Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:10,877 --> 00:00:15,047
[soft ambient music]
2
00:00:15,115 --> 00:00:16,915
- When I think of newport beach,
3
00:00:16,984 --> 00:00:22,187
I think of the ultimate kinda
california active lifestyle.
4
00:00:24,058 --> 00:00:25,690
- It's paradise.
5
00:00:25,759 --> 00:00:27,025
There's beautiful beaches all over the place.
6
00:00:27,094 --> 00:00:30,729
The most prevalent crimes down here are property crimes,
7
00:00:30,797 --> 00:00:32,897
Some boat accidents
related to alcohol.
8
00:00:32,899 --> 00:00:34,500
Homicides are rare.
9
00:00:39,540 --> 00:00:42,841
- A rope was attached
to the back of the speedboat.
10
00:00:42,910 --> 00:00:45,410
And on the other end
of the rope was a man.
11
00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:49,448
- He was yelling, "help me.
My wife is missing."
12
00:00:49,450 --> 00:00:52,885
- I had to hope that
they were gonna find her.
13
00:00:52,953 --> 00:00:54,353
- But things weren't addin' up.
14
00:01:00,460 --> 00:01:02,627
- And we said, "why didn't you
tell us this initially?"
15
00:01:02,696 --> 00:01:06,598
- We didn't divulge how much
blood we did find on the boat.
16
00:01:08,535 --> 00:01:10,101
- He goes, "you seem like
you're afraid of me."
17
00:01:10,103 --> 00:01:12,137
I go, "I'm terrified of you."
18
00:01:12,205 --> 00:01:13,538
- It's like, how can I act normal?
19
00:01:13,607 --> 00:01:15,106
I'm sitting across
from a killer.
20
00:01:15,176 --> 00:01:17,742
[dramatic music]
21
00:01:17,811 --> 00:01:20,745
[soft eerie music]
22
00:01:20,814 --> 00:01:27,686
♪ ♪
23
00:01:31,892 --> 00:01:34,593
- 50 miles south of the glitz and glamour of hollywood
24
00:01:34,661 --> 00:01:37,396
Is the jewel of southern california's coast,
25
00:01:37,464 --> 00:01:39,797
Newport beach.
26
00:01:39,867 --> 00:01:43,968
It's home to upscale estates
with impressive ocean views,
27
00:01:43,970 --> 00:01:46,905
Private yachts,
and the prime pacific waves
28
00:01:46,974 --> 00:01:50,308
Of any surfer's dreams.
29
00:01:50,377 --> 00:01:53,612
But on July 6, 1997,
30
00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:57,149
A carefree day on the water
turns into tragedy.
31
00:01:57,217 --> 00:02:00,619
[tense music]
32
00:02:08,795 --> 00:02:11,296
- A gentleman named gary greene was piloting
33
00:02:11,298 --> 00:02:12,264
His boat called
the "greene machine,"
34
00:02:12,332 --> 00:02:16,235
And he was traveling from
newport beach to catalina.
35
00:02:18,338 --> 00:02:21,940
- The "greene machine" happens
upon this boat doing donuts out
36
00:02:22,009 --> 00:02:23,242
In the middle of the ocean.
37
00:02:31,351 --> 00:02:33,184
- The husband was crying
for help,
38
00:02:33,186 --> 00:02:34,686
And he was on a boogie board.
39
00:02:34,755 --> 00:02:37,522
- The man was screaming that his wife is missing.
40
00:02:37,591 --> 00:02:40,893
So gary greene gave him a life jacket to make sure
41
00:02:40,961 --> 00:02:41,827
That he wasn't gonna drown.
42
00:02:55,642 --> 00:02:58,543
- But the boat's still doing
circles out there in the water,
43
00:02:58,612 --> 00:03:00,679
And they couldn't
control the boat.
44
00:03:00,747 --> 00:03:03,882
- This 18-foot speedboat, the "striper 2000,"
45
00:03:03,950 --> 00:03:06,184
Has a powerful engine
for propulsion,
46
00:03:06,253 --> 00:03:08,086
But it's simple to operate
47
00:03:08,155 --> 00:03:10,555
For even the most inexperienced boater.
48
00:03:10,624 --> 00:03:14,158
Right now the vessel is
demonstrating a phenomenon
49
00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:17,562
Called the circle of death,
which is what happens
50
00:03:17,631 --> 00:03:19,898
If an operator releases
the steering wheel
51
00:03:19,967 --> 00:03:22,467
While the propeller is still turning.
52
00:03:22,536 --> 00:03:24,269
The force of the rotating blades
53
00:03:24,271 --> 00:03:27,906
Creates torque, which causes the boat to swerve sharply
54
00:03:27,974 --> 00:03:32,176
To the left and get stuck
moving in a continuous circle.
55
00:03:32,178 --> 00:03:33,679
[siren wails]
56
00:03:33,747 --> 00:03:36,581
- The coast guard, they came out to the scene,
57
00:03:36,650 --> 00:03:39,651
And they ended up having
a deputy get on the boat
58
00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:41,386
And stop it from circling.
59
00:03:43,623 --> 00:03:46,358
- And then they picked
the subject out of the water
60
00:03:46,426 --> 00:03:48,860
And brought him into the harbor.
61
00:03:48,929 --> 00:03:50,729
He was cold, and he was frantic.
62
00:03:50,731 --> 00:03:55,099
And he was yelling about
his wife, and he was crying.
63
00:03:55,169 --> 00:03:56,368
The coast guard determined
64
00:03:56,436 --> 00:03:58,670
That the man in the water
was eric bechler,
65
00:03:58,739 --> 00:04:00,839
And the person driving the boat
66
00:04:00,907 --> 00:04:05,443
Before she went overboard
was his wife, pegye bechler.
67
00:04:05,512 --> 00:04:07,712
- Authorities tow the speedboat
68
00:04:07,714 --> 00:04:09,013
Back to the harbor, and the coast guard
69
00:04:09,082 --> 00:04:13,685
Immediately launches a search and rescue for pegye bechler.
70
00:04:13,754 --> 00:04:16,020
At this point, pegye's been in the water
71
00:04:16,089 --> 00:04:20,058
For less than two hours, which means it's very possible
72
00:04:20,126 --> 00:04:23,862
She'll be found alive
if they can locate her quickly.
73
00:04:23,930 --> 00:04:26,464
At the same time,
coast guard investigators
74
00:04:26,533 --> 00:04:30,268
Talk to eric to get details
of exactly what happened
75
00:04:30,336 --> 00:04:33,939
And where to help pinpoint
her likely location.
76
00:04:35,909 --> 00:04:39,077
- Eric was distraught and visibly shaken,
77
00:04:39,079 --> 00:04:40,412
And he was crying.
78
00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:42,246
And he said they were celebrating
79
00:04:42,248 --> 00:04:45,950
Their fifth wedding anniversary
by taking a pleasure cruise
80
00:04:46,019 --> 00:04:47,753
On a rental boat in newport harbor,
81
00:04:47,821 --> 00:04:50,755
But they went out into
the high seas in the channel
82
00:04:50,824 --> 00:04:52,724
Between newport beach
and catalina island
83
00:04:52,793 --> 00:04:54,993
To be a little more
adventurous.
84
00:05:01,101 --> 00:05:05,970
- For a couple who aren't
boaters to rent a speedboat
85
00:05:05,972 --> 00:05:09,107
And go out into the open sea
is a little ambitious.
86
00:05:09,176 --> 00:05:13,779
His wife was driving the boat
and pulling him from behind.
87
00:05:13,847 --> 00:05:16,348
And eric said a rogue wave
88
00:05:16,416 --> 00:05:17,816
Knocked him off
his boogie board.
89
00:05:30,697 --> 00:05:34,166
- One thing about eric's story
that raised the curiosity
90
00:05:34,234 --> 00:05:36,835
Of investigators is
that this wave came
91
00:05:36,903 --> 00:05:38,803
And knocked me off
my boogie board.
92
00:05:38,805 --> 00:05:42,240
Well, the conditions
that day were very calm.
93
00:05:42,309 --> 00:05:48,045
There were swells of 1
to 2 feet and very light wind.
94
00:05:48,115 --> 00:05:50,047
- The coast guard had a conversation
95
00:05:50,117 --> 00:05:51,115
With eric about that.
