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[Narrator] He was beloved in
his small California Town
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00:00:11,745 --> 00:00:13,513
for a unique talent.
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He was well-known for being
the Derby King,
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and he was just a big,
loving man,
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and his whole purpose was to put
a smile on your face.
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[Narrator] Until one fateful
Sunday morning...
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I saw him laying there,
he wasn't moving.
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There was this massive pool
of blood
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and there was a clear wound
to his chest.
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[Narrator] A hidden life soon
rises to the surface.
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[John] There's nefarious people
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that work in this type of
a business.
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You're talking a lot of money.
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[Kayce] He was not happy in
his marriage.
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There were other folks that he
was spending time with.
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[Narrator] Amid rumors and
false leads,
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investigators find
a very real obsession.
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[Erick] She would go to
his church,
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the same grocery store.
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It was starting to get weird.
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[Laura] In her bedroom was
a shrine.
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A lot of pictures
of him and his derby car.
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Ultimately, we were dealing with
a fatal attraction.
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[music]
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[Narrator] February 16th, 2014.
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It's a quiet Sunday morning
in Sonora, California...
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A former gold rush town at
the base of
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the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
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[Yvonne] Sonora is in
the foothills.
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It's a slower pace of life.
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You can kinda go back
100 years, almost.
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It's not like city living.
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[Narrator] Just after
11 A.M.,
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married couple Buddy and
Kayce Thompson
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pull into the parking lot of
Ricky Robert's U2 Auto Shop.
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They have stopped by the garage
run by their friend,
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49-year-old Rick Roberts,
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to drop off an ATV they paid
to be stored there.
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[Kayce] Ricky was very
good friends with
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one of my best friends
growing up.
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So, we kinda got to
know each other more on a,
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a friendlier basis.
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Ricky communicated with
my husband,
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"Hey, I'm getting ready for
church.
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Go ahead and, and park in front
of the shop
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if I'm not there."
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We pulled into the shop,
and it was quiet.
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My husband said, "Hey,
wait in the car.
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I'm going to go see if
he's even here."
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My husband leaned in and then
came out of the doorway.
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And this look on his face,
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he was pale and just in shock.
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And he said, "You need to
go in there."
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[Narrator] A former
first responder,
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Kayce races to the door.
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[Kayce] I saw him laying there.
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He definitely had loss of color
and he wasn't moving.
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I observed a single
gunshot wound to the chest.
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There was blood underneath him.
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I could tell without even
touching him that he had passed.
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[Narrator] Kayce and Buddy
exit the shop.
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She calls 911.
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When the first responders
get to the scene,
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they find the victim's body
on the floor inside.
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They checked pulse.
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It was obvious to them
that he was deceased.
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Ricky Roberts had two wounds;
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grazing wound to
the left shoulder,
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also a wound to the center of
the chest.
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[Narrator] Sonora police
officers call for backup
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from the California Department
of Justice.
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They taped off the perimeter of
the shop,
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nobody was allowed to go in.
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[Narrator] Meanwhile, Buddy and
Kayce struggle to grasp
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how their Sunday morning took
such a dark turn.
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Ricky was well-respected and
well loved.
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The kind of person that
everybody got along with.
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So, this was just absolutely
like, mind-blowing.
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What the hell happened here?
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Why?
How?
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You're trying to make sense
of it.
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[Narrator] Born on
January 2nd, 1965,
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Rick Roberts grew up in Sonora.
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[Erick] Ricky had one sister and
three brothers.
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Ricky and his mother were
really close.
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Ricky was a mama's boy.
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She was a single mom for most of
her life,
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and she raised the kids herself.
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Very Christian oriented,
very strict.
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Ricky was very close to
his mother.
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She liked him the best out of
everybody.
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He had a few brothers and
one sister,
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but Rick was the golden child.
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And he'd like to go to
his church with his mom,
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and always be there, you know,
for his mom.
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[Narrator] Following
high school,
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Rick opted to join
the workforce.
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He started doing security work
at a pretty young age.
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[Kayce] He was a man of
integrity.
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And security work
just seemed like a natural way
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for him to make a living.
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[Narrator] With his career path
decided,
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Rick found a hobby that would
quickly become a passion...
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Cars.
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He had a family member who said,
"Hey, you have a lot of energy,
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you're creative.
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Let's do this,
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and we're gonna go work on
cars."
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[Narrator] Ricky loved to fix
cars.
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But even more,
he loved to wreck them.
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Rick took off, started to learn
how to do destruction derbies.
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Ricky was my uncle,
a father figure,
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and we did
destruction derbies together
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and worked with each other
a lot.
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The destruction derby is where
you get a bunch of old cars,
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and you make them as strong as
you can.
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The cars would bash into
each other.
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Last one standing typically
would be the one to move on.
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[Kay] My Ricky uncle loved it.
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He wanted to make sure that he
made the best of it.
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[Narrator] In Sonora,
derby was more than a sport.
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It was a way of life,
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and Rick Roberts had
a reputation.
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He was well-known all over
the surrounding counties
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for being the Derby King.
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[Narrator] To support his hobby,
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Rick rented a garage space
in Sonora
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that he dubbed Ricky Roberts'
U2 Autobody.
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[Erick] Rick, he just liked
the whole process
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of getting the car.
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Get it, haul it to his place,
and then start strippin' it out.
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[Narrator] In 1990,
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25-year-old-Rick had a chance
encounter at a local bar
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that led him into
a whirlwind romance.
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[Kayce] When he met his wife,
there was a connection there,
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and that she made him feel
safe and appreciated.
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They were like the biggest
love birds you'd ever see.
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And she stood right by him
through all the derby stuff.
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[Narrator] In July 1990,
they married.
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[Kayce] They got married up on
top of the derby car.
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It was adorable, unique,
absolutely unique,
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and it was great.
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They were very happy.
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[Narrator] After their wedding,
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the couple began building
a life together.
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By the mid 2000s, they had added
a new member to the family.
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They had adopted their son,
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and it was something that
they found
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to be one of the best things
that they had done.
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[Kayce] The child came into
the picture,
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you saw a transformation
in Ricky.
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He was just head over
heels for this little boy.
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[Narrator] By 2014, Ricky was
now in his 40s,
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and focused on family and fait.
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He was devoted to his church and
bringing the community together.
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Ricky loved being part of that
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and just being happy being
among friends and family.
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[Narrator] But Rick's happy
family life
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is abruptly halted when,
on February 16th, 2014,
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00:08:54,734 --> 00:08:59,606
the Derby King is found dead on
the floor of his autobody shop.
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When homicide investigators
arrive,
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a crowd is already gathering
outside Rick's garage.
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[Erick] Buddy called me and told
me what was going on.
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We all crowded around, friends,
family, everybody,
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and we were all in shock of
what happened.
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[Laura] Rick's wife came to
the shop
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when the police presence
became known.
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She was distraught,
absolutely distraught,
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emotional, in shock.
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She was adamant about seeing him
before they had removed him.
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[Narrator] Amid the chaos,
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a neighbor steps forward
to speak with investigators.
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Crystal Wise did report that
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she'd heard what
sounded like gunshots around,
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you know, this 10:20 to
10:30 A.M. timeframe.
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Buddy and Kayce had called 911
shortly after 11 o'clock.
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[Narrator] Investigators must
determine if
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the pair missed the killer by
minutes,
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or if there is more to
their story.
