Original subtitles

FOR EVERY JOYFUL MOMENT

CAPTURED IN FAMILY HOME VIDEOS LIKE THESE...

MORE CAKE, PLEASE.

NO.

FROM THE OUTSIDE THEY LOOK LIKE THE PERFECT FAMILY.

EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT AND IN ORDER.

IT SEEMED LIKE WE NEVER SAW ANY OF THE SITUATION COMING AT ALL.

...THERE ARE DARKER, UNSEEN MOMENTS.

IT APPEARED THAT SOMEBODY BROKE INTO THEIR HOUSE.

HELP!

AND YET, IT IS USUALLY THOSE MOMENTS

THAT PROPEL A FAMILY INTO DISASTER.

THERE IS BLOOD SPLATTER ALL OVER THE WALLS.

THE CARPET IS SATURATED WITH BLOOD.

WHO CAN STAB ANOTHER PERSON 92 TIMES?

A MONSTER?

NOT ALL MEMBERS OF THE WILLIAMS FAMILY

WILL ESCAPE THE DARK FORCES

UNLEASHED BY AN AMERICAN MONSTER.

Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

IAN, WHAT'S THAT?

CAKE!

YEAH! THAT'S CAKE FOR SOMEONE'S BIRTHDAY.

WHO'S BIRTHDAY?

MAMA, PLEASE. PLEASE?

WHO'S BIRTHDAY IS IT?

WELL, IT'S NOT STEVE'S BIRTHDAY.

SO STEVE CAN JUST LICK THE CHOCOLATE CAKE ALL HE WANTS.

IAN, WHO'S BIRTHDAY IS IT?

MAMA, MAMA, PLEASE.

OH, THERE'S YOUR CAKE.

MINE.

OH, IAN, WAIT.

WAIT FOR MORE. WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.

IT'S AUGUST OF 2005, AND THE WILLIAMS FAMILY

IS GATHERED FOR A VERY IMPORTANT OCCASION.

LITTLE IAN IS TURNING 2,

AND TO HIM CAKE IS BOTH A FOOD AND A FASHION ACCESSORY.

OH, YOU'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO WAIT FOR THAT SPOON.

25-YEAR-OLD DAD, NEAL WILLIAMS,

SITS NEXT TO HIM

WHILE HIS MOM, MANLING WILLIAMS,

DISHES UP THE DELICIOUS TREAT FOR HER FAMILY.

THIS WILL REMEMBER ME ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN.

I KNOW, WHEN HE GOT ALL OF THAT CAKE ON HIS FACE...

NEAL'S MOTHER, GRANDMA JAN,

SITS ACROSS THE TABLE WITH IAN'S 5-YEAR-OLD BROTHER, DEVON.

HAVING A GRANDCHILD IS A WONDERFUL THING.

DEVON WAS AS SWEET AS SWEET COULD BE,

AND IAN WAS VERY LIVELY AND SUCH A CUTIE.

NEAL AND MANLING, ALSO KNOWN AS LING,

MET WHEN THEY WERE BOTH JUST 19.

THEY MET THROUGH A MUTUAL FRIEND.

ONE OF HIS COWORKERS PERSUADED HIM TO GO

TO "ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW,"

AND THAT'S WHERE HE MET LING.

DON'T YOU HAVE A NAPKIN YOU CAN PUT ON HIM?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, IAN!

MANLING'S FAMILY WERE ORIGINALLY FROM TAIWAN.

I THINK THERE WAS QUITE A CULTURAL DISCONNECT.

SO THAT WAS QUITE A CONFLICT, I THINK, FOR HER GROWING UP.

♪ YANKEE DOODLE WENT TO TOWN RIDING ON A PONY ♪

♪ STUCK A FEATHER IN HIS CAP AND CALLED IT MACARONI ♪

I WAS A SINGLE PARENT, AND I WAS VERY CLOSE

TO BOTH MY KIDS, ESPECIALLY TO NEAL

BECAUSE WE HAD SIMILAR PERSONALITIES,

LIKED THE SAME THINGS.

WE WERE GEEKS.

NEAL WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT LING.

HE SAID, "I FINALLY HAVE A GIRLFRIEND

THAT I CAN TALK TO ABOUT THINGS

AND HAVE INTELLECTUAL CONVERSATIONS WITH."

HE WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

THE COUPLE'S WHIRLWIND ROMANCE SOON GOT SERIOUS

WHEN DEVON, HERE, WAS BORN IN JULY OF 2000.

