1 00:00:08,408 --> 00:00:12,544 [narrator] a 911 call upends a small indiana town. 2 00:00:16,950 --> 00:00:18,550 [tom] he was laying in the middle of the bed 3 00:00:18,619 --> 00:00:21,553 With his feet hanging off the bottom. 4 00:00:21,555 --> 00:00:24,957 Blood spatter all over the headboard, the walls. 5 00:00:25,959 --> 00:00:28,160 [narrator] investigators work to unravel 6 00:00:28,228 --> 00:00:30,895 A web of rumor and hearsay. 7 00:00:31,798 --> 00:00:34,232 There had been a fight at the party the night before. 8 00:00:34,301 --> 00:00:36,435 By the end of the day, we had several suspects, 9 00:00:36,503 --> 00:00:39,438 But we had far more questions than we had answers to. 10 00:00:41,475 --> 00:00:45,411 [narrator] a dangerous dynamic points to a potential motive... 11 00:00:46,380 --> 00:00:48,147 It was clear there was a love triangle. 12 00:00:57,758 --> 00:01:00,825 [narrator] but there is more to this love triangle 13 00:01:00,827 --> 00:01:02,594 Than meets the eye. 14 00:01:02,929 --> 00:01:03,896 [sarah] between the two of 'em, 15 00:01:03,964 --> 00:01:05,296 They gave me everything that I wanted. 16 00:01:05,366 --> 00:01:07,466 There was quite a bit of drug use going on. 17 00:01:07,534 --> 00:01:09,134 [beth] nobody was thinking clearly. 18 00:01:09,202 --> 00:01:11,537 I think it probably just got outta hand. 19 00:01:16,477 --> 00:01:22,347 [theme music] 20 00:01:27,587 --> 00:01:30,489 [narrator] July 19th, 2017. 21 00:01:31,225 --> 00:01:32,591 It's a quiet summer day 22 00:01:32,659 --> 00:01:34,960 In the rural midwestern community 23 00:01:35,028 --> 00:01:36,762 Of birdseye, indiana. 24 00:01:37,831 --> 00:01:41,166 It's a little one-horse town, you'd call it. 25 00:01:41,936 --> 00:01:43,902 It has a post office. 26 00:01:44,572 --> 00:01:47,372 We got a family dollar, and it's got a gas station. 27 00:01:47,741 --> 00:01:49,708 It's also the home of the dairy barn. 28 00:01:49,710 --> 00:01:52,511 It won some kind of a prize for the best ice cream. 29 00:01:53,213 --> 00:01:55,314 There's not much in birdseye. 30 00:01:58,151 --> 00:02:01,920 [narrator] the lazy afternoon is interrupted at around 2 p.M. 31 00:02:01,988 --> 00:02:06,858 When 40-year-old sarah andry makes a panicked 911 call. 32 00:02:07,461 --> 00:02:10,328 She asks dispatchers to send someone to the home of 33 00:02:10,397 --> 00:02:12,731 Her boyfriend, darin atkins. 34 00:02:35,188 --> 00:02:36,989 [narrator] sarah explains she and her mom 35 00:02:37,057 --> 00:02:40,358 Are parked at an intersection called bretzville junction, 36 00:02:40,427 --> 00:02:43,295 About 11 miles away from darin's home. 37 00:02:51,705 --> 00:02:54,439 [tom] several other deputies, including myself, 38 00:02:54,508 --> 00:02:57,542 Went to where the deceased male was. 39 00:02:58,145 --> 00:03:00,445 It's a trailer that sits on a little lot. 40 00:03:00,514 --> 00:03:02,447 There was just a very short hallway 41 00:03:02,516 --> 00:03:04,917 That opened up into the master bedroom. 42 00:03:05,519 --> 00:03:07,486 There you saw the body. 43 00:03:10,657 --> 00:03:12,724 It was very clear that there was 44 00:03:12,793 --> 00:03:15,294 Some type of a blunt-force object used, 45 00:03:15,829 --> 00:03:18,596 Because his whole side of his face was bashed in 46 00:03:19,032 --> 00:03:20,432 And the amount of blood spatter 47 00:03:20,500 --> 00:03:23,101 All over the headboard, the walls. 48 00:03:24,137 --> 00:03:26,070 He was laying in the middle of the bed 49 00:03:26,573 --> 00:03:29,274 With his feet hanging off the bottom. 50 00:03:30,410 --> 00:03:32,244 They confirmed he was deceased. 51 00:03:32,913 --> 00:03:35,280 They immediately made sure there was nobody else in there, 52 00:03:35,349 --> 00:03:39,151 And waited to have crime scene come. 53 00:03:42,522 --> 00:03:45,423 [narrator] as the crime scene investigation gets underway, 54 00:03:46,092 --> 00:03:49,194 A dubois county deputy meets sarah and her mother 55 00:03:49,262 --> 00:03:50,929 At bretzville junction. 56 00:03:51,798 --> 00:03:54,266 So, sarah's demeanor at the bretzville junction 57 00:03:54,334 --> 00:03:56,367 Was kinda all over the place. 58 00:03:56,369 --> 00:03:59,304 She was, she was crying. She was visibly upset. 59 00:04:00,441 --> 00:04:02,507 I never seen a dead person before, 60 00:04:02,576 --> 00:04:04,876 And I was just freaked out. 61 00:04:05,212 --> 00:04:06,644 [narrator] the deputy asks sarah 62 00:04:06,714 --> 00:04:09,815 Why she didn't call 911 from darin's house. 63 00:04:11,017 --> 00:04:12,383 Sarah had active warrants, 64 00:04:12,453 --> 00:04:14,720 And that's why sarah didn't wanna call the police. 65 00:04:14,788 --> 00:04:18,256 She had two outstanding warrants for failure to appears. 66 00:04:18,992 --> 00:04:21,058 [sarah] I should've called 911 right there. 67 00:04:21,060 --> 00:04:22,694 But I wasn't thinking. 68 00:04:29,870 --> 00:04:30,969 I was cryin', 69 00:04:31,037 --> 00:04:33,839 And we stopped on the side of the road and called 911. 70 00:04:37,410 --> 00:04:39,411 [narrator] sarah recounts to the deputy 71 00:04:39,479 --> 00:04:42,347 What she saw inside darin's trailer. 72 00:04:43,316 --> 00:04:45,149 [sarah] I tried to go in the door, 73 00:04:45,151 --> 00:04:45,817 The door was locked. 74 00:04:46,820 --> 00:04:48,853 We always had windows we get in, you know, 75 00:04:48,855 --> 00:04:50,989 'cause sometimes I would get locked out 76 00:04:51,057 --> 00:04:52,323 Or he would get locked out. 77 00:04:52,325 --> 00:04:53,992 So, I had to go through the kitchen window. 78 00:04:54,060 --> 00:04:57,496 I went in the house, and I seen him layin' in the bed. 79 00:05:08,308 --> 00:05:10,442 I shook him, and he wouldn't wake up. 80 00:05:10,510 --> 00:05:12,277 I should've called 911 right there 81 00:05:12,345 --> 00:05:13,678 Whenever I was down there, 82 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:15,780 But I'd never seen a dead body before. 83 00:05:15,782 --> 00:05:19,851 Nonetheless one that I loved, so I wasn't thinking. 84 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:22,688 I can't believe it. And I was in shock. 85 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:30,795 [narrator] born on September 21st, 1967, 86 00:05:30,864 --> 00:05:34,399 Darin atkins grew up on the outskirts of birdseye. 87 00:05:35,502 --> 00:05:37,568 [cheri] darin was real close with his family. 88 00:05:37,638 --> 00:05:39,738 [indistinct] and jack were good parents, 89 00:05:39,806 --> 00:05:43,342 And his brother, david, you know, they were all close. 