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Narrator: THIS IS THE REAL-LIFE STORY OF STAR-CROSSED LOVERS --
MICHELLE HETZEL...
AND DEVON GUZMAN.
Morganelli: THESE GIRLS, BEING THE SAME AGE --
THEY WERE INTO THIS EXPERIMENTATION
AND FINDING THEIR SEXUALITY.
Narrator: IT'S A TRAGIC TALE OF TEENAGE OBSESSION, SEX...
Guzman: THERE WAS SOMETHING
THAT KEPT MICHELLE AND DEVON GOING BACK TO EACH OTHER.
Narrator: ...AND FATAL JEALOUSY...
IT WAS MORE LIKE THREE WAS A CROWD,
AND THERE WAS ALWAYS AN ODD PERSON OUT.
Narrator: ...THAT REACHES A GRUESOME CLIMAX.
HER NECK SORT OF FELL BACKWARDS TO THE EXTENT THAT
I THOUGHT THAT SHE MAY HAVE BEEN DECAPITATED.
Narrator: BEWARE -- EXTREME PASSION CAN LEAD
TO SHOCKING CONSEQUENCES.
♪ WHAT I MISTOOK FOR LOVE ♪
♪ I TAKE NOW AS ONLY LIES ♪
♪ ONLY LIES ♪
♪ GONNA TAKE YOU DOWN ♪
♪ TAKE YOU DOWN ♪
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator: IT'S THE SPRING OF 1999
IN THE BLUE-COLLAR TOWN OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA.
18-YEAR-OLD HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT MICHELLE HETZEL IS AT HOME
ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN.
Otto: MICHELLE WAS A PRETTY GIRL.
SHE WAS TALL, SHE WAS THIN, SHE HAD BLOND HAIR --
SHE WAS A NICE GIRL.
I MEAN, SHE KEPT TO HERSELF. SHE WAS QUIET.
Guzman: MICHELLE HAD AN OLDER BROTHER AND SISTER --
MUCH OLDER.
SO SHE WAS, LIKE, A LATE-LIFE BABY, BUT HAPPY.
I MEAN, SHE ALWAYS SEEMED HAPPY.
Narrator: BUT GROWING UP ALMOST AS AN ONLY CHILD,
MICHELLE HAS ALWAYS STRUGGLED TO FIT IN.
MICHELLE WAS A STORYTELLER, AND YOU COULD TELL.
YOU COULD BE LIKE,
"COME ON, MICHELLE, YOU'RE MAKING UP STORIES."
BUT SHE ACTUALLY BELIEVED A LOT OF THE STUFF SHE SAID.
FOR SOME REASON, SHE NEEDED ATTENTION
AND NEEDED THAT DRAMA IN HER LIFE, AND SHE CRAVED IT.
AND BELIEVE ME -- SHE MADE SURE SHE GOT IT.
Narrator: MICHELLE'S CHILDHOOD WAS FULL OF UPS AND DOWNS,
BUT ABOUT A YEAR AGO, SHE HIT ROCK BOTTOM
WHEN HER FAMILY SITUATION DETERIORATED
AND SHE WAS PLACED INTO FOSTER CARE.
BUT WHAT AT FIRST SEEMED LIKE A BLEAK CHANGE
TURNED OUT TO BE A STROKE OF GOOD LUCK FOR MICHELLE.
AT HER NEW HOME, SHE MET AND FELL IN LOVE
WITH THE FAMILY'S ELDEST SON -- 25-YEAR-OLD BRANDON BLOSS.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING, PAINTING YOUR NAILS?
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
THANKS.
Guzman: MICHELLE WAS THE FOSTER CHILD,
AND HE HAD LIVED THERE.
HE WAS A GOOD FRIEND, AND THEN SHE STARTED DATING HIM.
Parkansky: BRANDON WAS A SMART YOUNG MAN.
HE HAD DEGREES IN CHEMISTRY AND MATH,
AND HIS FUTURE LOOKED BRIGHT.
Narrator: THE COUPLE HAS ONLY BEEN DATING A FEW MONTHS,
BUT THEY'RE ALREADY ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED.
TO MICHELLE,
IT LOOKS LIKE BRANDON IS A CHANCE TO HAVE THE HAPPY LIFE
THAT A YEAR AGO SHE COULD NEVER HAVE DREAMED OF.
Otto: I THINK SHE WANTED A WEDDING, SHE WANTED A CAR,
AND BRANDON WAS THE PERFECT PROP WHEN BRANDON CAME INTO HER LIFE
TO SAY, "MICHELLE, I CAN GIVE YOU THESE THINGS."
Morganelli: MICHELLE SAW BRANDON
AS A GUY WHO'S GONNA BE SUCCESSFUL,
MAYBE MAKE SOME MONEY.
Narrator: FOR MICHELLE AND BRANDON,
LIFE IN EASTON IS FAMILIAR AND COMFORTABLE.
BOTH GREW UP GOING TO LOCAL SCHOOLS
AND EVEN NOW SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME
HANGING OUT WITH MICHELLE'S TWO BEST FRIENDS --
DEVON AND KEARY.
DEVON, KEARY, AND MICHELLE ALL MET THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL,
AND THE THREE OF THEM WERE TOGETHER ALL THE TIME
AND DID THINGS TOGETHER ALL THE TIME.
DEVON WAS CAREFREE AND FULL OF LIFE.
SHE WORKED HARD. SHE LOVED FAMILY.
SHE WAS HAPPY.
FOR THE MOST PART, SHE WAS A HAPPY PERSON.
KEARY WAS TALL. SHE HAD BLOND HAIR.
SHE WAS VERY NICE. SHE SEEMED TO BE FUN.
Narrator: NOW THAT MICHELLE IS WITH BRANDON,
THE TRIO HAS GROWN TO A FOURSOME.
NOT A PROBLEM. YOU WANT A BURGER OR DOG?
UM, HOT DOG.
HOT DOG. ALL RIGHT.
ON THE SURFACE, THEY ARE ALL THE BEST OF FRIENDS.
BUT MICHELLE IS KEEPING A DARK SECRET
FROM HER DEVOTED FIANCé, BRANDON.
ONLY A FEW MONTHS AFTER GETTING ENGAGED,
SHE'S CHEATING ON HIM
WITH THE LAST PERSON HE WOULD EVER SUSPECT --
HER BEST FRIEND, 18-YEAR-OLD DEVON GUZMAN.
Morganelli: MICHELLE AND DEVON WERE FRIENDS.
AT SOME POINT, IT WENT BEYOND THAT,
AND IT EVENTUALLY DEVELOPED INTO A *** RELATIONSHIP.
THESE GIRLS, BEING THE SAME AGE --
THEY WERE INTO THIS EXPERIMENTATION
AND FINDING THEIR SEXUALITY, WHATEVER THEY WERE DOING.
AND IT WAS JUST A PARTY ATMOSPHERE AS WELL.
[ MOANS ]
Narrator: THE INTENSE CHEMISTRY OF THIS TABOO RELATIONSHIP
GIVES MICHELLE A THRILL THAT BRANDON COULD NEVER PROVIDE.
THEY HAVE A SECRET AND AN UNDERSTANDING.
THEY UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER
IN A WAY THAT NOBODY ELSE COULD POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND.
