>> WE HAD A BRUTAL MURDER. PLE
PERSONAL TO SO MANY PEOPLE IN
ASPEN.
THAT HOUSE HAS THIS STORY TO
TELL
ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT STORY IS?
>> OH, MY GOD, NO!
>> I WAS GOING INTO SHOCK,
HYPERVENTILATING
>> Reporter: HARD TO GET THAT
IMAGE OUT OF YOUR MIND
>> IT IS
>> THERE ARE NO WORDS FOR IT,
YOU KNOW
NANCY WAS PART OF ASPEN'S
HISTORY.
>> Reporter: THIS APPEARED TO
COME OUT OF THE BLUE
>> YES, A CRIME THAT OCCURRED
WHILE SHE WAS SLEEPING >> I JUST
REMEMBER HER HAIR!
>> THERE'S NO WAY SHE SAW WHAT
SHE SAID SHE SAW
>> IT LOOKED LIKE A SET-UP
IT REALLY LOOKED LIKE A SET-UP
>> Reporter: A MURDER IN A
SECLUDED CHALETAE SENDS SHIVERS
THROUGH A GLAMOROUS SKI TOWN
>> TOOK MY WORLD AND JUST
FLIPPED IT UPSIDE DOWN
>> I STARTED PRAYING THAT THE
TRUTH WOULD BE REVEALED!
>> WE WERE ALL WRONG
I MEAN, EVERYBODY WAS WRONG IN
THIS CASE!
>> I'M LESTER HOLT AND THIS IS
"DATELINE.
"WHILE SHE WAS SLEEPING. >> MY, MY FRIEND, OH MY, MY
FRIEND --, OH MY GOD
MY, MY FRIEND!
>> Reporter: A COLD NIGHT.
FEBRUARY, 2014
>> SHE'S NOT
SHE'S FULL OF BLOOD!
>> Reporter: 911 CALLERS CAN
OFTEN BE HYSTERICAL.
THIS ONE WAS ALL BUT
INCOMPREHENSIBLE
>> I FOUND MY FRIEND IN THE
CLOSET
SHE'S DEAD
>> Reporter: BUT THEN, THIS SORT
OF THING JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN TO
PEOPLE LIKE THE ONE NOW LYING
DEAD IN THE CLOSET
>> SHE'S DEAD, FULL OF BLOOD,
WRAPPED IN A THING
>> Reporter: AND CERTAINLY NOT
IN THE CALLER'S ZIP CODE
>> WE DON'T SEE VERY MANY
HOMICIDES IN PITKIN COUNTY
>> Reporter: BUT THERE ARE
MOMENTS WHEN NO PLACE IS SAFE.
NO PERSON, NOT THE STORIED
VICTIM, NOT HER SECURE AND
PAMPERED SHANGRILA IN THE SNOW
>> THERE ARE NO WORDS FOR IT,
YOU KNOW
WHEN A CHILDHOOD FRIEND DIES -
>> Reporter: YES, AND NANCY
PFISTER?
LIFE OF THE PARTY, CONFIDANT OF
BELL HOPS AND BILLIONAIRES
WHO WOULD WANT TO HARM HER
AND WHY?
ASPEN, COLORADO.
THE TINY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT HERE
TELLS A STORY IN THE LONG LINE
OF PRIVATE JETS, PARKED AND
WAITING FOR THEIR WELL HEELED
OWNERS TO COME DOWN FROM THEIR
MOUNTAINSIDE CHALETS
THEIR "BEGINNER CASTLES," AS THE
LATE NANCY PFISTER USED TO CALL
THEM
HALF PLAYFULLY, OF COURSE.
THESE WERE HER FRIENDS
AS WERE THE PASSING TOURISTS,
SKI BUMS AND BUSBOYS AND JUST
ABOUT EVERYBODY.
MARY CONOVER MET NANCY WHEN THEY
WERE BOTH TEENAGERS.
>> YOU CANNOT COME TO THIS TOWN
WITHOUT MEETING NANCY.
>> Reporter: COME ON, REALLY
>> EVERYBODY MET NANCY AT ONE
POINT OR ANOTHER
>> I'LL BE SHOWING YOU ALL THE
RICH AND FAMOUS PEOPLE THAT I
KNOW
>> Reporter: INCLUDING THIS
FRENCH TV CREW
NANCY GAVE THEM A TOUR OF ASPEN
GLITZ.
>> THIS IS WHERE ALL THE RICH
AND FAMOUS PEOPLE COME IN THEIR
PRIVATE JET.
>> I'VE NEVER KNOWN ANOTHER
PERSON LIKE HER.
AS JOYFUL AND OUTSIZED
PERSONALITY AND ALL OF THAT THAT
SHE WAS, SHE HAD A VERY DEEP AND
SOULFUL CONNECTION TO THE WORLD.
>> Reporter: SOME SPECIAL SAUCE
IN NANCY PFISTER, AND WHEN SHE
SMILED -
>> IT WAS JUST PURE RADIANCE,
YOU KNOW
IT WAS JUST BEAMING.
>> Reporter: BILLY CLAYTON WAS
PERHAPS CLOSER TO NANCY THAN
ANYBODY, ALMOST LIKE A BROTHER
>> IT WAS LIKE SHE HAD A SECRET
AND SHE WANTED TO SHARE IT WITH
YOU.
AND THAT SECRET WAS, "LET'S ALL
LIGHTEN UP AND HAVE FUN AND
ENJOY LIFE AND BE GRATEFUL."
>> Reporter: NANCY HAD REASON TO
BE GRATEFUL.
SHE WAS BORN TO A LEGENDARY
ASPEN FAMILY, A BIT LIKE LOCAL
ROYALTY.
HER FATHER, ART PFISTER, MADE A
FORTUNE WHEN HE TURNED HIS RANCH
INTO THE BUTTERMILK SKI RESORT
AND HER MOTHER BETTY WAS A WORLD
WAR TWO PILOT WHO, IN LATER
YEARS, FLEW A HELICOPTER, PARKED
IT IN HER DRIVEWAY
AND NANCY?
STORIES ABOUT NANCY WOULD FILL A
BOOK
LIKE THE ONE ABOUT HOW SHE MET
JACK NICHOLSON
>> A CONVERTIBLE PULLED UP AND
ASKED THEM DIRECTIONS.
AND NANCY SAID, "WELL, I'LL --
I'LL TAKE YOU THERE BUT I WANT
TO RIDE IN THAT NICE CAR OF
YOURS.
AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW
SHE'S -- SHE AND JACK ARE BEST
FRIENDS.
>> THIS IS THE HOUSE OF JACK
NICHOLSON.
>> Reporter: NANCY COULD AND DID
LIVE ANY WAY SHE WANTED, OUT
LOUD
>> MANY, MANY TIMES, UM, WHEN I
JUST THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO
HAVE A NORMAL DAY AND DO
SOMETHING AROUND HERE, SHE WOULD
SAY, "LET'S GO TO ST. BART'S,"
OR, "LET'S GO TO HAWAII," OR,
"LET'S GO SOMEWHERE," AND I'D
GO, "OKAY.
>> Reporter: BUT A RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE IMPULSIVE AND
GREGARIOUS NANCY, BILLY HAD TO
ADMIT, CAME WITH A PRICE
YOUR BUSINESS WAS HER BUSINESS,
YOUR STUFF WAS HER STUFF AND
SOMETIMES, SHE JUST EXPECTED
FRIENDS TO GIVE HER THE STUFF
SHE WANTED
>> IT WAS -- IT WAS QUITE A JOB
TO LOVE NANCY.
>> Reporter: QUITE A JOB TO LOVE
NANCY?
>> YEAH.
SHE WOULD DO THINGS SHE FELT,
UH, WERE OKAY AT ANY TIME.
>> Reporter: SO, AFTER WHAT
HAPPENED TO HER, FLIES ON A
CARCASS, THE TABLOIDS FEASTED ON
THE GOSSIP AND HALF TRUTHS THAT
FLEW AROUND TOWN
SHE WAS A SPOILED WILD-CHILD,
THEY HOWLED.
JACK NICHOLSON'S PARTY GIRL,
HUNTER S. THOMPSON'S DRINKING
BUDDY.
AN INCURABLE FLIRT ONCE ENGAGED
TO MICHAEL DOUGLAS
ALL VERY BREATHLESS, THESE
STORIES ABOUT THE, QUOTE, "ASPEN
SOCIALITE.
AND INSULTING, SAID HER FRIENDS.
DIDN'T PAINT NANCY'S CHARACTER
ACCURATELY AT ALL.
>> SOME PEOPLE COLLECT FAMOUS
PEOPLE AS FRIENDS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM TO BE
ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT --
>> DEFINITELY NOT HER.
SHE HAD A LOT OF FAMOUS FRIENDS.
SHE HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS WHO
WERE NOT FAMOUS.
SHE TREATED EVERYONE THE SAME
WAY.
SHE HAD A VERY GENUINE
CONNECTION WITH PEOPLE
>> SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE
ENTITLEMENT THAT MADE A SNOOTY
LITTLE RICH KID OR SOMETHING
SHE HAD AN ENTITLEMENT THAT
SH -- EVERY DAY OF LIFE WAS
PRECIOUS AND -- AND -- AND
SHOULD BE LIVED TO THE FULLEST
>> Reporter: NANCY WAS A
TRAVELING PHILANTHROPIST
A DEVOTED ENVIRONMENTALIST
SHE HAD A DAUGHTER, TOO,
JULIANA, BORN WHEN NANCY WAS 29.
AND SOMETIMES SHE TOOK JULIANA
WITH HER WHEN SHE TRAVELED, BUT
SOMETIMES SHE DIDN'T
>> NANCY HAS A LOT OF VERY CLOSE
FRIENDS AND PEOPLE WHO LOVED
JULIANA AND, YOU KNOW, WE ALL
RAISED OUR CHILDREN TOGETHER
>> Reporter: UNUSUAL
OH CERTAINLY
BUT --
>> SHE JUST TRULY, DEEPLY LOVED
JULIANA AND DID FEEL THAT THIS
WAS HER GREATEST ROLE OF HER
LIFE WAS -- WAS TO BE A MOTHER
>> Reporter: THING IS, NANCY
PFISTER TRUSTED PEOPLE
EVEN WITH THE CARE OF HER OWN
DAUGHTER, WITH HER HOUSE, WITH
HER MONEY.
LIKE THE TELLER SHE HAPPENED TO
MEET IN HER LOCAL BANK
>> SHE LOVED PEOPLE, YOU KNOW.
ALL KINDS.
IT DIDN'T MATTER WHO YOU WERE.
>> Reporter: KATHY CARPENTER WAS
THAT TELLER.
AND ONE DAY SEVEN YEARS AGO, OUT
OF THE BLUE, NANCY ASKED HER TO
LUNCH.
KATHY ACCEPTED
AND LEARNED FIRSTHAND ANOTHER OF
NANCY'S HALLMARK TRAITS.
>> SHE WAS SOMETIMES BRUTALLY
HONEST
>> Reporter: NO EDIT BUTTON?
>> NO EDIT BUTTON.
I LIKE THAT.
YES.
NO EDIT BUTTON
SHE ACTUALLY, WHEN I FIRST MET
HER, TOLD ME THAT I WAS VERY
FAT.
>> Reporter: WHAT A THING TO SAY
TO SOMEBODY WHEN YOU FIRST MEET
THEM
>> HI.
BE MY FRIEND
YOU'RE FAT
>> Reporter: SO SHE WAS BLUNT.
UNDIPLOMATIC
BUT IRRESISTABLE
BY THE TIME LUNCH WAS OVER NANCY
AND KATHY WERE FAST FRIENDS.
JUST HOW NANCY WAS
LIKE WHEN SHE MADE PLANS TO
LEAVE TOWN FOR THE WINTER, SHE
DECIDED TO RENT HER HOUSE TO A
RETIRED DOCTOR AND HIS
HORTICULTURALIST WIFE, TOTAL
STRANGERS WHOM SHE BEFRIENDED IN
A HEARTBEAT.
ACTUALLY INVITED THEM TO MOVE IN
A MONTH EARLY.
AND SO SHE, DR. TREY STYLER AND
HIS WIFE, WHO ALSO HAPPENED TO
BE NAMED NANCY, THEY ALL LIVED
TOGETHER LIKE ROOMMATES.
>> SHE KINDA SAID, "I'M GONNA
TAKE YOU UNDER MY WING AND HAVE
YOU MEET ALL MY FRIENDS, AND I
KNOW A LOTTA PEOPLE AROUND
HERE."
>> Reporter: BUT NOW, IN
FEBRUARY 2014, AT JUST 57, NANCY
PFISTER WAS GONE
MURDERED, APPARENTLY IN HER OWN
BED.
WHILE THE GRIEF WAS STILL VERY
FRESH, MUCH OF ASPEN CROWDED
INTO THE STORIED HOTEL JEROME
FOR A MEMORIAL THAT WAS MORE
LIKE A GOODBYE PARTY
>> WELL, HOWEVER SHE DIED, WE
NEED TO CELEBRATE HER LIFE
THAT'S WHAT SHE WOULD'VE WANTED
BECAUSE HER LIFE WAS A
CELEBRATION.
>> Reporter: EXCEPT ONE PERSON,
NOTABLY ABSENT FROM THE OVERFLOW
CROWD IN THE JEROME, WASN'T
CELEBRATING.
BUT CERTAINLY COULD HEAR THE
MUSIC AND LAUGHTER THAT BURST
OUT OF HOTEL WINDOWS THAT NIGHT,
AND DRIFTED DOWN THE STREET AND
INTO A PARTICULAR CELL IN THE
COUNTY JAIL.
>> WHEN WE COME BACK -
WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO
NANCY PFISTER?
THE AWFUL DISCOVERY THAT
LAUNCHED THIS ASPEN MYSTERY.
>> OH MY GOD, NO
>> HARD TO GET THAT IMAGE OUT OF
YOUR MIND.
>> IT IS
>> THAT HOUSE HAS A STORY TO
TELL
♪ (MÚSICA) ♪
FEBRUARY 2014, ANY FEBRUARY, IS
THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE, FOR
A CERTAIN CROWD, THAT IS
THIS YEAR AS ALWAYS, AN
AVALANCHE OF SKIERS CROWDED ONTO
LIFTS AND FILLED THE RESTAURANTS
AND BARS AND SHOPS THAT LINE
ASPEN'S CAREFULLY TENDED
AVENUES.
A LOVELY, IF PRICEY, SKIING
HEAVEN
EXCEPT, THAT IS, FOR
NANCY PFISTER.
>> IT USED TO BE REALLY
DIFFERENT IN THE OLD DAYS.
BUT NOW IT HAS GOTTEN MORE
TOWARDS THE CHAMPAGNE.
>> Reporter: DID SHE EVER THINK
OF LEAVING HERE PERMANENTLY?
I KNOW SHE WAS AWAY A LOT.
