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Narrator: A WEALTHY WIDOW FROM THE LONE STAR STATE
ENTRUSTS HER FORTUNE TO A GOOD CHRISTIAN MAN.
BUT WHEN WRATH AND GREED COME OUT TO PLAY,
THE RESULTS ARE DOWNRIGHT UNCHRISTIAN.
AND THEN LATER, THE WANDERING EYE OF ONE SPOUSE
LEADS TO A GRUESOME PLOT AGAINST THE OTHER
IN A TEXAS-SIZED TALE OF DECEPTION AND ***.
TO ERR IS HUMAN,
BUT IT TAKES A RARE BREED OF MONSTER
TO COMMIT DEADLY SINS.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
[ BELL TOLLS ]
TRUTH CAN MOST DEFINITELY BE STRANGER THAN FICTION,
AND FROM DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS
COMES A SOUTHERN GOTHIC TALE OF OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE,
BOTTOMLESS GREED, AND A SHOCKING ***.
IT ALL BEGINS WITH A COLORFUL CHARACTER NAMED BERNIE TIEDE.
[ BELL TOLLS ]
Narrator: FROM THE TIME HE WAS A TEENAGER,
WHEN MOST YOUNG MEN ARE FIXATED ON GIRLS AND SPORTS,
A CURIOUS CAREER BECOMES THE BURNING PASSION OF THIS MAN,
BERNARD TIEDE II.
Hollandsworth: HE WANTED TO BE A FUNERAL HOME DIRECTOR.
HE HAD A GENUINE BELIEF THAT HE WAS PUT UPON THIS EARTH
TO SERVE PEOPLE IN TIMES OF DEATH
AND TO HELP SEND THOSE WHO HAD DIED
OUT TO THE NEXT WORLD
WITH AS GREAT OF DIGNITY AS COULD BE MUSTERED.
Narrator: HAVING EARNED HIS DEGREE IN MORTUARY SCIENCE,
BERNIE FOLLOWS HIS CALLING
TO THE SMALL TOWN OF CARTHAGE, TEXAS,
WHERE HE LANDS A JOB AT A LOCAL FUNERAL HOME.
IN NO TIME FLAT, THIS SOFT-SPOKEN, DEEPLY CARING MAN
BECOMES A FIXTURE IN THE COMMUNITY.
BERNIE REALLY WAS -- THIS IS NO EXAGGERATION --
HE WAS THE MOST BELOVED PERSON IN CARTHAGE, TEXAS.
THERE WASN'T ANYBODY THERE
WHO DIDN'T HAVE WONDERFUL THINGS TO SAY ABOUT BERNIE,
WHO DIDN'T KNOW BERNIE.
HE WAS THE GUY WHO WAVED AND SAID HELLO TO EVERYBODY,
CAME OVER AND SAID, "HOW'S YOUR MOM DOING?"
Narrator: HIS REPUTATION FOR KINDLINESS AND GOOD DEEDS
GARNERS HIM PRAISE ALL OVER TOWN.
HE PUT THE LIGHTS UP IN CARTHAGE DOWNTOWN SQUARE
ON CHRISTMAS.
HE DID PEOPLE'S TAX RETURNS.
HE SEWED CURTAINS FOR WOMEN WHO COULDN'T AFFORD THEM.
HE WAS, AS SOMEONE SAID, THIS BENEVOLENT SPIRIT
THAT CARTHAGE HAD NEVER HAD.
AND HE CLEARLY FED ON THAT.
SO, HE WAS INVOLVED
IN EVERYTHING HE COULD GET INVOLVED IN.
HE WANTED PEOPLE TO SAY,
"THERE GOES THAT BERNIE. THAT'S THE GREATEST GUY IN TOWN."
I THINK THAT MATTERED TO HIM.
Narrator: BERNIE ALSO HAS A GENTLE TOUCH
WITH THE WIDOWS WHO PASS THROUGH THE FUNERAL HOME
TO BURY THEIR HUSBANDS.
Rhodes: BECAUSE CARTHAGE IS A PLACE WITH AN OLDER POPULATION,
THERE WERE A LOT OF FUNERALS.
AND HE PRESIDED AT MOST OF THEM AND WAS LOVELY AT IT.
YOU KNOW, HE HAD A BEAUTIFUL SINGING VOICE,
AND A LOT OF THE OLD WIDOWS,
OF WHICH THERE WERE MORE THAN A FEW,
JUST THOUGHT HE WAS THE GREATEST THING EVER,
AND HE CLEARLY FED ON THAT.
Narrator: IN MARCH 1990,
BERNIE ARRANGES THE FUNERAL OF RODERICK NUGENT
AND, TRUE TO FORM, TAKES A SPECIAL INTEREST
IN ROD'S GRIEVING WIDOW, MARJORIE.
Rhodes: AND BERNIE,
PARTLY BECAUSE IT WAS HIS JOB AND HIS PERSONALITY,
BUT ALSO BECAUSE
I THINK HE SENSED SOME ISOLATION ON HER PART,
WENT OUT OF HIS WAY TO TAKE CARE OF HER.
Narrator: BERNIE OVERSEES EVERY DETAIL,
PICKING THE COFFIN AND FLOWERS,
STAYING BY MRS. NUGENT'S SIDE DURING THE INTERMENT,
EVEN OFFERING UP HIS JACKET WHEN SHE COMPLAINS OF FEELING COLD.
NOW, PART OF THAT WAS JUST BERNIE.
HE WOULD DO THAT FOR ANYBODY.
BUT I THINK AUNT MARGE,
BECAUSE SHE WASN'T USED TO
PEOPLE GOING OUT OF THEIR WAY TO TAKE CARE OF HER,
REALLY APPRECIATED IT.
Narrator: AND IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT MARJORIE NUGENT
IS NOW THE WEALTHIEST WIDOW IN TOWN.
THIS IS A WOMAN WHOSE HUSBAND LEFT HER LOTS OF MONEY,
AND NOT ONLY JUST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THE BANK ACCOUNT,
BUT MORE MONEY ROLLING IN EACH MONTH
WITH OIL REVENUES FROM THE WELLS THAT THEY STILL OWNED.
Narrator: BUT THE WIDOW ALSO HAS A REPUTATION
FOR BEING JUST AS WICKED AS SHE IS WEALTHY.
Davidson: SHE WAS A REAL HARD LADY.
YOU KNOW, SHE KIND OF WENT AROUND WITH A SCOWL ON HER FACE.
Hollandsworth: AND IN A SMALL TOWN,
IT'S ONE THING TO HAVE A BAD MOOD,
BUT IT'S ANOTHER THING TO JUST BE ORNERY TO PEOPLE.
AND MRS. NUGENT WAS ORNERY.
Narrator: SHE'S EQUALLY REVILED FOR BEING THE TOWN TIGHTWAD,
A NASTY TRAIT THAT'S DRIVEN HER OWN FAMILY AWAY.
Tiller: YOU KNOW, SHE WAS VERY LONELY AFTER HER HUSBAND DIED.
SHE AND HER SON WERE ESTRANGED. THEY NEVER SPOKE.