IT REALLY HEIGHTENS NOT JUST THE LOVE,
BUT THE *** TURN-ON BETWEEN THEM.
Narrator: THIS SECRET AFFAIR IS NOTHING NEW.
CONFLICTED BY HER EMOTIONS,
MICHELLE HAS SPLIT AND GOTTEN BACK TOGETHER WITH DEVON
MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS.
Guzman: THE KIND OF PERSON MICHELLE WAS --
SHE WOULD PULL DEVON CLOSER AND THEN PUSH HER AWAY.
BUT SHE WOULD ONLY KEEP HER AT ARM'S LENGTH
SO THAT SHE COULD BRING HER BACK IN WHEN SHE WANTED HER.
I COULDN'T TELL MY DAUGHTER "ENOUGH,"
THAT YOU JUST NEED TO WALK AWAY
AND, YOU KNOW, MOVE ON WITH YOUR LIFE
BECAUSE THIS ISN'T WORKING OUT WITH HER.
Narrator: BUT DEVON ALWAYS TAKES HER SECRET LOVER BACK.
DEVON CARED FOR HER SO MUCH.
SHE JUST WAS SO CONFUSED.
SHE WENT RUNNING EVERY TIME MICHELLE CALLED HER.
Narrator: MEANWHILE, MICHELLE'S FIANCé, BRANDON,
HAS NO IDEA THAT HIS SOON-TO-BE WIFE
IS SLEEPING WITH HER BEST FRIEND.
HE'S TOO BUSY FOCUSING ON BUILDING A FUTURE FOR THEM.
HE DID WORK A LOT -- HE HAD A STEADY JOB,
AND PLUS, HE HAD A SECOND PART-TIME JOB,
SO A LOT OF HIS HOURS WERE TIED UP.
Narrator: BETWEEN BRANDON AND DEVON,
THE DOWN-ON-HER-LUCK FOSTER CHILD HAS
EVERYTHING SHE'S EVER WANTED.
Parkansky: MICHELLE HAD BRANDON.
HE GAVE HER THINGS THAT DEVON NEVER COULD GIVE HER.
IT WAS LIKE MICHELLE WANTED
THE FINANCIAL SECURITY FROM BRANDON,
BUT THE PASSION FROM DEVON.
Narrator: WHILE BRANDON HAS NO IDEA
ABOUT HIS FIANCéE'S ADULTEROUS WAYS,
DEVON'S STEADY GIRLFRIEND, KEARY,
KNOWS THEM ALL TOO WELL.
Parkansky: IN HIGH SCHOOL,
MICHELLE AND KEARY WOULD FIGHT FOR DEVON'S ATTENTION.
IT WAS MORE LIKE THREE WAS A CROWD,
AND THERE WAS ALWAYS AN ODD PERSON OUT.
Narrator: AND AT THE MOMENT,
IT'S KEARY WHO'S FEELING LIKE THAT THIRD WHEEL
AS SHE SENSES
MICHELLE AND DEVON'S CONNECTION HEATING BACK UP.
Parkansky: MICHELLE KEPT RESURFACING INTO THE RELATIONSHIP.
AND I BELIEVE KEARY WOULD GET VERY ANGRY AND HURT
WHEN DEVON WOULD FOCUS ON MICHELLE.
Morganelli: SO THERE WAS DEFINITELY TENSION
IN THIS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE THREE GIRLS.
Narrator: THE LONG-SUFFERING KEARY BELIEVES IN HER HEART OF HEARTS
THAT DEVON WILL WISE UP AND CHOOSE HER.
I REALLY HONESTLY BELIEVE KEARY KNEW THAT
DEVON WOULD BE BACK FOR GOOD ONE OF THESE DAYS.
Narrator: THROUGHOUT THE REST OF 1999,
18-YEAR-OLD MICHELLE CONTINUES TO BOUNCE
BETWEEN BRANDON AND DEVON,
PROFESSING HER LOVE AND DEVOTION TO BOTH.
BUT IN EARLY 2000,
SHE FINALLY TELLS DEVON THE HARD TRUTH --
SHE IS GOING FORWARD WITH HER MARRIAGE TO BRANDON.
DEVON IS DEVASTATED.
Otto: I THINK SHE WAS SHOCKED,
AND IT'S THE SAME HINDSIGHT AS IF SHE WAS LOSING SOMEBODY.
SHE WAS PROBABLY JEALOUS. I'M SURE SHE WAS HURT.
I'M SURE, YOU KNOW,
SHE'S WATCHING SOMEBODY THAT SHE LOVES
MARRY SOMEBODY ELSE.
Narrator: DEVON BEGS HER LOVER TO RECONSIDER,
BUT TO NO AVAIL.
IN JUST TWO WEEKS,
MICHELLE AND BRANDON WILL BE MARRIED.
OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS,
SADNESS TURNS TO FURY
AS THE SPURNED TEEN DECIDES
SHE ISN'T GONNA GIVE UP WITHOUT A FIGHT.
DEVON'S BEHAVIOR -- IT WAS VERY IRRATIONAL AT TIMES.
SHE'S JEALOUS THAT MICHELLE'S GETTING MARRIED.
SHE STARTS TO BASICALLY STALK HER.
SHE DOES NOT WANT TO LET HER GO.
Golazeski: DEVON WOULD DRIVE BY THE HOUSE,
HONKING AND YELLING ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP
AND HOW MUCH SHE LOVED HER.
YOU HAVE TO STOP IT. SHE HAS TO GO.
Narrator: SHOCKED BY DEVON'S BEHAVIOR,
BRANDON CONFRONTS MICHELLE
ABOUT HER RELATIONSHIP WITH HER OLD FRIEND.
MICHELLE MAINTAINS IT'S NOT HER FAULT.
IT'S DEVON WHO'S BECOME TOTALLY OBSESSED WITH HER.
I THINK MICHELLE WOULD PLAY THE PART, YOU KNOW,
"DEVON KEEPS CALLING ME. DEVON KEEPS SHOWING UP HERE."
AND I THINK IT WAS MORE LIKE A FACADE.
"I'M TRYING TO MAKE THIS WORK, BUT DEVON KEEPS DOING THIS."
Narrator: THOUGH HE STILL DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT THE AFFAIR,
BRANDON MAKES IT CLEAR TO MICHELLE
THAT SHE NEEDS TO CUT DEVON OUT OF HER LIFE.
I KNOW THAT BRANDON
PUSHED A LOT OF STRESS ON MICHELLE
ABOUT CONTACTING DEVON.
LAST WEEK, SHE WAS HONKING THE HORN AND SCREAMING.
Narrator: MICHELLE PLACATES HER FIANCé
BY AGREEING TO END HER FRIENDSHIP WITH DEVON,
BUT CAN SHE KEEP HER PROMISE,
OR WILL HER DOUBLE LIFE
RESULT IN HORRIFIC CONSEQUENCES FOR THEM ALL?
Narrator: BY THE BEGINNING OF 2000,
18-YEAR-OLD MICHELLE HETZEL
AND HER BEST FRIEND, DEVON GUZMAN,
HAVE RE-IGNITED THEIR ON-AND-OFF AFFAIR.
WHEN THEY'RE TOGETHER, THEIR PASSION IS OVERWHELMING.
MICHELLE AND DEVON'S LOVE AFFAIR
IS VERY TYPICAL OF ADOLESCENT LOVE.
