Original subtitles

LOS ANGELES IS A SLICK TOWN.

EVEN BACK IN '68,

EVERYONE IN L.A. WANTED TO BE SOMEBODY.

YOU NEVER KNEW WHO YOU COULD TRUST.

MY GOD. IT'S CHERYL.

SHE'S HURT. CHERYL.

GO -- GO GET HELP.

AND SOMETIMES...

CHERYL, CAN YOU HEAR ME?

CHERYL.

...YOU PUT YOUR TRUST IN THE WRONG PERSON.

APRIL 20, 1968,

OFFICERS FROM THE BURBANK POLICE DEPARTMENT

RESPOND TO AN APARTMENT BUILDING KNOWN AS THE CASTILLION.

GENTLEMEN, WHAT DO WE GOT HERE?

I HAVE A CAUCASIAN FEMALE, MULTIPLE GUNSHOTS.

WE HAVE PARAMEDICS EN ROUTE.

SHE'S STILL BREATHING.

MA'AM, CAN YOU UNDERSTAND ME?

WE GOT PARAMEDICS COMING.

CHERYL PERVELER HAD BEEN SHOT TWICE IN HER HEAD.

TWO GUNSHOTS ABOVE THE LEFT EAR.

IT WAS A SHOCKING SCENE.

AND THERE WAS A GASH ACROSS HER BREASTS,

ALSO CAUSED BY A BULLET.

POSSIBLY, CHERYL WAS RAISING HER ARM IN SELF-DEFENSE

AND DEFLECTED THE GUN.

THERE WERE SEVEN HALF-INCH GASHES

AROUND THE FRONT AND TOP OF HER SKULL.

THEY WERE MADE BY AN UNIDENTIFIED BLUNT OBJECT.

MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE BUTT OF A GUN.

THE SEVEN GASHES SHOW SUCH A VICIOUSNESS.

POLICE KNOW

THAT THERE HAD BEEN SOME CARJACKINGS RECENTLY.

WAS THIS AN ATTEMPT TO STEAL HER CAR FROM HER?

ON THE PASSENGER SEAT,

THERE WAS A WHITE SCARF SO DRENCHED IN BLOOD

THAT IT WAS STUCK TO THE PURSE.

AND INSIDE, THERE WAS A .35 AUTOMATIC.

THE GUN HAS NOT BEEN FIRED

AND HAS THE WORDS ON THE BARREL,

"LOVE" ON ONE SIDE, "PAUL" ON THE OTHER.

THE PURSE ALSO HAS, $35.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OVER $200 IN TODAY'S DOLLARS.

LEFT THE CASH. AND THE CAR.

WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED HERE?

IT ISN'T TYPICAL IN A CARJACKING

FOR A PERSON TO BE SHOT AND BEATEN LIKE CHERYL WAS.

SHELL CASING.

THEY FIND .25-CALIBER SHELL CASINGS.

ONE OF THE SPENT CASINGS

IS FOUND IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR.

THE OTHER TWO ARE FOUND BY THE REAR TIRE

ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE.

TWO .25-CALIBER, UNFIRED,

LIVE ROUNDS ARE ON THE GROUND NEAR THE CAR.

CHERYL PERVELER DIED AT THE HOSPITAL

AS SHE WAS BEING PREPPED FOR SURGERY.

TELL ME ABOUT WHAT YOU HEARD.

WELL, I WAS SLEEPING.

I HEARD A GUNSHOT -- POP, THEN A PAUSE,

THEN TWO SHOTS -- POP, POP.

LARRY BEAUREGARD HAD THE CLEAREST MEMORY

OF THE SHOTS THAT NIGHT.

SHOTS TWO AND THREE DID NOT COME IN QUICK SUCCESSION

AFTER THE FIRST SHOT WAS FIRED,

MAYBE WHEN THE ASSAILANT BROUGHT THE BUTT OF A GUN

DOWN ON HER HEAD SEVEN TIMES.

SO, YOU WERE THE ONES THAT FOUND HER?

MY HUSBAND AND I HAD JUST COME HOME FROM A PARTY.

AND WHEN WE CAME UPON THE CAR, WE SAW THAT POOR GIRL.

EVELYN MILLER TELLS THE BURBANK POLICE DETECTIVES

THAT CHERYL PERVELER

PROBABLY HAD JUST ARRIVED HOME THAT SATURDAY NIGHT.

SO YOU KNOW THE VICTIM, MA'AM? A LITTLE BIT.

SHE WAS JUST SO LOVELY AND SWEET.

THE NEIGHBORS DESCRIBED CHERYL

AS A BEAUTIFUL, ATHLETIC, FRIENDLY GIRL.

CHERYL FORMERLY WORKED AS A FITNESS INSTRUCTOR,

WAS A BROOKLYN TRANSPLANT HERE TO THE AREA.

IN THE '60s, THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE

THAT MADE THEIR WAY TO HOLLYWOOD,

LOOKING FOR THAT -- THAT BIG BREAK.

CHERYL WAS, IN MANY WAYS,

TYPICAL OF PEOPLE COMING

BECAUSE OF THE LURE OF CALIFORNIA.

SHE'S NEWLY MARRIED TO PAUL PERVELER,

LOCAL BAR OWNER.

HER HUSBAND?

PAUL.

PAUL PERVELER.

ACTUALLY, I CALLED HIM. HE OWNS A BAR IN BURBANK.

SHE RECALLS THAT SHE WAS ON THE PHONE

WITH PAUL AT HIS BAR...

WHICH HOSPITAL?

