Original subtitles

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- Some of the most intense cases a detective works

are murders that involve families

where private problems boil over to devastating violence.

Tonight, on "The First 48: Critical Minutes"...

Tonight, on "The First 48: Critical Minutes"... [banging on door] - Tulsa Police!

[banging on door] - Tulsa Police!

- Detectives face a family's code of silence.

- [muffled crying] All I know...

- What the [bleep] happened to Anthony?

- Then...

- Looks like he got shot in the back.

- A teenager, gunned down.

- Jermaine, who is it?

- Hits close to home for a Mobile detective.

- [sobbing]

- [sobbing] - But first...

- But first...

- A beloved uncle is betrayed.

- This is the type of crime that tears a family apart.

Time to get busy.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- Many people believe that there is no bond

stronger than family.

But Homicide detectives know all too well

that sometimes those ties can be violently broken.

♪ ♪

- What's up, Detectives?

♪ ♪

[indistinct radio chatter]

♪ ♪

You got any info on the decedent?

♪ ♪

- Just his name.

- Just his name. Last name was Cotton.

Last name was Cotton.

♪ ♪

narrator: 54-year-old Paul Cotton

was better known to his friends as PC.

He was murdered in his childhood home

where he grew up with his two sisters.

♪ ♪

- Looks like he's been here

I would say over six to eight hours.

I would say over six to eight hours. - Are those wounds, doc?

- Are those wounds, doc?

narrator: The victim has been stabbed over 20 times

in the back, neck, and face.

♪ ♪

- Somebody went through his pockets.

♪ ♪

[radio chatter]

narrator: Echols questions the family members

who discovered the body.

He hopes they might know who wanted Paul dead.

♪ ♪

narrator: Two hours into the investigation...

Armelli gets a break.

- OK.

narrator: A neighbor said he left Paul's house

around 10:00 p.m.

♪ ♪

- He says he was here last night.

He had a beer with the guy.

♪ ♪

He said when he left, just the victim

and the victim's nephew was here.

♪ ♪

And he says during his morning walk

through the neighborhood here, he noticed

that the victim's car was gone.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪ narrator: Echols asks the family

narrator: Echols asks the family

about Paul's nephew and his missing car.

♪ ♪

- We have a cell number? - They're trying to get it no.

- The car? - Ford Taurus.

- Ford Taurus, red in color, and '91.

- Let's put it out on the air.

♪ ♪

[radio chirps] - Yeah.

♪ ♪

narrator: Ten minutes later...

[phone ringing]

♪ ♪

narrator: The victim's family has tracked down Kethan.

- Mr. Arney?

This is Detective Echols

from the Cleveland Police Department.

[radio chatter]

OK, Mr. Arney, we need to talk to you.

In person.

OK, just stay right there.

narrator: Echols sends a patrol car

to pick up Kethan

and bring him to Homicide.

♪ ♪

- OK, Kethan.

You already know your uncle's deceased.

- Well, that's what we're trying to find out.

And we need some answers from you.

'Cause I understand that you were still with him, right?

- Me and my uncle, we always just hang out, man.

- OK, what time did you get there?

- He gets off at like 8:00. So like 8:45.

narrator: He says he spent the evening

drinking on the porch with his uncle

and a neighbor.

- My uncle's going back and forth in the house,

trying to clean up.

He was going on a family reunion.

narrator: Around 10:00 p.m., Paul's neighbor left for home.

narrator: Around 10:00 p.m., Paul's neighbor left for home. - That's it, I'm about to, probably,

- That's it, I'm about to, probably,

pull out myself, you know?

- Mm-hmm.

narrator: Kethan says he left

just minutes after the neighbor.

On his way out, two men were coming onto the porch.

♪ ♪

- Light skinned one.

He asked me, "Was PC there?"

I say, "Uh, yeah."

I know the dark skinned one went in,

because I pretty much held the door.

♪ ♪

- OK. - Who is he?

♪ ♪

- Describe him.

- Um...

