Original subtitles

Your emergency? >> oh, my god! I need an

>> oh, my god! I need an ambulance right away.

Ambulance right away. >> ma'am, calm down. What's

>> ma'am, calm down. What's going on there?

Going on there? >> I think my mother fell down

>> I think my mother fell down the stairs, and there's a knife

the stairs, and there's a knife in her hand and stabbed

in her hand and stabbed herself. Oh, my god! No!

Herself. Oh, my god! No! >> is she breathing? Ma'am?

>> is she breathing? Ma'am? >> it looked like she was

>> it looked like she was strangled, stabbed and beat in

strangled, stabbed and beat in the head. To me, that's

the head. To me, that's definite overkill.

Definite overkill. >> I see my mother laying

>> I see my mother laying there. I assume she was hurt.

There. I assume she was hurt. There was a knife sticking out.

There was a knife sticking out. I mean, I figured she fell.

I mean, I figured she fell. >> whenever someone of

>> whenever someone of considerable wealth is murdered,

considerable wealth is murdered, we look at who has a motive.

We look at who has a motive. >> they were already trying to

>> they were already trying to focus in on me. Where was I?

Focus in on me. Where was I? What was I doing? It was all

what was I doing? It was all about greed and money. Who has

about greed and money. Who has access to the house?

Access to the house? >> five unique perspectives.

>> five unique perspectives. Five points of view. One

five points of view. One murder.

Murder. >> I'm peggy nadell's daughter.

>> I'm peggy nadell's daughter. >> I was the lead detective.

>> I was the lead detective. >> I am a longtime friend. I

>> I am a longtime friend. I was a close friend of peggy

was a close friend of peggy nadell's.

Nadell's. >> I was a prosecutor.

>> I was a prosecutor. >> my name is susanne

>> my name is susanne nadell-scaccio, and I'm peggy

nadell-scaccio, and I'm peggy nadell's daughter. My

nadell's daughter. My relationship with peggy was

relationship with peggy was very close, as I would say,

very close, as I would say, most daughters'and

most daughters'and mothers'relationships are. My

mothers'relationships are. My mother and father made a very,

mother and father made a very, very handsome couple. They were

very handsome couple. They were striking. My mother used to

striking. My mother used to like to go to the city and to

like to go to the city and to the museum and to theater and

the museum and to theater and movies. They loved to travel.

Movies. They loved to travel. They traveled all over the

they traveled all over the world together. When I was 3,

world together. When I was 3, my brother jamie came into the

my brother jamie came into the world. I think my brother

world. I think my brother developed -- I-I-it's hard to

developed -- I-I-it's hard to put my finger on. I think he

put my finger on. I think he was a strange adolescent and he

was a strange adolescent and he developed into a strange adult.

Developed into a strange adult. His differences spoke volumes.

His differences spoke volumes. He was not social. He was very

he was not social. He was very cerebral. He went away to

cerebral. He went away to school. Moved to florida. Never

school. Moved to florida. Never came home to see my family.

Came home to see my family. Never came home to see my

never came home to see my parents. My father passed away

parents. My father passed away in 2003 very unexpectedly, and

in 2003 very unexpectedly, and it was devastating. I knew that

it was devastating. I knew that my mother would want me to be

my mother would want me to be strong. And I didn't want to

strong. And I didn't want to let her down. I wanted to be as

let her down. I wanted to be as strong as she was. My

strong as she was. My relationship with my mother was

relationship with my mother was very close. I would speak to

very close. I would speak to her probably two or three times

her probably two or three times a day. Not a day ever went by

a day. Not a day ever went by that I didn't either see,

that I didn't either see, physically see, visit, or have

physically see, visit, or have a phone conversation with my

a phone conversation with my mother. Saturday morning, I

mother. Saturday morning, I always call between, I don't

always call between, I don't know, 7:30, 8:00. 8:00, 8:30 on

know, 7:30, 8:00. 8:00, 8:30 on the weekends. I tried the house

the weekends. I tried the house phone. It was ringing, ringing,

phone. It was ringing, ringing, ringing. The answering machine

ringing. The answering machine never kicked on. I called the

never kicked on. I called the cell. Ringing, ringing, ringing,

cell. Ringing, ringing, ringing, ringing. I said, you know,

ringing. I said, you know, maybe she went out to the end

maybe she went out to the end of the driveway to get the

of the driveway to get the newspaper, to put something in

newspaper, to put something in the mailbox. I must've called a

the mailbox. I must've called a dozen times to each number, and

dozen times to each number, and she was not picking it up. So I

she was not picking it up. So I told my husband, bobby, "I'm

told my husband, bobby, "I'm going down there. My mother's

going down there. My mother's not answering the phone. I want

not answering the phone. I want to make sure everything's

to make sure everything's okay." I open the door, and I

okay." I open the door, and I realized the alarm wasn't on.

Realized the alarm wasn't on. I'm like, "gee, why wasn't the

I'm like, "gee, why wasn't the alarm on? " I walked in, and I

alarm on? " I walked in, and I found her. And I immediately

found her. And I immediately ran over. And the first thing I

ran over. And the first thing I noticed, she was bashed in the

noticed, she was bashed in the head and she was bleeding, and

head and she was bleeding, and I saw blood coming out around

I saw blood coming out around the rise in her nose and the

the rise in her nose and the side of her mouth. I said, "oh,

side of her mouth. I said, "oh, my god. She fell down the

my god. She fell down the stairs." once I got in and got

stairs." once I got in and got close, I saw it was more than a

close, I saw it was more than a fall down the stairs. The knife

fall down the stairs. The knife was stuck in peggy's chest.

