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Narrator: IN WASHINGTON STATE,
A YOUNG WOMAN VANISHES JUST WEEKS BEFORE HER WEDDING.
BUT THIS WAS NO RUNAWAY BRIDE.
Richardson: THERE WAS BRUISING ON HER FACE.
THERE WAS BRUISING AROUND THE NECK
WHERE SHE'D BEEN STRANGLED.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
IT'S A HORRIFIC INCIDENT.
Diteman-Paneque: [ Voice breaking ] I WAS HEARTBROKEN.
I MEAN, I WAS GENUINELY HEARTBROKEN.
Narrator: FIVE YEARS LATER,
CAN COPS FINALLY BRING A KILLER TO JUSTICE?
[ DOG BARKING ]
Schurman: THERE WERE OTHER POLICE OFFICERS
STANDING AROUND WITH THEIR MOUTHS OPEN.
THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
I'LL NEVER GIVE UP ON A CASE.
I'LL HUNT YOU DOWN TO THE END.
[ CAWS ]
[ SIREN WAILS ]
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator: JUST OUTSIDE SEATTLE LIES THE TOWN OF KIRKLAND,
A PICTURESQUE COMMUNITY
ON THE SHORES OF LAKE WASHINGTON.
IT'S HOME TO 27-YEAR-OLD ELAINA BOUSSIACOS.
Hendrickson: SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL, VERY GREEK.
HER SMILE WAS REALLY CAPTIVATING.
WHEN SHE SPOKE WITH YOU,
SHE WOULD SPEAK TO YOU, NOT AT YOU.
YOU KNOW, SHE WOULD DRAW YOU IN.
SHE WAS JUST A VERY STUNNING GIRL. VERY SWEET.
SHE WAS AS BEAUTIFUL INSIDE AS SHE WAS ON THE OUTSIDE.
[ "AULD LANG SYNE" PLAYS ]
Narrator: ON NEW YEAR'S EVE 1998, ELAINA MAKES A WISH.
[ SPARKLERS SIZZLING ]
Diteman-Paneque: WE ALL WROTE DOWN
WHAT OUR HOPES AND DREAMS FOR THAT YEAR WAS GONNA BE,
AND SO SHE WROTE DOWN
THAT SHE WAS READY TO MEET HER SOUL MATE.
SHE WAS READY TO MEET SOMEBODY
THAT WOULD CHERISH HER AND LOVE HER.
Narrator: ELAINA'S HAD LOTS OF SUITORS,
BUT SINCE HER DIVORCE,
HER MAIN MAN HAS BEEN HER 7-YEAR-OLD SON, ANTHONY.
SHE GLOWED WHEN SHE WAS WITH HIM.
SHE WAS A GOOD MOM -- VERY GOOD MOM.
HER LIFE REVOLVED AROUND ANTHONY.
SHE WANTED SOMEBODY THAT TREATED HIM GOOD,
AND SHE WANTED A TRADITIONAL FAMILY.
Narrator: WEEKS LATER, ELAINA'S WISH COMES TRUE
THANKS TO A CHANCE ENCOUNTER AT THE GYM.
SHE JUST TOLD ME SHE MET SOMEBODY
AND SHE WAS IN LOVE.
Narrator: HIS NAME IS SIONE LUI.
I HAD NEVER SEEN HER EVER THAT COMPLETELY ENAMORED.
Hendrickson: HE WAS VERY GOOD WITH ANTHONY. THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO HER.
IT WASN'T JUST HER AND SIONE.
IT WAS ABOUT HER, SIONE, AND ANTHONY.
Narrator: A YEAR INTO THEIR RELATIONSHIP, SIONE POPS THE QUESTION.
YOU KNOW, THEY'D BEEN WORKING TOWARDS GETTING ENGAGED,
SO IT WASN'T A BIG SURPRISE.
IN JANUARY OF 2001,
THE COUPLE MOVES TO THE NEARBY TOWN OF WOODINVILLE
TO BUILD THEIR FIRST HOME TOGETHER.
Diteman-Paneque: I LIKED HIM. I LIKED HER TOGETHER WITH HIM.
THEY SEEMED VERY HAPPY, AND THEY DID.
THEY SEEMED REALLY HAPPY.
Narrator: BUT ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd,
JUST WEEKS BEFORE THEIR WEDDING, FATE WILL TEAR THEM APART.
IN THE LATE AFTERNOON,
ELAINA BRINGS ANTHONY TO MEET HER EX-HUSBAND DOWNTOWN.
Diteman-Paneque: THEY SHARED CUSTODY.
SHE HAD HIM DURING THE WEEK,
AND THEN SHE WOULD DROP HIM OFF ON THE WEEKENDS.
Narrator: AS NIGHT FALLS, ELAINA HURRIES HOME
TO PACK FOR A QUICK TRIP TO CALIFORNIA.
Diteman-Paneque: THAT SATURDAY MORNING,
SHE WAS GOING DOWN TO SEE HER MOM.
Narrator: THE VISIT DOESN'T GO TO PLAN.
PLANELOADS OF TRAVELERS PASS THROUGH THE AIRPORT,
BUT ELAINA IS NOT AMONG THEM.
HER MOTHER CONTACTS SIONE,
WHO IN TURN STARTS CALLING ELAINA'S FRIENDS TO NO AVAIL.
Hendrickson: IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE SHE HAD JUST GOT UP
AND WENT MISSING OR, YOU KNOW, RAN OFF.
SHE WASN'T THAT TYPE OF PERSONALITY.
Narrator: DESPERATE TO FIND HIS FIANCéE...
...SIONE REACHES OUT
TO THE KING COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
Narrator: DETECTIVE SUE PETERS LAUNCHES AN INVESTIGATION.
Peters: SIONE HAD REPORTED HE LAST SAW HER
AS THEY WERE GETTING READY FOR BED ON FRIDAY NIGHT,
AND THE NEXT MORNING, HE WAS STILL ASLEEP.
AND SHE LEFT WHAT SHE ASSUMED WAS TO GO TO THE AIRPORT.
Narrator: BUT DID SHE EVER MAKE IT THERE?
Peters: THEN THEY WERE RESEARCHING WITH THE AIRLINES,
AND IT TURNS OUT
SHE HAD NOT BOARDED AN AIRCRAFT TO CALIFORNIA.
Narrator: AND SO BEGINS A MASSIVE SEARCH EFFORT.
WE NEED TO FIND HER.
Peters: SIONE ACTUALLY TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF
TO COORDINATE LOOKING FOR ELAINA.
Diteman-Paneque: WE WERE PASSING OUT HER FLIERS EVERYWHERE WE COULD THINK ABOUT.
MAYBE SOMEBODY KNOWS SOMETHING.
MAYBE SOMEBODY SAW SOMETHING THAT NIGHT.
SIONE ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER A GROUP OF FRIENDS
AND SEARCHED THE AREA OF I-5
ALL THE WAY TO THE AIRPORT, TRYING TO LOCATE HER OR HER CAR.
Narrator: BUT DAYS GO BY,
AND THERE'S STILL NO SIGN OF THE MISSING MOM.