96
00:05:51,185 --> 00:05:54,052
He just stuck to his story
about this rogue wave
97
00:05:54,121 --> 00:05:55,487
That washed over the boat.
98
00:05:59,926 --> 00:06:02,494
- Well, there's no record of rogue waves that day.
99
00:06:02,562 --> 00:06:04,729
It's possible
they went undetected.
100
00:06:04,798 --> 00:06:07,499
The ocean is an unpredictable place.
101
00:06:07,567 --> 00:06:10,001
Even on a calm day, many factors--
102
00:06:10,070 --> 00:06:13,872
Wind, currents, tides--
can join forces
103
00:06:13,940 --> 00:06:18,043
And create an unexpected and sometimes deadly wave.
104
00:06:21,081 --> 00:06:22,847
- This was being investigated
as an accident,
105
00:06:22,916 --> 00:06:24,716
And that's purely all it was,
was an accident,
106
00:06:24,785 --> 00:06:27,919
Based on two people
with one witness.
107
00:06:27,988 --> 00:06:31,122
So after talking to eric, he goes back to his house
108
00:06:31,191 --> 00:06:33,157
To be with his kids,
109
00:06:33,226 --> 00:06:37,763
But eric wanted us to search exhaustively for pegye.
110
00:06:40,166 --> 00:06:43,401
- I actually got a phone call from a friend of mine
111
00:06:43,469 --> 00:06:45,036
About pegye being missing.
112
00:06:45,105 --> 00:06:47,139
[somber music]
113
00:06:47,207 --> 00:06:50,008
Later when I spoke to eric,
114
00:06:50,076 --> 00:06:52,543
He was absolutely hysterical,
115
00:06:52,545 --> 00:06:54,145
I couldn't understand him.
116
00:06:54,214 --> 00:06:55,413
He was sobbing.
117
00:06:55,481 --> 00:06:56,781
He just kept saying,
118
00:06:56,850 --> 00:06:58,950
"she's missing.
She wasn't there."
119
00:06:59,018 --> 00:07:01,753
They were gonna leave the kids behind with the nanny
120
00:07:01,755 --> 00:07:04,288
To celebrate their anniversary.
121
00:07:04,358 --> 00:07:06,725
I was shocked at what had happened,
122
00:07:06,793 --> 00:07:09,760
Especially because pegye
was a very good swimmer.
123
00:07:09,762 --> 00:07:16,768
♪ ♪
124
00:07:19,706 --> 00:07:21,906
Pegye was one of the happiest,
125
00:07:21,908 --> 00:07:24,776
Most gregarious people
I had ever met.
126
00:07:24,845 --> 00:07:28,113
Very endearing immediately.
127
00:07:29,916 --> 00:07:32,184
When I met pegye, she was in her 20s.
128
00:07:32,252 --> 00:07:37,188
Pegye happened to live in the same apartment complex.
129
00:07:37,257 --> 00:07:40,458
She was working for a physical therapy company
130
00:07:40,526 --> 00:07:42,226
At that point in time.
131
00:07:42,295 --> 00:07:44,128
Very hardworking.
132
00:07:44,197 --> 00:07:47,766
Eventually she broke off and started her own business.
133
00:07:49,970 --> 00:07:51,536
One day pegye called me
134
00:07:51,605 --> 00:07:53,071
And said, "hey, what are you up to?"
135
00:07:53,139 --> 00:07:54,839
And I said, "well, I'ma go down to the beach
136
00:07:54,908 --> 00:07:57,341
And watch my husband, dave, play volleyball."
137
00:07:57,411 --> 00:07:58,610
I said, "do you wanna come?"
138
00:07:58,678 --> 00:08:00,111
She said, "I'll be there
in ten minutes."
139
00:08:02,148 --> 00:08:06,184
As soon as she got there,
she's like, "who's that guy?"
140
00:08:06,253 --> 00:08:08,119
I said, "that's eric."
141
00:08:08,188 --> 00:08:10,622
He played a lot of volleyball with dave.
142
00:08:10,690 --> 00:08:12,757
Eric was
a very good-looking guy,
143
00:08:12,826 --> 00:08:15,794
Very, very fit.
144
00:08:17,697 --> 00:08:19,631
In between some of the matches,
145
00:08:19,699 --> 00:08:23,201
Eric would come over,
and we introduced them.
146
00:08:23,269 --> 00:08:27,071
And eric was just as interested in pegye.
147
00:08:27,073 --> 00:08:30,041
Their relationship, the way that it blossomed,
148
00:08:30,110 --> 00:08:33,812
Centered around
physical fitness.
149
00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:35,981
They ran together. They biked together.
150
00:08:40,186 --> 00:08:43,054
Eric became a part of pegye's life very quickly.
151
00:08:43,123 --> 00:08:43,955
He moved in.
152
00:08:44,024 --> 00:08:47,025
He started to work for
pegye's business.
153
00:08:47,093 --> 00:08:49,593
Pegye handled all the physical therapy stuff
154
00:08:49,595 --> 00:08:52,130
And eric handled
all the business side.
155
00:08:52,198 --> 00:08:55,266
Within maybe a year, pegye and eric got married
156
00:08:55,335 --> 00:08:57,302
On the beach in newport.
157
00:08:57,370 --> 00:08:58,903
[birds calling]
158
00:08:58,905 --> 00:09:01,339
Eventually, they had three children.
159
00:09:01,408 --> 00:09:06,011
Pegye loved him, and they had the perfect, most amazing life
160
00:09:06,079 --> 00:09:08,046
With not a care in the world.
161
00:09:11,485 --> 00:09:14,052
[tense music]
162
00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:17,889
♪ ♪
163
00:09:17,957 --> 00:09:20,091
- As the hours pass and night approaches,
164
00:09:20,159 --> 00:09:23,928
Search teams continue to comb the waters for pegye.
165
00:09:23,930 --> 00:09:25,930
But with each passing minute,
166
00:09:25,998 --> 00:09:28,099
It becomes
increasingly difficult
167
00:09:28,101 --> 00:09:31,036
To tread water in the open sea.
168
00:09:33,406 --> 00:09:35,773
- Further out past the mouth of the harbor,
169
00:09:35,775 --> 00:09:39,444
If she got swept in the shipping current,
170
00:09:39,512 --> 00:09:40,845
Pegye could have ended up
171
00:09:40,914 --> 00:09:42,681
Up in santa barbara
or down in mexico.
172
00:09:44,685 --> 00:09:48,519
- The navy has a deep-sea submersible they brought in,
173
00:09:48,588 --> 00:09:52,023
So they continued
looking for her.
174
00:09:52,092 --> 00:09:54,559
- Pegye was one of the most extraordinary athletes
175
00:09:54,627 --> 00:09:56,428
I had ever met,
176
00:09:56,496 --> 00:10:00,631
And her swimming abilities
were off the charts.
177
00:10:00,701 --> 00:10:03,868
And so I had to hope that
178
00:10:03,937 --> 00:10:07,272
Pegye was keeping herself
afloat somewhere.
179
00:10:07,340 --> 00:10:10,608
And I certainly couldn't
comprehend the loss of her.
180
00:10:10,676 --> 00:10:12,410
She will show up.
181
00:10:12,478 --> 00:10:15,080
- Please pray for pegye.
182
00:10:17,650 --> 00:10:20,118
- The coast guard was trying to determine
183
00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:22,520
What exactly happened
out there.
184
00:10:22,589 --> 00:10:23,988
- She claimed that pegye
185
00:10:24,057 --> 00:10:26,925
Fabricated her own disappearance.
186
00:10:26,993 --> 00:10:27,826
- Maybe she panicked.
187
00:10:27,894 --> 00:10:29,527
I might go to jail.
188
00:10:29,596 --> 00:10:30,762
I'm outta here.
189
00:10:30,830 --> 00:10:33,297
- And I said, "you can
trash me all you want,
190
00:10:33,366 --> 00:10:35,566
I'm telling the truth.
I'm not lying."
191
00:10:35,635 --> 00:10:36,635
- Now we're off to the races.
192
00:10:43,977 --> 00:10:46,677
[unsettling music]
193
00:10:46,747 --> 00:10:48,046
- It's day two of the search
194
00:10:48,114 --> 00:10:51,249
For missing boater pegye bechler.
