguing, bickering over her cooking 20 years from now. My

cooking 20 years from now. My life literally changed -- all

life literally changed -- all -- it changed completely in one

-- it changed completely in one day. I have never felt the pain

day. I have never felt the pain that I felt. I wouldn't wish

that I felt. I wouldn't wish this on anybody. It was Friday

this on anybody. It was Friday the 13th. I remember thinking,

the 13th. I remember thinking, "oh, lord, here we go. What's

"oh, lord, here we go. What's gonna happen today? " becki got

gonna happen today? " becki got home and changed and was

home and changed and was getting ready to go to her

getting ready to go to her sister's party. It was sarah's

sister's party. It was sarah's 21st birthday party. She was

21st birthday party. She was already late. She had to get

already late. She had to get gas, she had to go back to

gas, she had to go back to walmart. She was gonna pick

walmart. She was gonna pick something up for sarah. I

something up for sarah. I really didn't want to go. I

really didn't want to go. I changed my mind two or three

changed my mind two or three times and finally, I decided,

times and finally, I decided, "you know what? I'll just stay

"you know what? I'll just stay home." well, at 9:30 that night,

home." well, at 9:30 that night, her brother had called and said,

her brother had called and said, "where's becki? " she should be

"where's becki? " she should be there pretty soon. She left at

there pretty soon. She left at 9:00. 10:00 came around, and

9:00. 10:00 came around, and she still wasn't there. Talked

she still wasn't there. Talked to sarah that time, and sarah

to sarah that time, and sarah said, "well, she should be here

said, "well, she should be here by now." and I said, "well,

by now." and I said, "well, yeah, she should be there." and

yeah, she should be there." and she still wasn't. By the third

she still wasn't. By the third phone call, I was worried. I

phone call, I was worried. I thought, "okay, something ain't

thought, "okay, something ain't right." at that point, I knew

right." at that point, I knew it was not good. So then, okay,

it was not good. So then, okay, we need to go find out where

we need to go find out where she's at. So I called my friend

she's at. So I called my friend lindsey that was also her

lindsey that was also her friend, as well. I said,

friend, as well. I said, "lindsey, come up here and get

"lindsey, come up here and get me." so lindsey says, "I'm on

me." so lindsey says, "I'm on my way." and she comes and gets

my way." and she comes and gets me, and we try to track her

me, and we try to track her down, and we went where she was

down, and we went where she was supposed to be going. We

supposed to be going. We actually went to the gas

actually went to the gas station she was going to. We

station she was going to. We went the way she was going, and

went the way she was going, and she wasn't on the side of road.

She wasn't on the side of road. Nobody knows where she's at.

Nobody knows where she's at. And that's not like her. We

and that's not like her. We always knew where everybody

always knew where everybody else was. We get to the party

else was. We get to the party and there's some police that

and there's some police that want to talk to me. They tell

want to talk to me. They tell me that I need to come with

me that I need to come with them. I didn't think it had

them. I didn't think it had anything to do with becki. My

anything to do with becki. My world was perfect. And she's

world was perfect. And she's not supposed to be hurt. She's

not supposed to be hurt. She's not supposed to be harmed. That

not supposed to be harmed. That never crossed my mind. When

never crossed my mind. When becki and I met, we hit it off

becki and I met, we hit it off right off, right off the bat.

Right off, right off the bat. We became really close, really

we became really close, really good friends. Becki was the new

good friends. Becki was the new girl. And, you know, when

girl. And, you know, when somebody is new, everybody

somebody is new, everybody wants to find out about them,

wants to find out about them, what they're doing, who they

what they're doing, who they are, what's going on. And I had

are, what's going on. And I had a small, little crush on her.

A small, little crush on her. Our interests were very

our interests were very similar. She was into fashion

similar. She was into fashion and clothes and hair and

and clothes and hair and appearance. And I know that

appearance. And I know that sounds vain, but back then, we

sounds vain, but back then, we were still in high school. We'd

were still in high school. We'd call each other and be like,

call each other and be like, "well, what are you gonna wear?

"well, what are you gonna wear? I'm gonna wear this." we were

I'm gonna wear this." we were always inseparable, but we were,

always inseparable, but we were, for real, together. We

for real, together. We graduated high school in may.

Graduated high school in may. And by mid-June, she moved in

and by mid-June, she moved in with me and my mom. I got to

with me and my mom. I got to the police station. I sat there,

the police station. I sat there, and it seemed like I sat there

and it seemed like I sat there forever and ever and ever

forever and ever and ever before anybody even came in.

Before anybody even came in. And but then this man came in.

And but then this man came in. They wouldn't tell me anything.

They wouldn't tell me anything. They wanted me to answer all

they wanted me to answer all these questions, but they would

these questions, but they would not answer any of mine. And

not answer any of mine. And finally, this older gentleman

finally, this older gentleman said, "well, we found becki

said, "well, we found becki without a pulse." I'll never

without a pulse." I'll never forget the pain, the sickness.

Forget the pain, the sickness. That is not something you can

that is not something you can describe, when someone tells

describe, when someone tells you your whole world is not

you your whole world is not alive, is gone, is dead, is

alive, is gone, is dead, is over -- that blunt. You don't

over -- that blunt. You don't just do that to somebody. They

just do that to somebody. They questioned me for, it seemed

questioned me for, it seemed like hours. They asked me

like hours. They asked me questions like, "do you have

questions like, "do you have weapons? Do you have guns? Is

weapons? Do you have guns? Is there anybody that would harm

there anybody that would harm her? Would you harm her? " I

her? Would you harm her? " I watch enough tv to know that

watch enough tv to know that they come after the husband or

they come after the husband or the spouse in these situations.

