>>> TONIGHT ON "DATELINE" --
>> IT WAS A YOUNG FEMALE SHE HAD A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
RING ON. >> I PROMISED COURTNEY, KNEELING
ON HER GRAVE, "I'M GOING TO FIND OUT WHO PUT YOU HERE."
>> WE ENDED UP GETTING AN ANONYMOUS PHONE CALL SAYING,
"FOLLOW THE MONEY. >> I POLYGRAPHED FOUR, FIVE, SIX
DIFFERENT GUYS >> Reporter: WHEN THEY ASKED
YOU, "DID YOU KILL COURTNEY? >> I SAID, "NO, I DIDN'T KILL MY
SISTER." >> I TOLD STEPHANIE THAT DAY I'M
GOING TO SOLVE THIS CASE OR I'M GOING TO DIE TRYING.
>> HE WAS GOING TO OPEN HIS PODCAST UP FOR TIPS.
>> HELLO, EVERYBODY. WELCOME TO THIS EPISODE OF "REAL
LIFE, REAL CRIME." THE HOTLINE WAS BLOWING UP
I GET A PHONE CALL SAYING HER EX-HUSBAND KNOWS WHO DID IT.
HE RETURNED HOME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT SMELLING OF DEATH
>> Reporter: YOU'RE ABOUT TO TELL THEM THE ANSWERS.
>> ALL OF THEM ARE CRYING. THEY'RE BLOWN AWAY
>> Reporter: YOU MUST HAVE JUST FELT SUCH BETRAYAL
>> YES, MA'AM. I WAS FLOORED.
>> A TEENAGE GIRL IS FOUND DEAD. HER FAMILY'S LONG FIGHT FOR
JUSTICE REVEALS A DARK SECRET. I'M LESTER HOLT, AND THIS IS
"DATELINE.
KILLED COURTNEY COCO?" >> Reporter: IT WAS A FALL
MORNING IN 2004, AND CHAMBERS COUNTY, TEXAS, JUST EAST OF
HOUSTON, WAS ALREADY HEATING UP. THE TEMPERATURE HAD HIT
70 DEGREES AND WAS QUICKLY CLIMBING
DAVID RABALAIS REMEMBERS THAT DAY WELL
>> I WAS ACTUALLY WORKING THAT DAY.
>> Reporter: HE WAS A DETECTIVE THEN WITH THE LOCAL SHERIFF'S
OFFICE >> I HAD GONE TO THE, UH, MAIN
SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN ANAHUAC TO TURN IN SOME PAPERWORK
>> Reporter: AT 8:00 A.M., A CALL CAME IN FROM A PATROL
OFFICER LOOKING FOR RABALAIS' CAPTAIN.
>> AND HE TOLD ME WE HAVE A DECEASED BODY IN AN ABANDONED
BUILDING OVER ON 1406. >> Reporter: 1406 IS A BUSY
HIGHWAY, A TWO-LANE ROAD THAT RUNS THROUGH THE TINY TOWN OF
WINNIE, TEXAS. >> ONE OF THE LOCAL FARMERS
RIDIN' BY ON HIS TRACTOR, AND HE JUST HAPPENED TO GLANCE OVER
THERE, AND HE SAW WHAT HE THOUGHT LOOKED LIKE A BODY
>> Reporter: A BODY? THE DETECTIVE HAD TO SEE IT FOR
HIMSELF. DISCOVERIES LIKE THAT DON'T
HAPPEN OFTEN IN WINNIE MOSTLY FARM FIELDS AND RANCH
HOMES, IT ISN'T A TOWN KNOWN FOR CRIME.
>> I FIGURED THE GUY WAS JUST SEEING SOMETHING, YOU KNOW
HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS SEEING
>> Reporter: RABALAIS ALSO DIDN'T WANT TO BELIEVE IT.
HIS HOUSE IS JUST A STONE'S THROW FROM WHERE HE WAS HEADED
>> 150 YARDS >> Reporter: 150 YARDS
>> YEAH, I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT BUILDING THEY WERE TALKING
ABOUT. IT WAS A HOUSE THAT WAS STARTED
AND NEVER FINISHED >> Reporter: RABALAIS PULLED UP
TO THE ABANDONED HOUSE, NOT EXPECTING MUCH
BUT WHEN HE GOT OUT OF HIS TRUCK --
>> AS SOON AS I DROVE UP, I COULD TELL IT WAS A BODY
>> Reporter: A WOMAN'S BODY WAS LYING AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE
GARAGE >> YOUNG, WHITE FEMALE
SHE WAS NUDE FROM THE WAIST DOWN
>> Reporter: A DISTURBING AND PERPLEXING SIGHT
>> SHE HAD A BLUE LSU T-SHIRT ON
IT WAS PULLED UP TO HER NECK, BUT SHE STILL HAD HER BRA ON
THERE'S NO WAY THAT ANYBODY COULD HAVE IDENTIFIED THE BODY
>> Reporter: WAS IT OBVIOUS HOW SHE DIED
>> NO. THAT WAS THE -- THAT WAS THE
THING. NO OBVIOUS SIGNS WHATSOEVER.
>> Reporter: BUT THE DETECTIVE HAD A THEORY
>> THE FIRST THING I THOUGHT WAS SEXUAL ASSAULT
I JUST HAD A FEELING THAT SOMEBODY SEXUALLY ASSAULTED HER
AND THEN THOUGHT, "OH, NO, I'VE GOT TO KILL HER OR SHE'S GOING
TO TELL. >> Reporter: HE COULDN'T BE SURE
OF ANYTHING WITHOUT AN AUTOPSY IT WAS ALL JUST SPECULATION.
HOW LONG DID YOU THINK SHE HAD BEEN DEAD FOR?
>> I THOUGHT SHE'D BEEN PROBABLY AT LEAST THREE DAYS, THREE TO
FOUR DAYS. >> Reporter: HOW SHE DIED AND
WHY SHE WAS LEFT IN AN ABANDONED BUILDING IN WINNIE MADE FOR A
MYSTERY UNLIKE ANY RABALAIS HAD EVER SEEN BEFORE
HE KNEW THE CASE NEEDED MORE RESOURCES, SO HIS BOSSES CALLED
IN THE TEXAS RANGERS >> WE BRING ALL THE STATE
RESOURCES WITH US, WHETHER THAT'S CRIME LAB OR AIRCRAFT
NEEDS, DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPE OF INVESTIGATION IT IS.
>> Reporter: THIS IS THE EQUIVALENT OF BRINGING IN THE
BIG GUNS >> YES, MA'AM.
>> Reporter: NOW RETIRED TEXAS RANGER SKYLOR HEARN, WHO'D GROWN
UP IN WINNIE, RACED OVER TO THE SCENE.
HIS FIRST IMPRESSION WAS THAT THE BODY APPEARED STAGED
>> THAT SOMEONE INTENTIONALLY PUT HER IN THAT POSITION,
ESPECIALLY WITH THE CLOTHING MISSING, EXPOSING HER TO THE
ROADWAY THAT WAY >> Reporter: HE ALSO NOTICED A
FAINT SET OF TIRE TRACKS >> THE FLOOR HAD A LAYER OF DUST
WHERE THE BODY WAS, AND THERE WAS SOME TIRE TRACKS THAT ENDED
WHERE THE BODY WAS FOUND >> Reporter: DID IT SEEM TO YOU
THAT SOMEONE HAD DRIVEN THE BODY TO THIS LOCATION AND THEN
TRANSPORTED HER FROM THE CAR >> RIGHT
JUST THE FIRST APPEARANCE IS THAT THOSE TIRE TRACKS PROBABLY
ASSOCIATED WITH A CAR BACKING INTO THAT GARAGE AND DUMPING HER
THERE. >> Reporter: WERE THERE ANY
FOOTPRINTS >> THERE WAS A COUPLE OF FOOT
IMPRESSIONS OR SHOE IMPRESSIONS IN THE DUST THAT WERE VISIBLE.
>> Reporter: DETECTIVE RABALAIS HAD NOTICED THEM TOO
>> THEY HAD THE CIRCLES, YOU KNOW, CIRCLES THAT GRADUATE
SMALLER AND SMALLER, UH, PATTERN.
SO I KNEW IT WAS A TENNIS SHOE PRINT.
>> Reporter: THE INVESTIGATORS CONTINUED TO COMB THE AREA
ANYTHING GIVING YOU SOME CLUES >> THERE WAS AN OLD, UH, BEER
BOTTLE, UH, THAT WAS PROBABLY SIX, SEVEN FEET AWAY FROM HER.
I HAD NO CLUE IF THAT WAS DROPPED BY THE PERPETRATOR OR IF
IT WAS SOME KIDS THAT HAD COME IN THERE BEFORE AND DRANK AND
THREW IT DOWN. >> Reporter: SO MANY UNKNOWNS.
BUT THE BIGGEST -- WHO WAS THEIR VICTIM
WAS THERE ANYTHING AROUND HER TO GIVE YOU A NAME, A WALLET, A
PURSE, A PHONE >> NO, WE DIDN'T FIND ANY OF
THAT >> Reporter: BUT YOU COULD TELL
SHE WAS A YOUNG WOMAN? >> YEAH, I COULD TELL SHE WAS
PROBABLY IN AT LEAST HER EARLY MID-20s.
>> Reporter: DETECTIVE RABALAIS HAD A STRONG HUNCH SHE WASN'T A
LOCAL. >> I KNOW BECAUSE I WORKED
WINNIE I LIVE IN WINNIE
I PRETTY MUCH KNOW EVERYBODY IN WINNIE
I LOOKED AT HER, AND I THOUGHT SHE JUST DOESN'T RING A BELL
>> Reporter: BUT HE HAD ONE THING TO GO ON
>> SHE HAD A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RING ON
AND, UH, I KNEW BECAUSE I RAISED FOUR BOYS -- I KNEW THAT USUALLY
THEY PUT THEIR NAME ON INSIDE OF THE RING
>> Reporter: THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL WAS ENGRAVED ON THE
OUTSIDE OF THE RING,...ALEXANDRIA SENIOR HIGH,
LOCATED IN NEIGHBORING LOUISIANA.
AND ON THE INSIDE -- >> WHEN WE OPENED THE RING UP,
WE SAW HER NAME, COURTNEY COCO >> Reporter: DID THAT NAME RING
A BELL TO YOU? >> NOT TO ME
>> Reporter: COURTNEY COCO THE GRADUATION DATE ON THE RING
WAS 2003, WHICH MEANT THE OWNER OF THE RING WOULD BE ABOUT
19 YEARS OLD THIS IS A BIG BREAK THAT YOU
HAVE THIS CLASS RING >> OH, 100%.
>> Reporter: BUT IT WAS STILL TOO EARLY TO KNOW FOR SURE IF IT
WAS EVEN HER THE RING COULD HAVE BEEN
BORROWED, SOLD, OR EVEN STOLEN INVESTIGATORS NEEDED ANSWERS
ABOUT MS. COCO AND HOPED THE ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
WOULD HAVE THEM. >> I CALLED ALEXANDRIA,
LOUISIANA, POLICE DEPARTMENT AND GOT A HOLD OF A DETECTIVE THERE.
>> Reporter: THEY NEVER IMAGINED THAT CALL WOULD SPARK A 15-YEAR
INVESTIGATION WITH SO MANY TWISTS AND TURNS
STARTING WITH COURTNEY'S CLASS RING AND A STRING OF SUSPICIOUS
>> Reporter: LESS THAN TWO HOURS AFTER A BODY WAS FOUND IN
WINNIE, TEXAS, A CALL CAME IN TO THE ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
IN LOUISIANA, SOME 200 MILES AWAY
IT WAS TEXAS RANGER SKYLOR HEARN ASKING FOR HELP IN IDENTIFYING
THE DECEASED YOUNG WOMAN WHO'D BEEN FOUND
>> HE WAS WANTING TO KNOW IF WE HAD A MISSING REPORT OR ANYTHING
LIKE THAT ON A COURTNEY COCO >> Reporter: SERGEANT
CEDRIC GREEN TOOK THE CALL AND LOOKED THROUGH THE POLICE
DATABASE HE DIDN'T FIND A MISSING PERSONS
REPORT, BUT HE DID COME ACROSS COURTNEY'S NAME FOR A DIFFERENT
REASON >> WHAT I FOUND WAS THAT SHE HAD
MADE SEVERAL REPORTS IN OUR SYSTEM OF HER RESIDENCE BEING
BURGLARIZED. >> Reporter: BURGLARIES THAT
HAPPENED LESS THAN TWO MONTHS EARLIER, WHICH MEANT SOMEONE
EASILY COULD HAVE STOLEN HER RING
>> CORRECT >> Reporter: SERGEANT GREEN
NEEDED TO FIND OUT IF COURTNEY COCO WAS ACTUALLY
MISSING AND CAME ACROSS A NAME HE BELIEVED WAS A RELATIVE
>> A LADY THAT, UH, POSSIBLY COULD HAVE BEEN HER MOTHER
SO I TOOK A CHANCE AND I CALLED THE NUMBER
>> Reporter: STEPHANIE BELGARD IS COURTNEY'S MOM AND WAS HOME
ALONE WHEN THE DETECTIVE CALLED AND INTRODUCED HIMSELF
>> HE SAID, "IS COURTNEY THERE?" AND I SAID, "NO, SIR."
I SAID, "BUT THIS IS HER MOM." I SAID, "IS SOMETHING WRONG?
>> Reporter: WHAT DOES HE ACTUALLY TELL YOU?
>> HE TOLD ME THEY FOUND A BODY IN TEXAS THAT HAD MY DAUGHTER'S
RING ON HER FINGER AND I WAS LIKE, "NO, SIR."
I SAID, "IT'S NOT HER. HER HOUSE HAS BEEN BROKEN INTO
MAYBE SOMEONE STOLE HER RING." >> Reporter: STEPHANIE TOLD
SERGEANT GREEN THAT 19-YEAR-OLD COURTNEY LIVED NEARBY AND THAT
SHE WAS SURE HER DAUGHTER WAS SAFE AND SOUND SOMEWHERE IN
ALEXANDRIA SHE HUNG UP WITH HIM AND
IMMEDIATELY TRIED COURTNEY'S CELL PHONE
>> I WAS JUST LIKE, "COURTNEY, ANSWER THIS PHONE.
COURTNEY, ANSWER THIS PHONE. COURTNEY, ANSWER THIS PHONE.
>> Reporter: YOU JUST WANTED TO HEAR HER VOICE
>> YES >> Reporter: BUT NO ANSWER
>> NO. NO
>> Reporter: STILL DESPERATE TO REACH COURTNEY, STEPHANIE CALLED
HER OLDEST DAUGHTER, LACE, WHO WAS AT WORK.
>> I GOT ON THE PHONE WITH HER, AND ALL I COULD HEAR WAS, "LACE,
TELL ME YOU TALKED TO COURTNEY." I SAID, "NO, MOMMA
WHY? >> Reporter: STEPHANIE TOLD HER
WHAT LITTLE SHE KNEW >> I LOST IT AT THAT POINT
I DID. FIRST THING I DID WAS I CALLED
ANTHONY. >> Reporter: YOUR FIANCE
>> THAT WAS MY FIANCE. I CALLED HIM AND I SAID, "I NEED
A RIDE FROM WORK TO GO TO MY MOMMA'S HOUSE.
>> Reporter: HE COULDN'T GET THERE FAST ENOUGH, SO A FRIEND
DROVE LACE TO HER MOM'S PLACE. SHE WAS THERE WHEN SERGEANT
GREEN ARRIVED HOURS LATER AND EXPLAINED HOW THE UNIDENTIFIED
BODY WAS DISCOVERED. THEN HE LAUNCHED INTO SOME
QUESTIONS. >> WE STARTED TO ASK HER MOTHER
THE LAST TIME SHE'S SEEN HER, IF SHE HAD CONTACTED HER DURING THE
WEEKEND. >> Reporter: STEPHANIE TOLD HIM
SHE SAW COURTNEY JUST THREE DAYS BEFORE, ON FRIDAY.
