Original subtitles

[Instrumental music]

Jay.

[Music continues]

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[Dramatic music]

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Okay, I did it.

[Music continues]

Why am I here?

Partial confession at the scene.

Partial?

- She caught me by surprise. - How?

- She said, "I did it." - So, what's the problem?

I ask her about the blood and she blurts out, "I did it.

Please don't arrest me in front of my kids."

'Her son starts accusing her'

we pull her off to the side, put the cuffs

bring her down here.

After you mirandized her?

I was rattled, it wasn't until we got in the car.

Your actions may have resulted in a questionable confession.

It sounds so much better when you say it.

Her son accused her? What did he say, exactly?

"You finally did it, didn't you?

You killed him, just like you always said you would."

Talk to me about the victim.

Peter Stratton, psychiatrist. 62-years old.

'Thriving practice at the university med center.'

married karena Stratton when he was 40.

She was 18.

Creepy, but not criminal.

Is the confession going to be a problem?

Wouldn't hurt to shore it up with corroborating evidence.

Here's what we got so far.

Somebody crushed his skull

with a blunt object, probably wood.

Techs recovered wood particles from the scalp.

'Body temperature indicates time of death around 9:00 P.M.'

son found the body approximately 12 hours later.

She let her kid discover the body?

Talk about a freudian moment.

Bloody prints on the front walk, pointing away from the house.

'And a bloody fingerprint on the leash.'

'which she wiped down, but she missed a spot.'

his blood, her print, their dog.

Killed her husband, then took the dog for a walk.

First things first.

Anyone else there other that the son?

Younger sister. They're with the grandparents now.

The Stratton's have two other kids.

One in Florida and one in college here. Karli and David.

- Murder weapon? - Unrecovered so far.

She could've chucked the weapon when she walked the dog.

Pd did a sweep. Came up with zero.

She's been vague on where she went that night.

Question her again.

'It's too late. She lawyered up.'

public defender.

'Alright, look.'

talk to the kids before they've a chance

to contaminate each other's stories.

And I wanna know more about these threats

she might've made against her husband.

And find that murder weapon.

She's been threatening to kill him for years.

Ever since I can remember.

You know where she might have went that night, with the dog?

I don't know. She usually just takes her around the block.

Was it unusual to come to the kitchen and your mom not up yet?

Yeah, but it's obvious why.

She wanted me to find him.

I never heard my mom threaten my dad.

Not once, my whole life.

Jay said it was an everyday thing.

He says she's paranoid. He hates my mom.

Always has. He's a fanatic.

My dad treated some very sick people.

Very disturbed people.

Psychotics. I mean, maniacs.

It had to be one of his patients.

I just know it.

One kid says, she did it, one says no way

and another is in complete denial.

- What about the older sister? - Karli.

We got through to her in boca raton.

She's not coming back for the funeral.

She's not coming in for her own father's funeral? Interesting.

Have her deposed down there.

In the absence of the weapon, can we charge Mrs. Stratton?

A confession should be enough, if it isn't thrown out.

I understand there's a new sheriff in town.

Thought I'd pop up and pay my respects.

Doug hellman, Jim conlon.

Jim, it's nice to meet you. Annabeth, Maureen.

By the way, I'm gonna need all your evidentiary material

on the Stratton case so far.

You're representing her?

Mrs. Stratton called a few hours ago

and asked me to take, so, as soon as you can.

And I have a few things to drop off here.

Here's a motion to suppress initial interview

motion to suppress the second interrogation

and motion to suppress the so-called confession.

I assume you are charging her?

With murder.

Well, I'll see you at the arraignment then.

Jim, it's nice to meet you.

Annabeth, Maureen, always a pleasure.

Better call the babysitter. It's gonna be a late night.

- You worried about these? - Not if we're prepared.

Doug hellman's a big bump up from public defender.

Yeah? Well, I'm a giant step up from my predecessor.

State of Indiana versus Stratton. One count of murder.

(Male judge) 'How do you plead?'

not guilty, your honor.

Ask the defendant be held without bail.

Surely, not even our exuberant prosecuting attorney

is suggesting that Mrs. Stratton is a danger to the community.

We have forensic evidence and a confession.

Which has no chance of surviving the motion to suppress.

She was fully mirandized.

Well, after she was taken into custody

by an over zealous police officer.

She freely admitted to the crime.

