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Narrator: A GRUESOME DISCOVERY...
GUYS.
Wheat: YOU CAN JUST SEE THE TIP OF HER FOOT
STICKING OUT OF THE TRASH BARREL.
Narrator: ...TURNS INTO ONE OF SAN ANTONIO'S BIGGEST MYSTERIES.
Saidler: THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY OBVIOUS CAUSE OF DEATH --
NO GUNSHOT, STAB WOUNDS, NO BLOOD COMING FROM THE BODY.
Narrator: THE VICTIM IS A SINGLE MOTHER
WITH A COMPLICATED LOVE LIFE.
BETTER KEEP THAT MOUTH SHUT!
A VALENTINE TRIGGERS A JEALOUS ACT OF VIOLENCE.
WHAT IS THIS?!
HE'S THE LAST ONE WE KNOW OF THAT SAW HER ALIVE.
Narrator: A SUSPECT IS TRAPPED
BY THE ONE THING HE COULDN'T HIDE.
Saidler: HE STARTED SHAKING, AND HE LOOKED AT ME,
AND HE SAYS, "I NEVER MEANT TO KILL HER."
AAH!
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
[ SIREN WAILING ]
Narrator: MIDNIGHT IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
AS THE REST OF THE CITY GOES TO SLEEP,
38-YEAR-OLD SUSAN VERSTEGEN GOES TO WORK.
SUSAN IS A DISTRIBUTOR FOR THE FRITO-LAY SNACK COMPANY.
AT 2:00 A.M.,
SHE STOCKS THE SHELVES AT A 24-HOUR GROCERY STORE.
THEN, JUST BEFORE 4:00 A.M.,
SHE GOES OUT BACK TO THE STORAGE SHED
TO CHECK HER INVENTORY.
AT 7:00 A.M., HER SUPERVISOR GETS A CALL --
SUSAN NEVER SHOWED UP FOR THE REST OF HER SERVICE STOPS.
HE CALLS AND PAGES HER.
SHE DOESN'T ANSWER.
Saidler: IT WAS VERY UNLIKE HER
NOT TO CONTACT ANYBODY OR MISS HER WORK.
HAVE YOU SEEN SUSAN AT ALL THIS MORNING?
NO, NOT TODAY.
AND THEN HER SUPERVISOR STARTED CALLING FAMILY
AND CALLING AROUND, TRYING TO FIND HER.
Narrator: WHEN SUSAN'S 15-YEAR-OLD SON CHUCK HEARS THE NEWS,
HE FEARS THE WORST.
IT WAS SO UNUSUAL THAT IT MADE ME THINK THAT SOMETHING --
THAT SOMETHING BAD HAD HAPPENED.
Narrator: AT AROUND NOON, AN OMINOUS DISCOVERY IS MADE --
SUSAN'S HANDHELD INVENTORY COMPUTER
IS FOUND DISCARDED WITH A PILE OF TRASH
ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE STORE WHERE SHE WAS LAST SEEN.
HER LAST ENTRY ON THERE IS AROUND 3:58 IN THE MORNING
ON FEBRUARY THE 19th.
Narrator: WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED SUSAN TO SUDDENLY DISAPPEAR
IN THE MIDDLE OF HER SHIFT?
SUSAN WAS A -- VERY CLOSE TO HER FAMILY.
SHE WOULD NOT HAVE JUST GONE AWAY WITHOUT NOTIFYING ANYONE.
IT DEFINITELY ALARMED HER RELATIVES.
Narrator: SUSAN CAME FROM A LARGE AND DEVOUT CATHOLIC FAMILY.
SHE'D BEEN MARRIED FOR 11 YEARS, HAD A SON,
AND DIVORCED SEVEN YEARS AGO.
ON THE OUTSIDE, SHE APPEARED HAPPY.
SHE WAS THE ONE WHO WAS THE LIFE OF THE PARTY,
WHO EVERYBODY WANTED TO BE AROUND, WHO WAS FUN.
SHE TOOK HER JOB VERY SERIOUSLY, WORKED VERY HARD,
WAS REALLY DEVOTED TO HER SON,
AND TOOK A LOT OF TIME
DOING THE THINGS THAT A MOM SHOULD DO FOR HER SON.
SHE WAS ALWAYS A REALLY HAPPY-GO-LUCKY KIND OF PERSON,
VERY ENERGETIC, VERY FRIENDLY, VERY FULL OF LIFE.
AS SOON AS SHE WAS REPORTED MISSING,
THEY ALL WERE OUT THEMSELVES, SEARCHING FOR HER
AND TRYING TO LOCATE HER.
DO YOU GUYS SEE ANYTHING?
Narrator: IT ISN'T LONG BEFORE ANOTHER DISTURBING CLUE IS DISCOVERED
NEAR A STORAGE SHED OUTSIDE THE GROCERY STORE --
IT'S A PAIR OF WOMEN'S SHOES.
CHUCK CONFIRMS THEY BELONG TO HIS MOTHER.
LATER THAT DAY,
POLICE LOCATE HER ABANDONED CAR AT AN APARTMENT COMPLEX
DIRECTLY BEHIND THE GROCERY STORE.
A FORENSIC EXAMINATION OF THE CAR
YIELDS SOME VERY OMINOUS EVIDENCE.
AAH! AAH!
Saidler: THERE WAS MARKS ON THE WINDOWS,
AS IF SOMEBODY HAD SMEARED FINGERPRINTS ON THE WINDOW.
ON THE BACKSEAT WAS A STAIN, WHICH WAS OBVIOUSLY FRESH
AND TESTED POSITIVE FOR BEING MALE ***.
A POLICE REPORT WAS INITIATED RIGHT AWAY
AS A MISSING-PERSON REPORT,
AND HER INFORMATION WAS ENTERED
INTO THE POLICE COMPUTERS NATIONWIDE.
Narrator: IT ISN'T UNTIL THE NEXT DAY,
AT 2:00 IN THE AFTERNOON,
THAT THEY GET THE NEXT BIG BREAK IN SUSAN'S DISAPPEARANCE.
Moravec: THERE WAS A BASEBALL TEAM PRACTICING
AT A NEARBY CHURCH
WHILE THE SEARCH PARTY WAS LOOKING FOR SUSAN.
THERE WAS A BALL HIT INTO A FIELD.
Narrator: AS ONE OF THE KIDS RUNS TO RETRIEVE THE BALL,
HE SEES A 55-GALLON DRUM.
SOMETHING INSIDE CATCHES HIS ATTENTION.
GUYS.
YOU CAN JUST SEE THE TIP OF HER FOOT
STICKING OUT OF THE TRASH BARREL.
Narrator: IT'S THE BODY OF SUSAN VERSTEGEN.
Monney: WHEN WE GOT THE NEWS THAT THEY HAD FOUND HER,
THE POLICE BROUGHT US TO A SEPARATE LOCATION
FROM THE SEARCH AND RESCUE AREA TO THE STAGING AREA, I GUESS
AND TOLD US AS A FAMILY.
Anna: I WAS SCREAMING, "NO" TO THE UNIVERSE
AND "NO" TO GOD THAT, NO, THAT WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
IT WAS JUST SUCH A BETRAYAL.
I DO REMEMBER JUST HAVING A MOMENT, INITIALLY,
THAT WAS VERY EMOTIONAL,
AND THEN, AFTER THAT, REALLY, JUST KIND OF GOING NUMB.
