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00:00:11,378 --> 00:00:12,378
[woman speaking]
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00:00:15,548 --> 00:00:18,751
[Wendy] Oh, my God.
That's so cute.
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00:00:19,652 --> 00:00:21,220
She loved this house.
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00:00:21,222 --> 00:00:24,656
She was so excited to move in
5
00:00:24,658 --> 00:00:28,327
and have a great place
for Josh to grow up in.
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00:00:30,530 --> 00:00:33,465
[Wendy chuckles]
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00:00:33,467 --> 00:00:40,672
[Josh] I was just really happy that we were
able to do all these things as a family.
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00:00:40,674 --> 00:00:44,009
I don't think I could've
asked for anything more.
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00:00:45,045 --> 00:00:47,046
I was just such a happy kid.
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00:00:48,148 --> 00:00:49,915
[phone rings]
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00:00:49,917 --> 00:00:54,053
[Josh] We knew from the minute
we got that phone call
12
00:00:54,055 --> 00:00:57,056
that life was never
going to be the same.
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[operator speaking]
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00:01:00,894 --> 00:01:02,461
[Wendy] Looking
over my shoulder,
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00:01:02,463 --> 00:01:04,530
into the backyard,
looking to see,
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00:01:04,532 --> 00:01:08,801
jeez, you know, is he here?
Is he gonna come after us?
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00:01:08,803 --> 00:01:11,837
[Josh] These are the kind of
things you only see in movies.
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And it's our life right now.
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[man speaking]
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[narrator] It's fall 1997.
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[woman speaking]
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00:01:45,706 --> 00:01:49,374
[narrator] 30-year-old Brian
Davidson is renovating his home
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00:01:49,376 --> 00:01:52,511
in Lynn, Massachusetts.
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00:01:52,513 --> 00:01:56,081
Brian's 28-year-old
girlfriend, Wendi Balestrier
25
00:01:56,083 --> 00:01:59,518
and her two-year-old son,
Joshua, lend a hand.
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00:02:01,588 --> 00:02:03,122
[Brian speaking]
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00:02:05,325 --> 00:02:07,793
- [Wendi speaking]
- [Brian speaking]
28
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[Wendi speaking]
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[Wendy] That camcorder was a
pretty cool thing to have
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00:02:17,438 --> 00:02:20,339
so, she tried to capture,
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00:02:20,341 --> 00:02:23,876
you know,
everything that she could
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00:02:23,878 --> 00:02:26,845
so that we'd always have
those memories to look back on.
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00:02:30,817 --> 00:02:34,086
[narrator] Remodeling the
upstairs is a breeze for Brian.
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00:02:34,088 --> 00:02:36,455
He owns his own
construction company.
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00:02:36,457 --> 00:02:37,256
[Josh speaking]
36
00:02:37,924 --> 00:02:39,024
[Brian speaking]
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[narrator]
And soon he, Wendi and Josh
38
00:02:44,198 --> 00:02:47,633
will live together,
as a family, under one roof.
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[Wendy] Josh is trying
to help his mom,
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00:02:51,171 --> 00:02:53,272
get his bedroom,
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00:02:53,274 --> 00:02:55,807
his big boy bedroom, ready.
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[Wendi speaking]
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00:03:01,114 --> 00:03:04,683
[Wendy] I know when Wendi
and Brian moved in together,
44
00:03:04,685 --> 00:03:07,686
and they were putting
Joshua's room together,
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00:03:07,688 --> 00:03:10,889
I know that my sister
was pretty excited
46
00:03:10,891 --> 00:03:15,527
to have a father figure
for her son.
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She never really
had a relationship
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with Joshua's biological dad.
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[Wendy] Brian was amazing.
50
00:03:27,408 --> 00:03:34,546
He took Joshua in,
as if he was his own son.
51
00:03:34,548 --> 00:03:36,515
[Josh] My parents
bought me this toy drill,
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so I could be just like my dad,
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and help out.
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I probably, to this day,
still know how to use a drill,
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so I don't know
what I was thinking back then.
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He always just showed me
the love and care
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that you want from a parent.
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Just from the minute
he came into my life.
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00:04:05,378 --> 00:04:09,448
[Sandi] Wendi was born
on March 13, 1969,
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00:04:09,450 --> 00:04:14,386
in Stoneham, Massachusetts,
to my sister Pat,
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and her husband, Al Balestrier.
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00:04:17,291 --> 00:04:21,193
She had two brothers,
the twins, David and Danny.
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She loved, loved,
to tease her brothers.
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They, absolutely,
were always fighting
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00:04:28,369 --> 00:04:29,668
with each other,
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00:04:29,670 --> 00:04:33,205
but it was a typical family.
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00:04:33,207 --> 00:04:35,974
Wendi was about three years old
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00:04:35,976 --> 00:04:38,910
when Al and my sister Pat
divorced.
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[narrator] Wendi
makes a new best friend
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00:04:40,681 --> 00:04:43,882
when her father, Al, remarries.
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00:04:43,884 --> 00:04:45,817
[Wendy] When Wendi
and I first met,
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00:04:45,819 --> 00:04:50,055
I just remember how
excited I was to have a sister.
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00:04:50,057 --> 00:04:53,392
Because I was
an only child, it was amazing.
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00:04:53,394 --> 00:04:56,895
And to also have the same name.
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00:04:56,897 --> 00:04:58,797
But she was Wendi with an "I",
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00:04:58,799 --> 00:05:01,600
and I was Wendy with a "Y".
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00:05:01,602 --> 00:05:05,904
Wendi and I always
considered each other sisters.
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00:05:05,906 --> 00:05:09,675
We never thought about it
being a stepsister.
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00:05:10,643 --> 00:05:12,377
She was just always happy,
80
00:05:12,379 --> 00:05:14,212
and always saw the bright side,
81
00:05:14,214 --> 00:05:17,382
and she would just
be there for you.
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00:05:17,384 --> 00:05:19,384
[narrator]
Wendy loves karaoke.
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00:05:19,386 --> 00:05:23,789
Her friends introduce her
to Brian, on a night out.
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00:05:23,791 --> 00:05:27,292
[Wendy] When she met Brian
I believe that,
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00:05:27,294 --> 00:05:29,695
she thought that he was the one.
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00:05:31,130 --> 00:05:36,601
My sister and Brian
got married November 21, 1998,
87
00:05:36,603 --> 00:05:39,838
and little Joshua
was the ring bearer.
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He was cute as a button.
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00:05:43,844 --> 00:05:46,545
Just happy, smiling.
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00:05:46,547 --> 00:05:51,983
Brian really helped Wendi
establish normalcy
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00:05:51,985 --> 00:05:56,555
for Joshua to have a stable
family environment.
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00:06:06,532 --> 00:06:07,699
[Brian speaking]
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00:06:11,037 --> 00:06:13,038
Christmas 1998, would have been
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00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:16,041
our first Christmas together
95
00:06:16,043 --> 00:06:17,442
since they got married.
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00:06:17,444 --> 00:06:19,411
[toy vacuum buzzing]
97
00:06:20,947 --> 00:06:23,615
[Josh] Oh, it was
that toy vacuum.
98
00:06:25,551 --> 00:06:28,220
Back when I thought
it was fun to clean the house.
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00:06:28,955 --> 00:06:30,422
Wait, wait.
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00:06:31,391 --> 00:06:32,524
[woman speaking]
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00:06:35,661 --> 00:06:36,695
[Brian speaking]
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00:06:40,366 --> 00:06:41,400
[woman speaking]
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00:06:41,402 --> 00:06:44,236
[Wendy] My sister, Wendi,
loved Christmas.
