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♪♪
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Narrator: This is the story
of a truly happy family...
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My mom always filmed
every occasion.
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Narrator:
...Living in blissful harmony.
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But behind closed doors...
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To me, something
didn't seem right there.
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Narrator:
...A terrible darkness lurks.
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Violence is unleashed...
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...That spares no one.
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I know I dropped to my knees,
I started screaming.
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♪♪
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-- Captions by vitac --
www.Vitac.Com
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Captions paid for by
discovery communications
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[ children playing
indistinctly ]
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Narrator:
It's August 1, 1987,
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In the tiny rural city
of early, iowa.
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[ playing continues ]
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Early was just a really happy,
little community to me.
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Everyone knew everyone.
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A very close-knit,
comfortable community
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To start a family in
and raise your children.
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Narrator:
Every kid in town has shown up
for a very special tee-ball game
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Celebrating mona wehde's son
dustin's 6th birthday.
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♪♪
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[ laughs ]
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Dustin always loved to have
friends, guests, family around.
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He had so much fun.
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Everybody was laughing, smiling,
enjoying themselves.
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♪♪
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♪♪
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Narrator: Mona met dustin's dad,
brett wehde, back in 1979,
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While working
at a construction site
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In afton, iowa.
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Mona:
He arrived, and I immediately
had an attraction to this man,
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And his job
was driving the bobcat.
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I always called him
my bobcat baby.
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He was always smiling
and full of jokes.
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About a year of us
being together,
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We married on March 14, 1981.
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Narrator: The smitten couple
moved to sleepy early,
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Knowing it'll be the perfect
place to build a happy home.
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Honestly, I was ready
to start a family.
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It was just a long, long, long,
many years
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Of a dream
to grow up and be a mommy.
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Narrator: And it's not long
before mona's dream comes true.
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I found out I was pregnant.
I was beyond excited.
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I was just ecstatic
that I was gonna have a baby.
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That was, like,
a dream come true.
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Narrator: 9 months later, mona
and brett welcome son dustin
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Into the world.
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I just oohed and gooed
all over this little guy,
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And as he was growing
and learning.
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It was just complete joy.
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You know,
I was 100% content.
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Narrator:
Mona and brett are completely
won over by parenthood,
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And in 1987,
they have another baby.
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I got a little girl.
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[ speaking indistinctly ]
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[ smooches ]
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So I was real excited.
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My family was growing,
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And it was, like,
my dream.
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She was really just
a happy, happy,
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Bouncing, giggly, little girl.
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♪♪
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Narrator:
As the years go by,
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Mom, mona, records every
milestone on her camcorder.
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My mom always filmed
every occasion.
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It wouldn't even be
a special occasion,
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And she'd have the camera out.
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♪♪
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Pbht! Pbht! Pbht!
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[ laughs ]
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To me, it was just
such a special time
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And a special memory
and, you know, a keepsake.
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♪♪
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Narrator: 4-year-old ashley
is about to swap her doll
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For the real thing...
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♪♪
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...Because in April of 1990,
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She and dustin are filmed
by dad, brett,
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On their way to meet
their brand new baby sister.
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♪♪
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Well, leave it to my husband,
brett.
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He gets out of a piece of wood
and a can of spray paint
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And paints, "it's a girl."
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I'm like,
"that's not very pretty."
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[ laughs ]
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But it was just so cute
that he did it.
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Narrator:
Dustin and ashley seem a bit shy
around their new sister,
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But mona's mom, ruth,
shows them how it's done.
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They were both really, really
careful and gentle with her.
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I just remember
sitting there smiling with joy,
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Seeing my whole family.
Just -- it was really special.
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♪♪
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Narrator: With the addition
of briana, it's official --
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Mona and brett are outnumbered.
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Mona:
What's daddy doing to me?
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Narrator: At times the parents
struggle to keep up.
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Now that we were a family of 5,
it was much busier.
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Particularly now,
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Mona's decided on a new career
in real estate...
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...But they work hard to rise
to the challenge.
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You just don't realize
how much more is involved.
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But it was full and fun,
and it was nice.
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[ laughs ]
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Narrator:
And no holiday goes forgotten.
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♪♪
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Mom went all out
for Halloween.
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It's probably one of her top
holidays. [ chuckles ]
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♪♪
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Briana:
My dad would always carve
our pumpkins for us as kids.
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We'd draw out elaborate,
you know, faces and pictures,
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And they would
literally spend hours
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Carving out pumpkins for us.
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Narrator: Although dad, brett's,
exhaustion is plain to see.
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First, it was like, ooh and goo
cleaning out the pumpkin.
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♪♪
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You had pumpkins and pumpkin
guts all over the place.
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[ laughs ]
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Narrator:
While it's far from easy,
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The wehdes seem to have
built their version
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Of the perfect family.
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[ laughs ]
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You're remembering
the time in your life
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And the chaos
and the craziness...
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...You kind of go, "aah!
Everything's nuts around here."
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But I really feel...
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...It was all really good.
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♪♪
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Narrator: In 1998,
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17 years after the wehde family
settled in early...
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...They welcome
some new neighbors --
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Tracey and michael roberts.
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Shortly after arriving in early,
the robertses reached out to me,
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And they wanted me
to be their realtor.
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Narrator: Tracey and michael
have come from chicago,
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Bringing along their 7-year-old
son bert and baby noah.
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We just started getting to know
each other better personally,
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Myself and the robertses.
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Narrator:
The two families hit it off.
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Tracey was always kind.
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She was, you know, considerate.
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She just was always pleasant,
nice to me,
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I mean,
I started feeling like
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I was growing a friendship
with a family.
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Narrator: It's not long before
tracey starts to open up to mona
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About life before early.
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After a few different occasions
and visits down to the house,
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Tracey mentioned her ex-husband.
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Narrator: Tracey tells mona
that her son bert
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Is from a previous marriage
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To a plastic surgeon
named dr. John pitman.
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They divorced 2 years ago,
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And she soon met michael
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Getting married
just 18 days later.