IT'S ALMOST OBSESSIVE.
THEY CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING BUT EACH OTHER.
Narrator: MICHELLE'S FIANCé, BRANDON,
IS UNAWARE OF THEIR *** RELATIONSHIP,
BUT HAS GROWN TIRED
OF THE CONSTANT DRAMA AND HARASSMENT
COMING FROM DEVON TOWARDS HIS SOON-TO-BE WIFE.
HE INSISTS THAT MICHELLE STOP SEEING DEVON FOR GOOD.
MICHELLE AGREES.
YOU KNOW, I THINK MICHELLE WANTED TO BE WITH BRANDON.
I THINK THAT PART OF HER WANTED TO LIVE THE NORMAL LIFE.
Otto: BRANDON PUTS UP WITH MICHELLE LYING TO HIM.
BRANDON DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE HER,
SO HE WAS GOING TO DO WHATEVER IT TOOK
TO KEEP HIS WIFE THERE.
Narrator: BUT IF BRANDON THINKS
MICHELLE'S SEEN THE LAST OF DEVON,
HE'S SORELY MISTAKEN.
THE JILTED LOVER ISN'T GONNA STAND BY
WHILE HER EX RUNS OFF AND GETS MARRIED.
WHEN HER OBSESSIVE STALKING DOESN'T SWAY MICHELLE,
DEVON KNOWS SHE HAS A TRUMP CARD UP HER SLEEVE.
MICHELLE KEPT HER SEXUALITY HIDDEN FROM MOST PEOPLE.
Narrator: DESPITE A YEAR SPENT IN FOSTER CARE,
MICHELLE'S REAL MOM AND DAD
STILL PLAY A BIG ROLE IN HER LIFE.
SHE WAS VERY WORRIED ABOUT HER PARENTS.
THEY TREATED HER LIKE A LITTLE PRINCESS,
SO I THINK SHE TRIED TO KEEP THE IMAGE UP
IN FRONT OF HER PARENTS.
Narrator: DEVON KNOWS
THIS IS MICHELLE'S ACHILLES' HEEL,
AND SHE SHOOTS STRAIGHT FOR IT.
Golazeski: SHE WOULD CALL MICHELLE'S PARENTS,
TELLING THEM ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP
AND HOW MUCH SHE LOVED HER --
ANYTHING SHE COULD DO TO SABOTAGE IT,
SORT OF MAKE IT IN A NON-SUBTLE WAY
THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS BISEXUAL.
Dr. Jordan: DURING THIS PERIOD BEFORE MICHELLE'S WEDDING,
DEVON REALLY BECOMES UNHINGED.
HER STALKING BEHAVIOR -- ALMOST HARASSING BEHAVIOR --
REALLY BECOMES CONTINUAL, EVEN CHRONIC.
AND IT'S REALLY FUELED BY THE IDEA
THAT MICHELLE IS NOT REACTING TO ANY OF IT.
Narrator: BUT IT'S WHEN DEVON CALLS MICHELLE'S PARENTS
THAT SHE FINALLY GETS A RISE OUT OF HER EX --
JUST NOT THE ONE SHE WANTED.
IN JANUARY 2000, A MONTH BEFORE HER WEDDING,
MICHELLE GOES TO THE POLICE.
Morganelli: THERE WAS
A HARASSMENT COMPLAINT THAT WAS FILED.
THIS WAS FILED BY MICHELLE HETZEL,
ALLEGING THAT DEVON WAS, IN FACT, HARASSING HER,
STALKING HER, AND SHE WANTED IT TO END.
Narrator: POLICE ISSUE
A RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST DEVON,
AND ON FEBRUARY 26, 2000,
MICHELLE AND BRANDON ARE MARRIED.
AT FIRST, DEVON IS CRUSHED, BUT BY MARCH,
SHE SEEMS TO ACCEPT THAT MICHELLE IS GONE FOR GOOD.
SO SHE MOVES BACK IN WITH HER PATIENT EX-GIRLFRIEND KEARY,
AND FINALLY, THEIR RELATIONSHIP BEGINS TO BLOSSOM.
KEARY HAD A STRONG AFFECTION FOR DEVON.
AND THERE WAS SOME BELIEF
THAT DEVON REALLY WAS IN LOVE WITH KEARY.
KEARY AND DEVON WERE GONNA MOVE TO OUTSIDE THE AREA,
TO ARIZONA,
DISCUSSED POSSIBLY ADOPTING A CHILD,
BUT THEY WERE GONNA DEFINITELY
MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR RELATIONSHIP.
Otto: I THINK DEVON STARTED TO MOVE ON WITH KEARY.
WHETHER THAT'S WHAT SHE WANTED, I'M NOT REALLY SURE.
Narrator: MEANWHILE,
MICHELLE AND BRANDON ALSO SEEM TO BE OFF TO A FRESH NEW START.
IN THE DAYS FOLLOWING THEIR WEDDING,
THE NEWLYWEDS ARE THE PICTURE OF HAPPINESS.
Parkansky: WHEN THEY FIRST GOT MARRIED,
THEY WERE HONEYMOONERS, AND THINGS WERE GOING WELL.
THEY BOUGHT A SMALL HOUSE IN SOUTH SIDE,
MOVED IN TOGETHER,
AND THEY WERE PLANNING ON LIVING HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
Narrator: IT SEEMS AS IF
MICHELLE'S DECISION TO PUT DEVON BEHIND HER IS REAL.
BUT UNDER THAT CONTENTED SURFACE,
IT TURNS OUT THAT THE FORBIDDEN AFFAIR
IS JUST TOO SWEET FOR HER TO FORGET.
SHE CAN'T KEEP DEVON OUT OF HER MIND.
JUST DAYS AFTER MARRYING BRANDON,
MICHELLE GOES TO SEE HER LOST LOVE.
THERE WAS SOMETHING
THAT KEPT MICHELLE AND DEVON GOING BACK TO EACH OTHER.
MICHELLE WAS OBSESSED WITH DEVON --
ABSOLUTELY OBSESSED WITH DEVON.
Narrator: THE TWO BEST FRIENDS CAN'T
KEEP THEIR HANDS OFF EACH OTHER.
Guzman: AFTER MICHELLE GOT MARRIED, SHE WAS TORN.
SHE WOULD COME OVER AND BE WITH DEVON
AND TRY TO MAKE FUTURE PLANS WITH HER,
LIKE, "WE'RE GONNA GET AN APARTMENT TOGETHER."
LET'S MOVE IN TOGETHER.
[ CHUCKLES ] BUT...
I MEAN...
YOU'RE MARRIED.
"I DON'T LOVE HIM.
I'M ONLY DOING IT FOR MY PARENTS."
MICHELLE WAS ALWAYS PROMISING TO DEVON
THAT IT WAS GONNA BE THE TWO OF THEM AND NOT BRANDON.
Dr. Jordan: DEVON, PERHAPS,
RECOGNIZES THIS AS THE PLOY THAT IT IS.
EVEN THOUGH SHE'S HURT BY THE IDEA
THAT MICHELLE WOULD MARRY A MAN, SHE UNDERSTANDS
MICHELLE CAN'T POSSIBLY LOVE BRANDON
THE WAY THAT SHE LOVES DEVON.
