All language subtitles for true.conviction.s01e02.hdtv.x264-w4f-NH

TELL ME ABOUT
THE DONNA DECKER MURDER.

A GUNMAN CAME IN
TO THE DECKER HOME.

HAD ALL THESE VARIABLES
OF JUSTICE/INJUSTICE

AMIDST THE HORROR
OF A FAMILY BEING MASSACRED.

HOW'S IT FEEL BEING BACK HERE,
IN THIS HOUSE?

THE HAIRS ON THE BACK OF MY NECK
STILL STAND UP.

YOUR FIRST-DEGREE MURDER
DEFENDANT IS OUT,

WALKING
THE STREETS OF FLORIDA.

I SAID,
"I KNOW WHO DID THIS."

HOW COULD HE NOT
HAVE BEEN INVOLVED?

NOW WE HAD SOMEONE

WHO FIT THE PROFILE

OF A PSYCHOPATHIC KILLER.

MY NAME IS ANNA-SIGGA NICOLAZZI.

IN MY TWO DECADES AS

A NEW YORK CITY
HOMICIDE PROSECUTOR,

I SAW HOW MURDER AFFECTS LIVES
FAR BEYOND THE CRIME SCENE.

LET ME TAKE YOU
INSIDE THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE

FOR VICTIMS
AND THEIR LOVED ONES.

THIS IS...

-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

JUST 10 MILES FROM
FLORIDA'S TOURISTY GOLD COAST,

THE TOWN OF DAVIE
FEELS LIKE A WORLD AWAY.

IT'S A SLEEPY TOWN WHERE

OLD-TIMERS STILL WEAR
COWBOY HATS

AND NEIGHBORS KEEP
TO THEMSELVES.

BUT THE SHOCKING MURDER
OF 37-YEAR-OLD DONNA DECKER

AND THE BRUTAL ATTACK
ON HER FAMILY...

...SHATTERED THIS TOWN'S
SENSE OF SECURITY.

I'VE COME TO DAVIE TO REVEAL

HOW THE PROSECUTOR
AND INVESTIGATORS

UNTANGLED THE TRUTH,

AND TO RE-TRACE,
STEP BY STEP,

THE JOURNEY TO JUSTICE
FOR DONNA'S FAMILY.

DONNA DECKER HAD JUST SETTLED IN
TO LIFE AS A NEW MOTHER

WHEN SHE WAS TAKEN AWAY

FROM HER 2-YEAR-OLD SON
AND LOVING HUSBAND.

BOB, HOW OLD WERE YOU
WHEN YOU AND DONNA MET?

ABOUT 23.

BOB WAS A NEWCOMER
FROM NEW YORK

AND RENTED AN APARTMENT
FROM DONNA'S PARENTS.

THEY KEPT SAYING FOR, LIKE,
TWO OR THREE MONTHS

THEIR DAUGHTER'S COMING DOWN
FROM BOSTON.

AND THEN IT WAS,
BASICALLY,

LIKE, I'M SUPPOSED
TO TAKE HER OUT.

I'M SUPPOSED TO SHOW HER AROUND,
AND ALL THIS AND THAT.

THE TWO WERE
PERFECT OPPOSITES.

BOB WAS THE QUIET ONE,
AND DONNA WAS THE TALKER.

HOW LONG AFTER YOU MET DONNA
BEFORE YOU BEGAN DATING?

A DAY.

IT DIDN'T TAKE VERY LONG.

IN THE EARLY DAYS
OF THEIR MARRIAGE,

THEY WERE BOTH WORKAHOLICS.

SHE WAS A HAIRDRESSER,
AND I WORKED FOR A CONTRACTOR

IN FORT LAUDERDALE
FOR 10 YEARS.

THEN WE MOVED TO DAVIE.

I BUILT A HOUSE OUT THERE,
AND THAT'S WHERE, BASICALLY,

THE BIG BUILDING STARTED.

BOB RAN
HIS CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS

OUT OF A SMALL OFFICE
IN THE HOUSE,

AND HE BUILT DONNA A HAIR SALON

SO SHE COULD WORK, AT LEAST,
PART-TIME FROM HOME.

AND IN 1986,

BOB AND DONNA'S PERFECT TWOSOME
BECAME A TRIO.

SHE SAID,
"WE'RE HAVING A BABY."

THEY NAMED THEIR SON CARL,
AFTER DONNA'S FATHER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK
THAT LITTLE BOY MEANT TO HER?

IT WAS THE BEST THING
IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD FOR HER.

EVERYTHING WAS CARL.

IT MEANT
AN AWFUL LOT TO HER.

AND IN THE FALL OF 1988,

BOB'S FATHER, CLYDE, MOVED IN,

PUTTING THREE GENERATIONS
OF DECKERS UNDER ONE ROOF.

THE NIGHT OF NOVEMBER 4, 1988,

BEGAN LIKE ANY OTHER.

DONNA WAS WORKING LATE
AT A HAIR SALON.

BOB, CLYDE,
AND 2-1/2-YEAR-OLD CARL

HAD GONE TO DINNER
AT A LOCAL BARBECUE PLACE.

THE THREE OF THEM
HURRIED HOME TO CATCH

BOB'S FAVORITE
TV SHOW, "DALLAS."

BUT ALMOST AS SOON
AS THEY WALKED IN THE DOOR,

THE DECKERS' IDYLLIC LIFE
TOOK A HORRIFIC TURN.

PROSECUTOR BRIAN CAVANAGH
IS STILL HAUNTED BY THIS CASE.

BRIAN, WHAT IS IT ABOUT
THE DONNA DECKER MURDER

THAT OVER TWO DECADES LATER,
REMAINS SO VIVID FOR YOU?

IT'S A PARABLE ABOUT
RIGHT AND WRONG.

SHE HAD ALL THESE VARIABLES
OF JUSTICE/INJUSTICE

ALL INTERWOVEN --

AMIDST THE HORROR
OF A FAMILY BEING MASSACRED.

THAT TOUCHES ME TO
THE QUICK OF MY BEING.

A GUNMAN CAME IN
TO THE DECKER HOME.

HE TIED UP THE MEN
WHO WERE THERE.

DONNA DECKER CAME HOME
AT SOME POINT.

