1 00:00:03,002 --> 00:00:04,136 - I'm craig melvin, 2 00:00:04,138 --> 00:00:07,406 And this is "dateline: Secrets uncovered." 3 00:00:07,408 --> 00:00:10,142 - What she saw was a nightmare. 4 00:00:10,144 --> 00:00:11,443 She screamed and she yelled 5 00:00:11,445 --> 00:00:15,013 And she cried. It's terrible. 6 00:00:15,015 --> 00:00:17,015 Did she fall down the steps? 7 00:00:17,017 --> 00:00:19,885 No one was thinking someone did this to her, 8 00:00:19,887 --> 00:00:21,887 But did someone do this to her? 9 00:00:21,889 --> 00:00:25,490 It just unraveled from that moment on. 10 00:00:25,492 --> 00:00:28,293 - The fashionista with red lipstick. 11 00:00:28,295 --> 00:00:30,162 She meant the world to me. 12 00:00:30,164 --> 00:00:31,563 - When she walked into a room, 13 00:00:31,565 --> 00:00:33,999 It was like a movie star walked in. 14 00:00:34,001 --> 00:00:36,768 - Corporate executive, caring mom, 15 00:00:36,770 --> 00:00:38,570 A million-dollar smile, 16 00:00:38,572 --> 00:00:41,073 And a $4 million estate. 17 00:00:44,311 --> 00:00:45,243 - Murder. 18 00:00:45,245 --> 00:00:46,712 - I went screaming out of the house. 19 00:00:46,714 --> 00:00:49,214 - This was a prominent woman, murdered in her home, 20 00:00:49,216 --> 00:00:50,248 Late at night. 21 00:00:50,250 --> 00:00:51,650 - Almost certainly someone she knew. 22 00:00:51,652 --> 00:00:53,919 - Correct. - Where would it lead? 23 00:00:53,921 --> 00:00:57,523 A twisted case of betrayal and greed. 24 00:00:57,525 --> 00:00:59,124 - The finger's being pointed at me. 25 00:00:59,126 --> 00:01:02,594 - Her own daughter, a suspect from the start. 26 00:01:02,596 --> 00:01:05,397 - You pull the knife out and you tell the police, 27 00:01:05,399 --> 00:01:08,200 "oh, you're gonna find my fingerprints on the knife." 28 00:01:08,202 --> 00:01:11,537 - Her son-in-law, who seemed so devoted. 29 00:01:11,539 --> 00:01:14,840 - They interrogated us for eight hours. 30 00:01:14,842 --> 00:01:18,744 - Or maybe someone else with a million-dollar motive. 31 00:01:18,746 --> 00:01:19,744 - What's going on here? 32 00:01:19,746 --> 00:01:21,680 How many people were involved in this? 33 00:01:21,682 --> 00:01:22,814 - Devious. 34 00:01:22,816 --> 00:01:24,182 Devious as an evil mind. 35 00:01:24,184 --> 00:01:26,318 - Someone just doesn't turn into a murderer. 36 00:01:26,320 --> 00:01:34,226 ♪♪ 37 00:01:34,228 --> 00:01:37,896 - Hello, and welcome to "dateline: Secrets uncovered." 38 00:01:37,898 --> 00:01:41,433 Peggy nadell had a successful career 39 00:01:41,435 --> 00:01:44,769 Behind her, and two grandchildren she adored. 40 00:01:44,771 --> 00:01:48,473 Then she was found brutally murdered in her home. 41 00:01:48,475 --> 00:01:51,844 Police quickly focused on one person 42 00:01:51,846 --> 00:01:54,613 Who clearly benefited from the wealthy widow's death. 43 00:01:54,615 --> 00:01:56,648 But, to catch the killer, 44 00:01:56,650 --> 00:02:00,051 Investigators would be forced to unravel 45 00:02:00,053 --> 00:02:02,721 A complicated web of lies 46 00:02:02,723 --> 00:02:06,125 Until a family's dark secret 47 00:02:06,127 --> 00:02:08,127 Was finally revealed. 48 00:02:08,129 --> 00:02:11,430 Here's josh mankiewicz with "the evil to come." 49 00:02:13,534 --> 00:02:17,802 - It was hard to look away when peggy was in the picture. 50 00:02:17,804 --> 00:02:20,505 Her beauty was captivating. 51 00:02:20,507 --> 00:02:23,842 But she was also smart, ambitious, 52 00:02:23,844 --> 00:02:26,011 And she loved that little girl. 53 00:02:26,013 --> 00:02:28,914 Peggy nadell's image survives in home movies 54 00:02:28,916 --> 00:02:31,283 And in memory, from the days when 55 00:02:31,285 --> 00:02:34,085 She was relishing motherhood, 56 00:02:34,087 --> 00:02:37,189 Blissfully unaware... 57 00:02:37,191 --> 00:02:40,025 Of the evil to come. 58 00:02:40,027 --> 00:02:42,227 - I was always close with my mother. 59 00:02:42,229 --> 00:02:44,629 Always. 60 00:02:44,631 --> 00:02:47,866 - Susanne nadell-scaccio was that little girl, 61 00:02:47,868 --> 00:02:49,167 And says her mom, peggy, 62 00:02:49,169 --> 00:02:52,671 Was everything a mother should be. 63 00:02:52,673 --> 00:02:54,573 - As a child, I ice skated, 64 00:02:54,575 --> 00:02:57,042 My mother would sit in the rink... 65 00:02:57,044 --> 00:02:59,444 And freeze. She'd sit there with a coat on, 66 00:02:59,446 --> 00:03:01,246 All bundled up, shivering. 67 00:03:01,248 --> 00:03:03,315 - Susanne and her younger brother, jim, 68 00:03:03,317 --> 00:03:05,917 Grew up in suburban rockland county, 69 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:08,587 About 45 minutes north of new york city. 70 00:03:08,589 --> 00:03:11,890 - We were able to go away to sleepaway camp 71 00:03:11,892 --> 00:03:13,091 When we were little. 72 00:03:13,093 --> 00:03:14,926 My parents traveled. 73 00:03:14,928 --> 00:03:18,863 - At first, peggy did what many women did in the 1960s: 74 00:03:18,865 --> 00:03:21,333 She stayed at home while her husband, rob, 75 00:03:21,335 --> 00:03:22,801 Headed off to work. 76 00:03:22,803 --> 00:03:25,270 But peggy was drawn to something bigger 77 00:03:25,272 --> 00:03:27,806 Than her suburban sanctuary. 78 00:03:27,808 --> 00:03:31,109 When susanne was young, her mom was back in school, 79 00:03:31,111 --> 00:03:33,378 Earning her mba. 80 00:03:33,380 --> 00:03:36,481 - She was probably one of the few women in the-- 81 00:03:36,483 --> 00:03:37,949 In the graduating class. 82 00:03:37,951 --> 00:03:39,084 - And then went into a man's business. 83 00:03:39,086 --> 00:03:40,318 - And then went into a man's business, 84 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:41,786 And worked very hard. 85 00:03:41,788 --> 00:03:44,689 - Much like the fictional character peggy olsen 86 00:03:44,691 --> 00:03:47,025 In the hit series "mad men." 87 00:03:47,027 --> 00:03:48,326 The real-life peggy 88 00:03:48,328 --> 00:03:51,563 Broke the glass ceiling at xerox 89 00:03:51,565 --> 00:03:56,201 And became a rare member of the executive boys' club. 90 00:03:56,203 --> 00:03:58,637 Ann martin was in that club, too. 91 00:03:58,639 --> 00:04:01,573 - We didn't have too many female managers, 92 00:04:01,575 --> 00:04:04,109 And peggy, she rose very quickly 93 00:04:04,111 --> 00:04:06,611 Because she was very intelligent. 94 00:04:06,613 --> 00:04:09,281 - And always well-dressed. 95 00:04:09,283 --> 00:04:11,316 - Peggy wore a lot of black. 96 00:04:11,318 --> 00:04:15,320 She loved to dress and wear the latest fashions. 97 00:04:15,322 --> 00:04:17,255 - Unlike her fashionable mom, 98 00:04:17,257 --> 00:04:20,659 Susanne was a blue jeans and t-shirt kind of girl. 99 00:04:20,661 --> 00:04:22,360 - Susanne? 100 00:04:22,362 --> 00:04:23,928 How do you explain susanne? 101 00:04:23,930 --> 00:04:25,163 She's quirky. 102 00:04:25,165 --> 00:04:26,398 She's outgoing. 103 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:28,099 She's athletic. 104 00:04:28,101 --> 00:04:31,069 - Darcy greenburg is one of susanne's best friends. 105 00:04:31,071 --> 00:04:33,438 - She's spontaneous. 106 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:35,307 She's talkative. 107 00:04:35,309 --> 00:04:38,743 She also likes to be close to home. 108 00:04:38,745 --> 00:04:41,747 - After college, she came back to rockland county 109 00:04:41,749 --> 00:04:44,549 And went to work at xerox herself. 110 00:04:44,551 --> 00:04:45,950 One night in a bar, 111 00:04:45,952 --> 00:04:49,287 Susanne, then 21, fell for-- 112 00:04:49,289 --> 00:04:53,758 Well, actually, fell over a 17-year-old racecar driver 113 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:55,060 Named bobby scaccio. 114 00:04:55,062 --> 00:04:57,495 - She actually s-- dis-- stepped on me. 115 00:04:57,497 --> 00:04:59,731 I was-- we were fooling around, and I somehow 116 00:04:59,733 --> 00:05:01,433 Wound up f-- slipping on the floor. 117 00:05:01,435 --> 00:05:05,904 She's picking me up, then, uh, we saw each other, 118 00:05:05,906 --> 00:05:09,974 And, uh, started talking. 119 00:05:09,976 --> 00:05:12,844 - Thirteen years later, susanne and bobby, 120 00:05:12,846 --> 00:05:15,447 Who was, by then, a welder and steamfitter, 121 00:05:15,449 --> 00:05:16,982 Were married. 122 00:05:16,984 --> 00:05:19,184 Peggy was okay about it. 123 00:05:19,186 --> 00:05:21,119 - It's not unreasonable to believe that maybe she was 124 00:05:21,121 --> 00:05:23,188 Kinda hoping that her daughter would marry a guy 125 00:05:23,190 --> 00:05:24,289 Who wore a suit to work. 126 00:05:24,291 --> 00:05:26,725 - I think so, I think, uh, yeah, I think she was 127 00:05:26,727 --> 00:05:29,594 Hoping for a harvard son-in-law, but she got 128 00:05:29,596 --> 00:05:31,329 A son-in-law from the-- 129 00:05:31,331 --> 00:05:34,399 That went to the school of hard knocks, you know. 130 00:05:34,401 --> 00:05:36,468 - Bobby made a good son-in-law. 131 00:05:36,470 --> 00:05:38,336 He was always there for peggy, 132 00:05:38,338 --> 00:05:42,340 Especially after her husband died in 2003. 