SHE'D COME OVER FOR A VISIT WHILE STEPHANIE AND HER HUSBAND
WERE GETTING READY FOR A CAMPING TRIP
>> WE WERE PACKING UP THE TRUCK, AND I ASKED HER IF SHE WANTED TO
COME WITH US SHE SAID, "MOM, YOU KNOW I DON'T
DO THE WOODS." >> Reporter: STEPHANIE TOLD
SERGEANT GREEN THAT WAS THE LAST TIME SHE SAW COURTNEY.
DID SHE HAVE ANY CONNECTION TO WINNIE
>> NO, MA'AM NO
SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANY CONNECTION TO TEXAS AT ALL.
>> Reporter: THAT WAS A GOOD THING, SHE THOUGHT
BUT AS THE HOURS PASSED AND NO ONE WAS ABLE TO LOCATE COURTNEY,
HER FAMILY BEGAN TO REALIZE THAT WHAT THEY FEARED MOST MIGHT
ACTUALLY BE TRUE SERGEANT GREEN NEEDED A FAMILY
MEMBER TO TRAVEL TO TEXAS AND VIEW THE BODY TO KNOW FOR SURE
COURTNEY'S UNCLE AGREED TO MAKE THE TRIP WITH HIM.
>> COURTNEY HAD JUST HAD BRACES PUT ON HER TEETH, UM, A COUPLE
OF WEEKS BEFORE. AND SHE HAD JUST HAD A BUTTERFLY
TATTOO ON HER BACK, AND I TOLD HIM TO LOOK FOR THOSE TWO
THINGS >> Reporter: ALL STEPHANIE COULD
DO THEN WAS WAIT AND PRAY. >> I WAS FEELING HORRIBLE
BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE ANYBODY ELSE'S CHILD
BUT I DEFINITELY DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE MY CHILD
>> Reporter: IT WAS HARD FOR COURTNEY'S MOM TO IMAGINE THAT
ANYONE WOULD WANT TO HURT HER SWEET, BUBBLY COURTNEY
* HAPPY BIRTHDA DEAR COURTNE
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU * >> Reporter: STEPHANIE COULD
REMEMBER SO MANY HAPPY MOMENTS WITH HER, LIKE THIS FAMILY
GATHERING FOR COURTNEY'S 16th BIRTHDAY.
>> YEAH. >> MOM AND COURTNEY ARE LAYING
OUT. >> Reporter: CAREFREE MEMORIES
THEY WERE ALL SO PRECIOUS. >> THERE'S COURTNEY.
>> Reporter: COURTNEY WAS THE BABY OF THE FAMILY, THE YOUNGEST
OF THREE TWO OLDER SISTERS?
>> TWO OLDER SISTERS AND SO SHE WAS VERY SPOILED AND
GOT HER WAY A LOT. >> Reporter: LACE HAD ALWAYS
BEEN PROTECTIVE OF HER BABY SISTER
>> SHE WAS LIKE THE DAUGHTER I NEVER HAD.
I MEAN, I HELPED CHANGE HER DIAPERS AT 7 YEARS OLD
>> Reporter: COURTNEY MAY HAVE BEEN THE YOUNGEST, BUT SHE'D
ALWAYS BEEN THE MATURE ONE STEPHANIE SAYS WHEN COURTNEY'S
FATHER DIED, AT 8-YEARS-OLD, SHE HELPED PLAN THE FUNERAL.
>> SHE PICKED OUT HIS FLOWERS, WHAT HE WAS GOING TO WEAR,
EVERYTHING >> Reporter: OH, MY GOSH
>> AT 8 YEARS OLD. >> Reporter: COURTNEY EVEN CHOSE
THE PLOT WHERE HE WAS BURIED, AND THEN ANOTHER FOR HERSELF,
RIGHT BY HIS SIDE. >> SHE WAS VERY CLOSE TO HIM
AND, UH, PART OF HER DIED WITH HER DADDY.
>> YES SHE ALWAYS GRIEVED FOR HIM
SHE WOULD GO OUT TO THE GRAVEYARD CONSTANTLY
>> Reporter: HER AUNTS, LYNN AND MICHELLE, WERE THERE TO HELP HER
THROUGH THE GRIEF. >> COURTNEY, I LIKE THE HAIRDO
TONIGHT. >> Reporter: AND WITH HER
FAMILY'S SUPPORT, COURTNEY CONTINUED TO THRIVE.
HOW WAS SHE AS A TEENAGER? >> SHE WAS A VERY GOOD TEENAGER,
ACTUALLY SHE MADE GOOD GRADES
I WAS REALLY LUCKY >> Reporter: STEPHANIE SAYS SHE
ALSO EXCELLED AT SPORTS. SOFTBALL AND GYMNASTICS WERE HER
PASSIONS >> AND SHE WENT INTO
CHEERLEADING WHEN SHE GOT TO HIGH SCHOOL.
>> Reporter: SHE MUST HAVE BEEN GOOD AT CHEERLEADING SINCE SHE
WAS A GYMNAST. >> IN GYMNASTICS
YES, MA'AM >> Reporter: COURTNEY'S COUSIN
CANDACE WAS THE SAME AGE AND WAS ALWAYS IMPRESSED WITH HER
OUTGOING PERSONALITY AND GENEROUS SPIRIT.
>> SHE LOVED EVERYBODY, AND SHE SAW THE BEST IN EVERYBODY.
IT DIDN'T MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU LOOKED LIKE
>> Reporter: AFTER GRADUATION, COURTNEY ENROLLED IN COLLEGE AND
PLANNED TO MAJOR IN CRIMINOLOGY. WHERE DID THAT COME FROM
>> I THINK SHE TOOK A CRIMINOLOGY CLASS IN HIGH SCHOOL
AND IT REALLY SPARKED HER INTEREST
AND I FOUND SOME OF HER OLD NOTES.
SHE WAS EVEN LIKE, "HOW TO SOLVE A MURDER."
LIKE, THE STEPS THAT YOU GO THROUGH.
>> Reporter: THAT'S CHILLING >> YES, IT IS.
>> Reporter: CHILLING BECAUSE BACK IN WINNIE, TEXAS, IT WAS
LOOKING MORE AND MORE LIKE THE UNIDENTIFIED YOUNG WOMAN WAS
COURTNEY COCO. AND WHAT THEY WERE ABOUT TO FIND
IN HER HOME MADE THEM EVEN MORE >> Reporter: AS THE SUN ROSE THE
NEXT DAY IN ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA, COURTNEY COCO'S
FAMILY HUDDLED TOGETHER FOR THE CALL THAT THREATENED TO SHATTER
THEIR WORLD. WHEN THE PHONE RANG, COURTNEY'S
AUNT LYNN PICKED IT UP AND ANSWERED
SHE WAS THE FIRST TO HEAR THAT THE BODY WAS IN FACT COURTNEY'S.
>> I DID NOT WANT THE WORDS TO COME OUT OF MY MOUTH TO MY
SISTER BUT I TOLD HER, "WE NEED TO PLAN
A FUNERAL. >> AND I PASSED OUT.
I JUST HIT THE FLOOR >> Reporter: THE FAMILY'S WORST
FEARS WERE NOW A REALITY THEY WERE HEARTBROKEN BUT ALSO
CONFUSED THERE WERE SO MANY UNANSWERED
QUESTIONS, LIKE HOW DID COURTNEY DIE, AND WHAT WAS SHE DOING IN
WINNIE, TEXAS? >> Reporter: THAT MORNING, BOTH
TEXAS AND LOUISIANA LAW ENFORCEMENT WERE AT THE AUTOPSY.
AND THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S FINDINGS WOULD ONLY DEEPEN THE
MYSTERY. >> EVEN AFTER HE EXAMINED THE
BODY, THERE WAS NO BULLET HOLE THERE WAS NO STAB WOUNDS
THERE WERE NO LIGATURE MARKS THERE WAS NO BRUISING AROUND THE
MOUTH LIKE THEY HAD SUFFOCATED HER.
YOU KNOW, THERE WAS JUST NOTHING.
>> Reporter: WAS THERE ANY SIGN OF DRUGS, DRUG USE, ALCOHOL?
>> A VERY, VERY LOW ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION IN HER BODY.
>> Reporter: THE MEDICAL EXAMINER BELIEVED THOSE LEVELS
WERE NORMAL FOR A PERSON WHO'D RECENTLY DIED, NOT DUE TO
ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION. AS FOR DRUGS IN COURTNEY'S
SYSTEM, IT WAS TOO SOON TO KNOW. INVESTIGATORS WOULD HAVE TO WAIT
FOR THE TOXICOLOGY RESULTS ARE YOU THINKING THIS COULD
POSSIBLY BE MAYBE A DRUG OVERDOSE
>> IT'S POSSIBLE UH, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR PEOPLE
TO HAVE AN ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE OR A POISONING AND THEN PANIC
AND THEN LEAVE THE DECEASED SOMEWHERE.
>> Reporter: AND THE THEORY THAT COURTNEY HAD BEEN SEXUALLY
ASSAULTED? >> THAT WASN'T THE CASE AT ALL
ACCORDING TO THE AUTOPSY, THERE WASN'T ANY EVIDENCE FOUND OF
SEXUAL ASSAULT >> Reporter: BUT THE MEDICAL
EXAMINER DID HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO RULE COURTNEY'S
DEATH A HOMICIDE SO WHAT'S YOUR GUT TELLING YOU
NOW? >> MY GUT IS TELLING ME I DON'T
KNOW >> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE
FIGURED WHOEVER LEFT COURTNEY'S BODY INSIDE THAT ABANDONED HOUSE
HAD TO KNOW HIS WAY AROUND THE AREA
WE WENT BACK TO THAT HOUSE SOMEONE LIVES THERE NOW.
>> SHE WAS LAYING INSIDE THIS DOOR
>> Reporter: IN THIS GARAGE RIGHT HERE
>> YES SHE WAS PROBABLY, SIX, SEVEN
FEET INSIDE. >> Reporter: RABALAIS WAS ALSO
CONVINCED THE PERSON HAD SEEN THE HOUSE BEFORE
>> I FIGURED IT WAS SOMEBODY THAT LIVED OFF SOMEWHERE ELSE
AND THEY EVIDENTLY PASSED THROUGH HERE FROM TIME TO TIME
AND KNEW IT WAS HERE AND KNEW IT WAS DARK, KNEW IT WAS ABANDONED
AND IT'D BE A GOOD SPOT. >> Reporter: WOULD IT HAVE BEEN
EASY FOR SOMEBODY TO TO GET TO A LOCATION LIKE THIS FROM
ALEXANDRIA >> WELL, YEAH.
A QUARTER OF A MILE UP THE ROAD, EXIT I-10, COME DOWN HERE AND
FIND A SPOT AND DUMP HER AND GET BACK ON I-10 AND GO BACK TO
ALEXANDRIA >> Reporter: AS SERGEANT GREEN
DROVE BACK TO LOUISIANA, HE HAD A HUNCH THE KILLER WAS FROM
ALEXANDRIA, THE CITY WHERE COURTNEY LIVED
HE HOPED A SEARCH OF COURTNEY'S HOME WOULD TELL HIM SOMETHING.
DO YOU FIND ANYTHING IN THE HOUSE, SIGNS OF A STRUGGLE
>> THE HOUSE WAS NOT IN TERRIBLE DISARRAY, ANYTHING LIKE THAT
>> Reporter: IN THE BEDROOM, SERGEANT GREEN ZEROED IN ON ONE
THING. >> HER JEANS WERE LAYING ON THE
FLOOR BY THE BED >> Reporter: SHOES WERE THERE
TOO. IT WAS A PRETTY TYPICAL MESS FOR
A YOUNG ADULT, BUT IT MADE HIM WONDER IF COURTNEY WAS WEARING
THE JEANS THE NIGHT SHE DIED IF SHE'D GONE TO BED AND WAS
THEN ABDUCTED OR KILLED, IT WOULD EXPLAIN WHY COURTNEY WAS
FOUND NUDE FROM THE WAIST DOWN AND THERE WAS ALSO THIS.
>> IT APPEARED TO BE A -- SOME SORT OF A CASH BOX THAT WAS
UNDER HER BED. BUT, UM, THERE WAS NOTHING IN
IT >> Reporter: DID IT LOOK LIKE
SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE BROKEN INTO THE BOX?
>> IT WASN'T BROKEN INTO, NO >> Reporter: HE CONTINUED
SEARCHING, BUT NEITHER COURTNEY'S WALLET NOR PHONE
TURNED UP. HER CAR WAS MISSING TOO, A 1999
GREEN PONTIAC. ROBBERY WAS ON THE TABLE AS A
POSSIBLE MOTIVE. BUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH
THAT THEORY. >> THERE WAS NO SIGN OF FORCED
ENTRY. ALL THE DOORS WERE LOCKED.
THE WINDOWS WERE LOCKED. >> Reporter: DID YOU THINK THAT
SHE WILLINGLY LET SOMEONE IN, THAT THIS WAS POSSIBLY SOMEBODY
SHE KNEW >> YES
EITHER SHE LET SOMEONE IN, OR SOMEONE HAD A KEY.
>> Reporter: GREEN BELIEVED COURTNEY RECENTLY HAD GUESTS
OVER BEER CANS AND CIGARETTES WERE
STILL ON THE DINING TABLE. A DOMINOS GAME TOO, ALONG WITH A
SCORECARD, LISTING TWO OTHER NAMES.
>> THERE WAS A -- A "JACKIE" AND "LEWIS" ON THE SCORECARD
>> Reporter: SERGEANT GREEN LEARNED FROM COURTNEY'S SISTER
THAT JACKIE WAS ONE OF COURTNEY'S CLOSEST FRIENDS
HE ASKED HER DOWN TO THE STATION TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS
>> JACKIE TOLD US THAT HER AND COURTNEY HAD BEEN TOGETHER THAT
EVENING. >> Reporter: THIS IS FRIDAY
EVENING? >> FRIDAY EVENING, YES
>> Reporter: SHE GAVE INVESTIGATORS A DETAILED ACCOUNT
OF THAT NIGHT, THE LAST NIGHT COURTNEY WAS SEEN ALIVE.
AND LATER, AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, SHE MET WITH THE
DETECTIVES AGAIN AND REVIEWED HER STATEMENT.
THIS TIME THEY RECORDED THE INTERVIEW.
>> THE BEST YOU CAN REMEMBER, CAN YOU JUST KIND OF GO OVER
THAT FRIDAY NIGHT AGAIN? >> Reporter: JACKIE DESCRIBED
HOW SHE AND COURTNEY DROVE AROUND THAT NIGHT, NOT DOING
MUCH UNTIL THEY PICKED UP JACKIE'S BOYFRIEND, LEWIS, FROM
HIS FAST FOOD JOB AT SONIC SOMETIME AROUND 10:00 P.M.
>> DID Y'ALL DRIVE STRAIGHT FROM -- FROM SONIC STRAIGHT TO
HER HOUSE? >> I THINK WE STOPPED AT THE
STORE. >> WHAT STORE?
>> I DON 'T REMEMBER >> WAS IT A GAS STATION?
>> YEAH, IT WAS A GAS STATION. >> Reporter: FROM THERE, SHE
SAID THEY ALL WENT TO COURTNEY'S HOUSE AND PLAYED DOMINOS FOR THE
REST OF THE NIGHT. SHE SAID LATER, SOMETIME AFTER
MIDNIGHT, A FRIEND OF COURTNEY'S STOPPED BY
HIS NAME WAS MEL >> HOW LONG DID MEL STAY
>> NOT EVEN FIVE MINUTES AFTER SHE INTRODUCED US TO HIM,
THEY WALKED OUTSIDE AND TALKED >> SHE SAY WHAT HE WAS GOING TO
DO >> YEAH, HE HAD TO TAKE A BATH
AND STUFF LIKE THAT AND THEN COME BACK.