Narrator: IN THE WEEKS AFTER THE WEDDING,
18-YEAR-OLD MICHELLE PLAYS THE PART
OF A BLISSFULLY HAPPY HONEYMOONER
WITH HER NEW HUSBAND, BRANDON.
BUT SHE'S BACK WITH HER SECRET TEENAGE LOVER, DEVON.
THE ILLICIT PASSION BETWEEN THEM
FLAMES HIGHER THAN EVER BEFORE.
IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE BRANDON NOTICES
HIS WIFE'S ATTENTION IS ELSEWHERE.
IN APRIL, 2000,
THINGS BETWEEN THE NEWLYWEDS COME TO A HEAD.
WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?!
WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?!
BRANDON STARTED TO REALIZE THAT MICHELLE WAS LEAVING
AND GOING OUT AND SPENDING A LOT OF TIME WITH DEVON,
WHICH PUT PRESSURE
ON THEIR MARRIAGE AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP.
MICHELLE WOULD LEAVE HER HUSBAND
AND GO RUN OFF WITH DEVON SOMEWHERE
AND MAYBE NOT COME HOME AT NIGHT OR WHATEVER.
Narrator: THE SUSPICIOUS HUSBAND FINALLY SEES
THE WRITING ON THE WALL.
HIS WIFE AND DEVON ARE A LOT MORE THAN JUST FRIENDS.
Parkansky: BRANDON KNEW
THAT MICHELLE AND DEVON WERE HAVING A RELATIONSHIP.
AND I BELIEVE HE WAS VERY JEALOUS ABOUT THAT.
I BELIEVE THAT HE TRULY LOVED MICHELLE
AND HE WOULD PROBABLY DO ANYTHING
TO KEEP HER AS HIS WIFE.
A WOMAN?! A WOMAN?!
I'VE NEVER HAD AN AFFAIR!
Narrator: THE NEW HUSBAND MAKES IT VERY CLEAR
THAT HE ISN'T GONNA PUT UP WITH INFIDELITY.
THINGS STARTED TO DETERIORATE RATHER QUICKLY.
THERE WERE FIGHTS
AT THIS LOCATION WHERE THEY WERE RESIDING,
THAT SOME OF THIS SPILLED OUTSIDE
TO SHOUTING MATCHES.
I AM RESTRAINING MYSELF RIGHT NOW!
A NEIGHBOR ACROSS THE STREET HEARS AN ARGUMENT AND LOOKS OUT.
IT'S BRANDON AND MICHELLE ARGUING,
AND BRANDON'S CURSING,
AND MICHELLE'S JUST IGNORING HIM.
YOU CAN TAKE YOUR STUFF
AND GET THE HELL OUT OF MY HOUSE.
Narrator: MICHELLE'S HOMELIFE IS SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL.
RATHER THAN FACE HER PROBLEMS HEAD ON,
SHE MAKES A DECISION
THAT WILL TAKE THE SITUATION FROM BAD TO HORRIFIC.
OVER THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND OF 2000,
SHE DISAPPEARS.
Parkansky: MICHELLE TOOK DEVON ON THIS SURPRISE TRIP,
AND MICHELLE FOOTED THE BILL FOR EVERYTHING,
CHARGED IT ON HER CREDIT CARD,
UNKNOWINGLY TO BRANDON.
I THINK MICHELLE WAS DEFINITELY USING HER ABILITY
TO CHARGE GIFTS AND TRIPS AND THINGS
TO LURE DEVON BACK INTO HER INNER CIRCLE.
Guzman: MICHELLE TAKING DEVON ON THE TRIP
WAS HER WAY OF SAYING,
"I'M COMMITTED TO YOU. COME ON, I'M TAKING YOU AWAY.
"THIS IS HOW I'M GONNA PROVE
I LOVE YOU AND I WANT TO BE WITH YOU."
Narrator: ON THAT TRIP,
THE INFATUATED GIRLS TAKE A BIG LEAP IN THEIR COMMITMENT
AND PLEDGE THEIR LIVES TO EACH OTHER.
MICHELLE WAS TRYING TO PROVE TO DEVON,
"YOU ARE THE ONE I WANT, NOT MY HUSBAND.
"LET'S DO THIS. I'LL MARRY YOU. WE WILL COME BACK.
YOU MOVE, I'LL PACK UP, AND WE CAN BE TOGETHER."
Narrator: DEVON RETURNS TO EASTON
CONVINCED THAT SHE HAS A FUTURE WITH MICHELLE.
SHE EVEN TAKES THE BOLD STEP
OF TELLING HER GIRLFRIEND, KEARY, ABOUT HER AND MICHELLE
RUNNING OFF AND EXCHANGING RINGS.
TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THIS COMES AS A SHOCK TO KEARY
BECAUSE KEARY'S BELIEVING
THAT DEVON AND HER ARE, YOU KNOW, TOGETHER.
WHY IS SHE OFF WITH MICHELLE?
SHE BECOMES VERY, VERY UPSET ABOUT THE WHOLE THING.
SORRY TO TELL YOU LIKE THIS.
Parkansky: SHE'S GOING BACK AND FORTH
BETWEEN MICHELLE AND KEARY.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE A PINBALL GAME,
AND SOMETIMES KEARY'S THE BALL
AND SOMETIMES MICHELLE'S THE BALL.
Narrator: DEVASTATED AND ANGRY,
KEARY CAN'T ACCEPT WHAT SHE'S HEARING.
Golazeski: WHEN KEARY FINDS OUT
ABOUT DEVON TAKING THIS TRIP WITH MICHELLE
AND THAT THEY HAD THIS LITTLE WEDDING CEREMONY
AND SHE'S GONNA LEAVE AND LIVE WITH MICHELLE,
AN ARGUMENT AND A PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION
DOES ENSUE.
THE THIRD PERSON IN THIS TRIANGLE -- KEARY --
HAS BEEN LONG SUFFERING AND HAS TOLERATED A GREAT DEAL
IN THE MUSICAL CHAIRS OF THESE RELATIONSHIPS.
Narrator: PUSHED TO HER EMOTIONAL LIMIT,
KEARY FINALLY SNAPS.
DEVON'S TELLING KEARY WHAT HAS HAPPENED,
AND KEARY, IN AN ACT OF DESPERATION,
GRABS A KNIFE.
Narrator: UP TILL NOW, KEARY HAS SUFFERED
HER GIRLFRIEND'S FICKLE WAYS IN SILENCE.
BUT ALL THAT IS ABOUT TO CHANGE
WITH ONE VIOLENT STROKE.
Narrator: 18-YEAR-OLD DEVON GUZMAN
HAS BEEN CHEATING ON HER TEENAGE PARTNER, KEARY,
WITH A HIGH SCHOOL FRIEND NAMED MICHELLE HETZEL.
Parkansky: IN HIGH SCHOOL,
KEARY, DEVON, AND MICHELLE WERE ALL FRIENDS,
AND IT SEEMED LIKE THAT MICHELLE AND KEARY
WOULD FIGHT FOR DEVON'S ATTENTIONS.
Narrator: IN THE PAST, KEARY HAS LET THINGS RIDE,
BUT NOW THAT SHE'S DISCOVERED
DEVON HAS PROMISED A FUTURE TO MICHELLE,
SHE EXPLODES IN A VIOLENT RAGE.
HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?
KEARY, IN AN ACT OF DESPERATION, GRABS A KNIFE.
