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A FORMER STATE SENATOR FOUND

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MURDERED AT HER OWN HOME
A STUNNING LOSS TO ALL WHO KNEW

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HER.
AND THE KILLER

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THAT WAS A STUNNER, TOO.
>> THERE WAS A LARGE SPOT OF

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BLOOD THAT WAS ON THE FLOOR.
IT APPEARED THAT'S WHERE THE

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HOMICIDE ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE
>> I WAS BREAKING DOWN CRYIN'.

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IT'S MY MOM!
>> HE SAID, "SHE'S BEEN

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MURDERED."
AND, I MEAN, MY WORLD JUST FALLS

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APART.
>> PEOPLE COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT

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THIS FORMER STATE SENATOR WAS
NOW DEAD

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>> Reporter: SHE EMBRACED
HOT-BUTTON ISSUES.

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>> SHE DID
>> Reporter: YOU'VE GOT TO

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CONSIDER MAYBE THERE'S POLITICAL
ENEMIES HERE

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>> EVERYONE THOUGHT THE
EX-HUSBAND

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>> THEY WERE GOIN' THROUGH A
DIVORCE, AND IT WAS UGLY

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>> LINDA HAD A FEELIN' SOMEONE
WAS TRYING TO HARM HER

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>> SHE WAS IN FEAR FOR HER LIFE.
>> VIDEO CAMERAS HAD BEEN PLACED

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AROUND THAT HOUSE.
THOSE CAMERAS POSSIBLY RECORDED

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THE ACTUAL MURDER.
>> YOU SEE THIS WHITE SHEET.

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SOMEBODY TRYING TO DISGUISE
THEMSELF

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THEY WALK IN THE HOUSE
THIS IS OUR KILLER

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>> HERE'S DENNIS MURPHY WITH
"THE HANDS OF A KILLER."

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>> MOVING OUT OF MY OFFICE
TODAY.

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I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW HUMBLE I
AM TO BE YOUR SENATOR, HOW PROUD

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I WAS TO SERVE YOU
>> Reporter: FOR ELECTED

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OFFICIALS, IT COMES WITH THE
TERRITORY.

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NOW AND THEN YOU GET TOSSED OUT
OF OFFICE.

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FOR ARKANSAS STATE SENATOR
LINDA COLLINS, THAT DAY OF

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RECKONING WITH THE VOTERS
ARRIVED IN 2019.

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SHE'D BEEN PRIMARIED AND LOST
HER SEAT IN THE STATE CAPITOL.

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>> THAT'S THE WAY I VOTED, AS
YOUR CONSERVATIVE SENATOR AND

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YOUR FRIEND.
>> Reporter: AFTER NEARLY TEN

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YEARS OF SERVICE, SHE WAS
PACKING UP HER BOXES

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IT WAS AN ALTOGETHER BAD PATCH
FOR THE SENATOR.

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SHE'D BEEN GOING THROUGH A MESSY
DIVORCE AS WELL.

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HER KIDS, BUTCH AND TATE, KNEW
ALL THE TURBULENCE HAD TAKEN A

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TOLL ON THEIR MOM.
>> IF YOU KNEW LINDA, YOU KNEW

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THAT -- MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO
HER WERE GOD AND THEN HER

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FAMILY, AND THEN PROBABLY THE
PEOPLE OF ARKANSAS

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>> Reporter: THAT'S HER MOTTO?
THAT'S WHAT SHE'S GOT STITCHED

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ON -
>> YEAH.

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>> Reporter: -- HER PILLOW
>> EXACTLY

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>> PRETTY MUCH YEAH.
>> EXACTLY

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>> Reporter: BUT LINDA, A FORCE
OF NATURE IF THERE EVER WAS ONE,

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PICKED HERSELF OFF THE MAT AND
DID A LITTLE REINVENTING

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SHE RETURNED TO HER RURAL
HOMETOWN OF TINY POCAHONTAS,

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ARKANSAS, IN THE NORTHEAST PART
OF THE STATE, SOY AND RICE

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GROWING COUNTRY, AND WITHIN
MONTHS WAS DATING A NEW GUY.

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SHE WAS LOOKING INTO GOOD PAYING
LOBBYING JOBS AROUND THE

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COUNTRY.
>> YOU KNOW, SHE LOVES POLITICS.

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WHY NOT CONTINUE THAT, MAYBE IN
A DIFFERENT -- DIFFERENT ROLE

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AND TURN IT INTO AN ACTUAL
PAYING, YOU KNOW, GIG.

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>> Reporter: BUT AS THE
PHILOSOPHER OBSERVED, LIFE IS

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WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE MAKING
OTHER PLANS.

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AFTER A JOB HUNTING TRIP TO
D.C., LINDA COLLINS SIMPLY

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DISAPPEARED.
TATE'S LAST CONVERSATION WITH

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HER MOM WAS ON MONDAY, MAY 27th.
THE INTERVIEW HAD GONE WELL, SHE

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SAID
EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE

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TALK ABOUT ANYTHING IN
PARTICULAR

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>> NO, NOT REALLY.
JUST MADE SOME PLANS, AND THAT

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WAS -- THAT WAS IT
>> Reporter: BUT TWO DAYS LATER,

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TATE SENT HER MOM A TEXT MESSAGE
AND NEVER HEARD BACK

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>> IT WAS A PICTURE OF SHOES,
AND MOM LOVED SHOES.

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AND SHE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING
BACK

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AND SO I THOUGHT, "OKAY, WELL,
THAT'S A LITTLE WEIRD.

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BUT SHE HAD SAID THAT SHE WAS
GONNA BE BUSY DOIN' SOME STUFF

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>> Reporter: BUSY, MAYBE
BUT AS THE DISTURBINGLY SILENT

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DAYS PASSED, TATE GREW
CONCERNED.

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A WEEK AFTER LINDA'S LAST
CONTACT, TATE, TWO HOURS AWAY

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OUTSIDE LITTLE ROCK, CALLED HER
BROTHER, BUTCH

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>> I WAS LIKE, "I STILL HAVEN'T
HEARD FROM MOM."

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AND SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN
LITTLE ROCK GETTING A DRESS,

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BECAUSE SHE WAS GONNA BE GOIN'
TO THE ARKANSAS MUSIC AWARDS

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AND WE STILL HADN'T HEARD FROM
HER.

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>> Reporter: BUTCH, WHO STILL
LIVED IN POCAHONTAS, AGREED TO

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SWING BY HIS MOM'S HOUSE
HER TRUCK WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY,

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BUT SHE WASN'T ANSWERING THE
DOOR

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AND HE DIDN'T HAVE A KEY
STILL, EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE

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IN ORDER
DID YOU REASSURE TATE THEN, "I

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JUST WAS OVER AT THE HOUSE AND
EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE OKAY"?

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>> YEAH.
ABSOLUTELY

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>> Reporter: "BUT SHE'S NOT
COMIN' TO THE DOOR."

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>> RIGHT
I -- I DIDN'T SEE -- I WAS LIKE,

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YOU KNOW, "I DON'T SEE ANYTHING
OUT OF PLACE OR ANYTHING THAT'S

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ODD.
>> Reporter: BUT TATE COULD JUST

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FEEL IT.
SOMETHING WAS OFF.

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THE NEXT DAY SHE CALLED HER
GRANDFATHER, LINDA'S DAD, WHO

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HAD A KEY TO THE HOUSE
TATE WAS ON THE PHONE WITH HIM

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WHEN HE ARRIVED.
RIGHT AWAY, HER GRANDPA NOTICED

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SOMETHING PECULIAR
LINDA'S TRUCK WAS UNLOCKED

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>> THAT ISN'T MOM.
>> Reporter: THAT'S NOT HER,

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HUH?
>> YEAH, MOM LOCKS HER VEHICLES

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OBSESSIVELY.
>> Reporter: HER GRANDPA WENT TO

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THE BACK DOOR AND GAVE IT A
SHOVE.

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IT WAS OPEN.
TATE COULD FEEL THE PANIC RISING

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AS HER GRANDFATHER BEGAN
SEARCHING THE HOUSE, WHICH WAS

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UNDER RENOVATION
>> HE'S, YOU KNOW, SAYIN' HER

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NAME
"LINDA, LINDA.

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YOU KNOW, AND HE'S LOOKING
AND HE SAYS, "I'VE CHECKED EVERY

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CLOSET
I'VE CHECKED IN THE TUB.

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I'VE CHECKED EVERYWHERE.
>> Reporter: BUT THEN, IN THE

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KITCHEN --
>> HE SAYS, "THERE'S SOMETHING

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IN THE FLOOR."
>> Reporter: IT WAS A MEAN

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LOOKING STAIN.
TARISH

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>> I CAN HEAR IT IN HIS VOICE
THAT HE KNOWS THAT IT'S

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SOMETHING.
YOU KNOW

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AND I -- I SAY, "OKAY.
I SAID, "DO YOU WANT ME TO CALL

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BUTCH AND HAVE HIM COME?
AND HE SAID, "YES, YES."

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HE SAID, "I THINK THAT'S WHAT
YOU NEED TO DO."

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>> Reporter: BUTCH WAS THERE
WITHIN MINUTES

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WHAT'D YOU THINK IT WAS?
>> MOM WAS A HEAVY, HEAVY COFFEE

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DRINKER.
SO IT LOOKED LIKE A COFFEE POT

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HAD BEEN DROPPED, AND THEN THERE
WAS DARK LIQUID JUST -- HAD

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SPLASHED OUT FROM, LIKE, A
COFFEE POT BUSTIN'

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>> Reporter: SO THE COFFEE COULD
EXPLAIN THE STAIN TO YOU

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>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Reporter: BUT WAS IT COFFEE

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THEY SENT TATE A VIDEO
IT GAVE HER THE CHILLS

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>> I'M THINKING, "THIS IS --
THAT'S BLOOD."

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AND THEY'RE LIKE, "NO, IT'S" -
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TELL THEY'RE

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TRYIN' TO MAKE -- MAKE SENSE OF
IT

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>> MAKE LOGICAL SENSE OF -
>> YOU KNOW, MAKE IT LOGICAL

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NO ONE GOES IN THINKING THAT'S
WHAT YOU'RE GONNA FIND

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>> Reporter: UNSETTLED, BUTCH
AND HIS GRANDPA HUNG UP WITH

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TATE AND CLOSED UP THE HOUSE
THEY WERE WALKING BACK TO THEIR

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CARS WHEN GRANDPA CAUGHT A BAD
WHIFF.

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THE WORST.
>> MY GRANDPA'S LIKE, "HEY," YOU

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KNOW, "DO YOU SMELL THAT?"
AND I SAID, "YOU KNOW, COME TO

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THINK OF IT, I -- I -- I DO.
IT SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING'S DEAD,

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LIKE A DEAD ANIMAL."
AND -- AND HE SAID, "YEAH.

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HE GOES, "WHY DON'T YOU GO CHECK
THAT TARP REAL QUICK?"

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>> Reporter: THERE WAS A TARP
ATOP SOME CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL

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IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE
>> I WENT OVER THERE, AND I

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MOVED A BRICK OUT OF THE WAY,
OFF THE CORNER OF THE TARP

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AND I'M -- I RAISED IT
JUST A SWARM -- IT WAS -- SWARM

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OF FLIES CAME OUT AND -- AND
I -- I SAW HER

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>> Reporter: IT WAS HIS MOM'S
BODY, LYING FACE DOWN WITH HER

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ARMS ABOVE HER HEAD, WRAPPED IN
A COMFORTER BUTCH HAD TAKEN TO

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COLLEGE.
SHE'D BEEN THERE A WHILE

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>> I JUST THREW THE TARP DOWN.
AND MY GRANDPA WAS COMIN' OVER

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AND I SAID, "LISTEN.
I WAS LIKE, "YOU CAN'T -- YOU

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CAN'T.
I FOUND HER.

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I SAID, "YOU CAN'T -- YOU CAN'T
GO OVER THERE.

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AND HE TRIED
AND I -- I PHYSICALLY SHOVED HIM

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BACK
I SAID, "YOU CAN'T

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YOU CAN'T SEE HER.
>> Reporter: I'M SORRY YOU HAD

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TO SEE THAT, BUTCH
>> AND IT MADE ME JUST

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PHYSICALLY JUST SICK TO MY
STOMACH.

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>> Reporter: BUTCH TRIED TO STAY
CALM AS HE CALLED 911.

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>> WHAT IS YOUR NAME, HONEY?
>> BUTCH SMITH

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I'M HER SON.
WE CAME TO DO A WELLNESS CHECK

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AT HER HOUSE
I THINK I FOUND THE BODY

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>> OKAY, HONEY
WE'LL GET AN AMBULANCE HEADED

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THAT WAY
OKAY

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>> Reporter: THEN HE HAD TO CALL
TATE

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>> HE SAID, "WE FOUND HER.
AND -- AND I'M -- I'M SITTING ON

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THE COUCH.
AND HE SAID, "WE FOUND HER

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SHE'S BEEN MURDERED.
AND I LOOKED AT MY HUSBAND AND I

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00:08:03,450 --> 00:08:05,051
SAID, "MURDERED?
I SAID, "DID YOU SAY

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00:08:05,051 --> 00:08:08,355
'MURDERED?'"
HE SAID, "YEAH."

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00:08:08,355 --> 00:08:17,664
AND, I MEAN, MY WORLD JUST FALLS
APART.

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00:08:17,664 --> 00:08:19,232
>> Reporter: LINDA COLLINS,
ONE-TIME STATE SENATOR, MOTHER,

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00:08:19,232 --> 00:08:21,334
BUSINESSWOMAN, HAD INDEED BEEN
MURDERED

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00:08:21,334 --> 00:08:25,505
NOT ANY DOUBT ABOUT THAT
BUT WHO COULD POSSIBLY

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00:08:25,505 --> 00:08:26,773
AND WHY?
QUESTIONS LEFT TO THE

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00:08:26,773 --> 00:08:28,775
AUTHORITIES.
THEY WERE ABOUT TO ARRIVE ON THE

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00:08:28,775 --> 00:08:29,943
SCENE.
>> HAVE YOU ALL BEEN INSIDE THE

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00:08:29,943 --> 00:08:32,879
HOME
>> YES

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00:08:32,879 --> 00:08:37,083
YES, WE HAVE
>>> WHEN WE COME BACK, THE HUNT

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00:08:37,083 --> 00:08:40,220
FOR A KILLER BEGINS.
>> THERE'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING

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00:08:40,220 --> 00:08:43,423
UP WITH THIS
WE ARE GOING TO NEED C.I.D. OUT

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00:08:43,423 --> 00:08:44,958
HERE
>> Reporter: HOW HORRIBLE TO

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THINK THAT THE HOME THAT YOU
KNEW SO WELL IS NOW A SCENE, A

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00:08:46,126 --> 00:08:49,195
MURDER SCENE -
>> A CRIME SCENE

174
00:08:49,195 --> 00:08:51,765
RIGHT.
I COULDN'T IMAGINE

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00:08:51,765 --> 00:08:53,867
YOU KNOW, IS MY FAMILY IN
DANGER

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00:08:53,867 --> 00:09:13,887
* (MÚSICA) *ULD IT HAVE BEEN ME?
WE GOT A 911 CALL FROM A

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00:09:13,887 --> 00:09:15,155
BUTCH SMITH.
>> Reporter: IT WAS EARLY

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00:09:15,155 --> 00:09:18,324
EVENING WHEN THE CALL WENT OUT
OVER POLICE FREQUENCIES.

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00:09:18,324 --> 00:09:25,131
FORMER STATE SENATOR
LINDA COLLINS HAD BEEN FOUND

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00:09:25,131 --> 00:09:27,534
DEAD AT HER HOME, MURDERED
THE FIRST RANDOLPH'S COUNTY

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00:09:27,534 --> 00:09:28,802
SHERIFF'S DEPUTY ARRIVED AT THE
SCENE, BODY-CAM ROLLING.

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00:09:28,802 --> 00:09:30,370
>> THERE'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING
UP WITH THIS

183
00:09:30,370 --> 00:09:35,608
WE ARE GOING TO NEED C.I.D. OUT
HERE

184
00:09:35,608 --> 00:09:37,844
>> WHILE WE WERE THERE ON SITE,
THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTY HAD SHOWED

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00:09:37,844 --> 00:09:40,347
UP AND HE IMMEDIATELY ROLLED OUT
THE CRIME SCENE TAPE

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00:09:40,347 --> 00:09:41,915
STARTED CORDONING OFF THE -- THE
AREA

187
00:09:41,915 --> 00:09:45,452
>> YOU COULD DO IT TO THAT STUMP
IF YOU WANT TO

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00:09:45,452 --> 00:09:46,586
>> AND OF COURSE THE NEIGHBORS
WERE COMIN' OUT, TRYIN' TO

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00:09:46,586 --> 00:09:48,755
FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOIN' ON
>> Reporter: THE WHOLE THING WAS

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00:09:48,755 --> 00:09:50,824
BEYOND SURREAL FOR BUTCH
HOW HORRIBLE TO THINK THAT THE

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00:09:50,824 --> 00:09:52,058
HOME THAT YOU KNEW SO WELL IS
NOW A SCENE -- A MURDER SCENE --

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00:09:52,058 --> 00:09:53,059
>> A CRIME SCENE
RIGHT.

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00:09:53,059 --> 00:09:57,764
>> Reporter: AND YOUR MOTHER'S
THE VICTIM

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00:09:57,764 --> 00:09:59,799
>> I WOULD'VE NEVER -- NEVER IN
A MILLION YEARS HAVE EVER

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00:09:59,799 --> 00:10:02,168
EXPECTED IT.
I MEAN, FOR SOMEBODY TO JUST

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00:10:02,168 --> 00:10:04,004
LOVE THEIR COMMUNITY AND
EVERYBODY SO MUCH, TO BE

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00:10:04,004 --> 00:10:09,242
MURDERED
I -- I COULDN'T IMAGINE.

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00:10:09,242 --> 00:10:11,411
>> Reporter: TO BUTCH AND HIS
SISTER TATE, THERE WAS NOTHING

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00:10:11,411 --> 00:10:16,616
ABOUT THEIR MOM'S MURDER THAT
MADE A BIT OF SENSE.

200
00:10:16,616 --> 00:10:20,253
LINDA WAS A LOVING MOM AND
BELOVED FIGURE IN NORTHEAST

201
00:10:20,253 --> 00:10:22,655
ARKANSAS
SOMEONE WHO'D MADE SOMETHING OF

202
00:10:22,655 --> 00:10:27,093
HERSELF DESPITE A HARD-SCRABBLE
UPBRINGING

203
00:10:27,093 --> 00:10:28,228
>> SHE GREW UP VERY POOR OUT
IN -- OUT IN THE COUNTRY, ON

204
00:10:28,228 --> 00:10:30,397
DIRT ROADS. THEY DIDN'T HAVE
RUNNING WATER EVEN

205
00:10:30,397 --> 00:10:32,332
>> Reporter: WHAT IS THAT WORD
I'LL GIVE YOU, LIKE, GRIT,

206
00:10:32,332 --> 00:10:34,534
DETERMINATION, CHARACTER
WHAT KINDS OF THINGS -

207
00:10:34,534 --> 00:10:35,468
>> OH, YEAH.
>> Reporter: -- ARE YOU TALKIN'

208
00:10:35,468 --> 00:10:41,775
ABOUT HERE
>> ABSOLUTELY.

209
00:10:41,775 --> 00:10:43,977
ALL THE ABOVE, AND THEN SOME
>> Reporter: ALL HER LIFE, THEY

210
00:10:43,977 --> 00:10:51,384
SAY, LINDA HAD USED THAT DRIVE
TO TRY AND BETTER THE COMMUNITY.

211
00:10:51,384 --> 00:10:54,854
REALTOR, SHE DECIDED THAT TINY
POCAHONTAS COULD USE SOME FIRST

212
00:10:54,854 --> 00:10:56,823
RATE LODGING
SO SHE AND HER HUSBAND, PHIL --

213
00:10:56,823 --> 00:10:57,957
THE KIDS STEPFATHER AND A
JUDGE -- BUILT ONE HOTEL -- A

214
00:10:57,957 --> 00:11:02,228
DAYS INN -- AND REMODELED
ANOTHER.

215
00:11:02,228 --> 00:11:03,797
A WAY-COOL ROCK & ROLL THEMED
MOTEL DECKED OUT WITH 60s MUSCLE

216
00:11:03,797 --> 00:11:07,667
CARS AND VINYL RECORDS
LINDA RAN THEM BOTH.

217
00:11:07,667 --> 00:11:08,868
>> Reporter: DO YOU GUYS GET
PULLED INTO THE BUSINESS BECAUSE

218
00:11:08,868 --> 00:11:09,936
YOU'RE THERE -
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

219
00:11:09,936 --> 00:11:11,638
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> ABSOLUTELY.

220
00:11:11,638 --> 00:11:12,806
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Reporter: YOU'RE -- YOU'RE

221
00:11:12,806 --> 00:11:14,808
CHEAP LABOR AND YOU'RE
AVAILABLE?

222
00:11:14,808 --> 00:11:17,444
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.
OUR FIRST JOBS WERE PICKIN' THE

223
00:11:17,444 --> 00:11:19,312
WEEDS OUTTA THE FLOWER BEDS.
>> Reporter: BUT LINDA DIDN'T

224
00:11:19,312 --> 00:11:21,114
SETTLE FOR BEING JUST AN
INN-KEEPER

225
00:11:21,114 --> 00:11:24,250
SHE FOUNDED A COUNTY TOURISM
ASSOCIATION AND DECIDED TO RUN

226
00:11:24,250 --> 00:11:25,985
FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.
IN 2010, SHE WAS ELECTED TO THE

227
00:11:25,985 --> 00:11:29,989
ARKANSAS STATE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.

228
00:11:29,989 --> 00:11:33,360
KEN YANG IS A POLITICAL
CONSULTANT WHO WORKED FOR LINDA

229
00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:35,261
IN LITTLE ROCK
>> Reporter: DID YOU THINK SHE

230
00:11:35,261 --> 00:11:37,897
WAS A STAR WHEN YOU SIGNED ON?
>> YEAH.

231
00:11:37,897 --> 00:11:44,104
IF LINDA WAS ALIVE TODAY IN THIS
POLITICAL CLIMATE, SHE WOULD

232
00:11:44,104 --> 00:11:45,271
JUST BE A SUPERSTAR RIGHT NOW.
>> Reporter: YOU SAW MAYBE A

233
00:11:45,271 --> 00:11:46,106
FUTURE GOVERNOR IN HER, HUH?
>> YEAH.

234
00:11:46,106 --> 00:11:47,874
EASILY
>> Reporter: WHAT WAS HER

235
00:11:47,874 --> 00:11:50,510
POLITICAL STRENGTH
>> BEING AROUND PEOPLE

236
00:11:50,510 --> 00:11:52,112
SHE JUST HAD A SPIRIT ABOUT HER.
SHE WAS A HUGGER, SO SHE'D HUG

237
00:11:52,112 --> 00:11:54,714
YOU.
SHE'D EMBRACE YOU, SHE'D --

238
00:11:54,714 --> 00:11:56,282
CARED ABOUT YOU.
IF YOU WERE ON THE OTHER SIDE,

239
00:11:56,282 --> 00:12:03,089
SHE CARED ABOUT YOU.
SHE LISTENED TO YOU.

240
00:12:03,089 --> 00:12:04,224
>> Reporter: BUT KEN, A
REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN STRATEGIZER,

241
00:12:04,224 --> 00:12:06,393
THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING
OFF-KILTER ABOUT LINDA'S

242
00:12:06,393 --> 00:12:07,293
POLITICS
SHE WAS A DEMOCRAT BUT HER

243
00:12:07,293 --> 00:12:14,100
FAITH-BASED BELIEFS WERE DEEPLY
CONSERVATIVE

244
00:12:14,100 --> 00:12:16,236
SO SEVEN MONTHS INTO HER FIRST
TERM, LINDA TOOK A RISKY PLUNGE

245
00:12:16,236 --> 00:12:18,338
AND SWITCHED TO THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY.

246
00:12:18,338 --> 00:12:20,140
>> I AM HERE TODAY TO ANNOUNCE
THAT I HAVE JOINED THE

247
00:12:20,140 --> 00:12:26,713
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ARKANSAS
[ APPLAUSE ]

248
00:12:26,713 --> 00:12:28,615
>> Reporter: WAS THAT A CYNICAL,
OPPORTUNISTIC MOVE ON HER PART

249
00:12:28,615 --> 00:12:33,553
TO SWITCH PARTIES?
>> OH, NO.

250
00:12:33,553 --> 00:12:40,326
IN THAT DAY AND AGE, IT WAS MORE
OF A POLITICAL SUICIDE MOVE, YOU

251
00:12:40,326 --> 00:12:43,496
KNOW? YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET
RE-ELECTED

252
00:12:43,496 --> 00:12:45,098
IT'S A DEMOCRAT STATE.
>> HELLO, I'M

253
00:12:45,098 --> 00:12:47,167
LINDA COLLINS SMITH.
>> Reporter: BUT LINDA DID GET

254
00:12:47,167 --> 00:12:48,735
REELECTED.
IN FACT, SHE WON AN EVEN BIGGER

255
00:12:48,735 --> 00:12:50,303
JOB -- STATE SENATOR
SO, HERE YOU ARE, THE ARKANSAS

256
00:12:50,303 --> 00:12:52,906
SENATE
WHERE'S YOUR -- WHERE'S YOUR

257
00:12:52,906 --> 00:12:56,109
SEAT, SENATOR?
>> SEAT'S RIGHT HERE TO THE

258
00:12:56,109 --> 00:12:57,210
RIGHT.
>> Reporter: GARY STUBBLEFIELD

259
00:12:57,210 --> 00:12:59,879
SERVED WITH LINDA IN THE SENATE
FROM 2015 TO 2019.

260
00:12:59,879 --> 00:13:03,049
HE WORKED WITH LINDA ON SOME OF
THE HOTTEST OF THE HOT BUTTON

261
00:13:03,049 --> 00:13:04,451
CONSERVATIVE ISSUES OF THE DAY
ISSUES WERE ABORTION, GUN

262
00:13:04,451 --> 00:13:05,518
RIGHTS -
>> GUN RIGHTS.

263
00:13:05,518 --> 00:13:08,722
>> Reporter: CHILDREN --
CHILDREN'S RIGHTS, ESPECIALLY.

264
00:13:08,722 --> 00:13:11,257
>> CHILDREN'S RIGHTS
FREEDOM.

265
00:13:11,257 --> 00:13:12,859
EVERYTHING THAT THE BILL OF
RIGHTS STOOD FOR, THE

266
00:13:12,859 --> 00:13:14,928
CONSTITUTION, THAT'S WHAT LINDA
WAS FOR.

267
00:13:14,928 --> 00:13:16,663
>> Reporter: AND WAS SHE
EFFECTIVE, SENATOR

268
00:13:16,663 --> 00:13:18,498
>> YES
I THINK SHE WAS VERY EFFECTIVE

269
00:13:18,498 --> 00:13:20,300
>> Reporter: SHE GOT BUSINESS
DONE, HUH?

