1 00:00:02,585 --> 00:00:03,461 - NARRATOR: He was a young gamer 2 00:00:04,754 --> 00:00:07,799 looking for his next chance to level up in life. 3 00:00:07,841 --> 00:00:10,427 - He did his homework. He never snuck out. 4 00:00:10,468 --> 00:00:12,095 He never did drugs. 5 00:00:12,137 --> 00:00:13,680 He loved learning. 6 00:00:13,722 --> 00:00:15,515 - There was definitely a boost of confidence 7 00:00:15,557 --> 00:00:17,308 when he got his girlfriend. 8 00:00:18,685 --> 00:00:21,187 NARRATOR: Until a shocking attack would traumatize 9 00:00:21,229 --> 00:00:22,689 those who loved him. 10 00:00:27,736 --> 00:00:30,196 - There is blood all over him. There's blood on the bed. 11 00:00:30,238 --> 00:00:31,906 There's blood everywhere. 12 00:00:31,948 --> 00:00:36,828 - This young man saw something tragic and horrific. 13 00:00:36,870 --> 00:00:40,248 - I just had a really hard time wrapping my head around 14 00:00:40,290 --> 00:00:42,834 that my brother was murdered. 15 00:00:42,876 --> 00:00:45,503 - NARRATOR: A crime so violent it would lead 16 00:00:45,545 --> 00:00:47,964 to an unfathomable suspect. 17 00:00:48,006 --> 00:00:50,216 - What happened? Who attacked this individual? 18 00:00:50,258 --> 00:00:51,509 Is it somebody in the house? 19 00:00:56,598 --> 00:00:58,808 - NARRATOR: What seemed like a life burning bright 20 00:00:58,850 --> 00:01:00,226 with potential... 21 00:01:04,606 --> 00:01:06,107 - NARRATOR: ...would turn pitch black. 22 00:01:09,152 --> 00:01:11,196 - Sometimes, those red flags, you don't see them. 23 00:01:11,237 --> 00:01:13,114 Like they say, love is blind. 24 00:01:17,786 --> 00:01:22,791 - * 25 00:01:28,713 --> 00:01:31,633 - NARRATOR: November 17, 2016. 26 00:01:31,675 --> 00:01:35,261 Palm Beach County, Florida. 27 00:01:35,303 --> 00:01:39,557 At 12:52 AM, dispatchers receive a 911 call 28 00:01:39,599 --> 00:01:42,602 in the rural suburb of Loxahatchee. 29 00:01:42,644 --> 00:01:46,815 The caller is 56-year-old Nicola Barry. 30 00:01:53,071 --> 00:01:55,949 - It was immediately apparent that the female caller 31 00:01:55,990 --> 00:02:00,453 was in distress and she informed the 911 call taker 32 00:02:00,495 --> 00:02:04,916 that her son, James, was bleeding heavily. 33 00:02:04,958 --> 00:02:07,669 - You can hear in her voice that she's very disturbed, 34 00:02:07,711 --> 00:02:11,381 very scared, uh, something terrible has happened. 35 00:02:11,423 --> 00:02:13,883 At that point first responders are dispatched. 36 00:02:13,925 --> 00:02:15,885 - [sirens] 37 00:02:15,927 --> 00:02:17,637 - [intense music] 38 00:02:17,679 --> 00:02:19,472 - The deputies approached the scene 39 00:02:19,514 --> 00:02:21,725 and as they're coming in the front door 40 00:02:21,766 --> 00:02:24,602 the individuals who are there are screaming for help. 41 00:02:24,644 --> 00:02:26,438 - NARRATOR: When police enter the home 42 00:02:26,479 --> 00:02:29,941 James's mother Nicola, her boyfriend, Guy Hand, 43 00:02:29,983 --> 00:02:33,570 and one of James's best friends, Jeff Jarzobkowski, 44 00:02:33,611 --> 00:02:37,824 are all reeling from watching James bleed uncontrollably 45 00:02:37,866 --> 00:02:39,367 before their eyes. 46 00:02:41,244 --> 00:02:43,830 - The room is covered in blood. There's blood on the ground. 47 00:02:43,872 --> 00:02:46,499 There's blood in the hallway on the way to the room. 48 00:02:46,541 --> 00:02:50,587 And there's blood on the bed. There's blood everywhere. 49 00:02:50,628 --> 00:02:54,841 - NARRATOR: On the floor is 21-year-old James Barry. 50 00:02:54,883 --> 00:02:59,220 - James is suffering from a very severe stab wound to the chest. 51 00:02:59,262 --> 00:03:00,889 He also is suffering from a number 52 00:03:00,930 --> 00:03:02,891 of different of sharp force injuries, 53 00:03:02,932 --> 00:03:05,143 uh, both stab wounds and slice wounds. 54 00:03:05,185 --> 00:03:07,896 So, it appears to be consistent with a stabbing. 55 00:03:09,647 --> 00:03:14,152 - The deputies see the victim is bleeding profusely 56 00:03:14,194 --> 00:03:17,072 and they make every attempt to try to save the individual, 57 00:03:17,113 --> 00:03:18,615 save the victim. 58 00:03:20,325 --> 00:03:22,202 - NARRATOR: Tragically, at the scene 59 00:03:22,243 --> 00:03:27,582 James succumbs to his wounds, as family members are notified 60 00:03:27,624 --> 00:03:32,879 of his gruesome death, shock and grief begin to set in. 61 00:03:32,921 --> 00:03:35,423 - I did speak with my mom briefly that night. 62 00:03:35,465 --> 00:03:39,511 It was a very emotional conversation to hear 63 00:03:39,552 --> 00:03:41,930 my mom saying that James is dead. 64 00:03:44,140 --> 00:03:46,059 I collapsed to the floor. 65 00:03:46,101 --> 00:03:48,561 I just-I lost it. 66 00:03:48,603 --> 00:03:51,022 I was screaming on top of my lungs, 67 00:03:51,064 --> 00:03:53,692 just wanting to know why my brother. 68 00:03:53,733 --> 00:03:55,110 Why him? 69 00:03:55,151 --> 00:03:57,153 He was a good kid. 70 00:03:57,195 --> 00:04:01,408 He never put himself in dangerous situations. 71 00:04:05,787 --> 00:04:08,748 - NARRATOR: With a homicide investigation now open, 72 00:04:08,790 --> 00:04:11,918 detectives arrive to assess the scene. 73 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:15,380 - I traveled to the scene and I initially meet 74 00:04:15,422 --> 00:04:16,756 with the first responders. 75 00:04:16,798 --> 00:04:18,341 I wasn't a pretty picture. 76 00:04:18,383 --> 00:04:22,637 It was immediately apparent that something heinous happened here. 77 00:04:22,679 --> 00:04:24,681 There was blood all over the floor. 78 00:04:24,723 --> 00:04:26,599 Thick amounts of blood. 79 00:04:26,641 --> 00:04:29,561 And as I walked down the hallway to where the decedent was 80 00:04:29,602 --> 00:04:32,105 there was blood sprayed up the side of the walls, 81 00:04:32,147 --> 00:04:34,149 up on the ceiling. 82 00:04:34,190 --> 00:04:36,067 - NARRATOR: When detectives enter the kitchen, 83 00:04:36,109 --> 00:04:39,320 they find what they believe is the murder weapon. 84 00:04:39,362 --> 00:04:42,115 - So, I'm looking at the knife on the kitchen counter. 85 00:04:42,157 --> 00:04:44,034 This knife was no ordinary kitchen knife. 86 00:04:44,075 --> 00:04:47,287 This knife had a long blade, roughly ten inches long. 87 00:04:47,328 --> 00:04:49,497 It was curved, very sharp. 88 00:04:49,539 --> 00:04:51,791 It had a white handle with grooves on it. 89 00:04:53,543 --> 00:04:55,712 There were no fingerprints on the handle. 90 00:04:55,754 --> 00:04:58,089 And because the knife was covered in blood 91 00:04:58,131 --> 00:05:01,259 it was presumed that this blood was James' blood. 92 00:05:01,301 --> 00:05:03,261 - NARRATOR: Now that they have what they believe 93 00:05:03,303 --> 00:05:06,598 is the murder weapon, detectives have to determine 94 00:05:06,639 --> 00:05:09,809 who had been the one to wield it. 95 00:05:09,851 --> 00:05:13,146 - The detectives need to now try to figure out what happened. 96 00:05:13,188 --> 00:05:15,565 Who attacked this individual? Is it somebody in the house? 