Original subtitles

Narrator: TONIGHT...

I JUST NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING TO WAKE UP

TO A CALL LIKE THAT.

Narrator: ...A YOUNG MAN IS KILLED

AT A PARTY FULL OF WITNESSES,

YET NO ONE WILL TALK.

WHY ARE THESE KIDS NOT WILLING TO SPEAK

ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT?

Woman: OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BLOOD.

Narrator: WAS THIS A CASE OF SELF-DEFENSE?

HOW WAS IT INITIATED? WHO WAS THE AGGRESSOR?

Narrator: OR WAS IT MURDER?

THE INDIVIDUALS ARE HITTING CODI IN THE FACE,

IN THE CHEST, AS HARD AS THEY CAN.

Narrator: PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR DERRICK LEVASSEUR...

HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS?

Narrator: ...JOURNEYS TO PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA,

TO BREAK OPEN A MYSTERY...

TEXT ME THE LOCATION NOW. I'M ON MY WAY.

Narrator: ...AND UNCOVER THE TRUTH ABOUT

WHAT HAPPENED TO CODI JOYCE.

WISH WE STILL HAD HIM. JUST MISSING HIM.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

♪

SO I'M HERE IN PITTSBURGH LOOKING INTO THE DEATH

OF CODI JOYCE.

HE WAS 23 YEARS OLD. HE WAS AN ASPIRING MUSICIAN.

HE WAS REALLY INTO SPORTS, AND BY MOST ACCOUNTS,

HE WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

WE'VE BEEN THROUGH OUR UPS AND DOWNS.

WE'VE BEEN THROUGH BROKEN BONES.

Levasseur: UNFORTUNATELY,

HIS LIFE CAME TO AN END ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2015.

♪

IT HAPPENED HERE AT THIS SMALL HOUSE ON SHADY AVENUE.

CODI, NICKNAMED GENO, SHOWS UP FOR A PARTY

SOMETIME AFTER 1 A.M., THEN WINDS UP IN A FIGHT

FOR HIS LIFE WITH FOUR OTHER INDIVIDUALS --

DEVIN HINKLE, CONNOR STEVENS,

RYAN SABO, AND DEREK MARCONE.

ACCORDING TO REPORTS, THE FIGHT SPILLS OUT FROM THE KITCHEN

INTO THE LIVING ROOM,

WHERE CODI IS ALLEGEDLY BEATEN, KICKED, AND CHOKED

SO SEVERELY HE LOSES HIS LIFE.

♪

THE PROBLEM IS, EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE

AT THE PARTY THAT NIGHT,

THERE ARE CONTRADICTING STORIES ABOUT WHY THE FIGHT BEGAN,

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHO STARTED IT.

SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT CODI WAS THE AGGRESSOR THAT NIGHT,

THAT HE ATTACKED A GIRL AT THE PARTY,

AND THE OTHER FOUR GUYS WERE JUST TRYING TO PROTECT HER.

THERE'S ANOTHER RUMOR THAT THE FOUR GUYS

WERE ACTUALLY DEFENDING THEMSELVES

AND THAT CODI WAS ATTACKING THEM.

OTHERS SAY THAT CODI MAY HAVE BEEN SINGLED OUT

FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON AND THEN HE WAS ATTACKED.

♪

THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING CASE.

THERE WERE MULTIPLE PEOPLE AT THE PARTY WHERE CODI DIED,

AND YET, THREE YEARS LATER,

NOT A SINGLE CHARGE HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST ANYONE.

SOMETHING'S NOT ADDING UP,

AND IT'S CLEAR THAT I HAVE TO FIND OUT

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED AT THE PARTY THAT NIGHT.

♪

CODI GREW UP IN THE BLUE-COLLAR TOWN OF MUNHALL, PENNSYLVANIA,

AND MUCH OF HIS FAMILY STILL HAS DEEP ROOTS HERE,

A COMMUNITY THAT'S SERIOUSLY DIVIDED OVER

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.

♪

JOHN AND PAULETTE, THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH ME.

I KNOW THIS CAN'T BE EASY FOR YOU.

I HATE TO MEET YOU GUYS UNDER THESE CONDITIONS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT CODI?

HE WAS VERY HUMBLE. VERY HUMBLE.

HE WAS JUST A NORMAL, LIKE, TYPE OF KID AT FIRST.

WAS KIND OF SHY, SORT OF,

BUT THEN HE STARTED COMING INTO HIS OWN

AND JUST MAKING EVERYBODY LAUGH.

Man: THIS IS GENO.

WE ARE TWO MOST PROFESSIONAL TUBING IN THE TIL,

TUBING IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE.

-TUBING! -TUBING!

Paulette: HE DID ANYTHING FOR ANYBODY.

I MEAN, EVERYBODY, LIKE, LOVED HIM.

JUST WISH WE STILL HAD HIM.

JUST MISSING HIM.

I'M SORRY FOR WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE GONE THROUGH.

I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE AS A PARENT.

I KNOW THERE'S SOME BEEN SOME MEDIA COVERAGE.

I KNOW THERE'S SOME RUMORS, SOME THEORIES OUT THERE,

WHICH CAUSED A LOT OF DISSENSION IN THIS SMALL TOWN.

THERE WAS PEOPLE, SOME CHOOSING TO SIDE

WITH THE OTHER INDIVIDUALS, SOME CHOOSING TO SIDE WITH CODI,

WHO WAS ALSO KNOWN AS GENO. -MM-HMM.

All: JUSTICE FOR GENO!

JUSTICE FOR GENO!

Paulette: IT HURTS.

WE'VE LIVED IN OUR COMMUNITY SINCE CODI WAS 5.

I MEAN, WE'VE HAD PARTIES WITH THESE PARENTS.

I MEAN, WE'VE KNOWN THEM.

THEY WERE OUR FRIENDS, AND FOR ALL OF A SUDDEN,

ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT I THOUGHT WERE MY FRIENDS,

I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM NOBODY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED TO YOUR SON THAT NIGHT?

FROM THE INFORMATION I'VE GATHERED,

THE FIGHT STARTED BETWEEN CODI AND ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL

NAMED CONNOR STEVENS IN THE KITCHEN.

IT'S NEVER BEEN CONFIRMED WHO ACTUALLY STARTED IT,

WHETHER IT WAS CODI OR CONNOR, AND THE FIGHT WAS BROKEN UP.

A COUPLE INDIVIDUALS LED CONNOR STEVENS AWAY.

A COUPLE INDIVIDUALS LED CODI AWAY.

AND I BELIEVE THAT CODI WAS LED AWAY FROM BEHIND

WITH A CHOKE HOLD AROUND THE NECK.

WE KNOW THAT FROM THE AUTOPSY REPORT,

SOMEONE CHOKED HIM AT SOME POINT.

MM-HMM.

BASED ON WHAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO GATHER UP TO THIS POINT,

WHO DO YOU THINK THAT PERSON WAS?

DEVIN HINKLE.

AND IT WAS RUMORED THAT DEVIN HINKLE IS CHOKING CODI

THE ENTIRE TIME

WHILE THE OTHER INDIVIDUALS ARE HITTING CODI IN THE FACE,

IN THE CHEST, AS HARD AS THEY CAN, THROWING RAINMAKERS.

