MYSTERY.
COULD SOLVING ONE UNTANGLE THE OTHER?
>> THERE WERE QUESTIONS, REALLY STRANGE THINGS ABOUT HER
DISAPPEARANCE. SOMETHING JUST WASN'T RIGHT.
WE JUST HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED TO PAM.
NEW TWISTS AND TURNS IN A HEARTBREAKING STORY.
>> WHEN YOU WATCH THE VIDEO FRAME BY FRAME, YOU START TO SEE
LITTLE THINGS THAT DON'T MAKE SENSE.
>> A COUPLE OF TEXT MESSAGES CAME IN THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT
THE BROTHER DERRICK. >> IT'S AWKWARD TO HAVE TO ASK
SOMEBODY, "DID YOU KILL YOUR SISTER?"
>> SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE MET JOSE AND THAT THIS WAS PRETTY
SERIOUS. >> Reporter: ON A FIRST TAKE,
HOW DOES JOSE COME ACROSS? >> WORKS HARD, SERVED HIS
COUNTRY. >> YOU KNEW SOMETHING BAD HAD
HAPPENED I WANTED TO FIND PAM
>> WHEN THEY WERE ON THE SCENE, SOMEONE REMEMBERED THAT SIX
MILES SOUTH FROM THERE, THEY HAD FOUND SOME OTHER REMAINS
>> HIS FIRST WIFE, MARTA, WHO'S DISAPPEARED OFF THE FACE OF THE
EARTH. >> WE HAVE WIFE NUMBER ONE
MISSING, AND NOW WE HAVE PAM BUTLER MISSING
>> HE WAS NAMED AS A BENEFICIARY IN HER WILL.
IS THERE POSSIBLE MOTIVE THERE >> SOME PUZZLES TAKE LONGER THAN
OTHERS >> PAM'S CELLPHONE PINGED.
SO IS PAM ALIVE OR IS THIS THE DAY WE FIND HER BODY
>> HERE'S DENNIS MURPHY WITH "A HAUNTING STRETCH OF ROAD."
>> Reporter: THESE GRAINY NIGHT-TIME IMAGES ARE SOME OF
THE LAST KNOWN MOMENTS IN THE LIFE OF A SUCCESSFUL WOMAN
A PERSON WHO SIMPLY VANISHED WITHOUT A TRACE FROM HER HOME.
>> WHAT HAPPENED INSIDE THAT HOUSE?
>> Reporter: YOU MIGHT KNOW SOME OF HER STORY, BUT SOLVING WHAT
HAPPENED TO HER OPENED UP AN ENTIRELY NEW SAGA YOU DON'T KNOW
ABOUT ANOTHER MISSING WOMAN. >> IT'S A BIG PUZZLE
>> Reporter: IT TOOK DECADES TO UNSNARL THE STORIES OF THE TWO
WOMEN, WHO DIDN'T KNOW ONE ANOTHER BUT WHO BOTH ENDED YEARS
APART IN THE SAME PLACE. >> IT'S IDIOSYNCRATIC.
THAT'S A SIGNATURE >> Reporter: WITHOUT A FEW
INDIVIDUALS STRICKEN WITH A BAD CASE OF JUSTICE FEVER WE MIGHT
NEVER KNOW THEIR STORIES AT ALL. >> THEY FOUND OUT THAT I WASN'T
GOING TO GIVE UP >> Reporter: NOT THE TWISTS.
>> TWO WOMEN, TWO CHILDREN, NEITHER KNOWS ABOUT THE OTHER.
>> YES >> Reporter: THE SETBACKS --
>> THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS UNDETERMINED
>> Reporter: THE STARK FEAR OF IT ALL
>> HE SAYS, "OH, MY GOD. HE'S GONNA KILL HER AND HE'S
GONNA KILL ME. >> Reporter: THE FATES OF PAM
AND MARTA UNITED IN HORROR ON ONE OF THE BUSIEST STRETCHES OF
INTERSTATE IN THE COUNTRY. >> AND WHEN ALL THAT STUFF
STARTED COMING OUT, I WAS LIKE, "OH, MY GOD.
THIS GUY'S A MONSTER." >> Reporter: IN EARLY
FEBRUARY 2009, PAMELA BUTLER, A MANAGER FOR THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, WAS ON A CHEER-UP MISSION TO DOUSE THE WINTER
BLUES. THAT WAS TYPICAL PAM, SAYS HER
BROTHER, DERRICK >> SHE WAS ALWAYS THE ONE THAT
WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, "LET'S DO SOMETHING.
WE'RE GONNA DO THIS. PERSONALITY, WHO WOULD YOU BE
TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU THINK OF PAM?
JUST A LOVELY PERSON I MEAN, SOMEBODY THAT WOULD GO
OUT OF HER WAY TO HELP YOU >> Reporter: PAM TOLD BEST
FRIEND, RITA MOSS, SHE HAD PLANNED A BUSY WEEK OUT ON THE
TOWN WITH HER BOYFRIEND OF FIVE MONTHS, JOSE
>> PAM AND I WERE TEXTING EACH OTHER AS WE NORMALLY DO.
THE LAST TEXT SHE SENT IS THAT SHE AND JOSE WERE GOING TO THREE
OR FOUR DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS
>> Reporter: PAM WOULD WRAP UP HER BUSY SOCIAL WEEK WITH AN
EARLY SATURDAY EVENING DINNER AT BEN'S CHILI BOWL, A FIXTURE OF
DOWNTOWN DC. HER GUESTS, JOSE AND HER MOM,
THELMA BUT TWO DAYS BEFORE THEY WERE
DUE TO GO OUT, THELMA REALIZED SOMETHING A LITTLE AWKWARD
>> I SAID, "PAM, WE MADE A DATE TO GO OUT TO DINNER FOR
SATURDAY DO YOU ALL KNOW SATURDAY'S
VALENTINE'S DAY? >> YEAH.
>> SHE SAID, "MOMMY, THAT'S OKAY."
SHE SAY, "WE CAN STILL GO OUT. >> Reporter: THE PLAN WAS TO
MEET THAT VALENTINE'S DAY AT 3:00 P.M. AT THELMA'S HOME AND
DRIVE TO THE RESTAURANT. BUT WHEN 3:00 P.M. CAME THAT
SATURDAY, PAM WAS A NO-SHOW. CALLS TO HER PHONE WENT
UNANSWERED SO THELMA CALLED HER SON,
DERRICK, WHO DIDN'T SEE ANY NEED TO WORRY
>> NEW BOYFRIEND THEY WERE JUST OUT HAVIN' A GOOD
TIME >> Reporter: THE NEXT DAY,
SUNDAY NOW, THELMA TRIED AGAIN AND YET AGAIN ON MONDAY, WHICH
HAPPENED TO BE THE PRESIDENT'S DAY HOLIDAY.
>> SAY, "PAM'S STILL NOT ANSWERING HER PHONE.
SOMETHING AIN'T RIGHT. SHE WOULDN'T DISAPPOINT ME LIKE
THAT." >> Reporter: SO AFTER THE LONG
HOLIDAY WEEKEND, AND STILL NO SIGN OF PAM, HER MOM, THELMA,
AND HER NEPHEW, BRANDON, WHO'D RECENTLY MOVED OUT OF PAM'S
HOME, WENT TO PAM'S HOUSE TO SEE IF SHE WAS OKAY.
>> GO TO HER PLACE MAIL ALL PILED ON THE PORCH.
>> Reporter: VERY UNLIKE HER, HUH?
>> HER MAIL WOULD NOT BE PILED UP LIKE THAT
>> Reporter: INSIDE THE HOME, THERE WERE MORE NOT-LIKE-PAM
SIGNS. TROUBLING >> PAPERS AND THINGS THROWED ALL
OVER THE TABLE >> Reporter: EVERYTHING'S IN
DISARRAY, HUH? >> DISARRAY.
THIS IS NOT RIGHT, NOT RIGHT >> Reporter: THELMA CALLED PAM'S
WORKPLACE ONLY TO LEARN HER DAUGHTER HADN'T SHOWN UP THERE
EITHER ARE YOU GETTING NERVOUS AT THAT
POINT? >> YES
>> Reporter: THELMA CALLED DERRICK.
>> AND MY MOTHER SAYS, "DERRICK, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS HOUSE
SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT HERE." >> Reporter: HE DROVE TO PAM'S
HOME THAT WAS EQUIPPED WITH SECURITY CAMERAS AND AN ALARM
SYSTEM IT WAS AN OUT OF POSITION
WINDOW-BLIND THAT CAUGHT HIS MOM'S ATTENTION.
IT WAS THE KIND THAT COULD BE RAISED FROM THE BOTTOM OR
LOWERED FROM THE TOP >> AND SHE SAID, "THIS -- BLIND
IS LIFTED UP FROM THE BOTTOM?" SHE SAID, "PAM NEVER LIFTS IT UP
FROM THE BOTTOM. >> Reporter: PAM USUALLY LOWERED
THE BLIND FROM THE TOP, SO PEOPLE ON THE STREET COULDN'T
LOOK INTO HER HOME BECAUSE YOUR SISTER WAS VERY
SECURITY-CONSCIOUS, WASN'T SHE >> CORRECT
IT DIDN'T LOOK RIGHT >> Reporter: THEY CHECKED PAM'S
PHONE ANSWERING MACHINE. IT TURNED OUT JOSE HAD BEEN
CALLING PAM, TOO "HEY PAM, WHERE ARE YOU AT?",
HIS MESSAGE WENT AND ON THE DESK IN PAM'S OFFICE,
HE'D LEFT A NOTE FOR HER >> "PAM, WHERE ARE YOU
I'VE BEEN HERE LOOKING FOR YOU." >> Reporter: BUT PAM WAS GONE.
>> WE CALLED THE POLICE. >> Reporter: AND DERRICK SAYS HE
CALLED JOSE. >> I SAID, "JOSE, THIS IS
DERRICK. HAVE YOU HEARD FROM PAM?
AND HE SAYS, "I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM PAM."
HE SAID, "ME AND PAM BROKE UP. >> Reporter: BROKE UP?
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: DERRICK SAYS HE
WANTED TO KNOW MORE, SO HE BEGAN HIS OWN PERSONAL INVESTIGATION
>> I SAID, "GIVE ME YOUR ADDRESS, I'M COMING TO YOUR
HOUSE. I NEED TO TALK TO YOU.
>> Reporter: AND HE SAID >> HE SAID, "OKAY.
>> Reporter: HE SAYS THEY MET IN THE LOBBY OF JOSE'S APARTMENT
BUILDING IN NEARBY VIRGINIA. >> I SAID, "PAM'S MISSING.
CAN WE GO UP TO YOUR APARTMENT?" HE SAID, "YEAH."
I MEAN, VERY CORDIAL, NICE CONVERSATION
>> Reporter: JOSE, HE SAYS, EXPRESSED CONCERN AND
COMPASSION >> HE WAS TELLIN' ME HOW MUCH HE
CARED ABOUT PAM, HOW MUCH HE LOVED HER.
HE SAID, "WE BROKE UP ON FRIDAY AND I HAVEN'T SEEN OR HEARD FROM
HER SINCE. YOU KNOW, I WISH I COULD HELP
YOU, BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW." >> Reporter: THE REASON FOR THE
BREAKUP, ACCORDING TO JOSE, WAS JEALOUSY
>> HE SAID, "YOU KNOW HOW PAM IS."
AND HE SAID, "I WAS STAYING IN TOUCH WITH ONE OF MY
EX-GIRLFRIEND'S DAUGHTER SHE WAS YOUNG.
AND SHE JUST KINDA LOOKED AT ME LIKE A FATHER.
AND HE SAID I WAS STAYING IN TOUCH WITH HER AND PAM DIDN'T
LIKE IT. >> Reporter: BECAUSE HE WAS
CLOSE TO THIS GIRL FROM A PREVIOUS GIRLFRIEND?
>> RIGHT UH-HUH
SO HE SAID, YOU KNOW, "SO WE DECIDED TO BREAK UP.
AND HE SAID, "I THOUGHT WE WOULD STILL BE FRIENDS."
AND WE SAT THERE AND WE TALKED FOR WELL OVER TWO HOURS.
SO I SAID, "I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHAT
HAPPENED HOW SHE COULD JUST GET UP AND
JUST WALK AWAY." HE SAID, "I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT
EITHER." >> Reporter: THEN DERRICK SAYS
HE MADE AN AGGRESSIVE DEMAND >> I SAID, "JOSE."
I SAID, "I NEED YOU TO TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF.
I SAID, "I JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT I DON'T SEE ANY
SCRATCHES OR ANYTHING ON YOU." >> Reporter: THAT'S KIND OF A
POLICE QUESTION, HUH >> WELL, HE SAYS, "OKAY.
>> Reporter: HE'S GOOD WITH IT >> YEAH.
SO HE DID. HE TOOK HIS SHIRT OFF, TOOK HIS
PANTS OFF AND I LOOKED AT HIM AND I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING.
>> Reporter: THERE WERE NO FRESH SCRATCHES ON JOSE'S SKIN, BUT
DERRICK SAYS HE WASN'T DONE PLAYING COP.
>> I STOOD UP AND I JUST STARTED WALKING AROUND HIS APARTMENT,
LOOKING. MY SISTER'S MISSING.
"IS SHE IN HERE," YOU KNOW, "IN THE CLOSET SOMEWHERE?"
AND I OPENED UP HIS DRAWERS AND I'M LOOKING IN THERE
>> Reporter: AND HE DIDN'T OBJECT TO THAT, LIKE --
>> NO. I WAS TRYING TO GET A REACTION
OUT OF HIM AND COULDN'T GET IT >> Reporter: SO WHEN YOU LEFT
JOSE'S PLACE THAT DAY, WHAT DID YOU THINK OF HIM AND WHERE
THINGS STOOD >> THOUGHT HE WAS A PRETTY NICE
GUY. >> Reporter: DERRICK REASSURED
HIS FAMILY >> I SAID, "JOSE'S FINE.
HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO HER HE'S FINE.
>> Reporter: WHEN DERRICK GOT BACK TO PAM'S HOME, POLICE WERE
ALREADY ON THE SCENE LOOKING FOR LEADS INTO WHAT HAD BECOME OF
PAM BUTLER IN WHAT WOULD BE A GRUELING INVESTIGATION
>>> WHERE WAS PAM? HER FAMILY WAS WORRIED
DERRICK SAYS, AT FIRST, POLICE WERE NOT
WHEN WE RETURN -- >> THEY'RE TELLING US, STILL
DOESN'T LOOK LIKE TO US THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT SHE'S IN ANY
DANGER BUT PAM BUTLER WAS A NEAT-FREAK.
SO WHY WAS HER HOUSE A MESS? >> EVERYTHING WAS JUST TOTALLY
OUT OF CHARACTER FOR PAM THE PAPERS ON THE FLOOR LED ME
TO BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING MADE HER STOP DOING WHAT SHE WAS
>> REPORTER: PAM BUTLER'S VALENTINE'S DAY NO-SHOW IN
2009 WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF CHARACTER.
AND IN THE DAYS AFTER HER FAMILY REPORTED HER MISSING, WASHINGTON
DC'S METROPOLITAN POLICE LOOKED FOR CLUES INSIDE PAM'S HOME.
>> THEY SCOURED THE HOUSE FOR PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.
>> Reporter: PETER NEWSHAM, DC'S FORMER CHIEF OF POLICE, WAS
RUNNING INVESTIGATIONS WHEN DETECTIVES BEGAN PROBING PAM
BUTLER'S DISAPPEARANCE HIS INVESTIGATORS FOUND NO SIGN
OF FORCED ENTRY, NO SIGN THAT PAM HAD BEEN IN A STRUGGLE AND
NO SIGN AT ALL OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED TO HER
>> IF WE HAD INFORMATION TO SUGGEST THAT -- THAT PAM WAS IN
A PARTICULAR LOCATION -- WE COULD GO AND SEARCH THAT AREA --
AND MAYBE FIND SOMETHING. THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN THIS CASE.
>> Reporter: SO A MISSING PERSONS FILE WAS OPENED EVEN AS
POLICE TRIED TO REASSURE PAM'S BROTHER DERRICK, A FORMER
HIGHSCHOOL AUTO MECHANICS TEACHER.
>> SO PAM IS NOW AN OFFICIAL MISSING PERSON, HUH?
>> CORRECT THEY'RE TELLIN' US, YOU KNOW,
"WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED." STILL DOESN'T LOOK
LIKE TO US THAT-- YOU KNOW, THAT SHE'S IN ANY DANGER.
