All language subtitles for American.Detective.With.Lt.Joe.Kenda.S01E09.Black.Water.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP.2.0.H.264-FLUX.[eng]

♪♪

Joe: IT'S 1:30 IN THE MORNING
IN BENSALEM, PENNSYLVANIA,

20 MILES NORTH OF THE CITY
OF PHILADELPHIA.

JOSEPH LEAR IS AT A BUS STOP,
WAITING FOR A RIDE

FROM HIS FRIEND CHRISTIAN.

AND CHRISTIAN, WHO IS NORMALLY
INCREDIBLY RELIABLE,

JUST ISN'T SHOWING UP.

SO, NOW MR. LEAR TAKES A CAB
TO CHRISTIAN'S HOUSE

WITH EVERY INTENTION OF GIVING
CHRISTIAN A PIECE OF HIS MIND

AS TO WHY HE LEFT HIM ABANDONED
AT 1:30 IN THE MORNING.

ALL THE LIGHTS ARE OFF.

IT LOOKS AS IF NOBODY'S THERE.
WHAT'S GOING ON?

HE STEPS INTO THIS HOUSE
IN THE DARK.

[ CELLPHONE SCREEN CRUNCHES ]

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

MR. LEAR TURNS AROUND

AND SEES THAT
THE INTERIOR OF THIS PLACE

LOOKS LIKE A BOMB
WENT OFF IN IT.

HE INSTINCTIVELY KNOWS THAT
SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG, INDEED,

AND IT FRIGHTENS HIM.

CHRISTIAN?

HE BEGINS
TO SEARCH THE HOME.

HE PUSHES
THE BATHROOM DOOR OPEN...

OH, MY GOD!
CHRISTIAN!

...AND STAGGERS BACKWARDS

BECAUSE
HE IS STRICKEN WITH TERROR.

I SPENT MY CAREER
CLOSING MURDER CASES.

BUT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE
WHO ANSWERED THE CALL.

IT TAKES A RARE BREED
TO SOLVE THE UNSOLVABLE...

TO CATCH A RUTHLESS KILLER...

TO FIND JUSTICE FOR THE DEAD.

THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES
TO BE AN AMERICAN DETECTIVE.

Cullen: I'M
DETECTIVE CHRIS Cullen,

I WORK FOR THE
BENSALEM POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IN 2005, I WAS A DETECTIVE

IN THE CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION.

[ CELLPHONE BUZZING ]

IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE NIGHT.

HEADQUARTERS CALLED, WOKE ME UP.

WHENEVER THERE'S A HOMICIDE,
THEY CALL EVERYBODY IN.

SO I TAKE A DEEP BREATH

AND KNOW THAT
IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG NIGHT.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE,
I WENT RIGHT TO THE CRIME SCENE.

THERE WAS MARKED PATROL CARS
THERE.

NOBODY CAN GO IN,
NOBODY CAN GO OUT.

♪♪

Joe:
McMULLEN IS INFORMED

THAT THERE'S
A 27-YEAR-OLD INDIVIDUAL,

NO LONGER ALIVE,
WHOSE NAME IS CHRISTIAN ROJAS.

Coughlin:
CHRISTIAN WAS FROM COSTA RICA.
HE HAD GROWN UP THERE.

HE WENT TO A GIFTED HIGH SCHOOL,
AND HE HAD BECOME

A SKILLED WEB DESIGNER
AND COMPUTER EXPERT.

ONE OF THE REASONS HE WAS
IN THE UNITED STATES

WAS TO WORK FOR A COMPUTER FIRM.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

McMullen:
WHEN YOU ENTER A CRIME SCENE,

YOU DON'T WANT
TO DISTURB ANYTHING.

I WAS ALWAYS TAUGHT,
THE FIRST THING YOU DO

IS PUT YOUR HANDS
IN YOUR POCKETS

SO YOU DON'T SCREW ANYTHING UP
BY TOUCHING IT.

I ENTERED THE LIVING ROOM,
AND IT WAS OBVIOUS TO ME

THAT THERE HAD BEEN
SOME TYPE OF RANSACKING.

CUSHIONS WERE RIPPED OPEN,
FURNITURE WAS MOVED,

EVERYTHING WAS OUT OF PLACE.

THIS IS NOT THE USUAL BURGLARY.

THIS PLACE HAS BEEN DESTROYED.

WHOEVER WAS IN HERE
WAS CONVINCED

THERE WAS SOMETHING OF GREAT
VALUE TO THEM

CONCEALED
SOMEWHERE IN THIS HOUSE,

AND THEY TORE
THE PLACE APART TO FIND IT.

McMullen: I SAW A PHOTOGRAPH
THAT WAS ORIGINALLY ON THE WALL,

THAT WAS BROKEN,
AND IT HAD THREE PEOPLE IN IT --

TWO MEN AND A WOMAN.

IT WAS DETERMINED
THAT THE DECEDENT

WAS ONE OF THE TWO MEN
IN THAT PHOTOGRAPH.

Joe: IT'S INTERESTING THAT
THIS PHOTOGRAPH

HAS BEEN PURPOSELY DESTROYED.

IS THAT SOMETHING
THAT SPEAKS TO EMOTION,

WHERE SOMEONE IS SO ANGRY
THEY BREAK THE PICTURE?

OR IS IT BECAUSE PEOPLE

HIDE THINGS
IN PICTURE FRAMES, AS WELL?

McMullen: AS I STARTED WALKING
TOWARDS THE BATHROOM,

I'M SEEING SOME BLOOD
ON THE WALLS,

SOME ON THE CARPET.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]

Joe: SO, THIS BEGINS
IN THE HALLWAY.

THE VICTIM IS BEING SAVAGELY
ASSAULTED,

AND RETREATING
TOWARD THE BATHROOM

TO AVOID THE ATTACK.

WHEN McMULLEN PUSHES OPEN
THAT BATHROOM DOOR,

HE SMELLS AN UNMISTAKABLE SMELL

THAT YOU NEVER, EVER FORGET --

THE SMELL OF DEATH.

McMullen: I REMEMBER SEEING
THE VICTIM IN THE BATHTUB,

AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF,
"WHO COULD DO THIS TO SOMEBODY?"

IT WAS AN AWFUL,
TERRIBLE CRIME SCENE.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

THE TUB WAS FILLED WITH WATER,
BUT THE WATER WAS BLACK.

IT WAS FULL OF BLOOD,

AND THERE WAS A PILLOW
OVER THE FACE OF THE DECEDENT.

HE HAD HAD A SOCK STUFFED
IN HIS MOUTH,

SOCKS WRAPPED AROUND HIS NECK.

HE'D BEEN HOG-TIED
WITH ELECTRICAL CORDS.

Joe: McMULLEN NOTICES THE
IMPRINT OF A HUMAN FACE

IN BLOOD ON A CERAMIC WALL
OF THE BATHTUB.

THIS IS VERY, VERY VIOLENT.

McMullen:
I REMEMBER THINKING
THAT THIS POOR INDIVIDUAL

DID NOT DIE A QUICK DEATH.

SEEMED TO ME THAT
HE HAD BEEN BEATEN AND TORTURED.

