>>> TONIGHT ON "DATELINE" -- >> Reporter: HOW MANY TV
INTERVIEWS HAVE YOU DONE
>> NONE.
YOU'RE MY FIRST.
>> STARTLING, NEW ALLEGATIONS
FROM THE WOMAN SWEPT UP IN A
DARK MYSTERY THAT BEGAN IN BROAD
DAYLIGHT
>> WE'VE GOT A GENTLEMAN THAT
JUST GOT SHOT.
>> OH, MY GOD.
IT'S MARK HASSE.
HE'S AN ASSISTANT DISTRICT
ATTORNEY
>> HE LOOKED AT ME, AND THEN HE
STOPPED BREATHIN'.
>> THE DOOR JUST -- IT EKED
OPEN, LIKE, IN SLOW MOTION
>> THERE ARE TWO SHELL CASINGS
>> HE SAID, "IT'S MURDER
THEY WERE BOTH MURDERED.
>> IT SCARED ME TO DEATH
>> I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WE WERE
DEALING WITH
>> MY THOUGHTS WERE IT'S SOMEONE
WE KNOW.
>> WE GET A TIP.
I SAID, "THIS IS IT.
>> Reporter: WAS HE LIVING A
DOUBLE LIFE?
>> I THINK HE WAS.
HE LOOKED SO NORMAL.
>> IT WAS JUST, "WOW."
>> CASED CLOSED?
>> IT'S TIME TO TELL MY SIDE OF
THE STORY.
>> WHY ONE WOMAN SAYS THERE'S
MORE TO IT THAN ANYBODY KNEW
>> THIS IS WRONG
Y'ALL WERE TOLD WRONG.
Y'ALL BELIEVE WRONG ON THIS.
>> BE THERE AS A DRAMATIC NEW
CHAPTER UNFOLDS IN THE TRIPLE
TRAGEDY THAT TERRORIZED AN
ENTIRE STATE
I'M LESTER HOLT, AND THIS IS
"DATELINE.
♪
HERE'S ANDREA CANNING WITH
"BAD INTENTIONS.
>>> Reporter: THE COURTHOUSE,
THE MORAL CENTER OF EVERY
AMERICAN CITY AND TOWN
THE PLACE WE USUALLY GO TO
SETTLE DIFFERENCES AND RESOLVE
DISPUTES
BUT NOT THIS TIME.
>> OH, MY GOD.
SOMEONE JUST SHOT SOMEONE.
THEY'RE LAYING ON THE GROUND
>> IT WAS JUST BAM, BAM, BAM
>> Reporter: THIS TIME, IT'S
WHERE THE STORY BEGINS
>> SOMEBODY WAS TRYIN' TO SEND A
MESSAGE, YOU KNOW?
IT WAS JUST SO BOLD.
>> Reporter: A STORY THAT
QUICKLY GOT TOO BIG FOR THIS
TEXAS TOWN AND, LIKE A PRAIRIE
FIRE, SPREAD ACROSS THE NATION
>> WE HAVE SOME NEW INFORMATION
THIS MORNING ON THE MANHUNT FOR
A KILLER WHO GUNNED DOWN A
DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
>> MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE
BRAZEN MURDER OF THE HEAD OF
COLORADO'S PRISON.
>> Reporter: IN THIS TALE, THE
HUNTERS BECAME THE HUNTED.
>> THAT'S WHAT WAS SO SCARY.
IT'S NOT JUST ME ANYMORE
I HAVE YOUNG KIDS, MY HUSBAND,
MY FAMILY.
>> MY WIFE HAD TWO GUNS OUT.
AND I SAID, "UNLESS YOU KNOW
IT'S ME COMING THROUGH THE DOOR,
BE READY TO USE 'EM.
>> Reporter: IT WAS
JANUARY 31st, 2013, JUST BEFORE
9:00 A.M. IN RURAL KAUFMAN,
TEXAS.
>> I HEARD WHAT I THOUGHT TO BE
GUNSHOTS
>> Reporter: POLICE OFFICER
JASON STASTNY WAS A FEW BLOCKS
FROM THE COURTHOUSE.
HE AND HIS PARTNER WERE
INVESTIGATING A BURGLARY WHEN
SOMETHING BIG CAUGHT HIS
ATTENTION.
>> AND IT WAS JUST A SLOW AND
METHODICAL FIVE SHOTS.
AND IT WAS A LITTLE PAUSE, I
GUESS YOU'D SAY, AND THEN THREE
MORE SHOTS AFTER THAT.
>> Reporter: PROSECUTOR
SHANNON HEBERT WAS INSIDE THE
COURTHOUSE WHEN SHE HEARD THE
SOUND OF SIRENS.
>> THAT'S NOT UNUSUAL BECAUSE
THERE'S A POLICE STATION JUST A
BLOCK AWAY
THERE'S A HOSPITAL A FEW BLOCKS
DOWN THE STREET.
>> Reporter: THAT SIREN WAS
JASON STASTNY'S SQUAD CAR.
>> YOU KNOW, I -- I HOLLERED AT
MY PARTNER
I SAID, "HEY, YOU KNOW, THOSE
ARE GUNSHOTS
WE NEED TO GO.
SO WE PACKED UP REAL QUICK,
HOPPED IN THE CAR.
>> Reporter: THE CAR CAMERA WAS
ROLLING AS HE AND HIS PARTNER
DROVE TOWARD THE GUNSHOTS.
>> ABOUT HALFWAY OVER, A
DISPATCHER CAME ACROSS THE RADIO
AND TOLD US THAT -- THAT A MAN
HAD BEEN SHOT AND GAVE US THE
LOCATION
>> KAUFMAN COUNTY 911.
>> UM, YES, WE'VE GOT A
GENTLEMAN ON GROVE STREET AND
MADISON THAT JUST GOT SHOT
>> Reporter: THAT'S JUST A BLOCK
FROM THE COURTHOUSE.
>> 9024, CHECK
>> Reporter: OFFICER STASTNY WAS
ONE OF THE FIRST ON THE SCENE.
>> WHEN I PULLED UP, I SAW A
MAN.
HE WAS LAYING HERE IN THE
STREET
AND THERE WAS A WOMAN THAT WAS
OVER HIM
LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS DOIN' CPR.
>> Reporter: THAT WOMAN HAD
WITNESSED THE SHOOTING FROM HER
CAR, SAW THE SHOOTER FLEE, THEN
TRIED TO HELP THE MAN.
NOW STASTNY WAS TAKING OVER,
GOING ON INSTINCT AND
ADRENALINE
>> THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE SCENES
WHEN YOU PULL UP
IT'S NOTHING YOU COULD PREPARE
FOR.
>> Reporter: HE KNEW RIGHT AWAY
IT WAS BAD
>> HE'S GOT A SHOT IN HIS FACE
HE LOOKED AT ME, AND THEN HE
STOPPED BREATHIN'.
THAT'S WHEN I STARTED CPR.
THERE YOU GO
THERE YOU GO, BUDDY.
KEEP BREATHING FOR ME.
AT THAT TIME, I DIDN'T KNOW WHO
IT WAS
>> Reporter: AS HE CONTINUED
CPR, HE HEARD HIS SERGEANT
IDENTIFY THE VICTIM.
>> HE SAID THAT IT WAS
MARK HASSE, THAT HE WAS A D.A.
PROSECUTOR
>> Reporter: MARK HASSE, A
SEASONED AND WELL RESPECTED
PROSECUTOR, GUNNED DOWN ON HIS
WAY TO WORK.
>> I GOT HIM TO TAKE SEVEN
BREATHS.
I DO REMEMBER THAT
>> Reporter: AS HIS CAR CAM KEPT
ROLLING, STASTNY'S BODY MIC
PICKED UP HIS PLEAS FOR MARK TO
HOLD ON JUST A LITTLE LONGER
>> GET YOU ANOTHER BREATH, MARK.
C'MON.
EMS IS ALMOST HERE
THE AMBULANCE IS COMING.
YOU KNOW, I TRIED MY BEST TO
TELL HIM, YOU KNOW, "YOU'RE
DOING GOOD
YOU'RE DOING GOOD.
KEEP BREATHING
THE AMBULANCE IS COMING.
>> Reporter: OFFICER STASTNY HAD
BEEN AT THE SCENE FOR FIVE
AGONIZING MINUTES WHEN THE
AMBULANCE ROLLED UP.
>> ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
HIM?
>> HE'S ONE OF THE D.A.
PROSECUTORS.
>> Reporter: BACK AT THE OFFICE,
SHANNON NOTICED THAT HER
SECRETARY WAS LOOKING OUT THE
WINDOW AT SOME COMMOTION ON THE
STREET
>> MY SECRETARY TURNED AROUND
AND SHE WAS CRYING
INITIALLY I JUST WANTED TO
COMFORT HER.
I COULDN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT SHE
WAS CRYING ABOUT
AND WHEN SHE TURNED FROM THE
WINDOW, ALL SHE SAID WAS, "IT'S
MARK."
MY NATURAL INSTINCT WAS, "DID HE
GET HIT BY A CAR?"
AND SHE WAS LIKE, "NO, SHANNON,
HE WAS SHOT.
>> Reporter: MARK WAS NOT ONLY
HER COLLEAGUE, BUT ALSO HER
FRIEND
SHANNON, TOO AFRAID TO GO
ANYWHERE, STAYED INSIDE, PRAYING
FOR HIM.
AND THEN SHE LEARNED THE
SEVERITY OF HIS INJURIES
>> HE HAD BEEN SHOT IN THE HEAD.
AND AT THAT MOMENT IS WHEN I
THINK IT HIT ME, LIKE, HE MIGHT
NOT SURVIVE.
WE ARE NOW JUST WAITING TO HEAR
IF HE'S GONNA LIVE
>> Reporter: BUT BAD NEWS
TRAVELED FAST.
>> IT DIDN'T TAKE VERY LONG FOR
HIS TRIAL PARTNER TO WALK INTO
THE COURTROOM SHAKING HER HEAD
AND CRYING
AND I THINK AT THAT POINT WE
KNEW HE WAS GONE
>> Reporter: I CAN ONLY IMAGINE
HOW HORRIBLE A MOMENT LIKE THAT
IS
>> IT'S HORRIBLE
IT WILL -- IT WILL BE IN MY
BRAIN FOREVER.
LIKE, I'LL NEVER, EVER FORGET
THAT
>> THERE'S NOT A DAY THAT GOES
BY THAT I DON'T GO BY HERE
AND -- AND THINK BACK TO THAT
DAY AND EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED
AND EXACTLY WHAT I SAW
>> Reporter: IT SEEMED THE
ASSISTANT D.A. HAD BEEN TARGETED
IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.
WHEN DID IT START TO SINK IN FOR
YOU THAT THIS COULD'VE BEEN ME
YOU WALK INTO WORK WITH MARK
YOUR OFFICE IS -- IS RIGHT
THERE.
>> I THINK THAT WAS THE
IMMEDIATE FEAR
IT COULD'VE BEEN ANY OF US
>> Reporter: THE COURTHOUSE WAS
LOCKED DOWN IN THE MORNING, THEN
CLOSED FOR THE DAY
PROSECUTORS AND OFFICE STAFF
WERE GIVEN EXTRA SECURITY.
THE SHOOTER WAS ON THE LOOSE
>> ALL OF US WERE SCARED
WE DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A
BUNCH OF PEOPLE WAITING TO TRY
>>> KAUFMAN COUNTY ASSISTANT
D.A. MARK HASSE WAS DEAD AT 57,
GUNNED DOWN ON HIS WAY TO
WORK -- A BLOCK FROM THE
COURTHOUSE
>> JUST NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS
WOULD HAVE EXPECTED ONE OF OUR
PROSECUTORS, MUCH LESS SOMEBODY
I KNEW PERSONALLY, TO BE LAYIN'
ON THE GROUND DEAD
>> Reporter: WITH ONE OF THEIR
OWN DOWN, LIEUTENANT JOLIE
STEWART, FROM THE COUNTY
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, QUICKLY
JOINED THE SWARM OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT JUMPING ON THE CASE.
>> I JUST REMEMBER THINKIN' THAT
THIS -- NONE OF IT MADE SENSE TO
ME
>> Reporter: LIEUTENANT STEWART
HAD WORKED WITH MARK ON A NUMBER
OF CASES
>> HE WAS GREAT TO GO TO FOR
ADVICE IF I HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT
A CASE
YOU KNOW, HE WAS -- HE WAS GOOD
TO GO TO
>> Reporter: MARK WAS AN
EXPERIENCED PROSECUTOR, A GUY
WHO LIVED HIS JOB.
FELLOW PROSECUTORS LIKE SHANNON
HEBERT LOOKED UP TO HIM.
DID YOU LEARN ANYTHING FROM HIM?
>> OH, GOSH, YES, OF COURSE.
WE WOULD GO TO MARK FOR ALMOST
EVERYTHING
>> Reporter: THAT'S BECAUSE OVER
THE COURSE OF HIS CAREER MARK
HAD PROSECUTED SOME OF THE WORST
CRIMINALS IN TEXAS
>> HE WAS TENACIOUS.
HE WAS AN INTELLECTUAL
AND HE WAS VERY QUICK ON HIS
FEET
>> Reporter: MARCUS BUSCH IS NOW
AN ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY
BACK IN THE '80s, HE AND
MARK HASSE WERE YOUNG GUNS
WORKING IN THE ORGANIZED CRIME
SECTION OF THE DALLAS D.A.'S
OFFICE
>> MARK WAS NOT AFRAID OF TAKING
ON A FIGHT
SOME OF THE DEFENDANTS ON SOME
OF THE CASES WERE VERY BAD
PEOPLE.
AND MARK HAD THE PERSONALITY TO
STAND IN THE BREACH AND
PROSECUTE THE WORST OF THE
WORST.
>> Reporter: WHY DID MARK MOVE
OUT OF DALLAS?
>> HE WANTED A PLACE WHERE HE
HAD SOME ROOM, SO HE BOUGHT A
HOUSE ON ABOUT EIGHT ACRES
BUILT A BARN OUT THERE.
HE JUST LOVED BEIN' AROUND
ANIMALS AND HE LOVED THE SPACE
>> Reporter: BESIDES ANIMALS AND
WIDE-OPEN SPACES, MARK HAD
ANOTHER PASSION -- FLYING.
BACK IN 1995, IT ALMOST KILLED
HIM.
>> A HIGH FLYING COMMEMORATION
OF WORLD WAR II'S END, 50 YEARS
AGO THIS MONTH
>> Reporter: MARK WAS PART OF
THIS AERIAL ARMADA OF VINTAGE
PLANES WHEN SOMETHING WENT
TERRIBLY WRONG
>> HE BELIEVED THE ENGINE HAD
FAILED
AND HE MADE A FORCED LANDING
RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY.
HE SURVIVED, BUT HE HAD A VERY
SEVERE BRAIN INJURY.
>> Reporter: DID HE DECIDE TO
FLY AGAIN AT ANY POINT
>> HE DID.
>> Reporter: WHY DO YOU THINK HE
WANTED TO FLY AGAIN.
HE ALMOST DIED
>> IT'S LIKE BEING THROWN FROM A
HORSE.
HE WANTED TO BE THE PERSON THAT
HE WAS BEFORE.
>> Reporter: HE DID IT
>> HE DID.
HE DID
BUT IT TOOK A LONG, LONG TIME.
>> Reporter: IT TOOK YEARS, BUT
MARK DID RECOVER FROM HIS
INJURIES
HIS COLLEAGUES IN THE D.A.'S
OFFICE ADMIRED HIS STRENGTH TO
FIGHT THROUGH ADVERSITY.
BUT THEY ALSO GOT A KICK OUT OF
HIS WEAKNESS, HIS LOVE FOR
SUGARY SNACKS.
>> HE HAD A SWEET TOOTH, AND HE
WOULD MOSTLY EAT EVERYONE'S
STUFF.
SO, LIKE, WE WOULD HAVE WEEKLY
PROSECUTOR MEETINGS EVERY
MONDAY, AND WE WOULD GET
DOUGHNUTS FOR THEM
AND HE WOULD ALWAYS GET THERE
FIRST AND STEAL MY BLUEBERRY
DOUGHNUT
WE BOTH LOVED THAT
>> Reporter: IN 2011, MARK AND
SHANNON GOT A NEW BOSS WHO
SEEMED TO FIT RIGHT IN WITH
THEIR OFFICE FAMILY, THE
NEWLY-ELECTED DISTRICT ATTORNEY,
MIKE McLELLAND
>> MY NAME'S MIKE McLELLAND.