133 00:05:42,342 --> 00:05:46,311 By then, peggy was retired, but never slowed down, 134 00:05:46,313 --> 00:05:50,448 Traveling the world and treasuring her family. 135 00:05:50,450 --> 00:05:53,485 Her son, jim, was now a psychologist living in florida 136 00:05:53,487 --> 00:05:57,021 With his wife diana and their two children. 137 00:05:57,023 --> 00:05:59,124 I get the sense that jim was not as close 138 00:05:59,126 --> 00:06:01,226 To your parents as you were. 139 00:06:01,228 --> 00:06:02,627 - I'll agree to that. 140 00:06:02,629 --> 00:06:04,596 - A-and why would that be? 141 00:06:04,598 --> 00:06:06,865 - Maybe because of the distance, 142 00:06:06,867 --> 00:06:08,233 That he was... 143 00:06:08,235 --> 00:06:09,634 So far away. 144 00:06:09,636 --> 00:06:11,936 He did call, he did speak to them, 145 00:06:11,938 --> 00:06:13,839 But my brother is my brother. 146 00:06:13,841 --> 00:06:15,673 He kind of lived in his own world. 147 00:06:15,675 --> 00:06:17,442 - But susanne and her mom 148 00:06:17,444 --> 00:06:20,178 Were very much in the same world. 149 00:06:20,180 --> 00:06:21,813 How often did you see your mother? 150 00:06:21,815 --> 00:06:23,281 - Every-- almost every day. 151 00:06:23,283 --> 00:06:25,784 - Susanne, always on the road for her work 152 00:06:25,786 --> 00:06:27,986 As marketer for a hospital, 153 00:06:27,988 --> 00:06:30,488 Would often drop in on her mom. 154 00:06:30,490 --> 00:06:33,458 And when she wasn't visiting, she'd be calling. 155 00:06:33,460 --> 00:06:34,893 - Speak to her in the afternoon, 156 00:06:34,895 --> 00:06:36,628 In the evening, make sure she was home. 157 00:06:36,630 --> 00:06:38,596 - So it's almost like you were sort of the parent 158 00:06:38,598 --> 00:06:39,998 And she was the kid. 159 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:42,367 You were checking up on her-- - oh, absolutely. 160 00:06:42,369 --> 00:06:44,636 - Life was good for this family, 161 00:06:44,638 --> 00:06:48,273 Until one morning in January of 2014. 162 00:06:48,275 --> 00:06:51,009 Susanne went to check on her mother. 163 00:06:51,011 --> 00:06:53,545 - Oh my god! Oh my god! 164 00:06:53,547 --> 00:06:54,946 Oh my god! Oh my-- 165 00:06:54,948 --> 00:06:57,148 I need an ambulance right away! 166 00:06:57,150 --> 00:06:59,217 - And everything changed. 167 00:07:02,022 --> 00:07:03,721 - I was screaming. 168 00:07:03,723 --> 00:07:06,791 - Susanne is in the driveway, looking rather frazzled. 169 00:07:06,793 --> 00:07:08,760 - The first thought was "oh my god, 170 00:07:08,762 --> 00:07:11,029 "she tripped and she must've hit her head." 171 00:07:11,031 --> 00:07:12,797 - No way did she fall down the stairs. 172 00:07:12,799 --> 00:07:16,301 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 173 00:07:19,839 --> 00:07:24,709 ♪♪ 174 00:07:24,711 --> 00:07:27,779 - Saturday, January 25th, 2014 175 00:07:27,781 --> 00:07:30,515 Started off cold and snowing. 176 00:07:30,517 --> 00:07:34,185 Susanne says her day started off as it nearly always did... 177 00:07:34,187 --> 00:07:36,454 Calling her mother, peggy. 178 00:07:36,456 --> 00:07:38,723 - Called the cell, she didn't answer. 179 00:07:38,725 --> 00:07:40,692 I called the house, she didn't answer. 180 00:07:40,694 --> 00:07:42,427 I said, all right, maybe she's in the bathroom 181 00:07:42,429 --> 00:07:45,263 Or she went out into the garage for something. 182 00:07:45,265 --> 00:07:48,032 - Susanne, who lives in a suburb of new york city, 183 00:07:48,034 --> 00:07:49,935 Called diana, her sister-in-law, 184 00:07:49,937 --> 00:07:51,202 In florida. 185 00:07:51,204 --> 00:07:53,405 - And I said "have you spoken with mommy this morning?" 186 00:07:53,407 --> 00:07:55,674 She says "you know, I called her at 7:30 187 00:07:55,676 --> 00:07:57,775 "and I haven't heard back from her." 188 00:07:57,777 --> 00:08:00,078 - Now worried, susanne got in her car 189 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:02,213 And drove to peggy's house. 190 00:08:02,215 --> 00:08:03,815 - As I'm driving, I'm calling the house, 191 00:08:03,817 --> 00:08:05,416 The cell, the house, the cell, 192 00:08:05,418 --> 00:08:07,819 No answer, and now I'm getting panicky. 193 00:08:07,821 --> 00:08:10,455 I pull into her driveway 194 00:08:10,457 --> 00:08:12,857 And I saw the roof of her car 195 00:08:12,859 --> 00:08:14,292 Through the garage door. 196 00:08:14,294 --> 00:08:17,028 And I said "oh, this is not gonna be good." 197 00:08:17,030 --> 00:08:18,363 - She was right. 198 00:08:18,365 --> 00:08:20,232 Susanne says she found peggy 199 00:08:20,234 --> 00:08:22,767 Crumpled at the bottom of the stairs 200 00:08:22,769 --> 00:08:26,104 With a knife in her chest. 201 00:08:26,106 --> 00:08:28,507 - And the first thought was, "oh my god, 202 00:08:28,509 --> 00:08:31,376 "she tripped on the cat and fell and stuck herself." 203 00:08:31,378 --> 00:08:34,879 - Then, she says, she saw the blood. 204 00:08:34,881 --> 00:08:36,848 - And I said "oh my god, she musta hit her head 205 00:08:36,850 --> 00:08:37,849 "when she fell." 206 00:08:37,851 --> 00:08:39,984 - And then, susanne did something 207 00:08:39,986 --> 00:08:43,254 That would later raise a number of questions. 208 00:08:43,256 --> 00:08:45,390 - I pulled a knife, I was gonna do cpr. 209 00:08:45,392 --> 00:08:46,791 - You pulled the knife out of her. 210 00:08:46,793 --> 00:08:48,459 - Yeah. If your mother was laying there 211 00:08:48,461 --> 00:08:49,594 With something sticking out of her 212 00:08:49,596 --> 00:08:52,230 That was hurting her, what would you do? 213 00:08:52,232 --> 00:08:53,865 You wanna make that hurt go away. 214 00:08:53,867 --> 00:08:56,535 - Could you tell whether she was dead or alive? 215 00:08:56,537 --> 00:08:57,969 - When I touched her neck, 216 00:08:57,971 --> 00:08:59,704 And it-- and she was kinda cold. 217 00:09:01,074 --> 00:09:03,942 - Susanne ran out of the house and called 911. 218 00:09:08,114 --> 00:09:09,881 - I was screaming. 219 00:09:09,883 --> 00:09:12,951 I'm sure the neighbors that were around heard. 220 00:09:21,695 --> 00:09:24,095 - Susanne was right about one thing... 221 00:09:24,097 --> 00:09:26,698 Peggy nadell was dead. 222 00:09:26,700 --> 00:09:29,767 Her next call was to her brother jim, in florida. 223 00:09:29,769 --> 00:09:31,502 - I called my brother's house. 224 00:09:31,504 --> 00:09:34,138 He didn't answer, I called diana on her cell, 225 00:09:34,140 --> 00:09:36,174 And I said, "mommy's gone." 226 00:09:36,176 --> 00:09:38,042 And she started screaming 227 00:09:38,044 --> 00:09:38,943 At the other end of the phone. 228 00:09:38,945 --> 00:09:40,411 "what do you mean, mommy's gone?" 229 00:09:40,413 --> 00:09:41,646 I said "she's gone, she died, 230 00:09:41,648 --> 00:09:43,448 "something happened. She died." 231 00:09:43,450 --> 00:09:46,784 - Soon, clarkstown police detectives steven cole-hatchard 232 00:09:46,786 --> 00:09:49,621 And earl lawrence were on the scene. 233 00:09:49,623 --> 00:09:52,523 They noticed that susanne looked a wreck, 234 00:09:52,525 --> 00:09:55,393 Standing in front of the house in the snow. 235 00:09:55,395 --> 00:09:58,062 - Susanne is in the driveway, at the foot of the driveway, 236 00:09:58,064 --> 00:10:00,865 Kind of pacing, looking rather frazzled. 237 00:10:00,867 --> 00:10:04,535 - She told detectives what she'd told the 911 operators-- 238 00:10:04,537 --> 00:10:07,138 That peggy tripped over the cat. 239 00:10:07,140 --> 00:10:11,542 - Her mother must've, uh, tumbled down the stairs 240 00:10:11,544 --> 00:10:13,411 And stabbed herself with the knife. 241 00:10:13,413 --> 00:10:15,880 - While detective cole-hatchard stayed outside 242 00:10:15,882 --> 00:10:17,281 With susanne, 243 00:10:17,283 --> 00:10:19,817 Detective lawrence went inside the house. 244 00:10:19,819 --> 00:10:22,220 This is police video of the scene, 245 00:10:22,222 --> 00:10:24,455 Taken that morning. 246 00:10:24,457 --> 00:10:28,360 Lawrence knew right away, this was no accident. 247 00:10:28,362 --> 00:10:29,927 - No way did she fall down the stairs 248 00:10:29,929 --> 00:10:31,429 And trip over a cat. 249 00:10:31,431 --> 00:10:34,633 - Detective lawrence saw peggy had been strangled, 250 00:10:34,635 --> 00:10:36,367 Then stabbed. 251 00:10:36,369 --> 00:10:38,436 And it also looked as if she'd been beaten 252 00:10:38,438 --> 00:10:42,073 With a statue head found under her body, 253 00:10:42,075 --> 00:10:45,276 And a gold metal ball near her hand. 254 00:10:45,278 --> 00:10:48,913 - The crime scene itself was very concentrated. 