Original subtitles

♪♪

Joe: IT'S 1:30 IN THE MORNING IN BENSALEM, PENNSYLVANIA,

20 MILES NORTH OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA.

JOSEPH LEAR IS AT A BUS STOP, WAITING FOR A RIDE

FROM HIS FRIEND CHRISTIAN.

AND CHRISTIAN, WHO IS NORMALLY INCREDIBLY RELIABLE,

JUST ISN'T SHOWING UP.

SO, NOW MR. LEAR TAKES A CAB TO CHRISTIAN'S HOUSE

WITH EVERY INTENTION OF GIVING CHRISTIAN A PIECE OF HIS MIND

AS TO WHY HE LEFT HIM ABANDONED AT 1:30 IN THE MORNING.

ALL THE LIGHTS ARE OFF.

IT LOOKS AS IF NOBODY'S THERE. WHAT'S GOING ON?

HE STEPS INTO THIS HOUSE IN THE DARK.

[ CELLPHONE SCREEN CRUNCHES ]

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

MR. LEAR TURNS AROUND

AND SEES THAT THE INTERIOR OF THIS PLACE

LOOKS LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF IN IT.

HE INSTINCTIVELY KNOWS THAT SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG, INDEED,

AND IT FRIGHTENS HIM.

CHRISTIAN?

HE BEGINS TO SEARCH THE HOME.

HE PUSHES THE BATHROOM DOOR OPEN...

OH, MY GOD! CHRISTIAN!

...AND STAGGERS BACKWARDS

BECAUSE HE IS STRICKEN WITH TERROR.

I SPENT MY CAREER CLOSING MURDER CASES.

BUT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO ANSWERED THE CALL.

IT TAKES A RARE BREED TO SOLVE THE UNSOLVABLE...

TO CATCH A RUTHLESS KILLER...

TO FIND JUSTICE FOR THE DEAD.

THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO BE AN AMERICAN DETECTIVE.

Cullen: I'M DETECTIVE CHRIS Cullen,

I WORK FOR THE BENSALEM POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IN 2005, I WAS A DETECTIVE

IN THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION.

[ CELLPHONE BUZZING ]

IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

HEADQUARTERS CALLED, WOKE ME UP.

WHENEVER THERE'S A HOMICIDE, THEY CALL EVERYBODY IN.

SO I TAKE A DEEP BREATH

AND KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG NIGHT.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, I WENT RIGHT TO THE CRIME SCENE.

THERE WAS MARKED PATROL CARS THERE.

NOBODY CAN GO IN, NOBODY CAN GO OUT.

♪♪

Joe: McMULLEN IS INFORMED

THAT THERE'S A 27-YEAR-OLD INDIVIDUAL,

NO LONGER ALIVE, WHOSE NAME IS CHRISTIAN ROJAS.

Coughlin: CHRISTIAN WAS FROM COSTA RICA. HE HAD GROWN UP THERE.

HE WENT TO A GIFTED HIGH SCHOOL, AND HE HAD BECOME

A SKILLED WEB DESIGNER AND COMPUTER EXPERT.

ONE OF THE REASONS HE WAS IN THE UNITED STATES

WAS TO WORK FOR A COMPUTER FIRM.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

McMullen: WHEN YOU ENTER A CRIME SCENE,

YOU DON'T WANT TO DISTURB ANYTHING.

I WAS ALWAYS TAUGHT, THE FIRST THING YOU DO

IS PUT YOUR HANDS IN YOUR POCKETS

SO YOU DON'T SCREW ANYTHING UP BY TOUCHING IT.

I ENTERED THE LIVING ROOM, AND IT WAS OBVIOUS TO ME

THAT THERE HAD BEEN SOME TYPE OF RANSACKING.

CUSHIONS WERE RIPPED OPEN, FURNITURE WAS MOVED,

EVERYTHING WAS OUT OF PLACE.

THIS IS NOT THE USUAL BURGLARY.

THIS PLACE HAS BEEN DESTROYED.

WHOEVER WAS IN HERE WAS CONVINCED

THERE WAS SOMETHING OF GREAT VALUE TO THEM

CONCEALED SOMEWHERE IN THIS HOUSE,

AND THEY TORE THE PLACE APART TO FIND IT.

McMullen: I SAW A PHOTOGRAPH THAT WAS ORIGINALLY ON THE WALL,

THAT WAS BROKEN, AND IT HAD THREE PEOPLE IN IT --

TWO MEN AND A WOMAN.

IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DECEDENT

WAS ONE OF THE TWO MEN IN THAT PHOTOGRAPH.

Joe: IT'S INTERESTING THAT THIS PHOTOGRAPH

HAS BEEN PURPOSELY DESTROYED.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT SPEAKS TO EMOTION,

WHERE SOMEONE IS SO ANGRY THEY BREAK THE PICTURE?

OR IS IT BECAUSE PEOPLE

HIDE THINGS IN PICTURE FRAMES, AS WELL?

McMullen: AS I STARTED WALKING TOWARDS THE BATHROOM,

I'M SEEING SOME BLOOD ON THE WALLS,

SOME ON THE CARPET.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]

Joe: SO, THIS BEGINS IN THE HALLWAY.

THE VICTIM IS BEING SAVAGELY ASSAULTED,

AND RETREATING TOWARD THE BATHROOM

TO AVOID THE ATTACK.

WHEN McMULLEN PUSHES OPEN THAT BATHROOM DOOR,

HE SMELLS AN UNMISTAKABLE SMELL

THAT YOU NEVER, EVER FORGET --

THE SMELL OF DEATH.

McMullen: I REMEMBER SEEING THE VICTIM IN THE BATHTUB,

AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, "WHO COULD DO THIS TO SOMEBODY?"

IT WAS AN AWFUL, TERRIBLE CRIME SCENE.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

THE TUB WAS FILLED WITH WATER, BUT THE WATER WAS BLACK.

IT WAS FULL OF BLOOD,

AND THERE WAS A PILLOW OVER THE FACE OF THE DECEDENT.

HE HAD HAD A SOCK STUFFED IN HIS MOUTH,

SOCKS WRAPPED AROUND HIS NECK.

HE'D BEEN HOG-TIED WITH ELECTRICAL CORDS.

Joe: McMULLEN NOTICES THE IMPRINT OF A HUMAN FACE

IN BLOOD ON A CERAMIC WALL OF THE BATHTUB.

THIS IS VERY, VERY VIOLENT.

McMullen: I REMEMBER THINKING THAT THIS POOR INDIVIDUAL

DID NOT DIE A QUICK DEATH.

SEEMED TO ME THAT HE HAD BEEN BEATEN AND TORTURED.

IT JUST MADE IT VERY EVIDENT TO ME THAT THIS PERSON

MORE THAN LIKELY KNEW WHO IT WAS, WHO ATTACKED THEM,

AND THAT THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF EMOTIONAL ANGER,

MOTIVATION BEHIND IT.