...AS THE AMBULANCE WAS DEPARTING THE SCENE...

...AND THAT PAUL HAD GONE ON TO THE HOSPITAL,

BUT CHERYL WAS DEAD.

YOU KNOW HOW IT GOES.

THE SPOUSE IS ALWAYS THE FIRST SUSPECT.

SO WHEN PAUL CAME BACK FROM THE HOSPITAL,

THE DETECTIVES MADE SURE

TO DELIVER THEIR CONDOLENCES IN PERSON.

INVESTIGATORS TALK TO 31-YEAR-OLD PAUL PERVELER

WHEN HE RETURNS TO HIS APARTMENT.

WE'RE SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, MR. PERVELER.

WE SAW THAT YOUR WIFE HAD A HANDGUN,

A .32, IN HER PURSE.

DO YOU KNOW WHY SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN CARRYING THAT?

I BOUGHT IT FOR CHERYL

SO THAT SHE'D HAVE SOME PROTECTION

WHEN I WASN'T WITH HER.

PAUL PERVELER HAD HIMSELF BEEN AN OFFICER IN THE L.A.P.D.

AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS, HE HAD LEFT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

HE HAD HELPED A FRIEND'S ROOMMATE

ARRANGE FOR AN ABORTION,

AND AT THAT TIME --

THIS IS IN THE 1960s -- THAT WAS A FELONY.

BUT HE WAS NOT CHARGED WITH A CRIME.

HE'S ONLY BEEN MARRIED TO CHERYL FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS.

PAUL IS STOIC, QUIET.

AND WHERE WERE YOU EARLIER THIS EVENING?

I OWN A COUPLE OF BARS.

ONE'S RIGHT UP HERE IN BURBANK,

AND THE OTHER ONE'S IN SUNLAND.

WE JUST OPENED, YOU KNOW?

I NAMED IT THE CHERYL'S GRAND DUCHESS FOR HER.

PAUL SAID THAT EVENING

HE WAS WORKING AT HIS BAR IN SUNLAND,

9 MILES AWAY FROM THEIR APARTMENT,

AND CHERYL HAD COME BY TO MEET HIM FOR A DRINK.

AND HE TELLS THE POLICE

THAT HE WALKED HER OUT TO THE CAR

AND CAME BACK IN,

AND THAT IS THE -- THE LAST HE SPOKE TO HIS WIFE.

PEOPLE AT THE BAR WOULD LATER TELL THEM

THAT HE WAS JUST PLAYING POOL.

GARY, RACK 'EM UP.

WELL, ON BEHALF OF THE L.A.P.D.,

PLEASE ACCEPT OUR SINCEREST CONDOLENCES.

THANK YOU.

INVESTIGATORS START TALKING TO NEIGHBORS

OF THE PERVELERS'.

EVENING, SIR. L.A.P.D.

WE'D LIKE TO ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS,

IF YOU DON'T MIND. NOT AT ALL.

DID YOU NOTICE ANYTHING UNUSUAL TODAY?

I DID. I THINK I SAW THE KILLER.

AND THEY MEET UP WITH AN OLDER MAN.

HE SAW WHO HE BELIEVES TO BE A MAN FLEEING THE SCENE...

HE WAS RIGHT OVER THERE.

...AFTER THE CRIME HAD BEEN COMMITTED...

RIGHT THERE.

...WEARING A WHITE HOODED SHIRT.

L.A. WAS CHANGING FAST IN THOSE DAYS.

BY '68, THERE WAS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

THE CITY WAS HOPPING.

ALL THAT SPACE AND ALL THAT ACTIVITY

MADE IT PRETTY HARD FOR THE COPS TO TRACK DOWN A KILLER

OF SUCH A VAGUE DESCRIPTION.

SO THE BURBANK POLICE PUTS OUT FEELERS

TO OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

1968's NOT THE DIGITAL AGE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BIG FILE CABINETS WITH PAPER RECORDS

THAT SOME CLERK SOMEWHERE IS GONNA HAVE TO SORT THROUGH.

AND SO TWO DAYS AFTER THIS INVESTIGATION STARTS...

...A FILE IS FINALLY FORWARDED TO THE DETECTIVES.

HOLD ON. I'M GONNA CALL YOU BACK.

YOU GOT TO SEE THIS.

THEY DISCOVER FROM THE HIGHLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT,

WHICH IS IN LOS ANGELES PROPER,

THAT, TWO YEARS EARLIER,

THE HUSBAND OF THE VICTIM, PAUL PERVELER,

WAS, IN FACT, A SUSPECT IN A MURDER.

ON DECEMBER 11, 1966, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT

IN THE VERY MODEST COMMUNITY OF EL SERENO

WAS CALLED TO A SMALL HOME THAT'S ON FIRE.

AND THEY DISCOVER INSIDE THAT HOME...

...MARLIN CROMWELL.

HE WAS A 27-YEAR-OLD SEARS STOCK BOY.

THEIR INITIAL REACTION IS

A MAN HAS BEEN OVERCOME BY SMOKE.

BUT THEN THEY SEE FIVE BULLET WOUNDS --

TWO IN HIS CHEST,

THREE SHOTS TO THE HEAD,

ALL AT VERY CLOSE RANGE.

THEY FIND A TOWEL THAT HAS A RING OF BLOOD,

WHICH MAKES POLICE THINK,

"WAS THE TOWEL USED AS A TYPE OF SILENCER?"

SOMEBODY MIGHT HAVE SNUCK UP BEHIND HIM.

MARLIN CROMWELL WAS EXECUTED, POINT BLANK.

