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Narrator: ONCE UPON A TIME,
MICHAEL FORBES TRANSFORMS KELLY CHADEE'S LIFE
FROM RAGS TO RICHES.
SHE WAS ABSOLUTELY HAPPY.
WE SHARED A CRY, AND IT WAS REALLY TOUCHING.
IT WAS LIKE, "OH, MY GOD!"
LIKE, "THIS IS REALLY GONNA HAPPEN."
Yvette: HE WAS IN HEAVEN.
I RARELY, IF EVER, SAW THE EMOTIONAL SIDE OF MICHAEL.
BUT, ON THAT DAY, YOU JUST SAW IT.
Narrator: BUT JUST WEEKS AFTER THE CEREMONY,
THIS CINDERELLA STORY SUDDENLY TURNS TO ASHES.
IT'S JUST LIKE A STAB IN MY HEART.
THIS HAD TO BE INTENTIONAL. THIS WAS NO ACCIDENT.
IF I CAN'T CONTROL YOU, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU.
Narrator: FOR THIS COUPLE, THE HONEYMOON IS OVER.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
IN A BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, WEDDING HALL,
KELLY CHADEE FLOATS LIKE A PRINCESS DOWN THE AISLE
TO A STEEL-DRUM BAND.
IT WAS SO RHYTHMIC AND JUST SO MOVING.
Narrator: THE 29-YEAR-OLD TRINIDADIAN IMMIGRANT
HAS FINALLY FOUND A WEALTHY AND LOVING PRINCE CHARMING.
HE'S GIVEN HER AND HER DAUGHTER, NICOLE,
EVERYTHING THEY'VE EVER WANTED.
Rattley: SHE WAS REALLY HAPPY. SHE SMILED A LOT.
AND SHE JUST LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS IN LOVE, ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE.
Walsh: KELLY REALLY WAS LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM.
SHE ARRIVED AS AN IMMIGRANT
AND, WOW, MEET A MILLIONAIRE AND GET MARRIED!
THIS IS WHAT OTHER PEOPLE WISH AND DREAM FOR ALL THE TIME.
DEARLY BELOVED, WE ARE GATHERED...
Smalls: KELLY WAS SWEPT OFF OF HER FEET BY A MAN
WHO WAS ABLE TO SHOW HER SOME OF THE LUXURY
THAT SHE WASN'T ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR HERSELF.
Michael: I DO.
Narrator: PRINCE CHARMING IS 50-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL FORBES.
HE'S SUPPORTIVE, STABLE, A SELF-MADE MILLIONAIRE,
AND LOTS OF FUN.
IT WAS A PARTY, YES.
SEE, HE WAS THE WHOLE PARTY HIMSELF.
THE ROOM LIT UP WHEN MICHAEL CAME IN.
Narrator: AND TODAY, HE'S THE LUCKIEST GUY ON EARTH.
WHO WOULDN'T WANT A BEAUTIFUL, EXOTIC WOMAN NEXT TO HIM?
YOU KNOW, ON HIS SIDE.
Yvette: HE'S SMILING EAR TO EAR.
HE JUST SEEMED LIKE A LITTLE BOY
WHO IS STARTING A WHOLE NEW LIFE
AND LIKE, "WHAT AWAITS ME?"
YOU MAY KISS THE BRIDE.
Narrator: IT'S A PERFECT, FAIRY-TALE DAY.
[ APPLAUSE ]
BUT TOO SOON, A DARK CURSE
DESTROYS ALL THAT ROMANTIC MAGIC.
IT'S EARLY MORNING ON NOVEMBER 21, 2007,
AND ONE OF MICHAEL'S FRIENDS
WAITS OUTSIDE A LONG ISLAND HOME-IMPROVEMENT STORE.
HEY, MIKE. COME ON NOW. THIS IS NOT LIKE YOU.
YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN HERE 15, 20 MINUTES AGO.
Narrator: HE AND MICHAEL ARE SUPPOSED TO MEET,
BUT MICHAEL HASN'T SHOWN UP.
Man: OKAY, MIKE. NOW, THIS IS GETTING A LITTLE DISTURBING.
NOW, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN HERE A HALF AN HOUR AGO.
COME ON, MAN. GIVE ME A CALL.
I'M STARTING TO GET REALLY, REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT THIS.
Narrator: IT'S COMPLETELY OUT OF CHARACTER FOR HIM.
Man: COME ON, MAN.
Taylor: MICHAEL WAS THE EPITOME OF A BUSINESSMAN.
HE WAS ALWAYS PUNCTUAL. HE'D BE ON TIME.
IF NOT, HE WOULD CALL.
HE WOULD NEVER BE ONE TO NOT SHOW UP.
Narrator: MICHAEL FORBES DEVELOPS HIS SHARP BUSINESS SENSE
AND HARD WORK ETHIC GROWING UP
IN THE JAMAICAN NEIGHBORHOOD OF QUEENS, NEW YORK,
WHERE HE TREATS HIS PAPER ROUTE LIKE A FORTUNE-500 COMPANY.
HE HAD THE ART OF THE DEAL
BECAUSE EVERYBODY ON HIS ROUTE LOVED HIM.
HIS SKILLS WERE INCREDIBLE.
HE WAS VERY SMART AND A VERY INTELLIGENT YOUNG MAN.
Narrator: BUT, DESPITE HIS DRIVE AS A KID,
MICHAEL UNFORTUNATELY FALLS IN WITH A BAD CROWD IN HIGH SCHOOL,
GETTING INVOLVED IN THE DRUG SCENE.
Jeffrey: I HEARD THAT MIKE WAS DOING NEGATIVE THINGS,
THAT HE WAS SELLING, AND IT REALLY SHOCKED ME
BECAUSE THIS WAS A DIFFERENT PERSON FROM WHO I GREW UP WITH.
Narrator: IN 1984,
HE'S CONVICTED OF A DRUG-RELATED CRIME
AND SPENDS NEARLY FIVE YEARS BEHIND BARS.
IT'S CRUSHING FOR HIS PARENTS AND A WAKE-UP CALL FOR MICHAEL.
HE VOWS TO COME OUT A CHANGED MAN.
HE SAID, "I WOULD NEVER GO BACK TO JAIL AGAIN, NEVER.
I LEARNED MY LESSON."
Cedric: WHEN HE CAME HOME, HE WAS JUST FOCUSED
ON, YOU KNOW, SETTING UP A BUSINESS
AND TRYING TO GET ESTABLISHED
AS FAR AS HIS GETTING HIS LIFE IN ORDER.
Narrator: WITH A LITTLE FINANCIAL HELP FROM HIS PARENTS,
HE OPENS A BARBERSHOP IN BROOKLYN.
I CAN'T BELIEVE
WE WERE ABLE TO GET THIS THING ALL OFF THE GROUND,
AND NOW WE'RE GETTING READY TO DO A RIBBON CUTTING.
Jeffrey: HE HAD THIS GRAND OPENING,
AND IT WAS A FANTASTIC-LOOKING PLACE
IN THE HEART OF BROOKLYN.
I MEAN, THERE IS SO MUCH TRAFFIC.
IT WAS AROUND-THE-CLOCK BUSINESS.
[ CHEERING ]
Narrator: CUSTOMERS LOVED THE SERVICE,
BUT THEY'D REALLY COME IN TO HANG OUT WITH MICHAEL.