MANLING WAS JUST 20 YEARS OLD, AND HER FAMILY WAS SCANDALIZED.

BUT THEY SOON TIED THE KNOT AND MOVED INTO A SMALL CONDO

ON A QUIET STRETCH OF CAMINO BELLO

HERE IN ROWLAND HEIGHTS,

A SMALL COMMUNITY 20-MILES EAST OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.

AND IN AUGUST OF 2003, LITTLE IAN IS BORN,

COMPLETING THEIR FAMILY.

IT WAS A NICE NEIGHBORHOOD,

LOTS OF KIDS, SIDEWALK TO PLAY ON.

SAY THANK YOU, DEVON.

THANK YOU, IAN.

THE BOYS, THEY ALL PLAYED BASEBALL A LOT OUT

ON THE LITTLE SIDE YARD.

DEVON AND IAN WERE VERY CLOSE.

IAN FOLLOWED DEVON WHEREVER HE WENT,

WANTED TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF WHATEVER DEVON DID.

IAN WAS VERY LIVELY,

AND YOU NEVER KNEW WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO.

I ALWAYS CALLED HIM MY COURT JESTER

BECAUSE WHATEVER CAME INTO HIS HEAD,

THAT'S WHAT HE WOULD DO.

WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO LET YOUR BROTHER HAVE A TURN?

IF YOU KEEP KNOCKING IT OFF,

YOU'RE NOT LETTING HIM HAVE A TURN.

MANLING AND NEAL'S DOOR IS ALSO OPEN TO

THEIR CLOSE FRIENDS, MELANEY AND MARIO RAMIREZ,

WHO ALSO ENJOY FILMING

WHEN THEIR TWO KIDS COME TO PLAY.

I ADMIRED THE WAY

THAT THEY WERE RAISING THEIR CHILDREN.

AND I VIEWED NEAL LIKE A BROTHER,

AND I VIEWED LING LIKE A SISTER.

SO THEY WERE MORE LIKE EXTENDED FAMILY

THAN THEY WERE JUST FRIENDS.

MORE CAKE, PLEASE.

NO.

I WOULD DESCRIBE THEIR RELATIONSHIP

KIND OF LIKE TWO BEST FRIENDS IN LOVE.

AT 5 AND 2,

DEVON AND IAN HAVE ALREADY CAUGHT DAD'S SCI-FI BUG.

NEAL WAS VERY MUCH INTO "STAR WARS."

MARIO AND NEAL USED TO ALL PLAY

ALL THESE SWORD FIGHTS WITH THE KIDS.

YOU GOT HIM! WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!

THOSE AREN'T FOR PLAYING WITH, BUDDY.

HOW ABOUT YOU PLAY WITH THIS ONE, OKAY?

NEAL USED TO COLLECT SAMURAI SWORDS THROUGH HIS MOTHER.

SHE USED TO GIVE THEM AS PRESENTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

NEAL, I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO PUT THOSE AWAY.

YEAH, SORRY. I'LL GET THEM HIGHER.

MANLING DOESN'T SEEM TO MIND NEAL'S HOBBIES,

HIS SWORDS OR HIS COMPUTER GAMING.

HE'S LIKE A BIG KID, AND THE YOUNG ONES ADORE HIM.

FROM THE OUTSIDE, THEY LOOKED LIKE THE PERFECT FAMILY.

EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT AND IN ORDER,

AND THAT'S THE IMPRESSION THAT LING LIKED TO GIVE OFF.

MANLING HAS BIG DREAMS FOR HER LITTLE FAMILY.

SHE WANTS THEM TO STEP UP FROM THE CONDO

THEY RENT FROM HER PARENTS.

I THINK SHE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE A HOUSE

WITH THREE, FOUR BEDROOMS.

SHE WAS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE NEXT BIG THING.

THE PROBLEM IS MONEY.

NEAL WORKS AT DISNEYLAND.

IT'S FUN, BUT IT DOESN'T EXACTLY BRING IN BUCKETS OF MONEY.

I THINK THAT SOME OF THE PRESSURES

ON THEIR RELATIONSHIP WERE FINANCIAL.

SHE ALWAYS WANTED MORE, WANTED TO DO BETTER.

MANLING WORKS THE BREAKFAST SHIFT

AT A NEARBY RESTAURANT.

HERE WE ARE. IT'S READY.

TURNS OUT, WAITING TABLES SUITS HER BRIGHT PERSONALITY WELL.

LING WAS VERY GOOD AT HER JOB OF BEING A WAITRESS.