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To find out, Buddy and Kayce are
escorted to the station
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00:10:16,316 --> 00:10:17,951
for more questioning
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while authorities get their
first look at the crime scene.
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There were no signs of
forced entry,
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the door was open.
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They found his phone,
they found his wallet,
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it had money in it.
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All of his credit cards were
present.
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We quickly ruled out that this
was any sort of robbery.
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The blood looked still fresh,
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00:10:37,704 --> 00:10:40,407
and so they knew there was
a smaller time window involved.
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[Narrator] Coming up.
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00:10:45,078 --> 00:10:48,114
Investigators press Rick's
friends for answers...
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00:10:48,148 --> 00:10:50,717
When investigation begins,
everyone's a suspect.
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00:10:51,651 --> 00:10:54,287
[Narrator] And they uncover
unsettling details
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about his life.
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He was entertaining other
relationships.
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00:10:59,459 --> 00:11:00,827
When there's infidelity in
marriage,
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00:11:00,860 --> 00:11:03,496
that opens up all kinds of
possibilities and motive.
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[music]
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00:11:19,979 --> 00:11:22,282
[Narrator] February, 2014.
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00:11:22,982 --> 00:11:25,385
Investigators in Sonora,
California
202
00:11:25,418 --> 00:11:27,921
are called to the brutal
murder scene
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00:11:27,954 --> 00:11:30,857
of 49-year-old Rick Roberts.
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00:11:31,758 --> 00:11:35,995
[Laura] This is a small town.
To have a homicide is shocking.
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00:11:36,596 --> 00:11:39,399
Rick's friends Buddy
and Kayce Thompson,
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00:11:39,432 --> 00:11:42,502
who were the ones to find Rick,
are on scene.
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00:11:47,173 --> 00:11:49,376
[Narrator] The couple is
en route to the station
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00:11:49,409 --> 00:11:50,877
to give their statements.
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00:11:51,578 --> 00:11:55,281
However, Rick's wife
begs for more time.
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00:11:56,316 --> 00:11:59,119
They did not attempt to
interview Rick's wife
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00:11:59,152 --> 00:12:01,688
in any sort of sensitive way
that day,
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00:12:01,721 --> 00:12:04,124
because she was really overcome
with emotion.
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00:12:04,157 --> 00:12:06,292
She agreed to be interviewed
later,
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00:12:06,326 --> 00:12:09,596
but her focus that day
was on their son,
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00:12:09,629 --> 00:12:11,264
who was quite young.
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00:12:13,266 --> 00:12:15,635
[Narrator] Investigators then
make their way
217
00:12:15,669 --> 00:12:17,070
back inside the shop
218
00:12:17,070 --> 00:12:19,572
to get a closer look
at the crime scene.
219
00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:23,410
Rick was laying sort of on
his back in the shop,
220
00:12:23,443 --> 00:12:24,611
on the floor of his shop,
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00:12:24,644 --> 00:12:27,681
with a large pool of blood
around his body.
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00:12:29,182 --> 00:12:32,118
There was a gunshot wound to
the victim's chest.
223
00:12:32,719 --> 00:12:35,121
A grazing wound
to the left shoulder.
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00:12:38,091 --> 00:12:40,927
[Narrator] Investigators
are unable to locate a weapon,
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00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:45,565
but they do find another
potentially important clue.
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00:12:46,566 --> 00:12:50,437
What they located, very close to
Rick's body, was a shell casing.
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00:12:51,237 --> 00:12:53,873
[John] The casing belonged to
a 9mm handgun,
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00:12:53,907 --> 00:12:55,842
and it was a semi-automatic.
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00:12:55,875 --> 00:12:58,978
There were two gunshot wounds
discovered on the victim's body.
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00:12:59,379 --> 00:13:02,315
However, there was only one
expended casing.
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00:13:02,349 --> 00:13:05,685
So, the possibility was that
whoever had fired the gun
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00:13:05,719 --> 00:13:07,787
ran out of time and
quickly just took off,
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00:13:07,821 --> 00:13:09,122
leaving the one casing.
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00:13:10,056 --> 00:13:13,159
[Narrator] Authorities bag up
the shell for testing.
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00:13:16,096 --> 00:13:19,532
Outside, they come across
another clue.
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00:13:20,266 --> 00:13:22,635
[Laura] So, there were
footprints on the scene.
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00:13:23,203 --> 00:13:27,073
They compared tracks to
Rick's boots
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00:13:27,107 --> 00:13:29,075
that Rick was wearing at
the time.
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00:13:29,075 --> 00:13:31,077
They also knew what
240
00:13:31,111 --> 00:13:34,381
Buddy, Taylor, and Kayce's
footprints were
241
00:13:34,414 --> 00:13:37,117
and where they had parked and
entered the shop.
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00:13:37,150 --> 00:13:40,153
But this was a smaller footprint
from, you know,
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00:13:40,186 --> 00:13:41,654
not likely a male.
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00:13:41,688 --> 00:13:44,991
It also had a real distinctive
boot-type tread on it.
245
00:13:45,091 --> 00:13:46,860
They measured it and they
photographed,
246
00:13:46,893 --> 00:13:49,596
and so we knew the size of it,
we knew the tread of it.
247
00:13:50,830 --> 00:13:53,199
[Narrator] As they wrap up
at the crime scene,
248
00:13:53,233 --> 00:13:56,336
investigators consider
possible theories.
249
00:13:57,237 --> 00:13:59,506
[John] Once you rule out
robbery,
250
00:13:59,539 --> 00:14:03,343
this was something possibly
a little bit more personal.
251
00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:09,115
[Narrator] At the station,
252
00:14:09,149 --> 00:14:12,652
detectives speak with Kayce
and Buddy Thompson separately.
253
00:14:13,620 --> 00:14:16,322
But their stories remain
the same.
254
00:14:17,223 --> 00:14:20,060
When investigation begins,
everyone's a suspect.
255
00:14:20,093 --> 00:14:22,095
But they were very,
very cooperative.
256
00:14:23,063 --> 00:14:26,766
Everything they were telling
investigators really matched up,
257
00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:28,501
and they could eliminate them.
258
00:14:32,439 --> 00:14:36,076
[Narrator] But investigators
aren't letting them go just ye.
259
00:14:37,077 --> 00:14:39,079
They press the Thompsons
for information
260
00:14:39,112 --> 00:14:42,349
about who might have wanted to
harm Rick.
261
00:14:43,616 --> 00:14:47,320
The questioning got a little bit
more specific as to,
262
00:14:47,354 --> 00:14:48,988
who did he hang out with?
263
00:14:49,456 --> 00:14:51,758
How's his relationship with
his wife?
264
00:14:53,526 --> 00:14:56,296
[Narrator] Kayce admits that she
has noticed tension
265
00:14:56,329 --> 00:14:58,098
in Rick's marriage.
266
00:14:58,531 --> 00:15:00,233
[Kayce] The couple months prior
to his death,
267
00:15:00,266 --> 00:15:02,335
I was just picking up on
the cues of
268
00:15:02,369 --> 00:15:04,137
the breakdown in communication.
269
00:15:04,170 --> 00:15:05,739
There's a problem in the home.
270
00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:09,743
[Narrator] While she doesn't
know exactly why
271
00:15:09,776 --> 00:15:12,245
there's tension between Rick ad
his wife,
272
00:15:12,278 --> 00:15:14,347
she's heard rumors.