I'M THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT
ATTORNEY FOR KAUFMAN COUNTY.
>> Reporter: MIKE'S
STEP-DAUGHTER,
CHRISTINA FOREMAN, SAYS HE LOVED
THE JOB.
>> I THINK HE REALLY DID EMBRACE
THE ROLE AS A LEADER
AND HE ENJOYED THE PEOPLE HE
WORKED WITH.
AND HE WOULD TALK ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, "OH, THIS PERSON DID THIS.
AND I WAS REALLY PROUD OF THEM.
AND THIS PERSON DID THIS.
AND I WAS REALLY PROUD OF THEM."
>> EVERYTHING WAS NEW TO HIM
HE CAME IN AND JUST TOOK IT
OVER
>> Reporter: WAS HE TOUGH?
>> I WOULDN'T SAY HE WAS TOUGH
ON US AT ALL
THE GREATEST THING ABOUT HIM WAS
THAT HE LET US DO WHAT WE DO
BEST
>> Reporter: AND MIKE QUICKLY
FORMED A BOND WITH MARK HASSE --
THE EXPERIENCED PROSECUTOR
>> MARK WAS HIS BEST FRIEND IN
THE OFFICE
THEY WERE VERY CLOSE
>> Reporter: MIKE'S WIFE,
CYNTHIA, FIT RIGHT IN AROUND THE
OFFICE TOO.
SHE WAS ALMOST LIKE A DEN
MOTHER
SHE WORKED AS A NURSE, BUT FOUND
TIME TO BAKE CAKES AND COOKIES
FOR THE STAFF.
BUT THE ONCE HAPPY AND HUMMING
OFFICE IN A QUIET, SMALL TOWN
WAS NOW SHATTERED.
>> IT WAS OVERWHELMING TO HAVE
LOST SOMEONE THAT WORKS JUST A
FEW DOORS DOWN FROM US THAT WE
TALK TO EVERY SINGLE DAY, THAT
IS SO HAPPY.
IT WAS JUST SO OVERWHELMING.
>> WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO GRIEVE
ABOUT IT
WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO TALK
ABOUT OUR FEELINGS
IT WAS TIME TO GO TO WORK.
>> Reporter: LIEUTENANT STEWART
>> Reporter: LT. STEWART
AND OTHERS CANVASSED THE AREA
BUT SOLID INFORMATION WAS HARD
TO COME BY
WITNESSES SAID THE SHOOTER
HOPPED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE
OF THE GETAWAY CAR AS IT SPED
AWAY
SO THERE HAD TO BE AT LEAST TWO
PEOPLE INVOLVED.
THEY ALSO SAID THE CAR WAS
SILVER
OR WAS IT GRAY OR TAN?
A 4-DOOR, MAYBE A FORD TAURUS.
BUT WITH NO LICENSE PLATE.
>> THE REST OF THAT DAY WE WERE
JUST GOING AROUND LOOKIN' FOR,
YOU KNOW, THE CAR.
>> I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER
NOTICED HOW MANY SILVER OR
LIGHT-COLORED, FOUR-DOOR SEDANS
THERE ARE.
>> Reporter: AND, EVEN THOUGH
THE KILLER HAD BRAZENLY ATTACKED
DURING THE MORNING RUSH,
WITNESSES SAID HE COVERED UP
>> ONE OF THE WITNESSES
DESCRIBED HIM AS WEARING A
HOODIE THAT WAS BLACK AND
COVERED THEIR FACE
AND THEN, ANOTHER PERSON WHO SAW
HIM FROM A DISTANCE SAID, YOU
KNOW, ALL BLACK, YOU KNOW, DARK
CLOTHING
>> Reporter: BUT THERE WAS
SOMETHING MORE
A WITNESS IN A GARAGE RIGHT
ACROSS THE STREET HEARD THE
VICTIM'S LAST WORDS.
>> MARK SAID, "NO, NO, I'M
SORRY.
AND THAT WAS AFTER A LITTLE BIT
OF KIND OF A SHOVING MATCH
>> Reporter: DID THAT TELL YOU
THAT THESE TWO KNEW EACH OTHER
>> THAT SEEMED VERY PERSONAL TO
ME
>> Reporter: NO WEAPON WAS FOUND
AT THE SCENE AND NO SHELL
CASINGS EITHER
DID THAT TELL YOU ANYTHING THAT
THERE WERE NO SHELL CASINGS?
>> YES
IT TOLD US THERE WAS GONNA HAVE
TO BE A REVOLVER
>> Reporter: THAT'S BECAUSE
REVOLVERS KEEP BULLET CASINGS
INSIDE THE GUN AFTER FIRING.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW TERRIFIED
MARK MUST HAVE BEEN IN THOSE
FINAL MOMENTS.
>> MARK WAS DOIN' WHAT HE DID
EVERY DAY.
JUST GOIN' TO WORK
>> Reporter: NOW, HIS FELLOW
PROSECUTORS FEARED HE DIED FOR
THAT WORK.
>> WE LOST A REALLY, REALLY GOOD
MAN.
>> Reporter: DISTRICT ATTORNEY
MIKE McLELLAND STOOD TALL WHEN
HE ADDRESSED THE MEDIA ABOUT THE
KILLING OF HIS GOOD FRIEND
>> I HOPE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT
DID THIS ARE WATCHING.
BECAUSE WE'RE VERY CONFIDENT
THAT WE'RE GONNA FIND YOU.
WE'RE GONNA PULL YOU OUT OF
WHATEVER HOLE YOU'RE IN AND
WE'RE GONNA BRING YOU BACK AND
LET THE PEOPLE OF KAUFMAN COUNTY
PROSECUTE YOU TO THE FULLEST
EXTENT OF THE LAW.
>> Reporter: BUT BRINGING THIS
KILLER OR KILLERS TO JUSTICE
WOULD TAKE A LOT MORE THAN TOUGH
TALK
THE CASE LOOKED LIKE IT WAS
ABOUT TO GET A LOT BIGGER WITH
MORE
>>> I MEAN, WE REALLY DID LOVE
HIM.
IT -- IT WAS DEVASTATING WHEN HE
WAS GONE
>> Reporter: MONDAY MORNING,
FOUR DAYS AFTER THE MURDER OF
MARK HASSE, FELLOW PROSECUTOR
SHANNON HEBERT RETURNED TO WORK
WITH A HEAVY HEART
>> OF COURSE, IT WAS A HARD
MONDAY AT OUR WEEKLY MEETING
WITHOUT MARK
OUR WHOLE OFFICE WAS DEVASTATED.
I MEAN, HIS DOOR WAS CLOSED.
>> Reporter: SECURITY REMAINED
TIGHT IN AND AROUND THE
COURTHOUSE, AND EVERYONE WAS
STILL ON GUARD AS THEY PAID
RESPECTS TO THEIR CO-WORKER.
>> AN EMOTIONAL AFTERNOON IN
KAUFMAN COUNTY WHERE HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE ATTENDED A MEMORIAL
SERVICE FOR SLAIN PROSECUTOR
MARK HASSE
>> HE WAS CONSTANTLY BEGGING FOR
MORE OF MY WIFE'S COOKIES.
>> Reporter: D.A.
MIKE McLELLAND
>> SHE MAKES COOKIES FOR THE
OFFICE ABOUT ONCE A MONTH, AND
HE WOULD RUN OUT IN ABOUT
12 MINUTES
>> Reporter: MARK'S LONGTIME
FRIEND, MARCUS BUSCH, ALSO
MEMORIALIZED HIM
>> THIS WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE
'CAUSE OF MARK, AND SO ARE WE.
THE WORLD LOST A GOOD MAN,
SOMEBODY WHO WAS RESOLUTE,
ALWAYS KNEW THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG AND
WOULD FIGHT FOR THAT
>> Reporter: THE MURDER BROUGHT
AN ALL-STAR ARMY OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO THE CASE.
THE SHERIFF'S TRAINING CENTER
WAS TURNED INTO A COMMAND POST
IT WAS SOON BUZZING WITH LOCAL
POLICE, TEXAS RANGERS, AND
FEDERAL AGENTS FROM THE ATF AND
FBI.
>> THAT WAS WHAT'S AMAZING ABOUT
THIS CASE, IS YOU HAD FEDERAL,
STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT ALL
WORKING TOGETHER IN A TEAM
>> Reporter: ADVISING THIS TEAM,
TOBY SHOOK AND BILL WIRSKYE,
VETERAN, HIGH-PROFILE ATTORNEYS
FROM DALLAS WHO WERE QUICKLY
NAMED SPECIAL PROSECUTORS.
>> ONCE YOU GET OVER THE INITIAL
SHOCK AND DISBELIEF THAT A
PROSECUTOR AND SOMEONE THAT YOU
KNOW HAS BEEN MURDERED, KIND OF,
YOUR PROFESSIONAL TRAINING KICKS
IN
AND THAT'S WHERE TOBY AND I
STEPPED UP AND VOLUNTEERED TO
HELP THEM IN THAT ROLE
>> Reporter: THE CRIME SEEMED TO
BE WHAT EVERY PROSECUTOR
FEARS -- A REVENGE HIT FOR
PUTTING AWAY A BAD GUY
THAT STRUCK A CHORD THAT
REVERBERATED FROM KAUFMAN TO
DALLAS, THROUGHOUT TEXAS, AND
BEYOND
>> I THINK EVERY JUDGE, EVERY
DEFENSE ATTORNEY, EVERY
PROSECUTOR HAS THAT IN THE BACK
OF THEIR MIND.
>> Reporter: THE INITIAL
THEORIES WERE AS NUMEROUS AS THE
HUNDREDS OF CASES MARK HASSE HAD
PROSECUTED
THE FIRST PLACE TO LOOK WAS
RIGHT IN KAUFMAN COUNTY, WHERE
MARK WAS A FELONY PROSECUTOR FOR
2 1/2 YEARS.
>> THE BIG QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD
IS, "WHO'S HE PROSECUTED
RECENTLY?"
>> Reporter: SHERIFF'S
INVESTIGATOR JOLIE STEWART WAS
INVOLVED FROM DAY ONE.
>> IS THERE SOMETHING RECENT
THAT HE'S PROSECUTED THAT'S GOT
SOMEBODY UPSET
SO WE STARTED DELVING OFF INTO
HIS CASELOAD
>> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS
LOOKED INTO EVERY LOCAL CASE
MARK HAD PROSECUTED.
THERE WERE ROBBERIES, DRUG
PROSECUTIONS, AND EVEN A THEFT
THAT INVOLVED AN ELECTED
OFFICIAL WHO STOLE OFFICE
EQUIPMENT.
THEY DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY FIND
ANYTHING THAT LED THEM TO A
SUSPECT.
>> ANY ASSISTANCE THAT ANYONE
CAN GIVE US IN FINDING THE
PEOPLE WHO DID THIS WILL BE
GREATLY APPRECIATED.
>> Reporter: EVEN THOUGH
INVESTIGATORS WERE CONVINCED HE
WAS MURDERED BECAUSE OF HIS JOB
AS A PROSECUTOR, THEY DIDN'T
STOP THERE
>> YOU STILL HAVE TO INTERVIEW
FRIENDS, FAMILY MEMBERS,
ASSOCIATES
>> Reporter: MARK WAS A
TEETOTALER
HE WASN'T MARRIED, AND HE DIDN'T
HAVE ANY CHILDREN.
THOSE EXTENSIVE CHECKS INTO HIS
BACKGROUND CAME UP EMPTY
>> THERE JUST WASN'T ANYTHING
THERE.
HE LOVED HIS MOTHER WHO LIVED IN
DALLAS AND SPENT A LOT OF TIME
TAKING CARE OF HER AND TAKING
HER TO DINNER.
>> Reporter: ALL THE INITIAL
CHECKS INTO MARK'S PERSONAL AND
PROFESSIONAL LIFE WERE NOT
PANNING OUT.
THEN, FOUR WEEKS INTO THE
INVESTIGATION, A TIP CAME INTO
THE COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS
ANONYMOUS TIP LINE THAT LOOKED
LIKE A BIG BREAK
>> THE TIPSTER SAID THAT THEY'D
BEEN IN A BAR IN A SMALL TOWN IN
KAUFMAN AND OVERHEARD TWO -- TWO
WHITE MALES TALKIN' ABOUT THE
HASSE KILLING AND TAKING
RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT.
>> Reporter: THE TIP LACKED THE
KIND OF DETAIL THAT
INVESTIGATORS NEEDED TO FOLLOW
UP
AND USING THE CRIME STOPPERS
SYSTEM, THE TIPSTER REMAINED
ANONYMOUS.
IF THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE GAME
CHANGER, INVESTIGATORS WOULD
NEED LOTS MORE INFORMATION OR A
LITTLE MORE LUCK
>> YOU'RE STILL HOPING FOR THE
BIG BREAK AND MAYBE A LUCK --
LUCKY TRAFFIC STOP OR SOMEBODY'S
GONNA -- THAT KNOWS ABOUT THIS
MURDER IS GONNA PICK UP THE
PHONE AND CALL IN, AND THAT'LL
BE THE MAGIC PHONE CALL.
>> Reporter: MEANWHILE, THE TASK
FORCE WIDENED THE SCOPE OF THE
INVESTIGATION BEYOND KAUFMAN
>> WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF
VIOLENT CRIMES IN KAUFMAN.
I MEAN, ESPECIALLY MURDERS
SO WE JUST KIND OF NATURALLY
ASSUMED IT WAS SOMEONE FROM
DALLAS
>> Reporter: DALLAS, THE BIG
CITY LESS THAN 30 MILES, BUT
SEEMINGLY A LIFESTYLE, AWAY.
REMEMBER, BACK IN THE 1980s,
MARK AND FELLOW PROSECUTOR
MARCUS BUSCH LOCKED UP SOME
PRETTY TOUGH CUSTOMERS THERE
>> I IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO
THINK ABOUT THE ORGANIZED CRIME
CASES AND THE MURDER CASES THAT
WE'D ALL PROSECUTED.
MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE RECEIVED
LIFE SENTENCES AND WERE STARTING
TO PAROLE OUT.
>> Reporter: THE WAY MARK HAD
BEEN MURDERED ALSO SUGGESTED TO
INVESTIGATORS A POSSIBLE LINK TO
ORGANIZED CRIME.
THE KILLER HAD BEEN LYING IN
WAIT, AND MARK WAS SHOT AT
POINT-BLANK RANGE, EXECUTION
STYLE.
>> RUMORS ARE SWEEPING THE TOWN.
TALK OF MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS AND
PRISON GANGS
>> WE'RE OPEN TO EVERY AVENUE
RIGHT NOW.
>> Reporter: AND INVESTIGATORS
ALSO SUSPECTED ANOTHER GROUP,
LESS PUBLICLY KNOWN BUT VERY
DANGEROUS -- THE ARYAN
BROTHERHOOD OF TEXAS, A PRISON
GANG OF WHITE SUPREMACISTS
WHY WAS THE ARYAN BROTHERHOOD A
POTENTIAL GROUP THAT MAY HAVE
DONE THIS?
>> THERE HAD BEEN SOME THREATS
THAT HAD COME OUT ABOUT THAT
TIME THAT THE ARYAN BROTHERHOOD
HAD SAID THEY MIGHT WANT TO GET
EVEN WITH PEOPLE IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
>> Reporter: GET EVEN BECAUSE
LESS THAN THREE MONTHS BEFORE
HASSE'S MURDER, FEDERAL
OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED THAT
34 ALLEGED ARYAN BROTHERHOOD
GANG MEMBERS HAD BEEN INDICTED
FOR RACKETEERING
THE FEDS THANKED, AMONG OTHERS,
THE KAUFMAN COUNTY D.A.'S OFFICE
FOR ITS ROLE IN THE
INVESTIGATION.
>> SO A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE
TRYING TO PUT TWO AND TWO
TOGETHER WITH THE ARYAN
BROTHERHOOD.
>> Reporter: IT'S ONE THING IF
IT'S ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO WENT
AFTER MARK
IT'S ANOTHER THING IF IT IS THE
ARYAN BROTHERHOOD.
>> OH, YEAH.
>> Reporter: PROSECUTORS, NOT
JUST IN KAUFMAN, BUT ACROSS THE
STATE, WERE TERRIFIED THAT,
"HEY, IF THIS IS THE ARYAN
BROTHERHOOD, WE'RE ALL TARGETS."