ONE ENDED UP JUST BEATING THE CRAP OUT OF HIM

WHILE HE'S BEING CHOKED TO DEATH.

AND I BELIEVE THAT HINKLE HELD THAT CHOKE HOLD

UNTIL CODI WAS NO LONGER MOVING,

AND THEN HELD IT AN ADDITIONAL 30 TO 40 SECONDS,

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND,

AND CODI SLUMPED TO THE FLOOR AS HE CHOKED HIM.

♪

Levasseur: WHEN POLICE ARRIVED AND FOUND CODI FACEDOWN,

THEY SUSPECTED A DRUG OVERDOSE,

AND THEY MAY HAVE EVEN BEEN TOLD THAT BY SOMEONE AT THE PARTY.

ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL REPORTS,

CODI WAS GIVEN AN OVERDOSE REVERSAL DRUG,

NALOXONE, AT THE SCENE.

IT WASN'T UNTIL ALMOST TWO MONTHS LATER

WHEN CODI'S TOXICOLOGY REPORTS CAME BACK

THAT IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THIS WAS NOT AN OVERDOSE.

IN FACT, CODI TESTED NEGATIVE FOR ANY DRUGS.

INSTEAD, THE MEDICAL EXAMINER DETERMINED THAT HIS DEATH

WAS CAUSED BY ASPHYXIATION, AND THIS WAS A HOMICIDE.

John: IT WAS RULED A HOMICIDE AND EVERYTHING.

I'M THINKING THEY'RE GONNA MAKE AN ARREST

BEFORE THESE GUYS HAVE A CHANCE TO FLEE OR WHATEVER,

AND GET ON THE PHONE WITH THEM,

THAT'S THE LAST TIME I TALKED TO THEM.

YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU HAVEN'T SPOKE TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

OR THE D.A.'S OFFICE IN OVER THREE YEARS?

RIGHT. WE'VE NEVER SPOKEN TO THE D.A.

THE D.A. REFUSES TO CALL A GRAND JURY,

REFUSES TO PRESS CHARGES OF ANY SORT.

THERE WASN'T EVEN AN ASSAULT CHARGE

AGAINST THESE INDIVIDUALS.

NOBODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP US GET THE D.A.

TO MOVE ON FILING CHARGES,

AND THAT'S WHAT WE HOPE YOU CAN DO.

I CAN'T PROMISE YOU WHAT I'M GONNA ACCOMPLISH

WHILE I'M HERE.

I ONLY CAN PROMISE YOU THAT I'M GONNA DO EVERYTHING

I CAN TO FIND AS MANY ANSWERS AS I CAN,

AND I WANT WHATEVER JUSTICE NEEDS TO BE SERVED TO BE SERVED.

-THANK YOU. -THANK YOU, DERRICK.

♪

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE STATUS OF THE CASE IS AT THIS POINT.

YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS TO ME FROM THE OUTSIDE,

THAT THERE'S A LOT OF EVIDENCE HERE TO SUGGEST

THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AT THIS POINT

SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHARGED AND THEY WEREN'T.

I'VE SPOKEN WITH POLICE

AND WAS TOLD THEY'RE STILL TREATING THIS CASE

AS AN OPEN HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION.

I'VE ALSO SPOKEN TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER,

WHO CONFIRMED THEY'RE STANDING BEHIND THEIR ORIGINAL

RULING OF A HOMICIDE.

THAT MEANS THAT THE HOLDUP

IS WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE,

SO THAT'S WHERE I NEED TO START MY INVESTIGATION.

THE REAL QUESTION IS, WHY HAVEN'T CHARGES BEEN PRESSED

AGAINST ANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS?

♪

YEAH, WHERE'S YOUR BOSS? THERE'S YOUR BOSS.

-HOW YOU DOING, SIR? -ALL RIGHT.

-HI, DERRICK LEVASSEUR. -HI, HOW YOU DOING?

-SO, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR. -MM-HMM.

JUST LOOKING TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE FROM THE D.A.'S OFFICE.

THEY CAN ABSOLUTELY WAIT HERE.

YEAH.

NOT A PROBLEM AT ALL. NOT A PROBLEM AT ALL.

ALL RIGHT.

♪

SO I ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

THAT WASN'T GONNA HAPPEN.

I ASKED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE UNDERNEATH HIM.

THAT WASN'T HAPPENING.

IT ALMOST FELT LIKE HE KNEW I WAS COMING, WHICH IS GOOD.

WORD'S GETTING AROUND. WE'RE OUT HERE.

WE'RE ASKING THE TOUGH QUESTIONS.

I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

THEY CAN BE AS PREPARED AS THEY WANT.

IT'S NOT GONNA CHANGE THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES

OF THE CASE, AND NOW IT'S TIME FOR ME

TO GO GET SOME ANSWERS OF MY OWN.

ALL I HAVE TO GO ON IS THE INITIAL STATEMENT

THAT THE D.A. RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC THAT READ IN PART...

IF THAT'S REALLY THE HOLDUP,

I'M GONNA NEED SOME HELP TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.

LAUREL, HOW'S IT GOING?

NICE TO FINALLY SEE YOU IN PERSON.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

Levasseur: LAUREL GIFT IS A CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY

WHO USED TO WORK FOR THE D.A.'S OFFICE.

YOU KNOW THE LAW WAY BETTER THAN I DO,

ESPECIALLY HERE IN PENNSYLVANIA,

AND WE KNOW WHAT THE D.A. HAS SAID PUBLICLY ALREADY.

MAYBE YOU CAN GIVE ME AN IDEA OF WHERE I SHOULD PROBABLY HEAD

WITH THIS INVESTIGATION TO SEE IF CHARGES SHOULD BE PURSUED.

WELL, WHEN I WAS WITH

THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY D.A.'S OFFICE,

I WORKED IN THE VIOLENT CRIME AND FIREARM UNIT

FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND TRIED MANY HOMICIDE CASES.

AFTER I LEFT, I WENT INTO PRIVATE PRACTICE,

AND NOW MY PRACTICE IS SPLIT BETWEEN CRIMINAL DEFENSE

AND INVESTIGATIONS WORK.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS

WHY I WAS HOPING WE WERE ABLE TO SPEAK WITH YOU

BECAUSE, YES, YOU'VE WORKED FOR THE D.A.'S OFFICE,

BUT YOU'VE ALSO WORKED AS A DEFENSE ATTORNEY.

SO YOU'VE SEEN BOTH SIDES OF IT,

AND I THINK THAT BRINGS A LEVEL OF IMPARTIALITY

THAT YOU MAY NOT GET IN SOME OF THE CASES.

-SOUNDS GOOD. -GREAT.

THIS IS THE HOUSE WHERE THE PARTY TOOK PLACE.

THERE'S A BELIEF THAT THE ALTERCATION

MAY HAVE STARTED IN THE KITCHEN.

THE FIGHT SPILLED OVER FROM THE KITCHEN

INTO THE LIVING ROOM.

THERE WAS A SECTIONAL THERE. YOU CAN SEE BEER CANS.

THESE WERE CRIME SCENE PHOTOS TAKEN THE NIGHT OF THE INCIDENT,

BY THE WAY. -OKAY.

HERE'S ANOTHER ANGLE.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BLOOD.

DO WE KNOW YET IF ANY OF IT WAS COLLECTED?