255 00:10:48,915 --> 00:10:51,115 Everything was at the bottom of the stairs, 256 00:10:51,117 --> 00:10:53,418 And in the bedroom upstairs. 257 00:10:53,420 --> 00:10:55,987 - Something else caught the detectives' attention... 258 00:10:55,989 --> 00:10:59,057 Two chairs were pulled out of the kitchen table, 259 00:10:59,059 --> 00:11:02,794 As if peggy had been sitting and talking with someone. 260 00:11:02,796 --> 00:11:06,597 Peggy's computer, wallet, and jewelry were missing, 261 00:11:06,599 --> 00:11:08,633 A jewelry box lay near a chair 262 00:11:08,635 --> 00:11:11,269 In the living room, empty. 263 00:11:11,271 --> 00:11:15,006 But to earl lawrence, the burglary looked phony. 264 00:11:15,008 --> 00:11:16,141 Staged. 265 00:11:16,143 --> 00:11:17,575 - Uh, the bedroom drawers, 266 00:11:17,577 --> 00:11:18,876 They were neatly pulled out, 267 00:11:18,878 --> 00:11:20,545 And neatly placed on the floor 268 00:11:20,547 --> 00:11:21,746 In front of the dresser. 269 00:11:21,748 --> 00:11:24,649 At normal burglary scenes, stuff is everywhere. 270 00:11:24,651 --> 00:11:25,884 - People go through it like a tornado. 271 00:11:25,886 --> 00:11:26,951 - Correct. 272 00:11:26,953 --> 00:11:29,454 - And this wasn't a break-and-enter job. 273 00:11:29,456 --> 00:11:30,488 Police could tell that 274 00:11:30,490 --> 00:11:32,090 When they looked at the fresh snow 275 00:11:32,092 --> 00:11:34,025 Outside the house. 276 00:11:34,027 --> 00:11:35,326 - There was one set of footprints, 277 00:11:35,328 --> 00:11:36,695 And that was the responding officer 278 00:11:36,697 --> 00:11:38,262 Checking the perimeter of the home. 279 00:11:38,264 --> 00:11:40,832 - So, nothing suggesting that somebody had walked around, 280 00:11:40,834 --> 00:11:42,233 Cased the place, looked to see who was in. 281 00:11:42,235 --> 00:11:43,968 - Not a thing. 282 00:11:43,970 --> 00:11:47,905 - The front door hadn't been jimmied or broken in. 283 00:11:47,907 --> 00:11:50,308 - Which key in the deadbolt in the front door 284 00:11:50,310 --> 00:11:52,910 That's required to open the door from the inside, 285 00:11:52,912 --> 00:11:55,646 And that was in the lock. 286 00:11:55,648 --> 00:11:57,582 - Meaning, peggy had unlocked it from inside. 287 00:11:57,584 --> 00:11:58,583 - Peggy unlock-- correct. 288 00:11:58,585 --> 00:12:00,852 - That afternoon, detectives brought susanne 289 00:12:00,854 --> 00:12:03,788 And her husband, bobby, to the police station 290 00:12:03,790 --> 00:12:05,523 And started asking questions. 291 00:12:08,261 --> 00:12:10,528 - Susanne told them contractors had been doing work 292 00:12:10,530 --> 00:12:12,063 On peggy's bathroom, 293 00:12:12,065 --> 00:12:14,432 And that peggy also had landscapers 294 00:12:14,434 --> 00:12:17,268 And a cleaning woman working for her. 295 00:12:17,270 --> 00:12:19,871 I'm guessing you guys spent some significant time 296 00:12:19,873 --> 00:12:21,472 And effort running down all the people 297 00:12:21,474 --> 00:12:23,241 Who had worked on the house. - Absolutely. 298 00:12:23,243 --> 00:12:25,643 - Any of that go anywhere? 299 00:12:25,645 --> 00:12:28,546 - Dozens of people, not a thing. 300 00:12:28,548 --> 00:12:31,015 - Who would wanna kill peggy nadell? 301 00:12:31,017 --> 00:12:32,750 And why? 302 00:12:32,752 --> 00:12:36,488 Richard moran, then a rockland county assistant d.A., 303 00:12:36,490 --> 00:12:39,490 Thought he had an answer for that second question. 304 00:12:39,492 --> 00:12:40,992 Financially, she was in pretty good shape. 305 00:12:40,994 --> 00:12:42,494 - Uh, very good shape. 306 00:12:42,496 --> 00:12:44,362 - Peggy and her late husband 307 00:12:44,364 --> 00:12:47,432 Had built quite a large nest egg. 308 00:12:47,434 --> 00:12:48,766 - All in all, the estate ended up being worth 309 00:12:48,768 --> 00:12:51,235 About $4 million. - Wow. 310 00:12:51,237 --> 00:12:53,371 You've probably seen people killed for a lot less. 311 00:12:53,373 --> 00:12:54,506 - A lot less. 312 00:12:54,508 --> 00:12:56,641 - And who would stand to benefit? 313 00:12:59,846 --> 00:13:02,113 - A closer look at susanne. 314 00:13:02,115 --> 00:13:03,548 - You pull the knife out, 315 00:13:03,550 --> 00:13:05,550 And you tell the police right away, 316 00:13:05,552 --> 00:13:07,051 "oh, you're gonna find my fingerprints 317 00:13:07,053 --> 00:13:08,452 "on the knife." 318 00:13:08,454 --> 00:13:11,122 - A few million motives for murder? 319 00:13:11,124 --> 00:13:13,191 - My mother's worth high seven figures. 320 00:13:13,193 --> 00:13:14,592 - This is not the way I wanted to get my money. 321 00:13:14,594 --> 00:13:15,426 - My money. 322 00:13:15,428 --> 00:13:17,195 - That's the exact words she used. 323 00:13:17,197 --> 00:13:20,899 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 324 00:13:23,869 --> 00:13:29,440 ♪♪ 325 00:13:29,442 --> 00:13:31,709 - Peggy nadell had been murdered in her home 326 00:13:31,711 --> 00:13:34,545 In suburban rockland county, new york. 327 00:13:34,547 --> 00:13:37,582 Detectives steven cole-hatchard and earl lawrence 328 00:13:37,584 --> 00:13:39,617 Say the team from the crime lab 329 00:13:39,619 --> 00:13:42,787 Had shaken peggy's house to its foundation 330 00:13:42,789 --> 00:13:44,622 Looking for a lead. 331 00:13:44,624 --> 00:13:48,226 Forensically, you guys got almost nothing off the scene. 332 00:13:48,228 --> 00:13:50,294 - Not almost nothing. 333 00:13:50,296 --> 00:13:51,362 Nothing. 334 00:13:51,364 --> 00:13:52,831 - No fingerprints. 335 00:13:52,833 --> 00:13:54,299 - No fingerprints. - No dna. 336 00:13:54,301 --> 00:13:57,602 - No dna. - No blood, no hair. 337 00:13:57,604 --> 00:13:58,703 Nothing. 338 00:13:58,705 --> 00:14:01,639 - But the scene did tell them something. 339 00:14:01,641 --> 00:14:05,376 - I felt very early on that it was most likely 340 00:14:05,378 --> 00:14:08,045 A-a female, or two females. 341 00:14:08,047 --> 00:14:10,281 - What pointed to it being women? 342 00:14:10,283 --> 00:14:14,452 - The fact that there was seven or eight lacerations 343 00:14:14,454 --> 00:14:17,655 On peggy's skull from the statue head. 344 00:14:17,657 --> 00:14:19,457 - That statue is heavy, 345 00:14:19,459 --> 00:14:22,460 An effective weapon in strong hands. 346 00:14:22,462 --> 00:14:23,795 - My non-medical opinion is that, 347 00:14:23,797 --> 00:14:28,199 If she was hit in the head with that statuette by a man, 348 00:14:28,201 --> 00:14:29,533 Her head would've caved in. 349 00:14:29,535 --> 00:14:31,869 - A man would've been able to swing the statue head harder. 350 00:14:31,871 --> 00:14:34,572 - One or two times, at the most. 351 00:14:34,574 --> 00:14:37,808 - And all of that pointed straight to peggy's daughter, 352 00:14:37,810 --> 00:14:39,277 Susanne. 353 00:14:39,279 --> 00:14:41,145 Not only did susanne stand to inherit 354 00:14:41,147 --> 00:14:43,881 Half of her mother's $4 million estate, 355 00:14:43,883 --> 00:14:46,984 Detectives thought her behavior was suspicious 356 00:14:46,986 --> 00:14:49,420 From the moment they arrived on the scene. 357 00:14:49,422 --> 00:14:52,089 - She's saying "my fingerprints are all over the knife, 358 00:14:52,091 --> 00:14:54,892 "my dna is all over inside the house." 359 00:14:54,894 --> 00:14:57,028 - And she was telling detectives the same thing 360 00:14:57,030 --> 00:14:59,163 She said during the 911 call: 361 00:14:59,165 --> 00:15:00,498 That it was an accident. 362 00:15:05,405 --> 00:15:07,371 - In the 911 call, 363 00:15:07,373 --> 00:15:11,042 You are offering a theory of what happened. 364 00:15:11,044 --> 00:15:12,376 That's very unusual. 365 00:15:12,378 --> 00:15:13,711 - No, like, that she fell. 366 00:15:13,713 --> 00:15:16,514 - Secondly, you pull the knife out 367 00:15:16,516 --> 00:15:18,516 And you tell the police right away, 368 00:15:18,518 --> 00:15:21,586 "oh, you're gonna find my fingerprints on the knife," 369 00:15:21,588 --> 00:15:24,188 Which sounds like somebody who's thinking ahead 370 00:15:24,190 --> 00:15:25,990 To the fact that that knife's gonna get dusted 371 00:15:25,992 --> 00:15:28,393 For fingerprints. - Sure, sure. 372 00:15:28,395 --> 00:15:31,162 - Would you not agree that all of that is pretty suspicious 373 00:15:31,164 --> 00:15:32,596 When taken together? 374 00:15:32,598 --> 00:15:36,334 - Maybe to them. Wasn't to me. 375 00:15:36,336 --> 00:15:40,338 I mean, obviously they formed an opinion 376 00:15:40,340 --> 00:15:42,373 From the get-go. 377 00:15:42,375 --> 00:15:45,142 - Detectives thought this was odd as well. 378 00:15:45,144 --> 00:15:46,811 - She said "listen, maybe this was a burglary. 379 00:15:46,813 --> 00:15:51,215 Check for a large ring, a laptop, and jewelry." 