270
00:13:20,300 --> 00:13:23,870
>> YES
SHE DID.

271
00:13:23,870 --> 00:13:27,073
>> WE'VE GOT TO HOLD PEOPLE
ACCOUNTABLE, AND THIS IS THE WAY

272
00:13:27,073 --> 00:13:28,174
WE HANDLE THIS
>> Reporter: EFFECTIVE, HE SAYS,

273
00:13:28,174 --> 00:13:30,677
BECAUSE OF HOW TIRELESSLY LINDA
FOUGHT FOR HER CONSTITUENTS.

274
00:13:30,677 --> 00:13:33,313
SHE WAS ONLY FIVE FEET TALL BUT
HER PUGNACIOUS STYLE WON HER A

275
00:13:33,313 --> 00:13:38,084
FOOTBALL NICKNAME IN THE
CHAMBER -- THE LINEBACKER.

276
00:13:38,084 --> 00:13:39,686
>> THIS BILL WAS HIJACKED, AND
IT WAS HIJACKED ON THE SENATE

277
00:13:39,686 --> 00:13:42,222
FLOOR, AND IT TURNED INTO
SOMETHING IT SHOULDN'T HAVE

278
00:13:42,222 --> 00:13:48,595
BEEN
>> IF SHE KNEW SHE WAS RIGHT,

279
00:13:48,595 --> 00:13:51,698
SHE WOULD FIGHT 'TIL THE VERY
END.

280
00:13:51,698 --> 00:13:53,366
SHE WOULD NOT GIVE UP.
>> Reporter: 'COURSE, THAT STYLE

281
00:13:53,366 --> 00:13:54,167
COULD PUT A LOTTA NOSES OUTTA
JOINTS

282
00:13:54,167 --> 00:13:56,403
YOU KNOW, SOME CASES
>> SURE.

283
00:13:56,403 --> 00:13:59,572
BUT SHE WASN'T THERE -- SHE
WASN'T THERE TO MAKE FRIENDS

284
00:13:59,572 --> 00:14:01,107
>> Reporter: LINDA'S KIDS KNEW
THEIR ITTY-BITTY MOM WASN'T

285
00:14:01,107 --> 00:14:05,311
COWED BY ANYBODY
>> THERE WAS A FEW INSTANCES, I

286
00:14:05,311 --> 00:14:06,613
GUESS, WHERE SOME OTHER PEOPLE
THERE HAD TRIED TO, LIKE,

287
00:14:06,613 --> 00:14:09,082
PHYSICALLY INTIMIDATE HER BY
STANDING UP TO HER BECAUSE

288
00:14:09,082 --> 00:14:11,084
THEY -
[ LAUGHTER ]

289
00:14:11,084 --> 00:14:13,053
-- WERE LARGER, YOU KNOW, FOLKS.
AND SO SHE'D COME UP TO, LIKE,

290
00:14:13,053 --> 00:14:14,287
THEIR CHEST.
AND SHE'D JUST PUT THAT NOSE

291
00:14:14,287 --> 00:14:16,156
RIGHT UP AGAINST THERE AND JUST
TELL 'EM, "THAT'S NOT HOW THIS

292
00:14:16,156 --> 00:14:17,424
IS GONNA WORK, AND --"
>> Reporter: "NONE OF THAT

293
00:14:17,424 --> 00:14:18,458
ALPHA --
>> "-- YOU DON'T SCARE ME.

294
00:14:18,458 --> 00:14:20,060
>> Reporter: "-- STUFF, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH"

295
00:14:20,060 --> 00:14:22,629
>> RIGHT
RIGHT.

296
00:14:22,629 --> 00:14:26,566
THAT'S NOT GONNA FLY
>> Reporter: POLITICAL PUNDITS

297
00:14:26,566 --> 00:14:27,734
IN THE STATE THOUGHT IT WAS
LINDA'S STRONG-HEADEDNESS THAT

298
00:14:27,734 --> 00:14:29,436
MAY HAVE CAUSED HER TO GET ON
THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ARKANSAS

299
00:14:29,436 --> 00:14:33,940
GOVERNOR
WHATEVER

300
00:14:33,940 --> 00:14:35,241
BUT IN 2018, HE SUPPORTED A
PRIMARY OPPONENT AGAINST HER AND

301
00:14:35,241 --> 00:14:38,912
SHE LOST HER SEAT.
LINDA'S MARRIAGE TO PHIL HAD

302
00:14:38,912 --> 00:14:40,613
GONE SIDEWAYS AS WELL.
THEY DIVORCED AFTER 23 YEARS

303
00:14:40,613 --> 00:14:42,582
>> THEIR BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP
WAS GREAT.

304
00:14:42,582 --> 00:14:48,321
BUT, JUST PERSONALLY, THEY
COULDN'T GET PAST THEIR -- THEIR

305
00:14:48,321 --> 00:14:49,989
ISSUES
>> Reporter: LINDA'S LIFE WAS

306
00:14:49,989 --> 00:14:53,093
CHANGING AT WARP SPEED, BUT SHE
WASN'T ONE TO FEEL SORRY FOR

307
00:14:53,093 --> 00:14:56,196
HERSELF.
SHE DUSTED HERSELF OFF AND SAW

308
00:14:56,196 --> 00:14:59,332
THE "WHAT MIGHT BE"s OF THE
YEARS AHEAD -- THAT PROMISING

309
00:14:59,332 --> 00:15:01,835
D.C. LOBBYING JOB AND, FOR SURE,
MORE TIME WITH BUTCH AND TATE'S

310
00:15:01,835 --> 00:15:03,036
KIDS, HER GRANDCHILDREN.
>> GO!

311
00:15:03,036 --> 00:15:06,673
>> SHE ABSOLUTELY LOVED HAVIN'
GRANDKIDS.

312
00:15:06,673 --> 00:15:10,844
SHE WAS THE FUN -- THE FUN
GRANDPARENT.

313
00:15:10,844 --> 00:15:13,480
* JINGLE BELL
JINGLE ALL THE WAY *

314
00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:19,786
>> HAPPY NEW YEAR!
[ LAUGHTER ]

315
00:15:19,786 --> 00:15:22,055
>> Reporter: BUT NOW SHE WAS
GONE, HER LIFE ERASED IN BRUTAL

316
00:15:22,055 --> 00:15:24,491
FASHION BY PERSON OR PERSONS
UNKNOWN.

317
00:15:24,491 --> 00:15:27,127
POLICE WERE SWARMING THE
PROPERTY

318
00:15:27,127 --> 00:15:28,728
>> WE'LL WAIT TILL MY SHERIFF
GETS HERE.

319
00:15:28,728 --> 00:15:29,729
UH, BUT, YEAH, WE'RE GONNA NEED
IN THERE

320
00:15:29,729 --> 00:15:34,467
>> THAT'S FINE
>> OK.

321
00:15:34,467 --> 00:15:37,103
>> Reporter: WITH A MURDERER ON
THE LOOSE, BUTCH -- WHO LIVED

322
00:15:37,103 --> 00:15:40,774
NEARBY -- COULDN'T HELP BUT
WONDER ABOUT HIS OWN SAFETY.

323
00:15:40,774 --> 00:15:42,075
>> WE DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE WHO HAD
DONE IT OR WHO -- WHAT -- WHAT

324
00:15:42,075 --> 00:15:43,910
THE REASONING WAS BEHIND IT, AND
MOTIVE

325
00:15:43,910 --> 00:15:45,478
YOU KNOW, "IS MY FAMILY IN
DANGER?"

326
00:15:45,478 --> 00:15:50,216
YOU KNOW, "COULD IT HAVE BEEN
ME

327
00:15:50,216 --> 00:15:52,318
ARE THEY COMIN' FOR US NEXT?
>> Reporter: THE SHERIFF'S TEAM

328
00:15:52,318 --> 00:15:54,421
JOINED BY STATE POLICE HAD THEIR
WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM.

329
00:15:54,421 --> 00:15:55,488
AND THE PRESSURE TO SOLVE THE
CASE WOULD BE INTENSE.

330
00:15:55,488 --> 00:15:58,625
BECAUSE THE DEATH OF
LINDA COLLINS WASN'T JUST A

331
00:15:58,625 --> 00:16:00,827
LOCAL STORY.
IT WAS ABOUT TO BECOME THE MOST

332
00:16:00,827 --> 00:16:05,432
EXPLOSIVE NEWS STORY IN THE
STATE.

333
00:16:05,432 --> 00:16:08,601
RUMOR QUICKLY HAD IT, HER
KILLING WAS A POLITICAL COVER-UP

334
00:16:08,601 --> 00:16:12,772
THAT WENT RIGHT TO THE TOP
>>> COMING UP --

335
00:16:12,772 --> 00:16:15,909
CLOSE FRIENDS LEARN THE AWFUL
NEWS

336
00:16:15,909 --> 00:16:19,612
[ CRYING ]
>> I KNOW, MISS BECKY, I KNOW

337
00:16:19,612 --> 00:16:22,782
IT'S HARD.
>> SHE WAS MY BEST FRIEND.

338
00:16:22,782 --> 00:16:24,851
>> AND, A COVER-UP BY THE
KILLER

339
00:16:24,851 --> 00:16:26,453
>> THAT WAS A SECURITY CAMERA AT
ONE POINT.

340
00:16:26,453 --> 00:16:28,555
AND LOOKING AT IT, THE CAMERA'S
GONE

341
00:16:28,555 --> 00:16:47,574
SO, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE REMOVED
THOSE CAME

342
00:16:47,574 --> 00:16:48,775
>> Reporter: LINDA COLLINS, A
FORMER STATE SENATOR, HAD BEEN

343
00:16:48,775 --> 00:16:52,812
MURDERED, AND IT SEEMED THAT
EVERYBODY IN ARKANSAS WAS

344
00:16:52,812 --> 00:16:54,981
PANTING TO HEAR EVERY DETAIL
NO ONE WAS MORE AWARE OF THAT

345
00:16:54,981 --> 00:16:59,619
THAN RANDOLPH COUNTY SHERIFF
KEVIN BELL

346
00:16:59,619 --> 00:17:01,688
YOU GOT ALL THE WORLD LOOKIN'
OVER YOUR SHOULDER, DON'T YOU?

347
00:17:01,688 --> 00:17:02,789
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> Reporter: ARMCHAIR DETECTIVES

348
00:17:02,789 --> 00:17:06,459
PLAYIN' --
>> YES, SIR.

349
00:17:06,459 --> 00:17:08,094
>> Reporter: -- WHODUNIT
SHERIFF BELL SPENT YEARS WITH

350
00:17:08,094 --> 00:17:11,197
THE ARKANSAS STATE POLICE BEFORE
COMING TO REST IN RANDOLPH

351
00:17:11,197 --> 00:17:13,033
COUNTY
WHEN HE GOT THE CALL EARLY

352
00:17:13,033 --> 00:17:17,037
EVENING, JUNE 4th, 2019, HE KNEW
A STORM WAS COMING

353
00:17:17,037 --> 00:17:19,572
>> THE DISPATCHER TOLD ME THAT A
PERSON HAD BEEN FOUND, APPEARED

354
00:17:19,572 --> 00:17:22,809
TO BE IN -- WRAPPED IN A BLANKET
OUTSIDE, UNDERNEATH THE TARP AT

355
00:17:22,809 --> 00:17:23,843
LINDA COLLINS' RESIDENCE
>> Reporter: LOOKED LIKE A

356
00:17:23,843 --> 00:17:26,379
HOMICIDE
>> IT SOUNDED LIKE A HOMICIDE TO

357
00:17:26,379 --> 00:17:28,481
ME
>> Reporter: IF THERE'S SUCH A

358
00:17:28,481 --> 00:17:34,187
THING AS A RUN-OF-THE-MILL
MURDER, THIS WASN'T IT

359
00:17:34,187 --> 00:17:35,121
THIS WAS PERSONAL.
>> I'D KNOWN LINDA AND HER

360
00:17:35,121 --> 00:17:37,957
ENTIRE FAMILY FOR MANY, MANY
YEARS.

361
00:17:37,957 --> 00:17:40,060
GONE TO CHURCH WITH 'EM AND JUST
KNEW LINDA FROM THE -- THE

362
00:17:40,060 --> 00:17:42,662
COMMUNITY, HER BEING A POLITICAL
LEADER, BUSINESS LEADER IN -- IN

363
00:17:42,662 --> 00:17:43,797
OUR TOWN
>> Reporter: AND YOU'RE BEING

364
00:17:43,797 --> 00:17:46,332
ROLLED OUT TO WHAT'S GONNA BE
HER MURDER SCENE

365
00:17:46,332 --> 00:17:48,435
>> YES
>> Reporter: WHEN THE SHERIFF

366
00:17:48,435 --> 00:17:53,173
ARRIVED AT LINDA'S HOME, HE
BEGAN LOGGING OBSERVATIONS EVEN

367
00:17:53,173 --> 00:17:56,843
BEFORE SETTING FOOT INSIDE
>> I NOTICED ON THE HOUSE, THERE

368
00:17:56,843 --> 00:18:01,548
WAS SOME PLACES WHERE SECURITY
CAMERAS ONCE WAS -

369
00:18:01,548 --> 00:18:02,716
>> Reporter: THERE'S STILL A
POLE RIGHT THERE -- THERE'S A

370
00:18:02,716 --> 00:18:04,718
MOUNTING BRACKET RIGHT THERE
>> THAT'S CORRECT.

371
00:18:04,718 --> 00:18:06,820
AND THAT -- THAT MOUNTING
BRACKET, I NOTICED, WAS A

372
00:18:06,820 --> 00:18:08,054
SECURITY CAMERA AT ONE POINT,
BECAUSE I HAD SEEN THOSE

373
00:18:08,054 --> 00:18:10,023
SECURITY CAMERAS BEFORE.
AND LOOKIN' AT IT, THE CAMERA'S

374
00:18:10,023 --> 00:18:13,126
GONE
>> Reporter: YEAH.

375
00:18:13,126 --> 00:18:14,694
SOMEONE REMOVED THOSE CAMERAS.
>> Reporter: AND NOT JUST ONE

376
00:18:14,694 --> 00:18:15,829
CAMERA
HE'D LATER LEARN THERE WERE A

377
00:18:15,829 --> 00:18:17,530
BUNCH OF THEM, BOTH INSIDE AND
OUTSIDE THE HOUSE, NOW GONE.

378
00:18:17,530 --> 00:18:20,533
WHO REMOVED THEM
AND WHEN

379
00:18:20,533 --> 00:18:23,203
WOULD THEY EVER TURN UP?
WHERE IS THAT?

380
00:18:23,203 --> 00:18:25,238
ARE WE GONNA GET A LITTLE HELP
FROM THESE CAMERAS

381
00:18:25,238 --> 00:18:27,874
>> RIGHT
>> Reporter: THEN HE NOTICED

382
00:18:27,874 --> 00:18:30,510
SOMETHING ELSE
>> ON THE SIDEWALK AREA, WE

383
00:18:30,510 --> 00:18:34,147
FOUND A SMALL PIECE OF PLASTIC
>> Reporter: PLASTIC

384
00:18:34,147 --> 00:18:39,386
>> A PIECE OF BLACK PLASTIC THAT
APPEARED TO BE A TOOTH OFF OF A

385
00:18:39,386 --> 00:18:43,056
HAIR BARRETTE.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO TRACK BACK

386
00:18:43,056 --> 00:18:45,191
AROUND, AND YOU COULD FIND THE
TRAIL FROM WHERE SOMEONE HAD

387
00:18:45,191 --> 00:18:47,794
REMOVED LINDA FROM THE HOUSE AND
BROUGHT HER OUT THIS WAY

388
00:18:47,794 --> 00:18:49,896
>> Reporter: THE SHERIFF WAS
PONDERING THOSE THINGS WHEN HE

389
00:18:49,896 --> 00:18:54,100
ENTERED THE HOUSE.
FIRST, THE KITCHEN

390
00:18:54,100 --> 00:18:55,669
HE SAW RIGHT AWAY THE MEAN, DARK
STAIN ON THE ROUGH WOOD

391
00:18:55,669 --> 00:19:00,907
SUBFLOORING.
DEFINITELY NOT COFFEE.

392
00:19:00,907 --> 00:19:03,109
>> THERE WAS A LARGE SPOT OF
BLOOD THAT WAS ON THE FLOOR.

393
00:19:03,109 --> 00:19:05,812
IT APPEARED THAT'S -- THAT'S
WHERE THE HOMICIDE ACTUALLY TOOK

394
00:19:05,812 --> 00:19:06,813
PLACE.
>> Reporter: DID YOU KNOW THAT

395
00:19:06,813 --> 00:19:09,816
YOU HAD A STABBING RATHER THAN A
FIREARM INCIDENT HERE?

396
00:19:09,816 --> 00:19:13,286
>> INITIALLY WE DID NOT KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS.

397
00:19:13,286 --> 00:19:16,222
ONCE THE ARKANSAS CRIME LAB
ARRIVED AND WE EXAMINED THE

398
00:19:16,222 --> 00:19:17,724
BODY -- AND COULD DETERMINE AT
THAT POINT THAT IT APPEARED TO

399
00:19:17,724 --> 00:19:19,292
BE A STAB WOUND.
>> Reporter: MULTIPLE STAB

400
00:19:19,292 --> 00:19:24,564
WOUNDS
>> MULTIPLE STAB WOUNDS, YES

401
00:19:24,564 --> 00:19:28,301
>> Reporter: THEY DIDN'T FIND
THE MURDER WEAPON.

402
00:19:28,301 --> 00:19:29,336
BUT IN THE KITCHEN WERE SIGNS OF
A CLEANUP ATTEMPT.

403
00:19:29,336 --> 00:19:32,439
A CLOROX BOTTLE WITH WHAT LOOKED
LIKE BLOOD ON IT

404
00:19:32,439 --> 00:19:34,107
AS FOR THE REST OF THE HOUSE
THERE WAS HOME RENOVATION CHAOS.

405
00:19:34,107 --> 00:19:38,178
BUT NOTHING SIGNALED A BOTCHED
ROBBERY.

406
00:19:38,178 --> 00:19:40,280
THERE'D BEEN NO FORCED ENTRY,
AND THAT SUGGESTED, BUT NOT MUCH

407
00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:44,484
MORE, THAT MAYBE LINDA KNEW HER
KILLER

408
00:19:44,484 --> 00:19:46,086
OR KILLERS
BUT THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE

409
00:19:46,086 --> 00:19:47,954
HOUSE, I'M GUESSING, TO EXPLAIN
TO YOU WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENED

410
00:19:47,954 --> 00:19:49,723
HERE
WHAT YOU'RE --

411
00:19:49,723 --> 00:19:52,859
>> NO.
>> Reporter: WHICH WAY YOUR

412
00:19:52,859 --> 00:19:54,427
PERPETRATOR'S GONE
HOW MANY PEOPLE THERE WERE

413
00:19:54,427 --> 00:19:55,462
>> CORRECT
>> Reporter: STATE

414
00:19:55,462 --> 00:19:57,597
INVESTIGATORS, CALLED IN TO
HELP, TURNED TO LINDA'S INNER

415
00:19:57,597 --> 00:20:01,267
CIRCLE TO BUILD A TIMELINE OF
HER LAST DAYS.

416
00:20:01,267 --> 00:20:03,370
TWO OF HER CLOSEST FRIENDS, SO
DISTRAUGHT THEY'D COME OUT TO

417
00:20:03,370 --> 00:20:06,473
THE CRIME SCENE, OFFERED TO SIT
DOWN WITH INVESTIGATORS.

418
00:20:06,473 --> 00:20:10,176
ANYTHING TO HELP
>> I LOVED THAT WOMAN LIKE A

419
00:20:10,176 --> 00:20:14,381
SISTER, AND THIS IS KILLING ME
>> Reporter: TIM LOGGAINS,

420
00:20:14,381 --> 00:20:20,153
LINDA'S FRIEND, CONFIDANTE, AND
STAUNCH POLITICAL ALLY, HAD BEEN

421
00:20:20,153 --> 00:20:21,721
TIGHT WITH HER FOR YEARS
>> IF SHE WALKED IN THAT DOOR

422
00:20:21,721 --> 00:20:23,490
RIGHT NOW, THIS ENTIRE ROOM
WOULD LIGHT UP

423
00:20:23,490 --> 00:20:25,392
YOU WOULD FEEL HER, HEAR HER,
AND SEE HER.

424
00:20:25,392 --> 00:20:29,562
SHE WOULD BE THE FOCAL POINT OF
THIS ROOM IN A GOOD WAY.

425
00:20:29,562 --> 00:20:31,164
>> Reporter: TIM HAD INTRODUCED
LINDA TO HIS FIANCEE,

426
00:20:31,164 --> 00:20:34,334
BECKY O'DONNELL, A FEW YEARS
EARLIER.

427
00:20:34,334 --> 00:20:37,537
THAT NIGHT, AN EMOTIONAL BECKY
TALKED TO INVESTIGATORS IN A

428
00:20:37,537 --> 00:20:39,072
SEPARATE ROOM.
>> I KNOW YOU'RE UPSET, AND I

429
00:20:39,072 --> 00:20:41,708
DON'T WANT TO UPSET YOU ANY
MORE

430
00:20:41,708 --> 00:20:48,515
I KNOW, MISS BECKY
I KNOW IT'S HARD

431
00:20:48,515 --> 00:20:52,719
>> SHE WAS MY BEST FRIEND.
I STARTED OUT WORKING FOR HER AS

432
00:20:52,719 --> 00:20:54,821
HER PERSONAL ASSISTANT
>> Reporter: BECKY WAS SO

433
00:20:54,821 --> 00:20:58,992
RELIABLE SHE WAS SOON DRIVING
LINDA EVERYWHERE AND EVEN

434
00:20:58,992 --> 00:21:01,094
MANAGING HER MOTEL
SHE TOLD INVESTIGATORS SHE

435
00:21:01,094 --> 00:21:05,298
PICKED LINDA UP AT THE AIRPORT
AFTER HER TRIP

436
00:21:05,298 --> 00:21:06,499
BECKY WAS HAZY ABOUT THE TRAVEL
DETAILS BECAUSE -- ONE MORE

437
00:21:06,499 --> 00:21:08,968
COMPLICATION ON THAT HELLISH
DAY -- SHE'D MISPLACED HER

438
00:21:08,968 --> 00:21:11,571
PHONE.
>> I'M LOST WITHOUT MY PHONE

439
00:21:11,571 --> 00:21:13,707
>> BLESS YOUR HEART.
I BET YOU ARE.

440
00:21:13,707 --> 00:21:17,944
>> I THINK I HAVE SOME
SCREENSHOTS IN MY TEXTS OF HER

441
00:21:17,944 --> 00:21:19,446
FLIGHT DETAILS
>> Reporter: SHE REMEMBERED THAT

442
00:21:19,446 --> 00:21:22,615
LINDA FLEW BACK ON MONDAY,
MAY 27th

443
00:21:22,615 --> 00:21:27,887
MEMORIAL DAY
AS BECKY DROVE HER HOME, THE TWO

444
00:21:27,887 --> 00:21:28,955
TALKED ON THE PHONE WITH TIM
HIS LAST CALL WITH LINDA

445
00:21:28,955 --> 00:21:30,590
JUST CHIT-CHAT
>> SHE'S LIKE, "HEY, BUDDY, HOW

446
00:21:30,590 --> 00:21:32,592
YOU DOING?
"I'M GOOD, LINDA."

447
00:21:32,592 --> 00:21:34,127
SHE SAID, "BOY, IT'S BEEN A
TOUGH DAY.

448
00:21:34,127 --> 00:21:35,195
I'VE GOT A LOTTA STUFF TO TALK
TO YOU ABOUT

449
00:21:35,195 --> 00:21:37,097
BUT I'M TOO TIRED TO DO IT
TODAY.

450
00:21:37,097 --> 00:21:38,865
I'LL -- I'LL TALK TO YOU
TOMORROW."

451
00:21:38,865 --> 00:21:42,535
>> Reporter: THE FOLLOWING DAY
WAS MAY 28th, A TUESDAY.

452
00:21:42,535 --> 00:21:48,141
BECKY SAID SHE GOT A TEXT THAT
MORNING FROM LINDA ASKING HER TO

453
00:21:48,141 --> 00:21:49,909
BRING LUNCH TO THE HOUSE
>> I WENT OUT THERE, AND SHE

454
00:21:49,909 --> 00:21:51,478
TOLD ME ALL ABOUT THE NIGHT
BEFORE BECAUSE THE MAN OUT

455
00:21:51,478 --> 00:21:53,113
THERE, RENDELL, SPENT THE NIGHT
WITH HER

456
00:21:53,113 --> 00:21:55,682
>> Reporter: "THE MAN" WAS
RENDELL WALLIS

457
00:21:55,682 --> 00:21:57,751
LINDA HAD JUST STARTED SEEING
HIM.

458
00:21:57,751 --> 00:22:01,187
RENDELL HAD ARRIVED LATE AND
LEFT EARLY

459
00:22:01,187 --> 00:22:05,258
BECKY TOLD INVESTIGATORS SHE AND
LINDA ARGUED ABOUT HIM

460
00:22:05,258 --> 00:22:06,726
>> SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW THE
NIGHT BEFORE IT HAD TAKEN

461
00:22:06,726 --> 00:22:09,329
RENDELL, LIKE, FOUR HOURS TO
GET -- RESPOND TO HER TEXTS AND

462
00:22:09,329 --> 00:22:10,897
CALLS.
>> THIS IS BEFORE HE CAME OVER

463
00:22:10,897 --> 00:22:15,635
>> YES
>> OKAY.

464
00:22:15,635 --> 00:22:19,305
>> AND SHE WAS KIND OF UPSET
ABOUT IT

465
00:22:19,305 --> 00:22:22,475
AND I TOLD HER SHE HAD NO RIGHT
TO BE UPSET.

466
00:22:22,475 --> 00:22:26,312
I TOLD HER SHE NEEDED TO SLOW
DOWN AND TAKE IT EASY AND GET TO

467
00:22:26,312 --> 00:22:29,816
KNOW HIM
>> WHY WOULD THAT MAKE HER MAD

468
00:22:29,816 --> 00:22:32,919
>> LINDA DOES NOT LIKE -
WELL, SHE'S A SENATOR.

469
00:22:32,919 --> 00:22:34,654
SHE'S USED TO TELLING PEOPLE
WHAT TO DO, NOT GETTING TOLD

470
00:22:34,654 --> 00:22:36,656
WHAT TO DO
AND SHE REALLY IS.

471
00:22:36,656 --> 00:22:38,224
SHE REALLY IS.
>> Reporter: BECKY TOLD

472
00:22:38,224 --> 00:22:46,599
INVESTIGATORS SHE NEVER SAW
LINDA AGAIN.