HOPE IS FADING FAST.
Hendrickson: I THINK WE ALL KNEW IN OUR GUT
THAT SOMETHING HORRIFIC HAD HAPPENED
AND THAT IT WAS GONNA BE A SAD STORY.
NONE OF HER CLOSE CIRCLE OF FRIENDS HAD HAD
ANY CONTACT WITH HER.
HER CAR HADN'T BEEN LOCATED,
SO THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF FOUL PLAY.
Narrator: ONE WEEK AFTER ELAINA DISAPPEARED,
PROSECUTOR KRISTIN RICHARDSON
GETS AN OMINOUS, LATE-NIGHT CALL.
[ SIREN WAILING ]
Richardson: THEY SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF,
"WE HAVE BAD NEWS.
WE FOUND THE WOMAN WHO'S BEEN MISSING FROM WOODINVILLE."
Peters: HER VEHICLE HAD, IN FACT, BEEN RECOVERED
A MILE, MILE AND A HALF FROM HER HOME.
AND IT WAS PARKED AT AN ATHLETIC CLUB.
THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED.
WE WANTED TO GET INTO THE TRUNK IMMEDIATELY.
THEY OPENED THE TRUNK LID.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
Narrator: INSIDE, A HORRIFYING DISCOVERY --
THE LIFELESS BODY OF ELAINA BOUSSIACOS.
SHE ALMOST WAS IN A FETAL POSITION ON ONE SIDE.
HER BODY WAS WELL-PRESERVED DUE TO THE COLDNESS IN SEATTLE.
IT WAS AS IF SHE WAS ASLEEP. SHE WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION.
Narrator: BUT ON CLOSER EXAMINATION...
WE COULD SEE MARKINGS AROUND THE NECK ALREADY.
Peters: THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE ADVISED DETECTIVES
THAT SHE HAD BEEN STRANGLED.
Narrator: A YOUNG MOTHER MURDERED AND HIDDEN.
BUT WHY?
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
INVESTIGATORS HOPE
THE CRIME SCENE WILL PROVIDE SOME CLUES.
Peters: ON THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT,
THERE WAS A STACK OF CLOTHING ITEMS.
MAYBE SHE WAS GONNA STOP SOMEWHERE AND CHANGE
OR EVEN CHANGE AT THE AIRPORT.
Narrator: BUT ELAINA NEVER MADE IT THAT FAR.
Richardson: SHE COULD'VE STOPPED TO GET SOMETHING AT A STORE,
AND SOMEONE, I SUPPOSE,
COULD'VE SNATCHED HER AND KILLED HER
AND PUT HER IN THE CAR.
Narrator: MURDERED, PERHAPS, IN THE COURSE OF A ROBBERY.
HER DIAMOND RING WAS NOT ON HER FINGER.
IT WAS GONE.
POTENTIAL THAT SOMEONE ROBBED HER
AND KILLED HER AND PANICKED
AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH HER BODY
AND PUT IT IN THE CAR.
Peters: THE DRIVER'S DOOR WAS UNLOCKED.
THERE WERE NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION.
I DIDN'T FIND A PURSE IN THE VEHICLE.
[ SIREN WAILING ]
Narrator: DETECTIVES HEAD TO ELAINA'S HOME
TO BREAK THE TRAGIC NEWS TO SIONE.
HIS FAMILY IS BY HIS SIDE.
HIS SISTER HAD FLOWN IN FROM HAWAII.
Richardson: HE CALLED HIS SISTER AND SAID,
"I NEED YOU TO COME BE HERE WITH ME.
I CAN'T HANDLE THIS ALONE."
[ SIREN WAILING ]
Narrator: GRIEF-STRICKEN,
SIONE ACCOMPANIES POLICE TO THE STATION
TO AID IN THEIR INVESTIGATION.
IT'S TYPICAL ANYONE CLOSE TO ELAINA,
ESPECIALLY THE BOYFRIEND LIVING WITH HER.
Narrator: THEIR WEDDING HAD BEEN PLANNED
FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEK ON VALENTINE'S DAY.
ELAINA DID NOT HAVE A RING ON WHEN HER BODY RECOVERED,
AND SO SIONE WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT THAT.
DID SHE LEAVE HER RING AT HOME?
Narrator: SIONE IS CERTAIN ELAINA WAS WEARING THE RING.
COULD THE KILLER HAVE STOLEN IT?
AT THE END OF THE LONG NIGHT,
SIONE TAKES A ROUTINE POLYGRAPH TO VERIFY HIS STATEMENTS.
Peters: THE RESULTS OF THAT TEST WERE INCONCLUSIVE,
AND THE EXAMINER BELIEVES
SINCE HE HADN'T SLEPT DURING THAT TIME PERIOD
THAT THAT'S WHY THE RESULTS WERE INCONCLUSIVE.
Narrator: THE NEXT DAY, SIONE OPENS HIS HOME TO POLICE
SO THEY CAN GATHER EVIDENCE.
Peters: YOU KNOW, IT DIDN'T APPEAR
THERE WAS A SIGN OF A FIGHT OR A STRUGGLE.
WE LOOKED FOR JEWELRY ITEMS,
AND HER RING WAS NEVER FOUND DURING THE SEARCH.
Narrator: WHAT POLICE DO FIND ARE SIGNS OF SIONE'S DESPERATE SEARCH
FOR THE WOMAN HE LOVES.
WE RECOVERED DOCUMENTS, SUCH AS THE GRID PATTERN
THAT SIONE HAD ESTABLISHED TO SEARCH AREAS OF KING COUNTY.
Narrator: POLICE TURN THEIR FOCUS TO ANOTHER MAN
IN ELAINA'S LIFE -- HER EX-HUSBAND,
A FORMER GANG MEMBER.
THE ORIGINAL DETECTIVES SPOKE WITH HIM AT LENGTH.
HE'D HAD RECENT CONTACT WITH HER.
Peters: ELAINA HAD DROPPED OFF THEIR SON ON THAT FRIDAY EVENING.
Narrator: HAD THE PAIR FOUGHT OVER CUSTODY,
AND WHERE WAS HER EX LATER THAT NIGHT
WHEN ELAINA WAS KILLED?
THEY POLYGRAPHED ELAINA'S HUSBAND --
HER EX-HUSBAND.
HE WAS HOME WITH ELAINA'S SON DURING THE NIGHTTIME.
HIS NEW WIFE WAS ABLE TO ALIBI HIM FOR THAT NIGHT,
SO HE WAS NOT A SUSPECT.
Narrator: AT THE MORGUE,
THE MEDICAL EXAMINER SEARCHES FOR ANSWERS.
WHEN THEY GET HER, SHE'S FULLY CLOTHED.
SHE WAS IN HER CLOTHES.
BUT THEY WEREN'T EXACTLY IN ORDER.
HER SOCKS WERE PULLED UP SO THAT THE HEELS WERE
ALMOST COMPLETELY OUT OF HER SHOE.
IT APPEARED ALMOST AS IF SOMEONE HAD RE-DRESSED HER.