90 00:05:47,380 --> 00:05:48,613 [narrator] soon after high school, 91 00:05:48,682 --> 00:05:50,949 Darin met cheri cravens. 92 00:05:51,618 --> 00:05:53,518 I was workin' at sunoco in birdseye, 93 00:05:54,054 --> 00:05:57,021 And he used to come in all the time and flirt. 94 00:05:57,958 --> 00:06:00,492 [narrator] the flirtation quickly led to more. 95 00:06:01,161 --> 00:06:03,628 [cheri] me and darin, we were just sittin' there talkin', 96 00:06:03,630 --> 00:06:07,466 And he just leaned over and he said, "I love you." 97 00:06:08,168 --> 00:06:09,568 I said, "I love you too." 98 00:06:10,837 --> 00:06:13,338 "will you do me the honors of bein' my wife?" 99 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:15,607 And I said yes. 100 00:06:20,313 --> 00:06:23,915 [narrator] they married on April 16th, 1988. 101 00:06:24,518 --> 00:06:27,452 Darin's dad gave us a acre of land, 102 00:06:27,521 --> 00:06:29,221 That was our wedding present. 103 00:06:29,289 --> 00:06:32,290 And that's where we put our first home, 104 00:06:32,659 --> 00:06:34,092 In the good old days. 105 00:06:34,561 --> 00:06:39,197 September 1st, 1988, tiffany leona atkins came along; 106 00:06:39,265 --> 00:06:40,832 Mine and darin's oldest daughter. 107 00:06:41,334 --> 00:06:42,534 [tammy] they were very happy. 108 00:06:42,803 --> 00:06:45,303 She was a little firecracker. 109 00:06:46,506 --> 00:06:50,142 And then, a year later, brittany came in February. 110 00:06:51,011 --> 00:06:53,912 His lifelong dream was to be a truck driver. 111 00:06:54,547 --> 00:06:57,015 He went to truck driving school. 112 00:06:57,017 --> 00:07:01,085 He got a cdl, and he was very happy. 113 00:07:01,955 --> 00:07:05,256 [narrator] the local hauling fit darin's family lifestyle. 114 00:07:05,825 --> 00:07:07,125 He was home every night. 115 00:07:07,193 --> 00:07:09,728 He didn't like the idea of bein' away from home, 116 00:07:10,063 --> 00:07:11,029 Which was good. 117 00:07:14,701 --> 00:07:16,901 [narrator] after nearly two decades together, 118 00:07:16,970 --> 00:07:20,438 The couple amicably divorced in 2003. 119 00:07:20,907 --> 00:07:22,707 [cheri] me and darin had a good relationship. 120 00:07:22,776 --> 00:07:25,977 But there was three people on our marriage bed. 121 00:07:25,979 --> 00:07:29,414 There was me, there was darin, and there was his mother. 122 00:07:29,616 --> 00:07:31,783 His mom always meddled. 123 00:07:32,185 --> 00:07:36,154 Just got tired of it. She won, and I moved on. 124 00:07:36,222 --> 00:07:39,758 It was sad, because me and darin did have a good relationship. 125 00:07:40,226 --> 00:07:41,159 We did. 126 00:07:42,262 --> 00:07:43,395 [narrator] but the divorce wouldn't be 127 00:07:43,463 --> 00:07:46,531 The biggest challenge cheri and darin would face... 128 00:07:47,333 --> 00:07:51,036 Me and darin ended up losin' both of our daughters. 129 00:07:51,938 --> 00:07:56,808 June 19th, 2006. Car wreck. 130 00:07:58,178 --> 00:08:01,713 They was out cruisin', you know, tiffany's boyfriend. 131 00:08:02,816 --> 00:08:06,417 And he was drivin' at a high rate of speed. 132 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,620 We didn't know they were gone until we got to the hospital. 133 00:08:10,156 --> 00:08:13,992 It was very hard on our family. It was just horrible. 134 00:08:14,527 --> 00:08:16,528 [narrator] darin was devastated. 135 00:08:17,163 --> 00:08:20,031 After, you know, he got with just a bad crowd, 136 00:08:20,033 --> 00:08:22,834 And I know he started probably doin' drugs. 137 00:08:23,103 --> 00:08:24,636 He just changed, you know? 138 00:08:26,339 --> 00:08:28,507 He wasn't the same darin anymore. 139 00:08:30,810 --> 00:08:34,746 [narrator] in 2014, darin met sarah andry, 140 00:08:34,814 --> 00:08:37,682 Who was a salve for his hurting heart. 141 00:08:39,385 --> 00:08:44,723 She's a bubbly, kinda shy, but bubbly and, and energetic. 142 00:08:44,791 --> 00:08:46,791 Kinda all-in-one big bundle. 143 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:52,130 But she was always really nice to people. 144 00:08:56,836 --> 00:08:59,137 [narrator] born in 1976, 145 00:08:59,205 --> 00:09:00,838 Sarah and her three siblings 146 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:03,441 Were raised by her mom and stepfather 147 00:09:03,443 --> 00:09:05,977 In the tiny town of akron, indiana. 148 00:09:07,347 --> 00:09:11,249 My mom worked at a dairy farm, and my dad sold insurance. 149 00:09:11,618 --> 00:09:13,617 Me and mom's always been really close. 150 00:09:13,954 --> 00:09:15,954 I mean, she's my best friend, I love her. 151 00:09:20,026 --> 00:09:23,761 [narrator] she enjoyed a carefree small-town childhood 152 00:09:23,763 --> 00:09:26,897 Until she got pregnant as a high school freshman. 153 00:09:27,734 --> 00:09:29,901 [sarah] he took me and moved to florida. 154 00:09:31,237 --> 00:09:33,171 I married the first man I ever kissed. 155 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:36,841 I was really excited when my oldest daughter was born. 156 00:09:36,910 --> 00:09:39,344 My boys were born in '93. 157 00:09:39,946 --> 00:09:42,814 The last daughter was born in '95. 158 00:09:47,020 --> 00:09:52,056 At that time, I was introduced to weed and cocaine and meth, 159 00:09:52,058 --> 00:09:55,760 And when my kids were 8, 11, and 12, 160 00:09:57,263 --> 00:09:58,396 I lost my kids. 161 00:09:58,464 --> 00:09:59,864 I, they got put into foster care, 162 00:09:59,933 --> 00:10:01,533 And then they got adopted. 163 00:10:01,601 --> 00:10:03,101 It was a horrible marriage. 164 00:10:03,503 --> 00:10:05,303 He filed for divorce, finally, 165 00:10:05,705 --> 00:10:09,741 And I signed the papers and that was the end of that. 166 00:10:13,546 --> 00:10:15,513 [narrator] looking for a fresh start, 167 00:10:15,515 --> 00:10:17,849 Sarah headed back to indiana. 168 00:10:19,085 --> 00:10:21,919 I was really happy to move back around my family. 169 00:10:22,322 --> 00:10:23,922 I moved in with my mom. 170 00:10:24,324 --> 00:10:25,523 I started working at 171 00:10:25,591 --> 00:10:27,392 The little dairy farm where my mom worked, 172 00:10:27,761 --> 00:10:29,260 Milked cows. 173 00:10:32,932 --> 00:10:35,466 [narrator] but 37-year-old sarah was lonely 174 00:10:35,535 --> 00:10:39,704 When she met 46-year-old darin in 2014. 