HER SON AND HER DID NOT SPEAK OVER A SMALL FINANCIAL MATTER
FOR 15 OR 20 YEARS
AND STAYED ESTRANGED OVER A DOLLAR BILL.
Hollandsworth: SHE HAD ALL THIS MONEY ROLLING IN FROM OIL REVENUES,
AND YET SHE YELLED AT THE VETERINARIAN
FOR CHARGING HER $40 TO TAKE CARE OF HER DOG.
SHE SLAPPED A MAN WITH A BROOM
WHO CAME IN TO CHARGE HER SOME MONEY TO CLEAN THE CHIMNEYS.
SHE YELLED AT HER REPAIRMAN, AT HER OWN LAWN MAN,
FOR WANTING TO FIX THE LAWNMOWER.
Narrator: BUT ALL THE TALK OF MARJORIE'S NOTORIOUSLY NASTY BEHAVIOR
DOESN'T SCARE BERNIE AWAY.
HE WENT OUT TO THE HOUSE AFTER THE FUNERAL
TO MAKE SURE SHE WAS DOING OKAY,
AND HE TOOK HER GIFTS AND FLOWERS
AND JUST LOOKED IN ON HER
AND WAS INCREDIBLY KIND AND COMPASSIONATE,
AND SHE RESPONDED TO THAT.
AND SO BEGINS A MIGHTY STRANGE RELATIONSHIP.
SHE'S A CURMUDGEONLY SKINFLINT
WHO DOESN'T CARE WHAT ANYONE THINKS OF HER.
HE'S A SOLICITOUS MORTICIAN WITH A KNACK FOR PLEASING.
THEY SAY THAT OPPOSITES ATTRACT, BUT SOMETIMES THEY EXPLODE.
AND THIS FRIENDSHIP HAS TROUBLE WRITTEN ALL OVER IT.
[ BELL TOLLS ]
Narrator: IN THE MONTHS FOLLOWING ROD'S FUNERAL,
THE TWO BEGIN SPENDING LOTS OF TIME TOGETHER.
AND GIVEN THEIR 40-YEAR AGE DIFFERENCE,
THE RUMORS ABOUT THIS ODD COUPLE OF CARTHAGE
START SPREADING FASTER THAN A TEXAS WILDFIRE.
THE GOSSIP JUST KEPT BUILDING CONSTANTLY,
UNTIL IT WAS AT THE POINT THAT THEY WERE THESE CRAZED LOVERS
OR BERNIE WAS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HER IN SOME WAY.
THE GOSSIP WAS JUST GOING BACK AND FORTH.
Narrator: WHAT REALLY GETS PEOPLE TALKING
IS MARJORIE'S NEW-FOUND GENEROSITY.
Hollandsworth: AND SHE SUDDENLY
PULLS HER DEAD HUSBAND'S $12,000 ROLEX
AND GIVES IT TO BERNIE.
SO, IT WAS HER WAY OF SHOWING LOVE
BY GIVING BERNIE A GIFT OF FINANCIAL VALUE.
Narrator: AND THESE EXTRAVAGANCES ARE JUST THE BEGINNING.
SOON, THE WIDOW NUGENT IS TAKING BERNIE ALL OVER THE WORLD
AS HER PERSONAL ESCORT.
AND THE LONGER IT WENT ON, THE MORE EXOTIC THE ADVENTURES GOT.
THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, THEY'RE CRUISING DOWN THE RHINE,
THEY'RE GOING TO BANGKOK,
THEY'RE RIDING CAMELS BY THE PYRAMIDS,
AND THEY'RE DOING IT ALL FIRST CLASS...
STAYING IN VERY FANCY HOTELS,
AND MARGE IS PAYING FOR EVERY BIT OF IT.
Narrator: GIVEN HIS STERLING REPUTATION AROUND TOWN,
THERE'S LITTLE REASON TO SUSPECT BERNIE OF BEING A GOLD DIGGER,
OR IS THERE?
Rhodes: HE HAD GROWN UP FAIRLY POOR.
HE WASN'T MAKING MUCH MONEY AS A FUNERAL DIRECTOR.
HE WAS LIVING IN AN APARTMENT OVER THE MORGUE.
SO, IT MUST HAVE BEEN, "WELL AM I DOING THIS
BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO BE NICE TO HER?
OR AM I DOING IT BECAUSE IT'S GREAT FOR ME?"
WAS HE A NICE GUY, OR WAS THAT HIS APPEARANCE?
AND I CAN'T REALLY ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
I THINK BERNIE COULD BE A CHAMELEON.
Narrator: FOR NOW, THE MILLIONAIRESS AND THE MORTICIAN
ARE HAPPY AS CLAMS.
BUT THE HONEYMOON CAN'T GO ON FOREVER.
WHO KNEW THIS UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIP
WOULD TAKE SUCH A DARK TURN?
[ GUNSHOT ]
[ BELL TOLLS ]
Narrator: IN THE SMALL TOWN OF CARTHAGE, TEXAS, BERNIE TIEDE
AND HIS ELDERLY COMPANION, MARJORIE NUGENT,
ARE TURNING HEADS EVERYWHERE THEY GO.
THE THING ABOUT MARGE AND BERNIE
WAS THEY WERE SUCH AN UNLIKELY COUPLE,
AND SO IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG
FOR A GOOD CHUNK OF FOLKS IN CARTHAGE
TO ASSUME THAT THIS RICH OLD WOMAN
AND THIS YOUNG FUNERAL DIRECTOR ARE HAVING AN AFFAIR.
Narrator: BUT IT'S NOT THE AGE DIFFERENCE ALONE
THAT'S RAISING EYEBROWS AROUND TOWN.
YOU COULD DESCRIBE BERNIE AS BEING PECULIAR.
YOU COULD SAY HE WAS LIGHT IN HIS LOAFERS.
Hollandsworth: BERNIE HAD A VERY PRIVATE HOMOSEXUAL LIFE,
BUT IT NEVER CAME OUT IN THE OPEN.
NO ONE EVER KNEW ABOUT HIS BEHAVIOR.
HE WAS NEVER IN ANY WAY PUBLIC
ABOUT HIS GAY FEELINGS FOR ANOTHER MAN.
BECAUSE IT'S A CONSERVATIVE EAST-TEXAS SMALL TOWN,
HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT ***, YOU KNOW, CHOICES.
YOU JUST DON'T TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS IN CARTHAGE.
SO, HE WAS NEVER COMFORTABLE REALLY BEING HIMSELF.
HE ALWAYS, I THINK, WORRIED
THAT THERE WAS SOME SORT OF JUDGEMENT OR WORSE
LURKING RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
Narrator: IF BERNIE'S GOT MALE COMPANIONS ON THE SIDE,
HE WORKS HARD TO KEEP THEM A SECRET,
ESPECIALLY FROM MARJORIE.
Tiller: BERNIE WAS A TOTAL FACADE.
HE WAS A, YOU KNOW, CLOSET HOMOSEXUAL, WHICH IS FINE.