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
Narrator: THE 15-YEAR-OLD IS SPARED THE DETAILS
OF THE GRUESOME DISCOVERY.
Saidler: SHE WAS FOUND IN THE BARREL
WITH A SHIRT AND BRA AROUND HER NECK.
SHE WAS NAKED FROM THE WAIST DOWN.
THERE WAS OTHER ITEMS -- SOCKS, A BELT --
FOUND IN THE DRUM.
THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY OBVIOUS SIGNS OF CAUSE OF DEATH.
THERE WAS NO GUNSHOT, STAB WOUNDS.
THERE WAS NO BLOOD COMING FROM THE BODY.
Narrator: BUT DEEP BRUISES AROUND HER NECK
SUGGEST SHE MAY HAVE BEEN STRANGLED.
AND SUSAN'S BATTERED BODY BETRAYS A VIOLENT ***.
Wheat: SHE HAD BRUISES ALL FROM HER KNEES TO ELBOWS
TO HER NECK TO HER FACE,
AS THOUGH SHE WERE FIGHTING OFF PUNCHES AND FIGHTING PHYSICALLY.
Susan: NO!
THIS WAS NOT THE KIND OF PERSON
WHO HAD ENGAGED IN CONSENSUAL SEX.
Saidler: IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE A PLANNED CRIME.
BUT AT THIS POINT, WE DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS A STRANGER,
DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS PERSONAL.
Narrator: A CANVASS OF THE AREA TURNS UP NO WITNESSES,
AND POLICE RECORDS SHOW NO CALLS REPORTING A DISTURBANCE
OR ANYTHING UNUSUAL THAT NIGHT.
WE HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO GO ON,
OTHER THAN WHEN SHE WAS LAST SEEN,
WHERE SHE WAS FOUND AT, AND NOW WHERE WE FOUND HER CAR
AND WHERE WE FOUND THE OTHER EVIDENCE.
Narrator: THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE AUTOPSY CONFIRMS
THE CAUSE OF DEATH AS MANUAL STRANGULATION.
DNA FROM THE *** IS SENT TO THE LAB FOR ANALYSIS.
AS THE FORENSICS TEAM EXAMINES THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE,
HOMICIDE DETECTIVES DELVE INTO
THE PERSONAL LIFE OF SUSAN VERSTEGEN
AND FOCUS ON HER EX-HUSBAND AND FATHER OF HER SON.
THEY TRIED TO GET ALONG AS WELL AS POSSIBLE FOR MY SAKE,
CERTAINLY.
IT WAS CHALLENGING IN THE SENSE THAT, I THINK, CERTAINLY,
THERE WAS SOME RESENTMENT ISSUES WITH THE DIVORCE ON BOTH SIDES.
Narrator: SUSAN'S EX-HUSBAND HAD FULL CUSTODY OF CHUCK,
BUT THE 15-YEAR-OLD SPENT AS MUCH TIME AS HE COULD
WITH HIS MOTHER.
Monney: WHEN SHE WAS OFF OF WORK, I WAS WITH HER, BASICALLY,
REGARDLESS OF IF I WAS GOING TO SCHOOL
OR IF IT WAS A WEEKEND OR WHATEVER,
JUST WHATEVER DAYS THOSE FELL ON,
I WOULD -- I'D STAY WITH HER.
SO WE WERE CLOSE. WE WERE VERY CLOSE.
Narrator: AS A TEENAGER,
CHUCK NOW HAD MORE SAY IN THE CUSTODY ARRAIGNMENT,
AND HE WAS READY FOR A CHANGE.
I CONSIDERED PUSHING TO CHANGE CUSTODY
TO STAY WITH MY MOM INSTEAD OF MY DAD.
WHEN THE SUBJECT WAS BROUGHT TO MY DAD, IT WAS A BIG ISSUE.
IT WAS A DIFFICULT ISSUE.
Narrator: COULD THE LOSS OF HIS SON
HAVE TRIGGERED A MELTDOWN IN SUSAN'S EX-HUSBAND?
HE SEEMS GENUINELY UPSET OVER SUSAN'S DEATH,
BUT SOME SEE THAT AS AN ACT.
SHE WAS PRETTY MUCH LIKED BY EVERYBODY.
Saidler: THERE WAS PROBABLY FAMILY MEMBERS
THAT WERE CONVINCED THAT HE HAD SOME PART IN IT,
WHETHER HE DID THE CRIME HIMSELF
OR WHETHER HE HAD SOMEBODY ELSE DO THE CRIME.
Narrator: THE EX AGREES
TO SUBMIT FINGERPRINTS, BLOOD, AND HAIR SAMPLES.
WHEN THE RESULTS COME BACK, HE IS COMPLETELY CLEARED.
HIS GRIEF IS GENUINE.
Monney: IT WAS HIS FIRST REAL LOVE.
EVEN THOUGH THEY WEREN'T, YOU KNOW,
CONNECTED THE SAME WAY THEY USED TO BE,
THEY STILL HAD A CONNECTION THAT WASN'T EVER GONNA GO AWAY.
AND SO HE TOOK IT REALLY, REALLY HARD.
Narrator: SUSAN HAD ONLY BEEN MARRIED THE ONE TIME,
BUT JUST THREE YEARS AGO,
SHE HAD BECOME ENGAGED TO ANOTHER MAN, DARREN CASE.
THEIR RELATIONSHIP HAD BEEN RIDDLED
WITH NASTY ARGUMENTS AND VIOLENT CONFRONTATIONS.
AT THE TIME,
SUSAN TOLD HER SISTER THAT CASE HAD EVEN TRIED TO CHOKE HER,
A GRIM PARALLEL TO THE WAY SUSAN WAS KILLED.
SUSAN HAD BROKEN OFF THE ENGAGEMENT WITH CASE,
BUT THEY CONTINUED DATING,
EVEN THOUGH THE TWO DIDN'T EXACTLY SEE EYE TO EYE.
HE, I THINK, WAS CONSIDERING HIMSELF STILL THE FIANCé,
WHERE SHE WAS NOW LIVING ON HER OWN
AND TELLING OTHER PEOPLE THAT HE WAS THE EX-FIANCé.
Narrator: POLICE BRING CASE IN FOR QUESTIONING.
WE'VE ARGUED, BUT, YOU KNOW, NOTHING --
NOTHING ANY REGULAR COUPLE DOESN'T DO.
HE PROCLAIMS HIS INNOCENCE,
BUT ADMITS HE HAS A JEALOUS SIDE HE CAN'T CONTROL.
SHE MIGHT HAVE PUSHED ME A COUPLE TIMES.
I MIGHT HAVE PUSHED BACK,
BUT I NEVER HIT HER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
HE TELLS THEM ABOUT AN INCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE
FOUR DAYS BEFORE SUSAN'S DEATH.
FEBRUARY 14th, VALENTINE'S DAY.
THE COUPLE HAD GONE OUT FOR DINNER
IN WHAT CASE HOPED WOULD BE A ROMANTIC EVENING.
BACK AT HER HOUSE,
HE WAS EXCITED TO FIND A VALENTINE'S DAY CARD
LACED WITH *** INNUENDO...
UNTIL HE FOUND OUT THE CARD WASN'T FOR HIM.
SHE CONFESSED IT WAS FOR ANOTHER MAN.
HURT AND ANGRY, CASE STORMED OUT
AND SWEARS IT WAS THE LAST TIME HE SAW SUSAN.
AND I'VE HAD IT WITH YOU!