Was stuck in peggy's chest. Then I'm like, "oh my god. She

then I'm like, "oh my god. She stabbed herself, " and I pull

stabbed herself, " and I pull the knife out. And I was gonna

the knife out. And I was gonna do cpr, and I checked for a

do cpr, and I checked for a pulse, and she was cold. I'm

pulse, and she was cold. I'm like -- and then I realized I

like -- and then I realized I -- you know, I mean, everybody

-- you know, I mean, everybody says, "what did you do that for?

Says, "what did you do that for? What are you thinking? " you

what are you thinking? " you just react. I mean, you don't

just react. I mean, you don't -- you don't think about what

-- you don't think about what you're doing. I ran outside. I

you're doing. I ran outside. I call 9-1-1. Oh, my god! Oh, my

call 9-1-1. Oh, my god! Oh, my god!

God! >> 911, what is the address of

>> 911, what is the address of your emergency.

Your emergency. >> I need an ambulance right

>> I need an ambulance right away! My mother's fallen! She

away! My mother's fallen! She fell. She had a knife in her

fell. She had a knife in her hand! Oh, my god!

Hand! Oh, my god! >> okay, is she breathing?

>> okay, is she breathing? >> no, I don't think so. Oh,

>> no, I don't think so. Oh, I'm afraid to go back in. Oh,

I'm afraid to go back in. Oh, my god. When the police showed

my god. When the police showed up, they kept me outside and

up, they kept me outside and they were asking me questions.

They were asking me questions. And at that point, they wanted

and at that point, they wanted to take both myself and my

to take both myself and my husband, bobby, down to the

husband, bobby, down to the police station, so I had no

police station, so I had no choice but to go. When I was in

choice but to go. When I was in the police station being

the police station being interviewed that Saturday, they

interviewed that Saturday, they came into me and said, "this

came into me and said, "this was not an accident. Your

was not an accident. Your mother did not fall. Your

mother did not fall. Your mother was murdered." I was

mother was murdered." I was shocked, and I could not

shocked, and I could not possibly conceive who would do

possibly conceive who would do this to my mother. And that's

this to my mother. And that's when they started asking

when they started asking questions. I told them that I

questions. I told them that I pulled the knife. I said I was

pulled the knife. I said I was trying to do cpr on her and

trying to do cpr on her and then I realized it was past

then I realized it was past that point. I also told them my

that point. I also told them my fingerprints will definitely be

fingerprints will definitely be on the knife as my dna will be

on the knife as my dna will be all over this house. I'm here

all over this house. I'm here two, three times a week. My

two, three times a week. My hair will be here. My

hair will be here. My fingerprints will be on every

fingerprints will be on every doorknob. I think at this point,

doorknob. I think at this point, they were already trying to

they were already trying to focus in on me being that they

focus in on me being that they had me in the police station

had me in the police station for several hours and were

for several hours and were asking me questions. I'm like,

asking me questions. I'm like, "why are you asking me that

"why are you asking me that question? "

question? " >> your mother had some assets.

>> your mother had some assets. >> my mother has a lot of

>> my mother has a lot of assets. Probably close to $3

assets. Probably close to $3 million. Do I need my lawyer?

Million. Do I need my lawyer? >> why?

>> why? >> I don't know. I'm just

>> I don't know. I'm just asking. You're asking me all

asking. You're asking me all these questions. The following

these questions. The following day, which was Sunday, the

day, which was Sunday, the detectives called me and asked

detectives called me and asked me to come down to the police

me to come down to the police station to talk to them. And at

station to talk to them. And at that point, I felt it was being

that point, I felt it was being directed at me, and I'm like,

directed at me, and I'm like, "wait a second. I don't want to

"wait a second. I don't want to talk to you now." and I hired

talk to you now." and I hired an attorney. They didn't like

an attorney. They didn't like that.

That.

>> my name is earl lorence. I was the lead detective working

was the lead detective working the murder of peggy nadell. The

the murder of peggy nadell. The morning of January 25, 2014, I

morning of January 25, 2014, I was the assigned detective

was the assigned detective working that weekend. So at

working that weekend. So at around 8:00 that morning, I was

around 8:00 that morning, I was at the local bagel store.

At the local bagel store. That's where I received the

that's where I received the phone call. And the desk

phone call. And the desk sergeant said that there was a

sergeant said that there was a death of an elderly woman

death of an elderly woman inside her residence and that

inside her residence and that she had slipped and fallen on a

she had slipped and fallen on a knife. The house is in an

knife. The house is in an upper-middle class neighborhood

upper-middle class neighborhood in valley cottage, new york,

in valley cottage, new york, very tidy, very well-kempt. The

very tidy, very well-kempt. The daughter of the victim, susanne

daughter of the victim, susanne nadell-scaccio, she was in a

nadell-scaccio, she was in a frantic state -- panicked,

frantic state -- panicked, yelling, screaming. Upon

yelling, screaming. Upon entering the home, the victim

entering the home, the victim was just inside the threshold

was just inside the threshold of the doorway at the base of

of the doorway at the base of the stairwell. You try not to

the stairwell. You try not to harden yourself too much to

harden yourself too much to each situation. So at this

each situation. So at this moment, it really did kind of

moment, it really did kind of hit -- hit home because this

hit -- hit home because this was an 80-year-old woman at

was an 80-year-old woman at home alone. My mother is 80

home alone. My mother is 80 years old. She lives alone.

