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Narrator: ST. MICHAELS, MARYLAND --
A SEASIDE RETREAT FAMOUS FOR ITS COLONIAL CHARM.
IT'S A VERY PICTURESQUE SETTING
RIGHT IN THE HEART OF CHESAPEAKE BAY COUNTRY.
Narrator: IT'S THE KIND OF TOURIST TOWN
WHERE FOLKS COME TO ENJOY THE OCEAN VIEWS,
DINE ON FRESH SEAFOOD, OR TAKE IN A SHOW.
BUT IN 1998,
A ***-MYSTERY SHOW AT A LOCAL DINNER THEATER
WOULD SPILL FROM THE STAGE INTO REAL LIFE.
IT WAS A HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE CRIME.
Mulligan: THE PEOPLE WERE TAKEN ABACK THAT A CRIME LIKE THIS
OCCURRED IN THEIR BACKYARD.
IT WAS JUST LIKE "WOW," YOU KNOW?
IF IT CAN HAPPEN HERE, IT CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE.
Narrator: THE INVESTIGATION WOULD PLUNGE
THIS QUIET, SEASIDE VILLAGE INTO AN ABYSS OF SCANDAL AND SIN
AND LEAVE EVERYONE WONDERING
IF THE KILLER HAD EXITED STAGE LEFT
AND FLED ST. MICHAELS FOR GOOD,
OR WERE THEY WAITING IN THE WINGS
JUST DYING TO GIVE AN ENCORE PERFORMANCE?
Guy: THERE ARE OCCASIONAL ISSUES FOR THE POLICE TO DEAL WITH
BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS.
THIS WAS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT SITUATION.
Narrator: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS...
[ SIREN WAILS ]
...BEYOND THE HEADLINES...
EVERY CITY HAS A DARK SIDE.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
VALENTINE'S DAY 1998 --
THE MOST ROMANTIC NIGHT OF THE YEAR.
ALL OVER THE SEASIDE ENCLAVE OF ST. MICHAELS,
COUPLES ARE ENJOYING CANDLELIT DINNERS,
STROLLING ON THE BOARDWALK,
OR CURLING UP BY THE FIRE IN COZY, BAY-VIEW B&Bs.
AT ONE POPULAR BAYSIDE RESORT,
A ***-MYSTERY STAGE SHOW HAS JUST HAD ITS CURTAIN CALL,
BUT NO SOONER HAD THE AUDIENCE LEFT THE THEATER
THAN A WOMAN APPROACHES THE RESORT'S FRONT DESK
IN A STATE OF PANIC.
PLEASE HELP ME!
OH, MY GOD!
THE RESORT'S MANAGER CALLS 911.
I HAVE A FIRE TO REPORT -- HARBOURTOWNE RESORT.
HURRY, PLEASE!
THEN SHE AND A STAFF MEMBER RUSH TOWARD THE HOTEL SUITE.
ITS COMPLETELY CONSUMED BY SMOKE.
THE WOMAN WHO'D INFORMED THEM IT WAS ON FIRE...
WHERE'D SHE GO?
...IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.
Man: I DON'T KNOW.
WHEN I TURNED AROUND...
SHE WAS GONE.
THE TWO EMPLOYEES CAN THINK OF ONLY ONE THING TO DO.
THEY ACTUALLY WENT INTO THE SMOKY ROOM.
Narrator: LITTLE DID THESE BRAVE HOTEL STAFFERS KNOW
THAT BEHIND THE THICK WALL OF SMOKE
LAY A SMOLDERING TALE OF *** AND BETRAYAL,
AND THE STORY OF A ROMANTIC GETAWAY
THAT, FOR ONE UNSUSPECTING TOURIST,
BECAME A PERMANENT VACATION.
Hartness: IT WAS JUST LIKE "WOW."
IF IT CAN HAPPEN HERE, IT CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE.
Narrator: PERCHED ON THE SHORES OF CHESAPEAKE BAY,
JUST A STONE'S THRONE FROM THE NATION'S CAPITAL,
ST. MICHAELS IS A QUAINT FISHING VILLAGE THAT FEELS LOST IN TIME.
Lesher: IT'S A CHARMING LITTLE TOWN.
IT'S GOT GREAT ARCHITECTURE,
IT'S GOT A WONDERFUL, LITTLE, WALKABLE SHOPPING DISTRICT
ALONG THE MAIN STREET,
AND IT'S GOT THIS FABULOUS HARBOR.
Hartness: BOATING, CRABBING, FISHING --
THE WATER AND ACTIVITIES RELATING TO THE WATER
ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE IN ST. MICHAELS.
Narrator: BUT THERE'S ONE INDUSTRY IN ST. MICHAELS
THAT RAKES IN THE CASH LIKE NO OTHER -- REAL ESTATE.
Gamble: OUR COUNTY HAS ABOUT 900 MILES OF SHORELINE,
WHICH IS THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF SHORELINE OF ANY COUNTY
IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES.
SO THAT DRAWS A LOT OF PEOPLE TO BUY SECOND HOMES --
WATERFRONT HOMES.
Narrator: AND THANKS TO ITS PROXIMITY TO D.C.,
A GOOD PORTION OF THOSE WATERFRONT HOMES
ARE OWNED BY THE BIGGEST OF THE NATION'S POLITICAL BIGWIGS.
FORMER VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY AND SECRETARY OF DEFENSE RUMSFELD
ARE PROBABLY SOME OF THE MOST NOTEWORTHY.
Narrator: DESPITE THE PROLIFERATION
OF VACATIONING D.C. FAT CATS,
BIG CITY TRAPPINGS LIKE TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND CARPOOL LANES
ARE STILL FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.
IT'S PRECISELY THAT LACK OF URBAN HUSTLE AND BUSTLE
THAT MAKES ST. MICHAELS
ONE OF THE EAST COAST'S MOST ATTRACTIVE DESTINATIONS.
SADLY, FOR ONE VACATIONING COUPLE,
THEIR WEEKEND EXCURSION IN ST. MICHAELS
WAS ABOUT TO GO UP IN SMOKE.
IT STARTED LATE ONE VALENTINE'S DAY,
WHEN AT THE CONCLUSION
OF A LOCAL DINNER-THEATER PERFORMANCE,
A WOMAN CAME STORMING INTO THE OFFICE
OF THE QUAINT HARBOURTOWNE RESORT SCREAMING FOR HELP.
SHE'D ENTERED THE LOBBY AND SAID THAT HER ROOM WAS ON FIRE.
Narrator: AFTER CALLING 911,
A MANAGER AND A CLERK RUSHED TO THE HOTEL SUITE,
WHERE THEY FOUND IT ENGULFED IN SMOKE.
BUT THERE WAS NO TRACE OF THE WOMAN
WHO REPORTED THE FIRE JUST MOMENTS EARLIER.
Woman: DO YOU THINK SHE WENT IN?
I DON'T KNOW!
SHE WAS BEHIND ME, AND SHE JUST DISAPPEARED!
FEARING THE WOMAN HAD ENTERED THE SUITE TO RETRIEVE VALUABLES,
THE MANAGER PEERS THROUGH THE GLASS
AND MAKES OUT A PAIR OF HUMAN FEET LYING ON THE FLOOR.
THERE'S SOMEBODY IN THERE!
THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW FOR SURE
THAT THE VICTIM WAS ALIVE OR NOT.
Narrator: RISKING THEIR OWN SAFETY, THEY ENTERED THE SUITE.
THEY ACTUALLY WENT INTO THE SMOKY ROOM -- FIRE ROOM.
[ COUGHS ]
Narrator: THE STAFF MEMBERS MADE A VALIANT EFFORT
TO RESCUE THE VICTIM.
BUT THE SMOKE ULTIMATELY FORCED THEM OUT OF THE ROOM.
THE VICTIM ENDED UP BEING HALFWAY IN AND HALFWAY OUT.