HE'S ADMITTED TO AN ASSAULT WITH THE VICTIM.
HE'S ADMITTED THAT HE'S STILL IN LOVE WITH HER --
SHE'S NOT IN LOVE WITH HIM.
YOU CAN GO TO HELL!
HE OPENLY ADMITS HE'S JEALOUS.
AND HE'S NOW MY NUMBER-ONE SUSPECT.
Narrator: COMING UP...
THE EX-FIANCé'S STORY IS PUT TO THE TEST...
Man: DID YOU KILL SUSAN?
...AND THE RESULTS SHOCK EVERYONE.
Saidler: AT THAT POINT,
HE ASKED FOR HIS ATTORNEY AND THE INTERVIEW WAS STOPPED.
[ SIREN WAILING ]
Narrator: SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT...
Susan: STOP! NO!
...38-YEAR-OLD SUSAN VERSTEGEN WAS *** AND STRANGLED...
[ GRUNTS ]
...HER BODY DISCARDED IN A 55-GALLON DRUM.
I NEVER HIT HER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SUSAN'S EX-FIANCé, DARREN CASE,
HAS THE PERFECT MOTIVE FOR KILLING HER.
JUST FOUR DAYS BEFORE HER ***,
HE FOUND A VALENTINE'S DAY CARD SHE HAD WRITTEN TO ANOTHER MAN,
AND HE WAS FURIOUS.
IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.
WHAT IS THIS?!
HE SAID, "I AM A JEALOUS PERSON, AND I AM JEALOUS OF HER,
BUT I DIDN'T KILL HER."
YOU CAN GO TO HELL!
[ SIGHS ]
Narrator: CASE AGREES TO TAKE A POLYGRAPH TEST
TO PROVE HE'S TELLING THE TRUTH.
THE ONLY PROBLEM IS, IT SEEMS HE ISN'T.
Man: DID YOU KILL SUSAN?
Case: NO.
DURING THE TEST, HE WAS TOLD THAT HE WAS FLUNKING THE TEST.
AT THAT POINT, HE ASKED FOR HIS ATTORNEY.
I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S LAWYERING UP BECAUSE HE'S GUILTY
OR IT'S BECAUSE HE'S TRYING TO PROTECT HIMSELF NOW
BECAUSE HE FEELS LIKE,
"I'M GETTING TO BE A SUSPECT IN THIS."
Narrator: CASE DOES AGREE TO GIVE A SAMPLE OF HIS SALIVA
FOR DNA TESTING.
THOSE TESTS SOON REVEAL
THAT HIS DNA DOESN'T MATCH THE *** FOUND IN SUSAN'S CAR.
THE EX-FIANCé IS CROSSED OFF THE LIST.
BUT THE VALENTINE'S DAY CARD
THAT SPARKED HIS JEALOUSY AND RAGE
OPENS UP A TANTALIZING NEW LINE OF INVESTIGATION.
I DON'T GIVE A DAMN ANYMORE!
WHO WAS SUSAN'S SECRET VALENTINE?
IN THE WEEKS BEFORE HER DEATH,
SUSAN HAD CONFIDED IN ONE OF HER SISTERS
ABOUT A MAN SHE'D BEEN CASUALLY DATING.
YOU HAD A BEER, RIGHT?
HE WORKS AS THE MANAGER IN A LOCAL BAR,
AND HIS NAME IS CASEY BLEECHER.
UNDER QUESTIONING, BLEECHER ADMITS HE WAS SUSAN'S LOVER...
YEAH, WE WERE DATING.
...AND THAT HE WAS WITH HER THE NIGHT SHE WAS KILLED.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW HER?
I'D SAY, UH, FRIDAY?
ALL RIGHT. WHERE'D YOU GO?
BACK TO HER PLACE.
Saidler: HE ADMITTED THAT HE HAD BEEN AT SUSAN'S APARTMENT
AND THEY WERE INTIMATE TOGETHER.
Narrator: BLEECHER DENIES SEEING HER AFTER HE LEFT,
AROUND MIDNIGHT,
WHEN SHE WENT TO WORK AND HE WENT BACK TO THE BAR.
HE SAYS HE WAS EATING BREAKFAST AT A DINER
AT THE EXACT TIME SUSAN WAS BEING *** AND STRANGLED.
HE'S THE LAST ONE WE KNOW OF THAT SAW HER ALIVE,
AND HE'S ADMITTING TO BEING INTIMATE WITH HER.
EVERYTHING WENT WELL AT HER PLACE --
NO DRAMA, NOTHING HAPPENED?
NO.
Narrator: WHEN DETECTIVES TRY TO CORROBORATE BLEECHER'S STORY,
THEY LEARN HE MAY HAVE LEFT OUT AN IMPORTANT DETAIL
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.
SUSAN CALLED HER SISTER RIGHT AFTER HE LEFT,
SAYING SHE SUSPECTED BLEECHER HAD SPIKED HER DRINK AT THE BAR,
HOPING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HER.
WHY DON'T YOU FINISH THAT UP? WE'LL GET OUT OF HERE.
ALL RIGHT. SOUNDS GOOD.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WHEN SHE CONFRONTED HIM ABOUT IT,
THEY FOUGHT, AND THAT'S WHEN HE LEFT.
DON'T LIE TO ME. I SAW YOU DO IT.
I'M NOT LYING TO YOU. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
YOU KNOW WHAT? GET OUT.
YOU BETTER KEEP THAT MOUTH SHUT!
Susan: GET OUT.
WHATEVER.
THE TOXICOLOGY REPORT, HOWEVER,
REVEALS NOTHING UNUSUAL IN SUSAN'S SYSTEM.
THERE'S NO EVIDENCE
THAT THE BARTENDER WAS MIXING ANYTHING
OTHER THAN LEGITIMATE COCKTAILS THAT NIGHT.
HE WILLINGLY SUBMITS HIS DNA FOR COMPARISON TO SUSAN'S KILLER,
AND IT'S NOT A MATCH.
EVEN THOUGH HE ADMITTED THAT HE WAS INTIMATE WITH HER,
HIS DNA WAS NOT FOUND.
Narrator: DETECTIVES HAVE ELIMINATED SUSAN'S EX-HUSBAND,
AN EX-FIANCé, AND A CURRENT BOYFRIEND.
THEY NOW HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERY INDIVIDUAL
WHO INTERSECTED WITH SUSAN'S LIFE,
STARTING AT THE LOCAL GYM WHERE SHE WORKED OUT.
Monney: SHE WAS VERY FIT. SHE WAS VERY STRONG.
I FOUND IT HARD TO BELIEVE
THAT SOMEBODY THAT WAS NOT ALSO STRONG
WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CARRY IT OUT
THE WAY THAT IT HAD GONE DOWN,
AS FAR AS BEING SUCH A VIOLENT CRIME.
SO MY MIND LED ME, THEN,
TO POSSIBLY SOMEBODY ELSE THAT SHE HAD MET AT THE GYM
THAT MIGHT HAVE ALSO BEEN PHYSICALLY CAPABLE
OF DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
Narrator: DID SOMEONE AT THE GYM
WATCH SUSAN POUNDING OUT THE MILES ON THE TREADMILL,
MAYBE EVEN ASK HER TO MEET UP OUTSIDE THE GYM,
FIND OUT ABOUT HER LIFE, HER WORK,
AND THE LATE HOURS SHE KEPT?
