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Woman: ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
Narrator: A WELL-KNOWN ATTORNEY...
Man: I WANT YOU TO TELL THAT TO THE COPS.
...CAUGHT UP IN A SCANDAL...
YOU'RE UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR FRAUD.
...AND A SECRET MEETING...
I'M NOT GOING TO NEGOTIATE.
...WITH DEADLY CONSEQUENCES...
Butner: NO!
EVERY *** HAS A MOTIVE.
EVERY MOTIVE REVEALS A TRUTH.
AND TO FIND THE TRUTH, YOU HAVE TO GO BACK.
SOMETIMES THE END IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
MY NAME IS FRED BUTNER.
IT IS OCTOBER 7, 1992, 6:00 A.M.
I'M WALKING UP TO THE LA CONCHA HOTEL ROOF
TO MEET WITH SUSAN HANNAH.
SUSAN...
CAN WE WORK THIS OUT?
Narrator: IN A TOWN KNOWN FOR ITS EASYGOING SPIRIT,
KEY WEST POLICE ARE STARTLED BY AN UNUSUAL CRIME SCENE.
THEY RESPOND TO A 911 CALL ORIGINATING FROM THE ROOFTOP
OF THE TALLEST BUILDING IN TOWN, THE LA CONCHA HOTEL.
Ellsworth: YOU KNOW, I HAVE AN IMAGE, SEEING WHERE IT HAPPENED.
I WAS AT THE TOP LOOKING DOWN.
THE BODY WAS ON THE ROOF OF THE ADJOINING BUILDING.
LET'S GET THAT TAPED OFF.
I WANT YOU AND YANNACONE TO TAKE THIS SCENE.
OKAY.
Narrator: WHEN POLICE REACH THE BODY,
THEY DISCOVER THAT THE VICTIM HAS A FAMILIAR FACE.
ISN'T THIS THAT LAWYER?
WHAT'S HIS NAME -- THE ACTIVIST, POLITICAL GUY?
Yannacone: I DON'T KNOW. I NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE.
I KNEW IT.
IT'S FRED BUTNER.
SURE ENOUGH, HIS I.D. CONFIRMS
THE BODY IS INDEED THAT OF WELL-KNOWN KEY WEST ATTORNEY
AND POLITICAL ACTIVIST, 41-YEAR OLD FRED BUTNER.
THE CRIME SCENE IS PUZZLING,
BUT AS INVESTIGATORS EXAMINE THE BODY,
THEY REALIZE A CRUCIAL PIECE OF EVIDENCE
LET'S HEAR THAT.
A TAPE RECORDER, WHICH APPEARS TO BE IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER.
WE LISTENED TO THE TAPE RECORDER, AND ON THE TAPE,
FRED IS SORT OF NARRATING WHAT'S HAPPENING.
Butner: I'M WALKING UP TO THE ROOF TO MEET WITH SUSAN HANNAH.
Narrator: WHAT THEY HEAR NEXT TURNS A TRAGIC DEATH
INTO SOMETHING POTENTIALLY FAR MORE SINISTER.
Keating: YOU HEAR HIM SAY, "HEY, SUSAN."
YOU KNOW, "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME?
I HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY YOU."
Butner: DON'T, PLEASE! NO!
THEN YOU HEAR HIS -- [WHISTLES]
Butner: NO!
Ellsworth: AND THUMP.
WHO THE HELL IS SUSAN?
CHECK THIS OUT.
HE HAD AN EXTORTION NOTE WRAPPED WITH SOME MONEY IN HIS POCKET.
THE NAME THAT'S ON THE TAPE.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS CAN ONLY CONCLUDE
THAT SUSAN HANNAH WAS BLACKMAILING FRED BUTNER.
THIS IS NOW A HOMICIDE CASE,
AN ALMOST UNHEARD OF TURN OF EVENTS
IN A PLACE THAT TOURISTS AND LOCALS ALIKE CALL PARADISE.
Keating: PEOPLE IN KEY WEST LIVE AND LET LIVE.
IT'S A REAL SMALL-TOWNY FEEL.
Narrator: FRED BUTNER HAD MOVED TO KEY WEST IN 1987
TO START HIS OWN LAW FIRM.
SOON, HE BECAME INVOLVED IN POLITICS
AND EVEN STARTED HIS OWN RADIO SHOW.