BY THAT TIME, POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS
HAD ARRIVED ON THE SCENE,
ALONG WITH SEVERAL OF THE HOTEL'S OTHER GUESTS.
THERE WAS A BIG CROWD. EVERYBODY HEARD THE COMMOTION --
GUESTS OF THE FACILITY WERE OUT MILLING AROUND.
FOLKS, WE NEED TO OPEN THIS UP HERE AND MAKE A HOLE
FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO GET THROUGH, PLEASE.
Narrator: AS FIRST RESPONDERS APPROACHED THE ROOM,
THEY COULD SEE THAT THE FIRE HAD ALREADY BURNED ITSELF OUT.
ONE GLANCE AT THE VICTIM'S STILL-SMOLDERING BODY
TOLD THEM THERE WAS NO NEED TO CALL IN PARAMEDICS.
HE WAS BURNED FROM PRETTY MUCH HIS WAIST UP,
INCLUDING HIS HEAD AND HIS ARMS, AND HE WAS CLEARLY DECEASED.
Narrator: IT LOOKED LIKE THIS RESORT'S ***-MYSTERY WEEKEND
HAD GIVEN WAY TO A REAL-LIFE TRAGEDY.
UNFORTUNATELY, BURNS TO THE VICTIM'S FACE
MADE HIM UNRECOGNIZABLE.
BUT IN SPEAKING WITH THE HARBOURTOWNE RESORT STAFF,
POLICE LEARNED THE ROOM HAD BEEN RENTED
TO A MR. AND MRS. STEVE AND KIM HRICKO.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE HIM FOR ME, PLEASE?
HE WAS PROBABLY LIKE 6'3"-6'4".
THE DESCRIPTION OF STEVE HRICKO
SUGGESTED IT WAS HE WHO PERISHED IN THE FIRE.
STEVE WAS THIS BIG, HUGE, BURLY KIND OF GUY,
AND HE WAS PROBABLY ABOUT 230-240 POUNDS OF SOLID MUSCLE.
Narrator: BUT IF THIS WAS STEVE HRICKO, WHERE WAS HIS WIFE, KIM?
ACCORDING TO HOTEL MANAGEMENT, THE LAST TIME THEY SAW KIM
WAS WHEN SHE RAN SCREAMING INTO THE HALL LOBBY
AND ALERTED THEM THAT HER ROOM WAS ON FIRE.
BUT IN THE BEDLAM THAT ENSUED, THEY LOST CONTACT WITH HER.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHERE SHE MIGHT HAVE GONE?
I GOT NO IDEA.
WHAT HAPPENED? WAS SHE IN THE ROOM?
DID SHE ESCAPE THE FIRE?
Narrator: FIRST RESPONDERS SEARCH THE SMOKING RUINS
OF THE HRICKO'S HOTEL SUITE...
LIEUTENANT, THERE'S NO ONE ELSE IN HERE.
Narrator: ...BUT FOUND NO TRACE OF A SECOND BODY.
YOU'RE SURE?
Firefighter: POSITIVE.
Narrator: ALSO ABSENT WAS A CLEAR SIGN
OF WHAT TRIGGERED THE BLAZE,
WHICH GOT INVESTIGATORS WONDERING
IF THE FIRE HAD BEEN STARTED BY ACCIDENT.
COULD I HAVE HAD AN ELECTRICAL FAULT HERE?
COULD IT HAVE BEEN A CANDLE, MAYBE, THAT WAS LEFT BURNING?
Narrator: BUT AN EXAMINATION OF THE ROOM
REVEALED NO SIGNS OF FAULTY OUTLETS
OR SMOLDERING BEDSIDE CANDLES.
ALL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ARE STILL INTACT.
Guy: THERE WAS NEVER ANY PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
THAT SHOWED WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE.
Narrator: AS FIREFIGHTERS CONTINUED SEARCHING THE ROOM
FOR CLUES ABOUT WHAT STARTED THE BLAZE,
DETECTIVES TURNED THEIR ATTENTION TO FINDING KIM HRICKO.
SO I WANT YOU TO SCOUR EVERY INCH OF THIS PROPERTY.
WE'RE NOT LEAVING TONIGHT UNTIL WE FIND HER.
Narrator: WHEN THEY FINALLY TRACK MRS. HRICKO DOWN,
SHE WOULD SHED NEW LIGHT ON WHAT HAPPENED IN THE HOTEL SUITE
AND LEAVE EVERYONE WONDERING IF THE RESORT'S ***-MYSTERY SHOW
HAD MERELY BEEN THE OPENING ACT
TO A FAR MORE SINISTER PERFORMANCE --
ONE THE SLEEPY,
BAYSIDE TOWN OF ST. MICHAELS HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
Narrator: AFTERNOONS IN ST. MICHAELS ARE USUALLY MARKED
BY THE QUIET LAPPING OF THE CHESAPEAKE SURF
AND THE SOOTHING BREEZE BLOWING IN FROM THE BAY.
BUT ONE VALENTINE'S DAY EVENING A FEW YEARS BACK,
THAT PEACE AND QUIET
WAS PIERCED BY THE WAIL OF FIRE-TRUCK SIRENS.
FOLLOWING THE DEBUT OF A ***-MYSTERY SHOW
AT HARBOURTOWNE RESORT,
ONE OF THE SUITES AT THIS BAYSIDE B&B
HAD BURST UNTO FLAMES,
AND GUEST STEPHEN HRICKO PERISHED IN THE FIRE.
AS FOR STEVE'S WIFE, KIM,
SHE VANISHED AFTER ALERTING THE HOTEL STAFF TO THE BLAZE.
BUT AFTER KNOCKING ON NEARLY EVERY DOOR IN THE RESORT...
WE'RE LOOKING FOR A KIMBERLY HRICKO.
POLICE FINALLY FOUND KIM SITTING INSIDE
ANOTHER OF THE HOTEL'S BAYSIDE SUITES.
Hartness: APPARENTLY, SOME WELL-MEANING GUESTS
TOOK THE WIFE INTO THEIR ROOM
TO GIVE HER A COMFORTABLE PLACE TO SIT AND WAIT
AWAY FROM ALL THE HULLABALOO THAT WAS GOING ON
AT THE ACTUAL SCENE.
Narrator: KIM WAS JUSTIFIABLY SHELL-SHOCKED BY THE FIRE,
AND WHEN OFFICERS BROKE THE NEWS OF STEVE'S DEATH TO HER...
MA'AM, I'M SORRY TO HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS,
BUT YOUR HUSBAND DID NOT SURVIVE THE FIRE.
...IT SEEMED TO BE ALL SHE COULD BEAR.
SHE JUST IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO THAT QUIET SORT OF CRYING MODE.
Narrator: KIM'S REACTION WAS UNDERSTANDABLE.
SHE'D JUST LOST HER HUSBAND AND PARTNER OF MORE THAN 10 YEARS.
TOGETHER SINCE COLLEGE,
STEVE AND KIM HAD BEEN FIRST PAIRED TOGETHER
BY MUTUAL FRIENDS
WHO WERE TRYING TO GET THE SHY STEVE HRICKO
TO COME OUT OF HIS SHELL.
HE WANTED TO STAY HOME, WATCH TELEVISION, NOT GO OUT.
Narrator: STEVE WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WHO WAS A BIT GUN-SHY
WHEN IT CAME TO ROMANCE.
KIM WAS A DEMUR, YOUNG WAITRESS
WHO'D ALL BUT GIVEN UP ON FINDING MR. RIGHT.
Mike: WE THOUGHT, WELL, YOU KNOW,
WHY DON'T WE GET KIM AND STEVE TOGETHER AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS?
THEY KIND OF JUST HIT THINGS OFF,
AND HE FELL HEAD OVER HEELS OVER HER.
THEY HAD A REALLY GOOD TIME,
AND IT WAS KIND OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
Narrator: AFTER GRADUATING COLLEGE,
STEVE AND KIM TIED THE KNOT.