AND THEN WHOEVER DID THAT WENT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM

AND BASICALLY TOOK TARGET PRACTICE.

THEN HIS HOUSE WAS SET ON FIRE.

HOWEVER, THE HOUSE WAS SET ON FIRE IN A BACK ROOM.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVES

BEFORE THE FIRE EVER REACHES WHERE THE EVIDENCE IS.

POOR GUY HAD A KID.

MARLIN, THEY DISCOVER,

WAS JUST AN EXTREMELY QUIET MAN,

DESCRIBED BY EVERYONE AS HAVING NO ENEMIES WHATSOEVER.

SO THE DEAD GUY AND KRISTINA GOT MARRIED,

DIVORCED, AND THEN MARRIED AGAIN.

THE POLICE DETECTIVES FIND

THE MARRIAGE LICENSE OF THE VICTIM,

MARLIN CROMWELL, TO HIS WIFE, KRISTINA CROMWELL.

THEY HAVE BEEN MARRIED TWICE.

HEY, CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT'S THE SAME WOMAN?

JUST TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO HIS MURDER,

THEY HAD REMARRIED.

I'M GONNA MISS YOU.

I'M GONNA MISS YOU, TOO, BABE.

I LOVE YOU. LOVE YOU.

MWAH!

THANK YOU.

KRISTINA, AS IT TURNS OUT, DID HAVE AN ALIBI.

SHE WAS IN TWENTYNINE PALMS

VISITING A FRIEND.

NOWHERE AROUND WHEN THE MURDER OCCURS.

IN FACT, SHE'S 140 MILES AWAY.

HOWEVER...

THE HIGHLAND PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT DISCOVER

THAT KRISTINA, RIGHT AFTER HER SECOND MARRIAGE TO MARLIN,

APPLIED FOR A LIFE-INSURANCE POLICY ON MARLIN,

AND SHE STOOD TO RECEIVE

AS MUCH AS $75,000 IN INSURANCE MONEY

FROM HER HUSBAND'S DEATH.

$75,000 WOULD BE HALF A MILLION NOW.

SO, WHERE'S PAUL PERVELER COME IN?

CROMWELL AND PERVELER USED TO WORK TOGETHER...

AT AN INSURANCE AGENCY, OF ALL PLACES.

AND THAT'S NOT ALL.

**

KRISTINA.

TALK ABOUT WANTING TO BE SOMEBODY.

WHEN I STARTED WORKING AT THE AGENCY,

KRISTINA JUST SEEMED TO ME LIKE AN OVERWEIGHT BRUNETTE

WITH A SELF-CONFIDENCE PROBLEM.

BY THE TIME SHE GOT THROUGH WITH HER MAKEOVER, THOUGH,

KRISTINA LOOKED LIKE A DIFFERENT PERSON.

GOOD FOR HER.

KRISTINA CROMWELL

HAD WORKED AT THE AUTO CLUB OF LOS ANGELES,

WHICH IS AN INSURANCE COMPANY.

CO-WORKERS AT THE AUTO CLUB TOLD POLICE

THAT KRISTINA CROMWELL

HAD UNDERGONE A MAJOR PHYSICAL TRANSFORMATION.

KRISTINA LOST CLOSE TO 75 POUNDS.

SHE DYED HER HAIR BLOND.

GAVE UP GLASSES FOR CONTACT LENSES.

SHE CAPPED HER TEETH.

AND, SUDDENLY, SHE WAS BEING ASKED OUT

BY A NUMBER OF MEN.

AND, IN FACT, STRIKES UP AN OFFICE ROMANCE...

WITH A CO-WORKER...

PAUL PERVELER.

AFTER HE LEFT THE L.A.P.D.,

PAUL DID WORK IN THE INSURANCE BUSINESS.

I NEVER SAW SUCH A BIG MOUTH ON ANYONE.

PAUL AND KRISTINA'S ROMANCE

WAS THE WORST-KEPT SECRET IN THE OFFICE,

THANKS TO PAUL.

HE WAS CHARMING, ALL RIGHT.

BUT I GOT TIRED OF HEARING HIM BRAG

ABOUT HIS DAYS AS A COP

AND THE SIZE OF HIS BICEPS.

I GUESS HE WANTED CREDIT

FOR COACHING KRISTINA

THROUGH THE WEIGHT LOSS AND MAKEOVER.

IF A MAN TOLD ME WHAT I COULD AND COULDN'T EAT,

I WOULD TELL HIM EXACTLY WHERE TO SHOVE IT.

BUT KRISTINA HAD WHAT SHE WANTED.

SO, THIS IS HOW LONG BEFORE PERVELER GOT MARRIED

TO HIS WIFE, CHERYL?

TWO YEARS.

AND, PERVELER WAS MARRIED TO SOMEONE ELSE BACK THEN.

SO KRISTINA AND PAUL PERVELER

ARE BOTH CHEATING ON THEIR SPOUSES BACK THEN?

YEP.

AND THE HIGHLAND PARK BOYS GO RATTLE PERVELER'S CAGE?

YEAH. I, - I GOT IT RIGHT HERE.

PAUL PERVELER?

HOW ARE YOU, GENTLEMEN? CAN I GET YOU A CUP OF JOE?

I CAN GET ONE OF THE GIRLS TO PUT A POT ON FOR YOU.

SO THEY GO TO HIS OFFICE,

AND PAUL IS HIS NORMAL, CHARMING SELF.