Years old. She lives alone. That does have a personal

that does have a personal connection there. So you want

connection there. So you want to do all you can. My first

to do all you can. My first instinct, obviously, was that

instinct, obviously, was that it was a homicide. There was no

it was a homicide. There was no way she accidentally fell down

way she accidentally fell down the stairs and stabbed herself

the stairs and stabbed herself in the chest three times. We

in the chest three times. We saw the knife, which was very

saw the knife, which was very obvious, a few feet away from

obvious, a few feet away from the victim. She had obvious

the victim. She had obvious trauma to her head. She also

trauma to her head. She also had what appeared to be at

had what appeared to be at least one or two stab wounds to

least one or two stab wounds to her chest. Her neck appeared to

her chest. Her neck appeared to be quite bruised, black and

be quite bruised, black and blue. Now, it looked like she

blue. Now, it looked like she possibly was strangled. It

possibly was strangled. It looked like she was stabbed,

looked like she was stabbed, and she looks like she was beat

and she looks like she was beat in the head. Now, to me, that's

in the head. Now, to me, that's definite overkill. The first

definite overkill. The first thing I want to determine is,

thing I want to determine is, is there a break-in? I looked

is there a break-in? I looked at the front door, and there

at the front door, and there was no apparent force used to

was no apparent force used to get into the house. I walked

get into the house. I walked upstairs and went to the master

upstairs and went to the master bedroom. There was drawers

bedroom. There was drawers pulled out and placed on the

pulled out and placed on the floor, totally out of place

floor, totally out of place because you don't put them on

because you don't put them on the ground like that. So it

the ground like that. So it looked like a stage burglary.

Looked like a stage burglary. About that time, susanne

about that time, susanne understandably was stressed

understandably was stressed out. She wanted us out of

out. She wanted us out of there. She wanted us to clean

there. She wanted us to clean up the scene, get her mother in

up the scene, get her mother in an ambulance, and take her to

an ambulance, and take her to the hospital. There were red

the hospital. There were red flags immediately with this

flags immediately with this investigation. One of the very

investigation. One of the very first things she says in the

first things she says in the first couple of minutes of us

first couple of minutes of us arriving is that her mother is

arriving is that her mother is worth high seven figures, "oh,

worth high seven figures, "oh, and my dna and my fingerprints

and my dna and my fingerprints are gonna be all over that

are gonna be all over that house and that knife." it just

house and that knife." it just seemed like an odd thing to

seemed like an odd thing to focus in on. It struck me as

focus in on. It struck me as odd. Because she was so erratic,

odd. Because she was so erratic, it took a long time to kind of

it took a long time to kind of settle her down and to get her

settle her down and to get her to go back to the station and

to go back to the station and just talk about who may or may

just talk about who may or may not have done this thing.

Not have done this thing. Susanne, she said she came to

susanne, she said she came to the home, her mother's home,

the home, her mother's home, and when she opened the door,

and when she opened the door, obviously, she saw that her

obviously, she saw that her mother had the knife in her

mother had the knife in her chest and she pulled the knife

chest and she pulled the knife out.

Out. >> so I thought maybe she fell

>> so I thought maybe she fell down the stairs because of the

down the stairs because of the way she was, and I saw the

way she was, and I saw the knife. So I pulled the knife. I

knife. So I pulled the knife. I touched her neck. I touched her

touched her neck. I touched her face. I said, "oh, this is not

face. I said, "oh, this is not good."

good." >> that was a big concern for

>> that was a big concern for us. Why would you touch the

us. Why would you touch the murder weapon?

Murder weapon? >> I guess I shouldn't have

>> I guess I shouldn't have touched the knife, huh?

Touched the knife, huh? >> with susanne, we basically

>> with susanne, we basically just wanted to go back the last

just wanted to go back the last couple of days. We wanted to

couple of days. We wanted to know what she was doing, where

know what she was doing, where she was going, where she had

she was going, where she had been. We spoke to her for a

been. We spoke to her for a number of hours, but these

number of hours, but these investigations take time. We

investigations take time. We might have to revisit the same

might have to revisit the same witness over and over again. So

witness over and over again. So we made an appointment for the

we made an appointment for the following day. The next day,

following day. The next day, she hired an attorney and

she hired an attorney and stopped talking to us. She

stopped talking to us. She refused to cooperate. To me,

refused to cooperate. To me, the biggest red flag of all is

the biggest red flag of all is when you hire an attorney and

when you hire an attorney and refuse to help law enforcement

refuse to help law enforcement when your own mother is the

when your own mother is the murder victim. So if you don't

murder victim. So if you don't want to help the people who are

want to help the people who are trying to find the people who

trying to find the people who killed your mother, who are you

killed your mother, who are you going to help? After susanne

going to help? After susanne told us that she wasn't going

told us that she wasn't going to cooperate any further, we

to cooperate any further, we had to refocus our energies. As

had to refocus our energies. As it turns out, there was no dna

it turns out, there was no dna evidence. There was no

evidence. There was no fingerprints. There was no hair,

fingerprints. There was no hair, saliva, nothing. We were beyond

saliva, nothing. We were beyond frustrated, but obviously we

frustrated, but obviously we didn't stop. We kept -- we kept

didn't stop. We kept -- we kept digging. We had to keep moving

digging. We had to keep moving forward. We go back to basics.

Forward. We go back to basics. We take a look at the phone

we take a look at the phone records for peggy. At the same

records for peggy. At the same time, we're getting her son's

time, we're getting her son's phone records and her

phone records and her daughter-in-law's phone records,

daughter-in-law's phone records, as well. I was parsing through

as well. I was parsing through each individual phone call. I

each individual phone call. I got to like the sixth number.

Got to like the sixth number. We discover a phone call at

we discover a phone call at approximately 1:30 in the

approximately 1:30 in the morning the night of the

morning the night of the homicide coming from a throw

homicide coming from a throw phone. The burner phone, I was

phone. The burner phone, I was ecstatic. We also get a

ecstatic. We also get a notification from the alarm

notification from the alarm company that she had spoken to

company that she had spoken to the alarm company because the

the alarm company because the alarm went off around the same

alarm went off around the same time. So we actually have

time. So we actually have peggy's voice speaking to the

peggy's voice speaking to the alarm company, telling the

alarm company, telling the alarm dispatcher that

alarm dispatcher that everything is okay.

Everything is okay. >> hello, this is the

>> hello, this is the monitoring center with bullet

monitoring center with bullet security.