>> SHE THOUGHT OF IT ALL THE
TIME
SHE THOUGHT ABOUT -- BECAUSE
ASPEN'S CHANGED SO MUCH.
IT'S NOT THAT SLEEPY LITTLE
TOWN
THERE'S TRAFFIC.
I GOT STUCK IN TRAFFIC TODAY,
YOU KNOW
>> Reporter: WITH HER DAUGHTER,
JULIANA, GROWN AND OUT OF THE
HOUSE BY THEN NANCY, AT THE PEAK
OF SKI SEASON, HAD NO REASON TO
WINTER IN ASPEN.
WHICH IS WHY SHE RENTED HER
HOUSE TO THAT RETIRED DOCTOR AND
HIS WIFE FROM DENVER
WHILE SHE SIPPED HER CHAMPAGNE
IN WARMER CLIMES
THIS YEAR, AUSTRALIA
SO IT WAS A SURPRISE WHEN, THIS
FEBRUARY, SHE NOTIFIED HER
FRIENDS SHE WAS COMING HOME
EARLY.
SHE ARRIVED IN ASPEN SATURDAY
THE 22nd OF FEBRUARY
KATHY CARPENTER PICKED HER UP AT
THE AIRPORT.
>> I HUNG OUT WITH HER THAT
EVENING, HELPED HER UNPACK, AND
TO GET ORGANIZED
>> Reporter: HOW WAS IT TO HAVE
HER BACK
>> IT WAS WONDERFUL.
IT WAS FUN
SHE SHARED A LOT OF HER VIDEO
CLIPS THAT SHE TOOK ON HER TRIP.
>> Reporter: DID YOU STAY OVER
THE WEEKEND OR -
>> I DID
SHE ASKED ME IF I WOULD STAY
WITH HER
SO I DID
>> Reporter: ON MONDAY MORNING,
FEBRUARY 24th, KATHY GOT UP
EARLY AND LEFT FOR WORK, LEAVING
NANCY AND HER DOG, GABE, AT THE
HOUSE.
KNOWING NANCY WOULD NEED PEACE
AND QUIET TO GET OVER HER JET
LAG, SHE PUT A NOTE ON THE FRONT
DOOR ASKING WOULD-BE VISITORS TO
LEAVE NANCY ALONE.
>> SHE DID NOT WANT TO BE
DISTURBED.
NANCY PFISTER DID -- NEVER
WANTED TO BE DISTURBED WHEN SHE
SLEPT.
>> Reporter: RIGHT
>> YOU DO NOT CALL HER
YOU DO NOT WAKE HER.
AND SHE ALWAYS SLEPT WITH HER
EAR PLUGS AND HER EYE MASK
EVERYTHING SHUT, CLOSE THE DOOR,
AND DO NOT DISTURB
>> Reporter: BILLY CLAYTON ALSO
LEFT NANCY ALONE, BUT FELT MUCH
BETTER JUST KNOWING SHE WAS
HOME
>> I WORRIED ABOUT HER
CONSTANTLY WHEN SHE WAS AWAY
FROM ASPEN
BUT WHEN SHE RETURNED TO ASPEN,
I DIDN'T WORRY ABOUT HER
I WOULD RELAX.
I SENT HER AN E-MAIL
THERE WITH A PHOTO OF MY
FOUR-YEAR-OLD SON.
"TO AUNT NANCY, WE'RE SO GLAD
YOU'RE HOME.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE HOME WE
DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOU AND
EVERYTHING'S GOOD.
>> Reporter: BUT BILLY DIDN'T
HEAR BACK.
NOT A WORD
AND THEN ON WEDNESDAY, THE
PEOPLE WHO'D BEEN RENTING
NANCY'S HOUSE CALLED KATHY
THEY'D MOVED OUT QUICKLY ON
NANCY'S RETURN AND HAD BEEN
GOING BACK AND FORTH TO THE
HOUSE ALL WEEK CLEARING OUT THE
LAST OF THEIR STUFF.
AND THEY FOUND IT ODD THAT THEY
HADN'T SEEN NANCY NOT ONCE
SO THIS IS MONDAY, TUESDAY, AND
THEN WEDNESDAY, AND YOU STILL
HADN'T SEEN HER.
>> STILL HADN'T SEEN HER
>> Reporter: BUT THEY DID SEE
NANCY'S DOG, GABE.
>> AND THEN I WENT AND CALLED
KATHY AND SAID, "THIS DOG HAS
BEEN ALONE FOR TWO DAYS.
IT'S CLEAR THAT SHE HASN'T BEEN
BACK
>> I WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE
NORMALLY THAT'S NOT NANCY'S
BEHAVIOR
SHE WOULD CALL ME AND ASK ME TO
PICK THE DOG UP.
>> Reporter: SO AFTER WORK KATHY
DROVE UP TO NANCY'S PLACE ON
BUTTERMILK MOUNTAIN TO CHECK ON
HER FRIEND
WHAT WAS IT LIKE WHEN YOU WENT
INSIDE THE HOUSE
>> I CALLED HER NAME OUT, AND
GABE WAS THERE
HE WAS HAPPY TO SEE ME
>> Reporter: BUT NANCY WASN'T
THERE.
KATHY CHECKED HER BEDROOM.
>> YOU KNOW, STUFF THAT WAS
THERE THAT I UNPACKED, YOU KNOW,
IT WAS CLEAR -- CLEANED UP
AND WHEN I TURNED, WENT TO THE
CLOSET, IT WAS LOCKED.
>> Reporter: WAS IT USUALLY
LOCKED
>> NO.
NOT -- I MEAN, NOT WITH NANCY
PFISTER HOME
>> Reporter: KATHY KNEW THAT
WHEN NANCY RENTED HER HOUSE, SHE
KEPT HER PERSONAL BELONGINGS
LOCKED IN A CLOSET IN THE MASTER
BEDROOM.
BUT SHE AND KATHY HAD UNLOCKED
IT WHEN SHE GOT HOME
>> AT THAT POINT, I JUST -- I
WAS NOT FEELING COMFORTABLE.
SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT.
>> Reporter: KATHY WHO OFTEN
HOUSE SAT FOR NANCY HAD A SPARE
KEY.
BUT IT WAS BACK AT HER HOUSE
SHE WENT HOME, GOT THE KEY,
RETURNED
OPENED THE CLOSET DOOR
>> WHEN I OPENED THAT DOOR, THAT
ODOR IS SO OVERWHELMING, IT HIT
ME IN THE FACE
AND I LOOKED DOWN, AND I COULD
SEE THE SHAPE.
>> Reporter: A SHAPE HIDDEN
UNDER A PILE OF BLANKETS AND
COVERINGS.
BUT WITH ONE GLIMPSE, KATHY JUST
KNEW, SHE SAID
IT WAS NANCY PFISTER
HARD TO GET THAT IMAGE OUT OF
YOUR MIND.
>> IT IS
>> Reporter: KIND OF STUCK
THERE.
>> IT -- IT -- IS.
>> Reporter: KATHY FLED THE
HOUSE, GOT IN HER CAR, CALLED
911.
>> OH MY GOD, NO
IT'S PRETTY DESOLATE UP THERE.
SO, I JUMPED IN THE CAR AND I
THOUGHT I'LL JUST DRIVE DOWN THE
HILL AND GET TO THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT
I -- I -- I DON'T KNOW
>> Reporter: HER HYSTERICS MADE
IT VERY HARD FOR THE DISPATCHER
TO COMPREHEND.
>> CAN YOU GET NEAR YOUR FRIEND?
>> NO!
NO, I CAN'T.
>> Reporter: THEN, FINALLY
UNDERSTANDING, THE DISPATCHER
TOLD KATHY, PULL OVER, WAIT FOR
FIRST RESPONDERS
>> I WANT YOU TO PULL OVER AND
PUT YOUR FLASHERS ON
>> OKAY.
WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVE, THEY -
YOU KNOW, I STEPPED OUT OF THE
VEHICLE.
I THINK I WAS GOING INTO SHOCK,
HYPERVENTILATING
>> Reporter: DASH CAM VIDEO
SHOWS A DISTRAUGHT KATHY AS SHE
WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL.
AND SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES ARRIVED
ON BUTTERMILK MOUNTAIN TO LOOK
IN THAT ROOM AND CONFRONT A
MYSTERY.
>> THAT HOUSE, AND THAT ROOM IN
PARTICULAR HAS THIS STORY TO
TELL
AND ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT STORY IS?
>> COMING UP -
>> THEY KNEW THEY WERE LOOKING
FOR A BODY
>> THE DISCOVERY IN THE CLOSET
WHO WAS BEHIND IT?
HARD TO DO THAT ALONE?
>> IT IS AWKWARD AND DIFFICULT
TO MOVE A BODY
>> MORE THAN ONE SUSPECT
AND MAYBE MORE THAN
>> Reporter: LISA MILLER, THEN
THE DA'S INVESTIGATOR FOR THE
COUNTY THAT INCLUDES ASPEN, IS A
TALL, RANGY WOMAN WITH AN IMPISH
GRIN THAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S HIDING
A SECRET
INVESTIGATOR MILLER WAS IN AN
UNFAMILIAR SITUATION UP HERE ON
BUTTERMILK MOUNTAIN.
MURDER IN ASPEN?
JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN.
OR HADN'T, AT LEAST, IN MORE
THAN A DECADE.
>> I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED THAT
WE HAD A MURDER IN ASPEN
RAILROAD AND BEING CALLED TO A
PERSON'S HOME LIKE NANCY
PFISTER, I SHOULD THINK,
ESPECIALLY SO?
>> CORRECT
>> Reporter: AND YET HERE SHE
WAS IN NANCY'S LIVING ROOM,
LOOKING OUT THE BIG PICTURE
WINDOW
>> THE JUXTAPOSITION OF ARRIVING
AT THAT HOUSE AND TAKING A LOOK
AT THIS BEAUTIFUL SCENERY AND
THEN KNOWING AN ACT OF TERRIBLE
VIOLENCE HAD OCCURRED JUST DOWN
THE HALLWAY --
>> Reporter: THOUGH, IN THE
BEDROOM, SHE SAW SURPRISINGLY
LITTLE EVIDENCE OF IT.
>> THERE WAS A SMALL BLOOD SMEAR
ON THE HEADBOARD
THERE WAS -- COUPLE SMALL
DROPLETS OF BLOOD ON THE CARPET
AND A LITTLE BIT OF SPATTER ON
THE WALL
>> Reporter: AND THE BODY IN THE
CLOSET
WELL, WHEN FIRST RESPONDERS
OPENED THE DOOR --
>> THEY KNEW THEY WERE LOOKING
FOR A BODY
AND THEY OPEN THE DOOR AND THEY
LOOK INSIDE AND THEY DIDN'T
IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZE THE BODY
YOU JUST LOOKED DOWN AND YOU SAW
WHITE COVERINGS.
>> Reporter: AND UNDERNEATH
THOSE COVERINGS --
>> MISS PFISTER HAD BEEN BOUND
WITH AN EXTENSION CORD
SHE HAD MULTIPLE PLASTIC BAGS
OVER HER HEAD THAT HAD BEEN
BOUND AND SECURED TIGHTLY.
AND THEN ANOTHER LARGE ONE OF
THE TEAR-RESISTANT, DARKER
COLORED BAGS OVER HER BODY ALSO.
>> Reporter: WITH BLANKETS
WRAPPED ALL AROUND THAT.
INVESTIGATOR MILLER COULD
CLEARLY SEE THAT THE KILLER,
WHOEVER IT WAS, HAD GONE TO A
LOT OF TROUBLE TO HIDE WHAT HE
OR SHE HAD DONE BUT THERE WAS NO
HIDING NOW
>> WHEN THE CRIME SCENE
PERSONNEL STARTED TAKING A LOOK,
THEY FLIPPED THE MATTRESS AND
FOUND, UH -- BLOOD ON THE BOTTOM
PART OF THE MATTRESS
>> Reporter: SO, IT WAS CLEAR --
NANCY WAS KILLED ON THE BED,
DRAGGED TO THE CLOSET, STASHED
THERE, WRAPPED UP LIKE A MUMMY
THEN WHOEVER DID IT TOOK THE
EXTRA TROUBLE TO FLIP THE
MATTRESS IN AN EFFORT TO HIDE
THE SOAKED-IN POOL OF BLOOD.
DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY ANDREA
BRYAN STARTED WORKING THE CASE
ON THE NIGHT NANCY'S BODY WAS
FOUND.
>> WE LEARNED THAT SHE HAD DIED
FROM BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA TO THE
HEAD AND IT APPEARED SHE HAD HAD
SEVERAL BLOWS TO THE HEAD.
>> Reporter: ANY DEFENIVE
WOUNDS
>> NO.
>> Reporter: SO THIS APPEARED TO
COME OUT OF THE BLUE FOR HER
>> IT DID APPEAR TO BE, YES, A
PRE-MEDITATED CRIME THAT
OCCURRED WHILE SHE WAS SLEEPING.
>> Reporter: IT LOOKED AS IF IT
HAPPENED EARLY MONDAY MORNING.
AND THEN, THE BODY LAY IN THE
CLOSET UNDISCOVERED UNTIL
WEDNESDAY EVENING.
THE INVESTIGATORS BEGAN
COMPILING A LIST OF POSSIBLE
SUSPECTS, A LONG LIST.
>> NONE OF US REALLY LIVED LIKE
NANCY, SO OPEN
I MEAN SHE WAS TOTALLY OPEN TO
STRANGERS.
>> Reporter: THAT OPENNESS MADE
NANCY FRIENDS EVERYWHERE SHE
WENT, SAID BILLY
BUT THEN AGAIN, WHEN NANCY
OPENED HERSELF UP, PEOPLE DIDN'T
ALWAYS LIKE WHAT CAME OUT.
>> SAY WHAT SHE THOUGHT WHEN SHE
THOUGHT.
>> Reporter: DID SHE REALIZE SHE
WAS GOING TO MAYBE MAKE A
NEGATIVE IMPRESSION SOMETIMES
WHEN SHE DID THAT?
>> WELL, SHE DEFINITELY [ BLEEP
] PEOPLE OFF THERE'S NO DOUBT
ABOUT THAT
SHE, YOU KNOW, MANY TIMES I
COULD JUST SEE PEOPLE'S, YOU
KNOW, STEAM COMING OUT OF THEIR
EARS AND THEY'RE THINKING, "NO
ONE'S EVER TALKED TO ME LIKE
THAT BEFORE.
>> Reporter: YEAH.
>> BUT HER THINKING WAS,
"SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE A LONG TIME
AGO.
YOU KNOW
>> Reporter: NO QUESTION NANCY
RUBBED SOME PEOPLE THE WRONG
WAY.
SPOKE HER MIND A BIT TOO OFTEN,
MAYBE?
TREATED FRIENDS A LITTLE LIKE
HER PERSONAL SERVANTS SOMETIMES.