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Mona:
I just thought they looked
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Like the cutest
little loving couple ever.
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They seemed very happy.
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I just really thought they had
a really special connection.
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Narrator:
A devout born-again christian,
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Michael also has his own
I.T. Training company,
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And he sets up shop in early.
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Mona: Michael wanted
to help the community
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And grow the community.
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He just had really
high expectations.
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And I was just like, you know,
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They're just really nice,
fun people.
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Narrator: But while mona
is making new friends,
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17-year-old dustin
is struggling to do the same.
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Mona: He pretty much
just started hanging out
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Down in the basement
in the family room down there,
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And a lot of times
he'd be down there by himself.
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Narrator:
Dustin retreats from the world,
escaping to his video games.
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Mona:
He just felt unacceptable,
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And I'm sure
he felt like nobody liked him.
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He looked at me one day,
and he goes,
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"mom, what's wrong with me?"
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And I looked at him,
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And I'm like, "dustin,
there's nothing wrong with you."
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And he just smiled,
just gave me that smile.
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Narrator: He might be putting on
a brave face for mom,
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But dustin is being
ruthlessly bullied at school.
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I think he was just more quiet
and alone,
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And that made him
an easy target.
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Each year,
as his education went on,
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I would say he started getting
a little bit more outcast.
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And once one person realized,
"we're picking on him,"
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Then another one
picked up on it,
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And pretty soon a whole group
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That just really
pushed dustin away.
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Narrator: Mona seeks expert
help for dustin.
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00:13:47,294 --> 00:13:54,465
We made multiple trips back
and forth to different doctors
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Trying to get a psychological
answer or something.
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Narrator: But it doesn't provide
the answers mona is looking for.
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00:14:03,810 --> 00:14:10,448
Every single doctor I went to
put a new diagnosis on him.
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Narrator: Despite his
loneliness, dustin perseveres
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00:14:13,887 --> 00:14:16,287
And graduates in may of 2000.
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00:14:16,389 --> 00:14:21,559
♪♪
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00:14:21,661 --> 00:14:23,061
Thomas.
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00:14:26,233 --> 00:14:29,133
Narrator: And while brett
and mona are thrilled...
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00:14:29,236 --> 00:14:32,103
Well, dustin
was at the end of the group
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00:14:32,205 --> 00:14:35,006
With the last name wehde.
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00:14:35,075 --> 00:14:37,342
We were proud parents.
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00:14:37,444 --> 00:14:40,211
Narrator: ...Dustin can't wait
to leave school behind.
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00:14:40,313 --> 00:14:44,482
♪♪
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00:15:03,370 --> 00:15:06,104
By the summer of 2000,
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00:15:06,206 --> 00:15:08,439
The wehde kids
are all grown up...
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00:15:13,346 --> 00:15:16,080
And taking a road trip
with brett and mona.
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00:15:16,182 --> 00:15:20,451
Mona: We went out to colorado
to a family wedding.
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00:15:20,553 --> 00:15:26,457
And while we were in colorado,
we did a lot of other exploring.
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00:15:31,898 --> 00:15:35,967
We would stop at every
mile marker and take pictures
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00:15:36,069 --> 00:15:37,201
'cause it was pretty exciting
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00:15:37,304 --> 00:15:39,804
To just go
all the way up to the top.
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00:15:42,609 --> 00:15:46,511
♪♪
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00:15:46,613 --> 00:15:49,347
Narrator: But dustin
almost didn't make it.
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00:15:51,751 --> 00:15:57,388
Mona: Dustin initially chose
not to go with us.
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00:15:57,490 --> 00:16:00,425
We're like, "what?" you know,
"come on. You got to go.
219
00:16:00,527 --> 00:16:03,828
Come on. You don't want
to stay home all by yourself."
220
00:16:03,930 --> 00:16:06,264
And, "no, I'm staying home."
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00:16:06,366 --> 00:16:08,866
I'm like, "okay."
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00:16:11,137 --> 00:16:15,974
3 to 5 miles down the road,
and dustin called.
223
00:16:16,076 --> 00:16:19,544
He goes, "mom?
I changed my mind."
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00:16:23,750 --> 00:16:26,818
Narrator: The vacation lifts
dustin's spirits,
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00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:31,889
But mona knows her son better
than anyone, and he's not okay.
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00:16:31,992 --> 00:16:36,861
Mona: I was worried
that dustin was struggling.
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00:16:36,963 --> 00:16:39,097
You know,
I could get that smile,
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00:16:39,199 --> 00:16:44,369
But I just felt
the smile was a cover-up
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00:16:44,471 --> 00:16:47,605
Over all of his inner pain
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00:16:47,707 --> 00:16:50,775
That he really
just kept to himself.
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00:16:50,877 --> 00:16:53,044
[ speaking indistinctly ]
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00:16:55,682 --> 00:17:01,519
♪♪
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00:17:01,621 --> 00:17:03,554
Narrator:
By christmas of that year,
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00:17:03,656 --> 00:17:07,291
Nothing much has changed
for dustin.
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00:17:07,394 --> 00:17:10,428
But the rest of the family
is in a festive mood
236
00:17:10,530 --> 00:17:15,867
As they gather at grandma ruth's
down in creston, iowa.
237
00:17:15,969 --> 00:17:18,002
We would always pile
into her living room,
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00:17:18,104 --> 00:17:20,138
And there was probably
like 20 or 30 of us
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00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:22,640
With all the aunts,
uncles, cousins, and everything,
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00:17:22,742 --> 00:17:26,277
So it was really a tight,
crowded space.
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00:17:26,379 --> 00:17:30,815
Narrator: Amongst the merry
chaos, dustin is subdued.
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00:17:30,917 --> 00:17:32,617
[ laughter ]
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00:17:32,719 --> 00:17:36,621
Mona:
Everybody would be so busy
that dustin didn't really,
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00:17:36,723 --> 00:17:38,423
You know,
interact a whole bunch.