Security. >> this is peggy nadell. The,

>> this is peggy nadell. The, uh, code word is, uh, "max."

uh, code word is, uh, "max." I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. >> that's okay, ma'am.

>> that's okay, ma'am. >> everything's fine.

>> everything's fine. >> I'm glad everything's okay.

>> I'm glad everything's okay. We'll disregard for you. Have a

we'll disregard for you. Have a good night.

Good night. >> it was about a 20-second

>> it was about a 20-second phone call, and in conjunction

phone call, and in conjunction with that, the alarm going off,

with that, the alarm going off, and no forced entry at the

and no forced entry at the front door, at that point, we

front door, at that point, we were positive. This was not a

were positive. This was not a stranger lurking around the

stranger lurking around the neighborhood killing old

neighborhood killing old ladies. This was somebody that

ladies. This was somebody that peggy knew.

Peggy knew.

>> I'm anne martin, and I was a close friend of peggy nadell.

Close friend of peggy nadell. When I found out that peggy was

when I found out that peggy was murdered, I mean, I just -- I

murdered, I mean, I just -- I just couldn't believe it. It

just couldn't believe it. It was Sunday morning. I remember

was Sunday morning. I remember picking up the phone and

picking up the phone and susie's hysterical. She's

susie's hysterical. She's saying, "my mother's gone! My

saying, "my mother's gone! My mother's gone! "

mother's gone! " >> anne, it's susie. My

>> anne, it's susie. My mother's gone.

Mother's gone. >> say, "she passed away."

>> say, "she passed away." >> she's passed away.

>> she's passed away. >> she just didn't even know

>> she just didn't even know what to do. The police were

what to do. The police were questioning her. I think she

questioning her. I think she was just in a state of shock.

Was just in a state of shock. It was unbelievable. People

it was unbelievable. People were saying, "oh, well, she

were saying, "oh, well, she could have done it. Why did she

could have done it. Why did she pull the knife out? " well, I'm

pull the knife out? " well, I'm sure if I saw my mother lying

sure if I saw my mother lying there, I would think, "my

there, I would think, "my goodness, maybe this hurts." I

goodness, maybe this hurts." I don't know. You don't know what

don't know. You don't know what you would do if you're in that

you would do if you're in that situation. The detectives came

situation. The detectives came to my home probably one or two

to my home probably one or two days right after that. You know,

days right after that. You know, asking me all kinds of

asking me all kinds of questions and, of course, they

questions and, of course, they -- they did ask me what kind of

-- they did ask me what kind of a relationship she had with her

a relationship she had with her children. Jimmy and susie, they

children. Jimmy and susie, they were both, I'd say, different.

Were both, I'd say, different. Susie was, uh, strong-minded.

Susie was, uh, strong-minded. She knew what she wanted. She

she knew what she wanted. She could take care of herself.

Could take care of herself. Peggy was more protective of

peggy was more protective of jimmy. I think peggy probably

jimmy. I think peggy probably worried about jimmy a little

worried about jimmy a little more because he was far away

more because he was far away and he did March to a different

and he did March to a different drummer. After he graduated

drummer. After he graduated college, when he went to live

college, when he went to live in florida, he started to work

in florida, he started to work for a hospital as a

for a hospital as a psychologist, and that's where

psychologist, and that's where he met diana. They went

he met diana. They went together for several years

together for several years before they had any intentions

before they had any intentions of getting married. When peggy

of getting married. When peggy found out that diana was

found out that diana was pregnant, she was delighted.

Pregnant, she was delighted. She was beside herself. Peggy

she was beside herself. Peggy would fly to florida to help.

Would fly to florida to help. When peggy would talk about her

when peggy would talk about her grandchildren, her whole face

grandchildren, her whole face would just light up. She just

would just light up. She just thought the world of them.

Thought the world of them. Diana, she liked to have

diana, she liked to have designer clothes. She liked

designer clothes. She liked nice jewelry. They really

nice jewelry. They really couldn't afford all these

couldn't afford all these things. And then she would

things. And then she would depend on peggy. I think the

depend on peggy. I think the issue started to come up

issue started to come up between peggy and diana when

between peggy and diana when diana started to become a

diana started to become a little too demanding. Peggy was

little too demanding. Peggy was always sending them money.

Always sending them money. Peggy said, "you know, diana,

peggy said, "you know, diana, this is just a little bit too

this is just a little bit too much. You know, I won't go

much. You know, I won't go along with this." diana says,

along with this." diana says, "well, if you won't come across

"well, if you won't come across with the money, " she says, "I

with the money, " she says, "I just won't let you see the

just won't let you see the children." well, that just

children." well, that just absolutely devastated peggy. I

absolutely devastated peggy. I mean, not be able to see or

mean, not be able to see or talk to her grandchildren was

talk to her grandchildren was horrible. It was a terrible

horrible. It was a terrible thing to do. Peggy did mention

thing to do. Peggy did mention to me that they were having

to me that they were having problems, diana and jimmy, and

problems, diana and jimmy, and that they might separate. And

that they might separate. And of course, peggy was concerned.

Of course, peggy was concerned. I mean, she was concerned about

I mean, she was concerned about her son, his happiness, and how

her son, his happiness, and how this was going to affect him.