LIKE KATHY FOR EXAMPLE
DID SHE TREAT YOU MORE LIKE A
FRIEND OR LIKE SHE WAS YOUR
BOSS
>> YOU KNOW, WE WERE FRIENDS
AND JUST DEPENDING ON THE DAY
AND SOME DAYS, YOU KNOW, SHE
WOULD BOSS ME AROUND
AND I WOULD EXPRESS HOW I FELT
AND SHE ALWAYS APOLOGIZED.
>> Reporter: AND HER FRIENDS
FORGAVE.
BECAUSE THEY LOVED NANCY FOR WHO
SHE WAS.
BUT INVESTIGATORS NOW HAD TO
FIGURE OUT IF SOMEONE IN NANCY'S
LIFE HAD STOPPED LOVING HER.
OR IF SHE HAD SIMPLY OPENED
HERSELF UP TO THE WRONG PERSON
>> WE'RE WORKING DILIGENTLY AT
THAT POINT TO FOLLOW UP ON OTHER
LEADS THAT WERE COMING IN.
>> Reporter: LIKE?
>> LEADS OF OTHER PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY THAT MAY HAVE HAD SOME
RESENTMENT TOWARDS NANCY
PFISTER.
>> Reporter: LIKE PERHAPS A
JILTED LOVER
MIGHT ONE OF THEM HAVE HARBORED
SOME HIDDEN RAGE
HER FRIENDS KNEW THAT THE
IRREPRESSIBLE NANCY WAS ALSO A
WOMAN WHO FELL IN AND OUT OF
LOVE OFTEN
>> USUALLY NANCY'S AFFAIRS OR
ROMANCES DIDN'T LAST A LONG
TIME
>> Reporter: YEAH.
>> BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME
STORIES ABOUT THERE WAS A JILTED
LOVER SOMEWHERE, SOMEBODY I
DIDN'T KNOW.
SO WHEN I HEARD THAT I THOUGHT,
YOU KNOW, THERE'S CRAZY PEOPLE
OUT THERE AND I SAID, "LET'S,
LET'S FOLLOW IT UP 'CAUSE YOU
NEVER KNOW
COULD BE, YOU KNOW."
>> Reporter: BUT NO.
NO ACTUAL JILTED LOVERS IN
NANCY'S PAST, JUST RUMOR AND
UNFOUNDED INNUENDO
AND BESIDES, AFTER TAKING IN THE
BEDROOM CRIME SCENE, THE
INVESTIGATORS DECIDED THEY WERE
NOT LOOKING FOR A KILLER
HARD TO DO THAT ALONE, CARRY A
BODY AROUND LIKE THAT?
FLIP A QUEEN-SIZE MATTRESS
>> THE MATTRESS IS DOABLE BUT IT
WOULD BE AWKWARD FOR A SINGLE
PERSON TO FLIP THE MATTRESS ON
THEIR OWN.
AND THEY USE THE TERM "DEAD
WEIGHT" FOR A REASON
I MEAN, IT IS AWKWARD AND
DIFFICULT TO MOVE A BODY
>> Reporter: BUT IT SEEMED LIKE
A PRETTY CLEAR INDICATION OF
MORE THAN ONE PERSON
>> YES, THAT WAS OUR CONCLUSION.
>> Reporter: SOMETHING ELSE --
SINCE THERE WAS NO SIGN OF
FORCED ENTRY, HER KILLER, OR
KILLERS AS THEY NOW BELIEVED,
MUST HAVE HAD A HOUSE KEY.
NOW, WHO MIGHT THAT BE
>> Reporter: THE INVESTIGATION WAS LITERALLY CLOSER TO HOME,
NOW.
THAT IS TO SAY, THE DETECTIVES
INVESTIGATING THE MURDER OF
NANCY PFISTER BEGAN LOOKING AT
ANYBODY WHO HAD ACCESS WITHOUT
PERMISSION TO NANCY'S HOUSE --
THAT IS, PEOPLE WITH A KEY
FOR EXAMPLE, THE COUPLE WHO'D
BEEN RENTING THE PLACE WHILE
NANCY WAS IN AUSTRALIA
DR. WILLIAM "TREY" STYLER, AND
HIS WIFE, ALSO NAMED NANCY, WERE
HARDLY LIKELY SUSPECT -- BUT
THEY HAD TO START SOMEWHERE.
>> MR. STYLER HE'S AN
ANESTHESIOLOGIST, MRS. STYLER
FROM ALL ACCOUNTS WAS AN
INTELLIGENT WOMAN HERSELF.
>> Reporter: TREY AND NANCY MET
IN THE ANESTHESIOLOGY DEPARTMENT
AT A DENVER HOSPITAL -- HE A
RESIDENT AND SHE AN
INSTRUCTOR -
>> I HEARD HIM GO UP TO A WOMAN
ON A GURNEY AND SAY "HELLO, I'M
DR. STYLER
I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU AS THOUGH
I WERE TAKING CARE OF MY MOTHER
AND I LOVE MY MOTHER."
>> Reporter: THE GENTLE DOCTOR
CHAIRED HIS ANESTHESIOLOGY
DEPARTMENT BY THE TIME HE
RETIRED.
THEY LIVED IN AN UPSCALE AREA OF
DENVER
THEIR SHARED HOBBY WAS GROWING
THE GASP INDUCING GIANT VICTORIA
WATER LILY
THEIR UNUSUAL LEVEL OF SUCCESS
AT THAT -- OR SKILL BROUGHT THEM
WORLD RENOWN WITHIN THE RAREFIED
WORLD OF SPECIALIZED BOTANY.
>> IN FACT THE TWO OF YOU LIVED
KIND OF A CHARMED EXISTENCE FOR
QUITE A WHILE?
>> WE DID.
HAD 25 YEARS OF A LIFE THAT I
USED TO SAY I WOULD NEVER TRADE
WITH ANYONE.
>> Reporter: BUT RIGHT AROUND
THE YEAR 2000, IT ALL BEGAN TO
FALL APART
TREY GOT SICK AND HAD TO QUIT
PRACTICING MEDICINE.
HIS ATTEMPT TO START A MEDICAL
SUPPORT BUSINESS FAILED.
HE SUED HIS MEDICAL GROUP AND
LOST
HE SUED THE LAWYER WHO TOOK HIS
LIFE SAVINGS --AND GOT NOTHING
HE HAD TO SELL HIS HOUSE
HE MOVED WITH NANCY INTO A
RENTAL, WHERE THEY WERE
POISONED -- SAID NANCY AND VERY
NEARLY FATALLY -- BY CARBON
MONOXIDE
AGAIN THEY TRIED TO SUE BUT WERE
TOO BROKE TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY.
>> AND HE WAS BESIDE HIMSELF
SUICIDAL, JUST, YOU KNOW, "I
CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I DID TO THE
FAMILY, LOSING ALL THIS INCOME,"
AND, AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, "WE
CAN DO THIS.
AND SO I THOUGHT OF ASPEN, THAT
WE LOVED ASPEN
>> Reporter: ASPEN
FRESH MOUNTAIN AIR, A FRESH
START.
THEY COULD OPEN A SPA, THEY
DECIDED.
AND THAT'S WHEN NANCY STYLER
PICKED UP THE PHONE TO ANSWER
ANOTHER NANCY'S REAL ESTATE AD
IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER
NANCY PFISTER'S AD
>> SHE SAID, "OH, EXCUSE ME, I
WAS JUST WATERING MY
GREENHOUSE."
I SAID, YOU KNOW, "I WOULD LOVE
TO HAVE A GREENHOUSE."
AND SO WE WENT UP THERE AND IT
JUST SEEMED PERFECT.
>> Reporter: IT SEEMED PERFECT
TO NANCY PFISTER TOO
HER SHARE OF THE FAMILY FORTUNE
WAS DOLED OUT IN REGULAR BUT
LIMITED ALLOWANCES AND BY
RENTING HER MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR
HOUSE WITH THE BILLION DOLLAR
VIEWS -- SHE WOULD HAVE EXTRA
CASH FOR HER UPCOMING TRIP TO
AUSTRALIA.
SO -- NO FORMAL LEASE --JUST A
HANDSHAKE -- THE RENT WAS $4,000
A MONTH.
>> IT WAS A LOT OF MONEY BUT NOT
FOR ASPEN.
>> Reporter: NANCY ASKED HER
GOOD FRIEND KATHY TO HELP THE
RENTERS TAKE CARE OF HER DOG
WHILE SHE WAS AWAY, COLLECT THE
RENT, AND BE HER GENERAL GO
BETWEEN.
>> SHE REALLY LIKED THESE
PEOPLE
SHE SAID THAT UM, SHE FELT THAT
THEY HAD REALLY GREAT KARMA.
>> Reporter: AND THAT'S PART OF
THE REASON WHY SHE INVITED THEM
TO MOVE IN A FULL MONTH BEFORE
SHE LEFT
BUT IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE THE
STYLERS DISCOVERED THAT LIVING
WITH NANCY PFISTER WAS NOT QUITE
LIKE THEY THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE.
>> AFTER THE FIRST COUPLE OF
DAYS SHE TREATED ME LIKE A
SLAVE.
LIKE, "GET MY CIGARETTES
GET THIS
GET MY DRINK."
AND I WAS NOT USED TO BEING SO
DISRESPECTED
>> Reporter: TREATED LIKE A
SLAVE THOUGH
I MEAN -
>> A SLAVE
IT WAS NOT PRETTY.
>> YOU KNOW, I TOLD HER, "THAT
IS HOW NANCY IS.
DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL
SHE COMES OFF THIS WAY AND THAT,
YOU KNOW
SHE, SHE REALLY HAS A GOOD
HEART.
>> Reporter: ANYWAY, NANCY LEFT
SOON ENOUGH FOR AUSTRIALIA -
BUT THEN THE STYLERS DISCOVERED
THE HOUSE WASN'T SO PERFECT
AFTER ALL.
>> SO WHEN I WENT TO CLEAN OUT
THE MASTER BEDROOM AND BATHROOM,
I REALIZED THE HOT WATER WAS
RUSTY.
THE DISHWASHER DIDN'T WORK
THE STOVE DIDN'T WORK.
>> Reporter: ONCE AGAIN, THE
STYLERS SOUGHT REDRESS
THEY DECIDED TO WITHHOLD RENT
UNTIL THOSE THINGS WERE FIXED.
NANCY PFISTER, HALF A WORLD
AWAY, WAS NOT HAPPY.
WHAT'D SHE SAY
>> THAT SHE FELT THAT THESE
PEOPLE WERE CONS, SQUATTERS, AND
SHE WANTED THEM OUT.
>> Reporter: KATHY WAS CAUGHT IN
THE MIDDLE, SHE ARRANGED THE
REPAIRS -- THE STYLERS PAID THE
MONEY THEY OWED -- GAVE KATHY
$6,000 IN CASH THAT SHE PUT IN A
SAFE DEPOSIT BOX FOR NANCY
BUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
LANDLORD AND TENANTS HAD SOURED
TO THE POINT THAT NO AMOUNT OF
KARMA COULD PRESERVE IT.
>> AND AT THAT POINT NANCY
STYLER SAID "I DON'T WANNA STAY.
WE WILL BE OUT FEBRUARY 22ND."
>> Reporter: HOW DID NANCY
PFISTER FEEL ABOUT THAT?
>> SHE WAS FINE WITH IT.
SHE WANTED THEM OUT.
>> Reporter: UNABLE TO FIND NEW
TENANTS NOW, NANCY PFISTER WAS
FACED WITH DOING EXACTLY WHAT
SHE HOPED TO AVOID WHEN SHE WENT
TO AUSTRALIA -- SPENDING PEAK
SKI SEASON IN ASPEN.
SHE GOT HOME FEBRUARY 22ND
THE VERY DAY THE STYLERS SAID
THEY'D BE DONE MOVING THEIR
STUFF OUT.
THE PROBLEM WAS, THEY WEREN'T.
>> SHE WAS NOT HAPPY
YOU KNOW, SHE HAD A FEW CHOICE
WORDS, BUT SHE ACCEPTED IT
SHE WAS TIRED, JET LAG
>> Reporter: YEAH.
>> SHE WANTED TO COME HOME, SEE
HER DOG.
>> Reporter: THE STYLERS ENDED
UP IN A MOTEL IN BASALT -- ABOUT
25 MINUTES AWAY.
THEY STOPPED BY THE HOUSE AGAIN
A FEW TIMES DURING THE WEEK TO
GET THEIR THINGS -- SAW THE DOG
BUT NOT NANCY.
AND MADE THAT FIRST, ALARMING
CALL TO KATHY THAT SOMETHING
SEEMED WRONG
AND WHEN KATHY FOUND THE BODY,
KNOWING BETTER THAN ANYONE ABOUT
THE TENSION BETWEEN THE STYLERS
AND NANCY PFISTER, SHE MADE SURE
TO CLUE IN INVESTIGATORS
>> SHE HAD SOME PEOPLE LIVING
THERE, SHE REALLY PISSED THEM
OFF.
AND, UM, SHE MADE THREATS TO
THEM ABOUT OWING MONEY
>> Reporter: SO -- TIME FOR
INVESTIGATORS TO VISIT THAT
MOTEL -- AND MEET THE STYLERS.
>> COMING UP
>> I SAID, "I HAVEN'T DONE
ANYTHING WRONG."
>> FROM MOTEL ROOM -- TO
INTERROGATION ROOM
INVESTIGATORS WERE FISHING
>> YOU DID THIS, MAN
>> Reporter: BASALT, COLORADO IS
JUST DOWN THE HIGHWAY FROM
ASPEN.
YOU CAN SEE THE SAME MOUNTAINS,
BREATHE THE SAME AIR
BUT WHEN TREY AND NANCY STYLER
CHECKED INTO THEIR MOTEL THEY
WERE ENTERING A WORLD FAR
BENEATH THE RARIFIED HEIGHTS OF
NANCY PFISTER'S MOUNTAINSIDE
RETREAT.
NO BILLIONAIRE STARTER CASTLES
HERE
THIS IS WHERE MANY OF THE PEOPLE
WHO WORK IN ASPEN LIVE
HERE THE STYLERS THOUGHT THEY
WERE DONE WITH NANCY PFISTER
MOVING ON.
AND THEN THERE WAS A KNOCK AT
THE DOOR
5:30 AM.
IT WAS SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES.
THEY HAD QUESTIONS, THEY SAID,
ABOUT A DEAD BODY.
>> AND I SAID "WHAT DEAD BODY?
AND HE WOULDN'T TELL ME.
"WHO DIED?
WOULDN'T SAY A WORD.
>> Reporter: THE DEPUTIES
ESCORTED THEM TO THE BACK SEATS
OF SEPARATE CARS, BUT SAID NOT A
WORD AS THEY DROVE DOWN TO THE
STATION.
NANCY LISTENED TO THE CHATTER ON
THE RADIO.