PERVELER TELLS THEM

THAT HE HAD FOUR OR FIVE DATES WITH KRISTINA

ABOUT A YEAR PRIOR

AND THAT, REALLY, NOTHING CAME OUT OF IT.

DECEMBER 11th OF LAST YEAR --

CAN YOU TELL US WHERE YOU WERE THAT NIGHT?

FELLAS, THAT WAS, -

THAT WAS QUITE A FEW MONTHS AGO.

I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW.

FOUR MONTHS HAVE PASSED

BY THE TIME THEY QUESTION PAUL ABOUT MARLIN'S MURDER.

HIGHLAND POLICE DECIDE TO TRACK KRISTINA.

AND IT'S TWO DAYS AFTER PAUL PERVELER TOLD THE POLICE

HE HAD ALMOST NO CONNECTION TO KRISTINA CROMWELL,

AND AFTER SHE RECEIVED

ONE OF HER FIRST BIG INSURANCE PAYMENTS,

THE TWO TRAVELED TOGETHER

TO HAVE A FUN WEEKEND IN LAS VEGAS

AND SPEND A LOT OF MONEY.

INVESTIGATORS HAVE GOT TO INTERPRET

THEIR INTERVIEW WITH PAUL AS A LIE.

**

HER FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS

REALLY BEGIN TO BRING THEM INTO FOCUS.

OVER JUST A 6-WEEK PERIOD,

KRISTINA CROMWELL

CAME INTO $25,000 OF INSURANCE MONEY,

AND THAT MONEY WAS TRANSFERRED TO PAUL PERVELER.

TODAY, THAT'S $170,000.

SEVEN MONTHS LATER, HE BOUGHT HIS FIRST BAR.

THERE'S A CONSPIRACY HERE --

THE MURDER OF MARLIN FOR THE INSURANCE MONEY.

SO SHE LEAVES THIS MOPE FOR PERVELER

AFTER SHE LOSES THE WEIGHT.

AND SHE PULLS HER EX-HUSBAND BACK IN.

SOLD HIM A LINE ABOUT A SECOND CHANCE FOR LOVE

AND SETS HIM UP TO GET KILLED.

**

DETECTIVES THEORIZE

THAT KRISTINA CONVINCED MARLIN TO REMARRY HER.

MARLIN HAD A VERY LONELY LIFE.

WHEN SHE SUGGESTED THEY REMARRY,

HE JUMPED AT THE OPPORTUNITY.

THESE TWO ARE GUILTY AS HELL.

FOR THE HIGHLAND PRECINCT,

THE PROBLEM WAS THAT EVERYTHING WAS CIRCUMSTANTIAL.

PAUL WAS THE PRIME SUSPECT.

BUT HE WAS LET GO

BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO PROSECUTE.

BUT PERVELER'S SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW HOW TO COVER HIS TRACKS.

YEAH, 'CAUSE HE WAS A COP,

SO HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GONNA LOOK FOR.

IT APPEARED TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY

THAT, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE VERY LIKELY THE ONES

WHO DID COMMIT THIS MURDER,

IT WAS BEST TO WAIT

AND HOPE THAT MORE EVIDENCE WOULD ARRIVE.

SO, THESE TWO -- PERVELER AND THIS CROMWELL WOMAN --

GOT A THING GOING ON.

THAT DOESN'T STOP HER FROM REMARRYING HER EX-HUSBAND.

TWO MONTHS LATER, HE BITES IT ONE NIGHT IN FRONT OF THE TV.

AND THEN THE TWO OF THEM ARE OFF TO VEGAS

WITH THE INSURANCE MONEY.

AND THEN PERVELER TAKES THIS SWEET, INNOCENT GIRL

AND MARRIES HER,

AND THEN TWO MONTHS LATER, SHE WINDS UP

WITH A BULLET IN THE HEAD.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ODDS ARE THAT CHERYL PERVELER

HAD A LIFE-INSURANCE POLICY?

25 GRAND,

50 GRAND DOUBLE INDEMNITY.

THAT'S A DOUBLE-INDEMNITY POLICY

WHERE THE BENEFICIARY WOULD PROFIT DOUBLE

IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENTAL DEATH OR A MURDER.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THE NERVE ON THIS GUY?

AND, OF COURSE, THE BENEFICIARY IS PAUL PERVELER.

**

I NEVER GOT ALONG WITH PAUL AT WORK.

HE ALWAYS HAD TO BE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.

BUT I KNEW HIS FIRST WIFE, KATHERINE,

AND SHE WAS A SWEET GIRL

WITH A GOOD HEAD ON HER SHOULDERS.

IF ANYONE KNEW WHAT PAUL WAS REALLY CAPABLE OF,

IT WAS KATHERINE.

BURBANK POLICE LOOK INTO THE HISTORY OF PAUL PERVELER.

SO, YOU WERE MARRIED TO PAUL PERVELER?

YES, FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

THEY QUESTION HIS FIRST WIFE, KATHERINE.

HOW WAS HE AS A HUSBAND?

HE WAS, REAL ROMANTIC IN THE BEGINNING.

ALWAYS AT MY SIDE WHENEVER WE WENT OUT,

TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF ME.

WHEN I WAS 18 YEARS OLD,

I ACTUALLY ALSO DATED PAUL PERVELER FOR 6 MONTHS.

AND HE WAS A CHARMING, GOOD-LOOKING, LOVELY MAN.

AND, HOW WERE YOU DOING FINANCIALLY?

IT WAS ROCKY.

**

MONEY HAD ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT TO PAUL.

HE WANTED THINGS THAT WERE FAR BEYOND HIS REACH.