POLICE INTERVIEW THE GYM PATRONS
FOR ANY HINT OF OVERLY-FRIENDLY WORKOUT PARTNERS
OR POTENTIAL STALKERS,
BUT THEY ARE ALL QUICKLY CLEARED --
ANY CONNECTION TO SUSAN'S ***.
WITH NO NEW LEADS,
THEY SCOUR EVERY LOCAL BAR AND RESTAURANT SHE WENT TO
AND TALK TO NEIGHBORS AND CASUAL FRIENDS.
Saidler: THERE WAS, IN OUR OFFICE,
PROBABLY 15 HOMICIDE DETECTIVES THAT WORKED ON THIS.
AND WE'D HAVE MEETINGS AND COME UP WITH IDEAS ON WHO TO LOOK AT.
AND WE HAD NO CLEAR-CUT MOTIVE
AND COULD NOT NARROW DOWN ANY ONE PERSON AT THIS TIME.
Narrator: DURING A ROUTINE CANVASS OF ONE OF THE GROCERY STORES
THAT SUSAN SERVICED AS A FRITO-LAY REP,
THEY FINALLY HIT PAY DIRT.
THEY LEARN ABOUT GABRIEL ZHELINA,
A CLERK WITH AN UNUSUAL OBSESSION.
Saidler: THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN THAT HAD SHOWN INTEREST IN SUSAN
AND TALKED TO A COWORKER ABOUT WANTING TO GO OUT WITH HER
AND HOW MUCH HE LIKED HER.
Narrator: ZHELINA HAD A REPUTATION
AS A SOCIALLY AWKWARD LONER.
WHEN SUSAN MADE HER DELIVERIES,
THE HUSKY 200-POUND CLERK FOLLOWED HER AROUND,
FLIRTING WITH HER, AND INSISTING SHE GO OUT WITH HIM.
SHE ALWAYS TURNED HIM DOWN.
WHEN POLICE CHECK UP ON ZHELINA,
THEY FIND SEVERAL ISSUES OF CONCERN.
HE HAS A CRIMINAL RECORD FOR CAR THEFT
AND, AT THE TIME OF SUSAN'S ***,
HE HAD JUST BEEN FIRED FROM HIS JOB.
SHE'D COME IN, AND I'D HELP HER OUT.
DURING HIS INTERROGATION,
ZHELINA INSISTS HE AND SUSAN WERE JUST FRIENDS.
HE OFTEN BROUGHT HER FLOWERS TO CHEER HER UP.
AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS,
HE SAYS IT WAS SUSAN WHO HAD ASKED HIM OUT FOR A DRINK.
POLICE CONTEMPLATE A MORE LIKELY SCENARIO --
THAT SUSAN HAD REJECTED ZHELINA'S CONSTANT ADVANCES...
AND, FRUSTRATED WITH REJECTIONS,
HE UNLEASHED HIS RAGE AND ***
ON THE DEFENSELESS WOMAN IN THE PARKING LOT.
Susan: [ GRUNTING ]
SENSING THEY MAY FINALLY BE ZEROING IN ON SUSAN'S KILLER,
THEY ASK ZHELINA FOR DNA SAMPLES ON THE SPOT.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, THEIR HOPES ARE DASHED BY SCIENCE.
Saidler: HIS DNA WAS ELIMINATED,
AND HE WAS ELIMINATED AS A SUSPECT.
Narrator: AFTER A SOLID MONTH OF INVESTIGATION,
THERE'S NO PROGRESS IN THE CASE.
THE MYSTERY OF WHO KILLED SUSAN VERSTEGEN DEEPENS,
FRUSTRATING HER FAMILY.
THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THERE. THERE WAS NO CONNECTIONS.
THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THAT THEY COULD FIND.
Narrator: THEN, IN LATE MARCH,
DETECTIVES GET AN UNEXPECTED BREAK.
IT COMES FROM SOMEONE
WHO NARROWLY ESCAPED THE SAME FATE AS SUSAN.
Saidler: OUR OFFICE RECEIVED A CALL FROM A WOMAN
THAT SAID SHE WAS A VICTIM OF A *** ASSAULT
AT THAT SAME GROCERY STORE TWO YEARS EARLIER.
A MAN CAME UP BEHIND ME.
Narrator: COULD THIS ATTACKER
BE THE KILLER THEY'VE BEEN DESPERATELY HUNTING?
COMING UP, A NIGHT OF TERROR...
DON'T MAKE A SOUND.
...AND A SURVIVOR'S COURAGE...
SEE IF YOU RECOGNIZE ANYONE.
...LEAD TO THE MOST UNUSUAL SUSPECT YET.
Narrator: SIX WEEKS HAVE PASSED
SINCE SUSAN VERSTEGEN WAS FOUND DEAD IN A 55-GALLON DRUM.
INVESTIGATORS HAVE RUN DOWN EVERY LEAD AND POSSIBLE SUSPECT,
WITH NO LUCK.
FRUSTRATION AND GRIEF CONSUME SUSAN'S FAMILY,
ESPECIALLY HER SON, CHUCK.
IT WAS JUST A DAY TO DAY TO DAY, NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING,
NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE AN OUTCOME,
NOT EVER REALLY KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
Narrator: THEN, ON MARCH 31, 1994,
POLICE GET A CALL FROM A WOMAN
WHO HAD HEARD ABOUT SUSAN'S CASE ON THE NEWS.
SHE HAS HER OWN STORY OF A BRUTAL ***
THAT MIGHT HELP CATCH SUSAN'S KILLER.
I WAS PUTTING MY GROCERIES IN THE CAR,
AND A MAN CAME UP BEHIND ME.
KIRA CHANDLEN WAS ATTACKED TWO YEARS AGO...
NO!
...BEHIND THE SAME STORE WHERE SUSAN WAS LAST SEEN ALIVE.
SHE SAYS HER ASSAILANT DROVE HER TO AN ABANDONED LOT
AND HELD HER HOSTAGE FOR NINE HOURS.
HE *** HER, THEN TOLD HER HE WOULD KILL HER...
DON'T MAKE A SOUND.
...AND CUT HER INTO PIECES.
[ CRYING ]
KIRA PLEADED FOR HER LIFE...
[ Crying ] PLEASE DON'T HURT ME, PLEASE.
...TELLING HIM ABOUT HER YOUNG CHILD AT HOME.
PLEASE. HE CAN'T BE WITHOUT ME.
THE MAN CHANGED HIS MIND AND LET HER GO.
SHE IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE POLICE,
WHO COLLECTED A *** KIT, INCLUDING A *** SAMPLE.
AT THE TIME,
KIRA WAS TOO AFRAID TO PROVIDE A DESCRIPTION OF HER ATTACKER,
BUT SHE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HE LOOKED LIKE,
AND IT WOULDN'T BE THE LAST TIME SHE SAW HIM.
SHE STATED THAT SHE HAD SEEN HER SUSPECT
IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC
A COUPLE OF TIMES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS
SINCE THE *** OCCURRED.
Narrator: OVER THE YEARS,
KIRA WAS DEVASTATED SHE'D LET HER *** WALK FREE.
AND WHEN SHE HEARD ABOUT SUSAN VERSTEGEN,
SHE WAS CERTAIN HE'D STRUCK AGAIN.
THIS TIME, HE MUST HAVE FOLLOWED THROUGH
ON HIS DEADLY THREAT.
OKAY.
Man: THERE'S NO PRESSURE.