SHE WAS HURT, SHE WAS ANGRY --
ALL THE EMOTIONS THAT YOU'RE GONNA FEEL
WHEN SOMEONE THAT YOU CARE ABOUT RUNS OFF WITH SOMEBODY ELSE.
Narrator: DEVON THINKS SHE'S THE INTENDED VICTIM,
BUT KEARY'S KNIFE HAS A DIFFERENT INTENDED TARGET.
SHE'S THREATENING TO KILL HERSELF.
DEVON TRIES TO TAKE THE KNIFE OFF HER.
DEVON WINDS UP GETTING CUT
AND NEEDS TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
Narrator: AFTER GETTING STITCHES,
DEVON IS SENT HOME,
AND IT SEEMS THAT KEARY'S DESPERATE MOVE
HAS TOUCHED DEVON'S HEART.
KEARY AND DEVON ACTUALLY DO SEEM TO RECONNECT.
Narrator: AFTER ALL THE BACK-AND-FORTH,
DEVON NOW SEEMS READY
TO FORGET ABOUT MICHELLE ONCE AND FOR ALL.
Otto: I THINK ONCE DEVON CAME BACK,
SHE REALIZED THAT SHE WANTED TO BE WITH KEARY.
I THINK SHE THOUGHT THAT SHE WOULD BE HAPPIER WITH KEARY.
I THINK IT WOULD BE A LITTLE LESS DRAMA.
I REALLY TRULY BELIEVE
THAT DEVON DIDN'T WANT TO MESS UP MICHELLE'S MARRIAGE.
I JUST WANT TO BE WITH YOU.
PROMISE.
Narrator: AND DEVON ISN'T THE ONLY ONE
HAVING A CHANGE OF HEART.
SINCE COMING BACK FROM HER ROMANTIC TRIP WITH DEVON,
MICHELLE HAS BEEN UNDER PRESSURE FROM HER FAMILY
TO RECONCILE WITH HER HUSBAND.
MICHELLE WAS HOME WITH BRANDON, TRYING TO FIX WHAT SHE JUST DID.
Narrator: BRANDON IS FURIOUS
THAT HIS WIFE RAN OFF WITH ANOTHER WOMAN
AND STOLE HIS CREDIT CARDS,
BUT DESPITE ALL THAT,
HE FORGIVES HER AND TAKES HER BACK.
HE LOVES HER, AND I BELIEVE HE TRULY DOES LOVE HER
TO THE POINT WHERE
HE'S WILLING TO FORGIVE ALL THESE INDISCRETIONS
AND THIS AFFAIR WITH DEVON AND ANYTHING ELSE
AS LONG AS SHE WOULD COMMIT TO HIM.
Narrator: BY EARLY JUNE 2000,
MICHELLE AND BRANDON ARE REBUILDING THEIR YOUNG MARRIAGE,
AND DEVON AND KEARY ARE MAKING A FRESH START.
AFTER MONTHS APART, THERE ARE EVEN SIGNS THAT
ALL FOUR OF THEM ARE WILLING TO LET BYGONES BE BYGONES.
BUT WITHIN DAYS,
THAT HOPEFUL DREAM WILL BE VIOLENTLY SHATTERED.
IN THE EARLY HOURS OF JUNE 15th,
MICHELLE MAKES A PANICKED PHONE CALL TO KEARY.
Morganelli: MICHELLE GETS IN CONTACT WITH KEARY
AND SAYS, "HEY," YOU KNOW, "WHERE'S DEVON AT?
WHERE IS SHE? IS SHE WITH YOU?"
Narrator: MICHELLE SAW DEVON THE NIGHT BEFORE,
BUT HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO REACH HER SINCE.
SHE'S LOOKING AROUND FOR HER. SHE'S CALLING.
YOU KNOW, "IS SHE THERE?"
Narrator: KEARY SAYS DEVON DROPPED HER AT HOME LAST NIGHT,
BUT SHE THEN WENT BACK OUT.
Morganelli: KEARY IS NOT WORRIED.
SHE KNOWS DEVON IS SORT OF A FREE SPIRIT
AND SOMETIMES GOES OFF ON HER OWN
AND SHE SHOWS UP, YOU KNOW,
HOURS LATER, A DAY LATER, WHATEVER.
KEARY'S NOT OVERLY CONCERNED.
Narrator: BUT MICHELLE IS,
AND KEARY'S CALM REACTION ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE
ONLY MAKES HER MORE FRANTIC.
WHAT IF SOMETHING'S WRONG? LIKE, WHAT IF DEVON'S HURT?
MICHELLE IS HYSTERICAL, SAYS, "WE HAVE TO CALL THE POLICE
"'CAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHERE DEVON IS. SHE'S MISSING."
Narrator: BUT KEARY REFUSES TO CALL THE COPS.
SO MINUTES LATER,
MICHELLE TAKES MATTERS INTO HER OWN HANDS.
Parkansky: MICHELLE GOES TO KEARY AND DEVON'S APARTMENT
AND SAYS, "WHERE IS SHE?
WE HAVE TO FILE A MISSING-PERSON REPORT."
I THINK WE HAVE TO CALL THE POLICE.
WHAT? NO. I ALREADY TOLD YOU.
KEARY, YOU'RE NOT LISTENING.
I'M NOT GONNA CALL THE POLICE.
KEARY IS NOT AT ALL CONCERNED ABOUT DEVON.
I MEAN, THIS IS THE PERSON
WHO JUST RAN OFF A FEW WEEKS AGO.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME SHE'S RUN OFF.
Narrator: THE SITUATION GETS MORE COMPLICATED
WHEN KEARY TELLS MICHELLE
THAT 19-YEAR-OLD DEVON HAD BEEN DRINKING THE NIGHT BEFORE.
SHE DOESN'T WANT TO INVOLVE THE POLICE.
KEARY IS VERY ADAMANT NOT TO DO IT.
SHE GOES, "'CAUSE IF SHE GETS PULLED OVER,
"SHE'S UNDERAGE, AND SHE'S GONNA BE DRUNK,
AND SHE'LL JUST BE MAD AT BOTH OF US."
FINE. I'LL DO IT.
WHEN KEARY REFUSES TO CALL,
MICHELLE ACTUALLY DOES IT.
I NEED TO REPORT A MISSING PERSON.
Narrator: BUT THE DETECTIVE MICHELLE TALKS TO
HAS SOME BAD NEWS.
A PERSON NEEDS TO BE GONE FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS
TO BE CONSIDERED MISSING,
AND DEVON WAS LAST SEEN ONLY A FEW HOURS EARLIER.
MICHELLE ISN'T WILLING TO WAIT --
DECIDES TO LAUNCH HER OWN SEARCH,
DEMANDING THAT KEARY HELP HER.
Morganelli: MICHELLE'S DRIVING HER VEHICLE,
AND KEARY IS A PASSENGER.
THEY'RE DRIVING AROUND,
GOING TO WHAT MICHELLE DESCRIBED AS MAYBE SOME SPOTS
THAT DEVON MIGHT HAVE FREQUENTED.
Narrator: THE GIRLS DRIVE ALL MORNING,
AND JUST WHEN THEY'RE ABOUT TO GIVE UP...
LOOK, IT LOOKS LIKE HER CAR.
...THEY SPOT DEVON'S CAR.
YEAH. THAT IS HER CAR.