>> Reporter: AND THEN, SEVEN
WEEKS AFTER HASSE'S MURDER,
ANOTHER ASSAULT ON LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS OPEN
SEASON ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM
>> THE COLORADO HEAD OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WAS
SHOT HERE AT HIS FRONT DOOR ON
TUESDAY NIGHT.
>> Reporter: THE MAN'S NAME WAS
TOM CLEMENTS, THE HIGHLY
REGARDED HEAD OF COLORADO'S
PRISON SYSTEM.
AND LIKE MARK HASSE, A PUBLIC
SERVANT.
EVIDENCE POINTED TO A FORMER
INMATE NAMED EVAN EBEL
HE WAS A MEMBER OF A WHITE
SUPREMACIST GANG IN COLORADO
SIMILAR TO THE ARYAN
BROTHERHOOD.
NOW HE WAS ON THE RUN FROM
COLORADO AUTHORITIES, ARMED AND
DANGEROUS.
TWO DAYS AFTER THE MURDER, A
SHERIFF'S DEPUTY IN TEXAS WOULD
FIND OUT JUST HOW DANGEROUS.
A VIOLENT ATTACK CAUGHT ON
DASHBOARD CAMERA
THE DEPUTY PULLED OVER THIS CAR
DURING A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP.
HE HAD NO IDEA THE DRIVER WAS
EVAN EBEL.
AS YOUR ABOUT TO SEE, EBEL HAD
NO HESITATION ABOUT USING HIS
GUN AGAIN.
[ GUNSHOTS ]
THE UNSUSPECTING DEPUTY, SHOT IN
THE FACE, WOULD SURVIVE.
EBEL WAS QUICKLY CHASED DOWN BY
LAW ENFORCEMENT --
[ GUNSHOTS ]
-- AND DIED IN AN EXPLOSIVE
SHOOTOUT IN WISE COUNTY, TEXAS
WHAT GRABBED THE ATTENTION OF
INVESTIGATORS IN THE MARK HASSE
MURDER IS THIS
WISE COUNTY IS JUST 100 MILES
FROM KAUFMAN
COULD EVAN EBEL HAVE KILLED
ANOTHER PUBLIC SERVANT IN TEXAS
SEVEN WEEKS EARLIER?
>> THE FBI IS NOW INVESTIGATING
THIS CASE.
THEY WANT TO SEE IF EBEL IS
CONNECTED TO MARK HASSE'S
MURDER
>> Reporter: TWO PUBLIC
OFFICIALS GUNNED DOWN IN TWO
STATES
SOMEONE SEEMED TO BE TARGETING
LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND IT WAS
ABOUT TO BECOME EVEN MORE
ALARMING
NO ONE COULD REACH D.A.
MIKE McLELLAND OR HIS WIFE
>> WHEN NOBODY HAD CALLED ME
BACK, THAT'S WHEN I STARTED
GETTING VERY WORRIED, VERY
WORRIED THAT SOMETHING WAS VERY
WRONG.
>>> THE SHOOTING OF COLORADO'S PRISON CHIEF AT HIS HOME,
ALLEGEDLY BY A WHITE
SUPREMACIST, HAD GIVEN TEXAS
INVESTIGATORS A FRESH ANGLE IN
THE MURDER OF PROSECUTOR
MARK HASSE
>> IT'S ANOTHER STRANGE ATTACK
ON LAW ENFORCEMENT IN A SMALL
TOWN
>> Reporter: KEN KALTHOFF
COVERED THE HASSE CASE FOR NBC'S
CHANNEL 5 IN DALLAS.
HE SAYS THE SUSPECTED MURDERER
ENDING UP IN TEXAS WAS
ESPECIALLY INTRIGUING TO
INVESTIGATORS.
>> IT MADE PEOPLE WONDER IF,
PERHAPS, THERE COULD BE SOME
CONNECTION WITH THE HASSE
MURDER
>> Reporter: THEY DID TESTS ON
SUSPECT EVAN EBEL'S WEAPON
HIS BULLETS WERE IDENTICAL TO
THOSE THAT KILLED THE PRISON
CHIEF BACK IN COLORADO
BUT THEN THE TEXAS TASK FORCE
FOUND OUT EBEL'S GUN WAS NOT THE
WEAPON THAT KILLED MARK HASSE.
AND WHAT'S MORE --
>> EBEL WAS DEEMED NOT TO HAVE
BEEN IN KAUFMAN AT THE TIME THAT
HASSE WAS KILLED
>> Reporter: SO EIGHT WEEKS IN,
THE HASSE CASE WAS GOING
NOWHERE.
>> FEWER AND FEWER LEADS ARE
COMING INTO THE INVESTIGATION.
>> Reporter: THE COMMAND POST
WAS SHUT DOWN, LEAVING JUST A
SMALL GROUP TO WORK FULL-TIME ON
THE CASE
>> SLOWLY, YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF
TRICKLED BACK TO OUR DAILY
DUTIES
>> Reporter: THE PASSAGE OF TIME
WAS ALLOWING SHANNON HEBERT TO
FINALLY GET HER EQUILIBRIUM
BACK
>> I JUST WASN'T CHECKING OUT MY
WINDOWS CONSTANTLY, OR WORRIED
ABOUT WHEN I PULL OUT OF MY
GARAGE, IF SOMEONE WILL BE
WAITING THERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU JUST
START LETTING YOUR GUARD DOWN
AGAIN, AND LIFE JUST KINDA TOOK
OVER
>> Reporter: SAME THING FOR
HARD-NOSED D.A. MIKE McLELLAND,
ACCORDING TO HIS STEP-DAUGHTER,
CHRISTINA.
DID THINGS JUST NATURALLY KIND
OF START GETTING BACK TO NORMAL?
>> YEAH, I THINK MORE OF A SENSE
OF NORMAL.
IT WAS STILL KIND OF AT THE
FOREFRONT OF, "OH, GOD, WE
HAVEN'T FOUND ANYTHING YET
OH, GOD, WE HAVEN'T SOLVE
BUT, YOU KNOW, LIFE MOVES ON
>> Reporter: AT THE END OF
MARCH, EASTER WEEKEND, THE
McLELLANDS WERE LOOKING FORWARD
TO A BIG SUNDAY DINNER CYNTHIA
WAS MAKING FOR FRIENDS
THE PERFECT TIME TO RELAX AND
NOT DWELL ON THE TRAGEDY OF
MARK HASSE'S MURDER, AT LEAST
FOR A LITTLE WHILE
WAS THERE ANY FEAR THAT, "WE
NEED TO BE ON HIGH ALERT"?
>> AT THAT POINT, I DON'T THINK
SO
>> Reporter: CHRISTINA SPOKE TO
HER MOM AND STEP-DAD ON THAT
FRIDAY NIGHT
>> IT WAS A NORMAL CONVERSATION.
IT WAS UTTERLY NORMAL.
YOU KNOW, MOM WAS MAKING THE
EASTER BASKETS
>> Reporter: THE NEXT MORNING ,
SATURDAY, THE SUN ROSE OVER THE
McLELLAND HOUSE.
IT WAS CYNTHIA'S DAY TO PREP
>> SHE HAD SENT ME A TEXT ABOUT
THE MENU THAT WE WERE GONNA HAVE
FOR EASTER
>> Reporter: LEAH PHILLIPS AND
HER HUSBAND, CLOSE FRIENDS OF
THE McLELLANDS, WERE EXCITED
ABOUT JOINING THEM FOR DINNER.
>> SHE WAS MAKING OUR FAMILY ALL
EASTER BASKETS
AND THEN SHE WOULD MAKE CLUES
AND HIDE THE EASTER BASKETS.
>> Reporter: WOW, THAT'S
ELABORATE.
>> IT WAS VERY ELABORATE
>> Reporter: LEAH, WHO WAS
SUPPOSED TO DROP OFF SOME
VEGETABLES FOR CYNTHIA, TEXTED
HER.
>> AND SHE NEVER ANSWERED ME
BACK
>> Reporter: DID YOU THINK THAT
WAS ODD THAT SHE DIDN'T ANSWER
YOU BACK
>> THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK
OF WAS MAYBE SHE DID GO INTO
WORK WHERE SHE COULDN'T EITHER
ANSWER THE PHONE OR TEXT ME
BACK
>> Reporter: LEAH CALLED MIKE'S
PHONE AND THE HOUSE PHONE.
NO RESPONSE.
AND SHE WASN'T THE ONLY ONE.
CHRISTINA WAS ALSO TRYING TO
CALL HER MOM AND STEP-DAD.
>> I TRIED MOM
AND SHE DIDN'T ANSWER.
SO I TRIED MIKE.
AND HE DIDN'T ANSWER
>> Reporter: BY NOW IT WAS LATE
AFTERNOON, AND LEAH WAS STARTING
TO WORRY
>> SO I SAID, "OKAY, I'LL GO ON
OVER THERE."
>> Reporter: SHE THOUGHT
SOMETHING WAS ODD WHEN SHE
PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY
>> THE NEWSPAPER WAS STILL IN
THE YARD, AND CYNTHIA'S CAR WAS
THERE.
>> Reporter: SO VERY SUBTLE
CLUES.
>> JUST SUBTLE
BUT I'M STILL THINKING MAYBE
THEY WENT TO THE MOVIE WITH
SOMEONE.
>> Reporter: LEAH CALLED HER
SON, C.J. TOMLINSON, AND TOLD
HIM WHAT SHE'D SEEN.
>> AND I SAID, "YOU JUST STAY
WHERE YOU'RE AT.
DON'T GO INSIDE THAT HOUSE."
>> Reporter: IT WAS C.J.'S COP
SENSE KICKING IN
HE'S A DALLAS POLICE OFFICER
>> THE FEELIN' WAS SOMETHING'S
NOT RIGHT.
IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT.
>> Reporter: A FEW MINUTES
LATER, C.J. DROVE UP ALONG WITH
HIS DAD.
>> WE WENT TO THE DOOR, AND C.J.
KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND YELLED
FOR MIKE THREE OR FOUR TIMES
AND THERE WAS NO ANSWER.
>> THEY WERE MESSIN' WITH THE
KEY.
AND THEY WERE ALL STANDING
BEHIND ME, AND I JUST REACHED
DOWN TO SEE IF THE DOOR WAS
OPEN
AND, YEAH, IT WAS UNLOCKED
AND I WILL -- I'LL NEVER FORGET
HOW THAT DOOR OPENED UP.
>> THE DOOR JUST -- IT EKED OPEN
JUST, LIKE, IN SLOW MOTION
>> Reporter: WHAT THEY FOUND
WHEN THEY WALKED INSIDE WOULD
CHANGE THEIR LIVES AND THE
COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION.
>> SHE POINTS AND SHE SAYS,
"THERE'S SHELL CASINGS
UNDERNEATH YOUR FEET."
AT THAT POINT, SOMETHING'S
REALLY WRONG NOW
>>> WHEN LEAH PHILLIPS AND HER
FAMILY SHOWED UP AT MIKE AND
CYNTHIA McLELLAND'S HOUSE, THEY
HAD NO IDEA THE NIGHTMARE THEY
WERE ABOUT TO WALK INTO.
LEAH'S SON C.J. LED THE WAY.
>> I TOOK A COUPLE STEPS IN
AND -- AND THAT'S WHEN MOM HIT
THE GROUND AND STARTED CRYIN'.
>> AND I SCREAMED, "C.J., STOP
THERE'S SHELL CASINGS.
ND THEN I JUST -- MY KNEES
BUCKLED, AND I HIT THE GROUND
AND JUST START CRYING BECAUSE
THERE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE SHELL
CASINGS INSIDE SOMEBODY'S
DOORWAY.
>> I LOOK DOWN AND SURE ENOUGH,
THERE -- THERE ARE TWO SHELL
CASINGS RIGHT INSIDE THAT FRONT
DOOR
AT THAT POINT, SOMETHING'S
REALLY WRONG NOW
SOMETHIN' BAD HAPPENED
SO I TAKE A COUPLE MORE STEPS
INSIDE
AND I SEE CYNTHIA LAYIN' THERE
>> Reporter: CYNTHIA McLELLAND
WAS DEAD
HER BODY WAS LYING IN A POOL OF
BLOOD ON THE LIVING ROOM FLOOR
C.J. TURNED HIS MOM AWAY FROM
THE SCENE AND TOOK HER BACK TO
THE CAR.
MEANWHILE, CJ'S DAD HAD GONE
FARTHER INTO THE HOUSE AND FOUND
THE BULLET-RIDDLED BODY OF
MIKE McLELLAND
WHEN YOUR HUSBAND AND SON COME
BACK OUT OF THE HOUSE --
>> THERE'S NO BLOOD LEFT IN
THEIR FACE
THEY'RE WHITE.
>> Reporter: KAUFMAN DISTRICT
ATTORNEY MIKE McLELLAND AND HIS
WIFE CYNTHIA HAD BEEN SHOT TO
DEATH.
>> YOU NEVER EXPECT TO HAVE TO
SEE SOMEBODY LIKE THAT -- THAT,
YOU KNEW, THAT YOU LOVED,
THAT -- THAT WAS SO CLOSE.
AND I THINK THAT WAS THE MOST--
AND IT STILL IS, OBVIOUSLY
IT -- IT'S SO DIFFICULT.
>> Reporter: BECAUSE SHE HADN'T
BEEN ABLE TO REACH HER PARENTS,
CHRISTINA DECIDED TO DRIVE TO
THE HOUSE, AS WELL
HER MOM'S FRIEND LEAH MET HER
WITH THE NEWS SHE WAS DREADING
>> I JUST HAD THE FEELING THAT
THEY WERE DEAD
AND I SAID, "BOTH OF THEM?
AND SHE SAID, "YES."
AND THEN IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT,
"OH, MY GOD, THIS IS GONNA HIT
THE NEWS."
AND MY GRANDMOTHER WATCHES THE
NEWS EVERY DAY, AND SOMEBODY
NEEDS TO STOP HER BEFORE SHE
TURNS ON THE TV.
>> Reporter: MIKE IS HIGH
PROFILE.
>> HE IS -- HE WAS
I DIDN'T WANT SOMEBODY ELSE TO
TELL HER THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED.
>> Reporter: CHRISTINA COULDN'T
FATHOM WHO WOULD WANT TO HARM
HER MOM AND STEP-DAD
THE TWO WERE MARRIED FOR NEARLY
20 YEARS AND LOVED NOTHING MORE
THAN SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY
IT'S SOMETHING MIKE ENJOYED
SINCE MARRYING CYNTHIA WHEN
CHRISTINA WAS JUST A KID
>> HE WOULD GIVE GREAT BIG BEAR
HUGS AND, YOU KNOW, EVEN WHEN I
WAS OLDER, WOULD PICK -- WRAP ME
AND PICK ME UP
AND, YOU KNOW, I'M LIKE, "OH, MY
GOD, I'M 22.
>> Reporter: DID YOU FEEL LUCKY
THAT YOU GOT MIKE AS A STEP-DAD?
>> I DO.
OUR PERSONALITIES ARE JUST QUITE
SIMILAR.
>> Reporter: YOU'RE BOTH
STRAIGHT SHOOTERS?
>> YES
WE'RE BOTH VERY -- OUR -- OUR
FILTERS ARE QUITE -- QUITE OFF
SOMETIMES.
>> Reporter: MIKE RELIED ON THE
SUPPORT OF HIS WIFE CYNTHIA, WHO
WAS ALWAYS DOING WHAT SHE
LOVED -- QUILTING, ENTERTAINING,
AND COOKING.
>> YOU KNOW, SHE'S THE
OLD-SCHOOL COOK WHO DIDN'T USE
PACKAGES
SHE BAKES EVERYTHING FROM
SCRATCH.
>> Reporter: WAS HE HAPPY THAT
SHE WAS THIS BAKER-SLASH-COOK?
>> CLEARLY
CLEARLY, BY HIS PHYSIQUE, HE WAS
VERY -- HE ENJOYED THE FOOD VERY
MUCH
>> Reporter: WHAT MADE THEM A
GOOD MATCH
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY FUNNY
SHE SUPPORTED HIM GREATLY IN
WHAT HE WAS DOING.
BUT HE'S THE -- YOU KNOW, THE
CONSERVATIVE
AND SHE'S VERY LIBERAL
SO I THINK IT WAS JUST A LOT OF
BALANCE.
I THINK THEY BALANCED EACH OTHER
REALLY NICELY.