WE DO KNOW THAT IT IS AN OPEN HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION

AT THIS POINT, SO AS YOU KNOW,

THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THEY'RE GONNA BE WILLING

TO PROVIDE IS GONNA BE LIMITED.

SO THESE ARE OUR PERSONS OF INTEREST.

YOU HAVE DEVIN HINKLE, RYAN SABO,

CONNOR STEVENS, AND DEREK MARCONE.

THE STORY GOING AROUND,

IF YOU'RE TO BELIEVE THESE INDIVIDUALS,

IS THAT CODI JOYCE HAD GOTTEN INTO SOME TYPE OF ALTERCATION

WITH A FEMALE THAT WAS THERE. HER NAME WAS ANGEL.

AND THESE FOUR INDIVIDUALS FELT COMPELLED TO STOP HIM FROM,

YOU KNOW, BEATING HER. -SURE.

AND THAT'S HOW YOU GOT ALL THE BLOOD.

THAT'S HOW YOU HAVE THESE FOUR INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED.

THE OTHER RUMOR WE HAVE IS THAT THIS WAS A CASE OF SELF-DEFENSE,

AND CODI WAS ATTACKING THEM.

DO WE KNOW THEIR SIZE,

BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THESE PHOTOGRAPHS,

OBVIOUSLY, GIVE US A SENSE OF THAT.

I DON'T HAVE ANY ACTUAL SPECIFIC SIZES OF THEM.

I CAN TELL YOU A FEW OF THEM ARE ATHLETES.

DOES THAT PLAY INTO IT, WHEN IT'S A FOUR ON ONE?

OF COURSE.

HOW CAN YOU FIGHT FOUR PEOPLE AT ONCE?

I MEAN, YOU'RE GONNA WANT TO LOOK

AT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE FIGHT, YOU KNOW.

WHAT WAS THE DURATION OF THE FIGHT?

HOW WAS IT INITIATED?

WHO WAS THE AGGRESSOR?

YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE REALLY AFRAID OF HIM

AND YET THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE STARTING THE FIGHT,

THAT WOULD KIND OF ARGUE AGAINST A SELF-DEFENSE THEORY.

RIGHT.

IF CODI'S COMING AT THEM, AND THEY'RE 100 POUNDS EACH,

UNTIL HE'S SUBDUED, THERE'S PROBABLY A REASONABLE

BASIS ON THEIR PART TO FIGHT BACK.

Levasseur: IF THIS ISN'T A CASE OF SELF-DEFENSE,

THERE ARE NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CHARGES

THAT MIGHT APPLY FROM VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER,

WHICH USUALLY HAPPENS IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT,

ALL THE WAY UP TO FIRST DEGREE MURDER,

WHICH REQUIRES PREMEDITATION AND INTENT.

FOR FIRST DEGREE, WE WOULD WANT TO SEE SIGNIFICANT EVIDENCE

THAT THE FIGHT WAS OVER,

AND THAT THESE ACTORS INITIATED FURTHER VIOLENCE AGAINST CODI.

SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THE REAL KEY HERE IS HAVING

AN EYEWITNESS THAT WAS IN THE HOUSE THAT NIGHT.

IDEALLY, WE WOULD NEED MORE THAN JUST EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY.

I KNOW HISTORICALLY THE D.A.'S OFFICE IS NOT CHARGED IN CASES

WHERE THEY ONLY HAVE ONE EYEWITNESS.

SO IF I CAN'T GET MULTIPLE WITNESSES,

I'M GONNA TRY TO GET AS MANY AS I CAN,

BUT THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH SOME PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

OR ANY TYPE OF ADMISSION THROUGH OTHER PARTIES,

ALL OF THAT COLLECTIVELY, WE COULD HAVE --

-THAT WOULD HELP. -...SOMETHING IN TOTALITY

WHERE IT MIGHT RISE TO THE LEVEL OF ACTUALLY CHARGING SOMEONE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

Levasseur: AFTER SPEAKING WITH LAUREL,

I KNOW WHAT I HAVE TO DO.

IF I WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO CODI THAT NIGHT,

I HAVE TO FIND SOMEONE WHO WAS AT THAT PARTY.

Narrator: COMING UP...

IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT WHOEVER HAD CODI IN THIS CHOKE HOLD,

THEY DIDN'T LET GO UNTIL HIS BODY WAS LIFELESS?

Narrator: AND LATER...

I HEARD YOU WERE AT THE PARTY.

♪

♪

Levasseur: I'VE COME TO PITTSBURGH

TO LOOK INTO THE DEATH OF CODI JOYCE.

I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY OVER THREE YEARS AFTER CODI DIED

DURING A FIGHT AT A HOUSE PARTY,

NO CHARGES OF ANY KIND HAVE BEEN FILED.

♪

[ BELL DINGS ]

[ LINE RINGING ]

I'VE SPENT SEVERAL DAYS JUST TRYING TO GET AHOLD

OF THE FOUR MEN WHO CODI'S PARENTS CLAIM KILLED THEIR SON.

FEMALE AUTOMATED VOICE: Your call has been forwarded

to an automatic voice message system.

HI, HOW YOU DOING? MY NAME IS DERRICK LEVASSEUR.

I'M A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR.

I'M LOOKING TO SPEAK WITH CONNOR STEVENS,

RYAN SABO, DEVIN HINKLE.

IF YOU CAN CALL ME BACK, THAT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

THANK YOU.

NO ONE IS RETURNING MY CALLS, WHICH ISN'T SURPRISING,

BUT IT'S STILL CONFUSING TO ME.

ONE OF THE RUMORS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT

IS THAT CODI WAS BEATING UP A GIRL AT THE PARTY,

AND THAT THE FOUR MEN STEPPED IN TO TRY AND SAVE HER.

IF THAT'S TRUE, YOU THINK AT LEAST ONE OF THE GUYS

WOULD WANT TO GIVE THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY.

HI, IS DEREK THERE?

CAN YOU TAKE A MESSAGE FOR HIM? OKAY, NO PROBLEM.

MY NAME IS DERRICK LEVASSEUR.

I'M A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR.

OKAY. THAT'S A HANG UP.

HE DOESN'T WANT TO TALK.

WELL, I JUST TRIED TO CALL MR. DEREK MARCONE.

A GENTLEMAN PICKS UP, SOUNDS ABOUT THE SAME AGE AS DEREK.

AND HE SAID, "CAN I ASK WHO THIS IS?"

I SAID, "I'M LOOKING FOR DEREK MARCONE."

"YEAH, I'LL TAKE A MESSAGE FOR HIM."

SO WE HAD THE RIGHT NUMBER, AND THEN BEFORE I EVEN

HAD A CHANCE TO EXPLAIN WHO I WAS, CLICK.

THAT WAS IT.

MY GUT TELLS ME THE REASON THEY DON'T WANT TO SAY ANYTHING

IS THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT HAPPENED AT THAT PARTY

THAN MOST PEOPLE KNOW,

AND THEY FIGURE IT'S BETTER NOT TO SAY NOTHING AT ALL

BECAUSE IT MIGHT ACTUALLY HURT THEM MORE THAN HELP THEM.

THAT'S IT.

TO ASSIST IN MY INVESTIGATION,

I'M REACHING OUT TO MY ASSOCIATE FRANK

WHO DOES SURVEILLANCE WORK FOR ME.