IT JUST MADE IT VERY EVIDENT
TO ME THAT THIS PERSON

MORE THAN LIKELY KNEW
WHO IT WAS, WHO ATTACKED THEM,

AND THAT THERE WAS SOME
TYPE OF EMOTIONAL ANGER,

MOTIVATION BEHIND IT.

IN THE WATER,

THERE WAS JUST VARIOUS
CONDOMS FLOATING.

THEY HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM A BOX
AND THROWN INTO THE WATER.

ALMOST LIKE A SYMBOLIC GESTURE.

Joe: McMULLEN'S MIND DRIFTS BACK
TO THAT CRUSHED PHOTOGRAPH.

McMullen: THE CONDOMS
REINFORCED MY THINKING

THAT MAYBE THE TWO MEN
IN THE PHOTOGRAPH

BOTH HAD AN INTEREST
IN THE FEMALE

AND MAYBE THIS HAD TO DO
WITH JEALOUSY

AND HAD GOTTEN WAY OUT OF HAND.

THE LEVEL OF VIOLENCE INDICATES
PERSONAL MOTIVATION.

IT SAYS EMOTION,

AND EMOTION OFTEN COMES
FROM LOVE INTERRUPTED.

RICH, WHERE'S THE GUY
THAT CALLED THIS IN?

RIGHT OVER THERE.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

Coughlin: McMULLEN INTERVIEWS
JOSEPH LEAR RIGHT AWAY.

HE KNOWS THAT HE'S GOT TO START

WITH THE FIRST PERSON
THAT FOUND THE BODY.

McMullen:
HE WAS VERY NERVOUS.

HE WAS RUNNING ON ADRENALINE.

HE HAD PROBABLY EXPERIENCED
THE MOST TERRIFYING THING

THAT HE HAD EVER GONE
THROUGH IN HIS LIFE.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US
ABOUT CHRISTIAN?

HE WAS ONE OF
MY BEST FRIENDS.

JOSEPH LEAR AND CHRISTIAN MET
IN COSTA RICA AT SOME POINT.

BENSALEM WAS
THE LEARS' HOMETOWN.

AND WHEN CHRISTIAN RELOCATED
TO THE UNITED STATES,

HE SUGGESTED
THAT CHRISTIAN COME THERE.

Coughlin:
EVEN THOUGH HE HAD ONLY BEEN IN
THE UNITED STATES A FEW YEARS,

CHRISTIAN DID WELL WITH PEOPLE.
HE WAS AN AFFABLE PERSON,

SOMEONE THAT PEOPLE
WANTED TO BE AROUND.

AND HE WAS ALSO VERY MUCH
IN TOUCH WITH HIS FAMILY STILL.

McMullen: HE HAD FAMILY BACK
IN COSTA RICA --

A MOTHER
AND A COUPLE SISTERS.

HE WOULD SEND THEM
MOST OF HIS MONEY.

SO HE LIVED VERY MODESTLY.

Joe:
MR. LEAR CAN'T IMAGINE MR. ROJAS
HAVING AN ENEMY IN THE WORLD.

MR. ROJAS HAS
NEVER USED NARCOTICS.

HAS NO CRIMINAL RECORD,
WHICH McMULLEN CONFIRMS

HE IS
YOUR EVERYDAY INNOCENT PERSON

CARRYING ON A CAREER
IN THE UNITED STATES.

McMullen: WHEN I SHOWED
JOSEPH LEAR THE PHOTOGRAPH

THAT HAD CHRISTIAN
AND THE OTHER COUPLE IN IT,

HE TOLD ME THAT THAT WAS

MARK RUSSO
AND HIS WIFE, SARAH.

Joe: HE REPORTS THAT THEY USED
TO LIVE TOGETHER.

THEY WERE ROOMMATES
WITH CHRISTIAN ROJAS,

BUT CHRISTIAN MOVED OUT.

THE QUESTION BECOMES,

UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES
DO CHRISTIAN MOVE OUT?

McMullen:
I HAD THIS THOUGHT
GO THROUGH MY MIND

THAT, YOU KNOW, "IS THIS SOME
TYPE OF A LOVE TRIANGLE?"

THEN THE QUESTION BECOMES
IN McMULLEN'S MIND

"WELL, WHO LOVES WHO?"

THE OLD EXPRESSION
IS CERTAINLY TRUE

IN AFFAIRS OF THE HEART --

"TWO'S COMPANY
AND THREE IS A CROWD."

WAS CHRISTIAN THE CROWD,

OR WAS HE PART OF THE COMPANY?

[ GASPING ]

AND SOMEBODY DECIDED IT WAS TIME
FOR HIM TO GO AWAY PERMANENTLY.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

Joe: 27-YEAR-OLD
CHRISTIAN ROJAS

IS FOUND MURDERED IN HIS HOME
IN BENSALEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

DETECTIVE McMULLEN
BELIEVES THERE COULD BE,

MIGHT BE, A LOVE TRIANGLE
AT THE BASIS OF THIS CRIME.

♪♪

McMullen: AT THIS POINT,
WE WANTED TO FIND OUT

ABOUT MARK RUSSO
AND HIS WIFE, SARAH.

BUT BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO EVEN

OBTAIN CONTACT INFORMATION
FOR MARK RUSSO,

HE ACTUALLY SHOWED UP AT
THE POLICE STATION ON HIS OWN.

DID RUSSO PRESENT HIMSELF
BECAUSE HE'S FISHING

FOR INFORMATION FROM THE POLICE
ABOUT WHAT THEY KNOW

OR WHAT THEY MAY SUSPECT?

OR IS HE JUST CONCERNED
ABOUT HIS FRIEND?

SO, HOW EXACTLY DID CHRISTIAN
COME TO LIVE

WITH YOU AND YOUR WIFE?

WELL, WE ACTUALLY MET
IN COSTA RICA.

McMullen:
HE EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD
ACTUALLY HELPED

CHRISTIAN FIND WORK HERE
IN THE UNITED STATES.

HE DID LIVE WITH HIM
AND HIS WIFE,

ALTHOUGH HIM AND HIS WIFE
WEREN'T MARRIED AT THE TIME,

BUT THE RELATIONSHIP
WAS BLOOMING.

AND IN A GESTURE
TO ALLOW THEM THEIR PRIVACY,

CHRISTIAN THEN MOVED OUT
AND GOT HIS OWN PLACE.

Coughlin: MARK POINTED OUT,
IT WASN'T ACRIMONIOUS.

THEY REMAINED FRIENDS
AFTER THIS.

McMullen: I ASKED MARK,
"DID CHRISTIAN EVER HAVE

ANY TYPE OF ATTRACTION
TO YOUR WIFE,

OR WAS THERE ANYTHING
LIKE THAT GOING ON?"

AND HE SAID, "ABSOLUTELY NOT."

HE WAS NOT CONCERNED
ABOUT THAT,

AND JUST LIKE JOE LEAR, HE
SEEMED TO BE SINCERELY UPSET

AND BLOWN AWAY
BY WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

Joe: McMULLEN FINDS HIM
TO BE QUITE BELIEVABLE.

SO MR. RUSSO
IS OUT AS A SUSPECT.

McMullen:
WITH ANY HOMICIDES, YOU WANT
TO LEARN THE VICTIMOLOGY,

SO WE WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT,
"DID HE HAVE ANY ROOMMATES

WAS HE IN A RELATIONSHIP,
WHERE DID HE WORK?"