Narrator: NOT BEFORE SQUEEZING THE LIFE OUT OF HER.
Richardson: THERE WAS BRUISING ON HER FACE.
THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY BRUISING AROUND THE NECK
WHERE SHE'D BEEN STRANGLED.
THERE WAS BRUISING IN THE ABDOMEN AREA.
Narrator: IT SUGGESTS THE KILLER HAD BEEN LYING ON TOP OF HER.
AND IT COULD'VE BEEN FROM HIM PROPPING HIMSELF UP
IN ORDER TO GET A BETTER GRIP TO STRANGLE HER TO DEATH.
NOW TO SEE IF HE LEFT ANY TRACES OF HIMSELF BEHIND.
AT THE AUTOPSY, THEY DID SWABS OF HER NECK,
HOPING TO FIND THE DNA OF THE PERSON WHO HAD PUT
HIS HANDS AROUND HER NECK TO KILL HER.
THERE WERE SCRAPINGS MADE
FOR THE CONTENTS UNDERNEATH HER FINGERNAILS.
IF SHE WERE TO HAVE SCRATCHED SOMEBODY,
WE MAY BE ABLE TO PULL UP THEIR DNA FROM THE CELLS
THAT SHE HAD TRAPPED UNDERNEATH HER FINGERNAILS.
FORENSICS EXPERT JODI SASS CAREFULLY EXAMINES THE SAMPLES.
Sass: UNFORTUNATELY, IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE,
THERE WAS NO MALE DNA THERE.
Narrator: SASS DOES FIND EVIDENCE
THAT SOMEONE HAD SEX WITH ELAINA PRIOR TO HER DEATH.
BUT SHE CAN'T SECURE A FULL DNA PROFILE.
SIONE LUI STATED THEY HADN'T HAD *** RELATIONS FOR WEEKS.
IT SEEMS CLEAR, THEN,
THAT THE KILLER WAS ALSO A *** PREDATOR.
THE UNDERPANTS THAT SHE HAD ON HAD BEEN PULLED UP AND RIPPED.
HER SWEATSHIRT HAD UNDERNEATH IT A BRA
THAT WAS BALLED UP AND STUFFED UP UNDER THE FRONT.
IT WAS NOT ON HER.
Peters: ANYTIME SOMEONE'S BODY IS RECOVERED IN A VEHICLE
AND IT LOOKED LIKE POSSIBLY SHE HAD BEEN RE-DRESSED,
THAT WE LOOK AT SEX OFFENDERS IN THE AREA.
Narrator: BUT THE BIGGEST CLUE OF ALL MAY COME FROM ELAINA'S SUITCASE.
THERE'S SOMETHING AWFULLY STRANGE AND VERY TELLING
PACKED INSIDE.
THE ITEMS IN THE BAG WERE THINGS
THAT NO WOMAN WOULD EVER BRING ON A TRIP WITH THEM.
Narrator: ON FEBRUARY 9, 2001,
ELAINA BOUSSIACOS IS FOUND DEAD
IN A WOODINVILLE, WASHINGTON, PARKING LOT.
IT WAS PRETTY TRAUMATIC, I MEAN, FOR ALL OF US, YOU KNOW?
AND ESPECIALLY BEING FOUND IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR IS
HARD TO DIGEST.
[ Voice breaking ] I WAS HEARTBROKEN.
I MEAN, I WAS GENUINELY HEARTBROKEN.
Narrator: 48 HOURS AFTER THE ***,
IT'S LOOKING LESS AND LESS LIKE ROBBERY WAS THE MOTIVE.
Richardson: SOMEBODY THAT HAD ROBBED HER,
THAT HAD TAKEN HER CREDIT CARDS AND HER MONEY
PROBABLY WOULD'VE USED THEM.
Narrator: AND ELAINA'S MISSING ENGAGEMENT RING HASN'T SHOWN UP
IN ANY OF THE USUAL PLACES.
Richardson: SOMEONE WOULD TRY TO GET RID OF IT IN SOME FASHION --
LIKELY TRY TO PAWN IT.
WOULD BE A LOGICAL PLACE TO LOOK,
AND THERE WAS NOTHING LIKE THAT.
Narrator: SO, WHO HAD TAKEN HER LIFE, AND WHY?
DETECTIVE PETERS CAN'T HELP BUT RETURN
TO IMAGES OF THE CRIME SCENE,
CONVINCED THEY'RE THE KEY TO THE KILLER'S IDENTITY.
Peters: WE LOOKED INSIDE HER SUITCASE,
AND THERE WAS A PAIR OF RUNNING TENNIS SHOES,
WHICH SEEMED ODD TO ME
BECAUSE SHE IS FOUND WEARING TENNIS SHOES,
AND SHE WAS ONLY GONNA BE GONE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.
USUALLY, YOU PACK SMART
AND ONLY BRING ONE PAIR OF TENNIS SHOES.
Narrator: ELAINA ALSO HAD TWO PAIRS OF BOOTS,
TWO HAIR DRYERS,
AND TOO MUCH LUGGAGE FOR A WEEKEND AWAY.
Richardson: THE ITEMS IN THE BAG WERE THINGS
THAT NO WOMAN WOULD EVER BRING ON A TRIP WITH THEM.
THERE WAS A BIG, TALL BOTTLE OF SUAVE HAND LOTION
WHEN SHE HAD A PERFUMED LOTION IN HER SUITCASE.
THAT'S WHAT SHE MEANT TO TAKE WITH HER.
THERE WAS A HAIR-GEL BOTTLE WITH NO LID ON IT.
SO THAT SEEMED A LITTLE OUT OF PLACE
FOR THE TYPE OF GIRL ELAINA WAS.
Narrator: SO, WHO HAD PACKED ELAINA'S LUGGAGE?
TIME TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT ELAINA'S FIANCé, SIONE LUI.
Peters: WE FOUND OUT THAT THE RELATIONSHIP WASN'T
WHAT SIONE LUI WAS PRESENTING TO US.
HE HAD SAID, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE GOING TO BE MARRIED
AND THEY WERE IN LOVE
AND THEY HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP.
Narrator: BUT ACCORDING TO FRIENDS,
ELAINA WAS COMING DOWN WITH A CASE OF COLD FEET.
SHE WAS SCARED OF MARRYING HIM BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T TRUST HIM.
Narrator: AND WITH GOOD REASON.
Richardson: HE WAS MARRIED WHEN HE MET HER. AND SHE DIDN'T KNOW IT.
Peters: SHE HAD FOUND AT SOME POINT A WEDDING PICTURE
OF SIONE AND HIS PAST WIFE, AND THEY WEREN'T DIVORCED YET.
SHE HAD NO IDEA HE WAS MARRIED --
NONE, ZERO, ZILCH.
THAT WAS THE FIRST SIGN OF THIS WASN'T MAYBE
THE MOST HONEST MAN IN THE WORLD.
Narrator: THE FIRST SIGN BUT NOT THE LAST.
AFTER TWO YEARS TOGETHER,
THE PERFECT BOYFRIEND HAD TURNED INTO A PERFECT SCOUNDREL.
