1 00:00:00,834 --> 00:00:03,435 - Female narrator: They appeared to be the ideal couple, 2 00:00:03,437 --> 00:00:06,472 living a picture-perfect life. 3 00:00:06,474 --> 00:00:11,110 - M. William: White picket fence, two cars, a dog, kids, 4 00:00:11,112 --> 00:00:13,946 and it's like, "wow, this is blissful." 5 00:00:13,948 --> 00:00:17,316 - she was very focused on being a good mother, a good wife, 6 00:00:17,318 --> 00:00:18,784 a good person. 7 00:00:20,287 --> 00:00:23,989 - Narrator: But all is not as perfect as it seems. 8 00:00:23,991 --> 00:00:28,027 - Even people with zero enemies, there's someone out there 9 00:00:28,029 --> 00:00:29,828 who doesn't like you. 10 00:00:29,830 --> 00:00:32,931 - Narrator: And the peace of a quiet community is shattered 11 00:00:32,933 --> 00:00:36,435 when one of its most innocent residents is murdered. 12 00:00:36,437 --> 00:00:37,970 - [gunshot] 13 00:00:37,972 --> 00:00:39,471 [gunshots] 14 00:00:39,473 --> 00:00:44,510 - a housewife, a mother, a librarian is executed. 15 00:00:44,512 --> 00:00:47,212 - Who would want to kill her? Who? 16 00:00:47,214 --> 00:00:50,382 There's nobody in this world that would want to see 17 00:00:50,384 --> 00:00:52,618 anything happen to her. 18 00:00:52,620 --> 00:00:55,888 - Narrator: As detectives peel back the layers of the case, 19 00:00:55,890 --> 00:00:59,191 scandalous secrets are revealed. 20 00:00:59,193 --> 00:01:02,461 - Lori: She is telling him that she's pregnant 21 00:01:02,463 --> 00:01:06,398 with his child and that she has terminal cancer. 22 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:09,001 - Detectives noticed that a cat jumped on her stomach 23 00:01:09,003 --> 00:01:11,070 and her stomach caved in. 24 00:01:11,072 --> 00:01:12,971 - Lori: Because of this tawdry affair, 25 00:01:12,973 --> 00:01:15,407 people were sort of mesmerized by it because it had 26 00:01:15,409 --> 00:01:18,043 a soap opera quality to it. 27 00:01:18,045 --> 00:01:20,012 - M. William: Once they start putting all these pieces 28 00:01:20,014 --> 00:01:24,650 together, with all the dominos falling, there's one left. 29 00:01:24,652 --> 00:01:28,320 - He brought this evil person into their family. 30 00:01:31,358 --> 00:01:40,866 - ♪ 31 00:01:42,336 --> 00:01:44,570 - narrator: Just an hour north of detroit, 32 00:01:44,572 --> 00:01:48,040 the quiet town of lake orion, michigan, couldn't be 33 00:01:48,042 --> 00:01:52,244 further removed from the bustle of the motor city. 34 00:01:52,246 --> 00:01:54,746 - The town of lake orion is this, um, 35 00:01:54,748 --> 00:01:58,117 kind of bedroom community. 36 00:01:58,119 --> 00:01:59,384 It's a peaceful little community, 37 00:01:59,386 --> 00:02:01,120 everybody knows everybody else. 38 00:02:05,626 --> 00:02:08,861 - Narrator: On the night of October 4, 1999, 39 00:02:08,863 --> 00:02:10,863 shortly after 9 o'clock, 40 00:02:10,865 --> 00:02:13,765 911 operators get a desperate call 41 00:02:13,767 --> 00:02:17,136 from two of the town's librarians. 42 00:02:17,138 --> 00:02:18,904 - M. William: It's kind of a frantic call. 43 00:02:18,906 --> 00:02:22,741 They say, "our friend is dying, get here soon." 44 00:02:23,644 --> 00:02:25,644 - narrator: The caller says their coworker, 45 00:02:25,646 --> 00:02:30,716 48-year-old gail fulton, is lying in a pool of blood. 46 00:02:30,718 --> 00:02:32,417 - M. William: Did she get hit by her own van? 47 00:02:32,419 --> 00:02:34,319 Did she get hit by a car? 48 00:02:34,321 --> 00:02:36,788 - Ralph: As a result of that 911 call, 49 00:02:36,790 --> 00:02:39,324 officers were dispatched to the area. 50 00:02:39,326 --> 00:02:42,261 - [sirens wailing] 51 00:02:43,764 --> 00:02:45,464 - m. William: Law enforcement arrives, 52 00:02:45,466 --> 00:02:49,334 and the first officer begins to try to administer 53 00:02:49,336 --> 00:02:53,071 cpr on gail, but he quickly realizes that 54 00:02:53,073 --> 00:02:56,475 this is no fainting spell or anything like that. 55 00:02:56,477 --> 00:02:57,643 She's been shot. 56 00:02:58,946 --> 00:03:02,648 - She was shot in the head, and twice in her stomach 57 00:03:02,650 --> 00:03:04,650 and her chest area. 58 00:03:04,652 --> 00:03:06,318 - M. William: They try to revive her, 59 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:08,987 but really there's no hope for gail. She's dead. 60 00:03:12,860 --> 00:03:15,194 - Narrator: When homicide detectives arrive, 61 00:03:15,196 --> 00:03:19,131 their first objective is to find out as much as possible 62 00:03:19,133 --> 00:03:20,699 about the victim. 63 00:03:20,701 --> 00:03:23,936 - There was two witnesses that knew the victim 64 00:03:23,938 --> 00:03:29,041 and that was able to furnish information right away. 65 00:03:29,043 --> 00:03:31,543 - Lori: When this woman, this librarian, 66 00:03:31,545 --> 00:03:34,947 this mother of three is assassinated 67 00:03:34,949 --> 00:03:38,550 in the township library parking lot, 68 00:03:38,552 --> 00:03:40,852 it astonished everybody. 69 00:03:40,854 --> 00:03:42,955 It was major news in metro detroit, 70 00:03:42,957 --> 00:03:44,256 and it was a big story. 71 00:03:49,630 --> 00:03:53,532 - Narrator: Martha gail garza was born in 1951 72 00:03:53,534 --> 00:03:56,368 in corpus christi, texas. 73 00:03:56,370 --> 00:04:00,739 - Sylvia: She was kind. She was very smart. 74 00:04:00,741 --> 00:04:04,309 She was very, um, social. 75 00:04:04,311 --> 00:04:07,246 We just hit it off. We used to have a lot of fun. 76 00:04:07,248 --> 00:04:08,714 She had a great childhood. 77 00:04:08,716 --> 00:04:11,917 Her parents were wonderful people known in the community. 78 00:04:11,919 --> 00:04:14,386 They had a beautiful home that she grew up in. 79 00:04:14,388 --> 00:04:18,557 Her family was very devoted to the catholic church. 80 00:04:22,196 --> 00:04:23,228 - Narrator: The garza family 81 00:04:23,230 --> 00:04:25,998 took their catholic faith seriously, 82 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:29,234 as did their friends within corpus christi's close-knit 83 00:04:29,236 --> 00:04:31,737 hispanic community. 84 00:04:31,739 --> 00:04:35,741 - Our parents belonged to a social group back in the day, 85 00:04:35,743 --> 00:04:39,244 50 years ago, and all of the kids, 86 00:04:39,246 --> 00:04:41,346 we were all about the same age. 87 00:04:41,348 --> 00:04:44,850 It was simple, it was good times for everyone. 88 00:04:44,852 --> 00:04:46,918 We were taken care of. 89 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:48,787 - Narrator: When it was time for high school, 90 00:04:48,789 --> 00:04:52,958 gail enrolled at an all-girls catholic academy. 91 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:56,261 - You knew she was gonna be something, you knew that, 92 00:04:56,263 --> 00:04:59,398 and whatever her goals-- whatever she wanted to do, 93 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:02,267 she accomplished it, and there was nothing that 94 00:05:02,269 --> 00:05:04,469 she couldn't do, she was very smart. 95 00:05:04,471 --> 00:05:08,073 - ♪ 96 00:05:08,075 --> 00:05:09,641 - narrator: In 1969, 97 00:05:09,643 --> 00:05:11,777 at the start of gail's senior year, 98 00:05:11,779 --> 00:05:16,248 she began dating 17-year-old george fulton. 99 00:05:16,250 --> 00:05:19,651 - M. William: Gail and george met in a catholic youth group, 100 00:05:19,653 --> 00:05:21,753 and they kinda seemed like the opposites. 101 00:05:21,755 --> 00:05:26,925 You have gail, who's kind of a loner and quiet and shy, 102 00:05:26,927 --> 00:05:30,062 george was an overachiever. 103 00:05:30,064 --> 00:05:32,331 - Narrator: George was outgoing, athletic, 104 00:05:32,333 --> 00:05:35,267 and the president of his class. 105 00:05:35,269 --> 00:05:37,102 - Sylvia: He was very nice, you know, 106 00:05:37,104 --> 00:05:39,304 and he was nice to her, and to me that was 107 00:05:39,306 --> 00:05:40,505 all that was important. 