IN THE WATER,

THERE WAS JUST VARIOUS CONDOMS FLOATING.

THEY HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM A BOX AND THROWN INTO THE WATER.

ALMOST LIKE A SYMBOLIC GESTURE.

Joe: McMULLEN'S MIND DRIFTS BACK TO THAT CRUSHED PHOTOGRAPH.

McMullen: THE CONDOMS REINFORCED MY THINKING

THAT MAYBE THE TWO MEN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH

BOTH HAD AN INTEREST IN THE FEMALE

AND MAYBE THIS HAD TO DO WITH JEALOUSY

AND HAD GOTTEN WAY OUT OF HAND.

THE LEVEL OF VIOLENCE INDICATES PERSONAL MOTIVATION.

IT SAYS EMOTION,

AND EMOTION OFTEN COMES FROM LOVE INTERRUPTED.

RICH, WHERE'S THE GUY THAT CALLED THIS IN?

RIGHT OVER THERE.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

Coughlin: McMULLEN INTERVIEWS JOSEPH LEAR RIGHT AWAY.

HE KNOWS THAT HE'S GOT TO START

WITH THE FIRST PERSON THAT FOUND THE BODY.

McMullen: HE WAS VERY NERVOUS.

HE WAS RUNNING ON ADRENALINE.

HE HAD PROBABLY EXPERIENCED THE MOST TERRIFYING THING

THAT HE HAD EVER GONE THROUGH IN HIS LIFE.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT CHRISTIAN?

HE WAS ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS.

JOSEPH LEAR AND CHRISTIAN MET IN COSTA RICA AT SOME POINT.

BENSALEM WAS THE LEARS' HOMETOWN.

AND WHEN CHRISTIAN RELOCATED TO THE UNITED STATES,

HE SUGGESTED THAT CHRISTIAN COME THERE.

Coughlin: EVEN THOUGH HE HAD ONLY BEEN IN THE UNITED STATES A FEW YEARS,

CHRISTIAN DID WELL WITH PEOPLE. HE WAS AN AFFABLE PERSON,

SOMEONE THAT PEOPLE WANTED TO BE AROUND.

AND HE WAS ALSO VERY MUCH IN TOUCH WITH HIS FAMILY STILL.

McMullen: HE HAD FAMILY BACK IN COSTA RICA --

A MOTHER AND A COUPLE SISTERS.

HE WOULD SEND THEM MOST OF HIS MONEY.

SO HE LIVED VERY MODESTLY.

Joe: MR. LEAR CAN'T IMAGINE MR. ROJAS HAVING AN ENEMY IN THE WORLD.

MR. ROJAS HAS NEVER USED NARCOTICS.

HAS NO CRIMINAL RECORD, WHICH McMULLEN CONFIRMS

HE IS YOUR EVERYDAY INNOCENT PERSON

CARRYING ON A CAREER IN THE UNITED STATES.

McMullen: WHEN I SHOWED JOSEPH LEAR THE PHOTOGRAPH

THAT HAD CHRISTIAN AND THE OTHER COUPLE IN IT,

HE TOLD ME THAT THAT WAS

MARK RUSSO AND HIS WIFE, SARAH.

Joe: HE REPORTS THAT THEY USED TO LIVE TOGETHER.

THEY WERE ROOMMATES WITH CHRISTIAN ROJAS,

BUT CHRISTIAN MOVED OUT.

THE QUESTION BECOMES,

UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES DO CHRISTIAN MOVE OUT?

McMullen: I HAD THIS THOUGHT GO THROUGH MY MIND

THAT, YOU KNOW, "IS THIS SOME TYPE OF A LOVE TRIANGLE?"

THEN THE QUESTION BECOMES IN McMULLEN'S MIND

"WELL, WHO LOVES WHO?"

THE OLD EXPRESSION IS CERTAINLY TRUE

IN AFFAIRS OF THE HEART --

"TWO'S COMPANY AND THREE IS A CROWD."

WAS CHRISTIAN THE CROWD,

OR WAS HE PART OF THE COMPANY?

[ GASPING ]

AND SOMEBODY DECIDED IT WAS TIME FOR HIM TO GO AWAY PERMANENTLY.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

Joe: 27-YEAR-OLD CHRISTIAN ROJAS

IS FOUND MURDERED IN HIS HOME IN BENSALEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

DETECTIVE McMULLEN BELIEVES THERE COULD BE,

MIGHT BE, A LOVE TRIANGLE AT THE BASIS OF THIS CRIME.

♪♪

McMullen: AT THIS POINT, WE WANTED TO FIND OUT

ABOUT MARK RUSSO AND HIS WIFE, SARAH.

BUT BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO EVEN

OBTAIN CONTACT INFORMATION FOR MARK RUSSO,

HE ACTUALLY SHOWED UP AT THE POLICE STATION ON HIS OWN.

DID RUSSO PRESENT HIMSELF BECAUSE HE'S FISHING

FOR INFORMATION FROM THE POLICE ABOUT WHAT THEY KNOW

OR WHAT THEY MAY SUSPECT?

OR IS HE JUST CONCERNED ABOUT HIS FRIEND?

SO, HOW EXACTLY DID CHRISTIAN COME TO LIVE

WITH YOU AND YOUR WIFE?

WELL, WE ACTUALLY MET IN COSTA RICA.

McMullen: HE EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD ACTUALLY HELPED

CHRISTIAN FIND WORK HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

HE DID LIVE WITH HIM AND HIS WIFE,

ALTHOUGH HIM AND HIS WIFE WEREN'T MARRIED AT THE TIME,

BUT THE RELATIONSHIP WAS BLOOMING.

AND IN A GESTURE TO ALLOW THEM THEIR PRIVACY,

CHRISTIAN THEN MOVED OUT AND GOT HIS OWN PLACE.

Coughlin: MARK POINTED OUT, IT WASN'T ACRIMONIOUS.

THEY REMAINED FRIENDS AFTER THIS.

McMullen: I ASKED MARK, "DID CHRISTIAN EVER HAVE

ANY TYPE OF ATTRACTION TO YOUR WIFE,

OR WAS THERE ANYTHING LIKE THAT GOING ON?"

AND HE SAID, "ABSOLUTELY NOT."

HE WAS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THAT,

AND JUST LIKE JOE LEAR, HE SEEMED TO BE SINCERELY UPSET

AND BLOWN AWAY BY WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

Joe: McMULLEN FINDS HIM TO BE QUITE BELIEVABLE.

SO MR. RUSSO IS OUT AS A SUSPECT.

McMullen: WITH ANY HOMICIDES, YOU WANT TO LEARN THE VICTIMOLOGY,

SO WE WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT, "DID HE HAVE ANY ROOMMATES

WAS HE IN A RELATIONSHIP, WHERE DID HE WORK?"

THINK ABOUT, LIKE, A GIRLFRIEND.

WELL, HE DOES HAVE AN EX.