Richardson: SIONE HIT ON OTHER WOMEN
WHILE HE AND ELAINA WERE TOGETHER.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
Narrator: EVEN ELAINA'S FRIENDS.
Hendrickson: DURING THE DINNER AT THE CHRISTMAS PARTY,
I WAS SITTING NEXT TO HIM, AND HE PUT HIS HAND ON MY LAP.
I WAS WITH MY DATE, AND HE WAS WITH ELAINA.
Diteman-Paneque: WE HAD ALL GONE OUT ONE NIGHT,
AND HE GRABS ME, AND HE TRIES TO KISS ME.
I WAS LIKE, "THIS IS SO COMPLETELY AWKWARD AND WEIRD."
Narrator: JACQULYN TELLS ELAINA WHAT HAPPENED.
Diteman-Paneque: SHE WAS SO SAD, OBVIOUSLY.
BUT I THINK SHE WASN'T THAT COMPLETELY SHOCKED.
I THINK SHE WAS STARTING TO FIGURE OUT
WHO THIS PERSON WAS.
Narrator: AND JUST DAYS BEFORE ELAINA'S DEATH,
A MORE SHOCKING DISCOVERY.
SIONE WAS IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH ANOTHER LADY.
Richardson: THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS THAT SHE DIDN'T KNOW
ABOUT WHAT HE WAS DOING.
HE WAS SORT OF LIVING A DOUBLE LIFE
WITH REGARD TO OTHER WOMEN.
Narrator: ELAINA TRACKED DOWN THE MISTRESS FOR A FRANK CONVERSATION
AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONFRONT SIONE.
Peters: THIS WOMAN WAS GOING TO CALL SIONE ON HIS CELLPHONE.
AND WHEN SIONE ANSWERED AND STARTED SPEAKING WITH HER,
ELAINA THEN GOT ON THE PHONE AND SAID, BASICALLY, YOU KNOW,
"YOU'RE LYING TO ME,"
AND, BASICALLY, SHE BUSTED HIM OUT.
ELAINA TOLD THE WOMAN SHE HAD COME TO A DECISION.
EITHER HE WAS GONNA BE MOVING OUT,
OR I'M GOING TO BE MOVING OUT.
SHE REALIZED THAT SHE COULDN'T DO THIS ANY LONGER.
Peters: WE FIND OUT THAT SHE HAD
CLOSED OUT HER ACCOUNT WITH SIONE,
WHICH WAS A JOINT ACCOUNT, ON FRIDAY,
THE DAY BEFORE SHE WAS TO FLY TO CALIFORNIA.
SHE WAS A STRONG GIRL. SHE WASN'T THIS TIMID PERSON.
SHE WAS DONE.
AND SO SHE SAID, "I'M DONE."
I THINK HE LOST IT.
Narrator: AS INVESTIGATORS DISCOVER,
THE MILD-MANNERED BOYFRIEND HAS A VIOLENT STREAK.
Diteman-Paneque: HE'D PLAYED RUGBY,
AND HE WAS A REALLY, REALLY GOOD RUGBY PLAYER,
AND HE HAD ALMOST KILLED A MAN ON THE FIELD --
LIKE, LITERALLY ALMOST KILLED THE GUY.
I THINK HE WAS IN CRITICAL CONDITION.
Narrator: AND THERE'S MORE.
WELL, WE HAD HEARD THAT HE HAD ASSAULTED
A PRIOR INDIVIDUAL IN HIS LIFE -- FEMALE.
Narrator: AND SIONE HAD BECOME
INCREASINGLY CONTROLLING WITH ELAINA.
HE WAS OBSESSED WITH HER.
IT WAS NOT HEALTHY LOVE IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.
SIONE WAS VERY POSSESSIVE OF HIS PAST WOMEN
AND ELAINA, AS WELL.
AND ONE OF HIS PATTERNS WAS TO CALL ELAINA...
[ CELLPHONE RINGING ]
...PROBABLY TOO MUCH.
Diteman-Paneque: WHEN WE WOULD GO OUT TO LUNCH,
IN AN HOUR LUNCH, HE WOULD CALL HER 30 TIMES.
SHE'D HAVE TO TURN OFF HER PHONE.
Narrator: BUT AFTER ELAINA FAILED TO SHOW UP IN CALIFORNIA,
SIONE DIDN'T CALL HER CELLPHONE EVEN ONCE.
THERE WAS NO CALLING TO HER. THERE WAS NOTHING.
IT WAS, LIKE, COMPLETE SILENCE AFTER SHE LEFT.
Narrator: THE LATEST LAB RESULTS RAISE MORE SUSPICIONS.
Peters: SIONE LUI WAS INTERVIEWED BY DETECTIVES,
AND HE DENIED ANY *** CONTACT WITH ELAINA,
AND, IN FACT, THE UNDERPANTS THAT WERE RECOVERED ON ELAINA
HAD SIONE'S DNA.
SO THAT WAS ANOTHER RED FLAG
THAT HE HADN'T ACTUALLY BEEN TRUTHFUL TO US.
Narrator: THE MORE DETECTIVES HONE IN ON SIONE,
THE MORE RED FLAGS POP UP.
DETECTIVES LOOKED AT SIONE'S COMPUTER,
AND THERE WAS A SEARCH ON THERE --
"WOODINVILLE ***" --
BEFORE HE EVEN REPORTED HER MISSING.
THE BOTTOM OF ELAINA'S SHOES, HER TENNIS SHOES,
WERE QUITE CLEAN.
Richardson: THERE'S MUD AND MUCK THAT GOES
FROM BETWEEN THEIR DOOR TO WHERE THE CAR WAS PARKED.
Peters: HOW DID SHE GET FROM HER HOUSE TO HER CAR
WITH HER TENNIS SHOES ALMOST COMPLETELY CLEAN?
I'M SURE IF SHE WAS TELLING HIM THAT NIGHT
THAT THE RELATIONSHIP IS OVER,
ONE OF THEM IS GONNA BE MOVING OUT,
THAT HE JUST EXPLODED AND WAS VIOLENT WITH HER.
Narrator: DID A FRIGHTENED SIONE THEN DRESS ELAINA
AND CARRY HER DEAD BODY TO THE CAR?
SHE HAD CLEARLY BEEN LAID IN THE TRUNK.
SHE WASN'T TOSSED IN.
HER ARMS AND LEGS WERE NOT OUT OF POSITION.
Narrator: IT'S A DETAIL THAT SUGGESTS
ELAINA'S ATTACKER HAD ONCE CARED FOR HER.
SIONE LUI FITS THAT BILL.
DETECTIVES CAME TO THE CONCLUSION
THAT HE WAS THE ONE AND ONLY SUSPECT IN HER CASE.
Narrator: BUT WITHOUT A SMOKING GUN, IT'LL BE TOUGH TO PROVE.
IF THERE'S ANY HOPE AT ALL OF SOLVING THIS CASE,
COPS WILL HAVE TO PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS.
Schurman: THERE WERE OTHER POLICE OFFICERS STANDING AROUND
JUST WITH SOME OF THEIR MOUTHS OPEN.
THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS IN WASHINGTON STATE ARE
CONVINCED THAT 27-YEAR-OLD ELAINA BOUSSIACOS,
FOUND DEAD IN HER CAR A 1/2 MILE FROM HOME,
WAS STRANGLED TO DEATH BY HER BOYFRIEND, SIONE LUI.
BUT SO FAR, THEY'RE PAINFULLY SHORT ON EVIDENCE.
PROSECUTOR KRISTIN RICHARDSON IS DESPERATE FOR ANYTHING.
THIS CAR IS WITHIN A 1/2 MILE OF THE HOUSE.
Narrator: HAD SIONE DRIVEN ELAINA'S CAR TO THE PARKING LOT,
THEN WALKED BACK HOME?
IF SO, THERE'S A SLIM CHANCE HIS SCENT TRAIL COULD
STILL BE THERE.
I JUST THOUGHT, "WHAT THE HECK?
I'M GONNA CALL MY BLOODHOUND FRIEND, RICHARD."
Narrator: RICHARD SCHURMAN IS A DOG HANDLER
WITH SEATTLE SEARCH AND RESCUE.
Schurman: I RECEIVED A CALL FROM KRISTIN RICHARDSON,
REQUESTING MY INPUT ON WHETHER A BLOODHOUND COULD
RUN A TRAIL ON A CRIME SCENE THAT WAS SOMEWHAT OLD.
Narrator: SCHURMAN IS SKEPTICAL.
IT'S BEEN ALMOST TWO WEEKS SINCE THE ***.
WHEN THE SCENT GETS OVER ABOUT THREE DAYS OLD,
PARTICULARLY IN URBAN AREAS, IT DEGRADES,
AND IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT.
AND ONLY THE MOST SPECTACULAR OF DOGS CAN FOLLOW
THOSE KINDS OF TRAILS.
Narrator: IS THIS DOG ONE OF THEM?
THE ORIGINAL CASE DETECTIVE GOT AN ITEM OF CLOTHING
FROM ELAINA'S HOUSE, WHICH BELONGED TO SIONE.
Narrator: IT'S THEN PLACED IN THE SAME SPOT
WHERE ELAINA'S BODY WAS FOUND.
Schurman: FIND!
Schurman: I ALLOW THE DOG TO JUST MEANDER UP
TO THE SCENT ARTICLE OUT OF CURIOSITY,
AND THEY NATURALLY TAKE THE SCENT,
AND THEN I GIVE THEM A COMMAND OF "FIND."
[ DOG BARKING ]
Richardson: AND AS SOON AS THE DOG HIT ON THAT SCENT,
SHE WAS OFF IN A FLASH.
Schurman: TAIL WENT UP. THE HEAD WENT DOWN.
TOTALLY FOCUSED, NOSE TO THE PAVEMENT.
Narrator: FOR TWO HOURS, THE DOG FOLLOWS THE SCENT
PAST SHOPS TO A COMPLEX AND ONTO A MAIN ROAD.
YOU HAVE TO BE VERY PATIENT,
AND YOU JUST FOLLOW THE DOG AND TRUST HIM.
WE WALKED MAYBE AN 1/8 OF A MILE,
1/4 OF A MILE AT THE MOST UP THE ROAD,
AND THE DOG STOPPED AND IMMEDIATELY MADE
A RIGHT TURN UP A BLIND DRIVEWAY.
THERE'S NO MARKINGS THERE.
THERE'S NO INDICATION OF WHO LIVES THERE
OR EVEN WHAT THE ADDRESS IS.
Narrator: BUT THE HOUND IS CONFIDENT OF HER DESTINATION.
Schurman: AS IT TURNED OUT,
SHE WALKS UP IN FRONT OF THIS MEMORIAL
ON THE PORCH OF THE HOUSE.
Narrator: SIONE'S SCENT HAS LED THE DOG ALL THE WAY FROM THE CRIME SCENE
TO HIS OWN FRONT DOOR.
THERE WERE OTHER POLICE OFFICERS STANDING AROUND,
JUST WITH SOME OF THEIR MOUTHS OPEN.
THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
IT WAS JUST AMAZING, REALLY.
Narrator: STILL, THE QUESTION REMAINS,
WAS THIS TRAIL FROM THE NIGHT OF THE ***,
OR COULD SIONE HAVE INNOCENTLY WALKED THROUGH
DAYS LATER?
Richardson: CIRCUMSTANTIAL-EVIDENCE CASES ARE VERY SCARY
IN TERMS OF WHETHER WE CAN WIN THEM OR NOT.
THE DANGER IS THAT HE CAN NEVER BE TRIED AGAIN
BECAUSE OF DOUBLE JEOPARDY.
SO WE GET ONE SHOT AT IT,
AND IF HE'S NOT GUILTY, HE'S FREE FOREVER.
Narrator: UNTIL THE D.A.'s OFFICE HAS ENOUGH EVIDENCE
TO CLINCH THEIR CASE, LUI REMAINS A FREE MAN.
WEEKS GO BY WITHOUT ANY NEW LEADS.
THEN, THREE MONTHS AFTER ELAINA'S DEATH,
HER FRIEND HEIDI GETS A SURPRISING CALL.
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]
THEY PASSED THE PHONE CALL TO ME AND SAID, "IT'S SIONE."
Richardson: HE SAID, "I HAVE A PANTSUIT THAT BELONGED TO ELAINA
"THAT SHE ALWAYS WANTED YOU TO HAVE
IF ANYTHING SHOULD EVER HAPPEN TO HER."
SHE'S NEVER GIVEN ME CLOTHES.
WE'RE NOT THE SAME SIZE EVEN REMOTELY.
Richardson: HEIDI, WHO'S 5'9", WAS IMMEDIATELY SUSPICIOUS
THAT 5'4" ELAINA WOULD GIVE HER A PANTSUIT AS A DYING WISH.
Hendrickson: I CALLED THE COPS. [ CHUCKLES ]
I CALLED SUE PETERS, AND SHE SAID,
"OKAY, THIS DOESN'T REALLY ADD UP, BUT LET'S --
IF YOU'RE WILLING, LET'S SET UP A MEETING."
Narrator: DETECTIVE PETERS ALSO OFFERS A WORD OF ADVICE.
"IT WOULD BE SMART IF YOU DON'T LEAVE THE BUILDING
AT NIGHT BY YOURSELF."
FELT REALLY CREEPY -- REALLY, REALLY CREEPY.
BUT I'M THINKING, "THIS GUY IS SUPER GUILTY,
AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO CATCH HIM."
SO WE SET UP A WIRE ORDER.
Hendrickson: MY OFFICE WAS BUGGED, BASICALLY.
THERE WAS A HIDDEN CAMERA,
AND THERE WAS A LITTLE CLOCK RADIO
THAT HAD A LITTLE HIDDEN CAMERA.
THERE WAS A LOT OF HIGH-TECH,
JAMES BOND STUFF GOING ON IN MY OFFICE.
WE OBSERVED SIONE LUI COMING TO HER BUSINESS.
YOUR EMOTIONS ARE GOING ALL OVER LIKE FIREWORKS.
