1 00:00:01,467 --> 00:00:04,166 My parents were gonna take me to a juvenile home. 2 00:00:04,233 --> 00:00:06,634 So I ran away. 3 00:00:06,700 --> 00:00:09,033 NARRATOR: Wendy Mazaros is attracted to more 4 00:00:09,100 --> 00:00:11,133 than just the glitz of Las Vegas. 5 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:13,266 WENDY: I went in the Horseshoe Club, because 6 00:00:13,367 --> 00:00:15,767 Teddy Binion was a nice-looking guy. 7 00:00:15,867 --> 00:00:19,233 NARRATOR: But fate deals her a bad hand. 8 00:00:19,300 --> 00:00:23,166 WENDY: The owner of the brothel took me and put me in this room. 9 00:00:23,233 --> 00:00:24,934 I didn't know where I was. 10 00:00:25,066 --> 00:00:27,567 JOE: Teddy told him she would be like breaking in a new horse. 11 00:00:27,667 --> 00:00:30,333 WENDY: I was used horribly. 12 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:32,266 [sighs heavily] 13 00:00:32,367 --> 00:00:34,634 NARRATOR: Now she must play her cards right... 14 00:00:34,767 --> 00:00:35,967 WENDY: He kissed me, 15 00:00:36,066 --> 00:00:38,033 and then it just went from there. 16 00:00:38,100 --> 00:00:41,333 ...before a mobster cashes in on her life. 17 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:43,066 WENDY: They said, "He's one of the most 18 00:00:43,166 --> 00:00:46,066 prolific killers of all time." 19 00:00:46,166 --> 00:00:47,634 LARRY: What kind of psychotic person has 20 00:00:47,767 --> 00:00:49,533 his wife write a suicide note? 21 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:51,433 WENDY: He pulled out the gun, 22 00:00:51,500 --> 00:00:54,233 and he had it at the back of my head, 23 00:00:54,300 --> 00:00:56,233 and he said, "Start digging." 24 00:01:00,300 --> 00:01:04,033 [theme music playing] 25 00:01:21,467 --> 00:01:24,734 WENDY: I've lived the life of a 200-year-old woman. 26 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:26,667 I'm surprised I'm still alive. 27 00:01:28,166 --> 00:01:31,233 I probably could say I had a daddy wound, 28 00:01:31,300 --> 00:01:34,367 because my father was absent all the time. 29 00:01:34,467 --> 00:01:38,867 But I was always looking for that male figure to protect me. 30 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:45,834 NARRATOR: It's 1968, and Wendy Mazaros is 13 years old, 31 00:01:45,900 --> 00:01:48,066 running wild in rural Nevada. 32 00:01:49,967 --> 00:01:52,667 WENDY: Las Vegas was a great place to grow up 33 00:01:52,767 --> 00:01:56,166 during the '60s and '70s. 34 00:01:56,266 --> 00:01:58,567 Vegas was sort of a Hollywood playground. 35 00:01:58,667 --> 00:02:01,367 The Rat Pack was here, Frank Sinatra, 36 00:02:01,467 --> 00:02:04,166 Dean Martin, Marilyn Monroe. 37 00:02:04,266 --> 00:02:05,333 But meanwhile, it was 38 00:02:05,467 --> 00:02:07,634 a small town with small town friendliness. 39 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:14,233 WENDY: My parents did the best they could with what they had. 40 00:02:14,300 --> 00:02:17,734 My mother was gone from 5:30 41 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:20,433 in the morning until 6 o'clock at night. 42 00:02:20,500 --> 00:02:25,133 She had top security clearance to Area 51. 43 00:02:26,300 --> 00:02:30,033 NARRATOR: Area 51 is a U.S. Air Force military installation 44 00:02:30,100 --> 00:02:32,367 in southern Nevada and the birthplace 45 00:02:32,467 --> 00:02:33,834 of the nuclear bomb. 46 00:02:36,100 --> 00:02:40,433 My mother always kept a tight lip on what she did, 47 00:02:40,500 --> 00:02:42,233 and she would always make sure 48 00:02:42,300 --> 00:02:45,333 and call home to tell us when a bomb was gonna go off, 49 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,934 because the entire house would rattle. 50 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:52,367 My father was a truck driver. 51 00:02:53,700 --> 00:02:57,133 He was an absent father, because he was on the road 52 00:02:57,200 --> 00:02:58,333 so much. 53 00:02:58,467 --> 00:03:02,166 We probably saw him once a week, if that. 54 00:03:02,266 --> 00:03:04,433 NARRATOR: When they do see their dad, 55 00:03:04,500 --> 00:03:08,233 he is often drunk and abusive to Wendy and her siblings. 56 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:12,867 The dad, I think probably due to his drinking, 57 00:03:12,967 --> 00:03:16,634 picked on one particular kid, her brother, Michael. 58 00:03:16,767 --> 00:03:20,333 One time, Michael snuck me out of the window, 59 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:21,934 and we went out for a little bit, 60 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:25,233 came back, and my father started calling me 61 00:03:25,300 --> 00:03:26,734 horrible names. 62 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:28,734 He called me a whore. 63 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:30,834 [glass shattering] 64 00:03:30,900 --> 00:03:32,433 At one point, 65 00:03:32,500 --> 00:03:35,367 he had my brother up in the corner. 66 00:03:35,467 --> 00:03:38,834 He had his hands around his neck, 67 00:03:38,900 --> 00:03:40,533 and he was choking him. 68 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:43,967 And my mother had just walked in the house, 69 00:03:44,066 --> 00:03:46,066 and she'd taken off her shoe, 70 00:03:46,166 --> 00:03:49,634 and she started hitting my father with the heel 71 00:03:49,767 --> 00:03:52,834 on his head to make him get off Michael. 72 00:03:55,567 --> 00:03:58,133 NARRATOR: Wendy dreams of escaping the abusive household 73 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:01,533 and turns to the glamour of downtown Las Vegas. 74 00:04:02,867 --> 00:04:05,767 I was about 14 when we started 75 00:04:05,867 --> 00:04:09,266 taking the bus down to Fremont Street. 76 00:04:09,367 --> 00:04:11,834 JOE: Fremont Street was where the Horseshoe was, 77 00:04:11,900 --> 00:04:13,834 the Pioneer Saloon, and there was 78 00:04:13,900 --> 00:04:15,834 a Woolworth store, uh, at one of the corners 79 00:04:15,900 --> 00:04:17,634 where she and her friends would hang out. 80 00:04:20,667 --> 00:04:24,967 WENDY: One day, we took a trip in to Las Vegas. 81 00:04:25,100 --> 00:04:28,133 We went in the Horseshoe Club, because Teddy Binion 82 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:30,066 was a nice-looking guy, 83 00:04:30,133 --> 00:04:34,934 and he walked up to us and offered us some ice cream. 84 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:37,834 He immediately had his arm around her waist. 85 00:04:37,900 --> 00:04:41,333 He obviously focused on her, because she's very beautiful. 86 00:04:41,467 --> 00:04:44,233 She loved that attention and this sort of sense 87 00:04:44,300 --> 00:04:47,667 of respect that she felt she hadn't gotten anywhere before. 88 00:04:49,100 --> 00:04:52,567 NARRATOR: Teddy is the 26-year-old son of Benny Binion, 89 00:04:52,667 --> 00:04:54,934 the owner of the Horseshoe Casino. 90 00:04:55,066 --> 00:04:58,533 Benny Binion was maybe the most famous, at 91 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:00,967 that time, casino owner in all of Las Vegas. 