FRANK, I NEED TO FIND SOMEONE WHO WAS AT THE PARTY THAT NIGHT.

I KNOW IT'S NOT GONNA BE EASY,

BUT I NEED TO HAVE SOME EYES INSIDE THAT PARTY.

WE HAVE TO FIND SOMEONE.

ALL RIGHT. THANKS, BUD.

♪

YOU KNOW, THE REAL KEY TO UNDERSTANDING THIS CASE

IS FINDING OUT EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO CODI,

AND I'M NOT AN EXPERT IN THAT.

I'M NOT A PATHOLOGIST AND SO THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO GO TO ONE,

AND WE WANT SOMEONE WHO'S INDEPENDENT

AND WASN'T ORIGINALLY INVOLVED WITH THE CASE.

IN THE ORIGINAL AUTOPSY REPORT,

THE M.E. FOUND THAT CODI DIED AS A RESULT OF ASPHYXIATION

DUE TO COMPRESSION OF THE NECK SUSTAINED

DURING A PHYSICAL ALTERCATION WITH MULTIPLE INDIVIDUALS.

AS A RESULT OF THAT, HE RULED THE DEATH A HOMICIDE.

♪

CONSIDERING NO CHARGES WERE FILED,

I'M STARTING TO WONDER IF THE M.E. HAD MISSED SOMETHING.

HI, HOW ARE YOU, SIR?

SO I'VE HAD RENOWNED PATHOLOGIST DR. CYRIL WECHT

GO OVER THE REPORT TO OFFER HIS OPINION.

I BELIEVE THAT THE TWO SETS OF INJURIES

THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT HERE, FOREMOST,

WOULD BE THE INJURIES IN THE NECK AREA.

THESE FORM THE BASIS FOR THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S DIAGNOSIS

OF ASPHYXIATION.

THIS IS NOT A CASE SUGGESTING EITHER LIGATURE STRANGULATION

FROM A TIE OR A ROPE, NOR MANUAL STRANGULATION,

SO THIS IS COMPRESSION ASPHYXIATION,

AND IT WOULD FIT IN PERFECTLY WITH A CHOKE HOLD.

HOW LONG WOULD SOMEONE HAVE TO HOLD THAT CHOKE HOLD

IN ORDER TO INCAPACITATE THAT INDIVIDUAL TO THE EXTENT

OF EVENTUALLY THEM DYING FROM THOSE INJURIES?

WELL, IF YOU ARE DEPRIVED

COMPLETELY OF OXYGEN FOR 30,

40 SECONDS, A HEALTHY INDIVIDUAL,

YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS,

AND THEN IF THE PERSON RELEASES YOU,

YOU HAVE OXYGEN IN YOUR BRAIN

THAT IN MOST INSTANCES WILL PERMIT YOU TO RECOVER.

SO I WOULD SAY FOR A PERSON TO DIE,

THIS INDIVIDUAL MOST LIKELY HAD TO HAVE BEEN

IN THAT STRANGLEHOLD FOR TWO TO FOUR MINUTES.

-WOW, THAT LONG? -YEAH, REACHING A POINT

THAT BEING DEPRIVED COMPLETELY OF OXYGEN

BECAUSE OTHERWISE, YOU KNOW,

SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RECOVER.

SO IS IT SAFE TO SAY

THAT WHOEVER HAD CODI IN THIS CHOKE HOLD,

THEY DIDN'T LET GO UNTIL HIS BODY WAS LIFELESS?

YES, AND SINCE THERE WERE FOUR OTHER PEOPLE,

IT'S HARD FOR ME TO IMAGINE HOW THIS CAN BE ARGUED

TO HAVE BEEN SELF-DEFENSE. -NO.

SO THAT FURTHER STRENGTHENS THE CONCLUSIONS

OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER IN LABELING IT A HOMICIDE.

I CONCUR COMPLETELY.

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU HAD A CASE

WHERE YOU'VE BASICALLY SPELLED OUT YOUR FINDINGS,

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CHOSE STILL NOT TO PRESS CHARGES

AFTER READING YOUR FINDINGS?

VERY RARELY, I WOULD SAY.

RARELY BECAUSE THAT'S THE ESSENCE OF THE CASE.

THE MEDICAL EXAMINER

OR THE CORONER'S REPORT ARE VITAL,

CRITICAL TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO MOVE AHEAD

AND FILE CHARGES OF HOMICIDE.

Levasseur: CODI WAS CHOKED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME,

RESULTING IN HIS DEATH.

THAT'S THE BIG TAKEAWAY I'VE GOTTEN

FROM MY MEETING WITH DR. WECHT.

APPRECIATE IT.

IF THAT WAS REALLY THE CASE, THEN WHY, AFTER ALL THIS TIME,

HAS NO ONE BEEN CHARGED WITH THE KILLING OF CODI JOYCE?

Narrator: COMING UP...

IF WE WOULD HAVE BEEN WITH HIM

OR DONE SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT NIGHT,

YOU KNOW, THAT THIS WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED.

♪

♪

Levasseur: 23-YEAR-OLD CODI JOYCE WAS KILLED

DURING A FIGHT WITH AT LEAST FOUR OTHER PEOPLE,

AND BOTH THE ORIGINAL MEDICAL EXAMINER

AND MY OWN INDEPENDENT EXPERT

BELIEVE IT WASN'T A CASE OF SELF-DEFENSE.

BUT IT'S BEEN OVER THREE YEARS AND NOT A SINGLE CHARGE

HAS BEEN BROUGHT AGAINST ANYONE IN THIS CASE.

♪

THIS IS WHERE THE PARTY WAS.

THIS IS WHERE THE FIGHT HAPPENED.

THIS IS WHERE CODI WAS KILLED.

ALL RIGHT, THAT'S IT, GUYS.

THAT'S THE HOUSE THAT CODI JOYCE DIED IN.

I GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED.

♪

♪

♪

ALL RIGHT, DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANYBODY IS HOME. THAT'S OKAY.

I HAD TO CHECK OUT THE HOUSE ANYWAYS.

THIS WAS GOOD TO SEE IN PERSON. THIS IS A SMALL HOUSE.

♪

IT ALMOST GIVES YOU A VISUAL PERSPECTIVE

OF HOW IT WOULD HAVE WENT DOWN THAT NIGHT.

IMAGINE FIVE PEOPLE, FIVE BIG KIDS, FIGHTING IN THAT HOUSE.

AND THAT'S ON TOP OF ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE.

THIS IS, UH, THIS IS ENLIGHTENING.

SEEING THAT HOUSE ONLY BRINGS UP MORE QUESTIONS.

LISTEN, I JUST WENT BY THE HOUSE WHERE THE PARTY WAS.

IT'S A REALLY SMALL HOUSE.

IF THEY WERE FIGHTING IN THERE,

I MEAN, YOU WOULD THINK MULTIPLE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE GOT HURT.

I KNOW CODI WENT TO THE HOSPITAL THAT NIGHT,

BUT DO YOU KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE DID?

DEVIN HINKLE?

WHEN DID HE -- WHEN DID HE GO TO THE HOSPITAL?

HE HAD A BITE MARK ON THE INSIDE OF HIS ELBOW?

HOW DO YOU, WAIT, HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS?