She was attempting to spare her children further trauma.

She would've said anything.

Including "I did it?"

Counsel has not yet addressed my question.

Now, how is Mrs. Stratton a danger to anybody?

She callously left her husband's bloody body

where her own children could find it.

'She's a danger to them at least.'

she killed her husband, your honor.

Res ipsa loquitur. The thing speaks for itself.

That remains to be seen, Ms. Chase.

Indiana criminal code, section 353382.

'A murder charge is bailable when the proof of guilt'

is not sufficiently evident.

Bail is set at $150,000.

'The minor children will remain in the custody'

of the maternal grandparents.

Assuming you make bail

'you're not to go near the children'

'or I will revoke your bail'

sooner than you can say Jack Robinson, you hear me?

- Yes. - Your honor.

- Your honor. - Next case.

- Okay, we did well. - 'Case number 52745.'

you know and I know she did this.

We know your evidence is weak. Wanna make a deal?

You're out of your mind.

When you come crawling back.

I promise to be gentle.

Hellman's tryin' to see if he can make us blink.

Dig into this and find a motive.

We're arranging for depositions from the kids.

We've asked Dr. Parent to do a walk-through of the scene.

See if she can get an insight into the psychologist and wife.

Takes one to know one. Let me be clear about one thing.

There will be no sweetheart deals in murder cases.

(Maureen) 'Amazing how normal they look.'

'notice anything about these pictures?'

uh, the kids. The kids and mom.

The kids and mom and the dog.

The kids at school. But where's dad?

She excludes him from her domain, and she advertises it.

Look in here.

'Kids' clothes meticulously stacked.'

'mom does hers out of sight.'

classic act of martyrdom.

And she won't even touch the husband's laundry.

So he leaves it out, to remind her of her misbehavior.

All that from a pile of laundry.

Dad does the same thing.

He wants everyone to know he worships his kids.

No shrine to mom or karli, the oldest daughter.

The one who got away. And just one picture of David.

And look.

- His eyes are closed. - Now, is that symbolic?

Like he's blind to something or..?

I don't know what Dr. Stratton saw in this picture.

But we can assume from the fact

that he chose to display it.

He obviously didn't like David as much as the other two.

(Dr. Parent) 'David was on mom's side.'

[Instrumental music]

That's interesting.

[Music continues]

Annabeth, I hope you're in a receptive frame of mind.

Save your breath, we got a really strong case.

I'll save mine, but karena has something you'll wanna hear.

We found the murder weapon, Doug.

Which she tried to destroy.

It's a match.

It was self-defense. He attacked me.

Bruises on her back and shoulder.

(Annabeth) 'That's a shadow, not a bruise.'

'she bashes his head in'

'leaves his body overnight in his study'

where her children can find it, then goes upstairs to bed.

What part of that argues self-defense?

Don't forget, she was so injured

that she walked to get rid of the murder weapon

'then walked back home again.'

my adrenaline was pumping.

Yeah, I bet it was.

What precipitated this alleged attack?

I finally got up the courage and I went to him

that night and said it was over.

I wanted a divorce.

And custody of Jay and Francesca.

'He slammed me against the wall.'

shoved me into a table.

(Maureen) 'Any evidence of this, a witness?'

(karena) 'Francesca was upstairs and Jay was out.'

I thought he was going to kill me.

And I grabbed that bat.

His precious cricket bat, which was a joke.

He never played cricket, except the summer he spent at Oxford.

Mrs. Stratton.

What happened after he attacked you?

- I whirled around and hit him. - Then left him for dead.

- I didn't know he was dead. - 'Why didn't you call 911?'

I didn't think he was hurt that badly.

'It was all a blur. I walked Maggie.'

I went upstairs and I went to bed.

Burning the bat, was that a blur?

I thought he'd use it against me to take the kids.

You mean your assault with a deadly weapon?

My defending myself.

I had to get rid of the bat, so I burned it.

Doug, come on, are you kidding me?

Now look, we are prepared to accept a charge of involuntary

manslaughter for four years, two suspended.

- Voluntary man, ten years. - 'Four suspended.'

- she'll do six. - Stop. Four years?

Six years, that's completely unacceptable, I'm innocent.

Why should I go to prison?

Karena, just let me...

You're not listening to me, any of you.

I am listening. We are all listening here.

When I was 15, I was Peter's psychiatric patient.