380 00:15:51,217 --> 00:15:52,683 And I call in to earl, and I said, 381 00:15:52,685 --> 00:15:54,953 "earl, check for those three things." 382 00:15:54,955 --> 00:15:56,821 He called me back and said "hey, 383 00:15:56,823 --> 00:15:59,223 "pretty much those are the only three things missing." 384 00:15:59,225 --> 00:16:02,426 - Then, again, in those first few moments, 385 00:16:02,428 --> 00:16:06,030 Susanne started talking about peggy's money. 386 00:16:06,032 --> 00:16:07,632 - One of the things she yelled out was, uh, 387 00:16:07,634 --> 00:16:09,767 "my mother's worth high seven figures." 388 00:16:09,769 --> 00:16:10,835 - And... 389 00:16:10,837 --> 00:16:13,504 - "this is not the way I wanted to get my money." 390 00:16:13,506 --> 00:16:15,373 That's the exact words she used. 391 00:16:15,375 --> 00:16:18,309 - Someone wants to talk her way right into sing sing. 392 00:16:18,311 --> 00:16:21,312 - Yeah. Absolutely. 393 00:16:21,314 --> 00:16:22,847 - At one point, you said, 394 00:16:22,849 --> 00:16:26,283 "this is not how I wanted to get my money"? 395 00:16:26,285 --> 00:16:28,652 - I don't recall saying that. 396 00:16:28,654 --> 00:16:31,055 But if they have that on, you know, on record-- 397 00:16:31,057 --> 00:16:34,291 - But you believe me that that's what you told police. 398 00:16:34,293 --> 00:16:37,395 - Yeah. - Because, again, 399 00:16:37,397 --> 00:16:39,930 You're answering a question police haven't even asked yet. 400 00:16:39,932 --> 00:16:41,665 - Mmm-hmm. 401 00:16:41,667 --> 00:16:44,802 I guess I watch too many of those "dateline" shows 402 00:16:44,804 --> 00:16:46,837 In the middle of the night. 403 00:16:46,839 --> 00:16:48,939 - Detectives had already talked with susanne 404 00:16:48,941 --> 00:16:51,542 And her husband, bobby, on the day of the murder, 405 00:16:51,544 --> 00:16:54,011 Questioned them for hours. 406 00:16:54,013 --> 00:16:56,013 But you had nothing to worry about. 407 00:16:56,015 --> 00:16:58,883 - No, no, not at all. Not at all. 408 00:16:58,885 --> 00:17:01,552 F-farthest thing from my mind is that I would be a suspect, 409 00:17:01,554 --> 00:17:03,287 Or my wife would be a suspect. 410 00:17:03,289 --> 00:17:05,423 - Police were feeling differently, 411 00:17:05,425 --> 00:17:08,092 And as their scrutiny intensified, 412 00:17:08,094 --> 00:17:10,961 Bobby and susanne decided to hire an attorney 413 00:17:10,963 --> 00:17:13,831 And stop talking to police. 414 00:17:13,833 --> 00:17:15,800 Assistant district attorney richard moran 415 00:17:15,802 --> 00:17:19,236 Said that slowed everything down. 416 00:17:19,238 --> 00:17:20,638 - Best way to get information about, 417 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,307 Uh, the investigation would be through her, 418 00:17:23,309 --> 00:17:24,875 And when she stops talking to us, 419 00:17:24,877 --> 00:17:26,610 Things take a lot longer. 420 00:17:26,612 --> 00:17:30,248 - There was a point at which you and your wife 421 00:17:30,250 --> 00:17:32,750 Stopped cooperating with police 422 00:17:32,752 --> 00:17:34,085 And hired an attorney. 423 00:17:34,087 --> 00:17:37,721 - No, we didn't stop cooperating with the police. 424 00:17:37,723 --> 00:17:39,657 That's what they want you to believe. 425 00:17:39,659 --> 00:17:41,392 Anything they wanted to know, 426 00:17:41,394 --> 00:17:43,561 Alls they had to do was ask my attorney. 427 00:17:43,563 --> 00:17:45,062 - Your wife feel the same way about that. 428 00:17:45,064 --> 00:17:46,864 - Oh, absolutely, absolutely. 429 00:17:46,866 --> 00:17:48,466 She was scared that they were gonna try 430 00:17:48,468 --> 00:17:51,168 And pin it on her. 431 00:17:51,170 --> 00:17:53,737 - Once again, susanne was right. 432 00:17:53,739 --> 00:17:56,140 - We had, we believed, 433 00:17:56,142 --> 00:17:58,142 Probable cause to arrest susanne, 434 00:17:58,144 --> 00:18:00,344 We just couldn't do it, 'cause something was wrong. 435 00:18:00,346 --> 00:18:01,278 - What's wrong? 436 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:03,214 I mean, everything points at her. 437 00:18:03,216 --> 00:18:05,149 - It would've been the easy way out to do that, 438 00:18:05,151 --> 00:18:06,150 Too early. 439 00:18:06,152 --> 00:18:08,285 - Sometimes you gotta grab ball. 440 00:18:08,287 --> 00:18:10,087 - This wasn't a ground ball. 441 00:18:10,089 --> 00:18:12,389 - This would be no easy out. 442 00:18:12,391 --> 00:18:15,493 Detectives would be going into extra innings. 443 00:18:18,965 --> 00:18:23,200 - The final two phone calls of peggy nadell's life. 444 00:18:23,202 --> 00:18:25,302 One came from a secret phone. 445 00:18:25,304 --> 00:18:28,439 - These are the phones used by drug dealers, 446 00:18:28,441 --> 00:18:30,808 Killers, cheating spouses. 447 00:18:30,810 --> 00:18:32,710 - Exactly. - That's correct. 448 00:18:32,712 --> 00:18:35,746 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered," continues. 449 00:18:39,584 --> 00:18:44,188 ♪♪ 450 00:18:44,190 --> 00:18:46,924 - Welcome back to "dateline: Secrets uncovered." 451 00:18:46,926 --> 00:18:48,325 I'm craig melvin. 452 00:18:48,327 --> 00:18:50,261 Peggy nadell had been murdered, 453 00:18:50,263 --> 00:18:54,398 And her daughter, susanne, was suspect number one. 454 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:57,135 She stood to inherit half of her mother's fortune, 455 00:18:57,137 --> 00:19:00,304 And police found her behavior at the crime scene 456 00:19:00,306 --> 00:19:01,505 Suspicious. 457 00:19:01,507 --> 00:19:04,942 Now, they were about to turn up the heat on susanne. 458 00:19:04,944 --> 00:19:08,412 But soon, they would discover there was another nadell, 459 00:19:08,414 --> 00:19:11,682 Who also had a couple of million reasons 460 00:19:11,684 --> 00:19:13,817 To want peggy dead. 461 00:19:13,819 --> 00:19:16,654 Back to josh mankiewicz with "the evil to come." 462 00:19:18,824 --> 00:19:21,258 - Four days after peggy nadell's murder, 463 00:19:21,260 --> 00:19:24,762 Family and friends gathered for her funeral. 464 00:19:24,764 --> 00:19:29,033 For peggy's daughter, susanne, it was all a blur. 465 00:19:29,035 --> 00:19:31,535 What's it like to process both the fact 466 00:19:31,537 --> 00:19:34,105 That your mom was actually murdered, 467 00:19:34,107 --> 00:19:36,240 And that you're the suspect. 468 00:19:36,242 --> 00:19:39,577 - It was horrible. Horrible. 469 00:19:39,579 --> 00:19:42,513 I lost my mother, I lost my best friend, 470 00:19:42,515 --> 00:19:45,516 And now, the finger is being pointed at me. 471 00:19:45,518 --> 00:19:48,052 - As 80-year-old peggy nadell was led to rest today, 472 00:19:48,054 --> 00:19:51,689 Her daughter, susanne scaccio, has hired a lawyer. 473 00:19:51,691 --> 00:19:54,925 - People in the area, it's all they talked about. 474 00:19:54,927 --> 00:19:57,194 - Susanne's friend, darcy greenburg, 475 00:19:57,196 --> 00:20:00,197 Was hearing it almost every day. 476 00:20:00,199 --> 00:20:02,733 - There were people who said "she did it, oh, she did it." 477 00:20:02,735 --> 00:20:05,135 Even I heard a neighbor yelled out, 478 00:20:05,137 --> 00:20:07,605 "when are you gonna arrest her for killing her mother?" 479 00:20:07,607 --> 00:20:09,740 I mean, this is someone that probably knew her 480 00:20:09,742 --> 00:20:11,742 Since she was a child. 481 00:20:11,744 --> 00:20:14,612 - Darcy was convinced susanne loved her mother 482 00:20:14,614 --> 00:20:16,914 And would never have hurt her. 483 00:20:16,916 --> 00:20:20,351 - She was grieving, she was crying every day, 484 00:20:20,353 --> 00:20:22,386 She could barely get out of bed, 485 00:20:22,388 --> 00:20:24,422 She couldn't sleep at night. 486 00:20:24,424 --> 00:20:27,958 - Peggy nadell's murder was now the biggest case ever 487 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:30,561 To hit the clarkstown police department. 488 00:20:30,563 --> 00:20:32,563 - We had the whole detective bureau on this, 489 00:20:32,565 --> 00:20:34,298 And some other agencies, 490 00:20:34,300 --> 00:20:37,067 And-and I've never seen them work harder 491 00:20:37,069 --> 00:20:38,569 On anything in my life. 492 00:20:38,571 --> 00:20:42,172 - Perhaps because police couldn't talk with susanne, 493 00:20:42,174 --> 00:20:45,242 They stayed very close to her and her husband, bobby. 494 00:20:45,244 --> 00:20:47,911 And, very visible. 495 00:20:47,913 --> 00:20:51,882 - They parked outside my house and sat. 496 00:20:51,884 --> 00:20:52,850 When I left, they left, 497 00:20:52,852 --> 00:20:55,386 When I came home, they came home. 498 00:20:55,388 --> 00:20:57,087 They were following my husband. 499 00:20:57,089 --> 00:20:59,390 - Did you think police were gonna come... 500 00:20:59,392 --> 00:21:02,726 Put handcuffs on you? - Yes, yes, I did. 501 00:21:02,728 --> 00:21:06,297 I was sad, and I was scared. 502 00:21:06,299 --> 00:21:09,333 - Police even looked into susanne's shopping habits 503 00:21:09,335 --> 00:21:11,936 And found something that intrigued them. 504 00:21:11,938 --> 00:21:14,838 Susanne bought her groceries at a nearby shoprite, 505 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:16,840 A big supermarket chain. 506 00:21:16,842 --> 00:21:19,009 In fact, she was a creature of habit, 507 00:21:19,011 --> 00:21:21,011 Visiting here 22 times 508 00:21:21,013 --> 00:21:23,914 In the month prior to peggy's murder. 509 00:21:23,916 --> 00:21:25,683 But on the 23rd time, 510 00:21:25,685 --> 00:21:27,818 The night before peggy's murder, 511 00:21:27,820 --> 00:21:30,221 Susanne shopped at a different store: 512 00:21:30,223 --> 00:21:32,756 The one near her mother's house. 513 00:21:32,758 --> 00:21:33,891 What'd she buy? 514 00:21:33,893 --> 00:21:36,627 - She bought cleaning supplies, rubber gloves, 515 00:21:36,629 --> 00:21:37,528 And some other items like that. 516 00:21:37,530 --> 00:21:38,629 - Some food-- 517 00:21:38,631 --> 00:21:41,298 - Had the crime scene been cleaned up? 518 00:21:41,300 --> 00:21:43,000 Detectives didn't think so, 519 00:21:43,002 --> 00:21:45,269 But still found it suspicious. 520 00:21:45,271 --> 00:21:48,339 Just before your mother was murdered, 521 00:21:48,341 --> 00:21:49,440 You go to the shoprite. 522 00:21:49,442 --> 00:21:51,141 Not the one near your house, 523 00:21:51,143 --> 00:21:52,309 The one near your mother's house. 524 00:21:52,311 --> 00:21:53,444 - Mm-hmm. 525 00:21:53,446 --> 00:21:56,980 - And you buy rubber gloves and cleaning supplies. 526 00:21:56,982 --> 00:21:58,249 - I did. 527 00:21:58,251 --> 00:22:01,518 I mean, I buy cleaning supplies all the time. 528 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:02,386 I have a cleaning girl, 529 00:22:02,388 --> 00:22:03,987 She probably needed rubber gloves. 530 00:22:03,989 --> 00:22:06,256 She probably needed floor cleaner, or-- 531 00:22:06,258 --> 00:22:08,525 That's interesting. They knew what I bought. 532 00:22:08,527 --> 00:22:10,594 - And detectives wanted to know more 533 00:22:10,596 --> 00:22:13,063 About who peggy might've had contact with 534 00:22:13,065 --> 00:22:15,399 In the hours before her murder. 535 00:22:15,401 --> 00:22:16,667 So they made this list of numbers 536 00:22:16,669 --> 00:22:18,769 They found on peggy's home phone, 537 00:22:18,771 --> 00:22:21,205 And as they looked at them, one stood out. 538 00:22:21,207 --> 00:22:23,607 It was a call from an odd area code, 539 00:22:23,609 --> 00:22:27,878 And it came in at 1:17 in the morning. 540 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:30,414 - That was from what turned out to be a tracfone. 541 00:22:30,416 --> 00:22:32,015 - They're commonly referred to as "burner phones" 542 00:22:32,017 --> 00:22:33,183 Or "throwaway phones." 543 00:22:33,185 --> 00:22:37,088 - These are the phones used by drug dealers, 544 00:22:37,090 --> 00:22:39,590 Killers, cheating spouses. 545 00:22:39,592 --> 00:22:41,625 - That's correct. - Exactly. 546 00:22:41,627 --> 00:22:44,428 - A few minutes after that tracfone call, 547 00:22:44,430 --> 00:22:48,265 The alarm at peggy's front door was tripped, 548 00:22:48,267 --> 00:22:51,902 And at 1:23 am, the alarm company called. 549 00:23:06,786 --> 00:23:09,453 - It was probably the last time peggy's voice 550 00:23:09,455 --> 00:23:13,490 Was heard by anyone except her killer. 551 00:23:13,492 --> 00:23:16,593 Police were convinced, still are convinced, 552 00:23:16,595 --> 00:23:20,330 Peggy was letting in someone she knew. 553 00:23:20,332 --> 00:23:22,166 Susanne? Maybe. 554 00:23:22,168 --> 00:23:24,601 But why would she use a tracfone to get her mom 555 00:23:24,603 --> 00:23:26,937 To open the door in the middle of the night? 556 00:23:26,939 --> 00:23:28,472 - She wouldn't have to let me in. 557 00:23:28,474 --> 00:23:31,809 I have a key, and I know the-- how to work the alarm. 558 00:23:31,811 --> 00:23:33,544 - Right, so if you wanted to kill her, 559 00:23:33,546 --> 00:23:35,412 You coulda just waited until she went to sleep-- 560 00:23:35,414 --> 00:23:37,014 - And went in. - Unlocked the door-- 561 00:23:37,016 --> 00:23:38,615 - And went in. - Disarmed the alarm. 562 00:23:38,617 --> 00:23:40,751 - There you go, there you go. 563 00:23:40,753 --> 00:23:44,087 - Police had warrants for all the family members' phones, 564 00:23:44,089 --> 00:23:45,088 And a few weeks later, 565 00:23:45,090 --> 00:23:48,058 They had boxes of records to comb through. 566 00:23:48,060 --> 00:23:51,829 Detectives analyzed susanne's first. 567 00:23:51,831 --> 00:23:53,096 What could you tell about susanne 568 00:23:53,098 --> 00:23:55,566 From her cell phone records? - A lot. 569 00:23:55,568 --> 00:23:57,768 - Robin arias, then an investigator 570 00:23:57,770 --> 00:24:00,170 With the westchester county d.A.'s office, 571 00:24:00,172 --> 00:24:03,240 Specialized in phone data analysis. 572 00:24:03,242 --> 00:24:05,542 - I've-I've figured out a pattern of susanne's life, 573 00:24:05,544 --> 00:24:07,845 Just based on her records. 574 00:24:07,847 --> 00:24:10,381 - And on the day of peggy's murder... 575 00:24:10,383 --> 00:24:12,883 - That day was like every other day 576 00:24:12,885 --> 00:24:14,718 In susanne's life. 577 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:18,322 There was no change for that particular day. 578 00:24:18,324 --> 00:24:19,590 - A-and you'd expect to see a change 579 00:24:19,592 --> 00:24:21,992 If somebody was in the process of committing murder 580 00:24:21,994 --> 00:24:23,193 For the first time. 581 00:24:23,195 --> 00:24:24,929 - Correct, correct. 582 00:24:24,931 --> 00:24:27,965 - Suggesting... She's innocent? 583 00:24:27,967 --> 00:24:30,767 - Either she's innocent, or she has another phone, 584 00:24:30,769 --> 00:24:32,670 But there certainly wasn't communication 585 00:24:32,672 --> 00:24:36,874 That indicated that something was going to happen. 586 00:24:36,876 --> 00:24:40,144 - As hot as detectives were on susanne's trail, 587 00:24:40,146 --> 00:24:42,212 They had never stopped looking at the other members 588 00:24:42,214 --> 00:24:44,682 Of peggy's immediate family. 589 00:24:44,684 --> 00:24:46,750 - You took to peggy's son jim and his wife diana 590 00:24:46,752 --> 00:24:47,751 Right after the murder. 591 00:24:47,753 --> 00:24:49,086 - Yes. - When they came up. 592 00:24:49,088 --> 00:24:50,821 - They lived in florida. - Correct. 593 00:24:50,823 --> 00:24:52,789 - Were they in florida at time of the murder? 594 00:24:52,791 --> 00:24:57,895 - Uh, jim was in florida, and diana said she was in d.C. 595 00:24:57,897 --> 00:24:59,329 - Why was she in d.C.? 596 00:24:59,331 --> 00:25:01,598 - Said there was a family wedding. 597 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:03,734 - And the records backed that up. 598 00:25:03,736 --> 00:25:06,670 When robin arias looked at jim's cell phone, 599 00:25:06,672 --> 00:25:08,539 It never left florida. 600 00:25:08,541 --> 00:25:11,208 Diana's phone records checked out, too. 601 00:25:11,210 --> 00:25:13,510 Where was diana's phone during that time? 602 00:25:13,512 --> 00:25:15,646 - In d.C. - That's it? Didn't move? 603 00:25:15,648 --> 00:25:16,813 - Yep, did not move. 604 00:25:16,815 --> 00:25:20,951 The phone went to d.C., went back to florida. 605 00:25:20,953 --> 00:25:23,587 - Reasonable to assume that diana never left d.C.? 606 00:25:23,589 --> 00:25:25,589 - Absolutely. 607 00:25:25,591 --> 00:25:28,325 - You're smiling. 608 00:25:28,327 --> 00:25:30,327 - The ph-- there was just a break, 609 00:25:30,329 --> 00:25:32,829 The-the pattern just was off. 610 00:25:32,831 --> 00:25:35,999 - Diana's records were speaking to arias, 611 00:25:36,001 --> 00:25:38,068 And detectives were about to get a break 612 00:25:38,070 --> 00:25:42,539 That would shift the direction of the entire investigation. 613 00:25:42,541 --> 00:25:44,007 Let's just say 614 00:25:44,009 --> 00:25:48,412 This case was about to go south. 615 00:25:48,414 --> 00:25:50,948 - An intriguing discovery is about to lead detectives 616 00:25:50,950 --> 00:25:53,117 To a whole new circle of suspects. 617 00:25:55,120 --> 00:25:56,220 - So what's going on here? 618 00:25:56,222 --> 00:25:58,722 How many people are involved in this? 619 00:25:58,724 --> 00:26:01,158 - That's the question of the day. 620 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:03,627 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 621 00:26:07,698 --> 00:26:13,437 ♪♪ 622 00:26:13,439 --> 00:26:15,973 - Detectives working on peggy nadell's murder 623 00:26:15,975 --> 00:26:18,609 Had been looking at her daughter susanne. 