1 00:00:03,244 --> 00:00:05,579 - FEMALE NARRATOR: For one divorcee, 2 00:00:05,655 --> 00:00:10,333 extravagant south Florida was the place to get a fresh start. 3 00:00:10,344 --> 00:00:14,680 - VALERIE: She wanted to live the exciting life in Miami. 4 00:00:14,757 --> 00:00:18,008 - JACLYN: She received half of the proceeds from the house. 5 00:00:18,019 --> 00:00:22,354 She used that money to live in a hotel on the beach. 6 00:00:22,431 --> 00:00:24,690 - She liked the high life. 7 00:00:24,767 --> 00:00:26,349 - NARRATOR: While she lived her dreams 8 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:29,644 in the Sunshine State, a stunning crime 9 00:00:29,721 --> 00:00:33,940 from her hometown threatens to upend her new life. 10 00:00:34,017 --> 00:00:37,536 - GLEN: They found two bodies there, a man and a woman. 11 00:00:37,613 --> 00:00:40,456 - TIM: The victims had sustained shotgun blasts. 12 00:00:41,784 --> 00:00:44,701 - NARRATOR: As investigators race to catch a killer, 13 00:00:44,712 --> 00:00:48,622 a seedy underbelly comes to light. 14 00:00:48,698 --> 00:00:53,335 - JD: They had an infatuation with the Mafia lifestyle. 15 00:00:53,411 --> 00:00:55,387 - JACLYN: He tells them his name is now 16 00:00:55,464 --> 00:00:57,339 "Anthony Machetti". 17 00:00:57,415 --> 00:01:01,468 - VALERIE: His initials would be AIM, which would be really, 18 00:01:01,545 --> 00:01:03,804 kind of cool if you're a hitman. 19 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:05,731 - NARRATOR: And investigators will uncover 20 00:01:05,808 --> 00:01:10,644 a savage plot driven by ambition and greed. 21 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:12,404 - ALAN: She would con anybody into anything 22 00:01:12,481 --> 00:01:15,065 to try to reach her goal. 23 00:01:15,076 --> 00:01:18,985 - VALERIE: She's screaming at us, "hold him, hold him." 24 00:01:19,062 --> 00:01:21,205 She destroyed all of us. 25 00:01:23,942 --> 00:01:32,925 - ♪ 26 00:01:35,337 --> 00:01:39,047 - NARRATOR: August 31st, 1974. 27 00:01:39,124 --> 00:01:42,768 On this calm, summer afternoon in Macon, Georgia, 28 00:01:42,845 --> 00:01:45,554 a local pilot decides to take some guests out 29 00:01:45,630 --> 00:01:47,439 for a short flight. 30 00:01:47,516 --> 00:01:48,941 - TIM: He had just gotten engaged 31 00:01:49,017 --> 00:01:51,518 and he was showing his new bride-to-be 32 00:01:51,595 --> 00:01:53,728 what the area looked like. 33 00:01:53,805 --> 00:01:56,273 - NARRATOR: Once in the air, the pilot gets a view 34 00:01:56,283 --> 00:02:00,068 of something he never expected. 35 00:02:00,145 --> 00:02:04,948 - GLEN: We got the phone call reporting a pilot seeing a body 36 00:02:04,959 --> 00:02:06,500 beside a car. 37 00:02:09,204 --> 00:02:12,080 - TIM: They were shocked so he circled around again 38 00:02:12,157 --> 00:02:14,800 and then flew to the airport and called 39 00:02:14,877 --> 00:02:17,419 the Bibb County Sheriff's Office. 40 00:02:17,495 --> 00:02:18,962 - NARRATOR: The pilot informs police 41 00:02:18,973 --> 00:02:20,922 that the body is in a new neighborhood 42 00:02:20,999 --> 00:02:24,143 under construction on the north side of Macon. 43 00:02:25,721 --> 00:02:27,929 The situation becomes more severe 44 00:02:28,006 --> 00:02:30,482 when police arrive on the scene and discover 45 00:02:30,559 --> 00:02:33,652 not one dead body, but two. 46 00:02:37,158 --> 00:02:39,774 - GLEN: Two patrol officers arrive first, the supervisor 47 00:02:39,851 --> 00:02:42,444 and then the deputy riding with him, 48 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:46,489 and they found the two bodies there, a man and a woman. 49 00:02:46,500 --> 00:02:50,785 - TIM: There was a shotgun blast to the chest of the male 50 00:02:50,862 --> 00:02:53,330 and to the head of the male. 51 00:02:53,340 --> 00:02:57,125 Inside the vehicle, with her legs sticking out, 52 00:02:57,202 --> 00:03:00,679 was a woman and she had been shot in the head. 53 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:04,758 One of the deputies put his hand on the hood of the car 54 00:03:04,834 --> 00:03:08,136 to try to determine how long the bodies had been there. 55 00:03:08,213 --> 00:03:10,689 The hood was still warm. 56 00:03:10,766 --> 00:03:13,859 So, they knew it had happened very recently. 57 00:03:15,196 --> 00:03:18,030 - JACLYN: Ray Wilks came up on the scene. 58 00:03:18,106 --> 00:03:22,484 He was the, the sheriff and he knew the victims. 59 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:25,487 So, they were identified very quickly. 60 00:03:25,563 --> 00:03:27,656 - GLEN: The two victims were newlyweds 61 00:03:27,732 --> 00:03:32,661 from Macon, Ronnie and Juanita Akins. 62 00:03:32,737 --> 00:03:38,124 Juanita Akins had taken a blast across her arms, 63 00:03:38,201 --> 00:03:40,126 trying to block the shotgun blast. 64 00:03:40,203 --> 00:03:43,838 So she obviously saw it coming. 65 00:03:43,915 --> 00:03:46,058 - ALAN: Ronnie was just a super guy 66 00:03:46,134 --> 00:03:49,177 and for this to happen to him and his new wife, Juanita, 67 00:03:49,254 --> 00:03:50,896 was just unbelievable. 68 00:03:57,887 --> 00:04:01,648 - NARRATOR: Born in 1936, Joseph Ronald Akins, 69 00:04:01,725 --> 00:04:03,742 more commonly known as "Ronnie", 70 00:04:03,819 --> 00:04:08,247 grew up in Athens, Georgia with his three brothers. 71 00:04:08,323 --> 00:04:12,826 - VALERIE: My dad was the second of four boys. 72 00:04:12,902 --> 00:04:16,755 They were a very close-knit family. 73 00:04:16,832 --> 00:04:18,590 - NARRATOR: Ronnie was a jack of all trades 74 00:04:18,667 --> 00:04:21,668 who loved to fix things. 75 00:04:21,745 --> 00:04:23,929 - VALERIE: My dad was into everything. 76 00:04:24,006 --> 00:04:27,841 If anything broke, people would bring it to my dad 77 00:04:27,917 --> 00:04:31,344 even as a small child to fix, and he usually could. 78 00:04:31,421 --> 00:04:32,721 He was smart. 79 00:04:32,797 --> 00:04:35,816 And when he wanted to do something, he did it. 80 00:04:37,278 --> 00:04:39,686 - NARRATOR: Ronnie attended Athens High School 81 00:04:39,763 --> 00:04:41,229 where he caught the attention 82 00:04:41,306 --> 00:04:45,275 of 16-year-old Rebecca "Becky" Turpin. 83 00:04:45,286 --> 00:04:47,360 - VALERIE: My dad was two years ahead of her, 84 00:04:47,437 --> 00:04:50,956 but I understand they were in some of the same clubs. 85 00:04:51,033 --> 00:04:53,292 So, they became friends and started dating. 86 00:04:54,461 --> 00:04:57,120 - NARRATOR: Like Ronnie, Becky had also been raised 87 00:04:57,131 --> 00:04:59,247 in Athens. 88 00:04:59,324 --> 00:05:02,584 - She was an only child until she was 14, 89 00:05:02,660 --> 00:05:05,137 and her mother and father had a little boy, 90 00:05:05,213 --> 00:05:08,256 but she didn't talk about her childhood too much. 91 00:05:08,333 --> 00:05:10,976 - Becky was always an outgoing person. 92 00:05:11,053 --> 00:05:13,970 She could always get along with you very easily 93 00:05:13,981 --> 00:05:16,815 and talk up a blue streak with you. 94 00:05:19,135 --> 00:05:22,821 - NARRATOR: By 1956, Becky was a high school senior, 95 00:05:22,898 --> 00:05:26,325 and Ronnie worked as a local TV repairman. 96 00:05:26,401 --> 00:05:29,778 It was an easygoing time for the hometown couple 97 00:05:29,854 --> 00:05:33,073 until life had other plans. 98 00:05:33,149 --> 00:05:34,908 - JACLYN: She got pregnant. 99 00:05:34,984 --> 00:05:38,578 She finished her senior year, but immediately after that 100 00:05:38,655 --> 00:05:40,413 they got married. 