473
00:22:46,599 --> 00:22:50,804
SHE RECOUNTED THE DETAILS OF THE
TWO WOMEN'S FINAL CALL

474
00:22:50,804 --> 00:22:51,938
>> SHE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT,
"WELL, I MAY JUST GO OVER TO

475
00:22:51,938 --> 00:22:53,440
RENDELL'S," OR SOMETHING LIKE
THAT

476
00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:55,008
AND I SAID, "I THOUGHT YOU
DIDN'T WANT ME IN YOUR PERSONAL

477
00:22:55,008 --> 00:22:57,110
STUFF.
DON'T TELL ME.

478
00:22:57,110 --> 00:22:58,778
AND SHE HUNG UP ON ME.
>> Reporter: AND, BECKY SAID,

479
00:22:58,778 --> 00:23:00,280
EARLY EVENING, LINDA WAS A
NO-SHOW FOR A MEETING AT THE

480
00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:01,514
MOTEL.
BUT THAT RENDELL GUY

481
00:23:01,514 --> 00:23:03,416
WHO WAS HE
HOW DID HE FIT IN?

482
00:23:03,416 --> 00:23:05,518
HE CERTAINLY CAUGHT THE
INVESTIGATORS' INTEREST WHEN TIM

483
00:23:05,518 --> 00:23:07,821
OFFERED THIS
>> HE WAS PROBABLY THE LAST

484
00:23:07,821 --> 00:23:10,256
PERSON TO SEE HER.
>> Reporter: THE LAST PERSON

485
00:23:10,256 --> 00:23:16,062
KNOWN TO HAVE SEEN HER ALIVE
NOT A GOOD PLACE TO BE IN A

486
00:23:16,062 --> 00:23:19,132
MURDER INVESTIGATION
>>> COMING UP --

487
00:23:19,132 --> 00:23:22,802
THE CASE TAKES A SUDDEN U-TURN
>> BOMBSHELL

488
00:23:22,802 --> 00:23:42,088
ANOTHER FORMER STATE SENATOR IN
OKLAHOMA IS FOUND DEAD IN HIS

489
00:23:42,088 --> 00:23:44,691
>> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS WERE
EAGER TO INTERVIEW THE NEW

490
00:23:44,691 --> 00:23:48,628
BOYFRIEND IN THE MATTER OF
LINDA COLLINS' MURDER.

491
00:23:48,628 --> 00:23:50,463
WHAT'D YOU LEARN ABOUT HIM
>> HE WAS SOMEWHAT OF A

492
00:23:50,463 --> 00:23:53,633
MYSTERIOUS FIGURE AT FIRST
WE DIDN'T KNOW A WHOLE LOT ABOUT

493
00:23:53,633 --> 00:23:56,269
HIM.
>> Reporter: RENDELL WALLIS.

494
00:23:56,269 --> 00:24:00,240
REMEMBER BECKY TOLD
INVESTIGATORS THAT SHE AND LINDA

495
00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:02,208
ARGUED ABOUT RENDELL THE LAST
TIME THEY SAW EACH OTHER, LINDA

496
00:24:02,208 --> 00:24:03,643
GROUSING THAT HE TOOK HIS SWEET
TIME IN RETURNING HER CALLS THE

497
00:24:03,643 --> 00:24:09,949
NIGHT BEFORE, BECKY TELLING HER
TO CHILL

498
00:24:09,949 --> 00:24:14,120
>> YOU KNOW, SHE WAS WONDERING
IF HE HAD BEEN WITH SOMEBODY

499
00:24:14,120 --> 00:24:16,623
ELSE, AND THAT'S WHY HE WASN'T
RESPONDING

500
00:24:16,623 --> 00:24:22,529
AND I JUST TOLD HER SHE WAS
GOING OVER THE TOP

501
00:24:22,529 --> 00:24:24,097
"YOU NEED TO STOP.
>> Reporter: BECKY'S FIANCE,

502
00:24:24,097 --> 00:24:26,199
TIM LOGGAINS, WHO'D BEEN IN
UNIFORM HIMSELF AS A STATE

503
00:24:26,199 --> 00:24:27,801
CORRECTIONS OFFICER FOR
28 YEARS, SHARED HIS IMPRESSIONS

504
00:24:27,801 --> 00:24:32,072
OF LINDA'S NEW GUY WITH THE
INVESTIGATORS.

505
00:24:32,072 --> 00:24:34,741
>> MY ENTIRE LIFE HAS TAUGHT ME
THAT YOU NEVER EVER THINK YOU

506
00:24:34,741 --> 00:24:41,481
KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, AND NO ONE
IS ABOVE ANYTHING.

507
00:24:41,481 --> 00:24:44,084
>> TODAY IS JUNE THE 4th, 2019
>> Reporter: AND THEN,

508
00:24:44,084 --> 00:24:45,685
INVESTIGATORS GOT RENDELL IN THE
CHAIR.

509
00:24:45,685 --> 00:24:49,356
>> MR. WALLIS, WOULD YOU STATE
YOUR NAME FOR ME

510
00:24:49,356 --> 00:24:53,093
>> Reporter: THEY DISCOVERED
THAT LINDA'S NEW GUY WASN'T NEW

511
00:24:53,093 --> 00:24:56,196
AT ALL
RENDELL AND LINDA HAD DATED

512
00:24:56,196 --> 00:24:58,398
BRIEFLY BACK IN THE DAY, THEN
DRIFTED APART. LINDA HAD TALKED

513
00:24:58,398 --> 00:25:02,035
WISTFULLY WITH TIM ABOUT THAT
LONG-AGO RELATIONSHIP.

514
00:25:02,035 --> 00:25:06,206
>> AT ONE POINT, LINDA HAD --
LINDA TOLD ME SHE WAS DATING

515
00:25:06,206 --> 00:25:09,876
PHIL, AND RENDELL BEFORE SHE GOT
MARRIED WITH PHIL.

516
00:25:09,876 --> 00:25:12,045
"AND I THINK I CHOSE THE WRONG
PERSON," IS HOW SHE PUT IT

517
00:25:12,045 --> 00:25:14,714
>> Reporter: HUH
>> SHE WAS SEEING BOTH OF THEM,

518
00:25:14,714 --> 00:25:19,853
YOU KNOW, 20 SOMETHIN' YEARS AGO
AND -- AND CHOSE PHIL.

519
00:25:19,853 --> 00:25:22,489
AND I THINK SHE REGRETTED THAT
>> Reporter: RENDELL TOLD

520
00:25:22,489 --> 00:25:23,690
INVESTIGATORS HE AND LINDA GOT
REACQUAINTED A COUPLE OF WEEKS

521
00:25:23,690 --> 00:25:26,126
BEFORE SHE DIED.
>> WE'D JUST PICKED UP AND -

522
00:25:26,126 --> 00:25:30,530
>> OK.
>> WE WAS JUST HAPPY TO BE WITH

523
00:25:30,530 --> 00:25:32,732
ONE ANOTHER, YOU KNOW?
>> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS SOON

524
00:25:32,732 --> 00:25:36,603
LEARNED SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT
LINDA COLLINS -- SHE WAS A GOOD

525
00:25:36,603 --> 00:25:38,204
OLD GIRL WHO LIKED TO DANCE.
AND RENDELL WAS RIGHT THERE WITH

526
00:25:38,204 --> 00:25:42,409
HER.
HE REMEMBERED A RECENT EVENING

527
00:25:42,409 --> 00:25:44,577
OUT.
>> WE WENT DOWN TO THE EAGLES

528
00:25:44,577 --> 00:25:47,647
AND HAD A FEW DRINKS AND DANCE,
BECAUSE WE LOVED TO DANCE, ME

529
00:25:47,647 --> 00:25:49,783
AND HER BOTH
SO WE HOOKED UP, AND WE WENT

530
00:25:49,783 --> 00:25:51,317
DOWN THERE AND DANCED, AND WIND
UP SPENDING THE NIGHT IN

531
00:25:51,317 --> 00:25:54,487
JONESBORO AT A MOTEL
>> OK.

532
00:25:54,487 --> 00:25:58,291
>> Reporter: IN FACT, WHEN LINDA
WENT OFF TO DC FOR THAT JOB

533
00:25:58,291 --> 00:26:01,327
INTERVIEW, SHE TACKED ON A TRIP
TO ARIZONA, SPECIFICALLY TO DO

534
00:26:01,327 --> 00:26:03,396
SOME DANCING
>> SHE HAS SOME COUSINS THERE.

535
00:26:03,396 --> 00:26:07,567
AND SHE WANTED TO GO DANCING FOR
HER BIRTHDAY

536
00:26:07,567 --> 00:26:09,669
AND SHE GOT TO GO DANCING WITH
HER COUSINS IN ARIZONA, SO -

537
00:26:09,669 --> 00:26:10,704
>> Reporter: WAS SHE A GOOD
DANCER

538
00:26:10,704 --> 00:26:12,872
WAS SHE A "RIP UP THE FLOOR,
LOOK AT ME," DANCER?

539
00:26:12,872 --> 00:26:13,873
OR -
[ LAUGHTER ]

540
00:26:13,873 --> 00:26:15,442
>> SHE LOVED TO LINE DANCE
SHE COULD DO SOME LINE DANCIN'

541
00:26:15,442 --> 00:26:19,145
[ LAUGHTER ]
YEAH

542
00:26:19,145 --> 00:26:20,714
>> Reporter: RENDELL SAID THAT
WHILE LINDA WAS IN ARIZONA, SHE

543
00:26:20,714 --> 00:26:22,816
TEXTED HIM, ASKING HIM TO COME
ON OUT

544
00:26:22,816 --> 00:26:26,453
>> I TOLD HER, YOU KNOW, I
DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY.

545
00:26:26,453 --> 00:26:28,555
>> YEAH, YEAH.
>> AND SO SHE SAID, "WELL, I'LL

546
00:26:28,555 --> 00:26:31,725
BE IN MONDAY."
SHE SAID, "I WANNA SEE YOU."

547
00:26:31,725 --> 00:26:33,827
>> Reporter: TRUE TO HER WORD,
LINDA CALLED RENDELL WHEN SHE

548
00:26:33,827 --> 00:26:35,762
GOT HOME
IT WAS ABOUT 11:30 WHEN THEY

549
00:26:35,762 --> 00:26:37,197
TALKED
LATE

550
00:26:37,197 --> 00:26:40,100
>> AND SHE SAID, "WHAT ARE YOU
DOING?

551
00:26:40,100 --> 00:26:41,701
I SAID, "I'M LAYING HERE ON THE
COUCH WATCHING TV.

552
00:26:41,701 --> 00:26:45,305
AND SHE SAID, "WHY DON'T YOU
COME OVER?

553
00:26:45,305 --> 00:26:47,307
I SAID, "I'D LOVE TO."
>> Reporter: RENDELL SPENT THE

554
00:26:47,307 --> 00:26:50,443
NIGHT.
AND AT 7:00 A.M., LINDA WALKED

555
00:26:50,443 --> 00:26:54,814
HIM TO THE DOOR.
HE TOLD THE COPS THEY PARTED

556
00:26:54,814 --> 00:26:56,383
LIKE TEENAGERS IN LOVE
>> AND WE HUGGED AND KISSED AND

557
00:26:56,383 --> 00:26:59,085
SHE LET ME OUT THE DOOR, LOCKED
THE DOOR BEHIND ME AND I WENT

558
00:26:59,085 --> 00:27:01,087
OUT THE PATIO DOOR
>> HOLD ON JUST A MINUTE

559
00:27:01,087 --> 00:27:03,223
>> OKAY.
>> SO SHE WALKED YOU OUT ON THE

560
00:27:03,223 --> 00:27:05,291
PATIO DOOR
>> YEAH.

561
00:27:05,291 --> 00:27:09,029
>> Reporter: RENDELL TOLD
INVESTIGATORS HE TEXTED LINDA

562
00:27:09,029 --> 00:27:11,598
SEVERAL TIMES THAT WEEK.
BUT GOT NOTHING BACK

563
00:27:11,598 --> 00:27:13,700
>> I THOUGHT WELL, SHE'S JUST,
YOU KNOW, SHE'S JUST IN

564
00:27:13,700 --> 00:27:15,802
MEETINGS, YOU KNOW, DOWN IN
LITTLE ROCK, YOU KNOW.

565
00:27:15,802 --> 00:27:19,472
SHE'LL GET BACK TO ME LATER ON
AND THEN I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING

566
00:27:19,472 --> 00:27:21,041
FROM HER SINCE
>> Reporter: TIM AND BECKY SAID

567
00:27:21,041 --> 00:27:25,245
THEY HADN'T HEARD ANYTHING FOR
DAYS EITHER.

568
00:27:25,245 --> 00:27:28,915
BUT THEY HAD AN EXPLANATION.
>> I ASK BECKY, "HAVE YOU HEARD

569
00:27:28,915 --> 00:27:32,585
FROM LINDA?"
AND SHE HAD SAID SHE WAS --

570
00:27:32,585 --> 00:27:37,824
"SHE" BEING LINDA -- WAS GONNA
GO SPEND THE WEEK WITH RENDELL

571
00:27:37,824 --> 00:27:39,359
WELL, WHERE RENDELL LIVES AT
DOESN'T HAVE CELL SERVICE.

572
00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:40,493
IT'S WAY UP IN THE HILLS --
WHICH KINDA EXPLAINED WHY I

573
00:27:40,493 --> 00:27:45,699
HADN'T HEARD FROM LINDA, YOU
KNOW, COUPLE DAYS.

574
00:27:45,699 --> 00:27:46,966
>> A FORMER LAWMAKER FOUND DEAD.
>> Reporter: TWO DAYS LATER, THE

575
00:27:46,966 --> 00:27:50,370
NEWS GALLOPED AWAY WITH A FRESH
LEAD

576
00:27:50,370 --> 00:27:53,073
>> BOMBSHELL
ANOTHER FORMER STATE SENATOR IN

577
00:27:53,073 --> 00:27:56,176
OKLAHOMA IS FOUND DEAD IN HIS
HOME

578
00:27:56,176 --> 00:28:00,380
>> Reporter: REPORTER
MITCH McCOY COVERED THE

579
00:28:00,380 --> 00:28:03,016
LINDA COLLINS STORY EXTENSIVELY
FOR NBC AFFILIATE KARK TV IN

580
00:28:03,016 --> 00:28:04,918
LITTLE ROCK.
>> AND THAT LIT THIS CASE ON

581
00:28:04,918 --> 00:28:07,220
FIRE
IT WAS -

582
00:28:07,220 --> 00:28:08,788
>> Reporter: SO WHO'S GOING
AROUND TARGETING STATE

583
00:28:08,788 --> 00:28:10,890
LEGISLATORS?
>> THAT WAS A LOT OF -- THE

584
00:28:10,890 --> 00:28:13,026
QUESTIONS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
HAD.

585
00:28:13,026 --> 00:28:16,663
>> Reporter: TIM HEARD THE NEWS
AND WENT "HUH?" BECAUSE --

586
00:28:16,663 --> 00:28:18,765
>> LITERALLY, JUST A FEW WEEKS
BEFORE THAT, LINDA HAD DRIVEN TO

587
00:28:18,765 --> 00:28:21,401
OKLAHOMA
>> Reporter: WAS IT A

588
00:28:21,401 --> 00:28:26,639
COINCIDENCE?
OR WAS A KILLER ON THE LOOSE,

589
00:28:26,639 --> 00:28:28,408
TARGETING LOCAL POLITICIANS?
>>> COMING UP --

590
00:28:28,408 --> 00:28:31,778
>> Reporter: YOU'VE GOT TO
CONSIDER MAYBE THERE'S POLITICAL

591
00:28:31,778 --> 00:28:34,547
ENEMIES HERE
>> WE HEARD A LOT OF RUMOR ABOUT

592
00:28:34,547 --> 00:28:38,752
MAYBE EVEN SOME SENATORS WHO
WOULD TRY TO BULLY HER INTO

593
00:28:38,752 --> 00:28:41,054
VOTING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
>> Reporter: POLITICS TURNED

594
00:28:41,054 --> 00:29:01,841
POISONOUS -- COULD THAT BE A
MOTIVE FOR MURDER?

595
00:29:01,841 --> 00:29:05,278
>> Reporter: AT THE MARBLED
STATE CAPITOL IN LITTLE ROCK,

596
00:29:05,278 --> 00:29:06,179
SHOCK PREVAILED.
THEIR LINEBACKER WAS DEAD,

597
00:29:06,179 --> 00:29:11,785
SUDDENLY AND HORRIBLY, STABBED
WITH A KNIFE

598
00:29:11,785 --> 00:29:13,887
A SECOND POLITICAL DEATH THAT
MADE HEADLINES DAYS LATER

599
00:29:13,887 --> 00:29:19,626
JANGLED EVERYONE'S NERVES.
>> PEOPLE WOULDN'T BELIEVE THAT

600
00:29:19,626 --> 00:29:24,898
THIS FORMER STATE SENATOR WHO
HAD JUST LOST AN ELECTION WAS

601
00:29:24,898 --> 00:29:27,534
NOW DEAD
AND OUR NEIGHBORING STATE, THERE

602
00:29:27,534 --> 00:29:33,807
WAS ALSO SOMEBODY DEAD THAT --
THAT HAD BEEN IN POLITICS.

603
00:29:33,807 --> 00:29:39,846
>> Reporter: WHAT WAS GOING ON
KARK-TV REPORTER MITCH McCOY

604
00:29:39,846 --> 00:29:42,182
SAYS IT WAS DIFFICULT TO KNOW
FOR SURE BECAUSE THE AUTHORITIES

605
00:29:42,182 --> 00:29:44,818
IN RANDOLPH COUNTY SLAPPED A GAG
ORDER ON THE INVESTIGATION JUST

606
00:29:44,818 --> 00:29:49,222
HOURS AFTER THE DISCOVERY OF
LINDA COLLINS' BODY.

607
00:29:49,222 --> 00:29:52,659
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING?
>> WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S

608
00:29:52,659 --> 00:29:57,430
HAPPENING OTHER THAN THIS HOME
IS TAPED OFF AND THE RUMORS ARE

609
00:29:57,430 --> 00:30:00,066
CIRCULATING HEAVILY.
>> Reporter: YOUR AUDIENCE IS

610
00:30:00,066 --> 00:30:01,735
EAGER FOR THE NEXT DETAIL ON
THIS THING, AND NOTHING'S REALLY

611
00:30:01,735 --> 00:30:05,839
COMING OUT OF THE EDGES OF THE
INVESTIGATION, IS IT

612
00:30:05,839 --> 00:30:11,144
>> WE WOULD HEAR RUMORS DAYS
BEFORE THEY WOULD BECOME FACTUAL

613
00:30:11,144 --> 00:30:13,346
NEWS HEADLINES
>> Reporter: LINDA'S FRIEND AND

614
00:30:13,346 --> 00:30:17,317
FORMER AIDE KEN YANG SAYS GAG
ORDERS LIKE THIS WERE RARE IN

615
00:30:17,317 --> 00:30:18,485
ARKANSAS
>> AND IF A GAG ORDER DOES

616
00:30:18,485 --> 00:30:23,189
HAPPEN, IT TYPICALLY DOESN'T
HAPPEN, LIKE, THE VERY NEXT DAY.

617
00:30:23,189 --> 00:30:25,291
>> WE'RE BACK NOW WITH A ROUNDUP
OF OTHER NEWS HEADLINES,

618
00:30:25,291 --> 00:30:27,894
STARTING WITH THE MYSTERIOUS
DEATHS OF TWO FORMER STATE

619
00:30:27,894 --> 00:30:30,030
SENATORS FOUND DEAD.
>> Reporter: ONE RUMOR, THAT THE

620
00:30:30,030 --> 00:30:32,632
OKLAHOMA DEATH WAS LINKED TO
LINDA'S MURDER, FELL APART

621
00:30:32,632 --> 00:30:37,737
THAT DEATH WAS LATER RULED A
SUICIDE.

622
00:30:37,737 --> 00:30:40,807
BUT IN ARKANSAS, IN THE ABSENCE
OF HARD FACT, SPECULATION ABOUT

623
00:30:40,807 --> 00:30:43,610
LINDA'S DEATH EXPLODED
>> AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE -- WITH

624
00:30:43,610 --> 00:30:47,814
SOCIAL MEDIA THE WAY IT IS NOW,
EVERYONE STARTS COMING UP WITH

625
00:30:47,814 --> 00:30:53,620
THE REASONS OF WHY IT HAPPENED
OR WHY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

626
00:30:53,620 --> 00:30:59,359
IT IMMEDIATELY BLEW UP
AND IT WAS THE STORY OF THE

627
00:30:59,359 --> 00:31:02,328
MONTH, IF NOT LONGER, BECAUSE OF
THE POLITICAL NATURE OF HER JOB

628
00:31:02,328 --> 00:31:07,233
AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES
SURROUNDING HER DEATH.

629
00:31:07,233 --> 00:31:11,438
>> Reporter: A LITTLE FACT, A
LOT OF FICTION, ALL OF IT

630
00:31:11,438 --> 00:31:14,641
BUBBLING IN ONE UNHOLY BREW.
IT WAS NO SECRET THAT LINDA WAS

631
00:31:14,641 --> 00:31:18,478
A FEISTY, HARDCORE CONSERVATIVE.
HAD SOMEONE SILENCED HER IN THE

632
00:31:18,478 --> 00:31:20,914
ULTIMATE FASHION
YOU'VE GOT TO CONSIDER MAYBE

633
00:31:20,914 --> 00:31:26,686
THERE'S POLITICAL ENEMIES HERE
MAYBE THERE'S A POLITICAL

634
00:31:26,686 --> 00:31:30,357
INQUIRY THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN
>> ONE THING THAT WE HEARD A LOT

635
00:31:30,357 --> 00:31:35,662
OF RUMOR ABOUT WAS POLITICS AT
THE STATE CAPITOL AND MAYBE EVEN

636
00:31:35,662 --> 00:31:38,765
SOME SENATORS WHO WOULD TRY TO
BULLY HER INTO VOTING ONE WAY OR

637
00:31:38,765 --> 00:31:41,868
ANOTHER.
>> Reporter: POLITICAL HARDBALL

638
00:31:41,868 --> 00:31:43,536
WAS ONE THING.
BUT MURDERING AN OUT OF OFFICE

639
00:31:43,536 --> 00:31:47,674
POLITICIAN
DID THAT EVEN MAKE SENSE

640
00:31:47,674 --> 00:31:50,276
BUT CONSPIRACY THEORISTS DID
LATCH ONTO LINDA'S JOB HUNTING

641
00:31:50,276 --> 00:31:52,912
TRIP TO D.C. DAYS BEFORE HER
DEATH.

642
00:31:52,912 --> 00:31:56,116
WAS THERE SOMETHING ALL DARK AND
QANON THERE?

643
00:31:56,116 --> 00:31:59,719
EVEN THE CLINTONS, THOSE
FIXTURES OF ARKANSAS POLITICS,

644
00:31:59,719 --> 00:32:01,821
WERE PULLED INTO THE CRAZY
THERE WAS A FEELING OUT THERE IN

645
00:32:01,821 --> 00:32:03,923
SOME QUARTERS THAT THE REASON
WE'RE NOT HEARING MUCH ABOUT

646
00:32:03,923 --> 00:32:06,059
THIS IS THE AUTHORITIES ARE
COVERING UP FOR THE

647
00:32:06,059 --> 00:32:07,594
MUCKETY-MUCKS?
>> YEAH.

648
00:32:07,594 --> 00:32:09,262
I THINK --
>> Reporter: "THERE'S SOME BIG

649
00:32:09,262 --> 00:32:12,298
NAMES HERE THAT KNOW WHAT'S
GOING ON"?

650
00:32:12,298 --> 00:32:18,772
>> ONE CONSPIRACY THEORY WAS
LINDA WAS RESEARCHING --

651
00:32:18,772 --> 00:32:21,841
INVESTIGATING CHILD PROTECTIVE
SERVICES AND FOUND OUT ABOUT THE

652
00:32:21,841 --> 00:32:23,510
CLINTONS
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE CLINTONS

653
00:32:23,510 --> 00:32:24,344
GOT HER.
>> Reporter: SO HILLARY --

654
00:32:24,344 --> 00:32:26,413
HILLARY DID IT
>> YEAH.

655
00:32:26,413 --> 00:32:30,083
YEAH
"THE CLINTONS DID IT

656
00:32:30,083 --> 00:32:31,184
DEEP STATE COVER-UP.
>> Reporter: OF COURSE, THE

657
00:32:31,184 --> 00:32:33,586
CLINTONS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH
IT

658
00:32:33,586 --> 00:32:36,890
BUT THAT'S HOW RIDICULOUS THE
SPECULATION GOT.

659
00:32:36,890 --> 00:32:40,093
IN THE MIDST OF THE MADNESS,
KEN YANG HELPED ORGANIZE A

660
00:32:40,093 --> 00:32:42,595
MEMORIAL FOR LINDA IN THE STATE
CAPITOL IN LITTLE ROCK

661
00:32:42,595 --> 00:32:45,265
SO KEN, THE MEMORIAL, WHY DID IT
SEEM TO YOU THE ONLY PLACE TO DO

662
00:32:45,265 --> 00:32:48,435
IT WAS HERE IN THE CAPITOL
>> WELL, SHE LOVED SERVIN' THE

663
00:32:48,435 --> 00:32:51,604
PEOPLE
>> Reporter: DID SHE LOVE ALL

664
00:32:51,604 --> 00:32:53,707
THE GRANDEUR, THE
MARBLE-OCITY -

665
00:32:53,707 --> 00:32:55,809
>> OH, SHE LOVED IT.
>> Reporter: -- THE CAPITOL?

666
00:32:55,809 --> 00:32:58,411
>> SHE -- SHE LOVED ALL OF IT.
>> Reporter: MANY OF HER

667
00:32:58,411 --> 00:33:00,046
COLLEAGUES THAT DAY WORE HER
FAVORITE COLOR

668
00:33:00,046 --> 00:33:02,582
YOUR MOM'S SIGNATURE COLOR WAS
RED.

669
00:33:02,582 --> 00:33:03,650
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> LOVED RED

670
00:33:03,650 --> 00:33:05,752
>> Reporter: HAD THAT ALWAYS
BEEN -

671
00:33:05,752 --> 00:33:06,886
>> ALWAYS.
SHE ALWAYS HAD RED LIPSTICK, RED

672
00:33:06,886 --> 00:33:11,057
FINGERNAILS, RED SHOES, RED
JACKET

673
00:33:11,057 --> 00:33:13,093
SHE DROVE A RED TRUCK.
>> Reporter: THAT DAY IN THE

674
00:33:13,093 --> 00:33:18,865
ROTUNDA, FEELINGS WERE STILL
RAW.

675
00:33:18,865 --> 00:33:25,672
>> I FOUND IT EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT TO EXPRESS MY SADNESS

676
00:33:25,672 --> 00:33:29,342
IN WORDS OR ON PAPER
>> I ADMIRED HER TENACITY.