92 00:05:01,066 --> 00:05:04,166 The Horseshoe was renowned for 93 00:05:04,233 --> 00:05:07,166 basically no limit betting, and he took all bets. 94 00:05:11,300 --> 00:05:14,734 WENDY: I was hanging out with Teddy till late in 95 00:05:14,867 --> 00:05:17,233 the evening, and eventually 96 00:05:17,300 --> 00:05:21,767 it led into a romantic time. 97 00:05:21,867 --> 00:05:23,734 NARRATOR: Wendy is 15 at this point, 98 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:25,233 but she looks much older, 99 00:05:25,300 --> 00:05:28,233 and soon, her relationship with Teddy turned sexual. 100 00:05:29,767 --> 00:05:32,133 WENDY: Thought I was an adult, and I thought I could 101 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:33,934 do it on my own, 102 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:36,834 and I would go home, and my parents would 103 00:05:36,900 --> 00:05:42,233 be very upset, because it was way past curfew, and my parents 104 00:05:42,367 --> 00:05:46,333 had enough, and they were gonna take me to a juvenile home. 105 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:49,533 I ran, and I called Teddy. 106 00:05:53,667 --> 00:05:57,834 Teddy hid me up in the casino. 107 00:05:57,967 --> 00:06:02,233 He started buying me nice clothes, jewelry, 108 00:06:02,367 --> 00:06:06,667 sent me to the beauty salon, and he started sitting me with 109 00:06:06,767 --> 00:06:10,734 gamblers, high rollers, that would fly in. 110 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:15,333 I would sit at the million dollar poker tournaments. 111 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:19,567 It definitely made me feel that I was finally wanted. 112 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,567 NARRATOR: Wendy becomes known as Teddy's girl and is on top of 113 00:06:25,667 --> 00:06:28,767 the world, until Wendy's mother finds out 114 00:06:28,834 --> 00:06:30,667 and reports it to the police. 115 00:06:30,767 --> 00:06:35,333 A detective started coming into the Horseshoe Club, asking 116 00:06:35,467 --> 00:06:38,734 about me and if anyone had seen me. 117 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:42,734 Teddy told me the heat's getting too hot. 118 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:45,567 We're gonna have to move you to keep you safe. 119 00:06:47,767 --> 00:06:50,367 And so he introduced me to this good friend 120 00:06:50,433 --> 00:06:52,333 of theirs out of Texas. 121 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:54,934 And he said, "Go with him for 122 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:57,634 a couple of weeks until the heat dies down." 123 00:06:59,367 --> 00:07:00,367 Before I left, 124 00:07:00,467 --> 00:07:02,667 Teddy says, "Oh, you'll love Texas. 125 00:07:02,767 --> 00:07:05,333 "You'll ride some of his horses, 126 00:07:05,467 --> 00:07:09,066 "drink some lemonade, and just kick back in the sun 127 00:07:09,133 --> 00:07:10,634 and enjoy yourself." 128 00:07:10,700 --> 00:07:14,634 And it wasn't at all what I expected. 129 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:19,567 NARRATOR: Teddy's friend takes her to a seedy Texas motel. 130 00:07:21,567 --> 00:07:23,533 Well, he said, "Now you need to work." 131 00:07:25,867 --> 00:07:28,467 He told her, "Teddy told me you'd be like breaking in 132 00:07:28,567 --> 00:07:29,567 a new horse." 133 00:07:29,667 --> 00:07:32,033 I didn't know what he was talking about until they 134 00:07:32,100 --> 00:07:37,934 took me back into a room with about three other girls. 135 00:07:39,467 --> 00:07:41,533 They were trying to calm me down. 136 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:44,967 I was crying. I didn't know where I was. 137 00:07:45,066 --> 00:07:47,834 It was very, very scary. 138 00:07:47,900 --> 00:07:51,634 NARRATOR: Wendy realizes she's been forced into the sex trade. 139 00:07:55,767 --> 00:08:00,166 NARRATOR: Well, the girls started telling me that when the phone rings, 140 00:08:00,266 --> 00:08:04,834 we take turns, and I went to the room. 141 00:08:04,900 --> 00:08:09,433 A man started telling me what to do and what he wanted. 142 00:08:09,500 --> 00:08:13,266 And I didn't really understand everything. 143 00:08:13,367 --> 00:08:16,567 I was used horribly. 144 00:08:16,667 --> 00:08:18,667 [sighs heavily] 145 00:08:19,767 --> 00:08:21,567 NARRATOR: Wendy is forced to have sex with 146 00:08:21,667 --> 00:08:24,433 oil rigger and cowboys for three weeks. 147 00:08:24,500 --> 00:08:28,033 My feeling at the time was I need to get myself 148 00:08:28,100 --> 00:08:31,734 through this so I can...live. 149 00:08:33,266 --> 00:08:38,767 There was one gal there that really cared about me. 150 00:08:38,834 --> 00:08:42,834 She showed me a little window in the bathroom. 151 00:08:42,900 --> 00:08:46,033 It was just a little tiny one, but I was so skinny 152 00:08:46,100 --> 00:08:47,133 then anyway. 153 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,367 And so she helped me escape. 154 00:08:50,467 --> 00:08:54,734 And when I got to the highway and the cowboy 155 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:58,033 with the white hat and the pickup truck pulled over, 156 00:08:58,100 --> 00:08:59,333 I felt relieved. 157 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:01,934 I felt I'm in good hands now. 158 00:09:02,900 --> 00:09:05,967 NARRATOR: A few days later, Wendy arrives back in Vegas, 159 00:09:06,066 --> 00:09:08,367 shattered, homeless, and broke. 160 00:09:09,467 --> 00:09:13,567 WENDY: It felt good that I was back in Las Vegas, 161 00:09:13,667 --> 00:09:16,233 but I couldn't go home in fear 162 00:09:16,300 --> 00:09:18,734 I was gonna be placed in juvenile home. 163 00:09:19,867 --> 00:09:26,533 So I called Teddy, and then Teddy took me back to the club. 164 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:30,967 I truly believed Teddy never knew that was going to happen. 165 00:09:31,100 --> 00:09:32,967 NARRATOR: Wendy is a problem for Teddy. 166 00:09:33,066 --> 00:09:35,433 She's still underage, and her mother might call 167 00:09:35,500 --> 00:09:38,467 the police again if he continues their relationship. 168 00:09:38,567 --> 00:09:40,734 But he has a solution. 169 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:42,967 WENDY: Teddy said, "I'm gonna get you a job 170 00:09:43,100 --> 00:09:45,533 "with another good friend of ours here 171 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:48,533 "in Vegas, and we're going to make sure that nothing like 172 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:50,266 this happens to you again." 173 00:09:53,166 --> 00:09:55,934 NARRATOR: Teddy makes a few phone calls and then takes Wendy 174 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:59,033 to a restaurant to meet one of his business associates. 175 00:10:00,667 --> 00:10:02,567 Teddy said, "That's him right there. 176 00:10:02,667 --> 00:10:04,767 Go up and introduce yourself." 177 00:10:04,867 --> 00:10:06,934 Tom had his very own booth. 178 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:10,233 All the waitresses knew who he was. 179 00:10:10,300 --> 00:10:12,834 I said, "Mr. Hanley?" And he said, 180 00:10:12,900 --> 00:10:14,667 "Yep, what's left of him." 181 00:10:14,767 --> 00:10:17,433 [laughs] 182 00:10:17,500 --> 00:10:20,433 He was distinguished, and he had this 183 00:10:20,567 --> 00:10:24,634 great smile that made me feel warm. 184 00:10:24,700 --> 00:10:26,767 I looked into his eyes. 185 00:10:26,867 --> 00:10:31,433 They were stark blue, like they just jabbed right through you, 186 00:10:31,500 --> 00:10:34,467 and it gave me chills down my spine. 