HE'S A CHARMER WITH SERIOUS CHARISMA.
HE'S DOING MORE THAN RUNNING A BARBERSHOP.
HE'S GIVING HIS CLIENTS AN EXPERIENCE.
WHEN THEY CAME IN, NOT ONLY THEY LEFT WITH A HAIRCUT,
BUT THEY LEFT, YOU KNOW, ENERGIZED
AND JUST FEELING GOOD ABOUT IT.
Narrator: IT'S SO SUCCESSFUL,
MICHAEL IS ABLE TO START INVESTING IN OTHER BUSINESSES --
RESTAURANTS, PROPERTY HOLDINGS.
IN MICHAEL'S NEW LIFE OF SUCCESS,
THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF CASH, CUSTOMERS, OR WOMEN.
Jeffrey: THERE WERE ALWAYS LADIES,
LIKE, STEPPING INTO THE BARBERSHOP.
AND I'D BE LIKE, "WHO IS THAT, MIKE?"
HE WOULD BE LIKE, "DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, MAN."
HI. YOU MUST BE MICHAEL. WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WELL, HI. HOW ARE YOU?
OH, THERE WAS PLENTY OF GIRLS.
OH, MY GOD. THE WOMEN...
HOW'S BUSINESS GOING?
WELL, BUSINESS IS GOING QUITE, QUITE WELL.
YEAH? IT'S GOING REALLY GOOD?
Narrator: AND FOR ALL OF THOSE WOMEN,
MICHAEL IS THE ULTIMATE CHICK MAGNET --
HANDSOME, CHARMING, AND WELL-OFF.
BUT NO MATTER HOW MANY HE MEETS, NONE OF THEM FEELS RIGHT.
I'VE GOT SOME CUSTOMERS HERE.
THIS IS MY HEAD BARBER, JACK.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
GOOD.
SO, YOU'RE PART OF THE BUSINESS, TOO?
YOU'RE BUSINESS PARTNERS?
Yvette: HE SPECIFICALLY SAID THAT HE'S LOOKING FOR A WIFE,
AND HE WANTS TO HAVE MORE CHILDREN.
ONE OF HIS GOALS WAS TO FIND THAT ONE WOMAN
THAT HE CAN, I GUESS, LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
Narrator: 2,000 MILES AWAY
ON THE SMALL CARIBBEAN ISLAND OF TRINIDAD,
KELLY CHADEE IS ALSO LOOKING FOR HER HAPPILY-EVER-AFTER...
DESPERATELY.
SHE LIVES IN A ROUGH AREA, HAS TROUBLE FINDING WORK,
AND FALLS VICTIM TO ABUSIVE MEN.
THIS TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT WAS A LIVING NIGHTMARE.
Narrator: SHE HAS A BABY DAUGHTER FROM A FAILED RELATIONSHIP.
NOW KELLY CLINGS TO ONE DREAM -- ESCAPING WITH HER LITTLE GIRL.
SHE DID WANT TO MAKE A BETTER LIFE FOR HER DAUGHTER
AND GIVE HER EVERYTHING THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE GROWING UP.
Narrator: SHE SETS HER SIGHTS ON THE UNITED STATES,
THE BOROUGH OF BROOKLYN,
WHERE HER BROTHERS HAD EMIGRATED SEVERAL YEARS EARLIER.
Taylor: TO KELLY,
THE UNITED STATES SYMBOLIZED EVERYTHING SHE DIDN'T HAVE.
IT WAS FREEDOM. IT WAS OPPORTUNITY.
IT WAS SAFETY.
SHE WAS DETERMINED TO NEVER LET HER DAUGHTER
LIVE THE LIFE THAT SHE HAD LIVED.
Narrator: SHE GETS A VISA AND MOVES TO BROOKLYN
BUT NEEDS TO FIND WORK.
SHE GOES TO SCHOOL TO BECOME A CERTIFIED MEDICAL ASSISTANT,
LANDING A JOB AT A BROOKLYN HOSPITAL.
HER AMERICAN DREAM HAS BECOME A JOYOUS REALITY.
Smalls: SHE WENT FROM HAVING A VERY TOUGH LIFE IN TRINIDAD
TO BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY AS A PROFESSIONAL.
YOU ARE PROVING TO THE WORLD AND PROVING TO YOURSELF
THAT YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO SUCCEED.
Rattley: SHE JUST USED ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES SHE HAD
AS BEST AS SHE KNEW HOW.
EVERYTHING STARTED FALLING INTO PLACE.
Narrator: LIKE KELLY,
MICHAEL'S BUSINESS VENTURES HAVE ALSO BEEN FALLING INTO PLACE,
BUT ALL THE WORK STRESS IS STARTING TO TAKE ITS TOLL.
HE WOULD GO TO THE BARBERSHOP 6:00 IN THE MORNING.
HE WOULD LEAVE 10:00 AT NIGHT.
HE WAS JUST BARRELING THROUGH EVERYTHING.
I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HIS HEALTH AT THAT POINT.
Narrator: MICHAEL'S DOCTOR ORDERS HIM TO GO FOR A STRESS TEST,
AND THE MEDICAL ASSISTANT WHO DOES THE PRELIMINARY EXAM
IS THE RADIANT KELLY.
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.
THANK YOU.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
SHE TRIES TO KEEP THINGS PROFESSIONAL.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SHOULD BE THE ONE
TO TAKE MY BLOOD PRESSURE TODAY, THOUGH.
WHY?
YOU'RE CAUSING MY BLOOD PRESSURE TO GO UP.
WHEN MICHAEL LAID EYES ON KELLY, THAT WAS IT.
SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL. SHE HAD PERSONALITY.
THEY IMMEDIATELY HAD A CONNECTION.
HE WAS IN LOVE WITH HER AT FIRST SIGHT.
Michael: BY THE WAY, UM...
Narrator: THE CONFIDENT BUSINESSMAN ASKS HER TO DINNER.
...WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO OUT SOME TIME?
AND DESPITE THE 20-YEAR AGE DIFFERENCE,
SHE'S CHARMED AND SAYS YES.
AN OLDER GUY REPRESENTS STABILITY TO YOUNG WOMEN.
HERE'S A MAN WHO, SORT OF, HAS SOME WISDOM,
SOME FINANCIAL STABILITY.
AND, OF COURSE, TO A GUY WHO'S WORKED HARD ALL HIS LIFE,
HE MAY FEEL HE DESERVES A YOUNG, ATTRACTIVE WOMAN.
Narrator: IT'S THE VERY FIRST CHAPTER
OF THEIR FUTURE STORY TOGETHER.
BUT NOW THAT FUTURE IS UNCERTAIN,
AS MICHAEL'S FRIEND GROWS MORE AND MORE CONCERNED.
WHERE ARE YOU, MAN? COME ON.
WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS PROJECT DONE.
THE FRIEND CALLS MICHAEL'S PHONE AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.
NO ANSWER.
THIS WASN'T LIKE MICHAEL.
GIVE ME A CALL. I'M STARTING TO GET NERVOUS HERE.
COME ON NOW.
ARE YOU OKAY? JUST LET ME KNOW.
I'LL TALK TO YOU SOON. BYE-BYE.
THEN HE CALLS THE HOME PHONE. NO ANSWER ON THE HOME PHONE.