HOW ARE YOU GENTLEMEN DOING?OH, VERY NICE. THANKS.

DID YOU ENJOY YOUR FOOD?

GREAT. ALL RIGHT.

I REMEMBER YOU.

SHE KNEW HOW TO FLIRT WITH CUSTOMERS

SO THAT THEY SHOULD GIVE BIGGER TIPS.

THANKS SO MUCH. KEEP THE CHANGE.

THANK YOU, YOU GUYS.

SHE GOT ENOUGH FROM HER TIPS FROM WAITRESSING THAT

THEY LIVED OFF OF HER TIPS.

AND HER HOURLY WAGES, THEY WOULD USE THAT

FOR INVESTMENTS OR SAVINGS.

IN EARLY 2006, MANLING HAS SAVED ENOUGH TIPS

TO PAY THE LICENSE FEE FOR NEAL

TO BECOME A SALES REP FOR A LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY.

LING ASKED NEAL TO STOP WORKING AT DISNEY SO HE COULD FOCUS

AND GET MORE PEOPLE TO BUY

AND INVEST INTO THE COMPANY UNDER THEM.

INSURANCE IS A NECESSITY. IT'S NOT A LUXURY.

OKAY. JUST 1 SECOND.

HEY, GUYS.

GUYS, CAN YOU KEEP IT DOWN?

OKAY. NO.

I UNDERSTAND.

MAYBE WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT OVER COFFEE SOME TIME.

ALL RIGHT. THANKS, MIKE.

YEAH, YOU TOO. BYE.

WHO GETS THE MOST IS A YUMMY, YUMMY EGG.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY WORKING FROM HOME.

BUT LIKE HUNGRY HIPPOS, NEAL AND MANLING ARE GRABBING

AND GRABBING AT THE AMERICAN DREAM.

YOU'RE TAKING OUT ALL OF YOUR HIPPOS OUT.

AUNTIE?

HMM?

HE SHOULD PUT THIS THING AWAY.

WHY, DO YOU THINK?

BECAUSE HE IS TAKING OFF THE HIPPO AND...

NEAL IS PLAYING FOR HIGH STAKES WITH HIS NEW JOB.

HIS SUCCESS COULD MEAN A BIGGER HOUSE AND A BRIGHT NEW FUTURE.

HE WANTED TO GIVE HER EVERYTHING SHE DREAMT OF.

WHO ROCKS?

THE DODGERS ROCK! DODGERS ROCK!

IT'S APRIL 2006,

AND IT'S A SPECIAL DAY FOR DEVON.

IT'S HIS FIRST HOME BASEBALL GAME.

DODGERS ROCK!

DODGERS ROCK!

IT'S 3 MONTHS NOW SINCE NEAL CHANGED JOBS.

GO DODGERS!

AND WHAT ISN'T CAPTURED IN THIS

NEVER-BEFORE-BROADCAST VIDEO IS THE FAMILY'S

INCREASINGLY PRECARIOUS FINANCIAL SITUATION.

NEAL ONLY EARNS DECENT MONEY ON COMMISSION

IF HE SELLS A LOT OF POLICIES.

BUT HE'S NOT A NATURAL SALESMAN.

YOU HAVE TO BE VERY PUSHY,

AND THAT WASN'T NEAL'S PERSONALITY.

HE COULDN'T PRESSURE SOMEBODY INTO BUYING SOMETHING

THAT THEY DIDN'T REALLY NEED OR THEY DIDN'T WANT.

THIS TRIP TO THE STADIUM IS AN EXPENSE

THAT NEAL KNOWS THEY CAN'T AFFORD.

THEIR MONEY IS RUNNING OUT,

AND EVERYTHING WILL SOON COME CRASHING DOWN

WITH DEADLY CONSEQUENCES.

♪ LOST MY PARTNER, WHAT WILL I DO? ♪

♪ LOST MY PARTNER, WHAT WILL I DO? ♪

AS 2006 DRAWS TO A CLOSE,

THE WILLIAMS FAMILY ARE ENJOYING CAPTURING

THEIR BOYS GROWING UP

ON THIS NEVER-BEFORE-BROADCAST HOME VIDEO FOOTAGE.

♪ SKIP TO MY LOU ♪

DEVON, NOW 6, HAS JUST STARTED KINDERGARTEN FULL-TIME

AND IS LOVING EVERY SECOND,

LIKE PERFORMING IN THE SCHOOL CONCERT.