108 00:05:40,507 --> 00:05:42,641 She saw something in him 109 00:05:42,643 --> 00:05:45,644 that made her eyes twinkle a little bit, 110 00:05:45,646 --> 00:05:49,014 so she saw in him something that would be good for her. 111 00:05:51,018 --> 00:05:54,019 - Narrator: After high school, george and gail went to college 112 00:05:54,021 --> 00:05:57,456 over 1,500 miles apart. 113 00:05:57,458 --> 00:05:59,825 George enrolled at west point in new york 114 00:05:59,827 --> 00:06:02,294 to pursue a career in the military, 115 00:06:02,296 --> 00:06:04,863 and gail stayed close to home in texas, 116 00:06:04,865 --> 00:06:09,134 studying to become a speech pathologist. 117 00:06:09,136 --> 00:06:10,836 - Sylvia: She went to del mar college, 118 00:06:10,838 --> 00:06:12,771 junior college there in corpus, 119 00:06:12,773 --> 00:06:15,474 and then, uh, after those two years she transferred up 120 00:06:15,476 --> 00:06:18,510 to baylor, her dad's alma mater. 121 00:06:18,512 --> 00:06:19,945 - Narrator: Despite the distance, 122 00:06:19,947 --> 00:06:22,481 the romance thrived. 123 00:06:22,483 --> 00:06:24,850 - M. William: Gail and george both graduated from college 124 00:06:24,852 --> 00:06:29,354 in 1974, and they got married right away. 125 00:06:31,525 --> 00:06:34,126 - Narrator: The life of the doting military wife 126 00:06:34,128 --> 00:06:35,460 suited gail. 127 00:06:35,462 --> 00:06:38,130 She and george raised two daughters and a son 128 00:06:38,132 --> 00:06:40,565 over the course of the next two decades, 129 00:06:40,567 --> 00:06:44,669 all while bouncing around the country from base to base. 130 00:06:44,671 --> 00:06:48,039 - When she had three children, and she decided to stay home 131 00:06:48,041 --> 00:06:50,876 and raise her children, so she was not working. 132 00:06:50,878 --> 00:06:53,678 She was a stay-at-home mom for many years. 133 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:55,714 - Sylvia: Gail was very focused on her children, 134 00:06:55,716 --> 00:06:59,651 wanting them to have as normal, uh, upbringing as possible 135 00:06:59,653 --> 00:07:01,820 even though they traveled so much. 136 00:07:01,822 --> 00:07:04,556 She liked to cook, she did arts and crafts. 137 00:07:04,558 --> 00:07:06,691 She was very focused on being a good mother, 138 00:07:06,693 --> 00:07:09,127 a good wife, a good person. 139 00:07:10,864 --> 00:07:12,931 - Narrator: After two decades of service, 140 00:07:12,933 --> 00:07:17,302 george was ready to part ways with the army in 1993. 141 00:07:18,705 --> 00:07:21,673 - M. William: George retired from the military as a major, 142 00:07:21,675 --> 00:07:24,876 and they moved back to corpus christi, texas, 143 00:07:24,878 --> 00:07:26,711 near home. 144 00:07:26,713 --> 00:07:29,781 The problem was he couldn't find work. 145 00:07:32,953 --> 00:07:36,788 - Narrator: After a few years of testing the texas job market, 146 00:07:36,790 --> 00:07:39,357 george landed a lucrative engineering gig 147 00:07:39,359 --> 00:07:41,726 at a firm up north. 148 00:07:41,728 --> 00:07:43,428 - They moved to michigan and... 149 00:07:43,430 --> 00:07:45,297 It's like, "wow, this is blissful. 150 00:07:45,299 --> 00:07:48,967 We live near the lake, this wonderful community." 151 00:07:48,969 --> 00:07:52,037 - gail was very happy, she was working at the library, 152 00:07:52,039 --> 00:07:53,805 and she was thrilled. 153 00:07:56,276 --> 00:07:58,743 - Narrator: But the demands of george's new job 154 00:07:58,745 --> 00:08:02,247 eventually caused difficulty in the marriage. 155 00:08:03,383 --> 00:08:06,718 - George got a great job at an engineering firm, 156 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:09,921 and part of that job was flying to florida 157 00:08:09,923 --> 00:08:12,390 many, many times a year. 158 00:08:12,392 --> 00:08:16,928 - Sylvia: All that I knew is that george was traveling a lot 159 00:08:16,930 --> 00:08:19,564 and spending a lot a time in florida, and I said, 160 00:08:19,566 --> 00:08:21,833 "well, you know, it's not too much different than, 161 00:08:21,835 --> 00:08:24,803 "you know, when he was in the military that he would travel 162 00:08:24,805 --> 00:08:27,339 and be gone for a long time." 163 00:08:27,341 --> 00:08:28,974 - lori: The outward appearance, 164 00:08:28,976 --> 00:08:30,408 this looked like the perfect family 165 00:08:30,410 --> 00:08:33,278 living the dream in orion township. 166 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:35,180 Her neighbors liked her, 167 00:08:35,182 --> 00:08:37,115 there wasn't anybody that didn't like gail, 168 00:08:37,117 --> 00:08:39,684 she was just a-- a pleasant person, 169 00:08:39,686 --> 00:08:41,386 you know, going about her life. 170 00:08:46,193 --> 00:08:49,027 - Narrator: But now, only three years after moving 171 00:08:49,029 --> 00:08:51,663 to lake orion, gail is found dead 172 00:08:51,665 --> 00:08:54,432 outside the library where she works, 173 00:08:54,434 --> 00:08:58,470 and detectives are determined to figure out why. 174 00:08:58,472 --> 00:09:00,038 - Lori: What was interesting to the police 175 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:03,441 right from the beginning is that nothing was taken from her. 176 00:09:03,443 --> 00:09:06,011 Her--her purse was still there, there was cash, 177 00:09:06,013 --> 00:09:07,312 she was wearing jewelry. 178 00:09:07,314 --> 00:09:10,849 From the beginning, they ruled out a potential robbery. 179 00:09:10,851 --> 00:09:13,685 - Law enforcement begins to question these coworkers 180 00:09:13,687 --> 00:09:17,722 of gail fulton's, and they begin to describe a person 181 00:09:17,724 --> 00:09:19,824 who is a devout catholic, 182 00:09:19,826 --> 00:09:22,160 who goes to mass just about every day. 183 00:09:24,164 --> 00:09:26,698 - Ralph: Why would somebody shoot her three times, 184 00:09:26,700 --> 00:09:28,233 especially in the head? 185 00:09:28,235 --> 00:09:30,969 We've ruled out robbery, so I think 186 00:09:30,971 --> 00:09:33,672 it--it really goes back to, what was the motive 187 00:09:33,674 --> 00:09:35,740 of this particular crime? 188 00:09:35,742 --> 00:09:37,976 - They were just trying to sort out and figure out how 189 00:09:37,978 --> 00:09:40,345 something like that could happen. 190 00:09:40,347 --> 00:09:42,714 - From law enforcement's perspective, 191 00:09:42,716 --> 00:09:44,816 when a wife is murdered, 192 00:09:44,818 --> 00:09:46,885 the first person they look at is the husband. 193 00:09:50,190 --> 00:09:53,258 - Narrator: Coming up, investigators go digging 194 00:09:53,260 --> 00:09:57,495 close to home and turn up trouble. 195 00:09:57,497 --> 00:10:00,398 - He didn't seem emotional, he wasn't crying. 196 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:04,436 He was calm. Calm as a falling leaf. 197 00:10:04,438 --> 00:10:08,006 - They found out that her husband had an affair. 198 00:10:08,008 --> 00:10:10,208 - Lori: I can't even begin to imagine what he's thinking, 199 00:10:10,210 --> 00:10:14,946 to bring these two women together in a hotel room. 200 00:10:14,948 --> 00:10:16,548 - Larry: She started to tell george, 201 00:10:16,550 --> 00:10:19,918 "look, I've got cancer and I'm pregnant." 202 00:10:23,090 --> 00:10:26,124 - ♪ 203 00:10:34,201 --> 00:10:36,768 - narrator: Detectives in lake orion, michigan, 204 00:10:36,770 --> 00:10:39,871 are investigating the execution-style murder 205 00:10:39,873 --> 00:10:42,907 of a mild-mannered librarian. 206 00:10:42,909 --> 00:10:45,210 - M. William: Gail fulton, when you look at her, 207 00:10:45,212 --> 00:10:49,347 she is the least likely murder victim 208 00:10:49,349 --> 00:10:51,049 you could ever find, really. 209 00:10:51,051 --> 00:10:56,021 This is a woman who had zero enemies, but even so, 210 00:10:56,023 --> 00:10:59,124 law enforcement is smart enough to know that even people 211 00:10:59,126 --> 00:11:02,293 with zero enemies, there's someone out there 212 00:11:02,295 --> 00:11:03,962 who doesn't like you. 213 00:11:05,899 --> 00:11:09,100 - Narrator: Detectives continue to question their only known 214 00:11:09,102 --> 00:11:12,604 witnesses: Gail's coworkers, who found her body 215 00:11:12,606 --> 00:11:15,240 at the scene of the crime. 216 00:11:15,242 --> 00:11:18,576 - Speaking to her, uh, coworkers, 217 00:11:18,578 --> 00:11:23,782 they found out that her husband, george fulton, he had an affair 218 00:11:23,784 --> 00:11:25,784 with a businesswoman in florida. 219 00:11:27,854 --> 00:11:30,221 - Narrator: The coworkers say the woman's name 220 00:11:30,223 --> 00:11:32,357 is donna trapani. 221 00:11:32,359 --> 00:11:36,261 - Larry: George met donna at a bar, 222 00:11:36,263 --> 00:11:40,031 and the two of 'em just kind of hit it off, 223 00:11:40,033 --> 00:11:43,435 and ultimately, uh, became lovers. 224 00:11:48,709 --> 00:11:50,909 - Narrator: 43-year-old donna trapani 225 00:11:50,911 --> 00:11:53,044 was the picture of success. 226 00:11:53,046 --> 00:11:54,579 She was a registered nurse 227 00:11:54,581 --> 00:11:58,717 with her own very lucrative business. 228 00:11:58,719 --> 00:12:01,219 - M. William: Donna trapani was born in new orleans. 229 00:12:01,221 --> 00:12:03,822 She was very smart, she graduated high school 230 00:12:03,824 --> 00:12:07,258 with a 4.0 grade average, 231 00:12:07,260 --> 00:12:10,295 immediately excelled in college, 232 00:12:10,297 --> 00:12:12,931 and wound up getting her nursing degree. 233 00:12:12,933 --> 00:12:17,435 And in 1989, donna moved to the panhandle in florida, 234 00:12:17,437 --> 00:12:22,340 and that's where donna really started her medical career 235 00:12:22,342 --> 00:12:24,175 as a nurse, and from there, 236 00:12:24,177 --> 00:12:27,278 she decided to go into her own business. 237 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:30,648 - It was a home care business where she had people 238 00:12:30,650 --> 00:12:34,486 working for her that she would send out for home care, 239 00:12:34,488 --> 00:12:38,389 and at one point, she was doing a million-dollar business. 240 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:43,928 - She was trying to set up some sort of computer system 241 00:12:43,930 --> 00:12:46,831 for medical billing or something along those lines, 242 00:12:46,833 --> 00:12:49,033 and george knew a lot about that. 243 00:12:49,035 --> 00:12:52,804 - Larry: Donna hired george to help with some of her-- 244 00:12:52,806 --> 00:12:55,940 her financial aspects of her business. 245 00:12:55,942 --> 00:12:59,778 George ultimately decided that he was gonna leave his job 246 00:12:59,780 --> 00:13:01,946 and work for donna. 247 00:13:01,948 --> 00:13:04,015 - Narrator: In may of 1998, 248 00:13:04,017 --> 00:13:07,819 george moved over a thousand miles away from his family 249 00:13:07,821 --> 00:13:08,987 to florida. 250 00:13:08,989 --> 00:13:12,624 He told gail it was a temporary move for work. 251 00:13:12,626 --> 00:13:14,993 - There wasn't any indication of any trouble. 252 00:13:14,995 --> 00:13:16,928 Nobody had filed for divorce. 253 00:13:16,930 --> 00:13:18,797 They were living what appeared to be happy life. 254 00:13:18,799 --> 00:13:21,800 It's just that george had this second life going on 255 00:13:21,802 --> 00:13:23,735 in--in florida. 256 00:13:23,737 --> 00:13:27,806 - Narrator: But this secret mix of business and pleasure 257 00:13:27,808 --> 00:13:29,574 came with a cost. 258 00:13:30,577 --> 00:13:32,844 In October of 1998, 259 00:13:32,846 --> 00:13:35,079 after more than four months of george 260 00:13:35,081 --> 00:13:37,182 working and living in florida, 261 00:13:37,184 --> 00:13:40,151 gail finally realized her husband was doing 262 00:13:40,153 --> 00:13:43,421 more than business with donna. 263 00:13:43,423 --> 00:13:47,058 - Gail is at home wondering, "something's up with him," 264 00:13:47,060 --> 00:13:48,860 and she finds out. 265 00:13:48,862 --> 00:13:51,596 - Narrator: When gail confronted him about the affair, 266 00:13:51,598 --> 00:13:53,665 george came clean. 267 00:13:53,667 --> 00:13:56,267 - He confirmed that he had an affair 268 00:13:56,269 --> 00:13:58,303 with a woman in florida. 269 00:13:58,305 --> 00:14:00,972 He spent several months with her. 270 00:14:00,974 --> 00:14:02,574 - Narrator: Despite the heartbreak, 271 00:14:02,576 --> 00:14:06,244 gail worked hard to keep the marriage together. 272 00:14:06,246 --> 00:14:09,280 - Gail is not gonna get out of the marriage because 273 00:14:09,282 --> 00:14:12,450 she's catholic and she wants to keep her marriage intact. 274 00:14:12,452 --> 00:14:15,820 - Sylvia: Those are situations that a lot of people just 275 00:14:15,822 --> 00:14:17,455 keep to themselves. 276 00:14:17,457 --> 00:14:20,291 A lot of times you can kind of read in between the lines, 277 00:14:20,293 --> 00:14:23,361 especially if you've known somebody for so long. 278 00:14:23,363 --> 00:14:24,929 I just knew. 279 00:14:27,434 --> 00:14:29,901 - I think that she thought that if she just hung on, 280 00:14:29,903 --> 00:14:33,471 he would--uh, he would come to his senses. 281 00:14:33,473 --> 00:14:36,875 - Gail would go to the church and say rosaries every day 282 00:14:36,877 --> 00:14:38,743 for the sake of the marriage. 283 00:14:38,745 --> 00:14:42,747 Those prayers were answered when george came back 284 00:14:42,749 --> 00:14:47,151 to michigan and said, "I'm done. I'm sorry. 285 00:14:47,153 --> 00:14:50,588 "please forgive me. The affair's over. 286 00:14:50,590 --> 00:14:53,791 I want my family and I want you back, gail." 287 00:14:55,762 --> 00:14:59,097 - narrator: Now, six months after george's return 288 00:14:59,099 --> 00:15:01,499 from florida, his wife, gail fulton, 289 00:15:01,501 --> 00:15:05,470 has been found murdered outside the local library. 290 00:15:05,472 --> 00:15:09,807 Detectives immediately bring george in for questioning. 291 00:15:09,809 --> 00:15:11,910 - Ralph: The, uh, sheriff's office went after george 292 00:15:11,912 --> 00:15:15,446 right away; he was already notified by gayle's coworkers 293 00:15:15,448 --> 00:15:17,315 that she was dead. 294 00:15:17,317 --> 00:15:19,183 - Lori: The police were highly suspicious of george 295 00:15:19,185 --> 00:15:21,286 just because, you know, we all know 296 00:15:21,288 --> 00:15:23,788 when these things happen, that they usually happen 297 00:15:23,790 --> 00:15:25,857 because of somebody close to you. 298 00:15:27,994 --> 00:15:29,627 - Narrator: When asked about his whereabouts 299 00:15:29,629 --> 00:15:30,995 the night of the murder, 300 00:15:30,997 --> 00:15:33,731 george says he was at home with his son, 301 00:15:33,733 --> 00:15:36,200 17-year-old andrew. 302 00:15:36,202 --> 00:15:38,436 - Ralph: His son gave him an alibi that, 303 00:15:38,438 --> 00:15:42,106 "my dad never left, he was with me all night long." 304 00:15:42,108 --> 00:15:44,842 obviously, it still doesn't rule out that george 305 00:15:44,844 --> 00:15:46,844 didn't have something to do with this. 306 00:15:49,182 --> 00:15:50,949 - Narrator: And when police ask george if there were 307 00:15:50,951 --> 00:15:53,117 any problems in his marriage, 308 00:15:53,119 --> 00:15:55,520 he admits to the relationship with donna, 309 00:15:55,522 --> 00:15:59,657 but claims that the affair is over. 310 00:15:59,659 --> 00:16:02,226 - The police were asking really probing, 311 00:16:02,228 --> 00:16:04,062 personal questions, and he was smart enough 312 00:16:04,064 --> 00:16:05,897 not to lie to the police. 313 00:16:05,899 --> 00:16:07,665 - Narrator: When asked about the last time 314 00:16:07,667 --> 00:16:09,133 he talked to donna, 315 00:16:09,135 --> 00:16:12,236 george is upfront about that too. 316 00:16:12,238 --> 00:16:15,039 - When he got the call that gail was dead, 317 00:16:15,041 --> 00:16:19,177 he was on the phone with donna talking about business. 318 00:16:19,179 --> 00:16:22,580 - Narrator: If george insists he ended the relationship, 319 00:16:22,582 --> 00:16:25,717 why was he on the phone with his one-time mistress 320 00:16:25,719 --> 00:16:28,519 on the night of his wife's murder? 321 00:16:28,521 --> 00:16:30,054 - Ralph: We're looking at motives. 322 00:16:30,056 --> 00:16:31,389 She's a married woman, 323 00:16:31,391 --> 00:16:34,659 and her husband had marital problems with her. 324 00:16:34,661 --> 00:16:38,563 Left her for months for another woman in florida. 325 00:16:38,565 --> 00:16:39,864 So maybe he's decided, 326 00:16:39,866 --> 00:16:41,632 "I'm gonna get her out of the way." 327 00:16:44,437 --> 00:16:47,438 - narrator: George swears the affair is over, 328 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:49,841 but he says a few months earlier, 329 00:16:49,843 --> 00:16:51,943 after he returned to his marriage, 330 00:16:51,945 --> 00:16:55,613 donna gave him some stunning news. 331 00:16:55,615 --> 00:16:57,915 - Donna started to tell george, 332 00:16:57,917 --> 00:17:02,453 "look, I've got cancer and I'm pregnant." 333 00:17:02,455 --> 00:17:05,423 - narrator: According to george, upon hearing this news, 334 00:17:05,425 --> 00:17:10,695 he made a decision few people could understand or explain. 335 00:17:10,697 --> 00:17:13,931 - Lori: George gets the idea to bring these two women 336 00:17:13,933 --> 00:17:18,069 together in a hotel room somewhere in the area, 337 00:17:18,071 --> 00:17:20,438 to let them talk this out. 338 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:22,140 - M. William: That, to me, was the most remarkable part 339 00:17:22,142 --> 00:17:25,777 of this case: That he put the lover and his wife together. 340 00:17:25,779 --> 00:17:28,279 I don't know what he was thinking in doing that. 341 00:17:30,917 --> 00:17:32,917 - Narrator: George says the meeting took place 342 00:17:32,919 --> 00:17:36,387 at a local hotel on the July 4th weekend, 343 00:17:36,389 --> 00:17:38,990 just three months before the murder. 344 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:42,260 The three of them talked for a while, 345 00:17:42,262 --> 00:17:46,964 and then george left the room, leaving the two women alone. 346 00:17:46,966 --> 00:17:52,336 - I'm sure that that was pretty strange for all of them, okay? 347 00:17:52,338 --> 00:17:56,441 But george was gonna be responsible and help donna 348 00:17:56,443 --> 00:17:57,975 take care of the baby. 349 00:17:57,977 --> 00:17:59,777 He wasn't giving up his family. 350 00:17:59,779 --> 00:18:02,947 He was married to gail for 25 years. 351 00:18:02,949 --> 00:18:05,783 He thought explaining the situation that they were in, 352 00:18:05,785 --> 00:18:08,453 it was a logical thing to do, 353 00:18:08,455 --> 00:18:11,222 because she was gonna have this baby. 354 00:18:11,224 --> 00:18:12,924 - Narrator: George says when gail learned 355 00:18:12,926 --> 00:18:16,494 the details of the affair and the pregnancy, 356 00:18:16,496 --> 00:18:20,231 she immediately became upset and stormed out. 357 00:18:20,233 --> 00:18:22,333 - M. William: Gail just leaves there in tears. 358 00:18:22,335 --> 00:18:25,303 And george does console her. And he drives her home. 359 00:18:25,305 --> 00:18:29,507 But then he says, "I'm going back to the hotel tonight." 360 00:18:29,509 --> 00:18:32,810 - george admitted that that night he went back to the hotel 361 00:18:32,812 --> 00:18:34,812 after dropping his wife off 362 00:18:34,814 --> 00:18:37,248 and had sexual relations with donna. 363 00:18:39,385 --> 00:18:41,219 - Narrator: Now, three months later, 364 00:18:41,221 --> 00:18:44,355 with gail murdered and george alibied, 365 00:18:44,357 --> 00:18:46,657 investigators turn to donna, 366 00:18:46,659 --> 00:18:51,362 the only other person who seems to have a motive to kill gail. 367 00:18:51,364 --> 00:18:54,499 They call her at her home in pensacola. 368 00:18:54,501 --> 00:18:58,069 - She admits to the affair but denies having had anything 369 00:18:58,071 --> 00:19:00,705 to do with--with the killing. 370 00:19:00,707 --> 00:19:03,374 - Narrator: Donna says she has proof in phone records 371 00:19:03,376 --> 00:19:06,577 that she was nowhere near the crime scene. 372 00:19:06,579 --> 00:19:09,580 - She gives them the times, the last time she on the phone 373 00:19:09,582 --> 00:19:12,750 with george was right around the time of the murder. 374 00:19:12,752 --> 00:19:14,719 She says, "check my phone records, 375 00:19:14,721 --> 00:19:16,521 "I've had nothing to do with this. 376 00:19:16,523 --> 00:19:21,559 I'm sorry that woman was murdered, but it's not me." 377 00:19:21,561 --> 00:19:24,996 - narrator: Both gail's husband, george, and his lover, donna, 378 00:19:24,998 --> 00:19:27,298 appear to be ruled out. 379 00:19:30,069 --> 00:19:32,203 Less than 12 hours later, 380 00:19:32,205 --> 00:19:36,107 news of the murder stuns the town of lake orion, 381 00:19:36,109 --> 00:19:39,710 and has worried residents looking for answers. 382 00:19:39,712 --> 00:19:42,446 - I'm getting in the car and my cell phone rings 383 00:19:42,448 --> 00:19:44,081 and it's my aunt. 384 00:19:44,083 --> 00:19:46,150 She said, "gail's been murdered." 385 00:19:47,086 --> 00:19:51,923 I just...I lost it. I lost it. 386 00:19:51,925 --> 00:19:54,358 I said, "that-- it can't be true. 387 00:19:54,360 --> 00:19:56,861 Who would wanna kill her? Who?" 388 00:19:56,863 --> 00:20:00,031 - m. William: The town is really living in fear. 389 00:20:00,033 --> 00:20:04,769 I mean, a woman, a housewife, a mother, a librarian 390 00:20:04,771 --> 00:20:06,304 is executed. 391 00:20:06,306 --> 00:20:08,139 Was this a random act? 392 00:20:08,141 --> 00:20:12,043 Is someone gonna start picking off people around town? 393 00:20:12,045 --> 00:20:13,244 People closed their doors, 394 00:20:13,246 --> 00:20:15,613 put the shades down in their windows. 395 00:20:15,615 --> 00:20:17,215 I mean, this town was living in fear 396 00:20:17,217 --> 00:20:19,150 because there were no answers. 397 00:20:21,988 --> 00:20:24,589 - Narrator: Coming up, a surprised phone call 398 00:20:24,591 --> 00:20:27,925 gives the investigation new life. 399 00:20:27,927 --> 00:20:30,394 - Ralph: I'm listening to this guy; my ears are perking. 400 00:20:30,396 --> 00:20:32,463 'cause he's giving me names. 401 00:20:32,465 --> 00:20:34,899 - M. William: He says, "I believe my ex-girlfriend 402 00:20:34,901 --> 00:20:37,368 and her new boyfriend, they killed gail." 403 00:20:39,839 --> 00:20:42,907 - ♪ 404 00:20:49,616 --> 00:20:52,550 - narrator: Less than 24 hours into the investigation 405 00:20:52,552 --> 00:20:55,820 of gail fulton's murder, detectives believe 406 00:20:55,822 --> 00:20:58,823 there are only two people who might have a motive 407 00:20:58,825 --> 00:21:01,559 in the crime: Her husband, george, 408 00:21:01,561 --> 00:21:05,062 and his long-time lover, donna trapani. 409 00:21:05,064 --> 00:21:10,134 However, both george and donna have rock-solid alibis. 410 00:21:10,136 --> 00:21:13,237 - The police were running out of leads, to use a cliché, 411 00:21:13,239 --> 00:21:15,906 that the case was growing cold. 412 00:21:15,908 --> 00:21:18,409 - Narrator: There was no evidence left at the scene, 413 00:21:18,411 --> 00:21:23,281 but the library security system offers a potential breakthrough. 414 00:21:23,283 --> 00:21:25,283 - There were cameras at that library, 415 00:21:25,285 --> 00:21:26,884 which is pretty important. 416 00:21:30,523 --> 00:21:32,957 - M. William: The first law enforcement officer begins 417 00:21:32,959 --> 00:21:35,993 to look at that video, and what does he see? 418 00:21:35,995 --> 00:21:39,497 He sees gail fulton walk out of the library, 419 00:21:39,499 --> 00:21:43,868 walk up to her vehicle. She gets in, she starts driving, 420 00:21:43,870 --> 00:21:47,338 and it's clear she realizes, "I have a flat tire." 421 00:21:47,340 --> 00:21:50,775 so she stops. She gets out to check the flat tire, 422 00:21:50,777 --> 00:21:55,646 and that's when you see another car pull up near the van. 423 00:21:55,648 --> 00:21:58,649 - Lori: You can see a sedan pull up. 424 00:21:58,651 --> 00:22:03,154 A man gets out, he appears to be all dressed in black. 425 00:22:03,156 --> 00:22:06,190 And he approaches her and very quickly murders her 426 00:22:06,192 --> 00:22:08,125 right there in the parking lot. 427 00:22:08,127 --> 00:22:10,027 - [gunshot] 428 00:22:10,029 --> 00:22:11,996 - m. William: He shoots her directly in the head. 429 00:22:11,998 --> 00:22:15,333 He walks over her execution style 430 00:22:15,335 --> 00:22:17,001 and puts two more rounds in her. 431 00:22:17,003 --> 00:22:18,369 - [muffled gunshots] 432 00:22:18,371 --> 00:22:21,405 - m. William: Jumps back in that car and they take off. 433 00:22:25,511 --> 00:22:27,578 - Narrator: The video is alarming. 434 00:22:27,580 --> 00:22:31,082 Investigators watch the footage over and over again, 435 00:22:31,084 --> 00:22:34,385 looking for some way to identify the shooter 436 00:22:34,387 --> 00:22:36,754 or the getaway vehicle. 437 00:22:36,756 --> 00:22:40,324 - They're able to see some forms or shapes in the sedan 438 00:22:40,326 --> 00:22:42,560 that led them to believe there were--there was at least 439 00:22:42,562 --> 00:22:45,863 one person and maybe two in the sedan when the man 440 00:22:45,865 --> 00:22:47,698 got out and murdered gail. 441 00:22:47,700 --> 00:22:51,569 - Narrator: It's impossible to read the vehicles license plate, 442 00:22:51,571 --> 00:22:53,938 but grainy still-frames of the killers 443 00:22:53,940 --> 00:22:55,706 are released to the public, 444 00:22:55,708 --> 00:22:58,576 which results in a potential lead. 445 00:22:58,578 --> 00:23:00,611 - Two people come forward right away and say, 446 00:23:00,613 --> 00:23:04,715 "you know what? I was driving by the library 447 00:23:04,717 --> 00:23:08,719 "right at that time, and I saw that car pull out 448 00:23:08,721 --> 00:23:10,955 with three people in it." 449 00:23:10,957 --> 00:23:14,759 and this person verifies that the person driving was a woman. 450 00:23:16,796 --> 00:23:21,298 - Unfortunately, they were not able to make out age or race, 451 00:23:21,300 --> 00:23:24,402 just a silhouette of an individual. 452 00:23:27,206 --> 00:23:29,774 - Narrator: While detectives search for new leads, 453 00:23:29,776 --> 00:23:33,210 friends and family lay gail to rest. 454 00:23:33,212 --> 00:23:37,848 - Sylvia: We went to the vigil, um, she had a closed casket, 455 00:23:37,850 --> 00:23:43,821 and then had a huge funeral-- huge, with lots of people. 456 00:23:43,823 --> 00:23:46,257 That something this horrendous would happen to her, 457 00:23:46,259 --> 00:23:48,859 it's a situation you'll never get past. 458 00:23:51,497 --> 00:23:55,566 - Narrator: A month passes and there are no new leads. 459 00:23:55,568 --> 00:23:59,303 Finally, on November 19, 1999, 460 00:23:59,305 --> 00:24:02,940 detectives get an unexpected break. 461 00:24:02,942 --> 00:24:06,343 - Lori: A man named brian miller calls from florida and says, 462 00:24:06,345 --> 00:24:10,548 "I have some information about this murder in orion township." 463 00:24:11,451 --> 00:24:14,819 - he says, "I believe my ex-girlfriend, sybil padgett, 464 00:24:14,821 --> 00:24:18,222 and her new boyfriend, patrick, they killed gail fulton." 465 00:24:21,127 --> 00:24:25,029 - narrator: Brian tells police that just a few days earlier, 466 00:24:25,031 --> 00:24:28,432 sybil, his one-time girlfriend, told him she was involved 467 00:24:28,434 --> 00:24:30,968 in a murder in michigan. 468 00:24:30,970 --> 00:24:34,138 - In this case, when this tipster called in, 469 00:24:34,140 --> 00:24:37,875 he came in with some, uh, credible information. 470 00:24:37,877 --> 00:24:40,277 I'm up listening to this guy, my ears are perking. 471 00:24:40,279 --> 00:24:42,112 'cause he's giving me names. 472 00:24:42,114 --> 00:24:44,014 He's telling me a story that I can buy, 473 00:24:44,016 --> 00:24:47,218 because there's a lot of information in that call. 474 00:24:47,220 --> 00:24:49,286 When the detectives got off that call, man, 475 00:24:49,288 --> 00:24:52,656 they were hitting the computers, bringing these names up fast. 476 00:24:54,360 --> 00:24:58,696 - Narrator: The question now is, who is sybil padgett? 477 00:24:58,698 --> 00:25:02,533 A quick background check reveals a stunning connection 478 00:25:02,535 --> 00:25:05,402 to someone close to the case. 479 00:25:05,404 --> 00:25:08,539 - Larry: Sybil was a certified nurse. 480 00:25:08,541 --> 00:25:11,308 And she worked for donna for years. 481 00:25:11,310 --> 00:25:14,845 She was one of the first employees she ever hired. 482 00:25:14,847 --> 00:25:16,714 - M. William: Once they start putting all these pieces 483 00:25:16,716 --> 00:25:22,219 together, with all the dominos falling, there's one left. 484 00:25:22,221 --> 00:25:23,554 And that's donna trapani. 485 00:25:26,158 --> 00:25:28,893 - Narrator: When detectives talk to donna's coworkers, 486 00:25:28,895 --> 00:25:32,496 they learn that donna was as hard on her employees 487 00:25:32,498 --> 00:25:35,566 as she was on herself. 488 00:25:35,568 --> 00:25:37,101 - She had a lot of people working for her 489 00:25:37,103 --> 00:25:38,702 and people were a bit afraid of her. 490 00:25:38,704 --> 00:25:43,407 She was ambitious but a difficult person to deal with. 491 00:25:43,409 --> 00:25:45,609 - M. William: Employees said when she walked in, 492 00:25:45,611 --> 00:25:48,379 you never knew who was coming in that door. 493 00:25:48,381 --> 00:25:50,548 She could just fly off the handle like that 494 00:25:50,550 --> 00:25:52,249 at any little thing. 495 00:25:54,554 --> 00:25:57,187 - Narrator: Donna's coworkers claim donna approached 496 00:25:57,189 --> 00:26:01,392 all her relationships with the same intensity. 497 00:26:01,394 --> 00:26:04,028 - Lori: The relationship between donna and george 498 00:26:04,030 --> 00:26:05,563 was very strange to me, 499 00:26:05,565 --> 00:26:08,732 because he had this lovely kind of classy wife at home, 500 00:26:08,734 --> 00:26:11,302 and donna-- donna had some issues. 501 00:26:11,304 --> 00:26:13,771 She had a pretty volatile temper. 502 00:26:13,773 --> 00:26:16,440 - Narrator: And yet, george was spellbound 503 00:26:16,442 --> 00:26:18,309 for over a year. 504 00:26:18,311 --> 00:26:21,045 - Lori: There was a lot of back and forth, I think. 505 00:26:21,047 --> 00:26:24,281 Both donna and george were pushing each other. 506 00:26:24,283 --> 00:26:28,485 It seemed like donna was determined not to let him go. 507 00:26:31,223 --> 00:26:33,290 - Narrator: Investigators must now determine 508 00:26:33,292 --> 00:26:35,926 if donna's infatuation with george 509 00:26:35,928 --> 00:26:38,596 led to his wife's murder. 510 00:26:38,598 --> 00:26:41,098 - M. William: Detectives head down to pensacola, florida, 511 00:26:41,100 --> 00:26:42,566 to interview donna. 512 00:26:42,568 --> 00:26:48,005 And immediately, they notice a baby bump. She is pregnant. 513 00:26:48,007 --> 00:26:49,907 - Narrator: Deputies grill donna, 514 00:26:49,909 --> 00:26:52,343 but she doesn't flinch. 515 00:26:52,345 --> 00:26:55,279 - Ralph: It was a very lengthy interview, seven hours. 516 00:26:55,281 --> 00:26:58,015 She gave up some information. 517 00:26:58,017 --> 00:27:02,353 She was pretty cagey about what she said and what she did. 518 00:27:04,423 --> 00:27:07,524 - Narrator: Again and again, donna denies involvement 519 00:27:07,526 --> 00:27:09,360 in any murder plot, 520 00:27:09,362 --> 00:27:12,262 and insists that if sybil set out to kill gail, 521 00:27:12,264 --> 00:27:14,465 she did it on her own. 522 00:27:15,601 --> 00:27:18,535 - Larry: Donna tried to say, "sybil noticed this, 523 00:27:18,537 --> 00:27:21,605 "knew how much I was in love and felt that george 524 00:27:21,607 --> 00:27:26,910 was playing a game with me and not being completely honest," 525 00:27:26,912 --> 00:27:29,513 or loved her at one point but decided to go back 526 00:27:29,515 --> 00:27:33,384 to his family, and sybil was upset with george over that. 527 00:27:33,386 --> 00:27:36,887 So, that's donna's explanation why sybil would have gotten 528 00:27:36,889 --> 00:27:39,490 involved and tried to do something that she thought 529 00:27:39,492 --> 00:27:41,659 was helping donna. 530 00:27:41,661 --> 00:27:44,395 - She was shifting blame, uh, left and right, 531 00:27:44,397 --> 00:27:46,664 not taking any responsibility. 532 00:27:46,666 --> 00:27:49,400 She denied--adamantly denied everything. 533 00:27:53,072 --> 00:27:54,838 - Narrator: Over the course of their interview, 534 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:59,643 something unusual catches the detectives' attention. 535 00:27:59,645 --> 00:28:01,679 - While this conversation is going on, 536 00:28:01,681 --> 00:28:03,814 donna's cat enters the room. 537 00:28:03,816 --> 00:28:07,317 - It jumped on her stomach and her stomach caved in. 538 00:28:07,319 --> 00:28:09,887 That's called an investigative clue, I think it is, 539 00:28:09,889 --> 00:28:11,722 that maybe you're not pregnant. 540 00:28:13,893 --> 00:28:16,193 - Narrator: It looks as if there's no baby 541 00:28:16,195 --> 00:28:18,896 in donna's baby bump. 542 00:28:18,898 --> 00:28:21,231 - Lori: It's clearly a fake pregnancy. 543 00:28:21,233 --> 00:28:24,068 A woman faking a pregnancy is an awful thing anyway. 544 00:28:24,070 --> 00:28:26,203 But then to go to that extreme where you look like 545 00:28:26,205 --> 00:28:27,838 you're seven months pregnant, 546 00:28:27,840 --> 00:28:29,373 and you're not even very good at it, I mean, 547 00:28:29,375 --> 00:28:32,209 she must have stuffed the pillow up when the cops came. 548 00:28:32,211 --> 00:28:34,344 I mean, she wasn't wandering around with a pillow 549 00:28:34,346 --> 00:28:37,414 under her shirt 24 hours a day. 550 00:28:37,416 --> 00:28:38,549 - You have to ask yourself, 551 00:28:38,551 --> 00:28:40,150 "why would donna go to these lengths?" 552 00:28:42,755 --> 00:28:45,122 - narrator: Coming up, investigators believe 553 00:28:45,124 --> 00:28:48,058 donna is lying about her pregnancy, 554 00:28:48,060 --> 00:28:51,595 but what does she really know about the murder? 555 00:28:51,597 --> 00:28:54,798 - Ralph: She shifted blame on to george. 556 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:58,635 She claimed that george was the mastermind of this crime. 557 00:29:00,306 --> 00:29:03,240 - ♪ 558 00:29:10,549 --> 00:29:12,750 - narrator: Detectives investigating the murder 559 00:29:12,752 --> 00:29:16,620 of gail fulton have narrowed in on donna trapani 560 00:29:16,622 --> 00:29:18,455 as a possible suspect, 561 00:29:18,457 --> 00:29:21,625 but they lack the evidence for an arrest. 562 00:29:21,627 --> 00:29:24,895 So they track down donna's employee, sybil padgett, 563 00:29:24,897 --> 00:29:29,266 and her boyfriend, 19-year-old patrick alexander. 564 00:29:29,268 --> 00:29:30,701 - Lori: When sybil was interviewed, 565 00:29:30,703 --> 00:29:32,202 the investigators said, "we haven't arrested you, 566 00:29:32,204 --> 00:29:36,373 we just wanna ask you about the murder of gail fulton." 567 00:29:36,375 --> 00:29:38,142 she initially said, "I just don't know 568 00:29:38,144 --> 00:29:41,278 what you're talking about." 569 00:29:41,280 --> 00:29:44,581 - narrator: Sybil continues to deny everything, 570 00:29:44,583 --> 00:29:47,618 but patrick cracks right away. 571 00:29:47,620 --> 00:29:50,154 - M. William: Patrick says the plan is---which donna 572 00:29:50,156 --> 00:29:54,925 comes up with: "sybil, you guys need to drive up there, 573 00:29:54,927 --> 00:29:59,997 "not fly, drive a car from here to michigan, 574 00:29:59,999 --> 00:30:02,833 commit that murder, and then drive back." 575 00:30:02,835 --> 00:30:06,970 - ♪ 576 00:30:06,972 --> 00:30:08,472 - narrator: According to patrick, 577 00:30:08,474 --> 00:30:13,143 donna knew just how to motivate sybil. 578 00:30:13,145 --> 00:30:15,512 - M. William: Sybil padgett was not a good employee. 579 00:30:15,514 --> 00:30:18,515 And donna used that leverage to go to sybil and say, 580 00:30:18,517 --> 00:30:23,287 "listen, I'm gonna fire you, but...If you can find me 581 00:30:23,289 --> 00:30:26,690 "someone to get rid of this problem I have, 582 00:30:26,692 --> 00:30:29,092 "I'll let you keep your job. And you know what? 583 00:30:29,094 --> 00:30:31,795 "I'll even pay you $5,000, 584 00:30:31,797 --> 00:30:35,465 and I'll pay whoever you get $5,000." 585 00:30:36,836 --> 00:30:42,039 - donna had provided sybil and patrick with a map 586 00:30:42,041 --> 00:30:44,374 of the--where the library was located, 587 00:30:44,376 --> 00:30:47,477 where the fulton house was located, 588 00:30:47,479 --> 00:30:48,846 and a picture of gail. 589 00:30:52,218 --> 00:30:54,651 - Narrator: Patrick says on September 13, 590 00:30:54,653 --> 00:30:59,489 he and sybil drove to michigan to kill gail fulton. 591 00:30:59,491 --> 00:31:01,358 - Ralph: During the confession, patrick spoke about 592 00:31:01,360 --> 00:31:03,327 their first trip to michigan. 593 00:31:03,329 --> 00:31:06,496 They sat outside for several hours, 594 00:31:06,498 --> 00:31:07,798 they observed her, 595 00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:10,500 then they discussed what they wanted to do. 596 00:31:10,502 --> 00:31:13,070 - M. William: But what happens is, they chicken out. 597 00:31:13,072 --> 00:31:15,038 They don't have the guts to go through with this. 598 00:31:17,877 --> 00:31:19,476 - Narrator: According to patrick, 599 00:31:19,478 --> 00:31:23,247 donna wasn't ready to put the murder plot to rest, 600 00:31:23,249 --> 00:31:26,516 and eventually, donna found someone who was willing 601 00:31:26,518 --> 00:31:30,187 to pull the trigger: Her former roommate's fiance, 602 00:31:30,189 --> 00:31:35,092 32-year-old long-haul trucker, kevin ouellette. 603 00:31:35,094 --> 00:31:38,161 - They're looking for somebody to help them out, uh, 604 00:31:38,163 --> 00:31:40,030 kill somebody, 605 00:31:40,032 --> 00:31:43,400 and that's where kevin's name came in. 606 00:31:43,402 --> 00:31:46,837 - Kevin says, you know, "I'm not doing this alone. 607 00:31:46,839 --> 00:31:48,572 "if I'm doing this, you're gonna be there. 608 00:31:48,574 --> 00:31:51,241 You're driving the car, and you're gonna be with me." 609 00:31:54,046 --> 00:31:56,613 - narrator: Patrick says he, sybil, and kevin 610 00:31:56,615 --> 00:32:00,250 drove to lake orion and set the murder plot in motion 611 00:32:00,252 --> 00:32:03,787 on the night of October 4. 612 00:32:03,789 --> 00:32:05,055 - M. William: I believe they were waiting 613 00:32:05,057 --> 00:32:06,623 in the back of the parking lot. 614 00:32:06,625 --> 00:32:10,560 And right before gail is supposed to get out of work-- 615 00:32:10,562 --> 00:32:12,262 because they know the exact time-- 616 00:32:12,264 --> 00:32:14,264 they drive up and they slash the tire, 617 00:32:14,266 --> 00:32:16,199 and then they drive away. 618 00:32:16,201 --> 00:32:18,068 They drive out of the parking lot, 619 00:32:18,070 --> 00:32:19,803 around the block a little bit, 620 00:32:19,805 --> 00:32:22,973 and then they come back when they know she's out. 621 00:32:22,975 --> 00:32:25,075 - They, uh, drove up in a car 622 00:32:25,077 --> 00:32:27,444 while she was tending to her car. 623 00:32:27,446 --> 00:32:30,047 - M. William: Someone in the back seat gets out, 624 00:32:30,049 --> 00:32:32,115 kind of clad in black, 625 00:32:32,117 --> 00:32:36,119 and just walks up to gail fulton and executes her. 626 00:32:36,121 --> 00:32:38,088 - [muffled gunshot] 627 00:32:38,090 --> 00:32:40,958 - gets back in that car, takes off. 628 00:32:44,063 --> 00:32:46,396 - Narrator: The killers head back to florida, 629 00:32:46,398 --> 00:32:49,766 convinced they've pulled off the perfect murder. 