Narrator: SOMETHING IS WRONG. HE CAN JUST FEEL IT.
THE SUNNY, ROMANTIC TALE OF TWO NEWLYWEDS
IS ABOUT TO TURN VERY DARK AND VERY TWISTED.
BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME, I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU MAN AND WIFE.
Narrator: AFTER THE BROOKLYN WEDDING
OF MICHAEL AND KELLY FORBES,
ONE OF MICHAEL'S FRIENDS IS INCREASINGLY WORRIED
WHEN MICHAEL FAILS TO MEET HIM AND CAN'T BE REACHED.
MICHAEL WOULD NEVER NOT PICK UP
OR AT LEAST CONTACT HIS FRIEND WHEN HE DIDN'T SHOW UP.
SOMETHING WAS WRONG. SOMETHING HAPPENED.
Narrator: HE'S RIGHT. SOMETHING DID HAPPEN.
AROUND 9:00 THAT MORNING, A 911 CALL COMES IN
TO THE NASSAU COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S KELLY FORBES AT THE COUPLE'S HOME.
SHE WAS PLEADING FOR THEM TO PLEASE SEND SOMEBODY.
MICHAEL WAS UNCONSCIOUS. SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
Narrator: IT TAKES ONLY MINUTES FOR HELP TO ARRIVE.
UPSTAIRS!
SHE WAS CRYING. SHE WAS PANICKED.
SHE WAS IN TEARS.
Narrator: THE HYSTERICAL NEWLYWED DIRECTS EMTs
TO A HALLWAY ON THE SECOND FLOOR,
JUST OUTSIDE THE MASTER BEDROOM.
THERE, THEY FIND THE NEW GROOM SPRAWLED ON THE FLOOR.
HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
HE'S BARELY BREATHING, UNCONSCIOUS, AND UNRESPONSIVE.
HE'S GOT A FAINT PULSE THAT'S GETTING WEAKER.
THEY KNEW IMMEDIATELY THEY DID NOT HAVE A LOT OF TIME.
MICHAEL NEEDED TO GET TO A HOSPITAL AND FAST.
Walsh: WHEN HER HUSBAND IS LYING ON THE FLOOR,
IT'S LIKE HER DREAM IS LYING BEFORE HER.
THE MEMORY OF THE BEAUTIFUL WEDDING, THE VOWS.
HER ENTIRE DREAM WAS LITERALLY WASTING AWAY ON THE FLOOR.
Narrator: WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE COUPLE'S
LOVE-AT-FIRST-SIGHT FAIRY TALE?
JUST A YEAR EARLIER, THEY'RE WRITING THE FIRST JOYOUS PAGES
IN THEIR BOOK OF LOVE.
Woman: SO THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN --
OH.
OHH.
OH, MY GOD!
Narrator: KELLY IS FLATTERED BY ALL THE ATTENTION.
WHO'S MICHAEL?
FOR KELLY, MEETING MICHAEL WAS LIKE HITTING THE LOTTERY.
HERE WAS A MAN WHO WAS OLDER, HE WAS GOOD-LOOKING,
HE WAS ESTABLISHED, AND HE HAD MONEY,
AND HE LIKED TO SPEND IT ON HER.
AND SHE ENJOYED IT.
I'M LOOKING FOR KELLY CHADEE.
THAT'S ME.
MICHAEL MUST REALLY LOVE YOU!
IT'S CRAZY.
Narrator: IT LOOKS LIKE THE FORMER PLAYBOY
HAS BECOME A ONE-WOMAN MAN.
Michael: MS. CHADEE?
MS. CHADEE? DELIVERY.
HI, BABE.
OH, MY GOD!
HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE SHE UNDERSTANDS
JUST HOW MUCH HE'S FALLEN FOR HER.
[ LAUGHTER ]
STOP IT.
AWW. "LOVE, MICHAEL."
AND AROUND THE BARBERSHOP, HE CAN'T HELP BUT BRAG TO FRIENDS.
WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS GIRL OF YOURS?
Man: AHHHH.
OH, NOW YOU'RE TALKING.
NOW YOU MADE ME SMILE, MY BROTHER.
OH, MISS KELLY.
SAY IT WITH REVERENCE.
MISS KELLY.
HE WAS DESCRIBING HER AS A BEAUTY QUEEN,
AND SHE WAS A CARAMEL COMPLEXION, LONG HAIR.
SHE IS BEAUTIFUL. HER HAIR, IT FLOWS DOWN.
I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU,
CARAMEL SKIN, A FIGURE THAT WON'T QUIT.
ARE WE GONNA GET A CHANCE TO MEET HER?
MIKE, WE'VE BEEN BOYS FOR ABOUT 15, 20 YEARS.
NOW, WHEN AM I GONNA MEET THIS WOMAN?
SOON, MY BROTHER. JUST HANG TIGHT. ALL RIGHT?
SHE'S GONNA COME BY, AND YOU'LL GET A CHANCE TO MEET HER.
SHE IS BEAUTIFUL.
HE WAS JUST INFATUATED WITH HER BEAUTY.
Narrator: BUT THE ATTRACTION ISN'T JUST PHYSICAL.
THOUGH THEY COME FROM DIFFERENT WORLDS,
THEY'RE BOTH LOOKING FOR THE SAME THINGS --
HAPPINESS, ROMANCE, FAMILY.
KELLY DISCOVERS THAT BENEATH MICHAEL'S DRIVEN EXTERIOR
IS ACTUALLY A TENDER-HEARTED, GENTLE GUY.
IT TURNS OUT HE LOVES KIDS --
JUST THE KIND OF GUY SHE'S BEEN HOPING FOR.
HI, NICOLE. HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD, GOOD.
I'VE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT YOU.
ULTIMATELY, SHE WAS LOOKING FOR SUBSTANCE,
AND SHE FOUND THAT IN MICHAEL.
Narrator: MICHAEL IS ON HIS WAY TO WINNING OVER HER HEART.
Man: ...3, GO!
THEN, WHEN SHE SEES HIM WITH HER DAUGHTER,
SHE'S ABSOLUTELY SURE.
HE'S THE ONE.
Yvette: THE YOUNG GIRL HAD NO RESERVATIONS WHATSOEVER
WHEN IT CAME TO MICHAEL.
SHE WOULD PLAY WITH HIM, JUST HAVE A GOOD TIME,
BECAUSE MICHAEL IS A YOUNG KID AT HEART, ANYWAY.
Walsh: I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING SEXIER IN A MAN
THAN TO SEE HIM BE A GOOD FATHER.
WOMEN LOVE THIS.
WOMEN LOVE WHEN MEN ARE RESPONSIBLE,
ARE GOOD ROLE MODELS,
ARE CAREGIVERS TO THEIR CHILDREN.
Narrator: AND MICHAEL'S CONVINCED, TOO.
SHE'S THE ONE HE'S WAITED FOR.
Cedric: YOU KNOW, I COULD JUST LOOK AT HIM.
AND, YOU KNOW, HE WAS SHINING. HE HAD A GLOW TO HIM.
HE WAS, YOU KNOW, VERY HAPPY.
IT WAS THE PERFECT DAY.
Yvette: I'M ECSTATIC FOR HIM.