♪ LOST MY PARTNER, WHAT WILL I DO? ♪

♪ LOST MY PARTNER, WHAT WILL I DO? ♪

OF COURSE, THIS MEANS LITTLE BROTHER IAN

IS LEFT AT HOME.

AND IT'S NOT MOM HE'S SPENDING HIS DAYS WITH.

AT THE TIME THIS FOOTAGE IS TAKEN,

MANLING HAS STARTED WAITRESSING FULL-TIME

TO KEEP UP WITH THE BILLS.

I THINK THAT WAS THE LAST ONE.

NO!

YOU READY TO GO IN NOW?

YEAH?

NO? YOU STILL WANT TO KEEP PLAYING?

IT'S HER MOTHER-IN-LAW, JAN,

WHO OFTEN NOW LOOKS AFTER THE BOYS AND NOT BY HERSELF.

HEY, BUDDY!

NEAL HASN'T SOLD ENOUGH INSURANCE TO KEEP HIS JOB.

IAN AND DEVON WERE HIS ENTIRE LIFE.

I MEAN, THEY WERE EVERYTHING TO HIM.

HE COULDN'T THINK OF ANYTHING BUT THEM.

BUT BEING A STAY-AT-HOME DAD

DOESN'T COME WITH A SALARY.

I LENT THEM MONEY QUITE A BIT.

WELL, "LENT" THEM MONEY-- GAVE THEM MONEY.

HEY, YOU GET A CHANCE TO THINK

ABOUT THAT THING WE TALKED ABOUT?

YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T KNOW.

HEY, GUYS!

THERE'S ONLY SO FAR

THE BANK OF MOM CAN STRETCH.

WHAT'S GOING ON? YOU JUST SEEM SO DOWN LATELY.

THE PRESSURE IS NOW ON LING

TO KEEP THE FAMILY AFLOAT FINANCIALLY,

AND IT'S TAKING ITS TOLL.

SHE DIDN'T SEEM ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH HER LIFE.

YOU KNOW, GO TO WORK, COME HOME, DEAL WITH THE FAMILY,

THAT WASN'T THE WAY SHE WANTED TO LIVE HER LIFE.

NEAL MAY BE GREAT WITH THE KIDS,

BUT HE'S NOT MUCH OF A HOUSEKEEPER,

AND HE SPENDS HOURS PLAYING COMPUTER GAMES.

NEAL!

DESPITE THE GROWING TENSIONS AT HOME,

MANLING IS DOING GREAT AT WORK.

HER WORK WAS SENDING HER TO A COURSE

TO LEARN TO BE A MANAGER UP IN SANTA BARBARA,

AND SHE WANTED ME TO WATCH THE BOYS.

BUT IN TRUTH, THE TRIP HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WORK.

MANLING HAS BEEN KEEPING A SECRET FROM NEAL.

SHE'S RECENTLY RECONNECTED WITH AN OLD FLAME FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

HE WAS A SINGLE GUY LIVING BY HIMSELF.

SO I'M SURE HE HAD NICER THINGS

THAN LING HAD,

AND SHE WAS TIRED OF THE LIFE THAT SHE HAD.

I'M GOING TO SHOWER.

OKAY.

THERE'S JUST ONE PROBLEM--

HE DOESN'T WANT TO PURSUE A SERIOUS RELATIONSHIP

WITH A MARRIED MOM.

THAT'S CAKE FOR SOMEONE'S BIRTHDAY.

WHO'S BIRTHDAY?MAMA, PLEASE.

PLEASE?WHO'S BIRTHDAY IS IT?

THE FAMILY THAT SEEMED SO STRONG

AT THE TIME THIS MOVE WAS FILMED

IS NOW AT BREAKING POINT.

LING KEEPS QUIET ABOUT HER AFFAIR,

BUT NEAL HAS HIS SUSPICIONS.

NEAL DID BRING UP HE SAW PROBLEMS IN THE RELATIONSHIP

WITH MANLING,

BUT HE NEVER REALLY DEFINED WHAT THE PROBLEMS WERE.

IT LOOKS DELICIOUS NOW.

THE TENSION BETWEEN THE YOUNG COUPLE

IS TAKING ITS TOLL.

NEAL WAS A LAID-BACK KIND OF PERSON.

IT TOOK A LOT TO GET HIM UPSET.

BUT WHEN HE DID GET UPSET, HE HAD A TERRIBLE TEMPER.

MANLING IS SUFFERING FROM INSOMNIA.