SHE TRIED TO DEFEND HERSELF
AND HER FAMILY

WITH A KITCHEN KNIFE.

THE GUNMAN TOOK
THAT KITCHEN KNIFE

AND TURNED IT ON HER.

HE SHOT BOB DECKER TWICE
IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.

CLYDE DECKER
ONCE IN THE FACE

WITH A PILLOW PLACED
OVER HIS HEAD.

AND LITTLE CARL DECKER,
THEIR 2-1/2-YEAR-OLD SON,

HE PUT A BULLET
RIGHT BEHIND HIS RIGHT EAR.

THE MALES WERE
ALL LEFT FOR DEAD.

DONNA MADE A DYING 911 CALL

AS HER LUNGS FILLED UP
WITH BLOOD.

WHEN YOU HEAR...
HER LAST WORDS,

WHAT GOES THROUGH
YOUR MIND?

THANK YOU.

SAVED OUR LIVES.

DAVIE POLICE
RACED TO THE SCENE,

ARRIVING IN LESS
THAN 10 MINUTES.

LEAD HOMICIDE DETECTIVE
KELLY WOODROOF

WAS RIGHT BEHIND THEM.

SO WE'RE ACTUALLY,
RIGHT NOW,

HEADED RIGHT TOWARDS
THE DECKER HOUSE,

ON THE SAME ROUTE THAT YOU
WOULD HAVE GONE THAT EVENING.

YEAH, I WOULD GUESS
IT PROBABLY TOOK US ABOUT

FIVE TO SEVEN MINUTES
WHEN WE GOT THERE.

WE WENT A PRETTY
NASTY SPEED.

SET THE SCENE FOR ME.

TELL ME WHAT WAS GOING ON
OUT HERE WHEN YOU ARRIVED.

WELL,
WHEN WE GOT HERE,

THERE WERE EMERGENCY VEHICLES
ALL UP AND DOWN THE STREET.

THE WHOLE AREA WAS
KIND OF BATHED

IN FLASHING BLUE AND RED
AND YELLOW LIGHTS.

BOB, HIS DAD,
AND HIS 2-YEAR-OLD SON

WERE ALIVE,
BUT SERIOUSLY INJURED.

BOB WAS CLINGING TO LIFE
BY A THREAD.

DONNA HAD SLIPPED AWAY

WHILE STILL ON THE LINE
WITH 911.

DETECTIVE WOODROOF HAD
TO TRY AND PIECE TOGETHER

WHAT HAD HAPPENED ON HIS OWN.

THIS IS THE LIVING ROOM.

ON THE NIGHT
OF THE INCIDENT,

THERE WAS AN EASY CHAIR
SEATED OVER THERE.

THE ONLY THING THAT
WE COULD SEE IN HERE

FROM A CRIME-SCENE
SIGNIFICANCE

WAS THAT THERE WAS
SOME ROPE ON THE FLOOR.

WHEN APPROACHING
A FRESH CRIME SCENE,

IT'S VITAL
TO DOCUMENT EVERYTHING

AS IT APPEARS
AT THAT VERY MOMENT.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT MIGHT END UP
BEING A CRITICAL CLUE.

WE WENT INTO THE KITCHEN
FROM HERE.

THERE WAS A PAPER GROCERY BAG
SITTING HERE.

DONNA'S PURSE
WAS THERE.

WE LATER REALIZED THAT
THERE WAS A KNIFE

MISSING FROM A BUTCHER BLOCK
OVER THERE,

AND THAT WAS
THE MURDER WEAPON.

AND WE MOVED
INTO THE BEDROOM.

ON THE NIGHT OF THE HOMICIDE,
THERE WAS A LARGE WATERBED HERE,

AND ON THIS SIDE
OF THE BED,

THERE WAS A SHATTERED
PARTIAL DENTURE.

WHEN CLYDE DECKER
WAS SHOT,

THE ROUND HIT HIS DENTURE,
FRACTURED IT, SPLINTERED IT.

WHAT ABOUT...

CLYDE, BOB DECKER,
AND THE BABY, CARL?

WERE THEY STILL IN HERE
WHEN YOU GOT HERE?

BOB WAS ON A GURNEY
AND WAS BEING TRANSPORTED.

CLYDE WAS HOLDING CARL
IN HIS ARMS.

AND HOW DOES IT FEEL BEING
BACK HERE IN THIS HOUSE,

IN THIS PLACE,
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS?

THIS IS ONE OF
THE FEW CRIME SCENES

THAT I'VE EVER BEEN ON
THAT I COME INTO AFTER THE FACT,

AND THE HAIRS ON THE BACK
OF MY NECK STILL STAND UP.

THERE'S JUST A CHILL
ABOUT THIS PLACE.

I WILL NEVER FORGET,
TILL THE DAY I DIE,

WHAT DONNA DECKER LOOKED LIKE
IN THAT CLOSET.

MR. DECKER
ACTUALLY USED THIS

AS THE BUSINESS OFFICE
FOR HIS CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS.

AND THIS IS WHERE
MISS DECKER WAS FOUND.

SHE WAS...

PARTIALLY UP
AGAINST THE WALL,

LEANING ON HER SIDE
WITH HER HEAD TOWARDS THE DOOR.

THERE WERE ALL SORTS OF PAPERS
ON THE FLOOR.

IT HAD BEEN RANSACKED.

AND THERE WAS
A TELEPHONE IN HERE.

SHE HAD A TELEPHONE
IN HER HAND.

AND WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE
IN THIS ROOM?

THERE WAS A COWBOY HAT
ON THE FLOOR NEAR HER.

NOW, WE'RE WORKING
IN SOMEBODY'S HOUSE.

WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY
WHAT SHOULD BE HERE

AND WHAT SHOULDN'T
BE HERE.

WHILE
DETECTIVE WOODROOF

AND HIS TEAM COMBED
THE CRIME SCENE,

AN ODD DRAMA WAS UNFOLDING
AT A NEARBY SHOPPING CENTER.

LOCAL WRITER ART HARRIS

COVERED EVERY TWIST
OF THIS STRANGE CASE.