THINK ABOUT, LIKE,
A GIRLFRIEND.

WELL, HE DOES HAVE AN EX.

MARK TOLD US ABOUT A GIRL
NAMED HEATHER

THAT CHRISTIAN
HAD BEEN INVOLVED WITH.

Coughlin: HE WAS UNDER THE
IMPRESSION IT WAS OVER,

THOUGH, ABOUT A WEEK EARLIER,

THE GIRL HAD REACHED
OUT TO CHRISTIAN.

Joe: SHE'D NEEDED
A PLACE TO STAY.

AND MR. RUSSO SAID THAT
CHRISTIAN WAS

A WARMHEARTED,
CARING PERSON,

AND HE WOULD NOT ALLOW
ANYONE TO SUFFER

BECAUSE OF HIS UNWILLINGNESS
TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

SO HE ALLOWED HER
TO STAY WITH HIM

IN THE VERY RECENT PAST.

WELL, THAT ADDED SOMETHING NEW
TO WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT.

I WANTED TO FIND OUT
WHAT HEATHER'S LAST NAME WAS

AND WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
HE SAW HER.

I ONLY MET HER
ONCE OR TWICE.

BUT I CAN ASK AROUND.

BY THE WAY, WHAT DID YOU GUYS DO
WITH CHRISTIAN'S CAR?

Joe: RUSSO SAID, "I HAD THIS
OLD CAR, GREEN IN COLOR,

THAT HAD A LOT OF MILES ON IT,
AND CHRISTIAN DIDN'T HAVE A CAR,

SO I GAVE IT TO HIM."

McMullen: THE CAR WAS
NOT ANYWHERE TO BE FOUND

IN THE APARTMENT COMPLEX
WHERE CHRISTIAN LIVED.

SO, AT THAT POINT,
THE CAR WAS MISSING.

WHERE IS IT?

THE ONLY PLACE IT COULD BE

IS IN THE HANDS OF A MURDERER.

McMullen: KNOWING THAT THERE
WAS A CAR INVOLVED,

AND THAT THE CAR
WAS NOW MISSING, WAS HUGE.

THAT THEN LED US TO BELIEVE,
"OKAY, IF WE CAN FIND THE CAR,

THEN MAYBE
WE CAN FIND THE KILLER."

Joe: SO McMULLEN PUTS OUT THIS
DESCRIPTION OF THIS VEHICLE

STOLEN IN THE COURSE
OF A HOMICIDE,

SO IF ANY POLICEMAN ANYWHERE
SEES THIS CAR IN MOTION,

THEY'RE GOING TO STOP THE CAR
AND ARREST THE CONTENTS.

McMullen: IN THE MEANTIME,
WE'RE LOOKING FOR CLUES,

WE'RE LOOKING TO
LINK THINGS TOGETHER.

Joe: OFTEN AT A CRIME SCENE,
YOU CAN'T CLEARLY SEE A BODY.

THE LIGHTING ISN'T VERY GOOD.

THE POSITION OF THE BODY
OBSTRUCTS CERTAIN WOUNDS.

SO IT HAS TO BE DONE
IN A CORONER'S OFFICE

UNDER BRIGHT LIGHT.

McMullen:
THE RATE OF DECOMPOSITION
SHOWED THAT CHRISTIAN

WAS PROBABLY DEAD
FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO DAYS

BEFORE HE WAS DISCOVERED.

IT'S A HORRIBLE SITUATION.

THE VICTIM SUFFERED ENORMOUSLY
DURING THE COURSE OF HIS DEMISE.

HE HAD LACERATIONS AND HEAD
WOUNDS FROM BEING BLUDGEONED

WITH A BLUNT INSTRUMENT
OF SOME TYPE.

HE'D EITHER BEEN KNEE-DROPPED
OR KICKED IN THE CHEST,

WITH A SERIOUS BRUISE
ON HIS STERNUM.

McMullen:
THERE WERE OTHER INJURIES
TO HIS BODY,

BUT THEY WERE JUST
METHODS OF TORTURE.

WHAT HAD CAUSED
CHRISTIAN'S DEATH

WAS ACTUALLY BLUNT-FORCE TRAUMA
AND ASPHYXIATION.

Joe: THE CORONER SAYS

THAT THE KNOT OF THE TUBE SOCK
AROUND THE NECK

WAS SUFFICIENT
TO RESTRICT THE AIR SUPPLY.

THE VICTIM HAD BITTEN THROUGH
HIS LIP WITH HIS TEETH,

STRUGGLING TO GET AIR
IN HIS SYSTEM.

McMullen:
THERE WERE NO DEFENSIVE WOUNDS
NOTED ON CHRISTIAN'S BODY

AT THE AUTOPSY, INDICATING
THAT WHOEVER HAD ATTACKED HIM

HAD IMMEDIATELY OVERPOWERED HIM

AND THAT THERE WASN'T
MUCH OF A CONTEST.

Joe: SO McMULLEN BELIEVES HE'S
PROBABLY LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY

QUITE A BIT BIGGER THAN ROJAS,
TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL HIM,

TO ATTACK HIM IN THE MANNER
IN WHICH HE WAS ATTACKED.

WHO WOULD DO THIS?

McMullen: CHRISTIAN'S FAMILY
WAS IN COSTA RICA,

AND OBVIOUSLY WORD
HAD GOTTEN TO THEM

AND THEY WERE DEVASTATED.

FOR ME, THE DRIVING FORCE
IS ALWAYS THE VICTIM,

GETTING JUSTICE FOR THE VICTIM
AND THEIR FAMILIES.

SO, IN THIS CASE,
IT WAS ALL ABOUT CHRISTIAN.

Harran: I'VE KNOWN
DETECTIVE McMULLEN FOR 28 YEARS.

HE DOESN'T STOP.

HE'LL KEEP
DRILLING DOWN AND DRILLING.

AND IF HE GETS ASSIGNED
TO YOUR CASE,

CHANCES ARE YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO BE ABLE TO RUN FROM IT.

♪♪

ANY ANSWER
ON CHRISTIAN'S CAR?

NOTHING YET,
BUT THESE PHONES

HAVE BEEN RINGING
ALL MORNING.

McMullen:
WORD TRAVELS QUICKLY.

IT HAD GOTTEN OUT
IN THE COMMUNITY

THAT SOMEBODY HAD BEEN MURDERED
IN THEIR HOME

AND THAT POLICE HAD YET
TO IDENTIFY

AND/OR APPREHEND THE SUSPECT.

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

DETECTIVE McMULLEN.

Coughlin: THIS IS
A SCARY CRIME

THAT HAS HAPPENED
IN A SUBURBAN TOWN.

PEOPLE ARE REACTING TO IT.
THEY WERE HORRIFIED.

Harran: IN BENSALEM, OUR CRIME
THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH

IS MAINLY THEFTS
AND PROPERTY CRIME, BURGLARIES.

WE DON'T GET
A LOT OF HOMICIDES.

IF WE GET HALF A DOZEN HOMICIDES
A YEAR, THAT'S A LOT FOR US.

THIS WAS ABOUT THE FOURTH
HOMICIDE

THAT I'D BEEN INVOLVED WITH
SINCE I'D BECOME A DETECTIVE.