HAVING OTHER PEOPLE SEE HIM

ENJOYING THE MATERIAL THINGS --

THIS IS WHAT HE LIVED FOR.

DID YOU SEE MY WIFE'S LOVELY EARRINGS?

SWEETHEART.

THIS WAS CONSPICUOUS IMAGE-MAKING ON HIS PART.

HE CERTAINLY DIDN'T KEEP IT A SECRET

THAT THE DIRECTOR STANLEY KUBRICK

WAS A COUSIN OF HIS.

HE WAS ALWAYS ANGLING FOR SOME WAY TO GET OVER,

TRYING SOME SCHEME OR OTHER.

THEY'D NEVER REALLY AMOUNT TO ANYTHING.

HE'D GET FRUSTRATED.

I THOUGHT THAT, UM...

GETTING MARRIED TO PAUL WOULD HELP HIM RELAX,

BUT IT -- HE -- GOT WORSE.

HE WAS A VERY MYSTERIOUS MAN.

HE WAS A VERY MOODY MAN.

VERY OFTEN STAYED UP LATE WATCHING MOVIES BY HIMSELF

AS HE POLISHED HIS GUNS.

HE WAS AWFUL.

HE REALLY DIDN'T... PAY ATTENTION TO ME

THE WAY A HUSBAND IS SUPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW?

HE BEAT ME.

I EVEN ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL.

THEIR MARRIAGE WAS ALREADY ON THE ROCKS.

PAUL WAS DRUNK.

HE FOUND HER COMING BACK FROM A WEEKEND

SEEING A FRIEND IN SAN DIEGO.

GET OUT OF THE CAR!

GET OUT OF THE CAR RIGHT NOW!

I SWEAR TO GOD.

I SWEAR TO GOD THAT IF YOU DON'T TELL ME THE TRUTH...

YOU'RE DEAD! GET OUT OF THE CAR!

HE DRAGGED HER OUT OF THE CAR AND TOOK HER HEAD

AND WAS BEATING IT AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE CAR.

AND THE ONLY REASON IT WASN'T PURSUED IS

BECAUSE KATHERINE DID NOT WANT TO PRESS CHARGES.

AND THEN THERE WERE THE CAR ACCIDENTS.

CAR ACCIDENTS? A HIT-AND-RUN.

THE DOCTORS WERE AMAZED I EVEN SURVIVED THE FIRST TIME.

FIRST TIME?

NOT ONCE BUT TWICE

SHE HAD BEEN THE VICTIM OF A HIT-AND-RUN.

AND YET, DESPITE VERY SERIOUS INJURIES,

SHE SURVIVED BOTH.

THE FIRST TIME KATHERINE WAS HIT

WAS SHORTLY BEFORE THEIR FIRST WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.

HE WAS JUST BESIDE HIMSELF THAT SHE HAD BEEN INJURED.

AND A FEW MONTHS LATER,

I WAS ALMOST FEELING LIKE MYSELF AGAIN.

AND I WAS JUST PARKING THE CAR...

SHE SAID SHE WAS ABLE TO SEE A MAN LOOK BACK

IN THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR...

...BUT SHE COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHO HAD HIT HER.

WERE THERE ANY INSURANCE PAYOUTS AFTER THESE ACCIDENTS?

YES.

IN EACH CASE,

THERE HAD BEEN A $5,000 PAYOFF.

BUT YOU STAYED WITH HIM?

I FELT TRAPPED...

AND SCARED.

THE REASON WE CAME TO SEE YOU TODAY

IS THAT PAUL'S SECOND WIFE WAS JUST MURDERED.

MA'AM, ARE YOU -- ARE YOU OKAY THERE?

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS --

THERE WAS THIS ONE TIME WITH PAUL.

HE WANTED ME TO GO OUT OF TOWN WITH HIM.

THREE WEEKS AFTER KATHERINE

HAD GOTTEN OUT OF THE HOSPITAL,

RECOVERING FROM THE BEATING PAUL HAD GIVEN HER,

PAUL SUGGESTED THAT THEY TAKE A TRIP INTO THE MOUNTAINS

AND DO A LITTLE SHOOTING.

NORMALLY, HE NEVER ASKED HER TO COME.

AND SHE JUST SAT OFF TO THE SIDE

WHILE HE NEVER FIRED A SHOT.

ALL HE DID WAS SORT OF PACE AROUND.

AND AT ONE POINT, HE JUST SAID, "LET'S GO HOME.

I DON'T WANT TO SHOOT."

I THINK ABOUT IT NOW.

I FEEL LUCKY I GOT OUT ALIVE.

ONE MORE QUESTION, MA'AM.

DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW A WOMAN NAMED KRISTINA CROMWELL?

NOT REALLY,

OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT SHE WAS SLEEPING WITH MY HUSBAND.

A SHORT TIME LATER,

SHE LEARNED ABOUT HIS INFIDELITY WITH KRISTINA CROMWELL,

AND KATHERINE FINALLY LEFT HIM.

DETECTIVES ARE EXAMINING PAUL'S ALIBI.

PAUL WALKED CHERYL PERVELER OUT TO THE CAR,

BUT HIS EMPLOYEES HAD NEVER SAID

THAT HE HAD LEFT THE BAR

FOR ENOUGH TIME

TO PHYSICALLY GET TO THE APARTMENT HOUSE,

COMMIT THE MURDER, AND GET BACK.

THIS IS GONNA BE TOUGH.

IF YOU KNEW PAUL

OR KNEW ANYONE WHO KNEW HIM, REALLY,

YOU KNEW HE HAD A BIG MOUTH.