WHEN SHE SNATCHES A RARE MINUTE OF SLEEP,

A RECURRING NIGHTMARE ABOUT NEAL PLAGUES HER.

SHE WAS HAVING DREAMS

THAT NEAL WAS GOING TO HURT THE BOYS

AND THEN KILL HIMSELF.

MANLING SHOWED UP AT OUR HOUSE ONE DAY AND JUST SAYS...

IT'S NEAL.

I THINK HE'S GOING TO HURT US.

WHAT?

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

HE'S DIFFERENT. HE'S CHANGED.

OKAY, I--

I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS.

NO. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.

SHE DID NOT SAY WHAT NEAL WAS GOING TO DO TO THEM.

SHE JUST SAID, "NEAL'S GOING TO HURT US."

♪ TWINKLE, TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR ♪

THE CAPTURING OF LITTLE IAN'S INNOCENCE

CANNOT PREVENT THE UNKNOWN HORROR

HURTLING OVER THE HORIZON.

AND NOW TAKE A PICTURE!

♪ TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR ♪

♪ HOW I WONDER WHAT YOU ARE ♪

♪ UP ABOVE THE WORLD SO HIGH ♪

IN JUNE 2007, 3-YEAR-OLD IAN WILLIAMS

DOESN'T HAVE A CARE IN THE WORLD.

♪ TWINKLE, TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR ♪

♪ HOW I WONDER WHAT YOU ARE ♪

AND NOW TAKE A PICTURE!

TWO MONTHS LATER,

DEPUTIES FROM THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT

RESPOND TO A 9-1-1 CALL

FROM CAMINO BELLO, ROWLAND HEIGHTS.

OUTSIDE MANLING AND NEAL'S HOME,

NEIGHBORS START TO GATHER.

I WAS JUST, LIKE, MORE CONFUSED, THEN I REALIZED

SOMETHING MAJOR HAD TO HAPPEN.

OFFICER, WHAT'S HAPPENING, MAN?

I KNOW THESE PEOPLE. I LIVE DOWN THE STREET.

WHAT'S GOING ON?SOMEBODY DIED.

SOMEBODY DIED?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

CAN YOU GIVE US MORE INFORMATION?

NO, SIR.

WORD OF AN APPALLING ATTACK

SPREADS QUICKLY THROUGH ROWLAND HEIGHTS.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

I DON'T KNOW.

IT APPEARED THAT SOMEBODY BROKE INTO THEIR HOUSE.

WE WEREN'T SURE WHAT HAPPENED TO LING.

WE WEREN'T SURE IF SHE WAS ATTACKED OR IF SHE WAS HURT,

AND SO WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT HER.

AS POLICE INVESTIGATE THE SCENE,

IT'S CLEAR MANLING IS TRAUMATIZED,

CONFUSED, AND COVERED IN BLOOD.

MANLING!

SHE'S TAKEN AWAY FOR HER OWN SAFETY.

AT THE POLICE STATION, MANLING IS UNHARMED.

WOULD YOU SIT WITH HER? WE'LL BE DONE IN A MINUTE.

BUT AS THIS REAL POLICE VIDEO SHOWS,

SHE'S IN SHOCK.

IS SHE AWARE OF WHAT HAPPENED?

IF THE DETECTIVES ARE TO FIGURE OUT

EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED, THEY NEED MANLING'S HELP.

SHE NEEDS TO TELL THEM EVERYTHING FROM THE BEGINNING.

I'LL BE LATE.

HAVE FUN.

MANLING SAYS SHE GOT HOME AT AROUND 12:30 A.M.

SHE WENT TO BED AND LEFT NEAL STILL PLAYING

HIS GAME ON THE COMPUTER.

SHE THINKS NEAL JOINED HER IN BED AROUND 1 A.M.

BUT AFTER A FEW HOURS, SHE WOKE UP

AND COULDN'T GET BACK TO SLEEP.

AND THEN SHE SLIPPED ON SOME SANDALS

AND WENT OUT TO THE CAR.

MANLING TELLS DETECTIVES THAT WHEN SHE CAN'T SLEEP,

SHE LIKES TO DRIVE UP TO THE TOP OF THE RIDGE

TO WATCH THE SUNRISE.

SHE HAS BEEN DOING IT MORE AND MORE THESE DAYS

TO CLEAR HER HEAD.

BOYS, TIME TO WAKE UP!

DEVON, IAN.

OH, MY GOD!

HELP, SOMEBODY!

HELP! HELP!

