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[ DOG BARKING ]
Narrator: SOMETIMES DANGER LURKS OUTSIDE OUR HOMES.
AND SOMETIMES IT'S INVITED IN.
HE WAS A KILLER. HE WAS A MERCENARY.
BUT HE DIDN'T SEE IT COMING.
Carol: WE'RE IN TEXAS.
EVERYBODY STANDS ON THE BACK DECK AND SHOOTS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S PRETTY COOL THAT YOU SHOOT OUT HERE.
HE BROUGHT IN A KNOWN DRUG USER AND DRUG ABUSER INTO HIS HOME,
AND THEN IT JUST KIND OF BECAME ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER.
SOONER OR LATER, SOMETHING BAD WAS GONNA HAPPEN.
[ THUNDER RUMBLING ]
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator: IN THE AUTUMN OF 2008, DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS,
A MAN LIES BLEEDING, SHOT TWICE IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.
[ GUNSHOTS ]
AS THE LIFE SLOWLY DRAINS FROM HIS BODY,
HE HAS JUST A FEW SECONDS LEFT TO FIGURE OUT
HOW AND WHY IT WENT SO HORRIBLY WRONG.
IT ALL STARTS IN INGRAM,
A RURAL COMMUNITY IN TEXAS HILL COUNTRY
75 MILES NORTHWEST OF SAN ANTONIO,
WHEN A STRANGER ROLLS INTO TOWN.
51-YEAR-OLD RETIRED BANKER ALLAN KOWALSKI
FIRST STOPS TO SEE MIKE ANDERSON,
WHO OWNS A LOCAL AUTO-BODY SHOP.
ALLAN'S A CLASSIC-CAR BUFF,
AND HIS LATE-'60s MODEL CHEVY IS ACTING UP.
THOUGHT I'D POP IN, SEE AN OLD FRIEND OF MINE.
Mike: HE'S A REAL NICE GUY. REAL NICE GUY.
AT THAT TIME, HE ACCUMULATED FOUR OR FIVE HOT RODS
AND WAS BUYING MORE AND BUYING MORE AND NEEDED --
HE GOT INTO IT.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE HE HAD THE BUG.
COME ON IN.
TURNS OUT AL'S HUNTING FOR A NEW HOUSE IN THE AREA.
HE'S SPENT TIME HERE BEFORE.
MIKE OFFERS TO PUT HIM UP TEMPORARILY.
I WAS COOL.
I HAD HIS YENKO CAMARO -- '68, I BELIEVE, OR '69 --
SITTING IN THE SHOP DOWN THERE.
AND HE'D GO AWAY FOR ALL DAY.
HE'D COME BACK THAT AFTERNOON --
"WELL, I LOOKED AT SOME HOUSES, BUT I WASN'T TOO ENTHUSED."
HE STAYED DOWN AT THE SHOP,
THROW A PIECE OF FOAM ON THE FLOOR.
IT'D BE FREEZING COLD.
HE'D WRAP UP WITH A COUPLE COWHIDE,
AND THAT DOG WOULD BE RIGHT UNDERNEATH THERE WITH HIM.
[ Laughing ] YOU KNOW?
OH!
MORNING.
MORNING.
Narrator: IT DOESN'T TAKE AL TOO LONG
TO FIND A MORE PERMANENT PLACE TO STAY.
HEY, UH...
THINKING OF GOING FOR A RIDE TODAY.
YOU IN? TAKE 20 MINUTES.
SURE.
SOMETHING I WANT TO SHOW YOU. [ GRUNTS ]
HOW'D YOU LIKE THAT?
THAT'S ALL YOURS? THIS IS A BIG HOUSE.
YEAH.
THINK SOMEONE COULD HAVE SOME NICE PARTIES,
BARBECUES OVER HERE.
PARTIES? [ CHUCKLES ] OH, YEAH.
HE HAD THE KEY TO THE HOUSE
AND A BRAND-NEW $150 BOTTLE OF SOMETHING OR OTHER.
I DON'T KNOW.
"WHAT? YOU BOUGHT THAT PLACE?"
"YEAH, I BOUGHT IT."
4,000 SQUARE FEET.
4,000?
2 1/2 ACRES.
THREE-STORY, MAID'S QUARTERS, FOUR-STALL GARAGE,
BALCONIES ALL THE WAY AROUND, FIREPLACES EVERYWHERE,
HAD A CATHEDRAL CEILING ABOUT THREE STORIES HIGH.
IT WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL. BEAUTIFUL.
4,000 SQUARE FEET ON 2 1/2 ACRES.
Narrator: AL'S NEW HOME IS MASSIVE, REMOTE,
AND OFFERS INCREDIBLE VIEWS OF THE SURROUNDING HILL COUNTRY.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT SEALS THE DEAL FOR AL KOWALSKI,
AN AVID HUNTER.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME GOOD TIMES HERE.
LET'S HAVE A DRINK.
AND THIS OVER HERE IS WHERE WE'RE GONNA GO HUNTING.
SOUNDS FINE BY ME.
A NEIGHBOR HAS OFFERED HIM FREE ACCESS
TO HUNDREDS OF ACRES OF PRIVATE LAND.
HE TALKED TO HIM ONE TIME, AND THE GUY GAVE HIM A KEY.
HE SAID, "MAN, JUST GO ON OUT
"AND DO WHATEVER THING YOU WANT TO DO.
GO HUNTING, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO."
AND HE KNEW THERE WAS A LOT OF GAME OUT THERE,
BUT THAT'S WHAT HE LIKED TO DO.
THAT'S THE GAME HUNTER IN HIM.
HOW'D YOU GET THEM DAMN KEYS SO FAST, THERE?
Narrator: THE HOUSE WAS LISTED
AT MORE THAN HALF A MILLION DOLLARS,
AND AL KOWALSKI BUYS IT OUTRIGHT
WITH MONEY TRANSFERRED FROM OFFSHORE ACCOUNTS.
HE DIDN'T COME RIGHT OUT AND SAY IT, BUT HE HAD MONEY.
HE HAD ACCESS TO A LOT OF MONEY.
Narrator: AL IS NOT A COMPLETE STRANGER TO THE AREA.
HE HAS A FEW FRIENDS IN AND AROUND INGRAM.
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
WELL, HOWDY, THERE, MICHELLE.
Narrator: BUT EVEN HIS OLD FRIENDS,
MICHELLE AND GARY MITCHELL FROM NEARBY BANDERA,
CAN'T QUITE GET A HANDLE ON WHO HE IS
AND WHERE HE CAME FROM.
SEEMED VERY MYSTERIOUS,
VERY DIFFERENT FROM, I GUESS, THE PEOPLE THAT I KNEW.
Al: REMEMBER THAT DREAM HOUSE I'VE ALWAYS BEEN TELLING YOU ABOUT?
WELL, HERE WE GOTS IT. HA HA!
I HAVE NO IDEA HOW HE MADE HIS MONEY.
HE SAID THAT HE STARTED A GROUP CALLED THE BLACKSTONE GROUP
AND THAT'S WHERE HE MADE HIS MONEY.