>> Reporter: CYNTHIA ALSO WANTED
HER DAUGHTER TO FIND THE KIND OF
LOVE SHE HAD AND WASN'T SHY
ABOUT PLAYING MATCHMAKER WITH A
GUY SHE THOUGHT WAS A GOOD FIT
>> SHE LOOKED AT HIM AND SAID,
"DO YOU BELIEVE IN ARRANGED
MARRIAGES," WHICH I -- I HAD TO
LATER APOLOGIZE FOR.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A
WEIRD THING TO SAY
>> Reporter: IT'S EMBARRASSING
>> IT'S JUST WEIRD
>> Reporter: MAYBE WEIRD, BUT
FROM A PLACE OF CARING
NOW CYNTHIA WAS GONE, AND
CHRISTINA WAS SUDDENLY DEALT A
NEW REALITY WITHOUT HER MOM OR
STEP-DAD
YOU MUST'VE HAD A MILLION
QUESTIONS, THOUGH.
>> YES
THERE'S -- THERE'S A LOT OF
THINGS THAT RUN THROUGH YOUR
HEAD AT ABOUT A MILLION MILES AN
HOUR
>> Reporter: LOOKING AT THE
SCENE, C.J. TOMLINSON'S POLICE
TRAINING TOLD HIM THE KILLER OR
KILLERS WERE LONG GONE
HE KNEW WHAT HE HAD TO DO.
>> THERE WAS NO REASON TO GO
BACK IN THAT HOUSE
WE CLOSED THE DOOR
WE DIDN'T CALL 911
THERE WAS NO NEED FOR PARAMEDICS
TO GO IN THERE
>> Reporter: THEY CALLED THE
KAUFMAN COUNTY SHERIFF
>> THE THINGS THAT WERE IN THAT
HOUSE WERE VERY IMPORTANT.
AND THEY NEEDED TO BE PRESERVED
UNTIL THE RIGHT PEOPLE SHOW UP
AND THEY DID
THEY SHOWED UP
>> I WAS AT MY HOUSE, AND WE'D
JUST FINISHED AN EASTER EGG HUNT
WITH ABOUT 30 KIDS IN THE
BACKYARD
>> Reporter: ABOUT 8:00 P.M.,
PROSECUTOR TOBY SHOOK GOT A CALL
FROM HIS PARTNER, BILL WIRSKYE
>> HE SAID, "HEY, THE McLELLANDS
WERE FOUND MURDERED AND THE
SHERIFF WANTS US OUT THERE."
AND IT -- IT SCARED ME TO DEATH.
WHEN I LEFT THE HOUSE, BILL CAME
TO PICK ME UP AND -- AND MY WIFE
HAD TWO GUNS OUT
AND I SAID, "UNLESS YOU KNOW
IT'S ME COMING THROUGH THE DOOR,
BE READY TO USE 'EM.
>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTORS
RACED TO THE SCENE
>> IT WAS SURREAL.
I MEAN, THE FRONT YARD'S LIT UP,
AND IT'S GOT THE YELLOW CRIME
SCENE TAPE AND THERE'S LOTS OF
SHERIFF'S OFFICERS AND TEXAS
RANGERS AND FBI THERE.
>> Reporter: SHOOK SAW
THEN-SHERIFF DAVID BYRNES
STANDING ON THE LAWN
>> SHERIFF BYRNES IS A PRETTY
LEGENDARY GUY, FORMER TEXAS
RANGER CAPTAIN
HE WAS VISIBLY SHAKEN UP
AND IF SHERIFF BYRNES GETS
SHAKEN UP, THAT SCARED THE HELL
OUT OF ME.
AND -- AND ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT
OUT THERE WAS QUIET.
IT WAS EERILY QUIET AMONGST THEM
BECAUSE THEY WERE DEALING WITH
SOMETHING I DON'T THINK ANY OF
'EM HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE.
>> Reporter: ASIDE FROM THE
OBVIOUS, TWO PEOPLE ARE DEAD,
WHAT WAS SHAKING THEM UP SO
BADLY?
>> I THINK THE BIG QUESTION IS,
"WHO'S NEXT?
'CAUSE EVERYBODY'S ASSUMPTION
THAT WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THAT
YELLOW CRIME SCENE TAPE WAS IT
COULD'VE BEEN ONE OF US.
>> Reporter: IT SURE SEEMED LIKE
THE HASSE AND McLELLAND MURDERS
WERE CONNECTED, AND EVERYONE WAS
TERRIFIED THE KILLINGS MIGHT NOT
BE OVER.
DID YOU START TO THINK THAT
THERE WAS A LIST
>> OH, SURE.
THERE WAS GONNA BE ANOTHER
VICTIM IF THIS PERSON WASN'T
SHANNON HEBERT WAS SHOPPING FOR
EASTER DINNER WHEN SHE WAS
SURPRISED BY A PHONE CALL FROM
HER OFFICE
>> AND I THOUGHT, "MY GOODNESS,
WHO'S UP THERE ON SATURDAY,
EASTER WEEKEND
I'M JUST -- I'M NOT GONNA ANSWER
RIGHT NOW.
>> Reporter: BUT HER PHONE KEPT
RINGING.
IT WAS ANOTHER PROSECUTOR FROM
HER OFFICE
>> AND I KNEW THEN, AT THAT
POINT, SOMETHING'S GOING ON.
AND I ANSWERED, AND SHE
PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT THE
McLELLANDS WERE FOUND IN THEIR
HOUSE SHOT
>> Reporter: MUST HAVE BEEN THE
BIGGEST BOMBSHELL OF YOUR LIFE
>> BIGGEST
IT'S JUST SO HARD TO IMAGINE
ANYONE BEING KILLED.
I MEAN, I WAS FRANTIC.
IT WAS TERRIFYING.
>> Reporter: HER COLLEAGUE TOLD
HER TO WATCH HER BACK.
>> "WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S NEXT
WE DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S MORE
ATTACKS TONIGHT.
JUST GET HOME AND BE SAFE,
SHANNON.
YOU KNOW, "WATCH OUT."
>> Reporter: ARE YOU ALL FEELING
NOW THAT WE'RE ALL TARGETS NOW
>> WE -- WE ALL FELT THAT.
>> Reporter: INCLUDING THE
PEOPLE SHE LOVED MOST IN THE
WORLD.
>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT WAS SO
SCARY, WAS THAT IT'S NOT JUST ME
ANYMORE.
I HAVE YOUNG KIDS, MY HUSBAND,
MY FAMILY.
AND, I MEAN, I CAN'T KEEP
PUTTING THEM AT RISK
AND WITH MIKE AND CYNTHIA, WE
WERE ALL IN DANGER
>> Reporter: AS LOCAL DEPUTIES
BEGAN A 'ROUND-THE-CLOCK WATCH
OVER SHANNON'S HOUSE, SOMETHING
KEPT NAGGING AT HER ABOUT THE
McLELLAND MURDERS.
>> THERE'S NO WAY CYNTHIA OPENED
THAT DOOR TO JUST ANYONE
I MEAN, MY THOUGHTS WERE IT'S
SOMEONE WE KNOW OR SOMEONE
DRESSED LIKE A POLICE OFFICER.
YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST VERY
CONCERNED OF EVEN POLICE
OFFICERS
>> Reporter: THAT SOMEONE COULD
BE DRESSED IN A --
>> RIGHT
>> Reporter: -- FAKE POLICE
UNIFORM?
>> RIGHT
>> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS ALSO
WONDERED HOW THE KILLER COULD
HAVE GOTTEN INSIDE THE
McLELLANDS' FRONT DOOR
MIKE, LIKE HIS ENTIRE STAFF, WAS
STILL VIGILANT EVER SINCE HIS
CHIEF PROSECUTOR WAS GUNNED
DOWN
THE WARY D.A. KEPT HIS OWN GUNS
ON A TABLE NEAR THE FRONT DOOR
BUT NEVER GOT THE CHANCE TO USE
THEM
IS IT JUST, LIKE, ALL BETS ARE
OFF WHEN YOU HEAR THAT NOW
THEY'RE GOING AFTER FAMILY
MEMBERS?
>> EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T CONDONE
IT, YOU ALMOST UNDERSTAND
SOMEONE GOING AFTER A PROSECUTOR
FOR WHAT THEY DO FOR A LIVING.
BUT TO GO AFTER A PROSECUTOR'S
FAMILY WAS JUST A LINE THAT WE
DIDN'T THINK WE'D EVER SEE
CRO
>> Reporter: BOTH THE HASSE AND
McLELLAND KILLINGS, TWO MONTHS
APART, WERE BOLD
ONE IN A PUBLIC SQUARE IN BROAD
DAYLIGHT
THIS ONE IN A PRIVATE HOME
BEFORE DAWN.
INVESTIGATORS HOPED THIS LATEST
CRIME SCENE WOULD PROVIDE MORE
LEADS THAN THE HASSE KILLING
DID.
THEY ALREADY KNEW THEY HAD SHELL
CASINGS.
WOULD THERE BE OTHER CLUES
INSIDE THE HOUSE TO HELP CATCH
THE KILLER
>> IT WAS JUST A STRAIGHT-UP
WHODUNIT
WE DIDN'T KNOW
>> Reporter: TEXAS RANGER
ERIC KASPER WAS PART OF THE TEAM
THAT ENTERED THE HOME.
>> THE FRONT DOOR WAS NOT KICKED
IN
THE DOOR WAS UNLOCKED.
THERE'S SHELL CASINGS
APPROXIMATELY FOUR FOOT IN
SHELL CASINGS ARE .223 CALIBER
>> Reporter: THAT TOLD THEM THE
KILLER USED AN AR-15 OR M-4 TYPE
SEMIAUTOMATIC WEAPON LIKE THIS
ONE.
>> THIS STARTED EXACTLY WHEN THE
DOOR OPENED.
MRS. McLELLAND AND MR. McLELLAND
WERE RETREATING AND TRYING TO
GET AWAY FROM THE GUNFIRE.
>> Reporter: CYNTHIA'S BODY WAS
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LIVING
ROOM, AND SHE CLEARLY WASN'T
EXPECTING ANYONE
>> SHE'S NOT DRESSED FOR
COMPANY.
SHE'S TRYIN' TO GET DRESSED.
MR. McLELLAND'S THE SAME WAY
HE'S IN JOGGING PANTS WITH NO
SHIRT ON
>> Reporter: THERE WERE SHELL
CASINGS NEXT TO MIKE'S BODY
INDICATING THE KILLER HAD
FINISHED HIM OFF AT CLOSE RANGE.
>> THE SUSPECT WAS STANDIN'
RIGHT ON TOP OF HIM, OVER HIM,
SHOOTING HIM
>> Reporter: TO INVESTIGATORS
LIKE LIEUTENANT JOLIE STEWART OF
THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, IT
LOOKED LIKE A CAREFULLY PLANNED
OPERATION, AN AMBUSH, JUST LIKE
THE HASSE MURDER
DID THE SCENE SPEAK TO YOU AT
ALL?
>> I FELT LIKE WHOEVER WENT IN
THERE HAD A MISSION.
AND THEY DID IT QUICKLY.
AND THEY DID IT EFFICIENTLY, AND
THEY WERE OUT.
>> Reporter: LATER, RECORDS FROM
THE ALARM COMPANY WOULD CONFIRM
STEWART'S OBSERVATION.
THE KILLER ENTERED THE HOUSE AT
6:40 A.M. AND WAS GONE JUST
TWO MINUTES LATER, 20 SHOTS
FIRED IN 120 SECONDS
>> THAT WAS A PRETTY BRUTAL WAY
TO GO.
>> Reporter: LIEUTENANT STEWART
COULDN'T HELP BUT BE AFFECTED BY
THE SIGHT OF CYNTHIA, SHOT IN
THE HEAD AT CLOSE RANGE.
>> JUST LOOKING AT HER THERE ON
THE SCENE, SHE WAS TARGETED, YOU
KNOW
I MEAN, SHE DIDN'T HAVE A DOG IN
THIS FIGHT
>> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS
TALKED TO NEIGHBORS.
SURELY SOMEONE HAD HEARD THE
SHOTS.
ASSAULT RIFLES AREN'T QUIET.
>> THE WEAPON USED IN THIS
MURDER, YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO HEAR IT OUTSIDE NO
PROBLEM.
>> Reporter: NO ONE HEARD OR SAW
ANYTHING
BY THE END OF EASTER WEEKEND,
SPECIAL PROSECUTOR BILL WIRSKYE
SAID THEY HAD NOTHING.
>> WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT WHAT TO DO NEXT.
AND WE'RE HOPING AGAINST HOPE
THERE'S GONNA BE A MAGIC CLUE IN
THAT CRIME SCENE OR IN THAT
HOUSE THAT'LL ANSWER THIS RIDDLE
FOR US
>>
>>> WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SLOW
EASTER NEWS DAY IN DALLAS NOW
HAD A LEAD STORY THAT DIDN'T
INVOLVE CHOCOLATE BUNNIES OR EGG
HUNTS.
>> WE'RE FOLLOWING SOME BREAKING
NEWS RIGHT NOW IN KAUFMAN
COUNTY, WHERE COUNTY DISTRICT
ATTORNEY MIKE McLELLAND AND HIS
WIFE, CYNTHIA, HAVE BEEN FOUND
SHOT TO DEATH.
>> Reporter: THE NEWS TOUCHED
OFF A FIRESTORM OF PUBLIC
CONCERN.
TIPS STARTED FLOODING INTO THE
REOPENED KAUFMAN COUNTY
SHERIFF'S COMMAND POST
SOME TIPS STILL CITED THE ARYAN
BROTHERHOOD OF TEXAS
SPECIAL PROSECUTOR BILL WIRSKYE.
>> WITH THE ADDED MEDIA
ATTENTION AFTER THE McLELLANDS
WERE MURDERED, WE GOT HUNDREDS
OF TIPS A DAY.
>> IT WAS LIKE DRINKIN' OUT OF A
FIRE HOSE DURIN' THIS WHOLE
THING.
>> Reporter: LIEUTENANT
JOLIE STEWART OF THE SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT WAS RIGHT IN THE
MIDDLE OF IT
HUNDREDS OF INVESTIGATORS FROM
MULTIPLE AGENCIES HAD SWOOPED
IN
THIS WAS ALL HANDS ON DECK
>> UH-HUH.
>> THIS BECAME THE NUMBER ONE
CASE IN THE BUREAU AT THAT TIME.
>> Reporter: FBI SPECIAL AGENTS
MICHAEL HILLMAN AND
LAURIE GIBBS, WHO HAVE SINCE
RETIRED, WERE COORDINATING TEAMS
FROM THE TASK FORCE, EACH TEAM
LOOKING INTO DIFFERENT ASPECTS
OF THE CASE.
>> YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT
EVERYTHING
>> Reporter: SO YOU DECIDED TO
JUST DIVVY IT UP
EVERYONE COULD FOCUS ON THEIR
INDIVIDUAL TASKS
>> EXACTLY
>> RIGHT, AND SOME OF THESE
TEAMS HAD 25, 30 PEOPLE ON THEM.
AND THERE WAS A TEAM THAT LOOKED
AT ALL OF THE VICTIMS AND WHAT
THEY MAY HAVE IN COMMON.
>> Reporter: THEY BELIEVED THE
KILLING OF D.A. MIKE McLELLAND
WAS LINKED WITH THE SHOOTING OF
PROSECUTOR MARK HASSE BACK IN
JANUARY.
BUT IT WAS ALL ONE BIG
COLLECTIVE HUNCH UNTIL THEY GOT
A CERTAIN TIP.
>> THROUGH THE CRIME STOPPERS
WEB-BASED TIP LINE, WE GET A TIP
THA
MARK HASSE MURDERS
>> Reporter: THE COMPUTER
MESSAGE CAME IN ON EASTER SUNDAY
NIGHT, THE DAY AFTER THE
McLELLANDS WERE MURDERED
IT BEGAN, "DO WE HAVE YOUR FULL
ATTENTION NOW?
"WE" SUGGESTS MORE THAN ONE
PERSON
DID YOU THINK MAYBE IT'S A
GROUP?
>> IN MY THOUGHT, I THOUGHT IS
IT -- HOW BIG IS THIS GROUP?
WHAT IS THIS GROUP
IS THIS SOME SORT OF
ANTIGOVERNMENT MILITIA GROUP
IS THIS WHITE SUPREMIST?
I -- I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WE WERE
DEALING WITH
>> Reporter: LAW ENFORCEMENT
WROTE BACK, "YOU HAVE OUR
ATTENTION.
