♪
>>> THIS WASN'T JUST A CRIME
SCENE, WAS IT?
>> NO, IT WAS NOT.
THIS ONE WAS BAD.
TWO INNOCENT PEOPLE THAT WERE ON
THEIR FIRST DATE HAD THEIR LIVES
DESTROYED FOR WHAT REASON?
>> HOW WELL DID LESLIE REEVES
KNOW CHRIS SMITH?
>> FIRST DATE.
CHRIS WAS IN A BAND AND A
SINGER, AND THEY HAD CONNECTED.
AND HE ASKED HER OUT.
>> THE NIGHT BEFORE THANKSGIVING
THEY DECIDED JUST TO MEET UP, GO
TO THE BAR.
>> HE LIVED 65 MILES AWAY IN A
REALLY SMALL FARMING COMMUNITY.
>> THE BAR THAT NIGHT WAS VERY
BUSY.
THE PLACE WAS PACKED WALL TO
WALL.
CHRIS AND LESLIE WERE TALKING A
LOT, LAUGHING, GETTING ALONG
WITH EVERYONE AROUND THEM.
>> SHE TEXTED ME AROUND 10:00
AND SHE SAID EVERYTHING'S GOING
OKAY.
SHE DID THEN TEXT A SECOND TEXT
THAT SAID I FEEL LIKE
SOMETHING'S A LITTLE BIT OFF OR
SOMETHING.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT SHE MEANT.
>> WAS THAT TEXT THE LAST TIME
YOU HEARD FROM LESLIE REEVES?
>> YES, IT WAS.
>> DID YOU TRY TEXTING HER IN
THE MORNING?
>> MM-HMM.
>> AND DID SHE RESPOND?
>> NO.
I JUST STARTED DRIVING TOWARDS
FARMERSVILLE BECAUSE I HAD THE
ADDRESS AND CALLED THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT IN THAT AREA.
>> MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFF'S
OFFICE.
THIS IS JEFF.
>> HI.
I'M GREATLY CONCERNED ABOUT MY
FRIEND.
CAN SOMEONE DO A WELFARE CHECK?
>> WHAT ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT
THIS POINT?
>> A LOT OF ANXIETY BECAUSE I
DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO
WALK INTO GOING UP THERE TO THIS
HOUSE.
I PULLED UP IN FRONT OF THE
ADDRESS.
>> AND THEN WHO CAME WHILE
YOU'RE SITTING THERE?
>> WHILE I'M SITTING THERE,
WHO'S THIS WOMAN PARK SND I
SAID, WELL, MAYBE I'LL ROLL MY
WINDOW DOWN AND TALK TO HER.
>> I ASKED HER IF SHE WAS CHECK
ON CHRIS AND SHE SAID SHE WAS
CHECKING ON HER FRIEND.
THAT'S WHEN I WENT UP TO THE
DOOR.
I SAW THE BACK DOOR WAS BROKEN,
AND I SAW CHRIS LAYING THERE.
THEN I RAN BACK TO MY CAR AND
CALLED 911.
>> NO ONE'S ANSWERING THE DOOR
AND THE BACK WINDOW'S SHATTERED
AND THERE'S A BODY AND THERE'S A
FOOT I SAW ON THE FLOOR.
I'M ONLY 16.
I CAN'T DEAL WITH THIS.
>> I WAS IN SHOCK, I THINK.
>> SHERIFF'S OFFICE, JEFF.
>> YES.
I NEED SOME HELP.
I GOT ONE ALIVE, ONE DEAD.
>> I JUST REMEMBER THEM BRINGING
CHRIS OUT TO THE STRETCHER ON
THE AMBULANCE.
I REMEMBER THERE BEING A SHEET
OVER HIM, SO IT MADE ME PANIC A
LITTLE BIT.
>> I GOT A CALL FROM OUR COMMAND
CENTER IN SPRINGFIELD.
>> SO YOU ARE THE LEAD CRIME
SCENE INVESTIGATOR?
>> YES.
>> WERE YOU REALLY PREPARED FOR
WHAT YOU FACED WHEN YOU WALKED
INTO THAT HOUSE?
>> I WAS NOT.
>> WHY WOULD SOMEBODY DO THIS TO
HIM?
WHY WOULD THEY TRY TO HURT MY
BABY?
THAT'S ALL I KEPT THINKING, HE'S
MY BABY, SOMEONE HURT HIM.
GOING ON A FIRST DATE AND THEY
BOTH END UP GETTING SHOT IS
INSANE.
♪
>>> ON THE AFTERNOON OF
THANKSGIVING DAY 2021, NANNETTE
STIVER SAT IN HER CAR AND
WATCHED ANXIOUSLY AS EMTs AND
MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFF'S
DEPUTIES DESCENDED ON A HOUSE IN
A TINY VILLAGE OF FARMERSVILLE,
ILLINOIS.
>> I WAS QUITE UPSET AND KIND OF
GOING CRAZY IN THE CAR.
>> NANNETTE HAD BEEN UNABLE TO
REACH HER GOOD FRIEND, LESLIE
REEVES.
NANNETTE KNEW LESLIE HAD GONE TO
THAT HOUSE THE NIGHT BEFORE TO
GO ON A FIRST DATE WITH CHRIS
SMITH, A MAN SHE HAD MET ONLINE.
>> SHE WAS VERY EXCITED.
SHE THOUGHT, OH, THIS MIGHT BE A
REALLY GOOD CONNECTION.
>> BUT NOW NANNETTE WAS WORRIED.
SHE'D SEEN CHRIS GET TAKEN AWAY
IN AN AMBULANCE, BUT THERE WAS
NO SIGN OF LESLIE.
>> I KEPT HOPING, YOU KNOW,
BRING LESLIE OUT, PLEASE.
>> FINALLY A DETECTIVE APPROACH
ASKED NANNETTE FOR A PHOTO OF
LESLIE.
SHE SHOWED HIM HER PHONE, AND HE
GAVE HER THE HORRIBLE NEWS.
>> I'M SO SORRY TO HAVE TO TELL
YOU THIS.
YOUR FRIEND HAS BEEN MURDERED,
YOU KNOW, SHOT, HE SAID.
HE DIDN'T TELL ME WHERE, BUT HE
DID SAY I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT
SHE WENT VERY QUICKLY.
>> EMTs HAD FOUND CHRIS BARELY
CONSCIOUS AND UNABLE TO SAY
ANYTHING ABOUT THE SHOOTING.