187 00:10:34,567 --> 00:10:36,667 He was a nice older gentleman. 188 00:10:38,066 --> 00:10:40,634 NARRATOR: Tom is the owner of an air conditioning company 189 00:10:40,700 --> 00:10:42,634 and also does work for the Culinary Union 190 00:10:42,700 --> 00:10:45,634 that represents Las Vegas workers. 191 00:10:45,767 --> 00:10:48,834 WENDY: We sat down and talked a little bit. 192 00:10:48,900 --> 00:10:53,166 People in the restaurant treated him with 193 00:10:53,266 --> 00:10:55,133 utmost respect, 194 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:56,934 and that impressed me. 195 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:58,667 He started telling me he needed 196 00:10:58,734 --> 00:11:01,133 a receptionist to just answer the phone. 197 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:03,834 No pressure, no nothing. 198 00:11:03,900 --> 00:11:05,367 So I said, "I can do that. 199 00:11:05,467 --> 00:11:08,166 That's great." Could have been a little job, 200 00:11:08,266 --> 00:11:12,066 but it still made me feel good about myself. 201 00:11:12,133 --> 00:11:15,033 Teddy did ask him, "Now, she's going to be in good hands, 202 00:11:15,100 --> 00:11:15,967 right, Tom?" 203 00:11:16,066 --> 00:11:17,734 Tom said, "Of course she will." 204 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:20,066 And that began her relationship with one 205 00:11:20,166 --> 00:11:23,166 of the most notorious hitmen in Las Vegas history. 206 00:11:27,700 --> 00:11:30,767 NARRATOR: Wendy Mazaros is thankful for her new job with businessman 207 00:11:30,867 --> 00:11:34,166 Tom Hanley, who has taken her under his protective wing. 208 00:11:35,767 --> 00:11:39,533 The following day, I rode with him in the truck. 209 00:11:39,667 --> 00:11:45,133 He took me to the business, and there was no one there. 210 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:49,266 It was just Tom and I, and I sat there and waited 211 00:11:49,367 --> 00:11:53,333 and waited, but the phone never rang, 212 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:56,667 and it was a pretty boring job, 213 00:11:56,767 --> 00:11:58,967 but I was still happy to have it. 214 00:12:00,667 --> 00:12:02,767 NARRATOR: Tom seems pleased to have company. 215 00:12:02,867 --> 00:12:04,634 Only three months earlier, 216 00:12:04,700 --> 00:12:06,734 he lost his wife of 40 years 217 00:12:06,867 --> 00:12:10,667 to a suspicious overdose of sleeping pills. 218 00:12:10,767 --> 00:12:13,266 His 36-year-old son, Gramby, lives 219 00:12:13,367 --> 00:12:16,734 nearby and works with Tom, who lives alone. 220 00:12:16,867 --> 00:12:21,367 Tom's house was an older home, but it was a nice home. 221 00:12:21,467 --> 00:12:23,467 NARRATOR: The job comes with room and board, 222 00:12:23,567 --> 00:12:25,934 so Wendy moves in with her new boss. 223 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:27,834 WENDY: He made me feel comfortable. 224 00:12:27,967 --> 00:12:30,867 I thought he was a gentleman. 225 00:12:30,967 --> 00:12:32,433 I felt good inside. 226 00:12:32,500 --> 00:12:36,166 I felt good inside about the whole situation. 227 00:12:36,266 --> 00:12:39,433 I felt like Tom was definitely giving me 228 00:12:39,500 --> 00:12:41,867 a chance to straighten out my life. 229 00:12:41,967 --> 00:12:45,233 NARRATOR: Wendy settles into a routine far from the abuse 230 00:12:45,300 --> 00:12:48,066 she suffered at her parents' and in the Texas brothel. 231 00:12:49,100 --> 00:12:51,634 But before long, she learns the true nature 232 00:12:51,700 --> 00:12:55,033 of Tom's work and why the phone never rings. 233 00:12:55,166 --> 00:12:56,734 His air conditioning company is 234 00:12:56,800 --> 00:13:00,266 a cover for something far less cool. 235 00:13:00,367 --> 00:13:03,867 One day, Tom took me to a restaurant on 236 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:07,533 Marilyn Parkway, which everyone in Vegas knew 237 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:09,333 the gangsters hung out. 238 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:11,233 And when we left, I said, "What are you doing in 239 00:13:11,300 --> 00:13:12,667 a restaurant like that?" 240 00:13:12,767 --> 00:13:15,634 He says, "I work for the mob." 241 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:19,066 I was floored. 242 00:13:19,133 --> 00:13:22,333 I really didn't know what to say, because one minute he has 243 00:13:22,467 --> 00:13:24,734 the air conditioning business, and the next minute, 244 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:27,166 he's working for the mob. 245 00:13:28,567 --> 00:13:32,266 Tom Hanley's connection to the Culinary Union and to 246 00:13:32,367 --> 00:13:35,367 mobsters made him a powerful force in Las Vegas, 247 00:13:35,467 --> 00:13:39,066 a feared force, actually, more than respected. 248 00:13:39,166 --> 00:13:42,834 And suddenly, it started making sense why 249 00:13:42,900 --> 00:13:46,133 Tony Spilotro would show up at our home. 250 00:13:47,767 --> 00:13:50,734 Tony Spilotro people will know basically as Joe Pesci from 251 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:51,967 the movie "Casino." 252 00:13:52,066 --> 00:13:54,233 Go get my money or I'll put your [bleep] brain to sleep. 253 00:13:54,300 --> 00:13:56,266 JOE: He was considered like an enforcer. 254 00:13:56,333 --> 00:13:58,433 People feared him for that. 255 00:13:58,500 --> 00:14:01,834 NARRATOR: Tom's son, Gramby, works with Tony Spilotro 256 00:14:01,967 --> 00:14:04,133 in the infamous Hole in the Wall Gang, 257 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:06,333 burglarizing jewelry stores. 258 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:08,734 WENDY: Gramby was a heroin addict. 259 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:14,433 He was just very unpredictable and scary. 260 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:22,133 One time, Tony Spilotro 261 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:25,033 and his brother came out to the office. 262 00:14:25,100 --> 00:14:28,667 They wanted something from Tom, and Tom said, "You want 263 00:14:28,767 --> 00:14:31,166 something, here's something you little..." 264 00:14:31,266 --> 00:14:35,433 And he started shooting at Tony and his brother's feet 265 00:14:35,500 --> 00:14:37,333 and telling them to dance, 266 00:14:37,467 --> 00:14:41,066 and then they turned around and ran to their car, 267 00:14:41,166 --> 00:14:42,533 screaming at Tom, 268 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,934 "You crazy old man. You crazy old man." 269 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:49,166 NARRATOR: Wendy realizes that even violent mobsters 270 00:14:49,266 --> 00:14:50,667 are fearful of Tom. 271 00:14:52,266 --> 00:14:54,133 And while she is under his protection, 272 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:56,567 no one will ever mess with her again. 