Golazeski: KEARY GETS OUT, AND SHE LOOKS IN THE CAR,
AND SHE SEES THAT SHE'S LAYING DOWN,
SORT OF IN A FETAL POSITION IN THE BACK SEAT.
Narrator: IT LOOKS LIKE KEARY HAS BEEN RIGHT ALL ALONG.
DEVON HAS PASSED OUT AFTER DRINKING TOO MUCH.
KEARY BELIEVES SHE'S SLEEPING, SO SHE TRIES TO WAKE HER UP.
DEVON! DEVON!
SHE DOESN'T MOVE.
AND THEN, I THINK THEY START TO REALIZE
THAT...SOMETHING'S...
...SOMETHING'S WRONG.
WAKE UP. [ PANTING ] OH, MY GOD.
Narrator: THE GIRLS TURN DEVON ONTO HER FRONT
AND MAKE A HORRIFYING DISCOVERY.
THEIR FRIEND'S THROAT
HAS BEEN VICIOUSLY SLASHED TO THE BONE.
[ CRIES ]
Narrator: IT'S JUNE 2000,
AND DEVON IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A VOLATILE LOVE TRIANGLE
WITH HER LOVER, MICHELLE,
AND HER GIRLFRIEND, KEARY.
WHEN SHE GOES MISSING,
KEARY ASSUMES SHE'S JUST OFF PARTYING AS USUAL,
BUT NOW DEVON HAS BEEN FOUND
LYING DEAD IN THE BACK OF HER CAR.
[ SIREN WAILING ]
A PASSERBY ALERTS POLICE,
AND COPS QUICKLY ARRIVE ON THE SCENE.
Morganelli: WHEN THEY GOT THERE,
THEY RECOGNIZED IMMEDIATELY THAT THEY HAD A DECEASED PERSON.
Narrator: DEVON GUZMAN IS PRONOUNCED DEAD
AT THE AGE OF 19.
COPS STUDY THE CRIME SCENE
FOR CLUES AS TO WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED.
AT FIRST GLANCE,
IT LOOKS LIKE DRUGS MIGHT BE TO BLAME.
HER ARM WAS COVERED AT THAT POINT,
WITH A NEEDLE IN IT.
Narrator: COPS THEORIZE THAT, HIGH ON DRUGS,
DEVON MAY HAVE TAKEN HER OWN LIFE.
SHE HAS IN HER HAND A KNIFE,
WHICH LEADS SOME TO BELIEVE THAT PERHAPS SHE KILLED HERSELF.
Narrator: BUT THE SEVERITY OF HER WOUNDS
MAKE THAT SEEM IMPOSSIBLE.
Morganelli: I WAS THERE WHEN
THEY PHYSICALLY REMOVED THE BODY FROM THE VEHICLE
AND PLACED DEVON'S BODY ON A MAT OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE.
AND HER NECK SORT OF FELL BACKWARDS,
ALMOST TO THE EXTENT THAT
I THOUGHT THAT SHE MAY HAVE BEEN DECAPITATED.
A GASHING WOUND ACROSS HER THROAT,
WHICH WAS DEEP, WAS VERY VISIBLE.
IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR THAT THIS WAS NOT A SUICIDE.
THAT TYPE OF WOUND IS NOT COMMITTED RANDOMLY.
IT'S COMMITTED DURING A PASSIONATE CRIME,
AND THIS WAS DEFINITELY A CRIME OF PASSION.
Narrator: WITH DEVON'S DEATH NOW CONFIRMED AS A HOMICIDE
POLICE DISCOVER ANOTHER VITAL PIECE OF INFORMATION.
Golazeski: THIS GAPING WOUND TO HER NECK
WOULD HAVE CAUSED A LOT OF ARTERIAL SPURTING,
AND THERE'S VERY LITTLE BLOOD IN THE CAR.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY A STAGED SCENE.
THIS ISN'T WHERE SHE WAS KILLED.
Narrator: NOT ONLY THAT,
BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT DEVON DIDN'T DIE EASILY.
Golazeski: WHEN YOU INSPECTED DEVON'S BODY,
YOU BEGAN SEEING LITTLE CUTS AND BRUISES
AND DIRT ON HER CLOTHING
AND, YOU KNOW, BLADES OF GRASS AND HAIRS AND FIBERS.
SO IT WAS OBVIOUS THERE WAS SOME SORT OF VIOLENT STRUGGLE
THAT PRECEDED HER DEATH.
Narrator: THAT SAME AFTERNOON,
INVESTIGATORS BRING MICHELLE HETZEL DOWN
TO THE POLICE STATION FOR QUESTIONING.
Morganelli: MICHELLE WAS PRETTY CONSISTENT
WITH HER VERSION OF EVENTS.
WHEN SHE SPOKE TO EASTON POLICE,
SHE RELAYED THAT SHE WAS FRIENDS WITH DEVON.
DEVON HAD BEEN AT HER HOME EARLIER IN THE EVENING
AND THEN LEFT TO GO TAKE KEARY HOME
AND THAT THAT WAS THE LAST THAT SHE SAW HER.
Parkansky: MICHELLE ADMITTED THAT
HER AND DEVON HAD HAD A RELATIONSHIP,
BUT SAID THAT THEY HADN'T SLEPT TOGETHER
OR WEREN'T INTIMATE IN SEVERAL YEARS.
THEY MAY HAVE HUGGED AND KISSED HERE OR THERE
OR OCCASIONALLY LATELY, BUT KIND OF DOWNPLAYED
THE EXTENT OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP.
[ MOANS ]
Narrator: MICHELLE TELLS COPS
THAT DEVON WAS BACK WITH KEARY,
ALTHOUGH RECENTLY,
THINGS BETWEEN THEM HADN'T BEEN GOING WELL.
SHE POINTED OUT AN INCIDENT
THAT HAD HAPPENED A COUPLE WEEKS PRIOR,
WHERE THEY WERE HAVING AN ARGUMENT
AND KEARY THREATENED TO HARM HERSELF WITH A KNIFE
AND WHEN DEVON WENT TO TAKE IT OFF HER
THAT DEVON GOT CUT
AND HAD TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM
FOR TREATMENT.
Narrator: DID DEVON'S JEALOUS GIRLFRIEND REACH FOR HER KNIFE AGAIN,
THIS TIME TO KILL HER LOVER?
KEARY IS UNABLE TO GIVE A STATEMENT THAT NIGHT,
SO POLICE TURN THEIR ATTENTION
TO THE FINAL MEMBER OF THE FOURSOME -- BRANDON.
BRANDON BASICALLY CORROBORATES EVERYTHING THAT MICHELLE SAYS,
YOU KNOW, THAT THEY WERE OVER THERE,
BUT THAT HE DIDN'T SEE THEM AGAIN.
Narrator: COULD HE HAVE DECIDED
TO GET RID OF HIS WIFE'S LOVER ONCE AND FOR ALL?
THE NEXT MORNING, JUNE 16th,
POLICE BRING KEARY IN
TO LISTEN TO HER VERSION OF EVENTS.
Morganelli: KEARY WAS SCARED.
I THINK KEARY REALIZED THAT SHE MAY BE A SUSPECT,
BUT SHE ALWAYS MAINTAINED
THAT SHE NEVER WOULD BRING ANY HARM TO DEVON.
WE WERE ARGUING THAT NIGHT.