- OK, let's talk about the light skinned guy.

narrator: Kethan says the second man was in his 50,

with gray hair and a mustache.

♪ ♪

- I'm gonna ask you this question,

- I'm gonna ask you this question, and I want an honest answer.

and I want an honest answer.

Did you get in an argument with your uncle last night?

- Nah.

Nah.

Nah. - Did you hit your uncle?

- Did you hit your uncle?

- No, I didn't hit my uncle.

- Did you kill him? - No, I didn't kill my uncl.

- OK, did you take his car? - No.

No.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪ - Where'd you stay last night?

- Where'd you stay last night?

- What's her phone number?

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

Hi, this is Detective Echols

from the Cleveland Police Department.

We were down here talking with your boyfriend.

What time did he get home last night?

♪ ♪

Got to you last night about 10:20?

narrator: Kethan's girlfriend confirms his story.

- All right, OK. Buh-bye.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪ [blows raspberry]

[blows raspberry]

The girlfriend says he got home a little bit after 10:00,

so that wouldn't give him enough time

to commit the murder.

♪ ♪

Based on what I see so far, he is not our suspect.

♪ ♪

[phone ringing]

Echols.

narrator: Echols gets an unexpected call.

narrator: Echols gets an unexpected call. - You're coming down?

- You're coming down?

narrator: From Kethan's girlfriend.

- I'll be there in a few minutes.

♪ ♪

She's very emotional.

So we're gonna see what she has to say.

Here you go, dear.

- Mm-hmm.

You're OK, all right?

♪ ♪

- With?

narrator: She admits that she never saw Kethan

the night of the murder.

narrator: She says she made plans to meet up

with Kethan at a motel, later that day.

- OK.

♪ ♪

- Why did you lie for Kethan?

Oh, my God.

[indistinct crying]

♪ ♪

- His girlfriend blew him out of the water.

Innocent people don't set up alibis.

So at this point, Kethan is our suspect.

♪ ♪

Robbery, domestic violence...

Robbery, domestic violence... Yeah, he has a violent past.

Yeah, he has a violent past.

♪ ♪

We have our victim's car.

- Oh, yeah? - Yeah.

We need to get Kethan in here before he realizes

we're looking at him as our suspect.

[sirens wailing]

♪ ♪

narrator: Later that day...

♪ ♪

Kethan is taken into custody.

- It would be nice if he actually gave a statement

admitting this crime.

It would bring all of the pieces together.

Start giving all of the family members involved here

some closure.

You know why I arrested you?

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪ - You lied to me.

- You lied to me.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪ I talked to your girlfriend.

I talked to your girlfriend.

I have your uncle's vehicle.

It's totally up to you.

It's totally up to you. You can make this right.

You can make this right.

♪ ♪

We understand when people get caught up in the moment.

You know, you might've got upset with your uncle,

next thing you know...

you might've knocked him out, not thinking that he would die.

And you figured, "I'm gone."

Took his car keys.

Took his car keys. - [sighs] I didn't kill my uncle.

- [sighs] I didn't kill my uncle.

- So why did you tell your girlfriend

to tell the police, "I was with you at 10:20."

♪ ♪

- I got nervous.

- Where'd you get the car from?

- I got it from him. - How'd you get it from him?

- I got it from him. - How'd you get it from him? - He let me use the car.

- He let me use the car.

I lied about that, because of...

the way y'all came at me.

If I would've told you I had the car,

If I would've told you I had the car, you would've arrested me.

you would've arrested me.

- You in jail anyway, dude.

But you're in jail because you lied.

And you lied big time.

♪ ♪

narrator: The next day...

- We executed a search warrat in the room in the motel.

We recovered the key to the Ford Taurus.

Some evidence, what has suspected blood splatter on it.

Primarily shoes and a hat.

We also recovered the victim's ID,

his credit card.

His ass is toast.

This is the type of crime that tears a family apart.

He was supposed to go out of town to be with his family.

And his own family wound up killing him.

