Original subtitles

I COME PREPARED FOR EVERYTHING.

THIS IS THE STORY OF AN ALL-AMERICAN FAMILY...

- RUN. - GO.

RUN!

...RIPPED APART BY SEX, LUST, AND LOVE.

WELL, WELL, WELL.

THE STORY OF A WOMAN AND HER MAN...

AUNT CINDY LOVED HIM TO DEATH.

WELL, HI.

...AND HER OTHER MAN.

I DID NOT THINK THAT THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA.

...AND HER OTHER MAN...

HE TOLD HER THAT IF HE COULDN'T HAVE HER, NOBODY COULD.

...AND HOW THEIR LIVES INTERSECTED TO FORM

AN EPIC TRAIL OF MURDER AND GREED

THAT SPANNED THREE STATES.

SOMEWHERE IN THESE HOME MOVIES OF DOMESTIC LIFE,

A MONSTER IS ABOUT TO BE REVEALED.

EVIL.

EVIL TO THE CORE.

Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

IT'S THE SUMMER OF 1987,

KINSLEY, KANSAS.

THIS NEVER-BEFORE-AIRED

HOME VIDEO CAPTURES AN ALL-AMERICAN FAMILY AT PLAY.

TEACHING TRAMPOLINING TO HER LARGE BLENDED FAMILY

ON A SCORCHING-HOT DAY

IS MOM CINDY PHILLIPS.

- YES. - I WANT TO STAY ON.

I'LL DO KENDALL FIRST. ALL OF YOU HOP OFF.

- YEAH. - ALL OF YOU.

- YOU SURE, MOM? - YEAH.

AT THE AGE OF 21, CINDY ALREADY HAS TWO DAUGHTERS,

VANESSA, AGED 4,

AND MAGON, AGED 5.

USUALLY, MOM IS THE ONE READY TO GET THE SHOW GOING.

SHE LOVED BEING PART IN IT.

SHE DIDN'T JUST HIDE IN A CORNER.

THAT'S FOR SURE. SHE WAS ACTIVE.

SHE MADE EVERYBODY HAPPY.

CINDY HAS BEEN MARRIED TO 29-YEAR-OLD

MEAT PACKER RON PHILLIPS

FOR NEARLY A YEAR.

I THINK RON FIT RIGHT IN.

WE ALL WELCOMED HIM.

WE HAD A GREAT TIME.

IT SEEMED LIKE HE WAS PART OF THE FAMILY FROM THE BEGINNING.

RON ALSO HAS TWO CHILDREN

FROM THE PREVIOUS MARRIAGE, RACHELLE...

...AND RYAN.

BUT STILL TREATS CINDY'S DAUGHTERS AS HIS OWN.

- RUN. - GO.

- RUN. - HURRY, HURRY, HURRY.

IT WAS A COMPLETELY HAPPY FAMILY.

IT'S CHRISTMAS 1988,

AND THE FAMILY IS AT CINDY'S YOUNGER SISTER,

CATHY'S, HOUSE.

I LOVE HAVING EVERYBODY OVER.

WE'D PLAY BINGO.

WE'D BUILD GINGERBREAD HOUSES.

WE'D HAVE A BLAST.

CINDY, WITH LONG WAVY HAIR,

IS AT THE CENTER OF THE FESTIVITIES.

USUALLY, MOM WOULD BE THE ONE PASSING OUT PRESENTS.

SHE ALWAYS MADE A SHOW.

CINDY ALWAYS DOES HER BEST TO MAKE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL,

AS NIECE BRANAGAN,

SEEN HERE AS A 1-YEAR-OLD, REMEMBERS.

FAMILY CHRISTMAS WAS SO MUCH FUN.

AUNT CINDY WOULD ALWAYS DOCUMENT EVERYTHING WE DID.

SHE'D EVEN TURN ON THE VIDEO CAMERA

AND TURN IT TO WHERE EVERYBODY COULD BE SEEN,

AND SHE WANTED TO CAPTURE MEMORIES.

ALSO AT THE FESTIVITIES

IS CINDY'S OTHER SISTER, CHRIS.

THE KIDS ALWAYS HAD FUN OPENING THEIR PRESENTS,

AND, OF COURSE, THEY HAD TO COMPARE WHO GOT WHAT,

YOU KNOW, LIKE ALL KIDS DO.

OH, YEAH. AH, YAY.

TRY MINE.

- THAT'S HOW IT WORKS. - YEAH.

CINDY AND RON PHILLIPS ENJOY THEIR 6 YEARS

IN KINSLEY, KANSAS.

IT'S THE PERFECT PLACE TO RAISE THEIR FOUR CHILDREN,

A MIDWESTERN HAVEN OF ALL-AMERICAN VALUES.

THANK YOU. GET 'EM!

TAKE IT.

BUT SUPPORTING A LARGE FAMILY

LIKE THEIRS CAN GET EXPENSIVE.

CINDY AND RON HAD THE OPPORTUNITY

TO BUY A MEAT PACKING PLANT

IN HASWELL, COLORADO.

OKAY, NOW, MOM, LISTEN.

I KNEW THAT IT WAS SOMETHING WE WERE DOING FOR THE FAMILY

BECAUSE IT WAS GONNA BE,

YOU KNOW, MORE INCOME FOR US AND BETTER LIVING.

MOVING HOUSE IS ALWAYS A BIG DEAL,

BUT TAKING THE FAMILY INTERSTATE WILL BE A GAME CHANGER.

I FELT LIKE I WAS, YOU KNOW, LOSING MY BEST FRIEND

BECAUSE SHE'S MY SISTER, YOU KNOW,

AND I COULDN'T IMAGINE HER GOING ELSEWHERE.

ADVENTUROUS CINDY DECIDES TO EMBRACE THE CHANGE,

AS THESE GLAMOUR SHOTS PROVE,

ADOPTING A NEW PLATINUM BLOND LOOK.

SHE WOULDN'T LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT BEING ALL DOLLED UP.

SHE HAD TO LOOK GOOD.

SHE WAS ALWAYS ON TOP.

AND SO IN 1993, THE AMBITIOUS PHILLIPS FAMILY

MOVE 4 HOURS AWAY ACROSS THE STATE LINE.

THEIR NEW HOME IS THE TOWN OF HASWELL IN COLORADO,

AND IT'S TINY.

AT THE TIME, IT BOASTS A POPULATION OF JUST 52.

THERE WAS A POST OFFICE, ONE LITTLE GAS STATION

ON THE HIGHWAY AND VERY FEW HOUSES.

I MEAN, THIS PLACE WAS ABSOLUTELY SMALL.

AROUND THE CORNER FROM THEIR NEW HOUSE

IS THE FAMILY'S NEW BUSINESS.

THEY WENT OUT THERE AND STARTED THAT BUSINESS.

THEY WERE MAKING IT, AND THEY WERE HAPPY, AS FAR AS I KNEW.

RON SPENDS MOST OF HIS DAYS

AT THE MEAT PROCESSING PLANT.

THE KIDS FIND IT CREEPY.

MY STEPFATHER, RON, WOULD SHOOT THE COWS AND SKIN THEM

AND THEN DRAIN THEM,

AND I GOT THIS GOD-AWFUL FEELING.

IT WAS SCARY. IT WAS ALMOST LIKE A FUNERAL HOME.

YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANNA GO IN THERE

JUST BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THERE.

BUT THE MORE RON THROWS HIMSELF

INTO HIS NEW BUSINESS,

THE MORE CINDY MISSES HER SISTERS

AND HER OLD LIFE BACK IN KANSAS.

HE'D BE UP THERE TILL WE WERE ALREADY IN BED.

WHATEVER CAME IN HAD TO BE DONE.

MOM PROBABLY FELT ALONE AT THIS POINT IN TIME WITH RON.

IT'S CHRISTMAS 1993.

AND 11 MONTHS AFTER MOVING AWAY,

CINDY IS HAPPY TO BE BACK VISITING HER SISTERS

IN KANSAS FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

CINDY, LOOKING GLAMOROUS WITH HER SHOCK OF BLOND HAIR,

IS HAPPILY GIVING OUR PRESENTS TO HER SISTERS AND FAMILY.

RON, HOWEVER, SEEN HERE IN A MULTICOLORED SHIRT,

APPEARS NOT TO BE HIS USUAL CHEERY SELF.

IT SEEMED LIKE THEIR MARRIAGE STARTED TO DRIFT APART,

LIKE MOM WASN'T HAPPY WITH RON.

I'M NOT SO MUCH SURE THAT RON WASN'T HAPPY WITH MY MOM.

- OH. OH! - I DON'T NEED A BLANKET.

I THINK HE WAS JUST MORE COMFORTABLE.

THAT FIRST CHRISTMAS BACK WITH HER FAMILY

AFTER THE MOVE TO COLORADO REMINDS CINDY OF THE LIFE

SHE LEFT BEHIND IN KANSAS.

SHE STARTS MAKING THE TRIP BACK TO KINSLEY MORE REGULARLY.

SHE HAS A REASON.

THE GIRLS NEED TO SEE THEIR DAD,

HER EX-HUSBAND, LES CONRADY.

LES CONRADY WOULDN'T HURT A FLY, LOVELY GUY.

LES IS A BIG PART OF CINDY'S BACKSTORY.

THEY FIRST GOT TOGETHER AFTER CINDY'S PREVIOUS BOYFRIEND

HAD DIED, LEAVING HER PREGNANT WITH DAUGHTER MAGON.

LES, ACTUALLY, WASN'T MY BLOOD FATHER,

BUT HE DID SIGN MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE

AND TOOK ON THE ROLE.

HE WAS THERE FOR EVERYTHING, AND HE WAS MY FATHER.

LES ENJOYS SPENDING TIME WITH THE GIRLS.

BUT WHEN CINDY'S BACK IN HER OLD HOMETOWN,

SHE SEEMS TO HAVE OTHER THINGS ON HER MIND.

AND MORE AND MORE, MY MOTHER STARTED TALKING TO TRUCKERS

AND PEOPLE LIKE THAT.

AND WHEN YOU GET OLDER, YOU KIND OF REALIZE,

WOW, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS ACTUALLY SETTING UP DATES

FOR THE WEEKEND OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.

MY MOTHER WAS VERY FLIRTATIOUS WHEN SHE WAS AROUND MEN.

SHE COULD GET MEN TO DO ANYTHING

AND EVERYTHING SHE WANTED THEM TO DO.

BUT CINDY IS PLAYING WITH FIRE.

WITHIN 15 MONTHS OF THESE HOMEY

CHRISTMAS MOMENTS CAUGHT ON VIDEO,

CINDY AND RON'S LIVES WILL BE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.

THESE NEVER-BEFORE-AIRED

HOME MOVIES CAPTURE CINDY AND RON PHILLIPS

ENJOYING CHRISTMAS WITH HER SISTERS.

BUT WITHIN 2 YEARS, HAPPY SCENES LIKE THESE WILL BECOME

A THING OF THE PAST.

♪ NEVER HAD THAT DRINK ♪

THE COMING CATASTROPHE BEGINS,

AS IT SO OFTEN DOES, WITH CAR TROUBLE.

♪ SHOULD'VE NEVER HAD THAT DRINK ♪

IN MARCH OF 1995, AFTER SPENDING A WEEKEND

AT HER SISTER'S IN KANSAS,

CINDY'S CAR BREAKS DOWN

58 MILES FROM HOME IN COLORADO.

♪ SHOULD'VE NEVER HAD THAT DRINK ♪

MOM GOT THE CAR FIXED AT A GARAGE IN LAMAR, COLORADO,

AND THAT IS WHERE SHE MET TOBY MATTHEWS.

- WELL, HI. - HEY, THERE, DARLING.

WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEM?

WHEN THE HANDSOME MECHANIC

MENTIONS THAT HE ALSO WORKS

AT A BOUNCER AT A LOCAL BAR CALLED OPAL'S,

CINDY SHOWS UP THERE THE VERY NEXT NIGHT.

WELL, WELL, WELL, SMALL WORLD.

TOBY IS 26 YEARS OLD,

SINGLE, AND ALWAYS UP FOR SOME FUN.

YEAH.

THEY START HANGING OUT TOGETHER AND KARAOKING TOGETHER

AND HAVING A GOOD TIME.

SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD MET HER TALL, DARK, AND HANDSOME MAN

AND THE LOVE OF HER LIFE,

AND I THINK HE WAS FULFILLING THAT VOID

THAT SHE WAS NOT GETTING WITH RON.

THIS RARE FOOTAGE OF CINDY AND TOBY DANCING AT OPAL'S

SHOWS HE IS GIVING CINDY A BREAK

FROM THE GROWING TENSION AT HOME.

BACK IN HASWELL, SHE STARTS GIVING HER HUSBAND, RON,

VARIOUS EXCUSES FOR HER FREQUENT TRIPS TO LAMAR.

AT FIRST, WHEN MOM STARTED GOING TO LAMAR...

I HAVE A LATE SHIFT. DON'T WAIT UP.

...SHE WAS USING THE EXCUSE OF WORKING AS A WAITRESS.

I THINK RON'S PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER IN HIS HEAD

WHAT WAS GOING ON.

BY THE SPRING OF 1996,

CINDY'S FLING WITH TOBY HAS BECOME...

- HI, BABY. - HI, BABY.

...A FULL-BLOWN ROMANTIC AFFAIR.

- HOW ARE YOU? - I'M GOOD.

- YOU'RE LOOKING SEXY. - THANK YOU.

...AND BEGINS TO THREATEN HER

ALREADY SHAKY MARRIAGE.

EVER SINCE THE GIRLS WERE LITTLE,

RON HAS ALWAYS BEEN A DEDICATED FAMILY MAN,

EMBRACING CINDY'S DAUGHTERS AS HIS OWN.

RON WAS A BRILLIANT FATHER.

HE WAS BUBBLY, BUT HE WAS THE GO-GETTER.

YOU KNOW, HE CONSTANTLY WAS WORKING,

AND WHEN HE WAS FREE, HE WOULD PARTAKE

IN PLAYING WITH US.

BUT CINDY'S REGULAR DISAPPEARANCES START TO ROCK

THE BLENDED FAMILY'S FOUNDATIONS.

WHAT ARE YOU UP TO, CINDY?

NOTHING. I'M GOING TO WORK.

DON'T LIE TO ME.

I'M NOT LYING.

RON CHANGED.

HE BECAME SUCH A HATEFUL MAN.

I'M BUSTING MY ASS AT THE PLANT EVERY DAY.

I WORK HARD, AND I WORK--

I REMEMBER HIM AND MY MOTHER HAVING AN ARGUMENT.

WHAT KIND OF A UNIFORM IS THIS?

I LIKE TO LOOK NICE. YOU KNOW THAT.

BUT I REMEMBER HE HAD MY MOTHER PINNED UP

AGAINST THE WALL BY HER NECK.

YOU LOUSY PIECE OF--

DESPITE THEIR TROUBLES,

RON DOESN'T WANT TO SEE THEIR FAMILY BREAK UP.

JUST GET OUT OF HERE.

HE HOPES AND PRAYS THAT CINDY

WILL EVENTUALLY RETURN TO THE FOLD.

BUT CINDY ONLY STARTS MAKING

MORE AND MORE DANGEROUS CHOICES.

AT ONE POINT IN TIME, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE GOING TO KANSAS

ON A TRIP TO SEE OUR GRANDPARENTS,

AND WE STOPPED AT A MECHANIC SHOP.

HE INTRODUCED HIMSELF AS TOBY AND, YOU KNOW,

JUST KIND OF STARTED TALKING TO US AND STUFF.

HEY, THERE, GIRLS.

YOU MUST BE MAGON AND VANESSA, RIGHT?

SOME STUFF, AND I THINK AT THAT POINT, ME

AND MY SISTER BOTH KIND OF REALIZED

THAT SHE WASN'T WAITRESSING.

SHE WAS ACTUALLY GOING AND SPENDING IT WITH TOBY.

GIRLS, YOU BE NICE TO UNCLE TOBY. YEAH.

CINDY STARTS BRINGING HER DAUGHTERS

WITH HER TO LAMAR FOR LONGER VISITS...

HE'S NICE. BE NICE.

...WITHOUT TELLING RON WHERE THEY ARE.

HERE WE GO. ONE FOR YOU AND, YEAH.

BASICALLY, WE WERE FORCED TO LIE.

I MEAN, WE KNEW NOT TO TALK ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS.

WE KNEW THE LOOK THAT SHE GAVE US WHEN WE WERE ABOUT

TO SAY SOMETHING WE WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO SAY.

IT WAS, YOU KNOW, THE EYEBROWS RAISED LIKE, "HUSH YOUR MOUTH."

TOBY FALLS HARD FOR THE ADVENTUROUS BLOND BOMBSHELL,

DOING HIS BEST TO PLEASE HER,

AND SHE ENJOYS CALLING THE SHOTS.

SOMETIMES QUITE LITERALLY LIKE

IN THIS RARE HOME MOVIE FOOTAGE OF THE TWO SKEET SHOOTING.

IT'S A DANGEROUS GAME THEY'RE PLAYING.

AUNT CINDY WAS ALL SMILES, HAPPY GO LUCKY.

SHE SEEMED LIKE THIS WAS HER KEEPER, HER ONE-AND-ONLY LOVE.

AUNT CINDY LOVED HIM TO DEATH.

DURING THE SIMMERING SUMMER OF 1996,

WHEN THIS STEAMY HOME VIDEO WAS FILMED,

EVENTS ARE ABOUT TO BOIL OVER.

HE'S A SWEETHEART. SAY HI.

10 YEARS AFTER THIS FOOTAGE WAS TAKEN,

CINDY AND RON PHILLIPS' HAPPY MARRIAGE

IS STARTING TO FALL APART.

CINDY FEELS TRAPPED AND IS SPENDING MORE AND MORE TIME

AN HOUR AWAY WITH HANDSOME YOUNG BOUNCER, TOBY MATTHEWS.

SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE.

NOW, I'M DOING IT FOR THE KIDS, TOO.

SO I'M DOING PLENTY, TOO.

YOU'RE NEVER HERE!

I WORK HARD, AND I WORK DAMN HARD.

I REMEMBER THE ONE NIGHT IN HASWELL, COLORADO,

RON AND MOM HAD GOTTEN INTO A REALLY BAD FIGHT,

AND HE TOLD HER THAT IF HE COULDN'T HAVE HER, NOBODY COULD.

GET OUT OF HERE, MAN!

I THINK THAT WAS THE LAST FIGHT

THAT I EVER WITNESSED OF RON AND MY MOTHER.

GIRLS, GET YOUR THINGS. HURRY.

IN JUNE 1996,

CINDY PHILLIPS TAKES HER TWO DAUGHTERS

AND LEAVES RON FOR GOOD.

THE THREE HEAD DOWN TO LAMAR

AND MOVE IN WITH HER NEW LOVE, TOBY MATTHEWS.

MOM WAS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSON.

LIKE, SHE WAS BOUNCY, HAPPY.

IT WAS NICE TO SEE HER LIKE THAT AGAIN

AFTER BEING SO SAD WITH RON.

BUT BEFORE CINDY AND TOBY HAVE

A CHANCE TO START THEIR LIVES

TOGETHER, THEY RECEIVE DISTURBING NEWS.

BACK IN KINSLEY, KANSAS, CINDY'S FIRST HUSBAND,

LES CONRADY, HAS GONE MISSING.

HE WAS LAST SEEN AT A LOCAL BAR.

MOM WAS REALLY FRANTIC WHEN SHE FOUND OUT THAT LES WENT MISSING.

LES?

MY MOM TOOK ME AND MY SISTER, AND WE WENT TO KANSAS.

LES!

HIS CAR WAS SPOTTED DOWN THE STREET FROM HIS HOUSE,

BUT NOBODY COULD FIND HIM.

DESPITE AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH,

LES IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

AFTER A MONTH WHILE SEARCHING COON CREEK

MILES OUTSIDE OF TOWN,

THEY MAKE A GRISLY DISCOVERY.

IT'S LES.

MOM WAS CRYING WHEN SHE TOLD US THAT HIS BODY HAD BEEN FOUND.

LES' BODY HAS BEEN IN THE WATER FOR SOME TIME

AND IS BADLY DECOMPOSED.

THE CORONER WILL RULE THAT HE SUFFERED A HEAD TRAUMA

BUT CAN'T DECIDE IF LES' DEATH

WAS ACCIDENTAL OR A HOMICIDE.

LOSING LES WAS A TRAGEDY.

IT WAS DEVASTATING. CINDY WAS VERY UPSET.

THIS WAS THE FATHER OF HER KIDS FOUND DEAD IN THE RIVER.

AND NO REASON FOR ANYBODY TO EVER HURT HIM EVER.

THERE ARE NO SUSPECTS.

WATER HAS DESTROYED THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE,

AND THE CASE WILL REMAIN IN LIMBO FOR YEARS.

FOLLOWING THE TRAGEDY, CINDY AND TOBY DECIDE

TO MAKE A NEW LIFE TOGETHER FAR AWAY FROM COLORADO

AND MOVE TO EASTERN TEXAS TO A TOWN CALLED CORSICANA,

WHERE TOBY GREW UP.

I REMEMBER WHEN WE PULLED INTO CORSICANA, TEXAS,

AND SEEING ALL THE TREES AND EVERYTHING

AND JUST BEING SO EXCITED

BECAUSE IT WAS SO PRETTY COMPARED

TO WHAT WE LIVED IN IN HASWELL, COLORADO.

MADE A LOT OF FRIENDS, STARTED MAKING, YOU KNOW,

A NEW LIFE THERE.

A YEAR PASSES PEACEFULLY

UNTIL CINDY AND TOBY RECEIVE

A SURPRISE VISITOR FROM THE PAST,

40-YEAR-OLD RICHARD BOYD.

RICK?

RICK WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF MY MOM'S DAD,

WHICH ALSO MADE HIM A GOOD FRIEND OF MY MOM'S.

HOW ARE YOU?

HE WAS KNOWN AS OUR UNCLE RICK.

THAT'S THE WAY THAT WE REFERRED TO HIM.

I'M GOOD!

UNCLE RICK HAS ALSO DECIDED

TO RESETTLE IN TEXAS FOR WORK,

AND HE'S LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO CRASH

WHILE HE FINDS HIS FEET.

- IF THAT'S OKAY. - SURE.

GIRLS, COME SAY HI TO UNCLE RICK.

RICHARD BOYD WAS KIND OF A SUGAR DADDY TO MY SISTER.

WHEN SHE TOLD ME THAT RICHARD BOYD WAS MOVING IN WITH THEM,

I DID NOT THINK THAT THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA.

YOU MUST REMEMBER UNCLE RICK. THEY'RE VERY SHOCKED.

CINDY IS THRILLED TO HAVE UNCLE RICK STAY,

BUT CINDY'S TWO TEENAGE DAUGHTERS

ARE LESS IMPRESSED.

IN FACT, HE CREEPS THEM OUT.

THINGS GOT REALLY WEIRD WITH RICK.

HE ACTUALLY STARTED DOING ADVANCES TOWARDS ME.

HE WOULD COME INTO MY ROOM AT NIGHT

AND SAY HE WAS GIVING ME A KISS GOOD NIGHT

AND THEN FRY TO FRENCH KISS ME.

BUT THEIR MOM, CINDY, SEEMS OBLIVIOUS.

I WAS TOO SCARED TO TELL MY MOM.

RICK SAID THAT SHE'D BE MAD AT ME.

I DON'T THINK SHE HAD ANY IDEA WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH RICK

OR THAT I WAS GOING THROUGH IT.

TOBY IS ALSO CLUELESS.

HE FIGURES ANY FRIEND OF CINDY'S DAD IS A FRIEND OF HIS.

BUT LITTLE DO TOBY AND CINDY KNOW, WITHIN 6 MONTHS,

THE PAST IS ABOUT TO CATCH UP WITH THEM

IN A BURST OF SPECTACULAR VIOLENCE.

IT'S BEEN 2 YEARS SINCE

TOBY MATTHEWS AND CINDY PHILLIPS

MOVE THEIR FAMILY DOWN TO TEXAS.

AND DISASTER IS ABOUT TO STRIKE.

CORSICANA POLICE DETECTIVE, BERTHA ZAIDLE,

RESPONDS TO THE SCENE.

I WAS CALLED IN AS THE LEAD DETECTIVE ON THE CASE.

I SAW A MALE BODY LAYING ON THE GROUND.

IT WAS VERY OBVIOUS HE'D BEEN SHOT IN THE SIDE OF THE HEAD,

AND WE NOTICED THERE WAS SEVERAL GUNSHOTS TO THE BODY.

THE FIRST GUT FEELING I HAD WAS,

"WOW, THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN IN OUR LITTLE TOWN.

WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE SHOT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD."

IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE THE INCIDENT ATTRACTS ATTENTION

FROM A FAMILIAR FACE.

WHILE WE'RE WORKING THE SCENE,

THIS RICK BOYD HAD DROVE UP.

IS EVERYTHING OKAY, OFFICER?

AND THE OFFICER HAD TOLD HIM THAT, YOU KNOW,

WE HAD A VICTIM LAYING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

HEY, UH, THANK YOU.

UNCLE RICK RECOGNIZES TOBY'S CAR

AND RUSHES BACK TO TELL CINDY.

BUT HE GETS THE STORY WRONG.

I WOKE UP, AND MY MOTHER WAS SCREAMING.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

MOM WAS JUST COMPLETELY FRANTIC.

A CAR ACCIDENT?

AND RICK TOLD ME THAT TOBY DIED IN A CAR ACCIDENT.

MY SISTER HAD CALLED.

CINDY WAS JUST CRYING AND SCREAMING AND SAYING,

"TOBY WAS KILLED. TOBY WAS KILLED."

TERRIBLE, I JUST WANTED TO BE THERE TO HUG HER

AND COMFORT HER.

TOBY WAS DEFINITELY A SWEETHEART.

LIKE...

IT WAS PROBABLY THE NICEST MAN

THAT MY MOTHER COULD HAVE EVER CAME ACROSS.

AFTER WORKING THE CRIME SCENE, I WENT TO CINDY PHILLIPS' HOUSE.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE A SAD GUT FEELING THAT YOU'RE GONNA

HAVE TO GO TELL THIS LADY

THAT HER BOYFRIEND OF SEVERAL YEARS

HAS BEEN SHOT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

IT WAS LIKE A DREAM, YOU KNOW.

I FELT LIKE I WASN'T EVEN REALLY THERE.

I WAS STAYING BACK WATCHING.

CINDY WAS SCREAMING AND CRYING UNDER THIS BLANKET,

AND I ASKED HER SEVERAL TIMES,

I SAID, "CINDY, COULD YOU PLEASE

"TAKE THAT BLANKET OFF YOUR HEAD?

I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU."

AND SHE WOULD NEVER TAKE IT OFF.

SHE JUST KEPT HOLDING IT TIGHTER.

CINDY, PLEASE.

AND I KEPT, YOU KNOW, THINKING, "THIS IS WEIRD."

WHEN RICK WENT BACK TO THE HOUSE, HE TOLD HER

THAT TOBY WAS KILLED IN A CAR WRECK.

BUT WITH SIX BULLET WOUNDS,

INCLUDING A SHOT TO THE HEAD,

TOBY'S DEATH WAS NO ACCIDENT.

WHEN I WENT IN TO TELL HER THAT HE HAD BEEN SHOT,

SHE DIDN'T ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS.

SHE DIDN'T ASK ME ANYTHING.

CINDY ISN'T THE ONLY ONE DETECTIVE ZAIDLE THINKS

IS ACTING STRANGELY.

RICK BOYD SEEMED VERY NERVOUS, VERY FIDGETY

BECAUSE HE KEPT PACING BACK AND FORTH FROM THE KITCHEN

TO THE LIVING ROOM, KITCHEN TO THE LIVING ROOM.

MAGON WAS SICK, SO TOBY WENT OUT.

SHE SAID TOBY WAS GOING TO THE STORE

TO GET SOME MEDICINE FOR MAGON.

AND IT TOOK A WHILE FOR HIM TO GO BACK.

TOBY'S BEEN GONE AN HOUR. I'M WORRIED ABOUT HIM.

HE JUST DIDN'T COME BACK.

UNCLE RICK WENT OUT TO LOOK FOR HIM.

IS THIS TRUE, RICK?

YEAH. IT'S LIKE CINDY SAID.

DETECTIVE ZAIDLE IS STARTING TO THINK THAT CINDY

AND UNCLE RICK KNOW MORE THAN THEY'RE LETTING ON.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SOMEONE WOULD KILL HIM.

THE NEWS OF TOBY'S MURDER SPREADS FAST

IN SMALL TOWN LIKE CORSICANA,

BUT RUMORS SPREAD FASTER,

FORCING A CONCERNED CINDY

TO CALL UP DETECTIVE ZAIDLE.

CINDY WAS TELLING ME THAT PEOPLE WERE TELLING HER

THAT SHE WAS A SUSPECT,

THAT SHE HAD KILLED TOBY, THAT I WAS TELLING PEOPLE THAT.

I'D ASKED HER TO COME TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

SO WE COULD DISCUSS IT.

SHE VOLUNTARILY SAID THAT SHE WANTED TO TAKE A POLYGRAPH.

A WEEK LATER, ANXIOUS TO CLEAR HER NAME,

CINDY SITS FOR THE TEST.

WERE YOU PRESENT WHEN TOBY WAS SHOT?

NO.

DO YOU KNOW WHO SHOT TOBY MATTHEWS?

NO.

WELL, SHE FLUNKED IT HORRIBLY.

CINDY'S PLAN TO CLEAR HER NAME HAS BACKFIRED.

SHE HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO COME CLEAN.

YOU'RE PROBABLY WONDERING, BUT RICK AND I,

WE DID HAVE A FEW ROMANTIC NIGHTS TOGETHER.

SHE WAS JUST BASICALLY SAYING THAT TOBY

AND RICK DID NOT GET ALONG, THAT TOBY DID NOT LIKE RICK.

RICK DID NOT LIKE TOBY.

I DON'T THINK TOBY KNEW.

IN HER WORDS, IT WAS MAN AGAINST MAN.

I DON'T THINK HE KNEW.

RICK DEFINITELY WANTED ME TO HIMSELF.

I KEPT THINKING, "THIS IS GOING MY WAY."

THAT'S REALLY WHY I THINK HE DID IT.

I THOUGHT, "YES."

RICK KILLED TOBY.

I GOT HIM. WE HAVE WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

WHEN IT'S RICK'S TURN TO BE INTERROGATED,

HE TAKES FULL RESPONSIBILITY

FOR SHOOTING TOBY MATTHEWS.

IT WAS ME.

HE SAYS HE GUNNED TOBY DOWN

AND THAT CINDY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

WHEN RICK BOYD GAVE US HIS CONFESSION,

YOU COULD TELL THAT IT WAS A RELIEF.

HE WAS TELLING THE TRUTH.

HE WAS GETTING IT OFF HIS CONSCIENCE.

I SHOT HIM FIVE OR SIX TIMES.

IT SEEMS THAT DETECTIVE ZAIDLE

HAS TOBY'S KILLER.

RICK BOYD IS PLACED UNDER ARREST,

AND CINDY AGREES TO TESTIFY AGAINST HIM IN COURT.

BUT THEN A NEW DEVELOPMENT THROWS THE CASE FOR A LOOP.

WHEN NEWS OF TOBY'S MURDER MAKES IT BACK TO HIS HOME TOWN

IN COLORADO, THE LOCAL SHERIFF'S OFFICE

RECEIVED AN INTERESTING CALL.

HI, THERE. I'M...

AND I HAVE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT A MURDER,

FELLOW NAMED TOBY MATTHEWS.

THE CASE OF TOBY MATTHEWS IS

ABOUT TO BE TURNED ON ITS HEAD,

FORCING DETECTIVES TO RETHINK EVERYTHING THEY'VE LEARNED.

TWO YEARS AFTER THIS FOOTAGE OF CINDY PHILLIPS

AND BOY TOY, TOBY MATTHEWS, WAS TAKEN...

...TOBY IS FOUND DEAD IN TEXAS.

CINDY'S FAMILY FRIEND AND ON-AND-OFF LOVER,

RICK BOYD, CONFESSES TO THE MURDER.

IT WAS ME. I SHOT TOBY.

BUT THEN NEWS OF TOBY'S MURDER

REACHES HIS OLD FRIEND

AND FELLOW BOUNCER BACK IN COLORADO, BILLY SLAUGHTER.

HE CALLS THE POLICE.

I HAVE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT A MURDER, TOBY MATTHEWS.

ALL RIGHT.

BILLY SLAUGHTER CAME INTO THE ANDERSON,

INDIANA, POLICE DEPARTMENT,

AND WE CONTACTED THE DETECTIVE THERE,

AND THEY CONDUCTED AN INTERVIEW.

THE SOUND ON THIS POLICE VIDEO MAY BE DISTORTED,

BUT IT SHEDS NEW LIGHT

ON WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED TO TOBY.

TELL ME, UH...

ACCORDING TO BILLY,

BACK WHEN SHE FIRST MET TOBY IN 1995,

CINDY HAD A PLAN FOR HER HUSBAND, RON.

SHE WAS GONNA GIVE HIM $10,000 UP FRONT AND $10,000

WHEN THE JOB WAS DONE.

CINDY WANTED TO GET RID OF RON

SO SHE COULD MOVE IN WITH NEW LOVE, TOBY.

CINDY HAD TAKEN SEVERAL LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES OUT ON RON,

AND A LOT OF THOSE WERE DOUBLE INDEMNITY.

SO IF HE GOT KILLED BY ACCIDENT,

SHE WOULD RECEIVE TWICE THE MONEY.

IF BILLY HAD SUCCEEDED,

CINDY STOOD TO COLLECT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS

IN INSURANCE MONEY FOR RON,

SO SHE LEFT NOTHING TO CHANCE.

OKAY. I'M GONNA DRAW YOU THE PLAN.

- MM-HMM. - SO...

EVEN DRAWING BILLY A MAP OF THE PROCESSING PLANT

DETAILING HOW TO BREAK IN.

YOU'RE GONNA GO HERE. THIS WILL BE UNLOCKED.

YOU GO IN HERE, AND YOU CAN KILL HIM HERE.

BUT BILLY HAD OTHER PLANS.

WITH BILLY AND HER MONEY GONE,

CINDY'S MURDEROUS PLAN FELL APART.

TO DOUBLE CHECK BILLY'S STORY, UNDERSHERIFF HOWARD HEADS

OVER TO THE PACKING PLANT HIMSELF.

BILLY SLAUGHTER TOLD US HOW HE WAS

SUPPOSED TO ENTER THROUGH A DOOR

THAT COULDN'T BE LOCKED.

I ATTEMPTED TO GET IN THROUGH THAT DOOR,

AND THE DOOR WAS SO DISHEVELED

THAT IT COULD NOT BE LOCKED,

AND ONLY BILLY AND CINDY

AND RON PROBABLY KNEW THAT.

IN MAY 1998, CINDY PHILLIPS

IS ARRESTED FOR CRIMINAL SOLICITATION

TO COMMIT THE MURDER OF HUSBAND, RON PHILLIPS.

BUT THEN WHILE AWAITING TRIAL IN COLORADO,

CINDY CAN'T HELP BUT BOAST TO HER CELL MATE

ABOUT A SEPARATE DEADLY PLAN OF HERS.

SHE BEGAN TO CONFIDE ABOUT HOW SHE HAD CONDUCTED THE MURDER

OF TOBY MATTHEWS IN TEXAS.

UNCLE RICK MAY NOT HAVE ACTED ALONE AFTER ALL.

WE CONTACTED CORSICANA AND TOLD THEM

THAT WE MIGHT HAVE A POTENTIAL WITNESS.

IN OCTOBER 2000, CINDY PHILLIPS STANDS TRIAL

FOR THE MURDER OF TOBY MATTHEWS.

THE COURT HEARS WHAT REALLY HAPPENED THAT APRIL NIGHT

AFTER TOBY LEFT HOME TO GET SOME MEDICINE.

CINDY AND RICK FOLLOWED HIM.

THEY FLASHED THEIR LIGHTS. TOBY PULLED OVER.

TOBY GETS OUT OF HIS CAR.

CINDY AND RICK GET OUT OF THE TRUCK.

TOBY ASKED THEM, "WHAT'S WRONG? WHAT'S GOING ON?"

AND THEN CINDY PULLS OUT A GUN.

CINDY SHOT TOBY ONCE IN THE BACK

AND FIRED ANOTHER TWO SHOTS INTO HIM WHEN HE WAS DOWN.

RICK TAKES THE GUN FROM CINDY AND TELLS CINDY,

"WE WANNA MAKE SURE HE'S DEAD."

RICK FIRES THREE MORE SHOTS,

INCLUDING A KILL SHOT TO THE HEAD.

THEN THEY BOTH GO BACK TO THE HOUSE

LIKE NOTHING HAD EVER HAPPENED.

NOT LONG AFTER, CINDY TRIED TO COLLECT

ON TOBY'S $100,000 LIFE INSURANCE POLICY.

AT THE TRIAL, CINDY IS FOUND GUILTY

FOR THE MURDER OF LOVER, TOBY MATTHEWS.

SHE IS SENTENCED TO 60 YEARS.

THAT SENTENCE IS TACKED ONTO THE 24 YEARS

SHE GOT FOR THE ATTEMPTED MURDER

OF HER SECOND HUSBAND, RON PHILLIPS.

A VERY COLD-HEARTED, RUTHLESS PERSON.

SHE'S EVIL.

SHE IS EVIL TO THE CORE.

THE DEATH OF CINDY'S FIRST HUSBAND, LES,

REMAINS A MYSTERY.

AS FAR AS LES CONRAD'S DEATH,

IT'S STILL AN OPEN INVESTIGATION,

AND NOBODY HAS EVER BEEN CHARGED IN THAT CRIME,

AND NOBODY'S BEEN CONVICTED OF IT.

LOOKING BACK AT HOME VIDEOS,

FOR MAGON, THESE FOND MEMORIES

ARE NOW TAINTED WITH BETRAYAL.

IT'S UNREAL TO SEE US THAT LITTLE AND THAT HAPPY.

IT'S GOOD. IT'S GOOD TO SEE HER HAPPY.

IT'S GOOD BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH OF IT.

I THINK THAT'S RON.

I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM IN A LONG TIME.

I MISS THE HAPPY TIMES.

OUR WHOLE FAMILY IS JUST SO SPLIT.

IT'S NOT EVEN FUNNY.

IT'S LIKE THIS ONE PERSON CAN TAKE SOMETHING SO GREAT

AND JUST RIP IT ALL APART.

MOMMY... ...ON THE BOTTOM.

I HEAR MY FOOD MOVING AROUND.

MM-HMM.

I LOVE MY SISTER.

I HAVE NEVER DOUBTED HER INNOCENCE,

AND NO MATTER WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE WOULD SAY,

I JUST SAY NO.

SHE'S INNOCENT.

I'D HATE TO THINK THAT SHE WAS CAPABLE OF DOING ALL THAT.

BUT...

IT'S PRETTY MUCH IN BLACK AND WHITE.

NOTHING I CAN DO.

NOTHING I CAN CHANGE.

MY NAME IS CINDY, AND I HAVE FOUR KIDS,

MAGON, ROCHELLE, RYAN, AND VANESSA.

I LOVE MY MOTHER.

I DO BECAUSE SHE'S MY MOTHER.

BUT I HATE HER SO MUCH.

I HATE HER SO MUCH.