THEY RUSHED HIM TO THE HOSPITAL,
AND DEPUTIES SEARCHED THE HOUSE.
LATER THAT DAY CRIME SCENE
INVESTIGATOR JOSH EASTON ON THE
ILLINOIS STATE POLICE WAS CALLED
TO THE SCENE, AND HE BEGAN
CATALOGING THE MAYHEM INSIDE.
WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU FIRST
APPROACH THE DOOR?
>> I NOTICED THE SIDE DOOR OF
THE HOUSE THE GLASS IN THE
DOOR'S BEEN BROKEN OUT.
THE REFRIGERATOR WAS PULLED AWAY
FROM THE WALL.
THE KITCHEN TABLE WAS PUSHED.
THE CHAIRS WERE KNOCKED OVER.
>> NO WEAPON WAS FOUND, LEADING
INVESTIGATORS TO SUSPECT THAT A
THIRD PERSON WAS INVOLVED.
EASTON TOOK NOTE OF EVERY DETAIL
INCLUDING THE BURNT PIZZA IN THE
OVEN.
>> I ASSUME THAT MAYBE THEY WERE
KICKING A PIZZA FOR THE NIGHT,
AND THE SUSPECT SHOWS UP AT THE
DOOR.
THEY BOTH TRIED TO FIGHT HIM
OFF.
AND WHEN CHRIS WAS SHOT, LESLIE
WENT TO THE LIVING ROOM TO TRY
TO HIDE.
>> HOW MANY TIMES WAS SHE SHOT?
>> SHE WAS ONLY SHOT ONE TIME.
>> IN THE HEAD?
>> IN THE HEAD.
>> LESLIE'S BODY WAS IN THE
LIVING ROOM WHILE CHRIS HAD BEEN
FOUND IN THE KITCHEN.
EASTON SAID OF THE 1,800 CRIME
SCENES HE HAD BEEN TO, THIS WAS
ONE OF THE MOST HORRIFIC.
>> THERE WAS BLOOD EVERYWHERE,
THE CABINETS, THE REFRIGERATOR,
THE COUNTER TOP.
THERE WAS BLOOD FROM CORNER TO
CORNER IN THE KITCHEN.
>> EASTON SPOTTED TWO SILVER
COLORED BULLET CASINGS FROM A 9
MILLIMETER GUN, ONE IN THE
KITCHEN AND THE OTHER NEAR
LESLIE'S BODY.
AS EASTON PROCESSED THE SCENE,
DETECTIVES BEGAN LEARNING ABOUT
THE VICTIMS.
CHRIS SMITH WAS A 48-YEAR-OLD
DIVORCED FATHER WHO WORKED FOR A
POOL CONTRACTOR.
>> CHRIS WAS A NICE GUY.
HE WOULD HANG OUT HERE
FREQUENTLY, WAS FRIENDS WITH
MOST PEOPLE IN TOWN.
EVERYBODY KNEW HIM.
>> BARTENDER DINA LEGRAND SAYS
CHRIS WAS WELL-KNOWN IN TOWN AS
THE GUY WHO GREW BANANA TREES
AND GIANT PUMPKINS.
>> I REMEMBER ONE HALLOWEEN HE
DONATED HUNDREDS OF PUMPKINS FOR
DECORATIONS FOR ANY OF THE KIDS
TO PAINT.
HE GAVE BACK TO HIS COMMUNITY.
>> DID EITHER ONE OF YOU EVER
WORRY ABOUT CHRIS?
>> NO.
>> SHARON CUSTANZA IS CHRIS'
MOTHER.
ASHLEY HOLCOMBE, HIS SISTER.
>> CHRIS WAS A STAY AT HOME
PERSON THAT LITERALLY WOULD JUST
WORK IN HIS BACKYARD.
>> CHRIS LIVED WITH A DOG NAMED
TIKI AND AN EMT TOLD THE FAMILY
TIKI MAY HAVE HELPED CHRIS MAKE
IT THROUGH THE NIGHT BY HUDDLING
WITH HIM FOR THE ROUGHLY 12
HOURS THAT CHRIS WAS BLEEDING
BEFORE BEING RESCUED.
>> I THINK TIKI PROTECTED CHRIS.
I THINK SHE PROBABLY LAID RIGHT
NEXT TO HIM.
>> CHRIS' CLOSE-KNIT FAMILY
COULD NOT IMAGINE ANYONE WANTING
TO KIMLL HIM.
>> IT WAS LIKE NO WAY, WHY, HOW.
>> WHO?
YEAH, WHO WOULD HAVE DONE THAT?
>> INVESTIGATORS HAD THE SAME
QUESTIONS ABOUT LESLIE AND
LEARNED THAT SHE WAS A DIVORCED
MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN WHO LIVED
IN TROY ABOUT AN HOUR'S SOUTH OF
FARMERSVILLE.
ALTHOUGH LESLIE HAD A MASTERS
DEGREE IN ENGINEERING, SHE CHOSE
INSTEAD TO TEACH PULOTTIES AND
TO PROMOTE SELF-DEFENSE CLASSES
FOR WOMEN.
LESLIE POSTED THIS VIDEO TO HER
YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO ADVERTISE ONE
OF HER CLASSES.
>> EMPOWER YOURSELF AGAINST
AGGRESSION AND ASSAULT AS WE
TEACH YOU EASY TO LEARN
SELF-DEFENSE TECHNIQUES.
POWER UP!
>> LESLIE TRIED TO HELP WOMEN IN
ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS, BUT
FRIENDS SAY SHE HAD HER OWN
TROUBLES.
NANNETTE TOLD DEPUTIES SHE WAS
WORRIED ABOUT A FORMER
BOYFRIEND, A CONTRACTOR BY THE
NAMED OF ROBERT TARR, KNOWN AS
BOBBY.
>> SHE SAID I AM GOING TO
COMPLETELY BLOCK BOBBY FROM
E-MAIL, TEXTS, PHONE CALLS.
I HAVE TO GO NO-CONTACT.
>> LATER THAT EVENING NEWS OF
LESLIE'S MURDER BEGAN
CIRCULATING AND REACHED ANOTHER
CLOSE FRIEND, AMY STEINHOWER.
SHE HAD MET TARR, A DIVORCED
FATHER OF THREE, AND DID NOT
HAVE A GOOD IMPRESSION OF HIM.
BUT --
>> YOU NEVER SEE SOMEONE AND
THINK THAT THEY CAN KILL MY
FRIEND.
>> AMY CALLED THE SHERIFF'S
OFFICE THAT NIGHT TO GIVE THEM
TARR'S NAME.