HELP ME!

HELP! SOMEBODY

HELP ME!

IT WAS DEVASTATING

TO FIND OUT THAT THREE PEOPLE

THAT WERE MOST IMPORTANT TO ME IN MY LIFE WERE GONE.

AND YOU DON'T...

YOU CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

WHAT DO I DO NOW?

DO I BREATHE?

DO I CRY?

WHAT?

THE MOMENT I REALIZED

THAT THE BOYS WERE REALLY GONE...

I COLLAPSED, I DROPPED TO MY KNEES,

AND THIS SCREAM CAME OUT,

AND IT WAS A SCREAM THAT I'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE.

IT WAS LIKE... YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT,

AND IT JUST...

AND IT FILLS EVERY PART OF NOT

ONLY YOUR BODY, BUT YOUR SOUL.

♪ MIND THE MUSIC AND THE STEP AND WITH THE GIRLS BE HANDY ♪

♪ THERE WAS GEORGE WASHINGTON ALONG WITH... ♪

MANLING'S FAMILY HAS BEEN UTTERLY DESTROYED.

NEAL AND THE BOYS ARE DEAD,

AND THE MONSTER WHO DID IT IS OUT THERE SOMEWHERE.

DODGERS ROCK!

DODGERS ROCK!

NEAL WILLIAMS AND HIS TWO SONS,

DEVON, AGE 7, AND IAN, AGE 3,

HAVE BEEN MURDERED IN THEIR OWN HOME.

WIFE AND MOTHER MANLING DISCOVERED THE BLOODY SCENE

AND IS DESPERATE TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HER FAMILY.

WHEN I ARRIVED, IT WAS A MIDDLE-CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO THERE WAS A LOT OF YELLOW TAPE,

AND THERE WAS A FEW NEWS VANS.

AND I WENT UP TO THE SCENE, AND I KNEW I HAD THREE VICTIMS.

L.A. CORONER'S INVESTIGATOR, DENISE BERTONE,

HAS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST JOBS IN LOS ANGELES--

SPECIFICALLY LOOKING INTO THE DEATHS OF CHILDREN.

HER FIRST TASK IS TO ACCESS THE CRIME SCENE.

I ENTERED THE HOUSE.

IT'S A MESSY HOUSEHOLD THAT HAS KIDS IN IT.

AS DENISE HEADS UP THE STAIRS,

THE PICTURE OF DOMESTIC CHAOS CHANGES TO A HORROR MOVIE.

THERE IS BLOOD SPLATTER ALL OVER THE WALLS.

THE CARPET IS SATURATED WITH BLOOD.

YOU CAN SMELL THE BLOOD, AND THERE'S A SPECIAL TASTE.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE IS COPPER IN BLOOD,

SO IT GIVES YOU A METALLIC TASTE IN YOUR MOUTH.

NEAL'S BLOODY BODY IS DISCOVERED

WITH MULTIPLE STAB WOUNDS.

IT'S NOT JUST THE NUMBER THAT'S EXTRAORDINARY, IT'S THEIR SIZE.

THIS ATTACK WASN'T COMMITTED WITH JUST A KITCHEN KNIFE.

HE HAS PARTIAL AMPUTATIONS OF HIS FINGERS

OF BOTH HANDS AND HIS FOREARM.

SO HE HAS DEFENSE WOUNDS CONSISTENT

WITH HAVING FOUGHT BACK.

HIS FACE AND HIS TORSO HAVE BEEN...

ALL I CAN THINK OF IS,

AS CRUDE AS IT SOUNDS, IS IT'S BEEN HACKED AT.

THE BLOOD PATTERNS ON THE FLOOR SUGGEST

NEAL DIDN'T MEET HIS ASSAILANT ON THE LANDING.

LYING ON THE FLOOR IS THE MURDER WEAPON.

THERE IS A LARGE SWORD, A SAMURAI-LIKE SWORD.

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY HEAVY.

AND IT'S... HOW DO YOU GET THE CLEARANCE TO COME DOWN?

BECAUSE THESE ARE NOT STAB WOUNDS.

THESE ARE BIG GASHES

LIKE HE'S BEEN HACKED WITH THE SWORD.

SO IT BEGAN THERE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE HE COLLAPSES

TO HIS FACE IN THE HALLWAY.

IT LOOKS LIKE NEAL WAS KILLED WITH A SWORD

FROM HIS OWN COLLECTION.

THE SCENE IN THE CHILDREN'S ROOM IS MUCH DIFFERENT.