273
00:15:15,348 --> 00:15:17,851
She wasn't around the shop
very often,
274
00:15:18,284 --> 00:15:21,354
that myself and everybody knew
that there were
275
00:15:21,388 --> 00:15:23,590
some marital stresses going on.
276
00:15:23,623 --> 00:15:26,559
He was entertaining other
relationships.
277
00:15:28,228 --> 00:15:29,696
When there's infidelity in
a marriage,
278
00:15:29,729 --> 00:15:32,532
that opens up all kinds of
possibilities and motive.
279
00:15:35,835 --> 00:15:37,303
[Narrator] The following day,
280
00:15:37,337 --> 00:15:40,273
Rick's wife agrees to come in
for an interview.
281
00:15:41,474 --> 00:15:45,645
She confirms that there is some
truth to the rumors.
282
00:15:46,379 --> 00:15:49,082
She was aware that there had
been infidelity,
283
00:15:49,115 --> 00:15:51,251
and they were working on that.
284
00:15:51,284 --> 00:15:53,353
Rick assured her it was over.
285
00:15:56,856 --> 00:15:59,659
[Narrator] Rick's wife says she
doesn't know the names
286
00:15:59,693 --> 00:16:02,796
of any women her husband
was associated with.
287
00:16:03,630 --> 00:16:06,633
When asked for her whereabouts
the morning of the murder,
288
00:16:06,666 --> 00:16:10,136
she says she was at home with
their nine year old son.
289
00:16:10,904 --> 00:16:12,605
[Laura] She'd been home
all morning with their son.
290
00:16:12,639 --> 00:16:15,041
And then he confirmed that
his mom had been with him
291
00:16:15,041 --> 00:16:17,143
all morning
and hadn't left the home.
292
00:16:18,211 --> 00:16:19,713
[Narrator] Following
the interview,
293
00:16:19,746 --> 00:16:24,084
investigators return Rick's
personal belongings to his wife.
294
00:16:24,784 --> 00:16:26,219
They gave her Rick's wallet
295
00:16:26,252 --> 00:16:29,322
and, and I think some keys
and things to the shop.
296
00:16:33,326 --> 00:16:36,496
[Narrator] Rick's wife appears
to have a solid alibi,
297
00:16:36,529 --> 00:16:41,201
forcing investigators to dive
deeper into Rick's private life.
298
00:16:46,673 --> 00:16:50,643
They turn to the tight-knit
community of Sonora for help.
299
00:16:51,378 --> 00:16:53,346
Now you're gonna start
looking to talk to
300
00:16:53,380 --> 00:16:56,616
Ricky's friends, anybody that
might have information.
301
00:16:57,817 --> 00:17:00,286
[Narrator] Friends tell
detectives that Rick had
302
00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:02,288
a lucrative side gig.
303
00:17:03,256 --> 00:17:05,825
Ricky Roberts was dealing in
scrap metal.
304
00:17:06,192 --> 00:17:07,460
But this scrap metal,
305
00:17:07,494 --> 00:17:09,896
what makes it unique
is that it's worth money.
306
00:17:10,563 --> 00:17:12,198
[Laura] He would take a lot of
scrap metal
307
00:17:12,232 --> 00:17:14,768
to these huge recycling centers
and get paid.
308
00:17:16,336 --> 00:17:17,904
[John] You're talking a lot
of money.
309
00:17:17,937 --> 00:17:19,906
Sometimes there's
nefarious people
310
00:17:19,939 --> 00:17:22,275
that work in this type of
a business,
311
00:17:22,308 --> 00:17:24,577
and so you wanna look into that.
312
00:17:27,380 --> 00:17:31,151
The investigators interviewed
the workers there to see,
313
00:17:31,184 --> 00:17:34,854
"Hey, did you ever see Rick have
any kind of, you know,
314
00:17:34,888 --> 00:17:36,322
confrontation with anybody?
315
00:17:36,756 --> 00:17:38,825
Was there any problems?"
316
00:17:40,060 --> 00:17:41,761
[Narrator] But
the promising lead
317
00:17:41,795 --> 00:17:44,130
quickly becomes a dead end.
318
00:17:45,432 --> 00:17:47,133
[Laura] Rick was well known
down there.
319
00:17:47,500 --> 00:17:49,636
Nobody knew of any sort of,
you know,
320
00:17:49,669 --> 00:17:52,172
confrontations that
Rick had had with anybody.
321
00:17:52,706 --> 00:17:54,808
And so those leads really
didn't go anywhere.
322
00:17:57,277 --> 00:17:59,412
[Narrator] Investigators are
stumped,
323
00:17:59,446 --> 00:18:02,415
until suddenly, Rick's wife
shows back up
324
00:18:02,449 --> 00:18:04,284
and hands them a lead.
325
00:18:05,151 --> 00:18:07,787
During the investigation,
Rick's wife brought us
326
00:18:07,821 --> 00:18:10,757
a photograph that she had
located in Rick's wallet.
327
00:18:11,591 --> 00:18:14,494
She identified the photograph
as her husband
328
00:18:15,028 --> 00:18:16,529
and her son.
329
00:18:17,597 --> 00:18:19,499
[Narrator] But it's
the handwritten inscription
330
00:18:19,532 --> 00:18:21,835
on the back that gets
their attention.
331
00:18:23,036 --> 00:18:26,106
The handwriting said,
"My husband Rick and his son,"
332
00:18:26,139 --> 00:18:28,174
but the son's name was
misspelled
333
00:18:28,708 --> 00:18:31,277
and she didn't
recognize the handwriting.
334
00:18:32,045 --> 00:18:33,546
[John] This isn't her writing,
335
00:18:33,580 --> 00:18:38,685
somebody else is saying that
Ricky Roberts was their husband.
336
00:18:41,821 --> 00:18:42,922
[Narrator] Coming up.
337
00:18:44,190 --> 00:18:47,160
The mysterious inscription
reveals a hidden life...
338
00:18:47,694 --> 00:18:49,629
[John] She was at
the grocery store,
339
00:18:49,662 --> 00:18:53,533
and she just felt that somebody
was staring at her.
340
00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:56,069
[Narrator] An unsettling
obsession
341
00:18:56,302 --> 00:18:57,837
takes center stage.
342
00:18:58,571 --> 00:19:01,875
He had told her he wanted her to
stop following him.
343
00:19:01,908 --> 00:19:07,847
[music]
344
00:19:18,258 --> 00:19:20,460
[Narrator] Within a week of
the murder of
345
00:19:20,493 --> 00:19:22,429
"Derby King" Rick Roberts,
346
00:19:22,462 --> 00:19:25,231
investigators were hitting
dead ends,
347
00:19:25,265 --> 00:19:29,536
until Ricks' wife brings them
a suspicious photograph.
348
00:19:30,203 --> 00:19:32,706
[Laura] Rick's wife had found
the photograph
349
00:19:32,739 --> 00:19:34,140
in Rick's wallet.
350
00:19:34,174 --> 00:19:37,210
She had noticed handwriting on
the back that said,
351
00:19:37,243 --> 00:19:39,946
"My husband Rick and his son,"
352
00:19:40,046 --> 00:19:42,515
and she knew it wasn't
her handwriting.
353
00:19:46,886 --> 00:19:49,255
[Narrator] Rick's wife says
she has no idea
354
00:19:49,289 --> 00:19:51,691
who might have written
the inscription...