195
00:10:51,317 --> 00:10:53,617
With overnight efforts unsuccessful,
196
00:10:53,687 --> 00:10:55,686
Morning brings the realization
197
00:10:55,688 --> 00:10:59,391
That the chances of finding her
alive are nearly impossible.
198
00:10:59,459 --> 00:11:03,494
So the coast guard makes the difficult decision
199
00:11:03,496 --> 00:11:04,829
To call off the search.
200
00:11:09,435 --> 00:11:13,338
- Eric was sobbing,
absolutely hysterical.
201
00:11:15,541 --> 00:11:18,342
Pegye's gone.
202
00:11:18,344 --> 00:11:20,144
[somber music]
203
00:11:20,213 --> 00:11:24,615
She was such a ray of sunshine.
204
00:11:24,684 --> 00:11:27,685
And as a mom, the first thing you think about is your kids.
205
00:11:27,754 --> 00:11:29,954
And now the children are without their mother,
206
00:11:30,023 --> 00:11:33,892
And their lives
will never be the same.
207
00:11:35,962 --> 00:11:38,396
- Now the coast guard
focuses on determining
208
00:11:38,465 --> 00:11:41,166
Exactly what happened
with the boat itself.
209
00:11:43,269 --> 00:11:45,303
- The coast guard wanted to see if there was
210
00:11:45,371 --> 00:11:46,971
Something mechanically wrong with the boat.
211
00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:48,440
And they did some sea trials
in the boat
212
00:11:48,508 --> 00:11:50,441
Just to see if it was
seaworthy or if there was
213
00:11:50,510 --> 00:11:52,376
Any kind of issue that may have
caused this accident
214
00:11:52,378 --> 00:11:54,345
Other than any kind of weather or wave.
215
00:11:54,414 --> 00:11:56,914
And they tried to duplicate the things
216
00:11:56,983 --> 00:11:59,984
That eric was saying
had happened with the boat.
217
00:12:00,052 --> 00:12:02,453
Right away, the coast guard determined
218
00:12:02,522 --> 00:12:06,224
The boat was mechanically sound.
219
00:12:06,226 --> 00:12:08,425
- According to eric,
220
00:12:08,495 --> 00:12:11,196
Pegye was driving the boat,
sitting up on the seat back.
221
00:12:12,766 --> 00:12:16,734
The coast guard determined that
whichever way the boat went,
222
00:12:16,803 --> 00:12:19,237
The person driving the boat
fell inside the boat,
223
00:12:19,305 --> 00:12:21,740
Not outside the boat.
224
00:12:23,409 --> 00:12:25,209
- There was another thing that was weird.
225
00:12:25,278 --> 00:12:27,845
The coast guard said there was a pair of sunglasses
226
00:12:27,914 --> 00:12:29,747
Up on top of the front of the boat
227
00:12:29,816 --> 00:12:32,050
Right by the steering wheel.
228
00:12:32,118 --> 00:12:33,651
If she got swept off the boat,
229
00:12:33,719 --> 00:12:36,620
Why would those glasses
be intact right there?
230
00:12:36,622 --> 00:12:38,522
It didn't make sense.
231
00:12:38,591 --> 00:12:40,324
- You would think there would be stuff strewn all over,
232
00:12:40,393 --> 00:12:43,495
But there wasn't any of that.
233
00:12:43,563 --> 00:12:45,330
Everything wasn't adding up.
234
00:12:45,398 --> 00:12:48,232
I think the coast guard had suspicions that this
235
00:12:48,301 --> 00:12:50,635
Was way beyond an accident.
236
00:12:50,703 --> 00:12:53,505
[tense music]
237
00:12:53,573 --> 00:12:56,006
- They realized
that they needed to contact
238
00:12:56,008 --> 00:12:57,141
The sheriff's department
239
00:12:57,210 --> 00:12:59,110
And have our homicide division come
240
00:12:59,179 --> 00:13:01,512
And look at it and see what we thought about it.
241
00:13:01,581 --> 00:13:05,549
That's always a red flag, when a spouse is missing.
242
00:13:05,618 --> 00:13:11,722
♪ ♪
243
00:13:11,791 --> 00:13:13,991
We went out to interview eric bechler.
244
00:13:14,060 --> 00:13:16,761
He's very emotional and distraught.
245
00:13:16,829 --> 00:13:19,130
We asked eric what was happening that day.
246
00:13:19,198 --> 00:13:21,532
And he said that he had arranged for a surprise.
247
00:13:21,601 --> 00:13:23,767
It was a combination birthday
and anniversary present
248
00:13:23,837 --> 00:13:25,269
For his wife.
249
00:13:25,271 --> 00:13:27,004
And he just told her,
"pack your stuff up;
250
00:13:27,073 --> 00:13:28,573
We're heading to the beach."
251
00:13:28,641 --> 00:13:32,810
And he surprised her. He had rented a boat.
252
00:13:32,879 --> 00:13:37,514
- They picnicked on the boat,
had sex on the boat.
253
00:13:37,584 --> 00:13:40,218
He said they started to kneeboard
254
00:13:40,286 --> 00:13:41,819
At the mouth of the harbor.
255
00:13:41,888 --> 00:13:43,621
A wave came over.
256
00:13:43,690 --> 00:13:45,022
And when he said he came up,
257
00:13:45,091 --> 00:13:47,959
She was no longer
at the wheel of the boat.
258
00:13:51,631 --> 00:13:53,864
- Eric doesn't provide
any new information
259
00:13:53,934 --> 00:13:55,667
About what happened
out on the water.
260
00:13:55,735 --> 00:13:58,770
So homicide investigators turned their attention
261
00:13:58,838 --> 00:14:01,472
To pegye's personal life.
262
00:14:01,541 --> 00:14:04,041
- So when we got into an initial investigation,
263
00:14:04,110 --> 00:14:06,310
You talk to all the friends and
family of the people involved
264
00:14:06,312 --> 00:14:09,480
And see if there's any kind
of issues in the marriage
265
00:14:09,549 --> 00:14:12,283
That maybe would indicate
this isn't an accident.
266
00:14:14,153 --> 00:14:16,354
So we spoke to her good friends
267
00:14:16,422 --> 00:14:18,356
And one friend
in particular, glenda.
268
00:14:20,626 --> 00:14:23,294
- I remember speaking with some of the investigators.
269
00:14:23,363 --> 00:14:26,730
And I said, "well, I don't
think there is any foul play
270
00:14:26,732 --> 00:14:30,001
"because after pegye went missing,
271
00:14:30,069 --> 00:14:33,771
Eric was so distraught."
272
00:14:33,839 --> 00:14:36,574
- We also talked to a good friend of eric bechler.
273
00:14:36,643 --> 00:14:38,976
His name was kobi laker.
274
00:14:38,978 --> 00:14:42,814
And he said that pegye and eric had a great marriage,
275
00:14:42,882 --> 00:14:45,883
And he was shocked about what had happened.
276
00:14:45,951 --> 00:14:47,285
We talked to pegye's mom,
277
00:14:47,353 --> 00:14:50,388
And she said that they all seemed happy.
278
00:14:50,456 --> 00:14:53,291
- But then eric's mother, linda, told investigators
279
00:14:53,359 --> 00:14:54,792
That pegye confided in her that
280
00:14:54,860 --> 00:14:56,894
They were having
financial issues
281
00:14:56,962 --> 00:15:00,898
And had sold pegye's company.
282
00:15:00,967 --> 00:15:03,501
- A few months before pegye went missing,
283
00:15:03,569 --> 00:15:06,470
Pegye told me that when
they sold the business,
284
00:15:06,539 --> 00:15:08,005
They were able
to work out an agreement
285
00:15:08,074 --> 00:15:09,307
To stay on
for a period of time.
286
00:15:09,375 --> 00:15:11,676
And they were both
getting a salary,
287
00:15:11,744 --> 00:15:15,446
But as things moved on, I think that the company
288
00:15:15,515 --> 00:15:17,781
That bought them
started seeing some things
289
00:15:17,851 --> 00:15:19,884
That didn't add up to them.
290
00:15:19,952 --> 00:15:23,321
- There was some issues
about fraudulent medicare
291
00:15:23,389 --> 00:15:28,226
And medicaid billing that was
going on with the business.