SHOWED YOU A PICTURE OF THE BITE MARK?

YOU'RE KIDDING ME. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU.

UNFORTUNATELY, JOHN DOESN'T HAVE A COPY OF THAT PICTURE,

SO I CAN'T VERIFY IF THE BITE MARK IS FOR REAL,

BUT IF IT IS, IT COULD BE VERY IMPORTANT.

COME ON, FRANK. PICK UP. PICK UP.

-Hello? -FRANK, IT'S DERRICK.

♪

I'VE HAD MY ASSOCIATE FRANK TRACK DOWN DEVIN HINKLE

SO THAT I CAN GET HIS SIDE OF THE STORY,

BUT IT SEEMS PRETTY CLEAR HE'S AVOIDING US.

Frank: THEY'VE BEEN HUNKERED DOWN. NO MOVEMENT.

♪

Levasseur: I KNOW FROM REPORTS THAT THERE WERE A LOT

OF POTENTIAL WITNESSES AT THAT PARTY,

BUT SO FAR I CAN'T FIND ANYONE WHO WILL TALK TO ME.

DR. SHANNON EDWARDS IS A FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST

WHO ALSO GREW UP IN THE AREA.

SO IF I CAN'T GET ANYBODY TO TALK,

MAYBE I CAN AT LEAST GET INSIDE THEIR HEADS.

ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT

IS WHAT HAPPENED AT THE PARTY THE NIGHT OF CODI JOYCE'S DEATH,

AND YET NO ONE WILL SPEAK ABOUT THAT PUBLICLY.

NO ONE.

SO MY QUESTION TO YOU INITIALLY IS,

WHY ARE THESE KIDS NOT WILLING TO COME FORWARD?

WHY ARE THEY NOT WILLING TO SPEAK ABOUT

WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT, NEGATIVELY OR POSITIVELY?

GENERALLY SPEAKING, PEOPLE ARE VERY HESITANT

TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT THINGS.

NUMBER ONE, LOYALTY,

AND THEN YOU HAVE THE RETALIATION.

AND WHEN YOU SPECIFICALLY LOOK AT ADOLESCENT BEHAVIOR,

OUR BRAINS DON'T STOP DEVELOPING OR COMPLETE DEVELOPMENT

UNTIL WE'RE ABOUT 25 YEARS OLD.

SO IF WE'RE LOOKING AT ADOLESCENTS VERSUS ADULTS,

THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO SIDE WITH PEERS.

THEY'RE LESS LIKELY TO COME OUT OF THE PEER GROUP

BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID OF HOW WILL THIS LOOK,

SO COMING OUT AND ACTUALLY DOING THE RIGHT THING,

WHATEVER THAT RIGHT THING IS,

THERE'S MORE FEAR AMONG ADOLESCENTS

THAN THERE IS IN OTHER AGE GROUPS.

YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THE APPROVAL FROM THEIR FRIENDS,

THEIR PEERS, THEIR SOCIAL CIRCLE,

BECAUSE OF THEIR AGE, THEIR LEVEL OF MATURITY,

THAT'S WHAT IMPORTANT TO THEM, BEING POPULAR --

RIGHT.

...STAYING IN THAT SOCIAL CIRCLE.

ABSOLUTELY.

IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS, IT IS MORE SURPRISING

BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE AT THE PARTY,

AND NOBODY IS SAYING ANYTHING.

I WOULD PROBABLY VENTURE TO SAY THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE

THAT WE JUST DON'T KNOW, HONESTLY.

♪

Levasseur: CODI HAD A GIRLFRIEND AT THE TIME

NAMED MELODY MORRISON.

I WANT TO GET HER TAKE ON WHAT KIND OF GUY CODI WAS,

AND IF SHE THINKS HE WAS EVEN CAPABLE OF SOME OF THE RUMORS

I KEEP HEARING ABOUT,

LIKE HE HIT A GIRL AT THE PARTY THAT NIGHT.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE EVENT. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PARTY.

YOU WEREN'T THERE. YOU WERE NOT AT THE PARTY?

I SAW HIM EARLIER THAT DAY.

OKAY.

I WENT TO WORK FOR THE WHOLE NIGHT, WHICH ODD, IS THAT NIGHT

I WASN'T ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO WORK LATE.

I NEVER THOUGHT THAT THAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED, SO...

HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN WITH YOU THAT NIGHT.

YEAH. I MEAN, WE ALL THINK THAT.

ALL HIS CLOSE FRIENDS THINK, YOU KNOW, IF WE WOULD HAVE,

YOU KNOW, BEEN WITH HIM OR DONE SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT NIGHT,

YOU KNOW, THAT THIS WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED.

[ CRYING ]

I JUST NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING TO WAKE UP

TO A CALL LIKE THAT,

AND NOW I TOTALLY REGRET WORKING THAT NIGHT

BECAUSE I KNOW I WOULD HAVE TALKED TO HIM.

Levasseur: MELODY TELLS ME THAT SHE DOESN'T

THINK THERE WAS ANY BAD BLOOD

BETWEEN CODI AND THE FOUR OTHER GUYS BEFORE THAT NIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED OR HOW IT WENT TO,

YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY ATTACKING HIM,

BUT DEFINITELY DEVIN HINKLE AND RYAN SABO

WERE PROBABLY THE MAIN AGGRESSORS IN THIS.

I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A GIRL THAT TRIED

TO BREAK IT UP, ANGEL.

YEAH, I ASKED HER ABOUT IT.

I SAID, YOU KNOW,

"ARE YOU TELLING PEOPLE THAT CODI BEAT YOU UP?"

AND SHE TOLD ME, "NO."

SHE SAID, "IT WAS AN ACCIDENT. YOU KNOW, I GOT IN THE MIDDLE,

AND I WAS TRYING TO BREAK UP THE FIGHT."

WELL, THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I'M HEARING THIS.

SO YOU ACTUALLY SPOKE WITH ANGEL AFTER THE INCIDENT?

I CONTACTED HER RIGHT AWAY, AND I WAS LIKE,

"ARE YOU TELLING PEOPLE THAT CODI HIT YOU FOR SOME REASON?"

AND SHE WAS LIKE, "NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED."

SHE HAD HIT HER FACE OFF OF SOMETHING,

NOT FROM HIM HITTING HER.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT I SHOULD TALK WITH?

ALYSSA JURISTY.

SHE HAS TEXT MESSAGES

FROM RYAN SABO,

WHO WAS, I'M ASSUMING, HER EX-BOYFRIEND AT THE TIME

OR JUST RECENTLY BROKE UP.

HE HAD TEXT MESSAGED HER, SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW,

"I THINK WE KILLED GENO." -REALLY?

-IN A TEXT MESSAGE? -YEP.

DID ANYBODY IN CODI'S FAMILY KNOW ABOUT THIS?

UNCLE STEVE.

Levasseur: MELODY INFORMED ME THAT IF I WANT TO KNOW

MORE ABOUT THAT TEXT,

I SHOULD TALK TO CODI'S UNCLE, STEVE WISNIEWSKI.

STEVE, I APPRECIATE YOU MEETING WITH ME ON SHORT NOTICE.

I SPOKE WITH MELODY, AND SHE HAD MENTIONED SOMETHING

NEAR THE END OF OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT A TEXT MESSAGE.