YOU KNOW, I KNEW IT FIRST TIME I MET HIM,
AND EVERYBODY ELSE DID.
BUT I WOULD NEVER BRING IT UP TO MARJORIE,
BECAUSE SHE WOULD GO NUTS.
Narrator: BY 1991, A YEAR AFTER ROD NUGENT'S DEATH,
BERNIE'S FAWNING ATTENTION PAYS OFF BIG.
MARGE BECAME SO FOND OF HIM, SO TRUSTING WITH BERNIE,
SHE HAD A WILL DRAWN
MAKING BERNIE THE SOLE BENEFICIARY
OF A BUNCH OF MONEY AND PROPERTY.
I THINK THAT BERNIE BECAME HER SOLE HEIR
NOT BECAUSE AUNT MARGE WAS GENEROUS,
BUT BECAUSE SHE WAS PUNISHING HER SON.
WRITING PEOPLE OUT OF THE WILL
IS SOMETHING THAT MY FAMILY DOES FAIRLY REGULARLY.
IT'S, LIKE, THEIR GO-TO MOVE.
I THINK IT WAS ABOUT SPITE MORE THAN GENEROSITY.
Narrator: IN 1993,
MARJORIE WANTS EVEN MORE OF HER CHERISHED COMPANION
AND MAKES HIM AN OFFER HE SIMPLY CAN'T REFUSE.
SHE HIRES HIM AWAY FROM THE FUNERAL HOME,
SETTING HIM UP WITH A HANDSOME SALARY.
AND TO EVERYONE'S SURPRISE,
SHE EVEN GIVES HIM CHECK-WRITING PRIVILEGES TO HER MANY ACCOUNTS.
Tiller: IT WAS BERNIE'S GET-OUT-OF-JAIL CARD, YOU KNOW?
I MEAN, HE COULD BARELY SURVIVE ON WHAT HE WAS MAKING.
THEN HE BUMPS INTO A MULTIMILLIONAIRE,
AND SHE GIVES HIM CHECK-WRITING PRIVILEGES AND ALL,
SO THAT'S HIGHLY UNUSUAL.
Hollandsworth: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN BERNIE'S LIFE, HE HAD MONEY.
HE HAD ACCESS TO MONEY.
HE HAD A CHANCE TO DO THINGS WITH MONEY TO HELP PEOPLE,
AND IT GAVE HIM A SELF-ESTEEM
THAT HE'S PROBABLY NEVER HAD BEFORE IN HIS LIFE.
HERE WAS THIS MAN WHO HAD BEEN HIDING HIS SEXUALITY,
WHO HAD BEEN HIDING HIS PRIVATE LIFE,
AND NOW HE HAD A CHECKBOOK.
THE POWER OF MONEY CAN BE MESMERIZING.
EVEN A GOD-FEARING MORTICIAN LIKE BERNIE TIEDE
CAN BE TEMPTED BY ITS SIREN SONG,
ESPECIALLY WHEN THE RICHES ARE SO RIPE FOR THE PICKING.
BUT BERNIE SHOULD KNOW BY NOW,
THE HAND THAT GIVETH ALSO TAKETH AWAY...
SOMETHING HE SEEMS TO FORGET
THE MORE DRUNK HE BECOMES ON HIS NEW-FOUND WEALTH.
[ BELL TOLLS ]
Narrator: OF COURSE, BERNIE'S NOT
JUST INTO MARJORIE'S MONEY ALL FOR HIMSELF.
HE'D RATHER PLAY ROBIN HOOD.
NOW THAT HE HAD ACCESS TO THESE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS,
HE STARTED BUYING THINGS FOR EVERYBODY IN TOWN.
MY GOD, IN A SMALL TOWN, IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG
FOR THAT KIND OF INFORMATION TO GET AROUND.
AND ANYBODY IN TOWN
THAT HAD JUST A LITTLE LARCENY IN THEIR SOUL
WOULD BE ON BERNIE'S PORCH.
Narrator: BERNIE BUYS CARS FOR AT LEAST 10 DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN TOWN,
A HOUSE FOR A YOUNG COUPLE,
AND PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS AT THE LOCAL COLLEGE.
HE EVEN KEEPS FAILING BUSINESSES AFLOAT
BY ADVANCING THEM THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
BERNIE LIKED BEING GENEROUS TO PEOPLE
SO THAT HE COULD GET CREDIT FOR BEING GENEROUS.
HE LIKED THE, "ATTABOY, BERNIE!"
"THANK YOU, BERNIE."
Narrator: PROUD AS A PEACOCK,
BERNIE IS A GLUTTON FOR ALL THE ADMIRATION AND PRAISE
THAT MARJORIE'S MONEY IS BUYING HIM.
BUT WHAT WOULD THE TOWN'S MOST NOTORIOUS CHEAPSKATE DO
IF SHE KNEW BERNIE WAS SPENDING HER FORTUNE TO INFLATE HIS EGO?
HE TOLD ME THAT SHE KNEW THAT HE WAS SPENDING HER MONEY
ON FRIENDS AND THINGS AROUND TOWN
THAT SHE WOULDN'T HAVE SPENT THEM ON
AND THAT SHE DIDN'T MIND.
I'M NOT SURE THAT'S TRUE.
HOW WAS HE ABLE TO DO THAT? NOBODY KNOWS.
I GUESS SHE WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, BLIND BY LOVE.
I LOOKED AT THE LISTS OF STUFF THAT HE BOUGHT,
AND YOU'D HAVE TO BE BLIND NOT TO SEE IT.
Marjorie: BERNIE!
Narrator: AS THE RELATIONSHIP CARRIES ON, ONE THING IS VERY CLEAR.
MARJORIE EXPECTS A LOT IN RETURN FOR HER HANDOUTS.
SHE FELT LIKE, I THINK,
THAT SHE HAD BOUGHT AND PAID FOR BERNIE
AND THAT HE BELONGED TO HER
AND HE SHOULD BE WITH HER 24 HOURS A DAY.
SHE WOULD MAKE HIM PULL HER CHIN HAIRS,
CLIP HER TOENAILS,
WASH HER *** HOSE AND HANG IT OUT ON THE LINE,
TAKE HER EXACTLY WHERE SHE WANTED TO GO
AT EXACTLY WHAT TIME,
PICK UP HER DRY CLEANING EXACTLY AT A CERTAIN TIME.
Rhodes: SHE REALLY ORDERED HIM AROUND
AND EXPECTED HIM TO BE AT HER BECK AND CALL AT ALL TIMES.
AND IF HE DIDN'T MAKE IT,
IF HE SAID HE'D BE THERE AT 10:00
AND GOT THERE AT 10:15,
SHE WAS BRUTAL ABOUT IT.
Narrator: BY 1995,
NEARLY FIVE YEARS SINCE THEIR FIRST FATEFUL MEETING,
THE GOOD TIMES ARE OVER FOR BERNIE AND MARJORIE.
TENSION HAS BECOME THE NORM FOR THIS ODD COUPLE,
AND THEIR ARRANGEMENT IS UNRAVELING FAST.
BERNIE DID NOT FEEL LIKE SHE OWNED HIM.