Is this part of the show?

At the moment, I have to say we're a little bit off the map.

I was 15.

I was troubled, vulnerable.

He was my doctor.

'He was supposed to help me.'

and instead he seduced me.

He seduced you?

He had sex with me.

Did he ever coerce you into having sex?

Coerce, what does that mean? I was a kid.

But you grew up and married him.

You had four children with him.

I was young. I didn't know what else to do.

He was the only man I..

Getting married made us normal.

It made everything okay.

'For everyone else.'

for my parents.

As far as everyone else was concerned

we were the all-American family.

Mrs. Stratton, even if what you're saying is true

it doesn't justify you murdering your husband 25 years later.

You have to admit, it makes a hell of a story.

So, the self-defense was predicated on the abuse.

The story may ring true to some people.

Guarantee hellman'll milk it for everything its worth.

You gotta push back.

Talk about the victim's standing in the community.

A respected psychiatrist with a 30 year practice.

Spin the wife as greedy and conniving.

This is not New York. People are not big on psychiatrists.

And this one molested his teenage patient.

If we hammer on this, we give it credence.

Look, you gotta play hardball.

Which I'm saying could backfire.

I just got a fax from Peter Stratton's lawyer.

He says, Dr. Stratton wanted the divorce.

He was all set to file.

He told his lawyer he was afraid of his wife.

- Feared for his life. - Hearsay.

Though we could get it in.

I know the existing mental condition exception.

If divorce was his idea, it's hard for her to claim

that he attacked her when she brought it up.

[Instrumental music]

Well, you've had a busy week.

Two radio shows, an op-ed.

Yes, which generated three letters to the editor

calling Peter Stratton a pervert of one sort or another.

And Indiana, grandmas, who happen to make up at least half

of all jurors, are just gonna hate your victim.

You really think you can spin the jury pool so blatantly?

Yeah, well, I prefer to think of it as setting the table

to insure people keep an open mind.

Speaking of setting the table. Thanks.

Defense attorneys don't usually ask the people out to lunch

unless they're up to something.

So how are you doing by the way?

I'm okay.

Thanks for asking.

I just wanted to give you a heads-up, uh, corinna wants

to be present at the kids' depositions.

- No. Not a chance. - She has a legal right.

She has a restraining order.

She can't come within two miles of her kids.

Already run it past judge Cooper

and long as a bailiff's pre...

You and I know, she wants to intimidate

the witnesses, a.K.A. Her children.

I've got her word she won't open her mouth.

Yeah, that's legally binding.

Doug, come on, who's interested in depositions except lawyers?

Well, apparently Mrs. Stratton

takes an avid interest in the law.

I'm sure she does.

And while you were talking to your dad?

My mother came in.

I was tired, so I said "goodnight", went upstairs.

Did you hear them arguing after you went upstairs?

I heard them, but my parents don't argue.

They're both really good at talking about their feelings

things like that, so..

It's not so much arguing, more like, you know, discussion.

- Heated discussion. - Normal.

Could you hear what they were discussing?

I-I was listening to music.

And chatting with my friends online.

[Instrumental music]

Jay calls me up, "mom killed dad."

"Mom killed dad!"

[Sighs]

I'm like, "did you see mom kill dad?"

"Uh... no."

"Well, how do you know that, Jay?"

"She just did."

I tried talking to him but you can't talk to him.

- He hates my mom. - Why does he hate your mom?

To be on my dad's side.

Anything that comes outta my brother's mouth

it's like it's coming outta my dad's mouth.

So your father also hated your mother?

He was always trying to convince you that she was wrong..

Or stupid, or crazy.

He was a master manipulator.

He'd make you think anything he said was your idea first.

You thought he was agreeing with you

'but it was you agreeing with him.'

(Doug) 'Was he that way with your mom?'

(David) 'He was that way with everybody.'

when I was like 11 or 12, mom finally caught on

and started doing it back to him.

'And he really didn't like that at all.'

she stood up for me.

She gave me the spine to stand up for her.

Did your father resent you for standing up for your mom?

That's when things really got bad.

Ever since then, it was like non-stop warfare in our house.

She'd fight with my dad over anything.

It's like a full-time job. Fighting with my dad.

'She was fighting with him the day he was killed.'

- what was that fight about? - One of their favorites.

The garage door opener, there's nothing wrong with it.