97 00:05:15,607 --> 00:05:18,068 Or is it somebody who has left the residence, 98 00:05:18,109 --> 00:05:20,445 who was not there when the sheriffs arrived? 99 00:05:23,281 --> 00:05:25,992 - NARRATOR: Detectives quickly learn that James Barry 100 00:05:26,034 --> 00:05:29,079 was a bright light in the lives of his family. 101 00:05:31,998 --> 00:05:36,878 - James was born on May 28th of 1995. 102 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:39,589 When I was seven years old. 103 00:05:39,631 --> 00:05:41,549 He was a very special baby. 104 00:05:41,591 --> 00:05:45,303 James truly was a gift of God. 105 00:05:45,345 --> 00:05:48,139 - NARRATOR: James was always a small child. 106 00:05:48,181 --> 00:05:49,766 But what he lacked in size, 107 00:05:49,808 --> 00:05:53,311 he more than made up for in kindness. 108 00:05:53,353 --> 00:05:55,021 Growing up under the watchful eye 109 00:05:55,063 --> 00:05:58,858 of his older sister Alexandra, James roamed the property 110 00:05:58,900 --> 00:06:01,528 of his small family homestead. 111 00:06:01,569 --> 00:06:06,199 - When James and I were growing up we had a lot of animals. 112 00:06:06,241 --> 00:06:07,617 We had five horses. 113 00:06:07,659 --> 00:06:09,202 We had five dogs. 114 00:06:09,244 --> 00:06:11,746 We had five cats. 115 00:06:11,788 --> 00:06:14,833 - We just ran around, played tag, had mud fights. 116 00:06:14,874 --> 00:06:19,129 We would go around try to catch frogs, catch tadpoles. 117 00:06:19,170 --> 00:06:22,382 James was just a very adventurous kid. 118 00:06:22,424 --> 00:06:24,718 - We did have a very good upbringing. 119 00:06:24,759 --> 00:06:28,763 Um, we, we were blessed to be able to have, 120 00:06:28,805 --> 00:06:31,141 um, you know, that kind of lifestyle. 121 00:06:34,728 --> 00:06:37,605 - NARRATOR: In 2002, when James was seven, 122 00:06:37,647 --> 00:06:39,899 his parents split and gave the kids 123 00:06:39,941 --> 00:06:42,110 their choice of where to live. 124 00:06:42,152 --> 00:06:44,404 Alexandra went to live with her dad. 125 00:06:44,446 --> 00:06:47,240 James stayed with his mom. 126 00:06:47,282 --> 00:06:51,202 Despite the divorce both parents doted on their little boy, 127 00:06:51,244 --> 00:06:56,082 who grew into a teen any parent could be proud of. 128 00:06:56,124 --> 00:06:58,376 - James was a little bit of a late bloomer 129 00:06:58,418 --> 00:07:00,587 but he truly was your perfect son. 130 00:07:00,628 --> 00:07:02,297 He did his homework. 131 00:07:02,339 --> 00:07:03,715 He never snuck out. 132 00:07:03,757 --> 00:07:05,300 He never did drugs. 133 00:07:05,342 --> 00:07:07,344 He loved learning. 134 00:07:07,385 --> 00:07:08,970 - He was just himself. 135 00:07:09,012 --> 00:07:11,556 Kids always wanna show off and be a cool kid 136 00:07:11,598 --> 00:07:13,850 and do things to impress other people. 137 00:07:13,892 --> 00:07:15,185 Not him. 138 00:07:15,226 --> 00:07:17,896 James got into video games at a very young age 139 00:07:17,937 --> 00:07:20,607 and it's just always been a part of our lives. 140 00:07:20,648 --> 00:07:21,941 We just really liked playing. 141 00:07:21,983 --> 00:07:23,777 We always used to play all the time. 142 00:07:23,818 --> 00:07:25,779 - He loved video games. 143 00:07:25,820 --> 00:07:29,282 He was a big-time gamer and me too. 144 00:07:29,324 --> 00:07:33,119 I kinda grew out of it as I got older but he never did. 145 00:07:33,161 --> 00:07:34,871 That was his everything. 146 00:07:36,873 --> 00:07:38,917 - NARRATOR: For James, video games gave him 147 00:07:38,958 --> 00:07:41,044 the means to meet new people. 148 00:07:41,086 --> 00:07:43,129 And in his senior year of high school 149 00:07:43,171 --> 00:07:46,675 he finally got up the nerve to ask out a fellow gamer 150 00:07:46,716 --> 00:07:48,677 named Melanie Eam. 151 00:07:48,718 --> 00:07:53,098 - They were in the same group of friends with being gamers. 152 00:07:53,139 --> 00:07:56,267 Because she too was a pretty big gamer. 153 00:07:56,309 --> 00:07:59,646 - Melanie's parents had immigrated from Cambodia 154 00:07:59,688 --> 00:08:04,109 and so she was first generation American. 155 00:08:04,150 --> 00:08:05,819 - When I first met Melanie, 156 00:08:05,860 --> 00:08:08,321 I thought she was a beautiful girl. 157 00:08:08,363 --> 00:08:10,949 I told her I'm really excited, you know, 158 00:08:10,990 --> 00:08:14,703 that her and my brother are together. 159 00:08:14,744 --> 00:08:16,329 - There was definitely a boost of confidence 160 00:08:16,371 --> 00:08:18,707 when James, when he got his girlfriend. 161 00:08:18,748 --> 00:08:20,709 Posted more pictures, you know. 162 00:08:20,750 --> 00:08:22,502 He looked happy. 163 00:08:22,544 --> 00:08:24,045 I don't blame him. I mean, you know, 164 00:08:24,087 --> 00:08:26,339 you got the girl, life is good. 165 00:08:26,381 --> 00:08:28,717 That was his first girlfriend. 166 00:08:28,758 --> 00:08:31,386 - She was shy a little bit. 167 00:08:31,428 --> 00:08:34,014 She had this way of talking. 168 00:08:34,055 --> 00:08:38,143 She had a very soft voice, where, like, you would have to 169 00:08:38,184 --> 00:08:40,854 get close to her to hear her kind of thing. 170 00:08:40,895 --> 00:08:43,023 I was like oh, this girl's different. 171 00:08:43,064 --> 00:08:45,525 - As Melanie and James start dating, 172 00:08:45,567 --> 00:08:49,529 James's family members are very open and welcoming to her. 173 00:08:49,571 --> 00:08:53,450 So, Melanie starts becoming more dependent upon James 174 00:08:53,491 --> 00:08:57,370 and his family and the lifestyle that they have. 175 00:08:57,412 --> 00:09:01,291 - We brought her to various family get-togethers. 176 00:09:01,332 --> 00:09:05,712 Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, she was there. 177 00:09:05,754 --> 00:09:08,298 My mom loved her. She really did. 178 00:09:08,340 --> 00:09:11,593 She almost treated her as if it was her own daughter. 179 00:09:14,346 --> 00:09:18,350 - NARRATOR: James and Melanie were a picture of young love. 180 00:09:18,391 --> 00:09:20,477 - They were inseparable. 181 00:09:20,518 --> 00:09:23,730 They did pretty much everything together, too. 182 00:09:23,772 --> 00:09:26,858 They were very madly in love with each other. 183 00:09:26,900 --> 00:09:29,736 - NARRATOR: So much so, that after two years together, 184 00:09:29,778 --> 00:09:32,238 once James graduated high school, 185 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:34,282 Melanie dropped out. 186 00:09:34,324 --> 00:09:35,784 - She got her GED. 187 00:09:35,825 --> 00:09:38,078 And then they went to Palm Beach State College together. 188 00:09:38,119 --> 00:09:41,373 And even took the same course together 189 00:09:41,414 --> 00:09:43,291 with the same teacher and everything. 190 00:09:43,333 --> 00:09:47,504 It's how close their relationship was. 191 00:09:47,545 --> 00:09:51,508 - NARRATOR: The couples' future seemed bright. 192 00:09:51,549 --> 00:09:54,052 Until a sudden act of brutality 193 00:09:54,094 --> 00:09:57,514 on the night of November 17, 2016, 194 00:09:57,555 --> 00:10:02,268 leaves James dead and everyone close to him at a loss. 195 00:10:02,310 --> 00:10:06,064 - The loss of James, to his family, was devastating. 