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Narrator: LIKE A TRUE-LIFE VERSION OF "PSYCHO,"
ADELE CURTIS' LAST SHOWER MAKES EVERYONE'S BLOOD RUN COLD.
THE HORROR SHE MUST HAVE FELT
BEING CONFRONTED BY THIS MALE IN HER SPACE
AND THE MANNER IN WHICH SHE WAS MURDERED.
Narrator: WHO WOULD WANT TO SILENCE THIS FUN-LOVING WOMAN
WITH AN INSATIABLE *** FOR LIFE?
THE TWO THINGS THAT SEEM TO CAUSE THE MOST PROBLEMS
BETWEEN PEOPLE ARE MONEY AND SEX.
Narrator: AND THIS *** IS ABOUT BOTH.
IT'S A POTBOILER OF UNSAVORY SUSPECTS --
A MUSCLE-BOUND BOYFRIEND WHO'S GONE MISSING,
AN IRATE EX-TENANT WHO WANTS TO SETTLE THE SCORE,
AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD PEEPING TOM.
ALL KINDS OF THOUGHTS ARE GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND
AS FAR AS WHO COULD HAVE COMMITTED THIS CRIME AND WHY.
Narrator: ONLY WHEN A CURIOUS CLUE CATCHES DETECTIVES' EYES
DOES THE TRUE STORY BEHIND THIS WHODUNIT START TO UNFOLD.
Williams: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE IDENTITY OF THE PERPETRATOR.
THIS COULD BE THE SMOKING GUN.
[ ADELE SCREAMS ]
[ SHOWER RUNNING ]
Narrator: HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS?
WHAT LIES BEHIND THE WHITE PICKET FENCES?
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
PHOENIX, ARIZONA, IS A BUSTLING METROPOLIS
RISING OUT OF THE SONORAN DESERT.
BUT IF THIS CITY SEEMS TO BE GROWING LIKE A WEED,
ONCE UPON A TIME, IT WAS SO SLEEPY
IT WAS ALMOST NAMED AFTER A VEGETABLE.
Acosta: PHOENIX ORIGINALLY WAS GOING TO BE CALLED PUMPKINVILLE
BECAUSE OF ALL THE PUMPKIN PATCHES WE HAVE HERE.
PUMPKINVILLE SOUNDS NICE, BUT I'M GLAD IT'S NAMED PHOENIX.
Narrator: AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST FANS OF THIS CINDERELLA CITY
IS ADELLE CURTIS.
BACK IN 1996, THIS LOVELY DIVORCEé
IS HOPING TO FIND ANOTHER PRINCE CHARMING
IN A CITY FULL OF PROSPECTS.
AND THIS MOTHER OF FIVE GROWN KIDS
HAS PLENTY TO KEEP HER GOING.
EVEN AFTER TWO DECADES, HER FAMILY STILL REMEMBERS
HOW ADELE MADE FAST FRIENDS WHEREVER SHE WENT.
SHE WAS THE TYPE OF PERSON
THAT OTHER PEOPLE WERE GENUINELY DRAWN TO.
SHE WAS GENUINELY A GOOD PERSON.
AND SHE WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO START UP A CONVERSATION.
Narrator: IT'S THIS CHARISMA THAT'S HELPED ADELE
BUILD A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS AS A LOCAL LANDLORD,
RENTING PROPERTIES ALL OVER PHOENIX.
BUT WHEN ADELE'S MOTHER GETS SICK,
ADELE'S JOB TAKES A BACK SEAT,
AND SHE TEMPORARILY PACKS HER BAGS
AND MOVES TWO HOURS AWAY TO WENDEN, ARIZONA,
TO TAKE CARE OF HER.
Stowe: THEN SHE WAS GOING BACK AND FORTH
BETWEEN WENDEN AND PHOENIX.
IT WAS PROBABLY HARD FOR HER, BUT SHE ALWAYS MANAGED TO DO IT.
THAT WAS MY MOTHER.
Narrator: AND 15 YEARS AGO,
WHILE ON ONE OF THOSE TRIPS BACK TO PHOENIX,
THE MUSIC FINALLY STOPS FOR ADELE.
[ ADELE SCREAMS ]
ON THURSDAY, JULY 11th,
ADELE MENTIONS TO DAUGHTER, KRISTI,
SHE'LL BE SPENDING THE DAY IN PHOENIX
FIXING UP A CONDO FOR A NEW TENANT.
AT THE TIME, KRISTI DOESN'T GIVE IT MUCH THOUGHT.
BUT THE NEXT DAY, WHEN KRISTI HEARS FROM HER FAMILY
THAT ADELE NEVER RETURNED TO WENDEN AS SHE'D PLANNED,
KRISTI FEARS THE WORST.
Stowe: I STARTED PACING.
I KNEW. I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
I DID.
Narrator: IT'S BEEN FOUR DAYS
SINCE ANYONE LAST HEARD FROM ADELE,
SO A PANICKED KRISTI CALLS HER COUSIN ROSE IN PHOENIX
TO GO CHECK THE LAST PLACE ADELE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE --
THE TWO-STORY CONDO SHE RENTS OUT DOWNTOWN.
WHEN ROSE SEES ADELE'S TRUCK IS MISSING,
SHE HEADS INSIDE USING THE SPARE KEY ADELE GAVE HER.
AND THAT'S WHEN SHE'***
WITH A HINT OF THE HORROR TO COME.
WHEN SHE FIRST CAME IN TO THE CONDO,
I BELIEVE IT WAS THE SMELL THAT STRUCK HER RIGHT AWAY.
Narrator: CAUTIOUSLY,
ROSE FOLLOWS THE STENCH UP THE STAIRS.
AS SOON AS SHE MAKES IT TO THE LANDING,
ROSE GETS A GLIMPSE THROUGH THE OPEN BATHROOM DOOR,
AND CHILLS SHOOT DOWN HER SPINE.
ADELE'S NAKED AND DECAYING BODY IS SPRAWLED OUT ON THE FLOOR,
A POOL OF BLOOD UNDER HER HEAD.
Stowe: MY COUSIN BROKE DOWN AND CRIED.
REALLY WENT HYSTERICAL.
COULDN'T STOP IT.
SHE TOOK IT PRETTY HARD.
Narrator: WHEN DETECTIVE IRA WILLIAMS OF THE PHOENIX P.D.
GETS WORD OF A SUSPICIOUS DEATH AT A CONDO ON NORTH 33rd DRIVE,
THIS BORN-AND-BRED LOCAL
FINDS HIMSELF TRAVELING DOWN MEMORY LANE.