>> Reporter: AND DC'S POLICE WANTED TO FIND OUT FROM FAMILY
AND FRIENDS MORE BIOGRAPHICAL DETAIL ABOUT WHO PAM WAS
>> A PERSON WHO WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH.
A PERSON WHO WILL HAVE YOUR BACK IF SHE'S YOUR FRIEND
JUST A JOYFUL, EASY, UH, VIBRANT PERSON
>> Reporter: RITA MOSS HAD MET PAM IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AT A
CONFERENCE FOR RISING STARS IN GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP.
>> I WAS THE PERSON THAT SAID "I'LL BE AT THE BAR AFTERWARDS."
AND PAM SHOWED UP AT THE BAR AND WE IMMEDIATELY CLICKED
>> WHY DID YOU GUYS HIT IT OFF SO QUICKLY
>> WE HAD A LOT IN COMMON JUST EVEN ON APPEARANCE AND WE
PROBABLY TALKED ON THE PHONE EVERY OTHER DAY OR SO. SO YES,
SHE WAS MY CLOSEST FRIEND. >> PEOPLE THINK OF WASHINGTON.
MAYBE THEY KNOW THE MALL, AND THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT, AND THE
NICE HOUSES IN GEORGETOWN. >> THAT'S WHERE PAM ENDED UP,
BUT NOT WHERE WE CAME FROM >> Reporter: DERRICK REMEMBERS
GROWING UP WITH HIS SISTER IN A SMALL HOUSE IN A ROUGH AND
TUMBLE NEIGHBORHOOD. NOT AN EASY LIFE
>> SHE WAS THE ONE THAT REALLY HELD OUR FAMILY TOGETHER
>> HOW DID YOU TWO GET ALONG, YOU AND YOUR SISTER, PAM
>> YOU KNOW, WE WERE BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD OUR SPATS LIKE ANY OTHER BROTHER AND SISTER
>> SHE WAS VERY ORDERLY, RIGHT >> SHE WOULD DRIVE ME CRAZY WITH
THAT OUR HOUSE WAS EXTREMELY NEAT ALL
THE TIME >> Reporter: FROM AN EARLY AGE
PAM WAS DRIVEN A SUMMER JOB AT THE COMMERCE
DEPARTMENT LED TO PAM HOP-SCOTCHING THROUGH GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES >> PAM WAS JUST ALWAYS A
GO-GETTER. BEFORE I STARTED WORKING FOR THE
SCHOOL SYSTEM, SHE TRIED TO GET ME TO WORK FOR THE F.B.I
>> SO THAT'S A VERY PAM THING. >> YEAH, SHE ALWAYS WANTED TO
SEE US JUST DO BETTER, Y'KNOW. >> Reporter: PAM'S MOM THELMA
SAYS HER DAUGHTER WAS HAPPY TO SHARE HER HARD-EARNED SUCCESS.
>> SHE WOULD PAY MY WAY TO GO TO THE CASINO
>> AND YOU'D HAVE MOM AND DAUGHTER DAY AT THE CASINO, HUH?
>> SHE DIDN'T LIKE GAMBLIN' BUT SHE NEVER DENIED ME.
>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AN IDEAL DAUGHTER
>> YES VERY MUCH.
>> Reporter: IN HER MID-FORTIES, PAM WAS SUPERVISING COMPUTER
ANALYSTS AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.
HOW WELL SHE'D DONE WAS REFLECTED IN HER LIFESTYLE -
THE OWNER OF A SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSE IN A GOOD DOWNTOWN
NEIGHBORHOOD, THE ONE SHE'D EQUIPPED WITH SECURITY CAMERAS -
AND A MERCEDES AND A JAGUAR IN THE DRIVEWAY
>> SHE HAD A LOTTA NICE THINGS BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO LIVE.
>> YES >> Reporter: BUT WORK WASN'T
PAM'S ENTIRE LIFE. FOR A FEW YEARS, SHE TOOK IN HER
NEPHEW BRANDON-- RAISING HIM AS HER OWN SON WITH HIS BUNDLE OF
TYPICAL LATE-TEENAGE ISSUES. STILL THAT NICE HOUSE FELT
EMPTY. A GOOD MAN, SHE TOLD HER FRIEND,
WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO FILLING THE VOID
>> SHE REALLY WAS NOT LOOKING TO CASUALLY DATE.
SHE WAS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO SPEND HER LIFE WITH.
>> Reporter: THAT'S WHEN IN SEPTEMBER 2008, PETITE, AND FIT
FROM JOGGING 47-YEAR-OLD PAM STARTED DATING JOSE RODRIGUEZ
CRUZ -- A GOOD-LOOKING FORMER MILITARY POLICE OFFICER IN
VIRGINIA WHO WORKED AT A MEDICAL CLINIC
THEY MET ON A DATING WEBSITE >> SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE MET
JOSE ON THE METRO. >> E-HARMONY
>> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M TOLD BUT SHE TOLD ME SHE MET HIM ON
THE METRO, WHICH I IMMEDIATELY KNEW WAS NOT THE TRUTH AND, I
TOLD HER I KNEW IT WASN'T THE TRUTH BECAUSE PAM WOULD DRIVE
EVERYWHERE >> Reporter: WITHIN A FEW DAYS,
JOSE WAS SHOWING PAM AROUND TOWN, A FULL-ON COURTSHIP.
>> HE BOUGHT HER FLOWERS REGULARLY AND BOUGHT HER A RING
FOR HER BIRTHDAY. >> Reporter: AS HAPPY AS RITA
WAS FOR HER BEST FRIEND, PAM'S NEW RELATIONSHIP WAS A GAL-PAL
BUZZKILL >> PAM IMMEDIATELY STARTED
CANCELING PLANS WITH ME. SO I KNEW THAT THIS WAS PRETTY
SERIOUS. >> SO HAPPY HOUR WAS OFF NOW
CUZ -- >> HAPPY HOUR WAS OFF.
>> Reporter: AT THANKSGIVING, PAM DECIDED THE NEXT STEP HAD
ARRIVED AND IT WAS TIME FOR JOSE TO MEET THE FAMILY
>> HE SEEMED LIKE A EXTREMELY NICE GUY
I MEAN, VERY ATTENTIVE TO PAM, ATTENTIVE TO US.
HE WAS A PLEASURE TO MEET HE REALLY WAS
>> HE WAS JUST A GENTLEMAN >> SHE SEEMED HAPPY.
>> SHE DID, SHE DID, SHE SEEMED VERY HAPPY
>> WHAT DID YOU THINK JOSE MEANT TO HER
>> THE FACT THAT SHE WAS SEEING HIM REGULARLY, I KNEW SHE WAS
INTENDING FOR THIS TO BE A LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP
>> Reporter: AND THAT MADE PAM'S DISAPPEARANCE ALL THE MORE SAD
>> WHEN I GOT THE CASE AND ONCE I LOOKED AT ALL THE THINGS THAT
WERE DONE. I WANTED TO START OVER
>> Reporter: FORMER HOMICIDE DETECTIVE MITCH CREDLE WHO
WORKED ON DC'S SEXUAL ASSAULT UNIT -- ENDED UP BEING ASSIGNED
TO THE MISSING PERSONS CASE AFTER OTHER DETECTIVES HAD
WORKED IT. >> WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU COULD
BRING TO THE PLATE THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW YET?
>> A DIFFERENT SET OF EYES I MEAN, EXPERIENCE
AND I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS COMMUNITY.
I HAVE TWO INFORMERS THAT LIVE IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA.
>> YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SCRATCH AND GET SOMETHING
>> YES, I WAS HOPING I COULD GET SOMETHING.
BUT AS YOU SEE, EVEN RIGHT NOW, THIS HOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS ALL
THE TIME IT'S QUIET
>> Reporter: DETECTIVE CREDLE ANALYZED THE EVIDENCE IN THE
GROWING CASE FILE -- THE UNCHARACTERISTIC MESSINESS
IN PAM BUTLER'S HOME >> THAT'S NOT THE WAY SHE RUNS
HER HOUSEHOLD, RIGHT >> EXACTLY
EVERYTHING WAS JUST TOTALLY OUT OF CHARACTER FOR PAM
THE PAPERS ON THE FLOOR LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING MADE
HER STOP DOING WHAT SHE WAS DOING WITH THOSE PAPERS BECAUSE
SHE'S JUST NOT GOING TO LEAVE THEM LYING ON THE FLOOR.
>> Reporter: AND NEXT TO ALL THOSE FILES STREWN ABOUT, WAS
SOMETHING ELSE THAT HAD CAUGHT INVESTIGATORS' EYES.
>> LATEX GLOVE ON THE FLOOR I GUESS, HUH
>> THERE WAS A LATEX GLOVE THERE.
>> Reporter: HAD THE LATEX GLOVE BEEN DROPPED BY SOMEONE NOT IN
PAM'S CIRCLE HER ABDUCTOR, POSSIBLY HER
KILLER >> AND THIS IS THE UNKNOWN
INTRUDER >> EXACTLY
>> Reporter: BUT WHO THE SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS AROUND
PAM BUTLER'S HOME WOULD GIVE IMPORTANT CLUES.
THEY WERE ACTIVATED BY MOTION SENSORS AND HAD RECORDED COMINGS
AND GOINGS IN THE DAYS BEFORE - AND AFTER - PAM WENT MISSING
IMAGES THAT TOLD SOME, BUT NOT ALL, OF THE STORY.
>> COMING UP - >> IT'S PRESUMED, WHEN WE SEE
THIS HAND COME OUT OF THE DOOR TO PICK UP MAIL THAT THAT IS
PAM. >> A CAMERA NEVER BLINKS
SO WHY DID IT NEVER SEE PAM LEAVE HER HOUSE?
>> SHE ALWAYS HAD THOSE CAMERAS ON
>> AND, A POSSIBLE BREAK >> PAM'S CELL PHONE PINGED
SO IS PAM ALIVE OR IS THIS THE DAY WE FIND HER BODY
>> Reporter: PAM BUTLER HAD VANISHED WITHOUT A TRACE, AND
HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS WERE CONFOUNDED, SUSPENDED BETWEEN
HOPE AND GRIEF >> IT WAS A VERY BIG VOID WHEN
PAM WENT MISSING >> Reporter: WERE YOU WAITING
FOR THE PHONE TO RING AND THERE'D BE HER ON THE LINE OR
WHAT >> EXACTLY
HOPING THAT IT'D BE THE CALL TO SAY, "I'M OKAY."
>> Reporter: THE PHONE NEVER RANG
>> NO. IT KEPT ME IN TEARS.
>> Reporter: BY NOW REPORTERS WERE GETTING TIPS FROM POLICE
ABOUT THE MYSTERY OF PAM BUTLER'S DISAPPEARANCE
>> I HAD A NUMBER OF SOURCES THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT, AND A
SOURCE SAID "THIS IS A CASE YOU NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT."
>> 47-YEAR OLD PAMELA BUTLER OF NORTH WEST -
>> Reporter: JENNIFER DONELAN, THEN A LOCAL TV CRIME REPORTER,
BROKE THE STORY. >> THERE WERE QUESTIONS, REALLY
STRANGE THINGS ABOUT HER DISAPPEARANCE.
YES, SHE WAN AN ADULT, MAYBE SHE CHOSE TO LEAVE
>> Reporter: BUT SHE DIDN'T, LIKE, SEEM TO BE THE KIND OF
PERSON WHO WOULD TAKE UP AND GO TO LAS VEGAS AND START A NEW
LIFE >> OR TO MISS DINNER WITH HER
MOTHER ON VALENTINE'S DAY. >> Reporter: PAM'S FAMILY HAD
GIVEN DETECTIVES A HEADS UP TO WHAT THEY BELIEVED WAS IMPORTANT
EVIDENCE: THE CAMERAS PAM HAD INSTALLED, COVERING NEARLY THE
ENTIRE EXTERIOR OF HER HOME. >> WHAT I HAD WAS A GREAT DEAL
OF VIDEO FOOTAGE >> Reporter: WHEN DETECTIVE
MITCH CREDLE WAS EVENTUALLY ASSIGNED TO THE CASE, HE
ANALYSED IMAGES FROM THE CAMERAS THAT OTHER DETECTIVES HAD
SCREENED YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MISSING
WOMAN'S SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM. >> EXACTLY
>> Reporter: PRETTY SOPHISTICATED.
>> IT WAS NOT ONLY THAT. IT WAS AN ALARM SYSTEM
SO WE'RE TALKING SOMEONE IS ONLY COMING INTO THEIR HOUSE WHO
SHE'S FAMILIAR WITH. >> Reporter: SO SHE'S VERY FUSSY
ABOUT WHO GETS IN THE HOUSE. >> THAT'S IT
SHE ALWAYS HAD THOSE CAMERAS ON. THAT WAS THE FUNNY THING
EVEN WHEN I CAME OVER I TEXTED HER TWO MINUTES BEFORE I ARRIVED
"Y'KNOW, I'LL BE HERE IN TWO MINUTES.
AND EVEN WHEN I KNOCKED ON THE DOOR SHE WOULD LOOK AT THE
CAMERA TO MAKE SURE IT WAS ME. I'M LIKE, "I JUST TEXTED YOU.
WHY ARE YOU CHECKIN' THE CAMERA? JUST OPEN THE, OPEN THE DOOR."
>> Reporter: IN THE DAYS BEFORE AND AFTER THE VALENTINE'S DAY
WEEKEND PAM WENT MISSING, HER CAMERAS CAPTURED WHAT WAS GOING
ON AROUND HER HOUSE. ON THURSDAY, SHE'S SEEN ARRIVING
HOME, WALKING ACROSS HER PATIO, THEN SHOWING UP IN HER FRONT
DOORWAY. >> SHE'S AT THE DOOR, AND SHE'S
COLLECTING HER MAIL JUST LIKE A NORMAL DAY
>> Reporter: THE NEXT DAY, FRIDAY, MUCH THE SAME.
>> IT'S PRESUMED, WHEN WE SEE THIS HAND COME OUT OF THE DOOR
TO PICK UP MAIL THAT THAT IS PAM.
>> Reporter: LATER THE SAME DAY, THE DAY BEFORE VALENTINE'S DAY,
JOSE SHOWED UP, CARRYING GIFTS HE'S THE BOYFRIEND ARRIVING.
>> EXACTLY >> Reporter: GOT FLOWERS,
PRESENT? >> THAT WAS ON FRIDAY.
>> Reporter: AND JOSE IS SEEN LEAVING THE FOLLOWING DAY.
BUT THE CAMERAS NEVER SHOWED PAM LEAVING HER HOUSE.
AND THAT BECAME THE CENTRAL MYSTERY OF THE CASE.
IN THE WORST POSSIBLE THEORY, IF PAM HAD BEEN KILLED INSIDE HER
HOUSE, HOW WAS HER BODY TAKEN OUT UNDETECTED
>> WHAT HAPPENED INSIDE THAT HOUSE?
IT IS SUCH AN EXTREME MYSTERY. WE JUST HAVE NO IDEA WHAT
HAPPENED TO PAM. >> Reporter: THE VIDEO SHOWED
JOSE GOING IN AND OUT OF PAM'S HOME AFTER FRIDAY NIGHT, SO IT
WAS AN EASY CALL FOR DETECTIVES TO PULL HIM IN FOR SOME "WHAT'S
UP" QUESTIONS. BUT NOT MUCH MORE.
>> SO WITH MISSING PERSONS, THEY ARE INCIDENTS, NOT OFFENSES.
>> Reporter: AND NO REAL PERSUASIVE EVIDENCE IT WAS EVEN
A CRIME. >> RIGHT
>> Reporter: WHAT'S MORE, JOSE HAD AN EXPLANATION FOR WHAT HAD
HAPPENED, THE SAME EXPLANATION HE'D GIVEN PAM'S BROTHER
DERRICK: HE SAID HE AND PAM HAD BROKEN UP BEFORE SHE WENT
MISSING. >> AND HE WAS UPSET, AND THAT HE
HAD MADE EFFORTS TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HER AFTER SHE HAD GONE
MISSING. IF HE'S TELLING THE TRUTH, THEN
THAT'S A MAN WHO DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS GIRLFRIEND.
>> Reporter: THE REPORTER WANTED TO HEAR THE BOYFRIEND'S ACCOUNT
FOR HERSELF SO JOSE INVITED JENNIFER INTO HIS HOME FOR AN
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW. >> WE'RE IN HIS LIVING ROOM.
AND HE DIDN'T WANT US TO TELL HIS NAME ON TELEVISION, AND HE
DIDN'T WANT US TO SHOW HIS FACE. >> Reporter: BUT HE DID WANT TO
CLEARLY STATE HIS INNOCENCE. >> I DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
WITH HER DISAPPEARANCE AND I LOVED HER.