196 00:10:06,106 --> 00:10:11,778 His mother lost her only son and lost him in a home 197 00:10:11,820 --> 00:10:14,072 that she was living in. 198 00:10:14,114 --> 00:10:16,157 - In the home, at the time, is Nicola Barry, 199 00:10:16,199 --> 00:10:19,452 who's James' mother, a gentleman by the name of Guy Hand, 200 00:10:19,494 --> 00:10:22,997 and then James' best friend is also in the home, 201 00:10:23,039 --> 00:10:26,376 Mr. Jeffrey Jarzabkowski. 202 00:10:26,418 --> 00:10:28,253 - NARRATOR: While those who lived with James 203 00:10:28,294 --> 00:10:31,131 are traumatized by what they've just witnessed, 204 00:10:31,172 --> 00:10:34,676 detectives try to focus on untangling the mystery 205 00:10:34,718 --> 00:10:36,636 of what transpired. 206 00:10:36,678 --> 00:10:39,556 - The residents of the home are subsequently cleared out 207 00:10:39,597 --> 00:10:41,641 of the home because now a criminal investigation 208 00:10:41,683 --> 00:10:43,059 has to begin. 209 00:10:43,101 --> 00:10:45,311 They need to be questioned about what happened 210 00:10:45,353 --> 00:10:48,773 because any one of them could potentially be a suspect. 211 00:10:50,483 --> 00:10:53,028 - NARRATOR: Coming up: James' friend offers 212 00:10:53,069 --> 00:10:55,405 heartbreaking details of his death. 213 00:10:58,950 --> 00:11:00,702 - NARRATOR: And the complexities of the case 214 00:11:00,744 --> 00:11:02,829 have only just begun. 215 00:11:07,208 --> 00:11:09,711 - Melanie Eam's mother showed up on scene 216 00:11:09,753 --> 00:11:11,713 and she was looking for her daughter. 217 00:11:11,755 --> 00:11:14,591 This was alarming because now we have 218 00:11:14,632 --> 00:11:17,052 James' girlfriend missing. 219 00:11:17,093 --> 00:11:20,055 Maybe harm had come to her as well. 220 00:11:29,147 --> 00:11:33,360 - * 221 00:11:34,944 --> 00:11:39,240 - NARRATOR: In the early morning hours of November 17, 2016, 222 00:11:39,282 --> 00:11:41,534 members of the Palm Beach County Sheriffs office 223 00:11:41,576 --> 00:11:44,162 are investigating the stabbing death 224 00:11:44,204 --> 00:11:47,207 of 21-year-old James Barry. 225 00:11:47,248 --> 00:11:49,668 They begin by speaking with the three people 226 00:11:49,709 --> 00:11:52,545 present in the home when detectives arrived: 227 00:11:52,587 --> 00:11:57,258 Nicola Barry, Guy Hand, and Jeff Jarzabkowski. 228 00:11:58,802 --> 00:12:00,387 - So, one of the first interviews I conducted 229 00:12:00,428 --> 00:12:02,222 when I was on scene was with Jeff, 230 00:12:02,263 --> 00:12:03,598 who actually was in the bedroom 231 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:06,184 and spending the night when this incident occurred. 232 00:12:45,932 --> 00:12:47,726 - James fell down on the bed 233 00:12:47,767 --> 00:12:49,978 and was not able to say who did this to him. 234 00:12:50,020 --> 00:12:52,731 All he could say is "get help." 235 00:12:52,772 --> 00:12:54,649 - [suspenseful music] 236 00:13:13,335 --> 00:13:14,919 - NARRATOR: Jeff says within seconds, 237 00:13:14,961 --> 00:13:18,298 Guy burst into the room and began attempting CPR 238 00:13:18,340 --> 00:13:21,217 while he and Nicola called 911. 239 00:13:36,524 --> 00:13:38,985 - NARRATOR: According to Jeff, he had no idea 240 00:13:39,027 --> 00:13:41,946 how the presumed murder weapon ended up in the kitchen 241 00:13:41,988 --> 00:13:45,367 or how his friend had been stabbed in the first place. 242 00:13:47,827 --> 00:13:50,121 - It was very visible to me that he was upset. 243 00:13:50,163 --> 00:13:51,539 He was crying. 244 00:13:51,581 --> 00:13:54,459 He seemed to be very sincere, cooperative, 245 00:13:54,501 --> 00:13:59,297 and it just hit me that this young man saw something 246 00:13:59,339 --> 00:14:03,677 tragic and horrific and he was very upset 247 00:14:03,718 --> 00:14:05,512 about losing his friend. 248 00:14:07,972 --> 00:14:09,516 - NARRATOR: Investigators next 249 00:14:09,557 --> 00:14:13,395 question James grief-stricken mother who recounts a typical 250 00:14:13,436 --> 00:14:16,356 Wednesday evening at home. 251 00:14:16,398 --> 00:14:19,234 - I did conduct an interview with the victim's mother, 252 00:14:19,275 --> 00:14:20,652 Nicola Barry. 253 00:14:20,694 --> 00:14:24,239 And she was very cooperative but very upset. 254 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:26,324 And she had every reason to be. 255 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:52,809 - They had had a- a family dinner 256 00:14:52,851 --> 00:14:56,229 the people that were all in the house, as well as Jeff. 257 00:14:56,271 --> 00:14:57,772 They had a roast. 258 00:14:57,814 --> 00:15:01,317 And then Jeff and James were just hanging out in James' room. 259 00:15:01,359 --> 00:15:04,487 Really did go from an average evening 260 00:15:04,529 --> 00:15:08,158 in a- in a middle class home, in- in Loxahatchee, 261 00:15:08,199 --> 00:15:10,285 uh, to waking up to a nightmare. 262 00:15:13,705 --> 00:15:16,499 - NARRATOR: Finally, they speak to Guy Hand, 263 00:15:16,541 --> 00:15:19,336 Nicola's boyfriend who had tried to revive James 264 00:15:19,377 --> 00:15:21,755 prior to police arriving. 265 00:15:21,796 --> 00:15:24,674 - It was apparent that he had close contact with James 266 00:15:24,716 --> 00:15:26,843 'cause he was covered in blood. 267 00:15:26,885 --> 00:15:29,012 He was shirtless, he had blood on his chest, 268 00:15:29,054 --> 00:15:30,764 he had blood on his hands. 269 00:15:30,805 --> 00:15:33,475 - NARRATOR: Guy's story matches Nicola's and Jeff's. 270 00:15:53,495 --> 00:15:56,122 - NARRATOR: Guy admits to picking up the bloody knife 271 00:15:56,164 --> 00:15:59,376 but swears he wasn't trying to tamper with the scene. 272 00:16:08,802 --> 00:16:10,929 - Guy's explanation for moving the knife 273 00:16:10,970 --> 00:16:13,932 was that the knife was sort of out in an area 274 00:16:13,973 --> 00:16:16,976 where somebody could step and potentially injure themselves. 275 00:16:17,018 --> 00:16:19,979 So, he moved the knife without really thinking about it, 276 00:16:20,021 --> 00:16:22,524 just for safety purposes. 277 00:16:22,565 --> 00:16:24,484 - NARRATOR: Much like Jeff and Nicola, 278 00:16:24,526 --> 00:16:27,112 Guy seems to be genuinely heartbroken 279 00:16:27,153 --> 00:16:28,822 over James' death. 280 00:16:28,863 --> 00:16:31,533 - There was nothing to indicate that he was the individual 281 00:16:31,574 --> 00:16:33,201 that stabbed James. 282 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:37,497 - NARRATOR: After conducting the interviews, 283 00:16:37,539 --> 00:16:40,542 detectives take a closer look at the crime scene, 284 00:16:40,583 --> 00:16:44,963 searching for any evidence to point them to a suspect. 285 00:16:45,005 --> 00:16:48,758 - No windows are broken, no doors are opened in any way. 286 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:51,344 This doesn't appear to be the result of a burglary 287 00:16:51,386 --> 00:16:53,221 or robbery gone bad. 288 00:16:53,263 --> 00:16:57,058 However, on the back porch, what they see is a cellphone. 289 00:16:57,100 --> 00:16:58,685 It has a pink face to it. 290 00:16:58,727 --> 00:17:02,522 It's lying on the corner of the patio table. 291 00:17:02,564 --> 00:17:06,443 And the back door, which is a screened porch door, 292 00:17:06,484 --> 00:17:08,445 is slightly ajar. 293 00:17:08,486 --> 00:17:11,156 Okay, well, whose cellphone is this? 294 00:17:11,197 --> 00:17:13,742 - I had already established through my interviews 295 00:17:13,783 --> 00:17:15,994 that everyone in the house, who had a cellphone 296 00:17:16,036 --> 00:17:17,746 their cellphone was accounted for. 297 00:17:17,787 --> 00:17:20,373 I had to confirm with the victims mother, Nicola, 298 00:17:20,415 --> 00:17:22,542 that this cellphone that was found on the patio 299 00:17:22,584 --> 00:17:26,629 belonged to the victim's girlfriend Melanie. 300 00:17:26,671 --> 00:17:28,548 That indicated that she went over to the house 301 00:17:28,590 --> 00:17:29,966 before the murder. 302 00:17:32,260 --> 00:17:36,014 - Detectives questioned Nicola Barry about Melanie Eam. 303 00:17:36,056 --> 00:17:38,391 They want to find out is she the type of person 304 00:17:38,433 --> 00:17:40,560 that would be a suspect in this case. 305 00:17:40,602 --> 00:17:42,937 Nicola seems to be a little dismissive of that. 306 00:17:42,979 --> 00:17:45,231 Melanie is a very meek and shy person. 307 00:17:45,273 --> 00:17:46,733 Doesn't seem like the type of person 308 00:17:46,775 --> 00:17:48,651 that would be likely to do this. 309 00:17:48,693 --> 00:17:50,904 - NARRATOR: Shortly after the phone is located, 310 00:17:50,945 --> 00:17:55,116 a woman arrives at the scene looking for Melanie. 311 00:17:55,158 --> 00:17:56,868 - A female showed up on scene 312 00:17:56,910 --> 00:17:59,746 and stated she was Melanie Eam's mother 313 00:17:59,788 --> 00:18:01,623 and she was looking for her daughter. 314 00:18:01,664 --> 00:18:03,416 The mother was very concerned for her daughter 315 00:18:03,458 --> 00:18:05,752 because the daughter had left the house 316 00:18:05,794 --> 00:18:08,421 only maybe a half an hour earlier of the mother 317 00:18:08,463 --> 00:18:10,548 arriving on the crime scene. 318 00:18:10,590 --> 00:18:12,634 And she had been trying to reach her by phone 319 00:18:12,676 --> 00:18:15,303 and her daughter was not answering her cellphone. 320 00:18:15,345 --> 00:18:16,763 She also mentioned that her daughter 321 00:18:16,805 --> 00:18:19,224 had expressed to her that she was upset. 322 00:18:19,265 --> 00:18:21,893 Melanie's parents, they had gone for a walk. 323 00:18:21,935 --> 00:18:24,437 Upon returning home from their walk, she was gone. 324 00:18:26,314 --> 00:18:28,733 - NARRATOR: While Melanie's mother couldn't say for sure 325 00:18:28,775 --> 00:18:30,860 why her daughter was so troubled, 326 00:18:30,902 --> 00:18:33,405 based on the discovery of Melanie's phone, 327 00:18:33,446 --> 00:18:36,533 it does appear she came to see James. 328 00:18:36,574 --> 00:18:37,951 - This was alarming 329 00:18:37,992 --> 00:18:42,080 because now we have James' girlfriend missing. 330 00:18:42,122 --> 00:18:43,665 I was concerned about her whereabouts, 331 00:18:43,707 --> 00:18:46,376 not only because she may had involvement 332 00:18:46,418 --> 00:18:48,461 but for her own safety and health. 333 00:18:48,503 --> 00:18:52,632 She was a young girl, maybe harm had come to her as well. 334 00:18:52,674 --> 00:18:54,092 - NARRATOR: Coming up: 335 00:18:54,134 --> 00:18:57,137 A disturbing picture emerges of a young love 336 00:18:57,178 --> 00:18:59,347 that spirals out of control. 337 00:19:05,979 --> 00:19:07,564 - NARRATOR: And a text message points 338 00:19:07,605 --> 00:19:09,899 to a heartbreaking motive. 339 00:19:09,941 --> 00:19:14,029 - His last words to my father were, "It's gonna hurt a lot." 340 00:19:29,961 --> 00:19:33,006 - NARRATOR: In the hours after James Barry bled to death 341 00:19:33,048 --> 00:19:36,217 on his bedroom floor, investigators have discovered 342 00:19:36,259 --> 00:19:38,636 that his girlfriend, Melanie Eam, 343 00:19:38,678 --> 00:19:41,056 is missing. 344 00:19:41,097 --> 00:19:44,392 While the search for Melanie is underway, detectives receive 345 00:19:44,434 --> 00:19:48,021 word from another member of James' family. 346 00:19:48,063 --> 00:19:51,941 - I was informed that the decedent's father had arrived 347 00:19:51,983 --> 00:19:55,153 from a town probably 40 minutes away 348 00:19:55,195 --> 00:19:57,822 and he had some very valuable information 349 00:19:57,864 --> 00:20:00,492 which he shared with me. 350 00:20:00,533 --> 00:20:02,869 - NARRATOR: James' father calls the detective 351 00:20:02,911 --> 00:20:05,997 and relays a text exchange between father and son 352 00:20:06,039 --> 00:20:08,875 on the night of the murder. 353 00:20:08,917 --> 00:20:11,086 - The basis of these text messages were that the son 354 00:20:11,127 --> 00:20:15,256 was expressing his concern over ending a relationship 355 00:20:15,298 --> 00:20:16,549 with his girlfriend 356 00:20:16,591 --> 00:20:18,593 and his father was just giving him the advice 357 00:20:18,635 --> 00:20:20,470 that most fathers would give. 358 00:20:20,512 --> 00:20:23,014 Son wasn't panicking and he didn't express 359 00:20:23,056 --> 00:20:24,808 any fear of any reprisal. 360 00:20:24,849 --> 00:20:27,602 He just wanted to end the relationship. 361 00:20:27,644 --> 00:20:29,437 Felt it was time to move on. 362 00:20:29,479 --> 00:20:33,149 - The night of the breakup, his last words to my father 363 00:20:33,191 --> 00:20:35,902 were "It's gonna hurt a lot." 364 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:39,364 - NARRATOR: Having now obtained a search warrant 365 00:20:39,406 --> 00:20:41,991 for Melanie's phone, Detective Oliver 366 00:20:42,033 --> 00:20:46,371 looks for any correspondence with James that evening. 367 00:20:46,413 --> 00:20:50,125 - I was able to find a software on the phone that showed text 368 00:20:50,166 --> 00:20:54,754 messages through a gaming application between Melanie and 369 00:20:54,796 --> 00:20:58,466 the victim that had happened several hours before the 911 370 00:20:58,508 --> 00:20:59,968 call came in. 371 00:21:00,010 --> 00:21:03,304 - NARRATOR: At 9:08 P.M. on November 16th, 372 00:21:03,346 --> 00:21:07,892 three hours and 45 minutes before his mother's 911 call, 373 00:21:07,934 --> 00:21:11,062 James sent a message to Melanie. 374 00:21:11,104 --> 00:21:14,107 - There was a message from James on this application 375 00:21:14,149 --> 00:21:17,444 to Melanie that he wanted to end the relationship. 376 00:21:17,485 --> 00:21:19,320 - He didn't want to hurt Melanie's feelings 377 00:21:19,362 --> 00:21:20,613 with breaking up. 378 00:21:20,655 --> 00:21:23,491 So, I think that's also part of the reason why 379 00:21:23,533 --> 00:21:26,745 he broke up with her through a game chat 380 00:21:26,786 --> 00:21:28,872 versus in person. 381 00:21:31,124 --> 00:21:35,170 - James tries to be compassionate and say, 382 00:21:35,211 --> 00:21:37,297 "I think it's best for us if we separate. 383 00:21:37,339 --> 00:21:40,425 I think that we will do better on our own." 384 00:21:40,467 --> 00:21:44,262 They're also able to see Melanie's reaction. 385 00:21:44,304 --> 00:21:48,350 - The messages clearly indicate that she is quite distraught 386 00:21:48,391 --> 00:21:51,269 and upset over that relationship ending. 387 00:21:54,856 --> 00:21:56,358 - NARRATOR: After leaving the crime scene 388 00:21:56,399 --> 00:21:59,194 and returning home, just before dawn, 389 00:21:59,235 --> 00:22:01,863 detectives interview both of Melanie's parents 390 00:22:01,905 --> 00:22:03,406 about the evening of the murder 391 00:22:03,448 --> 00:22:06,201 and the their daughter's state of mind. 392 00:22:06,242 --> 00:22:08,078 - She lived a normal life, it appeared, 393 00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:09,704 prior to this incident. 394 00:22:09,746 --> 00:22:14,167 They last saw their daughter 45 minutes before the murder. 395 00:22:14,209 --> 00:22:17,045 And they said that she was upset. 396 00:22:17,087 --> 00:22:20,048 And the father told me that he saw his daughter 397 00:22:20,090 --> 00:22:21,800 leaving at a high rate of speed 398 00:22:21,841 --> 00:22:24,803 in a white Toyota which was her car 399 00:22:24,844 --> 00:22:28,264 that he owned but she utilized. 400 00:22:28,306 --> 00:22:31,142 - The night of the murder, detectives also start 401 00:22:31,184 --> 00:22:33,311 canvassing the neighborhood to see if there's any witnesses, 402 00:22:33,353 --> 00:22:35,271 any neighbors that saw anything. 403 00:22:35,313 --> 00:22:36,856 They made contact with a neighbor 404 00:22:36,898 --> 00:22:41,528 who had seen a white Toyota speed out of the neighborhood 405 00:22:41,569 --> 00:22:45,490 and also indicated that she had surveillance video 406 00:22:45,532 --> 00:22:48,910 so that the detectives could observe the vehicle themselves. 407 00:22:50,453 --> 00:22:52,414 - NARRATOR: The greatest concern for detectives 408 00:22:52,455 --> 00:22:55,625 is the time stamp on the video. 409 00:22:55,667 --> 00:22:59,087 - Upon viewing it, it looked like this white Toyota 410 00:22:59,129 --> 00:23:01,965 had arrived just before the murder 411 00:23:02,007 --> 00:23:04,467 and fled the scene just before the 911 call. 412 00:23:07,345 --> 00:23:09,848 - We put a BOLO out with Melanie's picture 413 00:23:09,889 --> 00:23:13,101 and the picture of a car similar to that. 414 00:23:13,143 --> 00:23:15,020 - NARRATOR: Now that police are less concerned 415 00:23:15,061 --> 00:23:17,647 that Melanie is missing and more concerned 416 00:23:17,689 --> 00:23:20,650 that she is on the run, they need to dive deeper 417 00:23:20,692 --> 00:23:23,570 into the details of her relationship with James. 418 00:23:23,611 --> 00:23:27,532 And they start with his closest friend, Jeff. 419 00:23:27,574 --> 00:23:30,827 - Jeff tells them that James has tried to break up 420 00:23:30,869 --> 00:23:36,332 with Melanie before and that Melanie has not accepted it. 421 00:23:36,374 --> 00:23:39,127 - NARRATOR: Jeff says he saw the first signs of trouble 422 00:23:39,169 --> 00:23:44,049 when he moved in with James and his family in 2014. 423 00:23:44,090 --> 00:23:46,801 - Some of the red flags that Jeff noticed 424 00:23:46,843 --> 00:23:51,014 was the clinginess, the controllingness with James 425 00:23:51,056 --> 00:23:54,351 and with Melanie always having to be there 426 00:23:54,392 --> 00:23:57,062 and she would get very upset 427 00:23:57,103 --> 00:23:59,731 if James wanted to hang out with his friends. 428 00:23:59,773 --> 00:24:04,069 She would guilt trip him and make him feel bad. 429 00:24:04,110 --> 00:24:05,528 - When it's your first girlfriend, 430 00:24:05,570 --> 00:24:07,113 it's your first love, you know, you- 431 00:24:07,155 --> 00:24:08,656 those red flags, you don't see them there. 432 00:24:08,698 --> 00:24:12,035 You know, you know, like they say they love is blind. 433 00:24:12,077 --> 00:24:15,038 - Jeff describes Melanie as a very volatile person. 434 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:17,665 A vindictive person and somebody who may, 435 00:24:17,707 --> 00:24:20,377 in fact, be the person who did this to James. 436 00:24:23,129 --> 00:24:25,256 Jeff had attempted to speak with James 437 00:24:25,298 --> 00:24:27,175 about Ms. Eam and her behaviors 438 00:24:27,217 --> 00:24:29,886 were not that of a normal girlfriend. 439 00:24:29,928 --> 00:24:32,430 Sort of tried to alert James that this may be, in fact, 440 00:24:32,472 --> 00:24:35,433 a bad relationship that he might want to distance himself. 441 00:24:45,360 --> 00:24:47,362 - NARRATOR: And it seems jealousy 442 00:24:47,404 --> 00:24:51,116 was just the tip of the iceberg. 443 00:24:51,157 --> 00:24:54,327 Jeff alleges that less than a year before the murder 444 00:24:54,369 --> 00:24:56,496 Melanie vengefully lashed out 445 00:24:56,538 --> 00:24:59,165 after one of her fights with James. 446 00:24:59,207 --> 00:25:03,503 - Jeff had a saltwater aquarium at the home. 447 00:25:03,545 --> 00:25:05,714 They're worth a couple of thousand dollars. 448 00:25:05,755 --> 00:25:10,385 We believe that Melanie got a half a gallon of bleach 449 00:25:10,427 --> 00:25:13,888 and she poured it into the fish tank. 450 00:25:13,930 --> 00:25:17,892 - Jeff tells investigators he believed Melanie poured bleach 451 00:25:17,934 --> 00:25:20,687 into a rather high-end fish tank that belonged to Jeff, 452 00:25:20,729 --> 00:25:24,399 killing a lot of these fish and destroying his property. 453 00:25:24,441 --> 00:25:26,151 So, Jeff's description of Melanie is one 454 00:25:26,192 --> 00:25:28,361 of quite the volatile person. 455 00:25:31,114 --> 00:25:33,575 - Jeff was very irate, very upset. 456 00:25:33,616 --> 00:25:37,120 So upset that he packed his stuff and moved out. 457 00:25:37,162 --> 00:25:40,790 Melanie showed no remorse, no regard 458 00:25:40,832 --> 00:25:44,336 and just simply admitted to killing the fish, 459 00:25:44,377 --> 00:25:48,423 which then led to my brother and her breaking up. 460 00:25:50,300 --> 00:25:52,052 - NARRATOR: Despite James' attempt 461 00:25:52,093 --> 00:25:57,724 to end their relationship, Melanie refused to let him go. 462 00:25:57,766 --> 00:26:02,771 - Jeff does tell detectives that Melanie has in the past 463 00:26:02,812 --> 00:26:04,814 attempted to kind of manipulate the situation 464 00:26:04,856 --> 00:26:07,400 by threatening harm to herself in an attempt 465 00:26:07,442 --> 00:26:10,278 to maintain that relationship with James. 466 00:26:46,564 --> 00:26:49,609 - If James wasn't there, she had nobody to talk to. 467 00:26:49,651 --> 00:26:52,654 So, she just wanted him around all the time, 468 00:26:52,696 --> 00:26:57,492 it was just obsession, controlling and just toxic. 469 00:26:57,534 --> 00:26:59,828 - NARRATOR: After learning she'd threatened to inflict 470 00:26:59,869 --> 00:27:03,498 serious self-harm over the prospect of losing James 471 00:27:03,540 --> 00:27:05,917 Melanie's family tried to put some distance 472 00:27:05,959 --> 00:27:07,544 between the couple. 473 00:27:07,585 --> 00:27:10,755 - Melanie took some time away from James 474 00:27:10,797 --> 00:27:13,008 and went up to Maryland and stayed 475 00:27:13,049 --> 00:27:15,635 with family members up there. 476 00:27:15,677 --> 00:27:17,554 - NARRATOR: It seemed that things between James 477 00:27:17,595 --> 00:27:21,474 and Melanie were officially over. 478 00:27:21,516 --> 00:27:25,979 Until a social media post in August of 2016 479 00:27:26,021 --> 00:27:28,273 suggested otherwise. 480 00:27:28,314 --> 00:27:31,860 - I was messaging James on Facebook one day 481 00:27:31,901 --> 00:27:35,655 and I had asked him 482 00:27:35,697 --> 00:27:38,867 why your status doesn't say single, 483 00:27:38,908 --> 00:27:42,120 something on those lines and he had mentioned 484 00:27:42,162 --> 00:27:45,081 that him and Melanie are back together. 485 00:27:45,123 --> 00:27:49,210 James and Melanie were just separated for a couple months. 486 00:27:49,252 --> 00:27:50,837 It shocked everyone. 487 00:27:50,879 --> 00:27:55,550 James loved her and wanted to make things work. 488 00:27:55,592 --> 00:27:58,803 They were only back together for about three months 489 00:27:58,845 --> 00:28:00,597 prior to the murder. 490 00:28:08,772 --> 00:28:11,399 - NARRATOR: With the troubling stories about her behavior 491 00:28:11,441 --> 00:28:13,651 and proof she had been at the scene 492 00:28:13,693 --> 00:28:17,781 the night James was stabbed, the signs point to Melanie Eam 493 00:28:17,822 --> 00:28:19,741 as the primary suspect. 494 00:28:19,783 --> 00:28:23,203 But could detectives get to her in time? 495 00:28:23,244 --> 00:28:26,247 - I did have a thought in my head that this young lady had 496 00:28:26,289 --> 00:28:28,625 already fled from the scene 497 00:28:28,667 --> 00:28:30,669 and she has contacts outside of the country. 498 00:28:30,710 --> 00:28:32,671 So, there was a likelihood that I would never have the 499 00:28:32,712 --> 00:28:35,215 opportunity to apprehend her. 500 00:28:35,256 --> 00:28:36,591 - NARRATOR: Coming up: 501 00:28:36,633 --> 00:28:40,512 Police strategize a surprisingly successful ruse. 502 00:28:46,935 --> 00:28:49,646 - A witness to a crime would not say, 503 00:28:49,688 --> 00:28:51,856 "Oh, are you here to question me?" 504 00:28:51,898 --> 00:28:54,234 That is something that a suspect would say, 505 00:28:54,275 --> 00:28:56,194 a suspect who knows that they're guilty. 506 00:29:05,578 --> 00:29:08,998 - * 507 00:29:11,042 --> 00:29:13,503 - NARRATOR: Investigators in Palm Beach, Florida 508 00:29:13,545 --> 00:29:16,840 are searching for 20-year-old Melanie Eam, 509 00:29:16,881 --> 00:29:19,342 the prime suspect in the stabbing death 510 00:29:19,384 --> 00:29:23,179 of 21-year-old James Barry. 511 00:29:23,221 --> 00:29:26,725 A statewide BOLO has been issued on Melanie's vehicle, 512 00:29:26,766 --> 00:29:29,144 and detectives are in luck when they receive word 513 00:29:29,185 --> 00:29:32,689 from their counterparts at the highway patrol. 514 00:29:32,731 --> 00:29:35,567 - We received information from the turnpike authorities 515 00:29:35,608 --> 00:29:39,696 that Melanie Eam's vehicle was caught going through 516 00:29:39,738 --> 00:29:43,158 a turnpike plaza within 15 minutes of the murder. 517 00:29:45,952 --> 00:29:48,872 Upon viewing the information including the photograph 518 00:29:48,913 --> 00:29:51,291 provided to me by the Florida Turnpike authority 519 00:29:51,332 --> 00:29:54,502 it was a priority to locate and interview Melanie. 520 00:29:56,713 --> 00:29:58,965 - NARRATOR: Once they get a sense of her direction, 521 00:29:59,007 --> 00:30:02,260 police are able to trace her digital footprint. 522 00:30:02,302 --> 00:30:04,554 - Investigators are able to see that her credit card 523 00:30:04,596 --> 00:30:07,682 is being used at gas stations and ATMs, 524 00:30:07,724 --> 00:30:10,810 uh, heading up northward, which would indicate a direction 525 00:30:10,852 --> 00:30:13,897 that's consistent with the Maryland area. 526 00:30:13,938 --> 00:30:17,192 - I went back to the cell phone belonging to Melanie 527 00:30:17,233 --> 00:30:19,819 and started looking through for any contacts, names 528 00:30:19,861 --> 00:30:22,072 or phone numbers of anyone that lived up in Maryland 529 00:30:22,113 --> 00:30:24,741 and I was able to find a phone number 530 00:30:24,783 --> 00:30:27,911 which was called by Melanie 531 00:30:27,952 --> 00:30:31,164 several hours before the incident. 532 00:30:31,206 --> 00:30:33,958 - NARRATOR: The number belongs to Melanie's cousin, 533 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:36,628 and in order to keep Melanie from fleeing 534 00:30:36,670 --> 00:30:38,713 Detective Oliver dials the number 535 00:30:38,755 --> 00:30:41,800 and leaves a vague message. 536 00:30:41,841 --> 00:30:43,802 - I didn't want to give the cousin a clue 537 00:30:43,843 --> 00:30:45,595 like she was wanted in a murder. 538 00:30:45,637 --> 00:30:47,681 I didn't want them to try to hide her. 539 00:30:47,722 --> 00:30:49,641 I just wanted to say there was an incident 540 00:30:49,683 --> 00:30:51,559 that occurred here, and we need to talk to her 541 00:30:51,601 --> 00:30:52,936 and make sure she's safe. 542 00:30:54,437 --> 00:30:56,856 - NARRATOR: A few hours later, Melanie's cousin, 543 00:30:56,898 --> 00:31:01,653 Mongol Onk, calls back from Silver Spring, Maryland. 544 00:31:01,695 --> 00:31:04,280 - Mongol just says that Melanie's here. 545 00:31:04,322 --> 00:31:08,702 He doesn't go into any detail about what she said or anything, 546 00:31:08,743 --> 00:31:11,788 but that she is safe. 547 00:31:11,830 --> 00:31:14,040 - Once I hung up the phone with the cousin, 548 00:31:14,082 --> 00:31:18,169 I directly made phone calls to authorities in Maryland 549 00:31:18,211 --> 00:31:20,964 requesting their assistance in going over to the residence 550 00:31:21,006 --> 00:31:24,050 and seeing if the white Toyota was actually there. 551 00:31:26,928 --> 00:31:29,597 - NARRATOR: Less than 48 hours after the murder, 552 00:31:29,639 --> 00:31:32,058 officers arrive at Mongol's residence. 553 00:31:37,939 --> 00:31:40,191 - NARRATOR: The officers only say they're there 554 00:31:40,233 --> 00:31:42,610 for a wellness check on Melanie. 555 00:31:55,206 --> 00:31:57,542 - NARRATOR: Officers have only been speaking with her cousin 556 00:31:57,584 --> 00:32:01,212 for a few minutes, when Melanie emerges from the home. 557 00:32:13,058 --> 00:32:15,685 - A witness to a crime would not say 558 00:32:15,727 --> 00:32:17,937 "Oh, are you here to question me?" 559 00:32:17,979 --> 00:32:20,148 That is something that a suspect would say, 560 00:32:20,190 --> 00:32:21,983 a suspect who knows that they're guilty. 561 00:32:39,250 --> 00:32:42,128 - NARRATOR: Maryland police keep tabs on Melanie 562 00:32:42,170 --> 00:32:44,381 until the evening of November 18th, 563 00:32:44,422 --> 00:32:48,218 when detectives from Florida arrive at the home. 564 00:32:48,259 --> 00:32:50,887 - Even though on the surface it looks like Melanie Eam 565 00:32:50,929 --> 00:32:52,889 was the culprit and no one else, 566 00:32:52,931 --> 00:32:55,100 we wanted to speak to Melanie 567 00:32:55,141 --> 00:32:58,895 because generally without some corroborative evidence, 568 00:32:58,937 --> 00:33:00,689 either an eyewitness to the murder 569 00:33:00,730 --> 00:33:02,607 or a confession by the suspect, 570 00:33:02,649 --> 00:33:06,027 it takes a lot to prove murder beyond a reasonable doubt. 571 00:33:08,530 --> 00:33:10,073 - NARRATOR: With the case against Melanie 572 00:33:10,115 --> 00:33:13,284 largely circumstantial, detectives are working 573 00:33:13,326 --> 00:33:17,038 towards something more concrete like a confession. 574 00:33:17,080 --> 00:33:19,416 - I informed her that I was from Palm Beach County, Florida. 575 00:33:19,457 --> 00:33:20,750 I was a detective. 576 00:33:20,792 --> 00:33:22,919 I just wanted to ask her some questions. 577 00:33:29,467 --> 00:33:32,095 - At this point, she wasn't under arrest. 578 00:33:32,137 --> 00:33:35,181 The interview was being conducted in her dwelling. 579 00:33:35,223 --> 00:33:37,976 And she was clearly told she wasn't under arrest. 580 00:33:38,018 --> 00:33:40,228 Knowing the law, and from my experience, 581 00:33:40,270 --> 00:33:42,689 I flat out told her we just want to talk to you. 582 00:33:42,731 --> 00:33:44,399 Wanna hear your side of the story. 583 00:33:44,441 --> 00:33:46,526 At which point, several minutes later, 584 00:33:46,568 --> 00:33:49,112 we were able to sit down at a kitchen table 585 00:33:49,154 --> 00:33:52,032 and Melanie proceeded to answer several questions 586 00:33:52,073 --> 00:33:54,200 regarding the incident. 587 00:34:30,445 --> 00:34:32,405 - NARRATOR: Melanie says when she received 588 00:34:32,447 --> 00:34:35,241 the message from James ending their relationship 589 00:34:35,283 --> 00:34:37,786 she cried for several hours 590 00:34:37,827 --> 00:34:40,997 before driving over to confront him. 591 00:34:41,039 --> 00:34:46,378 And during the drive her sadness turned to rage. 592 00:34:46,419 --> 00:34:49,130 - She admitted to going over there just to confront James. 593 00:34:49,172 --> 00:34:53,593 And during the course of being in the house with James 594 00:34:53,635 --> 00:34:55,136 she was so upset when she heard 595 00:34:55,178 --> 00:34:56,846 that he didn't love her anymore 596 00:34:56,888 --> 00:34:58,640 that she reached for a knife 597 00:34:58,682 --> 00:35:00,517 that was inside of a drawer 598 00:35:00,558 --> 00:35:01,893 and went after him. 599 00:35:19,994 --> 00:35:21,371 - During the course of this interview 600 00:35:21,413 --> 00:35:25,542 she mentioned that she had blood on her shirt, 601 00:35:25,583 --> 00:35:27,919 being James' blood, and that the shirt 602 00:35:27,961 --> 00:35:30,380 was still with her in her possession. 603 00:35:30,422 --> 00:35:33,383 So, I asked her, "would you mind providing me that t-shirt?" 604 00:35:33,425 --> 00:35:34,759 She cooperated. 605 00:35:34,801 --> 00:35:35,885 Walked downstairs to the basement. 606 00:35:35,927 --> 00:35:37,303 We followed her. 607 00:35:37,345 --> 00:35:39,639 And she provided me with the shirt she was wearing 608 00:35:39,681 --> 00:35:41,766 when she stabbed James. 609 00:35:41,808 --> 00:35:45,645 - Detective Oliver elects during the statement of Miss Eam, 610 00:35:45,687 --> 00:35:47,564 uh, not to Mirandize her. 611 00:35:47,605 --> 00:35:50,692 The statement is taken while is she not in custody. 612 00:35:50,734 --> 00:35:52,736 She is in the home of her cousin. 613 00:35:52,777 --> 00:35:54,571 She's not in handcuffs. 614 00:35:54,612 --> 00:35:57,449 - I wanted to make sure I ran these facts by a state attorney 615 00:35:57,490 --> 00:35:59,200 from my county 616 00:35:59,242 --> 00:36:02,829 before I drafted a probable cause affidavit and arrest her. 617 00:36:02,871 --> 00:36:04,914 So, I told Melanie, I'm leaving, 618 00:36:04,956 --> 00:36:06,458 thank you for your cooperation. 619 00:36:09,377 --> 00:36:11,338 - NARRATOR: At 8:30 the next morning, 620 00:36:11,379 --> 00:36:14,507 Maryland police officers return to Mongol's house 621 00:36:14,549 --> 00:36:18,178 and arrest Melanie for second degree murder. 622 00:36:18,219 --> 00:36:19,512 - Melanie Eam was taken into custody 623 00:36:19,554 --> 00:36:21,431 and later extradited out of Maryland 624 00:36:21,473 --> 00:36:24,309 and brought down to Florida to face the charges. 625 00:36:25,935 --> 00:36:27,228 - NARRATOR: Coming up: 626 00:36:27,270 --> 00:36:29,439 When Melanie gets her day in court 627 00:36:29,481 --> 00:36:31,775 her attorney calls foul. 628 00:36:31,816 --> 00:36:33,401 - She asked for an attorney. 629 00:36:33,443 --> 00:36:35,862 In fact, she asked for an attorney three times. 630 00:36:35,904 --> 00:36:38,156 Each time it was denied. 631 00:36:38,198 --> 00:36:40,867 - NARRATOR: Will Melanie Eam get away with murder 632 00:36:40,909 --> 00:36:42,619 on a technicality? 633 00:36:42,660 --> 00:36:45,538 - It becomes very much more a circumstantial case 634 00:36:45,580 --> 00:36:47,415 rather than a direct evidence case. 635 00:36:56,716 --> 00:37:00,637 - * 636 00:37:02,931 --> 00:37:05,016 - NARRATOR: After Melanie Eam is arrested 637 00:37:05,058 --> 00:37:08,019 for the stabbing death of her 21-year-old boyfriend, 638 00:37:08,061 --> 00:37:12,273 James Barry, her defense team files a pretrial motion 639 00:37:12,315 --> 00:37:15,568 to have her confession thrown out. 640 00:37:15,610 --> 00:37:17,570 - Detective Oliver makes a determination 641 00:37:17,612 --> 00:37:19,948 because she's not in custody she is not entitled 642 00:37:19,989 --> 00:37:21,825 to her Miranda warnings. 643 00:37:21,866 --> 00:37:24,911 Nor is she entitled to an attorney at that time. 644 00:37:24,953 --> 00:37:28,707 Legally, he's not compelled to cease the interview at that time 645 00:37:28,748 --> 00:37:30,458 because she's never taken into custody. 646 00:37:33,420 --> 00:37:36,131 - I made that motion basing it on the fact 647 00:37:36,172 --> 00:37:38,425 that she asked for an attorney. 648 00:37:38,466 --> 00:37:41,803 In fact, she asked for an attorney three times. 649 00:37:41,845 --> 00:37:43,888 Each time it was denied. 650 00:37:43,930 --> 00:37:46,766 So, as far as I was concerned when this case started, 651 00:37:46,808 --> 00:37:51,062 I wanted the confession eliminated from the trial. 652 00:37:51,104 --> 00:37:53,356 - The confession that she provided 653 00:37:53,398 --> 00:37:54,733 was a pivotal piece of evidence, 654 00:37:54,774 --> 00:37:56,776 and if it had been suppressed, 655 00:37:56,818 --> 00:37:59,946 the complexity of the case certainly changes at that point. 656 00:37:59,988 --> 00:38:03,033 Then it becomes very much more a circumstantial case 657 00:38:03,074 --> 00:38:07,287 rather than a circumstantial and a direct evidence case. 658 00:38:07,328 --> 00:38:09,956 - NARRATOR: It takes the judge an agonizing month 659 00:38:09,998 --> 00:38:12,083 to make his decision. 660 00:38:12,125 --> 00:38:14,252 - Ultimately, both the trial court and the appellate court 661 00:38:14,294 --> 00:38:16,629 ruled that no, she was not in custody 662 00:38:16,671 --> 00:38:19,299 at the time that she was questioned. 663 00:38:19,341 --> 00:38:21,551 And therefore, detectives were not required 664 00:38:21,593 --> 00:38:24,304 to cease the interview or to provide an attorney 665 00:38:24,346 --> 00:38:26,389 under the protections of Miranda. 666 00:38:30,727 --> 00:38:34,522 - NARRATOR: When Melanie's trial gets underway in 2018, 667 00:38:34,564 --> 00:38:37,317 prosecutors lay out what they believe happened 668 00:38:37,359 --> 00:38:41,571 the night of November 17, 2016. 669 00:38:41,613 --> 00:38:44,699 And it all started when James decided to end things 670 00:38:44,741 --> 00:38:47,869 with Melanie once and for all. 671 00:38:47,911 --> 00:38:49,496 - The evidence is clear that she went 672 00:38:49,537 --> 00:38:51,831 to the Barry residence that night 673 00:38:51,873 --> 00:38:56,044 in order to try to salvage that relationship with James 674 00:38:56,086 --> 00:38:58,505 but it did not go well. 675 00:38:58,546 --> 00:39:01,883 It deteriorated either into rage 676 00:39:01,925 --> 00:39:04,511 or a fight between the two of them. 677 00:39:04,552 --> 00:39:07,639 And Melanie Eam snapped. 678 00:39:07,681 --> 00:39:10,850 She lost it and committed the act of murder against Mr. Barry. 679 00:39:14,646 --> 00:39:17,524 - NARRATOR: But the defense has their own strategy-- 680 00:39:17,565 --> 00:39:19,859 shocking James's family and friends 681 00:39:19,901 --> 00:39:24,322 by pointing the finger at Nicola Barry's boyfriend, Guy Hand. 682 00:39:24,364 --> 00:39:28,910 - My job is to find reasonable doubt to the state's scenario. 683 00:39:28,952 --> 00:39:33,998 And Guy picked up the murder weapon from the bedroom floor. 684 00:39:34,040 --> 00:39:35,583 It's covered in blood. 685 00:39:35,625 --> 00:39:39,921 And he took it to the kitchen, I would assume, to be washed. 686 00:39:39,963 --> 00:39:42,257 That doesn't really make sense, does it? 687 00:39:42,298 --> 00:39:47,178 - Guy Hand not only goes through the ordeal of being a witness, 688 00:39:47,220 --> 00:39:52,100 Guy Hand is also being accused of being the actual murder, 689 00:39:52,142 --> 00:39:54,978 of being the person who stabbed his stepson. 690 00:39:57,522 --> 00:40:01,526 - Guy Hand's demeanor during trial was angry, 691 00:40:01,568 --> 00:40:03,069 very angry, 692 00:40:03,111 --> 00:40:05,613 which helped my scenario. 693 00:40:19,294 --> 00:40:24,341 - The defense even went so far as to suggest that Nicola Barry, 694 00:40:24,382 --> 00:40:26,301 the biological mother of James Barry, 695 00:40:26,343 --> 00:40:28,345 was covering up for Guy Hand 696 00:40:28,386 --> 00:40:31,097 who was not James' biological father. 697 00:40:31,139 --> 00:40:32,932 It tortured logic. 698 00:40:32,974 --> 00:40:36,811 - NARRATOR: Nicola Barry, Guy Hand, and Jeff Jarbazowski 699 00:40:36,853 --> 00:40:40,398 were never charged in the murder of James Barry. 700 00:40:40,440 --> 00:40:43,777 However, after two days of deliberations, 701 00:40:43,818 --> 00:40:46,446 the jury informs the judge that they can't reach 702 00:40:46,488 --> 00:40:49,491 a unanimous decision on Melanie's guilt. 703 00:40:51,993 --> 00:40:55,288 - We do require all jurors in this case, all six jurors, 704 00:40:55,330 --> 00:40:56,873 to come to the same verdict. 705 00:40:56,915 --> 00:40:59,959 Not only must all six jurors agree that she's guilty 706 00:41:00,001 --> 00:41:02,504 but agree that she's guilty of the same crime. 707 00:41:02,545 --> 00:41:03,922 Ultimately, they were not able 708 00:41:03,963 --> 00:41:06,591 to come to a unanimous decision 709 00:41:06,633 --> 00:41:11,137 as to the type of crime she was guilty of. 710 00:41:11,179 --> 00:41:14,015 - The jury all agreed that Melanie had something 711 00:41:14,057 --> 00:41:15,642 to do with the murder. 712 00:41:15,684 --> 00:41:19,354 They just couldn't determine if it was first or second degree. 713 00:41:19,396 --> 00:41:20,939 - Some of the jurors may have felt 714 00:41:20,980 --> 00:41:22,982 that she was guilty of a lesser included crime 715 00:41:23,024 --> 00:41:25,151 of manslaughter. 716 00:41:25,193 --> 00:41:29,864 - When the jury did return and say that they were not unanimous 717 00:41:29,906 --> 00:41:32,784 and that it would be a hung jury, the family is frustrated 718 00:41:32,826 --> 00:41:38,373 because they know that they will have to go through this again. 719 00:41:40,041 --> 00:41:43,920 - NARRATOR: Five months later, in September of 2018, 720 00:41:43,962 --> 00:41:46,131 prosecutors present the same case 721 00:41:46,172 --> 00:41:49,426 the second time around with one slight adjustment 722 00:41:49,467 --> 00:41:51,469 to their strategy. 723 00:41:51,511 --> 00:41:54,639 - One of the things that does change in the second trial 724 00:41:54,681 --> 00:41:57,142 is that Guy Hand's already been accused of murder. 725 00:41:57,183 --> 00:41:59,853 Nicola's already been accused of being a mother 726 00:41:59,894 --> 00:42:02,689 who helped facilitate the death of her son. 727 00:42:02,731 --> 00:42:05,692 So, they were more prepared emotionally 728 00:42:05,734 --> 00:42:09,029 to handle such awful questions. 729 00:42:09,070 --> 00:42:11,322 - After her second trial, the jury did deliberate 730 00:42:11,364 --> 00:42:14,325 and they returned a verdict of guilty as charged 731 00:42:14,367 --> 00:42:16,911 for the crime of second degree murder with a weapon. 732 00:42:18,788 --> 00:42:22,500 - NARRATOR: Melanie Eam is sentenced to 50 years in prison, 733 00:42:22,542 --> 00:42:25,086 the maximum penalty allowed in Florida. 734 00:42:27,088 --> 00:42:31,843 But for James' family and friends, the nightmare endures. 735 00:42:31,885 --> 00:42:33,928 - My mom will never be the same. 736 00:42:33,970 --> 00:42:38,391 Jeff is also very traumatized from the event. 737 00:42:38,433 --> 00:42:40,226 He'll never be the same. 738 00:42:40,268 --> 00:42:44,898 Not even, uh, a 50-year sentence can take away our pain. 739 00:42:44,939 --> 00:42:48,818 - James will be remembered as a kind-hearted soul, you know. 740 00:42:48,860 --> 00:42:50,779 And there needs to be more people like that. 741 00:42:50,820 --> 00:42:52,655 'Cause if there was more people like James, 742 00:42:52,697 --> 00:42:55,200 I promise you there would be a whole better world. 743 00:42:55,241 --> 00:42:58,328 Less murders, less heartache out there. 744 00:42:58,370 --> 00:43:01,289 - That was my baby brother, you know, and I feel like 745 00:43:01,331 --> 00:43:04,084 I failed him in a way, too, 'cause I wasn't there 746 00:43:04,125 --> 00:43:05,502 to protect him. 747 00:43:05,543 --> 00:43:07,545 And I want people to remember James 748 00:43:07,587 --> 00:43:11,633 as a perfect son, as a perfect individual, 749 00:43:11,675 --> 00:43:13,301 'cause he truly was. 750 00:43:13,343 --> 00:43:16,930 I will help continue to carry on his legacy. 751 00:43:16,971 --> 00:43:21,142 He still is impacting many lives on a daily basis. 752 00:43:21,184 --> 00:43:25,230 His story truly has impacted a lot of people. 753 00:43:28,483 --> 00:43:34,155 - *