SO, THERE'S DEFINITELY PRESSURE.
THERE'S PRESSURE FROM THE BOSS.

McMULLEN AND HIS DEPARTMENT
ARE OVERWHELMED

BY A NUMBER OF TIPS

THAT ARE MEANINGLESS
AND SOMEWHAT NONSENSICAL

FROM PEOPLE
WHO ARE IN PANIC MODE.

BUT ONE TIP DOES COME IN
THAT HAS SOME VALUE.

McMullen: I'D BEEN CONTACTED
BY A JOURNALIST

FOR THE
BUCKS COUNTY COURIER TIMES.

HE HAD RECEIVED AN E-MAIL
FROM A GENTLEMAN

WHO IS A FRIEND
OF CHRISTIAN ROJAS'.

CHECK OUT
THIS E-MAIL I JUST GOT.

Joe: THE E-MAIL WENT ON
TO EXPLAIN

THAT CHRISTIAN ROJAS
HAD RECENTLY BEEN OFFERED

A DREAM JOB IN COSTA RICA

FOR AN AMERICAN COMPANY
WHO HAD RELOCATED THERE.

THE WRITER OF THE E-MAIL
GOES ON TO SAY

THAT ROJAS' CURRENT EMPLOYER

WAS VERY DISTRESSED ABOUT ROJAS
LEAVING HIS EMPLOYMENT.

McMullen: CHRISTIAN
HAD TOLD THIS PERSON

THAT HIS EMPLOYERS
HAD THE ABILITY TO DO BAD THINGS

AND THAT HE WAS
SOMEWHAT FRIGHTENED OF THEM.

Coughlin:
AT FIRST, THE INFORMATION
THAT CHRISTIAN'S EMPLOYERS

WOULD WANT HIM DEAD
SEEMS A LITTLE FAR-FETCHED,

BUT FOR McMULLEN,
THERE WAS A CATCH.

CHRISTIAN ROJAS WORKED
FOR A CASH-ADVANCE COMPANY

RUN BY ANTHONY
AND MARIO MORETTI.

AND HAVING DONE A LITTLE BIT
OF RESEARCH ON THEM,

IT WAS VERIFIED THEIR FATHER
HAD HAD SOME MAFIA TIES.

NOW, THAT RAISES
McMULLEN'S EYEBROW.

McMullen: IF THERE WAS
A CONNECTION LIKE THAT,

IT WOULDN'T BE TOO FAR-FETCHED
TO THINK

THAT IF CHRISTIAN WAS LEAVING
THE COMPANY UNDER BAD TERMS,

THAT SOMETHING MAY HAVE
ESCALATED TO VIOLENCE.

Joe: THE NEXT STEP IS OBVIOUS.
WHO ARE THESE BROTHERS?

THEY'RE EITHER PART OF THIS
OR THEY'RE NOT.

AND McMULLEN HAS
TO FIND THE ANSWER TO IT.

♪♪

[ SIREN WAILS ]

Joe:
MANY LEADS HAVE COME FORWARD,
NONE OF WHICH HAVE MUCH VALUE,

BUT NOW McMULLEN IS PURSUING
A NEW LEAD

THAT MAY HAVE SOME MEANING --
TWO BROTHERS

THAT MIGHT BE CONNECTED
TO THE ITALIAN MAFIA

IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
AND SOUTH JERSEY.

Reporter:
POLICE SAY THE VICTIM HAS STRONG
TIES TO ORGANIZED CRIME.

Coughlin:
THROUGHOUT THE CITY'S HISTORY,

THERE HAS BEEN
ORGANIZED CRIME --

THEFT, RACKETEERING, GAMBLING...

Reporter: POLICE THIS AFTERNOON
COMBED THE SHOOTING SCENE

AT 6th AND CATHARINE
FOR EVIDENCE.

...CONNECTED WITH
A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FAMILIES.

THE SCARFO FAMILY WAS
A PARTICULAR FAMILY

THAT WAS VERY INVOLVED.

Joe: NOW, IN 2005,
THE ITALIAN MAFIA

WAS A MERE SHADOW
OF ITS FORMER SELF.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE THEM
ANY LESS DANGEROUS.

THEY REMAIN MORE THAN CAPABLE
OF EXTREME VIOLENCE.

WELL, NOW WE'RE WONDERING,

DID THEY HAVE SOMETHING
TO DO WITH THIS?

SO WE CONTACTED THEM BY PHONE
AND MADE ARRANGEMENTS

TO GO AND VISIT THEM
AT THEIR OFFICE.

I'M TRYING TO DETERMINE
WHETHER OR NOT

THEY HAVE ANY TYPE OF ANGER
TOWARDS CHRISTIAN,

BUT THEY SEEM TO BE
FOND OF CHRISTIAN.

THEY BOTH SAY CHRISTIAN ROJAS

WAS AN INCREDIBLY COMPETENT
COMPUTER PROGRAMMER,

THAT ROJAS WAS THEIR GO-TO GUY
TO SOLVE PROBLEMS

WHEN THEY ENCOUNTERED THEM
IN THE BUSINESS.

HOW DID YOU GUYS FEEL ABOUT
CHRISTIAN LEAVING THE COMPANY?

THEY WERE OBVIOUSLY
NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT,

BUT THEY LIKED HIM SO WELL THAT
THEY WOULDN'T STAND IN HIS WAY.

McMullen:
THEY SEEMED SINCERE

IN THE FACT THAT THEY
WANTED HIM TO SUCCEED.

THEY SEEMED
LEGITIMATELY DISTRAUGHT

OVER WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

WE WERE ABLE
TO VERIFY THEIR ALIBIS.

THEY WERE ALL HOME AT THEIR
RESPECTIVE RESIDENCES.

Joe: DESPITE THEIR CONNECTIONS
TO NEFARIOUS PEOPLE,

THEY'RE NOT INVOLVED IN THIS.

McMullen:
THEY DEFINITELY WANTED
THE CRIME SOLVED.

THEY MADE THAT VERY CLEAR.

THEY OFFERED THEIR RESOURCES.

THEY REALLY WANTED TO TAKE
AN ACTIVE ROLE

IN WHAT WAS GOING ON.

DID THEY TAKE THE SAFE?

WAIT A MINUTE.
WHAT'S SAFE?

McMullen: AND THEY TOLD US
THAT HE HAD A SAFE

THAT HE KEPT CASH IN.

HE WOULD CASH HIS PAYCHECK

AND THEN CONVERT IT
TO MONEY ORDERS

TO SEND HOME TO HIS FAMILY
IN COSTA RICA.

Joe:
McMULLEN WAS CERTAINLY AWARE
THAT THERE WAS NO SAFE FOUND

IN CHRISTIAN ROJAS' HOUSE.

SOMEBODY TOOK IT -- SOMEONE
WHO KNEW IT WAS THERE.

AT THIS POINT, McMULLEN IS
STARTING TO GET SOME ANSWERS,

BUT HE REALLY DOESN'T HAVE
A FULL-FLEDGED SUSPECT YET.

McMullen:
THERE'S A SAFE THAT WAS STOLEN,
AND HIS CAR IS MISSING.

SO, AT THIS POINT,
IT'S A ROBBERY AND A HOMICIDE.

WE'VE SPOKEN WITH EVERYBODY,
AND WE'RE SATISFIED

WITH THOSE PEOPLE
AND WHAT THEY'VE HAD TO TELL US.