THIS THING HERE -- YOU EVER SEEN ONE OF THESE BEFORE?
Michelle: WELL, HE SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN AN INVESTMENT BANKER
AND HE WAS PRETTY MUCH RETIRED.
I MEAN, I NEVER SAW HIM ACTUALLY DO ANY WORK
THE WHOLE TIME I MET HIM.
I SHOT THAT.
A303 SHOTGUN.
Narrator: AL SPENDS HIS EARLY RETIREMENT TRAVELING
TO FAR-FLUNG DESTINATIONS IN SEARCH OF BIG GAME.
Michelle: HE WAS VERY MUCH AN EXOTIC HUNTER.
HE HAD A ROOM THAT WAS JUST FILLED
WITH MOUNTED ANIMALS OF ALL TYPES,
AND HE WAS VERY PROUD OF THEM,
SO HE DISPLAYED THEM FOR EVERYONE TO SEE.
EX-MILITARY, GOOD HUNTER, HE HAD A LOT OF GUNS, A LOT OF MOUNTS.
Michelle: HE LIKED TO WORK ON CARS.
HE WAS SHOWY WITH HIS MONEY. HE WAS SHOWY WITH HIS HOUSE.
YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING HE DID, HE DID TOP OF THE LINE.
YOU KNOW, HE WAS A MANLY MAN.
SO, YOU THINK YOU'RE GONNA SETTLE DOWN?
Narrator: AL AND HIS BELOVED DOG MISHOOK ARE SOON RIGHT AT HOME.
YEAH. I THINK I'M GONNA LIKE SETTLING DOWN HERE.
AND I THINK MY LITTLE FRIEND MISHOOK
WILL LIKE SETTLING DOWN HERE, AS WELL.
Michelle: HIS DOG WAS TREATED PRETTY MUCH AS IF SHE WAS A PERSON.
HE WOULD GRILL HER A STEAK,
AND HE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT SHE ATE WITH HIM.
Al: YEAH, GOOD DOG, MISHOOK.
WHEN HE TRAVELED, HE TRAVELED WITH HIS ANIMALS, WITH MISHOOK.
OH, SHOOT. THOSE TWO WERE TWO PEAS IN A POD.
THEY JUST LOVED EACH OTHER.
STEAK?
PLEASE.
Narrator: ONE MONTH AFTER THE MOVE, AL MAKES FAST FRIENDS
WITH CHARLIE TIDWELL AND HIS WIFE, LISA.
CHARLIE'S A PART-TIME MECHANIC FROM MIKE'S SHOP
WHO'S JUST AS CRAZY ABOUT CLASSIC CARS AS AL IS.
SO, UH...
IT'S NOT LOOKING TOO BAD.
BUT I DON'T LIKE THE WAY THE CARBURETOR'S SET UP.
MM. I THOUGHT IT WAS SOUNDING BIT OFF.
MM-HMM.
AL, I SEE YOU MET CHARLIE, MY BEST MECHANIC.
HEY, CHARLIE. NICE TO MEET YOU.
GONNA BE THE DOCTOR ON MY CAR?
[ CHUCKLES ]
THEY STARTED TALKING, SO I INTRODUCED THEM TO EACH OTHER,
AND CHARLIE WAS A PRETTY GOOD MECHANIC.
TELL YOU WHAT -- I GOT SOME OTHER CARS BACK AT MY PLACE
THAT MIGHT NEED SOME TENDING TO.
FOR SURE. LIKE TO, AS LONG AS MIKE DOESN'T MIND.
[ CHUCKLES ]
SO, UH...WHAT YOU DOING AFTER THIS SHIFT?
WELL, THE MAN GETS RIGHT TO THE POINT.
I'LL COME UP AND SEE YOU AT YOUR PLACE.
YES, SIR.
Mike: CHARLIE KNEW HOW TO DRIVE A CAR PRETTY GOOD.
YOU KNOW, HE'S AN OLD HOT-RODDER.
HE USED TO WORK ON A LOT OF HOT-ROD RACETRACK CARS,
STUFF LIKE THAT.
[ LAUGHING ] HOO-WHEE! SOME DRIVING!
YEAH, THAT WAS A NICE RIDE.
UH, SPEAKING OF CARS, COME CHECK THIS OUT, MY FRIEND.
HAVE A LOOK AT THAT.
HEY, 2000 MUSTANG. NICE-LOOKING CAR.
YEAH, THAT'S PART OF WHAT YOU'RE GONNA BE WORKING ON.
Mike: AND THEN CHARLIE SAW ALL THE REST OF HIS CARS.
NEXT THING YOU KNOW, CHARLIE'S MOVING IN WITH HIM.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
HEY, COME ON IN. LET'S GO HAVE A BEER.
ALL RIGHT. NEVER TURNED DOWN A BEER.
Narrator: EVEN THOUGH CHARLIE'S MARRIED, HE ACCEPTS AL'S OFFER
AND HAPPILY MOVES IN TO THE MANSION.
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
SO, THIS HERE IS YOUR ROOM.
YEAH.
AL HAS CARS THAT NEED FIXING AND MONEY TO SPARE,
SO HE MAKES A DEAL.
IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, JUST GIVE ME A CALL.
AL WILL PROVIDE ROOM AND BOARD
IF CHARLIE WORKS AS HIS PRIVATE MECHANIC.
Michelle: WELL, HE WAS SO BUSY WITH HIS HOUSE
THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO WORK ON THE CARS,
AND ALLAN WAS REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE HE HAD SO MANY VEHICLES
AND HE HAD FOUND SOMEBODY THAT COULD COME TO HIM.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD COMBINATION.
Narrator: BUT IT'S A COMBINATION THAT WILL PROVE EXPLOSIVE.
Gary: YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THE CARS WERE
A FRONT FOR LAUNDERING MONEY SOMEHOW.
WHAT I REALLY THOUGHT WAS CHARLIE MANSON.
HE JUST LOOKED KIND OF SCARY AND HE JUST HAD SOME STRANGE EYES.
Narrator: AL KOWALSKI HAS FOUND HIS DREAM HOME,
BUT IT'S TOO BIG FOR ONE PERSON.
HE NEEDS A FULL-TIME MECHANIC
TO TEND TO HIS CLASSIC-CAR COLLECTION,
AND CHARLIE TIDWELL NEEDS A PLACE TO STAY.
IT'S AN IDEAL ARRANGEMENT.
AND THE TWO MEN DON'T JUST WORK TOGETHER.
THEY PLAY TOGETHER.
LET'S GO HAVE US SOME FUN.
THEY JUST BECOME BUDDIES, YOU KNOW?
IT WAS A CAMARADERIE THING.
Michelle: YOU KNOW, HE WAS THE HOT SHOT.
HE WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, "WHAT'S MINE IS YOURS,"
WHEN IT CAME TO WANTING TO HANG OUT AND PARTY WITH THE GUYS.
OOH.
[ GUNSHOT ]
Narrator: AL PLAYS THE GENEROUS HOST,
BUT HE DOESN'T GIVE MUCH AWAY ABOUT HIS PAST.
YOU KNOW, IT'S PRETTY COOL THAT YOU SHOOT OUT HERE.