The spouse in these situations. I thought, "well, surely

I thought, "well, surely they're gonna come after me."

they're gonna come after me."

>> I'm clinton howell. I was the first responding trooper to

the first responding trooper to the murder of becki dillard. I

the murder of becki dillard. I was north of west plains on 63

was north of west plains on 63 highway working some traffic

highway working some traffic that night. And troop called me

that night. And troop called me and informed me of a motor

and informed me of a motor vehicle crash with injuries on

vehicle crash with injuries on ff highway, in the southern

ff highway, in the southern part of howell county. While I

part of howell county. While I was en route, then I was

was en route, then I was advised that there may be a

advised that there may be a fatality involved. I come

fatality involved. I come around the corner, and there

around the corner, and there was a vehicle sitting on the

was a vehicle sitting on the left-hand side of the road in

left-hand side of the road in the grass, still running. And I

the grass, still running. And I could see a young lady laying

could see a young lady laying near the center line, all

near the center line, all crumpled up, and there was a

crumpled up, and there was a few people standing around. I

few people standing around. I jumped out of my car real quick

jumped out of my car real quick and went right to her right off

and went right to her right off the bat. I noticed blood on her

the bat. I noticed blood on her scalp. I assessed her real

scalp. I assessed her real quick, and she was already

quick, and she was already gone. There was nothing I could

gone. There was nothing I could do for her at that point. This

do for her at that point. This young lady was still very warm.

Young lady was still very warm. It wasn't like she'd been

it wasn't like she'd been laying there very long. It was

laying there very long. It was an odd scenario because the

an odd scenario because the vehicle didn't have any damage

vehicle didn't have any damage on it when I rolled up. And it

on it when I rolled up. And it was upright, sitting off in the

was upright, sitting off in the grass like it had been pulled

grass like it had been pulled off there. So my gut instinct

off there. So my gut instinct was already going wild. Started

was already going wild. Started looking around, located a

looking around, located a couple shell casings in the

couple shell casings in the road near her body. They shined

road near her body. They shined in my patrol car headlights.

In my patrol car headlights. Adrenaline was coursing through

adrenaline was coursing through my veins. Is there somebody out

my veins. Is there somebody out just 20 feet off the road in

just 20 feet off the road in the brush? Because there's no

the brush? Because there's no lighting out there, and the

lighting out there, and the only way the scene's lit up is

only way the scene's lit up is with my patrol car headlights.

With my patrol car headlights. I knew that I needed some help

I knew that I needed some help real quick. I immediately keyed

real quick. I immediately keyed up and told troop to get ddcc

up and told troop to get ddcc investigators en route. As I'm

investigators en route. As I'm waiting for my investigators

waiting for my investigators and backup to show up, I'm

and backup to show up, I'm telling everybody to stay put

telling everybody to stay put and not move because they're

and not move because they're actively part of a crime scene.

Actively part of a crime scene. One of them could be the

one of them could be the shooter. So I visited with each

shooter. So I visited with each one of them individually to try

one of them individually to try to assess them and their story,

to assess them and their story, why they were there. There was

why they were there. There was no flags from anybody I talked

no flags from anybody I talked to. I moved over to her vehicle,

to. I moved over to her vehicle, making sure not to touch it,

making sure not to touch it, looked in it through the glass.

Looked in it through the glass. I could shine my flashlight in

I could shine my flashlight in there. I could see that the

there. I could see that the heater was on and it was

heater was on and it was sitting there idling. Her purse

sitting there idling. Her purse was still there in the vehicle.

Was still there in the vehicle. It didn't appear to be

it didn't appear to be disturbed. It was, like, in the

disturbed. It was, like, in the same spot where she had set it,

same spot where she had set it, over in the passenger side.

Over in the passenger side. When people break in and steal

when people break in and steal vehicles, of course, they

vehicles, of course, they usually dump them or scatter

usually dump them or scatter stuff. Robbery was not a motive

stuff. Robbery was not a motive with this victim. When entry

with this victim. When entry was made into the vehicle, it

was made into the vehicle, it was made by warren wiedemann,

was made by warren wiedemann, our ddcc investigator. He

our ddcc investigator. He looked in her purse, of course,

looked in her purse, of course, so there was a driver's license

so there was a driver's license and it was easy to make

and it was easy to make positive identification right

positive identification right there. Her name was becki

there. Her name was becki dillard, from the west plains

dillard, from the west plains area. The early assumption is

area. The early assumption is that she was traveling to an

that she was traveling to an undisclosed location -- we

undisclosed location -- we didn't know -- and for some

didn't know -- and for some reason, she got flagged down,

reason, she got flagged down, and she exited her vehicle to

and she exited her vehicle to get out and talk to them, and

get out and talk to them, and they shot her right there in

they shot her right there in the middle of the road. She

the middle of the road. She would not stop in the middle of

would not stop in the middle of the night for a stranger in the

the night for a stranger in the middle of nowhere on this old

middle of nowhere on this old backroad. It was blatantly

backroad. It was blatantly obvious it was somebody that

obvious it was somebody that she knew and that she felt

she knew and that she felt comfortable with. Everything

comfortable with. Everything was intact. None of her

was intact. None of her clothing was ripped. There was

clothing was ripped. There was no signs of no struggle. So all

no signs of no struggle. So all the obvious indicators are it

the obvious indicators are it was a hit. And it was our job

was a hit. And it was our job to find out why and get that

to find out why and get that person. If there's a fatality

person. If there's a fatality involved, then I have to notify

involved, then I have to notify next of kin and contact family.