SO HE AIN'T STAY >> Reporter: THEN, AROUND
2:00 A.M., JACKIE SAID COURTNEY DROVE HER AND LEWIS HOME
INVESTIGATORS QUESTIONED LEWIS TOO, AND HE TOLD THE SAME STORY.
>> THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF SHE WAS GOING TO SEE ANYONE ELSE, BUT
COURTNEY WAS SUPPOSED TO COME BACK THE NEXT MORNING TO PICK UP
LEWIS TO TAKE HIM TO WORK. >> Reporter: DID SHE SHOW UP
>> NO. >> Reporter: JACKIE AND LEWIS
WERE COOPERATIVE, BUT SERGEANT GREEN SET OUT TO CHECK THEIR
STORIES. AND WHAT EVER HAPPENED WITH MEL?
WHILE HE WAS FOCUSED ON THAT, COURTNEY'S FAMILY WAS LOCKED ON
TO SOMEONE ELSE. SOMEONE THEY FELT SHOULD BE AT
>> Reporter: AS THE DAYS PASSED, A TIMELINE OF COURTNEY'S FINAL
HOURS SLOWLY BEGAN TO EMERGE HER FRIENDS JACKIE AND LEWIS
TOLD DETECTIVES THEY SPENT FRIDAY NIGHT AT HER PLACE,
PLAYING DOMINOS UNTIL ABOUT 2:00 A.M., AND THEN COURTNEY
DROVE THEM HOME. WERE YOU SUSPICIOUS OF JACKIE
AND LEWIS AT ALL, OR DID YOU FEEL THAT THEY WERE BEING
UPFRONT WITH YOU >> I WAS, UH, FEELING THAT THEY
WERE BEING UPFRONT >> Reporter: HIS TEAM CHECKED
THEIR ALIBIS AND TRACKED DOWN THIS GAS STATION SURVEILLANCE
VIDEO. IT SHOWED JACKIE AND COURTNEY
BUYING DRINKS AT 11:23 P.M., JUST AS SHE TOLD THEM.
THAT'S COURTNEY IN THE BLUE T-SHIRT.
>> MY GUT FEELING WAS THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED ONCE SHE
DROPPED THEM OFF >> Reporter: HE WONDERED,
THOUGH -- DID MEL, THE FRIEND WHO STOPPED BY DURING THE
DOMINO'S GAME, RETURN TO COURTNEY'S HOUSE SOMETIME LATER?
>> SO WE MADE CONTACT WITH HIM >> Reporter: DID YOU LEARN
ANYTHING FROM HIM? >> NO.
>> Reporter: AT LEAST NOTHING NEW, AND DETECTIVES FOUND NO
EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST HE EVER RETURNED TO COURTNEY'S HOUSE
THAT NIGHT INVESTIGATORS RULED HIM OUT AS A
SUSPECT. BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE BURGLARIES
COURTNEY REPORTED BEFORE HER DEATH?
MAYBE THERE WAS SOMETHING THERE. >> THIS IS COURTNEY'S, UH, HOUSE
THAT SHE WAS LIVING IN AT THE TIME OF THE HOMICIDE
>> Reporter: SHORTLY BEFORE HER DEATH, IT HAD BEEN BURGLARIZED
THREE TIMES IN ONE WEEK. HER TV, STEREO, AND SOME JEWELRY
WERE TAKEN WAS YOUR GUT TELLING YOU THAT
MAYBE THESE BURGLARIES WERE CONNECTED TO HER DEATH
>> SURE. IT'S -- IT'S A POSSIBILITY
SOMEBODY MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT SHE WASN'T COMING BACK OR WHATEVER
AND SHE SURPRISED THEM WHEN SHE CAME BACK HOME
>> Reporter: BUT HOW DID SOMEONE GET INSIDE THE HOUSE IF THERE
WAS NO FORCED ENTRY? COURTNEY'S MOM BELIEVED
COURTNEY'S EX-ROOMMATE, A WOMAN NAMED ALEXANDRIA, KNEW THE
ANSWER TO THAT COURTNEY TOLD HER FAMILY SHE
THOUGHT ALEXANDRIA WAS BEHIND TWO OF THE BURGLARIES.
>> SHE THOUGHT IT WAS THE ROOMMATE BECAUSE THEY HAD TO
HAVE HAD A KEY, AND SHE DIDN'T KNOW IF THE ROOMMATE MAYBE MADE
AN EXTRA KEY >> Reporter: STEPHANIE EXPLAINED
TO DETECTIVES THAT COURTNEY KICKED THE ROOMMATE OUT OF THE
HOUSE AFTER A HEATED ARGUMENT. ALEXANDRIA DIDN'T RESPOND WELL
>> SHE THREATENED TO CUT HER GUTS OUT
>> Reporter: WOW DID YOU LOOK AT THE -- THE
ROOMMATE >> YEAH.
WE LOCATED HER AND -- AND -- AND TALKED TO HER.
UM, WE DID NOT GET AN INDICATION THAT SHE WAS INVOLVED.
>> Reporter: SERGEANT GREEN QUICKLY RULED ALEXANDRIA OUT AS
A PERSON OF INTEREST AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE LINKING HER TO THE
BURGLARIES OR ADDITIONAL LEADS CONNECTING THE BURGLARIES TO
COURTNEY'S MURDER. BUT DETECTIVES WERE LEARNING
SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE IMPORTANT TO THE INVESTIGATION
SEVERAL PEOPLE IN COURTNEY'S INNER CIRCLE HAD CRIMINAL
RECORDS INVOLVING THEFT AND THE SALE OF MARIJUANA.
>> SO I DON'T KNOW IF MAYBE SOME OF THE DRUGS WAS PLAYING PART TO
THE -- >> Reporter: COURTNEY WAS DOING
DRUGS? >> YES
>> Reporter: HER COUSIN, CANDACE, KNEW COURTNEY SMOKED
MARIJUANA. SHE SAYS IT STARTED TOWARD THE
END OF HIGH SCHOOL >> AND WHY DO PEOPLE DO DRUGS?
YOU KNOW, TO ESCAPE SOMETHING, TO -- TO FILL A VOID, TO FILL A
HOLE >> Reporter: THAT VOID
CANDACE BELIEVES IT WAS CREATED BY THE DEATH OF COURTNEY'S
FATHER >> I THINK THAT BECAUSE SHE HAD
A DADDY-SHAPED HOLE IN HER HEART, SHE SOUGHT LOVE AND
ATTENTION ELSEWHERE. >> Reporter: AND WHEN COURTNEY
DROPPED OUT OF COLLEGE AFTER ONE SEMESTER, CANDACE NOTICED HER
COUSIN TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORSE.
SHE WAS ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE COMPANY COURTNEY
STARTED KEEPING. >> THEY WERE EITHER DEALERS OR
THEY HAD BEEN CAUGHT DOING SOMETHING OR ANOTHER
>> COURTNEY HAD A LITTLE LIFE THAT WE KNEW ABOUT AND ONE THAT
WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT >> Reporter: I'M ASSUMING YOU
DIDN'T LOVE WHAT YOU WERE HEARING ABOUT THIS OTHER LIFE.
>> YES, MA'AM. THAT'S RIGHT
IT WAS JUST THE TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT SHE WAS AROUND THAT HAD ME
REALLY CONCERNED >> Reporter: PEOPLE LIKE A GUY
NAMED JITTY, COURTNEY'S ON-AGAIN, OFF- AGAIN BOYFRIEND,
WHO AT FIRST SEEMED NICE, POLITE, WHEN HE MET HER FAMILY
>> COURTNEY BROUGHT HIM OVER TO MY HOUSE, AND SHE INTRODUCED HIM
AS HER FUTURE HUSBAND. >> Reporter: BUT AS THE MONTHS
PASSED, LACE LEARNED HE HAD A DARKER SIDE.
>> I DID KNOW THAT HE SOLD DRUGS.
>> Reporter: OKAY, THAT'S -- THAT'S NOT GOOD.
>> NO. >> Reporter: SHE ALSO BEGAN TO
SUSPECT HE MIGHT BE VIOLENT. >> SHE HAD BRUISES ON HER ARMS
AT WORK A COUPLE OF TIMES. >> Reporter: COURTNEY WOULDN'T
SAY IF JITTY WAS RESPONSIBLE BUT ONE DAY, OUT OF THE BLUE,
LACE SAYS COURTNEY MADE A STARTLING COMMENT.
>> SHE TOLD ME ONE TIME, "IF ANYTHING EVER HAPPENS TO ME,
FLOYD LEE WILLIAMS JR. DID IT. AND I SAID, "WELL, WHO IS THAT?"
AND SHE SAYS, "THAT'S JITTY. NOBODY ON THE STREET KNOWS HIS
NAME." SO SHE WANTED ME TO, LIKE, GIVE
THAT TO THE POLICE >> Reporter: THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT
LACE DID AFTER COURTNEY'S DEATH. SHE TOLD SERGEANT GREEN
EVERYTHING HOW SERIOUSLY DID YOU TAKE WHAT
THE FAMILY WAS SAYING ABOUT HIM? >> I TOOK EVERYTHING THAT THEY
SAID, UH, SERIOUSLY BECAUSE NOBODY KNEW WHO WAS INVOLVED AT
THAT POINT >> Reporter: SERGEANT GREEN
TRACKED JITTY DOWN AND BROUGHT HIM TO THE STATION FOR
QUESTIONING. AND WHEN HE ASKED HIM WHERE HE
WAS DURING THE WEEKEND COURTNEY WAS KILLED -
>> HE SAID HE WAS AROUND, UH -- AROUND TOWN AND FROM DIFFERENT
PLACES OR WHATEVER >> Reporter: SO HE WASN'T GIVING
YOU SPECIFICS? >> NO.
>> Reporter: WHAT ARE YOU THINKING
>> I'M THINKING THAT HE'S TRYING TO, UH, KEEP SOMETHING AWAY FROM
US >> Reporter: THE INVESTIGATOR
KNEW JITTY HAD A CRIMINAL RECORD
BUT THERE WERE NO VIOLENT OFFENSES
HE ALSO DIDN'T BELIEVE JITTY WAS CAPABLE OF KILLING COURTNEY AND
MOVING HER BODY. >> HE'S SMALL IN STATURE, I
THINK 5'6" OR 5'4" OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
HE'S SMALL -- SMALL GUY. >> Reporter: DID YOU STRAIGHT UP
ASK HIM, "DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH" --
>> YES >> Reporter: -- "COURTNEY COCO'S
DEATH? >> YES
AND HE SAID NO >> Reporter: SERGEANT GREEN
BELIEVED COURTNEY'S KILLER WAS SOMEONE CLOSE TO HER, PERHAPS
ANOTHER MAN IN HER LIFE. OFFICIALLY JITTY REMAINED A
SUSPECT. BUT WITHOUT EVIDENCE TYING HIM
TO THE MURDER, GREEN DIDN'T SEE WHAT MORE HE COULD DO.
COURTNEY'S FAMILY BELIEVED JUST THE OPPOSITE
THEY THOUGHT THERE WAS A LOT MORE HE COULD BE DOING
>> I WASN'T HAPPY WITH THE INVESTIGATION.
AND I HAVE ZERO NEGATIVE FEELINGS TOWARDS LAW
ENFORCEMENT. BUT I FELT LIKE PROPER MEASURES
WERE NOT TAKEN >> Reporter: NOT TAKEN OR
PURSUED. >> I FEEL LIKE BECAUSE OF THE
CHOICES THAT SHE MADE, THE LIFESTYLE SHE HELD OR THE PEOPLE
SHE HUNG AROUND, THAT IT WAS ALMOST LIKE SHE WAS TREATED
SECONDARY, YOU KNOW. LIKE, "WELL, WE'LL GET TO THAT
CASE LATER." >> Reporter: THE FAMILY WAS
LOSING FAITH FAST IN THE ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
WHAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW -- THE APD WAS ON THE HORN WITH THE TEXAS
RANGERS, AND TOGETHER THEY WERE ABOUT TO CATCH A BREAK THAT
>> Reporter: IT'S A PARENT'S BIGGEST FEAR, HAVING TO BURY A
CHILD. >> AND I JUST KEPT ASKING GOD
WHY. >> Reporter: JUST A WEEK
EARLIER, STEPHANIE BELGARD WAS STARING AT HER DAUGHTER
COURTNEY'S SWEET FACE. NOW SHE WAS LOOKING DOWN AT HER
COFFIN >> EVERYTHING THAT I CARED
ABOUT, I -- I DIDN'T CARE ABOUT ANYMORE.
I DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO GET OUT OF THE BED.
>> Reporter: I WOULD IMAGINE THAT STEPHANIE'S PAIN IS YOUR
PAIN >> IT ABSOLUTELY IS.
WHEN SHE CRIES, WE CRY AND THEN WE TRY TO BE THE ROCK
FOR HER IF SHE NEEDS TO MELT >> Reporter: HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
ATTENDED COURTNEY'S FUNERAL TO SAY THEIR GOOD-BYES.
BUT NO ONE COULD FORGET THAT HER KILLER WAS STILL ON THE LOOSE.
>> THERE WAS LOTS OF FEDERAL MARSHALS AND POLICEMEN ALL
WALKING AROUND >> Reporter: COURTNEY'S COUSIN
COULD FEEL THE TENSION >> YOU KNOW, THEY WERE CONVINCED
THAT WHOEVER DID THAT TO HER WOULD SHOW UP AT THE FUNERAL
YOU LOOK AT EVERYONE IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT.
YOU KNOW, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT?
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT
>> Reporter: COURTNEY'S SISTER LACE WAS ON EDGE, BUT
HEARTBROKEN TOO. SHE WANTED TO SEE AND TOUCH HER
SISTER ONE LAST TIME >> THE HARDEST THING WAS IT
WASN'T EVEN OPEN CASKET. WE COULDN'T EVEN HOLD HER HAND,
KISS HER CHEEK WE COULDN'T TELL HER GOOD-BYE
THE WAY WE WANTED TO >> Reporter: SHE WAS GLAD TO
HAVE HER FAMILY THERE AS SUPPORT, ESPECIALLY HER FIANCE
YOUR FIANCE, ANTHONY, WAS ONE OF THE PALLBEARERS.
>> HE WAS A PALLBEARER HE WANTED TO BE A PALLBEARER
TOO. >> Reporter: THEY CARRIED
COURTNEY TO HER FINAL RESTING PLACE NEXT TO HER FATHER
REMEMBER, IT WAS HER WISH FROM WHEN SHE WAS JUST 8 YEARS OLD.
IT WAS THERE, AT THE CEMETERY, THAT STEPHANIE MADE HER DAUGHTER
A PROMISE. >> KNEELING ON HER GRAVE, I
SAID, "I'M GOING TO FIND OUT WHO PUT YOU HERE
AND IF THE LORD LETS ME LIVE LONG ENOUGH, I'M GOING TO DO
IT." >> Reporter: BACK IN TEXAS,
DETECTIVE RABALAIS WAS TRYING TO DO THE SAME, BUT HIS
INVESTIGATION WAS STALLED. HE'D BEEN STRIKING OUT SINCE DAY
ONE. >> A LOT OF PEOPLE CALLED MY
OFFICE "I SAW THAT GIRL
I SAW THAT GIRL WITH SO-AND-SO." THAT STUFF
OKAY THEN I GO SNATCH UP SO-AND-SO,
TAKE HIM, GET HIM POLYGRAPHED. HE PASSED.