YEAH. YEAH. LET ME SHOW YOU SOMETHING.
CHECK THIS OUT.
WHAT'S THAT?
BULLET GRAZED ME WHEN I WAS IN DETROIT.
WHAT WERE YOU HUNTING?
SOMETHING WAS HUNTING ME.
Gary: HE SAYS HE WAS SHOT.
I SAW A SPOT ON THE BACK OF THE LEG,
BUT IT DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE A GUNSHOT WOUND TO ME.
HE COULD COME UP WITH SOME GREAT STORIES.
Gary: I WASN'T A BIG AL FAN.
I COULDN'T SUBSTANTIATE ANYTHING HE TOLD ME.
HE WAS FULL OF HIMSELF AND FULL OF IT.
Narrator: BUT IT'S NOT ALL CARS AND HUNTING.
CHARLIE HAS WORK TO DO.
Gary: CHARLIE TIDWELL -- I MET HIM ONCE,
AND I JUST HEARD STORIES OF HIM.
HE WAS ON HARD TIMES.
Michelle: SCRAGGILY.
YOU KNOW, HAD THE SHADOW.
YOU KNOW, KIND OF STRINGY HAIR.
ALMOST KIND OF LIKE A HOMELESS-LOOKING MAN.
HE DIDN'T MAKE YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE.
Gary: WHAT I REALLY THOUGHT WAS CHARLIE MANSON.
HE JUST LOOKED PECULIAR. HE JUST LOOKED KIND OF SCARY.
AND HE JUST HAD SOME STRANGE EYES.
Narrator: THEY'RE ALSO UNIMPRESSED BY CHARLIE'S WIFE, LISA,
WHO'S SPENDING LESS TIME IN THE HOME
SHE USED TO SHARE WITH CHARLIE AND MORE TIME AT AL'S.
Michelle: I DID WARN HIM.
YOU KNOW, "I'M YOUR FRIEND,
"AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR ME,
BUT THESE ARE PEOPLE YOU DON'T KNOW."
Al: I INTRODUCE YOU TO CHARLIE AND LISA?
WE SAW THEM ON THE WAY UP.
YEAH?
HE WAS VERY INSECURE.
I THINK HE BEFRIENDED PEOPLE THAT WERE --
THAT HE FELT WERE LESSER THAN HIM
SO THAT THEY WOULD LOOK UP TO HIM AS BEING VERY IMPORTANT.
I THOUGHT HE WAS LIKELY TO BE ROBBED OR TAKEN FOR GRANTED.
HE WOULD JUST SHRUG IT OFF -- "OH, I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF.
Narrator: BUT MICHELLE KNOWS
THAT TOUGH-GUY AL HAS STRUGGLED WITH ONE MAJOR WEAKNESS --
RECREATIONAL DRUG USE.
YOU'RE NOT BACK TO YOUR OLD HABITS AGAIN, ARE YOU?
GEEZ, MICHELLE.
WHY WOULD YOU BRING THAT UP?
ALL ALONG, YOU KNOW, HE SAID HE WASN'T DOING DRUGS.
I HAD ASKED HIM, INITIALLY BECAUSE OF
HIS SLEEPING PATTERNS, YOU KNOW?
I ALWAYS KIND OF WONDERED, BUT HE JUST SAID
THAT HE LIKED BEING UP AT NIGHT
AND WOULD RATHER SLEEP DURING THE DAY.
Narrator: MICHELLE HAS BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT AL
EVER SINCE HE BROKE UP WITH HIS LONG-TERM GIRLFRIEND, PAM.
Michelle: PAM DEFINITELY MADE AL HAPPY.
HE LOVED BEING AROUND HER.
SHE WAS BUBBLY. SHE WAS FUN TO BE AROUND.
YOU KNOW, ANYTHING HE ASKED, SHE WOULD DO FOR HIM.
MAYBE THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS STILL A CHANCE
THAT THEY COULD HAVE SOMETHING.
BECAUSE EVEN AFTER, WHEN HE WAS IN HIS NEW HOME,
HE HAD HER PICTURES SITTING AROUND.
Narrator: BUT AL NEVER SEEMS TO LACK FOR FEMALE COMPANY.
YOU KNOW, HE'D COME SHOWING UP WITH A MODEL ONE TIME.
THE NEXT TIME, "AH, I JUST GOT BACK FROM FORT WORTH.
I MET THIS STEWARDESS."
YOU KNOW? LIKE, "WHAT IN THE WORLD?"
AND THE NEXT WEEK, HE GOT ANOTHER GIRL. LIKE, WHAT?
HE WAS A CHARMER FOR THE GIRLS,
AND THE GIRLS JUST LOVED ALL OF HIS...
WELL, B.S., I GUESS.
Narrator: EVEN THOUGH AL IS CLEAN AND RELATIVELY SOBER,
AL'S NEW ROOMMATE HAS A HABIT HE CAN'T SEEM TO SHAKE,
AND THANKS TO HIS ADDICTION TO CRYSTAL ***,
CHARLIE'S IN A BIT OF LEGAL TROUBLE.
Bob: WELL, CHARLIE WAS ON PROBATION,
SO WHEN YOU'RE ON PROBATION, YOU KNOW,
YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF BIG LISTS
OF THINGS YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO.
YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO USE ALCOHOL,
NOT SUPPOSED TO USE ANY DRUGS,
NOT HANG AROUND WITH PEOPLE OF DISREPUTABLE CHARACTER.
THIS TYPE OF STUFF.
Narrator: CHARLIE'S ORIGINAL CHARGE WAS *** POSSESSION.
WHILE ON PROBATION, HE DROPPED OUT OF REHAB
AND TESTED POSITIVE FOR *** USE.
Al: BOB!
Bob: HOW ARE YOU, MY FRIEND?
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
CHARLIE. THERE'S SOMEONE I'D LIKE YOU TO MEET.
HELLO, CHARLIE.
Narrator: SO AL MAKES A CALL TO HIS TRUSTED ATTORNEY, BOB GALVAN.
BOB HERE IS GONNA BE YOUR NEW ATTORNEY.
HE'S GONNA KEEP YOU OUT OF JAIL
SO YOU CAN KEEP WORKING ON MY CARS.
AL TELLS ME HERE WE GOT A FEW THINGS TO FIX.
YOU WANT TO TELL ME WHAT WE ALL GOT TO FIX?
WELL, AL KNOWS I GOT A LITTLE HISTORY
UH-HUH.
WELL, Y'ALL KNOW I CAN FIX A LOT OF HISTORY.
I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.
Bob: CHARLIE TIDWELL SEEMED LIKE
A VERY NICE, SOFT-SPOKEN, NICE GUY,
AND OUR ARRANGEMENT WAS THAT I WAS GONNA HELP CHARLIE OUT,
AL WAS GONNA PAY THE FEE.
IN CHARLIE'S INSTANCE, WE HAD AN INSTANCE
WHERE THEY WANTED TO SEARCH HIS TRAILER, THINGS LIKE THAT,
AND THEY FELT LIKE THEY MIGHT HAVE SOME DRUG IN HIS TRAILER
OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
SO I'M DEALING WITH INSTANCES LIKE THAT.
AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS DOING.
PRETTY MUCH, YOU COULD SAY,
RUNNING INTERFERENCE FOR THE GUY.
KEEPING HIM OUT OF PRISON, YOU KNOW?
Narrator: FOR AL, CHARLIE'S MECHANICAL GENIUS
MAKES UP FOR HIS PERSONAL PECCADILLOS.
Bob: AL LAUDED HIM.
I MEAN, HE JUST RAVED ON CHARLIE'S MECHANICAL ABILITY.
I MEAN, TO PROVE HIS POINT,
THAT'S WHEN HE TOOK ME DOWN TO SHOW ME HIS CARS,
SHOW ME THE ENGINES, AND GIVE ME A RIDE IN THAT CAMARO.
WE BURNED RUBBER FOR, YOU KNOW, 50 FEET --
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF DUST KICKING UP,
SQUEALING OF TIRES, FISH-TAILED DOWN 39.
[ Laughing ] ABOUT 140 MILES AN HOUR.
HADN'T HAD A RIDE LIKE THAT
SINCE I RODE IN A FRIEND'S GTO IN THE '60s.
WELL, CHARLIE, YOU SURE KNOW HOW TO PUT A MOTOR TOGETHER.
YOU KNOW, I'M HAVING A FEW MOTOR PROBLEMS MYSELF.
THAT RIGHT? WHAT, IN THE S.U.V.?
YEAH, IN THE S.U.V.
MAYBE WE CAN PUT THAT IN THE DEAL ALL TOGETHER?
SOUNDS ALL RIGHT WITH ME. HOW ABOUT YOU, CHARLIE?
WELL, FOR SURE. I'D BE HAPPY TO HELP OUT.
[ CHUCKLES ]
STARTED OUT BEING A VERY GOOD CLIENT.
YOU KNOW, NO PROBLEMS.
THAT WOULD BE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF CHARLIE.
THAT IS A NICE CAR.
IT IS SOMETHING, ISN'T IT?
Narrator: SIX MONTHS AFTER AL BUYS THE HOUSE,
THE ENTIRE PLACE HAS BEEN DECORATED
IN HIS DISTINCTIVE STYLE.
Bob: NICE HOUSE. BACHELOR'S PLACE, OBVIOUSLY.
YOU KNOW, HAD HIS ELECTRONICS, HAD ALL THAT LAID OUT.
SPORTSMAN GUY -- YOU KNOW, ANIMAL HEADS, GUNS, ARROWHEADS.
Michelle: I THOUGHT IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL HOME.
I COULD SEE HIM THERE. HE WAS VERY PROUD OF IT.
Mike: BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, NEXT THING I KNOW,
I HEAR ALL KINDS OF FUNNY STORIES
ABOUT SOME RIFFRAFF COMING AND HANGING OUT,
AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHEN THE TROUBLE STARTED.
Narrator: JUST AS MILLIONAIRE AL KOWALSKI
IS SETTLING IN TO HIS DREAM HOME,
SOMETHING SINISTER BEGINS TO BREW.
AL'S NEW HOUSEMATE, CHARLIE, HAS A *** PROBLEM
AND A WIFE WHO'S SPENDING MORE AND MORE TIME AT THE HOUSE.
BOTH ARE KNOWN TO POLICE.
I WAS AWARE OF CHARLES TIDWELL
BECAUSE WE HAD WORKED CASES INVOLVING HIM IN THE PAST,
AND I WAS AWARE OF HIS WIFE, LISA RASSI, AND HER FAMILY,
'CAUSE I HAD WORKED CASES INVOLVING THEM IN THE PAST.
LISA RASSI -- SHE WAS A PIECE OF WORK.
SHE, UH...
I THINK SHE WAS JUST ABOUT AS BAD AS CHARLIE, OKAY?
Carol: LISA WAS DESCRIBED TO ME BY THE PEOPLE WHO KNEW HER
AS SOMEONE WHO WAS HIGHLY VOLATILE
AND -- THEIR WORDS -- CRAZY.
NORMALLY, A GUY LIKE AL, WHERE HE WAS IN LIFE,
PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE HANGING AROUND
WITH CHARLIE TIDWELL AND HIS GROUP.
I FELT LIKE HE WAS LONELY FOR FRIENDSHIPS
WITH PEOPLE MORE LIKE HIMSELF --
YOU KNOW, MORE SITUATED SOCIOECONOMICALLY LIKE HIMSELF.
Narrator: AL DOES SEARCH FOR A MORE SUITABLE DATE.
HOWDY.
MY NAME'S AL KOWALSKI.
SO, UH, I'M INTELLIGENT, I'M MASCULINE, I'M SENSITIVE.
I'M...
NONTRADITIONAL, BY CHOICE.
HE DID SIGN UP FOR A DATING SERVICE IN SAN ANTONIO.
HIS HOUSE IS REMOTE,
SO IT'S NOT A PLACE YOU CAN WALK OUT THE DOOR
AND WALK OVER TO THE COFFEE SHOP.
HE WANTED TO MEET PEOPLE HERE, WANTED TO MEET WOMEN.
AND, UH...I'VE BEEN CONVICTED FOR A POACHING OFFENSE.
HE WAS PROBABLY GETTING TIRED OF GOING THROUGH GIRLFRIENDS.
[ LAUGHS ]
SO, UH...
WHAT YOU DOING LATER ON TONIGHT?
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
Narrator: BUT FRIENDS SUSPECT THAT AL'S NEW HOUSEGUESTS
OFFER MORE THAN CAR MAINTENANCE AND POLITE CONVERSATION.
Michelle: I WALKED IN, AND I SAW CHARLIE'S WIFE.
I MEAN, SHE WALKED AROUND LIKE SHE OWNED THE PLACE.
Mike: SHE WAS A HELL-RAISER.
SHE WAS A HELL-RAISER. YOU BET.
AS FAR AS I KNOW, FROM WHAT I HEAR, YOU KNOW,
THEIR SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS WERE KIND OF MIXED UP
BETWEEN CHARLIE AND AL AND HER.
Al: YOU GET A GUN, AND I'LL GET A GUN.
Narrator: AS THE SUMMER WEARS ON, NEIGHBORS NOTICE MORE TRAFFIC
UP THE USUALLY QUIET COUNTRY ROAD.
[ HORN HONKS ]
Robert: IT WAS KIND OF STRANGE.
LOOKED LIKE A 7-ELEVEN STORE,
AND THAT WAS ALL HOURS OF DAY AND NIGHT.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON BACK THERE.
LOUD, ROARING ENGINES, EVEN 2:00, 3:00 IN THE MORNING.
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
Narrator: THE NEIGHBORS SWAP STORIES.
ONE IS GREETED BY AL WIELDING A GUN.
PEOPLE WERE COMING AND GOING,
AND THEY THOUGHT THAT WAS STRANGE.
Bob: IT WAS A PARTY HOUSE.