101 00:05:40,490 --> 00:05:41,998 - NARRATOR: The couple and their young daughter, 102 00:05:42,009 --> 00:05:44,176 Vicky, settled in Macon. 103 00:05:44,252 --> 00:05:47,295 There, they built a home and eventually welcomed 104 00:05:47,372 --> 00:05:50,340 two more daughters into the world. 105 00:05:50,351 --> 00:05:54,761 - VALERIE: My older sister was 10.5 months older than me. 106 00:05:54,838 --> 00:05:58,181 So, my mother had two children under one. 107 00:05:58,192 --> 00:06:01,434 So, we grew up kind of like twins. 108 00:06:01,511 --> 00:06:03,353 We were very close. 109 00:06:03,364 --> 00:06:06,406 My younger sister, Vanessa, was born three years later. 110 00:06:08,610 --> 00:06:10,202 - NARRATOR: Becky settled into life 111 00:06:10,278 --> 00:06:12,871 as a stay-at-home mother, while Ronnie worked hard 112 00:06:12,948 --> 00:06:16,491 to provide for his wife and daughters. 113 00:06:16,568 --> 00:06:20,203 - VALERIE: He got a job with Southern Natural Gas. 114 00:06:20,214 --> 00:06:23,206 He would go out and repair pipelines. 115 00:06:23,217 --> 00:06:27,052 He was on call pretty much 24 hours a day, 116 00:06:27,129 --> 00:06:30,630 and then he became a part-time disc jockey 117 00:06:30,707 --> 00:06:34,342 at WLDN in Macon, 118 00:06:34,419 --> 00:06:37,229 and he worked the midnight shift. 119 00:06:37,305 --> 00:06:43,068 His handle was "Lonesome Ronnie", and they loved him. 120 00:06:44,405 --> 00:06:45,979 - NARRATOR: When Ronnie wasn't working, 121 00:06:46,055 --> 00:06:49,908 he devoted himself to his three daughters. 122 00:06:49,985 --> 00:06:54,079 - VALERIE: He worked a lot, but when he was home, 123 00:06:54,156 --> 00:06:58,417 he was with us, and he was doing something with us. 124 00:06:58,493 --> 00:06:59,584 He would take us fishing. 125 00:06:59,661 --> 00:07:01,411 He would take us flying. 126 00:07:01,422 --> 00:07:02,587 We would play baseball. 127 00:07:02,664 --> 00:07:04,089 We would have cookouts. 128 00:07:04,166 --> 00:07:06,925 My dad was probably one of the best fathers 129 00:07:07,002 --> 00:07:08,468 you could have. 130 00:07:10,121 --> 00:07:12,264 - NARRATOR: Ronnie and his daughters remained close 131 00:07:12,340 --> 00:07:13,756 over the years. 132 00:07:13,767 --> 00:07:16,092 The same couldn't be said about Ronnie 133 00:07:16,103 --> 00:07:19,104 and Becky's marriage. 134 00:07:19,181 --> 00:07:21,273 - VALERIE: My mom always wanted to have the best stuff 135 00:07:21,349 --> 00:07:24,443 in the neighborhood, and my dad gave her everything 136 00:07:24,519 --> 00:07:28,188 that he could, but it was just never enough. 137 00:07:28,264 --> 00:07:31,283 They got to the point where they weren't really speaking 138 00:07:31,359 --> 00:07:33,401 to each other. 139 00:07:33,478 --> 00:07:36,621 - NARRATOR: Sadly, after 17 years of marriage, 140 00:07:36,698 --> 00:07:39,958 in the fall of 1973, Ronnie and Becky 141 00:07:40,035 --> 00:07:42,878 finally called it quits. 142 00:07:44,039 --> 00:07:47,132 Desperate for a fresh start, Becky set her sights 143 00:07:47,209 --> 00:07:51,136 on the posh beaches of Miami, Florida. 144 00:07:51,213 --> 00:07:55,131 - VALERIE: She wanted to live the exciting life in Miami. 145 00:07:55,142 --> 00:07:58,143 Which, we'd really only seen on television. 146 00:07:58,220 --> 00:08:00,479 But she felt like that she could have a better life 147 00:08:00,555 --> 00:08:02,305 there. 148 00:08:02,316 --> 00:08:06,151 - JACLYN: Becky took the girls and moved to Miami. 149 00:08:06,228 --> 00:08:09,062 The house sold, and she received 150 00:08:09,138 --> 00:08:12,157 half of the proceeds from the house. 151 00:08:12,234 --> 00:08:16,736 She used that money to live in a hotel on the beach. 152 00:08:16,813 --> 00:08:18,446 - VALERIE: As much as I missed dad, 153 00:08:18,523 --> 00:08:21,074 my life was pretty good. 154 00:08:21,150 --> 00:08:24,577 We were beach bums, so yeah, everybody, 155 00:08:24,654 --> 00:08:26,254 everybody was happy. 156 00:08:30,326 --> 00:08:32,585 - NARRATOR: It wasn't long before Becky found 157 00:08:32,662 --> 00:08:34,679 new love in the arms of a man 158 00:08:34,756 --> 00:08:37,590 named John Eldon Smith. 159 00:08:37,667 --> 00:08:40,852 - TIM: He was from West Deptford, New Jersey. 160 00:08:40,929 --> 00:08:44,097 And he managed a family insurance business. 161 00:08:44,173 --> 00:08:47,025 He had been on vacation in Miami. 162 00:08:47,102 --> 00:08:49,477 And on his last night of vacation 163 00:08:49,554 --> 00:08:53,022 he met Rebecca Akins. 164 00:08:53,033 --> 00:08:55,534 - So, they dated a little while and, 165 00:08:55,610 --> 00:08:58,537 and next thing I know they were getting married. 166 00:08:58,613 --> 00:09:00,205 - NARRATOR: Though they had only known each other 167 00:09:00,282 --> 00:09:04,709 for two months, on July 24th, 1974, 168 00:09:04,786 --> 00:09:07,453 John and Becky tied the knot. 169 00:09:07,530 --> 00:09:09,497 - ALAN: They had a very elaborate wedding. 170 00:09:09,574 --> 00:09:10,873 Fancy everything. 171 00:09:10,884 --> 00:09:12,217 We had filet mignon. 172 00:09:12,294 --> 00:09:13,885 I've never had filet mignon before. 173 00:09:13,962 --> 00:09:16,137 It was very ritzy. 174 00:09:18,875 --> 00:09:20,174 - NARRATOR: Back in Macon, 175 00:09:20,251 --> 00:09:23,395 38-year-old Ronnie Akins didn't have to wait long 176 00:09:23,471 --> 00:09:28,141 for love when he met 29-year-old Juanita Knight. 177 00:09:28,217 --> 00:09:30,351 - VALERIE: My Uncle Bill introduced my dad 178 00:09:30,428 --> 00:09:32,228 to Juanita. 179 00:09:32,239 --> 00:09:35,356 She was a schoolteacher up in that area. 180 00:09:35,433 --> 00:09:39,360 They dated a few times and clicked. 181 00:09:39,437 --> 00:09:42,414 They began a relationship, and the next thing you know, 182 00:09:42,490 --> 00:09:44,198 they got married. 183 00:09:44,275 --> 00:09:48,661 As far as I was concerned, my dad had hit the jackpot 184 00:09:48,738 --> 00:09:50,088 with Juanita. 185 00:09:50,165 --> 00:09:53,916 The way she looked at him, she absolutely adored him. 186 00:09:53,927 --> 00:09:55,543 - NARRATOR: But their marital bliss 187 00:09:55,620 --> 00:09:56,711 was short lived. 188 00:09:58,340 --> 00:10:01,215 Now, after only three weeks of marriage, 189 00:10:01,292 --> 00:10:03,426 police are standing over the bodies 190 00:10:03,437 --> 00:10:07,272 of both Ronnie and Juanita Akins. 191 00:10:07,349 --> 00:10:11,392 - JACLYN: They found the body of Ronald Akins 192 00:10:11,469 --> 00:10:15,396 lying next to his car on the pavement 193 00:10:15,473 --> 00:10:18,066 and his wife's body, Juanita's body, 194 00:10:18,142 --> 00:10:20,994 inside in the front passenger seat. 195 00:10:22,105 --> 00:10:24,739 - They noticed a radio in the vehicle, uh, 196 00:10:24,816 --> 00:10:28,034 with the handset dislodged, and it appeared 197 00:10:28,111 --> 00:10:31,796 that Juanita was radioing for help at the time 198 00:10:31,873 --> 00:10:34,248 that she was murdered. 199 00:10:34,325 --> 00:10:35,792 - NARRATOR: As for Ronnie, 200 00:10:35,802 --> 00:10:38,044 it's clear he had been shot first 201 00:10:38,121 --> 00:10:40,922 in what appears to have been an ambush. 202 00:10:40,998 --> 00:10:43,475 - He was down on the ground, face down. 203 00:10:43,551 --> 00:10:46,478 He had actually been shot in the back. 204 00:10:46,554 --> 00:10:48,805 - GLEN: There were no indications of robbery, 205 00:10:48,815 --> 00:10:52,150 the money, wallet, valuables were still with the victims, 206 00:10:52,227 --> 00:10:56,071 so it was just plain murder. 