THEY EVENTUALLY SETTLED INTO A COZY HOME
IN THE WASHINGTON D.C. SUBURB OF LAUREL, MARYLAND...
OKAY! BREAKFAST!
...AND WITHIN A YEAR...
HEY, HONEY. GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING, DADDY.
Narrator: ...THEY WELCOMED THEIR FIRST CHILD,
A DAUGHTER NAMED ANNA.
IN ADDITION TO RAISING ANNA,
BOTH STEVE AND KIM'S PLATES WERE PRETTY FULL.
BOTH WORKED LONG HOURS -- KIM AS A SURGICAL TECHNICIAN
AND STEVE AS A GREENSKEEPER AT A LOCAL GOLF COURSE.
IN FACT, KIM AND STEVE WERE SO BUSY,
IT SOMETIMES SEEMED
THEY WERE LEFT WITH LITTLE TIME FOR EACH OTHER.
ARE YOU PICKING UP ANNA TONIGHT?
NO, TODAY'S YOUR TURN.
I CAN'T.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY.
I KNOW, BUT I GOT TO WORK LATE.
AGAIN.
FINE. WHATEVER.
I'M --
FINISH UP, ANNA.
I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF ANXIETY
IN FINDING THE WORK-LIFE BALANCE THAT KIM WAS REQUESTING,
AND I THINK IT STARTED CAUSING
SOME DEPRESSION ISSUES FOR STEVE.
STEVE WAS HAVING MENTAL ISSUES WHERE HE WAS TAKING MEDICATION.
IT'S GONNA CAUSE STRESS.
IT'S GONNA CAUSE PROBLEMS
THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN A MARRIAGE.
Narrator: PROBLEMS THAT STEVE HOPED COULD BE PATCHED
BY A RELAXING WEEKEND AWAY FOR JUST HIM AND KIM,
WHICH IS WHAT ULTIMATELY LED THE COUPLE
TO BEAUTIFUL ST. MICHAELS, MARYLAND,
THAT VALENTINE'S WEEKEND.
STEVE HAD GOTTEN THE IDEA
FOR THE TRIP FROM HIS FRIEND, MIKE MILLER,
WHO WORKED AT HARBOURTOWNE RESORT.
HE KIND OF WANTED TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL
TO TRY TO REKINDLE THAT FLAME IN THE RELATIONSHIP.
OH, THIS IS NICE.
IT IS NICE.
I SAID, "WELL, WE GOT THIS THING
"GOING ON DOWN HERE AT THE HOTEL --
THE ***-MYSTERY WEEKEND."
THE BROCHURE FOR THAT DINNER MIKE WAS TELLING US ABOUT.
OH, YEAH!
IT WAS AN INVOLVEMENT WITH THE GUESTS AT HARBOURTOWNE
TO FIGURE OUT,
BASED OFF OF THE ACTING OF THE PLAY DURING THE DINNER,
WHO COMMITTED THE ***.
Narrator: SADLY, FOR THE HRICKOS,
THE FUN AND GAMES OF THE HOTEL'S ***-MYSTERY SHOW
HAD NOW BEEN REPLACED BY THE REAL-LIFE MYSTERY
OF STEVE HRICKO'S FIERY DEATH.
BUT WHAT, EXACTLY, HAD CAUSED THE BLAZE?
WITH THE CRIME SCENE STILL BEING PROCESSED,
INVESTIGATORS TURNED TO KIM HRICKO FOR ANSWERS.
NOW, I KNOW THIS IS DIFFICULT,
BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS.
OF COURSE. WHATEVER YOU NEED.
ACCORDING TO KIM, IT STARTED EARLIER THAT NIGHT
WHEN THE COUPLE ATTENDED THE RESORT'S ***-MYSTERY SHOW.
BUCKY, MY DEAR BOY, YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND.
THE PLOT OF THE STORY WAS A COUPLE BEING MARRIED,
AND THE GROOM PASSED AWAY AT THE WEDDING RECEPTION.
I'LL DRINK TO THAT.
THAT'S SO SWEET.
Narrator: IN THE SHOW, THE GROOM ENDED UP BEING POISONED
BY A WEDDING GUEST,
A PLOT KIM SAID SHE AND STEVE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED FIGURING OUT
AS THEY WATCHED THE PRODUCTION.
AFTER THE SHOW WAS OVER,
KIM AND STEVE HEADED BACK TO THEIR HOTEL SUITE.
ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO BED.
YEAH, NOW.
KIM WAS READY TO HIT THE HAY.
I'M TIRED.
BUT STEVE HAD SOMETHING ELSE ON HIS MIND.
HONEY, IT'S STILL EARLY.
COME ON.
THEY WENT BACK TO THE ROOM.
KIM TELLS INVESTIGATORS THAT STEPHEN WANTS TO HAVE SEX.
HONEY, IT'S VALENTINE'S DAY.
STOP.
Narrator: KIM CLAIMS SHE HADN'T BEEN IN THE MOOD FOR LOVIN',
BUT STEVE HADN'T WANTED TO TAKE "NO" FOR AN ANSWER.
STEVE, STOP.
STOP!
HE WAS INTERESTED, AND SHE WASN'T, AND THEY ARGUED.
SWEETHEART, IT'S VALENTINE'S DAY.
STEVE, STOP.
Narrator: ACCORDING TO KIM,
THEIR LITTLE ARGUMENT QUICKLY ESCALATED
INTO A FULL-ON SHOUTING MATCH...
GOD, STEVE, YOU CAN BE SUCH A JERK.
ME? I'M THE JERK?
YOU'RE ALWAYS THE ONE PUSHING ME AWAY.
I DON'T BELIEVE THIS.
THAT'S RIGHT.
IT'S ALWAYS MY FAULT, ISN'T IT?
...AN ARGUMENT THAT ONLY ENDED
WHEN KIM STORMED OUT OF THE HOTEL SUITE.
YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M DONE.
I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE.
I'M GOING TO MIKE AND MAUREEN'S.
HONEY, COME HERE, PLEASE.
HONEY!
Hartness: SHE WAS SUFFICIENTLY ANGRY THAT SHE LEFT,
AND SHE SAID THAT SHE GOT IN THE CAR
AND DROVE TOWARDS EASTON TO SEE A FRIEND.
Narrator: KIM SAID SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO FIND HER WAY
TO THE HOME OF OLD PALS MIKE AND MAUREEN MILLER,
BUT NAVIGATING ST. MICHAELS DIMLY-LIT ROADS
PROVED TOO DIFFICULT, AND KIM TURNED BACK TOWARD THE RESORT.
WHEN SHE RETURNED,
SHE FOUND THE FRONT DOOR HANDLE OF THEIR SUITE
SCALDING TO THE TOUCH
AND TENDRILS OF SMOKE RISING FROM THE THRESHOLD.
Gamble: SHE WENT AROUND TO THE REAR DOOR.
SHE OPENS THE DOOR.
THE ROOM'S FULLY ENGULFED IN SMOKE.
SHE THEN WENT TO THE FRONT DESK, WHICH IS SOME DISTANCE AWAY
AND NOTIFIED PEOPLE AT THE FRONT DESK
THAT THERE WAS A FIRE IN HER ROOM.
Narrator: KIM'S STATEMENT DEFINITELY SHED LIGHT
ON THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FIRE,
BUT IT DIDN'T SHED ANY NEW LIGHT ON WHAT CAUSED IT.
THAT'S WHEN POLICE RECEIVED WORD OF A NEW CLUE
FIRE MARSHALS HAD JUST FOUND
BURIED IN THE ASHES ON THE HOTEL-ROOM FLOOR.
LIEUTENANT, IT LOOKS LIKE WE GOT SOMETHING HERE.
Man: WHAT YOU GOT?
IT'S A PLAYBOY MAGAZINE OPENED TO A CENTERFOLD.