Peters: HE SAT DOWN IN FRONT OF HER AT HER DESK
AND BROUGHT A PANTSUIT.
Hendrickson: DETECTIVES HAD GIVEN ME A LIST OF QUESTIONS
THAT THEY WANTED ASKED.
YOU KNOW, WHERE WERE YOU? HOW DID YOU FEEL?
Narrator: SIONE SHOWS NO EMOTION
WHEN TALKING ABOUT ELAINA'S ***.
Richardson: HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING
THAT A HUSBAND WHO LOST HIS WIFE TO *** SHOULD SAY.
WITHIN MINUTES, SIONE'S REAL INTENTIONS BECOME CLEAR.
HE WAS THERE TO SEE IF I WAS SINGLE.
HIS PLAN WAS TO ASK HER OUT.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: AND WHEN SHE TELLS HIM
SHE'S ALREADY IN A RELATIONSHIP...
WELL...
HE WAS LIKE, "OKAY, WELL, GOOD TO SEE YOU,"
AND HE WAS DONE, GONE.
I FELT LIKE A THOUSAND ANTS HAD CRAWLED ALL OVER MY BODY.
IT WAS -- UGH!
Narrator: SIONE'S BEHAVIOR ONLY ADDS TO THE MOUNTAIN
OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM.
BUT IT STILL DOESN'T PROVE HE'S THE KILLER.
Richardson: I'M REVIEWING RECORDS UPON RECORDS UPON RECORDS
AND TRYING TO PIECE IT TOGETHER
AND DECIDE WITH OTHER PEOPLE FROM MY OFFICE,
IS THIS CHARGEABLE OR NOT?
WELL, YOU JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH TO GO TO COURT
AND WIN THE CASE.
Narrator: AND DETECTIVE PETERS HAS JUST DISCOVERED SOMETHING
SHE HOPES WILL HELP THEM DO THAT.
I FOUND A SMALL SPECK OF BLOOD ON THE GEARSHIFT BOOT.
Narrator: IS IT SIONE'S BLOOD?
COULD HE HAVE CUT HIMSELF
IN THE COURSE OF ELAINA'S ***?
Sass: I EXTRACTED IT FOR DNA
AND GOT A MALE PROFILE FROM THAT.
Narrator: BUT THE RESULTS ARE NOT WHAT ANYONE HOPED FOR.
THIS UNIDENTIFIED BLOOD IS NOT SIONE'S.
IT'S NOT ELAINA'S.
EASIEST THING TO ARGUE FOR THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY,
IT'S THE MAN WHO KILLED HER,
AND UNTIL I FELT LIKE WE HAD ENOUGH EVIDENCE
TO OVERCOME THAT SPECK OF BLOOD,
THERE WAS NOT GONNA BE A CASE FILE.
Narrator: FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS,
IT SEEMS LIKE SIONE LUI MAY GET AWAY WITH ***.
YOU WATCH "LAW & ORDER," AND IT'S SOLVED IN AN HOUR.
AND, I MEAN, I KNEW IT WASN'T GONNA BE LIKE THAT,
BUT IT WAS SO FRUSTRATING.
Peters: AND YOU KNOW THAT A *** SUSPECT
HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED,
AND HE'S OUT LIVING A NORMAL LIFE.
Narrator: THOUGH THE CASE GOES DORMANT,
POLICE ARE DETERMINED NOT TO LET IT GO.
Richardson: I FELT OVER THE YEARS LIKE ELAINA WAS SORT OF WITH ME,
LOOKING AT THE EVIDENCE AND JUST GOING,
"COME ON. COME ON. YOU'RE ALMOST THERE."
I FELT THAT WAY.
ALL YOUR UNSOLVED CASES ARE WITH YOU
BASICALLY UNTIL THEY'RE SOLVED.
I'LL NEVER GIVE UP ON A CASE,
AND I'LL HUNT YOU DOWN TO THE END.
Narrator: IN 2006, SUE PETERS REVIEWS THE CASE YET AGAIN,
THIS TIME WITH HER NEW PARTNER, DETECTIVE CHRISTINA BARTLETT.
WHAT STANDS OUT TO ME IS GONNA BE DIFFERENT
FOR ANOTHER DETECTIVE.
Narrator: BARTLETT PORES THROUGH THE FILES,
SEARCHING FOR OVERLOOKED CLUES.
THAT'S WHEN SOMETHING JUMPS OUT AT HER.
Bartlett: SHE HAS RUNNING SHOES ON.
THE LACES ARE TIED OFF TO ONE SIDE.
Peters: ONE WAS ON THE INSIDE, AND ONE WAS ON THE OUTSIDE,
WHICH ISN'T A NORMAL WAY TO TIE YOUR SHOES.
Narrator: IT LOOKS LIKE THEY WERE TIED WHILE THE VICTIM WAS LYING DOWN,
PRESUMABLY BY HER KILLER.
WE DECIDED TO SEND HER TENNIS SHOES TO THE LAB
TO BE LOOKED AT FOR DNA.
Sass: SO, I COLLECTED A SAMPLE FROM THE SHOELACES.
I THEN EXTRACTED THE SWAB SAMPLE I COLLECTED FOR DNA ANALYSIS,
AND WHAT I GOT WAS A MIXED SAMPLE
OF ELAINA AND A TRACE MALE COMPONENT.
TO BE ABLE TO FURTHER IDENTIFY
WHO THAT PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL MIGHT BE,
WE NEEDED A MORE SENSITIVE TECHNOLOGY
FOR MALE DNA.
Narrator: THEY SUBMIT THE SAMPLE FOR THE SPECIALIZED DNA TESTING,
KNOWING ALL TOO WELL IT WILL TAKE TIME.
Bartlett: WE LIVE IN A "CSI" WORLD.
YOU KNOW, LIFE IS NOT LIKE THAT.
WE CAN NEVER GET DNA IN 45 MINUTES,
SOLVE A ***, HAVE A CONVICTION,
AND ON TO THE NEXT HOMICIDE.
Narrator: THE WHOLE CASE IS NOW HANGING LITERALLY BY A THREAD,
AND ALL INVESTIGATORS CAN DO IS WAIT.
WE KNOW WHOEVER KILLED HER TIED THOSE LACES.
Narrator: DETECTIVES ARE HEATING UP THE 5-YEAR-OLD COLD CASE
OF ELAINA BOUSSIACOS,
SLAIN, THEY BELIEVE, BY HER FIANCé, SIONE LUI.
HE WAS THE ONLY PERSON POSSIBLE THAT COULD'VE MURDERED HER.
Narrator: BUT PROVING IT IS PROVING TOUGH.
Richardson: THERE'S MOMENTS WHERE YOU THINK
THIS CASE IS NEVER GONNA BE A SOLVABLE, FILEABLE ***.
Narrator: WHILE DETECTIVES WAIT FOR THE FINAL DNA RESULTS
ON ELAINA'S SHOELACES,
THEY FOCUS IN ON A PHONE CALL
SIONE MADE TO HIS SISTER IN HAWAII.