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00:17:38,525 --> 00:17:42,660
He'd just kind of hang around
and watch people.
246
00:17:50,637 --> 00:17:55,139
♪♪
247
00:17:55,241 --> 00:17:58,276
Narrator: By 2001,
dustin's growing detachment
248
00:17:58,378 --> 00:18:01,946
Is causing his family concern.
249
00:18:02,048 --> 00:18:03,815
To add to their worries,
250
00:18:03,917 --> 00:18:09,921
He's also recently lost his job
at the local ethanol plant.
251
00:18:10,023 --> 00:18:12,090
Unexpectedly, a helping hand
252
00:18:12,192 --> 00:18:16,294
Comes from family friend
and neighbor michael roberts,
253
00:18:16,396 --> 00:18:19,831
Who's just employed mona
at his I.T. Company.
254
00:18:19,933 --> 00:18:25,736
I was just sharing that dustin
had lost his job with michael,
255
00:18:25,839 --> 00:18:27,271
And michael goes,
256
00:18:27,373 --> 00:18:31,676
"you know, I can probably
take dustin under my wing
257
00:18:31,778 --> 00:18:35,246
And mentor him a little bit
and, you know,
258
00:18:35,348 --> 00:18:39,350
See if I could just get him
involved in some activities
259
00:18:39,452 --> 00:18:42,720
And try to get him off
in the right direction."
260
00:18:45,258 --> 00:18:49,093
Narrator:
Michael arranges a paintballing
trip for the two of them.
261
00:18:49,195 --> 00:18:52,763
Dustin just lit up.
He just was, like, ecstatic.
262
00:18:52,866 --> 00:18:55,399
We had never done that.
263
00:18:55,535 --> 00:18:58,035
He was all fired up,
ready to go.
264
00:18:58,138 --> 00:18:59,837
And they went off and did it.
265
00:18:59,939 --> 00:19:04,942
♪♪
266
00:19:05,044 --> 00:19:08,713
Dustin gets back home,
and he goes, "mom, call michael.
267
00:19:08,815 --> 00:19:11,115
When are we going
paintballing again?"
268
00:19:11,217 --> 00:19:14,118
Narrator: Mona is grateful
to michael for his help,
269
00:19:14,220 --> 00:19:18,523
But it means even more when dad,
brett, also reaches out.
270
00:19:18,625 --> 00:19:26,264
Dustin and brett's relationship
wasn't really tight-knit.
271
00:19:26,366 --> 00:19:30,801
Life didn't keep them going
in the same direction
272
00:19:30,904 --> 00:19:33,304
Together as father and son.
273
00:19:33,406 --> 00:19:35,573
Narrator: Despite going
their different ways,
274
00:19:35,675 --> 00:19:38,309
Brett still loves his son
more than anything,
275
00:19:38,411 --> 00:19:41,445
And that summer,
sets out on a new project
276
00:19:41,548 --> 00:19:43,948
He thinks will get
dustin's attention.
277
00:19:44,050 --> 00:19:51,088
Brett just thought,
"I want to try figure 8 racing."
278
00:19:51,191 --> 00:19:54,125
Brett got this car set up,
279
00:19:54,227 --> 00:19:56,160
Just an old beater car.
280
00:20:06,172 --> 00:20:08,339
Narrator: Father and son
may have grown apart,
281
00:20:08,441 --> 00:20:11,909
But they will always
share a love of cars.
282
00:20:12,011 --> 00:20:13,644
My dad and my brother
were really close
283
00:20:13,746 --> 00:20:15,346
When they were working on cars.
284
00:20:15,448 --> 00:20:17,882
They'd spend a lot of time
fixing things up.
285
00:20:17,984 --> 00:20:19,283
[ engines revving ]
286
00:20:20,687 --> 00:20:22,820
Narrator:
Brett's plan seems to be working
287
00:20:22,922 --> 00:20:26,657
As proud dustin cheers
his dad on from the sidelines.
288
00:20:36,369 --> 00:20:40,171
Dustin is there to help when
things don't go quite to plan.
289
00:20:40,273 --> 00:20:42,907
Dad come off the track,
and dustin was right over there.
290
00:20:43,009 --> 00:20:44,475
"what happened?
What's going on?
291
00:20:44,577 --> 00:20:46,177
What do you got to fix?
What do you got to do?"
292
00:20:46,279 --> 00:20:50,047
♪♪
293
00:20:57,624 --> 00:21:03,027
That was a really special
bonding moment for them.
294
00:21:03,129 --> 00:21:06,464
Narrator:
Just as one bond is renewed,
295
00:21:06,532 --> 00:21:10,735
Another is close
to breaking point.
296
00:21:10,837 --> 00:21:16,707
Tracey invited me to come down,
and she started explaining to me
297
00:21:16,809 --> 00:21:20,578
That she was a little upset
with michael.
298
00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:26,751
Tracey proceeded to say,
"I love michael, but..."
299
00:21:28,755 --> 00:21:30,955
Narrator: And she soon dragged
even further
300
00:21:31,057 --> 00:21:33,090
Into the roberts' problems.
301
00:21:33,192 --> 00:21:37,495
I was doing a couple
marketing calls.
302
00:21:37,597 --> 00:21:41,232
Tracey comes flying through
the back door screaming.
303
00:21:41,334 --> 00:21:44,235
She's yelling at michael.
304
00:21:44,337 --> 00:21:46,971
Michael just looked at me
and he says,
305
00:21:47,073 --> 00:21:51,008
"mona, I'm gonna have to ask you
to excuse yourself."
306
00:21:51,110 --> 00:21:55,813
And I just got up
and left the home.
307
00:21:55,915 --> 00:21:57,848
Shortly after the incident,
308
00:21:57,950 --> 00:22:02,586
Michael paid me to no longer
come back to work,
309
00:22:02,689 --> 00:22:07,158
And to me, it just -- something
didn't seem right there.