NOW KIRA WORKS WITH DETECTIVES
TO CREATE A COMPOSITE SKETCH OF HER ASSAILANT,
WHILE LAB TECHNICIANS ANALYZE THE DNA SAMPLE
FROM HER *** KIT.
THEY STARTED COMPARING HER CASE TO SUSAN'S ***
TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY CONNECTION
BETWEEN THE TWO CASES.
Narrator: SURE ENOUGH, THE TEST COMES BACK POSITIVE.
THE DNA FROM BOTH *** CASES MATCH.
AND WE'RE STARTING TO LOOK IN AND SAYING,
"OKAY, BOTH OF THESE CRIMES
HAVE BEEN COMMITTED BY THE SAME PERSON."
BASICALLY, WE NOW HAVE A JOINT INVESTIGATION GOING ON
BETWEEN THE HOMICIDE OF SUSAN AND THE *** VICTIM.
Narrator: AFTER WEEKS WITHOUT A SINGLE SOLID LEAD,
INVESTIGATORS NOW FACE
A POSSIBLE SERIAL-KILLER *** LOOSE IN SAN ANTONIO.
THEY HIT THE STREETS,
PICKING UP SEVERAL POSSIBLE SUSPECTS,
YOUNG MEN WITH VIOLENT *** HISTORIES
WHO RESEMBLE THE COMPOSITE SKETCH.
Saidler: AND AFTER CHECKING IN THE AREA
FOR SOME CONVICTED RAPISTS,
THEY PUT TOGETHER A COUPLE OF PHOTO ARRAYS
AND SHOWED THEM TO THE *** VICTIM.
NO, IT'S NONE OF THESE MEN.
Man: YOU SURE?
I DON'T RECOGNIZE ANYBODY.
MNH-MNH.
THAT'S OKAY.
Saidler: HOWEVER, AT THIS TIME, THE *** VICTIM WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY
ANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT THEY SHOWED TO HER IN PHOTO ARRAYS.
Narrator: IN FACT,
THE MORE DETECTIVES PRESS KIRA ABOUT THE DETAILS OF HER STORY,
THE MORE THEY BEGIN TO WONDER WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO HER.
Saidler: SHE STARTED CHANGING PARTS OF HER STORY,
STARTED CHANGING JUST THE LITTLE THINGS
THAT SHE ORIGINALLY HAD SAID HAPPENED TO HER
OR WHERE THEY WERE AT.
Narrator: THE CREDIBILITY OF THEIR EYEWITNESS IS CRUMBLING.
DETECTIVES REALIZE KIRA MAY NOT
BE TELLING THE WHOLE TRUTH ABOUT HER ATTACK.
INVESTIGATORS DECIDE TO RESUBMIT THE DNA FROM BOTH RAPES
FOR TESTING,
USING NEWER, MORE SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGY.
THIS TIME, THE RESULTS TURN OUT VERY DIFFERENTLY.
THEY RETESTED BOTH THE *** KITS AND DETERMINED THAT, IN FACT,
THE SAME DONOR DID NOT COMMIT BOTH CRIMES.
WE HAD A DIFFERENT SUSPECT IN THE HOMICIDE
AND A DIFFERENT SUSPECT IN THE ***.
Narrator: WHOEVER *** KIRA
DID NOT *** AND KILL SUSAN VERSTEGEN.
THE FALSE DNA MATCH IS A HUGE LETDOWN FOR THE DETECTIVES,
AS WELL AS FOR SUSAN'S FAMILY.
Saidler: WE WENT BACK TO SQUARE ONE,
LOOKING AT ALL THE OTHER SUSPECTS
AND TRYING TO FIND SOMEBODY ELSE
AND LOOKING FOR OTHER CLUES OF WHO MIGHT HAVE KILLED SUSAN.
Monney: IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED --
THERE'S NO REAL LEADS --
PEOPLE GET CONCERNED ABOUT WHO COULD POSSIBLY BE THERE
AND GRASPING AT STRAWS AND THINKING,
"WELL, MAYBE IT'S THIS PERSON. MAYBE IT'S THIS PERSON."
Narrator: NOTHING MADE SENSE.
DID SUSAN KNOW HER KILLER
AND JUST DIDN'T SEE THE DANGER COMING,
OR WAS THIS THE SPONTANEOUS ACT OF A STRANGER?
AS THE CRIME GOES UNSOLVED,
THE ENTIRE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY IS IN A STATE OF FEAR.
THE REWARD FOR SUSAN'S KILLER WENT UP TO $50,000
WITH VARIOUS DONATIONS.
PEOPLE WERE THAT INTERESTED IN FINDING HER KILLER.
Narrator: DESPITE THAT REWARD
AND A MASSIVE POLICE INVESTIGATION,
THE MYSTERY REMAINS UNSOLVED.
FOR MONTHS AND THEN YEARS,
THERE IS NO PROGRESS IN THE CASE.
AND THE CASE WAS RULED AS A PFI,
WHICH MEANT "PENDING FURTHER INVESTIGATION."
AT THAT POINT, WE HAD NO OTHER LEADS, NO OTHER STORIES
THAT CAME UP ON THAT WE COULD GO FORWARD WITH AT THAT TIME.
Narrator: SUSAN'S MOTHER GOES ON LOCAL TELEVISION
TO REVEAL THE HEAVY TOLL THE INVESTIGATION IS TAKING
ON THE FAMILY.
Anna: IT WAS REALLY FRUSTRATING AND MADDENING.
THANKSGIVING CAME AROUND, AND IT STILL WASN'T SOLVED.
AND THEN CHRISTMAS CAME AROUND,
AND IT WAS A REALLY BITTER CHRISTMAS.
SHE WAS SUCH A LIGHT IN THIS WORLD.
SHE REALLY ENJOYED LIFE
AND, YOU KNOW, WANTED TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR EVERYBODY,
AND SHE DID.
Narrator: IT'S EIGHT LONG YEARS
BEFORE ANOTHER MAJOR LEAD EMERGES.
WELL, THEY DIDN'T KNOW I WAS LISTENING.
A WILD ACCUSATION FROM A YOUNG WOMAN
TAKES THE CASE IN A WHOLE NEW DIRECTION.
Saidler: THIS GIRL WAS ACCUSING HER STEPMOTHER
OF KILLING SUSAN AND ROBBING HER.
Narrator: COMING UP, A SINISTER *** PLOT.
YOU GOT TO BRING A GUN.
Saidler: HIS NAME HAD NEVER BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE
IN ALL THE SUSPECTS THEY HAD GONE THROUGH.
Narrator: AND DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS
ON A SUSPECT'S HARD DRIVE...
Saidler: SHE WAS UNDRESSED,
TALKING TO PEOPLE THROUGH THE INTERNET.
Narrator: ON A COOL SAN ANTONIO NIGHT,
SOMEONE BRUTALLY *** AND STRANGLED SUSAN VERSTEGEN
BEFORE DUMPING HER BATTERED BODY INTO A 55-GALLON DRUM.
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
AFTER EIGHT YEARS OF INTENSIVE INVESTIGATION,
POLICE STILL DON'T HAVE A CLUE
WHO COMMITTED THIS GRUESOME ***,
BUT THEY DO HAVE A PROMISING NEW LEAD.
WHAT DID YOU HEAR YOUR STEPMOTHER AND HER BOYFRIEND
TALKING ABOUT?