BY THEN DETECTIVES HAD ALREADY
SETOUT TO FIND BOBBY TARR WHILE
85 MILES TO THE NORTH, SURGEONS
WERE FIGHTING TO TRY TO SAVE THE
LIFE OF CHRIS SMITH.
A BULLET STILL LODGED IN HIS
BRAIN.
♪
>>> I JUST WANTED TO GET THERE.
I JUST WANTED TO GET THERE AS
FAST AS I COULD.
>> AFTER LEARNING THAT CHRIS HAD
BEEN SHOT IN THE HEAD, HIS
FAMILY RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL IN
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, TWO HOURS
FROM THEIR HOME.
>> I WAS ON THE PHONE TO
EVERYONE I COULD THINK OF
BECAUSE I JUST NEEDED PRAYERS
FROM EVERYBODY.
>> DOCTORS REMOVED PART OF
CHRIS' SKULL AND SOME BULLET
FRAGMENTS IN HIS BRAIN BEFORE
PUTTING HIM IN A
MEDICALLY-INDUCED COMA, HIS
FAMILY STRUGGLING TO PIECE
TOGETHER WHAT HAD HAPPENED
LEARNED THAT HE HAD BEEN OUT
WITH A WOMAN NAMED LESLIE
REEVES.
HAD YOU EVER HEARD THE NAME
LESLIE REEVES BEFORE?
>> NO.
I LOOKED HER UP AND THEN I TRIED
TO REACH OUT TO HER FRIENDS, AND
THEN I FOUND HER BEST FRIEND
NANNETTE.
>> NANNETTE TOLD THEM THE SAME
THING SHE HAD TOLD
INVESTIGATORS.
SHE SUSPECTED LESLIE'S
EX-BOYFRIEND, BOBBY TARR.
THAT NIGHT SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES
WENT TO TARR'S HOME IN
COLLINSVILLE, AN HOUR'S SOUTH OF
THE CRIME SCENE.
AUTHORITIES SAY HE NEVER ASKED
WHY THEY WANTED TO TALK TO HIM,
AND HE AGREED TO GO TO THE
POLICE STATION WITHOUT A LAWYER.
ALTHOUGH HER FRIENDS SAID THE
COUPLE HAD BROKEN UP, TARR TOLD
INVESTIGATORS THAT HE AND LESLIE
WERE STILL TOGETHER.
>> DID YOU AND LESLIE HAVE A LOT
OF PROBLEMS?
>> I WOULD SAY NOT WORSE THAN
ANY AVERAGE COUPLE.
>> IT WAS LESLIE THAT DETECTIVES
WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.
>> I WANT YOU TO DIG DOWN DEEP
HERE AND BE AS HONEST WITH ME AS
YOU CAN, OKAY?
LESLIE IS DEAD.
>> WHAT?
>> CAN YOU HELP ME SHED SOME
LIGHT ON THIS?
>> HOW DID SHE DIE?
>> SHE WAS MURDERED.
>> WHAT HAPPENED?
>> THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE WITH
YOU.
YOU HELP ME BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE
NOT INVOLVED IN THIS.
>> I'M NOT INVOLVED IN ANYTHING.
>> INVESTIGATORS ASKED TARR
ABOUT FARMERSVILLE, THE SCENE OF
THE CRIME.
>> WERE YOU IN FARMERSVILLE,
ILLINOIS?
>> FARMERSVILLE, CAN'T SAY I DO.
I'VE NEVER BEEN THERE.
NEVER HEARD OF IT.
>> AND THEY ASKED TARR WHERE
HE'D BEEN THE NIGHT BEFORE
THANKSGIVING.
>> HE LEFT ME SOME MONEY OUT OF
HIS SHOP AND GO PICK IT UP.
>> THE FRIEND LIVED A SHORT
DISTANCE FROM TARR'S HOME.
>> DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT TIME YOU
CAME BACK?
>> YEAH, IT WASN'T THAT LONG.
MAYBE 6:30-ISH, SOMETHING LIKE
THAT.
>> INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE THE
SHOOTING TOOK PLACE SOME TIME
EARLY ON THANKSGIVING MORNING
AFTER 1:00 A.M.
TARR SAID AFTER HE GOT BACK, HE
WAS HOME ALL NIGHT.
>> YOU CAN TALK TO MY DAUGHTER
ABOUT ME BEING HOME.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID.
DETECTIVES BROUGHT TARR'S
17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, SHELBY, TO
A DIFFERENT ROOM AT THE POLICE
STATION, AND SHE TOLD THEM THAT
HER FATHER ACTUALLY LEFT HOME
TWICE THAT NIGHT.
>> SO FIRST TIME HE LEFT WAS
ROUGHLY 6:30?
>> RIGHT.
>> AND CAME BACK HOME ABOUT A
HALF HOUR LATER AND SAID HE HAD
TO GO BACK.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND THEN IT WAS 9:15-ISH WHEN
HE GOT BACK HOME?
>> YES.
>> SHELBY SAID HE'D BEEN GONE
TWO HOURS AND HE GETS HOME, HE
WAS UPSET.
>> HE WAS CRYING.
HE WAS SOBBING.
HE SAID HE WAS WITH LESLIE.
>> SHELBY SAID SHE WENT TO SLEEP
AROUND 9:30 AND WAS AWAKENED BY
HER FATHER AROUND 2:30 A.M.
>> HE WAS PACING AROUND AND SAID
I CAN'T SLEEP.
>> DETECTIVES WENT BACK TO TARR
AND TOLD THEM SHELBY'S STORY DID
NOT MATCH HIM.
TARR THEN CHANGED HIS STORY AND
SAID HE HAD GONE TO HIS FRIEND'S
HOUSE TWICE BUT STILL INSISTED
HE WAS HOME BY 8:00.
AS TARR SAT AT THE POLICE
STATION, DETECTIVES SEARCHED HIS
HOUSE AND FOUND HIS PHONE AND A
GLAUK PISTOL.
SHELBY HAD TOLD THEM HER FATHER
HAD A DIFFERENT GUN, BUT THEY
DIDN'T FIND IT.
>> IT'S LITTLE AND ABOUT THIS
BIG AND ARMY GREEN.
>> SHELBY TOLD INVESTIGATORS SHE
HAD SEEN IT THE DAY BEFORE
THANKSGIVING IN HER FATHER'S
SOCK DRAWER.
>> YESTERDAY MORNING ACTUALLY.
AND NOW IT'S NOT THERE.