HE WAS MOST WELL-KNOWN AS THE HEAD OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
IN KEY WEST.
HE WOULD GET INVOLVED IN A LOT OF HUMAN-RIGHTS CASES
AND ALSO GAY RIGHTS.
Narrator: DETECTIVES GO STRAIGHT TO BUTNER'S OFFICE,
WHICH WAS ALSO HIS PRIMARY RESIDENCE.
MAY I HELP YOU?
CHIEF ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY JON ELLSWORTH.
OH, I'M SORRY, MR. ELLSWORTH, BUT MR. BUTNER ISN'T IN YET.
MA'AM, THIS MORNING, WE GOT CALLED TO LA CONCHA HOTEL,
WHERE WE DISCOVERED MR. BUTNER'S BODY.
OH, DEAR.
WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AROUND.
PLEASE, COME THIS WAY.
Narrator: ENTERING HIS OFFICE,
INVESTIGATORS FIND COPIES OF THE EXTORTION LETTER
THEY DISCOVERED ON BUTNER'S BODY.
YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS?
NO, SIR. I DON'T.
WELL, DO YOU RECOGNIZE THE NAME OF THE PERSON WHO SIGNED THAT?
YES.
IT'S SUSAN HANNAH, MR. BUTNER'S FORMER SECRETARY.
Narrator: IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG FOR INVESTIGATORS
TO TRACK DOWN SUSAN HANNAH.
EXCUSE ME.
YES.
MS. HANNAH, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE LA CONCHA HOTEL
ON DUVAL?
I-I THINK SO. I-I'M NOT SURE.
WE FOUND OUT SHE'D ACTUALLY COME DOWN TO VISIT ANOTHER PERSON
A BLOCK AWAY FROM THE LA CONCHA
THE VERY MORNING THAT FRED HAD DIED.
MR. BUTNER WAS FOUND DEAD AT 6:00 A.M. THIS MORNING
OUTSIDE THE LA CONCHA HOTEL.
WHAT?!
SOMEBODY PUSHED HIM OFF THE ROOF.
Narrator: SUSAN HANNAH IS STUNNED WHEN SHE REALIZES POLICE CONSIDER HER
THE PRIME SUSPECT IN BUTNER'S ***.
THEY WANTED ME IN JAIL.
THEY WANTED ME TRIED.
THEY WANTED A BIG CONVICTION.
Narrator: AFTER DROPPING HANNAH OFF DOWNTOWN FOR QUESTIONING,
DETECTIVES GO BACK TO LOOK FOR MORE CLUES
IN THE LIVING QUARTERS AT BUTNER'S OFFICE.
Yannacone: WHAT'S THAT SMELL?
Ellsworth: THE KITCHEN WAS A HEALTH HAZARD, FULL OF ROTTEN FOOD.
BEYOND THAT WAS A LARGE CLOSET.
TURNED OUT TO BE WHERE HE SLEPT.
WASN'T EXACTLY MARTHA STEWART, WAS HE?
Narrator: FRED BUTNER WAS NO HOUSEKEEPER,
BUT DID THE MESS GO DEEPER THAN HIS APARTMENT?
OUR BOY WAS HAVING SOME PROBLEMS.
Ellsworth: WE FOUND A NUMBER OF MEDICATIONS.
SOME OF THEM APPEARED TO BE
PSYCHOTROPIC TYPE OF MEDICATIONS.
Narrator: THEY ALSO UNCOVER ANOTHER PIECE OF UNSETTLING EVIDENCE --
A THREATENING NOTE ADDRESSED TO BUTNER
WITH INITIALS SCRIBBLED AT THE BOTTOM.
"STAY AWAY FROM JAMES
"IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE EXPOSED.
YOU KNOW WHO THIS IS."
MAYBE HANNAH'S NOT OUR GAL.
OR MAYBE SHE HAD SOME HELP.
Woman: ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
Torrence: THERE WAS A STRUGGLE...
NO!
...PICKED UP ON THE TAPE RECORDER.
Narrator: ...A FORMER CONFIDANT...
Butner: WHO MADE THIS CLAIM?
...A DUPED CLIENT...
I WANT YOU TO TELL THAT TO THE COPS.
...AND A SECRET LOVER.
Yannacone: WHAT'S THAT SMELL?