IT WASN'T A STRETCH TO THINK HE MIGHT HAVE BLABBED

OR BRAGGED ABOUT THE MURDER TO SOMEONE.

THANKS.

10 DAYS AFTER CHERYL PERVELER'S MURDER,

MICHAEL BROCKINGTON

IS BROUGHT DOWN TO THE BURBANK POLICE DEPARTMENT

FOR QUESTIONING.

SO, WE UNDERSTAND YOU'RE A FRIEND OF PAUL PERVELER.

YEAH. YEAH, FOR A FEW YEARS NOW.

MICHAEL BROCKINGTON HAD WORKED WITH HIM AT THE AUTO CLUB,

AND HE ADMIRED PAUL.

HE BECAME HIS BEST FRIEND/ERRAND BOY/CONFIDANT.

LISTEN, YOU KNEW CHERYL, RIGHT?

YEAH. SHE WAS A SWEET KID.

IT'S AWFUL WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.

BUT WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ME?

WE HAPPEN TO BELIEVE YOUR GOOD FRIEND PAUL

MAY BE INVOLVED IN HER MURDER.

SO IF YOU'VE BEEN HOLDING BACK

OR HAVE HAD A LITTLE SELECTIVE AMNESIA ABOUT SOMETHING,

IT'S NOT GONNA LOOK GOOD ON YOU.

OKAY.

OKAY.

ONE NIGHT, ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I CAME INTO PAUL'S BAR,

AND HE WAS JUST SITTING THERE, LIKE, IN A FUNK.

HE'D BEEN DRINKING.

**

HEY.

MICHAEL TOLD THEM

PAUL SUGGESTED THEY HAVE A DRINK TOGETHER.

OVER THE DRINK, PAUL PERVELER SAYS TO MICHAEL,

"HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHERE I GET ALL OF MY MONEY?"

THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN MEETS THE EYE.

I KILLED A MAN.

"I'M THE ONE WHO KILLED MARLIN CROMWELL."

HE'S NOT JOKING.

HE'S NOT PUTTING ON A TOUGH-GUY ACT.

HE'S CONFESSING.

ALTHOUGH MICHAEL IS A VERY LOYAL FRIEND,

HE HAS DRAWN THAT MORAL LINE WITH THE MURDER OF MARLIN.

AND IT DIDN'T OCCUR TO YOU TO TELL ANYONE?

YOU DON'T KNOW PAUL.

MICHAEL SAID THAT,

WHEN HE WOULD SEE POLICE OFFICERS,

HE WANTED TO RUSH UP TO THEM AND TELL THEM WHAT HE KNEW.

BUT, AS HE PUT IT TO THE OFFICERS,

"I WAS AFRAID, IF I DID, HE'D BLOW MY HEAD OFF."

MICHAEL BROCKINGTON HAD THE SAME EMOTIONAL REACTION

THAT PAUL'S FIRST WIFE, KATHERINE, HAD.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, MR. BROCKINGTON.

SURE.

**

PAUL PERVELER...

YOU'RE UNDER ARREST

FOR THE MURDER OF MARLIN CROMWELL.

BOY, YOU GUYS NEVER GIVE UP, DO YOU?

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO COME WITH US.

BOTH KRISTINA AND PAUL

ARE CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

KRISTINA WAS CHARGED WITH MARLIN'S MURDER.

PAUL WAS CHARGED WITH MARLIN'S AND CHERYL'S

AND WITH KATHERINE'S ATTEMPTED MURDER.

LIKE THE FIRST TIME THAT PAUL WAS SUSPECTED OF A MURDER,

THIS IS A CIRCUMSTANTIAL CASE.

MR. PROSECUTOR.

GENTLEMEN, PLEASE, CALL ME "VINCENT."

AND, IN FACT, THEY HAD EVEN LESS IN TERMS OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.

BUT WE DO HAVE A WITNESS WHO WILL TESTIFY TO PAUL PERVELER

ADMITTING THE MURDER OF MARLIN CROMWELL.

THIS WITNESS SOLID? ROCK SOLID.

AND WE HAVE A PATTERN.

TWO YEARS AGO,

PAUL PERVELER AND KRISTINA CROMWELL

WERE HAULED IN FOR THE SHOOTING DEATH

OF KRISTINA'S SPOUSE.

THE MOTIVE -- $75,000.

NOW, JUMP AHEAD WHEN THE INK'S BARELY DRY

ON A VERY GENEROUS LIFE-INSURANCE POLICY.

AND LO AND BEHOLD, PERVELER'S LOVELY YOUNG WIFE

OF JUST TWO MONTHS IS FOUND FULL OF BULLET HOLES

IN HER CAR.

IT IS A HUGE GAMBLE.

THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO TRY TO PROSECUTE THESE PEOPLE AND LOSE.

WHO'S NEXT?

AND YET, DESPITE HAVING

ONLY CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE,

VINCENT BUGLIOSI DECIDED TO PROSECUTE.

THEY HOPED THAT IF THEY COULD SHOW ALL THE SMOKE,

THE JURY WOULD BE LED TO THE FIRE.

**

TO SAY I FOLLOWED THE PERVELER/CROMWELL CASE

CLOSELY WOULD BE A REAL UNDERSTATEMENT.

TWO OF MY FORMER CO-WORKERS WERE ON TRIAL FOR MURDER.

SEVEN MONTHS AFTER CHERYL PERVELER'S MURDER,

THE TRIAL FOR THE MURDERS OF CHERYL PERVELER

AND MARLIN CROMWELL

AND THE ATTEMPTED MURDERS OF KATHERINE,

PAUL'S FIRST WIFE, COMMENCED.