PROBABLY FRIENDS OF CHARLIE'S TO BEGIN WITH
AND AL GOT TO KNOW THEM, AND THEN PROBABLY THESE OTHERS
MAY HAVE COME IN AND HAD SOME BAD IDEAS.
THINGS JUST GETTING A LITTLE TOO OUT OF HAND.
Narrator: THE NOISE GETS SO BAD
THAT AL'S NEIGHBOR CUTS OFF HIS ACCESS TO THE ADJOINING LAND,
BUT NOBODY CALLS THE POLICE.
Carol: WE'RE IN TEXAS.
EVERYBODY STANDS ON THE BACK DECK AND SHOOTS.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
Narrator: THE CHAOS AT HIS OWN PERSONAL RETIREMENT HOME
SEEMS TO BE TAKING A TOLL ON AL'S MENTAL STATE.
Michelle: HE TOOK MEDICATIONS FOR DEPRESSION.
HE VISITED A PSYCHIATRIST AT THE VETERAN'S HOSPITAL.
[ SIGHS ]
Mike: I DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS BIPOLAR
OR HAD SOME SCHIZOPHRENIC TENDENCIES AND STUFF.
I KNOW HE'S ON MEDICATION.
I COULD TELL HE WAS KIND OF EDGY THAT WAY.
Narrator: AL STARTS RELYING ON PRESCRIPTION PILLS
JUST TO GET BY.
IN FACT, AL'S TAKING
FIVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION
TO DEAL WITH DEPRESSION AND BIPOLAR DISORDER.
BUT SOME OF HIS FRIENDS FEAR
AL MIGHT BE SELF-MEDICATING IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
EH?
WHERE IS AL?!
AL LIVES HERE.
Michelle: ALL ALONG, YOU KNOW, HE SAID HE WASN'T DOING DRUGS.
THE LAST STRAW FOR ME WAS BEING AT HIS HOUSE.
I WAS IN HIS KITCHEN AND I SAW A PLATE OF SOME WHITE POWDER
WITH A RAZOR BLADE AND A STRAW.
[ GRUNTS ] GET OUT OF HIS HOUSE!
I KNEW IT WAS *** AND ONLY BECAUSE OF MY DEALINGS
WITH A FAMILY MEMBER THAT HAD HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT.
Narrator: MICHELLE ISN'T THE ONLY ONE WHO DOESN'T LIKE THE DRUGS.
TURNS OUT ONE OF AL'S EX-GIRLFRIENDS REACTED BADLY
TO FINDING *** STASHED UNDER HER BED.
WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS AGAIN?
Michelle: NICOLE HAD ACTUALLY THROWN HIM OUT FOR THE SAME REASONS --
THAT SHE HAD FOUND *** IN HIS POSSESSION.
I'VE BEEN ASSOCIATED. I'VE SEEN SPEED FREAKS.
I'VE SEEN PEOPLE ADDICTED TO ***
AND, YOU KNOW, ***, WHATEVER.
YOU CAN TELL.
WHY ARE ALL THESE DRUG ADDICTS IN YOUR HOUSE?
IT'S JUST A PARTY, MICHELLE.
JUST HAVING FUN.
HAVING FUN WITH ***, AND THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR A MONTH.
THIS IS THEIR STUFF.
THEY'RE GONNA TAKE IT OUT WHEN THEY LEAVE.
AH, CHILL OUT.
Mike: AND I THINK AL DIDN'T MIND
DABBLING IN THE STUFF A LITTLE BIT ONCE IN A WHILE.
I DON'T THINK HE DID IT ALL THE TIME.
Michelle: I SAW ALLAN CHANGING.
HE WAS VERY UPPITY, VERY ON EDGE, AND I DIDN'T LIKE IT.
Narrator: MICHELLE IS WORRIED ENOUGH
TO CALL ONE OF AL'S FRIENDS BACK IN PENNSYLVANIA.
NO, IT'S AS BAD AS LAST TIME.
Michelle: I DID CALL A CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF HIS
TO SPEAK TO HIM AND TELL HIM OF MY CONCERNS,
OF MY WORRY ABOUT WHO HE WAS HANGING OUT WITH --
MAINLY CHARLIE -- AND OF WHAT I'D SEEN, WHAT I'D FOUND.
AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, HE DENIED IT ALL.
I DEFINITELY BELIEVE IT'S POSSIBLE
THAT HE WAS DOING IT PRIOR TO MEETING CHARLIE.
I JUST THINK CHARLIE WAS THE GATEWAY TO IT IN THIS AREA.
I JUST -- I KNEW I COULDN'T TRUST HIM ANYMORE.
Narrator: IN THE SPRING OF 2008, MICHELLE'S '66 MUSTANG,
A CAR SHE BOUGHT FROM AL, SUDDENLY DISAPPEARS.
OKAY. PULL IT DOWN.
YEAH, AND STRIP THEM OVER HERE, RIGHT?
AND THEN YOU JUST --
YEAH.
PUT THEM TOGETHER LIKE THAT.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
[ LAUGHS ] YEAH, YEAH, KEEP GOING.
Michelle: IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, AND IT DISAPPEARED.
SO MY SPECULATION WAS THAT ALLAN CAME AND STOLE IT
AND THAT CHARLIE HELPED HIM DO IT.
Narrator: WHETHER IT WAS TO SELL IT
OR IT WAS JUST FOR KICKS, MICHELLE ISN'T SURE.
Michelle: MY HEART WAS BROKEN.
I MEAN, FOR ONE, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, I DID SO MUCH FOR HIM.
I WAS THE ONLY ONE THERE FOR HIM WHEN NOBODY ELSE WAS THERE.
I JUST FIGURED, "TYPICAL ALLAN."
Narrator: WITH AL'S BEHAVIOR BECOMING MORE IMPULSIVE,
HIS FRIENDS ARE GETTING WORRIED.
GARY, WHERE'S MY CAR?
Michelle: I MEAN, AS MUCH AS I WANTED TO REPORT IT,
WE WERE AT PRETTY MUCH KIND OF AFRAID OF HIM.
WE WERE AFRAID OF WHAT HE MIGHT DO,
THE REPERCUSSIONS OF WHAT HE MIGHT DO.
Narrator: ATTORNEY BOB GALVAN IS ALSO GETTING WORRIED
FOR A DIFFERENT REASON.
CHARLIE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING ON MY CAR,
WHICH HE NEVER DID.
SO HE NEVER PUT ANY WORK INTO IT.
Narrator: BOB COULD ONLY DO SO MUCH
TO KEEP HIS CLIENT OUT OF TROUBLE.
CHARLIE IS NOT PLAYING BALL.
Bob: AT THE BEGINNING, HE WAS ALWAYS ANSWERING MY PHONE CALLS.
YOU KNOW, HE WOULD SHOW UP WHEN I ASKED HIM TO SHOW UP.
Narrator: NOT ANYMORE.
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
I THINK MAYBE WE HAD A COURT DATE, AND HE DIDN'T SHOW UP.
Bob: WE GOT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING. COME ON.
Narrator: CHARLIE VIOLATES THE TERMS OF HIS PAROLE AGAIN
AND NOW HAS A WARRANT OUT FOR HIS ARREST.