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00:06:44,238 --> 00:06:46,471
I used to get mad at her,
telling her,
105
00:06:46,473 --> 00:06:48,106
"Hey, you know,
don't spend that much money.
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00:06:48,108 --> 00:06:49,674
He's not gonna remember,
he's small,"
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00:06:49,676 --> 00:06:51,176
but she didn't care.
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[narrator] Josh delivers
presents to his uncles.
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00:06:57,984 --> 00:07:00,452
[Josh] This is back when I
couldn't tell my two uncles apart.
110
00:07:00,454 --> 00:07:01,987
I couldn't tell you
which one's Danny
111
00:07:01,989 --> 00:07:03,755
and which one's David
in that video.
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00:07:10,062 --> 00:07:11,630
[Brian speaking]
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[Josh]
In the summer of 1999,
114
00:07:14,635 --> 00:07:15,801
we took a day trip
115
00:07:15,803 --> 00:07:19,604
to the Roger Williams Zoo,
in Rhode Island.
116
00:07:19,606 --> 00:07:22,507
And I remember it was my
first time being to the zoo,
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00:07:22,509 --> 00:07:26,211
and I was so amazed
by all the animals.
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[indistinct chatter]
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00:07:33,486 --> 00:07:35,020
My mom would, you know,
120
00:07:35,022 --> 00:07:37,255
explain to me what all
the different exhibits were,
121
00:07:37,257 --> 00:07:39,224
and what all the animals were,
122
00:07:39,226 --> 00:07:42,327
and all these different
fun facts about them.
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00:07:46,432 --> 00:07:48,633
I was just such a happy kid.
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00:07:48,635 --> 00:07:50,702
There was really
nothing else I could ask for
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00:07:50,704 --> 00:07:52,237
for my childhood.
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00:07:52,839 --> 00:07:55,640
[dog barks]
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00:07:55,642 --> 00:08:00,212
[narrator] Fast forward
to April 23, 2000.
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00:08:00,813 --> 00:08:02,047
[Wendi speaking]
129
00:08:05,651 --> 00:08:07,652
[Wendi speaking]
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00:08:07,654 --> 00:08:12,023
[narrator] The Davidsons prepare to
welcome a new member of the family.
131
00:08:12,025 --> 00:08:15,927
[Josh] When I found out
that my mom was pregnant,
132
00:08:15,929 --> 00:08:21,266
I was so happy
to become a big brother.
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00:08:21,268 --> 00:08:24,903
[Wendy] My sister definitely
loved being pregnant.
134
00:08:24,905 --> 00:08:27,172
She was only four foot nine,
135
00:08:27,174 --> 00:08:30,842
so there wasn't much space
for the baby.
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00:08:30,844 --> 00:08:32,043
Like magic.
137
00:08:32,045 --> 00:08:35,113
[Wendy] She was just so
excited to start her family,
138
00:08:35,115 --> 00:08:39,718
and have a foundation
that she could call her own.
139
00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:40,785
[Brian speaking]
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00:08:44,390 --> 00:08:49,060
[Sandi] Little Bryan was born
on May 3, 2000.
141
00:08:49,062 --> 00:08:50,328
[Brian speaking]
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00:08:52,532 --> 00:08:56,001
[Sandi] Wendi was so
excited when Bryan was born.
143
00:08:56,003 --> 00:09:01,006
But she also was worried
that Joshua would be jealous
144
00:09:01,474 --> 00:09:02,707
of little Bryan.
145
00:09:05,678 --> 00:09:08,580
He actually was very good
with the baby,
146
00:09:08,582 --> 00:09:10,315
but I would always
hear Wendi saying,
147
00:09:10,317 --> 00:09:12,751
"Be careful, be easy
with your brother.
148
00:09:12,753 --> 00:09:16,187
You gotta go careful.
He's just a baby."
149
00:09:25,298 --> 00:09:27,198
[singing indistinctly]
150
00:09:39,512 --> 00:09:43,014
Bryan was baptized in early 2001
151
00:09:43,016 --> 00:09:47,085
at St. Theresa's church,
in Billerica, Massachusetts.
152
00:10:07,807 --> 00:10:09,140
[Brian speaking]
153
00:10:12,178 --> 00:10:16,414
My mom is definitely enjoying
watching me get wet,
154
00:10:17,416 --> 00:10:19,784
uh, just making me laugh.
155
00:10:29,595 --> 00:10:31,930
I'm in my dad's arms, yeah,
156
00:10:31,932 --> 00:10:33,798
you see me at one point,
157
00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:37,102
lean into him and say,
"Get me out of here."
158
00:10:39,005 --> 00:10:40,672
When we were kids growing up,
159
00:10:40,674 --> 00:10:45,543
we always wanted
to have our own family.
160
00:10:45,545 --> 00:10:47,912
She was just over the moon.
161
00:10:47,914 --> 00:10:52,050
She truly was,
to have her family together.
162
00:11:03,162 --> 00:11:06,665
Two years later, in spring 2002,
163
00:11:06,667 --> 00:11:08,466
I had my second birthday.
164
00:11:22,381 --> 00:11:24,349
Josh and I loved sports.
165
00:11:24,351 --> 00:11:25,516
We were competitive.
166
00:11:25,584 --> 00:11:26,885
We were brothers and we were
always going at it,
167
00:11:26,887 --> 00:11:29,087
always trying
to one-up each other,
168
00:11:29,089 --> 00:11:31,156
just trying to be better
than each other.
169
00:11:33,025 --> 00:11:36,327
[spectators cheering]
170
00:11:38,998 --> 00:11:42,100
My mom was always my biggest fan
171
00:11:42,102 --> 00:11:44,335
when I was playing sports
growing up.
172
00:11:44,337 --> 00:11:46,337
She would be the one
in the crowd
173
00:11:46,339 --> 00:11:48,573
cheering and screaming.
174
00:11:48,575 --> 00:11:49,708
[David speaking]
175
00:11:50,176 --> 00:11:52,243
[crowd cheering]
176
00:11:54,346 --> 00:11:56,915
[Josh] Basically sacrificing
their entire weekends,
177
00:11:56,917 --> 00:11:58,283
throughout the fall and spring,
178
00:11:58,285 --> 00:12:00,452
to make sure that we could
play every sport we wanted
179
00:12:00,454 --> 00:12:02,420
and that we didn't
miss anything.
180
00:12:04,290 --> 00:12:07,425
[narrator] Brian and Wendi fit
their busy parenting schedule
181
00:12:07,427 --> 00:12:09,527
around their full-time jobs.
182
00:12:10,830 --> 00:12:13,531
[Sandi] So, Wendi
was always hard worker.
183
00:12:13,533 --> 00:12:15,333
It was in her blood,
184
00:12:15,335 --> 00:12:20,839
and she even wanted to do
another job, and do two jobs,
185
00:12:20,841 --> 00:12:23,575
just so she would have
the money for the boys,
186
00:12:23,577 --> 00:12:30,515
and she never, ever
went without for the boys.
187
00:12:30,517 --> 00:12:33,084
It was stressful
on her, too, though,
188
00:12:33,086 --> 00:12:37,222
because she was trying
to balance her personal life,
189
00:12:37,224 --> 00:12:39,290
with her work life.
190
00:12:39,292 --> 00:12:43,328
Brian worked long hours because
he owned his own company,
191
00:12:43,330 --> 00:12:47,298
so it did put a lot of strain
on their relationship.