Narrator: BUT THE MAGAZINE WASN'T ALL THE FIREMEN FOUND.
THERE WERE SOME BEER CANS LOCATED IN THE SINK AREA
AND IN THE TRASH CAN.
Narrator: THE EMPTY BEER CANS AND THE NUDIE MAG
COMBINED WITH KIM'S ACCOUNT OF THEIR FIGHT
GAVE POLICE A PRETTY CLEAR IDEA OF HOW STEVE SPENT HIS EVENING
ONCE KIM STORMED OUT OF THE ROOM.
Gamble: SHE SAYS SHE'S LEAVING.
HE WHIPS OUT THE PLAYBOY BOOK, MASTURBATES, PROBABLY,
LOOKING AT THIS PLAYBOY BOOK
BECAUSE SHE SAID THAT HE WANTED TO HAVE SEX AND SHE DIDN'T.
Narrator: IT WAS A THEORY THAT WAS BOLSTERED
BY ANOTHER DISCOVERY
INVESTIGATORS MADE ON THE BURNED-OUT BEDSPREAD.
WHEN WE WERE LOOKING BEHIND THE PILLOW,
WE DISCOVERED A PACK OF BACKWOODS CIGARS.
Narrator: THE PACK HAD BEEN OPEN AND ONE OF THE CIGARS MISSING.
KIMBERLY HRICKO TELLS US
THAT HER HUSBAND MUST HAVE BROUGHT THESE CIGARS WITH HIM.
Narrator: TO COPS, IT SEEMED THAT AFTER A LITTLE PLAYTIME,
STEVE TREATED HIMSELF TO A SIX-PACK AND A STOGIE
BUT MADE THE FATAL MISTAKE OF DOZING OFF
WHILE THE CIGAR WAS STILL IT.
IT APPEARED AS IF THIS FIRE MIGHT HAVE STARTED
BECAUSE OF A SMOKING ACCIDENT.
Narrator: IF INVESTIGATORS' THEORY WAS CORRECT,
THEN THE CASE OF STEVE HRICKO'S DEATH SEEMED CLOSED,
BUT NEW EVIDENCE WOULD SOON SURFACE --
EVIDENCE THAT WOULD PROVE
EVERYTHING POLICE SUSPECTED ABOUT HIS DEATH WAS WRONG --
EVIDENCE THAT WOULD SUGGEST
THE HARBOURTOWNE RESORT'S ***-MYSTERY PROGRAM
WAS LESS OF A THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE
AND MORE OF A HOW-TO GUIDE FOR COMMITTING THE PERFECT CRIME.
Narrator: WHILE ST. MICHAELS IS A HAVEN
FOR BELTWAY CELEBRITIES AND WASHINGTON BIGWIGS,
THE SEAPORT VILLAGE ISN'T EXACTLY A BEACON OF WORLD NEWS.
AROUND HERE, A BIG STORY IS A GOOD HAUL OF BLUE CRABS
DOWN AT THE HARBOR
OR THE RAVE REVIEWS FOR THE ***-MYSTERY SHOW
DOWN AT HARBOURTOWNE RESORT.
BUT ON VALENTINE'S DAY 1998,
THE RESORT'S ***-MYSTERY WEEKEND
HAS GIVEN WAY TO A REAL-LIFE TRAGEDY --
A FATAL HOTEL FIRE
THAT HAD CLAIMED THE LIFE OF STEVE HRICKO.
Gamble: EVERY DAY IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER, THE STAR DEMOCRAT,
WERE STORIES AND PEOPLE BEING INTERVIEWED BY REPORTERS
WHO WERE SPECULATING ABOUT THE ***-MYSTERY WEEKEND
AND THE FIRE, AND SO IT WAS QUITE THE CIRCUS.
Narrator: WHILE STEVE'S DEATH DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE A ***,
IT DID LOOK TO BE SOMETHING MUCH MORE PATHETIC --
THE FATAL TRIFECTA OF COLD BEER, SOFT-CORE ***,
AND A LIT CIGAR.
IT SOUNDED VERY MUCH LIKE HE MIGHT HAVE PASSED OUT
AND DROPPED A LIT TOBACCO PRODUCT,
PLACE WENT UP IN FLAMES, AND HE COULDN'T ESCAPE.
Hartness: IT PASSED FOR BIG NEWS HERE
BECAUSE THAT KIND OF THING DOESN'T HAPPEN AROUND HERE.
Narrator: IN A NEARBY ROOM,
FRIENDS WERE WITH STEVE'S WIDOW, KIM,
WHO WAS HAVING A HARD TIME COMING TO GRIPS
WITH THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND.
SO SORRY!
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
Maureen: I TRIED TO HUG HER,
AND SHE WAS LIKE A STATUE SITTING IN THE ROOM,
AND SITTING WITH HER HANDS --
HER HEAD IN HER HANDS,
AND SHE WASN'T EVEN CRYING AT THAT POINT.
SHE WAS JUST VERY STIFF AND VERY ANXIOUS AND CONFUSED.
Narrator: EQUALLY CONFUSED WAS THE COUNTY CORONER.
FOLLOWING THE FIRE,
STEVE'S BODY HAD BEEN BROUGHT TO HIS OFFICE
FOR A ROUTINE AUTOPSY,
BUT THE RESULTS DIDN'T INDICATE A CLEAR-CUT CAUSE OF DEATH.
I DID AN AUTOPSY TO EXAMINE THE LUNGS
LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE OF SOOTY MATERIAL IN THE AIRWAYS
AND DOWN INTO THE LUNGS.
THERE AS ABSOLUTELY NO SOOT IN HIS AIRWAY.
Narrator: IN FACT, STEVE'S AIRWAY AND LUNGS
WERE SO CLEAN, PINK, AND HEALTHY,
IT SUGGESTED THAT NOT ONLY HAD STEVE NOT DIED
FROM INHALING SMOKE,
HE WASN'T BREATHING AT ALL WHEN THE FIRE BROKE OUT.
Fowler: THE ABSENCE OF SOOT IN HIS BLOODSTREAM AND HIS LUNGS
WOULD THEN MAKE ME SUSPICIOUS THAT HE DIED BEFORE THE FIRE.
THAT'S THE ONLY LOGICAL CONCLUSION.
THEN WE SAID, "WELL, IF HE DOESN'T HAVE CARBON MONOXIDE
"IN HIS LUNGS
"AND HE'S A RELATIVELY HEALTHY MALE IN THE PRIME OF HIS LIFE,
HOW DID HE DIE?"
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS COULDN'T HELP
BUT THINK BACK TO THE HRICKO'S MARITAL DIFFICULTIES...
Stephen: HONEY, COME HERE!
...AND TO STEVE'S DEPRESSION.
Gamble: THE FACT THAT HE WAS DEPRESSED,
THAT THEIR MARRIAGE WAS STRUGGLING,
THAT THEY WERE THERE TO TRY TO PATCH THEIR MARRIAGE UP,
THEY'D GOTTEN IN ANOTHER ARGUMENT,
THAT SHE LEFT
WOULD THEN CERTAINLY BE THE THOUGHT
THAT STEPHEN MIGHT HAVE DID THIS TO HIMSELF.
Narrator: HAD STEVE OVERDOSED ON HIS DEPRESSION MEDS?
THE CORONER ORDERED A TOXICOLOGY REPORT.
IT REVEALED NO TRACE OF DRUGS IN STEVE'S SYSTEM.
Fowler: THERE ARE MANY POTENTIAL LETHAL SUBSTANCES,
ALTHOUGH THEY'RE NORMALLY FAIRLY EASY TO IDENTIFY
ON A TOXICOLOGICAL SCREEN,
AND THERE WERE NONE OF THOSE IDENTIFIED...
Narrator: INCLUDING THE ONE SUBSTANCE
EVERYONE WAS POSITIVE STEVE HAD INGESTED THE NIGHT HE DIED.
Fowler: ...AND HAD NO ALCOHOL IN IT.