677
00:33:29,342 --> 00:33:30,910
>> Reporter: SENATOR
GARY STUBBLEFIELD, LINDA'S

678
00:33:30,910 --> 00:33:36,683
FORMER COLLEAGUE AND STEADFAST
POLITICAL ALLY, ALSO SPOKE

679
00:33:36,683 --> 00:33:39,319
>> WHEN I SPOKE THAT DAY, I
HADN'T GOTTEN OVER THE SHOCK

680
00:33:39,319 --> 00:33:45,125
THAT THIS HAD REALLY HAPPENED.
IT WAS A SAD DAY

681
00:33:45,125 --> 00:33:51,431
A SAD DAY FOR ARKANSAS
AND A SAD DAY FOR THE ARKANSAS

682
00:33:51,431 --> 00:33:53,500
LEGISLATURE.
>> Reporter: MEANWHILE,

683
00:33:53,500 --> 00:33:57,470
SHERIFF BELL WAS WORKING HARD TO
IGNORE EVERYTHING BUT THE FACTS

684
00:33:57,470 --> 00:34:00,907
OF THE CASE.
BUT IF THE GAG ORDER WORKED FOR

685
00:34:00,907 --> 00:34:03,043
HIM, IT ALSO WORKED AGAINST HIM.
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LOT

686
00:34:03,043 --> 00:34:06,713
OF HIGH PROFILE POLITICAL
LEADERS THAT WERE QUESTIONING US

687
00:34:06,713 --> 00:34:10,350
ABOUT THE CASE
AND ONE THING I HAD TO DO IS

688
00:34:10,350 --> 00:34:15,622
JUST STEP BACK AND SAY, "I WANNA
WORK THIS CASE AND SOLVE THIS

689
00:34:15,622 --> 00:34:21,061
CASE AND CATCH THIS KILLER."
AND WE HAD TO IGNORE A LOT OF

690
00:34:21,061 --> 00:34:21,928
OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE IN ORDER TO
DO THAT.

691
00:34:21,928 --> 00:34:24,531
>> Reporter: AND A NAME KEPT
BUBBLING UP.

692
00:34:24,531 --> 00:34:29,235
SOMEBODY ONCE CLOSE TO LINDA,
SOMEBODY WITH A POSSIBLE MOTIVE

693
00:34:29,235 --> 00:34:34,474
TO KILL.
>>> COMING UP --

694
00:34:34,474 --> 00:34:35,542
>> SHE GETS REAL QUIET AND
BREAKS DOWN IN TEARS

695
00:34:35,542 --> 00:34:41,514
AND I'M LIKE, "LINDA, WHAT'S
WRONG?

696
00:34:41,514 --> 00:34:43,383
>> A MARRIAGE ON THE ROCKS
AND LINDA ON EDGE.

697
00:34:43,383 --> 00:34:46,219
>> I'M GOING TO TELL YOU ANOTHER
THING.

698
00:34:46,219 --> 00:34:46,720
THING.
LINDA WAS SCARED TO DEATH.

699
00:35:06,306 --> 00:35:08,041
MURDER THE FORMER STATE SENATOR?
WAS THE CLUE TO BE FOUND IN HER

700
00:35:08,041 --> 00:35:10,043
POLITICAL TIES OR HER PRIVATE
LIFE

701
00:35:10,043 --> 00:35:14,714
WITH LINDA COLLINS, THOSE
STRANDS WERE DEEPLY ENTWINED

702
00:35:14,714 --> 00:35:17,350
BUT GOING BACK TO THE SCENE, IN
THE FIRST MOMENTS OF THE CASE,

703
00:35:17,350 --> 00:35:22,589
THE EMTs SPEAKING WITH THE
VICTIM'S FATHER AND SON BUTCH

704
00:35:22,589 --> 00:35:25,725
WERE HEARING ABOUT A DIVORCE
THEY PASSED THAT NUGGET ON TO

705
00:35:25,725 --> 00:35:27,527
THE ARRIVING DEPUTIES.
>> HE SAID THAT HER AND PHIL

706
00:35:27,527 --> 00:35:28,361
JUST RECENTLY DIVORCED
>> OKAY.

707
00:35:28,361 --> 00:35:32,065
>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNEW
THAT

708
00:35:32,065 --> 00:35:34,167
>> Reporter: SO NO SURPRISE,
THEY NEEDED TO TAKE A HARD LOOK

709
00:35:34,167 --> 00:35:38,338
AT LINDA'S EX-HUSBAND,
PHIL SMITH

710
00:35:38,338 --> 00:35:42,709
LINDA MET PHIL WHEN HE WAS
WORKING AS AN ATTORNEY AND A

711
00:35:42,709 --> 00:35:43,543
MUNICIPAL JUDGE IN POCAHONTAS,
ARKANSAS

712
00:35:43,543 --> 00:35:45,745
LINDA'S KIDS TATE AND BUTCH WERE
IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT THE

713
00:35:45,745 --> 00:35:47,814
TIME
AND THOUGH HE WASN'T THEIR

714
00:35:47,814 --> 00:35:50,950
FATHER BY BLOOD, HE'D RAISED
THEM AS HIS OWN.

715
00:35:50,950 --> 00:35:53,086
>> IN THE BEGINNING, I THINK WE
CALLED HIM -- WE BOTH CALLED HIM

716
00:35:53,086 --> 00:35:56,423
PHIL FOR A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW,
UNTIL WE GOT USED TO IT.

717
00:35:56,423 --> 00:35:57,791
HE DID WHAT DADS DO.
HE WAS THERE EVERY DAY AND HE,

718
00:35:57,791 --> 00:36:00,927
YOU KNOW -- HE WAS OUR DAD
>> Reporter: SO THINGS WORKED?

719
00:36:00,927 --> 00:36:02,495
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
>> ABSOLUTELY.

720
00:36:02,495 --> 00:36:04,064
>> Reporter: THE MARRIAGE
WORKED, TOO.

721
00:36:04,064 --> 00:36:08,802
THEY OPENED THOSE HOTELS
TOGETHER

722
00:36:08,802 --> 00:36:13,039
LINDA BECAME A STATE SENATOR AND
PHIL WAS APPOINTED TO THE BENCH

723
00:36:13,039 --> 00:36:15,742
OF A CIRCUIT COURT
BUT TEN YEARS ALONG, TATE AND

724
00:36:15,742 --> 00:36:17,711
BUTCH CAME TO VIEW THE MARRIAGE
AS AN ARRANGEMENT THAT WENT INTO

725
00:36:17,711 --> 00:36:23,216
A DEEP CHILL
>> PEOPLE REFERRED TO 'EM AS,

726
00:36:23,216 --> 00:36:24,617
LIKE, A POWER COUPLE
BUT AS FAR AS A RELATIONSHIP,

727
00:36:24,617 --> 00:36:27,220
IT -- IT JUST RAN MORE LIKE A
BUSINESS THAN WHAT YOU WOULD

728
00:36:27,220 --> 00:36:32,392
IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, A HUSBAND AND
A WIFE, YOU KNOW, FROM THE

729
00:36:32,392 --> 00:36:34,127
PERSPECTIVE OF US LOOKING IN ON
IT

730
00:36:34,127 --> 00:36:39,766
>> Reporter: EVENTUALLY LINDA
AND PHIL SEPARATED AND FILED FOR

731
00:36:39,766 --> 00:36:41,434
DIVORCE.
BUT THE SETTLEMENT DRAGGED ON AS

732
00:36:41,434 --> 00:36:42,836
THEY FOUGHT OVER THEIR
BUSINESSES, THE MONEY,

733
00:36:42,836 --> 00:36:45,505
PROPERTIES, AND PENSIONS
THE CASE GREW INCREASINGLY

734
00:36:45,505 --> 00:36:47,707
BITTER
>> THEY COULD GET PRETTY HEATED.

735
00:36:47,707 --> 00:36:49,309
AND --
>> ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE GOIN'

736
00:36:49,309 --> 00:36:51,845
THROUGH A DIVORCE.
>> ESPECIALLY ONE OF THAT

737
00:36:51,845 --> 00:36:53,513
MAGNITUDE, I SUPPOSE
>> Reporter: TATE AND BUTCH WERE

738
00:36:53,513 --> 00:36:56,649
STUCK IN THE MIDDLE.
THEY TRIED TO AVOID CHOOSING A

739
00:36:56,649 --> 00:36:58,618
SIDE
BUT --

740
00:36:58,618 --> 00:37:01,321
>> SHE FELT LIKE WE SHOULDN'T
HAVE ANY INVOLVEMENT WITH HIM.

741
00:37:01,321 --> 00:37:05,392
YOU KNOW, SHE FELT LIKE WE
SHOULD BE VERY ON HER SIDE AND

742
00:37:05,392 --> 00:37:12,799
SHOULDN'T HAVE A RELATIONSHIP
WITH HIM ANYMORE AT THAT POINT

743
00:37:12,799 --> 00:37:17,537
SO IT DID CAUSE A STRAIN ON ALL
OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS, YOU KNOW,

744
00:37:17,537 --> 00:37:18,672
ESPECIALLY WITH MOM.
>> Reporter: NO PICKING SIDES

745
00:37:18,672 --> 00:37:21,207
FOR LINDA'S CLOSE FRIEND
TIM LOGGAINS

746
00:37:21,207 --> 00:37:23,376
HE WAS SOLIDLY BEHIND LINDA.
SHE CONFIDED IN HIM ABOUT THE

747
00:37:23,376 --> 00:37:31,518
DIVORCE WHEN THEY MET ONE DAY
FOR LUNCH.

748
00:37:31,518 --> 00:37:33,286
>> SHE GETS REAL QUIET
AND SHE BREAKS OUT IN TEARS.

749
00:37:33,286 --> 00:37:34,354
>> Reporter: LINDA DOES?
>> SHE DID

750
00:37:34,354 --> 00:37:38,058
AND I'M LIKE, "LINDA, WHAT'S
WRONG?

751
00:37:38,058 --> 00:37:41,795
I CAME TO FIND OUT THAT SHE WAS
HAVING MARITAL PROBLEMS.

752
00:37:41,795 --> 00:37:46,566
>> Reporter: TIM SAID LINDA
LATER MADE A SHOCKING ACCUSATION

753
00:37:46,566 --> 00:37:49,602
ABOUT PHIL
LINDA CLAIMED TO HAVE WALKED

754
00:37:49,602 --> 00:37:52,839
INTO THE JUDGE'S CHAMBERS AND
FOUND HIM WATCHING PORNOGRAPHY

755
00:37:52,839 --> 00:37:54,341
SHE WENT NUCLEAR ON HIM.
SHE SAYS HE'S LOOKIN' AT PORN --

756
00:37:54,341 --> 00:37:55,875
>> SHE DID
>> Reporter: -- ON HIS

757
00:37:55,875 --> 00:37:57,477
STATE-PROVIDED COMPUTER.
>> SHE DID

758
00:37:57,477 --> 00:38:01,715
>> Reporter: THAT'S A TOUGH
CHARGE

759
00:38:01,715 --> 00:38:04,317
>> IT IS
SHE SAID IT.

760
00:38:04,317 --> 00:38:07,020
>> Reporter: LINDA DIDN'T JUST
TELL TIM ABOUT IT.

761
00:38:07,020 --> 00:38:08,488
SHE MADE IT PART OF HER DIVORCE
CASE

762
00:38:08,488 --> 00:38:12,492
PHIL SMITH DENIED THE
ALLEGATION

763
00:38:12,492 --> 00:38:15,328
HOWEVER, HE WAS INVESTIGATED BY
THE JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE AND

764
00:38:15,328 --> 00:38:18,498
DISABILITY COMMISSION.
HE ACCEPTED ITS DETERMINATION

765
00:38:18,498 --> 00:38:21,634
THAT HE "IMPROPERLY USED COURT
COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AFTER REGULAR

766
00:38:21,634 --> 00:38:28,441
WORK HOURS AT THE OFFICE."
THE DAMAGE WAS DONE, ACCORDING

767
00:38:28,441 --> 00:38:30,510
TO KARK-TV REPORTER MITCH McCOY.
>> IT TOOK HIS JUDICIAL POWERS

768
00:38:30,510 --> 00:38:32,645
AWAY
>> Reporter: YOU CAN'T COME AWAY

769
00:38:32,645 --> 00:38:35,315
FROM THAT, HUH
>> THE STATE DISCIPLINED HIM

770
00:38:35,315 --> 00:38:38,451
THE STATE SAID, "YOU COULD NEVER
BE A JUDGE IN ARKANSAS AGAIN."

771
00:38:38,451 --> 00:38:40,053
>> Reporter: THE DIVORCE BECAME
UGLY

772
00:38:40,053 --> 00:38:41,321
>> YES
>> ABSOLUTELY.

773
00:38:41,321 --> 00:38:42,622
>> Reporter: WITH VERY STRONG
CONSEQUENCES FOR PHIL?

774
00:38:42,622 --> 00:38:46,826
>> YES
>> Reporter: PHIL'S JUDICIAL

775
00:38:46,826 --> 00:38:50,497
CAREER WAS OVER.
BUT WHEN THAT KNOCKDOWN, DRAG

776
00:38:50,497 --> 00:38:52,065
OUT DIVORCE ENDED, LINDA WAS
FINANCIALLY ON THE SHORT END OF

777
00:38:52,065 --> 00:38:54,668
IT, AS TIM EXPLAINED IN HIS
INTERVIEW WITH POLICE.

778
00:38:54,668 --> 00:38:57,303
>> SHE GOT SCREWED
PHIL GOT ALMOST EVERYTHING

779
00:38:57,303 --> 00:39:03,076
HERE'S THE KICKER.
LINDA APPEALED IT.

780
00:39:03,076 --> 00:39:06,780
AND WHEN THE JUDGE SAYS, "THAT
COULD BE ANOTHER 17 MONTHS,"

781
00:39:06,780 --> 00:39:11,217
PHIL JUST COLLAPSED.
"OH, MY GOD.

782
00:39:11,217 --> 00:39:13,086
IS THIS NEVER GONNA END?
>> Reporter: TIM TOLD POLICE

783
00:39:13,086 --> 00:39:15,689
SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT PHIL SMITH.
SOMETHING DARKER

784
00:39:15,689 --> 00:39:17,257
>> I'M GONNA TELL YOU ANOTHER
THING.

785
00:39:17,257 --> 00:39:19,059
LINDA WAS SCARED TO DEATH OF
HIM.

786
00:39:19,059 --> 00:39:22,028
>> SCARED OF PHIL?
>> OF PHIL

787
00:39:22,028 --> 00:39:25,665
>> Reporter: HE WASN'T THE ONLY
ONE SAYING THAT.

788
00:39:25,665 --> 00:39:28,802
FRIENDS AND FAMILY SAID THEY'D
SEEN HER FEAR, TOO

789
00:39:28,802 --> 00:39:32,472
>> LINDA WAS DEATHLY AFRAID OF
PHIL FOR WHATEVER REASON

790
00:39:32,472 --> 00:39:34,574
>> SHE FELT SCARED THAT HE WAS
GONNA DO SOMETHING

791
00:39:34,574 --> 00:39:38,778
>> EVERYBODY I'VE TALKED TO SAYS
SHE'S SCARED TO DEATH OF PHIL.

792
00:39:38,778 --> 00:39:40,347
>> SHE IS.
>> Reporter: WHY

793
00:39:40,347 --> 00:39:44,050
WHY WAS LINDA SO AFRAID OF PHIL?
>>> COMING UP --

794
00:39:44,050 --> 00:39:46,119
>> MY MOM WAS SICK FOR SEVERAL,
SEVERAL YEARS.

795
00:39:46,119 --> 00:39:49,923
AND NOBODY COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT
IN THE WORLD WAS WRONG WITH HER.

796
00:39:49,923 --> 00:39:54,060
>> BEFORE HER MYSTERIOUS DEATH,
A MYSTERIOUS ILLNESS

797
00:39:54,060 --> 00:39:56,229
>> Reporter: SHE'S SAYING, "I
NOW HAVE A SUSPICION ABOUT WHAT

798
00:39:56,229 --> 00:39:57,764
WAS HAPPENING AND THAT WAS HE
WAS POISONING ME."

799
00:39:57,764 --> 00:40:00,834
>> THAT WAS SOMETHIN' THAT SHE
SAID

800
00:40:00,834 --> 00:40:17,183
YES.
>> Reporter: POLICE HAD AN

801
00:40:17,183 --> 00:40:21,888
URGENT QUESTION -- WHO KILLED
LINDA COLLINS?

802
00:40:21,888 --> 00:40:26,059
AFTER INTERVIEWING HER NEW MAN,
RENDELL WALLIS, POLICE RULED HIM

803
00:40:26,059 --> 00:40:29,195
OUT AS A SUSPECT
THOSE CLOSEST TO THE SCRAPPY

804
00:40:29,195 --> 00:40:30,897
POLITICIAN, INCLUDING HER OWN
KIDS, POINTED THE FINGER AT ONE

805
00:40:30,897 --> 00:40:36,536
PERSON -- HER EX-HUSBAND
PHIL SMITH

806
00:40:36,536 --> 00:40:39,172
>> MY FIRST THOUGHT WENT TO HIM,
JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HE WOULD

807
00:40:39,172 --> 00:40:41,808
BE THE ONE TO GAIN THE MOST.
>> THE ONLY PERSON THAT MADE

808
00:40:41,808 --> 00:40:45,478
SENSE TO ME WITHOUT KNOWING
ANYTHING ELSE IN HER LIFE IS,

809
00:40:45,478 --> 00:40:46,613
YOU KNOW, MY DAD
>> Reporter: BUTCH TOLD POLICE

810
00:40:46,613 --> 00:40:49,816
LINDA WAS CONCERNED HE WOULD DO
SOMETHING.

811
00:40:49,816 --> 00:40:50,750
>> DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM'S
SCARED OF YOUR DAD

812
00:40:50,750 --> 00:40:51,785
WAS SCARED OF YOUR DAD
>> YES

813
00:40:51,785 --> 00:40:53,386
YES.
>> YOU DO?

814
00:40:53,386 --> 00:40:54,921
>> YES, I DO
>> YOU REALLY BELIEVED THERE WAS

815
00:40:54,921 --> 00:40:57,190
A FEAR THERE
>> I BELIEVE -- I ABSOLUTELY DO.

816
00:40:57,190 --> 00:40:58,591
>> IT WASN'T AN ACT, IT WAS A
FEAR THERE

817
00:40:58,591 --> 00:41:01,761
>> I FULLY BELIEVE -- FIRMLY,
FIRMLY, WITH ALL --

818
00:41:01,761 --> 00:41:03,830
EVERYTHING -
BELIEVE THAT SHE WAS AFRAID OF

819
00:41:03,830 --> 00:41:07,367
HIM.
>> Reporter: AND LINDA BELIEVED

820
00:41:07,367 --> 00:41:10,670
PHIL MAY HAVE TRIED BEFORE
>> LET ME TELL YOU A STORY

821
00:41:10,670 --> 00:41:13,807
NOW, MY MOM WAS SICK FOR
SEVERAL -- SEVERAL YEARS, AND IT

822
00:41:13,807 --> 00:41:16,543
WAS KIND OF -- EVERYBODY THAT
KNEW HER KNEW THAT SHE WAS SICK,

823
00:41:16,543 --> 00:41:18,078
AND NO -- NOBODY COULD FIGURE
OUT WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS WRONG

824
00:41:18,078 --> 00:41:20,547
WITH HER
>> Reporter: IT WAS THE EARLY

825
00:41:20,547 --> 00:41:23,783
2000s.
PHIL AND LINDA WERE STILL

826
00:41:23,783 --> 00:41:25,352
MARRIED WHEN SHE CAME DOWN WITH
A BIZARRE MALADY

827
00:41:25,352 --> 00:41:27,454
>> MY MOM IS -- SHE'S NEVER ONE
TO -- TO LAY DOWN.

828
00:41:27,454 --> 00:41:28,488
SHE DIDN'T TAKE NAPS DURING THE
DAY.

829
00:41:28,488 --> 00:41:31,658
SHE'D STAY UP LATE, GOT UP
EARLY, AND WAS JUST CONSTANTLY

830
00:41:31,658 --> 00:41:34,294
RUNNING.
AND THERE WAS A PERIOD IN TIME

831
00:41:34,294 --> 00:41:35,628
WHERE SH -- ABOUT TWO YEARS,
WHERE SHE COULDN'T -- SHE WAS

832
00:41:35,628 --> 00:41:37,430
BASICALLY B -- BEDRIDDEN, JUST
COULDN'T GET UP AND DO ANYTHING.

833
00:41:37,430 --> 00:41:42,135
HAD NO ENERGY, WHICH WAS NOT
LIKE HER

834
00:41:42,135 --> 00:41:45,271
>> Reporter: AFTER A YEAR OF
VARIOUS TESTS, HER BLOODWORK

835
00:41:45,271 --> 00:41:48,441
FINALLY REVEALED A POSSIBLE
CAUSE OF HER ILLNESS -- AN

836
00:41:48,441 --> 00:41:49,576
EXTREMELY HIGH LEVEL OF MERCURY
IN HER SYSTEM.

837
00:41:49,576 --> 00:41:51,111
DID SHE HAVE A HEAVY DIET OF
FISH, FOR INSTANCE

838
00:41:51,111 --> 00:41:53,713
>> NO.
>> NOT AT ALL.

839
00:41:53,713 --> 00:41:56,316
AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS
THEY ASKED

840
00:41:56,316 --> 00:41:57,884
THEY SAID, "WELL, YOU KNOW, IF
YOUR BODY'S NOT ABLE TO PROCESS

841
00:41:57,884 --> 00:41:59,452
THE MERCURY FROM THE FISH, AND
IF YOU EAT A FISH A LOT, IT

842
00:41:59,452 --> 00:42:01,054
COULD BUILD UP IN YOUR SYSTEM,"
BUT SHE DOESN'T.

843
00:42:01,054 --> 00:42:03,156
>> Reporter: SO WHAT WAS GOING
ON

844
00:42:03,156 --> 00:42:06,826
WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT WAS ALL
ABOUT?

845
00:42:06,826 --> 00:42:08,461
>> THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT
MAYBE IT WAS HER FILLINGS THAT

846
00:42:08,461 --> 00:42:10,497
IT CAME FROM. SHE D -- SHE LOVED
TO DRINK CANNED DIET COKE, SO

847
00:42:10,497 --> 00:42:15,235
THEY WERE ALSO CONCERNED MAYBE
FROM THE CANS.

848
00:42:15,235 --> 00:42:16,803
BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY -- THEY
REALLY JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, "THE

849
00:42:16,803 --> 00:42:18,505
AMOUNT IS LIKE YOU S -- YOU --
>> BASICALLY, CRACKED OPEN -

850
00:42:18,505 --> 00:42:20,473
>> DRANK -
>> A THERMOMETER

851
00:42:20,473 --> 00:42:21,541
>> "A THERMOMETER" WAS THE
AMOUNT

852
00:42:21,541 --> 00:42:24,411
>> Reporter: THERE WAS NO
SCIENTIFIC PROOF TO THOSE

853
00:42:24,411 --> 00:42:27,814
THEORIES
SO LINDA WASN'T SURE EXACTLY HOW

854
00:42:27,814 --> 00:42:30,984
THE MERCURY GOT INTO HER BODY,
BUT SHE WAS CONVINCED THE PERSON

855
00:42:30,984 --> 00:42:33,086
BEHIND IT WAS PHIL
THOUGH SHE NEVER REPORTED HER

856
00:42:33,086 --> 00:42:37,757
SUSPICION TO POLICE, SHE WASN'T
QUIET ABOUT IT

857
00:42:37,757 --> 00:42:38,892
AND SHE'S SAYING, "I NOW HAVE A
SUSPICION ABOUT WHAT WAS

858
00:42:38,892 --> 00:42:42,395
HAPPENING, AND THAT WAS HE WAS
POISONING ME."

859
00:42:42,395 --> 00:42:45,131
>> THAT WAS SOMETHIN' THAT SHE
SAID

860
00:42:45,131 --> 00:42:47,767
YES.
>> SHE THINKS PHIL TRIED TO KILL

861
00:42:47,767 --> 00:42:50,837
HER.
>> Reporter: BECKY O'DONNELL AND

862
00:42:50,837 --> 00:42:54,107
HER FIANCE TIM LOGGAINS HAD
HEARD THE MERCURY POISONING

863
00:42:54,107 --> 00:42:58,278
STORIES, TOO
AND AFTER HER DEATH, SHARED

864
00:42:58,278 --> 00:43:00,246
THEIR SUSPICIONS WITH POLICE
>> UM, LINDA TOLD ME THAT

865
00:43:00,246 --> 00:43:02,482
HERSELF, NOW, AND SAID PHIL DONE
IT

866
00:43:02,482 --> 00:43:05,618
ALMOST KILLED HER.
>> I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THAT

867
00:43:05,618 --> 00:43:09,789
THEY'D LET THAT GO, YOU KNOW
>> HE'S A JUDGE.

868
00:43:09,789 --> 00:43:11,057
>> Reporter: A POWERFUL JUDGE
WHO MAY HAVE HAD OTHER SECRETS,

869
00:43:11,057 --> 00:43:14,060
ACCORDING TO A VERY EMOTIONAL
BECKY.

870
00:43:14,060 --> 00:43:15,662
>> WHAT HAPPENED
>> I KEEP THINKING SHE'S GONNA

871
00:43:15,662 --> 00:43:20,300
GET MAD AT ME FOR TELLING THIS
STUFF.

872
00:43:20,300 --> 00:43:24,504
>> NO.
SHE WOULDN'T GET MAD AT YOU,

873
00:43:24,504 --> 00:43:27,140
BECKY.
>> PHIL USED TO HIT HER.

874
00:43:27,140 --> 00:43:31,344
>> PHIL USED TO HIT HER?
>> YEAH.

875
00:43:31,344 --> 00:43:34,481
>> Reporter: LINDA CLAIMED PHIL
WOULD TERRORIZE HER DURING THE

876
00:43:34,481 --> 00:43:36,149
DIVORCE.
HER JOINED-AT-THE HIP AIDE BECKY

877
00:43:36,149 --> 00:43:39,719
TOLD POLICE SHE'D SEEN IT
HAPPEN

878
00:43:39,719 --> 00:43:41,287
>> OKAY, WE'RE AT LINDA'S HOUSE.
HIS -- AND HE WAS JUST SITTING

879
00:43:41,287 --> 00:43:46,559
THERE.
>> HMM

880
00:43:46,559 --> 00:43:49,696
LIKE HE'S A STALKER?
>> AND I SAW FIRSTHAND WHEN HE

881
00:43:49,696 --> 00:43:52,332
SHOWED UP AT HIS HOUSE THAT DAY,
WHEN WE WERE MOVING STUFF OUT,

882
00:43:52,332 --> 00:43:53,366
SHE WAS UNCONTROLLABLY SHAKING
"LET'S GET OUT HERE.

883
00:43:53,366 --> 00:43:55,001
LET'S GET OUT HERE
LET'S GET OUT HERE."