292
00:15:28,294 --> 00:15:30,161
- When talking to eric's mother,
293
00:15:30,229 --> 00:15:33,665
Linda bechler claimed
that pegye fabricated
294
00:15:33,733 --> 00:15:38,569
Her own disappearance to avoid fraud charges
295
00:15:38,638 --> 00:15:43,541
And owing a bunch
in federal government taxes.
296
00:15:43,609 --> 00:15:46,677
- If you went the direction that linda wanted to go,
297
00:15:46,746 --> 00:15:49,513
Pegye jumped overboard,
swam to shore,
298
00:15:49,515 --> 00:15:52,816
Is living in, like, morocco, and she's gonna live there
299
00:15:52,818 --> 00:15:55,053
Until the statute
of limitations runs out
300
00:15:55,055 --> 00:15:58,723
On the medicare charges
with the feds.
301
00:15:58,791 --> 00:16:01,925
- Maybe she panicked.
Wait a minute here.
302
00:16:01,927 --> 00:16:04,962
My once perfect life
is starting to crumble.
303
00:16:05,031 --> 00:16:06,697
I might go to jail.
304
00:16:06,766 --> 00:16:07,365
I'm outta here.
305
00:16:10,603 --> 00:16:12,169
- But according to her friends,
306
00:16:12,238 --> 00:16:14,372
Pegye would fight
any charges she had.
307
00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:17,641
And everyone except eric's mom, linda bechler,
308
00:16:17,643 --> 00:16:20,978
Said she would not stage her disappearance
309
00:16:21,047 --> 00:16:22,846
And abandon her children.
310
00:16:22,916 --> 00:16:24,648
So we dismissed that.
311
00:16:24,650 --> 00:16:31,489
♪ ♪
312
00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:36,728
At that point, we got our forensic people
313
00:16:36,796 --> 00:16:38,729
To go over the boat.
314
00:16:38,798 --> 00:16:41,699
But because the coast guard initially treated it
315
00:16:41,767 --> 00:16:43,901
Like an accident, a lot
of the evidence was lost,
316
00:16:43,970 --> 00:16:46,270
Unfortunately.
317
00:16:46,338 --> 00:16:48,472
- As the sheriff's investigators looked
318
00:16:48,474 --> 00:16:50,541
A little closer at the boat,
319
00:16:50,610 --> 00:16:54,612
They lifted up a mattress at the back of the boat.
320
00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:58,649
And at that point
there's a turn in the story.
321
00:16:58,718 --> 00:17:01,352
[dramatic music]
322
00:17:08,327 --> 00:17:11,562
[tense music]
323
00:17:11,631 --> 00:17:14,231
- While examining the bechlers' rental boat,
324
00:17:14,300 --> 00:17:17,035
Homicide investigators
find what could be
325
00:17:17,103 --> 00:17:19,303
A consequential piece
of evidence.
326
00:17:19,372 --> 00:17:24,475
♪ ♪
327
00:17:24,544 --> 00:17:26,577
- They lifted up a mattress at the back of the boat
328
00:17:26,646 --> 00:17:30,180
And found a little speck
of red matter
329
00:17:30,182 --> 00:17:31,749
That appeared to be blood.
330
00:17:36,856 --> 00:17:39,523
- The amount of blood that was found on the boat
331
00:17:39,525 --> 00:17:43,261
Was not enough to get dna
or even a blood typing out of.
332
00:17:45,464 --> 00:17:49,133
- Unfortunately, they could not even determine
333
00:17:49,201 --> 00:17:52,870
Whether that was human blood,
whether it was from a fish,
334
00:17:52,939 --> 00:17:54,439
From anything.
335
00:17:59,745 --> 00:18:02,980
- Immediately we interview eric again.
336
00:18:03,049 --> 00:18:08,185
We didn't divulge how much
blood we did find on the boat,
337
00:18:08,254 --> 00:18:13,790
But eric explained that during
sex, pegye was on her period.
338
00:18:13,860 --> 00:18:17,628
So that could explain that away.
339
00:18:17,697 --> 00:18:19,963
- That's always a possibility. You can't rule it out,
340
00:18:19,965 --> 00:18:22,500
But as homicide investigators, we don't take
341
00:18:22,568 --> 00:18:24,735
What people say as the truth.
342
00:18:24,737 --> 00:18:26,637
We investigate and see
if there's more to it.
343
00:18:30,376 --> 00:18:34,578
At that point, we know we need to further examine the boat
344
00:18:34,580 --> 00:18:38,349
For any more forensic evidence.
345
00:18:38,417 --> 00:18:39,851
- They decided
to put a chemical
346
00:18:39,919 --> 00:18:41,452
On the boat called luminol.
347
00:18:41,521 --> 00:18:43,687
And what that does is when you put it on a surface,
348
00:18:43,756 --> 00:18:48,626
It lights up where possible blood might have been.
349
00:18:48,694 --> 00:18:50,461
And near the motor mount of the boat,
350
00:18:50,530 --> 00:18:54,265
They found an area
that appeared
351
00:18:54,333 --> 00:18:57,401
To previously been covered
in blood,
352
00:18:57,470 --> 00:18:59,503
But had been cleaned up.
353
00:18:59,572 --> 00:19:03,774
The naked eye could not detect it.
354
00:19:03,843 --> 00:19:07,445
- Typically, rental boats are cleaned before each charter,
355
00:19:07,513 --> 00:19:10,514
So there's no way for
investigators to determine
356
00:19:10,583 --> 00:19:14,585
When and who cleaned the boat.
357
00:19:14,654 --> 00:19:17,522
- But that doesn't mean that
nothing happened on that boat.
358
00:19:19,458 --> 00:19:20,625
That's a big ocean out there.
359
00:19:20,693 --> 00:19:24,328
You got a lot of water
and a lot of time
360
00:19:24,396 --> 00:19:26,397
To scrub that boat down.
361
00:19:26,465 --> 00:19:29,300
Because we're suspicious of eric,
362
00:19:29,368 --> 00:19:33,604
We continued digging into eric and pegye's financial issues.
363
00:19:36,676 --> 00:19:39,276
- So investigators now talk
to pegye's brother,
364
00:19:39,345 --> 00:19:41,912
An insurance broker.
365
00:19:41,981 --> 00:19:44,648
The investigators find out after they got married,
366
00:19:44,717 --> 00:19:49,654
Both pegye and eric had taken
out life insurance policies
367
00:19:49,722 --> 00:19:53,691
On each other to the tune
of $2.6 million apiece.
368
00:19:55,761 --> 00:19:58,796
As investigators continued speaking more
369
00:19:58,864 --> 00:19:59,763
To pegye's brother,
370
00:19:59,832 --> 00:20:03,534
They discover
something very interesting.
371
00:20:03,603 --> 00:20:06,570
Eric called his brother-in-law
just three months before
372
00:20:06,638 --> 00:20:08,739
Pegye disappeared...
373
00:20:08,808 --> 00:20:11,475
[phone beeping]
374
00:20:11,544 --> 00:20:13,244
[line trilling] just to ask him
375
00:20:13,312 --> 00:20:16,280
About the policy that they had signed years earlier.
376
00:20:16,349 --> 00:20:17,615
"how does the payout work,
god forbid,
377
00:20:17,683 --> 00:20:19,550
If something happened
to my wife?"
378
00:20:21,053 --> 00:20:23,087
- A lot of red flags are
popping up all over the place.
379
00:20:23,155 --> 00:20:25,756
And I'm thinking the money could have been
380
00:20:25,825 --> 00:20:28,859
A motivating factor
to get rid of pegye.
381
00:20:28,861 --> 00:20:31,762
However, insurance companies
are not willing to pay out,
382
00:20:31,831 --> 00:20:33,530
You know, on somebody
that's being investigated
383
00:20:33,599 --> 00:20:34,898
For a murder.
384
00:20:34,967 --> 00:20:38,736
And we told them that eric
is a person of interest.
385
00:20:41,907 --> 00:20:43,641
And during this time period,
386
00:20:43,709 --> 00:20:49,113
Eric's behavior is becoming
more and more suspicious.
387
00:20:49,181 --> 00:20:52,283
- It wasn't really a long time after pegye disappeared
388
00:20:52,351 --> 00:20:55,719
When eric shipped the kids
389
00:20:55,788 --> 00:20:58,289
To pegye's relatives
to take care of.