310
00:22:09,862 --> 00:22:12,129
Narrator:
As the end of 2001 approaches,
311
00:22:12,231 --> 00:22:15,633
The wehdes see less and less
of the roberts family.
312
00:22:15,735 --> 00:22:22,773
♪♪
313
00:22:22,875 --> 00:22:24,642
And by December 13th,
314
00:22:24,744 --> 00:22:27,178
As mona shops
for christmas gifts,
315
00:22:27,280 --> 00:22:30,748
The clouds around dustin
seem to be lifting.
316
00:22:33,386 --> 00:22:37,922
Dustin had an orthodontic
appointment at 1:00 that day.
317
00:22:40,827 --> 00:22:43,861
I called home, and briana
answered the phone,
318
00:22:43,963 --> 00:22:47,498
And I asked her if dustin
had got up yet.
319
00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:51,969
And she goes, "yeah, he's up.
His keys are gone."
320
00:22:52,071 --> 00:22:55,039
I'm like, wow. He's on the ball
this morning.
321
00:22:55,141 --> 00:22:57,842
Up, showered, and gone.
322
00:23:01,814 --> 00:23:04,749
I'm shopping and shopping and,
you know, struggling,
323
00:23:04,851 --> 00:23:09,253
And my phone rings,
and it's my nephew brandon.
324
00:23:09,355 --> 00:23:15,426
And he goes, "mona, something
really, really bad happened
325
00:23:15,528 --> 00:23:17,595
At your friend's house,
your neighbors'."
326
00:23:17,730 --> 00:23:20,598
And I go, "michael
and tracey's house?"
327
00:23:20,700 --> 00:23:23,067
He goes, "yeah, yeah."
328
00:23:23,169 --> 00:23:25,403
He goes,
"there was a fatality."
329
00:23:25,505 --> 00:23:28,038
At that exact moment,
330
00:23:28,141 --> 00:23:31,208
I thought michael
had shot tracey
331
00:23:31,310 --> 00:23:32,777
Or tracey had shot michael.
332
00:23:34,113 --> 00:23:37,681
♪♪
333
00:23:37,784 --> 00:23:40,751
Narrator: 7:00 p.M.
On December 13, 2001 --
334
00:23:40,853 --> 00:23:44,188
A 911 call comes into
sac county sheriff's office.
335
00:23:45,725 --> 00:23:49,026
[ phone beeps,
boy speaking indistinctly ]
336
00:24:07,113 --> 00:24:08,612
♪♪
337
00:24:08,714 --> 00:24:12,583
The caller is 11-year-old bert,
tracey's oldest son.
338
00:24:12,685 --> 00:24:14,919
[ siren blares ]
339
00:24:15,021 --> 00:24:17,321
Within minutes,
the first deputy arrives
340
00:24:17,423 --> 00:24:20,958
To find a visibly distraught
tracey on the front porch.
341
00:24:21,060 --> 00:24:24,361
Tracey just kept saying,
"he's upstairs. He's upstairs,"
342
00:24:24,464 --> 00:24:26,931
And motioning
towards the second story.
343
00:24:30,670 --> 00:24:32,870
The deputy made his way
up the stairs.
344
00:24:32,972 --> 00:24:34,004
[ camera shutter clicking ]
345
00:24:34,106 --> 00:24:37,074
When he approached
the roberts' bedroom,
346
00:24:37,176 --> 00:24:40,911
He observed a young man laying
face down in a pool of blood.
347
00:24:44,617 --> 00:24:46,383
Narrator: News of the shooting
at the roberts' house
348
00:24:46,486 --> 00:24:50,654
Spreads like wildfire through
the quiet community of early.
349
00:24:50,756 --> 00:24:53,023
Brett comes flying
through the door,
350
00:24:53,125 --> 00:24:55,559
And he goes,
"is dustin at home?"
351
00:24:55,661 --> 00:24:58,162
And I go, "I don't know."
352
00:24:58,264 --> 00:24:59,930
And brett goes,
353
00:25:00,032 --> 00:25:05,002
"I think dustin's car
is down at the robertses."
354
00:25:05,104 --> 00:25:08,906
We jumped in the vehicle.
We drove down to the robertses.
355
00:25:09,008 --> 00:25:10,374
♪♪
356
00:25:10,476 --> 00:25:11,842
That's dustin's car.
357
00:25:11,911 --> 00:25:13,811
[ engine shuts off ]
358
00:25:13,913 --> 00:25:15,479
♪♪
359
00:25:15,581 --> 00:25:20,684
I looked at them, and I said,
"is my son here?"
360
00:25:20,786 --> 00:25:22,620
And they said, "yes."
361
00:25:26,292 --> 00:25:29,059
I said, "is he dead?"
362
00:25:29,161 --> 00:25:31,695
And they said, "yes."
363
00:25:36,335 --> 00:25:40,738
I know I dropped to my knees.
I started screaming,
364
00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:45,009
"I want to see my son.
I want to hold my son."
365
00:25:48,314 --> 00:25:51,982
Narrator: Police confirm
the deceased is dustin wehde.
366
00:25:52,084 --> 00:25:54,985
He's been shot 9 times.
367
00:25:55,087 --> 00:25:59,023
We were just so confused
about how it happened
368
00:25:59,125 --> 00:26:00,257
And how that could happen.
369
00:26:00,359 --> 00:26:02,092
You know, we were like,
we know these people.
370
00:26:02,194 --> 00:26:03,427
How did he die?
371
00:26:05,231 --> 00:26:07,164
Narrator: A traumatized tracey
does her best
372
00:26:07,266 --> 00:26:10,668
To explain to detectives
what happened.
373
00:26:10,770 --> 00:26:13,303
Tracey tells law enforcement
that her husband, michael,
374
00:26:13,372 --> 00:26:14,972
Is on a business trip
in minneapolis
375
00:26:15,074 --> 00:26:18,676
And was on his way home.
376
00:26:18,778 --> 00:26:24,815
She was giving her young
infant daughter a bath.