BUT THERE'S STILL
HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND, HEATHER.

AND AT THIS POINT,
SHE'S THE ONLY WILD CARD,

BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW
WHERE SHE IS.

WE DON'T HAVE A LAST NAME
FOR HER.

♪♪

Joe: LATER THAT AFTERNOON,
McMULLEN'S PARTNER SAYS,

"WE'VE LOOKED OVER
THE ANSWERING MACHINE

THAT CHRISTIAN HAD IN HIS HOUSE,

AND WE DISCOVERED
THESE MESSAGES.

YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO THESE,

BECAUSE IT'S REALLY
KIND OF INTERESTING."

[ BEEP ]

THE FIRST ONE WAS HEATHER,
AND SHE WAS DISTRAUGHT.

SHE WAS CRYING.

[ BEEP ]

THE NEXT MESSAGE
WAS FROM HEATHER AGAIN.

[ BEEP ]

McMullen:
BUT HER DEMEANOR HAD GONE
FROM DISTRAUGHT TO ANGRY.

HEATHER'S STATEMENTS
CERTAINLY PUT A DIFFERENT LIGHT

ON HOW YOU LOOK AT HER.

McMullen:
AFTER HEARING THOSE MESSAGES,

IT STARTED TO MAKE ME THINK
THAT IT'S POSSIBLE

THAT SHE COULD HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED WITH THIS HOMICIDE.

SHE WOULD CERTAINLY KNOW
HIS HABITS.

SHE WOULD CERTAINLY KNOW
ABOUT A SAFE.

WHO IS SHE?

McMullen:
SO, THE NEXT DAY, MARK RUSSO
DID GET BACK TO ME.

AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE WAS ABLE
TO GET HER FULL NAME,

AND SHE WAS IDENTIFIED
AS HEATHER LAVELLE.

WE WENT INTO
OUR MASTER NAMES INDEX,

AND WE PULLED A PHOTO OF HER.

Joe: SHE IS 36 YEARS OF AGE.

SHE'S VERY TALL, NATURAL BLOND,

CONSIDERED TO BE
VERY ATTRACTIVE.

McMullen: WE HAD LEARNED THAT
SHE WAS A VERY EDUCATED PERSON,

AND THERE WAS A TIME
THAT SHE HAD

A VERY GOOD-PAYING JOB
IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.

SHE WAS IN A ASSISTANT
VICE PRESIDENT POSITION,

MAKING WELL OVER $140,000
A YEAR.

Joe: SO, HERE IS
A COLLEGE GRADUATE,

TALL AND LOVELY,
MAKING VERY GOOD MONEY,

WHO, ALL OF A SUDDEN, HAS TO
STAY WITH A CHRISTIAN ROJAS

BECAUSE SHE'S FALLEN
ON HARD TIMES.

HOW COULD THAT BE TRUE?

McMullen: UPON DOING
AN INQUIRY ON HER NAME,

IT WAS DISCOVERED
THAT RECENTLY HEATHER LAVELLE

HAD BEEN ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION
OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.

UNFORTUNATELY,
DUE TO ADDICTIONS,

SHE HAD LOST HER JOB
AND LOST HER HOME.

Joe: PEOPLE WHO BECOME INVOLVED
IN DEPRESSION,

IN LOSING THEIR WAY,

BELIEVE THAT DRUGS ARE THE MAGIC
THAT WILL MAKE IT ALL GO AWAY.

THE DIFFICULTY IS, IT IS MAGIC,
BUT IT'S BLACK MAGIC,

AND IT WILL DESTROY YOU
EVERY SINGLE TIME.

McMullen: ASIDE FROM THE ARREST
FOR THE DRUG PARAPHERNALIA,

THERE WAS ALSO
A DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE

THAT SHOWED THAT HEATHER LAVELLE
HAD BEEN IN A FIGHT

WITH HER BOYFRIEND,
JAMES SAVAGE.

SHE JUST BASICALLY WANTED
TO GET HER BELONGINGS AND LEAVE.

Coughlin:
BUT, AFTER POLICE SHOWED UP,

SHE DECIDED NOT TO PURSUE
ANY FURTHER CHARGES,

DESPITE SIGNS THERE
HAD BEEN PHYSICAL VIOLENCE.

McMullen:
WE STARTED TO COMPILE BACKGROUND
INFORMATION ON JAMES SAVAGE,

AND WE LEARNED THAT HE DID
HAVE A CRIMINAL HISTORY.

IN FACT, HE HAD
A VIOLENT CRIMINAL HISTORY.

Coughlin:
SAVAGE IS A WIDOWER,

BUT THERE'S
A REPORT FROM HIS WIFE

THAT HE HAD THREATENED HER WITH
A RIFLE, AND SHE HAD OBTAINED

A PROTECTION-FROM-ABUSE
ORDER AGAINST HIM.

HE WAS A BIG GUY.
PHYSICALLY INTIMIDATING GUY.

HE WAS ABOUT 6'4",
WELL OVER 250 POUNDS.

Coughlin: GIVEN THE VIOLENCE
FROM THE CRIME SCENE,

IT WAS LIKELY SOMEBODY
WITH A LOT OF FORCE,

AN ABILITY TO EXERT THAT FORCE
ON ANOTHER PERSON.

SAVAGE MATCHED THAT DESCRIPTION.

Joe: SO McMULLEN
SAYS, "OKAY,

HEATHER HAS FALLEN
ON HARD TIMES,

AND SHE ASKS CHRISTIAN
IF SHE CAN STAY THERE

BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE BETWEEN
HER AND HER CURRENT BOYFRIEND.

WHAT IF HER CURRENT BOYFRIEND
MISUNDERSTANDS THAT

AND DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT
CHRISTIAN ROJAS

IS OFFERING HELP,

BUT HE'S SOMEHOW RE-INVOLVED
WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND?"

McMullen: IT BROUGHT ME BACK

TO THE CONDOMS BEING THROWN
IN THE BATHTUB.

IT STARTED TO MAKE ME THINK

THAT MAYBE JAMES SAVAGE
HAD SOMETHING TO DO

WITH CHRISTIAN'S DEATH
DUE TO JEALOUSY.

OUR MARTIN SAVAGE IS
NO STRANGER TO VIOLENCE,

AND HE HAS A LONG HISTORY
OF USE OF DRUGS.

THIS MAKES HIM
ONE DANGEROUS DUDE,

PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'RE
A SMALL GUY

THAT HAS SOMEHOW
CROSSED HIS PATH.

Joe: THROUGH A SERIES OF PIECES
OF PARTS AND PUZZLES,

McMULLEN HAS ARRIVED
AT A FORMER GIRLFRIEND,

ONE HEATHER LAVELLE,

AND HER CRIMINAL NEW BOYFRIEND,
JAMES SAVAGE.

SO NOW HIS EFFORTS ARE DIRECTED
AT FINDING THEM

AND FINDING OUT
WHAT THEY KNOW ABOUT

THE UNTIMELY DEMISE
OF CHRISTIAN ROJAS.

♪♪

McMullen:
WE GOT THE ADDRESS
OF JAMES SAVAGE

FROM THE POLICE REPORT,
AND WENT TO THAT RESIDENCE

IN AN ATTEMPT
TO MAKE CONTACT WITH HIM.