Bob: YOU KNOW, SOMETHING HAPPENED.
SOMEBODY SEEN HIM AT A BAR, YOU KNOW,
AND SOMEBODY SEEN HIM SOMEWHERE WITH DRUGS.
I GOT A REPORT BACK, AND CHARLIE'S URINE IS DIRTY.
YOU'RE REPRESENTING SOMEONE WHO'S GOT A *** PROBLEM.
I FIGURED HE'D BEEN OFF DOING *** AND HE JUST WENT CRAZY.
Narrator: AS THE KOWALSKI HOUSE TEETERS ON THE EDGE OF CHAOS,
DRUGS, HARD LIQUOR, AND A RACK FULL OF GUNS
WILL TIP IT OVER INTO TRAGEDY.
Mike: HE WAS A KILLER.
HE WAS A MERCENARY.
IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT THERE HAD BEEN FOUL PLAY.
Narrator: AL KOWALSKI, MILLIONAIRE, RUMORED MERCENARY,
AND SUSPECTED TRAINED KILLER IS BEING PUSHED TO THE EDGE
BY HIS ***-ADDICTED HOUSEMATE CHARLIE TIDWELL.
AND CHARLIE IS ABOUT TO TAKE HIS ADDICTION TO A NEW LEVEL.
SOON, AL'S NEIGHBORS CATCH A WHIFF
OF A STRANGE CHEMICAL IN THE WIND.
OKAY, OKAY.
Robert: I'M AN EX-POLICE OFFICER MYSELF.
I KNOW THAT ACETONE IS USED IN THE PRODUCTION
OF METHAMPHETAMINE, SO I DID CATCH THE SMELL,
AND I WAS PRETTY SURE THAT'S WHAT THAT WAS.
YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T AL. AL DIDN'T NEED THE MONEY.
BUT CHARLIE AND HIS BUDDIES,
ONCE THEY GET STARTED MESSING AROUND WITH THAT STUFF,
THEY WANTED TO COOK THIS STUFF UP,
SELL IT, AND MAKE SOME MONEY.
Narrator: THEN, AS IF THE PARTY WASN'T ALREADY OUT OF CONTROL,
CHARLIE AND HIS FRIENDS GET THE RUN OF THE HOUSE.
AL HAS HAD ENOUGH.
Gary: HE WOULD DISAPPEAR AT TIMES, AND THE STORIES WERE
THAT HE WAS SOME KIND OF BLACK-OPS
OR WORKING FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
AND HAD A BRIEFCASE READY TO GO AT ANY TIME.
Michelle: AL WAS DEFINITELY PRONE TO MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCES.
YOU KNOW, HE WOULD BE HERE ONE DAY,
AND THEN HE'D BE JETTING OFF SOMEWHERE.
THERE WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING STRANGE
GOING ON WITH AL KOWALSKI.
[ DOORBELL RINGING ]
YOU SEEN AL?
HE AIN'T BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE.
WELL, NO. I MEAN, HE'S IN -- HE'S IN AFRICA.
HE WENT TO SOUTH AFRICA.
HE WENT TO A SAFARI IN SOUTH AFRICA.
OH.
YEAH.
OKAY. GOOD NIGHT.
SEE YOU LATER.
Narrator: WHILE AL'S AWAY,
CHARLIE AND LISA BRING HOME TWO RECENTLY RELEASED FELONS,
BOTH BELIEVED TO BE PART OF A WHITE-SUPREMACIST GANG.
Rusty: TYPICAL DRUG USER, TYPICAL GANG MEMBERS.
YOU KNOW, TATTOOS ALL OVER.
PEOPLE MAY LAUGH,
BUT THEY GET KIND OF THAT WILD LOOK IN THEIR EYE --
THEY'RE DRUG ABUSERS.
WHAT ARE YOU ALL THINK YOU'RE DOING?
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?
YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST COME OVER HERE --
SHUT UP, WILL YA?
AAH!
THINK YOU JUST COME OVER HERE AND DO WHATEVER YOU WANT?
THEY'RE MEMBERS OF THE *** CIRCLE,
AND THEY'RE -- YOU KNOW, THEY THREW THEIR WEIGHT AROUND.
IT GOT TO BE A PRETTY GOOD PARTY HOUSE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Narrator: THEY PARTY HARD AND PILLAGE THE HOUSE.
HAPPY PICKING TIME!
YEEHAW!
"THE OWNER'S NOT AROUND. WE CAN TAKE THIS AND GO SELL IT."
Mike: THEY STARTED GIVING HIS FURN--
"YOU NEED A WASHER AND DRYER? OKAY. THERE YOU GO.
YOU NEED SOME FURNITURE? THERE YOU GO."
IT LOOKED LIKE THEY HAD JUST ASCENDED ON THAT HOUSE
AND WERE PREYING ON IT.
Rusty: IT KIND OF TOOK ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE JUST STARTED TAKING STUFF AND STEALING STUFF.
Carol: SO THEY USED HIS OWN TRUCKS
TO TRANSPORT HIS COUCHES, BEDS, FURNITURE, GUNS,
AND ANY OTHER PROPERTY THEY COULD GET OUT OF THAT HOUSE.
AND 1, 2...
THAT'S A DEN OF THIEVES, YOU MIGHT SAY,
AND THAT'S WHERE IT GOES FROM.
...3, AND DONE!
Bob: I JUST THOUGHT, YOU KNOW,
THE POOP'S GONNA HIT THE FAN WHEN AL GETS BACK.
MY VEHICLE WAS THE ONLY ONE LEFT
AFTER ALL THE OTHER CARS WERE SOLD OFF.
AND I GUESS I SHOULD BE GLAD FOR THAT,
BUT I'M SURE THE REASON IS IS BECAUSE IT DIDN'T RUN.
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator: BUT IT'S NOT DRUGS OR STOLEN CARS
THAT BRINGS THE COPS TO AL'S HOUSE.
IT'S A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP ON OCTOBER 22, 2008.
Rusty: WHEN MY OFFICER STOPPED HIM,
HE IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS AL KOWALSKI.
AND HE PRESENTED APPROPRIATE IDENTIFICATION FOR AL KOWALSKI.
AT THAT TIME,
HE HAD MR. KOWALSKI'S BIRTH CERTIFICATE WITH HIM.
HE HAD CREDIT CARDS IN MR. KOWALSKI'S NAME WITH HIM.
HE'S DRIVING MR. KOWALSKI'S VEHICLE.
SO HE GAVE EVERY APPEARANCE THAT HE'S REALLY MR. KOWALSKI.
Narrator: IT'S CHARLIE TIDWELL, AND HE DOES NOT FOOL
THE POLICE OFFICER FOR VERY LONG.
MR. TIDWELL HAD TAKEN MR. KOWALSKI'S MILITARY I.D.
AND CUT OUT THE PICTURE ON THE MILITARY I.D.
AND PUT HIS OWN PHOTOGRAPH IN THERE
AND THEN RE-LAMINATED IT.
Carol: IT WAS REALLY BAD.