>> I HEARD HER SISTERS' NAMES
BEING MENTIONED ON THE POLICE
RADIO, NANCY'S SISTERS' NAMES.
AND I THOUGHT, "WELL, IT MUST BE
SOMETHING TO DO WITH NANCY."
>> Reporter: AT THE PITKIN
COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE,
DEPUTIES PUT NANCY AND TREY IN
DIFFERENT INTERVIEW ROOMS.
>> AND HE HAD READ ME MY MIRANDA
RIGHTS BEFOREHAND, AND I SAID,
"I DON'T NEED AN ATTORNEY.
I SAID, "I, I HAVEN'T DONE
ANYTHING WRONG."
I SAID, "I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS.
>> Reporter: WHICH WERE, AT
LEAST TO BEGIN WITH, PRETTY
BASIC.
>> WHERE DID YOU AND TREY COME
FROM
>> WE'RE FROM DENVER
UMM, WE MET AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
COLORADO MEDICAL SCHOOL.
THEY ASKED ME IF I KNEW ANY OF
THE MEN THAT SHE, YOU KNOW, HAD
DATED, IF I KNEW ANYONE THAT
WOULD WANT HER DEAD.
>> Reporter: SHE DIDN'T THINK IT
WAS THAT SORT OF THING AT ALL,
SAID NANCY
SHE TOLD THE DETECTIVES SHE WAS
PRETTY SURE SHE KNEW EXACTLY
WHAT HAPPENED TO NANCY PFISTER
>> I SAID, "YOU'RE GONNA FIND
THE TOX REPORT, YOU'RE GONNA
FIND OUT THAT SHE COMMITTED
SUICIDE.
I WAS ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED
>> Reporter: BUT OF COURSE
INVESTIGATORS KNEW NANCY PFISTER
DID NOT COMMIT SUICIDE
THEY KNEW SOMEONE BEAT HER TO
DEATH, ATTACKED HER AS SHE
SLEPT.
AND THEY KNEW ALL ABOUT THE
RENTAL ARRANGEMENT THAT STARTED
WELL AND WENT TO HELL.
AND ABOUT THE STYLERS RAPID FALL
FROM SUCCESS TO RUINATION.
>> THEIR FINANCIAL SITUATION WAS
DIRE
>> Reporter: YEAH.
>> AND HE WAS TRYIN' TO PAWN A
VERY NICE RING
>> Reporter: HE WAS A DESPERATE
MAN?
>> HE WAS VERY DESPERATE
>> Reporter: THEY ALSO KNEW FROM
KATHY CARPENTER, HOW ANGRY NANCY
STYLER WAS AT NANCY PFISTER.
>> WHAT KINDS OF THINGS DID SHE
SAY?
>> JUST THAT "I HATE THAT
WOMAN.
YOU KNOW, NANCY STYLER WAS
UPSET.
>> Reporter: "I COULD KILL HER"?
>> SHE DID SAY THAT --
"OH, I COULD JUST KILL THE
WOMAN.
>> Reporter: DID NANCY STYLER
ADMIT THAT SHE HAD THREATENED
NANCY PFISTER?
THAT SHE HAD SAID, "YOU KNOW, I,
I'D LIKE TO KILL HER"?
>> SHE WAS I -- I THINK PRETTY
OPEN ABOUT HER FEELINGS FOR
NANCY PFISTER.
AND SHE MADE SOME STATEMENTS
THAT WERE CERTAINLY CONSISTENT
WITH THAT.
>> I SAID, YOU KNOW, I WOULD
LIKE TO WRING HER NECK
BECAUSE SHE IS SUCH A, A DRUNK,
AND MAKING ME SO CRAZY
>> Reporter: NANCY STYLER'S
PERSONAL OPINION OF NANCY
PFISTER HAD SOURED TO SUCH A
DEGREE THAT SHE DID NOT HESITATE
TO SPEAK ILL OF THE DEAD,
WHETHER TRUE OR NOT.
>> THERE'S NOT ONE PERSON WHO
SAID A NICE THING ABOUT HER.
>> UH-HUH.
>> NOT ONE PERSON.
>> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS PUT
DR. STYLER IN A SEPARATE ROOM.
THEY'D PUT HIM IN AN ORANGE JUMP
SUIT, EVEN THOUGH HE WASN'T
UNDER ARREST
AND THEY ASKED A FEW SOFTBALL
QUESTIONS.
>> AND DO YOU LIKE WILLIAM OR
WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE TREY OR?
>> FRANKLY, I'LL ANSWER TO
ANYTHING
>> Reporter: BUT IT WASN'T LONG
BEFORE THE TONE CHANGED AND THE
ACCUSATIONS BEGAN.
>> WHY DID YOU GO IN THERE AND
HURT NANCY
MAYBE YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW BUT I
KNOW IT'S TRUE
I KNOW IT'S TRUE
>> Reporter: THE SHERIFF
HIMSELF, A CLOSE FRIEND OF THE
LATE NANCY PFISTER -
TRIED TO GET TREY STYLER TO
ADMIT THAT IN A DESPERATE RAGE,
HE KILLED NANCY.
>> YOU DID THIS, MAN
YOU DID IT
AND THE QUICKER YOU START SAYING
THAT, THE BETTER THIS IS GONNA
BE
>> Reporter: BUT TREY INSISTED
THEY WERE GOING AFTER THE WRONG
GUY.
HE WAS INNOCENT.
>> HOW CAN YOU KNOW IT'S TRUE
WHEN IT'S NOT TRUE
>> Reporter: OVER AND OVER, TREY
STRESSED AND DEMONSTRATED HOW
HIS 65-YEAR-OLD BODY, RAVAGED BY
DISEASE, WAS FAR TOO FRAIL TO
HAVE DONE WHAT WAS DONE TO
NANCY.
>> AS YOU CAN SEE I'D BE A
FORMIDABLE ADVERSARY IN A FIGHT.
>> Reporter: BUT IT HAD ALREADY
DAWNED ON DETECTIVES
THE MORE TREY CLAIMED TO BE
PHYSICALLY INCAPABLE -
>> MY CONDITION IS SUCH THAT I
DON'T THINK THAT I COULD BEAT UP
A KID.
>> Reporter: -- THE WORSE IT
LOOKED FOR HIS WIFE.
>> WE DEFINITELY HAD TO LOOK AT
THE FACT THAT HE HAD ASSISTANCE,
POTENTIALLY.
>> MY WIFE DOES EVERYTHING
I'M [ BLEEP ] DISABLED
I CAN'T DO [ BLEEP ]
INSISTENT, TOOK A POLYGRAPH.
MAYBE HE SHOULDN'T HAVE.
>> Reporter: AND HE FAILS HIS
POLYGRAPH?
>> YES
HE DID FAIL HIS POLYGRAPH.
>> Reporter: YOU'RE SMILING.
FAILED IT BADLY, OR WHAT
>> MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE
POLYGRAPHER THAT RAN THE TEST,
HE DID FAIL IT BADLY
>> Reporter: NOT ADMISSIBLE IN
COURT, BUT AN INVESTIGATIVE
TOOL, THEY SAY
DIDN'T LOOK GOOD FOR THE
STYLERS.
BUT, DESPERATION AND ANGER DO
NOT, BY THEMSELVES, A MURDER
CASE MAKE.
AND TO MAKE THINGS A LITTLE
EXTRA DIFFICULT, INVESTIGATORS
KNEW THEY COULDN'T COUNT ON DNA
AT THE SCENE TO LINK THE STYLERS
TO THE CRIME
>> IT COULD EASILY BE EXPLAINED
BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY WERE
LIVING
THEY WERE STAYING IN THAT
BEDROOM.
>> Reporter: SO THE
INVESTIGATORS DROVE THE STYLERS
BACK TO THEIR MOTEL, AND WENT ON
WITH THE HARD WORK OF A MURDER
INVESTIGATION.
THEY'D HAVE TO FIND A PIECE OF
GOOD SOLID EVIDENCE TO TIE
SOMEONE, MAYBE THE STYLERS, TO
THE CRIME.
DIDN'T LOOK, SO FAR, AS IF SUCH
A THING EXISTED.
AND THEN
>> OCCASIONALLY SOMETHING
FORTUITOUS HAPPENS TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
>> Reporter: HOW'S THAT OLD
SAYING GO?
ONE MAN'S TRASH IS ANOTHER MAN'S
TREASURE
>> Reporter: SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE EQUATION.
DIDN'T ADD UP.
HERE IN ASPEN, IN THE HOUSE ON
BUTTERMILK MOUNTAIN, THE CRIME
SCENE AROUND NANCY PFISTER'S
BODY SPOKE, IN A WAY
IT TOLD A STORY.
AND WHAT IT SAID WAS THAT AT
LEAST TWO ABLE BODIED PEOPLE
COMMITTED THE MURDER
HOW ELSE WOULD A HEAVY MATTRESS
GET FLIPPED, AND NANCY'S BODY
GET DRAGGED ACROSS THE ROOM AND
INTO THE CLOSET AND GET PACKAGED
IN BAGS AND WRAPPED UP IN
BLANKETS
AND YET, THEIR SUSPECTS, NANCY'S
FORMER TENANTS, WERE NOT ABLE
BODIED SPRING CHICKENS
ANYTHING BUT ATHLETIC.
AND BESIDES, THERE WAS ZERO
PHYSICAL EVIDENCE THAT WOULD TIE
EITHER ONE OF THEM TO THE CRIME.
>> I THINK WE WERE FACED WITH
THE REALITY THAT THIS WAS ALWAYS
GOING TO BE A CIRCUMSTANTIAL
CASE
>> Reporter: SO THAT BEDROOM WAS
KEEPING ITS SECRETS.
AND MIGHT BE KEEPING THEM STILL,
EXCEPT FOR ONE TOTAL FLUKE
COUPLE OF DAYS LATER
ONE OF THOSE LITTLE GIFTS THAT
CHANCE OR FATE OR SOMETHING JUST
DROPS AT A FRUSTRATED
INVESTIGATOR'S FEET, ALL TIED UP
WITH A NEAT LITTLE BOW
WHAT DO YOU GOT HERE
THIS IS NOT JUST A STANDARD
TRASH THING.
>> NO.
THIS BROKE THE CASE.
>> Reporter: HOW WEIRDLY FLUKEY
WAS THIS
THE TOWN OF BASALT, WHO KNEW,
HAD A RULE THAT YOU CAN'T PUT
PERSONAL GARBAGE IN PUBLIC TRASH
CANS
AND A CITY WORKER, A LITTLE
EXTRA DILIGENT, HAPPENED TO BE
POKING AROUND IN THE TRASH, JUST
RANDOMLY CHECKING, FOR ILLEGAL
GARBAGE DISPOSAL
TELL ME WHAT THIS GUY DID AND
HOW HE CAME ACROSS THIS STUFF.
>> HE PULLS THE TRASH AND THEN
HE GOES TO ANOTHER LOCATION.
AND HE WAS GOING TO ACTUALLY
CHECK IT TO SEE IF THERE WAS
ANY -- IT -- SOMETHING STOOD OUT
ABOUT IT
>> Reporter: HE ACTUALLY DOES
THIS STUFF
>> PEOPLE CHECK.
>> Reporter: OPENS THE BAG
>> YES, AND HE DID
AND THANK GOODNESS HE DID.
BECAUSE WHEN HE OPENED THE BAG,
HE LOOKS INSIDE AND HE SEES A
PRESCRIPTION PILL BOTTLE
AND WHAT WAS SPECIAL ABOUT THIS
PRESCRIPTION PILL BOTTLE IS IT
HAD NANCY PFISTER'S NAME ON IT
>> Reporter: OF COURSE THE CITY
WORKER RECOGNIZED THE NAME,
ASPEN, AND THE TOWNS AROUND IT
WERE BUZZING WITH THE NEWS ABOUT
NANCY PFISTER'S MURDER
IN ADDITION TO THAT PILL BOTTLE,
AFTER WHICH HE PHONED THE
POLICE, WHAT DID YOU GUYS FIND
IN THAT BAG?
>> WELL IN ADDITION TO THE PILL
BOTTLE, THE BIG ONE WAS A
HAMMER
A BLOODY HAMMER.
>> Reporter: A BLOODY HAMMER
FOUND IN THE SAME TRASH AS
MEDICATION BELONGING TO NANCY
PFISTER?
THAT SIMPLY COULDN'T BE A
COINCIDENCE.
POLICE WERE 99% SURE THEY'D
STUMBLED ON THE MURDER WEAPON.
THEY SENT IT OFF TO THE CRIME
LAB TO BE TESTED, ASAP
BUT THE TRASH BAG WASN'T DONE
DIVULGING ITS INVESTIGATIVE
GIFTS.
>> ANOTHER THING THAT WE FOUND
THAT WAS CONCERNING TO US WAS
THE VEHICLE REGISTRATION FOR
WILLIAM AND NANCY STYLER'S
JAGUAR
>> Reporter: WHAT'S MORE, THE
TRASH BIN WAS LOCATED JUST
BEHIND THE MOTEL WHERE THE
STYLERS WERE STAYING, AND THAT
WAS MILES AND MILES AWAY FROM
NANCY PFISTER'S HOUSE.
AGAIN, AS WE SAY, A LITTLE GIFT.
ACTUALLY, A BIG FAT JUICY GIFT,
DROPPED RIGHT INTO INVESTIGATORS
LAPS
AND IT, NO QUESTION, LINKED THE
STYLERS TO THE CRIME
I CANNOT THINK OF ANY OTHER
TIME, IN ANY OTHER CASE I'VE
EVER HEARD ABOUT WHERE SUCH
OBVIOUS EVIDENCE IS JUST KIND OF
THERE.
>> THROWN OUT SO CARELESSLY SO
CLOSE TO WHERE SUSPECTS ARE
STAYING?
YEAH
>> Reporter: DEPUTIES HOVERED
ROUND THE MOTEL TO KEEP AN EYE
ON THE STYLERS TO MAKE SURE THEY
DIDN'T DO A DISAPPEARING ACT,
WHILE THEY AND THE D.A. WAITED
FOR THE LAB TO TEST THE HAMMER
AND THEN, THREE DAYS LATER,
ANOTHER INSANELY IMPROBABLE
DISCOVERY.
>> THIS KEY WAS FOUND ON THE
GROUND
IT WAS RIGHT BEFORE THE TRASH
CAN.
>> Reporter: RIGHT THERE, JUST A
FEW FEET FROM THE DOOR OF THE
STYLERS MOTEL ROOM, WAS THE
OWNER'S KEY TO THE CLOSET IN
WHICH NANCY PFISTER'S BODY WAS
FOUND.
LYING AROUND AS IF THE STYLERS
INTENDED TO THROW IT IN THE
TRASH, BUT DROPPED IT BY
MISTAKE.
JUST LYING ON THE GROUND
>> ON THE GROUND, ON THE LIGHTER
PORTION OF THE CONCRETE IS WHERE
IT WAS FOUND
>> Reporter: AND THEN, THAT VERY
SAME DAY, AS IF TO PUNCTUATE THE
WHOLE STRANGE AFFAIR, THE DNA
RESULTS CAME BACK.