BERNIE WAS WILLING TO GIVE HER ENOUGH ATTENTION
TO GET MONEY FROM HER AND DO THINGS WITH HER,
BUT HE HAD A PRIVATE LIFE OF HIS OWN
THAT HE DESPERATELY CLUNG TO,
AND HE WANTED TIME...
HE WANTED SOME TIME THAT HE COULD BE HIMSELF,
DO WHATEVER HE WANTED TO DO AWAY FROM HER.
Rhodes: WELL, I THINK BERNIE EVENTUALLY DID REALIZE
WHAT A TRAP HE HAD SET FOR HIMSELF,
THAT HER AFFECTION DIDN'T COME FREE
AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT IT WAS GONNA GET WORSE.
[ BELL TOLLS ]
WHAT STARTED OUT AS A TACIT AGREEMENT
HAS TURNED INTO A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL
FOR BOTH MARJORIE AND BERNIE.
SHE CONTINUES TO HEAP ON THE CASH AND PRIZES
AS LONG AS HE PUTS UP WITH HER INCREASING DEMANDS.
BUT PUSH IS GOING TO COME TO SHOVE BEFORE LONG,
AND EVENTUALLY, SOMEONE IN THIS SICK RELATIONSHIP
IS GOING TO SNAP.
[ BELL TOLLS ]
Narrator: ONE LATE SUMMER AFTERNOON,
MARJORIE MAKES BERNIE BUY A .22 CALIBER RIFLE
BECAUSE OF THOSE PESKY ARMADILLOS
ROOTING UP HER FRONT YARD.
SHE SAID, "SHOOT THE ARMADILLOS,"
AND HE WOULD SHOOT AND SQUEAL
BECAUSE HE WAS SO SCARED AND MISS THE ARMADILLOS,
WHICH WOULD INFURIATE HER.
HE KNEW AS MUCH ABOUT A RIFLE AND ABOUT SHOOTING ONE
AS I KNOW ABOUT FLYING HELICOPTERS.
OH!
THAT JUST DOESN'T EVEN FIT HIM.
[ RIFLE *** ]
Narrator: THE IRRATIONAL DEMANDS PLACED ON BERNIE
AT THE MARJORIE NUGENT CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE
ESCALATE TO THE POINT OF VERBAL ABUSE.
Hollandsworth: SHE WOULD GET INTO WHAT ONE OF HER FRIENDS CALLED
THESE BLUE MOODS THAT ACTUALLY SCARED PEOPLE.
SOMETIMES THOSE BLUE MOODS WOULD COME OUT
AS PURE, UNADULTERATED ANGER.
Narrator: MARJORIE'S RAGE IS A DANGEROUS THING,
AND BERNIE CAN'T KEEP HIS COOL FOREVER.
IT SEEMS LIFE AT THE SPRAWLING ESTATE
IS ABOUT TO BOIL OVER.
[ BELL TOLLS ]
[ BELL TOLLS ]
Narrator: THE EXPIRATION DATE IS LONG PAST DUE
ON MARJORIE NUGENT AND BERNIE TIEDE'S RELATIONSHIP,
AND THE MOOD HAS QUICKLY SOURED.
DESPITE HIS CONSTANT DOTING,
HER BEHAVIOR IS BECOMING ERRATIC AND CRUEL.
Rhodes: AND I THINK THAT THE LONGER IT WENT ON,
THE MORE BERNIE REALIZED HOW STUCK HE WAS
AND THAT IT WASN'T GONNA GET BETTER,
THAT HER DEMANDS WOULD ONLY INCREASE.
Narrator: HE'S ALSO BESIDE HIMSELF WITH FEAR
THAT MARJORIE WILL FIND OUT
HE'S BEEN PLAYING ROBIN HOOD WITH HER BANK ACCOUNT.
AND HE KNOWS THAT THAT WILL COME TO LIGHT, I BELIEVE,
AND HE KNOWS HE'LL WIND UP IN PRISON FOR THAT.
SO, HE'S CAUGHT BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.
Narrator: AND BERNIE KNOWS THE SECRETS OF HIS INTIMATE LIFE
ARE ALSO AT RISK.
THERE ARE WHISPERS THROUGHOUT CARTHAGE
THAT HE'S GIVING PLENTY OF GIFTS
IN EXCHANGE FOR MORE PERSONAL FAVORS.
Davidson: AND I WOULD SAY THIS --
THAT WHILE BERNIE WAS FREE WITH MRS. NUGENT'S MONEY,
IN THOSE GIFTS, HE ALWAYS GOT SOMETHING IN RETURN.
Hollandsworth: THE RUMOR WAS
THAT HE GAVE ALL THIS MONEY TO HIS MALE LOVERS IN CARTHAGE,
MANY OF WHOM WERE TRADITIONAL MARRIED MEN
WHO BERNIE HAD RECRUITED TO HAVE THIS SECRET LIFE.
[ BELL TOLLS ]
NO MATTER HOW BERNIE FLASHES HIS CASH AROUND TOWN
NOR RATIONALIZES HIS GIFT-GIVING,
THE BOTTOM LINE IS, THE MONEY'S NOT HIS TO DOLE OUT.
STEALING IS STEALING.
IT'S A SIN, EVEN IF YOU SUGARCOAT IT.
AND IT WON'T BE LONG
BEFORE BERNIE GETS CAUGHT IN HIS OWN WEB OF DECEPTION.
[ BELL TOLLS ]
Narrator: ON NOVEMBER 19, 1996,
SIX YEARS INTO THEIR RELATIONSHIP,
THE STRANGE BOND BETWEEN BERNIE TIEDE AND MARJORIE NUGENT
COMES TO A SUDDEN AND TRAGIC END.
AND THERE ARE TWO VERSIONS OF THIS TEXAS TALE,
DEPENDING ON WHO'S TELLING IT.
Tiller: MY TWO CENTS' WORTH IS,
SHE FINALLY DID GET A CALL FROM THE BANK
OR GO INTO HER STATEMENTS AND CHECK THEM
AND FIND $2 MILLION OR $3 MILLION MISSING.
AND WHEN SHE GOT MAD, SHE WOULD GO NUTS.
I THINK SHE WENT NUTS ON HIM.
AND COULD BE SHE WAS GOING TO THE POLICE STATION
TO REPORT HIM.
Narrator: BERNIE'S VERSION IS THAT HE HAD SIMPLY HAD ENOUGH
OF MARJORIE NUGENT'S TYRANNY.
I BELIEVE THAT ON THAT PARTICULAR DAY,
SHE WAS SNIPING AT HIM.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SHE WASN'T --
SHE WASN'T PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE. SHE WAS AGGRESSIVE.
SO, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN HIS FACE, YOU KNOW,
WAGGING HER FINGER AND CALLING HIM NAMES
AND THREATENING TO DO LORD KNOWS WHAT.
AND I JUST THINK THAT THERE WAS A POINT, A CUMULATIVE POINT
AFTER YEARS OF THIS
WHERE HE JUST WENT.