390
00:21:00,159 --> 00:21:02,993
- I still felt that eric is innocent,
391
00:21:03,062 --> 00:21:05,362
But I remember thinking,
392
00:21:05,431 --> 00:21:08,365
"how can you love your children
like that
393
00:21:08,434 --> 00:21:11,535
And say, 'I'll let you go'?"
394
00:21:13,572 --> 00:21:17,140
- When you ship your kids away to a relative to take care of,
395
00:21:17,142 --> 00:21:21,445
It doesn't seem like
you want them in your life.
396
00:21:23,949 --> 00:21:25,949
Soon after that,
somebody familiar
397
00:21:25,951 --> 00:21:28,219
To the investigators
resurfaces,
398
00:21:28,287 --> 00:21:30,754
Eric's buddy, kobi laker.
399
00:21:30,823 --> 00:21:34,024
And he says that he wants to speak to them again.
400
00:21:34,093 --> 00:21:37,628
- We ended up
re-interviewing kobi.
401
00:22:01,587 --> 00:22:03,120
- Kobi said
that he looked at eric
402
00:22:03,189 --> 00:22:05,122
And he goes, "are you joking?"
403
00:22:05,190 --> 00:22:06,424
And eric goes, "I might be."
404
00:22:10,463 --> 00:22:12,529
- And we said, "why didn't you tell us this initially?"
405
00:22:12,598 --> 00:22:14,365
And he said he just got scared
406
00:22:14,433 --> 00:22:17,100
And he was protecting
his buddy.
407
00:22:17,169 --> 00:22:19,470
We knew right then
that eric had killed his wife.
408
00:22:19,538 --> 00:22:22,006
♪ ♪
409
00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:30,948
[tense music]
410
00:22:31,016 --> 00:22:33,484
- After kobi laker tells detectives
411
00:22:33,552 --> 00:22:37,254
That eric bechler confessed to wanting to kill his wife
412
00:22:37,323 --> 00:22:38,922
And dump her in the ocean,
413
00:22:38,924 --> 00:22:43,227
Authorities officially classify
the case a homicide.
414
00:22:43,295 --> 00:22:46,130
However, without forensic evidence to prove it,
415
00:22:46,198 --> 00:22:47,664
Including her body,
416
00:22:47,666 --> 00:22:50,201
Investigators face an uphill battle
417
00:22:50,269 --> 00:22:53,170
To put the suspected killer behind bars.
418
00:22:53,239 --> 00:22:56,106
- If we wanted to get justice for pegye,
419
00:22:56,175 --> 00:22:59,710
We needed eric to admit
to killing his wife on tape.
420
00:23:01,447 --> 00:23:04,882
- Kobi agrees to wear a wire surreptitiously and meet
421
00:23:04,950 --> 00:23:09,252
With eric in the hopes, in investigators' eyes,
422
00:23:09,322 --> 00:23:11,021
That eric will say
something incriminating
423
00:23:11,023 --> 00:23:13,090
About what happened to pegye.
424
00:23:22,201 --> 00:23:25,102
- Kobi tried to initiate
some conversation
425
00:23:25,171 --> 00:23:27,238
With eric about the incident.
426
00:23:27,306 --> 00:23:28,572
[indistinct chatter]
427
00:23:47,527 --> 00:23:51,161
- It's frustrating not to get eric's confession on tape.
428
00:23:51,230 --> 00:23:54,631
It's basically kobi's word against what eric said.
429
00:23:54,700 --> 00:23:57,134
And it wasn't enough for sean
and I to even take
430
00:23:57,203 --> 00:24:00,838
To the da based on
what we had so far.
431
00:24:00,906 --> 00:24:03,340
But, you know, we're gonna find out the truth
432
00:24:03,409 --> 00:24:06,610
Of what really happened here.
433
00:24:08,114 --> 00:24:10,948
[seagulls calling]
434
00:24:13,786 --> 00:24:15,919
Shortly after the wire with kobi,
435
00:24:15,988 --> 00:24:19,723
We were told by pegye's parents
that eric had a girlfriend.
436
00:24:22,027 --> 00:24:23,794
- Three months after his wife disappeared,
437
00:24:23,862 --> 00:24:24,762
Eric meets a woman.
438
00:24:24,830 --> 00:24:26,997
Her name is tina new.
439
00:24:27,066 --> 00:24:29,466
- I will never forget my husband told me
440
00:24:29,535 --> 00:24:31,668
That eric met somebody.
441
00:24:31,737 --> 00:24:33,604
I was so floored.
442
00:24:33,672 --> 00:24:36,874
I mean, pegye had been gone
three months.
443
00:24:36,942 --> 00:24:39,943
Supposedly
the love of his life,
444
00:24:40,012 --> 00:24:41,512
The mother of his children.
445
00:24:41,580 --> 00:24:43,481
How in the world
could this have
446
00:24:43,549 --> 00:24:46,483
Possibly happened so quickly?
447
00:24:46,551 --> 00:24:49,186
- You're supposed to be grieving your wife.
448
00:24:49,254 --> 00:24:52,289
Most reasonable people
would wait quite a while
449
00:24:52,358 --> 00:24:55,125
Before they start dating again.
450
00:24:55,127 --> 00:24:57,360
Tina wasn't involved in the case,
451
00:24:57,430 --> 00:24:59,963
But tina's involved with eric.
452
00:25:00,032 --> 00:25:02,766
- She could help
break the case open.
453
00:25:02,834 --> 00:25:04,902
We contacted tina and we said
454
00:25:04,970 --> 00:25:07,004
That we would love
to talk to you.
455
00:25:07,072 --> 00:25:09,639
And she was cordial, and she said sure.
456
00:25:09,709 --> 00:25:12,710
[unsettling music]
457
00:25:21,120 --> 00:25:23,554
- The detectives were in my apartment.
458
00:25:23,622 --> 00:25:25,455
They were asking
lots of questions.
459
00:25:25,524 --> 00:25:28,058
And I told them I was modeling and acting,
460
00:25:28,127 --> 00:25:31,829
And I got a call from a photographer friend of mine
461
00:25:31,897 --> 00:25:34,231
That played volleyball with eric.
462
00:25:34,299 --> 00:25:36,600
And he said, "tina, there's a trade show,
463
00:25:36,669 --> 00:25:38,269
And they needed a model."
464
00:25:38,337 --> 00:25:40,437
Eric was starting this new business
465
00:25:40,505 --> 00:25:42,605
Doing personal websites,
466
00:25:42,607 --> 00:25:46,243
So I met eric October 6 of '97
467
00:25:46,311 --> 00:25:49,813
To work for him that day
at the trade show.
468
00:25:49,882 --> 00:25:52,082
When I walked up to the booth where eric is,
469
00:25:52,151 --> 00:25:53,617
Right away I was attracted
to eric
470
00:25:53,686 --> 00:25:55,018
'cause he had
really light eyes.
471
00:25:55,020 --> 00:25:57,154
I thought he was
very good-looking.
472
00:25:57,222 --> 00:25:59,690
And I remember that day he talked about his wife
473
00:25:59,758 --> 00:26:02,159
And that he thinks she hit her head
474
00:26:02,227 --> 00:26:05,129
And fell over, 'cause when
he came back up, she was gone.
475
00:26:05,197 --> 00:26:10,067
It was tragic, and they
didn't know where she was.
476
00:26:10,135 --> 00:26:12,302
At the end of the day, eric asked me,
477
00:26:12,371 --> 00:26:14,004
"do you wanna come back to my house?"
478
00:26:14,073 --> 00:26:17,040
And I felt comfortable because he was so nice to me
479
00:26:17,109 --> 00:26:21,045
And such a gentleman to me
and so soft-spoken.
480
00:26:24,583 --> 00:26:28,051
Eric had this big three-level, gorgeous house,
481
00:26:28,053 --> 00:26:30,521
And you could see the ocean from every window.
482
00:26:30,589 --> 00:26:33,691
And then in every room,
on almost every wall,
483
00:26:33,693 --> 00:26:36,459
Was pictures, family photos,
of pegye,
484
00:26:36,461 --> 00:26:37,961
Her beautiful blond hair,
485
00:26:37,963 --> 00:26:41,098
And she's, you know, holding her babies.
486
00:26:41,166 --> 00:26:43,100
He really presented himself
487
00:26:43,168 --> 00:26:47,104
In such a prince charming kind of way.