175 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:43,808 I met darin on facebook, was up late. 176 00:10:43,876 --> 00:10:44,809 He came and picked me up, 177 00:10:44,878 --> 00:10:46,911 And I went down there that night and talked to him. 178 00:10:47,514 --> 00:10:49,848 He said that he'd a hard time and had a hard life; 179 00:10:49,916 --> 00:10:52,784 His two, two daughters got killed in a bad car accident. 180 00:10:53,253 --> 00:10:54,852 And I was there for a couple of days, 181 00:10:54,921 --> 00:10:56,087 And I just never left. 182 00:10:56,722 --> 00:10:58,055 He was a good guy. 183 00:10:58,124 --> 00:11:00,992 I don't know, I just liked everything about him. 184 00:11:01,894 --> 00:11:03,495 [narrator] sarah moved in, 185 00:11:03,563 --> 00:11:06,865 And the couple looked to bury their pain in a good time. 186 00:11:08,268 --> 00:11:10,535 The place they was at was just a big party house. 187 00:11:10,603 --> 00:11:13,071 I mean, it was drugs and havin' fun. 188 00:11:16,676 --> 00:11:18,542 [narrator] but after three years, 189 00:11:18,544 --> 00:11:20,278 They were ready for a change. 190 00:11:21,581 --> 00:11:23,848 Me and darin just broke down to each other, 191 00:11:23,916 --> 00:11:27,885 And we said, you know, we couldn't do this anymore. 192 00:11:27,954 --> 00:11:29,521 We was living the wrong kinda life 193 00:11:29,589 --> 00:11:32,223 With all the drugs and everything else. 194 00:11:33,092 --> 00:11:36,060 [narrator] on July 19th, 2017, 195 00:11:36,329 --> 00:11:40,732 Their dream of a sober future ends in bloodshed. 196 00:11:42,636 --> 00:11:46,171 A dubois county deputy continue to speak with sarah 197 00:11:46,506 --> 00:11:49,708 After she discovered darin's battered body. 198 00:11:56,983 --> 00:11:58,683 Sarah, at that point, was taken to the, 199 00:11:58,751 --> 00:12:00,185 The sheriff's department. 200 00:12:04,924 --> 00:12:06,057 [narrator] at darin's trailer, 201 00:12:07,327 --> 00:12:10,361 Homicide investigators continue searching for clues. 202 00:12:11,698 --> 00:12:12,864 [tom] we found the wallet; 203 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:17,469 It was partially opened, laying on top of a trash bag. 204 00:12:17,904 --> 00:12:19,804 There was no money in the wallet. 205 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:22,573 Somebody either stealing his money, 206 00:12:22,642 --> 00:12:25,409 Or there was something out of his wallet that they wanted. 207 00:12:26,212 --> 00:12:28,980 Maybe they made it look like it's a robbery gone wrong. 208 00:12:29,048 --> 00:12:31,615 When a homicide takes place, it's kind of a big deal. 209 00:12:31,685 --> 00:12:34,084 Especially a small community like dubois. 210 00:12:34,086 --> 00:12:36,387 We just don't have a lot of violent crime. 211 00:12:39,993 --> 00:12:41,425 [narrator] coming up. 212 00:12:41,427 --> 00:12:44,262 Investigators turn to sarah for answers... 213 00:12:50,636 --> 00:12:53,404 There had been a fight at the party the night before. 214 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:55,739 [narrator] and undercover a grudge. 215 00:12:56,476 --> 00:13:00,979 Darin had burned his trailer. That was motive. 216 00:13:02,448 --> 00:13:05,683 [music] 217 00:13:09,955 --> 00:13:12,323 [music] 218 00:13:15,595 --> 00:13:18,162 [narrator] July 19th, 2017. 219 00:13:18,832 --> 00:13:21,465 Investigators in birdseye, indiana 220 00:13:21,534 --> 00:13:26,270 Continue processing the home of 49-year-old darin atkins, 221 00:13:26,940 --> 00:13:30,275 Who was found beaten to death in his bedroom. 222 00:13:32,011 --> 00:13:34,178 No murder weapon was located. 223 00:13:34,180 --> 00:13:36,214 We just knew that it was a blunt-force object. 224 00:13:41,687 --> 00:13:43,921 [rick] you had a pool of blood in one location on the mattress. 225 00:13:43,990 --> 00:13:47,491 You had mr. Atkins' body in a different location. 226 00:13:48,494 --> 00:13:50,828 [beth] there was also a bloody blanket on the floor 227 00:13:51,431 --> 00:13:53,631 And a bloody pillow on the floor. 228 00:13:54,234 --> 00:13:57,201 It almost appeared as if somebody had attempted to 229 00:13:57,270 --> 00:13:58,336 Take the body out of there. 230 00:13:58,404 --> 00:14:02,173 But I think they realized that it was way too difficult. 231 00:14:04,510 --> 00:14:07,645 [narrator] though the attacker did not remove darin's body, 232 00:14:07,713 --> 00:14:10,581 They did take the contents of his wallet. 233 00:14:11,884 --> 00:14:15,453 Investigators consider whether robbery was the motive... 234 00:14:15,655 --> 00:14:17,322 Or an afterthought. 235 00:14:18,591 --> 00:14:22,360 A robbery gone wrong wasn't necessarily ruled out, 236 00:14:22,428 --> 00:14:25,830 But different pieces of, of that particular puzzle 237 00:14:25,898 --> 00:14:27,232 Just didn't add up. 238 00:14:28,134 --> 00:14:29,233 [tom] the tv was there, 239 00:14:29,302 --> 00:14:31,469 And then I don't believe there was a lot in the residence 240 00:14:31,537 --> 00:14:34,739 That someone would've broke in and stole. 241 00:14:38,878 --> 00:14:41,679 [narrator] investigators head back to the sheriff's office 242 00:14:41,748 --> 00:14:43,681 To speak with darin's girlfriend, 243 00:14:43,750 --> 00:14:45,149 Sarah andry. 244 00:14:46,586 --> 00:14:49,086 She says she and darin were trying to get clean 245 00:14:49,222 --> 00:14:51,322 And build a future together. 246 00:14:52,425 --> 00:14:54,825 He asked me to marry him, I said yes. 247 00:14:54,894 --> 00:14:56,293 But... 248 00:14:56,362 --> 00:14:58,729 It just, the drugs and the life we was livin', 249 00:14:58,798 --> 00:15:01,432 It just wasn't happening. 250 00:15:07,507 --> 00:15:10,775 It was determined that there was a so-called party there 251 00:15:10,843 --> 00:15:12,276 The night before, 252 00:15:12,345 --> 00:15:14,812 With maybe eight individuals that were at that party. 253 00:15:15,448 --> 00:15:16,880 [sarah] people kept showin' up. 254 00:15:17,316 --> 00:15:19,216 I mean, there was people in and out. 255 00:15:19,819 --> 00:15:21,653 [tom] sarah said the people at the party, 256 00:15:21,721 --> 00:15:23,454 They all were gone by midnight. 257 00:15:23,523 --> 00:15:26,524 The only one there past that was sarah. 258 00:15:29,629 --> 00:15:32,362 [narrator] sarah says she stayed the night at darin's 259 00:15:32,364 --> 00:15:34,231 And left around 8 a.M. 260 00:15:34,300 --> 00:15:37,535 To go to her friend jason atkins's house. 261 00:15:38,237 --> 00:15:40,805 Though darin and jason share the same last name, 262 00:15:40,873 --> 00:15:42,440 They are not related. 