>> Reporter: BUT ON THE VERY DAY OF COURTNEY'S FUNERAL, HE GOT
WORD OF A NEW DEVELOPMENT. THE ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
CRIME SCENE UNIT HAD SUBPOENAED COURTNEY'S PHONE RECORDS AND
SENT THEM TO RANGER HEARN. THEY SHOWED THAT SHE STOPPED
USING HER PHONE AT 4:30 A.M. SATURDAY, NOT LONG AFTER SHE
DROVE HER FRIENDS HOME BUT THEN SUNDAY NIGHT, HER PHONE
RECORDS REGISTERED A SUDDEN FLURRY OF CALLS THAT CONTINUED
AFTER HER BODY WAS FOUND >> AND WHEN IT TURNED BACK ON,
IT WAS USING A HOUSTON CELL TOWER AND STARTED CALLING
HOUSTON PHONE NUMBERS. >> Reporter: IT WAS THE FIRST
REAL BREAK IN THE CASE DID YOU FEEL LIKE IF YOU
COULD -- >> FIND THE PHONE?
>> Reporter: FIND THE PHONE, YOU COULD FIND THE KILLER?
>> POTENTIALLY, YES. IF YOU CAN GET THERE, YOU GET TO
THE PERSON WHO LAST SAW HER AND TOOK HER PHONE FROM HER.
>> Reporter: COURTNEY'S PHONE WAS PINGING OFF OF TWO CELL
TOWERS 60 MILES AWAY IN A SECTION OF HOUSTON, TEXAS,
CALLED THE FOURTH WARD DETECTIVE RABALAIS AND RANGER
HEARN FOLLOWED THE PINGS AND, TO THEIR SURPRISE, FOUND THE PHONE
IN THE CUSTODY OF A 15-YEAR-OLD. SO WHAT IS THIS -- THIS TEENAGER
SAYING ABOUT HOW HE GOT THIS PHONE?
AND DOES HE KNOW COURTNEY? >> SO HE SAYS HE HAS NO IDEA
OR -- OR ANY CONNECTION TO THE VICTIM
HE SAID TWO GUYS, ONE SHORT AND ONE TALL, WERE WALKING DOWN THE
STREET AND OFFERED HIM THE CELL PHONE FOR $10.
>> Reporter: JUST RANDOM STRANGERS WHO APPROACHED HIM
>> HE DID NOT KNOW THEM BY NAME OR HAD NOT SEEN THEM BEFORE.
>> Reporter: AND JUST LIKE THAT, THEIR ONLY LEAD VANISHED
BUT A WEEK LATER, THEY CAUGHT ANOTHER BREAK AND WERE BACK IN
HOUSTON. THEY'D BEEN LOOKING FOR
COURTNEY'S CAR, THE GREEN PONTIAC, AND FOUND IT PARKED
OUTSIDE AN APARTMENT COMPLEX IS THIS GETTING YOU ANY CLOSER
TO COURTNEY'S POSSIBLE KILLER? >> WE ARE HOPING SO.
>> Reporter: THE DETECTIVES LEARNED THE DESCRIPTION OF THE
TWO MEN WHO DROVE COURTNEY'S CAR TO HOUSTON MATCHED THAT OF THE
MEN WHO SOLD HER PHONE THIS TIME THEY GOT A NAME FOR
ONE OF THEM -- RED NOW YOU HAVE A NAME.
>> NOW WE HAD AT LEAST A NICKNAME
>> Reporter: IT WASN'T MUCH, BUT RANGER HEARN AND DETECTIVE
RABALAIS FOLLOWED EVERY LEAD THEY CAME ACROSS IN THEIR SEARCH
FOR RED. THEY KNEW HE COULD BE KEY TO
SOLVING THE CASE RED MIGHT HAVE INFORMATION
LEADING TO - >> HE MIGHT HAVE INFORMATION
LEADING TO SOMETHING HE GOT THE CAR FROM SOMEWHERE.
THE CAR CAME FROM LOUISIANA, AND HE ENDED UP WITH IT SOMEHOW.
>> Reporter: OR OR HE COULD EVEN BE THE KILLER.
>> HE COULD. >> Reporter: BUT LAW ENFORCEMENT
NEVER FOUND RED OR LEARNED HIS REAL NAME.
STILL, THEY HAD COURTNEY'S CAR AND A CRIME SCENE TEAM TO
QUICKLY PROCESS IT >> WE CHECKED IT FOR
FINGERPRINTS WE COLLECTED CIGARETTE BUTTS
FROM INSIDE OF THE CAR >> Reporter: THEY ALSO SPRAYED
LUMINOL AND FOUND SOMETHING. >> WE FOUND SOME BLOOD ON THE
TRUNK LATCH. >> Reporter: WAS IT COURTNEY'S
BLOOD, OR MAYBE HER KILLER'S ONCE AGAIN, LAW ENFORCEMENT
WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR LAB RESULTS TO KNOW THE ANSWER
MEANWHILE, THE INVESTIGATION BACK IN ALEXANDRIA WAS ABOUT TO
ZERO IN MUCH CLOSER TO HOME IN A WAY THAT WOULD PUT COURTNEY'S
OWN FAMILY UNDER THE WHITE HOT >> Reporter: IN THE WEEKS AFTER
COURTNEY COCO WAS LAID TO REST BESIDE HER FATHER, COURTNEY'S
MOTHER FELT THE NEED TO CROSS INTO TEXAS WHERE HER DAUGHTER'S
BODY HAD BEEN FOUND. WHAT DID YOU HOPE TO GET BY
GOING THERE, OR FEEL >> TO ME, IT WAS SACRED GROUND,
EVEN THOUGH IT WAS HORRIBLE HOW SHE GOT THERE.
AND UH, WE BROUGHT A PRIEST WITH US WHEN WE WENT, AND HE BLESSED
THE PLACE. >> Reporter: AND IN A MORE
VISIBLE SIGN OF FAITH -- WHILE THE WHOLE FAMILY WATCHED, LACE'S
FIANCE, ANTHONY BURNS, HELPED PLANT THIS CROSS NEAR THE
BUILDING WHERE HER BODY WAS FOUND.
>> HER CROSS WAS SO BEAUTIFUL. IT STOOD ABOUT FIVE FOOT HIGH.
>> WE PUT IT DOWN IN THERE, KIND OF OFF TO THE SIDE WHERE IT
WOULDN'T BE, LIKE, RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING, BUT LIKE,
WHERE I HAD A SPOT TO AT LEAST GO LEAVE FLOWERS EVERY NOW AND
THEN >> Reporter: COURTNEY'S FAMILY
WAS JUGGLING A RANGE OF EMOTIONS --
SADNESS. CONFUSION.
ANGER. IT WAS THE LACK OF ANSWERS
THE HOUSTON CRIME LAB HAD FINISHED PROCESSING ALL THE
EVIDENCE FROM COURTNEY'S CAR, AND THEY FOUND NOTHING
NONE OF THE FINGERPRINTS OR THE DNA LED INVESTIGATORS TO A MAN
WHO WENT BY THE NAME OF "RED," OR ANYONE ELSE WHO BROUGHT THEM
CLOSER TO IDENTIFYING COURTNEY'S KILLER
THE FINAL TOXICOLOGY RESULTS WERE ALSO IN, AND SHOWED NO
DRUGS IN COURTNEY'S SYSTEM THE MEDICAL EXAMINER DETERMINED
HER CAUSE OF DEATH WAS LIKELY ASPHYXIA -
OR SUFFOCATION -- AND THAT SHE WAS SMOTHERED TO DEATH
IT LEFT THE FAMILY FEELING LIKE THEY HAD TO SOLVE THE MURDER ON
THEIR OWN. >> WE WOULD GO OUT AND WE WOULD
HAND OUT FLYERS AND PUT FLYERS ON EVERY STORE IN TOWN
>> Reporter: FLYERS WITH COURTNEY'S PHOTO AND HER
MOTHER'S PHONE NUMBER, ASKING FOR ANY INFORMATION THAT MIGHT
HELP WITH THE INVESTIGATION. THEY WROTE DOWN EVERY TIP THEY
GOT, EVERY PERSON THEY SPOKE TO, AND LOOKED THROUGH COURTNEY'S
PHONE AND BANKING RECORDS, DOCUMENTING EVERY DETAIL
AND, THEY SHARED IT ALL WITH SERGEANT GREEN
THEY WEREN'T GIVING UP BUT AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR
PASSED, THEY FELT LIKE THE DETECTIVE ALREADY HAD.
IS DETECTIVE GREEN TALKING TO YOU, BEING FORTHCOMING, SHARING
WITH YOU WHAT THEY'RE DOING? >> NO.
STEPHANIE WOULD CALL VERY FREQUENTLY TO TRY TO GET
UPDATES. >> IT JUST GOT TO A POINT WHERE
IT FELT LIKE IT WAS ON THE BACK BURNER
>> Reporter: BUT SERGEANT GREEN SAYS THE MURDER INVESTIGATION
WAS NEVER ON ANY BACK BURNER, AND THAT HE WAS DOING THE BEST
HE COULD WITH THE RESOURCES HE HAD.
>> I HAD OTHER HOMICIDES THAT WERE COMING IN AND OTHER THINGS
THAT WERE GOING ON AND NO, I WAS NOT AT THEIR BECK
AND CALL, I WAS NOT. >> Reporter: HE ALSO DENIES THE
FAMILY'S ALLEGATION THAT HE TREATED COURTNEY'S CASE AS LESS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF THE LIFESTYLE SHE LED AND THE PEOPLE
SHE ASSOCIATED WITH. HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT THE FACT
THAT THE FAMILY WAS KIND OF DOING THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION,
PLAYING THE ROLE OF DETECTIVE? >> I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS, UH,
INTERFERING WITH OUR -- WITH OUR INVESTIGATION.
>> Reporter: HOW WAS IT INTERFERING?
>> THEY WANTED TO KNOW EVERYTHING WE DID.
UH, THEY WANTED TO, UH, KNOW WHO WE TALKED TO, WHAT WE ASKED
THEM AND, UH, THAT'S NOT SOME THINGS
THAT WE -- WE, UH, USUALLY DIVULGE.
>> Reporter: THEY FELT THAT THEY WERE CALLING YOU WITH -- WITH
TIPS AND LEADS THAT YOU EITHER WEREN'T FOLLOWING OR WEREN'T
FOLLOWING WELL ENOUGH. >> YEAH.
THEY WERE, I FELT, LIKE, SENDING ME ON A WHOLE BUNCH OF WILD
GOOSE CHASES >> Reporter: AND THE DETECTIVE
WONDERED -- WAS THERE MORE TO IT THAN THAT?
A YEAR AND HALF AFTER COURTNEY'S MURDER, SERGEANT GREEN'S EARS
WENT UP WHEN HE HEARD SOMETHING THAT NONE OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS
HAD EVER MENTIONED SOMETHING THAT SUDDENLY CAST
REAL SUSPICION ON THEM >> WE ENDED UP GETTING AN
ANONYMOUS PHONE CALL AT FIRST, UH, SAYING TO US, UH, FOLLOW THE
MONEY. >> Reporter: WHAT DID THAT MEAN
TO YOU, "FOLLOW THE MONEY" >> AT THAT POINT, I DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT IT MEANT. SO THEN WE STARTED TO TRY TO
TRACK DOWN WHY WAS THAT SAID, AND WHO WAS SAYING IT, BECAUSE
IT CAME IN ANONYMOUSLY AT FIRST. >> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS SOON
TRACKED THE CALL TO COURTNEY'S GRANDFATHER.
THE MAN TOLD POLICE THAT HIS SON, COURTNEY'S FATHER, HAD ONCE
BEEN INJURED ON THE JOB. HE LOST A LEG AND RECEIVED A
SETTLEMENT >> AND WHEN HE PASSED AWAY,
COURTNEY WAS THE BENEFICIARY >> Reporter: COURTNEY WAS IN
GRADE SCHOOL WHEN HER FATHER DIED AND APPARENTLY HAD NO IDEA
HE'D LEFT HER -- WHAT WOULD BECOME A SMALL FORTUNE
>> EVERY FIVE YEARS, SHE GOT A LUMP SUM AND IT DOUBLED EVERY
FIVE YEARS. ALL THE WAY UP TO $300,000,
$400,000 OR SO THEY START COMING TO HER, IN HER
NAME >> Reporter: "THEY" MEANING
CHECKS $1,500 EVERY MONTH
THAT WAS JUST THE START -- DETECTIVES LEARNED THAT A FEW
MONTHS BEFORE COURTNEY DIED, SHE'D RECEIVED A CHECK FOR
$20,000. AND WHERE THERE'S MONEY, OFTEN,
THERE'S MOTIVE >> THROUGH TALKING TO PEOPLE,
THIS MAYBE HAD CAUSED A LITTLE BIT OF STRIFE BETWEEN HER AND
HER MOM. WE HAD SOME INDICATION THAT HER
AND HER MOM HAD -- HAD ARGUED ABOUT THE MONEY AND THAT WAS A
PROBLEM FOR -- FOR COURTNEY, APPARENTLY
>> Reporter: SERGEANT GREEN FOUND IT STRANGE THAT STEPHANIE
HAD FAILED TO MENTION ANY OF THIS IN THEIR MANY
CONVERSATIONS. SO IN MARCH 2006, 17 MONTHS
AFTER COURTNEY'S BODY WAS FOUND, HE CALLED STEPHANIE DOWN TO THE
STATION FOR QUESTIONING. NOW, YOU'RE ON THE POTENTIAL
SUSPECT LIST >> OF THEIRS, I GUESS.
SO, I GLADLY GAVE MY DNA I DID WHATEVER THEY ASKED ME TO
DO I COOPERATED 100 PERCENT
>> Reporter: STEPHANIE EVEN TOOK A POLYGRAPH.
>> THEY ASKED ME, LIKE, ALL THESE QUESTIONS.
LIKE, "DO YOU KNOW WHO KILLED YOUR CHILD
DID YOU HELP KILL COURTNEY?" ALL THESE HORRIBLE QUESTIONS,
WHICH I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE TO DO
>> Reporter: YEAH. >> AS INSENSITIVE AS IT SEEMS,
UH, IT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED AT SOME POINT
WE HAD TO ASK. >> Reporter: AND AS FAR AS THE
ISSUE THAT HAD LANDED STEPHANIE IN POLICE CROSSHAIRS
COURTNEY'S MOM SAYS SHE'D KNOWN ABOUT THE MONEY ALL ALONG AND
MANAGED IT UNTIL HER DAUGHTER TURNED EIGHTEEN.
SO, MAYBE YOU WANTED COURTNEY'S MONEY.
>> RIGHT >> Reporter: BECAUSE WOULD IT GO
TO YOU IF SHE DIED >> I ASSUMED THAT IT WOULD GO
BACK TO HIS FAMILY BUT IT DIDN'T.
IT CAME TO ME. >> Reporter: WAS ANYTHING SHE
WAS SAYING SUSPICIOUS TO YOU, THAT SHE MIGHT KNOW SOMETHING
ABOUT THE MURDER >> NO.
NO >> Reporter: DID SHE PASS THE
POLYGRAPH? >> SHE DID
>> Reporter: COURTNEY'S MOM WAS IN THE CLEAR
BUT ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE FAMILY WAS ABOUT TO FACE THE SAME
TREATMENT. AND HER VISIT TO THE POLICE
STATION ENDED IN FAR MORE TROUBLING FASHION.
>> I WENT BALLISTIC. I LOST IT.
I RIPPED THE STUFF OFF I -- I WAS ABOUT TO LOSE MY
>> Reporter: JUST DAYS AFTER COURTNEY'S MOM STEPHANIE WALKED
OUT OF THE POLICE STATION AND OUT FROM UNDER ANY CLOUD OF
SUSPICION COURTNEY'S SISTER GOT A CALL
IT WAS SERGEANT GREEN. >> HE SAID, "LACE, I NEED YOU
COME DOWN TO THE STATION TOMORROW MORNING ABOUT 9:00,"
AND HE SAID, "I HAVE SOME INFORMATION ON YOUR SISTER."