OUR RELATIONSHIP ENDED IN A WAY THAT I DIDN'T EXPECT
>> Reporter: JOSE TOLD THE REPORTER PAM'S SECURITY CAMERA
VIDEO TOLD THE STORY. PROOF THAT HE'D HAD NOTHING TO
DO WITH PAM GOING MISSING. >> YOU KNOW AND LIKE I TOLD THE
POLICE, YOU SEEN THE VIDEO, SHE DID NOT LEAVE WITH ME.
>> HE WAS RIGHT. WE NEVER SEE PAM LEAVE WITH HIM
ON VIDEO THAT IS FOR SURE
>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE PAM IS AT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO
HER. >> Reporter: AND JOSE GAVE THE
REPORTER A VERY SIMPLE EXPLANATION FOR WHY HE WAS IN
AND OUT OF PAM'S HOME AFTER SHE WENT MISSING: HE'D USED HIS KEY
AND WAS SIMPLY REMOVING BAGS OF HIS OWN THINGS FROM HER HOME
>> I WAS JUST TAKING MY STUFF OUTTA THE HOUSE.
I WAS JUST GOING BACK AND GETTING MY STUFF."
>> Reporter: JUST BREAK UP >> YEAH, THIS IS ALL BREAK UP
STUFF. >> AND THE LAST THING I'VE SEEN
WAS HIM COMING OUT THE DOOR WITH A BIG, BIG BAG, WHICH IS NOT BIG
ENOUGH TO CARRY A BODY >> Reporter: IN THE DAYS AFTER
PAM DISAPPEARED, CRIME-SCENE TECHS TURNING PAM'S HOUSE INSIDE
OUT FOR EVIDENCE WERE BAFFLED. >> NO BLOOD.
THEY WERE PULLIN' UP FLOORBOARDS.
THERE WAS JUST NOTHING IN THE HOUSE THAT INDICATED THAT THERE
WAS A CRIME THERE. >> Reporter: BEYOND JOSE THE
BOYFRIEND THE INVESTIGATORS WONDERED IF THERE WAS ANYONE IN
PAM'S LIFE WHO WOULD WANT TO MAKE HER DISAPPEAR
THEY LOOKED AT THOSE CLOSEST TO HER INCLUDING HER NEPHEW
BRANDON, THE TEEN SHE'D TAKEN IN
>> THERE WERE SOME REPORTS FROM THE FAMILY THAT PAM MIGHT HAVE
BEEN EXPERIENCING SOME FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES AT THE TIME BRANDON
WAS LIVING THERE, AND THAT PERHAPS PAM DIDN'T FEEL LIKE
BRANDON WAS STEPPING UP LIKE HE SHOULD IN TERMS OF HELPING OUT
FINANCIALLY, AND THAT AT SOME POINT SHE HAD REPORTEDLY ASKED
HIM TO LEAVE >> Reporter: THE SITUATION
APPARENTLY GOT HEATED. >> THERE HAD BEEN AN ARGUMENT.
HE DID HAVE ACCESS TO THE HOUSE. SO WAS IT HIM?
>> Reporter: AS THE INVESTIGATION DEEPENED, THE
DETECTIVES TOOK A CLOSE LOOK AT TECHNOLOGY.
PAM'S CELL PHONE >> IN A LOT OF INVESTIGATIONS, A
LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THE PHONE TOWERS BE PINGING AND
TELLING YOU WHERE PEOPLE ARE >> Reporter: IF THEY'VE BEEN
WATCHING "DATELINE" FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, THEY DO NOW.
INVESTIGATORS SEARCHED IN VIRGINIA, AND IN A PARK IN
MARYLAND >> WHY?
BECAUSE PAM'S CELL PHONE PINGED THERE.
PAM'S CELLPHONE PINGED. SO IS PAM ALIVE OR IS THIS THE
DAY WE FIND HER BODY >> THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT
STOPS, AND THAT'S THE THING ABOUT IT.
ONCE IT STOPS, YOU HAVE NO CLUE, NO IDEA WHERE TO GO.
IT STOPS. AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS
SITUATION. AND THEY SEARCHED, AND SEARCHED,
AND SEARCHED, AND THEY NEVER FOUND PAM.
>> Reporter: IN THE FOLLOWING WEEKS AND MONTHS, HOPES ROSE AND
FELL >> THERE WERE A NUMBER OF
SIGHTINGS AFTER ALL OF THE PUBLISHED MEDIA REPORTS SAYING
THAT, "I SAW PAM BUTLER. TURNED OUT NOT TO BE HER
>> Reporter: BUT FIVE MONTHS INTO THE INVESTIGATION A FRESH
LEAD SUDDENLY OPENED AND WITH THAT LEAD CAME A NEW
REASON TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT PAM BUTLER'S FAMILY.
>>> COMING UP -- >> THEY ACTUALLY RAISED DERRICK
AS A POSSIBLE SUSPECT TO ME LIKE, HOW?
THIS IS HER BROTHER. >> DID A DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN
SIBLINGS END IN MURDER >> THEY WOULD SAY THINGS TO ME,
LIKE, "YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE THAT WE SEE THAT HAD ANYTHING TO GAIN
>> Reporter: IN THE MONTHS AFTER PAMELA BUTLER'S DISAPPEARANCE,
NEW LEADS DRIED UP AND THE POLICE INVESTIGATION SEEMED
STUCK AT A HOPELESS DEAD END >> IT WAS STILL CONSIDERED A
MISSING PERSONS. IT WASN'T EVEN RULED A HOMICIDE.
>> Reporter: A FRUSTRATED DETECTIVE CREDLE SAYS HE
COULDN'T DEVOTE THE TIME HE WANTED TO PAM BUTLER AND HER
FAMILY FRESH CASES WERE PILING UP
DEMANDING HIS ATTENTION. >> I'M INVESTIGATING 20,
SOMETIMES 25 CASES A MONTH SO IT'S HARD FOR ME TO GIVE THIS
FAMILY THE ATTENTION THE CASE NEEDS, AND THAT'S UNFAIR TO
THEM >> Reporter: AND HE FELT
SOMETHING ELSE, SOMETHING UGLY IT SEEMED TO HIM THE DEPARTMENT
JUST DIDN'T CARE ENOUGH ABOUT THE VICTIM
>> I FELT AS THOUGH THAT THIS CASE WASN'T GETTING THE
ATTENTION THAT IT WAS IF SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN A WHITE VICTIM
FROM AN AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOOD. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN, IN MY
OPINION, TOTALLY DIFFERENT >> Reporter: THERE WOULD HAVE
BEEN RESOURCES THROWN AT IT, PUT SOME HEAT ON IT.
>> AND THREW THE WHOLE HOUSE AT THE CASE
>> Reporter: BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN WITH PAM BUTLER
>> NO, IT DID NOT. AND THAT USED TO BOTHER ME
SOMETIMES AT NIGHT BECAUSE I KNEW, FOR A FACT, IF PAM BUTLER
WAS WHITE -- MAN, THEY WOULD HAVE
THEY WOULD'VE DID IT >> Reporter: PAM'S FAMILY FELT
THE SAME WAY THERE WOULD'VE BEEN A HUE AND
CRY, YOU THINK, IF SHE'D BEEN A WHITE WOMAN MISSING?
>> OH, FOR SURE. WHEN WE GO MISSING, YOU HEAR
NOTHIN' ABOUT IT >> Reporter: D.C. POLICE TOLD US
ITS OFFICERS TRY TO USE EVERY RESOURCE AVAILABLE TO
INVESTIGATE ALL CASES REGARDLESS OF A VICTIM'S RACE
IN 2009, AS PAM'S BROTHER DERRICK LED SEARCH EFFORTS, HE
STAYED IN THE COPS' FACES. >> SOMETIMES, WE WOULD JUST
HAVE, I MEAN, REAL FIGHTS. >> Reporter: WERE YOU MAKING A
NUISANCE OF YOURSELF DOWN AT THE POLICE STATION, DERRICK?
>> I WAS TRYIN' TO, YES. >> Reporter: DID YOU NEED TO DO
THAT THOUGH? >> I FELT LIKE I DID
>> Reporter: AND DERRICK MADE APPEARANCES ON TV, A STRATEGY
INTENDED TO KEEP PAM'S STORY IN THE PUBLIC EYE
>> THE GOAL WAS TO KEEP IT GOIN'.
AND I FELT LIKE IF I KEPT IT GOIN', THE POLICE WOULD SAY,
"YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO GET THIS OFF THE NEWS
WE HAVE TO SOLVE THIS CASE." >> Reporter: BUT FIVE MONTHS
AFTER PAM BUTLER WENT MISSING, THERE WAS A HEAD-SNAPPING
DEVELOPMENT. TV REPORTER JENNIFER DONELAN WAS
GETTING THE INSIDE SCOOP >> MY SOURCES TOLD ME THAT THEY
HAD TO TAKE A LOOK AT DERRICK. THEY ACTUALLY RAISED DERRICK AS
A POSSIBLE SUSPECT TO ME LIKE, HOW?
THIS IS -- THIS IS HER BROTHER HE'S SPEARHEADING THESE MASSIVE
SEARCH EFFORTS FOR HER >> Reporter: DERRICK
HOW COULD THAT BE? IT TURNED OUT INVESTIGATORS HAD
RECEIVED ANONYMOUS TEXT-MESSAGE TIPS ABOUT HIM
>> EARLY ON IN THE INVESTIGATION, A COUPLE OF TEXT
MESSAGES THAT CAME IN, THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE BROTHER
DERRICK. >> Reporter: THE FIRST MESSAGE
READ - "PLEASE LOOK N2 THE FACT THAT
PAM AND THE BROTHER. WERE NOT AS CLOSE AS HE TRY
2 MAKE IT APPEAR." ANOTHER MESSAGE ALSO PUT DERRICK
IN THE FRAME "PAM BUTLER STILL MISSING.
THE BROTHER HAS ALL OF Y'ALL FOOLED."
>> THESE STRANGE TEXT MESSAGES CAME OUT SAYING, "YOU SHOULD
TAKE A LOOK AT PAM BUTLER'S BROTHER.
HE DID IT. >> Reporter: JENNIFER THE
REPORTER LEARNED DERRICK HAD A PROPERTY BUSINESS WITH HIS
SISTER >> THEY OWNED A BUILDING
TOGETHER, SO THEY HAD FINANCIAL INTERESTS.
THEY SHARED FINANCIAL INTERESTS. THERE WERE THE WILLS
HE WAS NAMED AS A BENEFICIARY IN HER WILL
>> Reporter: THEN A FAMILY MEMBER TOLD POLICE THAT PAM HAD
BEEN PLANNING TO END SOME OF HER BUSINESS DEALINGS WITH DERRICK
BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T THINK HE WAS A GOOD MANAGER
>> IS THERE REASON THERE IS THERE POSSIBLE MOTIVE THERE
>> Reporter: IT WAS HARD FOR THE REPORTER TO BELIEVE THE BROTHER
WHO SEEMED SO CARING AND DETERMINED TO CRACK THE CASE WAS
ACTUALLY UNDER SUSPICION FOR HIS SISTER'S DISAPPEARANCE
BUT -- >> THOU DOTH PROTEST TOO MUCH.
IS THAT WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE? IS THE BROTHER PUSHING SO MUCH
THAT IT'S BECAUSE HE ACTUALLY IS THE ONE WHO DID SOMETHING?
>> Reporter: POLICE QUESTIONED DERRICK NUMEROUS TIMES DURING
THEIR INVESTIGATION, SESSIONS THAT TURNED SOUR
>> THEY WOULD SAY THINGS TO ME, LIKE, YOU KNOW, "IT'S NOT
LOOKING REALLY GOOD FOR YOU. YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE THAT WE SEE
THAT HAD ANYTHING TO GAIN FROM HER -- HER GOIN' MISSING."
>> Reporter: YOU'RE GONNA INHERIT HER MONEY.
>> CORRECT >> Reporter: AND THIS, DERRICK,
IS WHAT? JUST MONTHS AFTER YOUR SISTER'S
REPORTED MISSIN' >> CORRECT
"THE BROTHER DID IT. >> Reporter: AND THEY'RE GOING
THROUGH YOUR CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS AND YOUR PHONE
CALLS. >> THEY WENT THROUGH EVERYTHING.
EVERYTHING >> Reporter: GIVIN' THE
FULL-BLOWN INVESTIGATION INTO YOU?
>> CORRECT UH-HUH
>> Reporter: BUT NOTHING CAME OF ALL THE QUESTIONING, AND DERRICK
INSISTED HE HAD DONE NOTHING TO PAM.
AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHERE THE WHOLE MYSTERIOUS STORY OF
PAMELA BUTLER STAYED, IN LIMBO >> YOUR DAUGHTER WILL BE
REMEMBERED EVERY DAY >> Reporter: ON THE FIRST
ANNIVERSARY OF PAM'S DISAPPEARANCE, DERRICK HELD A
VIGIL ATTENDED BY FAMILY AND PAM'S CLOSEST FRIENDS.
AND AS THE YEARS PASSED, THERE WERE MORE VIGILS
>> I WILL TELL YOU, THEY WERE VERY, VERY PAINFUL BECAUSE
YOU'RE STANDING IN FRONT OF HER HOUSE.
YOU'RE RELIVING THE WHOLE SCENARIO
>> Reporter: DETECTIVE CREDLE ATTENDED THE VIGILS, TOO
AND HE KEPT SEARCHING FOR CLUES, SOMETIMES SPENDING HOURS LATE AT
NIGHT OUTSIDE PAM'S HOME >> LONG TIME AGO, WHEN I FIRST
JOINED HOMICIDE, MY SERGEANT SAID, "IF YOU SPEND ENOUGH TIME
WITH A CRIME SCENE, IT'LL START TALKING TO YOU."
>> Reporter: WHAT WAS THIS ONE TELLING YOU?
HERE YOU ARE IN THE DARK, YEARS LATER.
>> AT NIGHT. WATCHIN' THE HOUSE
THERE IS NO LATE DOG WALKERS THERE IS NO ONE JOGGING.
SO IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT >> Reporter: YOU WERE STRIKING
OUT WITH IT. >> OH, MY GOD.
I WAS WHOA, LORD HAVE MERCY. IT'S LIKE I WENT A WHOLE
BASEBALL SEASON WITHOUT A HIT. >> Reporter: DID YOU LOSE FAITH
IN THE INVESTIGATION >> I DID LOSE FAITH IN THE
INVESTIGATION. I REALLY IN MY MIND THOUGHT THAT
THEY WOULD NEVER CHARGE ANYONE >> Reporter: WHY DID THIS CASE
STICK WITH YOU, MITCH? YOU'RE A VETERAN
YOU'VE HAD UNSOLVES ALONG THE WAY.
>> YEAH, I HAVE HAD PLENTY OF UNSOLVED CASES
THIS CASE STUCK WITH ME BECAUSE OF DERRICK AND HIS MOTHER.
WHEN I MET HIS MOTHER, I WAS JUST -- OH, WOW, I COULDN'T EVEN
HOLD MYSELF TOGETHER BECAUSE I'M SITTIN HERE TALKIN' TO HER AND I
CAN'T EVEN GIVE HER ANY INFORMATION.
THERE'S NOTHING I CAN TELL HER NOTHING I COULD DO
IT'S NOTHING >> Reporter: SEVEN WHOLE YEARS
WENT BY, AND STILL THERE WAS NO TRACE OF PAMELA BUTLER
NO CALLS TO HER BELOVED FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
NO BIRTHDAYS OR HOLIDAYS CELEBRATED
NO FINANCIAL ACTIVITY ON HER ACCOUNTS
NOTHING. FINALLY, IN 2016, A JUDGE
DECLARED PAM OFFICIALLY DEAD NOW HER MISSING PERSONS CASE
COULD BE OFFICIALLY CLASSIFIED AS AN UNSOLVED HOMICIDE.
AND MITCH CREDLE, SOON TO RETIRE, MADE A LAST-DITCH PLEA
TO HIS BOSS. >> I SAID, "COMMANDER, LOOK THIS
FAMILY NEEDS MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE GIVING THEM.
THIS CASE NEEDS TO BE HANDLED BY SOMEONE IN THE COLD CASE UNIT.
GIVE ONE OF THEM DUDES THIS CASE."
AND HE LOOKED AT ME, SAID, "OKAY, MITCH, I WILL."
AND WHEN HE SAID THAT I WAS LIKE, "THANK GOD."
>> Reporter: A NEW DETECTIVE WAS PROMPTLY ASSIGNED, AND HE
PLUNGED DEEP INTO THE PAM BUTLER CASE FILE.
IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE HE TURNED UP NEW EVIDENCE, AND THE
INVESTIGATION TOOK A DRAMATIC TWIST.