884
00:43:55,001 --> 00:43:58,104
SHE'S SCARED OF HIM.
>> SHE'S SCARED OF HIM

885
00:43:58,104 --> 00:44:00,874
>> SHE'S VERY SCARED OF HIM.
>> Reporter: BECKY SAID HE WOULD

886
00:44:00,874 --> 00:44:07,080
SHOW UP AT THE ROCK AND ROLL
HIGHWAY 67 INN

887
00:44:07,080 --> 00:44:09,716
>> I CALLED LINDA AND I HAD HER
ON THE PHONE, AND SHE WAS

888
00:44:09,716 --> 00:44:10,650
TELLING HIM, "YOU'RE NOT
SUPPOSED TO BE THERE

889
00:44:10,650 --> 00:44:13,386
YOU NEED TO LEAVE," AND ALL
THAT

890
00:44:13,386 --> 00:44:16,056
LINDA TOLD ME HE COULD GET THESE
CRAZY EYES

891
00:44:16,056 --> 00:44:18,191
HE GOT THESE CRAZY EYES, AND
LOOKED TO ME AND SAID, "YOU STAY

892
00:44:18,191 --> 00:44:21,227
OUT OF IT," OR SOMETHING TO THAT
EFFECT AND ALL

893
00:44:21,227 --> 00:44:25,065
>> SO YOU WERE KIND OF SCARED OF
HIM, TOO, A LITTLE BIT

894
00:44:25,065 --> 00:44:26,499
>> WELL, YES
>> Reporter: LINDA CHANGED THE

895
00:44:26,499 --> 00:44:30,136
LOCKS ON HER HOUSE
SHE KEPT A GUN IN HER

896
00:44:30,136 --> 00:44:33,306
NIGHTSTAND
AND SHE ASKED TIM FOR HELP IN

897
00:44:33,306 --> 00:44:36,643
INSTALLING A SECURITY SYSTEM
>> I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT HOME

898
00:44:36,643 --> 00:44:39,079
SECURITY SYSTEMS
I WENT INTO DEEP RESEARCH AND

899
00:44:39,079 --> 00:44:42,248
STARTED RESEARCHIN' WHAT WAS OUT
THERE.

900
00:44:42,248 --> 00:44:46,419
UM -- SHE WANTED A WIRELESS
SYSTEM THAT WASN'T HARDWIRED

901
00:44:46,419 --> 00:44:49,622
SHE DIDN'T WANNA LOSE THE SYSTEM
IF S -- HE CUT THE POWER

902
00:44:49,622 --> 00:44:50,724
>> Reporter: SO SHE HAD
SCENARIOS IN HER HEAD WHERE HE

903
00:44:50,724 --> 00:44:53,760
WAS GONNA COME TO HER HOUSE --
>> YES

904
00:44:53,760 --> 00:44:55,328
>> Reporter: -- CUT THE POWER,
SCARE HER, MAYBE KILL HER LIKE A

905
00:44:55,328 --> 00:44:59,532
BAD MOVIE OR SOMETHIN', HUH?
>> YES

906
00:44:59,532 --> 00:45:03,303
>> Reporter: ONCE THE CAMERAS
WERE INSTALLED, LINDA COULD

907
00:45:03,303 --> 00:45:04,237
ACCESS THE FOOTAGE FROM HER
LAPTOP OR PHONE.

908
00:45:04,237 --> 00:45:06,906
>> I THINK THERE WAS NINE
CAMERAS ALTOGETHER

909
00:45:06,906 --> 00:45:08,575
>> Reporter: NINE CAMERAS?
>> I HAD -- I DID THE PLACEMENT

910
00:45:08,575 --> 00:45:12,178
SO THERE WAS COVERAGE OF EVERY
CORNER, EVERY WINDOW, EVERY

911
00:45:12,178 --> 00:45:14,280
ENTRANCE
>> Reporter: ALL TO PROTECT

912
00:45:14,280 --> 00:45:17,550
HERSELF AGAINST PHIL, LINDA
SAID

913
00:45:17,550 --> 00:45:21,154
>> SHE CALLED ME ONE NIGHT AT
11:30 AT NIGHT, SCREAMING THAT,

914
00:45:21,154 --> 00:45:22,322
"PHIL'S HERE, PHIL'S HERE.
>> Reporter: SO THIS WASN'T JUST

915
00:45:22,322 --> 00:45:24,758
HER PARANOIA
>> I DON'T KNOW.

916
00:45:24,758 --> 00:45:30,497
BUT I KNOW WHAT SHE TOLD ME.
AND SHE WAS TERRIFIED.

917
00:45:30,497 --> 00:45:32,632
>> Reporter: TERRIFIED -- AND
NOW DEAD

918
00:45:32,632 --> 00:45:34,134
>> MY FRIEND WAS DEAD.
I KNEW WHO KILLED HER.

919
00:45:34,134 --> 00:45:37,237
>> Reporter: TIM IMMEDIATELY
SHARED HIS SUSPICIONS WITH

920
00:45:37,237 --> 00:45:38,438
POLICE
>> WHAT DO YOU SUSPECT, THEN

921
00:45:38,438 --> 00:45:39,439
>> UH, HER EX-HUSBAND KILLED
HER.

922
00:45:39,439 --> 00:45:43,143
>> REALLY?
>> YEAH.

923
00:45:43,143 --> 00:45:44,711
>> PHIL?
>> YEAH.

924
00:45:44,711 --> 00:45:46,946
>> Reporter: OF COURSE
SHERIFF BELL HAD TO SPEAK WITH

925
00:45:46,946 --> 00:45:50,483
PHIL
>> I ACTUALLY TALKED TO HIM

926
00:45:50,483 --> 00:45:53,520
MYSELF ON THE PHONE.
AND -- AND QUESTIONED HIM OVER

927
00:45:53,520 --> 00:45:54,287
THE PHONE ABOUT IF HE KNEW
ANYTHING

928
00:45:54,287 --> 00:45:59,926
>> Reporter: 'CAUSE IT HAD BEEN
AN UGLY DIVORCE.

929
00:45:59,926 --> 00:46:01,494
ENDED IN DISGRACE FOR HIM.
>> YEAH, RIGHT

930
00:46:01,494 --> 00:46:03,596
>> Reporter: PHIL SMITH TOLD
POLICE HE DIDN'T KILL LINDA.

931
00:46:03,596 --> 00:46:05,165
AND HE ALSO DENIED -- TO POLICE
AND IN A STATEMENT TO

932
00:46:05,165 --> 00:46:08,868
"DATELINE" -- THE ALLEGATIONS
LINDA AND OTHERS MADE AGAINST

933
00:46:08,868 --> 00:46:10,437
HIM.
HE SAID HE HADN'T HEARD LINDA'S

934
00:46:10,437 --> 00:46:13,039
ACCUSATION THAT HE TRIED TO
POISON HER WITH MERCURY, AND HE

935
00:46:13,039 --> 00:46:16,743
DID NOT DO SO.
HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE

936
00:46:16,743 --> 00:46:18,411
"DIVORCE WAS UNNECESSARILY
BITTER," BUT SAID HE "WAS NEVER

937
00:46:18,411 --> 00:46:21,448
PHYSICALLY VIOLENT OR
EMOTIONALLY ABUSIVE" TOWARD

938
00:46:21,448 --> 00:46:23,049
LINDA.
HE ALSO SAID HE "NEVER STALKED

939
00:46:23,049 --> 00:46:27,721
LINDA AT HER HOME, WORK, OR ANY
OTHER PLACE.

940
00:46:27,721 --> 00:46:29,856
SO POLICE WENT BACK TO THOSE
MISSING SECURITY CAMERAS

941
00:46:29,856 --> 00:46:32,959
BY NOW THEY'D DETERMINED LINDA
HAD BEEN KILLED ON TUESDAY, MAY

942
00:46:32,959 --> 00:46:36,396
28TH
THE QUESTION WAS -- WHEN WERE

943
00:46:36,396 --> 00:46:38,798
THE CAMERAS REMOVED?
TATE MADE A KEY DISCOVERY.

944
00:46:38,798 --> 00:46:43,470
>> I WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO GET
INTO MOM'S EMAIL ACCOUNT

945
00:46:43,470 --> 00:46:48,208
AND SHE WOULD GET ALERTS
WHENEVER THE CAMERA PICKED UP

946
00:46:48,208 --> 00:46:50,310
SOMETHING.
AND SO I WENT BACK TO THE DATE

947
00:46:50,310 --> 00:46:52,912
SHE HAD BEEN MURDERED.
AND -- I SCROLL -- I REMEMBER

948
00:46:52,912 --> 00:46:55,548
SCROLLING DOWN, AND THERE THEY
ARE.

949
00:46:55,548 --> 00:46:56,816
THERE'S A NOTIFICATION,
NOTIFICATION, NOTIFICATION

950
00:46:56,816 --> 00:47:00,320
AND I JUST REMEMBER I PICKED UP
THE PHONE AND I -- YOU KNOW, I

951
00:47:00,320 --> 00:47:04,491
CALLED THE LEAD INVESTIGATOR
AND I WAS LIKE, "THE CAMERAS

952
00:47:04,491 --> 00:47:06,593
WERE THERE."
>> Reporter: SO IF THE CAMERAS

953
00:47:06,593 --> 00:47:07,694
HAD BEEN UP AND RUNNING ON THE
DAY LINDA WAS MURDERED,

954
00:47:07,694 --> 00:47:14,501
INVESTIGATORS NEEDED TO GET
THEIR HANDS ON THAT FOOTAGE.

955
00:47:14,501 --> 00:47:15,568
>>> COMING UP --
>> WE SPECULATED THAT THOSE

956
00:47:15,568 --> 00:47:18,538
CAMERAS POSSIBLY RECORDED THE
ACTUAL MURDER.

957
00:47:18,538 --> 00:47:21,875
>> WAS LINDA'S KILLING CAUGHT ON
TAPE

958
00:47:21,875 --> 00:47:24,411
>> THEY FINALLY GET THE IMAGES
ON THE COMPUTER SCREEN

959
00:47:24,411 --> 00:47:26,713
AND THEY PUT IT ON A PROJECTOR
SO EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM CAN SEE

960
00:47:26,713 --> 00:47:30,250
IT
>> WHAT WERE INVESTIGATORS ABOUT

961
00:47:30,250 --> 00:47:30,483
>> WHAT WERE INVESTIGATORS ABOUT
TO WITNESS

962
00:47:50,203 --> 00:47:56,476
DAYS SINCE LINDA'S BODY WAS
DISCOVERED

963
00:47:56,476 --> 00:48:01,214
HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS WERE
PREPARING FOR HER VISITATION AND

964
00:48:01,214 --> 00:48:03,283
MEMORIAL SERVICE AT THE CHURCH
BUT THINGS WERE ABOUT TO TAKE A

965
00:48:03,283 --> 00:48:04,851
SURREAL TURN
>> SOME OF THE PARKING LOT WAS

966
00:48:04,851 --> 00:48:08,021
SECTIONED OFF FOR MEDIA.
WE HAD UNDERCOVER AGENTS THAT

967
00:48:08,021 --> 00:48:11,157
WERE IN PLAINCLOTHES
THE CHURCH EVEN HAD, A GROUP OF

968
00:48:11,157 --> 00:48:12,759
ABLE-BODIED MEN THAT WERE A PART
OF THE SECURITY TEAM

969
00:48:12,759 --> 00:48:20,066
AND SO WE HAD THIS BIG,
MULTILEVEL OF SECURITY, FOR THIS

970
00:48:20,066 --> 00:48:20,934
VISITATION
>> Reporter: THE SECURITY WAS

971
00:48:20,934 --> 00:48:23,236
PUT IN PLACE BECAUSE RUMORS WERE
SWIRLING ABOUT A PLANNED PROTEST

972
00:48:23,236 --> 00:48:25,405
OUTSIDE THE CHURCH
>> WHO WAS GONNA BE UP IN ARMS

973
00:48:25,405 --> 00:48:27,941
>> PEOPLE THAT THOUGHT THERE WAS
SOME CONSPIRACY.

974
00:48:27,941 --> 00:48:34,247
>> THAT THIS WAS A COVER-UP?
>> YEAH.

975
00:48:34,247 --> 00:48:35,949
>> A COVER-UP, >> Reporter:
SHERIFF BELL WAS MORE CONCERNED

976
00:48:35,949 --> 00:48:36,816
ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN INSIDE
THE CHURCH

977
00:48:36,816 --> 00:48:39,052
HIS CHURCH
>> OUR PASTOR HAD APPROACHED ME

978
00:48:39,052 --> 00:48:49,396
AND ASKED ME THE QUESTION.
HE SAID, "ARE WE SAFE?

979
00:48:49,396 --> 00:48:50,597
I TOLD THE PASTOR, IF SOMETHING
DOESN'T CHANGE YOU'RE GONNA

980
00:48:50,597 --> 00:48:52,065
SHAKE HANDS WITH THE KILLER.
>> WHOA.

981
00:48:52,065 --> 00:48:53,133
>> THAT GOT HIS ATTENTION.
>> ABSOLUTELY.

982
00:48:53,133 --> 00:48:55,135
>> QUESTIONS FOLLOWED?
>> A LOTTA QUESTIONS

983
00:48:55,135 --> 00:48:56,403
>> BUT YOU WEREN'T GIVING ANY
ANSWERS --

984
00:48:56,403 --> 00:48:58,905
>> I COULDN'T GIVE HIM ANY
ANSWERS.

985
00:48:58,905 --> 00:49:00,006
THAT'S ALL I COULD TELL HIM.
>> Reporter: THE SHERIFF

986
00:49:00,006 --> 00:49:03,109
BELIEVED LINDA'S KILLER WAS
SOMEONE SHE KNEW; SOMEONE WHO

987
00:49:03,109 --> 00:49:04,711
WOULD LIKELY SHOW UP THAT DAY.
AT THE SAME TIME, BACK AT THE

988
00:49:04,711 --> 00:49:06,346
STATION, INVESTIGATORS WERE
LOOKING AT A KEY PIECE OF

989
00:49:06,346 --> 00:49:08,348
EVIDENCE
REMEMBER, TATE TOLD DETECTIVES

990
00:49:08,348 --> 00:49:11,017
THAT THE SECURITY CAMERAS
OUTSIDE HER MOTHER'S HOME HAD

991
00:49:11,017 --> 00:49:14,621
BEEN TRIGGERED THE DAY SHE WAS
LIKELY MURDERED.

992
00:49:14,621 --> 00:49:21,795
>> WE SPECULATED THAT THOSE
CAMERAS POSSIBLY RECORDED THE

993
00:49:21,795 --> 00:49:22,929
ACTUAL MURDER. OR AT LEAST
RECORDED THE EVENTS LEADING UP

994
00:49:22,929 --> 00:49:26,032
TO THE MURDER.
>> Reporter: THE CAMERAS WERE

995
00:49:26,032 --> 00:49:27,801
MISSING.
SHERIFF BELL FELT LINDA'S

996
00:49:27,801 --> 00:49:29,903
KILLER, OR KILLERS, MUST HAVE
TAKEN THEM FROM THE CRIME SCENE.

997
00:49:29,903 --> 00:49:36,209
HOWEVER, THE FOOTAGE COULD BE
ACCESSED ONLINE.

998
00:49:36,209 --> 00:49:37,577
INVESTIGATORS LEARNED THAT
SOMEONE, THEY COULDN'T TELL WHO,

999
00:49:37,577 --> 00:49:38,845
HAD LOGGED INTO LINDA'S ACCOUNT
AFTER SHE DIED

1000
00:49:38,845 --> 00:49:42,048
PERHAPS THE KILLER TRYING TO
DELETE THE FOOTAGE

1001
00:49:42,048 --> 00:49:47,754
IF ANY STILL EXISTED, THEY
NEEDED TO FIND IT.

1002
00:49:47,754 --> 00:49:49,322
>> SO WE REACHED OUT TO THE
CAMERA COMPANY

1003
00:49:49,322 --> 00:49:52,459
AND WE SERVED THEM WITH
SUBPOENAS AND SEARCH WARRANTS.

1004
00:49:52,459 --> 00:49:55,628
AND A COUPLE DAYS LATER WE
RECEIVED A PACKAGE FROM FEDEX AT

1005
00:49:55,628 --> 00:49:59,065
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THAT HAD A
THUMB DRIVE IN IT THAT HAD THE,

1006
00:49:59,065 --> 00:50:06,639
ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT WAS
ON THE CLOUD ON LINDA'S CAMERA

1007
00:50:06,639 --> 00:50:07,807
SYSTEM
>> Reporter: THE PACKAGE ARRIVED

1008
00:50:07,807 --> 00:50:09,275
THE SAME DAY AS LINDA'S
VISITATION

1009
00:50:09,275 --> 00:50:11,444
AND SO, AS MOURNERS PREPARED TO
GATHER AT THE CHURCH, SHERIFF

1010
00:50:11,444 --> 00:50:17,250
BELL AND THE OTHER INVESTIGATORS
MOVED INTO HIGH GEAR SCREENING

1011
00:50:17,250 --> 00:50:25,792
THE SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE.
>> AND, WE'RE GATHERED AROUND

1012
00:50:25,792 --> 00:50:26,826
WITH OUR I.T. PEOPLE
AND THEY'RE TRYING TO GET ALL

1013
00:50:26,826 --> 00:50:28,661
THIS, FOOTAGE DOWNLOADED AND,
GET IT GOING

1014
00:50:28,661 --> 00:50:31,331
SO THEY, THEY FINALLY GET THE
IMAGES ON THE COMPUTER SCREEN.

1015
00:50:31,331 --> 00:50:32,832
AND THEY PUT IT ON A PROJECTOR
SO EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM CAN SEE

1016
00:50:32,832 --> 00:50:35,035
IT
AND WE'RE GOING THROUGH THAT IN

1017
00:50:35,035 --> 00:50:36,069
REAL TIME WITH THEM.
>> YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE

1018
00:50:36,069 --> 00:50:37,537
GONNA SEE.
>> RIGHT

1019
00:50:37,537 --> 00:50:40,674
>> THERE'S NO TABLE OF CONTENTS
WITH THIS THING.

1020
00:50:40,674 --> 00:50:42,575
>> RIGHT
>> Reporter: CLIP BY CLIP THE

1021
00:50:42,575 --> 00:50:45,412
VIDEOS PLAYED.
REVEALING A TIMELINE TO

1022
00:50:45,412 --> 00:50:46,513
INVESTIGATORS.
THEY COULD SEE LINDA AT HOME

1023
00:50:46,513 --> 00:50:51,217
THAT AFTERNOON, TALKING WITH HER
ASSISTANT BECKY.

1024
00:50:51,217 --> 00:50:53,853
>> LOOK!
YOU SEE IT HAS A DELAY IN

1025
00:50:53,853 --> 00:50:55,455
SENDING, IS WHAT'S HAPPENING
THEN AFTER A FEW MINUTES BECKY

1026
00:50:55,455 --> 00:50:56,556
LEFT LINDA'S HOUSE, SAYING
GOODBYE, JUST AS SHE'D TOLD

1027
00:50:56,556 --> 00:50:58,024
INVESTIGATORS.
>> I'LL SEE YA

1028
00:50:58,024 --> 00:50:59,693
BYE!
>> Reporter: CUT TO THREE HOURS

1029
00:50:59,693 --> 00:51:03,263
LATER.
THAT'S WHEN THE CAMERA ON THE

1030
00:51:03,263 --> 00:51:12,706
GARAGE REVEALED SOMETHING
FRIGHTENING: THE SOUND OF

1031
00:51:12,706 --> 00:51:13,940
BLOOD-CURDLING SCREAMS, LINDA'S.
>> THE OUTSIDE CAMERA ACTUALLY

1032
00:51:13,940 --> 00:51:15,875
RECORDED THE AUDIO OF THE ACTUAL
MURDER ITSELF.

1033
00:51:15,875 --> 00:51:17,444
>> Reporter: WE AREN'T PLAYING
IT HERE, BUT THE CAMERA'S

1034
00:51:17,444 --> 00:51:21,114
MICROPHONE HAD CAPTURED THE LAST
MOMENTS OF LINDA'S LIFE AS SHE

1035
00:51:21,114 --> 00:51:24,784
WAS BEING BRUTALLY MURDERED.
THERE WAS ALSO THIS VIDEO, TAKEN

1036
00:51:24,784 --> 00:51:30,090
THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER SOMEONE,
OR SOMEONES, HIDING UNDER A

1037
00:51:30,090 --> 00:51:32,158
WHITE SHEET, SNEAKING BACK INTO
THE HOUSE.

1038
00:51:32,158 --> 00:51:34,260
AND AS THE TEAM CONTINUED TO
WATCH THE VIDEOS IT BECAME

1039
00:51:34,260 --> 00:51:38,965
ABUNDANTLY CLEAR TO THEM WHO
KILLED LINDA

1040
00:51:38,965 --> 00:51:43,169
>> THAT WAS A MOMENT WHEN ALL OF
THE INVESTIGATORS WERE, LIKE,

1041
00:51:43,169 --> 00:51:48,942
THIS IS OUR KILLER
>> Reporter: BUT THEY HAD NO

1042
00:51:48,942 --> 00:51:50,543
KNEW THE SUSPECT WOULD MOST
CERTAINLY SHOW UP AT THE

1043
00:51:50,543 --> 00:51:54,748
VISITATION ONLY MINUTES AWAY
THEY NEEDED TO MAKE AN ARREST,

1044
00:51:54,748 --> 00:51:55,749
NOW.
>> AT THAT POINT I LEFT.

1045
00:51:55,749 --> 00:52:01,054
TOOK A COUPLE OF DEPUTIES WITH
ME AND A COUPLE OF STATE

1046
00:52:01,054 --> 00:52:02,122
TROOPERS
AND WE SET UP SURVEILLANCE,

1047
00:52:02,122 --> 00:52:05,525
KNOWING THAT OUR INVESTIGATORS
ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PREPARING

1048
00:52:05,525 --> 00:52:09,062
AN ARREST WARRANT.
>> Reporter: THE SHERIFF AND HIS

1049
00:52:09,062 --> 00:52:10,797
TEAM SCOPED OUT THE SUSPECTS'S
HOUSE, WAITING FOR NEWS THAT THE

1050
00:52:10,797 --> 00:52:14,134
WARRANT GREENLIGHTING THE ARREST
HAD BEEN SIGNED.

1051
00:52:14,134 --> 00:52:17,303
>> SO WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A
CORN FIELD WATCHING.

1052
00:52:17,303 --> 00:52:18,638
AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN A VEHICLE
PULLS OUT, AND THEY'RE LEAVING

1053
00:52:18,638 --> 00:52:19,939
AND HEADING IN THE DIRECTION OF
THE CHURCH

1054
00:52:19,939 --> 00:52:23,576
IT'S SHOWTIME, HUH
WE ARE ROLLING

1055
00:52:23,576 --> 00:52:26,212
>> Reporter: THE TRUCK CARRYING
THE SUSPECT BEGAN THE ROUGHLY

1056
00:52:26,212 --> 00:52:37,223
FIFTEEN MILE DRIVE FROM THE
HOUSE TO THE CHURCH, BY THEN

1057
00:52:37,223 --> 00:52:38,425
FILLED WITH MOURNERS
>> AND SO, WE'RE MEETING AND

1058
00:52:38,425 --> 00:52:40,360
GREETING ALL THE, THE FAMILY AND
FRIENDS, AND CRYING, AND -

1059
00:52:40,360 --> 00:52:43,530
AND HUGGING, AND ARE THERE WAS A
WHOLE GROUP FROM LITTLE ROCK OF

1060
00:52:43,530 --> 00:52:46,132
SENATORS AND STUFF THAT CAME IN.
AND YOU KNOW HERE WE ARE, TRYIN'

1061
00:52:46,132 --> 00:52:47,701
TO DO THAT
AND JUST GRIEVE, AND JUST

1062
00:52:47,701 --> 00:52:49,369
MEMORIALIZE OUR -- OUR MOTHER.
>> Reporter:

1063
00:52:49,369 --> 00:52:51,204
THEY WERE UNAWARE THAT LINDA'S
ALLEGED KILLER WAS HEADING

1064
00:52:51,204 --> 00:52:53,473
STRAIGHT FOR THEM.
BUT THE SHERIFF KNEW EXACTLY

1065
00:52:53,473 --> 00:52:54,974
WHAT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN
AND IT WAS AN AFFRONT.

1066
00:52:54,974 --> 00:52:59,212
>> WE ARE HEADED TOWARD THE
CHURCH

1067
00:52:59,212 --> 00:53:05,051
WHICH WAS A CHURCH WHERE I GO TO
CHURCH AT.

1068
00:53:05,051 --> 00:53:08,688
AND A CHURCH WHERE LINDA WENT TO
CHURCH

1069
00:53:08,688 --> 00:53:09,723
AND HER ENTIRE FAMILY WENT TO
CHURCH

1070
00:53:09,723 --> 00:53:12,859
AND TO WALK IN THERE LIKE
NOTHING HAD HAPPENED

1071
00:53:12,859 --> 00:53:14,961
>> Reporter: NOT ON HIS WATCH.
>> SO WE'RE FOLLOWING, THE

1072
00:53:14,961 --> 00:53:16,563
VEHICLE.
AND I'VE GOT A PARADE OF --

1073
00:53:16,563 --> 00:53:18,665
UNMARKED VEHICLES BEHIND ME OF
STATE TROOPERS AND DEPUTIES.

1074
00:53:18,665 --> 00:53:22,836
AND WE'RE FOLLOWING ALONG.
AND I'M ON THE PHONE WITH THE

1075
00:53:22,836 --> 00:53:24,938
LEAD INVESTIGATOR FROM THE STATE
POLICE. ASKING HIM, "WHERE ARE

1076
00:53:24,938 --> 00:53:27,073
YOU AT ON THIS WARRANT
BECAUSE WE ARE HEADED TO THE

1077
00:53:27,073 --> 00:53:28,141
CHURCH."
AND I WOULD GIVE HIM A PLAY BY

1078
00:53:28,141 --> 00:53:42,255
PLAY
YOU KNOW, "WE'RE FIVE MINUTES

1079
00:53:42,255 --> 00:53:43,289
OUT.
>> OH WOW.

1080
00:53:43,289 --> 00:53:44,858
>> THREE MINUTES OUT
AND FINALLY, I TOLD THE

1081
00:53:44,858 --> 00:53:46,493
INVESTIGATOR, I SAID, "WE ARE
WITHIN A MILE OF THE CHURCH.

1082
00:53:46,493 --> 00:53:48,094
WHERE ARE YOU AT ON THIS
WARRANT?

1083
00:53:48,094 --> 00:53:49,829
AT THAT POINT THE INVESTIGATOR
TOLD ME, "THE JUDGE JUST SIGNED

1084
00:53:49,829 --> 00:53:52,265
THE WARRANT, YOU'RE GOOD TO GO."
SO I TOLD THE DEPUTY THAT WAS

1085
00:53:52,265 --> 00:53:55,402
DRIVING THE VEHICLE I WAS IN, I
SAID, "LIGHT 'EM UP.