630 00:32:49,768 --> 00:32:52,169 But there was one problem. 631 00:32:52,171 --> 00:32:54,504 - They didn't know there was surveillance video 632 00:32:54,506 --> 00:32:56,340 of the library. 633 00:32:56,342 --> 00:32:58,575 - Narrator: Patrick's story of the murder matches up 634 00:32:58,577 --> 00:33:01,945 perfectly with what's on the surveillance video. 635 00:33:01,947 --> 00:33:04,181 When investigators confront sybil 636 00:33:04,183 --> 00:33:08,151 with patrick's version of events, she folds. 637 00:33:08,153 --> 00:33:10,187 - Raymond: She was very distraught, 638 00:33:10,189 --> 00:33:12,155 very emotional and, uh, 639 00:33:12,157 --> 00:33:15,525 it seemed like she unburdened herself with her involvement 640 00:33:15,527 --> 00:33:17,861 in this case-- or alleged involvement. 641 00:33:17,863 --> 00:33:23,166 - Sybil, you know, she came up with her own story about, uh, 642 00:33:23,168 --> 00:33:27,938 donna manipulated her, held everything over her head. 643 00:33:27,940 --> 00:33:29,606 She worked with donna. 644 00:33:29,608 --> 00:33:31,942 She was afraid that donna was going to, um, 645 00:33:31,944 --> 00:33:34,678 have her child taken away. 646 00:33:34,680 --> 00:33:37,381 - She said, "we did it. Kevin jumped out of the car 647 00:33:37,383 --> 00:33:39,950 "and shot her, we did it for the money." 648 00:33:39,952 --> 00:33:42,386 she was very remorseful, crying. 649 00:33:42,388 --> 00:33:43,653 I don't know if she was remorseful because 650 00:33:43,655 --> 00:33:46,323 she had gotten caught, or if she was remorseful 651 00:33:46,325 --> 00:33:49,459 because she had been involved in first-degree murder. 652 00:33:49,461 --> 00:33:51,194 - Narrator: Both sybil and patrick 653 00:33:51,196 --> 00:33:54,264 are arrested and charged with murder. 654 00:33:56,001 --> 00:34:00,237 Two days later, on December 2, the fbi gets a tip 655 00:34:00,239 --> 00:34:03,740 that kevin oullette is in connecticut. 656 00:34:03,742 --> 00:34:06,643 - Kevin ouellette was a long-haul truck driver so, 657 00:34:06,645 --> 00:34:11,181 you know, I think he was making his way, uh, up 95. 658 00:34:11,183 --> 00:34:15,318 We, uh, formed up a perimeter around the vehicle, 659 00:34:15,320 --> 00:34:17,187 a big 18-wheel truck. 660 00:34:18,824 --> 00:34:22,926 We called him out, uh, via a blow horn and he came out 661 00:34:22,928 --> 00:34:24,694 in a compliant manner, 662 00:34:24,696 --> 00:34:27,030 and we transported him, uh, 663 00:34:27,032 --> 00:34:29,199 in a connecticut state police cruiser. 664 00:34:29,201 --> 00:34:31,435 - It did go down by the numbers. 665 00:34:31,437 --> 00:34:33,670 He was booked in the local jail. 666 00:34:33,672 --> 00:34:36,673 - Rich: I think he knew that he was really caught, 667 00:34:36,675 --> 00:34:38,375 and he knew why. 668 00:34:38,377 --> 00:34:42,412 And that showed on his face and he proceeded to confess 669 00:34:42,414 --> 00:34:46,116 to the crime, uh, of murder for hire of, uh, 670 00:34:46,118 --> 00:34:48,051 martha gail fulton, 671 00:34:48,053 --> 00:34:52,255 and that he was hired by donna trapani. 672 00:34:56,428 --> 00:34:58,628 - Narrator: With identical accounts from each 673 00:34:58,630 --> 00:35:01,031 of the three suspects in custody, 674 00:35:01,033 --> 00:35:05,035 all signs point to donna as the mastermind. 675 00:35:05,037 --> 00:35:07,471 But investigators need proof, 676 00:35:07,473 --> 00:35:11,708 so they start by conducting a search of sybil's home. 677 00:35:11,710 --> 00:35:16,713 - The police obtained a search warrant on sybil's house 678 00:35:16,715 --> 00:35:20,050 and found a picture of gail, 679 00:35:20,052 --> 00:35:23,820 the map of the pertinent locations in orion, 680 00:35:23,822 --> 00:35:27,124 a handwritten schedule of gail's hours. 681 00:35:27,126 --> 00:35:29,426 - The most incriminating piece of evidence that I thought 682 00:35:29,428 --> 00:35:31,261 was there was a--was a map. 683 00:35:31,263 --> 00:35:34,030 This was before gpss on cell phones, 684 00:35:34,032 --> 00:35:38,435 so I think there was an actual paper map of the lake orion. 685 00:35:38,437 --> 00:35:42,772 - Narrator: Both the fulton home and the library are circled. 686 00:35:42,774 --> 00:35:45,175 Detectives also find what appears to be 687 00:35:45,177 --> 00:35:47,077 a fake suicide note, 688 00:35:47,079 --> 00:35:51,915 made to look like it's written from gail to george. 689 00:35:51,917 --> 00:35:53,683 - After they compared the suicide note 690 00:35:53,685 --> 00:35:57,621 for handwriting exemplars and fingerprints, 691 00:35:57,623 --> 00:36:01,291 both of those analysis came back to donna. 692 00:36:03,795 --> 00:36:05,929 - Lori: They were able to determine that donna 693 00:36:05,931 --> 00:36:08,798 had written the notes about gail's schedule. 694 00:36:08,800 --> 00:36:11,801 And then they also found, uh, donna's fingerprints 695 00:36:11,803 --> 00:36:14,504 on a lot of the material. 696 00:36:14,506 --> 00:36:18,008 - It's like she provided all the evidence you need, really, 697 00:36:18,010 --> 00:36:19,209 to convict her. 698 00:36:21,613 --> 00:36:24,147 - Narrator: With a mountain of evidence against her, 699 00:36:24,149 --> 00:36:28,018 investigators have one last unanswered question: 700 00:36:28,020 --> 00:36:30,687 Did donna plot alone? 701 00:36:30,689 --> 00:36:32,489 - Lori: I think the police initially were trying 702 00:36:32,491 --> 00:36:35,192 to make sure that george didn't plant this idea 703 00:36:35,194 --> 00:36:38,328 in anybody's head, didn't pay anybody. 704 00:36:40,199 --> 00:36:43,667 - Narrator: Coming up, a killer comes clean. 705 00:36:43,669 --> 00:36:46,069 - He testified in court, and that was really chilling. 706 00:36:46,071 --> 00:36:48,205 He said, "I did it for donna." 707 00:36:48,207 --> 00:36:51,775 - she had this personality, almost like cult-like. 708 00:36:54,079 --> 00:36:58,014 - ♪ 709 00:37:04,289 --> 00:37:07,324 - narrator: A mounting pile of evidence and the confessions 710 00:37:07,326 --> 00:37:11,127 of three accomplices indicate that donna trapani 711 00:37:11,129 --> 00:37:16,533 promised them $15,000 for the murder of gail fulton. 712 00:37:16,535 --> 00:37:19,369 - M. William: Law enforcement moves in on donna trapani 713 00:37:19,371 --> 00:37:20,937 and they put her in cuffs. 714 00:37:20,939 --> 00:37:24,808 Her reaction to that is: "I had nothing to do with this! 715 00:37:24,810 --> 00:37:27,777 Those people acted on their own!" 716 00:37:27,779 --> 00:37:30,046 - when they patted her down and cuffed her up, 717 00:37:30,048 --> 00:37:33,617 they found, like, three towels underneath her shirt. 718 00:37:33,619 --> 00:37:38,221 - Donna was not pregnant. All lies, all manipulation. 719 00:37:38,223 --> 00:37:41,191 - She was playing this pregnancy scenario, 720 00:37:41,193 --> 00:37:43,393 I guess, to her grave, if you will. 721 00:37:45,397 --> 00:37:48,365 - Narrator: After her arrest, investigators bring donna 722 00:37:48,367 --> 00:37:51,868 to the station to question her again. 723 00:37:51,870 --> 00:37:54,404 Donna admits faking the pregnancy, 724 00:37:54,406 --> 00:37:58,141 but claims it has nothing to do with the murder. 725 00:37:58,143 --> 00:38:00,844 - Larry: She's saying, "well, it's because I love george, 726 00:38:00,846 --> 00:38:03,179 "and I was pregnant and lost the baby. 727 00:38:03,181 --> 00:38:05,815 "and--and I wanted him to know that I cared about him 728 00:38:05,817 --> 00:38:07,917 "and wanted him to still show the love 729 00:38:07,919 --> 00:38:10,020 that he told me he had for me." 730 00:38:10,022 --> 00:38:13,390 so that was her explanation on that stuff. 731 00:38:13,392 --> 00:38:16,559 - Narrator: As for her claim about having terminal cancer, 732 00:38:16,561 --> 00:38:20,430 medical records expose the truth. 733 00:38:20,432 --> 00:38:24,267 - There was nothing, really, in the medical records 734 00:38:24,269 --> 00:38:26,136 saying she had cancer. 735 00:38:28,940 --> 00:38:30,940 - Narrator: As questioning continues, 736 00:38:30,942 --> 00:38:36,112 donna attempts to use george as the scapegoat this time. 737 00:38:36,114 --> 00:38:39,916 - Ralph: Donna shifted blame onto george. 738 00:38:39,918 --> 00:38:43,620 She claimed that george was the mastermind of this crime. 739 00:38:43,622 --> 00:38:45,555 - By the time the warrant had been authorized, 740 00:38:45,557 --> 00:38:47,891 by the time you looked in the discovery, it was clear 741 00:38:47,893 --> 00:38:51,127 that george didn't have involvement in it. 742 00:38:51,129 --> 00:38:52,962 - She stuck to her guns. She, you know, right-- 743 00:38:52,964 --> 00:38:55,632 right down the line, she flat-out refused to confess 744 00:38:55,634 --> 00:38:59,069 or to even acknowledge she had anything to do with it. 745 00:38:59,071 --> 00:39:02,472 You know, these three people drive a thousand miles 746 00:39:02,474 --> 00:39:05,909 to kill a l--a librarian because of this, you know, 747 00:39:05,911 --> 00:39:09,279 tawdry affair this woman's having with george fulton. 748 00:39:09,281 --> 00:39:11,614 People were sort of mesmerized by it because it had 749 00:39:11,616 --> 00:39:14,417 a soap opera quality to it. 750 00:39:16,054 --> 00:39:17,987 - Narrator: Before the trials begin, 751 00:39:17,989 --> 00:39:21,157 patrick alexander accepts a plea deal. 752 00:39:21,159 --> 00:39:23,927 He agrees to testify against donna 753 00:39:23,929 --> 00:39:26,629 and his girlfriend, sybil padgett. 754 00:39:26,631 --> 00:39:30,100 - In exchange for his testimony, patrick alexander was sentenced 755 00:39:30,102 --> 00:39:32,836 to, uh, 22 to 40 years in prison. 756 00:39:35,907 --> 00:39:39,142 - Narrator: Next up is kevin oullette. 757 00:39:39,144 --> 00:39:42,612 - I flew all the way out there, and then maybe an hour 758 00:39:42,614 --> 00:39:46,850 before I was set to testify, and he pled--uh, he pled out. 759 00:39:46,852 --> 00:39:48,418 He pled guilty. 760 00:39:48,420 --> 00:39:50,754 - Narrator: He also cuts a deal with prosecutors 761 00:39:50,756 --> 00:39:53,423 to testify against sybil and donna 762 00:39:53,425 --> 00:39:56,459 if he's allowed to serve his sentence at a federal prison 763 00:39:56,461 --> 00:39:59,195 in maine, close to his family. 764 00:39:59,197 --> 00:40:02,265 - M. William: Kevin ouellette is convicted of first-degree 765 00:40:02,267 --> 00:40:03,867 felony murder. 766 00:40:03,869 --> 00:40:06,336 He gets life without parole in prison. 767 00:40:07,973 --> 00:40:11,841 - You don't often hear somebody testify to, uh, going up 768 00:40:11,843 --> 00:40:14,778 and shooting somebody in the manner that he did, 769 00:40:14,780 --> 00:40:17,147 upon donna trapani's will. 770 00:40:17,149 --> 00:40:19,315 I think the jury thought that was pretty compelling. 771 00:40:20,519 --> 00:40:22,485 - Narrator: With two guilty pleas, 772 00:40:22,487 --> 00:40:25,789 prosecutors turn to their remaining suspects-- 773 00:40:25,791 --> 00:40:27,891 sybil and donna. 774 00:40:27,893 --> 00:40:31,461 - Rich: Mr. Kaluzny and I tried trapani and padgett together. 775 00:40:31,463 --> 00:40:36,032 And we had separate juries to decide the case. 776 00:40:36,034 --> 00:40:38,468 In michigan--and most states have a similar statute-- 777 00:40:38,470 --> 00:40:41,171 even if you are aware that a crime is being committed, 778 00:40:41,173 --> 00:40:43,239 if you are just there, 779 00:40:43,241 --> 00:40:46,209 then you can't be found guilty of that crime. 780 00:40:46,211 --> 00:40:48,845 And so that was my argument, was that even though there was 781 00:40:48,847 --> 00:40:50,713 an acknowledgement that sybil knew 782 00:40:50,715 --> 00:40:53,583 what was going to transpire, 783 00:40:53,585 --> 00:40:57,120 that simply being in the car was not sufficient. 784 00:40:57,122 --> 00:40:59,489 - Narrator: On December 11, 2000, 785 00:40:59,491 --> 00:41:03,893 a jury reaches a verdict on sybil padgett. 786 00:41:03,895 --> 00:41:06,930 - It was guilty as charged on both the conspiracy 787 00:41:06,932 --> 00:41:08,998 and the first-degree murder. 788 00:41:09,000 --> 00:41:12,368 But I can't say that I didn't see it coming. 789 00:41:12,370 --> 00:41:16,072 I'm not sure that sybil was surprised by it either. 790 00:41:16,074 --> 00:41:19,409 - Narrator: Sybil is sentenced to life without parole. 791 00:41:19,411 --> 00:41:22,612 She has expressed remorse for her part in the crime, 792 00:41:22,614 --> 00:41:25,281 but still blames donna. 793 00:41:25,283 --> 00:41:29,719 - Sybil, she just felt like donna had this personality, 794 00:41:29,721 --> 00:41:31,588 almost like cult-like where 795 00:41:31,590 --> 00:41:34,424 she could just dominate her will, if you would. 796 00:41:34,426 --> 00:41:37,227 - Narrator: Despite donna's claims of innocence, 797 00:41:37,229 --> 00:41:41,364 prosecutors believe she displayed a clear motive. 798 00:41:41,366 --> 00:41:43,233 - She wanted george back, 799 00:41:43,235 --> 00:41:44,934 and she didn't want gail in the way. 800 00:41:46,938 --> 00:41:49,539 - Narrator: For the jury, it's difficult to ignore 801 00:41:49,541 --> 00:41:53,209 three conspirators with virtually identical stories 802 00:41:53,211 --> 00:41:54,477 of what happened, 803 00:41:54,479 --> 00:41:58,381 and a surveillance tape that verifies their claims. 804 00:41:58,383 --> 00:41:59,749 - Raymond: The three of them all made 805 00:41:59,751 --> 00:42:01,584 fairly consistent confessions. 806 00:42:01,586 --> 00:42:03,720 All of those statements, they overall--there were some 807 00:42:03,722 --> 00:42:06,089 deviation, but they overall matched. 808 00:42:06,091 --> 00:42:08,825 - Narrator: Donna trapani is also found guilty 809 00:42:08,827 --> 00:42:13,296 of first-degree murder, and gets life without parole. 810 00:42:13,298 --> 00:42:15,565 - I think if you called donna trapani up on, you know, 811 00:42:15,567 --> 00:42:16,833 the michigan department of corrections, 812 00:42:16,835 --> 00:42:18,668 she would tell you she's innocent today. 813 00:42:18,670 --> 00:42:21,271 - Larry: I was not surprised with the verdict in this case. 814 00:42:21,273 --> 00:42:24,274 The evidence, if you step away and look at it, 815 00:42:24,276 --> 00:42:25,775 was pretty overwhelming. 816 00:42:25,777 --> 00:42:28,478 Everybody loses in a murder case. 817 00:42:31,249 --> 00:42:33,850 - Narrator: George fulton was found to have no role 818 00:42:33,852 --> 00:42:37,654 in his wife's murder, but even supporters agree: 819 00:42:37,656 --> 00:42:41,624 His affair ultimately led to gail's death. 820 00:42:41,626 --> 00:42:43,793 - You know, I never spoke to him about it. 821 00:42:43,795 --> 00:42:46,629 I never, never-- even at the funeral. 822 00:42:46,631 --> 00:42:50,199 He was there, I--I was too angry. 823 00:42:50,201 --> 00:42:51,634 And I was angry at him. 824 00:42:51,636 --> 00:42:55,705 And he brought this evil person into their family. 825 00:42:55,707 --> 00:42:57,607 I'll never get over it. 826 00:42:57,609 --> 00:43:01,177 - Lori: Donna's motive was to live happily after. 827 00:43:01,179 --> 00:43:03,479 That george would never know what happened to gail 828 00:43:03,481 --> 00:43:05,048 if everybody kept quiet. 829 00:43:05,050 --> 00:43:06,983 She thought this was gonna be the best way 830 00:43:06,985 --> 00:43:08,585 to get what she wanted. 831 00:43:11,957 --> 00:43:22,765 - ♪ 832 00:43:24,469 --> 00:43:26,369 ♪♪