207 00:10:58,566 --> 00:11:01,234 - NARRATOR: While the attack was certainly vicious, 208 00:11:01,310 --> 00:11:03,995 investigators discover a clue that suggests 209 00:11:04,072 --> 00:11:06,623 it was not at all random. 210 00:11:08,410 --> 00:11:11,336 - GLEN: The investigators found a note 211 00:11:11,413 --> 00:11:15,340 with directions to the scene in the male victim's pocket. 212 00:11:15,417 --> 00:11:18,343 That indicates that the victim was lured out there 213 00:11:18,420 --> 00:11:21,921 under some pretense to the crime scene. 214 00:11:21,998 --> 00:11:24,507 It wasn't some happenstance. 215 00:11:24,518 --> 00:11:26,226 It was planned. 216 00:11:28,671 --> 00:11:30,596 - TIM: They just could not imagine 217 00:11:30,673 --> 00:11:33,683 who would harbor any ill will toward Ronald 218 00:11:33,694 --> 00:11:35,694 and Juanita Akins. 219 00:11:37,772 --> 00:11:40,273 - NARRATOR: Coming up: twisted allegations 220 00:11:40,349 --> 00:11:42,692 begin to surface. 221 00:11:42,703 --> 00:11:45,528 - JACLYN: She claimed he was a drug addict. 222 00:11:45,539 --> 00:11:48,156 She claimed he dealt drugs, that he was involved 223 00:11:48,232 --> 00:11:49,490 with criminals 224 00:11:49,567 --> 00:11:52,377 - GLEN: When any serious crime happens, 225 00:11:52,454 --> 00:11:54,713 and you don't have a real suspect, 226 00:11:54,789 --> 00:11:58,258 the first thing you do is look at who benefits. 227 00:12:00,411 --> 00:12:04,139 - ♪ 228 00:12:12,958 --> 00:12:14,640 - NARRATOR: On a sweltering summer evening 229 00:12:14,717 --> 00:12:18,570 in 1974, authorities in Macon, Georgia, 230 00:12:18,646 --> 00:12:20,813 have just found key evidence 231 00:12:20,890 --> 00:12:24,150 in the shocking double shooting of newlyweds, 232 00:12:24,227 --> 00:12:26,911 Ronald and Juanita Akins. 233 00:12:26,988 --> 00:12:31,657 - TIM: Police found a paper in Ronald Akins' pocket, 234 00:12:31,734 --> 00:12:34,586 which had the address of the crime scene. 235 00:12:34,662 --> 00:12:36,829 So, they knew that he had been lured there 236 00:12:36,906 --> 00:12:39,090 by somebody. 237 00:12:39,167 --> 00:12:41,334 - NARRATOR: Neither a weapon nor shells 238 00:12:41,410 --> 00:12:43,252 are found at the scene. 239 00:12:43,263 --> 00:12:45,546 But investigators do find another 240 00:12:45,623 --> 00:12:50,435 potentially important clue on the victim's sedan. 241 00:12:50,512 --> 00:12:52,178 - TIM: There were palm prints 242 00:12:52,255 --> 00:12:54,430 on the hood of the car. 243 00:12:54,441 --> 00:12:57,776 And there was a palm print on the door of the vehicle. 244 00:13:01,430 --> 00:13:02,772 - NARRATOR: While the prints are lifted 245 00:13:02,783 --> 00:13:06,025 and taken into evidence, investigators fan out 246 00:13:06,102 --> 00:13:08,069 to interview the few residents 247 00:13:08,145 --> 00:13:11,239 of the sparsely populated neighborhood. 248 00:13:11,315 --> 00:13:13,124 - JACLYN: The people who lived in those houses 249 00:13:13,201 --> 00:13:16,536 had seen Ronnie's car, the white car 250 00:13:16,612 --> 00:13:20,289 and a few minutes later a green Gremlin car 251 00:13:20,300 --> 00:13:22,467 had come through. 252 00:13:22,544 --> 00:13:26,212 - They also described hearing gunshots 253 00:13:26,289 --> 00:13:29,465 and then they also saw the Gremlin leave. 254 00:13:29,476 --> 00:13:31,309 - NARRATOR: The green, compact car 255 00:13:31,386 --> 00:13:34,145 was hard to miss and grabbed the attention 256 00:13:34,222 --> 00:13:37,315 of several neighbors in the area. 257 00:13:37,392 --> 00:13:40,393 One couple in particular, is able to describe 258 00:13:40,469 --> 00:13:43,604 what they saw in those fleeting seconds. 259 00:13:43,681 --> 00:13:47,441 - There were two men in the green Gremlin. 260 00:13:47,518 --> 00:13:49,160 - TIM: Two white males. 261 00:13:49,237 --> 00:13:51,070 That was the description that was given 262 00:13:51,147 --> 00:13:52,613 by the witnesses. 263 00:13:52,690 --> 00:13:55,074 Investigators knew they had to put out a bulletin 264 00:13:55,151 --> 00:13:58,503 for this green Gremlin that had a stripe on its side. 265 00:14:00,674 --> 00:14:02,290 - NARRATOR: With the search for the car 266 00:14:02,366 --> 00:14:05,751 in full swing, CSI's focus on the palm prints 267 00:14:05,828 --> 00:14:09,589 found on Ronald Akins' white sedan. 268 00:14:09,665 --> 00:14:12,091 - TIM: A member of the Georgia State Crime Lab 269 00:14:12,168 --> 00:14:16,429 from Atlanta came down and secured the latent print 270 00:14:16,505 --> 00:14:20,099 off the door, secured the other palm prints, 271 00:14:20,176 --> 00:14:23,352 and they were then able to identify all of the prints 272 00:14:23,363 --> 00:14:26,772 as being the victims', except for the latent print 273 00:14:26,849 --> 00:14:28,283 on the door. 274 00:14:30,561 --> 00:14:33,321 - GLEN: In the 1970's, we didn't have 275 00:14:33,397 --> 00:14:36,374 the computer systems to match all these. 276 00:14:36,451 --> 00:14:40,545 You really needed to identify a suspect first. 277 00:14:42,048 --> 00:14:44,999 - NARRATOR: In order to identify potential suspects, 278 00:14:45,076 --> 00:14:48,544 investigators first speak to the victim's families, 279 00:14:48,555 --> 00:14:51,047 starting with Juanita's. 280 00:14:51,057 --> 00:14:53,892 - GLEN: In any investigation, you start with those 281 00:14:53,968 --> 00:14:56,895 closest to the victim and work your way out 282 00:14:56,971 --> 00:15:01,182 because there aren't that many, relatively speaking, 283 00:15:01,258 --> 00:15:03,735 stranger to stranger murders. 284 00:15:03,811 --> 00:15:05,094 - NARRATOR: Juanita's family says 285 00:15:05,096 --> 00:15:08,314 they never saw any signs of trouble in either her 286 00:15:08,391 --> 00:15:10,650 or Ronnie's life. 287 00:15:10,726 --> 00:15:12,068 - ALAN: Juanita was a very nice person. 288 00:15:12,078 --> 00:15:14,528 I don't know if she ever had an enemy in the world. 289 00:15:14,605 --> 00:15:15,821 She was just like Ronnie. 290 00:15:15,898 --> 00:15:17,248 She was friends with everybody, 291 00:15:17,325 --> 00:15:18,958 and everybody liked her. 292 00:15:20,662 --> 00:15:22,495 - NARRATOR: Police must now notify 293 00:15:22,571 --> 00:15:25,423 Ronnie's ex-wife, Becky, and their three teenage 294 00:15:25,500 --> 00:15:26,925 daughters. 295 00:15:27,001 --> 00:15:31,337 Ronnie's daughters are heartbroken by the news. 296 00:15:31,414 --> 00:15:36,643 - VALERIE: I felt grief, I felt fear, um... 297 00:15:38,462 --> 00:15:44,359 I felt like that my life would never be the same. 298 00:15:48,431 --> 00:15:50,106 - TIM: Investigators started focusing 299 00:15:50,116 --> 00:15:54,285 on the former spouse as a first order of business, 300 00:15:54,362 --> 00:15:56,570 simply because that's fairly routine 301 00:15:56,647 --> 00:15:58,364 when there's a murder case and there's been 302 00:15:58,441 --> 00:16:00,366 a recent divorce. 303 00:16:00,443 --> 00:16:01,701 - NARRATOR: According to Becky, 304 00:16:01,777 --> 00:16:04,286 she and her children have resided in Miami 305 00:16:04,297 --> 00:16:06,872 for the past four months and she claims 306 00:16:06,949 --> 00:16:09,709 she hadn't been anywhere near Macon, Georgia 307 00:16:09,785 --> 00:16:12,378 on the day of the murder. 308 00:16:12,455 --> 00:16:14,472 - TIM: Rebecca was very clear 309 00:16:14,549 --> 00:16:16,716 that she had nothing to do with it, no knowledge 310 00:16:16,792 --> 00:16:20,594 and she had all kinds of tidbits, like receipts 311 00:16:20,671 --> 00:16:23,305 from the restaurants she ate at. 312 00:16:23,316 --> 00:16:24,724 - JACLYN: When they interviewed Becky, 313 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:27,485 they discovered that she had recently remarried 314 00:16:27,562 --> 00:16:32,148 John Eldon Smith, and they ask about his whereabouts 315 00:16:32,158 --> 00:16:34,233 when the crime was committed, 316 00:16:34,310 --> 00:16:37,987 and Becky told them that he and his friend John Maree 317 00:16:37,998 --> 00:16:42,125 had gone on a fishing trip that weekend. 