192
00:12:51,303 --> 00:12:53,171
[narrator] The cracks
in Wendi and Brian's marriage
193
00:12:53,173 --> 00:12:55,940
are starting to show
by Christmas 2004.
194
00:12:55,942 --> 00:12:57,175
- [Brian speaking]
- [Wendi speaking]
195
00:12:57,710 --> 00:12:58,777
[Brian speaking]
196
00:13:06,185 --> 00:13:07,819
[Sandi] They were growing apart,
197
00:13:07,821 --> 00:13:11,523
they were having, you know,
quarrels and fights
198
00:13:11,525 --> 00:13:13,758
and she didn't want the kids
to be affected.
199
00:13:14,426 --> 00:13:15,627
[woman speaking]
200
00:13:17,830 --> 00:13:19,164
Ah, that's nice.
201
00:13:20,633 --> 00:13:21,666
[Brian speaking]
202
00:13:21,668 --> 00:13:23,134
[Josh] As you're growing up,
203
00:13:23,136 --> 00:13:25,937
you don't really
understand fully
204
00:13:25,939 --> 00:13:28,807
what relationships are like.
205
00:13:28,809 --> 00:13:31,409
So, as a kid I just kinda knew
that, hey, that was my mom,
206
00:13:31,411 --> 00:13:34,846
that was my dad, they're
together, they love each other.
207
00:13:36,448 --> 00:13:38,650
In the fall of 2005,
208
00:13:38,652 --> 00:13:41,786
my parents sat my brother
Bryan and I down,
209
00:13:41,788 --> 00:13:44,956
and they told us that they
were going to get a divorce,
210
00:13:44,958 --> 00:13:46,825
and that there was going to be
211
00:13:46,827 --> 00:13:51,062
some pretty drastic changes
in our lives.
212
00:13:57,903 --> 00:13:59,704
[Wendy] I know my sister.
213
00:13:59,706 --> 00:14:03,007
She was heartbroken
about the divorce.
214
00:14:03,009 --> 00:14:04,742
It was really hard for Wendi.
215
00:14:07,146 --> 00:14:09,280
Wendi had full custody,
216
00:14:09,282 --> 00:14:11,583
but Brian
could always see the boys
217
00:14:11,585 --> 00:14:13,251
whenever he wanted to.
218
00:14:14,086 --> 00:14:15,353
It was hard.
219
00:14:15,355 --> 00:14:17,222
Hard being a single mom
with two kids,
220
00:14:17,224 --> 00:14:19,991
and taking care of a house
by herself now.
221
00:14:26,799 --> 00:14:28,666
[narrator] Wendy
puts on a brave face
222
00:14:28,668 --> 00:14:31,035
for the sake of her family.
223
00:14:31,037 --> 00:14:32,570
[Wendy] And this is a video
224
00:14:32,572 --> 00:14:35,240
of my daughter's birthday party.
225
00:14:35,574 --> 00:14:36,541
[woman speaking]
226
00:14:37,076 --> 00:14:38,209
[man speaking]
227
00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:42,914
[Wendy]
And there's my sister.
228
00:14:42,916 --> 00:14:45,016
Helping out with all the kids.
229
00:14:45,018 --> 00:14:47,986
That was right after
she had had her divorce
230
00:14:47,988 --> 00:14:51,222
and she still came.
231
00:14:51,224 --> 00:14:53,024
Happy as can be.
232
00:14:53,026 --> 00:14:54,425
Taking care of everybody.
233
00:14:56,128 --> 00:14:57,729
[man speaking]
234
00:15:00,199 --> 00:15:01,532
[man speaking]
235
00:15:12,344 --> 00:15:13,411
[man speaking]
236
00:15:17,249 --> 00:15:18,449
[man speaking]
237
00:15:20,152 --> 00:15:21,653
[laughs]
They loved her.
238
00:15:21,655 --> 00:15:23,354
They loved this.
239
00:15:25,424 --> 00:15:27,258
I just remember her laughing.
240
00:15:27,260 --> 00:15:32,463
She just loved
making people happy.
241
00:15:34,867 --> 00:15:36,067
Following the divorce,
242
00:15:36,069 --> 00:15:41,339
Wendi worked for a company
called AHA Consulting.
243
00:15:41,341 --> 00:15:45,643
I think she was just pretty
excited to start working on herself
244
00:15:45,645 --> 00:15:49,948
and to better herself as a mom
and as a human being.
245
00:15:49,950 --> 00:15:54,018
[Sandi] She worked very hard.
She started as a receptionist,
246
00:15:54,020 --> 00:15:56,087
and she worked her way up
247
00:15:56,089 --> 00:16:00,124
and she became
an accountant for them.
248
00:16:00,126 --> 00:16:03,494
Well, after Wendi
got the promotion,
249
00:16:03,496 --> 00:16:08,333
she believed
that she could do anything.
250
00:16:09,735 --> 00:16:11,002
[Josh] In 2014,
251
00:16:11,069 --> 00:16:15,306
around the time that my mom
had gotten this promotion at work,
252
00:16:15,308 --> 00:16:20,979
she moved back in with her
brother Danny, in North Andover.
253
00:16:22,314 --> 00:16:23,982
[Stacy] It was kind of
a win-win for her.
254
00:16:23,984 --> 00:16:25,850
She was able to move
back in with her brother,
255
00:16:25,852 --> 00:16:27,785
and they were able
to split the rent
256
00:16:27,787 --> 00:16:30,822
and so she was helping him
as well as herself.
257
00:16:30,824 --> 00:16:32,991
[narrator] The fresh start
prompts Wendy
258
00:16:32,993 --> 00:16:34,926
to look for love.
259
00:16:34,928 --> 00:16:37,929
My mom, like,
she dated, and I mean,
260
00:16:37,931 --> 00:16:39,964
she had a few boyfriends
from here or there
261
00:16:39,966 --> 00:16:42,500
that we had met but, you know,
262
00:16:42,502 --> 00:16:46,137
nothing really ever
stuck around long-term.
263
00:16:48,807 --> 00:16:50,441
[Sandi] I would always
ask her the next day,
264
00:16:50,443 --> 00:16:52,810
when she called me, "Hi,
how was your date last night?"
265
00:16:52,812 --> 00:16:54,612
And she would always say,
266
00:16:54,614 --> 00:16:57,115
it was good, it was bad,
indifferent,
267
00:16:57,117 --> 00:16:58,716
whatever it might be.
268
00:17:00,252 --> 00:17:03,054
In 2017, in December,
269
00:17:03,056 --> 00:17:06,024
she had called me and told me
that she had met someone.
270
00:17:06,026 --> 00:17:07,225
[narrator] Wendi's new match
271
00:17:07,227 --> 00:17:10,061
is 51-year-old Brian Chevalier,
272
00:17:10,063 --> 00:17:12,230
from Merrimack, New Hampshire.
273
00:17:12,232 --> 00:17:13,965
He works in traffic control
274
00:17:13,967 --> 00:17:16,834
for construction
and utility companies.
275
00:17:16,836 --> 00:17:18,569
[Stacy] She said, this guy Brian
276
00:17:18,571 --> 00:17:21,005
was super nice. She couldn't
wait for me to meet him
277
00:17:21,007 --> 00:17:22,440
and Wendi was like, "Oh, my God.
278
00:17:22,442 --> 00:17:24,942
He's like, the best."
Da, da, da, da, da.
279
00:17:24,944 --> 00:17:29,213
[Wendy] He looked like a
neat, put together kind of guy.