AND?
>> NANCY PFISTER'S DNA WAS ON
THE HAMMER, SO WE WERE ABLE TO
PRETTY CLEARLY SAY THAT THAT WAS
THE MURDER WEAPON.
>> Reporter: THE MURDER WEAPON,
THE KEY AND A MOTIVE
PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THEY
NEEDED TO PIN THE CRIME ON THE
STYLERS.
IT WAS MARCH 3rd, 2014, NOT EVEN
A WEEK SINCE NANCY PFISTER'S
BODY WAS FOUND
>> THEY KNOCKED ON THE DOOR.
I STEPPED OUT OF THE DOOR.
AND THEY SAID, "WE'RE ARRESTING
YOU FOR MURDER ONE."
AND SLAPPED THE CUFFS ON ME, AND
TOOK ME AWAY
THEY LED MY HUSBAND OUT IN MY
BATHROBE
>> Reporter: WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR
A WOMAN WHO HAD LED A VERY
SUCCESSFUL LIFE, WHO HAD
TRAVELED AROUND, DOING LECTURES
ON VICTORIA LILIES TO SOCIETIES
OF LIKE-MINDED
HORTICULTURALISTS --
>> TO BE IN JAIL
>> Reporter: TO BE IN JAIL FOR
MURDER
>> IT WAS A SHOCK.
>> Reporter: IT WAS A SHOCK FOR
SOME OF NANCY PFISTER'S FRIENDS,
TOO.
LIKE MARY CONOVER.
THE STYLERS, REALLY?
>> IT WAS JUST A BIG SURPRISE.
AND NOT KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT
THESE PEOPLE, IT JUST SEEMED
OUTRAGEOUS
WHY YOU WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE
THAT
>> Reporter: BUT KATHY
CARPENTER, WHO POINTED HER
SUSPICIOUS FINGER AT THE STYLERS
RIGHT AFTER THE MURDER,
PRACTICALLY JUMPED FOR JOY
>> WHEN I HEARD THAT, I WAS
JOYFUL THAT THEY FOUND THE
PERSON WHO MURDERED NANCY AND,
YOU KNOW, I JUST FELT THAT THERE
WAS JUSTICE.
>> Reporter: AND SWIFT JUSTICE
AT THAT.
WHAT A RELIEF TO ALL THOSE SOULS
NANCY COLLECTED, WHO LOVED HER
LIKE FAMILY.
>> I WAS RELIEVED THAT, YOU
KNOW, THIS IS DONE
>> Reporter: BUT COULD ONE OF
THE BIGGEST CRIMES IN ASPEN
HISTORY REALLY BE SOLVED THAT
FAST, WITH SO LITTLE DRAMA
OF COURSE NOT.
LOOKED LIKE A SETUP TO YOU
>> IT LOOKED LIKE A SETUP.
IT REALLY DID LOOK LIKE A SETUP.
>> COMING UP -
RETHINKING THE CASE.
SOMETHING DOESN'T ADD UP
>> OH MY GOD
>> BIZARRE IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN
CHARACTERIZE THAT 911 CALL
>> A CALL, NOW BECOMES A CLUE.
>> SHE'S DEAD.
SHE'S FULL OF BLOOD!
>> THERE'S NO WAY SHE SAW WHAT
SHE SAID SHE SAW
>> Reporter: IT WAS A QUICK
BUSINESS HERE IN ASPEN,
COLORADO
NOT EVEN A WEEK AFTER
NANCY PFISTER'S BODY WAS FOUND
DEAD IN HER OWN CLOSET, HER
RENTERS WERE LED AWAY IN
HANDCUFFS.
BUT WAS IT TOO QUICK, TOO EASY
>> IT LOOKED FISHY TO ME
>> Reporter: FISHY
>> FISHY
>> Reporter: NANCY STYLER'S
ATTORNEY BETH KRULEWITCH
FISHY, HOW
>> IN TERMS OF YOU'VE GOT A VERY
WELL-RESPECTED PHYSICIAN WHO'S
NOW BEING ACCUSED OF MURDER.
AND IT DIDN'T -- IT WAS
INCONCEIVABLE TO ME THAT HE
WOULD HAVE KILLED SOMEBODY
>> Reporter: PLUS, THE ELDERLY
MAN THEY LED AWAY WRAPPED IN HIS
WIFE'S BLUE BATHROBE LOOKED FAR
TOO FRAIL AND WEAK TO BLUDGEON A
WOMAN TO DEATH, CARRY HER BODY,
WRAP IT UP, FLIP A MATTRESS.
>> AND THEN BEEN STUPID ENOUGH
TO TAKE THE MURDER WEAPON, SOME
PILL BOTTLES WITH THE VICTIM'S
NAME ON THEM, HIS VEHICLE
REGISTRATION AND INSURANCE,
PACKAGED IT ALL UP IN ONE BAG
AND THEN PUT IT IN A DUMPSTER
THAT WAS CLOSE TO THE MOTEL HE
WAS STAYING AT
MADE ZERO SENSE TO ME.
>> Reporter: IT ALSO MADE ZERO
SENSE THAT TREY'S ACCOMPLICE WAS
HIS DIMINUTIVE 62-YEAR-OLD WIFE,
NANCY.
EVEN THOUGH SHE DID ACTUALLY SAY
SHE COULD JUST KILL THAT NANCY
PFISTER.
BUT THEN, LOTS OF PEOPLE AROUND
TOWN SAID SIMILAR THINGS ABOUT
THE OUTSPOKEN MS. PFISTER AT
SOME POINT OR OTHER, NOT MEANING
IT LITERALLY
>> I COULD SEE WHERE SHE COULD
BE SITTING AROUND WITH KATHY
CARPENTER, AND THEY COULD BE
COMMISERATING ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
WHAT NANCY PFISTER DID OR DIDN'T
DO
OR WHAT SHE HAD SAID OR THE WAY
THEY HAD BEEN TREATED.
AND SHE COULD HAVE SAID
SOMETHING LIKE, YOU KNOW,
"GEE -- YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO
KILL HER."
BUT YOU KNOW, LISTEN, THAT'S -
THAT'S NOT EVIDENCE OF
FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.
>> Reporter: BESIDES, NANCY
STYLER WAS MORE THAN OPEN ABOUT
IT
>> WE'VE ALL SAID THAT ABOUT
SOMEONE AT SOME OTHER, YOU KNOW,
"I'D LIKE TO KILL HIM," OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT NOT -- NOT EVER THINKING,
YOU KNOW, TAKING IT THAT FAR
YES, I DID SAY THAT.
BUT, NO, I DIDN'T KILL HER
>> Reporter: AND IF IT WASN'T
NANCY, COULDN'T HAVE BEEN TREY,
EITHER
BECAUSE HE WAS FRAIL, YES, SAID
NANCY, BUT ALSO BECAUSE HE WAS
NEVER ALONE TO DO IT
YOU WERE NEVER WITHOUT HIM
>> YEAH.
I SAID WE WERE ALWAYS TOGETHER
>> Reporter: WHAT DID MAKE
SENSE, SAID ATTORNEY KRULWITCH,
IS THAT SOMEONE ELSE KILLED
NANCY PFISTER AND PLANTED THE
EVIDENCE AGAINST THE STYLERS IN
AN ATTEMPT TO FRAME THEM
>> THE FINAL PIECE OF IT WAS
THAT THE OWNER'S CLOSET KEY KIND
OF MAGICALLY APPEARS ON THE
SIDEWALK NEAR THE STYLERS' MOTEL
ROOM THE DAY THEY GET ARRESTED
>> Reporter: IT WAS A THOUGHT
THAT CROSSED INVESTIGATOR'S
MINDS AS WELL.
>> WE WOULD'VE BEEN AMISS HAD WE
NOT LOOKED AT THE POSSIBILITY
THAT SOMEONE WAS SETTING THESE
PEOPLE UP.
>> Reporter: AND SO, EVEN WITH
THE STYLERS IN JAIL, CHARGED
WITH MURDER, INVESTIGATORS WERE
STILL QUIETLY LOOKING FOR OTHER
SUSPECTS -- FOR SOMEONE WITH
MOTIVE AND MEANS TO KILL NANCY
AND THE FORESIGHT TO FRAME THE
STYLERS.
SOMEONE CLOSE TO NANCY, SOMEONE
NANCY TRUSTED, EVEN LOVED.
LIKE, THE PERSON WHO POINTED THE
FINGER OF BLAME RIGHT IN THE
MIDDLE OF THAT 911 CALL.
>> SHE HAD SOME PEOPLE LIVING
THERE AND SHE REALLY [ BLEEP ]
THEM OFF
>> Reporter: KATHY CARPENTER
SHE SAID SHE WAS NANCY PFISTER'S
DEAR FRIEND.
BUT INVESTIGATORS WERE HEARING A
DIFFERENT STORY.
>> THEIR RELATIONSHIP HAD BEEN A
ROLLER COASTER
SO, WE KNEW THAT THERE HAD BEEN
THIS CYCLE OF THE LADIES HAVING
A GOOD RELATIONSHIP, AND THEN
THINGS WOULD GO SOUTH AND THEY
WOULD HAVE A BAD RELATIONSHIP
FOR A PERIOD OF TIME
>> Reporter: AND SO WITH ALL
THAT IN MIND, DEPUTY D.A
ANDREA BRYAN WENT BACK TO THAT
HYSTERICAL PHONE CALL FROM KATHY
TO 911
WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF IT?
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK BIZARRE IS
THE ONLY WAY I CAN CHARACTERIZE
THAT 911 CALL.
IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFYING
SUSPECTS, IT WAS -- IT WAS NOT
GETTING HELP FOR NANCY PFISTER
IT WAS -- "OH, YOU SHOULD BE
LOOKING AT THESE TWO PEOPLE
IMMEDIATELY.
SO, THAT WAS INTERESTING
>> Reporter: SO, IT WAS.
AND JUST AS INTERESTING?
WHAT KATHY TOLD 911 ABOUT SEEING
NANCY PFISTER'S BODY
>> THE FACT THAT IMMEDIATELY THE
DECEASED IS IDENTIFIED AS NANCY
PFISTER WOULD HAVE BEEN
IMPOSSIBLE TO DO
>> Reporter: IMPOSSIBLE, SAID
INVESTIGATOR LISA MILLER,
BECAUSE NANCY'S BODY WAS
COMPLETELY COVERED HEAD TO TOE
WHEN KATHY SAW IT IN THE CLOSET.
>> SHE'S DEAD.
SHE'S FULL OF BLOOD!
>> WE'RE LOOKING AT PHOTOS OF
THE CRIME SCENE AND WE KNEW
THERE'S NO WAY SHE SAW WHAT SHE
SAID SHE SAW
>> Reporter: THERE WAS MORE.
KATHY, OF COURSE, HAD KEYS TO
NANCY'S HOUSE, INCLUDING A KEY
TO THE CLOSET, WAS THE LAST
PERSON TO ADMIT SEEING NANCY
ALIVE.
AND WHEN SHE LEFT, PINNED UP
THAT "DO NOT DISTURB" SIGN ON
NANCY'S DOOR, SUPPOSEDLY BECAUSE
HER FRIEND NEEDED TO GET OVER
HER JET LAG.
>> SHE ENDED UP MAKING A
STATEMENT TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL
THAT NANCY WOULD BE SLEEPING AND
RESTING FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS.
>> Reporter: AND IT WAS THREE
DAYS LATER THE BODY WAS FOUND?
>> CORRECT
>> Reporter: AND THE DAY THAT
CLOSET KEY MAGICALLY APPEARED SO
CLOSE TO THE STYLER'S MOTEL
ROOM, KATHY CARPENTER WAS KNOWN
TO BE IN THE VERY SAME
NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT AROUND THAT
TIME MEETING WITH HER THERAPIST.
SO, NEXT QUESTION -- WAS KATHY
CARPENTER TRULY NANCY'S FRIEND
AND HELPER
OR HER MURDERER, TRYING TO PIN
THE BLAME ON SOMEONE ELSE?
>> Reporter: SKI SEASON IN ASPEN IS A TIME TO SEE AND BE SEEN --
IN CROWDED WATERING HOLES --
BENEATH CAREFULLY GROOMED WORLD
CLASS SLOPES
BUT IN LATE WINTER, 2014,
ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED FROM THE
FASHIONABLE PERSUITS
NANCY PFISTER ONCE DESCRIBED TO
THAT FRENCH TV SHOW.
>> WE CALL ASPEN ADULT
DISNEYLAND
>> Reporter: NOW THE SUBJECT
WAS -- HER
HER MURDER, OF COURSE -- BUT
ALSO, HER FREE-WHEELING LIFE
AND IN DEATH, HER REPUTATION, TO
THE CONSTERNATION OF HER CLOSEST
FRIENDS, WAS GLEEFULLY AMPLIFIED
BY SOME MEDIA OUTLETS -- NOT IN
A GOOD WAY
>> WHY DO WE NEED TO THROW ROCKS
AT HER, YOU KNOW, JUST
BECAUSE -- SHE HAD TOO MUCH FUN,
REALLY
>> Reporter: BILLY AND THE
OTHERS DEFENDED THEIR
REMARKABLE, DEPARTED, FRIEND,
AND DEVOTED THEIR ENERGY TO
PLANS FOR A SPECIAL MEMORIAL
EVENT WHICH, THEY DECIDED, WOULD
BE A PARTY -- THE SORT OF THING
SHE WOULD HAVE LOVED
WHAT DID SHE MEAN TO YOU,
PERSONALLY
>> SHE MEANT UM DURATION AND
CONSISTENCY -- SHE WAS THE
GODMOTHER OF MY CHILDREN AND I
WAS THE GODFATHER OF HER -- OF
JULIANA.
UM SORRY
I'M TRYING
>> Reporter: BUT WHILE BILLY AND
THE OTHERS WORKED THROUGH THEIR
GRIEF, NANCY'S BUDDY KATHY
CARPENTER WAS AT THE PITKIN
COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
ANSWERING QUESTIONS.
>> WHAT DID YOU SEE?
>> I JUST REMEMBER OPENING THE
DOOR
>> OKAY.
>> AND I SAW, SHE UH WAS -- SHE
WAS COVERED.
>> WE WERE STILL GIVING HER THE
BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT
SHE THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS UP
SHE HAD BEEN WORRIED ABOUT HER
FRIEND
>> Reporter: SO WAS THERE AN
INNOCENT EXPLANATION FOR WHY
KATHY SEEMED TO SEE THINGS SHE
COULD NOT HAVE SEEN?
WHY SHE KNEW IT WAS NANCY'S
BLOODIED BODY THAT WAS IN THAT
CLOSET, EVEN THOUGH FIRST
RESPONDERS SAW WHAT LOOKED LIKE
JUST A PILE OF BLANKETS WHEN
THEY ARRIVED
COULD SHE HAVE LIFTED UP THOSE
BLANKETS
>> SHE COULD'VE.
