1 00:00:14,781 --> 00:00:17,217 >>> TONIGHT ON "DATELINE" -- 2 00:00:17,217 --> 00:00:21,688 >> IT WAS A YOUNG FEMALE SHE HAD A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION 3 00:00:21,688 --> 00:00:26,192 RING ON. >> I PROMISED COURTNEY, KNEELING 4 00:00:26,192 --> 00:00:31,598 ON HER GRAVE, "I'M GOING TO FIND OUT WHO PUT YOU HERE." 5 00:00:31,598 --> 00:00:34,501 >> WE ENDED UP GETTING AN ANONYMOUS PHONE CALL SAYING, 6 00:00:34,501 --> 00:00:37,904 "FOLLOW THE MONEY. >> I POLYGRAPHED FOUR, FIVE, SIX 7 00:00:37,904 --> 00:00:40,774 DIFFERENT GUYS >> Reporter: WHEN THEY ASKED 8 00:00:40,774 --> 00:00:44,978 YOU, "DID YOU KILL COURTNEY? >> I SAID, "NO, I DIDN'T KILL MY 9 00:00:44,978 --> 00:00:47,347 SISTER." >> I TOLD STEPHANIE THAT DAY I'M 10 00:00:47,347 --> 00:00:50,950 GOING TO SOLVE THIS CASE OR I'M GOING TO DIE TRYING. 11 00:00:50,950 --> 00:00:55,188 >> HE WAS GOING TO OPEN HIS PODCAST UP FOR TIPS. 12 00:00:55,188 --> 00:00:57,457 >> HELLO, EVERYBODY. WELCOME TO THIS EPISODE OF "REAL 13 00:00:57,457 --> 00:01:01,361 LIFE, REAL CRIME." THE HOTLINE WAS BLOWING UP 14 00:01:01,361 --> 00:01:05,065 I GET A PHONE CALL SAYING HER EX-HUSBAND KNOWS WHO DID IT. 15 00:01:05,065 --> 00:01:08,835 HE RETURNED HOME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT SMELLING OF DEATH 16 00:01:08,835 --> 00:01:11,871 >> Reporter: YOU'RE ABOUT TO TELL THEM THE ANSWERS. 17 00:01:11,871 --> 00:01:15,141 >> ALL OF THEM ARE CRYING. THEY'RE BLOWN AWAY 18 00:01:15,141 --> 00:01:17,711 >> Reporter: YOU MUST HAVE JUST FELT SUCH BETRAYAL 19 00:01:17,711 --> 00:01:21,981 >> YES, MA'AM. I WAS FLOORED. 20 00:01:21,981 --> 00:01:26,986 >> A TEENAGE GIRL IS FOUND DEAD. HER FAMILY'S LONG FIGHT FOR 21 00:01:26,986 --> 00:01:32,726 JUSTICE REVEALS A DARK SECRET. I'M LESTER HOLT, AND THIS IS 22 00:01:32,726 --> 00:01:32,959 I'M LESTER HOLT, AND THIS IS "DATELINE. 23 00:01:49,242 --> 00:01:54,214 KILLED COURTNEY COCO?" >> Reporter: IT WAS A FALL 24 00:01:54,214 --> 00:01:57,450 MORNING IN 2004, AND CHAMBERS COUNTY, TEXAS, JUST EAST OF 25 00:01:57,450 --> 00:02:00,120 HOUSTON, WAS ALREADY HEATING UP. THE TEMPERATURE HAD HIT 26 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:03,490 70 DEGREES AND WAS QUICKLY CLIMBING 27 00:02:03,490 --> 00:02:05,425 DAVID RABALAIS REMEMBERS THAT DAY WELL 28 00:02:05,425 --> 00:02:07,694 >> I WAS ACTUALLY WORKING THAT DAY. 29 00:02:07,694 --> 00:02:11,064 >> Reporter: HE WAS A DETECTIVE THEN WITH THE LOCAL SHERIFF'S 30 00:02:11,064 --> 00:02:14,134 OFFICE >> I HAD GONE TO THE, UH, MAIN 31 00:02:14,134 --> 00:02:16,436 SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN ANAHUAC TO TURN IN SOME PAPERWORK 32 00:02:16,436 --> 00:02:19,072 >> Reporter: AT 8:00 A.M., A CALL CAME IN FROM A PATROL 33 00:02:19,072 --> 00:02:22,776 OFFICER LOOKING FOR RABALAIS' CAPTAIN. 34 00:02:22,776 --> 00:02:27,313 >> AND HE TOLD ME WE HAVE A DECEASED BODY IN AN ABANDONED 35 00:02:27,313 --> 00:02:31,251 BUILDING OVER ON 1406. >> Reporter: 1406 IS A BUSY 36 00:02:31,251 --> 00:02:33,720 HIGHWAY, A TWO-LANE ROAD THAT RUNS THROUGH THE TINY TOWN OF 37 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:36,756 WINNIE, TEXAS. >> ONE OF THE LOCAL FARMERS 38 00:02:36,756 --> 00:02:39,259 RIDIN' BY ON HIS TRACTOR, AND HE JUST HAPPENED TO GLANCE OVER 39 00:02:39,259 --> 00:02:42,262 THERE, AND HE SAW WHAT HE THOUGHT LOOKED LIKE A BODY 40 00:02:42,262 --> 00:02:44,664 >> Reporter: A BODY? THE DETECTIVE HAD TO SEE IT FOR 41 00:02:44,664 --> 00:02:47,734 HIMSELF. DISCOVERIES LIKE THAT DON'T 42 00:02:47,734 --> 00:02:49,936 HAPPEN OFTEN IN WINNIE MOSTLY FARM FIELDS AND RANCH 43 00:02:49,936 --> 00:02:52,305 HOMES, IT ISN'T A TOWN KNOWN FOR CRIME. 44 00:02:52,305 --> 00:02:54,641 >> I FIGURED THE GUY WAS JUST SEEING SOMETHING, YOU KNOW 45 00:02:54,641 --> 00:02:57,610 HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS SEEING 46 00:02:57,610 --> 00:03:00,046 >> Reporter: RABALAIS ALSO DIDN'T WANT TO BELIEVE IT. 47 00:03:00,046 --> 00:03:02,682 HIS HOUSE IS JUST A STONE'S THROW FROM WHERE HE WAS HEADED 48 00:03:02,682 --> 00:03:04,918 >> 150 YARDS >> Reporter: 150 YARDS 49 00:03:04,918 --> 00:03:08,154 >> YEAH, I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT BUILDING THEY WERE TALKING 50 00:03:08,154 --> 00:03:10,523 ABOUT. IT WAS A HOUSE THAT WAS STARTED 51 00:03:10,523 --> 00:03:13,193 AND NEVER FINISHED >> Reporter: RABALAIS PULLED UP 52 00:03:13,193 --> 00:03:16,396 TO THE ABANDONED HOUSE, NOT EXPECTING MUCH 53 00:03:16,396 --> 00:03:19,065 BUT WHEN HE GOT OUT OF HIS TRUCK -- 54 00:03:19,065 --> 00:03:21,468 >> AS SOON AS I DROVE UP, I COULD TELL IT WAS A BODY 55 00:03:21,468 --> 00:03:24,371 >> Reporter: A WOMAN'S BODY WAS LYING AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE 56 00:03:24,371 --> 00:03:27,073 GARAGE >> YOUNG, WHITE FEMALE 57 00:03:27,073 --> 00:03:29,876 SHE WAS NUDE FROM THE WAIST DOWN 58 00:03:29,876 --> 00:03:32,812 >> Reporter: A DISTURBING AND PERPLEXING SIGHT 59 00:03:32,812 --> 00:03:35,882 >> SHE HAD A BLUE LSU T-SHIRT ON 60 00:03:35,882 --> 00:03:38,351 IT WAS PULLED UP TO HER NECK, BUT SHE STILL HAD HER BRA ON 61 00:03:38,351 --> 00:03:40,520 THERE'S NO WAY THAT ANYBODY COULD HAVE IDENTIFIED THE BODY 62 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:43,523 >> Reporter: WAS IT OBVIOUS HOW SHE DIED 63 00:03:43,523 --> 00:03:45,925 >> NO. THAT WAS THE -- THAT WAS THE 64 00:03:45,925 --> 00:03:48,528 THING. NO OBVIOUS SIGNS WHATSOEVER. 65 00:03:48,528 --> 00:03:51,798 >> Reporter: BUT THE DETECTIVE HAD A THEORY 66 00:03:51,798 --> 00:03:53,800 >> THE FIRST THING I THOUGHT WAS SEXUAL ASSAULT 67 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:56,403 I JUST HAD A FEELING THAT SOMEBODY SEXUALLY ASSAULTED HER 68 00:03:56,403 --> 00:03:58,872 AND THEN THOUGHT, "OH, NO, I'VE GOT TO KILL HER OR SHE'S GOING 69 00:03:58,872 --> 00:04:01,675 TO TELL. >> Reporter: HE COULDN'T BE SURE 70 00:04:01,675 --> 00:04:04,611 OF ANYTHING WITHOUT AN AUTOPSY IT WAS ALL JUST SPECULATION. 71 00:04:04,611 --> 00:04:07,180 HOW LONG DID YOU THINK SHE HAD BEEN DEAD FOR? 72 00:04:07,180 --> 00:04:10,617 >> I THOUGHT SHE'D BEEN PROBABLY AT LEAST THREE DAYS, THREE TO 73 00:04:10,617 --> 00:04:14,521 FOUR DAYS. >> Reporter: HOW SHE DIED AND 74 00:04:14,521 --> 00:04:16,256 WHY SHE WAS LEFT IN AN ABANDONED BUILDING IN WINNIE MADE FOR A 75 00:04:16,256 --> 00:04:19,059 MYSTERY UNLIKE ANY RABALAIS HAD EVER SEEN BEFORE 76 00:04:19,059 --> 00:04:22,896 HE KNEW THE CASE NEEDED MORE RESOURCES, SO HIS BOSSES CALLED 77 00:04:22,896 --> 00:04:25,765 IN THE TEXAS RANGERS >> WE BRING ALL THE STATE 78 00:04:25,765 --> 00:04:28,735 RESOURCES WITH US, WHETHER THAT'S CRIME LAB OR AIRCRAFT 79 00:04:28,735 --> 00:04:31,204 NEEDS, DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPE OF INVESTIGATION IT IS. 80 00:04:31,204 --> 00:04:33,673 >> Reporter: THIS IS THE EQUIVALENT OF BRINGING IN THE 81 00:04:33,673 --> 00:04:37,944 BIG GUNS >> YES, MA'AM. 82 00:04:37,944 --> 00:04:40,580 >> Reporter: NOW RETIRED TEXAS RANGER SKYLOR HEARN, WHO'D GROWN 83 00:04:40,580 --> 00:04:43,249 UP IN WINNIE, RACED OVER TO THE SCENE. 84 00:04:43,249 --> 00:04:46,820 HIS FIRST IMPRESSION WAS THAT THE BODY APPEARED STAGED 85 00:04:46,820 --> 00:04:49,322 >> THAT SOMEONE INTENTIONALLY PUT HER IN THAT POSITION, 86 00:04:49,322 --> 00:04:52,492 ESPECIALLY WITH THE CLOTHING MISSING, EXPOSING HER TO THE 87 00:04:52,492 --> 00:04:55,929 ROADWAY THAT WAY >> Reporter: HE ALSO NOTICED A 88 00:04:55,929 --> 00:04:59,399 FAINT SET OF TIRE TRACKS >> THE FLOOR HAD A LAYER OF DUST 89 00:04:59,399 --> 00:05:03,036 WHERE THE BODY WAS, AND THERE WAS SOME TIRE TRACKS THAT ENDED 90 00:05:03,036 --> 00:05:05,438 WHERE THE BODY WAS FOUND >> Reporter: DID IT SEEM TO YOU 91 00:05:05,438 --> 00:05:08,375 THAT SOMEONE HAD DRIVEN THE BODY TO THIS LOCATION AND THEN 92 00:05:08,375 --> 00:05:12,112 TRANSPORTED HER FROM THE CAR >> RIGHT 93 00:05:12,112 --> 00:05:15,181 JUST THE FIRST APPEARANCE IS THAT THOSE TIRE TRACKS PROBABLY 94 00:05:15,181 --> 00:05:18,118 ASSOCIATED WITH A CAR BACKING INTO THAT GARAGE AND DUMPING HER 95 00:05:18,118 --> 00:05:21,187 THERE. >> Reporter: WERE THERE ANY 96 00:05:21,187 --> 00:05:23,656 FOOTPRINTS >> THERE WAS A COUPLE OF FOOT 97 00:05:23,656 --> 00:05:26,726 IMPRESSIONS OR SHOE IMPRESSIONS IN THE DUST THAT WERE VISIBLE. 98 00:05:26,726 --> 00:05:29,129 >> Reporter: DETECTIVE RABALAIS HAD NOTICED THEM TOO 99 00:05:29,129 --> 00:05:31,698 >> THEY HAD THE CIRCLES, YOU KNOW, CIRCLES THAT GRADUATE 100 00:05:31,698 --> 00:05:34,467 SMALLER AND SMALLER, UH, PATTERN. 101 00:05:34,467 --> 00:05:37,237 SO I KNEW IT WAS A TENNIS SHOE PRINT. 102 00:05:37,237 --> 00:05:40,774 >> Reporter: THE INVESTIGATORS CONTINUED TO COMB THE AREA 103 00:05:40,774 --> 00:05:43,743 ANYTHING GIVING YOU SOME CLUES >> THERE WAS AN OLD, UH, BEER 104 00:05:43,743 --> 00:05:47,313 BOTTLE, UH, THAT WAS PROBABLY SIX, SEVEN FEET AWAY FROM HER. 105 00:05:47,313 --> 00:05:50,150 I HAD NO CLUE IF THAT WAS DROPPED BY THE PERPETRATOR OR IF 106 00:05:50,150 --> 00:05:53,319 IT WAS SOME KIDS THAT HAD COME IN THERE BEFORE AND DRANK AND 107 00:05:53,319 --> 00:05:55,755 THREW IT DOWN. >> Reporter: SO MANY UNKNOWNS. 108 00:05:55,755 --> 00:05:58,892 BUT THE BIGGEST -- WHO WAS THEIR VICTIM 109 00:05:58,892 --> 00:06:01,361 WAS THERE ANYTHING AROUND HER TO GIVE YOU A NAME, A WALLET, A 110 00:06:01,361 --> 00:06:03,496 PURSE, A PHONE >> NO, WE DIDN'T FIND ANY OF 111 00:06:03,496 --> 00:06:07,100 THAT >> Reporter: BUT YOU COULD TELL 112 00:06:07,100 --> 00:06:08,168 SHE WAS A YOUNG WOMAN? >> YEAH, I COULD TELL SHE WAS 113 00:06:08,168 --> 00:06:10,670 PROBABLY IN AT LEAST HER EARLY MID-20s. 114 00:06:10,670 --> 00:06:15,141 >> Reporter: DETECTIVE RABALAIS HAD A STRONG HUNCH SHE WASN'T A 115 00:06:15,141 --> 00:06:17,110 LOCAL. >> I KNOW BECAUSE I WORKED 116 00:06:17,110 --> 00:06:19,612 WINNIE I LIVE IN WINNIE 117 00:06:19,612 --> 00:06:22,048 I PRETTY MUCH KNOW EVERYBODY IN WINNIE 118 00:06:22,048 --> 00:06:24,317 I LOOKED AT HER, AND I THOUGHT SHE JUST DOESN'T RING A BELL 119 00:06:24,317 --> 00:06:26,953 >> Reporter: BUT HE HAD ONE THING TO GO ON 120 00:06:26,953 --> 00:06:29,189 >> SHE HAD A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RING ON 121 00:06:29,189 --> 00:06:32,158 AND, UH, I KNEW BECAUSE I RAISED FOUR BOYS -- I KNEW THAT USUALLY 122 00:06:32,158 --> 00:06:34,294 THEY PUT THEIR NAME ON INSIDE OF THE RING 123 00:06:34,294 --> 00:06:36,863 >> Reporter: THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL WAS ENGRAVED ON THE 124 00:06:36,863 --> 00:06:39,466 OUTSIDE OF THE RING,...ALEXANDRIA SENIOR HIGH, 125 00:06:39,466 --> 00:06:41,968 LOCATED IN NEIGHBORING LOUISIANA. 126 00:06:41,968 --> 00:06:44,437 AND ON THE INSIDE -- >> WHEN WE OPENED THE RING UP, 127 00:06:44,437 --> 00:06:46,740 WE SAW HER NAME, COURTNEY COCO >> Reporter: DID THAT NAME RING 128 00:06:46,740 --> 00:06:50,076 A BELL TO YOU? >> NOT TO ME 129 00:06:50,076 --> 00:06:52,846 >> Reporter: COURTNEY COCO THE GRADUATION DATE ON THE RING 130 00:06:52,846 --> 00:06:55,248 WAS 2003, WHICH MEANT THE OWNER OF THE RING WOULD BE ABOUT 131 00:06:55,248 --> 00:06:57,517 19 YEARS OLD THIS IS A BIG BREAK THAT YOU 132 00:06:57,517 --> 00:07:01,087 HAVE THIS CLASS RING >> OH, 100%. 133 00:07:01,087 --> 00:07:04,024 >> Reporter: BUT IT WAS STILL TOO EARLY TO KNOW FOR SURE IF IT 134 00:07:04,024 --> 00:07:06,860 WAS EVEN HER THE RING COULD HAVE BEEN 135 00:07:06,860 --> 00:07:10,930 BORROWED, SOLD, OR EVEN STOLEN INVESTIGATORS NEEDED ANSWERS 136 00:07:10,930 --> 00:07:13,400 ABOUT MS. COCO AND HOPED THE ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT 137 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:16,469 WOULD HAVE THEM. >> I CALLED ALEXANDRIA, 138 00:07:16,469 --> 00:07:21,207 LOUISIANA, POLICE DEPARTMENT AND GOT A HOLD OF A DETECTIVE THERE. 139 00:07:21,207 --> 00:07:23,176 >> Reporter: THEY NEVER IMAGINED THAT CALL WOULD SPARK A 15-YEAR 140 00:07:23,176 --> 00:07:26,046 INVESTIGATION WITH SO MANY TWISTS AND TURNS 141 00:07:26,046 --> 00:07:48,935 STARTING WITH COURTNEY'S CLASS RING AND A STRING OF SUSPICIOUS 142 00:07:48,935 --> 00:07:53,106 >> Reporter: LESS THAN TWO HOURS AFTER A BODY WAS FOUND IN 143 00:07:53,106 --> 00:07:55,542 WINNIE, TEXAS, A CALL CAME IN TO THE ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT 144 00:07:55,542 --> 00:08:00,180 IN LOUISIANA, SOME 200 MILES AWAY 145 00:08:00,180 --> 00:08:02,716 IT WAS TEXAS RANGER SKYLOR HEARN ASKING FOR HELP IN IDENTIFYING 146 00:08:02,716 --> 00:08:07,020 THE DECEASED YOUNG WOMAN WHO'D BEEN FOUND 147 00:08:07,020 --> 00:08:11,257 >> HE WAS WANTING TO KNOW IF WE HAD A MISSING REPORT OR ANYTHING 148 00:08:11,257 --> 00:08:13,927 LIKE THAT ON A COURTNEY COCO >> Reporter: SERGEANT 149 00:08:13,927 --> 00:08:17,297 CEDRIC GREEN TOOK THE CALL AND LOOKED THROUGH THE POLICE 150 00:08:17,297 --> 00:08:21,301 DATABASE HE DIDN'T FIND A MISSING PERSONS 151 00:08:21,301 --> 00:08:24,137 REPORT, BUT HE DID COME ACROSS COURTNEY'S NAME FOR A DIFFERENT 152 00:08:24,137 --> 00:08:28,441 REASON >> WHAT I FOUND WAS THAT SHE HAD 153 00:08:28,441 --> 00:08:32,479 MADE SEVERAL REPORTS IN OUR SYSTEM OF HER RESIDENCE BEING 154 00:08:32,479 --> 00:08:35,048 BURGLARIZED. >> Reporter: BURGLARIES THAT 155 00:08:35,048 --> 00:08:37,917 HAPPENED LESS THAN TWO MONTHS EARLIER, WHICH MEANT SOMEONE 156 00:08:37,917 --> 00:08:40,553 EASILY COULD HAVE STOLEN HER RING 157 00:08:40,553 --> 00:08:42,956 >> CORRECT >> Reporter: SERGEANT GREEN 158 00:08:42,956 --> 00:08:46,292 NEEDED TO FIND OUT IF COURTNEY COCO WAS ACTUALLY 159 00:08:46,292 --> 00:08:48,661 MISSING AND CAME ACROSS A NAME HE BELIEVED WAS A RELATIVE 160 00:08:48,661 --> 00:08:51,865 >> A LADY THAT, UH, POSSIBLY COULD HAVE BEEN HER MOTHER 161 00:08:51,865 --> 00:08:54,701 SO I TOOK A CHANCE AND I CALLED THE NUMBER 162 00:08:54,701 --> 00:08:56,736 >> Reporter: STEPHANIE BELGARD IS COURTNEY'S MOM AND WAS HOME 163 00:08:56,736 --> 00:09:00,807 ALONE WHEN THE DETECTIVE CALLED AND INTRODUCED HIMSELF 164 00:09:00,807 --> 00:09:05,745 >> HE SAID, "IS COURTNEY THERE?" AND I SAID, "NO, SIR." 165 00:09:05,745 --> 00:09:08,882 I SAID, "BUT THIS IS HER MOM." I SAID, "IS SOMETHING WRONG? 166 00:09:08,882 --> 00:09:12,385 >> Reporter: WHAT DOES HE ACTUALLY TELL YOU? 167 00:09:12,385 --> 00:09:16,523 >> HE TOLD ME THEY FOUND A BODY IN TEXAS THAT HAD MY DAUGHTER'S 168 00:09:16,523 --> 00:09:20,660 RING ON HER FINGER AND I WAS LIKE, "NO, SIR." 169 00:09:20,660 --> 00:09:23,630 I SAID, "IT'S NOT HER. HER HOUSE HAS BEEN BROKEN INTO 170 00:09:23,630 --> 00:09:27,167 MAYBE SOMEONE STOLE HER RING." >> Reporter: STEPHANIE TOLD 171 00:09:27,167 --> 00:09:28,468 SERGEANT GREEN THAT 19-YEAR-OLD COURTNEY LIVED NEARBY AND THAT 172 00:09:28,468 --> 00:09:31,471 SHE WAS SURE HER DAUGHTER WAS SAFE AND SOUND SOMEWHERE IN 173 00:09:31,471 --> 00:09:34,741 ALEXANDRIA SHE HUNG UP WITH HIM AND 174 00:09:34,741 --> 00:09:37,277 IMMEDIATELY TRIED COURTNEY'S CELL PHONE 175 00:09:37,277 --> 00:09:39,546 >> I WAS JUST LIKE, "COURTNEY, ANSWER THIS PHONE. 176 00:09:39,546 --> 00:09:42,415 COURTNEY, ANSWER THIS PHONE. COURTNEY, ANSWER THIS PHONE. 177 00:09:42,415 --> 00:09:44,751 >> Reporter: YOU JUST WANTED TO HEAR HER VOICE 178 00:09:44,751 --> 00:09:49,255 >> YES >> Reporter: BUT NO ANSWER 179 00:09:49,255 --> 00:09:50,056 >> NO. NO 180 00:09:50,056 --> 00:09:52,258 >> Reporter: STILL DESPERATE TO REACH COURTNEY, STEPHANIE CALLED 181 00:09:52,258 --> 00:09:55,061 HER OLDEST DAUGHTER, LACE, WHO WAS AT WORK. 182 00:09:55,061 --> 00:09:57,697 >> I GOT ON THE PHONE WITH HER, AND ALL I COULD HEAR WAS, "LACE, 183 00:09:57,697 --> 00:10:00,200 TELL ME YOU TALKED TO COURTNEY." I SAID, "NO, MOMMA 184 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:02,802 WHY? >> Reporter: STEPHANIE TOLD HER 185 00:10:02,802 --> 00:10:06,272 WHAT LITTLE SHE KNEW >> I LOST IT AT THAT POINT 186 00:10:06,272 --> 00:10:08,742 I DID. FIRST THING I DID WAS I CALLED 187 00:10:08,742 --> 00:10:11,778 ANTHONY. >> Reporter: YOUR FIANCE 188 00:10:11,778 --> 00:10:15,081 >> THAT WAS MY FIANCE. I CALLED HIM AND I SAID, "I NEED 189 00:10:15,081 --> 00:10:18,151 A RIDE FROM WORK TO GO TO MY MOMMA'S HOUSE. 190 00:10:18,151 --> 00:10:20,720 >> Reporter: HE COULDN'T GET THERE FAST ENOUGH, SO A FRIEND 191 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:23,590 DROVE LACE TO HER MOM'S PLACE. SHE WAS THERE WHEN SERGEANT 192 00:10:23,590 --> 00:10:26,693 GREEN ARRIVED HOURS LATER AND EXPLAINED HOW THE UNIDENTIFIED 193 00:10:26,693 --> 00:10:31,031 BODY WAS DISCOVERED. THEN HE LAUNCHED INTO SOME 194 00:10:31,031 --> 00:10:34,834 QUESTIONS. >> WE STARTED TO ASK HER MOTHER 195 00:10:34,834 --> 00:10:37,737 THE LAST TIME SHE'S SEEN HER, IF SHE HAD CONTACTED HER DURING THE 196 00:10:37,737 --> 00:10:40,540 WEEKEND. >> Reporter: STEPHANIE TOLD HIM 197 00:10:40,540 --> 00:10:44,344 SHE SAW COURTNEY JUST THREE DAYS BEFORE, ON FRIDAY. 