♪ ♪

- It is a natural instinct to wanna protect a family member.

But it can go too far sometimes.

It can get way out of control.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪ - We received a Crime Stoppers tip.

- We received a Crime Stoppers tip.

A tipster was told by a third party

about a homicide that happened.

narrator: An anonymous caller reported a rumor

about a murder.

- The victim goes by the name of Anthony.

The suspects beat Anthony to death.

Tipsters say the suspects dismembered the body...

Tipsters say the suspects dismembered the body... and nobody knows about the crime.

and nobody knows about the crime.

- Man.

That sounds like a freaky deal.

♪ ♪

- We need to treat this tip like a homicide.

Let's start working it.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪ - Based on the information we have,

- Based on the information we have,

I believe Anthony Pietrzak may be our victim.

narrator: 18-year-old Anthony Pietrzak

was born in Missouri and grew up in Tulsa

was born in Missouri and grew up in Tulsa with his mother and four siblings.

with his mother and four siblings.

He has plans to enlist in the Marines.

♪ ♪

narrator: Detective Chase Calhoun

searches for Anthony's last known address.

♪ ♪

- I got the address. - That's where mom lives.

- Go see what she knows.

♪ ♪

narrator: Anthony's mother says her son has been missing

narrator: Anthony's mother says her son has been missing for six days.

for six days.

- But he comes home every day?

narrator: She says Anthony is expecting a baby

with his girlfriend, Ashley Peal.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

narrator: She says Anthony went to retrieve the card,

and she hasn't seen him since.

We'll be in contact.

♪ ♪

- I have nothing to do with what happened to Anthony.

♪ ♪

- OK, well what's the deal with Tara's food stamp card?

♪ ♪

- Carl, be truthful, just tell the whole story--

- Oh, I'm telling the whole story, sir.

I seen him...

♪ ♪

- Anthony was over there beating on Ashley.

So Ashley, somehow, got a hold of her dad,

So Ashley, somehow, got a hold of her dad, and he came over there.

and he came over there.

and he came over there. That's all I know.

That's all I know.

- So does Ashley know what happened to Anthony?

- She has to.

♪ ♪

- When was the last time you saw somebody?

♪ ♪

- OK.

narrator: He says the two men and Ashley's father

narrator: He says the two men and Ashley's father drove off with Anthony.

drove off with Anthony.

- What kind of truck?

♪ ♪

- We got a search warrants for Dearld and Ashley's house.

- We got a search warrants for Dearld and Ashley's house. Let's go to Dearld's house first.

Let's go to Dearld's house first.

As far as we know, Dearld could have Anthony tied up in there.

[intense music]

[banging on door] Tulsa Police!

Tulsa Police, come to the front!

narrator: Inside the house, they find Ashley,

her father, Dearld, and two other men.

♪ ♪

- We got Ashley, her dad Dearld,

her cousin Justin, and a guy named Tracy Price.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪ - Ashley. - Yes.

- Ashley. - Yes.

- I'm Sergeant Walker.

- I'm Sergeant Walker. We're here to talk about Anthony.

We're here to talk about Anthony.

- Yes.

- And hopefully Anthony walks through the door and says,

- And hopefully Anthony walks through the door and says, "Here I am." - Yes.

"Here I am." - Yes.

"Here I am." - Yes. Now, I love Anthony.

Now, I love Anthony.

I'm pregnant with his child.

- Do you know what happened to Anthony?

- No.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪ I don't know anything.

I don't know anything.

- Was there any problems with you and Anthony?

- Yeah. We used to fight a lot.

We had, like, an argument and it turned into him,

like, scuffling with me.

And I ran out to get away from there.

narrator: She says she's been staying with family

narrator: She says she's been staying with family for the past week.

for the past week.

- Did your dad know that he had issues--

- Yes, my dad was really upset for him abusing me.

♪ ♪

- The furniture's been moved around.

It definitely looks like there was a struggle.

- Take a look at this.

- Take a look at this. - Blood on the floor.