273 00:14:58,100 --> 00:15:00,934 Tom made me feel very stable. 274 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:03,266 He had a knack for that. 275 00:15:03,367 --> 00:15:07,834 He gave me lots of pretty jewelry. 276 00:15:07,900 --> 00:15:10,233 One day, he asked if he could kiss me, 277 00:15:10,300 --> 00:15:12,634 and then it just went from there. 278 00:15:12,700 --> 00:15:15,634 Finally, I just gave in to Tom, 279 00:15:15,700 --> 00:15:18,834 because he did make me feel secure. 280 00:15:19,900 --> 00:15:22,934 He was taking care of me, 281 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:26,266 and he was looking out for my best interest. 282 00:15:27,567 --> 00:15:30,367 NARRATOR: Tom is 58 and Wendy is 19. 283 00:15:30,467 --> 00:15:34,533 When he asks her to marry him in 1976. 284 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:36,367 He said, you know, "We really need 285 00:15:36,467 --> 00:15:42,166 to get married and get married Western style." 286 00:15:42,266 --> 00:15:44,467 And I said, "Okay, that sounds great." 287 00:15:46,100 --> 00:15:50,266 When Tom proposed to me, I felt a little bit more secure. 288 00:15:50,367 --> 00:15:55,634 I know how sick that sounds, but I felt more secure, because 289 00:15:55,700 --> 00:15:57,767 I figured if I was his wife, 290 00:15:57,867 --> 00:16:00,533 then he wouldn't hurt me. 291 00:16:02,900 --> 00:16:06,066 You know, you've heard of sort of the Oedipus complex. 292 00:16:06,166 --> 00:16:07,333 He was the father 293 00:16:07,467 --> 00:16:09,467 she never had, and she was 294 00:16:09,567 --> 00:16:12,266 this incredibly beautiful young woman to him. 295 00:16:18,867 --> 00:16:22,867 We went and got a marriage license down in Las Vegas. 296 00:16:22,967 --> 00:16:26,166 We went to a ranch in Colorado. 297 00:16:26,233 --> 00:16:29,066 NARRATOR: Wendy is not on great terms with her family, 298 00:16:29,166 --> 00:16:31,333 and none of them are invited to the wedding. 299 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:36,834 WENDY: He had some clergyman come in, and I was dressed in 300 00:16:36,900 --> 00:16:40,634 a red square dancing outfit, and he was dressed in his 301 00:16:40,700 --> 00:16:42,533 Western attire. 302 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:46,166 We set our vows, and we were married. 303 00:16:46,233 --> 00:16:47,567 It was nice. 304 00:16:55,900 --> 00:16:58,233 After we got back from being married, 305 00:16:58,300 --> 00:17:01,734 Tom scooped up all the beautiful gowns 306 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:04,133 I had, and he burned them. 307 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:09,533 An overwhelming feeling came over me that, wow. 308 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:11,166 Maybe he does care. 309 00:17:11,233 --> 00:17:13,734 Maybe he's doing it for a reason. 310 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:17,166 Maybe that life that I was living prior, 311 00:17:17,233 --> 00:17:18,767 I'll never go back to. 312 00:17:22,300 --> 00:17:25,433 NARRATOR: But this was not done with good intentions. 313 00:17:25,500 --> 00:17:28,533 In fact, this is the first sign that Tom will not be 314 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:31,667 Wendy's protector but her new controller. 315 00:17:31,767 --> 00:17:36,834 WENDY: I had left to go up to meet an old friend, 316 00:17:36,900 --> 00:17:39,533 and he had followed me. 317 00:17:40,667 --> 00:17:41,734 When I got back, 318 00:17:41,867 --> 00:17:44,133 I walked through the front door, and he was there with 319 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:48,133 his fist clenched, and he was shaking, screaming. 320 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:49,767 "Where have you been? 321 00:17:49,867 --> 00:17:51,667 "I'm gonna knock your head off 322 00:17:51,767 --> 00:17:53,934 if you don't tell me the truth." 323 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:57,834 That was one of the first times that 324 00:17:57,967 --> 00:18:01,634 I saw Tom in such a fit of rage. 325 00:18:01,700 --> 00:18:05,066 I felt this guy's really gonna kill me. 326 00:18:05,133 --> 00:18:07,333 He's really going to kill me. 327 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:09,166 It just terrified me. 328 00:18:10,567 --> 00:18:13,033 She couldn't really have friends, because he didn't want 329 00:18:13,100 --> 00:18:15,634 her talking to anybody about anything that happened. 330 00:18:15,700 --> 00:18:19,033 WENDY: After that, he never let me out of his sight. 331 00:18:19,100 --> 00:18:24,266 I was always with him or I was with someone he knew. 332 00:18:24,367 --> 00:18:26,834 NARRATOR: Tension escalates one day when Wendy notices 333 00:18:26,900 --> 00:18:29,934 some jewelry Tom has given her is missing. 334 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:33,934 Tom's son, Gramby, the jewel thief, is her first suspect. 335 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:37,533 WENDY: I stormed out of the house, 336 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:40,166 walked over to Gramby's, knocked on the door. 337 00:18:40,266 --> 00:18:42,233 I said, "Where's my jewelry? 338 00:18:42,300 --> 00:18:43,734 I know you took it." 339 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:45,967 He said, "I don't know what you're talking about." 340 00:18:46,100 --> 00:18:47,867 And I said, "I'm gonna call the cops," 341 00:18:50,266 --> 00:18:53,634 and that was the worst thing I could have said. 342 00:18:53,767 --> 00:18:57,767 He was going to kill me right then and there, 343 00:18:57,867 --> 00:19:02,433 and he jumped on top of me, and he was literally strangling me. 344 00:19:02,500 --> 00:19:05,233 I was going in and out, and I couldn't breathe. 345 00:19:05,300 --> 00:19:07,934 I thought I was dead. 346 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:11,433 And the next thing I knew, Tom was there, 347 00:19:11,500 --> 00:19:13,567 knocking Gramby off of me. 348 00:19:16,100 --> 00:19:19,867 And Tom said that I better be quiet and not talk to anyone, 349 00:19:19,967 --> 00:19:24,233 not say anything, or he's gonna come and get me. 350 00:19:24,300 --> 00:19:29,634 It put chills down my spine, and it literally terrified me. 351 00:19:35,300 --> 00:19:38,233 NARRATOR: Wendy Mazaros's marriage to Las Vegas mobster, 352 00:19:38,300 --> 00:19:41,867 Tom Hanley, has become an exercise in survival. 353 00:19:43,100 --> 00:19:46,166 I felt more and more trapped. 354 00:19:46,233 --> 00:19:50,634 I felt like I was digging a deeper and deeper hole. 355 00:19:50,700 --> 00:19:54,333 NARRATOR: And Wendy's ties to Tom are about to be made deeper. 356 00:19:57,100 --> 00:19:59,967 WENDY: When I found out I was pregnant... 357 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:06,066 I felt relieved again -- if I'm pregnant, he's -- 358 00:20:06,166 --> 00:20:09,166 he's not gonna threaten to kill me anymore. 359 00:20:10,367 --> 00:20:13,934 Tom was very, very happy that I was pregnant. 360 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:17,533 He said, "Oh, you're gonna have a little gooser, I'm so happy. 