IN JUNE 2002,
A YOUNG WOMAN NAMED MILLIE DANDRICH
COMES TO POLICE WITH A BIZARRE STORY.
EIGHT YEARS AGO,
SHE CAUGHT HER STEPMOTHER HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH A STRANGE MAN.
WHEN SHE EAVESDROPPED ON THEIR CONVERSATION ONE NIGHT,
SHE HEARD SOMETHING FRIGHTENING.
I-I DIDN'T HAVE TO KILL HER. WHAT ELSE WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO?
SIMPLE PLAN.
MILLIE DISTINCTLY REMEMBERS HEARING THEM TALKING ABOUT
A VIOLENT ASSAULT ON A WOMAN NAMED SUSAN.
SHE HAD OVERHEARD CONVERSATION ON HOW THE ROBBERY HAD GONE BAD,
AND THEY WERE INVOLVED IN SUSAN'S ***.
WELL, THEY DIDN'T KNOW I WAS LISTENING,
BUT I KNOW THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT A ROBBERY
AND SOMETHING WENT WRONG AND THEY HAD TO KILL A WOMAN.
WHY DID YOU WAIT THIS LONG
TO COME FORWARD WITH THIS INFORMATION?
ONLY NOW THAT HER FATHER IS DIVORCING HER STEPMOTHER
DID MILLIE FIND THE COURAGE
TO COME FORWARD WITH WHAT SHE HEARD.
SHE EVEN GIVES POLICE THE NAME
OF THE MAN HER STEPMOTHER HAD BEEN PLOTTING WITH --
CHAD SANSTER.
IT'S A NAME POLICE HAVE NEVER COME ACROSS.
Saidler: AFTER PULLING THE CASE FILE,
HIS NAME HAD NEVER BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE
IN ALL THE SUSPECTS THEY HAD GONE THROUGH.
Narrator: BUT CHAD SANSTER HAD A DIRECT CONNECTION
TO SUSAN VERSTEGEN.
EIGHT YEARS AGO, HE WORKED AT THE SAME COMPANY SUSAN DID.
HE WAS A WAREHOUSE WORKER,
AND SUSAN WAS A STOCKER OUT IN THE FIELD.
THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THEY COULD KNOW EACH OTHER.
Narrator: POLICE TRACK DOWN SANSTER,
ONLY TO FIND HIM STILL WORKING AT THE SAME JOB.
HAD HE VICIOUSLY *** AND STRANGLED HIS COWORKER, SUSAN,
THEN RETURNED TO WORK, DAY AFTER DAY FOR YEARS,
AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED?
DETECTIVES PULL SANSTER IN FOR QUESTIONING,
BUT HE REMAINS ODDLY CALM
AND INSISTS HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH SUSAN'S ***.
DID YOU HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH SUSAN,
MAYBE OUTSIDE OF WORK?
NO, SIR.
SURE ABOUT THAT?
YES, SIR.
DO YOU KNOW IF SHE HAS ANY WORK ACQUAINTANCES?
Narrator: NOBODY AT SUSAN'S WORK
CAN REMEMBER SEEING HER AND CHAD SANSTER TOGETHER,
AND THERE'S NO HARD EVIDENCE LINKING SANSTER TO THE ***,
BUT MILLIE INSISTS HE DID IT WITH THE HELP OF HER STEPMOTHER.
MILLIE EVEN CLAIMS SHE CAN PROVE IT.
Saidler: SHE SAID THERE'S EVIDENCE ON HER STEPMOTHER'S COMPUTER
THAT SHOWED THAT THEY HAD, IN FACT, COMMITTED THIS CRIME,
ALONG WITH OTHER CRIMES.
SO, AND SHE GAVE ME THE HARD DRIVE.
WE MIRRORED THE HARD DRIVE, WENT THROUGH IT.
Narrator: COMPUTER FORENSIC EXPERTS
SCAN THE STEPMOTHER'S HARD DRIVE.
BURIED DEEP INSIDE,
THEY FIND A NEST OF LURID VIDEO FILES WITH EXPLICIT CONTENT.
THERE WAS SOME PERSONAL INFORMATION
WHERE HER STEPMOTHER WAS UNDRESSED,
TALKING TO PEOPLE THOROUGH THE INTERNET.
Narrator: BUT THE *** VIDEO CHATS ARE ALL THEY FIND.
NO MATTER HOW FAR THEY DIG,
THERE'S NOTHING BUT CHEAP HOMEMADE ***.
WE COULD NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF SUSAN'S *** ON THERE.
THIS IS A MATTER OF PROCEDURE...
DETECTIVES ARE STILL NOT READY TO LET GO OF THIS JUICY LEAD,
THE FIRST THEY'VE HAD IN YEARS.
THEY CONVINCE SANSTER
TO GIVE THEM FINGERPRINTS AND DNA SAMPLES.
THE RESULTS COME BACK FROM THE LAB,
AND IT'S ANOTHER CRUSHING DISAPPOINTMENT.
SANSTER IS NOT A MATCH TO THE KILLER
AND MUST BE ELIMINATED AS A SUSPECT.
BUT WHAT ABOUT MILLIE'S STORY
OF THE BEDROOM CONFESSION SHE SUPPOSEDLY OVERHEARD
AND THAT EVIDENCE ON THE COMPUTER?
IT WAS ALL A VENGEFUL ATTEMPT
TO HUMILIATE AND GET BACK AT HER STEPMOTHER.
WITH THE COLLAPSE OF SUCH A PROMISING BREAKTHROUGH
IN THE CASE,
POLICE FACE A DEVASTATING POSSIBILITY --
THAT SUSAN'S KILLER MAY NEVER BE FOUND.
AS TIME WENT ON, I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION
THAT WE PROBABLY JUST WOULDN'T FIND OUT WHO DID IT.
Narrator: THEN, OUT OF NOWHERE,
THERE'S ANOTHER SURPRISING TURN IN THE INVESTIGATION.
THIS TIME, IT COMES IN THE FORM OF A PHONE CALL
FROM MICHIGAN STATE POLICE.
A CRIMINAL, ABOUT TO BE LET OUT ON PAROLE,
GIVES A ROUTINE DNA SAMPLE,
WHICH IS RUN THROUGH A NATIONWIDE DATABASE,
KNOWN AS CODIS, THE COMBINED DNA INDEX SYSTEM.
THE SAMPLE MATCHES EVIDENCE FROM A 1994 *** CASE,
THE CASE OF SUSAN VERSTEGEN.
COMING UP...
THE STRANGE CONCLUSION TO AN 8-YEAR-OLD MYSTERY.
Hernandez: NO, I'VE NEVER SEEN HER BEFORE.
WE FOUND YOUR DNA.
Saidler: I SAW HIS HANDS START SHAKING.
HE STARTED CRYING.
AND HE LOOKED AT ME, AND HE SAYS,
"I NEVER MEANT TO KILL HER."
Narrator: IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS,
THE GRUESOME DISCOVERY
OF 38-YEAR-OLD SUSAN VERSTEGEN'S BODY
TRIGGERED AN 8-YEAR SEARCH FOR HER KILLER.
NOW THE MYSTERY OF WHAT HAPPENED ON A COOL FEBRUARY NIGHT
LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT FINALLY BE SOLVED.
A 29-YEAR-OLD PAROLEE THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY,
IN MICHIGAN,
IS ENJOYING HIS FIRST TASTE OF FREEDOM
AFTER SERVING 3 1/2 YEARS ON A ROBBERY AND ASSAULT CHARGE.