318 00:16:44,412 --> 00:16:46,245 - NARRATOR: Becky then shares information 319 00:16:46,322 --> 00:16:48,789 with investigators suggesting Ronnie 320 00:16:48,866 --> 00:16:51,417 was not the hard-working family man 321 00:16:51,494 --> 00:16:53,678 people thought he was. 322 00:16:53,755 --> 00:16:55,838 - TIM: She launched into a tirade 323 00:16:55,849 --> 00:17:00,593 about how terrible her former spouse was. 324 00:17:00,669 --> 00:17:01,969 - JACLYN: She told them that Ronnie 325 00:17:02,046 --> 00:17:04,731 had been involved in drugs in Macon. 326 00:17:06,842 --> 00:17:08,184 - NARRATOR: According to Becky, 327 00:17:08,194 --> 00:17:12,772 one such incident took place in October of 1973 328 00:17:12,848 --> 00:17:15,033 when she claims Ronnie overdosed 329 00:17:15,109 --> 00:17:17,368 in the family home. 330 00:17:17,445 --> 00:17:19,111 - JACLYN: She said he had friends from work 331 00:17:19,188 --> 00:17:21,864 when he didn't show up for work that morning, 332 00:17:21,875 --> 00:17:24,033 come and see what was wrong 333 00:17:24,044 --> 00:17:26,118 because they couldn't raise him on the phone. 334 00:17:26,195 --> 00:17:30,381 And they looked in the windows and saw him. 335 00:17:30,458 --> 00:17:31,907 - TIM: They had to go through a window 336 00:17:31,909 --> 00:17:35,377 in the house, and they found him lying on the floor. 337 00:17:35,388 --> 00:17:39,474 He was actually blocking the door, completely incoherent. 338 00:17:40,802 --> 00:17:42,676 - JACLYN: They called an ambulance, 339 00:17:42,753 --> 00:17:46,180 and he was resuscitated, and he was taken 340 00:17:46,257 --> 00:17:48,057 to a hospital. 341 00:17:48,068 --> 00:17:50,476 When Becky showed up at the hospital, 342 00:17:50,553 --> 00:17:52,978 she told them that he was on drugs 343 00:17:53,055 --> 00:17:55,564 and that he had been out of his mind, 344 00:17:55,575 --> 00:17:57,992 and they put him in the mental health ward. 345 00:18:00,729 --> 00:18:02,580 - NARRATOR: Becky claims Ronnie's overdose 346 00:18:02,657 --> 00:18:05,074 had been the final straw. 347 00:18:05,085 --> 00:18:06,826 - JACLYN: She said she filed for divorce 348 00:18:06,902 --> 00:18:10,412 and that's how the divorce came about. 349 00:18:10,423 --> 00:18:13,082 She claimed he was a drug addict. 350 00:18:13,093 --> 00:18:16,502 She claimed he dealt drugs, that he was involved 351 00:18:16,579 --> 00:18:18,513 with criminals in Macon. 352 00:18:21,292 --> 00:18:23,551 - NARRATOR: Astonished by Becky's account, 353 00:18:23,627 --> 00:18:27,054 detectives dig into her accusations. 354 00:18:27,131 --> 00:18:30,391 - GLEN: I never heard anything supporting that 355 00:18:30,467 --> 00:18:31,851 at all. 356 00:18:31,927 --> 00:18:34,520 There was just absolutely nothing said 357 00:18:34,597 --> 00:18:37,606 from a credible source that backed that up. 358 00:18:37,617 --> 00:18:40,109 - NARRATOR: In fact, those closest to Ronnie 359 00:18:40,120 --> 00:18:43,362 claim his alleged overdose the previous year 360 00:18:43,439 --> 00:18:46,532 had been completely unexpected. 361 00:18:46,609 --> 00:18:48,117 - JD: When we heard from Becky 362 00:18:48,128 --> 00:18:52,964 that Ronnie had overdosed, uh, it came as a shock to, 363 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:54,281 to all of us. 364 00:18:55,659 --> 00:18:58,127 - VALERIE: My father had nothing to do with drugs, 365 00:18:58,138 --> 00:19:00,296 my father did not drink. 366 00:19:00,306 --> 00:19:05,059 My dad was never involved with anything like that. 367 00:19:08,464 --> 00:19:09,889 - NARRATOR: With Becky's allegations 368 00:19:09,965 --> 00:19:13,058 being in stark contrast to what detectives learn 369 00:19:13,135 --> 00:19:16,228 about Ronnie's lifestyle, their focus changes 370 00:19:16,305 --> 00:19:19,732 to Becky's alibi for the day of the murders. 371 00:19:19,808 --> 00:19:21,817 - JACLYN: Her daughter Valerie's boyfriend, 372 00:19:21,828 --> 00:19:25,738 Alan Barfield, had come down for the weekend, 373 00:19:25,814 --> 00:19:27,990 and he had been there all weekend. 374 00:19:28,001 --> 00:19:29,658 - NARRATOR: On September 3rd, 375 00:19:29,669 --> 00:19:34,172 detectives reach out to 23-year-old Alan Barfield. 376 00:19:34,248 --> 00:19:37,082 - ALAN: When I got back from Miami to Macon 377 00:19:37,159 --> 00:19:40,294 I immediately drove down to the courthouse right then 378 00:19:40,371 --> 00:19:45,016 and, uh talked to the sheriff and I just re-accounted 379 00:19:45,092 --> 00:19:46,601 my whole weekend. 380 00:19:48,212 --> 00:19:50,688 - TIM: Rebecca had asked him to come down 381 00:19:50,765 --> 00:19:53,098 because he wanted to marry Valerie 382 00:19:53,175 --> 00:19:55,851 and Rebecca wanted Alan to get 383 00:19:55,862 --> 00:19:58,979 John Eldon Smith's approval. 384 00:19:59,056 --> 00:20:04,109 - VALERIE: I was scheduled to go to Macon, Georgia, 385 00:20:04,186 --> 00:20:07,655 and spend the weekend with Alan. 386 00:20:07,731 --> 00:20:10,783 At the very last minute, my mother decided 387 00:20:10,859 --> 00:20:13,494 Alan needed to come to Miami. 388 00:20:13,570 --> 00:20:16,372 So, he changed all of his plans. 389 00:20:16,382 --> 00:20:18,791 He flew into Miami. 390 00:20:18,867 --> 00:20:20,218 - NARRATOR: But when Alan arrived 391 00:20:20,294 --> 00:20:23,554 on August 31st, there had been a change of plans 392 00:20:23,631 --> 00:20:25,047 yet again. 393 00:20:25,058 --> 00:20:27,800 - TIM: Alan was told John Eldon Smith 394 00:20:27,876 --> 00:20:30,219 was on a fishing trip with a man named 395 00:20:30,230 --> 00:20:35,733 John Maree, and this trip was the very day 396 00:20:35,810 --> 00:20:37,360 that the murders occurred. 397 00:20:40,264 --> 00:20:42,898 - NARRATOR: Alan confirms Becky's alibi, 398 00:20:42,909 --> 00:20:46,485 but recalls a strange detail when John Eldon Smith 399 00:20:46,562 --> 00:20:48,362 and his friend returned home 400 00:20:48,439 --> 00:20:50,656 from their fishing trip. 401 00:20:50,733 --> 00:20:53,367 - ALAN: They came in, and there was no fish, 402 00:20:53,444 --> 00:20:55,661 there was no fishing poles, there was nothing. 403 00:20:55,738 --> 00:20:57,922 It just, something was weird. 404 00:20:57,999 --> 00:20:59,415 It was just real fishy. 405 00:20:59,425 --> 00:21:00,666 It just wasn't right. 406 00:21:00,743 --> 00:21:02,718 Something didn't add up. 407 00:21:04,788 --> 00:21:07,589 - NARRATOR: Coming up: cracks begin to show 408 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:11,844 in Becky's new top-shelf lifestyle. 409 00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:14,596 - TIM: Becky was fascinated with gambling 410 00:21:14,607 --> 00:21:17,275 and thought that was a glamorous life. 411 00:21:17,351 --> 00:21:20,728 - ALAN: Of course they lost more than they made. 412 00:21:20,804 --> 00:21:23,022 - TIM: They knew she was hurting for money. 413 00:21:23,098 --> 00:21:24,732 - NARRATOR: And investigators uncover 414 00:21:24,808 --> 00:21:27,401 a potential love triangle. 415 00:21:27,478 --> 00:21:28,953 - JD: Becky had met John Maree 416 00:21:29,030 --> 00:21:33,032 and had basically had an affair with him. 417 00:21:33,108 --> 00:21:35,617 - VALERIE: My mother still wanted, for some reason, 418 00:21:35,628 --> 00:21:37,211 John Maree in the picture. 