488
00:26:47,172 --> 00:26:49,139
- We've explained to tina what we were doing
489
00:26:49,208 --> 00:26:51,208
As far
as a criminal investigation,
490
00:26:51,276 --> 00:26:54,344
And if there's anything
that sticks out in your mind
491
00:26:54,413 --> 00:26:57,514
That there was something
nefarious that went on out
492
00:26:57,583 --> 00:27:01,118
On the boat that day, we would
be very much interested in it.
493
00:27:01,186 --> 00:27:03,186
- Eric talked so good about pegye,
494
00:27:03,188 --> 00:27:06,256
So to think that that person
could be accused
495
00:27:06,325 --> 00:27:09,726
Of killing his wife,
I just didn't see it.
496
00:27:09,795 --> 00:27:12,829
I thought, "god, they're
just trying to get him."
497
00:27:12,898 --> 00:27:14,932
- She clearly, you know,
believed his story,
498
00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:16,333
What he told her.
499
00:27:16,401 --> 00:27:18,235
- She was in love with this guy.
500
00:27:18,303 --> 00:27:20,437
You know, it was the early part
in their relationship.
501
00:27:20,505 --> 00:27:22,973
But I just said, "here's my card."
502
00:27:23,041 --> 00:27:25,408
Down the road, we were hoping
that would pay off
503
00:27:25,477 --> 00:27:28,311
Because relationships, they go south.
504
00:27:28,380 --> 00:27:30,047
- I think sean's words were, "we're gonna get a call
505
00:27:30,115 --> 00:27:31,782
"one day from her, you know,
506
00:27:31,850 --> 00:27:33,950
When she gets tired
of his crap."
507
00:27:34,019 --> 00:27:35,318
When there's trouble
in paradise,
508
00:27:35,387 --> 00:27:37,655
There's people who
wanna tend to talk.
509
00:27:39,524 --> 00:27:45,028
- I really wanted to believe
that eric did not do this.
510
00:27:45,097 --> 00:27:48,832
But it's like all of a sudden,
eric's life totally changed.
511
00:27:48,900 --> 00:27:50,501
Pegye's no longer here.
512
00:27:50,569 --> 00:27:54,004
And eric has taken up with some new beautiful woman.
513
00:27:54,073 --> 00:27:56,407
At this point, I started facing the fact
514
00:27:56,475 --> 00:27:58,108
That he was the one
who had killed pegye.
515
00:28:03,215 --> 00:28:05,882
- Circumstantial as it may be,
516
00:28:05,951 --> 00:28:09,520
All of this evidence
is mounting up.
517
00:28:09,588 --> 00:28:13,323
But as we're going along here, the months pass,
518
00:28:13,392 --> 00:28:15,392
And we got to a point where, in this case,
519
00:28:15,394 --> 00:28:18,862
It stagnates, and it's extremely frustrating.
520
00:28:18,930 --> 00:28:21,131
- He's already
killed one woman.
521
00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:23,300
I mean, it's a good chance
he's gonna get violent
522
00:28:23,368 --> 00:28:26,436
And go to the extreme
and possibly seriously injure
523
00:28:26,505 --> 00:28:28,071
Or kill another woman.
524
00:28:28,140 --> 00:28:29,906
- And if it wasn't gonna be tina new,
525
00:28:29,975 --> 00:28:32,375
It'd be somebody else
down the road.
526
00:28:32,444 --> 00:28:38,281
- We kept tabs on eric, but
we focused on other big cases.
527
00:28:38,283 --> 00:28:41,418
- I remember wondering,
"is he ever gonna be arrested?
528
00:28:41,487 --> 00:28:44,655
Or is he just gonna be off scot-free
529
00:28:44,723 --> 00:28:46,056
For the death of my friend?"
530
00:28:46,125 --> 00:28:49,493
Which is what it felt like
for a very long time.
531
00:28:56,868 --> 00:28:59,803
[phone ringing]
532
00:28:59,872 --> 00:29:01,872
- And then you fast-forward a few years later,
533
00:29:01,940 --> 00:29:03,172
I get a call in the middle of the night
534
00:29:03,174 --> 00:29:05,743
From my watch commander
at the sheriff's department
535
00:29:05,811 --> 00:29:07,744
'cause two officers
were dispatched
536
00:29:07,813 --> 00:29:09,713
For a domestic violence incident
537
00:29:09,781 --> 00:29:11,882
At an apartment complex,
538
00:29:11,950 --> 00:29:15,753
And the woman gave the officers
my business card to call us.
539
00:29:17,689 --> 00:29:18,788
It was tina.
540
00:29:18,858 --> 00:29:21,058
[dramatic music]
541
00:29:27,499 --> 00:29:29,099
[sirens wailing]
542
00:29:29,101 --> 00:29:30,901
[indistinct radio chatter]
543
00:29:30,969 --> 00:29:33,670
- Eric's girlfriend, tina new, had called for help
544
00:29:33,738 --> 00:29:38,441
'cause eric had come upon
her apartment threatening her.
545
00:29:38,443 --> 00:29:41,178
- We were yelling, and the neighbor called the cops.
546
00:29:41,246 --> 00:29:43,313
The orange county sheriff's department came,
547
00:29:43,382 --> 00:29:45,682
And I sat them all down
in my living room.
548
00:29:45,751 --> 00:29:48,485
I said, "I know I've met with you guys before,
549
00:29:48,554 --> 00:29:53,390
But at this point I know
that eric killed his wife."
550
00:29:53,458 --> 00:29:56,393
[dramatic music]
551
00:29:56,461 --> 00:29:59,796
♪ ♪
552
00:29:59,864 --> 00:30:03,100
I told the detectives, like, a few weeks prior,
553
00:30:03,168 --> 00:30:07,137
I was with eric and I was
looking for a tv show episode
554
00:30:07,205 --> 00:30:09,273
When I was an actress.
555
00:30:12,477 --> 00:30:14,744
And when I was fast-forwarding for my show
556
00:30:14,813 --> 00:30:17,581
To go through the commercials
to get to where it started,
557
00:30:17,649 --> 00:30:19,850
It stopped on pegye's face.
558
00:30:21,753 --> 00:30:23,953
And I'm not joking.
It was a big picture,
559
00:30:23,955 --> 00:30:27,024
Like a headshot, of pegye.
560
00:30:27,092 --> 00:30:28,158
And it was what the news had done
561
00:30:28,227 --> 00:30:31,428
On the day eric's wife was missing.
562
00:30:31,496 --> 00:30:33,530
And they start talking
about the water conditions
563
00:30:33,598 --> 00:30:35,332
And the currents.
564
00:30:35,334 --> 00:30:37,935
It was smooth and calm.
565
00:30:37,937 --> 00:30:40,036
It was nothing like
he described.
566
00:30:40,105 --> 00:30:45,208
♪ ♪
567
00:30:45,277 --> 00:30:47,811
And I looked at eric
and I said, "you lied to me."
568
00:30:47,879 --> 00:30:51,515
The color came out of him,
and he became white.
569
00:30:53,919 --> 00:30:55,452
It just came to me.
570
00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:58,221
I said, "oh, my god,
you hit her over the head."
571
00:30:58,290 --> 00:31:01,859
He goes,
"how did you know that?"
572
00:31:01,927 --> 00:31:04,461
And so from that point on,
573
00:31:04,529 --> 00:31:07,364
He told me what he really did.
574
00:31:09,501 --> 00:31:11,468
What he described to me was the day before
575
00:31:11,536 --> 00:31:14,470
Pegye and eric went out
on the boat, he had gone
576
00:31:14,540 --> 00:31:18,007
To a certain location
where he had left an ice chest.
577
00:31:18,077 --> 00:31:20,610
He had weights, trash bags.
578
00:31:20,612 --> 00:31:21,678
He had margarita mix.
579
00:31:21,747 --> 00:31:24,647
[ominous music]
580
00:31:24,717 --> 00:31:28,352
♪ ♪
581
00:31:28,420 --> 00:31:30,687
Pegye didn't know because he told pegye,
582
00:31:30,756 --> 00:31:33,023
"I need to pull over.
I have a surprise for you."
583
00:31:33,091 --> 00:31:35,025
And she never looked
inside of it
584
00:31:35,093 --> 00:31:36,894
Because she knew
it was a surprise.