>> ARE YOU THINKING MAYBE THERE'S BEEN AN ARREST
>> I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS I JUST KNEW THAT THERE WAS SOME
INFORMATION AND I WAS ALL FOR IT
>> Reporter: 17 MONTHS HAS PASSED WITHOUT ANY PROMISING
LEADS IN COURTNEY COCO'S MURDER. AS LACE SET OFF FOR THE POLICE
STATION, MAYBE THAT WAS NOW ABOUT TO CHANGE.
>> I WENT DOWN THERE AND HE OPENED THIS DOOR
AND THERE WERE TWO FBI AGENTS AND TWO POLICE OFFICERS OR
DETECTIVES SITTING AT THIS LONG TABLE FIRST THING HE SAID IS
YOU'RE IN BIG TROUBLE. >> Reporter: SO, NOW THEY'RE
LOOKING AT YOU >> YES
>> Reporter: WE FELT LIKE LACE KNEW MORE THAN WHAT SHE WAS --
WAS GIVING US. LACE DOES HAVE A RECORD OF
MISDEMEANOR ROBBERY AND ASSAULT. NERVOUSLY SHE AGREED TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS ABOUT HER SISTER AND WAS WIRED UP FOR A POLYGRAPH
TEST ARE THEY TREATING YOU LIKE A
SUSPECT IN YOUR SISTER'S MURDER? >> YES
>> WE START THE POLYGRAPH, UH, POLYGRAPHER CAME OUT AND HIS
EXACT WORDS, "IT WOULD BE A MIRACLE IF SHE PASSED THIS TEST
AT THIS POINT. >> Reporter: BECAUSE SHE'S LYING
OR SHE'S JUST NOT HANDLING THE TEST VERY WELL
>> APPARENTLY, SHE WASN'T BEING TRUTHFUL AT THAT POINT
>> Reporter: OKAY. LACE INSISTS SHE TOLD THE TRUTH
BUT GOT STRESSED AND OVERWHELMED BY THE LONG DRAWN OUT INTERVIEW.
>> I WANT TO SAY IT WAS LIKE 6 HOURS OR 7 HOURS OR SOMETHING.
>> Reporter: SO, YOU THINK THEY THINK THAT YOU KILLED COURTNEY
OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO DID? >> OR KNEW SOMEONE, YES.
I MEAN, THEY WERE PUTTING IT ON ME
>> Reporter: THE QUESTIONS FOR LACE, JUST LIKE THOSE ASKED OF
HER MOTHER, WELL, THEY HIT A NERVE.
WHEN THEY ASKED YOU, DID YOU KILL COURTNEY --
>> I WENT BALLISTIC. I LOST IT.
I SAID, "NO, I DIDN'T KILL MY SISTER."
AND I WAS LIKE, "MAN, WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO TO ME?"
AND I RIPPED THE POLYGRAPH OFF AND I WAS LEAVING.
HE SAID, IF YOU DON'T COME BACK HERE TOMORROW MORNING TO RETAKE
THIS TEST, IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE YOU KILLED YOUR SISTER.
AND MY MIND WAS SO BLOWN BECAUSE I KNOW I DIDN'T KILL MY SISTER
>> Reporter: SERGEANT GREEN WASN'T IN THE ROOM AT THE TIME,
BUT HE HEARD WHAT HAD HAPPENED WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT,
WHEN YOU FIND OUT THAT SHE RUNS OUT ON THE -
>> YEAH. WELL -
>> Reporter: -- INTERVIEW? >> WELL, WHAT WOULD YOU THINK?
>> Reporter: I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.
>> I'M THINKING THAT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT SHE KNOWS THAT
SHE'S NOT TELLING US >> Reporter: SO YOU'RE THINKING
LIKE, NOW, LACE COULD BE THE KEY TO POTENTIALLY SOLVING THIS
MURDER >> YES
>> Reporter: BUT YOU DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHY.
>> I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHY. >> Reporter: WHEN LACE LEAVES
THE STATION IS SHE A SUSPECT NOW?
>> SHE IS PROBABLY MORE OF A PERSON OF INTEREST THAN SHE WAS
BEFORE SHE CAME IN >> Reporter: DESPONDENT, LACE
CALLED HER MOM DID THAT BOTHER YOU THAT LACE
WAS QUESTIONED FOR HOURS >> VERY MUCH SO, YES
AND SHE WAS ON SEIZURE MEDICINE AT THAT TIME AND THEY DIDN'T
EVEN ALLOW HER TO TAKE HER MEDICINE OR GET ANYTHING TO EAT
OR DRINK IN LIKE ALMOST EIGHT HOURS AND SHE WAS IN TEARS BUT
SHE WENT BACK THE NEXT DAY AND FINISHED
>> Reporter: LACE PASSED THE POLYGRAPH BUT REMAINED UNDER
SUSPICION. SO IF YOU THOUGHT COURTNEY'S
FAMILY WAS FED UP WITH DETECTIVE GREEN BEFORE
WELL, THEY WERE ABOUT TO TURN UP THE HEAT BY TURNING TO HIS BOSS.
>> I TOLD THE POLICE CHIEF, I SAID, "I DO NOT WANT DETECTIVE
GREEN ON COURTNEY'S CASE PLEASE TAKE HIM OFF.
I JUST WANTED SOMEBODY THAT WOULD GIVE ME ANSWERS.
>> I WAS TOLD BY THE CHIEF I'VE BEEN SITTING UP ALL NIGHT TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIRE YOU. I'M LIKE, "ARE -- ARE YOU
SERIOUS? FIRE ME FOR WHAT?"
HE SAID THAT, YOU TOLD THEM THAT THEY ARE POSSIBLE SUSPECTS
WELL, UH, YEAH I DON'T KNOW WHO KILLED HER.
DO YOU KNOW? DO THEY KNOW
>> Reporter: COULD YOU SORT OF SEE THEIR POINT THAT A LOT OF
TIME HAD GONE BY AND THERE WAS NO ARREST?
MAYBE TIME FOR SOME FRESH EYES >> WELL, MAYBE
I MEAN, AND I DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
>> Reporter: DID THAT HURT A LITTLE BIT THAT -- I MEAN, DID
YOU WANT TO SEE IT THROUGH DID YOU WANT TO --
>> I DID >> Reporter: -- CONTINUE TO TRY
TO SOLVE IT? >> I DID
THERE'S NO HOMICIDE THAT I'VE STARTED ON, THAT I DON'T WANT TO
FINISH I MEAN, YEAH, IT WAS HURTFUL
BUT I'M -- I'M -- I'M ALSO A -- A PROFESSIONAL
>> Reporter: YEAH. >> SO IF THAT WAS THE DECISION
TO BE MADE I HAD TO MOVE ON. >> Reporter: SGT. GREEN WASN'T
FIRED BUT WAS REASSIGNED AND EVENTUALLY ANOTHER DETECTIVE
WAS PUT ON THE CASE. BUT FIRST A NEW REVELATION WOULD
HIT COURTNEY'S FAMILY, ONE THAT WOULD CHALLENGE EVERYTHING THEY
THOUGHT THEY KNEW ABOUT HER MURDER
>> AND HE SAID, "I'M HERE TO TELL Y'ALL THAT YOUR DAUGHTER'S
>> Reporter: YEARS PASSED UNTIL SOMEHOW, IT HAD BEEN A DECADE
SINCE THE MURDER OF COURTNEY COCO.
THE CASE HAD GONE BITTERLY COLD. THE FRUSTRATION MUST HAVE JUST
BEEN OVERWHELMING, NOT HAVING ANSWERS.
>> YES, MA'AM. I EVEN CAME TO THE REALIZATION
THAT HER MURDER MIGHT NEVER BE SOLVED
AND I GAVE IT TO THE LORD. AND I SAID, "DO YOU KNOW WHO DID
THIS? AND THE ULTIMATE JUSTICE WILL COME FROM YOU."
>> Reporter: YOU DIDN'T GIVE UP. >> NO.
BUT I WANTED TO. SO MANY TIMES, I JUST -- I WAS
TIRED. >> Reporter: DESPERATE FOR
ANSWERS, COURTNEY'S FAMILY ASKED YET ANOTHER AGENCY FOR HELP --
THE LOCAL LOUISIANA SHERIFF'S OFFICE
THEY ALSO JOINED A GROUP CALLED PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN,
AND EVENTUALLY, THEY EVEN REACHED OUT TO "DATELINE," AND
WE FEATURED COURTNEY'S STORY ONLINE IN OUR "COLD CASE
SPOTLIGHT" SERIES. MEANWHILE, THEY DID WHATEVER
THEY COULD TO KEEP COURTNEY'S CASE IN THE PUBLIC EYE
>> WE DID ANY MARCH, CANDLELIGHT VIGIL, VICTIMS MARCH, ANYTHING
WE COULD DO. >> Reporter: COURTNEY'S FAMILY
DOUBLED DOWN ON THEIR SEARCH FOR ANSWERS, AND HAD THE BINDERS OF
INFORMATION TO PROVE IT. WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, ALL -- ALL
OF THE MATERIALS, I THINK OF, LIKE YOUR OWN LITTLE WAR ROOM.
>> EVERY LITTLE TIP THAT WOULD COME THROUGH, WHETHER IT WAS
WROTE ON A REGULAR PIECE OF PAPER --
>> A RECEIPT >> -- A RECEIPT, WE FILED IT
>> Reporter: COURTNEY'S GRANDMOTHER SAW FLASHES OF HOPE
IN A SEA OF DESPAIR. INA, YOU YOU'RE THE MATRIARCH.
WHAT WAS YOUR FEELING AS YOU'RE WATCHING THEM GO THROUGH THIS?
>> IT WAS VERY, VERY HURTFUL BECAUSE I NOTICED EVERY TIME A
NEW TIP CAME IN, THEIR EYES LIT UP, AND THERE WERE TIMES WHEN I
FELT LIKE WE WERE OUT THERE BY OURSELVES.
AND THAT IF WE WERE GOING TO GET HELP, WE HAD TO TRY TO HELP
OURSELVES. >> Reporter: THE POLICE SAID
THEY WERE DOING THEIR BEST BUT THAT DID NOTHING TO EASE THE
FAMILY'S FRUSTRATION THAT PUT A STRAIN ON DAILY LIFE.
AND ACROSS THE STATE LINE, IT HAD ALSO TAKEN A TOLL ON TEXAS
DETECTIVE DAVID RABALAIS, WHO ENDED UP LEAVING THE SHERIFF'S
OFFICE >> I GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I
COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE ON THE CASE, IT TORE ME APART
>> Reporter: YEAH. >> I WAS ON DEPRESSION
MEDICATION FROM THE DOCTOR >> Reporter: REALLY?
>> UH, I HAD ANOTHER HEART ATTACK
>> Reporter: BECAUSE OF THIS CASE
>> I JUST FELT LIKE I FAILED THE FAMILY
I'M NOT DOING MY JOB I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO THESE PEOPLE ARE HURTING
WHAT IF IT WAS MY CHILD AND I'M LAYING IN BED WONDERING HOW MY
CHILD DIED, WHO KILLED HER >> Reporter: THEN, IN 2016,
12 YEARS AFTER THE MURDER, CAME A BOMBSHELL.
THE FAMILY WAS CALLED TOGETHER NOT BY THE ALEXANDRIA POLICE
DEPARTMENT OR BY THE INVESTIGATORS IN TEXAS, BUT BY
THE LOUISIANA SHERIFF'S OFFICE IT TURNED OUT THE SHERIFF'S
OFFICE HAD ANSWERED THE FAMILY'S PLEA FOR HELP, BUT HADN'T TOLD
THEM THEY'D ORDERED NEW LAB TESTS, AND NOW THE FAMILY STOOD
BEFORE A DETECTIVE WHO WAS HOLDING SOME DOCUMENTS
>> HE HANDS US EACH ONE OF A COPY OF A SECOND TOXICOLOGY
REPORT THAT THEY DID ON COURTNEY'S BLOOD
>> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE TOLD COURTNEY'S FAMILY THE SHERIFF'S
OFFICE HAD ORDERED A NEW TOX SCREEN ON A VIAL OF COURTNEY'S
BLOOD THAT HAD BEEN STORED IN EVIDENCE SINCE THE MURDER.
HE SAID IT REVEALED PRESCRIPTION PAIN MEDICATION AND A LARGE
AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL IN COURTNEY'S SYSTEM
>> HE SAID, "I'M HERE TO TELL Y'ALL THAT YOUR DAUGHTER'S DEATH
WAS AN ACCIDENTAL DEATH. SHE O.D.'ED.
I'M LIKE, WHAT >> Reporter: BUT THE FIRST
AUTOPSY, THERE WAS NO SIGN OF -- OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL.
>> THE FIRST TOXICOLOGY REPORT WAS NO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL IN HER
SYSTEM BUT HE SAID, "IF I HAD TO
CLASSIFY YOUR DAUGHTER'S DEATH RIGHT NOW, IT WOULD BE
ACCIDENTAL." I WAS LIKE FLOORED
I WAS LIKE IN A STATE OF SHOCK I'M LIKE, SHE WAS LAST SEEN IN A
STORE THAT NIGHT IF SHE'D HAVE TAKEN ALL THESE
DRUGS, THERE WAS NO WAY SHE COULD HAVE WALKED.
>> I LOOK STRAIGHT AT HIM AND I SAID, "HOLD ON A SECOND.
COURTNEY DID NOT PUT HER BODY IN THE TRUNK OF A CAR AND GO DUMP
HERSELF IN TEXAS." >> RIGHT
>> "SOMEBODY'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT
AND -- AND WE WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS ANSWER.
>> Reporter: DID YOU HAVE TO THINK THOUGH, THAT IT WAS
POSSIBLE THAT SHE MAYBE, MAYBE THE FIRST AUTOPSY WAS MESSED UP,
THAT SHE REALLY DID O.D.? AND THEN SOMEONE TRANSPORTED HER
BODY TO THE SCENE? >> NO.
WE NEVER DOUBTED THE FIRST AUTOPSY REPORT BECAUSE THEY HAD
HER ACTUAL BODY. THEY TESTED HER ACTUAL SPLEEN
AND EVERYTHING RIGHT THEN AND THERE.
>> Reporter: I'VE NEVER HEARD OF ANYBODY GOING FROM A CLEAN TOX
SCREEN TO SUDDENLY WITH ALL THESE DRUGS IN HER SYSTEM?
>> RIGHT >> RIGHT
>> WE WEREN'T GOING TO BELIEVE IT, NO
>> Reporter: COURTNEY'S FAMILY BELIEVED LAW ENFORCEMENT JUST
WANTED TO CLOSE THE CASE, BE DONE WITH ALL OF IT, AND DONE
WITH THEM. DAYS LATER, STEPHANIE CALLED THE
DETECTIVE. >> AND I SAID, "I'M NOT BUYING
IT I DON'T BELIEVE IT FOR A MINUTE.
KEEP DIGGING," I SAID, "AND UNTIL YOU CAN TELL ME WHO PUT MY
DAUGHTER'S BODY IN THAT BUILDING THAT SHE WAS IN, THEN THIS CASE
IS NOT SOLVED. >> Reporter: BUT IF THE
LOUISIANA SHERIFF WANTED TO BE DONE WITH THE COURTNEY COCO
CASE, WELL, IN ONE SENSE IT WORKED
BECAUSE STEPHANIE AND HER FAMILY WERE NOW DONE WITH OFFICIAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT CHANNELS >> Reporter: AND YOU DECIDE "IF
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SOLVE THIS,
I AM." >> I'M GOING TO GET SOMEONE.
I WANTED A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR OR SOMEBODY.