CAN I HELP YOU?

WE'RE LOOKING
FOR JAMES SAVAGE.

WE ARE MET BY HIS MOTHER,
JACKIE SAVAGE.

SHE TOLD US THAT
HER SON WASN'T THERE.

SHE VERIFIED THAT HE WAS HAVING
A RELATIONSHIP

WITH HEATHER LAVELLE
AND THAT HE TOLD HER

THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GO
TO THE SHORE FOR THE WEEKEND.

Coughlin: JACKIE TELLS POLICE
THAT THE LAST TIME SHE SAW THEM,

THEY WERE UNLOADING SOME
OF HEATHER'S BELONGINGS

OUT OF JACKIE'S CAR,

AND THEY'RE TRANSFERRING IT OVER
TO A DIFFERENT CAR.

WHAT KIND OF CAR?

Joe: SHE SAYS
TO DETECTIVE McMULLEN,

THEY WERE IN
A SMALL GREEN CAR.

"I'D NEVER SEEN THAT CAR
BEFORE."

I DIDN'T THINK
HEATHER HAD A CAR.

OH, REALLY?
WELL, MY, MY, MY.

NOW, ISN'T THAT INTERESTING?

McMullen:
AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED,

THEY'RE MOST LIKELY
DRIVING CHRISTIAN'S CAR,

WHICH MEANS THAT THEY'RE
CONNECTED TO THE HOMICIDE.

THERE'S ALWAYS A MOMENT
IN A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.

IT'S A MOMENT OF EUPHORIA,
WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS SOMETHING

THAT MEANS NOTHING TO THEM

AND MEANS EVERYTHING TO YOU.

EVERYTHING.

YOU SAID THEY WERE HEADING
TO THE SHORE.

WHICH SHORE?

HE DIDN'T SPECIFICALLY SAY
WHERE.

HE JUST SAID "TO THE SHORE."

Joe:
BENSALEM, PENNSYLVANIA,

IS VERY CLOSE
TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN,

TO THE DELAWARE COAST,
TO THE MARYLAND COAST,

NORTH CAROLINA, VIRGINIA.

THEY COULD BE ANYWHERE, REALLY.

DO YOU MIND GIVING
YOUR SON A CALL FOR US?

OKAY.

DO YOU MIND IF WE COME IN
WHILE YOU MAKE THAT CALL?

OH, SURE.

WHEN PEOPLE KILL,
THEY ARE IN AN EMOTIONAL STATE

LIKE THEY'VE NEVER BEEN
IN THEIR LIVES.

THEY'RE DESPERATE.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

THEY JUST WANT TO RUN.

WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO, JAMES?

YOU'RE GOING TO GO
TO THE SHORE?

YOU GOING TO SWIM TO EUROPE?
IS THAT YOUR PLAN?

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

[ SIGHS ]

HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT
COMING HOME OR COMING BACK.

HE HAD MADE MENTION THAT
SHE MAY NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN.

[ RECEIVER CLICKS, DIAL TONE ]

McMullen:
IT SEEMED AS THOUGH,

FROM THE CONTEXT
OF THE SHORT PHONE CALL,

THAT THEY WERE ON THE RUN.

THEY SEEMED
DESPERATE FOR MONEY.

THERE WAS CONCERNS AS TO WHAT
THEY WERE GOING TO DO NEXT.

Joe:
SAVAGE IS IN DESPERATION MODE.

HE'S VIOLENT.

HE'S A DRUG ADDICT,
AND NOW HE'S SCARED.

WHAT'S HE CAPABLE OF?
ANYTHING.

McMullen:
WE WANTED TO FIND JAMES SAVAGE.
AND AT THE SAME TIME,

WE WERE WORRIED
ABOUT HEATHER'S SAFETY

BECAUSE IT WASN'T CLEAR TO US
WHAT HER ROLE IN THIS WAS.

DID HE USE HER TO GET INTO
CHRISTIAN'S APARTMENT?

DID HE FORCE HER
TO FLEE WITH HIM?

♪♪

SO AT THAT POINT, WE DECIDED
WE WANTED TO TRACK

THE CELLPHONE USED
BY JAMES SAVAGE.

THEY PING THE LOCATIONS
ON THAT CELLPHONE.

IT COMES BACK
TO THE DELAWARE COAST.

McMullen:
WE HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE
THEY HAVE FRIENDS OR RELATIVES

THERE,
WHERE THEY COULD STAY.

SO WE DECIDED TO START
CHECKING LOCAL HOTELS.

THERE WAS ONE HOTEL
THAT WAS CHECKED,

AND IT WAS DETERMINED

THAT THEY HAD JUST
CHECKED OUT EARLIER THAT DAY.

♪♪

Joe: THEY GO IN THAT MOTEL
AND CONTACT THE MANAGER.

SHE PROVIDES THEM
WITH A REGISTRATION FORM

AND SAYS THAT SAVAGE
WAS ACCOMPANIED

BY A TALL, BLONDE GIRL

WHO SAID NOTHING
DURING THE REGISTRATION PROCESS.

THEY CHECK
THE SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE,

AND THERE IS JAMES SAVAGE
AND HEATHER LAVELLE.

EXTERIOR VIDEO CAMERAS
FROM THE SAME ESTABLISHMENT

SHOWED THEM GETTING
INTO A GREEN CAR AND LEAVING,

WHICH IS THE CAR THAT WE BELIEVE
BELONGED TO CHRISTIAN.

WE ASKED IF WE COULD GO
INSIDE THE ROOM.

AND ACCORDING TO
THE HOTEL STAFF,

THE ROOM HAD NOT
EVEN BEEN CLEANED YET.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

Coughlin:
IN THE HOTEL ROOM,

THERE ARE STAINED TOWELS --
RED AND BLACK.

McMullen: IT APPEARED AS THOUGH
SOMEBODY HAD DYED THEIR HAIR

IN A VERY QUICK MANNER,
WITHOUT CLEANING UP AFTERWARDS.

I DON'T THINK THAT PEOPLE
JUST HIT THE ROAD

AND JUST ABRUPTLY
DYE THEIR HAIR COLOR

FOR NO REAL REASON AT ALL.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

Joe: THEY ALERT ENFORCEMENT,

THEY'RE STILL
IN THE SUSPECT VEHICLE

SOMEWHERE ON
THIS COASTAL HIGHWAY

AND THAT THEY NOW
CHANGED THEIR HAIR COLOR.

POLICE PUBLICIZE
THESE PHOTOGRAPHS

OF THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS,

TO BE PLACED IN EVENING NEWS
AND NEWSPAPERS.

THE NEXT DAY, THERE WAS
A CALL ON THE LINE

FROM THE POLICE
IN NAGS HEAD, NORTH CAROLINA.

THEY HAD LOCATED THE GREEN CAR
THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

Joe: THEY MAKE A TRAFFIC STOP.

AS THE OFFICER STEPS OUT OF
HIS CAR TO APPROACH THEM...

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

...THEY TAKE OFF.

HE GETS BACK IN THE CAR

AND PULLS OUT
A HIGH-SPEED PURSUIT.

CLOSE TO 100 MILES AN HOUR
DOWN THIS HIGHWAY.