>> COMING UP, ANOTHER LOOK AT THAT SURVEILLANCE VIDEO.
>> WHEN YOU WATCH THE VIDEO FRAME BY FRAME BY FRAME BY
FRAME, YOU START TO SEE LITTLE THINGS THAT DON'T MAKE SENSE
>> Reporter: AND A CLOSER LOOK AT PAM'S BROTHER DERRICK
>> IT'S AWKWARD TO HAVE TO ASK SOMEBODY, "DID YOU KILL YOUR
SISTER?" >> Reporter: BUT YOU DID
>> I DID, YES. >> Reporter: WHEN "DAT
>> Reporter: IN LATE 2016, 7 YEARS AFTER PAM BUTLER WENT
MISSING, A 28-YEAR VETERAN D.C. COLD CASE DETECTIVE NAMED
MIKE FULTON WAS ASSIGNED THE CASE
THE STORY GOES THAT YOU REALLY WANTED THAT ONE.
>> I DID YOU WANT THE TOUGH ONES.
AND THIS WAS A BIG CASE. >> Reporter: UNLIKE DETECTIVES
BEFORE HIM, FULTON HAD THE LUXURY OF WORKING PAM'S CASE
FULL TIME. HE BELIEVED HE WAS LIKELY
DEALING WITH HER MURDER, EVEN THOUGH PAM'S BODY HAD NOT BEEN
FOUND. >> SHE WAS DECLARED LEGALLY
DEAD >> Reporter: AND WHY WAS THAT
IMPORTANT FOR YOU AS AN INVESTIGATOR
>> ULTIMATELY, IF WE FIGURE OUT WHO DID IT, A DEFENSE ATTORNEY
CAN'T SAY, "LOOK, PAM BUTLER'S ALIVE.
SHE'S GONNA WALK THROUGH THIS DOOR."
AND HAVE EVERYBODY SORT OF TURN AND LOOK
>> Reporter: NO BODY, NO CRIME RIGHT?
THAT'S THE BUMPER STICKER, RIGHT?
>> EXACTLY THE JUDGE ISN'T SAYIN' THAT SHE
WAS A VICTIM OF A HOMICIDE THE JUDGE IS SAYIN' SHE'S DEAD
SO ONCE WE GET THE FACTS TO SHOW THAT SHE'S A VICTIM OF A
HOMICIDE, IT JUST MAKES IT THAT MUCH EASIER.
>> Reporter: EASIER TO MAKE AN ARREST AND SECURE A CONVICTION
WHAT'S YOUR APPROACH, DETECTIVE? DO YOU PUT THE CLOCK BACK TO DAY
ONE, HOUR ONE ON THIS THING? >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Reporter: SO DETECTIVE, THIS IS PAMELA'S PLACE.
LIKE THE DETECTIVES BEFORE HIM, DET. FULTON IMMEDIATELY DROVE
OUT TO PAM'S HOUSE >> THE HOUSE LOOKS DIFFERENT NOW
THAN IT DID BACK IN 2009, BUT THIS IS IT
>> Reporter: HE BEGAN TO EXCAVATE THE FOUNDATIONS OF
PAM'S CASE >> WE START DISSECTING HER LIFE,
YOU KNOW WHO WERE HER FRIENDS
DOES SHE HAVE ANY OTHER BOYFRIENDS
EX-HUSBANDS, HER JOB YOU KNOW, FINANCIALS
YOU START GOING THROUGH EVERYTHING
>> Reporter: EVERYTHING. BUT FIRST OFF, PAM BUTLER'S
FAMILY THE DETECTIVE REVIEWED THE
ORIGINAL PERSONS OF INTEREST AND BECAME CONVINCED, FOR ONE, THAT
PAM'S NEPHEW BRANDON, JUST A TEENAGER AT THE TIME, HAD
NOTHING TO DO WITH PAM'S DEATH BUT HE DIDN'T DISMISS THE
SUSPICIONS ABOUT PAM'S BROTHER DERRICK.
>> YOU HAVE TO INVESTIGATE EVERY ANGLE.
>> Reporter: FOLLOWING THE MONEY, RIGHT
>> ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY
YOU FOLLOW THE INVESTIGATION WHERE IT GOES.
>> Reporter: AND JUST AS PREVIOUS INVESTIGATORS HAD
LEARNED, THE MONEY TRAIL LED TO DERRICK.
>> THERE WAS QUESTIONS I HAD TO ASK HIM THAT WERE HARD THAT HE
NEEDED TO ANSWER >> Reporter: TOP METROPOLITAN
POLICE OFFICIALS CALLED DERRICK IN TO MEET WITH THE NEW
DETECTIVE ASSIGNED TO HIS SISTER'S CASE.
A NEW FACE DERRICK SAW ONLY MORE OF THE
SAME YOU WENT THROUGH SOME
DETECTIVES, RIGHT? >> OH, YES, AT LEAST FIVE
DETECTIVES YES.
>> Reporter: SO HERE'S YET ANOTHER DETECTIVE YOU'RE
INTRODUCED TO AS, "HERE'S YOUR GUY NOW.
>> UH-HUH. WASN'T IMPRESSED AT ALL.
HE JUST DIDN'T SEEM TO ME LIKE HE -- LIKE HE HAD IT
AND THE WAY THAT HE WAS TALKIN', IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM LIKE HE WAS
THE ONE. >> Reporter: THEN QUITE
SUDDENLY, OMINOUSLY, THE ATMOSPHERE IN THIS INTRODUCTORY
MEETING CHANGED. FULTON CONFRONTED DERRICK,
CUTTING RIGHT TO THE CHASE >> IT'S AWKWARD TO HAVE TO ASK
SOMEBODY, "DID YOU KILL YOUR SISTER?"
>> Reporter: BUT YOU DID >> I DID, YES.
>> AND HE ASKED ME -- HE SAID, "DID YOU DO SOMETHIN' TO YOUR
SISTER?" >> Reporter: THIS NEW COP IS
THINKING, "MAYBE I'M TALKING TO THE KILLER RIGHT HERE, THE
BROTHER WHO BENEFITED FROM HER DEATH.
>> I SAID, "NO, I DIDN'T DO IT." >> Reporter: BUT DERRICK HAD A
GROWING SENSE OF FOREBODING. THIS NEW DETECTIVE WASN'T
LETTING GO AND DRILLED DOWN AGAIN.
YOU'RE STILL ON HIS LIST >> UH-HUH.
HE SAID, "I NEED YOU TO COME DOWN AND GIVE SOME DNA."
OKAY >> Reporter: OH, THIS IS
GETTIN' -- YOU'RE HITTIN' ANOTHER GEAR HERE IN THIS WHOLE
"DERRICK DID IT" THEORY. >> UH-HUH.
>> Reporter: BUT FULTON WAS HEADING DOWN MULTIPLE PATHS IN
HIS INVESTIGATION. HE WASN'T READY TO DISCOUNT
PAM'S BOYFRIEND JOSE, EVEN THOUGH HE HAD NO FELONIES TO HIS
NAME HE RETRIEVED PAM BUTLER'S
SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE FROM THE CASE FILE.
ARE THESE SURVEILLANCE VIDEOS YOUR MAIN BIT OF EVIDENCE IN
THIS CASE? >> THEY'RE A VERY CRUCIAL PART
OF -- OF THE INVESTIGATION WHEN YOU WATCH THE VIDEO FRAME
BY FRAME BY FRAME BY FRAME, YOU START TO SEE LITTLE THINGS THAT
DON'T MAKE SENSE >> Reporter: FOR INSTANCE --
>> THE MOTION SENSOR LIGHTS. YOU KNOW, WHY AREN'T THEY
WORKING? IT'S NIGHTTIME
SO ANY TIME ANYTHING CAME, YOU KNOW, A CAT, ANYTHING, THESE
LIGHTS WOULD POP ON. POP ON, ILLUMINATE AROUND THE
HOUSE. SO SOMETIME, IN THE LATE HOURS,
YOU CAN SEE JOSE COME OUTSIDE, BUT THE LIGHTS DON'T COME ON
>> Reporter: IT WAS TRUE THE VIDEO THAT FIRST SHOWED JOSE
IN THE GLARE OF A MOTION-ACTIVATED SECURITY LIGHT
AROUND THE TIME PAM WENT MISSING LATER SEEMED AS THOUGH IT HAD
BEEN TURNED OFF. WHAT'S THAT TELL YA?
>> THAT TELLS ME THAT -- I MEAN, WHAT'S GOIN' ON?
>> Reporter: AND SOMETHING ELSE CAUGHT THE DETECTIVE'S EYE,
SOMETHING SEEN IN JOSE'S HAND. IT APPEARED TO BE PAM BUTLER'S
KEY CHAIN. HOW MIGHT JOSE EXPLAIN WHY HE
HAD IT >> YOU TOLD US THAT PAM GAVE YOU
ONE KEY. BUT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE A
KEY WITH STUFF HANGIN' FROM IT AND WE KNOW THAT PAM HAD A
KEYCHAIN AND WE'RE LIKE, "WELL, WAIT A
SECOND WHERE IS THIS COMING FROM?
>> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE'S SUSPICIONS TOOK HIM ON A DEEP
DIVE INTO JOSE'S PAST, GOING BACK SOME 30 YEARS
HE DISCOVERED SOME TROUBLING STORIES ABOUT JOSE
AND WOMEN. >>> COMING UP --
A MAN WITH A SECRET. TWO LIVES.
TWO WIVES. >> HOW DO YOU PULL THAT OFF?
YOU LEARN HOW TO LIE TO ONE >> Reporter: THE COMINGS AND
GOINGS OF PAMELA BUTLER'S BOYFRIEND JOSE, CAPTURED ON
PAM'S HOME SECURITY CAMERAS, WERE MORE THAN PERPLEXING TO
DET. MIKE FULTON OF WASHINGTON D.C.'S METROPOLITAN
POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO IN EARLY 2017, EVEN AS PAM'S
BROTHER DERRICK REMAINED A PERSON OF INTEREST IN HER
DISAPPEARANCE, THE DETECTIVE TOOK A HARD LOOK AT JOSE'S
BACKGROUND ON A FIRST TAKE, HOW DOES JOSE
COME ACROSS? >> A NORMAL GUY.
YOU KNOW, SERVED HIS COUNTRY, WORKS HARD
>> Reporter: THE D.C. DETECTIVE NEEDED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT JOSE'S
PERSONAL LIFE. SO TO GET THE SCOOP, HE REACHED
ACROSS THE POTOMAC RIVER TO LAW ENFORCEMENT COLLEAGUES IN
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, WHERE JOSE WAS LIVING
>> I REMEMBER VIVIDLY, IT WAS MARCH OF 2017.
HE SAYS THAT HE NEEDED MY HELP >> Reporter: ARLINGTON PD COLD
CASE DETECTIVE ROSA ORTIZ GOT THE CALL
AS SHE BEGAN TO INVESTIGATE, SHE LEARNED THAT LONG BEFORE THE
PAM BUTLER CASE, JOSE HAD BEEN MARRIED IN PUERTO RICO TO A
WOMAN NAMED MARTA. >> THEY MEET IN PUERTO RICO.
THEY GO TO THE SAME SCHOOL MARTA IS A BIT OLDER THAN JOSE
>> Reporter: DID YOU WANNA KNOW WHO MARTA WAS?
>> I WANTED TO, ABSOLUTELY >> Reporter: DETECTIVE OTIZ, WHO
SPEAKS FLUENT SPANISH, WAS ABLE TO FILL IN SOME BLANKS ABOUT
MARTA FROM HER SISTER NEIDA IN PUERTO RICO.
>> SHE WAS SLIM AND TALL SHE HAD GREEN EYES, VERY PRETTY.
SHE WAS VERY INTELLIGENT SHE WAS ALWAYS LAUGHING.
>> Reporter: SHE HAS A RECORDING OF HER SISTER SINGING CHEERFULLY
ALL THOSE YEARS AGO. AND SHE SAYS MARTA WAS EVEN
HAPPIER AFTER SHE AND JOSE HAD A BABY BOY THEY NAMED HANSEL AND
SETTLED IN ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA >> SHE WAS COMPLETELY DEDICATED
TO HER BOY NOTHING BUT THE BEST FOR HIM
>> Reporter: THE PICTURE WAS THAT OF A HAPPY AMERICAN FAMILY.
BUT WHEN THE DETECTIVE DUG DOWN A LITTLE, SHE DISCOVERED STORIES
ABOUT JOSE THAT SHATTERED THE HEARTWARMING IMAGE
IT TURNED OUT THAT WHILE HE WAS SERVING WITH THE U.S. ARMY IN
CENTRAL AMERICA, HE'D MET ANOTHER WOMAN.
>> HE MEETS HER AND HE MARRIES HER IN PANAMA.
>> Reporter: WOMAN NAMED GUADALUPE.
>> GUADALUPE AND THEN EVENTUALLY HE BRINGS
HER OVER TO THE U.S. AND THAT'S THE END OF '88,
BEGINNING OF '89 >> Reporter: HE'S GOT TWO WIVES
IN THE GREATER D.C. AREA IS THAT THE PICTURE?
>> THAT IS >> Reporter: SOMEBODY STASHED
OVER HERE IN AN APARTMENT, LIVING A LIFE, AND SOMEBODY ELSE
IS SOMEWHERE ELSE? AND HE'S SHUTTLING BETWEEN THE
TWO LIVES? >> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> Reporter: AND ALL IN SECRET DID SHE KNOW AT THE TIME THAT HE
WAS MARRIED TO THIS OTHER WOMAN NAMED MARTA?
>> SHE DID NOT SHE HAD NO IDEA WHO MARTA WAS.
>> Reporter: SHE WAS TOTALLY IN THE DARK ON THAT
>> SHE WAS >> Reporter: WHAT'S MORE, JOSE
HAD A SON WITH GUADALUPE, TOO. WHAT'S THAT TELL US ABOUT THE
GUY, JOSE? >> HE LIVED TWO DIFFERENT LIVES.
SO HOW DO YOU PULL THAT OFF? YOU LEARN HOW TO LIE TO ONE
WIFE, LIE TO THE OTHER WIFE. >> TWO WOMEN, TWO CHILDREN
NEITHER KNOWS ABOUT THE OTHER, AT LEAST FOR A WHILE
>> FOR A WHILE, YES. >> Reporter: MARTA'S SISTER SAYS
EVENTUALLY MARTA GOT WISE TO JOSE AND GUADALUPE
>> SHE KNEW. SHE TOLD HER SISTER THAT SHE
KNEW THEY WERE MARRIED >> Reporter: THAT'S WHEN THE
PROBLEMS STARTED AND SHE DECIDED TO SEPARATE FROM HIM
THE DEEPER ORTIZ DUG INTO MARTA'S STORY, THE MORE SHE FELT
AN AFFINITY WITH HER >> I COULDN'T HELP BUT
SYMPATHIZE WITH HER. >> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE
HERSELF HAD ALSO MOVED FROM PUERTO RICO TO VIRGINIA IN THE
1980s, JUST BEFORE MARTA >> Reporter: IT'S A FUNNY KIND
OF SYMMETRY. I MEAN -
>> IT IS - >> Reporter: YOU'VE COME FROM
PUERTO RICO, AND YOUR FIRST MAJOR, MAJOR CASE IS FINDING OUT
WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THIS WOMAN. AND SHE HAS SOME OF THE SAME
PATHWAYS THAT YOU HAVE >> ABSOLUTELY.
THERE WAS A CONNECTION >> Reporter: YOU KNEW PEOPLE
THAT SHE KNEW. >> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
SO IT WAS EASIER FOR ME TO REACH OUT AND FIND PEOPLE.
>> Reporter: PEOPLE WHO COULD TELL HER WHAT HAPPENED TO MARTA.
WHEN MARTA FINALLY SEPARATED FROM JOSE, THEIR SON HANSEL WAS
IN PUERTO RICO WITH FAMILY MARTA MEANWHILE GOT AN APARTMENT
WITH ROOMMATES AND SHE GOT A JOB TOO, ANOTHER
ECHO OF THE DETECTIVE'S OWN PAST BEFORE HER CAREER IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT, AS SHE LEARNED MARTA STARTED WORKING IN A
PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL >> Reporter: YOU'D WORKED THERE
TOO. >> I DID
SHE WAS DOIN' THE SAME JOB I DID WHEN I WAS THERE
>> Reporter: WOW THE DETECTIVE LEARNED WHEN MARTA
WALKED OUT AND STARTED BUILDING HER NEW LIFE, SHE ALSO GOT A
BOYFRIEND. >> SHE LIKED HIM
HE TREATED HER SO DIFFERENT. SHE JUST DIDN'T KNOW THAT --
THAT THAT KIND OF LOVE EXISTED AND SHE TALKED TO HER SISTER A
LOT ABOUT HOW -- HOW NICE HE WAS WITH HER
SO IT WAS A BIG DEAL TO HER. >> THEY WERE ALREADY
ESTABLISHING A RELATIONSHIP AND WERE PLANNING TO COME AND
INTRODUCE THEMSELVES TO MY PARENTS.