>> Reporter: AND SEEN --
>> SHE COULD'VE.
AND DURING THE INTERVIEWS, I
SPECIFICALLY ASKED HER, "DID YOU
STEP INTO THE CLOSET
DID YOU LIFT ANY OF THE
BLANKETS
DID YOU TOUCH, DID YOU
MANIPULATE, IN ANY WAY?" AND HER
ANSWERS, REPEATEDLY, WERE, "NO."
SHE HAD NOT TOUCHED, SHE HAD NOT
MOVED, SHE HAD NOT MANIPULATED
>> I DID NOT TOUCH HER
I RAN OUT OF THERE SO FAST
>> Reporter: AND YET, AT THE
SAME TIME, KATHY GAVE SPECIFIC
DETAILS ABOUT THE BODY
>> I SAW HER -- THE HEAD
LIKE I DON'T REMEMBER THE
POSITION BUT I KNEW HER -- THE
BLONDE HAIR.
>> SHE TELLS ME SHE IMMEDIATELY
RECOGNIZED HER FRIEND BECAUSE OF
THE BLONDE HAIR -- AND THE
LENGTH OF THAT HAIR.
"HOW MUCH HAIR DID YOU SEE?" I
WOULD ASK MISS CARPENTER
>> IT SEEMED LIKE MAYBE, MAYBE
SOMETHING -- I JUST.
SHE HAD HIGHLIGHTS
>> SO HOW MANY STRANDS WOULD YOU
SAY THAT YOU SAW
SO WOULD IT BE LIKE -- WAS IT
MATTED WITH BLOOD?
OR JUST A LITTLE BLOOD
>> I -- I JUST REMEMBER THE
HAIR
>> IF YOU'VE SEEN THE CRIME
SCENE PHOTOGRAPHS OF HOW THAT
BODY WAS FOUND AND THAT -- THAT
BODY WAS IN THE CLOSET, SHE DID
NOT SEE THAT
>> Reporter: THE MORE KATHY
TALKED
>> HOW MUCH -- HOW MUCH BLOOD
DID YOU SEE?
HOW MUCH BLOOD WOULD YOU SAY YOU
SAW?
>> I SAW HER HAIR ON THE HEAD.
>> OK.
>> I JUST REMEMBER ON THE HEAD
>> Reporter: THE MORE SUSPICIOUS
THE INVESTIGATOR BECAME.
>> SHE'S DESCRIBING, IN THE
INTERVIEWS, HOW -- WHERE THE
INJURIES WERE TO THE FOREHEAD.
I WENT AND I REVIEWED THE
AUTOPSY PHOTOS
AND SHE WAS EXACTLY, SPOT ON TO
WHERE SHE INDICATED THE INJURY
TO THE FOREHEAD.
>> Reporter: BUT IT WASN'T JUST
KATHY'S WORDS, SAID INVESTIGATOR
MILLER, LOOKED TO HER LIKE
KATHY'S GRIEF WAS MORE ACT THAN
REAL
>> I DON'T --I DON'T REMEMBER.
>> GRAB THE KLEENEX.
>> OH, YEAH, FOR THE TEARS
>> Reporter: AND A BAD ACT AT
THAT
>> THERE WAS NO TEARS DURING THE
TIME THAT SHE WAS TRYING TO
PORTRAY HERSELF AS CRYING.
>> Reporter: SOME PEOPLE CRY
WITHOUT TEARS, SURELY?
>> OH, I'M SURE SOME PEOPLE DO
>> Reporter: WHAT CAN YOU TELL
FROM A THING LIKE THAT
>> IT'S JUST ALWAYS INTERESTING
WHEN, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE IS GOING
TO SUCH LENGTHS TO ACT LIKE
THEY'RE EMOTIONALLY DISTRAUGHT
AND THE BODY DOESN'T RESPOND -
>> Reporter: AND THEN SHE
DISCOVERED WHAT KATHY DID THE
DAY AFTER SHE SAID SHE FOUND
NANCY'S BODY
SHE WENT TO THE BANK, WHERE
NANCY HAD TRUSTED KATHY WITH
ACCESS TO HER SAFETY DEPOSIT
BOX.
AND KATHY TOOK FROM THAT BOX THE
STYLER'S LAST RENT PAYMENT -
6 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN CASH, AND
AN HEIRLOOM RING NANCY HAD
INHERITED FROM HER MOTHER.
>> WITHIN 24 HOURS OR ACTUALLY
IT WAS A LITTLE LESS THAN
24 HOURS OF HER FRIEND BEING
FOUND BY HER, SHE'S GOING INTO
THAT SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX, TAKING
$6,000 AND JEWELRY FROM IT
>> Reporter: SO INVESTIGATORS
NOW HAD AN IDEA FAST GATHERING
STRENGTH -
THAT KATHY CARPENTER WAS FAR
MORE INVOLVED THAN SHE CLAIMED
TO HAVE BEEN
>> SHE JUST MADE SOME VERY
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THAT
BODY THAT SHE COULDN'T HAVE MADE
UNLESS SHE HAD SEEN HER BEFORE
SHE WAS PUT IN THAT CLOSET,
MEANING RIGHT AFTER SHE WAS
ACTUALLY MURDERED.
>> Reporter: DID SHE PROVIDE A
RATIONAL EXPLANATION FOR THE
REASON -- FOR --
FOR BEING ABLE TO DO THAT?
>> NO.
>> Reporter: THEY BROUGHT KATHY
BACK AGAIN AND AGAIN FOR
QUESTIONING.
FIVE DAYS, ALMOST 20 HOURS OF
QUESTIONING.
DURING ONE INTERROGATION
DETECTIVES READ BACK THE
TRANSCRIPT OF THE 911 CALL
>> YOU TALKED ABOUT, "MY FRIEND
IN THE CLOSET IS DEAD.
YOUR -- IMPOSSIBLE THAT YOU KNEW
THAT SHE WAS DEAD.
IMPOSSIBLE
>> Reporter: THREW HER OWNS
WORDS AT HER THE BLOOD SHE
REPORTED SEEING.
>> IN THE DISPATCH YOU SAID
BLOOD ON THE FOREHEAD.
>> Reporter: AND HOW SHE SO
QUICKLY ACCUSED THE STYLERS.
>> SHE HAD SOME PEOPLE LIVING
THERE.
>> Reporter: AND TOLD HER, THEY
JUST KNEW SHE WAS LYING.
>> I BELIEVE THAT YOU KNOW WHAT
HAPPENED AND -- NO LISTEN -- AND
I AM GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVE
THAT BECAUSE THAT'S MY JOB
>> Reporter: AND KATHY
CARPENTER, LIKE TREY STYLER,
SUBMITTED TO A POLYGRAPH TEST.
BUT IF HE FAILED HIS
>> KATHY CARPENTER FAILED HERS
WORSE.
>> YOU ABSOLUTELY BOMBED THE
POLYGRAPH.
NOT ONLY THAT, ON THE 911, ON
THE 911, RIGHT HERE, HERE'S ALL
THIS DOCUMENTATION, OF DECEIT
AND GUILT.
>> Reporter: SO FOR DETECTIVES
ONLY QUESTION LEFT WAS -- DID
KATHY CARPENTER KILL NANCY AND
TRY TO FRAME THE STYLERS -- OR
WERE THEY ALL IN IT TOGETHER
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE
SAYING
THEY'RE LIARS.
>>> IN THE DISPATCH YOU SAID BLOOD ON THE FOREHEAD.
>> Reporter: HOUR AFTER HOUR,
KATHY CARPENTER TALKED TO THE
DETECTIVES INVESTIGATING THE
MURDER OF HER FRIEND,
NANCY PFISTER.
>> WHAT DID YOU SEE?
>> I JUST REMEMBER OPENING THE
DOOR
>> OK.
>> SHE WAS COVERED
>> Reporter: SHE WAS ALONE WITH
THEM
SHE COULD HAVE ASKED FOR AN
ATTORNEY
SHE DID NOT.
SHE TOLD THE DETECTIVES SHE
DIDN'T NEED A LAWYER, BECAUSE
SHE WAS INNOCENT
BUT, AS KATHY WENT ON AND ON,
THOSE DETECTIVES BECAME MORE AND
MORE SURE SHE KILLED HER FRIEND
NANCY.
OR HELPED, AT LEAST.
>> SO RIGHT NOW I'M TELLING YOU,
EVERYTHING IS CRASHING DOWN ON
YOU.
I KID YOU NOT, IT'S ABSOLUTELY
COMING DOWN.
>> Reporter: THE QUESTION NOW
WAS KATHY TRYING TO FRAME THE
STYLERS?
AT FIRST BLUSH IT CERTAINLY
LOOKED THAT WAY.
AND YET THE MORE THEY THOUGHT
ABOUT IT THE MORE UNLIKELY IT
SEEMED
WHY?
WELL, THE TRASH BAG CONTAINING
SO MUCH INCRIMINATING EVIDENCE,
FOR EXAMPLE.
THE ONE THE DILIGENT CITY WORKER
JUST HAPPENED TO STUMBLE ON.
>> I REALLY THINK THAT THIS WAS
ACTUALLY PURE LUCK
I DON'T THINK ANYONE WANTED THAT
TO BE FOUND.
I THINK REALLY THE SIMPLE
EXPLANATION HERE IS REALLY THE
RIGHT EXPLANATION, WHICH IS THAT
WE HAD A GREAT BREAK IN THE CASE
AND YOU KNOW, THANK GOODNESS FOR
THAT
>> Reporter: THE ONLY CONSPIRACY
THEORY ASSISTANT D.A
ANDREA BRYAN WAS BUYING WAS ONE
THAT INVOLVED THE STYLERS AND
KATHY CARPENTER -- ALL OF THEM
TOGETHER COMMITTING THE MURDER
THE TWO WOMEN PERHAPS BONDING
OVER THEIR SHARED FRUSTRATION
WITH NANCY PFISTER'S BEHAVIORS
>> IT APPEARS THAT THEY UM -
ALMOST BUILT, AT TIMES, A BIT OF
A FRIENDSHIP AROUND THAT MUTUAL
ANGER TOWARD NANCY PFISTER
>> Reporter: AND TREY, PUSHED TO
HIS FINANCIAL AND EMOTIONAL
LIMITS, WAS MOST LIKELY THE ONE
TO WIELD THE HAMMER.
REASONED THE ASSISTANT D.A.,
WHILE THE WOMEN HELPED HIDE THE
BODY AND CLEAN UP THE BEDROOM.
BUT, IF THAT THEORY WAS RIGHT,
SOMETHING WENT WRONG AFTER THE
MURDER -- THE CONSPIRACY DID NOT
HOLD
>> WHEN KATHY CARPENTER,
REALIZED THE GRAVITY OF WHAT SHE
HAD GOTTEN HERSELF INTO SHE GOT
WORRIED UM AND -- WORRIED THAT
SHE WOULD BE FINGERED.
>> Reporter: SO KATHY STRUCK
FIRST, THE D.A.'S THEORY WENT --
CALLED 911 AND FINGERED THE
STYLERS TO DEFLECT ATTENTION
FROM HERSELF
IN THE INTERROGATION ROOM,
INVESTIGATORS HAD TRIED TO GET
TREY TO TURN ON HIS WIFE OR
KATHY.
>> NANCY YOUR WIFE, DO YOU WANT
HER TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS
SHE'S WRAPPED UP IN THIS MAN
WE'VE HAD HER HERE AS LONG AS
YOU HAVE
SHE'S TELLING US A LOT OF GOOD
STUFF.
>> Reporter: AND THEY ALSO TRIED
TO GET KATHY TO FLIP ON THE
STYLERS.
>> SOMEBODY IS GOING TO COME
CLEAN TO SAY I DID IT, BUT THIS
IS WHAT SHE KNEW
BUT SHE DIDN'T TELL US THAT.
NOW YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT
JUST LIKE THEM
BUT YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE ONE
LEFT OUT THAT DIDN'T TELL THE
TRUTH.
>> Reporter: BUT IT DIDN'T WORK.
>> I JUST HAVE MY SUSPICIONS
OF -
>> WHAT YOU SEE, NO, NO, NO, NO
NO
OKAY, OKAY
>> BUT I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO
HER.
>> Reporter: ON MARCH 14, THREE
WEEKS AFTER NANCY PFISTER HAD
BEEN MURDERED, KATHY CARPENTER,
LIKE THE STYLERS BEFORE HER, WAS
CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER
AND PUT IN THE COUNTY JAIL
>> THE NEWEST SUSPECT ARRESTED
WAS KATHERINE CARPENTER.
>> Reporter: BILLY CLAYTON HAD
BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH KATHY
JUST THE DAY BEFORE DISCUSSING
NANCY'S MEMORIAL SERVICE
>> AND I THINK I WAS SUPPOSED TO
GET SOMETHING FOR HER TO WEAR TO
THE MEMORIAL
>> Reporter: AND NOW, SHE WAS
BEHIND BARS.
SEEMED CRAZY, BUT IN A TOWN THAT
COULD BARELY BELIEVE ONE OF ITS
OWN HAD BEEN MURDERED, ANYTHING
SEEMED POSSIBLE NOW.
>> I SHOULD'VE BEEN SURPRISED OR
SHOCKED OR SOMETHING
BUT AT THAT MOMENT I JUST -- I
WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW -- WHO KNOWS?
ANY -- ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN
I JUST -- IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY
SENSE AT ALL WHY ANYONE WOULD
KILL HER
>> Reporter: AND SO AS BILLY AND
THE OTHERS WENT ON FINALIZING
MEMORIAL PLANS, KATHY, A BIT
LATE, GOT A LAWYER -
GREG GREER
>> THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MORE
FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCES OF MY
CAREER, TO REPRESENT A PERSON
WHO IS SO TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY
INNOCENT
>> Reporter: AS GREER AND THE
LAWYERS REPRESENTING THE STYLERS
WADED THROUGH THE EVIDENCE,
TRYING TO SORT OUT WHO DID WHAT,
IT BECAME PRETTY CLEAR, TO THEM
>> REPORTER: IT WAS JUST WHERE
SHE WOULD HAVE WANTED HER LAST
PARTY -- ASPEN'S HISTORIC HOTEL
JEROME
AND BY THEIR HUNDREDS, LOCALS
CROWDED IN OUT OF THE FRIGID
MARCH NIGHT TWO AND A HALF WEEKS
AFTER THE MURDER
TO TELL CRAZY STORIES, AND
REMEMBER THE AMAZING LIFE OF
NANCY PFISTER.
>> THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE
THAT THEY COULDN'T ALL FIT IN
THE JEROME HOTEL BALLROOM.
THEY WENT OUT THE DOOR INTO THE
HALLWAYS
>> Reporter: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO
A CROWD LIKE THAT?