419 00:21:38,447 --> 00:21:41,841 - ♪ 420 00:21:51,001 --> 00:21:53,477 - NARRATOR: After speaking to Alan Barfield, 421 00:21:53,554 --> 00:21:55,387 Georgia investigators rech out 422 00:21:55,464 --> 00:21:58,432 to the North Miami Police and share the information 423 00:21:58,509 --> 00:22:02,153 they've learned about 42-year-old John Eldon Smith 424 00:22:02,229 --> 00:22:05,656 and 35-year-old John Maree. 425 00:22:05,733 --> 00:22:08,275 North Miami detectives locate both men 426 00:22:08,352 --> 00:22:11,820 for interviews and begin with John Eldon Smith, 427 00:22:11,831 --> 00:22:15,333 who now goes by a new name. 428 00:22:15,409 --> 00:22:17,451 - JACLYN: The Investigators were able to speak 429 00:22:17,528 --> 00:22:21,997 with John Eldon Smith first and he tells them, 430 00:22:22,008 --> 00:22:24,175 "Yes, he and Becky have just married 431 00:22:24,251 --> 00:22:26,177 "and that he has changed his name. 432 00:22:26,253 --> 00:22:29,004 "That his name is now 'Anthony Machetti'. 433 00:22:29,015 --> 00:22:31,090 That he goes by 'Tony'." 434 00:22:31,166 --> 00:22:32,925 - TIM: He kept insisting that his name 435 00:22:33,001 --> 00:22:37,262 had legally been changed to Anthony Israldo Machetti. 436 00:22:37,339 --> 00:22:40,682 The investigators were puzzled if you will 437 00:22:40,693 --> 00:22:42,318 by the change in names. 438 00:22:44,346 --> 00:22:46,772 - NARRATOR: Tony explains that the name change 439 00:22:46,849 --> 00:22:49,200 had been Becky's idea. 440 00:22:49,276 --> 00:22:50,776 - VALERIE: My mother decided 441 00:22:50,853 --> 00:22:54,488 to live the Miami life the fullest, 442 00:22:54,565 --> 00:22:59,284 she needed to be Italian and she could become rich. 443 00:22:59,361 --> 00:23:01,829 When she was tan, she looked Italian. 444 00:23:01,905 --> 00:23:04,289 So she would become very tan, 445 00:23:04,366 --> 00:23:08,460 that's what she wanted and she felt like 446 00:23:08,537 --> 00:23:11,505 that the mafia uh, hung out at racetracks and bars. 447 00:23:11,582 --> 00:23:13,382 I don't know whether that was from something 448 00:23:13,393 --> 00:23:15,008 she saw on television, I don't know whether 449 00:23:15,085 --> 00:23:17,803 that was from something that she read. 450 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:22,057 But she decided that's who she wanted to be 451 00:23:22,068 --> 00:23:23,859 and she went for it. 452 00:23:25,071 --> 00:23:27,896 - ALAN: Becky decided she wanted to make her family 453 00:23:27,907 --> 00:23:29,356 look like they were in the Mafia 454 00:23:29,433 --> 00:23:32,860 and they were Italians' it was just her image 455 00:23:32,936 --> 00:23:35,871 that she wanted to put out there you know. 456 00:23:39,109 --> 00:23:40,868 - NARRATOR: But for now, investigators 457 00:23:40,944 --> 00:23:43,587 are more concerned about Tony's whereabouts 458 00:23:43,664 --> 00:23:45,873 on the day of the murders. 459 00:23:45,949 --> 00:23:48,584 - JACLYN: He tells them, yes, he and his friend 460 00:23:48,594 --> 00:23:53,338 John Maree were on a fishing trip that weekend. 461 00:23:53,415 --> 00:23:54,923 - NARRATOR: Tony tells investigators 462 00:23:54,934 --> 00:23:58,218 that aside from some R&R, he and John 463 00:23:58,295 --> 00:24:00,179 were actually scouting locations 464 00:24:00,255 --> 00:24:03,265 to potentially build a hotel. 465 00:24:03,276 --> 00:24:05,726 - He said that he had took some fishing poles. 466 00:24:05,802 --> 00:24:08,770 But the main purpose of the trip was not fishing. 467 00:24:08,781 --> 00:24:10,189 It was a business trip. 468 00:24:10,265 --> 00:24:12,992 They just drove around looking at development sites. 469 00:24:15,863 --> 00:24:17,237 - NARRATOR: In another room, 470 00:24:17,314 --> 00:24:20,240 John Maree explains to investigators how he met 471 00:24:20,317 --> 00:24:23,961 Becky shortly after she moved to Miami. 472 00:24:24,038 --> 00:24:25,463 - She liked this bar. 473 00:24:25,539 --> 00:24:29,467 She met John there, and that's how they connected. 474 00:24:29,543 --> 00:24:32,920 And what drew them close was John gambled 475 00:24:32,996 --> 00:24:35,214 at the dog tracks. 476 00:24:35,290 --> 00:24:38,634 Becky was fascinated with gambling and thought 477 00:24:38,644 --> 00:24:40,886 that was a glamorous life. 478 00:24:40,963 --> 00:24:42,313 - NARRATOR: John says he and Becky 479 00:24:42,389 --> 00:24:45,807 had a fling up until she hooked up with Tony. 480 00:24:45,818 --> 00:24:47,434 - JD: Becky had met John Maree 481 00:24:47,511 --> 00:24:51,271 and had basically had an affair with him. 482 00:24:51,348 --> 00:24:54,274 - VALERIE: When my mother decided she was going 483 00:24:54,351 --> 00:24:57,569 to marry John Eldon Smith, who later became 484 00:24:57,646 --> 00:25:00,781 Tony Machetti, she still wanted for some reason 485 00:25:00,857 --> 00:25:02,449 John Maree in the picture. 486 00:25:02,526 --> 00:25:06,286 So, she pushed John Maree into a relationship 487 00:25:06,363 --> 00:25:08,589 with my 17-year-old sister. 488 00:25:11,201 --> 00:25:14,127 - JACLYN: He turned his attention to Vicky, 489 00:25:14,204 --> 00:25:18,298 and Becky encouraged that. 490 00:25:18,375 --> 00:25:20,467 - NARRATOR: With the case growing more bizarre 491 00:25:20,544 --> 00:25:23,136 by the minute, investigators ask John 492 00:25:23,213 --> 00:25:25,856 about his recent road trip. 493 00:25:25,933 --> 00:25:28,976 - TIM: Maree readily says, "I was driving 494 00:25:29,052 --> 00:25:32,854 "because John Eldon Smith was intoxicated. 495 00:25:32,865 --> 00:25:34,690 "He was drinking the whole time. 496 00:25:34,700 --> 00:25:35,941 "We slept in the car. 497 00:25:36,018 --> 00:25:37,201 "We ate in the car. 498 00:25:37,278 --> 00:25:38,819 "We drove around looking 499 00:25:38,895 --> 00:25:40,320 at business development sites." 500 00:25:40,397 --> 00:25:42,581 And he said that he did not go fishing at all. 501 00:25:45,711 --> 00:25:48,161 - NARRATOR: Investigators make on more request 502 00:25:48,238 --> 00:25:52,165 before they wrap up the interviews. 503 00:25:52,242 --> 00:25:54,793 - TIM: The investigators asked John Maree 504 00:25:54,870 --> 00:25:58,222 if they could take his fingerprints and palm prints. 505 00:25:58,299 --> 00:26:01,341 John Maree readily agreed. 506 00:26:01,418 --> 00:26:03,885 John Eldon Smith also consented 507 00:26:03,896 --> 00:26:06,230 and they obtained his prints. 508 00:26:06,307 --> 00:26:08,181 - NARRATOR: With no other reason to hold them, 509 00:26:08,258 --> 00:26:10,350 and no evidence against them, 510 00:26:10,427 --> 00:26:13,529 police are forced to let both men go. 511 00:26:17,100 --> 00:26:19,651 Meanwhile back in Macon, investigators 512 00:26:19,728 --> 00:26:22,738 are already trying to unravel an important piece 513 00:26:22,748 --> 00:26:25,991 of this puzzle: motive. 514 00:26:26,068 --> 00:26:28,368 - GLEN: If a spouse murders a spouse, 515 00:26:28,445 --> 00:26:32,748 or an ex-spouse often times, life insurance policy 516 00:26:32,758 --> 00:26:34,541 is the motivation. 517 00:26:34,618 --> 00:26:36,043 Get the money. 518 00:26:36,119 --> 00:26:37,878 - NARRATOR: Investigators place a call 519 00:26:37,954 --> 00:26:40,255 to Ronald Akins' employer. 520 00:26:40,266 --> 00:26:42,674 - TIM: They learned through Southern Natural Gas 521 00:26:42,751 --> 00:26:46,604 that Ronnie had a $53,000 employer sponsored policy. 