ABOUT 30 MINUTES
AFTER THE 911 CALL,

A SECURITY GUARD IN FRONT
OF THE XTRA SUPERMARKET

CALLS THE DAVIE POLICE
AND SAYS,

"I'VE GOT A MAN
WHO SAYS HE WAS IN A ROBBERY,

AND HE'S ALL HYSTERICAL."

AND HE SAYS HE WAS...

IN THE HOUSE.

HE SAYS HE WAS INSIDE?

HE'S A WITNESS.

NOVEMBER 4, 1988 --

WHEN DONNA DECKER
ARRIVED HOME FROM WORK,

SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS IN A PLACE
OF SAFETY AND SECURITY.

INSTEAD, SHE WALKED
INTO A STORM OF VIOLENCE.

AN INTRUDER STABBED HER TO DEATH

JUST STEPS FROM HER OWN BEDROOM.

HE PUT A GUN TO THE HEADS
OF HER HUSBAND, FATHER-IN-LAW...

...AND TWO-YEAR-OLD SON

AND SHOT THEM
AT POINT-BLANK RANGE.

DONNA'S DYING 911 CALL
SUMMONED HELP JUST IN TIME.

HER FAMILY WAS STILL ALIVE,

BUT IN CRITICAL NEED OF CARE.

BABY CARL WAS THE FIRST
TO REGAIN CONSCIOUSNESS.

HE WAS ALONE IN
A SEPARATE HOSPITAL

FROM HIS DAD AND GRANDPA.

DONNA'S NIECE, CHRISSI ZAZZO,

REMEMBERS VISITING HIM.

TELL ME ABOUT THE AFTERMATH,
ABOUT BABY CARL.

WHEN I WENT TO SEE HIM,
JUST THIS LITTLE BABY,

2 YEARS OLD AND...

HE WANTS TO KNOW
WHERE HIS MAMA IS.

MY MOM HAD TO TELL HIM
WITH THE NURSE.

THEY SAID SHE WAS
GONE TO HEAVEN.

AND HE JUST STARTED CRYING,
PUT HIS HEAD DOWN IN THE CRIB.

AND HE PUTS HIS ARMS OUT,
AND I JUST HELD HIM.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

NONE OF THE DECKERS
WERE IN ANY CONDITION

TO TELL POLICE
WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

BUT JUST HOURS
INTO THE INVESTIGATION,

DETECTIVE KELLY WOODROOF
GOT HIS FIRST BIG BREAK.

A SECURITY GUARD IN FRONT
OF THE XTRA SUPERMARKET

CALLS THE DAVIE POLICE
AND SAYS,

"I'VE GOT A MAN WHO SAYS
HE WAS IN A ROBBERY."

A FAMILY FRIEND NAMED
CHARLES PANOYAN...

...WHO WAS AT THE HOUSE
THAT NIGHT.

AND WAS LET GO
IMMEDIATELY BEFORE

ALL THIS CARNAGE BEGAN.

IT SEEMED THAT DETECTIVES HAD
STUMBLED UPON AN EYEWITNESS

AND WERE ABOUT TO LEARN
WHAT HAPPENED

THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER.

DAVIE POLICE ASKED PANOYAN
TO RETURN TO THE SCENE

AND WALK THEM THROUGH
THE ATTACK MOMENT BY MOMENT.

HIS ACCOUNT WAS THAT
HE SHOWS UP AT THE HOUSE

TO BRING SOME VENISON

FROM A RECENT HUNTING TRIP
OUT IN UTAH.

AND THEY WERE
INSIDE THE HOUSE.

AND CHUCK REMEMBERED THAT
HE HAD FORGOTTEN

TO BRING
THE VENISON INSIDE,

SO HE WENT OUTSIDE TO HIS TRUCK
AND CAME BACK IN.

THEN PANOYAN SEES
A MASKED MAN

HOLDING A WEAPON
AND POINTING IT AT HIM.

HE'S DESCRIBING
THIS MASKED MAN/INTRUDER

WHO HE SAYS
HE HAS NO IDEA WHO HE IS.

AND THEN THE MASKED MAN

TAKES THE DECKERS
INTO THE BEDROOM.

AND THEY'RE TIED UP.

THE MASKED MAN
SEES AND GRABS HER.

CHUCK PANOYAN
LEFT THE SCENE

BEFORE THE VIOLENCE ERUPTED.

THE DAVIE DETECTIVES
WERE STILL IN THE DARK

ABOUT THE MURDER ITSELF.

THEN A WEEK LATER,

THEY GOT THE CHANCE
TO HEAR THE REST OF THE STORY

FROM A SECOND WITNESS.

BOB DECKER HAD
REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS.

NOW THEY COULD COMPARE
THE TWO ACCOUNTS.

BOB AGREED TO TAKE ME THROUGH
THE PAINFUL EVENTS

OF NOVEMBER 4, 1988.

TELL ME
WHAT YOU REMEMBER.

I REMEMBER CHUCK WAS GOING
OUT IN HIS TRUCK

TO GET THE DEER MEAT
FOR MY FATHER,

AND BROUGHT IT
IN THE HOUSE.

AND THEN THE GUNMAN
FOLLOWED HIM IN...

AND SHOVED THE GUN
IN MY FATHER'S FACE.

THEN HE SAID,
"THIS IS ONLY A ROBBERY.

NOBODY WILL GET HURT.

DO AS I SAY."

WHAT DID HE LOOK LIKE?

HE HAD A SKI MASK ON,
GLOVES ON,

AND HE HAD A COWBOY HAT ON.

THE GUNMAN FORCED BOB, CLYDE,

AND BABY CARL INTO THE BEDROOM

AND HOGTIED THE ADULTS.

AND THEN HE LEFT THE ROOM,

AND YOU COULD HEAR HIM
SCUFFLING AROUND OUT THERE,

LOOKING FOR WHATEVER
HE COULD STEAL.

I HAD THREE GUNS
AT THE TIME.

AND HE COME IN THE ROOM
WITH MY GUNS.

AND HE GOES,
"CUTE. REAL CUTE."

THE GUNMAN'S VOICE
ECHOED IN BOB'S MIND

FOR YEARS TO COME.

NOW, WHAT ABOUT CHUCK?
WHERE WAS HE?

HE WAS SITTING
IN THE LIVING ROOM.