EVERYTHING IS JUST FALLING INTO PLACE
AS FAR AS HIS BUSINESS ASPIRATIONS
AND HIS FAMILY ASPIRATIONS.
IT'S ALL PERFECT.
Narrator: AFTER DATING JUST FOUR MONTHS,
HE MAKES HIS BIGGEST MOVE YET.
THERE'S ONE THING THAT WOULD MAKE IT EXTRA PERFECT.
[ SCREAMS ]
AND IN TYPICAL MICHAEL FASHION,
HE PRESENTS AN ENGAGEMENT RING SO HUGE
IT TAKES HER BREATH AWAY.
Rattley: IT MADE A STATEMENT, DEFINITELY.
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL RING.
Yvette: I'M LIKE, "WOW."
PEOPLE SEE THE RING COMING
BEFORE THEY EVEN SEE KELLY COMING.
Taylor: FOR KELLY, THAT RING SYMBOLIZED THAT SHE HAD ACHIEVED
WHAT SHE CAME TO THE UNITED STATES FOR.
THE RING SYMBOLIZED A BETTER LIFE
THAT SHE WANTED FOR HERSELF AND HER DAUGHTER.
SHE'S REALLY BUYING INTO THE CINDERELLA FANTASY HERE --
THAT LIFE IS GOING TO BE PROBLEM-FREE FROM HERE ON IN.
Narrator: BUT NOW HER HOPES
FOR A PICTURE-PERFECT FUTURE ARE DASHED
AS HER PRINCE CHARMING LIES UNCONSCIOUS ON THE FLOOR,
BARELY BREATHING.
EMTs QUICKLY REALIZE THIS WAS NO ACCIDENT OR ILLNESS.
Taylor: THERE WERE LIGATURE MARKS AND MAJOR BRUISING
AROUND MICHAEL'S NECK.
Narrator: HAD THE NEW GROOM BEEN ATTACKED BY AN INTRUDER?
AS EMTs RUSH HIM TO THE HOSPITAL,
POLICE TRY TO ASK THE SHAKEN BRIDE IF SHE SAW ANYTHING.
KELLY WAS SO UPSET SHE COULDN'T SPEAK,
AND SHE COULDN'T BE COHERENT AS TO WHAT HAPPENED
AND WHY MICHAEL WAS LAYING HALF-DEAD ON THE FLOOR.
THEY COULDN'T GET ANSWERS.
Narrator: HER LITTLE GIRL AWAKENS TO A SHOCKING SIGHT --
HER MOTHER IN TEARS, THE MAN SHE'D GROWN TO LOVE
BEING WHISKED AWAY IN AN AMBULANCE.
IT'S A TRAUMATIC TURN OF EVENTS FOR EVERYONE,
BUT POLICE NEED ANSWERS.
WHAT HORRORS DID THE NEW BRIDE WITNESS EARLY THAT MORNING?
Narrator: TWO MONTHS AFTER A STORYBOOK WEDDING,
NEWLYWED GROOM MICHAEL FORBES IS FOUND ON THE VERGE OF DEATH
WITH HEAVY BRUISING AROUND HIS NECK.
THE POLICE WERE TRYING THEIR BEST TO PIECE THIS TOGETHER
TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED
TO LEAD TO MICHAEL BEING CLOSE TO DEATH.
Narrator: DETECTIVES FIND AN EXTENSION CORD ON THE FLOOR
NEAR WHERE MICHAEL LAY.
Taylor: POLICE REALIZED THAT THIS IS PROBABLY THE OBJECT
THAT CAUSED THE LIGATURE MARKS
AND THE BRUISING AROUND HIS NECK.
THIS HAD TO BE INTENTIONAL. THIS WAS NO ACCIDENT.
Narrator: ONLY SOMEONE STRONG
COULD HAVE STRANGLED THIS BIG, POWERFUL MAN
WITH AN EXTENSION CORD.
HAD SOMEONE SLIPPED IN DURING THE NIGHT WHILE HE SLEPT?
MAYBE A THUG FROM MICHAEL'S CRIMINAL PAST SEEKING VENGEANCE?
AND WHY STRIKE NOW JUST AS MICHAEL'S LIFE
HAD FINALLY FALLEN INTO PLACE?
JUST MONTHS EARLIER,
HE AND KELLY WERE STARRY-EYED WITH THE RUSH OF NEW LOVE,
AND HE SPARES NO EXPENSE
TO LET HER KNOW HOW MUCH SHE MEANS TO HIM.
Aretha: HE WAS EXCITED TO SHOW HER THIS WORLD
THAT SHE NEVER HAD BECAUSE HE WANTED HER TO BE HAPPY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
ALL RIGHT.
ANYTHING MY BABY WANTS, MY BABY CAN HAVE.
OH, THANK YOU!
MICHAEL IS GOING TO GIVE KELLY A BRAND-NEW LIFE --
AND MEANING BRAND NEW IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE WORD.
YOU KNOW, MEN LOVE TO BE THE PROVIDER.
IT FEELS GOOD TO BE ABLE TO CARE FOR A FAMILY,
FOR A GIRLFRIEND, FOR CHILDREN.
THIS IS ALL GOOD.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
Woman: ARE WE GONNA BE HERE ALL NIGHT?
I THINK SO.
Narrator: MICHAEL DECLARES
KELLY WILL HAVE HER DREAM WEDDING CARTE BLANCHE.
Yvette: ONCE KELLY KNEW THAT SHE COULD DO WHATEVER SHE WANTED,
I THINK SHE JUST WENT CRAZY, AS ANY NEW BRIDE WOULD.
JUST A BLANK CHECK THAT, BASICALLY, KELLY HAD.
Narrator: SHE'S GOING TO GO BIG AND CLASSY
WITH A TRINIDADIAN FLAIR TO HONOR HER HERITAGE.
Rattley: IT WAS IMPORTANT TO KEEP TRADITION.
WHEN YOU COME TO AMERICA,
YOU TEND TO LOSE, LIKE, A LOT OF CULTURE.
SO, I GUESS FOR HER DAUGHTER'S SAKE,
FOR HER TO SEE, LIKE, "THIS IS HOW IT'S DONE."
Narrator: THE ISLAND THEME WILL INCLUDE STEEL DRUMS,
HER IN A LOVELY, WHITE DRESS, HIM IN A SHARP, WHITE TUX,
LOTS OF FUN, RED ACCENTS.
AS SHE PLANS, KELLY'S ON CLOUD NINE.
CHEERS!
WAIT.
Narrator: EVERY BRIDE'S NIGHTMARE.
MY RING.
OH, GOD.
WHERE'S MY RING?
Narrator: HER GORGEOUS ENGAGEMENT RING IS GONE.
Walsh: CAN YOU IMAGINE? RIGHT BEFORE YOUR WEDDING,
YOU LOSE THE BIGGEST SYMBOL OF YOUR MARRIAGE,
YOUR DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RING.
IT MUST HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING FOR HER.
Kelly: I WAS SITTING AT THIS TABLE.
Narrator: SHE CAN'T FIND IT ANYWHERE
AND HAS TO TELL MICHAEL.
HE IMMEDIATELY REPLACES THE RING,
BUT KELLY DISCOVERS IT'S NOT QUITE THE SAME.
Rattley: WE WERE IN THE MALL,
AND WE HAPPENED TO GO INTO A JEWELRY SHOP,
AND THE GUY ASKED HER TO SEE THE RING.