She's helpless, she can't figure it out

so it became all about my dad keeping her

in prison for the rest of her life.

He deliberately provided me a non-working remote.

- Doug. - Corinna, you cannot address...

But it's true, he did.

Did you ever hear your mother threaten your father's life?

She was always threatening him.

It's like, "I'm going to poison you."

"I'm gonna throw a hairdryer in the bathtub."

Like a joke but not a joke. Ha-ha, real funny, right?

Try hearing it everyday of your life.

Did you father take these threats seriously?

Sure he did. He was scared.

Did you ever hear your mother talk about getting a divorce?

If she got a divorce, who'd she fight with?

The only reason I never left your father was to protect you.

I don't need your protection!

- I don't need your mind games... - My mind games?

Baby, he was the manipulator.

This is not a family therapy session, Mrs. Stratton.

One more word and I'll have your bail revoked.

That's the deal, corinna. You cannot talk to the kids.

Okay, i'm.. Okay.

Did your father ever mistreat you or your siblings?

- No. - 'He yelled at all of them.'

- especially David. - You can't talk to me either.

Well, shouldn't you object or something?

- Don't believe what he says. - Can't object at a deposition.

He might as well be his father.

Listen to me, this is off the record.

Now, listen, this is not the way we do this.

Now, I need you to trust me and have Patience

and let me handle things.

Let me tell you something, I've been patient.

I've been patient my entire life

'waiting for somebody to listen to me.'

'and you stand here and you tell me'

I should let you handle things.

I don't want you handling things.

I want you gone.

I think we could use a little recess here.

I mean, off this case.

Corinna, you don't mean that.

Think about what you're saying here.

Please inform the judge. I no longer require your services.

The next time you find yourself talking to a lawyer

young man, you'll be talking to me.

(Doug) 'Corinna, this is not a good idea.'

I have a constitutional right to represent myself.

Don't tell me I don't.

[Dramatic music]

This situation is highly unusual and potentially problematic.

The defendant will be cross-examining

her own children who are arguably ancillary

victims of the crime.

Counselor is the attorney of record.

I would simply say, your honor

that I believe Mrs. Stratton would be more effectively

represented by counsel.

Mrs. Stratton.

The supreme court affirmed in faretta v. California

the sixth amendment right to self-representation.

'Even where such self-representation would be'

'to a defendant's own detriment.'

I would like to invoke that right.

- You've done your homework. - I always do, your honor.

'I'd like to state for the record that I think'

this is a misguided idea.

Mrs. Stratton, would you please acknowledge for the court

reporter that you've heard me?

Yes, your honor, I understand you think it's a bad idea.

'Counselor, this is your lucky day.'

you will sit second chair and participate as needed.

So ordered.

[Instrumental music]

I heard.

Pro se cases rarely work out for the defendant.

I know. I should be happy to have her representing herself

but why do I have this uneasy feeling?

Be careful. It's like playing tennis

against someone worse than yourself.

You play down, you'd end up losing.

We're not gonna play down, but corinna's going to be

talking to the jury all day, every day

destroying her dead husband's reputation.

- If hellman's smart. - Which he is.

That's exactly what he'll get her to do.

Harp on what a creep he was.

Hope to peel off a sympathetic juror or two and hang the case.

I got the oldest daughter's deposition from Florida.

'Fills out the family portrait.'

Jay hates mom, David hates dad, Francesca's in denial

and this one, Carly, hates them both.

Sounds like a perfect storm.

Look, I know you're swamped but I still need

those indictment status reports in before you leave.

The entire seventh floor got theirs in early.

Alright, how'd you want to divvy this up?

You take the m.E. And shrinks. I'll take the kids?

Delicious.

The victim was sitting with his back turned to his assailant.

The location of the wound clearly indicates

that he was struck from behind.

In your professional opinion, were the victim's wounds

consistent with a claim of self-defense?

In my professional opinion, they were not consistent

with self-defense.

Your witness.

Not consistent.

- Does that mean impossible? - I've never seen it.

Objection, your honor.

- What are you objecting to? - His tone.

'You can't object to his tone.'

'counselor, please educate your client'

'on the basics of courtroom procedure.'

'move on, Mrs. Stratton.'

do you recognize this?

It's the autopsy report on Dr. Stratton.

Can you read what I've highlighted on page seven?

"Evidence of silent cerebral infarction."