Narrator: KEARY CONFIRMS MICHELLE'S STORY
THAT EARLIER IN THE EVENING,
THE TWO COUPLES HAD GOTTEN TOGETHER
AND THAT LATER ON, SHE'D LEFT WITH DEVON.
Morganelli: WE DO HAVE CONFLICTING STORIES.
KEARY CLAIMS THAT DEVON DROPPED HER OFF
AND WAS ON HER WAY BACK TO THE MICHELLE/BRANDON HOME.
MICHELLE DENIES THAT
THEY EVER SAW DEVON SHOW UP AGAIN.
SHE'S LIKE A SISTER TO ME.
DID SOMETHING HAPPEN AT KEARY AND DEVON'S APARTMENT?
DID IT HAPPEN DOWN AT MICHELLE AND BRANDON'S HOUSE?
DID IT HAPPEN SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN?
Narrator: THE NEXT DAY, JUNE 17th,
POLICE OBTAIN A SEARCH WARRANT FOR DEVON AND KEARY'S APARTMENT.
THERE'S BROKEN FURNITURE.
THERE'S ARTICLES OF CLOTHING
AND PAPER AND OBJECTS STREWN ABOUT THE PLACE.
IT'S JUST AN ABSOLUTE MESS.
Narrator: THE COPS MOVE INTO THE BATHROOM
IN THEIR SEARCH FOR EVIDENCE.
WHEN WE GOT TO THE BATHROOM AREA,
THERE WAS A SHOWER STALL IN THERE,
AND WHEN WE PULLED THE CURTAIN BACK,
THERE'S A MAT FROM DEVON'S CAR IN THE SHOWER STALL.
WE FIND THE CAR MAT IN THE SHOWER
WITH WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS BLOOD,
AND KEARY TELLS US THAT IT'S BEET JUICE.
IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS... A LITTLE HARD TO BELIEVE.
I'M THINKING, "THERE'S BLOOD ON HERE,
AND SHE'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET OUT OF THIS."
Narrator: POLICE FIND
FURTHER TRACES OF BLOOD IN THE SHOWER STALL,
AND DNA TESTS SHOW THOSE BELONG TO DEVON.
IT'S CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT, YOU KNOW,
THE *** COULD HAVE BEEN COMMITTED THERE.
Narrator: THE *** INVESTIGATION IS BARELY A DAY OLD,
BUT POLICE ALREADY HAVE A PRIME SUSPECT.
WE FIND WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE BLOOD IN THE SHOWER...
...SO, I MEAN, AT THAT POINT IN TIME,
WE REALLY, REALLY THINK THAT THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE
THAT KEARY COULD HAVE KILLED DEVON.
Narrator: POLICE STILL HAVE NO HARD EVIDENCE
ON WHICH TO CHARGE KEARY,
BUT LATER THAT DAY, THEY RECEIVE A PHONE CALL --
A YOUNG MAN NAMED GEORGE HAS HEARD ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION
AND BELIEVES HE HAS INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP.
Golazeski: WE WOUND UP GETTING A TIP
FROM A MALE WHO WAS A FRIEND WITH ALL THREE GIRLS --
MICHELLE, DEVON, AND KEARY.
THEY WERE ALL AT HIS HOUSE,
AND KEARY AND DEVON HAD GOTTEN INTO AN ARGUMENT.
Narrator: BUT GEORGE DOESN'T END THERE.
WHAT HE SAYS NEXT WILL REVEAL THE SINISTER TRUTH
BEHIND THIS TWISTED TEEN LOVE STORY.
Narrator: 19-YEAR-OLD DEVON GUZMAN HAS BEEN INVOLVED
IN AN INTENSELY PASSIONATE AFFAIR
WITH FELLOW TEEN MICHELLE HETZEL,
DESPITE THE FACT MICHELLE'S MARRIED
AND DEVON HAS A SERIOUS GIRLFRIEND.
WHEN DEVON IS FOUND
WITH HER THROAT SLASHED TO THE BONE,
THE PRIME SUSPECT IS HER GIRLFRIEND, KEARY.
THE LAST KNOWN PERSON TO SEE DEVON ALIVE WAS KEARY.
SO WHEN YOU ADD THAT ALL UP, WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT HER.
Narrator: BUT NOW A PHONE TIP IS SHEDDING NEW LIGHT
ON WHO REALLY WANTED DEVON DEAD.
HOMICIDE.
A YOUNG MAN NAMED GEORGE
SAYS ALL THREE GIRLS WERE AT HIS HOUSE
A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE ***.
DEVON AND KEARY LEFT,
BUT MICHELLE STAYED BEHIND TO TALK TO HIM,
AND SHE MAKES A SHOCKING REQUEST.
Golazeski: MICHELLE APPROACHES THE SUBJECT
OF TRYING TO RECRUIT HIM
TO HELP KILL DEVON AND DISPOSE OF THE BODY,
PROMISING EITHER MONEY OR SEX OR BOTH.
SHE WANTED YOU TO HELP HER KILL DEVON.
NOW, WHY WOULD SHE DO THAT?
Parkansky: WHEN YOU RECEIVE INFORMATION LIKE THAT,
IT NOW PUTS THE BRAKES ON KEARY,
AND NOW OPENS UP ANOTHER WINDOW OF A POTENTIAL SUSPECT
IN MICHELLE.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS HAVE NO EXPLANATION
FOR WHY MICHELLE WOULD WANT HER LOVER DEAD.
THAT IS ABOUT TO CHANGE.
POLICE OBTAIN A SEARCH WARRANT FOR THE APARTMENT
MICHELLE SHARES WITH HER NEW HUSBAND, BRANDON.
Morganelli: NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY INITIALLY.
HOWEVER, IN THE WASHING MACHINE,
THEY FIND A PAIR OF JEANS THAT ARE SOAKING.
Narrator: THE JEANS BELONG TO MICHELLE.
Morganelli: AND WHEN THEY TAKE THE JEANS OUT,
WRING THEM OUT, AND PACKAGE THEM UP,
IT TURNS OUT THERE'S A SYRINGE CAP IN THE POCKET.
Narrator: DETECTIVES HAVE DISCOVERED
A CRITICAL PIECE OF EVIDENCE
LINKING MICHELLE TO DEVON'S DEATH.
Parkansky: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SYRINGE CAP IS THAT
THERE WAS A SYRINGE PLACED IN DEVON'S ARM
IN THE BACK OF THE CAR.
Narrator: POLICE CONTINUE SEARCHING AROUND
MICHELLE'S HOUSE AND HER PROPERTY,
LOOKING FOR FURTHER EVIDENCE TO TIE HER TO THE ***.
Morganelli: EVENTUALLY, POLICE GET A SEARCH WARRANT
FOR MICHELLE'S VEHICLE.
WHEN THE TRUNK OF MICHELLE'S VEHICLE
WAS OPENED,
IN THE TRUNK WAS A PAPER BAG,
AND IN THAT PAPER BAG WERE CLOTHES.
Narrator: ON CLOSER INSPECTION,
THE POLICE FIND TINY SPECKS OF AN UNIDENTIFIED LIQUID.
IT'S HUMAN BLOOD.
IT WAS A HUGE MOMENT BECAUSE NOW WE HAD BLOOD,
AND OF COURSE, OUR NEXT STEP WAS TO SEE
WHETHER WE COULD GET DNA TO MATCH THE BLOOD, YOU KNOW,
FIND OUT IF THIS IS THE VICTIM'S BLOOD OR NOT.
