Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Lucci: FRED AND AMBER DALTON'S MARRIAGE
SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT MAKING LOVE, NOT WAR.
BUT WHEN A THIRD PERSON ENTERS THE RELATIONSHIP,
THE CLAWS COME OUT.
GET OUT!
YOU KNOW THESE CAT FIGHTS
AMBER AND JENN GOT INTO...
GET YOUR CAR OFF MY PROPERTY.
...HE CERTAINLY GOT OFF ON IT.
TWO WOMEN FIGHTING OVER HIM? OH, WHAT A STUD.
Lucci: AND WHEN THESE LOVERS GO TO WAR,
THE RESULT IS A BLOODY BATTLE.
AND THIS CONFLICT WON'T END UNTIL THERE'S A BODY COUNT.
"MY GOD. HOW COULD THAT HAPPEN?
HOW COULD SOMEONE DO THAT?"
Lucci: AND LATER, MEGAN TOUMA AND EDGAR PATINO
FIND THAT AN ARMY BASE IS JUST THE RIGHT SETTING
FOR A FIERY ROMANCE.
IT WAS A WHIRLWIND ROMANCE -- TWO YOUNG PEOPLE AWAY FROM HOME.
Lucci: BUT LIFE IS FULL OF SURPRISES,
AND A GOOD SOLDIER MUST BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING
OR ANYONE WHO TAKES AIM.
THIS AFFAIR LED TO A LOT OF DIRE CONSEQUENCES FOR MANY PEOPLE.
THIS IS YOUR BABY!
Lucci: AND WHEN A LOVER'S LIES ARE LAID BARE,
IT MEANS MORE THAN DISHONOR -- IT MEANS ***...
BECAUSE TWO IS COMPANY, THREE IS A CROWD,
AND ONE IS A KILLER.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
WHOEVER SAID LOVE IS JUST A GAME
HAS OBVIOUSLY NEVER MET AN OPPONENT OF MY...CALIBER.
AFTER ALL, AN AFFAIR TAKES
STRATEGY, CONFIDENCE,
AND SOMETIMES, A RUTHLESS HEART,
BECAUSE IF LOVE IS BATTLEFIELD,
MARRIAGE CAN BE AN ALL-OUT WAR.
MARRIAGE AS COMBAT
IS A SITUATION FRED DALTON KNOWS ALL TOO WELL.
OH, MY GOD!
AND WHEN HE AND WIFE AMBER START PLAYING GAMES,
A ROUTINE ROMANCE BECOMES A CASE OF
"HE SAID, SHE SAID, SOMEONE'S DEAD."
GET AWAY FROM MY HOUSE!
TOMS RIVER, NEW JERSEY, IS A BEACH TOWN,
DRAWING TOURISTS TO ITS SUNNY SHORES ALL SUMMER LONG.
IT'S THE PERFECT SETTING FOR YOUNG ROMANCE.
BUT FOR LOCALS, IT'S ALSO A GREAT PLACE TO CALL HOME.
TOMS RIVER IS THE COUNTY SEAT FOR OCEAN COUNTY.
IT IS A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE.
TOMS RIVER IS A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY --
TYPICAL MOM-AND-POP HOMETOWN, USA.
Lucci: AND THIS BEACH TOWN WOULDN'T BE COMPLETE
WITHOUT 20-YEAR-OLD FRED DALTON.
FRED WAS FROM THE AREA.
HE LIKED THE AREA, HAD A LOT OF FAMILY IN THE AREA.
HE LOVED LIVING AT THE SHORE.
HE WAS ABOUT 6' TALL, BROWN HAIR,
PROBABLY SOMEWHERE AROUND 200 POUNDS.
Lucci: BUT IN THE SUMMER OF 1991,
FRED ONLY HAS EYES FOR ONE GIRL --
19-YEAR-OLD AMBER ROTHWELL.
AMBER CAME FROM A WORKING-CLASS FAMILY.
HER FATHER WAS A POLICE OFFICER.
Lucci: THE TWO SPEND THE SUMMER OF THEIR LIVES
AT THE JERSEY SHORE.
Hopkins: THE BEACH IS THE PLACE TO BE.
THERE'S A LOT OF SOCIAL LIFE
BUILT AROUND THE BEACH AND THE CLUBS AND BOARDWALK.
HE WAS "HONEY" THIS AND "HONEY" THAT
AND "YOU'RE MY BABY,"
AND SHE JUST WANTED TO HOLD ON TO HIM.
Lucci: AND AFTER KNOWING EACH OTHER ONLY SIX WEEKS,
FRED AND AMBER MARRY.
Hopkins: FRED AND AMBER MET VERY YOUNG.
THEY HAD A WHIRLWIND ROMANCE.
THEY MUST HAVE BEEN IN LOVE.
Lucci: BUT LIKE SO MANY BEACH ROMANCES,
FRED AND AMBER'S HOT SUMMER LOVE GRADUALLY COOLS.
SEVEN YEARS AND TWO KIDS LATER,
FRED IS TIRED OF THE OLD BALL AND CHAIN.
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
AMBER'S NO DOORMAT,
AND THE TWO HAVE A VOLATILE RELATIONSHIP.
YOU DRUNK? WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?
FRED DALTON WAS CONTROLLING.
HE WAS MANIPULATIVE.
THERE WERE RESTRAINING ORDERS BETWEEN AMBER AND FRED DALTON.
Lucci: WELL, IF FRED'S NOT HAPPY AT HOME,
THERE'S ALWAYS FUN TO BE HAD AT WORK...
[ UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYS ]
...ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR DEALERSHIP WHERE FRED WORKS
GETS A NEW RECEPTIONIST --
28-YEAR-OLD JENNIFER PAMMER.
EVERYONE WHO KNEW JENNIFER LOVED HER.
THEY DESCRIBED HER AS A KIND AND CARING PERSON.
Lucci: FRED QUICKLY BEGINS A FLIRTING GAME
WITH THE SEXY AND SINGLE JENNIFER.
Hopkins: JENNIFER WAS A PETITE WOMAN.
SHE WAS FEISTY.
HER FRIENDS DESCRIBED HER AS A SPITFIRE.
Lucci: AND FRED IS MORE THAN WILLING TO BE HER SPARK.
SHE WAS LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH,
MAYBE SETTLE DOWN.
Lucci: AND THOUGH FRED'S MARRIED,
IT'S NOT A PROBLEM FOR JENNIFER --
AT LEAST FOR NOW.
AFTER A COUPLE WEEKS OF WORKPLACE FLIRTING,
THE TWO DECIDE TO PUT IN SOME OVERTIME
AT JENNIFER'S APARTMENT.
Paulhus: FRED DALTON TOLD JENNIFER PAMMER
THAT HIS MARRIAGE WAS WINDING DOWN
AND THAT HE WOULD SOON BE DIVORCED FROM HIS WIFE.