>> SO IT WAS THERE YESTERDAY AND
NOT THERE TODAY?
>> THEY HAD ALREADY LEARNED THAT
HIS CAR HAD BEEN CAPTURED BY
LICENSE PLATE READER CAMERAS
JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT, THE NIGHT
OF THE SHOOTING.
THE CAMERAS WERE NEAR A GAS
STATION, AND INVESTIGATORS
DISCOVERED THAT TARR HAD BOUGHT
GAS THERE JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT.
BACK AT THE POLICE STATION, THEY
CONFRONTED HIM WITH THE GAS
STATION RECEIPT.
>> I DON'T REMEMBER DOING IT.
>> YOU DON'T REMEMBER BEING OUT
AFTER MIDNIGHT WHEN YOU HAD TOLD
US YOU ARE 100% POSITIVE.
>> THE GAS STATION IS HERE IN
TROY.
>> YES.
>> AND THE MURDER OCCURRED HERE
IN FARMERSVILLE.
>> CORRECT.
>> THE GAS STATION WAS NEAR
TARR'S HOME, AN HOUR FROM THE
CRIME SCENE.
ANDREW AFFRUNTI IS THE
MONTGOMERY COUNTY STATE'S
ATTORNEY.
HE AS ESTONIA, A CONDITION THAT
CAUSES MUSCLE TICKS AND TREMORS.
SO WHY IS IT SIGNIFICANT?
SO HE WENT OUT AND GOT SOME GAS.
>> IT WAS SIGNIFICANT TO US
BECAUSE WHY WOULD HE LIE ABOUT
IT?
>> INVESTIGATORS BELIEVED IT WAS
PROOF TARR WAS LYING ABOUT HIS
WHEREABOUTS THAT NIGHT.
THEY PLACED HIM UNDER ARREST.
>> YOU'RE UNDER ARREST FOR
MURDER.
>> AFFRUNTI SAYS THEY ARRESTED
TARR IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THEY
FEARED CHRIS' LIFE WAS IN
DANGER.
AND THEY HADN'T FOUND THE MURDER
WEAPON.
>> IF HE WAS OUT OF CUSTODY,
COULD HE TAKE FURTHER STEPS TO
DISPOSE OF THE EVIDENCE?
>> JUST ONE DAY AFTER LESLIE
REEVES WAS KILLED AND CHRIS
SMITH WAS LEFT FIGHTING FOR HIS
LIFE, INVESTIGATORS BELIEVED
THEY HAD THE MAN RESPONSIBLE IN
CUSTODY.
I'M ERIN MORIARTY.
BUT IN HIS ONLY MEDIA INTERVIEW,
BOBBY TARR TELLS 48 HOURS THEY
GOT THE WRONG GUY.
>> THERE IS SO MANY THINGS
UNTOLD THAT WILL PROVE MY
INNOCENCE.
>>> BOBBY TARR CHARGED WITH THE
MURDER OF LESLIE REEVES AND THE
ATTEMPTED MURDER OF CHRIS SMITH
IS NOTHING IF NOT UNFLAFABLE.
DID YOU KILL LESLIE REEVES?
>> NO.
>> DID YOU SHOOT CHRIS SMITH?
>> NO.
>> HE KEPT HIS COOL EVEN WHEN
CONFRONTED WITH A LITANY OF LIES
HE TOLD INVESTIGATORS.
YOU TOLD POLICE YOU ONLY LEFT
THE HOUSE ONCE.
THAT WASN'T TRUE.
>> CORRECT.
>> YOU TOLD THE POLICE YOU HAD
NO IDEA WHERE FARMERSVILLE IS.
THAT WAS A LIE.
>> MM-HMM.
>> YOU LIED ABOUT GETTING GAS IN
YOUR CAR THAT NIGHT.
>> MM-HMM.
>> WHEN HE SPOKE WITH US, TARR
ADMITTED HE WAS AT CHRIS SMITH'S
HOUSE THE NIGHT BEFORE
THANKSGIVING, PLACING HIMSELF AT
THE SCENE OF THE CRIME.
HE SAYS THE NIGHT BEGAN WHEN HE
MET LESLIE AT HER PART-TIME JOB
AT THIS LOFT STORE.
>> SHE HAD SAID SHE WAS GOING TO
GO MEET SOME FRIENDS BECAUSE ONE
OF THEIR FRIENDS WAS PLAYING IN
A BAND.
SHE ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO GO.
I SAID, YOU KNOW, I WOULD GO,
BUT I HAVE MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER
STAYING WITH ME FOR A WEEK.
>> TARR SAYS THAT WHEN HE
DECLINED THE INVITATION, LESLIE
ASKED IF HE WOULD FOLLOW HER TO
FARMERSVILLE BECAUSE HER VAN WAS
UNRELIABLE, AND SO HE DID.
THAT MAKES NO SENSE TO LESLIE'S
FRIEND, AMY STEINHOWER.
>> SHE WAS TERRIFIED OF HIM.
RIGHTFULLY SO.
>> JUST A FEW WEEKS EARLIER, AMY
SAYS, LESLIE TOLD HER THAT TARR
HAD SHOWN UP WHILE SHE WAS ON A
FIRST DATE WITH A DIFFERENT GUY.
AFTER THAT INCIDENT, LESLIE TOLD
AMY SHE WAS FRIGHTENED BY TARR,
AND TEXTED AMY "I COULD BE
KILLED BY HIM SOMEDAY IF I DON'T
CUT ALL CONTACT."
SO YOU'RE TELLING ME NOW THAT
THIS WOMAN WHO WAS SCARED OF
YOU, WHO HAD ACTUALLY TEXTED A
FRIEND THAT SHE THOUGHT YOU
MIGHT KILL HER, ASKED HER TO
FOLLOW HER TO ANOTHER MAN'S
HOUSE?
>> MM-HMM.
>> DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE?
>> NO, I UNDERSTAND.
SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT TEXT
IN GENERAL.
>> WHY DID SHE THINK YOU MIGHT
KILL HER?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
I'VE GOT NO CLUE.
>> TARR SAYS LESLIE LIED TO HER
FRIENDS ABOUT THEIR
RELATIONSHIP.
HE INSISTS SHE ASKED HIM TO
FOLLOW HER NORTH TO
FARMERSVILLE.
>> SO I WENT WITH HER UP THERE.
I THINK WE ARRIVED THERE AROUND
7:30.
I PARKED IN FRONT OF HER VAN IN
FRONT OF HIS HOUSE.