This was going to affect him. Peggy was very astute when it

peggy was very astute when it came to finances. She had her

came to finances. She had her will and her trust. Everything

will and her trust. Everything was in order. Everything was

was in order. Everything was divided equally between her son

divided equally between her son and her daughter. They were to

and her daughter. They were to get the bulk of her estate. She

get the bulk of her estate. She made it clear that if they ever

made it clear that if they ever separated or divorced, that,

separated or divorced, that, you know, jimmy was to get the

you know, jimmy was to get the money and that diana was not to

money and that diana was not to get any of peggy's estate --

get any of peggy's estate -- none -- none whatsoever. So

none -- none whatsoever. So aunt diana, when she found out

aunt diana, when she found out that this was so, of course,

that this was so, of course, was not very happy. After peggy

was not very happy. After peggy died, she came in, just putting

died, she came in, just putting her name on everything she

her name on everything she wanted. She wanted peggy's

wanted. She wanted peggy's jewelry. She wanted peggy's

jewelry. She wanted peggy's purses. Peggy had a lot of nice

purses. Peggy had a lot of nice handbags. She wanted the

handbags. She wanted the furniture from the house. You

furniture from the house. You start thinking and putting two

start thinking and putting two and two together. And you think,

and two together. And you think, "you know, she has a good

"you know, she has a good motive. It's very possible that

motive. It's very possible that she would do something like

she would do something like this."

this."

>> my name is darcy greenberg, and I am a longtime friend of

and I am a longtime friend of susanne. After susanne got out

susanne. After susanne got out of the police station, I was

of the police station, I was waiting for her at her home and

waiting for her at her home and we were treating it as an

we were treating it as an accident. We were, you know,

accident. We were, you know, comforting her because her

comforting her because her mother fell with a knife. It's

mother fell with a knife. It's a different feeling when you're

a different feeling when you're comforting someone for a tragic

comforting someone for a tragic loss like that. And then you

loss like that. And then you get accused of being the one

get accused of being the one that did it. That changes

that did it. That changes everything. Sometimes I think

everything. Sometimes I think the authorities say who has

the authorities say who has access to the house, and 95% of

access to the house, and 95% of the time, it's family. "oh, it

the time, it's family. "oh, it must be her." every day, I was

must be her." every day, I was at her home. We would wave to

at her home. We would wave to the undercover cop sitting in

the undercover cop sitting in front of her house. They

front of her house. They watched every move she made.

Watched every move she made. They had to become more

they had to become more intimate with the family, with

intimate with the family, with susanne, with peggy, to really

susanne, with peggy, to really know who could have done this

know who could have done this to her. I have been speaking

to her. I have been speaking with the investigator since the

with the investigator since the beginning. You take the

beginning. You take the information that there's a lot

information that there's a lot of money involved and you also

of money involved and you also take the information of a knife

take the information of a knife being put through someone's

being put through someone's heart, and they tell you that

heart, and they tell you that it's most likely a family

it's most likely a family person, somebody that had

person, somebody that had something to gain. I looked at

something to gain. I looked at them, and I'm like, "everything

them, and I'm like, "everything you're saying and the reasons

you're saying and the reasons why you think somebody would do

why you think somebody would do this, I agree with you, but

this, I agree with you, but you're looking at the wrong

you're looking at the wrong person." I told them susanne

person." I told them susanne didn't need the money. She had

didn't need the money. She had her own. Susanne was a

her own. Susanne was a laid-back jeans girl with the

laid-back jeans girl with the same kitchen from the 1960s,

same kitchen from the 1960s, the same furniture her dad

the same furniture her dad picked out when she moved in.

Picked out when she moved in. Knowing that it wasn't susanne

knowing that it wasn't susanne 100%, knowing that they felt it

100%, knowing that they felt it was family, my instincts was

was family, my instincts was for them to follow the greed,

for them to follow the greed, follow the money, follow diana.

Follow the money, follow diana. Anyone who didn't really know

anyone who didn't really know peggy would not know her wealth

peggy would not know her wealth because she was not a flaunter.

Because she was not a flaunter. She was very smart about how

she was very smart about how she spent her money, who she

she spent her money, who she spent it on. Peggy was always

spent it on. Peggy was always financially providing whatever

financially providing whatever diana needed because it was

diana needed because it was important to her to have a good

important to her to have a good relationship with diana, to be

relationship with diana, to be able to have that good

able to have that good relationship with her

relationship with her grandchildren. Most of the

grandchildren. Most of the money would just go directly to

money would just go directly to diana. She was in charge of the

diana. She was in charge of the household, the bills, the money,

household, the bills, the money, all of that. Jimmy trusted her.

All of that. Jimmy trusted her. From what the police told me,

from what the police told me, when they spoke to her, she was

when they spoke to her, she was at her cousin's wedding in

at her cousin's wedding in maryland and her phone pinged

maryland and her phone pinged in maryland. And as far as they

in maryland. And as far as they were concerned, that's where

were concerned, that's where she was. I don't know. Maybe I

she was. I don't know. Maybe I watch too much tv. Something

watch too much tv. Something just didn't sit right with me.

Just didn't sit right with me. Just because the phone is

just because the phone is somewhere, it doesn't mean a

somewhere, it doesn't mean a person is there, too.

Person is there, too. Eventually, they noticed that

eventually, they noticed that the phone was not used. It was

the phone was not used. It was just there. She wasn't anywhere

just there. She wasn't anywhere near the area of maryland where

near the area of maryland where the wedding was, and that was

the wedding was, and that was just the beginning of

just the beginning of everything just exploding and

everything just exploding and unraveling and getting to the

unraveling and getting to the truth. Shortly after that, I

truth. Shortly after that, I started getting phone calls at

started getting phone calls at my house, and diana started

my house, and diana started calling me, and she was, you

calling me, and she was, you know, very upset. She was

know, very upset. She was calling me almost every morning,

calling me almost every morning, and it would be from different

and it would be from different phone numbers. And she seemed

phone numbers. And she seemed very rattled and very off and

very rattled and very off and very asking me a lot of

very asking me a lot of questions where it seemed like

questions where it seemed like she was getting nervous, like

she was getting nervous, like the police may be looking at

the police may be looking at her, which I said, "they have

her, which I said, "they have to look at everybody. They have

to look at everybody. They have to look at you. They have to

to look at you. They have to follow their leads, and don't

follow their leads, and don't worry about it." and as each

worry about it." and as each day went on, it felt like it

day went on, it felt like it was getting worse and she was

was getting worse and she was getting more nervous and more

getting more nervous and more upset about her being

upset about her being questioned or her being thought

questioned or her being thought of as a possible suspect. Now,

of as a possible suspect. Now, one morning she called me and

one morning she called me and she thanked me for listening

she thanked me for listening and said she's leaving and

and said she's leaving and taking one of the kids and

taking one of the kids and she's moving back to jamaica. I

she's moving back to jamaica. I got off the phone, and I'm

got off the phone, and I'm thinking to myself, "she's

thinking to myself, "she's leaving the country. That's it.