361 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:21,467 I'm so happy for us," and it made me feel good 362 00:20:21,567 --> 00:20:22,834 that he felt good. 363 00:20:23,967 --> 00:20:27,066 NARRATOR: But Wendy is reminded that no one is safe from Tom, 364 00:20:27,166 --> 00:20:29,133 not even the mother of his child, 365 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:32,066 when she stumbles on a keepsake from his past. 366 00:20:33,100 --> 00:20:39,667 I was rearranging Tom's suits, and I found this note. 367 00:20:39,767 --> 00:20:43,867 It was his first wife's suicide note. 368 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:47,166 NARRATOR: Officially, Tom's first wife died 369 00:20:47,266 --> 00:20:49,333 from an overdose of sleeping pills. 370 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:52,333 But does this note tell another story? 371 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:55,066 Wendy's gut reaction is to give the note to Tom, 372 00:20:55,133 --> 00:20:57,333 but she immediately regrets this. 373 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:01,667 WENDY: Tom sat me down and said, 374 00:21:01,767 --> 00:21:03,967 "Now you're gonna write yours." 375 00:21:04,100 --> 00:21:06,934 And I said, "Why are you having me do this?" 376 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:09,266 He said, "Just write it." 377 00:21:10,567 --> 00:21:14,634 And so he told me what to say. 378 00:21:14,700 --> 00:21:17,734 "Sorry Tom, I can't go on anymore. 379 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:21,166 Make sure our little gooser is well taken care of." 380 00:21:22,467 --> 00:21:26,333 What was going through my head at the time 381 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:32,333 was wow -- I immediately went into survival mode again. 382 00:21:33,500 --> 00:21:36,834 I felt extremely insecure. 383 00:21:36,900 --> 00:21:38,634 What kind of psychotic person does that, 384 00:21:38,700 --> 00:21:40,767 has his wife write a suicide note? 385 00:21:44,467 --> 00:21:48,867 The suicide note was used to keep me under control. 386 00:21:52,300 --> 00:21:53,934 I was like his prisoner, 387 00:21:55,100 --> 00:21:57,266 and I would always have it in the back 388 00:21:57,367 --> 00:21:59,667 of my head that he has that suicide note. 389 00:21:59,767 --> 00:22:02,533 He can kill me at any minute. 390 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:05,066 NARRATOR: In the winter of 1976, 391 00:22:05,166 --> 00:22:07,333 Wendy gives birth to a baby girl 392 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:08,634 they name Amy. 393 00:22:09,667 --> 00:22:12,233 WENDY: I thought having a daughter, 394 00:22:12,300 --> 00:22:15,834 he would change a little bit, but he didn't. 395 00:22:17,567 --> 00:22:20,367 ["Rock-a-Bye Baby" plays on mobile] 396 00:22:20,467 --> 00:22:23,333 Tom started going to the deep end then. 397 00:22:23,467 --> 00:22:28,333 He started acting out, started just walking around 398 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:30,266 like no one could touch him, 399 00:22:30,367 --> 00:22:33,734 started being mean to the people that he was around. 400 00:22:35,367 --> 00:22:38,934 We were at the Safeway store shopping. 401 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:41,066 We were up at the cash register. 402 00:22:41,133 --> 00:22:46,166 Some guy had let me in, because I had a new baby. 403 00:22:46,233 --> 00:22:48,533 He said, "Please go first." 404 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:50,934 Tom took that completely wrong, 405 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:54,433 pulled out his gun, stuck it to the guy's head, 406 00:22:54,500 --> 00:22:57,667 and said, "Don't talk to my wife." 407 00:22:57,767 --> 00:22:59,634 And the next thing I knew, we were 408 00:22:59,700 --> 00:23:03,033 running out of the store with this little baby. 409 00:23:03,100 --> 00:23:05,266 NARRATOR: Tom is quickly arrested and taken to 410 00:23:05,367 --> 00:23:09,166 the station while police conduct a search at the house. 411 00:23:11,900 --> 00:23:15,867 One detective said, "Are there any more guns in the house?" 412 00:23:15,967 --> 00:23:19,834 And I said, "Yeah, there's a lot," and I took him in, 413 00:23:19,900 --> 00:23:24,533 and they loaded up like 56 guns out of our room alone. 414 00:23:26,066 --> 00:23:29,834 Tom was up at the sheriff's office. 415 00:23:29,900 --> 00:23:31,834 They had not put him in a cell. 416 00:23:31,900 --> 00:23:34,066 They had not booked him. 417 00:23:34,133 --> 00:23:37,533 He called, and he was screaming at the detective, 418 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:39,233 "Leave my guns alone. 419 00:23:39,300 --> 00:23:42,667 "I want my guns, and I'll be home 420 00:23:42,767 --> 00:23:44,834 in a minute," and they let him go. 421 00:23:46,266 --> 00:23:49,533 That made me think that Tom was very powerful 422 00:23:49,600 --> 00:23:53,934 with the sheriff's office, and he had connections there. 423 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:55,233 They didn't even book him. 424 00:23:55,300 --> 00:23:57,634 They gave him back all of his guns, 425 00:23:57,700 --> 00:23:59,767 and they let him come home. 426 00:24:02,667 --> 00:24:07,634 All I wanted to do was take the baby and run. 427 00:24:07,700 --> 00:24:12,033 But at that point, I felt it was impossible, because 428 00:24:12,100 --> 00:24:14,767 he would hunt me down, and he would kill me. 429 00:24:14,834 --> 00:24:18,333 He had the suicide note, and he carried it 430 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:19,734 around in his wallet. 431 00:24:23,867 --> 00:24:27,533 NARRATOR: Soon, Wendy will be digging her own grave... 432 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:28,734 literally. 433 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:30,233 JOE: He tells her "Dig more, 434 00:24:30,300 --> 00:24:33,433 make it deeper," and she is frightened. 435 00:24:33,500 --> 00:24:35,333 He is renowned as a killer. 436 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:36,967 You know this now for a fact. 437 00:24:37,066 --> 00:24:38,567 And you think you're digging your own grave. 438 00:24:38,667 --> 00:24:40,367 What else could you think other than he's gonna 439 00:24:40,433 --> 00:24:41,834 put bullets in the back of her head? 440 00:24:47,467 --> 00:24:50,467 NARRATOR: Hitman Tom Hanley's powerful influence over the police 441 00:24:50,567 --> 00:24:54,066 and the mob turns his wife Wendy into a prisoner. 442 00:24:56,567 --> 00:24:58,634 Wendy tries to normalize her life 443 00:24:58,700 --> 00:25:01,066 by focusing on happier moments. 444 00:25:01,166 --> 00:25:03,066 She relishes the times they spend 445 00:25:03,166 --> 00:25:06,533 with their close friends, Al and Barbara Bramlet. 446 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:09,467 WENDY: We went to Barbara's house and had dinner. 447 00:25:09,533 --> 00:25:10,667 I liked Al, too. 448 00:25:10,767 --> 00:25:13,233 I thought he was nice, 449 00:25:13,300 --> 00:25:15,934 making sure my pregnancy went okay 450 00:25:16,066 --> 00:25:18,934 and always asking questions, how I felt. 451 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:23,233 He seemed like a pretty genuine gentleman. 