355
00:19:52,292 --> 00:19:54,828
But it does bring to mind
a troubling encounter
356
00:19:54,861 --> 00:19:58,431
she had three years earlier,
in 2011.
357
00:19:59,666 --> 00:20:01,534
[John] She was at
the grocery store,
358
00:20:02,268 --> 00:20:05,972
and she just felt that somebody
was staring at her.
359
00:20:06,940 --> 00:20:09,109
[Laura] This woman had, like,
a cowboy hat on,
360
00:20:09,142 --> 00:20:12,012
and was dressed all, you know,
really western.
361
00:20:12,412 --> 00:20:15,181
It was super creepy,
362
00:20:15,215 --> 00:20:19,252
and she got in her car,
and the woman followed them.
363
00:20:19,519 --> 00:20:21,021
This vehicle followed her
364
00:20:21,054 --> 00:20:23,056
all the way up until
she got close to her home,
365
00:20:23,089 --> 00:20:24,457
and then it veered off.
366
00:20:24,858 --> 00:20:26,526
She immediately told Rick
about it.
367
00:20:26,559 --> 00:20:28,928
And Rick said, "Oh, I'll take
care of it.
368
00:20:28,962 --> 00:20:30,263
I know who it is."
369
00:20:30,797 --> 00:20:32,265
He initially brushed it off as,
370
00:20:32,298 --> 00:20:34,501
"some woman that's kind of
obsessed with me."
371
00:20:34,534 --> 00:20:36,836
So then she brought it to Rick's
attention,
372
00:20:36,870 --> 00:20:38,405
and he assured her it was over.
373
00:20:38,438 --> 00:20:40,774
[Narrator] With this
unnerving revelation,
374
00:20:41,241 --> 00:20:45,078
investigators make discovering
the mystery woman's identity
375
00:20:45,111 --> 00:20:47,213
their top priority.
376
00:20:51,217 --> 00:20:53,987
They head to the place where
Rick spent even more time
377
00:20:54,020 --> 00:20:55,822
than he did at the garage:
378
00:20:55,855 --> 00:20:57,223
his church.
379
00:20:58,258 --> 00:21:00,160
Detectives to go to the church,
380
00:21:00,193 --> 00:21:02,729
and they started interviewing
the pastor
381
00:21:02,762 --> 00:21:04,097
and members of the church.
382
00:21:04,698 --> 00:21:07,400
[Narrator] When asked for
information about Ricky,
383
00:21:07,434 --> 00:21:10,770
longtime member Susan Hume
tells them about a woman
384
00:21:10,804 --> 00:21:14,474
who started coming to church
around three years ago...
385
00:21:15,075 --> 00:21:16,976
Cheryl Lucero.
386
00:21:18,078 --> 00:21:20,480
Sue tried to befriend Cheryl,
387
00:21:20,847 --> 00:21:23,083
because she knew Cheryl was
a new member.
388
00:21:23,116 --> 00:21:25,885
So, they tried to
make her feel welcome.
389
00:21:26,619 --> 00:21:30,090
[Narrator] However, Susan says
that she immediately noticed
390
00:21:30,090 --> 00:21:33,593
that Cheryl's eyes were rarely
on the pulpit.
391
00:21:34,260 --> 00:21:37,731
[John] Susan observed her
looking all the time,
392
00:21:37,764 --> 00:21:40,500
staring at Ricky in the church.
393
00:21:44,237 --> 00:21:45,839
[Narrator] Cheryl told Susan
394
00:21:45,872 --> 00:21:48,008
that she recently moved
from Modesto
395
00:21:48,108 --> 00:21:51,177
and worked as a manager
at a fast food restaurant.
396
00:21:51,845 --> 00:21:53,380
To earn extra cash,
397
00:21:53,413 --> 00:21:56,516
she also accepted a job
clearing brush.
398
00:21:57,384 --> 00:21:58,852
[Yvonne] At that time,
Cheryl would have
399
00:21:58,885 --> 00:22:00,520
an apartment in Sonora.
400
00:22:00,553 --> 00:22:02,889
My husband Joe had hired her
401
00:22:02,922 --> 00:22:06,426
to help with some work around
our property.
402
00:22:07,460 --> 00:22:10,063
Cheryl was kind of difficult
to know.
403
00:22:10,063 --> 00:22:12,065
You had to pull things
out of her.
404
00:22:12,065 --> 00:22:14,100
Cheryl's mother, I believe,
lived in Nevada,
405
00:22:14,134 --> 00:22:17,070
and her father in Modesto.
406
00:22:17,103 --> 00:22:19,806
I knew that she had a daughter
407
00:22:19,839 --> 00:22:23,109
and a son
that lived in another state.
408
00:22:23,143 --> 00:22:27,514
She was very quiet, very quiet.
409
00:22:28,915 --> 00:22:31,451
[Narrator] In contrast to
her quiet nature,
410
00:22:31,484 --> 00:22:36,423
the way 45-year-old Cheryl
dressed made her hard to miss.
411
00:22:36,923 --> 00:22:39,559
[John] Cheryl loved to dress in
cowboy gear,
412
00:22:39,592 --> 00:22:42,996
to look like what some would
say, "rodeo queen".
413
00:22:43,463 --> 00:22:45,098
[Narrator] Cheryl's
quirky get-up
414
00:22:45,098 --> 00:22:47,534
drew the attention of
church members...
415
00:22:47,867 --> 00:22:51,504
As did her habit of
staring at Ricky.
416
00:22:53,873 --> 00:22:56,810
[John] Susan would confront
Cheryl about that
417
00:22:56,843 --> 00:22:58,912
and tell her that, you know,
418
00:22:58,945 --> 00:23:00,947
she needed to basically
knock this off.
419
00:23:01,448 --> 00:23:04,517
[Narrator] Cheryl's reaction
caught Susan off-guard.
420
00:23:05,552 --> 00:23:06,619
Cheryl's response was like,
421
00:23:06,653 --> 00:23:10,190
"Oh no, God has
meant for us to be together."
422
00:23:10,924 --> 00:23:12,759
So, it was clear that
Cheryl wasn't there
423
00:23:13,426 --> 00:23:16,062
because she was a member of
the faith.
424
00:23:16,062 --> 00:23:17,831
It was clear that
Cheryl was there
425
00:23:17,864 --> 00:23:20,066
because she wanted to be
anywhere Rick was
426
00:23:20,066 --> 00:23:21,534
that she could be.
427
00:23:25,605 --> 00:23:28,074
[Narrator] Susan says the more
she learned about
428
00:23:28,074 --> 00:23:29,976
Cheryl's fascination with Rick,
429
00:23:30,076 --> 00:23:32,579
the more concerned she got.
430
00:23:33,580 --> 00:23:36,349
Sue, at one point,
went to Cheryl's apartment,
431
00:23:36,383 --> 00:23:39,119
and as they went by
Cheryl's bedroom,
432
00:23:39,519 --> 00:23:40,954
Sue looked in.
433
00:23:40,987 --> 00:23:43,089
There was a shrine to
Rick Roberts.
434
00:23:44,491 --> 00:23:47,160
We're not talking about
a photograph on a nightstand.
435
00:23:48,094 --> 00:23:50,096
It's like a lot of pictures
pasted,
436
00:23:50,530 --> 00:23:53,967
all these photographs of
him and his derby car.