- Blood on the floor.

Blood on the wall.

♪ ♪

[phone ringing]

- Hello?

- There's definitely blood in this room.

It looks like there's blood smeared all over the walls.

[music intensifies]

- Sometimes family members feel like they have

an obligation to send a message

an obligation to send a message because it's your daughter.

because it's your daughter.

You know, that's somebody that you love more than anybody.

The smart thing for this father to have done,

The smart thing for this father to have done, go to that house with law enforcement,

go to that house with law enforcement,

and have them remove her from that situation.

♪ ♪

- There's evidence that somebody

got beat up in the front room.

You have to tell me truth.

I'm talking about whoever would stand up for you

at your house where Anthony was beaten.

- There's no one that would hurt him.

For me.

♪ ♪

- We're gonna find out what happened to Anthony.

- I want you to find out. - OK.

♪ ♪

narrator: Justin says Dearld told him and Tracy,

the other man detectives found at Dearld's house,

to go help Ashley.

to go help Ashley. - I drove him over there,

- I drove him over there,

Tracy hops out on the street, and Ashley's outside,

half-naked--

narrator: He says Tracy stayd at Ashley's house,

and Ashley fled the scene.

narrator: He says Dearld left in his truck.

- OK.

- Do you know what happened to Anthony?

- Where'd you hear that from?

- From Tracy.

- Tracy got his licks in on him.

♪ ♪

- Justin, the problem is-- you need to finish the stor.

Put it all out there.

Telling half a truth is still telling a lie.

- [muffled crying] That's all I know.

♪ ♪

- Eh, he came around a little bit towards the end.

It's possible that Anthony got an ass-whooping--

"Don't ever come back here again."

"Don't ever come back here again." I don't think he's dead.

I don't think he's dead.

- There is that slim chance that, if you know

they're gonna do something to you and asked you,

you do everything you can to bail.

you do everything you can to bail. - Aw, John. - Why?

- Aw, John. - Why?

- He didn't see mom in the last week.

♪ ♪

- I had nothing to do with nothing, so...

I'll just wait and talk to a lawyer, then.

♪ ♪

- Dearld Peal. - Yes, sir.

♪ ♪

- What can you tell me about this whole mess?

♪ ♪

- Yeah?

- Who went over there to help?

- Did you go over?

- I went over there afterwards, and Ashley was, you know,

crying and upset

and I told her she needed to leave.

Went in the house and he noticed that--

I mean, I was mad.

Because he was still there.

Fight broke out. - Fight broke out with who?

- With Anthony and Tracy.

- With Anthony and Tracy. - Then what happens?

- Then what happens?

- Then Anthony bails out that front room window.

narrator: Dearld says Anthony jumped through the window

and tried hopping the neighbor's fence.

and tried hopping the neighbor's fence. But Tracy grabbed him.

But Tracy grabbed him.

- And Tracy held him down.

♪ ♪

- I would assume he probably got a few punches.

- Including from yourself?

- No.

- So Tracey's got him, then what happens?

- Hang on, you lost me.

- He got away from us.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

- Dearld, what if I told you that somebody saw you guys

hog-tie him and throw him in the back of the truck?

[music intensifies]

- But furthermore, there's neighbors that said

you plus two other guys.

♪ ♪

- Now I'm only assuming that him and Tracy

- Now I'm only assuming that him and Tracy got their story together.

got their story together.

And maybe the third guy hasn't got his story,

and he don't want us to know who it is.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

narrator: While Dearld waits to be transported to jail

for kidnapping charges...

- Help me prove your story is correct,

where he jumps out of the back of the truck.

narrator: Brown convinces him to give up

the third man's name.

♪ ♪

- It's a Wesley White.

♪ ♪

narrator: 41-year-old Wesley White

has prior convictions for false impersonation

and indecent exposure.

- Off his Facebook page.

He's all sleeved out. - I think he's white pride.

See, he's a white supremacist.