THAT'S AS FAR AS I WENT.
I LEFT.
I NEVER WENT BACK TO
FARMERSVILLE AGAIN.
>> IF HE HAD AN INNOCENT
EXPLANATION FOR WHY HE WAS IN
FARMERSVILLE, WHY DID HE LIE TO
DETECTIVES?
>> MY DAUGHTER, HER AND LESLIE,
THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF
TENSION BETWEEN BOTH OF TEM.
I DID NOT WANT HER TO KNOW THAT
I WAS GOING TO MEET LESLIE THAT
NIGHT.
>> TARR CLAIMS THAT AFTER HE
LIED TO HIS DAUGHTER SHELBY
ABOUT SEEING LESLIE, HE STUCK TO
THAT LIE AT THE POLICE STATION
BECAUSE HE WAS AFRAID THEY WOULD
TELL HER.
AND HE NEVER CORRECTED THOSE
LIES EVEN WHEN DETECTIVES
ARRESTED HIM.
WHY NOT JUST SAY, LOOK, BETWEEN
YOU AND ME, I LIED TO MY
DAUGHTER, SO LET ME TELL YOU THE
TRUTH, BUT LET'S JUST NOT SHARE
THAT WITH HER?
WHY WOULDN'T YOU DO THAT?
>> I SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT.
>> HE'S QUICK TO POINT OUT THE
LACK OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
CONNECTING HIM TO THE BLOODY
CRIME SCENE.
INVESTIGATORS SEARCHED HIS WHITE
JETTA BUT DID NOT FIND ANY
SHARDS OF GLASS OR BLOODSTAINS.
>> TWO TESTS BY THE STATE POLICE
WERE DONE ON MY CAR.
ZERO BLOOD FOUND IN MY CAR.
THERE'S ZERO DNA OF MINE AT THE
CRIME SCENE.
ANYTHING FROM THE CRIME SCENE IN
MY CAR OR ON ME OR ANY OF MY
CLOTHING OR MY SHOES, ZERO.
>> PROSECUTOR AFRONTY HAS TO
CONCEDE THAT POINT.
WAS ANY OF TARR'S DNA FOUND
INSIDE THE HOUSE?
>> NO.
>> WERE ANY OF HIS FINGERPRINTS
FOUND INSIDE THE HOUSE?
>> NO.
>> AND AUTHORITIES STILL HAD NOT
FOUND THE MURDER WEAPON, BUT A
WEEK AFTER THE SHOOTING THEY GOT
A PHONE CALL FROM TARR'S FRIEND
BILLY ADAMS.
ADAMS SAID TARR HAD CALLED HIM
FROM JAIL.
THAT CALL WAS RECORDED.
>> WHAT'S YOUR DAY LOOK LIKE
TODAY BECAUSE I NEED TEN MINUTES
OF YOUR TIME.
>> TARR ASKED ADAMS TO GO TO HIS
HOUSE AND LOOK FOR SOME DEAD
BRACKETS.
>> I'VE GOT SOME SPECIAL ALUMIUM
BRACKETS THAT I NEED YOU TO GET
BECAUSE THEY'RE FOR ANOTHER JOB
THAT I DIDN'T TELL DAD ABOUT
YET.
SO DON'T SAY NOTHING TO HIM.
>> INSTEAD, ADAMS CONTACTED THE
SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
DEPUTIES SUSPECTED TARR KNEW THE
PHONE CALL WAS BEING RECORDED
AND WAS SPEAKING TO HIS FRIEND
IN CODE ABOUT SOMETHING OTHER
THAN DEPTH BRACKETS.
>> YEAH, GET THEM AND GET RID OF
THEM.
>> THEY THOUGHT THAT WAS
SUSPICIOUS, WHICH IS WHY THEY
>> INVESTIGATORS WERE ON THEIR
HANDS AND KNEES IN TARR'S YARD
LOOKING FOR A GUN.
DAN FOLTZ IS TARR'S DEFENSE
ATTORNEY.
>> THEY SEARCHED THAT AREA
THOROUGHLY, NO GUN.
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY DID FIND,
DEPTH BRACKETS.
>> A FEW DAYS LATER THEY GOT
ANOTHER PHONE CALL, THIS TIME
FROM TARR'S BROTHER ASKING THEM
TO COME BACK TO THE HOUSE.
TARR'S FAMILY GAVE DEPUTIES A
ZIP LOG BAG THEY'D SAID THEY'D
FOUND IN THE SAME YARD THAT HAD
BEEN SEARCHED JUST DAYS EARLIER.
INSIDE, A SPRINGFIELD HELLCAT 9
MILLIMETER PISTOL AND SILVER
COLORED AMMUNITION.
THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE
DETERMINED THE GUN WAS THE
MURDER WEAPON, AND THE
AMMUNITION MATCHED THE CASINGS
FOUND AT THE CRIME SCENE.
>> WE STILL TO THIS DAY DON'T
KNOW HOW THAT ENDED UP THERE
SPECIFICALLY IN THE SPOT THAT
THEY SEARCHED.
>> ARE YOU SAYING YOU WERE
SETUP, SOMEONE WAS FRAMING YOU?
>> YES.
>> BUT IF SOMEONE WAS FRAMING
TARR, HE OR SHE WOULD HAVE TO BE
PRETTY DETAIL-ORIENTED.
THE STATE POLICE SAY TARR'S
FINGERPRINT WAS ON THE ZIP LOG
BAG
LOCK BAG.
>> HE IS ADAMANT HE WOULD NOT
HAVE BEEN DUMB ENOUGH THAT HE
WOULD HAVE CARRIED IT ALL THE
WAY BACK TO HIS HOME AND SAID,
HM, WHERE WILL I PUT THIS GUN ON
MY 1-ACRE LOT, I THINK I'LL PUT
IT NEXT TO THE FRONT DOOR.
>> AND TARR POINTS OUT NEITHER
HIS PRINTS NOR HIS DNA WERE
FOUND ON THE GUN ITSELF.
>> NOTHING ON THE FIREARM, NO
DNA, NO PRINTS OF MINE ON THE
FIREARM.
>> WHAT I THINK WHAT HAPPENED
WAS THE GUN WAS CLIPPEDEANED AND MR.
TARR JUST MISSED A SPOT.
>> THAT SPOT WAS FOUND ON THE
ROD OF THE GUN.
TARR'S EXPLANATION, THE GUN
WASN'T HIS, IT BELONGED TO
LESLIE.