FOR SOME REASON, HE FOUND IT NECESSARY
TO CALL HER AT 1:15 IN THE MORNING
ON THE NIGHT THAT ELAINA DISAPPEARED.
Bartlett: THE QUESTION, YOU KNOW, BEGS TO BE ANSWERED.
WHY DID YOU MAKE THAT CALL?
WERE YOU IN A PANIC?
DID SOMETHING BAD HAPPEN?
AND SIONE'S EXPLANATION TO THAT CALL WAS,
HE WAS SLEEPING ON THE COUCH.
IT WAS A MISDIAL.
HE MUST'VE ROLLED OVER, AND IT DIALED HIS SISTER.
Narrator: SIONE'S SISTER HAD ALSO BEEN EVASIVE
ABOUT THAT LATE-NIGHT CALL.
Richardson: SHE HAD BEEN INTERVIEWED BY HAWAII POLICE.
WE NEEDED TO SEE HER EYEBALL TO EYEBALL.
Narrator: SO BARTLETT AND RICHARDSON HOP ON A PLANE TO HAWAII.
WE CATCH HER BY SURPRISE.
I MEAN, WE SHOW UP ON THE DOORSTEP
OF HER WORK TO INTERVIEW HER.
TOTALLY UNANNOUNCED.
HER INTERVIEW IS IN SUPPORT OF HER BROTHER.
IN SPITE OF THAT,
THESE LITTLE DETAILS KEEP COMING OUT.
Narrator: DETAILS LIKE HER REACTION TO THE NEWS
THAT ELAINA WAS MISSING.
SHE HAD ASKED HER BROTHER, "ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THE DEATH?"
WHAT THE HECK KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT FOR A SISTER TO ASK?
SHE SAID SHE DID HER OWN INVESTIGATION
THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE,
LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF A STRUGGLE
OR ANY SORT OF PERSON BEING HURT.
Bartlett: IT TELLS ME THAT THERE IS SOME SUSPICION
THAT SOMEHOW HER BROTHER HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH HER DEATH.
Narrator: BACK IN SEATTLE,
TEST RESULTS ON ELAINA'S SHOELACES
ARE FINALLY IN.
AND IT SEEMS THE NOOSE IS TIGHTENING ON SIONE.
Richardson: THE OUTSIDE LAB WAS ABLE TO NARROW IT DOWN,
AND SIONE WAS THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR
TO THE DNA ON THE LACES.
THE MORE TIME THAT PASSES, THE STRONGER THE CASE GETS
BECAUSE WE KEEP ADDING LITTLE PIECES OF EVIDENCE
FROM WEEK TO WEEK OR MONTH TO MONTH.
ULTIMATELY, THAT'S WHAT THIS CASE IS BUILT ON --
IS A MOUND OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.
Narrator: BUT WILL IT BE ENOUGH FOR A CONVICTION?
TIME TO PAY SIONE A FRIENDLY VISIT.
"I WANT TO BE ABLE TO CLEAR YOU.
"I HAVE BEEN WORKING THIS CASE FOR A LITTLE WHILE,
AND I HAVE A COUPLE OF SUSPECTS THAT I'M LOOKING AT."
DOES SIONE ASK ANYTHING ABOUT WHO DID IT,
HOW IT HAPPENED, WHERE SHE WAS KILLED,
WHY SHE WAS KILLED?
HE ASKS NOT ONE QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
THAT WAS VERY TELLING.
Narrator: TO THEIR SURPRISE, SIONE AGREES TO COME TO THE STATION TO TALK.
HE THOUGHT HE WAS SMARTER THAN US
AND THAT HE WAS FOOLING EVERYONE 'CAUSE TIME HAD GONE ON,
AND NOBODY HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH HIM.
SO I DON'T THINK HE KNEW WHAT WE HAD UP OUR SLEEVE.
Narrator: FIRST, THEY LOCK DOWN SIONE'S STORY.
THEN THEY LAUNCH INTO SOME POINTED QUESTIONS.
Bartlett: "YOU NEVER PICK THEM UP AND MOVE THEM?"
"NOPE, I NEVER DID THAT."
WHICH, FOR ME, IS GOLDEN.
EVERY TIME HE LIES, YOU KNOW, WE JUST CHECK IT OFF.
THERE'S ANOTHER LIE. THERE'S ANOTHER LIE.
Narrator: SUE PETERS HONES IN ON THE NIGHT OF THE ***.
MY PARTNER IS A BULLDOG, AND, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY,
WE GO AFTER HIM, AND SHE, YOU KNOW,
SHE REALLY GOES AFTER HIM.
HE WAS DEFINITELY NERVOUS. AND HIS HANDS WERE SHAKING.
Bartlett: WE'RE CONFRONTING HIM
WITH ALL OF THESE FACTS THAT HE'S LYING ABOUT.
"SHE CLOSED HER ACCOUNT. SHE WASN'T COMING BACK.
WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT THAT?"
"HOW ABOUT THIS? I'M SAYING THAT YOU KILLED HER.
HOW ABOUT THAT?
Peters: SOME INDIVIDUALS, AFTER SPEAKING WITH THEM MULTIPLE TIMES,
YOU KNOW THEY WILL PROBABLY NEVER CONFESS.
WELL, YOU ALWAYS HOPE FOR A CONFESSION.
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN.
Narrator: BUT THAT WON'T STOP THEM FROM FINALLY MAKING THEIR MOVE.
KRISTIN WAS NO LONGER WILLING TO LET THIS SIT ON THE SHELF.
WE NEEDED TO DO IT, AND THE TIME HAD COME.
WE'RE GONNA ROLL THE DICE.
[ SIREN WAILING ]
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
Narrator: IT HAPPENS ON FRIDAY,
APRIL 13, 2007.
Peters: WE HAD A GROUP ON SURVEILLANCE.
HE DRIVES UP, AND WE ARREST HIM.
[ HANDCUFFS CLICK ]
TO FINALLY PUT CUFFS ON HIM
AND PUT HIM IN THE BACK OF A PATROL CAR
AND YOU'RE CAUGHT, THAT WAS A HAPPY MOMENT,
DEFINITELY.
BY NOW, SIONE IS MARRIED TO A WOMAN NAMED CELESE.
Bartlett: SHE'S NOT WANTING TO TALK.
I LET HER TAKE OUT QUITE A BIT OF AGGRESSION
AND GET THE QUESTIONS IN WHERE I CAN.
Peters: SHE IS THE TYPE OF WOMAN THAT STUCK BEHIND HER HUSBAND.
WHATEVER HE SAID OR WHATEVER HE DID,
HE COULD NOT POSSIBLY HAVE MURDERED ELAINA.
Narrator: THAT'S WHEN SUE PETERS SPOTS A TINY CLUE
THAT COULD HAVE HUGE CONSEQUENCES.
Peters: RIGHT THEN, THE BELLS AND WHISTLES ARE STARTING
TO GO OFF IN MY HEAD.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE A SMOKING GUN.
[ SIREN WAILING ]
Narrator: AFTER FIVE LONG YEARS,
INVESTIGATORS HAVE FINALLY ARRESTED SIONE LUI
FOR THE *** OF HIS FIANCéE, ELAINA BOUSSIACOS.