Next of kin and contact family. And we never do that by the

and we never do that by the phone. We always do it in

phone. We always do it in person. Throughout our

person. Throughout our conversations with some of our

conversations with some of our local contacts and people, we

local contacts and people, we were able to determine that

were able to determine that becki had a husband and his

becki had a husband and his name was justin dillard. Of

name was justin dillard. Of course, we don't rule out

course, we don't rule out anybody at that early stage.

Anybody at that early stage. Everybody is a suspect at that

everybody is a suspect at that point, and we needed to

point, and we needed to interview him. We developed

interview him. We developed information that becki's

information that becki's husband was at a party on a

husband was at a party on a county road west of west

county road west of west plains. So me and a deputy

plains. So me and a deputy rolled onto that location. We

rolled onto that location. We tell him that we have, you know,

tell him that we have, you know, some bad news for him. He's

some bad news for him. He's distraught. Very, very, very

distraught. Very, very, very dramatic. Some initial

dramatic. Some initial observations that made some

observations that made some flags go off, from just an

flags go off, from just an investigation standpoint --

investigation standpoint -- he's a young male married to a

he's a young male married to a beautiful young woman with two

beautiful young woman with two beautiful kids, and he's

beautiful kids, and he's wearing pink cowboy boots, a

wearing pink cowboy boots, a pink shirt, and has makeup on.

Pink shirt, and has makeup on. And that may not be a flag in a

and that may not be a flag in a metro area, but in rural howell

metro area, but in rural howell county, that's a huge flag. We

county, that's a huge flag. We had to figure out, was there,

had to figure out, was there, you know, extramarital affairs

you know, extramarital affairs going on? Was there domestic

going on? Was there domestic violence? We placed him in a

violence? We placed him in a patrol car, headed towards the

patrol car, headed towards the sheriff's office as quickly and

sheriff's office as quickly and safely as possible. At that

safely as possible. At that point, it was time for me to

point, it was time for me to step back out. When I left the

step back out. When I left the sheriff's office that night, he

sheriff's office that night, he was one of the suspects,

was one of the suspects, definitely, in my mind. I just

definitely, in my mind. I just couldn't shake it.

Couldn't shake it. >> I am debbie talbert, becki's

>> I am debbie talbert, becki's mother. Ar

>> I am debbie talbert, becki's mother. Around 2:00 that night,

mother. Around 2:00 that night, the phone rang. I got up and

the phone rang. I got up and answered it. And it was becki's

answered it. And it was becki's father, benny. He was crying,

father, benny. He was crying, which is unusual for benny, and

which is unusual for benny, and he said, "something has

he said, "something has happened to becki, and you need

happened to becki, and you need to come to the police station

to come to the police station right now." we got there to the

right now." we got there to the police station. Charlie, who

police station. Charlie, who was sarah's husband at the time,

was sarah's husband at the time, grabbed me and sat me down, and

grabbed me and sat me down, and told me that becki was gone.

Told me that becki was gone. Before I even had a chance to

before I even had a chance to react at that particular time,

react at that particular time, justin comes running in the

justin comes running in the room and grabs me by the head

room and grabs me by the head and said, "oh, my god, oh, my

and said, "oh, my god, oh, my god, becki's dead, " and

god, becki's dead, " and started crying. I immediately,

started crying. I immediately, instead of crying, got angry

instead of crying, got angry because I knew that he had done

because I knew that he had done something. I wasn't surprised

something. I wasn't surprised when becki told me that she was

when becki told me that she was seeing justin. I thought he was

seeing justin. I thought he was a little feminine then, but he

a little feminine then, but he seemed to be a really nice boy,

seemed to be a really nice boy, and they hit it off pretty

and they hit it off pretty good. Justin would listen to

good. Justin would listen to becki, and he knew exactly what

becki, and he knew exactly what to say to her. He was a more

to say to her. He was a more softer person, more gentle.

Softer person, more gentle. When becki found out she was

when becki found out she was pregnant, she had a good

pregnant, she had a good support system on both sides.

Support system on both sides. Both becki and justin wanted to

both becki and justin wanted to go to cosmetology school.