>> AND WE WANTED HIM TO TELL US
WHAT HE WAN
>> Reporter: WHILE THEY WAITED
ANXIOUSLY FOR AN ANSWER,
COMPUTER EXPERTS TRIED TO TRACE
THE TIP BACK TO THE SOURCE
NO LUCK.
THAT'S BECAUSE THE SYSTEM IS SET
UP TO PROTECT THE ANONYMITY OF
ALL TIPSTERS
WHEN A MESSAGE COMES IN, THE
SENDER IS IDENTIFIED ONLY BY A
UNIQUE NUMBER.
AFTER 12 HOURS OF NAIL BITING,
THERE WAS FINALLY A RESPONSE
THAT TOLD INVESTIGATORS THIS
PERSON WAS THE REAL DEAL
"MARK HASSE WAS KILLED WITH
.38 CALIBER AMMUNITION, FIRED
FROM A .357, 5-SHOT REVOLVER."
>> Reporter: WOULD ANYONE OTHER
THAN THE KILLER HAVE KNOWN THAT?
>> NO.
THIS PERSON KNEW WAY MORE THAN
ANYBODY WOULD HAVE
>> Reporter: THE KILLER ALSO
WROTE, "YOUR ACT OF GOOD FAITH
WILL RESULT IN NO OTHER ATTACKS
THIS WEEK.
IN RETURN FOR THAT PLEDGE, THE
KILLER MADE A DEMAND
>> THEY WANTED ONE OF THE JUDGES
IN KAUFMAN COUNTY TO STEP DOWN
BY THE END OF THE WEEK OR THE
KILLINGS WOULD RESUME.
THE FACT THAT THIS TIP CAME IN
AND NAMED THESE SPECIFIC JUDGES
IN KAUFMAN TOLD US IT WAS
SOMEBODY LOCAL
>> Reporter: THAT ALL BUT RULED
OUT THE ARYAN BROTHERHOOD, DRUG
CARTELS, AND THOSE OLD CASES
FROM DALLAS.
AND THE LANGUAGE IN THE TIP,
REFERRING TO ATTACKS PLURAL,
CONVINCED PROSECUTORS THAT THE
KILLER OR KILLERS WERE
RESPONSIBLE FOR BOTH THE HASSE
AND McLELLAND MURDERS.
THE TIPSTERS MESSAGE ENDED THIS
WAY.
"WE ARE NOT UNREASONABLE, BUT WE
WILL NOT BE STOPPED.
IT'S ALMOST SOUNDING LIKE A GAME
NOW.
>> I THINK IN HIS MIND IT WAS A
BIG CHESS GAME
I THINK IT WAS JUST FOR FUN, TO
SEE IF HE COULD REALLY EXERT
COMPLETE AND TOTAL CONTROL OVER
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN
KAUFMAN COUNTY
>> Reporter: ON MONDAY MORNING,
WHEN SHANNON HEBERT CAME TO HER
OFFICE, SHE HAD AN ARMED ESCORT.
THERE'S NO LEADER AT YOUR OFFICE
ANYMORE.
>> THERE'S NOTHING
NO ONE
>> Reporter: WHEN YOU COME INTO
WORK, HOW DO YOU GO FORWARD?
>> WE HAD TO MOVE FORWARD.
WE COULDN'T LET THEM WIN
WE COULDN'T.
AND WE HAD TO FIGHT AND -- FOR
THE HONOR OF MIKE AND MARK
>> Reporter: EVERYONE IN THE
OFFICE WAS ON EDGE
>> MY HUSBAND, I MEAN, HE STAYED
UP ALL NIGHT WITH A GUN IN HIS
HAND
>> I KNOW THAT I START CARRYING
A GUN, SLEEP WITH A GUN UNDER MY
PILLOW
>> Reporter: EVEN SHANNON, WHO
WOULDN'T CARRY A GUN BEFORE, NOW
SLEPT WITH PROTECTION NEARBY
>> WE HAD BIG OLD SHOTGUN
SITTING ON OUR DRESSER, JUST
WAY -- READY TO GO, IN CASE.
>> Reporter: THE KILLER'S THREAT
TO UNLEASH MORE VIOLENCE IN
KAUFMAN COUNTY KEPT THE TASK
FORCE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK
A SPECIAL TEAM SCOURED THE
SURVEILLANCE VIDEO COLLECTED
NEAR THE McLELLAND CRIME SCENE,
HOPING FOR A NEW LEAD.
>> SO MANY PEOPLE NOW HAVE
SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS ON THEIR
HOUSE.
SO WE'RE TRAINED TO GO IN AND
COLLECT THAT SORT OF EVIDENCE.
>> Reporter: AND FINALLY, THE
VIDEO TEAM'S PAINSTAKING SEARCH
SEEMED TO PAY OFF.
THEY FOUND IMAGES OF A CAR THAT
DIDN'T BELONG -- A WHITE FORD
CROWN VICTORIA CRUISING NEAR THE
McLELLAND HOME ABOUT THE TIME OF
THE MURDERS.
NO ONE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OWNED
A CAR LIKE THAT.
BUT THE CROWN VIC MODEL IS
POPULAR WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT
SO THE FBI JUMPED ON THAT ANGLE.
WAS THERE EVER A THOUGHT THAT
MAYBE THIS IS ONE OF OUR OWN
MAYBE THIS IS A POLICE OFFICER
DOING THIS
>> THAT WAS NOT OUT OF THE REALM
OF POSSIBILITY
>> Reporter: IN FACT, AN OLD
CASE WAS ABOUT TO RESURFACE, ONE
THAT WOULD SEND THIS CASE
ROLLING IN A DARK, NEW
DIRECTION.
>> HAS ANYONE CONNECTED WITH
THIS INVESTIGATION SUGGESTED TO
YOU THAT YOU'RE A PERSON OF
INTEREST I
OF MIKE AND CYNTHIA McLELLAND,
HUNDREDS OF MOURNERS PACKED THIS
CHURCH FOR THEIR MEMORIAL.
THE FLAG-DRAPED CASKET CONTAINED
MIKE'S BODY AND CYNTHIA'S ASHES,
TOGETHER FOR ETERNITY.
THEIR EXTENDED FAMILY, UNITED IN
GRIEF, BID THEM AN EMOTIONAL
FAREWELL
>> I CARRY A LOT OF THINGS FROM
THEM WITH ME
THEY TAUGHT ME VERY WELL
>> Reporter: THEY HELPED A LOT
OF PEOPLE BEFORE THEY LEFT THIS
WORLD.
>> THEY REALLY DID
THEY MADE A LARGE IMPACT ON A
LOT OF PEOPLE.
>> Reporter: A BEEFED-UP
MULTI-AGENCY TASK FORCE VOWED TO
CATCH WHOEVER KILLED THE
McLELLANDS AND MARK HASSE.
INVESTIGATORS HAD SEEN THAT FORD
CROWN VICTORIA ON VIDEO ROAMING
NEAR THE McLELLAND HOME, AND
THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A POLICE
CAR.
THE TERRIBLE POSSIBILITY IT
MIGHT BE ONE OF THEIR OWN HAD TO
BE RULED IN OR OUT IMMEDIATELY
>> WE CHECKED WITH EVERY LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN THE AREA
AND IDENTIFIED WHERE EVERY
POLICE CAR WAS IN THE AREA
AND NONE OF THEM WERE EVEN CLOSE
TO WHERE THIS IMAGE WAS
CAPTURED
>> Reporter: NEXT, THEY LOOKED
FOR ANYONE, WHO FOR ANY REASON,
HAD ISSUES OR DISPUTES INVOLVING
BOTH PROSECUTORS
>> THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE
ANYBODY IN THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE
THAT WERE UPSET ENOUGH THAT THEY
WOULD WANNA COMMIT HOMICIDE.
>> Reporter: BUT THERE WAS ONE
DEFENDANT INVOLVED IN A FELONY
THEY COULDN'T IGNORE
>> THERE WAS ONLY ONE COMMON
DENOMINATOR FOR THOSE TWO
PROSECUTORS.
>> Reporter: WHICH WAS
>> THAT WAS ERIC WILLIAMS.
>> Reporter: ERIC WILLIAMS
WHO WAS ERIC WILLIAMS?
HE WAS A FORMER DEPUTY SHERIFF
AND LONGTIME ATTORNEY WITH AN
OFFICE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET
FROM THE COURTHOUSE.
IN 2010, HE WAS ELECTED BY THE
PEOPLE OF KAUFMAN TO BE JUSTICE
OF THE PEACE
SHANNON HEBERT WORKED WITH HIM,
SAID HE HAD A SHARP LEGAL MIND
IN FACT, HE WAS A MEMBER OF
MENSA -- THE ORGANIZATION FOR
PEOPLE WITH SUPER-HIGH IQS
>> HE WAS A GREAT JUDGE.
I LIKED HAVING HIM IN THERE.
I THOUGHT HE WAS VERY FAIR
>> Reporter: WILLIAMS, MARRIED
FOR 15 YEARS WITH NO KIDS OF HIS
OWN, WAS A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR
CHILDREN AND SPECIALIZED IN
CHILD ABUSE CASES.
LIEUTENANT JOLIE STEWART OFTEN
WORKED WITH HIM ON THOSE CASES
HOW DO YOU THINK HE WAS
PERCEIVED AMONGST HIS FELLOW
COLLEAGUES, OTHER ATTORNEYS?
>> I THINK THAT HE HAD A LOT OF
RESPECT WITH HIS PEERS
HE WAS KIND OF THE GO-TO GUY FOR
FAMILY LAW
>> I KNOW HE HAD A LOVE FOR
CHILDREN
>> Reporter:
TERA WILLIAMS BELLEMARE KNOWS
THAT BETTER THAN ANYONE.
SHE'S ERIC'S SISTER.
>> HE WAS A GOOD UNCLE TO MY
KIDS
NEVER MISSED THEIR BIRTHDAYS
I NEVER HAD TO REMIND HIM.
>> Reporter: SHE SAYS, GROWING
UP, HER BIG BOTHER WAS HER
INSPIRATION.
HE MADE EAGLE SCOUT, WENT TO
COLLEGE, LAW SCHOOL, AND BECAME
A SUCCESSFUL ATTORNEY.
HE ALSO SERVED AS A CAPTAIN IN
THE TEXAS STATE GUARD.
>> HE WAS DRIVEN, HE WAS
AMBITIOUS.
HE WANTED TO MAKE US FEEL PROUD
OF HIM
>> Reporter: SO TERA AND THE
LEGAL COMMUNITY WERE STUNNED IN
2011 WHEN HER BROTHER, THE
NEWLY-ELECTED JUSTICE OF THE
PEACE, GOT INTO TROUBLE WITH THE
LAW.
WILLIAMS WAS ACCUSED OF STEALING
THREE COMPUTER MONITORS FOR HIS
PERSONAL USE FROM THE COUNTY
I.T. DEPARTMENT.
HERE'S SURVEILLANCE VIDEO
SHOWING HIM CARRYING BOXES OF
COMPUTER EQUIPMENT
IT JUST SEEMS ODD THAT SOMEONE
LIKE THAT WOULD BOTHER TO STEAL
A FEW COMPUTER MONITORS.
>> EXACTLY
IT WAS JUST KINDA SHOCKING THAT
SOMEONE WOULD GO AND DO THAT
>> Reporter: WILLIAMS FOUND
HIMSELF ON THE WRONG SIDE OF
THIS POLICE INTERROGATION.
>> OKAY, JUDGE, BEFORE WE GET
STARTED, I'M GONNA READ THE
MIRANDA WARNING.
YOU'RE AN ATTORNEY, YOU'RE A
JUDGE, SO YOU KNOW AS WELL AS I
DO
>> I KNOW YOU GOTTA READ
I UNDERSTAND
>> Reporter: WILLIAMS TRIED TO
EXPLAIN HE TOOK THE MONITORS
BECAUSE HE CLAIMED HE NEEDED NEW
EQUIPMENT FOR HIS OFFICE BUT
NEVER GOT IT
>> THAT'S BEEN AN ONGOING KIND
>> I UNDERSTAND.
BUT YOU HADN'T PUT ANY KIND OF
WRITTEN REQUEST IN, NOTHIN' LIKE
THAT'S BEEN DOCUMENTED AT ALL?
>> NO.
NOTHING LIKE THAT.
>> Reporter: MARK HASSE AND
MIKE McLELLAND KNEW
ERIC WILLIAMS AS A COLLEAGUE IN
KAUFMAN'S SMALL LEGAL COMMUNITY.
AS BOSS OF THE D.A.'S OFFICE,
MIKE RARELY TRIED CASES, BUT
BECAUSE WILLIAMS WAS AN ELECTED
PUBLIC OFFICIAL, HE MADE AN
EXCEPTION AND TEAMED UP WITH
MARK TO PROSECUTE THE CASE
CHRISTINA SAYS HER STEP-DAD
BELIEVED WILLIAMS HAD VIOLATED
THE PUBLIC TRUST
>> I THINK IT DID OFFEND MIKE,
ON A BASIC LEVEL
THESE PEOPLE ELECTED YOU
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING GOOD
THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY, NOT
STEALING FROM IT
>> Reporter: A JURY FOUND
WILLIAMS GUILTY OF THEFT
HE GOT PROBATION, BUT LOST HIS
JOB AND LICENSE TO PRACTICE LAW.
AND NOW, A YEAR LATER, BOTH MEN
WHO PROSECUTED HIM WERE DEAD,
AND WILLIAMS WAS UNDER
SUSPICION.
>> DID YOU BEAR EITHER OF THOSE
MEN ANY KIND OF GRUDGE
>> NO.
ABSOLUTELY NOT
>> Reporter: THE MEDIA GOT WIND
OF THE INTEREST IN WILLIAMS.
AND, JUST DAYS AFTER THE
McLELLAND MURDERS, HE WAS
INTERVIEWED BY NBC AFFILIATE
KPRC
HE STRANGELY SWEPT IN ON HIS
SEGWAY
>> HAS ANYONE CONNECTED WITH
THIS INVESTIGATION SUGGESTED TO
YOU THAT YOU'RE A PERSON OF
INTEREST IN THE INVESTIGATION?
>> NO.
>> Reporter: AFTER THE DENIAL,
HIS SYMPATHIES -
>> MY HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES GO
OUT TO BOTH THE McLELLAND FAMILY
AND THE HASSE FAMILY, BECAUSE
THEY WERE IN PUBLIC OFFICE DOING
THE RIGHT THING AND, FOR SOME
REASON, THAT WE'RE NOT AWARE OF,
THEY'VE PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE
FOR THAT
>> Reporter: WILLIAMS WAS KNOWN
TO BE A BIT OF AN ODD DUCK, BUT
A MURDER SUSPECT
IT SEEMS SO FARFETCHED THAT A
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE -- A MAN
WHO HAD SERVED HIS COUNTY NOT
ONLY AS AN ATTORNEY, A JUDGE,
BUT ALSO AS A -- AS A DEPUTY
SHERIFF, WOULD THEN SUDDENLY
TURN INTO THIS SERIAL KILLER
>> UH-HUH.
YEAH, NO -- NO ONE WANTS TO
THINK A LAWYER WOULD DO THAT, A
PERSON WHO WAS A PUBLIC SERVANT
WOULD DO THAT.
>> Reporter: IN FACT, HE WAS
AMONG THE MANY PEOPLE
INVESTIGATORS HAD ALREADY LOOKED
AT AFTER THE HASSE MURDER.
WHAT WAS HIS ALIBI AT THE TIME
>> HE SAID HE HAD BEEN AT HOME,
EITHER CARING FOR HIS WIFE, OR
HIS IN- LAWS DOWN THE STREET
>> HE ALSO HAD HIS ARM IN A
SLING WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT CAME
TO TALK TO HIM, AND HIS EXCUSE
WAS HE HAD FROZEN SHOULDER, AND
WASN'T ABLE TO USE HIS RIGHT
ARM.
>> Reporter: AFTER THE McLELLAND
MURDERS, INVESTIGATORS CHECKED
WHETHER HE OWNED A FORD CROWN
VICTORIA, THE CAR CAPTURED ON
VIDEO LURKING NEAR THE McLELLAND
MURDER SCENE
RECORDS SHOWED HE DID NOT.
THE CASE WAS STILL STALLED, BUT
SOON THE TASK FORCE WOULD GET
ONE OF THOSE LUCKY BREAKS THEY'D
BEEN HOPING FOR.