452 00:25:23,300 --> 00:25:25,467 NARRATOR: Al is the head of the Culinary Union, 453 00:25:25,567 --> 00:25:28,667 and its members are 25,000 strong. 454 00:25:29,767 --> 00:25:32,934 Al Bramlet was the top person for Culinary 226. 455 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:34,367 That's the most powerful union 456 00:25:34,467 --> 00:25:37,867 in Las Vegas representing casino workers. 457 00:25:37,967 --> 00:25:41,433 He also uses that position to exert enormous influence 458 00:25:41,500 --> 00:25:43,433 and power to enrich himself, 459 00:25:43,567 --> 00:25:47,166 and also to inflict violence on people 460 00:25:47,233 --> 00:25:48,834 who didn't bow to his will. 461 00:25:48,900 --> 00:25:52,634 Al Bramlet also used Tom Hanley 462 00:25:52,700 --> 00:25:55,567 to threaten people who didn't unionize. 463 00:25:55,667 --> 00:25:59,333 WENDY: It seemed to me that Tom really liked Al. 464 00:25:59,467 --> 00:26:03,433 He was one of his best friends of 36 years. 465 00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:07,533 NARRATOR: In late February 1977, 466 00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:11,166 Tom comes home unusually late one night. 467 00:26:11,233 --> 00:26:13,333 He came in, 468 00:26:13,467 --> 00:26:16,066 gave me a big hug, and said, "I love you." 469 00:26:16,166 --> 00:26:19,634 Then he walked to the laundry room, 470 00:26:19,700 --> 00:26:22,934 took off his clothes, and put them in the washer. 471 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:26,433 You could see little spits of blood on him. 472 00:26:26,500 --> 00:26:28,967 Then he pulled out this jewelry, 473 00:26:29,066 --> 00:26:31,333 and one was a tiger ring. 474 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:34,233 [phone ringing] 475 00:26:34,300 --> 00:26:37,433 Later on, we got a call from 476 00:26:37,500 --> 00:26:39,967 Al Bramlet's wife, Barbara. 477 00:26:40,033 --> 00:26:41,934 Barbara was asking Tom, 478 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:43,567 "Have you seen Al? 479 00:26:43,667 --> 00:26:45,934 He didn't get off the plane." 480 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:48,734 NARRATOR: When the media learns Al Bramlet is missing, 481 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:50,934 it's big news. 482 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:53,066 We have checked with a number of 483 00:26:53,166 --> 00:26:56,467 persons who were closely associated with Mr. Bramlet. 484 00:26:56,567 --> 00:26:58,433 We have been unable to come up 485 00:26:58,567 --> 00:27:01,634 with any reason as to his disappearance. 486 00:27:01,700 --> 00:27:03,467 WENDY: I saw it on the news, that 487 00:27:03,533 --> 00:27:07,934 Al Bramlet didn't come home -- at that point... 488 00:27:09,467 --> 00:27:11,967 I thought, tiger ring. 489 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:15,233 That scared me right there. 490 00:27:15,300 --> 00:27:18,667 Could have Tom gone and hurt Al? 491 00:27:18,767 --> 00:27:21,734 Where was he gone for so long? 492 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:24,467 I thought to myself, he couldn't have. 493 00:27:24,567 --> 00:27:28,867 He couldn't have killed one of his best friends of 36 years. 494 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:31,834 He couldn't have hurt him. What did he do? 495 00:27:34,266 --> 00:27:36,767 The following day, when we woke up, 496 00:27:36,867 --> 00:27:40,467 there was a detective from the sheriff's department 497 00:27:40,567 --> 00:27:43,934 at the door and tipped off Tom. 498 00:27:44,066 --> 00:27:46,867 NARRATOR: Tom leaves Wendy to deal with Las Vegas 499 00:27:46,934 --> 00:27:49,433 investigators by herself. 500 00:27:49,500 --> 00:27:51,467 I let them in, they sat in 501 00:27:51,567 --> 00:27:54,834 the front room, and we're looking for Al Bramlet. 502 00:27:54,900 --> 00:27:56,333 Do you know where he's at? 503 00:27:56,467 --> 00:28:00,233 And I said, "No, I don't, I'm at home here with my baby." 504 00:28:00,300 --> 00:28:01,300 And they said, 505 00:28:01,467 --> 00:28:05,066 "Do you know what in the hell you're living with?" 506 00:28:05,166 --> 00:28:12,834 And I said, "No," and he said, "Your husband is a killer." 507 00:28:12,900 --> 00:28:15,467 It was the detective that came over earlier in 508 00:28:15,567 --> 00:28:19,333 the day that told Tom what was going on. 509 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:21,967 That moment, I didn't trust anyone. 510 00:28:22,066 --> 00:28:23,934 I couldn't trust the cops. 511 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:25,634 I couldn't trust Tom. 512 00:28:25,700 --> 00:28:27,767 Who was I to trust? 513 00:28:27,867 --> 00:28:29,533 If police know about the things that he's doing 514 00:28:29,667 --> 00:28:31,834 and even they don't try to stop him, 515 00:28:31,900 --> 00:28:33,867 what are they gonna do for her? 516 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:35,967 Just another example of how trapped 517 00:28:36,100 --> 00:28:38,166 she was in this whole nightmare. 518 00:28:44,066 --> 00:28:46,433 WENDY: Tom turned up at home, 519 00:28:46,500 --> 00:28:48,934 and I told him about all the police, 520 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:50,533 and Tom just said, "Oh, 521 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:53,433 he'll show up, he'll show up, don't worry." 522 00:28:53,567 --> 00:28:55,734 And then we started getting calls, 523 00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:58,033 calls from Benny Binion, 524 00:28:58,100 --> 00:29:00,967 calls from other union leaders. 525 00:29:01,100 --> 00:29:03,166 I mean, that's the first time I've ever seen 526 00:29:03,233 --> 00:29:05,133 the phone ring off the hook. 527 00:29:05,200 --> 00:29:06,634 NARRATOR: Over the next two weeks, 528 00:29:06,767 --> 00:29:09,333 the police question Tom multiple times, 529 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:12,634 but he continues to deny any involvement. 530 00:29:12,700 --> 00:29:15,433 I thought they were protecting Tom. 531 00:29:15,567 --> 00:29:19,533 They're surely not asking him where Al Bramlet is. 532 00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:23,266 That's what kind of mindset I was in. 533 00:29:25,266 --> 00:29:29,367 Tom again leaves the city, and he goes to Arizona. 534 00:29:29,433 --> 00:29:30,467 Tom's very worried. 535 00:29:30,567 --> 00:29:32,634 He told Wendy that she would have 536 00:29:32,700 --> 00:29:35,066 to leave the house and never come back. 537 00:29:35,166 --> 00:29:39,433 He had me so brainwashed at that point. 538 00:29:39,500 --> 00:29:42,166 Do what Tom tells you to do. 539 00:29:42,233 --> 00:29:44,767 I loaded up a bunch of boxes 540 00:29:44,867 --> 00:29:49,166 and documents and stuff, and they went into storage. 541 00:29:50,367 --> 00:29:52,667 NARRATOR: When Tom returns, he tells Wendy to arrange 542 00:29:52,767 --> 00:29:54,333 a sitter for Amy. 543 00:29:54,467 --> 00:29:57,333 He is taking Wendy for a drive in the desert. 