I NOW WENT, "HANG ON A SECOND.
"THIS GENTLEMAN WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN CONSUMING ALCOHOL.
THERE WERE ALCOHOL BOTTLES LYING AROUND THE ROOM."
Narrator: THIS REVELATION LED INVESTIGATORS
TO A STARTLING THEORY.
THERE'S NO ALCOHOL IN HIS BLOOD, YET THERE'S BEER CANS THERE.
AT THAT POINT, STATE POLICE INVESTIGATORS
REALIZED THAT THIS CRIME SCENE IS NOW STAGED.
Narrator: IN ORDER TO VERIFY THEIR THEORY,
INVESTIGATORS CALLED IN A HIGHLY-TRAINED CANINE UNIT
TO REEXAMINE THE HOTEL ROOM.
MARSHAL, WE GOT SOMETHING.
Mulligan: I SAW THE DOG SIT.
I FELT LIKE HE GAVE ME A GOOD, HARD HIT,
AND THAT THERE WAS A PRESENCE
OF SOME PETROLEUM-BASED PRODUCT THERE
THAT WAS USED TO ACCELERATE THE FIRE.
Narrator: THE PRESENCE OF AN ACCELERANT
MADE IT CLEAR TO INVESTIGATORS
THEY HAD TWO CRIMES ON THEIR HANDS -- ARSON AND ***.
WE WERE NOW LOOKING AT A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION.
Narrator: TO POLICE, IT LOOKED LIKE
STEVE HRICKO HAD BEEN DISPATCHED IN AN EERILY SIMILAR FASHION
TO THE GROOM IN THE HOTEL'S ***-MYSTERY SHOW.
BUT WHY WOULD SOMEONE WANT TO KILL A GUY LIKE STEVE?
SINCE HARBOURTOWNE WAS A HIGH-END RESORT
FREQUENTED BY THE D.C. WELL-TO-DO,
THEY WONDERED IF THIEVES
COULD HAVE BEEN CASING THE HRICKO'S SUITE
AND AFTER SEEING KIM LEAVE THE ROOM, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS EMPTY.
BUT WHEN THEY BROKE IN, THEY STUMBLED UPON STEVE,
KILLED HIM IN A PANIC,
AND THEN SET THE ROOM ON FIRE TO COVER THEIR TRACKS.
WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT THIS COULD BE A ROBBERY,
AND THEY TRIED TO COVER IT UP WITH A FIRE?
WE HAVE A LOT OF PROPERTY CRIMES,
AND BY THAT, I MEAN BREAK-INS,
BREAKING AND ENTERING, OR BURGLARIES.
Narrator: BUT THE MORE THEY STUDIED IT,
THE MORE DETECTIVES BELIEVED THE FABRICATED CRIME SCENE
WAS TOO ELABORATE A PRODUCTION
TO BE STAGED BY YOUR STANDARD-ISSUE BURGLAR.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I THINK WHOEVER DID THIS WANTED STEPHEN HRICKO DEAD
AND THEY WANTED TO HUMILIATE HIM IN THE PROCESS.
Narrator: NOBODY WAS CLOSER TO STEVE THAN HIS WIFE, KIM,
AND DETECTIVES ALREADY KNEW
ABOUT THE TROUBLES THEY WERE HAVING.
WAS IT POSSIBLE KIM HAD MURDERED HER HUSBAND
AND THEN STAGED THE SCENE TO LOOK LIKE AN ACCIDENT?
Gamble: WE'RE TRYING TO THINK OBJECTIVELY,
BUT INITIAL INVESTIGATORS WERE BECOMING SOMEWHAT SUSPICIOUS
ABOUT KIM.
Narrator: IN KIM'S ORIGINAL STATEMENT,
SHE CLAIMED SHE LEFT THE HOTEL GROUNDS
AFTER HER AND STEVE'S FIGHT
AND WAS DRIVING AROUND LOOKING FOR HER FRIENDS
MIKE AND MAUREEN MILLER'S HOUSE AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE.
THE STORY SEEMED TO CHECK OUT.
A WITNESS SAW HER DRIVE AWAY FROM THE PROPERTY
LONG BEFORE THE FIRE BROKE OUT.
SHE DRIVES TOWARDS EASTON, BECOMES LOST,
ASKS FOR DIRECTIONS,
REALIZES SHE'S NOT GONNA FIND THE MILLERS' HOUSE,
TURNS AROUND AND GOES BACK.
Narrator: WITH KIM TENTATIVELY CROSSED OFF THE SUSPECT LIST,
DETECTIVES AGAIN TURN TO HER FOR HELP.
THEY MET KIM AT MIKE AND MAUREEN MILLER'S HOUSE,
WHERE SHE'D BEEN STAYING SINCE STEVE'S PASSING.
KIM?
I THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO SPEAK WITH US AGAIN TODAY.
SURE.
WE JUST HAVE A FEW MORE QUESTIONS TO ASK YOU.
IS THERE ANYONE YOU CAN THINK OF
THAT MIGHT HAVE A REASON TO HARM YOUR HUSBAND OR TO KILL HIM?
BUT KIM SEEMED TO DRAW A BLANK.
NO?
STEVE WAS SUCH A SWEET MAN.
EVERYONE LOVED HIM.
YEAH.
Maureen: EVERYONE KNEW HE WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR ANYONE
AND WAS VERY LOYAL AND A GREAT FRIEND.
EVERYONE LOVED HIM.
Narrator: STILL, THE FACT REMAINED --
SOMEONE SOMEWHERE WANTED STEVE HRICKO DEAD.
AND WHEN DETECTIVES DUG DEEPER, THEY UNCOVERED EVIDENCE
THAT SUGGESTED THE REAL PLOT TO KILL STEVE HRICKO
HAD BEEN RIPPED RIGHT FROM
THE HOTEL'S ***-MYSTERY SHOW SCRIPT.
Narrator: IN A TINY VILLAGE LIKE ST. MICHAELS,
WHERE EVERYONE FROM WELL-HEELED WASHINGTONIANS
TO SALTY SEA CAPTAINS
TO LOCAL DINNER-THEATER ACTORS IS ON A FIRST-NAME BASIS.
THE IDEA OF A STRANGER LURKING IN THE SHADOWS IS UNHEARD OF.
BUT IN FEBRUARY OF 1998,
IT BECAME CLEAR THAT JUST SUCH A STRANGER
WAS STALKING THE STREETS OF ST. MICHAELS --
AND A DEADLY STRANGER, AT THAT.
JUST HOURS AFTER ATTENDING A ***-MYSTERY STAGE SHOW
AT A LOCAL RESORT,
VACATIONER STEVE HRICKO HAD BEEN FOUND DEAD
IN HIS BURNED-OUT HOTEL SUITE.
IN ADDITION TO THE SMOLDERING CRIME SCENE,
INVESTIGATORS WERE LEFT WITH TWO BURNING QUESTIONS.
WHO KILLED STEVE,
AND EXACTLY HOW HAD THEY COMMITTED THE CRIME?
Gamble: WE DIDN'T HAVE THE PIECES OF THE MOTIVE,
MEANS, OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER
TO SHED LIGHT ON WHAT HAPPENED TO STEPHEN.
Narrator: THE ELABORATELY-STAGED SCENE
POINTED TOWARD A PERSONAL GRUDGE,
BUT THOSE CLOSEST TO STEVE, INCLUDING HIS WIFE, KIM,
WERE SKEPTICAL OF THAT NOTION.
THE PEOPLE THAT GOT TO KNOW HIM -- EVERYONE LOVED HIM.
Narrator: THAT'S WHEN DETECTIVES RECEIVED A JUICY TIP...
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]
HI.
THIS IS LIEUTENANT GAMBLE.
...ONE THAT SUGGESTED STEVE HRICKO HAD AT LEAST ONE RIVAL --
A MAN HE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT,
A MAN THAT WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH STEVE'S WIFE.