280
00:17:29,215 --> 00:17:31,149
He wore beads around his neck
281
00:17:31,151 --> 00:17:35,219
and he also wore beads
around his wrist.
282
00:17:35,221 --> 00:17:37,055
I thought it was cool,
and I thought that maybe
283
00:17:37,057 --> 00:17:38,790
he was spiritual.
284
00:17:38,792 --> 00:17:41,225
And so, if I thought
he was spiritual
285
00:17:41,227 --> 00:17:44,462
then I felt,
then maybe he is kind.
286
00:17:45,564 --> 00:17:46,998
[narrator] Brian lives at home
287
00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:49,834
to look after
his elderly mother.
288
00:17:49,836 --> 00:17:52,403
[Stacy] The fact that Brian
was caring for his mother
289
00:17:52,405 --> 00:17:55,807
was a huge factor
of why Wendi felt
290
00:17:55,809 --> 00:17:57,175
even more attracted to him.
291
00:17:57,177 --> 00:18:00,278
'Cause here's a guy
who is back at home
292
00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:02,013
taking care of his mom.
293
00:18:02,015 --> 00:18:04,415
So I definitely think Wendi,
294
00:18:04,417 --> 00:18:08,019
being in that relationship
and being a family person,
295
00:18:08,021 --> 00:18:10,354
you know, that made her
fall even harder for him.
296
00:18:11,490 --> 00:18:13,024
[Sandi] Wendi had told me
297
00:18:13,026 --> 00:18:14,926
that she felt that
this gentleman
298
00:18:14,928 --> 00:18:17,161
was fun to be with,
299
00:18:17,163 --> 00:18:20,098
like to do the things
that she did.
300
00:18:20,100 --> 00:18:21,666
He was handsome,
301
00:18:21,668 --> 00:18:25,103
that they had a great time
when they went out.
302
00:18:25,105 --> 00:18:26,337
They laughed.
303
00:18:26,371 --> 00:18:30,041
[Wendy] And she, you know,
fell in love with the fact
304
00:18:30,043 --> 00:18:31,909
that he was in love with her
305
00:18:31,911 --> 00:18:34,145
and made her feel
that special feeling.
306
00:18:42,387 --> 00:18:45,656
[Josh] In February of 2018,
307
00:18:45,658 --> 00:18:48,159
I open up Facebook,
and, lo and behold,
308
00:18:48,161 --> 00:18:53,297
the top post I see
is that my mom is engaged.
309
00:18:55,534 --> 00:18:57,235
I was like, "What?"
310
00:18:57,237 --> 00:18:58,503
Like, I...
311
00:18:58,505 --> 00:19:02,173
I didn't even know she was
dating anybody at the time.
312
00:19:02,175 --> 00:19:06,110
She was like, "I hate that
you had to find out this way,
313
00:19:06,112 --> 00:19:09,380
but I've been seeing someone
that I met online
314
00:19:09,382 --> 00:19:10,815
for about two months now,
315
00:19:10,817 --> 00:19:13,551
and we just hit it off."
316
00:19:13,553 --> 00:19:17,522
I questioned that they didn't
know each other that long,
317
00:19:17,524 --> 00:19:21,459
and is she absolutely sure
that this is the right thing?
318
00:19:21,461 --> 00:19:23,694
And she said to me, "Auntie,
319
00:19:23,696 --> 00:19:25,396
you met uncle Jimmy,
320
00:19:25,398 --> 00:19:28,833
and you married him
in a month and nine days.
321
00:19:28,835 --> 00:19:34,138
And you've been married
for over 30 years to that man,
322
00:19:34,140 --> 00:19:37,341
and I want someone
that treats me the way
323
00:19:37,343 --> 00:19:39,410
that uncle Jimmy treats you."
324
00:19:41,947 --> 00:19:46,284
[Josh] A couple days after
learning of her engagement,
325
00:19:46,286 --> 00:19:49,720
I figured I was gonna find
what he did for a career,
326
00:19:49,722 --> 00:19:52,590
and just kind of figure out
who this person was.
327
00:19:53,592 --> 00:19:55,860
The first result that came up
328
00:19:55,862 --> 00:19:57,828
was an article
329
00:19:57,830 --> 00:20:01,666
about a kidnapping
that was committed by
330
00:20:01,668 --> 00:20:03,534
a person with this name.
331
00:20:04,670 --> 00:20:06,103
And you read
through the article,
332
00:20:06,105 --> 00:20:09,340
and you see all these
different words like,
333
00:20:09,342 --> 00:20:12,944
"kidnapping" and "assault,"
334
00:20:12,946 --> 00:20:16,647
that just send chills
down your spine.
335
00:20:16,649 --> 00:20:19,083
And I remember reading it
336
00:20:19,085 --> 00:20:21,986
and being like,
there's no way. Like,
337
00:20:21,988 --> 00:20:25,122
there's gotta be many people
338
00:20:25,124 --> 00:20:27,525
in this world
with that same name.
339
00:20:27,527 --> 00:20:29,360
There's just no way.
340
00:20:33,632 --> 00:20:36,367
[narrator] Josh discovers
that in 2003,
341
00:20:36,369 --> 00:20:39,003
police in New Hampshire
charge Brian Chevalier
342
00:20:39,005 --> 00:20:42,039
with the kidnap
and sexual assault of a woman.
343
00:20:42,041 --> 00:20:46,010
A jury acquit Chevalier
of the sexual assault charge,
344
00:20:46,012 --> 00:20:48,913
but it finds him guilty
of kidnapping.
345
00:20:48,915 --> 00:20:52,950
Chevalier serves 13 years
of a 30-year sentence.
346
00:20:52,952 --> 00:20:58,122
Authorities in New Hampshire
parole him 2017.
347
00:20:58,124 --> 00:21:01,125
I called my mom later that night
348
00:21:01,127 --> 00:21:05,496
and she told me
that she was aware.
349
00:21:06,465 --> 00:21:09,066
She linked me to another article
350
00:21:09,068 --> 00:21:12,069
that showed
that he was acquitted
351
00:21:12,071 --> 00:21:14,305
of all charges
except for kidnapping
352
00:21:14,307 --> 00:21:17,441
and he said
that he was, more or less,
353
00:21:17,443 --> 00:21:19,710
falsely accused of all of this.
354
00:21:21,246 --> 00:21:23,481
[narrator]
Wendi shows her sons a letter
355
00:21:23,483 --> 00:21:25,249
signed by two police officers
356
00:21:25,251 --> 00:21:28,786
that was presented
at Chevalier's parole hearing.
357
00:21:28,788 --> 00:21:30,788
The letter states
that Brian is innocent
358
00:21:30,790 --> 00:21:32,590
of the kidnapping charge.
359
00:21:34,793 --> 00:21:36,027
[Bryan] She opens up.
360
00:21:36,029 --> 00:21:38,195
This happened to him,
361
00:21:38,197 --> 00:21:41,899
I have these papers that say
362
00:21:41,901 --> 00:21:44,101
that he didn't do it.
363
00:21:46,271 --> 00:21:47,938
[narrator] And that's
what Chevalier
364
00:21:47,940 --> 00:21:51,075
tells the parole board in 2017.