377
00:26:24,917 --> 00:26:28,452
She heard who she believed
to be her husband
378
00:26:28,554 --> 00:26:32,022
Coming up the stairs.
She went to greet him.
379
00:26:34,327 --> 00:26:38,128
Observed it was two individuals
who she didn't recognize.
380
00:26:38,230 --> 00:26:40,564
Narrator: Fearing for her life,
she ran down the hall
381
00:26:40,666 --> 00:26:42,132
Towards her son's room.
382
00:26:42,234 --> 00:26:46,103
Smith:
At that moment, she is accosted
by these two individuals.
383
00:26:46,205 --> 00:26:48,973
Narrator: She says that one
grabbed her by the hair.
384
00:26:49,075 --> 00:26:52,776
The detective had noticed
that she had a bruise
385
00:26:52,878 --> 00:26:55,245
Or a marking across her neck --
386
00:26:55,348 --> 00:26:58,115
What appeared to be
a ligature mark.
387
00:26:58,217 --> 00:26:59,350
Narrator: Investigators recover
388
00:26:59,452 --> 00:27:03,053
A pair of pantyhose
from the kitchen floor.
389
00:27:03,155 --> 00:27:06,223
Tracey told the detective
that the pantyhose were used
390
00:27:06,325 --> 00:27:10,995
To strangle her
or asphyxiate her.
391
00:27:11,097 --> 00:27:13,631
Narrator: She says
she briefly blacked out.
392
00:27:15,701 --> 00:27:22,506
She wakes up and hears
the two of them speaking,
393
00:27:22,608 --> 00:27:27,511
And then makes her way into her
bedroom to the gun safe
394
00:27:27,613 --> 00:27:31,215
That's on the right-hand
side of the bed.
395
00:27:31,317 --> 00:27:33,117
Narrator:
Alerted by tracey's movement,
396
00:27:33,219 --> 00:27:36,520
The two attackers
come at her once more.
397
00:27:36,622 --> 00:27:38,155
Smith:
One of the two intruders
398
00:27:38,257 --> 00:27:41,158
Is pulling at her
and grabbing at her.
399
00:27:41,260 --> 00:27:45,229
She was able to access the safe.
400
00:27:45,331 --> 00:27:48,265
She takes the pistol
and pulls the trigger...
401
00:27:48,334 --> 00:27:50,467
[ gunshots ]
402
00:27:50,569 --> 00:27:56,306
And continually fires off round
after round after round.
403
00:27:56,409 --> 00:27:58,175
Narrator:
Her attacker fell in a heap,
404
00:27:58,277 --> 00:28:01,478
While the other
fled down the stairs.
405
00:28:01,580 --> 00:28:04,648
Smith: But when she goes
to leave the bedroom,
406
00:28:04,750 --> 00:28:08,419
The person she had shot
was getting up off the floor.
407
00:28:08,521 --> 00:28:12,156
Narrator: And when her attacker
fails to heed her warnings,
408
00:28:12,258 --> 00:28:14,291
She's forced to fire again.
409
00:28:14,393 --> 00:28:17,094
[ gunshot ]
410
00:28:17,196 --> 00:28:19,663
That's when bert called 911.
411
00:28:19,765 --> 00:28:21,031
It's a nightmare.
412
00:28:21,133 --> 00:28:24,635
It's horrifying to think
that could happen to anyone,
413
00:28:24,737 --> 00:28:27,871
You know,
let alone an early, iowa.
414
00:28:27,973 --> 00:28:32,309
Narrator:
Tracey is told that the man
she shot is dustin wehde.
415
00:28:32,411 --> 00:28:36,246
Smith: Tracey tells the
detective that earlier that day,
416
00:28:36,348 --> 00:28:38,782
That dustin had stopped
by the home
417
00:28:38,884 --> 00:28:43,520
Asking if he could
hang out with michael.
418
00:28:43,622 --> 00:28:48,592
He just kind of stood
on the porch, was acting weird,
419
00:28:48,694 --> 00:28:50,194
And that she tried
to shoo him away,
420
00:28:50,296 --> 00:28:53,964
But that he just
wouldn't go away.
421
00:28:54,066 --> 00:28:55,899
Narrator:
Hoping to assist investigators,
422
00:28:56,001 --> 00:28:58,769
Tracey gives a description
of the second assailant.
423
00:28:58,871 --> 00:29:00,804
Smith: Tracey described
the second intruder
424
00:29:00,906 --> 00:29:05,876
As being 5'11'' to 6 feet,
dark brown or black hair,
425
00:29:05,978 --> 00:29:08,145
And older than dustin,
426
00:29:08,247 --> 00:29:13,717
Say approximately
in his mid to late 30s.
427
00:29:13,819 --> 00:29:16,587
Narrator: As a manhunt for
the missing intruder begins...
428
00:29:16,689 --> 00:29:18,689
[ siren blares ]
429
00:29:18,791 --> 00:29:22,893
...Technicians comb dustin's car
for further clues.
430
00:29:26,766 --> 00:29:28,966
In the front passenger seat,
431
00:29:29,068 --> 00:29:32,202
They find a pink
spiral notebook...
432
00:29:32,304 --> 00:29:34,204
[ camera shutter clicking ]
433
00:29:34,306 --> 00:29:36,774
...A journal written
by dustin wehde.
434
00:29:36,876 --> 00:29:43,013
♪♪
435
00:29:43,115 --> 00:29:46,383
The journal more or less
outlined a murder-for-hire plot
436
00:29:46,485 --> 00:29:51,588
Where dustin was hired
to follow, stalk, harass,
437
00:29:51,690 --> 00:29:55,192
And ultimately kill tracey.
438
00:29:55,294 --> 00:30:00,597
Narrator: An entry names the
mastermind as dr. John pitman,
439
00:30:00,699 --> 00:30:02,699
Tracey's ex-husband.
440
00:30:05,171 --> 00:30:07,805
Investigators arranged to have
dr. Pitman questioned
441
00:30:07,907 --> 00:30:09,506
In virginia.