Narrator: A PROMINENT ATTORNEY FOUND DEAD AT A HOTEL...
Secretary: IT'S SUSAN HANNAH.
...A TARGET OF EXTORTION...
Butner: SUSAN! NO! PLEASE!
Narrator: ...OR A TRAGIC ACCIDENT?
IT'S EARLY MORNING WHEN FRED BUTNER MAKES HIS WAY
TO THE ROOFTOP OF THE LA CONCHA HOTEL.
HE'S BEEN SUMMONED TO A MEETING
BY HIS FORMER SECRETARY, SUSAN HANNAH.
Keating: HE HAD GONE UP TO THE ROOF.
HE HAD CASH, HE HAD EXTORTION NOTE,
AND HE HAD A CASSETTE RECORDER WITH HIM.
SUSAN.
CAN WE WORK THIS OUT?
I DON'T HAVE ALL THE MONEY THAT YOU WANT,
BUT I BROUGHT $5,000 WITH ME, OKAY?
Torrence: THERE WAS A TAPE RECORDING
AND A STRUGGLE PICKED UP ON THE TAPE RECORDER.
THIS SHOULD BE MORE THAN ENOUGH TO HOLD YOU OVER.
OKAY?
BACK OFF.
NO! NO! NO!
[ BODY THUDS ]
PEOPLE IN TOWN WERE VERY CONFUSED
ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
RUMORS STARTED.
ACCIDENT OR HOMICIDE?
Narrator: IT'S NOON, AND FRED BUTNER IS OFF TO A LUNCH MEETING
WHEN HE'S ACCOSTED BY AN ANGRY PARENT.
HEY, YOU!
YEAH, BIG SHOT!
YEAH, YOU.
YOU DISGUST ME.
WHAT'S THE MATTER, HUH?
COULDN'T GET ENOUGH MEN YOUR OWN AGE?
YOU'RE GONNA MESS WITH MY SON?
Narrator: THE MAN IS FURIOUS AFTER LEARNING THAT FRED BUTNER
IS SEXUALLY INVOLVED WITH HIS TEENAGE SON JAMES.
ANYONE THAT KNEW FRED KNEW THAT HE WAS HOMOSEXUAL.
LOOK, WE'RE BOTH ADULTS.
THERE'S NO REASON TO GET ANGRY ABOUT THIS.
ADULTS, HUH?
IN THE EVENING, THERE WOULD BE
A YOUNG MAN ON THE PORCH WAITING FOR FRED TO FINISH UP.
AND IT WOULD NOT BE THE SAME YOUNG MAN THE NEXT DAY.
YOU TRIED TO DESTROY MY BOY, HIDING BEHIND SOME LAW DEGREE?!
YEAH.
YOU THOUGHT THAT WOULD PROTECT YOU, RIGHT?
Torrence: THERE ARE VERY FEW SECRETS IN KEY WEST,
AND I PERSONALLY KNEW THAT FRED WAS HAVING SOME STRUGGLES.
LOOK, HE'S OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HE WANTS.
I WANT YOU TO TELL THAT TO THE COPS.
PLEASE, DON'T.
DON'T.
Narrator: FRED BUTNER IS ALONE AT HIS OFFICE
WHEN SOME UNEXPECTED VISITORS COME CALLING.
COME IN.
GOOD AFTERNOON. HOW MAY I HELP YOU?
YES.
WE'RE FROM THE FLORIDA BAR ASSOCIATION.
WE'RE HERE TO INFORM YOU
THAT YOU'RE UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR FRAUD.
FRAUD? [ CHUCKLES ] THAT'S ABSURD.
UH...THERE MUST BE SOME SORT OF MISUNDERSTANDING.
NO, MR. BUTNER. I'M AFRAID NOT.
Narrator: FRED FEARS THAT HIS
LESS-THAN-SQUEAKY-CLEAN PRACTICES
ARE ON THE VERGE OF COMING TO LIGHT.
HE HAD BEEN ACCUSED OF MISHANDLING CLIENTS' MONEY.
LIKE, BASICALLY TAKING MONEY
THAT HAD BEEN IN TRUST FUNDS OR INVOLVED IN SETTLEMENTS.
WE HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION SUPPORTING THE CLAIM.
CLAIM? WHAT CLAIM?
WHO MADE THIS CLAIM?
WE'RE NOT REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.
GO AHEAD.