THE MILITARY I.D. LOOKED LIKE --
IT LOOKS JUST LIKE WHAT IT IS -- THAT SOMEONE TOOK A KNIFE --
AN X-ACTO KNIFE -- AND CUT HIS PICTURE OUT
AND THEN STUCK CHARLIE'S PICTURE IN THERE.
Narrator: THE COP ALSO RECOGNIZES CHARLIE'S CHEVROLET TATTOO.
CHARLIE TIDWELL HAD BEEN IN AND OUT
OF OUR FACILITY SEVERAL TIMES.
YOU KNOW, HE'S A FUGITIVE
BECAUSE HE HAD AN OUTSTANDING WARRANT.
Rusty: SO, AT THAT POINT, HE WAS ARRESTED
FOR FAILURE TO I.D. AND FOR THE OUTSTANDING WARRANT.
Narrator: FINGERPRINTS CONFIRM CHARLIE'S IDENTITY
EVEN THOUGH HE HAD GROWN FACIAL HAIR
IN AN ATTEMPT TO PASS FOR AL.
Carol: AL ALWAYS HAD A MUSTACHE.
I THINK CHARLIE GREW THAT
TO CONFUSE THE OFFICERS IF THEY STOPPED HIM.
THEY WERE LOOKING FOR MAYBE A CLEAN-SHAVEN PERSON.
HE'S GOT A BEARD WITH GRAY IN IT.
IT WAS JUST A PLOY. DIDN'T WORK.
NOT FOR LONG.
Narrator: UP TO THIS POINT, AL'S FRIENDS
AND EVEN HIS ATTORNEY HAVE ASSUMED
THAT HIS DISAPPEARANCE IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.
THEY COULDN'T BE MORE WRONG.
[ Beeps ]
HEY, THIS IS AL.
LEAVE YOUR NAME AND NUMBER.
I'LL CALL YOU BACK.
Bob: I STARTED CALLING AL AND COULDN'T GET AHOLD OF AL.
AND I CALLED HIM FOR TWO WEEKS,
AND I JUST PRESUMED THAT AL WAS OUT OF THE COUNTRY.
IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT THERE HAD BEEN FOUL PLAY.
Narrator: BUT IT DOES OCCUR TO THE COPS INTERROGATING CHARLIE.
Charlie: Y'ALL GOT ME FREAKED OUT.
Rusty: NOW WE'RE TRYING TO LOCATE
THE TRUE OWNER OF THE IDENTIFICATION
AND THE CREDIT CARDS, BEING ALLAN KOWALSKI.
Narrator: CHARLIE STICKS TO HIS STORY --
AL IS IN AFRICA.
NOBODY HAD SEEN OR HEARD FROM AL KOWALSKI IN QUITE A WHILE.
[ DOORBELL RINGING ]
Narrator: MOST ALARMING, AL'S BELOVED BLACK LAB, MISHOOK,
IS STILL IN THE HOUSE.
WHEN HE TRAVELED, HE TRAVELED WITH MISHOOK,
AND, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS THE LOVE OF --
YOU KNOW, I WOULD ALMOST SAY THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE.
"WAIT A MINUTE. THAT'S NOT LIKE AL."
Narrator: IT'S BEEN EIGHT WEEKS SINCE ANYONE'S HEARD FROM AL.
IN OCTOBER 2008, POLICE VISIT THE KOWALSKI HOUSE.
THE ONCE-PRISTINE RESIDENCE IS UNRECOGNIZABLE.
Rusty: A LOT OF THE CARS GONE, TRASH ALL OVER THE KITCHEN,
TRASH ON THE FLOOR, GUN CABINET WAS EMPTY.
THE HOUSE WAS DEFINITELY TRASHED.
Carol: HE HAD A LOT OF ANIMAL MOUNTS THAT WERE MISSING,
THE BEDS IN THE BEDROOM WERE MISSING,
TELEVISIONS, BASIC FURNITURE
THAT YOU WOULD HAVE IN A HOME LIKE THAT WAS MISSING.
LOT OF TIMES WHEN PEOPLE USE INJECTABLE DRUGS,
THEY WILL DRAW BACK A SYRINGE
AND SQUIRT PART OF THE CONTENTS OUT,
AND NORMALLY, IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO A DRUG HOUSE,
YOU'LL SEE IT SQUIRTED ON THE WALL.
Narrator: SO FAR, THE COPS HAVE A RANSACKED HOUSE,
EVIDENCE OF PETTY THEFT, BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT.
WAS THIS JUST TEXAS BAD BOYS BEING TEXAS BAD BOYS?
OR WAS THERE SOMETHING MORE SINISTER GOING ON
AT AL'S DREAM HOME?
Narrator: MYSTERIOUS MILLIONAIRE AL KOWALSKI IS MISSING,
AND HIS ***-ADDICTED MECHANIC, CHARLIE TIDWELL,
IS IN CUSTODY AFTER HE PULLS OUT AL'S I.D.
DURING A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP.
THE COPS FIND AL'S HOUSE TURNED INTO A *** DEN AND RANSACKED.
NOW THE MOST PRESSING QUESTION -- WHERE IS AL?
Rusty: ONE OF THOSE KEY THINGS THAT TOLD US
SOMETHING DEFINITELY WAS WRONG HERE
WAS A LOT OF AL'S CLOTHING, YOU KNOW, PERSONAL THINGS --
HIS PHOTO ALBUMS FROM AFRICAN SAFARI HUNTS --
WERE ALL IN TRASH BAGS.
Carol: THAT WAS PRETTY TELLING AT THAT POINT.
YOU DON'T JUST LEAVE BEHIND EVERYTHING.
Narrator: THEIR SUSPICIONS ARE RAISED A NOTCH
WHEN THEY DISCOVER SOMEONE'S BEEN SHOOTING UP MORE THAN ***.
Carol: WE FOUND ONE BULLET CASING IN THE BEDROOM
AND A LARGE AMOUNT OF THEM OUTSIDE THE BACK DOOR.
SO WE FELT PRETTY SURE THEN THAT WE PROBABLY HAD A ***,
BUT WHERE WAS THE BODY?
Narrator: THERE'S ONE GOOD WAY TO FIND A BODY BURIED IN A BACKYARD.
[ WHISTLES ]
Carol: WE BROUGHT THE DOG IN. HE'S GREAT.
THEY RAN HIM AROUND THE YARD, AND WITHIN MINUTES,
HE SAT DOWN AND HIT ON THE SPOT.
Rusty: WE DID PULL UP SOME OF THAT FLAGSTONE,
AND THEN WE DISCOVERED MR. KOWALSKI'S BODY
BURIED WITHIN A FOOT OF THE SURFACE...
AND COULD SEE SOME OF THE BONES
AND SOME OF THE SKELETAL REMAINS
STICKING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE FLAGSTONE
ONCE YOU MOVED IT OUT.
Mike: I GOT THE CALL THAT DAY -- "WE FOUND AL'S BODY."
RIGHT BEHIND THE HOUSE?
HEY, COME ON, MAN. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?
FIVE STEPS OFF THE BACK PORCH.
Narrator: WITH THE DISCOVERY OF AL'S REMAINS,
CHARLIE'S CHARGED WITH ***.