585
00:31:39,431 --> 00:31:41,097
He said she was just laying out and he goes,
586
00:31:41,166 --> 00:31:43,633
"tina, I walked up
behind her.
587
00:31:43,635 --> 00:31:45,435
I hit her so hard,
she didn't feel a thing."
588
00:31:45,504 --> 00:31:48,271
♪ ♪
589
00:31:48,340 --> 00:31:51,408
And he said, "and then
I folded her over in half."
590
00:31:51,476 --> 00:31:53,943
And he goes, "I tied
her wrists and her ankles
591
00:31:54,013 --> 00:31:56,012
And her neck all together."
592
00:31:56,081 --> 00:31:58,415
And he said he put
two trash bags over her.
593
00:32:00,452 --> 00:32:04,388
He dropped her down with
two weights, 35 pounds each.
594
00:32:08,526 --> 00:32:11,661
- People often think that what goes into the water
595
00:32:11,730 --> 00:32:14,631
Stays in the water,
but because of bloating
596
00:32:14,699 --> 00:32:16,333
During decomposition,
597
00:32:16,401 --> 00:32:21,371
Even when weighted down,
bodies can resurface.
598
00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:25,275
However, if she was picked up by a fast-moving tide,
599
00:32:25,344 --> 00:32:28,578
Pegye's body could have been pushed out to sea.
600
00:32:28,647 --> 00:32:31,013
Whether or not
they find her remains,
601
00:32:31,015 --> 00:32:32,949
Authorities are closer
to an arrest
602
00:32:33,018 --> 00:32:34,551
For this no-body homicide
603
00:32:34,619 --> 00:32:38,722
Given the insight provided by tina new.
604
00:32:40,893 --> 00:32:43,726
- And I told the detectives I broke up with him.
605
00:32:43,796 --> 00:32:46,563
I was done. I was like, "I'm outta here."
606
00:32:46,631 --> 00:32:48,264
But as soon as I saw that tape,
607
00:32:48,333 --> 00:32:50,733
Eric would never
leave my sight.
608
00:32:50,802 --> 00:32:52,803
He followed me. He stalked me. He called me.
609
00:32:52,871 --> 00:32:54,771
He knew I knew everything, and he'd say,
610
00:32:54,839 --> 00:32:56,506
"I think you're going
to the cops."
611
00:32:56,575 --> 00:33:00,477
So I was afraid
of eric at that time.
612
00:33:00,545 --> 00:33:01,979
- It was the break I was waiting for,
613
00:33:02,047 --> 00:33:05,014
'cause tina can help solve
this case for us.
614
00:33:05,084 --> 00:33:07,417
- Now we're off to the races.
615
00:33:07,486 --> 00:33:10,019
But we can't just use it
from her and go to the da.
616
00:33:10,089 --> 00:33:11,488
That's not gonna work.
617
00:33:11,556 --> 00:33:13,991
We need to hear it from him.
618
00:33:15,660 --> 00:33:19,329
- We asked her, "would you be willing to wear a body wire,
619
00:33:19,398 --> 00:33:21,130
"try and elicit some
incriminating statements
620
00:33:21,132 --> 00:33:22,265
From him?"
621
00:33:22,334 --> 00:33:24,134
- We just wanted her to get him
622
00:33:24,202 --> 00:33:26,969
To reiterate
what he told her that night.
623
00:33:26,971 --> 00:33:29,772
- I was terrified because
I was the only person
624
00:33:29,841 --> 00:33:31,140
He said that knew.
625
00:33:31,210 --> 00:33:33,843
But the detective said,
"don't worry.
626
00:33:33,845 --> 00:33:35,345
You'll be protected."
627
00:33:37,316 --> 00:33:38,648
- She arranged to meet him
628
00:33:38,717 --> 00:33:43,019
At the el torito restaurant in irvine.
629
00:33:43,087 --> 00:33:45,488
We just impressed upon her,
630
00:33:45,490 --> 00:33:48,224
He has to say that he killed pegye.
631
00:33:48,293 --> 00:33:49,760
And ask him to tell
you how he did it.
632
00:33:49,828 --> 00:33:51,461
Tell him you wanted
to get assurance from him
633
00:33:51,530 --> 00:33:53,964
That he wouldn't do anything
to you.
634
00:33:54,032 --> 00:33:56,733
- And if he denies it
like he did with kobi,
635
00:33:56,801 --> 00:33:58,201
We're back where we were.
636
00:34:02,841 --> 00:34:05,508
- We wired up her purse with a microphone,
637
00:34:05,510 --> 00:34:07,544
And we wired up her body.
638
00:34:09,447 --> 00:34:11,514
- The plan was for me to go pick up eric
639
00:34:11,516 --> 00:34:13,683
And go to the restaurant.
640
00:34:15,387 --> 00:34:17,454
The wire was on my lower back.
641
00:34:17,522 --> 00:34:19,656
And my biggest fear
at that time was
642
00:34:19,724 --> 00:34:21,725
Him putting his arm around me
and him feeling it.
643
00:34:24,129 --> 00:34:28,264
- She has to act cool, confident, normal
644
00:34:28,333 --> 00:34:30,300
When all your instincts
are saying,
645
00:34:30,368 --> 00:34:31,734
"how can I act normal?
646
00:34:31,803 --> 00:34:33,937
I'm sitting across
from a killer."
647
00:34:34,005 --> 00:34:35,672
So the stakes are huge.
648
00:34:41,379 --> 00:34:43,613
- We had detectives
inside the restaurant,
649
00:34:43,682 --> 00:34:48,651
And then we were outside in the parking lot in our van.
650
00:34:48,653 --> 00:34:51,921
- We were listening
to it real-time.
651
00:34:51,923 --> 00:34:54,891
- I think we were on our second margarita each.
652
00:34:54,959 --> 00:34:58,628
And that's when I was starting
to get conversations going.
653
00:34:58,697 --> 00:35:02,165
I told him things just were not lining up with him.
654
00:35:02,234 --> 00:35:04,267
And the cops were talking to me.
655
00:35:14,646 --> 00:35:15,745
- I said, "what I don't get is,
656
00:35:15,814 --> 00:35:17,447
Why didn't you
just divorce her?"
657
00:35:35,199 --> 00:35:38,401
- That stuff about the kids didn't make any sense
658
00:35:38,470 --> 00:35:40,670
Because after pegye disappeared,
659
00:35:40,739 --> 00:35:44,006
Eric had shipped the kids off to pegye's parents.
660
00:35:44,008 --> 00:35:45,509
That suited him just fine.
661
00:35:55,988 --> 00:35:57,887
- And when we're listening to the wire,
662
00:35:57,956 --> 00:35:59,255
We're going, "yeah, we're
getting it, we're getting it."
663
00:35:59,324 --> 00:36:02,725
And it's coming from him,
not her.
664
00:36:02,727 --> 00:36:05,928
- But then when it was time
to leave, eric says to me,
665
00:36:05,997 --> 00:36:08,498
"tina, you can't drink and drive, so I'm driving.
666
00:36:08,566 --> 00:36:10,667
Give me your keys."
667
00:36:10,735 --> 00:36:13,002
I get in the passenger seat.
668
00:36:13,004 --> 00:36:13,870
We're now on a freeway.
669
00:36:13,938 --> 00:36:16,272
We're not going towards eric's house,
670
00:36:16,341 --> 00:36:17,174
And I don't know
where the cops are.
671
00:36:17,242 --> 00:36:18,441
I don't know if they're
in the restaurant
672
00:36:18,510 --> 00:36:20,076
Still or if they're
following us
673
00:36:20,145 --> 00:36:21,444
On the freeway.
674
00:36:21,513 --> 00:36:23,179
- He wanted to go somewhere with her.
675
00:36:23,247 --> 00:36:25,648
And she was all wired up,
and that was not the plan.
676
00:36:25,650 --> 00:36:28,151
She's all alone now
with this killer.
677
00:36:28,219 --> 00:36:29,485
- And he goes, "you seem like you're afraid of me."
678
00:36:29,554 --> 00:36:30,720
I go, "I'm terrified of you."
679
00:36:37,528 --> 00:36:42,031
- The most important thing for us was to get tina to safety.
680
00:36:42,033 --> 00:36:44,601
And now this thing could
go sideways on us quick.
681
00:36:44,669 --> 00:36:47,904
[suspenseful music]
682
00:37:06,190 --> 00:37:07,824
- Tina's wearing a wire,
683
00:37:07,892 --> 00:37:09,826
And she was supposed to be driving.