IN THE CHAIR,
WAS CHUCK BOUND OR JUST SITTING?

NO, JUST SITTING THERE.

AND THEN I HEARD
DONNA HAD COME HOME.

AND SHE WALKED
IN THE LIVING ROOM

AND SAID TO CHUCK,
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"

CHUCK SAID NOTHING
TO WARN DONNA.

I COULD HEAR THE DOOR OPEN
AND SHUT AGAIN

WHEN CHUCK WAS LEAVING.

WHEN SHE CAME IN,

DIRECTLY BEHIND HER,
WAS HIM GOING OUT THE DOOR.

SO CHUCK JUST LEFT.

CHUCK LEFT.

HERE IS WHERE
CHUCK PANOYAN'S ACCOUNT ENDED,

BUT BOB DECKER BORE WITNESS

TO EVERY MOMENT
UP THROUGH THE TERRIBLE END.

DONNA HAD COME RUNNING
IN THE BEDROOM.

AND THEN SHE'S SEEING ME
ON THE FLOOR, HOGTIED,

AND CARL BESIDE ME.

WHAT WAS HER REACTION
WHEN SHE SAW YOU AND CARL?

SHE STARTED CRYING.

THE GUNMAN DIDN'T KNOW
SHE WAS COMING IN THERE.

HE GRABBED HER QUICK.

HE TOOK HER BACK OUT
IN THE KITCHEN.

AND THERE WAS A BUTCHER BLOCK
ON THE KITCHEN COUNTER.

AND SHE TOOK A KNIFE
OUT OF THAT,

AND SHE WAS FIGHTING HIM.

AND IT WAS EASY FOR HIM
TO TAKE THE KNIFE AWAY FROM HER.

STABBED HER 11 TIMES.

AND THEN HE COME BACK
IN THE BEDROOM.

HE TOOK THE PILLOW OFF
FROM THE WATERBED.

FIRST,
HE PUT IT ON MY HEAD.

HE SHOT ME TWICE
IN THE HEAD.

IT FELT LIKE I JUMPED ABOUT
5 FEET OFF THE GROUND.

THEN HE TOOK THE PILLOW
TO MY SON'S HEAD,

SHOT HIM
BEHIND THE EAR.

AND THEN HE SHOT MY FATHER
IN THE FACE.

AFTER THAT, I JUST REMEMBER
MY FATHER SAYING,

"IS HE GONE?"

AND THEN I BLACKED OUT.

AND THEN I HEARD
THE POLICEMAN SAY,

"THEY'RE IN HERE...

AND THEY'RE ALL SHOT."

AND THEN I REMEMBER HIM SAYING,
"SHE AIN'T GONNA MAKE IT."

AND I BLACKED OUT AGAIN.

DETECTIVE WOODROOF
MADE IT HIS MISSION

TO GET JUSTICE FOR DONNA DECKER.

HIS GUT WAS TELLING HIM
THAT CHUCK PANOYAN

HAD SET UP THE WHOLE ATTACK

AND HELD THE KEY
TO THE GUNMAN'S IDENTITY.

WE FELT VERY COMFORTABLE
THAT PANOYAN WAS

THE LINCHPIN HERE.

AND HIS ACCOUNT
DIDN'T AT ALL CORRESPOND

WITH THE DECKERS' ACCOUNT,
AND HIS ACCOUNT

DOESN'T LINE UP
WITH PHYSICAL EVIDENCE, EITHER.

WE HAD A SUSPECT.

AND THAT SUSPECT WAS
CHARLES PANOYAN.

FOR MONTHS FOLLOWING
THE MURDER OF DONNA DECKER,

THE IDENTITY
OF THE MASKED GUNMAN

WHO KILLED HER IN HER OWN HOME
ELUDED POLICE.

BUT LEAD DETECTIVE
KELLY WOODROOF

BELIEVED THAT THE INSIDE GUY
WHO SET THE WHOLE THING UP

WAS FAMILY FRIEND CHUCK PANOYAN.

WOODROOF WORKED FOR A YEAR

TO COBBLE TOGETHER
A CASE AGAINST PANOYAN.

HE WAS ABLE TO PLACE PANOYAN
AT THE SCENE OF THE MURDER

AND EXPOSE MAJOR HOLES
IN HIS STORY.

WOODROOF FIGURED THAT PANOYAN
MUST HAVE KNOWN THE GUNMAN

OR HE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN LET GO

WHEN THE REST OF THE FAMILY
WAS LEFT FOR DEAD.

DID YOU THINK THAT HE HAD ENOUGH
FOR AN ARREST AT THAT POINT?

WELL, WE HAD A CIRCUMSTANTIAL
CASE AGAINST PANOYAN.

ENOUGH THAT I BELIEVE
THERE WAS PROBABLY CAUSE

FOR AN INDICTMENT.

THEN AN ANONYMOUS TIP
TURNED EVERYTHING ON ITS HEAD.

WHAT DID YOU KNOW
ABOUT DANA WILLIAMSON

AT THE TIME THAT
THAT CALL CAME IN?

HE'D HAD
A TROUBLED CHILDHOOD.

AT 16,
DANA WILLIAMSON AND ANOTHER BOY

BROKE LOOSE
FROM A REFORM SCHOOL,

AND JUST HOURS LATER,

WILLIAMSON COMMITTED
HIS FIRST MURDER.

THEY STUMBLE ON
4-YEAR-OLD PETEY WAGNER.

4 YEARS OLD?
4 YEARS OLD.

AND ACCORDING TO
HIS CONFESSION...

FOR LACK OF NOTHING
BETTER TO DO,

THEY BEAT HIM TO DEATH --

BEAT AND STOMPED HIM
TO DEATH.

WHEN DETECTIVE
WOODROOF HEARD THE TIP,

HE TOOK A RIDE OUT
TO DANA WILLIAMSON'S HOUSE.

WHAT DID YOU THINK
WHEN YOU HEARD

THE INFORMATION
THAT CAME IN?

THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ANYTHING
THAT CONNECTED HIM

EITHER TO BOB DECKER
OR TO CHUCK PANOYAN AT THE TIME.

THIS WAS
THE WILLIAMSON RESIDENCE.