624 00:26:18,611 --> 00:26:20,611 But now they were also looking 625 00:26:20,613 --> 00:26:23,147 At peggy's daughter-in-law diana. 626 00:26:25,184 --> 00:26:27,051 Diana and peggy's son jim 627 00:26:27,053 --> 00:26:29,686 Had been married for 17 years, 628 00:26:29,688 --> 00:26:32,990 And while he may not have been that close to his mother, 629 00:26:32,992 --> 00:26:35,926 Diana was always on the phone. 630 00:26:35,928 --> 00:26:38,528 - My sister-in-law used to call every morning. 631 00:26:38,530 --> 00:26:40,464 She-- my mother would be on the phone with nancy. 632 00:26:40,466 --> 00:26:43,433 "ooh, I gotta go, diana's calling on the other line." 633 00:26:43,435 --> 00:26:48,071 - Diana was a stay-at-home mom with two kids, leah and harris. 634 00:26:48,073 --> 00:26:50,607 Peggy doted on her grandchildren, 635 00:26:50,609 --> 00:26:52,242 And would fly them up to new york 636 00:26:52,244 --> 00:26:55,278 To spend summers and holidays. 637 00:26:55,280 --> 00:26:58,548 Detectives had already confirmed that diana's cell phone 638 00:26:58,550 --> 00:27:03,587 Had been in washington, d.C., at the time of the murder. 639 00:27:03,589 --> 00:27:05,689 But when phone analyst robin arias 640 00:27:05,691 --> 00:27:09,593 Looked more closely at diana's calling pattern, 641 00:27:09,595 --> 00:27:11,595 Something seemed off. 642 00:27:11,597 --> 00:27:14,564 - When she was in d.C., 643 00:27:14,566 --> 00:27:16,967 Her activity was just all over the place. 644 00:27:16,969 --> 00:27:18,568 Kind of the frenetic feel. 645 00:27:18,570 --> 00:27:21,338 There was definitely something going on. 646 00:27:21,340 --> 00:27:24,441 - Now arias looked at who diana was calling, 647 00:27:24,443 --> 00:27:27,878 Putting names and faces to the numbers on her phone. 648 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:30,113 She noticed diana suddenly seemed to have 649 00:27:30,115 --> 00:27:33,316 A lot of new friends in washington, d.C. 650 00:27:33,318 --> 00:27:34,985 - A lot of people could just popped up 651 00:27:34,987 --> 00:27:40,457 In diana's life for a very brief moment. 652 00:27:40,459 --> 00:27:43,260 - Arias calls them "frequent users," 653 00:27:43,262 --> 00:27:46,296 People diana was calling repeatedly. 654 00:27:46,298 --> 00:27:47,464 - What was also interesting to me 655 00:27:47,466 --> 00:27:48,732 About these frequent users 656 00:27:48,734 --> 00:27:51,402 Is that they just had such different lives. 657 00:27:51,404 --> 00:27:53,637 - Diana was a suburban mom, 658 00:27:53,639 --> 00:27:56,807 And some of these people, well... 659 00:27:56,809 --> 00:27:59,409 - A lot of them had criminal histories, 660 00:27:59,411 --> 00:28:00,878 Living in d.C. 661 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:04,181 - Remember, diana had been in d.C. For a wedding. 662 00:28:04,183 --> 00:28:06,083 Maybe these people were, you know, 663 00:28:06,085 --> 00:28:08,885 Those friends of the groom you have to invite? 664 00:28:08,887 --> 00:28:11,155 So detectives got the guest list. 665 00:28:11,157 --> 00:28:13,557 - And none of the high-frequency callers were at the wedding. 666 00:28:13,559 --> 00:28:15,092 None of those people. 667 00:28:15,094 --> 00:28:17,227 - And when arias looked at diana's phone records 668 00:28:17,229 --> 00:28:18,595 On the night of the murder, 669 00:28:18,597 --> 00:28:21,165 Friday night into Saturday morning... 670 00:28:21,167 --> 00:28:25,902 - The time of the homicide, there was v-- 671 00:28:25,904 --> 00:28:28,371 Very little activity on her phone. 672 00:28:28,373 --> 00:28:30,340 Like, eerily quiet. 673 00:28:30,342 --> 00:28:31,842 - What did that mean? 674 00:28:31,844 --> 00:28:34,511 Diana's phone had been in d.C. 675 00:28:34,513 --> 00:28:36,647 That looked like a dead end. 676 00:28:36,649 --> 00:28:39,182 So detectives went back to that tracfone 677 00:28:39,184 --> 00:28:43,187 That had called peggy's house moments before her murder. 678 00:28:43,189 --> 00:28:45,456 The kind of phone you can buy for cash, 679 00:28:45,458 --> 00:28:47,724 Activate from almost anywhere, 680 00:28:47,726 --> 00:28:49,826 And then dump when you're done. 681 00:28:49,828 --> 00:28:52,195 - A lot of times, it's a dead-end. 682 00:28:52,197 --> 00:28:53,330 A lot of times. 683 00:28:53,332 --> 00:28:55,832 - Not this time. - Not this time. 684 00:28:55,834 --> 00:28:57,067 - To figure it out, 685 00:28:57,069 --> 00:28:59,703 Detectives began by using the tracfone number 686 00:28:59,705 --> 00:29:02,639 To find where the phone had been sold. 687 00:29:02,641 --> 00:29:03,840 And where was it purchased? 688 00:29:03,842 --> 00:29:06,076 - A family dollar store in miami, florida. 689 00:29:06,078 --> 00:29:07,444 - Miami. 690 00:29:07,446 --> 00:29:09,880 - About two miles from diana's home. 691 00:29:09,882 --> 00:29:13,016 - Detectives contacted the family dollar chain, 692 00:29:13,018 --> 00:29:16,386 And got very, very lucky. 693 00:29:16,388 --> 00:29:19,356 Family dollar was able to give them security video 694 00:29:19,358 --> 00:29:24,094 Of someone buying a tracfone on January 23rd, 695 00:29:24,096 --> 00:29:27,464 Just two days before peggy was murdered. 696 00:29:27,466 --> 00:29:29,332 - Is diana on the tape? 697 00:29:29,334 --> 00:29:30,967 - It doesn't appear so. 698 00:29:30,969 --> 00:29:32,803 - So, end of the road? 699 00:29:32,805 --> 00:29:34,171 - No. 700 00:29:34,173 --> 00:29:37,207 - No, because the woman buying the phone 701 00:29:37,209 --> 00:29:40,043 Was someone detectives recognized. 702 00:29:40,045 --> 00:29:42,379 Not diana. - Definitely not diana. 703 00:29:42,381 --> 00:29:44,982 - Who is it? - Karen ham samuel. 704 00:29:44,984 --> 00:29:47,584 - And how did they know who she was? 705 00:29:47,586 --> 00:29:50,854 - Karen ham was somebody I had already profiled 706 00:29:50,856 --> 00:29:53,791 As a person who came up frequently 707 00:29:53,793 --> 00:29:56,059 On diana's call records. 708 00:29:56,061 --> 00:29:58,061 She was a high-frequency caller. 709 00:29:58,063 --> 00:30:00,664 - So you got a friend of diana's 710 00:30:00,666 --> 00:30:04,134 Buying the disposable phone that called peggy 711 00:30:04,136 --> 00:30:05,536 Just before she was killed. 712 00:30:05,538 --> 00:30:07,538 - Yeah. 713 00:30:07,540 --> 00:30:09,239 That was a big moment. 714 00:30:09,241 --> 00:30:12,008 - Now they knew who had bought the phone. 715 00:30:12,010 --> 00:30:13,376 The next step was to figure out 716 00:30:13,378 --> 00:30:16,079 Who turned the tracfone on. 717 00:30:16,081 --> 00:30:17,814 Tracfones need to be activated 718 00:30:17,816 --> 00:30:21,885 Using another phone to call an 800 number. 719 00:30:21,887 --> 00:30:23,086 After three weeks, 720 00:30:23,088 --> 00:30:25,655 Detective cole-hatchard finally persuaded 721 00:30:25,657 --> 00:30:29,827 A tracfone manager to give him this piece of paper. 722 00:30:29,829 --> 00:30:32,562 - He had circled a phone number, and it was the number 723 00:30:32,564 --> 00:30:34,898 That called to activate that tracfone. 724 00:30:34,900 --> 00:30:36,766 - Whose number was that? 725 00:30:36,768 --> 00:30:37,968 - Andrea benson. 726 00:30:37,970 --> 00:30:39,703 - Had that name surfaced before? 727 00:30:39,705 --> 00:30:41,271 - Yes, absolutely. 728 00:30:41,273 --> 00:30:43,106 - All over diana's phone records. 729 00:30:43,108 --> 00:30:45,976 - She was one of those people who had popped into diana's life 730 00:30:45,978 --> 00:30:48,111 When diana was in d.C. 731 00:30:48,113 --> 00:30:51,581 And benson had a rap sheet. 732 00:30:51,583 --> 00:30:52,716 So what's going on here? 733 00:30:52,718 --> 00:30:55,185 How many people are involved in this? 734 00:30:55,187 --> 00:30:57,321 - That's the question of the day. 735 00:30:57,323 --> 00:30:59,422 - The other big question... 736 00:30:59,424 --> 00:31:01,725 What did diana nadell do 737 00:31:01,727 --> 00:31:05,195 While she was in washington d.C.? 738 00:31:05,197 --> 00:31:06,797 Detectives started with her arrival 739 00:31:06,799 --> 00:31:10,600 At reagan national airport, 9:30 Friday morning, 740 00:31:10,602 --> 00:31:13,270 The day before peggy was murdered. 741 00:31:13,272 --> 00:31:16,006 - We got the video from the airport, 742 00:31:16,008 --> 00:31:17,875 To follow her through the airport, 743 00:31:17,877 --> 00:31:22,145 And then follow her outside to where she got into a car. 744 00:31:22,147 --> 00:31:25,949 - Here's video of diana being picked up curbside. 745 00:31:25,951 --> 00:31:28,551 Who picks her up? - Andrea benson. 746 00:31:28,553 --> 00:31:30,554 - How do you know it's andrea benson? 747 00:31:30,556 --> 00:31:33,357 - It's her car registered to her. 748 00:31:33,359 --> 00:31:35,191 - You can read a license plate with those cameras? 