684
00:37:09,894 --> 00:37:12,696
But they got in her car,
and eric drove.
685
00:37:12,764 --> 00:37:16,566
That wasn't supposed to happen.
686
00:37:16,635 --> 00:37:19,669
- I was freaking out, and I
don't know where the cops are.
687
00:37:19,738 --> 00:37:21,671
Like, I didn't know if they
were following me or what.
688
00:37:27,111 --> 00:37:28,178
- Tina was a pit bull.
689
00:37:28,246 --> 00:37:29,379
She hit him with the questions
690
00:37:29,447 --> 00:37:30,413
And wouldn't let him avoid it.
691
00:37:39,324 --> 00:37:41,591
And I finally just said, "you
just need to get outta my car."
692
00:37:50,535 --> 00:37:52,368
- That's kind of
a nice statement
693
00:37:52,437 --> 00:37:53,803
Because who says that,
694
00:37:53,872 --> 00:37:56,773
Other than somebody
who's done something wrong?
695
00:37:58,643 --> 00:37:59,809
- And he got out of the car and he goes,
696
00:37:59,878 --> 00:38:01,310
"you're just gonna leave me
here on the side of the road?"
697
00:38:01,380 --> 00:38:02,812
And I go, "yeah."
698
00:38:06,651 --> 00:38:08,484
- After eric got out of the car,
699
00:38:08,553 --> 00:38:10,620
He ended up in a del taco.
700
00:38:10,688 --> 00:38:12,622
So we found him,
and I just went in
701
00:38:12,690 --> 00:38:14,657
And sat down in the booth
702
00:38:14,726 --> 00:38:15,992
And said, "hey, eric.
How you doing?
703
00:38:16,060 --> 00:38:18,061
You're under arrest."
704
00:38:18,129 --> 00:38:19,796
He says, "for what?" and I said, "we'll talk
705
00:38:19,864 --> 00:38:21,497
About it when we get downtown."
706
00:38:21,566 --> 00:38:22,932
And then he lawyered up
right there.
707
00:38:22,934 --> 00:38:24,968
So we didn't get any statement
from him.
708
00:38:29,307 --> 00:38:31,440
- I'm exhausted, and it's, like, late at night.
709
00:38:31,510 --> 00:38:33,776
I'm on the freeway. I'm crying.
710
00:38:33,778 --> 00:38:35,912
And this beeping is going on.
711
00:38:35,980 --> 00:38:37,680
And that's where
the detectives,
712
00:38:37,749 --> 00:38:41,050
They were waving like this,
like pull over.
713
00:38:41,119 --> 00:38:45,255
And they said, "you did great, and we just arrested eric."
714
00:38:45,323 --> 00:38:48,090
I was nervous the whole time,
but I honestly knew
715
00:38:48,159 --> 00:38:50,226
If anybody's gonna get him to confess
716
00:38:50,294 --> 00:38:52,328
While wearing a wire, it's gonna be me.
717
00:38:52,397 --> 00:38:54,764
And I did.
718
00:38:58,403 --> 00:39:01,537
- Finally. Finally, he has been arrested.
719
00:39:01,606 --> 00:39:03,073
Maybe now justice will be served
720
00:39:03,141 --> 00:39:08,678
And he will be punished
for murdering my best friend.
721
00:39:13,718 --> 00:39:15,317
- Before the case went to trial,
722
00:39:15,319 --> 00:39:17,487
Eric was maintaining his innocence.
723
00:39:17,555 --> 00:39:19,221
"it was an accident at sea.
724
00:39:19,223 --> 00:39:22,025
And I really miss my wife.
I miss my kids."
725
00:39:26,831 --> 00:39:28,498
- We did a search warrant at eric's.
726
00:39:28,566 --> 00:39:31,000
And we found a weight tree
727
00:39:31,002 --> 00:39:33,203
Where all the weights
were intact
728
00:39:33,271 --> 00:39:35,037
Except two 35-pound weights,
729
00:39:35,039 --> 00:39:37,874
Which happened to be
the weights that he told tina
730
00:39:37,942 --> 00:39:42,378
That he hit pegye
and tied her up with.
731
00:39:42,447 --> 00:39:43,913
- And that was just icing
on the cake.
732
00:39:51,789 --> 00:39:54,590
[gentle somber music]
733
00:39:54,659 --> 00:40:01,731
♪ ♪
734
00:40:10,975 --> 00:40:14,277
- It was the biggest case
happening
735
00:40:14,345 --> 00:40:17,113
In not just orange county,
but in southern california
736
00:40:17,182 --> 00:40:19,916
And beyond.
737
00:40:19,984 --> 00:40:21,484
- At this time in orange county,
738
00:40:21,553 --> 00:40:23,453
The district attorney's office
739
00:40:23,521 --> 00:40:27,289
Had not prosecuted
a no-body case.
740
00:40:27,359 --> 00:40:30,292
We knew the recording was good and the weights,
741
00:40:30,362 --> 00:40:31,728
But you just never know.
742
00:40:33,564 --> 00:40:36,132
- Eric testified that he wasn't
serious when he said
743
00:40:36,201 --> 00:40:38,634
He killed his wife.
744
00:40:38,703 --> 00:40:41,037
His justification for making up that story
745
00:40:41,105 --> 00:40:44,306
Was that tina kind of liked the bad-boy image.
746
00:40:44,308 --> 00:40:46,776
- So eric testified that he told tina
747
00:40:46,844 --> 00:40:48,878
Whatever she wanted to hear.
748
00:40:51,916 --> 00:40:54,517
- When the case had gone to the jury,
749
00:40:54,586 --> 00:40:56,953
Everybody's starting
to get nervous.
750
00:40:57,021 --> 00:40:58,788
- There's only so much circumstantial evidence
751
00:40:58,857 --> 00:41:01,457
You can put together for a no-body case.
752
00:41:01,526 --> 00:41:04,593
That's why trials
are nerve-wracking.
753
00:41:04,663 --> 00:41:09,499
- After seven days of deliberation...
754
00:41:09,567 --> 00:41:14,170
Eric was convicted
of first-degree murder.
755
00:41:14,238 --> 00:41:16,572
- Eric bechler was sentenced
to life in prison
756
00:41:16,641 --> 00:41:18,842
Without the possibility
of parole.
757
00:41:22,980 --> 00:41:26,115
- And I remember the tears that immediately came
758
00:41:26,184 --> 00:41:29,051
And the relief
that you could just feel
759
00:41:29,120 --> 00:41:31,721
Throughout
the entire courtroom.
760
00:41:31,789 --> 00:41:34,424
It was phenomenal.
761
00:41:34,492 --> 00:41:36,492
- Without tina, we wouldn't be here today.
762
00:41:36,560 --> 00:41:40,329
I have to thank her again
for having the wherewithal
763
00:41:40,331 --> 00:41:42,765
To wear a wire.
764
00:41:42,834 --> 00:41:46,702
- I just did what
I think anybody would do.
765
00:41:46,771 --> 00:41:49,138
You know?
766
00:41:49,207 --> 00:41:52,442
I really do think that
I was put in this relationship
767
00:41:52,510 --> 00:41:54,010
For a reason.
768
00:41:59,984 --> 00:42:01,851
- After killing his wife, pegye,
769
00:42:01,853 --> 00:42:04,787
Eric bechler seemed to think
he would never be caught
770
00:42:04,856 --> 00:42:08,491
If authorities couldn't find her body.
771
00:42:08,560 --> 00:42:12,094
But he didn't consider how
doggedly they would pursue
772
00:42:12,096 --> 00:42:15,031
Justice in
this no-body homicide.
773
00:42:15,099 --> 00:42:18,368
Though her remains were never recovered from the sea,
774
00:42:18,436 --> 00:42:20,903
Pegye's loved ones take solace in knowing
775
00:42:20,905 --> 00:42:24,874
Her killer is behind bars for life.
776
00:42:28,980 --> 00:42:32,148
- Pegye was an extraordinary person.
777
00:42:32,216 --> 00:42:35,417
I can't say enough
about what a special,
778
00:42:35,419 --> 00:42:37,353
Incredible friend she was.
779
00:42:37,421 --> 00:42:39,556
I miss it every day.
62627
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.