1 00:00:06,373 --> 00:00:07,472 [Fredreana giggles] 2 00:00:10,777 --> 00:00:13,512 It's funny 'cause, I ain't seen this video in years. 3 00:00:14,481 --> 00:00:16,548 - [people screaming] - [wind blowing] 4 00:00:16,550 --> 00:00:20,953 How he held on to that camcorder I don't know. [Fredreana chuckles] 5 00:00:20,955 --> 00:00:22,521 I just remember us being... 6 00:00:22,722 --> 00:00:26,325 a happy family that day. 7 00:00:26,327 --> 00:00:30,262 [Fredreana] Watching my dad walk Latonya down the aisle, was something that I know, 8 00:00:30,264 --> 00:00:32,598 he always wanted to do. 9 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:34,566 Walk all three of us down the aisle. 10 00:00:35,902 --> 00:00:38,504 [Debra] Latonya crying and he patting her. [chuckles] 11 00:00:40,206 --> 00:00:42,207 He'd look like he fin to cry too. 12 00:00:42,876 --> 00:00:44,109 [indistinct chatter] 13 00:00:45,111 --> 00:00:48,147 I just, wouldn't have imagined 14 00:00:48,149 --> 00:00:51,550 that something like this would ever happen 15 00:00:51,552 --> 00:00:54,186 to some one that I love that closely. 16 00:00:54,188 --> 00:00:55,921 [operator speaking] 17 00:00:55,923 --> 00:00:57,689 [woman speaking] 18 00:00:57,691 --> 00:01:00,059 It was almost like, I was waiting on 19 00:01:00,061 --> 00:01:03,295 somebody to say, "Oh, you just woke up from a bad dream". 20 00:01:03,997 --> 00:01:06,999 I wouldn't have put that on no family, 21 00:01:07,001 --> 00:01:10,035 what happened to, our family. 22 00:01:10,037 --> 00:01:11,336 [theme music playing] 23 00:01:24,984 --> 00:01:27,753 [narrator] It's June 1997 24 00:01:27,755 --> 00:01:32,191 the Banks family is driving the 730-mile journey to Disney World 25 00:01:32,193 --> 00:01:35,160 from their home in Vicksburg, Mississippi. 26 00:01:36,062 --> 00:01:38,564 The car ride to Disney World, 27 00:01:38,566 --> 00:01:41,200 it took us about 11 hours to get there. 28 00:01:42,001 --> 00:01:43,135 [narrator] Dad, Fredrick Banks 29 00:01:43,137 --> 00:01:46,105 video tapes his wife Debra, behind the wheel. 30 00:01:47,774 --> 00:01:50,576 Next, he captures 17-year-old Avis 31 00:01:50,578 --> 00:01:53,979 and her younger sister, 12-year-old Fredreana. 32 00:01:55,882 --> 00:01:57,916 Avis covered all up and, 33 00:01:57,918 --> 00:02:01,286 Fredreana look like she, trying to, go to sleep. 34 00:02:04,357 --> 00:02:06,391 [Debra] Fredrick bought that camcorder, 35 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:09,995 because of his girls. 36 00:02:11,965 --> 00:02:13,899 He treasured them. 37 00:02:13,901 --> 00:02:16,101 He loved to take pictures 38 00:02:16,103 --> 00:02:18,003 and he don't care how, what you look like 39 00:02:18,005 --> 00:02:19,037 how you look, 40 00:02:19,039 --> 00:02:20,305 he's taking pictures. 41 00:02:22,208 --> 00:02:23,976 [Fredreana] If he could have, driven and recorded 42 00:02:23,978 --> 00:02:24,809 at the same time, 43 00:02:24,811 --> 00:02:26,545 he probably would have. [chuckles] 44 00:02:28,748 --> 00:02:32,184 [Narrator] Fredrick and Debra work hard to provide for their family, 45 00:02:32,186 --> 00:02:34,453 and to pay for special vacations. 46 00:02:35,355 --> 00:02:37,055 [Debra] Fredrick worked for the 47 00:02:37,057 --> 00:02:40,058 City of Vicksburg, and he drove the 48 00:02:40,093 --> 00:02:41,293 street sweeper. 49 00:02:42,829 --> 00:02:44,163 [Debra] The money I did with babysitting, 50 00:02:44,165 --> 00:02:45,797 I had put it aside and, 51 00:02:45,799 --> 00:02:48,467 that's the money we used to go on vacation. 52 00:02:51,004 --> 00:02:53,939 [narrator] The family hits the rides at Disney World. 53 00:02:54,073 --> 00:02:56,041 [speaking] 54 00:02:57,210 --> 00:02:58,177 [people screaming] 55 00:03:01,714 --> 00:03:04,049 [Fredreana] This is the roller coaster ride. 56 00:03:04,717 --> 00:03:07,252 We just came back into the dark tunnel, 57 00:03:08,388 --> 00:03:11,156 and I was sure my mama's probably hollering and crying. 58 00:03:12,358 --> 00:03:14,026 [people screaming] 59 00:03:14,028 --> 00:03:16,595 They like stuff like that. Mm-hmm. 60 00:03:16,597 --> 00:03:18,297 Make your stomach upset! 61 00:03:18,299 --> 00:03:19,331 [people screaming] 62 00:03:19,599 --> 00:03:21,066 [speaking] 63 00:03:23,836 --> 00:03:25,137 [indistinct chatter] 64 00:03:26,940 --> 00:03:29,641 [Man] All right, [indistinct] let's go. 65 00:03:29,643 --> 00:03:31,577 Right now were entering the [indistinct], 66 00:03:31,579 --> 00:03:35,814 so please keep a good look out for anything we might see. 67 00:03:35,816 --> 00:03:37,983 [Debra] Avis was, just excited, was just excited, 68 00:03:37,985 --> 00:03:40,352 you know, taking pictures... 69 00:03:40,354 --> 00:03:43,388 [Man] You're right, you'll be able to see a very large [indistinct] 70 00:03:43,390 --> 00:03:46,758 [indistinct chatter] 71 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:48,093 So she won't forget, 72 00:03:48,095 --> 00:03:51,363 what she did, and where she had been. 73 00:03:51,365 --> 00:03:53,465 [Fredreana] Avis would typically take pictures 74 00:03:53,467 --> 00:03:54,833 of different things, 75 00:03:54,835 --> 00:03:55,500 Avis actually had 76 00:03:55,502 --> 00:03:58,203 a lot of scrapbooks well. 77 00:03:58,205 --> 00:04:02,174 She knew that, we were gonna sit back one day and be looking at these. 78 00:04:04,110 --> 00:04:06,878 Avis and I got on the go-carts, 79 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:10,048 and Avis let me come around the corner and pass her, 80 00:04:10,050 --> 00:04:13,218 so she could make sure that I won. 81 00:04:13,220 --> 00:04:15,687 Fredreana in the front you see how she's laughing and grinning, 82 00:04:15,689 --> 00:04:20,025 Avis just driving her car all cool, calm and collected. [chuckles] 83 00:04:21,227 --> 00:04:24,630 [Fredreana] She was having fun, until we came around the corner 84 00:04:24,632 --> 00:04:26,598 and she saw my dad with the camcorder 85 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:29,768 I don't mind being in front of a camera at all, 86 00:04:29,770 --> 00:04:32,938 but Avis was kind of shy when it came to being... 87 00:04:33,206 --> 00:04:35,574 I guess, in the crowd. 88 00:04:35,576 --> 00:04:38,410 She really didn't want to be, out in the front-line. 89 00:04:38,945 --> 00:04:40,345 [indistinct chatter] 90 00:04:43,783 --> 00:04:46,318 [Fredreana] When Avis was away from the rest of the family, 91 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:48,754 and it was just she and I, 92 00:04:48,756 --> 00:04:50,522 Avis would open up more. 93 00:04:51,157 --> 00:04:53,558 She always looked out for me, 94 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:56,361 no matter what we were doing, 95 00:04:56,363 --> 00:04:58,997 playing board games, no matter what it was 96 00:04:58,999 --> 00:05:00,098 I would always win, 97 00:05:00,100 --> 00:05:03,101 and, I couldn't figure out why was I always winning. 