Leaving the country. That's it. Whether she's guilty or

whether she's guilty or innocent, that's it." once

innocent, that's it." once she's gone, she's gone. That

she's gone, she's gone. That can't bring her back. So I

can't bring her back. So I called the police. I said,

called the police. I said, "listen, she's leaving. She's

"listen, she's leaving. She's got her tickets. She's getting

got her tickets. She's getting on a plane. If you think she

on a plane. If you think she did this, you need to go get

did this, you need to go get her."

her."

>> my name is richard moran, and I was a prosecutor handling

and I was a prosecutor handling this matter. When the diana

this matter. When the diana nadell called her friend and

nadell called her friend and said, "I'm leaving jim and

said, "I'm leaving jim and we're going to jamaica, " it

we're going to jamaica, " it was at that point we decided,

was at that point we decided, you know what, we've got to go

you know what, we've got to go to florida. You've got to be

to florida. You've got to be very careful when you

very careful when you investigate these cases because

investigate these cases because one wrong move, and your target

one wrong move, and your target knows you're looking at them.

Knows you're looking at them. When you first start

when you first start investigating a case -- it's

investigating a case -- it's her daughter-in-law. Your

her daughter-in-law. Your thought really isn't that she's

thought really isn't that she's gonna be the one that did this.

Gonna be the one that did this. Diane, she had an alibi that

diane, she had an alibi that she was at a wedding in

she was at a wedding in washington, d.C. What it kept

washington, d.C. What it kept coming back to is, yes, her

coming back to is, yes, her phone was in d.C., but other

phone was in d.C., but other than those phone calls, there

than those phone calls, there was really nothing to

was really nothing to corroborate that she was there.

Corroborate that she was there. A big key of this investigation

a big key of this investigation was the fact that just prior to

was the fact that just prior to peggy nadell being murdered,

peggy nadell being murdered, her phone received a call from

her phone received a call from an alarm company. And in

an alarm company. And in looking at the caller I.D., we

looking at the caller I.D., we saw that just before the alarm

saw that just before the alarm company called, it was what

company called, it was what some people called a burner

some people called a burner phone -- a phone that's prepaid,

phone -- a phone that's prepaid, that's not really associated

that's not really associated with any one specific person.

With any one specific person. When we learned that the track

when we learned that the track phone was purchased in florida

phone was purchased in florida so close to diana nadell's home,

so close to diana nadell's home, that was a game-changer for us,

that was a game-changer for us, and it really shifted the focus

and it really shifted the focus of our investigation. We did a

of our investigation. We did a thorough analysis of diana

thorough analysis of diana nadell's phone records. Just a

nadell's phone records. Just a day or two before peggy nadell

day or two before peggy nadell was murdered, all of a sudden,

was murdered, all of a sudden, diana nadell starts speaking on

diana nadell starts speaking on the phone with a person named

the phone with a person named andrea benson who's in

andrea benson who's in washington, d.C. She also

washington, d.C. She also starts communicating with a

starts communicating with a person named tanisha joyner in

person named tanisha joyner in the days following the murder

the days following the murder -- people she had never spoken

-- people she had never spoken with prior to this happening.

With prior to this happening. At that point, we had enough to

at that point, we had enough to go up on a wiretap. What we

go up on a wiretap. What we decided would be the perfect

decided would be the perfect trigger is, let's ask diana

trigger is, let's ask diana nadell about her alibi. Who was

nadell about her alibi. Who was she with in washington, d.C.?

She with in washington, d.C.? And we were asking her if they

and we were asking her if they could just give us a call and

could just give us a call and confirm her alibi. And once we

confirm her alibi. And once we did that, her phone calls

did that, her phone calls exploded. She reached out to

exploded. She reached out to tanisha joyner, and there was

tanisha joyner, and there was this very interesting call.

This very interesting call. Tanisha says, "wait a minute.

Tanisha says, "wait a minute. Was I with you from 9:00 p.M.

Was I with you from 9:00 p.M. To 6:00 a.M., or from 6:00 a.M.

To 6:00 a.M., or from 6:00 a.M. To 9:00 p.M.? " because she

to 9:00 p.M.? " because she doesn't know because she wasn't

doesn't know because she wasn't with her. There were several

with her. There were several phone calls with andrea benson.

Phone calls with andrea benson. They wouldn't talk about the

they wouldn't talk about the case on the phone, but there

case on the phone, but there was one time where andrea

was one time where andrea benson said, "listen, I'm in

benson said, "listen, I'm in this with you. I'm in this,

this with you. I'm in this, too." the adrenaline starts

too." the adrenaline starts pumping. We feel like we're

pumping. We feel like we're really getting to the point

really getting to the point where our theories are now --

where our theories are now -- they're not theories. Now it's

they're not theories. Now it's evidence. It was after that

evidence. It was after that phone call about her going to

phone call about her going to jamaica, we decided to move. We

jamaica, we decided to move. We sent people to interview diana

sent people to interview diana and all of the people that she

and all of the people that she had involved in this plot. We

had involved in this plot. We had the teams actually with

had the teams actually with people under surveillance. At

people under surveillance. At the word "go, " everybody went

the word "go, " everybody went into action. Tanisha joyner was

into action. Tanisha joyner was taken into custody. Andrea

taken into custody. Andrea benson was taken into custody.