437
00:23:54,334 --> 00:23:56,169
Sue just sort of said,
"What is that?"
438
00:23:56,202 --> 00:23:58,405
And, "This is inappropriate,
Cheryl."
439
00:23:58,438 --> 00:24:00,240
Like, "Rick's married."
440
00:24:05,378 --> 00:24:08,915
[Narrator] Susan's account
concerns investigators.
441
00:24:09,549 --> 00:24:11,051
Eager to learn more,
442
00:24:11,084 --> 00:24:14,054
they reach out to one of
Ricky's closes confidantes,
443
00:24:14,054 --> 00:24:15,822
his nephew Erick.
444
00:24:16,489 --> 00:24:20,226
He tells them that his uncle
first met Cheryl back in 2009,
445
00:24:20,260 --> 00:24:23,430
on one of their bi-weekly trips
to Modesto.
446
00:24:24,531 --> 00:24:28,368
After takin' the scrap load to
the scrap yard,
447
00:24:28,401 --> 00:24:33,506
we would go to Panda's Express
and we would have lunch.
448
00:24:33,540 --> 00:24:36,910
We got to be friends with all
the, the employees there.
449
00:24:37,277 --> 00:24:41,514
and so, this lady named Cheryl
450
00:24:41,548 --> 00:24:44,184
was a supervisor.
451
00:24:44,551 --> 00:24:48,722
She and Rick were trying to get
a sponsorship
452
00:24:48,755 --> 00:24:51,791
for Panda's Express for
his derby car.
453
00:24:51,825 --> 00:24:54,928
And so, we would
get free lunches.
454
00:24:58,098 --> 00:25:00,533
[Narrator] Once, Cheryl
approached Erick
455
00:25:00,567 --> 00:25:02,435
when Rick had stepped away.
456
00:25:03,036 --> 00:25:05,772
[Erick] Cheryl came up to me
one day,
457
00:25:05,805 --> 00:25:09,809
and she gave me a little
scrap paper
458
00:25:09,843 --> 00:25:12,379
with her name and number on it.
459
00:25:13,346 --> 00:25:16,082
[Narrator] She asked Erick
to give it to his uncle.
460
00:25:17,083 --> 00:25:21,755
I was assuming that she was
trying to hit on him.
461
00:25:22,155 --> 00:25:23,890
I went ahead and just,
462
00:25:23,923 --> 00:25:26,326
I ripped
it up and threw it away.
463
00:25:27,761 --> 00:25:29,229
[Narrator] Soon after,
464
00:25:29,262 --> 00:25:33,066
Erick says he and Rick
spotted Cheryl everywhere.
465
00:25:33,900 --> 00:25:35,702
[Erick] Cheryl would go to
his church,
466
00:25:36,236 --> 00:25:40,440
be at the same grocery store,
same parking lot.
467
00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:44,377
And it was
starting to get weird.
468
00:25:44,411 --> 00:25:46,746
Rick was startin' to get
a little nervous.
469
00:25:47,313 --> 00:25:50,950
He had told Cheryl he wanted her
to stop following him.
470
00:25:54,954 --> 00:25:57,490
[Narrator] But Erick says
that didn't work,
471
00:25:57,524 --> 00:25:59,092
and in 2010,
472
00:25:59,092 --> 00:26:02,228
Rick revealed another
troubling development.
473
00:26:02,929 --> 00:26:06,466
Rick had shared with him that
she had moved up here to Sonora
474
00:26:06,499 --> 00:26:09,636
to be closer to Rick and was
working at McDonald's.
475
00:26:10,537 --> 00:26:14,507
He had told me that,
"The girl was stalking me.
476
00:26:15,041 --> 00:26:18,478
She was kinda loony, you can see
it in her eyes."
477
00:26:22,749 --> 00:26:24,217
[Narrator] However,
478
00:26:24,250 --> 00:26:27,053
Erick says Rick felt in
the months before his murder
479
00:26:27,053 --> 00:26:30,056
that he had
the situation under control.
480
00:26:30,957 --> 00:26:33,059
[John] He hadn't had
any communication with her
481
00:26:33,059 --> 00:26:34,260
for quite some time.
482
00:26:34,294 --> 00:26:36,830
And he no longer had
anything to do with her.
483
00:26:37,764 --> 00:26:40,367
[Narrator] When investigators
check Rick's phone records,
484
00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:42,902
they confirm that he had not
been in contact
485
00:26:42,936 --> 00:26:44,871
with Cheryl for some time.
486
00:26:45,405 --> 00:26:47,841
[Laura] We didn't find anything
related to Cheryl.
487
00:26:47,874 --> 00:26:49,743
For two years leading up to
his death,
488
00:26:49,776 --> 00:26:51,978
there was just no contact.
489
00:26:57,083 --> 00:26:59,753
[Narrator] Faced with the fact
that Cheryl may be yet
490
00:26:59,786 --> 00:27:01,321
another false lead,
491
00:27:01,354 --> 00:27:05,125
investigators turn to
the only evidence they have:
492
00:27:05,625 --> 00:27:08,028
the .9mm shell casing.
493
00:27:09,095 --> 00:27:13,466
The shell casing from
the crime scene was processed,
494
00:27:13,500 --> 00:27:17,404
and the Department of Justice
was able to narrow
495
00:27:17,437 --> 00:27:21,541
the type of firearm down to
three different manufacturers.
496
00:27:21,908 --> 00:27:23,643
We knew that it was a .9mm.
497
00:27:23,677 --> 00:27:28,548
Detectives ran anyone that
had registered in their name
498
00:27:29,049 --> 00:27:31,317
those types of firearms that
could.
499
00:27:31,351 --> 00:27:34,087
So, they noticed
Cheryl Lucero's name.
500
00:27:37,891 --> 00:27:39,225
[Narrator] On March 12th,
501
00:27:39,259 --> 00:27:41,961
investigators find Cheryl at
her work,
502
00:27:42,062 --> 00:27:44,064
a Sonora fast food restaurant,
503
00:27:44,097 --> 00:27:46,533
and she agrees to come in
for an interview
504
00:27:46,566 --> 00:27:48,068
the following day.
505
00:27:48,868 --> 00:27:51,471
She indicated that she really
didn't know
506
00:27:51,504 --> 00:27:53,073
Rick Roberts very well,
507
00:27:53,073 --> 00:27:55,942
that she hadn't spoken to
him in three to four years.
508
00:27:56,943 --> 00:28:00,380
[John] The detectives asked her
on the day that Ricky was shot,
509
00:28:00,413 --> 00:28:01,214
what was she doing?
510
00:28:01,247 --> 00:28:03,049
She stated that she was at work,
511
00:28:03,083 --> 00:28:06,453
and that she clocked out at
10 A.M. in the morning
512
00:28:06,486 --> 00:28:07,887
and she went straight home.
513
00:28:07,921 --> 00:28:10,623
The witness said the gunshots
were between
514
00:28:10,657 --> 00:28:12,025
10 A.M. and 11 A.M.
515
00:28:12,492 --> 00:28:15,562
[Narrator] Investigators ask her
about the gun.
516
00:28:16,229 --> 00:28:20,033
They went on to ask her if she
could give them the gun
517
00:28:20,033 --> 00:28:22,035
so they could go and check
it out.
518
00:28:22,535 --> 00:28:24,037
She was cooperating.