>> Reporter: A FAMILY MEMBER HAPPENED TO KNOW SOMEONE WITH A
PASSION FOR COLD CASES HIS NAME IS WOODY OVERTON -- A
FORMER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR FOR THE LOUISIANA STATE POLICE, WITH
OVER 20 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
BUT IN 2019, HE ADDED A NEW LINE TO HIS RESUME --
>> HELLO, EVERYBODY AND WELCOME TO THIS EPISODE OF "REAL LIFE
REAL CRIME," THE PODCAST >> Reporter: -- TRUE CRIME
PODCASTER. >> MY WIFE SAID, "EVERYBODY
LOVES YOUR VOICE, EVERYBODY LOVES YOUR STORIES
YOU NEED TO START A PODCAST. >> Reporter: COURTNEY'S MOM
STEPHANIE HAD SPOKEN TO WOODY YEARS BEFORE ABOUT HER
FRUSTRATION WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
BUT AFTER HIS PODCAST LAUNCHED, SHE REACHED OUT TO HIM AGAIN
COULD HE HELP CRACK COURTNEY'S CASE
>> AND I BEGGED HIM. I SAID, "PLEASE HELP ME.
AND -- AND HE KNOWS THE LAW LIKE THE BACK OF HIS HAND
>> IT BROKE MY HEART AND I'M LIKE, I TOLD STEPHANIE
THAT DAY, I SAID, "I TELL YOU WHAT, I'M GOING TO SOLVE THIS
CASE OR I'M GOING TO DIE TRYING."
>> Reporter: WOW WHAT WAS HER REACTION TO THAT?
>> SHE CRIED >> Reporter: OH.
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: FINALLY, SOMEONE
WAS -- >> RIGHT
WELL, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAD BEEN PROMISING HER STUFF FOR OVER
16 YEARS AT THAT POINT >> Reporter: SOMETHING TELLS ME
SHE COULD FEEL THAT YOU MEANT IT
>> YEAH. RIGHT.
WELL, I DID. >> Reporter: WOODY TOOK ON THE
CASE, AND WENT ON THE AIR. >> I'M YOUR HOST, WOODY OVERTON.
>> Reporter: AND AS HIS LISTENERS RESPONDED, IT WASN'T
LONG BEFORE HE CAME FACE TO FACE WITH SOMEONE WHO SAID SHE KNEW
>> Reporter: FORMER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR AND PODCASTER
WOODY OVERTON HAS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PODCASTS IN THE
COUNTRY, AND HE WAS NOW DELVING INTO COURTNEY COCO'S MURDER.
HIS FIRST STEP WAS TO TAKE IN ALL THE INFORMATION COURTNEY'S
FAMILY HAD GATHERED OVER 15 YEARS
WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE FAMILY'S FILES
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST AMAZING.
IT WAS AN AMAZING TESTAMENT TO THIS FAMILY NOT EVER GIVING UP
PEOPLE WILL CALL THEM WITH TIPS OR TELL THEM THIS AND TELL THEM
THAT, AND THEY HAD EVERYTHING WRITTEN DOWN
>> Reporter: WOODY CHASED DOWN LEADS FROM THE FAMILY'S FILES.
>> IT JUST MORPHED INTO WHAT I USED TO DO, WORKING A CASE
ACTIVELY BOOTS ON THE GROUND IS WHAT I
CALL IT. AND EVERY WEEK, I WOULD RELEASE
AN EPISODE OF WHAT I WAS DOING ON THE PODCAST
>> TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE BEGINNING A NEW CHAPTER
>> Reporter: IN SEPTEMBER 2019, WOODY SAID COURTNEY'S NAME ON
HIS PODCAST FOR THE FIRST TIME >> WHO MURDERED COURTNEY COCO?
>> Reporter: WHO INDEED? THE ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
DIDN'T KNOW, AND WOODY WAS HIGHLY CRITICAL OF THE
DEPARTMENT >> NOW, I'M PLAYING ARMCHAIR
QUARTERBACK, RIGHT BUT THERE WERE THE THINGS THAT
WEREN'T DONE THAT WERE THROWING OUT RED FLAGS FOR ME
>> Reporter: WOODY ALSO WANTED TO ELIMINATE ANY SUSPECTS HE
COULD, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF COURTNEY'S FAMILY.
COURTNEY'S SISTER LACE REMAINED UNDER SUSPICION IN THE POLICE
INVESTIGATION. AND WOODY, AN EXPERIENCED
POLYGRAPHER, WANTED TO SATISFY HIMSELF THAT SHE WASN'T
INVOLVED DID YOU TAKE OFFENSE TO IT THAT
HE WANTED TO GIVE YOU A POLYGRAPH?
>> NO, I -- I WILL COOPERATE WITH ANYTHING.
>> Reporter: BECAUSE HE'S A PODCASTER NOW.
AND HE'S GIVING YOU A POLYGRAPH. >> RIGHT, RIGHT.
I KNOW I DIDN'T KILL MY SISTER SO IF YOU WANT TO DO A POLYGRAPH
ON ME, DO ONE ON ME. >> Reporter: ONCE AGAIN, LACE
TOOK A POLYGRAPH AND PASSED. NOW, JUST LIKE THE POLICE, WOODY
HAD NO OBVIOUS SUSPECTS. SO HE TURNED TO HIS FANS
>> THIS CASE IS 15 YEARS OLD NOW, AND I DO NOT THINK IT CAN
BE SOLVED WITHOUT THE HELP OF THE PUBLIC AND YOU LIFERS OUT
THERE. >> Reporter: "LIFERS" IS THE
ENDEARING TERM WOODY USES FOR HIS MOST LOYAL AND HARDCORE
LISTENERS. HE SET UP A FACEBOOK PAGE AND
TIP LINE FOR THEM TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS AND THEORIES.
>> I JUST WENT AND GOBBLED UP EVERY EPISODE I COULD.
IT KIND OF REIGNITED A FIRE FOR ME
>> Reporter: THE SERIES ATTRACTED NEW FANS, LIKE
KAREN FOWLER, A HIGH SCHOOL FRIEND OF COURTNEY'S
>> I GOT IN CONTACT WITH PEOPLE THAT I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH.
AND WE HAD GROUP MESSAGES GOING OF, WELL, "DID YOU KNOW ABOUT
THIS?" AND WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT
THAT?" JUST KIND OF GETTING INFORMATION
FOR THE FIRST TIME >> Reporter: AS THE TIPS STARTED
ROLLING IN, WOODY SET UP SHOP IN ALEXANDRIA AND TOOK DIGS AT THE
ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT TO STEP UP AND SOLVE THE CASE
>> IF WE DON'T GET SATISFACTION, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE
MEDIA AND WE'RE GOING TO BLOW IT UP
>> Reporter: WOODY'S IN-YOUR-FACE STYLE APPARENTLY
DIDN'T SIT WELL WITH SOME. WOODY SAYS HE RECEIVED NOT SO
SUBTLE MESSAGES TO DROP THE CASE
>> I HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS, INCLUDING THE WINDOW BEING SHOT
OUT OF MY TRUCK, WIRES RIPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE
ANOTHER TIME I HAD TO LEAVE ALEXANDRIA AND GET A CABIN IN
THE WOODS WHILE STILL WORKING THE CASE FOR MY OWN SAFETY
>> Reporter: IN SPITE OF THE DANGER HE FELT, WOODY STUCK WITH
IT AS HE DUG DEEPER, WADING THROUGH
PAPERWORK AND SPEAKING WITH WITNESSES, A NAME EMERGED AS
COURTNEY'S POSSIBLE KILLER A NAME HE WAS HEARING AGAIN AND
AGAIN. >> TALKING ABOUT SUSPECT NUMBER
ONE. >> Reporter: WOODY GAVE HIM THE
MONIKER "SUSPECT NUMBER ONE. AND HIS SUSPICIONS ONLY GREW
WHEN ONE OF HIS PODCAST LIFERS MADE A STARTLING REVELATION
ABOUT SUSPECT NUMBER ONE >> I GET A PHONE CALL SAYING,
"HEY, WE HAVE A LIFER SAYS HER EX-HUSBAND KNOWS THAT SUSPECT
NUMBER ONE DID IT. >> Reporter: SO SHE'S SAYING HER
EX-HUSBAND, HIS FRIEND >> HIS BEST FRIEND
>> Reporter: HAS CONFESSED TO HIM THAT HE DID THIS, THAT HE
KILLED COURTNEY. >> AND IT EVEN GOES DEEPER
HER NOW EX-HUSBAND WAS GONE THAT WEEKEND ALSO AND RETURNED HOME
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT SMELLING OF DEATH.
>> Reporter: THAT TIP FROM A WOMAN NAMED TIFFANY SOUNDED MORE
THAN PROMISING TO WOODY. BUT HE NEEDED PROOF.
A RECORDED CONVERSATION PERHAPS. >> AND I'M LIKE, "CAN WE WIRE
HER UP CAN WE GET HER ON A CELL PHONE?"
>> Reporter: HOW DID YOU GET HER TO AGREE
BECAUSE THAT'S -- THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS FOR HER.
>> SHE WANTED TO HELP AND -- AND SHE DID IT
>> OH, MY GOD, LISTEN TO THIS. >> Reporter: TIFFIONY AGREED TO
SECRETLY RECORD HER EX, NAMED SHAMUS, TALKING ABOUT COURTNEY'S
MURDER >> SHAMUS, HAVE YOU BEEN
FOLLOWING THE BROADCASTS YOU HAVEN'T LISTENED TO THE
BROADCASTS AT ALL? >> NO.
IT'S UNDER WHAT? >> IT'S UNDER "BROADCAST,
COURTNEY COCO. >> Reporter: AS THEY WERE
DRIVING, SHAMUS, UNAWARE HE WAS BEING RECORDED, CONFIRMED HIS
BEST FRIEND HAD KILLED COURTNEY. >> I DON'T KNOW, BUT HE KILLED
COURTNEY I CAN TELL YOU THAT.
HE DID IT. I'M TELLING YOU.
>> THAT'S SICK >> HE SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT
THAT POOR LITTLE GIRL.
>> Reporter: WHEN TIFFIONY CALLED WOODY AND TOLD HIM WHAT
SHE HAD ON TAPE, WOODY COULDN'T CONTAIN HIMSELF.
>> I WAS OUT OF TOWN DOING SOMETHING, UH, ON THE CASE, AND
I DROVE BACK THROUGH THE NIGHT TO GET THE RECORDING FROM HER
PERSONALLY >> Reporter: BACK HOME, WITH THE
RECORDING IN HAND, WOODY PREPARED A NEW PODCAST WITH A
MESSAGE TO THE MAN HE BELIEVED WAS COURTNEY'S KILLER.
>> PARDON MY FRENCH, BUT YOU'RE -- AND WE'RE COMING FOR
YOU, AND YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW IT REAL SOON.
>> Reporter: MEANWHILE, HE'D CALLED A MEETING WITH COURTNEY'S
FAMILY TO FINALLY TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, WHO KILLED COURTNEY
COCO YOU MUST HAVE JUST FELT SUCH
BETRAYAL >> Reporter: FIFTEEN YEARS AFTER
COURTNEY COCO'S MURDER, PODCASTER WOODY OVERTON BELIEVED
HE KNEW WHO DID IT HE GATHERED COURTNEY'S FAMILY
TOGETHER TO REVEAL THE NAME. AND NOW YOU'RE ABOUT TO TELL
THEM THE ANSWERS THAT THEY'VE BEEN DESPERATELY WANTING ALL
THESE YEARS. >> RIGHT
AND I PRAYED HARD BEFORE I DID IT
>> Reporter: YOUR HEART MUST HAVE JUST BEEN POUNDING.
>> IT CERTAINLY WAS HARD >> Reporter: AND IT WAS HARD FOR
COURTNEY'S FAMILY TO COMPREHEND WHAT OVERTON TOLD THEM
WHO WAS IT WHO DID HE BELIEVE HAD DONE
THIS >> I WAS FLOORED
I WAS FLOORED. IT WAS ANTHONY BURNS
>> Reporter: ANTHONY BURNS LACE'S FIANCE.
THEY'D SINCE BROKEN THINGS OFF, BUT HE WAS ONCE SO BELOVED BY
COURTNEY'S FAMILY. ARE YOU ASKING YOURSELF HOW'S
THIS POSSIBLE? ANTHONY WAS A PALLBEARER AT
COURTNEY'S FUNERAL HE HELPED YOU ERECT THE CROSS.
>> YES >> Reporter: LACE'S FIANCE
>> YES >> Reporter: YOUR FIANCE --
FORMER FIANCE. YOU'RE SLEEPING WITH A KILLER
POTENTIALLY, IF WOODY'S INVESTIGATION IS RIGHT
>> YES, YES. I STARTED THINKING OF ALL THEM
TIMES HE CAME IN AND LAID IN THE SAME BED WITH ME KNOWING THAT HE
WAS A KILLER AND HE COULD HAVE EASILY KILLED
ME >> Reporter: YOU MUST HAVE JUST
FELT SUCH BETRAYAL BY ANTHONY. HE'D BEEN SUCH A BIG PART OF
YOUR LIVES >> YES MA'AM
I DIDN'T WANT TO BELIEVE IT. >> STEPHANIE CRIED AND RAN OUT
OF THE ROOM. ALL OF THEM ARE CRYING
THEY'RE BLOWN AWAY >> Reporter: WOODY'S PODCAST
WASN'T ENOUGH TO ARREST ANTHONY BUT IT WAS ENOUGH TO GET THE
ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REVIVE ITS INVESTIGATION
>> THE PODCAST GAINED SIGNIFICANT MOMENTUM
IT BROUGHT THE CASE BACK TO LIFE
>> Reporter: TANNER DRYDEN WAS THE DETECTIVE WHO TOOK IT OVER
AND TOLD COURTNEY'S FAMILY >> Reporter: HOW DID THE FAMILY
REACT? >> OH, THEY WERE SO HAPPY.
THEY WERE ECSTATIC PRETTY MUCH ALL THEY EVER ASKED
FOR WAS TO NOT BE PUT ON THE BACKBURNER OR FORGOT ABOUT
>> Reporter: WOODY WAS HAPPY, TOO AND HANDED HIS EVIDENCE TO
DRYDEN >> AND MAN, I CAUGHT FLAK FOR
IT MY FANS ARE MAD THAT I TURNED IT
BACK OVER TO ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE I BLASTED
THEM SO HARD IN THE BEGINNING. >> Reporter: BUT DRYDEN COULDN'T
RELY ON WOODY'S PODCAST INVESTIGATION.
HE HAD TO DO HIS OWN AND THAT MEANT STARTING BACK AT
SQUARE ONE >> I STARTED GOING THROUGH THE
CASE FILES REINVESTIGATING EVERY LEAD FOR EVERY AGENCY, STARTING
OVER >> Reporter: HE QUESTIONED
ANTHONY BURNS'S FRIEND SHAMUS WHO'D BEEN CAPTURED ON THAT
SECRET RECORDING >> Reporter: DID HE CONFIRM WHAT
HE HAD SAID ON THAT RECORDING, THAT ANTHONY KILLED COURTNEY
>> YES >> Reporter: AS HE DUG DEEPER,
DRYDEN DISCOVERED TWO MORE FORMER FRIENDS OF ANTHONY BURNS
HAD COME FORWARD YEARS BEFORE SAYING BURNS HAD CONFESSED TO
THE MURDER THEIR STORIES WERE COMPELLING
BUT ONE FRIEND HAD A CRIMINAL RECORD AND THE OTHER SAID BURNS
WAS DRUNK WHEN HE CONFESSED. DRYDEN NEEDED MORE TO BRING
CHARGES. AND THEN HE GOT A BIG BREAK.