198 00:10:44,344 --> 00:10:45,545 SHE'D COME OVER FOR A VISIT WHILE STEPHANIE AND HER HUSBAND 199 00:10:45,545 --> 00:10:48,715 WERE GETTING READY FOR A CAMPING TRIP 200 00:10:48,715 --> 00:10:52,852 >> WE WERE PACKING UP THE TRUCK, AND I ASKED HER IF SHE WANTED TO 201 00:10:52,852 --> 00:10:55,455 COME WITH US SHE SAID, "MOM, YOU KNOW I DON'T 202 00:10:55,455 --> 00:10:57,757 DO THE WOODS." >> Reporter: STEPHANIE TOLD 203 00:10:57,757 --> 00:11:00,627 SERGEANT GREEN THAT WAS THE LAST TIME SHE SAW COURTNEY. 204 00:11:00,627 --> 00:11:03,596 DID SHE HAVE ANY CONNECTION TO WINNIE 205 00:11:03,596 --> 00:11:06,166 >> NO, MA'AM NO 206 00:11:06,166 --> 00:11:08,601 SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANY CONNECTION TO TEXAS AT ALL. 207 00:11:08,601 --> 00:11:11,571 >> Reporter: THAT WAS A GOOD THING, SHE THOUGHT 208 00:11:11,571 --> 00:11:16,109 BUT AS THE HOURS PASSED AND NO ONE WAS ABLE TO LOCATE COURTNEY, 209 00:11:16,109 --> 00:11:19,145 HER FAMILY BEGAN TO REALIZE THAT WHAT THEY FEARED MOST MIGHT 210 00:11:19,145 --> 00:11:22,449 ACTUALLY BE TRUE SERGEANT GREEN NEEDED A FAMILY 211 00:11:22,449 --> 00:11:27,120 MEMBER TO TRAVEL TO TEXAS AND VIEW THE BODY TO KNOW FOR SURE 212 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:31,424 COURTNEY'S UNCLE AGREED TO MAKE THE TRIP WITH HIM. 213 00:11:31,424 --> 00:11:33,827 >> COURTNEY HAD JUST HAD BRACES PUT ON HER TEETH, UM, A COUPLE 214 00:11:33,827 --> 00:11:37,097 OF WEEKS BEFORE. AND SHE HAD JUST HAD A BUTTERFLY 215 00:11:37,097 --> 00:11:40,867 TATTOO ON HER BACK, AND I TOLD HIM TO LOOK FOR THOSE TWO 216 00:11:40,867 --> 00:11:45,805 THINGS >> Reporter: ALL STEPHANIE COULD 217 00:11:45,805 --> 00:11:48,341 DO THEN WAS WAIT AND PRAY. >> I WAS FEELING HORRIBLE 218 00:11:48,341 --> 00:11:51,311 BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE ANYBODY ELSE'S CHILD 219 00:11:51,311 --> 00:11:53,847 BUT I DEFINITELY DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE MY CHILD 220 00:11:53,847 --> 00:11:58,585 >> Reporter: IT WAS HARD FOR COURTNEY'S MOM TO IMAGINE THAT 221 00:11:58,585 --> 00:12:02,155 ANYONE WOULD WANT TO HURT HER SWEET, BUBBLY COURTNEY 222 00:12:02,155 --> 00:12:05,325 * HAPPY BIRTHDA DEAR COURTNE 223 00:12:05,325 --> 00:12:07,961 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU * >> Reporter: STEPHANIE COULD 224 00:12:07,961 --> 00:12:11,197 REMEMBER SO MANY HAPPY MOMENTS WITH HER, LIKE THIS FAMILY 225 00:12:11,197 --> 00:12:13,233 GATHERING FOR COURTNEY'S 16th BIRTHDAY. 226 00:12:13,233 --> 00:12:15,902 >> YEAH. >> MOM AND COURTNEY ARE LAYING 227 00:12:15,902 --> 00:12:18,538 OUT. >> Reporter: CAREFREE MEMORIES 228 00:12:18,538 --> 00:12:21,741 THEY WERE ALL SO PRECIOUS. >> THERE'S COURTNEY. 229 00:12:21,741 --> 00:12:23,777 >> Reporter: COURTNEY WAS THE BABY OF THE FAMILY, THE YOUNGEST 230 00:12:23,777 --> 00:12:28,081 OF THREE TWO OLDER SISTERS? 231 00:12:28,081 --> 00:12:32,452 >> TWO OLDER SISTERS AND SO SHE WAS VERY SPOILED AND 232 00:12:32,452 --> 00:12:34,421 GOT HER WAY A LOT. >> Reporter: LACE HAD ALWAYS 233 00:12:34,421 --> 00:12:37,590 BEEN PROTECTIVE OF HER BABY SISTER 234 00:12:37,590 --> 00:12:40,760 >> SHE WAS LIKE THE DAUGHTER I NEVER HAD. 235 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:44,297 I MEAN, I HELPED CHANGE HER DIAPERS AT 7 YEARS OLD 236 00:12:44,297 --> 00:12:47,133 >> Reporter: COURTNEY MAY HAVE BEEN THE YOUNGEST, BUT SHE'D 237 00:12:47,133 --> 00:12:51,338 ALWAYS BEEN THE MATURE ONE STEPHANIE SAYS WHEN COURTNEY'S 238 00:12:51,338 --> 00:12:53,973 FATHER DIED, AT 8-YEARS-OLD, SHE HELPED PLAN THE FUNERAL. 239 00:12:53,973 --> 00:12:56,576 >> SHE PICKED OUT HIS FLOWERS, WHAT HE WAS GOING TO WEAR, 240 00:12:56,576 --> 00:12:59,279 EVERYTHING >> Reporter: OH, MY GOSH 241 00:12:59,279 --> 00:13:01,381 >> AT 8 YEARS OLD. >> Reporter: COURTNEY EVEN CHOSE 242 00:13:01,381 --> 00:13:04,551 THE PLOT WHERE HE WAS BURIED, AND THEN ANOTHER FOR HERSELF, 243 00:13:04,551 --> 00:13:08,288 RIGHT BY HIS SIDE. >> SHE WAS VERY CLOSE TO HIM 244 00:13:08,288 --> 00:13:10,890 AND, UH, PART OF HER DIED WITH HER DADDY. 245 00:13:10,890 --> 00:13:13,560 >> YES SHE ALWAYS GRIEVED FOR HIM 246 00:13:13,560 --> 00:13:16,229 SHE WOULD GO OUT TO THE GRAVEYARD CONSTANTLY 247 00:13:16,229 --> 00:13:19,366 >> Reporter: HER AUNTS, LYNN AND MICHELLE, WERE THERE TO HELP HER 248 00:13:19,366 --> 00:13:22,068 THROUGH THE GRIEF. >> COURTNEY, I LIKE THE HAIRDO 249 00:13:22,068 --> 00:13:24,637 TONIGHT. >> Reporter: AND WITH HER 250 00:13:24,637 --> 00:13:27,273 FAMILY'S SUPPORT, COURTNEY CONTINUED TO THRIVE. 251 00:13:27,273 --> 00:13:30,443 HOW WAS SHE AS A TEENAGER? >> SHE WAS A VERY GOOD TEENAGER, 252 00:13:30,443 --> 00:13:33,613 ACTUALLY SHE MADE GOOD GRADES 253 00:13:33,613 --> 00:13:36,282 I WAS REALLY LUCKY >> Reporter: STEPHANIE SAYS SHE 254 00:13:36,282 --> 00:13:39,986 ALSO EXCELLED AT SPORTS. SOFTBALL AND GYMNASTICS WERE HER 255 00:13:39,986 --> 00:13:43,156 PASSIONS >> AND SHE WENT INTO 256 00:13:43,156 --> 00:13:45,425 CHEERLEADING WHEN SHE GOT TO HIGH SCHOOL. 257 00:13:45,425 --> 00:13:47,394 >> Reporter: SHE MUST HAVE BEEN GOOD AT CHEERLEADING SINCE SHE 258 00:13:47,394 --> 00:13:50,096 WAS A GYMNAST. >> IN GYMNASTICS 259 00:13:50,096 --> 00:13:52,665 YES, MA'AM >> Reporter: COURTNEY'S COUSIN 260 00:13:52,665 --> 00:13:55,335 CANDACE WAS THE SAME AGE AND WAS ALWAYS IMPRESSED WITH HER 261 00:13:55,335 --> 00:13:57,971 OUTGOING PERSONALITY AND GENEROUS SPIRIT. 262 00:13:57,971 --> 00:14:00,607 >> SHE LOVED EVERYBODY, AND SHE SAW THE BEST IN EVERYBODY. 263 00:14:00,607 --> 00:14:04,844 IT DIDN'T MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU LOOKED LIKE 264 00:14:04,844 --> 00:14:07,580 >> Reporter: AFTER GRADUATION, COURTNEY ENROLLED IN COLLEGE AND 265 00:14:07,580 --> 00:14:13,319 PLANNED TO MAJOR IN CRIMINOLOGY. WHERE DID THAT COME FROM 266 00:14:13,319 --> 00:14:15,955 >> I THINK SHE TOOK A CRIMINOLOGY CLASS IN HIGH SCHOOL 267 00:14:15,955 --> 00:14:18,058 AND IT REALLY SPARKED HER INTEREST 268 00:14:18,058 --> 00:14:20,727 AND I FOUND SOME OF HER OLD NOTES. 269 00:14:20,727 --> 00:14:23,363 SHE WAS EVEN LIKE, "HOW TO SOLVE A MURDER." 270 00:14:23,363 --> 00:14:25,465 LIKE, THE STEPS THAT YOU GO THROUGH. 271 00:14:25,465 --> 00:14:29,469 >> Reporter: THAT'S CHILLING >> YES, IT IS. 272 00:14:29,469 --> 00:14:30,737 >> Reporter: CHILLING BECAUSE BACK IN WINNIE, TEXAS, IT WAS 273 00:14:30,737 --> 00:14:33,373 LOOKING MORE AND MORE LIKE THE UNIDENTIFIED YOUNG WOMAN WAS 274 00:14:33,373 --> 00:14:37,644 COURTNEY COCO. AND WHAT THEY WERE ABOUT TO FIND 275 00:14:37,644 --> 00:14:58,732 IN HER HOME MADE THEM EVEN MORE >> Reporter: AS THE SUN ROSE THE 276 00:14:58,732 --> 00:15:01,501 NEXT DAY IN ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA, COURTNEY COCO'S 277 00:15:01,501 --> 00:15:04,771 FAMILY HUDDLED TOGETHER FOR THE CALL THAT THREATENED TO SHATTER 278 00:15:04,771 --> 00:15:07,040 THEIR WORLD. WHEN THE PHONE RANG, COURTNEY'S 279 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:11,378 AUNT LYNN PICKED IT UP AND ANSWERED 280 00:15:11,378 --> 00:15:15,148 SHE WAS THE FIRST TO HEAR THAT THE BODY WAS IN FACT COURTNEY'S. 281 00:15:15,148 --> 00:15:18,685 >> I DID NOT WANT THE WORDS TO COME OUT OF MY MOUTH TO MY 282 00:15:18,685 --> 00:15:23,056 SISTER BUT I TOLD HER, "WE NEED TO PLAN 283 00:15:23,056 --> 00:15:26,192 A FUNERAL. >> AND I PASSED OUT. 284 00:15:26,192 --> 00:15:29,462 I JUST HIT THE FLOOR >> Reporter: THE FAMILY'S WORST 285 00:15:29,462 --> 00:15:32,532 FEARS WERE NOW A REALITY THEY WERE HEARTBROKEN BUT ALSO 286 00:15:32,532 --> 00:15:37,070 CONFUSED THERE WERE SO MANY UNANSWERED 287 00:15:37,070 --> 00:15:41,107 QUESTIONS, LIKE HOW DID COURTNEY DIE, AND WHAT WAS SHE DOING IN 288 00:15:41,107 --> 00:15:44,644 WINNIE, TEXAS? >> Reporter: THAT MORNING, BOTH 289 00:15:44,644 --> 00:15:47,113 TEXAS AND LOUISIANA LAW ENFORCEMENT WERE AT THE AUTOPSY. 290 00:15:47,113 --> 00:15:50,450 AND THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S FINDINGS WOULD ONLY DEEPEN THE 291 00:15:50,450 --> 00:15:53,420 MYSTERY. >> EVEN AFTER HE EXAMINED THE 292 00:15:53,420 --> 00:15:56,623 BODY, THERE WAS NO BULLET HOLE THERE WAS NO STAB WOUNDS 293 00:15:56,623 --> 00:15:59,092 THERE WERE NO LIGATURE MARKS THERE WAS NO BRUISING AROUND THE 294 00:15:59,092 --> 00:16:01,728 MOUTH LIKE THEY HAD SUFFOCATED HER. 295 00:16:01,728 --> 00:16:04,297 YOU KNOW, THERE WAS JUST NOTHING. 296 00:16:04,297 --> 00:16:06,933 >> Reporter: WAS THERE ANY SIGN OF DRUGS, DRUG USE, ALCOHOL? 297 00:16:06,933 --> 00:16:09,836 >> A VERY, VERY LOW ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION IN HER BODY. 298 00:16:09,836 --> 00:16:13,139 >> Reporter: THE MEDICAL EXAMINER BELIEVED THOSE LEVELS 299 00:16:13,139 --> 00:16:15,942 WERE NORMAL FOR A PERSON WHO'D RECENTLY DIED, NOT DUE TO 300 00:16:15,942 --> 00:16:19,045 ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION. AS FOR DRUGS IN COURTNEY'S 301 00:16:19,045 --> 00:16:22,582 SYSTEM, IT WAS TOO SOON TO KNOW. INVESTIGATORS WOULD HAVE TO WAIT 302 00:16:22,582 --> 00:16:26,353 FOR THE TOXICOLOGY RESULTS ARE YOU THINKING THIS COULD 303 00:16:26,353 --> 00:16:30,056 POSSIBLY BE MAYBE A DRUG OVERDOSE 304 00:16:30,056 --> 00:16:33,393 >> IT'S POSSIBLE UH, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR PEOPLE 305 00:16:33,393 --> 00:16:36,329 TO HAVE AN ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE OR A POISONING AND THEN PANIC 306 00:16:36,329 --> 00:16:39,733 AND THEN LEAVE THE DECEASED SOMEWHERE. 307 00:16:39,733 --> 00:16:42,435 >> Reporter: AND THE THEORY THAT COURTNEY HAD BEEN SEXUALLY 308 00:16:42,435 --> 00:16:45,572 ASSAULTED? >> THAT WASN'T THE CASE AT ALL 309 00:16:45,572 --> 00:16:48,074 ACCORDING TO THE AUTOPSY, THERE WASN'T ANY EVIDENCE FOUND OF 310 00:16:48,074 --> 00:16:50,944 SEXUAL ASSAULT >> Reporter: BUT THE MEDICAL 311 00:16:50,944 --> 00:16:52,645 EXAMINER DID HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO RULE COURTNEY'S 312 00:16:52,645 --> 00:16:55,215 DEATH A HOMICIDE SO WHAT'S YOUR GUT TELLING YOU 313 00:16:55,215 --> 00:16:58,084 NOW? >> MY GUT IS TELLING ME I DON'T 314 00:16:58,084 --> 00:17:01,521 KNOW >> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE 315 00:17:01,521 --> 00:17:03,723 FIGURED WHOEVER LEFT COURTNEY'S BODY INSIDE THAT ABANDONED HOUSE 316 00:17:03,723 --> 00:17:07,027 HAD TO KNOW HIS WAY AROUND THE AREA 317 00:17:07,027 --> 00:17:09,763 WE WENT BACK TO THAT HOUSE SOMEONE LIVES THERE NOW. 318 00:17:09,763 --> 00:17:11,931 >> SHE WAS LAYING INSIDE THIS DOOR 319 00:17:11,931 --> 00:17:14,334 >> Reporter: IN THIS GARAGE RIGHT HERE 320 00:17:14,334 --> 00:17:16,936 >> YES SHE WAS PROBABLY, SIX, SEVEN 321 00:17:16,936 --> 00:17:18,738 FEET INSIDE. >> Reporter: RABALAIS WAS ALSO 322 00:17:18,738 --> 00:17:21,041 CONVINCED THE PERSON HAD SEEN THE HOUSE BEFORE 323 00:17:21,041 --> 00:17:23,343 >> I FIGURED IT WAS SOMEBODY THAT LIVED OFF SOMEWHERE ELSE 324 00:17:23,343 --> 00:17:25,478 AND THEY EVIDENTLY PASSED THROUGH HERE FROM TIME TO TIME 325 00:17:25,478 --> 00:17:27,781 AND KNEW IT WAS HERE AND KNEW IT WAS DARK, KNEW IT WAS ABANDONED 326 00:17:27,781 --> 00:17:30,316 AND IT'D BE A GOOD SPOT. >> Reporter: WOULD IT HAVE BEEN 327 00:17:30,316 --> 00:17:32,719 EASY FOR SOMEBODY TO TO GET TO A LOCATION LIKE THIS FROM 328 00:17:32,719 --> 00:17:35,555 ALEXANDRIA >> WELL, YEAH. 329 00:17:35,555 --> 00:17:37,824 A QUARTER OF A MILE UP THE ROAD, EXIT I-10, COME DOWN HERE AND 330 00:17:37,824 --> 00:17:40,794 FIND A SPOT AND DUMP HER AND GET BACK ON I-10 AND GO BACK TO 331 00:17:40,794 --> 00:17:44,698 ALEXANDRIA >> Reporter: AS SERGEANT GREEN 332 00:17:44,698 --> 00:17:46,900 DROVE BACK TO LOUISIANA, HE HAD A HUNCH THE KILLER WAS FROM 333 00:17:46,900 --> 00:17:50,203 ALEXANDRIA, THE CITY WHERE COURTNEY LIVED 334 00:17:50,203 --> 00:17:54,074 HE HOPED A SEARCH OF COURTNEY'S HOME WOULD TELL HIM SOMETHING. 335 00:17:54,074 --> 00:17:57,444 DO YOU FIND ANYTHING IN THE HOUSE, SIGNS OF A STRUGGLE 336 00:17:57,444 --> 00:18:00,647 >> THE HOUSE WAS NOT IN TERRIBLE DISARRAY, ANYTHING LIKE THAT 337 00:18:00,647 --> 00:18:03,516 >> Reporter: IN THE BEDROOM, SERGEANT GREEN ZEROED IN ON ONE 338 00:18:03,516 --> 00:18:06,252 THING. >> HER JEANS WERE LAYING ON THE 339 00:18:06,252 --> 00:18:08,888 FLOOR BY THE BED >> Reporter: SHOES WERE THERE 340 00:18:08,888 --> 00:18:12,225 TOO. IT WAS A PRETTY TYPICAL MESS FOR 341 00:18:12,225 --> 00:18:15,128 A YOUNG ADULT, BUT IT MADE HIM WONDER IF COURTNEY WAS WEARING 342 00:18:15,128 --> 00:18:17,764 THE JEANS THE NIGHT SHE DIED IF SHE'D GONE TO BED AND WAS 343 00:18:17,764 --> 00:18:21,134 THEN ABDUCTED OR KILLED, IT WOULD EXPLAIN WHY COURTNEY WAS 344 00:18:21,134 --> 00:18:26,139 FOUND NUDE FROM THE WAIST DOWN AND THERE WAS ALSO THIS. 345 00:18:26,139 --> 00:18:29,075 >> IT APPEARED TO BE A -- SOME SORT OF A CASH BOX THAT WAS 346 00:18:29,075 --> 00:18:30,677 UNDER HER BED. BUT, UM, THERE WAS NOTHING IN 347 00:18:30,677 --> 00:18:32,879 IT >> Reporter: DID IT LOOK LIKE 348 00:18:32,879 --> 00:18:35,081 SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE BROKEN INTO THE BOX? 349 00:18:35,081 --> 00:18:36,716 >> IT WASN'T BROKEN INTO, NO >> Reporter: HE CONTINUED 350 00:18:36,716 --> 00:18:39,719 SEARCHING, BUT NEITHER COURTNEY'S WALLET NOR PHONE 351 00:18:39,719 --> 00:18:43,156 TURNED UP. HER CAR WAS MISSING TOO, A 1999 352 00:18:43,156 --> 00:18:45,925 GREEN PONTIAC. ROBBERY WAS ON THE TABLE AS A 353 00:18:45,925 --> 00:18:48,461 POSSIBLE MOTIVE. BUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH 354 00:18:48,461 --> 00:18:50,697 THAT THEORY. >> THERE WAS NO SIGN OF FORCED 355 00:18:50,697 --> 00:18:55,068 ENTRY. ALL THE DOORS WERE LOCKED. 356 00:18:55,068 --> 00:18:56,469 THE WINDOWS WERE LOCKED. >> Reporter: DID YOU THINK THAT 357 00:18:56,469 --> 00:18:59,105 SHE WILLINGLY LET SOMEONE IN, THAT THIS WAS POSSIBLY SOMEBODY 358 00:18:59,105 --> 00:19:01,641 SHE KNEW >> YES 359 00:19:01,641 --> 00:19:05,011 EITHER SHE LET SOMEONE IN, OR SOMEONE HAD A KEY. 360 00:19:05,011 --> 00:19:06,680 >> Reporter: GREEN BELIEVED COURTNEY RECENTLY HAD GUESTS 361 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:08,915 OVER BEER CANS AND CIGARETTES WERE 362 00:19:08,915 --> 00:19:11,418 STILL ON THE DINING TABLE. A DOMINOS GAME TOO, ALONG WITH A 363 00:19:11,418 --> 00:19:14,854 SCORECARD, LISTING TWO OTHER NAMES. 364 00:19:14,854 --> 00:19:18,024 >> THERE WAS A -- A "JACKIE" AND "LEWIS" ON THE SCORECARD 365 00:19:18,024 --> 00:19:20,493 >> Reporter: SERGEANT GREEN LEARNED FROM COURTNEY'S SISTER 366 00:19:20,493 --> 00:19:23,263 THAT JACKIE WAS ONE OF COURTNEY'S CLOSEST FRIENDS 367 00:19:23,263 --> 00:19:27,233 HE ASKED HER DOWN TO THE STATION TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS 368 00:19:27,233 --> 00:19:29,869 >> JACKIE TOLD US THAT HER AND COURTNEY HAD BEEN TOGETHER THAT 369 00:19:29,869 --> 00:19:32,439 EVENING. >> Reporter: THIS IS FRIDAY 370 00:19:32,439 --> 00:19:35,842 EVENING? >> FRIDAY EVENING, YES 371 00:19:35,842 --> 00:19:39,412 >> Reporter: SHE GAVE INVESTIGATORS A DETAILED ACCOUNT 372 00:19:39,412 --> 00:19:42,415 OF THAT NIGHT, THE LAST NIGHT COURTNEY WAS SEEN ALIVE. 373 00:19:42,415 --> 00:19:45,185 AND LATER, AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, SHE MET WITH THE 374 00:19:45,185 --> 00:19:47,654 DETECTIVES AGAIN AND REVIEWED HER STATEMENT. 375 00:19:47,654 --> 00:19:49,923 THIS TIME THEY RECORDED THE INTERVIEW. 376 00:19:49,923 --> 00:19:52,225 >> THE BEST YOU CAN REMEMBER, CAN YOU JUST KIND OF GO OVER 377 00:19:52,225 --> 00:19:57,063 THAT FRIDAY NIGHT AGAIN? >> Reporter: JACKIE DESCRIBED 378 00:19:57,063 --> 00:19:59,866 HOW SHE AND COURTNEY DROVE AROUND THAT NIGHT, NOT DOING 379 00:19:59,866 --> 00:20:02,335 MUCH UNTIL THEY PICKED UP JACKIE'S BOYFRIEND, LEWIS, FROM 380 00:20:02,335 --> 00:20:04,938 HIS FAST FOOD JOB AT SONIC SOMETIME AROUND 10:00 P.M. 381 00:20:04,938 --> 00:20:07,140 >> DID Y'ALL DRIVE STRAIGHT FROM -- FROM SONIC STRAIGHT TO 382 00:20:07,140 --> 00:20:09,743 HER HOUSE? >> I THINK WE STOPPED AT THE 383 00:20:09,743 --> 00:20:12,278 STORE. >> WHAT STORE? 384 00:20:12,278 --> 00:20:14,914 >> I DON 'T REMEMBER >> WAS IT A GAS STATION? 385 00:20:14,914 --> 00:20:18,351 >> YEAH, IT WAS A GAS STATION. >> Reporter: FROM THERE, SHE 386 00:20:18,351 --> 00:20:21,054 SAID THEY ALL WENT TO COURTNEY'S HOUSE AND PLAYED DOMINOS FOR THE 387 00:20:21,054 --> 00:20:23,289 REST OF THE NIGHT. SHE SAID LATER, SOMETIME AFTER 388 00:20:23,289 --> 00:20:27,160 MIDNIGHT, A FRIEND OF COURTNEY'S STOPPED BY 389 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:30,897 HIS NAME WAS MEL >> HOW LONG DID MEL STAY 390 00:20:30,897 --> 00:20:35,168 >> NOT EVEN FIVE MINUTES AFTER SHE INTRODUCED US TO HIM, 391 00:20:35,168 --> 00:20:37,570 THEY WALKED OUTSIDE AND TALKED >> SHE SAY WHAT HE WAS GOING TO 392 00:20:37,570 --> 00:20:40,740 DO >> YEAH, HE HAD TO TAKE A BATH 393 00:20:40,740 --> 00:20:43,410 AND STUFF LIKE THAT AND THEN COME BACK. 394 00:20:43,410 --> 00:20:46,379 SO HE AIN'T STAY >> Reporter: THEN, AROUND 395 00:20:46,379 --> 00:20:49,115 2:00 A.M., JACKIE SAID COURTNEY DROVE HER AND LEWIS HOME 396 00:20:49,115 --> 00:20:52,519 INVESTIGATORS QUESTIONED LEWIS TOO, AND HE TOLD THE SAME STORY. 