519
00:28:24,070 --> 00:28:28,174
She tells him that, "Look,
I'll bring the gun tomorrow."
520
00:28:32,212 --> 00:28:33,880
[Narrator] But the next day
passes
521
00:28:33,913 --> 00:28:36,249
with no sign of Cheryl.
522
00:28:37,217 --> 00:28:40,487
She told him she'd bring it in,
but she never did.
523
00:28:41,187 --> 00:28:42,655
[Narrator] Three days later,
524
00:28:42,689 --> 00:28:45,291
investigators try to
track her down.
525
00:28:46,059 --> 00:28:48,061
[Laura] The address that
they had was
526
00:28:48,061 --> 00:28:51,631
listed on the paperwork for
the gun.
527
00:28:52,365 --> 00:28:54,167
[John] They talked to
the landlord.
528
00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:55,935
The landlord tells
the detectives
529
00:28:56,436 --> 00:28:58,138
she hasn't lived there for
two years.
530
00:28:58,538 --> 00:29:01,174
So, they couldn't
find her at that given address.
531
00:29:02,409 --> 00:29:04,110
[Laura] So then it's this whole
cat and mouse game,
532
00:29:04,144 --> 00:29:06,312
and they have to keep tracking
her back to work.
533
00:29:06,346 --> 00:29:08,148
It's like, hey, if you're
innocent,
534
00:29:08,181 --> 00:29:10,050
Why are you playing this?
535
00:29:12,318 --> 00:29:13,486
[Narrator] Coming up.
536
00:29:13,820 --> 00:29:16,790
A new narrative comes into play.
537
00:29:18,291 --> 00:29:21,928
[Narrator] But an even
darker truth is exposed.
538
00:29:22,028 --> 00:29:24,364
She had created
wedding invitations
539
00:29:24,397 --> 00:29:26,132
announcing her marriage.
540
00:29:26,166 --> 00:29:30,270
What you see is that she was
obsessed with Ricky Roberts.
541
00:29:40,946 --> 00:29:44,049
[music]
542
00:29:46,085 --> 00:29:48,420
[Narrator] While it's clear
the relationship between
543
00:29:48,454 --> 00:29:52,291
Rick Roberts and
Cheryl Lucero ended years ago,
544
00:29:52,324 --> 00:29:55,728
her gun purchase and behavior
since his murder
545
00:29:55,761 --> 00:29:58,430
has made her suspect number on.
546
00:29:59,365 --> 00:30:02,067
[John] She initially said that
she was gonna bring the gun.
547
00:30:02,334 --> 00:30:03,902
But time keeps going by,
548
00:30:03,936 --> 00:30:06,038
and now she hasn't even showed
up at all.
549
00:30:06,905 --> 00:30:08,240
[Laura] The police go to
her address,
550
00:30:08,273 --> 00:30:10,876
they find out she hasn't lived
at that apartment
551
00:30:10,909 --> 00:30:12,311
in over two years.
552
00:30:16,582 --> 00:30:18,083
[Narrator] On March 18th,
553
00:30:18,117 --> 00:30:20,986
one month after
Rick Roberts' murder,
554
00:30:21,020 --> 00:30:23,322
investigators finally track
Cheryl down
555
00:30:23,355 --> 00:30:26,325
at the fast food restaurant
where she works.
556
00:30:27,059 --> 00:30:29,361
She says she moved and was now
557
00:30:29,395 --> 00:30:32,097
living at an address
in Twain Heart.
558
00:30:33,198 --> 00:30:35,868
I believe it was
November of 2012
559
00:30:35,901 --> 00:30:37,803
that Cheryl moved in with us.
560
00:30:38,337 --> 00:30:40,939
I thought, "Well, she's
trying to save money,
561
00:30:40,973 --> 00:30:44,043
so why don't we just rent her
a room?
562
00:30:44,076 --> 00:30:46,245
And then she can get rid
of her apartment."
563
00:30:47,212 --> 00:30:48,981
They once again told her they
wanted her to come in
564
00:30:49,014 --> 00:30:50,249
for an interview.
565
00:30:50,282 --> 00:30:52,251
She indicated she
was busy that day,
566
00:30:52,284 --> 00:30:54,153
but that she'd come in
the next day
567
00:30:54,620 --> 00:30:58,290
and bring the firearm in so that
they could compare it.
568
00:31:00,659 --> 00:31:03,729
[Narrator] Investigators leave
Cheryl to finish her shift,
569
00:31:03,762 --> 00:31:06,565
but they don't take her
at her word.
570
00:31:07,232 --> 00:31:10,336
Rather than wait for her to come
in the next day,
571
00:31:10,369 --> 00:31:13,205
the detectives got a warrant and
responded to
572
00:31:13,238 --> 00:31:16,842
the Twain Heart address she'd
provided them that evening.
573
00:31:18,911 --> 00:31:21,080
[Narrator] Detectives are met by
Cheryl,
574
00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:24,550
and later, Yvonne and
Joe Yniguez.
575
00:31:25,417 --> 00:31:29,722
The sheriffs came to our home
with a search warrant.
576
00:31:29,755 --> 00:31:32,091
They told us that they were
investigating
577
00:31:32,091 --> 00:31:33,359
the murder of Rick Roberts,
578
00:31:33,392 --> 00:31:36,462
and they wanted to search
Cheryl's room.
579
00:31:37,463 --> 00:31:38,664
It was surreal,
580
00:31:39,465 --> 00:31:43,102
and I couldn't believe it was
going on in my home.
581
00:31:44,370 --> 00:31:47,539
[Narrator] An investigator combs
through Cheryl's belongings.
582
00:31:47,973 --> 00:31:49,675
He doesn't locate Cheryl's gun,
583
00:31:50,109 --> 00:31:52,911
but he does find
the next best thing.
584
00:31:53,979 --> 00:31:56,515
So, he sort of opens this
dresser drawer
585
00:31:56,548 --> 00:31:59,585
and he finds a test fire
envelope
586
00:31:59,618 --> 00:32:01,387
that comes with your gun.
587
00:32:01,420 --> 00:32:02,888
When you purchase a gun,
588
00:32:02,921 --> 00:32:05,824
they give you a casing that was
fired from your gun.
589
00:32:06,291 --> 00:32:09,728
Now he has that casing to
compare to
590
00:32:09,762 --> 00:32:11,430
the casing at the scene.
591
00:32:15,367 --> 00:32:18,904
[Narrator] Investigators take
Cheryl back to the station.
592
00:32:19,672 --> 00:32:22,074
There, Cheryl claims she quit
593
00:32:22,074 --> 00:32:23,942
attending the same church
as Rick
594
00:32:23,976 --> 00:32:25,277
over two years ago,
595
00:32:25,310 --> 00:32:28,113
when Rick started
hitting on her.
596
00:32:51,537 --> 00:32:54,106
[Narrator] Investigators steer
the conversation
597
00:32:54,106 --> 00:32:57,242
to Cheryl's whereabouts on
the day of the murder.
598
00:32:57,876 --> 00:32:59,878
[John] She clocked out at
10 A.M.,
599
00:32:59,912 --> 00:33:02,047
and she said she
went straight home.
600
00:33:02,081 --> 00:33:05,050
The witness who heard
the gunshots said
601
00:33:05,050 --> 00:33:07,553
the gunshots were between
10 A.M. and 11 A.M.
602
00:33:08,220 --> 00:33:11,557
So, they knew that Cheryl had
time to clock out,
603
00:33:12,091 --> 00:33:16,328
drive over to Ricky's garage,
shoot him, and then leave.
604
00:33:34,079 --> 00:33:35,247
[Laura] There were two
different ways
605
00:33:35,280 --> 00:33:37,082
she could have
traveled from her place of work.
606
00:33:37,116 --> 00:33:40,219
It's approximately seven to
eight minutes to Rick's shop.
607
00:33:40,252 --> 00:33:44,089
So, we knew that she had
the ability to make it there
608
00:33:44,089 --> 00:33:45,691
shortly after ten o'clock.
609
00:33:46,358 --> 00:33:48,827
The detective continues to talk
to her about the case.
610
00:33:49,094 --> 00:33:51,130
She's denying any involvement.
611
00:34:02,808 --> 00:34:04,777
[Narrator] Detectives don't
let up.
612
00:34:05,277 --> 00:34:07,312
Hours into the interrogation,
613
00:34:07,346 --> 00:34:10,215
Cheryl suddenly changes
her tune.
614
00:34:32,671 --> 00:34:34,139
[Narrator] But the confession
615
00:34:34,173 --> 00:34:36,675
makes little sense to
investigators.
616
00:34:37,376 --> 00:34:39,845
[Laura] She hadn't seen or
talked to Rick Roberts in years,
617
00:34:40,346 --> 00:34:42,414
and then she says it was
an accident.
618
00:34:42,881 --> 00:34:45,384
And it accidentally
fired not once but twice.
619
00:34:46,118 --> 00:34:47,419
[Narrator] Either way,
620
00:34:47,453 --> 00:34:49,755
the statement is enough for
an arrest.
621
00:34:50,255 --> 00:34:52,624
They say, "Okay, we're
gonna arrest you."
622
00:34:52,658 --> 00:34:55,094
And she says, "What do you mean
you're gonna arrest me?"
623
00:34:56,395 --> 00:35:00,132
[Narrator] At that point,
Cheryl's story changes again.
624
00:35:08,140 --> 00:35:10,776
She is now protecting another
person.
625
00:35:10,809 --> 00:35:12,311
When asked who this other
person was,
626
00:35:12,878 --> 00:35:14,913
she tells detectives it's
Chris Tinkham,
627
00:35:14,947 --> 00:35:16,448
her former boyfriend.
628
00:35:19,685 --> 00:35:23,055
[Narrator] She claims Chris knew
Rick hit on her in the past
629
00:35:23,055 --> 00:35:25,057
and wouldn't let it go.
630
00:35:25,824 --> 00:35:27,426
She gives him this gun,
631
00:35:27,459 --> 00:35:30,729
and just wants him to
go over and to scare Ricky.
632
00:35:31,063 --> 00:35:32,498
[Laura] Chris Tinkham was
just gonna
633
00:35:32,531 --> 00:35:33,732
rough Rick up and scare Rick.
634
00:35:33,766 --> 00:35:36,235
And then he came back and
he'd killed Rick,
635
00:35:36,268 --> 00:35:38,437
and she was, you know,
surprised.
636
00:35:40,105 --> 00:35:44,276
[Narrator] Detectives inform her
that she is still under arrest.
637
00:35:57,990 --> 00:36:00,259
[Narrator] One day after
Cheryl's arrest,
638
00:36:00,292 --> 00:36:04,129
investigators set out
to bring Chris Tinkham in.
639
00:36:05,197 --> 00:36:08,600
Chris is in shock,
and eager to clear his name.
640
00:36:09,468 --> 00:36:12,037
He has not been in
a relationship with
641
00:36:12,071 --> 00:36:14,340
Cheryl Lucero for years.
642
00:36:14,373 --> 00:36:17,443
He also tells him that at
the time of the shooting,
643
00:36:17,476 --> 00:36:19,545
he's at his place of employment.
644
00:36:20,646 --> 00:36:24,083
His boss, you know, verified
that he'd been at work early.
645
00:36:24,116 --> 00:36:26,051
So, there was absolutely no way
646
00:36:26,051 --> 00:36:27,653
that he could have been
involved.
647
00:36:28,654 --> 00:36:32,558
After ruling out Chris Tinkham,
they started to realize that
648
00:36:32,591 --> 00:36:35,728
Cheryl was just making up
more lies.
649
00:36:35,761 --> 00:36:38,063
They need to focus more on her.
650
00:36:40,933 --> 00:36:42,868
[Narrator] The day after
her arrest,
651
00:36:42,901 --> 00:36:45,404
authorities uncover
a storage unit
652
00:36:45,437 --> 00:36:47,139
rented by Cheryl.
653
00:36:48,173 --> 00:36:50,876
One of the boxes that detectives
found in the storage unit
654
00:36:51,210 --> 00:36:54,246
was filled with Rick
memorabilia.
655
00:36:54,880 --> 00:36:57,082
[Narrator] Among
the hundreds of photos,
656
00:36:57,082 --> 00:37:00,853
they make a particularly
disturbing find...
657
00:37:01,687 --> 00:37:03,756
She had created
wedding invitations
658
00:37:03,789 --> 00:37:06,892
announcing her marriage to
Rick Roberts.
659
00:37:06,925 --> 00:37:09,762
What you see is that
Cheryl Lucero was
660
00:37:09,795 --> 00:37:12,464
obsessed with Ricky Roberts.
661
00:37:15,434 --> 00:37:16,702
[Narrator] Coming up.
662
00:37:16,735 --> 00:37:19,938
Yet another tale of obsession
emerges.
663
00:37:20,539 --> 00:37:25,044
I discovered that Cheryl was
involved with my husband Joe.
664
00:37:26,045 --> 00:37:28,447
[Narrator] Will the truth
finally come out?
665
00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:31,150
She pointed the gun,
and she told him, you know,
666
00:37:31,183 --> 00:37:33,852
"I never wanna see you in
my life again."
667
00:37:45,165 --> 00:37:48,935
[music]
668
00:37:51,638 --> 00:37:55,075
[Narrator] The arrest of
45-year-old Cheryl Lucero
669
00:37:55,075 --> 00:37:56,676
for the murder of Rick Roberts
670
00:37:56,710 --> 00:38:01,081
leaves the small town of Sonora,
California reeling.
671
00:38:02,482 --> 00:38:06,353
The next morning, we found out
that she had been arrested.
672
00:38:07,053 --> 00:38:08,555
All of it was shocking.
673
00:38:09,222 --> 00:38:12,225
In the storage unit,
the detectives did find
674
00:38:12,258 --> 00:38:14,794
a pair of Cheryl Lucero's boots
675
00:38:14,828 --> 00:38:18,631
and were able to match the tread
on her boot
676
00:38:19,032 --> 00:38:22,602
to the specific footprint from
the crime scene.
677
00:38:23,269 --> 00:38:26,039
They were able to take
the test fire casing
678
00:38:26,039 --> 00:38:27,841
that had come from her firearm
679
00:38:27,874 --> 00:38:30,944
and compare it with the casing
that was located
680
00:38:31,044 --> 00:38:32,612
next to Rick Robert's body.
681
00:38:33,046 --> 00:38:35,915
And the criminalist determined
to 100% certainty
682
00:38:35,949 --> 00:38:39,486
that her firearm had fired
the bullet
683
00:38:39,519 --> 00:38:41,054
that shot Rick Roberts.