MARK TOLD US ABOUT A GIRL NAMED HEATHER

THAT CHRISTIAN HAD BEEN INVOLVED WITH.

Coughlin: HE WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION IT WAS OVER,

THOUGH, ABOUT A WEEK EARLIER,

THE GIRL HAD REACHED OUT TO CHRISTIAN.

Joe: SHE'D NEEDED A PLACE TO STAY.

AND MR. RUSSO SAID THAT CHRISTIAN WAS

A WARMHEARTED, CARING PERSON,

AND HE WOULD NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO SUFFER

BECAUSE OF HIS UNWILLINGNESS TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

SO HE ALLOWED HER TO STAY WITH HIM

IN THE VERY RECENT PAST.

WELL, THAT ADDED SOMETHING NEW TO WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT.

I WANTED TO FIND OUT WHAT HEATHER'S LAST NAME WAS

AND WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME HE SAW HER.

I ONLY MET HER ONCE OR TWICE.

BUT I CAN ASK AROUND.

BY THE WAY, WHAT DID YOU GUYS DO WITH CHRISTIAN'S CAR?

Joe: RUSSO SAID, "I HAD THIS OLD CAR, GREEN IN COLOR,

THAT HAD A LOT OF MILES ON IT, AND CHRISTIAN DIDN'T HAVE A CAR,

SO I GAVE IT TO HIM."

McMullen: THE CAR WAS NOT ANYWHERE TO BE FOUND

IN THE APARTMENT COMPLEX WHERE CHRISTIAN LIVED.

SO, AT THAT POINT, THE CAR WAS MISSING.

WHERE IS IT?

THE ONLY PLACE IT COULD BE

IS IN THE HANDS OF A MURDERER.

McMullen: KNOWING THAT THERE WAS A CAR INVOLVED,

AND THAT THE CAR WAS NOW MISSING, WAS HUGE.

THAT THEN LED US TO BELIEVE, "OKAY, IF WE CAN FIND THE CAR,

THEN MAYBE WE CAN FIND THE KILLER."

Joe: SO McMULLEN PUTS OUT THIS DESCRIPTION OF THIS VEHICLE

STOLEN IN THE COURSE OF A HOMICIDE,

SO IF ANY POLICEMAN ANYWHERE SEES THIS CAR IN MOTION,

THEY'RE GOING TO STOP THE CAR AND ARREST THE CONTENTS.

McMullen: IN THE MEANTIME, WE'RE LOOKING FOR CLUES,

WE'RE LOOKING TO LINK THINGS TOGETHER.

Joe: OFTEN AT A CRIME SCENE, YOU CAN'T CLEARLY SEE A BODY.

THE LIGHTING ISN'T VERY GOOD.

THE POSITION OF THE BODY OBSTRUCTS CERTAIN WOUNDS.

SO IT HAS TO BE DONE IN A CORONER'S OFFICE

UNDER BRIGHT LIGHT.

McMullen: THE RATE OF DECOMPOSITION SHOWED THAT CHRISTIAN

WAS PROBABLY DEAD FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO DAYS

BEFORE HE WAS DISCOVERED.

IT'S A HORRIBLE SITUATION.

THE VICTIM SUFFERED ENORMOUSLY DURING THE COURSE OF HIS DEMISE.

HE HAD LACERATIONS AND HEAD WOUNDS FROM BEING BLUDGEONED

WITH A BLUNT INSTRUMENT OF SOME TYPE.

HE'D EITHER BEEN KNEE-DROPPED OR KICKED IN THE CHEST,

WITH A SERIOUS BRUISE ON HIS STERNUM.

McMullen: THERE WERE OTHER INJURIES TO HIS BODY,

BUT THEY WERE JUST METHODS OF TORTURE.

WHAT HAD CAUSED CHRISTIAN'S DEATH

WAS ACTUALLY BLUNT-FORCE TRAUMA AND ASPHYXIATION.

Joe: THE CORONER SAYS

THAT THE KNOT OF THE TUBE SOCK AROUND THE NECK

WAS SUFFICIENT TO RESTRICT THE AIR SUPPLY.

THE VICTIM HAD BITTEN THROUGH HIS LIP WITH HIS TEETH,

STRUGGLING TO GET AIR IN HIS SYSTEM.

McMullen: THERE WERE NO DEFENSIVE WOUNDS NOTED ON CHRISTIAN'S BODY

AT THE AUTOPSY, INDICATING THAT WHOEVER HAD ATTACKED HIM

HAD IMMEDIATELY OVERPOWERED HIM

AND THAT THERE WASN'T MUCH OF A CONTEST.

Joe: SO McMULLEN BELIEVES HE'S PROBABLY LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY

QUITE A BIT BIGGER THAN ROJAS, TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL HIM,

TO ATTACK HIM IN THE MANNER IN WHICH HE WAS ATTACKED.

WHO WOULD DO THIS?

McMullen: CHRISTIAN'S FAMILY WAS IN COSTA RICA,

AND OBVIOUSLY WORD HAD GOTTEN TO THEM

AND THEY WERE DEVASTATED.

FOR ME, THE DRIVING FORCE IS ALWAYS THE VICTIM,

GETTING JUSTICE FOR THE VICTIM AND THEIR FAMILIES.

SO, IN THIS CASE, IT WAS ALL ABOUT CHRISTIAN.

Harran: I'VE KNOWN DETECTIVE McMULLEN FOR 28 YEARS.

HE DOESN'T STOP.

HE'LL KEEP DRILLING DOWN AND DRILLING.

AND IF HE GETS ASSIGNED TO YOUR CASE,

CHANCES ARE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO RUN FROM IT.

♪♪

ANY ANSWER ON CHRISTIAN'S CAR?

NOTHING YET, BUT THESE PHONES

HAVE BEEN RINGING ALL MORNING.

McMullen: WORD TRAVELS QUICKLY.

IT HAD GOTTEN OUT IN THE COMMUNITY

THAT SOMEBODY HAD BEEN MURDERED IN THEIR HOME

AND THAT POLICE HAD YET TO IDENTIFY

AND/OR APPREHEND THE SUSPECT.

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

DETECTIVE McMULLEN.

Coughlin: THIS IS A SCARY CRIME

THAT HAS HAPPENED IN A SUBURBAN TOWN.

PEOPLE ARE REACTING TO IT. THEY WERE HORRIFIED.

Harran: IN BENSALEM, OUR CRIME THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH

IS MAINLY THEFTS AND PROPERTY CRIME, BURGLARIES.

WE DON'T GET A LOT OF HOMICIDES.

IF WE GET HALF A DOZEN HOMICIDES A YEAR, THAT'S A LOT FOR US.

THIS WAS ABOUT THE FOURTH HOMICIDE

THAT I'D BEEN INVOLVED WITH SINCE I'D BECOME A DETECTIVE.

SO, THERE'S DEFINITELY PRESSURE. THERE'S PRESSURE FROM THE BOSS.