Gamble: SHE'S HAVING AN EXTRA-MARITAL AFFAIR.
WHILE STEPHEN IS TRYING TO GET THEIR MARRIAGE BACK TOGETHER,
KIMBERLY IS OUT HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH ANOTHER MAN.
Narrator: ACCORDING TO THE ANONYMOUS CALLER,
KIM'S LOVER WAS A MAN NEARLY HALF HER AGE --
22-YEAR-OLD BRAD WINKLER.
THE AFFAIR HAD BEEN GOING ON BEHIND STEVE'S BACK FOR MONTHS,
AND BRAD WINKLER WAS WILLING TO DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING
TO HAVE KIM ALL TO HIMSELF.
THIS GUY SAYS THAT SOMEONE NAMED BRAD WINKLER
WAS THE ONE WHO MURDERED STEVE HRICKO.
WHO'S BRAD WINKLER?
THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
THE THEORY GAINED EVEN MORE TRACTION
ONCE POLICE LEARNED WHAT BRAD WINKLER DID FOR A LIVING.
WE LEARNED THAT BRAD WINKLER WAS A SERGEANT IN THE MARINE CORPS
STATIONED AT THE PENTAGON.
Narrator: BRAD'S MARINE CORPS BACKGROUND
INCLUDED SOME PRETTY LETHAL TRAINING.
HAD THIS SOLDIER USED STEVE AND KIM'S VALENTINE'S DAY GETAWAY
AS A CHANCE TO TAKE OUT HIS ROMANTIC RIVAL?
HOMICIDE INVESTIGATOR LOOKS FOR MOTIVE, MEANS, AND OPPORTUNITY.
CERTAINLY, THERE'S A MOTIVE BECAUSE KIM WAS WITH HIM.
NOW WE BELIEVE WE'RE STARTING TO HAVE THE MEANS.
Narrator: THE NEXT DAY,
INVESTIGATORS PAID BRAD WINKLER A VISIT AT THE PENTAGON.
MR. WINKLER, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US
ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO KIM HRICKO?
WELL, WE STARTED SEEING EACH OTHER A LITTLE WHILE BACK.
Narrator: WHEN CONFRONTED ABOUT THE AFFAIR,
BRAD WILLINGLY ADMITTED TO IT,
CLAIMING TO HAVE MET KIM AT A PARTY A FEW MONTHS EARLIER,
WHERE SHE CONFIDED IN HIM
THAT SHE AND STEVE WERE GOING THROUGH A ROUGH PATCH.
Gamble: HE SHED MORE LIGHT
ON THE RELATIONSHIP HE HAD WITH KIMBERLY,
AS WELL AS WHAT HE KNEW
ABOUT KIMBERLY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH STEPHEN
AND HOW SHE WANTED TO GET OUT OF THAT RELATIONSHIP
AND LEAVE STEVE.
Narrator: EVENTUALLY, BRAD BECAME
MORE THAN KIM'S CONFIDANT.
HE BECAME HER LOVER.
Guy: SHE WAS JUST INFATUATED.
CLEARLY HAD BEEN WANTING TO GET OUT OF THAT MARRIAGE
FOR A LONG TIME.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ASKED BRAD POINT-BLANK
IF HE'D TAKEN IT UPON HIMSELF
TO EXTRICATE KIM FROM HER MARRIAGE TO STEVE
BY DEADLY MEANS.
TELL US, BRAD, DID YOU SET FIRE TO STEVE HRICKO'S HOTEL ROOM?
NO, OF COURSE NOT.
WHERE WERE YOU ON VALENTINE'S NIGHT?
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS PRESSED BRAD
FOR AN ALIBI THE NIGHT OF THE CRIME.
I WAS IN NORTH CAROLINA WITH MY FAMILY.
Narrator: ACCORDING TO BRAD,
HE HAD BEEN VISITING FAMILY OUT OF STATE.
WE OBTAINED ALIBIS FOR BRAD WINKLER,
WHERE HE WAS AT THE TIME, AND FOLLOW-UP WAS DONE ON THAT.
I'M GONNA GO CHECK THIS OUT.
I AM A DETECTIVE
WITH THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
AND I AM CALLING REGARDING A BRAD WINKLER.
COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME
WHERE HE WAS ON THE NIGHT OF FEBRUARY 14th?
Narrator: PHONE CALLS TO BRAD'S FAMILY IN NORTH CAROLINA
SEEMED TO VERIFY HIS CLAIMS, AND, AT LEAST FOR THE MOMENT,
SEEMED TO ELIMINATE BRAD WINKLER AS A SUSPECT.
[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
WHAT'S THE WORD?
LOOKS LIKE HE CHECKS OUT.
MR. WINKLER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
Winkler: ALL RIGHT.
INVESTIGATORS BELIEVED THAT BRAD WINKLER WAS NOT INVOLVED
IN THE ACTUAL *** OF STEPHEN HRICKO.
Narrator: WITH THE INVESTIGATION BACK TO SQUARE ONE,
DETECTIVES DOUBLED BACK
TO THE EVIDENCE COLLECTED AT THE CRIME SCENE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEEDED TO DO
WAS EXPLORE THE BACKWOODS SMOKES AND THE BUDWEISER BEER CANS.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS FIGURED IF THEY COULD TRACE THESE ITEMS
TO THEIR PLACE OF PURCHASE,
IT COULD POSSIBLY LEAD THEM TO THEIR KILLER.
SO THE GOAL WAS TO TRACK IT BACK TO THE STORE,
HOPEFULLY FIND WHO BOUGHT THOSE.
Narrator: THE BEER CANS PROVED UNTRACEABLE,
BUT THE PACK OF CIGARS CONTAINED A CLUE.
THEY HAD A TAG PRINTED ON THEM THAT SAID $2.49 PLUS TAX.
I KNEW THAT SOMETIMES THOSE MACHINES
THAT MAKE THOSE STICKERS ARE VERY UNIQUE
AND LEAVE A DISTINCT MARK
AND THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO TRACK IT BACK TO THE STORE.
Narrator: OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS,
INVESTIGATORS SCOURED DOZENS OF TOBACCO, LIQUOR,
AND CONVENIENCE STORES
THROUGHOUT THE ST. MICHAELS AREA.
SO I WENT TO APPROXIMATELY 30 STORES
ON THE EASTERN SHORE IN ST. MICHAELS
AND ALL THE WAY TO THE BAY BRIDGE
TO TRY TO FIND WHO FIRST SOLD THESE CIGARS.
Narrator: DETECTIVES EVENTUALLY HIT PAY DIRT
AT A SMALL LIQUOR STORE
JUST OUTSIDE THE ST. MICHAELS CITY LIMITS.
I FOUND A STORE THAT SOLD THOSE SAME BRAND CIGARS.
RIGHT OVER THERE.
MAY I SEE THE PRICE GUN THAT YOU USE TO MARK IT WITH?
SURE. NO PROBLEM.
Gamble: I OBTAINED THE HANDHELD MACHINE
THAT PRINTS THE STICKERS.
I SEIZED IT AND TRANSPORTED IT
TO THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE CRIME LAB.
THE LAB CONTACTED ME
AND SAID THAT THAT MACHINE MADE THAT $2.49 PLUS TAX.
IT HAD ENOUGH UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS ABOUT IT
THAT IT MATCHED.
Narrator: WITH THE CORRECT STORE IDENTIFIED,
INVESTIGATORS SPOKE WITH THE CASHIER
TO SEE IF SHE REMEMBERED WHO MIGHT HAVE PURCHASED THE CIGARS
IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE FIRE.
DID ANYONE ACTUALLY BUY THESE IN THE LAST FEW DAYS?
YEAH, SOMEONE ACTUALLY BOUGHT SOME
A FEW DAYS BACK WITH SOME BEER.
YOU REMEMBER WHAT THE GUY LOOKED LIKE?
SURE.