THERE WAS A TEXT FROM THE POTENTIAL MURDERER

TO THE EX-GIRLFRIEND, BASICALLY ADMITTING HIS GUILT.

-WHO WAS IT FROM? -IT WAS RYAN SABO.

AND WHAT'S THE MESSAGE SAY?

MESSAGE SAYS THAT, ESSENTIALLY, HIM AND DINKLE,

WHICH IS HINKLE'S NICKNAME, LITERALLY MURDERED CODI.

WE DID ACQUIRE THAT TEXT FROM THE GIRLFRIEND,

AND I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE, AND I CAN SHOW IT TO YOU.

YOU HAVE THE PHONE?

I DO NOT HAVE THE PHONE, BUT I DO HAVE THE TEXT MESSAGE.

YOU SAW IT ON HER PHONE, AND SHE SHOWED IT TO YOU?

-EXACTLY. -AND THEN SHE SENT IT TO YOU?

-YES. -LET ME SEE IT.

OKAY, SO THIS IS FROM RYAN SABO TO ALYSSA JURISTY.

TO ALYSSA JURISTY.

MARK, GET A SHOT OF THIS REAL QUICK FOR ME, IF YOU CAN.

Mark: RIGHT THERE.

"I MIGHT BE GOING TO JAIL TONIGHT.

"ME AND DINKLE MIGHT HAVE LITERALLY KILLED GENO JOYCE.

"IDK, I DON'T KNOW, WHAT CONDITION HE IS IN.

"I DIDN'T KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT ME, BUT IF I GO DOWN,

"I LOVE YOU NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL.

WHEN WE LEFT, HE WAS OUT COLD. IF I GO DOWN, I DO LOVE YOU."

-THIS IS FROM SABO -- -YES.

...RIGHT TO HIS GIRLFRIEND, WHICH HE DIDN'T EXPECT ANYBODY

TO GET AHOLD OF THIS. -CORRECT.

SO WHEN HE LEFT, BASED ON THE CONDITION THAT GENO,

WHO WE KNOW, NICKNAME CODI,

THEY ALREADY KNEW HE WAS IN A BAD CONDITION.

EXACTLY, WHICH SHOWS ALSO THAT SABO WAS PRESENT AT THE TIME,

AT THE HOUSE.

HOW'D YOU GET THE MESSAGE?

ACTUALLY, I ACCIDENTALLY RAN INTO THE GIRLFRIEND,

AND SHE SAYS, "I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS TO INVESTIGATORS.

"I'VE CALLED THEM SIX, SEVEN TIMES.

NOBODY EVER GET BACK TO ME. LUCKILY I RAN INTO YOU."

AND AS SOON AS I SEEN IT, SHE SENT IT TO ME.

OKAY, SO ALYSSA SAID SHE TRIED TO GET IT TO THE POLICE.

-YES. -DID SHE EVER END UP GOING?

I TOOK HER, ACTUALLY, ONCE SHE GAVE ME --

YOU TOOK HER TO THE POLICE?

-I TOOK HER TO THE POLICE. -ALL RIGHT.

SO, I GOT TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THAT.

SURE.

YOU TAKE HER DOWN THERE, WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT?

I BROUGHT HER DOWN, AND THEN THEY BASICALLY SAID

IT WAS TOO SOON, SO I SAID, "WELL, WE LIVE IN MUNHALL."

AND THEY SAID, "WELL, THAT'S NOT TOO FAR AWAY."

-AND THEY SENT US HOME. -WHAT DO YOU MEAN, IT'S TOO --

WHAT DO YOU MEAN -- AND I'M SORRY, LET ME --

-YEAH. -I'M NOT TAKING IT OUT ON YOU.

PLEASE TELL ME THEY TOOK THE TEXT MESSAGE, AT LEAST.

NOT THAT TIME, NO.

WE ACTUALLY HAD TO GO RESCHEDULE, GO BACK, AND I SAID,

"WELL, LUCKILY YOU GUYS ARE NOW TAKING THIS ELECTRONIC DATA."

AND THE BODY LANGUAGE

OF THE DETECTIVES SEEMED A LITTLE ODD TO ME.

IT SEEMED LIKE THEY WERE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE

THAT THERE WAS ACTUALLY THIS KIND OF INFORMATION OUT THERE.

IT JUST TOLD ME THAT I WATCH TOO MUCH "CSI."

WELL, I'M GONNA TELL YOU THIS MUCH,

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WEIGHT THIS IS GONNA HOLD,

BUT I WANT TO APOLOGIZE THAT YOU WERE TREATED LIKE THAT

BECAUSE AS SOMEONE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT,

THAT'S THE TYPE OF [BLEEP] THAT GIVES EVERYBODY A BAD NAME.

ABSOLUTELY.

WHERE DO I FIND ALYSSA?

Narrator: COMING UP...

♪

♪

Levasseur: THE TEXT THAT CODI'S UNCLE SHOWED ME

LOOKS LIKE A CONFESSION FROM RYAN SABO

TO HIS GIRLFRIEND ALYSSA,

BUT I NEED TO KNOW IF IT'S LEGIT.

I MEAN, LISTEN, I'VE SEEN THE TEXT MESSAGE.

I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM WHAT I'M SEEING

IS THE SAME THING THAT WAS SENT TO YOU.

100%, THAT'S WHAT SABO SENT TO YOU?

I MEAN, YOU UNDERSTAND HOW SIGNIFICANT THAT IS?

THERE'S NO WAY I CAN CONVINCE YOU TO GO ON CAMERA?

ALTHOUGH ALYSSA WOULDN'T AGREE TO MEET WITH ME IN PERSON,

SHE SWEARS THAT THE TEXT MESSAGES ARE REAL.

OH, THIS IS FRANK RIGHT HERE. WHAT'S UP, FRANK?

TALK TO ME.

YOU'RE [BLEEP] KIDDING ME.

Nope.

WHATEVER WE GOT TO DO TO MAKE IT WORK,

IF HE'S WILLING TO MEET WITH ME, WE'LL MAKE IT HAPPEN.

WHEN IS HE WILLING TO MEET?

TEXT ME THE LOCATION NOW. I'M ON MY WAY.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

♪

HOW'S IT GOING?

GET RIGHT INTO IT, RIGHT?

I HEARD YOU WERE AT THE PARTY.

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, YOU WERE FRIENDS WITH CODI,

BUT YOU WERE ALSO FRIENDS WITH SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS

AT THE PARTY, INCLUDING SOME OF THE GUYS

THAT WERE INVOLVED WITH THE FIGHT WITH CODI?

WHAT'S YOUR REASONING FOR COMING FORWARD?

OKAY, WELL, TAKE ME BACK TO THAT NIGHT.

AT ANY POINT DURING THAT NIGHT,

DID YOU SEE CODI PUT HIS HANDS ON ANY FEMALES?

WAS THAT IN HIS NATURE AT ALL?

YOU SAID WE WERE FRIENDS WITH HIM.

HOW ABOUT THESE OTHER GUYS? SABO, HINKLE, STEVENS.

ANY OF THEM KNOWN TO BE VIOLENT? WERE THEY FIGHTERS?

WERE THEY BRAWLERS AT ALL? ALL THREE OF THEM?

ANY ONE MORE SO THAN THE OTHERS?

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER HAPPENING NEXT?