Narrator: FRED REALIZES THERE COULD ONLY BE ONE PERSON RESPONSIBLE
FOR BLOWING THE WHISTLE.
Ellsworth: HE WAS UP AGAINST THE WALL.
HIS FORMER SECRETARY HAD REPORTED HIM TO THE BAR.
Susan, that ***!
YOU ALL RIGHT?
[ CHUCKLES ]
...A STANDOFF AT WORK...
I'M NOT GOING TO NEGOTIATE.
...LEADS TO TROUBLE AT HOME.
YOU'RE SEEING JUDGE TAYLOR TODAY.
Hannah: IT WASN'T ETHICAL.
IT WASN'T MORAL.
Butner: NO!
Narrator: A LOCAL LAWYER FOUND DEAD...
HEY, YOU! YEAH, BIG SHOT!
...A PUZZLING SCENE LEFT BEHIND...
Yannacone: "STAY AWAY FROM JAMES."
...AND A LOT OF UNHAPPY CLIENTS.
Officer: WE'RE NOT REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.
IT'S NOT A PROBLEM, TIM.
Narrator: IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL AT FRED BUTNER'S LAW OFFICE...
GREAT SEEING YOU.
...AS HE FINISHES UP WITH A CLIENT.
Butner: [ SIGHS ]
BILL HIM FOR SIX HOURS.
BUT HE WAS ONLY IN THERE FOR 20 MINUTES.
WHAT, ARE YOU TIMING ME NOW, SUSAN?
DON'T BE RIDICULOUS.
IT'S JUST, IT WAS LESS THAN AN HOUR.
HOW ON EARTH AM I GOING TO BILL HIM FOR SIX?
Butner: WHERE DO YOU THINK YOUR NEXT PAYCHECK IS COMING FROM?
Hannah: I WAS DOING ALL THE BILLING.
I WAS CREATING THE INVOICES FOR THESE BILLABLE HOURS
THAT WEREN'T REALLY BILLABLE HOURS.
I'M NOT DOING THIS ANYMORE.
I BEG YOUR PARDON?
YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THAT YOU'RE LESS THAN HONEST
WITH YOUR CLIENTS.
YOU OVER-BILL THEM,
MOVE MONEY AROUND FROM ONE TRUST FUND TO FILL ANOTHER,
AND THEN TAKING THAT MONEY FOR YOURSELF.
I CAN'T BE A PART OF IT ANYMORE.
THE BREAKING POINT CAME WHEN I WAS WRITING CHECKS DAILY
FOR TRUST-FUND MONEY THAT WE DIDN'T DO ANY WORK ON AT ALL.
WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT, SUSAN?
I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE COMMITTING ANY CRIMES HERE.
WE JUST DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO GET BY.
DON'T YOU THINK YOU'RE OVERREACTING A LITTLE BIT?
I BELIEVE THAT SHE SAW THINGS THAT WERE INAPPROPRIATE,
AND SHE COULD NO LONGER SUPPORT FRED.
DON'T PATRONIZE ME.
I KNOW AND YOU KNOW THAT WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS ILLEGAL,
AND I'M NOT GOING DOWN WITH YOU FOR IT.
I WON'T.
I QUIT.
Narrator: FOR FRED, THE THOUGHT OF LOSING SUSAN
IS ALMOST TOO MUCH TO BEAR.
HEY.
SUSAN, YOU CAN'T QUIT.
YOU'RE TOO IMPORTANT TO TH-THIS PRACTICE, TO ME.
ISN'T ABOUT LOYALTY, FRED. IT'S ABOUT DOING WHAT'S RIGHT.
Hannah: IT WASN'T ETHICAL.
IT WASN'T LEGAL. IT WASN'T MORAL.
THINGS HAVE BEEN A LITTLE TOUGH LATELY.
WE GOT A COUPLE BIG CASES COMING UP.
ALL RIGHT?
I'M NOT GOING TO NEGOTIATE.
SUSAN...
I FINALLY JUST SAID, "WE NEED TO STOP RIGHT NOW."
GOODBYE, FRED.
GOODBYE, SUSAN.
Narrator: FRED IS KNOWN AROUND KEY WEST FOR HIS DAPPER ATTIRE.
OH, FRED. [ SIGHS ]
COME HERE. LET ME TAKE A LOOK AT YOU.