WHILE THE VICTIM'S NAME, ADELE CURTIS,
DOESN'T RING A BELL, THE ADDRESS SURE DOES.
I GREW UP ABOUT A MILE FROM WHERE THAT CRIME OCCURRED.
AND WHEN THAT CALL CAME OUT AND THE LOCATION, IT HIT HOME.
Narrator: BUT DETECTIVE WILLIAMS HAS NO TIME FOR NOSTALGIA
AS HE RACES TO THE SCENE.
AND THE DEDICATED DETECTIVE
MOMENTARILY STOPS DEAD IN HIS TRACKS
WHEN HE STEPS INSIDE THE VACANT CONDO.
MY FIRST SENSE WAS THAT -- WAS A VERY EERY FEELING.
THE STRUCTURE WAS VIRTUALLY EMPTY
OF ANY PERSONAL BELONGINGS.
I OBSERVED A PURSE SITTING ON THE COUNTERTOP.
Narrator: BASED ON THE REPORT ADELE'S NIECE CALLED IN,
HE MAKES A BEELINE FOR THE BATHROOM.
AND THE SECOND THIS SUPER SLEUTH SPOTS ADELE'S REMAINS,
HE KNOWS SHE'S BEEN DECEASED FOR AT LEAST A FEW DAYS.
THE DISCOLORATION OF THE BODY,
THE BLOATING, THE HEAD AND FACE WERE VERY DARK IN COLOR.
Narrator: IT'S A GRUESOME SIGHT,
AND WILLIAMS STRUGGLES TO KEEP HIS EMOTIONS IN CHECK
AND CONCENTRATE ON THE CRIME.
Williams: I LIKE TO FOCUS ON MY JOB
AND RESPONSIBILITIES AT HAND,
HOWEVER, I HAVE FEELINGS FOR THE DECEASED INDIVIDUAL
AND THE POSSIBLE MANNER OF DEATH THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED.
Narrator: ALTHOUGH WILLIAMS NOTICES THE POOL OF BLOOD
UNDER ADELE'S HEAD,
WITH NO VISIBLE MARKS ON THE BADLY DECOMPOSED BODY,
HE CAN'T TELL FOR SURE HOW ADELE DIED.
BUT HE'S CERTAIN HE KNOWS WHAT SHE WAS DOING
RIGHT BEFORE HER LIFE CAME TO A TRAGIC END.
IT APPEARED THAT ADELE HAD EXITED THE SHOWER,
HAD A TOWEL WITH HER DRAPED OVER HER LEGS.
CLOTHING WAS STACKED ON TOP OF THE TOILET TANK
IN THE BATHROOM.
Narrator: BUT WILLIAMS DOUBTS ADELE JUST SLIPPED AND FELL.
HE HAS A FEELING SOMETHING MORE SINISTER IS AT PLAY,
ESPECIALLY WHEN HE ENCOUNTERS A CURIOUS ITEM
IN THE BATHROOM SINK -- A PIECE OF CUT LAMP CORD.
THE WOUND-UP ELECTRICAL CORD IN THE BATHROOM SINK
LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT THAT MAY HAVE BEEN USED
TO COMMIT THE CRIME.
Narrator: THE GOOD DETECTIVE IS CERTAIN
SOMEONE WRAPPED IT AROUND ADELE'S NECK.
WILLIAMS SCANS THE REST OF THE BATHROOM
FOR ANY MORE INCRIMINATING EVIDENCE.
AND SURE ENOUGH, THIS SHARP-EYED SHERLOCK
STUMBLES UPON A COMPELLING CLUE ABOUT A FOOT AWAY FROM THE BODY.
I OBSERVED A SINGLE RED DOT ON THE FLOOR,
WHICH APPEARED TO BE A DROP OF BLOOD,
WHICH SEEMED OUT OF PLACE TO ME
FROM THE POOL OF BLOOD INITIALLY AROUND ADELE'S BODY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT SINGLE BLOOD DROP GOT THERE.
Narrator: HOW DID THE BLOOD END UP IN SUCH AN ODD SPOT?
AND IS IT ADELE'S BLOOD OR HER KILLER'S?
CONFOUNDING QUESTIONS, TO BE SURE,
AND THIS DISCERNING DETECTIVE KNOWS BETTER
THAN TO DISMISS ANY POSSIBILITY JUST YET.
WHEN YOU ARE PRESENT AT A CRIME SCENE,
IT'S THE THINGS THAT YOU OBSERVE INITIALLY
THAT YOU MAY NOT THINK ARE VERY IMPORTANT,
BUT LATER ON DURING THE INVESTIGATION,
MAY BECOME VERY IMPORTANT IN YOUR CASE.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS COLLECT A BLOOD SAMPLE
AND DUST FOR PRINTS THROUGHOUT THE ROOM,
AS WILLIAMS WONDERS
WHO WOULD WANT THIS LITTLE LADY OUT OF THE PICTURE.
AT THE BEGINNING STAGES OF THE INVESTIGATION,
ALL KINDS OF THOUGHTS ARE GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND
AS FAR AS WHO COULD HAVE COMMITTED THIS CRIME AND WHY.
Narrator: IN SEARCH OF A MOTIVE,
THE DETECTIVE TAKES A LOOK BACK DOWNSTAIRS
AND SEES ADELE'S PURSE ON THE COUNTER.
SEEMS SOMEONE RIFLED THROUGH IT.
AND SINCE THE WALLET'S EMPTY, MAYBE THEY TOOK THE CASH.
COULD ADELE HAVE SURPRISED A THIEF LOOKING FOR LOOT?
Williams: THE LOCKED DOOR
AND THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO FORCED ENTRY
MADE ME THINK ALONG THE LINES
OF THE PERPETRATOR MAY HAVE HAD A KEY
TO ENTER THE TOWNHOUSE.
Narrator: SO WHO ELSE HAS KEYS TO ADELE'S CASTLE,
BESIDES HER NIECE?
INVESTIGATORS QUICKLY COME UP WITH A WHOLE PHONE BOOK
OF FOLKS TO TALK TO.
IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO INTERVIEW AND SPEAK
TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN
TO FIND OUT, PARTICULARLY ADELE'S SITUATION,
PREVIOUS BOYFRIENDS, MARRIAGES,
ANY CONFLICTS THAT EXISTED AT THE TIME.
I WAS CONCERNED WITH HER CONNECTIONS HERE
AND WHO HER ACQUAINTANCES WERE, HER FRIENDS HERE LOCALLY.
Narrator: WHEN DETECTIVES DIG INTO ADELE'S CACHE OF CONTACTS,
THEY FIND MORE THAN JUST A FEW SALIENT SUSPECTS,
INCLUDING A SECRET SUITOR.