Is that from getting hit on the head?

No. It's a small cerebral stroke.

Many people have silent

non-fatal strokes, Mrs. Stratton.

'Some estimates, they're found in 12 percent of autopsies.'

what brings on a stroke?

High blood pressure. Genetics, stress.

Is it possible that this stroke was brought on

by the stress of Peter attacking me?

Objection. Facts not in evidence.

Mrs. Stratton, please rephrase the question.

'Make it more hypothetical.'

is it possible that a person could attack someone

have a stroke and die?

- Well, of course it's possible. - Thank you.

I'm finished, your honor.

Redirect, your honor.

Is that what happened here, doctor?

Did Dr. Stratton have a fatal stroke caused by

the stress of his fight with Mrs. Stratton?

The state of fibrinoid necrosis indicates that

this trauma happened a minimum of 12 to 15 months ago.

- This stroke was an old event. - Refresh our memory, doctor.

What was the official cause of death again?

Massive blood loss as a result of severe head trauma.

If somebody hadn't hit him on the head

with a heavy, blunt object..

None of us would be sitting here today.

Objection, your honor. There he goes again.

I agree with you. Sustained.

I noticed the light under the door in my dad's office.

Keep thinking if I'd have gone in to say goodnight..

And he was still alive, maybe...

I could have saved him.

What happened the next morning?

I found my dad lying on the floor of his office.

First thing I thought, "she did it. She finally did it."

- Speculating. - Objection, your honor.

The witness was not asked what he was thinking.

'Sustained.'

- Hi, Jay. - Hi, mom.

Your honor, the restraining order requires Mrs. Stratton

to keep her distance.

Mrs. Stratton, move back, please.

Did you ever know anybody named Danny depaul?

You know I did.

Can you tell the court who he was?

He was my best friend in junior high.

What happened to Danny depaul, your friend?

He... killed himself with his father's gun.

Please tell the court what your father

got you for your 15th birthday, just six months later.

What he gave me? It was from both of you.

No, it wasn't.

Whatever..

It was a hunting rifle.

'And didn't that strike you as strange?'

I'd asked one the year before. You guys said I was too young.

Did you ever wonder if he wanted you

to do what Danny had done?

Mom... you-you need help.

There's no way I ever thought that.

You reminded him I'd asked for it.

You told him to buy it. You can't make stuff up.

That is your father talking, putting words in your mouth.

Objection! She's testifying.

'Sustained.'

tell me this, did you ever go hunting?

No. I-I wanted a guitar.

I told dad, took the gun back and got me a guitar.

That's what happened.

[Intense music]

I wonder what she was trying to accomplish today.

Did she think Jay was suddenly gonna take her side?

Well, let's hope the jury sees corinna

for what she is, controlling and border line delusional.

- You okay? - Yeah.

It's 8:30, I got to get another report out to conlon.

Change can be good.

Believe me, I've had enough change to last me a lifetime.

This is hard.

I should be home.

Sometimes I worry that Haley pulled the short straw.

I'm all she has now.

Hey, I was raised by a single working mom and look at me.

Yeah.

Question is, do I really want my daughter

to grow up to be like us?

[Both laughing]

So who's her first witness?

David, the loyal one.

Welcome to the Stratton family, home of parallel universes

and alternative realities.

[Instrumental music]

David, can you please tell the jury

how you feel about spiders?

Spiders?

'You know, spider world.'

you want me to talk about spider world?

Please.

When I was about eight

you took me and Jay to a nature movie.

Only it wasn't for little kids.

It was a 3-d movie and the spider was, two stories high.

We both started crying.

Jay wet his pants.

It was awful.

David, can you read from this?

Your honor, Mrs. Stratton needs to identify that document.

These are psychiatric files on my children

kept by my late husband.

Side bar, your honor?

Mrs. Stratton, you cannot withhold evidence

so that you can bushwhack the people at trial.

Your honor, these witnesses are minors.

Their mother cannot exploit access

to their confidential medical records.

Your honor, I wrestled with this.

There's stuff in these files that'll be very painful

for my family, I finally decided last night

that I had to share them.

What Mrs. Stratton means is that her right

to defend herself outweighs

any patient's right to confidentiality.

These children have privacy rights

under state and federal law.

Not when the defendant is facing a murder charge, they don't.

I'm inclined to agree with you, Mr. Hellman.