>> I PURCHASED THE HELLCAT, AND
LESLIE PURCHASED IT FROM ME.
>> AS INVESTIGATORS CONTINUED TO
BUILD A CASE AGAINST BOBBY TARR,
THEY SAY HE WAS HATCHING A PLAN
TO SILENCE THE ONLY EYEWITNESS.
DID YOU ASK A INMATE TO SHOOT
CHRIS SMITH?
>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF BOBBY
TARR'S STORY?
>>> LESLIE ACCOMPANIED ME HERE
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
>> IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO KNEW
WHAT GUNS LESLIE REEVES OWNED,
IT'S HOWARD BOLTON, HER CLOSE
FRIEND AND FIREARM INSTRUCTOR.
>> WHEN I WOULD HOLD CLASSES,
SHE WOULD ACTUALLY SHOOT WITH
US.
LESLIE WAS BECOMING A VERY GOOD
SHOT.
>> BOLTON SAYS LESLIE HAD
ORGANIZED A CLASS CALLED GIRLS
WITH GUNS NOT LONG BEFORE SHE
WAS MURDERED.
>> WE PUT THE GIRLS THROUGH
THEIR PACES.
THEY WOULD MOVE AND FIRE.
THEY WOULD GO FORWARD AND FIRE.
THEY WOULD COME BACK AND FIRE.
AND LESLIE DID VERY, VERY WELL
AT THAT.
>> BOBBY TARR INSISTED TO US
THAT LESLIE OWNED THE HELLCAT
THAT WAS USED TO KILL HER, BUT
HOWARD SAYS HE NEVER SAW HER USE
IT.
>> LESLIE NEVER BROUGHT A
SPRINGFIELD LET ALONE A HELLCAT
TO CLASS.
>> SO HOW THEN DID LESLIE'S DNA
GET ON THE GUIDE ROD OF THE
MURDER.
HE BELIEVES LESLIE'S DNA COULD
ONLY BE ON THAT GUN ROD IF THE
GUN WAS FIRED AT HER AT CLOSE
RANGE.
>> SO WHEN HE SHOT HER WHEREVER
IT WAS HE SHOT HER, WOULD HAVE
CONTAMINATED THAT PART OF THE
GUN.
>> IN FACT, HOWARD SAYS LESLIE
OWNED A DIFFERENT GUN.
HER FRIENDS SAY THEY WISH SHE
WOULD TAKEN IT WITH HER THE
NIGHT SHE WAS KILLED.
>> HAD LESLIE TAKEN THE GUN WITH
HER, I ASSURE YOU THE OUTCOME
WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT.
>> TARR DECLARED HIS INNOCENCE,
BUT THE CASE AGAINST HIM COULD
HINGE ON WHAT CHRIS SMITH, THE
ONLY SURVIVOR, REMEMBERS.
WULD HE BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY
HIM?
THAT WAS THE QUESTION AS CHRIS
REMAINED IN A COMA.
>> WE WERE TALKING TO HIM,
SINGING TO HIM, AND I WAS ALWAYS
HOLDING HIS HAND.
♪ HALL LAY LULIA
>> WHILE CHRIS SMITH LAY
HELPLESS AUTHORITIES SAY TARR
WAS PLAUING TO SILENCE HIM
FOREVER.
A GRAND JURY INDICTED TARR ON
TWO COUNTS OF SOLICITATION OF
MURDER.
THOSE CHARGES ARE BASED ON
ALLEGATIONS BY AN INMATE WHO
SAYS TARR PAID HIM $10,000 TO
SHOOT AND KILL THE LEAD
DETECTIVE AND CHRIS.
DID YOU ASK A INMATE TO SHOOT
CHRIS SMITH?
>> NO, MA'AM.
>> AND TO KILL DETECTIVE ROACH?
>> NO, MA'AM.
>> TARR SAYS THE ALLEGED PLOT
WAS A LIE CONCOCTED BY A FORMER
CELLMATE.
TARR SAYS HE LOANED THAT
CELLMATE $10,000 FOR HIS BOND
AND THAT IT HAD NOTHING TO DO
WITH CHRIS SMITH.
WERE YOU WORRIED HE WAS GOING TO
TESTIFY AND POINT TO YOU AS A
SHOOTER?
>> NO, I WAS NOT WORRIED ONE
IOTA.
>> THE TRUTH WAS THAT NO ONE
KNEW WHAT CHRIS SMITH
REMEMBERED.
THE FIRST TIME HE REGAINED
CONSCIOUSNESS WAS IN EARLY
JANUARY 2022, ABOUT TWO MONTHS
AFTER THE SHOOTING.
CHRIS' VOICE WAS SO WEAK IN
THOSE EARLY DAYS, THAT HIS OLD
FRIEND MARK REARDEN, A TALK SHOW
HOST IN ST. LOUIS BARELY
RECOGNIZED CHRIS ON THE PHONE.
>> I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT I
WAS HEARING FROM THIS GUY, AND I
CRIED, HE CRIED.
JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT MOMENT
REALLY BRINGS ME CHILLS BECAUSE
I JUST THOUGHT HE WAS NEVER
GOING TO BE SOMEONE THAT WAS IN
MY LIFE EVER AGAIN.
>> WHAT DID CHRIS TELL YOU?
>> WELL, WHEN CHRIS CAME OUT OF
THIS, I WAS PRETTY SENSITIVE TO
ASK HIM ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED
THAT NIGHT BECAUSE I THINK I WAS
A LITTLE AFRAID OF EVEN HAVING
THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
SO MOST OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE
HAD WERE REALLY FOCUSED ON, HEY,
HAD YOU?
ARE YOU GOING TO BE OKAY?
>> AFTER INTENSE PHYSICAL
THERAPY, HE'S MADE THE CREDIBLE
STRIDES.
HE'S MUCH STRONGER THAN WHEN HE
AWOKE FROM A COMA, BUT HE
DISCOVERED THERE ARE GAPS IN HIS
MEMORY.
WHAT DOES HE REMEMBER FROM THAT
TERRIBLE NIGHT?
>> I WISH TO GOD I COULD
REMEMBER SOMETHING, I MEAN EVEN
JUST A SMIDGEN OF SOMETHING, BUT
I REMEMBER NOTHING.
>> HE REMEMBERS NOTHING OF THE
SHOOTING OR LESLIE REEVES.
>> I SAID WHO THE HECK'S LESLIE?
I DON'T KNOW LESLIE.
>> YOU HAD NO IDEA.
>> NO, NOTHING.
>> NOTHING.