Williams: ADELE HAD A RELATIONSHIP
WITH AN INDIVIDUAL FOR SOME TIME.
IT WAS MY IMPRESSION THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN A RELATIONSHIP
THAT ADELE CURTIS DID NOT SPEAK A LOT ABOUT.
Narrator: ADELE'S DAUGHTER TELLS POLICE
ADELE PLAYED HER HONEY PRETTY CLOSE TO THE VEST.
ABOUT ALL KRISTI KNOWS IS HIS NAME -- KENNY COLLINS.
Stowe: I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIM, PERSONALLY.
I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MY MOM'S BOYFRIEND.
Narrator: SO DETECTIVES CAN ONLY WONDER
ABOUT ADELE'S RELATIONSHIP WITH HER SWEETIE.
DID SHE BREAK OFF THEIR ROMANCE AFTER IT WENT SOUR,
LEADING KENNY TO PAY HIS FORMER FLAME AN UNEXPECTED VISIT?
OR IS THE KEY TO THE CASE LOCKED IN ANOTHER MYSTERY --
ADELE'S MISSING TRUCK?
Williams: I THOUGHT THAT THAT WOULD LEAD
TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE PERPETRATOR.
AND EVERY PIECE OF EVIDENCE
THAT WE COULD COLLECT FROM THE VEHICLE,
I BELIEVED, WOULD BE HELPFUL.
Narrator: AFTER ALL,
WHILE DETECTIVES DID FIND ADELE'S PURSE IN THE KITCHEN,
HER KEY CHAIN IS GONE.
DID ADELE'S HOT LOVER MAKE OFF WITH HER HOT WHEELS,
OR DID SOMEONE ELSE PICK UP HER TRUCK?
DETECTIVES DON'T HAVE THE VEHICLE
ON THEIR GPS JUST YET.
BUT THEY'RE ABOUT TO GET A CALL
THAT SPINS THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
Narrator: THERE'S A SAYING IN PHOENIX
THAT NATIVES ALWAYS CHECK THEIR BOOTS FOR SCORPIONS
BEFORE THEY SLIP THEIR FEET INSIDE.
BUT HOURS AFTER LOCAL LANDLORD ADELE CURTIS
IS FOUND MURDERED IN HER RENTAL CONDO,
MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY TED DUFFY
IS MORE WORRIED ABOUT ANOTHER TYPE OF PREDATOR.
[ SCREAMS ]
Duffy: THE CRIME IS PARTICULARLY HORRIFIC.
THE FIRST THING I THOUGHT OF,
SEEING A WOMAN TREATED IN THAT MANNER,
WAS NOT DIGNIFIED.
Narrator: FROM HIS DESK AT THE D.A.'s OFFICE,
DUFFY HAS A PRETTY GOOD READ
ON THE NITTY-GRITTY DETAILS OF THIS CASE.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO INVESTIGATING HOMICIDES,
THIS PROSECUTING PRO KNOWS WHERE TO LOOK FOR BAD GUYS.
WE WERE QUITE INTERESTED IN ADELE'S BACKGROUND
TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANYONE WHO MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE WITH HER --
JEALOUS BOYFRIEND, JEALOUS FORMER HUSBAND,
NEIGHBOR --
ANYONE WHO MIGHT HAVE A CAUSE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
Narrator: AND IT LOOKS LIKE DETECTIVE IRA WILLIAMS
ALREADY HAS SOMEONE WHO FITS THE BILL.
POLICE BELIEVE ADELE RECENTLY CALLED IT QUITS
WITH BOYFRIEND KENNY COLLINS,
AND PERHAPS THAT LEFT THIS ROOSTER WITH RUFFLED FEATHERS.
NOW INVESTIGATORS WANT TO KNOW IF THIS SECRET
LED KENNY TO FLIP HIS LID
AND FINISH THEIR FLING ONCE AND FOR ALL.
Williams: IT WAS IMPORTANT TO SPEAK WITH KENNY
AND ASCERTAIN WHAT INFORMATION HE MIGHT HAVE
PERTAINING TO HER VISIT TO PHOENIX
AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIPS.
Narrator: COULD HER ONE-TIME STEADY
SUPPLY SOME ANSWERS FOR INVESTIGATORS?
DETECTIVES THINK THE FAST TRACK TO FINDING ADELE'S MYSTERY MAN
IS TO LOCATE HER MISSING TRUCK.
MAYBE KENNY USED ADELE'S WHEELS FOR A QUICK GETAWAY OUT OF TOWN.
IT WAS CRITICAL THAT WE LOCATED ADELE CURTIS' VEHICLE.
THAT'S WHY THE INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE VEHICLE
WAS IMMEDIATELY BROADCAST.
Narrator: WHILE WILLIAMS' CRIME-FIGHTING CREW
TRIES TO TRACK DOWN ADELE'S ELUSIVE LOVER
AND HER MISSING TRUCK...
THE M.E.'s AUTOPSY REPORT LANDS ON THE DETECTIVE'S DESK.
AND IT'S A PAGE-TURNER.
EVEN THOUGH SHE WASN'T SEXUALLY ASSAULTED,
IT SEEMS THERE'S MORE TO ADELE'S INJURIES
THAN FIRST MET DETECTIVE'S EYES.
Williams: THE MEDICAL EXAMINER ADVISED US
THAT THE METHOD OF STRANGULATION
CAUSED THE DEATH OF ADELE CURTIS,
AND IT WAS CAUSED BY USE OF AN ELECTRICAL CORD.
Narrator: BASED ON INTERNAL INJURIES,
IT SURE LOOKS LIKE THE CUT LAMP CORD
FOUND IN ADELE'S BATHROOM SINK WAS THE LIKELY *** WEAPON.
THE M.E. ALSO TELLS INVESTIGATORS
THAT BASED ON THE LEVEL OF DECOMPOSITION,
ADELE WAS PROBABLY KILLED ON SUNDAY,
FOUR DAYS BEFORE HER BODY WAS DISCOVERED.
BUT THAT DOESN'T GET DETECTIVES ANY CLOSER
TO PEGGING ADELE'S EX, KENNY, AS THE PERP.
Williams: IT KIND OF LEFT THE DOOR WIDE OPEN AT THAT POINT.
THERE WAS A LOT OF LEG WORK YET TO BE DONE.
Narrator: AND JUST A SHORT TIME LATER,
DETECTIVES BEGIN TO MAKE SOME HEADWAY.
A PASSING PATROL SPOTS A TRUCK THAT SURE LOOKS LIKE ADELE'S
ABANDONED ABOUT A MILE AWAY FROM HER CONDO.
ONE PARTICULAR OFFICER HAD OBSERVED THIS VEHICLE
PARKED BEHIND THE FOX HOLE BAR,
AND IT MATCHED ADELE CURTIS' VEHICLE.
Narrator: MAYBE ADELE AND HER SNUBBED SUITOR
MET UP FOR A LAST HURRAH.
OR COULD ADELE HAVE HOOKED UP WITH A MYSTERY MAN AT THE BAR
AND LET HIM DRIVE HER HOME, WHERE HE DID HER IN?
WILLIAMS RACES TO THE BAR
FASTER THAN A SALOON SLINGER POURS A SHOT OF SCOTCH.
BUT WHEN HE ARRIVES, HIS HOPES COME TO A SCREECHING HALT.
Williams: FROM WHAT WAS TOLD TO ME
INITIALLY FROM THE BAR OWNER WAS THAT THE VEHICLE
HAD BEEN PARKED BEHIND THE BAR FOR A FEW DAYS.
Narrator: SO BY THE DETECTIVE'S CALCULATIONS,
THE TRUCK WAS LEFT AROUND THE SAME TIME
ADELE WAS KILLED ON SUNDAY,
BUT THE BAR OWNER SAYS HE'S NEVER HEARD OF ADELE CURTIS
OR ADELE'S FORMER FLAME, KENNY.
SO WHO DROVE THE TRUCK TO THIS FINAL RESTING PLACE?
THE HOPE WAS THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME EVIDENCE IN THE CAR
TO SOLVE THAT RIDDLE.
Narrator: SEEMS THIS VEHICULAR VILLAIN
PROBABLY FLED THE SCENE IN A HURRY,
DROPPING THE KEYS BESIDE THE TRUCK.
BUT POLICE DO SPOT SOMETHING
THAT COULD REVEAL THE KILLER'S IDENTITY --
AN EMPTY SODA CAN TOSSED ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE FLOOR.
WILLIAMS KNOWS THIS FIND MIGHT BE THE TRICK
TO QUENCHING HIS THIRST FOR ANSWERS.
Williams: A SODA-POP CAN IN THE VEHICLE
IS A LIKELY ITEM OF EVIDENCE TO OBTAIN FINGERPRINTS.
THE PERPETRATOR MAY HAVE REMOVED IT FROM THE SCENE.
Narrator: THEY ALSO DUST THE KEYS FOR FINGERPRINTS,
BUT IT'LL TAKE TIME TO PROCESS THIS EVIDENCE.
AND MEANWHILE,
DETECTIVES KEEP TRYING TO FIND ADELE'S EX-LOVER, KENNY COLLINS.
BUT AFTER BEATING THE BUSHES AROUND TOWN
TO LOCATE THIS LOST LOTHARIO,
KENNY IS STILL NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.
Williams: AND WE HIT A ROAD BLOCK
AS FAR AS POSITIVELY IDENTIFYING THAT INDIVIDUAL
AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
THE BOYFRIEND WAS IN THE WIND,
AND WE DID NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTACT HIM
AND OBTAIN ANY VITAL INFORMATION.
Narrator: SO DETECTIVES SET KENNY COLLINS ASIDE,
AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING.
Williams: IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP MOVING
ON THE INVESTIGATION.
HOWEVER, YOU STILL MAINTAIN THE INFORMATION
THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT THE BOYFRIEND.
Narrator: DETECTIVES LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED,
SEARCHING ALL OVER FOR THIS STANDOUT SUSPECT.
THEN, LIKE A BOLT OUT OF THE BLUE,
A SURPRISE WITNESS STEPS FORWARD WITH A TANTALIZING TIP
ABOUT SOMEONE WITH AN AX TO GRIND WITH ADELE
THAT COULD LEAD THEM STRAIGHT TO HER KILLER.
Narrator: ONE WEEK AFTER ADELE CURTIS' ***,
FOLKS IN PHOENIX KNOW THERE'S ONE PERSON
THEY CAN TURN TO FOR COMFORT --
LUZ ACOSTA, PROPRIETOR OF PEPE'S TACO VILLA RESTAURANT.
Acosta: THEY CALL ME THE MEXICAN OPRAH
BECAUSE PEOPLE COME IN AND THEY TELL ME THEIR PROBLEMS.
BECAUSE I ALWAYS KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING --
ALWAYS KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
Narrator: THIS CULTURE CROSSING CUISINE CONNOISSEUR
IS KNOWN FOR SERVING UP THE BEST SPICE OF LIFE
IN THE SOUTHWEST,
ALL WHILE DISHING WITH HER CLIENTS
ABOUT THE CONDO KILLER.
THE COMMUNITY WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE KILLER.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF HE HAD KILLED BEFORE,
IF HE WAS GONNA KILL AGAIN.
SO IT REALLY SCARES THE PEOPLE.
Narrator: AND WITH ADELE'S EX, KENNY COLLINS,
GONE LIKE A GHOST, DETECTIVES FIND THEMSELVES
WITHOUT A SOLID SUSPECT IN THEIR SIGHTS.
Williams: THE SUSPECT POOL WAS STILL WIDE OPEN.
WE HAD, AT THAT POINT,
STILL HAD NOT FOCUSED ON ANY PARTICULAR SUSPECT.
Narrator: WITH NO ONE ELSE ON DECK,
DETECTIVE WILLIAMS CONTINUES TO CANVAS THE CONDO COMPLEX
WHERE ADELE WAS FOUND,
LOOKING FOR ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE SEEN SOMETHING SHOCKING
THAT SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
Williams: MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL ARE GENERALLY OUT AND ABOUT
AND MAKE OBSERVATIONS FREQUENTLY ABOUT PERSONS, DATES, AND TIMES
AND MAKE CRITICAL OBSERVATIONS ON OCCASION.
Narrator: SO DETECTIVES CHAT UP THE GROUNDSKEEPERS
AND CONDO-MAINTENANCE MEN.
UNFORTUNATELY, NO ONE REMEMBERS
SPOTTING ANY SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS
PROWLING AROUND THE PREMISES.
SO DETECTIVE WILLIAMS KEEPS LOOKING FOR THAT MISSING PIECE
THAT WILL FINISH OFF HIS INVESTIGATION.
YOU TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'VE COVERED ALL THE BASES.
HOPEFULLY OVER TIME, PEOPLE COME FORWARD,
AND SOMETHING OR SOMEONE THAT THEY HEARD,
AND THEN IT KIND OF REKINDLES THE INVESTIGATION.
Narrator: THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS A DAY LATER
WHEN DETECTIVES RECEIVE A SURPRISE VISIT
FROM AN UNLIKELY GUEST.
AND WHAT SHE SAYS
COULD TURN THE TABLES ON THE INVESTIGATION.
ADELE'S FRIEND ANITA WATKINS
HAS MADE THE TWO-HOUR DRIVE FROM HER HOME IN WENDEN,
AND AFTER TALKING TO ADELE'S FAMILY,
SHE'S NOW CONVINCED SHE WAS AT ADELE'S CONDO
THE VERY DAY SHE WAS KILLED.
Duffy: THE LAST PERSON WHO SAW ADELE ALIVE
JUST SIMPLY DROPPED BY THE HOUSE FOR A VISIT
AND STATED THAT ADELE WAS FINE, NOTHING UNUSUAL.
Narrator: BUT ANITA ONLY STAYED A LITTLE WHILE,
SINCE ADELE WAS HEADING OUT SOON.
TOLD THE FRIEND THAT SHE HAD PLANNED ON LEAVING,
DRIVING BACK TO WENDEN,
TO BE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS AFTER SHE HAD TAKEN A SHOWER.
Narrator: ANITA SAYS WHEN SHE LEFT LATER THAT AFTERNOON,
ADELE WAS ALIVE AND WELL.
BUT, SHE SAYS, THERE'S MORE TO THE STORY.
AND DETECTIVES' EARS PERK UP
WHEN ANITA TELLS THEM SHE MIGHT HAVE A BEAD
ON A PROMISING LEAD --
SOMETHING ADELE MENTIONED THAT FATEFUL DAY.
WELL, THERE WAS INFORMATION FROM THE FRIEND OF ADELE --
THAT ADELE HAD HAD A QUARREL OVER MONEY
WITH A PREVIOUS TENANT AND HAD TO EVICT THAT TENANT.
Narrator: AND WHAT ANITA SAYS NEXT
WILL HEAT UP THE INVESTIGATION.
SHE BELIEVES ADELE'S PROBLEMS WITH FORMER TENANT, PAUL DALTON,
DIDN'T END WHEN HE MOVED OUT.
THE PREVIOUS TENANT HAD BEEN BEHIND ON RENT
FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS AND HAD BEEN EVICTED.
HOWEVER, THERE WERE CERTAIN PROPERTIES
STILL REMAINING IN THE TOWNHOUSE,
WHICH ADELE WAS HOPING THE PRIOR TENANTS
WOULD BE THERE SOON TO PICK UP.
Narrator: MAYBE THIS HOTHEAD CAME BACK TO GET HIS THINGS
AND HIS REVENGE.
THE FIRST THING THAT CAME TO MY MIND WAS ANGER.
I WOULD NOT THINK THAT SOMEONE THAT WAS EVICTED
WOULD BE TOO HAPPY ABOUT THE SITUATION.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS POUNCE ON THIS TIP
LIKE A COYOTE ON HIS KILL
AND IMMEDIATELY BEGIN DIGGING UP DIRT ON THIS REPROBATE RENTER.
Duffy: INVESTIGATORS LOOKED IN THE BACKGROUND.
THEY FOUND HE HAD A MINOR RECORD,
HOWEVER HE HAD SOME MONEY PROBLEMS WITH ADELE.
Narrator: BUT STRANGELY ENOUGH,
WHAT RAISES THE BIGGEST RED FLAG FOR DETECTIVE WILLIAMS
IS WHAT PAUL DALTON IS STUDYING AT SCHOOL.
Williams: HE WAS A STUDENT IN ELECTRONICS
AT A LOCAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL,
WHICH THEN MADE ME THINK ABOUT THE EVIDENCE
THAT WAS FOUND AT THE SCENE,
AS FAR AS THE ELECTRICAL CORDS AND SO FORTH.
IT JUST STRUCK A NOTE WITH ME.
Narrator: BUT WOULD THIS STARVING STUDENT
BE SPITEFUL ENOUGH TO STRANGLE HIS FORMER LANDLADY?
PAUL HAD THE PERFECT CHANCE
WHEN HE STOPPED BY THE CONDO TO GET HIS STUFF.
SO MAYBE THE DETECTIVE IS CHASING THE RIGHT PERP.
DALTON HAD ALL THE MOTIVES TO COMMIT THE CRIME.
HE HAD THE ACCESS TO THE TOWNHOUSE,
HE HAD THE ANGER COMPONENT BECAUSE HE WAS EVICTED.
HE MAY HAVE TAKEN THAT OPPORTUNITY
TO ACT OUT HIS ANGER ON ADELE
WHEN HE FOUND HER IN THE TOWNHOUSE.
Narrator: COULD THIS IRATE ELECTRICIAN
HAVE BEEN CHARGED UP ENOUGH
TO SEND ADELE THE SHOCK OF HER LIFE?
AND IF PAUL DID BLOW A FUSE,
DETECTIVE WILLIAMS THINKS HE MIGHT HAVE A LOCK
ON THE RIGHT MAN.
Williams: IT WAS A PRIORITY TO TALK TO DALTON,
AS HE WAS THE NUMBER-ONE FOCUS OF THE INVESTIGATION.
Narrator: IT'S TIME FOR INVESTIGATORS
TO ROUND UP THIS ROGUE RENTER
AND SEE IF SPARKS FLY WHEN THEY TURN ON THE HEAT.
BUT A BLAST FROM THE PAST
WILL SEND THIS CASE ON A COLLISION COURSE
WITH A CHARACTER THEY NEVER EXPECTED,
AND A SINGLE SPOT MAY SEAL THE DEAL.
Narrator: YOU KNOW YOU'RE AN ARIZONA NATIVE
WHEN YOU RUN INDOORS AND SHUT YOUR WINDOWS
AT THE FIRST SIGN OF A DUST STORM
ROLLING IN ACROSS THE DESERT SANDS.
BUT TWO WEEKS AFTER ADELE CURTIS' ***,
IT'S A CLOUD OF CAUTION
THAT FORCES LOCALS TO LATCH THEIR DOORS
AND STAY OFF THE STREETS.
Acosta: HAVING AN UNSOLVED *** --
IT KEEPS YOU THINKING EVERY DAY, "IS MY CHILD'S SAFE,"
OR, "IS MY FAMILY SAFE?"
Narrator: DETECTIVE IRA WILLIAMS OF THE PHOENIX POLICE
UNDERSTANDS THE FEAR IN THE AIR.
SO IT'S A GOOD THING HE HAS A STRONG SUSPECT
RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM --
ADELE'S EVICTED RENTER, 25-YEAR-OLD PAUL DALTON.
Williams: THE FOCUS OF THE INVESTIGATION WAS ON HIM
DUE TO THE FACT OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE EVICTION,
THE FACT THAT ADELE CURTIS WAS STRANGLED.
IT'S A VIOLENT ACT.
TO ME, IT DESCRIBES ANGER ON THE PART OF THE ASSAILANT.
Narrator: BUT IN CASE IT TAKES MORE THAN THE DRY ARIZONA HEAT
TO GET THIS GUY TO SWEAT,
WILLIAMS WELCOMES ONE OF ARIZONA'S COOLEST COPS
TO THE CASE.
FOR DETECTIVE BILL STUEBE,
THERE'S MORE TO BEING A TOP COP THAN JUST GRABBING THE GLORY.
Stuebe: LIKE I SAID, TELEVISION PORTRAYS
THAT WE GO OUT AND DO ALL THIS STUFF
AND, BINGO, YOU'RE DONE.
WELL, IN REALITY, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
TO CROSS ALL YOUR T's, DOT ALL YOUR I's
TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU PUT TOGETHER
A VERY THOROUGH, COMPLETE INVESTIGATION.
Narrator: DETECTIVE STUEBE JOINS IRA WILLIAMS,
AND THE DYNAMIC DUO TURN THEIR ATTENTION
TO ROUNDING UP ADELE'S RENTER PAUL DALTON.
THEY LOCATE HIM LIVING WITH FAMILY.
TIME TO SEE WHAT THIS DASTARDLY DENIZEN
HAS TO SAY ABOUT RETURNING TO ADELE'S PLACE
TO RETRIEVE HIS STUFF.
DALTON HAD A LOT OF EXPLAINING TO DO
WHEN HE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR INTERVIEW.
EVERYTHING AT THAT POINT WAS POINTING TOWARD HIM
AS BEING THE NUMBER-ONE SUSPECT.
Narrator: WITH PAUL IN THE HOT SEAT,
DETECTIVES TRY TO GET HIS BLOOD TO BOIL.
THEY START BY ASKING PAUL WHEN HE STOPPED BY THE CONDO,
AND IF HE SAW ADELE.
AND WHAT HE TELLS DETECTIVES NEXT
HAS THEM OUT OF THEIR CHAIRS.
HE HAD INDICATED THAT HE HAD A KEY
AND HE CAME BACK TO THE RESIDENCE
AT THE BEGINNING OF THAT WEEK OF ADELE'S ***.
Narrator: WHAT'S EVEN MORE AMAZING
IS PAUL CLAIMS HE AND HIS GIRLFRIEND
PICKED UP HIS STUFF ON MONDAY AFTERNOON --
THE DAY AFTER THE CORONER BELIEVES ADELE MET HER MAKER
ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR.
SEEMS MIGHTY ODD TO SAY THE LEAST.
IT IS NOT OFTEN THAT YOU RUN INTO A SITUATION
WHERE YOU HAVE A DEAD BODY IN A RESIDENCE
FOR A LENGTH OF TIME,
AND SOMEONE ENTERS AND DOESN'T NOTICE OR OBSERVE THE BODY.
Narrator: EITHER PAUL HAS A VERY STUFFY NOSE,
OR HE'S TWISTING THE TIMELINE
TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE HE WAS INSIDE THE CONDO
AFTER ADELE WAS ALREADY DEAD,
CONCEALING THE FACT THAT HE'S THE REAL KILLER.
BUT AS THE DETECTIVES' QUESTIONS HEAT UP, PAUL KEEPS HIS COOL.
PAUL CLAIMS ALL HIS STUFF WAS ON THE FIRST FLOOR,
GIVING HIM NO REASON TO HEAD UPSTAIRS.
POSED HIM THE QUESTION, "DID YOU HAVE ANY IDEA,
YOU KNOW, THAT ADELE WAS UPSTAIRS DECEASED?"
AND THAT INDICATED -- THAT KIND OF FREAKED HIM OUT.
AND HE SAID THAT REALLY BOTHERED HIM.
Narrator: BUT SOMETHING SURE SMELLS FISHY TO DETECTIVES,
AND THEY CAN'T BE TOO CAREFUL
WHEN IT COMES TO A SUSPECT WITH A GRUDGE AND EASY ACCESS.
EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT'S OVERLY OBVIOUS,
HE HAS A KEY, HE HAS ACCESS TO THIS PLACE.
THE POTENTIAL FOR MAYBE HIM COMING BACK
AND HAVING AN ALTERCATION OCCURRING WAS ALWAYS THERE.
Narrator: WHEN DETECTIVES TRACK DOWN PAUL'S GIRLFRIEND,
SHE CONFIRMS THAT SHE HELPED PAUL
CARRY OUT HIS BELONGINGS ON MONDAY.
SHE SWEARS UP AND DOWN SHE HAD NO IDEA
ADELE WAS DEAD UPSTAIRS, EITHER.
SO WITH NOTHING TO PROVE OTHERWISE,
INVESTIGATORS ARE LEFT HIGH AND DRY.
WE WERE ASKING A LOT OF POIGNANT QUESTIONS.
SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WERE TOUGH QUESTIONS.
BUT AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME,
THERE WAS NO REASON TO BELIEVE WHAT HE WAS SAYING WAS NOT TRUE.
WE HAD NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE TO TRUMP THEM OTHERWISE.
WE HAD NO ACE-IN-THE-HOLE CARD OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
Narrator: WITH FEW HARD FACTS TYING PAUL TO ADELE'S ***,
DETECTIVES ARE FORCED TO CUT THIS CAGEY CHARACTER LOOSE.
AND WITH NO NEW TRICKS UP THEIR SLEEVES,
IT SEEMS THEY'RE CLEAN OUT OF MAGIC BULLETS FOR NOW.
THE CASE BASICALLY JUST WENT TO A POINT
WHERE ALL THE LEADS WERE FOLLOWED UP
BECAUSE THERE JUST WASN'T ANY ARROWS
POINTING IN ANY PARTICULAR DIRECTION.
Narrator: DETECTIVE STUEBE IS STILL DETERMINED
TO SOLVE ADELE'S ***.
BUT WITH NO OTHER LEADS TO TRACK,
THE CASE GOES COLD.
THEN IN 2003, SEVEN YEARS AFTER ADELE'S ***,
THE LANDSCAPE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT CHANGES.
WITH NEW ADVANCEMENTS IN DNA DETECTION,
INVESTIGATORS DECIDE TO FIRE THE CASE BACK UP
AND SEE IF THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE COLLECTED FROM THE SCENE
COULD REVEAL THE IDENTITY OF THEIR KILLER.
Stuebe: IN REOPENING THE ADELE CURTIS CASE,
I THOUGHT THAT WE ACTUALLY HAD SOME ODDS IN OUR FAVOR
BECAUSE OF THE SCENE INVESTIGATION THAT HAD BEEN DONE
AND THE EVIDENCE THAT HAD BEEN COLLECTED.
IT GAVE US A REALLY GOOD STARTING POINT.
Narrator: SPECIFICALLY, DETECTIVES DECIDE TO FOCUS
ON ONE PARTICULAR PIECE OF EVIDENCE FOR DNA TESTING --
THE MYSTERIOUS SINGLE BLOOD DROP DISCOVERED IN THE BATHROOM
WHERE ADELE'S BODY WAS FOUND.
COULD THIS BE THE CLUE THAT CRACKS THE CASE?
Stuebe: THE BLOOD THAT WAS FOUND BACK IN '96 FROM THAT SCENE
AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME FRAME
MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO OBTAIN A PROFILE.
BUT IT WAS DEFINITELY ENOUGH FOR WHAT WE NEEDED NOW.
Narrator: POLICE SEND THE BLOOD SAMPLE OFF TO THE LAB,
ALONG WITH THE SODA CAN FOUND IN ADELE'S ABANDONED TRUCK.
IT ISN'T LONG BEFORE THEY RECEIVE A CALL
THAT SUPERCHARGES THE INVESTIGATION.
Stuebe: AS THINGS WENT ON, EVIDENCE STARTED COMING BACK.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET A DNA PROFILE
FROM THE BLOOD SPOT ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR
AND THE POP CAN.
Narrator: IT SEEMS THE BLOOD DROP AND THE SODA CAN
CONTAIN DNA FROM THE SAME PERSON,
AND IT ISN'T ADELE.
Stuebe: SO WE HAD A PRETTY GOOD, YOU KNOW, INDICATION
THAT THAT'S OUR SUSPECT.
Narrator: AND INVESTIGATORS HAVE A SNEAKING SUSPICION
THAT THEIR MYSTERY MAN IS NONE OTHER
THAN ADELE'S EVICTED EX-TENANT PAUL DALTON.
THINKING THAT HE POSSIBLY COULD BE INVOLVED,
I LOOKED AT HIM TO THE POINT
OF GETTING PHYSICAL DNA EVIDENCE FROM HIM.
Narrator: WILL DNA GIVE DETECTIVES A LOCK
ON THEIR LEADING MAN?
THE CASE IS ABOUT TO TAKE A SHOCKING TURN
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.
Narrator: SEVEN YEARS AFTER ADELE CURTIS TURNS UP DEAD
AT HER PHOENIX RENTAL CONDO,
DETECTIVES ARE CHARGING AFTER ADELE'S ANGRY EX-TENANT,
ASPIRING ELECTRICIAN 25-YEAR-OLD PAUL DALTON.
THE THING THAT MADE HIM THE SUSPECT
WAS THE FACT THAT HE PUT HIMSELF IN THAT HOUSE
AT A TIME WHEN ADELE CURTIS COULD HAVE BEEN ALIVE.
Narrator: BUT AFTER STRUGGLING
TO CONNECT PAUL TO THE CRIME BACK IN 1996,
DETECTIVES THINK THEY'VE FINALLY HIT THE JACKPOT.
WITH THE RECENT DISCOVERY OF THE KILLER'S DNA AT THE SCENE,
THE QUESTION IS WHETHER IT'S PAUL'S.
WITH A COURT ORDER IN HAND, DETECTIVES HUNT PAUL DOWN
TO CONFRONT HIM ABOUT THE LATEST BREAK IN THE CASE.
Stuebe: THE EX-TENANT WAS FAIRLY EASY TO LOCATE.
WHEN I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT I NEEDED TO TALK TO HIM AGAIN,
HE WAS VERY COOPERATIVE AND VERY WILLING TO MEET WITH US.
Narrator: PAUL MAY HAVE CONVINCED COPS
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TO ARREST HIM
THE FIRST TIME AROUND,
BUT ALL THE SMOOTH TALKING IN THE WORLD
WON'T GET HIM OFF THE HOOK IF HIS DNA IS A MATCH.
TOO BAD FOR POLICE, THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
HIS DNA DID NOT MATCH ANY OF THE KEY ITEMS OF EVIDENCE.
IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT HE WAS NOT INVOLVED.
Narrator: IT'S A CRUSHING BLOW TO DETECTIVE STUEBE
AND A REAL SETBACK IN THE INVESTIGATION.
Stuebe: WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHO THE PROFILE IS TO.
SO THERE'S STILL THAT.
OKAY, WE KNOW IT'S NOT HIM.
WHO ELSE COULD IT BE?
Narrator: AT A LOSS FOR OTHER SOLID SUSPECTS,
DETECTIVES TURN TO CODIS, THE NATIONAL DNA DATABASE.
MAYBE ADELE'S KILLER HAS BEEN ARRESTED BEFORE
AND IS IN THE SYSTEM.
IT'S A CRAPSHOOT, BUT INVESTIGATORS ROLL THE DICE.
AND AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, THEY GET A HIT.
BUT IT'S A NAME NO ONE EVER SAW COMING.
WE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL WHOSE DNA MATCHES THE CRIME SCENE.
SO WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHY --
WHY DOES THIS INDIVIDUAL'S DNA MATCH THE CRIME SCENE?
WHO HE IS, WHERE WAS HE, WHAT ACCESS COULD HE HAVE HAD?
Narrator: THE DNA BELONGS TO AN EX-CON
BY THE NAME OF GARY SNELLING,
AND ACCORDING TO HIS CRIMINAL RECORD,
GARY'S HAD A RASH OF RUN-INS WITH THE LAW,
INCLUDING ONE CHARGE
THAT CATCHES THE EYE OF INVESTIGATORS.
Stuebe: WE WERE AWARE THAT HE HAD BEEN ARRESTED
FOR LEWD ACTS IN FRONT OF A CHILD,
ACTUALLY WITHIN A BLOCK OF ADELE CURTIS' HOUSE.
Narrator: THIS REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER'S NAME
HAS NEVER COME UP IN THE INVESTIGATION BEFORE.
SO WHAT COULD HIS CONNECTION BE TO ADELE CURTIS, A GROWN WOMAN?
Duffy: DOING RESEARCH ON THAT PERSON AND THAT NAME,
WE WERE ABLE TO LOCATE INFORMATION
THAT THAT PERSON RESIDED ONE BLOCK FROM ADELE CURTIS
AT THE TIME OF THE ***.
Narrator: IS IT POSSIBLE THAT ADELE HAD BEEN COZYING UP
TO THIS CRAFTY EX-CON WITHOUT KNOWING ABOUT HIS PAST MISDEEDS?
DETECTIVES AREN'T SURE, SO THEY CHECK WITH ADELE'S FAMILY.
BUT HER DAUGHTER, KRISTI, HASN'T A CLUE.
I ACTUALLY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT GARY SNELLING AT ALL.
I DIDN'T KNOW HIM AS A NEIGHBOR OR ANYTHING.
Narrator: COULD GARY SNELLING REALLY BE BEHIND ADELE'S ***?
DETECTIVES THINK IT'S POSSIBLE
THAT THIS FREAKISH FLASHER MAY HAVE SET HIS SIGHTS ON ADELE
FOR SOME TYPE OF SICK SEX THAT WENT AWRY.
EITHER WAY, THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT
HAS THEM RUNNING ON ALL CYLINDERS.
Stuebe: I THINK IT'S VERY EXCITING
WHEN YOU GET CERTAIN BREAKS IN A CASE
'CAUSE YOU'RE PUTTING THIS PUZZLE TOGETHER,
YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED.
AND THAT'S YOUR GOAL AS AN INVESTIGATOR.
Narrator: DETECTIVES TRACK THE PERVERSE PAROLEE DOWN
SELLING FIREWOOD NEAR HIS CURRENT HOME
IN PRESCOTT, ARIZONA,
ABOUT TWO HOURS NORTH OF PHOENIX.
AND BACK AT THE STATION, DETECTIVES GRILL HIM
ABOUT HOW HIS DNA HAS PEGGED HIM AS THEIR PERP.
WHEN MR. SNELLING WAS INFORMED BY DETECTIVE STUEBE
THAT HIS DNA WAS FOUND AT THE CRIME SCENE
AND IN ADELE'S CAR, HE RESPONDED WITH NO EMOTION.
AND HE SAID THE ONLY THING THAT WAS IMPORTANT --
"I'VE NEVER BEEN THERE."
Narrator: BUT INVESTIGATORS KNOW DNA DOESN'T LIE.
AND THEY'RE POSITIVE THEY HAVE THEIR MAN.
IF IT COMES TO BELIEVING GARY SNELLING
OR BELIEVING THE DNA EVIDENCE,
I'M SIDING WITH THE DNA EVIDENCE.
Narrator: BASED ON THE DNA,
AS WELL AS GARY'S CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE CRIME SCENE
AND HIS RECORD AS A SEX OFFENDER,
DETECTIVES ARREST HIM FOR THE *** OF ADELE CURTIS
SEVEN YEARS AFTER ADELE STEPPED OUT OF THE SHOWER
ON THAT FATEFUL SUNDAY MORNING.
IN JUNE OF 2008,
GARY SNELLING IS CONVICTED OF THE FIRST-DEGREE ***
OF ADELE CURTIS
AND IS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON
WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE.
WEAVING TOGETHER THE EVIDENCE,
POLICE BELIEVE THEY'VE PIECED TOGETHER WHAT HAPPENED
ON SUNDAY, JULY 18, 1996.
DETECTIVES BELIEVE GARY SNELLING SPOTTED ADELE AT HOME ALONE
AND SAW AN OPPORTUNITY.
Stuebe: HIS FIRST IDEA WAS PROBABLY TO ENGAGE
IN SOME TYPE OF SEX ACT WITH ADELE AGAINST HER WILL.
Narrator: GARY APPROACHED ADELE'S CONDO,
AND FINDING IT UNLOCKED, HE ENTERED.
FOR SOME REASON, HE WAS ABLE TO TELL SHE WAS IN THE SHOWER.
PROBABLY HEARD THE WATER RUNNING.
Stuebe: HE GOES INTO THE ADJOINING BEDROOM,
CUTS THE CORD ATTACHED TO THE LAMP.
Narrator: GARY THEN APPROACHES THE BATHROOM
WHERE ADELE IS SHOWERING,
AND WHEN SHE STEPS OUT OF THE SHOWER,
HE LUNGES AT HER.
GARY STRANGLES ADELE TO DEATH WITH THE CUT LAMP CORD,
AND IN THE STRUGGLE, HE CUTS HIMSELF,
LEAVING BEHIND A SINGLE DROP OF BLOOD.
AND THEN HE WENT DOWNSTAIRS AND HELPED HIMSELF
TO WHATEVER WAS IN HER PURSE
AND GRABBED A SODA OUT OF HER OWN REFRIGERATOR.
Narrator: THEN HE STROLLS OUT OF THE HOUSE,
LOCKING THE DOOR BEHIND HIM AND TAKES OFF IN ADELE'S TRUCK.
AFTER TOSSING THE SODA CAN AND THE KEYS,
HE PARKS THE PICKUP BEHIND THE LOCAL BAR
AND CALMLY WALKS LESS THAN A MILE
BACK TO HIS CONDO, A BLOCK AWAY FROM ADELE'S.
Stuebe: WELL, I BELIEVE THIS WAS A TOTALLY UNNECESSARY,
BRUTAL *** OF A LADY
WHO VERY DEARLY CARED FOR HER FAMILY,
AND, ALMOST BECAUSE OF HER INDEPENDENCE,
WAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.
Narrator: EVEN THOUGH 16 YEARS HAVE PASSED
SINCE ADELE'S ***,
THE PAIN OF HER LOSS IS STILL FRESH
IN DAUGHTER, KRISTI'S, HEART.
Stowe: I STILL MISS MY MOTHER WITH ALL MY HEART AND SOUL.
I DO.
AND THEN THERE'S DAYS THAT TEAR YOU APART.
THAT'S HOW I CAN EXPLAIN IT.
Narrator: LIFE IN THIS SUNNY STATE
IS SLOWLY GETTING BACK TO NORMAL
NOW THAT THE CONDO KILLER IS OFF THE STREETS.
AND WHILE THE MEMORY OF ADELE'S *** REMAINS,
LIKE A COWBOY DUSTING HIMSELF OFF
AFTER A FALL FROM HIS HORSE,
THE LOCALS HAVE PICKED THEMSELVES UP
BY THEIR BOOTSTRAPS
AND GOTTEN BACK ON WITH THEIR LIVES.
THE PEOPLE HERE IN PHOENIX -- WE'RE STRONG.
WE ARE VERY STRONG.
WE'RE A TIGHT COMMUNITY.
SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENS,
EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GOING THROUGH HARD TIMES,
EVERYONE'S THERE TO HELP EVERYONE.
WE'RE THERE TO HELP EACH OTHER.
AND THAT'S WHAT I REALLY LOVE ABOUT PHOENIX.