>> Reporter: BUT APPARENTLY JOSE HAD OTHER IDEAS ABOUT MARTA AND
NEW MEN. EVEN THOUGH HE HAD A SECOND
FAMILY, HE DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE UP MARTA
>> HE WAS FOLLOWING HER WHEN SHE LEFT HIM
WHEN SHE WENT TO WORK, HE FOLLOWED HER
WHEN SHE WENT TO CATCH THE BUS, HE WAS FOLLOWING HER
>> Reporter: SHE SAYS MARTA WAS TERRIFIED OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING
TO HER >>> COMING UP --
MARTA HAD A VERY GOOD REASON TO BE FRIGHTENED OF JOSE.
>> HE BASICALLY SAID, "LOOK, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND
THIS IS MY WIFE. IF I CAN'T HAVE HER, THEN NOBODY
IS GOING TO HAVE HER." >> Reporter: A STRING OF
DETECTIVES HAD SPENT MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS INVESTIGATING PAMELA
BUTLER'S 2009 DISAPPEARANCE. ALL OF THEM WITH THE VICTIM'S
BROTHER DERRICK ON THEIR CASE. >> AND I'M CALLIN',TELLIN'THEM
ASSKING THEM, "WHAT'S HAPPENING? WHAT ARE YOU DOING
WOULDN'T TELL ME >> Reporter: DERRICK HIMSELF,
MEANWHILE, WAS STILL IN THE FRAME --
BUT AS 2017 ROLLED ON, THE INVESTIGATION WAS ZEROING IN ON
PAM'S BOYFRIEND JOSE HIS FIRST WIFE MARTA HAD LEFT
HIM, AND DETECTIVE ROSA ORTIZ -- DIGGING THOUGH OLD POLICE
REPORTS -- CAME UP WITH UP AN AMAZING STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED
NEXT >> A NOW RETIRED POLICE OFFICER
SEES A WOMAN STRUGGLING. >> Reporter: SHE TRACKED DOWN
THE OFFICER MENTIONED IN THE POLICE REPORTS -- FORMER
DETECTIVE MIKE SEDDON. IN 1989 -- 20 YEARS BEFORE PAM
BUTLER WENT MISSING -- HE WAS ON PATROL IN ARLINGTON WHEN HE CAME
UPON AN ALARMING SCENE >> SO I IMMEDIATELY SPED UP,
PULLED OVER, JUMPED OUT. >> MIKE, YOU'RE ON FOOT AND IT
DOESN'T LOOK GOOD, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING
WHAT IS IT >> YOU KNOW, I SEE A DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE SITUATION WHERE A MAN IS DRAGGING A WOMAN UP THE
SIDEWALK >> Reporter: DRAGGING THE WOMAN
BY HER HAIR, HE SAYS HE SHOWED ME WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.
>> HE HAD HIS ARM AROUND HERE AND HE WAS BASICALLY PULLING HER
LIKE THIS, BUT HER FEET WERE OUT FROM UNDERNEATH OF HER AND HE
WAS DRAGGING HER IN THIS DIRECTION.
>> SO THIS IS ALL GOING DOWN VERY QUICKLY
>> RIGHT, ALL GOING DOWN VERY QUICKLY AND HE'S RUNNING
HE LET GO OF HER AND I JUST FOCUSED ON HIM
AND RIGHT ABOUT HERE, I JUST BASICALLY TACKLED HIM TO THE
GROUND AND HELD HIM DOWN AND THEN, YOU KNOW, HE WAS FIGHTING
WITH ME, TOLD HIM, YOU KNOW, STOP
>> Reporter: THE SIX-FOOT-SEVEN DETECTIVE OVERPOWERED THE MAN
AND CUFFED HIM >> HAD YOU WITNESSED A CRIME
>> YES THERE WAS A PHYSICAL ASSAULT
OCCURRING. >> Reporter: HE WOULD LEARN THE
ASSAILANT'S NAME WAS JOSE AND THE WOMAN HE'D BEEN DRAGGING WAS
HIS ESTRANGED WIFE MARTA >> AND THEN I PAID ATTENTION TO
MARTA, WHO WAS THERE CRYING. AND SHE WAS LIKE, "OH, THANK
YOU, THANK YOU." YOU KNOW, "HELP ME."
AND THEN SHE STARTED TELLING ME WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND IT JUST
BLEW MY MIND >> Reporter: HE SAYS JOSE WAS
APPARENTLY IN A JEALOUS RAGE BECAUSE HE FOUND OUT MARTA HAD A
NEW BOYFRIEND. >> HE HAD ABDUCTED HER FROM HER
HOME AND -- ACCORDING TO HER, KEPT HER IN A HOTEL AND WAS
RAPING HER AND PHYSICALLY ABUSING HER FOR TWO DAYS
>> Reporter: DOWN AT THE POLICE STATION, MARTA TOLD THE
DETECTIVE JOSE HAD USED DUCT TAPE AND ROPE TO ASSAULT HER
SHE ESCAPED -- AND THAT'S WHEN JOSE GRABBED HER ON THE STREET
HER STORY CHECKED OUT WHEN THE DETECTIVE WENT BACK TO THE SCENE
AND SPOTTED JOSE'S CAR >> FOUND THE CAR, LOOKED IN THE
BACK WINDOW, SAW THE DUCT TAPE, SAW THE ROPE
>> THIS IS A CASE THAT SOLVED ITSELF BEFORE YOU EVEN GET TO
THE ARRAIGNMENT. >> EXACTLY
>> Reporter: IN A POLICE INTERVIEW, JOSE SEEMED TO DIG
HIMSELF AN EVEN DEEPER HOLE, WITH A CHILLING STATEMENT TO THE
DETECTIVE. >> AND HE BASICALLY SAID, LOOK,
YOU DON'T KNOW, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. THIS IS MY WIFE, IF
I CAN'T HAVE HER THEN NOBODY IS GOING TO HAVE HER.
>> Reporter: JOSE WAS CHARGED WITH MISDEMEANOR ASSAULT AND
BATTERY AND FELONY ABDUCTION >> I DIDN'T SEE HIM ACTUALLY
TAKE HER AS SHE DESCRIBED. I SAW HIM DRAGGING HER UP THE
STREET SO WANTED TO GET HIM FOR THE ABDUCTION.
>> Reporter: BUT FOR THE ABDUCTION CHARGE TO STICK, MARTA
HAD TO TESTIFY IN COURT. >> ON THE FEAR SCALE, MIKE, HERE
AND HERE, HOW SCARED WAS SHE >> THIS WOMAN WAS OFF THE SCALE.
SHE SHE TOLD ME, THIS MAN IS GOING TO KILL ME
I'M AFRAID HE'S GOING TO KILL ME
>> Reporter: AND SHE WARNED THE DETECTIVE.
>> SHE SAYS "YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL BECAUSE MY HUSBAND IS
GOING TO KILL YOU HE SAID" >> YOU
>> YEAH, ME. >> Reporter: ON THE DAY MARTA
WAS DUE TO TESTIFY IN COURT AGAINST JOSE SHE DIDN'T SHOW UP.
>> AND BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT SHE WASN'T THERE, THEY HAD A
NOLLE PROSSED THE CASE >> IT MEANS IT WASN'T GOING TO
GO FORWARD >> RIGHT
THEY, THEY CAN'T GO FORWARD BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE
COMPLAINING PERSON THERE >> Reporter: A WEEK AFTER SHE
DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR THE COURT HEARING, MARTA CALLED HER SISTER
NEIDA IN PUERTO RICO ONE OF NEIDA'S CHILDREN PICKED
UP AND LATER TOLD HER THAT MARTA HAD BEEN IN TEARS.
>> AND I SAID WELL, IF SHE WAS CRYING, SHE WANTED TO TELL ME
SOMETHING. SHE'LL PROBABLY CALL AGAIN AND
I'LL PICK UP >> Reporter: BUT MARTA DIDN'T
CALL AGAIN AND NEIDA DIDN'T CALL HER BACK
THAT DAY EITHER -- SOMETHING SHE'D REGRET FOR THE REST OF HER
LIFE >> I FEEL SO GUILTY NOT KNOWING
WHAT SHE WANTED TO SAY >> Reporter: THAT SAME DAY, MAY
25th, 1989, DETECTIVE ORTIZ LEARNED FROM MARTA'S ROOMMATES
THAT SHE'D LEFT HER APARTMENT FOR A SHIFT AT THE HOSPITAL. BUT
SHE'D PLANNED TO QUIT HER JOB. >> Reporter: LATER THAT DAY,
MARTA VANISHED A MISSING PERSONS REPORT WAS
FILED SOON AFTER >> HER ROOMMATES SEE HER GOING
TO WORK SHE MADE IT TO WORK. SHE HAD DAY SHIFT.
>> AND THOSE ROOMMATES BECOME THE SOURCE OF THE MISSING
PERSONS' FILING -- >> CORRECT
BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T COME HOME AND THE QUESTION IS WHY?
WHY WERE THEY WORRIED ABOUT THEIR ROOMMATE
AND IT'S BECAUSE THEY KNEW WHAT SHE'D BEEN THROUGH WITH JOSE
>> Reporter: JOSE WAS QUESTIONED BY POLICE BACK THEN BUT DENIED
ANY KNOWLEDGE OF MARTA'S DISAPPEARANCE AND WHEREABOUTS.
IN A RECORDED POLICE INTERVIEW HE TOLD THE DETECTIVES HE'D EVEN
CALLED HER ROOMMATES LOOKING FOR HER.
>> I'M WORRIED BECAUSE SHE HADN'T SHOWN UP.
YOU KNOW, SHE HADN'T COME IN SHE HASN'T SHOWN UP.
AND THEN I SAID, WELL, ARE YOU SURE
YOU KNOW, SHE DIDN'T STAY SOMEWHERE?
SHE'S PROBABLY AT WORK >> WHY DON'T YOU JUST TELL US
WHERE SHE IS SO WE CAN RECOVER HER BODY
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE'S AT. I DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE'S AT.
IF I KNEW WHERE SHE WAS AT, I WOULD TELL YOU
I DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE'S AT. HE MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN --
BUT THE MYSTERY OF MARTA'S DISAPPEARANCE -- AND
REAPPEARANCE -- WAS ABOUT TO UNFOLD
>> COMING UP - MAYBE MARTA HAD NEVER BEEN
MISSING. >> SHE SAYS, "YEAH, THIS IS MY
ID. THIS IS WHO I AM."
SHE'S ALIVE AND WELL OR -- MAYBE THERE WAS ANOTHER
ANSWER >> THAT'S A HOLY COW MOMENT,
HUH? >> Reporter: MARTA RODRIGUEZ'S
SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE FROM ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, IN 1989 WAS
A STARK REVELATION FOR DETECTIVES INVESTIGATING THE
SUSPECTED HOMICIDE OF PAM BUTLER IN WASHINGTON, D.C
SHE'D GONE MISSING IN 2009 DET. ROSA ORTIZ LEARNED THAT, AS
IN PAM'S CASE, POLICE SEARCHING FOR MARTA HADN'T BEEN SURE WHERE
TO LOOK. >> THEY KNEW SHE WAS MISSING
FROM ARLINGTON THEY JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHERE SHE
HAD BEEN >> Reporter: IT WASN'T AS THOUGH
THE COPS DIDN'T TRY. DETECTIVE RAY SPIVEY WORKED THE
CASE AT THE TIME HE CIRCULATED FLYERS ABOUT MARTA
HOPING TO TRIGGER SIGHTINGS OF HER NEAR ST. ELIZABETH'S
HOSPITAL WHERE SHE WORKED. DID YOU CALL OUT DOGS AND ANY
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT OR TEAMS >> D.C. HAD A SPECIALTY DOG, AND
WE ARRANGED THROUGH D.C. TO SEARCH AN AREA OF THE GROUNDS.
>> Reporter: DID THEY HIT ON ANYTHING
>> NO. >> Reporter: MARTA'S SISTER
NEIDA CAME TO SEARCH TOO BUT FOUND NO SIGN OF MARTA
THE CASE, WHAT, JUST SORT OF DIED
>> IT WAS MORE OR LESS A CLOSED CASE AFTER A YEAR.
>> THEY RAN OUT OF WAYS TO GATHER EVIDENCE.
THEY JUST CAME UP EMPTY HANDED >> Reporter: BUT IN 2017, AS
DETECTIVES TRIED TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO MARTA BACK
THEN, THEY TRACKED DOWN HER SON HANSEL, NOW IN HIS 30s
>> I INTRODUCED MYSELF "HEY, I'M DETECTIVE FULTON."
AND I JUST SAID, "HEY, YOU KNOW, I'M FOLLOWING UP ON SOME OLD
MISSING PERSON CASES BY ANY CHANCE, DID YOU HAVE A
MOTHER NAMED MARTA WHO WENT MISSING?
AND HE WAS LIKE, "YES! OH, MY GOD, YES!
>> Reporter: HANSEL TOLD THE DETECTIVES HE DIDN'T KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED, BUT RIGHT AFTER HIS MOM MARTA WENT
MISSING, HIS FATHER JOSE TOLD HIM WHY SHE WAS GONE
>> JOSE'S STORY WAS SHE HAD ALWAYS RAN OFF
THAT SHE HAD MET SOME DUDES, SOME DRUG GUYS, AND SHE HAD JUST
RAN OFF AND WAS NEVER TO BE SEEN BEFORE
THAT WAS HIS STORY >> Reporter: SO HANSEL GREW UP
UNDER A DARK CLOUD >> HE GREW UP THINKING HIS MOM
ABANDONED HIM. >> Reporter: BUT THERE WAS ONE
BIG PROBLEM WITH HANSEL'S STORY. THE DETECTIVES SEARCHING FOR HIS
MOM MARTA TURNED UP EVIDENCE THAT WOULD TOTALLY CONTRADICT
IT DOCUMENTS SHOWED THAT IN THE
YEAR 2000, MORE THAN 10 YEARS AFTER MARTA HAD DISAPPEARED FROM
ARLINGTON, A ROUTINE CHECK OF MISSING PERSONS BY VIRGINIA
POLICE TURNED UP -- GUESS WHAT MARTA RODRIGUEZ WAS ALIVE AND
LIVING IN FLORIDA. MAYBE SHE'D BEEN SO TERRIFIED OF
JOSE THAT SHE'D GONE INTO HIDING FAR AWAY FROM HIM.
NOT MISSING AT ALL >> NOT MISSING AT ALL.
>> Reporter: AT THE TIME, THE ARLINGTON MISSING PERSONS UNIT
EVEN DISPATCHED AN OFFICER IN MIAMI TO CHECK IF IT WAS REALLY
HER. AND A WOMAN ANSWERED THE DOOR.
>> SHE SAYS, "YEAH, THIS IS MY I.D
THIS IS WHO I AM." SHE'S ALIVE AND WELL
>> Reporter: THERE'S MARTA >> YEAH.
>> AND THEY CALLED BACK TO VIRGINIA AND SAID, "HEY, SHE'S
HERE SHE'S LIVING IN FLORIDA.
AND THE CASE, YOU KNOW, JUST GOT FILED AWAY
>> Reporter: TRAGICALLY, MARTA'S FAMILY SAYS THEY REMAINED IN THE
DARK >> THEY SIMPLY CLOSED THE CASE
AND WE WEREN'T TOLD ANYTHING NOTHING.
SO MANY YEARS WENT BY AND NO ONE KNEW ANYTHING.
>> Reporter: MARTA'S MOTHER DIED THINKING THAT MARTA FORGOT ALL
ABOUT HER, THAT SHE DIDN'T WANNA COMMUNICATE WITH HER
>> SO THEY THOUGHT SHE'D WALKED AWAY FROM FAMILY AND CHILD
>> YES >> Reporter: BUT IN 2017, THE
DETECTIVES LEARNING MORE ABOUT MARTA THOUGHT IT WAS UNLIKELY
SHE WOULD HAVE WALKED AWAY FROM HER FAMILY
SO THEY DID SOME DOUBLE CHECKING
THEY ALREADY HAD A PHOTO OF MARTA.
SO THEY DECIDED TO COMPARE THAT PHOTO TO A STATE I.D. PHOTO THEY
ACCESSED OF THE WOMAN IN FLORIDA NAMED MARTA.