442
00:30:09,608 --> 00:30:12,075
When law enforcement made
contact with dr. Pitman
443
00:30:12,178 --> 00:30:17,648
And told him what had happened,
he was genuinely shocked.
444
00:30:17,750 --> 00:30:20,484
Narrator:
He does know the wehde family.
445
00:30:20,586 --> 00:30:23,487
Dr. Pitman says he knows
dustin's sisters
446
00:30:23,589 --> 00:30:24,788
Or one of his sisters
447
00:30:24,890 --> 00:30:29,259
Because that sister had been
a babysitter for bert
448
00:30:29,361 --> 00:30:31,195
On one occasion.
449
00:30:31,263 --> 00:30:34,097
Narrator: But police can find
no connection at all to dustin,
450
00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:36,500
And his alibi is watertight.
451
00:30:36,602 --> 00:30:38,502
He was working at a hospital
in virginia
452
00:30:38,604 --> 00:30:40,571
The day of the shooting.
453
00:30:40,673 --> 00:30:44,641
Dr. Pitman is ruled out
of having any involvement.
454
00:30:44,743 --> 00:30:47,477
There seems to be no clear
answer as to why dustin
455
00:30:47,580 --> 00:30:50,881
Wrote the apparent
plot in the journal.
456
00:30:50,983 --> 00:30:52,783
Mona discloses that dustin
457
00:30:52,885 --> 00:30:57,888
Did have a significant
behavioral health history.
458
00:30:57,990 --> 00:31:02,125
Narrator: But he has no history
of violence at all.
459
00:31:02,228 --> 00:31:03,060
[ camera shutter clicks ]
460
00:31:03,162 --> 00:31:05,195
With the notebook a dead end,
461
00:31:05,297 --> 00:31:07,831
Police focus
on the remaining evidence
462
00:31:07,933 --> 00:31:12,436
And continue their search
for the second intruder.
463
00:31:12,538 --> 00:31:15,539
Tracey's story becomes
a media sensation...
464
00:31:15,641 --> 00:31:18,809
There's this person who's still
out there, and as a mother,
465
00:31:18,911 --> 00:31:22,946
I have a natural instinct
to want to protect my children.
466
00:31:23,048 --> 00:31:26,250
...And soon gets picked up
by "the montel williams show."
467
00:31:26,352 --> 00:31:27,618
♪♪
468
00:31:27,720 --> 00:31:32,022
Just been recently that
I've come to terms with things
469
00:31:32,124 --> 00:31:34,391
Because someone
didn't lose their life.
470
00:31:34,493 --> 00:31:36,693
Narrator: Michael supports
his wife in the studio.
471
00:31:36,795 --> 00:31:38,428
I know 'cause I was there
472
00:31:38,530 --> 00:31:41,098
That that was
the only thing I could do.
473
00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:43,967
And I have to keep
telling myself
474
00:31:44,069 --> 00:31:46,770
That I did what I had to do
to protect my family.
475
00:31:49,541 --> 00:31:51,541
Narrator: But brett and mona
grapple with the pain
476
00:31:51,644 --> 00:31:53,777
Of losing their only son
477
00:31:53,879 --> 00:31:57,514
And refused to believe
that he was a threat to anyone.
478
00:31:57,616 --> 00:32:01,318
Having dustin painted
as an intruder,
479
00:32:01,420 --> 00:32:06,356
You know, a robber,
an attempted murderer,
480
00:32:06,458 --> 00:32:08,692
Nothing made any sense.
481
00:32:08,794 --> 00:32:13,230
Brett would come home,
and we would just sit there
482
00:32:13,332 --> 00:32:19,603
And talk about it every night
over and over and over.
483
00:32:19,705 --> 00:32:21,171
We couldn't get it
out of our head.
484
00:32:21,273 --> 00:32:23,974
We were completely consumed.
485
00:32:26,345 --> 00:32:31,748
Narrator:
On thanksgiving day, 2002,
11 months after losing dustin,
486
00:32:31,850 --> 00:32:35,185
Tragedy strikes the wehdes
once more.
487
00:32:35,287 --> 00:32:40,324
Mona: The phone rang.
It was the funeral director.
488
00:32:40,426 --> 00:32:45,729
And he says,
"so, you know I have brett."
489
00:32:45,831 --> 00:32:51,335
I go, "why do you have brett?"
490
00:32:51,437 --> 00:32:55,138
And he said,
"brett took his life."
491
00:32:57,776 --> 00:33:01,611
Narrator: Destroyed by the death
of his beloved son,
492
00:33:01,714 --> 00:33:06,249
Brett wehde has committed
suicide on dustin's grave.
493
00:33:06,352 --> 00:33:09,319
♪♪
494
00:33:09,421 --> 00:33:11,421
Just...
495
00:33:11,523 --> 00:33:13,657
[ sniffling ]
496
00:33:13,759 --> 00:33:15,659
[ sobbing ]
497
00:33:15,761 --> 00:33:19,329
♪♪
498
00:33:19,431 --> 00:33:24,234
Narrator:
The case languishes for years.
499
00:33:24,336 --> 00:33:26,703
Smith:
It just went cold.
500
00:33:26,805 --> 00:33:30,607
They could not find
a second person.
501
00:33:30,709 --> 00:33:36,813
It was just years of questions
and wondering and not knowing.
502
00:33:36,915 --> 00:33:40,484
Narrator: And dustin wehde
continues to carry the blame.
503
00:33:40,586 --> 00:33:45,655
Mona: Brett wasn't there
with me by my side.
504
00:33:45,758 --> 00:33:50,927
I gave up.
The fight was over.
505
00:33:51,030 --> 00:33:58,168
Honestly, I convinced myself
that I didn't have a son.
506
00:33:58,270 --> 00:34:00,737
He was not murdered.
507
00:34:00,839 --> 00:34:06,043
I have no pain.
I don't hurt.
508
00:34:06,145 --> 00:34:07,844
Narrator: The wehdes
aren't the only family
509
00:34:07,946 --> 00:34:09,846
Pushed to the breaking point.