Hollandsworth: HE PICKED UP THE RIFLE USED TO SHOOT THE ARMADILLOS,
COCKED IT,
AND STARTED FIRING IT INTO MRS. NUGENT'S BACK.
Narrator: WHATEVER VERSION ONE GOES WITH,
NO ONE DISPUTES WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
Rhodes: THAT'S WHEN IT GETS REALLY STRANGE.
REMEMBER WHO BERNIE IS. HE'S A MORTICIAN.
IF ANYBODY CAN GET RID OF A BODY,
HE'S THE GUY.
HE HAS ALL THE TOOLS.
HIS CHOICE, INSTEAD, WAS TO PICK UP HER BODY,
PUT IT IN THE DEEP FREEZE RIGHT THERE IN THE GARAGE,
COVER HER UP WITH THE POT PIES AND THE FLOUNDER,
CLOSE THE LID, TAPE IT SHUT.
HOW LONG DID HE THINK THIS WAS GONNA WORK?
I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT A BODY IN A FREEZER IN HER HOME.
SO, NOT VERY GOOD JUDGEMENT.
HE'S NOT A VERY GOOD MURDERER, NOT A SMART MURDERER, IS HE?
HE RETURNS TO HIS LIFE.
HE TRIES TO MAKE EVERYONE BELIEVE
MRS. NUGENT'S STILL ALIVE,
TO THE POINT THAT WHEN CHRISTMAS COMES,
A MONTH AFTER HE SHOOTS HER,
HE PUTS UP A CHRISTMAS TREE
AND LIGHTS IT IN THE LIVING ROOM RIGHT BY THE WINDOW
SO PEOPLE WILL THINK MRS. NUGENT IS CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS.
Narrator: BUT WHENEVER ANYONE HAPPENS TO INQUIRE ABOUT MRS. NUGENT,
BERNIE ALWAYS HAS A QUICK ANSWER.
HE WAS A GREAT LIAR, AND HE HAD ME GOING --
WHERE SHE WAS IN RUSSIA
SHE WENT TO SEE HER SISTER IN OHIO.
FINALLY I JUST SAID, "BERNIE, I'VE CALLED 10 TIMES."
AND HE WOULD HAVE AN EXCUSE ALL THE TIME.
Narrator: MEANWHILE, BERNIE'S SHOPPING SPREES
CONTINUE AT A DIZZYING PACE.
WHEN MRS. NUGENT DISAPPEARED, THE SPIGOT WAS TURNED WIDE-OPEN,
AND WHATEVER SHE HAD COMING IN,
HE WAS SPENDING IT AND GIVING IT AWAY.
HE GAVE MONEY TO THE SCHOOL.
HE GAVE MONEY TO THE CHURCH.
HE BOUGHT STUDENTS THINGS.
HE TOOK CHOIRS ON TRIPS.
Tiller: BUT THEN, WHEN THE SNOWBALL EFFECT TOOK,
IT WENT FROM THOUSANDS TO TEN THOUSANDS
TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.
HE'D GOT OUT OF CONTROL.
BERNIE'S GLUTTONOUS GIVING HAS REACHED EPIC PROPORTIONS.
BUT HE CAN'T SHOP HIS WAY OUT OF A GUILTY CONSCIENCE.
NO MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY THIS ROBIN HOOD GIVES AWAY,
EVENTUALLY, HIS SECRETS WILL COME OUT.
AND WHEN THEY DO,
CARTHAGE IS GOING TO SHAKE LIKE THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT.
[ BELL TOLLS ]
Narrator: BUT THE MONTHS GO BY,
AND ODDLY, NO ONE SEEMS TO NOTICE OR CARE
THAT MARJORIE NUGENT IS OUT OF THE PICTURE.
THANKSGIVING PASSES, CHRISTMAS PASSES,
NEW YEAR'S DAY, VALENTINE'S DAY, MOTHER'S DAY,
AND NOBODY'S CALLED THE POLICE!
THE ONLY PERSON THAT SEEMS GENUINELY CURIOUS
IS MRS. NUGENT'S OWN STOCKBROKER,
WHO NEEDS MRS. NUGENT ON THE PHONE
TO VERIFY TRADES SO HE CAN GET HIS COMMISSION.
I LEFT HER A BUNCH OF MESSAGES ON HER ANSWERING MACHINE,
AND I'VE NEVER, EVER HAD HER NOT CALL ME BACK.
SO, THAT'S WHEN I GOT REAL DISTURBED,
AND I CALLED DANNY BUCK DAVIDSON,
AND THEN HE CALLED ELLETT.
Narrator: SHERIFF ELLETT CAN'T REACH BERNIE,
SO HE CALLS MARJORIE'S ESTRANGED SON, ROD JR.,
TO JOIN HIM FOR A SEARCH OF THE HOUSE.
IT'S AUGUST 1997, NINE MONTHS AFTER HER ***.
WHEN WE ENTERED THE HOUSE, A WALK-THROUGH WAS MADE.
DIDN'T SEE HER ANYWHERE.
AND THEN WE STARTED BEING MORE THOROUGH.
THIS ALWAYS TAPED UP?
NO.
THAT'S WHEN WE WENT TO THE DEEP FREEZE.
TOOK THE TAPE OFF.
AND I INITIALLY DIDN'T SEE HER IN THERE
DOWN IN THE BOTTOM.
I TOLD HIM, "WE FOUND YOUR MOTHER."
Narrator: BERNIE IS EASILY CAPTURED AND BROUGHT IN FOR QUESTIONING.
CALMLY AND QUIETLY, HE ADMITS TO HIS CRIME.
TO THE GREAT ASTONISHMENT OF NEARLY EVERYONE IN TOWN,
THE DANDY OF CARTHAGE IS FOUND GUILTY OF ***.
HE IS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON.
BUT THE MYSTERY REMAINS -- WHY KILL MARJORIE AT ALL?
Rhodes: THE WILL WAS WORTH LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY.
SHE WAS 86 YEARS OLD WITH A HEART CONDITION.
SHE WASN'T GOING TO BE AROUND FOREVER.
SO, BERNIE HAD AN INCENTIVE TO OUTLAST HER.
Hollandsworth: THAT'S THE MYSTERY OF BERNIE.
WAS HE A RELENTLESS, DEVIOUS SOCIOPATH
OUT TO TAKE MRS. NUGENT'S MONEY EVEN IF HE HAD TO KILL HER?
OR WAS HE THIS GOOD-HEARTED, GENUINE, CHRISTIAN YOUNG MAN
WHO REALLY WANTED TO MAKE MRS. NUGENT'S LAST YEARS
FEEL MEANINGFUL?
Narrator: EITHER WAY,
MRS. NUGENT PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE IN THE END.
COMING UP NEXT,
A WORKPLACE FLIRTATION LEADS TO AN UNTHINKABLE *** PLOT,
ALL IN THE NAME OF *** AND WRATH.
[ BELL TOLLS ]
[ BELL TOLLS ]
Narrator: TIPPING THE SCALES AT OVER 250 POUNDS,
DAVID TEMPLE WOULD BE A MENACING FIGURE
ON ANY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM.