AND WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT >> IT WASN'T MARTA
>> Reporter: NO QUESTION >> NO QUESTION WHATSOEVER.
>> Reporter: THAT'S A HOLY COW MOMENT, HUH?
>> IT IS A HOLY COW MOMENT IT IS A HOLY COW MOMENT, YEAH.
>> Reporter: IT MEANT THAT MARTA RODRIGUEZ WAS, AFTER NEARLY
30 YEARS, STILL MISSING. DID YOU EVER SAY, "I'M GONNA
FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO YA"? >> I DID
I SAID, "I'M GONNA GIVE IT ALL I GOT.
AND, YOU KNOW, UNTIL SOMEBODY TELLS ME TO STOP OR I RETIRE,
I'M NOT GONNA GIVE UP. >> Reporter: THE FIRST QUESTION
THE DETECTIVE WANTED ANSWERED WAS, WHO WAS THE WOMAN LIVING IN
FLORIDA POSING AS MARTA? SO IS THIS A WHOLE 'NOTHER
INVESTIGATION OFF TO THE SIDE NOW OF HOW DID THIS WOMAN GET
THE DOCUMENTATION THAT ALLOWED HER TO POSE AS MARTA
>> I PERSONALLY FOUND HER. >> Reporter: THE WOMAN CLAIMING
TO BE MARTA. >> YES
>> Reporter: SHE'S LIVING IN FLORIDA.
>> SHE'S LIVING IN FLORIDA UM, VERY SELDOM DO YOU GET A
CONFESSION OVER THE PHONE. IT'S NOT AS EASY AS PEOPLE THINK
IT IS. BUT SHE CONFESSED.
>> Reporter: AS THE DETECTIVE UNTANGLED THE COMPLEX STORY OF
MARTA RODRIGUEZ, SHE WAS STUNNED WHEN SHE LEARNED THE WOMAN'S
TRUE IDENTITY. >>> COMING UP --
>> JOSE SAID, "HEY, TAKE MARTA'S INFORMATION.
HERE'S HER DATE OF BIRTH HERE'S HER SOCIAL SECURITY
NUMBER." >> A TRAIL OF DECEIT, LEADING TO
DEATH. >> SHE'S NOT GONNA NEED 'EM
ANYMORE. >> Reporter: DID HE ACTUALLY SAY
THAT >>
>> Reporter: EARLY IN 2017, DETECTIVES TRYING TO CRACK THE
PAM BUTLER CASE GOT A BREAK AS THEY INVESTIGATED PAM'S
BOYFRIEND JOSE THEY KNEW JOSE'S FIRST WIFE
MARTA HAD DISAPPEARED FROM ARLINGTON IN 1989.
AND NOW THEY'D DISCOVERED A WOMAN HAD BEEN LIVING AS MARTA
IN FLORIDA FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES.
DETECTIVE ORTIZ WAS ABOUT TO FIND OUT WHO SHE WAS AFTER
FERRETING OUT A PHONE NUMBER AND CALLING HER.
>> SHE CRIED ON THE PHONE CALL BUT SHE CONFESSED.
SHE CONFESSED THAT IT WAS HER WHO USED SOMEBODY ELSE'S
INFORMATION TO GET AN I.D. >> Translator: BUT GET THIS.
THE WOMAN WHO SAID SHE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT MARTA'S DISAPPEARANCE
TURNED OUT TO BE JOSE'S SISTER-IN-LAW.
>> SO JOSE SAID, "HEY, TAKE MARTA'S INFORMATION.
HERE'S HER DATE OF BIRTH HERE'S HER SOCIAL SECURITY
NUMBER." >> Reporter: SHE'S NOT GONNA
NEED 'EM ANYMORE >> SHE'S NOT GONNA NEED 'EM
ANYMORE. >> Reporter: DID HE ACTUALLY SAY
THAT >> EXACTLY
"SHE'S NOT GOT GONNA NEED 'EM. >> Reporter: AFTER ALL THAT
CONFUSION AND DECEPTION, IT TURNED OUT MARTA RODRIGUEZ, LIKE
PAM BUTLER, WAS STILL APPARENTLY MISSING.
THE DETECTIVE WAS SURE JOSE WAS IN SOME WAY RESPONSIBLE.
>> SO I REMEMBER GOIN' DOWN TO MY -- IN MY BOSS'S OFFICE AND
PLOPPIN' DOWN IN HIS CHAIR AND I'M LIKE, "DUDE, HE WAS
MARRIED BEFORE, AND HIS WIFE IS MISSING.
AND IT WAS LIKE, "WHAT IF HE KILLED HIS FIRST WIFE?
>> Reporter: IS THIS THE BIG LIGHT BULB MOMENT, THE BIG
INSIGHT IN THE CASE? >> I THINK SO.
>> Reporter: A PATTERN WAS EMERGING, STORY AFTER STORY.
LIKE THAT OF JOSE'S SECOND WIFE, GUADALUPE.
>> THE DETECTIVES WERE NEVER ABLE TO LOCATE HER
WELL, THE REASON WHY THEY WERE NEVER -- NEVER ABLE TO LOCATE
HER WAS BECAUSE SHE WENT INTO HIDING
>> Reporter: GUADALUPE -- A THIRD WOMAN IN JOSE'S LIFE TO GO
MISSING. >> SHE DID THE WHOLE UNDERGROUND
SORT OF RAILROAD SYSTEM AND OVER THE YEARS HAD RELOCATED TWO OR
THREE DIFFERENT TIMES BECAUSE JOSE WAS ABLE TO LOCATE HER.
SO SHE WOULD GO SOMEPLACE ELSE SO SHE WAS TOTALLY OFF THE GRID.
SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY DETECTIVES HAD A HARD TIME
FINDING HER. >> Reporter: BUT EVENTUALLY, BY
CROSS-REFERENCING HER NAME IN DATABASES, DETECTIVES WERE ABLE
TO TRACK DOWN GUADALUPE. >> WE WERE ABLE TO INTERVIEW
HER. AND THEN THE STORY SHE TELLS, WE
WERE LIKE, "OH, WAIT A SECOND. >> Reporter: WHAT'D HER MAIN
STORY TURN OUT TO BE >> THAT HE WAS ABUSIVE
THAT, "I WAS AFRAID HE WAS GONNA KILL ME.
>> Reporter: GUADALUPE'S DRAMATIC STORY WAS BACKED UP BY
HANSEL, WHO MOVED IN WITH HIS FATHER AND GUADALUPE AFTER HIS
MOTHER DISAPPEARED >> HANSEL HAD FIRST-HAND
KNOWLEDGE OF THE ABUSE THAT GUADALUPE WENT THROUGH
HE SAW IT AS A CHILD >> HANSEL HAD DESCRIBED AN
INCIDENT WHERE SHE WAS DOWNSTAIRS BEGGIN' FOR HER LIFE.
AND HE COULD HEAR JOSE YELLING AT HER, SCREAMING AT HER, "I'M
GONNA KILL YOU." >> Reporter: HE SAW HIS FATHER
PUT A GUN TO HER HEAD. >> YES, HE WITNESSED JOSE PUT A
GUN TO GUADALUPE'S HEAD. HE SAYS, "I COME DOWNSTAIRS.
I SEE MY FATHER IS JUST IN A RAGE
AND I'M THINKING, 'OH, MY GOD, HE'S GONNA KILL HER, AND HE'S
GONNA KILL ME.'" AND HE'S, LIKE, 10 OR 11 AT THE
TIME >> Reporter: DETECTIVE, IS THIS,
LIKE, ARTICLE NUMBER ONE IN "LET ME TELL YOU WHAT KIND OF A GUY
JOSE IS" >> EXACTLY
>> Reporter: BUT THE DETECTIVES WERE MORE ALARMED WHEN THEY
DISCOVERED YET ANOTHER VIOLENT RELATIONSHIP
JOSE HAD BEEN RUNNING A FLEA MARKET STALL WITH A WOMAN WHO
HAD A YOUNG CHILD. HE APPARENTLY WANTED MORE THAN A
BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP. >> HE CALLED HER TO MEET HIM,
AND HE TOOK THAT OPPORTUNITY TO ABDUCT HER AT GUNPOINT
>> JOSE, YOU KNOW, BECAME VERY AGGRESSIVE AND VERY ABUSIVE AND
ENDED UP FORCING HER TO HAVE SEX, ENDED UP RAPING HER
ENDS UP TYING HER UP AND THREATENIN' TO KILL HER.
THREATENIN' TO KILL THE KID. "IF YOU DON'T DO WHAT I SAY, I'M
GONNA KILL THE KID." >> HE HAD THEM BOTH AGAINST
THEIR WILL IN THE BASEMENT OF THIS HOUSE
WHEN SHE FINALLY SEES THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE, SHE ARMS
HERSELF WITH A KNIFE >> HE'S GOT A GUN IN HIS HAND,
GRABS HER. THERE'S A STRUGGLE
SHE STABS HIM. THERE'S A NEIGHBOR UPSTAIRS WHO
COMES RUNNING DOWN SHE'S SCREAMING, "HELP ME, HELP
ME HE'S KIDNAPPED ME!
YOU KNOW, "CALL THE POLICE." >> Reporter: BUT WHEN THE POLICE
ARRIVED, THE TABLES TURNED HE'S BLOODY AND SHE'S GOT A
KNIFE IN HER HAND. RIGHT?
>> EXACTLY AND HE'S SAYIN', "LOOK, SHE'S --
THIS A DOMESTIC. SHE GOT MAD.
SHE STABBED ME." SHE'S TRYING TO EXPLAIN, BUT HER
ENGLISH ISN'T GOOD >> ALL THE POLICE COULD SEE WAS
THAT SHE STABBED HIM BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT SHE
STABBED HIM IN AN EFFORT TO GET AWAY FROM HIM, WITH HER CHILD.
>> SO SHE ULTIMATELY ENDS UP GETTING LOCKED UP.
>> Reporter: HOWEVER, THE POLICE DID CHECK OUT HER STORY.
>> AND THEY GO BACK TO THE HOUSE AND ARE ABLE TO FIND DUCT TAPE
IN THE TRASH CAN SO, YOU KNOW, THE CASE ENDS UP
GETTIN' DISMISSED AGAINST HER. >> Reporter: JOSE DIDN'T GET
CHARGED. BUT THE DETECTIVES WERE SURE
THEY HAD HIS NUMBER. >> HE'S A VIOLENT MAN.
HE HAS A PROBLEM WITH WOMEN. HE HAS A PROBLEM CONTROLLING HIS
ANGER. >> Reporter: DETECTIVE FULTON
CONCLUDED JOSE'S ANGER AND ALLEGED VIOLENCE HAD LED TO
MURDER SO HE DECIDED TO ARREST HIM FOR
KILLING PAM BUTLER BUT UNTIL THEN, HE COULDN'T TELL
DERRICK, WHO WAS STILL LIVING UNDER A CLOUD OF SUSPICION
>> HE WALKED AROUND FOR EIGHT YEARS THINKING THAT PEOPLE ARE
LOOKING AT HIM LIKE HE KILLED HIS SISTER
I MEAN, THAT'S -- THAT'S A HARD THING TO SWALLOW
>> Reporter: AND YOU CAN'T TELL HIM THE WALLS ARE CLOSING IN ON
JOSE >> RIGHT
I CAN'T TELL HIM EVERYTHING I HAVE
I CAN'T TELL HIM, "DUDE, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT
I KNOW YOU DIDN'T DO IT. >> Reporter: IN APRIL 2017, TWO
EXPERIENCED D.C. PROSECUTORS TOOK THE PAM BUTLER CASE
FORMER MILITARY PROSECUTOR GLENN KIRSCHNER, NOW AN NBC NEWS
AND MSNBC LEGAL ANALYST, AND DEBORAH SINES.
>> SHE IS A CHARACTER, TO SAY THE LEAST.
>> Reporter: BUT I DON'T THINK YOU WANT TO FACE EITHER ONE OF
'EM IN COURT >> NO.
THEY ARE WHAT WE CALL HEAVY HITTERS.
>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTORS WERE JUST LEARNING ABOUT JOSE'S
ALLEGED HISTORY OF VIOLENCE. >> WE HAVE HIM VISITING
VIOLENCE, BAD VIOLENCE, AGAINST BOTH WIVES
>> WE HAVE WIFE NUMBER ONE MISSING, AND WIFE NUMBER TWO HAD
A GUN TO HER HEAD BEGGING FOR HER LIFE
WE NOW HAVE PAM BUTLER MISSING BUT WHEN WE REALIZED JOSE IS NOW
HOOKED UP WITH ANOTHER YOUNG LADY WHO HAS A YOUNG DAUGHTER
HERSELF, WE DECIDED WE HAD TO SEEK AN ARREST WARRANT FOR JOSE.
>> Reporter: THERE'S URGENCY TO GET HIM ON ICE, RIGHT?
>> FOR SURE. FOR SURE
>>> COMING UP IS DERRICK STILL A SUSPECT
>> I SAID, "OH, LORD." I'M THINKIN' THAT THEY HAD COME
TO LOCK ME UP AT 3:00 IN THE >> Reporter: IN APRIL 2017,
DETECTIVES WERE PREPARING TO ARREST JOSE RODRIGUEZ-CRUZ FOR
THE MURDER OF PAM BUTLER PAM BUTLER'S BROTHER, DERRICK,
KNEW NOTHING OF WHAT WAS GOING ON
HE HIMSELF WAS STILL LIVING IN FEAR OF BEING ARRESTED FOR HIS
SISTER'S MURDER WHEN, EARLY ONE MORNING, 3:00 A.M., HE GOT A
CALL FROM DETECTIVE FULTON >> I SAID, "OH, LORD."
I'M THINKING THAT THEY HAD COME TO LOCK ME UP AT 3:00 IN THE
MORNING. >> Reporter: KNOCK, KNOCK, COME
ALONG. >> YEAH.
HE SAYS, "THIS IS DETECTIVE FULTON."
AND I SAY, "YEAH, WHAT'S GOING ON?"
AND HE SAID, "I LOCKED HIS ASS UP."
AND THEN IT WAS THE BEST FEELING THAT I'D EVER GOTTEN IN MY LIFE.
>> Reporter: JOSE HAD BEEN ARRESTED, AND THAT MEANT DERRICK
WAS IN THE CLEAR DID YOU THINK HE DID IT?
EVER >> HELL, NO.
NO >> Reporter: DERRICK WAS CLEAN
>> DERRICK WAS CLEAN CLEAN AS A WHISTLE
>> Reporter: A FEW HOURS LATER, PAM BUTLER'S FRIEND, RITA, HEARD
THE NEWS OF JOSE'S ARREST. >> I JUST CRIED.
I SAT IN MY OFFICE AND CRIED THAT THIS HAD FINALLY HAPPENED
>> Reporter: BUT JOSE CONTINUED TO SAY HE WAS INNOCENT
>> HE'S UNDER ARREST VERY CALM, VERY RELAXED.
AND HE'S JUST, "HEY, I DIDN'T KILL PAM."
>> Reporter: BUT YOU KNEW HE WAS YOUR GUY
>> WE KNEW HE WAS THE GUY. YEAH
WE HAVE HIM BEING THE LAST PERSON SEEN WITH PAM
WE HAVE HIS FIRST WIFE, MARTA, WHO'S DISAPPEARED OFF THE FACE
OF THE EARTH WE HAVE HIS SECOND WIFE WHO
TELLS US SHE WAS BEATEN, THREATENED
WE HAVE JOSE GIVING HIS SECOND WIFE'S SISTER MARTA'S
INFORMATION AND SAID, "SHE'S NOT GONNA NEED IT.
SO YOU TAKE ALL OF THESE THINGS AND YOU PUT IT TOGETHER.
AND IT'S JOSE KILLED PAM NO IF-AND-BUTS ABOUT IT.
HE KILLED HER. >> Reporter: EVEN THOUGH
PAMELA BUTLER'S BODY HAD NOT BEEN FOUND IN THE EIGHT YEARS
AFTER SHE'D VANISHED FROM HER WASHINGTON, DC HOME,
JOSE RODRIGUEZ-CRUZ WAS CHARGED WITH HER FIRST-DEGREE MURDER,
AND POTENTIALLY FACED LIFE IN PRISON
>> THAT'S WHEN JOSE REALIZED HE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE MUCH HOPE OF
BEATING THIS BUT HE DID HAVE ONE CARD TO
PLAY AND THAT WAS WHERE HE'D DISPOSED
OF PAM'S REMAINS >> Reporter: THAT LEVERAGE
BECAME THE BASIS OF A PLEA DEAL, A LESSER, SECOND-DEGREE MURDER
CHARGE FOR JOSE CARRYING A 12-YEAR SENTENCE, IF HE GAVE UP
WHERE PAM'S BODY WAS AND TOLD HOW IT GOT THERE
>> HE IS SUPPOSED TO TELL ME HOW HE KILLED PAM.