AS YOU'RE GOING THROUGH ALL THESE DOCUMENTS YOU FIND A TIP
THAT'S ALMOST BURIED IN ALL THIS STUFF THAT'S GOING TO TAKE YOU
ON QUITE AN INTERESTING RIDE >> YES
>> Reporter: THE TIP WAS FROM A TEXAS MAN NAMED JUDE WILSON,
WHO'D COME FORWARD A FEW DAYS AFTER COURTNEY'S BODY WAS FOUND.
HE SAID HE'D SEEN HER CAR, THE GREEN PONTIAC, AROUND THE
SUPPOSED TIME OF HER MURDER. >> HE CALLS IN AND SAYS, "HEY, I
SAW THAT CAR I KNOW IT'S THAT CAR BECAUSE IT
ALMOST BACKED INTO ME. WE ALMOST HAD A WRECK.
>> Reporter: WHERE'S THE LOCATION
>> THE DUMP SITE IN WINNIE, TEXAS.
WHERE SHE WAS FOUND. >> Reporter: WHERE COURTNEY'S
BODY WAS FOUND JUDE WILSON'S STATEMENT MIGHT
HAVE BEEN A GAME CHANGER TO THE INVESTIGATION BACK THEN.
BUT THE OFFICER WHO TOOK THE INCIDENT REPORT TYPED IN THE
WRONG DATE AND SO IT WAS PUSHED ASIDE.
>> I ACTUALLY HAD TO SWERVE BECAUSE I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING
TO BACK INTO ME. >> Reporter: IT WAS ONLY WHEN
DRYDEN FOUND WILSON AND RECORDED AN INTERVIEW WITH HIM THAT HE
WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM THE NEAR-MISS INCIDENT DID HAPPEN
DURING THE WINDOW OF COURTNEY'S MURDER
>> SUNDAY EVENING. BEFORE MIDNIGHT, AROUND THAT
TIMEFRAME. >> Reporter: DID HE GET A LOOK
AT THE DRIVER OF THE CAR >> YES
>> HE WAS DEFINITELY NOT A HEAVY SET PERSON
PROBABLY A YOUNGER PERSON. >> HE DESCRIBED THE DRIVER AS
BEING SLIM WITH SMALL FEATURES >> Reporter: LIKE ANTHONY BURNS.
BUT THE INCIDENT HAPPENED IN A FLASH, IT WAS DARK AND WILSON
GOT ONLY A SIDE-VIEW OF THE DRIVER SO MAYBE IT WASN'T HIM
AFTER ALL. DRYDEN WANTED TO FIND THE TRUTH.
SO IN OCTOBER 2019 HE DECIDED TO CONFRONT BURNS HIMSELF AND
BROUGHT HIM IN FOR QUESTIONING >> ALL RIGHT
HOW LONG DID YOU KNOW COURTNEY >> I MET COURTNEY AFTER I
STARTED DATING LACE. >> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE GOT
TO THE POINT, WHERE WAS HE THE WEEKEND COURTNEY WAS MURDERED
STARTING WITH THAT FRIDAY. >> DID YOU WORK THAT FRIDAY?
DID YOU HAVE TO WORK A LOT OF FRIDAYS?
YOU DID? >> I'M PRETTY SURE I DID
>> WOULD YOU'VE BEEN WITH LACE FRIDAY NIGHT
>> I WAS WITH HER, TRUST ME. >> Reporter: ON SATURDAY AND
SUNDAY HE SAID HE WAS IN BED WITH LACE.
>> ME AND HER STAYED IN BED ALL WEEKEND AND WHEN -- WHEN WE
WASN'T SCREWIN' WE WAS LAYIN' THERE AND RELAXING, WATCHING TV.
>> Reporter: ON MONDAY MORNING HE SAID HE WENT TO WORK AND THEN
SURPRISED LACE WITH A ROMANTIC GIFT OF FLOWERS.
>> I WANT TO SAY IT WAS CHOCOLATE ROSES.
I'M NOT FOR SURE, MIGHT HAVE BEEN RED ROSES
>> Reporter: THAT WAS HIS STORY. >> IF I WENT AND TALKED TO LACE,
YOU THINK SHE COULD HELP VERIFY SOME OF THIS
>> OH, YEAH. >> Reporter: SO DETECTIVE DRYDEN
QUESTIONED LACE. AND HER VERSION OF EVENTS
DIFFERED SHARPLY FROM BURNS'S. >> WE HAD BEEN IN AN ARGUMENT.
WE GOT INTO A BIG FIGHT. PROBABLY STARTED FRIDAY AND THEN
IT GOT WORSE AT ABOUT MIDNIGHT >> HE LEFT MIDNIGHT FRIDAY
>> HE LEFT -- YES. >> DID HE SAY WHERE HE LEFT?
>> NO, HE DIDN'T TELL ME WHERE HE WENT OR ANYTHING.
>> Reporter: SHE SAID THE NEXT TIME SHE SAW ANTHONY WAS AFTER
COURTNEY'S BODY WAS FOUND. LACE IS SAYING THEY WERE NOT
MAKING LOVE ALL WEEKEND. >> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> Reporter: AND THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE
SOMETHING HUGE NOT LONG BEFORE COURTNEY'S
MURDER, LACE HAD CALLED ANTHONY AND HEARD COURTNEY'S VOICE IN
THE BACKGROUND >> AND I HEARD MY SISTER IN THE
BACKGROUND SAYING "WHO IS THAT?" >> Reporter: SHE BELIEVED
ANTHONY AND COURTNEY WERE SEEING EACH OTHER BEHIND HER BACK
WHAT'S MORE, SHE SAID, ANTHONY PURCHASED A SET OF TWO GOLD
PROMISE RINGS AND GAVE COURTNEY THE ONE WITH A SPECIAL MEANING
>> AND SHE HAD A GOLD RING WITH A HEART ON IT.
SHE HAD LIKE THE PRETTY PART OF THE RING
I HAD THE BAND IT'S LIKE HE BOUGHT THAT SET AND
GAVE HER A RING AND GAVE ME A RING
>> Reporter: LACE SAID ANTHONY AND COURTNEY DENIED SEEING EACH
OTHER. SHE NEVER TOLD ANYONE SHE
SUSPECTED AN AFFAIR AND DIDN'T MAKE A CONNECTION BETWEEN BURNS
AND COURTNEY'S MURDER. DRYDEN STILL DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH
TO ARREST BURNS. HOWEVER HE DID PERSUADE HIM TO
TAKE A VOICE-STRESS TEST CONDUCTED BY ANOTHER DETECTIVE
THAT WOULD MAYBE SHOW IF BURNS WAS LYING.
>> IS TODAY MONDAY >> YES
>> ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THE DEATH OF COURTNEY COCO
>> NO. >> IS THIS THE MONTH OF
NOVEMBER >> YES
>> ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THE DISPOSAL OF COURTNEY COCO'S
BODY >> NO.
>> Reporter: BURNS FAILED THE TEST
>> I'M GONNA TAKE YOU OVER TO THE NEXT ROOM AND DETECTIVE
DRYDEN WILL SPEAK WITH YOU SOON. >> Reporter: ARE YOU CONVINCED
NOW THAT YOU'RE SITTING ACROSS FROM COURTNEY COCO'S KILLER?
>> YES I AM
WHEN I BROUGHT HIM BACK IN THERE TO ASK HIM ABOUT THE QUESTIONS
THAT HE FAILED, HE JUST IMMEDIATELY GOT MAD AND LAWYERED
UP >> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE
BELIEVED HE HAD THE RIGHT MAN BUT THE EVIDENCE WAS
CIRCUMSTANTIAL IT TOOK THE PROSECUTOR ANOTHER
YEAR TO PUT TOGETHER A CASE AND PRESENT IT TO THE GRAND JURY
WHAT'S THEIR DECISION? >> THEIR DECISION WAS UNANIMOUS,
TO INDICT HIM FOR -- FOR THE MURDER OF COURTNEY
>> Reporter: YOU'RE GOING TO GO MAKE YOUR ARREST
>> IT'S GO TIME. >> Reporter: AS DRYDEN SET OFF
TO ARREST ANTHONY BURNS, HE WAS COUNTING ON EYEWITNESSES TO HELP
PUT HIM AWAY ONE IN PARTICULAR HAD A DOOZY OF
A STORY TO TELL. >> IT'S ONE OF THE MOST BIZARRE
AND STARTLING EYEWITNESS' STORIES THAT I'VE EVER RUN
ACRO >> Reporter: IN APRIL 2021,
DETECTIVE TANNER DRYDEN AND HIS PARTNER APPROACHED
ANTHONY BURNS' WORKPLACE WITH THEIR GUNS DRAWN
>> SO WE SNEAK INSIDE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HIM AT GUNPOINT.
I SAID, "ANTHONY, YOU ARE UNDER ARREST FOR THE MURDER OF
COURTNEY COCO. >> Reporter: DID HE SAY
ANYTHING >> HE JUST KIND OF GRINNED
>> Reporter: GRINNED >> OH, YEAH.
HE WAS SO ARROGANT >> Reporter: DRYDEN IMMEDIATELY
CALLED STEPHANIE, WHO WAS IN HER CAR.
>> SHE JUST STARTED CRYING, SHE WAS SO HAPPY
>> I WAS AT A RED LIGHT. I THINK I RAN THROUGH THE RED
LIGHT. I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER, BUT I
WANTED TO JUMP FOR JOY >> Reporter: MORE THAN 16 YEARS
AFTER COURTNEY'S MURDER, ANTHONY BURNS WAS IN JAIL, AND
COURTNEY'S FAMILY HAD SOME HOPE FOR JUSTICE.
LACE HOPED HE'D NEVER BE FREE AGAIN.
>> I SUFFERED WITH NIGHTMARES BECAUSE I WOULD THINK THAT HE
WAS GOING TO HURT MY MOMMA OR MY GRANDMA BECAUSE HE KNEW WHERE
THEY LIVED >> Reporter: OR YOU.
>> OR ME >> Reporter: TO KEEP BURNS
BEHIND BARS FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE, THE D.A.
BROUGHT IN A BIG GUN-FOR-HIRE -- HUGO HOLLAND -- ONE OF THE MOST
FORMIDABLE PROSECUTORS IN LOUISIANA.
WOULD YOU SAY YOU'RE THE GUY THEY CALL WHEN THEY CAN'T WIN,
OR WHEN IT'S A TOUGH WIN >> WHEN THE D.A.s NEED SOMEBODY
THAT'S HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE, THEY USUALLY CALL ME
>> Reporter: HOLLAND WORKS ACROSS THE STATE, BOUNCING FROM
PARISH TO PARISH >> Reporter: YOU TRAVEL AROUND
IN THIS AIRPLANE TO ALL THESE CASES AROUND THE STATE
>> EITHER THIS ONE OR ANOTHER I HAVE AN INTEREST IN.
BUT YEAH >> Reporter: AND YOU BUILT THIS
YOURSELF >> YES, ME AND A FEW OTHER GUYS.
THIS IS A HOME BUILT AIRCRAFT. >> Reporter: SO YOUR CAREER IS
PRETTY UNCONVENTIONAL. YOU'RE LIKE -- YOU'RE A ROVING
PROSECUTOR >> IT'S EXTREMELY
UNCONVENTIONAL >> Reporter: HE IS CONTROVERSIAL
TOO. IN 2014, HOLLAND WAS FORCED TO
RESIGN FROM HIS ASSISTANT D.A. POSITION AFTER TRYING TO MAKE A
DUBIOUS WEAPONS PURCHASE, BUT WAS IMMEDIATELY HIRED BY OTHER
PARISHES BECAUSE OF HIS SUCCESS IN COURT
HOWEVER, EVEN WITH HOLLAND'S IMPRESSIVE RECORD, THE
CIRCUMSTANTIAL CASE AGAINST ANTHONY BURNS WOULD BE AN UPHILL
BATTLE YOU HAD NO EYEWITNESS TO THE
CRIME. >> CORRECT
>> Reporter: YOU HAD NO DNA FROM YOUR SUSPECT, NO PHYSICAL
EVIDENCE >> CORRECT
>> Reporter: YOU HAD CONFLICTING TOXICOLOGY REPORTS
WAS IT OVERDOSE? WAS IT MURDER?
>> CORRECT >> Reporter: AND YEARS HAD
PASSED >> YES
>> Reporter: SO HOLLAND CAUTIONED THE FAMILY -
>> I WAS CONCERNED ENOUGH ABOUT THIS CASE.
SO I'D ALREADY STARTED PREPARING THEM FOR A "NOT GUILTY" BEFORE
THE TRIAL EVEN STARTED >> Reporter: REALLY?
>> YES, MA'AM. >> Reporter: IN OCTOBER 2022,
18 YEARS AFTER COURTNEY COCO'S MURDER, ANTHONY BURNS WENT ON
TRIAL. LOCAL REPORTER BROOKE BUFORD WAS
THERE ON DAY ONE >> THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE
THERE. COURTNEY'S FAMILY HAD A LOT OF
SUPPORTERS >> Reporter: ANTHONY BURNS DID
TOO. >> A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO FELT THAT
HE WAS GETTING THE BLAME PLACED ON HIM FOR NOT A LOT OF EVIDENCE
POINTING TO HIM. >> Reporter: STEPHANIE WAS THERE
WITH WOODY OVERTON AND SOME OF HIS PODCAST "LIFERS" AS
PROSECUTOR HOLLAND ADDRESSED THE JURY
>> THERE WAS A MOTHER WHO'D LOST A CHILD, A SISTER WHO'D LOST A
SISTER SOMEBODY THAT'S NEVER GOING TO
HAVE CHILDREN BECAUSE OF WHAT ANTHONY BURNS DID.
>> Reporter: TO TELL THAT STORY, HE DIDN'T FOCUS ON THE MEANS AND
MOTIVE -- BUT ON THE WITNESSES HE PUT ON THE STAND THOSE TWO
FORMER FRIENDS OF ANTHONY BURNS WHO SAID HE CONFESSED TO KILLING
COURTNEY ONE TESTIFIED BURNS SAID HE'D
SMOTHERED HER AND WRAPPED HER IN A BLANKET.
THE OTHER SAID BURNS TOLD HIM HE CHOKED COURTNEY TO DEATH
>> I TRIED TO MAKE CLEAR THE ONLY WAY THAT THEY WOULD HAVE
GOTTEN THE INFORMATION WOULD BE FROM ANTHONY BURNS
>> Reporter: THEN THE PROSECUTOR ROLLED OUT HIS STAR WITNESS --
JUDE WILSON. WILSON WAS THE LOCAL TEXAS MAN
WHO SAID HE'D NEARLY BEEN T-BONED AT NIGHT BY A CAR
BACKING OUT OF THE ABANDONED HOME WHERE COURTNEY'S BODY WAS
FOUND. BUT HE HAD A MUCH MORE ELABORATE
STORY TO TELL. >> IT'S ONE OF THE MOST BIZARRE
AND STARTLING EYEWITNESS' STORIES THAT I'VE EVER RUN
ACROSS >> Reporter: IT TURNED OUT
WILSON SAID HE HAD A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY.
IN FACT, HE'D PICKED OUT ANTHONY BURNS FROM A POLICE
PHOTO LINEUP BUT WILSON WAS ALSO AN
ILLUSTRATOR, AND WAS ABLE TO DRAW A SKETCH OF THE DRIVER HE
SAID HE GLIMPSED FROM THE SIDE >> I'VE NEVER EVER HAD A WITNESS
SAY, "OH, GIVE ME A PIECE OF PAPER, I'M GOING TO DRAW YOU
WHAT THIS GUY LOOKS LIKE." NEVER HAD THAT
THAT'S -- THAT'S UNHEARD OF. >> Reporter: I THOUGHT IT WAS
PRETTY CRAZY WITH A FLOURISH, HOLLAND
PRODUCED A MOMENT OF DRAMA ON THE COURTROOM MONITOR.