Benson was taken into custody. And that all happened

and that all happened simultaneously. Once these

simultaneously. Once these people are being spoken to and

people are being spoken to and interviewed by detectives,

interviewed by detectives, diana nadell's entire story

diana nadell's entire story starts to break down. Tanisha

starts to break down. Tanisha joyner was being interviewed in

joyner was being interviewed in baltimore and was telling the

baltimore and was telling the detectives there that diana

detectives there that diana nadell had asked her to make

nadell had asked her to make phone calls that evening. When

phone calls that evening. When we interviewed andrea benson,

we interviewed andrea benson, we learned a lot of details

we learned a lot of details about this case that we just

about this case that we just didn't know, things that we

didn't know, things that we thought were always going to

thought were always going to remain a mystery. She met diana

remain a mystery. She met diana nadell through her aunt.

Nadell through her aunt. Andrea's aunt was supposed to

andrea's aunt was supposed to pick up diana nadell from the

pick up diana nadell from the airport in washington, d.C.,

airport in washington, d.C., but she couldn't, and so she

but she couldn't, and so she sent andrea. When she picked

sent andrea. When she picked diana nadell up, diana asked

diana nadell up, diana asked her if she wanted to make $10,

her if she wanted to make $10, 000, and to do so, she would

000, and to do so, she would have to go up to new york and

have to go up to new york and kill diana's mother-in-law.

Kill diana's mother-in-law. While driving up to valley

while driving up to valley cottage, diana had andrea

cottage, diana had andrea benson activate the burner

benson activate the burner phone, and that was along route

phone, and that was along route 95. On their way up, diana,

95. On their way up, diana, every time they were at a toll

every time they were at a toll plaza, would hide her face so

plaza, would hide her face so that her face couldn't be seen

that her face couldn't be seen on camera. Once they got to

on camera. Once they got to peggy nadell's home in valley

peggy nadell's home in valley cottage, diana nadell called

cottage, diana nadell called peggy from the burner phone and

peggy from the burner phone and told her she was in the area.

Told her she was in the area. Could she come in? It had to

could she come in? It had to have been such a surreal

have been such a surreal scenario for her. Her

scenario for her. Her daughter-in-law is at her door

daughter-in-law is at her door with a stranger. It's 1:00 in

with a stranger. It's 1:00 in the morning. Nonetheless, it

the morning. Nonetheless, it was her daughter-in-law, and

was her daughter-in-law, and she let her in, gave her a

she let her in, gave her a glass of water, sat down and

glass of water, sat down and spoke with her. At that point,

spoke with her. At that point, diana asked peggy, "can we go

diana asked peggy, "can we go upstairs? " peggy told diana

upstairs? " peggy told diana she was gonna go use the

she was gonna go use the restroom, so diane and andrea

restroom, so diane and andrea were in the room alone. And

were in the room alone. And diana begins, like, "we're

diana begins, like, "we're gonna do this now." and andrea

gonna do this now." and andrea told us that she had taken off

told us that she had taken off the strap from her pocketbook.

The strap from her pocketbook. It unhooked on either side. And

it unhooked on either side. And she was gonna use that to

she was gonna use that to strangle peggy. Diana starts

strangle peggy. Diana starts talking to peggy about the

talking to peggy about the family jewelry. And they start

family jewelry. And they start going down the stairs, and

going down the stairs, and peggy's in front, andrea's

peggy's in front, andrea's right behind her. That time,

right behind her. That time, andrea starts strangling peggy

andrea starts strangling peggy from behind. And in

from behind. And in interviewing andrea, she kept

interviewing andrea, she kept repeating the phrase, "but she

repeating the phrase, "but she wouldn't go. She wouldn't die."

wouldn't go. She wouldn't die." diana ran to the kitchen and

diana ran to the kitchen and grabbed a kitchen knife and

grabbed a kitchen knife and brought it back and was telling

brought it back and was telling andrea, "stab her! Stab her! "

andrea, "stab her! Stab her! " and andrea said she refused to

and andrea said she refused to do it. And so while she was

do it. And so while she was choking peggy, diana stabbed

choking peggy, diana stabbed peggy nadell in the chest. Once

peggy nadell in the chest. Once diana was picked up in florida

diana was picked up in florida and brought in for an interview,

and brought in for an interview, at first, she didn't know why

at first, she didn't know why she was there. And then she saw

she was there. And then she saw detective lorence and detective

detective lorence and detective cole-hatchard walk in the room,

cole-hatchard walk in the room, and her face dropped. The first

and her face dropped. The first words she said was, "you think

words she said was, "you think I killed my mother-in-law? "

I killed my mother-in-law? " >> you know who we are, right?

>> you know who we are, right? >> yeah, why wouldn't I know

>> yeah, why wouldn't I know who you are? They think I

who you are? They think I killed my mother-in-law. Is

killed my mother-in-law. Is that what this is about? I did

that what this is about? I did not murder my mother-in-law.

Not murder my mother-in-law. >> under those circumstances,

>> under those circumstances, it was very telling. Diana

it was very telling. Diana nadell and andrea benson were

nadell and andrea benson were both arrested and charged with

both arrested and charged with murder and had to wait to be

murder and had to wait to be extradited to the state of new

extradited to the state of new york. Just when we thought this

york. Just when we thought this case couldn't get any crazier,

case couldn't get any crazier, it did.

It did.

>> I was fast asleep. It was like 11:00 at night, 10:00 at

like 11:00 at night, 10:00 at night, and bobby came in and

night, and bobby came in and woke me up and said, "your

woke me up and said, "your cousin is here." I came out.