Go to cosmetology school. Justin's mom, debra, took care

justin's mom, debra, took care of cobey while they went to

of cobey while they went to school. And they were getting

school. And they were getting along really good living at

along really good living at debra's house. When they were

debra's house. When they were going to school, justin started

going to school, justin started to drink a little bit more. I

to drink a little bit more. I don't exactly know why. Maybe

don't exactly know why. Maybe he was more scared of actually

he was more scared of actually raising cobey and providing for

raising cobey and providing for cobey as a father. He was

cobey as a father. He was falling down on his duties as a

falling down on his duties as a provider for the family. And a

provider for the family. And a lot of times, he missed school

lot of times, he missed school because he over-drank the night

because he over-drank the night before. It was causing a rift

before. It was causing a rift in their relationship. She

in their relationship. She didn't want to live in that

didn't want to live in that house forever. She wanted her

house forever. She wanted her own house, just like every

own house, just like every person does. Becki was hoping

person does. Becki was hoping that once they had saved up

that once they had saved up enough money, they could get a

enough money, they could get a place of their own and they

place of their own and they could actually make a go of

could actually make a go of being a happy family. Well,

being a happy family. Well, after cobey was about 3 1/2

after cobey was about 3 1/2 years old, becki became

years old, becki became pregnant again. She had asked

pregnant again. She had asked justin to stop drinking because

justin to stop drinking because she wanted to have another

she wanted to have another child. So he did for a while,

child. So he did for a while, and then after she became

and then after she became pregnant again, he started

pregnant again, he started drinking again. When justin

drinking again. When justin drank, he became a totally

drank, he became a totally different person. He became

different person. He became angry at everything and

angry at everything and everyone. I begged her to

everyone. I begged her to please come and stay with us,

please come and stay with us, but she wouldn't do it. Becki

but she wouldn't do it. Becki did have some hope that they

did have some hope that they would be able to be together

would be able to be together and make a happy family. But in

and make a happy family. But in my heart, I didn't see that

my heart, I didn't see that happening. So she started

happening. So she started taking some of her check and

taking some of her check and hiding it so that she would

hiding it so that she would have some money, eventually, to

have some money, eventually, to get an apartment or a down

get an apartment or a down payment on a home. She was

payment on a home. She was trying to move out of the house

trying to move out of the house with justin and get out from

with justin and get out from underneath the chaos that was

underneath the chaos that was in the dillard home. Whenever

in the dillard home. Whenever someone is murdered, you

someone is murdered, you usually look to the spouse

usually look to the spouse first. On that particular night,

first. On that particular night, justin did show up at sarah's

justin did show up at sarah's party at a particular time, and

party at a particular time, and he was yelling and crying out,

he was yelling and crying out, "where's becki? Where's becki?

"where's becki? Where's becki? " and they didn't know what was

" and they didn't know what was going on. He was crying, "oh,

going on. He was crying, "oh, she's in a ditch somewhere,

she's in a ditch somewhere, dead." my whole family knew

dead." my whole family knew that justin was involved in

that justin was involved in some way. They just had to

some way. They just had to prove it. Whoever was in the

prove it. Whoever was in the truck following becki had

truck following becki had stopped her on the highway.

Stopped her on the highway. There was a vehicle that came

there was a vehicle that came from the opposite direction,

from the opposite direction, and they saw both vehicles

and they saw both vehicles stopped there.

Stopped there. >> there's two cars. A s.U.V.

>> there's two cars. A s.U.V. And, uh, I think a chevy

and, uh, I think a chevy pickup. It was parked on the

pickup. It was parked on the side of the road.

Side of the road. >> it was a big break in the

>> it was a big break in the case for the detectives,

case for the detectives, because had not someone

because had not someone remembered seeing that truck on

remembered seeing that truck on the road, they probably never

the road, they probably never would have been pointed in the

would have been pointed in the right direction.

Right direction. >> my name is warren wiedemann

>> my name is warren wiedemann with the missouri state highway

with the missouri state highway patrol. I'm a criminal

patrol. I'm a criminal investigator, and I assisted in

investigator, and I assisted in the investigation in the

the investigation in the homicide of becki dillard. When

homicide of becki dillard. When I advised justin of his miranda

I advised justin of his miranda rights, he became extremely

rights, he became extremely emotional, to the point of

emotional, to the point of almost being hysterical. It was

almost being hysterical. It was obvious that he was under the

obvious that he was under the influence of something. We

influence of something. We weren't really getting a whole

weren't really getting a whole lot out of him. He was leaning

lot out of him. He was leaning forward and just rocking side

forward and just rocking side to side and crying. He just

to side and crying. He just didn't seem that concerned to

didn't seem that concerned to help us. He was more worried

help us. He was more worried about his own emotions than he

about his own emotions than he was trying to figure out what

was trying to figure out what happened to his wife. We didn't

happened to his wife. We didn't have enough to take him into

have enough to take him into custody, but we still felt it

custody, but we still felt it was very possible that he was

was very possible that he was involved in this death.

Involved in this death. Lieutenant gary lambe and I

lieutenant gary lambe and I began to interview numerous

began to interview numerous people that had been at the

people that had been at the party. Dean ellis'name came up

party. Dean ellis'name came up quite a bit. We found out the

quite a bit. We found out the dean ellis was actually

dean ellis was actually justin's father, who had had

justin's father, who had had nothing to do with justin for

nothing to do with justin for about 15 years. And it was my

about 15 years. And it was my understanding that dean ellis

understanding that dean ellis was having some heart problems

was having some heart problems and had decided he wanted to

and had decided he wanted to basically reconnect with his

basically reconnect with his family and get to know his son.