>> IN A FILING CABINET IN THE
GARAGE THERE WAS A MANUAL FOR A
FORD CROWN VIC
AND THERE WAS ALSO A TITLE TO --
TO A CROWN VIC
>>> I'VE COOPERATED WITH LAW EGREGIOUS ACT.
>> Reporter: ERIC WILLIAMS WAS
MAKING THE TV INTERVIEW ROUNDS
BUT HE HADN'T SAT DOWN FOR A
FORMAL INTERVIEW WITH
INVESTIGATORS.
BECAUSE OF HIS CONNECTION TO
BOTH MARK HASSE AND MIKE
MCLELLAND, INVESTIGATORS HAD TO
TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT HIM
>> ON THE SURFACE IT MAY SEEM
IMPLAUSIBLE, 'CAUSE HE'S A
LAWYER AND A JUDGE AND
SUCCESSFUL
THE MORE WE LEARNED ABOUT HIM,
THE MORE VIABLE IN OUR MINDS HE
BECAME AS A SUSPECT.
>> Reporter: JUST THE YEAR
BEFORE, WILLIAMS HAD BEEN
PROSECUTED FOR THEFT BY HASSE
AND McLELLAND.
>> YOU MUST BE CHOMPING AT THE
BIT TO TALK TO ERIC WILLIAMS
>> OBVIOUSLY, WE WANTED TO TALK
TO HIM
THE PROBLEM WITH THAT WAS HE WAS
STILL REPRESENTED BY LAWYERS
>> Reporter: LAWYERS WHO KEPT
WILLIAMS FROM TALKING.
BUT THEN, TWO WEEKS AFTER THE
McLELLANDS WERE KILLED IN THEIR
HOME, THE SPECIAL PROSECUTORS
GOT A BIG OPENING THEY HADN'T
SEEN COMING.
>> WE GET AN EMAIL BACK FROM THE
LAWYERS BASICALLY SAYING, "WE
DO -- NO LONGER REPRESENT
ERIC WILLIAMS.
>> Reporter: THEY FIGURED THIS
WAS THEIR ONE WINDOW TO TALK TO
HIM-- AND THEY KNEW THEY HAD GET
IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME --
BEFORE HE LAWYERED UP AGAIN.
SO FBI PROFILERS CAME UP WITH A
STRATEGY -- SEND OVER A
TOP-LEVEL TEXAS RANGER SO
WILLIAMS WOULD BE MORE LIKELY TO
LET HIM IN
WAS THE IDEA THAT THAT WOULD FIT
WITH HIS EGO
>> YEAH, HE WOULD VIEW A MAJOR
WITH THE TEXAS RANGERS AS
SOMEONE EQUAL ON HIS INTELLECT
THAT PERHAPS HE WOULD TALK TO.
IF YOU SENT SOMEONE OF LOWER
RANK, THEN HE WOULD JUST DISMISS
THEM
>> Reporter: THE RANGER, AND A
LOCAL OFFICER FAMILIAR TO
WILLIAMS, WENT TO HIS HOUSE
CARRYING A HIDDEN TAPE RECORDER.
DID IT WORK?
>> IT WORKED GREAT
>> Reporter: WILLIAMS LET THEM
IN -- WITHOUT A SEARCH WARRANT
THE SUBJECT QUICKLY GOT AROUND
TO GUNS.
WILLIAMS SAID HE'D BEEN FORCED
TO SELL HIS WEAPONS TO RAISE
MONEY SINCE HE COULD NO LONGER
PRACTICE LAW
>> I BEEN IN YOUR HOUSE.
I KNOW YOU GOT LOTS OF GUNS.
>> YEAH.
HOW DO YOU THINK I'VE BEEN
LIVING
>> SELLING GUNS?
>> YEAH, FOR TWO YEARS
>> YOU DON'T HAVE ANY MORE? YOU
GOT RID OF ALL OF THEM
>> I HAVE ONE GUN THAT I'M
TRYING TO SELL, AND IT'S JUST
HARD AS HELL TO SELL
>> HE SAID, "I DON'T HAVE ANY
GUNS, EXCEPT ONE GUN
AND SO, HE LET THEM LOOK AROUND.
AND THEY BEGAN FINDING GUN
PARTS.
>> Reporter: GUN PARTS
SOME VERY SPECIFIC GUN PARTS --
THAT APPEARED TO MATCH THE TYPE
OF AUTOMATIC WEAPON USED IN THE
McLELLAND KILLINGS
AND AT THE SAME TIME, THE FBI
DISCOVERED WILLIAMS HAD DONE
COMPUTER SEARCHES ON HASSE AND
McLELLAND -- BEFORE THE MURDERS.
>> HE SPECIFICALLY TOLD THEM
THAT HE HAD NOT -- EVER SEARCHED
THE TWO VICTIMS BEFORE THE
MURDERS.
>> NOW YOU'VE GOT HIM LYING?
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: THAT LIE AND THOSE
GUN PARTS WERE ENOUGH TO GET A
WARRANT FOR A MORE THOROUGH
SEARCH OF HIS HOUSE.
INVESTIGATORS, INCLUDING A CRACK
FBI EVIDENCE TEAM, WERE BACK THE
NEXT DAY
THEY WENT ROOM TO ROOM, THEN TO
THE GARAGE
AND BINGO.
>> IN A FILING CABINET IN THE
GARAGE THERE WAS A MANUAL FOR A
FORD CROWN VIC
AND THERE WAS ALSO A TITLE TO A
CROWN VIC.
>> Reporter: THE TASK FORCE, OF
COURSE, HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR A
CROWN VICTORIA
THIS ONE WAS REGISTERED UNDER A
FALSE NAME
THAT MUST HAVE BEEN A REAL BIG
MOMENT, FINDING THAT
REGISTRATION
>> THAT WAS HUGE
>> Reporter: OUTSIDE, SPECIAL
PROSECUTOR WIRSKYE WAS ON HAND
TO GIVE LEGAL ADVICE
>> ONE OF THE FBI COMPUTER TECHS
CAME OUT AND SAID, "MR. WIRSKYE,
I DON'T MEAN TO ALARM YOU, BUT
ERIC WILLIAMS HAS BEEN SEARCHING
YOU AND MR. SHOOK ON HIS
COMPUTER."
>> Reporter: WHAT'S THE FIRST
THING YOU DID WHEN YOU HEARD
THAT HE HAD BEEN SEARCHING YOU
>> I GET ON THE PHONE WITH MY
WIFE AND TELL HER TO MAKE SURE
SHE KNEW WHERE THE KIDS WERE AND
TO GET INSIDE AND KEEP THE DOORS
LOCKED AND DON'T ANSWER THE DOOR
FOR ANYONE, UP TO AND INCLUDING
A POLICE OFFICER
>> Reporter: WHAT DID SHE SAY?
>> I COULD HEAR THE FEAR IN HER
VOICE, AND I KNEW RIGHT THEN WE
HAD TO PUT HIM IN JAIL FOR
SOMETHING.
IT BECAME VERY PERSONAL AND A
MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH FOR US.
>> Reporter: BACK INSIDE,
SEARCHERS FOUND SOMETHING
INTERESTING -- A SCRAP OF PAPER
WITH TWO HANDWRITTEN NUMBERS
>> SO THEY COLLECTED IT BECAUSE
IT WAS NEAR THE COMPUTER AND
THEY THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE
IMPORTANT.
>> Reporter: AND IT WAS.
A SHERIFF'S DEPUTY RECOGNIZED
THE USER I.D. FOR THE COUNTY
CRIME-STOPPERS' ANONYMOUS TIP
LINE
ONE OF THE NUMBERS CORRESPONDED
TO A TIP FROM EARLY IN THE HASSE
CASE, WHERE THE TIPSTER CLAIMED
TO HAVE OVERHEARD TWO MEN IN A
BAR SAYING THEY'D KILLED
MARK HASSE
THE OTHER NUMBER ON THAT SCRAP
PAPER WAS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT,
BECAUSE IT MATCHED BACK TO THAT
COMPUTER MESSAGE THAT GAVE
DETAILS ABOUT THE HASSE MURDER
WEAPON AND ALSO THREATENED MORE
KILLINGS
>> SO, WE KNEW RIGHT THEN THAT
THAT TIP THAT HAD COME INTO THE
COMMAND POST WAS SENT BY
ERIC WILLIAMS.
AND WE KNEW RIGHT THEN WE WERE
GONNA BE ABLE TO PUT
ERIC WILLIAMS IN JAIL.
>> Reporter: HE WAS ARRESTED --
NOT FOR MURDER -- BUT FOR MAKING
A TERRORIST THREAT ABOUT KILLING
A JUDGE.
>> WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF WE HAD
ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO CONVICT HIM
>> Reporter: THEY JUST HAD TO
FIGURE OUT WHERE THE EVIDENCE
MIGHT BE
>> DID YOU THINK THAT
ERIC WILLIAMS HAD A HIDING
PLACE?
>> WE BEGAN TO SUSPECT PRETTY
EARLY ON IF IT'S ERIC WILLIAMS
AND WE KNOW WHAT CARS WERE USED,
THERE MAY BE A STORAGE UNIT OR
SOME SECRET STORAGE PLACE THAT
HE MAY HAVE ACCESS TO THAT WE
HAVEN'T FOUND.
>> Reporter: AT LEAST NOW,
TEN WEEKS AFTER HASSE'S MURDER,
THE INVESTIGATION WAS FINALLY ON
A ROLL
>> WE GO HOME THAT NIGHT TO GET
A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP AND I
ACTUALLY WANTED FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN WEEKS TO SEE MY SON PLAY
A LITTLE LEAGUE GAM
>> Reporter: BUT THE NEXT
MORNING, HIS PARENTING PLANS
WERE DASHED BY WORK AGAIN.
HIS PHONE RANG
IT WAS A FRIEND OF
ERIC WILLIAMS, WHO'D HEARD ABOUT
HIS ARREST
>> AND SAID, "MR. WIRSKYE, I
HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU ABOUT
ERIC WILLIAMS.
I THINK I MAY HAVE RENTED HIM A
STORAGE UNIT
I COULD TELL WHEN I LISTENED TO
HIS VOICE, "THIS IS IT
THIS IS THE REAL THING."
>> Reporter: SO, LITTLE LEAGUE
WAS OUT FOR THE DAY?
>> UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS
LITTLE LEAGUE WAS OUT.
MY SON WENT THREE FOR THREE.
>> Reporter: BUT YOU WERE HEADED
TO A STORAGE UNIT.
>> THIS IS TOO IMPORTANT
SO, I GOT ON THE PHONE WITH THE
TEXAS RANGERS.
AND
>>> THE HOT SPOT IN THE
INVESTIGATION WAS NOW A
RUN-OF-THE-MILL STORAGE UNIT --
NUMBER 18, TO BE PRECISE, IN
SEAGOVILLE, TEXAS, JUST 14 MILES
FROM THE McLELLAND HOUSE
ERIC KASPER OF THE TEXAS RANGERS
WAS PART OF THE TASK FORCE
CARAVAN RACING TO UNIT 18.
>> EVERYBODY IS RUNNING AND
GUNNING.
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE
THERE.
>> SO WE'RE ALL JUST FILLED WITH
EXPECTATIONS
WE'RE MAKING BETS --
"OKAY, THE WHITE CROWN VIC'S
GONNA BE THERE."
"NO, IT'S NOT.
"WE'RE GONNA FIND THE MURDER
WEAPON."
>> Reporter: RANGER KASPER DID
THE HONORS, LIFTING THE HEAVY,
STEEL DOOR
>> THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS
THAT I'LL NEVER FORGET BECAUSE
IT WAS JUST "WOW."
>> Reporter: WHAT DID YOU SEE?
>> WE SAW THE WHITE CROWN VIC,
THE CAR THAT WE'D BEEN LOOKING
FOR FOR ALL THOSE DAYS AND ALL
THOSE MAN HOURS, AND THERE IT
WAS.
AND WE KNEW FINALLY WE HAD
ERIC WILLIAMS.
>> Reporter: BUT THERE WAS SO
MUCH MORE --
POLICE UNIFORMS AND BULLET-PROOF
VESTS, MORE THAN A HALF-DOZEN
POLICE BADGES, THOUSANDS OF
ROUNDS OF AMMO, AND ENOUGH GUNS
TO SUPPLY A SMALL ARMY
>> HE'S GOT SIX OR SEVEN WEAPONS
OF THE RIGHT CALIBER THAT
COULD'VE BEEN THE McLELLAND
MURDER WEAPON.
WE HAVE FIVE OR SIX WEAPONS OF
THE RIGHT CALIBER THAT COULD'VE
BEEN THE HASSE MURDER WEAPON
>> Reporter: DID YOU THINK THAT
ONE OF THOSE GUNS HAD TO BE THE
MURDER WEAPON?
>> I FELT LIKE OUR CHANCES WERE
PRETTY GOOD, BECAUSE THERE WERE
JUST SO MANY IN THERE.
>> Reporter: THE GUNS AND AMMO
WERE SENT OFF TO THE LAB FOR
TESTING.
INSIDE THIS TREASURE TROVE OF
BAD INTENTIONS, THERE WERE ALSO
PICKLE JARS FILLED WITH LIQUID,
LATER IDENTIFIED AS HOMEMADE
NAPALM
>> UNBELIEVABLE.
IT WAS LIKE A TACTICAL
OPERATOR'S CLOSET.
>> Reporter: BUT THEY'D SOON BE
DEALT A SERIOUS BLOW
THE LAB RESULTS CAME BACK ON ALL
THOSE WEAPONS --
NONE OF THE FORENSICS MATCHED.
THE MURDER WEAPONS WERE STILL
MISSING.
THAT'S GOTTA BE EXTREMELY
FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE,
"WELL, ONE OF THESE GUNS I'M
SURE HAS GOT TO BE THE MURDER
WEAPON."
>> OH YEAH, DEFLATING.
WE WERE POSITIVE ONE OF THOSE
WAS GONNA BE THE MURDER WEAPON
>> Reporter: EVEN WITHOUT THE
GUNS, THE PROSECUTOR BELIEVED
THERE WAS ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO
FINALLY GO FORWARD
ON APRIL 18, 2013 -- 11 WEEKS
AFTER MARK HASSE WAS GUNNED DOWN
AND THREE WEEKS SINCE THE
McLELLANDS WERE KILLED --
ERIC WILLIAMS WAS CHARGED WITH
THREE COUNTS OF CAPITAL MURDER
PROSECUTORS SAID THE MOTIVE WAS
REVENGE.
>> ONE THING I FOUND OUT ABOUT
ERIC WILLIAMS, THE FIRST BIG
THING THAT WENT WRONG IN HIS
LIFE, THIS IS HOW HE WAS GONNA
REACT WITH RAGE AND HOMICIDAL
VIOLENCE
>> Reporter: IT ALL SEEMED SO
SENSELESS TO THE McLELLANDS'
DAUGHTER, CHRISTINA.
THIS ALL STARTED OVER THREE
COMPUTER MONITORS.
AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THREE MURDERS.
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, NORMAL PEOPLE
DON'T DO THAT.
>> GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES
AND THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS
>> Reporter: ERIC WILLIAMS WENT
ON TRIAL FOR MURDER IN DECEMBER
OF 2014.
>> STATE OF TEXAS VS.
ERIC WILLIAMS.
>> Reporter: WILLIAMS WASN'T ON
TRIAL FOR THE MURDER OF
MARK HASSE OR MIKE McLELLAND
>> NOT GUILTY, YOUR HONOR.
>> Reporter: IN A SURPRISE
TACTIC, THIS TRIAL WAS ONLY FOR
THE MURDER OF CYNTHIA McLELLAND.
WHY NOT JUST TRY THE MURDERS AT
THE SAME TIME?
>> WHAT IF SOMETHING WENT WRONG
IN THE FIRST TRIAL
WE WANTED TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO
BE ABLE TO TRY HIM TWICE AND
MAKE SURE HE GOT JUSTICE
>> Reporter: CHRISTINA SAT IN
COURT AND HAD TO RELIVE THE
DEATHS OF HER PARENTS.
WHAT GAVE YOU THE STRENGTH TO GO
TO COURT EVERY DAY
>> I SHOWED UP EVERY DAY FOR THE
THREE PEOPLE WHO GAVE THEIR
LIVES FOR SOMETHING GOOD
THEY STOOD UP, AND THEY DID WHAT
THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO.
AND THEY -- THEY DIED FOR IT
>> THIS IS MY CHANCE TO TELL YOU
STORY OF THE MURDERS OF MIKE AND
CYNTHIA McLELLAND.