AND IN KATY, TEXAS, HE'S PRACTICALLY A CELEBRITY.
HIS SHEER BULK AND FIERCENESS ON THE GRIDIRON
EARN HIM THE NICKNAME "THE TEMPLE OF DOOM"...
HE WAS A VERY AGGRESSIVE FOOTBALL PLAYER.
PEOPLE PRETTY MUCH -- PROBABLY WANTED TO GET OUT OF HIS WAY.
Narrator: ...ON THE FIELD AND OFF.
Casey: HE WAS KIND OF A BULLY.
PEOPLE DIDN'T CROSS HIM, PEOPLE STAYED OUT OF HIS WAY.
Narrator: WHILE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL,
DAVID IS CAUGHT BREAKING INTO CARS
AND STEALING SPEED DETECTORS.
BUT HE GETS OFF WITH A SLAP ON THE WRIST.
Officer: HEY!
THERE WERE A COUPLE REASONS THAT DAVID GOT AWAY WITH THINGS.
ONE OF THEM WAS HIS CELEBRITY STATUS AS A FOOTBALL PLAYER.
THE OTHER THING WAS HE WAS A BIG KID.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE AFRAID OF DAVID.
HE HAD A HAIR-TRIGGER TEMPER,
AND THEY WERE OFTEN AFRAID TO CROSS HIM.
Narrator: BUT THERE'S TROUBLE DAVID TEMPLE CAN'T BULLY AWAY.
THE BAD BOY'S HOPES OF BIG COLLEGE FOOTBALL GLORY
ARE DASHED WHEN NO TOP SCHOOLS COME RECRUITING.
ANGRY AND DISAPPOINTED, DAVID FINDS SOME SATISFACTION
PLAYING BALL AT A SMALL COLLEGE IN EAST TEXAS.
Casey: HE WAS ONE OF THEIR TOP FOOTBALL PLAYERS THERE.
HE MADE RECORDS, BROKE RECORDS.
HE WAS THE GO-TO GUY ON THE TEAM.
Narrator: IN COLLEGE, DAVID TAKES A SHINE
TO A BUBBLY SPITFIRE, A COED NAMED BELINDA LUCAS.
Tom: BELINDA HAD A GREAT, OUTGOING PERSONALITY.
SHE WAS ALWAYS KNOWN FOR HER GREAT SMILE.
SHE'D GO INTO A ROOM, SHE WOULD LIGHT THE ROOM UP.
SHE WAS WELL-LOVED BY EVERYONE.
Narrator: BELINDA COMES FROM A CLOSE-KNIT FAMILY
AND SHARES A SPECIAL BOND WITH HER DEAF OLDER BROTHER.
Tom: BELINDA WENT INTO SPECIAL EDUCATION
BECAUSE OF HER BROTHER, BARRY.
BARRY WAS BORN DEAF.
SHE SAW HOW HE WAS TREATED AT SCHOOL AND AROUND OTHER KIDS,
HOW HE WAS MADE FUN OF AND ABUSED SOMETIMES
BECAUSE OF HIS HANDICAP.
Narrator: BELINDA'S CLEARLY A GREAT CATCH,
AND DAVID USES THE SAME INTENSITY
HE DISPLAYS ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD
TO WIN HER HEART.
Casey: DAVID WAS VERY OPENLY ROMANTIC WITH BELINDA.
HE CATERED TO HER, PUT HER ON A PEDESTAL.
DAVID HAD THE ABILITY TO REALLY MAKE A WOMAN FEEL SPECIAL,
AND HE DID THAT WITH BELINDA.
Narrator: SOON, THE COUPLE IS HEAD OVER HEELS,
AND THE STORYBOOK ROMANCE LEADS TO AN UNFORGETTABLE PROPOSAL.
Casey: HE WAS ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD
WHERE HE HAD HAD HIS GREAT VICTORIES,
AND HE GOT DOWN ON HIS KNEE AND PROPOSED
AND ASKED BELINDA TO MARRY HIM.
Narrator: THE COLLEGE SWEETHEARTS TIE THE KNOT IN 1992.
WHEN BELINDA GOT MARRIED, SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL BRIDE, OKAY?
DADDY WENT IN DEBT TO MAKE SURE
THAT SHE HAD EVERYTHING SHE NEEDED FOR THE WEDDING.
SHE HAD THE WHITE DRESS WITH THE POUFY VEIL,
AND EVERYONE THOUGHT THAT
THEY HAD EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD TO LOOK FORWARD TO.
WHO DOESN'T LOVE A GOOD WEDDING,
THE SYMBOLIC UNION OF TWO PEOPLE PLEDGING THEIR UNDYING LOVE?
SO MUCH PROMISE OF A HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
BUT THERE'S THAT OTHER SIDE TO THE HANDSOME GROOM.
PRIDE AND WRATH ARE TENACIOUS SINS.
AND NO "I DOs" ARE GOING TO KEEP THE BULLY IN HIM BURIED FOREVER.
[ BELL TOLLS ]
Narrator: THE NEWLYWEDS SETTLE IN DAVID'S HOMETOWN, KATY, TEXAS,
AFTER DAVID LANDS THE JOB OF ASSISTANT FOOTBALL COACH
AT HIS FORMER CROSSTOWN RIVAL, HASTINGS HIGH.
AND BELINDA TEACHES SPECIAL ED AT HER HUSBAND'S ALMA MATER,
KATY HIGH.
THEIR MARRIAGE HAD A BEAUTIFUL BEGINNING.
EVERYTHING LOOKED AS IF IT WAS IN THEIR FAVOR.
Narrator: BEFORE LONG, A BABY IS ON THE WAY.
BELINDA WAS SO THRILLED ABOUT BEING PREGNANT.
SHE HAD WANTED A CHILD.
SHE LOVED CHILDREN, AND, OF COURSE,
THAT WAS PART OF THE REASON SHE WAS A TEACHER.
SHE LOVED BEING AROUND THEM
AND SO HAPPY THAT SHE WAS GOING TO HAVE HER OWN CHILD.
SHE WAS SO THRILLED WHEN THAT LITTLE BOY, EVAN, WAS BORN.
Narrator: THE YOUNG COUPLE SEEMS TO HAVE IT ALL --
GOOD JOBS, A NICE HOUSE, A GROWING FAMILY.
BUT BEFORE LONG, THEIR PERFECT LIFE SLOWLY STARTS TO CRUMBLE.
Casey: DAVID DIDN'T LIKE THAT IT TOOK BELINDA A WHILE
TO LOSE THE WEIGHT AFTER EVAN WAS BORN.
HE MADE FUN OF HER.
SHE MENTIONED TO PEOPLE THAT HE WAS UPSET WITH HER
BECAUSE IT DID TAKE HER A WHILE TO LOSE IT.
Narrator: THE REAL TROUBLE STARTS DURING FOOTBALL SEASON.
DAVID TELLS BELINDA HE IS WORKING LONG HOURS
WHEN, IN REALITY,
HE IS PURSUING EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
DURING FOOTBALL SEASON,
HE WAS NOT WHERE HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MANY TIMES,
THAT HE HAD GONE TO STRIP CLUBS AND HE WAS GOING OUT.
Casey: BELINDA WAS FINDING RECEIPTS FROM DIFFERENT NIGHTCLUBS
THAT HE HAD GONE TO WHERE HE WAS BUYING PEOPLE DRINKS.
HE WAS LIVING LARGE AND HAVING A VERY GOOD TIME
WHILE SHE WAS STAYING HOME WITH EVAN.
BELINDA CONFRONTED DAVID
ABOUT THE RECEIPTS SHE FOUND FOR THE STRIP CLUBS
AND ABOUT HIS OTHER ACTIVITIES,
AND DAVID JUST BECAME VERY ANGRY.
HE TOLD HER THAT HE WANTED HIS OWN CHECKING ACCOUNT.
Narrator: THIS BAD BOY IS JUST WARMING UP.
Casey: DAVID STARTED HAVING ONE-NIGHT STANDS
WHEN HE WAS GOING OUT TO THE CLUBS AT NIGHT.
DAVID EXPECTED PEOPLE TO KEEP HIS SECRETS.
THEY ALWAYS HAD IN THE PAST.
HE DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING WOULD BE DIFFERENT NOW.
[ BELL TOLLS ]
OKAY, FLAG ON THE PLAY.
DAVID'S PRACTICALLY GOT BELINDA ON A CHOKE CHAIN,
AND YET HE IS FREE TO RUN WILD?
HARDLY THE KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE OR A HAPPY WIFE.
BUT HIS DARK SIDE IS STARTING TO SHOW,
AND BELINDA DOESN'T LIKE IT ONE LITTLE BIT.
[ BELL TOLLS ]
Narrator: BELINDA IS SUSPICIOUS THAT DAVID'S CHEATING,
BUT FOR THE SAKE OF THE FAMILY,
SHE KEEPS HER TROUBLES TO HERSELF.
Tom: SHE DID NOT TALK TO HER FAMILY
ABOUT ANY MARITAL PROBLEMS.
SHE NEVER WANTED TO BURDEN ANYBODY ELSE WITH HER PROBLEMS.
SHE WOULD HOLD THEM INSIDE OF HER.
Narrator: MAYBE A SECOND PREGNANCY WILL TURN THINGS AROUND...
OR MAYBE NOT.
Berger: BELINDA HAD TOLD US THAT
WHEN HE HAD FOUND OUT HE WAS GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE GIRL,
HE WAS NOT AS EXCITED.
AND SHE LED US TO THINK THAT HE DID NOT WANT ANOTHER CHILD.
Narrator: IT'S THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR THE TEMPLE FAMILY.
AND NO ONE COULD IMAGINE
JUST HOW HORRIBLE THAT ENDING WOULD BE.
[ BELL TOLLS ]
Narrator: POPULAR HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH DAVID TEMPLE
AND HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE, BELINDA,
ARE EXPECTING THEIR SECOND CHILD.
BUT BY SEPTEMBER OF 1998,
ALL IS NOT WELL IN THE TEMPLE HOME.
DAVID'S EMOTIONAL CRUELTY IS RIPPING THEIR MARRIAGE APART.
AS SHE STARTED TO GAIN WEIGHT,
HE STARTED TO RIDICULE HER,
SAYING SHE HAD A BIG BUTT,
TALKING ABOUT HER AS IF SHE WASN'T PREGNANT.
Narrator: WHILE SPURNING HIS PREGNANT WIFE,
DAVID TAKES A KEEN INTEREST
IN THE NEW ENGLISH TEACHER AT HASTINGS HIGH,
AND THE FEELING IS QUITE MUTUAL.
IN FACT, SHE HAS A THING FOR MARRIED MEN,
AND SHE DOESN'T CARE WHO GETS HURT.
Berger: HEATHER WAS A BEAUTIFUL GIRL --
LONG BLOND HAIR, TALL, THIN, VERY, VERY ATTRACTIVE LADY.
AND DAVID LIKED THIN WOMEN, AND SHE CERTAINLY FIT THE PART.
Casey: HEATHER SCOTT WAS VERY FLIRTATIOUS.
SHE ENJOYED THE ATTENTION SHE WAS GETTING FROM THE COACH,
AND BEFORE LONG, THEY WERE EGGING EACH OTHER ON.
HERE WE HAVE A TWO-TIMING CASANOVA
HIGH ON *** AND PRIDE,
PATHETICALLY FAWNING FOR THE ATTENTION
OF A SHAMELESS HOMEWRECKER.
DAVID TEMPLE AND HEATHER SCOTT DESERVE ONE ANOTHER.
THEY'RE PLAYING WITH FIRE,
AND SOON, SOMEONE'S GOING TO GET BURNED.
[ BELL TOLLS ]
Narrator: IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG BEFORE EVERYBODY KNOWS
ABOUT DAVID AND HIS NEW TROPHY.
Casey: THEY WERE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER
AT THE FRIDAY-NIGHT HAPPY HOURS THE TEACHERS WERE ATTENDING.
THEY WERE KIND OF OFF IN A CORNER BY THEMSELVES,
AND PEOPLE STARTED TO LOOK AT THEM LIKE THEY WERE A COUPLE.
Narrator: LATE THAT FALL,
BELINDA FINALLY FINDS OUT ABOUT THE AFFAIR.
BUT WITH THE CLOCK TICKING TOWARD HER DUE DATE,
SHE DECIDES NOT TO CONFRONT HER CHEATING HUSBAND.
Casey: BELINDA WAS REALLY JUST TRYING
TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE PREGNANCY.
SHE WAS REALLY THINKING THAT AFTER THAT WAS OVER,
AFTER THE BABY HAD COME,
WOULD BE THE TIME TO REEVALUATE WHERE THEY WERE
AND DECIDE WHAT HER FUTURE WOULD BE.
Narrator: WITH SO MUCH GOING WRONG,
BELINDA EAGERLY LOOKS FORWARD
TO SPENDING THE HOLIDAYS WITH HER TWIN SISTER
AND CELEBRATING THEIR BIRTHDAY TOGETHER.
SHE LOVED HER SISTER,
AND SHE DID NOT GET TO VISIT WITH HER THAT MUCH.
Narrator: WHO KNEW HER BROTHER-IN-LAW HAD BECOME SUCH AN OGRE?
Berger: BELINDA'S TWIN SISTER, BRENDA,
WAS APPALLED BY THE WAY SHE SAW DAVID TREATING BELINDA,
THE THINGS DAVID WAS SAYING TO HER,
THE WAY HE WAS ACTING TOWARD HER.
SHE CERTAINLY COULD SEE SOME OF THE ABUSE TALK
THAT HE DID TOWARD BELINDA.
HE WOULDN'T HELP HER WITH ANY OF THE HOUSEHOLD CHORES,
AND SHE WAS EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT
AND CERTAINLY COULD HAVE USED SOME HELP.
Narrator: INSTEAD, HER BELOVED HUSBAND
TELLS HER HE'S GOING DUCK HUNTING FOR THREE DAYS.