Family and get to know his son. So dean ellis, just a short

so dean ellis, just a short time before this, had actually

time before this, had actually moved back into debra dillard's

moved back into debra dillard's residence with debra dillard

residence with debra dillard and her current boyfriend, and

and her current boyfriend, and becki dillard and her husband,

becki dillard and her husband, justin. So it was unusual

justin. So it was unusual having your father living with

having your father living with your mother and your mother's

your mother and your mother's boyfriend, all in the same

boyfriend, all in the same residence. We'd gone back to

residence. We'd gone back to the residence to photograph

the residence to photograph vehicles, to check for any

vehicles, to check for any firearms and other weapons at

firearms and other weapons at the residence. And then when

the residence. And then when dean was there, as he came out,

dean was there, as he came out, you know, I asked if he'd be

you know, I asked if he'd be willing to talk to me. He was

willing to talk to me. He was an older man, did not seem very

an older man, did not seem very healthy, did not get around

healthy, did not get around real well. It just did not

real well. It just did not appear that he was involved. He

appear that he was involved. He didn't have the ability to

didn't have the ability to leave the residence. He was

leave the residence. He was pretty open with discussing,

pretty open with discussing, you know, the coming and goings

you know, the coming and goings at the house, of becki getting

at the house, of becki getting home from work, of debra

home from work, of debra dillard going to run errands,

dillard going to run errands, about what time people got

about what time people got home. It did kind of stand out

home. It did kind of stand out to me when he told me that

to me when he told me that billy eastep had been sleeping

billy eastep had been sleeping all evening through all of

all evening through all of this. Billy eastep's name had

this. Billy eastep's name had come up during the

come up during the investigation. That was deborah

investigation. That was deborah dillard's boyfriend and lived

dillard's boyfriend and lived with her. I specifically asked

with her. I specifically asked him, "how do you know that he

him, "how do you know that he was sleeping? " and that's when

was sleeping? " and that's when he pointed out that that's what

he pointed out that that's what debra dillard had told him to

debra dillard had told him to tell us. Now, it seemed unusual

tell us. Now, it seemed unusual that debra dillard is providing

that debra dillard is providing alibis for billy eastep. That

alibis for billy eastep. That was definitely a red flag. Our

was definitely a red flag. Our initial interview with billy,

initial interview with billy, basically, we were just trying

basically, we were just trying to kind of go through the

to kind of go through the timeline of the previous day.

Timeline of the previous day. It seemed like he was trying to

it seemed like he was trying to distance himself from

distance himself from everything and just say he was

everything and just say he was asleep and knew nothing. I felt

asleep and knew nothing. I felt like he was holding information

like he was holding information back. Between debra dillard,

back. Between debra dillard, justin dillard, and billy

justin dillard, and billy eastep, we're really narrowing

eastep, we're really narrowing it down, but we're not sure if

it down, but we're not sure if it's all of them, one of them.

It's all of them, one of them. So we're still looking for more

so we're still looking for more physical evidence. About five

physical evidence. About five days later, a witness comes

days later, a witness comes forward. And that was a big

forward. And that was a big turning point in this

turning point in this investigation. And that was

investigation. And that was tyler bean. Tyler bean was

tyler bean. Tyler bean was driving on highway ff that

driving on highway ff that night with his girlfriend.

Night with his girlfriend. There was a vehicle sitting

there was a vehicle sitting facing northbound with the

facing northbound with the headlights on. And when he went

headlights on. And when he went by, tyler described that as

by, tyler described that as this black ford explorer. And

this black ford explorer. And he said behind it was a

he said behind it was a chevrolet pickup.

Chevrolet pickup. >> um, can you describe that

>> um, can you describe that truck for me again?

Truck for me again? >> um, I know it was a

>> um, I know it was a dark-colored chevy pickup. It

dark-colored chevy pickup. It had a light-colored mismatched

had a light-colored mismatched body part on the driver's side

body part on the driver's side of it. Um, it was probably late

of it. Um, it was probably late '90s, early 2000s model.

'90s, early 2000s model. >> okay, uh, when you say

>> okay, uh, when you say light-colored, what color would

light-colored, what color would you say the body part was?

You say the body part was? >> I'd say more like white.

>> I'd say more like white. >> that was an absolutely huge

>> that was an absolutely huge moment. Not only that somebody

moment. Not only that somebody had drove by and saw this, but

had drove by and saw this, but somebody who knew vehicles well

somebody who knew vehicles well and could not only just say

and could not only just say that he saw two vehicles -- he

that he saw two vehicles -- he described them and was able to

described them and was able to pick those vehicles out. He

pick those vehicles out. He actually looked at photo

actually looked at photo lineups of vehicles and picked

lineups of vehicles and picked out the vehicle that becki

out the vehicle that becki dillard was driving and billy

dillard was driving and billy eastep's truck. We absolutely

eastep's truck. We absolutely wanted to bring back billy for

wanted to bring back billy for an interview and basically

an interview and basically either confirm through a

either confirm through a polygraph that he was the one

polygraph that he was the one that did this or to help clear

that did this or to help clear him. The questions would be

him. The questions would be very direct of whether he

very direct of whether he caused the death of becki

caused the death of becki dillard or whether he knew for

dillard or whether he knew for sure who did cause that death.

Sure who did cause that death. Billy eastep showed deception

billy eastep showed deception was indicated during that

was indicated during that examination. But in the

examination. But in the post-test interview

post-test interview interrogation, he did not admit

interrogation, he did not admit to having shot becki or even

to having shot becki or even being present when she was

being present when she was shot. He stuck to his story and

shot. He stuck to his story and continued to deny it until

continued to deny it until eventually he wanted to leave,

eventually he wanted to leave, and so he was allowed to leave.

And so he was allowed to leave. We didn't have enough at that

we didn't have enough at that point to charge him. His

point to charge him. His girlfriend, debra dillard, is

girlfriend, debra dillard, is requested, and she voluntarily

requested, and she voluntarily comes to the highway patrol

comes to the highway patrol headquarters. She is driven

headquarters. She is driven there by billy eastep in his

there by billy eastep in his vehicle with the white door.

Vehicle with the white door. Debra dillard comes in for her

debra dillard comes in for her polygraph. And she also fails.

Polygraph. And she also fails. After somebody fails a

after somebody fails a polygraph examination, in the

polygraph examination, in the post-test interrogation, it's a

post-test interrogation, it's a very direct accusation, because

very direct accusation, because now you know that they either

now you know that they either did it or they know for sure

did it or they know for sure who did it. And so you go after

who did it. And so you go after them. During the interrogation,

them. During the interrogation, she admits that she has lied to

she admits that she has lied to us and that she knows who

us and that she knows who killed becki dillard. And she's

killed becki dillard. And she's saying that billy eastep is the

saying that billy eastep is the one that did. She said he threw

one that did. She said he threw the gun into a lake and that

the gun into a lake and that the gun is gone. So, of course,

the gun is gone. So, of course, with billy eastep also being

with billy eastep also being present, officers immediately

present, officers immediately got a hold of him and began to

got a hold of him and began to talk to him, also. They're

talk to him, also. They're letting him know that she is

letting him know that she is telling the truth and she is

telling the truth and she is blaming him and that he's the

blaming him and that he's the one that did it. And at that

one that did it. And at that point, he admits that he was

point, he admits that he was there and he has lied to us.