THEY ARE COMIN' SOUTH,
AND THEY ARE SMOKIN'.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

McMullen:
DURING THIS CHASE,

THE POLICE EMPLOYED STOP STICKS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU ROLL OUT
IN FRONT OF A FLEEING VEHICLE.

AND WHEN THE CAR GOES OVER IT,
IT PUNCTURES THE TIRES.

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

AND THEY RUN THROUGH IT
IN THAT SMALL GREEN CAR

AND SHRED THE TIRES
OFF THE RIMS,

AND THE CAR GRINDS
TO A STOP IN A DITCH.

GET OUT OF THE CAR!

DON'T BE AN IDIOT!

McMullen: BOTH THE DRIVER
AND THE PASSENGER GOT OUT

AND RAN
IN TWO SEPARATE DIRECTIONS.

NOW THE CHASE IS ON.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

ONLY THIS TIME, IT'S ON FOOT.

DESPERATION
CAUSES THIS BEHAVIOR.

YOU ARE TERROR-STRICKEN.

YOU'RE NOT THINKING CLEARLY.

YOU'RE THINKING,
"FEET, DON'T FAIL ME NOW."

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

Joe: DETECTIVE McMULLEN'S
TWO PRIMARY SUSPECTS

HAVE BEEN PURSUED
BY THE POLICE

IN NAGS HEAD, NORTH CAROLINA.

POLICE!
SHOW ME YOUR HANDS!

GO, GO, GO!

McMullen:
THEY REFUSED TO STOP,

AND IT TURNED INTO A LONG,
DRAWN-OUT PURSUIT.

POLICE!

Joe: THE REALITY IS, WHEN YOU
RUN FROM THE POLICE,

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ESCAPE.

YOU'RE JUST GOING TO BE
VERY TIRED

AND SOAKING WET
WHEN YOU GET ARRESTED.

WHY GO THROUGH THE EXHAUSTION?

TURN AROUND
AND PUT UP YOUR HANDS.

[ SIRENS WAILING ]

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

McMullen:
ULTIMATELY, THEY WERE BOTH
APPREHENDED BY OFFICERS.

OUR NEXT STEP WAS WE HAVE TO
GET DOWN TO NAGS HEAD.

SO WE MADE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
PRETTY QUICKLY.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]THE FIRST THING WE DID,

WE HAD GOTTEN A SEARCH WARRANT
FOR THE CAR.

AND WE FOUND CLOTHING

THAT WE BELIEVED
BELONGED TO CHRISTIAN.

IT HAD BLOOD ON IT.

WE FOUND A SET
OF BRASS KNUCKLES.

AND THOSE BRASS KNUCKLES
ALSO HAD BLOOD ON THEM.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

Joe: SO WE HAVE A TRAIL OF
EVIDENCE THAT COMES OUT

OF CHRISTIAN ROJAS' HOUSE,
INTO THE TRUNK OF THE CAR

BEING DRIVEN BY JAMES SAVAGE AND
HIS COMPANION, HEATHER LAVELLE.

YET ANOTHER NAIL
IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COFFINS.

[ DOORS CLOSING IN DISTANCE ]

[ SECURITY DOOR BUZZES ]

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS
IN DISTANCE ]

McMullen:
WE TALK TO JAMES FIRST.

HE'S A BIG, SCARY GUY,

YOU COULD TELL
HE WAS JUST MAD AT THE WORLD.

AND HAVING SEEN
WHAT HE HAD DONE,

IT WAS UNNERVING
TO BE SEATED NEXT TO HIM.

WE TOLD HIM, "LOOK,
WE'RE DOWN HERE TO TALK TO YOU

ABOUT CHRISTIAN ROJAS.

WE KNOW THAT YOU WERE THERE.
WE KNOW THAT YOU WERE INVOLVED."

I MAY HAVE BEEN THERE,
BUT IT WAS THESE OTHER DUDES.

HE SAID
THAT HE AND HEATHER

HAD BEEN AT CHRISTIAN'S HOUSE
AND THAT THREE OTHER PEOPLE

CAME IN
AND DID A HOME-INVASION ROBBERY

AND THAT HE AND HEATHER
BARELY GOT OUT.

Joe: "SAVAGE IS JUST
PUKING LIES," SAID McMULLEN.

HE JUST CAN'T STOP."

WANT A SMOKE?

ALSO, McMULLEN DOESN'T WANT
SAVAGE TO SEE HIM AS AN ENEMY.

HE WANTS SAVAGE
TO CALM HIMSELF TO SOME DEGREE.

McMullen:
WE BROUGHT UP HEATHER.

WE ASKED HIM,
"DID SOMETHING BAD HAPPEN

BETWEEN HEATHER AND CHRISTIAN
THAT YOU WERE UPSET ABOUT?"

AND HE STARTED TO TALK TO US
WHEN WE APPROACHED IT THAT WAY.

I JUST WENT OVER THERE
TO TALK TO THE GUY.

JAMES SAVAGE HAD
A JEALOUSY ISSUE WITH CHRISTIAN

DUE TO THE RELATIONSHIP
THAT HEATHER HAD HAD WITH HIM.

Joe:
HE SAYS THERE WAS
AN EXCHANGE OF WORDS

BETWEEN HE AND CHRISTIAN,
AND A FIGHT BREAKS OUT.

McMullen:
HE SAID CHRISTIAN PICKED UP
A SET OF BRASS KNUCKLES.

HE GOT REALLY ANGRY ABOUT THAT
AND DISARMED CHRISTIAN

AND THEN REALLY STARTED
TO ASSAULT HIM

IN A VERY VIOLENT MANNER.

Joe: SAVAGE SAYS CHRISTIAN ROJAS
BECOMES UNCONSCIOUS,

SO HE AND HEATHER LEAVE,
AND WHEN THEY RETURN,

THEY FIND HIM DEAD
IN THE BATHTUB.

"OH, MY GOD.
HOW COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED?"

McMullen: HE SAID,
SO HE TRIED TO MAKE

THE WHOLE THING LOOK
LIKE A ROBBERY

BY TYING UP HIS BODY
AFTER HE WAS ALREADY DEAD.

Joe: IT'S A PREPOSTEROUS STORY
TO TRY TO EXPLAIN AWAY

HIS LACK OF INVOLVEMENT
IN THIS CRIME.

SO, ULTIMATELY, DESPITE HIS
ATTEMPT AT LYING PROFUSELY,

HE'S INCRIMINATING HIMSELF
IN THE DEATH OF CHRISTIAN ROJAS.

McMullen: SO, IF JAMES SAVAGE
WASN'T GOING TO BE TRUTHFUL,

MAYBE HEATHER WOULD BE
TRUTHFUL TO US.

WE WANT TO HEAR HER ACCOUNT
OF WHAT HAPPENED.

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS
WE SAID TO HER WAS --

WE SAID, "ARE YOU OKAY?

DID HE FORCE YOU
TO COME DOWN HERE?"

NO.

"I'M NOT UNDER ANY DURESS,"
WAS THE WORDS THAT SHE USED.

IT MADE ME BELIEVE
THAT SHE COULD HAVE BEEN

A WILLING PARTICIPANT
IN THIS HOMICIDE.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH CHRISTIAN.

IT DIDN'T LAST VERY LONG.
MAYBE ABOUT A MONTH.