WE WENT TO THE FRONT DOOR,
WE KNOCKED.

WE DIDN'T GET
ANY KIND OF RESPONSE.

THE HOUSE LOOKED LIKE
IT WAS ABANDONED.

THERE WAS NOBODY
ON THE STREETS.

WHEN WE LOOKED OVER HERE,

AND THERE'S A WOMAN TRYING
TO ROUND UP HER CAT.

THEN SHE TURNED AROUND,
AND SHE SAID,

"NOW, THIS IS ABOUT
THAT THING IN DAVIE

THAT INVOLVED CHUCK PANOYAN,
ISN'T IT?"

AND...FOR A SECOND,
I-I-I JUST --

I FROZE.

AND WHO
WAS THAT WOMAN?

HER NAME WAS
VIRGINIA KOSTIGE.

GINGER KOSTIGE HAD

LIVED ACROSS
FROM THE WILLIAMSONS

FOR 10 LONG YEARS.

WHEN DETECTIVE WOODROOF
CAME KNOCKING,

SHE WAS MORE THAN HAPPY
TO TELL HIM WHAT SHE KNEW.

WAS THERE ANYTHING
ABOUT DANA WILLIAMSON

THAT EVER TOLD YOU HE MIGHT HAVE
BEEN CAPABLE OF VIOLENCE?

HE CAME TO
MY PICTURE WINDOW,

AND HE HAD A POSSUM
WITH A KNIFE IN HIS HAND,

AND HE HAD BLOOD
ALL OVER HIS SHIRT.

AND HE WAS SKINNING
THE POSSUM ALIVE.

HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED TO DONNA DECKER?

I HEARD THAT THERE WAS A MURDER
IN DAVIE, FLORIDA,

AND THEY ARRESTED
CHUCK PANOYAN.

AND RIGHT THEN, I SAID,

"I KNOW WHO DID THIS."

DANA WILLIAMSON.

I KNOW CHUCK WAS HANGING OUT
WITH THEM AT THAT TIME.

CHUCK USED TO VISIT

THE WILLIAMSON HOME
ALL THE TIME

AND TALK WITH DANA'S FATHER,
CHARLIE WILLIAMSON,

WHO HAD A STROKE.

AND CHUCK WOULD
COME OVER AND VISIT.

AS PROSECUTORS,
MOMENTS LIKE THIS ARE PURE GOLD.

DETECTIVE WOODROOF HAD
JUST MADE THE CONNECTION

BETWEEN DANA WILLIAMSON AND
THE PRIME SUSPECT CHUCK PANOYAN.

NOW WE HAD SOMEONE

WHO FIT THE PROFILE
OF A PSYCHOPATHIC KILLER.

BUT DETECTIVE WOODROOF HAD
A PROBLEM ON HIS HANDS.

HE QUICKLY LEARNED
THAT DANA WILLIAMSON

HAD HIGHTAILED IT
OUT OF THE STATE

JUST TWO WEEKS AFTER THE MURDER.

WOODROOF AND HIS TEAM
SPENT FIVE WEARY MONTHS

TRACKING HIM DOWN.

WE FOUND HIM IN A SUBURB
OF CINCINNATI CALLED NORWOOD.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
STANDS OUT MOST IN MY MIND IS,

I SHOWED HIM A PICTURE
OF THE HAT AT THE CRIME SCENE.

AND HE SAID,
"OH, YEAH, THAT'S MY HAT.

AND THE LAST TIME I SAW IT, MY
BROTHER WAS OVER AT THE HOUSE."

WHAT DID YOU DO WITH HIM
AFTER THAT CONVERSATION.

HE WAS UNDER ARREST
AT THAT POINT.

FOR THE FIRST-DEGREE MURDER
OF DONNA DECKER?

YES.

WHAT ABOUT
CHUCK PANOYAN?

I HAD BEEN WAITING
SINCE NOVEMBER 5 OF 1988

TO PICK UP PANOYAN.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS
AS GOOD A TIME AS ANY.

SO THE ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE,
AND HE WAS ARRESTED.

A YEAR AND A HALF
AFTER DONNA DECKER'S MURDER,

BOTH MEN WERE FINALLY
BEHIND BARS --

TOGETHER AT THE COUNTY JAIL,
AWAITING TRIAL.

WE HAD A STRONGER CASE,

AT THE TIME,
AGAINST CHARLES PANOYAN

THAN WE DID
DANA WILLIAMSON.

I SAID, "KELLY...
WE NEED MORE EVIDENCE."

WHILE DETECTIVE WOODROOF
WAS TRYING TO DIG UP

MORE EVIDENCE
AGAINST WILLIAMSON,

A NEW WITNESS CAME FORWARD
WITH INSIDE INFORMATION.

WE GOT A CALL AT
THE HOMICIDE TRIAL UNIT

THAT AN INMATE WANTED
TO SPEAK WITH US

BY THE NAME OF
PATRICK O'BRIEN.

SO WE BROUGHT HIM OVER.

DANA WILLIAMSON HAD BEEN
TALKING TO HIM.

USING A JAILHOUSE INFORMANT
IS ALWAYS A TOUGH CALL.

SOMETIMES, THEY GIVE YOU
USEFUL INFORMATION.

OTHER TIMES, THEY JUST TELL YOU

WHAT THEY THINK
YOU WANT TO HEAR.

BUT IF THE PROSECUTOR
CAN CORROBORATE

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING,

IT MAY BE WORTH THE RISK.

HIS STORY
NOT ONLY RANG TRUE,

HIS ACCOUNT OF WHAT DANA SAID
TO HIM WAS SO SMACK-ON,

IT HAD TO BE COMING
ONLY FROM THE KILLER HIMSELF.

BUT THE MOST VALUABLE
NUGGET OF INFORMATION CAME

WHEN O'BRIEN DESCRIBED
THE JAILHOUSE RELATIONSHIP

BETWEEN THE SUPPOSED
PARTNERS IN CRIME.

INSTEAD OF BEING THICK
AS THIEVES,

PANOYAN WAS PETRIFIED
OF WILLIAMSON.

"WHY DID YOU SAY THAT?"

"BECAUSE EVERY TIME THEY'RE
IN THE SAME ROOM TOGETHER,

PANOYAN RUNS
AWAY FROM HIM.