>> Reporter: PROSECUTOR
BILL WIRSKYE THOUGHT IF HE COULD
PROVE ERIC WILLIAMS HAD KILLED
CYNTHIA, THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY
SHOW HE KILLED MIKE.
>> TAKE A SEAT AT THE WITNESS
STAND.
>> Reporter: ONE OF THE FIRST
WITNESSES CALLED -
C.J. TOMLINSON, DALLAS POLICE
OFFICER AND FRIEND OF THE
McLELLANDS
C.J. TOLD THE JURY HOW HE AND
HIS PARENTS FOUND THE
McLELLANDS
>> I TOOK A COUPLE MORE STEPS
INSIDE THE RESIDENCE, I WAS
HOLLERIN' FOR MIKE -- "MIKE!
MIKE!"
>> Reporter: FOR THREE DAYS,
PROSECUTORS BROUGHT A BLIZZARD
OF WITNESSES
THEY TOLD THE JURY WILLIAMS HAD
BEEN LINKED TO THAT TIP THAT
CAME IN AFTER THE McLELLAND
MURDERS.
>> HE SENT AN EMAIL INTO LAW
ENFORCEMENT CLAIMING CREDIT FOR
THE MURDERS, THINKING LAW
ENFORCEMENT WOULD NEVER FIGURE
IT OUT
BUT HE WAS WRONG
>> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS
DIDN'T HAVE THE MURDER WEAPON,
BUT THEY HAD SOMETHING ELSE -- A
BULLET THEY FOUND INSIDE A BAG
TAKEN FROM WILLIAMS' STORAGE
UNIT
>> YOU KNOW THIS IS WHAT YOU AND
YOUR TEAM RECOVERED?
>> YES
>> Reporter: A BALLISTICS
EXAMINER COMPARED THAT SINGLE
UNFIRED BULLET TO THE SHELL
CASINGS FOUND AT THE MURDER
SCENE AND CAME UP WITH A MATCH
>> THAT LIVE ROUND WAS EJECTED
FROM THE SAME WEAPON THAT KILLED
THE McLELLANDS
SO, THAT WAS A BIG MOMENT FOR
US
>> Reporter: AND PROSECUTORS
THOUGHT THIS SECURITY VIDEO
OUTSIDE THE STORAGE UNIT NAILED
THE CASE DOWN.
THEY SAID IT TRACED THE
MOVEMENTS OF ERIC WILLIAMS AND
THE CROWN VIC ON THE MORNING OF
THE MURDERS.
>> APPROXIMATELY 6:00 A.M. REAL
TIME
>> Reporter: THAT'S WHEN
WILLIAMS -- IN HIS BLACK SUV --
PULLED UP TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE
STORAGE UNIT, ACCORDING TO THE
PROSECUTION.
AT 6:12 A.M. THE WHITE CROWN
VICTORIA PULLED OUT.
BY 6:42, INVESTIGATORS KNEW THE
McLELLANDS WERE DEAD OR DYING ON
THE FLOOR BASED ON THE MOTION
DETECTORS IN THE HOME SECURITY
SYSTEM
AT 7:00, HERE'S THAT WHITE CROWN
VIC COMING BACK THROUGH THE
ENTRANCE.
AND 17 MINUTES LATER, THAT BLACK
SUV PULLED OUT
>> HE COMMITTED THIS CRIME, HIS
ACTS, ALONE, AND HIS ACTS ALONE
CONDEMN HIM TO BE FOUND GUILTY
OF CAPITAL MURDER.
>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTORS
SAID THEY HAD A LOT OF
CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE,
INCLUDING THE CROWN VIC AND THAT
MATCHING BULLET.
BUT THE DEFENSE WAS ABOUT TO
TELL THE JURY WHAT THE
PROSECUTION DIDN'T HAVE.
>> ERIC WILLIAMS DID NOT COMMIT
THESE MURDERS.
>> Reporter: DEFENSE LAWYER
MATTHEW SEYMOUR LAID INTO ONE OF
THE STATE'S STAR WITNESSES --
THAT BALLISTICS EXPERT
HE REMINDED THE JURY
INVESTIGATORS NEVER FOUND THE
MURDER WEAPON.
>> YOU DIDN'T ACTUALLY HAVE
ACCESS TO THAT FIREARM
>> CORRECT
>> Reporter: HE TRIED TO POKE
HOLES IN THE PROSECUTION'S
"MATCHING BULLET" THEORY
>> SOMEONE OF DIFFERENT
EXPERIENCE COULD COME ALONG AND
SAY THEY'RE NOT A MATCH.
IS THAT TRUE
>> YES, POTENTIALLY THAT IS
TRUE
>> Reporter: THE DEFENSE DIDN'T
SEE THE NEED TO CALL ANY
WITNESSES.
>> OUR POSITION WAS THE STATE
HAD NOT FULFILLED THEIR
OBLIGATION TO PROVE THE ELEMENTS
OF THE INDICTMENT.
IT WAS JUST THAT SIMPLE.
THERE IS NO KNOWN MURDER WEAPON
IN THIS CASE
THERE'S NO ONE WHO CAN PLACE
ERIC WILLIAMS IN THAT SCENE AT
THE McLELLAND HOME
NO ONE
>> Reporter: FINALLY, THIS CASE
THAT HAD ROCKED THE JUSTICE
SYSTEM WAS ABOUT TO BE DECIDED
BY THE JURORS.
THEY NEEDED ONLY 90 MINUTES TO
REACH A VERDICT.
>> WE, THE JURY, UNANIMOUSLY
FIND THE DEFENDANT,
ERIC LYLE WILLIAMS, GUILTY OF
CAPITAL MURDER AS CHARGED IN THE
INDICTMENT
>> Reporter: GUILTY OF CAPITAL
MURDER IN THE DEATH OF
CYNTHIA McLELLAND.
YOU HEARD THE WORD, "GUILTY.
>> THAT WAS A GIFT
IT WAS A GIFT FOR US
IT'S PROBABLY A GIFT FOR
EVERYBODY ELSE
BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT
THIS WOULD'VE STOPPED AT THE END
OF THESE KILLINGS.
>> Reporter: THERE'S A SAD
POSTSCRIPT TO THIS CASE THAT
RAISES A PAINFUL QUESTION --
COULD WILLIAMS HAVE BEEN STOPPED
AFTER THE HASSE MURDER, AND
BEFORE THE McLELLANDS?
DID THEY HAVE TO DIE
IN A HAUNTING IRONY,
MIKE McLELLAND ALWAYS THOUGHT
WILLIAMS WAS LIKELY THE KILLER
>> HE CERTAINLY SUSPECTED IT WAS
ERIC WILLIAMS AFTER MARK HASSE
WAS SHOT, AND HE MADE NO SECRET
OF WHAT HIS OPINION WAS.
AND I HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS
WHERE HE SAID, "BILL, IT'S
ERIC WILLIAMS.
>> Reporter: WILLIAMS WAS ONE OF
A HANDFUL OF POSSIBLE SUSPECTS,
EARLY ON IN THE HASSE CASE, BUT
THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE LINKING
HIM TO THE MURDER.
AND EVEN WITH HIS CONVICTION FOR
THEFT, HE'D HAD A GOOD
REPUTATION
>> WE HAD SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS
ABOUT IT
OF COURSE ERIC'S NAME CAME UP IN
THE DISCUSSIONS.
BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU
THINK, IF YOU CAN'T PROVE IT
>> Reporter: AND NOW, THIS
FORMER JUSTICE OF THE PEACE WAS
A CONVICTED MURDERER
HOW?
WHY?
WAS HE LIVING A DOUBLE LIFE?
>> I THINK HE WAS.
MOST PEOPLE WERE FOOLED BY HIS
EXTERIOR
HE LOOKED SO NORMAL.
HE LOOKED SO AVERAGE
HE HAD THE TRAPPINGS OF SUCCESS,
BEING A LAWYER AND A JUDGE
BUT BEHIND THAT MASK WAS A
HOMICIDAL PSYCHOPATH
>> Reporter: BUT THIS CASE WAS
FAR FROM OVER.
PROSECUTORS HAD WON, BUT THEY
WERE SAVING THEIR BEST WITNESS
FOR LAST
INVESTIGATORS ALWAYS SUSPECTED
ERIC WILLIAMS DID NOT ACT ALONE.
AND HE DIDN'T.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO HEAR FROM HIS
ACCOMPLICE -- SOMEONE WITH A
FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT OF THE
MURDERS.
>>> WE, THE JURY, UNANIMOUSLY FIND THE DEFENDANT,
ERIC LYLE WILLIAMS, GUILTY OF
CAPITAL MURDER
>> Reporter: THEY'D WON A GUILTY
VERDICT AGAINST ERIC WILLIAMS,
BUT PROSECUTORS DIDN'T HAVE TIME
TO CELEBRATE
THE JURY WOULD NOW DECIDE
WHETHER HE SHOULD GET THE DEATH
PENALTY.
IN A RARE LEGAL MOVE,
PROSECUTORS HAD SAVED SOME
BLOCKBUSTER EVIDENCE AND A STAR
WITNESS FOR JUST THIS MOMENT
AS INVESTIGATORS FIGURED ALL
ALONG, WILLIAMS HADN'T ACTED
ALONE.
HE HAD AN ACCOMPLICE
IT WAS THIS WOMAN, HIS WIFE KIM.
THEY'D BEEN MARRIED FOR
15 YEARS, BUT NOW SHE WAS ABOUT
TO TESTIFY AGAINST HER HUSBAND
>> IT WAS A COLD DAY, AND THERE
WAS EXCITEMENT IN THE AIR.
>> Reporter: SOON AFTER ERIC WAS
ARRESTED, KIM WILLIAMS WAS
BROUGHT IN FOR FOR QUESTIONING
INVESTIGATORS SPENT HOURS
TALKING TO HER
AT FIRST SHE DEFENDED ERIC, BUT
FINALLY SHE BROKE.
AND WHAT SHE TOLD THEM WAS
STARTLING.
SHE SAID NOT ONLY DID SHE KNOW
SOMETHING ABOUT THE MURDERS, SHE
HELPED HER HUSBAND CARRY THEM
OUT.
NOW, DURING THE PENALTY PHASE,
PROSECUTORS PLANNED TO USE HER
TESTIMONY TO MAKE SURE THE JURY
WOULD GIVE HIM A DEATH SENTENCE.
>> SHE LED US TO A LOT OF
EVIDENCE
AND I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR
THE JURY TO SEE AND HAVE ALL
THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
>> HE CAME UP WITH THE PLAN TO
DRESS LIKE LAW ENFORCEMENT
>> Reporter: THEY WERE A HUSBAND
AND WIFE MURDER TEAM
AND THEY WENT THROUGH A DRESS
REHEARSAL THE NIGHT BEFORE THE
McLELLAND MURDERS.
>> HE WAS MODELING IT FOR ME
>> DESCRIBE TO THE MEMBERS OF
THE JURY WHAT HE WAS MODELING
FOR YOU THE NIGHT BEFORE
>> I WANT TO SAY HE LOOKED LIKE
HE WAS IN THE ARMY OR S.W.A.T.
HE HAD A BULLETPROOF VEST WITH
"SHERIFF" ON THE FRONT
THAT MORE THAN LIKELY
MRS. McLELLAND WAS GOING TO
ANSWER THE DOOR, AND HE WAS
GOING TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF AS A
POLICEMAN.
>> Reporter: BUT IF THESE HAD
BEEN REVENGE KILLINGS OF
MIKE McLELLAND AND MARK HASSE,
WHY DID CYNTHIA McLELLAND HAVE
TO DIE
>> BECAUSE SHE WOULD BE THERE AS
A WITNESS, AND HE DESCRIBED IT
AS COLLATERAL DAMAGE
>> Reporter: AND PROSECUTORS
WANTED THE JURY TO KNOW HOW ERIC
AND KIM WILLIAMS SPENT THE DAY
AFTER KILLING TWO PEOPLE IN COLD
BLOOD.
>> WE HAD STEAKS ON THE GRILL,
AND ERIC COOKED THOSE.
>> AT YOUR PARENTS' HOUSE?
>> AT MY PARENTS' HOUSE.
>> WERE Y'ALL CELEBRATING WITH
STEAKS
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTORS
DIDN'T TELL JURORS ABOUT THE
HASSE CASE DURING THE
CYNTHIA McLELLAND TRIAL.
BUT NOW THEY WERE READY TO USE
MARK'S MURDER TO CEMENT THEIR
ARGUMENT FOR THE DEATH PENALTY
>> WE HAD AN AIRTIGHT
CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE CASE ON
THE HASSE MURDER
>> Reporter: WITNESSES TO THE
MURDER, YOU REMEMBER, SAID THE
SHOOTER JUMPED INTO THE
PASSENGER SIDE OF THE GETAWAY
CAR.
AS IT TURNS OUT, KIM WAS THE
GETAWAY DRIVER
>> AS YOU'RE DRIVING AWAY FROM
THE SCENE OF THE HASSE MURDER,
WHAT IS HIS MOOD LIKE?
>> HAPPY
>> WHAT IS YOUR MOOD LIKE?
>> HAPPY
I SO BELIEVED IN ERIC AND
EVERYTHING HE TOLD ME.
HIS ANGER WAS MY ANGER
>> WHO WAS HE MAD AT
>> HE WAS MAD AT MARK HASSE.
HE WAS MAD AT MR. McLELLAND.
HE WAS ANGRY BECAUSE HE THOUGHT
THEY WERE TRYING TO SET HIM UP
>> Reporter: WHAT DID THAT TELL
YOU ABOUT THIS INCREDIBLY
BIZARRE RELATIONSHIP, THAT THESE
TWO WERE IN CAHOOTS WITH EACH
OTHER?
>> I THINK IT PROVED BEYOND ANY
DOUBT THAT ERIC WILLIAMS WAS A
PSYCHOPATH AND THIS WAS A
HORRIBLY TOXIC, SCREWED UP
MARRIAGE
I THINK LETS YOU KNOW WHAT TYPE
OF DARKNESS WAS GOING ON INSIDE
THAT HOUSE, YOU KNOW, INSIDE
THEIR HEARTS
>> Reporter: KIM WILLIAMS ALSO
SAID SHE ALSO HELPED HER HUSBAND
DISPOSE OF KEY EVIDENCE IN THE
CASE
SHE RECALLED DRIVING TO THIS
BRIDGE ONE NIGHT AND WATCHING
ERIC TOSS A BLACK BAG INTO THE
LAKE
>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT WAS IN THE
BAG?
>> I KNEW THAT IT WAS GUNS
>> Reporter: IT TOOK SEVEN
MONTHS OF SEARCHING THE LAKE
BEFORE DIVERS FOUND THE BAG.
FBI AGENT LAURIE GIBBS WAS
THERE.
>> OPEN THIS UP, AND THERE ARE
TWO GUNS
THIS IS IT
>> Reporter: INSIDE THE BAG WERE
TWO REVOLVERS.
FORENSICS WOULD SHOW ONE OF
THOSE GUNS KILLED MARK HASSE
AND ONE MORE THING
THAT BAG THOSE GUNS WERE IN --
IT WASN'T A BAG AT ALL
IT WAS REALLY A TERRIFYING
HALLOWEEN MASK
>> GRIM REAPER TYPE HALLOWEEN
MASK
>> EXACTLY
>> Reporter: KIM WILLIAMS SAID
HER HUSBAND WORE IT TO CONCEAL
HIMSELF WHEN HE SHOT MARK.
>> AND YOU CAN IMAGINE THE
TERROR THAT WAS GOING THROUGH
MARK HASSE WHEN HE RECOGNIZED
AND HEARD THE VOICE.
>> Reporter: SHE ALSO TOLD
JURORS THAT ERIC HAD A HIT LIST
WITH MORE INTENDED VICTIMS
INCLUDING A JUDGE WHOM ERIC
WANTED TO KILL IN A SPECIAL WAY,
WITH A SPECIAL WEAPON.
>> WITH A CROSSBOW
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> Reporter: KIM WILLIAMS SAID
HE ALSO BREWED UP A CONCOCTION
JUST FOR THE JUDGE
YOU MAY REMEMBER THERE WAS
HOMEMADE NAPALM IN PICKLE JARS
INSIDE THE STORAGE UNIT.
>> WHAT WAS THE NAPALM FOR
>> I GUESS TO DRIVE IN AN EXTRA
KIND OF, "EFF YOU.