>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTOR STARED DOWN JOSE AS HE STALLED
>> I'M ASKING THE QUESTIONS AND JOSE WON'T LOOK AT ME.
AND I'M GETTING ANNOYED. AND I FINALLY GO, "LOOK AT ME!
AND HE STARTS SHAKING. HIS EYES BULGE OUT
AND HE STARTS SWEATING PROFUSELY.
>> Reporter: JOSE STARTED SPILLING HIS GUTS ABOUT PAM, AND
WHAT HAPPENED IN HER BASEMENT THE DAY BEFORE VALENTINE'S DAY
2009 >> HE SAYS THAT SHE GOT ANGRY
WITH HIM AND SAID, "WHY AM I WORKING?
YOU'RE OVER HERE WATCHING TV I'M WORKING.
WHY HAVEN'T YOU GOTTEN A BETTER JOB?
YOU'RE NOT A MAN YOU'LL NEVER BE A MAN.
AND HE LOOKED AT ME AND HE SAID, "SHE CALLED ME."
AND HE SAID A BAD NAME >> Reporter: YOU CAN SAY IT.
WE'LL BLEEP IT >> A [ BLEEP ]
SO I PUNCHED HER AND I MUST'VE BLACKED OUT 'CAUSE
WHEN I CAME TO, SHE WAS GONE >> Reporter: THE PROSECUTOR WAS
HAVING NONE OF JOSE'S BLACKOUT STORY.
>> HE APOLOGIZES AND THEN HE TELLS ME HE DIDN'T BLACK OUT AT
ALL. AND HE SAYS HE STRANGLED HER TO
DEATH. >> Reporter: THE PROSECUTORS HAD
AT LAST GOTTEN A CONFESSION. AND THEN, FINALLY, JOSE REVEALED
THE BIGGEST MYSTERY OF THE CASE, HOW HE GOT PAM'S BODY OUT OF THE
HOUSE. REMEMBER THAT WINDOW SHADE PAM'S
FAMILY HAD NOTICED WAS RAISED FROM THE BOTTOM, SOMETHING PAM
NEVER DID? JOSE PUT PAM'S LIMP BODY IN A
BLACK PLASTIC TRASH BAG, RAISED THE SHADE FROM THE BOTTOM, AND
UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS, DROPPED HER OUT OF THE DINING
ROOM WINDOW, A WINDOW HE KNEW WASN'T COVERED BY PAM'S SECURITY
CAMERAS. HE TOLD YOU THE STORY?
>> SURE DID. >> Reporter: JOSE THEN DESCRIBED
DRIVING PAM'S BODY AWAY IN THE BACK SEAT OF HIS CAR
IT'S DIFFICULT TO THINK OF HIS HANDS ON HER
>> YES THE THING THAT HAUNTS ME IS THAT
TERRIFYING MINUTE OR TWO MINUTES THAT IT TOOK FOR HIM TO CHOKE
HER. >> Reporter: ALL PAM'S FAMILY
WANTED WAS TO RESTORE SOME DIGNITY.
>> THEY SAID, "YOU KNOW, WE DON'T REALLY CARE HOW MUCH TIME
JOSE RODRIGUEZ-CRUZ GETS IN JAIL
US WHERE PAM'S REMAINS ARE BECAUSE WE WANNA GIVE HER A
PROPER BURIAL. >> Reporter: USING A MAP, JOSE
MARKED THE PLACE WHERE HE SAID HE'D BURIED PAM'S BODY, IN THE
DENSELY WOODED MEDIAN OF I-95 IN VIRGINIA
THAT'S WHERE THIS BRIGHT BELOVED WOMAN HAD ENDED UP, IN A SHALLOW
GRAVE BETWEEN THE NORTH AND SOUTH BOUND LANES OF ONE OF THE
BUSIEST STRETCHES OF INTERSTATE IN THE COUNTRY
SO DETECTIVE, HERE WERE ARE IN THE MEDIAN OF THE I-95
THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WASHINGTON
THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE >> ABSOLUTELY.
AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY HE GOT AWAY WITH IT FOR SO LONG
NOBODY WOULD HAVE THOUGHT TO STOP HERE.
>> HE BURIED PAMELA BUTLER >> Reporter: BUT RECOVERING HER
REMAINS WAS ANOTHER SAD CHAPTER ALTOGETHER
THE MEDIAN WHERE JOSE SAID HE BURIED PAM HAD SINCE BEEN PAVED
OVER TO CREATE HOV LANES SO PAM'S BODY, UNDER TONS OF
CONCRETE, NEVER WAS RECOVERED. WHAT DID THIS MAN DO TO YOUR
FAMILY >> HE TOOK A LOT AWAY FROM US.
HE TOOK EVERYTHING OUT OF ME >> Reporter: AS FOR JOSE, HE WAS
SENT TO PRISON BUT, WITH GOOD BEHAVIOR, HE WOULD LIKELY END UP
SERVING A GOOD DEAL LESS THAN HIS 12 YEAR SENTENCE FOR
MURDERING PAM. AND THAT GNAWED AT
DERRICK BUTLER HE FELT JOSE HAD CHEATED HIM
>> I THINK HE KNEW THAT THERE WAS NO CHANCE OF EVER FINDING
THE BODY >> Reporter: SO WHAT ARE YOU
THINKING WE'VE GOT TO EXTEND THE
SENTENCE >> EXACTLY
>> Reporter: AS IT HAPPENED, DERRICK WOULD GET HIS CHANCE
BECAUSE WHEN JOSE TOLD INVESTIGATORS THE LOCATION OF
PAM BUTLER'S REMAINS IN THE MEDIAN OF INTERSTATE 95 THAT
JOGGED A DISTANT MEMORY OVER IN VIRGINIA
>> WHEN THEY WERE ON THE SCENE SEARCHING FOR PAMELA'S REMAINS,
SOMEONE AT THE SCENE REMEMBERED THAT SIX MILES SOUTH FROM THERE.
THEY HAD FOUND SOME OTHER REMAINS.
>> Reporter: A STATE TROOPER RECALLED THAT IN 1991, NEARLY
20 YEARS BEFORE PAM BUTLER WAS MURDERED, CIVIL WAR RELIC
HUNTERS TURNED UP ANOTHER BODY SIX MILES SOUTH IN THE MEDIAN OF
I-95 SO INSTEAD OF A SHELL CASING OR
A BUTTON FROM A JACKET THEY FOUND --
>> THEY FOUND -- >> Reporter: A MURDERED WOMAN.
>> THE REMAINS SO THEY -- THEY IMMEDIATELY CALL
THE POLICE >> Reporter: BACK IN 1991, THERE
WAS NO GOOD WAY TO IDENTIFY THE WOMAN'S SPARSE REMAINS
SO SHE WAS LISTED AS A "JANE DOE.
BUT THE DETECTIVES HAD A HUNCH, "COULD SHE BE MARTA?
>> THE FIRST THING THAT CAME TO MIND, "HAVE YOU GUYS SUBMITTED
DNA FOR TESTING? >> Reporter: THE DETECTIVES
OBTAINED A DNA SAMPLE FROM HANSEL, JOSE AND MARTA'S SON
THEY SENT IT OFF FOR COMPARISON WITH A SAMPLE EXTRACTED FROM THE
REMAINS OF THE JANE DOE. AND AT THAT POINT YOUR PHONE
RINGS? >> WE HAVE A MATCH
>> I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT >> Reporter: AND THIS IS WHERE
THEY FOUND MARTA'S BODY? >> THIS IS WHERE THEY FOUND
MARTA'S BODY >> Reporter: BUT THAT WAS JUST A
STARTING POINT >> WE KNEW WHO KILLED HER.
>> Reporter: BUT YOU GOTTA PROVE IT IN COURT.
>> BUT WE HAD TO PROVE IT IN COURT.
>>> COMING UP -- DERRICK MAKES IT HIS PERSONAL
MISSION TO BRING JOSE TO JUSTICE FOR MARTA'S MURDER
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE EASY
>> IT WASN'T >> Reporter: AT HIS HOME IN
WASHINGTON DC, DERRICK BUTLER WAS FUMING.
REGRETTING HE'D SIGNED ON TO THE PLEA DEAL THAT MEANT
JOSE RODRIGUEZ CRUZ COULD LIKELY SERVE LESS THAN 12 YEARS IN
PRISON FOR MURDERING HIS SISTER, PAM.
>> I HAVE NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT HE WOULD HAVE DONE IT
AGAIN. >> Reporter: DERRICK WAS SURE
JOSE HAD ALSO MURDERED HIS FIRST WIFE MARTA IN VIRGINIA DECADES
BEFORE, AND HE WAS GOING TO TRY TO GET JOSE PUT AWAY FOR LIFE.
>> NOW YOU'RE FIRED UP AGAIN AND YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS FIGHT
ACROSS THE RIVER >> CORRECT
>> Reporter: YOU KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE AS TOUGH OR TOUGHER?
>> ACTUALLY, I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE EASY WHEN I FIRST
STARTED. >> Reporter: DERRICK FIGURED THE
D.C. PROSECUTORS HAD PRESENTED A GIFT WRAPPED, WATER TIGHT CASE
AGAINST JOSE TO THE PROSECUTOR IN VIRGINIA.
BUT AS 2017 ROLLED INTO 2018, IT SEEMED TO DERRICK MARTA'S CASE
WAS STUCK. >> A YEAR GOES BY AND NOTHING
HAPPENS. A YEAR AND A HALF GO BY, WE'RE
PRETTY CLOSE TO TWO YEARS AND THEY DIDN'T DO A DAG'GON THING
WITH IT. >> I TOLD HIM, "YOU NEED TO
TRUST US WE'RE DOIN' THIS
WE'RE DOIN' IT THE RIGHT WAY IT'S A BIG PUZZLE.
IS HOW I DESCRIBE THESE CASES YOU HAVE TO PUT ALL THE PIECES
TOGETHER. SOME PUZZLES TAKE LONGER THAN
OTHERS >> Reporter: AND DERRICK WANTED
TO GO QUICKLY? >> HE DID.
>> Reporter: AND IN 2019, DERRICK'S FRUSTRATION TURNED
INTO ACTION. >> I STARTED MAKING PHONE CALLS
TO THEM. AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY WOULD
NOT EVEN TALK TO ME. >> Reporter: WHEN DERRICK DID
EVENTUALLY GET THROUGH, HE SAYS HE GOT THE BRUSH OFF
>> TOLD ME HE DIDN'T HAVE TO TALK TO ME
HE WASN'T GOING TO TALK TO ME. >> Reporter: HE DIDN'T HAVE TO
TALK TO YOU? >> YEAH, WASN'T MY CASE.
I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. YEAH
>> Reporter: SO DERRICK UPPED THE ANTE
HE ROUNDED UP REPORTERS AND CAMERA TEAMS AND HEADED TO
VIRGINIA TO CONFRONT THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY IN PERSON.
>> Reporter: HE'S GOING TO BE ON THE SIX O'CLOCK NEWS UNLESS HE
GETS WITH THE PROGRAM HERE, HUH? >> EXACTLY
>> Reporter: DERRICK MARCHED HIS ENTOURAGE INTO THE COMMONWEALTH
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. DO THEY GET INTO THE BUILDING
WITH YOU OR DO THEY TRY AND KEEP THEM OUT
>> HIS SECRETARY CAME TO THE DOOR AND SHE SAID, "MR. BUTLER
CAN COME IN, BUT NOBODY ELSE CAN COME AND YOU HAVE TO CUT THE
AUDIO AND VIDEO EQUIPMENT OFF. >> Reporter: DERRICK SPOKE WITH
THE D.A. COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY ERIC OLSEN
CORDIAL? >> IT WAS CORDIAL, YEAH, HE
SEEMED LIKE A NICE GUY, AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT HE IS A NICE
GUY. >> DERRICK BUTLER WAS NOT
SATISFIED, AND SO HE MADE IT HIS MISSION TO SEE THAT
JOSE RODRIGUEZ CRUZ WAS BROUGHT TO JUSTICE
>> Reporter: COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY OLSEN WAS CAUGHT OFF
GUARD BY DERRICK'S APPROACH. HE CAME TO YOU GUYS SAYING,
BASICALLY, "GROW A SPINE COME ON, YOU -- YOU GUYS GOTTA
TAKE THIS THING ON." >> WELL, HE -- HE CERTAINLY DID
COME TO OUR OFFICE AND HE TALKED TO ME PERSONALLY
>> Reporter: WITH ALL THE CAMERAS IN THE WORLD -
>> ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO ENCOURAGE US AND -
>> Reporter: SO WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THIS ANGRY FAMILY VICTIM?
>> YOU KNOW, WHEN I SPOKE TO MR. BUTLER I EXPLAINED THERE'S A
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED AND PROVING WHAT
HAPPENED THIS WAS A 30-YEAR-OLD CASE.
>> Reporter: BUT HE TOLD DERRICK HE'D SEE WHAT HE COULD DO.
>> MY MESSAGE TO DERRICK BUTLER WAS THIS, "WE WILL DO EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO TRY TO PUT A CASE TOGETHER
YOU JUST HAVE TO BE PATIENT. IF THERE'S ANY WAY WE CAN DO IT
WE'RE GONNA TRY. >> Reporter: IF YOU HADN'T
BROUGHT THE MEDIA PACK WITH YOU, DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD HAVE
GOTTEN ANY BREAKTHROUGH ON IT? >> I WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN PAST
THE FRONT DOOR I'M NOT CRAZY.
I KNOW THAT A 30-YEAR-OLD CASE IS HARD TO PROVE
>> Reporter: BUT OLSEN PUSHED THE CASE FORWARD
>> THIS IS THE ULTIMATE ACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
THAT'S THE ALLEGATION IN THIS CASE
>> Reporter: HE'S SINGING A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TUNE TO YOU
NOW. >> OH, YEAH RIGHT.
>> Reporter: NOW YOU'RE BROTHERS IN ARMS AND YOU ARE GOING TO GO
GET THIS GUY >> EXACTLY
>> I'M HERE TO GET JUSTICE FOR HER.
SHE DESERVES IT. >> IT WAS FAIRLY OBVIOUS TO
AUTHORITIES THAT THERE WAS NEED TO PURSUE IT AS A HOMICIDE
INVESTIGATION. >> Reporter: IN OCTOBER 2019,
COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY OLSEN CHARGED JOSE RODRIGUEZ CRUZ WITH
THE FIRST-DEGREE MURDER OF HIS FIRST WIFE, MARTA.
AND ASSIGNED SANDRA PARK AND RYAN FITZGERALD TO PROSECUTE THE
CASE WHO DOES JOSE RODRIGUEZ CRUZ
TURN OUT TO BE WHO DID YOU LEARN THIS PERSON
WAS? >> HE WAS A PSYCHOPATH
TO ME, HE WAS JUST AN EVIL PERSON THAT INFLICTED A LOT OF
VIOLENCE ON WOMEN WHO CERTAINLY DID NOT DESERVE ANY OF IT.
>> OF COURSE, THE CHALLENGE FOR US AS PROSECUTORS IS WHAT WE
COULD USE AS EVIDENCE, AND HOW HOW LEGALLY WERE WE GOING TO GET
THOSE ITEMS INTO EVIDENCE TO PAINT THE PICTURE?
>> Reporter: THEIR EVIDENCE WAS CIRCUMSTANTIAL -- EVEN THIN.
THEY HAD NO MURDER SCENE, NO BLOOD EVIDENCE, NO EYEWITNESSES,
AND THEY WERE RELYING ON A FEW BONES FOUND BY CIVIL WAR RELIC
HUNTERS SOME 30 YEARS BEFORE >> REMEMBER THE BONES WERE
RECOVERED IN 1991. >> Reporter: AND I IMAGINE THE
REMAINS WERE SPARSE. >> YES
>> Reporter: BUT WHILE THE PROSECUTORS COULD PROVE THEY
WERE MARTA'S REMAINS, COULD THEY CONVINCE A JURY SHE'D BEEN
MURDERED >> THE INITIAL PATHOLOGY REPORT
DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS UNDETERMINED
>> Reporter: SO YOU DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DIED
>> RIGHT >> Reporter: AND OF COURSE JOSE
DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE HE WAS IN PRISON FOR MURDERING
PAM BUTLER WHEN DETECTIVE ORTIZ AND A COLLEAGUE SHOWED UP TO
QUESTION HIM ABOUT KILLING MARTA.