ONCE WE DISCOVERED THE BODY, I RETURNED TO THE JAIL
AND BROUGHT CHARLES BACK TO AN INTERVIEW ROOM,
EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO HIM,
TOLD HIM, "WE GOT YOU," BASICALLY.
"YOU NEED TO TELL US WHAT HAPPENED."
Carol: AND WE KNOW -- WE KNOW A LOT, OKAY?
AFTER SEVERAL INTERVIEWS OVER THE SPAN OF MORE THAN A WEEK,
CHARLIE ADMITS TO KILLING AL HIMSELF
BUT SAYS IT WAS OUT OF SELF-DEFENSE.
HE SAID THEY HAD GOTTEN INTO AN ARGUMENT,
THAT ALLAN WANTED HIM TO BECOME INVOLVED
IN SOME MONEY-LAUNDERING,
AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT,
SO THEY GOT INTO AN ARGUMENT.
AND THAT'S ENOUGH! YOU'RE GONNA DO WHAT I TELL YOU!
Carol: PRODUCED A WEAPON. THEY STRUGGLED OVER IT.
HE TOOK IT AWAY.
[ GRUNTING ]
[ GUNSHOTS ]
AND AS HE WAS RUNNING OUT OF A DOOR,
FIRED SOME SHOTS AND HIT HIM.
[ GROANS ]
AND I CONFRONTED HIM -- "THAT'S NOT LIKELY.
"THIS IS NOT 'THE MATRIX.'
YOU DON'T SLING BULLETS BEHIND YOUR HEAD AND HIT SOMEONE."
AT THAT POINT, HE CONFESSED TO ME THAT HE SHOT HIM.
Narrator: THE POLICE NOW KNOW THAT CHARLIE SHOT AL.
WHILE THEY CONSIDER CHARLIE'S VERSION OF EVENTS,
THEY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT HOW HE AND AL WENT FROM BEST FRIENDS
TO MORTAL ENEMIES.
EVERYBODY'S GOT A THEORY.
MY SUSPICION IS A DRUG DEAL GONE BAD.
HE PROBABLY GOT TIRED OF IT.
YEAH, THE MORE AND MORE RIFFRAFF STARTED SHOWING UP.
IT'S LIKE SELF-IMPLOSION.
CHARLIE...
BAD DEAL GONE WORSE.
WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON IN HERE?
Rusty: I CAN'T SAY HE WAS EVER DOING ***.
HE KEPT COMPANY WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE.
I'M JUST MAKING A LAST BATCH.
GOT TO MAKE SOME MONEY.
GONNA BURN MY HOUSE DOWN, GET ME ARRESTED.
THAT'S IT, CHARLIE. YOU'RE OUT OF HERE.
AND I THINK HE ALLOWED SOME OF THESE PEOPLE INTO HIS HOME,
AND THEN THERE WAS AN ARGUMENT THAT ENSUED ONE NIGHT.
Carol: CHARLES HAD A PRIOR ARREST
FOR AGGRAVATED ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON.
HE HAD SHOT AT ANOTHER MAN IN THE PAST
WHO HE BELIEVED WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH LISA.
IT WAS NEVER SUBSTANTIATED
THAT ALLAN AND LISA WERE HAVING AN AFFAIR,
BUT IT CERTAINLY IS A PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR THE DEATH.
Michelle: I THINK THAT MAYBE AL WAS ABOUT READY TO KICK HIM OUT,
AND I THINK CHARLIE SAW THAT THAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN
AND, UNFORTUNATELY, THOUGHT THAT HE WASN'T GONNA LEAVE.
NO, CHARLIE! PUT THE GUN DOWN!
AND FOUND A WAY TO STAY.
THINGS GOT OUT OF HAND,
AND THAT'S WHEN MR. TIDWELL, CHARLIE,
ENDED UP SHOOTING MR. KOWALSKI TWICE IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
[ GUNSHOT ]
[ GUNSHOT ]
[ GROANS ]
YOU... YOU MADE ME DO IT.
[ CRYING ]
Narrator: TO THE POLICE, IT APPEARS
CHARLIE AND HIS ALLEGED ACCOMPLICES
MADE A FAILED ATTEMPT TO DISSOLVE THE BODY
USING STORE-BOUGHT CHEMICALS.
Rusty: WE FOUND WHERE THEY PURCHASED SOME RID-X,
WHICH IS NORMALLY A SEPTIC-TANK TREATMENT DEAL,
WHICH IS KIND OF LIKE LYE.
AND THEN IT'S KIND OF A FREE-FOR-ALL.
THEY NEED MONEY FOR THEIR *** AND NEED MONEY FOR THIS,
AND THEY SOLD A LOT OF GOOD STUFF
AND JUST SOLD IT FOR WHATEVER.
JUST TO GET THEIR DRUG MONEY AND GO OUT AND HAVE FUN
AND PARTY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE IT ALL CAME TO AN END.
Narrator: IN TOTAL, 12 PEOPLE ARE IMPLICATED
IN THE THEFT RING, INCLUDING CHARLIE'S WIFE, LISA,
WHO'S SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR ORGANIZED CRIME,
ALONG WITH JEREMIAH McGREGOR, WHO ALSO GETS 10 YEARS,
AND WAYNE CHRISTIANSEN, WHO'S SENTENCED TO 20.
Rusty: YOU KNOW, THERE WERE A LOT OF PRISON SENTENCES
GIVEN OUT OF THIS.
IT'LL NEVER BRING AL BACK, BUT I THINK WE'VE TRIED
THE BEST WE COULD TO GET JUSTICE FOR HIM.
Narrator: IN 2010, CHARLIE TIDWELL'S SENTENCED TO 45 YEARS
FOR THE *** OF AL KOWALSKI.
WE DID END UP FINALLY GETTING CONFESSIONS FROM CHARLIE,
WHERE HE TOOK THE BLAME
FOR BEING THE ONE TO TOTALLY PULL THE TRIGGER.
Carol: HE OBVIOUSLY GOT CONVICTED,
BUT WE STILL DON'T KNOW THE ENTIRE STORY.
HE COULD BE PROTECTING LISA.
Rusty: THERE WASN'T ANY DOUBT
LISA HAD HELPED CLEAN UP SOME OF THE BLOOD.
Narrator: AL'S DREAM HOME IS CLEANED UP AND SOLD.
MOST OF AL'S CARS ARE RECOVERED, INCLUDING MICHELLE'S MUSTANG.
AL'S DOG IS FOUND ALIVE AND WELL...
Michelle: SHE'S ON A BEAUTIFUL RANCH,
HAS A LOT OF ROOM TO RUN, AND I'M SURE SHE'S VERY HAPPY.
Narrator: ...WHILE AL WILL BE DEARLY MISSED.
Bob: IT WAS REALLY SAD, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
AL WAS A NICE GUY. YEAH, DIDN'T DESERVE THAT.
Michelle: NOBODY EVER DESERVES TO BE KILLED.
I WAS UPSET, AND I CRIED.
IT WAS DIFFICULT.
IT JUST MADE ME SICK.
MADE ME SICKER THAN A DOG. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.