1086
00:53:55,402 --> 00:53:59,105
>> COMING UP
>> THE POLICE COME TO US AND

1087
00:53:59,105 --> 00:54:01,241
THEY SAID, "WE'RE SORRY TO
INTERRUPT" POLICE DELIVER THE

1088
00:54:01,241 --> 00:54:01,908
NEWS THAT WILL STUN, EVERYONE.

1089
00:54:01,908 --> 00:54:23,063
>> Reporter: SHERIFF KEVIN BELL
AND HIS TEAM OF DEPUTIES AND

1090
00:54:23,063 --> 00:54:25,965
STATE POLICE WERE CONVINCED THEY
KNEW WHO HAD KILLED

1091
00:54:25,965 --> 00:54:28,101
LINDA COLLINS.
THEY WERE NOW FOLLOWING THAT

1092
00:54:28,101 --> 00:54:30,870
SUSPECT, THE PASSENGER IN A
TRUCK HEADED TOWARDS LINDA'S

1093
00:54:30,870 --> 00:54:32,272
VISITATION
AND THEY NEEDED TO MAKE THE

1094
00:54:32,272 --> 00:54:37,077
ARREST BEFORE THE ALLEGED KILLER
GOT THERE.

1095
00:54:37,077 --> 00:54:38,244
SO ALL OF A SUDDEN, HERE COMES A
BLUE LIGHT YOU GOT ON THE DASH

1096
00:54:38,244 --> 00:54:40,146
>> CORRECT
AND NOTHING HAPPENED

1097
00:54:40,146 --> 00:54:41,715
THEY DIDN'T STOP
>> Reporter: AND NOW THEY WERE

1098
00:54:41,715 --> 00:54:46,453
GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE
CHURCH

1099
00:54:46,453 --> 00:54:48,121
TIME WAS RUNNING OUT
>> AND I TOLD MY DEPUTY, I SAID,

1100
00:54:48,121 --> 00:54:51,157
"WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
FIXIN' TO HAPPEN, BUT IT'S

1101
00:54:51,157 --> 00:54:52,726
FIXIN' TO GO DOWN RIGHT HERE."
>> Reporter: FINALLY THE TRUCK

1102
00:54:52,726 --> 00:54:58,998
STOPPED.
DEPUTIES AND STATE POLICE

1103
00:54:58,998 --> 00:55:00,200
SURROUNDED IT, GUNS DRAWN.
WHAT ARE THE WORDS

1104
00:55:00,200 --> 00:55:03,236
>> WE DONE WHAT'S CALLED A
FELONY TRAFFIC STOP.

1105
00:55:03,236 --> 00:55:04,437
ORDERED THEM TO GET OUT OF THE
VEHICLE AND, YOU KNOW, TO WALK

1106
00:55:04,437 --> 00:55:06,573
BACK TO US BACKWARDS AND SHOW US
YOUR HANDS

1107
00:55:06,573 --> 00:55:11,611
YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE DEAL
'CAUSE WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE

1108
00:55:11,611 --> 00:55:17,384
ARMED.
>> Reporter: THANKFULLY, THE

1109
00:55:17,384 --> 00:55:18,551
SITUATION DID NOT ESCALATE
>> WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE HER INTO

1110
00:55:18,551 --> 00:55:20,553
CUSTODY.
>> Reporter: AND YOU CUFFED HER

1111
00:55:20,553 --> 00:55:22,622
RIGHT THERE?
>> YES, SIR.

1112
00:55:22,622 --> 00:55:24,724
>> Reporter: HER, A FEMALE
SUSPECT.

1113
00:55:24,724 --> 00:55:28,628
NOT PHIL SMITH, THE EX-HUSBAND
IT WAS SOMEONE YOU'VE ALREADY

1114
00:55:28,628 --> 00:55:30,063
MET.
NONE OTHER THAN BECKY O'DONNELL,

1115
00:55:30,063 --> 00:55:35,268
LINDA'S SEEMINGLY LOYAL FRIEND
AND EMPLOYEE

1116
00:55:35,268 --> 00:55:38,405
THERE SHE SAT, NOW SHACKLED IN
THE COUNTY JAIL WITH NO IDEA

1117
00:55:38,405 --> 00:55:41,074
ABOUT THE EVIDENCE THE
INVESTIGATORS HAD AGAINST HER.

1118
00:55:41,074 --> 00:55:44,711
AN UNLIKELY SUSPECT FOR SURE
BUT THERE WAS NO CONFUSION ON

1119
00:55:44,711 --> 00:55:46,312
THE PART OF THE INVESTIGATORS.
THEY BELIEVED BECKY WAS THEIR

1120
00:55:46,312 --> 00:55:49,449
KILLER
>> YOU'RE UNDER ARREST FOR THE

1121
00:55:49,449 --> 00:55:56,823
MURDER OF LINDA.
YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?

1122
00:55:56,823 --> 00:55:57,891
>> WE GOT YA
>> WE GOT YA

1123
00:55:57,891 --> 00:56:03,129
>> Reporter: AFTER THE ARREST,
SHERIFF BELL HAD DRIVEN STRAIGHT

1124
00:56:03,129 --> 00:56:04,698
TO THE CHURCH.
>> WHILE WE'RE THERE, HALFWAY

1125
00:56:04,698 --> 00:56:07,067
THROUGH, THE POLICE COME TO US
AND THEY SAID, "WE'RE SORRY TO

1126
00:56:07,067 --> 00:56:14,040
INTERRUPT.
>> Reporter: THE FAMILY WAS

1127
00:56:14,040 --> 00:56:15,208
ESCORTED INTO A BACK ROOM WHERE
THEY WERE MET BY SEVERAL HIGH

1128
00:56:15,208 --> 00:56:16,776
RANKING LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIALS, INCLUDING

1129
00:56:16,776 --> 00:56:18,878
SHERIFF BELL
>> I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT

1130
00:56:18,878 --> 00:56:20,480
LINDA'S FAMILY FOUND OUT FROM ME
WHAT HAD JUST TAKEN PLACE BEFORE

1131
00:56:20,480 --> 00:56:22,048
THEY HEARD IT FROM ANYWHERE
ELSE

1132
00:56:22,048 --> 00:56:25,185
>> THEY SAID, "WE'VE ARRESTED
HER.

1133
00:56:25,185 --> 00:56:26,753
AND I THINK I SAID, "FOR WHAT?
AND THAT WAS WHEN THEY'RE --

1134
00:56:26,753 --> 00:56:29,889
THEY SAID, "FOR THE MURDER OF
YOUR MOM."

1135
00:56:29,889 --> 00:56:32,058
>> RIGHT
WE WERE JUST AS SURPRISED AS, I

1136
00:56:32,058 --> 00:56:36,296
SUPPOSE, EVERYBODY ELSE WAS.
>> AND IT WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL

1137
00:56:36,296 --> 00:56:38,832
MOMENT FOR ALL OUR PARTS AT THAT
TIME, THAT WE'VE GOT THIS PERSON

1138
00:56:38,832 --> 00:56:39,966
IN CUSTODY
>> Reporter: BUT THE AUTHORITIES

1139
00:56:39,966 --> 00:56:42,102
WEREN'T READY TO LET THE PUBLIC
KNOW, NOT JUST YET

1140
00:56:42,102 --> 00:56:47,240
SO THE FAMILY WENT BACK OUT INTO
THE CHURCH

1141
00:56:47,240 --> 00:56:50,910
AND IT'S AN OVERWHELMING
SITUATION AS IT IS

1142
00:56:50,910 --> 00:56:54,647
AND YOU'RE EXPECTED TO TAKE IN
THIS INFORMATION

1143
00:56:54,647 --> 00:56:56,683
AND THEN THEY KINDA TELL YOU TO
GO -- GO BACK OUT, YOU KNOW, TO

1144
00:56:56,683 --> 00:56:59,853
YOUR VISITATION AND TRY TO ACT
NORMAL

1145
00:56:59,853 --> 00:57:02,455
>> AND ACT LIKE YOU DIDN'T --
YOU DON'T KNOW -

1146
00:57:02,455 --> 00:57:05,592
>> YEAH, ACT LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW
THAT THIS ARREST JUST HAPPENED

1147
00:57:05,592 --> 00:57:08,194
>> Reporter: THE FAMILY DID TELL
KEN YANG, LINDA'S FRIEND, WHO

1148
00:57:08,194 --> 00:57:10,830
WAS ALSO ACTING AS THE FAMILY
SPOKESPERSON

1149
00:57:10,830 --> 00:57:15,035
KEN SAYS IT NEVER CROSSED HIS
MIND THAT BECKY O'DONNELL WAS

1150
00:57:15,035 --> 00:57:19,205
LINDA'S KILLER
>> EVERYONE THOUGHT THE

1151
00:57:19,205 --> 00:57:23,410
EX-HUSBAND
AND THEN MAYBE SOME MYSTERY

1152
00:57:23,410 --> 00:57:25,045
PERSON THAT JUST -- LINDA KEPT
FROM US.

1153
00:57:25,045 --> 00:57:27,213
OR SOME RANDOM MURDER OF A STATE
SENATOR.

1154
00:57:27,213 --> 00:57:29,716
>> Reporter: BUT NOT THE LADY
THAT RAN THE BOOKS AT THE MOTEL?

1155
00:57:29,716 --> 00:57:31,818
>> NO.
NOT THE LADY THAT SHE CONSIDERED

1156
00:57:31,818 --> 00:57:34,721
A GOOD FRIEND, THAT SHE TRUSTED
WITH HER CAMPAIGN, TRUSTED WITH

1157
00:57:34,721 --> 00:57:38,191
HER HOTEL.
NEVER CROSSED MY MIND.

1158
00:57:38,191 --> 00:57:40,727
>> BREAKING NEWS TONIGHT OUT OF
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

1159
00:57:40,727 --> 00:57:44,431
>> Reporter: WORD OF THE ARREST
BROKE LATER THAT NIGHT AND

1160
00:57:44,431 --> 00:57:46,066
BECAME THE LEAD STORY ON THE
LOCAL NEWS

1161
00:57:46,066 --> 00:57:48,601
>> DETAILS STILL LIMITED, BUT
WE'RE TOLD A WOMAN WAS ARRESTED

1162
00:57:48,601 --> 00:57:51,771
IN POCAHONTAS TODAY.
MITCH McCOY IS JOINING US NOW

1163
00:57:51,771 --> 00:57:53,873
LIVE
>> Reporter: REPORTER

1164
00:57:53,873 --> 00:57:56,509
MITCH McCOY SAYS BECKY O'DONNELL
WASN'T ON ANYONE'S LIST OF

1165
00:57:56,509 --> 00:57:58,578
POTENTIAL SUSPECTS, AND
CERTAINLY NOT THOSE OF THE

1166
00:57:58,578 --> 00:58:00,714
ARMCHAIR DETECTIVES WHO HAD
FILLED THE VOID OF INFORMATION

1167
00:58:00,714 --> 00:58:03,316
WITH CONJECTURE AND
CONSPIRACIES

1168
00:58:03,316 --> 00:58:05,452
HE ADMITS HE HAD NO IDEA WHO SHE
WAS.

1169
00:58:05,452 --> 00:58:09,589
>> THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH
SPECULATION THAT IT WAS GONNA BE

1170
00:58:09,589 --> 00:58:12,792
PHIL
AND SO I REMEMBER SEARCHING

1171
00:58:12,792 --> 00:58:17,030
"REBECCA O'DONNELL" ON FACEBOOK,
AND THE FIRST PICTURE THAT POPS

1172
00:58:17,030 --> 00:58:20,200
UP IS THIS BEAUTIFUL,
HEARTWARMING PICTURE OF THE TWO

1173
00:58:20,200 --> 00:58:22,702
OF THEM, LINDA AND BECKY, FROM
THE CAMPAIGN DAYS.

1174
00:58:22,702 --> 00:58:24,871
>> Reporter: DIDN'T COMPUTE TO
YOU?

1175
00:58:24,871 --> 00:58:26,406
DIDN'T MAKE SENSE?
>> IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.

1176
00:58:26,406 --> 00:58:28,541
IT WAS LIKE, "THIS IS JUST OUT
OF LEFT FIELD.

1177
00:58:28,541 --> 00:58:32,746
YOU KNOW
HOW -- HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?

1178
00:58:32,746 --> 00:58:35,882
>> Reporter: BUT POSSIBLE IT
WAS.

1179
00:58:35,882 --> 00:58:39,185
THAT'S BECAUSE INVESTIGATORS HAD
LEARNED A WHOLE LOT MORE ABOUT

1180
00:58:39,185 --> 00:58:41,154
BECKY O'DONNELL.
IT TURNED OUT LINDA'S ONCE

1181
00:58:41,154 --> 00:58:45,859
TRUSTED AIDE WAS A KEEPER OF
DARK SECRETS

1182
00:58:45,859 --> 00:58:48,061
LOTS OF THEM
>>> COMING UP --

1183
00:58:48,061 --> 00:58:51,431
BECKY'S MOTIVE FOR MURDER.
WHAT COULD IT BE

1184
00:58:51,431 --> 00:58:53,767
>> Reporter: SOMETHING'S WRONG
WITH THE BOOKS HERE?

1185
00:58:53,767 --> 00:58:55,335
>> MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL
>> I KNEW THAT THE HANDWRITING

1186
00:58:55,335 --> 00:58:57,437
ON THERE WAS NOT MOM'S
>> AND WHAT ELSE HAD SHE BEEN

1187
00:58:57,437 --> 00:58:57,604
>> AND WHAT ELSE HAD SHE BEEN
HIDING

1188
00:59:17,691 --> 00:59:19,492
BEEN ARRESTED FOR THE MURDER OF
LINDA COLLINS.

1189
00:59:19,492 --> 00:59:21,194
A SHOCK TO SO MANY
BUT FOR THE INVESTIGATORS, BECKY

1190
00:59:21,194 --> 00:59:25,699
HAD BEEN ON THEIR RADAR FROM THE
VERY BEGINNING

1191
00:59:25,699 --> 00:59:27,801
>> YOU KNOW, I TALKED TO TIM AND
BECKY, AND I GOTTA TELL YOU

1192
00:59:27,801 --> 00:59:30,403
SOMETHING, BUTCH
UM, THERE'S THINGS THAT AIN'T

1193
00:59:30,403 --> 00:59:33,073
ADDING UP THERE, EITHER.
>> BECKY WAS INTERVIEWED AND

1194
00:59:33,073 --> 00:59:37,777
MADE HERSELF OUT TO BE VERY
EMOTIONAL.

1195
00:59:37,777 --> 00:59:42,182
>> I KEEP THINKING SHE'S GONNA
GET MAD AT ME FOR TELLING THIS

1196
00:59:42,182 --> 00:59:44,084
STUFF.
>> NO.

1197
00:59:44,084 --> 00:59:47,754
>> AND THE INVESTIGATORS
AFTERWARDS SAID THAT SHE

1198
00:59:47,754 --> 00:59:51,057
APPEARED TO BE CRYING, BUT NO
TEARS WERE COMING OUT OF HER --

1199
00:59:51,057 --> 00:59:51,958
HER EYES
SO A RED FLAG IMMEDIATELY.

1200
00:59:51,958 --> 00:59:57,697
AND A FEW OTHER THINGS THAT
BECKY HAD SAID THERE IN THAT

1201
00:59:57,697 --> 00:59:59,366
INTERVIEW.
>> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS

1202
00:59:59,366 --> 01:00:00,500
LEARNED THAT BECKY HAD LIED TO
THEM ABOUT LOSING HER CELL

1203
01:00:00,500 --> 01:00:01,401
PHONE.
>> DO YOU HAVE A HOME PHONE?

1204
01:00:01,401 --> 01:00:03,470
>> NO.
>> JUST A CELL

1205
01:00:03,470 --> 01:00:13,580
>> YEAH.
I LOST THAT TODAY.

1206
01:00:13,580 --> 01:00:14,614
>> YOU LOST IT TODAY
>> Reporter: RECORDS INDICATED

1207
01:00:14,614 --> 01:00:15,648
SHE WAS STILL USING IT AFTER SHE
SAID SHE'D LOST IT

1208
01:00:15,648 --> 01:00:18,218
THEY PICKED UP ON OTHER
INCONSISTENCIES TOO AND

1209
01:00:18,218 --> 01:00:21,287
QUESTIONED HER STORY ABOUT
SEEING LINDA FOR THE LAST TIME

1210
01:00:21,287 --> 01:00:23,390
REMEMBER, BECKY SAID THEY'D
GOTTEN INTO A FIGHT.

1211
01:00:23,390 --> 01:00:26,026
>> WHEN I LEFT, SHE WAS MAD AT
ME

1212
01:00:26,026 --> 01:00:28,661
>> WHY WAS SHE MAD AT YOU?
>> BECAUSE I WAS BUTTING IN HER

1213
01:00:28,661 --> 01:00:32,332
PERSONAL LIFE.
>> Reporter: AFTER THAT

1214
01:00:32,332 --> 01:00:35,969
ARGUMENT, BECKY SAID THEY TALKED
ONE MORE TIME ON THE PHONE, BUT

1215
01:00:35,969 --> 01:00:38,104
SHE HADN'T SEEN HER SINCE.
THOUGH SHE DID TELL POLICE SHE

1216
01:00:38,104 --> 01:00:43,743
WENT TO THE HOUSE TO CHECK ON
HER.

1217
01:00:43,743 --> 01:00:44,811
>> WHAT DAY WAS THAT THAT YOU
WENT BACK TO HER HOUSE

1218
01:00:44,811 --> 01:00:45,779
>> OH, I DON'T KNOW.
>> Reporter: IN HIS POLICE

1219
01:00:45,779 --> 01:00:48,581
INTERVIEW, TIM THE FIANCEE SAID
BECKY HAD GONE BY MORE THAN

1220
01:00:48,581 --> 01:00:50,750
ONCE
>> BECKY'S BEEN GOING BY HER

1221
01:00:50,750 --> 01:00:52,252
HOUSE ABOUT EVERY DAY, KNOCKING
ON THE DOOR AND, YOU KNOW,

1222
01:00:52,252 --> 01:00:55,422
CALLING HER AND TEXTING HER.
AND, "HEY," YOU KNOW, "ANSWER --

1223
01:00:55,422 --> 01:00:57,123
WE'RE GETTING WORRIED.
>> Reporter: REMEMBER, LINDA'S

1224
01:00:57,123 --> 01:00:58,658
SON BUTCH FIRST WENT TO HER
HOUSE ON MONDAY, THE DAY BEFORE

1225
01:00:58,658 --> 01:01:01,695
THEY FOUND HER BODY.
AND WHEN HE ARRIVED, HE SAW

1226
01:01:01,695 --> 01:01:04,330
BECKY THERE, TOO
SHE WAS KNOCKING AT THE DOOR

1227
01:01:04,330 --> 01:01:06,566
BUT HE RECALLED BECKY WAS ACTING
A LITTLE ODD

1228
01:01:06,566 --> 01:01:08,535
WHAT'S THE DEMEANOR YOU'RE
SEEIN' IN HER?

1229
01:01:08,535 --> 01:01:10,103
>> IT'S JUST, LIKE, A RUSHED
DEMEANOR

1230
01:01:10,103 --> 01:01:12,205
NO, NOT REALLY ANY INTEREST IN
ME AT ALL.

1231
01:01:12,205 --> 01:01:15,375
MORE OF A JUST TRYIN' TO SEE IF
SHE COULD, I GUESS, GET AHOLD OF

1232
01:01:15,375 --> 01:01:20,313
MOM.
>> Reporter: THIS WASN'T THE

1233
01:01:20,313 --> 01:01:22,916
FIRST TIME BUTCH SAID HIS
INTERACTIONS WITH BECKY HAD

1234
01:01:22,916 --> 01:01:24,918
STRUCK HIM AS BIZARRE.
>> I FELT LIKE, FOR A WHILE,

1235
01:01:24,918 --> 01:01:26,953
THERE WAS SOMETHING FISHY
BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.

1236
01:01:26,953 --> 01:01:28,555
>> Reporter: BUTCH TOLD POLICE
HIS MOTHER'S FRIENDSHIP WITH

1237
01:01:28,555 --> 01:01:30,623
BOTH BECKY AND TIM SEEMED TO
COME OUT OF THE BLUE, AROUND THE

1238
01:01:30,623 --> 01:01:33,793
TIME OF LINDA'S DIVORCE FROM
PHIL

1239
01:01:33,793 --> 01:01:36,396
>> I'D NEVER HEARD OF THESE
PEOPLE UNTIL DIVORCE TIME.

1240
01:01:36,396 --> 01:01:37,697
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THEY ARE
ALL UP THERE IN HER BUSINESS AND

1241
01:01:37,697 --> 01:01:40,100
HELPING MOVE FURNITURE AND DO
STUFF.

1242
01:01:40,100 --> 01:01:41,668
AND I'D NEVER MET THESE PEOPLE
BEFORE

1243
01:01:41,668 --> 01:01:45,372
>> Reporter: BUT BECKY STARTED
DOING MUCH MORE THAN MOVE

1244
01:01:45,372 --> 01:01:47,474
FURNITURE.
>> FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, SHE

1245
01:01:47,474 --> 01:01:49,542
HAD STARTED OFF DRIVIN' HER
PLACES OR RUNNIN' ERRANDS FOR

1246
01:01:49,542 --> 01:01:50,643
HER.
AND THAT KINDA TURNED INTO,

1247
01:01:50,643 --> 01:01:53,747
"HEY, I REALLY NEED SOMEBODY TO
GO AND KINDA DO SOME BOOKS FOR

1248
01:01:53,747 --> 01:01:56,916
ME AT THE OFFICE."
AND SO SHE SORT OF TOOK OVER A

1249
01:01:56,916 --> 01:01:57,951
PSEUDO MANAGEMENT ROLE, BEST I
COULD --

1250
01:01:57,951 --> 01:01:59,786
>> Reporter: SHE'S LIKE THE
RIGHT-HAND ASSISTANT, HUH?

1251
01:01:59,786 --> 01:02:02,655
>> RIGHT
RIGHT.

1252
01:02:02,655 --> 01:02:04,758
>> Reporter: LOOKING BACK, HAD
YOU BECOME A LITTLE BIT

1253
01:02:04,758 --> 01:02:07,460
SUSPICIOUS OF WHY BECKY AND HER
FIANCE, TIM, HAD BECOME SO CLOSE

1254
01:02:07,460 --> 01:02:08,962
TO YOUR MOTHER
>> ABSOLUTELY.

1255
01:02:08,962 --> 01:02:11,064
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: WHAT WERE THE

1256
01:02:11,064 --> 01:02:15,235
THINGS THAT MADE YOU WONDER?
>> THE ABILITY FOR HER TO MOVE

1257
01:02:15,235 --> 01:02:18,171
IN SO QUICKLY WHEN MOM WAS
ALWAYS SO PROTECTIVE OF HER

1258
01:02:18,171 --> 01:02:19,973
PERSONAL INFORMATION, HER MONEY.
YOU KNOW, SHE WAS ALWAYS SO

1259
01:02:19,973 --> 01:02:25,745
CAUTIOUS
I MEAN, IT TOOK FOREVER FOR HER

1260
01:02:25,745 --> 01:02:26,746
TO ALLOW ME AND BUTCH TO TAKE
CARE OF THAT STUFF

1261
01:02:26,746 --> 01:02:30,450
>> Reporter: WHAT FLOORED BOTH
TATE AND BUTCH WAS A LEGAL

1262
01:02:30,450 --> 01:02:37,290
ARRANGEMENT THAT LINDA MADE
DURING THE DIVORCE

1263
01:02:37,290 --> 01:02:38,625
SHE GAVE TIM POWER OF ATTORNEY
TIM TOLD POLICE LINDA NEEDED

1264
01:02:38,625 --> 01:02:40,427
SOMEONE TO LEGALLY HANDLE
BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS

1265
01:02:40,427 --> 01:02:42,095
SINCE SHE TRAVELED FREQUENTLY,
AND SHE TRUSTED HIM.

1266
01:02:42,095 --> 01:02:44,130
YOU THOUGHT THAT WAS STRANGE OR
NOT?

1267
01:02:44,130 --> 01:02:48,301
>> OH, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
>> Reporter: SOMETHING ELSE

1268
01:02:48,301 --> 01:02:50,236
STRANGE.
IN THE DAYS BEFORE LINDA'S

1269
01:02:50,236 --> 01:02:52,739
DEATH, BUTCH TOLD POLICE THAT
MONEY WAS MISSING FROM THEIR

1270
01:02:52,739 --> 01:02:56,209
GRANDFATHER'S ACCOUNT, AN
ACCOUNT HIS MOTHER HAD ACCESS

1271
01:02:56,209 --> 01:02:57,811
TO
>> MY GRANDPA JUST RECENTLY

1272
01:02:57,811 --> 01:03:00,413
STARTED SEEING MONEY COMING OUT
OF HIS ACCOUNT THAT HE DIDN'T

1273
01:03:00,413 --> 01:03:02,048
AUTHORIZE.
MY MOM WOULDN'T JUST TAKE FROM

1274
01:03:02,048 --> 01:03:04,150
MY GRANDPA
THAT'S -- THAT'S NOT SOMETHING

1275
01:03:04,150 --> 01:03:05,752
THAT SHE'S EVER DONE
>> Reporter: SO WHAT'S HAPPENED

1276
01:03:05,752 --> 01:03:08,288
WITH YOUR GRANDPA'S INSTINCT
THAT SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH THE

1277
01:03:08,288 --> 01:03:11,424
BOOKS HERE
>> FOR MONEY TO BE TAKEN FROM MY

1278
01:03:11,424 --> 01:03:15,295
GRANDPA, HIS PERSONAL ACCOUNT,
MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL.

1279
01:03:15,295 --> 01:03:16,663
>> Reporter: THEN THEIR
GRANDFATHER SHOWED TATE PICTURES

1280
01:03:16,663 --> 01:03:18,765
OF THE CHECKS.
>> I KNEW THAT THE HANDWRITING

1281
01:03:18,765 --> 01:03:20,367
ON THERE WAS NOT MOM'S
HANDWRITING.

1282
01:03:20,367 --> 01:03:22,402
>> Reporter: YOUR GRANDPA SAYS,
"SOMETHING'S OFF HERE," HUH?

1283
01:03:22,402 --> 01:03:23,069
>> YEAH.
AND HE WAS CONCERNED

1284
01:03:23,069 --> 01:03:28,208
>> Reporter: WHAT DID HE THINK
WAS HAPPENING WHEN HE LOOKED AT

1285
01:03:28,208 --> 01:03:34,481
THE LEDGERS?
>> HE THOUGHT, YOU KNOW,

1286
01:03:34,481 --> 01:03:36,616
OBVIOUSLY, WE KNEW THAT BECKY
HAD ACCESS TO THE ACCOUNTS

1287
01:03:36,616 --> 01:03:38,451
>> Reporter: BUT BECKY WAS,
AFTER ALL, LINDA'S ALWAYS-THERE

1288
01:03:38,451 --> 01:03:40,820
PERSONAL ASSISTANT
SO WHEN POLICE ASKED BECKY ABOUT

1289
01:03:40,820 --> 01:03:42,355
THOSE CHECKS, SHE SHRUGGED IT
OFF.