>> I JUST BASICALLY WANTED TO
CELEBRATE HER LIFE AND HER
SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE.
>> Reporter: BILLY CLAYTON GOT
UP TOO, SAID WHAT WAS IN HIS
HEART.
>> I SAID THAT IF YOU'VE KNOWN
ME OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS OR SO,
YOU KNOW ME BECAUSE OF NANCY
WHEN YOU SEE ME, YOU THINK OF
NANCY.
SHE WAS A CONNECTOR.
THAT WAS HER REAL, MAIN ROLE, I
THINK, IN EVERYONE'S LIFE.
>> Reporter: AND WHEN YOU LOOKED
DOWN THERE IN THAT CROWD, HOW
WERE THEY REACTING
>> A LOT OF TEARS.
A LOT OF LAUGHTER.
CERTAIN STORIES.
AND -- THEY WERE ALL JUST
SOLIDLY THERE IN THAT SPACE AT
THAT MOMENT.
>> Reporter: BUT AT THAT VERY
SAME MOMENT, IN A FAR DIFFERENT
SPACE JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM
THE FINE OLD HOTEL JEROME KATHY
CARPENTER WEPT IN HER CELL AT
THE PITKEN COUNTY JAIL, AND
LISTENED
>> COULD HEAR THE MUSIC, THE
BAND
AND UM -- I JUST, I CRIED.
I CRIED A LOT.
I WANTED TO BE THERE
I SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE
AND IT HURT.
>> Reporter: HOW COULD THEY
THINK SHE HAD ANYTHING TO DO
WITH IT?
THERE WAS SOME SUGGESTION THAT
YOU HAD A MOTIVE TO --
HARM NANCY
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
WHAT WAS MY MOTIVE
THERE IS NO MOTIVE
>> Reporter: A SHARED
FRUSTRATION WITH NANCY STYLER
ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT --
>> OH, HEAVENS NO.
NO
NOT AT ALL
>> Reporter: NANCY WAS HER BEST
FRIEND, SHE SAID
>> I LOVED HER
SHE WAS -- I LOVED NANCY
PFISTER.
>> Reporter: THAT'S WHY SHE SAT
THROUGH ALL THOSE HOURS OF
INTERROGATION WITHOUT A LAWYER,
SHE SAID
SHE WANTED TO HELP THEM
UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH
LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, HOW IT WASN'T
AT ALL SUSPICIOUS THAT SHE KNEW
RIGHT AWAY IT WAS NANCY IN THAT
CLOSET
>> YOU KNOW THE ODOR JUST ABOUT
KNOCKED ME OVER.
AND -- TO ME, IT WAS VERY
APPARENT THAT THAT WASN'T JUST A
PILE OF CLOTHES IN THE CLOSET.
WHO ELSE BUT NANCY WOULD BE IN
THAT CLOSET?
>> Reporter: YOU WEREN'T A
COMPLETE IDIOT
YOU UNDERSTOOD -- THAT WAS -
HAD TO BE NANCY --
>> RIGHT, WHO ELSE WOULD IT BE
>> Reporter: AND WHEN SHE SO
QUICKLY FINGERED THE STYLERS,
SHE SAID, IT WAS JUST COMMON
SENSE.
>> THEY WERE IN THE HOUSE.
>> Reporter: YOU KNEW THAT THEY
WERE PRETTY MAD AT NANCY
>> THEY WERE MAD -- THEY WERE
UPSET WITH HER
>> Reporter: BUT WHAT ABOUT
THOSE SUSPICIOUS LITTLE DETAILS
LIKE SAYING SHE SAW BLOOD ON
NANCY'S FOREHEAD WHEN NANCY'S
FOREHEAD WAS COMPLETELY COVERED
UP
>> IN THE DISPATCH YOU SAID
BLOOD ON THE FOREHEAD.
>> Reporter: THAT'S EASY TO
EXPLAIN, SAID KATHY.
SHE NEVER ACTUALLY SAID THAT
>> THEY SAID THAT I SAW HER
FOREHEAD
>> Reporter: YES
>> I DID NOT SEE HER FOREHEAD.
I SAW BLOOD ON THE HEADBOARD
>> Reporter: HEADBOARD
IN FACT, CRIME SCENE TECHS DID
FIND BLOOD ON NANCY PFISTER'S
HEADBOARD, BUT, HEADBOARD IS NOT
THE WORD THAT APPEARS IN THE
TYPED TRANSCRIPT OF THE
911 CALL
>> AND ON PAGE THREE OF THAT
TRANSCRIPT IT SAYS, "I SAW BLOOD
ON HER FOREHEAD.
I GO HOME AND LISTEN TO THE
TAPE, AND I HEAR HEADBOARD
I LISTENED TO IT TEN TIMES BY
MYSELF BEFORE I TOLD ANYBODY
ELSE
>> GOD I DON'T KNOW, I SAW BLOOD
ON THE HEADBOARD
>> Reporter: SURE ENOUGH, KATHY,
IN THAT 911 CALL, DID ACTUALLY
SAY HEADBOARD, NOT FOREHEAD.
>> I SAW BLOOD ON HER HEADBOARD
AND I, THE CLOSET WAS LOCKED
>> Reporter: A TRANSCRIPTION
ERROR.
AND THOUGH INVESTIGATORS SAID
THAT MADE NO REAL DIFFERENCE TO
THEM, KATHY'S ATTORNEY IS SURE
THAT LITTLE ERROR PLANTED
SUSPICION OF KATHY FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING.
AND STARTED INVESTIGATORS OFF IN
AN INACCURATE, AND
INAPPROPRIATE, DIRECTION
>> THEY USED EVERY TECHNIQUE IN
THE BOOK ON HER.
AND HONESTLY, AS I WATCHED THOSE
INTERROGATIONS, I STARTED
THINKING I MIGHT'VE CONFESSED TO
DOING SOMETHING -- JUST TO MAKE
IT STOP.
>> HERE'S ALL THIS DOCUMENTATION
OF DECEIT AND GUILT.
>> Reporter: AND THEY TOLD YOU,
YOU DID IT
>> YES
>> Reporter: REPEATEDLY?
>> YES
>> Reporter: AND EACH TIME, WHAT
WOULD YOU SAY?
>> I DID NOT DO IT
>> Reporter: AND EVEN THOUGH IT
APPEARS FROM THE INTERROGATION
TAPES THAT KATHY DID SAY SOME
IMPROBABLE THINGS --
>> I SAW HER, THE HEAD
LIKE I DON'T REMEMBER THE
POSITION BUT I KNEW HER, THE
BLONDE HAIR.
>> Reporter: SHE WAS ON
DOCTOR-PRESCRIBED ANXIETY
MEDICATION THE WHOLE TIME, SHE
SAID
SO IN HER CONFUSED FOG, AND
PROMPTED BY THE INVESTIGATORS,
SAID KATHY, HER DESCRIPTIONS
WERE UNCLEAR
SHE MAY EVEN HAVE IMAGINED
THINGS SHE COULD NOT HAVE SEEN
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT YOU WERE LED
INTO SAYING SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
UM, ABSOLUTELY
YOU KNOW SHE WAS IN A PLASTIC
BAG, AND I SAW JUST WHAT -
THROUGH THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE
BAG, I SAW A LITTLE BIT OF HER
HAIR
>> Reporter: SO WHY'D SHE FAIL
THE POLYGRAPH?
>> I WAS VERY UPSET.
I WAS VERY EMOTIONAL
THEY DID TELL ME THAT IN ORDER
FOR ME TO TAKE THIS TEST
PROPERLY, I COULD NOT FEEL ANY
EMOTIONS
>> Reporter: MM-HMM, MM-HMM.
>> AND THAT -- JUST HEARING THE
WORDS -- JUST HEARING HER NAME
WAS VERY EMOTIONAL
>> Reporter: BUT IT WAS TRUE,
SHE SAID, NO DENYING IT, SHE DID
TAKE $6,000 IN CASH AND AN
HEIRLOOM RING FROM NANCY
PFISTER'S SAFE DEPOSIT BOX THE
DAY AFTER SHE FOUND THE BODY
BUT IT WASN'T FOR HER, SHE SAID.
RATHER, IT WAS TO FULFILL A
PROMISE TO NANCY
>> AND SHE OFTEN WOULD SAY, YOU
KNOW, IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ME
IN MY TRAVELS, YOU KNOW, MAKE
SURE YOU DO THIS, CAN YOU DO
THAT
MAKE SURE YOU -- YOU KNOW, MY
LITTLE TO-DO LIST.
>> Reporter: AND ON THE TO-DO
LIST -- THAT RING.
>> SHE -- INHERITED A FAMILY
RING FROM HER MOTHER
AND HER SISTERS WANTED IT.
AND SHE HAD ASKED ME -- YOU MAKE
SURE THAT JULIANA -- IF ANYTHING
WOULD HAPPEN TO ME, THAT SHE
WOULD GET THIS RING.
THAT WAS MY INTENTION, WAS TO
FULFILL HER WISH
>> Reporter: TO GIVE IT TO
JULIANA.
>> TO GIVE IT TO JULIANA
>> Reporter: JUST AS SHE HAD
EVERY INTENTION OF GIVING THE
MONEY DIRECTLY TO JULIANA TOO --
SO IT WOULDN'T DISAPPEAR INTO
SOME DISPUTED FAMILY TRUST
BUT THEN, SHE SAID, THE
INVESTIGATORS USED EVERYTHING
SHE SAID AND DID AGAINST HER
>> I JUST THOUGHT, "NO, THIS IS
NOT HAPPENING.
HOW CAN THEY -- BE SO WRONG, I
HAD, I HAVE, NOTHING TO DO WITH
THIS
SHE WAS MY DEAR FRIEND
I LOVED HER.
>> Reporter: KATHY'S ATTORNEY
TOLD HER, DON'T WORRY, THE CASE
WON'T HOLD UP IN COURT
BUT EVEN IF HE WAS RIGHT, THE
TRIAL MIGHT BE YEARS AWAY.
AND SO SHE DID ALL THAT WAS LEFT
TO HER
>> AND I STARTED PRAYING,
PRAYING THAT THE TRUTH WOULD BE
REVEALED
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED, IS THE
TRUTH TO BE REVEALED
>> Reporter: AND THEN, SUDDENLY,
IT APPEARED THAT IT WAS.
TRUTH, THAT IS
BUT WOULD ANYONE BELIEVE IT?
>> Reporter: IT WENT THE WAY IT OFTEN DOES IN CRIMINAL CASES -
A PERIOD OF FRENETIC ACTIVITY
FOLLOWED BY A SORT OF CALM
STASIS
AND SO IT WAS WITH THE MURDER
CASE OF NANCY PFISTER.
THE FLURRY OF ACTION LOOSED FROM
THE MOMENT HER BODY WAS FOUND IN
FEBRUARY 2014 TO THE ARREST OF
THE THIRD AND FINAL SUSPECT
KATHY CARPENTER IN MID-MARCH,
DISSIPATED WITH THE SPRING THAW.
THE CASE NOW SLOUCHED TOWARDS
SUMMER
NANCY'S FRIEND, BILLY, MISSING
HER MORE THAN EVER
>> THE LAST TIME I SPOKE WITH
HER ALL WE TALKED ABOUT WERE
PLANS --
EVERYTHING WE WERE GOING TO DO
THIS SUMMER, ALL THE DIFFERENT
IDEAS SHE HAD.
>> Reporter: BUT THE ONLY THING
ON THE CALENDAR NOW WAS A
PRELIMINARY HEARING SCHEDULED
FOR LATE JUNE ALL THREE
DEFENDANTS HAD PLEADED NOT
GUILTY AND THEIR RESPECTIVE
ATTORNEYS -- BETH KRULEWITCH FOR
NANCY STYLER AND GREG GREER FOR
KATHY CARPENTER -- WERE DECIDING
THEIR STRATEGIES, ANALYZING THE
EVIDENCE
>> THE EVIDENCE AS I WAS SEEING
IT SUGGESTED TO ME VERY STRONGLY
THAT KATHY CARPENTER MAY HAVE
DONE THIS AND THAT SHE WAS
SETTING UP THE STYLERS
>> KATHY CARPENTER IS INNOCENT,
INNOCENT, INNOCENT
I CAN'T SAY THAT ENOUGH.
>> Reporter: BUT DEPUTY D.A.
ANDREA BRYAN AND HER
INVESTIGATOR LISA MILLER WERE
PREPARING TO ARGUE IT WAS A
CONSPRIRACY INVOLVING ALL THREE.
AND THEN, LESS THAN TWO WEEKS
BEFORE THAT HEARING --
IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING ALL OF
YOUR MATERIAL TOGETHER FOR THE
PRELIMINARY HEARING, WHAT
HAPPENED
>> I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM MY
ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY ONE
AFTERNOON.
>> Reporter: SAYING?
>> SAYING THAT HE HAD SPOKEN
WITH A DEFENSE ATTORNEY,
SPECIFICALLY WILLIAM STYLER'S
DEFENSE ATTORNEY, AND THAT
WILLIAM STYLER WANTED TO MAKE A
STATEMENT.
>> Reporter: NOW, THAT COULD BE
INTERESTING.
THE GOOD DOCTOR WAS WHEELED INTO
THE INTERVIEW ROOM WHERE LISA
MILLER WAS WAITING
>> MR. STYLER, I'M GOING TO HAVE
YOU RIGHT HERE, SIR.
>> OKAY.
>> Reporter: OH, BUT IT WAS FAR
MORE THAN JUST A "STATEMENT.
TREY STYLER DROPPED A BOMBSHELL.
AND IT BLEW THE D.A.'S
METICULOUSLY ASSEMBLED CASE WIDE
OPEN
>> I LOST MY MIND HERE OR AT
LEAST, I LOST MY RATIONAL MIND
>> Reporter: IT WAS A
CONFESSION
AFTER MONTHS OF STRENUOUS
DENIALS, TREY STYLER TOLD
THEM -
>> IT ALL WAS ME
>> Reporter: DETAIL BY DETAIL,
TREY TOOK THEM THROUGH THE
KILLING -- HOW HE SLIPPED OUT OF
HIS MOTEL ROOM WHILE HIS WIFE
WAS SLEEPING AND DROVE TO NANCY
PFISTER'S HOUSE, INTENDING TO
CONFRONT HER
>> I STUCK MY HEAD IN THE DOOR
FAR ENOUGH TO ASCERTAIN THAT SHE
WAS IN FACT IN BED AND I CALLED
OUT HER NAME AGAIN
>> UH-HUH.
>> AND SHE DIDN'T RESPOND.
>> Reporter: THEN, HE SAID, AS
HE STOOD OVER THE STILL SLEEPING
NANCY PFISTER, ALL THE RAGE THAT
BUILT UP INSIDE HIM DURING HIS
DREADFUL PHYSICAL AND FINANCIAL
DECLINE SUDDENLY FOCUSED ON A
SINGULAR IDEA.