365
00:21:52,978 --> 00:21:54,578
[Chevalier speaking]
366
00:22:04,623 --> 00:22:06,324
[man speaking]
367
00:22:06,326 --> 00:22:07,525
[Chevalier speaking]
368
00:22:25,143 --> 00:22:26,677
[man speaking]
369
00:22:28,814 --> 00:22:30,414
[Chevalier speaking]
370
00:22:35,420 --> 00:22:37,221
[Sandi] And he said that
371
00:22:37,223 --> 00:22:39,390
he went before the parole board
372
00:22:39,392 --> 00:22:42,626
and told them
that he was a changed man,
373
00:22:42,628 --> 00:22:46,163
and that all's he wanted to do
was take care of his mother
374
00:22:46,165 --> 00:22:48,032
because she was very sickly,
375
00:22:48,034 --> 00:22:52,970
and he wanted to try to
re-acclimate himself into society.
376
00:22:55,073 --> 00:22:57,575
[narrator] Wendi introduces
Brian to her family
377
00:22:57,577 --> 00:23:00,978
a week after
her surprise engagement.
378
00:23:00,980 --> 00:23:03,381
[Sandi] She had called me
and told me that
379
00:23:03,383 --> 00:23:07,451
she wanted my husband and I
to meet him.
380
00:23:07,453 --> 00:23:11,922
So we agreed that she could
come over the house with him,
381
00:23:11,924 --> 00:23:15,159
and she brought little Bryan
with her also.
382
00:23:16,294 --> 00:23:19,096
He was very attentive to her.
383
00:23:19,098 --> 00:23:20,664
They were holding hands,
384
00:23:20,666 --> 00:23:24,168
he was stroking her hand
with his finger,
385
00:23:24,170 --> 00:23:32,009
the affection piece of it
that she really, really loved.
386
00:23:32,011 --> 00:23:35,079
[Bryan] My mom always liked
to see the good in people.
387
00:23:35,081 --> 00:23:37,681
So when she was dating someone,
388
00:23:37,683 --> 00:23:39,650
she would always find the good
in them,
389
00:23:39,652 --> 00:23:41,452
and she would tend to
hang onto that.
390
00:23:42,287 --> 00:23:44,155
[Sandi]
The whole conversation,
391
00:23:44,157 --> 00:23:48,192
he never looked at us once
in the eyes.
392
00:23:48,194 --> 00:23:53,197
He kept looking down,
looking at her, looking away.
393
00:23:53,199 --> 00:23:56,333
She had called me
later that evening and said,
394
00:23:56,335 --> 00:23:58,235
"What do you think of him?"
395
00:23:58,237 --> 00:24:00,037
And I honestly said to her
396
00:24:00,039 --> 00:24:04,575
that Uncle Jimmy and I
were uncomfortable with him.
397
00:24:04,577 --> 00:24:06,844
She said, "He was
really nervous, Auntie,
398
00:24:06,846 --> 00:24:11,515
I told him how important you
and Uncle Jimmy were to me,
399
00:24:11,517 --> 00:24:13,918
and how close I was to you,
400
00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:15,519
and that he had to understand
401
00:24:15,521 --> 00:24:17,521
that you were going to drill him
402
00:24:17,523 --> 00:24:19,957
and ask him questions."
403
00:24:19,959 --> 00:24:22,092
And I said, "Okay, fine."
404
00:24:23,195 --> 00:24:24,595
She fully trusted him
405
00:24:24,597 --> 00:24:27,031
and believed
that he was innocent.
406
00:24:34,606 --> 00:24:36,407
[Stacy] Wendi had
contacted me at, like,
407
00:24:36,409 --> 00:24:40,544
the beginning of March, 2018,
408
00:24:40,546 --> 00:24:44,415
that Brian
had started to change.
409
00:24:44,417 --> 00:24:47,151
He was becoming very needy,
410
00:24:47,153 --> 00:24:50,688
and constantly wanting
Wendi's attention 24-7,
411
00:24:50,690 --> 00:24:53,491
and would get upset with her
if she would choose
412
00:24:53,493 --> 00:24:56,160
to be with her friends that day,
413
00:24:56,162 --> 00:24:58,896
or go see the boys that day,
414
00:24:58,898 --> 00:25:03,033
or if she'd even come visit us
for an event.
415
00:25:03,035 --> 00:25:04,435
She said to me,
"I'm not really sure
416
00:25:04,437 --> 00:25:06,403
that this is really
gonna work out
417
00:25:06,405 --> 00:25:08,172
because he seems to be,
you know,
418
00:25:08,174 --> 00:25:11,175
really clingy and very needy."
419
00:25:11,177 --> 00:25:13,244
And she had expressed to me
420
00:25:13,246 --> 00:25:17,114
that she was willing
to work it through
421
00:25:17,116 --> 00:25:21,085
as long as he agreed
to go to counselling.
422
00:25:21,087 --> 00:25:22,820
He kept telling her
that he was gonna do it,
423
00:25:22,822 --> 00:25:24,622
he was gonna do it,
he was gonna do it,
424
00:25:24,624 --> 00:25:27,591
but then he'd blow it off.
425
00:25:27,593 --> 00:25:32,963
[narrator] Wendi calls off
the engagement in April, 2018.
426
00:25:32,965 --> 00:25:36,133
April 2, at nine o'clock
in the morning, she said,
427
00:25:36,135 --> 00:25:38,402
"I broke it off with him
this morning,
428
00:25:38,404 --> 00:25:42,239
I did it over text,
but I don't care."
429
00:25:42,241 --> 00:25:44,508
She said, "I gave back the ring,
430
00:25:44,510 --> 00:25:46,143
I told him that I really
431
00:25:46,145 --> 00:25:49,480
don't want to be engaged
to him anymore."
432
00:25:49,482 --> 00:25:52,983
[narrator] Wendi appears to
be her old bubbly self again,
433
00:25:52,985 --> 00:25:57,221
a few weeks after she ends
the relationship with Brian.
434
00:25:57,223 --> 00:26:00,691
April 14 of 2018,
435
00:26:00,693 --> 00:26:02,526
was my 40th birthday party.
436
00:26:02,528 --> 00:26:03,694
[man speaking]
437
00:26:12,037 --> 00:26:14,538
My mom, Wendi's Auntie Sandi,
438
00:26:14,540 --> 00:26:16,540
walked me through the door,
439
00:26:16,542 --> 00:26:18,542
and everybody yelled,
"Surprise!"
440
00:26:18,544 --> 00:26:21,011
And the first person to yell,
"Surprise" in my face
441
00:26:21,013 --> 00:26:23,080
that was by the door was Wendi,
442
00:26:23,082 --> 00:26:26,216
who jumped into my arms and
gave me a huge hug and a kiss.
443
00:26:27,152 --> 00:26:28,953
She was dancing with her boys,
444
00:26:28,955 --> 00:26:30,921
Joshua and Bryan were up
dancing with us.
445
00:26:30,923 --> 00:26:33,324
It was, like,
the happiest I had seen her
446
00:26:33,326 --> 00:26:35,459
since back in January.
447
00:26:35,461 --> 00:26:38,462
She just almost seemed like a weight
had been lifted off of her shoulders.
448
00:26:40,265 --> 00:26:41,498
[Josh] We danced,
449
00:26:41,500 --> 00:26:43,167
we laughed,
450
00:26:43,169 --> 00:26:47,471
and it was just,
we had a really nice time.
451
00:26:47,473 --> 00:26:52,343
But little did we know
that was going to be
452
00:26:52,345 --> 00:26:55,212
the last time
that I ever saw her in person.
453
00:26:59,718 --> 00:27:02,019
[phone rings]
454
00:27:03,021 --> 00:27:04,755
[operator speaking]
455
00:27:06,658 --> 00:27:09,026
[Breanna] North Andover Police
received a 911 call
456
00:27:09,028 --> 00:27:14,064
at half past noon
on Saturday, April 21, 2018.