AND WHEN HE TESTED IT, IT TURNED OUT THAT IT WAS FAKE.
SO, WE WAS LIKE, "WELL, IS IT CUBIC ZIRCONIA?"
HE'S LIKE, "NO. IT'S NOT EVEN READING AS CUBIC ZIRCONIA.
IT'S LIKE GLASS OR SOMETHING."
MICHAEL?
Narrator: HORRIFIED, MORTIFIED, ANGRY, SHE CONFRONTS HIM.
HAD THE FIRST RING BEEN A FAKE, TOO?
CAN WE JUST TALK OVER HERE?
I WILL.
LET ME TALK TO YOU.
SHE WAS REALLY, REALLY EMBARRASSED.
IT'S ONLY TEMPORARY, BABY.
YOU'RE FLAUNTING THIS RING,
AND YOU'RE THINKING IT'S REAL, AND IT'S NOT.
IT WAS LIKE AN INSULT TO HER.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I GIVE YOU SOMETHING RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: MICHAEL TRIES TO TALK HER DOWN.
HE EXPLAINS HE ALWAYS INTENDED THE FAKE RING
TO BE JUST A PLACEHOLDER UNTIL HE CAN FIND AN ACTUAL DIAMOND
EVEN BIGGER AND MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN THE FIRST ONE.
HE SWEARS HE'S ALREADY BEEN LOOKING,
AND HE'LL HAVE THE REPLACEMENT IN TIME FOR THE WEDDING.
Yvette: HE DID TELL HER THAT THIS IS JUST SOMETHING YOU WEAR
SO PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND WE'RE ENGAGED.
IT'S NOT REALLY THE VALUE OF THE RING.
IT'S JUST THE FACT, LIKE A SYMBOLISM,
THAT YOU'RE ENGAGED TO ME.
WILL YOU FORGIVE ME?
OKAY.
REALLY?
Narrator: HE PROMISES THE RING AND THE WEDDING
WILL BE JUST WHAT SHE WANTS...
...AND HE COMES THROUGH.
Yvette: MICHAEL PLACED THE RING ON HER FINGER.
SHE JUST COVERED HER MOUTH.
HER MOUTH DROPPED OPEN
BECAUSE SHE HAD THE REAL BIG DIAMOND ON HER FINGER.
[ APPLAUSE ]
Narrator: AND AFTER THE CEREMONY, A LAVISH RECEPTION.
OH, THEY WERE JUST BUBBLING OVER --
DANCING AND KISSING AND LAUGHING AND EVERYTHING.
[ STEEL DRUMS PLAYING ]
OH, SHE WAS SMILING WAY BACK. YOU KNOW.
LAUGHING AND GRINNING AND CARRYING ON.
WE SO APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE FOR KELLY AND I,
AND I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A SURPRISE.
Narrator: AT THE RECEPTION, MICHAEL TELLS EVERYONE
HOW MUCH KELLY AND HER LOVE MEAN TO HIM,
AND HE MAKES A JAW-DROPPING ANNOUNCEMENT.
TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE LIVING.
HIS SURPRISE WEDDING GIFT TO KELLY
IS A $1 MILLION WATERFRONT HOME IN LONG ISLAND.
Yvette: NOT ONLY IS SHE GETTING A BRAND-NEW LIFE
BUT A BRAND-NEW HOUSE.
AND I REMEMBER KELLY JUST LOOKING AT MICHAEL.
SHE WAS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED.
SHE WAS HUGGING MICHAEL. SHE WAS JUST IN BLISS.
Narrator: COULD THIS DAY GET ANY BETTER?
AFTER THE CELEBRATION,
THE TWO ARE OFF TO A CARIBBEAN HONEYMOON CRUISE.
AS HE PROMISED, IT'S THE PERFECT WEDDING DAY.
BUT NOW THAT DAY IS A DISTANT MEMORY,
AS THEIR LOVE STORY COMES TO A TRAGIC END.
MICHAEL HAD GONE TOO LONG WITHOUT ENOUGH OXYGEN,
AND AT 10:10 A.M. ON NOVEMBER 21, 2007,
DOCTORS PRONOUNCE HIM DEAD.
THE MEDICAL EXAMINER WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE
THAT MICHAEL WAS KILLED BY STRANGULATION.
THERE WAS SO MUCH FORCE PLACED ON HIS NECK
THAT IT ACTUALLY BROKE THE CARTILAGE,
WHICH CRUSHED HIS WINDPIPE AND CAUSED HIM TO DIE.
Narrator: AS THE NEWS OF MICHAEL'S PASSING SPREADS,
HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE UTTERLY DEVASTATED.
OH, THAT WAS TERRIBLE.
I WAS IN ANOTHER STATE OF MIND, I GUESS.
I WAS JUST NUMB, REALLY,
BECAUSE I REALLY COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
THIS CAN'T BE TRUE, LIKE A NIGHTMARE.
IT'S JUST LIKE A STAB IN MY HEART.
Walsh: WHEN THEIR SON HAD FINALLY ACHIEVED EVERYTHING
THEY DREAMED OF FOR HIM --
WHEN HE'D GOTTEN HIS LIFE TOGETHER,
WHEN HE'D BECOME A MILLIONAIRE, AND THEN THE BEAUTIFUL BRIDE --
EVERYTHING WAS COMING TOGETHER, AND NOW THIS.
Narrator: WHO COULD HAVE TAKEN THE LIFE
OF THIS LOVING SON, HUSBAND, AND FATHER FIGURE
IN SUCH A HORRIBLE AND VIOLENT WAY?
TO STRANGLE SOMEONE, I MEAN, THAT TAKES A LOT OF INTENT.
THAT TAKES A LOT OF PRESSURE.
IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE.
Narrator: WAS IT SOMEONE FROM MICHAEL'S PAST SEEKING REVENGE?
THE HYSTERICAL BRIDE IS ABOUT TO TELL A SHOCKING NEW STORY
THAT WILL TURN THIS TALE OF LOVE AND *** UPSIDE DOWN.
Narrator: MICHAEL FORBES IS DEAD,
STRANGLED TO DEATH INSIDE THE LONG ISLAND HOME
HE'D BOUGHT AS A WEDDING GIFT FOR HIS NEW WIFE, KELLY.
Woman: CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT REALLY HAPPENED?
MRS. FORBES, YOU HAVE TO TELL ME WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.
POLICE PUSHED THE GRIEF-STRICKEN BRIDE FOR ANSWERS,
AND WHEN SHE MANAGES TO TALK,
WHAT SHE SAYS WOULD LEAVE POLICE FLABBERGASTED.
SHE SUDDENLY ANNOUNCES SHE WAS THE ONE
WHO STRANGLED HIM WITH THE EXTENSION CORD.
BUT SHE INSISTS SHE HAD TO TO SAVE HER OWN LIFE.
THE WHOLE CASE TOOK A MAJOR TURN IN THAT MOMENT.
Narrator: WITH THAT ADMISSION,
POLICE TAKE KELLY TO THE STATION TO GET A DETAILED STATEMENT.
KELLY CLAIMS THEIR MARRIAGE HAD QUICKLY DETERIORATED
BECAUSE OF MICHAEL'S VIOLENT CONTROL ISSUES.