510
00:34:09,948 --> 00:34:15,385
In April 2004, michael files
for divorce from tracey.
511
00:34:15,487 --> 00:34:19,656
Law enforcement also
has lingering questions.
512
00:34:19,758 --> 00:34:21,358
Investigators
were never satisfied
513
00:34:21,460 --> 00:34:25,128
With tracey's version of events.
514
00:34:25,230 --> 00:34:29,599
And at every stage of her story,
every time she told it,
515
00:34:29,701 --> 00:34:33,770
She was shoring up
all the cracks
516
00:34:33,872 --> 00:34:36,039
And all the the pieces
of the story
517
00:34:36,141 --> 00:34:38,241
That didn't make sense.
518
00:34:39,745 --> 00:34:43,513
♪♪
519
00:34:43,615 --> 00:34:46,183
Narrator: 9 years later,
in 2010,
520
00:34:46,285 --> 00:34:49,786
Ben smith, the newly elected
county attorney,
521
00:34:49,888 --> 00:34:53,256
Decides to take a fresh look
at this case.
522
00:34:53,358 --> 00:34:56,593
The lack of answers,
523
00:34:56,695 --> 00:35:00,163
The lack of information
in the case files
524
00:35:00,265 --> 00:35:02,365
Is what motivated me.
525
00:35:02,468 --> 00:35:05,035
Why does this kid
have 9 shots in his body?
526
00:35:05,137 --> 00:35:09,039
Why does this kid have 3 bullets
in the back of his head?
527
00:35:09,141 --> 00:35:12,008
Narrator: Prosecutor smith is
unconvinced by tracey's account
528
00:35:12,111 --> 00:35:13,210
Of a panicked showdown...
529
00:35:13,312 --> 00:35:14,010
[ gunshot ]
530
00:35:14,113 --> 00:35:15,479
...Crouched by the gun safe.
531
00:35:15,581 --> 00:35:18,648
She was firing
with expert accuracy,
532
00:35:18,750 --> 00:35:25,021
Which under the conditions
is just implausible.
533
00:35:25,124 --> 00:35:27,991
Narrator: The nature of the
bullet wounds to dustin's head
534
00:35:28,093 --> 00:35:29,860
Also raise questions.
535
00:35:29,962 --> 00:35:34,097
Smith:
Dustin suffered what were
referred to as shored wounds,
536
00:35:34,199 --> 00:35:36,867
Meaning that his head
had to be already on the floor
537
00:35:36,969 --> 00:35:38,502
When the shots were fired.
538
00:35:38,604 --> 00:35:40,604
[ gunshot ]
539
00:35:41,807 --> 00:35:43,940
In every single version
of tracey's stories,
540
00:35:44,042 --> 00:35:49,346
He was a credible, real threat
to her life and to her children.
541
00:35:49,448 --> 00:35:51,381
Proving that dustin's head
was on the floor
542
00:35:51,483 --> 00:35:55,919
When she fired the final shots,
demonstrated beyond any doubt
543
00:35:56,021 --> 00:35:59,723
That he was not
trying to get up.
544
00:35:59,825 --> 00:36:02,859
Narrator: Prosecutor smith
grows increasingly sure
545
00:36:02,961 --> 00:36:07,297
That tracey's claim
of self-defense is bogus.
546
00:36:07,399 --> 00:36:11,701
With every unanswered question,
3 more would pop up.
547
00:36:11,803 --> 00:36:14,771
Narrator: Prosecutor smith
called several witnesses back in
548
00:36:14,873 --> 00:36:16,907
To go over their evidence.
549
00:36:17,009 --> 00:36:21,444
One of them is mary higgins,
one of tracey's close friends.
550
00:36:21,580 --> 00:36:24,514
Smith:
Immediately, mary was guarded.
551
00:36:24,616 --> 00:36:28,785
I told her that we do have
new additional evidence
552
00:36:28,887 --> 00:36:32,822
That, you know,
is pointing towards tracey.
553
00:36:32,925 --> 00:36:36,259
And mary's response was,
"you mean that stupid notebook?"
554
00:36:36,361 --> 00:36:38,261
[ camera shutter clicks ]
555
00:36:38,363 --> 00:36:40,397
♪♪
556
00:36:40,499 --> 00:36:45,769
I became very lightheaded.
I pushed my, you know --
557
00:36:45,871 --> 00:36:48,505
My body kind of leaned up
against the wall,
558
00:36:48,607 --> 00:36:51,408
Because as far as
I was concerned,
559
00:36:51,510 --> 00:36:55,912
This was the end game.
560
00:36:56,014 --> 00:36:58,515
Never once did anybody
ever disclose
561
00:36:58,617 --> 00:37:01,284
The existence of that notebook.
562
00:37:01,386 --> 00:37:04,287
Narrator: Totally unaware of the
significance of the notebook,
563
00:37:04,389 --> 00:37:07,591
Mary now does all she can
to help investigators.
564
00:37:07,693 --> 00:37:12,329
She explains that it was tracey
who mentioned its existence
565
00:37:12,431 --> 00:37:16,399
And her ex-husband,
dr. John pitman.
566
00:37:16,501 --> 00:37:21,137
Tracey told mary that dr. Pitman
was going to be arrested,
567
00:37:21,240 --> 00:37:25,842
That the investigators found
in dustin's car a pink notebook
568
00:37:25,944 --> 00:37:30,647
That would connect
dr. Pitman to the shooting.
569
00:37:30,749 --> 00:37:34,451
Nobody should have known
about it other than dustin.
570
00:37:34,553 --> 00:37:36,286
Narrator: Tracey's knowledge
of the notebook
571
00:37:36,388 --> 00:37:40,957
Leads prosecutor smith
to a new scenario.
572
00:37:41,059 --> 00:37:46,096
Tracey was embroiled in
a bitter, bitter custody battle
573
00:37:46,198 --> 00:37:48,465
At the time
that dustin was was shot.