>> I TOOK THE -- THE SILHOUETTE THAT JUDE DREW AND I PUT IT ON,
LIKE, THE LEFT HALF OF THE SCREEN
>> Reporter: THEN HE SHOWED AN IMAGE OF ANTHONY BURNS DRIVING,
LIFTED FROM HOME VIDEO >> AND I PUT THEM SIDE BY SIDE
AND YOU COULD LAY HIM OVER THE TOP OF EACH OTHER.
>> Reporter: AND WILSON THE WITNESS HAD ANOTHER SURPRISE FOR
THE COURT. HE REMEMBERED PART OF THE
LICENSE PLATE OF THE CAR, BELIEVED TO BE COURTNEY'S, THAT
NEARLY T-BONED HIM >> "I REMEMBER THE LETTERS FROM
THE LICENSE PLATE," HE SAID, "AND THE REASON I REMEMBER THAT
IS BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE LETTERS IN THAT LICENSE PLATE ARE MY
INITIALS." >> AND HE SAID, "I REMEMBER AN
EIGHT AS WELL. WELL, AS SOON AS HE SAID THAT, I
POPPED COURTNEY'S PLATE UP AND GUESS WHAT
THERE'S AN EIGHT IN IT >> I THINK IT WAS A BIG WIN FOR
THE PROSECUTION, IN THAT HE WAS CONFIDENT IN WHAT HE SAW
WHETHER THE JURY WOULD BELIEVE THAT, ALL THESE YEARS LATER,
WOULD BE ANOTHER MATTER. >> Reporter: THE PROSECUTION
SEEMED TO BE ON A ROLL ANOTHER IMPORTANT WITNESS WAS
TIFFIONY, WHO'D SECRETLY RECORDED THAT CONVERSATION WITH
HER EX-HUSBAND SHAMUS FOR OVERTON'S PODCAST.
>> I DON'T KNOW, BUT HE KILLED COURTNEY
I CAN TELL YOU THAT. >> Reporter: TIFFIONY TESTIFIED
NOT ONLY HAD BURNS CONFESSED TO HER EX- HUSBAND, SHE ALSO SAID
SHAMUS WAS M.I.A. THE WEEKEND OF COURTNEY'S MURDER, THAT HIS
REGULAR TRUCK-DRIVING ROUTE WOULD TAKE HIM RIGHT PAST THE
SITE WHERE COURTNEY'S BODY WAS FOUND, AND THAT SHE FOUND A PAIR
OF WOMEN'S UNDERWEAR IN HIS TRUCK.
THAT TESTIMONY ABOUT SHAMUS FED INTO HOLLAND'S OVERALL THEORY OF
THE MURDER HE BELIEVES IT TOOK PLACE AFTER
ANTHONY BURNS AND COURTNEY STARTED AN AFFAIR.
TAKE US THROUGH WHAT YOU THINK HAPPENED
>> SO, HE GOES OVER TO COURTNEY'S TO HAVE SEX WITH
COURTNEY, BE WITH COURTNEY >> Reporter: HE BELIEVES
COURTNEY REJECTED BURNS. >> THERE'S A STRUGGLE.
HE MURDERS HER ON HER BED IN HER BEDROOM.
BURNS CALLS HIS BUDDY SHAMUS -- "I MURDERED COURTNEY, GET UP
HERE AND HELP ME." >> Reporter: THEN, HE THINKS,
SHAMUS HELPED MOVE COURTNEY'S BODY
>> SHAMUS KNOWS THE AREA SHAMUS KNOWS THAT THAT HOUSE IS
UNOCCUPIED "LET'S GO DUMP THE BODY THERE.
>> Reporter: TIFFIONY TESTIFIED THAT -- THAT WHEN SHAMUS CAME
HOME AFTER DISAPPEARING FOR THE WEEKEND, SHE SAID HE SMELLED
LIKE DEATH >> SHE SAID, "I WOULDN'T EVEN
LET HIM COME IN THE HOUSE, HE SMELLED SO BAD."
>> Reporter: BUT PROSECUTOR HOLLAND COULD NEVER PROVE SHAMUS
WAS AN ACCESSORY TO THE CRIME. SHAMUS DENIES ANY INVOLVEMENT
AND WAS NEVER CHARGED. WHEN HE TOOK THE STAND FOR THE
PROSECUTION, HE DID SO RELUCTANTLY, BUT DID TESTIFY
BURNS TOLD HIM HE KILLED COURTNEY
>> SHAMUS WAS FRIENDS WITH ANTHONY BURNS, HAD BEEN
LONG-TIME FRIENDS WITH ANTHONY BURNS.
HE CHANGED HIS STORY SOMETIMES UP ON THE STAND.
>> Reporter: SHAMUS WAS SORT OF A HOSTILE WITNESS FOR YOU.
>> OH, YES, VERY HOSTILE I HAD TO THREATEN HIM A COUPLE
OF TIMES WHILE HE WAS TESTIFYING
IT WAS CLEAR TO THE JURY THAT HE WAS HIDING INFORMATION
>> Reporter: AS THE PROSECUTOR'S CASE BEGAN TO WOBBLE, HE WOULD
ALSO HAVE TO CONTEND WITH AN EXPERT WITNESS FOR THE
DEFENSE -- A DOCTOR WITH A DIFFERENT TAKE ON COURTNEY'S
DEATH. MAYBE, AFTER ALL, THERE WAS
REASONABLE DOUBT THAT ANTHON
>> Reporter: ANTHONY BURNS WAS ON TRIAL FOR THE MURDER OF
COURTNEY COCO, FACING LIFE IN PRISON
NOW HIS DEFENSE ATTORNEY CHRIS LaCOUR ROSE TO ADDRESS THE
COURT. AND HE WASTED NO TIME POURING
COLD WATER ON THE PROSECUTION'S CIRCUMSTANTIAL CASE.
>> I THOUGHT THE CASE WAS RIDDLED WITH DOUBT
IT'S LIKE THEY TOOK PUZZLE PIECES FROM DIFFERENT PUZZLES
AND TRIED TO MASH 'EM TOGETHER >> Reporter: WHAT WAS YOUR
STRATEGY >> MY STRATEGY WAS JUST TO POINT
OUT ALL THE INCONSISTENCIES IN THE CASE
>> Reporter: FOR HIM, THE BIGGEST ONE WAS COURTNEY'S
OFFICIAL CAUSE OF DEATH. >> I MEAN, THEY STILL DON'T EVEN
KNOW HOW SHE DIED. THEY CAN CLAIM IT'S A HOMICIDE
BUT THEY DON'T KNOW. >> Reporter: WHAT WOULD IT BE,
THEN, IF IT WASN'T A HOMICIDE? >> I THINK IT'S UNDETERMINED
>> Reporter: TO PROVE HIS POINT, HE PUT THE AUTHOR OF THAT SECOND
TOXICOLOGY REPORT ON THE STAND REMEMBER, THAT REPORT FOUND HIGH
LEVELS OF PRESCRIPTION PAINKILLERS AND ALCOHOL IN
COURTNEY'S SYSTEM. >> HE SAYS, "WELL, IT'S MY
OPINION THAT THIS POSSIBLY WAS -- COULD HAVE BEEN AN
ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE, BASED OFF OF WHAT WAS IN HER SYSTEM.
>> Reporter: DID YOU SEE THAT WORKING IN YOUR FAVOR?
>> THAT'S DOUBT. YOU GOT A -- ONE DOCTOR SAYIN',
"I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DIED, BUT IT'S A HOMICIDE.
AND THEN YOU HAVE ONE DOCTOR SAYIN', "BECAUSE THERE'S NO
TRAUMA TO HER BODY, THE ONLY POSSIBLE THING I COULD SEE IS A
ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE. AND I DEFINITELY THOUGHT THAT
WAS WORKIN' IN MY FAVOR. >> Reporter: HE CAST DOUBT ON
THOSE TWO WITNESSES WHO'D TESTIFIED ANTHONY BURNS HAD
CONFESSED TO KILLING COURTNEY. SO HERE'S MY QUESTION THEN,
THOUGH WHY SAY YOU KILLED SOMEONE IF
YOU DIDN'T >> WELL, I THINK WE'VE ALL DONE
CRAZY THINGS ON ALCOHOL. IT MAKE YOU SAY AND DO THINGS
THAT YOU NORMALLY WOULDN'T DO. >> Reporter: WELL, CONFESSING TO
A MURDER I DON'T KNOW THAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INTOXICATED AND CONFESSED TO MURDER.
>> WELL, THAT'S THE THING. WHAT DID HE REALLY CONFESS TO?
>> Reporter: LaCOUR ARGUED THE WITNESSES HAD TWO DIFFERENT
STORIES SO IT WASN'T CLEAR EXACTLY WHAT BURNS HAD SAID.
AND AS FOR SHAMUS, THAT FORMER FRIEND OF ANTHONY'S WHO'D
CHANGED HIS STORY, THE ATTORNEY EXPLAINED HE ONLY ADDED TO THE
DOUBT HIS CLIENT WAS GUILTY. >> HIS STORIES JUST WASN'T
ADDIN' UP. >> Reporter: YOU THINK HE'S AN
UNRELIABLE WITNESS >> HE -- HE IS COMPLETELY,
TOTALLY UNRELIABLE >> Reporter: AND WHAT ABOUT THE
PROSECUTION'S STAR WITNESS, JUDE WILSON, THE ILLUSTRATOR WHO
PICKED BURNS OUT OF A LINEUP AND TESTIFIED TO SEEING HIM IN
COURTNEY'S CAR THE NIGHT BEFORE HER BODY WAS FOUND
WILSON TESTIFIED THAT HE ONLY SAW THE DRIVER'S SILHOUETTE THAT
NIGHT. >> HE SAID HE DIDN'T SEE THEY
FACE AND HE JUST DREW A REGULAR
PROFILE. AND THEY PUT A LINEUP IN FRONT
OF HIM AND SAID, "WHO MOST CLOSELY MATCHES THIS
SILHOUETTE?" >> Reporter: HE DID PICK THE
RIGHT MAN, IF YOU BELIEVE THAT ANTHONY DID THIS
>> HE PICKED THE PERSON THAT MATCHED A PROFILE HE DREW.
>> Reporter: THE DEFENSE ARGUED THAT LINEUP WAS SHOWN 15 YEARS
AFTER COURTNEY'S DEATH AND WILSON'S SKETCH NEVER INCLUDED
SPECIFIC FACIAL FEATURES >> WOULD YOU BE OKAY WITH
SOMEONE PICKING YOU OUT OF A LINEUP IF THEY SAY THEY NEVER
SAW YOUR FACE? I CAN MATCH A PROFILE.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S ME. >> Reporter: THE ATTORNEY SAID
THE WITNESSES' STORIES DIDN'T ADD UP AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN
ENOUGH TO ARREST ANTHONY BURNS >> WHY WOULD HE KILL HER
IT JUST MADE NO SENSE. >> THE FAMILY WAS SUGGESTIN'
THAT SHE WAS CHEATIN' WITH HER SISTER'S FIANCE.
WITH NO PROOF, THOUGH. >> Reporter: THE DEFENSE RESTED,
OPTIMISTIC BURNS WOULD BE ACQUITTED.
WAS IT VENTURING INTO SLAM DUNK TERRITORY IN YOUR MIND
>> I NEVER LIKE TO BE OVERLY CONFIDENT.
BUT I WAS PRETTY CONFIDENT ABOUT THIS ONE
>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTION WAS CONCERNED.
>> I TOLD THE FAMILY, "I FEEL LIKE WE GOT A 50/50 SHOT AT A
CONVICTION." >> Reporter: THAT'S IT
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: I MEAN, THOSE
AREN'T GREAT ODDS. >> NO, THEY'RE NOT
>> Reporter: AS THE JURY BEGAN ITS DELIBERATIONS, EVERYONE
STAYED IN THE COURTROOM, INCLUDING LOCAL REPORTER
BROOKE BUFORD. >> BOTH FAMILIES WERE NERVOUS.
YOU KNOW, ASKING EACH OTHER, "WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN?"
>> Reporter: BUT NO ILL WILL EXISTED BETWEEN THE FAMILIES
IN FACT, EVERY DAY SOMETHING TRULY EXTRAORDINARY HAPPENED
COURTNEY'S FAMILY AND ANTHONY BURNS' FAMILY, ALL STRONG
CHRISTIANS, STOOD TOGETHER AND PRAYED
>> THEY CAME, AND WE HELD HANDS, AND WE PRAYED FOR JUSTICE.
>> YUP >> BECAUSE WE WERE ALL HURTING
THEY WERE HURTING, AND WE WERE HURTING.
>> Reporter: LESS THAN TWO HOURS AFTER DELIBERATIONS BEGAN, THE
JURY CAME BACK WITH A VERDICT. ANTHONY BURNS WAS FOUND GUILTY
OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER. >> I CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN HOW I
FELT IT WAS ALMOST LIKE I WAS IN,
LIKE, A EUPHORIC STATE LIKE, IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING
>> WE WERE ALL SHAKEN, SHAKEN, AND SHAKEN SO BAD.
LIKE, THANK YOU, JESUS THANK YOU.
>> Reporter: LACE, FOR THE LAST TIME, LOOKED AT THE MAN SHE ONCE
LOVED. DID HE HAVE ANY REACTION
>> HE JUST GRABBED HIS STOMACH AND WENT DOWN.
>> Reporter: PODCASTER WOODY OVERTON HAD A MUCH NEEDED
EMOTIONAL REACTION TO THE VERDICT.
>> THAT DESERVED A CRY AND IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL MOMENT.
>> Reporter: YOUR INVESTIGATION PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THIS
ARREST >> RIGHT
I'VE DONE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS IN MY CAREER
THIS PROBABLY IS THE BEST I'VE EVER DONE.
>> Reporter: 45-YEAR-OLD ANTHONY BURNS WAS SENTENCED TO
LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE.
BUT BEFORE HE WAS TAKEN AWAY, STEPHANIE TURNED TO ADDRESS HIM.
>> AND THAT'S WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD ZERO MERCY FOR HIM
AND I HOPE HE ROTTED IN JAIL AND THEN HELL.
>> Reporter: HE STILL CLAIMS HE DIDN'T DO IT
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S WHAT COWARDS DO
AND HE'LL PROBABLY NEVER ADMIT IT
>> Reporter: ANTHONY BURNS PLANS TO APPEAL HIS CONVICTION
BUT THAT DOESN'T BOTHER STEPHANIE.
YOU MADE A PROMISE TO COURTNEY THAT YOU WOULD FIND OUT WHO
KILLED HER AND YOU LIVED UP TO THAT
PROMISE. >> I DID
I DID. >> Reporter: SHE NOW WEARS
COURTNEY'S CLASS RING, THE RING COURTNEY WAS WEARING WHEN SHE
WAS MURDERED, THAT STARTED THIS MOTHER'S QUEST FOR JUSTICE
DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL CLOSER TO HER?
>> YES AND IT MAKES ME SLEEP GOOD AT
NIGHT. SOMETIMES I JUST HUG IT.
IT'S JUST PRICELESS TO ME. >> Reporter: HOW DO YOU THINK
COURTNEY WOULD FEEL ABOUT HOW HARD YOU FOUGHT FOR HER?
>> OH, MY GOD. SHE'D BE SO HAPPY THAT I KEPT MY
WORD TO HER. I DID THINGS THAT I NEVER KNEW I
WOULD HAVE TO DO IN MY LIFE. >> Reporter: YOU NEEDED TO
PROTECT COURTNEY EVEN IN DEATH >> EVEN IN DEATH
YES, I DID I DID IT
AND I KNOW SHE'D BE HAPPY. I KNOW SHE IS HAPPY.
>>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF "DATELINE."
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN SUNDAY AT 7:00, 6:00 CENTRAL
AND, OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY
NEWS." I'M LESTER HOLT.