1290
01:03:42,355 --> 01:03:47,627
OF COURSE SHE'D SIGNED THEM --
WITH LINDA'S PERMISSION.

1291
01:03:47,627 --> 01:03:50,263
>> A LOT OF TIMES, LINDA HAD ME
SIGN OFF -- SIGN CHECKS OR

1292
01:03:50,263 --> 01:03:51,831
SOMETHING, OR GO GET HER CASH OR
SOMETHING.

1293
01:03:51,831 --> 01:03:54,467
>> BUT YOU WAS ON HER ACCOUNT
WHERE SHE COULD SIGN -

1294
01:03:54,467 --> 01:03:56,102
YOU COULD SIGN HER CHECKS?
>> NO, SHE WOULD JUST HAVE ME

1295
01:03:56,102 --> 01:03:58,571
SIGN HER NAME.
>> OH, YOU WERE SIGNING HER

1296
01:03:58,571 --> 01:03:59,706
NAME
>> YEAH.

1297
01:03:59,706 --> 01:04:01,274
>> OH, BECKY
THAT WAS NOT A SMART THING TO

1298
01:04:01,274 --> 01:04:03,843
DO
>> Reporter: NOT SMART

1299
01:04:03,843 --> 01:04:05,445
AND POLICE SAY NOT TRUE.
INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE BECKY MAY

1300
01:04:05,445 --> 01:04:08,682
HAVE STOLEN UPWARDS OF
$50,000 FROM LINDA

1301
01:04:08,682 --> 01:04:10,650
SO BECKY, THE EMPLOYEE, IT
TURNED OUT HAD BEEN STEALING

1302
01:04:10,650 --> 01:04:13,353
FROM LINDA, WHAT, FOR A WHILE,
HUH?

1303
01:04:13,353 --> 01:04:14,521
>> FOR A LONG TIME
>> Reporter: AND IT -- IT DIDN'T

1304
01:04:14,521 --> 01:04:17,090
POP UP JUST UNTIL THOSE FINAL
WEEKS?

1305
01:04:17,090 --> 01:04:19,092
>> RIGHT
AND MY THEORY ON THAT IS THAT

1306
01:04:19,092 --> 01:04:23,797
BECKY HAD BEEN STEALING FROM
LINDA IN THE -- IN THE MOTEL AND

1307
01:04:23,797 --> 01:04:25,398
THE BUSINESS
AND LINDA MAY NOT HAVE REALIZED

1308
01:04:25,398 --> 01:04:31,671
THAT BECAUSE SHE WAS TRAVELING
AND -- AND BUSY.

1309
01:04:31,671 --> 01:04:33,239
>> Reporter: POLICE THEORIZE
THAT LINDA, TIPPED OFF BY TATE

1310
01:04:33,239 --> 01:04:35,342
ABOUT THE SUSPICIOUS CHECKS,
WANTED TO TALK TO BECKY ABOUT

1311
01:04:35,342 --> 01:04:40,647
THEM
AND THAT CONVERSATION TURNED

1312
01:04:40,647 --> 01:04:42,682
DEADLY
>> WE BELIEVE THAT MOM HAD

1313
01:04:42,682 --> 01:04:44,250
CONFRONTED HER ABOUT THE STOLEN
MONEY, THE MONEY FROM MY

1314
01:04:44,250 --> 01:04:46,453
GRANDPA'S ACCOUNT, AND PROBABLY
HAD FOUND SOME OTHER MONEY FROM

1315
01:04:46,453 --> 01:04:48,254
THE MOTEL THAT WAS MISSING
AND SO I THINK MOM CONFRONTED

1316
01:04:48,254 --> 01:04:50,090
HER ABOUT IT
AND IN -- IN A FIT OF RAGE

1317
01:04:50,090 --> 01:04:54,361
BETWEEN THE TWO OF 'EM, THEN SHE
GRABBED A KNIFE AND KILLED HER

1318
01:04:54,361 --> 01:04:56,363
>> Reporter: THERE'S NO VIDEO
SHOWING IT HAPPEN, BUT

1319
01:04:56,363 --> 01:04:58,932
INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE BECKY
STABBED LINDA IN THE KITCHEN

1320
01:04:58,932 --> 01:05:02,702
MULTIPLE TIMES, THEN MOVED HER
BODY OUTSIDE AND HID IT UNDER

1321
01:05:02,702 --> 01:05:04,738
THAT TARP.
IT WASN'T A STRETCH FOR

1322
01:05:04,738 --> 01:05:06,306
SHERIFF BELL TO COME TO THAT
CONCLUSION

1323
01:05:06,306 --> 01:05:09,943
BECAUSE HE KNEW SOMETHING ABOUT
BECKY'S PAST

1324
01:05:09,943 --> 01:05:14,681
SHE'D ONCE BEEN ARRESTED AND PUT
ON PROBATION FOR THEFT

1325
01:05:14,681 --> 01:05:16,249
AND THAT WASN'T ALL.
>> SHE HAD ACTUALLY PLOTTED TO

1326
01:05:16,249 --> 01:05:19,919
KILL HER EX-HUSBAND AT ONE TIME.
>> Reporter: YOU HEARD THAT

1327
01:05:19,919 --> 01:05:22,122
RIGHT.
IN 2007, BECKY'S HUSBAND AT THE

1328
01:05:22,122 --> 01:05:26,259
TIME TOLD POLICE THAT BECKY WAS
TRYING TO HAVE HIM KILLED.

1329
01:05:26,259 --> 01:05:29,929
A FRIEND CAME FORWARD AND SAID
BECKY WAS OFFERING $50,000 FOR

1330
01:05:29,929 --> 01:05:32,532
THE HIT.
BECKY ADMITTED TO AUTHORITIES

1331
01:05:32,532 --> 01:05:35,335
THAT SHE HAD TALKED ABOUT
KILLING HER HUSBAND, BUT CLAIMED

1332
01:05:35,335 --> 01:05:38,838
SHE WAS DRUNK AND NOT SERIOUS.
NO CHARGES WERE FILED IN THE

1333
01:05:38,838 --> 01:05:40,407
CASE
BUT IT STUCK WITH SHERIFF BELL,

1334
01:05:40,407 --> 01:05:43,576
WHO RECOGNIZED BECKY WHEN TIM
INTRODUCED THEM AT A

1335
01:05:43,576 --> 01:05:45,645
2018 CAMPAIGN EVENT.
THIS GUY'S SAYING, "MEET MY

1336
01:05:45,645 --> 01:05:48,782
FIANCE."
AND YOUR WHEELS ARE GOING

1337
01:05:48,782 --> 01:05:50,917
AROUND
>> MY WHEELS ARE TURNING, AND

1338
01:05:50,917 --> 01:05:53,086
I'M THINKING, "HOW IN THE WORLD
DID LINDA GET MIXED UP WITH THIS

1339
01:05:53,086 --> 01:05:56,156
PERSON?"
>> Reporter: OH, MAN

1340
01:05:56,156 --> 01:06:00,393
>> COURSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO
WAY TO LOOK INTO THE FUTURE.

1341
01:06:00,393 --> 01:06:02,028
>> Reporter: BUT AS CONVINCED AS
THE SHERIFF WAS THAT BECKY HAD

1342
01:06:02,028 --> 01:06:05,598
MURDERED LINDA, THERE WAS
SOMEONE ELSE JUST AS CONVINCED

1343
01:06:05,598 --> 01:06:08,234
SHE WAS INNOCENT
HER FIANCE TIM

1344
01:06:08,234 --> 01:06:11,037
DID YOU ENTERTAIN THE THOUGHT,
"WELL, MAYBE IT COULD BE BECKY"?

1345
01:06:11,037 --> 01:06:12,439
>> NEVER IN MY -
>> Reporter: "MAYBE THERE'S

1346
01:06:12,439 --> 01:06:14,074
SOMETHING I CAN'T PUT TOGETHER
HERE."

1347
01:06:14,074 --> 01:06:18,211
>> NEVER ENTERED MY BRAIN.
>> Reporter: AND WHO KNEW BECKY

1348
01:06:18,211 --> 01:06:20,380
BETTER THAN TIM?
SHOCKED AND OUTRAGED OVER HER

1349
01:06:20,380 --> 01:06:25,518
ARREST, HE SET OFF TO CLEAR HER
NAME AND BRING HER HOME.

1350
01:06:25,518 --> 01:06:26,686
LITTLE DID HE KNOW THAT THE HIGH
HILL HE WAS CLIMBING WOULD

1351
01:06:26,686 --> 01:06:34,427
TUMBLE AROUND HIM IN
CATASTROPHIC FASHION

1352
01:06:34,427 --> 01:06:39,666
>>> COMING UP --
>> THE STUFF THEY HAVE MADE UP

1353
01:06:39,666 --> 01:06:42,836
ON ME RIGHT NOW, IF I WAS ON THE
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, I WOULD SAY,

1354
01:06:42,836 --> 01:06:44,604
"OH, WOW."
>> LINDA SAID WHO WAS GONNA KILL

1355
01:06:44,604 --> 01:06:46,072
HER.
>> Reporter: AND THAT WAS NOT

1356
01:06:46,072 --> 01:06:49,642
BECKY.
>> SHE SAID THAT PHIL WAS GONNA

1357
01:06:49,642 --> 01:06:51,211
KILL HER
SOMEONE WAS BEING FRAMED

1358
01:06:51,211 --> 01:07:10,030
THAT'S WHAT IT FELT LIKE
>> Reporter: AUTHORITIES

1359
01:07:10,030 --> 01:07:14,801
BELIEVED THEY HAD
LINDA COLLINS'S KILLER IN

1360
01:07:14,801 --> 01:07:16,369
CUSTODY.
BUT BECKY O'DONNELL'S FIANCE

1361
01:07:16,369 --> 01:07:19,039
TIM LOGGAINS THOUGHT THE WHOLE
THING STANK, STARTING WITH THE

1362
01:07:19,039 --> 01:07:20,140
ARREST
TIM WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK BECKY

1363
01:07:20,140 --> 01:07:22,142
WAS RIDING IN WHEN SHE WAS TAKEN
INTO CUSTODY

1364
01:07:22,142 --> 01:07:26,312
HE SAYS HE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY
ONCE HE NOTICED THE FLASHING

1365
01:07:26,312 --> 01:07:28,948
LIGHTS BEHIND HIM.
>> I SAW THE BLUE LIGHTS COME

1366
01:07:28,948 --> 01:07:32,118
ON
AND I SAW AN UNMARKED FLY BY ME.

1367
01:07:32,118 --> 01:07:33,687
AND BASICALLY WAS SURROUNDED BY
LAW ENFORCEMENT -- FULL-ON

1368
01:07:33,687 --> 01:07:35,789
FELONY STOP.
>> Reporter: AGAIN, YOU KNOW THE

1369
01:07:35,789 --> 01:07:36,823
DRILL.
>> YES

1370
01:07:36,823 --> 01:07:37,924
>> Reporter: YOU'D BEEN ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THIS, TIM.

1371
01:07:37,924 --> 01:07:40,060
YOU HAD WORN THE UNIFORM
>> YES

1372
01:07:40,060 --> 01:07:41,661
>> Reporter: AND HERE WERE GUYS
YOU PROBABLY KNEW BY FIRST-NAME

1373
01:07:41,661 --> 01:07:42,696
BASIS.
YOU'RE -- CERTAINLY KNEW SHERIFF

1374
01:07:42,696 --> 01:07:46,232
BELL AND THERE HE IS
>> YES

1375
01:07:46,232 --> 01:07:49,903
>> Reporter: TIM SAYS HE WAS
CUFFED ALONG WITH BECKY.

1376
01:07:49,903 --> 01:07:52,572
BUT THE SHERIFF HAD HIS REMOVED.
TIM SAYS THE SHERIFF THEN TOLD

1377
01:07:52,572 --> 01:07:57,277
HIM HE WASN'T BEING ARRESTED OR
CHARGED WITH ANYTHING, BUT BECKY

1378
01:07:57,277 --> 01:08:00,046
WAS GOING DOWN FOR LINDA'S
MURDER

1379
01:08:00,046 --> 01:08:01,414
>> I TOLD HIM HE HAD THE WRONG
PERSON AND HE KNEW IT.

1380
01:08:01,414 --> 01:08:03,783
AND HE SAID, "NO, I GOT THE
RIGHT PERSON."

1381
01:08:03,783 --> 01:08:07,287
>> Reporter: TIM STILL FUMES AT
THE DRAMATICS OF THE ARREST.

1382
01:08:07,287 --> 01:08:08,788
>> ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS SAY,
"TIM, BRING BECKY TO THE

1383
01:08:08,788 --> 01:08:12,025
STATION.
AND I'DA DONE IT

1384
01:08:12,025 --> 01:08:15,628
I FELT LIKE AN INJUSTICE HAD
BEEN DONE.

1385
01:08:15,628 --> 01:08:21,901
I FELT LIKE THEY HAD MADE A
PUBLIC SPECTACLE ON THIS ARREST

1386
01:08:21,901 --> 01:08:23,036
JUST OUTSIDE THE CHURCH, THAT
WAS UNNECESSARY.

1387
01:08:23,036 --> 01:08:24,571
I'M STILL MAD ABOUT THAT, BY THE
WAY.

1388
01:08:24,571 --> 01:08:26,172
>> Reporter: BECKY PLEADED "NOT
GUILTY" AND WAS HELD IN JAIL

1389
01:08:26,172 --> 01:08:28,808
PENDING TRIAL.
SHE FACED THE DEATH PENALTY IF

1390
01:08:28,808 --> 01:08:32,045
CONVICTED.
>> SHE MAINTAINED HER INNOCENCE.

1391
01:08:32,045 --> 01:08:36,216
SHE WAS BROKEN, OBVIOUSLY.
>> Reporter: TIM SAYS HE SPOKE

1392
01:08:36,216 --> 01:08:38,785
WITH BECKY AS OFTEN AS HE COULD,
TO STRATEGIZE HER DEFENSE AND TO

1393
01:08:38,785 --> 01:08:44,524
KEEP HER SPIRITS UP.
>> I LOVE YOU.

1394
01:08:44,524 --> 01:08:45,592
>> I LOVE YOU.
I BELIEVE IN YOU

1395
01:08:45,592 --> 01:08:49,796
YOU GOTTA LOT PEOPLE OUT HERE
BELIEVING IN YOU

1396
01:08:49,796 --> 01:08:51,464
>> I KNOW THAT, HONEY.
>> Reporter: TIM SAYS THAT AS HE

1397
01:08:51,464 --> 01:08:54,134
LEARNED ABOUT SOME OF THE
EVIDENCE AGAINST BECKY, IT

1398
01:08:54,134 --> 01:08:59,739
APPEARED THE PROSECUTION'S CASE
WAS ON VERY THIN ICE

1399
01:08:59,739 --> 01:09:00,907
WHAT'S THE ALLEGATION GOES,
SHE'S STEALING WITH BOTH HANDS

1400
01:09:00,907 --> 01:09:02,308
FROM HER BOSS?
>> THEY'RE SAYING SHE'S

1401
01:09:02,308 --> 01:09:03,443
STEALING
SHE WAS DOING WHAT WAS PART OF

1402
01:09:03,443 --> 01:09:05,645
HER JOB.
AND THAT'S HOW SHE EXPLAINED IT

1403
01:09:05,645 --> 01:09:08,081
TO ME -- "WELL, THEY'RE SAYIN' I
STOLE MONEY.

1404
01:09:08,081 --> 01:09:11,317
BUT I WENT TO WALMART AND MADE A
RUN FOR THE MOTEL.

1405
01:09:11,317 --> 01:09:14,587
I DIDN'T STEAL ANYTHING.
I -- AND I'D SEEN HER DO THAT --

1406
01:09:14,587 --> 01:09:17,090
I LITERALLY SEEN LINDA HAND HER
HER CREDIT CARD AND SAY, "GO DO

1407
01:09:17,090 --> 01:09:20,260
THIS."
THAT'S NOT A MOTIVE FOR MURDER

1408
01:09:20,260 --> 01:09:21,361
THAT MADE NO SENSE TO ME
BECAUSE I KNEW THAT LINDA HAD

1409
01:09:21,361 --> 01:09:24,464
GRANTED HER SOME PERMISSIONS TO
DO THAT SORTA THING.

1410
01:09:24,464 --> 01:09:26,032
>> Reporter: AND YET, SHE WAS
THE LAST PERSON KNOWN TO HAVE

1411
01:09:26,032 --> 01:09:27,867
SEEN HER
>> YES

1412
01:09:27,867 --> 01:09:29,703
>> Reporter: SHE ADMITTED
THERE'D BEEN SOME SORT OF A

1413
01:09:29,703 --> 01:09:31,805
DISPUTE, AN ARGUMENT BETWEEN
THEM

1414
01:09:31,805 --> 01:09:35,175
>> YES
>> Reporter: AND SHE LIED TO

1415
01:09:35,175 --> 01:09:36,576
THEM ABOUT HER CELLPHONE
SHE SAID SHE'D LOST IT AND SHE

1416
01:09:36,576 --> 01:09:37,644
HADN'T
COPS DON'T LIKE TO BE LIED TO.

1417
01:09:37,644 --> 01:09:38,611
AS A UNIFORM -
>> ABSOLUTELY.

1418
01:09:38,611 --> 01:09:40,146
>> Reporter: -- UNIFORM GUY, YOU
KNOW THAT TOTALLY.

1419
01:09:40,146 --> 01:09:41,214
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Reporter: SO SHE'S GETTIN'

1420
01:09:41,214 --> 01:09:43,883
HERSELF IN A JAM HERE.
>> YES

1421
01:09:43,883 --> 01:09:46,486
>> Reporter: A JAM, SURE, ADMITS
TIM.

1422
01:09:46,486 --> 01:09:50,156
BUT NONE OF IT WAS EVIDENCE
BECKY COMMITTED MURDER

1423
01:09:50,156 --> 01:09:52,292
NO, FOR TIM IT FELT LIKE
SOMETHING ELSE

1424
01:09:52,292 --> 01:09:56,463
LIKE BECKY WAS A PATSY -- SET UP
TO TAKE THE FALL FOR THE REAL

1425
01:09:56,463 --> 01:09:58,531
KILLER
>> IT FELT LIKE THERE WAS A

1426
01:09:58,531 --> 01:10:02,235
COVER-UP, THAT MY FRIEND HAD
BEEN MURDERED AND JUSTICE WASN'T

1427
01:10:02,235 --> 01:10:03,837
GONNA BE SERVED.
AND -- AND SOMEONE WAS BEING

1428
01:10:03,837 --> 01:10:12,212
FRAMED
THAT'S WHAT IT FELT LIKE

1429
01:10:12,212 --> 01:10:14,814
>> Reporter: AND BEHIND BARS,
THE ALLEGED FRAME-UP JOB SEEMED

1430
01:10:14,814 --> 01:10:15,849
TO HAVE BECKY RATTLED.
>> BABY, THEY'RE THAT GOOD,

1431
01:10:15,849 --> 01:10:18,284
THEY'RE THAT POWERFUL.
[ INDISCERNIBLE

1432
01:10:18,284 --> 01:10:23,823
THE STUFF THEY HAVE MADE UP ON
ME RIGHT NOW, IF I WAS ON THE

1433
01:10:23,823 --> 01:10:26,893
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, I WOULD SAY
"OH, WOW."

1434
01:10:26,893 --> 01:10:31,598
OKAY
>> Reporter: ERIN CASSINELI IS

1435
01:10:31,598 --> 01:10:37,637
TIM'S ATTORNEY
>> TIM WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE

1436
01:10:37,637 --> 01:10:38,772
WAS A COVER-UP, AND THAT THEY
WERE TRYING TO PROTECT HER

1437
01:10:38,772 --> 01:10:39,973
EX-HUSBAND TO THE DETRIMENT OF
BECKY.

1438
01:10:39,973 --> 01:10:42,842
>> Reporter: TIM STILL THOUGHT
THE REAL KILLER WAS LINDA'S

1439
01:10:42,842 --> 01:10:45,779
EX-HUSBAND
>> LINDA SAID WHO WAS GONNA KILL

1440
01:10:45,779 --> 01:10:47,047
HER, AND SHE WAS KILLED.
>> Reporter: AND THAT WAS NOT

1441
01:10:47,047 --> 01:10:48,381
BECKY.
>> SHE SAID THAT PHIL WAS GONNA

1442
01:10:48,381 --> 01:10:52,585
KILL HER
SHE SAID THAT REPEATEDLY, OVER

1443
01:10:52,585 --> 01:10:54,654
AND OVER
>> Reporter: BUT PHIL SMITH HAD

1444
01:10:54,654 --> 01:10:57,891
BEEN CLEARED BY AUTHORITIES.
>> WE FELT PRETTY COMFORTABLE

1445
01:10:57,891 --> 01:11:01,528
WITH PHIL VERY EARLY ON IN THE
INVESTIGATION, THAT HE WAS NOT

1446
01:11:01,528 --> 01:11:04,631
INVOLVED IN IT
>> Reporter: EVEN SO, TIM WAS

1447
01:11:04,631 --> 01:11:07,801
UNMOVED.
AND ACCORDING TO HIS ATTORNEY,

1448
01:11:07,801 --> 01:11:11,304
THE MAN WHO HAD SPENT NEARLY
THIRTY YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT

1449
01:11:11,304 --> 01:11:13,573
WAS FAST LOSING FAITH IN HIS
PROFESSION

1450
01:11:13,573 --> 01:11:16,843
>> HE COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT HE
HAD DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO A

1451
01:11:16,843 --> 01:11:20,914
SYSTEM THAT WAS GOING TO MAKE
SUCH A GRAVE ERROR IN CONVICTING

1452
01:11:20,914 --> 01:11:23,116
AN INNOCENT PERSON
>> Reporter: TIM WASN'T ALONE IN

1453
01:11:23,116 --> 01:11:26,686
THINKING SOMETHING POTENTIALLY
SINISTER WAS AFOOT

1454
01:11:26,686 --> 01:11:28,788
BECAUSE WHILE THE EVIDENCE IN
THE CASE WAS KEPT SEALED AWAY

1455
01:11:28,788 --> 01:11:30,323
FROM THE PUBLIC, EVERY
DEVELOPMENT WAS CLOSELY

1456
01:11:30,323 --> 01:11:36,629
FOLLOWED, REPORTED ON, AND
SPECULATED ABOUT

1457
01:11:36,629 --> 01:11:39,766
>> THERE WERE HEADLINES COMING
OUT FOR MONTHS, AND IT WAS -

1458
01:11:39,766 --> 01:11:41,368
THIS JUDGE HAS RECUSED HIMSELF
FROM THE CASE.

1459
01:11:41,368 --> 01:11:43,403
NOW WE HAVE THIS PROSECUTOR
RECUSING HIMSELF

1460
01:11:43,403 --> 01:11:45,538
>> Reporter: WHAT'S THAT ABOUT
>> THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER JUDGE

1461
01:11:45,538 --> 01:11:48,208
RECUSING HIMSELF
>> Reporter: WHAT'S GOING ON

1462
01:11:48,208 --> 01:11:51,878
>> AND THAT ADDED TO THE
CONSPIRACY THEORIES BEHIND HER

1463
01:11:51,878 --> 01:11:57,617
DEATH AND WHO ALL IS INVOLVED IN
LINDA'S MURDER

1464
01:11:57,617 --> 01:12:02,956
AND THE RECUSALS OF EACH OF
THESE FIGURES CONTRIBUTED TO

1465
01:12:02,956 --> 01:12:07,794
THE -- THE RUMOR MILL HERE
>> Reporter: BUT IF THE RUMOR

1466
01:12:07,794 --> 01:12:09,062
MILL AGREED WITH TIM THAT THERE
WAS MORE TO THIS STORY, TIM

1467
01:12:09,062 --> 01:12:13,366
BRISTLED AT THE DIRECTION IN
WHICH SOME OF THE CONSPIRACIES

1468
01:12:13,366 --> 01:12:14,467
WERE POINTING.
YOU KNOW, TIM, THERE'S ANOTHER

1469
01:12:14,467 --> 01:12:16,503
WAY THEY TELL THIS STORY
AND I'M TALKIN' ABOUT THE COURT

1470
01:12:16,503 --> 01:12:18,672
OF PUBLIC OPINION, WHO THINKS
THAT YOU'RE IN ON THIS ALL THE

1471
01:12:18,672 --> 01:12:20,273
WAY.
DO YOU GO BACK TO THE HOUSE WITH

1472
01:12:20,273 --> 01:12:22,275
HER?
DO YOU HELP HER MOVE THE BODY?

1473
01:12:22,275 --> 01:12:24,911
>> NO --
>> Reporter: BECAUSE PEOPLE

1474
01:12:24,911 --> 01:12:27,080
WONDER HOW BECKY BY HERSELF CAN
MOVE -- THERE'S A REASON THEY

1475
01:12:27,080 --> 01:12:29,115
CALL IT DEAD WEIGHT -- THAT SHE
WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WRANGLE

1476
01:12:29,115 --> 01:12:30,984
THAT BODY OUTSIDE --
>> I KNOW THERE'S A --

1477
01:12:30,984 --> 01:12:34,854
>> Reporter: -- WITHOUT HELP
>> I KNOW THERE'S A CERTAIN

1478
01:12:34,854 --> 01:12:36,423
PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T
KNOW ME ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKIN'

1479
01:12:36,423 --> 01:12:39,826
IN THAT SAID, "YEAH, HE PROBABLY
HAD SOMETHIN' TO DO WITH IT.

1480
01:12:39,826 --> 01:12:40,694
I GET THAT
>> Reporter: LET ME PUT IT TO

1481
01:12:40,694 --> 01:12:43,763
YOU DIRECT, TIM.
WERE YOU THERE

1482
01:12:43,763 --> 01:12:45,565
DID YOU HELP AFTERWARDS?
DID YOU MOVE THE BODY?

1483
01:12:45,565 --> 01:12:49,569
>> ASKED AND ANSWERED, AND THE
ANSWER'S THE SAME.