BUT HIS PAST IS ABOUT TO CATCH UP WITH HIM,
THANKS TO A NEW LAW REQUIRING PAROLEES TO PROVIDE THEIR DNA
TO A NATIONAL DATABASE, KNOWN AS "CODIS."
Moravec: BEFORE HE WAS RELEASED, HE HAD TO SUBMIT HIS DNA,
AND A HIT WAS FOUND IN CODIS
TO THE DNA THAT WAS ENTERED FROM SUSAN'S ***.
Narrator: THE MAN'S NAME IS RODRIGO HERNANDEZ.
NO ONE INVOLVED IN THE INVESTIGATION
HAS EVER HEARD OF HIM.
Saidler: HIS NAME NEVER CAME UP IN ANYTHING THAT WE DID.
NOBODY EVER CALLED IN ON HIM.
IT WAS STRICTLY A COLD -- WHAT WE CALL A COLD HIT OFF OF CODIS.
Narrator: COULD THE LAB HAVE IT WRONG?
WAS THIS ANOTHER FALSE DNA MATCH?
DETECTIVE SAIDLER QUICKLY DIGS UP THE BASIC FACTS
ABOUT HERNANDEZ'S PAST.
RAISED IN MICHIGAN,
HERNANDEZ HAD LIVED THERE MOST OF HIS LIFE,
EXCEPT FOR ONE BRIEF PERIOD.
Saidler: HE CAME DOWN HERE TO SAN ANTONIO
TO LIVE WITH HIS UNCLE
BECAUSE HE HAD STARTED GETTING INTO SOME MINOR TROUBLE.
HIS UNCLE WAS KNOWN AS THE MORE STERN MALE FIGURE
IN HERNANDEZ'S FAMILY.
Narrator: HIS UNCLE PUSHED THE TEENAGER TO GET A JOB
AS A CLERK IN A SAN ANTONIO GROCERY STORE.
HERNANDEZ SLOWLY TURNED HIS LIFE AROUND.
HE WASN'T SOMEBODY WHO WOULD NECESSARILY --
YOU WOULD NOTICE.
HE DIDN'T GET IN TROUBLE FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
Narrator: WHEN DETECTIVE SAIDLER LEARNS
THE NAME OF THE GROCERY STORE WHERE HERNANDEZ WORKED,
IT SENDS UP A HUGE RED FLAG.
IT'S ONE OF THE CHAIN OF STORES
THAT SUSAN VERSTEGEN VISITED REGULARLY
AS A FRITO-LAY DISTRIBUTOR.
ANOTHER INTRIGUING DETAIL QUICKLY SURFACES
CONNECTING HERNANDEZ TO SUSAN.
RODRIGO HERNANDEZ LIVED HALF A BLOCK FROM THE CHURCH
WHERE HER BODY WAS DUMPED.
Narrator: EVEN MORE INCRIMINATING,
HERNANDEZ WAS FIRED FROM HIS JOB THE DAY SUSAN WAS MURDERED.
Wheat: AS SOON AS SUSAN VERSTEGEN WAS FOUND, HE WAS GONE.
NOBODY COULD FIND HIM IN SAN ANTONIO.
HIS FAMILY DIDN'T SEE HIM.
THE GROCERY STORE WHERE HE WORKED DIDN'T SEE HIM.
Narrator: ARMED WITH THE EVIDENCE HE'S GATHERED,
DETECTIVE SAIDLER HEADS DIRECTLY TO MICHIGAN
TO INTERROGATE RODRIGO HERNANDEZ.
DO YOU KNOW WHO THIS PERSON IS?
Saidler: HE DID TELL US THAT HE DID WORK AT THE GROCERY-STORE CHAIN
BUT CLAIMED HE NEVER CAME ACROSS HER THERE --
DIDN'T KNOW HER, NEVER HAD CONTACT WITH HER,
NEVER WENT OUT WITH HER.
Narrator: HE ASKS HERNANDEZ
WHERE HE WAS THE DAY OF THE ***
AND INSTANTLY HITS PAY DIRT.
HERNANDEZ ADMITS
HE WAS AT THE STORE WHERE SUSAN WAS LATER KILLED.
Saidler: HE TELLS ME THE REASON HE'S AT THE STORE THAT DAY --
'CAUSE IT'S NOT THE ONE THAT HE WORKED AT,
EVEN THOUGH HE WORKED FOR THAT CHAIN --
WAS THAT HE WAS BUYING SOUVENIRS.
AS SOON AS HE TOLD ME THAT, I SAID --
I KNEW I HAD THE RIGHT PERSON.
Narrator: DETECTIVE SAIDLER DECIDES
IT'S TIME TO TURN ON THE FULL-COURT PRESS.
Saidler: I SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT DNA EVIDENCE IS.
YOU KNOW THAT'S WHY WE COLLECTED YOUR HAIR AND YOUR BLOOD."
AND HE ACKNOWLEDGED HE KNEW WHAT IT WAS.
AND I SAID, "YOU DO REALIZE I KNOW YOU'RE LYING TO ME."
Narrator: AT THAT MOMENT,
HERNANDEZ KNOWS HE'S IN DEEP TROUBLE
AND DECIDES TO CHANGE HIS TUNE.
I TALKED TO HER FOR FIVE OR 10 MINUTES.
SUDDENLY, NOT ONLY DID HE KNOW SUSAN,
BUT THEY WERE INTIMATE PARTNERS.
Saidler: HIS FIRST COMMENT WAS, "I KNEW HER.
SHE WAS MY GIRLFRIEND."
AND I TOLD HIM -- I SAID,
"LOOK, I'VE ALREADY DONE A LOT OF INVESTIGATING."
I SAID, "I'VE ALREADY CHECKED YOU OUT."
I SAID, "AND DON'T ASSUME
THAT ALL MY EVIDENCE I HAVE IS *** IN NATURE.
NOT ALL DNA IS *** EVIDENCE."
AND I SAW HIS HANDS START SHAKING.
HE STARTED CRYING.
AND HE LOOKED AT ME, AND HE SAYS,
"I NEVER MEANT TO KILL HER."
I STRANGLED HER.
Narrator: IT'S THE CONFESSION SAIDLER'S BEEN HOPING FOR.
HERNANDEZ IS IMMEDIATELY EXTRADITED TO SAN ANTONIO...
TO STAND TRIAL FOR THE *** AND *** OF SUSAN VERSTEGEN.
WHEN HE REALIZES THE SEVERITY OF HIS SITUATION,
HERNANDEZ HAS ONE QUESTION.
HE ASKED ME -- HE SAYS -- HE SAYS,
"TEXAS HAS THE DEATH PENALTY." I SAID, "YES, IT DOES."
HE SAYS, "IS THIS A DEATH-PENALTY CASE?"
AND I SAID, "YES, IT IS."
AND HE ASKED ME IF HE WAS GOING TO DIE,
AND I SAID, "PROBABLY."
Narrator: FOR SUSAN'S SON CHUCK,
THE NEWS OF HERNANDEZ'S ARREST AND CONFESSION
COMES AS A MASSIVE SHOCK.
Monney: IT BROUGHT IT ALL BACK, IN A WAY,
BECAUSE YOU COME TO GRIPS WITH THE SITUATION,
AND YOU KIND OF PUT IT IN ITS PLACE.
YOU PUT IT IN A LITTLE BOX,
AND THEN IT JUST GETS COMPLETELY TORN OFF AGAIN,
AND NOW WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT ALL OVER AGAIN.