>> IS CHRIS THE SAME PERSON WHO
USED TO COME ON YOUR SHOW BEFORE
HE WAS SHOT?
>> YEAH.
I THINK AT THE CORE HE'S STILL
THE SAME GUY THAT I KNEW.
HE'S STILL THE SMARTASS.
HE'S STILL THE GUY GOING TO TALK
ABOUT HOW GOOD HE IS AND HOW
GOOD HE WAS AND HOW MUCH HE CAN
LIFT WEIGHTS.
>> CHRIS WORKS OUT AT THE GYM
MOST MORNINGS TRYING TO REGAIN
MUSCLE SO THAT SOMEDAY HE'LL BE
ABLE TO WALK WITHOUT ASSISTANCE.
HE'S EVEN BACK TO BEING THE LEAD
SINGER IN HIS ROCK AND ROLL
BAND.
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW HE DID MAKE
IT.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW HE DID.
HE'S A MIRACLE.
>> BUT CHRIS IS AWARE HIS LIFE
IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT IT
ONCE WAS.
>> SO I'M HALF THE MAN I USED TO
BE, BUT I'M TRYING TO GET IT
BACK AS BEST I CAN.
AND MY LEFT LEG IS PARTIALLY
PARALYZED FROM MY KNEE TO MY HIP
AND KNEE TO MY TOES COMPLETELY
PARALYZED.
IF THERE'S ANY RESEARCHERS OUT
THERE, PLEASE GET AHOLD OF ME.
I WANT TO BE WHOLE AGAIN AND GET
MY LIFE BACK, PLEASE.
>> IT'S TOUGH, ISN'T IT, CHRIS?
>> TOUGH DOESN'T EVEN BEGIN TO
DESCRIBE IT.
DOESN'T EVEN DESCRIBE IT.
>> CHRIS IS RESIGNED TO LIVING
WITH PART OF THAT HOLLOW POINT
BULL IN HIS BRAIN.
DOCTORS SAY IT'S IN A SPOT THAT
MAKES IT TOO DANGEROUS TO
REMOVE.
SO THAT'S WHERE YOU GOT SHOT?
>> YEAH, RIGHT HERE.
YOU CAN STILL FEEL IT IN MY
SKULL RIGHT THERE.
>> AFTER DECADES ON HIS OWN,
CHRIS HAD TO MOVE BACK INTO HIS
MOTHER'S HOUSE.
>> I THANK MY BLESSINGS DAILY
THAT HE'S HERE WITH US.
I JUST WISH THAT THIS GUY DIDN'T
TAKE EVERYTHING AWAY FROM HIM.
>> CHRIS VISITS WITH HIS LOYAL
DOG TIKI BUT NO LONGER LIVES
WITH HER, AND HE'D LOVE TO SEE
HIS 12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER MORE
OFTEN, BUT HE CAN'T DRIVE.
AND HE'S LIVING IN ST. LOUIS
ALMOST 2 HOURS AWAY FROM HIS
DAUGHTER AND EX-WIFE.
>> I MISS HER.
SHE'S MY LITTLE PEA IN A POD.
I MEAN WE DID EVERYTHING
TOGETHER.
>> THE TRIAL OF ROBERT TARR WAS
SET FOR APRIL 2024, BUT CHRIS
WOULD NOT BE THERE.
HE TOLD THE PROSECUTOR HE WAS
TOO ANGRY TO ATTEND.
YOU DIDN'T THINK YOU'D BE ABLE
TO JUST SIT THERE?
>> NO WAY.
I MYSELF.
THERE'S NO WAY.
NO.
>> BUT CHRIS' ALLEGED SHOOTER,
BOBBY TARR WILL BE THERE, AND HE
SAID HE WAS EAGER TO TELL THE
JURY THAT HE'S NOT A VIOLENT
MAN.
BUT ON THIS ONE NIGHT, EARLY
MORNING DID YOU SNAP?
>> NO.
THAT'S NOT MY NATURE.
I DON'T LOSE IT AND SNAP.
>> FOLLOW ALONG WITH CHRIS'
RE
>>> WHEN BOBBY TARR WENT ON
TRIAL IN APRIL 2024, PROSECUTORS
TOLD THE JURY THAT HE KILLED
LESLIE REEVES RATHER THAN ALLOW
HER TO LIVE THE LIFE SHE WANTED,
A LIFE WITHOUT HIM.
>> MR. TARR COULDN'T DEAL WITH
THE FACT THAT LESLIE WAS SEEING
SOMEBODY ELSE, AND HE HAD TO GO
AND TAKE CARE OF IT.
>> ANDREW AFFRUNTI SAYS TARR
SECRETLY FOLLOWED LESLIE TO
FARMERSVILLE EARLY THAT EVENING,
AND SHORTLY AFTERWARDS HIS PHONE
BEGAN SHOWING SOME INTERESTING
ACTIVITY.
>> HE HAD ACTUALLY SEARCHED
CHRIS SMITH ON HIS PHONE AND
TRIED TO FIND HIS FACEBOOK
PROFILE.
>> TARR HEADED HOME AND TEXTED
HIS FRIEND BILLY ADAMS.
"I DON'T FEEL LIKE SHE WOULD
DRIVE THAT FAR FOR A PARTY OR GO
OUT WITH A GIRLFRIEND.
I THINK IT'S FOR A DUDE."
HE ALSO SEARCHED WHETHER POLICE
CAN TRACK HIS PHONE IF HE WAS
USING A VPN, A VIRTUAL PRIVATE
NETWORK.
>> HE WAS RESEARCHING TO
DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THAT
WOULD MASK WHERE HIS LOCATION
WAS.
IT'S WHY HE WAS USING THE PHONE.
>> AUTHORITIES SAY AROUND
MIDNIGHT TARR LEFT HOME STOPPING
AT THAT GAS STATION.
AND THEN ACCORDING TO AFFRUNTI,
SURVEILLANCE VIDEOS AND CELL
TOWER RECORDS SHOW THAT TARR
DROVE BACK TO FARMERSVILLE.
YOU BELIEVE HE INTENDED TO KILL
BOTH CHRIS AND LESLIE?
>> I 100% BELIEVE THAT HE WENT
UP THERE WITH THE THE INTENT TO
DO SERIOUS HARM TO BOTH OF THEM.
>> WITH ONE VICTIM DEAD AND THE
OTHER WITH NO MEMORY, IT'S
DIFFICULT TO SAY WITH CERTAINTY
WHAT HAPPENED, BUT THE
PROSECUTION ARGUED THAT SOME
TIME AFTER 1:00 A.M., BOBBY TARR
TRIED TO ENTER THROUGH THE BACK
DOOR OF CHRIS SMITH'S HOUSE.