BUT ON THIS PARTICULAR MORNING, HE'S NOT LOOKING HIS BEST.
OKAY, GO IN THERE AND FIND A CLEAN SHIRT.
AND DO YOU HAVE A BETTER JACKET?
SUSAN'S DUTIES OFTEN STRETCH FAR BEYOND MANAGING FRED'S OFFICE.
AND IN RECENT WEEKS, EVEN MORE THAN USUAL.
YOU'RE SEEING JUDGE TAYLOR TODAY,
SO I THINK YOU SHOULD PUT ON SOME SOCKS.
YOU REALLY THINK I NEED TO WEAR SOCKS?
YES.
AND THEY SHOULD MATCH.
HE WAS TAKING A LOT OF MEDICINE FOR HIS DEPRESSION.
Narrator: ON AN OVERCAST, LATE SUMMER DAY,
FRED BUTNER HAS AN APPOINTMENT WITH HIS INSURANCE AGENT.
MR. BUTNER, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO.
SO, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR MORE LIFE INSURANCE?
YES.
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT, MR. BUTNER?
OH, OF COURSE.
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
[ CHUCKLES ]
LIFE INSURANCE?
YES, DO YOU HAVE THE PAPERS?
$500,000, JUST AS YOU REQUESTED.
GREAT.
AND THIS COVERS ALL CAUSES OF DEATH, RIGHT?
YES. I MEAN, MOST.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY LIFE-INSURANCE POLICIES
HE'S HAD, BUT I KNOW THAT WE SUBSCRIBED
EVERY TIME THERE WAS ONE COME IN THE MAIL.
WE TOOK ALL OF THOSE.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO SEE YOUR IDENTIFICATION.
HE WAS IN SUCH DIRE STRAITS.
HE WAS SO DESPERATE TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT.
Narrator: COMING UP, AN AWKWARD CONVERSATION...
WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE MONEY WE GAVE YOU LAST TIME?
...BETWEEN THE GUILTY...
I CRIED AND CRIED AND CRIED.
Narrator: ...AND THE INNOCENT.
NO!
Butner: SUSAN, YOU CAN'T QUIT.
Narrator: A TORMENTED LAWYER...
Woman: ARE YOU ALL RIGHT, MR. BUTNER?
...IN OVER HIS HEAD...
Hannah: YOU'RE SEEING JUDGE TAYLOR TODAY.
...AND DESPERATE FOR HELP.
WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS ILLEGAL.
FRED BUTNER TRAVELS TO NORTH CAROLINA
TO VISIT HIS PARENTS, HOPING THEY CAN BAIL HIM OUT.
FRED, DEAR. WHAT A TREAT.
OOH.
CAN I GET YOU SOMETHING?
A DRINK?
YEAH, MAYBE SCOTCH.
Hannah: HIS PARENTS WERE POLITICALLY ACTIVE,
AND I THINK THAT WAS SOMETHING
THAT HE SAW AS A WAY TO CONNECT WITH THEM.
HE WANTED THE RECOGNITION.
WHAT'S UP, SON?
HOW'S THE DELEGATION GOING?
IT'S GOOD.
WE HAD A FUNDRAISER LAST MONTH.
AND HOW ARE THINGS AT THE FIRM?
WORKING ANY BIG CASES?
ACTUALLY...THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.
WHAT'S THAT, DEAR?
Narrator: FRED WASTES NO TIME TELLING HIS PARENTS ABOUT HIS PROBLEMS.
WELL, I... [ SIGHS ]
SOME OF THESE CASES HAVE BEEN DRAGGING ALONG,
AND I COULD REALLY USE YOUR HELP
TO KEEP THINGS TOGETHER AT THE OFFICE.
YOU TOLD US THE SAME THING THE LAST TIME THAT YOU WERE HERE.
WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE MONEY WE GAVE YOU LAST TIME?
IT WAS CLOSE TO $7,000.
ARE YOU IN SOME SORT OF TROUBLE?
NO. NO.
I JUST -- I NEEDED SOME HELP
UNTIL SOME BIGGER CASES CAME ALONG.
NO.
YOU'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO BUCK UP, SON.
Narrator: TO FRED'S DISMAY,
HIS PARENTS RESOLVE TO CUT HIM OFF FINANCIALLY.
ALL RIGHT.
IN FACT, WE REALLY NEED YOU TO START PAYING US BACK.