Lucci: FRED IS LYING TO JENNIFER.
FRED WAS VERY NARCISSISTIC.
IT WAS ALL ABOUT FRED AND GETTING WHAT HE WANTED.
Lucci: AND IF WHAT FRED WANTS IS EXCITEMENT, HE'S IN LUCK.
JENNIFER AND FRED SNEAK OFF FOR PASSIONATE TRYSTS
WHENEVER THEY CAN.
BUT SIX MONTHS LATER,
IT'S NOT ALL SUN, SAND, AND SEX AT THE JERSEY SHORE.
FRED'S NO CLOSER TO DIVORCE...
SERIOUSLY? YOU'RE GOING BACK TO HER AGAIN?
...AND HE AND JENNIFER FIGHT ABOUT IT CONSTANTLY.
THAT'S ALL I GOT TO DO!
NO!
THEY BREAK UP ALL THE TIME AND GET BACK TOGETHER.
THEY HAD SOME SORT OF AN UNHEALTHY CONNECTION.
Lucci: JENNIFER DOESN'T REALIZE
FRED HAS NO INTENTION OF GETTING A DIVORCE.
THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN HAVING A WIFE AND A MISTRESS.
Paulhus: FRED DALTON WAS TRYING TO LIVE TWO LIVES.
FRED AND AMBER ACTUALLY RENEWED THEIR WEDDING VOWS,
AND HE WAS TRYING TO CONTINUE
HIS EXTRAMARITAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JENNIFER PAMMER.
AND HE WAS LYING TO BOTH OF THEM.
Lucci: AND ALMOST A YEAR INTO HIS AFFAIR,
FRED HAS SOME EXPLAINING TO DO.
AMBER IS ABOUT TO GET A PUSH TOWARD DIVORCE COURT
FROM JENNIFER.
JENNIFER -- I GUESS SHE WAS FRUSTRATED
BECAUSE FRED HADN'T LEFT HIS WIFE.
FRED! HEY, BABY!
Lucci: SUDDENLY, FRED'S PRIVATE PUSSYCAT
IS OUT OF THE BAG.
AMBER WANTS TO KNOW WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THIS WOMAN.
WHO WAS THAT GIRL HONKING?
Lucci: SO FRED COMES UP WITH A LIE
THAT WILL PLACATE HIS WIFE AND FIX EVERYTHING.
YOU KNOW THAT. SHE'S CRAZY.
FRED TELLS AMBER THAT JENNIFER IS OBSESSED WITH HIM
AND SHE'S BEEN STALKING HIM FROM THE TIME THEY MET.
Lucci: AND AMBER BELIEVES HIM.
FRED'S GOLDEN TONGUE ALWAYS WINS THE DAY.
FRED IS A MASTER STORYTELLER.
HE'S TELLING JENNIFER ONE THING.
HE'S TELLING AMBER ANOTHER THING.
Lucci: OVER THE NEXT YEAR, JENNIFER DOES HER BEST
TO PUSH AMBER OUT OF FRED'S LIFE.
HE DOESN'T EVEN LOVE YOU ANYMORE!
JENNIFER WOULD CONSTANTLY GO BY THE HOUSE,
BECAUSE, IN JENNIFER'S MIND,
IT WAS AMBER WHO WAS THE OBSTACLE
TO THIS RELATIONSHIP.
Lucci: AMBER'S CONVINCED JENNIFER IS A STALKER.
SHE BEGINS CHRONICLING, IN VIGOROUS DETAIL,
EACH AND EVERY ENCOUNTER WITH JENNIFER.
Paulhus: ACCORDING TO AMBER,
JENNIFER PAMMER WOULD CALL THE HOUSE
SOMETIMES UP TO 90 OR 100 TIMES A DAY.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
HELLO?
SHE WAS LEAVING MESSAGES FOR AMBER,
CALLING HER BARNYARD ANIMALS.
MOO.
STOP CALLING HERE.
Paulhus: FRED JUST STEPPED ASIDE AND LET THEM FIGHT IT OUT,
KNOWING FULL WELL THE WHOLE TIME
THAT HE WAS LYING TO BOTH OF THEM
AND HE HAD CREATED THE ENTIRE SITUATION.
STOP CALLING US, STALKER!
Lucci: AND ALMOST A YEAR INTO JENNIFER AND AMBER'S COLD WAR,
THEIR ANIMOSITY FLARES INTO A MAJOR BATTLE.
WHERE'S MY BOYFRIEND?
JENNIFER -- SITTING OUTSIDE THE DALTON HOUSE,
HONKING THE HORN.
HEY, YOU FAT COW, GET OUT HERE!
WHERE'S MY BOYFRIEND?
AMBER GOES TO THE KITCHEN, GRABS SOME EGGS...
[ CAR HORN HONKING ]
...GOES OUT OF THE HOUSE, APPROACHES JENNIFER.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY DRIVEWAY?
Lucci: THIS IS ONE CATFIGHT SHE'S BEEN WAITING FOR,
AND THE CLAWS ARE OUT.
JENNIFER HAD SAID THAT SHE WAS THERE
TO SEE HER BOYFRIEND, FRED.
AMBER GOT ANGRY AND SAID THAT, YOU KNOW,
"HE'S YOUR BOYFRIEND, BUT HE'S MY HUSBAND."
GET AWAY FROM MY HOUSE! YOU'RE A STALKER!
Hopkins: JENNIFER TAKES OUT A CAN OF MACE AND SPRAYS HER WITH IT.
Lucci: NEIGHBORS ARRIVE TO BREAK UP THE FIGHT,
BUT THIS BATTLE'S JUST BEGUN.
THIS LOVE TRIANGLE
IS TURNING FROM DANGEROUS GAME TO ALL-OUT WAR,
AND IN THIS CASE, SOMEONE WILL WIN,
AND SOMEONE WILL DIE.
Lucci: IN 2000, THE JERSEY SHORE IS A HOTBED OF ROMANTIC INTRIGUE.
FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS, MARRIED MAN FRED DALTON
HAS BEEN HAVING A VOLATILE AFFAIR WITH JENNIFER PAMMER.
AND THEY WERE ALMOST LIKE --
HOW CAN I PUT IT? -- LIKE GASOLINE TO A MATCH.
I TOLD YOU I -- OH!
JENNIFER PAMMER'S FRIENDS CHARACTERIZED THEIR RELATIONSHIP
AS A LOVE-HATE,
OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE RELATIONSHIP.
Lucci: BUT FRED HAS HIS WIFE AMBER CONVINCED
JENNIFER IS NOT A LOVER, BUT A STALKER.
AMBER IS TRYING TO PROTECT HER HUSBAND AND HER FAMILY,
AND SHE'S WONDERING WHY THIS WOMAN
IS CONSTANTLY CALLING THE HOUSE OR COMING BY.
CRAZY COW!
Lucci: JENNIFER AND AMBER FEUD OVER FRED,
EVEN AS HE SPINS LIES TO KEEP THEM FIGHTING.
HELLO?
Hopkins: FRED WAS LIKE THE PUPPETEER.
AMBER WOULD BE ON THE PHONE TO JENNIFER,
AND FRED WOULD BE IN THE BACKGROUND,
TELLING HER WHAT TO SAY TO THIS CRAZY STALKER.
TELL HER SHE'S A PIG.
YOU'RE A PIG. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID.
Lucci: BUT IT'S NOT ONLY JENNIFER AND AMBER WHO ARE AT WAR.
EVEN AFTER FRED LEAVES HIS JOB AT THE CAR DEALERSHIP,
HE WON'T LEAVE JENNIFER ALONE AT WORK.
HELLO.
FRED SOMETIMES CALLS 50 OR 100 TIMES A DAY.
Paulhus: HE HAD A TEMPER IN THAT HE WAS VOLATILE.
HE WAS CAPABLE OF CERTAINLY SAYING SOME VERY NASTY THINGS.
REMEMBER THIS...
Lucci: FRED AND JENNIFER SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME
FIGHTING OVER FRED GETTING A DIVORCE.
Rooney: COWORKERS DESCRIBED IT AS
A LOT OF ARGUING BACK AND FORTH, NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS.
IF SHE WOULDN'T TAKE HIS CALLS,
HE'D JUST CONTINUE CALLING INCESSANTLY,
TO THE POINT WHERE JENNIFER WAS WORRIED ABOUT LOSING HER JOB.
JENNIFER GAVE AS GOOD AS SHE GOT.
SHE WAS HOOKED INTO THIS NEUROTIC RELATIONSHIP.
WHO WAS THAT?
Lucci: ***, LIES, AND JEALOUSY
HAVE FORGED A DANGEROUS LOVE TRIANGLE
THAT NO ONE IS WILLING TO BREAK.
IT WAS A FORM OF EXCITEMENT FOR HER AND FOR HIM
AND EVEN FOR THE WIFE.
IT SEEMS AS THOUGH IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
BEFORE FRED CAN NO LONGER CONTINUE TO KEEP THIS BALANCE.
Lucci: ALMOST THREE YEARS INTO THE AFFAIR,
FRED'S JUGGLING ACT FINALLY COMES CRASHING DOWN.
FRED WAS IN COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER
AND HE HAS SOME TYPE OF AN OPERATION,
AND AMBER HAD GONE TO VISIT HIM IN THE HOSPITAL.
Lucci: BUT WHEN AMBER DISCOVERS JENNIFER, THE FUR FLIES.
STALKER!
Paulhus: AMBER WAS FEARFUL THAT JENNIFER
WAS GONNA DO SOMETHING HARMFUL TO FRED.
Lucci: FRED DOESN'T BREAK UP THE FIGHT.
Hopkins: FRED WAS TRYING TO HOLD IT ALL TOGETHER
SO BOTH WOMEN WOULD FIGHT OVER HIM,
WHICH I THINK FED HIS EGO.
Lucci: TALK ABOUT YOUR IN-ROOM ENTERTAINMENT.
SECURITY PULLS THE WOMEN APART,
AND THEY'RE AT A STANDOFF FOR NOW.
A LINE HAS BEEN DRAWN IN THE SAND,
AND LESS THAN THREE MONTHS LATER,
SOMEONE WILL CROSS IT.
EARLY IN THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 5, 2000,
FRED DALTON TELLS POLICE HE WAS ATTACKED.
Paulhus: HE REPORTS THAT AT ABOUT 10:30 THE NIGHT BEFORE,
HE HAD AN ENCOUNTER WITH JENNIFER PAMMER.
Lucci: JENNIFER FOLLOWED FRED INTO A STORE PARKING LOT.
HE WAS PORTRAYING JENNIFER OUT TO BE
A CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND, I GUESS.
Lucci: FRED AND JENNIFER'S RELATIONSHIP
IS ABOUT TO GO FROM AFFAIR TO ASSAULT.
HE SAID THAT JENNIFER
PULLED A SMALL POCKETKNIFE AND CAME AT HIM.
[ LAUGHS ]
Lucci: TINY JENNIFER WAS NO MATCH FOR FRED,
BUT AS THEY STRUGGLED, SHE TOOK HIS KNIFE.
SHE GRABBED A KNIFE THAT HE HAD IN A SHEATH ON HIS BELT
AND SAID SHE WAS GONNA KILL HERSELF WITH IT,
AND THEN SHE DROVE OFF.
Lucci: FRED CLAIMS JENNIFER IS A DANGEROUS STALKER,
AND HE MAY BE RIGHT.
IT'S CLEAR SOMETHING SINISTER IS GOING ON
WHEN JENNIFER DOESN'T GO TO WORK.
HER BOSS AND COWORKERS BECAME VERY CONCERNED
BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T SHOW UP.
Lucci: NONE OF HER FRIENDS HAVE SEEN HER,
AND WHEN DETECTIVES CONFRONT FRED,
HE CLAIMS JENNIFER IS HIDING OUT.
IT'S A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF HER STALKING HIM.
AND AMBER SUPPORTS HIM.
OFFICER, PLEASE.
Paulhus: AMBER HAD A FOLDER CHOCK-FULL OF HISTORY BETWEEN THEM,
SAYS, "YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS WOMAN'S CRAZY.
"SHE'S PROBABLY PULLING SOME STUNT.
"SHE'S BEEN STALKING US FOR YEARS.
AND THIS IS NOTHING MORE THAN HER UP TO HER OLD TRICKS."
Lucci: A FEW DAYS LATER,
FRED OFFERS PROOF JENNIFER IS OUT TO GET HIM.
Rooney: FRED SAID THAT JENNIFER HAD JUST CALLED HIM,
THAT HE HAD HER VOICE ON HIS ANSWERING MACHINE.
POLICE LISTENED TO THE TAPES,
AND THEY KNOW IT'S JENNIFER PAMMER'S VOICE.
BUT JENNIFER ISN'T CONTACTING ANYONE EXCEPT FRED.
Rooney: WE HAD TO KEEP OPEN THE FACT THAT, HEY,
MAYBE SHE IS JUST COOLING OFF SOMEWHERE.
Lucci: AS THE DAYS STRETCH INTO WEEKS,
THERE'S NO SIGN OF JENNIFER.
SHE'S ABANDONED HER APARTMENT,
AND SHE DOESN'T CONTACT FAMILY OR FRIENDS.
BUT THE AUTHORITIES' HANDS ARE TIED.
WE DON'T KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT SHE'S DEAD. WE DON'T.
AND WITHOUT A BODY, YOU DON'T HAVE A CAUSE OF DEATH.
HOW ARE YOU GONNA PROVE HOMICIDE?
Lucci: ON MAY 17, 2001,
FIVE MONTHS AFTER JENNIFER'S DISAPPEARANCE,
A STARTLING DISCOVERY CHANGES EVERYTHING.
Rooney: WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM A LOCAL FISHERMAN.
HE WAS TRAVELING OUT THAT WAY TO DO SOME FISHING
AND NOTICED SOME BIRDS CIRCLING IN THE AREA.
Pissott: WHEN THEY INVESTIGATED,
THEY STUMBLED ACROSS THE SHALLOW GRAVE.
Lucci: A WOMAN'S NAKED, DECOMPOSING BODY
LIES BURIED UNDER A THIN LAYER OF DIRT.
Pissott: SO, THIS IS THE AREA WHERE THE GRAVE SITE WAS.
THE VICTIM WAS POSITIONED HEAD ON THIS SIDE,
FEET DOWN HERE,
APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET OFF THE ROAD.
Lucci: THE BODY BEARS EVIDENCE OF SIX STAB WOUNDS
TO THE LEGS AND CHEST.
YOU'RE JUST LOOKING -- YOU'RE LIKE, "MY GOD,
HOW COULD THAT HAPPEN? HOW COULD SOMEONE DO THAT?"
Lucci: WITHIN A FEW DAYS, THE MEDICAL EXAMINER CONFIRMS
THE REMAINS BELONG TO JENNIFER PAMMER.
AND WHEN THE NEWS REACHES TOMS RIVER,
THE WHOLE TOWN MOURNS HER DEATH.
JENNIFER WAS A YOUNG WOMAN WHO WAS LOOKING FOR LOVE,
LOOKING FOR THAT FAIRY-TALE ENDING,
AND WHAT SHE GOT WAS THE EXACT OPPOSITE.
SHE REALLY WAS LOVED BY HER FRIENDS,
AND THEY STILL MISS HER.
SHE WAS LIKE A LIGHT. SHE REALLY WAS LIKE A LIGHT.
Lucci: BUT FINDING JENNIFER ISN'T ENOUGH.
POLICE NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.
Paulhus: ONCE THE BODY IS EXCAVATED,
YOU WOULD THINK THAT THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE END OF IT,
BUT, NO, THEY CONTINUED TO DIG,
AND THANK GOODNESS THAT THEY DID.
I THINK IT WAS A TOTAL OF 17 INCHES DOWN.
WE DISCOVERED A BLACK FOLDING KNIFE.
Lucci: POLICE QUICKLY DETERMINE
THE KNIFE BELONGS TO FRED DALTON.
IT'S THE SAME KNIFE HE CLAIMED JENNIFER TOOK FROM HIM.
COULD SHE HAVE KILLED HERSELF?
JENNIFER PAMMER HAD A STAB WOUND IN THE BACK OF HER CALF,
WHICH IS INDICATIVE OF A PRELIMINARY WOUND
MEANT TO STOP SOMEBODY FROM FIGHTING,
STOP SOMEBODY FROM RUNNING.
STOP!
Lucci: JENNIFER WAS BRUTALLY MURDERED,
AND POLICE SUSPECT HER KILLER
IS EITHER HER MANIPULATIVE, ABUSIVE LOVER
OR HIS ANGRY, PROTECTIVE WIFE.
SHE CLAIMS HE CONFESSED TO HER THE NIGHT OF THE ***.
HE TOLD HER THAT HE HAD
AN ALTERCATION WITH JENNIFER PAMMER
AND THAT HER BODY WAS IN THE TRUNK OF THEIR CAR.
...PUT HER BODY IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR.
Lucci: POLICE BELIEVE AMBER'S STORY OVER HER HUSBAND'S
BECAUSE OF A SURPRISING SOURCE OF EVIDENCE.
SERGEANT!
JENNIFER PAMMER LEFT BEHIND TAPES
CONTAINING 800 PHONE CALLS BETWEEN HERSELF AND FRED DALTON.
THE TONE OF MOST OF THEM WAS PRETTY NASTY.
THESE WERE THE ONES
THAT BEST CHARACTERIZED THEIR RELATIONSHIP --
THE VOLATILE, COMPULSIVE, OBSESSIVE,
MANIPULATIVE NATURE OF IT.
I KNEW THAT THERE WAS SOME SERIOUS ANGER...
I'LL GET EVEN.
...SOME SERIOUS EFFORT AT CONTROL AND MANIPULATION.
AND I KNEW THAT HER DISAPPEARANCE
MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT.
THE TAPES HAD A HUGE IMPACT
BECAUSE IT GAVE YOU AN IDEA THAT,
YEAH, HE WAS CAPABLE OF DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS
BECAUSE OF THE SHEER NASTINESS OF THE PHONE CALLS.
Lucci: EVEN IN THE MONTHS BEFORE JENNIFER WAS FOUND,
POLICE SUSPECTED FRED HAD TRIED TO COVER UP HER ***.
WE HAD DECIDED TO SET UP SURVEILLANCE ON HIM,
AND AT THAT TIME, HE WAS STILL CLAIMING THAT,
"SHE'S STILL CALLING ME."
WE WANTED TO SET UP AND JUST WATCH HIM
AND SEE WHAT HE WAS DOING.
Lucci: POLICE DISCOVER FRED DALTON'S INGENIOUS WAY
OF FAKING CALLS FROM JENNIFER AFTER SHE DISAPPEARED.
FRED HAD RECORDED PREVIOUS MESSAGES
THAT JENNIFER HAD LEFT FOR HIM.
AND HE'D PLAY A RECORDED PHONE CALL INTO THE PAY PHONE
SO THAT HE HAD THE MESSAGE ON HIS HOME ANSWERING MACHINE.
BY CREATING THIS LIE THAT JENNIFER WAS CONTACTING HIM,
HE WAS CREATING A FALSE HOPE
ON THE PART OF HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS
THAT SHE WAS ACTUALLY ALIVE.
Lucci: ON MAY 13, 2003,
FRED DALTON GOES ON TRIAL
FOR THE *** OF JENNIFER PAMMER.
PROSECUTORS PAINT A GRIM PICTURE OF THE NIGHT OF THE KILLING.
FRED AND JENNIFER POSSIBLY HAD A PRE-ARRANGED MEETING.
THE COUPLE MET IN A PARKING LOT NEAR JENNIFER'S APARTMENT.
Rooney: JENNIFER HAD ENOUGH.
SHE DID WANT TO END THE RELATIONSHIP WITH FRED.
Lucci: FRED TRIED TO CONVINCE JENNIFER TO COME BACK TO HIM,
BUT THINGS SUDDENLY BECAME DEADLY SERIOUS.
JENNIFER DID PULL A KNIFE OUT ON HIM.
HE DISARMED HER.
Lucci: FRED COULDN'T LET HIS MISTRESS WIN THE GAME THEY WERE PLAYING.
STOP!
HE STABBED JENNIFER SIX TIMES
AS SHE TRIED TO GET AWAY.
THIS WAS A MAN WHO SUPPOSEDLY CARED ABOUT A WOMAN,
AND NOT ONLY DID HE KILL HER,
HE STRIPPED HER NAKED
AND DUMPED HER IN THE WOODS LIKE GARBAGE.
Lucci: ON JUNE 27, 2003,
FRED DALTON IS CONVICTED OF FIRST-DEGREE ***
AND SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON.
HE MAINTAINS HIS INNOCENCE TO THIS DAY.
AUTHORITIES NEVER CHARGE AMBER DALTON,
THOUGH SHE DID WITHHOLD FRED'S CONFESSION.
SHE DID SO -- WAS BECAUSE FRED DALTON URGED HER TO
AND SHE WAS AFRAID OF HIM.
SHE DID WHAT SHE DID OUT OF FEAR,
NOT FOR PERSONAL GAIN.
Lucci: FRED DALTON FORGOT A BASIC RULE OF COMBAT
IN HIS THREE-YEAR WAR WITH JENNIFER --
EVEN IF YOU WIN THE BATTLE,
GOING TO JAIL MEANS YOU'VE LOST THE WAR.
I'VE ALWAYS HANDLED MY LOVERS WITH THE UTMOST CARE,
BECAUSE WINNING ISN'T EVERYTHING.
HEARTS ARE FRAGILE LITTLE THINGS
AND NOT TO BE TOYED WITH.
AND WHEN LOVE IS BUILT ON LIES,
EVEN THE BEST-LAID PLANS ARE DESTINED FOR DEFEAT.
U.S. SOLDIERS MEGAN TOUMA AND EDGAR PATINO
SEEMED LIKE PERFECT PARTNERS.
BUT SOMETIMES THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME OF ALL
IS THE ONE YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU'RE PLAYING.
A U.S. ARMY BASE, WITH ITS GUNS, HELICOPTERS, AND WEAPONS OF WAR,
MAY SEEM LIKE A STRANGE PLACE TO CALL HOME,
BUT NOT FOR 21-YEAR-OLD ARMY SPECIALIST MEGAN TOUMA.
MEGAN ENLISTED IN THE MILITARY RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE HAD OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS THAT WERE IN THE MILITARY.
Lucci: IN 2006,
MEGAN IS AN ASSISTANT IN THE DENTAL CLINIC
STATIONED ON A U.S. ARMY BASE IN GERMANY.
THIS SOLDIER'S BEST WEAPON MIGHT JUST BE HER SMILE.
HER FRIENDS TALK ABOUT HOW FRIENDLY SHE WAS,
HOW OUTGOING SHE WAS.
PEOPLE WOULD BE DRAWN TO HER.
Lucci: BUT ARMY LIFE ISN'T PERFECT.
MEGAN IS AN OCEAN AWAY FROM HER HUSBAND, ANAR TOUMA.
Graff: SHE WAS ONLY 19 WHEN SHE GOT MARRIED.
SHE PROBABLY THOUGHT SHE WAS GETTING MARRIED FOREVER.
Lucci: BUT THE COUPLE WAS RE-ASSIGNED
JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE WEDDING.
SHE WAS TRANSFERRED TO GERMANY. HE STAYED IN THE UNITED STATES.
Lucci: NOW, MEGAN'S BEEN AWAY FROM HER HUSBAND
FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS.
TWO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WERE DRAWN TOGETHER,
THEN SUDDENLY THRUST APART --
THERE HAD TO BE A TREMENDOUS SENSE OF ISOLATION
FOR BOTH OF THEM.
Lucci: MEGAN HAS BUILT A FULL LIFE ON HER OWN IN GERMANY,
BUT IT'S HARD NOT TO NOTICE
THE ARMY IS FULL OF HANDSOME MEN.
MILITARY PEOPLE GET ALONG WITH MILITARY PEOPLE.
EVERYTHING THEY DO IS WITH EACH OTHER.
Lucci: I KNOW I LOVE A MAN IN UNIFORM...
OR OUT OF ONE.
AND SINCE TONIGHT'S GAME PLAN INVOLVES SOME HARMLESS FLIRTING,
IT ISN'T LONG BEFORE MEGAN TEAMS UP
WITH A STRAPPING SERGEANT -- EDGAR PATINO.
West: THE MILITARY WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO EDGAR.
HE HAD GROWN UP IN PUERTO RICO,
BUT AS SOON AS HE HAD FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL,
HE HAD GONE INTO THE MILITARY.
Lucci: EVERY GIRL IS A SUCKER FOR A MAN WITH A BIG GUN.
EDGAR WAS HANDSOME. HE WAS DASHING.
HE WAS OUTGOING,
AND HE WOULD HAVE BEEN QUITE ATTRACTIVE TO ANY YOUNG WOMAN.
Lucci: BUT IF THIS GAME GOES BEYOND FLIRTING,
THERE'LL BE HELL TO PAY.
THE MILITARY DOESN'T LOOK KINDLY ON INFIDELITY.
YOU CAN BE COURT-MARTIALED IN THE MILITARY
FOR HAVING AN AFFAIR.
Lucci: WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE,
DECEPTION IS NEVER A FAIR GAME,
BECAUSE SERGEANT PATINO
HAS A DIRTY, LITTLE SECRET OF HIS OWN,
AND WHEN THIS HAND IS PLAYED OUT,
THE ONLY REMAINING MOVE IS ***.
Lucci: ARMY SPECIALIST MEGAN TOUMA
LIKES WHAT SHE SEES IN SERGEANT EDGAR PATINO,
BUT THERE'S ONE CATCH -- MEGAN IS MARRIED.
SHE GOT MARRIED AT AGE 19,
WHICH I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD THINK IS YOUNG,
BUT YOU DO SEE THAT A LOT IN THE MILITARY.
Lucci: IN 2005, MEGAN AND EDGAR
ARE ASSIGNED TO THE SAME ARMY BASE IN GERMANY.
THEY BECOME FRIENDS, BUT NOTHING MORE.
WELL, THE MILITARY VIEWS ADULTERY
AND TREATS IT VERY DIFFERENTLY
THAN THE BUSINESS WORLD DOES, FOR EXAMPLE.
Lucci: AND WHAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE OFFICE ROMANCE
IN THE CIVILIAN WORLD
COULD TOUCH OFF WORLD WAR III IN THE MILITARY.
IT IS A CRIME IN THE CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE.
IT CAN LEAD TO BEING KICKED OUT OF THE MILITARY,
OR IT CAN LEAD TO A DEMOTION.
Lucci: BUT MEGAN CAN'T STAY AWAY.
I KNOW I'D HAVE A TOUGH TIME
SAYING NO TO EDGAR'S MILITARY MANEUVERS.
AND SOON MEGAN DOESN'T HAVE TO.
IN MARCH OF 2007,
SHE GETS A DIVORCE FROM HER STATESIDE HUSBAND.
THEY REALIZED THAT THEY MADE A MISTAKE,
AND THEY MADE AN EFFORT TO STAY FRIENDS.
Lucci: AH, DIVORCE CAN BE SO LIBERATING.
MEGAN'S NEW SINGLE STATUS CLEARS A PATH
FOR A PASSIONATE OVERSEAS ROMANCE.
West: I BELIEVE THEY WERE PRETTY OPEN ABOUT IT
AND MANY OF THEIR FRIENDS TALK ABOUT HOW THEY WERE A COUPLE
AND THEY DID NOT HIDE THE FACT THAT THEY WERE A COUPLE.
Lucci: OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS,
THE TWO SLIP AWAY WHENEVER THEY CAN.
AND IF IT ISN'T EXACTLY MILITARY PROTOCOL,
THEY'RE CERTAINLY GETTING BETTER AT FIELD MANEUVERS.
Disponzio: THERE WAS EVEN A POINT
THAT MEGAN WAS WEARING AN ENGAGEMENT RING.
Lucci: WELL, EVERY GOOD SOLDIER SHOULD HAVE A SHINY PIECE OF HARDWARE.
HOOAH!
BUT AS MEGAN KNOWS ALL TOO WELL,
ARMY LIFE DOESN'T LEND ITSELF TO LOVE.
IN DECEMBER OF 2007,
EDGAR IS RE-ASSIGNED TO THE STATES.
EDGAR FOUND OUT HE WAS ACCEPTED IN SPECIAL FORCES TRAINING
AND GOT ORDERS TO LEAVE FOR FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA.
Lucci: EDGAR AND MEGAN MAKE THE MOST
OF EDGAR'S REMAINING TIME IN GERMANY.
HE PROMISES TO STAY IN TOUCH.
BUT PROMISES ARE LIKE BABIES --
EASY TO MAKE, HARD TO DELIVER.
IN JANUARY OF 2008, SERGEANT EDGAR PATINO
HEADS TO FORT BRAGG IN FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.
[ Ringing ]
IT'S TOO BAD IT'S A LITTLE LATE FOR THIS SOLDIER TO PULL OUT.
I HAVE SOME NEWS.
WITHIN WEEKS, MEGAN GIVES EDGAR SOME BIG NEWS.
UH, I AM PREGNANT.
MEGAN'S PLAN WAS TO FOLLOW EDGAR TO FORT BRAGG,
AND SHE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO
THE THREE OF THEM BEING THEIR OWN FAMILY.
Lucci: BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT MEGAN'S LOVER
HAS A SHOCKING SECRET --
HIS WIFE, HELENA.
SHE'S THRILLED EDGAR IS FINALLY HOME.
MS. PATINO DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE AFFAIR
BETWEEN EDGAR AND MEGAN.
Lucci: AND EDGAR IS NOT ABOUT TO ADMIT
THAT HE WAS DOING A WHOLE LOT MORE IN GERMANY
THAN SERVING HIS COUNTRY.
HE HAD BEEN BASICALLY LIVING THIS DOUBLE LIFE
WHERE HE HAD ONE RELATIONSHIP IN BAMBERG, GERMANY,
AND YET IN THE UNITED STATES, HE WAS MARRIED TO MS. PATINO.
Lucci: EDGAR MAY BE ABLE TO FOOL HELENA IN NORTH CAROLINA,
BUT HE CAN'T KEEP TONGUES FROM WAGGING IN GERMANY.
AND IT ISN'T LONG BEFORE MEGAN LEARNS THE TRUTH.
SHE WANTED TO KILL THE S.O.B. THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY.
SHE WANTED TO KILL...
KILL...
KILL, AND RIP OFF SOME PARTS IN THE PROCESS.
Lucci: MEGAN IS INVOLVED IN AN EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR,
AND SHE IS THE OTHER WOMAN.
OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS,
E-MAILS FLEW FAST AND FURIOUS BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.
Lucci: EDGAR AND MEGAN MAKE UP AND BREAK UP,
LONG DISTANCE, SEVERAL TIMES.
IT MUST HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING FOR MEGAN
TO LEARN THAT EDGAR WAS ALREADY MARRIED,
BUT HE SAID, "I'M GONNA BE LEAVING MY WIFE.
"I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING A LIFE WITH YOU
AND HAVING A BABY WITH YOU."
Lucci: THERE'S ONLY ONE PROBLEM --
EDGAR IS LYING.
HE HASN'T TOLD HIS WIFE ABOUT MEGAN...
OR ASKED FOR A DIVORCE.
HIS WIFE'S FAMILY WAS VERY WEALTHY.
IF HE DIVORCES HIS WIFE, HE LOSES OUT ON HER INHERITANCE.
BUT IF EDGAR STAYED WITH MEGAN,
HE'D HAVE THE SON HE ALWAYS DESIRED.
Lucci: BUT HAVING TWO WOMEN ISN'T A GAME --
IT'S A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN.
IN JUNE OF 2008, DISASTER COMES TO FAYETTEVILLE.
MEGAN LEFT BAMBERG, GERMANY, ON JUNE 11,
ARRIVED HERE AT FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, ON JUNE 12.
Lucci: THE SEVEN-MONTH-PREGNANT MEGAN
HAS BEEN RE-ASSIGNED TO BE WITH HER LOVER.
EDGAR WAS ABLE TO CONVINCE HER THAT, AS SOON AS SHE ARRIVED,
THEY WOULD BE REUNITED
AND MAKE THEIR OWN FAMILY LIFE TOGETHER.
Lucci: BUT EDGAR'S WIFE ISN'T INTERESTED IN SHARING HER MAN,
AND SOON, THIS LOVE TRIANGLE WILL EXPLODE
IN A FINAL, DESPERATE BATTLE.
Lucci: ON JUNE 12, 2008,
FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, BECOMES HOME
TO ARMY SPECIALIST MEGAN TOUMA.
MEGAN'S BEEN RE-ASSIGNED
TO BE WITH HER MARRIED LOVER, SERGEANT EDGAR PATINO.
SHE ACTUALLY REQUESTED TO BE STATIONED HERE AT FORT BRAGG,
'CAUSE THAT'S WHERE EDGAR WAS,
AND SHE WAS PREGNANT WITH HIS SON.
Lucci: BUT MEGAN DOESN'T SPEND HER FIRST NIGHT ON BASE.
THEY HAD A BARRACKS FOR MEGAN,
BUT THIS PARTICULAR BARRACKS HAD NO AIR CONDITIONING.
SHE COULD STAY IN UNCONDITIONED BARRACKS,
OR SHE COULD TAKE A ROOM AT AN AIR-CONDITIONED MOTEL.
Lucci: MEGAN'S BEEN WAITING TO SEE EDGAR FOR MONTHS.
EDGAR, IT'S MEGAN.
I'M AT THE HOTEL. WHERE ARE YOU?
AND WHILE NO ONE CAN BEAT MEGAN'S LOVER
AT DEFENSIVE MANEUVERS,
EDGAR HAS PROBLEMS OF HIS OWN.
THIS CONFLICT IS ABOUT TO ERUPT,
AND IT MAY BE ONE BATTLE EDGAR WON'T SURVIVE.
ON JUNE 21, 2008,
HOTEL MAINTENANCE RECEIVES A ROUTINE CALL
ABOUT ONE OF THE ROOMS.
A GUEST HAD REPORTED SMELLING A FOUL ODOR.
HELLO?
IT WOULD HAVE SMELLED FETID,
LIKE OLD, RUSTY PIPES
AND TERRIBLE, BACKED-UP TOILETS ALL ROLLED INTO ONE.
Lucci: A WORKER MAKES A TERRIBLE DISCOVERY --
THE DECOMPOSED BODY OF MEGAN TOUMA.
WHEN MEGAN'S BODY WAS FOUND,
IT WAS PARTIALLY CLAD, IN A WATER-FILLED TUB,
AND SHE STILL WAS WEARING EDGAR'S ENGAGEMENT RING.
Lucci: MEGAN WAS STRANGLED TO DEATH.
THIS WAS A COLD-BLOODED, HORRIFIC MURDERER
WHO COULD PUT THEIR HANDS AROUND THE NECK OF A PREGNANT WOMAN
AND THROTTLE HER LIFE AWAY.
Lucci: WHEN OFFICERS ARRIVE,
THEY STRUGGLE TO MAKE SENSE OF THE CRIME SCENE.
THERE WERE SIGNS OF A STRUGGLE.
THERE WAS FURNITURE ASKEW.
Lucci: THE KILLER PLUGGED THE DRAIN WITH WASH RAGS,
BUT LEFT WATER TRICKLING IN,
AND MEGAN IS SO DECOMPOSED
THAT DETECTIVES CAN'T BE SURE HOW LONG SHE'S BEEN DEAD.
THE ROOM MAY HAVE BEEN HOT.
I DON'T THINK THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS ON.
Lucci: ALL THE POLICE HAVE TO GO ON
IS THAT MEGAN WAS LAST SEEN AT FORT BRAGG NINE DAYS BEFORE.
WHEN NEWS OF MEGAN'S DEATH IS RELEASED,
THE COMMUNITY IN AND AROUND FORT BRAGG
IS SHOCKED AND OUTRAGED.
IT ADDED A CERTAIN TRAGIC TWIST FOR THIS COMMUNITY
BY THE FACT THAT SHE WAS MILITARY.
Graff: THIS IS A HORRIFIC ***.
THIS ABOUT THIS YOUNG, ENERGETIC WOMAN,
WHO IS 7 MONTHS PREGNANT, IN THE BLOOM OF HER LIFE,
TO HAVE THE LIFE OF HER SON AND HER OWN
SNUFFED OUT SO MERCILESSLY.
Lucci: AS THE MANHUNT FOR MEGAN'S KILLER BEGINS,
CIVILIAN AUTHORITIES TURN TO MILITARY POLICE FOR HELP.
SO, THEY STARTED INVESTIGATING BACK IN GERMANY
THE PEOPLE SHE KNEW.
AND MILITARY LAW ENFORCEMENT
LED FAYETTEVILLE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO EDGAR PATINO.
Lucci: POLICE IN FAYETTEVILLE
QUICKLY BRING MEGAN'S ONE-TIME LOVER IN FOR QUESTIONING.
EDGAR ADMITS TO THE AFFAIR AND TO SEEING MEGAN.
EDGAR SIMPLY SAID HE WENT TO VISIT WITH MEGAN,
AND WHEN HE LEFT AFTER
ABOUT A 30-MINUTE ARGUMENT AND ALTERCATION,
SHE WAS ALIVE AND WELL.
Lucci: EDGAR WENT HOME IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ARGUMENT.
EDGAR SAID HE WAS WITH HIS WIFE MOST OF THE EVENING,
AND SHE SUPPORTED THAT ALIBI.
BUT EVEN AS POLICE BEGIN TO INVESTIGATE PATINO'S STORY,
THE STAFF AT A LOCAL NEWSPAPER
TURNS THE INVESTIGATION UPSIDE DOWN.
SHORTLY AFTER THE BODY WAS FOUND,
THE NEWSPAPER RECEIVED A LETTER.
Lucci: THE AUTHOR OF THE LETTER CLAIMS TO BE A SERIAL KILLER.
HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MEGAN'S ***.
HE DESCRIBED IT AS A MASTERPIECE.
HE SAID HE'D KILLED BEFORE IN OTHER STATES,
THAT HE WOULD DO IT AGAIN.
Lucci: THE LETTER IS SIGNED WITH A CHILLING SYMBOL --
A RIFLE SIGHT WITH CROSS HAIRS.
AND THE AUTHOR CLAIMS HE IS FOLLOWING
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE ZODIAC KILLER,
WHO TERRORIZED CALIFORNIANS IN THE 1960s AND '70s.
WELL, THE HOMICIDE DETECTIVES IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
HAD TO CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY
THAT IT COULD BE A SERIAL KILLER.
HOWEVER, DETECTIVES STRONGLY BELIEVED
THAT THE LETTER WAS SENT BY SOMEONE
TRYING TO THROW THE INVESTIGATION OFF COURSE.
Lucci: BUT THE LETTER IS STILL
AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.
THE LETTER TOLD THE DETECTIVES THAT THIS PERSON
OBVIOUSLY KNEW SOMETHING ABOUT THE ***,
THAT HE WASN'T SOME PRANKSTER.
Lucci: THE SYMBOL ON THE LETTER MATCHES CROSS HAIRS
FOUND ON THE BATHROOM MIRROR AT THE CRIME SCENE.
SOMEONE HAD TAKEN LIPSTICK
AND DRAWN A CIRCLE WITH A CROSS THROUGH IT.
West: THE HOMICIDE DETECTIVES WERE THE ONLY ONE
THAT KNEW THAT THE ZODIAC SYMBOL
WAS ON THE MIRROR ABOVE THE SINK.
THIS HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
Lucci: IT'S SIMPLE --
FIND WHO WROTE THE LETTER AND FIND THE KILLER.
AND AUTHORITIES KNOW JUST WHERE TO LOOK.
West: THEY EXECUTED THE SEARCH WARRANT
AT EDGAR'S HOME IN HOPE MILLS
AND FOUND MANY RELEVANT PIECES OF EVIDENCE.
Lucci: POLICE DISCOVER A SLOPPY ATTEMPT
TO COVER UP A COLD-BLOODED ***.
Woolverton: THE DETECTIVES FOUND THE TYPEWRITER,
THE RECEIPT FOR THE TYPEWRITER,
AND THE ENVELOPES THAT MATCHED THE TYPE OF ENVELOPE
THAT WAS USED TO MAIL THE LETTERS.
Lucci: THE FBI LATER CONFIRMS
THE LETTER WAS TYPED ON THAT MAKE AN MODEL MACHINE.
AS THE EVIDENCE MOUNTS UP AGAINST EDGAR,
IT'S CLEAR HE HAD A MOTIVE FOR ***.
PATINO'S CAREER AS A SERGEANT IN THE ARMY
WOULD HAVE BEEN OVER IF THEY FOUND OUT HE'D HAD AN AFFAIR
AND THAT WOMAN WAS NOW PREGNANT WITH HIS BABY.
Lucci: EDGAR ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO KILL MEGAN.
EDGAR ADMITTED TO BEING IN THE ROOM WITH HER
ON THE 13th OF JUNE.
THEY LOOKED AT THE KEY CARD,
AND THE LAST TIME THE KEY CARD WAS USED
WAS ON JUNE 13th.
Lucci: ON JULY 29th, 2008,
EDGAR PATINO IS ARRESTED
AND CHARGED WITH THE *** OF MEGAN TOUMA.
EVENTUALLY, HE CUTS A DEAL WITH PROSECUTORS.
EDGAR PATINO PLED GUILTY
TO SECOND-DEGREE *** IN THE DEATH OF MEGAN TOUMA.
Lucci: EDGAR DOESN'T TELL POLICE
EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED THE NIGHT OF MEGAN'S ***,
BUT INVESTIGATORS HAVE A GOOD IDEA.
MEGAN WANTS HIM TO MAKE LOVE TO HER.
IT'S AT THAT POINT THAT EDGAR SAYS
THAT HE IS GOING TO STAY WITH HIS WIFE,
HE'S GONNA END THE AFFAIR WITH MEGAN.
IT'S OVER.
NO!
WHAT ABOUT ME?
NO!
Lucci: MEGAN AND EDGAR GOT INTO A HEATED ARGUMENT.
Woolverton: SHE THREATENS HIM.
SHE'S GOING TO EXPOSE THE ADULTEROUS AFFAIR,
WHICH JEOPARDIZES HIS CAREER.
I AM GONNA RUIN YOU!
Lucci: SUDDENLY, EDGAR SNAPPED.
I AM GOING TO...
ALL OF HIS FUTURE PLANS WERE GOING DOWN THE DRAIN.
I AM GOING TO RUIN YOU!
AND HIS RAGE ERUPTED.
Lucci: PATINO OVERPOWERED MEGAN,
WRAPPING HIS HANDS AROUND HER NECK.
EDGAR PROBABLY KNOCKED HER ONTO THE BED
AND WAS ABLE TO STRANGLE HER.
Lucci: THOUGH MEGAN FOUGHT, SHE WAS NO MATCH FOR EDGAR.
MANUAL STRANGULATION IS A VERY UP-CLOSE DEATH.
YOU LITERALLY ARE WATCHING THE PERSON DIE.
THE LAST THING THAT MEGAN SAW
WAS EDGAR PATINO CHOKING THE LIFE OUT OF HER.
Lucci: ALONE IN THE ROOM,
EDGAR'S MILITARY TRAINING KICKED IN.
HE ULTIMATELY WENT INTO CONCEALMENT MODE AT THAT POINT
BY PUTTING HER IN THE BATHTUB.
Lucci: EDGAR WAS DETERMINED TO TRICK THE POLICE.
HE SPENT HOURS STAGING THE CRIME SCENE.
HIS WIFE CALLED SEVERAL TIMES LOOKING FOR HIM.
DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, AT APPROXIMATELY 4:00 OR 4:30,
THERE WAS 13 OR 14 CALLS FROM THE HOME PHONE
OF THE PATINO RESIDENCE TO EDGAR'S CELLPHONE.
AND PERHAPS HE THOUGHT BY PUTTING MEGAN'S BODY
IN THAT WATER-FILLED TUB,
HE WOULD NOT ONLY COVER EVIDENCE,
BUT HE WOULD ALSO LINK HIMSELF IN WITH THE ZODIAC MURDERER.
Lucci: EDGAR DREW THE ZODIAC'S FAMOUS SYMBOL --
A RIFLE SIGHT AND CROSS HAIRS -- TO MAKE THE CONNECTION COMPLETE.
HE MOST LIKELY HAD HEARD ABOUT THE ZODIAC KILLER
AND THE FACT THAT HE WAS MOST KNOWN
FOR SENDING THESE LETTERS TO THE MEDIA.
Lucci: PERHAPS EDGAR HOPED
THAT TYING THE CRIME SCENE WITH THE LETTER
WOULD FOOL POLICE.
Woolverton: IT WAS A FASCINATING CASE
WITH THE WHOLE PRETENDING TO BE THE ZODIAC REINCARNATED.
BUT DOING THE LETTER WAS JUST --
IT'S LIKE TV, BUT REAL LIFE, IT DOESN'T WORK.
IT'S JUST STUPID.
Lucci: SINCE EDGAR CONFESSED,
AUTHORITIES CHOSE NOT TO PROSECUTE HIS WIFE, HELENA,
FOR PROVIDING A FALSE ALIBI.
AND PATINO WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO AVOID THE DEATH PENALTY.
Woolverton: EDGAR PATINO GOT A MINIMUM OF 16 YEARS AND 4 MONTHS IN PRISON
TO A MAXIMUM OF 20 YEARS AND 5 MONTHS IN PRISON.
Lucci: EDGAR COULD ONLY BE CHARGED WITH ONE ***, NOT TWO.
AT THE TIME, THERE WAS NO FETAL HOMICIDE LAW
IN NORTH CAROLINA.
JUSTICE WAS DONE FOR MEGAN
IN THAT HER KILLER IS BEHIND BARS,
BUT THERE'S NO JUSTICE FOR HER UNBORN SON.
Lucci: EDGAR THOUGHT HE COULD ESCAPE THE CONSEQUENCES OF ***,
BUT PLAYING WITH LIFE AND DEATH IS A GAME THAT NO ONE CAN WIN.
WHEN IT COMES TO AFFAIRS,
IT SEEMS EVERY MAN THINKS HE'S SPECIAL,
WHICH IS PRECISELY WHY ALL AFFAIRS ARE DOOMED TO FAIL.
IF YOU JUST CAN'T PLAY BY THE RULES,
SOONER OR LATER, YOU'LL PAY THE PRICE.
ONE FALSE MOVE...
[ GUNSHOT ]
[ APPLE THUDS ]
[BLOWS]
...AND YOU COULD LOSE YOUR LIFE.