BEFORE THE CASHIER COULD UTTER A NAME
OR DESCRIPTION OF THE CUSTOMER,
INVESTIGATORS' MINDS IMMEDIATELY LEAPT TO BRAD WINKLER,
BUT THEY WERE IN FOR A SURPRISE.
IT WASN'T A MAN.
IT WAS A WOMAN.
Gamble: AND I ASKED THE CASHIER, "WHY DID YOU REMEMBER HER?"
AND THE CASHIER TOLD ME, "WELL, I LIKED THE COLOR OF HER HAIR,
AND I ASKED HER WHERE SHE GOT HER HAIR DYED,"
AND SHE TOOK OFFENSE TO IT
AND SNATCHED THE IDENTIFICATION OUT OF THE CASHIER'S HAND
AND SAID TO HER THAT HER HAIR WASN'T DYED.
THE CASHIER SAID,
"I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER HER BECAUSE SHE WAS SO MEAN."
I REMEMBER THAT SHE WAS SO DAMN RUDE,
BUT ALL I REALLY REMEMBER WAS THAT SHE HAD RED HAIR.
Narrator: THE ONLY WOMAN CONNECTED TO HIS CASE
WITH RED HAIR WAS KIM HRICKO.
HAD SHE BEEN BEHIND THE CRIME ALL ALONG?
INVESTIGATORS RUSHED OVER TO THE HOME OF MIKE AND MAUREEN MILLER,
WHERE KIM WAS STILL STAYING.
HI.
SORRY TO BOTHER YOU, MRS. MILLER.
WE NEED TO SPEAK WITH KIM.
WELL, SHE IS RIGHT NOW TAKING A BATH,
BUT IF YOU'D LIKE TO WAIT...
Mike: THEY WANTED TO TALK TO KIM
AND THAT THEY HAD A WARRANT TO SEARCH HER VEHICLE.
Narrator: MAUREEN TOLD THE POLICE
THAT KIM WAS UPSTAIRS TAKING A BATH.
NO SOONER HAD SHE SAID THAT
THEN A LOUD THUD ECHOED DOWN THE HALLWAY.
Mike: KIND OF HEARD A *** IN THE BATHROOM.
THE POLICE OFFICER AND MY WIFE RAN IN THERE TO CHECK ON HER.
Narrator: PUSHING OPEN THE DOOR,
MAUREEN FOUND HER FRIEND KIM HRICKO
SPRAWLED ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR, ALONG WITH AN EMPTY PILL BOTTLE.
I REALIZED THAT SHE HAD TAKEN SOME KIND OF MEDICATION.
SHE WAS MAKING IT APPEAR THAT SHE WANTED TO COMMIT SUICIDE.
LIEUTENANT, WE NEED AN AMBULANCE ASAP!
Narrator: AS EMTs RUSHED KIM TO THE HOSPITAL,
IT WAS CLEAR HER LIFE HUNG IN THE BALANCE,
AND ALONG WITH IT, THE ANSWER TO A TANTALIZING QUESTION.
HAD KIM TRIED TO TAKE HER OWN LIFE
RATHER THAN OWN UP TO THE BRUTAL CRIME SHE HAD COMMITTED?
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE DARK SIDE OF THE CITY,
GO TO investigationdiscovery.com.
Narrator: IN ST. MICHAELS, MARYLAND,
DETECTIVES INVESTIGATING THE *** OF STEVE HRICKO
HAD JUST IDENTIFIED A NEW PRIME SUSPECT --
STEVE'S WIDOW, KIM HRICKO.
BUT BEFORE POLICE COULD GRILL KIM
ABOUT HER POSSIBLE INVOLVEMENT, SHE'D ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
Gamble: KIM WAS UPSTAIRS.
THEY HEARD A CRASH.
INVESTIGATORS WENT UPSTAIRS WITH THE MILLERS
AND FOUND KIM PASSED OUT WITH AN EMPTY PILL BOTTLE.
THEY TOOK HER TO EASTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL,
AND THEY PUMPED HER STOMACH.
Narrator: KIM WAS EVENTUALLY STABILIZED.
TO INVESTIGATORS, THE OVERDOSE WAS A CLEAR INDICATION OF GUILT.
BUT TO THOSE WHO KNEW HER,
IT SEEMED LIKE THE DESPERATE ACT OF A GRIEVING WIDOW.
I GUESS SHE WAS CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE.
Narrator: THE ONLY PERSON WHO COULD SAY FOR SURE
WAS KIM HERSELF.
UNFORTUNATELY, SHE WASN'T QUITE UP FOR SPEAKING WITH POLICE,
BUT INVESTIGATORS WERE WILLING TO WAIT.
WHEN SOMEBODY ATTEMPTS SUICIDE,
THE POLICE CAN TAKE THEM, BASICALLY, INTO CUSTODY,
SO IN THAT CASE, STATE POLICE INVESTIGATORS
WERE POSITIONED THERE, AS WELL AS HOSPITAL SECURITY
TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE DIDN'T LEAVE.
Narrator: BUT EVEN IF THE SUICIDE ATTEMPT
ALLOWED POLICE TO KEEP KIM IN CUSTODY AT THE HOSPITAL,
THEY WEREN'T SURE WHAT THEY COULD ACTUALLY CHARGE HER WITH.
SO FAR, THERE WAS ZERO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
LINKING KIM TO THE CRIME,
ESPECIALLY SINCE THE INITIAL AUTOPSY
PERFORMED ON HER HUSBAND
HADN'T INDICATED A CLEAR-CUT CAUSE OF DEATH.
CERTAINLY NOT CALLING IT NATURAL DEATH.
THIS IS PENDING,
AND I HAVE NO NATURAL DISEASE PROCESS TO FALL BACK ON,
BUT I HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED ANYTHING ELSE YET.
Narrator: SO DETECTIVES BEGAN ENTERTAINING A NEW THEORY.
PERHAPS HE HAD DIED FROM BEING INJECTED WITH POISON.
Fowler: SHE WAS A NURSE IN THE OPERATING ROOM,
AND, OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE ALL WELL AWARE
OF THE SUBSTANCES THAT ARE PRESENT
WITHIN AN OPERATING ROOM
WHICH ARE USED BY THE ANESTHESIOLOGISTS.
Narrator: CONSULTING WITH THE CORONER,
INVESTIGATORS CAME UP WITH A LIST
OF ALL THE POTENTIALLY LETHAL MEDICATIONS
KIM HAD ACCESS TO AT HER JOB.
ONE PARTICULAR CHEMICAL AGENT QUICKLY STOOD OUT --
SUCCINYLCHOLINE.
WHAT ABOUT THIS -- SUCCINYLCHOLINE?
WELL, THAT'LL CERTAINLY DO IT.
THAT MAY BE OUR ANSWER.
A POWERFUL MUSCLE RELAXER,
SUCCINYLCHOLINE IS USED TO DISABLE MUSCULAR FUNCTION
FOR EASY INSERTION OF BREATHING TUBES.
BUT WITHOUT A TUBE IN PLACE, THE PATIENT CAN EASILY SUFFOCATE.
Fowler: IT DOESN'T TAKE AN AWFUL LOT OF THIS
TO PARALYZE SOMEBODY AND KILL THEM.
Narrator: BUT WHAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO INVESTIGATORS
WAS THE FACT THAT ONCE THE DRUG IS INJECTED,
IT'S VIRTUALLY UNDETECTABLE.
Horne: SUCCINYLCHOLINE LEAVES NO TRACE IN THE BODY.
WHEN IT EVAPORATES, IT'S GONE.
THERE'S NO BLUE TINGE AROUND THE LIPS
AS THERE WOULD BE WITH STRYCHNINE OR SOME OTHER POISON.
THERE'S JUST NO TRACE.