>> I'M JUST GOING TO ASK YOU FOR THAT, JUST THE HONEST TRUTH.
GET THAT -- OFF YOUR CHEST. >> I CAN'T HELP YOU.
>> YOU CAN YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO
THAT'S DIFFERENT >> WELL, I MEAN OBVIOUSLY YOU
BELIEVE I KILLED HER >> WHY
WHY DID YOU KILL HER >> YOU KEEP ASKING THE QUESTION,
AND I CAN'T ANSWER IT. YOU KNOW WHY'D I KILL HER.
I DIDN'T KILL HER. >> AND HE SAYS, "I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO TELL YOU. I THINK SHE RAN OFF WITH SOME
DRUG DEALERS." AND THAT'S THE SAME STORY THAT
HE HAD BEEN TELLING ALL THE OTHER INNOCENT PEOPLE IN OUR
STORY. >> Reporter: WITH SO LITTLE
EVIDENCE TO WORK WITH, THE TWO PROSECUTORS WEREN'T SURE THEY
COULD WIN THE CASE AND WHAT'S MORE, JOSE HAD A LULU
OF A STORY STILL TO TELL >> COMING UP -
>> Reporter: IS THERE ANYTHING WHERE YOU JUST FELT THE HAIR ON
YOUR NECK STAND UP >> YES. I -- ALL OF IT
JOSE SPILLS THE GRIM DETAILS OF HOW HE KILLED PAM.
EVEN AS HE INSISTS HE'S INNOCENT OF MARTA'S DEATH
>> HE WANTED THE COURT TO BELIEVE THAT SHE DIED OF A DRUG
>> Reporter: IN LATE 2020, THE STAKES WERE HIGH FOR
STAFFORD COUNTY, VIRGINIA PROSECUTORS.
JOSE RODRIGUEZ-CRUZ SEEMED SET TO WALK OUT OF PRISON AFTER
SERVING GOOD DEAL LESS THAN HIS 12-YEAR SENTENCE, EVEN THOUGH
HE'D PLEADED GUILTY TO KILLING HIS GIRLFRIEND, PAM BUTLER
BUT NOW, AS THE PROSECUTORS SOUGHT TO PUT HIM AWAY FOR MAYBE
THE REST OF HIS LIFE FOR KILLING HIS FIRST WIFE MARTA, COULD THEY
EVEN PROVE THE CORE TRUTH ABOUT MARTA'S DEATH?
>> Reporter: DO YOU KNOW WHETHER SHE WAS A MURDER VICTIM OR NOT
THE MOST BASIC INFORMATION YOU NEED
>> YES PEOPLE DON'T JUST END UP ON A
MEDIAN UNEXPLAINED PEOPLE DON'T JUST END UP ON
I-95 UNEXPLAINED AND THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE THAT
WOULD HAVE PUT HER THERE BUT JOSE
AND THE MANNER IN WHICH HE DISPOSED OF HER BECAME SO
IMPORTANT, BECAUSE HE'D DONE THAT TO SOMEONE ELSE ANOTHER
TIME >> Reporter: EVEN THOUGH HE'D
ALREADY TOLD PROSECUTORS IN THE PAM BUTLER CASE WHAT HE'D DONE,
HERE HE WAS ON TAPE, SPEAKING CASUALLY, CHILLINGLY, ABOUT PAM,
TO DETECTIVE ORTIZ AND A FELLOW DETECTIVE.
>> HOW DID YOU KILL HER? >> I STRANGLED HER
>> YOU JUST KILLED HER YOU FEEL BAD ABOUT THAT?
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: AND HE TOLD THE
DETECTIVES HE DROVE DOWN INTERSTATE 95.
>> DID YOU PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OR DID YOU USE THE
MEDIAN >> I USED THE MEDIAN
>> Reporter: AND HE CONFIRMED HOW HE'D DISPOSED OF PAM'S BODY.
>> DID YOU BURY HER? YOU DID?
YOU DUG A HOLE >> YEAH.
>> Reporter: THE WAY HE TELLS IT, SOME OF THE DETAILS, IS
THERE ANYTHING WHERE YOU JUST FELT THE HAIR ON YOUR NECK STAND
UP >> YES
I -- ALL OF IT JUST NO COMPASSION OR EMPATHY OR
HUMAN EMOTION WHATSOEVER >> Reporter: YOU'RE NOT SEEING
ANY REMORSE? >> NO REMORSE.
>> Reporter: LITTLE DID HE KNOW THAT, BY TELLING LAW ENFORCEMENT
HOW HE MURDERED AND DISPOSED OF PAM BUTLER, JOSE WAS HANDING THE
PROSECUTORS CRITICAL DETAILS THEY COULD USE AGAINST HIM FOR
KILLING MARTA. >> IT BECOMES SIGNATURE
EVIDENCE IT'S IDIOSYNCRATIC
IT'S SO UNIQUE THAT THE EVIDENCE OF PAM BUTLER'S MURDER BECOMES
RELEVANT TO THE MURDER OF MARTA RODRIGUEZ.
THE DEFENDANT HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS THE AREA IN WHICH HE
PLACED PAM BUTLER'S BODY, THAT'S A SIGNATURE.
>> MARTA WAS DUMPED VERY CLOSE ALONG THIS TREE LINE HERE.
>> Reporter: DETECTIVE ORTIZ TOLD US HOW SHE BELIEVES JOSE
DISPOSED OF MARTA'S BODY SO HOW DO YOU THINK IT HAPPENED?
HOW DO YOU SEE IT GOING DOWN >> I REALLY SEE IT AT THE MIDDLE
OF THE NIGHT, DARK JOSE JUST PULLS OVER ON THE --
ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY IT'S A VERY QUICK, UNPLANNED
MANEUVER AND HE JUST DUMPS THE BODY RIGHT
THERE. >> Reporter: AS THE
MARTA RODRIGUEZ MURDER CASE HEADED FOR TRIAL, THE EVIDENCE
AGAINST JOSE, THAT ONCE SEEMED THIN, WAS PILING UP.
>> I THINK THAT'S WHEN ANYONE WOULD BEGIN TO REALIZE, "OKAY.
THEY'VE BUILT THE CASE AND THEY HAVE MY STORY NOW.
WHAT DO I DO NOW?" >> Reporter: JOSE DID AS HE'D
DONE IN THE PAM BUTLER CASE. HE MADE A DEAL WITH THE
PROSECUTORS AND AGREED TO PLEAD GUILTY TO SECOND DEGREE MURDER
IN APRIL 2021 AT A SENTENCING HEARING, HE WOULD MAKE HIS CASE
FOR THE MINIMUM FIVE YEARS IN PRISON WHILE THE PROSECUTORS
WOULD ARGUE FOR THE MAX, 40 YEARS
THIS IS, SORT OF, AN UNUSUAL EVENT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
THERE'S NO JURY. YOU'RE ARGUING YOUR CASE TO THE
JUDGE. >> YES
>> Reporter: AS THE COURT CONVENED, THERE WAS MARTA AND
JOSE'S ONLY SON, HANSEL. >> HANSEL.
HANSEL RODRIGUEZ HE'S THE DRIVING FORCE FOR US.
HE SUFFERED SO MUCH AND WE NEEDED TO BRING THIS TO FRUITION
FOR HIM. >> Reporter: DERRICK BUTLER WAS
THERE TOO, STARING DAGGERS AT JOSE
HERE YOU ARE IN THIS COURTROOM STANDING AS AN ADVOCATE FOR A
MURDERED WOMAN THAT YOU'D NEVER MET.
>> OH, YEAH. HANSEL DIDN'T DESERVE TO GO
THROUGH WHAT HE HAD WENT THROUGH.
>> Reporter: WHEN THE HEARING GOT UNDERWAY, RYAN FITZGERALD
MADE A BLISTERING PRESENTATION OF THE EVIDENCE.
FAIR TO SAY YOU TOOK THIS PERSONALLY
>> NO. IT'S NOT THAT YOU TAKE THINGS
PERSONALLY, BUT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO TAP INTO WHAT THAT FEELS
LIKE WHEN YOU'VE GOT HIS SON SITTING BEHIND YOU
>> Reporter: HANSEL TOOK THE STAND AGAINST HIS FATHER WITH A
SEARING IMPACT STATEMENT >> YOU COULD FEEL HIS HURT
YOU FELT IT WHEN HE SAID, "I STARTED TO NOTICE OTHER FAMILIES
THAT HAD A MOM AND I DIDN'T HAVE A MOM.
>> Reporter: AND THEN HE TOLD THE COURT A CHILDHOOD SECRET
HE'D REVEALED TO DETECTIVES DURING THEIR INVESTIGATION, THAT
WHEN HE WAS 11, HE SUDDENLY DISCOVERED THE STORY ABOUT HIS
MOM RUNNING OFF WITH DRUG DEALERS WASN'T TRUE.
THE INCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN JOSE WAS IN A RAGE AND HANSEL RAN TO
HIDE >> AND HE SAYS, "MY DAD HAS THIS
LIBRARY AND -- AND HE HAS HIS DESK AREA.
AND I'M RUNNING BY AND I JUST HAPPEN TO LOOK AND THERE'S THIS
PIECE OF PAPER LAYING THERE. AND THE SHEET OF PAPER SAID, "I,
JOSE RODRIGUEZ, AM RESPONSIBLE FOR MARTA'S DISAPPEARANCE.
AND HE WAS LIKE, "OH, MY GOD HE'S GONNA KILL HIMSELF AND THIS
IS, SORT OF, HIS CONFESSION OF WHAT HE DID TO HIS MOM."
AND HE SAID HE WENT AND HID. >> HE SAID HE JUST VIEWED HIS
LIFE THROUGH A LENS OF CONFLICT AND SURVIVAL
AND YOU FELT IT WHEN HE SAID THAT IT DEFINED HIM.
>> Reporter: BEING A BOY WHOSE FATHER KILLED HIS MOTHER
>> RIGHT >> Reporter: THE EXCLAMATION
POINT CAME FROM MARTA'S SISTER, NEIDA, APPEARING IN COURT VIA A
LIVE VIDEO STREAM. >> SO TRAGIC
MARTA SUFFERED SO MUCH >> Reporter: THE PROSECUTORS
CLOSED BELIEVING THEY'D MADE THEIR STRONGEST CASE FOR A LONG
SENTENCE THE QUESTION IS, "JUDGE, WHAT
ARE YOU GONNA DO NOW THAT WE'VE TOLD YOU THESE THINGS?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. >> Reporter: AND THEY HADN'T
COUNTED ON JOSE'S NEXT MOVE. >> AT A SENTENCING PROCEEDING,
THE DEFENDANT HAS THE RIGHT TO OFFER THE COURT HIS VERSION OF
THE EVENTS >> Reporter: SO JOSE ROSE TO
TELL HIS STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED TO MARTA
IN MAY 1989, AFTER HE AND MARTA WERE SEPARATED, JOSE SAID MARTA
GOT IN TOUCH WITH HIM. >> HE SAYS THAT SHE WANTED TO
MEET WITH HIM TO TALK ABOUT HANSEL
>> Reporter: JOSE SAID THEY MET AT A HOTEL, BUT MARTA FELT
UNWELL >> HE SAYS THAT SHE WAS
SUFFERING A MIGRAINE HE TOLD HER THAT SHE COULD TAKE
SOME OF HIS PAINKILLERS THAT HAPPENED TO BE LAYING OUT IN A
BAG. >> AND HE DIRECTED HER TO THE
BAG TO TAKE THE PAIN PILLS >> Reporter: MEANWHILE, JOSE
SAID, HE TOOK THIS CAR TO GO GET SOME FOOD FOR MARTA.
BUT AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, HE SAID, HE RAN OUT OF GAS.
AND SO BY THE TIME HE GOT BACK TO THE HOTEL, HE CLAIMED HE WAS
CONFRONTED BY A SCENE OF HORROR. >> SO WHEN HE LEAVES TO GO GET
GAS, HE COMES BACK LATE AND THEN MARTA'S DEAD
>> Reporter: MARTA HAD OVERDOSED ON PAIN PILLS, JOSE EXPLAINED IN
COURT. AND HE PANICKED.
AND THEN HE SAYS HE CALLS A FRIEND TO HELP HIM, HUH?
>> WELL, HE SAID HE CALLED NOT A FRIEND
HE CALLS HIS DRUG DEALER TO HELP HIM DISPOSE OF THE BODY.
>> Reporter: JOSE CLAIMED HIS DEALER FRIEND TOLD HIM TO KEEP
LOOKOUT WHILE HE TOOK CARE OF MARTA'S BODY
>> AND THEN IT'S THE DRUG DEALER WHO DUMPS THE BODY
>> Reporter: AND THAT WAS JOSE'S STORY ABOUT MARTA.
>> THINK ABOUT THAT. RIGHT?
IN THE YEAR BEFORE SHE DIED, JOSE ABDUCTED HER, ABUSED HER,
TIED HER UP, ATTEMPTING TO RAPE HER, AND HE WANTED THE COURT TO
BELIEVE THAT SHE DIED OF A DRUG OVERDOSE DURING WHICH HE WASN'T
EVEN IN THE ROOM AND HE HAPPENED TO BE OUT GETTING GAS.
>> Reporter: THE JUDGE WAS NOT BUYING THIS DEFENSE AT ALL
>> THAT WAS OUR TAKE ON IT >> Reporter: AFTER A SHORT
RECESS, THE JUDGE RETURNED TO HAND DOWN HIS SENTENCE
BOOM >> HE IMPOSED THE MAXIMUM
PUNISHMENT ALLOWABLE UNDER THE LAW --
>> AND I CLAPPED >> Reporter: YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED
TO DO THAT DERRICK >> YEAH.
I WAS HOPING THAT HE WOULD GET THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT
BUT I WASN'T EXPECTING IT. >> Reporter: JOSE, AGED 55, GOT
40 YEARS, ON TOP OF THE 12 YEARS HE WAS ALREADY SERVING FOR
MURDERING PAM BUTLER >> THAT IS WHAT THAT MAXIMUM
PENALTY IS RESERVED FOR. IT'S FOR PEOPLE, MONSTERS LIKE
JOSE >> I THOUGHT NOBODY WAS SO
BROKEN, THAT THEY COULDN'T BE FIXED.
BUT I WOULD TELL HIM THAT YOU ARE A PERSON THAT SHOULD HAVE
NEVER BEEN BORN. HE'S AN EVIL GUY
WE DON'T KNOW ALL THE THINGS THAT HE'S DONE
>> JUSTICE WAS FINALLY SERVED. >> Reporter: JOSE WILL LIKELY
DIE IN PRISON, WHILE HIS MANY VICTIMS TRY TO PICK UP THE
PIECES OF THEIR LIVES. MARTA'S SISTER, NEIDA, IS STILL
FILLED WITH REGRET, FOR NOT COMING TO THE PHONE THE DAY
MARTA CALLED FOR HELP. >> I'M NEVER GOING TO HAVE
CLOSURE. THAT'S WHY I FEEL SO GUILTY AS
IF I HAD KILLED HER WITH MY OWN HANDS.
>> Reporter: DETECTIVE ORTIZ IS PLANNING TO BRING MARTA'S ASHES
TO PUERTO RICO, SO NEIDA CAN LAY HER SISTER TO REST ON A HILL
WHERE MARTA HAD SOME OF HER HAPPIEST MOMENTS
>> SHE WOULD'VE STILL BEEN AROUND HER FAMILY.
>> Reporter: SHE DIDN'T GET THAT
>> SHE DIDN'T GET THAT CHANCE. SHE DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO RAISE
HER CHILD OR HAVE THE ABILITY TO RAISE HER GRANDKIDS.
>> Reporter: AS FOR DERRICK, HE CONTINUES TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE
OF COLOR SEARCHING FOR MISSING LOVED ONES THROUGH THE NONPROFIT
BLACK AND MISSING FOUNDATION BUT HIS PERSONAL JOURNEY IS
OVER YOU JUST KEPT ON ACOMING AND
ACOMING AND ACOMING FOR YEARS. >> YEAH.
SCARED AS HELL SOMETIMES THAT THEY WERE GOING TO COME AND LOCK
ME UP. >> Reporter: HOW DO YOU THINK
ABOUT YOURSELF, DERRICK? ARE YOU A HERO
>> NO, JUST SOMEBODY THAT CARES ABOUT HIS FAMILY
I HAVE NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT HAD THIS HAPPENED TO ME, THAT
PAM WOULD HAVE DID THE SAME FOR ME
>>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF DATELINE.
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY AT 9:00 P.M./8:00 P.M. CENTRAL
AND, OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY
NEWS." I'M LESTER HOLT.