Casey: BELINDA WAS EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT,
AND IT WAS NEW YEARS EVE, AND IT WAS ALSO HER BIRTHDAY.
HE NEVER CALLED, NEVER CHECKED ON BELINDA.
IT REALLY BROKE BELINDA'S HEART.
HE LEFT THE TWO WOMEN AT HOME WITH EVAN,
BUT HE DID NOT GO DUCK HUNTING.
AS WE WELL KNOW,
HE WAS WITH HEATHER SCOTT DURING THIS TIME.
Casey: HE WAS IN LOVE WITH HEATHER BUT MARRIED TO BELINDA.
EVERYONE LOVED BELINDA.
SHE WAS EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT.
HE COULDN'T JUST WALK OUT ON HER AT THAT STAGE.
WHAT WOULD THEY THINK OF DAVID?
HOW WOULD THAT FIT ALL OF HIS PUBLIC IMAGE
THAT HE HAD CULTIVATED OVER THE YEARS?
SO, THE RESULT WAS HE HAD TO GET RID OF BELINDA.
Narrator: ON JANUARY 11, 1999,
JUST DAYS INTO THE SPRING SEMESTER,
DAVID STAYS HOME FROM SCHOOL WITH HIS SON, EVAN,
WHO IS TOO SICK TO GO TO DAYCARE.
WHILE THE CHILD SLEEPS, DAVID SETS A BRUTAL PLAN IN MOTION
THAT WILL FINALLY TAKE CARE OF HIS PROBLEM.
Casey: BELINDA WALKED INTO THE HOUSE THAT AFTERNOON...
[ SCREAMING ]
...AND DAVID HAD BEEN WAITING FOR HER.
DAVID HAD BROUGHT HER TO THE BEDROOM CLOSET
IN THE MASTER BEDROOM.
HE PUT A SHOTGUN TO THE BACK OF HER HEAD,
AND HE PULLED THE TRIGGER.
Narrator: DAVID RANSACKS THE HOUSE
TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE A BOTCHED ROBBERY.
THEN HE WAKES UP HIS SICK SON
AND GOES ABOUT BUILDING AN ALIBI.
HE HAD GONE TO SEVERAL STORES TO BE ON VIDEO.
HE WAS TRYING TO LET PEOPLE KNOW OR SEE HIM ON CAMERA
SO THAT THEY SAY, "WELL, HE WAS AT THE STORE.
HE WASN'T AT HOME. SOMEONE ELSE DID THIS."
Casey: WHEN THE DETECTIVES AND THE FORENSIC PEOPLE
ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, THERE WERE TELLS,
THERE WERE THINGS THAT JUST WEREN'T RIGHT.
ONE WAS DAVID'S DEMEANOR.
HE WAS VERY CALM, AND WE SAW NO EMOTION.
Narrator: IN THE FOLLOWING DAYS,
AS DETECTIVES LEARN ABOUT DAVID'S AFFAIR WITH HEATHER,
THE NOOSE SEEMS TO TIGHTEN AROUND HIS NECK.
BUT DAVID IS NEVER ARRESTED.
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING,
DAVID WAS THE PRIME SUSPECT IN BELINDA'S ***.
THE PROBLEM WAS, THEY COULDN'T FIND THE SHOTGUN.
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY WANTED THE *** WEAPON
BEFORE HE WAS WILLING TO PROSECUTE THE CASE.
MY COLLEAGUES, MYSELF, THE TOWN,
YES, WE WERE AFRAID THAT HE MIGHT GET AWAY WITH IT.
Narrator: AS THE MONTHS TURN TO YEARS,
DAVID TEMPLE REMAINS A FREE MAN, READY TO START A NEW LIFE.
TWO YEARS AFTER BELINDA DIED, HEATHER AND DAVID MARRIED,
AND THEY WERE RAISING EVAN TOGETHER.
SO, IT APPEARED THAT EVERYTHING
HAD GONE PRETTY MUCH AS HE'D HOPED.
IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE THEY WERE EVER GOING TO BE ABLE
TO PROSECUTE HIM FOR BELINDA'S KILLING.
Narrator: BUT BELINDA'S ANGUISHED FAMILY REFUSES TO GIVE UP.
Tom: I WENT TO EVERYONE THAT I COULD
ON TRYING TO GET THIS CRIME SOLVED.
MY DAUGHTER AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER HAD BEEN MURDERED.
I HAD BROUGHT THIS CHILD INTO THIS WORLD,
AND I THOUGHT IT WAS MY DUTY TO TAKE CARE OF HER.
Narrator: A FATHER'S PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF.
A NEW DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS CONVINCED
THEY HAVE ENOUGH CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE TO WIN A CONVICTION,
EVEN WITHOUT THE *** WEAPON.
ON NOVEMBER 30, 2004,
DAVID TEMPLE IS FINALLY ARRESTED,
NEARLY SIX YEARS AFTER BELINDA'S ***.
DAVID TEMPLE THOUGHT THAT HE WAS FREE AND CLEAR,
THAT NO ONE WOULD EVER BE PROSECUTED FOR BELINDA'S ***,
AND THAT HE WOULD BE ABLE TO GO ON
AND LIVE HIS LIFE THE WAY HE WANTED TO.
Narrator: ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED TRIALS IN TEXAS HISTORY
RESULTS IN DAVID TEMPLE BEING CONVICTED OF ***.
HE IS SERVING A LIFE SENTENCE.
THERE'S NOT A DAY GOES BY THAT MY WIFE AND I
DON'T THINK ABOUT OUR DAUGHTER AND OUR GRANDDAUGHTER.
SHE WAS SUCH AN OUTSTANDING PERSON.
SO THEY ESTABLISHED A SCHOLARSHIP
AT NACOGDOCHES HIGH SCHOOL --
$1,000 A YEAR --
TO A GRADUATING FEMALE ATHLETE.
THIS FAIRY TALE DIDN'T HAVE TO END IN A NIGHTMARE.
BUT DAVID TEMPLE SIMPLY COULDN'T SEE BEYOND HIS OWN ***,
NARCISSISM, AND SINFUL NEEDS.
PONDERING HIS OWN WRETCHEDNESS FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE
IS EXACTLY WHAT HE DESERVES.
Berger: DAVID JUST CARED ABOUT HIMSELF.
WHATEVER DAVID WANTED, DAVID GOT.
AND YOU JUST DON'T DO THAT IN LIFE.
HE'S IN PRISON FOR LIFE.
I HOPE HE HAS TIME TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT HE'S DONE.
DAVID TEMPLE'S SINS WERE HIS PRIDE AND HIS VANITY.
HE WAS TOO PROUD TO SIMPLY GET A DIVORCE.
INSTEAD, HE WANTED BELINDA TO DISAPPEAR,
AND HE WAS VAIN.
HE SAW HIMSELF AS ABOVE EVERYONE ELSE,
AND HE BELIEVED
HE COULD GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING HE WANTED TO GET AWAY WITH,
EVEN ***.
Narrator: THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SINS TURN DEADLY.