IT'S GETTING OUT OF HAND, DEAR.
ALL RIGHT. [ Chuckling ] ALL RIGHT.
HE HAD A PRIVATE LIFE THAT WAS CRUMBLING FROM WITHIN
AND TRYING DESPERATELY TO KEEP A PUBLIC LIFE.
YOU'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO BUCK UP, SON.
Narrator: A WELL-KNOWN LAWYER IN A HEAP OF TROUBLE...
Butner: IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE COMMITTING ANY CRIMES HERE.
...WITH NOWHERE TO HIDE...
COULDN'T GET ENOUGH MEN YOUR OWN AGE?
YOU'RE GONNA MESS WITH MY SON?
...AND ONLY ONE WAY OUT.
Woman: SO, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR MORE LIFE INSURANCE?
Butner: NO! SUSAN!
SUSAN.
UH...CAN WE WORK THIS OUT?
Narrator: FRED BUTNER'S FINAL ACT ON THIS EARTH WAS AN ELABORATE RUSE
TO MAKE HIS SUICIDE LOOK LIKE ***
AT THE HANDS OF SUSAN HANNAH.
Hannah: FRED FRAMED ME FOR ***.
HE MADE IT LOOK AS THOUGH I MET HIM AT THE LA CONCHA,
THAT WE GOT INTO SOME KIND OF SCUFFLE,
AND THAT I PUSHED HIM OFF THE TOP OF THE LA CONCHA.
NO! NO!
THIS WAS ALL STAGED.
YOU NEVER HEAR ANYONE ELSE ON THE RECORDING.
WE SORT OF BACKTRACKED FROM WHERE SUSAN HAD COME FROM,
WHICH WAS HER RESIDENCE UP THE KEYS.
SHE HAD STOPPED AND BOUGHT GAS 10 MILES UP THE ROAD,
GOT THOSE RECEIPTS TO SHOW THAT THE TIMING WAS INCONSISTENT
WITH HER BEING HERE WHEN FRED HAD GONE OFF THE ROOF.
Narrator: WITH SO MUCH GOING WRONG PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY,
FRED BUTNER DECIDED TO TAKE HIS OWN LIFE.
Hannah: HE WAS GONNA BE DISBARRED.
THERE WAS THE OTHER INVESTIGATION
ABOUT THE SEX WITH A MINOR.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN UGLY FOR HIM.
IT DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE BEEN A TERRIBLE EMBARRASSMENT
TO HIS FAMILY.
Narrator: FRAMING SUSAN HANNAH FOR HIS ***,
FRED THOUGHT HE COULD MAKE THINGS RIGHT BY HIS PARENTS.
Hannah: THERE WERE SO MANY LIFE-INSURANCE POLICIES --
IF THEY HAD ALL PAID OFF, WHICH IN A *** IT WOULD HAVE --
THAT THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY REIMBURSED
FOR THE MONEY HE OWED THEM.
Narrator: AT HEART, FRED WAS RACKED WITH THE SHAME
OF LETTING HIS PARENTS DOWN.
HE WASN'T GONNA BE THE KIND OF HIGH-ECHELON ATTORNEY
THAT HE WANTED TO BE,
OR THAT HIS PARENTS WANTED HIM TO BE.
Narrator: FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER HIS DEATH,
SUSAN HANNAH WAS WIDELY BELIEVED TO BE FRED'S KILLER.
Hannah: TO HAVE MY FRIENDS TURN ON ME, TO HAVE MY HUSBAND TURN ON ME,
IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL TURMOIL.
FRED WAS NOT THE ONLY VICTIM.
SUSAN WAS ALSO A VICTIM,
BEING BLAMED FOR SOMETHING THAT SHE DIDN'T DO.
Narrator: DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE TRIED TO FRAME HER FOR ***,
SUSAN HAS FORGIVEN FRED.
Hannah: I CRIED AND CRIED AND CRIED.
I KNEW WHEN I WORKED FOR HIM THAT HE WAS ILL.
I KNEW THAT FROM THE GET-GO.
IT BECAME MORE AND MORE APPARENT THAT HE WAS IN CRISIS
AND THAT HE WASN'T THINKING STRAIGHT.
YOU HAVE TO BE COMPASSIONATE.
YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT FROM HIS SIDE, TOO.