Mrs. Stratton, you may continue.

Your honor, the people need time

to prepare for cross-examination.

After this witness, we will adjourn for the day

so that the people may review this new evidence.

I do not like surprises, Mrs. Stratton.

(Cooper) 'Don't do it again.'

step back.

Can you tell the court what it says there

'the part I highlighted?'

"August 12th.

"I took the boys to see spider world.

"It was a significant stressor.

"Later induced hypnosis..

"suggested their mother took them.

(Karena) 'Can you open that second file, and read what's on top?'

this is from the day after your brother Jay's 15th birthday.

"January 10th.

"Jay very upset over gun.

"Calmed him.

"Induced hypnosis.

"Suggested gun was his mother's idea.

"Suggested I wanted him to have a guitar.

"Upon awakening, Jay asked for guitar.

"Affirmative data.

Stressors seem to increase suggestibility."

Your honor, I would like to enter into evidence these files.

Which document years of psychological experimentation

including behavioral modification and hypnosis

performed on my kids, at the hands of their father.

All of which was raw data for a clinical trial

at Indiana university on adolescent behavior.

My husband used his own children as Guinea pigs.

The defense rests, your honor.

[Intense music]

[Sighs]

Thirty years of confidential patient files.

Where did the children's files come from?

She claims they were mislabeled among his patient files

and she finally broke the code.

Smart lady, she knows how to lie to a judge and get away with it.

He turned his children into lab rats.

He deliberately stressed them out, and then measured them

for their susceptibility to being hypnotized.

It's safe to say, she gained points with the jury.

If she knew where those files were, she knew what he's up to.

She's complicit.

And we need to use that complicity for our rebuttal.

This is interesting.

Hypnosis with Francesca

dated a couple of months before the murder.

"Suggested she'd choose to live with me

not her mother, after divorce."

According to her deposition

Francesca was in her father's study that night.

What if he was hypnotizing her when karena walked in on them?

Using it to influence her in a divorce proceeding.

So she sees him doing to their daughter

what he's been doing to her for years.

Controlling her, manipulating her.

(Dr. Perrin) 'She might even feel jealous.'

Francesca's taking her place

as an object of the doctor's attention.

But she hates him.

Still, it's the only attention she gets

the only dynamic that she knows.

She's a control freak, too.

Now she's losing control of the situation.

So she grabs the cricket bat.

If Francesca can remember anything about that night

she may be our rebuttal witness.

Assistant prosecuting attorney annabeth chase.

Hi. I'm Carly.

We were told you were in Florida.

I just got in last night.

I came up to be with my brother and sister

lend them some moral support.

Come in.

Uh, I was actually hoping to talk to your sister.

My grandparents are out, and I'm pretty sure grandma

doesn't want Francesca talking to anyone.

Can I ask you a question?

Why didn't you come home for your dad's funeral?

'Cause I'm selfish, according to my mom.

Never mind. You don't know my family.

I'm beginning to.

Carly, were you aware of what your father was doing?

The hypnosis thing?

I figured that one out, my first year of college.

Twisted, huh?

Why do you wanna talk to Francesca?

I think she can help us establish

what really happened that night, definitively.

You mean, convict my mother.

Carly, you realize, if your mom's acquitted

she'll have custody of Francesca and Jay.

Francesca, you need to talk to her.

Tell her whatever you know.

I already have.

When you went into your father's study that night

what exactly did the two of you talk about?

Francesca, don't you realize?

He was hypnotizing you.

- No, he wasn't. - Yes, he was.

And you have to understand, franny, he did it to all of us.

The worst part is, mom knew.

She let it happen.

You don't understand, I can't.

You need to tell the truth, franny, in court.

Can you make me?

I can. But I'm not going to.

No, I mean, can you make me, like legally? Because..

If you make me, then my mom won't be mad at me.

He called it his calm down voice.

When I was upset about something

dad would take me into his office and start talking.

I'd listen and breathe.

Like a game, kind of.

Is that what happened that night?

I was upset. We went into his study.

He got down this file, like he usually did, and..

He started talking.

(Annabeth) 'What were you upset about?'

(Francesca) 'It was something my mom had told me.'

she said, I needed to come live with her.

(Annabeth) 'And what did she tell you?'

she told me what my dad had done to her

when she was his patient, when she was my age.

(Francesca) 'I didn't believe her at first.'