OKAY, AND THEY'RE FIGHTING, AND THEY'RE GOING AROUND

THE ROOM.

HOW LONG WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU OBSERVED CODI

IN THAT CHOKE HOLD?

FOUR OR FIVE-PLUS MINUTES.

AT ANY POINT WHEN HE WAS IN THAT CHOKE, DID YOU SEE HIM GO LIMP?

OKAY, SO THE ENTIRE TIME YOU SEE HIM AT FIRST --

AND HE'S NOT DEFENSELESS? HE'S FIGHTING BACK?

WHO WERE SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT GOT INVOLVED WITH THE FIGHT

AFTER IT WAS JUST BETWEEN DEVIN HINKLE AND CODI JOYCE?

RYAN SABO. ANYBODY ELSE THAT YOU KNOW OF?

CONNOR -- CONNOR STEVENS. AND WHO ELSE?

ANYBODY ELSE, OR WAS IT JUST THOSE THREE?

THOSE ARE THE THREE AGGRESSORS?

WAS RYAN SABO AND CONNOR STEVENS,

WERE THEY SEPARATED FROM THE FIGHT AT THE POINT

WHERE IF THEY WANTED TO LEAVE,

IF THEY WANTED TO ESCAPE THE SITUATION,

COULD THEY HAVE DONE THAT?

THEY WERE JUST JUMPING IN ON IT?

DID YOU GO BACK INTO THE PARTY AT ANY POINT

AFTER SEPARATING THE GIRLS FROM IT?

AND WHAT WAS THE SITUATION?

DID ANYBODY CHECK HIM FOR A PULSE?

DID ANYONE TRY TO TURN HIM OVER?

ANYTHING?

I WANT TO DOUBLE BACK TO RYAN SABO FOR A SECOND

BECAUSE FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, HE WAS INJURED --

-YEAH. -...WHEN HE WENT TO THAT PARTY.

WHAT WAS THE INJURY?

SO YOU WERE OUTSIDE WITH SABO?

SO WHAT DID HE DO?

HE WENT BACK IN THERE AND FOUGHT WITH THE SLING ON?

HE TAKES THE SLING OFF...

AND GOES BACK IN WITH THE INTENTION ON FIGHTING?

♪

THE EVIDENCE IS PILING UP, BUT AS HARD AS I'VE BEEN TRYING,

I STILL HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET AUTHORITIES

TO TALK TO ME ABOUT THE CASE.

THEN, I GET A CALL.

SO, SIR, TO CONFIRM,

AT THE TIME OF THE CODI JOYCE INCIDENT,

YOU WERE A LOCAL POLICE OFFICER?

Narrator: COMING UP...

WELL, I THINK WE FOUND OUR EVIDENTIARY PROBLEMS.

THE POLICE HAVE COMPLETELY FUMBLED

PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PIECES

OF EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE.

♪

♪

Levasseur: WHEN I STARTED MY INVESTIGATION INTO THE DEATH

OF 23-YEAR-OLD CODI JOYCE,

I MET WITH DEFENSE ATTORNEY LAUREL GIFT AND HAD HER TELL ME

EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED TO DO TO MOVE THIS CASE FORWARD.

THE QUESTION NOW IS, HAVE I DONE ENOUGH?

SO LET'S GET INTO WHAT I ACTUALLY WAS ABLE TO GATHER.

LAST TIME I MET WITH YOU,

YOU ASKED ME TO TRY TO DO A COUPLE OF THINGS,

AND ONE OF THEM WAS TO FIND AN EYEWITNESS

THAT WAS AT THE PARTY.

ONE OF MY ASSOCIATES WAS ABLE TO TRACK

SOMEONE DOWN WHO WAS AT THE PARTY

AND CONVINCED HIM TO SPEAK WITH ME.

-THAT'S AMAZING. -HE WAS VERY FORTHRIGHT.

I FOUND HIM VERY CREDIBLE.

HE DID LEAVE THE ROOM FOR A FEW MINUTES

WHERE THE ALTERCATION ORIGINALLY OCCURRED,

AND HE HEARD A COMMOTION.

EXITS THE ROOM, COMES INTO THE LIVING ROOM,

AND THE FIRST THING HE SEES IS DEVIN HINKLE

HOLDING CODI JOYCE IN A HEADLOCK.

WHAT HE DID WAS TRY TO SEPARATE EVERYONE ELSE,

AND HERE'S THE PEOPLE HE BROUGHT OUTSIDE THE HOUSE --

A COUPLE GIRLS AND RYAN SABO.

AND AS HE'S STANDING THERE WITH SABO,

SABO IS GETTING MORE AND MORE UPSET,

MORE AND MORE AGGRAVATED, AND HE'S SWEARING,

AND HE'S WANTING TO GO BACK INSIDE.

THIS WITNESS IS TRYING TO CALM HIM DOWN AND PLEADING WITH HIM,

"PLEASE DON'T DO IT, RYAN. DON'T GO BACK IN."

AND AT SOME POINT, RYAN SAYS, "[BLEEP] IT,"

AND GOES BACK INSIDE

AND CONTINUES TO FIGHT WITH CODI AND DEVIN HINKLE.

HE'S OUTSIDE FOR A SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF TIME

AND GOES BACK INSIDE TO ESCALATE THE FIGHT.

THAT'S -- THAT'S REALLY GOOD EVIDENCE.

HOLD THAT THOUGHT.

SO I CALLED JOHN JOYCE, CODI'S FATHER,

AND I ASKED HIM, "DO YOU KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE

"WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AFTER THIS INCIDENT?

I KNOW CODI DID, BUT DID ANYBODY ELSE GO?"

AND HE SAID, "WELL, THERE'S ONLY ONE OTHER PERSON

THAT I KNOW WENT TO THE HOSPITAL."

AND HE SAID, "IT WAS DEVIN HINKLE."

HE SAYS, "WELL, HE WENT FOR A BITE MARK ON HIS ARM."

I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO VERIFY YET,

BUT HE SAYS THAT THE ADA ACTUALLY SHOWED THEM

A PICTURE OF THE BITE MARK TO DEVIN'S ARM.

REALLY?

AND WERE THEY SAYING THIS IN A MEETING

EXPLAINING WHY CHARGES WEREN'T FILED?

THEY WERE TRYING TO TELL THEM THAT THERE WERE SOME ISSUES

AS FAR AS, "LISTEN, THIS IS SELF-DEFENSE.

LOOK AT THIS INJURY TO DEVIN'S ARM. CODI BIT HIM."

AND I WOULD READ IT THE OPPOSITE WAY.

THAT'S MY TAKING ON IT, AND I'M GLAD YOU SAID IT.

YOU'RE IN A CHOKE HOLD.

YOU'RE TRYING TO DEFEND YOURSELF, BREAK FREE,

AND YOU BITE.

THAT'S MY OPINION.

WELL, SO, IT GIVES US

HINKLE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO OUR VICTIM, SO HE CAN'T SAY,

"WELL, IT WAS SOMEBODY ELSE AT THE PARTY. IT WASN'T ME."

I GOT ONE MORE THING TO SHOW YOU.

I DIDN'T EXPECT TO GET THIS.

I MET WITH MELODY, CODI'S GIRLFRIEND,

AND SHE TOLD ME ABOUT A GIRL, ALYSSA JURISTY.