263 00:15:43,543 --> 00:15:46,344 Darin lived about a mile or so away from 264 00:15:46,346 --> 00:15:49,013 Where jason atkins' residence was. 265 00:15:49,549 --> 00:15:53,050 Darin and jason knew each other for a very long time. 266 00:15:53,119 --> 00:15:54,752 They both grew up in that community. 267 00:15:55,287 --> 00:15:58,122 Sarah took her laundry basket and all of her laundry 268 00:15:58,191 --> 00:16:00,058 To jason's to do laundry. 269 00:16:00,126 --> 00:16:02,192 And then, when she returned, 270 00:16:02,194 --> 00:16:05,930 That's when she noticed that darin was deceased. 271 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:22,780 [beth] she said that there had been a fight at the party 272 00:16:22,849 --> 00:16:23,848 The night before. 273 00:16:25,017 --> 00:16:27,751 Somethin' about jason bledsoe usin' darin's car 274 00:16:27,753 --> 00:16:29,219 And not bringing the car back. 275 00:16:29,289 --> 00:16:31,923 And there was bad blood between the two of them. 276 00:16:35,562 --> 00:16:38,996 [narrator] before investigators track down jason bledsoe, 277 00:16:39,565 --> 00:16:42,333 They inform sarah that she will have to remain at 278 00:16:42,401 --> 00:16:44,402 The dubois county jail. 279 00:16:45,004 --> 00:16:46,938 She had some minor theft charges. 280 00:16:47,006 --> 00:16:48,873 At the time, she had an outstanding warrant 281 00:16:48,941 --> 00:16:50,641 When we arrested her for this. 282 00:16:53,679 --> 00:16:55,279 [narrator] investigators are eager to 283 00:16:55,348 --> 00:16:57,014 Speak with jason bledsoe, 284 00:16:57,083 --> 00:16:59,083 As well as the other partygoer. 285 00:16:59,753 --> 00:17:01,853 [rick] by the end of the day, on July 19th, 286 00:17:01,921 --> 00:17:03,554 We had several suspects. 287 00:17:04,089 --> 00:17:06,290 People that was at the trailer that you normally want to 288 00:17:06,292 --> 00:17:08,159 Include in your suspect pool. 289 00:17:08,894 --> 00:17:10,761 But also, at the end of the day, on July 19th, 290 00:17:10,830 --> 00:17:13,231 We had far more questions than we had answers to. 291 00:17:16,869 --> 00:17:17,902 [narrator] the following day, 292 00:17:17,970 --> 00:17:20,671 Investigators receive darin's autopsy. 293 00:17:21,807 --> 00:17:22,807 He died from 294 00:17:22,875 --> 00:17:24,241 A blunt force trauma to the head. 295 00:17:24,544 --> 00:17:26,543 [rick] darin atkins had a lot of trauma 296 00:17:26,545 --> 00:17:28,178 To the left side of his face. 297 00:17:28,848 --> 00:17:31,415 It also noted several small cuts. 298 00:17:31,984 --> 00:17:33,284 In all likelihood that was 299 00:17:33,352 --> 00:17:37,521 The barbwire bat that was used to kill darin. 300 00:17:38,724 --> 00:17:41,191 They were able to determine that when he was discovered at noon, 301 00:17:41,261 --> 00:17:44,895 He'd been dead for quite a period of time before that. 302 00:17:45,631 --> 00:17:48,432 [tom] our pathologist who came in and performed the autopsy 303 00:17:48,501 --> 00:17:51,535 Stated that it was probably, presumably, 304 00:17:51,604 --> 00:17:54,205 Sometime between four and eight o'clock in the morning. 305 00:17:55,341 --> 00:17:57,341 [beth] sarah originally said that 306 00:17:57,410 --> 00:18:00,277 She had been at darin's all night, 307 00:18:00,346 --> 00:18:03,047 And that she left around 8 o'clock that morning 308 00:18:03,115 --> 00:18:05,115 To go to jason atkins' to do some laundry. 309 00:18:05,718 --> 00:18:09,287 So, we had to try to nail down when he was alive. 310 00:18:13,492 --> 00:18:16,326 [narrator] with new insight into the crime's timeline, 311 00:18:16,396 --> 00:18:18,295 Investigators next locate 312 00:18:18,364 --> 00:18:22,467 The man sarah named in her statement, jason bledsoe. 313 00:18:23,436 --> 00:18:25,036 [tom] I met with him in a parking lot 314 00:18:25,104 --> 00:18:26,604 Of an antique store. 315 00:18:27,907 --> 00:18:30,808 He corroborated some of what sarah said about the car. 316 00:18:32,178 --> 00:18:34,845 [beth] darin was mad that jason wasn't bringing his car back, 317 00:18:34,914 --> 00:18:36,880 But I don't think it rose to the level of violence. 318 00:18:36,949 --> 00:18:39,249 I think it was just, "hey, I want my car back," 319 00:18:39,319 --> 00:18:41,652 And jason's not bringing the car back. 320 00:18:42,722 --> 00:18:45,523 [narrator] jason bledsoe admits to being at the party, 321 00:18:45,591 --> 00:18:48,392 But says he left sometime before midnight 322 00:18:48,394 --> 00:18:50,128 And never returned. 323 00:18:51,163 --> 00:18:53,264 He was at his girlfriend's residence. 324 00:18:53,533 --> 00:18:55,166 There was numerous people there. 325 00:18:55,701 --> 00:18:58,368 So, there were other individuals that saw them there 326 00:18:58,438 --> 00:19:01,272 And confirmed that they had been there since around dark 327 00:19:01,340 --> 00:19:02,673 On the night before. 328 00:19:07,413 --> 00:19:09,380 [narrator] investigators begin moving through 329 00:19:09,448 --> 00:19:11,015 The list of partygoers, 330 00:19:11,083 --> 00:19:13,284 Tracking them down one by one. 331 00:19:13,819 --> 00:19:15,586 [beth] according to everyone that knew darin, 332 00:19:15,655 --> 00:19:17,621 Darin atkins was a really nice guy, 333 00:19:17,623 --> 00:19:19,390 And they said that he would help anybody, 334 00:19:19,458 --> 00:19:21,159 He would do anything for anybody. 335 00:19:21,961 --> 00:19:25,162 [narrator] they also learn that darin kept a unique weapon 336 00:19:25,231 --> 00:19:27,531 Inside the trailer for protection. 337 00:19:28,534 --> 00:19:31,302 There were several different people that had told us 338 00:19:31,370 --> 00:19:35,539 That darin atkins had had a bat at one time 339 00:19:35,608 --> 00:19:38,476 That he had wrapped in barbwire. 340 00:19:39,979 --> 00:19:42,713 Darin had a baseball bat that he always had at that house 341 00:19:42,782 --> 00:19:45,249 That was never located, that was never recovered. 342 00:19:50,656 --> 00:19:53,056 [narrator] as authorities talk to the partygoers, 343 00:19:53,058 --> 00:19:57,094 They learn of a conflict betwee darin and a man at the party 344 00:19:57,162 --> 00:19:58,896 Named stephen clapp. 345 00:19:59,865 --> 00:20:03,400 Stephen clapp's trailer in birdseye 346 00:20:03,469 --> 00:20:05,903 Had burned at one point in time. 347 00:20:06,706 --> 00:20:10,107 Property that belonged to stephen prior to the arson 348 00:20:10,776 --> 00:20:13,110 Ended up in the possession of darin atkins. 349 00:20:13,947 --> 00:20:17,114 Stephen clapp believed that darin had burned his trailer. 350 00:20:17,983 --> 00:20:20,151 [tom] but there was some time that had passed, 351 00:20:20,219 --> 00:20:24,121 So stephen clapp was also in that group 352 00:20:24,189 --> 00:20:26,691 That went to darin's, to frequent darin's. 353 00:20:27,893 --> 00:20:29,693 [narrator] according to several guests, 354 00:20:29,695 --> 00:20:33,264 Stephen left the party in a huf and walked home. 355 00:20:37,470 --> 00:20:40,504 The partygoers allege stephen had assaulted 356 00:20:40,506 --> 00:20:42,105 Another man previously 357 00:20:42,708 --> 00:20:45,843 With a weapon that raises investigators' interest. 358 00:20:47,079 --> 00:20:49,113 [tom] we started looking into it and found out 359 00:20:49,181 --> 00:20:52,416 Stephen did hit this gentleman with a baseball bat. 360 00:20:52,752 --> 00:20:54,918 So, we thought it could've been stephen clapp. 361 00:20:54,987 --> 00:20:57,321 He had motive to do this. 362 00:21:00,492 --> 00:21:01,925 [narrator] coming up. 363 00:21:01,994 --> 00:21:04,962 Investigators learn more about stephen's night... 364 00:21:05,631 --> 00:21:07,664 Stephen was mad at his girlfriend, 365 00:21:07,733 --> 00:21:09,132 And he started walking home. 366 00:21:09,735 --> 00:21:13,237 [narrator] and a twist reveals a romantic rivalry. 367 00:21:19,278 --> 00:21:22,380 [music] 368 00:21:26,718 --> 00:21:28,986 [music] 369 00:21:31,891 --> 00:21:34,591 [narrator] investigators in birdseye, indiana 370 00:21:34,660 --> 00:21:36,526 Are chasing down leads 371 00:21:36,528 --> 00:21:39,864 In the brutal beating death of darin atkins. 372 00:21:40,900 --> 00:21:42,966 [rick] stephen clapp was a suspect. 373 00:21:43,035 --> 00:21:45,536 There was an arson that took place at his trailer, 374 00:21:45,805 --> 00:21:47,772 And he had suspected darin atkins of it. 375 00:21:51,877 --> 00:21:53,511 [narrator] stephen is brought into 376 00:21:53,579 --> 00:21:55,446 The police station for questioning. 377 00:21:56,515 --> 00:21:59,250 He admits he did storm out of the party, 378 00:21:59,318 --> 00:22:01,986 But not because he was angry with darin. 379 00:22:03,589 --> 00:22:05,189 Stephen was mad at his girlfriend, 380 00:22:05,257 --> 00:22:06,523 And he left darin's trailer, 381 00:22:06,592 --> 00:22:07,791 And he started walking home. 382 00:22:07,860 --> 00:22:09,293 And then she'd picked him up. 383 00:22:09,361 --> 00:22:10,728 But they went back to 384 00:22:10,796 --> 00:22:12,529 Stephen clapp's mother's trailer, 385 00:22:12,598 --> 00:22:14,565 And they had been there all night. 386 00:22:15,835 --> 00:22:18,201 [narrator] stephen claims that the following morning, 387 00:22:18,271 --> 00:22:20,471 He got up early and went to work. 388 00:22:21,807 --> 00:22:26,210 Darin died early morning hours on the 19th, 389 00:22:26,278 --> 00:22:28,479 And according to stephen, 390 00:22:28,547 --> 00:22:32,316 He had went to work early morning hours of the 19th. 391 00:22:36,422 --> 00:22:38,556 [narrator] when stephen's interview is over, 392 00:22:38,624 --> 00:22:41,826 The first priority is verifying his alibi. 393 00:22:43,328 --> 00:22:44,761 [tom] we went to his work, 394 00:22:44,830 --> 00:22:47,331 And we got information on when he punched in. 395 00:22:47,733 --> 00:22:50,567 It wasn't until later on that morning, 396 00:22:50,636 --> 00:22:53,503 More like towards the 10 o'clock that he went to work. 397 00:22:53,505 --> 00:22:56,540 So, he was lying to us about that. 398 00:22:57,843 --> 00:23:00,611 [narrator] investigators track down stephen's girlfriend. 399 00:23:01,347 --> 00:23:03,080 She confirms stephen's story, 400 00:23:03,148 --> 00:23:06,016 Saying she spent the night in question with him. 401 00:23:06,852 --> 00:23:08,351 But there is something else 402 00:23:08,353 --> 00:23:11,055 She is eager to share with detectives. 403 00:23:12,257 --> 00:23:14,325 We found out through her that 404 00:23:14,393 --> 00:23:17,361 Sarah andry was dating jason atkins. 405 00:23:21,700 --> 00:23:23,434 [narrator] stephen's girlfriend says that 406 00:23:23,502 --> 00:23:24,802 For the last couple of years, 407 00:23:24,870 --> 00:23:29,440 Sarah switched back and forth between the two men on a whim. 408 00:23:31,677 --> 00:23:34,277 She lived with jason for a period of time, 409 00:23:34,347 --> 00:23:36,781 And then she would move down to darin's. 410 00:23:38,183 --> 00:23:39,816 And darin and jason knew. 411 00:23:39,885 --> 00:23:41,819 People that knew darin and people that knew jason 412 00:23:41,887 --> 00:23:44,321 Thought sarah was manipulative. 413 00:23:44,924 --> 00:23:47,691 So, whoever was nice to her or whoever had the, the drugs, 414 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:50,060 That's where she kinda gravitated towards. 415 00:23:53,165 --> 00:23:56,833 [narrator] investigators attempt to sort fact from fiction 416 00:23:56,902 --> 00:24:00,403 By collecting the cell phones of everyone in the friend circl 417 00:24:00,405 --> 00:24:01,939 Who could be involved. 418 00:24:02,975 --> 00:24:04,508 [beth] all their cell phones were taken. 419 00:24:04,844 --> 00:24:06,209 Got search warrants on all those phones, 420 00:24:06,211 --> 00:24:09,146 And then we extracted all the information off the phones. 421 00:24:10,082 --> 00:24:13,617 [narrator] the love triangle quickly takes center stage. 422 00:24:14,787 --> 00:24:16,653 [rick] going through social media records 423 00:24:16,722 --> 00:24:18,755 From jason atkins and sarah andry, 424 00:24:18,824 --> 00:24:20,991 We found that he had made comments that, 425 00:24:21,060 --> 00:24:24,427 "as long as darin's around, I'm never gonna have you." 426 00:24:25,164 --> 00:24:27,398 [jerry] when you read those facebook messages, 427 00:24:27,466 --> 00:24:30,834 It's very clear to me that jason wanted sarah 428 00:24:30,836 --> 00:24:32,335 And he didn't wanna lose sarah, 429 00:24:32,405 --> 00:24:35,539 And he was jealous of the love 430 00:24:36,341 --> 00:24:40,044 That she evidently at that time had for darin. 431 00:24:40,780 --> 00:24:42,646 Jason would have motive to kill darin. 432 00:24:42,715 --> 00:24:43,614 Because if darin's out of the picture, 433 00:24:43,682 --> 00:24:46,484 Then he can have sarah, which is what he wanted. 434 00:24:50,890 --> 00:24:54,725 [narrator] as jason atkins moves to the top of the suspect list, 435 00:24:54,793 --> 00:24:56,961 Stephen clapp falls off. 436 00:24:58,097 --> 00:25:00,964 [tom] the locations data that we were able to get 437 00:25:01,033 --> 00:25:02,900 From cell phones 438 00:25:02,968 --> 00:25:06,737 Was proof that stephen clapp was not at darin's location 439 00:25:06,805 --> 00:25:08,138 At the time of the homicide. 440 00:25:09,375 --> 00:25:12,676 [narrator] but darin's phone reveals more than just that. 441 00:25:13,712 --> 00:25:17,047 [beth] there was a text sent from his phone at 4:12 a.M., 442 00:25:17,516 --> 00:25:19,416 Using a derogatory name for sarah, 443 00:25:19,485 --> 00:25:21,585 Saying that she was still at brain's. 444 00:25:21,653 --> 00:25:23,854 And brain was a nickname for jason atkins. 445 00:25:24,256 --> 00:25:26,857 So, darin was clearly mad at that point 446 00:25:26,926 --> 00:25:28,958 That sarah was still at jason's. 447 00:25:29,294 --> 00:25:32,663 So, we knew then that sarah wasn't at darin's 448 00:25:32,731 --> 00:25:34,397 Like she said she was. 449 00:25:34,399 --> 00:25:38,001 Sarah says that she left about eight o'clock that morning 450 00:25:38,070 --> 00:25:39,136 To go do laundry. 451 00:25:39,204 --> 00:25:40,738 Clearly, she was lying. 452 00:25:44,076 --> 00:25:48,245 [narrator] after realizing sarah wasn't being entirely honest, 453 00:25:48,313 --> 00:25:50,814 Detectives meet with her on July 28th 454 00:25:50,883 --> 00:25:52,515 At the dubois county jail, 455 00:25:52,517 --> 00:25:56,554 Where she remains in custody on the outstanding warrants. 456 00:25:57,856 --> 00:26:00,190 Sarah admits to the love triangle. 457 00:26:01,426 --> 00:26:02,660 I started seein' both of 'em. 458 00:26:02,728 --> 00:26:04,427 Like, if I wasn't with one of 'em, 459 00:26:04,497 --> 00:26:06,063 I was with the other one of 'em. 460 00:26:06,131 --> 00:26:07,330 They knew it. 461 00:26:07,332 --> 00:26:09,299 Ended up choosin' darin. 462 00:26:09,835 --> 00:26:13,203 I had finally told jason, and he wasn't happy. 463 00:26:36,762 --> 00:26:37,994 [narrator] they confront her 464 00:26:38,063 --> 00:26:40,230 About the text found on darin's phone. 465 00:27:05,657 --> 00:27:08,492 I thought the were more after jason, 466 00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:10,594 Or tryin' to say jason did it than me. 467 00:27:26,712 --> 00:27:27,844 [sarah] I didn't understand. 468 00:27:27,913 --> 00:27:30,948 I thought they were tryin' to say jason did it, then me. 469 00:27:43,128 --> 00:27:45,128 [narrator] after getting nowhere with sarah, 470 00:27:45,197 --> 00:27:48,531 Investigators bring jason atkin into the station 471 00:27:48,601 --> 00:27:50,401 To try their luck with him. 472 00:28:10,155 --> 00:28:12,723 Jason atkins's account of where he was at that night 473 00:28:12,791 --> 00:28:14,625 Is he's at his house. 474 00:28:14,693 --> 00:28:16,160 He doesn't leave anywhere. 475 00:28:17,663 --> 00:28:21,164 [narrator] with sarah and jason sticking by their stories, 476 00:28:21,166 --> 00:28:23,333 Investigators get creative... 477 00:28:24,403 --> 00:28:25,668 [tom] birdseye is not that big. 478 00:28:25,670 --> 00:28:30,641 The birdseye library sits right there on state road 145, 479 00:28:30,709 --> 00:28:32,375 Has a great view. 480 00:28:32,844 --> 00:28:34,845 They do have a camera that we seen. 481 00:28:38,350 --> 00:28:40,918 [narrator] to travel from jason's house to darin's 482 00:28:40,986 --> 00:28:43,854 Would require driving past the library 483 00:28:44,223 --> 00:28:45,622 And the camera. 484 00:28:46,725 --> 00:28:49,793 We were able to get all of the footage from the library, 485 00:28:49,995 --> 00:28:51,762 And a camera that was basically 486 00:28:51,830 --> 00:28:53,630 One way in and one way out of town. 487 00:28:54,366 --> 00:28:57,100 [narrator] investigators focus on the footage from 488 00:28:57,168 --> 00:29:00,037 The early morning hours of July 19th. 489 00:29:01,206 --> 00:29:04,341 [rick] we see jason atkins's car at about 4:13, 490 00:29:04,409 --> 00:29:06,710 Going northbound past the library. 491 00:29:08,180 --> 00:29:10,980 His interviews, he had said he was staying home all night 492 00:29:11,050 --> 00:29:12,715 And that nobody had taken his car. 493 00:29:12,985 --> 00:29:15,618 Why is his car going past the library 494 00:29:15,688 --> 00:29:18,155 If it didn't leave his house all night? 495 00:29:20,325 --> 00:29:23,326 [narrator] that's not all the footage has to offer... 496 00:29:24,263 --> 00:29:26,829 [tom] we're able to see that there's two people in the car. 497 00:29:27,032 --> 00:29:29,166 But we can't see who they are. 498 00:29:29,901 --> 00:29:31,702 [narrator] if jason is the killer, 499 00:29:31,770 --> 00:29:34,237 It appears he had an accomplice 500 00:29:34,773 --> 00:29:36,639 [tom] so, we're gonna try to talk to him 501 00:29:36,709 --> 00:29:40,277 And then give an opportunity one more time to tell the truth 502 00:29:40,345 --> 00:29:44,281 That someone else was involved in the homicide. 503 00:29:47,986 --> 00:29:49,319 [narrator] coming up. 504 00:29:49,522 --> 00:29:52,055 Investigators confront jason. 505 00:30:05,270 --> 00:30:08,272 [music] 506 00:30:12,810 --> 00:30:14,912 [music] 507 00:30:17,716 --> 00:30:21,017 [narrator] months after the murder of darin atkins, 508 00:30:21,086 --> 00:30:23,486 Sarah andry has been released from jail 509 00:30:23,555 --> 00:30:27,357 Where she'd been held on unrelated outstanding warrants. 510 00:30:28,794 --> 00:30:30,293 She was released, 511 00:30:30,295 --> 00:30:33,430 And she was back into the birdseye community. 512 00:30:37,369 --> 00:30:40,804 [narrator] with a potential murder suspect in the community 513 00:30:40,872 --> 00:30:42,772 Investigators waste no time, 514 00:30:42,774 --> 00:30:47,377 And on may 24th, 2018, they speak with jason again. 515 00:30:47,446 --> 00:30:50,313 This time, in the pike county jail, 516 00:30:50,382 --> 00:30:53,383 Where he is being held on unrelated charges. 517 00:30:53,919 --> 00:30:56,753 Jason atkins was in jail for narcotics charges 518 00:30:56,822 --> 00:30:58,088 In a different county. 519 00:30:58,690 --> 00:31:00,557 [beth] we had what we called the murder box. 520 00:31:00,625 --> 00:31:04,327 It was this giant box of everything that we'd collected. 521 00:31:04,329 --> 00:31:05,662 And they just confronted him 522 00:31:05,730 --> 00:31:07,331 With different pieces of evidence. 523 00:31:22,614 --> 00:31:26,216 But at that time, I wanted him to also know we believed 524 00:31:26,284 --> 00:31:28,518 There was another player that helped him out. 525 00:31:51,843 --> 00:31:53,210 [narrator] jason says 526 00:31:53,278 --> 00:31:55,913 That in the early morning hours of July 19th, 527 00:31:55,981 --> 00:31:58,315 After the party at darin's place, 528 00:31:58,383 --> 00:32:00,384 Sarah showed up at his house. 529 00:32:01,986 --> 00:32:04,120 [tom] he said that sarah was telling him 530 00:32:04,189 --> 00:32:05,422 That darin beats her. 531 00:32:06,791 --> 00:32:09,393 And so, they made a pact that they were gonna go down 532 00:32:09,461 --> 00:32:12,562 And confront him about the abuse. 533 00:32:13,598 --> 00:32:15,131 [jerry] according to jason, they left, 534 00:32:15,200 --> 00:32:17,868 He and sarah, in jason's car. 535 00:32:18,470 --> 00:32:23,640 They arrive at the mobile home and jason remains outside 536 00:32:23,708 --> 00:32:28,411 While sarah allegedly walks in without jason. 537 00:32:29,214 --> 00:32:32,950 Jason waits a few minutes and then enters. 538 00:33:15,627 --> 00:33:18,861 He told me that after he hit him that he was unconscious, 539 00:33:18,931 --> 00:33:20,196 But he was still alive. 540 00:33:20,265 --> 00:33:21,464 They get into the car, 541 00:33:21,533 --> 00:33:24,568 Sarah's driving the car, and they leave. 542 00:33:52,397 --> 00:33:55,365 The facebook records and the phone records, 543 00:33:55,433 --> 00:33:58,235 They all indicated a lot of manipulation on her part, 544 00:33:58,237 --> 00:34:00,403 And she was playing them against each other. 545 00:34:00,405 --> 00:34:03,673 Sarah would make accusations against darin to jason, 546 00:34:03,675 --> 00:34:06,977 And she would make accusations against jason to darin. 547 00:34:07,512 --> 00:34:09,612 She would get them to feel sorry for her, 548 00:34:09,614 --> 00:34:12,315 And she would just use that to her advantage. 549 00:34:14,052 --> 00:34:15,451 [narrator] what doesn't match 550 00:34:15,520 --> 00:34:18,855 Is what jason says happened inside the home. 551 00:34:19,457 --> 00:34:21,791 [bill] there was certainly multiple blows. 552 00:34:21,860 --> 00:34:22,893 That was clear. 553 00:34:23,996 --> 00:34:25,529 There was nothing about the crime scene evidence 554 00:34:25,597 --> 00:34:27,764 That was consistent with the story 555 00:34:28,099 --> 00:34:30,467 That jason atkins had given. 556 00:34:34,873 --> 00:34:38,642 [narrator] investigators know they don't have the whole story 557 00:34:39,711 --> 00:34:42,211 Five days later, jason reaches out. 558 00:34:42,714 --> 00:34:46,550 This time, he says he is ready to tell them everything. 559 00:35:05,737 --> 00:35:09,906 He said that, in his words, "I hit him in the head. 560 00:35:10,575 --> 00:35:11,841 I know that it knocked him out. 561 00:35:11,910 --> 00:35:14,344 He was out, but I know that he was still alive 562 00:35:14,412 --> 00:35:16,246 When sarah picked up the bat." 563 00:35:43,141 --> 00:35:46,976 At that point, jason was arrested for the murder, 564 00:35:47,045 --> 00:35:49,578 And we opted to go and file for 565 00:35:49,580 --> 00:35:52,315 A warrant for the arrest of sarah. 566 00:35:56,621 --> 00:35:57,887 [narrator] investigators learn 567 00:35:57,956 --> 00:36:00,290 That after sarah's release from jail 568 00:36:00,358 --> 00:36:01,891 Earlier in the year, 569 00:36:01,960 --> 00:36:04,927 She quickly married an old high school friend, 570 00:36:04,996 --> 00:36:05,962 Eddie andry. 571 00:36:06,865 --> 00:36:09,099 But sarah's attempt at domestic life 572 00:36:09,167 --> 00:36:12,569 Comes to an end on June 11th, 2018, 573 00:36:13,171 --> 00:36:16,640 When deputies arrive at her hoe with an arrest warrant. 574 00:36:18,376 --> 00:36:19,909 [eddie] we was asleep. 575 00:36:19,978 --> 00:36:23,847 The next thing I know, I've got three or four officers 576 00:36:23,915 --> 00:36:25,648 Standin' around my couch, 577 00:36:25,717 --> 00:36:30,320 Screamin' with guns drawed, tellin' us to get up, 578 00:36:30,388 --> 00:36:32,355 "let me see your hands." 579 00:36:33,591 --> 00:36:35,992 They just come in and said, "you're under arrest." 580 00:36:36,294 --> 00:36:39,329 They handcuffed me and put me in the car. 581 00:36:39,397 --> 00:36:41,063 Said they was arrestin' me for murder. 582 00:36:41,700 --> 00:36:45,335 [brock] there was no upset, there was no "I didn't do it." 583 00:36:46,004 --> 00:36:48,971 All she did was just stand up, put her arms behind her back, 584 00:36:48,973 --> 00:36:50,006 And said okay. 585 00:36:50,342 --> 00:36:52,274 And never said another word to us. 586 00:36:52,276 --> 00:36:54,043 I just got caught up in the drug life, 587 00:36:54,112 --> 00:36:55,779 And this is where it got me. 588 00:36:59,484 --> 00:37:00,550 [narrator] coming up. 589 00:37:00,619 --> 00:37:03,720 Prosecutors zero in on sarah... 590 00:37:04,322 --> 00:37:06,255 [beth] we think she acted on impulse, 591 00:37:06,325 --> 00:37:09,993 And all these emotions were fueled by drugs. 592 00:37:10,662 --> 00:37:13,563 [narrator] but sarah sees freedom within reach. 593 00:37:13,631 --> 00:37:15,232 It was a big roadblock to us 594 00:37:15,300 --> 00:37:17,367 That we never found the murder weapon. 595 00:37:19,137 --> 00:37:22,205 [music] 596 00:37:26,644 --> 00:37:28,979 [music] 597 00:37:31,783 --> 00:37:33,550 [narrator] dubois county authorities 598 00:37:33,618 --> 00:37:36,786 Have arrested sarah andry and jason atkins 599 00:37:36,855 --> 00:37:39,689 For the beating death of darin atkins. 600 00:37:40,391 --> 00:37:42,792 As prosecutors prepare for trial, 601 00:37:42,861 --> 00:37:45,562 It becomes apparent that drugs fueled 602 00:37:45,630 --> 00:37:48,531 This love triangle turned deadly. 603 00:37:49,067 --> 00:37:51,434 I would tend to say that sarah didn't go there 604 00:37:51,502 --> 00:37:53,870 With the intentions that darin was gonna die. 605 00:37:55,473 --> 00:37:58,208 All these emotions were fueled by drugs, 606 00:37:58,276 --> 00:38:00,577 And nobody was thinking clearly. 607 00:38:02,814 --> 00:38:05,582 I think it probably just got outta hand. 608 00:38:07,552 --> 00:38:08,418 [brock] it's hard to tell whether 609 00:38:08,486 --> 00:38:11,154 The first hit when jason swung the bat killed him, 610 00:38:11,222 --> 00:38:14,490 Or if when sarah steps up, grabs the baseball bat, 611 00:38:14,559 --> 00:38:16,092 And knocks him two more times over the head, 612 00:38:16,160 --> 00:38:17,627 If that's what killed him. 613 00:38:20,865 --> 00:38:23,766 [narrator] with one of sarah's lovers dead, 614 00:38:23,768 --> 00:38:25,902 The other turns against her. 615 00:38:26,705 --> 00:38:29,038 Jason atkins didn't go to trial. 616 00:38:29,474 --> 00:38:33,175 Jason atkins pled guilty and took a reduced sentence 617 00:38:33,177 --> 00:38:36,078 In exchange for him testifying against sarah. 