- so what did you do? - I went to talk to my dad.

- I told him what she had said. - What did he say?

He said he'd made a terrible mistake..

And that my mom had held it over him their whole lives.

Objection! She shouldn't have to talk about this.

She was under hypnosis, her memory is unreliable.

Strong vs. State excludes evidence derived from hypnosis.

I'm merely establishing whether the hypnosis took place.

Overruled.

(Cooper) 'Go on.'

Francesca, did he talk to you in his calm down voice?

That's the thing, he didn't that night.

He didn't use his calm down voice.

(Francesca) 'He said he was too tired.'

(annabeth) 'Then what happened?'

my mom came in.

She said..

"You can't just put her under

"and turn her against me like that.

You can't get rid of me that easily."

What do you think she meant by that?

At the time, I had no idea

but... now I realize she thought I was under hypnosis.

(Annabeth) 'Did she say anything else?'

she said she was going to ruin his reputation.

And he said..

"You've been saying that for 20 years. Go ahead.

I'm retiring anyway. I don't care anymore."

(Annabeth) 'Did your dad sound angry?'

he was tired, not angry.

Just..

Really, really tired.

Of everything.

Thank you, Francesca. Nothing further, your honor.

I'm sorry, darling.

I know you didn't wanna be here today

and the prosecution forced you.

(Karena) 'You're a brave girl.'

I want you to tell the truth.

If you had to decide..

Would you choose your father or would you choose me?

I wish I'd chosen you.

Good girl.

Can you tell us why?

Because..

Maybe then you wouldn't have killed daddy.

The facts are clear in this case.

The defendant does not dispute them.

She murdered her husband, and tried to destroy the evidence.

The children are the real victims here.

No matter what Peter Stratton did or did not do.

No matter what crimes and injuries he may have committed

'against his family and his wife..'

murder was not the remedy.

And karena Stratton is guilty of murder.

I was 15 years old.

He was my doctor.

And I had a big crush on him.

One day, I let him know how I felt.

He stood up, and he locked the door.

And then he asked me if he could sit next to me on the couch.

(Karena) 'I had no experience.'

when he sat next to me, I started to cry.

He was very gentle.

Hugging me, brushing away my tears.

I thought I was in love.

And I thought I was healed.

(Karena) 'So when you ask yourself, "why didn't she leave him?"'

think back to that little girl.

So trusting, so vulnerable.

And the only way she could make sense of her life

was to marry her seducer.

And I did want to leave him, many, many times over the years.

But I just could not walk away and leave my children with him.

Believe me, if anyone knew what he was capable of..

It was me.

[Instrumental music]

(Cooper) 'State of Indiana vs. Karena Denise Stratton.'

'the jury finds the defendant'

on the charge of murder..

Guilty.

[Indistinct chattering]

Hey, hey, congrats.

'You out-lawyered the mother of the year.'

if she's the standard for motherhood

I guess I'm doing pretty well.

Speaking of motherhood, child protective services called.

The eldest sister Carly is going for custody.

They'd like you two to testify.

(Maureen) 'She's taking them to Florida?'

she's returning home to Indianapolis.

She wants joint custody with the grandparents.

- I'll support that, happily. - Me, too.

You know what I think?

You won, don't rub it in.

I think they lived to fight with each other.

Conflict was their relationship.

Yeah, and the relationship was her whole life.

He threatened to take that away, so she snapped.

They were both getting something out of that sick dynamic.

I went through a pretty horrible divorce a few years back.

I know.

Yeah. Well..

The pain eventually goes away.

I mean, mostly. But, uh, the loneliness..

You know, when I have a good day

I still catch myself picking up the phone to call her.

So, annabeth, how are you doing?

- I mean, really. - Up and down.

Good days and bad. Like you.

[Phone ringing]

Excuse me.

Hello.

Hi.

Yeah. Oh, okay. Well, I am on my way.

See you there.

- Ex-wife? - 'Ah, it's a new girlfriend.'

she's just getting back from a trip.

Her plane just got in, I gotta meet her.

Airport rendezvous?

Clearly getting serious.

Well, serious is meeting the parents.

Airport run is strictly romance.

'Winner gets the check?'

that would be me.

- Goodnight, counselor. - Goodnight, counselor.

[Instrumental music]

Hi. It's annabeth.

She's doing good?

Okay.

Stay tuned for scenes from our next episode.