There and he has lied to us.

>> my name is rizwan ahad, and I was the prosecuting attorney

I was the prosecuting attorney in this case. I'd received a

in this case. I'd received a phone call from law enforcement

phone call from law enforcement officers that they had asked

officers that they had asked billy eastep to come to the

billy eastep to come to the highway patrol to discuss his

highway patrol to discuss his involvement. When I arrived,

involvement. When I arrived, he'd been speaking to law

he'd been speaking to law enforcement for probably about

enforcement for probably about 30, 45 minutes. When billy

30, 45 minutes. When billy eastep was confronted with

eastep was confronted with debra dillard's statement, I

debra dillard's statement, I just remember the surprised

just remember the surprised look on his face, almost like

look on his face, almost like he knew he'd been caught. At

he knew he'd been caught. At the time that billy eastep was

the time that billy eastep was arrested, we knew that debra

arrested, we knew that debra had knowledge of the murder,

had knowledge of the murder, but we didn't know her

but we didn't know her involvement. When he made that

involvement. When he made that statement that he was present

statement that he was present at the shooting, in my mind,

at the shooting, in my mind, debra became a stronger person

debra became a stronger person of interest. During the

of interest. During the investigation, we'd determined

investigation, we'd determined that debra dillard and becki

that debra dillard and becki dillard had a tumultuous

dillard had a tumultuous relationship, that there was a

relationship, that there was a lot of animosity between the

lot of animosity between the two of them. There were a lot

two of them. There were a lot of disagreements -- mostly over

of disagreements -- mostly over justin, but there were other

justin, but there were other things. We learned that becki

things. We learned that becki may have been thinking about

may have been thinking about leaving justin. And debra was

leaving justin. And debra was very concerned that if becki

very concerned that if becki were to take the children, that

were to take the children, that she may not have any more

she may not have any more contact with them. Billy eastep,

contact with them. Billy eastep, in his explanation, he stated

in his explanation, he stated to us that debra dillard and

to us that debra dillard and becki had an argument, that

becki had an argument, that becki was wanting to go to the

becki was wanting to go to the party and that debra wanted her

party and that debra wanted her to stay so that justin could

to stay so that justin could get ready and go with them. But

get ready and go with them. But becki had left. According to

becki had left. According to billy eastep, he didn't know

billy eastep, he didn't know exactly what was going on.

Exactly what was going on. Debra told him to get into the

debra told him to get into the vehicle, and they followed her.

Vehicle, and they followed her. They caught up to her, at which

they caught up to her, at which point, billy says, debra

point, billy says, debra dillard started flashing her

dillard started flashing her lights. Becki pulled over.

Lights. Becki pulled over. >> she got out, and she said,

>> she got out, and she said, "becki, come here. And becki

"becki, come here. And becki started walking over there.

Started walking over there. Stopped in front of the truck,

stopped in front of the truck, and she said, "justin wants you

and she said, "justin wants you to go back and go get him." and

to go back and go get him." and when she turned around, deb

when she turned around, deb went, "pow."

went, "pow." >> at that point, becki went

>> at that point, becki went down. And billy saw debra walk

down. And billy saw debra walk up to becki and shoot her a

up to becki and shoot her a second time.

Second time. >> then she got back in the

>> then she got back in the truck, and I looked at her and

truck, and I looked at her and I said, "I -- I can't believe

I said, "I -- I can't believe you did it. I can't believe you

you did it. I can't believe you really did it."

really did it." >> it would have been enough to

>> it would have been enough to charge her, but it wouldn't

charge her, but it wouldn't have been enough, I believe, at

have been enough, I believe, at that point, to take her to

that point, to take her to trial and convict her. We found

trial and convict her. We found more evidence later on. What

more evidence later on. What happened was, the longer billy

happened was, the longer billy stayed in jail, the more debra

stayed in jail, the more debra was becoming a little more

was becoming a little more guilt-ridden. She started

guilt-ridden. She started discussing with individuals

discussing with individuals that billy was being railroaded,

that billy was being railroaded, that he had nothing to do with

that he had nothing to do with it. We received information

it. We received information that debra dillard had written

that debra dillard had written a several-page letter. Law

a several-page letter. Law enforcement officers then went

enforcement officers then went to debra dillard's house, where

to debra dillard's house, where they discovered she was laying

they discovered she was laying in bed with a gun next to her,

in bed with a gun next to her, and this letter that she had

and this letter that she had written. She's confessed in

written. She's confessed in that letter that she was the

that letter that she was the one who shot becki dillard that

one who shot becki dillard that night on that highway.

Night on that highway. According to the officers, she

according to the officers, she was very distraught. They

was very distraught. They stated to me she looked

stated to me she looked suicidal at that point. The

suicidal at that point. The sheriff himself, I believe,

sheriff himself, I believe, removed the gun from her. It

removed the gun from her. It was loaded.

Was loaded. >> are you're afraid of sitting

>> are you're afraid of sitting in jail for what you've done?

In jail for what you've done? >> no.

>> no. >> no, I'm serious.

>> no, I'm serious. >> I haven't done anything.