618 00:38:36,915 --> 00:38:38,681 I never believed that he could even do it 619 00:38:38,750 --> 00:38:40,684 'til I actually heard it come out of his mouth. 620 00:38:43,888 --> 00:38:46,088 [narrator] in September 2020, 621 00:38:46,325 --> 00:38:48,391 Sarah sees her day in court. 622 00:38:49,060 --> 00:38:53,029 The prosecution's case hinges on a star witness. 623 00:38:54,265 --> 00:38:58,868 Jason testifies that sarah urge him to confront darin... 624 00:39:00,104 --> 00:39:03,139 Sarah told jason that she was gettin' beat by darin, 625 00:39:03,208 --> 00:39:06,276 And he was gonna go down there and confront him about it. 626 00:39:07,279 --> 00:39:11,447 [narrator] allegations prosecutors argue are unfounded 627 00:39:11,850 --> 00:39:13,950 As far as darin atkins committing 628 00:39:14,018 --> 00:39:15,651 Any type of assault on, on sarah andry, 629 00:39:15,720 --> 00:39:18,388 There was never any police reports. 630 00:39:18,456 --> 00:39:20,256 Going through the different social medias, 631 00:39:20,324 --> 00:39:21,424 There was never anything that we found 632 00:39:21,493 --> 00:39:24,828 Where she was telling people that darin was beating on her. 633 00:39:28,633 --> 00:39:31,367 [narrator] prosecutors believe sarah's true motive 634 00:39:31,436 --> 00:39:33,970 May never be entirely clear. 635 00:39:35,440 --> 00:39:38,274 [beth] other than jason saying sarah was there, 636 00:39:38,710 --> 00:39:41,177 I think the biggest piece of evidence 637 00:39:41,246 --> 00:39:42,979 That we had against sarah 638 00:39:43,548 --> 00:39:46,516 Was all these wildly inconsistent stories. 639 00:39:47,652 --> 00:39:50,453 We got thousands of pages of facebook records 640 00:39:50,522 --> 00:39:51,554 And phone records. 641 00:39:52,957 --> 00:39:57,293 It was just a consistent pattern of, over several years' time, 642 00:39:57,361 --> 00:40:01,063 Her manipulating both of them to get whatever she wanted 643 00:40:01,065 --> 00:40:02,164 Or needed at the time, 644 00:40:02,166 --> 00:40:06,035 Whether that was food or drugs or a place to live. 645 00:40:06,037 --> 00:40:08,671 It was just the totality of everything. 646 00:40:08,740 --> 00:40:10,940 It wasn't any one particular piece of evidence. 647 00:40:11,009 --> 00:40:13,543 Everything pointed in the direction that sarah was guilty. 648 00:40:18,483 --> 00:40:20,116 [narrator] sarah's defense points out 649 00:40:20,184 --> 00:40:23,753 That one crucial piece of evidence is missing. 650 00:40:24,288 --> 00:40:25,588 It was a big roadblock to us 651 00:40:25,656 --> 00:40:27,590 That we never found the murder weapon. 652 00:40:28,827 --> 00:40:31,794 [narrator] the defense argues that jason acted alone 653 00:40:31,863 --> 00:40:34,163 To eliminate a romantic rival, 654 00:40:34,499 --> 00:40:36,232 Pointing out that his statement 655 00:40:36,300 --> 00:40:39,135 Is all that places sarah at the scene. 656 00:40:40,572 --> 00:40:43,173 [jerry] the police clearly made a big deal out of 657 00:40:43,241 --> 00:40:44,707 The surveillance video. 658 00:40:44,776 --> 00:40:48,644 Without question, jason is observed in the video, 659 00:40:48,713 --> 00:40:52,182 But at no time during July 19, 2017, 660 00:40:52,250 --> 00:40:56,586 Was sarah andry observed in the surveillance video. 661 00:41:00,658 --> 00:41:02,324 [narrator] they also note a problem 662 00:41:02,326 --> 00:41:05,628 With one important piece of jason's statement. 663 00:41:06,097 --> 00:41:09,031 He basically said that darin was coming at him 664 00:41:09,100 --> 00:41:10,300 With a baseball bat 665 00:41:10,368 --> 00:41:11,567 In his bedroom. 666 00:41:12,070 --> 00:41:15,004 That he took the baseball bat away from darin. 667 00:41:15,807 --> 00:41:19,676 That was not consistent with the bloodstain pattern analysis. 668 00:41:20,879 --> 00:41:23,613 [bill] the blanket that was pulled down to the floor, 669 00:41:24,015 --> 00:41:27,617 You could also see these impact stains which suggest that 670 00:41:27,685 --> 00:41:30,987 Darin was under the covers when the beating occurred. 671 00:41:32,390 --> 00:41:36,125 And so, how do you reconcile that with jason's statement 672 00:41:36,194 --> 00:41:38,561 That he's standing up and he disarms him? 673 00:41:38,629 --> 00:41:39,829 They just don't add up. 674 00:41:41,232 --> 00:41:44,800 And so, it begs the question, if, if he's lying about that, 675 00:41:44,869 --> 00:41:47,904 Is he being truthful about sarah being the person 676 00:41:47,972 --> 00:41:50,473 That inflicted these fatal blows? 677 00:41:56,147 --> 00:41:58,547 [narrator] it's a purely circumstantial case, 678 00:41:59,283 --> 00:42:01,484 But the judge believes it's enough. 679 00:42:02,587 --> 00:42:04,620 They found me guilty of murder, 680 00:42:04,956 --> 00:42:07,524 And they sentenced me to 55 years. 681 00:42:09,027 --> 00:42:11,594 They had jason's word against mine. 682 00:42:11,996 --> 00:42:13,262 I never thought in a million years 683 00:42:13,331 --> 00:42:15,732 I'd be sittin' in prison for a murder charge. 684 00:42:16,334 --> 00:42:19,202 Never. But... 685 00:42:20,739 --> 00:42:22,539 It's what drugs did for me. 686 00:42:23,841 --> 00:42:25,942 Jason atkins received 20 years in prison 687 00:42:26,010 --> 00:42:27,810 Followed by five years on home detention, 688 00:42:27,879 --> 00:42:30,680 And then 20 years on probation after that. 689 00:42:35,386 --> 00:42:39,221 [narrator] sarah continues to stand by her innocence. 690 00:42:40,158 --> 00:42:42,525 [sarah] I want the truth to come out, too, for real. 691 00:42:43,261 --> 00:42:46,029 I want darin's mom to know that I didn't do it. 692 00:42:47,031 --> 00:42:49,565 I ain't proud of it, but that's just... 693 00:42:49,634 --> 00:42:54,170 I was on drugs, and I wanted everything. 694 00:42:54,505 --> 00:42:55,571 Between the two of 'em, 695 00:42:55,639 --> 00:42:57,040 They gave me everything that I wanted. 696 00:43:03,047 --> 00:43:05,448 [narrator] but there is no denying the pain 697 00:43:05,516 --> 00:43:07,983 Darin's family continues to suffer 698 00:43:07,985 --> 00:43:10,452 Over the loss of a man they love. 699 00:43:11,455 --> 00:43:14,423 Darin was a good guy. He didn't do nothin' wrong. 700 00:43:14,692 --> 00:43:17,961 I just don't understand why. I really don't. 701 00:43:18,662 --> 00:43:19,729 He didn't deserve that. 702 00:43:19,797 --> 00:43:22,398 Nobody deserves, not that. Nobody. 703 00:43:22,467 --> 00:43:25,768 [music] 704 00:43:26,705 --> 00:43:32,742 [music]