HE IS GONNA BORE A HOLE IN HIS
STOMACH AND POUR IT IN
>> Reporter: IT'S ONE THING TO
SAY, "WELL, ERIC WILLIAMS DID
THIS."
FINE
BUT THAT HIS WIFE WAS ALONG FOR
THE RIDE
>> YOU JUST CAN'T MAKE THIS
STUFF UP
YOU WOULD THINK THIS WAS A
HOLLYWOOD MOVIE, BUT THESE
PEOPLE ARE LIVING EVERY DAY
TOGETHER AND TALKING ABOUT
MURDERING PEOPLE
>> Reporter: THE DEFENSE
COUNTERED BY CALLING DOZENS OF
CHARACTER WITNESSES, FROM
WILLIAMS' SCOUT MASTER -
>> VERY SMART YOUNG MAN.
>> Reporter: -- TO HIS HIGH
SCHOOL FRIENDS
>> HE WAS VERY RESPECTFUL.
>> NEVER SAID A MEAN WORD, NEVER
FRUSTRATED, NEVER EXPRESSED
ANGER.
>> Reporter: AND FORMER
COLLEAGUES
>> VERY FRIENDLY
I MEAN, APPROACHABLE
GOT ALONG WITH ALL OF US
>> Reporter: BUT THE JURORS
WEREN'T SWAYED
>> IT IS ORDERED BY THIS COURT
TO CARRY OUT THE SENTENCE OF
DEATH.
>> Reporter: HE WAS SENTENCED TO
DIE BY LETHAL INJECTION.
HE'S APPEALING HIS CONVICTION.
GIVEN THE DEATH PENALTY
DECISION, PROSECUTORS DECIDED
NOT TO TRY HIM FOR THE MURDERS
OF MARK HASSE OR MIKE McLELLAND.
WILLIAMS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO
BOTH
>> MY NAME IS CHRISTINA FOREMAN.
>> Reporter: NOW CHRISTINA, IN
HER VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT,
WOULD FINALLY GET HER CHANCE TO
VENT HER FEELINGS AS SHE TURNED
TO HER PARENTS' KILLER
>> PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY THING I
HAVE TO SAY IS -- YOU, ERIC
WILLIAMS
THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY
THING I COULD THINK OF TO SAY TO
HIM.
>> Reporter: MARK HASSE'S
LONGTIME FRIEND, MARCUS BUSCH,
BELIEVES WILLIAMS COULD STILL BE
DANGEROUS, EVEN ON DEATH ROW
>> ERIC WILLIAMS IS A MASTER
MANIPULATOR.
HE IS A VERY INTELLIGENT HUMAN
BEING AND HE'S A VERY DEADLY,
PROFICIENT KILLER.
I THINK HE'S GONNA BE A THREAT
TO THE PRISON GUARDS, AND I
THINK HE'S GONNA BE A THREAT TO
ANYBODY ELSE IN PRISON
>> Reporter: YOU'RE MAKING HIM
SOUND LIKE HANNIBAL LECTER
>> THIS IS A MAN WHO KILLED
THREE PEOPLE IN COLD BLOOD
SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY PROSECUTED
HIM FOR STEALING COMPUTER
MONITORS
>> Reporter: KIM WILLIAMS
PLEADED GUILTY TO THE MURDER OF
MARK HASSE
SHE WAS SENTENCED TO 40 YEARS IN
PRISON, AVOIDING THE DEATH
PENALTY.
BUT NOW KIM IS TELLING A WHOLE
NEW STORY.
DID HE THREATEN YOU?
>> YES, HE DID
>> Reporter: WHAT DID HE SAY
>> HE SAID THAT IF I DID
ANYTHING OR TRIED TO MOVE AWAY
OR SAY ANYTHING TO ANYBODY, HE
WOULD KILL ME AND HE WOULD KILL
MY FAM
>>> EIGHT YEARS INTO
KIM WILLIAMS' 40-YEAR SENTENCE,
WE TRAVELED TO TEXAS AND MET
WITH HER IN PRISON FOR HER FIRST
EVER TV INTERVIEW.
WHY?
WHY SIT DOWN NOW
>> BECAUSE I THINK IT'S PROBABLY
TIME TO GO AHEAD AND TELL MY
SIDE OF THE STORY.
>> Reporter: KIM IS NOW DIVORCED
FROM ERIC.
AND THOUGH SHE CONFESSED AND
TESTIFIED ABOUT HER INVOLVEMENT
IN THE MURDERS, SHE NOW SAYS SHE
WAS FORCED TO PARTICIPATE OUT OF
FEAR
SHE BLAMES HEALTH ISSUES FOR HER
DEPENDENCE ON ERIC
>> I WAS BROKEN.
I HAD NO CONFIDENCE.
I -- I FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO
STAY WITH HIM TO TAKE CARE OF
ME
AND A LOT OF THAT WAS HIS MIND
MANIPULATION
"YOU'RE SICK
YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE ON
THIS MEDICATION.
YOU NEED ME.
>> Reporter: KIM SAYS SHE WAS ON
STRONG NARCOTICS TO HELP WITH AN
AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE AND IT
AFFECTED HER JUDGMENT.
WHAT HAS THAT DONE FOR YOU BEING
OFF OF ALL THOSE DRUGS
>> IT'S MADE ME MORE CLEAR
HEADED
MY MIND WAS VERY CLOUDY BACK
THEN, AND I COULDN'T THINK
STRAIGHT
AND I WAS PRETTY MUCH A ZOMBIE
>> Reporter: SOME PEOPLE FELT
THAT YOUR TESTIMONY, EVEN AFTER
THE DRUGS HAD WORN OFF, THAT
YOUR TESTIMONY WAS COLD, THAT
YOU SHOWED LITTLE REMORSE FOR
WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
>> THE PROSECUTION, THE
ATTORNEYS TOLD ME NOT TO CRY,
BUT I DID CRY.
I DID CRY.
>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTORS
TOLD US THEY SAID NO SUCH THING,
AND KIM WAS NOT SEEN CRYING ON
THE WITNESS STAND.
WHEN ERIC FIRST STARTED TALKING
ABOUT KILLING MARK HASSE AND
MIKE McLELLAND, DID YOU THINK HE
WAS SERIOUS?
>> NO, I DIDN'T.
TO ME, IT WAS JUST TALKING,
BLOWING OFF STEAM.
YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T TAKE IT
SERIOUSLY.
WHY WOULD I?
>> Reporter: SO WHEN DID IT
START TO GO FROM "OKAY, HE'S
JUST BLOWING OFF STEAM," TO
"THIS IS REAL"
>> WHEN HE STARTED PURCHASING
CARS
WHEN HE STARTED PULLING OUT
WEAPONS.
>> Reporter: DID YOU NOT FEEL
LIKE MAYBE YOU SHOULD GO TALK TO
SOMEONE AND SAY, "I'M REALLY
SCARED HERE, THAT MY
HUSBAND'S --
>> I WAS REALLY SCARED AND I
WANTED TO TALK TO SOMEONE, BUT I
WAS AFRAID AND HE WAS FOLLOWING
ME EVERYWHERE.
EVERY TIME I WOULD LEAVE THE
HOUSE, HE WOULD FOLLOW ME OR GO
WITH ME.
>> Reporter: DID HE THREATEN
YOU?
>> YES, HE DID
>> Reporter: WHAT DID HE SAY
>> HE SAID THAT IF I DID
ANYTHING, OR TRIED TO MOVE AWAY,
OR SAY ANYTHING TO ANYBODY, HE
WOULD KILL ME AND HE WOULD KILL
MY FAMILY.
>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO
PROSECUTORS, KIM NEVER TOLD LAW
ENFORCEMENT THAT SHE
PARTICIPATED OUT OF FEAR
AND WHAT ABOUT ALL OF THOSE
DAMNING THINGS KIM SAID ON THE
STAND UNDER OATH
LIKE WHAT SHE AND ERIC DID
FOLLOWING THE McLELLAND MURDERS.
>> WERE Y'ALL CELEBRATING WITH
STEAKS
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
THAT WAS SOMETHING TAKEN OUT OF
CONTEXT.
MY FAMILY AND I HAD -- WE ALWAYS
GRILL STEAKS ON EASTER WEEKEND
THAT WAS PLANNED WEEKS AHEAD
BEFORE THIS.
>> Reporter: SO YOU'RE SAYING
THE STEAKS WERE NOT PART OF A
CELEBRATION OF THE MURDERS
>> NO, THEY WERE NOT
>> Reporter: HOW COULD YOU EVEN
CELEBRATE EASTER AFTER -
>> I DIDN'T EAT THAT WEEKEND
I WAS SO SICK.
BUT HE DID, AND MY FAMILY HAD
YOU KNOW, THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT
WAS GOING ON
>> Reporter: YOU SAID YOU WERE A
WILLING PARTICIPANT IN THESE
MURDERS.
YOU HELPED SCOUT OUT THE MURDER
LOCATIONS.
YOU RODE IN THE GETAWAY CAR.
>> YEAH, I WENT WITH HIM BECAUSE
I WAS AFRAID THAT IF I DIDN'T,
HE WOULD HURT ME OR MY FAMILY.
>> Reporter: BUT AT THE SAME
TIME, YOU SAID YOU WERE BOTH
EXCITED, HAPPY AFTER THESE
MURDERS TOOK PLACE
>> WELL, I WASN'T, BUT HE WAS.
>> Reporter: BUT YOU SAID
THAT -- YOU TESTIFIED TO THAT --
>> I KNOW.
I KNOW WHAT I SAID
AND THAT WAS A MISTAKE
AND THAT'S NOT TRUE BECAUSE I
LIVE WITH IT EVERY DAY
>> Reporter: WOULD YOU SAY,
THOUGH, NOW MAYBE THAT THIS IS
SORT OF REVISIONIST HISTORY,
THAT YOU'RE NOW -- THAT YOUR
HEAD IS CLEAR AND YOU'RE YOU'RE
SORT OF CHANGING WHAT HAPPENED
BACK THEN?
>> NO, I'M NOT CHANGING
ANYTHING
I'M NOT CHANGING ANYTHING.
BACK THEN, THE ADRENALINE AND
THE EXCITEMENT WAS MORE HIM AND
IT WASN'T ME, BUT I WAS AFRAID
>> Reporter: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO
ANYONE WHO SAYS "SHE IS EVIL"?
"SHE PARTICIPATED IN THIS.
SHE COULD HAVE TOLD SOMEONE.
SHE COULD HAVE SAVED THESE
PEOPLE'S LIVES."
>> WHAT CAN YOU SAY?
I CAN'T CHANGE PEOPLE'S OPINIONS
LIKE THAT.
I'M NOT A FIGHTER.
AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE GOING
TO SEE ME THAT WAY BECAUSE I WAS
WITH HIM
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO
CHANGE
>> Reporter: WE WANTED TO ASK
ERIC ABOUT HIS EX-WIFE'S CLAIMS,
BUT HE DENIED OUR REQUEST FOR AN
INTERVIEW.
IN 2019 HE TALKED TO NBC'S
STEPHANIE GOSK FOR THE OXYGEN
SERIES "KILLER MOTIVE.
AND AT THAT TIME, HE MAINTAINED
HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE
THREE MURDERS AND SEEMED TO
SUGGEST KIM WAS THE KILLER
>> LETS TALK ABOUT THE HIT LIST,
ALL RIGHT?
YOU KNOW WHO HAD A HIT LIST?
>> WHO
>> KIM
SHE TESTIFIED ABOUT IT
I NEVER HAD ONE.
>> SO HOW WOULD SHE BE IN A
POSITION TO BE AWARE OF, FOR
INSTANCE, WHERE THE MURDER
WEAPON WAS AND WHERE THAT MASK
WAS?
>> I HAVE NO IDEA.
THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'LL HAVE TO
ASK HER.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE TELLING
ME, ERIC, THAT YOUR WIFE, NOW
EX-WIFE, MURDERED MARK HASSE AND
MIKE AND CYNTHIA McLELLAND
>> I WASN'T THERE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT.
>> BUT YOU SUSPECT THAT THAT'S
THE CASE
>> I KNOW SHE HAD A LOT MORE TO
DO WITH I
>> Reporter: KIM ACKNOWLEDGES
SHE HAD WHAT SHE CALLED "KIM'S
KICKASS LIST," BUT SAYS IT
WASN'T A HIT LIST.
SHE SAYS IT WAS A LIST OF NAMES
FROM AN ONLINE FACEBOOK GAME
AS FOR THE OTHER CLAIMS ERIC
MADE IN HIS INTERVIEW --
I MEAN, GIVEN THE EVIDENCE THAT
WE HAVE, IT DOES SEEM PRETTY
FARFETCHED.
BUT IT'S HIS STORY
HIS STORY IS THAT YOU DID THIS
>> YEAH, WELL, HE'S DELUSIONAL,
BECAUSE I DIDN'T WORK WITH THESE
PEOPLE
I DIDN'T HAVE THE FEUD WITH
THEM
I'M NOT A SHOOTER.
I'M NOT EVEN A GOOD SHOT
HE'S TRYING TO GET OFF OF DEATH
ROW.
YOU KNOW, SO HE'S GOING TO SAY
ANYTHING
HE JUST NEEDS TO TAKE THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF WHAT HE DID.
>> Reporter: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY
TO THE HASSE AND McLELLAND
FAMILIES
>> I'M SO SORRY THAT I DIDN'T
FIGHT IT
I AM SO SORRY THAT I DIDN'T
FIGHT HIM TO STOP HIM.
I AM SO SORRY.
>> Reporter: CYNTHIA McLELLAND'S
DAUGHTER CHRISTINA HAS LITTLE
SYMPATHY FOR KIM
>> SHE DIDN'T PULL THE TRIGGER
BUT IF YOU HELP YOUR HUSBAND
PICK OUT OUTFITS TO WEAR TO
MURDER PEOPLE, AND TO DRIVE THE
CARS, THAT'S -- THAT'S PRETTY
EGREGIOUS IN ITSELF, THE FACT
THAT YOU ARE BEING COMPLICIT IN
THIS KIND OF ROLE.
>> I'LL NEVER FORGET MIKE AND
CYNTHIA, OR MARK
>> Reporter: WILL YOU EVER BE
OVER THIS?
>> NO.
I'M NOT OVER IT.
I NEVER -- I KNOW I NEVER WILL
BE
I DON'T THINK ANY OF US WILL BE,
EVER
>> Reporter: BUT, AS TRAGIC AS
THIS ALL WAS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
SOMETHING GOOD CAME OUT OF IT.
DURING THE LONG ORDEAL,
CHRISTINA AND THAT OFFICER FROM
DALLAS, C.J. TOMLINSON, FELL IN
LOVE
THEIR FAMILIES HAD BEEN GREAT
FRIENDS FOR A LONG TIME.
CYNTHIA McLELLAND HAD ALWAYS
TRIED TO PLAY MATCHMAKER
>> CYNTHIA PRETTY MUCH TOLD ME
THAT THAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN
AND SHE WAS RIGHT.
SHE GOT ME
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> Reporter: I CAN ONLY IMAGINE
HOW HAPPY YOUR MOM WOULD BE --
>> OH, GOD
>> Reporter: -- IF SHE'S LOOKING
DOWN, THAT YOU TWO ARE TOGETHER.
>> I CAN'T -- I CAN'T EVEN
IMAGINE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
SHE WOULD BE JUST DOI
SORT OF WEIRD DANCE THAT, "I
TOLD YOU SO.
AND YOU KNOW, I -- I'M SURE
SHE'S THRILLED
WE GOT MARRIED ON HER BIRTHDAY,
SO THAT WOULD HAVE MADE HER
ECSTATIC
>> Reporter: CHRISTINA AND C.J.
ARE NOW PARENTS TO TWO DAUGHTERS
WHO SADLY WILL NEVER GET A
CHANCE TO MEET THEIR
GRANDPARENTS
BUT THE LOVING MEMORIES OF
CYNTHIA AND MIKE McLELLAND ARE
STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE IN THEIR
FAMILY
>> I HOPE TO PASS ON WHAT I HAVE
TAKEN FROM THEM TO MY CHILDREN
>>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION
OF "DATELINE."
I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN ME AND MY
COLLEAGUES SAVANNAH GUTHRIE AND
HODA KOTB AS WE SHINE A LIGHT ON
SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO INSPIRE
US MOST ON OUR "INSPIRING
AMERICA" SPECIAL, TOMORROW AT
8:00/7:00 CENTRAL.
I'M LESTER HOLT.
FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS,