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Narrator: A YOUNG BOY WITNESSES THE UNIMAGINABLE.
[ SCREAMING ]
SHE WAS A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN.
Narrator: THE KILLER LEAVES A BIZARRE SIGNATURE.
20 FEET OF DUCT TAPE WRAPPED AROUND HER HEAD 14 TIMES.
Narrator: ALL THE EVIDENCE POINTS TO SOMEONE SHE KNOWS AND TRUSTS.
Fitzgerald: I TOLD HIM, "YOU'RE THE GODFATHER OF THIS CHILD.
DON'T YOU WANT THE KILLER FOUND?"
Narrator: IT COULD BE THE PERFECT CRIME,
EXCEPT FOR ONE LITTLE WITNESS.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
IT'S EARLY MORNING IN PORT HUENEME, CALIFORNIA,
60 MILES NORTH OF LOS ANGELES.
IN THE SMALL HOUSE OF SINGLE MOM NORMA RODRIGUEZ,
HER TWO YOUNG SONS, ANDREW AND AUSTIN, ARE FAST ASLEEP.
Reynaldo: HEY, CAN YOU HEAR ME, NORMA? HEY, ANDREW.
JUST BEFORE 8:00 A.M.,
THEY'RE JOLTED AWAKE BY A LOUD COMMOTION.
I JUST HEAR POUNDING ON THE FRONT DOOR
AND MY DAD SCREAMING FOR US TO OPEN THE DOOR.
Narrator: ANDREW REALIZES HE'S OVERSLEPT
AND WONDERS WHY HIS MOM DIDN'T WAKE THEM.
HE HEARS HIS DAD ENTER THE HOUSE USING A SPARE KEY.
NORMA.
Andrew: THE NEXT THING I KNOW, I JUST HEAR MY DAD SCREAMING,
LIKE, "NO, NO! NO!"
AND THEN I JUST -- I RUN TO THE LIVING ROOM
AND HAPPEN TO SEE MY UNCLE AND MY DAD RIGHT THERE
AND MY MOM RIGHT THERE,
AND, BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
Narrator: WHAT THE 11-YEAR-OLD SEES IS SO CHILLING,
IT WILL LEAVE A MARK ON HIM FOR LIFE.
HIS MOTHER IS ON THE FLOOR, NOT MOVING.
HER ENTIRE HEAD, FROM FOREHEAD TO CHIN,
IS WRAPPED IN SILVER DUCT TAPE.
ANDREW WATCHES AS HIS FATHER AND UNCLE CUT THE HEAVY TAPE AWAY
FROM NORMA'S MOUTH.
AS THEY REMOVE IT, THERE'S NO GASP FOR AIR,
NO SOUND AT ALL.
32-YEAR-OLD NORMA RODRIGUEZ IS DEAD.
Andrew: [Voice breaking ] MY UNCLE CUT THE TAPE, AND...
...I KNEW SHE WAS GONE.
I JUST WENT BACK TO THE ROOM
TO PROTECT MY BROTHER FROM SEEING THIS.
Narrator: NORMA RODRIGUEZ WAS THE LOVING MOTHER OF TWO BOYS,
4-YEAR-OLD AUSTIN AND 11-YEAR-OLD ANDREW.
SHE'D BEEN SEPARATED FROM HER HUSBAND, AARON, FOR TWO YEARS
AND HAD PRIMARY CUSTODY OF THE BOYS.
SHE JUGGLED RAISING HER KIDS
WHILE WORKING LONG HOURS AT A LOCAL KMART.
WE WERE HER LIFE.
SHE DID EVERYTHING SHE DID FOR US,
TO BETTER OURSELVES AND TO MAKE SURE WE HAD WHAT WE NEEDED.
[ SIREN WAILS, POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
Narrator: PORT HUENEME POLICE ARRIVE AT NORMA'S TWO-BEDROOM HOUSE
AND FIND A PRISTINE CRIME SCENE --
NO BLOOD, NO SIGNS OF A STRUGGLE OR FORCED ENTRY.
NORMA HERSELF IS FULLY-CLOTHED.
HER HOUSE KEYS ARE STREWN ON THE FLOOR WITHIN REACH OF HER BODY.
Fitzgerald: THE REST OF THE HOUSE WAS CLEAN.
THERE WAS MONEY LAYING AROUND, WASN'T STOLEN.
THERE WAS OTHER VALUABLE PROPERTIES IN THE HOUSE
THAT WASN'T DISTURBED.
THE MOTIVE FOR THIS CRIME
DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE ROBBERY OR BURGLARY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
Narrator: THE ONLY REAL CLUE -- MULTIPLE LAYERS OF DUCT TAPE.
IT WAS A VERY UNUSUAL AND HORRIFIC SCENE.
IT WAS KIND OF LIKE A HORROR MOVIE
TO LOOK AT THE DUCT TAPE
COMPLETELY WRAPPED AROUND HER FACE.
Fitzgerald: WE'D SEEN STRANGULATIONS AND BEATING DEATHS
AND STABBINGS AND SHOOTINGS,
BUT NEVER ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THE CORONER SAID SHE HAD DIED OF ASPHYXIATION --
A COMBINATION OF STRANGLING HER AND USING THAT DUCT TAPE.
[ SCREAMING ]
EVIDENCE SHOWED THAT SHE DID NOT TRY AND GET THAT DUCT TAPE OFF,
SO SHE WAS EITHER UNCONSCIOUS OR DEAD
WHEN THAT TAPE WAS PLACED ON HER.
Jones: THERE WAS JUST SHORT OF 20 FEET OF DUCT TAPE
WRAPPED AROUND HER HEAD 14 TIMES.
BEYOND ONE WRAP,
I DON'T SEE ANY MORE FUNCTION TO KEEPING SOMEBODY QUIET.
WHY THEY WOULD GO AROUND AND AROUND
IS TRULY A MYSTERY TO ME.
Narrator: IS IT A BIZARRE RITUAL KILLING,
THE SIGNATURE OF A SOCIOPATH,
OR THE LETHAL FURY OF SOMEONE CLOSE TO HER?
COVERING HER EYES MADE ME THINK THAT MAYBE THIS PERSON KNEW HER
AND DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO LOOK AT HER FACE
DURING THIS PARTICULAR CRIME
OR DIDN'T WANT HER TO HAVE TO SEE THEM WHILE IT WAS HAPPENING.
Narrator: THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF *** ASSAULT.
LEAD DETECTIVE DENNIS FITZGERALD
INSTRUCTS THE CORONER TO PRESERVE FINGERNAIL CLIPPINGS
FROM THE VICTIM FOR FUTURE TESTING.
POLICE RECONSTRUCT THE LAST HOURS OF NORMA'S LIFE.
HI, BENITA.
ON SUNDAY, MAY 30th,
NORMA WAS ON THE PHONE WITH FRIENDS THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
SHE WAS HOME ALONE WITH HER FOUR-YEAR-OLD SON, AUSTIN.
11-YEAR-OLD ANDREW WAS SPENDING THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
WITH HIS FATHER.
Andrew: THE WEEKENDS, I WOULD GO HANG OUT WITH MY DAD.
I WOULD GO OVER THERE AND VISIT WITH HIM,
BUT THAT WEEKEND,
I HAPPENED TO GO OUT OF TOWN AND WATCH A BASEBALL GAME.
Narrator: WHEN ANDREW RETURNS HOME MONDAY NIGHT AROUND 9:00,
THE LIGHTS ARE OUT AND THE FRONT DOOR IS LOCKED.
WORRIED ABOUT WAKING UP HIS MOTHER,
HE CLIMBS IN THROUGH HIS BEDROOM WINDOW.
HIS LITTLE BROTHER, AUSTIN, IS STILL AWAKE.
WHY AREN'T YOU IN BED?
Andrew: CLOSED THE WINDOW,
AND I JUST WAS TALKING TO MY BROTHER FOR A SECOND.
SHE HAS SOMETHING ON HER FACE.
Estrella: HE CAN RECALL AUSTIN SAYING SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT,
"MOMMY HAS SOMETHING ON HER FACE."
SO, ANDREW THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS
SHE HAD PUT SOME KIND OF LOTION ON HER FACE.
THEN AUSTIN ALSO TOLD HIM THAT HE WAS HUNGRY
'CAUSE HE HADN'T EATEN ALL DAY.
AND ANDREW JUST SAID, "IT'S LATE NOW.
GO TO BED, GO TO SLEEP,
AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT MORE IN THE MORNING."
Narrator: IF THAT SOMETHING AUSTIN SAW ON HIS MOTHER'S FACE
WAS THE DUCT TAPE PLACED BY THE KILLER
AND THE LITTLE BOY HADN'T BEEN FED ALL DAY,
THE *** LIKELY TOOK PLACE SOMETIME SUNDAY NIGHT.
Fitzgerald: WE BELIEVE AUSTIN WAS WITH HER
WHILE SHE LAY THERE WITH DUCT TAPE ON HER FACE,
NOT MOVING, DEAD.
MOMMY, WAKE UP.
HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO GET FOOD FOR HIMSELF OR A DRINK.
HE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO EAT ALL THAT DAY
AND THEN PUT HIMSELF TO BED THAT NIGHT.
NORMA.
Narrator: NORMA'S BODY WASN'T DISCOVERED UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING,
WHEN THE BOYS' FATHER ARRIVED TO PICK UP ANDREW FOR SCHOOL.
SO, I'M GONNA ASK YOU A COUPLE QUESTIONS, OKAY?
DETECTIVES TRY TO COAX MORE INFORMATION OUT OF AUSTIN,
WHO MAY HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN HIS MOTHER'S KILLER.
Norma: NO!
[ SCREAMING, CHOKING ]
BUT THE FOUR-YEAR-OLD ISN'T TALKING.
WHILE CONTINUING THEIR DELICATE INTERVIEWS WITH THE YOUNG BOY,
INVESTIGATORS FOCUS ON POSSIBLE SUSPECTS.
IF IT TRULY WAS A PERSONAL KILLING,
AS THE DUCT TAPE INDICATES,
THERE WAS NO BETTER SUSPECT
THAN NORMA'S ESTRANGED HUSBAND, AARON REYNALDO.
[ LAUGHS ]
NORMA AND AARON HAD BEEN MARRIED FOR 12 YEARS,
SOME OF THEM HAPPY.
OH!
BUT NOTHING LASTS FOREVER.
Andrew: THEY HAD THEIR DIFFERENCES AND STUFF.
AT TIMES, YOU KNOW, MY DAD WASN'T THERE.
NOT IN FRONT OF THEM.
OKAY, THEN, WHEN DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT?
'CAUSE YOU'RE NEVER AROUND.
I GUESS, AT THE END,
THEY JUST HAD TO KIND OF GO THEIR OWN SEPARATE WAYS.
Narrator: THEIR SEPARATION WAS LESS THAN AMICABLE.
THE TWO FOUGHT OVER CHILD SUPPORT AND CUSTODY.
WITH NORMA OUT OF THE PICTURE,
HE WOULD HAVE THE BOYS TO HIMSELF.
AARON CLAIMS HE DISCOVERED NORMA'S BODY BY ACCIDENT,
BUT IS IT POSSIBLE HE'S THE ONE WHO KILLED HER?
Officer: ON THE NIGHT OF MAY 30th,
DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE AT?
UM...
AARON CONFIRMS HIS WHEREABOUTS THE NIGHT OF THE ***.
HE WAS AT HOME IN NEARBY OXNARD, CALIFORNIA, WITH HIS SON ANDREW.
HE WAS WITH ME ALL THE TIME THAT WEEKEND.
BUT THE ALIBI ONLY GOES SO FAR.
Fitzgerald: AT NIGHT, COULD HE HAVE SLIPPED OUT,
GO TO NORMA'S HOUSE, *** HER, AND THEN GO BACK TO HIS HOUSE?
Narrator: IT WOULD READILY EXPLAIN
WHY THERE WAS NO FORCED ENTRY
AND WHY NORMA DIDN'T SEEM SURPRISED BY HER KILLER.
BUT COULD A FATHER REALLY COMMIT SUCH A HORRIBLE ACT
IN FRONT OF HIS FOUR-YEAR-OLD SON?
DID YOU STRANGLE NORMA RODRIGUEZ?
POLICE HOPE A POLYGRAPH WILL GIVE THEM THE ANSWER,
BUT THE RESULTS ARE INCONCLUSIVE.
Fitzgerald: YOU CAN'T USE THOSE TESTS IN COURT OF LAW
BECAUSE THEY'RE SO UNRELIABLE.
JUST A TOOL.
HE HAD SEEN HER DEAD.
HE SEEMED TO BE A VERY LOVING DAD.
THERE WAS NO HISTORY OF VIOLENCE IN HIS PAST,
AND HE DIDN'T STRIKE ME AS THE TYPE
THAT WOULD *** HIS WIFE AND LEAVE THE KIDS THERE TO SEE HER.
HOMICIDE.
Narrator: WITH NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM,
DETECTIVES RULE OUT THE EX-HUSBAND...FOR NOW.
BUT AARON WASN'T THE ONLY MAN IN NORMA'S LIFE.
I'M GLAD YOU HAD THE DAY OFF TODAY.
I KNOW.
AFTER THE SEPARATION,
SHE DATED A MAN NAMED DENNIS GARZO.
NORMA, WAIT.
POLICE QUICKLY FIND OUT ABOUT THEIR TEMPESTUOUS RELATIONSHIP
AND GARZO'S SHORT FUSE.
IT'S NOT UNCOMMON THAT AN EX-BOYFRIEND
WOULD BE THE ONE WHO ENDS UP BEING THE KILLER.
Narrator: COMING UP...
A SINISTER DISCOVERY THAT COULD UNRAVEL THE MYSTERY
OF WHAT HAPPENED TO NORMA RODRIGUEZ.
Fitzgerald: WE FOUND ONE ROLL OF DUCT TAPE IN THE GARAGE
AMONGST A LOT OF CLOTHING
THAT SEEMED TO BE SHOVED DOWN IN THIS BOX.
Narrator: IN THE TINY SEASIDE TOWN OF PORT HUENEME, CALIFORNIA,
32-YEAR-OLD NORMA RODRIGUEZ
WAS FOUND SPRAWLED IN HER LIVING ROOM,
HER FACE WRAPPED IN A CRUDE DEATH MASK
MADE OF SILVER DUCT TAPE.
DON'T LOOK AT THIS.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NORMA'S PRIVATE LIFE,
DETECTIVES TALKED TO HER COWORKER
AND CLOSE FRIEND BENITA.
SHE TELLS THEM ABOUT NORMA'S ON-AGAIN-OFF-AGAIN RELATIONSHIP
WITH A MAN NAMED DENNIS GARZO.
HE HAD GONE WITH HER FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
IN FACT, THEY HAD MOVED IN TOGETHER.
GREAT.
Narrator: NORMA MET GARZO
WHEN HE COACHED HER SON ANDREW'S LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM.
HE GOT ALONG WELL WITH THE BOYS.
EXCELLENT.
BUT ACCORDING TO BENITA,
THERE WAS ANOTHER SIDE TO DENNIS GARZO.
SOMETIMES HE CAN BE ROUGH, AND HE LOSES HIS TEMPER.
THINGS BETWEEN NORMA AND GARZO QUICKLY SOURED.
THERE WERE ARGUMENTS OVER MONEY.
THEN, OUT OF NOWHERE,
GARZO ANNOUNCED HE WAS LEAVING HER FOR AN OLD GIRLFRIEND.
YOU WANT TO GET BACK WITH HER?
NORMA WAS UPSET 'CAUSE SHE DID CARE ABOUT THIS INDIVIDUAL,
AND SHE WAS UPSET THAT THEY WEREN'T TOGETHER ANYMORE.
I GUESS.
Narrator: THERE'S NOTHING THAT CONNECTS GARZO TO NORMA'S ***,
UNTIL AN INTERVIEW WITH 11-YEAR-OLD ANDREW.
Officer: WAS THERE ANYBODY THAT WAS HANGING AROUND THE HOUSE
THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS OR WEEKS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
WELL, MY COACH DENNIS AND I WERE BUILDING A BASKETBALL HOOP.
AND DOES COACH DENNIS HAVE A LAST NAME?
YEAH, IT'S GARZO.
HE TELLS POLICE ABOUT HOW HELPFUL GARZO WAS
IN SETTING UP A BASKETBALL NET
JUST A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE ***.
HE SAYS THAT GARZO USED SILVER DUCT TAPE
TO PUT THE BASKETBALL STAND TOGETHER.
DOES HE COME AROUND A LOT?
THIS INFORMATION IMMEDIATELY RANG VERY TRUE TO US.
HERE'S SOMEONE WHO HAD DUCT TAPE
AND A PAST HISTORY WITH THE VICTIM.
Narrator: POLICE BRING DENNIS GARZO IN FOR QUESTIONING.
WE WERE GOING OUT ON AND OFF -- MORE OFF THAN ON.
DO YOU USE DUCT TAPE FOR WORK OR AROUND THE HOUSE?
YES. FOR WORK.
WITH THE EVIDENCE STACKING UP AGAINST HIM,
GARZO OFFERS AN ALIBI FOR THE NIGHT OF THE ***.
WATCH A LITTLE TV AND FALL ASLEEP.
SURPRISINGLY, IT CHECKS OUT.
HE WAS AT HOME WITH FAMILY, ALL OF WHOM VOUCH FOR HIM.
HE EVEN VOLUNTEERS TO TAKE A POLYGRAPH,
WHICH ALSO CHECKS OUT.
DID YOU KILL NORMA RODRIGUEZ?
NO.
HE PASSES WITH FLYING COLORS.
DENNIS GARZO IS CROSSED OFF THE SUSPECT LIST.
THE INVESTIGATION EXPANDS TO NORMA'S CIRCLE OF FRIENDS,
INCLUDING COWORKERS FROM HER JOB AT KMART.
ON THE SATURDAY AFTERNOON BEFORE SHE WAS KILLED,
NORMA HOSTED A MEMORIAL DAY BARBECUE
FOR MANY OF THOSE COWORKERS.
Andrew: SHE WAS A LOT OF FUN.
MY MOM, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS ONE OF THOSE
THAT LIKED TO BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER,
HAVE A GOOD TIME, AND BE THE LIFE OF THE PARTY.
Narrator: WHEN INVESTIGATORS TALKED TO FRIENDS
WHO ATTENDED THE BARBECUE,
THEY UNCOVER A MAJOR CLUE.
DURING THE PARTY, NORMA WAS STRESSED OUT
BECAUSE HER HOUSE KEYS WERE MISSING.
I DON'T KNOW.
Fitzgerald: SHE AND HER FRIENDS LOOKED FOR THOSE HOUSE KEYS
EXTENSIVELY
AND WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE HOUSE KEYS MISSING.
Narrator: THE KEYS COULD HAVE GIVEN THE KILLER SILENT ACCESS
TO NORMA'S HOUSE.
MAYBE SOMEONE HAD STOLEN THEM
WITH THE IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO COME BACK TO HER HOUSE
AT SOME POINT IN TIME.
Simon: AT THE CRIME SCENE,
THE KEYS WERE FOUND PRETTY MUCH IN PLAIN VIEW,
SO WE FIGURED SOMEBODY HAD TO HAVE GOTTEN HOLD OF HER KEYS,
AND WE FIGURED IT WAS AN ACQUAINTANCE,
SOMEBODY THAT SHE KNEW.
Narrator: QUITE POSSIBLY, SOMEONE WHO WAS AT HER BARBECUE,
BUT THE KEYS YIELD NO USABLE PRINTS.
POLICE WONDER WHO ELSE MIGHT HAVE A KEY,
ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE WAS NO SIGN OF FORCED ENTRY.
WHEN THEY LOOK DEEPER, THEY FIND OUT ABOUT
A DIRTY LITTLE SECRET INVOLVING NORMA'S FRIEND BENITA.
I THINK 8:00.
Estrella: THIS FRIEND WAS UTILIZING NORMA'S HOUSE
TO HAVE AN EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR WITH ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL.
Narrator: NORMA ALLOWED BENITA TO MAKE A DUPLICATE KEY
SO HER ADULTEROUS FRIEND COULD CONTINUE HER *** RENDEZVOUS
WHILE NORMA WAS AT WORK.
AND WE THOUGHT, "OKAY, HOW MANY COPIES OF THE KEY DID SHE MAKE?
DID SHE MAKE MORE THAN ONE?
DID SHE LET SOMEONE ELSE USE THIS KEY WITHOUT NORMA KNOWING?"
Narrator: IT OPENS A WHOLE NEW AVENUE OF SUSPECTS,
STARTING WITH BENITA'S BETRAYED HUSBAND, JED GORA.
HOW DO YOU KNOW NORMA?
SHE'S A FRIEND. SHE IS MY WIFE'S FRIEND.
BENITA AND JED GORA HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS.
GORA IS A YOUTH MINISTER,
AND HE'S ALSO ONE OF NORMA'S CLOSE FRIENDS.
WHEN CONFRONTED WITH HIS WIFE'S ADULTERY,
HE APPEARS GENUINELY BLINDSIDED.
OBVIOUSLY, I'M VERY UPSET ABOUT ALL THIS.
BUT WHAT IF HE ALREADY KNEW ABOUT HIS WIFE'S AFFAIR
AND NORMA'S COMPLICITY?
DURING HIS INTERVIEW,
GORA DOES ADMIT TO HAVING PROBLEMS IN HIS MARRIAGE.
ANGRY.
HE WAS EVEN PLANNING ON ASKING FOR NORMA'S ADVICE
ON THE VERY NIGHT SHE WAS SO BRUTALLY KILLED.
I WENT TO THE STORE.
ANYBODY WHO CAN CORROBORATE THAT?
NO.
Fitzgerald: THE NIGHT THAT WE BELIEVE SHE WAS MURDERED,
HE WAS OUT ROAMING AROUND,
HAD NOT A SOLID ALIBI FOR WHAT HE WAS DOING,
AND HE WAS KIND OF SUICIDAL.
Narrator: DID GORA PAY A VISIT TO NORMA THAT NIGHT,
AND DID SHE TELL HIM ABOUT HIS WIFE'S AFFAIR
AND HER OWN ROLE IN PROVIDING A LOVE NEST?
THE BETRAYAL AND HUMILIATION
COULD HAVE EASILY TRIGGERED A VIOLENT REACTION.
THERE IS ONE SMALL THING THAT COULD HELP CLEAR GORA'S NAME.
NORMA'S YOUNG SON AUSTIN WAS IN THE HOUSE DURING THE ***.
IF HE HAD SEEN GORA HURTING HIS MOTHER,
AUSTIN WOULD SURELY HAVE TOLD HIS BROTHER.
WHERE'S MOM?
SHE'S SLEEPING, AND SHE HAS SOMETHING ON HER FACE.
BUT HE NEVER SPOKE GORA'S NAME.
WITH NOTHING CONCRETE TO PIN ON THE YOUTH MINISTER,
POLICE ARE FORCED TO LOOK ELSEWHERE,
AND WITH THEIR ONE POTENTIAL EYEWITNESS
STILL TOO TRAUMATIZED TO TALK,
POLICE ARE RUNNING OUT OF SUSPECTS.
Officer: OKAY, YOU DOING OKAY THERE, KIDDO?
THAT'S WHEN AUSTIN COMES OUT OF HIS SHELL...
IS IT ANYBODY THAT'S COME AROUND IN THE LAST FEW DAYS?
OKAY, GOOD.
DO YOU KNOW WHO HE WAS?
...AND STARTS NAMING NAMES.
Fitzgerald: WHEN AUSTIN GAVE US SOME NAMES,
THEY BECAME, OBVIOUSLY, PRETTY IMPORTANT TO US.
Narrator: COMING UP...
WHAT A FOUR-YEAR-OLD TELLS POLICE...
...SHOCKS EVERYONE.
Narrator: POLICE IN PORT HUENEME, CALIFORNIA,
ARE INVESTIGATING THE GRUESOME *** OF NORMA RODRIGUEZ,
WHO WAS FOUND DEAD, STRANGLED, AND SUFFOCATED
WITH HER FACE WRAPPED IN DUCT TAPE.
NORMA'S FOUR-YEAR-OLD SON, AUSTIN,
WAS IN THE HOUSE WHEN SHE WAS KILLED
AND MAY HAVE WITNESSED THE ***.
Estrella: BECAUSE OF HIS AGE AT THE TIME,
WE KNEW THAT IT WAS GONNA BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT
TO GAIN THIS YOUNG KID'S CONFIDENCE.
WE TRIED TO GET TO KNOW HIM A LITTLE BIT,
TRIED TO MAKE HIM FEEL AS COMFORTABLE AS WE COULD.
WE MAY HAVE FOUND A CONNECTION.
Narrator: THE NAME WARREN JOLTS THE INVESTIGATION INTO HIGH GEAR.
BEEN GOOD.
IT'S THE FIRST NAME
OF A MAN WHO USED TO WORK WITH NORMA AT KMART.
WARREN MACKEY IS SOMEONE SHE'D BEEN FRIENDLY WITH
FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS.
STOP IT!
HE WAS ALSO ONE OF THE GUESTS AT NORMA'S MEMORIAL DAY BARBECUE...
YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL.
OH, STOP.
...JUST A DAY BEFORE SHE WAS MURDERED.
Fitzgerald: NORMA HAD COMPLAINED TO A COUPLE OF HER FRIENDS
THAT WARREN HAD COME ON TO HER
AND SHE DIDN'T WANT THAT TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP.
WE'RE JUST FRIENDS, WARREN, OKAY?
NOTHING MORE.
DON'T YOU THINK I'M A GOOD GUY?
WARREN PROBABLY HAD MORE OF AN INTEREST IN NORMA
THAN NORMA HAD WITH HIM.
WELL, YOU'RE COMING OFF A LITTLE TOO STRONG, WARREN.
Narrator: A FEW OF HIS FORMER COLLEAGUES...
HE COULD FLY OFF THE HANDLE.
...SAY THAT HE'S SHORT-TEMPERED, HYPER, AND MOODY...
RELAX.
...A JEKYLL AND HYDE OF SORTS.
TALK TO ME ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH NORMA.
WHEN HE'S BROUGHT IN FOR QUESTIONING,
MACKEY IS SHOCKED THAT HE'S A SUSPECT IN NORMA'S ***.
SHE'S, UH...
WARREN MACKEY TOLD US THAT HE WAS CLOSE FRIENDS WITH NORMA,
NOTHING PHYSICAL, TOTAL FRIENDSHIP, NOTHING ELSE.
Narrator: HE HAS NO HISTORY OF VIOLENCE...
MY FRIENDS CAN TELL YOU EXACTLY WHERE I WAS.
...AND EVEN HAS AN ALIBI.
OKAY.
THE NIGHT OF THE ***,
HE CLAIMS HE WAS OUT DRINKING WITH HIS ROOMMATES
AND GOT HOME AROUND 1:30.
WE TALKED TO THE TWO ROOMMATES, AND THEIR ACCOUNT ALL RANG TRUE.
THEY SAID THEY GOT HOME ABOUT 1:30 IN THE MORNING
AND EVERYBODY WENT TO THEIR RESPECTIVE BEDROOMS
AND THAT'S THE LAST THEY SAW EACH OTHER TILL THE NEXT MORNING.
Narrator: THAT STILL LEAVES A WINDOW OF TIME AFTER 1:30
WHEN WARREN COULD HAVE PAID NORMA A FATAL LATE-NIGHT VISIT
WHICH WAS THEN WITNESSED...
MAMA, ARE YOU OKAY?
...BY FOUR-YEAR-OLD AUSTIN.
MOMMY, WAKE UP.
WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO SUBMIT TO A VOICE-ANALYSIS TEST?
MACKEY COOPERATES FULLY WITH INVESTIGATORS...
I SUPPOSE. ANYTHING YOU WANT.
...OFFERING HAIR AND FINGERPRINT SAMPLES
AND EVEN AGREEING TO A POLYGRAPH TEST.
DID YOU KILL NORMA RODRIGUEZ?
NO.
HE PASSED THE BASIC TESTS THAT WE HAD GIVEN HIM --
POLYGRAPH, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
CAN I LEAVE? AM I GOOD?
Narrator: IT'S ENOUGH TO DROP MACKEY DOWN THE SUSPECT LIST,
BUT IT BEGS THE QUESTION,
WHAT MADE AUSTIN SAY THOSE THINGS ABOUT WARREN?
WARREN PUT TAPE ON MY MOMMY'S FACE.
IT COULD BE THE FOUR-YEAR-OLD
WAS SIMPLY CONFUSING WARREN'S VISIT AT NORMA'S BARBECUE
THE DAY BEFORE THE ***.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA EAT?
Fitzgerald: IT DIDN'T GET HIM OFF THE RADAR SCREEN,
BUT IT PUT HIM WAY BACK, UNLESS WE COULD PROVE OTHERWISE.
Officer: WAS THERE SOMEBODY ELSE?
Narrator: WHEN QUESTIONED FURTHER,
AUSTIN STARTS REMEMBERING
MORE DETAILS ABOUT HIS MOTHER'S DEATH.
THERE WAS A BLACK MAN THAT CAME TO THE DOOR.
HE NOW TELLS POLICE,
"A BLACK MAN WAS AT THE HOUSE THAT NIGHT."
HE SAYS THE MAN ARGUED WITH HIS MOTHER,
THEN TIED TAPE AROUND HER HEAD.
DID MOMMY KNOW THIS BLACK MAN?
AGAIN, THE BOY PROVIDES A NAME -- CLIVE.
YOU GOT TO LET ME ON THE GRILL.
IT'S ANOTHER NAME STRAIGHT OUT OF THE GUEST LIST
FROM NORMA'S MEMORIAL DAY BARBECUE.
I'VE SEEN THEM TALKING A LOT.
AUSTIN, I'M CLIVE.
SO GOOD TO MEET YOU.
CLIVE DELTON WORKED WITH NORMA AT KMART.
HE'S DESCRIBED BY COWORKERS...
HE'S FUN.
...AS FRIENDLY AND EASYGOING.
DID YOU EVER INTERACT WITH HER OUTSIDE OF WORK?
WHEN POLICE PULL HIM IN FOR QUESTIONING,
DELTON TURNS OUT TO BE A SLIPPERY SUSPECT.
[ SIGHS ]
Estrella: WHEN THE INVESTIGATORS TALKED WITH HIM...
ON THE NIGHT OF MAY 30th...
...HE WOULDN'T LOOK AT THEM.
HE APPEARED TO BE NERVOUS.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE AT?
HOME.
IT SEEMED LIKE HE WAS HOLDING BACK
AND ONLY GIVING US WHAT HE THOUGHT HE NEEDED TO.
AND YOUR NAME?
Narrator: AS THEY DIG DEEPER INTO DELTON'S PAST...
WE MAY NEED TO TALK TO EVERY COWORKER AT THAT STORE.
...THEY DISCOVER A GOOD REASON FOR HIS EVASIVE RESPONSES.
Estrella: HE AND ANOTHER GENTLEMEN
WERE APPARENTLY SUSPECTS IN A *** CASE.
AND FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, THE CASE WASN'T PURSUED.
Narrator: DELTON SUBMITS TO A POLYGRAPH TEST.
DID YOU KILL NORMA RODRIGUEZ?
AND WHEN ASKED ABOUT NORMA'S ***,
HE SAYS HE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT IT.
THE LIE DETECTOR CONFIRMS HE'S TELLING THE TRUTH.
POLICE ALSO FIND NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
TO LINK HIM TO THE CRIME SCENE.
ANOTHER SUSPECT DROPS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST.
POLICE HAD HIGH HOPES
THAT YOUNG AUSTIN WOULD HELP THEM CRACK THIS CASE.
I CHASED THE MAN AWAY.
WHO DID YOU CHASE AWAY, AUSTIN?
BUT THE ONLY NAMES HE GIVES THEM ARE FRIENDS OF NORMA'S
HE LIKELY SAW AT THE BARBECUE ONLY IN PASSING.
IT WAS PRETTY APPARENT TO US THAT AUSTIN WAS CONFUSED.
Narrator: THE INVESTIGATION INTO NORMA'S DEATH STALLS...
...UNTIL NEARLY A MONTH LATER,
WHEN POLICE ARE CALLED TO ANOTHER BRUTAL CRIME SCENE.
WE HAVE A HOMICIDE.
IT'S THE BODY OF A SINGLE WOMAN HOME ALONE...
[ SIREN WAILS ]
...JUST TWO BLOCKS FROM NORMA'S HOUSE.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
THE *** RATE IN TRANQUIL PORT HUENEME
HAS NOW OFFICIALLY SPIKED.
Simon: THERE WAS A LOT OF FEAR.
SOMEBODY WAS KILLING RESIDENTS.
Narrator: COMING UP...
WAS NORMA'S KILLER JUST GETTING WARMED UP
FOR A SEASON OF TERROR?
IT WAS ONE OF THE WORST HOMICIDES I HAD EVER SEEN.
Narrator: IT'S THE SUMMER OF '93,
BUT FOR THE BEACH TOWN OF PORT HUENEME,
THE DAYS ARE ANYTHING BUT CAREFREE.
AS THE *** OF NORMA RODRIGUEZ REMAINS UNSOLVED,
INVESTIGATORS ARE SUDDENLY FACED WITH A SECOND BRUTAL SLAUGHTER.
NORMA WAS FOUND ON JUNE 1st, AND JUNE 27th OF 1993,
BEATRICE BELLIS WAS FOUND MURDERED IN HER APARTMENT
ABOUT TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM NORMA'S HOUSE.
Narrator: AS WITH THE CASE OF NORMA RODRIGUEZ,
THERE'S NO SIGN OF FORCED ENTRY.
BEATRICE LIVED ALONE IN AN APARTMENT
IN A SENIOR-CITIZENS COMPLEX.
DEAF AND MUTE SINCE CHILDHOOD,
SHE LIKELY DIDN'T HEAR HER ATTACKER
AND MAY NOT HAVE SEEN HIM UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE.
Fitzgerald: SHE WAS ZERO THREAT TO ANYBODY -- ANYBODY --
AND IT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE WORST HOMICIDES I'D EVER SEEN.
Narrator: THERE WERE SEVERAL DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN THIS SCENE AND NORMA'S ***.
BEATRICE WAS *** BEFORE BEING VICIOUSLY STABBED TO DEATH,
AND THERE WAS NO DUCT TAPE ON HER FACE.
IT'S NOT THE SAME M.O.,
BUT PORT HUENEME IS A TOWN WHERE *** IS EXCEEDINGLY RARE.
YOU COULDN'T RULE OUT THE SAME INDIVIDUAL BEING INVOLVED.
Narrator: THEN, JUST OVER A MONTH LATER,
44-YEAR-OLD CYNTHIA BURGER
RETURNS HOME FROM THE GROCERY STORE.
WITHIN HOURS, HER HOUSE IS ENGULFED IN FLAMES.
FIREFIGHTERS RUSH TO THE SCENE AND MAKE A GRUESOME DISCOVERY.
Fitzgerald: SHE WAS FOUND EARLY IN THE MORNING,
AND SHE WAS FOUND IN THE BATHTUB.
SHE HAD BEEN STRANGLED TO DEATH. SHE HAD BEEN ***.
Narrator: HER ASSAILANT SET THE PLACE ON FIRE
TO COVER HIS TRACKS.
THREE MURDERS IN THREE MONTHS THROWS THE TOWN INTO AN UPROAR.
RESIDENTS FEAR A SERIAL KILLER
IS ROAMING THE STREETS OF PORT HUENEME.
EACH VICTIM WAS A SINGLE WOMAN,
AND EACH *** WAS MORE BRUTAL THAN THE LAST,
BUT INVESTIGATORS CAN'T FIND A COMMON THREAD OF EVIDENCE
IN THE THREE CASES.
NO!
Fitzgerald: NORMA -- STRANGULATION, DUCT TAPE,
BEATRICE STABBED TO DEATH,
AND CINDY MANUALLY STRANGLED AND HER PLACE SET ON FIRE.
IT WAS TOTALLY DIFFERENT IN EACH ONE.
USUALLY, YOU HAVE A PATTERN
OR A SERIAL KILLER DOING THE SAME THING.
THE VICTIMS WERE ALL FEMALE,
BUT THEY WERE SUCH A VARIED AGE, SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS.
IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE FOR ME
THAT THERE WAS A SERIAL KILLER OUT THERE.
Narrator: THAT POTENTIALLY MEANS AN EVEN WORSE SCENARIO --
THREE RANDOM KILLERS ALL WORKING IN ONE SMALL TOWN.
Fitzgerald: IT PUT A HORRENDOUS AMOUNT OF PRESSURE
ON OUR SMALL POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Narrator: IN ALL THREE CASES,
THERE ARE NO NEW WITNESSES AND NO NEW CLUES.
AS THE LONG, HOT SUMMER FINALLY COMES TO A CLOSE,
FOR NORMA RODRIGUEZ'S FAMILY,
THERE IS NOTHING BUT ANGUISH AND FRUSTRATION.
WEEKS, DAYS, MONTHS -- IT GOES ON FOREVER,
IT FELT LIKE, AND...
THE ANSWERS I'M LOOKING FOR ARE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND,
AND IT STARTS TO WEIGH HEAVY EVENTUALLY.
Narrator: NORMA'S TWO YOUNG SONS GROW UP WITH THEIR DAD,
NEVER ABLE TO CELEBRATE ANOTHER BIRTHDAY OR HOLIDAY
WITH THEIR MOTHER.
ALL THREE PORT HUENEME CASES GO COLD,
UNTIL NEARLY A DECADE LATER,
WHEN A GROUNDBREAKING NEW SCIENCE COMES OF AGE --
DNA ANALYSIS.
IN LATE 2000,
CYNTHIA BURGER'S *** IS SOLVED
AFTER AN ANONYMOUS TIP LEADS POLICE
TO 32-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL SCHULTZ, A LOCAL HANDYMAN.
THEY OBTAIN A SAMPLE OF HIS DNA,
AND IT COMES BACK A POSITIVE MATCH
TO *** FOUND ON CYNTHIA BURGER'S BURNED BODY.
DNA ALSO NAILS 28-YEAR-OLD RICARDO VILLA
IN THE *** OF BEATRICE BELLIS.
HE WAS A JANITOR AT HER APARTMENT COMPLEX.
BOTH MEN ARE SENTENCED TO DEATH ROW.
INCREDIBLY, THERE WERE THREE KILLERS IN PORT HUENEME
THAT SUMMER OF '93.
NOW ONLY ONE MORE NEEDS TO BE CAUGHT.
IN THE *** OF NORMA RODRIGUEZ,
THERE WAS NO *** ASSAULT.
DNA WOULD BE HARD TO COME BY.
BUT THERE WERE THE FINGERNAIL CLIPPINGS TAKEN FROM HER BODY,
WHICH MAY CONTAIN MICROSCOPIC TRACES
THAT CAN IDENTIFY HER KILLER.
YOU NO LONGER NEEDED A LARGE AMOUNT OF DNA OR SKIN SAMPLE.
YOU COULD GET DNA WITH A MUCH SMALLER AMOUNT.
Narrator: THE TINIEST CLUE IMAGINABLE
WAS ABOUT TO BECOME THE BIGGEST BREAK IN THE CASE.
Estrella: I CAN REMEMBER RECEIVING A PHONE CALL
TELLING ME THAT A HIT CAME BACK ON THE DNA.
Narrator: COMING UP, CLOSING IN ON THE DUCT TAPE KILLER.
WE SET OUT TO GET HIS DNA SURREPTITIOUSLY.
Narrator: AND A SUSPECT LETS SLIP AN INCRIMINATING DETAIL.
HOW WOULD HE KNOW UNLESS HE WAS THE KILLER?
Narrator: MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 1993.
SURROUNDED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS,
NORMA RODRIGUEZ WAS ENJOYING
THE START OF ANOTHER PERFECT CALIFORNIA SUMMER.
BY THE END OF THAT WEEKEND,
SHE WAS LYING ON HER LIVING-ROOM FLOOR,
WRAPPED IN DUCT TAPE AND DEAD FROM STRANGULATION.
NOW, 10 YEARS LATER,
TRACES OF DNA ON NAIL CLIPPINGS FROM NORMA'S BODY
ARE ABOUT TO UNMASK HER KILLER.
Simon: WITH THE ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY,
IF EVIDENCE WAS PRESERVED, WHICH IT WAS,
WE FELT PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET SOMETHING.
Narrator: A NEW TECHNOLOGY YIELDS TWO POSITIVE HITS FOR DNA.
ONE IS NORMA'S.
THE SECOND IS AN UNKNOWN MALE,
MOST LIKELY FROM A TINY DROP OF SWEAT FROM HER ASSAILANT.
Fitzgerald: ONCE WE GOT THE DNA OFF THE FINGERNAILS,
WE SET OUT TO COLLECT SAMPLES
FROM HER INNER CIRCLE OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
Narrator: ONE BY ONE, DETECTIVES REQUEST DNA
FROM ALL THEIR ORIGINAL SUSPECTS --
NORMA'S ESTRANGED HUSBAND, AARON REYNALDO,
WHO FOUND HER BODY,
HER EX-BOYFRIEND DENNIS GARZO, WHO BROKE NORMA'S HEART,
THE TWO MEN NAMED BY NORMA'S FOUR-YEAR-OLD SON,
WARREN MACKEY AND CLIVE DELTON.
BUT DETECTIVES HIT A ROADBLOCK WHEN THEY APPROACH JED GORA,
THE YOUTH MINISTER
AND THE HUSBAND OF NORMA'S FRIEND BENITA.
WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO GIVE US A SAMPLE OF DNA?
WHY?
Fitzgerald: HE FLATLY REFUSED TO GIVE US A DNA SAMPLE,
WHICH REALLY TOOK ME BY SURPRISE.
HE SAYS, "NO, I'M NOT GONNA DO THAT.
I'M DONE WITH IT. I'VE MOVED ON."
LET'S GO.
Narrator: 10 YEARS AGO, GORA'S WIFE, BENITA,
HAD BEEN CHEATING ON HIM
AND USING NORMA'S HOUSE FOR HER ILLICIT AFFAIR.
IF GORA HAD FOUND OUT ABOUT IT,
IT WOULD'VE BEEN AMPLE MOTIVE FOR ***.
WELL, IT WASN'T ME.
I'M TELLING YOU THAT RIGHT NOW, SO NO.
AND NOW HIS REFUSAL TO PROVIDE DNA
TELLS DETECTIVES
THEY MAY JUST HAVE SOLVED THEIR DECADE-OLD CASE.
THAT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR US.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD.
THEY MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO GET GORA TO COOPERATE.
I TOLD HIM, "DON'T YOU WANT THE KILLER FOUND?"
Narrator: WITH HIS ANSWER,
GORA JUST DIGS HIMSELF AN EVEN DEEPER HOLE.
Fitzgerald: HE SAYS THE KILLER --
HE HADN'T KILLED AFTER THAT.
AND I ASKED HIM, "HOW WOULD YOU KNOW THAT THIS KILLER,
WHOEVER KILLED NORMA, DIDN'T KILL AFTER THAT?"
HE SAYS, "WELL, I KNOW HE DIDN'T."
THAT STATEMENT REALLY ALARMED ME.
HOW WOULD HE KNOW UNLESS HE WAS THE KILLER?
MY PARTNER AND I LEFT THAT INTERVIEW CONVINCED
THAT HE WAS PROBABLY THE KILLER.
Narrator: WITHOUT ENOUGH EVIDENCE
TO LEGALLY COMPEL GORA TO GIVE THEM HIS DNA,
DETECTIVES WILL HAVE TO IMPROVISE.
WE SET OUT TO GET HIS DNA SURREPTITIOUSLY.
WE WENT THROUGH HIS TRASH.
WE GOT HIM IN A RESTAURANT AFTER EATING,
SECURED UTENSILS THAT HE'D BEEN EATING OFF OF.
Narrator: THE DNA COLLECTED FROM GORA
IS RUSHED TO THE LAB, TESTED,
AND COMPARED TO THE SAMPLES TAKEN FROM NORMA'S FINGERNAILS.
IT'S FAR FROM THE SLAM DUNK DETECTIVES HAD HOPED FOR.
GORA'S DNA IS NOT A MATCH.
Fitzgerald: I WAS SURPRISED
WHEN JED TURNED OUT TO BE A NEGATIVE AND DISAPPOINTED
'CAUSE I WAS HOPING THIS CASE WOULD BE OVER.
Narrator: POLICE STILL HAVE 10 MORE DNA SAMPLES
FROM SUSPECTS IN THE CASE,
BUT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE ANY OF THEM WILL PAN OUT.
IT STILL FELT LIKE IT WAS A HAIL MARY.
IT FELT LIKE IT WAS A LONG SHOT
THAT THERE WOULD EVER BE ANY RESULTS COMING BACK FROM IT.
Narrator: TEST AFTER TEST, THE SUSPECTS ARE ELIMINATED.
THEN, ON JUNE 1, 2003,
10 YEARS TO THE DAY SINCE NORMA'S ***...
HOMICIDE.
...THE LAB COMES BACK WITH A MATCH.
IT'S WARREN MACKEY, NORMA'S COWORKER AND FRIEND
AND THE MAN LITTLE AUSTIN HAD NAMED AT THE VERY BEGINNING.
IT'S WARREN.
Fitzgerald: I WAS SOMEWHAT SURPRISED.
I KNEW HE WAS STILL ON THE SCREEN,
BUT HE WASN'T NEAR THE TOP.
Narrator: THE PRESENCE OF MACKEY'S DNA ON NORMA'S FINGERNAILS
DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY MEAN HE'S GUILTY.
HE COULD EASILY HAVE HAD CASUAL CONTACT WITH HER
BEFORE SHE WAS KILLED,
PERHAPS AT THE BARBECUE THAT WEEKEND.
AND MACKEY HAD PASSED A POLYGRAPH 10 YEARS AGO
WITH NO SIGNS OF DECEPTION.
NO.
BUT IF HE'S INNOCENT,
THERE'S ONE PLACE HIS DNA SHOULDN'T BE --
ON THE DUCT TAPE USED TO MASK NORMA'S FACE
AFTER SHE WAS STRANGLED.
Jones: I LITERALLY HELD THE DUCT TAPE FOR NINE YEARS IN MY WORK DESK.
I ACTUALLY WAS ABLE TO PIECE IT TOGETHER
AS ONE LONG PIECE THAT WAS JUST TWO INCHES SHY OF 20 FEET.
Narrator: IT'S ANOTHER LONG SHOT,
BUT FORENSIC INVESTIGATOR ED JONES MANAGES TO ISOLATE DNA
AT BOTH ENDS OF THAT 20-FOOT STRIP.
THE DNA WAS FOUND ON THE VERY END OF THE DUCT TAPE,
WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN PUT AGAINST THE VICTIM'S FACE
BEFORE HE STARTED TO WRAP THE TAPE AROUND,
AND THEN IT WAS FOUND AGAIN 20 FEET AWAY,
WHICH WOULD BE WHERE HE WOULD THEN RIP IT OFF OF THE ROLL
OF DUCT TAPE.
WE'LL NEVER REALLY KNOW WHETHER IT WAS FROM SALIVA,
AS IN SOMEBODY TAKING THE ROLL OF DUCT TAPE LIKE THIS
AND STARTING TO RIP IT
OR IF IT'S JUST FROM THE SKIN ITSELF.
Narrator: BOTH SAMPLES ARE PERFECT MATCHES
TO WARREN MACKEY.
IT WAS LIKE WINNING THE LOTTERY.
Narrator: ON AUGUST 27, 2003,
POLICE INVITE MACKEY IN FOR QUESTIONING.
EVEN NOW, MACKEY IS EAGER TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS.
MACKEY IS HAPPILY MARRIED
AND TAKING COLLEGE CLASSES TOWARDS A DEGREE IN COUNSELING.
HE HAS NO IDEA
THIS INTERROGATION IS ALL ABOUT THE DNA HE PROVIDED
JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO.
MACKEY SEEMS TO ASSUME
THAT DNA CAN ONLY BE TRANSFERRED THROUGH *** CONTACT.
HE KNEW HE DIDN'T SEXUALLY ASSAULT HER,
AND SO HE FIGURED THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA FIND ANYTHING.
Narrator: THE INTERVIEW IS OVER.
MACKEY IS PLACED UNDER ARREST
FOR THE *** OF NORMA RODRIGUEZ.
Andrew: I WAS JUST SHOCKED.
MY MOM TREATED HIM LIKE A FRIEND.
I JUST REMEMBER HIM COMING AROUND SOMETIMES
AND KIND OF TRYING TO BE INCLUDED IN FAMILY EVENTS.
I WAS JUST DAZED.
Narrator: WHEN MACKEY REALIZES
THE FULL WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM,
HE AGREES TO PLEAD GUILTY
TO A LESSER CHARGE OF SECOND-DEGREE ***.
FOR TWO YEARS, MACKEY LUSTED AFTER NORMA RODRIGUEZ,
DESPERATE FOR HIS AFFECTIONS TO BE RETURNED.
STOP IT.
COME ON.
SHE WAS HAVING BOYFRIEND PROBLEMS
WITH THE BOYFRIEND THAT SHE HAD,
AND THEN, WHEN THEY BROKE UP,
MACKEY THOUGHT HE SHOULD BE WITH HER.
WE'RE NOT GONNA BE NOTHING MORE, OKAY? I'M SORRY.
BUT SHE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN THIS OTHER GUY,
AND I THINK HE FELT BETRAYED.
Narrator: AT HER MEMORIAL DAY BARBECUE,
SHE REBUFFED HIS CONTINUOUS ADVANCES.
IN THAT MOMENT,
HE MAY HAVE FORMULATED A PLOT FOR REVENGE.
NO ONE REJECTED WARREN MACKEY.
THAT'S WHEN NORMA'S HOUSE KEYS MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARED.
MACKEY MAY HAVE TAKEN THEM
IN ORDER TO PAY HER A RETURN VISIT LATE THE NEXT EVENING,
KNOWING SHE OFTEN FELL ASLEEP ON THE LIVING-ROOM COUCH.
THERE IS A THEORY THAT IT WAS PREMEDITATED,
THAT HE WENT OVER THERE WITH THE INTENT OF KILLING HER.
Narrator: WITH YOUNG AUSTIN HIDING IN THE NEXT ROOM,
MACKEY UNLOADED TWO YEARS OF PENT-UP RAGE ON NORMA RODRIGUEZ.
IN HIS ANGER, HE FELT BETRAYED, AND STRANGLED HER.
Narrator: UNABLE TO LOOK INTO THE LIFELESS EYES
OF THE WOMAN HE OBSESSED OVER FOR YEARS,
HE WRAPPED NORMA'S HEAD IN DUCT TAPE.
IN HIS FRENZY, HE USED FAR MORE DUCT TAPE THAN HE NEEDED
BUT JUST ENOUGH TO LEAVE TRACE AMOUNTS OF DNA,
DNA THAT EXPOSED THE BRUTAL KILLER
LURKING BEHIND AN ORDINARY FACE.
Fitzgerald: HE WAS AN INTROVERT,
A MILQUETOAST TYPE OF PERSONALITY
BUT WASN'T THAT BRIGHT.
HE SCREWED UP.
HE COULDN'T HANDLE REJECTION, ESPECIALLY FROM NORMA.
TO ME, HE WAS A LITTLE WEASEL.
Narrator: IN A SINGLE INSTANT,
A SICK AND TWISTED MAN CHANGED THE LIVES OF TWO YOUNG BOYS
FOREVER.
Andrew: I DO FEEL ROBBED.
BASICALLY, JUST, I GOT MY LIFE TAKEN FROM ME.
I JUST FEEL LIKE I GOT MY HEART RIPPED OUT OF ME,
AND IT'S NOT THE SAME.
I MISS HER VERY MUCH.
SHE'S AN ANGEL LOOKING OVER ME AND MY BROTHER.