HE'S TERRIFIED OF DANA."

CAVANAGH BEGAN TO WONDER

IF MAYBE PANOYAN
WASN'T THE MASTERMIND

THEY'D MADE HIM OUT TO BE.

AND IF HE WASN'T,

WHY WOULD A STONE-COLD KILLER

LET HIM WALK AWAY
WITHOUT A SCRATCH?

AND IT WAS LIKE, "OH, WOW.
NOW WE'RE GETTING INSIGHT

INTO WHAT MAY BE
THE REST OF THE STORY."

OCTOBER 1991 --

CHUCK PANOYAN
HAD BEEN BEHIND BARS

FOR A YEAR AND A HALF
FOR DONNA DECKER'S MURDER.

A JAILHOUSE INFORMANT TURNED
THE INVESTIGATION UPSIDE DOWN

WITH EVIDENCE THAT PANOYAN
MIGHT NOT BE GUILTY.

BUT IF HE WAS A VICTIM, TOO,
WHY WOULD THE GUNMAN,

WHO HAD BRUTALLY
ATTACKED THE DECKERS,

JUST LET HIM GO?

PANOYAN HAD NEVER BEEN ABLE
TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

PROSECUTOR BRIAN CAVANAGH WAS
DETERMINED TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH.

SO, WHERE
ARE WE GOING NOW?

WE'RE HEADING TO,
WHAT USED TO BE,

THE OFFICES
OF DAVE VINIKOOR.

DAVID VINIKOOR AND PAUL STARK
WERE CHUCK PANOYAN'S ATTORNEYS.

AND IT TURNED OUT
THEY WERE AS BAFFLED

BY PANOYAN'S HOLLOW ACCOUNT
AS CAVANAGH WAS.

HE SAID,
"I HAVE A CRAZY IDEA.

YOU HEARD O'BRIEN --
YOU KNOW HOW SCARED

PANOYAN IS
OF WILLIAMSON.

IF WE COULD GET HIM
OUT OF THE JAIL,

MAYBE HE'LL TELL US
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED."

I SAID, "WELL, WHAT
KIND OF BOND CAN HE MAKE?"

AS PAUL TOLD ME, "I DON'T
THINK HE CAN MAKE A BOND."

SO I SAID, "WELL,
WHY DON'T WE R.O.R HIM?"

R.O.R. MEANS
RELEASING A SUSPECT

ON HIS OWN RECOGNIZANCE.

IT IS ONE OF THE RISKIEST MOVES
A PROSECUTOR CAN MAKE.

THE DEFENDANT COULD FLEE,

OR WORSE YET,
HURT SOMEBODY ELSE.

AND I'M THINKING, "BOY,
WHEN THIS COMES OUT, HOLY COW.

I'M GONNA BE ASSIGNED
TO WORK ON THE PLANET NEPTUNE

OR ASKED TO TURN
IN MY BADGE

FOR DOING SOMETHING
SO CRAZY."

SO, BRIAN, YOUR FIRST-DEGREE
MURDER DEFENDANT IS OUT,

WALKING THE STREETS OF FLORIDA,
THANKS TO YOU.

THAT'S RIGHT.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU WERE TAKING
A LOT OF RISK THERE.

WHAT WAS YOUR PLAN?

TO LEARN THE TRUTH.

IT WAS EITHER PAUL OR DAVE
THAT CALLED ME AND SAID,

"HE FINALLY BROKE

AND TOLD US
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.

YOU'RE GONNA BE ASTONISHED
WITH WHAT YOU HEAR."

CAVANAGH MADE THE TRIP

TO THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS' OFFICE

TO MEET DIRECTLY

WITH HIS FIRST-DEGREE
MURDER DEFENDANT.

HERE WE ARE...

THIS IS THE PARKING LOT
OF DAVE VINIKOOR'S OLD OFFICER,

WHERE I MET CHARLES PANOYAN
FOR THE FIRST TIME.

ALMOST 30 YEARS LATER,
I'M GETTING THE CHANCE TO HEAR

PANOYAN'S SIDE OF THE STORY
FOR MYSELF.

CHUCK,
WHAT'S THE TRUE STORY?

UM, WELL...

IT WAS ON A FRIDAY,
I GUESS.

AND I TOLD HIM
I WAS COMING DOWN,

BRINGING THEM DEER MEAT.

BOB DECKER,
A CLOSE FRIEND OF YOURS.

OH, YEAH.

I LOVE HIM
LIKE A BROTHER.

I LOVED THE FAMILY.

I WISH NONE OF THIS CRAP WOULD
HAVE EVER HAPPENED.

SO, I FORGOT
THE DEER MEAT.

I SAID,
"I GOTTA GO GET IT."

I WENT OUTSIDE,
GOT THE DEER MEAT,

AND THERE WAS DANA
WITH IS BROTHER, RODNEY.

AND I LOOKED AT HIM,
AND I SAID,

"WHAT ARE YOU GUYS
DOING HERE?"

AND THEY SAID THEY WERE HERE
TO RIP OFF BOB.

IT TURNS OUT
DANA WILLIAMSON DID

HAVE AN ACCOMPLICE.

BUT INSTEAD OF PANOYAN,

IT WAS HIS BROTHER RODNEY.

THEY BOTH PULLED GUNS ON ME,
BOTH OF THEM.

THE WILLIAMSON BROTHERS
CONVINCED PANOYAN

THAT FOUR OR FIVE GUYS
WERE INVOLVED,

AND SEVERAL OF THEM WERE
ALREADY WATCHING HIS HOUSE.

I SAID,
"DON'T HURT MY FAMILY."

I SAID,
"I'LL DO WHATEVER YOU SAY."

SO I WENT IN THE HOUSE.

HE FOLLOWED.

HE PUT ME IN THE CHAIR.

DONNA DECKER CAME IN.

DANA TOLD ME TO GO
WITH HIS BROTHER.

RODNEY AND I WENT OUT,
TOOK MY TRUCK.

HE SAYS, "NEXT THING YOU KNOW,
I SAW DANA COMING RUNNING.

ONE THING I DID NOTICE,
HE DIDN'T HAVE HIS HAT."