684
00:38:41,354 --> 00:38:43,089
In July of 2014,
685
00:38:43,123 --> 00:38:47,093
Cheryl goes to court, and there,
she pleads not guilty.
686
00:38:50,797 --> 00:38:53,299
[Narrator] At her trial in 2015,
687
00:38:53,566 --> 00:38:55,168
prosecutors allege that,
688
00:38:55,201 --> 00:38:58,938
following a brief affair with
Rick in 2012,
689
00:38:58,972 --> 00:39:01,341
Cheryl became obsessed.
690
00:39:02,242 --> 00:39:06,579
He quickly realizes he needs to
stop this relationship.
691
00:39:07,213 --> 00:39:10,650
And by all accounts,
he attempted to do that.
692
00:39:11,584 --> 00:39:13,920
[Narrator] But Rick couldn't
stop her.
693
00:39:15,221 --> 00:39:17,724
We were dealing with what
ultimately was
694
00:39:17,757 --> 00:39:19,159
a fatal attraction.
695
00:39:24,330 --> 00:39:26,299
[Narrator] Over the next
few years,
696
00:39:26,332 --> 00:39:28,702
Cheryl made fake
wedding invitations
697
00:39:29,102 --> 00:39:32,872
and created a shrine to
her unrequited love.
698
00:39:34,407 --> 00:39:38,044
Prosecutors allege that almost
three years after
699
00:39:38,044 --> 00:39:39,813
Rick ended the affair,
700
00:39:39,846 --> 00:39:42,282
Cheryl was still stewing.
701
00:39:43,049 --> 00:39:44,351
[John] But she was still
obsessed.
702
00:39:44,384 --> 00:39:48,822
And she just felt that
there was no other way
703
00:39:49,422 --> 00:39:53,460
to stop her emotional hurt
but to kill him.
704
00:39:57,130 --> 00:40:01,134
[Narrator] Two days after
Valentine's Day 2014,
705
00:40:01,167 --> 00:40:03,336
she enacted her plan.
706
00:40:04,070 --> 00:40:06,740
She left her place of employment
at 10 A.M. in the morning.
707
00:40:07,107 --> 00:40:09,976
She drives over to
Ricky Roberts' business.
708
00:40:10,577 --> 00:40:12,445
There, she confronts him.
709
00:40:13,947 --> 00:40:15,715
[Laura] Per her own interview,
710
00:40:16,182 --> 00:40:18,385
she pointed the gun at Rick,
she told him,
711
00:40:18,418 --> 00:40:21,421
"You know, I never wanna see
you in my life again."
712
00:40:22,222 --> 00:40:26,459
She shoots not once,
but she shoots him twice.
713
00:40:32,832 --> 00:40:37,504
She then leaves him on the floor
and walks out.
714
00:40:38,071 --> 00:40:39,406
She gets rid of the gun.
715
00:40:39,439 --> 00:40:44,010
Where it is to this date,
nobody knows except her.
716
00:40:48,348 --> 00:40:51,651
[Narrator] In a surprise move,
Cheryl takes the stand.
717
00:40:52,152 --> 00:40:55,855
Once again, she tries to
cast blame elsewhere.
718
00:40:56,823 --> 00:41:02,762
She tries to pin this case on
Joe Yniguez, the landlord.
719
00:41:03,163 --> 00:41:06,199
That's who she says was
the real person
720
00:41:06,232 --> 00:41:08,935
behind the killing of
Ricky Roberts.
721
00:41:09,636 --> 00:41:11,237
[Yvonne] Sometime in April,
722
00:41:11,271 --> 00:41:13,106
I discovered that Cheryl was
723
00:41:13,139 --> 00:41:16,076
also involved with
my husband Joe.
724
00:41:16,076 --> 00:41:19,079
And I came home for lunch
from work,
725
00:41:19,079 --> 00:41:20,547
and found them together.
726
00:41:21,081 --> 00:41:22,515
I said, "You're gonna have
to leave."
727
00:41:22,549 --> 00:41:26,119
I said, "I'll give you time to
find another place."
728
00:41:26,152 --> 00:41:27,954
I was trying to be reasonable.
729
00:41:28,455 --> 00:41:30,757
But she still hadn't moved
out by June,
730
00:41:31,224 --> 00:41:35,328
when the Sheriff's Department
came and also interviewed Joe.
731
00:41:36,996 --> 00:41:38,798
[Narrator] Cheryl walks the jury
though
732
00:41:38,832 --> 00:41:41,434
yet another version of events.
733
00:41:42,469 --> 00:41:46,573
The motive that Cheryl Lucero
gives for Joe doing the killing
734
00:41:46,606 --> 00:41:48,441
is that he was jealous.
735
00:41:49,109 --> 00:41:52,412
Because she had told Joe about
Ricky,
736
00:41:52,679 --> 00:41:54,647
and that he was upset,
737
00:41:54,681 --> 00:41:56,116
and he used that gun,
738
00:41:56,149 --> 00:41:58,418
and he himself killed
Ricky Roberts.
739
00:42:03,123 --> 00:42:06,593
[Narrator] The story falls apart
when Joe's wife, Yvonne,
740
00:42:06,626 --> 00:42:08,128
takes the stand.
741
00:42:08,828 --> 00:42:10,463
I knew he had nothing to do
with it
742
00:42:10,497 --> 00:42:13,299
because he was home at the time
of the murder.
743
00:42:17,604 --> 00:42:22,342
[Narrator] After a 15 day trial,
the case goes to the jury.
744
00:42:23,076 --> 00:42:25,245
[John] On September 4th, 2015,
745
00:42:25,278 --> 00:42:29,082
the jury came back
with the verdict of guilty
746
00:42:29,115 --> 00:42:30,850
of first-degree murder,
747
00:42:31,651 --> 00:42:36,089
and also guilty of the use of
a firearm in a crime.
748
00:42:40,660 --> 00:42:42,662
[Laura] Her sentence was 50
to life,
749
00:42:42,696 --> 00:42:43,997
25 to life on the homicide,
750
00:42:44,097 --> 00:42:46,232
and in 25 to life for use of
the gun.
751
00:42:46,833 --> 00:42:50,003
Let her bathe in her mistakes.
752
00:42:50,103 --> 00:42:53,573
Let her live in her own misery.
753
00:42:54,307 --> 00:42:57,410
She is sitting where she's
supposed to be sitting.
754
00:43:01,748 --> 00:43:03,783
[Narrator] With Cheryl
behind bars,
755
00:43:04,184 --> 00:43:07,354
Rick's family is left
to pick up the pieces.
756
00:43:09,189 --> 00:43:10,657
[Kay] He was there for
everybody.
757
00:43:10,690 --> 00:43:14,361
Whether you were, you know, in
a dark place or doing your best,
758
00:43:14,627 --> 00:43:15,962
he was there for you.
759
00:43:16,062 --> 00:43:18,531
He was just a big, loving man,
760
00:43:18,565 --> 00:43:21,534
and his whole purpose was to put
a smile on your face.
761
00:43:23,136 --> 00:43:25,939
We don't remember him as
how he got murdered.
762
00:43:27,073 --> 00:43:29,376
He'll always be remembered as
the Derby King.
763
00:43:29,843 --> 00:43:32,445
[music]
764
00:43:34,280 --> 00:43:40,220
[music]