544 00:29:58,567 --> 00:30:01,433 And he kept assuring me everything was gonna be okay, 545 00:30:01,500 --> 00:30:03,834 but I better keep my mouth shut. 546 00:30:03,900 --> 00:30:06,433 NARRATOR: Tom has a stash of clothes and jewelry 547 00:30:06,500 --> 00:30:08,433 he wants to get rid of. 548 00:30:08,500 --> 00:30:11,467 We had a little ranch out in Pahrump, 549 00:30:11,533 --> 00:30:16,166 and he dug a hole, and he said, "Always remember where this is." 550 00:30:16,233 --> 00:30:17,867 I said, "Okay." 551 00:30:17,967 --> 00:30:21,033 He dropped the jewelry in the hole. 552 00:30:21,100 --> 00:30:24,233 NARRATOR: Then Tom plants a tree to mark the location 553 00:30:24,300 --> 00:30:27,166 WENDY: In my mind, I'm thinking, 554 00:30:27,266 --> 00:30:30,033 is this really Al's jewelry? 555 00:30:30,100 --> 00:30:33,967 All I wanted was for Al to be okay. 556 00:30:34,066 --> 00:30:37,834 We got back in the vehicle. 557 00:30:37,900 --> 00:30:41,934 He pulls along the side of one of the canyons, and he said, 558 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:43,934 "Come follow me." 559 00:30:44,066 --> 00:30:48,333 He says, "Start digging a hole," and he pulled out the gun, 560 00:30:48,400 --> 00:30:51,834 and he had it at the back of my head, and he said, 561 00:30:51,900 --> 00:30:53,266 "Start digging." 562 00:30:53,367 --> 00:30:56,133 So I got on my hands and knees, and I was digging with 563 00:30:56,200 --> 00:30:57,533 my hands. 564 00:30:57,600 --> 00:31:00,667 NARRATOR: By this time, Wendy has seen too much, 565 00:31:00,734 --> 00:31:03,634 and she is a liability for Tom. 566 00:31:03,700 --> 00:31:06,333 WENDY: And he cocked the gun, 567 00:31:06,400 --> 00:31:08,333 and I thought he was gonna kill me. 568 00:31:15,867 --> 00:31:16,967 NARRATOR: Tom Hanley 569 00:31:17,166 --> 00:31:20,166 is about to pull the trigger on his wife, Wendy Mazaros. 570 00:31:21,266 --> 00:31:22,734 I started begging him, 571 00:31:22,867 --> 00:31:26,367 "Please let me be with our daughter. 572 00:31:26,467 --> 00:31:28,066 "She needs a mother. 573 00:31:28,133 --> 00:31:29,734 "She needs a father. 574 00:31:29,800 --> 00:31:32,467 Please let me be with my daughter." 575 00:31:35,300 --> 00:31:36,634 And he let me up. 576 00:31:40,467 --> 00:31:44,333 And he let me get back up and walk to the -- 577 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:45,467 to the truck. 578 00:31:50,967 --> 00:31:54,634 He turned to me, and he said, "You're probably right. 579 00:31:54,700 --> 00:31:58,934 Amy does need someone to be with her." 580 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:01,767 And then we just started driving. 581 00:32:03,066 --> 00:32:06,567 All I could think to myself is the clothes that 582 00:32:06,667 --> 00:32:09,867 he had put in the hole smelt like Al Bramlet. 583 00:32:13,900 --> 00:32:16,567 NARRATOR: Three weeks after Al Bramlet disappears, 584 00:32:16,667 --> 00:32:20,266 hikers near Nevada's Potosi Mountain come across 585 00:32:20,367 --> 00:32:21,934 a gruesome sight. 586 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:26,834 REPORTER: The search for Al Bramlet has ended here 587 00:32:26,900 --> 00:32:29,967 in the desert just two weeks from the night he disappeared. 588 00:32:30,100 --> 00:32:32,333 NARRATOR: An autopsy shows he was executed, 589 00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:34,734 with multiple gunshots to the head. 590 00:32:34,800 --> 00:32:40,066 My heart sunk, because I always in the back of my mind thought 591 00:32:40,166 --> 00:32:42,233 that Al was just gonna show up, 592 00:32:42,367 --> 00:32:45,233 that maybe they had him tied up somewhere 593 00:32:45,300 --> 00:32:47,767 or something, and everything was gonna be okay. 594 00:32:47,867 --> 00:32:50,567 But it wasn't -- he was gone. 595 00:32:51,767 --> 00:32:54,734 NARRATOR: After the news breaks, police pay another visit 596 00:32:54,800 --> 00:32:55,834 to Wendy. 597 00:32:55,900 --> 00:32:58,934 They said, "Do you know who your husband is 598 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:00,533 and what he does?" 599 00:33:00,600 --> 00:33:03,834 And I said, "He owns the air conditioning business." 600 00:33:03,900 --> 00:33:05,233 They said, "No, he's one of 601 00:33:05,367 --> 00:33:08,634 the most prolific killers of all time." 602 00:33:11,500 --> 00:33:14,634 It was so shocking to hear that come 603 00:33:14,700 --> 00:33:17,667 out of homicide detectives' mouths. 604 00:33:17,767 --> 00:33:19,734 Was I in denial? 605 00:33:19,800 --> 00:33:22,233 Probably yes. Was I brainwashed? 606 00:33:22,300 --> 00:33:26,433 Yes -- it was just a horrible, horrible life. 607 00:33:29,667 --> 00:33:33,367 He was thought of to have killed an FBI agent, 608 00:33:33,467 --> 00:33:34,867 William Coltart. 609 00:33:34,967 --> 00:33:37,433 He was thought to have bombed two restaurants, 610 00:33:37,567 --> 00:33:39,934 the Alpine Village and the Starboard Tack. 611 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:43,266 The rationale was the Culinary Union wanted them 612 00:33:43,367 --> 00:33:45,834 in the union, and they didn't want to unionize. 613 00:33:45,900 --> 00:33:48,333 NARRATOR: Tom has gotten away with murder before. 614 00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:50,533 But this time, a tipster gives police 615 00:33:50,600 --> 00:33:53,634 a break in the Al Bramlet murder case. 616 00:33:53,767 --> 00:33:57,266 An informant came to them and said that he was there 617 00:33:57,367 --> 00:33:58,767 when Al Bramlet was killed 618 00:33:58,867 --> 00:34:02,066 and that he was also with Tom and Gramby Hanley, 619 00:34:02,133 --> 00:34:03,467 who actually did the killing. 620 00:34:03,567 --> 00:34:06,166 The Hanleys were upset because a couple of bombs 621 00:34:06,266 --> 00:34:08,066 they had planted didn't go off 622 00:34:08,133 --> 00:34:11,033 at businesses in Las Vegas that Bramlet wanted 623 00:34:11,100 --> 00:34:13,533 blown up, so according to the Hanleys, 624 00:34:13,600 --> 00:34:16,033 Bramlet didn't pay them for that, $10,000. 625 00:34:16,100 --> 00:34:19,567 So they go to shake down Al Bramlet. 626 00:34:19,667 --> 00:34:22,734 NARRATOR: Bramlet was kidnapped from the airport parking lot. 627 00:34:25,200 --> 00:34:27,634 LARRY: They go into the desert outside of Las Vegas. 628 00:34:28,900 --> 00:34:30,266 At some point, 629 00:34:30,367 --> 00:34:34,066 Tom says, "Hey, Al." Al turns around, 630 00:34:34,166 --> 00:34:35,734 and he shoots him in the head. 631 00:34:35,800 --> 00:34:38,266 He ended up getting shot six times, 632 00:34:38,367 --> 00:34:40,033 including once in each ear. 633 00:34:40,100 --> 00:34:42,233 All his clothes were taken off of him. 634 00:34:42,367 --> 00:34:44,934 He was buried under a pile of rocks in the desert 635 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:48,233 with his hand sticking up to wave goodbye to the world. 636 00:34:49,767 --> 00:34:51,667 NARRATOR: A warrant is put out for the father 637 00:34:51,734 --> 00:34:55,834 and son fugitives, and on April 29th, 1977, 638 00:34:55,900 --> 00:34:59,433 Gramby and Tom are arrested in Phoenix, Arizona. 639 00:35:02,500 --> 00:35:03,934 It was a media frenzy, and it was 640 00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:06,767 a frenzy at the Hanley house, as well. 641 00:35:06,867 --> 00:35:08,934 WENDY: It was astonishing news. 642 00:35:10,300 --> 00:35:11,400 It felt good. 643 00:35:11,567 --> 00:35:15,834 It really did, but it took a few days for it to sink in. 644 00:35:15,900 --> 00:35:17,634 Were they gonna let him go again? 