♪ ♪

narrator: Dearld claims Wesley helped Tracy

put Anthony in the truck and then left the scene.

- So then tell me who leaves with the truck

- So then tell me who leaves with the truck with Anthony in the back.

with Anthony in the back.

♪ ♪

- I did. - And who else?

- Tracy.

- At this time, is Anthony alive?

- Yeah.

- This is the important part, where did you guys go?

- This is the important part, where did you guys go? - Oh, man.

- Oh, man.

- Oh, man. - I have to find him.

- I have to find him.

- I have to find him. I'm hoping he's alive!

I'm hoping he's alive!

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

- Throw him in that room!

[intense music]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

narrator: Dearld admits he and Tracy

took Anthony behind a property in North Tulsa.

- All right, Tracy, go out there now.

♪ ♪

- Here you go.

♪ ♪

narrator: He claims they left Anthony in a field

narrator: He claims they left Anthony in a field close to a river.

close to a river.

- You dropped him off?

♪ ♪

- Was Tracy still at this location

when you left in your truck? - Yes.

♪ ♪

- Right here.

This is the area Dearld describes.

♪ ♪

This is where Dearld describes himself parking.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪ Look, here's that path.

Look, here's that path.

♪ ♪

- Here!

- Here.

- There he is.

♪ ♪

- Is he dead?

- Is he dead? - He's clearly deceased.

- He's clearly deceased.

- He's still...oh, God. - Wow.

♪ ♪

- Tracy and Dearld both are gonna go to jail

- Tracy and Dearld both are gonna go to jail for murder and kidnapping.

for murder and kidnapping.

There's still another individual, Wesley White,

that allegedly took part in the actual beating

that allegedly took part in the actual beating and hog-tying of the victim.

and hog-tying of the victim.

♪ ♪

- I guess they had a backhoe or something.

♪ ♪

They took a scoop of stuff and dumped it on him.

From what I understand,

he was alive whenever he dumped it on him.

♪ ♪

- With Tana confirming Wesley was actually there,

it's a matter of typing up my affidavit for Wesley.

Then give it to the warrants guys,

so they can go find his ass.

♪ ♪

narrator: Two weeks later,

Wesley is arrested for Anthony's murder.

- It's great that we're able to get the right people in jail.

Dearld, in his mind, did the right thing

by taking up for his daughter.

by taking up for his daughter. Yeah, I understand why he did it.

Yeah, I understand why he did it.

But you just can't do it.

♪ ♪

- It's pretty rare for a detective to work a murder

of someone they know.

But it does happen.

Every so often,

they get a case that hits a little too close to home.

[dramatic music]

[radio chatter]

♪ ♪

- What y'all got?

- Looks like he was shot in the back.

Collapsed in front of the car.

I haven't even looked at him. Come over here with me.

- Who is that?

- Who is that? narrator: Detective Jermaine Rogers

narrator: Detective Jermaine Rogers

spots one of his relatives on scene.

- I don't know if that was my cousin or not.

- I don't know if that was my cousin or not. - Right here? - Yeah.

- Right here? - Yeah.

♪ ♪

[bleep]!

[bleep]! [music intensifies]

[music intensifies]

- When you go to a scene, the last thing you expect

to find is the victim is someone that you're related to.

Now it's personal because all the family members

are gonna look to you for answers.

You have to get the justice that the victim deserves.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

- Jermaine, who is it?

- Vontae?

♪ ♪

narrator: Detective Rogers' cousin,

19-year-old Levaunghte Manassa,

19-year-old Levaunghte Manassa, nicknamed Vontae,

nicknamed Vontae,

graduated high school and was studying

air-conditioner repair.

He leaves behind a one-month-old daughter.

♪ ♪

- Hey, help me go easy. This is Jermain's cousin here.

- Hey, help me go easy. This is Jermain's cousin here. - Let me go and talk to them.

- Let me go and talk to them.

They're gonna lose their [bleep].

♪ ♪

- You all right? - Yeah. [mutters]

- Huh? - I'm fine.