457
00:27:15,166 --> 00:27:18,168
It was a man who called
North Andover Police
458
00:27:18,170 --> 00:27:22,606
to say that his sister was found
in the basement of their home.
459
00:27:23,108 --> 00:27:24,708
[Danny speaking]
460
00:27:26,978 --> 00:27:28,679
- [operator speaking]
- [Danny speaking]
461
00:27:31,516 --> 00:27:32,983
[operator speaking]
462
00:27:34,886 --> 00:27:36,353
[Danny speaking]
463
00:27:38,890 --> 00:27:40,791
[Breanna] Within minutes,
first responders
464
00:27:40,793 --> 00:27:45,329
from North Andover Police
and EMS responded to the home.
465
00:27:45,331 --> 00:27:49,933
They go down to the basement,
and they find Wendi Davidson.
466
00:27:49,935 --> 00:27:54,538
They found that Wendi
was strangled to death.
467
00:27:55,907 --> 00:28:00,077
There was a USB cord
secured with a zip tie
468
00:28:00,079 --> 00:28:01,645
around her throat.
469
00:28:04,315 --> 00:28:06,083
Wendi's brother, Danny,
had told police
470
00:28:06,085 --> 00:28:08,886
that the last time
he saw his sister
471
00:28:08,888 --> 00:28:11,221
was the previous morning,
about 6:00 am,
472
00:28:11,223 --> 00:28:13,057
before he was going to work.
473
00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:19,897
A neighbor that had lived
upstairs in this two-family home
474
00:28:19,899 --> 00:28:24,101
had gone downstairs to change
the water in a humidifier
475
00:28:24,103 --> 00:28:30,174
and that is when she made
the discovery of Wendi's body.
476
00:28:30,176 --> 00:28:34,878
Danny had told police that
he had come home from work,
477
00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:37,915
about five o'clock
the night before
478
00:28:37,917 --> 00:28:40,217
his sister's body
was discovered.
479
00:28:40,219 --> 00:28:44,321
She wasn't home, and it wasn't
anything he thought much of.
480
00:28:44,323 --> 00:28:48,025
He just assumed she was out
and he had gone to bed.
481
00:28:50,328 --> 00:28:52,496
[phone rings]
482
00:28:52,498 --> 00:28:55,532
[Josh] I answer the phone,
and it's my grandfather.
483
00:28:55,534 --> 00:28:58,335
And he says, "Josh," you know,
484
00:28:58,337 --> 00:29:00,237
I'm gonna need you
to come home."
485
00:29:04,409 --> 00:29:06,310
And he says, "Josh...
486
00:29:10,048 --> 00:29:11,582
mom's dead."
487
00:29:18,523 --> 00:29:20,491
[Wendy] I just remember
488
00:29:22,494 --> 00:29:25,662
thinking that she was
in the basement by herself.
489
00:29:26,598 --> 00:29:27,765
[sobbing]
490
00:29:31,703 --> 00:29:34,638
And I just wanted to be with her
491
00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:37,274
because I didn't believe
that she was gone.
492
00:29:46,317 --> 00:29:49,887
[Breanna] Police combing
the home for evidence
493
00:29:49,889 --> 00:29:51,555
go upstairs to Wendi's bedroom,
494
00:29:51,557 --> 00:29:57,528
and they find some blood
stains on the bed sheet.
495
00:29:57,530 --> 00:30:01,265
The evidence found upstairs
in Wendi's bedroom
496
00:30:01,267 --> 00:30:03,400
indicated that
some sort of a struggle
497
00:30:03,402 --> 00:30:05,135
had likely happened there
498
00:30:05,137 --> 00:30:09,339
before Wendi's body was moved
down to the basement.
499
00:30:09,341 --> 00:30:13,043
Missing from the scene
are Wendi's purse,
500
00:30:13,045 --> 00:30:16,780
including her bank cards,
her cell phone, her car keys.
501
00:30:18,082 --> 00:30:19,349
Once police discover
502
00:30:19,351 --> 00:30:23,120
that Wendi's white Nissan
is not in the driveway,
503
00:30:23,122 --> 00:30:25,322
they put out an alert
to local law enforcement
504
00:30:25,324 --> 00:30:28,659
to keep an eye out for it,
it may be in the area.
505
00:30:30,161 --> 00:30:32,830
Though Wendi's body
was not discovered
506
00:30:32,832 --> 00:30:35,065
until Saturday, April 21,
507
00:30:35,067 --> 00:30:37,434
the medical examiner determines
508
00:30:37,436 --> 00:30:39,102
by looking at her injuries
509
00:30:39,104 --> 00:30:41,605
that the time of death
was the day prior,
510
00:30:41,607 --> 00:30:44,474
sometime in the morning
of Friday, April 20.
511
00:30:48,813 --> 00:30:51,648
A few days
after she was killed...
512
00:30:54,085 --> 00:30:56,186
and they wrapped up
the crime scene,
513
00:30:57,088 --> 00:30:58,655
we knew we needed to go there.
514
00:30:59,924 --> 00:31:02,426
My uncle, all of his
belongings were there.
515
00:31:02,428 --> 00:31:05,696
He needed clothes,
he needed his things.
516
00:31:07,932 --> 00:31:09,533
So we go into the house,
517
00:31:12,136 --> 00:31:13,637
start walking through,
518
00:31:15,340 --> 00:31:17,574
turn into her bedroom,
519
00:31:19,210 --> 00:31:21,378
and there's blood stains
on the sheets,
520
00:31:22,680 --> 00:31:25,949
and there was beads
all over the floor.
521
00:31:27,452 --> 00:31:29,887
[Wendy] And all of a sudden,
we were standing there,
522
00:31:29,889 --> 00:31:33,290
and one of the beads
just kind of rolled out.
523
00:31:33,292 --> 00:31:36,293
And we are all standing there
like, "holy moly".
524
00:31:36,295 --> 00:31:38,595
[Josh] Immediately, we knew
525
00:31:40,899 --> 00:31:44,134
who those beads belonged to.
526
00:31:44,136 --> 00:31:48,005
[Wendy] We knew that they were
Brian Chevalier's beads.
527
00:31:50,909 --> 00:31:54,411
[Breanna] Police found Wendi's
car in a parking lot
528
00:31:54,413 --> 00:31:58,782
outside of Choice Fitness, a
gym about a mile down the street.
529
00:31:58,784 --> 00:32:01,885
They were able to request
surveillance footage
530
00:32:01,887 --> 00:32:05,289
from a restaurant
across the street.
531
00:32:05,291 --> 00:32:10,227
On the afternoon of April 20,
the day that Wendi was killed,
532
00:32:10,229 --> 00:32:13,096
about 3:25 in the afternoon,
533
00:32:13,098 --> 00:32:15,332
surveillance taken
from the restaurant
534
00:32:15,334 --> 00:32:17,134
shows a man walking
535
00:32:17,136 --> 00:32:20,103
from the direction
of Choice Fitness,
536
00:32:20,105 --> 00:32:23,607
and he was walking back towards
the direction of Wendi's home.
537
00:32:25,076 --> 00:32:28,312
The man identified
was Brian Chevalier.
538
00:32:28,314 --> 00:32:32,182
He was caught on surveillance
footage in his own vehicle,
539
00:32:32,184 --> 00:32:33,951
traveling away from the scene.
540
00:32:35,353 --> 00:32:37,120
When police obtain reports
541
00:32:37,122 --> 00:32:39,456
from Wendi's missing bank cards,
542
00:32:39,458 --> 00:32:42,426
they discover that one
of the cards had been used
543
00:32:42,428 --> 00:32:44,594
about 30 miles away
from North Andover,
544
00:32:44,596 --> 00:32:46,997
in Manchester, New Hampshire.
545
00:32:46,999 --> 00:32:51,268
A withdrawal of $503
was made at an ATM
546
00:32:51,270 --> 00:32:53,603
close to the Manchester airport.
547
00:32:55,239 --> 00:32:57,808
Police head there,
to Manchester, New Hampshire,
548
00:32:57,810 --> 00:33:01,244
where they find Brian
Chevalier's Dodge Caliber,
549
00:33:01,246 --> 00:33:03,647
behind the business.
550
00:33:03,649 --> 00:33:08,051
They find Wendi's car keys,
her cell phone,
551
00:33:08,053 --> 00:33:09,486
a package of zip ties,
552
00:33:09,488 --> 00:33:13,924
as well as a receipt
for zip ties.
553
00:33:13,926 --> 00:33:17,094
Those zip ties are said
to have very closely matched
554
00:33:17,096 --> 00:33:20,364
the type that was found
on Wendi's body.
555
00:33:20,366 --> 00:33:22,065
[narrator] Brian Chevalier
556
00:33:22,067 --> 00:33:23,967
is long gone.
557
00:33:23,969 --> 00:33:26,503
[Bryan] No one knew where
he was or what he was doing.
558
00:33:26,505 --> 00:33:29,773
When we were all gathered
at the house that afternoon,
559
00:33:29,775 --> 00:33:31,108
every time a car would drive by,
560
00:33:31,110 --> 00:33:34,311
everybody would kind of stare
at the window, just in case.
561
00:33:35,179 --> 00:33:36,213
[Wendy] What's his plan?
562
00:33:36,215 --> 00:33:37,280
What is he thinking?
563
00:33:37,282 --> 00:33:39,182
Is he angry
at the whole family now?
564
00:33:39,184 --> 00:33:40,784
Is he gonna come after us?
565
00:33:42,020 --> 00:33:45,389
[Breanna] Detectives
continuing to review
566
00:33:45,391 --> 00:33:47,324
the activity
on Wendi's bank cards
567
00:33:47,326 --> 00:33:51,495
discovered that it is used
in Mount Vernon, Missouri.
568
00:33:51,497 --> 00:33:54,164
That's at least a 22-hour drive
569
00:33:54,166 --> 00:33:57,034
from last place
that the card was used.
570
00:33:57,036 --> 00:34:01,405
On Sunday, April 22, Wendi's
bank card was used again,
571
00:34:01,407 --> 00:34:03,507
in Sonora, Texas.
572
00:34:04,442 --> 00:34:06,009
At this point,
573
00:34:06,011 --> 00:34:10,213
Brian is 2,000 miles
across the country.
574
00:34:10,215 --> 00:34:13,016
Police have an indication
575
00:34:13,018 --> 00:34:17,154
that he is likely headed
towards the border with Mexico.
576
00:34:22,260 --> 00:34:26,196
At the newspaper,
we started to research Brian.
577
00:34:26,198 --> 00:34:28,865
Even a quick search
of court records
578
00:34:28,867 --> 00:34:30,367
under Brian Chevalier's name
579
00:34:30,369 --> 00:34:32,936
indicated that he had
a criminal history
580
00:34:32,938 --> 00:34:36,640
dating back to the mid-1980s.
581
00:34:36,642 --> 00:34:40,877
Some of the details of the
cases were alarmingly similar
582
00:34:40,879 --> 00:34:44,281
to what had happened here
in North Andover.
583
00:34:45,349 --> 00:34:49,453
In 1990,
when Brian was 22 years old,
584
00:34:49,455 --> 00:34:55,492
he was arrested and charged
for suffocating a woman.
585
00:34:55,494 --> 00:34:58,528
He is accused of putting
a pillow over her face
586
00:34:58,530 --> 00:35:01,298
for up to 60 seconds at a time,
587
00:35:01,300 --> 00:35:02,599
hindering her breathing.
588
00:35:05,103 --> 00:35:07,304
Brian ended up serving
a year in jail
589
00:35:07,306 --> 00:35:10,707
for a single count
of simple assault.
590
00:35:11,909 --> 00:35:16,012
In 2003, Brian was arrested
and charged
591
00:35:16,014 --> 00:35:19,649
with aggravated sexual assault
against a separate victim,
592
00:35:19,651 --> 00:35:22,052
as well as kidnapping.
593
00:35:22,054 --> 00:35:24,621
The victim was dating
Brian Chevalier.
594
00:35:24,623 --> 00:35:26,256
They had been together
for about three months
595
00:35:26,258 --> 00:35:29,593
but she was ending
the relationship
596
00:35:29,595 --> 00:35:34,631
because of some controlling
tendencies that he had.
597
00:35:34,633 --> 00:35:39,136
She was held against her will
for 21 hours.
598
00:35:39,138 --> 00:35:44,274
At one point she reported
being duct taped to a futon
599
00:35:44,276 --> 00:35:47,344
and repeatedly
sexually assaulted.
600
00:35:47,346 --> 00:35:50,013
Brian was eventually
found guilty,
601
00:35:50,015 --> 00:35:53,283
and sentenced for the
kidnapping but was acquitted
602
00:35:53,285 --> 00:35:57,187
of the aggravated felony
of sexual assault allegations.
603
00:35:58,356 --> 00:36:01,458
The more we dug
into Brian's life,
604
00:36:01,460 --> 00:36:05,629
the more shocking
his criminal past was.
605
00:36:05,631 --> 00:36:09,766
We couldn't have imagined
how terrible it had been.
606
00:36:12,170 --> 00:36:14,905
[Josh] Friday, April 27,
607
00:36:14,907 --> 00:36:18,141
we're in the limos
on the way to the funeral.
608
00:36:18,143 --> 00:36:23,513
My grandmother gets a text
from our District Attorney,
609
00:36:23,515 --> 00:36:26,683
and he says, "We have some news.
610
00:36:26,685 --> 00:36:29,619
The person responsible
has been captured."
611
00:36:29,621 --> 00:36:32,022
[Stacy] Everybody just
started to cry.
612
00:36:32,024 --> 00:36:33,924
Oh my God, they found him.
613
00:36:33,926 --> 00:36:35,825
Like, he got caught.
614
00:36:35,827 --> 00:36:38,328
Maybe we'll get justice
for Wendi.
615
00:36:38,330 --> 00:36:40,897
[narrator] Mexican law
enforcement apprehends Brian
616
00:36:40,899 --> 00:36:44,301
shortly after he crosses
the border into Mexico.
617
00:36:44,303 --> 00:36:45,569
They hand him over
618
00:36:45,571 --> 00:36:48,038
to the Imperial County
Sheriff's Department,
619
00:36:48,040 --> 00:36:49,673
in California.
620
00:37:03,588 --> 00:37:06,656
Honestly, when he was arrested,
621
00:37:06,658 --> 00:37:09,259
I was happy, but very eager
622
00:37:09,261 --> 00:37:11,228
to get to the trial
623
00:37:11,230 --> 00:37:15,165
so that we could, you know,
put this guy away.
624
00:37:17,435 --> 00:37:19,336
[Breanna] On July 19, 2018,
625
00:37:19,338 --> 00:37:21,304
Brian Chevalier
was taken into court,
626
00:37:21,306 --> 00:37:25,375
and he pleaded not guilty
to the murder charge.