522 00:26:46,680 --> 00:26:49,848 Immediately after the divorce, he had changed 523 00:26:49,925 --> 00:26:52,776 the beneficiaries for half of that policy to go 524 00:26:52,853 --> 00:26:55,687 to his three daughters and half of the policy 525 00:26:55,764 --> 00:26:57,615 to go to his parents. 526 00:26:57,691 --> 00:27:00,025 - NARRATOR: Although this appears to rule out 527 00:27:00,102 --> 00:27:02,569 the money as a motive, Ronald's daughters 528 00:27:02,646 --> 00:27:05,789 were all minors, so the control of that money 529 00:27:05,866 --> 00:27:08,241 would likely flow to one person 530 00:27:08,318 --> 00:27:11,128 in the event of their father's death. 531 00:27:11,205 --> 00:27:14,289 - The money that the girls would receive 532 00:27:14,300 --> 00:27:16,917 would be Rebecca's. 533 00:27:16,993 --> 00:27:21,546 They would not have any say whatsoever in those funds. 534 00:27:21,623 --> 00:27:24,549 - GLEN: When any serious crime happens, 535 00:27:24,626 --> 00:27:27,645 and you don't have a real suspect, 536 00:27:27,721 --> 00:27:31,398 the first thing you do is look at who benefits. 537 00:27:34,061 --> 00:27:35,319 - NARRATOR: When detectives delve 538 00:27:35,396 --> 00:27:38,313 into Becky's bank records, they quickly realize 539 00:27:38,324 --> 00:27:42,651 the Machetti's are in financial turmoil. 540 00:27:42,662 --> 00:27:45,737 - TIM: Rebecca spent way above the means 541 00:27:45,814 --> 00:27:47,406 of the Akins family. 542 00:27:47,482 --> 00:27:49,616 She was hurting for money. 543 00:27:49,693 --> 00:27:51,785 - ALAN: Becky liked the high life. 544 00:27:51,862 --> 00:27:53,453 She liked to party. 545 00:27:53,530 --> 00:27:57,332 She and John Maree would go and play the horses. 546 00:27:57,343 --> 00:27:59,510 Of course, they lost more than they made. 547 00:28:01,663 --> 00:28:03,171 - NARRATOR: Investigators believe 548 00:28:03,182 --> 00:28:05,683 that there is clearly a greedy motive 549 00:28:05,759 --> 00:28:08,927 behind Ronnie and Juanita's tragic killing. 550 00:28:09,004 --> 00:28:13,140 But first, investigators must somehow directly connect 551 00:28:13,216 --> 00:28:16,193 their three suspects to the crime scene. 552 00:28:16,270 --> 00:28:18,103 - JACLYN: They thought that all three people 553 00:28:18,180 --> 00:28:19,363 were involved. 554 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:21,031 They didn't know exactly how; 555 00:28:21,108 --> 00:28:23,483 they didn't know who did what. 556 00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:25,652 - TIM: Police did not have a firearm, 557 00:28:25,729 --> 00:28:27,696 they did not have shells, so there was no 558 00:28:27,707 --> 00:28:30,541 ballistic evidence which you often have in a murder case. 559 00:28:30,617 --> 00:28:33,994 Investigators knew they needed some link 560 00:28:34,070 --> 00:28:35,879 to the crime scene. 561 00:28:35,956 --> 00:28:38,832 - NARRATOR: However, investigators are still waiting 562 00:28:38,909 --> 00:28:43,336 on the results of one piece of forensic evidence. 563 00:28:43,413 --> 00:28:46,631 - JACLYN: There was a palm print on the car; 564 00:28:46,708 --> 00:28:49,718 a palm print with fingerprints that did not belong 565 00:28:49,729 --> 00:28:52,846 to Ronnie nor Juanita. 566 00:28:52,923 --> 00:28:55,223 - TIM: The investigators were able to determine 567 00:28:55,234 --> 00:28:59,186 that the latent print on Ronnie Akins' car matched 568 00:28:59,262 --> 00:29:01,572 the palm print of John Maree. 569 00:29:04,601 --> 00:29:07,569 - NARRATOR: Coming up: investigators must decipher 570 00:29:07,580 --> 00:29:11,248 if Becky's new persona is a cultural affinity, 571 00:29:11,325 --> 00:29:13,751 or a deadly obsession. 572 00:29:13,827 --> 00:29:16,203 - JACLYN: It was a fantasy that they were real excited 573 00:29:16,279 --> 00:29:17,496 about. 574 00:29:17,572 --> 00:29:20,207 He could earn $50,000 for a single hit 575 00:29:20,283 --> 00:29:22,542 if he got on with the Mafia. 576 00:29:22,619 --> 00:29:25,420 - TIM: Anthony Machetti was going to become 577 00:29:25,431 --> 00:29:26,930 a mafia hitman. 578 00:29:29,292 --> 00:29:32,728 - ♪ 579 00:29:42,448 --> 00:29:44,731 - NARRATOR: Days after the shotgun slayings 580 00:29:44,808 --> 00:29:47,943 of newlyweds Ronald and Juanita Akins, 581 00:29:47,953 --> 00:29:51,071 investigators have just discovered pivotal evidence 582 00:29:51,147 --> 00:29:55,784 against one of their three suspects: John Maree. 583 00:29:55,795 --> 00:29:58,620 - GLEN: At the crime scene when they processed the car, 584 00:29:58,631 --> 00:30:02,132 they found a latent fingerprint on the driver's door. 585 00:30:02,209 --> 00:30:03,634 There was absolutely no question 586 00:30:03,710 --> 00:30:05,511 it was John Maree's print. 587 00:30:09,291 --> 00:30:10,465 - NARRATOR: Detectives head back 588 00:30:10,476 --> 00:30:11,967 to the neighborhood where the crime scene 589 00:30:11,977 --> 00:30:15,554 had been spotted, this time armed with photos 590 00:30:15,630 --> 00:30:19,099 of John Maree and Tony Machetti. 591 00:30:19,175 --> 00:30:22,561 - TIM: Multiple witnesses were able to identify 592 00:30:22,637 --> 00:30:25,480 the two subjects as the people in the vehicle 593 00:30:25,491 --> 00:30:28,659 and particularly they'd identified John Maree 594 00:30:28,735 --> 00:30:30,661 as the driver of the Gremlin. 595 00:30:32,573 --> 00:30:35,615 And so that really gave the icing on the cake 596 00:30:35,692 --> 00:30:37,668 for the investigators. 597 00:30:39,004 --> 00:30:41,288 - NARRATOR: Investigators know there is only 598 00:30:41,364 --> 00:30:44,508 one link between the two men and Ronnie: 599 00:30:44,585 --> 00:30:46,835 Becky Machetti. 600 00:30:46,846 --> 00:30:50,922 - TIM: They knew obviously that she was behind this, 601 00:30:50,999 --> 00:30:53,758 that this guy from New Jersey, this other guy 602 00:30:53,835 --> 00:30:56,353 from Fort Meyers, didn't just happen upon 603 00:30:56,430 --> 00:30:58,930 these two people in Georgia. 604 00:30:59,007 --> 00:31:01,433 - NARRATOR: Investigators obtain arrest warrants 605 00:31:01,509 --> 00:31:06,530 for Tony, Becky, and John on October 16th, 1974. 606 00:31:08,275 --> 00:31:09,482 - VALERIE: As we approached our house 607 00:31:09,559 --> 00:31:11,192 there were cops everywhere. 608 00:31:11,203 --> 00:31:17,115 They grabbed Tony Machetti, threw him in a police car. 609 00:31:17,192 --> 00:31:19,993 And my mother's screaming that she's gonna sue them, 610 00:31:20,070 --> 00:31:24,456 and you know, all kinds of horrible things, 611 00:31:24,532 --> 00:31:26,216 and we're just crying because we don't know 612 00:31:26,293 --> 00:31:28,001 what's happening. 613 00:31:28,078 --> 00:31:29,878 - NARRATOR: The alleged co-conspirators 614 00:31:29,889 --> 00:31:33,632 are taken into custody and transported back to Macon 615 00:31:33,708 --> 00:31:36,435 where all three refuse to talk. 616 00:31:40,382 --> 00:31:43,558 However, after a few weeks behind bars, 617 00:31:43,569 --> 00:31:46,737 John Maree gets antsy. 618 00:31:46,813 --> 00:31:51,408 - He said he wanted to talk about this incident, 619 00:31:51,485 --> 00:31:53,360 this murder. 620 00:31:53,436 --> 00:31:55,570 And so, that was arranged. 621 00:31:55,581 --> 00:31:58,823 He waived his rights, and he essentially gave 622 00:31:58,900 --> 00:32:04,245 the entire factual story start to finish 623 00:32:04,256 --> 00:32:05,797 of how these murders occurred. 624 00:32:08,168 --> 00:32:09,584 - NARRATOR: According to John, 625 00:32:09,595 --> 00:32:12,420 the beating heart of this conspiracy centered 626 00:32:12,431 --> 00:32:16,758 on Becky's obsession with all things Italian. 