>> I haven't done anything. >> she said that she cared

>> she said that she cared about billy so much that she

about billy so much that she figured that she was gonna

figured that she was gonna write this letter admitting to

write this letter admitting to this, and then killing herself

this, and then killing herself so that billy could be

so that billy could be released.

Released. >> that's my story that I made

>> that's my story that I made up to get him out.

Up to get him out. >> she then said that she

>> she then said that she decided that she wasn't going

decided that she wasn't going to do it, but it was too late

to do it, but it was too late because she had already sent

because she had already sent out these letters.

Out these letters. >> I gotta have you tell me the

>> I gotta have you tell me the absolute truth today. I am so

absolute truth today. I am so sick of all the drama and the

sick of all the drama and the bullcrap, man, I could -- I

bullcrap, man, I could -- I could flush it all away.

Could flush it all away. >> you don't, because I want to

>> you don't, because I want to know who killed becki. And I'm

know who killed becki. And I'm telling you.

Telling you. >> at that point, we weren't

>> at that point, we weren't 100 percent sure she was

100 percent sure she was confessing to the crime or she

confessing to the crime or she was trying to get billy out of

was trying to get billy out of it.

It. >> I just want to believe with

>> I just want to believe with everything that I am that billy

everything that I am that billy didn't do it.

Didn't do it. >> we only have one shot to

>> we only have one shot to convict a person. Otherwise,

convict a person. Otherwise, double jeopardy attaches and we

double jeopardy attaches and we would not be able to try her

would not be able to try her again.

Again. >> you realize how bad this

>> you realize how bad this looks, deb?

Looks, deb? >> I'll take my break.

>> I'll take my break. >> a lot of cases turn on just

>> a lot of cases turn on just luck. And that's what happened

luck. And that's what happened in this case. Now, west plains

in this case. Now, west plains is a pretty small town, and one

is a pretty small town, and one day, the sheriff of howell

day, the sheriff of howell county, mike shannon, happened

county, mike shannon, happened to be getting a cup of coffee

to be getting a cup of coffee at the convenience store. The

at the convenience store. The cashier made a statement to him

cashier made a statement to him that debra dillard had once

that debra dillard had once stated to her that she was

stated to her that she was going to kill becki dillard,

going to kill becki dillard, but that she received a

but that she received a reprieve because she was

reprieve because she was pregnant with a child, and that

pregnant with a child, and that she was gonna wait a year. And

she was gonna wait a year. And oddly enough, almost to the day,

oddly enough, almost to the day, a year later, becki dillard was

a year later, becki dillard was murdered. When we received that

murdered. When we received that information, we felt like we

information, we felt like we had enough evidence to charge

had enough evidence to charge debra dillard with the murder

debra dillard with the murder of becki dillard.

Of becki dillard.

>> I've dealt with other scenarios with in-laws and

scenarios with in-laws and family members and everything,

family members and everything, but never nothing so violent,

but never nothing so violent, so cold-blooded. They're just

so cold-blooded. They're just acting like the concerned

acting like the concerned grandparent and her boyfriend.

Grandparent and her boyfriend. And the whole time, they're the

and the whole time, they're the ones that done it.

Ones that done it. >> every day for 10 years, I

>> every day for 10 years, I have gone over what happened. I

have gone over what happened. I don't feel that my mother had

don't feel that my mother had anything to do with it, the way

anything to do with it, the way that everybody is saying she

that everybody is saying she did.

Did. >> our theory behind the case

>> our theory behind the case was that debra dillard just

was that debra dillard just wanted becki out of the way.

Wanted becki out of the way. She was making justin's life

she was making justin's life miserable, that debra had had

miserable, that debra had had enough.

Enough. >> she wanted those children,

>> she wanted those children, and the only way that she saw

and the only way that she saw she was gonna keep them is by

she was gonna keep them is by getting rid of becki. Because

getting rid of becki. Because justin -- there's no way that

justin -- there's no way that he would ever get custody with

he would ever get custody with his alcohol problems.

His alcohol problems. >> becki is gonna get the

>> becki is gonna get the babies, she's gonna get child

babies, she's gonna get child support, and then she's gonna

support, and then she's gonna go on with her life.

Go on with her life. >> debra knew that once those

>> debra knew that once those children left, that becki's mom

children left, that becki's mom and the rest of her family was

and the rest of her family was not gonna let those children go

not gonna let those children go back.

Back. >> we believe that was the

>> we believe that was the motivation that pushed her over

motivation that pushed her over the edge. That night, becki had

the edge. That night, becki had angered justin, and we believe

angered justin, and we believe debra had just had enough, and

debra had just had enough, and that she was going to cure the

that she was going to cure the problem.

Problem. >> when I walked into the

>> when I walked into the courtroom, debra dillard looked

courtroom, debra dillard looked at me, but I tried to ignore

at me, but I tried to ignore her as much as possible. I saw

her as much as possible. I saw the hatred in her eyes.

The hatred in her eyes. >> deb dillard felt like she

>> deb dillard felt like she could control things, like she

could control things, like she could make this happen and that

could make this happen and that she could get away with it.

She could get away with it. >> the defense focused on billy

>> the defense focused on billy eastep, stating that billy was

eastep, stating that billy was actually the one that did it.

Actually the one that did it. >> she had to put the blame on

>> she had to put the blame on someone. So she chose billy, to

someone. So she chose billy, to put him as the scapegoat.

Put him as the scapegoat. >> he knew that she had extra

>> he knew that she had extra money because it was christmas.

Money because it was christmas. He robbed her. And so she

he robbed her. And so she wouldn't tell on him, he killed

wouldn't tell on him, he killed her and played it off like

her and played it off like nothing had ever even happened.