♪ ♪

- Have a gun over here.

- Have a gun over here. That a .45?

That a .45?

♪ ♪

- There's two shell cases in the passenger seat here.

They're .45's, by the way.

- There's one in the driver's side door.

♪ ♪

narrator: One hour in.

He said he hear a gunshot.

He said our victim was standing with his hands up

and sees the guy pull the black gun at our victim.

He said he fired two times-- pow, pow.

♪ ♪

narrator: The witness saw the shooter

narrator: The witness saw the shooter flee in a white car.

flee in a white car.

- He said the driver was a black male.

- What kind a car did he describe?

- He said a white Toyota...

♪ ♪

- Anybody gone in and checked the video?

narrator: Corporal Ken Gillespie

has downloaded the gas station's surveillance video.

♪ ♪

- There it go!

narrator: The cameras captured the suspect vehicle

leaving the scene.

- That's it? - Yeah.

narrator: But they can't make out the tag.

♪ ♪

- Thanks.

♪ ♪

Hey, so the first precinct just pulled it out.

A 2004 Lexus ES,

has a 51 X, so obviously this car's

involved in a homicide, so now they're gonna report

the car stolen, you know, try to cover up the tracks.

♪ ♪

- We're gonna play musical chairs, a'ight?

narrator: The woman who reported the stolen Lexus

is brought to Homicide.

- When did you notice that it was stolen?

♪ ♪

- So who do you think of who had your car?

- Anybody come over and get the car sometimes?

Ex-boyfriend?

- We're not up here investigating

- We're not up here investigating theft of property.

theft of property.

I'm investigating a murder.

Somebody's life was taken.

A precious life.

- Oh, yeah.

- If you know who's got your car,

you need to start talking.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

- You need a good guy and a bad guy.

I don't mean this in a bad way,

but you need to get in there and be an [bleep].

but you need to get in there and be an [bleep]. - All right. - This finna go down.

- All right. - This finna go down.

♪ ♪

- Here's the deal.

We believe that you may know the person that took your car.

We believe that you may know the person that took your car. Talk to us about that.

Talk to us about that.

Because if we tie them to you,

you could be as guilty as them.

♪ ♪

You gotta think about yourself

and you gotta think about your kids, OK?

Because I'll tell you this, I hope we don't have to

separate you from your kids.

- You got somebody that's dead, and your car was used in it.

♪ ♪

So talk to me about how this person got your car

So talk to me about how this person got your car and why do they have your car.

and why do they have your car.

♪ ♪

- OK.

- Who had your car?

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

- Is this somebody that you been dating?

- Mm-hmm.

- What made you report the car stolen today?

- Have you talked to him at all since?

♪ ♪

narrator: The team searches social media

for the nickname "Stank."

- Dreads.

♪ ♪

- We'll show you a couple of pictures.

- We'll show you a couple of pictures. Is this who you know as "Stank"?

Is this who you know as "Stank"?

Is this who you know as "Stank"? No, that's not him?

No, that's not him?

- What about that one?

- What about that one? That's not him?

That's not him?

That's not him? - Are you sure?

- Are you sure?

♪ ♪

- She's holding out. She's minimizing it.

She's giving us enough to make it appear

She's giving us enough to make it appear that she's cooperating.

that she's cooperating.

- All right, so what's the plan?

The plan is to go, see if she's got anything

that would suggest his name and an address for him.

♪ ♪

narrator: Ten hours in.

- So we talked to some people that live with her

at the house, they said there is no "Stank."

at the house, they said there is no "Stank." It's a total lie.

It's a total lie.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪ - She's got ties to this boy.

- She's got ties to this boy.

I think she's protecting him.

♪ ♪

- Nah, it wasn't Stank.

Just from talking to people inside the house.

They said it was a guy named Willie Lewis

that uses the car.

♪ ♪

[keyboard clacking]

There he is.

This is Willie Lewis.

This is the guy who might have killed my cousin.

narrator: 25-year-old Willie Lewis,

nicknamed Willo,

has prior convictions for receipt of stolen property

and escape.

- I got the last known address for him,

and I got the names of his homeboys who he runs with.

♪ ♪

narrator: Then...

narrator: The team gets a tip on Willie's whereabouts.

♪ ♪

[keys jingle]

♪ ♪

[knocking on door]

- It's the Mobile Police Department.

Come on out.

♪ ♪

Put your hands up!

[music intensifies]

narrator: Detectives find Willie sleeping in a bedroom.

- Just double-check him one more time,

check him before you place him.

check him before you place him. - This guy hasn't said anything.

- This guy hasn't said anything.

Normally, you know, when we come in somebody's house

Normally, you know, when we come in somebody's house and pick you up, they wanna know,

and pick you up, they wanna know,

"What you getting me for? What you got me for?"

This guy pretty much knows what's going on.

- Get him back, see if we can eek a confession.

♪ ♪

- You're not under arrest, OK?

We brought you here to talk to you about some things.

- [mumbling] Am I under arrest?

- [mumbling] Am I under arrest? - The first thing that I said

- The first thing that I said

was that you're not under arrest.

- Can I go? - Did you steal the car?

- I said, can I go?

I'm through talking. I need a lawyer.

- OK.

♪ ♪

- He wants no part of this.

- We can prove that he had the car,

but we can't prove that he was there.

- We just can't put him in the gas station.

Think we got some more work to do.

- What about telling her we brought him in,

and now he's talking.

And this is her opportunity to tell us.

- Yeah. - Yeah. I agree.

♪ ♪

- I'll go ahead and tell you now, we picked up Willie.

- I'll go ahead and tell you now, we picked up Willie. Willie's gonna leave you out to dry

Willie's gonna leave you out to dry

to save his own skin.

You need to just put it all out there, OK?

You need to tell us everything you know about the situatio.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

- I don't want to see you getting caught up in a mess

that he's in.

You're gotta do what's right.

And you gotta be completely honest.

Can you do that for us?

♪ ♪

- Mm-hmm.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

narrator: She claims that Willie and a friend

were going to buy some drugs from the victim.

- Who was he with?

- So Willie was outside the car?

- Did he tell you what he did with the gun afterwards?

♪ ♪

- Hang tight for us. - Hang tight for a minute.

♪ ♪

- We got all that corroborated.

[both sighing, laughing] - My man.

- I promise to God, I wasn't gonna go home.

I was gonna sleep right there. - I knew you were.

I knew you were, man.

- I was gonna sleep in that chair, man.

- I was gonna sleep in that chair, man. [sighs] Persistence, I mean...

[sighs] Persistence, I mean...

everybody kept chugging along.

♪ ♪

How can you just take someone's life

and then act the way you do?

and then act the way you do? Like it never happened.

Like it never happened.

Well, at least we get this guy off the streets.

You know, away from society.

♪ ♪

narrator: Four days later...

[indistinct chatter] - Good to see you too, ma.

narrator: Detective Rogers' family and friends

gather to remember Vontae.

♪ ♪

- Jermaine, he told me that, we're gonna catch this person.

And he did just what he said he was gonna do.

My son, he meant the world to me.

- Vontae. all: Vontae.

♪ ♪

- Murders within a family are very tragic.

It can tear a family apart.

These are people that you have a bond with.

These are people that you are supposed

These are people that you are supposed to love unconditionally,

to love unconditionally,

and they love you unconditionally.

These are people that you expect to grow old with.

There are long term effects when the victim and the suspect

come from the same family.

Family gatherings are never the same anymore.

You can't think about the suspect

and not think about not only what he's done to that victim,

but what he's done to that family.

There are secrets and stories in every family.

And certainly, we expect you to have the self-control

to not ever resort to violence.

to not ever resort to violence. Especially if it results to homicide.

Especially if it results to homicide.

Especially if it results to homicide. [somber music]

[somber music]