627 00:32:16,769 --> 00:32:18,677 - JD: Becky had an infatuation 628 00:32:18,753 --> 00:32:23,690 with Italian lifestyle and especially the Mafia lifestyle. 629 00:32:25,093 --> 00:32:26,777 - JACLYN: It was when the Godfather movies 630 00:32:26,853 --> 00:32:30,522 were coming out, and she was fascinated by the Mafia, 631 00:32:30,598 --> 00:32:33,775 and she thought the Mafia was in Miami. 632 00:32:33,786 --> 00:32:35,235 - NARRATOR: According to John, 633 00:32:35,311 --> 00:32:38,613 Becky and Tony didn't just change their names, 634 00:32:38,624 --> 00:32:41,959 they wanted in the mob, and Becky had a plan 635 00:32:42,035 --> 00:32:44,369 to make that happen. 636 00:32:44,446 --> 00:32:46,964 - John Maree then told the investigators 637 00:32:47,040 --> 00:32:49,791 that one of the motives behind this 638 00:32:49,802 --> 00:32:53,628 was that Anthony Machetti was going to become 639 00:32:53,639 --> 00:32:55,013 a mafia hitman. 640 00:32:57,292 --> 00:32:59,092 - JACLYN: She was telling him that he could become 641 00:32:59,169 --> 00:33:03,471 a hitman and that he could earn $50,000 for a single hit 642 00:33:03,482 --> 00:33:06,224 if he got on with the Mafia. 643 00:33:06,301 --> 00:33:11,229 It was a fantasy that they were real excited about. 644 00:33:11,306 --> 00:33:14,232 - NARRATOR: Tony's new name was carefully chosen 645 00:33:14,309 --> 00:33:15,900 for the initials. 646 00:33:15,977 --> 00:33:17,327 - JACLYN: She convinced him 647 00:33:17,404 --> 00:33:19,162 that he had to change his name 648 00:33:19,239 --> 00:33:23,783 to Anthony Israldo Machetti which sounds like a hitman 649 00:33:23,860 --> 00:33:26,828 and is an Italian sounding name. 650 00:33:26,839 --> 00:33:29,840 - VALERIE: His initials would be AIM, 651 00:33:29,916 --> 00:33:32,884 which would be really, kind of cool if you were a hitman. 652 00:33:35,589 --> 00:33:37,839 - NARRATOR: In order to get in with the mafia, 653 00:33:37,850 --> 00:33:39,799 Becky believed that Tony would need 654 00:33:39,876 --> 00:33:42,594 to prove himself first. 655 00:33:42,670 --> 00:33:44,521 - TIM: For him to become a made hitman, 656 00:33:44,598 --> 00:33:47,348 that the mafia would trust and accept, 657 00:33:47,359 --> 00:33:50,902 he would have to do a killing and get away with it. 658 00:33:52,031 --> 00:33:55,032 - NARRATOR: Becky settled on Ronnie as Tony's victim, 659 00:33:55,108 --> 00:33:59,360 a hit that came with an added benefit. 660 00:33:59,371 --> 00:34:00,537 - ALAN: She thought she would get 661 00:34:00,614 --> 00:34:04,032 some insurance money from a policy he had, 662 00:34:04,043 --> 00:34:07,544 and the girls would collect Social Security. 663 00:34:07,621 --> 00:34:10,547 - VALERIE: John Maree had been promised $1,000 664 00:34:10,624 --> 00:34:14,209 to just drive Tony to Macon, Georgia, 665 00:34:14,219 --> 00:34:15,886 and then drive him home. 666 00:34:18,632 --> 00:34:20,673 - NARRATOR: On the night of August 30th, 667 00:34:20,750 --> 00:34:23,894 John says the two men made the 8.5-hour drive 668 00:34:23,970 --> 00:34:27,230 to Macon, Georgia without stopping. 669 00:34:27,307 --> 00:34:30,642 According to John, Becky came up with the idea 670 00:34:30,718 --> 00:34:35,355 of luring Ronnie to an isolated location. 671 00:34:35,431 --> 00:34:37,482 - JACLYN: They drove around trying to figure out 672 00:34:37,559 --> 00:34:40,026 where they were going to do the killing. 673 00:34:40,103 --> 00:34:43,363 They finally found this location in a subdivision 674 00:34:43,439 --> 00:34:45,698 which was under construction. 675 00:34:45,775 --> 00:34:47,575 - NARRATOR: John says Tony placed the call 676 00:34:47,586 --> 00:34:50,036 to Ronnie at 3PM. 677 00:34:50,113 --> 00:34:51,496 - JACLYN: He said he was someone 678 00:34:51,573 --> 00:34:53,748 who was buying a house in a subdivision 679 00:34:53,759 --> 00:34:56,918 that was under construction and needed some advice 680 00:34:56,929 --> 00:34:59,337 on a television antenna and would Ronnie 681 00:34:59,414 --> 00:35:02,099 meet him there, and Ronnie said yes and took down 682 00:35:02,175 --> 00:35:03,308 the address. 683 00:35:06,963 --> 00:35:08,271 - NARRATOR: When Ronnie showed up, 684 00:35:08,348 --> 00:35:10,723 Tony and John were waiting. 685 00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:14,227 But Ronnie wasn't alone. 686 00:35:14,304 --> 00:35:16,688 - JACLYN: Juanita was not part of the plan. 687 00:35:16,764 --> 00:35:20,525 She was just along for the ride with her husband. 688 00:35:20,602 --> 00:35:23,903 - TIM: Anthony Machetti got his shotgun, 689 00:35:23,980 --> 00:35:27,115 and he grabbed it out of the vehicle, 690 00:35:27,126 --> 00:35:30,869 and he shot both of these individuals. 691 00:35:30,945 --> 00:35:33,130 - [gunshots firing] 692 00:35:35,375 --> 00:35:37,801 - TIM: He picked up the shells, put the shells 693 00:35:37,878 --> 00:35:40,303 in his pocket and that's when they hopped 694 00:35:40,380 --> 00:35:42,305 in the Gremlin and drove off. 695 00:35:43,809 --> 00:35:47,886 Maree and Machetti drove as fast as they could 696 00:35:47,962 --> 00:35:50,054 to get out of Georgia. 697 00:35:50,131 --> 00:35:52,649 As soon as they cross the state line, 698 00:35:52,726 --> 00:35:55,435 they stopped at the first gas station they saw, 699 00:35:55,511 --> 00:36:01,491 called Rebecca in North Miami and he told Rebecca, 700 00:36:01,568 --> 00:36:03,243 "I bagged two fish." 701 00:36:07,190 --> 00:36:09,666 - ALAN: Becky was very, very manipulative. 702 00:36:09,743 --> 00:36:11,659 She would con anybody into anything 703 00:36:11,670 --> 00:36:14,162 to try to reach her goal. 704 00:36:14,173 --> 00:36:16,497 I have never seen anybody that could manipulate people 705 00:36:16,508 --> 00:36:18,666 like she did. 706 00:36:18,677 --> 00:36:20,335 - TIM: The investigators at that point 707 00:36:20,345 --> 00:36:23,588 knew they had enough evidence to secure warrants 708 00:36:23,665 --> 00:36:27,508 charging the two gentlemen 709 00:36:27,519 --> 00:36:30,511 with first-degree murder 710 00:36:30,522 --> 00:36:34,349 and to charge Rebecca with conspiracy to commit murder, 711 00:36:34,359 --> 00:36:35,859 two counts. 712 00:36:38,346 --> 00:36:41,189 - NARRATOR: Coming up: new revelations 713 00:36:41,200 --> 00:36:44,859 cast a grim shadow on the past. 714 00:36:44,870 --> 00:36:47,862 - VALERIE: She called Vicki and I in to hold him down. 715 00:36:47,873 --> 00:36:51,658 That was probably the worst memory of my life. 716 00:36:51,734 --> 00:36:53,534 - NARRATOR: And Becky doesn't go down 717 00:36:53,545 --> 00:36:55,036 without a fight. 718 00:36:55,047 --> 00:36:56,880 - TIM: Becky's whole defense was, 719 00:36:56,957 --> 00:36:59,925 she was completely innocent, she knew nothing about this. 720 00:37:01,294 --> 00:37:04,721 - ♪ 721 00:37:14,140 --> 00:37:15,899 - NARRATOR: Two months after the murders 722 00:37:15,976 --> 00:37:18,068 of Ronnie and Juanita Akins, 723 00:37:18,144 --> 00:37:20,904 investigators now believe their murders 724 00:37:20,981 --> 00:37:24,399 were a trial run for Becky and Tony Machetti's 725 00:37:24,409 --> 00:37:27,077 future life in the mob. 726 00:37:27,153 --> 00:37:29,904 - Becky was obsessed with all things mafia, 727 00:37:29,915 --> 00:37:32,740 and really hoped to get into that lifestyle, 728 00:37:32,751 --> 00:37:35,418 and she came up with the idea of her husband 729 00:37:35,495 --> 00:37:39,372 becoming a member of the mafia, being a hitman. 730 00:37:39,449 --> 00:37:41,091 - NARRATOR: But when investigators look into 731 00:37:41,167 --> 00:37:43,501 any real ties between the Machetti's 732 00:37:43,578 --> 00:37:48,098 and organized crime, they come up empty-handed. 