McMULLEN AND HIS DEPARTMENT ARE OVERWHELMED

BY A NUMBER OF TIPS

THAT ARE MEANINGLESS AND SOMEWHAT NONSENSICAL

FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE IN PANIC MODE.

BUT ONE TIP DOES COME IN THAT HAS SOME VALUE.

McMullen: I'D BEEN CONTACTED BY A JOURNALIST

FOR THE BUCKS COUNTY COURIER TIMES.

HE HAD RECEIVED AN E-MAIL FROM A GENTLEMAN

WHO IS A FRIEND OF CHRISTIAN ROJAS'.

CHECK OUT THIS E-MAIL I JUST GOT.

Joe: THE E-MAIL WENT ON TO EXPLAIN

THAT CHRISTIAN ROJAS HAD RECENTLY BEEN OFFERED

A DREAM JOB IN COSTA RICA

FOR AN AMERICAN COMPANY WHO HAD RELOCATED THERE.

THE WRITER OF THE E-MAIL GOES ON TO SAY

THAT ROJAS' CURRENT EMPLOYER

WAS VERY DISTRESSED ABOUT ROJAS LEAVING HIS EMPLOYMENT.

McMullen: CHRISTIAN HAD TOLD THIS PERSON

THAT HIS EMPLOYERS HAD THE ABILITY TO DO BAD THINGS

AND THAT HE WAS SOMEWHAT FRIGHTENED OF THEM.

Coughlin: AT FIRST, THE INFORMATION THAT CHRISTIAN'S EMPLOYERS

WOULD WANT HIM DEAD SEEMS A LITTLE FAR-FETCHED,

BUT FOR McMULLEN, THERE WAS A CATCH.

CHRISTIAN ROJAS WORKED FOR A CASH-ADVANCE COMPANY

RUN BY ANTHONY AND MARIO MORETTI.

AND HAVING DONE A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH ON THEM,

IT WAS VERIFIED THEIR FATHER HAD HAD SOME MAFIA TIES.

NOW, THAT RAISES McMULLEN'S EYEBROW.

McMullen: IF THERE WAS A CONNECTION LIKE THAT,

IT WOULDN'T BE TOO FAR-FETCHED TO THINK

THAT IF CHRISTIAN WAS LEAVING THE COMPANY UNDER BAD TERMS,

THAT SOMETHING MAY HAVE ESCALATED TO VIOLENCE.

Joe: THE NEXT STEP IS OBVIOUS. WHO ARE THESE BROTHERS?

THEY'RE EITHER PART OF THIS OR THEY'RE NOT.

AND McMULLEN HAS TO FIND THE ANSWER TO IT.

♪♪

[ SIREN WAILS ]

Joe: MANY LEADS HAVE COME FORWARD, NONE OF WHICH HAVE MUCH VALUE,

BUT NOW McMULLEN IS PURSUING A NEW LEAD

THAT MAY HAVE SOME MEANING -- TWO BROTHERS

THAT MIGHT BE CONNECTED TO THE ITALIAN MAFIA

IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA AND SOUTH JERSEY.

Reporter: POLICE SAY THE VICTIM HAS STRONG TIES TO ORGANIZED CRIME.

Coughlin: THROUGHOUT THE CITY'S HISTORY,

THERE HAS BEEN ORGANIZED CRIME --

THEFT, RACKETEERING, GAMBLING...

Reporter: POLICE THIS AFTERNOON COMBED THE SHOOTING SCENE

AT 6th AND CATHARINE FOR EVIDENCE.

...CONNECTED WITH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FAMILIES.

THE SCARFO FAMILY WAS A PARTICULAR FAMILY

THAT WAS VERY INVOLVED.

Joe: NOW, IN 2005, THE ITALIAN MAFIA

WAS A MERE SHADOW OF ITS FORMER SELF.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE THEM ANY LESS DANGEROUS.

THEY REMAIN MORE THAN CAPABLE OF EXTREME VIOLENCE.

WELL, NOW WE'RE WONDERING,

DID THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS?

SO WE CONTACTED THEM BY PHONE AND MADE ARRANGEMENTS

TO GO AND VISIT THEM AT THEIR OFFICE.

I'M TRYING TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT

THEY HAVE ANY TYPE OF ANGER TOWARDS CHRISTIAN,

BUT THEY SEEM TO BE FOND OF CHRISTIAN.

THEY BOTH SAY CHRISTIAN ROJAS

WAS AN INCREDIBLY COMPETENT COMPUTER PROGRAMMER,

THAT ROJAS WAS THEIR GO-TO GUY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS

WHEN THEY ENCOUNTERED THEM IN THE BUSINESS.

HOW DID YOU GUYS FEEL ABOUT CHRISTIAN LEAVING THE COMPANY?

THEY WERE OBVIOUSLY NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT,

BUT THEY LIKED HIM SO WELL THAT THEY WOULDN'T STAND IN HIS WAY.

McMullen: THEY SEEMED SINCERE

IN THE FACT THAT THEY WANTED HIM TO SUCCEED.

THEY SEEMED LEGITIMATELY DISTRAUGHT

OVER WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

WE WERE ABLE TO VERIFY THEIR ALIBIS.

THEY WERE ALL HOME AT THEIR RESPECTIVE RESIDENCES.

Joe: DESPITE THEIR CONNECTIONS TO NEFARIOUS PEOPLE,

THEY'RE NOT INVOLVED IN THIS.

McMullen: THEY DEFINITELY WANTED THE CRIME SOLVED.

THEY MADE THAT VERY CLEAR.

THEY OFFERED THEIR RESOURCES.

THEY REALLY WANTED TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE

IN WHAT WAS GOING ON.

DID THEY TAKE THE SAFE?

WAIT A MINUTE. WHAT'S SAFE?

McMullen: AND THEY TOLD US THAT HE HAD A SAFE

THAT HE KEPT CASH IN.

HE WOULD CASH HIS PAYCHECK

AND THEN CONVERT IT TO MONEY ORDERS

TO SEND HOME TO HIS FAMILY IN COSTA RICA.

Joe: McMULLEN WAS CERTAINLY AWARE THAT THERE WAS NO SAFE FOUND

IN CHRISTIAN ROJAS' HOUSE.

SOMEBODY TOOK IT -- SOMEONE WHO KNEW IT WAS THERE.

AT THIS POINT, McMULLEN IS STARTING TO GET SOME ANSWERS,

BUT HE REALLY DOESN'T HAVE A FULL-FLEDGED SUSPECT YET.

McMullen: THERE'S A SAFE THAT WAS STOLEN, AND HIS CAR IS MISSING.

SO, AT THIS POINT, IT'S A ROBBERY AND A HOMICIDE.

WE'VE SPOKEN WITH EVERYBODY, AND WE'RE SATISFIED

WITH THOSE PEOPLE AND WHAT THEY'VE HAD TO TELL US.

BUT THERE'S STILL HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND, HEATHER.