627
00:37:25,377 --> 00:37:29,446
Later that same month,
about 10 days after,
628
00:37:29,448 --> 00:37:32,315
I received a letter
in the newsroom.
629
00:37:35,253 --> 00:37:39,289
The letter is a message
to Wendi's family.
630
00:37:39,291 --> 00:37:43,593
He tells them that they should
file a wrongful death suit
631
00:37:43,595 --> 00:37:46,162
against the State
of New Hampshire.
632
00:37:46,164 --> 00:37:49,299
He essentially uses the letter
to place blame
633
00:37:49,301 --> 00:37:51,668
on the system that freed him,
634
00:37:51,670 --> 00:37:52,902
saying that he didn't receive
635
00:37:52,904 --> 00:37:55,572
the resources and the help
that he needed,
636
00:37:55,574 --> 00:37:58,541
and that he knew
he was about to break.
637
00:38:00,845 --> 00:38:04,447
I was so upset
and couldn't understand
638
00:38:04,449 --> 00:38:09,085
how a person could take
another person's life,
639
00:38:09,087 --> 00:38:11,221
especially Wendi's,
640
00:38:11,223 --> 00:38:14,624
and then turn around
and tell us, the family,
641
00:38:14,626 --> 00:38:18,495
that we should sue
the parole board
642
00:38:18,497 --> 00:38:20,263
and the State of New Hampshire
643
00:38:20,265 --> 00:38:24,934
because it was their fault
that he murdered my niece,
644
00:38:24,936 --> 00:38:27,671
that it was their fault
that he didn't get
645
00:38:27,673 --> 00:38:29,239
the help he needed.
646
00:38:29,241 --> 00:38:32,108
I was devastated by that.
647
00:38:32,110 --> 00:38:33,310
[narrator]
There's no evidence
648
00:38:33,312 --> 00:38:34,644
that the New Hampshire
Parole Board
649
00:38:34,646 --> 00:38:39,082
acted wrongfully
in Brian Chevalier's release.
650
00:38:44,488 --> 00:38:46,890
[Breanna] On December 4, 2020,
651
00:38:46,892 --> 00:38:49,225
Brian Chevalier appears in court
652
00:38:49,227 --> 00:38:52,529
and says that he is
going to change his plea
653
00:38:52,531 --> 00:38:55,465
from not guilty to guilty.
654
00:38:55,467 --> 00:38:56,933
During the plea
and sentencing hearing,
655
00:38:56,935 --> 00:38:59,336
the prosecution
lays out a timeline
656
00:38:59,338 --> 00:39:00,704
and a series of evidence
657
00:39:00,706 --> 00:39:04,007
that they planned
to present to a jury.
658
00:39:05,309 --> 00:39:10,313
On April 19, there was
a series of conversations
659
00:39:10,315 --> 00:39:12,382
between Wendi and Brian.
660
00:39:12,384 --> 00:39:15,352
Investigators learned
that in Wendi's own words,
661
00:39:15,354 --> 00:39:19,489
she described Brian
as an emotional timebomb.
662
00:39:22,093 --> 00:39:26,496
Before sunrise on the morning
of April 20,
663
00:39:26,498 --> 00:39:31,601
Brian leaves a voicemail for
his employer, quitting his job.
664
00:39:31,603 --> 00:39:34,337
Says that he is not returning.
665
00:39:34,339 --> 00:39:37,307
A few hours later at 6:49 am,
666
00:39:37,309 --> 00:39:39,075
Wendi sends Brian a message
667
00:39:39,077 --> 00:39:41,778
explaining why they can't
get back together.
668
00:39:41,780 --> 00:39:46,182
Why she believes that being
with him is not good for her.
669
00:39:46,184 --> 00:39:48,685
Cell phone records show
that Brian never responded
670
00:39:48,687 --> 00:39:51,688
to that last message
that Wendi sent him.
671
00:39:53,224 --> 00:39:56,092
Prosecutors said in court
that sometime after 6:00 am,
672
00:39:56,094 --> 00:39:58,194
Brian made the 40-minute drive
673
00:39:58,196 --> 00:39:59,462
from his home in New Hampshire,
674
00:39:59,464 --> 00:40:01,765
to Wendi's home
in North Andover.
675
00:40:03,367 --> 00:40:07,670
They say that there's a
struggle in Wendi's bedroom
676
00:40:07,672 --> 00:40:11,040
in which the beaded necklace
that he was known to wear
677
00:40:11,042 --> 00:40:12,909
was broken off of his neck,
678
00:40:12,911 --> 00:40:15,612
and broken onto the floor.
679
00:40:18,149 --> 00:40:21,651
After that, Wendi is said to
have been strangled to death
680
00:40:21,653 --> 00:40:24,788
with a USB cord
secured with a zip tie,
681
00:40:27,591 --> 00:40:30,427
and brought down
to the basement.
682
00:40:35,566 --> 00:40:38,835
[narrator] Brian flees
in Wendi's car.
683
00:40:38,837 --> 00:40:41,571
The receipt for the zip ties
that investigators find
684
00:40:41,573 --> 00:40:46,643
in Brian's own car, proves
that he planned Wendi's murder.
685
00:40:46,645 --> 00:40:48,812
Prosecutors said in court
686
00:40:48,814 --> 00:40:51,614
that the crime was premeditated.
687
00:40:51,616 --> 00:40:55,218
They believed that there was
more than enough proof
688
00:40:55,220 --> 00:40:56,286
to indicate that.
689
00:40:56,288 --> 00:40:58,555
[narrator] The judge
sentences Brian Chevalier
690
00:40:58,557 --> 00:41:02,792
to life in prison, without
the possibility of parole.
691
00:41:03,928 --> 00:41:06,796
When he pled guilty,
692
00:41:06,798 --> 00:41:10,200
I would say that for me,
personally,
693
00:41:10,202 --> 00:41:12,635
um...
694
00:41:12,637 --> 00:41:18,208
I was glad, but I was also
sad at the same time because,
695
00:41:20,177 --> 00:41:22,145
you know, he is gonna get
punished for his crime,
696
00:41:22,147 --> 00:41:25,148
but we still have to live
without her.
697
00:41:27,918 --> 00:41:31,087
[Sandi] I just miss her,
I miss her so much.
698
00:41:31,522 --> 00:41:32,956
And...
699
00:41:33,924 --> 00:41:36,960
I just feel like I was cheated
700
00:41:36,962 --> 00:41:40,697
out of the rest of my life,
701
00:41:40,699 --> 00:41:42,365
watching her grow,
702
00:41:42,367 --> 00:41:46,269
watching her see her kids grow.
703
00:41:46,271 --> 00:41:50,673
[Bryan] Even though my
mom isn't still here on this earth,
704
00:41:50,675 --> 00:41:53,209
she sits with me every day
705
00:41:53,211 --> 00:41:55,078
in this necklace I wear
around my neck,
706
00:41:55,080 --> 00:41:56,713
filled with her ashes.
707
00:41:56,715 --> 00:41:59,449
My brother and I
have matching necklaces.
708
00:41:59,451 --> 00:42:01,651
They're dolphins,
they were her favorite animal.
709
00:42:03,521 --> 00:42:06,389
[Josh] If she was here today,
710
00:42:06,391 --> 00:42:10,360
Bryan and I would just
tell her we did it.
711
00:42:14,131 --> 00:42:18,601
We got through
the most difficult thing
712
00:42:18,603 --> 00:42:22,605
that will ever happen to us
and our family.