DANA SAID, "YOU KNOW
WHAT I'M CAPABLE OF DOING."

YOU'RE GONNA GO
STRAIGHT HOME,

AND IF YOU DON'T,

WE'RE GONNA
RAPE YOUR WIFE,

WE'RE GONNA
SKIN HER ALIVE.

WE'RE GONNA DO THE SAME THING
TO YOUR DAUGHTER.

SO YOU KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT
AND YOU CONTINUE

TO VISIT OUR FATHER."

DANA FLAT TOLD ME THE ONLY
REASON HE DIDN'T SHOOT ME

WAS ON ACCOUNT OF HIS DAD.

AND THEN HE TOLD ME TO COME
TO HIS DAD'S HOUSE EVERY DAY

LIKE I'VE BEEN DOING,
LIKE NOTHING EVER HAPPENED.

AND I DID.

THE VERY NEXT DAY...

I WENT TO DANA'S HOUSE,

AND I SAID, "WHY?"

I SAID, "WHY DID YOU
SHOOT THE BABY?"

I SAID, "I DIDN'T WANT
ANY WITNESSES."

I SAID, "YOU DIDN'T
SHOOT ME IN THE HEAD.

I'M A WITNESS."

HE SAID, "IF I WOULD
HAVE SHOT YOU.

MY DAD LOVES YOU."

HE SAID, "YOU'RE NOT
GONNA SAY NOTHING."

PANOYAN HAD KEPT

DANA WILLIAMSON'S INVOLVEMENT
A SECRET,

EVEN WHILE THEY WERE
IN JAIL TOGETHER,

BECAUSE RODNEY WILLIAMSON WAS
STILL ON THE OUTSIDE,

THREATENING HIS FAMILY.

HE SCARED ME.

I WAS SCARED.

WE KNOW FROM THAT NIGHT,
THE POLICE HAD QUESTIONS.

YEAH.

AND WE KNOW PEOPLE
WATCHING THIS TODAY

ARE GOING TO HAVE
QUESTIONS.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY,

"HOW COULD HE NOT HAVE
BEEN INVOLVED?"

IF IT WAS YOUR FAMILY,
YOU'D KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT, TOO.

ANYBODY IN THEIR
RIGHT MIND WOULD.

I WISHED IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
ME THAT GOT KILLED

AND NOT DONNA.

I MEAN, THERE WAS
NOTHING I COULD DO.

AS MUCH AS I LOVE BOB,
MY FAMILY COMES FIRST, PERIOD.

WHEN YOU FINISHED
THAT CONVERSATION

WITH CHUCK PANOYAN,

DID YOU BELIEVE HIM?

ABSOLUTELY.

BECAUSE IT FIT EVERYTHING
I KNEW ABOUT THE CASE.

THIS WAS THE REST
OF THE STORY.

THIS WAS
THE MISSING LINK.

WHEN IT FINALLY CAME OUT
THAT CHUCK PANOYAN WAS

A VICTIM INSTEAD
OF A CONSPIRATOR,

THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM
WERE DROPPED.

RODNEY WILLIAMSON WAS CHARGED

FOR HIS ROLE
IN THE BRUTAL CRIME.

AND DANA WILLIAMSON
AND RODNEY WILLIAMSON...

RIGHT.
ARE THE TWO YOU TOOK TO TRAIL?

THAT'S RIGHT,
BUT NOW WE HAVE AN EYEWITNESS --

CHARLES PANOYAN.

HOW DID YOU FEEL
ABOUT CHUCK BEING LET GO?

I DIDN'T LIKE IT AT ALL.

I PERSONALLY FEEL
HE SHOULD HAVE SPENT

MORE TIME IN JAIL,

BECAUSE I FELT HE MIGHT AS WELL
HAVE PULLED THE TRIGGER.

CAVANAGH WAS CERTAIN

THAT PANOYAN WAS
TELLING THE TRUTH,

BUT HE HAD A LONG WAY TO GO
TO CONVINCE EVERYONE ELSE.

I HAD LIVED AND BREATHED
THE HORROR AND WORRY

OF NOT BEING ABLE
TO PROVE IT.

HOW CAN I CONVINCE
THE REST OF THE WORLD

THAT WHAT I CAME TO BELIEVE
WAS TRUE?

FIVE YEARS AFTER
DONNA DECKER'S MURDER,

DANA WILLIAMSON,

THE MAN ACCUSED OF STABBING HER
TO DEATH IN HER OWN HOME

AND ATTACKING HER FAMILY,
WAS BROUGHT TO TRAIL.

AND HERE WE ARE --
COURTROOM 960.

WOW.

IT BRINGS BACK
MEMORIES.

IT WAS IN
THIS VERY COURTROOM

THAT YOU TRIED
DANA WILLIAMSON

FOR THE MURDER
OF DONNA DECKER.

IT CERTAINLY WAS.

IN FACT, I...

CAN STILL SEE HIM
SITTING THERE.

IMMOVABLE.

FLAT AFFECT.

NOT AN EMOTION
NOR AN APPARENT CARE.

YEAH.

WILLIAMSON'S LAWYERS
DRESSED AND GROOMED HIM

TO PROJECT AN AIR OF INNOCENCE.

HE WAS PRACTICALLY
UNRECOGNIZABLE.

REALLY EVERYONE AFFECTED...
BY DONNA DECKER'S MURDER

SAT IN HERE
AT SOME POINT,

WHETHER IT WAS
ON THE WITNESS STAND

OR AT THE DEFENSE TABLE
OR OUT IN THE WELL,

WATCHING THE TRIAL.

AND ONE KEY PARTICIPANT...

...LITERALLY TESTIFIED
FROM THE GRAVE,

BECAUSE THERE WAS
THAT STRAW COWBOY HAT

THAT WAS
DANA WILLIAMSON'S HAT.

AND SHE SOMEHOW,
SOME WAY,

MADE SURE THAT WAS
KNOCKED OFF.

SHE LEFT A MESSAGE

THAT RESONATED
IN THIS COURTROOM.

THE ATMOSPHERE
IN THE COURTROOM

DURING A MURDER TRIAL
IS SO EMOTIONALLY CHARGED.