AND AT THIS POINT, SHE'S THE ONLY WILD CARD,

BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE IS.

WE DON'T HAVE A LAST NAME FOR HER.

♪♪

Joe: LATER THAT AFTERNOON, McMULLEN'S PARTNER SAYS,

"WE'VE LOOKED OVER THE ANSWERING MACHINE

THAT CHRISTIAN HAD IN HIS HOUSE,

AND WE DISCOVERED THESE MESSAGES.

YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO THESE,

BECAUSE IT'S REALLY KIND OF INTERESTING."

[ BEEP ]

THE FIRST ONE WAS HEATHER, AND SHE WAS DISTRAUGHT.

SHE WAS CRYING.

[ BEEP ]

THE NEXT MESSAGE WAS FROM HEATHER AGAIN.

[ BEEP ]

McMullen: BUT HER DEMEANOR HAD GONE FROM DISTRAUGHT TO ANGRY.

HEATHER'S STATEMENTS CERTAINLY PUT A DIFFERENT LIGHT

ON HOW YOU LOOK AT HER.

McMullen: AFTER HEARING THOSE MESSAGES,

IT STARTED TO MAKE ME THINK THAT IT'S POSSIBLE

THAT SHE COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS HOMICIDE.

SHE WOULD CERTAINLY KNOW HIS HABITS.

SHE WOULD CERTAINLY KNOW ABOUT A SAFE.

WHO IS SHE?

McMullen: SO, THE NEXT DAY, MARK RUSSO DID GET BACK TO ME.

AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE WAS ABLE TO GET HER FULL NAME,

AND SHE WAS IDENTIFIED AS HEATHER LAVELLE.

WE WENT INTO OUR MASTER NAMES INDEX,

AND WE PULLED A PHOTO OF HER.

Joe: SHE IS 36 YEARS OF AGE.

SHE'S VERY TALL, NATURAL BLOND,

CONSIDERED TO BE VERY ATTRACTIVE.

McMullen: WE HAD LEARNED THAT SHE WAS A VERY EDUCATED PERSON,

AND THERE WAS A TIME THAT SHE HAD

A VERY GOOD-PAYING JOB IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.

SHE WAS IN A ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT POSITION,

MAKING WELL OVER $140,000 A YEAR.

Joe: SO, HERE IS A COLLEGE GRADUATE,

TALL AND LOVELY, MAKING VERY GOOD MONEY,

WHO, ALL OF A SUDDEN, HAS TO STAY WITH A CHRISTIAN ROJAS

BECAUSE SHE'S FALLEN ON HARD TIMES.

HOW COULD THAT BE TRUE?

McMullen: UPON DOING AN INQUIRY ON HER NAME,

IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT RECENTLY HEATHER LAVELLE

HAD BEEN ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.

UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO ADDICTIONS,

SHE HAD LOST HER JOB AND LOST HER HOME.

Joe: PEOPLE WHO BECOME INVOLVED IN DEPRESSION,

IN LOSING THEIR WAY,

BELIEVE THAT DRUGS ARE THE MAGIC THAT WILL MAKE IT ALL GO AWAY.

THE DIFFICULTY IS, IT IS MAGIC, BUT IT'S BLACK MAGIC,

AND IT WILL DESTROY YOU EVERY SINGLE TIME.

McMullen: ASIDE FROM THE ARREST FOR THE DRUG PARAPHERNALIA,

THERE WAS ALSO A DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE

THAT SHOWED THAT HEATHER LAVELLE HAD BEEN IN A FIGHT

WITH HER BOYFRIEND, JAMES SAVAGE.

SHE JUST BASICALLY WANTED TO GET HER BELONGINGS AND LEAVE.

Coughlin: BUT, AFTER POLICE SHOWED UP,

SHE DECIDED NOT TO PURSUE ANY FURTHER CHARGES,

DESPITE SIGNS THERE HAD BEEN PHYSICAL VIOLENCE.

McMullen: WE STARTED TO COMPILE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON JAMES SAVAGE,

AND WE LEARNED THAT HE DID HAVE A CRIMINAL HISTORY.

IN FACT, HE HAD A VIOLENT CRIMINAL HISTORY.

Coughlin: SAVAGE IS A WIDOWER,

BUT THERE'S A REPORT FROM HIS WIFE

THAT HE HAD THREATENED HER WITH A RIFLE, AND SHE HAD OBTAINED

A PROTECTION-FROM-ABUSE ORDER AGAINST HIM.

HE WAS A BIG GUY. PHYSICALLY INTIMIDATING GUY.

HE WAS ABOUT 6'4", WELL OVER 250 POUNDS.

Coughlin: GIVEN THE VIOLENCE FROM THE CRIME SCENE,

IT WAS LIKELY SOMEBODY WITH A LOT OF FORCE,

AN ABILITY TO EXERT THAT FORCE ON ANOTHER PERSON.

SAVAGE MATCHED THAT DESCRIPTION.

Joe: SO McMULLEN SAYS, "OKAY,

HEATHER HAS FALLEN ON HARD TIMES,

AND SHE ASKS CHRISTIAN IF SHE CAN STAY THERE

BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE BETWEEN HER AND HER CURRENT BOYFRIEND.

WHAT IF HER CURRENT BOYFRIEND MISUNDERSTANDS THAT

AND DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT CHRISTIAN ROJAS

IS OFFERING HELP,

BUT HE'S SOMEHOW RE-INVOLVED WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND?"

McMullen: IT BROUGHT ME BACK

TO THE CONDOMS BEING THROWN IN THE BATHTUB.

IT STARTED TO MAKE ME THINK

THAT MAYBE JAMES SAVAGE HAD SOMETHING TO DO

WITH CHRISTIAN'S DEATH DUE TO JEALOUSY.

OUR MARTIN SAVAGE IS NO STRANGER TO VIOLENCE,

AND HE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF USE OF DRUGS.

THIS MAKES HIM ONE DANGEROUS DUDE,

PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'RE A SMALL GUY

THAT HAS SOMEHOW CROSSED HIS PATH.

Joe: THROUGH A SERIES OF PIECES OF PARTS AND PUZZLES,

McMULLEN HAS ARRIVED AT A FORMER GIRLFRIEND,

ONE HEATHER LAVELLE,

AND HER CRIMINAL NEW BOYFRIEND, JAMES SAVAGE.

SO NOW HIS EFFORTS ARE DIRECTED AT FINDING THEM

AND FINDING OUT WHAT THEY KNOW ABOUT

THE UNTIMELY DEMISE OF CHRISTIAN ROJAS.

♪♪

McMullen: WE GOT THE ADDRESS OF JAMES SAVAGE

FROM THE POLICE REPORT, AND WENT TO THAT RESIDENCE

IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE CONTACT WITH HIM.

CAN I HELP YOU?

WE'RE LOOKING FOR JAMES SAVAGE.

WE ARE MET BY HIS MOTHER, JACKIE SAVAGE.