397 00:20:52,519 --> 00:20:56,156 >> THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF SHE WAS GOING TO SEE ANYONE ELSE, BUT 398 00:20:56,156 --> 00:20:58,625 COURTNEY WAS SUPPOSED TO COME BACK THE NEXT MORNING TO PICK UP 399 00:20:58,625 --> 00:21:01,461 LEWIS TO TAKE HIM TO WORK. >> Reporter: DID SHE SHOW UP 400 00:21:01,461 --> 00:21:04,064 >> NO. >> Reporter: JACKIE AND LEWIS 401 00:21:04,064 --> 00:21:06,766 WERE COOPERATIVE, BUT SERGEANT GREEN SET OUT TO CHECK THEIR 402 00:21:06,766 --> 00:21:10,970 STORIES. AND WHAT EVER HAPPENED WITH MEL? 403 00:21:10,970 --> 00:21:13,707 WHILE HE WAS FOCUSED ON THAT, COURTNEY'S FAMILY WAS LOCKED ON 404 00:21:13,707 --> 00:21:37,664 TO SOMEONE ELSE. SOMEONE THEY FELT SHOULD BE AT 405 00:21:37,664 --> 00:21:40,633 >> Reporter: AS THE DAYS PASSED, A TIMELINE OF COURTNEY'S FINAL 406 00:21:40,633 --> 00:21:43,203 HOURS SLOWLY BEGAN TO EMERGE HER FRIENDS JACKIE AND LEWIS 407 00:21:43,203 --> 00:21:46,106 TOLD DETECTIVES THEY SPENT FRIDAY NIGHT AT HER PLACE, 408 00:21:46,106 --> 00:21:49,442 PLAYING DOMINOS UNTIL ABOUT 2:00 A.M., AND THEN COURTNEY 409 00:21:49,442 --> 00:21:51,945 DROVE THEM HOME. WERE YOU SUSPICIOUS OF JACKIE 410 00:21:51,945 --> 00:21:54,514 AND LEWIS AT ALL, OR DID YOU FEEL THAT THEY WERE BEING 411 00:21:54,514 --> 00:21:57,017 UPFRONT WITH YOU >> I WAS, UH, FEELING THAT THEY 412 00:21:57,017 --> 00:22:00,220 WERE BEING UPFRONT >> Reporter: HIS TEAM CHECKED 413 00:22:00,220 --> 00:22:02,722 THEIR ALIBIS AND TRACKED DOWN THIS GAS STATION SURVEILLANCE 414 00:22:02,722 --> 00:22:05,225 VIDEO. IT SHOWED JACKIE AND COURTNEY 415 00:22:05,225 --> 00:22:09,429 BUYING DRINKS AT 11:23 P.M., JUST AS SHE TOLD THEM. 416 00:22:09,429 --> 00:22:11,097 THAT'S COURTNEY IN THE BLUE T-SHIRT. 417 00:22:11,097 --> 00:22:13,933 >> MY GUT FEELING WAS THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED ONCE SHE 418 00:22:13,933 --> 00:22:16,503 DROPPED THEM OFF >> Reporter: HE WONDERED, 419 00:22:16,503 --> 00:22:19,305 THOUGH -- DID MEL, THE FRIEND WHO STOPPED BY DURING THE 420 00:22:19,305 --> 00:22:22,409 DOMINO'S GAME, RETURN TO COURTNEY'S HOUSE SOMETIME LATER? 421 00:22:22,409 --> 00:22:24,644 >> SO WE MADE CONTACT WITH HIM >> Reporter: DID YOU LEARN 422 00:22:24,644 --> 00:22:28,148 ANYTHING FROM HIM? >> NO. 423 00:22:28,148 --> 00:22:30,850 >> Reporter: AT LEAST NOTHING NEW, AND DETECTIVES FOUND NO 424 00:22:30,850 --> 00:22:35,255 EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST HE EVER RETURNED TO COURTNEY'S HOUSE 425 00:22:35,255 --> 00:22:36,990 THAT NIGHT INVESTIGATORS RULED HIM OUT AS A 426 00:22:36,990 --> 00:22:39,559 SUSPECT. BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE BURGLARIES 427 00:22:39,559 --> 00:22:42,762 COURTNEY REPORTED BEFORE HER DEATH? 428 00:22:42,762 --> 00:22:47,967 MAYBE THERE WAS SOMETHING THERE. >> THIS IS COURTNEY'S, UH, HOUSE 429 00:22:47,967 --> 00:22:50,870 THAT SHE WAS LIVING IN AT THE TIME OF THE HOMICIDE 430 00:22:50,870 --> 00:22:53,940 >> Reporter: SHORTLY BEFORE HER DEATH, IT HAD BEEN BURGLARIZED 431 00:22:53,940 --> 00:22:57,410 THREE TIMES IN ONE WEEK. HER TV, STEREO, AND SOME JEWELRY 432 00:22:57,410 --> 00:23:00,680 WERE TAKEN WAS YOUR GUT TELLING YOU THAT 433 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:02,215 MAYBE THESE BURGLARIES WERE CONNECTED TO HER DEATH 434 00:23:02,215 --> 00:23:05,685 >> SURE. IT'S -- IT'S A POSSIBILITY 435 00:23:05,685 --> 00:23:07,787 SOMEBODY MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT SHE WASN'T COMING BACK OR WHATEVER 436 00:23:07,787 --> 00:23:10,590 AND SHE SURPRISED THEM WHEN SHE CAME BACK HOME 437 00:23:10,590 --> 00:23:12,559 >> Reporter: BUT HOW DID SOMEONE GET INSIDE THE HOUSE IF THERE 438 00:23:12,559 --> 00:23:15,228 WAS NO FORCED ENTRY? COURTNEY'S MOM BELIEVED 439 00:23:15,228 --> 00:23:18,098 COURTNEY'S EX-ROOMMATE, A WOMAN NAMED ALEXANDRIA, KNEW THE 440 00:23:18,098 --> 00:23:21,067 ANSWER TO THAT COURTNEY TOLD HER FAMILY SHE 441 00:23:21,067 --> 00:23:24,671 THOUGHT ALEXANDRIA WAS BEHIND TWO OF THE BURGLARIES. 442 00:23:24,671 --> 00:23:27,640 >> SHE THOUGHT IT WAS THE ROOMMATE BECAUSE THEY HAD TO 443 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:29,476 HAVE HAD A KEY, AND SHE DIDN'T KNOW IF THE ROOMMATE MAYBE MADE 444 00:23:29,476 --> 00:23:32,479 AN EXTRA KEY >> Reporter: STEPHANIE EXPLAINED 445 00:23:32,479 --> 00:23:34,714 TO DETECTIVES THAT COURTNEY KICKED THE ROOMMATE OUT OF THE 446 00:23:34,714 --> 00:23:37,183 HOUSE AFTER A HEATED ARGUMENT. ALEXANDRIA DIDN'T RESPOND WELL 447 00:23:37,183 --> 00:23:40,086 >> SHE THREATENED TO CUT HER GUTS OUT 448 00:23:40,086 --> 00:23:42,188 >> Reporter: WOW DID YOU LOOK AT THE -- THE 449 00:23:42,188 --> 00:23:44,991 ROOMMATE >> YEAH. 450 00:23:44,991 --> 00:23:46,826 WE LOCATED HER AND -- AND -- AND TALKED TO HER. 451 00:23:46,826 --> 00:23:51,364 UM, WE DID NOT GET AN INDICATION THAT SHE WAS INVOLVED. 452 00:23:51,364 --> 00:23:53,333 >> Reporter: SERGEANT GREEN QUICKLY RULED ALEXANDRIA OUT AS 453 00:23:53,333 --> 00:23:56,202 A PERSON OF INTEREST AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE LINKING HER TO THE 454 00:23:56,202 --> 00:23:59,572 BURGLARIES OR ADDITIONAL LEADS CONNECTING THE BURGLARIES TO 455 00:23:59,572 --> 00:24:02,709 COURTNEY'S MURDER. BUT DETECTIVES WERE LEARNING 456 00:24:02,709 --> 00:24:05,945 SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE IMPORTANT TO THE INVESTIGATION 457 00:24:05,945 --> 00:24:10,083 SEVERAL PEOPLE IN COURTNEY'S INNER CIRCLE HAD CRIMINAL 458 00:24:10,083 --> 00:24:13,853 RECORDS INVOLVING THEFT AND THE SALE OF MARIJUANA. 459 00:24:13,853 --> 00:24:16,056 >> SO I DON'T KNOW IF MAYBE SOME OF THE DRUGS WAS PLAYING PART TO 460 00:24:16,056 --> 00:24:18,158 THE -- >> Reporter: COURTNEY WAS DOING 461 00:24:18,158 --> 00:24:20,660 DRUGS? >> YES 462 00:24:20,660 --> 00:24:22,696 >> Reporter: HER COUSIN, CANDACE, KNEW COURTNEY SMOKED 463 00:24:22,696 --> 00:24:25,231 MARIJUANA. SHE SAYS IT STARTED TOWARD THE 464 00:24:25,231 --> 00:24:28,568 END OF HIGH SCHOOL >> AND WHY DO PEOPLE DO DRUGS? 465 00:24:28,568 --> 00:24:31,104 YOU KNOW, TO ESCAPE SOMETHING, TO -- TO FILL A VOID, TO FILL A 466 00:24:31,104 --> 00:24:33,673 HOLE >> Reporter: THAT VOID 467 00:24:33,673 --> 00:24:37,143 CANDACE BELIEVES IT WAS CREATED BY THE DEATH OF COURTNEY'S 468 00:24:37,143 --> 00:24:40,280 FATHER >> I THINK THAT BECAUSE SHE HAD 469 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:43,416 A DADDY-SHAPED HOLE IN HER HEART, SHE SOUGHT LOVE AND 470 00:24:43,416 --> 00:24:46,286 ATTENTION ELSEWHERE. >> Reporter: AND WHEN COURTNEY 471 00:24:46,286 --> 00:24:48,588 DROPPED OUT OF COLLEGE AFTER ONE SEMESTER, CANDACE NOTICED HER 472 00:24:48,588 --> 00:24:50,957 COUSIN TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORSE. 473 00:24:50,957 --> 00:24:55,161 SHE WAS ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE COMPANY COURTNEY 474 00:24:55,161 --> 00:24:58,231 STARTED KEEPING. >> THEY WERE EITHER DEALERS OR 475 00:24:58,231 --> 00:25:03,236 THEY HAD BEEN CAUGHT DOING SOMETHING OR ANOTHER 476 00:25:03,236 --> 00:25:05,372 >> COURTNEY HAD A LITTLE LIFE THAT WE KNEW ABOUT AND ONE THAT 477 00:25:05,372 --> 00:25:07,807 WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT >> Reporter: I'M ASSUMING YOU 478 00:25:07,807 --> 00:25:10,043 DIDN'T LOVE WHAT YOU WERE HEARING ABOUT THIS OTHER LIFE. 479 00:25:10,043 --> 00:25:15,415 >> YES, MA'AM. THAT'S RIGHT 480 00:25:15,415 --> 00:25:18,752 IT WAS JUST THE TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT SHE WAS AROUND THAT HAD ME 481 00:25:18,752 --> 00:25:22,522 REALLY CONCERNED >> Reporter: PEOPLE LIKE A GUY 482 00:25:22,522 --> 00:25:24,858 NAMED JITTY, COURTNEY'S ON-AGAIN, OFF- AGAIN BOYFRIEND, 483 00:25:24,858 --> 00:25:28,661 WHO AT FIRST SEEMED NICE, POLITE, WHEN HE MET HER FAMILY 484 00:25:28,661 --> 00:25:32,532 >> COURTNEY BROUGHT HIM OVER TO MY HOUSE, AND SHE INTRODUCED HIM 485 00:25:32,532 --> 00:25:34,834 AS HER FUTURE HUSBAND. >> Reporter: BUT AS THE MONTHS 486 00:25:34,834 --> 00:25:38,271 PASSED, LACE LEARNED HE HAD A DARKER SIDE. 487 00:25:38,271 --> 00:25:40,607 >> I DID KNOW THAT HE SOLD DRUGS. 488 00:25:40,607 --> 00:25:41,841 >> Reporter: OKAY, THAT'S -- THAT'S NOT GOOD. 489 00:25:41,841 --> 00:25:45,945 >> NO. >> Reporter: SHE ALSO BEGAN TO 490 00:25:45,945 --> 00:25:48,648 SUSPECT HE MIGHT BE VIOLENT. >> SHE HAD BRUISES ON HER ARMS 491 00:25:48,648 --> 00:25:51,317 AT WORK A COUPLE OF TIMES. >> Reporter: COURTNEY WOULDN'T 492 00:25:51,317 --> 00:25:53,753 SAY IF JITTY WAS RESPONSIBLE BUT ONE DAY, OUT OF THE BLUE, 493 00:25:53,753 --> 00:25:57,757 LACE SAYS COURTNEY MADE A STARTLING COMMENT. 494 00:25:57,757 --> 00:26:03,063 >> SHE TOLD ME ONE TIME, "IF ANYTHING EVER HAPPENS TO ME, 495 00:26:03,063 --> 00:26:05,699 FLOYD LEE WILLIAMS JR. DID IT. AND I SAID, "WELL, WHO IS THAT?" 496 00:26:05,699 --> 00:26:08,835 AND SHE SAYS, "THAT'S JITTY. NOBODY ON THE STREET KNOWS HIS 497 00:26:08,835 --> 00:26:11,571 NAME." SO SHE WANTED ME TO, LIKE, GIVE 498 00:26:11,571 --> 00:26:13,707 THAT TO THE POLICE >> Reporter: THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT 499 00:26:13,707 --> 00:26:16,910 LACE DID AFTER COURTNEY'S DEATH. SHE TOLD SERGEANT GREEN 500 00:26:16,910 --> 00:26:22,182 EVERYTHING HOW SERIOUSLY DID YOU TAKE WHAT 501 00:26:22,182 --> 00:26:25,785 THE FAMILY WAS SAYING ABOUT HIM? >> I TOOK EVERYTHING THAT THEY 502 00:26:25,785 --> 00:26:29,055 SAID, UH, SERIOUSLY BECAUSE NOBODY KNEW WHO WAS INVOLVED AT 503 00:26:29,055 --> 00:26:31,224 THAT POINT >> Reporter: SERGEANT GREEN 504 00:26:31,224 --> 00:26:33,860 TRACKED JITTY DOWN AND BROUGHT HIM TO THE STATION FOR 505 00:26:33,860 --> 00:26:37,464 QUESTIONING. AND WHEN HE ASKED HIM WHERE HE 506 00:26:37,464 --> 00:26:41,568 WAS DURING THE WEEKEND COURTNEY WAS KILLED - 507 00:26:41,568 --> 00:26:43,770 >> HE SAID HE WAS AROUND, UH -- AROUND TOWN AND FROM DIFFERENT 508 00:26:43,770 --> 00:26:45,605 PLACES OR WHATEVER >> Reporter: SO HE WASN'T GIVING 509 00:26:45,605 --> 00:26:48,108 YOU SPECIFICS? >> NO. 510 00:26:48,108 --> 00:26:51,578 >> Reporter: WHAT ARE YOU THINKING 511 00:26:51,578 --> 00:26:52,846 >> I'M THINKING THAT HE'S TRYING TO, UH, KEEP SOMETHING AWAY FROM 512 00:26:52,846 --> 00:26:54,381 US >> Reporter: THE INVESTIGATOR 513 00:26:54,381 --> 00:26:56,816 KNEW JITTY HAD A CRIMINAL RECORD 514 00:26:56,816 --> 00:26:59,619 BUT THERE WERE NO VIOLENT OFFENSES 515 00:26:59,619 --> 00:27:02,422 HE ALSO DIDN'T BELIEVE JITTY WAS CAPABLE OF KILLING COURTNEY AND 516 00:27:02,422 --> 00:27:05,058 MOVING HER BODY. >> HE'S SMALL IN STATURE, I 517 00:27:05,058 --> 00:27:09,095 THINK 5'6" OR 5'4" OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. 518 00:27:09,095 --> 00:27:11,031 HE'S SMALL -- SMALL GUY. >> Reporter: DID YOU STRAIGHT UP 519 00:27:11,031 --> 00:27:13,033 ASK HIM, "DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH" -- 520 00:27:13,033 --> 00:27:15,135 >> YES >> Reporter: -- "COURTNEY COCO'S 521 00:27:15,135 --> 00:27:18,304 DEATH? >> YES 522 00:27:18,304 --> 00:27:21,041 AND HE SAID NO >> Reporter: SERGEANT GREEN 523 00:27:21,041 --> 00:27:22,442 BELIEVED COURTNEY'S KILLER WAS SOMEONE CLOSE TO HER, PERHAPS 524 00:27:22,442 --> 00:27:24,577 ANOTHER MAN IN HER LIFE. OFFICIALLY JITTY REMAINED A 525 00:27:24,577 --> 00:27:27,580 SUSPECT. BUT WITHOUT EVIDENCE TYING HIM 526 00:27:27,580 --> 00:27:29,649 TO THE MURDER, GREEN DIDN'T SEE WHAT MORE HE COULD DO. 527 00:27:29,649 --> 00:27:31,851 COURTNEY'S FAMILY BELIEVED JUST THE OPPOSITE 528 00:27:31,851 --> 00:27:35,855 THEY THOUGHT THERE WAS A LOT MORE HE COULD BE DOING 529 00:27:35,855 --> 00:27:38,825 >> I WASN'T HAPPY WITH THE INVESTIGATION. 530 00:27:38,825 --> 00:27:41,895 AND I HAVE ZERO NEGATIVE FEELINGS TOWARDS LAW 531 00:27:41,895 --> 00:27:45,065 ENFORCEMENT. BUT I FELT LIKE PROPER MEASURES 532 00:27:45,065 --> 00:27:48,935 WERE NOT TAKEN >> Reporter: NOT TAKEN OR 533 00:27:48,935 --> 00:27:51,838 PURSUED. >> I FEEL LIKE BECAUSE OF THE 534 00:27:51,838 --> 00:27:57,110 CHOICES THAT SHE MADE, THE LIFESTYLE SHE HELD OR THE PEOPLE 535 00:27:57,110 --> 00:28:00,914 SHE HUNG AROUND, THAT IT WAS ALMOST LIKE SHE WAS TREATED 536 00:28:00,914 --> 00:28:03,183 SECONDARY, YOU KNOW. LIKE, "WELL, WE'LL GET TO THAT 537 00:28:03,183 --> 00:28:05,518 CASE LATER." >> Reporter: THE FAMILY WAS 538 00:28:05,518 --> 00:28:08,455 LOSING FAITH FAST IN THE ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT 539 00:28:08,455 --> 00:28:11,591 WHAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW -- THE APD WAS ON THE HORN WITH THE TEXAS 540 00:28:11,591 --> 00:28:36,383 RANGERS, AND TOGETHER THEY WERE ABOUT TO CATCH A BREAK THAT 541 00:28:36,383 --> 00:28:39,052 >> Reporter: IT'S A PARENT'S BIGGEST FEAR, HAVING TO BURY A 542 00:28:39,052 --> 00:28:42,689 CHILD. >> AND I JUST KEPT ASKING GOD 543 00:28:42,689 --> 00:28:44,824 WHY. >> Reporter: JUST A WEEK 544 00:28:44,824 --> 00:28:48,128 EARLIER, STEPHANIE BELGARD WAS STARING AT HER DAUGHTER 545 00:28:48,128 --> 00:28:51,164 COURTNEY'S SWEET FACE. NOW SHE WAS LOOKING DOWN AT HER 546 00:28:51,164 --> 00:28:54,367 COFFIN >> EVERYTHING THAT I CARED 547 00:28:54,367 --> 00:28:58,571 ABOUT, I -- I DIDN'T CARE ABOUT ANYMORE. 548 00:28:58,571 --> 00:29:01,207 I DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO GET OUT OF THE BED. 549 00:29:01,207 --> 00:29:03,843 >> Reporter: I WOULD IMAGINE THAT STEPHANIE'S PAIN IS YOUR 550 00:29:03,843 --> 00:29:09,115 PAIN >> IT ABSOLUTELY IS. 551 00:29:09,115 --> 00:29:12,318 WHEN SHE CRIES, WE CRY AND THEN WE TRY TO BE THE ROCK 552 00:29:12,318 --> 00:29:15,488 FOR HER IF SHE NEEDS TO MELT >> Reporter: HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE 553 00:29:15,488 --> 00:29:18,658 ATTENDED COURTNEY'S FUNERAL TO SAY THEIR GOOD-BYES. 554 00:29:18,658 --> 00:29:21,294 BUT NO ONE COULD FORGET THAT HER KILLER WAS STILL ON THE LOOSE. 555 00:29:21,294 --> 00:29:24,030 >> THERE WAS LOTS OF FEDERAL MARSHALS AND POLICEMEN ALL 556 00:29:24,030 --> 00:29:27,267 WALKING AROUND >> Reporter: COURTNEY'S COUSIN 557 00:29:27,267 --> 00:29:29,769 COULD FEEL THE TENSION >> YOU KNOW, THEY WERE CONVINCED 558 00:29:29,769 --> 00:29:32,105 THAT WHOEVER DID THAT TO HER WOULD SHOW UP AT THE FUNERAL 559 00:29:32,105 --> 00:29:34,541 YOU LOOK AT EVERYONE IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT. 560 00:29:34,541 --> 00:29:37,177 YOU KNOW, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT? 561 00:29:37,177 --> 00:29:39,245 DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT 562 00:29:39,245 --> 00:29:41,948 >> Reporter: COURTNEY'S SISTER LACE WAS ON EDGE, BUT 563 00:29:41,948 --> 00:29:47,754 HEARTBROKEN TOO. SHE WANTED TO SEE AND TOUCH HER 564 00:29:47,754 --> 00:29:51,524 SISTER ONE LAST TIME >> THE HARDEST THING WAS IT 565 00:29:51,524 --> 00:29:54,661 WASN'T EVEN OPEN CASKET. WE COULDN'T EVEN HOLD HER HAND, 566 00:29:54,661 --> 00:29:58,365 KISS HER CHEEK WE COULDN'T TELL HER GOOD-BYE 567 00:29:58,365 --> 00:30:01,534 THE WAY WE WANTED TO >> Reporter: SHE WAS GLAD TO 568 00:30:01,534 --> 00:30:04,704 HAVE HER FAMILY THERE AS SUPPORT, ESPECIALLY HER FIANCE 569 00:30:04,704 --> 00:30:08,408 YOUR FIANCE, ANTHONY, WAS ONE OF THE PALLBEARERS. 570 00:30:08,408 --> 00:30:12,645 >> HE WAS A PALLBEARER HE WANTED TO BE A PALLBEARER 571 00:30:12,645 --> 00:30:15,281 TOO. >> Reporter: THEY CARRIED 572 00:30:15,281 --> 00:30:17,951 COURTNEY TO HER FINAL RESTING PLACE NEXT TO HER FATHER 573 00:30:17,951 --> 00:30:20,587 REMEMBER, IT WAS HER WISH FROM WHEN SHE WAS JUST 8 YEARS OLD. 574 00:30:20,587 --> 00:30:25,358 IT WAS THERE, AT THE CEMETERY, THAT STEPHANIE MADE HER DAUGHTER 575 00:30:25,358 --> 00:30:27,494 A PROMISE. >> KNEELING ON HER GRAVE, I 576 00:30:27,494 --> 00:30:31,931 SAID, "I'M GOING TO FIND OUT WHO PUT YOU HERE 577 00:30:31,931 --> 00:30:37,003 AND IF THE LORD LETS ME LIVE LONG ENOUGH, I'M GOING TO DO 578 00:30:37,003 --> 00:30:40,173 IT." >> Reporter: BACK IN TEXAS, 579 00:30:40,173 --> 00:30:43,376 DETECTIVE RABALAIS WAS TRYING TO DO THE SAME, BUT HIS 580 00:30:43,376 --> 00:30:48,114 INVESTIGATION WAS STALLED. HE'D BEEN STRIKING OUT SINCE DAY 581 00:30:48,114 --> 00:30:52,318 ONE. >> A LOT OF PEOPLE CALLED MY 582 00:30:52,318 --> 00:30:55,522 OFFICE "I SAW THAT GIRL 583 00:30:55,522 --> 00:30:58,158 I SAW THAT GIRL WITH SO-AND-SO." THAT STUFF 584 00:30:58,158 --> 00:31:00,827 OKAY THEN I GO SNATCH UP SO-AND-SO, 585 00:31:00,827 --> 00:31:03,463 TAKE HIM, GET HIM POLYGRAPHED. HE PASSED. 586 00:31:03,463 --> 00:31:06,099 >> Reporter: BUT ON THE VERY DAY OF COURTNEY'S FUNERAL, HE GOT 587 00:31:06,099 --> 00:31:08,301 WORD OF A NEW DEVELOPMENT. THE ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT 588 00:31:08,301 --> 00:31:10,870 CRIME SCENE UNIT HAD SUBPOENAED COURTNEY'S PHONE RECORDS AND 589 00:31:10,870 --> 00:31:13,640 SENT THEM TO RANGER HEARN. THEY SHOWED THAT SHE STOPPED 590 00:31:13,640 --> 00:31:16,176 USING HER PHONE AT 4:30 A.M. SATURDAY, NOT LONG AFTER SHE 591 00:31:16,176 --> 00:31:19,346 DROVE HER FRIENDS HOME BUT THEN SUNDAY NIGHT, HER PHONE 592 00:31:19,346 --> 00:31:21,948 RECORDS REGISTERED A SUDDEN FLURRY OF CALLS THAT CONTINUED 593 00:31:21,948 --> 00:31:25,151 AFTER HER BODY WAS FOUND >> AND WHEN IT TURNED BACK ON, 594 00:31:25,151 --> 00:31:27,821 IT WAS USING A HOUSTON CELL TOWER AND STARTED CALLING 595 00:31:27,821 --> 00:31:30,824 HOUSTON PHONE NUMBERS. >> Reporter: IT WAS THE FIRST 596 00:31:30,824 --> 00:31:32,559 REAL BREAK IN THE CASE DID YOU FEEL LIKE IF YOU 597 00:31:32,559 --> 00:31:35,228 COULD -- >> FIND THE PHONE? 