PAUL AND KRISTINA ARE TRIED TOGETHER

BECAUSE THERE WAS A COMMON COUNT,

AND THAT WAS THE MURDER OF MARLIN.

KRISTINA AND PAUL KNEW

THIS CASE IS COMPLETELY CIRCUMSTANTIAL.

PAUL WAS FLIRTING AND WINKING WITH THE COURT REPORTER,

AND KRISTINA SHOWED UP IN A MINISKIRT.

TO TOP IT ALL OFF,

THE PROSECUTOR WAS FRESH OUT OF LAW SCHOOL.

VINCENT BUGLIOSI MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF LATER,

PROSECUTING THE MANSON MURDERS,

BUT DURING THIS CASE,

HE WAS STILL A LITTLE WET BEHIND THE EARS.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY,

THE DEFENDANTS,

PAUL PERVELER AND KRISTINA CROMWELL,

ARE GUILTY OF MURDER.

NOW, IF I WAS TRYING TO CONVINCE YOU

THAT PAUL PERVELER WAS GUILTY OF PULLING THE TRIGGER,

THEN MY CASE WOULD BE LIKE A CHAIN.

A CHAIN IS ONLY AS STRONG AS ITS WEAKEST LINK.

BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO PROVE THAT PAUL PERVELER

WAS THE ONE WHO ACTUALLY PULLED THE TRIGGER.

AS LONG AS THEY CAN SHOW

THROUGH ENOUGH CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE

THAT THERE WAS A CONSPIRACY

BETWEEN THESE TWO TO COMMIT MURDER

AND, THEREFORE, THEY WERE, TOGETHER, RESPONSIBLE

FOR THE MURDER OF MARLIN CROMWELL

AND THAT, BECAUSE OF THIS PATTERN

OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE,

PAUL PERVELER ALONE WAS RESPONSIBLE

FOR CHERYL PERVELER'S MURDER

AND THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF KATHERINE.

WHAT I WILL SHOW YOU IS THAT THE BODY OF EVIDENCE

IS NOT LIKE A CHAIN. IT IS LIKE A ROPE.

EACH PIECE OF EVIDENCE

IS ONE OF THE INDIVIDUAL THREADS HOLDING THE ROPE TOGETHER.

EVEN IF ONE THREAD BREAKS,

THE ROPE ITSELF REMAINS STRONG.

THE PROSECUTION IS MAKING A PORTRAYAL

THAT PAUL HAS THIS PLAN TO KILL FOR INSURANCE MONEY

AND STARTS WITH HIS EX-WIFE, KATHERINE.

THE PLOT WENT DEEP.

NOT EVEN MR. BUGLIOSI KNEW ABOUT THIS AT THE TRIAL,

BUT...

REMEMBER HOW PAUL NEARLY BEAT KATHERINE TO DEATH?

YEARS LATER, KRISTINA ADMITTED THAT,

WHEN PAUL LEFT KATHERINE BLEEDING ON THE PAVEMENT...

...SHE WAS THERE, WAITING IN A CAR,

TO DRIVE PAUL AWAY FROM THE SCENE OF THE CRIME.

BUT THEN KATHERINE DIVORCES PAUL.

SO THE PROSECUTION CLAIMS THAT PAUL TRANSFERS

THAT PLAN TO KILL FOR INSURANCE MONEY.

THE PROSECUTION ARGUED

THAT PAUL HAD CONVINCED KRISTINA TO REMARRY MARLIN.

VINCENT BUGLIOSI HELD KRISTINA CROMWELL

EVERY BIT AS RESPONSIBLE,

ARGUING THAT SHE ARRANGED

FOR THE FATHER OF THEIR CHILD...

...TO BE MURDERED FOR MONEY.

OUR PROSECUTOR HERE

HAS TO DRAW ON THE CHALKBOARD

THE WITHDRAWALS FROM KRISTINA'S ACCOUNT

AND COMPARE THOSE TO PAUL'S ACCESSES

TO HIS SAFE DEPOSIT BOX.

ALL DONE WITHIN JUST A DAY OR TWO OF EACH OTHER.

YOU SEE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

THIS MAN NOT ONLY IS A MURDERER,

BUT HE HAS NO REMORSE FOR WHAT HE'S DONE.

THE PROSECUTION ARGUES

THAT AFTER MARLIN CROMWELL,

PAUL'S JUST ON THE HUNT.

HE'S GONNA MARRY CHERYL.

AND, A WEEK BEFORE,

HE TAKES OUT A LIFE-INSURANCE POLICY ON HER.

VINCE BUGLIOSI WAS CONVINCED

THAT PAUL PERVELER HAD ARRANGED WITH SOMEONE

TO MURDER HIS WIFE FOR HIM.

THE PROSECUTION DID NOT HAVE THE IDENTITY OF THE TRIGGER MAN.

BUT THAT STILL MAKES PAUL PERVELER GUILTY

OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

THIS VINCE GUY MIGHT HAVE BEEN YOUNG,

BUT AFTER THAT SHOW,

I WOULD'VE BELIEVED HE COULD SELL ICE TO AN ESKIMO.

IS THE DEFENSE PREPARED TO PROCEED?

YES, YOUR HONOR.

BUT THEN IT WAS THE DEFENSE'S TURN.

REMEMBER HOW I SAID YOU CAN'T TRUST ANYONE IN THIS TOWN?