>> THERE SHE WAS, VULNERABLE,
HELPLESS
>> Reporter: SO HE WENT DOWN THE
STAIRS, GOT A HAMMER, CLIMBED
BACK UP TO THE BEDROOM
>> I WENT, GOT THE HAMMER, CAME
BACK, UM -- AND STRUCK HER IN
THE HEAD WITH THE HAMMER
>> Reporter: THEN, STRENGTHENED
BY A RUSH OF ADRENALINE, HE
SINGLE-HANDEDLY WRAPPED NANCY
PFISTER UP, DRAGGED HER INTO THE
CLOSET, COVERED HER UP
>> I WASN'T AS STRONG AS I USED
TO BE.
NONETHELESS, I WAS ABLE TO DO
THAT
>> Reporter: HE THEN GRABBED
SOME OF NANCY'S BELONGINGS TO
MAKE IT LOOK LIKE SHE WAS GONE
>> HE WAS VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT
HE DID, HOW HE DID IT, AND WHEN
HE DID IT IN -- IN VERY SPECIFIC
DETAIL
>> AND SO YOU DO WHAT?
>> I HIT HER WITH THE HAMMER
>> WHERE
IN THE HEAD, WHERE
>> IN, IN, IN, IN WHAT WAS -
WHEN SHE WAS IN THAT POSITION,
THE TOP OF HER HEAD.
WHICH WOULD HAVE -- IF YOU DON'T
MIND
>> I DO MIND YOU TOUCHING ME,
QUITE FRANKLY.
>> THIS.
>> Reporter: AS FOR HIS WIFE OR
KATHY CARPENTER --
>> NEITHER ONE OF THEM WERE
INVOLVED IN ANY WAY.
>> Reporter: AND UNTIL THIS
MOMENT, HE INSISTED, HE HADN'T
TOLD EITHER ONE OF THEM A SINGLE
THING ABOUT WHAT HE DID.
HE NOT ONLY LIMITED HIS WIFE'S
PARTICIPATION IN THAT STATEMENT.
HE SAID SHE WASN'T INVOLVED AT
ALL AND THAT KATHY CARPENTER
WASN'T INVOLVED AT ALL, THAT HE
DID THE WHOLE THING HIMSELF.
THAT HE HAD A BURST OF ENERGY
AND HE WAS ABLE TO DO ALL OF
THOSE THINGS ON HIS OWN.
YOU HAVE A SKEPTICAL LOOK ON
YOUR FACE?
>> THAT'S WHAT HE TOLD ME, YES
>> Reporter: WHAT DID YOU THINK?
HAVING HEARD THAT INVESTIGATOR
MILLER TOLD DR. STYLER EXACTLY
WHAT SHE THOUGHT -
>> I DON'T WANT YOU TO WALK OUT
OF HERE THINKING THAT I HAVE
BELIEVED YOU HOOK, LINE AND
SINKER, 'CAUSE I WILL BE VERY
FRANK.
REMEMBER, I TOLD YOU I CALL IT
LIKE I SEE IT.
I DON'T BUY EVERYTHING THAT
YOU'RE SELLING ME TODAY.
OKAY
>> OKAY.
>> Reporter: BY THIS TIME,
INVESTIGATOR MILLER WAS
CONVINCED ALL THREE WERE IN IT
TOGETHER
SHE LOOKED STRAIGHT AT TREY
STYLER AND CONFRONTED HIM.
HE WAS A FRAIL OLD MAN
SURELY, HE DIDN'T EXPECT SHE'D
BELIEVE HE DID IT ALL ALONE.
>> AND YOU TELL ME YOU CAN'T
STAND UP
HOWEVER, YOU ARE GIVING ME AN
ACCOUNTING OF A STORY WHERE YOU
WERE SAYING YOU WERE UP AND DOWN
STAIRS MULTIPLE TIMES.
MOVING DEAD WEIGHT IS NOT EASY
WORK MR. STYLER.
>> WHEN I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT
SINCE THEN, UM, I'M REMINDED OF
THE STORIES UM, OF WOMEN LIFTING
CARS OFF OF THEIR CHILDREN
>> MR. STYLER, I WILL DO A LOT
OF THINGS IN AN INTERVIEW ROOM,
BUT I AM NOT GOING TO COMPARE A
MOTHER SAVING A CHILD WITH YOU
MURDERING NANCY PFISTER, SO
LET'S DON'T GO THERE
>> Reporter: BUT TREY REMAINED
RESOLUTE
HE WAS THE LONE KILLER
>> THE -- THE ESSENTIAL TRUTHS
ARE THAT KATHY CARPENTER REALLY
AND TRULY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH
THIS
NANCY STYLER REALLY AND TRULY
HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.
I HAVE DONE MY BEST TO HIDE IT
FROM EVEN MYSELF, MUCH LESS THEM
AND UH -- YOU KNOW, IT ALL WAS
ME
>> Reporter: HOW CONCERNED ARE
YOU THAT HE DECIDED THAT HE WAS
GOING DOWN ANYWAY, HE MIGHT AS
WELL GET THEM OFF THE HOOK AND
THAT'S REALLY WHAT WAS GOING ON
HERE
>> THAT'S A CONCERN IN ANY CASE
LIKE THIS.
>> Reporter: SO, NOW IT WAS
DECISION TIME -- TAKE TREY'S
CONFESSION AT FACE VALUE AND
RELEASE BOTH NANCY STYLER AND
KATHY CARPENTER OR SEND HIM BACK
TO HIS CELL AND PROCEED WITH THE
PROSECUTION OF ALL THREE
>>> I GOT THE HAMMER, CAME BACK. >> Reporter: A FULL CONFESSION,
THE BEST POSSIBLE SOLUTION FOR A
MURDER CASE.
IF THEY COULD BELIEVE IT, THAT
IS
>> I LOST MY MIND HERE, OR AT
LEAST I LOST MY RATIONAL MIND.
>> Reporter: ARE YOU COMFORTABLE
WITH THAT EXPLANATION OF THIS
CRIME?
ARE YOU COMFORTABLE THAT THAT IS
THE WHOLE THING?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL EVER
KNOW THE WHOLE THING
>> Reporter: AROUND THE PITKIN
COUNTY D.A.'S OFFICE WAS A
NAGGING WORRY.
DR. TREY STYLER DEMANDED, AND
THE D.A. APPROVED, A QUID PRO
QUO.
HIS FULL CONFESSION IN EXCHANGE
FOR HIS WIFE'S UNCONDITIONAL
RELEASE.
>> AND I HAVE IN GOOD FAITH
FULFILLED MY PART OF THE
BARGAIN.
>> Reporter: BUT WHAT IF HE WAS
LYING, HOW WOULD THEY EVER PROVE
IT
>> WE HAD NO FACTS TO REFUTE
HIS, HIS STATEMENT TO ME
WE WEREN'T IN THAT ROOM THAT
NIGHT THAT NANCY PFISTER WAS
MURDERED, SO WE HAD NO FACTS TO
REFUTE WHAT WILLIAM STYLER WAS
SAYING
>> Reporter: SO YOU'RE SAYING TO
ME THAT KATHY CARPENTER AND
NANCY STYLER ARE BOTH INNOCENT
NEITHER ONE PARTICIPATED IN THIS
CRIME?
>> WILLIAM STYLER SAID THAT.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT.
>> Reporter: BUT DESPITE OF
INVESTIGATOR MILLER'S DOUBTS ON
JUNE 17TH, 2014, AFTER THREE AND
A HALF MONTHS IN JAIL, NANCY
STYLER WAS RELEASED.
>> AND MY ATTORNEY, BETH, WAS
THERE.
AND SHE SAID, "GOOD NEWS
YOU'RE GETTIN' OUT."
AND I SAID, "GREAT
YOU KNOW, THEY FIGURED IT OUT.
AND THEN SHE SAID, "BUT THERE'S
A CATCH.
>> Reporter: SHE GAVE NANCY A
LETTER
IT WAS A PRIVATE NOTE FROM TREY.
>> AND IN THIS LETTER, HE TELLS
ME ABOUT THE PLEA BARGAIN THAT
HE TOOK.
AND ONE OF THE SENTENCES THAT
I'VE READ A MILLION TIMES OVER
SAID, "I KNOW YOU'RE INNOCENT.
AND YOU SHOULD BELIEVE I AM,
TOO.
>> Reporter: TREY WROTE THAT WAS
ONLY PLEADING GUILTY TO SAVE
HER.
HE DIDN'T ACTUALLY KILL NANCY
PFISTER, HE WROTE.
HE WAS FALLING ON HIS SWORD FOR
LOVE
>> I CRIED THAT WHOLE DAY, EVEN
THOUGH I WAS GETTING OUT
IT SHOULD'VE BEEN A, A GREAT
TIME
I CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S HAVING TO
DO THIS.
THIS SYSTEM IS SICK.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, MESSED UP.
>> Reporter: THREE DAYS LATER,
JUNE 20TH, DR. TREY STYLER
FORMALLY PLEADED GUILTY TO
SECOND DEGREE MURDER AND WAS
SENTENCED TO TWENTY YEARS IN
PRISON
CONSIDERING HIS HEALTH AND AGE,
IT WAS ALMOST CERTAINLY WAS A
LIFE SENTENCE.
THAT SAME DAY THE D.A. DROPPED
CHARGES AGAINST KATHY CARPENTER
AND SHE WALKED OUT OF JAIL A
FREE WOMAN
>> I WAS VERY GRATEFUL, VERY
THANKFUL
AND I FELT GOD ANSWERED MY
PRAYERS.
AND UM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT
WAS STILL SCARY.
I'M LEAVING JAIL AFTER BEING
LOCKED UP.
WHAT WILL PEOPLE THINK
HOW WILL I BE JUDGED
>> Reporter: SHE IS GRATEFUL,
SCARED, ALSO SAD
>> BUT THERE WAS SORROW FOR
STILL THINKING OF THE LOSS OF
NANCY.
AND THAT HE DID SOMETHIN' LIKE
THIS, THAT HE DID IT, YOU KNOW,
THAT WAS STILL HURTFUL
>> Reporter: BUT NANCY STYLER
ADDED A BITTER ANGER TO HER
WHIRLWIND OF GRIEF AND RELIEF.
IF TREY WAS INNOCENT, AS HE TOLD
HIS WIFE HE WAS, THEN HAD THE
REAL KILLER JUST WALKED FREE
>> I HAD KATHY CARPENTER PEGGED
IN MY OWN LITTLE COURTROOM
AND EVERY LITTLE PIECE OF
EVIDENCE THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME
CORROBORATED THAT.
>> Reporter: AND THEN, IT WAS
JUST OVER TWO WEEKS LATER NANCY
TOOK A CALL.
TREY HAD SOMETHING TO TELL HER
HIS LETTER WASN'T QUITE TRUE HE
SAID
IN FACT, HE AND HE ALONE
MURDERED NANCY PFISTER
KATHY CARPENTER HAD NOTHING TO
DO WITH IT
>> IT WAS, TOOK MY WORLD AND
JUST FLIPPED IT UPSIDE DOWN,
FELT LIKE MY WHOLE LIFE HAD BEEN
A LIE.
YOU KNOW, MY WHOLE LIFE WITH HIM
HAD BEEN A LIE
>> Reporter: SHE IS TRYING TO
REBUILD LIFE NOW
HAS MOVED BACK TO THE EAST COAST
WHERE SHE GREW UP AND RECLAIMED
HER MAIDEN NAME, FILING FOR
DIVORCE FROM TREY AFTER
THIRTY-TWO YEARS OF MARRIAGE
DO YOU LOVE HIM AT ALL ANYMORE
>> I LOVE HIM.
I LOVE HIM, I LOVE THE MAN THAT
WAS.
I DON'T LOVE THIS MONSTER.
>> Reporter: IT WAS THEN THAT
NANCY STYLER'S ATTORNEY BETH
AND SHE'S LOST HER VERY BEST
FRIEND SHE SAID.
AND SHE TOLD US SHE FEELS
GUILTY
>> THAT'S WHY I SAY I WISH THAT
I COULD HAVE HELPED HER AND HAVE
BEEN THERE
WHAT COULD I HAVE DONE
DIFFERENTLY?
TALKED HER INTO STAYIN' THERE,
NOT COMIN' HOME.
>> Reporter: NOTHING CAN KNOW
THE FUTURE
>> RIGHT
BUT I DO BLAME MYSELF.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
I'LL HAVE TO -- TO WORK THROUGH
BUT, UM --
>> Reporter: ONE PERSON WITH
WHOM KATHY HAS NOT SPOKEN SINCE
ALL THIS HAPPENED IS NANCY
PFISTER'S DAUGHTER, JULIANA.
WHAT WOULD YOU WANNA SAY TO
JULIANA?
>> THAT I JUST HOPE THAT SHE
KNOWS THE TRUTH.
I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE
MURDER OF HER MOTHER
I NEVER WOULD STEAL, AND I JUST
I WAS LOOKING OUT FOR HER AND
HER MOTHER'S WISHES.
AND THAT, UM -- I JUST HOPE THAT
SHE WOULD FIND FORGIVENESS IN
HER HEART AND KNOW THAT I LOVE
HER AND HER MOTHER VERY MUCH
>> Reporter: WHAT DOES SHE HAVE
TO FORGIVE YOU FOR
>> I DON'T KNOW.
I -- NOTHING REALLY.
BUT THERE'S JUST -- YOU KNOW,
WHAT SHE'S HAD TO GO THROUGH,
AND I -- I DON'T KNOW WHY I
WOULD EVEN SAY FORGIVE, BUT --
>> Reporter: CURIOUS, HUH?
>> YEAH.
IT'S JUST, I'VE BEEN PORTRAYED
AS THIS THIEF, THIS BAD PERSON,
UNTRUSTING AND I DON'T KNOW WHY.
>> Reporter: TRUST, SOMETHING
NANCY PFISTER WAS KNOWN FOR.
NOT SO MUCH OF IT THESE DAYS
>> ASPEN WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.
MY LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME
>> Reporter: SO WHAT HAS ASPEN
LOST
>> A LOST OF HISTORY, YOU KNOW
NANCY WAS PART OF ASPEN'S
HISTORY.
IT'S A HUGE LOSS FOR THE
COMMUNITY.
>> Reporter: SOME MEMBERS OF
WHICH BE TELLING STORIES ABOUT
NANCY PFISTER FOR A VERY LONG
TIME
>> NANCY LIVED A FANTASTIC LIFE.
AND UH, I -- I THINK -- I THINK
WE ALL NEED A LITTLE MORE
DREAMING LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, A
LITTLE, LITTLE MORE --
>> Reporter: LITTLE MORE NANCY
IN US?
>> LITTLE MORE NANCY IN US,
YEAH
>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION
OF "DATELINE."
WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT FRIDAY AT
9:00, 8:00 CENTRAL
AND OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU EACH
WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY
NEWS".
I'M LESTER HOLT.
FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS, GOOD