WE WERE 100% SURE THAT WE HAD THE RIGHT PERSON.
THERE ISN'T ANYBODY ELSE THAT COULD'VE DONE THIS.
Narrator: BUT WILL THEIR CIRCUMSTANTIAL CASE BE
ENOUGH TO CONVICT HIM?
INVESTIGATORS MAY HAVE JUST FOUND THE SMOKING GUN.
SUE, WHO HAS EAGLE EYES
ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT'S POTENTIAL EVIDENCE,
HAPPENED TO NOTICE HIS NEW WIFE'S DIAMOND RING.
Peters: I ASKED HER, WAS SHE WITH SIONE
WHEN HE PICKED OUT YOUR WEDDING RING?
AND SHE SAID, NO, SHE WASN'T.
CELESE TELLS US,
"OH, I THINK HE BOUGHT MY RING FROM A PAWN SHOP."
Peters: AND THEN RIGHT THEN, THE BELLS AND WHISTLES ARE
STARTING TO GO OFF IN MY HEAD, AND I'M GOING,
"OH, MY GOSH. DON'T TELL ME HE GAVE HER ELAINA'S RING."
Narrator: THE RING MISSING FROM ELAINA'S BODY,
THOUGHT STOLEN BY HER KILLER.
Bartlett: IT WAS ONE OF THOSE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE
THAT WAS BUILDING THE MONSTER THAT SIONE LUI REALLY IS.
Peters: THIS GUY HAS TOLD US OVER AND OVER AGAIN
THAT HE NEVER SAW ELAINA'S RING.
HE NEVER FOUND IT IN THE HOUSE.
AND NOW HE HAS GIVEN IT TO HIS NEW WIFE.
SHE AGREES TO LET US PHOTOGRAPH HER RING.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
Narrator: ARMED WITH THE PHOTO,
DETECTIVE PETERS DIGS UP AN OLD PIECE OF EVIDENCE.
Peters: IN ELAINA'S GLOVE BOX,
THERE WERE MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS,
AND I NOTED ONE WAS A RECEIPT FOR SOME TYPE OF RING.
Narrator: THE DESCRIPTION SOUNDS IDENTICAL
TO THE RING NOW WORN BY SIONE'S WIFE.
SUE PETERS HEADS TO THE JEWELRY STORE
TO FIND OUT FOR SURE.
I MAY HAVE WENT OVER THE SPEED LIMIT A LITTLE BIT.
Narrator: PETERS WAITS WITH BATED BREATH
TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT ELAINA'S RING LOOKED LIKE.
Peters: THE RING AT THEIR STORE MATCHED THE RING IN THE PHOTOGRAPH,
WHICH WAS SIONE'S NEW WIFE'S RING.
SO, I REMEMBER SITTING AT MY DESK AND SUE CALLING ME,
GIDDY WITH EUPHORIA, SAYING, "IT'S THE SAME RING.
IT'S THE SAME RING."
IT WAS VERY EXCITING.
IT WAS A GOOD FEELING TO REMOVE THAT RING FROM HER FINGER.
I FELT LIKE THIS WAS THE LAST THING
WE REALLY NEEDED TO GET A CONVICTION.
Narrator: A YEAR LATER,
THE TRIAL OF SIONE LUI GETS UNDER WAY
IN A SEATTLE COURTROOM.
I QUIT MY JOB,
AND I WENT TO THE TRIAL EVERY SINGLE DAY.
IT REALLY AFFECTED ME EMOTIONALLY, AND...
SO, I TOLD EVERYBODY
THAT I'M GONNA BE COMPLETELY FINE
ONCE THIS MAN IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
THE STANDARD RANGE...
Richardson: WE FELT LIKE WE HAD
A REALLY STRONG CIRCUMSTANTIAL CASE,
BUT IT ALSO WAS THE KIND OF CASE THAT WE COULD LOSE.
Narrator: WILL THE PROSECUTOR'S MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE
BE ENOUGH TO CONVINCE THE JURY?
SHE WAS ONLY A MILE FROM HER RESIDENCE.
Richardson: THEY BRING OUT A BLOODHOUND.
GOT AN ITEM OF CLOTHING WHICH BELONGED TO SIONE.
THE DOG TRACKS FROM THE CAR TO THE HOUSE.
THE WAY SHE WAS DRESSED.
THE SHOES, I THINK, WERE BIG -- THE DNA ON THAT.
THE DUPLICATES OF THE THINGS THAT HAD BEEN PACKED.
Bartlett: AND THEN THERE WERE LITTLE THINGS --
ALL OF THE MANY LIES THAT SIONE LUI TOLD US.
HE WAS CHEATING ON HER, SCREWING AROUND ON HER.
Narrator: AND THEN THERE'S THE RING.
THE RING WAS THE ICING ON THE CAKE.
Narrator: AS FOR THE MYSTERIOUS SPECK OF BLOOD ON THE GEARSHIFT...
IT WAS MATCHED TO A MECHANIC
THAT HAD WORKED ON HER CAR PREVIOUSLY.
Narrator: BY NOW, MOTIVE SEEMS CRYSTAL CLEAR.
SIONE KILLED HER BECAUSE SHE WAS GOING TO LEAVE HIM.
HE TOLD HER FRIEND, "I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT ELAINA."
HE TOLD CHRISTINA BARTLETT,
"SHE WAS KILLED BY SOMEONE WHO COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT HER."
ON APRIL 24, 2008,
THE JURY DELIBERATES FOR LESS THAN THREE HOURS.
THAT'S UNHEARD OF IN A CIRCUMSTANTIAL CASE,
AND IT'S A BAD SIGN.
I WAS LITERALLY HOLDING MY BREATH --
LITERALLY HOLDING IT.
Richardson: YOUR HEART SORT OF STOPS,
AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
Diteman-Paneque: AND THEN WHEN THEY SAID, "GUILTY,"
I JUST SCREAMED,
AND IT WAS LIKE THE BIGGEST RUSH OF RELIEF.
HE FINALLY WAS GONNA PAY FOR WHAT HE DID.
HE HAD TAKEN A WONDERFUL MOTHER AWAY FROM HER SON
AND A DAUGHTER AWAY FROM HER PARENTS
AND A SISTER AWAY FROM HER SISTERS
AND A FRIEND AWAY FROM HER FRIEND--
[ INHALES SHARPLY ]
Narrator: SIONE LUI IS SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS IN PRISON.
Peters: IT WAS A GREAT DAY WHEN THE JURY CONVICTED HIM.
THE JURY PUT ALL THE PIECES OF THIS PUZZLE TOGETHER,
AND HIS TIME WAS UP.
Richardson: THERE'S A HUGE SENSE OF GRATIFICATION
AND SATISFACTION AND HAPPINESS
THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SPEAK FOR HER.
YOU BECOME HER VOICE.
THE WORLD NOW KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.
Peters: HE TOOK ELAINA'S FREEDOM AWAY.
IT'S HIS TURN TO BE LOCKED UP AND RIGHTLY SO.