Cousin is here." I came out. They said, they told me, "they

they said, they told me, "they arrested diana, " and I was --

arrested diana, " and I was -- I was shocked, but I wasn't

I was shocked, but I wasn't surprised. I think the first

surprised. I think the first thing I said, "I knew she had

thing I said, "I knew she had something to do with it."

something to do with it." >> when andrea benson and diana

>> when andrea benson and diana nadell were first charged, they

nadell were first charged, they were charged with murder in the

were charged with murder in the second degree. Once andrea

second degree. Once andrea benson flipped and became a

benson flipped and became a witness for the prosecution, we

witness for the prosecution, we were then able to upgrade the

were then able to upgrade the charges against diana nadell to

charges against diana nadell to murder in the first degree,

murder in the first degree, murder for hire. Tanisha joyner

murder for hire. Tanisha joyner also became state's evidence

also became state's evidence and pleaded guilty to a lesser

and pleaded guilty to a lesser crime.

Crime. >> andrea, she doesn't come

>> andrea, she doesn't come from a lot. She's had a tough

from a lot. She's had a tough upbringing, as it were, and she

upbringing, as it were, and she has quite a criminal history.

Has quite a criminal history. She has a young child at home,

she has a young child at home, doesn't have a husband, works a

doesn't have a husband, works a menial job at one of the local

menial job at one of the local supermarkets. Diana offers her

supermarkets. Diana offers her $10,000 if she would help her

$10,000 if she would help her kill peggy. She agrees on the

kill peggy. She agrees on the drive from the airport.

Drive from the airport. >> andrea benson only received

>> andrea benson only received $500 up front and was going to

$500 up front and was going to get the rest of the money when

get the rest of the money when diana got her money, which

diana got her money, which never came, obviously.

Never came, obviously. >> I received a phone call from

>> I received a phone call from a detective in the jurisdiction

a detective in the jurisdiction of where diana nadell was being

of where diana nadell was being held in custody, pending trial,

held in custody, pending trial, and we were told that an inmate

and we were told that an inmate had reported that diana nadell

had reported that diana nadell tried to hire her to arrange

tried to hire her to arrange for the murder of tanisha

for the murder of tanisha joyner. There are some people

joyner. There are some people that can't help but to try to

that can't help but to try to control every aspect of a

control every aspect of a situation, and diana nadell

situation, and diana nadell kept trying to do that even

kept trying to do that even while she was in jail. We met

while she was in jail. We met with the inmate. She was fitted

with the inmate. She was fitted with a recording device and

with a recording device and went back into the area where

went back into the area where diana nadell was, and at that

diana nadell was, and at that time, diana nadell did exactly

time, diana nadell did exactly what the inmate said she did.

What the inmate said she did. She gave her the information of

she gave her the information of tanisha joyner, said she needed

tanisha joyner, said she needed to be dead. We went into grand

to be dead. We went into grand jury and indicted diana nadell,

jury and indicted diana nadell, at that point, for attempting

at that point, for attempting to have this witness murdered.

To have this witness murdered. And at that point, she had no

and at that point, she had no choice but to plead guilty.

Choice but to plead guilty. Diana nadell's attorney came to

diana nadell's attorney came to us and asked us if we would

us and asked us if we would consider a plea of 23 to life.

Consider a plea of 23 to life. And after speaking with the

and after speaking with the family and weighing everything,

family and weighing everything, for us, that was something we

for us, that was something we could live with.

Could live with. >> I saw diana when she was

>> I saw diana when she was being arraigned. That's the

being arraigned. That's the first time I saw her after my

first time I saw her after my mother's murder. She wouldn't

mother's murder. She wouldn't even turn around and look at

even turn around and look at me.

Me. >> this murder was about greed.

>> this murder was about greed. Diana learned that if she left

diana learned that if she left her husband prior to peggy's

her husband prior to peggy's death, she would get nothing.

Death, she would get nothing. And that wasn't something she

and that wasn't something she was willing to accept.

Was willing to accept. >> diana saw my mother as a

>> diana saw my mother as a cash machine. Diana thought she

cash machine. Diana thought she knew what my mother was worth.

Knew what my mother was worth. I didn't know what my mother

I didn't know what my mother was worth. I knew there was

was worth. I knew there was money. I didn't know how much

money. I didn't know how much money. It didn't matter.

Money. It didn't matter. >> it sounds cheesy, but you

>> it sounds cheesy, but you become a prosecutor because

become a prosecutor because it's one of the only jobs in

it's one of the only jobs in the world where your job is to

the world where your job is to just do justice and to do the

just do justice and to do the right thing. This case began

right thing. This case began with walking into peggy

with walking into peggy nadell's home and seeing her

nadell's home and seeing her brutally murdered on her floor,

brutally murdered on her floor, and it ended with diana nadell

and it ended with diana nadell serving what I believe will be

serving what I believe will be the rest of her life in prison.

The rest of her life in prison. >> I know that diana is not

>> I know that diana is not enjoying jail. I've heard

enjoying jail. I've heard through the grapevine, diana

through the grapevine, diana refuses to tell anybody why she

refuses to tell anybody why she is there. I guess she's

is there. I guess she's embarrassed. She doesn't want

embarrassed. She doesn't want anybody to know she's a

anybody to know she's a murderer. I think, to this day,

murderer. I think, to this day, she's still claiming she was

she's still claiming she was framed.

Framed. >> she just ruined so many

>> she just ruined so many lives. You know, friends,

lives. You know, friends, family. I mean, what susie had

family. I mean, what susie had to go through and even, I'm

to go through and even, I'm sure, what jimmy had to go

sure, what jimmy had to go through.

Through. >> now susanne and jimmy have

>> now susanne and jimmy have to live without their mother

to live without their mother and live with the nightmare of

and live with the nightmare of what happened. Not only did

what happened. Not only did susanne and jimmy lose their

susanne and jimmy lose their mother, they lost each other.

Mother, they lost each other.