645 00:35:17,700 --> 00:35:20,133 Was he locked up for good? 646 00:35:22,367 --> 00:35:26,033 Tom really did kill one of his best friends. 647 00:35:26,100 --> 00:35:28,166 He took him out, and he killed him, 648 00:35:28,266 --> 00:35:30,066 just like he was gonna do to me. 649 00:35:32,266 --> 00:35:34,467 NARRATOR: Tom and Gramby are flown from Phoenix to 650 00:35:34,567 --> 00:35:36,934 Las Vegas to be tried for murder. 651 00:35:37,000 --> 00:35:39,166 When they land, 652 00:35:39,266 --> 00:35:42,233 Tom gives a statement while in handcuffs. 653 00:35:42,367 --> 00:35:45,166 I never had any animosity towards Al Bramlet. 654 00:35:45,233 --> 00:35:47,333 He was one of the best friends I ever had. 655 00:35:53,266 --> 00:35:54,634 NARRATOR: After Tom's arrest, 656 00:35:54,700 --> 00:35:57,233 a mobster friend convinces Wendy to tell him 657 00:35:57,300 --> 00:35:58,500 what she knows. 658 00:36:00,100 --> 00:36:04,634 I went out to the little ranch in Pahrump, and I pointed 659 00:36:04,700 --> 00:36:07,266 to the tree that Tom had dug and buried. 660 00:36:07,367 --> 00:36:09,033 NARRATOR: Underneath the tree, 661 00:36:09,100 --> 00:36:11,266 they find Al Bramlet's jewelry. 662 00:36:12,200 --> 00:36:15,867 And then everything just went crazy. 663 00:36:15,967 --> 00:36:17,634 A helicopter came down. 664 00:36:17,700 --> 00:36:20,967 All kinds of police came from everywhere. 665 00:36:21,066 --> 00:36:22,533 We were pulled over, 666 00:36:22,600 --> 00:36:26,567 and the homicide detective said, "You're under arrest, baby." 667 00:36:27,667 --> 00:36:30,166 I did not realize that he was 668 00:36:30,233 --> 00:36:34,066 an informant and working undercover with the police. 669 00:36:34,166 --> 00:36:37,634 I'm thinking, I didn't kill anyone. 670 00:36:37,700 --> 00:36:39,734 I didn't do anything. 671 00:36:39,800 --> 00:36:42,467 NARRATOR: Wendy is charged with receiving stolen property 672 00:36:42,567 --> 00:36:44,667 and for murder. 673 00:36:45,867 --> 00:36:50,834 When you're charged with such a substantial charge like that, 674 00:36:50,900 --> 00:36:54,166 your whole life flashes ahead of you. 675 00:36:57,367 --> 00:37:02,467 And then on one day, workers in the jail stopped the elevator, 676 00:37:02,567 --> 00:37:07,166 and then they pulled Tom in there in the elevator with me, 677 00:37:07,266 --> 00:37:09,967 and then he started telling me, "Don't you say anything. 678 00:37:10,066 --> 00:37:11,634 Everything's gonna be all right." 679 00:37:11,700 --> 00:37:16,834 So he had connections all the way inside the jail, too. 680 00:37:18,066 --> 00:37:20,934 There was never any escape, because 681 00:37:21,000 --> 00:37:25,433 the environment that I lived in with Tom, 682 00:37:25,500 --> 00:37:29,033 all of his problems came on me. 683 00:37:29,100 --> 00:37:33,066 That's what happens when you live with somebody like that. 684 00:37:33,133 --> 00:37:35,166 You get blamed too. 685 00:37:35,233 --> 00:37:36,967 How do I get rid of this guy? 686 00:37:37,033 --> 00:37:38,967 He's still gonna haunt me. 687 00:37:39,033 --> 00:37:41,333 He still knows people. 688 00:37:41,400 --> 00:37:44,634 He's gonna hurt me one way or another. 689 00:37:44,700 --> 00:37:45,934 I went to court, 690 00:37:46,066 --> 00:37:50,734 and the charge was reduced to accessory to murder, 691 00:37:50,867 --> 00:37:55,233 and eventually, the charge was dropped. 692 00:37:55,300 --> 00:37:57,834 I still had to do a year probation, 693 00:37:57,900 --> 00:38:01,934 but I felt a tremendous relief when they knew I didn't have 694 00:38:02,000 --> 00:38:03,367 anything to do with it. 695 00:38:05,867 --> 00:38:09,767 NARRATOR: By early 1978, the trial creates a media circus, 696 00:38:09,867 --> 00:38:10,834 with Wendy trapped 697 00:38:10,900 --> 00:38:14,133 defending Tom for fear of reprisal. 698 00:38:14,200 --> 00:38:16,967 Do you think that Tom can get a fair trial here in Las Vegas? 699 00:38:17,066 --> 00:38:19,333 -No, he can't. -Why is it? 700 00:38:19,400 --> 00:38:22,567 -Publicity. -Have you, um... 701 00:38:22,667 --> 00:38:25,233 The publicity is destroying him. 702 00:38:25,300 --> 00:38:29,667 NARRATOR: On March 2nd, 1978, Tom and Gramby plead guilty 703 00:38:29,767 --> 00:38:32,834 to the murder of Al Bramlet and the restaurant bombings. 704 00:38:32,900 --> 00:38:35,934 They are sentenced to life without parole. 705 00:38:37,667 --> 00:38:40,934 WENDY: He was found guilty, and just 706 00:38:41,000 --> 00:38:45,634 a big sigh of relief came over me again. 707 00:38:45,767 --> 00:38:49,967 If Tom would have walked out of that courtroom a free man, 708 00:38:50,100 --> 00:38:53,166 there would have been a lot of people dead, 709 00:38:53,233 --> 00:38:54,367 a lot of people. 710 00:38:54,567 --> 00:38:57,433 NARRATOR: In return for them giving information on the mob, 711 00:38:57,500 --> 00:38:59,066 Tom and Gramby are placed into 712 00:38:59,166 --> 00:39:02,033 witness protection within the prison system. 713 00:39:08,166 --> 00:39:10,767 WENDY: I felt bad for our daughter, Amy. 714 00:39:13,000 --> 00:39:16,934 I was able to disassociate myself with him 715 00:39:17,000 --> 00:39:22,333 and stand back and see everything he put me through. 716 00:39:23,367 --> 00:39:26,266 NARRATOR: After the trial, Wendy moves to California 717 00:39:26,333 --> 00:39:29,934 and attends college to try and start a normal life. 718 00:39:30,000 --> 00:39:33,333 She is only 22 years old. 719 00:39:33,400 --> 00:39:38,667 There is no depths to a man like Tom Hanley. 720 00:39:38,767 --> 00:39:43,667 Once you're in their world, it's very hard to escape, 721 00:39:43,767 --> 00:39:48,734 and it was for me -- I had to learn the hard way. 722 00:39:51,700 --> 00:39:52,867 NARRATOR: Years after escaping 723 00:39:53,000 --> 00:39:57,133 Tom Hanley, Wendy finds the courage to tell her story. 724 00:39:57,200 --> 00:39:59,367 She publishes a book about her experience 725 00:39:59,433 --> 00:40:02,867 as a mob wife called "Vegas Rag Doll." 726 00:40:02,967 --> 00:40:07,367 Today, Wendy has been happily married for 25 years, and unlike 727 00:40:07,467 --> 00:40:10,533 many men in her life, this one is special. 728 00:40:12,400 --> 00:40:14,433 She definitely had guardian angels, 729 00:40:14,500 --> 00:40:17,166 probably one on each shoulder. 730 00:40:17,233 --> 00:40:20,867 WENDY: We're complete opposites, but he does love 731 00:40:20,934 --> 00:40:22,634 and he protects me. 732 00:40:22,700 --> 00:40:25,634 He's a true husband. 733 00:40:25,700 --> 00:40:29,533 Wendy's a very loving, strong person with 734 00:40:29,600 --> 00:40:32,767 convictions that will carry to the end. 735 00:40:32,867 --> 00:40:35,567 WENDY: He accepts me for who I am. 736 00:40:35,667 --> 00:40:40,333 He's taught me how to trust a little bit more. 737 00:40:40,467 --> 00:40:44,233 Yeah, she met me, and I guess I was like the savior 738 00:40:44,367 --> 00:40:47,333 of her life for real, because I'll never let anything 739 00:40:47,400 --> 00:40:48,266 happen to her. 740 00:40:49,667 --> 00:40:52,634 WENDY: He truly loves me, and I love him, 741 00:40:52,700 --> 00:40:57,333 and I searched and searched, and I finally found 742 00:40:57,400 --> 00:40:59,367 the right man, a good man.