733 00:37:48,174 --> 00:37:50,008 - JACLYN: There was never any involvement 734 00:37:50,084 --> 00:37:53,553 between Becky and Tony and the Mafia. 735 00:37:53,629 --> 00:37:55,087 You don't just change your name 736 00:37:55,165 --> 00:37:57,899 and go knock on their door and volunteer to be a hitman. 737 00:37:58,852 --> 00:38:01,102 - ALAN: It was just this dream world 738 00:38:01,113 --> 00:38:03,563 that he fell into her trap, is all I can say, 739 00:38:03,639 --> 00:38:04,948 both of them did. 740 00:38:08,862 --> 00:38:12,447 - NARRATOR: In 1975, all three co-conspirators 741 00:38:12,457 --> 00:38:17,785 go to trial for the murders of Ronnie and Juanita Akins. 742 00:38:17,796 --> 00:38:19,462 - JACLYN: There were three separate trials. 743 00:38:19,539 --> 00:38:23,416 Just everybody pointing fingers at each other. 744 00:38:23,493 --> 00:38:27,462 When the verdicts came back, all three 745 00:38:27,472 --> 00:38:29,347 were convicted. 746 00:38:32,144 --> 00:38:34,052 Tony was convicted of murder 747 00:38:34,128 --> 00:38:37,764 and was given the death sentence. 748 00:38:37,840 --> 00:38:39,766 John Maree was convicted of murder 749 00:38:39,842 --> 00:38:43,394 and I believe was given life in prison. 750 00:38:43,471 --> 00:38:45,989 And Becky was convicted of murder 751 00:38:46,066 --> 00:38:47,907 and given the death penalty. 752 00:38:51,479 --> 00:38:53,780 - NARRATOR: Becky's attorneys fight back. 753 00:38:53,856 --> 00:38:56,574 And after eight long years behind bars 754 00:38:56,651 --> 00:39:00,078 the 45-year-old gets an unexpected victory 755 00:39:00,154 --> 00:39:03,289 when her appeal goes before the 11th circuit court 756 00:39:03,366 --> 00:39:05,083 in Atlanta. 757 00:39:05,159 --> 00:39:06,676 - JACLYN: Her conviction was overturned 758 00:39:06,753 --> 00:39:09,003 because there were not enough women 759 00:39:09,014 --> 00:39:13,016 in the jury pool from which her jury was selected. 760 00:39:13,093 --> 00:39:14,926 - NARRATOR: Almost ten years after 761 00:39:15,002 --> 00:39:19,356 her initial conviction, Becky's retrial begins. 762 00:39:19,432 --> 00:39:22,016 - TIM: We had the same witnesses, basically, 763 00:39:22,027 --> 00:39:24,861 that we have in the original trial, but there was, 764 00:39:24,938 --> 00:39:26,604 there were a couple things we needed to cover 765 00:39:26,681 --> 00:39:29,366 that were not addressed in the first trial. 766 00:39:29,442 --> 00:39:30,983 - NARRATOR: Prosecutors call Becky 767 00:39:31,060 --> 00:39:33,370 and Ronnie's daughters, Vicky and Valerie, 768 00:39:33,446 --> 00:39:35,372 to the stand. 769 00:39:35,448 --> 00:39:38,616 In shocking testimony, the young women reveal 770 00:39:38,693 --> 00:39:42,662 that their father's alleged 1973 overdose 771 00:39:42,738 --> 00:39:47,291 was actually Becky's first attempt on Ronald Akins' life. 772 00:39:51,131 --> 00:39:54,966 - TIM: Rebecca had provided a milkshake to him 773 00:39:55,042 --> 00:39:57,844 which contained a mildew remover 774 00:39:57,920 --> 00:39:59,887 or some type of bleach cleaner 775 00:39:59,898 --> 00:40:02,974 along with the ice cream. 776 00:40:03,050 --> 00:40:04,234 - JACLYN: He drank the milkshake. 777 00:40:04,310 --> 00:40:07,353 And then more or less passed out, 778 00:40:07,430 --> 00:40:10,815 and the girls remember Becky calling them, 779 00:40:10,892 --> 00:40:13,151 screaming for them to come to her room 780 00:40:13,227 --> 00:40:15,570 in the middle of the night. 781 00:40:15,580 --> 00:40:17,155 - NARRATOR: Valerie claims their mother 782 00:40:17,231 --> 00:40:21,084 wanted help finishing what she'd started. 783 00:40:21,161 --> 00:40:24,087 - VALERIE: She tried to smother him, 784 00:40:24,164 --> 00:40:29,250 and she called Vicki and I in to hold him down. 785 00:40:29,261 --> 00:40:34,097 That was probably the worst memory of my life 786 00:40:34,174 --> 00:40:38,268 because we didn't want to do it, 787 00:40:38,344 --> 00:40:40,770 but she's screaming at us, to hold him, 788 00:40:40,847 --> 00:40:45,108 hold him and we did. 789 00:40:45,185 --> 00:40:49,654 And Dad was fighting, and we didn't know what to do. 790 00:40:51,432 --> 00:40:53,232 - TIM: It was just heart wrenching, 791 00:40:53,309 --> 00:40:54,567 just heart wrenching. 792 00:40:54,644 --> 00:40:57,287 She made the girls Vicky and Valerie 793 00:40:57,363 --> 00:41:00,198 hold down their father's legs, while she, 794 00:41:00,274 --> 00:41:02,074 who had already drugged their father 795 00:41:02,151 --> 00:41:04,794 with a laced milkshake, held the pillow 796 00:41:04,871 --> 00:41:06,421 over their father's head. 797 00:41:10,952 --> 00:41:14,971 When this assault occurred on Ronnie, 798 00:41:15,048 --> 00:41:17,590 Rebecca called the police, uh, she alleged 799 00:41:17,667 --> 00:41:22,053 that the father was a danger to her and the children. 800 00:41:22,129 --> 00:41:23,638 - VALERIE: The police came. 801 00:41:23,648 --> 00:41:27,150 He was wobbly, and he looked like somebody 802 00:41:27,227 --> 00:41:30,269 that was on drugs. 803 00:41:30,346 --> 00:41:32,322 The police believed her. 804 00:41:32,398 --> 00:41:35,316 We weren't allowed to say anything. 805 00:41:35,327 --> 00:41:37,285 We were afraid of her at that point. 806 00:41:39,239 --> 00:41:41,113 - NARRATOR: After Vicky and Valerie's 807 00:41:41,190 --> 00:41:45,168 gripping testimonies, John Maree takes the stand, 808 00:41:45,245 --> 00:41:48,004 detailing the events around the brutal murders 809 00:41:48,081 --> 00:41:50,289 of Ronnie and Juanita. 810 00:41:50,366 --> 00:41:53,251 - JACLYN: Maree was a very convincing witness. 811 00:41:53,327 --> 00:41:58,014 John Maree's testimony was the key to their case. 812 00:41:58,091 --> 00:41:59,423 - TIM: Becky's whole defense was, 813 00:41:59,500 --> 00:42:01,017 she was completely innocent, 814 00:42:01,094 --> 00:42:02,510 she was in Miami the whole time, 815 00:42:02,521 --> 00:42:05,355 she knew nothing about this. 816 00:42:05,431 --> 00:42:07,565 That's what her defense boiled down to. 817 00:42:08,693 --> 00:42:11,435 - NARRATOR: For the jury, the evidence speaks louder 818 00:42:11,512 --> 00:42:14,647 than Becky's claims of innocence. 819 00:42:14,724 --> 00:42:17,525 - TIM: They found Rebecca Machetti guilty 820 00:42:17,536 --> 00:42:20,036 of two counts of conspiracy to commit 821 00:42:20,113 --> 00:42:21,538 first degree murder. 822 00:42:21,614 --> 00:42:26,167 The jury sentenced her to two consecutive life terms. 823 00:42:29,622 --> 00:42:33,216 Becky Machetti wound up doing in excess of 30 years 824 00:42:33,293 --> 00:42:37,461 in prison before she was released on geriatric parole. 825 00:42:37,538 --> 00:42:40,056 - NARRATOR: Becky spends the last decade of her life 826 00:42:40,133 --> 00:42:43,393 back home in Athens, Georgia. 827 00:42:43,469 --> 00:42:45,344 - VALERIE: My mother until her dying day 828 00:42:45,421 --> 00:42:50,733 never admitted anything even though she knew we knew. 829 00:42:51,978 --> 00:42:55,187 My dad, he was just a good guy. 830 00:42:55,264 --> 00:43:01,152 It's sad the way she destroyed all of us. 831 00:43:01,228 --> 00:43:04,363 Vanessa, we're estranged from each other. 832 00:43:04,440 --> 00:43:06,490 I mean, my older sister died. 833 00:43:06,567 --> 00:43:11,254 And we were really close the last two or three years. 834 00:43:11,331 --> 00:43:16,092 But when she died, that was it. 835 00:43:16,169 --> 00:43:19,712 So, there is no family, really. 836 00:43:19,789 --> 00:43:22,890 And it's all because of Rebecca Machetti. 837 00:43:24,769 --> 00:43:36,562 - ♪