KRISTINA AND PAUL EACH SHOWED UP

WITH THEIR OWN DEFENSE ATTORNEYS

AND WENT AFTER EACH OTHER.

BOY, WAS THAT A BLOODBATH.

WE'VE HEARD SOME GOOD STORIES TODAY,

WORTHY OF A HOLLYWOOD SCREENPLAY.

I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF STORIES MYSELF.

RATHER THAN SAYING THAT HE WAS COMPLETELY INNOCENT,

PAUL'S DEFENSE SUGGESTS

THAT MAYBE KRISTINA HAD ENGINEERED

MARLIN CROMWELL'S MURDER

AND MADE THE MISTAKE OF TELLING PAUL PERVELER ABOUT IT

AND PAUL MAY BE GUILTY OF BLACKMAIL,

BUT HE'S NOT GUILTY OF MURDER.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY,

YOU LOOK TO KRISTINA CROMWELL,

AND I'M SURE YOU THINK TO YOURSELF,

"WELL, THERE'S AN ATTRACTIVE, STYLISH WOMAN."

BUT WHAT YOU DON'T SEE IS WHAT'S INSIDE.

KRISTINA'S DEFENSE ATTORNEY

TRIES TO PAINT HER AS A GRIEVING WIDOW

AND SUGGESTS THAT PAUL PERVELER

COMMITTED THE MURDER BY HIMSELF.

KRISTINA'S DEFENSE MADE THE CLAIM

THAT PAUL WAS EXTORTING HER ALL ALONG.

THAT'S WHY SHE GAVE HIM THE MONEY.

THE JURY WAS OUT FOR THREE DAYS.

HAS THE JURY REACHED A VERDICT?

YES, WE HAVE, YOUR HONOR.

WE FIND THE DEFENDANTS GUILTY.

**

PAUL WAS A REAL PIECE OF WORK.

I TRIED TO LOOK AT IT FROM EVERY WHICH WAY,

BUT AS FAR AS I COULD TELL, HE WAS JUST A PRICK.

HE HAS AN INFLATED SENSE OF GRANDIOSITY.

HE IS CALLOUS.

HE IS NOT EMPATHIC AT ALL.

HE IS SOMEBODY WHO EXPLOITS OTHER PEOPLE.

HE, UM, FEELS NO REMORSE FOR HIS ACTIONS.

HE WAS DESCRIBED AS A MOVIE NUT

WHO JUST LOVED WATCHING MOVIES.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE INSURANCE ELEMENTS,

IT'S HARD NOT TO THINK ABOUT AN ENTRY

FROM FILM NOIR IN LOS ANGELES,

THE FILM "DOUBLE INDEMNITY."

MAYBE HE GOT HIS IDEAS FROM THAT MOVIE.

BUT HE'S FROM A MONIED FAMILY.

WHAT REALLY AND TRULY WAS GOING ON HERE?

BECAUSE AS THESE WENT ON, EACH GOT MORE AND MORE VIOLENT.

I DON'T THINK HE WAS KILLING FOR INSURANCE MONEY.

I THINK PERVELER WAS A STONE-COLD KILLER.

I'M NOT SAYING SHE WAS A GOOD PERSON,

BUT AT LEAST WITH KRISTINA,

YOU COULD UNDERSTAND WHY SHE DID IT.

PAUL MADE HER FEEL BEAUTIFUL.

HE MADE HER FEEL SPECIAL.

WAS FEELING BEAUTIFUL WORTH THE PRICE

OF MARLIN CROMWELL'S LIFE?

WOULD KRISTINA HAVE DONE WHAT SHE DID

IF IT WERE NOT FOR PAUL?

CERTAINLY, HE WAS NOT A GOOD INFLUENCE.

BUT YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF, WHO BURNS THEIR OWN HOUSE DOWN?

WHO LEAVES THEIR SON WITHOUT A FATHER?

DON'T WE HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

FOR WHAT OUR DECISIONS ARE?

AS BOTH VICTIMS --

MARLIN CROMWELL, AND THEN LATER, CHERYL PERVELER --

WERE WALKING DOWN THE AISLE,

THE PERSON NEXT TO THEM

WAS ALREADY PLANNING THEIR MURDER.

AND THERE CAN CERTAINLY BE NO COLDER A KILLER THAN THAT.

IT SEEMED LIKE THE CLOSER YOU GOT TO PAUL PERVELER,

THE MORE HE WANTED TO HURT YOU.

I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT THAT WAS LIKE.

BUT I DO KNOW

THAT ANYONE WHO'S BEEN THROUGH A TRAGEDY

WILL TELL YOU THAT NO ONE CAN EVER TRULY UNDERSTAND

EXCEPT THE PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN THROUGH THE SAME THING.

ONCE THERE WAS A TRIAL GOING ON,

KATHERINE AND MICHAEL GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER.

AND MICHAEL BROCKINGTON CAME ACROSS TO KATHERINE

AS NOT AT ALL LIKE PAUL PERVELER.

HE WAS ACTUALLY A VERY SENSITIVE MAN.

AND AFTER THE TRIAL WAS OVER, THEY, IN FACT, GOT MARRIED.

**

* I WONDER WHO'S BUYIN' THE WINE *

* FOR LIPS THAT I USED TO CALL MINE *

* I WONDER IF SHE EVER TELLS HIM OF ME *

* I WONDER WHO'S KISSIN' HER NOW *

* I WONDER WHO'S KISSIN' *

* I WONDER WHO'S KISSIN' *

* I WONDER WHO'S KISSIN' HER *

* NOW *