AND SO THAT WAS -- IT WAS DIFFICULT.
IT REALLY JUST THREW EVERYTHING INTO KIND OF CHAOS EMOTIONALLY.
Narrator: BACK IN SAN ANTONIO,
HERNANDEZ RECANTS HIS CONFESSION AND DENIES EVERYTHING.
BUT PROSECUTORS HAVE ALREADY AMASSED
ENOUGH EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM
TO LAY OUT A DETAILED ACCOUNT
OF HOW HE COLDLY ENDED THE LIFE OF A 38-YEAR-OLD MOTHER.
ON FEBRUARY 18, 1994,
THE 20-YEAR-OLD HERNANDEZ WAS FIRED FROM HIS JOB.
THAT NIGHT, HE GOT DRUNK AND ***
AND WOUND UP AROUND 4:00 A.M. AT A 24-HOUR GROCERY STORE,
THE SAME GROCERY STORE
WHERE SUSAN VERSTEGEN WAS STOCKING THE SHELVES
AND TAKING INVENTORY.
Saidler: AS HE WAS PULLING AWAY FROM THE STORE,
HE WAS TRYING TO AVOID A RED LIGHT,
SO HE WENT BACK AROUND BEHIND THE STORE
AND SAW HER STANDING THERE BY THE BUILDING AND BY HER CAR.
Narrator: IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY HERNANDEZ COULDN'T RESIST --
AN ATTRACTIVE LONE FEMALE WITH NO ONE ELSE IN SIGHT.
HEY.
Saidler: HE WALKED UP TO HER, APPROACHED HER,
STARTED A CONVERSATION WITH HER...
OH, WHY NOT, HUH?
...EVENTUALLY GRABBED HER,
THREW HER ON THE BACKSEAT OF HER CAR,
SEXUALLY ASSAULTED HER.
Narrator: SUSAN FOUGHT HIM OFF AS BEST SHE COULD,
BUT HERNANDEZ OVERPOWERED HER.
AND ONCE HIS VIOLENT *** WAS SATISFIED...
HE CHOKED THE LIFE OUT OF HER.
[ GRUNTS ]
HE HAD MOTIVE, I MEAN,
JUST OTHER THAN TO SEXUALLY ASSAULT HER
AND KILL HER TO LEAVE NO WITNESSES BEHIND.
THE *** KILLER IS NOT SOMEBODY
WHO'S DOING ANYTHING EXCEPT LOOKING FOR CONTROL,
LOOKING FOR POWER, LOOKING FOR DOMINATION,
AND HE LOVED THAT.
THAT WAS PART OF WHAT GAVE HIM A THRILL.
Narrator: HERNANDEZ NOW HAD TO GET RID OF THE EVIDENCE,
SO HE DROVE TO A PLACE HE KNEW --
THE PRINCE OF PEACE CHURCH NEAR WHERE HE LIVED.
IN THE FIELD OUT BACK, HE SAW A 55-GALLON DRUM,
THE PERFECT SIZE TO CONCEAL THE REMAINS OF HIS VICTIM.
HE STUFFED SUSAN'S BODY INSIDE, HEAD DOWN, FEET UP,
AND LEFT TOWN THE NEXT DAY.
10 YEARS LATER, HERNANDEZ GOES TO TRIAL
AND STICKS TO HIS STORY THAT HE NEVER MEANT TO KILL HER,
THAT THE STRANGULATION WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT.
THE PROSECUTION COUNTERS WITH A HARROWING DEMONSTRATION
OF THE MOMENT OF DEATH.
WE WENT THROUGH THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES
FOR A PERSON TO BE STRANGLED.
IT TAKES AT LEAST A MINUTE TO A MINUTE AND A HALF
BEFORE THEY GO UNCONSCIOUS,
AND THEN ANOTHER TWO MINUTES OF HOLDING THEIR NECK
AND COMPRESSING THE AIRWAYS.
ALL WE DID THEN WAS STOP IN COURT,
ASK IF WE COULD TAKE A BREAK
WHILE WE TIMED OUT THREE MINUTES FOR THE JURY TO HEAR.
Monney: WE HAD TO SIT THERE, WAITING FOR THAT TIME TO PASS,
TO JUST RELAY HOW INTENTIONAL IT IS
TO PUT THAT KIND OF HARM ON SOMEBODY,
AND THAT WAS THE HARDEST PART OF IT.
[ Voice breaking ] THAT IS SOMETHING THAT...
WILL NEVER LEAVE ME,
JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE IN THAT MOMENT --
UM...
THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE PUTTING YOURSELF THERE.
AND THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT, ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE,
THAT WILL NEVER, EVER -- THAT I'LL NEVER FORGET.
Narrator: BY CLOSING ARGUMENTS, THERE'S NO QUESTION
THE PROSECUTION HAS PROVEN THEIR CASE AGAINST RODRIGO HERNANDEZ
BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT.
THE JURY TOOK 15 MINUTES TO DECIDE HE DESERVED DEATH.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE IN THE COUNTY, MAYBE IN THE STATE,
HAS GOTTEN THE DEATH SENTENCE AS QUICKLY.
Narrator: FOR DETECTIVE SAIDLER,
THIS VICIOUS KILLER CAME TERRIFYINGLY CLOSE
TO GETTING AWAY WITH ***.
Saidler: THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
THAT I'VE HANDLED ANYTHING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO
TO WHERE SOMEBODY CAME FROM OUT OF STATE,
COMMITTED A ***, AND LEFT, WHO DIDN'T LEAVE A TRAIL,
WHO DIDN'T HAVE A PAST CRIMINAL HISTORY,
WHERE HE DIDN'T TURN UP ON ANYBODY'S RADAR.
IF HE HAD BEEN STILL HERE IN TEXAS,
NEVER GONE BACK TO MICHIGAN, NEVER GOT ARRESTED,
HE'D PROBABLY STILL BE WALKING THIS DAY.
Narrator: THROUGHOUT IT ALL,
HERNANDEZ SHOWED NOT ONE OUNCE OF REMORSE
AND NEVER ONCE SPOKE SUSAN'S NAME OR THE NAME OF HER SON.
I'M OF THE BELIEF
THAT THERE IS EVIL IN THIS WORLD, UNFORTUNATELY,
AND IT HAPPENS TO PEOPLE
THAT DON'T NECESSARILY ASK FOR IT TO HAPPEN TO THEM.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME AND MY FAMILY AND MY MOM,
AND I DON'T NECESSARILY FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO KNOW WHY ANYMORE.
Narrator: BUT KNOWING SUSAN'S KILLER GOT THE ULTIMATE PUNISHMENT
HASN'T BROUGHT CHUCK WHAT HE MOST WANTS --
A GRANDMOTHER FOR HIS YOUNG CHILDREN.
Monney: THERE'S NOT A DAY THAT GOES BY THAT I DON'T THINK ABOUT HER.
WHAT HURTS ME THE MOST IS THINKING ABOUT MY KIDS,
'CAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH HER.
SHE WOULD HAVE ADORED THEM.
AND -- AND THEY WOULD HAVE -- THEY WOULD HAVE ADORED HER.
AND IT WOULD HAVE JUST BEEN REALLY GREAT
TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE AROUND MY KIDS WITH MY MOM.
Narrator: ONE THOUGHT COMFORTS CHUCK THROUGH ALL HIS GRIEF.