Narrator: ARMED WITH THIS INFORMATION,
DETECTIVES HEADED TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE KIM WORKED
AND LEARNED FROM CO-WORKERS
THAT KIM NOT ONLY CAME IN DAILY CONTACT
WITH THIS POTENTIALLY LETHAL DRUG,
SHE HAD NEARLY UNFETTERED ACCESS TO IT.
THIS IS A DRUG THAT IS NOT ACCOUNTED FOR EVERY DAY.
IT'D BE VERY EASY FOR HER TO STEAL SOME OF IT
AND NEVER GET CAUGHT.
Narrator: KIM'S ACCESS TO SUCCINYLCHOLINE
COMBINED WITH A MORE DETAILED EXAMINATION
OF STEVE HRICKO'S LARYNX AND TRACHEA
ALLOWED THE CORONER TO DETERMINE A PROBABLE CAUSE OF DEATH.
Fowler: WE'VE COME TO THE END OF SCIENCE,
AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION
BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE.
THE DECISION, THEN, WAS PROBABLE SUCCINYLCHOLINE INTOXICATION,
WHICH BASICALLY MEANS PROBABLE SUCCINYLCHOLINE POISONING.
Gamble: KIMBERLY HRICKO WAS AT THE EASTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL,
AND IT WAS THERE THAT WE SERVED HER WITH THE ARREST WARRANT
FOR THR *** OF STEPHEN HRICKO.
KIMBERLY HRICKO, YOU'RE UNDER ARREST
FOR THE *** OF YOUR HUSBAND, STEPHEN HRICKO.
Narrator: FOR A CITY THAT PRIDES ITSELF
ON ITS SAFE AND FRIENDLY REPUTATION,
NEWS OF THE ARREST
AND THE SCANDALOUS DETAILS SURROUNDING IT
SWEPT THROUGH THE BAYSIDE TOWN OF ST. MICHAELS
LIKE A HURRICANE.
PEOPLE WERE COMPLETELY SHOCKED THAT SUCH A BEAUTIFUL, QUAINT,
WONDERFUL LITTLE TOWN
COULD HAVE HAD SOMETHING SO TERRIBLE HAPPEN IN IT.
Narrator: ON JANUARY 11, 1999,
THE STATE OF MARYLAND vs. KIMBERLY HRICKO BEGAN.
PROSECUTORS OPEN THE TRIAL
BY PAINTING KIM AS A BORED AND DISGRUNTLED WIFE --
ONE SO CAUGHT UP IN HER AFFAIR WITH A YOUNGER MAN
THAT MURDERING HER HUSBAND
SEEMED LIKE THE BEST WAY OUT OF HER MARRIAGE.
THEY ALSO CLAIMED THAT KIM PUT HER PLAN INTO ACTION
DURING THEIR ROMANTIC WEEKEND IN ST. MICHAELS.
FOLLOWING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE HOTEL'S ***-MYSTERY SHOW,
KIM LURED STEVE BACK TO THEIR ROOM
WITH THE PROMISE OF SEX,
BUT WHEN STEVE TURNED HIS BACK,
SHE INJECTED HIM WITH SUCCINYLCHOLINE...
...THEN STAGED THE SCENE AROUND HER DEAD HUSBAND
TO LOOK LIKE AN ACCIDENT.
Gamble: SHE ACTUALLY LIT A FIRE WITH A MATCH
OR SOME OTHER DEVICE AND GOT THE FIRE GOING BEFORE SHE LEFT.
Narrator: WITH THE FIRE QUICKLY SPREADING,
KIM EXITED THE SUITE AND MADE A MAD DASH TOWARD THE FRONT DESK,
MAKING HERSELF LOOK INNOCENT
WHILE LEAVING HER HUSBAND BEHIND TO BURN.
KIM'S DEFENSE TEAM COUNTERED
THAT THE PROSECUTION'S THEORIES WERE JUST THAT -- THEORIES.
NOBODY SAW HER INJECT HIM.
NOBODY SAW HER LIGHT A CIGAR.
NOBODY SAW ANYTHING.
THEIR CASE WAS BASICALLY
THAT THERE WAS AN ABSENCE OF DIRECT EVIDENCE
TO ESTABLISH THAT SHE DID ANYTHING
TO CAUSE MR. HRICKO'S DEMISE.
Narrator: THAT'S WHEN THE STATE PLAYED ITS TRUMP CARD --
A CONVERSATION DETECTIVES HAD JUST BEFORE THE TRIAL
WITH ONE OF KIM'S CO-WORKERS AT THE HOSPITAL,
A NURSE NAMED KEN BURGESS.
MR. BURGESS, I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE SOME INFORMATION
ABOUT THE *** OF STEPHEN HRICKO.
YES, I DO.
KEN TOLD DETECTIVES THAT IN THE WEEK'S BEFORE STEVE'S DEATH,
KIM HAD APPROACHED HIM IN THE HALLS OF THE HOSPITAL
WITH A MOST INDECENT PROPOSAL.
YEAH, KIM, SHE, UH, SHE ASKED ME TO KILL HER HUSBAND.
WHAT'S UP?
I NEED YOU TO HELP ME KILL STEVE.
I CAN PAY YOU 50 GRAND.
Gamble: KIM BASICALLY ASKED HIM,
"IF I PAID YOU $50,000, WOULD YOU KILL MY HUSBAND?"
KEN IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT SHE WAS JOKING.
IN HIS DISMISSAL, HE SAID TO HER, "WHY DON'T YOU JUST --
"YOU DON'T HAVE TO KILL HIM.
"WHY DON'T YOU JUST PUT HIM TO SLEEP FOREVER
AND STICK HIM WITH SUCCINYLCHOLINE?"
AND THEN KEN KIND OF DISMISSED THAT THOUGHT.
Narrator: KEN BURGESS' TESTIMONY WAS DAMNING --
SO DAMNING, IN FACT,
THAT IT TOOK THE JURY LESS THAN FOUR HOURS TO REACH A VERDICT.
Horne: THE UNANIMOUS VERDICT OF THE JURY
WAS THAT SHE WAS GUILTY OF FIRST-DEGREE ***
AND GUILTY OF FIRST-DEGREE ARSON.
Narrator: THE SENTENCE -- LIFE IN PRISON PLUS 30 YEARS.
AS KIM WAS CARTED OFF TO PRISON,
STEVE HRICKO'S FRIENDS COULDN'T HELP RELISH THE VERDICT.
Mike: I THINK SHE GOT WHAT SHE DESERVED
BECAUSE SHE'S GOT TO LIVE WITH THAT, YOU KNOW,
TILL SHE DIES,
AND I THINK THAT'S A FAR WORSE PUNISHMENT FOR HER
THAN TO FACE THE DEATH PENALTY.
Narrator: AS FOR ST. MICHAELS,
THE TOWN HAS MAINTAINED ITS AURA
OF A QUAINT, LITTLE FISHING VILLAGE.
TOURISTS STILL FLOCK TO ITS LOCAL THEATER PRODUCTIONS,
AND ITS NATURAL BEAUTY IS STILL A DRAW
FOR VACATIONING COUPLES ACROSS THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION.
BUT AS LOCALS AND TOURISTS ALIKE WILL ADMIT,
THE SPECTER OF STEVE HRICKO'S *** STILL LOOMS LARGE,
AS DOES THE FEAR THAT ONE DAY,
SOME OTHER TOURIST TIRED OF THEIR MARRIAGE
AND LOOKING FOR A WAY OUT,
MIGHT DECIDE TO PUT ON A KILLER ENCORE PERFORMANCE.
Maureen: IT WAS DEFINITELY SOMETHING
THAT WAS FORCED ONTO ST. MICHAELS.
I THINK, FOR ANYONE WHO ENTERS INTO THE COMMUNITY NOW,
IS JUST SO COMPLETELY SHOCKED
THAT SUCH A BEAUTIFUL, QUAINT, WONDERFUL LITTLE TOWN
COULD HAVE HAD SOMETHING SO TERRIBLE HAPPEN IN IT.
IT'S JUST KIND OF SAD.