KELLY TOLD THE POLICE THAT MICHAEL HAD BEEN ABUSIVE TO HER.
HE WAS PSYCHOLOGICALLY ABUSIVE.
HE WAS CONTROLLING. HE WAS MANIPULATIVE.
Narrator: SHE SAYS WHEN IT GOT BAD,
SHE STARTED TO REFUSE TO OBEY HIS ORDERS,
MAKING HIM INCREASINGLY FURIOUS
UNTIL THAT NIGHT WHEN HE FINALLY SNAPPED.
Smalls: MICHAEL AND KELLY HAD BEEN FIGHTING.
Narrator: SHE SAYS HE WAS ANGRY
BECAUSE SHE WASN'T BEING ATTENTIVE ENOUGH TO HIM.
Smalls: KELLY WENT TO SLEEP ON THE COUCH THAT NIGHT.
SHE WOKE UP WITH MICHAEL
PUTTING AN EXTENSION CORD AROUND HER NECK.
IF I CAN'T CONTROL YOU, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU.
THAT'S WHAT KELLY TOLD THE POLICE HAPPENED.
Narrator: SHE SAYS SHE SOMEHOW FOUND THE STRENGTH
TO OVERPOWER HER MUCH STRONGER HUSBAND.
Smalls: THROUGH A SHEER ACT OF WILL AND DETERMINATION,
SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CORD JUST ENOUGH, FOR 10 SECONDS,
TO THE POINT WHERE MICHAEL LET GO,
AND IT WAS JUST ENOUGH TO INCAPACITATE MICHAEL.
Taylor: KELLY CLAIMS THIS WAS COMPLETE SELF-DEFENSE.
THIS WAS A KILL OR BE KILLED SITUATION,
AND SHE HAD NO CHOICE.
Narrator: BUT DETECTIVES ARE PUZZLED
BY THE PHYSICS OF HER STORY.
THE BIG QUESTION FOR POLICE WAS, HOW DID THIS PETITE WOMAN
THAT DIDN'T HAVE A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE
OVERCOME HER HUSBAND WHO WAS OVER 6 FEET?
ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES SO I CAN SEE YOUR ARMS, PLEASE.
Narrator: AND ALSO, IF SHE HAD BEEN INVOLVED
IN A VIOLENT STRUGGLE JUST HOURS EARLIER,
WHERE ARE HER BATTLE WOUNDS?
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
KELLY HAD NO BRUISES.
SHE HAD ONE LITTLE MARK ON HER WRIST,
AND SHE ALSO HAD A SCRATCH ON THE BACK OF HER NECK.
FOR SOMEONE WHO CLAIMS TO HAVE BEEN ATTACKED,
IT WAS VERY ODD THAT THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF A STRUGGLE.
Narrator: PROSECUTORS CHARGE KELLY WITH SECOND-DEGREE ***
AND HOLD HER UNTIL A GRAND JURY CAN CONVENE
AND DECIDE WHETHER THERE'S ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO GO TO TRIAL.
SEEKING TO BUILD THEIR CASE,
POLICE LOOK MORE DEEPLY INTO THE COUPLE'S PAST.
THEY LEARN THE MARRIAGE
GOT OFF TO A ROCKY START FROM THE BEGINNING.
EVEN ON THE HONEYMOON,
WHEN KELLY GOES OUT MOST NIGHTS WITHOUT MICHAEL.
HE SAID, "I HAD THE WORST TIME IN MY LIFE I EVER HAD."
I SAID, "WHY? WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT?"
HE SAYS, "BECAUSE HALF OF THE TIME, I DIDN'T SEE KELLY."
KELLY?
"I WOULD GET UP AT NIGHT, GO OUT LOOKING FOR HER,
AND I COULDN'T FIND HER."
Walsh: SHE'S ON HER HONEYMOON
AND KELLY LEAVES THE MARITAL BED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT?
TO DO WHAT? TO GO HAVE A DRINK WITH SOMEBODY?
ONE LAST DANCE? GO WALK AND SEE THE MOONLIGHT?
BY HERSELF? HMM.
THIS MAKES ME WONDER WHY SHE'S IN THIS MARRIAGE.
Narrator: WHEN THEY GET HOME FROM THE HONEYMOON,
MICHAEL'S NORMALLY HAPPY-GO-LUCKY ATTITUDE
HAS VANISHED.
MICHAEL WENT FROM THIS GIDDY, LITTLE BOY AT HIS WEDDING,
WHO FELT LIKE, "THIS IS THE MOST AMAZING TIME
I'M HAVING EVER IN LIFE"
TO "WHAT HAS HAPPENED?"
IT SEEMED LIKE SOMETHING JUST, KIND OF, LIKE, BLINDSIDED HIM.
MY MAN! HEY, MICHAEL!
LOOK AT YOU.
YOU'RE ALL WORN OUT FROM THAT HONEYMOON, AREN'T YOU?
I WISH, MAN.
WELL, SOMETHING ON THE INSIDE WAS DEFINITELY BOTHERING HIM.
HE DIDN'T JUST COME OUT AND SAY IT,
BUT, YOU KNOW, THROUGH HIS CONVERSATIONS,
HE WAS A LITTLE DEPRESSED.
Narrator: EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF HOW A NEWLYWED SHOULD FEEL.
AND AS THE WEEKS PASS, THE TENSION MOUNTS.
FRIENDS SAY THE CITY GIRL IN KELLY
MISSES THE BUSTLE OF BROOKLYN
AND FEELS LIKE A CAGED BIRD IN HER $1 MILLION LONG ISLAND HOME.
SHE OFTEN TAKES DAY TRIPS INTO THE CITY,
LEAVING HIM TO WATCH HER DAUGHTER,
BUT NEVER SAYS WHERE SHE'S GOING OR WITH WHOM.
Taylor: KELLY HAD ALL KINDS OF EXCUSES --
SHE WAS VISITING HER BROTHERS,
SHE WAS STAYING WITH FRIENDS, SHE HAD ERRANDS TO RUN.
I WOULD CALL SOMETIMES, SAY, "WHERE IS KELLY?"
"SHE'S IN BROOKLYN."
I THOUGHT, "THAT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT."
SOMETHING IS GOING ON.
Narrator: IT HITS MICHAEL HARD.
I COULD FEEL THE STRESS.
I COULD FEEL THE TENSION IN HIM BUILDING UP.
Narrator: IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE HE BREAKS,
EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY.
Aretha: MICHAEL CALLED ME AND TOLD ME, "HEY, MOM.
COULD YOU COME OUT HERE?"
I SAID, "WHAT'S THE MATTER?"
HE SAID, "I FEEL LIKE I'M HAVING A STROKE OR A HEART ATTACK."
I SAID, "WHERE IS KELLY?"
SHE'S NOT HERE. MOM, HURRY.
Narrator: HIS WORRIED MOTHER CALLS 911.
IT TURNS OUT HE HAS SUFFERED A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK,
AND EVEN IN THIS DARK HOUR,
HIS NEW BRIDE CAN'T MAKE TIME TO SEE HIM.
SHE'S TOO BUSY IN BROOKLYN DOING WHATEVER IT IS SHE'S DOING.
FIRST A HEART ATTACK, NOW A BROKEN HEART.