SHE HAD TOLD US THAT,
FOR A WHILE,

HE WAS PRETTY HAPPY WITH HER.

BUT THEN WHEN HE REALIZED
THAT SHE HAD A DRUG PROBLEM,

HE HAD TO LET HER GO.

WE TALKED ABOUT
HER FALL FROM GRACE,

HOW, AT ONE TIME,
SHE WAS DOING REALLY WELL.

AND ONCE SHE STARTED
SMOKING CRACK COCAINE,

THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK.

SHE WOULD BEG, BORROW, AND STEAL
TO GET MONEY TO BUY DRUGS.

Joe: SO WHEN HEATHER BROKE UP
WITH CHRISTIAN ROJAS,

SHE GOES AND FINDS
ANOTHER BOYFRIEND.

WHEN DRUG USERS FIND
ANOTHER PERSON LIKE THEMSELVES,

WHO HAS THE SAME TASTE
FOR NARCOTICS,

THERE IS NO LIMIT
TO WHAT THEY WILL DO.

THEY WILL TAKE THEIR
GRANDMOTHER'S RINGS

OFF HER FINGERS
WHEN GRANDMA IS IN HER COFFIN

IF THEY CAN CONVERT IT
INTO MONEY TO FEED THEIR HABIT.

McMullen: AFTER JAMES SAVAGE
AND HEATHER LAVELLE

HAD THAT DOMESTIC DISPUTE,
HEATHER LEFT JAMES.

SHE HAD NOWHERE TO GO,

AND SHE WOUND UP
GOING BACK TO CHRISTIAN

AND ASKING HIM FOR HELP,
AND HE LET HER IN.

HEATHER KNEW THAT SHE COULD
GO TO CHRISTIAN,

BECAUSE CHRISTIAN WAS KIND,
CHRISTIAN WAS LOVING,

CHRISTIAN CARED ABOUT PEOPLE.

BUT THEN YOU WENT BACK
TO JAMES?

YEAH.

Joe: BECAUSE, OF COURSE,
SHE STILL NEEDS NARCOTICS.

"YOU HAVE TO HELP ME.
I NEED MORE DRUGS."

THEN, SHE TELLS SAVAGE
ABOUT CHRISTIAN,

AND SHE ALSO TELLS HIM
HE HAS A SAFE IN HIS HOUSE.

McMullen: IT WAS STARTING
TO BECOME CLEAR TO US

THAT HEATHER WAS THE BRAINS
BEHIND THIS.

HEATHER STILL HAD A KEY
TO CHRISTIAN'S HOUSE.

Joe: THEY WANTED DRUG MONEY,

AND CHRISTIAN
WAS THE POTENTIAL SOURCE.

McMullen: THEY FOUND A SAFE
AND BROKE IT OPEN.

THEY FOUND LIKE $40.

[ CLATTER ]WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!

[ CLATTER ]

NOW THEY'RE ANGRY BECAUSE
THEY WANTED TO HAVE A GOOD SCORE

AND THEY DIDN'T GET IT.

SO THEY WAITED FOR HIM
TO ARRIVE HOME.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

WHAT THE HELL IS
GOING ON HERE?

WHERE'S THE MONEY,
CHRISTIAN?

Coughlin:
WHEN HE ARRIVED HOME,

HER AND JAMES
CONFRONTED HIM.

ANSWER HER!

I-I JUST SENT
SOME MONEY HOME, OKAY?

EVERYTHING THAT'S LEFT
IS IN THE SAFE, OKAY?

HE'S LYING.

Coughlin:
JAMES IS IN A JEALOUS RAGE,

AND IMMEDIATELY SPARKS FLY.

WHERE IS IT?!I'M NOT LYING! NO!

[ GASPING ]

McMullen: THE FIGHT
BETWEEN CHRISTIAN AND JAMES

WAS LIKE DAVID AND GOLIATH.

THERE WAS NO CONTEST.

♪♪

Savage: YOU GOT THE MONEY
SOMEWHERE!

I SWEAR!

DON'T!

[ SMACK ]AAH!

McMullen:
HEATHER WAS VERY PARANOID

THAT SOMEBODY
WAS GOING TO HEAR THEM.

[ WHIMPERING ]

NO, NO, NO!

[ GASPING ]

AT SOME POINT,
SHE TOOK A SOCK

AND JAMMED IT
INTO HIS THROAT.

[ GAGGING ]

CHRISTIAN'S LAST MOMENTS
WERE TERRIFYING.

McMullen:
JAMES THREW THE CONDOMS
IN THE BATHTUB

BECAUSE HE WAS ANGRY
THAT HEATHER AND CHRISTIAN

HAD SLEPT TOGETHER.

IT PROVED THAT JEALOUSY
WAS DEFINITELY A FACTOR

IN THIS MURDER.

[ GRUNTS LOUDLY ]IN A PANIC, THEY TRIED

TO MAKE THE WHOLE THING
LOOK LIKE A ROBBERY.

♪♪

[ SIREN WAILS ]

HEATHER KNEW EXACTLY
WHAT SHE WAS DOING.

SHE WAS THE ARCHITECT
OF THE SCAM.

[ SECURITY DOOR BUZZES ]

McMullen: SHE BROUGHT SAVAGE
INTO CHRISTIAN'S HOUSE,

AND SHE ENABLED
EVERYTHING TO HAPPEN,

AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED,

SHE IS ABSOLUTELY AS GUILTY
AS SAVAGE

OF KILLING CHRISTIAN.

Joe: BOTH JAMES SAVAGE
AND HEATHER LAVELLE

WERE EXTRADITED BACK
TO PENNSYLVANIA.

THEY WERE CHARGED WITH HOMICIDE
AND RELATED OFFENSES.

THEY WERE ORIGINALLY FACING
THE DEATH PENALTY.

HOWEVER,
THE TRIAL NEVER OCCURRED,

BECAUSE
BOTH OF THEM PLED GUILTY.

THEY BOTH WERE SENTENCED
TO LIFE IN PRISON,

WHERE THEY REMAIN TO THIS DAY.

McMullen: I DID GET TO MEET
CHRISTIAN'S FAMILY.

AND THEY WERE THERE WHEN THE
SENTENCE WAS ACTUALLY IMPOSED.

I KNOW THAT THEY GAVE
VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENTS.

Coughlin: THEY WERE VERY VOCAL
ABOUT THE FACT

THAT THE CONVICTION,
WHILE IMPORTANT,

DIDN'T BRING HIM BACK.

McMullen: CHRISTIAN WAS LOVED
BY A LOT OF PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, HE WAS A GOOD SOUL,
HE WAS A TRUSTING PERSON.

UNFORTUNATELY, HE HAD OPENED
HIS DOOR TO SOME EVIL PEOPLE.

HUMAN NATURE CAN GET VERY LOW.

Joe: CHRISTIAN ROJAS,
27 YEARS OF AGE,

TRULY INNOCENT, WELL-EDUCATED,

COMES TO AMERICA
TO LIVE THE AMERICAN DREAM.

AND WHAT HE DISCOVERS
IS THE AMERICAN NIGHTMARE

IN THE PERSON
OF ONE HEATHER LAVELLE.

NOT CHRISTIAN'S PLAN,
BUT CERTAINLY THE RESULT.

HOW SAD IS THAT?