98 00:05:03,103 --> 00:05:07,873 And, I figured, I say she was just being a really good big sister. 99 00:05:07,875 --> 00:05:09,741 [Fredreana] She would make sure others were happy, 100 00:05:09,743 --> 00:05:12,944 before she made sure herself was happy. 101 00:05:15,181 --> 00:05:16,782 [narrator] The Bank's live in Vicksburg, 102 00:05:16,784 --> 00:05:19,484 a stones-throw from the Mississippi River. 103 00:05:20,186 --> 00:05:23,055 [Fredreana] Vicksburg is a small town, 104 00:05:23,057 --> 00:05:24,890 we lived in a quiet neighborhood. 105 00:05:24,892 --> 00:05:28,026 It was small, it was quiet, it was safe. 106 00:05:28,028 --> 00:05:31,363 It was, where you would want to raise a family. 107 00:05:32,532 --> 00:05:35,000 [narrator] Fredrick and Debra raised three girls here. 108 00:05:35,002 --> 00:05:38,970 Avis, Fredreana and their eldest sister Latonya. 109 00:05:41,874 --> 00:05:44,576 [Fredreana] My sisters and I were very close growing up. 110 00:05:45,311 --> 00:05:46,445 [Debra] They would just... 111 00:05:46,946 --> 00:05:49,081 talk, giggle, 112 00:05:49,083 --> 00:05:52,117 everywhere you see one you would see the other, 113 00:05:52,119 --> 00:05:55,020 they... they all stuck together. 114 00:05:56,322 --> 00:05:59,191 [Fredreana] By me being the baby, I did kinda have my way. 115 00:05:59,193 --> 00:06:01,126 They all spoil me. 116 00:06:01,128 --> 00:06:04,162 Anything I ask, I pretty much get. 117 00:06:05,031 --> 00:06:09,000 Latonya moved out around '97 or '98, 118 00:06:09,002 --> 00:06:12,003 but it also gave Avis and I an opportunity to say, 119 00:06:12,005 --> 00:06:14,639 "Hey were gonna go stay with our sister this weekend." 120 00:06:14,641 --> 00:06:17,109 Latonya would come and pick us up and, you know we would 121 00:06:17,111 --> 00:06:21,847 go eat and go shopping and do different things like that. 122 00:06:21,849 --> 00:06:23,982 [narrator] The sisters spend a lot of time together. 123 00:06:24,050 --> 00:06:25,784 [giggling] 124 00:06:25,786 --> 00:06:28,120 But they are very different. 125 00:06:28,254 --> 00:06:29,955 I will be watching TV 126 00:06:29,957 --> 00:06:33,191 but, Avis would have some type of book, 127 00:06:33,193 --> 00:06:35,961 or she would be doing some type of homework. 128 00:06:35,963 --> 00:06:38,797 Whatever it was it consisted of reading. 129 00:06:38,799 --> 00:06:41,500 That was something that Avis did all the time. 130 00:06:42,702 --> 00:06:45,337 Okay... [continues indistinctly] 131 00:06:45,339 --> 00:06:49,941 [Debra] Avis was a Grade-A student, 132 00:06:51,043 --> 00:06:53,011 Avis liked fun, but 133 00:06:53,013 --> 00:06:54,246 too much fun, 134 00:06:54,580 --> 00:06:56,047 wasn't Avis. 135 00:06:56,049 --> 00:06:57,949 She would rather be, 136 00:06:57,951 --> 00:07:02,120 by herself, reading a book. 137 00:07:02,122 --> 00:07:03,989 [Fredreana] I can remember, Avis probably was in her 6-Grade, 138 00:07:03,991 --> 00:07:05,957 and she got a "B" 139 00:07:05,959 --> 00:07:08,093 and she cried. And I looked at my mom 140 00:07:08,095 --> 00:07:11,797 and I said is that bad? I was like, 'cause I have a B. 141 00:07:11,799 --> 00:07:15,100 [narrator] Avis studies child development at college. 142 00:07:15,102 --> 00:07:19,538 Her dream is to open a day-care center for underprivileged children. 143 00:07:20,573 --> 00:07:23,442 [Debra] She was going to make it affordable 144 00:07:23,976 --> 00:07:25,577 for parents 145 00:07:26,446 --> 00:07:27,212 to have their kids 146 00:07:27,214 --> 00:07:29,581 in the day-care 147 00:07:29,583 --> 00:07:33,552 and have good teachers there to teach 'em. 148 00:07:33,554 --> 00:07:36,021 She didn't want to have a price that, 149 00:07:36,023 --> 00:07:40,992 a parent couldn't afford to have their kid in her day-care. 150 00:07:43,563 --> 00:07:45,363 [speaking] 151 00:07:48,501 --> 00:07:49,067 Huh? 152 00:07:49,069 --> 00:07:51,570 [narrator] May 1999, 153 00:07:51,572 --> 00:07:56,308 Fredrick rolls tape to capture a landmark achievement for Avis, 154 00:07:56,310 --> 00:08:00,278 her graduation from Hinds Community College, in Vicksburg. 155 00:08:00,746 --> 00:08:03,081 [women talking] 156 00:08:03,083 --> 00:08:05,750 [Fredreana] My dad made sure the camcorder was charged up. 157 00:08:05,752 --> 00:08:08,119 He made sure he had enough tape. 158 00:08:08,121 --> 00:08:11,189 He recorded, from the time we left the house, 159 00:08:11,191 --> 00:08:13,792 to the end of graduation. 160 00:08:13,794 --> 00:08:17,095 I think my dad was a little more excited than Avis was. 161 00:08:19,799 --> 00:08:21,833 We helped her put her cap and gown on, 162 00:08:21,835 --> 00:08:24,035 we made sure her hair was right. 163 00:08:26,005 --> 00:08:28,707 I think I was trying to help her, fix her hair, 164 00:08:28,709 --> 00:08:31,243 and she wouldn't stop walking. [chuckles] 165 00:08:33,379 --> 00:08:36,414 Sitting in the gym waiting for them to call her name, 166 00:08:36,416 --> 00:08:37,816 I felt proud. 167 00:08:37,818 --> 00:08:38,617 I, I was a 168 00:08:38,619 --> 00:08:41,753 proud little sister at the time. 169 00:08:41,755 --> 00:08:44,689 [Fredreana] Avis had a, serious look on her face at graduation, 170 00:08:44,691 --> 00:08:47,092 because she knew, when they call her name, 171 00:08:47,094 --> 00:08:50,962 that we were gonna yell, and we weren't supposed to. [chuckles] 172 00:08:53,032 --> 00:08:55,267 [announcer speaking] 173 00:08:56,035 --> 00:08:57,836 [woman cheering] 174 00:08:57,838 --> 00:09:01,840 [Fredreana] Of course, my dad captured the whole thing on the camcorder, 175 00:09:01,842 --> 00:09:05,243 and she kinda had that look on her face like, "They really did." 176 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:09,247 When, uh, it was all over with, 177 00:09:09,249 --> 00:09:11,750 she told, "Didn't I tell you'll not to keep up no noise? 178 00:09:11,752 --> 00:09:13,351 Not to holler for me?" 179 00:09:13,353 --> 00:09:17,022 [Debra] And I told her, "That's my baby I'm gonna, I'm gonna holler." 180 00:09:17,024 --> 00:09:19,424 I'm proud of you, I want people to know. 181 00:09:20,192 --> 00:09:22,227 You belong to Fredrick and Debra Banks! 182 00:09:23,663 --> 00:09:27,132 It was a, a very memorable time. 183 00:09:27,134 --> 00:09:29,334 [narrator] But, high-achieving Avis, 184 00:09:29,336 --> 00:09:31,069 has even bigger ambitions. 185 00:09:33,105 --> 00:09:35,040 [Fredreana] After Avis graduated from Hinds, she... 186 00:09:35,042 --> 00:09:38,343 she had already had in her plan. 187 00:09:38,345 --> 00:09:40,545 She graduated from Auckland State University 188 00:09:40,547 --> 00:09:41,780 in 2001 189 00:09:41,782 --> 00:09:45,784 with a bachelor's degree in child development. 190 00:09:45,786 --> 00:09:49,821 [Fredreana] Avis was the first family member to graduate with a bachelor's degree, 191 00:09:49,823 --> 00:09:51,356 and from a university. 192 00:09:52,425 --> 00:09:55,360 [Debra] We just so happy, we were just so happy. 193 00:09:55,828 --> 00:09:56,795 She did 194 00:09:56,862 --> 00:09:59,965 everything, that she said she was going to do. 195 00:09:59,967 --> 00:10:03,902 Whatever Avis would have set her mind to, 196 00:10:03,904 --> 00:10:06,271 Avis would have accomplished. 197 00:10:07,773 --> 00:10:11,443 We were proud of her. We were so proud of her. 198 00:10:20,086 --> 00:10:22,721 [Fredreana] Latonya got married in September, 199 00:10:22,723 --> 00:10:24,556 in Vicksburg Mississippi. 200 00:10:24,558 --> 00:10:27,192 Um, it was at our family church. 201 00:10:27,194 --> 00:10:29,561 [Fredreana] We had, plenty of family, 202 00:10:29,563 --> 00:10:31,796 plenty of friends. 203 00:10:31,798 --> 00:10:35,734 Her husband at the time has a really big family as well. 204 00:10:35,736 --> 00:10:38,303 So, the church was pretty packed. 205 00:10:41,073 --> 00:10:43,174 That's me walking down the aisle. 206 00:10:43,943 --> 00:10:45,310 I was very nervous. 207 00:10:45,878 --> 00:10:47,012 [chuckles] 208 00:10:48,180 --> 00:10:51,182 Fredreana, she was little a... 209 00:10:51,184 --> 00:10:53,585 I think we had to push her down the aisle. 210 00:10:54,887 --> 00:10:57,055 [Fredreana] Avis wore a different color dress 211 00:10:57,057 --> 00:10:59,691 because she was the maid of honor. 212 00:10:59,693 --> 00:11:02,661 Avis, actually walked down the aisle by herself and, 213 00:11:02,663 --> 00:11:05,063 she was very, very beautiful that day. 214 00:11:06,132 --> 00:11:08,033 She knew everybody was looking at her. 215 00:11:08,035 --> 00:11:11,569 And she was put in the spotlight and didn't want to be. 216 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:16,341 And then when they opened up the door, 217 00:11:17,043 --> 00:11:20,145 and it was time for Latonya to come down... 218 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:24,282 She had all of us crying, because she was crying. 219 00:11:28,754 --> 00:11:31,189 Tania coming down the aisle. Tania crying. 220 00:11:31,191 --> 00:11:33,324 My husband pattin' her. [chuckles] 221 00:11:35,127 --> 00:11:37,295 He looked like he fin to gonna cry, too. 222 00:11:39,465 --> 00:11:40,999 [Fredreana] He was kinda like, 223 00:11:41,001 --> 00:11:44,202 "You know, don't cry, don't cry, you're going to make me cry." 224 00:11:44,204 --> 00:11:47,305 He didn't want to show that side. He didn't want to cry. 225 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:51,409 My dad had a special relationship with 226 00:11:52,078 --> 00:11:54,345 Latonya, Avis and myself. 227 00:11:54,347 --> 00:11:57,582 Of course, Latonya being the oldest and his first, 228 00:11:57,584 --> 00:11:59,384 they had a special bond. 229 00:12:00,019 --> 00:12:02,587 [speaking] 230 00:12:12,832 --> 00:12:15,967 After the wedding, my aunt grabbed Avis and I, 231 00:12:15,969 --> 00:12:17,569 she said, "Y'all come take a picture." 232 00:12:17,571 --> 00:12:21,072 Avis had her gold dress on and we had our flowers in our hand, 233 00:12:21,074 --> 00:12:25,143 and Avis and I took a picture together and it's one of my favorite pictures of us. 234 00:12:25,145 --> 00:12:29,314 That capture a beautiful smile on Avis' face. 235 00:12:32,752 --> 00:12:36,454 Avis and I would typically talk about our future but, 236 00:12:36,456 --> 00:12:39,891 marriage it wasn't just at the top of our list. 237 00:12:39,893 --> 00:12:42,160 When our sister got married, we were like, 238 00:12:42,162 --> 00:12:44,496 "No, we not going to ever get married." 239 00:12:44,498 --> 00:12:46,431 [chuckles] "We are not going to do any of that." 240 00:12:47,066 --> 00:12:49,768 She had already had her plan. 241 00:12:49,770 --> 00:12:52,837 Avis always wanted a big family 242 00:12:52,839 --> 00:12:56,007 and she wanted to find somebody that was, 243 00:12:56,942 --> 00:12:59,511 worthy of her, somebody that was 244 00:12:59,513 --> 00:13:02,113 pretty much on her level, education-wise. 245 00:13:03,716 --> 00:13:07,986 Avis always talked about opening up and owning her own daycare. 246 00:13:07,988 --> 00:13:10,789 She wanted to help out children who... 247 00:13:10,791 --> 00:13:14,025 didn't quite understand school like she did. 248 00:13:15,127 --> 00:13:17,662 Avis, thought at working at a daycare, 249 00:13:17,664 --> 00:13:19,864 that she was an assistant director, 250 00:13:19,866 --> 00:13:23,234 and this was going to help her out when, 251 00:13:23,236 --> 00:13:27,405 it was time for her to open her daycare. So, she had the experience that she needed. 252 00:13:32,044 --> 00:13:34,112 [Fredreana] A year later, 253 00:13:34,114 --> 00:13:37,148 Avis and I had started going to the gym, 254 00:13:37,150 --> 00:13:41,219 and it was one particular night, early 2004. 255 00:13:41,221 --> 00:13:43,521 We were working out and, 256 00:13:43,523 --> 00:13:45,423 random guy come over, 257 00:13:47,092 --> 00:13:51,329 and um, he asked Avis, he said, " You mind if I talk to you?" 258 00:13:51,331 --> 00:13:52,897 And I'm looking like, "Yeah, we mind." 259 00:13:52,899 --> 00:13:54,132 [chuckles] 260 00:13:54,134 --> 00:13:58,303 [narrator] Avis' admirer is 29 year old Keyon Pittman. 261 00:13:58,904 --> 00:14:01,573 He told her he was a teacher. 262 00:14:01,575 --> 00:14:06,945 He had his career going for himself and he was in school. 263 00:14:06,947 --> 00:14:11,482 And he also was earning extra money as a bartender at a Mexican restaurant. 264 00:14:12,785 --> 00:14:14,919 He was dedicated to work. 265 00:14:14,921 --> 00:14:19,724 I think him and Avis were on the same work level. 266 00:14:19,726 --> 00:14:21,860 So, they talk for about five or ten minutes, 267 00:14:21,862 --> 00:14:24,028 she came back over where I was and, 268 00:14:24,030 --> 00:14:26,097 um, I said, "So, what did he have to say?" 269 00:14:26,099 --> 00:14:28,800 And she was like, "Oh, nothing. We just talked." 270 00:14:28,802 --> 00:14:31,836 And from that day on, it was like, 271 00:14:31,838 --> 00:14:33,872 "You remember the guy from the gym? 272 00:14:33,874 --> 00:14:38,209 He's going to come over and I'm gonna let him meet Mom and Dad." 273 00:14:39,845 --> 00:14:43,248 I didn't get the impression that Avis would have, 274 00:14:44,116 --> 00:14:47,185 fallen head over heels like she did. 275 00:14:51,824 --> 00:14:53,524 [Debra] Me and my husband, 276 00:14:53,526 --> 00:14:56,961 welcomed Keyon into our house like 277 00:14:58,030 --> 00:15:02,800 he was our son-in-law before he wanted to be our son-in-law. 278 00:15:02,802 --> 00:15:04,969 Every Sunday, they would come over and I would 279 00:15:04,971 --> 00:15:06,838 cook and they would eat. 280 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:08,473 I was happy for Avis. 281 00:15:09,909 --> 00:15:13,144 I can see that Keyon was making Avis happy. 282 00:15:13,146 --> 00:15:16,381 And Avis being happy, made me happy. 283 00:15:17,716 --> 00:15:21,052 [Debra] She had met somebody that 284 00:15:22,388 --> 00:15:26,291 cared for her like she cared for him. 285 00:15:29,295 --> 00:15:33,364 [narrator] Keyon and Avis decide to live together six months after they meet. 286 00:15:33,933 --> 00:15:36,267 [Debra] Six months, is not... 287 00:15:38,037 --> 00:15:44,208 To me it's not enough time to know what you need to know about a young man. 288 00:15:45,177 --> 00:15:48,146 [Fredreana] It was such a sudden move, 289 00:15:48,148 --> 00:15:51,215 it kinda sparked a nerve like, 290 00:15:51,217 --> 00:15:53,751 y'all only be knowing each other for six months. 291 00:15:53,753 --> 00:15:56,020 That's not enough time to say, 292 00:15:56,022 --> 00:16:00,024 "I'm in love with you, I wanna move in with you." 293 00:16:00,026 --> 00:16:03,728 I did ask Avis if she was ready to move and, 294 00:16:03,730 --> 00:16:05,363 Avis told me, "Yes". 295 00:16:05,365 --> 00:16:09,934 And I was like, "Well, if you're okay with it, then I'm okay with it." 296 00:16:11,804 --> 00:16:14,973 [Debra] Keyon being Keyon, he was always... 297 00:16:16,008 --> 00:16:19,577 a person that wanted the best. 298 00:16:20,646 --> 00:16:22,714 So, they moved in a new house. 299 00:16:22,716 --> 00:16:24,716 We looked in and we told them we liked it, 300 00:16:24,718 --> 00:16:28,252 and we was proud of both of them. 301 00:16:29,321 --> 00:16:32,423 He proved to us that he was a good provider. 302 00:16:33,225 --> 00:16:34,959 We were happy for them. 303 00:16:36,595 --> 00:16:39,530 [telephone ringing] 304 00:16:43,268 --> 00:16:47,372 [narrator] Avis has some exciting news for her family a few months later. 305 00:16:47,639 --> 00:16:50,675 Avis called and um... 306 00:16:50,677 --> 00:16:54,579 I heard my mom on the phone saying, "Really, are you for real?" 307 00:16:54,581 --> 00:16:56,447 And I was like, "What y'all talking about?" 308 00:16:56,449 --> 00:16:59,017 She was like, "Your sister got something to tell you." 309 00:16:59,019 --> 00:17:01,953 And I get on the phone and she was like, "I gotta tell you something." 310 00:17:01,955 --> 00:17:03,154 And I was like, "What is it?" 311 00:17:03,156 --> 00:17:05,156 She said, "I'm pregnant." 312 00:17:05,824 --> 00:17:07,392 I was like, "Are you serious?" 313 00:17:07,394 --> 00:17:11,529 I was super excited because this would be my first niece or nephew. 314 00:17:11,531 --> 00:17:15,299 I was ready to start buying different things, decorating the nursery, 315 00:17:15,301 --> 00:17:18,603 pickin' out names before she even knew what she was having. 316 00:17:19,738 --> 00:17:21,873 [narrator] November 2006, 317 00:17:21,875 --> 00:17:25,043 Avis and Keyon travelled to Latonya's house in Houston 318 00:17:25,045 --> 00:17:28,880 to spend Thanksgiving with the whole family. 319 00:17:28,882 --> 00:17:34,419 [Fredreana] Thanksgiving was very special that particular year of. 320 00:17:34,421 --> 00:17:38,456 And it was just like old times, we were all back together. 321 00:17:39,458 --> 00:17:41,459 We were so hungry. 322 00:17:42,928 --> 00:17:46,764 We looked at the food, it was laid out so pretty. 323 00:17:46,766 --> 00:17:50,635 Go around, get the food, put it on your plate and stuff, 324 00:17:50,637 --> 00:17:53,337 and go sit down and eat. 325 00:17:53,339 --> 00:17:56,574 We were so happy to be there for the family and everybody. 326 00:17:57,943 --> 00:17:59,510 We were having fun. 327 00:18:01,146 --> 00:18:03,047 [cell phone ringing] 328 00:18:03,049 --> 00:18:05,750 [Fredreana] After we had eaten Thanksgiving dinner, 329 00:18:05,752 --> 00:18:07,418 and we were all sitting around. 330 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:12,557 Keyon's phone started to ring. 331 00:18:12,559 --> 00:18:16,027 [Debra] He'll go outside, he'll say something and then he'll come back in. 332 00:18:16,029 --> 00:18:18,229 He'll get another phone call, he'll go outside, 333 00:18:18,231 --> 00:18:22,033 'cause we all asked... "Is everything all right? 334 00:18:22,035 --> 00:18:24,969 You know, what's going on?" 335 00:18:24,971 --> 00:18:30,274 That's when he said, it was his Ma on the phone. 336 00:18:33,612 --> 00:18:36,914 By this time, Avis gives him a look. 337 00:18:36,916 --> 00:18:41,385 And I'm looking like, "Okay, she's giving him a look, what's that look for?" 338 00:18:42,621 --> 00:18:44,222 [cell phone ringing] 339 00:18:44,224 --> 00:18:48,126 So, he went back outside, on his phone, on his phone, he came back in, 340 00:18:48,128 --> 00:18:50,027 and finally the phone call stopped. 341 00:18:54,166 --> 00:18:58,236 Avis still had a look on her face like, "Do you want to tell me what that was about?" 342 00:18:58,238 --> 00:19:01,139 And he kinda just... "Oh, it's a family emergency." 343 00:19:02,774 --> 00:19:05,810 It felt off to me. 344 00:19:05,812 --> 00:19:09,413 It had me thinking that it was something more than just a family emergency. 345 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:16,888 [Fredreana] The next day, 346 00:19:16,890 --> 00:19:19,891 Keyon woke up before everybody and was like, "We gotta go, we gotta go." 347 00:19:19,893 --> 00:19:22,660 We gotta go down to my mom's house." 348 00:19:22,662 --> 00:19:26,564 Avis didn't wanna go because we were planning on going shopping. 349 00:19:26,566 --> 00:19:28,966 And he was like, "Oh, we gotta go, we gotta go." 350 00:19:28,968 --> 00:19:30,968 So, they kind of left in a hurry. 351 00:19:35,541 --> 00:19:37,909 When Avis and Keyon left, 352 00:19:37,911 --> 00:19:42,313 my sister's house, that was the last time that I saw my sister. 353 00:19:49,888 --> 00:19:51,155 [siren wailing] 354 00:19:51,857 --> 00:19:53,224 [operator talking] 355 00:19:53,226 --> 00:19:57,061 [woman talking] 356 00:19:57,063 --> 00:20:00,064 - [operator talking] - [woman talking] 357 00:20:00,066 --> 00:20:03,134 - [operator talking] - [woman talking] 358 00:20:03,136 --> 00:20:08,406 [both talking] 359 00:20:09,107 --> 00:20:12,376 [police sirens wailing] 360 00:20:13,779 --> 00:20:17,148 [John] When the officers first arrived on scene, 361 00:20:17,150 --> 00:20:21,219 the garage door was raised but there was only one vehicle in that garage, 362 00:20:21,221 --> 00:20:24,589 and officers were able to see on the driver's side of that car, 363 00:20:25,824 --> 00:20:28,359 we had a victim who was laying on the ground. 364 00:20:28,860 --> 00:20:31,028 Non-responsive. 365 00:20:31,496 --> 00:20:33,764 There was another person that was, 366 00:20:33,766 --> 00:20:38,135 hovered over her and trying to hug on to her and was extremely emotional and 367 00:20:38,137 --> 00:20:41,339 appeared to be sobbing to the officers. 368 00:20:42,441 --> 00:20:45,309 He identified himself as Keyon Pittman. 369 00:20:48,780 --> 00:20:53,451 At that point, he told us he was the boyfriend of the deceased victim Avis Banks. 370 00:20:56,054 --> 00:20:58,756 [Debra] Keyon called. 371 00:20:58,758 --> 00:21:03,027 He said, "Y'all need to get over here." 372 00:21:03,528 --> 00:21:06,297 I said, "What are you talking about?" 373 00:21:06,299 --> 00:21:10,067 "Y'all need to get over here. Something has happened to Avis." 374 00:21:11,870 --> 00:21:15,940 [Fredreana] A 45 minute drive felt like a two second drive. 375 00:21:17,175 --> 00:21:21,112 We pull up on the street and all I see is, 376 00:21:21,213 --> 00:21:22,446 blue lights. 377 00:21:23,015 --> 00:21:24,615 I don't know what's going on. 378 00:21:24,617 --> 00:21:27,518 I'm like, "Okay, somebody needs to tell us something." 379 00:21:28,787 --> 00:21:32,957 Lieutenant Neal went on to explain to me what had happened to Avis 380 00:21:32,959 --> 00:21:36,294 and that they were gonna work non-stop 381 00:21:36,296 --> 00:21:38,229 until they found out what happened. 382 00:21:39,698 --> 00:21:41,299 [Debra] I couldn't believe it. 383 00:21:41,733 --> 00:21:46,537 I was thinking that I was gonna get a chance to take my child back home with me. 384 00:21:48,106 --> 00:21:51,342 I remember hitting him in his chest 385 00:21:51,344 --> 00:21:53,177 and saying, you know, 386 00:21:53,179 --> 00:21:55,112 "You need to tell me what's going on. 387 00:21:55,114 --> 00:21:57,081 Tell me, tell me, tell me." 388 00:21:59,718 --> 00:22:01,919 [John] Her passion for her sister 389 00:22:01,921 --> 00:22:04,822 and the fact that she had just lost her was extremely evident. 390 00:22:04,824 --> 00:22:07,725 And I can still vividly remember 391 00:22:07,727 --> 00:22:11,162 her responses to me that, "You will never find who did this 392 00:22:11,164 --> 00:22:14,231 and I don't like ya'll because my sister's been killed." 393 00:22:15,567 --> 00:22:19,904 Challenged would be a good way to describe what Fredreana did to me. 394 00:22:19,906 --> 00:22:23,007 I think she challenged me not to let her down. 395 00:22:28,046 --> 00:22:29,747 [John] We began working through the residence 396 00:22:29,749 --> 00:22:34,151 just to try to get a direction or pattern of our suspect. 397 00:22:34,153 --> 00:22:36,687 We noticed in the master bedroom, 398 00:22:36,689 --> 00:22:38,522 there was a queen-sized bed 399 00:22:38,524 --> 00:22:40,491 with the chest of drawers there 400 00:22:40,493 --> 00:22:42,226 that had some of the drawers, they were opened up 401 00:22:42,228 --> 00:22:44,395 and appeared to have been rummaged through. 402 00:22:45,597 --> 00:22:47,932 We proceeded on throughout the house 403 00:22:47,934 --> 00:22:49,900 and looked at a few of the other bedrooms 404 00:22:49,902 --> 00:22:53,838 and they just appeared to have been rummaged through and ransacked 405 00:22:53,840 --> 00:22:57,508 as if somebody may have been looking for something with furniture overturned. 406 00:22:58,810 --> 00:23:02,046 It appeared to us that it was in fact a burglary. 407 00:23:03,081 --> 00:23:06,751 As we looked at these various areas throughout the house, 408 00:23:06,753 --> 00:23:09,387 we knew something was wrong at that point. 409 00:23:10,555 --> 00:23:13,257 Every other dresser or drawer was opened up 410 00:23:13,259 --> 00:23:14,792 with a lot of merchandise pulled out 411 00:23:14,794 --> 00:23:17,128 and a lot of clothing pulled out of it, 412 00:23:17,130 --> 00:23:20,431 but it didn't seem like anything may have been missing at this point. 413 00:23:22,834 --> 00:23:25,269 And as we inspected the master bathroom, 414 00:23:25,271 --> 00:23:28,139 we noticed that the cabinet doors were opened up as well. 415 00:23:29,241 --> 00:23:31,609 And in my twenty-something years 416 00:23:31,611 --> 00:23:33,344 of investigating crime scenes, 417 00:23:33,346 --> 00:23:37,281 I don't ever remember anything being stolen from a bathroom. 418 00:23:38,784 --> 00:23:42,253 This may not be the burglary that we think it is. 419 00:23:42,255 --> 00:23:45,189 That this may be a staged crime scene. 420 00:23:49,995 --> 00:23:52,163 [John] As we examined Avis's body, 421 00:23:53,064 --> 00:23:58,002 she had knife wounds to her head and neck area 422 00:23:58,004 --> 00:23:59,970 that were described as puncture wounds. 423 00:23:59,972 --> 00:24:03,841 But the most devastating injury and, uh, horrific injury 424 00:24:03,843 --> 00:24:06,577 was a knife slash that was across her throat. 425 00:24:08,013 --> 00:24:10,915 She had sustained multiple gunshot wounds 426 00:24:10,917 --> 00:24:13,017 to the entire body area. 427 00:24:13,019 --> 00:24:16,787 She was shot a total of four times. 428 00:24:16,789 --> 00:24:21,058 One of them was an intentional shot to the abdomen area. 429 00:24:21,060 --> 00:24:23,527 The intent of that person was to kill Avis 430 00:24:23,529 --> 00:24:25,996 and to kill that child. 431 00:24:27,999 --> 00:24:32,803 As we sat back and looked at the amount of injuries that this victim sustained, 432 00:24:32,805 --> 00:24:35,806 we felt like this was gonna be a personal crime. 433 00:24:35,808 --> 00:24:39,610 Somebody who either knew Avis or knew of Avis. 434 00:24:40,912 --> 00:24:43,714 As we processed the crime scene, 435 00:24:43,716 --> 00:24:45,950 at the point of entry into the residence, 436 00:24:45,952 --> 00:24:51,288 there was a double plain glass door that led into the residence. 437 00:24:51,290 --> 00:24:55,559 There were two distinct shoe impressions on that glass door. 438 00:24:55,561 --> 00:24:57,895 We photographed them, we measured them, 439 00:24:57,897 --> 00:25:01,699 so we would get an approximate size of shoe that we might be looking for 440 00:25:01,701 --> 00:25:04,301 as well as get any kind of distinct tread pattern 441 00:25:04,303 --> 00:25:06,470 that was on the bottom of that shoe print. 442 00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:10,574 We needed to talk to Keyon 443 00:25:10,576 --> 00:25:12,843 to find out more about Avis's life 444 00:25:12,845 --> 00:25:16,146 and who would want to harm her in this way. 445 00:25:17,549 --> 00:25:21,552 Since Mr. Pittman was the person that found his girlfriend's body. 446 00:25:21,554 --> 00:25:24,221 It was very important for us to talk with him. 447 00:25:25,824 --> 00:25:28,425 Typically, people are killed 448 00:25:28,427 --> 00:25:29,260 by people that they know. 449 00:25:29,262 --> 00:25:32,429 Or have some type of relationship with. 450 00:25:32,431 --> 00:25:36,901 So at this point, we are looking at him as a witness 451 00:25:36,903 --> 00:25:38,469 Or we're looking at him as a suspect. 452 00:25:39,070 --> 00:25:40,237 [door closes] 453 00:25:40,705 --> 00:25:41,972 According to Keyon, 454 00:25:41,974 --> 00:25:45,009 he left from basketball practice and drove home. 455 00:25:45,011 --> 00:25:48,946 When he got home, he lit up the garage door 456 00:25:48,948 --> 00:25:50,781 and that's when he saw Avis's body 457 00:25:50,783 --> 00:25:53,183 laying on the garage floor. 458 00:25:56,288 --> 00:25:59,557 It was shortly after that, that I asked him to sign a Miranda warning. 459 00:26:00,892 --> 00:26:03,360 [speaking] 460 00:26:08,934 --> 00:26:13,370 [speaking] 461 00:26:24,849 --> 00:26:28,519 [both speaking] 462 00:26:36,728 --> 00:26:40,931 [Frank] The way Keyon was acting, was very strange. 463 00:26:40,933 --> 00:26:45,135 He seemed to be more, uh, concerned about himself. 464 00:26:46,137 --> 00:26:50,407 [speaking] 465 00:26:54,879 --> 00:27:00,217 [Frank] We knew that Avis was shot and stabbed, 466 00:27:00,219 --> 00:27:05,856 so there is a good possibility that there could be some gunshot residue on him 467 00:27:05,858 --> 00:27:08,158 if he was witness or suspect. 468 00:27:08,793 --> 00:27:10,828 [John] We were able to recover 469 00:27:10,830 --> 00:27:13,897 some gunshot residue samples from Keyon 470 00:27:13,899 --> 00:27:17,034 that were submitted to our State Crime Lab for testing. 471 00:27:18,036 --> 00:27:20,204 We were hoping that those results 472 00:27:20,206 --> 00:27:23,407 would tell us if Keyon had fired a weapon that night. 473 00:27:24,909 --> 00:27:27,111 Analyzing those results, 474 00:27:27,113 --> 00:27:29,713 we were able to see on our certified report 475 00:27:29,715 --> 00:27:32,983 that there were gunshot residue particles present. 476 00:27:32,985 --> 00:27:36,153 When we talked to the analyst at the crime lab, 477 00:27:36,155 --> 00:27:41,025 we realized that this was just contact trace transfer. 478 00:27:41,926 --> 00:27:46,063 It was just, um, minute traces of gunshot residue 479 00:27:46,065 --> 00:27:51,135 that would be easily explained because of Keyon's cradling 480 00:27:51,137 --> 00:27:54,938 and hugging and holding of Avis as she lay on the garage floor. 481 00:27:56,574 --> 00:28:00,177 It's quite possible that he was never at the scene and had a gun. 482 00:28:01,079 --> 00:28:02,212 We were able to look at that 483 00:28:02,214 --> 00:28:04,748 and just look at each other in dismay 484 00:28:04,750 --> 00:28:07,518 and say, "He's not our guy." 485 00:28:12,157 --> 00:28:16,560 [narrator] Detectives interview the colleagues of 31-year-old, Keyon Pittman 486 00:28:16,562 --> 00:28:18,862 at the school where he teaches. 487 00:28:18,864 --> 00:28:20,330 I spoke with the principle, 488 00:28:20,332 --> 00:28:24,935 I spoke with several other assistant principles and workers. 489 00:28:24,937 --> 00:28:29,106 And a lady comes in and she's crying. 490 00:28:29,108 --> 00:28:31,008 I mean, she's sobbing. 491 00:28:32,377 --> 00:28:35,045 And, I asked the principle, I said, 492 00:28:35,047 --> 00:28:36,714 "What's wrong with her? Who is she?" 493 00:28:36,716 --> 00:28:40,117 And she said, "This is Carla." 494 00:28:40,119 --> 00:28:45,022 I learned that Carla was a 25-year-old language arts teacher. 495 00:28:46,791 --> 00:28:48,992 I'm immediately thinking, why is she crying? 496 00:28:48,994 --> 00:28:51,128 What? Did she know Avis? 497 00:28:51,763 --> 00:28:54,865 And I asked her, I said, "Are you okay?" 498 00:28:54,867 --> 00:28:59,970 And, uh, she said, "She's upset about what happened to Keyon." 499 00:28:59,972 --> 00:29:05,375 I'm immediately thinking, Keyon is okay for the most part 500 00:29:05,377 --> 00:29:09,480 and his girlfriend and unborn child are dead. 501 00:29:09,482 --> 00:29:11,448 That's who, you know, you should be sobbing over. 502 00:29:14,119 --> 00:29:16,620 And we did learn that he had a second job 503 00:29:16,622 --> 00:29:18,822 outside of his school activities. 504 00:29:18,824 --> 00:29:21,959 He was a bartender at a local Mexican restaurant. 505 00:29:22,961 --> 00:29:25,596 We talked to the management of the restaurant. 506 00:29:25,598 --> 00:29:27,765 [indistinct chatter] 507 00:29:27,767 --> 00:29:29,967 All the indications that we were getting, 508 00:29:29,969 --> 00:29:34,071 is that Keyon loved having a part-time job on the side 509 00:29:34,073 --> 00:29:36,073 where he's a bartender and can serve women alcohol 510 00:29:36,075 --> 00:29:39,409 and can be in the company of women. 511 00:29:40,812 --> 00:29:44,681 [Frank] We learned that Keyon had multiple girls or ladies 512 00:29:44,683 --> 00:29:47,651 that would come in the restaurant. 513 00:29:47,653 --> 00:29:50,320 Some of them, he would give free drinks. 514 00:29:50,322 --> 00:29:52,689 You know, but he was always on some type of courtship 515 00:29:52,691 --> 00:29:55,692 with women at that restaurant. 516 00:29:55,694 --> 00:29:57,795 [John] We knew through some of these interviews 517 00:29:57,797 --> 00:30:01,131 that Carla Hughes was a frequent customer of this restaurant. 518 00:30:01,966 --> 00:30:05,102 Carla Hughes had pretty much a special seating 519 00:30:05,104 --> 00:30:08,839 and, like, Keyon would spend a lot of time with her in that restaurant. 520 00:30:08,841 --> 00:30:12,009 We kinda realized that her relationship with Keyon 521 00:30:12,011 --> 00:30:15,012 was not just a friendship type of relationship. 522 00:30:15,014 --> 00:30:17,014 Although she said it was, 523 00:30:17,016 --> 00:30:20,017 we gathered that they were a little bit more than that. 524 00:30:20,019 --> 00:30:22,252 And that he was cheating on his girlfriend. 525 00:30:24,823 --> 00:30:27,324 So we wanted to know more now about 526 00:30:27,326 --> 00:30:30,194 what Carla's actions were on the day of the murder. 527 00:30:31,396 --> 00:30:35,833 [speaking] 528 00:30:35,835 --> 00:30:39,069 She just said, they told us that she was at home that entire afternoon. 529 00:30:39,938 --> 00:30:44,007 [speaking] 530 00:30:52,717 --> 00:30:54,651 [John] At this point of the investigation, 531 00:30:54,653 --> 00:30:57,254 we didn't have any reason to suspect Carla. 532 00:30:57,256 --> 00:31:00,490 She was the model citizen in her hometown. 533 00:31:00,492 --> 00:31:02,593 Checks were all squeaky clean. 534 00:31:05,296 --> 00:31:09,600 [Fredreana] We had Avis's funeral in Vicksburg, Mississippi. 535 00:31:09,602 --> 00:31:12,135 The day of her funeral is the day 536 00:31:12,137 --> 00:31:15,205 that Avis would've been graduating with her masters. 537 00:31:16,841 --> 00:31:20,744 It started off as a, a celebration. 538 00:31:20,746 --> 00:31:25,082 And... I had just told Latonya, I said, 539 00:31:25,084 --> 00:31:27,718 "We're gonna go in here." I said, "We're not gonna cry." 540 00:31:27,720 --> 00:31:29,052 I said, "We're gonna be happy. 541 00:31:29,054 --> 00:31:31,088 I said, "We're gonna think about everything good. 542 00:31:31,090 --> 00:31:32,589 We're gonna have a good day." 543 00:31:34,025 --> 00:31:35,792 Everything was going good 544 00:31:35,794 --> 00:31:38,128 until Keyon walked in the door. 545 00:31:41,032 --> 00:31:45,802 After we found out all the stuff about him, 546 00:31:45,804 --> 00:31:48,105 it was hard to swallow. 547 00:31:48,107 --> 00:31:52,943 You don't, uh, have a reputation like he had 548 00:31:52,945 --> 00:31:56,113 and didn't think that nobody was gonna find out about it 549 00:31:56,115 --> 00:31:59,049 and everything was gonna be okay. 550 00:32:00,285 --> 00:32:05,188 Keyon comes in yelling, all hysterical. 551 00:32:05,190 --> 00:32:08,091 And Latonya kinda lost her mind, 552 00:32:08,093 --> 00:32:11,328 like, "Okay, why are you in here yelling like this?" 553 00:32:12,997 --> 00:32:16,266 [Debra] Tonya jumped up and... 554 00:32:17,902 --> 00:32:20,003 That's when, um... 555 00:32:20,005 --> 00:32:24,775 The policeman asked Frederick, "Do you want him removed?" 556 00:32:24,777 --> 00:32:26,543 And Fred just told 'em, "Yes." 557 00:32:29,047 --> 00:32:31,248 We were asking questions like, 558 00:32:31,950 --> 00:32:34,384 Could it have been Keyon? 559 00:32:35,586 --> 00:32:39,089 At this point, who could it have been? 560 00:32:42,193 --> 00:32:43,794 We didn't have any evidence to go on. 561 00:32:43,796 --> 00:32:46,063 We weren't getting any more leads in 562 00:32:46,065 --> 00:32:50,901 and we were still looking for that, that "A-ha" moment. 563 00:32:50,903 --> 00:32:53,870 At noon, Detective Dillard got off the phone, 564 00:32:53,872 --> 00:32:55,739 he came immediately into my office and said, 565 00:32:55,741 --> 00:32:59,276 "I've got something that I think is gonna break this case wide open." 566 00:33:03,014 --> 00:33:06,083 [Frank] We were contacted by a man by the name of Patrick Nash. 567 00:33:06,085 --> 00:33:08,352 He tells us that he might have something 568 00:33:08,354 --> 00:33:11,221 that we're interested in regarding Avis's murder. 569 00:33:12,156 --> 00:33:16,259 [speaking] 570 00:33:34,779 --> 00:33:36,947 [Frank] They have a bag with them 571 00:33:36,949 --> 00:33:41,952 and in that bag it contains a gun. A .38 Rossi. 572 00:33:44,789 --> 00:33:48,025 [speaking] 573 00:33:57,301 --> 00:34:01,538 According to Patrick, at the time when he loaned Carla the gun, 574 00:34:02,507 --> 00:34:04,341 it had five rounds in it. 575 00:34:04,343 --> 00:34:08,412 After the date of the murder, she returned the gun empty. 576 00:34:08,414 --> 00:34:11,248 He asked her, "Hey, what happened to the bullets in the gun?" 577 00:34:12,083 --> 00:34:14,518 And she told him, "I went target practicing." 578 00:34:18,022 --> 00:34:21,558 On December the 6th, about seven days after the murder, 579 00:34:21,959 --> 00:34:23,260 Carla Hughes was asked to come 580 00:34:23,262 --> 00:34:26,029 to the Ridgeland Police Department for an interview. 581 00:34:27,832 --> 00:34:33,070 [speaking] 582 00:34:36,140 --> 00:34:39,509 It seemed like the gravity of the situation was now painting on her. 583 00:34:41,279 --> 00:34:44,014 [John] We knew that she was in possession of that firearm 584 00:34:44,016 --> 00:34:49,019 that we thought was used to kill Avis. 585 00:34:49,021 --> 00:34:51,788 She failed to disclose that she knew about that firearm. 586 00:34:51,790 --> 00:34:56,059 [speaking] 587 00:34:56,061 --> 00:35:00,297 [narrator] But police need more evidence to charge Carla with murder. 588 00:35:01,199 --> 00:35:06,470 [speaking] 589 00:35:15,546 --> 00:35:17,981 We scoured through all of the living areas. 590 00:35:18,249 --> 00:35:20,050 We discovered pictures of Keyon 591 00:35:20,052 --> 00:35:23,019 that were in her night stand next to her bed 592 00:35:23,021 --> 00:35:26,356 as well as a poem that was written by Keyon. 593 00:35:27,859 --> 00:35:29,493 [speaking] 594 00:35:31,696 --> 00:35:34,064 [John] We located in Carla's bedroom, 595 00:35:34,066 --> 00:35:38,335 up on the top shelf in the closet, a box of shoes. 596 00:35:39,937 --> 00:35:41,638 We were able to see 597 00:35:41,640 --> 00:35:46,243 about three distinct blood spattered marks on those shoes. 598 00:35:48,379 --> 00:35:51,214 We identified the shoe pattern on the bottom of those 599 00:35:51,216 --> 00:35:55,685 as very similar in nature to the impressions that were made on the door 600 00:35:55,687 --> 00:35:57,521 at the entrance to Avis's house. 601 00:36:04,662 --> 00:36:06,796 When we laid our hands on those shoes, 602 00:36:06,798 --> 00:36:11,268 and we learned that the blood spatter was Avis Banks's blood, 603 00:36:11,270 --> 00:36:14,271 we knew then that we had the right suspect in custody. 604 00:36:15,373 --> 00:36:19,209 We needed to move forward with finishing up, identifying 605 00:36:19,211 --> 00:36:21,511 and proving that Carla Hughes was our killer. 606 00:36:22,180 --> 00:36:23,847 Carla had given us an alibi already 607 00:36:23,849 --> 00:36:27,551 that she was at home during this entire time. 608 00:36:27,553 --> 00:36:31,121 When we got the tower records back on Carla's cell phone usage, 609 00:36:31,123 --> 00:36:33,557 we were ready to plot Carla's location 610 00:36:33,559 --> 00:36:36,459 and prove that she was at the house during the time of the murder. 611 00:36:39,864 --> 00:36:40,864 [Frank] Ballistics from the gun 612 00:36:40,866 --> 00:36:44,501 that was borrowed from Patrick Nash 613 00:36:44,503 --> 00:36:46,870 came back as a positive match to the gun 614 00:36:46,872 --> 00:36:50,407 that committed the murder to Avis Banks and her unborn child. 615 00:36:51,842 --> 00:36:54,177 For me, that's the nail in the coffin. 616 00:36:55,413 --> 00:36:58,848 Call of the charges are upgraded to capital murder. 617 00:36:58,850 --> 00:37:00,350 Two counts. 618 00:37:02,253 --> 00:37:04,854 In October of 2009, 619 00:37:04,856 --> 00:37:07,757 as we began the trial in this case, 620 00:37:07,759 --> 00:37:10,160 one of the goals of the prosecutor at that point 621 00:37:10,162 --> 00:37:13,029 was to show her her motive behind this. 622 00:37:13,698 --> 00:37:16,066 Carla wanted Avis's life. 623 00:37:17,034 --> 00:37:19,903 She wanted to be the person that was staying in that house, 624 00:37:19,905 --> 00:37:22,872 she wanted to be the person that could drive her car, 625 00:37:22,874 --> 00:37:26,476 she wanted to be the person that was with Keyon. 626 00:37:29,647 --> 00:37:32,549 [judge] When you were around friends and relatives during this period of time, 627 00:37:32,551 --> 00:37:34,718 how would she introduce you to those folks? 628 00:37:34,720 --> 00:37:37,988 She would introduce me as her future husband. 629 00:37:37,990 --> 00:37:42,559 [judge] And how did you view the long term, uh, prospects 630 00:37:42,561 --> 00:37:44,261 for your relationship with Carla Hughes? 631 00:37:44,263 --> 00:37:45,862 There was no long term. 632 00:37:45,864 --> 00:37:49,799 It was, it was, uh, sexual, 633 00:37:49,801 --> 00:37:53,903 caught up in the moment, uh, speaking of myself. 634 00:37:53,905 --> 00:37:58,375 There never was a long term plan with Carla. 635 00:38:00,611 --> 00:38:03,980 [narrator] Carla pressures Keyon to leave Avis. 636 00:38:06,017 --> 00:38:09,519 She takes matters into her own hands when he refuses. 637 00:38:11,555 --> 00:38:14,124 [Frank] In order for her to get all of those things, 638 00:38:14,126 --> 00:38:18,228 Avis and her unborn child had to be gotten rid of. 639 00:38:18,230 --> 00:38:22,599 [narrator] Keyon has no idea of the horrific crime that Carla is planning. 640 00:38:23,801 --> 00:38:25,268 [Frank] Carla did her homework. 641 00:38:26,370 --> 00:38:28,571 She premeditated everything. 642 00:38:30,775 --> 00:38:33,243 She knew what time Avis is gonna get off work, 643 00:38:33,245 --> 00:38:35,278 about what time she would arrive home. 644 00:38:35,980 --> 00:38:39,382 Carla drove to Avis's house. 645 00:38:43,921 --> 00:38:47,390 She kicked in the back door, she entered the house 646 00:38:49,126 --> 00:38:52,495 and waited for Avis's car to pull into the garage. 647 00:38:53,864 --> 00:38:56,132 [engine powering down] 648 00:38:57,134 --> 00:38:59,569 [John] As soon as Avis pulled in to the garage, 649 00:38:59,571 --> 00:39:01,271 gathered her belongings up, 650 00:39:01,273 --> 00:39:04,941 let the garage door down and exited her car to go inside 651 00:39:04,943 --> 00:39:06,409 is when she was ambushed. 652 00:39:06,944 --> 00:39:08,978 [door creaking] 653 00:39:08,980 --> 00:39:11,114 Carla heard the car door close. 654 00:39:11,116 --> 00:39:14,117 - [car door closes] - She knew that Avis would be approaching the door. 655 00:39:14,119 --> 00:39:18,021 And she immediately jerked it open and ambushed her 656 00:39:19,924 --> 00:39:23,493 and shot five times of which four of them struck Avis. 657 00:39:25,763 --> 00:39:28,098 [gun fires] 658 00:39:28,100 --> 00:39:29,666 Avis fell on the ground at that point, 659 00:39:29,668 --> 00:39:31,267 but Carla wasn't done yet. 660 00:39:31,269 --> 00:39:35,004 She wanted to make sure that Avis did not survive this attack. 661 00:39:35,006 --> 00:39:36,573 And although she was out of bullets, 662 00:39:36,575 --> 00:39:38,675 she had that secondary weapon of a knife 663 00:39:38,677 --> 00:39:42,178 and made it a point to brutally stab her 664 00:39:42,180 --> 00:39:44,414 and then brutally slash her neck. 665 00:39:46,016 --> 00:39:47,917 Carla staged a burglary scene 666 00:39:47,919 --> 00:39:50,520 to make it look like somebody had broken into the home. 667 00:39:54,625 --> 00:39:58,561 Carla maintained her innocence in her solace during the entire process. 668 00:39:59,830 --> 00:40:03,533 When we were finally able to reach a verdict through that jury, 669 00:40:03,535 --> 00:40:06,469 and it was guilty on two counts of capital murder 670 00:40:06,471 --> 00:40:10,006 and sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment 671 00:40:10,008 --> 00:40:14,744 without the chance of parole, it was very satisfying to us. 672 00:40:14,746 --> 00:40:18,681 I wish we didn't have to have a trial. 673 00:40:18,683 --> 00:40:21,885 I wish my child was still here. 674 00:40:21,887 --> 00:40:27,323 But the memory of the trial is when they said, "She was guilty." 675 00:40:29,860 --> 00:40:36,199 She will never do this again to anybody else's child. 676 00:40:37,301 --> 00:40:39,269 Anybody else's child. 677 00:40:42,139 --> 00:40:44,407 Yeah. Yes, ma'am. 678 00:40:51,081 --> 00:40:52,916 [Fredreana] I feel a relief. 679 00:40:52,918 --> 00:40:55,285 I feel like justice was served 680 00:40:55,287 --> 00:40:58,321 and I feel like the right person is behind bars. 681 00:40:59,657 --> 00:41:01,157 [both chuckling] 682 00:41:01,159 --> 00:41:04,794 Lieutenant Neal, I thank God for him being on the case 683 00:41:04,796 --> 00:41:06,996 because he was just like family. 684 00:41:12,870 --> 00:41:14,504 We had fought for months. 685 00:41:16,106 --> 00:41:19,476 For justice for that girl and for that baby. 686 00:41:22,112 --> 00:41:23,980 And we finally got it. 687 00:41:27,017 --> 00:41:29,252 One of the most gratifying moments, 688 00:41:31,055 --> 00:41:35,124 was the embrace that I shared with Fredreana. 689 00:41:36,093 --> 00:41:38,595 And my only comment to her was, 690 00:41:38,597 --> 00:41:42,565 "Thank you for trusting me. I told you we'd do it." 691 00:41:46,036 --> 00:41:50,173 [narrator] The Banks' family names Avis's unborn child, Keylan. 692 00:41:52,309 --> 00:41:58,081 What I miss about Avis is her personality, 693 00:41:58,315 --> 00:42:02,585 her sweet face, her smile. 694 00:42:03,153 --> 00:42:04,721 Just hearing her voice 695 00:42:04,723 --> 00:42:10,093 and wondering how her and Keylan would've turned out. 696 00:42:14,899 --> 00:42:18,468 [Fredreana] It's a feeling that something is missing. 697 00:42:20,237 --> 00:42:22,372 I lost more than just a sister. 698 00:42:22,374 --> 00:42:24,274 I lost a part of myself.