574
00:37:50,936 --> 00:37:58,975
She concocted this plot to try
to put dr. Pitman in check,
575
00:37:59,077 --> 00:38:03,513
And it's no more
complicated than that.
576
00:38:05,717 --> 00:38:09,986
Dustin had no idea he was
just a pawn in this scheme.
577
00:38:10,088 --> 00:38:13,189
He saw the robertses as friends.
578
00:38:13,292 --> 00:38:14,891
He went over to that house
579
00:38:14,993 --> 00:38:17,727
Because tracey told him
to come over to the house.
580
00:38:17,829 --> 00:38:22,132
♪♪
581
00:38:22,234 --> 00:38:25,402
When he gets over to the house,
582
00:38:25,504 --> 00:38:31,074
Somehow, she gets him
to be her scribe
583
00:38:31,176 --> 00:38:35,178
And enter contents
in this notebook.
584
00:38:35,280 --> 00:38:38,315
Narrator:
Then she turns on dustin.
585
00:38:38,417 --> 00:38:40,417
She pulled a gun out
out of nowhere
586
00:38:40,519 --> 00:38:44,387
And put it in his face
and started shooting.
587
00:38:44,489 --> 00:38:46,923
[ gunshots ]
588
00:38:47,025 --> 00:38:53,363
The last thing he ever saw was
a friend that gunned him down.
589
00:38:55,934 --> 00:38:59,602
Tracey executed dustin
in every sense of the word.
590
00:38:59,705 --> 00:39:01,471
Executed him.
591
00:39:01,573 --> 00:39:03,239
[ camera shutter clicks ]
592
00:39:03,342 --> 00:39:05,642
Narrator: Tracey plants
the notebook in dustin's car
593
00:39:05,744 --> 00:39:08,978
For the police to find before
faking her own strangulation
594
00:39:09,081 --> 00:39:13,049
By rubbing pantyhose up and down
her neck to cause a red mark.
595
00:39:15,787 --> 00:39:19,689
Smith: I showed that photograph
of her in her hospital bed
596
00:39:19,791 --> 00:39:23,059
To a medical examiner
who said it would be impossible
597
00:39:23,161 --> 00:39:25,895
For her to have ever
lost consciousness.
598
00:39:25,997 --> 00:39:30,066
Narrator:
The marks are in the wrong place
to have blocked her airway.
599
00:39:30,168 --> 00:39:36,272
If she never lost consciousness,
then the attacker never existed.
600
00:39:38,543 --> 00:39:42,412
Narrator:
On July 27, 2011,
601
00:39:42,514 --> 00:39:44,948
Tracey,
now known as tracey richter
602
00:39:45,050 --> 00:39:48,351
Following her divorce
from michael,
603
00:39:48,453 --> 00:39:51,221
Is charged
with first-degree murder.
604
00:39:54,593 --> 00:39:58,027
At the trial, mary higgins
takes the stand.
605
00:40:04,403 --> 00:40:07,003
♪♪
606
00:40:16,815 --> 00:40:19,215
♪♪
607
00:40:19,317 --> 00:40:24,554
Mary higgins' testimony against
tracey was all we needed.
608
00:40:26,792 --> 00:40:29,826
Ashley: The jury came back
into the room,
609
00:40:29,928 --> 00:40:35,098
And I remember my nerves racing,
610
00:40:35,200 --> 00:40:39,536
Just praying for the outcome
that we wanted,
611
00:40:39,638 --> 00:40:42,906
That she wasn't gonna get
to be the hero any longer.
612
00:40:43,008 --> 00:40:45,875
♪♪
613
00:40:51,716 --> 00:40:53,983
Narrator: Tracey is sentenced
to life in prison
614
00:40:54,085 --> 00:40:57,253
Without the possibility
of parole.
615
00:40:57,355 --> 00:40:58,855
Tracey's ex-husband, michael,
616
00:40:58,957 --> 00:41:01,157
Had no involvement
in the shooting
617
00:41:01,259 --> 00:41:03,059
And faced no charges.
618
00:41:05,330 --> 00:41:07,197
Mona: How could she do that?
619
00:41:07,299 --> 00:41:09,899
That's a sick, psychotic,
620
00:41:10,001 --> 00:41:14,671
Messed up evil mind
and human being.
621
00:41:14,773 --> 00:41:18,541
♪♪
622
00:41:18,643 --> 00:41:21,744
Briana: Now people know.
Now the world knows.
623
00:41:21,847 --> 00:41:24,314
[ sobbing ]
624
00:41:27,085 --> 00:41:31,154
The world knows that dustin
didn't do those things,
625
00:41:31,256 --> 00:41:34,924
And so it is justice, but it
doesn't ever bring him back.
626
00:41:35,026 --> 00:41:39,362
♪♪
627
00:41:39,464 --> 00:41:41,664
Narrator:
Today, mona and her daughters
628
00:41:41,766 --> 00:41:45,502
Still take it all one day
at a time, step by step.
629
00:41:45,604 --> 00:41:50,773
All through his whole life,
he was my everything.
630
00:41:55,480 --> 00:42:00,083
I say dustin
is my angel fireball.
631
00:42:00,185 --> 00:42:04,621
I don't feel he went away.
632
00:42:04,723 --> 00:42:08,091
I believe he will
always be present.
633
00:42:08,193 --> 00:42:10,460
Briana: You know, he was
just always there for us.
634
00:42:10,562 --> 00:42:13,096
He would help us.
He would make us laugh.
635
00:42:13,198 --> 00:42:15,031
So he was just
a good big brother.
636
00:42:15,133 --> 00:42:19,736
He was just always around being
good, being caring and loving.
637
00:42:22,807 --> 00:42:25,108
Mona: Smile.
638
00:42:25,210 --> 00:42:29,512
She took a lot.
A lot more than just my brother.
639
00:42:31,616 --> 00:42:34,651
It's hard to have joy in life
640
00:42:34,753 --> 00:42:37,186
When there's people
missing out of it.