SHE TOLD US THAT HER SON WASN'T THERE.

SHE VERIFIED THAT HE WAS HAVING A RELATIONSHIP

WITH HEATHER LAVELLE AND THAT HE TOLD HER

THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GO TO THE SHORE FOR THE WEEKEND.

Coughlin: JACKIE TELLS POLICE THAT THE LAST TIME SHE SAW THEM,

THEY WERE UNLOADING SOME OF HEATHER'S BELONGINGS

OUT OF JACKIE'S CAR,

AND THEY'RE TRANSFERRING IT OVER TO A DIFFERENT CAR.

WHAT KIND OF CAR?

Joe: SHE SAYS TO DETECTIVE McMULLEN,

THEY WERE IN A SMALL GREEN CAR.

"I'D NEVER SEEN THAT CAR BEFORE."

I DIDN'T THINK HEATHER HAD A CAR.

OH, REALLY? WELL, MY, MY, MY.

NOW, ISN'T THAT INTERESTING?

McMullen: AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED,

THEY'RE MOST LIKELY DRIVING CHRISTIAN'S CAR,

WHICH MEANS THAT THEY'RE CONNECTED TO THE HOMICIDE.

THERE'S ALWAYS A MOMENT IN A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.

IT'S A MOMENT OF EUPHORIA, WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS SOMETHING

THAT MEANS NOTHING TO THEM

AND MEANS EVERYTHING TO YOU.

EVERYTHING.

YOU SAID THEY WERE HEADING TO THE SHORE.

WHICH SHORE?

HE DIDN'T SPECIFICALLY SAY WHERE.

HE JUST SAID "TO THE SHORE."

Joe: BENSALEM, PENNSYLVANIA,

IS VERY CLOSE TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN,

TO THE DELAWARE COAST, TO THE MARYLAND COAST,

NORTH CAROLINA, VIRGINIA.

THEY COULD BE ANYWHERE, REALLY.

DO YOU MIND GIVING YOUR SON A CALL FOR US?

OKAY.

DO YOU MIND IF WE COME IN WHILE YOU MAKE THAT CALL?

OH, SURE.

WHEN PEOPLE KILL, THEY ARE IN AN EMOTIONAL STATE

LIKE THEY'VE NEVER BEEN IN THEIR LIVES.

THEY'RE DESPERATE. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

THEY JUST WANT TO RUN.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO, JAMES?

YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO THE SHORE?

YOU GOING TO SWIM TO EUROPE? IS THAT YOUR PLAN?

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

[ SIGHS ]

HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT COMING HOME OR COMING BACK.

HE HAD MADE MENTION THAT SHE MAY NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN.

[ RECEIVER CLICKS, DIAL TONE ]

McMullen: IT SEEMED AS THOUGH,

FROM THE CONTEXT OF THE SHORT PHONE CALL,

THAT THEY WERE ON THE RUN.

THEY SEEMED DESPERATE FOR MONEY.

THERE WAS CONCERNS AS TO WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO NEXT.

Joe: SAVAGE IS IN DESPERATION MODE.

HE'S VIOLENT.

HE'S A DRUG ADDICT, AND NOW HE'S SCARED.

WHAT'S HE CAPABLE OF? ANYTHING.

McMullen: WE WANTED TO FIND JAMES SAVAGE. AND AT THE SAME TIME,

WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT HEATHER'S SAFETY

BECAUSE IT WASN'T CLEAR TO US WHAT HER ROLE IN THIS WAS.

DID HE USE HER TO GET INTO CHRISTIAN'S APARTMENT?

DID HE FORCE HER TO FLEE WITH HIM?

♪♪

SO AT THAT POINT, WE DECIDED WE WANTED TO TRACK

THE CELLPHONE USED BY JAMES SAVAGE.

THEY PING THE LOCATIONS ON THAT CELLPHONE.

IT COMES BACK TO THE DELAWARE COAST.

McMullen: WE HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE THEY HAVE FRIENDS OR RELATIVES

THERE, WHERE THEY COULD STAY.

SO WE DECIDED TO START CHECKING LOCAL HOTELS.

THERE WAS ONE HOTEL THAT WAS CHECKED,

AND IT WAS DETERMINED

THAT THEY HAD JUST CHECKED OUT EARLIER THAT DAY.

♪♪

Joe: THEY GO IN THAT MOTEL AND CONTACT THE MANAGER.

SHE PROVIDES THEM WITH A REGISTRATION FORM

AND SAYS THAT SAVAGE WAS ACCOMPANIED

BY A TALL, BLONDE GIRL

WHO SAID NOTHING DURING THE REGISTRATION PROCESS.

THEY CHECK THE SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE,

AND THERE IS JAMES SAVAGE AND HEATHER LAVELLE.

EXTERIOR VIDEO CAMERAS FROM THE SAME ESTABLISHMENT

SHOWED THEM GETTING INTO A GREEN CAR AND LEAVING,

WHICH IS THE CAR THAT WE BELIEVE BELONGED TO CHRISTIAN.

WE ASKED IF WE COULD GO INSIDE THE ROOM.

AND ACCORDING TO THE HOTEL STAFF,

THE ROOM HAD NOT EVEN BEEN CLEANED YET.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

Coughlin: IN THE HOTEL ROOM,

THERE ARE STAINED TOWELS -- RED AND BLACK.

McMullen: IT APPEARED AS THOUGH SOMEBODY HAD DYED THEIR HAIR

IN A VERY QUICK MANNER, WITHOUT CLEANING UP AFTERWARDS.

I DON'T THINK THAT PEOPLE JUST HIT THE ROAD

AND JUST ABRUPTLY DYE THEIR HAIR COLOR

FOR NO REAL REASON AT ALL.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

Joe: THEY ALERT ENFORCEMENT,

THEY'RE STILL IN THE SUSPECT VEHICLE

SOMEWHERE ON THIS COASTAL HIGHWAY

AND THAT THEY NOW CHANGED THEIR HAIR COLOR.

POLICE PUBLICIZE THESE PHOTOGRAPHS

OF THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS,

TO BE PLACED IN EVENING NEWS AND NEWSPAPERS.

THE NEXT DAY, THERE WAS A CALL ON THE LINE

FROM THE POLICE IN NAGS HEAD, NORTH CAROLINA.

THEY HAD LOCATED THE GREEN CAR THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

Joe: THEY MAKE A TRAFFIC STOP.

AS THE OFFICER STEPS OUT OF HIS CAR TO APPROACH THEM...

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

...THEY TAKE OFF.

HE GETS BACK IN THE CAR

AND PULLS OUT A HIGH-SPEED PURSUIT.

CLOSE TO 100 MILES AN HOUR DOWN THIS HIGHWAY.

THEY ARE COMIN' SOUTH, AND THEY ARE SMOKIN'.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

McMullen: DURING THIS CHASE,

THE POLICE EMPLOYED STOP STICKS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU ROLL OUT IN FRONT OF A FLEEING VEHICLE.

AND WHEN THE CAR GOES OVER IT, IT PUNCTURES THE TIRES.

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

AND THEY RUN THROUGH IT IN THAT SMALL GREEN CAR

AND SHRED THE TIRES OFF THE RIMS,

AND THE CAR GRINDS TO A STOP IN A DITCH.

GET OUT OF THE CAR!

DON'T BE AN IDIOT!

McMullen: BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER GOT OUT

AND RAN IN TWO SEPARATE DIRECTIONS.

NOW THE CHASE IS ON.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

ONLY THIS TIME, IT'S ON FOOT.

DESPERATION CAUSES THIS BEHAVIOR.

YOU ARE TERROR-STRICKEN.

YOU'RE NOT THINKING CLEARLY.

YOU'RE THINKING, "FEET, DON'T FAIL ME NOW."

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

Joe: DETECTIVE McMULLEN'S TWO PRIMARY SUSPECTS

HAVE BEEN PURSUED BY THE POLICE

IN NAGS HEAD, NORTH CAROLINA.

POLICE! SHOW ME YOUR HANDS!

GO, GO, GO!

McMullen: THEY REFUSED TO STOP,

AND IT TURNED INTO A LONG, DRAWN-OUT PURSUIT.

POLICE!

Joe: THE REALITY IS, WHEN YOU RUN FROM THE POLICE,

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ESCAPE.

YOU'RE JUST GOING TO BE VERY TIRED

AND SOAKING WET WHEN YOU GET ARRESTED.

WHY GO THROUGH THE EXHAUSTION?

TURN AROUND AND PUT UP YOUR HANDS.

[ SIRENS WAILING ]

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

McMullen: ULTIMATELY, THEY WERE BOTH APPREHENDED BY OFFICERS.

OUR NEXT STEP WAS WE HAVE TO GET DOWN TO NAGS HEAD.

SO WE MADE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS PRETTY QUICKLY.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]THE FIRST THING WE DID,

WE HAD GOTTEN A SEARCH WARRANT FOR THE CAR.

AND WE FOUND CLOTHING

THAT WE BELIEVED BELONGED TO CHRISTIAN.

IT HAD BLOOD ON IT.

WE FOUND A SET OF BRASS KNUCKLES.

AND THOSE BRASS KNUCKLES ALSO HAD BLOOD ON THEM.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

Joe: SO WE HAVE A TRAIL OF EVIDENCE THAT COMES OUT

OF CHRISTIAN ROJAS' HOUSE, INTO THE TRUNK OF THE CAR

BEING DRIVEN BY JAMES SAVAGE AND HIS COMPANION, HEATHER LAVELLE.

YET ANOTHER NAIL IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COFFINS.

[ DOORS CLOSING IN DISTANCE ]

[ SECURITY DOOR BUZZES ]

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS IN DISTANCE ]

McMullen: WE TALK TO JAMES FIRST.

HE'S A BIG, SCARY GUY,

YOU COULD TELL HE WAS JUST MAD AT THE WORLD.

AND HAVING SEEN WHAT HE HAD DONE,

IT WAS UNNERVING TO BE SEATED NEXT TO HIM.

WE TOLD HIM, "LOOK, WE'RE DOWN HERE TO TALK TO YOU

ABOUT CHRISTIAN ROJAS.

WE KNOW THAT YOU WERE THERE. WE KNOW THAT YOU WERE INVOLVED."

I MAY HAVE BEEN THERE, BUT IT WAS THESE OTHER DUDES.

HE SAID THAT HE AND HEATHER

HAD BEEN AT CHRISTIAN'S HOUSE AND THAT THREE OTHER PEOPLE

CAME IN AND DID A HOME-INVASION ROBBERY

AND THAT HE AND HEATHER BARELY GOT OUT.

Joe: "SAVAGE IS JUST PUKING LIES," SAID McMULLEN.

HE JUST CAN'T STOP."

WANT A SMOKE?

ALSO, McMULLEN DOESN'T WANT SAVAGE TO SEE HIM AS AN ENEMY.

HE WANTS SAVAGE TO CALM HIMSELF TO SOME DEGREE.

McMullen: WE BROUGHT UP HEATHER.

WE ASKED HIM, "DID SOMETHING BAD HAPPEN

BETWEEN HEATHER AND CHRISTIAN THAT YOU WERE UPSET ABOUT?"

AND HE STARTED TO TALK TO US WHEN WE APPROACHED IT THAT WAY.

I JUST WENT OVER THERE TO TALK TO THE GUY.

JAMES SAVAGE HAD A JEALOUSY ISSUE WITH CHRISTIAN

DUE TO THE RELATIONSHIP THAT HEATHER HAD HAD WITH HIM.

Joe: HE SAYS THERE WAS AN EXCHANGE OF WORDS

BETWEEN HE AND CHRISTIAN, AND A FIGHT BREAKS OUT.

McMullen: HE SAID CHRISTIAN PICKED UP A SET OF BRASS KNUCKLES.

HE GOT REALLY ANGRY ABOUT THAT AND DISARMED CHRISTIAN

AND THEN REALLY STARTED TO ASSAULT HIM

IN A VERY VIOLENT MANNER.

Joe: SAVAGE SAYS CHRISTIAN ROJAS BECOMES UNCONSCIOUS,

SO HE AND HEATHER LEAVE, AND WHEN THEY RETURN,

THEY FIND HIM DEAD IN THE BATHTUB.

"OH, MY GOD. HOW COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED?"

McMullen: HE SAID, SO HE TRIED TO MAKE

THE WHOLE THING LOOK LIKE A ROBBERY

BY TYING UP HIS BODY AFTER HE WAS ALREADY DEAD.

Joe: IT'S A PREPOSTEROUS STORY TO TRY TO EXPLAIN AWAY

HIS LACK OF INVOLVEMENT IN THIS CRIME.

SO, ULTIMATELY, DESPITE HIS ATTEMPT AT LYING PROFUSELY,

HE'S INCRIMINATING HIMSELF IN THE DEATH OF CHRISTIAN ROJAS.

McMullen: SO, IF JAMES SAVAGE WASN'T GOING TO BE TRUTHFUL,

MAYBE HEATHER WOULD BE TRUTHFUL TO US.

WE WANT TO HEAR HER ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAPPENED.

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE SAID TO HER WAS --

WE SAID, "ARE YOU OKAY?

DID HE FORCE YOU TO COME DOWN HERE?"

NO.

"I'M NOT UNDER ANY DURESS," WAS THE WORDS THAT SHE USED.

IT MADE ME BELIEVE THAT SHE COULD HAVE BEEN

A WILLING PARTICIPANT IN THIS HOMICIDE.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRISTIAN.

IT DIDN'T LAST VERY LONG. MAYBE ABOUT A MONTH.

SHE HAD TOLD US THAT, FOR A WHILE,

HE WAS PRETTY HAPPY WITH HER.

BUT THEN WHEN HE REALIZED THAT SHE HAD A DRUG PROBLEM,

HE HAD TO LET HER GO.

WE TALKED ABOUT HER FALL FROM GRACE,

HOW, AT ONE TIME, SHE WAS DOING REALLY WELL.

AND ONCE SHE STARTED SMOKING CRACK COCAINE,

THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK.

SHE WOULD BEG, BORROW, AND STEAL TO GET MONEY TO BUY DRUGS.

Joe: SO WHEN HEATHER BROKE UP WITH CHRISTIAN ROJAS,

SHE GOES AND FINDS ANOTHER BOYFRIEND.

WHEN DRUG USERS FIND ANOTHER PERSON LIKE THEMSELVES,

WHO HAS THE SAME TASTE FOR NARCOTICS,

THERE IS NO LIMIT TO WHAT THEY WILL DO.

THEY WILL TAKE THEIR GRANDMOTHER'S RINGS

OFF HER FINGERS WHEN GRANDMA IS IN HER COFFIN

IF THEY CAN CONVERT IT INTO MONEY TO FEED THEIR HABIT.

McMullen: AFTER JAMES SAVAGE AND HEATHER LAVELLE

HAD THAT DOMESTIC DISPUTE, HEATHER LEFT JAMES.

SHE HAD NOWHERE TO GO,

AND SHE WOUND UP GOING BACK TO CHRISTIAN

AND ASKING HIM FOR HELP, AND HE LET HER IN.

HEATHER KNEW THAT SHE COULD GO TO CHRISTIAN,

BECAUSE CHRISTIAN WAS KIND, CHRISTIAN WAS LOVING,

CHRISTIAN CARED ABOUT PEOPLE.

BUT THEN YOU WENT BACK TO JAMES?

YEAH.

Joe: BECAUSE, OF COURSE, SHE STILL NEEDS NARCOTICS.

"YOU HAVE TO HELP ME. I NEED MORE DRUGS."

THEN, SHE TELLS SAVAGE ABOUT CHRISTIAN,

AND SHE ALSO TELLS HIM HE HAS A SAFE IN HIS HOUSE.

McMullen: IT WAS STARTING TO BECOME CLEAR TO US

THAT HEATHER WAS THE BRAINS BEHIND THIS.

HEATHER STILL HAD A KEY TO CHRISTIAN'S HOUSE.

Joe: THEY WANTED DRUG MONEY,

AND CHRISTIAN WAS THE POTENTIAL SOURCE.

McMullen: THEY FOUND A SAFE AND BROKE IT OPEN.

THEY FOUND LIKE $40.

[ CLATTER ]WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!

[ CLATTER ]

NOW THEY'RE ANGRY BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO HAVE A GOOD SCORE

AND THEY DIDN'T GET IT.

SO THEY WAITED FOR HIM TO ARRIVE HOME.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?

WHERE'S THE MONEY, CHRISTIAN?

Coughlin: WHEN HE ARRIVED HOME,

HER AND JAMES CONFRONTED HIM.

ANSWER HER!

I-I JUST SENT SOME MONEY HOME, OKAY?

EVERYTHING THAT'S LEFT IS IN THE SAFE, OKAY?

HE'S LYING.

Coughlin: JAMES IS IN A JEALOUS RAGE,

AND IMMEDIATELY SPARKS FLY.

WHERE IS IT?!I'M NOT LYING! NO!

[ GASPING ]

McMullen: THE FIGHT BETWEEN CHRISTIAN AND JAMES

WAS LIKE DAVID AND GOLIATH.

THERE WAS NO CONTEST.

♪♪

Savage: YOU GOT THE MONEY SOMEWHERE!

I SWEAR!

DON'T!

[ SMACK ]AAH!

McMullen: HEATHER WAS VERY PARANOID

THAT SOMEBODY WAS GOING TO HEAR THEM.

[ WHIMPERING ]

NO, NO, NO!

[ GASPING ]

AT SOME POINT, SHE TOOK A SOCK

AND JAMMED IT INTO HIS THROAT.

[ GAGGING ]

CHRISTIAN'S LAST MOMENTS WERE TERRIFYING.

McMullen: JAMES THREW THE CONDOMS IN THE BATHTUB

BECAUSE HE WAS ANGRY THAT HEATHER AND CHRISTIAN

HAD SLEPT TOGETHER.

IT PROVED THAT JEALOUSY WAS DEFINITELY A FACTOR

IN THIS MURDER.

[ GRUNTS LOUDLY ]IN A PANIC, THEY TRIED

TO MAKE THE WHOLE THING LOOK LIKE A ROBBERY.

♪♪

[ SIREN WAILS ]

HEATHER KNEW EXACTLY WHAT SHE WAS DOING.

SHE WAS THE ARCHITECT OF THE SCAM.

[ SECURITY DOOR BUZZES ]

McMullen: SHE BROUGHT SAVAGE INTO CHRISTIAN'S HOUSE,

AND SHE ENABLED EVERYTHING TO HAPPEN,

AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED,

SHE IS ABSOLUTELY AS GUILTY AS SAVAGE

OF KILLING CHRISTIAN.

Joe: BOTH JAMES SAVAGE AND HEATHER LAVELLE

WERE EXTRADITED BACK TO PENNSYLVANIA.

THEY WERE CHARGED WITH HOMICIDE AND RELATED OFFENSES.

THEY WERE ORIGINALLY FACING THE DEATH PENALTY.

HOWEVER, THE TRIAL NEVER OCCURRED,

BECAUSE BOTH OF THEM PLED GUILTY.

THEY BOTH WERE SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON,

WHERE THEY REMAIN TO THIS DAY.

McMullen: I DID GET TO MEET CHRISTIAN'S FAMILY.

AND THEY WERE THERE WHEN THE SENTENCE WAS ACTUALLY IMPOSED.

I KNOW THAT THEY GAVE VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENTS.

Coughlin: THEY WERE VERY VOCAL ABOUT THE FACT

THAT THE CONVICTION, WHILE IMPORTANT,

DIDN'T BRING HIM BACK.

McMullen: CHRISTIAN WAS LOVED BY A LOT OF PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, HE WAS A GOOD SOUL, HE WAS A TRUSTING PERSON.

UNFORTUNATELY, HE HAD OPENED HIS DOOR TO SOME EVIL PEOPLE.

HUMAN NATURE CAN GET VERY LOW.

Joe: CHRISTIAN ROJAS, 27 YEARS OF AGE,

TRULY INNOCENT, WELL-EDUCATED,

COMES TO AMERICA TO LIVE THE AMERICAN DREAM.

AND WHAT HE DISCOVERS IS THE AMERICAN NIGHTMARE

IN THE PERSON OF ONE HEATHER LAVELLE.

NOT CHRISTIAN'S PLAN, BUT CERTAINLY THE RESULT.

HOW SAD IS THAT?