749 00:31:35,193 --> 00:31:36,560 - They're pretty good. 750 00:31:36,562 --> 00:31:39,630 - Detectives obtained data dumps from cell phone towers 751 00:31:39,632 --> 00:31:41,965 In washington d.C. 752 00:31:41,967 --> 00:31:45,302 That allowed them to map the travel of the cell phones, 753 00:31:45,304 --> 00:31:47,638 As they pinged off the towers. 754 00:31:47,640 --> 00:31:49,339 - Can you follow diana's cell phone? 755 00:31:49,341 --> 00:31:52,709 - Uh, it bounced all around washington, d.C., 756 00:31:52,711 --> 00:31:54,678 Simultaneously with andrea's. 757 00:31:54,680 --> 00:31:56,847 They were together the entire day. 758 00:31:56,849 --> 00:31:59,482 - By late Friday, the night peggy was murdered, 759 00:31:59,484 --> 00:32:04,120 Diana's phone stopped moving and went quiet. 760 00:32:04,122 --> 00:32:05,789 But andrea's phone? 761 00:32:05,791 --> 00:32:10,727 - We, um, saw andrea's phone head out of the b-- 762 00:32:10,729 --> 00:32:13,397 Washington area, and head up I-95. 763 00:32:13,399 --> 00:32:14,998 - E-exactly the way you would drive 764 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:16,433 If you were heading for peggy's house. 765 00:32:16,435 --> 00:32:17,467 - Right. 766 00:32:17,469 --> 00:32:20,670 - Along the way, the tracfone was activated, 767 00:32:20,672 --> 00:32:24,174 And at 1:17 am it pinged a cell tower 768 00:32:24,176 --> 00:32:26,543 Right near peggy's house. 769 00:32:26,545 --> 00:32:28,178 What was going on? 770 00:32:28,180 --> 00:32:30,180 Was this murder-for-hire? 771 00:32:30,182 --> 00:32:32,482 Did andrea benson drive up to new york, 772 00:32:32,484 --> 00:32:34,484 Call peggy on the tracfone, 773 00:32:34,486 --> 00:32:38,889 Somehow get into her house, and then murder her? 774 00:32:38,891 --> 00:32:41,791 Assistant d.A. Moran didn't think so. 775 00:32:41,793 --> 00:32:43,760 Peggy would never have let a stranger 776 00:32:43,762 --> 00:32:46,963 Like andrea benson into her house. 777 00:32:46,965 --> 00:32:49,032 So that had to be a friendly voice on the phone. 778 00:32:49,034 --> 00:32:50,834 - Yes. 779 00:32:50,836 --> 00:32:54,971 - Detectives thought that voice might've belonged to diana. 780 00:32:54,973 --> 00:32:59,176 But they had nothing to put her on the scene in peggy's house. 781 00:32:59,178 --> 00:33:02,178 At this point, is susanne off the hook? 782 00:33:02,180 --> 00:33:06,116 - Diana is now the higher suspect. 783 00:33:06,118 --> 00:33:08,118 Susanne wasn't off the hook. 784 00:33:08,120 --> 00:33:09,386 - They could be in this together. 785 00:33:09,388 --> 00:33:10,620 - Correct. - Yes, that's where it was. 786 00:33:10,622 --> 00:33:11,921 - Because they both benefited. 787 00:33:11,923 --> 00:33:13,256 - Yes. - Absolutely. 788 00:33:13,258 --> 00:33:15,859 - Now, eight weeks into the investigation, 789 00:33:15,861 --> 00:33:20,130 Detectives still didn't know who had killed peggy nadell. 790 00:33:20,132 --> 00:33:23,933 With suspects in florida, d.C., and new york, 791 00:33:23,935 --> 00:33:26,603 Detectives came up with a new strategy, 792 00:33:26,605 --> 00:33:29,606 And their phone expert liked it a lot. 793 00:33:29,608 --> 00:33:31,475 - Gutsy, like, I mean, a lot of people 794 00:33:31,477 --> 00:33:35,011 Don't go to those lengths on a homicide case. 795 00:33:35,013 --> 00:33:36,947 I thought it was brilliant strategy. 796 00:33:36,949 --> 00:33:39,483 - But would it solve the case? 797 00:33:42,554 --> 00:33:45,822 - Did you have anything to do with your mother's murder? 798 00:33:45,824 --> 00:33:48,425 - The daughter or the daughter-in-law? 799 00:33:51,764 --> 00:33:54,030 - Was one of them the killer? 800 00:33:54,032 --> 00:33:56,032 - Oh, god, her eyes were probably about as big 801 00:33:56,034 --> 00:33:58,234 As the headlights on a volkswagen beetle. 802 00:33:58,236 --> 00:34:03,707 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 803 00:34:03,907 --> 00:34:08,011 ♪♪ 804 00:34:08,013 --> 00:34:09,079 - Welcome back. 805 00:34:09,081 --> 00:34:11,381 Who murdered peggy nadell? 806 00:34:11,383 --> 00:34:13,049 From the first moments of the investigation, 807 00:34:13,051 --> 00:34:15,718 Police suspected her daughter susanne 808 00:34:15,720 --> 00:34:17,120 May have been involved. 809 00:34:17,122 --> 00:34:20,457 Then, another relative landed on their list: 810 00:34:20,459 --> 00:34:22,292 Daughter-in-law diana. 811 00:34:22,294 --> 00:34:26,129 Both stood to benefit from the wealthy widow's death, 812 00:34:26,131 --> 00:34:29,199 But the evidence pointed to one woman 813 00:34:29,201 --> 00:34:31,801 As the mastermind behind the crime. 814 00:34:31,803 --> 00:34:33,903 Now, detectives were about to launch 815 00:34:33,905 --> 00:34:37,407 A secret plan to bring her down. 816 00:34:37,409 --> 00:34:38,408 Here's josh mankiewicz 817 00:34:38,410 --> 00:34:42,612 With the conclusion of "the evil to come." 818 00:34:42,614 --> 00:34:45,415 - Three months after the murder of her mother, 819 00:34:45,417 --> 00:34:49,352 Susanne nadell-scaccio was still saying she was innocent, 820 00:34:49,354 --> 00:34:52,889 And she couldn't believe she was ever a suspect. 821 00:34:52,891 --> 00:34:55,559 - You watch "dateline." - all the time. 822 00:34:55,561 --> 00:35:01,031 - Sometimes, as you know, people look guilty, 823 00:35:01,033 --> 00:35:02,565 But they're really not. 824 00:35:02,567 --> 00:35:04,901 Are you in custody right now? - Nope. 825 00:35:04,903 --> 00:35:06,903 - Were you ever arrested? - No. 826 00:35:06,905 --> 00:35:10,507 - Did you have anything to do with your mother's murder? 827 00:35:10,509 --> 00:35:12,609 - No. 828 00:35:12,611 --> 00:35:15,846 - Deep into the investigation of peggy nadell's murder, 829 00:35:15,848 --> 00:35:19,449 The prime suspect was no longer her daughter susanne. 830 00:35:19,451 --> 00:35:22,785 It was her daughter-in-law diana. 831 00:35:22,787 --> 00:35:24,387 Detectives knew that diana's friend, 832 00:35:24,389 --> 00:35:27,324 Karen ham samuel, had bought the tracfone 833 00:35:27,326 --> 00:35:31,394 That called peggy's house just before she was murdered. 834 00:35:31,396 --> 00:35:33,864 Diana had told police from the beginning 835 00:35:33,866 --> 00:35:35,832 That she'd been in washington, d.C., 836 00:35:35,834 --> 00:35:38,067 To attend a wedding. 837 00:35:38,069 --> 00:35:40,370 But her alibi was wobbly. 838 00:35:40,372 --> 00:35:43,473 Diana couldn't account for her time in d.C. 839 00:35:43,475 --> 00:35:45,975 - She hit washington at about 9:30, 840 00:35:45,977 --> 00:35:47,443 And didn't a-- reappear again 841 00:35:47,445 --> 00:35:49,579 Until about 8:00 the next morning. 842 00:35:49,581 --> 00:35:53,316 - So detectives called diana, asking her to fill in the gaps. 843 00:35:59,191 --> 00:36:01,324 - We had to keep it real simple with her. 844 00:36:01,326 --> 00:36:04,127 "listen, we just wanna get you cleared, um, 845 00:36:04,129 --> 00:36:05,728 Where'd you spend the night?" 846 00:36:05,730 --> 00:36:08,031 - What did they not tell diana? 847 00:36:08,033 --> 00:36:12,569 Detectives had a warrant, and they were tapping her phone. 848 00:36:12,571 --> 00:36:15,906 Police now sat back and listened as diana made multiple calls 849 00:36:15,908 --> 00:36:20,677 To people she knew in d.C., as she tried to find someone, 850 00:36:20,679 --> 00:36:23,647 Anyone, who would say they were with her 851 00:36:23,649 --> 00:36:27,116 In washington at the time of peggy's murder. 852 00:36:27,118 --> 00:36:30,854 Was she ever successful enough to find somebody to say 853 00:36:30,856 --> 00:36:34,324 "yes, I will say, diana, that you were with me." 854 00:36:34,326 --> 00:36:35,659 - Yes, she did. - Yes. 855 00:36:35,661 --> 00:36:38,294 - Which was her third attempt. 856 00:36:38,296 --> 00:36:40,997 - Detectives heard diana tell a female friend 857 00:36:40,999 --> 00:36:45,468 To say diana had been at her house in d.C., 858 00:36:45,470 --> 00:36:47,571 But the woman seemed confused. 859 00:36:59,017 --> 00:37:01,217 - Disorganized crime. 860 00:37:01,219 --> 00:37:03,086 - Not the most intelligent people involved, 861 00:37:03,088 --> 00:37:04,487 I don't believe. 862 00:37:04,489 --> 00:37:07,890 - Sure enough, when detectives called diana's friend, 863 00:37:07,892 --> 00:37:09,259 Here's what she said: 864 00:37:15,967 --> 00:37:17,567 - Of course, detectives already knew 865 00:37:17,569 --> 00:37:19,102 The woman was lying, 866 00:37:19,104 --> 00:37:22,239 And that diana was trying to cover her tracks. 867 00:37:22,241 --> 00:37:25,976 But they still didn't have enough to charge diana. 868 00:37:25,978 --> 00:37:29,112 So they headed to miami to speak with diana's friend 869 00:37:29,114 --> 00:37:33,182 Who bought that tracfone, karen ham samuel. 