LESLIE AND CHRIS TRIED TO KEEP
HIM OUT.
>> THERE WAS SOME KIND OF
ALTERCATION OR STRUGGLE, AND
THAT'S WHEN THE GLASS WAS
BROKEN.
>> CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR JOSH
EASTON TOLD THE JURY WHAT HE HAD
OBSERVED INSIDE THE KITCHEN.
>> THE REFRIGERATOR WAS
>> HE SAYS EVIDENCE OF A FIGHT
IN THE KITCHEN TELLS A DIFFERENT
STORY.
>> THE EVIDENCE WAS ASTONISHING.
>> FROM LOOKING AT THAT CRIME
SCENE DO YOU BELIEVE THAT CHRIS
SMITH HAD TO FIGHT HIS ASSAILANT
IN THE KITCHEN?
>> IT WOULD APPEAR TO ME THAT
THERE WAS SOME SIGNIFICANT
STRUGGLE IN THAT KITCHEN BETWEEN
HIM AND SOMEONE ELSE.
>> AND HE SAYS THE ASSAILANT
COULD NOT HAVE BEEN BOBBY TARR
BECAUSE HE WOULD HAVE BEEN
COVERED IN BLOOD.
>> THEY DID NOT IDENTIFY A
SINGLE PIECE OF DNA IN HIS CAR.
THEY DIDN'T IDENTIFY A BLOODY
FINGERPRINT.
THEY DID NOT IDENTIFY ANYTHING
TYING HIM TO THAT CRIME SCENE.
>> BUT PROSECUTORS ARGUED THE
HOUSE WASN'T BLOODY WHEN TARR
LEFT.
THEY SAY CHRIS BLED HEAVILY IN
THE 12 HOURS IT TOOK FOR HELP TO
ARRIVE.
AND WHILE THE PROSECUTION DID
NOT HAVE A LOT OF FORENSIC
EVIDENCE LINKING TARR TO THE
CRIME SCENE, AFFRUNTI SAYS HIS
PHONE ACTIVITY, HIS LIES TO
INVESTIGATORS, AND THE EVIDENCE
FOUND ON THE HELLCAT ALL PROVE
HIS GUILT.
>> WHEN YOU PUT ALL THAT
TOGETHER, THAT'S WHEN YOU GET
THE CLEAR PICTURE OF WHAT
HAPPENED.
>> WHEN IT WAS THE DEFENSE'S
TURN, TARR SAYS HE WANTED TO
TELL HIS STORY TO THE JURY, BUT
HE CHOSE NOT TO TESTIFY.
WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST DECIDE YOU
WERE GOING TO TALK TO THE JURY
AND TELL THIS STORY IF, IN FACT,
YOU HAVE ASTERRY TO STORY TO TELL?
>> I SHOULD HAVE.
I VERY WELL SHOULD HAVE.
>> WE MADE A STRATEGIC DECISION
BECAUSE IT MAY HAVE OPENED THE
DOOR FOR A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER
MORE DAMAGING EVIDENCE TO BE
USED TO CROSS EXAMINE HIM.
>> THE DEFENSE DIDN'T PUT ON ANY
WITNESSES AND COUNTED ON THE
JURY TO FIND REASONABL DOUBT IN
THE LACK OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.
AFTER THREE HOURS THE JURY FOUND
BOBBY TARR GUILTY OF FIRST
DEGREE MURDER AND ATTEMPTED
MURDER.
>> EVERYONE CLAPPED, AND BOBBY
JUST SAT THERE SHAKING HIS HEAD.
>> TWO MONTHS LATER TARR WAS
BACK IN COURT FOR SENTENCING,
AND THIS TIME SO WAS CHRIS TO
TELL THE JUDGE HOW THE SHOOTING
IMPACTED HIM AND HIS FAMILY.
CAMERAS WERE NOT ALLOWED IN THE
COURTROOM.
>> LOST MY HOUSE, LOST MY TRUCK,
I LITERALLY LOST MY LIFE WITHOUT
BEING KILLED.
>> TARR ALSO SPOKE AND DENIED
SHOOTING LESLIE AND CHRIS.
THE JUDGE SENTENCED HIM TO 85
YEARS.
>> I HOPE THE REST OF HIS TIME
ON THIS EARTH IS HELL.
>> LESLIE REEVES' FRIENDS ARE
FOCUSED ON KEEPING HER MEMORY
ALIVE.
>> SHE WAS A LIGHT OF A LOT OF
PEOPLE'S LIVES.
SHE WAS ALWAYS SMILING.
SHE WAS A VERY GOOD MOTHER,
LIVED FOR HER KIDS AND WAS AN
ADVOCATE AND CHAMPION OF WOMEN,
WOMEN'S RIGHTS, AND ESPECIALLY
WOMEN THAT WERE ABUSED.
>> IF IT CAN HAPPEN TO HER, IT
CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE, SO WE ALL
NEED TO BE CAREFUL.
>> CHRIS SMITH SAYS HE NEVER
EXPECTED HE'D BE A VICTIM OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CAUTIONS
OTHER MEN TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT
THEIR BEHAVIOR.
>> AS GUYS YOU FEEL LIKE YOU
WANT TO HURT A WOMAN, GET HELP.
>> WHILE CHRIS MOURNS HIS OLD
LIFE, HE'S WRITING A BOOK ABOUT
HIS EXPERIENCES AND SAYS HE'S
WORKING TO MAKE WHAT HE CALLS
POOR MAN'S MARGERITAS OUT OF THE
LEMONS AND LIMES HE'S BEEN
HANDED.
>> I'VE HAD A DO OVER.
THE GOOD LORD GAVE ME A DO OVER.
NOT MANY PEOPLE GET A SECOND
CHANCE AT LIFE.
>> CHRIS HAS FOUND LOVE WITH
MICHELLE ALBRECHT.
>> SHE'S AN ANGEL, LOVING ME AND
ACCEPTING ME THE WAY THAT I AM.
>> HE PROPOSED TO HER ON STAGE.
>> I JUST ASKED IF SHE'D MARRY
ME, GUYS.
>> WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT
LESSON OUT OF ALL OF THIS?
>> DON'T EVER GIVE UP ON
ANYTHING EVER, NO MATTER HOW BAD
THINGS ARE.
DON'T EVER GIVE UP.