1484
01:12:49,569 --> 01:12:51,771
NEGATIVE, I DID NOT.
>> Reporter: SEVEN MONTHS TO THE

1485
01:12:51,771 --> 01:12:56,376
DAY AFTER BECKY O'DONNELL WAS
ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY KILLING

1486
01:12:56,376 --> 01:12:59,512
LINDA, THE CASE TOOK A BIZARRE
TURN WHEN STARTLING NEW CHARGES

1487
01:12:59,512 --> 01:13:03,717
WERE BROUGHT AGAINST HER,
INCLUDING SOLICITATION TO COMMIT

1488
01:13:03,717 --> 01:13:07,053
CAPITAL MURDER
>> SHE WAS GONNA TRY TO ARRANGE

1489
01:13:07,053 --> 01:13:12,392
THE KILLING OF PHIL SMITH AND
MAKE IT APPEAR TO BE A SUICIDE

1490
01:13:12,392 --> 01:13:17,864
AND PHIL SMITH TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE KILLING

1491
01:13:17,864 --> 01:13:18,698
OF LINDA
>> Reporter: SO THEY'RE GONNA

1492
01:13:18,698 --> 01:13:19,899
PUT A NOTE ON HIS DESK OR IN HIS
HAND OR SOMETHING SAYING, "I

1493
01:13:19,899 --> 01:13:21,935
KILLED LINDA."
>> YES

1494
01:13:21,935 --> 01:13:24,704
>> Reporter: THE SUICIDE NOTE
WAS TO BE BECKY'S TICKET TO

1495
01:13:24,704 --> 01:13:28,241
FREEDOM.
AT LEAST, THAT WAS THE TALE TOLD

1496
01:13:28,241 --> 01:13:32,078
BY JAILHOUSE INFORMANTS, PLURAL,
WHO CAME FORWARD TO CLAIM THAT

1497
01:13:32,078 --> 01:13:33,646
BECKY WAS TRYING TO HIRE THEM TO
KILL NOT JUST PHIL, BUT ALSO HIS

1498
01:13:33,646 --> 01:13:39,919
WIFE AS WELL AS THE JUDGE AND
PROSECUTOR

1499
01:13:39,919 --> 01:13:41,521
SHE ALSO PLANNED TO HAVE ANY
EVIDENCE AGAINST HER DESTROYED

1500
01:13:41,521 --> 01:13:43,089
PUT VIRUSES IN THE COMPUTER AND
DESTROY THE CASE FILE?

1501
01:13:43,089 --> 01:13:44,691
>> BLOW UP HER CAR
>> Reporter: IN THE IMPOUND LOT?

1502
01:13:44,691 --> 01:13:47,293
>> YEAH.
[ LAUGHTER ]

1503
01:13:47,293 --> 01:13:50,964
YEAH
SHE WAS GOING TO WHATEVER LENGTH

1504
01:13:50,964 --> 01:13:52,632
POSSIBLE TO DESTROY WHOEVER AND
WHATEVER COULD GET IN HER WAY OF

1505
01:13:52,632 --> 01:13:56,736
HER FREEDOM.
>> Reporter: BECKY PLEADED "NOT

1506
01:13:56,736 --> 01:14:00,940
GUILTY."
AND TO TIM, IT WAS JUST FURTHER

1507
01:14:00,940 --> 01:14:03,543
PROOF THAT THE FIX WAS IN.
SHE WAS IN THERE BEING A

1508
01:14:03,543 --> 01:14:06,046
JAMES BOND VILLAIN, RIGHT?
SHE WAS GONNA DESTROY PROPERTY

1509
01:14:06,046 --> 01:14:10,917
SHE WAS GONNA KILL JUDGES.
SHE WAS GONNA KILL PROSECUTORS

1510
01:14:10,917 --> 01:14:12,485
SHE WAS GONNA HAVE HER LITTLE
MINIONS GO OUT THERE FROM THE

1511
01:14:12,485 --> 01:14:16,456
JAIL AND TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS
FOR HER, INCLUDING KILLING THE

1512
01:14:16,456 --> 01:14:18,224
EX-HUSBAND
>> THAT WAS INSANE TO ME

1513
01:14:18,224 --> 01:14:21,394
IT WAS SO INSANE THAT I DIDN'T
BELIEVE A WORD OF IT

1514
01:14:21,394 --> 01:14:24,731
I THOUGHT THAT THAT SHOWED THE
DESPERATION OF THE -- OF THE

1515
01:14:24,731 --> 01:14:27,701
PROSECUTORS. THEY WERE SO
DESPERATE, THEY DIDN'T HAVE

1516
01:14:27,701 --> 01:14:31,971
ENOUGH EVIDENCE THAT THEY WERE
JUST WILLIN' TO LISTEN TO SOME

1517
01:14:31,971 --> 01:14:33,973
JAILHOUSE SNITCHES
>> Reporter: TIM REMAINED

1518
01:14:33,973 --> 01:14:36,109
STEADFAST IN HIS DEFENSE OF
BECKY.

1519
01:14:36,109 --> 01:14:37,711
THE AUTHORITIES, MEANWHILE, WERE
RESOLUTE THAT BECKY WOULD BE

1520
01:14:37,711 --> 01:14:41,848
HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR KILLING
LINDA.

1521
01:14:41,848 --> 01:14:45,685
BUT BEFORE THE CASE COULD REACH
TRIAL, A KEY PIECE OF EVIDENCE

1522
01:14:45,685 --> 01:14:48,688
WOULD FORCE THE SHOCKING TRUTH
TO BE REVEALED

1523
01:14:48,688 --> 01:14:53,927
>> THERE WAS ONE IMAGE THAT
TURNED OUT TO BE THE SMOKING GUN

1524
01:14:53,927 --> 01:14:54,994
IN THIS CASE
>>> COMING UP --

1525
01:14:54,994 --> 01:14:56,563
>> Reporter: HAVE YOU EVER HAD
AN INVESTIGATIVE MOMENT LIKE

1526
01:14:56,563 --> 01:14:58,665
THAT
>> NO.

1527
01:14:58,665 --> 01:15:02,335
THAT WAS A HIGH FIVE MOMENT.
>> THE SINGLE IMAGE THAT SOLVED

1528
01:15:02,335 --> 01:15:06,039
THE MYSTERY.
>> BECKY'S FACE DROPS.

1529
01:15:06,039 --> 01:15:08,641
AND I STILL DON'T EVEN HAVE
WORDS TO DESCRIBE WHAT THAT

1530
01:15:08,641 --> 01:15:09,109
WORDS TO DESCRIBE WHAT THAT
FACIAL EXPRESSION MEANS.

1531
01:15:30,196 --> 01:15:31,765
>> Reporter: THE SUMMER OF 2020,
A YEAR AFTER LINDA'S MURDER, IT

1532
01:15:31,765 --> 01:15:33,333
SEEMED LIKE BECKY O'DONNELL WAS
ON HER WAY TO TRIAL.

1533
01:15:33,333 --> 01:15:35,435
SHE'S SAYING, "I DIDN'T DO IT,
CORRECT?

1534
01:15:35,435 --> 01:15:39,105
>> Reporter: WRONG PERSON.
>> YES

1535
01:15:39,105 --> 01:15:43,843
>> Reporter: BUT LAW ENFORCEMENT
WAS 100% SURE BECKY WAS THE

1536
01:15:43,843 --> 01:15:46,479
RIGHT PERSON
>> SEE, IT HAS A DELAY IN

1537
01:15:46,479 --> 01:15:49,082
SENDING IS WHAT'S HAPPENING.
>> Reporter: AND THE REASON WHY

1538
01:15:49,082 --> 01:15:53,486
GOES BACK TO THAT HOME SECURITY
CAMERA VIDEO THEY'D RECOVERED.

1539
01:15:53,486 --> 01:15:56,089
YES, IT HAD CAPTURED THE AWFUL
SOUNDS OF LINDA BEING KILLED --

1540
01:15:56,089 --> 01:15:58,091
AND VIDEO OF THE KILLER
DISGUISED IN A SHEET -- BUT

1541
01:15:58,091 --> 01:16:01,695
THERE WAS MORE
THE DAY THEY DOWNLOADED IT, THEY

1542
01:16:01,695 --> 01:16:04,297
DISCOVERED A LOOK-AT-ME PIECE OF
VIDEO THAT WRAPPED THIS CASE UP

1543
01:16:04,297 --> 01:16:17,444
IN A BOW FOR THE INVESTIGATORS
AND PROSECUTORS.

1544
01:16:17,444 --> 01:16:19,045
LO AND BEHOLD, WHAT DO YOU SEE
>> WELL, IT POPS UP, THERE'S

1545
01:16:19,045 --> 01:16:23,350
BECKY O'DONNELL HOLDING A BLOODY
KNIFE.

1546
01:16:23,350 --> 01:16:25,251
>> Reporter: THE CAMERA, AS
BECKY TOOK IT DOWN TO TRY AND

1547
01:16:25,251 --> 01:16:26,820
COVER HER TRACKS, HAD ACTUALLY
CAPTURED THIS FOOTAGE OF HER

1548
01:16:26,820 --> 01:16:29,422
INSIDE THE HOUSE
HERE IS BECKY WITH HANDS ON THE

1549
01:16:29,422 --> 01:16:30,957
MURDER WEAPON, PUTTING IT INTO A
BAG AT THE BOTTOM OF WHICH WAS

1550
01:16:30,957 --> 01:16:32,092
ONE OF THOSE SECURITY CAMERAS
RUNNING ON BATTERY, SEEING

1551
01:16:32,092 --> 01:16:33,927
EVERYTHING
AN INVESTIGATOR'S DREAM.

1552
01:16:33,927 --> 01:16:35,829
HAVE YOU EVER HAD AN
INVESTIGATIVE MOMENT LIKE THAT

1553
01:16:35,829 --> 01:16:38,798
>> NO.
THAT WAS A HIGH FIVE MOMENT FOR

1554
01:16:38,798 --> 01:16:40,500
ALL OF US INVESTIGATORS.
>> Reporter: NO QUESTION IT'S

1555
01:16:40,500 --> 01:16:42,068
HER?
>> NO QUESTION IT'S HER.

1556
01:16:42,068 --> 01:16:48,908
>> Reporter: IT LOOKS LIKE
BECKY, IT IS BECKY

1557
01:16:48,908 --> 01:16:53,079
>> IT'S A DIRECT SHOT OF BECKY'S
FACE

1558
01:16:53,079 --> 01:16:54,147
YOU CAN SEE THE -- THE KNIFE IN
HER HAND

1559
01:16:54,147 --> 01:16:56,249
YOU CAN SEE THE BLOOD ON THE
KNIFE.

1560
01:16:56,249 --> 01:16:59,419
YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE HER LIP
STARTING TO QUIVER AS SHE'S

1561
01:16:59,419 --> 01:17:01,021
PLACING THIS CAMERA INSIDE SOME
KIND OF A -- A BAG, WHICH --

1562
01:17:01,021 --> 01:17:03,590
HANDBAG, LIKE A PURSE.
AND WHEN SHE DROPPED IT INTO

1563
01:17:03,590 --> 01:17:09,896
THAT BAG, AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT,
THE CAMERA'S POINTING UP TOWARD

1564
01:17:09,896 --> 01:17:11,031
THE CEILING.
>> Reporter: IT WAS THIS IMAGE

1565
01:17:11,031 --> 01:17:14,100
THAT INVESTIGATORS SHOWED BECKY
AFTER HER ARREST

1566
01:17:14,100 --> 01:17:24,077
>> WE GOT YA
WE GOT YA.

1567
01:17:24,077 --> 01:17:27,213
>> BECKY'S FACE DROPS.
AND I STILL DON'T EVEN HAVE

1568
01:17:27,213 --> 01:17:31,651
WORDS TO DESCRIBE WHAT THAT
FACIAL EXPRESSION MEANS.

1569
01:17:31,651 --> 01:17:37,657
>> Reporter: WITH EVIDENCE LIKE
THAT, IT WAS HARD TO IMAGINE

1570
01:17:37,657 --> 01:17:38,925
BECKY'S ATTORNEYS WOULD BE ABLE
TO MOUNT MUCH OF A DEFENSE

1571
01:17:38,925 --> 01:17:42,462
SO THAT'S A GOOD NIGHT, RIGHT?
>> YES

1572
01:17:42,462 --> 01:17:43,763
>> Reporter: I MEAN, THESE ARE
NOT DUMB GUYS.

1573
01:17:43,763 --> 01:17:45,598
THEY'RE LAWYERS THAT -
>> CORRECT -

1574
01:17:45,598 --> 01:17:46,633
>> Reporter: -- KNOW WHAT
THEY'RE UP AGAINST

1575
01:17:46,633 --> 01:17:49,269
>> YES
>> Reporter: SO BEHIND THE

1576
01:17:49,269 --> 01:17:50,337
SCENES THEY WERE TALKING TO
BECKY ABOUT A PLEA DEAL.

1577
01:17:50,337 --> 01:17:51,905
OF COURSE, TIM LOGGAINS, BECKY'S
STAUNCHEST DEFENDER, KNEW

1578
01:17:51,905 --> 01:17:57,310
NOTHING ABOUT ANY DEAL OR THAT
VIDEO.

1579
01:17:57,310 --> 01:18:00,380
HE WAS STILL FULLY BEHIND HER.
BUT THEN ONE DAY BECKY'S

1580
01:18:00,380 --> 01:18:02,415
ATTORNEYS CONTACTED HIS ATTORNEY
AND ASKED TO MEET.

1581
01:18:02,415 --> 01:18:06,086
HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
>> IT'S HER ENTIRE TEAM IS

1582
01:18:06,086 --> 01:18:10,256
THERE, INVESTIGATORS AND ALL
AND -- AND -- THEY HAD A

1583
01:18:10,256 --> 01:18:12,792
NONDISCLOSURE FORM THAT THEY
WANTED ME TO SIGN.

1584
01:18:12,792 --> 01:18:15,228
>> Reporter: IT WAS AN ODD
REQUEST.

1585
01:18:15,228 --> 01:18:17,130
THERE WAS SOMETHING BECKY WANTED
TIM TO KNOW, BUT HE HAD TO KEEP

1586
01:18:17,130 --> 01:18:20,767
IT TO HIMSELF FOR THE TIME
BEING.

1587
01:18:20,767 --> 01:18:22,836
TIM SIGNED THE FORM -- AND THEN
CAME THE WORDS THAT HE NEVER

1588
01:18:22,836 --> 01:18:29,142
THOUGHT HE'D HEAR IN A MILLION
YEARS.

1589
01:18:29,142 --> 01:18:30,276
BECKY CONFESSED.
>> HER ATTORNEYS LOOKED AT ME

1590
01:18:30,276 --> 01:18:31,845
AND SAID, "TIM, BECKY WANTED ME
TO TELL YOU THAT SHE MURDERED

1591
01:18:31,845 --> 01:18:34,247
LINDA.
>> Reporter: RIGHT BETWEEN THE

1592
01:18:34,247 --> 01:18:35,448
EYES, HUH?
>> YEAH.

1593
01:18:35,448 --> 01:18:40,687
I WAS SHOCKED, I WAS HURT, I WAS
MAD.

1594
01:18:40,687 --> 01:18:46,459
HERE'S SOMEONE, TOLD ME THIS
WHOLE TIME HOW INNOCENT SHE IS

1595
01:18:46,459 --> 01:18:47,761
AND HOW SHE'S BEING FRAMED AND
SET UP AND -- AND OH NOW, BY THE

1596
01:18:47,761 --> 01:18:51,731
WAY, I DID IT.
YEAH, I WAS UPSET.

1597
01:18:51,731 --> 01:18:56,970
>> Reporter: THE MOMENT WAS HARD
FOR TIM'S ATTORNEY TO EVEN

1598
01:18:56,970 --> 01:19:02,208
WATCH.
>> I HAVE PROBABLY NEVER SEEN

1599
01:19:02,208 --> 01:19:10,016
SOMEBODY SO SHOCKED AND UPSET
SINCE I STARTED PRACTICING LAW

1600
01:19:10,016 --> 01:19:13,753
I MEAN -- HE WAS BESIDE HIMSELF.
>> Reporter: TIM HAD BEEN SO

1601
01:19:13,753 --> 01:19:15,021
CONVINCED THAT PHIL WAS LINDA'S
KILLER, AND HERE IT WAS HIS OWN

1602
01:19:15,021 --> 01:19:19,059
FIANCEE WHO'D BEEN GUILTY ALL
ALONG.

1603
01:19:19,059 --> 01:19:23,229
WHAT DID YOU MISS IN HER
HOW DID SHE BAMBOOZLE YOU?

1604
01:19:23,229 --> 01:19:30,570
>> THE WORLD'S GREATEST ACTRESS
OR SOCIOPATH

1605
01:19:30,570 --> 01:19:32,639
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, I MISSED
EVERYTHING

1606
01:19:32,639 --> 01:19:40,113
>> Reporter: SO YOU WERE
SLEEPING, AND SPENDING YOUR LIFE

1607
01:19:40,113 --> 01:19:42,682
WITH A STAB-AND-SLASH KILLER
>> YES

1608
01:19:42,682 --> 01:19:44,751
>> HAD NO CLUE
THAT'S WHY THE RANGE OF EMOTIONS

1609
01:19:44,751 --> 01:19:47,487
WHEN I FOUND OUT SHE DID IT.
I MEAN, AM I THAT BIG A FOOL

1610
01:19:47,487 --> 01:19:48,922
>> Reporter: AFTER SEVERAL
MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIONS, BECKY

1611
01:19:48,922 --> 01:19:54,694
AND THE PROSECUTORS CAME TO AN
AGREEMENT.

1612
01:19:54,694 --> 01:19:56,596
BECKY WOULD PLEAD GUILTY TO
FIRST DEGREE MURDER, WHICH WOULD

1613
01:19:56,596 --> 01:19:57,464
MEAN THE DEATH PENALTY WAS OFF
THE TABLE.

1614
01:19:57,464 --> 01:19:58,898
LINDA'S FRIEND KEN WASN'T
THRILLED

1615
01:19:58,898 --> 01:20:00,500
ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THAT?
IS -

1616
01:20:00,500 --> 01:20:03,670
>> NO.
>> Reporter: -- THAT JUSTICE

1617
01:20:03,670 --> 01:20:15,682
>> BECKY O'DONNELL DESERVES A
NEEDLE IN HER ARM TOMORROW

1618
01:20:15,682 --> 01:20:17,384
>> Reporter: BUTCH WANTED BECKY
EMAIL OR A TEXT MESSAGE SAYING,

1619
01:20:17,384 --> 01:20:22,856
YOU KNOW, "TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT
I'M GONNA DO IT," TO GET A DEATH

1620
01:20:22,856 --> 01:20:24,124
PENALTY IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE
>> Reporter: ON

1621
01:20:24,124 --> 01:20:30,930
AUGUST 6th, 2020,
BECKY O'DONNELL WAS SENTENCED.

1622
01:20:30,930 --> 01:20:34,601
SHE STOOD BEFORE A JUDGE AND
SAID, "I INTENTIONALLY KILLED

1623
01:20:34,601 --> 01:20:51,985
LINDA COLLINS.
SHE ALSO PLEADED NO CONTEST TO

1624
01:20:51,985 --> 01:20:53,186
TWO CHARGES OF SOLICITATION TO
COMMIT MURDER FOR THE HITS FOR

1625
01:20:53,186 --> 01:20:54,054
HIRE SHE TRIED TO ORCHESTRATE
FROM JAIL.

1626
01:20:54,054 --> 01:20:56,089
YES, THOSE STORIES WERE TRUE
TOO.

1627
01:20:56,089 --> 01:20:57,323
SHE RECEIVED 50 YEARS IN PRISON.
>> MA'AM, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING

1628
01:20:57,323 --> 01:21:00,326
TO SAY TO THE FAMILY OR FRIENDS
OF LINDA

1629
01:21:00,326 --> 01:21:03,063
>> Reporter: AFTERWARDS, TATE
AND BUTCH ADDRESSED THE MEDIA.

1630
01:21:03,063 --> 01:21:05,532
>> WE REALIZE THAT NO MATTER
WHAT PUNISHMENT

1631
01:21:05,532 --> 01:21:07,133
REBECCA O'DONNELL RECEIVES, IT
WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH

1632
01:21:07,133 --> 01:21:09,769
IT WILL NEVER BRING MY GRANDPA'S
DAUGHTER BACK OR OUR MOTHER BACK

1633
01:21:09,769 --> 01:21:10,804
OR OUR CHILDREN'S GRANDMOTHER
BACK

1634
01:21:10,804 --> 01:21:12,672
>> Reporter: DESPITE ALL THE
SPECULATION ABOUT TIM LOGGAINS

1635
01:21:12,672 --> 01:21:15,075
PLAYING A ROLE IN LINDA'S
MURDER, HE WAS NEVER CHARGED

1636
01:21:15,075 --> 01:21:17,644
THE POLICE SAY HE HAD NOTHING TO
DO WITH THE MURDER OR THE THEFT

1637
01:21:17,644 --> 01:21:20,780
OF LINDA'S MONEY
>> Reporter: SO HOW DO YOU FEEL

1638
01:21:20,780 --> 01:21:24,951
ABOUT THE COURT OF PUBLIC
OPINION HANGING YOU FOR THIS

1639
01:21:24,951 --> 01:21:30,757
THING?
>> I CANNOT DESCRIBE TO YOU HOW

1640
01:21:30,757 --> 01:21:32,092
HURTFUL IT IS FOR SOMEONE TO
THINK YOU'RE GUILTY OF SUCH A

1641
01:21:32,092 --> 01:21:36,563
HEINOUS CRIME WHEN YOU KNOW
YOU'RE NOT

1642
01:21:36,563 --> 01:21:38,131
>> Reporter: PERHAPS LINDA'S
EX-HUSBAND PHIL, WHO TIM POINTED

1643
01:21:38,131 --> 01:21:41,301
THE FINGER AT, FEELS THAT WAY
TOO.

1644
01:21:41,301 --> 01:21:44,437
IN A STATEMENT TO "DATELINE,"
PHIL SMITH DENIED HAVING

1645
01:21:44,437 --> 01:21:48,141
ANYTHING TO DO WITH LINDA'S
MURDER, SAYING "I UNDERSTAND

1646
01:21:48,141 --> 01:21:52,345
THAT AS A FORMER SPOUSE COMING
OUT OF A BITTER DIVORCE, I HAD

1647
01:21:52,345 --> 01:21:58,118
TO BE THE INITIAL PRIME SUSPECT.
I KNEW THAT I DID NOT COMMIT,

1648
01:21:58,118 --> 01:22:00,720
SOLICIT, DESIRE, OR HAVE ANY
KNOWLEDGE OF THE TERRIBLE DEED."

1649
01:22:00,720 --> 01:22:03,390
HE SAID HER MURDER "WAS A
DEPRAVED AND EVIL ACT THAT

1650
01:22:03,390 --> 01:22:08,228
DEVASTATED NOT ONLY HER VERY
LIFE BUT ALSO THE LIVES OF HER

1651
01:22:08,228 --> 01:22:09,796
FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO LOVED
HER.

1652
01:22:09,796 --> 01:22:13,867
FRIENDS LIKE KEN YANG.
>> YOU KNOW, I MISS HER HUG, YOU

1653
01:22:13,867 --> 01:22:17,137
KNOW
SHE'D -- SHE'D COME UP TO MY --

1654
01:22:17,137 --> 01:22:21,207
MY CHEST AND EMBRACE ME.
AND I MISS -- I MISS A

1655
01:22:21,207 --> 01:22:22,842
LINDA COLLINS HUG.
>> Reporter: LINDA'S FORMER

1656
01:22:22,842 --> 01:22:25,945
COLLEAGUES IN LITTLE ROCK
HONORED HER ONE MORE TIME LAST

1657
01:22:25,945 --> 01:22:28,581
YEAR
ON THE SENATE FLOOR, THEY

1658
01:22:28,581 --> 01:22:30,684
ADOPTED A MEMORIAL RESOLUTION IN
HER NAME

1659
01:22:30,684 --> 01:22:33,953
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY "AYE."
>> AYE

1660
01:22:33,953 --> 01:22:41,828
>> Reporter: SHE RECEIVED A
STANDING OVATION

1661
01:22:41,828 --> 01:22:46,399
BUT PERHAPS THE PEOPLE WHO MISS
LINDA THE MOST ARE HER KIDS AND

1662
01:22:46,399 --> 01:22:47,667
GRANDKIDS.
BUTCH STILL REMEMBERS HOW HARD

1663
01:22:47,667 --> 01:22:50,737
IT WAS TO TELL HIS CHILDREN THAT
GRANDMA LINDA WASN'T COMING

1664
01:22:50,737 --> 01:22:54,808
BACK
>> YOU KNOW, I JUST SAT 'EM DOWN

1665
01:22:54,808 --> 01:22:57,944
ON THE COUCH AND SAID, "HEY
BUDDIES -- YOU -- YOU'RE NOT

1666
01:22:57,944 --> 01:23:02,682
GONNA GET TO SEE YOUR GRANDMA NO
MORE

1667
01:23:02,682 --> 01:23:04,884
SOMEBODY KILLED HER.
AND -- THERE'S JUST NOT -- I --

1668
01:23:04,884 --> 01:23:06,353
I -- YOU KNOW, I HATED -- OF
COURSE, I WAS BREAKIN' DOWN

1669
01:23:06,353 --> 01:23:09,055
CRYIN'
IT'S MY MOM.

1670
01:23:09,055 --> 01:23:12,125
AND -- TO TRY TO TELL TWO LITTLE
KIDS THAT THEIR GRANDMA --

1671
01:23:12,125 --> 01:23:13,793
THEIR -- THEIR BEST FRIEND HAD
BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM 'EM, AND

1672
01:23:13,793 --> 01:23:16,863
THEY JUST STARTED GETTIN' TO
KNOW HER

1673
01:23:16,863 --> 01:23:23,136
IT'S JUST ONE OF THE HARDEST
THINGS I'VE EVER HAD TO DO

1674
01:23:23,136 --> 01:23:25,772
>> Reporter: BUT IN THAT VOID OF
LOSS THERE IS A LEGACY

1675
01:23:25,772 --> 01:23:27,841
OF A WOMAN WHO CARED DEEPLY
ABOUT HER COMMUNITY AND SPENT

1676
01:23:27,841 --> 01:23:31,544
HER ENTIRE LIFE TRYING TO MAKE
IT BETTER.

1677
01:23:31,544 --> 01:23:33,680
YOU WERE SAYIN' BACK AT THE
BEGINNING -- FAITH, FAMILY,

1678
01:23:33,680 --> 01:23:35,248
STATE OF ARKANSAS, AND WE ADDED
GRANDCHILDREN.

1679
01:23:35,248 --> 01:23:36,783
>> GRANDCHILDREN
>> Reporter: IS THAT A GOOD

1680
01:23:36,783 --> 01:23:40,520
LEGACY
>> ABSOLUTELY.

1681
01:23:40,520 --> 01:23:43,623
>> YEAH.
SHE JUST LOVED PEOPLE AND SHE

1682
01:23:43,623 --> 01:23:52,098
LOVED LIFE
AND -- SHE JUST LIVED IT TO THE

1683
01:23:52,098 --> 01:23:56,236
FULLEST.
>> Reporter: THAT'S ALL FOR THIS

1684
01:23:56,236 --> 01:24:02,509
EDITION OF "DATELINE."
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY

1685
01:24:02,509 --> 01:24:03,777
AT 9:00 P.M., 8:00 P.M. CENTRAL
AND OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU EACH

1686
01:24:03,777 --> 01:24:05,679
WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY
NEWS."

1687
01:24:05,679 --> 01:24:07,247
I'M LESTER HOLT.
FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS,

1688
01:24:07,247 --> 01:24:07,480
FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS,
GOODNIGHT.