THIS EMOTIONLESS PERSON THAT I'VE KNOWN ALL MY LIFE
IS LOOKING LIKE HE'S READY TO CRY,
SAYING THAT HIS WIFE HAS NOT COME TO THE HOSPITAL
TO EVEN SEE ME.
SHE DOESN'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION.
Narrator: YET, MICHAEL KEEPS MAKING EXCUSES FOR HIS WIFE.
Yvette: I'M HEARING MICHAEL SAY
THAT THE REASON WHY SHE'S NOT THERE, PERHAPS,
IS BECAUSE SHE HAS NO TRANSPORTATION
FROM BROOKLYN TO LONG ISLAND.
SO, LET ME ADDRESS THAT
BY HELPING HER BUY A BRAND-NEW CAR.
YES. RIGHT IN THE TOP DRAWER THERE.
RIGHT NOW ISN'T THE TIME
TO BE MAKING BIG DECISIONS LIKE THIS.
Narrator: FROM HIS HOSPITAL BED,
HE WRITES A CHECK TO PAY FOR A BRAND-NEW MERCEDES
AND ASKS A FRIEND TO TAKE KELLY TO THE DEALERSHIP
AND PICK OUT A CAR OF HER CHOICE.
Walsh: MY HEART IS BREAKING FOR MICHAEL.
HE WANTED TO BUY HIMSELF THE ONE THING
HE'D BEEN UNABLE TO FIND -- LOVE.
IT'S OKAY.
Narrator: HE HOPES THE NEW CAR WILL BE ENOUGH
TO DRIVE HIS BRIDE BACK INTO HIS ARMS,
BUT THE PURCHASE HAS THE OPPOSITE EFFECT.
KELLY SPENDS EVEN MORE TIME AWAY, EVEN OVERNIGHT,
LEAVING MICHAEL AND HIS PARENTS TO CARE FOR HER DAUGHTER.
KELLY WOULD GO MISSING FOR PERIODS AT A TIME,
SOMETIMES A FULL DAY, SOMETIMES DAYS AT A TIME.
Yvette: ABSOLUTELY, MICHAEL SUSPECTED SOMETHING.
WHEN YOUR WIFE IS NOT COMING HOME AT NIGHT,
THE MOST LENIENT SPOUSE WILL SUSPECT SOMETHING.
AND HE DID.
HE WAS DEFINITELY VERBALIZING
THAT SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT HERE, AT ALL.
Narrator: MICHAEL SUSPECTS SHE MIGHT BE CHEATING ON HIM,
BUT HE'S NEVER BEEN A QUITTER,
AND HE WON'T BE ONE NOW WITH HIS MARRIAGE.
HE WANTED IT TO WORK SO BAD
UNTIL HE WAS GOING TO GO AND TRY IT AGAIN,
AND PROBABLY EVERYTHING WOULD WORK OUT ALL RIGHT.
IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, THEN GO AHEAD AND DO IT.
BUT YOU'RE MAKING A MISTAKE.
Narrator: IN FACT, HIS WORST FEARS ARE RIGHT ON TARGET.
THE NEW BRIDE TELLS FRIENDS SHE'S BEEN HAVING AN AFFAIR...
HEY.
...WITH A YOUNG BROOKLYN HUNK SHE MET ONLINE.
Taylor: AROUND THE TIME THEY WERE MARRIED,
KELLY HAD CREATED AN ONLINE DATING PROFILE
CALLED SEXY TRINI.
MICHAEL HAD NO IDEA THAT HIS WIFE
WAS NOW ONLINE SOLICITING DATES AND MEN.
Narrator: POLICE WONDER IF KELLY FOUND LOVE OUTSIDE THE MARRIAGE,
AND IF MICHAEL REALLY WAS ABUSIVE, WHY HAD SHE STAYED?
AS DETECTIVES DIG IN, THEY FIND NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT HER STORY
OF BEING VICTIMIZED.
Taylor: IN THOSE EIGHT WEEKS THEY WERE MARRIED,
THERE WAS NOT ONE CALL TO POLICE.
THERE WAS NOT ONE POLICE REPORT.
THERE WAS NO ONE THAT COULD SUBSTANTIATE KELLY'S CLAIMS
THAT MICHAEL HAD BECOME PHYSICALLY ABUSIVE --
NOT THE POLICE, NOT HER FRIENDS, NOT FAMILY.
IT WAS KELLY'S WORD AGAINST MICHAEL'S.
THERE WAS NO INDICATION
THAT THERE WAS EVER ANY DOMESTIC ABUSE
THROUGHOUT THE RELATIONSHIP.
THE MOTIVE THAT SHE'S GIVING THE POLICE DOESN'T STICK.
Narrator: AND PROSECUTORS DON'T FIND HER SELF-DEFENSE CLAIM
REMOTELY CREDIBLE.
THE GRAND JURY CONVENES AND REVIEWS THE EVIDENCE.
THE PROSECUTION IS CONFIDENT. THEIR CASE IS STRONG.
BUT THERE'S ONE MORE STUNNING TWIST IN THIS TRAGIC TALE.
KELLY'S INDICTMENT FOR MICHAEL'S *** GETS THROWN OUT.
THE GRAND JURY DISMISSED THE *** COUNT.
THEY FOUND THAT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
TO CHARGE KELLY WITH ***.
IN ESSENCE, THE GRAND JURY BELIEVED HER STORY.
Narrator: ON NOVEMBER 27, 2007, SHE IS RELEASED, A FREE WOMAN.
FOR MICHAEL'S LOVED ONES,
IT'S AN INCONCEIVABLE OUTCOME AND A CRUSHING BLOW.
AND I WAS SAYING TO MYSELF, "ARE YOU SERIOUS?
NO. ARE YOU SERIOUS?"
Narrator: DID KELLY FORBES
JUST GET AWAY WITH KILLING HER HUSBAND?
Narrator: ALTHOUGH KELLY FORBES CONFESSED
TO STRANGLING HER HUSBAND, MICHAEL,
A GRAND JURY DOESN'T THINK IT WAS ***.
THE GRAND JURY BELIEVED THAT KELLY ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE,
AND SHE DID NOT INTEND TO KILL MICHAEL FORBES.
Narrator: SHE'S A FREE WOMAN FOR NOW,
BUT PROSECUTORS HAVEN'T GIVEN UP.
THEY'RE DETERMINED TO FIND MORE EVIDENCE
AND GET HER BACK IN COURT ON NEW CHARGES THAT WILL STICK.
FIRST, THEY NEED TO PROVE HOW SUCH A SMALL WOMAN
COULD HAVE OVERPOWERED HER SEEMINGLY STRONGER HUSBAND.
THEY GET A BOOST FROM MICHAEL'S TOXICOLOGY REPORT,
WHICH REFERENCES HIS RECENT HEART ATTACK
AND THE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS HE'D BEEN TAKING EVER SINCE.
Taylor: HE WAS ON AN ARRAY OF MEDICATIONS.
HE WAS HALF THE MAN THAT YOU SAW IN FRONT OF YOU.
HE WAS WEAK, HE WAS VULNERABLE,
AND HE WAS CERTAINLY COMPROMISED ENOUGH
THAT SOMEONE OF KELLY'S SIZE COULD EASILY OVERCOME
AND OVERTAKE HIM TO COMMIT THIS CRIME.
Narrator: DETECTIVES ALSO DETAILED THE TIMELINE
OF THAT FATEFUL MORNING AND UNCOVERED THE FACT
THAT KELLY HAD CONTACTED HER LOVER BEFORE CALLING 911.
Taylor: THERE WERE A SERIES OF TEXT MESSAGES.
AND KELLY ACTUALLY ADMITS
THAT SHE DOESN'T THINK THAT MICHAEL IS ALIVE,
THAT HE IS ON THE FLOOR, AND HE'S NOT BREATHING.
AND KELLY'S LOVER TELLS HER TO DIAL 911.
KELLY WAITED A FULL 30 MINUTES
BETWEEN THE TIME SHE PLACED THAT DISTRESSED TEXT TO HER LOVER
AND WHEN SHE PICKED UP THE PHONE TO CALL 911 FOR MICHAEL.
IT WAS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT KELLY DID NOT DO EVERYTHING SHE COULD
TO SAVE HER HUSBAND THAT MORNING.
MAYBE IN THOSE 30 MINUTES SHE WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A PLAN,
MAYBE, AN ESCAPE PLAN.
MAYBE SHE WAS TRYING TO GET HER STORY STRAIGHT, YOU KNOW.
WHAT DOES SHE TELL AUTHORITIES WHEN THEY ARRIVE?
Narrator: AND WHEN DETECTIVES INTERROGATE KELLY'S LOVER,
HE CONFIRMS HER ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE ARE LIES.
Taylor: HE TOLD THEM
THAT NOT ONLY HAD HE SEEN KELLY NAKED QUITE A BIT
IN THESE EIGHT WEEKS SINCE SHE'S BEEN MARRIED,
SHE NEVER HAD ANY BRUISES, SHE NEVER HAD ANY MARKS,
BUT SHE HAD ALSO NEVER MENTIONED
MICHAEL BEING EVEN THE SLIGHTEST BIT ABUSIVE TO HER.
Narrator: IT'S EXACTLY THE TESTIMONY THEY NEED.
THE PROSECUTORS WERE CONFIDENT,
IN LIGHT OF KELLY'S LOVER'S STATEMENT
COMBINED WITH MICHAEL'S COMPROMISED HEALTH STATE,
THEY HAD WHAT THEY NEEDED TO SECURE AN INDICTMENT.
Narrator: ARMED WITH THE NEW EVIDENCE,
PROSECUTORS TAKE THE CASE BACK TO THE GRAND JURY
ASKING FOR AN INDICTMENT ON A NEW CHARGE,
FIRST-DEGREE MANSLAUGHTER,
SINCE THEY CAN'T INDICT FOR *** A SECOND TIME.
IT'S A LESSER CHARGE, BUT STILL INDICATES INTENT TO KILL.
THIS TIME, THE GRAND JURY DOES INDICT HER,
AND KELLY FORBES GOES TO TRIAL IN MAY 2008.
PROSECUTORS COULD GO INTO COURT AND REALLY CONFIDENTLY PORTRAY
KELLY WAS NOT WHAT SHE WAS CLAIMING.
THIS WAS NOT A MEEK WOMAN THAT WAS BEING ABUSED,
THAT SORT OF HAD NO VOICE AND WAS JUST DEFENDING HERSELF.
IT WAS QUITE THE OPPOSITE. SHE WANTED HIM GONE.
Narrator: KELLY'S DEFENSE TEAM MAINTAINS
SHE ONLY KILLED MICHAEL TO PROTECT HERSELF.
THIS WASN'T A PLAN.
KELLY DIDN'T GO TO BED THAT NIGHT AND SAY, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
"I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO KILL MICHAEL
WHILE MY DAUGHTER IS SLEEPING IN THE NEXT ROOM."
NO, THIS WASN'T A PLAN. THIS WAS SURVIVAL INSTINCT.
Narrator: BUT PROSECUTORS DISAGREE.
THEY ARGUE KELLY STRUCK AND TOOK HIM BY SURPRISE
WHEN SHE KNEW HE WAS VULNERABLE.
THE FAMILY BELIEVES HER MOTIVE WAS SIMPLE.
BY GETTING RID OF HIM AND CLAIMING SELF-DEFENSE,
SHE COULD HAVE A LIFE WITH HER YOUNG LOVER
AND INHERIT ALL THE PERKS
THAT CAME WITH BEING MARRIED TO MICHAEL.
SHE MAY HAVE THOUGHT
THAT SHE CAN, YOU KNOW, INHERIT HIS HOUSE,
INHERIT HIS RICHES, INHERIT HIS BUSINESS SOMEHOW.
IT WAS A POOR PLAN THAT WASN'T THOUGHT THROUGH.
IT JUST CRUMBLED UP FOR HER.
Aretha: HER BIG PLAN WAS GREED.
THAT WAS THE WHOLE THING FROM THE BEGINNING --
THAT SHE DECIDED TO DO THAT, TO TAKE WHATEVER HE HAD.
Narrator: IRONICALLY, WHAT KELLY DIDN'T KNOW
IS THAT SHE WOULD NEVER SEE A PENNY OF MICHAEL'S MONEY.
HE HAD WISELY PLACED
ALL OF HIS PROPERTY, INVESTMENTS, AND BANK ACCOUNTS
IN HIS PARENTS' NAMES.
IT TURNED OUT WHAT HE HAD WAS NOT IN HIS NAME.
IT WAS IN OUR NAME.
SO, SHE CAN'T TOUCH IT.
AS MUCH AS HE WAS TRYING TO GET KELLY TO LOVE HIM --
BY GIVING HER ANYTHING FOR THE LAVISH WEDDING,
BY BUYING HER A CAR WHEN HE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL --
ON SOME LEVEL, HE KNEW SHE COULDN'T LOVE.
IN THE END, THE JOKE WAS ON HER.
I MEAN, SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS GONNA COME INTO MONEY,
BUT THERE WAS NO MONEY IN THE END.
Narrator: AFTER THREE WEEKS OF TESTIMONY,
THE JURY TAKES JUST FOUR HOURS TO REACH A VERDICT.
THEY FIND HER GUILTY.
THEY SENTENCE KELLY FORBES TO 21 YEARS IN PRISON.
SHE WAS THE QUINTESSENTIAL GOLD DIGGER.
SHE HAD FOUND A MAN TO GIVE HER WHAT SHE WANTED.
BUT WHEN SHE GOT IT, SHE NO LONGER WANTED THE MAN.
THIS WAS A TRAGIC CASE FROM BEGINNING TO END.
IT'S ALWAYS TRAGIC WHEN SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE.
HER DAUGHTER HAS TO GROW UP KNOWING THAT MOMMY KILLED A MAN.
Narrator: MICHAEL'S FAMILY IS LEFT WITH ONLY THEIR MEMORIES
OF THE MAN THEY LOVED SO MUCH.
Willie: THERE'S NOT A DAY THAT PASSES
THAT I DON'T THINK ABOUT MICHAEL,
OR ALL DAY SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW.
Aretha: THERE IS AN OLD SAYING --
AS LONG AS YOU CAN CALL A PERSON'S NAME,
THEY ARE STILL ALIVE.
WHEN YOU STOP CALLING THEIR NAME,
THEY ARE NO LONGER WITH YOU.
AND I'LL ALWAYS CALL HIS NAME.
MICHAEL WILL ALWAYS BE WITH ME.