IAN, THE 3-YEAR-OLD, WAS IN THE LOWER BUNK,

AS ONE WOULD EXPECT.

AND DEVON, THE OLDER CHILD, WAS IN THE UPPER BUNK.

WHEN I LOOK AT IAN FIRST, HE LOOKS LIKE A 3-YEAR-OLD

WHO'S JUST GENTLY TUCKED IN TO GO TO SLEEP.

DEVON IS ALSO LYING IN BED

WITH THE COMFORTER PULLED UP AROUND HIM.

HE ALSO... JUST NO OBVIOUS INJURIES ON HIM.

THE BOYS LOOK AS IF THEY DIED IN THEIR SLEEP,

BUT DENISE BERTONE'S EXPERIENCE KNOWS BETTER.

SUFFOCATION WAS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE BODIES

SHOWED AT THE SCENE.

HELLO.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE KILLER KNEW THE FAMILY,

KNEW NEAL HAD A SWORD COLLECTION

AND WANTED HIM DEAD.

KIDS, PROBABLY SUFFOCATION.

AT THE DETECTIVES' PRODDING,

MANLING REVEALS SOMETHING SHOCKING ABOUT HER QUIET,

RELIABLE, STAY-AT-HOME HUSBAND.

THIS REVELATION GIVES THE DETECTIVES

A NEW ANGLE TO EXPLORE.

THEIR KILLER COULD BE NEAL'S JEALOUS LOVER,

OR, QUITE POSSIBLY, HER AVENGING HUSBAND.

I'M GOING TO NEED NUMBERS AND NAMES FOR EVERYONE ON THIS LIST.

SURE.

JAN WILLIAMS HAS JUST LOST HER SON AND GRANDCHILDREN.

NOW DETECTIVES NEED TO ASK SOME TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT NEAL.

MRS. WILLIAMS?

THEY ASKED ME ABOUT IF I THOUGHT THAT NEAL WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR.

THEY ASKED ME IF I THOUGHT IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT

LING WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR.

HOW ABOUT MANLING?

I THOUGHT, WELL, MAYBE SHE WAS INVOLVED WITH SOMEBODY,

AND THE PERSON DID THIS.

FOR DETECTIVES, IT'S AN INTERESTING TWIST,

ONE THEY TAKE STRAIGHT BACK TO MANLING.

MANLING IS LYING TO THE DETECTIVES.

BACK AT THE CRIME SCENE,

SEARCHING FOR EVIDENCE

THAT MANLING MIGHT HAVE BEEN HAVING AN AFFAIR.

DENISE?

AND ONE OBVIOUS PLACE TO START IS HER COMPUTER.

THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

BUT INSTEAD OF E-MAILS TO ANY LOVER,

THEY DISCOVER SOMETHING FAR MORE STARTLING.

THERE'S A COMPUTER SCREEN THAT'S UP,

AND THERE'S SOME WRITING ON THE COMPUTER SCREEN.

NEAL MIGHT HAVE LEFT INVESTIGATORS A CLUE

AS TO WHAT REALLY HAPPENED THAT NIGHT

FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE.

WOO-HOO!

JUST WEEKS AFTER THIS HOME MOVIE FOOTAGE WAS FILMED,

NEAL WILLIAMS HAS BEEN SLASHED TO DEATH

BY HIS OWN SWORD,

AND HIS TWO BOYS SMOTHERED IN THEIR SUBURBAN HOME.

NOW, INVESTIGATORS FROM

THE LOS ANGELES COUNTRY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT...

DENISE?

HAVE FOUND A NOTE HE APPARENTLY LEFT

ON HIS WIFE'S COMPUTER.

THE NOTE ON THE COMPUTER

IS SUPPOSEDLY THE FATHER'S SUICIDE NOTE.

TO INVESTIGATORS, THIS IS A HUGE RED FLAG.

HIS HANDS ARE TOO MANGLED.

HOW DO YOU HAVE WOUNDS A FOOT LONG ACROSS YOUR BACK

IN MULTIPLE, AND SEVERAL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS

THAT ARE SELF-INFLICTED?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THE NOTE ONLY DEEPENS THE MYSTERY--

A BUNGLED ATTEMPT TO THROW INVESTIGATORS

OFF THE REAL KILLER'S SCENT.

BACK AT THE CRIME SCENE,

A NEW AND DAMNING PIECE OF EVIDENCE.

THEY FOUND NEAL'S BLOOD

ON A CIGARETTE BOX IN THE CAR,

AND THEY CONFRONTED HER WITH THAT.

THERE'S NO WAY HIS BLOOD COULD'VE BEEN THERE IF,

AS SHE SAID, SHE'D GONE OUT FOR A DRIVE

AND COME BACK AND FOUND HIM DEAD AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS,

AND THEN WENT RUNNING OUT SCREAMING.

HOW WOULD HIS BLOOD GET ON THE BOX?

MANLING WASN'T ANGRY AT NEAL FOR HAVING AN AFFAIR.

SHE WAS ANGRY BECAUSE HE AND THE KIDS

WERE PREVENTING HER FROM HAVING THE LIFE

SHE REALLY WANTED.

IF SHE COULD MAKE IT LOOK LIKE HE COMMITTED SUICIDE,

SHE'D BE ABLE TO GET RID OF NEAL AND START A NEW LIFE.

AND SHE TUCKED THEM IN AND MADE IT LOOK LIKE THEY WERE SLEEPING

AND SHUT THE DOOR.

WE'VE ALL HELD A NEWBORN BABY.

BUT HOLDING A PILLOW OR SHOVING A CHILD'S FACE INTO THE BEDDING,

AND JUST THE PANIC THAT--

AND THE PAIN,

AND THE FEAR THAT THAT CHILD WAS GOING THROUGH...

I'LL BE LATE.

HAVE FUN!

AND THEN SHE WENT OUT WITH HER FRIENDS.

SHE EXPECTED NEAL TO FIND THEIR DEAD BODIES AND,

UNABLE TO LIVE WITHOUT HIS SONS, COMMIT SUICIDE.

BUT WHEN MANLING ARRIVES HOME,

SHE FINDS NEAL FAST ASLEEP.

ONCE NEAL STARTED RUNNING,

ALL THOUGHTS OF STAGING HIS DEATH

AS A SUICIDE FLEW OUT THE WINDOW.

MANLING CHASED HIM DOWN THE HALL...

NO! NO!

SLICING AT HIM FROM BEHIND.

THE AUTOPSY RECORDS 92 CUTS TO HIS BODY.

SHE BUNDLED UP HER BLOODY CLOTHES AND THE GLOVES

AND DROVE TO A NEARBY DUMPSTER TO DITCH THEM.

AND THEN SHE WENT UP TO THE RIDGE TOP

TO HAVE THAT SMOKE

AND WATCH THE SUN COME UP.

AT HER TRIAL IN 2012,

MANLING WILLIAMS IS FOUND GUILTY

ON FIRST-DEGREE MURDER ON THREE COUNTS.

WHO CAN STAB ANOTHER PERSON 92 TIMES?

A MONSTER?

AND IN HER CONFESSION SHE SAID THE LAST THING

HE SAID WAS, "HELP ME."

THAT WAS HARD TO HEAR.

I WISH I COULD'VE BEEN THERE TO HELP HIM,

OR... EASE HIM INTO PASSING,

AND I WASN'T.

SHE IS CURRENTLY ON DEATH ROW IN CALIFORNIA.

♪ TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR ♪

♪ HOW I WONDER WHAT YOU ARE ♪

♪ UP ABOVE... ♪

♪ ...ABOVE THE WORLD ♪

DO IT.

♪ ABOVE THE WORLD ♪

FOR THE LOVED ONES OF NEAL, DEVON AND IAN,

THE HORROR HAS BEEN DEVASTATING.

I MISS HAVING SOMEONE THAT CLOSE TO ME IN MY LIFE.

I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY THAT CLOSE TO ME ANYMORE

BECAUSE I'M TERRIFIED OF HAVING SOMEONE THAT CLOSE.

I THINK ABOUT DEVON AND IAN EVERY DAY.

THEY WERE LIKE MY BOYS, TOO.

I LOVE THEM, MY KIDS LOVE THEM.

WE DO OUR BEST TO KEEP THEM ALIVE.

THEY'RE JUST AS IMPORTANT TO ME

AS EVER THEY WERE.

I DON'T HAVE NEW STORIES TO TELL, AND MAYBE I BORE PEOPLE

BY TELLING THE SAME STORIES OVER AND OVER AGAIN,

BUT LOVE DOESN'T JUST GO AWAY.

AND BECAUSE THE LOVE FOR YOUR CHILD

AND THE LOVE FOR YOUR GRANDCHILD IS GREAT...

MY BOYS.

THE PAIN IS ALSO GREAT.