Narrator: THE LAB RESULTS COME BACK.
IT'S DEVON'S BLOOD.
BUT THERE'S STILL ONE FINAL TWIST
THAT WILL THROW EVERYONE FOR A LOOP.
THIS PAIR OF JEANS DOESN'T BELONG TO MICHELLE.
THEY WERE DETERMINED TO BE BRANDON'S CLOTHES.
Parkansky: THIS WAS A VERY SIGNIFICANT EVENT
IN THIS INVESTIGATION.
WE HAD NOT STRONGLY LOOKED AT BRANDON AT ALL.
MOST OF THE FOCUS AT THAT POINT IN TIME WAS WITH KEARY.
I MEAN, THIS WAS -- THIS WAS, YOU KNOW, THE SMOKING GUN.
SO NOW THE TIDE'S TURNING TOWARDS BRANDON AND MICHELLE.
Narrator: WHEN BRANDON IS BROUGHT BACK IN
FOR QUESTIONING BY POLICE,
THEY NOTICE A DEEPLY DISTURBING BRUISE ON HIS ARM.
WHEN WE WERE SEARCHING BRANDON,
WE WOUND UP FINDING A WOUND ON HIS LEFT FOREARM.
BECAUSE IT WAS SO MANY DAYS AFTER,
OBVIOUSLY, IT DIDN'T LOOK AS IT DID
THE NIGHT THE INJURY WAS INFLICTED.
THE PATTERN APPEARED THAT IT WAS IN THE SHAPE OF A MOUTH
AND THAT IT COULD HAVE CAME FROM A BITE INJURY.
Narrator: DEVON'S BODY IS EXHUMED,
AND THE BITE MARKS ON BRANDON'S ARM
ARE CONFIRMED TO BE THE IMPRESSION FROM HER TEETH.
Parkansky: WHEN WE SEE THAT BRANDON'S GOT THIS BITE MARK,
WE'RE STARTING TO FORMULATE A THEORY OF WHAT HAD OCCURRED.
WE BELIEVE THAT PROBABLY
DEVON BIT HIM WHILE SHE WAS BEING KILLED.
Narrator: THE BITE MARK,
ALONG WITH THE SYRINGE AND THE BLOODSTAINED JEANS,
ARE ENOUGH FOR POLICE TO BRING CHARGES,
AND ON AUGUST 13th,
BRANDON AND MICHELLE ARE BOTH ARRESTED
FOR DEVON'S ***.
ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2001,
THE CASE AGAINST MICHELLE AND BRANDON
GOES TO TRIAL.
THE PROSECUTION PUTS FORWARD ITS VERSION
OF WHAT HAPPENED TO DEVON GUZMAN.
WE BELIEVE THAT ON THE NIGHT LEADING UP TO THE ***,
DEVON HAD TOLD MICHELLE
THAT SHE WASN'T GONNA MOVE IN WITH HER,
THAT SHE WASN'T GOING THROUGH WITH THIS MARRIAGE,
SHE WAS GOING TO GIVE HER THE RINGS BACK,
AND THAT SHE WAS GONNA STAY WITH KEARY.
THAT INFURIATED MICHELLE.
Narrator: DEVON THEN LEAVES,
BUT THE PROSECUTION MAINTAINS THAT A LITTLE WHILE LATER,
BRANDON CALLS DEVON TO COME BACK.
WHEN SHE RETURNS, SHE'S NOT ALONE.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA. WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE?
Morganelli: DEVON SHOWED UP WITH KEARY.
THEY DIDN'T WANT KEARY THERE,
SO DEVON HAD TO TAKE KEARY BACK HOME TO MINERAL SPRINGS,
THEN DRIVE BACK TO THE BRANDON/MICHELLE HOME.
HEY.
HEY.
Narrator: THIS TIME, WHEN SHE ARRIVES,
SHE'S GRABBED BY MICHELLE AND BRANDON,
WHO LAUNCH A VICIOUS AND DEADLY ATTACK.
Brandon: GET THE KNIFE!
I THINK BRANDON'S THE ONE WHO CERTAINLY CUT HER THROAT,
BUT WITH THE BRUISES ON DEVON'S FOREARMS,
I THINK MICHELLE WAS RIGHT THERE,
HOLDING HER ARMS SO BRANDON COULD DO THIS THING.
Parkansky: BRANDON WAS TALLER THAN DEVON.
HE WAS STRONGER THAN DEVON.
THIS REQUIRED A GREAT AMOUNT OF STRENGTH
TO COMMIT THIS INJURY.
HE HAD THE BITE MARK ON HIS ARM, WHICH PROBABLY OCCURRED
WHILE HE WAS PUTTING HIS ARM AROUND HER THROAT.
Morganelli: SHE WAS THEN PLACED IN HER OWN VEHICLE,
IN THE BACK SEAT.
THEY PLANTED THE SYRINGE AND THE KNIFE
TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE PERHAPS THERE WAS A SUICIDE.
Narrator: FURTHER TESTS REVEAL
THE BLOOD FOUND IN DEVON'S SHOWER
AND ON THE CAR MAT IS NOT FROM HER ***.
Morganelli: IT LATER WAS DETERMINED
THE BLOOD PRESENCE ON THAT MAT
COULD HAVE BEEN EXPLAINED AWAY AS MENSTRUAL BLOOD.
Narrator: AND KEARY IS CLEARED OF ALL CHARGES,
PROVING HER INNOCENCE.
19-YEAR-OLD MICHELLE HETZEL
IS FOUND GUILTY OF FIRST-DEGREE ***.
THE JURY BELIEVES THAT DEVON
WANTED TO END THE RELATIONSHIP WITH MICHELLE FOR GOOD,
BUT HER SCORNED LOVER WOULDN'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.
Morganelli: MICHELLE WAS SOMEBODY
WHO WANTED, YOU KNOW, TO CONTROL DEVON.
IT BECAME APPARENT THAT WHEN MICHELLE COULDN'T HAVE HER --
SHE'S ONE OF THESE PEOPLE
THAT IF SHE COULDN'T HAVE IT, NOBODY WOULD.
Narrator: THE PROSECUTION BELIEVES THAT
MICHELLE THEN ROPED BRANDON IN TO HELP KILL DEVON.
Golazeski: I THINK SOMEHOW SHE CONVINCED HIM THAT
IF DEVON WAS OUT OF THE WAY,
HE WOULD NEVER HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM
AND THEY'D LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
Parkansky: I THINK BRANDON WAS A FOLLOWER,
MICHELLE WAS THE LEADER,
AND BRANDON WOULD HAVE DONE
ANYTHING THAT SHE ASKED HIM TO DO.
Narrator: HE IS ALSO FOUND GUILTY
OF FIRST-DEGREE ***.
IT'S A TRAGIC END
TO A TORTURED STORY OF TEENAGE OBSESSION.
Guzman: MY DAUGHTER WAS SPECIAL.
TO ME, SHE WAS VERY SPECIAL.
I WOULDN'T...TAKE AWAY THOSE 19 YEARS FOR ANYTHING.
SHE WAS A GOOD HUMAN BEING,
AND DIDN'T DESERVE TO BE TAKEN AWAY FROM US.