Nothing had ever even happened. >> we believed we had enough

>> we believed we had enough evidence to prove debra dillard

evidence to prove debra dillard guilty beyond a reasonable

guilty beyond a reasonable doubt without him. But we

doubt without him. But we wanted him to testify. We found

wanted him to testify. We found out when we arrived for trial,

out when we arrived for trial, is that somebody had hit billy

is that somebody had hit billy eastep, had given him a black

eastep, had given him a black eye. And at that point, billy

eye. And at that point, billy refused to testify. Debra

refused to testify. Debra dillard also took the stand,

dillard also took the stand, and she testified on her own

and she testified on her own behalf. And she explained that

behalf. And she explained that she and becki had a wonderful

she and becki had a wonderful relationship, that she was a

relationship, that she was a great daughter-in-law.

Great daughter-in-law. >> she is my child. I love her.

>> she is my child. I love her. She didn't even know what a

she didn't even know what a mama was until she -- until she

mama was until she -- until she moved into my home.

Moved into my home. >> she wanted me to be with

>> she wanted me to be with becki. She liked becki. She

becki. She liked becki. She still will say "my daughter"

still will say "my daughter" when she talks about becki.

When she talks about becki. >> the entire focus of her

>> the entire focus of her cross-examination was the

cross-examination was the letter that she had written. I

letter that she had written. I went line by line with her on

went line by line with her on that and actually gave her the

that and actually gave her the opportunity to explain it away.

Opportunity to explain it away. And she tried, and it was

and she tried, and it was obvious to me that she was not

obvious to me that she was not being truthful.

Being truthful. >> her brother testified

>> her brother testified against her and actually told

against her and actually told the whole court that she had

the whole court that she had conspired to do this a year

conspired to do this a year before when she found out becki

before when she found out becki was pregnant, that she was

was pregnant, that she was going to be the one that

going to be the one that murdered becki because she was

murdered becki because she was bad for her son.

Bad for her son. >> if she was gonna kill

>> if she was gonna kill somebody, it wouldn't be her

somebody, it wouldn't be her children. It wouldn't be me. It

children. It wouldn't be me. It wouldn't be becki. It wouldn't

wouldn't be becki. It wouldn't be our kids. It would be

be our kids. It would be somebody that hurt us. My

somebody that hurt us. My mother confessed because if she

mother confessed because if she didn't, she was afraid that

didn't, she was afraid that they would come after me and

they would come after me and the kids.

The kids. >> whenever a case goes to the

>> whenever a case goes to the jury, I'm always concerned. Did

jury, I'm always concerned. Did they believe the witnesses? Did

they believe the witnesses? Did they believe debra's version?

They believe debra's version? Every prosecutor has that

every prosecutor has that concern because, of course, we

concern because, of course, we have to prove a case beyond a

have to prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt. The jury

reasonable doubt. The jury found her guilty. She broke

found her guilty. She broke down. I mean, she basically

down. I mean, she basically fell apart.

Fell apart. >> not until the jury came back

>> not until the jury came back and said "guilty" did she show

and said "guilty" did she show any kind of emotion. That just

any kind of emotion. That just tells me she was guilty, with

tells me she was guilty, with no remorse whatsoever.

No remorse whatsoever. >> she didn't kill anybody. She

>> she didn't kill anybody. She wasn't there. She couldn't have

wasn't there. She couldn't have been there. Whoever killed

been there. Whoever killed becki, I don't think we will

becki, I don't think we will ever know why.

Ever know why. >> in a first-degree murder

>> in a first-degree murder case in missouri, the only

case in missouri, the only sentence in this case would

sentence in this case would have been life without parole.

Have been life without parole. So when the verdict came down

so when the verdict came down and the sentencing came down, I

and the sentencing came down, I just felt like justice had been

just felt like justice had been served.

Served. >> we were never able to prove

>> we were never able to prove that justin dillard had

that justin dillard had anything to do with becki's

anything to do with becki's death. There is suspicion. But

death. There is suspicion. But even today, I couldn't tell you

even today, I couldn't tell you for sure who pulled the

for sure who pulled the trigger.

Trigger. >> becki's family has done a

>> becki's family has done a very good job of making me look

very good job of making me look bad. Feel like I have been

bad. Feel like I have been victimized, very much so. I

victimized, very much so. I lost my house, my kids, my wife,

lost my house, my kids, my wife, my mom. 10 years, and it still

my mom. 10 years, and it still hurts just as much. It's never

hurts just as much. It's never gonna go away, ever.

Gonna go away, ever. >> whatever justin did, debra

>> whatever justin did, debra told him to do. Whatever billy

told him to do. Whatever billy did, debra was in control of

did, debra was in control of that. She was the more dominant

that. She was the more dominant one in that home, and there was

one in that home, and there was only one person in that home

only one person in that home that wanted to defy her, and

that wanted to defy her, and that was becki.

That was becki. >> the wolf followed becki to

>> the wolf followed becki to that roadside spot where she

that roadside spot where she was killed. And so, we work

was killed. And so, we work hard for every victim, but it's

hard for every victim, but it's especially difficult when you

especially difficult when you see somebody that isn't doing

see somebody that isn't doing the wrong thing and bad things

the wrong thing and bad things come and find them.

Come and find them. >> my best friend, my wife, my

>> my best friend, my wife, my everything is in the ground. I

everything is in the ground. I pray every day that heaven's

pray every day that heaven's real, because that's where

real, because that's where she's at. And I know that all I

she's at. And I know that all I have to do is keep praying and

have to do is keep praying and I'll see her again.

I'll see her again.