THE VICTIM'S FAMILY IS LOOKING
TO YOU, THE PROSECUTOR,

TO BE THEIR ADVOCATE,

HOPING TO GET JUSTICE
FOR THEIR LOVED ONES.

FAMILIES REACT VERY DIFFERENTLY
TO THE TRIALS.

SOME WANT TO BE THERE
FOR EVERY MOMENT,

SOME PICK AND CHOOSE.

BUT YOU WERE THERE,
EVEN ON THE MOST TOUGH DAYS.

I DON'T EVER REMEMBER
MISSING A MINUTE.

AND I WANT TO SEE JUSTICE,
NO MATTER WHAT,

FOR DONNA.

WHY WAS THAT
IMPORTANT TO YOU?

UH...

SHE DIDN'T REALLY
DESERVE THAT.

AND I THINK THAT WAS --
THAT'S A BIG THING.

THAT THEY CAUGHT HIM,
AT LEAST.

CAVANAGH WAS DEAD-SET

ON LANDING A CONVICTION
FOR THE DECKERS.

ONE OF THE MOST CRUCIAL MOMENTS
IN THE TRIAL CAME

WHEN CHUCK PANOYAN TOOK
THE STAND AS AN EYEWITNESS.

I WAS HOPING AND TRUSTING
AND PRAYING

THAT THE JURORS
WOULD REALIZE

THE DIFFICULTY HE HAD
IN COMING FORWARD

AND TESTIFYING
AGAINST A PSYCHOPATH.

AFTER SPENDING A YEAR
AND A HALF BEHIND BARS,

CONSTANTLY WORRYING
THAT HIS FAMILY

WOULD BE TORTURED AND KILLED,

CHUCK PANOYAN
FINALLY MADE HIS STAND

AGAINST DANA WILLIAMSON.

BUT PERHAPS THE MOST
PIVOTAL MOMENT OF THE TRAIL

CAME DURING BOB'S TESTIMONY.

I SAID, "I HAVE
A MOTION TO MAKE.

STATE REQUESTS,
YOUR HONOR,

THAT YOU ORDER THE DEFENDANT,
DANA WILLIAMSON,

TO RECITE CERTAIN WORDS,
SUCH AS...

'CUTE. REAL CUTE' --

WORDS THAT HE SAID
TO BOB DECKER --

FOR THE WITNESS TO DISCERN
WHETHER OR NOT

HE RECOGNIZES HIS VOICE."

AND...

DANA WILLIAMSON SAID,
"I TAKE THE FIFTH."

AND YOU COULD HEAR A PIN DROP
IN THE COURTROOM.

EVERYONE IN THE COURTROOM
KNEW HE DID IT.

FOR FIVE YEARS,
THIS INVESTIGATION HAD FOLLOWED

A PATH
OF BIZARRE TWISTS AND TURNS.

AND NOW IT HAD COME DOWN
TO ONE MOMENT --

THE MOMENT THAT
THE JURY RETURNED

WITH THEIR VERDICT.

DANA WILLIAMSON...

CONVICTED,

FIRST-DEGREE MURDER,

WAS ULTIMATELY
SENTENCED TO DEATH.

HE WAS...

BY A VOTE OF 11-1.

HAD YOU EVER HAD
A DEATH SENTENCING BEFORE THAT?

THAT WAS MY FIRST ONE.

IT'S A VERY
SOLEMN THING.

WHAT WAS
IT LIKE FOR YOU

WHEN YOU HEARD THAT
GUILTY VERDICT?

I WAS VERY HAPPY.

THEY FINALLY GOT HIM.

A YEAR LATER,
BRIAN CAVANAGH WON A CONVICTION

AGAINST DANA'S BROTHER RODNEY.

HE WAS GIVEN A LIFE SENTENCE.

NO ONE REALLY KNOWS
WHAT DROVE THE WILLIAMSONS

TO COMMIT SUCH A BRUTAL CRIME,

BUT JUSTICE
WAS SERVED FOR ALL.

WHEN YOU DO THE RIGHT THING
FOR THE RIGHT REASONS,

FOR A GREATER GOOD,

THINGS HAVE A WAY
OF WORKING OUT.

TELL ME YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT
BRIAN CAVANAGH.

HE WAS HIGHLY DEVOTED
FOR IT ALL.

EVERY MINUTE WAS LIKE,
I WAS THE ONLY PERSON ALIVE.

KELLY DID THE FOOTWORK.

BRIAN DID THE PACKAGE.

THE END.

KELLY, WHAT STAYS WITH YOU
ABOUT THIS CASE?

I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYBODY
COULD HAVE BEEN AS PATIENT

AS THEY'D BEEN
OVER THE YEARS.

THEY TRUSTED ME,
THEY TRUSTED BRIAN.

I GUESS THOSE ARE THE THINGS
THAT STICK WITH ME.

THANKS TO WOODROOF
AND CAVANAGH'S TENACITY,

AN INNOCENT MAN WON HIS FREEDOM,

A GUILTY MAN WAS CONVICTED,

AND THE DECKER FAMILY TRIED
TO PICK UP THE PIECES

AND MOVE ON.

HELLO, CARL.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT YOU
AS A LITTLE BOY,

AND HERE YOU ARE, A MAN.

HOW HAVE YOU BEEN
PHYSICALLY IMPACTED

BY THE ATTACK THAT NIGHT?

IN MY RIGHT EAR,
I'M COMPLETELY DEAF.

AND I CAN HEAR PERFECT
IN MY LEFT EAR.

ACTUALLY, THEY SAY
IT'S BETTER THAN PERFECT

THAN MOST PEOPLE
CAN HEAR IN ONE EAR.

AND WHAT ABOUT
THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT

OF KNOWING
WHAT YOU KNOW?

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER,
IT AFFECTED ME A LOT MORE.

AS I GOT OLDER,
YOU KNOW, NOT SO MUCH.

I'VE ALWAYS TRIED
NOT TO THINK ABOUT THE PAST,

AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT IF.

SO I ALWAYS TRY TO HAVE
A POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON LIFE.

YOU ARE
YOUR FATHER'S SON.

DO YOU THINK
HIS MOTHER

WOULD HAVE BEEN
PROUD OF HIM?

VERY.

VERY.

VERY.