598 00:31:35,228 --> 00:31:38,098 >> Reporter: FIND THE PHONE, YOU COULD FIND THE KILLER? 599 00:31:38,098 --> 00:31:39,966 >> POTENTIALLY, YES. IF YOU CAN GET THERE, YOU GET TO 600 00:31:39,966 --> 00:31:42,635 THE PERSON WHO LAST SAW HER AND TOOK HER PHONE FROM HER. 601 00:31:42,635 --> 00:31:44,738 >> Reporter: COURTNEY'S PHONE WAS PINGING OFF OF TWO CELL 602 00:31:44,738 --> 00:31:49,509 TOWERS 60 MILES AWAY IN A SECTION OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, 603 00:31:49,509 --> 00:31:53,213 CALLED THE FOURTH WARD DETECTIVE RABALAIS AND RANGER 604 00:31:53,213 --> 00:31:59,586 HEARN FOLLOWED THE PINGS AND, TO THEIR SURPRISE, FOUND THE PHONE 605 00:31:59,586 --> 00:32:02,222 IN THE CUSTODY OF A 15-YEAR-OLD. SO WHAT IS THIS -- THIS TEENAGER 606 00:32:02,222 --> 00:32:05,892 SAYING ABOUT HOW HE GOT THIS PHONE? 607 00:32:05,892 --> 00:32:09,462 AND DOES HE KNOW COURTNEY? >> SO HE SAYS HE HAS NO IDEA 608 00:32:09,462 --> 00:32:11,064 OR -- OR ANY CONNECTION TO THE VICTIM 609 00:32:11,064 --> 00:32:14,901 HE SAID TWO GUYS, ONE SHORT AND ONE TALL, WERE WALKING DOWN THE 610 00:32:14,901 --> 00:32:17,537 STREET AND OFFERED HIM THE CELL PHONE FOR $10. 611 00:32:17,537 --> 00:32:21,074 >> Reporter: JUST RANDOM STRANGERS WHO APPROACHED HIM 612 00:32:21,074 --> 00:32:24,477 >> HE DID NOT KNOW THEM BY NAME OR HAD NOT SEEN THEM BEFORE. 613 00:32:24,477 --> 00:32:28,148 >> Reporter: AND JUST LIKE THAT, THEIR ONLY LEAD VANISHED 614 00:32:28,148 --> 00:32:31,685 BUT A WEEK LATER, THEY CAUGHT ANOTHER BREAK AND WERE BACK IN 615 00:32:31,685 --> 00:32:33,453 HOUSTON. THEY'D BEEN LOOKING FOR 616 00:32:33,453 --> 00:32:36,623 COURTNEY'S CAR, THE GREEN PONTIAC, AND FOUND IT PARKED 617 00:32:36,623 --> 00:32:39,759 OUTSIDE AN APARTMENT COMPLEX IS THIS GETTING YOU ANY CLOSER 618 00:32:39,759 --> 00:32:42,996 TO COURTNEY'S POSSIBLE KILLER? >> WE ARE HOPING SO. 619 00:32:42,996 --> 00:32:46,299 >> Reporter: THE DETECTIVES LEARNED THE DESCRIPTION OF THE 620 00:32:46,299 --> 00:32:48,735 TWO MEN WHO DROVE COURTNEY'S CAR TO HOUSTON MATCHED THAT OF THE 621 00:32:48,735 --> 00:32:51,905 MEN WHO SOLD HER PHONE THIS TIME THEY GOT A NAME FOR 622 00:32:51,905 --> 00:32:54,541 ONE OF THEM -- RED NOW YOU HAVE A NAME. 623 00:32:54,541 --> 00:32:57,243 >> NOW WE HAD AT LEAST A NICKNAME 624 00:32:57,243 --> 00:32:59,846 >> Reporter: IT WASN'T MUCH, BUT RANGER HEARN AND DETECTIVE 625 00:32:59,846 --> 00:33:02,482 RABALAIS FOLLOWED EVERY LEAD THEY CAME ACROSS IN THEIR SEARCH 626 00:33:02,482 --> 00:33:05,151 FOR RED. THEY KNEW HE COULD BE KEY TO 627 00:33:05,151 --> 00:33:07,787 SOLVING THE CASE RED MIGHT HAVE INFORMATION 628 00:33:07,787 --> 00:33:10,423 LEADING TO - >> HE MIGHT HAVE INFORMATION 629 00:33:10,423 --> 00:33:12,525 LEADING TO SOMETHING HE GOT THE CAR FROM SOMEWHERE. 630 00:33:12,525 --> 00:33:15,195 THE CAR CAME FROM LOUISIANA, AND HE ENDED UP WITH IT SOMEHOW. 631 00:33:15,195 --> 00:33:17,864 >> Reporter: OR OR HE COULD EVEN BE THE KILLER. 632 00:33:17,864 --> 00:33:20,500 >> HE COULD. >> Reporter: BUT LAW ENFORCEMENT 633 00:33:20,500 --> 00:33:23,136 NEVER FOUND RED OR LEARNED HIS REAL NAME. 634 00:33:23,136 --> 00:33:25,772 STILL, THEY HAD COURTNEY'S CAR AND A CRIME SCENE TEAM TO 635 00:33:25,772 --> 00:33:28,408 QUICKLY PROCESS IT >> WE CHECKED IT FOR 636 00:33:28,408 --> 00:33:31,578 FINGERPRINTS WE COLLECTED CIGARETTE BUTTS 637 00:33:31,578 --> 00:33:33,680 FROM INSIDE OF THE CAR >> Reporter: THEY ALSO SPRAYED 638 00:33:33,680 --> 00:33:36,316 LUMINOL AND FOUND SOMETHING. >> WE FOUND SOME BLOOD ON THE 639 00:33:36,316 --> 00:33:38,985 TRUNK LATCH. >> Reporter: WAS IT COURTNEY'S 640 00:33:38,985 --> 00:33:41,087 BLOOD, OR MAYBE HER KILLER'S ONCE AGAIN, LAW ENFORCEMENT 641 00:33:41,087 --> 00:33:44,791 WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR LAB RESULTS TO KNOW THE ANSWER 642 00:33:44,791 --> 00:33:48,995 MEANWHILE, THE INVESTIGATION BACK IN ALEXANDRIA WAS ABOUT TO 643 00:33:48,995 --> 00:33:51,831 ZERO IN MUCH CLOSER TO HOME IN A WAY THAT WOULD PUT COURTNEY'S 644 00:33:51,831 --> 00:34:19,793 OWN FAMILY UNDER THE WHITE HOT >> Reporter: IN THE WEEKS AFTER 645 00:34:19,793 --> 00:34:22,962 COURTNEY COCO WAS LAID TO REST BESIDE HER FATHER, COURTNEY'S 646 00:34:22,962 --> 00:34:26,633 MOTHER FELT THE NEED TO CROSS INTO TEXAS WHERE HER DAUGHTER'S 647 00:34:26,633 --> 00:34:30,337 BODY HAD BEEN FOUND. WHAT DID YOU HOPE TO GET BY 648 00:34:30,337 --> 00:34:36,643 GOING THERE, OR FEEL >> TO ME, IT WAS SACRED GROUND, 649 00:34:36,643 --> 00:34:42,482 EVEN THOUGH IT WAS HORRIBLE HOW SHE GOT THERE. 650 00:34:42,482 --> 00:34:46,186 AND UH, WE BROUGHT A PRIEST WITH US WHEN WE WENT, AND HE BLESSED 651 00:34:46,186 --> 00:34:49,889 THE PLACE. >> Reporter: AND IN A MORE 652 00:34:49,889 --> 00:34:53,593 VISIBLE SIGN OF FAITH -- WHILE THE WHOLE FAMILY WATCHED, LACE'S 653 00:34:53,593 --> 00:34:55,161 FIANCE, ANTHONY BURNS, HELPED PLANT THIS CROSS NEAR THE 654 00:34:55,161 --> 00:34:58,365 BUILDING WHERE HER BODY WAS FOUND. 655 00:34:58,365 --> 00:35:06,272 >> HER CROSS WAS SO BEAUTIFUL. IT STOOD ABOUT FIVE FOOT HIGH. 656 00:35:06,272 --> 00:35:10,043 >> WE PUT IT DOWN IN THERE, KIND OF OFF TO THE SIDE WHERE IT 657 00:35:10,043 --> 00:35:12,078 WOULDN'T BE, LIKE, RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING, BUT LIKE, 658 00:35:12,078 --> 00:35:15,782 WHERE I HAD A SPOT TO AT LEAST GO LEAVE FLOWERS EVERY NOW AND 659 00:35:15,782 --> 00:35:17,917 THEN >> Reporter: COURTNEY'S FAMILY 660 00:35:17,917 --> 00:35:20,053 WAS JUGGLING A RANGE OF EMOTIONS -- 661 00:35:20,053 --> 00:35:22,655 SADNESS. CONFUSION. 662 00:35:22,655 --> 00:35:25,358 ANGER. IT WAS THE LACK OF ANSWERS 663 00:35:25,358 --> 00:35:27,961 THE HOUSTON CRIME LAB HAD FINISHED PROCESSING ALL THE 664 00:35:27,961 --> 00:35:32,165 EVIDENCE FROM COURTNEY'S CAR, AND THEY FOUND NOTHING 665 00:35:32,165 --> 00:35:34,801 NONE OF THE FINGERPRINTS OR THE DNA LED INVESTIGATORS TO A MAN 666 00:35:34,801 --> 00:35:36,903 WHO WENT BY THE NAME OF "RED," OR ANYONE ELSE WHO BROUGHT THEM 667 00:35:36,903 --> 00:35:42,776 CLOSER TO IDENTIFYING COURTNEY'S KILLER 668 00:35:42,776 --> 00:35:46,346 THE FINAL TOXICOLOGY RESULTS WERE ALSO IN, AND SHOWED NO 669 00:35:46,346 --> 00:35:48,181 DRUGS IN COURTNEY'S SYSTEM THE MEDICAL EXAMINER DETERMINED 670 00:35:48,181 --> 00:35:50,650 HER CAUSE OF DEATH WAS LIKELY ASPHYXIA - 671 00:35:50,650 --> 00:35:54,354 OR SUFFOCATION -- AND THAT SHE WAS SMOTHERED TO DEATH 672 00:35:54,354 --> 00:35:57,524 IT LEFT THE FAMILY FEELING LIKE THEY HAD TO SOLVE THE MURDER ON 673 00:35:57,524 --> 00:36:03,663 THEIR OWN. >> WE WOULD GO OUT AND WE WOULD 674 00:36:03,663 --> 00:36:07,567 HAND OUT FLYERS AND PUT FLYERS ON EVERY STORE IN TOWN 675 00:36:07,567 --> 00:36:10,203 >> Reporter: FLYERS WITH COURTNEY'S PHOTO AND HER 676 00:36:10,203 --> 00:36:13,907 MOTHER'S PHONE NUMBER, ASKING FOR ANY INFORMATION THAT MIGHT 677 00:36:13,907 --> 00:36:16,142 HELP WITH THE INVESTIGATION. THEY WROTE DOWN EVERY TIP THEY 678 00:36:16,142 --> 00:36:19,212 GOT, EVERY PERSON THEY SPOKE TO, AND LOOKED THROUGH COURTNEY'S 679 00:36:19,212 --> 00:36:22,882 PHONE AND BANKING RECORDS, DOCUMENTING EVERY DETAIL 680 00:36:22,882 --> 00:36:26,052 AND, THEY SHARED IT ALL WITH SERGEANT GREEN 681 00:36:26,052 --> 00:36:28,688 THEY WEREN'T GIVING UP BUT AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR 682 00:36:28,688 --> 00:36:32,392 PASSED, THEY FELT LIKE THE DETECTIVE ALREADY HAD. 683 00:36:32,392 --> 00:36:36,096 IS DETECTIVE GREEN TALKING TO YOU, BEING FORTHCOMING, SHARING 684 00:36:36,096 --> 00:36:38,732 WITH YOU WHAT THEY'RE DOING? >> NO. 685 00:36:38,732 --> 00:36:41,368 STEPHANIE WOULD CALL VERY FREQUENTLY TO TRY TO GET 686 00:36:41,368 --> 00:36:44,070 UPDATES. >> IT JUST GOT TO A POINT WHERE 687 00:36:44,070 --> 00:36:47,707 IT FELT LIKE IT WAS ON THE BACK BURNER 688 00:36:47,707 --> 00:36:50,844 >> Reporter: BUT SERGEANT GREEN SAYS THE MURDER INVESTIGATION 689 00:36:50,844 --> 00:36:54,080 WAS NEVER ON ANY BACK BURNER, AND THAT HE WAS DOING THE BEST 690 00:36:54,080 --> 00:36:57,117 HE COULD WITH THE RESOURCES HE HAD. 691 00:36:57,117 --> 00:36:59,853 >> I HAD OTHER HOMICIDES THAT WERE COMING IN AND OTHER THINGS 692 00:36:59,853 --> 00:37:03,023 THAT WERE GOING ON AND NO, I WAS NOT AT THEIR BECK 693 00:37:03,023 --> 00:37:06,726 AND CALL, I WAS NOT. >> Reporter: HE ALSO DENIES THE 694 00:37:06,726 --> 00:37:09,362 FAMILY'S ALLEGATION THAT HE TREATED COURTNEY'S CASE AS LESS 695 00:37:09,362 --> 00:37:13,566 IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF THE LIFESTYLE SHE LED AND THE PEOPLE 696 00:37:13,566 --> 00:37:17,771 SHE ASSOCIATED WITH. HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT THE FACT 697 00:37:17,771 --> 00:37:22,575 THAT THE FAMILY WAS KIND OF DOING THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION, 698 00:37:22,575 --> 00:37:24,778 PLAYING THE ROLE OF DETECTIVE? >> I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS, UH, 699 00:37:24,778 --> 00:37:27,313 INTERFERING WITH OUR -- WITH OUR INVESTIGATION. 700 00:37:27,313 --> 00:37:31,551 >> Reporter: HOW WAS IT INTERFERING? 701 00:37:31,551 --> 00:37:34,187 >> THEY WANTED TO KNOW EVERYTHING WE DID. 702 00:37:34,187 --> 00:37:37,924 UH, THEY WANTED TO, UH, KNOW WHO WE TALKED TO, WHAT WE ASKED 703 00:37:37,924 --> 00:37:43,697 THEM AND, UH, THAT'S NOT SOME THINGS 704 00:37:43,697 --> 00:37:47,167 THAT WE -- WE, UH, USUALLY DIVULGE. 705 00:37:47,167 --> 00:37:49,302 >> Reporter: THEY FELT THAT THEY WERE CALLING YOU WITH -- WITH 706 00:37:49,302 --> 00:37:51,438 TIPS AND LEADS THAT YOU EITHER WEREN'T FOLLOWING OR WEREN'T 707 00:37:51,438 --> 00:37:54,641 FOLLOWING WELL ENOUGH. >> YEAH. 708 00:37:54,641 --> 00:37:59,245 THEY WERE, I FELT, LIKE, SENDING ME ON A WHOLE BUNCH OF WILD 709 00:37:59,245 --> 00:38:01,247 GOOSE CHASES >> Reporter: AND THE DETECTIVE 710 00:38:01,247 --> 00:38:03,883 WONDERED -- WAS THERE MORE TO IT THAN THAT? 711 00:38:03,883 --> 00:38:06,586 A YEAR AND HALF AFTER COURTNEY'S MURDER, SERGEANT GREEN'S EARS 712 00:38:06,586 --> 00:38:10,090 WENT UP WHEN HE HEARD SOMETHING THAT NONE OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS 713 00:38:10,090 --> 00:38:14,494 HAD EVER MENTIONED SOMETHING THAT SUDDENLY CAST 714 00:38:14,494 --> 00:38:19,733 REAL SUSPICION ON THEM >> WE ENDED UP GETTING AN 715 00:38:19,733 --> 00:38:22,502 ANONYMOUS PHONE CALL AT FIRST, UH, SAYING TO US, UH, FOLLOW THE 716 00:38:22,502 --> 00:38:25,538 MONEY. >> Reporter: WHAT DID THAT MEAN 717 00:38:25,538 --> 00:38:28,575 TO YOU, "FOLLOW THE MONEY" >> AT THAT POINT, I DIDN'T KNOW 718 00:38:28,575 --> 00:38:33,713 WHAT IT MEANT. SO THEN WE STARTED TO TRY TO 719 00:38:33,713 --> 00:38:36,750 TRACK DOWN WHY WAS THAT SAID, AND WHO WAS SAYING IT, BECAUSE 720 00:38:36,750 --> 00:38:39,719 IT CAME IN ANONYMOUSLY AT FIRST. >> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS SOON 721 00:38:39,719 --> 00:38:43,056 TRACKED THE CALL TO COURTNEY'S GRANDFATHER. 722 00:38:43,056 --> 00:38:45,625 THE MAN TOLD POLICE THAT HIS SON, COURTNEY'S FATHER, HAD ONCE 723 00:38:45,625 --> 00:38:50,163 BEEN INJURED ON THE JOB. HE LOST A LEG AND RECEIVED A 724 00:38:50,163 --> 00:38:53,900 SETTLEMENT >> AND WHEN HE PASSED AWAY, 725 00:38:53,900 --> 00:38:57,070 COURTNEY WAS THE BENEFICIARY >> Reporter: COURTNEY WAS IN 726 00:38:57,070 --> 00:38:59,472 GRADE SCHOOL WHEN HER FATHER DIED AND APPARENTLY HAD NO IDEA 727 00:38:59,472 --> 00:39:04,010 HE'D LEFT HER -- WHAT WOULD BECOME A SMALL FORTUNE 728 00:39:04,010 --> 00:39:07,213 >> EVERY FIVE YEARS, SHE GOT A LUMP SUM AND IT DOUBLED EVERY 729 00:39:07,213 --> 00:39:11,751 FIVE YEARS. ALL THE WAY UP TO $300,000, 730 00:39:11,751 --> 00:39:14,754 $400,000 OR SO THEY START COMING TO HER, IN HER 731 00:39:14,754 --> 00:39:17,090 NAME >> Reporter: "THEY" MEANING 732 00:39:17,090 --> 00:39:20,293 CHECKS $1,500 EVERY MONTH 733 00:39:20,293 --> 00:39:23,063 THAT WAS JUST THE START -- DETECTIVES LEARNED THAT A FEW 734 00:39:23,063 --> 00:39:26,933 MONTHS BEFORE COURTNEY DIED, SHE'D RECEIVED A CHECK FOR 735 00:39:26,933 --> 00:39:30,036 $20,000. AND WHERE THERE'S MONEY, OFTEN, 736 00:39:30,036 --> 00:39:34,040 THERE'S MOTIVE >> THROUGH TALKING TO PEOPLE, 737 00:39:34,040 --> 00:39:38,645 THIS MAYBE HAD CAUSED A LITTLE BIT OF STRIFE BETWEEN HER AND 738 00:39:38,645 --> 00:39:44,484 HER MOM. WE HAD SOME INDICATION THAT HER 739 00:39:44,484 --> 00:39:46,786 AND HER MOM HAD -- HAD ARGUED ABOUT THE MONEY AND THAT WAS A 740 00:39:46,786 --> 00:39:49,055 PROBLEM FOR -- FOR COURTNEY, APPARENTLY 741 00:39:49,055 --> 00:39:51,424 >> Reporter: SERGEANT GREEN FOUND IT STRANGE THAT STEPHANIE 742 00:39:51,424 --> 00:39:54,627 HAD FAILED TO MENTION ANY OF THIS IN THEIR MANY 743 00:39:54,627 --> 00:39:57,864 CONVERSATIONS. SO IN MARCH 2006, 17 MONTHS 744 00:39:57,864 --> 00:40:01,601 AFTER COURTNEY'S BODY WAS FOUND, HE CALLED STEPHANIE DOWN TO THE 745 00:40:01,601 --> 00:40:04,437 STATION FOR QUESTIONING. NOW, YOU'RE ON THE POTENTIAL 746 00:40:04,437 --> 00:40:08,375 SUSPECT LIST >> OF THEIRS, I GUESS. 747 00:40:08,375 --> 00:40:12,479 SO, I GLADLY GAVE MY DNA I DID WHATEVER THEY ASKED ME TO 748 00:40:12,479 --> 00:40:15,482 DO I COOPERATED 100 PERCENT 749 00:40:15,482 --> 00:40:17,751 >> Reporter: STEPHANIE EVEN TOOK A POLYGRAPH. 750 00:40:17,751 --> 00:40:19,652 >> THEY ASKED ME, LIKE, ALL THESE QUESTIONS. 751 00:40:19,652 --> 00:40:23,456 LIKE, "DO YOU KNOW WHO KILLED YOUR CHILD 752 00:40:23,456 --> 00:40:26,159 DID YOU HELP KILL COURTNEY?" ALL THESE HORRIBLE QUESTIONS, 753 00:40:26,159 --> 00:40:30,196 WHICH I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE TO DO 754 00:40:30,196 --> 00:40:34,801 >> Reporter: YEAH. >> AS INSENSITIVE AS IT SEEMS, 755 00:40:34,801 --> 00:40:37,470 UH, IT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED AT SOME POINT 756 00:40:37,470 --> 00:40:39,773 WE HAD TO ASK. >> Reporter: AND AS FAR AS THE 757 00:40:39,773 --> 00:40:43,343 ISSUE THAT HAD LANDED STEPHANIE IN POLICE CROSSHAIRS 758 00:40:43,343 --> 00:40:45,645 COURTNEY'S MOM SAYS SHE'D KNOWN ABOUT THE MONEY ALL ALONG AND 759 00:40:45,645 --> 00:40:48,782 MANAGED IT UNTIL HER DAUGHTER TURNED EIGHTEEN. 760 00:40:48,782 --> 00:40:50,950 SO, MAYBE YOU WANTED COURTNEY'S MONEY. 761 00:40:50,950 --> 00:40:53,987 >> RIGHT >> Reporter: BECAUSE WOULD IT GO 762 00:40:53,987 --> 00:40:56,790 TO YOU IF SHE DIED >> I ASSUMED THAT IT WOULD GO 763 00:40:56,790 --> 00:40:58,858 BACK TO HIS FAMILY BUT IT DIDN'T. 764 00:40:58,858 --> 00:41:01,127 IT CAME TO ME. >> Reporter: WAS ANYTHING SHE 765 00:41:01,127 --> 00:41:03,263 WAS SAYING SUSPICIOUS TO YOU, THAT SHE MIGHT KNOW SOMETHING 766 00:41:03,263 --> 00:41:05,098 ABOUT THE MURDER >> NO. 767 00:41:05,098 --> 00:41:07,267 NO >> Reporter: DID SHE PASS THE 768 00:41:07,267 --> 00:41:09,869 POLYGRAPH? >> SHE DID 769 00:41:09,869 --> 00:41:12,439 >> Reporter: COURTNEY'S MOM WAS IN THE CLEAR 770 00:41:12,439 --> 00:41:15,108 BUT ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE FAMILY WAS ABOUT TO FACE THE SAME 771 00:41:15,108 --> 00:41:17,077 TREATMENT. AND HER VISIT TO THE POLICE 772 00:41:17,077 --> 00:41:19,612 STATION ENDED IN FAR MORE TROUBLING FASHION. 773 00:41:19,612 --> 00:41:23,450 >> I WENT BALLISTIC. I LOST IT. 774 00:41:23,450 --> 00:41:44,004 I RIPPED THE STUFF OFF I -- I WAS ABOUT TO LOSE MY 775 00:41:44,004 --> 00:41:47,674 >> Reporter: JUST DAYS AFTER COURTNEY'S MOM STEPHANIE WALKED 776 00:41:47,674 --> 00:41:50,810 OUT OF THE POLICE STATION AND OUT FROM UNDER ANY CLOUD OF 777 00:41:50,810 --> 00:41:57,117 SUSPICION COURTNEY'S SISTER GOT A CALL 778 00:41:57,117 --> 00:41:59,386 IT WAS SERGEANT GREEN. >> HE SAID, "LACE, I NEED YOU 779 00:41:59,386 --> 00:42:01,688 COME DOWN TO THE STATION TOMORROW MORNING ABOUT 9:00," 780 00:42:01,688 --> 00:42:04,057 AND HE SAID, "I HAVE SOME INFORMATION ON YOUR SISTER." 781 00:42:04,057 --> 00:42:06,493 >> ARE YOU THINKING MAYBE THERE'S BEEN AN ARREST 782 00:42:06,493 --> 00:42:09,529 >> I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS I JUST KNEW THAT THERE WAS SOME 783 00:42:09,529 --> 00:42:11,064 INFORMATION AND I WAS ALL FOR IT 784 00:42:11,064 --> 00:42:13,633 >> Reporter: 17 MONTHS HAS PASSED WITHOUT ANY PROMISING 785 00:42:13,633 --> 00:42:16,736 LEADS IN COURTNEY COCO'S MURDER. AS LACE SET OFF FOR THE POLICE 786 00:42:16,736 --> 00:42:19,906 STATION, MAYBE THAT WAS NOW ABOUT TO CHANGE. 787 00:42:19,906 --> 00:42:25,211 >> I WENT DOWN THERE AND HE OPENED THIS DOOR 788 00:42:25,211 --> 00:42:29,349 AND THERE WERE TWO FBI AGENTS AND TWO POLICE OFFICERS OR 789 00:42:29,349 --> 00:42:31,751 DETECTIVES SITTING AT THIS LONG TABLE FIRST THING HE SAID IS 790 00:42:31,751 --> 00:42:33,720 YOU'RE IN BIG TROUBLE. >> Reporter: SO, NOW THEY'RE 791 00:42:33,720 --> 00:42:37,257 LOOKING AT YOU >> YES 792 00:42:37,257 --> 00:42:40,260 >> Reporter: WE FELT LIKE LACE KNEW MORE THAN WHAT SHE WAS -- 793 00:42:40,260 --> 00:42:44,664 WAS GIVING US. LACE DOES HAVE A RECORD OF 794 00:42:44,664 --> 00:42:48,335 MISDEMEANOR ROBBERY AND ASSAULT. NERVOUSLY SHE AGREED TO ANSWER 795 00:42:48,335 --> 00:42:52,472 QUESTIONS ABOUT HER SISTER AND WAS WIRED UP FOR A POLYGRAPH 796 00:42:52,472 --> 00:42:54,908 TEST ARE THEY TREATING YOU LIKE A 797 00:42:54,908 --> 00:43:03,383 SUSPECT IN YOUR SISTER'S MURDER? >> YES 798 00:43:03,383 --> 00:43:06,453 >> WE START THE POLYGRAPH, UH, POLYGRAPHER CAME OUT AND HIS 799 00:43:06,453 --> 00:43:07,954 EXACT WORDS, "IT WOULD BE A MIRACLE IF SHE PASSED THIS TEST 800 00:43:07,954 --> 00:43:10,390 AT THIS POINT. >> Reporter: BECAUSE SHE'S LYING 801 00:43:10,390 --> 00:43:12,959 OR SHE'S JUST NOT HANDLING THE TEST VERY WELL 802 00:43:12,959 --> 00:43:15,495 >> APPARENTLY, SHE WASN'T BEING TRUTHFUL AT THAT POINT 803 00:43:15,495 --> 00:43:18,665 >> Reporter: OKAY. LACE INSISTS SHE TOLD THE TRUTH 804 00:43:18,665 --> 00:43:21,368 BUT GOT STRESSED AND OVERWHELMED BY THE LONG DRAWN OUT INTERVIEW. 805 00:43:21,368 --> 00:43:23,837 >> I WANT TO SAY IT WAS LIKE 6 HOURS OR 7 HOURS OR SOMETHING. 806 00:43:23,837 --> 00:43:26,873 >> Reporter: SO, YOU THINK THEY THINK THAT YOU KILLED COURTNEY 807 00:43:26,873 --> 00:43:29,576 OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO DID? >> OR KNEW SOMEONE, YES. 808 00:43:29,576 --> 00:43:32,946 I MEAN, THEY WERE PUTTING IT ON ME 809 00:43:32,946 --> 00:43:35,081 >> Reporter: THE QUESTIONS FOR LACE, JUST LIKE THOSE ASKED OF 810 00:43:35,081 --> 00:43:37,817 HER MOTHER, WELL, THEY HIT A NERVE. 811 00:43:37,817 --> 00:43:40,687 WHEN THEY ASKED YOU, DID YOU KILL COURTNEY -- 812 00:43:40,687 --> 00:43:43,823 >> I WENT BALLISTIC. I LOST IT. 813 00:43:43,823 --> 00:43:46,726 I SAID, "NO, I DIDN'T KILL MY SISTER." 814 00:43:46,726 --> 00:43:50,497 AND I WAS LIKE, "MAN, WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO TO ME?" 815 00:43:50,497 --> 00:43:54,401 AND I RIPPED THE POLYGRAPH OFF AND I WAS LEAVING. 816 00:43:54,401 --> 00:43:56,503 HE SAID, IF YOU DON'T COME BACK HERE TOMORROW MORNING TO RETAKE 817 00:43:56,503 --> 00:44:03,610 THIS TEST, IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE YOU KILLED YOUR SISTER. 818 00:44:03,610 --> 00:44:06,479 AND MY MIND WAS SO BLOWN BECAUSE I KNOW I DIDN'T KILL MY SISTER 819 00:44:06,479 --> 00:44:10,150 >> Reporter: SERGEANT GREEN WASN'T IN THE ROOM AT THE TIME, 820 00:44:10,150 --> 00:44:12,152 BUT HE HEARD WHAT HAD HAPPENED WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, 821 00:44:12,152 --> 00:44:14,654 WHEN YOU FIND OUT THAT SHE RUNS OUT ON THE - 822 00:44:14,654 --> 00:44:20,060 >> YEAH. WELL - 823 00:44:20,060 --> 00:44:23,930 >> Reporter: -- INTERVIEW? >> WELL, WHAT WOULD YOU THINK? 824 00:44:23,930 --> 00:44:25,932 >> Reporter: I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. 825 00:44:25,932 --> 00:44:28,368 >> I'M THINKING THAT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT SHE KNOWS THAT 826 00:44:28,368 --> 00:44:30,370 SHE'S NOT TELLING US >> Reporter: SO YOU'RE THINKING 827 00:44:30,370 --> 00:44:33,940 LIKE, NOW, LACE COULD BE THE KEY TO POTENTIALLY SOLVING THIS 828 00:44:33,940 --> 00:44:35,175 MURDER >> YES 829 00:44:35,175 --> 00:44:37,577 >> Reporter: BUT YOU DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHY. 830 00:44:37,577 --> 00:44:39,746 >> I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHY. >> Reporter: WHEN LACE LEAVES 831 00:44:39,746 --> 00:44:42,882 THE STATION IS SHE A SUSPECT NOW? 832 00:44:42,882 --> 00:44:45,085 >> SHE IS PROBABLY MORE OF A PERSON OF INTEREST THAN SHE WAS 833 00:44:45,085 --> 00:44:47,153 BEFORE SHE CAME IN >> Reporter: DESPONDENT, LACE 834 00:44:47,153 --> 00:44:49,689 CALLED HER MOM DID THAT BOTHER YOU THAT LACE 835 00:44:49,689 --> 00:44:53,293 WAS QUESTIONED FOR HOURS >> VERY MUCH SO, YES 836 00:44:53,293 --> 00:44:56,529 AND SHE WAS ON SEIZURE MEDICINE AT THAT TIME AND THEY DIDN'T 837 00:44:56,529 --> 00:45:01,134 EVEN ALLOW HER TO TAKE HER MEDICINE OR GET ANYTHING TO EAT 838 00:45:01,134 --> 00:45:03,370 OR DRINK IN LIKE ALMOST EIGHT HOURS AND SHE WAS IN TEARS BUT 839 00:45:03,370 --> 00:45:06,106 SHE WENT BACK THE NEXT DAY AND FINISHED 840 00:45:06,106 --> 00:45:08,942 >> Reporter: LACE PASSED THE POLYGRAPH BUT REMAINED UNDER 841 00:45:08,942 --> 00:45:11,578 SUSPICION. SO IF YOU THOUGHT COURTNEY'S 842 00:45:11,578 --> 00:45:15,281 FAMILY WAS FED UP WITH DETECTIVE GREEN BEFORE 843 00:45:15,281 --> 00:45:20,653 WELL, THEY WERE ABOUT TO TURN UP THE HEAT BY TURNING TO HIS BOSS. 844 00:45:20,653 --> 00:45:23,289 >> I TOLD THE POLICE CHIEF, I SAID, "I DO NOT WANT DETECTIVE 845 00:45:23,289 --> 00:45:26,693 GREEN ON COURTNEY'S CASE PLEASE TAKE HIM OFF. 846 00:45:26,693 --> 00:45:31,297 I JUST WANTED SOMEBODY THAT WOULD GIVE ME ANSWERS. 847 00:45:31,297 --> 00:45:35,335 >> I WAS TOLD BY THE CHIEF I'VE BEEN SITTING UP ALL NIGHT TRYING 848 00:45:35,335 --> 00:45:37,704 TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIRE YOU. I'M LIKE, "ARE -- ARE YOU 849 00:45:37,704 --> 00:45:41,074 SERIOUS? FIRE ME FOR WHAT?" 850 00:45:41,074 --> 00:45:45,178 HE SAID THAT, YOU TOLD THEM THAT THEY ARE POSSIBLE SUSPECTS 851 00:45:45,178 --> 00:45:48,214 WELL, UH, YEAH I DON'T KNOW WHO KILLED HER. 852 00:45:48,214 --> 00:45:50,450 DO YOU KNOW? DO THEY KNOW 853 00:45:50,450 --> 00:45:52,886 >> Reporter: COULD YOU SORT OF SEE THEIR POINT THAT A LOT OF 854 00:45:52,886 --> 00:45:54,821 TIME HAD GONE BY AND THERE WAS NO ARREST? 855 00:45:54,821 --> 00:45:57,824 MAYBE TIME FOR SOME FRESH EYES >> WELL, MAYBE 856 00:45:57,824 --> 00:46:00,760 I MEAN, AND I DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. 857 00:46:00,760 --> 00:46:02,896 >> Reporter: DID THAT HURT A LITTLE BIT THAT -- I MEAN, DID 858 00:46:02,896 --> 00:46:05,131 YOU WANT TO SEE IT THROUGH DID YOU WANT TO -- 859 00:46:05,131 --> 00:46:07,534 >> I DID >> Reporter: -- CONTINUE TO TRY 860 00:46:07,534 --> 00:46:09,803 TO SOLVE IT? >> I DID 861 00:46:09,803 --> 00:46:12,305 THERE'S NO HOMICIDE THAT I'VE STARTED ON, THAT I DON'T WANT TO 862 00:46:12,305 --> 00:46:15,241 FINISH I MEAN, YEAH, IT WAS HURTFUL 863 00:46:15,241 --> 00:46:17,644 BUT I'M -- I'M -- I'M ALSO A -- A PROFESSIONAL 864 00:46:17,644 --> 00:46:20,580 >> Reporter: YEAH. >> SO IF THAT WAS THE DECISION 865 00:46:20,580 --> 00:46:23,550 TO BE MADE I HAD TO MOVE ON. >> Reporter: SGT. GREEN WASN'T 866 00:46:23,550 --> 00:46:28,722 FIRED BUT WAS REASSIGNED AND EVENTUALLY ANOTHER DETECTIVE 867 00:46:28,722 --> 00:46:31,391 WAS PUT ON THE CASE. BUT FIRST A NEW REVELATION WOULD 868 00:46:31,391 --> 00:46:33,159 HIT COURTNEY'S FAMILY, ONE THAT WOULD CHALLENGE EVERYTHING THEY 869 00:46:33,159 --> 00:46:35,895 THOUGHT THEY KNEW ABOUT HER MURDER 870 00:46:35,895 --> 00:46:58,485 >> AND HE SAID, "I'M HERE TO TELL Y'ALL THAT YOUR DAUGHTER'S 871 00:46:58,485 --> 00:47:01,354 >> Reporter: YEARS PASSED UNTIL SOMEHOW, IT HAD BEEN A DECADE 872 00:47:01,354 --> 00:47:05,392 SINCE THE MURDER OF COURTNEY COCO. 873 00:47:05,392 --> 00:47:08,061 THE CASE HAD GONE BITTERLY COLD. THE FRUSTRATION MUST HAVE JUST 874 00:47:08,061 --> 00:47:11,698 BEEN OVERWHELMING, NOT HAVING ANSWERS. 875 00:47:11,698 --> 00:47:14,134 >> YES, MA'AM. I EVEN CAME TO THE REALIZATION 876 00:47:14,134 --> 00:47:17,637 THAT HER MURDER MIGHT NEVER BE SOLVED 877 00:47:17,637 --> 00:47:20,340 AND I GAVE IT TO THE LORD. AND I SAID, "DO YOU KNOW WHO DID 878 00:47:20,340 --> 00:47:22,942 THIS? AND THE ULTIMATE JUSTICE WILL COME FROM YOU." 879 00:47:22,942 --> 00:47:25,178 >> Reporter: YOU DIDN'T GIVE UP. >> NO. 880 00:47:25,178 --> 00:47:28,281 BUT I WANTED TO. SO MANY TIMES, I JUST -- I WAS 881 00:47:28,281 --> 00:47:32,152 TIRED. >> Reporter: DESPERATE FOR 882 00:47:32,152 --> 00:47:33,486 ANSWERS, COURTNEY'S FAMILY ASKED YET ANOTHER AGENCY FOR HELP -- 883 00:47:33,486 --> 00:47:36,056 THE LOCAL LOUISIANA SHERIFF'S OFFICE 884 00:47:36,056 --> 00:47:39,492 THEY ALSO JOINED A GROUP CALLED PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN, 885 00:47:39,492 --> 00:47:42,696 AND EVENTUALLY, THEY EVEN REACHED OUT TO "DATELINE," AND 886 00:47:42,696 --> 00:47:45,131 WE FEATURED COURTNEY'S STORY ONLINE IN OUR "COLD CASE 887 00:47:45,131 --> 00:47:47,500 SPOTLIGHT" SERIES. MEANWHILE, THEY DID WHATEVER 888 00:47:47,500 --> 00:47:52,372 THEY COULD TO KEEP COURTNEY'S CASE IN THE PUBLIC EYE 889 00:47:52,372 --> 00:47:56,643 >> WE DID ANY MARCH, CANDLELIGHT VIGIL, VICTIMS MARCH, ANYTHING 890 00:47:56,643 --> 00:47:58,411 WE COULD DO. >> Reporter: COURTNEY'S FAMILY 891 00:47:58,411 --> 00:48:02,649 DOUBLED DOWN ON THEIR SEARCH FOR ANSWERS, AND HAD THE BINDERS OF 892 00:48:02,649 --> 00:48:09,556 INFORMATION TO PROVE IT. WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, ALL -- ALL 893 00:48:09,556 --> 00:48:13,326 OF THE MATERIALS, I THINK OF, LIKE YOUR OWN LITTLE WAR ROOM. 894 00:48:13,326 --> 00:48:15,729 >> EVERY LITTLE TIP THAT WOULD COME THROUGH, WHETHER IT WAS 895 00:48:15,729 --> 00:48:18,498 WROTE ON A REGULAR PIECE OF PAPER -- 896 00:48:18,498 --> 00:48:20,834 >> A RECEIPT >> -- A RECEIPT, WE FILED IT 897 00:48:20,834 --> 00:48:23,636 >> Reporter: COURTNEY'S GRANDMOTHER SAW FLASHES OF HOPE 898 00:48:23,636 --> 00:48:26,606 IN A SEA OF DESPAIR. INA, YOU YOU'RE THE MATRIARCH. 899 00:48:26,606 --> 00:48:32,245 WHAT WAS YOUR FEELING AS YOU'RE WATCHING THEM GO THROUGH THIS? 900 00:48:32,245 --> 00:48:40,553 >> IT WAS VERY, VERY HURTFUL BECAUSE I NOTICED EVERY TIME A 901 00:48:40,553 --> 00:48:42,722 NEW TIP CAME IN, THEIR EYES LIT UP, AND THERE WERE TIMES WHEN I 902 00:48:42,722 --> 00:48:45,325 FELT LIKE WE WERE OUT THERE BY OURSELVES. 903 00:48:45,325 --> 00:48:47,927 AND THAT IF WE WERE GOING TO GET HELP, WE HAD TO TRY TO HELP 904 00:48:47,927 --> 00:48:50,230 OURSELVES. >> Reporter: THE POLICE SAID 905 00:48:50,230 --> 00:48:53,233 THEY WERE DOING THEIR BEST BUT THAT DID NOTHING TO EASE THE 906 00:48:53,233 --> 00:48:55,101 FAMILY'S FRUSTRATION THAT PUT A STRAIN ON DAILY LIFE. 907 00:48:55,101 --> 00:48:57,804 AND ACROSS THE STATE LINE, IT HAD ALSO TAKEN A TOLL ON TEXAS 908 00:48:57,804 --> 00:49:00,106 DETECTIVE DAVID RABALAIS, WHO ENDED UP LEAVING THE SHERIFF'S 909 00:49:00,106 --> 00:49:03,810 OFFICE >> I GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I 910 00:49:03,810 --> 00:49:06,112 COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE ON THE CASE, IT TORE ME APART 911 00:49:06,112 --> 00:49:08,548 >> Reporter: YEAH. >> I WAS ON DEPRESSION 912 00:49:08,548 --> 00:49:10,884 MEDICATION FROM THE DOCTOR >> Reporter: REALLY? 913 00:49:10,884 --> 00:49:13,286 >> UH, I HAD ANOTHER HEART ATTACK 914 00:49:13,286 --> 00:49:15,822 >> Reporter: BECAUSE OF THIS CASE 915 00:49:15,822 --> 00:49:18,058 >> I JUST FELT LIKE I FAILED THE FAMILY 916 00:49:18,058 --> 00:49:20,460 I'M NOT DOING MY JOB I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH. 917 00:49:20,460 --> 00:49:23,029 WHAT ELSE CAN I DO THESE PEOPLE ARE HURTING 918 00:49:23,029 --> 00:49:25,665 WHAT IF IT WAS MY CHILD AND I'M LAYING IN BED WONDERING HOW MY 919 00:49:25,665 --> 00:49:28,168 CHILD DIED, WHO KILLED HER >> Reporter: THEN, IN 2016, 920 00:49:28,168 --> 00:49:31,037 12 YEARS AFTER THE MURDER, CAME A BOMBSHELL. 921 00:49:31,037 --> 00:49:33,773 THE FAMILY WAS CALLED TOGETHER NOT BY THE ALEXANDRIA POLICE 922 00:49:33,773 --> 00:49:37,310 DEPARTMENT OR BY THE INVESTIGATORS IN TEXAS, BUT BY 923 00:49:37,310 --> 00:49:40,847 THE LOUISIANA SHERIFF'S OFFICE IT TURNED OUT THE SHERIFF'S 924 00:49:40,847 --> 00:49:43,650 OFFICE HAD ANSWERED THE FAMILY'S PLEA FOR HELP, BUT HADN'T TOLD 925 00:49:43,650 --> 00:49:46,619 THEM THEY'D ORDERED NEW LAB TESTS, AND NOW THE FAMILY STOOD 926 00:49:46,619 --> 00:49:52,392 BEFORE A DETECTIVE WHO WAS HOLDING SOME DOCUMENTS 927 00:49:52,392 --> 00:49:56,863 >> HE HANDS US EACH ONE OF A COPY OF A SECOND TOXICOLOGY 928 00:49:56,863 --> 00:50:01,034 REPORT THAT THEY DID ON COURTNEY'S BLOOD 929 00:50:01,034 --> 00:50:03,770 >> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE TOLD COURTNEY'S FAMILY THE SHERIFF'S 930 00:50:03,770 --> 00:50:07,273 OFFICE HAD ORDERED A NEW TOX SCREEN ON A VIAL OF COURTNEY'S 931 00:50:07,273 --> 00:50:10,744 BLOOD THAT HAD BEEN STORED IN EVIDENCE SINCE THE MURDER. 932 00:50:10,744 --> 00:50:14,147 HE SAID IT REVEALED PRESCRIPTION PAIN MEDICATION AND A LARGE 933 00:50:14,147 --> 00:50:18,651 AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL IN COURTNEY'S SYSTEM 934 00:50:18,651 --> 00:50:22,522 >> HE SAID, "I'M HERE TO TELL Y'ALL THAT YOUR DAUGHTER'S DEATH 935 00:50:22,522 --> 00:50:25,425 WAS AN ACCIDENTAL DEATH. SHE O.D.'ED. 936 00:50:25,425 --> 00:50:28,461 I'M LIKE, WHAT >> Reporter: BUT THE FIRST 937 00:50:28,461 --> 00:50:33,433 AUTOPSY, THERE WAS NO SIGN OF -- OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL. 938 00:50:33,433 --> 00:50:36,403 >> THE FIRST TOXICOLOGY REPORT WAS NO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL IN HER 939 00:50:36,403 --> 00:50:38,838 SYSTEM BUT HE SAID, "IF I HAD TO 940 00:50:38,838 --> 00:50:42,042 CLASSIFY YOUR DAUGHTER'S DEATH RIGHT NOW, IT WOULD BE 941 00:50:42,042 --> 00:50:44,911 ACCIDENTAL." I WAS LIKE FLOORED 942 00:50:44,911 --> 00:50:48,715 I WAS LIKE IN A STATE OF SHOCK I'M LIKE, SHE WAS LAST SEEN IN A 943 00:50:48,715 --> 00:50:50,984 STORE THAT NIGHT IF SHE'D HAVE TAKEN ALL THESE 944 00:50:50,984 --> 00:50:54,487 DRUGS, THERE WAS NO WAY SHE COULD HAVE WALKED. 945 00:50:54,487 --> 00:50:57,357 >> I LOOK STRAIGHT AT HIM AND I SAID, "HOLD ON A SECOND. 946 00:50:57,357 --> 00:51:00,060 COURTNEY DID NOT PUT HER BODY IN THE TRUNK OF A CAR AND GO DUMP 947 00:51:00,060 --> 00:51:02,495 HERSELF IN TEXAS." >> RIGHT 948 00:51:02,495 --> 00:51:05,298 >> "SOMEBODY'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT 949 00:51:05,298 --> 00:51:07,767 AND -- AND WE WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS ANSWER. 950 00:51:07,767 --> 00:51:10,370 >> Reporter: DID YOU HAVE TO THINK THOUGH, THAT IT WAS 951 00:51:10,370 --> 00:51:12,672 POSSIBLE THAT SHE MAYBE, MAYBE THE FIRST AUTOPSY WAS MESSED UP, 952 00:51:12,672 --> 00:51:15,642 THAT SHE REALLY DID O.D.? AND THEN SOMEONE TRANSPORTED HER 953 00:51:15,642 --> 00:51:18,078 BODY TO THE SCENE? >> NO. 954 00:51:18,078 --> 00:51:21,314 WE NEVER DOUBTED THE FIRST AUTOPSY REPORT BECAUSE THEY HAD 955 00:51:21,314 --> 00:51:23,883 HER ACTUAL BODY. THEY TESTED HER ACTUAL SPLEEN 956 00:51:23,883 --> 00:51:27,620 AND EVERYTHING RIGHT THEN AND THERE. 957 00:51:27,620 --> 00:51:30,156 >> Reporter: I'VE NEVER HEARD OF ANYBODY GOING FROM A CLEAN TOX 958 00:51:30,156 --> 00:51:36,730 SCREEN TO SUDDENLY WITH ALL THESE DRUGS IN HER SYSTEM? 959 00:51:36,730 --> 00:51:39,099 >> RIGHT >> RIGHT 960 00:51:39,099 --> 00:51:42,102 >> WE WEREN'T GOING TO BELIEVE IT, NO 961 00:51:42,102 --> 00:51:44,104 >> Reporter: COURTNEY'S FAMILY BELIEVED LAW ENFORCEMENT JUST 962 00:51:44,104 --> 00:51:47,007 WANTED TO CLOSE THE CASE, BE DONE WITH ALL OF IT, AND DONE 963 00:51:47,007 --> 00:51:49,976 WITH THEM. DAYS LATER, STEPHANIE CALLED THE 964 00:51:49,976 --> 00:51:53,279 DETECTIVE. >> AND I SAID, "I'M NOT BUYING 965 00:51:53,279 --> 00:51:56,116 IT I DON'T BELIEVE IT FOR A MINUTE. 966 00:51:56,116 --> 00:51:59,652 KEEP DIGGING," I SAID, "AND UNTIL YOU CAN TELL ME WHO PUT MY 967 00:51:59,652 --> 00:52:02,856 DAUGHTER'S BODY IN THAT BUILDING THAT SHE WAS IN, THEN THIS CASE 968 00:52:02,856 --> 00:52:05,625 IS NOT SOLVED. >> Reporter: BUT IF THE 969 00:52:05,625 --> 00:52:08,261 LOUISIANA SHERIFF WANTED TO BE DONE WITH THE COURTNEY COCO 970 00:52:08,261 --> 00:52:11,631 CASE, WELL, IN ONE SENSE IT WORKED 971 00:52:11,631 --> 00:52:15,502 BECAUSE STEPHANIE AND HER FAMILY WERE NOW DONE WITH OFFICIAL LAW 972 00:52:15,502 --> 00:52:16,836 ENFORCEMENT CHANNELS >> Reporter: AND YOU DECIDE "IF 973 00:52:16,836 --> 00:52:19,439 THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SOLVE THIS, 974 00:52:19,439 --> 00:52:21,675 I AM." >> I'M GOING TO GET SOMEONE. 975 00:52:21,675 --> 00:52:24,244 I WANTED A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR OR SOMEBODY. 976 00:52:24,244 --> 00:52:27,380 >> Reporter: A FAMILY MEMBER HAPPENED TO KNOW SOMEONE WITH A 977 00:52:27,380 --> 00:52:30,684 PASSION FOR COLD CASES HIS NAME IS WOODY OVERTON -- A 978 00:52:30,684 --> 00:52:33,687 FORMER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR FOR THE LOUISIANA STATE POLICE, WITH 979 00:52:33,687 --> 00:52:37,457 OVER 20 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. 980 00:52:37,457 --> 00:52:39,726 BUT IN 2019, HE ADDED A NEW LINE TO HIS RESUME -- 981 00:52:39,726 --> 00:52:41,995 >> HELLO, EVERYBODY AND WELCOME TO THIS EPISODE OF "REAL LIFE 982 00:52:41,995 --> 00:52:44,130 REAL CRIME," THE PODCAST >> Reporter: -- TRUE CRIME 983 00:52:44,130 --> 00:52:46,099 PODCASTER. >> MY WIFE SAID, "EVERYBODY 984 00:52:46,099 --> 00:52:48,535 LOVES YOUR VOICE, EVERYBODY LOVES YOUR STORIES 985 00:52:48,535 --> 00:52:51,004 YOU NEED TO START A PODCAST. >> Reporter: COURTNEY'S MOM 986 00:52:51,004 --> 00:52:53,773 STEPHANIE HAD SPOKEN TO WOODY YEARS BEFORE ABOUT HER 987 00:52:53,773 --> 00:52:56,176 FRUSTRATION WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. 988 00:52:56,176 --> 00:52:59,746 BUT AFTER HIS PODCAST LAUNCHED, SHE REACHED OUT TO HIM AGAIN 989 00:52:59,746 --> 00:53:02,215 COULD HE HELP CRACK COURTNEY'S CASE 990 00:53:02,215 --> 00:53:05,051 >> AND I BEGGED HIM. I SAID, "PLEASE HELP ME. 991 00:53:05,051 --> 00:53:09,055 AND -- AND HE KNOWS THE LAW LIKE THE BACK OF HIS HAND 992 00:53:09,055 --> 00:53:12,125 >> IT BROKE MY HEART AND I'M LIKE, I TOLD STEPHANIE 993 00:53:12,125 --> 00:53:15,061 THAT DAY, I SAID, "I TELL YOU WHAT, I'M GOING TO SOLVE THIS 994 00:53:15,061 --> 00:53:17,230 CASE OR I'M GOING TO DIE TRYING." 995 00:53:17,230 --> 00:53:19,733 >> Reporter: WOW WHAT WAS HER REACTION TO THAT? 996 00:53:19,733 --> 00:53:22,469 >> SHE CRIED >> Reporter: OH. 997 00:53:22,469 --> 00:53:24,738 >> YEAH. >> Reporter: FINALLY, SOMEONE 998 00:53:24,738 --> 00:53:27,707 WAS -- >> RIGHT 999 00:53:27,707 --> 00:53:30,076 WELL, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAD BEEN PROMISING HER STUFF FOR OVER 1000 00:53:30,076 --> 00:53:32,645 16 YEARS AT THAT POINT >> Reporter: SOMETHING TELLS ME 1001 00:53:32,645 --> 00:53:35,348 SHE COULD FEEL THAT YOU MEANT IT 1002 00:53:35,348 --> 00:53:38,084 >> YEAH. RIGHT. 1003 00:53:38,084 --> 00:53:40,453 WELL, I DID. >> Reporter: WOODY TOOK ON THE 1004 00:53:40,453 --> 00:53:42,789 CASE, AND WENT ON THE AIR. >> I'M YOUR HOST, WOODY OVERTON. 1005 00:53:42,789 --> 00:53:45,091 >> Reporter: AND AS HIS LISTENERS RESPONDED, IT WASN'T 1006 00:53:45,091 --> 00:54:03,910 LONG BEFORE HE CAME FACE TO FACE WITH SOMEONE WHO SAID SHE KNEW 1007 00:54:03,910 --> 00:54:08,682 >> Reporter: FORMER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR AND PODCASTER 1008 00:54:08,682 --> 00:54:11,084 WOODY OVERTON HAS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PODCASTS IN THE 1009 00:54:11,084 --> 00:54:14,387 COUNTRY, AND HE WAS NOW DELVING INTO COURTNEY COCO'S MURDER. 1010 00:54:14,387 --> 00:54:16,890 HIS FIRST STEP WAS TO TAKE IN ALL THE INFORMATION COURTNEY'S 1011 00:54:16,890 --> 00:54:19,325 FAMILY HAD GATHERED OVER 15 YEARS 1012 00:54:19,325 --> 00:54:21,961 WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE FAMILY'S FILES 1013 00:54:21,961 --> 00:54:23,863 >> I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST AMAZING. 1014 00:54:23,863 --> 00:54:27,867 IT WAS AN AMAZING TESTAMENT TO THIS FAMILY NOT EVER GIVING UP 1015 00:54:27,867 --> 00:54:30,603 PEOPLE WILL CALL THEM WITH TIPS OR TELL THEM THIS AND TELL THEM 1016 00:54:30,603 --> 00:54:34,140 THAT, AND THEY HAD EVERYTHING WRITTEN DOWN 1017 00:54:34,140 --> 00:54:36,609 >> Reporter: WOODY CHASED DOWN LEADS FROM THE FAMILY'S FILES. 1018 00:54:36,609 --> 00:54:39,079 >> IT JUST MORPHED INTO WHAT I USED TO DO, WORKING A CASE 1019 00:54:39,079 --> 00:54:41,981 ACTIVELY BOOTS ON THE GROUND IS WHAT I 1020 00:54:41,981 --> 00:54:44,250 CALL IT. AND EVERY WEEK, I WOULD RELEASE 1021 00:54:44,250 --> 00:54:51,091 AN EPISODE OF WHAT I WAS DOING ON THE PODCAST 1022 00:54:51,091 --> 00:54:55,161 >> TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE BEGINNING A NEW CHAPTER 1023 00:54:55,161 --> 00:54:59,399 >> Reporter: IN SEPTEMBER 2019, WOODY SAID COURTNEY'S NAME ON 1024 00:54:59,399 --> 00:55:02,602 HIS PODCAST FOR THE FIRST TIME >> WHO MURDERED COURTNEY COCO? 1025 00:55:02,602 --> 00:55:05,238 >> Reporter: WHO INDEED? THE ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT 1026 00:55:05,238 --> 00:55:08,408 DIDN'T KNOW, AND WOODY WAS HIGHLY CRITICAL OF THE 1027 00:55:08,408 --> 00:55:11,578 DEPARTMENT >> NOW, I'M PLAYING ARMCHAIR 1028 00:55:11,578 --> 00:55:14,514 QUARTERBACK, RIGHT BUT THERE WERE THE THINGS THAT 1029 00:55:14,514 --> 00:55:17,951 WEREN'T DONE THAT WERE THROWING OUT RED FLAGS FOR ME 1030 00:55:17,951 --> 00:55:20,587 >> Reporter: WOODY ALSO WANTED TO ELIMINATE ANY SUSPECTS HE 1031 00:55:20,587 --> 00:55:23,256 COULD, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF COURTNEY'S FAMILY. 1032 00:55:23,256 --> 00:55:26,926 COURTNEY'S SISTER LACE REMAINED UNDER SUSPICION IN THE POLICE 1033 00:55:26,926 --> 00:55:29,596 INVESTIGATION. AND WOODY, AN EXPERIENCED 1034 00:55:29,596 --> 00:55:32,766 POLYGRAPHER, WANTED TO SATISFY HIMSELF THAT SHE WASN'T 1035 00:55:32,766 --> 00:55:35,402 INVOLVED DID YOU TAKE OFFENSE TO IT THAT 1036 00:55:35,402 --> 00:55:37,570 HE WANTED TO GIVE YOU A POLYGRAPH? 1037 00:55:37,570 --> 00:55:40,173 >> NO, I -- I WILL COOPERATE WITH ANYTHING. 1038 00:55:40,173 --> 00:55:42,809 >> Reporter: BECAUSE HE'S A PODCASTER NOW. 1039 00:55:42,809 --> 00:55:45,478 AND HE'S GIVING YOU A POLYGRAPH. >> RIGHT, RIGHT. 1040 00:55:45,478 --> 00:55:49,315 I KNOW I DIDN'T KILL MY SISTER SO IF YOU WANT TO DO A POLYGRAPH 1041 00:55:49,315 --> 00:55:52,352 ON ME, DO ONE ON ME. >> Reporter: ONCE AGAIN, LACE 1042 00:55:52,352 --> 00:55:54,988 TOOK A POLYGRAPH AND PASSED. NOW, JUST LIKE THE POLICE, WOODY 1043 00:55:54,988 --> 00:56:01,161 HAD NO OBVIOUS SUSPECTS. SO HE TURNED TO HIS FANS 1044 00:56:01,161 --> 00:56:04,531 >> THIS CASE IS 15 YEARS OLD NOW, AND I DO NOT THINK IT CAN 1045 00:56:04,531 --> 00:56:09,402 BE SOLVED WITHOUT THE HELP OF THE PUBLIC AND YOU LIFERS OUT 1046 00:56:09,402 --> 00:56:12,038 THERE. >> Reporter: "LIFERS" IS THE 1047 00:56:12,038 --> 00:56:15,141 ENDEARING TERM WOODY USES FOR HIS MOST LOYAL AND HARDCORE 1048 00:56:15,141 --> 00:56:17,277 LISTENERS. HE SET UP A FACEBOOK PAGE AND 1049 00:56:17,277 --> 00:56:19,913 TIP LINE FOR THEM TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS AND THEORIES. 1050 00:56:19,913 --> 00:56:22,048 >> I JUST WENT AND GOBBLED UP EVERY EPISODE I COULD. 1051 00:56:22,048 --> 00:56:24,684 IT KIND OF REIGNITED A FIRE FOR ME 1052 00:56:24,684 --> 00:56:27,320 >> Reporter: THE SERIES ATTRACTED NEW FANS, LIKE 1053 00:56:27,320 --> 00:56:29,956 KAREN FOWLER, A HIGH SCHOOL FRIEND OF COURTNEY'S 1054 00:56:29,956 --> 00:56:32,625 >> I GOT IN CONTACT WITH PEOPLE THAT I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH. 1055 00:56:32,625 --> 00:56:35,261 AND WE HAD GROUP MESSAGES GOING OF, WELL, "DID YOU KNOW ABOUT 1056 00:56:35,261 --> 00:56:37,597 THIS?" AND WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT 1057 00:56:37,597 --> 00:56:41,101 THAT?" JUST KIND OF GETTING INFORMATION 1058 00:56:41,101 --> 00:56:44,304 FOR THE FIRST TIME >> Reporter: AS THE TIPS STARTED 1059 00:56:44,304 --> 00:56:48,508 ROLLING IN, WOODY SET UP SHOP IN ALEXANDRIA AND TOOK DIGS AT THE 1060 00:56:48,508 --> 00:56:51,678 ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT TO STEP UP AND SOLVE THE CASE 1061 00:56:51,678 --> 00:56:53,813 >> IF WE DON'T GET SATISFACTION, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE 1062 00:56:53,813 --> 00:56:57,517 MEDIA AND WE'RE GOING TO BLOW IT UP 1063 00:56:57,517 --> 00:57:00,153 >> Reporter: WOODY'S IN-YOUR-FACE STYLE APPARENTLY 1064 00:57:00,153 --> 00:57:02,789 DIDN'T SIT WELL WITH SOME. WOODY SAYS HE RECEIVED NOT SO 1065 00:57:02,789 --> 00:57:06,526 SUBTLE MESSAGES TO DROP THE CASE 1066 00:57:06,526 --> 00:57:09,162 >> I HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS, INCLUDING THE WINDOW BEING SHOT 1067 00:57:09,162 --> 00:57:12,899 OUT OF MY TRUCK, WIRES RIPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE 1068 00:57:12,899 --> 00:57:16,036 ANOTHER TIME I HAD TO LEAVE ALEXANDRIA AND GET A CABIN IN 1069 00:57:16,036 --> 00:57:19,239 THE WOODS WHILE STILL WORKING THE CASE FOR MY OWN SAFETY 1070 00:57:19,239 --> 00:57:22,409 >> Reporter: IN SPITE OF THE DANGER HE FELT, WOODY STUCK WITH 1071 00:57:22,409 --> 00:57:25,578 IT AS HE DUG DEEPER, WADING THROUGH 1072 00:57:25,578 --> 00:57:28,748 PAPERWORK AND SPEAKING WITH WITNESSES, A NAME EMERGED AS 1073 00:57:28,748 --> 00:57:34,054 COURTNEY'S POSSIBLE KILLER A NAME HE WAS HEARING AGAIN AND 1074 00:57:34,054 --> 00:57:36,723 AGAIN. >> TALKING ABOUT SUSPECT NUMBER 1075 00:57:36,723 --> 00:57:38,792 ONE. >> Reporter: WOODY GAVE HIM THE 1076 00:57:38,792 --> 00:57:42,429 MONIKER "SUSPECT NUMBER ONE. AND HIS SUSPICIONS ONLY GREW 1077 00:57:42,429 --> 00:57:45,699 WHEN ONE OF HIS PODCAST LIFERS MADE A STARTLING REVELATION 1078 00:57:45,699 --> 00:57:53,139 ABOUT SUSPECT NUMBER ONE >> I GET A PHONE CALL SAYING, 1079 00:57:53,139 --> 00:57:56,810 "HEY, WE HAVE A LIFER SAYS HER EX-HUSBAND KNOWS THAT SUSPECT 1080 00:57:56,810 --> 00:57:59,479 NUMBER ONE DID IT. >> Reporter: SO SHE'S SAYING HER 1081 00:57:59,479 --> 00:58:02,649 EX-HUSBAND, HIS FRIEND >> HIS BEST FRIEND 1082 00:58:02,649 --> 00:58:06,886 >> Reporter: HAS CONFESSED TO HIM THAT HE DID THIS, THAT HE 1083 00:58:06,886 --> 00:58:10,090 KILLED COURTNEY. >> AND IT EVEN GOES DEEPER 1084 00:58:10,090 --> 00:58:12,726 HER NOW EX-HUSBAND WAS GONE THAT WEEKEND ALSO AND RETURNED HOME 1085 00:58:12,726 --> 00:58:18,031 IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT SMELLING OF DEATH. 1086 00:58:18,031 --> 00:58:21,067 >> Reporter: THAT TIP FROM A WOMAN NAMED TIFFANY SOUNDED MORE 1087 00:58:21,067 --> 00:58:23,770 THAN PROMISING TO WOODY. BUT HE NEEDED PROOF. 1088 00:58:23,770 --> 00:58:26,439 A RECORDED CONVERSATION PERHAPS. >> AND I'M LIKE, "CAN WE WIRE 1089 00:58:26,439 --> 00:58:30,143 HER UP CAN WE GET HER ON A CELL PHONE?" 1090 00:58:30,143 --> 00:58:33,346 >> Reporter: HOW DID YOU GET HER TO AGREE 1091 00:58:33,346 --> 00:58:36,516 BECAUSE THAT'S -- THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS FOR HER. 1092 00:58:36,516 --> 00:58:40,286 >> SHE WANTED TO HELP AND -- AND SHE DID IT 1093 00:58:40,286 --> 00:58:43,423 >> OH, MY GOD, LISTEN TO THIS. >> Reporter: TIFFIONY AGREED TO 1094 00:58:43,423 --> 00:58:46,059 SECRETLY RECORD HER EX, NAMED SHAMUS, TALKING ABOUT COURTNEY'S 1095 00:58:46,059 --> 00:58:48,695 MURDER >> SHAMUS, HAVE YOU BEEN 1096 00:58:48,695 --> 00:58:51,865 FOLLOWING THE BROADCASTS YOU HAVEN'T LISTENED TO THE 1097 00:58:51,865 --> 00:58:55,068 BROADCASTS AT ALL? >> NO. 1098 00:58:55,068 --> 00:58:58,738 IT'S UNDER WHAT? >> IT'S UNDER "BROADCAST, 1099 00:58:58,738 --> 00:59:01,408 COURTNEY COCO. >> Reporter: AS THEY WERE 1100 00:59:01,408 --> 00:59:05,078 DRIVING, SHAMUS, UNAWARE HE WAS BEING RECORDED, CONFIRMED HIS 1101 00:59:05,078 --> 00:59:07,714 BEST FRIEND HAD KILLED COURTNEY. >> I DON'T KNOW, BUT HE KILLED 1102 00:59:07,714 --> 00:59:10,350 COURTNEY I CAN TELL YOU THAT. 1103 00:59:10,350 --> 00:59:13,019 HE DID IT. I'M TELLING YOU. 1104 00:59:13,019 --> 00:59:15,689 >> THAT'S SICK >> HE SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT 1105 00:59:15,689 --> 00:59:18,858 >> HE SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT THAT POOR LITTLE GIRL. 1106 00:59:18,858 --> 00:59:21,528 >> Reporter: WHEN TIFFIONY CALLED WOODY AND TOLD HIM WHAT 1107 00:59:21,528 --> 00:59:24,164 SHE HAD ON TAPE, WOODY COULDN'T CONTAIN HIMSELF. 1108 00:59:24,164 --> 00:59:27,334 >> I WAS OUT OF TOWN DOING SOMETHING, UH, ON THE CASE, AND 1109 00:59:27,334 --> 00:59:30,036 I DROVE BACK THROUGH THE NIGHT TO GET THE RECORDING FROM HER 1110 00:59:30,036 --> 00:59:32,138 PERSONALLY >> Reporter: BACK HOME, WITH THE 1111 00:59:32,138 --> 00:59:35,175 RECORDING IN HAND, WOODY PREPARED A NEW PODCAST WITH A 1112 00:59:35,175 --> 00:59:37,410 MESSAGE TO THE MAN HE BELIEVED WAS COURTNEY'S KILLER. 1113 00:59:37,410 --> 00:59:39,512 >> PARDON MY FRENCH, BUT YOU'RE -- AND WE'RE COMING FOR 1114 00:59:39,512 --> 00:59:41,848 YOU, AND YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW IT REAL SOON. 1115 00:59:41,848 --> 00:59:44,818 >> Reporter: MEANWHILE, HE'D CALLED A MEETING WITH COURTNEY'S 1116 00:59:44,818 --> 00:59:47,520 FAMILY TO FINALLY TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, WHO KILLED COURTNEY 1117 00:59:47,520 --> 00:59:49,589 COCO YOU MUST HAVE JUST FELT SUCH 1118 00:59:49,589 --> 01:00:07,207 BETRAYAL >> Reporter: FIFTEEN YEARS AFTER 1119 01:00:07,207 --> 01:00:12,078 COURTNEY COCO'S MURDER, PODCASTER WOODY OVERTON BELIEVED 1120 01:00:12,078 --> 01:00:15,949 HE KNEW WHO DID IT HE GATHERED COURTNEY'S FAMILY 1121 01:00:15,949 --> 01:00:19,019 TOGETHER TO REVEAL THE NAME. AND NOW YOU'RE ABOUT TO TELL 1122 01:00:19,019 --> 01:00:21,621 THEM THE ANSWERS THAT THEY'VE BEEN DESPERATELY WANTING ALL 1123 01:00:21,621 --> 01:00:24,557 THESE YEARS. >> RIGHT 1124 01:00:24,557 --> 01:00:26,960 AND I PRAYED HARD BEFORE I DID IT 1125 01:00:26,960 --> 01:00:29,362 >> Reporter: YOUR HEART MUST HAVE JUST BEEN POUNDING. 1126 01:00:29,362 --> 01:00:31,664 >> IT CERTAINLY WAS HARD >> Reporter: AND IT WAS HARD FOR 1127 01:00:31,664 --> 01:00:34,434 COURTNEY'S FAMILY TO COMPREHEND WHAT OVERTON TOLD THEM 1128 01:00:34,434 --> 01:00:36,102 WHO WAS IT WHO DID HE BELIEVE HAD DONE 1129 01:00:36,102 --> 01:00:39,439 THIS >> I WAS FLOORED 1130 01:00:39,439 --> 01:00:41,708 I WAS FLOORED. IT WAS ANTHONY BURNS 1131 01:00:41,708 --> 01:00:44,678 >> Reporter: ANTHONY BURNS LACE'S FIANCE. 1132 01:00:44,678 --> 01:00:47,380 THEY'D SINCE BROKEN THINGS OFF, BUT HE WAS ONCE SO BELOVED BY 1133 01:00:47,380 --> 01:00:50,483 COURTNEY'S FAMILY. ARE YOU ASKING YOURSELF HOW'S 1134 01:00:50,483 --> 01:00:52,819 THIS POSSIBLE? ANTHONY WAS A PALLBEARER AT 1135 01:00:52,819 --> 01:00:55,221 COURTNEY'S FUNERAL HE HELPED YOU ERECT THE CROSS. 1136 01:00:55,221 --> 01:00:58,258 >> YES >> Reporter: LACE'S FIANCE 1137 01:00:58,258 --> 01:01:01,661 >> YES >> Reporter: YOUR FIANCE -- 1138 01:01:01,661 --> 01:01:05,865 FORMER FIANCE. YOU'RE SLEEPING WITH A KILLER 1139 01:01:05,865 --> 01:01:09,069 POTENTIALLY, IF WOODY'S INVESTIGATION IS RIGHT 1140 01:01:09,069 --> 01:01:13,506 >> YES, YES. I STARTED THINKING OF ALL THEM 1141 01:01:13,506 --> 01:01:16,776 TIMES HE CAME IN AND LAID IN THE SAME BED WITH ME KNOWING THAT HE 1142 01:01:16,776 --> 01:01:20,480 WAS A KILLER AND HE COULD HAVE EASILY KILLED 1143 01:01:20,480 --> 01:01:23,950 ME >> Reporter: YOU MUST HAVE JUST 1144 01:01:23,950 --> 01:01:27,420 FELT SUCH BETRAYAL BY ANTHONY. HE'D BEEN SUCH A BIG PART OF 1145 01:01:27,420 --> 01:01:30,724 YOUR LIVES >> YES MA'AM 1146 01:01:30,724 --> 01:01:34,094 I DIDN'T WANT TO BELIEVE IT. >> STEPHANIE CRIED AND RAN OUT 1147 01:01:34,094 --> 01:01:36,496 OF THE ROOM. ALL OF THEM ARE CRYING 1148 01:01:36,496 --> 01:01:39,799 THEY'RE BLOWN AWAY >> Reporter: WOODY'S PODCAST 1149 01:01:39,799 --> 01:01:43,470 WASN'T ENOUGH TO ARREST ANTHONY BUT IT WAS ENOUGH TO GET THE 1150 01:01:43,470 --> 01:01:46,639 ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REVIVE ITS INVESTIGATION 1151 01:01:46,639 --> 01:01:49,109 >> THE PODCAST GAINED SIGNIFICANT MOMENTUM 1152 01:01:49,109 --> 01:01:52,712 IT BROUGHT THE CASE BACK TO LIFE 1153 01:01:52,712 --> 01:01:56,850 >> Reporter: TANNER DRYDEN WAS THE DETECTIVE WHO TOOK IT OVER 1154 01:01:56,850 --> 01:01:59,786 AND TOLD COURTNEY'S FAMILY >> Reporter: HOW DID THE FAMILY 1155 01:01:59,786 --> 01:02:01,755 REACT? >> OH, THEY WERE SO HAPPY. 1156 01:02:01,755 --> 01:02:04,090 THEY WERE ECSTATIC PRETTY MUCH ALL THEY EVER ASKED 1157 01:02:04,090 --> 01:02:07,260 FOR WAS TO NOT BE PUT ON THE BACKBURNER OR FORGOT ABOUT 1158 01:02:07,260 --> 01:02:10,530 >> Reporter: WOODY WAS HAPPY, TOO AND HANDED HIS EVIDENCE TO 1159 01:02:10,530 --> 01:02:12,932 DRYDEN >> AND MAN, I CAUGHT FLAK FOR 1160 01:02:12,932 --> 01:02:15,869 IT MY FANS ARE MAD THAT I TURNED IT 1161 01:02:15,869 --> 01:02:18,571 BACK OVER TO ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE I BLASTED 1162 01:02:18,571 --> 01:02:20,674 THEM SO HARD IN THE BEGINNING. >> Reporter: BUT DRYDEN COULDN'T 1163 01:02:20,674 --> 01:02:23,309 RELY ON WOODY'S PODCAST INVESTIGATION. 1164 01:02:23,309 --> 01:02:26,279 HE HAD TO DO HIS OWN AND THAT MEANT STARTING BACK AT 1165 01:02:26,279 --> 01:02:30,750 SQUARE ONE >> I STARTED GOING THROUGH THE 1166 01:02:30,750 --> 01:02:34,087 CASE FILES REINVESTIGATING EVERY LEAD FOR EVERY AGENCY, STARTING 1167 01:02:34,087 --> 01:02:35,922 OVER >> Reporter: HE QUESTIONED 1168 01:02:35,922 --> 01:02:38,725 ANTHONY BURNS'S FRIEND SHAMUS WHO'D BEEN CAPTURED ON THAT 1169 01:02:38,725 --> 01:02:41,494 SECRET RECORDING >> Reporter: DID HE CONFIRM WHAT 1170 01:02:41,494 --> 01:02:44,397 HE HAD SAID ON THAT RECORDING, THAT ANTHONY KILLED COURTNEY 1171 01:02:44,397 --> 01:02:46,933 >> YES >> Reporter: AS HE DUG DEEPER, 1172 01:02:46,933 --> 01:02:49,869 DRYDEN DISCOVERED TWO MORE FORMER FRIENDS OF ANTHONY BURNS 1173 01:02:49,869 --> 01:02:52,572 HAD COME FORWARD YEARS BEFORE SAYING BURNS HAD CONFESSED TO 1174 01:02:52,572 --> 01:02:56,109 THE MURDER THEIR STORIES WERE COMPELLING 1175 01:02:56,109 --> 01:02:59,112 BUT ONE FRIEND HAD A CRIMINAL RECORD AND THE OTHER SAID BURNS 1176 01:02:59,112 --> 01:03:02,182 WAS DRUNK WHEN HE CONFESSED. DRYDEN NEEDED MORE TO BRING 1177 01:03:02,182 --> 01:03:06,386 CHARGES. AND THEN HE GOT A BIG BREAK. 1178 01:03:06,386 --> 01:03:12,926 AS YOU'RE GOING THROUGH ALL THESE DOCUMENTS YOU FIND A TIP 1179 01:03:12,926 --> 01:03:15,929 THAT'S ALMOST BURIED IN ALL THIS STUFF THAT'S GOING TO TAKE YOU 1180 01:03:15,929 --> 01:03:19,833 ON QUITE AN INTERESTING RIDE >> YES 1181 01:03:19,833 --> 01:03:22,569 >> Reporter: THE TIP WAS FROM A TEXAS MAN NAMED JUDE WILSON, 1182 01:03:22,569 --> 01:03:28,208 WHO'D COME FORWARD A FEW DAYS AFTER COURTNEY'S BODY WAS FOUND. 1183 01:03:28,208 --> 01:03:31,244 HE SAID HE'D SEEN HER CAR, THE GREEN PONTIAC, AROUND THE 1184 01:03:31,244 --> 01:03:34,347 SUPPOSED TIME OF HER MURDER. >> HE CALLS IN AND SAYS, "HEY, I 1185 01:03:34,347 --> 01:03:37,884 SAW THAT CAR I KNOW IT'S THAT CAR BECAUSE IT 1186 01:03:37,884 --> 01:03:40,420 ALMOST BACKED INTO ME. WE ALMOST HAD A WRECK. 1187 01:03:40,420 --> 01:03:43,089 >> Reporter: WHERE'S THE LOCATION 1188 01:03:43,089 --> 01:03:45,258 >> THE DUMP SITE IN WINNIE, TEXAS. 1189 01:03:45,258 --> 01:03:48,461 WHERE SHE WAS FOUND. >> Reporter: WHERE COURTNEY'S 1190 01:03:48,461 --> 01:03:51,197 BODY WAS FOUND JUDE WILSON'S STATEMENT MIGHT 1191 01:03:51,197 --> 01:03:54,401 HAVE BEEN A GAME CHANGER TO THE INVESTIGATION BACK THEN. 1192 01:03:54,401 --> 01:03:57,237 BUT THE OFFICER WHO TOOK THE INCIDENT REPORT TYPED IN THE 1193 01:03:57,237 --> 01:03:59,873 WRONG DATE AND SO IT WAS PUSHED ASIDE. 1194 01:03:59,873 --> 01:04:02,609 >> I ACTUALLY HAD TO SWERVE BECAUSE I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING 1195 01:04:02,609 --> 01:04:06,246 TO BACK INTO ME. >> Reporter: IT WAS ONLY WHEN 1196 01:04:06,246 --> 01:04:08,882 DRYDEN FOUND WILSON AND RECORDED AN INTERVIEW WITH HIM THAT HE 1197 01:04:08,882 --> 01:04:11,584 WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM THE NEAR-MISS INCIDENT DID HAPPEN 1198 01:04:11,584 --> 01:04:13,887 DURING THE WINDOW OF COURTNEY'S MURDER 1199 01:04:13,887 --> 01:04:16,289 >> SUNDAY EVENING. BEFORE MIDNIGHT, AROUND THAT 1200 01:04:16,289 --> 01:04:18,758 TIMEFRAME. >> Reporter: DID HE GET A LOOK 1201 01:04:18,758 --> 01:04:20,894 AT THE DRIVER OF THE CAR >> YES 1202 01:04:20,894 --> 01:04:24,097 >> HE WAS DEFINITELY NOT A HEAVY SET PERSON 1203 01:04:24,097 --> 01:04:30,303 PROBABLY A YOUNGER PERSON. >> HE DESCRIBED THE DRIVER AS 1204 01:04:30,303 --> 01:04:34,407 BEING SLIM WITH SMALL FEATURES >> Reporter: LIKE ANTHONY BURNS. 1205 01:04:34,407 --> 01:04:36,976 BUT THE INCIDENT HAPPENED IN A FLASH, IT WAS DARK AND WILSON 1206 01:04:36,976 --> 01:04:40,213 GOT ONLY A SIDE-VIEW OF THE DRIVER SO MAYBE IT WASN'T HIM 1207 01:04:40,213 --> 01:04:45,719 AFTER ALL. DRYDEN WANTED TO FIND THE TRUTH. 1208 01:04:45,719 --> 01:04:49,255 SO IN OCTOBER 2019 HE DECIDED TO CONFRONT BURNS HIMSELF AND 1209 01:04:49,255 --> 01:04:52,459 BROUGHT HIM IN FOR QUESTIONING >> ALL RIGHT 1210 01:04:52,459 --> 01:04:55,261 HOW LONG DID YOU KNOW COURTNEY >> I MET COURTNEY AFTER I 1211 01:04:55,261 --> 01:04:59,733 STARTED DATING LACE. >> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE GOT 1212 01:04:59,733 --> 01:05:02,035 TO THE POINT, WHERE WAS HE THE WEEKEND COURTNEY WAS MURDERED 1213 01:05:02,035 --> 01:05:04,804 STARTING WITH THAT FRIDAY. >> DID YOU WORK THAT FRIDAY? 1214 01:05:04,804 --> 01:05:07,340 DID YOU HAVE TO WORK A LOT OF FRIDAYS? 1215 01:05:07,340 --> 01:05:09,642 YOU DID? >> I'M PRETTY SURE I DID 1216 01:05:09,642 --> 01:05:11,945 >> WOULD YOU'VE BEEN WITH LACE FRIDAY NIGHT 1217 01:05:11,945 --> 01:05:14,881 >> I WAS WITH HER, TRUST ME. >> Reporter: ON SATURDAY AND 1218 01:05:14,881 --> 01:05:19,886 SUNDAY HE SAID HE WAS IN BED WITH LACE. 1219 01:05:19,886 --> 01:05:22,789 >> ME AND HER STAYED IN BED ALL WEEKEND AND WHEN -- WHEN WE 1220 01:05:22,789 --> 01:05:25,592 WASN'T SCREWIN' WE WAS LAYIN' THERE AND RELAXING, WATCHING TV. 1221 01:05:25,592 --> 01:05:28,862 >> Reporter: ON MONDAY MORNING HE SAID HE WENT TO WORK AND THEN 1222 01:05:28,862 --> 01:05:31,664 SURPRISED LACE WITH A ROMANTIC GIFT OF FLOWERS. 1223 01:05:31,664 --> 01:05:34,868 >> I WANT TO SAY IT WAS CHOCOLATE ROSES. 1224 01:05:34,868 --> 01:05:36,836 I'M NOT FOR SURE, MIGHT HAVE BEEN RED ROSES 1225 01:05:36,836 --> 01:05:40,206 >> Reporter: THAT WAS HIS STORY. >> IF I WENT AND TALKED TO LACE, 1226 01:05:40,206 --> 01:05:42,776 YOU THINK SHE COULD HELP VERIFY SOME OF THIS 1227 01:05:42,776 --> 01:05:46,346 >> OH, YEAH. >> Reporter: SO DETECTIVE DRYDEN 1228 01:05:46,346 --> 01:05:50,283 QUESTIONED LACE. AND HER VERSION OF EVENTS 1229 01:05:50,283 --> 01:05:53,820 DIFFERED SHARPLY FROM BURNS'S. >> WE HAD BEEN IN AN ARGUMENT. 1230 01:05:53,820 --> 01:05:56,956 WE GOT INTO A BIG FIGHT. PROBABLY STARTED FRIDAY AND THEN 1231 01:05:56,956 --> 01:05:59,392 IT GOT WORSE AT ABOUT MIDNIGHT >> HE LEFT MIDNIGHT FRIDAY 1232 01:05:59,392 --> 01:06:02,729 >> HE LEFT -- YES. >> DID HE SAY WHERE HE LEFT? 1233 01:06:02,729 --> 01:06:05,665 >> NO, HE DIDN'T TELL ME WHERE HE WENT OR ANYTHING. 1234 01:06:05,665 --> 01:06:08,635 >> Reporter: SHE SAID THE NEXT TIME SHE SAW ANTHONY WAS AFTER 1235 01:06:08,635 --> 01:06:10,470 COURTNEY'S BODY WAS FOUND. LACE IS SAYING THEY WERE NOT 1236 01:06:10,470 --> 01:06:12,806 MAKING LOVE ALL WEEKEND. >> THAT'S CORRECT. 1237 01:06:12,806 --> 01:06:16,476 >> Reporter: AND THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE 1238 01:06:16,476 --> 01:06:19,646 SOMETHING HUGE NOT LONG BEFORE COURTNEY'S 1239 01:06:19,646 --> 01:06:22,148 MURDER, LACE HAD CALLED ANTHONY AND HEARD COURTNEY'S VOICE IN 1240 01:06:22,148 --> 01:06:24,784 THE BACKGROUND >> AND I HEARD MY SISTER IN THE 1241 01:06:24,784 --> 01:06:27,454 BACKGROUND SAYING "WHO IS THAT?" >> Reporter: SHE BELIEVED 1242 01:06:27,454 --> 01:06:31,057 ANTHONY AND COURTNEY WERE SEEING EACH OTHER BEHIND HER BACK 1243 01:06:31,057 --> 01:06:36,162 WHAT'S MORE, SHE SAID, ANTHONY PURCHASED A SET OF TWO GOLD 1244 01:06:36,162 --> 01:06:38,798 PROMISE RINGS AND GAVE COURTNEY THE ONE WITH A SPECIAL MEANING 1245 01:06:38,798 --> 01:06:41,134 >> AND SHE HAD A GOLD RING WITH A HEART ON IT. 1246 01:06:41,134 --> 01:06:44,838 SHE HAD LIKE THE PRETTY PART OF THE RING 1247 01:06:44,838 --> 01:06:47,907 I HAD THE BAND IT'S LIKE HE BOUGHT THAT SET AND 1248 01:06:47,907 --> 01:06:51,111 GAVE HER A RING AND GAVE ME A RING 1249 01:06:51,111 --> 01:06:53,847 >> Reporter: LACE SAID ANTHONY AND COURTNEY DENIED SEEING EACH 1250 01:06:53,847 --> 01:06:56,616 OTHER. SHE NEVER TOLD ANYONE SHE 1251 01:06:56,616 --> 01:06:58,852 SUSPECTED AN AFFAIR AND DIDN'T MAKE A CONNECTION BETWEEN BURNS 1252 01:06:58,852 --> 01:07:01,421 AND COURTNEY'S MURDER. DRYDEN STILL DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH 1253 01:07:01,421 --> 01:07:04,591 TO ARREST BURNS. HOWEVER HE DID PERSUADE HIM TO 1254 01:07:04,591 --> 01:07:07,060 TAKE A VOICE-STRESS TEST CONDUCTED BY ANOTHER DETECTIVE 1255 01:07:07,060 --> 01:07:11,464 THAT WOULD MAYBE SHOW IF BURNS WAS LYING. 1256 01:07:11,464 --> 01:07:14,601 >> IS TODAY MONDAY >> YES 1257 01:07:14,601 --> 01:07:18,304 >> ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THE DEATH OF COURTNEY COCO 1258 01:07:18,304 --> 01:07:21,441 >> NO. >> IS THIS THE MONTH OF 1259 01:07:21,441 --> 01:07:24,878 NOVEMBER >> YES 1260 01:07:24,878 --> 01:07:26,579 >> ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THE DISPOSAL OF COURTNEY COCO'S 1261 01:07:26,579 --> 01:07:29,482 BODY >> NO. 1262 01:07:29,482 --> 01:07:31,851 >> Reporter: BURNS FAILED THE TEST 1263 01:07:31,851 --> 01:07:34,521 >> I'M GONNA TAKE YOU OVER TO THE NEXT ROOM AND DETECTIVE 1264 01:07:34,521 --> 01:07:36,956 DRYDEN WILL SPEAK WITH YOU SOON. >> Reporter: ARE YOU CONVINCED 1265 01:07:36,956 --> 01:07:39,426 NOW THAT YOU'RE SITTING ACROSS FROM COURTNEY COCO'S KILLER? 1266 01:07:39,426 --> 01:07:41,895 >> YES I AM 1267 01:07:41,895 --> 01:07:44,631 WHEN I BROUGHT HIM BACK IN THERE TO ASK HIM ABOUT THE QUESTIONS 1268 01:07:44,631 --> 01:07:47,600 THAT HE FAILED, HE JUST IMMEDIATELY GOT MAD AND LAWYERED 1269 01:07:47,600 --> 01:07:50,403 UP >> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE 1270 01:07:50,403 --> 01:07:53,373 BELIEVED HE HAD THE RIGHT MAN BUT THE EVIDENCE WAS 1271 01:07:53,373 --> 01:07:55,909 CIRCUMSTANTIAL IT TOOK THE PROSECUTOR ANOTHER 1272 01:07:55,909 --> 01:07:59,312 YEAR TO PUT TOGETHER A CASE AND PRESENT IT TO THE GRAND JURY 1273 01:07:59,312 --> 01:08:01,881 WHAT'S THEIR DECISION? >> THEIR DECISION WAS UNANIMOUS, 1274 01:08:01,881 --> 01:08:05,018 TO INDICT HIM FOR -- FOR THE MURDER OF COURTNEY 1275 01:08:05,018 --> 01:08:07,554 >> Reporter: YOU'RE GOING TO GO MAKE YOUR ARREST 1276 01:08:07,554 --> 01:08:11,224 >> IT'S GO TIME. >> Reporter: AS DRYDEN SET OFF 1277 01:08:11,224 --> 01:08:13,793 TO ARREST ANTHONY BURNS, HE WAS COUNTING ON EYEWITNESSES TO HELP 1278 01:08:13,793 --> 01:08:16,296 PUT HIM AWAY ONE IN PARTICULAR HAD A DOOZY OF 1279 01:08:16,296 --> 01:08:19,532 A STORY TO TELL. >> IT'S ONE OF THE MOST BIZARRE 1280 01:08:19,532 --> 01:08:21,134 AND STARTLING EYEWITNESS' STORIES THAT I'VE EVER RUN 1281 01:08:21,134 --> 01:08:38,685 ACRO >> Reporter: IN APRIL 2021, 1282 01:08:38,685 --> 01:08:41,588 DETECTIVE TANNER DRYDEN AND HIS PARTNER APPROACHED 1283 01:08:41,588 --> 01:08:45,158 ANTHONY BURNS' WORKPLACE WITH THEIR GUNS DRAWN 1284 01:08:45,158 --> 01:08:47,961 >> SO WE SNEAK INSIDE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HIM AT GUNPOINT. 1285 01:08:47,961 --> 01:08:50,163 I SAID, "ANTHONY, YOU ARE UNDER ARREST FOR THE MURDER OF 1286 01:08:50,163 --> 01:08:52,399 COURTNEY COCO. >> Reporter: DID HE SAY 1287 01:08:52,399 --> 01:08:54,567 ANYTHING >> HE JUST KIND OF GRINNED 1288 01:08:54,567 --> 01:08:56,603 >> Reporter: GRINNED >> OH, YEAH. 1289 01:08:56,603 --> 01:08:59,172 HE WAS SO ARROGANT >> Reporter: DRYDEN IMMEDIATELY 1290 01:08:59,172 --> 01:09:03,810 CALLED STEPHANIE, WHO WAS IN HER CAR. 1291 01:09:03,810 --> 01:09:07,547 >> SHE JUST STARTED CRYING, SHE WAS SO HAPPY 1292 01:09:07,547 --> 01:09:10,150 >> I WAS AT A RED LIGHT. I THINK I RAN THROUGH THE RED 1293 01:09:10,150 --> 01:09:13,753 LIGHT. I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER, BUT I 1294 01:09:13,753 --> 01:09:16,690 WANTED TO JUMP FOR JOY >> Reporter: MORE THAN 16 YEARS 1295 01:09:16,690 --> 01:09:19,392 AFTER COURTNEY'S MURDER, ANTHONY BURNS WAS IN JAIL, AND 1296 01:09:19,392 --> 01:09:24,030 COURTNEY'S FAMILY HAD SOME HOPE FOR JUSTICE. 1297 01:09:24,030 --> 01:09:27,934 LACE HOPED HE'D NEVER BE FREE AGAIN. 1298 01:09:27,934 --> 01:09:32,839 >> I SUFFERED WITH NIGHTMARES BECAUSE I WOULD THINK THAT HE 1299 01:09:32,839 --> 01:09:35,308 WAS GOING TO HURT MY MOMMA OR MY GRANDMA BECAUSE HE KNEW WHERE 1300 01:09:35,308 --> 01:09:37,344 THEY LIVED >> Reporter: OR YOU. 1301 01:09:37,344 --> 01:09:39,679 >> OR ME >> Reporter: TO KEEP BURNS 1302 01:09:39,679 --> 01:09:42,816 BEHIND BARS FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE, THE D.A. 1303 01:09:42,816 --> 01:09:45,385 BROUGHT IN A BIG GUN-FOR-HIRE -- HUGO HOLLAND -- ONE OF THE MOST 1304 01:09:45,385 --> 01:09:50,123 FORMIDABLE PROSECUTORS IN LOUISIANA. 1305 01:09:50,123 --> 01:09:52,792 WOULD YOU SAY YOU'RE THE GUY THEY CALL WHEN THEY CAN'T WIN, 1306 01:09:52,792 --> 01:09:55,595 OR WHEN IT'S A TOUGH WIN >> WHEN THE D.A.s NEED SOMEBODY 1307 01:09:55,595 --> 01:09:59,599 THAT'S HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE, THEY USUALLY CALL ME 1308 01:09:59,599 --> 01:10:03,236 >> Reporter: HOLLAND WORKS ACROSS THE STATE, BOUNCING FROM 1309 01:10:03,236 --> 01:10:07,140 PARISH TO PARISH >> Reporter: YOU TRAVEL AROUND 1310 01:10:07,140 --> 01:10:10,610 IN THIS AIRPLANE TO ALL THESE CASES AROUND THE STATE 1311 01:10:10,610 --> 01:10:13,446 >> EITHER THIS ONE OR ANOTHER I HAVE AN INTEREST IN. 1312 01:10:13,446 --> 01:10:16,149 BUT YEAH >> Reporter: AND YOU BUILT THIS 1313 01:10:16,149 --> 01:10:18,651 YOURSELF >> YES, ME AND A FEW OTHER GUYS. 1314 01:10:18,651 --> 01:10:20,787 THIS IS A HOME BUILT AIRCRAFT. >> Reporter: SO YOUR CAREER IS 1315 01:10:20,787 --> 01:10:23,623 PRETTY UNCONVENTIONAL. YOU'RE LIKE -- YOU'RE A ROVING 1316 01:10:23,623 --> 01:10:26,493 PROSECUTOR >> IT'S EXTREMELY 1317 01:10:26,493 --> 01:10:28,795 UNCONVENTIONAL >> Reporter: HE IS CONTROVERSIAL 1318 01:10:28,795 --> 01:10:31,297 TOO. IN 2014, HOLLAND WAS FORCED TO 1319 01:10:31,297 --> 01:10:35,168 RESIGN FROM HIS ASSISTANT D.A. POSITION AFTER TRYING TO MAKE A 1320 01:10:35,168 --> 01:10:37,570 DUBIOUS WEAPONS PURCHASE, BUT WAS IMMEDIATELY HIRED BY OTHER 1321 01:10:37,570 --> 01:10:40,807 PARISHES BECAUSE OF HIS SUCCESS IN COURT 1322 01:10:40,807 --> 01:10:44,010 HOWEVER, EVEN WITH HOLLAND'S IMPRESSIVE RECORD, THE 1323 01:10:44,010 --> 01:10:46,479 CIRCUMSTANTIAL CASE AGAINST ANTHONY BURNS WOULD BE AN UPHILL 1324 01:10:46,479 --> 01:10:48,581 BATTLE YOU HAD NO EYEWITNESS TO THE 1325 01:10:48,581 --> 01:10:50,917 CRIME. >> CORRECT 1326 01:10:50,917 --> 01:10:54,454 >> Reporter: YOU HAD NO DNA FROM YOUR SUSPECT, NO PHYSICAL 1327 01:10:54,454 --> 01:10:56,122 EVIDENCE >> CORRECT 1328 01:10:56,122 --> 01:10:57,691 >> Reporter: YOU HAD CONFLICTING TOXICOLOGY REPORTS 1329 01:10:57,691 --> 01:11:00,260 WAS IT OVERDOSE? WAS IT MURDER? 1330 01:11:00,260 --> 01:11:02,429 >> CORRECT >> Reporter: AND YEARS HAD 1331 01:11:02,429 --> 01:11:04,364 PASSED >> YES 1332 01:11:04,364 --> 01:11:06,933 >> Reporter: SO HOLLAND CAUTIONED THE FAMILY - 1333 01:11:06,933 --> 01:11:08,601 >> I WAS CONCERNED ENOUGH ABOUT THIS CASE. 1334 01:11:08,601 --> 01:11:10,837 SO I'D ALREADY STARTED PREPARING THEM FOR A "NOT GUILTY" BEFORE 1335 01:11:10,837 --> 01:11:13,473 THE TRIAL EVEN STARTED >> Reporter: REALLY? 1336 01:11:13,473 --> 01:11:16,109 >> YES, MA'AM. >> Reporter: IN OCTOBER 2022, 1337 01:11:16,109 --> 01:11:18,845 18 YEARS AFTER COURTNEY COCO'S MURDER, ANTHONY BURNS WENT ON 1338 01:11:18,845 --> 01:11:21,247 TRIAL. LOCAL REPORTER BROOKE BUFORD WAS 1339 01:11:21,247 --> 01:11:23,783 THERE ON DAY ONE >> THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE 1340 01:11:23,783 --> 01:11:26,353 THERE. COURTNEY'S FAMILY HAD A LOT OF 1341 01:11:26,353 --> 01:11:28,822 SUPPORTERS >> Reporter: ANTHONY BURNS DID 1342 01:11:28,822 --> 01:11:32,392 TOO. >> A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO FELT THAT 1343 01:11:32,392 --> 01:11:35,195 HE WAS GETTING THE BLAME PLACED ON HIM FOR NOT A LOT OF EVIDENCE 1344 01:11:35,195 --> 01:11:39,099 POINTING TO HIM. >> Reporter: STEPHANIE WAS THERE 1345 01:11:39,099 --> 01:11:43,136 WITH WOODY OVERTON AND SOME OF HIS PODCAST "LIFERS" AS 1346 01:11:43,136 --> 01:11:46,339 PROSECUTOR HOLLAND ADDRESSED THE JURY 1347 01:11:46,339 --> 01:11:49,776 >> THERE WAS A MOTHER WHO'D LOST A CHILD, A SISTER WHO'D LOST A 1348 01:11:49,776 --> 01:11:52,779 SISTER SOMEBODY THAT'S NEVER GOING TO 1349 01:11:52,779 --> 01:11:55,115 HAVE CHILDREN BECAUSE OF WHAT ANTHONY BURNS DID. 1350 01:11:55,115 --> 01:11:59,452 >> Reporter: TO TELL THAT STORY, HE DIDN'T FOCUS ON THE MEANS AND 1351 01:11:59,452 --> 01:12:02,055 MOTIVE -- BUT ON THE WITNESSES HE PUT ON THE STAND THOSE TWO 1352 01:12:02,055 --> 01:12:04,624 FORMER FRIENDS OF ANTHONY BURNS WHO SAID HE CONFESSED TO KILLING 1353 01:12:04,624 --> 01:12:07,060 COURTNEY ONE TESTIFIED BURNS SAID HE'D 1354 01:12:07,060 --> 01:12:09,963 SMOTHERED HER AND WRAPPED HER IN A BLANKET. 1355 01:12:09,963 --> 01:12:12,432 THE OTHER SAID BURNS TOLD HIM HE CHOKED COURTNEY TO DEATH 1356 01:12:12,432 --> 01:12:16,169 >> I TRIED TO MAKE CLEAR THE ONLY WAY THAT THEY WOULD HAVE 1357 01:12:16,169 --> 01:12:20,106 GOTTEN THE INFORMATION WOULD BE FROM ANTHONY BURNS 1358 01:12:20,106 --> 01:12:22,809 >> Reporter: THEN THE PROSECUTOR ROLLED OUT HIS STAR WITNESS -- 1359 01:12:22,809 --> 01:12:26,713 JUDE WILSON. WILSON WAS THE LOCAL TEXAS MAN 1360 01:12:26,713 --> 01:12:29,249 WHO SAID HE'D NEARLY BEEN T-BONED AT NIGHT BY A CAR 1361 01:12:29,249 --> 01:12:32,085 BACKING OUT OF THE ABANDONED HOME WHERE COURTNEY'S BODY WAS 1362 01:12:32,085 --> 01:12:35,188 FOUND. BUT HE HAD A MUCH MORE ELABORATE 1363 01:12:35,188 --> 01:12:37,590 STORY TO TELL. >> IT'S ONE OF THE MOST BIZARRE 1364 01:12:37,590 --> 01:12:39,893 AND STARTLING EYEWITNESS' STORIES THAT I'VE EVER RUN 1365 01:12:39,893 --> 01:12:43,663 ACROSS >> Reporter: IT TURNED OUT 1366 01:12:43,663 --> 01:12:45,765 WILSON SAID HE HAD A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY. 1367 01:12:45,765 --> 01:12:48,802 IN FACT, HE'D PICKED OUT ANTHONY BURNS FROM A POLICE 1368 01:12:48,802 --> 01:12:51,638 PHOTO LINEUP BUT WILSON WAS ALSO AN 1369 01:12:51,638 --> 01:12:56,576 ILLUSTRATOR, AND WAS ABLE TO DRAW A SKETCH OF THE DRIVER HE 1370 01:12:56,576 --> 01:12:58,912 SAID HE GLIMPSED FROM THE SIDE >> I'VE NEVER EVER HAD A WITNESS 1371 01:12:58,912 --> 01:13:01,381 SAY, "OH, GIVE ME A PIECE OF PAPER, I'M GOING TO DRAW YOU 1372 01:13:01,381 --> 01:13:03,717 WHAT THIS GUY LOOKS LIKE." NEVER HAD THAT 1373 01:13:03,717 --> 01:13:06,119 THAT'S -- THAT'S UNHEARD OF. >> Reporter: I THOUGHT IT WAS 1374 01:13:06,119 --> 01:13:09,055 PRETTY CRAZY WITH A FLOURISH, HOLLAND 1375 01:13:09,055 --> 01:13:11,324 PRODUCED A MOMENT OF DRAMA ON THE COURTROOM MONITOR. 1376 01:13:11,324 --> 01:13:13,660 >> I TOOK THE -- THE SILHOUETTE THAT JUDE DREW AND I PUT IT ON, 1377 01:13:13,660 --> 01:13:16,329 LIKE, THE LEFT HALF OF THE SCREEN 1378 01:13:16,329 --> 01:13:19,332 >> Reporter: THEN HE SHOWED AN IMAGE OF ANTHONY BURNS DRIVING, 1379 01:13:19,332 --> 01:13:22,135 LIFTED FROM HOME VIDEO >> AND I PUT THEM SIDE BY SIDE 1380 01:13:22,135 --> 01:13:25,472 AND YOU COULD LAY HIM OVER THE TOP OF EACH OTHER. 1381 01:13:25,472 --> 01:13:28,108 >> Reporter: AND WILSON THE WITNESS HAD ANOTHER SURPRISE FOR 1382 01:13:28,108 --> 01:13:31,444 THE COURT. HE REMEMBERED PART OF THE 1383 01:13:31,444 --> 01:13:34,214 LICENSE PLATE OF THE CAR, BELIEVED TO BE COURTNEY'S, THAT 1384 01:13:34,214 --> 01:13:37,083 NEARLY T-BONED HIM >> "I REMEMBER THE LETTERS FROM 1385 01:13:37,083 --> 01:13:39,486 THE LICENSE PLATE," HE SAID, "AND THE REASON I REMEMBER THAT 1386 01:13:39,486 --> 01:13:41,788 IS BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE LETTERS IN THAT LICENSE PLATE ARE MY 1387 01:13:41,788 --> 01:13:44,391 INITIALS." >> AND HE SAID, "I REMEMBER AN 1388 01:13:44,391 --> 01:13:47,093 EIGHT AS WELL. WELL, AS SOON AS HE SAID THAT, I 1389 01:13:47,093 --> 01:13:49,729 POPPED COURTNEY'S PLATE UP AND GUESS WHAT 1390 01:13:49,729 --> 01:13:52,232 THERE'S AN EIGHT IN IT >> I THINK IT WAS A BIG WIN FOR 1391 01:13:52,232 --> 01:13:54,901 THE PROSECUTION, IN THAT HE WAS CONFIDENT IN WHAT HE SAW 1392 01:13:54,901 --> 01:13:57,404 WHETHER THE JURY WOULD BELIEVE THAT, ALL THESE YEARS LATER, 1393 01:13:57,404 --> 01:13:59,873 WOULD BE ANOTHER MATTER. >> Reporter: THE PROSECUTION 1394 01:13:59,873 --> 01:14:03,109 SEEMED TO BE ON A ROLL ANOTHER IMPORTANT WITNESS WAS 1395 01:14:03,109 --> 01:14:05,512 TIFFIONY, WHO'D SECRETLY RECORDED THAT CONVERSATION WITH 1396 01:14:05,512 --> 01:14:08,581 HER EX-HUSBAND SHAMUS FOR OVERTON'S PODCAST. 1397 01:14:08,581 --> 01:14:11,785 >> I DON'T KNOW, BUT HE KILLED COURTNEY 1398 01:14:11,785 --> 01:14:14,854 I CAN TELL YOU THAT. >> Reporter: TIFFIONY TESTIFIED 1399 01:14:14,854 --> 01:14:19,592 NOT ONLY HAD BURNS CONFESSED TO HER EX- HUSBAND, SHE ALSO SAID 1400 01:14:19,592 --> 01:14:22,796 SHAMUS WAS M.I.A. THE WEEKEND OF COURTNEY'S MURDER, THAT HIS 1401 01:14:22,796 --> 01:14:25,899 REGULAR TRUCK-DRIVING ROUTE WOULD TAKE HIM RIGHT PAST THE 1402 01:14:25,899 --> 01:14:28,134 SITE WHERE COURTNEY'S BODY WAS FOUND, AND THAT SHE FOUND A PAIR 1403 01:14:28,134 --> 01:14:30,804 OF WOMEN'S UNDERWEAR IN HIS TRUCK. 1404 01:14:30,804 --> 01:14:33,907 THAT TESTIMONY ABOUT SHAMUS FED INTO HOLLAND'S OVERALL THEORY OF 1405 01:14:33,907 --> 01:14:36,309 THE MURDER HE BELIEVES IT TOOK PLACE AFTER 1406 01:14:36,309 --> 01:14:39,112 ANTHONY BURNS AND COURTNEY STARTED AN AFFAIR. 1407 01:14:39,112 --> 01:14:41,981 TAKE US THROUGH WHAT YOU THINK HAPPENED 1408 01:14:41,981 --> 01:14:44,684 >> SO, HE GOES OVER TO COURTNEY'S TO HAVE SEX WITH 1409 01:14:44,684 --> 01:14:47,754 COURTNEY, BE WITH COURTNEY >> Reporter: HE BELIEVES 1410 01:14:47,754 --> 01:14:50,090 COURTNEY REJECTED BURNS. >> THERE'S A STRUGGLE. 1411 01:14:50,090 --> 01:14:53,993 HE MURDERS HER ON HER BED IN HER BEDROOM. 1412 01:14:53,993 --> 01:14:56,930 BURNS CALLS HIS BUDDY SHAMUS -- "I MURDERED COURTNEY, GET UP 1413 01:14:56,930 --> 01:14:59,499 HERE AND HELP ME." >> Reporter: THEN, HE THINKS, 1414 01:14:59,499 --> 01:15:02,502 SHAMUS HELPED MOVE COURTNEY'S BODY 1415 01:15:02,502 --> 01:15:04,904 >> SHAMUS KNOWS THE AREA SHAMUS KNOWS THAT THAT HOUSE IS 1416 01:15:04,904 --> 01:15:07,440 UNOCCUPIED "LET'S GO DUMP THE BODY THERE. 1417 01:15:07,440 --> 01:15:10,510 >> Reporter: TIFFIONY TESTIFIED THAT -- THAT WHEN SHAMUS CAME 1418 01:15:10,510 --> 01:15:13,046 HOME AFTER DISAPPEARING FOR THE WEEKEND, SHE SAID HE SMELLED 1419 01:15:13,046 --> 01:15:16,316 LIKE DEATH >> SHE SAID, "I WOULDN'T EVEN 1420 01:15:16,316 --> 01:15:17,951 LET HIM COME IN THE HOUSE, HE SMELLED SO BAD." 1421 01:15:17,951 --> 01:15:20,387 >> Reporter: BUT PROSECUTOR HOLLAND COULD NEVER PROVE SHAMUS 1422 01:15:20,387 --> 01:15:24,324 WAS AN ACCESSORY TO THE CRIME. SHAMUS DENIES ANY INVOLVEMENT 1423 01:15:24,324 --> 01:15:28,762 AND WAS NEVER CHARGED. WHEN HE TOOK THE STAND FOR THE 1424 01:15:28,762 --> 01:15:31,464 PROSECUTION, HE DID SO RELUCTANTLY, BUT DID TESTIFY 1425 01:15:31,464 --> 01:15:35,068 BURNS TOLD HIM HE KILLED COURTNEY 1426 01:15:35,068 --> 01:15:37,771 >> SHAMUS WAS FRIENDS WITH ANTHONY BURNS, HAD BEEN 1427 01:15:37,771 --> 01:15:40,774 LONG-TIME FRIENDS WITH ANTHONY BURNS. 1428 01:15:40,774 --> 01:15:43,510 HE CHANGED HIS STORY SOMETIMES UP ON THE STAND. 1429 01:15:43,510 --> 01:15:46,312 >> Reporter: SHAMUS WAS SORT OF A HOSTILE WITNESS FOR YOU. 1430 01:15:46,312 --> 01:15:49,082 >> OH, YES, VERY HOSTILE I HAD TO THREATEN HIM A COUPLE 1431 01:15:49,082 --> 01:15:51,918 OF TIMES WHILE HE WAS TESTIFYING 1432 01:15:51,918 --> 01:15:55,989 IT WAS CLEAR TO THE JURY THAT HE WAS HIDING INFORMATION 1433 01:15:55,989 --> 01:15:58,425 >> Reporter: AS THE PROSECUTOR'S CASE BEGAN TO WOBBLE, HE WOULD 1434 01:15:58,425 --> 01:16:00,493 ALSO HAVE TO CONTEND WITH AN EXPERT WITNESS FOR THE 1435 01:16:00,493 --> 01:16:03,029 DEFENSE -- A DOCTOR WITH A DIFFERENT TAKE ON COURTNEY'S 1436 01:16:03,029 --> 01:16:05,598 DEATH. MAYBE, AFTER ALL, THERE WAS 1437 01:16:05,598 --> 01:16:25,151 REASONABLE DOUBT THAT ANTHON 1438 01:16:25,151 --> 01:16:29,122 >> Reporter: ANTHONY BURNS WAS ON TRIAL FOR THE MURDER OF 1439 01:16:29,122 --> 01:16:31,524 COURTNEY COCO, FACING LIFE IN PRISON 1440 01:16:31,524 --> 01:16:34,694 NOW HIS DEFENSE ATTORNEY CHRIS LaCOUR ROSE TO ADDRESS THE 1441 01:16:34,694 --> 01:16:37,831 COURT. AND HE WASTED NO TIME POURING 1442 01:16:37,831 --> 01:16:40,867 COLD WATER ON THE PROSECUTION'S CIRCUMSTANTIAL CASE. 1443 01:16:40,867 --> 01:16:43,737 >> I THOUGHT THE CASE WAS RIDDLED WITH DOUBT 1444 01:16:43,737 --> 01:16:46,339 IT'S LIKE THEY TOOK PUZZLE PIECES FROM DIFFERENT PUZZLES 1445 01:16:46,339 --> 01:16:49,876 AND TRIED TO MASH 'EM TOGETHER >> Reporter: WHAT WAS YOUR 1446 01:16:49,876 --> 01:16:52,712 STRATEGY >> MY STRATEGY WAS JUST TO POINT 1447 01:16:52,712 --> 01:16:55,915 OUT ALL THE INCONSISTENCIES IN THE CASE 1448 01:16:55,915 --> 01:16:58,151 >> Reporter: FOR HIM, THE BIGGEST ONE WAS COURTNEY'S 1449 01:16:58,151 --> 01:17:00,120 OFFICIAL CAUSE OF DEATH. >> I MEAN, THEY STILL DON'T EVEN 1450 01:17:00,120 --> 01:17:03,289 KNOW HOW SHE DIED. THEY CAN CLAIM IT'S A HOMICIDE 1451 01:17:03,289 --> 01:17:06,459 BUT THEY DON'T KNOW. >> Reporter: WHAT WOULD IT BE, 1452 01:17:06,459 --> 01:17:09,095 THEN, IF IT WASN'T A HOMICIDE? >> I THINK IT'S UNDETERMINED 1453 01:17:09,095 --> 01:17:12,832 >> Reporter: TO PROVE HIS POINT, HE PUT THE AUTHOR OF THAT SECOND 1454 01:17:12,832 --> 01:17:15,468 TOXICOLOGY REPORT ON THE STAND REMEMBER, THAT REPORT FOUND HIGH 1455 01:17:15,468 --> 01:17:19,172 LEVELS OF PRESCRIPTION PAINKILLERS AND ALCOHOL IN 1456 01:17:19,172 --> 01:17:21,307 COURTNEY'S SYSTEM. >> HE SAYS, "WELL, IT'S MY 1457 01:17:21,307 --> 01:17:23,910 OPINION THAT THIS POSSIBLY WAS -- COULD HAVE BEEN AN 1458 01:17:23,910 --> 01:17:26,479 ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE, BASED OFF OF WHAT WAS IN HER SYSTEM. 1459 01:17:26,479 --> 01:17:28,715 >> Reporter: DID YOU SEE THAT WORKING IN YOUR FAVOR? 1460 01:17:28,715 --> 01:17:30,817 >> THAT'S DOUBT. YOU GOT A -- ONE DOCTOR SAYIN', 1461 01:17:30,817 --> 01:17:34,054 "I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DIED, BUT IT'S A HOMICIDE. 1462 01:17:34,054 --> 01:17:37,724 AND THEN YOU HAVE ONE DOCTOR SAYIN', "BECAUSE THERE'S NO 1463 01:17:37,724 --> 01:17:40,060 TRAUMA TO HER BODY, THE ONLY POSSIBLE THING I COULD SEE IS A 1464 01:17:40,060 --> 01:17:42,495 ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE. AND I DEFINITELY THOUGHT THAT 1465 01:17:42,495 --> 01:17:45,131 WAS WORKIN' IN MY FAVOR. >> Reporter: HE CAST DOUBT ON 1466 01:17:45,131 --> 01:17:48,768 THOSE TWO WITNESSES WHO'D TESTIFIED ANTHONY BURNS HAD 1467 01:17:48,768 --> 01:17:50,937 CONFESSED TO KILLING COURTNEY. SO HERE'S MY QUESTION THEN, 1468 01:17:50,937 --> 01:17:54,140 THOUGH WHY SAY YOU KILLED SOMEONE IF 1469 01:17:54,140 --> 01:17:58,211 YOU DIDN'T >> WELL, I THINK WE'VE ALL DONE 1470 01:17:58,211 --> 01:18:01,514 CRAZY THINGS ON ALCOHOL. IT MAKE YOU SAY AND DO THINGS 1471 01:18:01,514 --> 01:18:05,218 THAT YOU NORMALLY WOULDN'T DO. >> Reporter: WELL, CONFESSING TO 1472 01:18:05,218 --> 01:18:07,887 A MURDER I DON'T KNOW THAT A LOT OF 1473 01:18:07,887 --> 01:18:12,592 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INTOXICATED AND CONFESSED TO MURDER. 1474 01:18:12,592 --> 01:18:14,394 >> WELL, THAT'S THE THING. WHAT DID HE REALLY CONFESS TO? 1475 01:18:14,394 --> 01:18:16,329 >> Reporter: LaCOUR ARGUED THE WITNESSES HAD TWO DIFFERENT 1476 01:18:16,329 --> 01:18:19,599 STORIES SO IT WASN'T CLEAR EXACTLY WHAT BURNS HAD SAID. 1477 01:18:19,599 --> 01:18:22,202 AND AS FOR SHAMUS, THAT FORMER FRIEND OF ANTHONY'S WHO'D 1478 01:18:22,202 --> 01:18:27,040 CHANGED HIS STORY, THE ATTORNEY EXPLAINED HE ONLY ADDED TO THE 1479 01:18:27,040 --> 01:18:29,075 DOUBT HIS CLIENT WAS GUILTY. >> HIS STORIES JUST WASN'T 1480 01:18:29,075 --> 01:18:31,745 ADDIN' UP. >> Reporter: YOU THINK HE'S AN 1481 01:18:31,745 --> 01:18:34,381 UNRELIABLE WITNESS >> HE -- HE IS COMPLETELY, 1482 01:18:34,381 --> 01:18:37,584 TOTALLY UNRELIABLE >> Reporter: AND WHAT ABOUT THE 1483 01:18:37,584 --> 01:18:40,253 PROSECUTION'S STAR WITNESS, JUDE WILSON, THE ILLUSTRATOR WHO 1484 01:18:40,253 --> 01:18:42,889 PICKED BURNS OUT OF A LINEUP AND TESTIFIED TO SEEING HIM IN 1485 01:18:42,889 --> 01:18:46,793 COURTNEY'S CAR THE NIGHT BEFORE HER BODY WAS FOUND 1486 01:18:46,793 --> 01:18:48,695 WILSON TESTIFIED THAT HE ONLY SAW THE DRIVER'S SILHOUETTE THAT 1487 01:18:48,695 --> 01:18:51,364 NIGHT. >> HE SAID HE DIDN'T SEE THEY 1488 01:18:51,364 --> 01:18:54,567 FACE AND HE JUST DREW A REGULAR 1489 01:18:54,567 --> 01:18:57,203 PROFILE. AND THEY PUT A LINEUP IN FRONT 1490 01:18:57,203 --> 01:19:01,274 OF HIM AND SAID, "WHO MOST CLOSELY MATCHES THIS 1491 01:19:01,274 --> 01:19:04,611 SILHOUETTE?" >> Reporter: HE DID PICK THE 1492 01:19:04,611 --> 01:19:07,280 RIGHT MAN, IF YOU BELIEVE THAT ANTHONY DID THIS 1493 01:19:07,280 --> 01:19:10,483 >> HE PICKED THE PERSON THAT MATCHED A PROFILE HE DREW. 1494 01:19:10,483 --> 01:19:14,654 >> Reporter: THE DEFENSE ARGUED THAT LINEUP WAS SHOWN 15 YEARS 1495 01:19:14,654 --> 01:19:17,857 AFTER COURTNEY'S DEATH AND WILSON'S SKETCH NEVER INCLUDED 1496 01:19:17,857 --> 01:19:21,127 SPECIFIC FACIAL FEATURES >> WOULD YOU BE OKAY WITH 1497 01:19:21,127 --> 01:19:24,264 SOMEONE PICKING YOU OUT OF A LINEUP IF THEY SAY THEY NEVER 1498 01:19:24,264 --> 01:19:27,400 SAW YOUR FACE? I CAN MATCH A PROFILE. 1499 01:19:27,400 --> 01:19:30,603 THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S ME. >> Reporter: THE ATTORNEY SAID 1500 01:19:30,603 --> 01:19:33,807 THE WITNESSES' STORIES DIDN'T ADD UP AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN 1501 01:19:33,807 --> 01:19:37,043 ENOUGH TO ARREST ANTHONY BURNS >> WHY WOULD HE KILL HER 1502 01:19:37,043 --> 01:19:40,146 IT JUST MADE NO SENSE. >> THE FAMILY WAS SUGGESTIN' 1503 01:19:40,146 --> 01:19:44,217 THAT SHE WAS CHEATIN' WITH HER SISTER'S FIANCE. 1504 01:19:44,217 --> 01:19:46,453 WITH NO PROOF, THOUGH. >> Reporter: THE DEFENSE RESTED, 1505 01:19:46,453 --> 01:19:49,189 OPTIMISTIC BURNS WOULD BE ACQUITTED. 1506 01:19:49,189 --> 01:19:51,825 WAS IT VENTURING INTO SLAM DUNK TERRITORY IN YOUR MIND 1507 01:19:51,825 --> 01:19:54,461 >> I NEVER LIKE TO BE OVERLY CONFIDENT. 1508 01:19:54,461 --> 01:19:57,630 BUT I WAS PRETTY CONFIDENT ABOUT THIS ONE 1509 01:19:57,630 --> 01:20:00,934 >> Reporter: THE PROSECUTION WAS CONCERNED. 1510 01:20:00,934 --> 01:20:03,436 >> I TOLD THE FAMILY, "I FEEL LIKE WE GOT A 50/50 SHOT AT A 1511 01:20:03,436 --> 01:20:05,572 CONVICTION." >> Reporter: THAT'S IT 1512 01:20:05,572 --> 01:20:08,742 >> YEAH. >> Reporter: I MEAN, THOSE 1513 01:20:08,742 --> 01:20:10,877 AREN'T GREAT ODDS. >> NO, THEY'RE NOT 1514 01:20:10,877 --> 01:20:14,080 >> Reporter: AS THE JURY BEGAN ITS DELIBERATIONS, EVERYONE 1515 01:20:14,080 --> 01:20:16,683 STAYED IN THE COURTROOM, INCLUDING LOCAL REPORTER 1516 01:20:16,683 --> 01:20:19,986 BROOKE BUFORD. >> BOTH FAMILIES WERE NERVOUS. 1517 01:20:19,986 --> 01:20:22,022 YOU KNOW, ASKING EACH OTHER, "WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN?" 1518 01:20:22,022 --> 01:20:24,657 >> Reporter: BUT NO ILL WILL EXISTED BETWEEN THE FAMILIES 1519 01:20:24,657 --> 01:20:29,396 IN FACT, EVERY DAY SOMETHING TRULY EXTRAORDINARY HAPPENED 1520 01:20:29,396 --> 01:20:33,099 COURTNEY'S FAMILY AND ANTHONY BURNS' FAMILY, ALL STRONG 1521 01:20:33,099 --> 01:20:36,603 CHRISTIANS, STOOD TOGETHER AND PRAYED 1522 01:20:36,603 --> 01:20:38,938 >> THEY CAME, AND WE HELD HANDS, AND WE PRAYED FOR JUSTICE. 1523 01:20:38,938 --> 01:20:42,108 >> YUP >> BECAUSE WE WERE ALL HURTING 1524 01:20:42,108 --> 01:20:44,744 THEY WERE HURTING, AND WE WERE HURTING. 1525 01:20:44,744 --> 01:20:48,481 >> Reporter: LESS THAN TWO HOURS AFTER DELIBERATIONS BEGAN, THE 1526 01:20:48,481 --> 01:20:52,018 JURY CAME BACK WITH A VERDICT. ANTHONY BURNS WAS FOUND GUILTY 1527 01:20:52,018 --> 01:20:54,854 OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER. >> I CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN HOW I 1528 01:20:54,854 --> 01:20:58,591 FELT IT WAS ALMOST LIKE I WAS IN, 1529 01:20:58,591 --> 01:21:03,363 LIKE, A EUPHORIC STATE LIKE, IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING 1530 01:21:03,363 --> 01:21:06,533 >> WE WERE ALL SHAKEN, SHAKEN, AND SHAKEN SO BAD. 1531 01:21:06,533 --> 01:21:11,304 LIKE, THANK YOU, JESUS THANK YOU. 1532 01:21:11,304 --> 01:21:14,474 >> Reporter: LACE, FOR THE LAST TIME, LOOKED AT THE MAN SHE ONCE 1533 01:21:14,474 --> 01:21:18,211 LOVED. DID HE HAVE ANY REACTION 1534 01:21:18,211 --> 01:21:21,381 >> HE JUST GRABBED HIS STOMACH AND WENT DOWN. 1535 01:21:21,381 --> 01:21:24,584 >> Reporter: PODCASTER WOODY OVERTON HAD A MUCH NEEDED 1536 01:21:24,584 --> 01:21:27,721 EMOTIONAL REACTION TO THE VERDICT. 1537 01:21:27,721 --> 01:21:31,458 >> THAT DESERVED A CRY AND IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL MOMENT. 1538 01:21:31,458 --> 01:21:34,627 >> Reporter: YOUR INVESTIGATION PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THIS 1539 01:21:34,627 --> 01:21:36,763 ARREST >> RIGHT 1540 01:21:36,763 --> 01:21:39,933 I'VE DONE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS IN MY CAREER 1541 01:21:39,933 --> 01:21:43,103 THIS PROBABLY IS THE BEST I'VE EVER DONE. 1542 01:21:43,103 --> 01:21:46,272 >> Reporter: 45-YEAR-OLD ANTHONY BURNS WAS SENTENCED TO 1543 01:21:46,272 --> 01:21:49,476 LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE. 1544 01:21:49,476 --> 01:21:52,112 BUT BEFORE HE WAS TAKEN AWAY, STEPHANIE TURNED TO ADDRESS HIM. 1545 01:21:52,112 --> 01:21:54,714 >> AND THAT'S WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD ZERO MERCY FOR HIM 1546 01:21:54,714 --> 01:21:58,251 AND I HOPE HE ROTTED IN JAIL AND THEN HELL. 1547 01:21:58,251 --> 01:22:00,553 >> Reporter: HE STILL CLAIMS HE DIDN'T DO IT 1548 01:22:00,553 --> 01:22:04,791 >> OH, ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S WHAT COWARDS DO 1549 01:22:04,791 --> 01:22:08,495 AND HE'LL PROBABLY NEVER ADMIT IT 1550 01:22:08,495 --> 01:22:11,131 >> Reporter: ANTHONY BURNS PLANS TO APPEAL HIS CONVICTION 1551 01:22:11,131 --> 01:22:13,767 BUT THAT DOESN'T BOTHER STEPHANIE. 1552 01:22:13,767 --> 01:22:16,469 YOU MADE A PROMISE TO COURTNEY THAT YOU WOULD FIND OUT WHO 1553 01:22:16,469 --> 01:22:18,605 KILLED HER AND YOU LIVED UP TO THAT 1554 01:22:18,605 --> 01:22:20,707 PROMISE. >> I DID 1555 01:22:20,707 --> 01:22:23,810 I DID. >> Reporter: SHE NOW WEARS 1556 01:22:23,810 --> 01:22:27,080 COURTNEY'S CLASS RING, THE RING COURTNEY WAS WEARING WHEN SHE 1557 01:22:27,080 --> 01:22:30,316 WAS MURDERED, THAT STARTED THIS MOTHER'S QUEST FOR JUSTICE 1558 01:22:30,316 --> 01:22:34,587 DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL CLOSER TO HER? 1559 01:22:34,587 --> 01:22:37,691 >> YES AND IT MAKES ME SLEEP GOOD AT 1560 01:22:37,691 --> 01:22:40,860 NIGHT. SOMETIMES I JUST HUG IT. 1561 01:22:40,860 --> 01:22:43,697 IT'S JUST PRICELESS TO ME. >> Reporter: HOW DO YOU THINK 1562 01:22:43,697 --> 01:22:46,666 COURTNEY WOULD FEEL ABOUT HOW HARD YOU FOUGHT FOR HER? 1563 01:22:46,666 --> 01:22:49,836 >> OH, MY GOD. SHE'D BE SO HAPPY THAT I KEPT MY 1564 01:22:49,836 --> 01:22:52,906 WORD TO HER. I DID THINGS THAT I NEVER KNEW I 1565 01:22:52,906 --> 01:22:55,141 WOULD HAVE TO DO IN MY LIFE. >> Reporter: YOU NEEDED TO 1566 01:22:55,141 --> 01:22:59,145 PROTECT COURTNEY EVEN IN DEATH >> EVEN IN DEATH 1567 01:22:59,145 --> 01:23:02,849 YES, I DID I DID IT 1568 01:23:02,849 --> 01:23:08,922 AND I KNOW SHE'D BE HAPPY. I KNOW SHE IS HAPPY. 1569 01:23:08,922 --> 01:23:11,057 >>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF "DATELINE." 1570 01:23:11,057 --> 01:23:13,259 WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN SUNDAY AT 7:00, 6:00 CENTRAL 1571 01:23:13,259 --> 01:23:15,795 AND, OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY 1572 01:23:15,795 --> 01:23:17,931 NEWS." I'M LESTER HOLT.