ALYSSA JURISTY RECEIVED A TEXT MESSAGE

THE NIGHT OF THE INCIDENT,

WAY BEFORE POLICE HAD EVEN ARRIVED,

FROM RYAN SABO.

"I MIGHT BE GOING TO JAIL TONIGHT. ME AND DINKLE --"

DEVIN HINKLE, THAT'S HIS NICKNAME --

"MIGHT HAVE LITERALLY KILLED GENO JOYCE.

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT CONDITION HE IS IN.

WHEN WE LEFT, HE WAS OUT COLD. IF I DO GO DOWN, I LOVE YOU."

OH, THAT'S AN ADMISSION.

I MEAN, THAT'S AS SIGNIFICANT AS YOU FINDING AN EYEWITNESS

WHO'S WILLING TO COME FORWARD.

-SO HOW DO WE KNOW THIS IS REAL? -I REACHED OUT TO ALYSSA.

I SPOKE TO HER BY PHONE.

OUT OF FEAR, SHE WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS CASE,

SO I STARTED REACHING OUT TO SOME SOURCES,

AND I GOT A PHONE CALL.

WE IMMEDIATELY HAD THE TEAM START RECORDING ME.

THIS WAS NOT PLANNED, AND I WANT TO PLAY IT FOR YOU.

♪

SO, SIR, TO CONFIRM, YOU ARE AN ACTIVE POLICE OFFICER

AT THIS TIME IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA?

AND AT THE TIME OF THE CODI JOYCE INCIDENT,

YOU WERE A LOCAL POLICE OFFICER.

YOU ACTUALLY PERSONALLY WITNESSED,

AS AN OFFICER, THE TEXT MESSAGE FROM RYAN SABO

WHERE HE STATED THAT HE BELIEVED HIM AND DEVIN HINKLE

HAD KILLED CODI JOYCE?

WELL, I THINK WE FOUND OUT EVIDENTIARY PROBLEMS, RIGHT?

I MEAN, THE POLICE HAVE COMPLETELY FUMBLED

PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PIECES

OF EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE.

THE PHONE ITSELF SHOULD HAVE BEEN SEIZED AND IMAGED,

AND YOU CAN DO YOUR OWN ANALYSIS ON THE TEXT MESSAGE

TO VERIFY THAT THIS WAS ACTUALLY A TEXT MESSAGE FROM SABO TO HER

AND NOT SOME TEXT THAT SHE TYPED UP AND CHANGED THE NAME OF.

FOR WHATEVER REASON, HIS DEATH WAS BELIEVED TO BE AN OVERDOSE

OR SOME OTHER SORT OF ACCIDENT,

AND SO, BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND NOVEMBER,

YOU DON'T HAVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTITY

TAKING A SERIOUS LOOK AT HIS CASE

UNTIL THE AUTOPSY REPORT COMES OUT,

AT WHICH POINT THEY PICK UP THE INVESTIGATION,

AND IT'S ALREADY ESSENTIALLY TOO LATE FOR THIS PIECE OF EVIDENCE.

BUT WITH WHAT YOU'VE BROUGHT ME TODAY,

I WOULD ABSOLUTELY FEEL COMFORTABLE

WITH THE GENERAL CHARGE OF CRIMINAL HOMICIDE,

AND AS A PROSECUTOR IN THAT COURT ROOM,

WOULD FEEL CONFIDENT IN BRINGING THE CASE

BEFORE A JUDGE OR A JURY

AND ASKING FOR A CONVICTION

OF MURDER IN THE THIRD DEGREE.

IF THIS CASE WAS PUT INTO AN INVESTIGATING GRAND JURY,

THE MULTIPLE WITNESSES THAT WERE THERE THAT NIGHT

THAT HAVE NOT COME FORWARD COULD BE PROVIDED

WITH SOME MEASURE OF PROTECTION,

AND PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE WOULD BE IN POSITION

OF HAVING SIGNIFICANT EVIDENCE.

WE MIGHT BE TALKING ABOUT A FIRST DEGREE MURDER CASE.

YOU WORKED FOR THE D.A.'S OFFICE.

DO YOU FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A GRAND JURY FOR THIS CASE?

ABSOLUTELY. WITHOUT QUESTION.

♪

Levasseur: AS A FORMER COP, I HATE TO SAY IT,

BUT IT APPEARS THAT THE MISSTEPS

IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS INVESTIGATION BY POLICE

MAY BE THE REASON THE D.A.

IS HESITANT ABOUT FILING ANY CHARGES.

I NEED TO SHARE WHAT I'VE LEARNED WITH CODI'S PARENTS.

SO I'VE KIND OF LAID OUT, WHAT I SEE,

AS THE THREE MAIN POINTS AS FAR AS A FACT PATTERN

TO DETERMINE WHO THE INDIVIDUAL WAS WHO CHOKED YOUR SON,

WHICH RIGHT FROM THE MEDICAL EXAMINER,

WAS THE CAUSE OF DEATH, RIGHT? -RIGHT.

I'M NOT A LAWYER, BUT I CONTACTED A LAWYER,

AN EXPERT, WHO ALSO WORKED FOR THE D.A.'S OFFICE AT ONE POINT.

AS FAR AS RYAN SABO AND DEVIN HINKLE ARE CONCERNED,

SHE BELIEVES THERE'S A STRONG CASE OF POSSIBLY MANSLAUGHTER,

THIRD DEGREE MURDER, AND THIRD DEGREE MURDER IS MALICE,

WHICH IS BASICALLY DISREGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE,

AND LAUREL GIFT AND MYSELF BOTH AGREE

THAT THIS CASE NEEDS TO GO TO A GRAND JURY,

AND WHY WOULD A GRAND JURY

HEARING BE BENEFICIAL TO EVERYONE?

I'LL TELL YOU WHY.

THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED

WOULD HAVE TO GIVE THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO ANSWER FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO CODI

THE NIGHT OF THE PARTY.

WELL, WITH A GRAND JURY HEARING, IF YOU HAD SOMETHING LIKE THAT,

LAUREL GIFT THINKS THAT YOU HAVE A STRONG CASE

OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER FOR YOUR SON IN THIS CASE.

ABSOLUTELY.

I WANT THESE KIDS IN JAIL FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES

FOR WHAT THEY DID TO MY SON AND HOW HE HAD TO SUFFER

AND HOW HE LAID THERE AND JUST DIED, AND THEY WATCHED IT.

EVERY DAY, I GOT TO LIVE WITH THIS.

WE GOT TO LIVE --

MY WHOLE FAMILY GOT TO LIVE WITH IT.

HIS BROTHER AND HIS SISTER, THEY GOT TO LIVE WITH IT.

THEY WERE ONLY 19 AND 21

AT THE TIME THEIR BROTHER WAS MURDERED,

AND MY HEART BREAKS FOR THEM SO MUCH.

♪

♪

Levasseur: IT'S CLEAR TO ME THAT THE D.A.'S OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE

FOR THIS CASE NOT BEING PROSECUTED.

SINCE MY INVESTIGATION,

A NEW DETECTIVE HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO CODI'S CASE,

BUT I WON'T STOP UNTIL A GRAND JURY HEARING HAS BEEN CONVENED.

CODI'S FAMILY DESERVES NOTHING LESS.

♪

♪