870 00:37:33,184 --> 00:37:35,852 They brought karen into miami police headquarters 871 00:37:35,854 --> 00:37:37,287 For questioning. 872 00:37:39,057 --> 00:37:42,659 - Karen admitted she bought that tracfone for diana. 873 00:37:42,661 --> 00:37:46,529 And then they asked her if diana had said anything 874 00:37:46,531 --> 00:37:48,665 About peggy nadell's murder. 875 00:37:48,667 --> 00:37:50,734 Her answer blew them away. 876 00:37:58,777 --> 00:38:00,943 - Prosecutor richard moran was there, 877 00:38:00,945 --> 00:38:03,179 Listening in another room. 878 00:38:03,181 --> 00:38:08,217 - That's the first time we have firsthand information, 879 00:38:08,219 --> 00:38:10,520 Um, that diana was in the house. 880 00:38:10,522 --> 00:38:11,988 - Before long, 881 00:38:11,990 --> 00:38:14,891 Diana was in that same miami interrogation room, 882 00:38:14,893 --> 00:38:17,627 Where she recognized some familiar faces 883 00:38:17,629 --> 00:38:19,663 She probably wasn't pleased to see. 884 00:38:26,304 --> 00:38:28,705 - And she knew why they were there. 885 00:38:31,910 --> 00:38:34,977 - Yes, it was, and after five months, 886 00:38:34,979 --> 00:38:37,180 Their investigation was about to end. 887 00:38:42,153 --> 00:38:43,353 - That same day, 888 00:38:43,355 --> 00:38:47,056 Another team arrested andrea benson in d.C. 889 00:38:47,058 --> 00:38:48,725 Detectives lawrence and cole-hatchard 890 00:38:48,727 --> 00:38:52,061 Were confident they had the right people in custody, 891 00:38:52,063 --> 00:38:55,465 And that susanne was finally off the hook. 892 00:38:55,467 --> 00:38:57,900 She heard the news from relatives. 893 00:38:57,902 --> 00:39:00,603 - They said they arrested diana 894 00:39:00,605 --> 00:39:02,538 From-- for my mother's murder, 895 00:39:02,540 --> 00:39:04,874 And that there were other people involved in it, 896 00:39:04,876 --> 00:39:06,709 And I was shocked. - W-what'd she look like? 897 00:39:06,711 --> 00:39:08,678 - Oh, god, her eyes were probably 'bout as big 898 00:39:08,680 --> 00:39:10,713 As the headlights on a volkswagen beetle, 899 00:39:10,715 --> 00:39:16,352 And her instant reaction was "I knew it, I knew it." 900 00:39:16,354 --> 00:39:18,721 - Susanne says her mom had been sending money 901 00:39:18,723 --> 00:39:21,624 To diana regularly to pay for home repairs 902 00:39:21,626 --> 00:39:24,094 And expenses for the kids. 903 00:39:24,096 --> 00:39:26,896 But she says diana wanted more. 904 00:39:26,898 --> 00:39:29,165 - She wanted to live my mother's life. 905 00:39:29,167 --> 00:39:31,167 Do all the things that she couldn't afford to do. 906 00:39:31,169 --> 00:39:33,102 - And to do that, all she had to do was enlist 907 00:39:33,104 --> 00:39:35,505 The help of a few friends and commit a murder. 908 00:39:35,507 --> 00:39:37,507 - Mm-hmm. - Yeah. 909 00:39:37,509 --> 00:39:39,909 - Detectives did not think jim knew anything 910 00:39:39,911 --> 00:39:43,847 About his wife's deadly plan for his mother. 911 00:39:43,849 --> 00:39:46,449 And what exactly was her plan? 912 00:39:46,451 --> 00:39:49,719 Diana had stopped talking and asked for a lawyer, 913 00:39:49,721 --> 00:39:52,522 But her friend andrea benson did talk, 914 00:39:52,524 --> 00:39:57,293 And told d.A. Richard moran the whole sordid tale. 915 00:39:57,295 --> 00:40:00,329 Andrea said she had never met diana before, 916 00:40:00,331 --> 00:40:01,931 And had been told by a relative 917 00:40:01,933 --> 00:40:04,367 To pick diana up at the airport, 918 00:40:04,369 --> 00:40:06,803 And as they were driving... 919 00:40:06,805 --> 00:40:08,638 - Diana nadell said to her, 920 00:40:08,640 --> 00:40:10,673 "I'm not really here to go a wedding, 921 00:40:10,675 --> 00:40:12,608 I'm really here to kill my mother-in-law." 922 00:40:12,610 --> 00:40:15,345 - She says this to a person she's never met before? 923 00:40:15,347 --> 00:40:16,479 - Yes. 924 00:40:16,481 --> 00:40:19,449 - And andrea benson says... 925 00:40:19,451 --> 00:40:21,618 Okay? I'm in? 926 00:40:21,620 --> 00:40:22,952 - For $10,000. 927 00:40:22,954 --> 00:40:25,054 - And right there, the deal's done in that car. 928 00:40:25,056 --> 00:40:27,590 - And the plan starts taking shape. 929 00:40:27,592 --> 00:40:29,625 - Benson said she drove the four hours 930 00:40:29,627 --> 00:40:31,227 Up to peggy's house, 931 00:40:31,229 --> 00:40:33,563 And then diana used that tracfone 932 00:40:33,565 --> 00:40:35,498 And called her mother-in-law. 933 00:40:35,500 --> 00:40:38,768 - Diana tells her "I'm here, don't you miss me? 934 00:40:38,770 --> 00:40:40,937 I wanna come see you." 935 00:40:40,939 --> 00:40:42,572 - At 1:30 in the morning. 936 00:40:42,574 --> 00:40:45,575 And peggy lets her in. 937 00:40:45,577 --> 00:40:48,110 Benson said she went in with diana. 938 00:40:48,112 --> 00:40:50,279 They were wearing hairnets and gloves 939 00:40:50,281 --> 00:40:52,715 To keep from leaving evidence. 940 00:40:52,717 --> 00:40:57,053 Diana and peggy sat across from one another and talked. 941 00:40:57,055 --> 00:40:58,421 Benson said at one point, 942 00:40:58,423 --> 00:41:02,458 Peggy went upstairs, perhaps to call for help. 943 00:41:02,460 --> 00:41:04,461 She and diana followed her. 944 00:41:04,463 --> 00:41:07,931 Then as peggy came back downstairs... 945 00:41:07,933 --> 00:41:10,467 - That's when andrea benson started choking her. 946 00:41:10,469 --> 00:41:12,469 - Andrea said peggy was still alive 947 00:41:12,471 --> 00:41:16,072 When diana hit her mother-in-law with a metal ball 948 00:41:16,074 --> 00:41:18,608 And beat her with that statue head. 949 00:41:18,610 --> 00:41:21,477 - Andrea benson's words were "she wouldn't die." 950 00:41:21,479 --> 00:41:24,413 At that point, according to andrea benson, 951 00:41:24,415 --> 00:41:27,483 Diana nadell went into the kitchen, 952 00:41:27,485 --> 00:41:29,152 Got a knife, came over, 953 00:41:29,154 --> 00:41:31,754 And started stabbing peggy. 954 00:41:34,492 --> 00:41:38,194 - Andrea benson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. 955 00:41:38,196 --> 00:41:40,563 The sentence was 20-to-life. 956 00:41:40,565 --> 00:41:44,333 - I need you to know just how sorry I am. 957 00:41:44,335 --> 00:41:45,969 - The woman who bought the tracfone, 958 00:41:45,971 --> 00:41:47,770 Karen ham samuel, 959 00:41:47,772 --> 00:41:50,439 Was never charged with anything. 960 00:41:50,441 --> 00:41:55,144 Diana, apparently not content to wait in jail for trial, 961 00:41:55,146 --> 00:41:58,080 Was caught on tape trying to arrange for hitmen 962 00:41:58,082 --> 00:42:00,850 To kill karen ham samuel in miami. 963 00:42:09,994 --> 00:42:12,529 - After that, diana also pleaded guilty 964 00:42:12,531 --> 00:42:14,797 To first-degree murder. 965 00:42:14,799 --> 00:42:17,300 Diana did not respond to our requests 966 00:42:17,302 --> 00:42:18,935 For an interview. 967 00:42:18,937 --> 00:42:22,238 She did speak on the day she received a sentence 968 00:42:22,240 --> 00:42:24,740 Of 23 years to life. 969 00:42:24,742 --> 00:42:27,843 - I would like to say that I'm very sorry for my actions, 970 00:42:27,845 --> 00:42:31,481 And that I am extremely sorry for any pais-- 971 00:42:31,483 --> 00:42:34,951 Pain I may have caused, especially to my husband. 972 00:42:34,953 --> 00:42:37,453 - Susanne was there at sentencing. 973 00:42:37,455 --> 00:42:40,556 - You took away a wonderful mother and grandmother, 974 00:42:40,558 --> 00:42:42,825 And you're gonna die in hell. 975 00:42:42,827 --> 00:42:46,562 I hope you stay in prison until you take your last breath. 976 00:42:46,564 --> 00:42:48,097 Enjoy prison. 977 00:42:52,170 --> 00:42:53,369 - On mother's day, 978 00:42:53,371 --> 00:42:56,439 Susanne and bobby went to visit peggy's grave. 979 00:42:56,441 --> 00:42:58,507 - Hey, mama. 980 00:42:58,509 --> 00:43:01,511 - Finally, it was all over. 981 00:43:01,513 --> 00:43:04,447 - You kinda look at life a little bit differently, 982 00:43:04,449 --> 00:43:06,415 You know, life is very valuable. 983 00:43:06,417 --> 00:43:08,284 It's precious. - It puts things in perspective. 984 00:43:08,286 --> 00:43:10,286 - You've done anything special for yourself? 985 00:43:10,288 --> 00:43:12,455 - I treated myself to a-a car. 986 00:43:12,457 --> 00:43:16,659 She's a fancy german lady that likes to go fast. 987 00:43:16,661 --> 00:43:19,529 My mother always said "spend a little. 988 00:43:19,531 --> 00:43:23,899 Enjoy your money, you'll have mine someday." 989 00:43:23,901 --> 00:43:26,035 Who knew that someday was gonna be so soon? 990 00:43:31,009 --> 00:43:32,074 - That's all for this edition 991 00:43:32,076 --> 00:43:34,543 Of "dateline: Secrets uncovered." 992 00:43:34,545 --> 00:43:36,779 I'm craig melvin. Thank you for watching.